Monthly Archives: December 2006

preparing for life in a tent

When we bought this house, I knew we’d be doing some remodeling. It’s not a surprise to me. And I am often reminded of this fact. I signed on for this; I knew what I was getting into; I was … Continue reading

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9 reasons I should get a new car

My current car is purple. Who the hell wants a purple car? I blame a complete lack of discernment when I bought it. How long do I have to pay for a momentary lapse in judgement? Surely three years is … Continue reading

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satisfied with mediocrity

I’ve discovered that playing sports is a little like eating vegetables. When I was a kid, it was awful. But as an adult, I’ve learned to like it. A little. I don’t know that I’ll ever really love sports or … Continue reading

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the heart of texas

We stopped at a BBQ place on our way to the airport today, to get one last taste of Texas flavor. One thing I really appreciate about Texas is the iced tea. Texas is south enough that you can get … Continue reading

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potatoes and illusionary fruit

Every city has has something about it that makes it special, some certain place you want to visit again and again. If you look hard enough, you can always find it. Maybe it’s a bluff with a perfect view for … Continue reading

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better through scientific research

I suppose I’m inquisitive by nature. Even as a kid, I was always reading non-fiction or researching something. I loved the library. I could sit there at the card catalog or walk the stacks and learn about absolutely anything I … Continue reading

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we choose between reality and madness

As is evident from the title, I’ve been listening to a lot of Billy Joel lately. Which always brings me back to high school, driving down to Northridge, singing all the way over the grapevine. High school sucks for everyone, … Continue reading

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the slackers of bedford falls

I hate It’s a Wonderful Life. It’s not the bell ringing and the angel wings. I sort of expect things like that in Christmas movies. And you can’t help but like Clarence a little anyway. Who would begrudge him wings? … Continue reading

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cookbooks for an american woman

(The continuing saga of publishing old drafts… I started this in March 2005.) I love cookbooks. I love food and I love books, so I suppose it’s not surprising. Two of my earliest happy memories are of figuring out how … Continue reading

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we owe it to ourselves to change our minds

(I have made it a Christmas vow to publish all of the old bits and pieces of drafts that I have hanging around. Some of them are a couple of years old, so who the hell knows what I may … Continue reading

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is there such a thing as too much shakespeare?

I’ve loved booked ever since I can remember. I love reading them, being around them, owning them. I can get completely lost in a book to the point that I entirely tune out the world around me. (Really. Try talking … Continue reading

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conversations with my family

I was avoiding calling my mom. Yes, she had called three times. Is there a special section of hell reserved for daughters who refuse to call their mothers? If there is, I suppose I have a reserved table, because I … Continue reading

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jean

My middle name is Jean. When I was really little, this made me very upset because I didn’t understand why my mom named me after a pair of pants. She actually named me after my grandma — my biological father’s … Continue reading

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a world without coffee and internet is no world at all

Apparently my decision to leave work last night was a wise one. The six inches of water I waded through in the garage turned into four feet soon after. We lost power sometime in the night but while large branches … Continue reading

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a dramatic hop through the lake of sewage

When I woke up this morning [actually, yesterday, since I didn’t get this posted last night], I did not think to myself, “self, perhaps you’ll be wading through a flooded garage of rain, mud, and raw sewage later.” I mean, … Continue reading

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in the easy silence that you make for me

I miss music. Sometimes, I just need quiet (although my ability to get that ended when I started working at company with one of those nifty “open office” arrangments, aka “rooms of chaos and noise”). And I get into weird … Continue reading

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had I but world enough and time

It is no secret that organization is my arch nemesis. The organizational dream and I have a love/hate relationship that has overshadowed my entire life. The trouble is that I want so much to be perfect and then I do … Continue reading

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rainy days and mondays

They don’t get me down. In fact, I love rainy days. They are comforting in a way I can’t really explain. And I’m a secret fan of Mondays, although I suppose that means I like my work just a little … Continue reading

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is this what they mean by “life is a journey”?

Friends of mine often get confused when I mention my past. Where was I living when? What was I doing where? Was it the second time I lived there? Which state and which high school? Hell, even I get confused. … Continue reading

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my cubic zirconia crown

I made Alaska MVP Gold last week. This is the honor bestowed upon you when you spend more time in airplanes and hotel rooms than at home. In return, you get rewarded with perks like boarding early. In order to … Continue reading

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crazy

I have turned into a crazy person. Quite possibly, I was always a crazy person, but I’ve now become someone who you slowly back away from, someone who wanders randomly and talks to herself in the streets. Yes, I’ve gotten … Continue reading

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being warm

What makes you colder? Snowboarding or Scuba diving? I had a suspicion that diving in the Pacific Northwest in winter was crazy, in a freezing way, but whole magazines are devoted to it. Divers claim to love it. It’s the … Continue reading

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