2011: Top 5 Firsts (as documented by iPhone)

 First time taking the family canoe out in about 20 years.  July, 2011

First race ever run, Wharf to Wharf in Santa Cruz, California.  July 2011

 First time Brinly ever slept outside; we had a sleep out on the cabin deck.  September 2011

 First time at the mystery spot and first time being unexplainably almost as tall as Steve!  October 2011

First time ever riding the ferry from Larkspur to a Giants' game.  The ride was incredibly awesome and reminded me that exploring my own city and the Bay Area in general is an amazing, eye-opening thing.  September 2011.

Top 5 (in a fashion) books of 2011

I made a list of books I read this year; the list was alarmingly short.  I suppose (hm, know) this is a direct result of Hulu and Netflix and my fascination with catching up on TV shows I have never been able to watch due to lack of cable or my inability to remember what night shows come on (breathe).  My coworker said that this decrease/increase is probably okay if there are documentaries involved.  Two seasons of Vampire Diaries fit that, right?

Anyway.  Top 5 (ish)  books:

1.  Game of Thrones (Books 1-4)*, George R.R. Martin.  A shocking oversight that I never read these in my youth, I suppose, so I hopped on the HBO-inspired bandwagon this year and read four of the five existing GOT tomes/doorstops/weights.  I don't mean to imply they were not entertaining-- rather, they rhythmically kept you interested, hopping from one character to the next, often in dire situations, so that you had to keep reading to make sure they survived.  (Admission:  I periodically scanned chapter names all the way to the end of the book to make sure they appeared again).  I haven't read the fifth book yet, but intend to.  I needed a break from all the violence and viking porn and strange suckling dragons; it was beginning to affect the way I thought.  Also, where the hell is Rickon? 

2.  Two Lipsticks and a Lover (UK title), Helena Frith-Powell.  A femininity game changer, Two Lipsticks... is a transplanted English Woman's attempt at understanding the mysterious and alluring vibe of French women.  Long story short?  Matching underwear sets, lipstick, and an empowering view of self.  It's a highly entertaining read and while I didn't agree with everything, I enjoyed reading a different perspective and gleaned some amazing tips.  I wish I had read this... ten years ago.  So many more years of matching undie sets!

3.   All Clear, Connie Willis.  I love Connie Willis.  In fact, this is more a favorite author discovery rather than favorite book.  Somehow, she manages to blend Victoria writing and Science Fiction in a way that maybe only I love.  Reading her writing, always makes me thing of Joni Mitchell's, "I could drink a case of you..."  All Clear is the sequel to Blackout, which is also the sequel to the Doomsday Clock.  All three novels are about historians from the future who travel back in time to observe the past for their dissertation studies.  A one-two punch of historical fiction and the threat of paradox!  Come on!

*Taking the liberty of letting the GOT books count for multiple top five entries.  They took long enough to read. 

Top 5: DiscoVeries

via the awkward bird

The end of the year is here and what does that mean?  Round-up, best of, worst of lists -- something I must admit I love wholeheartedly.  I devour "Hottest TV Shows" and "Top Ten Instant Celebrities" and "Top Ten New Species" of whatever year -- I can't look away.  So, in honor of this addiction, I have decided to do a few "Top Whatevers of 2011." (However, I'm sticking with 5.  I'd rather not be long-winded.  Or I'm lazy.)

2011:  Top 5 Discoveries That Made My Life Easier.

1.  Cargo Nets for my Matrix:  I was standing at the back of my car, hatchback open.  My yoga mat had just rolled out onto the dirty parking lot for the umpteenth time.  As follows: I need a way to hold this all in place, there has to be a way, why didn't my car come with those netty things people use, can I buy those, where, why didn't it just come with them, what are all those hooks for, maybe I will check near the spare tire, wait, what are those, they are still in the wrapping, omg, cargo nets!, in my car for four years you sneaky little bastard cargo nets!, I have been waiting for you my whole life and ooh look you can hook them different ways and my yoga mat fits perfectly and I love you cargo nets!  All this in the parking lot at Planet Granite, in about three minutes.  Three minutes that CHANGED MY CARGO LIFE. 

2.  A Burr Grinder:  Let's be serious.  I love coffee. This love runs in my family.  It's ritualistic.  Time and experience (and articles like this) have shown me that a good cuppa coffee is not determined by the amount of grounds you place in the filter (I'm talking to you, coworkers) nor is it always the type of bean (within reason, of course).  It is in the preparation, perfection.  Earlier this year, I became frustrated with the mediocrity I was experiencing each morning so I did some research and upped my game by purchasing myself the illustrious burr grinder.  Upon stirring my brew in my French Press that first time, I witnessed that beautiful image the coffee-ist strives for:  that frothy foamy coffee-ness.  (see picture). Do not resign yourself to mediocrity! 

3.  Laser Hair Removal:  It's like magic.  Awesome magic.  I don't really know what else to say -- I wish I had before and after images of my underarms.  Imagine never having to think of shaving again.  Go ahead.  Just imagine it.  Laser hair removal is painful, no joke, but it's over in less than five minutes each treatment (of which there are about 4-8, depending).  The procedure is a bit pricey, but I found an awesome Groupon to a place that had been recommended to me anyway (score!) and paid $135 for three treatments; they are usually $99 a pop.  Laser hair removal should be done by a registered nurse, so if you decide to go for it, make sure that the place is legit. 

4.  Grocery Outlet Bargain Market:  Well?  Laugh. It's fine.  I'm okay with the slight ridicule and I even grew to enjoy their rather off-key, annoying jingle (which, btw, they play constantly in the stores).  As long as you keep an eye on expiration dates, their groceries are the same as what you would buy in a larger chain store and their beauty products are awesome.  I'm talkin' organic, not tested on animals, super fancy over ten dollars a bottle lotion for less than five.  For reals.  

5.  My Iphone:  I held out.  Slow to warm to new tech, I'm that girl who had cassette tapes well into the CD era and who just parted with all her VHSs a couple years ago ( I may or may not still have a few lying about.  Dude.  We're talking 7th Grade Talent show and mix tapes off the radio).  I was promoted at work this year and with that new position came responsibility -- meaning, they had to be able to get a hold of me and I had to be able to check emails from afield.  I love it.  My phone.  I love the maps most and have began to love checking traffic almost as much as checking the weather.  I love Heytell.  I love Instagram.  I don't even know all that the phone is capable of.  Phone win.

 (Update:  Apartment Therapy has amazing "Best of" lists right now)

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Full Holiday Press

Apparently, this is what I look like a lot at the Holiday Party.

The holidayness of last weekend

Work Christmas Party at Cavallo Point.

 The Girls in their Nutcracker performance.  Shae was a cookie!  Brin played a little boy at the Christmas party and was part of the tea dance!

 We were there.  In the lobby at the El Companil Theatre in Antioch, Ca.

I love these girls so much, my heart might burst. 

little loves in the Nutcracker.

Orchid Orchid not Lily

It bloomed!  And it's a Cymbidium.

Moment.

"Everybody needs a little duck ass in their day"

San Rafael, California

2011 Bucket List: Make a Mincemeat Pie

Oh la la.

I tried making a mince meat pie.  It was on my 2011 bucket list.  My grandma used to make them but now no one does, so I thought HEY!  I will!  This is what I learned:

• The jarred mincemeat I bought was really really sweet. Too sweet.  Must find alternative.
• "Trimming" the edges of you pie means pinching the edges that hang over the pan off.  This is so pieces of dough do not fall to the bottom of your oven and burn.
• My smoke detector actually measures temperature changes, I think.  I can't figure out how the alarm didn't go off since my apartment was full of smoke... due to pieces of dough falling to the bottom of my oven.
• Not thoroughly cooked pie crust isn't that awesome, not in the way not thoroughly cooked cookies or brownies are.  

Pie Fail.

To See or Not To See

There is a friendly argument going on in the work kitchen today, revolving around a holiday box of See's candy.  One woman cut all the candies in half (so we can share! so we can see!) and another woman is berating her for taking away the mystery.

Hm.  Thoughts?

(as for me, I always have dibs on the Bordeaux bar.)

Lily Lily: Biding Time

It's blooming!  This plant has been on my back porch for at least two years (it was my neighbors, she moved) and I never knew what it was. I think the plant was sad; now it's so happy, it's literally exploding from the pot.  We will have to see what happens -- I know little about caring for lilies, so transplanting it makes me nervous.  If you have any tips, let me know!

I can't wait until the flowers open! 

Stairways: Hearts

My sister sent me this photo today.  "Christmas is Coming!" she says.  We are sitting at the top of the stairs per tradition, per ritual, on Christmas morning, waiting for our photo to be taken and waiting to come down to tree and presents and croissants.  Usually, we are feigning sleep at the top of the stairs; I think Buddy was interrupting that part.  

Santa, I miss that dog.  

Hanging Dry: Holiday Shift

Fall is officially here.  I know September 21st marks the 'first day of Fall' but this year, with all this wonky weather, the last few weeks were just a medley of mild summer and cold winter: confused.  Now, there is that familiar crisp air in the morning and low fog gives way to high clouds or cold clear days.  Soy Nog is for sale at Safeway.  Libby and her pumpkin have invaded stores.  Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations are already battling it out.  My scarves are back in rotation.  Tights are required with skirts.  I love it. 

Last night, I met up with Meg at Ikea and we perused the Christmas decorations.  In 2010, I was almost scrooge-like with my decorating; I'm not even sure I got my standard Trader Joe's potted tree (perfect to the studio-scene), so for 2011, I purchased a few fun things to get things all festive.  Behold:

Love: Poem

Brain:Explosion

Too long a Monday, too much powerpoint, too much meeting, too much training.  And then I read this:

Accuracy is a statistical measurement of correctness of a measured value, and includes components of random error (variability due to imprecision) and systematic error. It reflects the total error associated with a  measurement. A measurement is accurate when the value reported does not differ from the true value of a known concentration, spike, or standard.

boom.

Birthday: Gif

Happy Birthday Mom!

At Desk: At Lunch

Reading an article about the loss of BioDiversity and

That genera will disappear--

My coworker walks by with a paper coffee cup;

Same time,

Everyday.

I think, with guilt, of my years at Starbucks and coffee kiosks,

And how my paper cups could fill a room

An apartment

A building. 

Then I think of that plastic whirlpool in the Pacific and the

Packaging my Amazon order came in

The truck it traveled in

The place all of it was made in

The energy that took...

The windmills on the hill (birds dead at the base).

(Windmills are bigger now.  Slower.  Bird odds increase)

I drive by them, the windmills,

In my 30 milepergallon car

With hopefully more than just me in it

But not always

Because people aren’t always going the way that I am

And sometimes I leave early (or late)

Or forget my travel mug in the car, on the counter, both very far

And my carbon footprint won’t carry me there.

I turned off my space heater.

Maybe that will help. 

Back Porch: Counter Active.

A couple of months ago, I started to redo my porch. The mini-project of cleaning up the mess left by negligent renters (including myself) and dead plants turned into a quest to make the back area more usable and welcoming.  Enter: Home Depot, an 8-foot piece of lumber, and some brackets.  Viola!  Back porch counter where wine may be enjoyed and dinner may be shared!

We had to declutter the porch as per the fire code.  Also, the landlord tried to tell me that our plants caused the entire back stairwell to require replacement.  I call bullshit.  Faulty gutters, rain, and fog had more a hand in that.  All the same, I made sure plants are elevated and have trays under them.

That ceramic owl is a relic from my grandfather's house.  I never really thought of it as creepy until visitors mentioned it -- to me it's just chock full of nostalgia and will be in my gardens forever.  Until my potential future kids break it with a soccer ball like I broke my mother's.  :)

Taking advantage of the vertical space!  During my perusal of small garden ideas, it became obvious that vertical gardening is hugely popular right now.  These are hanging planters from Ikea with violets in them.  The chain is from Home Depot and just attached to hooks that screw into the wall-- you can see that there is a lot leftover.  I wasn't exactly sure how this idea was going to work out and I was determined not to measure anything.  

This 8-foot pre-primed beauty fit just perfectly in my wee Matrix -- thank goodness that front seat folds down. I used brackets to hold the counter to the railing; the pressure (it's a snug fit) keeps it from wobbling and no holes were made in the railing wood (which I'm sure Mr. Landlord appreciates).   I also repurposed and slightly modified the shelving so that it fits flush to the wall, gives more space, and provides a place to put empty pots.   Although you can't see them in this picture, there are two folding bar stools hanging next to the pots. Choosing the wrong size brackets for the counter was a lesson learned, but the leftover edge made for a handy place to hang planters will daffodil bulbs!  I can't wait until Spring!

Worksation: BSG EXCEL

me: indeed4:31 PM for the life of me, i cannot copy and paste this table from excel into word and have it fitand all of it survive the journey4:32 PM it's like in battlestar galactica, when they fire up the FTP and all jump, but not all the ships make it.it's like that4:34 PMMatt: really. could be a problem with the singularity being created by your right clicking. me: i pasted it as an object4:35 PM Matt: it is not easy. in the instant before it pastes, that table essentially exists at all points in the known universe.

Sometimes you just have to stop

NorthEast Vista Point at the Golden Gate Bridge, this morning.  Last night, it rained.

Pretty.

like the moon of the sea.  kidchan.

2011 Bucket List: Can you Canoe?

I remember once, when I was about six, that my family and I took this green canoe we have out on Weber Lake.  It was a little wobbly and way different from the outboard motor fishing boat we normally used, but it was green and wooden and there were paddles (these are important 6-year old things).  Since that time, the pretty canoe has hung in my parents' garage, gradually becoming covered with dried flowers and hanging baskets.

Not for long.  This summer, I was determined to put the canoe in water and so for my birthday picnic, we took it with us to Lake Del Valle. Seriously, now that I'm older and have moved beyond "green and wooden," I can recognize a beautiful piece of wood workmanship.

Although it was a bit windy and definitely not warm, we all piled in and headed out onto the lake. We had naval names --- I think Steve was Captain and I was Co-captain.  Brin was First-mate and after a bit of waffling between "poop deck cleaner" and "lookout", Shae chose the high up spot in the bird's nest.   

Look close!  we are out there!

Scenes from San Diego

 Submarine meets pirate ship in the harbor.

 The view from Crosby's office.  Seriously.

 Waiting for me on Golden Hill.

 Friends.

 Last photo by me with Crosby wearing glasses.  Hello Lasik, goodbye glasses.

 PR Couture working at the Timken Musem.  the Art of Fashion.

 Flowers in our champagne and on the table too.

 Amazing use of felted material, angles, coloring.

 Mood lighting.

My favorite breakfast in San Diego.  I heart Krakatoa.

When I'm 65,

I hope my daughter calls me and I'm partying it up in the back of a limo with six of my friends, heading for a night out in the city.   I can't help but think there was a disco ball involved.

Rorschach

I have discovered that when I need to get into a writing rhythm at work or need to meet a deadline, I either listen to the new agey techno CD I stole from my college roommate or Stone Temple Pilots Purple.  Without fail, one of them inspires me.  I'm not sure how I feel about that.

Before and After: Backporch and Rugtime

My neighbor Olga moved away.  It's a byproduct of a very busy summer that I didn't know this until I went out onto the back porch and all the plants were dead.  She and I used to share plant tasks, but as she was looking for work and I was looking for spare time, she slowly took the lead.  Last week, I stared at dead plants on my back porch, and began to brainstorm ways to clean it up and plant new things.  It is still a work in progress, but here are some befores* and afters.  

 (*only kinda befores.  It didn't occur to me to take photos until after I had cleared away a bunch of random odds and ends and clipped away all the dead plants... and part of my pinky.  sigh).

 

 Another apartment improvement was my rug, which has evolved into one of those fascinatingly gross things.  White rugs from Ikea?  They get dirty.  Fast.  White rug fail.  Lesson learned.  (Don't mind the camping gear)