I LOVE DAYS OFF!

I have had a Super Sunday! I got to spend many hours walking and riding the rails (mass transit) through my beloved biking route with my best friend. DJ did not bring a bike. I wanted to share with him the interest, layers, architecture and beauty I see almost every day when I bike from home. Today was an insanely nice day! Very little wind, sunshine and 60something temps. We just don't get this crazy beautiful weather in the Pacific NW in February! We walked along the water front, up the stairs to a few of the 7 bridges attached to Downtown, rode the MAX across and walked along the Esplanade. We had a great time joking, speaking our combo of accents and short hand silly and sharing excellent camera shot ideas. We got soooo many wonderful shots! I hope to share some of both of our shots soon.

My frustration is my digital camera. It is 8-9 years old which is fine. The problem is my computer is much newer so it cant "speak" to my camera. Same with my printer. My new printer is the same brand as the old but the newer version. I got the old one around the same time as camera. I used to plug the memory card into the old printer and it would transfer my photos to the computer. The new version does not have the right size port. What I have to do now is take it to an office or print store and have them burn my photos to disk. The biggest frustrations are I can no longer delete single photos (camera is losing it and wont let me) and it is getting harder to find someplace to burn them to disk! I tried going to the print store after Super Bowl half time show. By the time I got up there and tried working with the employee it was too late on a Sunday to get to the office store. I stopped at Moon Struck Chocolate and used the last of my Christmas present from my Auntie BFF. Chocolate good.

Happy Happy Joy JOY!

Hello! Had a great Christmas that I will tell you more about that later. Been way too busy to type (as usual). Maybe buying a used but excellent film use camera from a co-worker. My brother and I took lots of photos with it at Christmas. He approves after using it. He has a very similar one. My parents got the film developed today and said it came out really well! I am going to have Brooke look it over and the photos to see what she thinks. It was really good to use a camera again!

Happy Christmas Everyone!

My lovely Henry (female Golden Retriever) was terrified of Billy Blitz (the cocky bird). The first time they met Billy was sitting on my ex's shoulder when we brought Henry into the kitchen. She had been a stray dog that my ex gave me. (abandon at the end of the school year.) She had obviously been trained. Anyway, Billy wanted to see what was going on from the comfort of the top of his cage. He forgot that his wings had recently been clipped. He did not get the loft he was used to and flew right by Henry's nose. She opened her mouth and soft mouthed him. (hunting dog style) We all yelled her name so she let go. Billy was not hurt but extremely pissed off. He was dropped on the couch next to his cage so he stalked (he had a way of stomping like he was Godzilla not six inches tall) to his cage and glared at all of us for bringing this hairy demon into his house. From then on Henry was terrified of Billy. Whenever Billy flew around Henry would hit the deck and try to liquefy into the ground. If she could in her flattened state she would slink from the room. Billy took great advantage of this. He would land on the floor and stomp over to her and eventually walk over her. What an asshole. I took this photo in 1982. My favorite dog and bird in front of my favorite collectible, Snoopy. My then boyfriend now ex was studying abroad for six months and could not come home for Christmas.

Henny was the best dog I ever had.

Merry Christmas Eve

This is a oil painting my mom painted of Henry. This was not a photograph but insightful look at Henry. She was a very intuitive dog. She knew when you were having a hard time. She would try to climb in your lap. She also did not understand why she did not fit. In her mind she was a tiny dog and did not know where the big dog in the mirror came from. She was not afraid but curious.

My love of Snoopy continues. I have a wonderful collection but currently no place to show them off.
This CD is really wonderful to listen to. It has the music from the show and more.

All the snow we have got these past days have been crazy amazing. We don't normally get this much snow but what is more amazing is the amount of snow I have in my hood. I am at 50 ft or less above sea level since I live right by the Willamette river. When the Portland hills get a few inches I usually have some floating flakes but none sticking. We have had several inches!

I took a taxi ride (a crazy story I will get to in the next couple days) to get to work yesterday morning but a bus home. There is a bus that tootles all over the city. My friend from school that got hired on at my pharmacy showed my were to catch this bus. When we got Downtown I was surprised by the amount of snow there and the all the people. I got off the non moving bus in the bus mall and hoofed it up the trolley. As I was hiking the several blocks uptown I was stunned. I suddenly felt as if I was in a made for TV movie set about Christmas. I have not had this happen in my adult life here in Portland. We have had smaller storms but I stayed home. It was really pretty cool. The things I saw were amazing. The roads Downtown normally three lanes one way are two in the middle with plowed banks of snow on the sides. Even my two way street outside my building are two lanes in the middle and the parked cars (like mine) are stuck in a snow bank. The snow bank is part snow plow and part all the snow we have got the last 10 days. I dug my car out yesterday in hopes things were going to be better for traveling this morning. Nope.

As I have been typing this it has not stopped snowing. We are to get another two to four inches before it gets to 34 degrees. Right now at 10 am it is still 27 degrees in DT Portland. When it warms up it will switch to rain. As it goes to evening and cools off it will turn to snow again and all the moisture on the ground will freeze. We may get freezing rain which means I will be stranded at work. I work this evening. I will take Tri-met to work but signed up for the labor pool to get home. I'm not sure if it will be Security or someone else that works in the hospital. They have a command center for rides and people needing a bed for the night. I hope I make it home tonight.

Unless the weather gets drastically better we wont be celebrating Christmas tomorrow with my family. My parents have been snowed in from the beginning. I don't have chains and my brother cant drive us since he has an extra person in his car. We will get together when possible. Wil and I can hang and nibble on the spiral cut ham I got from work. I think 12 pounds will hold us during the "Deep Freeze '08". I have hash browns in the freezer and eggs in the fridge. We shall feast tomorrow!

Happy Christmas.

Snow Ball and flower pot from 12-22

More snow photos

A photo out my window of the hood

Out my bedroom window 12-20


Trying to see the Fremont Bridge through the snow. 12-20

Today when the snow started again. Where the hell is my well photographed bridge?

Carly's photo of BFA Screen

These two photos were taken by Carly at her place when she was finished. You can see the detail better. She has a better camera and mad skills. You have to admit you are jealous. I own the Basically Fucking Awesome Screen!

Wil must have said something to Danny who was coming back from Europe because when he walked into our place last night one of the first things he said was "Is this the screen? Wow, it is pretty cool!" Take that as high praise, Carly. Wil told Danny about it before he even got into town?!?

Happy (early) Christmas for me!

Basically Fucking Awesome Screen!
A closer look but still does not do it justice! Carly took photos too and will post them on her blog. She is proud of her job. I am feeling very lucky to have such beautiful art thanks to Carly. PLEASE support your local artist! I got one of the Hand Eye Coordination for Wil for his birthday. I showed him the photo from her site. He thought it was cool so - done!
Wil's new office. Carly painted the back i the darker color like the outside so he would not have glare.

BFA Screen/Wil's office. The dining room table is behind his "office" during the holidays. I did not want the tree on my pretty table. Oh, the dining chair seats my mom and I recovered look wonderful with the screen.

Thank you so much Carly! Merry Christmas everyone!

Photos!

I could not see the Fremont Bridge from the snow! I took this photo early in the morning before it warmed up.
Here are some photos of our Christmas tree and decorations. I had to finish decorating yesterday since it was my Christmas! I picked up the Basically Fucking Awesome screen. It is totally better than I ever imagined it would be! After paying respect to my lovely Artist I brought my BFA screen home and placed it in my home.

My tree and holiday decorations.

Paint transforms

You might not be able to see much change in this photo but the paint color has made a big difference to me! Since taking this photo I have hung paintings again but not in the same places. Things are not complete but with Christmas and all. I moved the Dining room table from in front of the window to behind Wil's desk chair. I moved the green gateleg table from the hall (where the book case is now) to in front of the window. I'm going to put the Christmas tree on it and some of my light up Christmas houses. I have not had a place to put them up since we moved here. Carly is going to have the "basically fucking awesome" screen done soon. She is waiting for the varnish to dry. She said it is worth the wait. It will be like a Christmas present!

Once I'm done putting up the tree (hopefully tomorrow) and decorating I will take more photos.

Go support a "basically fucking awesome" artist. She has some cool stuff for sale in her store front. She also has wonderful paintings to see and buy.
Carly
and her shop
and her Etsy

Photos of my bookcase

These are the photos of my new to me bookcase. I took these during my painting frenzy but had no time to upload and post. For now it will live in the hall while I get things straightened out.

Long awaited before Photos

These are the before painting photos. It sure was in need of paint! Wil is glad the "Pink" wall is gone.

The hall was full of of the boxes of stuff that had been in the Billy bookcases. I will be moving that into something soon. I found a wonderful side board from Whales that eventually be my TV entertainment center. First I need to sell the big screen TV we have there and that center and be able to purchase a flat screen. With all that said it will be awhile. The side board was mostly financed by the selling of the Ikea bookcases. I'm hoping the garage sale will finish it up. That will go where the Billy b.c's were.

Cow Butt in the Awesomeness

Here is my project in photographic glory! I am sooo pleased that I had the idea and worked it through to the finish. I will have to give credit to Carly for re-sizing the frame to fit the poster. Also my parents for bringing over their drill and going to the hardware store for more screws when I could not find the ones I first purchased. I heart DIY.

Since I had some of my yummy malt beverage tonight I will ask today's question. Would you prefer to be a crooked Mayor or an honest Lawyer.

Photo project

I have had a lot of fun choosing photos from recent urban hikes and getting enlargements. I'm framing architecture photos from my neighborhood for a space on my wall. I'm having a lot of fun. I also want to get some of the long lost photos going!

Phots of the DIY's

These are the new seats for the dining room chairs. We did a fab job. Cant wait to get them on the chairs! Hope they are done and dry tomorrow. My parents said they would help with the mini van again.

Ahead of my photos

With few exceptions and some random shit I have lived through - and survived, I am good! Things are always trying to bitch-slap me down but I am the Energizer Bunny of positive! If I could still hit derby-style . . . I do not want to bleed out so - no hits. Anyway, I have been super buzy!

I have finally finished going through all my photos and got them in folders, renamed most and started sorting what I want to enlarge. Thanks again Mr.T (Casey) for taking a lot of time and living through the frustration to retrieve my photos! I will love you forever!

Long lost pics no scan could save!

Nick scanned

Nick was not two yet when this was taken. We were at a Fourth of July picnic. He was being goofy on this play structure. I had been trying to get a photo of him for a bit. I asked him to let me take his picute so this is what I got. He was very silly.

Happy National Pharmacy Technician Day!

This is a photo I took on our last Urban hike. We mostly took pics of the cool building details on our way to the bank. The bank is not that far away but it took us over two hours to get there. We really had a lot of fun. I got some great photos that I really like. I'm going to get 5x7 prints and group them in my place. I have always loved the wonderful architecture of the neighborhood. Many of the apartment buildings have wonderful details. I grew up in an old Victorian in a neighborhood not far from here. They may not be photos to sell but mean something to me. I will post a few more. Let me know what you think.

Today is my day off and the only one this week. I picked up a sixth day to help out the same co-worker that I helped last week. She is going back to Seattle for the funeral. Saturday is a day shift. That will be all OT as it will be the sixth day. Sunday I am Stand By. I hope not to get called but I get paid $3.50 an hour for 24 hours. Time and a half does get addictive . . . . Only time and co-workers will tell.

Wil and I are off to do food shopping and whatnot.

I just got this e-card from the PTCB for National Pharmacy Technician Day

Click on the following link:

e-card

For your security, if you'd prefer not to click on links within this email:

1. Go to AmericanGreetings.com

2. Locate the eCard pickup link in the upper right-hand corner of the page

3. Enter the following code --> 4735446581379

Scanning is fun

We used to go to the Beach a lot. My in-laws had a house in Gerhart. While the crab pods hung off the 12th Street Bridge I would fish. Most of the others would sit in chairs and drink but I really like fishing. Unfortunately mostly I caught Bull Heads. I enjoyed myself. This was taken 1988 before we went to Stanford.