User:	cabin77
	Date:	2008-07-25 09:36
	Subject:	Reading List
	Security:	Public

We leave for Palm Springs in six days. I'm going to make a trip to the library on Monday. Here are the books that in the running for my poolside reading:

* The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon (remind me sometime to tell my embarrassing story about meeting Michael Chabon at the Nebula Awards)
* The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor
* Industrial Magic, Haunted and Broken by Kelley Armstrong (I devour these type of books so I should bring at least three for poolside)
* The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
* A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving (although I wasn't that taken with the film based on the book)
* Twilight, New Moon and Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer
* Farewell Summer by Ray Bradbury
* On Writing by Stephen King

I really want to read Chabon's book, but I'm not sure how demanding it is. Poolside books need to be engaging, but easily left behind for a dip in the pool. They can be emotional, but not draining or depressing. Last year I read three of the Harry Potter books while I was there (we're also talking about two plane rides). Two years ago I read Bitten and Stolen and then I started The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime.

So . . . any opinions?

	User:	mongo42
	Date:	2008-07-25 08:52
	Subject:	Arrhythmatic
	Security:	Public

I had a brief, mild arrhythmia this morning, probably lasted about ten minutes. I went to enter it in my phone and realized that the previous entry was last December.

Have I really not had any arrhythmias in over half a year? That's pretty awesome. I guess those ridiculously expensive meds really work. (Last time I renewed my Rythmol prescription online I noticed the retail price -- a 90-day supply would cost over $1,000 if I was uninsured. Yowza.)

	User:	mongo42
	Date:	2008-07-25 08:38
	Subject:	Emerging Narrative
	Security:	Public

Obama gets rock-star treatment in Berlin, makes a fabulous speech in front of hundreds of thousands of cheering people, meets with foreign leaders, and in general conducts himself like the dynamic, thoughtful person he is. (I'm still pissed at him over telco immunity, but I acknowledge that he's been brilliant on this trip.)

Most U.S press outlets express concern that he's "too popular" in Europe and should be concentrating on stuff at home. And given the large number of xenophobic, provincial, and ill-informed people here, our press might actually be right for once -- being popular in Europe could actually damage Obama in the polls. Sigh.

Personally, this gives me great hope that he'd make a good start at repairing my country's tattered image abroad. Win some hearts and minds, and all that. Let people know that we're trying to move away from being a torture-happy dictatorship run by war criminals. But then again I'm just a dirty hippie, so my opinion probably doesn't matter.

	User:	cabin77
	Date:	2008-07-24 21:42
	Subject:	Just Checking In
	Security:	Public

I'm here! I promise! Trollbabyfeet called this afternoon because of my silence. I hadn't really realized how long it had been since I posted or commented without explanation.

We've had a delightful week visiting with some old friends. TeeDub and CeeMan were in a Bible study with me and Hubby way back in '96 when we were all newly married, no kids, and time on our hands. Now they have two boys (ages 5 and almost 2) and, well, you know about Princess and Buddy.

They have been on the move off and on since '96 because CeeMan was in the military. Now he's retiring and they are moving back to our great state. Not Austin, drat. But they will be within weekend visit distance in Fort Worth.

They came and stayed with us for three nights on their way from San Antonio (where his family are) and Fort Worth (where hers are). It was SO much fun!!! I had adult conversation at my fingertips and the kids were occupied. Princess played Momma to their youngest while Buddy and their oldest played Star Wars, played cars, played XBox (they had one) and just played and played. Oh, and they also brought their two cocker spaniels so I was happy to have a canine in the house again. (Garbo taught the puppy a thing or two, but the older dog never realized there was a cat around.)

So it's been a wonderful, fun and busy few days. We'll have another busy few days because we now have two birthday parties in as many days, but they are as attendees, not as planners! Yay!

I'm off for some snoozing, although we did absolutely nothing today but watch TV. I got out our old video camera and hooked it up to the TV and we played videos of the kids when they were little bitty. I hope to get an adapter soon so that I can transfer some to the computer and share them. They are wonderful!!!

Good night!

	User:	stoda
	Date:	2008-07-24 20:13
	Subject:	Out.
	Security:	Public
	Mood:	indescribable

I'm likely to be around less for a while. Not like I say much usually anyway.

If I owe anybody anything, please let me know.

	User:	incandragon
	Date:	2008-07-24 13:13
	Subject:	Zoe, Urban Combat Princess
	Security:	Public

Zoe tagged Gary the Mailman today. All hail the Urban Combat Princess.

I'm feeling a touch less sympathetic than I might should be, since he was coming to the door to tell me that *I* have to pay $50 $65 because *their* clusterbox lock broke.

She really only jumped on him, but it's been a while since I trimmed her nails, and he was wearing shorts. My perfect house will have a Dutch door. And deaf neighbors.

Now if she can just tag the UPS guy and a garbage collector, she'll be qualified to wear a collar with zinc spikes.

	User:	stoda
	Date:	2008-07-23 12:32
	Subject:
	Security:	Public
	Mood:	sick

	User:	oliana0
	Date:	2008-07-23 10:47
	Subject:	ow
	Security:	Public

So, certain members of my friend's list have proclaimed that they are working on the 100 push-up program. And I thought, hey, that's one of those exercises that's easy to do when you are travelling or watching TV, both frequent activities of mine that may be leading to my general out of shapeness.

So I figiured, what the hay, may as well give it a shot. The process involves first testing to see how many you can do. I am a bit top heavy these days and while I used to be able to do (poorly) yoga pushups in full plank pose, I haven't been to a yogalaties in a year or so, so I'm doing girl pushups.

And I managed to pull an ab muscle getting into position. Crapsticks. But I pushed through and found that I could do two. TWO. Partially because my hands can't take it. Wrists don't have enough strength for normal, hands get tired doing fingertip pushups, and despite the recommendation for knuckle pushups for bad wristers, those hurt lots too, even with a rolled up towel under each hand.

This made me fall in the 0-5 pushup level. I was supposed to do 2,2,2,2,max (min 3) pushups. Where one minute pauses ocurred at each comma.

I did three on that last set, and thought after, maybe I could have done more, but then I thought, it would be really bad to not be able to push back up and land face first in a La Quinta's hotel room. I don't know how clean that carpet is.

Today, already, I'm sore. Not too bad, but my muscles in my arms feel used. And the muscles in my back are unhappy. And the ab muscle that I pulled, not an issue at all. Weird.

My upper back muscles are pleasantly sore, it's the lower ones that are weirdly sore and unpleasant.

I'm going to try to blog about this process.

	User:	oliana0
	Date:	2008-07-23 07:16
	Subject:	REading ...
	Security:	Public

Reading this article about Obama and noted the following quote:</a>

"Mr. Obama is not yet receiving the government intelligence briefing that is typically made available to a presidential candidate upon becoming his party’s nominee."

And I wonder, why not?

	User:	incandragon
	Date:	2008-07-22 22:44
	Subject:	Crafty Old Lady
	Security:	Public

I talked to my next door neighbor about my craft shed and various projects. Turns out she wanted a totem pole, and they were too expensive, so she and her husband learned to carve wood. Cool or what?

I need to start my next project. I'm stumped ... stained glass, or paper lantern? Possibly mobile.

	User:	moviescape
	Date:	2008-07-22 17:10
	Subject:	Fav quote of the day
	Security:	Public

A woman just came in from the Texas heat, and declared, "If that is what hell is like, I better start praying more." 

	User:	mongo42
	Date:	2008-07-22 11:18
	Subject:	Xenophobe-Shaped Hole
	Security:	Public

There's a hole in our garage! We got together with stoda and bfly for dinner, and thus fortified we loaded our coin-op Xenophobe arcade game into their truck, and away it went. We still have visiting rights, though; once in a while I like to play an invigorating round of Buckets and Heads.

I think I'll be expanding my scrap lumber pile to fill the void.

Next up: motorcycle-shaped holes! Potter's wheel and kiln-shaped holes!

	User:	oliana0
	Date:	2008-07-22 09:55
	Subject:	Birfday
	Security:	Public

So I can't decide whether to celebrate my birthday on/near my birthday, like next week, or minimize that and put off until my 1/3 century, which mysteriously coincides Stupid Mall Fest Day in November.

Either way, lasofia and her clan will be unavailable, which dampens things because I like hanging out with them.
Adding to the confusion is the fact that I don't know if I'll be in town next week or not.

	User:	incandragon
	Date:	2008-07-21 23:31
	Subject:	Fun Dinner & Tough Mamas
	Security:	Public

A friend from Austin came a-visiting and interviewing in the Northwest (successfully, it seems), and he invited me and Lycangeek to a dinner at his friends' house. Lovely house, on 40 acres out by the Snoqualmie river. We played with their golden retriever, had steak and pasta, chatted, watched the sun go down through the trees, and watched a teenage boy consume astonishing amounts of calories.

At one point, the Shlomster took us on a brief tour of the house, and pointed out a large glass display. The host and hostess have families who have lived in the area for generations, and the hostess's mother was a stewardess for Wein Airlines. (That's the first airline in Alaska, and one of the first airlines in the US.) The display had her pin, her cards, her fur "Nanook-style" parka ... and photos from two of her seven crashes.

Seven crashes. That's some kind of tough mom!

	User:	alfreda89
	Date:	2008-07-22 00:55
	Subject:	You probably need to see this...
	Security:	Public
	Mood:	exhausted

This Saturday, July 26th, the Alamo Drafthouse downtown will have a screening of Under Our Skin: The Untold Story of Lyme Disease. Mari Alvarez and her camera crew from KVUE are expected, as well as members of the health profession and elected officials. We are charging admission to cover the cost of renting the theatre. If you have not purchased tickets, please do so online at:

http://www.originalalamo.com/Show.aspx?id=5477

No credit cards will be accepted Saturday -- cash or check only. The Alamo Draft House will accept credit cards up to the day of the event. The events start at 12:00 noon.

This is a private venue rental not sponsored by the Alamo Draft house, but tickets are available to the general public.

I plan to attend this movie. If you thought SICKO and FAST FOOD NATION were scary movies, have I got a film for you. This film mostly addresses stories of people whose lives have been upended forever by Lyme disease, as opposed to the politics of Lyme. I have to see it soon, because no matter how much I hope they won't find out about it, my parents will eventually see this film. And I have to know how to calm their hysteria once they see some of the cases shown in the film. (I've seen a ten minute clip used during the fundraising for the editing.)

The documentary is drawing national attention, and was a finalist at the Tribeca Film Festival.

http://www.openeyepictures.com/underourskin/

Let me know if you want to go -- I'll be there.

Spread the word!

	User:	alfreda89
	Date:	2008-07-22 00:27
	Subject:	More birthdays!
	Security:	Public
	Mood:	awake
	Music:	Soundscapes at a distance

Both teramis and hutson have birthdays in July (along with yours truly) so let's hear it for Crabby people! (Not to be confused with crabby people...)

	User:	bfly
	Date:	2008-07-21 18:22
	Subject:	Big dog on the loose
	Security:	Public

This has been pretty well publicized but it can't hurt to spread it a little more: Errol is lost. Destiny, his young owner, was seriously injured in a wreck near Meridian, MS, and Errol made a break from the scene. He's been spotted in the area but so far nobody has managed to catch him. There's a search and reward fund if you've got any spare change to contribute. Sounds like Destiny is doing well but what she really needs right now is to know her buddy is home again.

	User:	bfly
	Date:	2008-07-21 17:45
	Subject:	Attention yarn addicts
	Security:	Public

I don't do stuff with yarn, but if you do then please run over and check out The Opalescence, opals's new store for her hand-spun yarn. She's got some beautiful stuff that makes me with I did do stuff with yarn! But no, I will resist temptation - I've tried knitting and crochet, and it never really stuck. I will content myself with the thought of all the gorgeous things other people can make from Opal's yarn.

	User:	incandragon
	Date:	2008-07-20 22:20
	Subject:	Hungry, Cranky & Disinclined to Dark Movies
	Security:	Public

I was in a foul mood when I went to see Dark Knight, with sugar crashing and parking and all. Also, I was pretty sure I wasn't going to like it, because I don't like dark entertainment, and Dark Knight was supposed to be darkity dark dark. But you know, I actually liked it. Which means it had to be pretty exceptional, because, you know ... dark.

So, now, instead, I'm pretty sure I'm not going to like Watchmen, because, you know ... dark. Darkity dark dark.

	User:	cabin77
	Date:	2008-07-20 21:32
	Subject:	The Dark Knight
	Security:	Public

So Hubby was kind enough to "fall on the sword" and take the kids to the birthday party today while I went with Lance to see The Dark Knight.

I hate to be cliche, but . . . wow.  I'm in awe of Heath Ledger. 

No spoilers.  Just go see it.