Wednesday, November 08, 2006
oh what a day....
Fabulous news on the political front. I felt great last night and this morning I felt even better and gosh darnit, after I came home from my board meeting, I felt like taking ernest for a walk, even if I would be drenched.
Welcome to the new world. I love this country and maybe today, I feel like my vote counted this time around.
Now, if we could get that continuing resolution dealt with and give us a budget...
Other than that, I'm leaving for London on Friday. It'll be fun, I'll see Jen and catch up with some others. I have a Sunday planned that includes Columbia Road followed by five hours of gardening at my aunts (Pray for good weather)....
Oh, I read with fascination about Britney and Kevin. It repulses me, why do I care?
later taters.
nm
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Monday, November 06, 2006
all good things come
Sunday, November 05, 2006
insurmountable
I have 3000 plus pictures in flickr. They all need captions and new tags.
I say 50 a day. What do you think? 75 if I'm procrastinating.
nm
I say 50 a day. What do you think? 75 if I'm procrastinating.
nm
Today we went out and bought TH a new phone. The same freaking one we had. We also upped our plan as we somehow (damned conference call) managed to go over our minutes to the tune of 60 bucks.
For some reason, I didn't have a text message plan. WTF?
Okay, so now we're 100 bucks poorer.
Its been a day.
The dog also has gas. How fun is that.
nm
For some reason, I didn't have a text message plan. WTF?
Okay, so now we're 100 bucks poorer.
Its been a day.
The dog also has gas. How fun is that.
nm
Saturday, November 04, 2006
motivate me
Hat house, October 2006, South Park.
I have to write a measly 1400 word paper for my preservation planning seminar. I have the topic, I have materials, I have ideas, I just don't give a whack.
I have to be done by tomorrow to finish my AMS extended abstract.
Very interesting topic. I'm looking at a house that a bunch of community members nominated for landmark status and received it, which basically made it impossible for the new owner to short plat the land around it enough to make it economically viable. He felt that the house was not worth saving, the land was valuable, thus the house should be destroyed.
In the process I have learned that this house - very lovely and architecturally significant, was a meth production facility in a old Seattle neighborhood. The house has a happy ending, someone offered to move it to a lot close to its original location and fixed it up very nicely. The house is now being rented for a song if it was say, in my neighborhood, but very expensive for where it is.
The old lot is now a sea of hideous new tract houses.
The landmark is lovely, if not totally out of context in a sea of newly developed market rate townhomes, even with a 10' buffer, it looks strange.
Makes me wonder if things like this are worth preserving when taken away from their original landscape. It also makes me wonder about what motivates people to save things in a neighborhood that is going to change, no matter what.
nm
I have to write a measly 1400 word paper for my preservation planning seminar. I have the topic, I have materials, I have ideas, I just don't give a whack.
I have to be done by tomorrow to finish my AMS extended abstract.
Very interesting topic. I'm looking at a house that a bunch of community members nominated for landmark status and received it, which basically made it impossible for the new owner to short plat the land around it enough to make it economically viable. He felt that the house was not worth saving, the land was valuable, thus the house should be destroyed.
In the process I have learned that this house - very lovely and architecturally significant, was a meth production facility in a old Seattle neighborhood. The house has a happy ending, someone offered to move it to a lot close to its original location and fixed it up very nicely. The house is now being rented for a song if it was say, in my neighborhood, but very expensive for where it is.
The old lot is now a sea of hideous new tract houses.
The landmark is lovely, if not totally out of context in a sea of newly developed market rate townhomes, even with a 10' buffer, it looks strange.
Makes me wonder if things like this are worth preserving when taken away from their original landscape. It also makes me wonder about what motivates people to save things in a neighborhood that is going to change, no matter what.
nm
Friday, November 03, 2006
needle in a proverbial haystack
How hard is it to find a cell phone in a moderately well organized and clean house?
Your guess is as good as mine.
Sigh.
Your guess is as good as mine.
Sigh.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
nablopomo away
Its National Blog Post a Day for Month according to Z, who heard it from fussy. I'm up for the challenge I think even if it means posting from a skanky internet cafe next weekend. NM is not taking a laptop to London unless necessary. Too much overhead these days....
Anyhoo, not much to say, TH is sick, Ernest has pano, I feel like crud, so we spent most of the evening feeling sorry for ourselves. Me, snoring on the couch, TH and E. dd on the futon in my office. I think E. dd now thinks that all beds should be this big.
Now, we're all awake and its close to midnight.
If you blog, join us, link to Fussy and wow us with your witty thoughts and prose.
nm
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Roma, Roma, Moleskine City Guide, October 2006.
It is very rare that I take advantage of the concierge service of any hotel I stay in. This past weekend, I did use the concierge to book a table for me at Lutetia Brasserie for lunch, find me a restaurant and to track down the elusive Moleskine city guides for the cities I am most likely to visit and annotate any guidebook or map I may have.
They were located at the WH Smith on Rue de Rivoli, which is an expat hangout. I did try the Bon Marche book and paper department, called Brentanos and checked a few places that were independent with little luck.
Turns out WH Smith had most of them and at least the Paris guide was waiting for me at the cash desk.
What can I say?
I am a bit dissapointed. They are small, which I guess is good if you are going to carry it everywhere, but the maps are not so great. The London maps have very little detail on them, so unless you stay on main drags you'll get very little use. The Paris guide is much better on maps and the metro map is useful, but why not put in a RER map? I'm used to journalling in a bigger moleskine, so it was hard to adjust to this size.
I didn't start filling out our Paris one, I may do it this week.
I'll take my London one next week. I don't suppose I'll be seeing anything new or exciting, so I'm not sure how much I can fill it out, but it is a step in the right direction.
I'll post the maps and details on my flickr asap.
nm
It is very rare that I take advantage of the concierge service of any hotel I stay in. This past weekend, I did use the concierge to book a table for me at Lutetia Brasserie for lunch, find me a restaurant and to track down the elusive Moleskine city guides for the cities I am most likely to visit and annotate any guidebook or map I may have.
They were located at the WH Smith on Rue de Rivoli, which is an expat hangout. I did try the Bon Marche book and paper department, called Brentanos and checked a few places that were independent with little luck.
Turns out WH Smith had most of them and at least the Paris guide was waiting for me at the cash desk.
What can I say?
I am a bit dissapointed. They are small, which I guess is good if you are going to carry it everywhere, but the maps are not so great. The London maps have very little detail on them, so unless you stay on main drags you'll get very little use. The Paris guide is much better on maps and the metro map is useful, but why not put in a RER map? I'm used to journalling in a bigger moleskine, so it was hard to adjust to this size.
I didn't start filling out our Paris one, I may do it this week.
I'll take my London one next week. I don't suppose I'll be seeing anything new or exciting, so I'm not sure how much I can fill it out, but it is a step in the right direction.
I'll post the maps and details on my flickr asap.
nm
Monday, October 30, 2006
How can two people who were gone for five days and had done laundry before they left, have generated four if not five loads of laundry?
Geez.
Bags emptied, chocolate aliquoted, laundry started, mail sorted, bags put away, email checked and showered.
Off to bed.
nm
Geez.
Bags emptied, chocolate aliquoted, laundry started, mail sorted, bags put away, email checked and showered.
Off to bed.
nm
so sue me
In Chicago, tired, but happy to be almost home.
Lots of fun in Paris, getting there was not a lot of fun - sitting on the ground Seattle, not sure we'd make it to Paris directly, long wait for a train to Paris (locale) on the anniversary of the Riots in Clichy sous Bois.
However, it was lovely once we got there.
Chocolate, macarons, a stunning view of the Tour Eiffel, catching up with JB and making plans for collaboration, finding the elusive moleskine Paris and really just trying to chill.
Brussels was much the same, I had a great time watching TH buy chocolate. By then I was on chocolate overload. Not even Pierre Marcolini could tempt me.
Back in the Flagship lounge, where cell phone usage is now limited to the old smoking lounge, I give a dirty look to a guy on his cell phone in the cell free zone. He tells me to call his lawyer if I have a problem.
Really.
So sue me.
nm
Lots of fun in Paris, getting there was not a lot of fun - sitting on the ground Seattle, not sure we'd make it to Paris directly, long wait for a train to Paris (locale) on the anniversary of the Riots in Clichy sous Bois.
However, it was lovely once we got there.
Chocolate, macarons, a stunning view of the Tour Eiffel, catching up with JB and making plans for collaboration, finding the elusive moleskine Paris and really just trying to chill.
Brussels was much the same, I had a great time watching TH buy chocolate. By then I was on chocolate overload. Not even Pierre Marcolini could tempt me.
Back in the Flagship lounge, where cell phone usage is now limited to the old smoking lounge, I give a dirty look to a guy on his cell phone in the cell free zone. He tells me to call his lawyer if I have a problem.
Really.
So sue me.
nm
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
carrot and stick
Boul. Raspail Marche biologique, December 2005.
If you are a basset who loves both sticks and carrots, what do you do? The carrot is supposed to tempt you, but the stick is also tasty. Its a hard thing. Sometimes, you should just pick one, but which one.
I am realizing that in my desire to lose 15 lbs by the end of the year, that I have gained five and it is all in my stomach. My friend S. calls this the Buddah belly. My spring coat is tight and unfortunately, its 68 degrees in Paris. Oh well, they say black is slimming.
So, do I beat myself with the stick for using food as reward or punish myself with carrots for eating too much? I'll tell you after I have a salad for lunch on Friday in Paris and then stop at Laduree for three macarons - citron, framboise and maybe fruits de bois.
Sigh.
nm
If you are a basset who loves both sticks and carrots, what do you do? The carrot is supposed to tempt you, but the stick is also tasty. Its a hard thing. Sometimes, you should just pick one, but which one.
I am realizing that in my desire to lose 15 lbs by the end of the year, that I have gained five and it is all in my stomach. My friend S. calls this the Buddah belly. My spring coat is tight and unfortunately, its 68 degrees in Paris. Oh well, they say black is slimming.
So, do I beat myself with the stick for using food as reward or punish myself with carrots for eating too much? I'll tell you after I have a salad for lunch on Friday in Paris and then stop at Laduree for three macarons - citron, framboise and maybe fruits de bois.
Sigh.
nm
Monday, October 23, 2006
Peppery goodness, Billy's peppers, U. District Farmer's Market, October 2006.
Not much to say. Tired, busy, running around like a chicken with or without a head. Lots to do and not enough time in the day. I still have 40 pages or reading to do for class.
Sigh.
Right now the house smells like peppers. They got ahead of us, so we roasted them. Should be great in soup in say, November.
Sort of reminds me of Santa Fe.
nm
Not much to say. Tired, busy, running around like a chicken with or without a head. Lots to do and not enough time in the day. I still have 40 pages or reading to do for class.
Sigh.
Right now the house smells like peppers. They got ahead of us, so we roasted them. Should be great in soup in say, November.
Sort of reminds me of Santa Fe.
nm
Saturday, October 21, 2006
better than anything
I cancelled my trip to Boston, slept in my own bed, albeit with the equivalent of 15 otter pops on my back (blue ones), woke up stiff and sore and felt great.
The sun was shining after the fog lifted, TH, B and I went to the Market, did the normal TJ's run, hung out and scritched the dog and other things that I would be missing if I spent the day wandering around Boston.
I even managed to prune many things and leave the prunings for my garden assistant tomorrow.
TH recreated a pizza we had from Serious Pie. Chanterelles and crimini mushrooms on a cornmeal crust with truffle cheese and quattro frommagio.
Serious yum.
I even managed to pick raspberries, kiwis and the last of the apples.
Ernest managed to get in a bath and turnip chase.
My back feels way better.
Life is good.
nm
The sun was shining after the fog lifted, TH, B and I went to the Market, did the normal TJ's run, hung out and scritched the dog and other things that I would be missing if I spent the day wandering around Boston.
I even managed to prune many things and leave the prunings for my garden assistant tomorrow.
TH recreated a pizza we had from Serious Pie. Chanterelles and crimini mushrooms on a cornmeal crust with truffle cheese and quattro frommagio.
Serious yum.
I even managed to pick raspberries, kiwis and the last of the apples.
Ernest managed to get in a bath and turnip chase.
My back feels way better.
Life is good.
nm
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Feeling your age
Squash, Georgetown, October 2006.
Today I feel all my prime years. To tell you the truth, I have never felt any worse pain in my lower back. I am going to call what I have bulkhead syndrome.
What the heck is that?
It is what you get when you are a short woman, with the luck and desire to usually get seat 1A.
Why?
So that no one reclines into me and that I can put my tootsies up on the bulkhead.
Well, that is all fine and good until you do it for about 20 hours in one week and then your lower back screams in agony because you are putting so much pressure on it by putting your tootsies up on the wall as in this picture.
NM's life on Alaska Airlines.
Today I stayed home and I worked from home, I tried to rest. I didn't go to the gym. The doctor saw me, prescribed massage and sent me on my merry way. I can't get in until Monday afternoon. I have tons of Advil and ice packs. I cancelled my personal trainer for tomorrow and Ernest promises not to pull.
What am I doing tomorrow night? I am flying in seat 1F and I'll be damned if I put my feet up on the bulkhead. I can't take the pain.
I'm still waiting for my upgrade to clear on the return, but honestly, I'll be fine if it doesn't, less chance of injuring myself.
nm
Today I feel all my prime years. To tell you the truth, I have never felt any worse pain in my lower back. I am going to call what I have bulkhead syndrome.
What the heck is that?
It is what you get when you are a short woman, with the luck and desire to usually get seat 1A.
Why?
So that no one reclines into me and that I can put my tootsies up on the bulkhead.
Well, that is all fine and good until you do it for about 20 hours in one week and then your lower back screams in agony because you are putting so much pressure on it by putting your tootsies up on the wall as in this picture.
NM's life on Alaska Airlines.
Today I stayed home and I worked from home, I tried to rest. I didn't go to the gym. The doctor saw me, prescribed massage and sent me on my merry way. I can't get in until Monday afternoon. I have tons of Advil and ice packs. I cancelled my personal trainer for tomorrow and Ernest promises not to pull.
What am I doing tomorrow night? I am flying in seat 1F and I'll be damned if I put my feet up on the bulkhead. I can't take the pain.
I'm still waiting for my upgrade to clear on the return, but honestly, I'll be fine if it doesn't, less chance of injuring myself.
nm
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
a pink pony please
Snow, October 2006, UCAR parking lot.
I'm getting a million emails today about what everyone wants in metadata files (you know, data about the data). I'm thinking the metadata will be larger than the data by the time they are done.
I'm going to ask for a pink pony too.
Sigh.
It is snowing here. I am so not excited.
I'm getting a million emails today about what everyone wants in metadata files (you know, data about the data). I'm thinking the metadata will be larger than the data by the time they are done.
I'm going to ask for a pink pony too.
Sigh.
It is snowing here. I am so not excited.
Monday, October 16, 2006
deja vu
The road not travelled, Colorado, September 2006.
See this post here.
I'm back again, in a different meeting, a different context (data management guru) and a different lab.
I am one of two women at a meeting of modelers, data managers and standards setters for large scale hydrodyamic models. That is right, we're 4% of the population at this meeting. I'm not a modeler and honestly, some mornings I can't even imagine why I am here.
However, I'm enjoying myself and me thinks we may have a new data standard to play with when we get back to the lab.
Dinner tonight is the Ted, he always picks the best places. ;)
I'm bummed that Katja had to go to ABQ to play with her satellite. I'll think of you tomorrow when I replace my missing jibbitz.
Yes, JK, I am going to glam them up.
See this post here.
I'm back again, in a different meeting, a different context (data management guru) and a different lab.
I am one of two women at a meeting of modelers, data managers and standards setters for large scale hydrodyamic models. That is right, we're 4% of the population at this meeting. I'm not a modeler and honestly, some mornings I can't even imagine why I am here.
However, I'm enjoying myself and me thinks we may have a new data standard to play with when we get back to the lab.
Dinner tonight is the Ted, he always picks the best places. ;)
I'm bummed that Katja had to go to ABQ to play with her satellite. I'll think of you tomorrow when I replace my missing jibbitz.
Yes, JK, I am going to glam them up.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
words of endearment
Tiny little handprints, October 2006.
Today while in Trader Joes, TH murmured to me the words that are part of our enduring relationship --"when exactly are you leaving again?".
I can't blame her, I'm a nutcase today.
nm
Today while in Trader Joes, TH murmured to me the words that are part of our enduring relationship --"when exactly are you leaving again?".
I can't blame her, I'm a nutcase today.
nm
Saturday, October 14, 2006
saturday night and the partying is right
Okay, I'm back from DC. What can I say other than I survived.
One transcon to go and then Denver. Whoo hoo. At least I get to spend the day with my cousin A. who is matriculating at BU and should be good company.
Last night I went to bed without the use of pharmaceuticals and had some strange dreams. The most disturbing is the "getting ready to leave and can't find my passport" nightmare that was a melange of a major work deadline (hmm), extra security for the foreign nationals at my work place that made me nervous and not remembering my passport before I left for the airport.
Yes, campers, this is a nightmare of mine. That and losing my boarding pass (happens frequently).
Today my travel day was smooth, my upgrade to DC did not clear, but I had pleasant seat opponents. I managed to read the paperwork for my meeting, finish two mysteries, take a nap and on the way back watch a really bad movie on the way back. The food in First was nothing to write home about. I ate the beans/rice and the salad and my cheese and apple. My decaf was kept full and I was happy that the Husky game traffic was over before I made it home. I even picked up the Post for Sunday's reading.
By the way, Go Beavs!
One transcon to go and then Denver. Whoo hoo. At least I get to spend the day with my cousin A. who is matriculating at BU and should be good company.
Last night I went to bed without the use of pharmaceuticals and had some strange dreams. The most disturbing is the "getting ready to leave and can't find my passport" nightmare that was a melange of a major work deadline (hmm), extra security for the foreign nationals at my work place that made me nervous and not remembering my passport before I left for the airport.
Yes, campers, this is a nightmare of mine. That and losing my boarding pass (happens frequently).
Today my travel day was smooth, my upgrade to DC did not clear, but I had pleasant seat opponents. I managed to read the paperwork for my meeting, finish two mysteries, take a nap and on the way back watch a really bad movie on the way back. The food in First was nothing to write home about. I ate the beans/rice and the salad and my cheese and apple. My decaf was kept full and I was happy that the Husky game traffic was over before I made it home. I even picked up the Post for Sunday's reading.
By the way, Go Beavs!
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