Elf Yourself

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Care and Use of Turn Indicators

Or "Why Won't Johnny Use His Blinkers?"

Is it so hard? So very hard??? You're on the freeway, you want to change lanes and to make sure no one else tries to occupy that same lane at the same time there is a device attached to your steering column that if moved in the right way will telegraph your intent to other drivers. IT'S LIKE MAGIC! It seems like a "no-brainer" but, if my observations are any evidence, perhaps not. 

If I could encourage just 3 things in other drivers it would be:

1. Turn signals. People please.
2. Following distance.
3. Come on people now, smile on your brother. Everybody get together, try to love one another right now. 

Peace out.

The Joy of Socks

It's not really Christmas until the holiday novelty socks make their first appearance.  There is blame to be cast for this obsession (you know who you are) but I'm in too deep now to care. :)  

How Bazaar

We survived the annual First Hill Holiday Bazaar. 

Jane Lane's Classic Yam Bake

Or as I like to call it, Sweet Potato Cobbler. Sounds more homey. :)

Filling: 

3 - 4 cups canned (or fresh if your are a glutton for punishment, those will need to be cooked and peeled prior) yams/sweet potatoes

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup regular sugar 

2 eggs

1/2 cup heavy cream (you can also use 1/2 & 1/2 or regular milk)

1 tablespoon vanilla

Combine all and blend until desired consistency. I like it a little lumpy but this time it came out very fluffy.

Topping: 

1/2 - 1 cup crushed pecans

2 cups brown sugar 

1 cup flour 

1/2 to 1 cup softened butter. 

Mix dry ingredients, butter can be melted and stirred in or added soft and using a potato masher mixed into rest of ingredients. I like to melt it.

In casserole dish (I used a 13" x 9" for my potluck but will use a smaller oval one on T-day) pour filling and smooth out with spatula, add topping by hand or spoon on. Bake covered at 325 for 30-45 min. Uncover and bake another 10-15 minutes to get the topping nice and toasty.

et voilà tout

It Makes A Difference

You may or may not know the burden that comes with being a complete word nerd. Notice I did not say word snob - this is because my command (or lack thereof) of the English language prohibits my being an actual snob. I'm more a fan of the language, an observer. Lucky for me, the weight of wordiness is lessened by way of knowing one or two others who come across the same sad occurrences and are kind enough to share them. Here now, are a collection of... how to put it kindly... misuses? All are, I assure you, too good to make up.

• crap chute - crap shoot: These are not interchangeable. I know to the ear they're the same but if you are going to put it in writing you need to think it through.

• incontinence - inconvenience: When you've done something that causes me more work than necessary I hope that it won't require you to apologize for any incontinence. No really, I mean it.

• encryption - inscription: When creating award plaques it's best to use an inscription, the other could make reading them difficult.

• oblivious - obvious: Do I really have to explain this one?

_____________________________________

Posted somewhere on the interwebs:

". . . all those toys I'd urned for . . . "

Yearned for? Earned for? 

_____________________________________

Seen during an instant message conversation:

"do one to others..."

Kind of loses it's intended meaning, doesn't it.

_______________________________________

And finally, one that made me literally LOL. I'll give you some back story...

I was looking for an address of a company branch location but couldn't find anything in our internal system or on hard copy rosters. I was enlightened by way of the message below what the problem was, apparently it has something to do with chickens. And I quote...

"It does not show on our rooster"

I don't even know what to say to that.

For Someone With Super-Human Earlobes...

...because these suckers are heavy. I think I need to switch to sterling wire but I want to make sure I have an idea of what I'm doing first because the difference in cost between copper wire and silver wire? Let's just say it's substantial. These are hand-formed using a variety of pliers and a HAMMER & ANVIL!!! I think I have found a way to work off some holiday stress.   :)

First Time Through the Locks

Waiting for the fill on the way back to Lake Union...

Just a couple minutes away from my first salt water.  Woo-hoo! :)

I have no idea what this guy is on but through the fog it looked pretty wacky.

And When I Woke Up I Drew The Flux Capacitor

Vasovagal Syncope

The most common type of syncope is called vasovagal syncope. A variety of situations stimulate the vagus nerve, which leads to a slowing of the heart rate and dilation of the body's blood vessels. With a slow heart rate and dilated blood vessels, less blood gets to the brain, and fainting occurs. Pain and emotional stress can trigger vasovagal syncope in susceptible people. This type of syncope can happen more often in some families.

From Wikipedia

Triggers

Typical triggers for vasovagal episodes include:^[1]

• prolonged standing or upright sitting, particularly when standing with legs in a locked position for long periods of time. Avoidance of long-term locking of one's legs in the standing position is taught in the military, as well as marching band and drill team.
• stress
• any painful or unpleasant stimuli, such as
  • giving a blood donation or watching someone give one
  • watching someone experience pain
  • watching/experiencing medical procedures
  • sight of blood
  • occasions of slight discomfort, such as dental and eye examinations
• hyperthermia, a prolonged exposure to heat
• sudden onset of extreme emotions
• hunger
• nausea or vomiting
• dehydration
• urination ('micturition syncope') or defecation ('defecation syncope')
• abdominal straining or 'bearing down' (as in defecation)
• swallowing ('swallowing syncope') or coughing ('cough syncope')
• random onsets due to nerve malfunctions
• pressing upon certain places on the throat, sinuses, and eyes
• high altitude
• use of certain drugs that affect blood pressure, such as amphetamine
• intense laughter^[2]

The cornerstone of treatment is avoidance of triggers known to cause syncope in that person. Before known triggering events, the patient may increase consumption of salt and fluids to increase blood volume. Sports and energy drinks may be particularly helpful.

Yeah, good times.

Happy Halloween!

Politico

AKA You might want to skip this post... it's a rant.

Politico: "... term often used to describe people who have overly political viewpoints..."

You've been warned.

I've just heard something that was both disturbing and promising. I won't name names because it's irrelevant. What is relevant is that someone I know has said that they would not vote for Barack Obama because "they would never vote for a black man.". 

I was also told by someone recently that they don't trust Obama. They had no reason for it, they just don't trust him. It was almost as if this person didn't want to say why. The sad thing is that this person was someone I respect and think of as highly intelligent and thoughtful. That is disturbing without a hint of being promising. 

The difference you ask? I'll try to explain. I have always feared/suspected that a huge part of the vehemence that "the right" has displayed against Obama was race-based but no one would ever come right out and say it. Instead they whispered words like "terrorist" and "muslim". They bastardize his name in voice and print so disrespectfully that any decent person would find offense, all in the effort to build the impression that he is somehow unpatriotic and not "American" enough. That he should, at the very least, be loathed and feared and possibly even removed as a candidate... or worse. So when I hear a statement like the first one above it rings true and from truth we can move forward.  If we examine the fear that this person has about voting for a black man maybe we could build some understanding. When people hide behind lies or half-truths (like in the second statement) and use them as political weapons progress becomes very hard if not impossible.

Now I know that not everyone who will cast a ballot for McCain is a hate-monger, I totally get that there are good people who believe that he is a strong leader and that he will do what is best for our country. Those people should vote for McCain, without question. That is their duty as Americans. There are others however, who would vote against any "black" candidate for no other reason than he is black. That, in my opinion, is fearful and hateful and everything else that a true patriot should not and cannot be.  

I love this country, I love the people who have fought and died to protect her and the rest of the world from tyrants. Many generations of my own family have done so and I could not be more proud of them. We have the heart and will to be the greatest country in the world, as we have proven time and again, and to set an example of what freedom means and what it is worth, to fulfill the highest ideals we hold as a society. 

We've stood passively by while our government put the interests of corporations ahead of it's people, possibly at the cost of our children's safety and future. Do we not owe it to them now and to ourselves to choose the best person for the job ahead? I simply cannot contemplate doing anything less. That is not being a Democrat or Republican, that is being a patriot.

Night Paddle

We started out just under the North end of the Aurora bridge at about 5 pm. It was pretty chilly but once you're out there paddling it warms up fast. It was a nice evening, very light wind and boat traffic. We did see The Duck a couple times and also the Boeing Yacht Daedalus.

We paddled past Gas Works Park...

...under the I-5 Ship Canal and University Bridges...

...and after a brief stop at Agua Verde for a bite to eat (ask me about the dock that every goose within a 10 mile radius uses for a latrine!) it was back in the kayak and on to the Arboretum. I thought it would be very dark out on the water but, contrary to what this picture shows, visibility was good.  FYI - this waterway has no shortage of beaver. Big, tail-slapping beaver.

Out & About in a Boat, erm... Kayak

This was just coming out of the Sough at the North end of Lake Washington. It goes without saying it was a gorgeous day. Not many of these left in the hopper this time of the year. Stellar, beautiful, lovely... 

This was back in Bothell. Down at water level there is very little wind so it's just like glass especially in the evening.  

Herons aren't as patient as ducks, usually they fly off before you can get close enough to get a good shot of them. This guy wasn't concerned enough about us to take off but did keep a watchful eye on us, none the less. 

Great Soul

He proved that peaceful resistance to tyranny could prevail and that absolute non-violence is a force that can shake the foundation of  empires. Let's hope that's still true. 

Happy Birthday Mahatma.

One If By Land

So we got a new toy, or should I say I got a new toy over the weekend. When Jim first started kayaking we took a "pool" class together but I never took the leap to real open water. It always sounded like too much work - seriously, this thing is not exactly light. Well, a couple weeks ago I went out with him and some friends and rented a kayak for myself and it was a blast. We went out to Lake Union and even though it was pretty choppy (can you say Boats Afloat weekend?) it was a lot of fun. Fast forward to this weekend and a nice lady had one for sale on Craig's List so we went to look at it and PRESTO someone has herself a shiney, not so new Seaward Luna (that's right, same name as my guitar!) and life is good.

Somehow all the pictures had mine in the back so you can't really get a good look at it but it's basically the same as the one in the front but a couple feet shorter and the bow isn't quite as upswept. Sunday we went out to the Sammamish Slough and paddled around. It was very peaceful with lots of wildlife; ducks, heron, salmon. Makes me wonder why I waited so long.

I Am Waiting For Vizzini

He really is a meany.

This young lady is waiting for her "Mama" to come pick her up after a week of staying with us. When I told said young lady that her "Mama" was on her way to come get her Jim and I became so much chopped liver. We could have dropped off the face of the Earth and she would not have noticed. Every time a car came around the corner she would bolt to attention but as soon as she realized it was either too big or the wrong color she would go back to her vigil of panting and looking nervously out the window. When eventually the right car did come around the corner she literally stopped breathing. She watched it pull up outside the gate and when she saw the blond head pop out and start towards the walkway she went ballistic. I really should have recorded it.  

Thanks for being such a lovely guest little one.

Absolutely...

If you click on this picture you should be able to read the words "Absolutely" and "Run Over Hose" on the sign affixed to the side of this warehouse.

What you can't see, nor can anyone else, are the words between the first part and the last, that were printed in what I can only assume was a bright, but apparently not indelible, red for visibility, which read "DO NOT" and are now literally a shadow of their former selves. Fail Blog anyone? 

I also wonder if the guys in the orange shirts thought I was taking a picture of them as I drove by. I didn't see them when I took the picture because I was so focused (no pun intended) on getting the sign in my sites. I only noticed them after I downloaded the picture and blew it up, kind of like apparitions that appear when you develop film ala the Specter at Newby Church.

B-day Pilgrimage

My friend Jane and I took a road trip last weekend to see our friend Janelle on her birthday. We also visited various sundry relatives which was lovely as usual. The one thing we missed most was our other friend Julie. It was the anniversary of her mother's passing and she was in our thoughts and hearts. Therefore we are now in the planning stages of a road trip to the great state of Idaho sometime before the snow flies. So if you see these 3 beauties this fall on some road heading East be forewarned, they are nothing but trouble.

Snail Mail... Literally

Snail Mail

I'm not even kidding.

No Such Thing As Too Many Hobbies

I have a growing fascination with sea glass. I went beach combing a few weeks ago and found some nice pieces that I am working to put into pendants. This was my second effort. It's citrine and sea-foam wrapped with copper wire. This turned into my friend Janelle's birthday present. 

On Change

It seems like change has been a recurring theme with me recently. There are many kinds of change but they all have one thing in common. Change is scary... ok, if not actually scary at least less than easy. It might be the departure from the known into the unknown. It might be the uncomfortableness of adapting to a new reality, doing things that don't come automatically, requiring the use of conscious thought and decision making at every turn. 

The choice I've usually made when facing change has been to steel myself, bracing for whatever comes hurtling my way on the winds of change, thinking that if I resist with all my strength change will be less painful, less work. But something that has emerged recently is the tendency to allow myself to relax and allow change to happen, which it will regardless of whether I "allow" it to or not. If change is like white-water rapids this would be the equivalent of facing downstream and navigating the drops and waterfalls instead of attempting to swim upstream all the while losing ground to the current, not to mention hitting your butt on every boulder in proximity.

This is not to say that I am not still a willful and stubborn human. It also doesn't mean that I have to love change, as one of my favorite co-workers once said. It does mean however that, as Stevie Nicks once sang, "like a willow, I can bend" and therefore I may not have to break so often. 

In Passing

We lost Jim's mom a couple weeks ago and it has reminded me how the dynamic changes when a person is not there to balance the family equation. It was the same when his dad passed. There's a shift that takes place as people redefine their place in the whole that is family. Sometimes for the better, sometimes not. The truth is that there is a physical and emotional hole left behind that can affect the loved ones left behind in ways that can't be foreseen. There can be no more explanations and no reconciliation other than what takes place in the heart. Time can be a healer but that is small comfort when the bereavement is still too fresh to imagine the idea. Until then I am holding them all in my heart and wishing them all peace.      

Those Crazy Goff Girls

At the end of June the ladies came over and we spent a few days milling about up North of Seattle. We spent some time shopping at the outlet mall in Marysville and and also hitting the antique shops in Snohomish. This is us doing one of our favorite things.

We tried to talk Mom into joining us in the hot tub but she was having none of it. It was a very nice time and it felt good to get away if even for a couple days. 

I'd Like to Introduce You To Someone

Her name is Reshma.

I've only been her sponsor since last year but it could be the best thing I've ever done in my life. There are several selfish reasons for this:

1. I'm now responsible for more than just me. Never having had kids of my own, I could have underestimated what a great feeling it is to have someone rely on you. I almost feel like an adult. :)
2. Having her picture on my bulletin board at work helps me remember what's important and makes the little stresses that come along in the course of the day easier to smile through, and possibly even be grateful for. 
3. It makes what happens on the other side of the planet as important as what happens next door... maybe even more important - I know that my neighbors are well fed and not in any danger of getting Dengue Fever. It matters to me that she is safe and that her family is well and happy. 
   
4. I have an opportunity to make a profound change for the better in someone's life, someone I will most likely never meet but who has changed my life at least as much as I've changed hers.

If you have any inclination to sponsor a child and have the means I highly suggest you do it. There is no better investment. 

The "BALL" game

Saturday was the (what 5th?) annual "Ball"game gathering of the Seattle Posse of the Michael Ball fan club. This is proof that anything and everything has a Michael Ball connection. Basically, this is just an excuse to get together and celebrate Michael Ball's birthday. 

Being a Ball-ett By Proxy, I was of course in attendance and I believe it's in the by-laws that Ball-etts are required to "spread the love" so I dragged my friend Donna along (who is now a Ball-ett By Proxy, By Proxy by virtue of her 2nd "Ball"game).  Fun Stuff! :)

This was also a milestone birthday for Marilyn, Ball-ett Extraordinaire so Shannon had the wonderful idea to do this:

Do these girls know how to party or what? 

I Love Snails

That's all, I love snails. Expect to see more of them here.

Gluttony, Greed, Pride and just in time for June......

more cat pictures

Kitty Hawk Says Sayonara

This is for Sarah. Since she is still in the reserves she probably already knows that her old ship is being decommissioned but here's a trip down memory lane.

From AP

YOKOSUKA, Japan (AP) The oldest active ship in the U.S.Navy is on its last voyage. The USS Kitty Hawk departed from Japan and is headed to Washington state to be decommissioned. It will be replaced this summer by a nuclear-powered carrier.

Little known facts about the Kitty Hawk from Stars and Stripes

Seconds anyone?

The second "K" on USS Kitty Hawk’s nameplate is upside down. The letter was skewed when welders transferred the small steel letter plates from the fantail to below the flight deck in the 1960s.

The USS Kitty Hawk is the second U.S. Navy warship to be named after the North Carolina site of the Wright brothers’ famous flight. The first was the civilian ship SS Seatrain New York, which was acquired by the Navy, renamed USS Kitty Hawk, and converted into an aircraft transport ship during World War II. It was decommissioned and given back to its original owners in 1946.

The Kitty Hawk is the second-oldest active ship in the Navy. The first is the USS Constitution, a wooden frigate that sailed in both Barbary Wars and the War of 1812. "Old Ironsides" is used for ceremonial, recruiting and tourism purposes today.

Different from the rest

Kitty Hawk nicknames include "Miss Kitty," "Battlecat" and "Chicken Hawk."

Kitty Hawk has a rogue elevator. While most aircraft carrier elevators go straight up and down — including three on Kitty Hawk — the ship’s Aircraft Elevator #1 operates on a 6-degree angle to accommodate the enlarged jet blast deflectors that were required for the F-14 Tomcat.

The ship does have an escalator, which serves as a very long staircase, as it hasn’t run for many years. Kitty Hawk also has a post office and a store, but has neither swimming pool nor bowling alley — two common misconceptions.

Kitty Hawk has a key aboard. It doesn’t start the "ignition" of the ship, but it does unlock the rudders in case the ship loses steering power from the bridge.

Kitty Hawk did six tours in Vietnam between 1963 and 1976 and was the first aircraft carrier ever to be awarded a Presidential Unit Citation. The award, the unit equivalent of the Navy Cross, was presented by President Lyndon B. Johnson on Dec. 20, 1968, to the ship and Carrier Air Wing 11.

Kitty Hawk was the "floating White House" June 7, 1963, when President John F. Kennedy spent the night aboard the ship near southern California.

The current most senior-ranking Kitty Hawk alumnus isn’t a sailor. U.S. Marine Corps commandant Gen. James T. Conway was the Kitty Hawk Marine Detachment executive officer back in the early 1970s.

Here are a some pictures taken back in the day... 

Greeting Sarah at the airport, she'd just arrived from Narita. 

Possibly Best Website Ever

I highly recommend Graphjam if you are looking for a way to waste a few hours of your precious time. It's a cousin of I Can Has Cheez Burger. You may also want to check out Pundit Kitchen while your there... :) 

My Review of Puff-Sleeve Seersucker Jacket

Originally submitted at Chadwick's

Seersucker goes to new heights in this absolutely adorable jacket. Imported.

• Polished button front
• Styled with short puff sleeves
• Patch pockets
• Shaped with princess seams and a self tie belt
• Cotton shell with polyester lining; Machine wash

Puff-Sleeve Seersucker Jacket

Good quality, great fit

By Jacket Girl from Seattle on 5/14/2008

 

5out of 5

Sizing: Feels true to size

Sleeve Length: Feels true to length

Pros: Attractive Design, Versatile, Lightweight

Describe Yourself: Casual, Career

Perfect as a light jacket over a tee or cami or just on it's own. Love the seersucker for summer. This jacket is as cute as it looks and is very flattering on!

(legalese)

Tian Tan Buddha

Aka Big Buddha is the largest seated outdoor bronze Buddha in the world... we did not go to the top of the mountain where it sits on Lantau Island. It was very gusty the day we were going to ride the gondola that departs from near City Gate and so I told Jim we would have to wait or pass all together. As it turns out the gondola got stuck that afternoon for 90 minutes so my reluctance to go up in the air that day paid off. The lesson? Ignore your fear but listen to your intuition. These pictures are from Jim's trip in 2007. 

Give me Papa Jelly!

We saw this ad in just about every subway station in Hong Kong.  Whatever this is, apparently there have been 4 previous incarnations of it. I just like the name. 

Papa Jelly. Papa Jelly? Papa Jelly! 

You will have it stuck in your head the rest of the day... trust me on this. 

Semi-Precious

I am sending out some well wishes to Her Royal Highness, the Princess of Quite a Lot aka Onyx. She had a little visit to the vet and hopefully by now she is at home resting comfortably with her "mother". Smoochies, little one. 

Now for my petty whine of the day: Why does my Last.FM (in the margin at left) currently show that the only thing I have listened to is Alanis Morrisette? I assure you I have listened to many other artists from their site and purchased at least 8 of them. I am being typecast and I'm not sure how I feel about that. 

Edited 5/1/08: Of course as soon as I bitch about it the rest of the album covers show up. :)

From Whence Did It Come?

Dateline: Hong Kong 

We were on the bus to Stanley and had made it to the top of the pass. A minute or so after we started down the other side I got the weirdest sensation in my feet and suddenly realized...

there was water on the floor of the bus and it was pooling under my seat, soaking my sandals and freshly fish-pedicured feet. The weird thing was that we were riding in the upper level of a double-decker bus. And before you ask, no the upper level was not open like one of those "site-seeing" type buses. Where the heck did that come from??? I get that gravity kept it in the back of the bus while we were going up the hill but how did it even get on the bus? And why am I still perplexed by it's origin?

Rain City

I watched this squall roll in from the West one afternoon. It looked like someone was drawing a big wet curtain across the city. This picture below shows it engulfing the towers in the distance. It rains at home enough to stigmatize an entire city but what Seattle gets over the course of a full day is nothing compared to what comes down in 15 minutes in Singapore.  

Still Battling Lag of Jets

Here are some misc pictures. 

This first one is for Shannon. This was the largest revolving door I have ever seen and it was automatic so it started moving the second you stepped into it. I thought of you. :)

This was the Merlion taken the night we went to Boat Quay.

Here is a close-up of the "poker chip" building.

And one of the Singapore Flyer (the giant ferris wheel in the background not the people on the motor bike). It just had it's grand opening and is the largest of it's kind in the world. Each car holds up to 28 people.

Home at Last...

To some much needed sleep. We had the bumpiest flight ever, all the way from Narita to Seattle. Add to that the fact that no upgrade to Business Class was available from Hong Kong you come up with a serious lack of shut-eye. We arrived at Seatac at about 9:30 AM, picked up the car and went straight home and were asleep by noon. I woke up about 7 PM and am now wondering how to get my brain back in the right time zone. I think I left it back here at Hong Kong airport. Need. More. Coffee. 

Hong Kong, You Are Just Too Much!

There is never a dull moment here but sometimes a dull moment sounds very nice. We are at the airport waiting for our flight to Narita and are looking forward to some dull moments at home.  :)

Stanley

We took the bus over the gap to Stanley yesterday. It's a charming little waterfront area with many shops and restaurants. It looks like more than a few locals like to do some fishing. If you look close you will see that a couple of these "boats" consist of 2 or 3 surfboards tied together with some sort of seat between them. Now that is resourceful.

This tree was next to a florist's shop on a street that wound up the hill from the waterfront. We've seen these in several places, I don't know what they are but it looks like they can exist on bare rock. 

Personal Space - Hong Kong Style

There is one profound difference in culture that we have experienced on this trip that can be easily shown. The personal space we take for granted in the West is either not desired or not available here. This is a light day on the MRT.  

Here is an example of the high-rise apartments that are commonly found here, this one is right outside our hotel window. We have seen both old and new, luxurious and run down in all neighborhoods around town. The ones in the picture are about 50 stories tall with approximately 10-20 apartments on each floor (just guessing). We understand that most are occupied by not couples but entire extended families so possibly 5 to 10 people in each apartment times approximately 10 towers in this set alone and you get an idea of the density of population.

Taking those into consideration it is not surprising that privacy is not something easily found. Take for example our hotel room, which is in a beautiful hotel (although not near the palace that the Shangri-La is) with a very zen-like design with simple lines and natural materials however WHAT IS UP WITH THE NON-EXISTENT BATHROOM? There is a glass toilet stall and a glass shower stall and they both dump out directly in the the bedroom. I know it's only my Western sensibilities that find this odd but it has taken some getting used to.