Last Post for 2005
Geez, two steps forward, three steps back. For every item I manage to put away, 3 more come through the door. Not just fun stuff either. I'm not griping about gifts. It's everything: mail, fresh laundry. I went out to the garage to stash something and noticed there is a mountain of empty boxes. We need to break a few of those down and gift them to Mr. Recycling Man and I'm not clear on this but he's coming tomorrow? Sunday, Jan 1st instead of Monday the 2nd? Maybe I'm dreaming.

I had a good birthday although it got off to a rugged start. Both Bob and I are fighting colds. I think Bob's a little worse off than I am although neither or us is in very bad shape. But it's the thing where you wake up feeling gross and once you've moved around, drank some tea and showered, you're at about 90%.

I knew I wanted to see a movie and I knew where I wanted to go for dinner, Roots which is completely on the far east side of Vancouver, technically Camus. This made the location of the movie matter and somewhat also the timing. Brokeback Mountain wasn't going to work which left my other choice: King Kong. Did you know that movie is 3 hours long?

That made me cranky (see above about just woke up and cold symptoms). I checked out a few other movies but really the only other thing I might have wanted to see was Chronicles of Narnia, which I've already seen once. I whined a bit and Bob asked me what I wanted to do and I said, "I want to see King Kong and I want it to be shorter."

He indicated that this was 1 birthday wish he could not make come true and after some more consulting of the movie times, we decided to see an early King Kong and then go to dinner.

Other than being too long, King Kong is an excellent and thrilling movie. It took about 10 years off my life. (It also made me cry.) Wild, scary stuff. At one point, during the Skull Island part, there was this endless scene involving huge bugs. I squirmed in my seat for about 5 minutes and then leaned over to Bob and said, "We're NEVER going there." And unless they have a hippie jam band festival, I think he agrees.

Dinner was fantastic. We hardly ever splurge on a super deluxe meal and this was worth every penny. We shared a crab and avocado appetizer and a beet salad and our entrees were filet mignon with some sort of bleucheese butter (!) and grilled wild salmon with greens. For dessert we split a Kahlua creme brulee. I must learn how to make this dessert.

Great day. Great year. A couple more days off to clean up and more Photoshop and updating my iPod with new tunes and playlists. I'm also big on cleaning things out at new years. Like the bathroom cupboard. You know you always find about 4 bottles of sunscreen with 1 tiny squish left or some bath gel that you forgot you had. And I'm going to take down the tree and put away the holiday stuff. And I'm going to process Mr. Pumpkin. I will most likely photo-document it for you here so stay tuned.

Happy New Year.

Today's post is about clothing (bottoms) and high waistbands.

I never had a problem with high waistbands. Not even when the style was to have a waistband that was so low, special extra-short zippers had to be invented and the full-monty down low wax became a common procedure. (In some circles. I haven't gone for it myself, but if I do, you can be sure I'll share all the details here.)

Pretty soon even clothes for people like me (meaning old and without style) started to lower the waistband. Not to that scary, omigod how does that even stay up Ana Lucia from Lost low -- but below the navel. And once I got used to it, I kinda liked it.

Then I had to buy new underwear because all my underwear came up around my armpits and stuck out over the waistband

But still, the high waist haunts me. All my winter tights come up around my armpits. My silk longjohns: armpits. It's not a crisis because I'm usually wearing sweaters and shirts that hang over the waistband anyway - but not an overall sexy look to have the waistband of your underclothes hanging out over your waistband.

My Mom got me some really cute new sweats for xmas and I love them and their low waistband. Except now my yoga pants stick out. *sigh*

Die Fat Free Cheese, Die
I accidentally bought Fat Free Feta Cheese.

I tasted a sliver and was like, "Omigod, what is wrong with this cheese? It's nasty." Then I saw the package.

uck. Completely inedible.

It should be illegal to make a product that is called both "fat free" and cheese.

50 Book Challenge - I'm a winner
I finished book #50 yesterday. You can see the entire list here.

I'm going to keep a running tally of my books next year, too but I'm not going to aim for 50. I have some other projects I want to put some time into and I don't want to get sucked into that overachiever thing where I get all panicked if I haven't finished a book in a couple weeks.

Holidaze
Great holiday this year.

We picked up Priscilla and drove to Fort Jones (near Yreka) to visit a longtime family friend of both the Hughes family and my grandparents. John Jenott worked for the Forest Service in both Happy Camp and the PAC NW and that's the connection with both families. This had nothing to do with Bob and I getting together. We found out about it later.


We visited John at the Marble Rim Gallery which features a number of wonderful local artists, John included. I tried on a beautiful handspun, handknit sweater and fell in love with it before I even saw the price tag. Priscilla bought it for me for my birthday and I've barely taken it off since. I'm going to send the artist some pictures of us at the gallery and tell her how much I love her work. We left Fort Jones and took off for Orleans.


This was Priscilla's first visit to Orleans and we were able to show her around. We took a nice walk on the Go Road and had a great view of town.

Christmas day we opened presents at home. Well, most of the presents. A couple presents got, um, lost in the shuffle and appeared later including some great boots Erin got the next morning.

We had buckmeat and pancakes for breakfast. We kept calling it Bambi but Priscilla still tried some.


For dinner we went to BG & Curt's and I failed to get a real comprehensive photo of the scene. They had a spectacular tree. BG says with a tall tree you should decorate the top first and then stand it up. Everyone had plenty to eat and drink. Good time.

The Prism R.I.P.

It wasn't the sexiest car and it went slow uphill but how many cars take their owners over 240,000 miles? It will be missed.

Sundance Rentz R.I.P.

She wasn't the smartest dog and she barked a lot, but she was part of the family and we'll miss her.

Yes! There is a name for those irritating and aggravating fake websites: splogs.

Here's what Wikipedia says about splogs.

Spam blogs, sometimes referred to by the neologism splogs, are weblog sites which the author uses only for promoting affiliated websites. The purpose is to increase the PageRank of the affiliated sites, get ad impressions from visitors, and/or use the blog as a link outlet to get new sites indexed. Content is often nonsense or text stolen from other websites with an unusually high number of links to sites associated with the splog creator which are often disreputable or otherwise useless websites.

Have you ever tried to research something ... I'm trying to think of something I did recently and all I am coming up with are girl problems. What would be more universal? Health issues are likely candidates. I'm totally drawing a blank right now: but if you're looking up a general topic: headaches, Paris, gardening. And you get your search results and you click on something that looks good, and all it is zillions of links that also look good but ultimately there is no actual information. It's just a giant clicking game. These sites drive me nuts and I've been saying they should have a name. And they do. Good to know.

I had another extended rant that I don't think I'm going to do. It has to do with asking a simple question and having the person you're asking assume you're a complete halfwit and start explaining starting with the dawn of man instead of just answering your question. Except if you spend any time out and about in the world, you know that 2 out of 3 people are indeed complete halfwits and why should anyone assume you are any different?

PAMNEWSLETTER 05 is up. I forgot to post it here, just in case I had visitors who didn't know about it yet. You can click on the small pictures to see larger versions. Enjoy!

I guess I should have clarified that I paid $1.99 *a gallon* for gas. I actually paid $20 which still didn't fill up my tank.

Also like to report that I finished book #48 last night. I'm half way through book #49 (was reading them concurrently). It's F. Scott Fitzgerald's This Side of Paradise and it's pretty shitty. I would have given up except, you know, it's F. Scott Fitzgerald. But if you need Fitzy fix, your time is better spent reading The Great Gatsby again.

On the Xmas front: I am very, very close to "being ready." I have about 90% of my shopping done. We've got a tree and the decorations are out. I'm thinking I should bake something xmas-y. Maybe those sticky buns with a secret ingredient that I was going to invent earlier this year.

Here are some xmas shopping tips. Actually, it's just one tip: do not do it with your spouse. Especially if he's hungry and hasn't had his coffee yet. Sheesh. I thought it was the end for us. I was going to brain him with a 4 pound box of Belgian Truffle Orange-Cinnamon Bon-Bons in decorative holiday tin in the aisle at Trader Joes.

We followed that stop with a stop at Sunshine Bagels and as soon as we stepped through the door he was skipping to the counter with a grin on his face, happily agonizing over which bagel to get his breakfast Reuben on. One sandwich and a couple cups of coffee later and Mr. Hyde became Dr. Jekyl again. (Or the other way around, however it works.)

We successfully took care of some other purchases -- and here's the second part of the tip. If you can, do everything you need before Noon. It's already getting gruesome by 11:00am. We had one potential other stop but wisely decided to come home.

Now I'm going to work on some gift-wrapping and do a few chores. Bob is downstairs, either napping or watching a movie.

I paid $1.99 for gas last night. Me and all the other customers stood around nodding at each other and pumping our fists in the air.

Wall of Guitars at Experience Music Project in Seattle. Must be several years ago, look how light my hair is.

Ug. Just finished the paper version of the PamNewsletter. There has got to be an easier way.

The problem is I only use a page layout program once a year when I do the newsletter. In the olden days I just made sloppy margins and cut the photos to fit in the spot and then pasted them in and took the thing to the copiers.

Now my photos are digital and the program has become more advanced which I'm sure is fantastic for all the page layout people of America but for the once a year holiday newsletter types: it's like reinventing the wheel every time. This is the third day I've spent screaming at the computer between all the various versions and photos. My head hurts.

Meanwhile, I've had this note scrawled here to give you my review of more movie trailers.

Memoirs of the Geisha: peeyoo. I remember gobbling up this book. I didn't like the ending but overall it was a great story. I've seen this trailer several times and it looks like stinker-time. Sure, the look is pretty but I don't know. A lot of the movies I object to look like they're trying too hard (e.g. Cinderella Man, Cold Mountain, which had a terrible ending, who wants to see that movie?) I hope I'm wrong.

The Family Stone: got a little whiff of the stinky. A big pivotal bonding scene rests on someone spilling a big gooey thing on the kitchen floor and everyone slips and falls in it and then laughs? I bet they have a big scene where the whole family sings while clearing the table, too.

King Kong: EXCELLENTE! This is what I want to see on my birthday (probably). Bob was muttering something about Sleator Kinney. HA HA. My birthday.

Pirates of the Caribbean II: yes!

Would it be childish to mention Rent again? Also there was a trailer for a sports movie which looked pretty good but do we really need another "inspired by a true story" sports movie where a scrappy and hard-nosed coach comes in and rattles everyones cage and molds his team of misfits into winners?

I have yet another long and super busy week ahead of me. You might not see me here until next weekend.

NARNIA! [Most exclamation points used in a post: EVER!!!!]

I should preface anything I write about this movie (The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe) with the information that I first read this book in the 6th grade and loved it instantly. And I still love it and I've read it at least 20 times since then and I am convinced that this is a direct route to my 12 year old self because I love it as a 12 year old. I'm not convinced that your average adult, with zero knowledge of the book, will love the talking lion movie.

But I was on the edge of my seat every moment of it. Ten minutes into it and I was half-weepy excited to see it again. Can you believe Shawn Levy (the Oregonian movie reviewer) gave it a C+. WHAT?!?!?!?

He thought the acting and directing sunk a nice effort. He also had some remarks about the soundtrack and I have to half concede this point to him. But who cares, it's Narnia. Mr. Tumnus come to life!

Yeah, sure. It is pretty much the Disney version of Lord of the Rings. But, so? The casting was perfect. The effects fantabulous. The talking animals -- worked for me. Tilda Swinton a terrifying White Witch. And to quote Elijah Wood (Frodo), "The little girl carried the film. British teeth and all.” Who has never wanted to be Lucy Pevensie?

Other remarks: Anything added fit perfectly or helped the story, particularly the back story bits. One thing they perhaps telegraphed but didn't make obvious was that the Turkish Delight was enchanted and partly what made Edmund so insane to bring his siblings to the White Witch. So while technically he was a traitor and ended up that way through his own stupidity, there was magic involved.

Rate me: Not Even A Tiny Bit Disappointed. One million stars!!!!! Ten thumbs up!!!! Instant Classic!!!

And movie goers: There's a small scene after the credits roll so stay in your seats!

In third grade my teacher was Mrs. Rubenstein. I could be dreaming but I think it was Helen Rubenstein.

I don't think Mrs. Rubenstein was living her dream spending her days at Rhoda Street Elementary School in a room filled with third graders. My memories of her consist solely of her screeching at us about one thing or the other.

One of her favorite tirades had to do when someone forgot something. For example, if someone didn't have a pencil. She'd say: "Does a carpenter go to work without his hammer?" I guess this was her way of teaching us about responsibility.

All these years later I still can hear that screechy voice of hers when I don't have a pencil. "Dang, stupid me. Does a carpenter go to work without his hammer?" Or when an attorney calls me for messages and can't find a pen, I always want to say, "Does a carpenter go to work without his hammer?"

Another memory I have of her is one time, about 10 minutes before the bell, I started to peel an orange under my desk where no one could see. Mrs. R. could smell it and proceeded to go off, "Who's eating an orange? We're all hungry here. We'd all like a snack. But we're all waiting. Who's the person who can't wait?"

Like I'd sacrifice myself to the humiliation of that caterwauling. Thankfully the bell rang and me and my orange skedaddled.

I call this one: tanorexia.

I am seriously, very very close to completing the PamNewsletter. The online version needs a bit of tweaking and the paper version needs to be put on paper, but other than that, we're ready to roll. Stand by for the official annoucement.

Meanwhile, what a weekend. A great example of why decrepit adults should avoid alcohol and staying up late. A wee bit of partying and I am out the next day. On the plus side: the DVR is all caught up and made a major dent in my reading pile.

Did I tell you I saw the RENT (movie) trailer and wanted that 60 seconds of my life back? Seriously, rarely has a movie looked so dreadful. When I was a girl wasn't this movie called A Chorus Line? I don't follow theater at all so maybe I'm deluded. Pretty much any movie made from a musical play is not going to rate in my book. Even Chicago.

I did see Harry Potter this weekend in HIGH DEF. Excellent! And I saw Pride and Prejudice. Also excellent.

The other thing I was going to tell you is that when I pay for parking in my building it's $7.95 which means I always get a nickel back. And at yoga it costs $1.90 so I get a dime back. My car is flooded with nickels and dimes. Nickels and dimes are in every crack, on the floor, between the parking brake and ashtray. Why not just make it an even number? Not like I'm not going to park there anymore.

I might have told you I was going to Idaho last week but actually I'm going tomorrow. Must get to packing the wool.

Guess what? It isn't snowing right now.

The weather people have been on overdrive this week because there was the possibility of snow. *possibility*

Yesterday's forecast insisted that we'd have snow overnight with huge accumulations. It didn't feel cold enough to snow but I did some grocery shopping, just in case.

This morning when the alarm went off I could hear a little wind outside. I jumped up and looked out the window and: nothing. Wet. Rain. Still not cold enough to snow.

I turned on the TV to see what the story was and the news teams' disappointment was palpable. They ran us through all their carefully accumulated footage of buses being chained up (for nothing) and took us to Hood River NOT EVEN CLOSE to the metro area to show us a "winter wonderland" which means there was enough snow flying around to make things look white. I imagine they would have delivered the report from Saskatoon if that's what it took to show us snow. It was colossally stupid.

Then they ran us through some footage of someone preparing for an emergency. Buying a giant plastic tub to keep things dry. Buying jugs of water. I turned it off at that point because since when is snow a disaster? The people who live around the Great Lakes would be laughing their asses off right now except they're getting on with their lives, working, playing, getting water out of the tap, eating food out of their dry cupboards even though there is snow outside.

I prepared for the pending snow disaster and took a big pile of work projects I could do at home. Then I forgot all that stuff when I came to work this morning.