I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

After the demise of the Redneck Garage, we have moved on. Take a look at all that snow on Christmas morning! Snapped a few pics since nothing else was to be done without power.


Man got a bit paranoid and decided to shovel the roof of the house. I couldn't complain; who knows if the original owner was thinking about snowload when they built this summer cabin. And we've never seen 2' drop out here before. All the while, Man was saying, "I've been waiting for a huge dump like this since I was 10 years old!" He shoveled rooftops and driveways for 6 hours on Christmas morning. He was smiling the whole time. (Until one of my dozens of errant snowballs made contact!)
In the meantime, I cooked our Christmas breakfast - sausage and French toast. Tea was also served.

Then, we made our way to mom's for Christmas dinner. Man quickly adjusted from snow shoveler to bartender.

We were a few family members short this year, but one sister made the trip from NE via Skype.

We joined Man's family on Saturday, where 7 grandkids kept grandma shoveling out presents as furiously as Man shoveled the driveway that morning to get out! :)

It's raining now. Our Christmas craziness is done for another year. We really did have a fun few days.

In Rememberance of the Redneck Garage...

What a crazy Christmas the Northwest served up for 2008! Weeks of snow and more snow and more snow! We love it, especially since it justifies the all-wheel drive with 4 studded tires! Go, baby, go!

Man and Woman took advantage of the Christmas retail sales by going snowboarding on Christmas eve. Conditions were tasty, even if coverage was a bit thin. For Christmas Eve dinner, we stuffed ourselves with Peorgies and veggies. Not entirely traditional, but we loved it!

Our tummies filled with Perogies and the promise of an additional 6" of snow to fall on the ground by Christmas morning, we snuggled under our down comforter and happily snoozed the night away.

At 7 am Christmas morning, the flickering power and the promised blanket of snow was threatening the final holiday baking. We scurried to shower and complete food processing. The thin sun cast some light outside.

And then we saw it, crushed under the snowload. Our Redneck Garage was sagging sadly down its middle. It was crushed. It is no more. KaPut!

Fortunately, nothing inside was ruined; we don't keep much worthwhile under it anyway. It survived the major windstorm of '06. It was affordable when we had no cash. It lasted many years. It served its purpose. We will mourn only momentarily. Then we will move on.

May she rest in peace.

Nestled all snug in their bed...

We've had a foot of snow over the past week and it keeps coming in spurts, adding a couple of new inches last night. I don't remember icicles this long at our house before, or this much snow accumulation. It's fun to kick around in and makes inside feel so much more snuggly.




We're using the weather as an excuse to stay in this weekend. Had enough of driving in the ice & snow getting to work this week. We haven't decorated the house with lights and the tree this year. Too busy getting all the gift packages together, I guess. Man is a little ahead of the game in getting the gift for his pre-selected brother; he is completing his shopping this weekend, as opposed to Christmas Eve. He's quite exhausted from all his running around... on the internet! Good thing our power has not been interrupted by the snow & winds.


I'm busy putting finishing touches on gifts with the baked goods. Baking keeps the house nice & toasty warm. Went back to an old recipe I haven't made in years; almond roca and I've had fun experimenting with new additions to the goodie bag, like biscotti! Man keeps eating it for breakfast, so I may have to make an extra batch to augment! Good thing its so easy!



Hope you all are staying safe & warm this season! All our best for the New Year!
~Man & Woman

Wow! Success!

While I've been muddling along the last half of 2008, my kick-ass brother has been busy converting a CRX into an electric powerhouse. He's always been into cars, racing (his first car was a bitchin' Camaro, after all), and working under the hood since we were in high school. So, the basics were all there. Along the way, he learned to weld, learned all about electric circuits and named it eRex.

I've seen eRex through its phases; a gutted shell, the old pieces removed, the new awaiting a place in their new home. He documented a lot of the steps here.

After all that hard work, he took eRex for its first spin last night! So cool! So inspiring! Way to go, bro!

Muckraker

I'm going to take my father's comment in a positive light (see gabyjones comment to 11/5/08 post). I take it to mean I have similar qualities to Upton Sinclair, Al Gore, Barbara Erinreich, and Nellie Bly. I stand proud in that company.

You can view a definition of "muckraker" here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muckraker See, not too bad :)

SOAPBOX ALERT!

some thoughts on my President-elect...

of course, i'm excited about last night's results (see post on 2/4/08 "The Underdog"). yes, i'm totally biased. and i admit that i may not have seen the same strong qualities in a republican as i see in obama. because, in the end, obama is not about a set of environmental policies, he is not about bringing change to washington, he is not about ending war. he is fundamentally about leading a change of the vision we have for and of ourselves as americans. with that shift of vision, all the other platform details and crap in washington will slowly begin to change. we will demand it. and that is why his presidency will be different.


there are always people who want to spend more time blaming than putting their energies into more productive things. nobody with those tactics have ever been visionaries or spurred great things. in all honesty, my support of obama is not really based on his platform.



the energy spurred by obama, the record voter turnouts, the galvanization of the apathetic, the hope on people's faces this morning, are not about him being a democrat. it is his subtext that energizes. our system of democracy has been so bastardized by corporations (taking protections under the Constitution as if they are individuals - e.g. claiming right to free speech), it has become meaningless to the individual. we are living in an environment (financially, ecologically, spiritually) that is simply out of scale with human nature, human needs, the human soul.


obama's subtext is something that is difficult to find a soundbite for. but, simply put, he understands the world on a human scale. he understands that $250,000/year is a LOT of money to the majority of Americans.

no matter his politics, he is a visionary. i would go so far as to say we have not had a visionary in the presidency in my lifetime. and he is a great leader. he knows how to get people on his side. how many red states went blue, for chrissake? and he is able to express his vision; he does not have to rely too heavily on staff writers. i think that's a big part of why his subtext comes through.


honestly, when i look at his platform, i'm not all that in line with some of the details. he's far too right for me. his energy policy is short sighted, like them all. but, i feel calmer with him at the helm. i am SO sick of henny penny scare tactics and juvenile solutions equating to shopping. fear does not build a strong country.


i'm excited to have him as our president, but also a bit scared. i am always a bit scared when my hopes are high. our country is a huge vessel at sea, navigating a glacier field. large vessels respond slowly to a new course. it may be a while before we notice the effects of the new captain at the helm. and there's always those small-minded among us who threaten mutiny even when steered into certain disaster.

can't wait for innaguration!

Like Breakfast for Dinner

Tonight, we gathered at the home of friends, sat around the television and waited. While we waited, we had the 4-year old's favorite dinner - breakfast! Yummy!

We watched as polygons plastered across a section of the North American Continent were symbolically colored red and blue. There was even an ice rink in New York with the same design. There was a lot of disconcerting red for quite some time. The magic "270" seemed unachievable for over an excruciating hour. Then, after dinner was over and the west coast polls were closed, the announcement was made. We danced in the living room. We celebrated the dawning of a new day.

We cheered as President-Elect Obama gave his acceptance speech shortly thereafter.

Breakfast for dinner was always a childhood treat for me too. This election night is kind of like breakfast for dinner. Nutritionally sound, exciting for its novelty, and oh-so-satisfying!

There is a lot of hard work ahead. I'm fortunate to be well fed! :)

Is that a hippie in a suit?

What do you do when your hippie-husband launches a struggling company and wakes up one morning to find that he's a successful VP? Why, you go shopping, of course.

Now, for those of you already versed in the consumer world, this may be no big deal. But for those of us who Value Village (pronounced Vuh-loo Vi-laj) is the largest department store we enter, the prospect of "dressing for success" is daunting.

It took several trips to the mall (the nastiest 4-letter word!) and one fitting at MWH. We even had a midnight fashion show last night to cull the rifraff and to determine which outfit was the most powerful power suit. (The black suite with b&w striped shirt & shiny black/grey/white tie.) And THAT is how a mild mannered laser man becomes a Super World Class Business Man!

This morning, he departed for a 3 week international business trip; and he LOOKS GOOD! Hopefully he finds all the tags to remove before he gives his presentation on Frdiay :)

Sorry, folks, I had hoped to have pics of the fashion show, but the camera was already packed.

God-speed, sweetie! Knock 'em dead!

PS - He sent a pic of him in his most powerful Power Suit! Feast your eyes on this!

The Best Day EVER! ... in the whole world!

Thanks to all who helped create a truly magical weekend! We have some great photos we hope to be posting soon. But, we are missing a few "moments." If you happened to capture some good shots, it would be great to see them... email works for us!

Summer Time

I had to post simply for these photos...

I've been busy... planning my wedding & honeymooning, mostly. You can check out all the details at www.after15years.blogspot.com.

This was the MOST amazing rainbow I've ever seen, and right out my back door on August 1st. A full rainbow that spanned the lake. Very unsettled weather that week.

It seems to me that this year's weather is about a month behind. The Farmer's Market's produce was slow to get started; the thunderstorms of early August were more reminiscent of early July; and now a heat wave ("thermal trough" they call it). I think we're in for a summer that lasts easily through September.

I love that thought.

Olympic Park Institute (OPI)

Let me just tell you how lucky we are to live in the Pacific Northwest. Man and Woman have been to a lot of places in this world and not many compare to the natural grandeur of the mountains, trees and water found here. We're also lucky because we have great families. When Man and Woman first found OPI, they told people they were going to take them "camping" for the Big Day. Man and Woman were met only with slightly raised eyebrows, long pauses in conversation, and "Well, it suits you."

Along the way, people have imagined pit toilets, cold cabins and tents. C'mon, people! Did ya think we were CRAZY?

Back on a cold, windy, blustery spring day Woman invited all the Mom-Types to take a look and begin planning. Here, I share a few pics we snapped that day so you can get a flavor of the place.

Mom Types Being Tough











View of Lake Crescent from OPI Grounds











Friday Night Gathering Place











Lakeside Shelter / Fire Pit











Typical Cabin Exterior










Typical Room Interior










Typical Cabin Bathroom (see, water & everything!)

Stay tuned for Things To Do...

Our First...

Wedding present! Woman was very excited about the first box to show up on our doorstep. She waited until Man got home from work to open it. It took 20 minutes to convince Man that it was okay to open it before the Big Day; indeed that it was necessary to open it and enjoy it for its special place as the First Gift!

While Man has always gone above and beyond in gift giving, he does not want anyone to EVER feel obligated to get HIM a present. After all these years, Woman still doesn't understand his logic... maybe he was just too lucky as a kid & got all the presents he ever needed for his entire life. How could that be? Woman does not understand.

So, after convincing Man that it would make Woman so very happy to open it, we did so. And it is SOOO cool! And Woman is having a hard time putting it down. We will definately have to practice to attain the status of "Artisan." But, this tool is a beaut and, let me tell you, it is balanced for the perfect stroke and has enough weight to really mean business. Thanks, Shaleah! We love it!

Things To Do & Items to Bring

Sometimes when you're in a hurry, the details get left out. Woman was so proud to have invitations for the Big Day completed in what must have been record time! And yet, when Man and Woman were discussing how our Guests will entertain themselves before the ceremony, we realized that SWIMSUITS are not on the "Essentials" list. What? And, the invitation doesn't really say much about the gorgeous spot we've chosen on the shore of Lake Crescent. Olympic National Park

Declarations - of a sort

Despite the fact that it took Man & Woman 15 years to get married, they were head over heels within weeks of their first date. It was our college years, when we felt like we'd experienced enough to make grown-up decisions, but young enough to think about the decision before it was made. Woman's Mother, upon hearing Woman's excited chatter over a "new" man, was cautious. Mothers know that youth is impetuous.

Man turned to Woman and declared his love; "I think I might love you." Perhaps Man was experienced enough to realize the folly of youth, or perhaps he had been burned before and was simply being cautious. Woman, scared that it was too soon to be so crazy about someone, responded "I think I might love you, too."

Man and Woman were driving around one night, without a plan. Or perhaps Man had something on his mind. We wound up on river bank. Woman never really knew where we were. We climbed out onto large rip rap and shared the evening.

First Kiss

Let's just say that Man did not try to hide his shock.

My Man is Crafty Too

There is some debate as to how we broke a bathroom sink, but nonetheless, we needed to replace it. It's been broken for months! But, we just hadn't found the right one for the space or for our budget.

Baja fixed that.

Our first night there, I saw this beautiful sink. By eyeball only, I thought it would fit in our tiny space. We lugged it around for two weeks, then as a carry-on on the plane. Mike had the counter cut & planed and the sink installed in time for Opening Day of Fishing! Look at that craftsmanship.

Lovin' it!

Things to Do Around OPI

Why would Man & Woman decide to get married so far away?

Wedding FAQs

Q: Where is the wedding?
A: At Olympic Park Institute (OPI), 111 Barnes Point Road, Port Angeles, WA

Q: What is OPI?
A: OPI is a non-profit educational facility, specializing in outdoor education. Kids typically spend several days exploring & learning about the natural world. There are historic cabins and a lodge built by Rose & Mary, who settled the area at the turn of the Century. OPI rents the entire facility for a few weddings every year as a revenue source. We are thrilled to support their programs!

Q: Where is OPI?

A: OPI is on the west shore of Lake Crescent in Olympic National Park, a half hour drive west of Port Angeles, WA.

Q: Is there enough room for everyone to stay in a cabin?

A: Yes.

Q: Can I bring my dog?
A: Sorry, canine friends will have to sit this one out ~ OPI rules.

Q: Can I pitch a tent?
A: Tent camping is only allowed in Front Country campgrounds, not at OPI. The closest FrontCountry Campground is Fairholm. The cabins are warm & worth every penny!

Q: Should I bring food?
A: The meals listed on your RSVP card will be served at scheduled times. If you are planning a hike, or strenuous activity, you might want to pack a few snacks.

Q: What is the cost of the meals?
A: All meals are hosted by the Bride & Groom.

Q: What if I have kids; will we have to share a room with a partier?
A: Cabins will be pre-assigned and directions will be given upon arrival. We will try our best to accommodate any special requests.

Q: What if I want to "Party Like It's 1999?" Will I have to be quiet around the kids?
A: See previous Answer. Late night revelers will be asked to keep it to the Lakeside Shelter.

Firsts

This is my first quilt

Mike & I were asked to be Godparents to our little nephew (Oliver). That warranted something special for the Baby Shower. With only 3 weeks, I decided to do something I'd never done before; make a quilt.

I wandered into a fabric store, told the lady I didn't have a pattern and I'd never made a quilt, and I had three weeks to finish it (plus, I'm planning a wedding). She gulped hard and got me started. Along the way, there were several strangers who helped me get through the details (You-Tube rocks!). Still, at the final hour, I didn't have the binding completed (the only hand stitching I had planned to do). I happened to be at mom's working on wedding plans, trying to move onto the quilt, but it just wasn't happening.

Mom wandered in, grabbed the quilt and began whipping (whip-stitch, that is). I finally joined her around 10pm and we stitched until the wee hours of the morning. I had a beautiful quilt to give Sunday for the Shower. It brought my sister-in-law to tears (heh heh, women are so emotional).

It was really fun to make the quilt & now that I've invested in all the toys (ahem, I mean tools), I hope to make some more!

My Work

Thought I'd share my daily work life with y'all, since this article was written (even though its a little dated). In the spring, when I'm not writing grants, or drawing up restoration plans, I'm doing this.... http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080322/LIVING08/383577402. It is warm-up for the summer months which is our truly labor intensive time.

Last summer, I got to design & implement this project. We called it "ExStream Backyard Makeover"

URBAN CREEK BEFORE RESTORATION

URBAN CREEK DURING INSTREAM RESTORATION

URBAN CREEK DURING STREAMBANK RESTORATION

URBAN CREEK AFTER RESTORATION - AIN'T SHE PRETTY

First Declaration of Love

Man is a quiet guy who gives thoughtful consideration to life before taking action. Woman shoots straight from the gut into action, without pausing much to think.

Save the Date

Hello friends & family!

We are so excited! Many of you know that Mike & I have been planningto get hitched. And, manyof you have been wondering WHEN WILL Mike & Jenn get hitched! You'llbe happy to know, that we have found the perfect location. The onlydate they have available is coming up quickly!! We thought we'd getout the important details, so you can make plans accordingly.We will be married on July 12, 2008 at Olympic Park Institute on LakeCrescent (www.yni.org/opi), outside of Port Angeles, Washington.Accomodation details will follow in the formal invitations.We certainly hope that you can join us as we celebrate the step into anew phase of our relationship - that of husband and wife!

Lovingly yours,

Jenn & Mike

Vacation

We went to Baja in a van.
While we were there
we got a great tan.



With our friends
and their dog,
a few miles we did log.




We had a few thrills;
including snorkeling and
Hiking the hills.



The winds were strong.
And in the end,
we all got along.



But just so we're clear,
what we really did
was drink lots of beer!

Tagging memes

Tag, I'm IT. Julie's meme rules: Look at any book you are currently reading with >125 pages. Go to page 123. Skip the first 5 sentences. Record the following 3 sentences. Tag 5 more people to play the game.

Currently, my reading stack includes travel guides for Baja and there's always a book or two about home building. Other recently read tomes have been dutifully returned to the library.

So, let's see, from Andromeda Romano-Lax's Sea Kayaking in Baja:

"As the evening sea became glass, and then mirror, the jagged reflections of both Dazante and the mainland Sierra de la Giganta danced on the sea's surface. Gliding south, between the two, the reflections enveloped us. The landscape resembled the Grand Canyon, if the Grand Canyon were nearly filled with water, and one were lazily paddling along the south slope, gazing up from the flooded chasm."

Oh, that does sound lovely.

And from Lonely Planet's Baja California & Los Cabos:

"Not only does la frontera have a culture identity of its own, but nearly everything that crosses it, especially heading north, is subject to a strict set of politically charged controls. And nothing is more politically charged on both sides of the border than the issue of undocumented immigration into the USA.

In 2005, under the guise of 'homeland security,' the US announced plans to build a new security wall along the border."

Traveling always gives a new perspective on the world, but even preparing for a trip can cause you to think differently.

Finally, from Franklin and Esther Schmidt's Cabin Kitchens & Baths:

Guess I read picture books too, so nothing on page 123 but a couple captions. I'll cheat and include them:

"Contemporary water-jet relaxation is not incongruous in this old-fashioned, woodsy space." and "This bathroom is customized for a good view while enjoying a bubbled soak."

Bath anyone?

Tagging 5 more is tricky since I only know but maybe 3 other bloggers. I'll tag:
1) Shaleah because she hasn't posted in FOREVER, and
2) Keith because I want to know what smart guys read, and
3) Jeffrey because then he'll know that veritable strangers read his blog (and to learn what aspiring attorneys are forced to read), and
4) Kat because I thought she was cool when we met and she's a writer too.

Celebrating 15 Years

It was a very romantic, traditional-type proposal. He was nervous. I cried. He asked. I accepted.

Details to follow.

The Year of the Underdog?

"You have no fear of the underdog, that is why you will not survive." - Spoon

This has been one of my favorite songs for a while now. The lyrics were with me all day, after last night's exciting Superbowl upset. I have a knack for rooting for the underdog. I don't plan it; it just turns out that way.

So, I'm thinking that if my Superbowl pick won this year, maybe my choice for president will win this year too!

Hear for yourself here or here

"YES WE CAN!"

Snow Day

Sunday's slush



This morning's snow







I've lived on the lake for nearly 10 years, but have never seen snow on the water until today. As of Saturday, it was completely frozen over. Then, yesterday, there was a hint of melted snow on top. This morning, there is no denying the inches of white on top of the ice.

I tried making it into work today. My bomber Subaru with 4 studded tires goes ANYwhere, but other folks were going EVERYwhere! I made it three miles before I saw the first truck with its flashers alerting me to the ditch it was nose-deep into. As I continued around the icy corner, there were two passenger vehicles in the right-hand ditch, facing each other. One nose completely gone and the other's side panel now missing. I wove between these three, only to come upon the monster truck fully embedded in the ditch.

Everybody was in good spirits except the woman who had been T-boned. Visibly shaken, she asked if the damage to her car was bad. I didn't know how to tell her that her car looked totaled, so said, "Its kinda crunched." She commended my "politically correct" answer.

The Aid Car arrived on scene and I began to scope the descent downhill to continue my commute. I was informed they were turning people around a mile ahead (explained the heavier-than-usual oncoming traffic earlier). To check out the closure rumor, I had to thread the needle between another accident in the middle of the hill. Weighing all I'd seen already, I turned around. I have never aborted my commute before.

Lesson learned: When there's snow on the lake, don't even bother with the roads.

John Steinbeck

This morning, I was remembering some "words of wisdom" uttered to me by my then-boyfriend's mother. I was in my early 20s (VERY early 20s). She said, "You're very idealistic. That's because you're young. That will change as you get older." I'm much older now....

This evening, I read this:
"When I was very young and the urge to be someplace else was on me, I was assured by mature people that maturity would cure the itch..." - John Steinbeck.

I always have liked Steinbeck. And I think I'll like this this next read, too.