Linnea Buys a Ticket
>> Wednesday, December 23, 2009
I finally got this to be right side up and with sound. Be impressed. Be VERY impressed (with both my ticket buying skills, and my video editing skills - which are both about the same level).
My Day in LuKong
>> Tuesday, December 22, 2009
I have been informed that my pictures are "boring"...so here is some video snippets of some daily moments that may prove less boring to watch...perhaps. Arwyn and I made it with Artur in mind, but hey...why not just open it up to the world...right?
Taiwan Day 2
>> Thursday, December 17, 2009
Things Taiwan Does Well Part II
1. Pineapple Cake
2. Oreo Milkshakes
3. Giant Carved Wood Tables
4. Masks for Scooter Riding (I have GOT to get one of these)
5. Christmas Cards (which is weird to me since they don't celebrate it)
Things Taiwan Does NOT Do Well Part II
1. Smog Control (Yes this can make the list twice)
2. Kiwi Milkshakes
3. Notify you that the "colored tofu" you are eating is really congealed pigs blood
4. Joke when you pay the $79 NTD bill in $1 NTD coins
5. Insulation
12 Hours in Taiwan....
>> Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Things Taiwan Does Well...
1. Orange Juice
2. Scooter Traffic
3. Chinese Food
4. Recycling
5. Make Garbage Pleasant (the Garbage Truck sounds like an Ice Cream Truck which I think could turn out to be quite a let down under the right circumstances)
Things Taiwan Does NOT so well...
1. Sidewalks
2. Mosquito Control
3. Smog Control
4. Mattresses (is that how you spell it?)
5. Hot Water Heaters (I thought I was DONE with cold showers after living in Tbilisi).
I Finally Got a Picture of This!
>> Wednesday, October 07, 2009
I have been hoping this would happen again for a long time so I could catch it on film! The batteries in my FIL’s remote went out and this was his solution. Too bad the camera on my phone isn't better. 
It gives you a second burst of CO2!
>> Friday, September 25, 2009
Monday this week was a VERY cold and VERY rainy day. I got home early and curled up to watch the older Waffle Episode of Good Eats. I was so enthralled with the idea of waffles and double acting baking powder (it lets off a second burst of CO2 when the batter his 120 Degrees)! On Wednesday night I was all primed and ready to get home from work and go running. I first stopped at the store on the way home from work for a few things. While there I was again enthralled with the idea of waffles and double acting baking powder! It was again cold and rainy, and being the cravenly runner I am, I decided to swap running for waffles! Be honest, you all would have done the same thing! Anyhow, off I went in search of Double Acting Baking Powder. It sounds like a specialty item so I hoped they had it. I didn’t know it at the time, but it turns out that most baking powders ARE Double Acting, but I didn’t know that and I bought one anyway.
While making my waffles and using my NEW DOUBLE ACTING BAKING POWDER, I remembered that I had recently already bought baking powder. I decided to brave my giant spice cabinet mess to see if I could find it. I did find it, and two others as well. I checked the expiration dates on them and just about died laughing. I guess it has been a while since I cleaned out the spice cabinet. I laughed just long enough to take the above picture and then pitch the extraneous expired double acting baking powders in the trash. I guess it is sad when your house clutter even expands to the spice cabinet!
The waffles were FANTASTIC and I am certain it is all because of the second burst of CO2 when the batter hit 120 degrees! Gotta love Alton Brown!
10 Things My Second Sprint Triathlon Taught Me
>> Monday, September 21, 2009
1. I actually felt a lot more like running about 10 minutes after the race then while I was doing the race.
2. The idea of post race food did not make me want to puke.
3. You can cut 15 minutes off your time even if your 5k run time is 5 minutes slower than the first one.
4. Biking in flip flops is A-OK and if you don’t have clipless pedals, it is MUCH better than biking in your running shoes!
5. Since they write the ages at the end of the year on everyone's right calf, I spent the whole 5k looking at the calves of the people that passed me to see how far behind I was getting. Then, for the rest of the day, I found myself checking the calves of everyone in front of me for their age.
6. Bring a bright streamer or tie thingy to mark your bike transition location so you can find it easily.
7. The people with kids will still forget the baby powder for their socks
8. A single French braid is perfect for racing with long hair
9. Body Glide will actually make your permanent marker body marked numbers bleed down your skin.
10. I don’t believe that the wetsuit made me much faster (though I understand that it is scientifically impossible for it NOT to make you faster), but it DEFINITLY gave me more confidence.
How I faired on my “5 Things to do before my second triathlon” goal list
1. Train for real (example: Lose 700 lbs)
A: I biked to and from work most days. I did not do much running or swimming. I lost 20 lbs…680 lbs to go before next triathlon.
2. Practice open water swimming using REAL swimming
A: Tried but the swim beaches were closed
3. Work on my “running a 5k while tired” time
A: That will still be a goal for next time as well
4. Find some sort of triathlon clothing so I don’t change during transitions
A: I bought some tri shorts on clearance at a running store and got a tri top for $10 off of ebay. Both performed very well.
5. Register early and by mail to save about $50.
A: This should always be a goal…yes?
My STILL Funny Mother In Law
>> Sunday, September 13, 2009
So, while Artur is in Italy, his mother, Maria, is running one of his businesses. This is what she chose to wear today. I feel kind of like the mother to a 3 or 4 year old who just HAS to dress themselves. I can't decide if it is the sweater vest over the Florida Gators T-Shirt, the gardening hat, the pink striped pants, the 10 different colored socks, or the normal Nikes that are my favorite part. :-)
10 Things I Learned About Summer in Arizona
>> Friday, August 21, 2009
1. Roadrunners are NOT the same size as coyotes!
2. A gallon of water will not be enough to keep you hydrated
3. There is a “cactus line” on the mountains, just like there is a timberline.
4. Rattlesnakes like to hide in missile silos
5. You won’t sweat; the water just evaporates right out of you.
6. They sell 85 SPF sunscreen.
7. Any and All outside activity needs to take place before 7 AM
8. It is easy to get a plane ticket TO AZ, and nearly impossible to get one FROM AZ.
9. Even the water that comes out the “cold” side of the faucet is hot!
10. I can’t think of a sum of money that would encourage me to live there.
Pictures to come.
Triathlon
>> Sunday, July 12, 2009
11 Things I Learned By Doing My First Triathlon
1. If it is an open water swim, and you have never done one before, you might forget how to swim (even if you are a great swimmer) and have to do the half mile doing some sort of modified breast stroke/doggie paddle.
2. Make sure your timing chip is properly secured to your leg before you do the swim.
3. Timing chips cost $97 to replace.
4. If you are a slow, fat triathlete (or probably even if you aren’t), everyone (even the extremely fit hot guys) that passes you will tell you, “Good Job” or “You are almost there!” or “It’s just around the corner” or “Keep it up”.
5. It is easy to make the volunteers all over the course laugh (in a good way, not AT you).
6. It will be at least an hour (and probably more like 6 hours) before you feel like eating, even though you may be starved.
7. The extra pair of goggles you bring in case someone forgets theirs will be useful.
8. People are tough enough to do the run even though they forgot their running shoes (yes, barefoot).
9. While they are announcing the age group winners, PAY ATTENTION because you might have placed 3rd in your age group and not realize it! (this was NOT me, but the “wait around an hour after he is done to give Linnea a high five as she crosses the finish line” guy)
10. While they are doing the drawings for prizes, PAY ATTENTION or you will not know you won something, or make sure you have someone paying attention for you. (This was me - $25 gift card)
11. Being “Tricked” into doing a triathlon isn’t so bad as long as you have the most wonderful friends supporting you, cheering for you, and celebrating your success with you!
5 Things I Will Do Before My Second Triathlon
1. Train for real (example: Lose 700 lbs)
2. Practice open water swimming using REAL swimming
3. Work on my “running a 5k while tired” time
4. Find some sort of triathlon clothing so I don’t change during transitions
5. Register early and by mail to save about $50.
Why I LOVE Bike to Work Day!
>> Wednesday, June 24, 2009
1. The stash of stuff you get. It is like Trick-Or-Treating for organic food!
2. Free bike helmet.
3. Free Breakfast
4. Free Lunch
Ode to My Swedish Goggles
>> Tuesday, June 23, 2009
I am doing that triathlon…in just over two weeks. I am going to DIE! However, I must pause for a moment and share the bright spot of my training…my goggles (my pair pictured above). I LOVE THEM! I have used many many many different pairs over my lifetime as a competitive swimmer and nothing comes even close to these fabulous gems! The best part is that they are only $4-6 a pair and they work perfectly. They never leak. They never come off, even when doing racing starts. They don’t fog. They come in every color imaginable. I love them. They do take a bit of getting used to (like one to two days) since they don’t have any eye padding, but that is what makes them so spectacular. Also, you have to assemble them yourself, but that is easy and fun. Anyhow, they are the Swedish kind and you get them at any swim store, or even online. If you are taking up swimming in any way, shape, or form…you must get these. If only the rest of this triathlon stuff were so easy.
The Universe Must Hate Me
>> Wednesday, June 03, 2009
I think I have done something terrible, well actually horrible. Last night, while I was talking with my sister in Taiwan, I was also chatting on and off with a friend. Now this friend is a pretty talented and funny guy who also is also dedicated to his life as an amateur triathlete. While chatting with him, he sent a link to a triathlon on July 11, 2009 and told me to do it (I am paraphrasing here). I laughed out loud at the thought, because I have been pretty adamant about not running again (see the Bear Creek Trail story—though this is more of an excuse than a reason these days). I have really no desire to get up at the crack-o-dawn at cock-a-doddle-do hour and swim in freakin cold H2O, bike 14 miles, and then run 3.X miles in what I can only imagine would take me three hours.
ANYHOW, the point was I laughed out loud at the suggestion, and my sister heard me. I told her why I laughed, at which point she proceeded to not only try to talk me into doing it, but telling me I should. After laughing back and forth about it and telling her there was pretty much no way I would be doing it, she wouldn’t give up.
So, I proposed a deal. Without looking at the calendar I told her that if it was on a Saturday and not a Sunday, I would do it. NOW, I knew this was a very very safe deal to make since pretty much every event of this type is held on Sundays. The chance of it being a Saturday event was like .0000000000000001% of .00000000000001%.
You can guess, without looking, what day of the week July 11, 2009 is…Yup, a Saturday.
Look At Me...I Am Artistic!
>> Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Well, not really, but again, I did this one blog design all by myself! Anyone want me to do one for them some day. I am getting pretty good...for an artistically challenged computer geek. :-)
I did this one too....
http://berhankids.blogspot.com/
Anyone? Anyone? Eh...I didn't think so. :-)
OH the Poor Ozone Layer!
>> Wednesday, May 06, 2009
I don't have the most mechanically gifted husband. So, when the house started to smell like a two stroke engine, I knew something was wrong. This was going on in the backyard. Perhaps one of you will know how to fix it. Don't you just love Spring!
So much dignaty lost...
I was cruising along on Spike at about 32 mph in the left lane when the car in front of me pulled into the center lane to turn left, revealing a red SUV in front of him that was completely stopped. I was about 10 yards away at that point so I SLAMMED on my breaks. With about 6 feet to go before rear ending the SUV at 20 MPH and what I can only imagine would have been me flying through the air over the top of the SUV, I ditched the scooter in the right lane with out looking. Turns out, there was a huge 16 passenger van there that was luckily paying enough attention that he didn’t hit me, run me over, or kill me. He stopped about 6 inches from me. As I was picking myself up from the pile of scooter and me, I made sure to wave to everyone that I was okay. As I was doing so, my pants fell down…so much for dignity.
Read more...Coming Soon....
>> Friday, May 01, 2009
....the story of how I kept my life, but lost my dignaty.
Read more...She's On to Me
>> Wednesday, April 22, 2009
This morning I caught Maria doing something weird yet again. When she saw me getting ready to take a picture, she got mad and started yelling at me for leaving stuff on the stairs. She used the yelling to distract me while she destroyed all evidence of the weird thing she was doing. I think it shall be harder in the future. :-)
Read more...One more....
>> Monday, April 20, 2009
Right after my last post, I opened another cupboard and found this one too...
The Fun Continues....or the Madness Never ends?
Today I went to get a box of cereal, this is what I found...
...which made me think of the other two things I found in the last day...
Orange Peels on the top of the office desk.
Orange Peels in the top of Gary's closet.
Yes, Maria strikes again. Aparently orange peels need to be dried before they hit the compost pile. The other reason she says is that they prevent something bad from happening.
My New Favorite Store
>> Wednesday, April 15, 2009
....it covers my two greatest needs and is a few blocks from my office.
Okay, I bet this is getting old....
>> Friday, March 27, 2009
Garry "shoveling" the snow with the broom. The really weird part is that we own like 4 snow shovels! Also, note...his robe. 
My Still Weird MIL
>> Saturday, March 14, 2009
So, I have been collecting pictures from around the house to show you guys exactly how weird she is. Remember her "thing" about where my little Star Wars Kinder Surprise Yoda needs to be sitting. See this post of you don't. Well, here are the two locations is it apparently IMPERATIVE that Yoda be. One is on the top of a picture frame on the near the kitchen desk. The other is on top of the phone jack that we don't use anymore. I also like that he also has his own stocking all ready for Christmas time. I wish I had a stocking that was 10 times bigger than myself. 
Just to mess with my MIL, this is what Jordan does to Yoda. It is usualy a few hours, and Yoda is back on the phone jack place of honor. 
Blog Vacation.....
>> Tuesday, March 10, 2009
I am bored of blogging. I might just have to stop all together.
Read more...Bored and Sick Leads too....
>> Saturday, February 21, 2009
Today I am bored. Today I am sick. I think these two things led to me loving this clip on youtube. I actually have looked for a way to record it so I can listen to it in my car. I must be delusional.
Bored...
Yup...I am getting pretty bored of blogging. Perhaps I will be in the mood someday.
Read more..."The Office" = My Office
>> Friday, January 30, 2009
I was going to blog about this almost two months ago, and I can’t believe it slipped my mind.
On Dec 4th the episode of The Office, "The Surplus" this happened:
Oscar, the office accountant, tells Michael that he has a small budget surplus of $4800 left to spend that day, or it would be lost. Michael asks the staff for suggestions and they end up split half and half over getting a new copier or new ergonomic chairs.
Now, flash forward one morning to December 5th in my office. My boss, a guy named John, sent an email out…and this is the very conversation that resulted, I didn’t change a thing.
From: John
Sent: Fri Dec 05 10:24:01 2008
Subject: purchase ideas
Team;
There is a pot of money available to purchase something that costs less than $5,000. Is there anything we would like in this price range? A decision has to be made soon. I am open to ideas.
From: Bryan
Sent: Friday, December 05, 2008 10:26 AM
Subject: Re: purchase ideas
Enterprise FAX server
From: Audrey
Sent: Friday, December 05, 2008 10:55 AM
Subject: RE: purchase ideas
New wide-screen monitors for a few people?
From: Linnea
Sent: Friday, December 05, 2008 10:56 AM
Subject: RE: purchase ideas
Flat screens....
From: Bobby
Sent: Friday, December 05, 2008 10:59 AM
Subject: RE: purchase ideas
This would be nice to get a few in and we don’t even need to have two per workstation. I second the idea of wide-screen monitors
From: Bryan
Sent: Friday, December 05, 2008 11:00 AM
Subject: Re: purchase ideas
I like your idea better. And maybe some office chairs that were made within the
last 25 years.
From: Audrey
Sent: Friday, December 05, 2008 11:03 AM
Subject: RE: purchase ideas
Isn't that what was on 'The Office' last night?
From: Audrey
Sent: Friday, December 05, 2008 1:41 PM
Subject: RE: purchase ideas
Someone said something like 'Why is it that I've been engaged twice in the last 5 years, but have only had one chair?' I don't follow it well enough to know any character except Michael and Dwight.
From: Linnea
Sent: Friday, December 05, 2008 1:50 PM
Subject: RE: purchase ideas
11 of these = $2189.000 (Picture of monitor)Read more...
OR
11 of
these = $2244.66 (Picture of Monitor)
With plenty to spare for chairs... :-) We don't have to vote or fight about it.
My New Design
I just need to announce that I did this new design all by myself. It didn't download or upload it from anyone else. I am so so so pleased! I hope this feeling of accomplishment lasts a while. :-)
Read more...
Zoo Poo
>> Thursday, January 29, 2009
This morning my hilarious sister that lives in Taiwan posted some pictures. I grabbed a few to post here because I just HAVE to know what the scoop is. These are all from restrooms and exhibits in a zoo in Taipei. Ideas? Anyone?
Read more...
Things I Have Done...
>> Sunday, January 25, 2009
I guess the idea is to bold the things you have done. Here is my list of 99 things where I bolded in black only the ones I have done. I bet Arwyn's list would be much bolder!
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a Mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo (But only if Karaoke Counts)
11. Bungee jumping
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight (Oh Puh-leees...who hasn't)
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you were not ill (But not since I grew up)
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse (of the sun or moon...I think both).
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset (Again...OH PUH--LEES!)
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (Does Minnesota count?)
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (Since I don't care about money).
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung Karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold girl scout cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi concentration camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy (Saved it from what?)
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in times square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job (twice)
76. Seen the changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had Chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake (icky!!!)
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
Anti-Social ...or?
>> Thursday, January 22, 2009
So, yesterday on my way home from work I stopped at the grocery store. For some reason I was overcome with joy that I almost NEVER run into people I know there. Perhaps two or three times a year I see someone from church, but NEVER anyone from work or play. Whenever I shop anywhere else, I always run into people that I don't mix in my private life. Thus...I am very grateful that my grocery store is mine and mine alone.
Read more...
This Time...Self Inflicted
>> Saturday, January 17, 2009
So, the next day I also got made fun of. This time I chose the socks and the shoes for a reason. I rode my scooter and I needed WARM socks. The pants were long enough, it shouldn’t have mattered. But APARENTLY when you sit in class all day with the same people, sometimes things just slip and get seen.
What should have been seen all day:
What accidentally got seen:
And I finished this afghan today, and I realzied, I think I like mismatching stripes in my life...
Embarrassing Day....
>> Wednesday, January 14, 2009
So, I am in a training class this week downtown. Today when I got up it was dark and I was very tierd and in a huge hurry to make it to class on time. The class had lots of fun giving me crap for this combination:
Not only do the shoes and the socks leave a bright impression, neither matched my olive green and orange sweater. :-)
Read more...Dissertations by a Quiet Show of Force
>> Friday, January 02, 2009
This year I conducted a covert experiment on a friend. The experiment was to see how many email “dissertations” I could get him to write to me. I defined dissertation as any topic he wrote more than 200 words on in one email. The longest one was 1239 words. I don’t want to embarrass him, so in this post he will be known as Quiet Show of Force (QSF). Today I finally tallied them up and there are 25…I think 25 is a dang big number. So, if anyone needs some in depth info on any of these topics…let me know.
Dissertations written by QSF this year…
1/17/2008 – Colorado Primary System
1/18/2008 – Party Politics
1/23/2008 – Economics
1/30/2008 – Caucus Delegates
2/11/2008 – Swimming Pool Touchpad Usefulness
2/14/2008 – Growing Tomatoes
2/29/2008 – How to Dress for a Caucus
3/11-2008 – Official Statement and a Disclosure Statement
4/22/2008 – Fastskin vs Lazr
4/23/2008 – The merits of attending CU over NU
5/23/2008 – Why QFS is a QFS
6/13/2008 – How to spend a day in Washington DC
6/18/2008 – What to do the next time in DC
6/25/2008 – Why QFS moved out of an apartment
7/3/2008 – Triathlons
7/3/2008 – QSF’s current apartment (bonus for including his landlady’s name)
7/18/2008 – A Girl
7/18/2008 – A Girl Cont
7/28/2008 – How to tell the boss of QSF bad news
8/18/2008 – A play by play of the Denver Oyster Race
9/19/2008 – Parking at the Denver Botanical Gardens
10/13/2008 – What is wrong with the QSF’s home computer
10/22/2008 – An Idea for a cooking blog
11/19/2008 – How to run a wings eating contest at Hooters
12/31/2008 – What sucks about getting rid of Shanahan
Read more...
Summer Stowaway
>> Thursday, January 01, 2009
I am a pretty big fan of Wallace and Grommet, so I was secretly thrilled when I found that this Were Rabbit decided to come live with us this summer, but now I think he wants to go home (he has stopped raiding the vegetable drawer in our fridge and I have WAY TOO MANY bean sprouts left now). If he belongs to you, or someone you love, let me know so he can go home. Here is a picture of him from all angles to facilitate proper identification.
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