Brinki*Dink

Like This

2009-09-21T15:32:00.002-06:00

Today I am crossing my fingers.

Tour de Fat

2009-09-14T07:52:00.005-06:00

This photo describes the tenor of my weekend.

This is what happens when a world class cycling circus comes to town. Dr. Awesome returned. I was part of a rainbow. There were 1554s and Squirm Burpee(!). And, then it rained. I love Denver!

The Nibbler

2009-09-08T13:23:00.003-06:00

I've been working in my home office all day and I haven't seen our dog Kaya at all. It's a hot one here so I assume she's sleeping in the cool basement. During the course of the day today I've had breakfast and I've had lunch, still no Kaya. As soon as I come back to my chair with a string cheese and I begin to open the package, she is there by my side peering up at me with her huge black, emploring eyes.

I've never known a dog to be as obsessed with string cheese as I am. She has an uncanny radar for hearing the crisper drawer open and the plastic packaging being pulled apart. I always give her a nibble because I'm so impressed with her tenacity, perception and unrelenting gaze.

Telluride and Friends

2009-07-07T14:48:00.004-06:00

What a great summer this has been so far. It's been so nice to work from home and to travel and play on the weekends with so little stress.

I'm posting here some photos from our recent trip to Telluride for the Bluegrass Festival. It was rad. David Byrne and the cloudy mountains were just a couple of highlights.

One day I would like to move here and open a dog grooming salon/farm stand.

Cloud Mountains

Red Mountains

DB

You can check out the rest of the set on my flickr stream.

Modern Woman

2009-06-30T16:57:00.003-06:00

The flower pots are planted, the dog groomed, the car fixed, deadlines met, lunch date done, flag decorated, white table roses bloomed, blog posted, quotes approved, gown picked, dinner planned, garden watered, wine chilled. It's been a productive day.

Senbazuru: 22

2009-06-25T14:38:00.003-06:00

Senbazuru is an old Japanese tradition says that those who fold 1,000 paper cranes will be granted one wish. The couple that folds them the year before their wedding will be destined for a life of love.

So far, we have 22 cranes. Some are a little wonky, but with 978 left to go we have plenty of room to improve our technique.

"You Taste Just Like Glitter Mixed with Rock and Roll"

2009-06-05T13:57:00.008-06:00

I can't explain my recent fascination with pop culture princesses lately, except that perhaps I need more popping and flossing in my life.

Brinki*Dink Pop and Floss Tour 2009

-Gwen Stefani
-Fergie
-Tori Spelling
-Lady GaGa
-Kate Gosselin
-Ricki Lake
-Beyonce
-Kristen Stewart
-Kimora Lee Simmons

Dr. McGrube

2009-06-02T16:35:00.002-06:00

Snake!

2009-06-01T16:45:00.003-06:00

Dude...

This snake was found on the trail hiking in Morrison. As you can see, he was huge. Luckily some hikers alerted us to this guy so we had time to put Kaya back on the leash. I hate to think what would have happened had one of us stepped on him!

Coveting...

2009-06-01T11:07:00.001-06:00

...the pretty new MacBook and the gorgeous 24 inch cinema LED display that works with it.

Olive di Castleventrano

2009-05-31T18:52:00.002-06:00

I am in love with these bright green, buttery olives. The only place I've been able to find them in Denver is at our local cheese shop, The Truffle. Castleventrano olives are light, firm and just a wee bit salty. Perfection in the form of an olive!

Blip?

2009-05-29T09:25:00.001-06:00

Lady GaGa - Poker Face

Shared via AddThis

A Day of Cuteness

2009-05-27T10:43:00.004-06:00

This Memorial Day weekend was the rainiest in the history of my mind. To escape the gloomy drippiness of the weather, we went to the Denver Aquarium. It was totally fun-filled with cute creatures like sea horses, jelly fish, and puffer fish. They've also got a huge shark tank with lots of big, toothy monsters swimming around and around. Those were not so cute, but entirely fascinating.

However, there is only so much a grown person can take being in a public place swarming with squealing booger-pickers, so we left the mysterious depths of the aquarium and spent the rest of the afternoon in the warm and germ-free respite of our house.

Did you know you can rent Nintendo games from Blockbuster? Lucky for us, we chose Mario Kart. Why is everything Mario does so gosh darn cute?! This game is rad.

The cuteness continued with a viewing of Australia. The movie got some bad reviews and I can understand why. "Over the Rainbow" was over the top, and why was Drover's name also his occupation? But, that little boy was adorable and I loved him. I also found myself a new nickname--Mrs. Boss. It's perfect!

Grow Baby, Grow

2009-05-20T15:29:00.002-06:00

We're trying to grow a lawn in our backyard, which to this point has been a large dirt square. Growing a lawn isn't easy. It's almost like a baby. We have to feed it and water it and protect it from hungry birds and squirrels...

Okay, a lawn is nothing like a baby.

But, it's hard work nonetheless. I hope all this effort returns a happy, healthy little plot of grass. Poor Kaya has to stay inside during the grass growing weeks and she's not all that happy about it. She sulks at my feet all day long, hoping for some turkey bacon scraps or a lick of my cereal bowl to fill the void.

Along with the new lawn, we planted a vegetable garden, herb garden and flower bed. So far, everyone seems happy enough. Picture to come when it all starts to look like something other than dirt punctuated by little bits of green.

Just Embrace It

2009-05-18T09:59:00.002-06:00

I've been singing My Poker Face now for the last two days. Instead of hating this annoying song, I've decided to embrace it. I'm now listening to the entire Lady Gaga CD and it's got me dancing in my chair as I check email and start my work day.

My my my poker face po po poker face...

Aspen Flutters

2009-05-06T12:19:00.002-06:00

One thing I love most about living in Colorado is the Aspen trees. I have a particular affinity for the young one in our backyard, just recently blooming.

I sit at my desk working away, once in a while glancing up at the twirling leaves. They hold on for dear life, fluttering at the whim of the wind. There are few things as beautiful to me as those leaves. I could (and do) watch them all day.

Behold

2009-04-30T10:06:00.004-06:00

http://www.japanesebirdcookingspaghetti.com/

Thank You for Bea-ing a Friend

2009-04-27T15:01:00.003-06:00

Here's to The Dutchess. We will miss you.

I'll Admit It

2009-04-24T10:19:00.003-06:00

I'm back on Twitter mainly to follow celebrity posts. Few of my friends were into Twitter about a year ago, when I was really into it. So, I stopped following.

With so many celebrities, politicians, and organizations tweeting now, I decided to give it another try. I wish more Denver restaurants would participate with Twitter so that I could find out about insider events and happy hour specials.

If you have suggestions for interesting tweets to follow, leave 'em in the comments section.

Dirty Dog

2009-04-17T11:37:00.001-06:00

After a long puddle-jumping walk in the rain.

Best Brunch Ever

2009-04-14T09:27:00.004-06:00

I'm such a lucky girl. For Easter, Nick and I went to my favorite restaurant on earth--Beatrice and Woodsley. We first stumbled upon this place by accident one night when we couldn't get in for dinner at Deluxe, another great Denver eatery. I fell in love with the small plates of various meats and cheeses. And, all the wine comes in tiny carafes with adorable brown paper tags listing origins and flavors.

Walking in to B&W is like walking into an Aspen fairy grove. The lighting is yellow and warm, the seating round and intimate, and the food...

Brunch was a million courses of goodness highlighted by hot cross buns, shrimp and grits, potato pancakes with apples and tiny lemon cream puffs. There were pimms cups and early grey gin martinis. It was decadent and lovely--the best way to celebrate Easter, in my opinion.

The Pitterpat

2009-04-07T14:11:00.002-06:00

This is week three of PingPong's stay in medical boarding with our vet. I'm missing the pitterpatter of claws on glass as I check email and host webinars from my home office. He ate a bunch of rocks that became impacted in his intestine and our awesome vet is feeding him pumpkin and Metamucil to see if it will loosen things up.

The treatment seems to be working a bit, but he's a long way from recovered. After a week and half more, we'll know if we have to think about surgery. Le sigh.

Love List

2009-04-01T10:35:00.003-06:00

A list of things I love this morning:

-My iPhone
-The jade plant that lives on my desk
-Honey Bunches of Oats
-Training for the Boulder Bolder...I'm trying to love this
-Whittling my inbox down to 50 messages
-Snuggles
-Catching-up with my bffs on the phone...I only wish it was in person

My Precious

2009-03-15T17:53:00.004-06:00

I said yes!

the bubbling

2009-03-10T12:18:00.003-06:00

I feel a bubbling of anxiety in my solar plexus and I'm not quite sure why. Every little thing seems insurmountable and I'm annoyed at the world. This is a ridiculous feeling for me to have right now as my life couldn't be better. I will take a deep breath and sit on an airplane for a few hours. Hopefully, on the other side will be California and rainbows.

A Hole

2009-02-05T16:11:00.003-07:00

Location: Bryan, Texas

The Scene: Applebee's U-Shaped Bar. Some locals are at one end of the bar talking about how crazy and bodacious it is to be a true Applebee's regular. Obviously, this is a great source of pride for these people.

I am on a business trip, dining alone at the only spot I can muster the energy to get to. I order a dollar draft. It's Miller Lite because I only have three choices and the other two are Budweiser.

An Excerpt from the book* I'm reading: "What's in a hole can be What did so-and-so do with his life? He is in that hole. What did I do last month? That question is in the hole. Where did the time go when I was young and carefree? If I look into that type of hole, I'll find all my youth...

...'Einstein,' he says, 'knew that time was matter. That time and space could be warped and bent, like the dip in a stretched sheet if you place a stone in the middle. Ever notice how everything slows down when you go over the handlebars of your bike?'"

I order another dollar draft.

*Schopenhauer's Telescope by Gerard Donovan

Yum D Bar!

2009-01-23T10:17:00.004-07:00

Last night was Nick's night to make dinner...so we went out. After last month's issue of 5280 neither of us was able to get the image of D Bar's beautifully constructed "Cake and Shake" out of our heads. This new Denver restaurant headed by Food Network celebrity Keegan Gerhard did not disappoint--we were even graced with the star's presence at the dessert bar, creating for an eager crowd of sugar hounds.

The desserts did not disappoint. I unashamedly ordered the cake and shake, and was met with a deliciously light and at the same time dense chocolate cake. The "crumb", as they say, was perfectly moist and not cumbly at all. The frosting was chocolaty but not deadly. And the vanilla shake was frothy and creamy with tiny chocolate covered cookie nibs floating around. Nick had a tropical flan which was gorgeous, flanked by sweet plantains. We also tried the Mac and Cheese which was surprisingly good for a place that doesn't specialize in dinner.

We'll certainly be back!

Let's See if Anybody's Reading This Shiz

2009-01-22T15:31:00.001-07:00

From Helen Jane

The first five people who comment here will get something I make. Could be a real life thing. Could be imaginary. Depends on what I think you will like and my inspirations. (Note, it’s going to be something I think you will like. Actual liking not guaranteed!)

The only real rule is that you have to make this offer in your own web log.

The Chief

2009-01-21T11:47:00.002-07:00

I forgot a very important event from my list of things yesterday which was that we elected a new president. Thank goodnes, right? I thought President Obama's inagural speech yesterday was quite sobering yet uplifting. I'm very excited about the changes ahead. I'll be realistic, nothing is going to change overnight. But, damn, did we get a new leader just in the nick of time or what? Oddly enough I feel a lot more secure about our country's place in the world right now.

Oh Yeah, Its Me Again

2009-01-20T17:42:00.003-07:00

Yeah, it's been a while--a good 4 months since I updated at Brinki-Dink. Sorry to leave you all with that creepy video of John McCain up here for so long! I guess I just got busy. Life kind of took over and my little blog fell to the wayside.

Not to worry though. I'm back and ready to spill to the internets again. So, what have I been up to for so long you ask? Well it seems like everything and nothing. The most important shift is that I fell in love and am now domesticating with my lovely boyfriend. It's pretty awesome so far.

In other news, I traveled a lot for work, I went to Mexico for fun. I turned 30. I took some pictures and I saw a lot of friends. I danced at some shows. I met some new people. I cooked a lot and I ate a lot. I exercised a little. I saw Ann Lamott in line at the grocery store.

I'm settling in now for the new year in a new house that I love. I'm getting used to being in one spot just long enough for work to kick-up again and bounce me into another airplane seat.

We've got a new look and some new inspiration and I finally got that back-to-blogging post out of the way (that's always the hardest).

60 Minutes Interviews

2008-09-22T08:23:00.002-06:00

If you didn't watch the 60 Minutes Interviews with John McCain and Barack Obama last night, I encourage you to check them out online. The first part of the interviews, to me, were the most enlightening. When asked about the state of the economy, the recent bailouts and what needs to happen to turn things around, it's very clear which candidate is better informed.

It's very disturbing to me that McCain demonstrates such superficial knowledge; he's obviously not doing his homework...it's no wonder he graduated 5th from the bottom of his class.

I can't wait for the debates!

Watch CBS Videos Online

Watch CBS Videos Online

Hopefully

2008-09-19T09:18:00.001-06:00

Tour de Fat

2008-09-15T11:36:00.002-06:00

The Tour de Fat was a success! Minty McPatty and Doctor Awesome were in full effect as were about 800 other bikers taking over the city streets of Denver with boom boxes, funny hats and bikes of all shapes and sizes. The parade was a blast, as was the party in City Park complete with flowing New Belgium brews, a fantastic circus show and great music. Here are some pictures:

The Stage

Minty McPatty and Dr. Awesome

My New Bike

2008-09-11T10:57:00.004-06:00

Guess who got a new bike this week? Me! It's an Electra Coaster 7 in pearl and mint. It's very cute and sassy, but also functional with 7 gears and a light aluminum frame. My bike was a very sweet and unexpected gift from Nicholas for our sixth month anniversary. Gosh, I can't believe it's already been six months. I guess that means I can now officially write about him on my blog. Hi honey!

We're going to ride our bikes in the Tour-de-Fat this weekend in Denver. It's a bike parade, sponsored by New Belgium that benefits local charities and raises awareness for reducing waste (and riding bikes instead of cars). I need to think of a costume that will go along with my new bike. I'm thinking Minty McPatty who wears all green and tosses peppermint patties out into the crowd. If you have a better idea, leave it in my comments section.

Watching the DNC

2008-08-26T16:58:00.003-06:00

Here are some photos of the haps around town.

City Pride

Don't Let Your Toilet Run!

Obama Wall

Downtown Flowers

Cheney, get back in the paddywagon!

Police Horses Cutting-off the Mall Ride

Do Tell, Asshole

I edited a few of these with the Flickr application, Piknic. It's a nice little editing feature if you want a quick crop or vignette. `

Best and Worst, So Far

2008-08-25T21:46:00.002-06:00

So far, the best thing about the DNC coming to Denver is that there are police everywhere. I know, that doesn't sound like a sentence you would have though I'd write. However, in the past couple of days I've not seen one drug deal or been approached by any crazies...well, unless you count the insane sign-wielding extremists running around town waving pictures of dead fetuses and offensive statements about who "God" says I can and can't have sex with.

I guess I never thought there'd come the day when I would welcome a heavier police presence in my life, but I just feel so safe. I'm not sure where all the homeless people went or where the meth is getting distributed this week, but it sure ain't on my block!

So far, the worst thing about the DNC is all the out of towners running around the city wearing their credentials. I'm sorry dude, but when I'm at a conference and I accidentally wear my badge into pubic, I get chastised for dweebing-out. Here, though, the delegates, press and other esteemed guests seem to think it's a badge of cool. It's not really needed, their ineptitude with public transportation etiquette and their inability to abide by street signs gives them away anyway.

Actually, I think it's really cool that Denver's got Obama fever this week. And, living right in the mix, I have no complaints about disruptions to my daily life. Even though I do feel a little out of place because I don't have a tee-shirt with a political statement or Obama's head on it.

Banjoy

2008-06-27T12:43:00.003-06:00

Bela Fleck and Chris Thile during a workshop at Telluride Bluegrass this year. So much fun...this fuzzy video doesn't do the scene any justice at all.

It's Hard to Work...

2008-05-22T08:50:00.001-06:00

...with a cat in your lap. Especially when that cat is Obi! He's still cute and lovey as ever. Tuxedo cats are totally the best.

Just Like Old Times

2008-05-20T06:49:00.004-06:00

This morning I'm sitting on the living room floor, watching The Smurfs and eating Pops. I guess when I'm home, I revert to 8-year-old behavior. I'm just waiting for my brother to come in and yank on my ponytail.

Next-up: Wonderwheels. I love the Boomerang Network. They don't make cartoons like that anymore.

Jiggedy Jig

2008-05-18T15:01:00.002-06:00

I'm home again, home again. I sometimes forget how beautiful it is here in New Hampshire. This morning I jogged by meadows, farms and rolling forest; I even saw a bunny! The weather was clear and warm with patches of bright blue sky peeking through the trees. It's a welcome change after spending last week in Manhattan.

Plans for the rest of the week include hikes, lake time, softball, bon fires, pedicures, babies, a birthday, sleep, boxing, lobster and moped driving. Plans also include work but I'm not thinking about that until tomorrow.

Waiting for Audrey to Get Here

2008-04-30T19:57:00.003-06:00

It's been a good month for hip-hop. Three new albums that I'm digging:

When Life Gives You Lemons, You Turn that Shit to Gold. Atmosphere

Rising Down. The Roots

The Odd Couple. Gnarls Barkley

Signs I am Getting Older:

2008-04-30T15:36:00.003-06:00

Monday night I spent 30 minutes looking for my sweater shaver and another 3 hours removing fuzzballs from all the wool in my closet. And, I totally enjoyed it.

My favorite thing to drink these days is low-sodium V8. If I'm like a walk on the wild-side, I'll put an olive in it.

I'm starting to recognize the people that walk around on the sidewalk outside my office window in the morning. Same dogs, same joggers, same businessmen, same crazies...

Mavis Beacon Would Be Proud

2008-04-24T09:05:00.002-06:00

When I was in 7th or 8th grade, my family got our first computer. I remember sitting for hours playing Mah-jong and Minesweeper. My parents bought us one of those learn-to-type programs. It was called Mavis Beacon and I spent hours playing that thing. Mavis taught us where the home keys lived and which fingers should punch which buttons. I took to typing quickly and loved trying to beat my own high scores.

I think I get this from my Grandma, who was quite the speedy typer back in her day. I remember writing my first resume and including my typing speed right there near the top. Do people still do that?

The point of this post is that I recently came across this website called Typeracer where you can test you skillz. Mavis Beacon would be proud to know her young prodigy topped out right around 100 wpm yesterday. My average is more in the mid 80's. This typeracer is quite addictive which is why I'm blogging about it instead of racing right now.

In the comments section, tell me your top speed.

Freedom Keys

2008-04-21T12:27:00.004-06:00

Since I'm home all week this week, I've decided that I'm going to run everyday in the hopes of getting into summer time shape. This morning I started out all happy, blasting the Talking Heads and jogging away down the road. Truth be told, I'm not in the best shape of my life so I did a little jog-n-walk, and was feeling great by the time I'd circled the park and found myself back on my block.

That is until I felt my back pocket and noticed it was significantly lighter than when I started out. Missing were my house keys. Granted, I was wearing 10 year old pants that are paper thin, but my zippered back pocket has always been trusty. My keys must have been too much for the ol' Puma nylon. The keys made a hole back there through which they fell to freedom.

I retraced all my steps--a nice bonus walk--but my keys were nowhere to be found. Lucky for me our maintenence guy was around and let me in so I wasn't stuck out on the street. And that's the end of my Monday story.

If I'm Not Faded...

2008-04-15T17:01:00.001-06:00

Does anyone else find this as hilarious as I do? I'm totally changing my ringtone to this song.

Seriously?

2008-04-15T09:30:00.003-06:00

Weather in Denver

Today: Sunny with a high of 78
Tomorrow: Chance of snow showers with high of 46

It's a good thing I'm skipping out of town tonight.

Brothers

2008-04-14T08:55:00.003-06:00

Portland was beautiful and so much fun. I love that city lots. The weekend was kicked off by a great Avett Brothers show at the Crystal Ballroom. It's so fun to see bands that are at this point in their career where they're touring and growing a lot. Their music is really developing into something unique.

This video is not from last Thursday's show but this song kind of encapsulates some of the brotherly love that was a theme throughout the weekend. All of a sudden I'm missing mine.

5 Things

2008-04-07T09:27:00.002-06:00

Five Things I Will Do Today

1. Host three hours worth of webinars
2. Send my taxes to the IRS
3. Listen to Glynnis' CD for the DC for the hundredth time
4. Make pizza dough
5. Let PingPong run around my apartment

Five Things I Will Do Later This Week

1. Start a new book
2. Walk in the Portland rain
3. Drink a Bridgeport IPA
4. Dance at the Avett Brothers with Amy!
5. Jog on the Eagle Creek Trail

Interesting, non?

Rap Jinx!!

2008-04-04T09:17:00.002-06:00

Courtesy ToothPasteForDinner

Beer of the Week: Wynkoop Chile Beer

2008-03-31T08:29:00.005-06:00

Gosh, beer of the week is turning into beer of the month. I just can't keep up with a new beer every seven days. Maybe I'll turn April into beer month and, for your reading pleasure, make note of something new each week.

I had an really interesting beer last night at Wynkoop Brewery that deserves a note for originality. It's called Patty's Chile Beer and the brewery actually toss anaheim chiles into the beer as it's brewing.

This beer smells chile than it tastes, which is a good thing. The taste is really an afterthought and you get a little tingling in the throat as an aftertaste. And, it's definitely got a green chile nose, not a red. I think I would have liked it more if the chile were of a different variety. I'm not a huge fan of anaheim peppers, though I guess it would be harder to achieve this kind of taste with an habenaro or a serrano since they're much smaller and have more heat than flavor.

This is a beer that is definitely better with food. I had it with a buffalo burger and that was nice. So, while this chile beer wouldn't be my first choice for a night out carousing with friends, I do think this would make an excellent accompaniment to a bloody mary during Sunday brunch.

Cutest Thing Ever

2008-03-28T09:24:00.000-06:00

Toes! So nice to see ya.

2008-03-25T16:08:00.001-06:00

Errands are so much better when you can walk to do them...in sandals and sunshine. Even if you do get accosted by a few crazies along the way.

Tough Neighborhood

2008-03-24T07:28:00.000-06:00

My neighborhood is tough with the parking inforcement. There's a lot I pay to park in on nights and weekends. If I end up leaving my car there at night, I have to wake up at 7:00 am to move it to the street or else I get the tow. It happened to me twice my first week here so I'm ultra paranoid about being in the right place now.

When I'm sitting at my office window in the morning, I see cars getting towed from the lots around my block. They temporarily store the cars on the street so they can tow as many from the lot as they can before the owners come to claim them. Then, one by one, the lost cars got to the impound lot. Sometimes I see the tow truck driver having trouble getting cars on or off the truck and I feel so grateful that it's not my car he's jostling and scraping around.

This morning when I was moving my car, I saw someone on my block getting the boot. I don't know what's worse, waking-up to find your car gone or waking-up to the boot. Either way it's not easy to be driver around these parts.

Coveting

2008-03-21T13:09:00.001-06:00

Finally, Salomon has made a good looking trail runner. I've had issues galore with running shoes as I tend to buy them too small or they tend to fall apart. I finally tried a pair of Salomon trail runners a while back and I love them. They're buns-up ugly though and so I'm psyched to see Salomon finally catching-up with the curve in terms of style.

I'm loving the new style of these newbies and thinking about getting a pair for myself in the near future. The kind of resemble the North Face sneakers I had eons ago that were super cute but fell apart.

Memory Bank

2008-03-20T10:35:00.000-06:00

To Remember:

Apple butter and pumpkin picking
Dancing on stage with the Allman Brothers
Winning the Trap and Poach Lobster Freedom Fest Relay with the Sparkle Sisters
Drinking from a glacial stream on top of the Tetons
Sunday Dinners at Tim and Brit's
Holding my niece for the first time
The Pier in Santa Barbara
New Year's on a frozen lake in Pittsburgh, NH
Walking to work in Manhattan
Learning about the amazing life my Grandma has lived
Driving into Creseted Butte for the first time
Walking on secret beach in the middle of the night
Walti's igloo
Swimming my heart out on Lake Tahoe
Block Island marshes and ice cream
Cuddling with Ole Red, our yellow lab
The Liz game by the fireplace on Court St.
Hiking around the Northwestern coastal rain forest
Letting my Mom make everything better
Rhyme circles and fly boys in Beverly
Eating Kansas City barbecue
Hiking in a snow covered desert
Twirling with the DC lovelies
Fishing with my Dad
Walking in a fashion show
Closing my first big business deal
Learning the names of cacti
Reading Anna Karenina
Frosty mugs with Anna
Trudging through mud at Coventry
Driving cross country with PingPong
Moving to Colorado
Making Lists

C25

2008-03-05T21:11:00.000-07:00

Delayed
Half-drunk
Exhausted
Braindead
Dehydrated
Misplaced

The story of my life on the road. Today it happens to be in the Vegas airport.

40 Ounces to Freedom

2008-03-03T10:28:00.000-07:00

Oddly enough I've heard Sublime 3 times this morning randomly from different sources. I'm not sure what this coincidence means as I've not listened to this beloved band for a long while. Perhaps I should buy a 40oz or smoke two joints. More likely, I need someone to caress me down. Whatever the intention of the universe, I've definitely enjoyed a little Sublime infusion with my green tea this morning.

City Park

2008-03-02T09:08:00.000-07:00

Some pictures from a sunny Saturday in the park.

My Favorite View of the Day

These little guys were huddled, standing on the last piece of frozen ice on the pond.

A grove of trees teeming with nests and birds.

All the geese sounded like dogs barking and yapping at each other.

A slightly disturbing, crumbly fountain.

Branches

Hey Brita

2008-02-26T15:38:00.001-07:00

It never fails that when I get into a funk about things not going my way, I am reminded how surprising and beautiful this life is. I am a lucky, lucky girl for many reasons, but today it's because I absolutely have the best friends in the world. Even though most of them live millions of miles away from me, they lift me up and give me perspective on how blessed we are in this life. There really is no point in getting sucked in the aforementioned cycle of shit.

Just now, I was knocked way over backwards with a big, beautiful smile thanks to my dear friend Ms. Valerie March. If you haven't heard it yet, check out the kick-ass song she just posted. It's about yours truly. There are many other beautiful songs on her site and you will be enraptured. Val has the voice of angels and a spirit to match.

If your band would like to cover this tune, and I know they would, please get permission from the artist herself.

Thanks, Valerie. I love you dearly.

Vegan Scones

2008-02-24T08:15:00.001-07:00

I made vegan scones last night with random ingredients I had in my pantry. They turned out pretty well--not too sweet and a little salty. This recipe was great because I didn't have dairy products handy. They went very well with lentil soup.

Banana Soy Scones

Wet Ingredients:
2 ripe bananas (one mashed, one chopped)
3 Tbs olive oil
2 Tbs brown sugar
4-6 Tbs vanilla soy milk

Dry Ingredients:
1 cup flour
1 tsp ground ginger
1.5 tsp baking powder
.25tsp salt

Garnish
sesame seeds

Mix wet and sift dry ingredients in separate bowls. Add dry mix to the wet and mix quickly. Lumps are okay here. The less you stir the batter, the lighter your scones will be. Add extra soy milk if the batter is dry.

Scoop 6-8 scones onto a non-stick baking sheet. Mix a little olive oil, brown sugar, salt and sesame seeds to drizzle on top before baking. Bake at 400 degrees for 12-16 minutes. Enjoy!

Now, this is not your traditional buttery scone served with cream. But, it's the next best thing. Some organic Maine blueberries would have made this even better. I'll remember that for next time.

This would be funny if it wasn't true.

2008-02-22T13:31:00.000-07:00

I was sitting in the Santa Barbara airport last Wednesday afternoon having a beer and waiting for my flight. A guy wearing a black leather jacket with black painted fingernails and a shaved head came up the stairs to the restaurant and walked face first into the 'Please Seat Yourself' sign. The sign was your typical gold and brown post, reversible to note whether you should wait for a hostess or not. It didn't seem particularly dangerous to me, but what do I know. This guy was even further embarrassed when an elderly lady standing nearby asked him if he was alright. He shushed her off and went to his seat.

The man who ran into the sign certainly was of the opinion that this sign was unsafe and a violent affront to unsuspecting customers. I thought nothing of this incident until a few minutes later when baldy started yelling at the restaurant manager, telling him to file a report and xerox a copy. Minutes later, he was in the back taking a picture of the violent sign with his iphone.

I just felt so bad for that restaurant manager. I mean, here he is, working in an airport bar and some litigious asshole is causing a scene because he didn't look where he was walking. It astounds me sometimes that there are people in this world with such soft egos that they need to make other people miserable to make up for their own lack of self-esteem. It's very pathetic and also a little funny.

The People

2008-02-15T14:39:00.000-07:00

They are driving me crazy. CRAZY I tell you. Why can't everyone just jump on my bandwagon? It's a nice bandwagon, comfy with shock absorbers and free beer and cookies. What's not to love?

My Heart Flutteres for Thee

2008-02-14T17:41:00.000-07:00

Happy Valentine's Day, Internets.

Sandwich Sundays

2008-02-04T10:10:00.001-07:00

Living

Add to My Profile | More Videos

Thanks, Meggles!

Denver Art Museum

2008-02-03T17:08:00.000-07:00

First Saturday of the month is free to residents. Fantastic American art collections. Loved it.

Beer of the Week

2008-02-02T08:25:00.000-07:00

Remember cactus of the week? I sure miss those prickly pears and hedgehog cacti. In it's place though I'm happy to announce Beer of the Week. There is much to explore to here and naturally I've started with one of the things I love most.

This week's beer is Avalance from Breckenridge Brewery. I loved the flavor melding in this amber ale. Amber ales are usually pretty mild, and this one is, but it's got a fantastic malt taste that twangs on your tounge and adds dimension to the beer. I don't love the typical flatness of many amber ales and so the bright carbonation in Avalanche was a very welcome surprise. This week's beer is a real winner; I'll definitely be sampling it again.

New Home Place

2008-01-30T14:45:00.000-07:00

Boy, moving is a process! Don't ask me why I keep doing it every year. Well, actually do ask me. I love exploring the west like this. Colorful Colorado is fantastic so far and I'm beyond excited to finally be a full-fledged resident of my favorite state.

I moved into a building that's about 90 years old. It used to be a hotel but now it's apartments. Cleaning this place is going to be a continuous project. I do have to say that there has been some major progress made in this place over the past week and a half. Here's a tour of my new digs for your viewing pleasure.

Come on in and sample one of the many micro brews available at the corner store. My favorite today is 96 Shilling from O'dells. Also loving the Rising Moon ale from Blue Moon.

My build-in spice rack. Sweet!

My little breakfast nook.

PingPong loves the sunshine in his new spot. I think he likes being in my office, next to me all day. He especially likes causing a ruckus while I'm on the phone.

Another awesome built-in.

Ah, so peaceful.

So, here I am, all moved in. I've got a great feeling abut this new homeplace; I think I'm really going to like it here.

From the Road

2008-01-28T18:37:00.000-07:00

Taken from my window while driving on Highway 25, north of the New Mexico/Colorado border.

The drive from Santa Fe to Denver began with low clouds. They covered the landscape, thick and cold, with whites and greys. I wish I had taken some pictures of New Mexico. I'm always struck by the muted jewel tones of the desert shadows there.

Happy to be continuing my residency out west.

A Stevie Wonder Wednesday

2008-01-16T15:00:00.000-07:00

I know, I know. I didn't tell you all where I was going...

I'm taking off for Colorful Colorado, to the city of Denver specifically. Things are going swimmingly with the move just as I knew they would. I am such a believer in the power of positive thinking lately. The universe is a harmonious place when you find your rhythm with life.

This morning I was treated to a spontaneous and soul-lifting visit from my favorite sister-friends. It's funny how love and growth present opportunities for us all exactly at the moments when when we need it, when we ask for it. It works even when you're not sure where your faith goes, even when you're 2,000 miles away from your best friends. Ah, the deeply connected. It's a good thing.

Anyway, I'm off for more packing and jamming out to S-wonder. I hope Denver is as sunny as Phoenix!

The Sanity, It Is A'Fleeting

2008-01-15T14:30:00.000-07:00

If you didn't know already, I'm moving. This week is the big transition and so I've got a million and one things on my list. I've been having a little bit of hard time getting some things on the list accomplished such as getting an oil change and finding a new desk (A new desk! Hear that? I'm going to have an office! A Place to work other than the couch!).

All of this running around and list making is driving me bonkers and leading me to very irrational behavior. For instance, this morning I was driving around town trying to get said oil changed when I drove by a Costco Home store. I thought perhaps they'd have the desk for me. So, I went in, paid $50 for a membership and spent 5 minutes walking around the store realizing that they had absolutely nothing for me.

Because I had shelled out this unbudgeted money for something I really didn't need, I decided to go next door and save myself some more money. This is the point in the story where I wish someone had knocked a little sense into my very full brain.

Here's a list of all the unnecessary things I bought in extreme quantities:

1 gallon of baby dill pickles
massive rolls of Saran wrap
60 Swiffer refills
200 garbage bags
5 gallons of white vinegar
1 case of soymilk
8 cans of refried beans
8 cans of stewed tomatoes
giant salt and pepper mills
12 oz. Tobasco sauce
jumbo box of cereal
20 pounds of basmati rice

So, I'm now $200 in the hole from needless Costco shopping. I was pretty proud of myself from shying away from the candy and snacks. At least I bought healthy useless jumbo crap

**Update: I forgot the best part, a 32 pack of pudding cups!**

My Brain and My Bones Don't Want to Take This

2008-01-14T08:11:00.000-07:00

I just listened to this album by Kate Nash and I really like it. She's hilarious. I love this one song called "Dickhead". It's like "why are you being a dickhead, you're fucking up situations". Man, if I had a nickel every time I wanted to utter those words to somebody....

My other favorite song by her is entitled "Shit". She says "darling don't give me shit, cause I know that you're full of it". Right on.

Man, if I was angsty I would totally gravitate to her honest and curse-worthy songs. I'm actually quite contented and excited about life though right now and there are few people I'd dedicate the dickhead song to today. But, I'm sure there are a few of you out there who might appreciate it.

Eh?

2008-01-01T18:29:00.000-07:00

Yotta Music no longer exists? What in the dickens?

It seems Rhapsody online is easier now for Mac now which is nice. Though I still can't figure out how to download a player that lives on my machine.

What about my badge, man?

Falling in Love with God

2007-12-07T10:56:00.000-07:00

You Send Me Love Letters in the Moon
The Night Said to the Sun
And I Leave You My Answer
As Tears Upon the Grass
--Deepak Chopra

I chose some new agey tunes on Yotta this morning in an effort to ease the pressure on my brain (both physically and mentally). I found out quickly that nature sounds are not soothing; they are grating and annoying. Who the heck listening to an incessant babbling brook for relaxation?

I did, however, come across this album by Deepak Chopra of all people. It's got the requisite amount of cheese-factor, but I thought the particular sentiment above was quite beautiful.

From the Kitchen Tabe

2007-12-05T08:50:00.000-07:00

It's far too purple around here right now, she knows. She is sitting with me, chained to her job right now. While taking a break and playing around with photoshop, she made this new titlebar. Unfortunately, she doesn't have time right this second to fix all the text colors. So busy....

At least there is music and coffee and an occasional visitor through the kitchen to give her a shoulder rub or wipe the beads of sweat from her forehead. Sometimes, the visitors even take her out for beers and heckling of bar flies; these things make her forget the pile of to-do's that are waiting for her and cluttering up my surface.

Here is a picture of her sitting with me. Naturally, she didn't include me in the picture. It's always about her!

Why is she working from my surface and not a proper desk? It's a long story but one that will have a happy ending soon enough. Actually, despite all of her whining, things are going very well. There is much in the works and things are in motion; overall her disposition is sunny.

'Bama

2007-11-27T06:39:00.000-07:00

Alabama so far is grey but not too rainy. Grits and coffee are starting my day today and I feel really good about that. I love how everyone calls people 'baby' around here with that slow southern drawl.

"Hey Baby, you want some more coffee?"
"Yes, ma'am, thank you."

There are some things I miss about living in the south....

Dear Nintendo

2007-11-23T09:32:00.000-07:00

Please make a version of Guitar Hero for Nintendo 64. Also, please send me a huge high def television on which I can rock myself silly to Foghat. Thanks a bundle.

Your hero,
B. Rocka

Giving Thanks

2007-11-22T09:34:00.000-07:00

Happy Thanksgiving Ya'll! I have a million and one things to be thankful for today. Here are just a few:

Waking-up to Sunshine
Cooking
My New Coat
Cutie Clementines
New Old Friends
My Job
My Sister and Her Hilarious Children
Big Mountains
Hilary Hahn
Good Books
Not Having to Watch Football
Facials at Secret Fountain
New Beginnings
Airplanes
Etudes
Christmas Lights
Craigslist
Eucalyptus
Brandi Carlile
Winter Air
Pretty Canadian Money
Golden Owl Charms
Medicine Cards
Enchiladas and Dos Equis
Unslutty Knee-high Boots
Homemade Chicken Soup
Swirling Leaves and Blue Skies
Holding Hands while Hiking
Brown Pants Girl
My Bed
Lobster Corn-dogs
Gilgal Garden
YottaMusic
The Smell of Pine Needles
Narcissus (the flower, not the god)
Netflix
Golden Eyeshadow
My Pencil Cactus
Love in the Time of Cholera (the book, not the movie)
My Heart, Uplifted

I hope you're all out there enjoying a relaxing holiday with friends, family and lots of good food. Happy Turkey Day!

Will Wonders Never Cease?

2007-11-08T17:41:00.000-07:00

You know Biz Stone has been hard at work lately as Twitter just launched their new killer app, Foamee! Foamee allows you to track the people to whom you owe beers (and vice versa) using Twitter. This is a pretty neato thing if you're like me and you owe beers to lots of amazing, helpful people all over the country. Oh, and you can buy Foamee coasters and tee shirts. Foamee only works though if you Twitter!

I'll admit, I've been a negligent twitterer lately. My favorite mini-blog-messenger has been quiet lately as I'm been super busy and most of my Twitter friends have fallen off the Twitter map. I'm jumping back into the pool though!

If you're reading this and you don't Twitter yet, now is the perfect opportunity to join-up. This means you! It's fun, it's easy and you can get twitters directly messaged to your phone. Don't you want to know what I'm eating for dinner or what kind of creepy critter I just found in the back yard?

If you join-in, I'll owe you a beer.

Bottoms up!

shitballs!

2007-11-06T18:40:00.001-07:00

Already, I am not able to posty post as I am supposed to for the contest. I'm not holding this against myself and so in my own mind, I'm still participating. Okay? OKAY?

I'm back in the states and grateful to be here. Quebec was so beautiful! Cibi, I was thinking of you and that gorgeous country you live in. People here say that Canada is a milder version of the US and actually, I have to disagree. Granted, I've only been to Montreal and Quebec, two very frenchie cities. I was really blown away by the preservation of historic buildings, the quaint restaurants and blustery weather.

I also found that my French isn't as horrible as I thought. Well, actually, it's pretty bad. But, I've got a decent accent and a great smile, both of which help me navigate foreign territory.

I was there for an academic conference which was like most of those thing; lots of time standing and talking to people, a little bit of time fending off scary academic romeos and even less time sleeping.

In other news, we had daylight savings! For me, living in Arizona where we have no daylight savings, this is a pretty awesome deal because we finally switch over to mountain time. I love mountain time. It means that I'm only 2 hours behind the east coast which makes for easier communication with the office and my family and a much better time dealing with east coast jet lag.

Even though I've already sabotaged my NaBloPoMo efforts, I'll still try to post more often this month so come back and visit moi.

wine and cheese

2007-11-02T16:42:00.000-06:00

My feet are hurting and I'm super tired from all the standing and chitchatting with interesting people. I'm beat but I've got to get ready for dinner with said interesting people and chitchat while eating more delicious food. You feel bad for me, don't you? Don't you?

NaBlo Me

2007-11-01T17:01:00.000-06:00

Welcome to November! You know what that means...it's National Blog Posting Month. This means I am going to try with all my might to post everyday. Crazy eh? Especially since I've posted nary a tidbit the last few weeks.

I think this will be just the impetus I need to give a little more love to my home on the internets. I'm currently in Canada, Quebec City to be exact. I'm sure there will be no shortage of stories, trying to navigate this beautiful though almost exclusively French-speaking city.

Oy, Ping Pong!

2007-10-30T18:04:00.000-06:00

My turtle keeps growing. He's huge. I'm not sure what to do with my favorite herp. Ping Pong is getting to be quite huge, he's definitely too big for his 40 gallon tank and I'm never home to take care of him properly. I always dreamed that one day I'd have the space to build my little guy a beautiful atrium with an indoor pond, inchworms for dinner and a shady banana tree.

Unfortunately, I'm just not quite there yet and so the Pong suffers from an absentee caregiver and a too-small glass apartment. Anyone in the market for a well-loved, reptilian friend?

NB: If I hadn't lost my camera I'd post a charming picture here.

General Malaise

2007-10-26T09:19:00.000-06:00

I'm feeling ya.

Ello?

2007-10-24T17:55:00.000-06:00

Are you still reading this thing?

So, sorry for the complete lack of posting here. Where the hell have I been? Well, I've been on the road, traveling here and there and up around and under and over and it's been exhausting and wonderful and nerve-wrecking and fun and exciting. I haven't had much time at home and I haven't had much time to write here and that makes me a little sad...just a little though.

Currently, I'm sitting at a German bar in the Portland, OR airport. I'm drinking a Bloody Mary, my new favorite drink. I used to hate them, mostly because of the tomato juice which I once despised with a passion. Lately, I've grown to the love the salty, spicy cocktail. It's also turned me on to green olives, which have always resided on my blacklist. So far, the Portland airport wins the airport award for best Bloody Mary. The best Bloody Mary I've had outside an airport was at the bar in Hotel Deca in Seattle.

Another recent theme in my life has been rain. This is a natural phenomena I've gladly become quite unfamiliar with living in Phoenix. Recently, my travel has brought me to the North-West and the the North-Mid where it's been raining and cold for the past two weeks. I'm trying to will this rain to California but I'm not sure that it's working just yet.

Life on the road these past months is teaching me a few lessons. The first is that it's totally worth the extra $50 a night to stay at a nice hotel. Nothing beats a tempurpedic mattress, L'Occitane bath products and a sunny workout room. The second is that it pays to check-in online and avoid the lines as much as possible at the airport. The third is....well, I haven't thought of a third yet. If you've got one for me, send it along.

Well, lovely reader(s), if you're still out there I'm sending you my thanks for tuning in. I can't promise that posting will be more regular or more exciting but I can promise that you'll find me here again some time in the near(ish) future.

Peace and love and safe travels to you all.
Muah!
B

Play Nice

2007-09-25T18:30:00.001-06:00

At Sky Harbor, wearing my favorite travel shirt.

...to remind myself as much as others.

Funny, I ran into my airport arch nemesis the other day. Actually, it wasn't that much of a coincidence as I often travel through this gate at this terminal. She works at Starbucks and doesn't seem to benefit from the caffeine high that so many Bucks employees exude at the register. This women is rather mean (and I can't totally blame her I would be too if I worked in the airport Starbucks). But, damn! Last week, I bought a chai and a water from her. She didn't see the water and so had to charge me separately for it. No problemo.

The problem happened when she was counting out change from my first transaction and because I had given her some change, she was all confused about how much to give back to me and so she sat counting the change in her hand for a minute before realizing that what I gave her amounted to her changing me a whole dollar. This dollar was supposed to be in addition to $5 change. Well, she swore that she had given me the $5 even though she hadn't. So, in total, I ended up spending about $12 on a chai and a bottle of water. Argh.

The other day though, as I approached the counter, this time to order an iced tea lemonade, I looked down at my wee chest and took it's message to heart. I even gave Ol' County McFrownerson a tip, reminding myself that good things happen to good people.

heck yes

2007-09-23T20:02:00.000-06:00

What a fun weekend this has been! The weather finally broke here in the PHX and it's been a balmy 95 degrees today, finally making outdoor activities less likely to induce death by heat stroke.

It actually rained on Saturday. We had those funny desert showers where it pours rain for 10 minutes and then the skies open-up into beautiful half-cloud canvases of intense shadows and great light. Below are some pictures from my Saturday hike on the Peralta trail in the Superstition Mountains and my Sunday play date at Papago Park. Most of them, obviously, have been digitally enhanced or filtered in some way.

Canyon

Weaver's Needle

Lovers Rock

Lone Tree

Papago Hole

Hairy Palm Trees

TURTLES!

my spots, oddly enough

2007-09-19T19:33:00.001-06:00

So, Amy did this quiz and I took it too. Based on your answers to a bunch of questions about your lifestyle and your dream environment. I thought the locations that came up in my quiz results were not necessarily what I would have come up with, but maybe I'm missing something.

Salisbury, Maryland
Milwaukie, Oregon
Truth or Consequences, New Mexico
Hagerstown, Maryland
St. Helens, Oregon
Essex, Connecticut
Portland, Oregon
Astoria, Oregon
Berkeley Springs, West Virginia
Morgantown, West Virginia
Nantucket, Massachusetts
Burlington, Vermont
Middlebury, Vermont
Brattleboro, Vermont
Northampton, Massachusetts
Lincoln City, Oregon
Newport, Oregon
Easton, Maryland
Silver City, New Mexico
Kahului-Wailuku, Hawaii
Carlsbad, New Mexico
Makawao-Paia, Hawaii
Gardnerville-Minden, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada

I'm not entirely sure what to think of this list. I would never in a million years want to live in Las Vegas, that's for sure. I could do Vermont, Oregon or Hawaii in a heartbeat. West Virinia would be cool and you might catch me in New Mexico. I highly doubt, however, that I could be won-over by Maryland, Massachusetts or Connecticut.

It's certainly given me some things to think about.

Here's a link to the survey if you want to check it out.
http://www.findyourspot.com

Holy Annoyance!

2007-09-12T15:04:00.000-06:00

I've currently been on hold with US Air for 19 minutes and 52 seconds. Before that I talked to a dumbass on the main line at US Air for a good 10 minutes and then got hung-up on over and over again trying to navigate the automated system for this alternate number. Before that I was on the phone with Orbitz for 35 minutes and my bank for 12. So far absolutely nobody has been able to help me with a seemingly easy task.

You see, I got double charged for some airfare I recently booked. Should be simple enough to correct, right? Apparently not. After listening to two people reading the same stupid script to me about how they only charge once and I should call my to dispute the charge, I did just that. My bank says in order to dispute the charge I have to file a fraud claim which makes my debit card inactive and takes a gazillion years to process. This is a ridonculous waste of my time! I should just suck-up the $200 loss but now I'm pissed that I've wasted over an hour of my life dealing with this B.S. I hate these corporate fuckers.

I am an Orphan Girl

2007-09-09T09:34:00.000-06:00

Well, not really. I have parents, and lucky for you, this post isn't about them.

This post is about the band Crooked Still. I've been listening to them for ages now and I've never had the opportunity to see them live. I just love them though. They take a lot of the traditional American folk and bluegrass songs and totally infuse them with a brand new sound, unique to them.

Unlike a lot of other "newgrass" bands, their songs move so gracefully. A lot of it has to do with the fact that they're entirely unplugged; no electric instruments and no drums. This doesn't slow them down though, Gregory Liszt on banjo keeps the songs rolling along with a beat you can't help but bob your head to and Rushad Eggleston on the cello provides this amazing resonant dimension. Of course, the music would be naught without Aoife O'Donovan's smooth and sweet vocals. I just love this band and so I think you should check them out.

If you already know about and love Crooked Still make sure you check out all the bands they're affiliated with like The Wayfaring Strangers, Sometymes Why and The Mammals.

Yet Another One Bites the Dust

2007-09-04T16:44:00.000-06:00

I was outside sweeping my back porch (aka slab of concrete) when I came across two very big, very complex spider webs. One of them was under a chair and the other was under a table. I don't know how these things get spun so quickly, it seems I'm swatting them away every week.

The web under the chair was occupied by a juicy black widow spider. This is not the first black widow to make her home in the surrounds of mine. And, I hate to say, it will not be the last. Last time the bug man was here (nary a month ago) he found 4 black widows in the backyard and in the garage.

I'm becoming quite paranoid of these deadly little creatures and have become prone to jumping at the sight almost any bug, thinking now that each tiny creature I come across in this desert landscape is reading a poison just for me. I'm not ready to die yet, people!

I guess it's time to call the bug man again. I really hate killing living creatures and it's completely against my sensibilities to spread noxious chemicals all over my home and the ground outside. It's just not right. I don't know what other choice we have though except to accept death by lethal spider bite.

If you or anyone you know has an organic recommendation for the removal of deadly spiders from the home, please let me know.

Not a Badass

2007-08-31T12:02:00.001-06:00

This is a picture of me atop a little outcrop on South Mountain.

Two seconds later, I spied the colony of giant flying ants that I was strutting around on and promptly eeked out a girlish scream and ran down the mountain flailing my arms like a sissy.

Lipton's Questions

2007-08-07T20:34:00.000-06:00

Because my brain is about to explode and I don't have much room for anything more creative right now.

What is your favorite word? yes

What is your least favorite word? guilt

What turns you on? brains

What turns you off? judgement

What sound or noise do you love? leaves blowing on branches

What sound or noise do you hate? tin foil on teeth

What is your favorite curse word? shitballs

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? farmer

What profession would you not like to do? tofu taster

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? “lady, step into my hyundai"

cheshire fair

2007-08-03T12:54:00.000-06:00

I've been up in NH for the past couple of days and am feeling much better about the the state of my world. Last night I went to the Cheshire County Fair out in Swanzey. Nothing makes you feel better about your life than wading through a sea of Nascar jerseys and unfortunate haircuts. Highights of the evening included the steer pull and a kick-ass corn dog.

Here are some pictures I've been playing around with:

apathetic

2007-08-01T05:51:00.001-06:00

Am feeling a void lately but I'm not sure why. I don't want to be home, I could care less about seeing my family this week, I seem unable to tackle the mounting list of work that's piling up around me, I've hardly talked to any of my friends about coming home, I'm anxious and weepy and indifferent. So, I'm sitting in the airport feeling sorry for myself and blankly staring at the business men and nuclear families walking past me, wondering where my purpose went.

When I get to New Hampshire today, I'm renting a car and driving north. Everyone else can suck it; I need to fix this.

like always

2007-07-27T12:29:00.001-06:00

toothpastefordinner.com

love list

2007-07-26T11:05:00.000-06:00

Meg requested a love list and it's been a while since we've had a list of love on brinki-dink. Frankly, I think we could use the positivity around here. So, below, please find a list of things that I am in love with lately.

macadamia nuts
mountain passes
breaking stuff against the brick wall in my backyard
aspen trees
kona coffee with vanilla creamer
twirling in strappy heels
reading during windy storms
monsoon season!
watermelon and Bacardi slushies
writing cards for friends, and actually mailing them
long drives through vast stretches of desert
manchego cheese
macbook
my sunglasses
Sade
jumping over river rocks in chacos
my new book
watching kids giggle about secrets
talking for hours on the phone with old friends
running uphill
playing chicken in the pool
butter softened garlic
hummingbirds
jokes
playing dress-up
pencil cacti
cotton candy sunsets
Ray Charles
lumberjacks
haikus
watching videos about photoshop on lynda
donkeys
maps
candles that smell like warm blankets
chivalry
mystical movies
the alphabet game
piggyback rides
the smell of a log cabin inside
wildflowers
flickr
Alison Krauss
woodcut etchings

Mountainous

2007-07-23T14:11:00.000-06:00

Pictures of Colorado, for your viewing pleasure. Check out the Flickr set for the whole enchilada.

A beautiful cabin in the woods of unincorporated Summit County. This is my dream house.

Lake Dillon

Peak One

Mountain Wildflowers

Snowy Mountain View from Mt. Royal

panic

2007-07-23T09:29:00.000-06:00

My FLickrPro account just expired. I panicked to see so many of my photos disappeared. Why am I storing all my photos on the internet again? Oh yeah, I'm an idiot.

Renewing account to get Colorado pictures posted soon.

I Thought it Was the End of the World

2007-07-20T09:30:00.000-06:00

Last night, I was laying in bed, enjoying a quiet night of reading and relaxing when the power started to flicker. It went out and on and out and on. And then it was just out.

Not two seconds later an alarm started going off. At first, I thought it was a car alarm or a police car, but that wasn't quite right. It could have been a house alarm. My mind though went to that place and decided it must be a city-wide alarm, altering the citizens to imminent disaster. I looked out the window and saw a haze of dust blurring the houses behind me, the stars and moon were nowhere to be seen. The wind was loud and behind the piercing alarm sounding in the distance, I could hear metal creaking and garbage cans tumbling. It started to warm-up a little bit in my room and I could taste the dust in my mouth. The only thing I could think of during the twenty minutes or so that the power was out, was that I was going to heat-up and die in a this dust-filled valley of hell.

Thankfully the power came back on and, as the dust settled, I regained my sense of security. I woke-up this morning though thinking of all the things I need to buy for an emergency desert disaster kit. Anyone know how to store 100 gallons of water under a bed?

Haute

2007-07-19T18:07:00.001-06:00

Last night I caught a PBS special on "the secret world of haute couture" and I found myself glued to the television. The show was an expose' of sorts, breaking into 'the club' of women who buy couture. The club isn't filled with celebrities or socialites, it's actually quite an old group of baroness's and wives of wealthy oil tycoons.

What I found facinating and totally didn't realize, was that this world of haute couture is dying. In it's heyday, right after the second world war, the number of fashion houses showing in Paris was over 100. Today, the group has whittled down to 12 or 13 designers. Those designers, of course, include my favorites, Chanel, Versace and Dior...

What I loved most about these women was that they guarded their couture collections with a mysterious secrecy. They were illusive, hard to track down and not one of them told exactly how many pieces of couture was in their closets. Each of the women intereviewed noted that their obsession with couture was an obsession with art. Wearing couture isn't about making headlines or attracting attention (or men), it's about walking into a room and knowing that you're wearing a painstakingly constructed work of art that no other woman in world will ever wear.

It seems rather sad to be that the world of couture is shrinking. It's being gobbled up by fashion for the masses. I'm certainly part of the masses and I'm not at all complaining about the wide selection of affordable, stylish clothes available to me. However, I hate to see the world of high fashion as art disappearing. It's not practical, oftentimes it's not even wearable, but it's an irresistable art form that's in slow decline and there seems something very tragic about that.