Realm of the Strange and Spiffy

Wait...who are you?

2011-06-04T20:50:00.000-07:00

Greetings:
Two years. Yeeeaaah. I can’t even begin to explain that one. *scuffs toe along carpet* There are a lot of perfectly good reasons; some of which have to do with procrastination of the Epic Variety. And others, which have to do with being locked out of my own blog for a lengthy and frustrating amount of time. Sad, I know.

A lot has happened. I will attempt to cover a few (very few) key points. On others, I may just post as I think of them later and if I feel like sharing pictures or something from that time.

So um...I went to Hawaii. *tries to look innocent* Was a great visit. Want to go back. Again. Hopefully, I will eventually do a whole post about it, complete with pics.

I got a job. Yay! Very happy about that one.

Mom also got a new job. Since January, she’s been living and working in Boise, Idaho. Even though it’s only a couple hundred miles away, sometimes it feels VERY, very far. It’s been good for us though.

There have been several births, a few weddings and a few funerals as well. The happier of these events will probably garner more coverage later on. Possibly with pics, if I get myself in gear. :D

I know this isn’t really sufficient for now, but I will catch up, after a fashion, as time moves on. Hopefully.
This post is more of a “Hey, look who finally found her way back here!” type post, rather then a
full fledged, no holds barred catch up post. That would be HUGE. And rather boring, actually. ;)

So if you are one of the persistent few who still wander by to see if I'll ever return, this post is for you. I've cleaned up the blog a little bit and I'm slowly adding more extras in the form of links and other fun things. So enjoy, and hopefully the next 'break' won't be nearly as looooong.
BYE!

Songs Playing On My iPod Today
Protectors of the Earth by Two Steps From Hell
Still Doll by Kanon Wakeshima
California Sun by Jem
Dark as Love by Luscious Redhead
Run by Susumu Hirasawa
Supermassive Black Hole by Muse

More Engrish

2009-03-11T13:29:00.000-07:00

Greetings!

It's time for more 'Engrish' brought to you by www.engrish.com and a few signs that tickle my sense of humor. ^_^

Everyone knows smorking is bad for you...

Well...at least they're honest...

Beware! Safety could get you when you least expect it!!!

Toodles!
E.

25 Random Thingaroos

2009-03-05T11:44:00.000-08:00

Greetings!

Today I am cheating and not posting anything original. HA! Instead, I have yoinked a list of 25 random things about me that I filled out for Facebook. :D Some of them are no longer 'date' accurate. Like ones that refer to things that happened 'yesterday' which now actually happened a month ago or so now. *shrug*

25 Random Thingaroos
_______ ________

1. I was tagged for this activity something like a hundred times (only three) in the last week, which seriously cuts down on the list of people that I can tag in turn. ;)

2. I probably won't actually inflict this on 25 people. I'm not sure I even know 25 people on Facebook....*looks* Oh. I know 64 apparently. Nifty! Still not going to tag 25 people. (After The Fact: it will only let me tag 10 people anyway, so I just snagged the first ten peeps I thought of. Aren't you lucky?)

3. I love reading! Surprise, surprise, surprise. I bet you all died of shock on that one.

4. Traveling is one of my favorite hobbies. I would do it all the time if it were less expensive. Alas! One must budget for silly things like food and bills. *sigh*

5. I MUST learn a second language. Sign language would be awesome, but there are a lot of foreign languages I would love to speak with at least partial fluency; not to mention all the dead languages out there, like Latin.

6. I go into "fangirl geek mode" fairly easily. As evidenced above. *embarrassed smile* Certain things or words like: art, books, novel, languages, shoe sale, interior decorating, library, concert, literature, architecture, travel, paint, charcoal, parchment...etc. These and many more can send my poor mind into a frenzy of interest. It sometimes frightens people...

7. I like chai. *hums contentedly*

8. Math makes me twitch. We tried to be friends, honest. It just didn't work out.

9. In spite of being an English nerd extraordinaire, I stink at spelling and grammar. How did THAT happen?!

10. Right now, I am really thirsty. I shall remedy that immediately. :D *fetches water glass*

11. I told myself that I couldn't buy another pair of shoes until I wore out a pair or gave three away. Then, an awesome friend (you know who you are awesome friend) gave me her red Guess flats that she didn't want anymore! Mwa-ha-ha-ha! LOOPHOLE!

12. Um...I like to write. A lot. Sadly, I haven't yet discovered if any of it is worth reading 'a lot'. I suddenly feel a bit like the March Hare...

13. I can't seem to keep house plants alive. Except for this ancient Christmas cactus that I've had since forever. It's a hardy beast.

14. I like being entertained. ;) Laughing in good humor with others is awesome.

15. I get excited about going to the library. Unless it's just to study. That's kinda boring.

16. Lavender (the real stuff that grows in the ground, not the obnoxious fake stuff that comes in jars and stinks to high heaven) is one of my favorite scents. Along with nummy cooking spices, the zippy smell after a summer rain storm and fresh baked bread.

17. Vigilance is a word I've never been able to say without thinking of very carefully while saying it. Otherwise it comes out as "villagance". I also have trouble with aluminum. *shame*

18. Yesterday, I had the faucets in the house dripping and the sink cupboards open to keep the pipes from freezing. Just in case the negative digits were too cold for them; even though I remember putting heat tape on ages ago.

19. I had to crawl under the house to do that. Bleh. :P Never want to do that again. Super ew.

20. I also had to crawl on the roof this winter. Weee! That would have been a lot cooler without the hip deep snow. (Only on one side of the house, and I'm short.) The view was kinda nifty, 'the slick' was scary. *clutches ladder*

21. Tonight, I feel in the mood for an orchestral performance of some kind. Something big and commanding that makes you forget you're in an auditorium.

22. Erm...I hate pocket lint.

23. Every time I touch fully charged batteries, my fingers tingle a little. Like when your hand falls asleep. This happens to everyone, right?

24. Almost done! Bleach makes me sneeze.

25. The END! Ha-ha-ha! Wow. Um... I will try NOT to tag people that I know have done this already. However, I have a crummy memory so...I declare that if you happen to be someone I have tagged and you've already BEEN tagged previously anytime in your LIFE for this activity, you are hereby freed of your responsibility to do it again. ^__^ Not that you needed permission, but just in case that it eases your conscience...whatever.

Hurrah!

______________________________

And because I am benevelent and kind, I am not going to tag anyone here on blogger, unless they happen to pass by and really, really, really want to post their own list of 25 random things. :D

Take care everyone!
E.

______Songs Playing In My Head Today_______

Hallelujah written by Leonard Cohen and sung by many different artists. (I can't decide if I actually like this song or not...)
Breathe by Angels and Airwaves
King of Wishful Thinking by Go West
At Last by Etta James

Winter Whims

2009-02-24T20:41:00.000-08:00

Greetings!

This winter has been full of exciting things. Most of them I enjoyed experiencing (like having Christmas three times), but a few I can live a long time without ever repeating. Ever. Climbing up on roof and wallowing in hip deep, heavy, wet snow is one of them. (Before you all suddenly think that I am telling tall tales, I must admit that the hip deep snow was only on one side of the roof where it tends to drift a bit, and I am also fairly short in the leg. Everywhere else on the roof was only thigh deep.) In fact, it might be on the top of the list. *shudder* The view was pretty cool from up there, and the being on the roof was okay, but the constant danger of NOT being on the roof made it immensely less fun.

The whole reason I was up there was because the furnace vent had been smothered by the snow and the pilot light had gone out. Freezing house. *teeth chatter* When I finally got up there and started digging around (on my hands and knees because I was too much of a wuss to stand up and walk around on the slick snow) I discovered FOUR separate vent holes. Good grief. Since they were all in the general area of the furnace, I didn't know which one I should rescue first. I uncovered them all. *sigh*

On the plus side, it only took me two tries to light the furnace back up. Last year when it got smothered, it took me...I dunno, more than forty? Mostly because the wind was blowing so hard outside that it was wooshing down the vent and would blow out the match as soon as I poked it in. Went through a lot of matches. Thankfully, I didn't have to struggle with that this year! Woohoo!

A new Walgreens is going a couple blocks away. I wonder if they're hiring...*taps chin thoughtfully*

Karla and I made a mad dash to Missoula a bit ago. That was kind of crazy fun! She needed pictures for a college project, but she needed them the next day! *gasp* What was she going to do?! Around 7:30pm she swooped me up and off we went. Five or so hours later we crashed at the La Quinta (Spanish for "Really Great Place To Sleep") in Missoula and snoozed for a couple hours. Karla turned on the TV sometime in the early am...not sure why, but I think it was to drown out my snoring...my nose was plugged! Honest! *embarrassed*

We were out of the place by 8am and we trolled around so Karla could take some good pictures. Then, after dosing ourselves with caffeine, (Also, there's a pretty awesome bear statue next to the building, next to the Starbucks we fueled up at...random art interest for all of you...) the two of us journeyed home! :D I forgot to ask her how the project went...I also forgot to help pay for gas... I had fun anyway. I like spontaneous trips. They appeal to my stifled and limited sense of adventure. *grin*

(Sorry we didn't have time to visit you Sierra! But we weren't really there long enough! If I ever am in town long enough, BEWARE! I will call you and demand that we do something!)

The promise of spring has bitten be badly and every time I see more snow and frost, I cringe a little bit. Although, I will be sad to say goodbye to my winter wardrobe. Long sleeves are so much nicer than cap sleeves. I like my winter clothes better than my summer ones. So much comfier. *hums contentedly in cozy clothes*

Take care everyone!

E.

______Songs Playing In My Head Today_______

Secret Crowds by Angels & Airwaves
Purify by Lacuna Coil
Go Your Own Way by Fleetwood Mac
Black Roses Red by Alanna Grace
New Soul by Yael Naim

Waving Them Off

2008-11-23T21:44:00.000-08:00

Greetings!

Last week we zipped up to Spokane to meet my Aunt Leslie and her family. They were spending one night in Spokane before going to Seattle and flying out of Seattle for Hawaii! We all met at The Olive Garden downtown by the riverfront and had a fun time chatting. (Even though the music was on too loud. It was even Micheal Buble, and I like Micheal Buble, but it was still too loud. We were all shout-chatting most of the time.) Kaelan was telling me about possibly having to wear uniforms at her new school and her mixed feelings on the subject.

She also told me what she thought the uniforms should be. ;) Pink was a main requirement. :D Then, Connor, Kaelan and I impressed the other patrons of The Olive Garden by taking a lovely group picture....

I hope they have safe journeys and wonderful time over there for a year!

-E.

______Songs Playing In My Head Today_______

The Glittering Cloud by Imogen Heap
Breathe Me by Sia
Rachmaninov's First Piano Concerto
Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
Never To Know by Lene Marlin
Are We Dancing(?) by The Killers

Out and About

2008-11-17T00:06:00.000-08:00

Greetings!

The Days of Grey have begun on the Palouse. Yesterday and today there was a break in the clouds for a few hours. It was very lovely!

On the last week of October, I traveled with Mom through southern Idaho as she went on her conference tour. We bounced through Boise, Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Twin Falls and decided to round off the trip by swooping through Jackson, Wyoming. From there it was a quick hop on up through Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park and a night in Bozeman with family before jumping in the car and zooming off again!

While we were exploring the southern reaches of the state, we came across this place called City of Rocks. A very fascinating little valley full of natural and whimsical rock formations. Looked sort of like the Idahoian version of Capadocia in Turkey. (Not sure if I spelled that right...) I'd never heard of the City of Rocks before, but it features in several novels, was a stopping point on the California Trail and is now a National Reserve. Mom and I found it very interesting and took lots of pictures. Alas, I didn't take any on my phone, so all of my pictures are on my ancient non digital camera and I have none to share here. -__-; Oops.

We made it into Jackson Hole on Halloween evening. It was around 4:30 and all the little kids and their parents were trick or treating at the businesses downtown. So fun to watch! I saw a two little Batmans (What's the plural form of Batman? Batmens?) waiting to cross the street, neither one the traditional Caucasian but instead one mocha skin and curly black hair and the other pale with dark slanted eyes. Adorable! They looked at each other, realized they were both wearing Batman costumes, and even though I couldn't hear them from where I was, I KNEW they were singing 'da-na-nana-nana-nana-Batman!' Then, when the light changed, they both flared out their capes and swooped across the street in perfect little boy fashion. :D

Mom and I were glad we had taken time to look at the Teton Range that night and enjoy the view a little while before we went back to our hotel, because the next morning, the mountains had wrapped themselves securely in clouds and were invisible. Had I not looked upon them the night before, I might not have believed there were mountains there. Beautiful ones, in fact. ;)

The drive up to Bozeman was lovely, even though it was cloudy and rainy. It was a different kind of beauty that both of us appreciated just as much as stunning sunlight. Yellowstone was nice and practically empty. Even the animals were gone. We saw one chipmunk and ONE coyote. Usually, the park is chocked full of buffalo and elk and whatever else. In fact, last year, Mom and I stopped counting bison after we reached one hundred. It was just a pain to try and keep track. ;P

Take care everyone!

E.

Songs Playing In My Head Today

Dangerous Mind by Within Temptation
Monsoon by Tokio Hotel
It's Not Fair by Kate Havnevik
Another Place To Fall by KT Tunstall
Somewhere by Within Temptation
Never To Know by Lene Marlin

Sum Laffs!

2008-10-17T21:18:00.000-07:00

Greetings!

It's time for random kitty (and other animals) humor. Take yourselves to icanhascheezburger.com for some laughs! Beware, there is bad spelling ahoy! But would you really expect cats to be great spellers?

more animals

:D :D :D

Laughing is good for you. It's scientifically proven and everything.
Take care!
E.

Songs Playing In My Head Today

___________

___________
Michael Nyman's theme from The Piano

Eclipse by Suzanne Ciani

Voca Me by LIBERA

The Batman Theme

Life In Mono by Mono

Thanksgiving by George Winston

Catching Up & Texas

2008-10-11T21:17:00.000-07:00

WARNING: The entry below is 'totally blabby' to make up for time absent. There will be no picture breaks and the content may lack relevance and/or a point. May also contain copious spelling errors. If you still wish to read the entry below, the establishment will not be held responsible for any choking that make occur from excess drool incurred while sleeping from overwhelming boredom. Have a nice day!

............

Greetings!

Had quite the gusty little storm last week. Blew branches off and tried to do its best imitation of a sand blaster. I bent my passport renewal pictures trying to get into the house without having them or myself blown away! ;)

Dad came up for a lovely visit the twelfth through the fifteenth of August. We had a great time just hanging out and chattering. Even went shopping a bit. Had a terrible time finding a duvet cover for my new duvet. Poor man, a whole exhausting day of shopping. We eventually found two that will work splendidly and he survived like a real trooper!

Last part of August and the first week of September, I decided it would be a bright idea to climb aboard a plane and fly to visit some cousins in Texas. They were having a bunch of other people a young kids 'get-together', so I just joined the crowd! (Except everyone seemed to be seventeen...But fear not! I have never found acting younger than I am challenging.) Met lots of new people and had several of them tell me I had to move down there. (They were saying all this right after they explained how they weren't bothered by hurricanes much, but tornadoes were common. Ha ha. *hates tornadoes* Although, I would like to visit again soon. Maybe this winter when I'm oh so tired of all the blessed snow...)

I hung out most of the time with my cousins Autumn, Dana and a guy that was just weird enough to be family so that we all treated him like he was. We got into all kinds of trouble and even had a bit of a scare when my pregnant cousin got kicked in the stomach while we were in their pool! Aaah! It made her feel very odd, so I went with her to the hospital where they put her under observation for several hours. The doctor said the baby is absolutely fine, but she still had intense pain every time she was standing plus a weird cramping sensation. They sent her home anyway. We kept a pretty close eye on her and she didn't get any worse, so we tried not to crowd her too much.

On a side note, if I were in charge of building hospitals, I would change the floor plan of the birthing and baby floor! There were NO public restrooms in the ward where my cousin was. And that's okay if someone just has to tinkle, but what about.....'meditating' over... one's business when there is merely a thin curtain separating one from the rest of the room, the short hallway and a whole host of nurses, doctors and who ever else happens to wander by. Needless to say, I left the ward and went down the hall to the waiting room. There, I discovered the worst flaw of all. On a floor where there is almost NOTHING but pregnant women, there is one, count it carefully, ONE unisex bathroom. Um....does anyone else see the problem here? Don't they know that pregnant women have to pee every eight minutes because junior is sitting/kicking/hitting/pressing on their bladder!?! *shakes head* Great plan guys.

I had a great time visiting and was loving it all until my allergies went into overdrive. Total bleh. I don't know what it was, but it's vile. Took me almost a whole two weeks to get over whatever the nasty stuff was. Getting sick put a big crimp in my plans. They weren't amazing plans, but they sounded fun to me. Not to mention the fact that no one wanted to be around me while I was drizzling mucus out of every facial orifice. Ew. Oh, and the fact that flying when your sinuses are full is absolute agony. No kidding. they could use it as torture. Owie.

Apart from the agony, they flying part of flying to Texas was kinda fun. (Except the part where they switched gates on me at the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport. That airport is huge. Not fun. Has its own little inner-airport train and everything. Which I'm in love with, by the way. Without the SkyLink train, I would have died. Srsly.)

Flying back was a kick in the pants. The kind of kick that comes in steel toed boots forcefully walloping your tender and unprotected backside. I thought my ear drums had busted. Then I got a bloody nose as we landed in Portland. *gives up* I didn't cry in frustration, but I might have flattened an idiot (or two) that stood in my way in as I was in a major hurry to get off the plane and to a lavatory where I could mop myself up.

On the bright side, it was clear enough as we were flying into Oregon that I got to see Mount Adams, Mount Rainer, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Hood really close. It was actually quite cool. *huge dorky geography and vulcanologist nerdy type grin*

Anyway, almost this entire entry was a long convoluted way of saying that I had a great time in spite of the difficulties! :D

Love you all!
E.

2008-08-16T11:58:00.000-07:00

Greetings!

Hopefully, I will have a new phone soon. And with this new phone, there will be a camera. And because of this camera, I will be able to post pictures of what's going on! It's not that I don't already have a camera, but the one I have is an ancient film only type. I love it, but it is sadly out of date and makes posting pictures very difficult. :P

I've been trying to scrape funds together to visit Autumn down in Texas. And so far, I think I might have enough. Possibly. Flying is so stinkin' expensive! Also, the thought of switching planes at the Dallas/Ft.Worth airport scares the woohoo out of me! I looked at the floor plans of the airport and it's HUGE. If I had problems with the Denver airport, Dallas will kill me. I'm such a country bumpkin.

This is a lovely example of Engrish. What happens when the translation process doesn't go so well. This picture was featured on Engrish.com and probably belongs to them and all that jazz.

We always knew McDonalds was evil. *shudders*

Take care everyone! It was so nice to hear from you all on my last post!

E.

_____________________________________________________

What My Brain Has Been Singing Today

Dust In The Wind by Kansas
Just Say It by Sleepthief
Impossible by The Cranberries
Along The Wall by Leigh Nash

(Just so you know, I'm rarely in control of what my brain decideds to hum to itself. So on some days, the mix is pretty random!)

Thus Do I Follow

2008-07-03T11:18:00.001-07:00

Greetings!

I am persuaded to follow the example of my chums and relations. I must BLOG. *inspiring music swells in the background*

As a practicing procrastinator, I will often forget that I should update regularly. There may be many long days between posts. And as I am not extremely computer savvy, there will probably be awkward moments of strange looking pages. In spite of these minor setbacks, I welcome any brave readers warmly! :D

So, sit back (but make sure your seatbelt is securely fastened) and join me for a mild adventure in blogging.

E.