It's not the germs. It's the people with the germs.

Let me start by saying that I am not anywhere close to being a germaphobe, OCD, neat freak. I don’t freak out if my kids give me a sticky kiss after being out playing and sweating all day. I don’t have some major breakdown if I have to touch the toilet seat to lower it or if there aren’t ridiculously thin toilet seat covers at a public bathroom. And yes, I do follow the 5 second rule when it comes to important foods like candy, etc. There is a level of germs that I think is healthy and to be expected. So, this post isn’t about all of that really, but all of that was to sort of give an idea of my comfort with germs.
That being said what in the hell is wrong with you nasty fucks that don’t wash your hands after using the bathroom? YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE. Turn on the water, get a little soap and WASH.

OKTHXBYE

Mountains out of mole hills...not really

The world is a wonderful place. Here are a few tiny reasons why-

- My children love me and still let me give hugs and kisses without being embarrassed.
- THIS VIDEO is amazing and is a voice from the past saying something so dead on and applicable today. (thanks Abby and Mickey for sharing)
- A good friend of mine came to me because she needed a little boost. I was able to help.
- My boyfriend loves me completely.
- A couple of big projects at work have come together successfully and are just about done.
- I have a number of people that I really look up to in my life and am glad that I can call them friends.
- I am starting to work on a plan for our landscaping and I think it’s going to be a really amazing garden when it’s all said and done.

Maybe those aren’t exactly tiny reasons after all.

I've said it before...

but I'm going to say it again, because I'll be damned if it's not worth repeating.


READ THIS BLOG

Relationships are hard

Relationships are hard. Even relationships with “things” that we use everyday. The relationship that I constantly am challenged by is my relationship with money. My attempt to gain a strong and good relationship with money is not only fueled by my desire to be comfortable, but also by my desire to create a good start for my children so they don’t have the struggle learning the basics and beyond.
My earliest memory regarding money is one of immediacy and lack of. I think I was around 5. I was very young. My grandmother had mentioned that I needed a new coat at some point so the next time we were at the store I saw one I loved. Being the girl that I am I felt that I really needed this coat. My grandmother said that we couldn’t buy the coat because we didn’t have enough money right then. I was heartbroken. I begged and pleaded. I cried, but alas we didn’t get the coat. She said that we could come back and get the coat later. We did come back. She knew how much I wanted THAT coat. We went back as soon as she had money for it. The coat was gone. Since that day I remember thinking of how if I wanted something I needed to get it then or it would be gone. Obviously, money played a big factor in that disappointment and how I dealt with money. It was most definitely a defining event in my life.
After my divorce and freedom to guide my own finances the fear of things being gone if I didn’t get the immediately was added to with the fear that I wasn’t in control. I am afraid that my children have witnessed this “bad” relationship that I have and I’m sure it’s affected them in some way. My job as their mother is to fix that AND give them a positive idea and knowledge of dealing with money. I don’t want them to think of money as a way to gain “things” or feel the immediacy that lost left in me. I want them to think of money as a tool that they can use to gain wealth, secure their present and future, and of course to provide the things that they want in life.
There are a lot of pieces and parts to this puzzle. Earning money, taxes (yeah they have to learn this one don’t they?), saving, investing, credit, debt, etc. It’s a lot. It’s a whole lot and it seems that each of the parts has so many little pieces that it’s almost overwhelming. The advantage is that I have years. Years to explain to them all the various aspects as they grow and see me regain a good relationship with money. Years for them to experience the earning, taxes, savings, loans (because college isn’t free), etc. with me to at least give them some piece of whatever I’ve learned.
I realize now how important learning about money is. I wish I could have learned this lesson back when I was growing up, but I think it’s key that I’ve learned it at all.

Smokers will still go to bars...

July 1st a smoking ban hits the state of Colorado. Specifically-

“A law approved by the Legislature in March bans smoking in most public places but exempts casinos, cigar bars, the Denver International Airport smoking lounge and private workplaces with three or fewer employees.”

A lot of bar owners are up in the air and upset about this measure saying that it’s going to hurt their business. I beg to differ. I don’t go to certain pubs because of the smoke. I don’t like it. Now that they will be smoke free I will be going. A lot of people who don’t like smoky bars will now be able to go out and get a pint without having to deal with smoke in their faces. Also, the people who smoke at a bar are not there because they want to smoke. They are there because they want to drink. They can still grab a cigarette outside like they already have to at work, but they will still go and grab a beer after work or on the weekends.
In addition to this argument there are a LOT of other cities in the country that already have this ban that remarkably still have bars that are making money and successful. In fact it’s now up to 13 states that ban smoking and that doesn’t count the various cities in other states that have banned it.
This ban is awesome. I love it. I can now go out and enjoy my food, beer and company of friends without being infested with the odor of smoke. I can go out dancing and not feel sick for days because of my allergy to smoke. I can take my kids to restaurants and not have our meal ruined because someone has lit up at the table next to ours. Smokers are still allowed to smoke. Business owners will get the same business and potentially more. It’s all good.

Work to live, not the other way around

We live in a nation of over-achievers and it seems the only achievement that leads to is being miserable. Working not only our 40 hours a week, but then overtime both at work, at home and often even on vacation. What kind of madness is this? Is it any wonder that people are angry and rude in our society? The longer and harder I work only to have mistakes chastised and berated make me seriously doubt the choice to work extra to get ahead. I don’t feel like I’m ahead. I feel like I’m out all those extra hours I could have been having fun and enjoying my life. I work with a guy that “gets by” on his 40 hours a week. He doesn’t make a lot more than he did when he started, but he seems to be happy and he still has a job making enough money to support the rest of his life that he actually allows time for. I think he might have the right idea. Work to live not live to work. I seem to have let that get lost somewhere in my desire to make more money and get an office. I got the office and the money, but I seem to have lost the enjoyment and little bits of the “live” part.
I realize I’m rambling. It’s 3 a.m. and I’m awake stressing over work. Yep, I think I may have lost the point somewhere, but am on the verge of finding it once again.

one of my favorites

When I have been asked to name my top favs for music there are a few that always spring to mind. David Sylvian, Beastie Boys, Bob Marley, and always, always Sade. I put "Lovers Rock" on this morning and I'm on my third repeat of it. Her voice and the content of her songs always make me smile, bring a tear, make me want to sing, make me dance, and always make me remember the feel of being in love and of having my heart broken. She's just about how life feels a lot of the time. It's good.



I want to cook you a soup that warms your soul
But nothing would change,
nothing would change at all
It's just a day that brings it all about
Just another day and nothing's any good

The DJ's playing the same song
I have so much to doI have to carry on
I wonder if this grief will ever let me go
I feel like I am the king of sorrow,
yeahThe king of sorrow

~from the King of Sorrow by Sade

I'm not buying it!

I keep seeing these ads for these Crystal Light packets that are made to just be added to a bottle of water. The whole marketing angle is that everyone needs to drink water everyday and these make it taste better.
Alright, first off if your bottled water tastes bad then something is either wrong with your water or something is wrong with your bottle. You need to figure that shit out before you end up in the hospital with some crazy bacterial infection. Trust me on this one.
Secondly, if you add something to water it’s not water anymore!! If I blend lemon juice and sugar or sugar substitute with water what do I have? That’s right! Very good. I have lemonade. Lemonade is not water. If I add a tea bag to my water I have made tea. Again, that is not water. So, by adding this chemical concoction that taste like whatever flavoring they’ve added the water then becomes “Fake Nasty Chemical Flavored Beverage” and that is most certainly NOT WATER!! If it really "gives you the benefits of water" then where to the calories come from? From the CHEMICALS!!
Sorry, Kraft, go sell that shit to all the Barbies of the world, because I'm not buying it!

Flickr Sets

Alright everyone. So, Abby has created sets of photos based on the days events. I still haven't uploaded any photos but when I do I'll post the link.

Click here to see our Seattle trip.

So freakin' funny

I have no idea what we were laughing about, but I love this photo. Damn, it must have been really funny.

Update re: Afternoon 1

So, I said I'd post the video where Abby and I were serenaded by the homeless man. She has it up on Vimeo. Check it out.

I think I'm almost recovered from the trip now. That's good. Time to start planning the next adventure. That is a good distraction from how poor I am now that I'm done with vacation.

Also, big news at work. My assistant is now full time AND I got an office. No window, but it's an office and I can work in peace without a distraction every 5 mins! WooT!

The Last 24 in Seattle

Our picnic was at a great park called the Gas Works Park. It’s got the most amazing view of the city. Despite some delays w/ getting there once we did our timing was perfect. Just after dinner the sun was setting. It was reflecting off the skyscrapers across the water and boats were out in plenty. I got to meet Heeeysos, AnnG and The Beige One and Anne’s boy, Steve. It was a lot of fun.

I think we all had enough fun that once we got back to the hotel we just chilled. I blogged a little (see the last post), Abby went through all her gazillion photos of the day, and Anne hung out while we watched a couple movies. It was very chill and sort of a good end to the evening. Abby stayed up until I have no idea when and then was up early Sunday morning to catch her flight. She made it to SFO without a hitch and had coffee with Mynxy and then flew home.

When Dan and I awoke we packed our things and then checked out of the hotel leaving most everything in the bellman’s room so we could go to Banya5. Oh, lovely, lovely Banya5. After spending 2 ½ hours at this Russian bathhouse I felt like I needed to rush back to Denver and open one exactly like it up here. The steam bath, sauna and then various “baths” were just what I needed to relax me completely. Then it was all topped off with a honey & salt scrub. Can you say “Delight?”

After this we were both just in the mood for taking it easy. I searched my purse and makeup bag for Anne’s phone number, but couldn’t find it. So, we sat down and I searched again, and again. Still no phone number. Turns out I left it in my backpack back at the hotel. So, I was hoping she would call and we moved on back to Pike’s market. We mostly browsed and then decided we should hit the Aquarium rather than trying to rush and take a ferry ride. On our way there Anne called. I missed the damn call. DAMN!!!

The Aquarium is under construction. I’m sure that it will be lovely once it’s done.

We decided to get a bite to eat and then head back to the hotel. We walked and walked finally getting to the hotel and picking up our bags. Sure enough. There was Anne’s phone number, but no time to see her. Damn! Damn! Damn! I called and we chatted until our car came to get us. And then off to the airport.

Our trip to Seattle was a lot of fun. I’m so glad I got to see Anne finally and hang out with Abby again. It had been a really long time. Now I’m plugging away at work wishing I would have taken a lunch break, but feeling like the 2 days I took off buried me. I am an American worker. Vacations never last long enough and work is always more than 40 hours a week. Even so, retreats like this past one help. A lot.

Drunkie isn't always fun the next day

I don’t know what to write about last night. It’s 10 p.m. tonight and my brain is still fuzzy. I didn’t drink THAT much. Just the combination was bad, bad, bad.

The best thing to say is that we went to dinner at Ivar’s. It was delicious. I had two glasses of pinot grigio with the appetizers & dinner. Then we caught a cab to go to karaoke.

The cab driver was phenomenal. He was a big black man from Somalia. When we got into the cab he asked where we were going (of course) and we told him Beacon Pub on Beacon Street in Beacon Hill. He said, “Beacon Pub?” we said yes. He said, “Beacon Street?” we said yes. He said “Beacon Hill?” and we said yes. Then he sang out “Beeeeacon Hill!” So, we sang back, “Beeeeeacon Hill!” We chatted with him about where all he’d lived in the US and about where we lived. It was a good ride.

When we pulled up to the pub it was a bit iffy looking. Somewhat dive barish, but we went in and there were people singing. We got some “Lucky Brand” beers and Anne and Abby went through the books, picked out songs and we waited for their turns. They sang. I danced. We drank. At some point Dan came back to the table with some shots. I had one. Then we had another. And eventually I had another. The beer and the shots were FUN!!! And then we came back w/ Mr. Beacon Hill as our cabbie. We did some drunk dialing. It was fun.

Then I came back to the hotel and vomited. Yep. I got SICK! Big time sick. Throwing up until 4 a.m. kind of sick. I felt really bad about keeping Dan and Abby up. I felt even worse that today I was really horribly hungover and not really able to do anything other than seek out cool spots on the sheets.. I didn’t get up until 5 p.m. and that was only after Annetastic gave me some AlkaSeltzer (thanks Anne!) and I rested some more. Man, I hate being hungover. Dan was so good to me. He’s a good boyfriend. A really good boyfriend.

I got up for the picnic we planned. I’ll add that info later. By the way, Abby is adding photos on Flickr like a mad woman. You should check them all out.

so....

a lot drunk....

linkie http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvdJlSam9XA

Space needles, Moons and other interesting things I did today

I’m considering mooning someone from our 2nd story window. It would be easy enough considering the position of the bed and the window. I’ll let you know what I decide later.

After lazing about this morning we were finally all ready to go have breakfast at about noon. We walked to a little dive restaurant/bar called “5 points.” It seems all big cities have something called 5 points and Seattle appears to be no exception. The food was really good particularly the bacon. The bacon was delicious. I need more.

After the good bacon we walked. We walked to the Space Needle and EMP. We didn’t actually pay to go in and see anything because quite frankly I don’t think we were that interested and they were both pricey attractions. Instead we looked in the gift shops, watched people riding amusement park rides, children playing in fountains and wandered through gardens that made me long for a more moist climate in my own gardening space. All the while I was mauing on some fine cotton candy. Then it was getting sort of late so we headed down to Pike’s market. We walked, and walked and walked. It’s a long way from the Space Needle to Pike’s. A very long way. A really, really, really long way. We made it. My left knee hate me. But we got some coffee, chatted, and Dan bought me some flowers. We shopped and I ended up buying some fruit, Dan bought some salmon for the picnic tomorrow and Abby bought a lot of stuff. I think she’ll eventually blog about it, but right now she’s busily sorting through the 414 photos she took today. That is the actual count. She’s not joking around when it comes to taking pictures, people. By the way, you should check out her blog, too.

By the time we were done so were my feet. That’s what I get for wearing 4” wedges to walk around Seattle in, but dammit I looked GOOD doing it. Now we are recovering and getting ready to have dinner at Iver’s. Then later…karaoke. And NO, I’m NOT singing.

(I did moon someone, btw. The glass was really cold on my ass.)

Cirque de Adventure

Around 6:20 Dan and I set off on an adventure to go see Cirque de Soleil. Tickets in hand we headed for the bus stop just a block over from our hotel. Waited for about 10 minutes and boarded a bus headed for Redmond’s Marymoor Park. We were on the bus for about 40 minutes when I began to worry whether or not we were ever going to get there. It was fine since the show didn’t start until 8:00 but it seemed a long fucking way. It was a long fucking way really. Anyway, we finally got there and the bus driver gave us some information on how to get back. He didn’t charge us for actually riding. I now wonder if he wasn’t thinking, “You’ll need the cash I’m saving you for your cab fare.”

Off the bus and onto the sidewalk there was the tent just a block or so away. We begin walking. 10 minutes later. There it is. The tent. Just a block or so away. I’m not sure how the tent seemed closer than it actually was but it did and we ended up getting a good deal of exercise on our way to the tent. I’ve decided that tents are magical things. They can be farther away than they appear. They can hold more people than you’d expect. They make a child’s eyes gleam with wonder and excitement. And in last nights case they can try and make ordinary sized adults fit into seats designed for a 5 year old. Now maybe I’m just being a little bitchy here, but if I pay $80 a ticket for a seat to a show I want that seat to somewhat fit my ass. I’m not a big woman and I was SQUISHED!! I can only imagine how the 250 lbs woman next to Dan felt. It didn’t help my enjoyment of the show to be crammed into the seat like I was one of the acts. The show was entertaining and typical Cirque. Perhaps I need to be done with it because after the 5th show I’m starting to compare them and last night was no Quidam.

Now the adventurous part. The show was over. It was 10:45. The last bus was at 10:38. Uh... TAXI!!! We called a cab and dealt with the taxi nazi. Walked to the place that we had indicated we’d be and waited. Twenty minutes later we were still waiting. The wait was lovely. Cool but not cold night. Frogs croaking in the background. Cars zooming past as we wait, and wait, and wait. We call again and get a much nicer agent. As she’s talking to Dan a cab goes by slowly. He hangs up and the cab passes us. Slowly. It keeps going and then we are left. It begins to drizzle. Now at this point there really isn’t much to do but laugh about being stuck out in the boonies in the rain waiting for a cab. So, we do. Then the cab comes back with passengers. We call again. FINALLY!!! The cab shows up just as it begins to do a little more than drizzle.

Our cab driver was from Bulgaria and was very happy to see us. Somehow he seemed to feel responsible for our situation and was fairly apologetic that we were damp and in the cold. He offered us a lot of advice on good things to see in the city and discussed the weather, closing of bridges, and Paul Allen’s quirks. It was a fine ride back to the Hotel Max despite the weird smell of dung in the cab.

By the time we got back, I was starving having not eaten since lunch. We stopped in at the Red Fin to have some edamame, sushi (I didn’t eat this) and some teriyaki skirt steak. It was quite a lovely end to a little adventure that now doesn’t seem quite the adventure since writing it out.

Seattle Afternoon- Day 1

A true vacation is a beautiful thing and I think part of the joy in it is that you don’t feel like you have to get up in the morning. Not that you lounge in bed all day or that would even be a very good use of time, but the idea that you CAN stay in bed if you want is a very powerful one indeed. One I am enjoying this morning at 10:30 a.m. I’m still in between the sheets waiting my turn to take a shower. I’ve been awake for an hour, but just haven’t managed to get out of bed.

Yesterday after we all showered and got ready we left for a little adventure. The plan was to make the 1:00 “Underground Seattle Tour” that Abby’s father had highly recommended. I think the advantage of our hotel is that most things are in walking distance. We left the hotel on foot and made our way down Stewart Street coming upon both a good coffee joint that had fairly cheap and delicious coffee AND and ATM, which is also equally important to having fun. Our walk took us down first avenue which is where Pike’s Market is. The draw was too great. We had to look in. Dan was the first to say he was hungry and so we decided we might as well go in and delay our tour to 2:00. After only looking around for a minute Dan and I decided the BBQ joint was where we wanted to eat. Abby looked a bit longer and ended up with a crepe. Deeeelish! Gullets filled onward to the Underground adventure.

The Underground Seattle is a little bit of a “misnomer” as you find out on the tour. It’s actually the “old” Seattle that was built after a great fire destroyed the first one. Then because it was at tidal flat level they “fixed” it. So, basically on the tour you are taken around seeing the old street level that is now underground. Anyway, this is what we bought $11 tickets for and quite frankly it was worth every darned penny. After purchasing our tickets we had about a 30 minute wait for the tour. We were approached by a homeless man who wanted to sing to us in exchange for money. He was quite honest about needing the money for beer. Abby documented a portion of the event that I'll link to when it's up. After our homeless man serenade we went on the tour. Again, it was really worth the $11 it cost. Our tour guide, Jim, was well rehearsed and knew his stuff on random questions the group had.

After the tour our legs were a bit weary, but we made our way back to the hotel to take a rest and get ready for the nights adventures. That’s right. Adventures. More about those in the next post…

Seattle- morning one

I woke up this morning slightly hung over and in Seattle. The room was very dark when I awoke with grey soft light working its way between the blinds and the frame of the window. The sheets are heavy good sheets and I didn’t want to move. Then the phone rang from across the room. I hopped up so it wouldn’t disturb anyone else, but knew that it did. G was on the phone and he was upset. His 10 year old voice on the edge of tears because he was teased about a failure in making eggs. We worked it out a bit and then he handed the phone to B who was less than interested in talking on the phone. We hung up. It was still dark in the room but the sounds from the street were creeping in and waking us more and more. It was obvious that the working world was moving about and doing what it needed to do.

Eventually, Abby made the decision that we needed some food after I mentioned pancakes. I shuffled around and found the menu, turned on a light and saw my section. “For the Egg Averse” I ended up with a bowl of yogurt, nuts, granola and coconut w/ a side of fresh fruit and some sort of bread thing w/ a sauce. Needless to say the last was barely touched. I don’t like unknown sauces on my food. Abby had some eggs and potatoes. Dan had coffee. Well, we all had coffee, but he only had coffee.

My head still hurts. I’m glad it’s grey. Less chance of a migraine that way. We are going to head down to the Seattle Underground tour in a bit and check out that tour. Then tonight is Cirque and who knows what else. Who cares? It’s a vacation in a city I’ve never been to before. Everything is new and different and adventurous.

One more thing before I hit the road...

Just a little reminder to Mr. Bush and his misled administration!

You can get the shirt HERE

Seattle

We are headed to Seattle tomorrow for a well deserved vacation. It's my first trip to Seattle in memory. I think my grandparents went through there with me when I was very small. I don't remember it. I'm going to take a lot of photos. Fun times.