I have finally started playing the Sims 2.
I have four families.
Jim and Kate Windes, and Kate's father Air live on 60 Element Ave. They just had a son, named James, who has grown into an adorable toddler.
Jai and Carson Blaze, and Carson's mom, Fire, live at 62 Element Ave. Jai and Carson have recently adopted a little baby girl, whom they named Hannah. Hannah just had her birthday and is now a toddler.
Jeff and Casey Aquarius live at 64 Element Ave with Casey's dad, Water. They have just given birth to twin boys, Bryan and Kyan, and are currently raising them into toddlers.
Kelly and Lisa Terra live at 66 Element Ave with Lisa's mother, Earth. They have not yet adopted any children. However, Earth and Water have a little something going on 9tehy were recently caught down at the community lot in the jacuzzi...although I don't think they were relaxing....if you know what I mean...
Stay tuned as I continue to play goddess with my little sim families...I must say, I was extrordinarily excited to have twins!
Thursday, February 17, 2005
Survivor and the Amazing Race
Boy is this season putting me in a bad mood.
First, I am desperate that Survivor, (once my favorite show but now has officially sucked for two seasons in a row), will do something to impress this season. I am holding out hope, but I just don't know...
(Have you heard my idea yet Survivor people??? Here is a recap!
18 Survivors. 3 teams of six.
No mixing up teams or swirching folks or changing to two tribes. Keep it at the 3 original teams until the merge.
THEN, once the merge hits, if tribes stay along tribal lines, cool....because they will have to team up with another team to dominate...there will be no one team eats the other becasue there will be a third element...a third block of votes...)
Survivor starts tonight, so we shall see.
Second, Amazing Race announced the next season starts in two weeks. Could I be much happier when I hear this? Not really...as Amazing Race is now more of a favorite than Survivor...and then, in a blink of an eye, my elation turns to shock, revulsion, and sunk into what has now become anger and depression. Sigh. Rob and Amber. From Survivor.
Just ro recap: Rob is the guy who on two seasons played the exact same lying, back stabbing game, and still made it to second place in All Stars
(Um hello, All Stars, did you not see the other seasons??? Did you really let someone play the exact same game and make it to second place? All Stars, you should be ashamed. You learned NOTHING.)
Now, Rob wasn't the sneakiest, dirtiest player on the block, but after a while, his likability just wore off. I hate a man who is full of himself.
Amber is the chick who on two seasons played the exact same "sit in the shadows and ride on someone else's coat tails so that they look like the bitch or the ass while she just looks like the niave little lost girl that she is, unable to make her own decisions" and still won All Stars
(Um, hello, All Stars...did you not see the other season? Did you really let people play the exact same game and not split up the two of them when you had the chance? Did you learn nothing? Have I mentioned that you should be ASHAMED to have called yourself All Stars?)
Amber is the most annoying player on the planet, becasue she didn't DO anything. She didn't even actively fly under the radar. She just walked around like a big ditz in a bikini doing everything she was told.
So now, I have to suffer through the Amazing Race with Rob and Ambah (Not a mis type. That schmuck Rob can't even pronounce her name correctly.) Lord help me. My only hope is that they are off early...like the Big Brother couple form two seasons ago. Is the first episode too much to ask for?
And to top it off Enterprise is being canceled.
Let's Pray for a good season of American Idol.
First, I am desperate that Survivor, (once my favorite show but now has officially sucked for two seasons in a row), will do something to impress this season. I am holding out hope, but I just don't know...
(Have you heard my idea yet Survivor people??? Here is a recap!
18 Survivors. 3 teams of six.
No mixing up teams or swirching folks or changing to two tribes. Keep it at the 3 original teams until the merge.
THEN, once the merge hits, if tribes stay along tribal lines, cool....because they will have to team up with another team to dominate...there will be no one team eats the other becasue there will be a third element...a third block of votes...)
Survivor starts tonight, so we shall see.
Second, Amazing Race announced the next season starts in two weeks. Could I be much happier when I hear this? Not really...as Amazing Race is now more of a favorite than Survivor...and then, in a blink of an eye, my elation turns to shock, revulsion, and sunk into what has now become anger and depression. Sigh. Rob and Amber. From Survivor.
Just ro recap: Rob is the guy who on two seasons played the exact same lying, back stabbing game, and still made it to second place in All Stars
(Um hello, All Stars, did you not see the other seasons??? Did you really let someone play the exact same game and make it to second place? All Stars, you should be ashamed. You learned NOTHING.)
Now, Rob wasn't the sneakiest, dirtiest player on the block, but after a while, his likability just wore off. I hate a man who is full of himself.
Amber is the chick who on two seasons played the exact same "sit in the shadows and ride on someone else's coat tails so that they look like the bitch or the ass while she just looks like the niave little lost girl that she is, unable to make her own decisions" and still won All Stars
(Um, hello, All Stars...did you not see the other season? Did you really let people play the exact same game and not split up the two of them when you had the chance? Did you learn nothing? Have I mentioned that you should be ASHAMED to have called yourself All Stars?)
Amber is the most annoying player on the planet, becasue she didn't DO anything. She didn't even actively fly under the radar. She just walked around like a big ditz in a bikini doing everything she was told.
So now, I have to suffer through the Amazing Race with Rob and Ambah (Not a mis type. That schmuck Rob can't even pronounce her name correctly.) Lord help me. My only hope is that they are off early...like the Big Brother couple form two seasons ago. Is the first episode too much to ask for?
And to top it off Enterprise is being canceled.
Let's Pray for a good season of American Idol.
Sick Days and Mormons
Hi all!
I have been hit with a pretty bad cold the last few days and I am finally feeling human again. Taking a sick day is such a pain int he ass becasue you have to make sub plans anyway...and they are more trouble then they are worth. Sigh.
So I have officially staryed my Final Masters Project. Topic? Internet Resources for the Steps of the Writing Process. Yipee! I have chapter one done and I am on my way to doing chapter 2. Sort of. I have lots of research that needs to be done.
I have been doing lots of thinking about those Mormons. I watched a moviea few weeks ago called "Latter Days" about an Mormon missionary (Aaron) who falls in love with a "party boy" named Christian. Although the movie has some weak points, in my opinion, with the edits (some scenes, I felt, cut way to quick....without giving time to pause and let the message sink in...) as well as some not so clever dialouge...I really enjoyed the film over all (In fact, I watched it again the next day.) It was very beautiful in that both characters helped the other grow. Most obviously (and heavliy touted in the reviews) Christian helps Aaron come to terms with who he really is, and to except love, even as a homosexual, which he has been taught all of his life is an evil lifestyle. Aaron, however, helps Christian come to terms with his own views of being gay...by letting helping Christian discover his true depth of character and compassion, and his ability to reach out to others.
After watching the movie, i went about my Mormon research, rereading their temple ceremonies and such, and I came upon a website called http://www.exmormon.org that I found fascinating. It relates stories and articles about people who have chosen to leave the Mormon religion and why.
What is it that fascinates me about Mormons? Not the underwear! Seriously. I think because, to truly be a Mormon, you have to be everything that I am not. You have to be someone who doesn't question, who doesn't seek, who doesn't think or quest. Mormons are not to read anti mormon literature. Much of the truth of their religion is hidden from them. Mormons should not ask questions. And for many Mormons, that is fine. It is so different from what I am. I must question, I must analzye. I want to know all, or as much as I possibly can. I can't just except.
Many argue that Ignorance is Bliss. Perhaps, for many, that is the true. And I can understand that. I have stumbled across potential truths that are not happy or positive. But for me, at least I am prepared. I want the truth. I want to know.
I have been hit with a pretty bad cold the last few days and I am finally feeling human again. Taking a sick day is such a pain int he ass becasue you have to make sub plans anyway...and they are more trouble then they are worth. Sigh.
So I have officially staryed my Final Masters Project. Topic? Internet Resources for the Steps of the Writing Process. Yipee! I have chapter one done and I am on my way to doing chapter 2. Sort of. I have lots of research that needs to be done.
I have been doing lots of thinking about those Mormons. I watched a moviea few weeks ago called "Latter Days" about an Mormon missionary (Aaron) who falls in love with a "party boy" named Christian. Although the movie has some weak points, in my opinion, with the edits (some scenes, I felt, cut way to quick....without giving time to pause and let the message sink in...) as well as some not so clever dialouge...I really enjoyed the film over all (In fact, I watched it again the next day.) It was very beautiful in that both characters helped the other grow. Most obviously (and heavliy touted in the reviews) Christian helps Aaron come to terms with who he really is, and to except love, even as a homosexual, which he has been taught all of his life is an evil lifestyle. Aaron, however, helps Christian come to terms with his own views of being gay...by letting helping Christian discover his true depth of character and compassion, and his ability to reach out to others.
After watching the movie, i went about my Mormon research, rereading their temple ceremonies and such, and I came upon a website called http://www.exmormon.org that I found fascinating. It relates stories and articles about people who have chosen to leave the Mormon religion and why.
What is it that fascinates me about Mormons? Not the underwear! Seriously. I think because, to truly be a Mormon, you have to be everything that I am not. You have to be someone who doesn't question, who doesn't seek, who doesn't think or quest. Mormons are not to read anti mormon literature. Much of the truth of their religion is hidden from them. Mormons should not ask questions. And for many Mormons, that is fine. It is so different from what I am. I must question, I must analzye. I want to know all, or as much as I possibly can. I can't just except.
Many argue that Ignorance is Bliss. Perhaps, for many, that is the true. And I can understand that. I have stumbled across potential truths that are not happy or positive. But for me, at least I am prepared. I want the truth. I want to know.
Sunday, January 16, 2005
Survivor Pulau
Ok, so they are starting with 20 Survivors. At first, I was genuinly annoyed by this...(the fact that they are starting with 20 but getting rid of three on the first night...) I mean, that is no time to get to know any of the survivors of anything. But you know what I realized...to us it may be pointless, but to those three who get kicked off (or whatever) the first night, it will still have been an incredible adventure for them, so why the hell not?
Onther interesting thing...the buzz is that they will be starting as one team. Very interesting....trying to manage 20 people on one team with no supplies. SOunds like it will make for some interesting play!!!!
Later
Onther interesting thing...the buzz is that they will be starting as one team. Very interesting....trying to manage 20 people on one team with no supplies. SOunds like it will make for some interesting play!!!!
Later
2005
Well, time just doesn't quit passing, does it?
So how is everyone?
What as been going on with me?
Last night, I went to a bachelorette party. It was oe of those home parties where they sell sex toys. It was A LOT of fun! It was so fun and well done and everyone seemed to have a good time. I was afraid that it might be uncomforable, but it really wasn't!
We've been back in school for two weeks. Two weeks! Time seemed to pass so slowly but when I think back I can hardly believe that two weks has passed!!! Hmmm...
I start school again in two weeks. I need to get up to school and do some research for my project. I am getting nervous to start, but mostly, anxious, because I just want to get done.
I have been trying to enjoy everyday for where I am at and nnot constantly look for the future for happiness. The past few years, that has been mostly easy to do, with so much to be happy with, my wonderful Grant, my home, my job, my puppy...all things that I love (well, the job has been not so good lately but....)
However, I must admit that I am quite anxious for this school year to end...for my masters to be completed, for my wedding to Grant, for our amazing honeymoon...so much to look forward to this year! And in september, who knows what I'll be doing, where I'll be teaching, but with more free time with my masters finished, I can pursue other adventures...voulenteer work, scrapbooking time, and something else I have in mind right now....we'll see!
I hope everyone's New Year is going well thus far!
Love,
So how is everyone?
What as been going on with me?
Last night, I went to a bachelorette party. It was oe of those home parties where they sell sex toys. It was A LOT of fun! It was so fun and well done and everyone seemed to have a good time. I was afraid that it might be uncomforable, but it really wasn't!
We've been back in school for two weeks. Two weeks! Time seemed to pass so slowly but when I think back I can hardly believe that two weks has passed!!! Hmmm...
I start school again in two weeks. I need to get up to school and do some research for my project. I am getting nervous to start, but mostly, anxious, because I just want to get done.
I have been trying to enjoy everyday for where I am at and nnot constantly look for the future for happiness. The past few years, that has been mostly easy to do, with so much to be happy with, my wonderful Grant, my home, my job, my puppy...all things that I love (well, the job has been not so good lately but....)
However, I must admit that I am quite anxious for this school year to end...for my masters to be completed, for my wedding to Grant, for our amazing honeymoon...so much to look forward to this year! And in september, who knows what I'll be doing, where I'll be teaching, but with more free time with my masters finished, I can pursue other adventures...voulenteer work, scrapbooking time, and something else I have in mind right now....we'll see!
I hope everyone's New Year is going well thus far!
Love,
Wednesday, December 29, 2004
WDW New Tickets
In order to make vacations more customizable, Walt Disney World has come out with a new ticket program that applies to all guests and starts on Jan. 2 2005. Previously, there were basically two multi day ticket options...the park hopper, and the park hopper plus. The park hopper ticket allowed you to enter any of the four major parks (Magic Kingdom, MGM, Animal Kingdom, or EPCOT) on each day of use, as many times as you want...so you could go to one park in the morning, another park in the afternoon, another int he evening etc. The Park Hopper Plus also included options to go to the water parks and Pleasure Island. All tickets never expire.
The new ticket program, called "Magic Your Way" was planned to give guests more options when buying their tickets. First, there is a base price multi-day ticket. If you just buy the base price ticket, it entitiles you to entry into one park per day of the multi day tickets. If you want park hopping, you pay to get the park hopping feature. If you want plus options (like water parks) you pay a fee to add that feature. These tickets expire 14 days after first use, unless you add on the "no expiration" option, which again adds another fee.
Although all these fees sound like alot, the base ticket is lower than the old park hopper ticket. The longer you stay, the more money you save. In fact, kevin yee of www.miceage.com printed a cost comparison that shows that if you purchase a 7 day ticket with all options, it is actually $1 cheaper then the 2004 ticket! However, if you purchase a 4 day ticket the price is 28$ more then the comparable 2004 ticket.
As you can see from the following chart (taken from www.mousesavers.com) the first few days on the base price are significantly more, but the lonfer you stay, the less the increase...with the 7 day ticket being only a few dollars more than the 6 day ticket!
My only complaint is that the tickets expire now. I guess it makes sense with the new prices (why wouldn't you pay a bit more to double the length of your tickets?) and you can add no expiration as an option, but that is one of the few options that cost more as the number of days of the base ticket increases.
ANyway, here is the info from mouse savers. Check out teh website, www.mousesavers.com for more info.
Magic Your Way Base Ticket
(gate price for admission to one theme park per day, including tax)
# Days Adult (ages 10 and up) Child (ages 3-9)
1 $63.63 $51.12
2 $126.74 $102.24
3 $182.12 $145.91
4 $197.03 $157.62
5 $205.55 $165.08
6 $208.74 $167.21
7 $211.94 $170.40
10 $222.59 $177.86
Add-on purchases to the base ticket include:
Park Hopper Option - Adding the Park-Hopper Option lets you come and go as you please through all four Disney theme parks on the same day or every day for each day of your pass. Extra cost on top of the base-price ticket is a flat rate of $35 ($37.28 with tax). This works out to just over $5 per day on a seven-day ticket, but obviously it adds a lot proportionally to the cost of a one-day ticket.
Magic Plus Pack - This option provides the choice of admission to Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park, DisneyQuest, Downtown Disney Pleasure Island or Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex. Extra cost on top of the base-price ticket is a flat rate of $45 ($47.93 with tax). You get a set number of visits to the Magic Plus Pack attractions, depending on the length of the ticket you buy. The flat rate gives you:
1-day ticket - 2 visits
2-day ticket - 2 visits
3-day ticket - 2 visits
4-day ticket - 3 visits
5-day ticket - 3 visits
6-day ticket - 4 visits
7-day ticket - 5 visits
10-day ticket - 5 visits
As you can see, there is a big incentive to buy the longer passes, so that you'll get more "pluses" for your money. If you will be visiting the water parks and/or DisneyQuest at least twice, this add-on is definitely a good deal.
Magic Your Way Premium Ticket - This ticket combines the benefits of the Park Hopper option and the Magic Plus Pack option. Extra cost on top of the base-price ticket is a flat rate of $80 ($85.20 with tax).
No Expiration Option - Regular Magic Your Way Tickets expire 14 days after their first use. Choosing the No Expiration option means you are free to come back and take advantage of unused days at any time. Extra cost on top of the base-price ticket is:
2-day ticket - $10
3-day ticket - $10
4-day ticket - $15
5-day ticket - $35
6-day ticket - $45
7-day ticket - $55
10-day ticket - $100
The new ticket program, called "Magic Your Way" was planned to give guests more options when buying their tickets. First, there is a base price multi-day ticket. If you just buy the base price ticket, it entitiles you to entry into one park per day of the multi day tickets. If you want park hopping, you pay to get the park hopping feature. If you want plus options (like water parks) you pay a fee to add that feature. These tickets expire 14 days after first use, unless you add on the "no expiration" option, which again adds another fee.
Although all these fees sound like alot, the base ticket is lower than the old park hopper ticket. The longer you stay, the more money you save. In fact, kevin yee of www.miceage.com printed a cost comparison that shows that if you purchase a 7 day ticket with all options, it is actually $1 cheaper then the 2004 ticket! However, if you purchase a 4 day ticket the price is 28$ more then the comparable 2004 ticket.
As you can see from the following chart (taken from www.mousesavers.com) the first few days on the base price are significantly more, but the lonfer you stay, the less the increase...with the 7 day ticket being only a few dollars more than the 6 day ticket!
My only complaint is that the tickets expire now. I guess it makes sense with the new prices (why wouldn't you pay a bit more to double the length of your tickets?) and you can add no expiration as an option, but that is one of the few options that cost more as the number of days of the base ticket increases.
ANyway, here is the info from mouse savers. Check out teh website, www.mousesavers.com for more info.
Magic Your Way Base Ticket
(gate price for admission to one theme park per day, including tax)
# Days Adult (ages 10 and up) Child (ages 3-9)
1 $63.63 $51.12
2 $126.74 $102.24
3 $182.12 $145.91
4 $197.03 $157.62
5 $205.55 $165.08
6 $208.74 $167.21
7 $211.94 $170.40
10 $222.59 $177.86
Add-on purchases to the base ticket include:
Park Hopper Option - Adding the Park-Hopper Option lets you come and go as you please through all four Disney theme parks on the same day or every day for each day of your pass. Extra cost on top of the base-price ticket is a flat rate of $35 ($37.28 with tax). This works out to just over $5 per day on a seven-day ticket, but obviously it adds a lot proportionally to the cost of a one-day ticket.
Magic Plus Pack - This option provides the choice of admission to Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park, DisneyQuest, Downtown Disney Pleasure Island or Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex. Extra cost on top of the base-price ticket is a flat rate of $45 ($47.93 with tax). You get a set number of visits to the Magic Plus Pack attractions, depending on the length of the ticket you buy. The flat rate gives you:
1-day ticket - 2 visits
2-day ticket - 2 visits
3-day ticket - 2 visits
4-day ticket - 3 visits
5-day ticket - 3 visits
6-day ticket - 4 visits
7-day ticket - 5 visits
10-day ticket - 5 visits
As you can see, there is a big incentive to buy the longer passes, so that you'll get more "pluses" for your money. If you will be visiting the water parks and/or DisneyQuest at least twice, this add-on is definitely a good deal.
Magic Your Way Premium Ticket - This ticket combines the benefits of the Park Hopper option and the Magic Plus Pack option. Extra cost on top of the base-price ticket is a flat rate of $80 ($85.20 with tax).
No Expiration Option - Regular Magic Your Way Tickets expire 14 days after their first use. Choosing the No Expiration option means you are free to come back and take advantage of unused days at any time. Extra cost on top of the base-price ticket is:
2-day ticket - $10
3-day ticket - $10
4-day ticket - $15
5-day ticket - $35
6-day ticket - $45
7-day ticket - $55
10-day ticket - $100
Happy Holidays
Hi all! I hope that your Christmas and New Years are going well! My break is flying by. i don't want to go back to school yet, and I still have 4 days (only 4 days???) Life is grand right now with no worries...no immediate worries that it (although there is a little nagging voice in the back of my head saying..."you need to start your research...you need to plan your wedding..." although we have done some wedding stuff.
We have our honeymoon planned and pretty much booked (Thanks to Grant). We are going to spend two nights at the Grand Californian (our wedding night and the next night, so that we can actually see the hotel and go to Disneyland and relax a bit before we rush off on the plane...
Then we are going to fly to Orlando and spend three days at Disney World. (Our way of incorporating one of our favorite destination spots into our honeymoon...something old, right?) Next, we are flying to Puerto Rico and spending 2 days there before leaving on a southern carribean cruise. After the cruise, we are going to spend 6 nights on St. Croix, at a cute little cottage on the beach...how exciting and awesome is that?
Other things we did on our break...we spent 4 days in Laughlin, which was actually quite nice. We had fun, but I ddin't win anything. I think Grant broke even. Christmas eve was spent looking at Christmas Lights and spending time with family. On Christmas Day, we went over to Grant's parents house, and spent another family day together. (do you know how wonderful it is to have my parents and Grant's parents as friends?)
I hope that your holidays are going well...that they are relaxing, peaceful, and full of love. Happy Holidays!
We have our honeymoon planned and pretty much booked (Thanks to Grant). We are going to spend two nights at the Grand Californian (our wedding night and the next night, so that we can actually see the hotel and go to Disneyland and relax a bit before we rush off on the plane...
Then we are going to fly to Orlando and spend three days at Disney World. (Our way of incorporating one of our favorite destination spots into our honeymoon...something old, right?) Next, we are flying to Puerto Rico and spending 2 days there before leaving on a southern carribean cruise. After the cruise, we are going to spend 6 nights on St. Croix, at a cute little cottage on the beach...how exciting and awesome is that?
Other things we did on our break...we spent 4 days in Laughlin, which was actually quite nice. We had fun, but I ddin't win anything. I think Grant broke even. Christmas eve was spent looking at Christmas Lights and spending time with family. On Christmas Day, we went over to Grant's parents house, and spent another family day together. (do you know how wonderful it is to have my parents and Grant's parents as friends?)
I hope that your holidays are going well...that they are relaxing, peaceful, and full of love. Happy Holidays!
Saturday, December 11, 2004
Romantic Comedies
Last night, I watched Notting Hill, and I decided to give you all a list of my favoritwe romantic comedies. They're great to watch when you are feeling pissed about your job... (o:
(Not in any particular order:)
Notting Hill - Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts...Julia plays a world famous actress, Hugh plays a regular guy from Notting Hill... almost a fairy tale in reverse, with the regular guy falling in love with the famous women (instead of the peasent girl and the prince...) two very strong characters, both bringing something different to the relationship, a fantastic tale of some intrinsic truths about true love...compromise, understanding, and honesty. Very sweet and very funny.
When Harry Met Sally - Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan - Two aquaintences, become friends. During their friendship, they learn all about each other, and begin to see each other's quirks as charms...(I love the way Harry describes Sall'y food oreringhabits later in the movie, something like, "She orders things in a way that the chef didin't even know it could be so good...) The two try for a Will and Grace type platonic relationship, except that neither is gay...so eventually, as Harry tells Sally on thier first meeting, sex does get in the way... A beautiful, funny story with a great cast...one of my all time favorites...great sound track...
The American President - Michael Douglass, Annette Benning - The story of a political lobbyist and the widowed American President...similar to Notting Hill, can they fall in love with the whole world watching? But charming in its own way. Michael Douglass plays a president who is trying desperatly to have his own life and be a popular president, a role he idealistically believes is true, while opponents of his use every trick to turn his personal life into media fodder. (I love idealists...) My only beef with this movie...I thought they had sex way too fast...they barely knew each other, hadn't spent much time together yet...I don't know...it just didin't come off as romantic...but all in all a great movie...warm and charming...great supporting cast (Michael J Fox, Martin Sheen) Again one of my favorites...
Those are a few of my favorites...sigh...
(Not in any particular order:)
Notting Hill - Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts...Julia plays a world famous actress, Hugh plays a regular guy from Notting Hill... almost a fairy tale in reverse, with the regular guy falling in love with the famous women (instead of the peasent girl and the prince...) two very strong characters, both bringing something different to the relationship, a fantastic tale of some intrinsic truths about true love...compromise, understanding, and honesty. Very sweet and very funny.
When Harry Met Sally - Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan - Two aquaintences, become friends. During their friendship, they learn all about each other, and begin to see each other's quirks as charms...(I love the way Harry describes Sall'y food oreringhabits later in the movie, something like, "She orders things in a way that the chef didin't even know it could be so good...) The two try for a Will and Grace type platonic relationship, except that neither is gay...so eventually, as Harry tells Sally on thier first meeting, sex does get in the way... A beautiful, funny story with a great cast...one of my all time favorites...great sound track...
The American President - Michael Douglass, Annette Benning - The story of a political lobbyist and the widowed American President...similar to Notting Hill, can they fall in love with the whole world watching? But charming in its own way. Michael Douglass plays a president who is trying desperatly to have his own life and be a popular president, a role he idealistically believes is true, while opponents of his use every trick to turn his personal life into media fodder. (I love idealists...) My only beef with this movie...I thought they had sex way too fast...they barely knew each other, hadn't spent much time together yet...I don't know...it just didin't come off as romantic...but all in all a great movie...warm and charming...great supporting cast (Michael J Fox, Martin Sheen) Again one of my favorites...
Those are a few of my favorites...sigh...
Education
Crikey...everytime I get on here, its for a long winded mish mash update...but really, since I am, by nature, long winded and mish mashy, I really can't be much suprised.
So, report cards are done, one more final for school, and one more week until Christmas Vacation. Wowzers. Unbelievable. Time flies. All that jazz...
I am really not liking my job. I know, you hear that all the time. But it is so dissapointing becasue I thought I would love my job. But I don't. I don't feel like I am teaching, I am reading a script. I can't do thematic units or literature circles. It is very frustrating. Let's just say that I know I can be a good teacher, but education, right now, isn't about teaching children, providing them with experiences (which everyone knows are a lot more memorable and impressionistic then everyday school lessons...think back to when you were in school...what do you remember? What left the lasting impressions. I can pretty much guarentee that those experiences, by and large,are not happening in public schools these days)
Thanks to a beuracratic educational system, National Laws trying to control schools (which are suppposed to be run state and locally), there needs to be numbers...quantitative data....unfortunatly, these are children, and no situation is ever the same, and no set of numerical data can express what true learning and understanding is taking place.
Sometimes, education has immediate effects...more often then not, the big lessons are learned far in the future, and these effects can't be measured on a written test. Unfortunatly, we are not teaching...we are preparing students to take tests.
For a positive view of this line of thinking, it gives state and national governments data, however unimportant in the large scheme of things, to work with to try to "improve" education, unfortunatly, int he wrong direction.
In the middle of the continuam, if education continumes in this manner, adults in our next generation will now how to fill out multiple choice tests, but have little experince in real world problems, critical thinking, multiple perspective thinking......
worse case senario, the government is forming education to train people to be what they want of their next genreation of citizens, not radical free thinkers who will try to change and possibly improve our world (like great thinkers in the past...Jefferson, Franklin, King...) but little lemmings trained to not think or question, but to fill out forms and tests....scary.
Well, that was much more than I had anticipated saying! I even had to go back and change the beginning of the post, becasue I had said at one point, "I am not going to get into it, but..."
Anyways, that is the tip of th ice berg of how a LOT of people are feeling about education these days. I read an article the other day that commented on the same ideas. I should find it and quote it for you. In the mean time, well, arg!
So, report cards are done, one more final for school, and one more week until Christmas Vacation. Wowzers. Unbelievable. Time flies. All that jazz...
I am really not liking my job. I know, you hear that all the time. But it is so dissapointing becasue I thought I would love my job. But I don't. I don't feel like I am teaching, I am reading a script. I can't do thematic units or literature circles. It is very frustrating. Let's just say that I know I can be a good teacher, but education, right now, isn't about teaching children, providing them with experiences (which everyone knows are a lot more memorable and impressionistic then everyday school lessons...think back to when you were in school...what do you remember? What left the lasting impressions. I can pretty much guarentee that those experiences, by and large,are not happening in public schools these days)
Thanks to a beuracratic educational system, National Laws trying to control schools (which are suppposed to be run state and locally), there needs to be numbers...quantitative data....unfortunatly, these are children, and no situation is ever the same, and no set of numerical data can express what true learning and understanding is taking place.
Sometimes, education has immediate effects...more often then not, the big lessons are learned far in the future, and these effects can't be measured on a written test. Unfortunatly, we are not teaching...we are preparing students to take tests.
For a positive view of this line of thinking, it gives state and national governments data, however unimportant in the large scheme of things, to work with to try to "improve" education, unfortunatly, int he wrong direction.
In the middle of the continuam, if education continumes in this manner, adults in our next generation will now how to fill out multiple choice tests, but have little experince in real world problems, critical thinking, multiple perspective thinking......
worse case senario, the government is forming education to train people to be what they want of their next genreation of citizens, not radical free thinkers who will try to change and possibly improve our world (like great thinkers in the past...Jefferson, Franklin, King...) but little lemmings trained to not think or question, but to fill out forms and tests....scary.
Well, that was much more than I had anticipated saying! I even had to go back and change the beginning of the post, becasue I had said at one point, "I am not going to get into it, but..."
Anyways, that is the tip of th ice berg of how a LOT of people are feeling about education these days. I read an article the other day that commented on the same ideas. I should find it and quote it for you. In the mean time, well, arg!
Friday, November 26, 2004
Catch Up
Well, since I am being so damn lazt, the least I can do is catch you all up, I guess, but first I have to go blow my nose.
Better...for the moment, anyway...
So let's see, school (As in school, school...at CSUF) Is going ok. One of my classes I absolutly love, seeing as how the profssor is awesome and I have a friend in that class. The other class I hate, as it is the most useless class I have taken at Cal State Fullerton.
In any case, I am going to a meeting next week about the Master's project, which is good because I need to pick a damn topic already and I am starting to get REALLY nervous about the situation.
School (work school) Is going well, too. I enjoy first grade, although not as much as upper grade, although it is really nice having only 20 kids. I don't think I want to stay in first grade, although I am definatly interested in trying second or third. The most difficult thing is that they can not read the directions on anything yet, which means I am constantly standing in front of the room giving directions...and thats another thing...I have to stand in front of the room and give directions...now that may seem obvious, but let me explain, you see, when you teach fourth or fifth grade, you can walk around the classroom and talk, and the kids heads swivel with you (It is a pretty neat feature...) so you can, say, be back by your desk, or by a side wall, and be giving directions, and well, the kids listen! (Well, at least as much as they listen when you are standing in front of the class...)
But first grade? A whole new ball game. You see, if you are not standing front and center, its like you cease to exist. So forget sitting at your side table and adding some directions. Forget standing over by the chart as you talk. Forget walking to the back of the room to pick up a stack of papers to hand out as you discuss the complicated directions of their math assignment involving finding the number that is one more or one less then a given number.) Becasue the second you step out of the 5 by 3 foot box you create in the front of the classroom, you might as well be a fly on the wall for all of the attenrtion these kids pay to you.
But over all, I really am enjoying the experience. Wouold I do it again? For sure. Is it my favorite grade to teach? No. Do I enjoy it? Yes. Do I thinnk I'd ever want to settle here? I doubt it.
Wedding Plans - sigh. You know, it is amazingly complicated to try to plan a simple wedding. At least we have the location and the date. But you know what the best part is? I am so in love with my Grant that even when things are the most frustrating, I can't help feeling incredibly happy!
Well, I am off to el grocery store and then I am going to get the christmas decorations down.
Later!
Better...for the moment, anyway...
So let's see, school (As in school, school...at CSUF) Is going ok. One of my classes I absolutly love, seeing as how the profssor is awesome and I have a friend in that class. The other class I hate, as it is the most useless class I have taken at Cal State Fullerton.
In any case, I am going to a meeting next week about the Master's project, which is good because I need to pick a damn topic already and I am starting to get REALLY nervous about the situation.
School (work school) Is going well, too. I enjoy first grade, although not as much as upper grade, although it is really nice having only 20 kids. I don't think I want to stay in first grade, although I am definatly interested in trying second or third. The most difficult thing is that they can not read the directions on anything yet, which means I am constantly standing in front of the room giving directions...and thats another thing...I have to stand in front of the room and give directions...now that may seem obvious, but let me explain, you see, when you teach fourth or fifth grade, you can walk around the classroom and talk, and the kids heads swivel with you (It is a pretty neat feature...) so you can, say, be back by your desk, or by a side wall, and be giving directions, and well, the kids listen! (Well, at least as much as they listen when you are standing in front of the class...)
But first grade? A whole new ball game. You see, if you are not standing front and center, its like you cease to exist. So forget sitting at your side table and adding some directions. Forget standing over by the chart as you talk. Forget walking to the back of the room to pick up a stack of papers to hand out as you discuss the complicated directions of their math assignment involving finding the number that is one more or one less then a given number.) Becasue the second you step out of the 5 by 3 foot box you create in the front of the classroom, you might as well be a fly on the wall for all of the attenrtion these kids pay to you.
But over all, I really am enjoying the experience. Wouold I do it again? For sure. Is it my favorite grade to teach? No. Do I enjoy it? Yes. Do I thinnk I'd ever want to settle here? I doubt it.
Wedding Plans - sigh. You know, it is amazingly complicated to try to plan a simple wedding. At least we have the location and the date. But you know what the best part is? I am so in love with my Grant that even when things are the most frustrating, I can't help feeling incredibly happy!
Well, I am off to el grocery store and then I am going to get the christmas decorations down.
Later!
So Lazy
I have done nothing today. Nothing. I have been so lazy. It is utterly ridiculous how lazy I have been. And do you know what I feel like doing right now? Sleeping. How awful is that? A long hard day of absolutly nothing, and all I want to do is sleep.
What's wrong with this generation?
And I can't even blame it on leftover turkey.
What's wrong with this generation?
And I can't even blame it on leftover turkey.
Tuesday, November 16, 2004
Belle's Graduation
Well, Belle had graduation from her Novice obedience training last night...and she got first place! I am so proud of my puppy! She did so good!
Her score was 148 (out or 200). He said, first of all, that our scores were all very good, and that our last place score (108, I think....) would have beat the first place dog at another class he just finished.
One thing that Belle missed was her sit stay, which was 30 points off her score. This is unusual, becasue one thing that Belle is VERY good at is a sit stay, she always has been, even in puppy kindergarden. And she didn't get up or anything...she just layed down in the middle of it. Unfortunatly, that lost all 30 points. (Its an all or nothing gig.)
Funny enough, all the dogs missed the sit stay, which left the scores pretty even.
The instructer said that had Belle made the sit stay, she would have had 170, and for a dog to get into the 170's at this class is unusual.
I was dissapointed that she didn;t, but consoled myself by knowing that Belle really is good at the sit stay... one of the down falls of an all or nothing competitiom like this (If there had been a recored of over all sit stays throughout the class, Belle would have won, hands down on the the sit stay part...she is good at that...)
But as I type, I realize something else. If Belle had done the sit stay, she would have won by a landslide. Becasue she didn't, she stayed even with the other dogs, which meant that she won on our handeling (the heels and the figure 8's and the come, and the stand for inspection, whjich she got perfect...) Had she won becasue of the sit stay, I wouldn't have remembered the other scores, and I would wonder if she had only won becasue of the sit stay...if that pulled her ahead with the free 30 points....but now I know she won all around! What a feeling!
Haver I mentioned how proud I am of my puppy? (Now, if we could just get off the leash, stuff down!)
Her score was 148 (out or 200). He said, first of all, that our scores were all very good, and that our last place score (108, I think....) would have beat the first place dog at another class he just finished.
One thing that Belle missed was her sit stay, which was 30 points off her score. This is unusual, becasue one thing that Belle is VERY good at is a sit stay, she always has been, even in puppy kindergarden. And she didn't get up or anything...she just layed down in the middle of it. Unfortunatly, that lost all 30 points. (Its an all or nothing gig.)
Funny enough, all the dogs missed the sit stay, which left the scores pretty even.
The instructer said that had Belle made the sit stay, she would have had 170, and for a dog to get into the 170's at this class is unusual.
I was dissapointed that she didn;t, but consoled myself by knowing that Belle really is good at the sit stay... one of the down falls of an all or nothing competitiom like this (If there had been a recored of over all sit stays throughout the class, Belle would have won, hands down on the the sit stay part...she is good at that...)
But as I type, I realize something else. If Belle had done the sit stay, she would have won by a landslide. Becasue she didn't, she stayed even with the other dogs, which meant that she won on our handeling (the heels and the figure 8's and the come, and the stand for inspection, whjich she got perfect...) Had she won becasue of the sit stay, I wouldn't have remembered the other scores, and I would wonder if she had only won becasue of the sit stay...if that pulled her ahead with the free 30 points....but now I know she won all around! What a feeling!
Haver I mentioned how proud I am of my puppy? (Now, if we could just get off the leash, stuff down!)
Sunday, November 07, 2004
The Rest of my Life...
I waited to Blog aout this becasue I wanted to make sure all of the family knew from us before I said anything...but I can tell y'all no. It is official!
On Sunday morning, October 24th, on a beautiful day in Seattle, Grant asked me to marry him, and I, of course, said yes.
The weeks since have been just amazing. I feel like I am walking on cloud nine. Marrying Grant is all that I can think about. The two of us have been just as romantic as we've ever been. Its like, even though we knew we were getting married, now that it is official, everything is more wonderful than ever before!
I am so excited, happy, and proud to be marrying someone as wonderful as Grant!
On Sunday morning, October 24th, on a beautiful day in Seattle, Grant asked me to marry him, and I, of course, said yes.
The weeks since have been just amazing. I feel like I am walking on cloud nine. Marrying Grant is all that I can think about. The two of us have been just as romantic as we've ever been. Its like, even though we knew we were getting married, now that it is official, everything is more wonderful than ever before!
I am so excited, happy, and proud to be marrying someone as wonderful as Grant!
The Dark Tower
Well, folks, it is almost finished. I have read all of the Dark Tower Books, and have reached the very end of my journey with Roland, and his Ka-tet. It has been a long journey, full of hardship and kinship, sorrow, and joy. And love.
At the end of the book, Sai Stephen King has given his readers a choice. At this particular junction, we are left with quite a happy scene...one that would leave his readers, like me, sobbing with relief...happiness...sincerity...
And yet, he taunts us with one more key...one more revelation, that, he warns, will not make the reader happy at all. In fact, it may leave the reader heartbroken.
He gives us the option to stop here, with the scolding that so many of his Constant Readers ignore the journey for the "end.." and reminds us that the end isn't always the most worthwhile part of a journey.
(And, to be honest, I was shocked when I got to the choice...I really thought the "ending," or what I thought was the ending, was sufficient...I had thought that knowing more would not be possible...it is too great...or to horrible...especially is it has to do with what I suspect it may...)
And feeling it a sufficient ending, I wouldn't have been sad closing the book there...wouldn't have clamored for more...
But know that I know that there is more...
I can't close the book...I must go with him all the way, for he has pulled me along thus far...to abondond him at the end of his path...despite what must lie there, I can not do.
So I will go on...
But not tonight (What? You mean I haven't already finished it?) No...I will wait to finish this tale. Tonight, I will leave in my thoughts the warm memories Sai King has planted at the near end of his tale.
I am not ready to go on...
Our Gunslinger would understand...
At the end of the book, Sai Stephen King has given his readers a choice. At this particular junction, we are left with quite a happy scene...one that would leave his readers, like me, sobbing with relief...happiness...sincerity...
And yet, he taunts us with one more key...one more revelation, that, he warns, will not make the reader happy at all. In fact, it may leave the reader heartbroken.
He gives us the option to stop here, with the scolding that so many of his Constant Readers ignore the journey for the "end.." and reminds us that the end isn't always the most worthwhile part of a journey.
(And, to be honest, I was shocked when I got to the choice...I really thought the "ending," or what I thought was the ending, was sufficient...I had thought that knowing more would not be possible...it is too great...or to horrible...especially is it has to do with what I suspect it may...)
And feeling it a sufficient ending, I wouldn't have been sad closing the book there...wouldn't have clamored for more...
But know that I know that there is more...
I can't close the book...I must go with him all the way, for he has pulled me along thus far...to abondond him at the end of his path...despite what must lie there, I can not do.
So I will go on...
But not tonight (What? You mean I haven't already finished it?) No...I will wait to finish this tale. Tonight, I will leave in my thoughts the warm memories Sai King has planted at the near end of his tale.
I am not ready to go on...
Our Gunslinger would understand...
Thursday, October 28, 2004
Sunday in Seattle
Sunday came and went far to quickly, but it turned out to be the most beautiful day of all.
We left the hotel room later than expected, and decided to ask for late check out so that we didn't need to feel rushed. We had breakfast at the hotel's resteraunt (a nice breakfast buffet.)
When we packed and left, we headed over to the Woodland PArk Zoo, which was perhaps one of the neatest layed out zoos I've ever visited. Everything branched off a large loop, so it was easy to keep track of where you were and where you'd been. Many of the exhibits had several vantage points, yet each view was, for the most part, hidden from the other views. FOr example, you could look at the lions from one place, and then walk a little farhter a long and look into the same enclosure, but the place where you had stopped to look before was hidden from view, so you didn't see a bunch of people staring in, you saw the vegetation and the animals. Very cool.
Grant especailly enjoyed the gorillas.
After the zoo, we went back to Pike Place MArket and got some sea food to take home. Grant got Salmon (and smoked salmon for Belle) and I got Crab.) Yummy!
WE headed for the airport earlier than planned, but there was a lot of traffic so that was a good thing.
All in all, it was an amazing trip. I love traveling. I love traveling with Grant. He makes things so special, and if I havn't mentioned it before, he and I make great travel partners. We like to travel in the same way, see the same sorts of sights....Thank you, Grant, for the wonderful trip!
We left the hotel room later than expected, and decided to ask for late check out so that we didn't need to feel rushed. We had breakfast at the hotel's resteraunt (a nice breakfast buffet.)
When we packed and left, we headed over to the Woodland PArk Zoo, which was perhaps one of the neatest layed out zoos I've ever visited. Everything branched off a large loop, so it was easy to keep track of where you were and where you'd been. Many of the exhibits had several vantage points, yet each view was, for the most part, hidden from the other views. FOr example, you could look at the lions from one place, and then walk a little farhter a long and look into the same enclosure, but the place where you had stopped to look before was hidden from view, so you didn't see a bunch of people staring in, you saw the vegetation and the animals. Very cool.
Grant especailly enjoyed the gorillas.
After the zoo, we went back to Pike Place MArket and got some sea food to take home. Grant got Salmon (and smoked salmon for Belle) and I got Crab.) Yummy!
WE headed for the airport earlier than planned, but there was a lot of traffic so that was a good thing.
All in all, it was an amazing trip. I love traveling. I love traveling with Grant. He makes things so special, and if I havn't mentioned it before, he and I make great travel partners. We like to travel in the same way, see the same sorts of sights....Thank you, Grant, for the wonderful trip!
Saturday, October 23, 2004
Saturday in Seattle
Ok, I am super tired, so I am going to make this quick.
We had another great day today. It was cool, but rained very little.
We went to City Center first. This is like a huge park, originally designed for the World's Fair, and it has museums, theaters, a carnival, and teh Space Needle.
First, we went to the Pacific Science Center. Very neat. Grant and I both liked the Butterfly Garden the best. - Like an atrium but with tons of butterflies. it was very awesome. I also liked the water playground outside, it was like a court yard with water exhibits, like high powered water shooters. We saw a Kiliminjaro Imax that was included in our City Pass.
We had Lunch at the Center House, which is like a big mall food court in the middle of city center. They have cultural festivals inside all year and this weekend was a Turkish festival.
Next, we went to the Science Fiction Museum. (Guess whose idea that was?) It was very diverse; it talked about all kinds of sci-fi, books, movies, tv shows etc. Of course, grant loved all of the Star trek stuff.
Then we went to the Experience Music Project. The interactive stuff was cool, but there wasn;t enough of it. The also had individual pods you could rent that told you more about each exhibit. Very neat, and coul;d be very cool if you were fans of the main people that gave the information. (Wilson Phillips, for example, did a lot of the information.)
Suprisingly we were done earlier then we expected. So we headed up to the Ballard Locks and watched some boats go through. Then we went to Discovery PArk, which was formerly a Naval BAse. Discovery Park was beautiful, with Fall coloring the trees red and gold. We found some little ponds and a place to look out at the bay.
Next we had dinner on the water front. Grant had coconut crusted salmon and I had crab legs....yummy! Perhaps the best crab I have ever had!
We ended are evening by going up to the top of the Space Needle. It was cccccold, but the view was awesome. Grant and I split a hot chocolate and enjoyed the sights.
Ok, Gonna get some sleep now! (o:
We had another great day today. It was cool, but rained very little.
We went to City Center first. This is like a huge park, originally designed for the World's Fair, and it has museums, theaters, a carnival, and teh Space Needle.
First, we went to the Pacific Science Center. Very neat. Grant and I both liked the Butterfly Garden the best. - Like an atrium but with tons of butterflies. it was very awesome. I also liked the water playground outside, it was like a court yard with water exhibits, like high powered water shooters. We saw a Kiliminjaro Imax that was included in our City Pass.
We had Lunch at the Center House, which is like a big mall food court in the middle of city center. They have cultural festivals inside all year and this weekend was a Turkish festival.
Next, we went to the Science Fiction Museum. (Guess whose idea that was?) It was very diverse; it talked about all kinds of sci-fi, books, movies, tv shows etc. Of course, grant loved all of the Star trek stuff.
Then we went to the Experience Music Project. The interactive stuff was cool, but there wasn;t enough of it. The also had individual pods you could rent that told you more about each exhibit. Very neat, and coul;d be very cool if you were fans of the main people that gave the information. (Wilson Phillips, for example, did a lot of the information.)
Suprisingly we were done earlier then we expected. So we headed up to the Ballard Locks and watched some boats go through. Then we went to Discovery PArk, which was formerly a Naval BAse. Discovery Park was beautiful, with Fall coloring the trees red and gold. We found some little ponds and a place to look out at the bay.
Next we had dinner on the water front. Grant had coconut crusted salmon and I had crab legs....yummy! Perhaps the best crab I have ever had!
We ended are evening by going up to the top of the Space Needle. It was cccccold, but the view was awesome. Grant and I split a hot chocolate and enjoyed the sights.
Ok, Gonna get some sleep now! (o:
Friday, October 22, 2004
Friday in Seattle
We had an amazing day today! What an awesome city. There is so much within walking distance that it made things really easy. We were up and on our way to the waterfront by 9:00. We parked in an all day lot for $7 between Pike Place Market and the waterfront.
We headed up to Pike Place Market first and found a little coffee shop that had a pancake and egg breakfast special.
After we ate, we walked down first street about 9 blocks to Pioneer Square, which is a Historic District; one the oldest parts of the city. We signed up for the Underground Tour at eleven, but we still had a half an hour, so we walked arond Pioneer Square and up to a neat little waterfall garden that is sort of hidden. It was cool. We also checked out the underground bus terminal.
The Underground Tour was very cool. Apparently, when they first built Seattle, they bult it write on the ground, which was a problem since the entire area was a huge mud flat backed to basically a cliff...the hill grade was like 45%. Being at sea level on such swampy ground caused all sorts of problems, particularly with sewage, especially when the tide came in.
In the late 1800's a fire burnt down a large section of down town Seattle (like, 3 by nine blocks or something). So they had to rebuild the town. Business owners began rebuilding immediatly at seal level, so they could open their buildings. City planners, however, had a different idea. In a large section of the down town area, the lined the streets (just past the side walk) with large, thick walls one story tall. They filled in the streets between the walls with dirt from the hills and rebuilt the street on top, 12 feet above the original street. Using steal I beams and brick arches, they created new sidewalks as well. Business Owners who had rebuilt already found their main, street level entrances on the second floor of their businesses. (The knew this was coming, so they purposly designed the second floor doors much more ornate then the "first floor." For many years, the underground sidewalks were still in use, creating arcades for shoppers to use in inclement weather. Eventually they became abandoned. Bill Speidal discovered them and created a tour to try to bring so noteriety to the historic Pioneer Square (which had become the slummy part of town....the phrase "skid row" was coined here, as the main logging area where lumber was "skidded" down the hill was located in this area, which was full of salloons and "entertainment houses" and was for other reasons as well, becoming very undesireable. Anyway, Speidel's tour become so popular that it continues today...39 years later....you get to go uunderground and see the old tunnels, and learn all of this fascinating stuff. It really was VERY cool and VERY interesting.
Do to Pioneer Square being named a national historical district, and through the work of dedicated people, Pioneer Square is becoming a better neighborhood. Lots of shops and resteraunts are opened now. Some are even renovating their "basements" (orininal first floors) and are using them for offices, storage space, or even customer areas. Its very neat.
While we were on the tour, we walked by Longhorn's BBQ, and it smelled so good we ended up having lunch there. Yummy very good.
Then we walked back to the underground bus stationand took it for a few stops. Its almost like a subway...subway tunnels, for sure, but busses drive through them.
We walked back to Pike Place Market and checked out the produce and fish stalls. Very neat, very crowded...would be great if we lived close by so we could take advantage of the fresh food!!!!
We went next down to the wateer front and bought our city pass from Pier 55. We also got reservations for the 2:45 harbour tour. We had like 30 minutes to kill so we decided to go to the Aquarium. We did the beginning of the Aquarium and then went back to do the harbour tour. Even though it was over cast and drizzly at times, you could see well, and we learned a lot of interesting things from our very enthusiastic (read, somewhat annoying at times) tour guide.
After our boat ride we went back to the aquarium and finished that. The sea otters were so cute! But they made me miss Belle. Also, there wsere people walking dogs everywhere! Even in Pike Place Market!
After the Aquarium, we headed down to Pier 50 and took a commuter ferry back and forth to Vashon, 25 miuntes each way.
When we got back to Seattle, we stopped at one of the fish resteraunts and got some clam chowder to share. We went to visit Ye Olde Curiosity Shoppe (we saw it on "Road Trip" on the Travel Channel so we ducked inside.) There are actual Shrunken Heads and 2 mummified bodies!
Finally, we went to the dome IMAX and saw the Imax movie "The Eruption of Mt. Saint Helens," at 7:00. We got back to our car at 7:35, exactly 10 hours after we had parked (10 hours maximum parking...so we got back right when our ticket expired!
We're back at the hotel now, chillin. Resting our feetsies.
So far so good. We are really enjoying Seattle. Grant and I are such good travel partners! (o:
We headed up to Pike Place Market first and found a little coffee shop that had a pancake and egg breakfast special.
After we ate, we walked down first street about 9 blocks to Pioneer Square, which is a Historic District; one the oldest parts of the city. We signed up for the Underground Tour at eleven, but we still had a half an hour, so we walked arond Pioneer Square and up to a neat little waterfall garden that is sort of hidden. It was cool. We also checked out the underground bus terminal.
The Underground Tour was very cool. Apparently, when they first built Seattle, they bult it write on the ground, which was a problem since the entire area was a huge mud flat backed to basically a cliff...the hill grade was like 45%. Being at sea level on such swampy ground caused all sorts of problems, particularly with sewage, especially when the tide came in.
In the late 1800's a fire burnt down a large section of down town Seattle (like, 3 by nine blocks or something). So they had to rebuild the town. Business owners began rebuilding immediatly at seal level, so they could open their buildings. City planners, however, had a different idea. In a large section of the down town area, the lined the streets (just past the side walk) with large, thick walls one story tall. They filled in the streets between the walls with dirt from the hills and rebuilt the street on top, 12 feet above the original street. Using steal I beams and brick arches, they created new sidewalks as well. Business Owners who had rebuilt already found their main, street level entrances on the second floor of their businesses. (The knew this was coming, so they purposly designed the second floor doors much more ornate then the "first floor." For many years, the underground sidewalks were still in use, creating arcades for shoppers to use in inclement weather. Eventually they became abandoned. Bill Speidal discovered them and created a tour to try to bring so noteriety to the historic Pioneer Square (which had become the slummy part of town....the phrase "skid row" was coined here, as the main logging area where lumber was "skidded" down the hill was located in this area, which was full of salloons and "entertainment houses" and was for other reasons as well, becoming very undesireable. Anyway, Speidel's tour become so popular that it continues today...39 years later....you get to go uunderground and see the old tunnels, and learn all of this fascinating stuff. It really was VERY cool and VERY interesting.
Do to Pioneer Square being named a national historical district, and through the work of dedicated people, Pioneer Square is becoming a better neighborhood. Lots of shops and resteraunts are opened now. Some are even renovating their "basements" (orininal first floors) and are using them for offices, storage space, or even customer areas. Its very neat.
While we were on the tour, we walked by Longhorn's BBQ, and it smelled so good we ended up having lunch there. Yummy very good.
Then we walked back to the underground bus stationand took it for a few stops. Its almost like a subway...subway tunnels, for sure, but busses drive through them.
We walked back to Pike Place Market and checked out the produce and fish stalls. Very neat, very crowded...would be great if we lived close by so we could take advantage of the fresh food!!!!
We went next down to the wateer front and bought our city pass from Pier 55. We also got reservations for the 2:45 harbour tour. We had like 30 minutes to kill so we decided to go to the Aquarium. We did the beginning of the Aquarium and then went back to do the harbour tour. Even though it was over cast and drizzly at times, you could see well, and we learned a lot of interesting things from our very enthusiastic (read, somewhat annoying at times) tour guide.
After our boat ride we went back to the aquarium and finished that. The sea otters were so cute! But they made me miss Belle. Also, there wsere people walking dogs everywhere! Even in Pike Place Market!
After the Aquarium, we headed down to Pier 50 and took a commuter ferry back and forth to Vashon, 25 miuntes each way.
When we got back to Seattle, we stopped at one of the fish resteraunts and got some clam chowder to share. We went to visit Ye Olde Curiosity Shoppe (we saw it on "Road Trip" on the Travel Channel so we ducked inside.) There are actual Shrunken Heads and 2 mummified bodies!
Finally, we went to the dome IMAX and saw the Imax movie "The Eruption of Mt. Saint Helens," at 7:00. We got back to our car at 7:35, exactly 10 hours after we had parked (10 hours maximum parking...so we got back right when our ticket expired!
We're back at the hotel now, chillin. Resting our feetsies.
So far so good. We are really enjoying Seattle. Grant and I are such good travel partners! (o:
Thursday, October 21, 2004
Arrived in Seattle
So far so good. Everything has been workingout so well for this trip....bunch of funny little coincidences...dog class being canceled this week so Belle wouldn't have newstuff to practice this week while we were gone for four days Thanks rain gods), No class tonight (Thanks Dr. Brown), last day of conferences so I get done with teaching at 1:00 (thanks school district and the gods of fate that put os un the first week of conference scheduling) our totally cool flight out of long beach that was easy, and stress free (thank the spirits of small airports) and the fact thaT Enterprise upgraded us for free to a Luxary car...
This trip must be written in the stars!
We have email at our hotel so check here when you can for updates...when I can!
This trip must be written in the stars!
We have email at our hotel so check here when you can for updates...when I can!
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
Have I mentioned that my neighbor is an ass?
Yeah, my neighbor is an ass. He pisses me off. He is so rude. And he always has an asshole thing to say.
Like, when Belle ran over into his yard to sniff around when she was like 3 months old and still getting trained. I go over and say, "Come on Belle, cute puppy." He comes out and says, "You better not get her used to coming over to my yard. I don't want her around my dog." Ass. First of all, like I would want my dog in his yard, inhaling his evil fumes. Second, like his dog didn't come over when she was a puppy a few times...we didn't say anything nasty. Not to mention that the family's previous dog attacked our previous dog when I was in grade school. So who shouldn't trust who? BESIDES, it just isn't a very neighborly thing to say. Most considerate people might say something like, "Oh is this your new puppy? blah blah blah...just be careful while you are training her...my dag is getting older..." You know? I mean, this is the first thing the asshole has said to me in like, 3 months.
Whatever.
So I avoid the guy like poisen, but try to be kind to his son, who so far isn't quite as stuck up as the rest of the fam-damily.
Anyway, I come home today and their dog is out sitting on the very apex of our cul-de-sac, right smack between our houses. (I should say that this neighbor lives right across the street, at the end of the cul-de-sac...would you like the address?)So I go up to say hi to the old dog...can't take it out on her that her owner is, well, did I mention he's a bit of an asshole?
On my way up, she barks at me, and then sniffs and then I pet her...and ooooh did she love it....as all doggy's do....and out comes, yup, you guessed it, the asshole. (By the way his name is Kevin. Would you like his last name?) While I was petting her, I was saying (to the dog, not to Kevin), "see, I'm not scary! See, its just me!" SO I look up and smile a friendly, neighborly smile, and the asshole says, "Well, she's supposed to bark to let me know if there is anything out here." (As in, to warn you that I am arriving home? I wasn't anywhere near their yard...does the ass hol consider the whole end of the cul-de-sac his territor.
So giving Sandy (would you like to know the breed?) one last scratch behind the ears, I look up with my best, Killing-the-asshole-with-kindness smile (which I have practiced on numerous occasions in parent-teacher conferences with parents who, for example, never return notes or initial their child's homework and then want to know why their child isn't doing well in class,) I say, "Well, then, she's doing a good job!" And I about face and head inside.
Ug....he makes my skin crawl every time I see him.
Did I mention that this guy is an asshole?
Like, when Belle ran over into his yard to sniff around when she was like 3 months old and still getting trained. I go over and say, "Come on Belle, cute puppy." He comes out and says, "You better not get her used to coming over to my yard. I don't want her around my dog." Ass. First of all, like I would want my dog in his yard, inhaling his evil fumes. Second, like his dog didn't come over when she was a puppy a few times...we didn't say anything nasty. Not to mention that the family's previous dog attacked our previous dog when I was in grade school. So who shouldn't trust who? BESIDES, it just isn't a very neighborly thing to say. Most considerate people might say something like, "Oh is this your new puppy? blah blah blah...just be careful while you are training her...my dag is getting older..." You know? I mean, this is the first thing the asshole has said to me in like, 3 months.
Whatever.
So I avoid the guy like poisen, but try to be kind to his son, who so far isn't quite as stuck up as the rest of the fam-damily.
Anyway, I come home today and their dog is out sitting on the very apex of our cul-de-sac, right smack between our houses. (I should say that this neighbor lives right across the street, at the end of the cul-de-sac...would you like the address?)So I go up to say hi to the old dog...can't take it out on her that her owner is, well, did I mention he's a bit of an asshole?
On my way up, she barks at me, and then sniffs and then I pet her...and ooooh did she love it....as all doggy's do....and out comes, yup, you guessed it, the asshole. (By the way his name is Kevin. Would you like his last name?) While I was petting her, I was saying (to the dog, not to Kevin), "see, I'm not scary! See, its just me!" SO I look up and smile a friendly, neighborly smile, and the asshole says, "Well, she's supposed to bark to let me know if there is anything out here." (As in, to warn you that I am arriving home? I wasn't anywhere near their yard...does the ass hol consider the whole end of the cul-de-sac his territor.
So giving Sandy (would you like to know the breed?) one last scratch behind the ears, I look up with my best, Killing-the-asshole-with-kindness smile (which I have practiced on numerous occasions in parent-teacher conferences with parents who, for example, never return notes or initial their child's homework and then want to know why their child isn't doing well in class,) I say, "Well, then, she's doing a good job!" And I about face and head inside.
Ug....he makes my skin crawl every time I see him.
Did I mention that this guy is an asshole?
Survivor Up Till Now
Ok, I must say I am not terribly pleased with this season of Survivor. Uh uh. The girls/guys thing ticked me off. Not having three tribes ticked me off. Eliminating two people so early on ticked me off. Nobody is particularly endearing. The only guy I really liked was Brady, and he got kicked off. So now I'm just kinda...blah. I mean, I know as I grow to like, or more likely, hate, more people, I will find the show more interesting this season, but for now, there's no one I like, no one I hate, just a bunch of really boring people, in my opinion.
The boys are annoying, because they voted soley on the old young alliance, with the old winning out...which nomally, I would root for, but in this case, the young guys, for the most part, seemed nice, weren't cocky or conceited (the major reason I tend to hate the "young" crowd) and they were actually very hard workers. Most of the older guys are annoying, dumb, and out of shape (as witnessed by their inability to win competitons and their decision on who to vote off.)
The girls, sigh. I don't know. They're very flaky. Dolly, the nice girl, got voted off. Sigh. I just don't know. (Twila really does look nice with her hair braided, by the way.)
So now that the teams made it one more week (oh had Brady made it one more week...) strategies will have to mix up. We'll see.
FOr now, I am uninspired. sigh...
Maybe I am just not devoting enough attention to the show. Maybe the fact that I am watching the show while doing homework or grading papers? But I think not...usually, those other things get pushed off to the side becasue the show is dull this time around. Too bad. The format is awesome. I just wish they had a more entertaining cast this time around.
Amazing Race....I need Amazing Race....
The boys are annoying, because they voted soley on the old young alliance, with the old winning out...which nomally, I would root for, but in this case, the young guys, for the most part, seemed nice, weren't cocky or conceited (the major reason I tend to hate the "young" crowd) and they were actually very hard workers. Most of the older guys are annoying, dumb, and out of shape (as witnessed by their inability to win competitons and their decision on who to vote off.)
The girls, sigh. I don't know. They're very flaky. Dolly, the nice girl, got voted off. Sigh. I just don't know. (Twila really does look nice with her hair braided, by the way.)
So now that the teams made it one more week (oh had Brady made it one more week...) strategies will have to mix up. We'll see.
FOr now, I am uninspired. sigh...
Maybe I am just not devoting enough attention to the show. Maybe the fact that I am watching the show while doing homework or grading papers? But I think not...usually, those other things get pushed off to the side becasue the show is dull this time around. Too bad. The format is awesome. I just wish they had a more entertaining cast this time around.
Amazing Race....I need Amazing Race....