More Wipeout Please

In the latest reality television craze, our household has been watching ABC's "Wipeout" on Tuesday evenings.



Why is watching grown adults jump through water and other militaristic obstacle courses while getting punched by automated machines, falling into mud, and trying to run across GINORMOUS Red balls so gosh dang funny? I don't know! But we both laugh pretty hard watching these people launch off these balls and land into the muddy water and get back up and do it all over again. Who needs to watch celebrities when you can watch average Joe's run a gauntlet of freak show stunts. Funny!

The Ugly Thing We Call Cancer

I'm finding today that I'm becoming very upset about my Uncle's recent diagnosis with cancer. We don't know exactly what kind of cancer it is or at what stage it is at. He has a mass the size of an egg on his spine near his tailbone that has eaten away some of his tailbone. He also has growths in his lungs and he is in a lot of pain. His cancer is very serious in nature and we will find out this week if he is terminally ill or if they can treat his particular type of cancer. Traditionally bone cancer is very invasive and usually not treatable and very painful, but everyone is being optimistic. I feel bad for my Aunt and their family during this sudden life changing news.

I guess the thoughts in my head today is that you keep hope and be positive and be supportive, but it's not all that easy. My uncle is tough but he has already said he does not want to do chemo. This may be able to be treated with radiation. They have already started him on steroids to shrink the masses on his spine. This goes back to my earlier posts about cancer. It's a very random and ugly disease that seems to seeping into everyones lives more predominately these days. How many more of our loved ones are going to be affected by its various forms.

Bunnies

This made me laugh pretty hard this morning. Must be the rain outside.

J' Taime NSCC

I have decided that I've recently paid $95 for a North Seattle Community College French class that ends in one week, and I've still have not figured out what I have learned from "Madame Professeur!" I've basically decided that I can just say "Comment" with a pretty aggressive eye roll and sarcastic tone, and hope that a willing French person will have pity on us, and speak to us in English or Franglais. I love the weekly digression we get in class, about life 27+ years ago.

Stylishly Green

Since we live in a state where they are trying to pass a law to charge you for plastic grocery bags it seemed like a good idea to look into some canvas totes. Bop and I have purchased random ones from Safeway and Metropolitan Market (or the slim-shadey as Bop would say) but I just ran across this really cool website that has some pretty stylish totes. Check it out here.

Thank You Internal Clock

I never thought I'd say it but I'm thankful for Bop's internal alarm clock. This morning Bop woke up and looked to the alarm clock to see what time it was, only to see a black face. He of course woke me up and we both realized the power must have gone out while we were asleep. At first I was miffed, then I was glad because I could sleep an extra 15 min. because if the power had been off for a while I wasn't about to take a cold shower (electric water heater). So we puttered around getting ready all the while thinking the power was off. I had my hair in curlers trying to straighten out the kinks when Bop came upstairs and said the clocks downstairs were fine. I went over and switched on the light. It worked. Who thinks to try lights when the clock is clearly out and the fan that used to be on is silent? Anyway, long story short, we must have blown a fuse because only certain lights and certain plugs don't work. Of course with all the commotion this morning, we were both running late and have yet to go down and check the fuse box. So, I'm a little greasy haired today and maybe don't smell as good as usual...but I made it to work on time.

Oven Roasted Tomato Salad

This oven dried tomato pasta salad recipe was taken from a friend. We love making this, and have adjusted slightly to our liking. Since Miss Nancy requested this, and loved the sample I gave her last Sunday...here you go. This is simple, fresh and tastes great with a few simple quality ingredients.

Oven Roasted Tomato Salad

1 Pint Cherry or Grape tomatoes, halved
1/4 C Good Olive Oil
1 - 16 oz Package Farfalle [bow tie] pasta
Fresh Basil to liking
Fresh Lemon Juice to liking
Fresh Lemon Zest to liking
Freshly Ground Black Pepper
Good Sea Salt
3/4 to 1 C, Fresh Mozzarella, Feta or Parmesan Cheese

Combine halved tomatoes with a generous amount of olive oil. Liberally season with salt and pepper. Roast tomatoes low and slow in a 300 degree oven for 1.5-2.5 hours. Length of time depends on size of tomatoes. When finished roasting, allow to cool slightly.

Meanwhile cook pasta according to package directions. Combine cooked pasta, with roasted tomatoes and the olive oil that they roasted in. Mix thoroughly. Add in chopped fresh basil, lemon juice and zest. Mix in cheese. Serve at room temperature.

Work Related "Feelings!"

We had a divisional retreat yesterday, and we had an hour long workshop on "managing colleagues and feelings." I'm known as one of the abrasive ones in my office, and couldn't help but mutter under my breath, loud enough for people to hear..."We are seriously spending 60+ minutes talking about feelings and warm fuzzies? UGH! This will be an hour I'll never get back." I had to decorate my paper plate in pie sections and tell the WHOLE division what makes me me! For some people it was therapy. I was surprised how many colleagues cried while they were sharing feelings, and blaming their various upbringings for everything. A whole day devoted to this. Let's just say I learned more than I wanted to know about a lot of people yesterday. I'm going to purchase these t-shirts for everyone in my group I've decided! :)

Salt Lake City & Family

We had a great time this past Saturday being in the Salt Lake Temple with some siblings and my Dad. It was the 2nd anniversary date of my Mom's passing, so it was nice to just be with family and reflect on our memories of Mom, and our conviction and faith that we know we'll be able to see her again. As Beep detailed below, we had a family BBQ afterwards with everyone except for one sister who was in Flaming Gorge with her husbands family on vacation. I feel very fortunate that we are able to fly down to Utah a few times a year and hang with our families. I love spending time with my family, as well as Beep's family. Being a part of two wonderful families is truly one of the greatest joys in my life. We spent some time down at the cemetery as well with family, taking flowers and just paying respects on the 19th. I miss her a lot. At times I feel bad that my young nieces and nephews will not remember her at all, just by pictures only. But, as any child, we carry on the memory of our parents and insure that our children never forget the sacrifices that grandparents and prior generations made for them. I owe a lot to my parents for teaching me an extremely strong work ethic, right along side of saving money, instilling "family first," and having as much fun as you can with life, your friends and neighborhood.

Fun with Family

We spent the past weekend in SLC enjoying time with friends and family. We got to see my family and be part of the blessing of my newest niece which was great. My sister-in-law went above and beyond for brunch after the blessing with some seriously yummy food. I'm always in awe of her and how she manages to wrangle her now 4 girls, teach painting and manage living with my brother :) I so love my family and always really enjoy being able to go visit them.




I also really love spending time with Bop's family and we had the wonderful opportunity to go to the SLC temple with some of his siblings on the anniversary of the passing of their mom. It was an amazing thing being in the temple with family and feeling the peace there.




After the temple we went back to Bop's family's house and had a BBQ. Bop had a fun time cooking and wearing his mom's apron which I thought was so cute, until he shoved me into an apron also and put me to work.









Visiting with friends and my cute nieces.



Even though it was 100 degrees outside, we had a great time. And that heat produces beautiful sunsets.

Is anyone really anonymous?

Well in this case yes, probably because I'm technically inept. We love hearing all your comments, but would like it even better if we knew who you were! The request is for you to select name instead of anonymous and put in a nickname if you're not comfortable using your own name and email it to us. That way we'll know who you are since you now know more about our lives than you probably cared to!

Sun or Clouds?

The overcast weather is finally back. This is the Seattle that I love. Heat and sun, is WAY to overrated in my book! I'm ready for sweater and jacket weather again. Autumn is the perfect excuse to do retail therapy.

The 5 Phases Of Cookie

So my project as of late has been creating custom cookie monster faces for a Christmas Tree skirt. I've been hand beading these here and there in my spare time, mainly watching television in the evening after our excursion to the gym. We started collecting Cookie Monster holiday tree ornaments years ago. Beep and I, both have hand sequined holiday stockings that our parents made for us when we were little kids. This is a tradition that we'd like to continue in our household. First with a tree skirt, followed by stockings down the road. The tree skirt will be red with five of these cookie monster faces on it, as well as some other things. It has been fun working on this, and putting it together. I hope I get this done by December of this year.

Phase #1:
Beep created a graphic execution of Cookie Monster on the computer.



Phase #2
Template is created from the design execution.



Phase #3:
Pattern is created from the template.



Phase #4:
Cut out pattern on sewable materials.



Phase #5:
Voila! One finished Cookie Monster – 4.5” in diameter.

Vampires at BYU

Okay, I've been avoiding this book written by a BYU graduate called Twilight. All I knew was it was a book for adolescents about vampires. Well, since I like Harry Potter so much my hesitation wasn't that it was another book for teens, it was the doubt that a book about vampires could be interesting at all, and quite frankly that it was probably a church book. Well, I gave in the other day and bought it and was really liking it. I told my friend who has also read the book that I'd broken down and started reading it and she said "yeah, it was okay, and I don't usually like romances". Romances? I didn't once think of it as a romance, more of a chick book. So I like the book a little less now that it has that classification, but of course I'll keep reading it. At the very least, it's a wholesome romance.

The Cycle Of Life

Yesterday, was one of those days that I couldn't help but think about the cycle of life, and life in general. Specifically more to life than just this earth life. We woke up to an early phone call. A close friend of ours had called moments after her Dad passed away. Upset, and in shock, we discussed the process in detail about the minutes, days and weeks that lie ahead. We also discussed in detail [having gone through this process recently with my Mother's passing], the peace the gospel can bring to the entire process of care-giving for a parent, watching them die, then picking up the pieces and moving on with life as you know it, forever changed from your own sense of personal normalcy. With Kim's Dad's death yesterday and my Mom's death anniversary this week, it's one more thing we will now share in common. Mixed emotions about summertime in general and missing your parent at family summertime functions.

Though Kim's Dad's health deteriorated rather quickly and you pray that they go swiftly so they are not in pain and not suffering, it still does not ease the burden of having them gone, no longer to have conversations the way you are accustomed to, or to have interactions the way you get accustomed to. My heart goes out to Kim as losing a parent is never easy, no matter how spiritually tuned in one is. You just learn to deal and cope with the significant loss better each day and look for ways to always remember the good things.

On the flip side we had other friends announce they are expecting. So the opposite end of the cycle of life in the same day. To me it really is amazing this whole cycle of life, with loved ones passing and new ones entering this earthly experience. It's hard to grasp how anyone could think that there is nothing else besides your time on earth. We are both very excited for our friends who are expecting. A child in the house is a whole new adventure. Whether it be natural birth, or adoptive birth, becoming a parent is and will be a life changing event. One that all four of us are looking forward too, and a little nervous about it at the same time.

Going Overboard With Green

The "Development" division of the company I work for has way to many people in it’s department that do not have enough work to keep them busy I've decided, and others have decided today. Some "chick" [that no one in marketing or media relations likes], has taken it upon herself to be the "South Lake Union 5th Floor Garbage Nazi" and make sure nothing goes in the trash can than can be recycled. She has roamed the floor today on two occasions with items in an upside down garbage can lid going from office to office, and cube to cube inquiring with everyone, if we were the person that threw the items away without thinking. Almost with the passion as if the culprit had tossed a newborn child or puppy into the garbage can. I’ve now stereotyped most of the women in Development [THAT side of the floor] as follows:

1) They were all anorexic cheerleaders in high school and binged drank all the time.

2) In college they were in sororities and failed at any real job, nor did they ever acquire any decent grade. This point was communicated by my colleague next door, after she was bugged too.

3) When it came time for a “career” they decided upon glorified party planning, since they never finished college.

Our Department HATES HER...!

Friends & Breast Cancer

Despite the chaos that is often associated with work and career, and the chaos caused by our bosses, my heart goes out to my boss and her family today. She has had an awful year, and it's only half way over. She's having a lumpectomy today at SCCA, [Seattle Cancer Care Alliance]. He husband and grown daughter are optimistic that she will not need a full mastectomy, but all that is contingent on the actual surgery later this morning. She just got her diagnosis two weeks ago, shortly after the death of her mother. Her mother passed away just a few weeks after her aunt passed away. And right before that, the family dog got cancer and had to be put down. Victor, the Black Lab, was a fixture in the home for 14+ years. All of this since President's Day Weekend of this year.

It makes you realize that work is just work. True, it provides a means to an end so we can live our lives, but family, health, long term wellness and community involvement is much, MUCH more important than your job. She's been so stressed about her job and we keep telling her, let it go and let us handle it for you in your absence. A part of all our identities is our jobs of course, but it should not be the #1 factor in anyone's life. I just called her and lovingly chastised her for sending a myriad of emails from her pre-op appointments at SCCA for things weeks, months down the road. Yes, it's an outlet from the stress of the current unknown and I fully understand that.

Cancer seems to be creeping into peoples lives more and more these days it seems. I've had aunts, uncles, grandparents, even friends in their 30s leaving behind infant children that have died from various forms of cancer. I know she will get through this whatever the short term and long term outcomes are, with family, friends and her religious community rallying behind her. I just wanted to send good thoughts to her family and anyone else out in the world today who is battling this ugly life changing disease.

Firmly Planted Roots

I think the Pacific Northwest is the most beautiful place on earth in my opinion! I've been thinking a lot lately how lucky Beep and I are to live in this part of the world. The water, green trees and vegetation everywhere, mild temperate climate, the sound, dual mountain ranges and our cosmopolitan city. With our roots firmly planted here now for 10 years, this is home. We are making a wonderful life together here. It's almost hard to believe I've been here for almost 10 and Beep has been here for over 10 years now.



I love the sun, NOT! Us at Pelindaba Lavendar Farm on San Juan Island.



Pelindaba Lavendar Farm.



Beep at Mount Finlayson on San Juan Island.



Just outside of Roche Harbor.



Enjoying the weekend together on San Juan Island.

Maître Professeur

So, we are in week "trois" of our "huit" week course of french language instruction, gearing up for our trip to France. We are taking the course through North Seattle Community College. Our "instructeur" is very interesting. Given that this is a two hour class with no break, if she would not tell us all her stories and constant digression about nothing in particular...we could probably learn this in 60 minutes versus 120 minutes. I was SERIOUSLY bugged last night!

And WHAT was with those dreadful shoes? I wish I would have had our camera...YIKES!

Sélectionner une vignette:



Can't wait to be in Monaco and stroll around the famed Monte Carlo Casino. And chill out in a cafe overlooking the French Rivera.

Lazy Liberty

The 4th of July came and went. I can't believe this year is half over. We watched the Elliott Bay display from a park off Magnolia Blvd. It was nice. We also cooked steaks and enjoyed the day together, just the two of us. We even made it to Majestic Bay to see Wall-E. It was a great show, and I'd recommend it to anyone. Back to the grind today. These long weekends cruise by way to fast.

Bear versus Bull

At work I get asked by colleagues what to do with their retirement allocations in lieu of the declining market. Given my background in banking and financial services, I keep pretty close tabs on what is going on. I am by no means an expert. However, I do get asked for advice all the time. When people consider cashing out assets to re-invest, or to drastically alter their investment allocations, my best advice is to take things in stride and not be knee-jerk about it. I liked the following two points in today's issue of Money Magazine.
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Remember your investing goals:

The problem in big market drops like these, they tend to make us forget the real goal of all our savings and investing. That's to stash away enough money to maintain your current standard of living in retirement.

Much more important than your fluctuating monthly balance today, is the one you see 10 or 20 or 30 years from now, when you actually need that money. In that time, stocks will go up and down and up and down again. So the fact that your 401(k) is down 20% from what it was eight months ago may not have much bearing on what you will have in retirement.

Put today's economic peril in perspective:

Before you panic over today's headlines, and how far stocks could fall, consider the relative good health of today's economy.

1) In the early 1970s, economic output was falling. But today, despite the sluggishness, GDP is still inching ahead.

2) In the early 1980s, unemployment hit 10.8%. Today, the rate is 5.5%, or about half that.

3) Inflation topped 12% in the 1970s and 14% in the early 1980s. Today, it currently is at 4%.
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My advice is to ride it out. If you don't have a substantial rainy day fund set up, than yes, you should allocate funds to building that bucket of money. Despite the ups and downs our investment funds are yielding substantially more than any savings or online savings rate we could get in today's current banking / credit union sector.

BMI Wellness

I find international adoptive requirements silly at times. The Chinese Government requires that pending adoptive parents be under a certain body mass index to be approved. Strange, but whatever. Bummer that we are temporarily on hold with the process for a few months. Good news is that the amount of weight I need to lose, I'm almost to the half way point. I should be at the required Chinese BMI by September/October. What next? Do I have to have dark hair and dark eyes? At least I already have those two things working for me.

Dutch Oven Apple Crisp

This is so easy! Using canned or bottled apple pie filling, really speeds up the process.

2 Lg cans apple pie filling
2 C Rolled Oats
2 C All Purpose Flour
1-2 Tbs Ground Cinnamon
1-2 tsp Nutmeg
1/2 C White Sugar
3/14 C Brown Sugar
1 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 C butter (not melted) more if needed

Lightly oil a 12" Dutch Oven. Pour in pie filling. Combine dry ingredients. Add butter and mix until it resembles course crumbs. Cover pie filling mixture with crumbs. Bake until filling starts to bubble through crust and crust starts to brown. About 30-40 minutes, rotating oven and lid every 10 minutes. Use 16 briquettes on top and 10 on bottom. Replace coals as necessary.

Cooking Extravaganza

We spent the past saturday up on Whidbey Island at the Naval Air-force Base helping our friends teach the army wives and their families how to cook using dutch ovens. We have really enjoyed learning to do this ourselves and having the opportunity to share it with others. It was interesting being on the base, it's a totally different lifestyle than I could ever imagine. We were right on the water which was beautiful and had a wonderful cool breeze the entire time we were there. So breezy in fact that I was cold and had goose bumps most of the time. So to combat the cold breeze I stood in the sun whenever possible which resulted in a major burn on my arms, ankles, forehead, scalp and most dramatically my ears.




We awoke bright and early at 5:45 am to drive to the base and got there at around 7:30 am. We mostly watched them cook breakfast since they'd already started on the Mountain Man Breakfast which consists of potatoes, bacon, sausage, onions, eggs and cheese. Plus Sylvia's amazing orange rolls which are to die for!



After clean up we took a stroll on the beach and lounged in our camp chairs.






We made lots of yummy desserts. Pineapple upside-down cake.




I can't remember the name of this but it was cherry, chocolate, walnut and coconut cake.



An apple crisp.



And a peach custard.



We had fun looking at the unusual art around the park. Especially in the bathrooms which were decorated with stenciled wood, dolls, photos and mauve throw rugs. I didn't take pictures of the bathroom...that would have been creepy.



For dinner we made Stillaguamish Chicken which is a fried chicken with steamed carrots, parsnips, onions and red potatoes. They also made biscuits with parmesan cheese bread crumbs on top.