Gracehoper

Broken ankle: One Year Later

2012-01-24T20:37:00.000-08:00

It's been over a year since I broke and dislocated my ankle: a trimalleolar break (three
bones) as well as a dislocation (my foot bent down and backwards). Here's my six
month update which has links to my other ankle posts.

Now it is 14 months later and as snow has hit the town Im living in - I find myself
thinking of my fall last winter and struggling with Snow PTSD. I'm a very slow walker
on icy surfaces now.

I also:
- still have ankle pain daily, but for shorter periods of time. I would guess I pop
painkillers (2-3 aleve usually) about four days a week.
- still have swelling. every day. Sometimes by noon. Sometimes by the end of the day.
- limp sometimes. Not a lot. If I have been sitting at my desk for a long time I will
limp for a minute when I get up. Or if I take the dogs on a long walk I sometimes
limp a little afterwards. I usually try to disguise it as a jaunty boho walk (whatever
that is!)
- don't wear any sort of heel. No way. fear of wobbling.
- still have visible scars on both sides of my ankle wear I had the surgery. Visible to me
at least. I don't think anyone else would notice unless they were sitting right beside
me and looking straight at them.

All in all, I think I've been pretty lucky. And if you are reading this due to your own injury,
I hope you'll be lucky too.

Dog People

2011-06-29T18:25:00.000-07:00

My dogs spend quite a bit of time in my front yard when the weather is fair as it

has been lately. Living near several public places, (the historical society, the 1912

Center, the high school), ensures a good amount of foot traffic past my house and

both Nosey and Seamus have their regulars - friends and admirers who stop to see

them, pet them, give them treats and throw the frisbee. Occasionally some cold

hearted person will walk by without even a glance at their sweet and friendly faces,

but that doesn’t happen very often.

And then some times you get someone like today. A guy stops, pets them, talks to

them for a minute and then - WAVES to them and says "b’bye". Wow. What a great

guy!

Dog Advice on Metafilter

2011-06-19T12:07:00.000-07:00

I’ve had a couple of promising second interviews and in hopes of starting full time work

soon, I asked the following on Metafilter:

“Dog advice needed - How to keep my dogs happy while I'm at work?”

I’ve gotten some great responses including this one:

Other things - get a big Kong for each of them and fill it with treats in the morning. Hide

treats around the house. Leave the TV on. Get someone to check in on them during the

day. Hire a walker. If your house is set up that way, some folks swear by a doggie door

so they can go in and out at leisure.

Sometimes I call home home and talk to my dogs when the answering machine picks

up. I have no idea if they listen or not, but it makes me feel better (and kind of weird,

but whatever.)

Read all the responses here.

Boycotting Urban Outfitters

2011-06-13T07:07:00.000-07:00

I like Urban Outfitters but their propensity for copying
the designs of independent artists is just plain greedy.

Why not buy from the artist, instead of creating knock-
offs? Here's their latest copy and for now, I've decided
not to shop there anymore.

Broken Ankle: Six Months Later

2011-05-24T17:34:00.000-07:00

This week marks the six month anniversary of my ankle fracture:

a trimalleolar fracture that resulted in surgery and metal plates and

screws being put in my ankle.

If you came across my blog by searching for “broken ankle” because you have just

experienced this yourself, I’d first like to send you warm and empathetic thoughts. It

hurts like hell, doesn’t it? And it’s a bit traumatic. But believe me when I say that things

will get better.

Here’s my first post about my break, then there’s one here and here and here is the

three month update.

Six months later I am walking pretty well. I have a slight limp, but my guess is that if you

do the physical therapy you won’t have a limp at six months. I didn’t have medical

insurance, so couldn’t get the physical therapy. My limp is lessening though so I hope in

another month or two it will be gone completely.

I used a cane from month four-five. I don’t use it much now but I keep it around for certain

things like shopping at the mall with my daughter or anything else when I am going to be

doing lots of walking on a hard surface. I’d say I am without it 95% of the time

I still have ankle pain every day - though it is MUCH, much less than the first two months.

My ankle still swells every day. I’m not sure when that will end. Some days it is bad enough

that I put ice on it, some days it isn’t that bad. My right ankle (the broken one) is still bigger

than my left ankle. (See photo above) Maybe it will always be this way.

If you have friends and family to help you, things will be easier for you. (I couldn’t have

made it without my 18 year old daughter - Thanks Del! And my dogs were my constant

companions - Thanks Nosey and Seamus!)

If you don’t have much support I’d advise surrounding yourself with your favorite books

or watching seasons of your favorite tv shows on Netflix. During my non-weight bearing

time I watched all of PBS’ Bleak House, Battlestar Gallatica and the first four seasons of

Rescue Me. I also read lots of Henning Mankill and Jasper Fforde.

The time I spent with Esther Summerson, WIlliam Adama, Tommy Gavin, Thursday Next and

Kurt Wallander saved me from a slow death by boredom.

So things do get better. Keep the faith. The first three months are the hardest but then things

look up considerably. Warm wishes going out to you for an easy recuperation.

Now... if I could just find a job...

Employment Issues on Metafilter

2011-05-19T19:23:00.000-07:00

Conducting an efficient job search

ASKED: How do I prioritize all the tasks that come with being unemployed,

from getting help to finding a job?

I liked this kindhearted answer:

“Have a plan. Stick to the plan. Keep yourself healthy. Keep perspective. Be

gentle on yourself and realise that you WILL get a new job. It WILL be a bit

rough in the meantime. There's a lot you can do to make it LESS rough.“

And this on Temping

ASKED: “Should I apply for a temp agency to kickstart my stalled career??”

I found this answer by “Patheral” interesting:

“San Francisco is big enough that you can sign up for several temp agencies

and get enough work (if you're skilled enough) to make a good living and get

the experience you need and desire. I did this for many many years in a

different city/state but for different reasons. Don't just go with one temp

agency, sign up with two or three - I had my resume in at five and I hardly

ever wanted for work. Yes, some weeks I made a little above minimum wage

but others I made a lot more than minimum wage - that was one of the things

I liked about working temp... that and the variety of work places.”

Laser Monks No More

2011-05-02T09:33:00.001-07:00

A few years I wrote about a monastery company called Laser Monks, that sold

printer cartridges to fund their monastery and other nonprofit entities.

I raved about them, citing their “900 year tradition of community service

and outreach.”

I have been ordering from them for years now but my last order, made March

29th, never came. I tried to log into their website but it was down for repair - and

still is. I finally found a number to call (their other number had been disconnected)

and received a call back this morning from 303-468-0962, the number of Laser

Monks Distributors. He informed me that Laser Monks has liquidated and the only

way to get my money back is to dispute the charges on my credit card, which I have

done.

Apparently there are many, many people who had their money taken, and never

received their orders.

Not what I expected from monks. But I guess being a monk-owned business doesn't
give one sanctuary from the recession.

Whole Wheat Shortbread

2011-05-01T08:57:00.000-07:00

I set out to make Ina Garten’s shortbread but had no white flour.

So I substituted whole wheat flour. To compensate for the heavier

flour I double sifted it and changed it from 3 1/2 cups to 3 1/4 cups.

It was still quite heavy and dense so I added a splash of lowfat milk

and then everything came together nicely. It took the whole 25

minutes to cook them and they turned out scumptiously well.

Here’s the recipe - my changes are in italics.

Whole Wheat Shortbread Cookies (adapted from Ina Garten’s recipe)

3/4 pound unsalted butter, at room temperature (3 sticks)

1 cup sugar, plus extra for sprinkling (I used colored sugar for the top)

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

3 1/4 cups whole wheat flour, double sifted

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup milk

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment,

or use a regular hand mixer, mix together the butter and 1 cup of sugar

until they are just combined. Add the vanilla.

3. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour and salt, then add them

to the butter-and-sugar mixture.

4. Mix on low speed until the dough starts to come together.

5. Dump onto a surface dusted with flour and shape into a flat disk.

Wrap in plastic and chill for 30 minutes. Roll the dough 1/2-inch thick and

cut with a 3 by 1-inch finger-shaped cutter. Place the cookies on an un-

greased baking sheet and sprinkle with sugar. Alternately, roll the dough

into a long, 2-inch cylinder before refrigerating. Once chilled, slice the

cylinder into 1/4-inch circles. Place the cookies on an ungreased baking

sheet and sprinkle with sugar.

6. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the edges begin to brown. Allow

to cool to room temperature. Makes 20-30 cookies.

Bad News for Fitzgerald Fans

2011-04-20T06:55:00.000-07:00

Daisy Buchanan’s house has been demolished!

Jay Gatsby seems as shocked as I am.

The owners demolished "Land's End" , which had fallen into

disrepair, because they wanted to build five luxury homes to

be sold there for 10 million each.

I find this both sad and nauseating.

See the demolished view, if you have the heart, here.

Seamus and Nosey Flynn Wait for Spring

2011-04-15T19:59:00.000-07:00

Look! The cold, white ground is gone,

The grey still comes and goes

But sun comes near as often now.

We remember the road to the green fields,

We remember the smell of the light dew

As the ball goes sailing over the grass,

The flight of the birds as we come near

The sound of the bees, the sight of the stream,

And running down the trail through the big, tall trees.

Wait for us green fields

We are coming.

Sunday Dinner

2011-03-28T16:49:00.000-07:00

This is what I made for dinner last night. The
chicken was spicy and yummy! I paired it with
an amazing Silverlake Riesling. Photo and
recipe courtesy of On the Woodside .

Making an Apron

2011-03-23T14:12:00.000-07:00

Last week I made my daughter an apron for St. Patrick’s Day. When

she was young I made her a St. Patty’s dress every year but gave

that up once she hit fifth grade.

I found a cute Cynthia Rowley apron that was easy to duplicate without

a pattern.

I had forgotten how much I dislike JoAnn’s fabrics. There is their stingy

fabric cutting as well as the way they treat their customers .

and now a new reason: they plaster their fabrics with self ads - a waste of

good fabric! I dislike having to pay for fabric that they have blazoned with

their logo.

But it is the only fabric store in my town so ... I bought

the fabric and some trim and made the apron in one night.

It turned out pretty well!

Job Hunting in the Northwest

2011-03-14T12:13:00.000-07:00

Here are a few sites with job listings for the Northwest - specifically, jobs in Washington,

Oregon and California. Craigslist is great, of course, but not all employers post their jobs

there. If you are looking for a job in more than one area you can use Site Mash . It is

supposed to list entries for craigslists nationwide though it is not 100% complete. You

enter the type of job you want into the blank, e.g. writer, and then it will pull listings from

all (or most) Craigslists.

One of the best sites for Seattle jobs is the Kings County job site and if you are looking

throughout Washington you can find state listings here.

Here’s the City of Portland’s job listings . The State of Oregon lists their openings here

and you can also check out Multnomah County’s listings.

Of Oregon, Washington and California, California has the most cumbersome job site. Many

of the jobs listed are only available to people who have already taken an exam in that job’s

category. But if you want to give it a try, it’s located here .

This site lists many California government entities and also lists sites for many cities and

counties in California.

I really don’t need more job hunting competition but I can’t help but feel empathy for those

of you who are, like me, out there looking for work and not finding it. Best of luck to you.

Snoqualmie Pass

2011-03-03T18:35:00.000-08:00

My daughter is going to Emerald City ComicCon in Seattle this

weekend. Captain Kirk, Data, Cmmdr. Riker and the Steward of

Gondor are all going to be there.

It’s a bad weekend for driving though. We’ve had a few feet of

snow this week. Today it was 38 degrees and some of the huge

mounds of snow melted away. But to get to Seattle from Moscow

one has to drive over Snoqualmie Pass.

This website by the Washington State Dept of Transportation

has webcams stationed along the trickier portions of Highway 90.

It updates them every 6 minutes. Thanks Washington! I’ll probably

be checking it all weekend.

Ankle Fracture: 12 weeks later

2011-02-28T13:20:00.000-08:00

I’m at the three month point since my ankle fracture. This week I am out of

the Airboot an into an ankle brace. I can walk ar a slow pace in the ankle

brace with a cane but it is painful. I’m still using the Airboot if I go outside,

e.g. to pick up my daughter from work, but that is because of the 2-3 feet

of snow outside. Once the snow melts, I’ll be able to use the ankle brace

and cane to get around everywhere.

The problem with the ankle brace

is that, though it is supposed to fit

inside your shoe, it actually only fits

inside certain types of shoes. I have

one pair I can wear with the brace

- a running shoe by Merrell, not

appropriate for snowy weather. I

need to buy another pair of shoes.

So this is progress. Slow, but still, moving in the right direction. I found an

informative guide to ankle fractures online called So You Fractured Your Foot:

Secrets to Hasten the Healing. Wish I had found it earlier.

Other than my ankle, my biggest problem right now is the medical bills, which

I’ll write about some other day. But I highly recommend that if you live

within a days drive from the Canadian border, you head north when you have

a traumatic injury.

Raymond Carver Bio

2011-02-17T10:47:00.000-08:00

I recently read Raymond Carver: A Writer’s Life by Carol Sklenicka.

Actually, it was about six weeks ago but I have hesitated to write

about it. I am a long time Carver fan and I immensely enjoyed the

first 4/5s of this book, but I can honestly say, I wish I hadn’t read it.

I was shocked at how he treated his wife, MaryAnn Burk, and his

children in his will, leaving everything but a few thousand dollars,

including the rights to everything he wrote during the 20+ years he

lived and was supported by Maryann, to his new wife Tess

Gallagher, who later tried to cheat his children out of money coming

to them from a possible movie project.

The biography is very well written and nothing can change the

writing skills of Raymond Carver, but my opinion of him has changed

since finishing the book and I wish I hadn’t read it.

Teenage Valentine

2011-02-16T15:58:00.000-08:00

It’s tough buying a valentine’s gift for an 18 year old girl. Usually I just get

some sort of bakery treats for breakfast and serve them on our special

vintage red glass dishes, which we use only on special occasions.

This year, since my daughter has been doing so much for me during my

recuperation, I wanted to do something a little more special.

I found the lovely shamrock necklace pictured below at Emerson Made and

got that for her. I didn’t really like the muslin pouch the necklace came in so

I made one of my own using vintage barkcloth with a pink satiny lining. I

couldn’t make it upstairs to my sewing machine so did the whole thing by

hand (which I really enjoyed).

I put the pouch over an I Love You flyer with tear off’s so she can take an

I Love You with her if she ever needs a little extra affection.

You Tube

2011-02-12T19:39:00.000-08:00

I finally opened a You Tube account and loaded some of the videos

I made over the past year.

My first one was a video that a group of friends made for our

friend Susannah Conway, who we all met through an internet class:

Unravelling. It was a great collaborative effort and turned out really well.

Then I made this one for my friend Barbara Ruiz in Madrid entitled Ella
Sueña Con Su Cumpleaños (She dreams of Her Birthday). I incorporated

her artwork and one of her favorite things: converse shoes.

I needed something with a dog in a car for a flickr group and came up

with this video of Seamus, Nosey and I (though Nosey avoided the camera)

with a great song by Imelda May called Johnny’s Got a Boom Boom.

And this one is a sort of slide show of my trip to Coleman in Alberta, Canada

to meet two of my fellow Unravelling friends - Sylvia and Tina.

I have a few others to upload and hope that having this account will motivate

me to make a few more.

Benadryl for Dogs

2011-02-03T18:55:00.001-08:00

Seamus

We had a scary evening with our pup Seamus on Monday. With no warning,
his face started to swell up - first around the eyes, then his jowls and forehead
and after about ten minutes his front legs started to swell. It was 11:30 pm, and
I am still unable to drive due to ankle issues, so my daughter called her boyfriend
who took her to but Benadryl.

I did some rushed research on dogs + allergies that night (here and here for example)
and benadryl is a pretty safe bet if you use it correctly. First of all - use tablets, not
liquid. Correct dosage is also important. Most sites recommend 1 mg per dog pound.
The capsules come in 25 mg so we gave Seamus two (he weighs about 60 pounds).

Within an hour of taking the benadryl his swelling started to go down. Tuesday
all of the swelling was gone except for a little around his neck and Wednesday
he was completely back to normal.

We don't know what happened exactly - allergies? spider bite? But from now on
I will make sure to keep Benadryl on hand at home. Of course, if your dog has any
health conditions or is on any other medication, check with your vet before giving
Benadryl.

Broken Ankle Questions

2011-01-17T22:33:00.000-08:00

Asked on Metafilter:

Should I have the rod and screws removed now that my leg is healed?

Here's the problem-- If I keep my foot down (like sitting at my desk) for more

than about 20 minutes the blood starts to pool in my foot. Nasty. ...... So,

hive mind, especially those with medical knowledge and/or prior experience

with broken legs, help! Keep my foot from being swollen and numb!

How to make life on crutches easier?

Incision

2011-01-11T21:57:00.001-08:00

Seven weeks after my fall and subsequent ankle surgery, things are slowly
healing. I have another scar just like this one on the other side.

After six weeks of being "non-weight bearing", I have slowly begun
putting a little weight on my injured foot, while wearing "the Boot", my
removable cast. It's a slow process, and very awkward, but it feels good
to be making progress.

Hop, Skip and a Jump

2011-01-10T13:47:00.000-08:00

My words for 2011 are : Hop, skip and a jump.

Originally, I considered this phrase literally - I’ve been hopping about on one ankle for five

weeks now and hope to heal to the point where I am skipping and jumping later in the year.

I am determined not to take the use of both legs for granted ever again.

But a hop, skip and a jump also resonates for me figuratively. (For my foreign friends - The

phrase originated in the 1700s from a game using these movements, but came to mean a

short distance. For example “It’s just a hop, skip and a jump from my house to Main Street”.)

I’m hoping that it is just a hop, skip and a jump from my current position (unemployed, broken

ankle) to my new and improved position (employed in a job I love, mobile). The thought of

positive changes being just a hop, skip and a jump away makes me very happy.

Tune: Bonnie Mulligan, performed here by the Sharon Shannon Band.

Photos: Most were found in The Commons, a few are by the great photographer Philippe Halsman

Word for the New Year

2011-01-03T14:38:00.000-08:00

My friend Susannah Conway has a lovely tradition of choosing a word

for the New Year, rather than a resolution.

Last year, I chose three: Movement (both physical movement and movement

from the stuck places in my life), Comradery and Pulchritude (hence the

photo above).

A few friends have already chosen their words: Grow, Love, Nurture.

I haven’t chosen my word or words for 2011 yet. I want to think about it

a little more. But when I do I will post it here.

Cartier-Bresson Exhibit

2010-12-31T13:10:00.000-08:00

The SF MoMA is currently hosting an exhibit of the photography of Henri Cartier-Bresson. If

I had two working legs I would definitely find a way to go to this by January 11 - the day it ends.

Instead, I made do with this lovely internet exhibit. A nice spot of inspiration in an otherwise

frustrating day. On the bright side - it;s the last day of this year and this decade.

From the SFMOMA site:

“An innovative artist, trailblazing photojournalist, and quintessential world

traveler, Henri Cartier-Bresson ranks among the most accomplished and

original figures in the history of photography. His inventive images of the

early 1930s helped define the creative potential of the medium, and his

uncanny ability to capture life on the run made his work synonymous with

"the decisive moment."

Ankle Anniversary

2010-12-22T19:48:00.000-08:00

Today is the one month anniversary of breaking my ankle. My ankle was both dislocated and broken

in three places, making it a trimalleolar fracture.

To clarify:

The big bone on the left ankle on the left side of the foot is the lateral malleolus. The big bone on the

inside of the left ankle is the medial malleolus. Malleolus is singular (one); malleoli is plural (two or

more); malleolar means pertaining to the malleolus/malleoli.

-unimalleolar pertains to one malleolus;

-bimalleolar pertains to the two malleoli, the lateral and medial;

-trimalleolar pertains to three malleoli. Technically, there are two

malleoli, and the big bone at the tip of the tibia counts as the third.

So I go back to my OP (Orthopedic Surgeon) next week and hope to hear more about how my

recovery will progress at that time. My OP says that it is hard to predict: my injury is complex and

everyone heals differently. My internet research however has me thinking that this is a long slow

process taking anywhere from 6 - 24 months with some people never getting 100% back to normal.

I have no insurance, but I spoke with a physical therapist when I was in the hospital and he said I

could come in for one visit and he could teach me things to do at home on my own. Physical therapy

seems to be critical to a full recovery. Here are a few sites I looked at today which I found to be helpful

regarding therapy/exercise and a broken ankle:

Chair yoga

Suggestions for ankle exercise

More exercise ideas

Yoga poses with broken foot

It's been very hard having this injury at Christmas time. No Christmas tree this year. No lights

up anywhere. I greatly miss walking. And taking my dogs to the park. Even things like

grocery shopping and cleaning house sound good to me now. My sympathies go out to

anyone experiencing a similar injury.

Etsy Taste Test

2010-12-18T09:27:00.000-08:00

I haven’t been on Etsy for a long time. Low budget for one thing, but the main problem

was the vast collection of items and artists that were just plain overwhelming.

Etsy must have realized the problem because they have come up with a new tool that

allows you to browse items that fit your taste.

Etsy Taste Test! You select from a few rows of items and it narrows down your particular

sensibilities quite well. You can take it a few times to hone things even more sharply.

So many pretty things make for nice daydreams.

Broken Ankle Update

2010-12-14T15:38:00.000-08:00

So I haven’t been doing much writing OR photography lately. Having a broken ankle

really affects so many areas of one’s life. In addition to being painful, limiting my mobility,

affecting my emotions and putting a huge obstacle in my job hunting path, it has also

seemed to dampen my creativity.

Here’s a short overview of my broken ankle so far:

Nov 22 - Fall on the street near my house due to snow and icy conditions. 6 PM

My daughter, Delaney, gets our neighbor to drive me to the hospital. I am told I have

dislocated my ankle and broken it in three places. The orthopedic surgeon (who looks

like Dr. Oz’s cuter, younger brother) tells me I need surgery which has been scheduled

for the next day. I’m worried about money (no insurance), my job interview next week,

Delaney (18 and a bit shaken) and how the heck I will be able to function for the

next few weeks.

Nov 23 - Surgery (see photo here). I love morphine.

Nov 25 - I get to leave the hospital. I have a walker rather than crutches due to the huge

amount of snow. Very nervous about getting home but I make it ok.

Nov 26 - Delaney cooks her first Thanksgiving dinner and it turns out amazing!! I am

spending most of my time in bed with occasional trips to the bathroom.

Dec 6 - Appointment with Doc goes well. He says I am healing faster than anticipated given

the complexity of my injury. Cast removed, boot added. It’s all still a little scary. I have my

next appointment in three weeks. Doc asked me if I was able to work something out with

the job interview and I am amazed that he remembered that. What a nice guy. (The job

stared Dec 15th so I remain on the eligibility list but missed out this time).

Today I did a bit of searching on the internet to see what others have experienced and

found this site and this one and here's one more .

They have different recovery experiences but all have one thing in common: it takes a long

time. I have been unemployed for almost six months now. I really need to be able to

walk NOW.

Musical memories

2010-12-03T21:45:00.000-08:00

Catching up on some of my favorite blogs today and found some stunning music

courtesy of Dangerous Minds. The post is on the Georgian singer Hamlet

Gonashvili and DM includes three songs in this post, all beautiful but the first

one - transcendant.

At first it reminded me of an old album I had in college of the USSR soldier’s

Chorus - an album of rousting spirited impassioned singing which led me to take

two years of Russian in college.

But the more I listened the more it taunted me with another musical memory - a

band from Norway that I used to play many years ago when I did a lot of radio.

Pulled out my old cd case and found them again - Bukkene Bruse. Here’s a sample.

This clip contains three different pieces. My favorite begins around 6:50.

Perhaps their singer, Arve Moen Bergset, was influenced by Hamlet.

NOTE: I wasn't able to find Hamlet's CD anywhere but he is available on iTunes,
as is Bukkene Bruse.

broken x 3

2010-11-30T16:19:00.001-08:00

On the 22, I slipped on the snowy cement and 1. dislocated, 2, broke,
3. broke again and 4. broke again - yes three breaks, my ankle.
It hurt. It really, really was shockingly painful. And then I tried to
stand up on it. omg.omg.omg.

I was in the hospital for three days and had a bunch of titanium pieces
put inside my ankle. I cannot walk on it for at least five weeks.

I was really unprepared for something like this. I'm a bit sad about
the whole thing.

I see the surgeon next Monday for follow up. Right now I have to
use a frigging walker to go to the bathroom.

Mandalas

2010-11-20T13:19:00.000-08:00

I use to draw or color mandalas as a form of meditation. I’m not much of an artist,

but the process was calming and soothing. I’ve now taken mandalas one step

further and begun embroidering them. I draw the basic portions, i.e. a circle or two,

then do the rest free hand. here’s what I have so far:

You can find out more about mandalas here. There’s also some nice photos at

the flickr mandala group.

first snow

2010-11-18T11:02:00.001-08:00

first snow
Been in a bit of a slump the past two weeks. Was told I was hired
for a job in Astoria, OR. Started packing, found a place, bookmarked
a bunch of nice places to go (Cape Disappointment!), but then they
decided not to fill the job due to new budget cuts. Oregon is
suffering financially (as is Washington, Idaho, California ...and me!).
Unemployment is a drag.

But this morning was the first snow and that has me feeling better.
I love the snow. It has magical qualities and provides comfort. Just a
bit of snow so far, but more expected.

More from St. Gertrude's

2010-10-29T12:28:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple more photos from my trip to St. Gertrude's

Monastery in Cottonwood, ID. One of the best things about my
trip was seeing the statuary and icons, especially the female angels.
As a child in Sunday School, our teacher once asked us to tell the
class what we wanted to be when we grew up. I was pretty sure
about what I wanted to be when I grew up - a Guardian Angel.
When I announced my career objective my teacher told me
that I could not be an angel because only boys could be angels.

I realized a long time ago that she was wrong, of course. And
was very pleased to see female angel statues at St. Gertrude's.
Vindicated!!

St. Gertrude's Monastery

2010-10-25T20:25:00.001-07:00

St. G - Front grounds
A couple of weeks ago I went to St. Gertrude's Monastery for a lecture on
historical researching. The monastery has a retreat center, a museum and a
brand new B & B called the Inn. The whole place is simply gorgeous:
peaceful, quiet, beautiful building, beautiful grounds, nice people.

I didn't bring my computer, wrongly assuming that the place would not have
wireless but the Inn is completely modern and each room has wifi and a flat
screen tv. The large picture window kept me completely occupied the whole
time I was in my room/

St. Gertrude's is located in Cottonwood Idaho.

Hunter Thompson: Job Hunter

2010-10-09T11:57:00.000-07:00

Came across this post on DangerousMinds about a cover letter Hunter Thompson

wrote applying for a job at the Vancouver Sun. I can see now that my cover letters

have been way off. No wonder I don’t have a job yet.

" . . . And don’t think that my arrogance is unintentional: it’s just that

I’d rather offend you now than after I started working for you.

I didn’t make myself clear to the last man I worked for until after

I took the job. It was as if the Marquis de Sade had suddenly found

himself working for Billy Graham. The man despised me, of course,

and I had nothing but contempt for him and everything he stood for.

If you asked him, he’d tell you that I’m “not very likable, (that I)

hate people, (that I) just want to be left alone, and (that I) feel too

superior to mingle with the average person.” (That’s a direct quote

from a memo he sent to the publisher.) Nothing beats having good

references."

Finished!

2010-10-08T16:23:00.001-07:00

I finished the scarf ! It was very easy and didn't take
long at all.

Hylebos Wetlands Park

2010-10-02T08:13:00.000-07:00

I visited the Hylebos Wetlands Park (south of seattle) on Monday.

It’s really a beautiful place with miles of trails but even just 100 feet in

you get the sense that you are miles away from any city life. The only

negative - no dogs allowed on the trails with you.

Knitting Time

2010-09-30T06:49:00.000-07:00

I found a scarf pattern here that I want to try. Very simple, but
done on circular needles - the only way to get vertical stripes
I suppose. It has a nice loose, boho look.

Aveda ELixir, Replacement Found

2010-09-29T17:56:00.000-07:00

If anyone out there is still looking for a replacement for Aveda’s Elixir

(the demise of which was written about here, here andhere) I finally

found something very close - Aveda’s Hang Straight. Originally purchased

for my daughter months ago because she often straightens her hair and I

thought this would help - I used it in a moment of experimentation and found

that it was quite a bit like elixer. My hair was still wavy but calmer. I used

a dime amount with good results.

The trip continues

2010-09-26T21:24:00.000-07:00

After my time in Portland and Astoria, I headed up to Seattle. Today

I went to the Fremont Market and had Abelskivers for breakfast. Then

I drove over to Issaquah to look at a few places to live. There were two that

would work well for me and one that I really loved This creek (below)

runs right by

my backyard.

I have a job interview on Tuesday (my second round) so if I am hired soon

enough, I’ll take one of the two places I found today.

Issaquah is a cute town with a mellow feel and a nice Main Street. I hear

that at certain times of day the traffic is bad but I’ll try to avoid that.

more travel

2010-09-20T09:08:00.000-07:00

I am going to Astoria Oregon for a job interview this week. I
searched for Astoria on flickr to look at local photos and was
surprised to find out what a happening place it is until I
realized I was looking at Astoria, NY. The one in Oregon
is smaller, but prettier. Here, see:

.

.

.

The job is without benefits - no medical, no sick days, no
holidays . . . where is Chris Cooper when you need him?
(Chris Cooper in Matewan that is.)

Then I also have an interview a few days later in Seattle.

This job hunting business is getting expensive.

Trip to Coleman

2010-09-06T14:44:00.000-07:00

In a few days I’m headed up to Coleman in Alberta to meet two good friends. It should be a

beautiful time of year for the drive. I’ve only been in Canada once before - two years ago

when I went to Vancouver BC to pick up Seamus. Looking forward to having a few days

there this time.

Leaving

2010-08-29T13:57:00.001-07:00

Nosey and Delaney
Originally uploaded by knowlan
Nothing settled yet but I have two strong job possibilities - one
in Seattle, one near Portland. So I shop around on Craig's list to
check out cost-of-living and am thinking I may not be able to
take my dogs with me. Both places are pricey, Seattle ridiculously
so. I might be able to take at least one of the dogs if I end up in
Portland, but Seattle - forget it.

This photo is Delaney with Nosey Flynn, taken last October.

I Dreamt of Joining the Circus

2010-08-22T09:42:00.001-07:00

I Dreamt of Joining the Circus
Originally uploaded by knowlan

In olden days, if one couldn't find a job, there was always the
possibility of joining the circus. I must be holding on to that option
in my subconscious because I had a dream about it, though I'm not
sure what talent I could use there.

I do know how to read tarot cards. I might be willing to tattoo my
entire body. And I'm good with animals of all kinds. Though these
skills are not listed on my current resume.

Never Been

2010-08-17T09:23:00.000-07:00

Every time I tell anyone that I have been to Spain numerous
times, but never to Ireland (where people seem to expect me
to have been) my ancestors turn over in their graves at
Hollywood Cemetery.

When I do manage to go, I will be taking these tips from
Ms. Flanagan of Ill Seen, Ill Said, with me.

Sherman

2010-08-12T11:55:00.001-07:00

Sherman
Originally uploaded by knowlan

Sherman -He and his partner-in-crime, Lucy, have been working
(with his owner) across the street from my house for the past
four months. He literally loves the camera - sitting still as long
as I had the camera in hand, pushing my arm with his nose when
I would try to photograph something beside himself.

A sweet, mellow dog.

BFF

2010-08-08T15:37:00.001-07:00

BFF
Originally uploaded by knowlan

Here she is - my new camera - a Canon Rebel T1i. I have a lot
to learn but am having a great time learning it. Hope to post
some good photos soon.

I spend most of my time now either taking photos or job hunting.

Bodega Bay

2010-08-05T06:49:00.001-07:00

Bodega Bay
Originally uploaded by knowlan
I went to Sonoma County this weekend to visit Ry and Katie and also to take an
exam for a job. The weather was unbelievable - cool with a light breeze. Visited
a great vintage/consignment store in Sebastopol - right next to Aubergine's. Then
headed over to Bodega Bay. It made me realize that I never again want to live as
far from the ocean as I do now.

How are Things With You, Anyway?

2010-07-24T14:35:00.000-07:00

My friend Fi asked me "how are things with you" a couple of days ago.

Fi, whose Indian name is Pollyanna Lay Down Gently, would not accept

a one-word answer, and she's the type of friend who knows when you are

bullshitting her, so I was forced to really think about how things are, and

how I feel about them and how to put it into words. Which I did:

It is strange not working. I'm in limbo - ready to move but nowhere

to move to. I have an "exam" for a job in California and I spoke to a

lady there who said over 200 people are testing for this job. I feel

like I should wear an old, wrinkled trench coat and carry a rolled up

newspaper want ads section in one pocket and a paperbag with a

pint of rye whiskey in the other and walk around dragging my feet in

black and white on my way to the soup kitchen. In other words, it's

starting to seem like the Depression . . . . .

. . . . Life seems strange now. Not bad, just strange. Have you ever

been to the movies in the old days where the movie is on two reels and
one reel flickers to the end and the low budget theater only has one
projector so the light come on for just a minute or so while they change
reels - not enough time to buy popcorn or anything useful. And you sit
there mentally suspended in the last frame of the movie, waiting, and then
the beginning of the second tape sputters and starts and the movie continues.
I feel like I am at that part - the break in reels - and it is taking a really long
time for the projectionist to get his shit together.

But I'm ok with that. As long as I get to see the end of the movie and it has

a relatively happy ending.

Image is from a fascinating article
from the Griffiths Cue-Dot Observatory.

Site Mash for Jobs

2010-07-21T10:24:00.000-07:00

I know I blogged about Site mash before. It was how I found my
itsy-bitsy Shasta trailer.

Now that I am unemployed, I am using it daily for job hunting.
I look for investigator positions, but you can type in nurse, baker
tinker, tailor . . . you get my drift. Put in whatever your job interest is,
and site mash will look through all the craigslist jobs posted in the us
and pull out the ones with oh, say, candlestick maker, for you.

Very handy.

ANd while using it . . you might want to send your good wishes out
into the universe for all those who are unemployed. Every little bit
helps!

Jewelry Display

2010-06-27T16:42:00.000-07:00

I saw an entry on jewelry display on Jane Flanagan’s blog, Ill seen, Ill Said.

The jewelry looks so neat and orderly. I use a coat rack that I painted white for my

necklaces and lace to display my earrings. Bit I think my collection looks a little

cluttered.

Happy Birthday Delaney

2010-06-18T08:05:00.001-07:00

Shasta Progress...

2010-05-16T20:33:00.000-07:00

So I haven’t done much to my Shasta yet. Most of my time has been spent on daydreaming

about future trips, to be honest, and making a to do list of all the things I hope to improve on

my little trailer.

1. New Paint Job

2. Buy an Awning

3. Get a water container

4. New floor or bamboo rug

5. Look into solar.

I got the solar idea here, see number 6. This guy has an adorable trailer! He also

suggests Baja as a good place to take a vintage trailer. I see more daydreaming in my future.

Boise Guest House - Downtown Boise, Idaho

2010-05-14T19:50:00.000-07:00

This (below) is the room I've stayed in the last four times at the Boise Guest House. Better than the first time because it is dark when I turn off the lights instead of bright from the front porch light. (Don't stay in the two front rooms unless you have a blindfold or can sleep in bright light). This room was cozy and had a clawfoot bathtub. But the place needs a better cleaning service.

The Boise Guesthouse is a cute place but has some financial drawbacks.
1. You have to pay in advance with a credit or debit card, not when you arrive.
2. If your plans change and you have to cancel you do not get your money back. LIkewise if you cut your stay short, you do not get a refund or credit for the nights you don't stay there. I had booked for five days and had to leave early for a family emergency (very sick kid) and I asked for a CREDIT - not a refund for 2 of the three nights I missed. No go. No refunds or credits, regardless of the reason. This was especially bothersome because I was a pretty regular customer for the past six months.
I won't stay there again. There is another cool place, also downtown, called Leku Ona, by the Basque Restaurant. Also cute, reasonably priced and they function like a regular hotel, i.e. you are allowed to make changes to your reservation. A much better option.

Lucinda!!

2010-05-06T06:27:00.000-07:00

I made this for my friend Lucinda's birthday today. I
call this technique "Caveman Animation" because
I know what I am doing about as much as a caveman would.
I learned a lot though,

Wearing Pants

2010-05-02T10:54:00.000-07:00

Found this post on Boing Boing about the freedom to dress how one chooses
and the centenary of "Explicit Legalization of Pants in Kansas! (Otherwise
known as ELPK Day.)"

I was in 7th grade in La Mirada, California when it became legal

for girls to wear pants to school . Doesn’t that make me sound like

I was in 7th grade in 1907? It was actually about 1972.

Finding a Place to Stay

2010-04-18T16:17:00.000-07:00

Del and I are going back to California in May for a few days for my son's graduation
from college. We found a great place to stay through a cool new site: AirBNB. Here's
where we are staying:

It's a cabana behind a lovely house and pool in Santa Rosa.

I found it through AirBNB. This site has interesting places to stay all over the world and
even if you aren't taking a trip - you can go to their home page and just watch the amazing
array of lodgings that transition through their front page.

French Photo Booth

2010-04-16T12:17:00.000-07:00

Here's a site for photobooth strips with a twist.

La Photo Cabine

It's modeled after a vintage french photo booth
(or Cabine) and looks and sounds like your're
stepping into a booth in Paris.

This would be great fun at a slumber party for
my daughter - or anytime.

Site Mash

2010-04-14T15:19:00.000-07:00

WHen I was searching for my vintage Shasta Trailer the
Shasta Site Mash was where I found it. It combined all
the craigslist and ebay postings with Shasta trailers in them.
That way I could see Shastas on sale all over the US without
having to go to different Craigslist sites for different cities.

Lucky me! There is also a site mash for jobs, vehicles
and all sorts of things. Very, very handy!

Hoover Dam

2010-04-10T15:39:00.000-07:00

I had to drive past Hoover Dam on my way to Kingman,
Arizona this week. I had no idea it is such a tourist attraction.
It took me an hour to drive the five miles before and at the
Dam. I should have planned better and stayed there longer
but it was soooo crowded I don't know that I would have been
able to deal with it . It is an awesome sight though.

From top left,
semi - clockwise:

1. Just past the
SECURITY POINT - Trucks are no longer
allowed to drive this route due to terrorist concerns - blowing
up the dam would result in massive flooding;
2. VISITOr CENTER - a huge crowded building with art deco
overtones;
3. STATUES - These were stunning! If you look carefully you
can see that people's heads are about the size of the feet of
these winged creatures;
4. PALM TREES at the dam. I have never had such a treeless
week in my life (actually it was just three days but they seemed
twice as long since there were no trees anywhere!) Palm trees
are very pretty - but they don't give one the same comfort that
other trees do;
5. MORE STATUES - A closer look at one of the statues, by
Norwegian born artist Oskar Hansen;
6. ME - The required ME shot for my 365 - pure luck that the
curvy road sign was in the side view mirror;
7. KINGMAN -Arriving in Kingman Arizona,
8. ROUTE 66 - For Americans, well, for me at least, there is a
little thrill in seeing the Route 66 sign. Here's a video montage
set to the song "Get your Kicks on ROute 66" or see Mr Nat King COOL himself sing it here..
He mentions Kingman, where I was, in the chorus.

Daisy Belle Blog

2010-03-23T20:12:00.000-07:00

I recently purchased a 1956 Shasta Trailer and
have started a blog to record my progress with it.

Daisy Belle: My 1956 Shasta Trailer

Another gift

2010-02-05T12:48:00.001-08:00

OK, so I haven't been as regular as I ought to on
the 29 days of giving. I suppose I will have to start
over.

Today (last night) I gave a gift that really had much
more of an impact than I anticipated: The stop motion
video mentioned previously. Many of my friends from
around the world welcomed my idea and trusted me
enough to participate in this birthday video for Susannah
Conway, our Unravelling teacher. You can see it here:

Susannah's Birthday Video.

Birthday stop motion

2010-01-27T20:43:00.000-08:00

I am working on a Stop motion video for a friend's birthday ,
coordinating with about 20 people who are also going to
contribute. It is going to be a lot of work so I am counting
it as one day of giving. Today I think I found the perfect music.

getting behind on 29 days of giving

2010-01-26T15:11:00.000-08:00

Let's see:

Day 7 - I gave a flickr pro account to a stranger.

Day 8 -I gave three buddha bracelets but it was all on the same day.

An atc book.

Day 9 -I gave Delaney and her boyfriend a ride.

Day 10 - I gave d an evening out listening to jazz (i never go out like that).

Day 11 - Today . . . . I gave someone a phone call two days early.

Day 6

2010-01-20T19:16:00.000-08:00

Gave Del a ride to a place I usually make her walk to . . .

Wed should be day 7

Day 4 & 5

2010-01-18T08:54:00.000-08:00

For Day 4 I gave of my time. I made a call to a friend
that I wasn't really comfortable with but I wanted to
reassure him so I did it.

Later my daughter asked me to french braid her hair
and I said no because I was in the middle of photo
stuff but then I stopped what I was doing and braided
her hair anyway.

For Day 5, I gave a Flickr proaccount to someone who had
left a comment on one of my photos because she seemed
a little vulnerable in her profile. I have to be careful with
money but I think / hope this was a good gift.

Day 3.29

2010-01-16T09:03:00.000-08:00

Today I gave a donation to the Red Cross Haiti
effort. I've sort of been trying not to think about
Haiti due to my distaste for "popular" causes. I
always prefer underdog, under publicized causes.
But today I heard a recording of some Haitian
women singing . . .

Giving Days 2 and 3

2010-01-15T12:58:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I gave my copy of the book Fairy Houses
to Clara, a very adorable little girl in Omaha NE.

Today I am giving a magazine subscription to one
of my clients on death row.

Day 1 - Helping Marandah

2010-01-13T13:38:00.000-08:00

Today is my first day of the 29 day giving challenge. Today
I gave Marandah some assistance with her fund raiser by
sending an email to some of my enlightened friends,
posting a photo on flickr, writing a little about her cause,
Baking for Bali and linking to her blog.

Then I posted the photo (below) to a bunch of different groups.

Further Unravelling Begins

2009-10-11T11:55:00.000-07:00

My class starts tomorrow: Unravelling Further.

The last class really upped my creativity level though that ended up
being bad for this blog which has been neglected. My emphasis has
been on learning about photography rather than working on my
writing (my first and true love). But it’s fall and fall has always been
good to me - maybe this fall will get me back to my wordly roots:

First task for UN - FURTHER is Why I like Fall:
Spring and Winter are tied for First Runner Up in the Favorite Season
Pageant for me. (Summer gets the Congeniality Prize). But Fall - Fall
makes me think that God may have experimented with LSD when s/he
was a teenager: magical light, surreal color, temperatures that
encourage mindfulness. During Fall, I am the person I would like to
be all year round: creative and happy.

365 - Moi

2009-07-11T13:33:00.001-07:00

I recently joined a group on Flickr that is participating
in a 365 project: 365 portraits - One a day for a year.
And it turns out they are self portraits which muddies
things up a bit. I've finished one week. You can see
my 365s here.

So far I think I like this photo the best:

Ode to Joyce

2009-06-16T06:07:00.000-07:00

Dear Mr. Joyce
I'm so dismayed
And so relieved
That you died before
I was born.
I know
you'll understand that
If I had seen your face
but once,
or heard you sing,
I would have sought you out
And charmed you
And made you love me.
Nora?
Nora who?
You would have said
And off we'd go
On the boat
And the train
To Zurich,
While Nora
Emptied bedpans
Changed sheets
And flirted with-
Slept with
Other men.
We,
You and I,
Would have been
Perfect for each other.
I would have
Calmed your fears,
Assuaged your insecurities,
Fulfilled your desires,
So much so
That all your pain
And doubts and torment
And regrets
Would have faded away.
And you would have felt
No need or desire
To write Ulysses
So you can see,
James-
Dear,
Why I am relieved
And sad
We never met.
Love,

Kelly

Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

2009-06-02T19:33:00.000-07:00

Saturday we head to Boise for the summer.
Lots to do to prepare including getting the
house here in some sort of order for when
my son and his sweetheart come here in
July.

Too busy to blog much, but I did get my
assignment done for my unravelling class:
This week we have to photograph our faces.

Here's mine:

Hasselback Potato

2009-05-26T18:23:00.000-07:00

I found this photo (and others) at Sea Salt With
Food, a very cool blog about food.

It's basically a fancy take on a baked potato with
the following ingredients:

6 Medium Size Potatoes
2 - 3 Cloves Garlic, thinly sliced
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
30 g Butter
Maldon Sea Salt
Freshly Ground Black Pepper

Click here for more info.

Hectic Week

2009-05-19T18:27:00.000-07:00

This week we are packing the whole office
and it is NOT pleasant. It's rushed and
chaotic. Haven't had a lot of time to do
posts or photos so instead here is a photo
of my feet, one I took for my Unravelling
class.

Not A Cottage

2009-05-16T11:09:00.000-07:00

I frequently peruse the Boise Craig's list
in anticipation of my relocation there and
have noticed that many people will call a
house a cottage when the house has no
attributes of a cottage. Here's one I found
this week that is NOT A COTTAGE:

This is a GARAGE and is nothing like a
cottage. Here is a real cottage:

And here are some modern variations on
that no one would take offense to being
labeled "cottage" on craig's list:

Three More Weeks

2009-05-11T19:07:00.000-07:00

About three more weeks till we head to Boise
for the summer. My office is relocating there.
It's a stressful time at work but I'm looking
forward to exploring a new town.

Whitman College

2009-05-09T10:12:00.000-07:00

Visited the Whitman College campus on Thursday
while in Walla Walla. My co-worker says it is the
Amherst of the West and that his son thought about
going there but opted for a closer to home campus.
It's a gorgeous place, especially this time of year
but if you go to their website you'd never know it.
I wonder why they don't have many photos that show
how pretty the campus is?

Purple Hills of Pomeroy

2009-05-06T17:13:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I am on the road for work and
headed back to Eastern, Washington. In
the spring, from Pomeroy to Waitsburg
the hills turn purple with a specific type
of wildflower.

Spring has come late this year, so I'm not
sure if the wildflowers will have bloomed
yet, but if they have, it will look something
like this:

Uppers, anyone?

2009-05-04T20:48:00.000-07:00

Mondays are always tough but this Monday
was exhausting. Perhaps I need a little
pick me up . . . like this woman:

This photo is from a 1956 ad for Dexidrine.
Part of it reads "why is this woman tired ?
. . . . She may be tired for either of two
reasons: because she is mentally "done
in." Many of your patients -- particularly
housewives -- are crushed under a load of
dull, routine duties that leave them in a
state of mental and emotional fatigue. For
these patients, you may find 'Dexedrine'
an ideal prescription. 'Dexedrine' will give
them a feeling of energy and well-being,"

Wow. Think I'll pass.

Saturday in the Park

2009-05-03T13:15:00.000-07:00

I try to get to the park a couple of times
a week with the dogs but inclement
weather (it snowed most recently last
Monday - APRIL 27!) has really put a
dent in our outings. Yesterday however
was shiny and bright and perfect for ball
throwing.

Downtown Walla Walla

2009-05-02T13:39:00.000-07:00

Spent a little time in downtown Walla Walla
yesterday (while there for work). They have
a very nice Main St, shops, restaurants, a
great bookstore and numerous wine tasteries.
There is also a nice old clock - perfectly
restored:

Here's a shot of the same clock in APril, 1931
when Walla Walla was having flood problems.

VERTIGO !

2009-04-28T17:08:00.001-07:00

Today I found out I have positional vertigo, most
likely brought on by Labryinthitis. (Which is cool
but strange, given my proclivity to labyrinths.
I feel like a mythological being now.)

PV makes one feel like they just got off the Tilt-A-
Whirl. It isn’t a continual feeling, but a frequent
one, i.e. everytime I move my head I feel the Tilt-A-
Whirl feeling. Mix that with frequent queasiness and
a severe lack of balance that makes me look like Ray
Milland in The Lost Weekend and that pretty much
describes my last two days. The doc gave me some
strange exercises to do that should have this cleared
up within a week.. Fingers crossed.

Macy's Day Parade

2009-04-22T18:17:00.000-07:00

My daughter is going to NY in November to
play saxophone in the US High School
marching band at the Macy's Day Parade.
SHould be a lot of fun for her. Her's a photo
of her with her other instrument:

Last Elixir Post

2009-04-19T13:25:00.001-07:00

Last month while in Boise, scoping out the town,
I got my hair cut at an Aveda salon and got a
new take on the mysterious demise of Aveda Elixir.
(old posts about Elixir can be found here, here and
here. )

When I asked the girl cutting my hair “Whatever
happened to Elixir?” in my best investigator-like
nonchalant voice, used to throw off witnesses when
I am trying to get at important information, she
answered:

“Oh I think that was because it was found to contain
cancer causing ingredients. That happens sometimes
at our staff meetings. They’ll tell us this or that is being
discontinued because they have just found out one
of the ingredients causes cancer ...”

That would certainly explain why they have a hush-hush
attitude towards the whole thing.

A Busy Four Months

2009-04-18T11:16:00.000-07:00

Have I mentioned work is insane right now?
In addition to scary looming deadlines, the
office is preparing to relocate to Boise. I will
be relocating for the summer to Boise before
making the permanent switch in June 2010.
I'm hoping I can deal with the heat.

I have also signed up for Susannah Conway's
Unravelling course as a way to make certain
I have time for something other than work.
I don't know if the class is full or not but
you can probably find out here.

Recent trip to Monterey

2009-04-17T18:59:00.000-07:00

I recently went to Monterey for the annual CACJ Death
Penalty Conference. Here's a few photos of my
lovely room w/ balcony (@Monterey Marriot) and
the nearby wharf area. Perfect weather while I was
there - cloudy + sunny.

My Summer Home

2009-04-16T20:08:00.000-07:00

Its been a rough couple of months with extended hours
at work, a looming deadline, and an upcoming office
relocation to a new town. I'm moving to the new town
too, though just for the summer, and trying to get it
all arranged - a furnished place, what to do with the
doggies, coordinating it all with Delaney's summer plans
- has been chaos.

But some good news at last : I've found a summer pad.
It's very cute, shady, has wood floors, is close enough to walk
to work and Nosey is welcome. NOw I just need to figure
out Seamus arrangements.

Here's the house (Miles, the cute dog, not included) :

National Tartan Day

2009-04-04T20:36:00.000-07:00

Monday, April 6 is National Tartan Day, the national
holiday for all Scottish Americans. Though the
majority of my ancestors are Irish, I was pleased to
discover the existence of a GGGGG-Grandfather
named Thomas Lockett, born in Lanark, Scotland.
Lockett is a name which many to believe to be a
form of Lockhart, perhaps mangled into Lockett
upon coming to the US.

In 1683 Thomas Lockett bought land from Priscilla
Farrar. This land was described as "on Appomattox
River between the Spring and Deep Bottom" in Virginia.
Thomas named his land "Scotland Hills" and left it to
his oldest son, Benjamin Lockett, in his will.

Below is the tartan of Clan Lockart. You can look up
the tartan for your clan here.

Deadline

2009-02-25T07:51:00.001-08:00

An important deadline is looming re an Atkins claim
that is taking all my time at work and home. Hope to
return to leisurely posting soon. . . .

White Christmas

2008-12-23T19:56:00.000-08:00

Good grief it's cold. . . . and so much
snow. These photos were taken in our front
yard. Merry Christmas!

A Trip to Stonehenge

2008-12-16T19:24:00.000-08:00

Traveling back to Idaho from Vancouver Washington
I drove on the Lewis & Clark Highway on the WA side
of the Columbia River instead of the more traveled
Highway 84 on the Oregon side. A little bit longer
but well worth it for the stop in Maryhill to see
the lifesize replica of Stonehenge - a memorial to
the men of Klickitat COunty who died in World War
Two.

The site doesn't appear to get many visitors which
seems a shame. It's secluded, yet less than a mile
from the highway. There are beautiful views and the
large stone fixtures are impressive. great for tiding
one over until a trip to England and the real Stonehenge
is possible.

Roslyn

2008-12-08T15:52:00.000-08:00

I passed through Roslyn on the way to Sumner
WA last week and saw this famous sign.

I thought when I saw this on Northern Exposure
it had a moose in the middle instead of a camel
but maybe I am thinking of this sort of scene
(see below) which may have been in the opening
sequence for the show.

Purple House on Polk

2008-11-15T20:48:00.000-08:00

The purple house on Polk street has always been
one of my favorites but this fall it really shined.
I don't know if the owner planned for these fall
colors or just got lucky:

Happy First Birthday Seamus!

2008-10-30T20:45:00.001-07:00

Today we celebrated Seamus' birthday
by having a picnic at Robinson Park.

Seamus' best friend Nosey came and a
lovely time was had by all.

Lolo Pass

2008-10-28T16:23:00.000-07:00

Last week on my trip I went over Lolo
Pass for the first time:

Most of the roads I travel are riddled
with historical markers about Lewis and
Clark. I often see one right about the
time I am bemoaning the lack of bath-
rooms or restaurants on my route, then I'll
pass an L & C sign and remember how good
I have it.

So during the third week of October there
was already snow on the pass. So pretty!

A bit after the pass is the Montana border
where one can see this charming sign which,
for me at least, resulted in a big reduction
in speed.

DeVoto Cedar Grove

2008-10-24T19:30:00.000-07:00

Between the town of Lowell Idaho and Lolo
Pass on Highway 12 site the DeVoto Cedar
Grove. You have a choice to walk through
the grove on the north side of the highway
or the south side. The photos below are of
the north side which has diverging paths
and a small stream that runs down the the
loud river on the other side. Lots of ferns
and tall cedars here in this dark and magical
faerie habitat.

On the Road

2008-10-23T18:39:00.000-07:00

I've been traveling through Idaho and Montana
for the past two days and I highly recommend
October as the best month to drive through
these two beautiful states. Here's a few
photos of Lowell, Idaho, a town one drives
through traveling East on Highway 12 towards
Lolo Pass.

Below is the pretty view from the pricey gas
station in Lowell - the last place to buy gas
till after the Pass, which is why they charge
$4.39 a gallon, I suppose.

And below, the City of Lowell sign with its
ominous overtones.

The Bluest Eye

2008-10-15T18:04:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I look back and forth at Seamus' eyes
trying to decide which one is my favorite. Brown
or blue. There's the brown eye actually its 2/3
brown with 1/3 blue at the top - when you look at
it you can see what a handsome dog he is; and the
blue eye, which makes him look a bit fey, like a
dog from Brigadoon or Avalon.

I really can't decide.

Columbus Day in the Park

2008-10-13T09:33:00.000-07:00

Thank you Christopher for another day off work!
We've already spent an hour at the park - very
pretty, cold, clear fall day. Now I'm working
on my daughter's Halloween costume. Later,
cleaning out the car and reading ... Nice.

Aveda - The Third Circle of Hell

2008-10-07T16:41:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time there was a remarkable hair
product for people with curly or frizzy hair
called Aveda Elixir. It was a great product
until some evil ne'er-do-well (with smooth sleek
hair no doubt) discontinued the product.

You can read about my past frustrations with the Aveda
Product Elixir here and here

Today I got an anonymous comment from another
former Aveda user:

“I just spoke to a representative at Aveda who said
that Elixir was discontinued because it was of their
"HIGH" standards, and now they have a new product
for $24.00 that is better. I asked her for a sample,
and she told me to go out and buy one. I told her
I've been buying this product probably before she was
born. I'm so pissed I can't tell you...I have curly
hair and elixir was the only product that ever made
my hair look good... “

I completely commiserate. Not only is it bad business
to discontinue a popular product without any warning
or explanation, it’s also just plain stupid not to
offer free samples of the new product you’re trying
to replace the old product with.

I used to be a big Aveda fan but really, those people
have no class. Nor manners.

As for my hair, I've learned to embrace my natural
curl ...