Thoughts

Big Storm & Power Outage

Two weeks ago there was a nasty storm out here and our power was out for 4 days. That was fun. We got a small generator and did our best to save all the food in the fridge and freezer. We saved most of it, which was really good. We were also lucky to have a gas fireplace and a gas water heater. So we slept in the living room by the fire and had hot showers, because those were working fine. We now want to talk the owner of the house into replacing the electric stove with a gas one. It would be nice to be able to cook too even if the power goes out. They say this storm was so bad because in Nov. we had record rainfall, and the ground was so soggy that when this nasty windstorm showed up that it was able to pull up more trees then normally would have been true because the ground wasn't able to hold onto them. The worst damage here at our house was 1. that some water got into the garage and soaked some boxes and such. 2. The gate in the fence on the side of the garage got ripped off it's hinges. Thoughts item Posted: 12/31/06; 11:59:01 AM

We moved to Vashon

So, my site and all hobbies have fallen by the side while we were moving (official move was the end of July). We now live on Vashon Island. There was a four day hell move that I don't even want to talk about, except to say that we have some amazing friends who helped us a lot. Thank you all. It's peaceful, the air is clean, we see lots of stars at night (Perseids meteor showers this month!), and we see beautiful sunsets almost every day. I'm not used to seeing deer on the side of the road yet. My first thought is that it isn't real, and then it moves and I get all excited about it. I realized this early this morning on our way in to town to work from the internet cafe. Hopefully our internet connection will be installed on Thursday. I can't wait. ~Snow Thoughts item Posted: 8/8/06; 7:10:10 PM

Learning Tango

I started learning tango a couple months ago. It's interesting, and I like the dynamic between lead and follow. As a follow I don't need to think about what the next step will be, that's the leads job, but I do need to remember a whole bunch of things at once, primarily to stay connected properly with the lead so that I will be able to interpret what they want me to do. Some of the other things I need to try and remember all at once are: 1) lean in and keep a steady amount of pressure against the lead, 2) resist first before moving, 3) always have all my weight on one foot or the other, almost never split, 4) relax, 5) keep my hips under me, 6) don't lean on the lead too much, I should still have my own balance, 7) enjoy it. (I'm sure there's more, but it's been a few weeks since I last had a class.) I have hopes that this will be easier for me than Swing because the moves are not led through the arms, but instead the chest. Swing is very hard on my shoulders. We're starting a new set of classes this next week, and I'm looking forward to them. Last time we did mainly close embrace, the most difficult part of which, for me, was the height difference. The leads in the class were seven to ten inches taller than me, which means I wasn't so much face-to-face with them, as face-to-chest. This time we will be mainly doing open embrace, which I know will be easier. Thoughts item Posted: 4/30/05; 7:03:19 PM

Worst Monday in recent memory

I don't normally post this sort of thing, but it's so unusual that I figured I should record it for posterity. I'm currently moving into the "fried and weary, but have no more obligations" part of the worst Monday I've had in recent memory. It started on Sunday at about 11 am. Michael and I had a big contract deadline looming on Monday morning, and knew we had to work over the weekend. We put in 6 hours on Saturday. But there was more that needed doing then even we expected. Or at least we didn't realize just how long it was going to take. So we start back into it Sunday at 11 am. We worked all day, Just taking short breaks for lunch and dinner. We kept working and working, hoping that the end was just around some mythical corner. (Maybe another hour, 30 minutes, 15, we're really close, almost there....) There is some sort of magical equation where the amount of time left is always four to eight times longer than you hope it is. When the first signs of dawn started to appear around 6 am it was surreal. That was the point where we hoped we were 30-45 minutes from done. Ha! Based on my equation, you can probably make a good guess about how that went. Yeah, I climbed into bed at about 11:40 am today. I'd been up for about 26 hours at that point, and working for the better part of 25 of those. We got it done, we sent it in, recipient confimed that she had it. So, all of that is good. I slept for about 4.5 hours and then got back up to put in a couple hours on some other work that really needed to get done today. I'm running a little slow, so that took 3 hours. And now, as I said before, I'm moving into that "fried and weary, but have no more obligations" part of the worst Monday I've had in recent memory. Wow, I never want to do anything like this again. Thoughts item Posted: 4/11/05; 9:02:30 PM

Bob-cat (1993-2004) Rest In Peace
I only just recently learned that Bob-cat, who was once my kitty, died last fall. He was put to sleep because they found he had a big tumor around his stomach. He was about eleven and a half years old. Since I have a web-page on this site for him and his fans, from way back when, I thought I should mention this here. Thoughts item Posted: 3/21/05; 9:16:30 PM

Happy Valentine's Day!
Thank you, Momma, for the roses! Thoughts item Posted: 2/14/05; 10:20:26 AM

Script
What does it mean to you? I've just had a surreal moment where I had to read a sentence 3 times because I had the meaning wrong in my head. I can tell now that I spend too much time around computer programs, because the script in question was by a writer, not a programer, and he meant a movie script. Thoughts item Posted: 1/13/05; 6:41:52 PM

post election quote that says it all
"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote." -Benjamin Franklin Thoughts item Posted: 11/3/04; 5:07:43 PM

My brother's home from Iraq

My brother and I aren't terribly close, I won't pretend otherwise, but I like him, I always have. His wife and I have been keeping in touch this last year or two, and she's been keeping me up to date on how things are going. And she's been sending me updates the whole time he's been in Iraq. I'm really glad he's home now. Jessica sent me this picture of their 3 am reunion last week. Emma was really cranky, apparently, so she wouldn't look at the camera. Not that anyone could blame her. Thoughts item Posted: 9/21/04; 7:49:50 PM

Love and sex, I hate it when people make assumptions

Why is it that people have to be "closeted" or "out" about who they love and how, if it's not the strictest accepted default? Why is the default Straight, Monogomous, and Missionary? I tend to think that what happens in my bedroom and with whom isn't anyones business unless I say that it is. I'm rather private about such things. But does that mean I'm either doing things in the default way, or that I'm closeted? No. I'm not straight. I'm not monogamous. I don't have sex in the same position every time. And if I have sex it's for pleasure, not because I want children. In fact I generally despise children and certainly don't want any. I also despise censoring myself here, on my own weblog, because of who might read it. I try not to, but it's socially ingrained and I have to fight the instinct. I mentioned something here about being poly awhile back and I got the reaction from a few people that they noticed I had outed myself. *Sheesh* It came up in the context of a book review. I don't air my dirty laundry here, I don't write updates on my personal life, but I do write reviews of things I watch, read, or listen to and I try to be honest about my responses and reactions to those things. I try to do my part to shift the balance, by talking as casually as possible about such things, as appropriate, when it comes up in conversation naturally. I don't act ashamed or as if I have any responsibility to inform others of these things. I never have. * * * * * (This was originally written six months ago, I've touched it up a little and am finally posting it.) Thoughts item Posted: 9/17/04; 9:51:25 PM

Vote!

If you are old enough to vote, then you should be registered to vote. I mean Right Now! And if you can sign up for getting Absentee Ballots, then you should do it. I'm lucky enough to live in a place where anyone can sign up for getting absentee ballots anytime and in an ongoing fashion without proving you need it. With the coming of electronic voting I'm as worried as I could be about a lack of papertrail of our actual votes. Nothing to recount if needed, and I've heard disturbing things about how easy it would be for someone to hack into these voting machines and changes the votes. I don't know that electronic voting is coming to my neighborhood anytime soon, but I still want to recommend that anyone who can, should sign up for absenttee ballots. I've been voting this way for years and I find it a lot easier then having to remember to go to the polls on the right day. I get to vote at my convenience a week or two beforehand. (Click the header link for local voter info for King County, Washington) Thoughts item Posted: 8/11/04; 2:59:51 PM

Happy Solstice!

Makes me itch to set my sun dial, but I dont' have one. It's been hot, very hot here in Seattle. Well, we think so anyway. We haven't had a string of hot days like this since 1996 apparently: "It's the heat wave that won't quit, it seems. Today marks the 5th straight day at 85 or warmer in Seattle -- the first time that's happened since July 23-27 in 1996. " (from KomoTV.com/weather) And the forecast says it's supposed to hit 80 for at least two more days. Yuck, make it stop! Thoughts item Posted: 6/21/04; 7:31:46 PM

Thunder and Lightning in Seattle!

I haven't seen this kind of lightning storm ever in Seattle. Not in 15 years that I've lived here. And I often moan about missing the thunder and lightning storms I would get in the summer back east of the Rockies. So I was very excited to see this on the way home from a birthday party on Thursday night at 1 am. It was over Bellevue I think, and the best view I got was from Denny just past the Seattle Center. I wanted to just stare at the sky, but I had to watch traffic too since I was driving. Oh, but it was beautiful! More please! Thoughts item Posted: 6/19/04; 11:14:17 AM

June 13th in history (mine)

This day in (my) history.... Friday, June 13th, 1980 - I was mauled by a dog, got to ride in an ambulance, and have reconstructive surgery on my face/head. And I'll bet a lot of people who know me still don't know this. My scar is not so obvious 24 years later, and if it comes up in conversation I'm pleased to hear that most people haven't even noticed it until I point it out. Needless to say I have a bit of a superstition about Friday the 13th. I'd prefer to stay home and in bed if I could, but I figure if something really bad is actually destined to happen, then the house would burn down, so what's the point. Also, June 13th never passes me by without a little reflective thought on my life and where I'm at now and how I feel about this event in my past. I think most people do this on their birthdays. I'm certainly in a better place today then I was one year ago, when Michael and I were having major problems. We are still together, much happier, and our relationship is stronger then ever. Other stuff feels a bit rocky in my life today, but in comparison it doesn't seem like such a big deal. Perspective can be a very grounding thing for me. Thoughts item Posted: 6/13/04; 6:17:14 PM

Don't Buy Gas Drive On May 19th

I get one of these messages in email every six months or so, and I find them fairly pointless. I believe that they never get enough participation to make a difference, and the people who are participating are just buying gas the day before, or the day after. So the oil companies don't really notice the difference. They aren't actually loosing any money if you just buy on a different day. As it is I drive very little and only buy gas every two or three weeks, unless I take a trip. So, I probably won't buy gas on 5/19 anyway, and the oil companies won't lose a wink of sleep. I think it would be more useful to get people to Not Drive for One Day. That would effect there gas consumption. That would mean actual Gas Not Bought Ever. Walk, Bike, Bus, but don't drive your car on May19th. That would be something I could get behind. Thoughts item Posted: 5/14/04; 5:43:15 PM

Happy Valentine's Day

"The popular customs associated with Saint Valentine's Day undoubtedly had their origin in a conventional belief generally received in England and France during the Middle Ages, that on 14 February, i.e. half way through the second month of the year, the birds began to pair." (more) The most pagan and believable information on this holiday I've ever found. I hope everybody has fun. ~ Snow Thoughts item Posted: 2/14/04; 12:36:19 PM

A first time for everything

A strange thing happened last week. A good thing. I got to meet a friend of mine, for the first time in person, after almost four years. Now, to some this may sound like some sort of internet thing, but it's not. It's a phone thing. You see, I was at a friends house (4 yrs ago) and she was doing dishes when the phone rang, and she said "Will you get that, it's Erik." and thus a friendship was born. Thoughts item Posted: 2/12/04; 11:05:11 PM

it's snowing again
It's snowing like crazy outside this morning. (Capitol Hill, Seattle) When I got up there was already a couple inches, at least, on the ground. And it's coming down even harder now then it was then. So glad I don't need to drive anywhere. Thoughts item Posted: 1/6/04; 10:11:46 AM

Merry Christmas!

Yesterday consisted mostly of madly getting all the last things done that needed doing. Oh, and in the middle of that insanity the fire alarm went off in the building. Michael was a little more worried about it then I remember him ever being before. (False alarms happen here a few times a year, and it's my understanding that they have all been false alarms.) He kept asking if I thought we should go outside just in case. I was a bit out of my head, making cookies or something, and just kept looking at him like he was mad, but telling him that if he really thought we ought to then I would go out with him. But then after 10 or 15 minutes it stopped finally. Ivo, who has been living with us these last couple months was amazed that I was going about my business while this alarm blared aggravatingly all around me. Another thing to know here is that the alarm speaker-holes in our apartment are stuffed with cotton because they are set up to be so loud and aggravating as to drive you out of the building. With the cotton in them they are still quite loud, but they are worse in the hallways, and I refuse to leave unless I hear actual fire trucks. Those came along a little later, but since the alarm had stopped I didn't worry about it. Mom and Donna came over for dinner. Michael had mercifully taken over responsibility for cooking the halibut steaks. And he apparently did a marvelous job. My mother doesn't really like fish very much in general, but she ate every last bite of hers, saying it was quite good. So dinner was a success. Yay! Then we sat around and drank egg nog and opened presents. Everyone seemed to be very happy with their presents, which always makes the givers extra happy. Yay, another success. Then they headed home and I thought I might just pass out immediately from exhaustion, but managed not to. Mom called a few minutes later to say they had run into someone on their way out who told them that there really had been a fire in the building after all. ... Oh... well... I'm glad it wasn't too serious. This afternoon I ran into a security guard in the hallway who told me that it happened in an apartment on the third floor, at the other end of the building that is being used for storage by one of the shops in the Market, and they aren't quite sure yet what started it, but the sprinklers came on and took care of it before they could find it. The real hassle is that water from the sprinklers ran down into three apartments on the second floor and the shops in the market below them. He said there didn't seem to be much damage, mostly the water was in the walls and more importantly no one got hurt. So, that's good. Just a hassle really, nothing serious. Anyway, Michael and I slept in this morning, which was very nice. Then got up and exchanged presents here just the two of us, which was a lot of fun. And the rest of the day has been filled with lounging about and doing a lot of nothing. This also included calls to and from family and friends with well wishes, and watching Pirates of the Caribbean. Yay! So, I've recovered nicely from yesterdays madness. All in all a good holiday is being had. Merry Christmas! I hope everybody has a good mix of fun and relaxing. ~Snow Thoughts item Posted: 12/25/03; 6:46:36 PM

It's definitely December
We've got the tree up and are scrambling to get the gift stuff done and then we have to get ready to have a few folks over on Xmas Eve. The stress of December is definitely here. (Above: Our tree and new ornaments) Thoughts item Posted: 12/20/03; 6:14:36 PM

Michael's New Beard Style!
NEW! Michael changed his beard style this week and he is trying to get as many peoples opinions as possible on how it compares to the old style which he's had for many years. So, if you know either of us and already have our email address, then write and tells us what you think. OLD! Thoughts item Posted: 10/31/03; 8:44:24 PM

Happy name day to Me and my Mom!

For those who don't know, three years ago today my mother and I went in front of a judge together and got our names legally changed. We had both been using my father's (unaffectionately known as the sperm donor) last name for 25+ years, and we had recently discovered that we were each keeping it for the other. So, we went right out and took care of that. She took her maiden name back and I took on this chosen name which I had been using unofficially for several years already. Thoughts item Posted: 10/30/03; 10:08:11 AM

There was a pretty sunset tonight
... and I got a couple pictures before it disappeared behind the mountains. Thoughts item Posted: 10/21/03; 11:35:50 PM

I hate being sick

I'm sick damnit. I started feeling yucky over the weekend, and yesterday it turned into a more obvious head cold, and I didn't sleep well at all last night, so now I really feel like crap. I don't have time to be sick, there is too much I need to be doing. But my body doesn't care, it's decided I need a break maybe. So, I'm resting in the hopes that I won't get any worse. This just sucks. Thoughts item Posted: 9/30/03; 2:10:59 PM

Look! I got new glasses.
I've been wearing the same frames for 12 years. They were the first ones I ever had. I've had the lenses and therefore my perscription updated several times since, but I always kept the same frames. But not this time. Michael says these look really nice on me, but they are still driving me a little nuts after 3 or 4 days. I hope I get used to them soon. Thoughts item Posted: 9/25/03; 11:50:16 PM

Hairball from Hell!

Michael did a double take when he saw this thing today. "Holy Shit!" is, I think, what he said as he jumped slightly. This tumbleweed appeared as I swept the carpet today. Why was I sweeping the carpet? Because if I just try to vacuum, the roller in the head of the machine gets clogged with the long hairs I shed. I have to take it apart and clean out the hairs I miss in the sweep everytime. I put this hairball in a bag and I'm trying to think of what I can do with it. Thoughts item Posted: 9/14/03; 11:36:51 PM

Lughnasadh (Aug. 1st)

"on or about August 1st: Also known as: Lugnasad, Lammas, Cornucopia, Thingtide, Lammastide, Lughomass, Festival of Light, Latha Lunasdal Falling midway between Summer Solstice and Autumnal Equinox is the cross-quarter holiday of Lughnasadh, which is the first in the trilogy of harvest festivals, Lughnasadh, Mabon and finally Samhain. It is at the time of Lughnasadh when the days suddenly seem to shorten and the nights grow longer." Thoughts item Posted: 8/2/03; 12:49:53 PM

Kittens

I think we are on the verge of getting a kitten or two. We went and looked at a litter of kittens last week and fell in love with the one you see Michael holding here, but later found out that he was already claimed. Then I did some research on local shelters and found that for the relatively small amount of money they want for each animal you adopt they include all sorts of expensive stuff, like first shots and first check up and getting them fixed. Some of them even give you a bag of food and/or litter. "Free" kittens end up being a lot more expensive. Thoughts item Posted: 7/20/03; 12:29:52 PM

*Getting to know you* (me) questions

Tonight I got one of those surveys where you answer questions about yourself and send it around to friends and hope they send it back. I haven't seen one in a few years and I find it amusing. Plus I had a lazy evening with no plans so I posted the questions to a page here, rearranged them, reworded some, deleted some, and added several new ones of my own. To tell me about you, copy the text of the page, paste it into a peice of email and send it to me. If you don't have my email address you'll have to use the "Send Me a Message" link below because I refuse to post my email address where spammers can get it. Oh, and if you can think of other fun questions you think I should add, let me know. Thoughts item Posted: 6/27/03; 12:27:39 AM

Midsummer/Summer Solstice

Summer Solstice falls at the precise moment when the Sun's power is at its zenith. It is the time of year when the noon sun appears to be farthest north from the celestial equator. "Solstice" is Latin for "sun stands still" (sol "sun" and sistere "to stand"). Summer Solstice is so named because to the naked eye the sun appears stationary in its northern and southern progression. The sun is directly over the tropic of Cancer at the summer solstice, at which time the sun is 23°27' north. The sun travels 23.5 degrees to reach its maximum distance from the celestial equator during both the summer and winter solstice. June 21 - Last Quarter Moon. Summer solstice occurs at 2:11 p.m. CDT when the sun reaches its northernmost extension from the celestial equator. Daylight period is greatest and night is shortest of the year on this day. (From: http://www.sal.wisc.edu/spaceplace/) Thoughts item Posted: 6/21/03; 2:07:03 PM

Friday the 13th

Am I superstitious? Yep. Unfortunately, or fortunately, I can never decide. Today is specifically the 23rd anniversary of when I was attacked/mauled by a dog as a child. It happened on Friday, June 13th, 1980. It's been so long that most June 13th's pass me by without too much thought, but on the rare Friday, June 13th I get a little twitchy. I'm not gonna hide under the covers all day. In fact I just got back from dropping Michael off at the airport. I was a little more cautious on the drive than normal, but that's about it. If anything interesting happens I'll add it here. 1. One of our servers (for web services) has gone down 3 times this morning. 1 am, 6:30 am, and 8 am, so far. I had to get out of bed twice to restart it, and the middle time I was in the car so it had to wait until I got back. 2. Michael was a little later than he should have been getting to the airport, there was a 40 min wait in line for security, his plane was mostly boarded when he got to it and there was no room for his carry on bag in any overheads so he had to check it. Someone asked if he would change seats so they could sit with there sweetie and when the stewardess came looking for him to give him his baggage claim ticket she had a hard time finding him because of the move. But he got it, he's now safely in Oakland. So, nothing major as yet, just minor annoyances, but it's only 10 am. In my lifetime there have been five Friday, June 13th's. 1975, 1980, 1986, 1997, and 2003. Today is only the third one since the dog attack in 1980. The next one will be in 2008. Oh did I happen to mention the full moon tonight? Why on earth did I ever get out of bed this morning? Thoughts item Posted: 6/13/03; 7:05:28 AM

Spring Equinox/Ostara

Happy Spring! "OSTARA (around March 21st but date may vary by more than two days) also known as: Spring Equinox, Alban Eiler, Esther, Eostre, Ostarun, ôstartag', Eastre, Eoastrae, Oestre The first true day of Springtide. The days and nights are now equal in length as the Young God continues to mature and grow. We begin to see shoots of new growth and swelling buds on the trees. Energy is building as the days become warmer with promise." Note: The 2003 vernal equinox will occur at 5:00 p.m. PST, 20 March 2003, when spring begins in the Northern Hemisphere. (Oops, I'm a little late.) Thoughts item Posted: 3/21/03; 10:26:16 AM

Merry Christmas!
I hope you are having a lovely holiday. I know I am. I got some lovely books as presents and I've started reading four of them already. Thoughts item Posted: 12/25/02; 4:02:59 PM

Looking for a kitten

I can't believe I'm looking for a kitten again. I worry that I don't have time, that I can't afford it, and I don't want to have to deal with the litter box or any other sort of mess, but really I love cats, and it always works out okay when I actually have one in the house. I have a serious soft spot for big guys, the close to 20 lbs kind. Like Bob. I have a weakness for black cats, but I like all sorts of different colorings. Thoughts item Posted: 9/30/02; 10:25:07 PM

New Blog Section

I have set up this blog so that I can post random thoughts and bits of information, articles I see online, whatever strikes my fancy. These things don't belong on a page of their own. They are much more suited to this blog framework. The only way I could have done this on my main website would have been to make it the home page there. I didn't want to, so instead I am starting this new site, as a subdomain, but then pretending it is just another part of the site. I hope it works. ~Snow Thoughts item Posted: 9/21/02; 2:28:37 PM