We've had a very quiet start to the year. Our get together with neighbors ended well before midnight. Just before the hour, JD walked up to me and showed me the seconds counting up to midnight on his iphone, so we were on time with our kiss. And that was it.
Today all I've done is laze about and pack up Christmas decorations. And make chili. Originally I had thought about doing a brisk 12 mile stroll today, but when I woke up with a migraine I chucked that idea. Maybe tomorrow.
I'm sad to see the lights go away, but then again I don't want to live with them all year. The house is a much less merry place without all the twinkly lights, I must say. I think I'm having post-Christmas let-down.
I think I'll go curl up with a dog and a book. Happy 2012, y'all.
Showing posts with label xmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label xmas. Show all posts
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
The first two laws are also interesting
Christmas got me to thinking, once again, about how very weird our culture is, sometimes. We don't believe in magic. Magic is evil. Magic is from Satan. (We apparently do believe in Satan, whoever, who is an invisible, persnickety, kinda magical figure.) UNLESS.. we are talking about our children. We teach our children a fairly large store of magical lore concerning Santa, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy. Santa and the Easter Bunny coincide with religious holidays but are not, themselves, instruments of religion. If I recall my history correctly, they're remnants of pagan rituals inherited from older cultures. Which, fine. Let's do May Day too.
The part that bugs me is we teach kids that magic exists, that it's real, and then later we tell them that it's not. This was bugging me. What's the point? So I asked a father of young children. His answers were enlightening.
1) Mythical figures are a great way to get children to behave. You better stop hitting your sister, or we're going to tell Santa you were bad and he'll skip this house this year.
2) Children WANT to believe in magic. A lot of things seem magical to them anyway, because they don't know enough yet to understand how things work. A fat man who annually breaks into their house to drop off presents, who knows all their secrets, who has a herd of flying reindeer, really isn't that different from the magic box that flies up when you push a button (the elevator), the magic box that is cold and lit up inside (the refrigerator), or the box that holds the magically replenished food (the cupboard, after Mom goes to the store.) I'm old enough to have forgotten how many things happened inexplicably when I was a child. I mean, until I was a teenager I thought the car JUST KNEW when Dad was going to turn a corner, and signaled everybody else for him. I had no idea that there was a turn signal lever.
Since children are effectively primitives, Clark's 3rd law applies to much that they encounter: "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."
I studied physics in college because I wanted to know how things worked. Once I found out that most things could be explained, I needed to know. I wonder if that is a common reaction in our little primitive minds, once we start to grasp that everything doesn't work by magic. Or do most, instead, cling to the magic? Which way is better for you? Do you want to know how those fireworks work? Or do you prefer it to be magic?
The part that bugs me is we teach kids that magic exists, that it's real, and then later we tell them that it's not. This was bugging me. What's the point? So I asked a father of young children. His answers were enlightening.
1) Mythical figures are a great way to get children to behave. You better stop hitting your sister, or we're going to tell Santa you were bad and he'll skip this house this year.
2) Children WANT to believe in magic. A lot of things seem magical to them anyway, because they don't know enough yet to understand how things work. A fat man who annually breaks into their house to drop off presents, who knows all their secrets, who has a herd of flying reindeer, really isn't that different from the magic box that flies up when you push a button (the elevator), the magic box that is cold and lit up inside (the refrigerator), or the box that holds the magically replenished food (the cupboard, after Mom goes to the store.) I'm old enough to have forgotten how many things happened inexplicably when I was a child. I mean, until I was a teenager I thought the car JUST KNEW when Dad was going to turn a corner, and signaled everybody else for him. I had no idea that there was a turn signal lever.
Since children are effectively primitives, Clark's 3rd law applies to much that they encounter: "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."
I studied physics in college because I wanted to know how things worked. Once I found out that most things could be explained, I needed to know. I wonder if that is a common reaction in our little primitive minds, once we start to grasp that everything doesn't work by magic. Or do most, instead, cling to the magic? Which way is better for you? Do you want to know how those fireworks work? Or do you prefer it to be magic?
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Even better, when we got home? Leftover Xmas cookies.
I'm back! Did you miss me? I was off having adventures. And this time most of my adventures didn't involve blisters OR extreme sidetrips into the realm of stinkiness. Much.
JD and I flew out to see my Mom and Dad for Christmas. We're on a three year rotation. Last year was JD's Mom's year. This year was mine. Next year, we're staying home. In theory anybody is welcome to travel to our home for Christmas, but in practice there is a strong bias in favor of the bipedal grandchildren. Presumably because Dori refuses to wait until Christmas morning to open the presents.
So JD and I flew into Phoenix, and then we stopped. Previously we flew into Phoenix, rented a car, drove for a couple of hours, and then collapsed for two days at the other end. Stopping in Phoenix is so much easier. AND it meant that we got to eat at Sweet Tomatoes, which is a wonderful restaurant, existing only in places where we do not, currently, live. So after a good night's sleep and more salad than you can shake a fork at, we finally arrived at Chez Mom and Dad.
It was a pretty nice, relaxed Christmas. I love nice, relaxed Christmases. We did jigsaw puzzles, and went for walks, and calmly discussed the fact that I want nothing to do with Skype. And we ate. We ate A LOT. I'm afraid to get on my scale now. Not so much because the number will be higher. More because I'm afraid I will give it a hernia. My double chin grew an extra chin this weekend. I blame that bitch See, whoever she is, and her yummy, yummy candies.
On Saturday JD and I went for a hike in the Dells, which are fantastic weathered granitic formations. In three hours, while almost completely covered, and with two applications of sunscreen, I burnt both my hands and my face. I am not made for desert living.
On Monday we started the travel in reverse, only this time we didn't go to Sweet Tomatoes. We went to Julio's and had excellent Mexican food and met up with my hiker friend Phoenix Rising. I suppose I feel like I know her a lot better than I really do. We hiked together in 2005, and then I saw her for like 90 seconds last year. But we've kept in touch, and she sent me trail magic all during 2010. She's planning to hike a big chunk of trail this year, and I hope to return the favor.
JD and I flew out to see my Mom and Dad for Christmas. We're on a three year rotation. Last year was JD's Mom's year. This year was mine. Next year, we're staying home. In theory anybody is welcome to travel to our home for Christmas, but in practice there is a strong bias in favor of the bipedal grandchildren. Presumably because Dori refuses to wait until Christmas morning to open the presents.
So JD and I flew into Phoenix, and then we stopped. Previously we flew into Phoenix, rented a car, drove for a couple of hours, and then collapsed for two days at the other end. Stopping in Phoenix is so much easier. AND it meant that we got to eat at Sweet Tomatoes, which is a wonderful restaurant, existing only in places where we do not, currently, live. So after a good night's sleep and more salad than you can shake a fork at, we finally arrived at Chez Mom and Dad.
It was a pretty nice, relaxed Christmas. I love nice, relaxed Christmases. We did jigsaw puzzles, and went for walks, and calmly discussed the fact that I want nothing to do with Skype. And we ate. We ate A LOT. I'm afraid to get on my scale now. Not so much because the number will be higher. More because I'm afraid I will give it a hernia. My double chin grew an extra chin this weekend. I blame that bitch See, whoever she is, and her yummy, yummy candies.
On Saturday JD and I went for a hike in the Dells, which are fantastic weathered granitic formations. In three hours, while almost completely covered, and with two applications of sunscreen, I burnt both my hands and my face. I am not made for desert living.
On Monday we started the travel in reverse, only this time we didn't go to Sweet Tomatoes. We went to Julio's and had excellent Mexican food and met up with my hiker friend Phoenix Rising. I suppose I feel like I know her a lot better than I really do. We hiked together in 2005, and then I saw her for like 90 seconds last year. But we've kept in touch, and she sent me trail magic all during 2010. She's planning to hike a big chunk of trail this year, and I hope to return the favor.
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| Everybody else Skyping |
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| Mom's furniture is a little snarly. What's up with that? |
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| Look! I got a fuzzy, soft, wonderful scarf! It's delightful. |
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| My folks looking cute. It didn't take much persuading to get them to go to a brewpub for Christmas Eve dinner. JD and my Dad don't even drink, but their wives do. |
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| A redhead attempting to minimize the damage |
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| The fact that this is so weathered that you can't read it anymore is slightly reassuring. |
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| That sky! Those wacky rocks! Love 'em. |
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| A lone decorated tree along the trail. |
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| Sigh. So pretty. |
Monday, December 19, 2011
Move along
I was going to write a post but there was pie (making, not eating) and dog walking and I had to tell somebody their car lights were on and then there was TV. The Eureka Christmas special is very special. Really.
So I'm pretty much just going to go to bed now. Gnight!
So I'm pretty much just going to go to bed now. Gnight!
Friday, December 9, 2011
Not a real post (but it has giant construction condoms)
So tired. I went out this evening to do a bit of Christmas shopping. Some things are hard to buy online. I expected massive crowding, and didn't find it. But I don't find shopping to be particularly fun or energizing. JD informs me that some people are energized by shopping. I find this hard to believe.
I can't say what it is, but I could not believe how hard it was to find one item. I thought it would be really common but it is not.
I came across a camoflage necklace in one store. What's the point?
Okay, bed now. I have to go recuperate from shopping. But first, two pretty much random photos.
I can't say what it is, but I could not believe how hard it was to find one item. I thought it would be really common but it is not.
I came across a camoflage necklace in one store. What's the point?
Okay, bed now. I have to go recuperate from shopping. But first, two pretty much random photos.
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| Notice the two elephant sized condoms taped to the building, just to the right of the "Do Not Enter" sign. |
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| The moon last night while Pluto was being a dink. |
Sunday, November 27, 2011
In orbit around a shrinking Pluto
Today we went out to see Pluto, visited stores multiple times, and put up Christmas lights. I'm exhausted. There needed to be more naps this weekend.
JD isn't happy with the entryway lights, which are cool white vs the warm white elsewhere. So that may be changing soon. Me, I want more lights of any kind. We've been buying LED lights which are crazy expensive but with which you can string 45 strings of lights together. So that's nice. I'm thinking maybe we'll decorate the Japanese maple next to the house. Or cut back the dead summer growth and line the flower beds with lights. It depends on our gumption levels.
Pluto was happy to see me, but he was looking kind of bony in the hip region.
I am not thrilled, but I have only myself and my stupid back to blame. He's not thin, just unmuscled. I need to make the rounds of the horse community and try to find an appropriate person to lease him, I guess. Or something. In the meantime I gotta get him in the round pen and make him move around to build that butt back up. I keep having thoughts of selling him, but so far I can't bring myself to do it. And I keep thinking my back will settle down in the future and I'll ride him more.
I am ambivalent. Obviously.
Today is the last day of our four day weekend and I will be sad to see it end. Though I will be happy to do fewer dishes. Three people eating several meals a day at home use far more dishes than two people eating one or two meals a day at home. Oy. Perhaps I should have invested in some nice Chinette. Does that come in a pattern?
JD isn't happy with the entryway lights, which are cool white vs the warm white elsewhere. So that may be changing soon. Me, I want more lights of any kind. We've been buying LED lights which are crazy expensive but with which you can string 45 strings of lights together. So that's nice. I'm thinking maybe we'll decorate the Japanese maple next to the house. Or cut back the dead summer growth and line the flower beds with lights. It depends on our gumption levels.
Pluto was happy to see me, but he was looking kind of bony in the hip region.
I am not thrilled, but I have only myself and my stupid back to blame. He's not thin, just unmuscled. I need to make the rounds of the horse community and try to find an appropriate person to lease him, I guess. Or something. In the meantime I gotta get him in the round pen and make him move around to build that butt back up. I keep having thoughts of selling him, but so far I can't bring myself to do it. And I keep thinking my back will settle down in the future and I'll ride him more.
I am ambivalent. Obviously.
Today is the last day of our four day weekend and I will be sad to see it end. Though I will be happy to do fewer dishes. Three people eating several meals a day at home use far more dishes than two people eating one or two meals a day at home. Oy. Perhaps I should have invested in some nice Chinette. Does that come in a pattern?
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Four cats are trying to prevent me from typing.
I stayed home from work today. I'm not very sick, visibly, but I have a definite "run over by a truck" feeling. I got dressed, put my shoes on, ate breakfast, packed a lunch, took a dayquil, and waited to feel well enough to drive. And after half an hour I realized that wasn't going to happen so I emailed in sick. I did a little bit of work from home, but eventually gave up and went back to bed.
I woke up thinking that I must have sweated a lot, because the bedroom had that distinctive beef taco smell. You probably have no idea what I'm talking about unless you're a hiker. But sweaty unwashed human smells a lot like beef taco.
As my head cleared a little I realized that the smell was not coming from me. JD was cooking. I dragged downstairs and found not beef taco, but pepper crusted beef tenderloin. Yay! What a pleasantly tasty surprise. ( And far, far better than what I had imagined five minutes before.) He also cooked up roasted brussels sprouts and some mashed potatoes. What a delight! And he wrote everything out for me in ounces so I could add it to Sparkpeople. How did I get lucky enough to marry a guy who's a good cook AND kind enough to help me with my dieting at the same time?
I'm still trying to get a handle on this dieting thing. The doc asked me to cut back on carbohydrates, especially refined carbohydrates, to get my A1C level down. But I went too far the other direction. I ended up having both a bowl of cereal and a bag of popcorn after dinner to get up to the minimum level of carbohydrates according to Sparkpeople. Then their nagging software said to stick to over 120 grams a day, and I was actually at 170, so I guess I could have skipped the cereal. :)
The house is nearly de-Christmased. By the weekend we should have all the external lights in boxes and maybe even have the boxes back to the basement. We always miss a few things and end up with a small stash of Christmas paraphernalia that sits on a shelf upstairs all year, and generally we forget it by the following Christmas. So I guess on average my house is getting more Christmas-y every year.
I woke up thinking that I must have sweated a lot, because the bedroom had that distinctive beef taco smell. You probably have no idea what I'm talking about unless you're a hiker. But sweaty unwashed human smells a lot like beef taco.
As my head cleared a little I realized that the smell was not coming from me. JD was cooking. I dragged downstairs and found not beef taco, but pepper crusted beef tenderloin. Yay! What a pleasantly tasty surprise. ( And far, far better than what I had imagined five minutes before.) He also cooked up roasted brussels sprouts and some mashed potatoes. What a delight! And he wrote everything out for me in ounces so I could add it to Sparkpeople. How did I get lucky enough to marry a guy who's a good cook AND kind enough to help me with my dieting at the same time?
I'm still trying to get a handle on this dieting thing. The doc asked me to cut back on carbohydrates, especially refined carbohydrates, to get my A1C level down. But I went too far the other direction. I ended up having both a bowl of cereal and a bag of popcorn after dinner to get up to the minimum level of carbohydrates according to Sparkpeople. Then their nagging software said to stick to over 120 grams a day, and I was actually at 170, so I guess I could have skipped the cereal. :)
The house is nearly de-Christmased. By the weekend we should have all the external lights in boxes and maybe even have the boxes back to the basement. We always miss a few things and end up with a small stash of Christmas paraphernalia that sits on a shelf upstairs all year, and generally we forget it by the following Christmas. So I guess on average my house is getting more Christmas-y every year.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
In which I actually touch a family member
This week is all about family for me. We keep in touch (well, JD keeps in touch, mostly) but we don't actually see each other much. Around the holidays we try to make an effort to have actual face time with family members. This is especially important to me because the nieces and nephews will be kids for a limited time, and then they'll be off on their own going to college, having adventures, and raising their own families. Though I hope they'll still see their great aunt me every so often.
So today we saw JD's mom, brother, sister in law, and the newest nephew. I had missed out on seeing David before, what with thruhiking and concomitant Lyme disease. I may have gotten the better end of the deal because now he's old enough to be fun. And large enough to drive. Man those kids grow up quick.
Later this week we'll get to see my folks, brother, sister in law, and their daughter and two sons. This might be one of my last Christmases seeing Sandy, who is getting awfully close to leaving the nest. Maybe I'll luck out and she'll be a homebody. ;) but I can't count on that so I have to make the most of the time I get before she's a big important adult with no time for humoring aunts. Then it'll be Ian's turn, all too soon. And he already has no time for humoring aunts. He's too busy developing new daredevil stunts to show the world. So I'd say there's a good chance I can just watch him on tv. I'll point and say "Yup. That's my nephew. He sure didn't get those skills from me. "
So today we saw JD's mom, brother, sister in law, and the newest nephew. I had missed out on seeing David before, what with thruhiking and concomitant Lyme disease. I may have gotten the better end of the deal because now he's old enough to be fun. And large enough to drive. Man those kids grow up quick.
Later this week we'll get to see my folks, brother, sister in law, and their daughter and two sons. This might be one of my last Christmases seeing Sandy, who is getting awfully close to leaving the nest. Maybe I'll luck out and she'll be a homebody. ;) but I can't count on that so I have to make the most of the time I get before she's a big important adult with no time for humoring aunts. Then it'll be Ian's turn, all too soon. And he already has no time for humoring aunts. He's too busy developing new daredevil stunts to show the world. So I'd say there's a good chance I can just watch him on tv. I'll point and say "Yup. That's my nephew. He sure didn't get those skills from me. "
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Yoga class goes hardcore
Yoga kicked my ass tonight. What with one thing and another, I haven't been to class in at least a month. But it was not just my sorry behind being out of shape. Others agree that it was a harder class than usual.
I don't usually "feel the burn" during yoga, nor am I shaky walking out. I sure was today, though. Ow. I'm pretty sure I'm going to hurt tomorrow.
And what's worse is I won't have another class until mid-January. It's run through the community center, and there are always weird gaps between sessions. So any strength I may have gained today will be of no use to me because I'll just be slack again in the middle. Yogawise, that is. I just don't push myself as hard as my yoga teacher does. I'll walk, and run, and maybe ride, weather permitting. But it doesn't work the same muscles as interminable chair pose, know what I mean?
It took some doing just getting me to the class. I know I'm not the only one who hates going out at night when it's cold. I have a very strong desire to just stay inside and play with kittens. Or watch tv. Or basically do anything that is slothful and comfy. Maybe play with kittens AND watch tv at the same time. While eating a cookie.
Unfortunately for my sloth[1], I've been feeling generally stiff and unwieldy. I knew I really, really needed to get back to yoga. So I had my power bar two hours ahead of time[2] (which only made me hungry so I also had a sliver of stollen, which is JD's fault for buying it) and toddled out into the dark. And the cold. Have I mentioned the cold? It's brisk.
When I wasn't running internal bitchy commentary on the cold, I took a few minutes to notice and appreciate the Christmas lights. I love this time of year for its lights! I was thinking about maybe taking the dog for a walk one evening so we could check out all the neighborhood lights. Not that we live somewhere fancy with million dollar lights. But a lot of people put up at least a few strands, and I really love to see the neighborhood looking pretty. Plus, dogs love walkies. Well known fact.
[1] We have every other kind of animal, why not a sloth?
[2] Because real food makes me barf in yoga class.
I don't usually "feel the burn" during yoga, nor am I shaky walking out. I sure was today, though. Ow. I'm pretty sure I'm going to hurt tomorrow.
And what's worse is I won't have another class until mid-January. It's run through the community center, and there are always weird gaps between sessions. So any strength I may have gained today will be of no use to me because I'll just be slack again in the middle. Yogawise, that is. I just don't push myself as hard as my yoga teacher does. I'll walk, and run, and maybe ride, weather permitting. But it doesn't work the same muscles as interminable chair pose, know what I mean?
It took some doing just getting me to the class. I know I'm not the only one who hates going out at night when it's cold. I have a very strong desire to just stay inside and play with kittens. Or watch tv. Or basically do anything that is slothful and comfy. Maybe play with kittens AND watch tv at the same time. While eating a cookie.
Unfortunately for my sloth[1], I've been feeling generally stiff and unwieldy. I knew I really, really needed to get back to yoga. So I had my power bar two hours ahead of time[2] (which only made me hungry so I also had a sliver of stollen, which is JD's fault for buying it) and toddled out into the dark. And the cold. Have I mentioned the cold? It's brisk.
When I wasn't running internal bitchy commentary on the cold, I took a few minutes to notice and appreciate the Christmas lights. I love this time of year for its lights! I was thinking about maybe taking the dog for a walk one evening so we could check out all the neighborhood lights. Not that we live somewhere fancy with million dollar lights. But a lot of people put up at least a few strands, and I really love to see the neighborhood looking pretty. Plus, dogs love walkies. Well known fact.
[1] We have every other kind of animal, why not a sloth?
[2] Because real food makes me barf in yoga class.
Monday, December 13, 2010
My evening in pictures
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| The nearly invisible Nazca blob |
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| My beloved |
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| Our Leader, Andy |
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| Beauty |
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| Trying to confine the thruhike to a corner of the guest room |
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| My stash of gifts, safe from Dory |
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| The little tree on a table - so far safe from kittens |
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| The big tree. NOT safe from kittens. |
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| Festive no? And yet homey, with the dinged up paint. |
And a bonus video of Dory and Ollie, who wouldn't hold still for pictures
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Stocking stuffers for your thruhiker
Someone you love going on a thruhike? Don't know what to get them? Here are some ideas.
$14 Long handled titanium spoon http://www.antigravitygear.com/vargo-titanium-long-handle-spoon.html (the plastic ones don't hold up). Good for getting down into ziplock dinners without getting your hands all nasty.
$45 Petzl Zipka Plus Headlamp - plenty bright, plus red light for at night so you don't blind everybody. http://www.rei.com/product/793268
$18 Swiss Army knife. Use the knife to slice cheese. Use the scissors for everything else. http://www.rei.com/product/403028
~$6 No link, but go to Walmart. Go into the garage/car section. Buy a 50' length of lightweight nylon utility cord, in a bright color like red or yellow. It should be about 1/8 to 1/4 inch diameter. It makes an excellent bearbag line. It's bulky but lightweight and doesn't tangle or mildew. Should have a weight strength of 75 lb or so.
$27 Mountain Hardwear Power Stretch Gloves. Comfy, washable, easy to get in and out of. http://www.amazon.com/Mountain-Hardwear-Power-Stretch-om2860/dp/B001E5PKQY/ref=pd_sbs_a_2
$8 to $13 (or free if you have Reflectix to make it yourself) A pot cozy. Keeps the contents of the pot hot after you cook. Can be used to continue cooking your food after your stove burns out. Technically doesn't fit in a stocking, but.. http://www.antigravitygear.com/antigravitygear-pot-cozy.html
$12 An alcohol stove. This one is nice because you can sit your pot right on it.
http://www.antigravitygear.com/antigravitygear-alcohol-stove-4-oz-pepsi-style.html
$3 Mosquito headnet. Nearly weightless, and invaluable when the gnats are bad. Which is often. http://www.antigravitygear.com/mosquito-head-net.html
$20 A Buff. It's kind of like a bandana, kind of like a neckwarmer, and useful for many things. http://www.amazon.com/Buff-Original-Color-Pink-Print/dp/B003ZTPIVE/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1292181132&sr=1-1
$4 A plain old cotton bandana or three. Very, very useful. The swiss army knife of clothing. http://www.rei.com/product/246097
Variable price. Check out Minimus.biz for single servings of almost everything. Shampoo, coffee, and most importantly food. Wouldn't some hummus taste great on the trail? http://www.minimus.biz/
$14 Long handled titanium spoon http://www.antigravitygear.com/vargo-titanium-long-handle-spoon.html (the plastic ones don't hold up). Good for getting down into ziplock dinners without getting your hands all nasty.
$45 Petzl Zipka Plus Headlamp - plenty bright, plus red light for at night so you don't blind everybody. http://www.rei.com/product/793268
$18 Swiss Army knife. Use the knife to slice cheese. Use the scissors for everything else. http://www.rei.com/product/403028
~$6 No link, but go to Walmart. Go into the garage/car section. Buy a 50' length of lightweight nylon utility cord, in a bright color like red or yellow. It should be about 1/8 to 1/4 inch diameter. It makes an excellent bearbag line. It's bulky but lightweight and doesn't tangle or mildew. Should have a weight strength of 75 lb or so.
$27 Mountain Hardwear Power Stretch Gloves. Comfy, washable, easy to get in and out of. http://www.amazon.com/Mountain-Hardwear-Power-Stretch-om2860/dp/B001E5PKQY/ref=pd_sbs_a_2
$8 to $13 (or free if you have Reflectix to make it yourself) A pot cozy. Keeps the contents of the pot hot after you cook. Can be used to continue cooking your food after your stove burns out. Technically doesn't fit in a stocking, but.. http://www.antigravitygear.com/antigravitygear-pot-cozy.html
$12 An alcohol stove. This one is nice because you can sit your pot right on it.
http://www.antigravitygear.com/antigravitygear-alcohol-stove-4-oz-pepsi-style.html
$3 Mosquito headnet. Nearly weightless, and invaluable when the gnats are bad. Which is often. http://www.antigravitygear.com/mosquito-head-net.html
$20 A Buff. It's kind of like a bandana, kind of like a neckwarmer, and useful for many things. http://www.amazon.com/Buff-Original-Color-Pink-Print/dp/B003ZTPIVE/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1292181132&sr=1-1
$4 A plain old cotton bandana or three. Very, very useful. The swiss army knife of clothing. http://www.rei.com/product/246097
Variable price. Check out Minimus.biz for single servings of almost everything. Shampoo, coffee, and most importantly food. Wouldn't some hummus taste great on the trail? http://www.minimus.biz/
Saturday, December 11, 2010
I haul my old bones around
Somehow I didn't have any booze last night, and yet I woke up hungover this morning. That's talent.
I stayed up way too late rereading "The Graveyard Book" and didn't get to sleep until 1:30. At 10:47 I rolled over, checked the clock, and realized it was well past morning. And as I got out of bed, I realized that most of my plans for the day were not going to happen, because I was feeling old. Lordy. So old.
My beloved made me a breakfast burrito, and then I sat around and waited for the blood to start flowing to all my parts again. When it became obvious that I was going to continue feeling old all day, I put on my shoes and left the house.
I visited Pluto, who contrarily was feeling FANTASTIC. Like, bucking snorting and farting fantastic. He galloped up to me, ate his cookies, and when I tried to take off his blanket he took off. He left me in a hail of dirt clods as he galloped and bucked to the other end of the field. The next ten minutes went about like that, but I did finally get his blanket off. I called Sergio and told him I wanted to blanket a lot less this year, and I left Sergio a printout of conditions for blanketing. Chilly and wet, cold and windy, or very cold. (With actual temperatures, in the instructions.) Stinker doesn't need to be coddled as much as Sergio tends to.
It was good to see the horse looking energetic. I'd say he is fully recovered from his colic last week. Bonnie was there with Mystery, who looked very sedate. Being the funny lady she is, she nodded at my (bucking and running) horse and asked if I wanted to ride today. Ha! Yeah, I'm not really a rodeo rider. I'll ride on the days when the horse is NOT insane. Plus I was in sweatpants, not having planned on riding while I felt like I was 80.
Re: being 80. I think my body is working up a response to the flu shot I got earlier this week. Not a huge one. Just some aches and swollen glands. Just enough to make me feel like I was slightly beaten yesterday. Probably I'll feel fine tomorrow, right on time for it to be too rainy out to do anything.
After my brief farm visit I braved the crowds to buy a few more Christmas presents. I think I'm mostly done now. I used up most of the tape this evening, so I'll have to buy more to finish the wrapping. And Dory shredded the wrapping paper on the first box I wrapped, the little beast. Presents are now getting stowed behind closed doors until it's time for unwrapping. A pity. I love seeing all the presents around the tree before Christmas morning. But we knew we weren't going to be able to have nice things when we got kittens so no big surprise there.
I stayed up way too late rereading "The Graveyard Book" and didn't get to sleep until 1:30. At 10:47 I rolled over, checked the clock, and realized it was well past morning. And as I got out of bed, I realized that most of my plans for the day were not going to happen, because I was feeling old. Lordy. So old.
My beloved made me a breakfast burrito, and then I sat around and waited for the blood to start flowing to all my parts again. When it became obvious that I was going to continue feeling old all day, I put on my shoes and left the house.
I visited Pluto, who contrarily was feeling FANTASTIC. Like, bucking snorting and farting fantastic. He galloped up to me, ate his cookies, and when I tried to take off his blanket he took off. He left me in a hail of dirt clods as he galloped and bucked to the other end of the field. The next ten minutes went about like that, but I did finally get his blanket off. I called Sergio and told him I wanted to blanket a lot less this year, and I left Sergio a printout of conditions for blanketing. Chilly and wet, cold and windy, or very cold. (With actual temperatures, in the instructions.) Stinker doesn't need to be coddled as much as Sergio tends to.
It was good to see the horse looking energetic. I'd say he is fully recovered from his colic last week. Bonnie was there with Mystery, who looked very sedate. Being the funny lady she is, she nodded at my (bucking and running) horse and asked if I wanted to ride today. Ha! Yeah, I'm not really a rodeo rider. I'll ride on the days when the horse is NOT insane. Plus I was in sweatpants, not having planned on riding while I felt like I was 80.
Re: being 80. I think my body is working up a response to the flu shot I got earlier this week. Not a huge one. Just some aches and swollen glands. Just enough to make me feel like I was slightly beaten yesterday. Probably I'll feel fine tomorrow, right on time for it to be too rainy out to do anything.
After my brief farm visit I braved the crowds to buy a few more Christmas presents. I think I'm mostly done now. I used up most of the tape this evening, so I'll have to buy more to finish the wrapping. And Dory shredded the wrapping paper on the first box I wrapped, the little beast. Presents are now getting stowed behind closed doors until it's time for unwrapping. A pity. I love seeing all the presents around the tree before Christmas morning. But we knew we weren't going to be able to have nice things when we got kittens so no big surprise there.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
"and a kitten in a fir tree" (sing it with me now!)
I have listened to (and participated in) nonstop bitching about the recent cold weather. We are all spoiled, people! It was a strangely warm fall and we all got used to it. So while I totally empathize? Get used to it! This is how it is *supposed* to be. December = cold. Xmas = cold.[1] [2]
That said, I still didn't go for a walk today. I need warmer pants. I did take the stairs up and down from the server room a number of times, in penance. My beloved is continuing to run in this weather and I admire him for it. Though possibly you feel warmer when you run. Maybe I'll try that.
I met up with Kobi for lunch, which was a hoot. Except the part where I somehow left my wallet at work. There I was, driving like a maniac on amphetamines, and no license in my pocket! If you're going to get pulled over you should definitely be carrying a license. I drove back to work very soberly, after Kobi paid for lunch. (Argh.) We are redoing lunch soon, so I can buy the meal in return. And also for more talking, because most of my conversation consisted of "Om nom nom" and "OMG I can't believe I left my wallet." So I'm pretty sure there are some more topics we need to cover.
My naturopath will be put off, but I got a flu shot this evening. (With wallet! You can do many things if you have a wallet, including having a nice lady stick you with a needle and jam nasty bugs into your arm. The world is a weird and wonderful place.) I will be spending time with five underaged family members soon, not to mention hordes of travelers. Everybody knows that both of those categories are just crawling with disease. My immune system needs all the help it can get.[3]
In the Daily Kitten Update, I am pleased to announce that all three kittens made it to the main floor today. Everybody is interacting with everybody. Andy has not yet gotten a kitten to chase him, but he has gotten very close. Nazca finally quit whining about his brother and sister abandoning him and crept downstairs.[5] Oliver and Dory tooks turns pouncing each other and trying to destroy the tree and the curtains. It was *just* how it should be. I am happy. You can't imagine how much I look forward to coming home to kittens right now.
Oh, and also? When I got home tonight? Cookies! I smelled them baking right as I came through the front door. We have lit up trees and kittens and cookies. It's the *best*.
[1] Before you start complaining about my use of Xmas, please read hear on the historical basis of the word Xmas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xmas
[2] Not that I haven't had shorts on during the holidays before. That one year in the 70's it was so dang hot. It just felt wrong. Which leads me to believe I would have problems with the Southern hemisphere and holiday timing.
[3] Nonetheless, I'm sure I will be calling in bedridden immediately after the holidays. With luck I'll make it to New Years first. Maybe I'll have the flu on a weekend so I don't use any leave time. I am making big hiking plans for my leave next year.[4]
[4].. but not as big as this year's. Sadly.
[5] He immediately ran back up, of course.
That said, I still didn't go for a walk today. I need warmer pants. I did take the stairs up and down from the server room a number of times, in penance. My beloved is continuing to run in this weather and I admire him for it. Though possibly you feel warmer when you run. Maybe I'll try that.
I met up with Kobi for lunch, which was a hoot. Except the part where I somehow left my wallet at work. There I was, driving like a maniac on amphetamines, and no license in my pocket! If you're going to get pulled over you should definitely be carrying a license. I drove back to work very soberly, after Kobi paid for lunch. (Argh.) We are redoing lunch soon, so I can buy the meal in return. And also for more talking, because most of my conversation consisted of "Om nom nom" and "OMG I can't believe I left my wallet." So I'm pretty sure there are some more topics we need to cover.
My naturopath will be put off, but I got a flu shot this evening. (With wallet! You can do many things if you have a wallet, including having a nice lady stick you with a needle and jam nasty bugs into your arm. The world is a weird and wonderful place.) I will be spending time with five underaged family members soon, not to mention hordes of travelers. Everybody knows that both of those categories are just crawling with disease. My immune system needs all the help it can get.[3]
In the Daily Kitten Update, I am pleased to announce that all three kittens made it to the main floor today. Everybody is interacting with everybody. Andy has not yet gotten a kitten to chase him, but he has gotten very close. Nazca finally quit whining about his brother and sister abandoning him and crept downstairs.[5] Oliver and Dory tooks turns pouncing each other and trying to destroy the tree and the curtains. It was *just* how it should be. I am happy. You can't imagine how much I look forward to coming home to kittens right now.
Oh, and also? When I got home tonight? Cookies! I smelled them baking right as I came through the front door. We have lit up trees and kittens and cookies. It's the *best*.
[1] Before you start complaining about my use of Xmas, please read hear on the historical basis of the word Xmas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xmas
[2] Not that I haven't had shorts on during the holidays before. That one year in the 70's it was so dang hot. It just felt wrong. Which leads me to believe I would have problems with the Southern hemisphere and holiday timing.
[3] Nonetheless, I'm sure I will be calling in bedridden immediately after the holidays. With luck I'll make it to New Years first. Maybe I'll have the flu on a weekend so I don't use any leave time. I am making big hiking plans for my leave next year.[4]
[4].. but not as big as this year's. Sadly.
[5] He immediately ran back up, of course.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Warning: Incoming Urges
I am slowly but irrevocably getting into a Christmas mood. It's been dark outside all day. We have delicious foods cooking. I'm drinking red wine. "Baby, It's Cold Outside" is playing on iTunes. I crave the bite of cold air on my skin, the winter crowds merrily walking around the shops, the speculation on what presents my nieces might like.
Until today I had not felt it. But now.. watch out world! Christmas is coming, and I am ready.(1)
1) Coworkers, be warned that Christmas lights are going up as soon as I find them in my boxes. Also, I may hum Christmas tunes and/or be in a good mood. This is your only warning.
Until today I had not felt it. But now.. watch out world! Christmas is coming, and I am ready.(1)
1) Coworkers, be warned that Christmas lights are going up as soon as I find them in my boxes. Also, I may hum Christmas tunes and/or be in a good mood. This is your only warning.
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