Seven Seafood Christmas Eve Dinner!

Mr. Logo has started cooking and it's going to be soooo awesome!

Our friends who are coming are wine people and they are handling the beverages, yay!

Buon Natale!

My life in picture

I've been taking walks on this trail.

It a lovely little walk through the woods.

Also, 

here is the newest member of the family,

 Perry,

 Thing Two and I went to The Nutcracker.

 You can dress him up but...

This photo is from our recent visit to The Museum of Flight.

Below are photos from a local Christmas light display.

This is a fountain in Seattle. We were at the Old Spaghetti Factory and I decided to take a pic.

So...yah. Those are kinda the highlights.

Giving thanks and avoiding the mall.

I love Thanksgiving and I hate shopping.

My plans for the rest of the week are therefore clear to me; 

I will be hanging out with my family, catching up on stuff and staying far, far away from any sort of shopping.

 I will be getting the Christmas decorations out too. 

Oh, and my mother in law is coming next week.

Omigosh! Poetry about... about Grammar. I am totally having a geekgasm now.

The Return of the Subjunctive

by Tamara Madison,

Oh, the Subjunctive,

May it make its bold return!

May it ride back proud

In liveried coach,

May its two fine horses snort

And paw the ground,

And, escorted by its staunch

Attendants If and Whether,

May it descend in velvet cloak

And black-gloved hand

The lacquered steps of hope

And happenstance.

May it fix upon us its deep

Uncertain gaze!

I shall be there to greet it

Though my company

Be small and moody.

I shall beg it stay

And may its presence give

Some respite from the steely glare

Of Indicative, a mantle to shield us

From Passive's clammy chill.

May it light again the land

Between the world that was

And is, and that which still might be,

And may we tread again desire's

Leaf-dappled path

Of possibility.


"The Return of the Subjunctive" by Tamara Madison, from Wild Domestic. © Pearl Editions, 2011

Stuff I collected on my journey through the interwebz

 My children so would have had one of these if I'd only known in time. When I am elderly, in a wheelchair and require a bib, I want one like this. Make a note of that.

Someone needs to wash their GI Joe action figures. Thing One and Thing Two loved this.

 Best. parents. ever!

 Watch that first step, it's a doozy.

You know I did!

Rabbit, rabbit, happy November!

Fair is fair.

Thing One saw me giggling at this, shook his head, and muttered, "My mother is SUCH a geek!"

Freedom

A sculpture by Zenos Frudakis, located in Philadelphia, PA

I want to see this, preferable while listening to this;

(the visual provided by the video is not nearly as good [for me] as this sculpture)

oh yes, baby.

Have some perspective!

Back in 2007, for his 8th birthday, Thing Two wanted to visit the Space Needle.

I took this photo and thought the image of the Needle behind him at this angle was kinda fun.

Last month

I tried the same trick with another visitor to the Needle.

I had to work a little harder to get the shot this time,

and had someone else lurking in the shadows photographing my somewhat less that dignified efforts.

Nevertheless, it is a rather fun shot, yes?

This is what a good time looks like, sample A

Here is a photo of Lime and me at Chateau St. Michelle

Wheeeeee!

We are having fun!

 (insert mental photo of fun here)

It's alive!

Mr. Logo ordered a pump online, watched an online instructional video on how to replace it, popped our dishwasher out of its little hole, fixed it like magic, put it all back together and make it work!
YAY!
He is my hero.

Oh,
 also,
tomorrow marks the day when I started this blog back in 2005. Wow, I can't believe it's been 6 years.
Back in the days when Ariella was blogging my very first comment was made by... Lime.

In March of 2006 I started blogging in my own voice with a list of 100 things about me.
I've decided to see how many of them still apply.

1 I am 35    (Now I am 40)
2 I was born on Whidbey Island, WA  (this is still true)
3 My dad was in the military (yes, the passage of time did not change this either)
4 My mom was a registered nurse (uh huh)
5 I have an older sister  (yup)
6 I have a younger brother  (still true)
7 I have middle child sydrome  (you know, I think it is possible this is overdiagnosed)
8 I married an only child (oh honey, ain't it the truth)
9 I have a nine year old son  (and now he is 15)
10 I have a six year old son (wow, 12 now, my baby is not a baby anymore)
11 I have lived in seven different places in my life (still true)
12 Three of those places are in Washington state (yup)
13 Two of those places were in Europe (uh huh)
14 I have only owned one American made vehicle (still true, although my honey has had a couple Ford trucks)
15 I have owned two Renaults, one BMW, one VW, two Subarus, one Toyota, and one Honda  (add to this list a Yamaha, and a couple more Toyotas)
16 I currently drive a Toyota mini-van and a Honda motorcycle (scratch that, it is a Yamaha now, and there is a Toyota sedan in the mix as well as the van)
17 I think the motorcycle is more fun (still true)
18 I want a Yamaha V Star Classic 1100 ( I HAVE a Vstar 1100 Classic!!)
19 I always wear protective gear, even for short rides in my neighborhood (still true)
20 I have a deep fear of road rash (oh yes, I do)
21 I have had road rash (Oh yes, I did)
22 It hurt, but not as much as the accompanying injuries (true, it all sucked)
23 I walked in front of a car going about 35 mph (don't do that)
24 I spent two weeks in the hospital (bleck, still true)
25 I didn't walk for a year (it was so annoying)
26 I am now I safety nazi (still true)
27 I still plan to go sky diving (still planning)
28 I hardly ever wear a watch, or any jewelry for that matter  (very true)
29 I drink a lot of tea (way true)
30 I also drink coffee (yup)
31 I am an information junkie (still true)
32 I love learning new things (mmm hmmm)
33 I do alot of reading (not as much as I'd like, but true)
34 I am currently rereading So Long and Thanks for All the Fish (I am currently reading Extra Lives)
45 I am quite fond of Shakespeare and Dr. Suess (still true)
46 I am a fan of Dave Sedaris (true)
47 I am also enjoy McSweeney books (Ohhhh yes, Your Disgusting Head, Giraffes? Giraffes!, and that is just for starters, still so very true)
48 I recently finished Created in Darkness by Troubled Americans (no longer true)
49 I also recently finished Warrior in the Shadows (I recently finished The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night)
50 I already have the next book I am going to read (still true)
51 I want to read What If? (It was good)
52 I got it for my dad on his birthday last year (been longer now)
53 He just loaned it to me (then he borrowed it back, then I borrowed it back, it is here again)
54 I spend alot of time on line, probably too much, but we are not opening a poll on that question (the poll is still not open, and don't judge me!)
55 I don't watch very much TV (still true)
56 I fix our computer issues, do the appliance programming and occasionally get called on to assist others but refuse to regard myself as a techie, or geek or whatever. (still true)
57 This is mostly because I know some actual techheads and I am nowhere near their level of expertise...or geekiness (I'm totally sticking to this story)
58 I have voted in every election since I turned 18 (yup, still true)
59 My choice for president only made it to office once (been twice now)
60 I am left handed (still)
61 I am 5'5 tall (yup, although with Thing One looming overhead that seems shorter)
62 I started chatting online in 1996 (I really did)
63 My first online friend was from New Zealand (awwwwa, Boz, he was so awesome)
64 I did a minor renovation of my kids' bathroom summer before last (today I am going to paint my own bathroom, in between we've done the living room, breakfast room, dining room, guest room, both the kids' bedrooms, our bedroom, and two of the walls in the family room)
65 I did wiring and replaced moulding and the vanity myself (yes I did)
66 I faux finished the floor to look like pebbles, I am rather pleased with how well it turned out (It still looks pretty good but there is some surface cracking on the sealant, overall it is holding up pretty well)
67 I set all my clocks to exactly the correct time, according to the atomic clock in Boulder, Colorado (I still do this)
68 I have never watched an entire episode of Gilligan's Island or The Brady Bunch (or the Partridge Family, or Sanford and Sons, or Different Strokes, or Glee, or America's Got Talent, or So You Think You Can Dance, or Family Guy, or Two and a Half Men, or ... you get the idea)
69 I am not a morning person. (so very true)
70 I own 10 pairs of jeans and two dress. (I have a couple less pairs of jeans, but I still don't wear dresses)
71 I didn't realize how good red wine could be until I lived in Italy (still true)
72 I was born on a Thursday, so was my husband and both my kids (hasn't changed)
73 When I was about one my sister broke the fingers on my right hand by shutting them in a door hinge (isn't that a nice story?)
74 About a week after the cast came off my mom shut them in the car trunk (she claimed it was an accident)
75 I have had my left cornea scratched twice (ages 9 and 11) (true)
76 I looked dashing in an eye patch (as dashing as 11 year old girls can appear)
77 I detached a muscle in my shoulder when I was 10, I was in a sling for several weeks (Pledge on floor, add socks and high velocity) (it was fun while it lasted)
78 I broke my left thumb when I was 14, playing Capture the Flag (and I can't even remember if my team won)
79 I am ever so slightly clumsy (you might have already concluded that) (still true)
80 I fidget...alot (mm hmmm)
81 I have great patience with kids and animals, less with adults, and next to none for inanimate objects (none with bureaucracy either)
82 I don't have a poker face (very true)
83 I love playing trivia games (still)
84 I have been married 15 years (21 YEARS!)
85 I love being married, and I love him (yup)
86 I learned Greek when I lived in Greece (I did)
87 I learned Italian when I lived in Italy (mmm hmmm)
88 I can't really speak either of them anymore (sadly true)
89 I used to do some ASL interpretation (a looooong time ago)
90 I haven't really used it in years, I probably couldn't even sign a complete convo these days (I've taken another class since then and I probably still can't)
91 I get a lil crazy if I don't get to spend enough time by myself (ohhhh, it's tue)
92 I tend to forget birthdays, anniversaries and appointments (yes, I do)
93 I can't remember phone numbers (Thank God for contact lists)
94 I find zoos depressing (they so are)
95 I can't knit, crochet, or sew. I don't cook and I hate shopping (Oh, oh! I knit now!)
96 I do enjoy decorating though (still true)
97 I know how to change tires, oil, oil filters, air filters, and how to clean and gap spark plugs or replace them (probably still remember this)
98 I would rather have someone else do it (definitely still true)
99 I don't have a visble birthmark (still true)
100 I rarely know what the date is (I do today, but no, I'm still not reliable on this)
101 I have a magic eight ball, I love it and consult it often. I then do whatever I bloody well please. (yes, this is still true)

There ya have it!

...things happened, and there was stuff, and shenanigans...

 I cannot seem to hit upon the correct balance of interesting things to blog about and sufficient time in which to blog about them.

So I am going with the bullet point approach

• Doing lots of prep for teach 24 kids about this. Fun trips to the hardware store, lemme tell ya.
• I am very excited about this
• My dishwasher is dead
• My son is playing football...kinda. At the moment he is recovering from a back injury. Let's not talk about that any further. It makes me want to hurt football coaches.
• This is the kind of rabbit we have living here. He growls when annoyed and likes to chase Ariella.
• I have redecorated Thing Two's room
• I have COMPANY COMING SOON!!

Sooooooo, um...

My laptop has finally returned from HP.
Now I have to re-personalize it but at least it works!!

In other news,
the rabbit's name is Perry.

We  just got back from Silverwood, it was AWESOME.

Tremors and Aftershock were both amazing in daylight but we did them again right before the park closed and they were even BETTER in the dark.


Thing One was very disappointed that none of the rides were too scary for me. I am unclear how he has known me for this long and yet was still suffering from the misapprehension that I wouldn't be a coaster fan.
 I don't know why but my reaction on any ride like that is laughter, in fact, according to Thing One it is "maniacal laughter."

Anyway, we got to visit family, friends, do the water and theme park at Silverwood and still make it back in time for school to start tomorrow, whew.

Ooooooh the humanity!

I got a laptop about 87 days ago.
This week... it DIED.

I probably won't have it back til the week after next.

Hold me.

In other news,

Thing One got himself a sweetheart.
No, not a girlfriend. He bought a baby bunny.

Cutest little thing!

Pictures to follow.

chocolate chip cookies and red wine

My sister introduced me to Menage a Trois.
Yum

Also,
check this out.
Lemme get my hands on that tie we will see some terror!

Mmmmmm

Nothing to say, so I thought I'd put up something I like to look at
:D
As you were.

Update!

• I have been helping Thing Two with redecorating his room. If we both survive the experience it should be quite rewarding.

• Mr. Logo and Thing One have been renovating a boat he was given. It is about 18 feet long. It is a 1965 fiberglass inboard/outboard and they are hoping to have it ready in time to fish some pinks. As suggestive as it may sound I am actually completely ok with my husband and son going out because the humpies are running.

• My children each set fire to about $25 worth of fireworks over the holiday. They were in a patriot play and learned that John Adams would have wanted it that way. After all, he said~

“I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance; it ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations (fireworks) from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.”

• We had 20 some odd members of my extended family over for a picnic this last weekend (so, yes, some were, quite literally odd) and had a great time. The 4 teenage boys, Thing One and assorted cousins, played football, even including the younger sibling a bit. It didn't end til there was blood (just from a knee) and some tears ("It was an accident!") and stinging nettle rash on a couple of them. Good times, good, good times.

• Thing One was forced to sign a Teen Driver's Contract with his parents, because we are cruel, overbearing parents who disapprove of running red lights and other nonsense like that. Some people! Thank GOD he can't get his license til next year. 

• It seems my old computer is getting a new hard drive and will relocate to Thing Two's bedroom. In what has been described as wanton cruelty, I decided he would not have internet access on that computer, but he could use it for offline gaming and doing school work. He does have his own account on my laptop for internet access but it's not the same.

• I decreed my children would arise before 10 am tomorrow. This inspired such disbelief and horror you would have thought I sold them into slavery. 

• Thing One recently heard my husband make a comment about someone being a "mouthy redhead" and assumed he was the subject being discussed. Yah, not so much.

Cooper has given me an award!

He think I am versatile (not in that reversible jacket way, I hope).

 The horror! The horror!


Alright, so I am now meant to tell you 7 things you don't already know about me.
I asked Thing One to come up with some for me.
Here are his contributions.


1. I throw spoons at my children.

To be fair, TO ME, it was one spoon, it was more of a toss, and there were sharp knives available. Also, he totally deserved it.




2. I am a tree hugger.

This was his conclusion when I came home with the water bottle shown above. I have been reusing it, since I don't have to worry about the chemicals, and I do like the fact it can be commercially composted. However, to be honest, the main reason I bought it was...I was thirsty and it was cheap.
Also, dendrophilia can be a lot of work; trees are so sappy.



I am not a fan of all the icrap.

Thing One just got himself an ipod. He would love for me to download iTunes onto my computer. Ain't happenin'.

Courtesy of Thing Two




4. I insist my clocks be set to the correct time.

When Mr. Logo fiddles with the clock in my car, setting it 5 minutes ahead, I respond by randomly resetting the time. In my opinion, your clock is right, or it is wrong. If you like it to be wrong who cares HOW wrong it is? Might as well have fun with it!

5. I need my morning cup of tea, no really, I do.

I can occasionally made do with coffee if I must, but it's just not the same for that first cup of the day.


6. I come from a long line of Nazis... safety Nazis that is.

I've chosen a different pet peeve. I'm am merely a grammar Nazi, according to my children.

7. As nominated by me~ I never follow the rules of a tag. 

I love all the blogs and whatnot linked in my sidebar, if you haven't checked them out, get to it!
If you haven't gotten this award, consider yourself tagged.

Many thanks to Cooper for nodding this direction and nudging me into writing a post, finally.
Last and not least, since he brought it up...
"I know a dead parrot when I see one, and I'm looking at one right now."

Out with the old...

My 'puter died.
 I have a laptop now.

I am having new computer blues.
Thankfully most of my stuff was backed up on an external drive.
Sadly, getting everything to the new one is a pain in the @$$

And I can't find my Word disc, grrrrr

However I've been out hacking on the shrubs with my great big yard scissors, and that is a great way to work off some aggression.
Yay for yard scissors!

I have to push the pram a lot!

I had 19 lovely pieces of spam to delete from my comment mod file today.
Several were in Asian languages, a couple in Russian, and some were in English but still
too cunning to be understood.

For example;

"thanks in the course of this delicate tips and quite polite blogs"

This stunningly cogent gem came with an imbedded link for viagra... of course!!

Then there was this beauty,

"look at this - [defunct link] don't is beautiful I deliberate on so"


Isn't that fun?
In other news Thing Two had developed a Doctor Who fascination and it's catching.

Ohhhh...

 Did I mention Thing Two turned 12?

 He did, and he had a great time with a couple buddies to celebrate.

Thing One is in a play. They are rehearsing twice a week and it looks like it's going to be a great show.

He also had a little Emily Dickinson in the yard yesterday and I had to get a picture. The juvenile robins are just big enough to get themselves into trouble but not quite grown up enough to get themselves out (wonder if that reminds the child of someone he knows). Anyway, the bird seems quite calm once he was perched on Thing One's glove and appeared to enjoy the view!

Logo™ the Obscure

Last night I ended up breaking a window in order to get into the house where my keys, cell phone, and laptop. The glass guy is measuring it today to replace the pane I threw a rock through.

When I told the tale today I was called a vandal. I replied, "Hey, at least I'm not a Goth."

*blink, blink*

Ah well, I thought it was funny.

A card for every occasion

I found this site through a friend who sent me an Ides of March card. Here is how you know you have an awesome friend;

1. She/he knows about a site like someecards.

2. She/he remembers the Ides of March.

3. She/he sends you a funny card for the occasion.

Here is a little example of their fabulous ecards.

Mary, Mary, quite contrary...

Metal and glass in bushes,
I love it!

Mother's Day

WEv

Every year,after I moved back from Italy, I took my mom on the Mother's Day Weekend Art Studio tour that is held in our area.

This year my family is taking me.

It's a beautiful day for it!

tee hee

Norwedian-Lutheran humor
(we've alot of Norwedians in this area and this is soooo them!)



Makes us giggle.

Also,
TAKE YOUR PANTS OFF!

Hope you had a fabulous May Day!

We grilled burgers and had s'mores over a fire in the back yard.
We have freshly mowed grass, partially wacked weeds, and a mostly tiled tub.
I took Thing One out for a couple hours of quality road time. He only tried to kill us once.
I also got to go for a motorcycle ride.
I must say, it's good a gooood day.