TCB#2

only had to look up one word from TC Boyle today:

an·i·mad·ver·sion n.

1. Strong criticism.
2. A critical or censorious remark: “entertained serious animadversions concerning the U.S.S.R. and its behavior on the international scene” (Adam B. Ulam).

TC Boyle words #1

here are 2 words from TC Boyle's "The Inner Circle" I had to look up when I got to work today:

ar·ras n. pl. arras

1. A wall hanging; a tapestry.
2. A curtain or wall hanging, especially one of Flemish origin.

pe·lag·ic adj.

Of, relating to, or living in open oceans or seas rather than waters adjacent to land or inland waters: pelagic birds.

Damn that TC Boyle and his fancy words! more to come, I'm sure

Irene's Reading List for April

Superstud: How I Became a 24-Year-Old Virgin by Paul Feig
train by Pete Dexter
Wake Up, Sir! by Jonathan Ames

polargrizz entry #2

here's another link about the polargrizz I killed, with photo

OK it wasn't really me, some other joker named Jim Martell

Who Pays $45k to Hunt Polar Bears

Apparently there are a few nuts who's willing to pay lots of money to kill wild animals.

I came across a story in the Seattle Times about DNA testing verified the first grizzly-polar bear in the wild. The bear was killed by an American hunter on Banks Island in the Beaufort Sea. The hunting guide suspected it was hybrid and reported the kill to authorities who seized the carcass. Here's an excerpt:

Kuptana, a guide from Sachs Harbour in the Northwest Territories, was tracking with Idaho big-game hunter Jim Martell, who paid $45,450 for a license to hunt polar bears.

The DNA results were good news for the 65-year-old hunter, who was facing a possible $909 fine and up to a year in jail for shooting a grizzly. The Northwest Territories Environment and Natural Resources Department now intends to return the bear to Martell.

Martell told the newspaper he has dubbed the creature "polargrizz."

Of course, the coincidence of having the same name (albeit with an extra 'l') is pretty funny.

drunk monkeys

found this article today on the RSS news feed at the top of my gmail page. Apparently google thinks I'm interested in monkeys or drinking--either way they're right, as anyone who knows me could confirm. This is my first of what will hopefully be many posts of Monkey News (apologies to Karl Pilkington).

Nice win for the sox over that team I hate last night (and will not mention by name).
Let's hope for another couple wins tonight and tomorrow.

today's mariners quote o'day

"I'm puzzled," Guardado said. "I'm not going to go out there and strike the world out or anything, but I do get ground balls and I do get fly balls. These fly balls are just going over the fence. And at the time, I don't need them to go over the fence."

-Eddie Guardado last night after blowing his 3rd save in 7 chances this season. This time he gave up Pablo Ozuna's first career HR (in 334 career at bats) with 2 outs in the 9th.

I'm just wondering if there's ever a time when he does need them to go over the fence.

I shouldn't laugh too hard when the sox can't seem to be able to beat the jays at all this season

Weight Loss Challenge

I had a brilliant idea to compete with Jim to lose weight over the span of six weeks. We're very competitive, and thought this would be great thing to do together. I did trick Jim into this challenge. I had him say yes before telling him what he agreed to do. Ten pounds over 40+ days -- sounds like a breeze ; )

We both failed to reach our goals. I only managed to lose five pounds, while Jim maintained his weight. The upside to this challenge is it got us to gym on a regular basis. We were at the gym 3-4 days a week. I think we're going to keep challenging ourselves to lose weight. Now I have to work on the diet part. We haven't been watching what we've been eating, though we've been real good about not eating fast food.

I think I'm going to have Fred join us on our weight loss challenge for the next month. He's weighing a whopping 18.6 pounds.

Crazy Carl at it again

here's another memorable quote our new least favorite Mariner (thanks to Phil Vandecar for the heads up)

Carl Everett, signed from the White Sox last winter to add power, has three home runs in 22 games and is batting .232.

Is the lineup pressing?

"Pressing?" Everett said, scoffing. "We ain't doing nothing offensively -- not even pressing."

I remain in awe of CC's ability to sound overconfident while saying something so dumb. He doesn't approach his famous dinosaur quote here but still a fine effort.

eyepatch smoking guy

so I was on the way to the gym tonight (yes sometimes I go to the gym too) and I was nearing a corner & I saw a guy about my age wearing an eyepatch under his metal rimmed glasses. plus he was smoking a butt. Since he and I were both nearing the same corner, I made sure to stay on his good eyeball side so he wouldn't walk into me or burn me with his butt.

the end.

My Head Is Spinning

I've stepped up my workout and finally tried spinning at my gym. I was lucky enough to have the instructor help me adjust my bike before class started. A spin bike has more adjustable parts than the standard stationary bike. There were moments when I was sucking wind and thought I couldn't take it anymore. BTW, the instructor likes Smashing Pumpkins; that was the music of choice when we were doing the hard rides. It was a challenge, but I did enjoy it. The worse thing was the smell from the newly varnished floors in the racquetball courts. There were 4 four fans running in the class so it helped, but about 9 people left during the class complaining about the fumes. The instructor cut the class short and ended class after 45 minutes. The class was supposed to last 90 minutes. I don't think I could have made it for that long. Even a half hour after leaving the gym, I was still a little light-headed. A little toast and ginger ale seemed to help. I look forward to trying spin class again (but not for awhile till the fumes dissipate).

Irene's Reading List for March

1. Black Earth: A Journey Through Russia After The Fall by Andrew Meier


2. The Concrete Sea by John Dalton


3. A Place of Execution by Val McDermid


4. Stiff: The Curious Lives of Cadavers by Mary Roach


5. Nature Noir: A Park Ranger's Patrol in the Sierra by Jordan Fisher Smith


6. Heir to the Glimmering World by Cynthia Ozick


7. The Distant Echo by Val McDermid

my ticket to big money - finally!

got this email tonight:



FROM MR. DOM CELLE
HEAD OF DEPARTMENT
BANK OF SCOTLAND
UNITED KINGDOM
CONTACT.
Dear sir,

PLEASE, TREAT THIS PROPOSAL AS TOP SECRET.

IN ORDER TO TRANSFER OUT (15,000,000.00) ( FIFTEEN-MILLION POUNDS STERLINGS) FROM OUR BANK HERE IN LONDON. I HAVE THE COURAGE TO LOOK FOR A RELIABLE AND HONEST PERSONWHO WILL BE CAPABLE FOR THIS IMPORTANT BUSINESS TRANSACTION,
BELIEVING THAT YOU WILL NEVER LET ME DOWN EITHER NOW OR IN FUTURE.

THE OWNER OF THIS ACCOUNT IS MR JOHN HUGHES A FOREIGNER AND THE MANAGER OF PETROL CHEMICAL SERVICE HERE IN LONDON,A CHEMICAL ENGINEER BY PROFFESSIONAND HE DIED SINCE 1995.THE ACCOUNT HAS NO OTHER BENEFICIARY AND MY INVESTIGATION PROVED TO ME AS WELL THAT HIS COMPANY DOES NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS ACCOUNT AND THE AMOUNT INVOLVED IS (15,000,000.00)POUNDS STERLINGS.

I WANT TO TRANSFER THIS MONEY INTO A SAFE FOREIGN ACCOUNT ABROAD BUT I
DON'TKNOW ANY FOREIGNER,I KNOW THAT THIS MESSAGE WILL COME TO YOU AS A
SURPRISE AS WE DON'T KNOW OUR SELF BEFORE,BUT BE SURE THAT IT IS REAL AND A GENUINE BUSINESS.I BELIEVE IN GOD THAT YOU WILL NEVER LET ME DOWN IN THIS INVESTMENT.

YOUR FULL CONTACT PHONE AND FAX NUMBER NAME WILL BE NECESSARY FOR THIS EFFECT.

HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU IMMEDIATELY.

THANKS

MR. DOM CELLE

Bad Case of the Mondays

It's been an interesting year so far. Today is the first day of spring, and the sun is out. What's there to complain about? I (still) don't have a job! I've been looking since January, and it's been frustrating. Of course, I've been more picky about what jobs I've been applying for. I've been looking for positions at non-profits, but it seems like you really have to know someone to get the job. Have I mentioned it's been frustrating. I haven't had such a hard time looking for a job since after college. Guess the time off travelling is biting me in the ass now.

I still wouldn't trade those adventures for any job in the world. I believe the time off has made me better appreciate what life really has to offer. Who needs a McMansion, a new car, a pedigree pet, awesome vacations at megaresorts? Give a roadmap and guidebook, my best friend/husband, and a mode of transportation -- and I'll show you how to have a fun time.

The Cat's Meow

Wouldn't life be great if you can be a cat in human form? The only decisions to be made is when to eat, sleep, do my business, where's the warmest spot that I can lay down for hours on end, who's going to scratch under my chin, give me a nice brushing, etc. The best part is NO guilt for feeling like a lazy bone. What a life!

Don't Forget...

When did I become a list maker? I always have a list going -- grocery, reading list, Netflix, workout, etc. Guess it's a sign of getting older; don't want to forget anything before and after it's happened.

To Do:
- Love life, including oneself, Jim, Fred, friends and family

Did I forget anything?

2 More Days

It's been five days since Jim left for Ireland, and I'm missing him terribly. I really can't complain too much since Fred's been good about keeping me company. He's been a good boy, especially when I feed him when it's time. It's been real sunny for the past few days. Fred's taken to sleeping in the patches of sunlight coming through the living room and kitchen.

This past Saturday, I volunteered for the first time with SeattleWorks. SeattleWorks post a calendar of volunteer opportunities. I opted to volunteer at the SmartGirls conference at Seattle University. It was an all-day conference for middle school girls to take courses in science and math. Sounded like a great thing, but it turned out that the volunteers were left to ask as hallway monitors to help girls find their next class and lunch room monitor. Not too exciting... I'll give it a few more tries before I make up my mind.

Whoop That Trick!

Best song to ever win an Oscar. Love the song. Feel free to sing along.

You know it's hard out here for a pimp (you ain't knowin)
When he tryin to get this money for the rent (you ain't knowin)
For the Cadillacs and gas money spent (you ain't knowin)
[1] Because a whole lot of bitches talkin shit (you ain't knowin)
[2] Will have a whole lot of bitches talkin shit (you ain't knowin)

In my eyes I done seen some crazy thangs in the streets
Gotta couple hoes workin on the changes for me
But I gotta keep my game tight like Kobe on game night
Like takin from a ho don't know no better, I know that ain't right
Done seen people killed, done seen people deal
Done seen people live in poverty with no meals
It's fucked up where I live, but that's just how it is
It might be new to you, but it's been like this for years
It's blood sweat and tears when it come down to this shit
I'm tryin to get rich 'fore I leave up out this bitch
I'm tryin to have thangs but it's hard fo' a pimp
But I'm prayin and I'm hopin to God I don't slip, yeah

[Chorus]

Man it seems like I'm duckin dodgin bullets everyday
Niggaz hatin on me cause I got, hoes on the tray
But I gotta stay paid, gotta stay above water
Couldn't keep up with my hoes, that's when shit got harder
North Memphis where I'm from, I'm 7th Street bound
Where niggaz all the time end up lost and never found
Man these girls think we prove thangs, leave a big head
They come hopin every night, they don't end up bein dead
Wait I got a snow bunny, and a black girl too
You pay the right price and they'll both do you
That's the way the game goes, gotta keep it strictly pimpin
Gotta have my hustle tight, makin change off these women, yeah


Hope this'll get people to watch the movie Hustle & Flow. Great movie!

Another sunny day in Ballard

I can't believe how sunny it's been. It's not as warm as I hope, but it's not raining. I bought some new plants yesterday, and I want to get them into the ground or pot before it rains (which it's supposed to do starting Saturday).

We just heard from Denise that there's a job opening in NYC. She's very excited about it and so are Jim and I. We're keeping our fingers crossed for her. Let's just hope she gets paid what's she's worth.

Ash Wednesday

Hmm, what to do today? It's nice and sunny; the local weather predicted rain for the week. Guess they're wrong (as usual).

Do you think they would put ash on Fred's forehead if we brought him to church? Will he go to limbo if he dies?