Artic Blast continues

So the freakish winter weather goes on.









Lulu staying warm (Usually I am right next to her).











The fountain at my office earlier this week.










My Parents' gate and fence with ice from yesterday.











Zoom in and see the squirrel eating an apple.

(below) My Christmas cactus is blooming for its second year, right on time.

Am I a vegetarian?

A friend asked me recently if I was a vegetarian and at first my answer is always no. Bob calls me a convenient vegetarian, meaning that when it is convenient, I choose to not eat meat. Because the truth is, I just don't care for meat. My friend then commented that it was like saying someone doesn't like all vegetables when they are all so different and to that I couldn't really respond. Now that I have had a few days to think it over I think my dislike for meat is like someone saying they don't like jam. Sure there are different flavors, but the basic consistency is the same. I've also been thinking about which meats I like more than others because I will eat some things occasionally. Here is the list:
Any kind of fish or shellfish - love it!
Stew meat all soft and tender falling apart (from my parents')
Hamburgers (from my parents', I know I am spoiled) and there have to be nice toppings and condiments
Chicken Strips
Orange Chicken
Marinated Chicken
Sausages, BBQ/Grilled chicken or turkey ones
Bacon, pepperoni
Pork chop with Applesauce
But the truth is, no one should waste their favorite meat product on me. I am more than happy to eat side dishes!

The beginning of the transformation

This weekend we started turning the back porch (you could hardly call it that it is so small) into a green house. We still have to finish the walls and insulate the floors and of course get lights and plants,) but at least we started it!












We also had a little dessert party to celebrate it and my birthday. Here are some of the desserts, including cinnamon creme brulee!

Artic Blast 2008

I think that is the name of the storm stopping western Oregon right now. I also think this is the first time it has snowed on my birthday.
































Mill Creek, blocks from our house











A fat squirrel on the fence post

How you know cows are not smart.

Mom and dad are eating breakfast. Dad leaves the room and before coming back into it hears mom yelling, "Hey stop that! Shoo, go away!" followed by a funny crunching noise and eventually the window closing. Who knew cows liked to eat light bulbs? The Christmas lights still work and the cows appear unharmed. I don't know if they have been back for seconds yet.

Birthdays Past

Ah my birthday is getting close once again and I'm a little crazy about them. Looking through the past Christmas card photos, led me to birthday photos. Maybe I should have saved this for Monday, but by then I hope to have this year's photos! Again, this only goes back as far as my digital camera. I'm not digging in boxes, yet.









26th, Roller Skating and Pizza (that is Caitlyn)

27th, involved swimming at an indoor water park, no pictures :(.











28th, Cocktail party










29th, House full of Dessert and Friends (that is Alden)










30th, Surprise Party followed with a weekend in Disneyland

Christmases Past

A friend had a great idea to post Christmas photos from the past years and it inspired me to look ours up. We got our digital camera in 2004, and I'm not sure we even sent cards the first couple years we were married.











2004 (Hawaii)













2005

I guess in 2006 we were still getting settled in California and didn't take a picture in time. I remember the cards were glittery.










2007 (Lake Tahoe)

2008 - still not taken, might be more glitter. I think one year we may have sent Happy New Year cards because we were so late!







2004 2006 2007

It still is

A man's world. I'd like to think things are equal, but I know they are not. It doesn't really bother me when I hear the statistic of 20% of Architects are women because in the '80's, only 5% were. Today, I had a board meeting and there were 9 people, two were women (including myself) and I was the only licensed one (11%). It is okay when I'm on site and someone thinks I am from the bank and then raises their eyebrows when hearing I am an Architect (part of it may be that I look young as well.) But one day I hope people aren't so surprised and I hope those that are still take me seriously. I also hope that salary and site meetings are fairly divided in the future and that I don't have to fight my way up the ladder. Bob once told me that maybe I need to be a B****, but I don't want to have to go that route.

A white birthday?

I know most people wish for a white Christmas, but ever since I was little I wanted a white birthday. And this year it is in the forecast. But this time I'm not so sure I want it. Bob and I will be outside freezing our rears off as we try and convert our back porch into a green house. I love to garden and I am very excited to have a year round one, but it will be an interesting project to say the least! I guess we'll wait and see how accurate the weather predictors are.

I bit off.....More than I could Chew

Well more than I could cook is more like it! I attempted homemade pot stickers and hot and sour soup. It turns out that I don't care for hot and sour soup and that rice paper does not work for pot stickers. They tasted fine, but sure looked funny!

Thanksgiving Weekend

Thanksgiving for my family has always meant a weekend at Sunriver. This year was no exception. The weather was unseasonably warm and sunny so we could not snow shoe or ski, but we did have a little BBQ before the Civil War game (nice job Ducks!). We arrived on Thursday and after dinner went to watch a movie, but the power went out and we played Monopoly by candlelight. We had Thanksgiving on Friday when Cait got there (after a day of cooking!) Next year I think I will cut some of the recipes in half! On Saturday we celebrated Cait's birthday and she danced around for us.




























We spent Sunday evening with Bob's family eating tasty enchilada's, playing cards, and taking the Christmas card photo.

Five years and one day ago...

My niece was born. I can hardly believe how fast the last 5 years have gone by and how much things have changed. I've had 6 different jobs, bought a house, got a dog, moved to California (and back) and became a licensed Architect all in the same amount of time Caitlyn learned to roll over, sit up, crawl, talk, walk, feed and dress herself, count, say her ABCs, and so many more incredible things. I remember when my sister was pregnant, I remember decorating Cait's first room. I was there for her first bath. She can count to 4 in Spanish and we're working on it in German too.

This Last Weekend

When Bob and I were married, Spencer gave a toast that mentioned he was officially the third wheel. But the thing is I didn't mind. He was at our first anniversary dinner, we joked about buying the house right next to him and how when we moved for grad school, he'd come with. We see him constantly. We camp together, walk the dogs together, go to movies and dinner together. We meet for coffee, drinks or to watch The Office. And that is pretty much how life has been for the last 6 years (a little bit of a break when we moved, but we visited often.) And so when he married Amy this weekend, a part of me was very happy for him to have found his partner in life, but part of me was a little sad. Of course it hasn't been just the three of us for a while, and we like having Amy around too, but I hope that things don't change. I know it sounds strange and I bet he felt the same way when Bob and I got married, but he didn't lose his best friend in the process he gained one. I hope that the four of us grow closer each year. Right now it is pretty easy since we live less than 3 blocks from each other, but I know that won't always be the case. But enough sap.

The wedding was in Sisters and the weather could not have been better. Our cabins were incredible and the site was beautiful. We danced so hard that our feet were still sore the next day. It was great to see friends and family from all over, but I wish I had taken more photos! Maybe after we all email them around, I'll have some more to post! And yes, Bob was in the wedding and so was Holden (they even had matching ties).

November 15th

More to come...

All the leaves are brown...

And the skies are grey...
I have to say I just read 600 pages of depressing blah. And now I feel terrible. I feel like the weather is getting me down, I feel hurt by someone more than I should and I miss my girlfriends. I not only miss the ones in California, but even the ones close to me. The ones I think are too busy so I don't call and the ones I just don't call enough. So for those of you I bugged last minute, do not look for, find, or read 'Tully' by Paullina Simons. It is one thing for a book to be sad in a good way, but this was not touching, it was depressing. I read the first 500 pages yesterday and could not go to sleep without crying, for no apparent reason. Today I finished it only because I hoped it would get better, but no. Who knows, maybe I am in a funk and it pushed me, but I think it really just was depressing. So I picked up another book I had started and finished it tonight also and it was much better. I do recommend this one, 'Birth House' by Ami McKay. And please let the November book club book be better, or I'll have to move back to California to get through the winter.

Yes!

Yes we can and Yes we did! I look forward to January now. It is time for change!

Happy Halloween!

Bob and I spent the weekend in Davis and here are some of the costume pics. (We also spent part of Friday downtown watching the adorable trick or treaters, but I was told it would be creepy if I asked to take their pictures. So you will have to imagine 1400 super heroes, star wars characters, dinosaurs, unicorns and princesses. My favorites were a flamingo and a tree) Thanks to everyone who made time in their schedules to spend time with us! (yes it rained a little)

New look, for the car..

We exchanged our California plate for Oregon ones recently and opted for the "Share the Road" version. DPEP, does not stand for anything, it is just the random letters we were given. It does remind us of DR Pepper, or some sometimes we say our car has pep, de pep.(which should be noted that our TDI only has 90 horsepower so we are being sarcastic.) Any other ideas? I'm headed back to the DMV next week for my exchange because the third time is a charm, right?

If you haven't noticed...

We have an opinion, a very strong political one...And I think our dog does too.

Fall

Three deer stood staring in the window at Lulu, who was of course staring right back!









A spider web on a frosty morning.

Colin Powell Rocks

I'll get off the political wagon soon and go back to posting pictures and writing non-controversial things, but for now...After knocking on doors again last night and finding more people that still have not decided how they are voting; I bring you quotes on Socialism from Colin Powell three days ago when endorsing Obama. Embrace it, do not fear it.
"And now I guess the message this week is we're gonna call him a socialist. Mr. Obama is now a Socialist, because he dares to suggest that maybe we oughtta look at the tax structure that we have. ....
"Taxes are always a redistribution of money. Most of the taxes that are redistributed go back to the ones who pay it. In roads, in airports, in hospitals, in schools, and taxes are necessary for the common good....
"...There is nothing wrong with examining what our tax structure is, who should be paying more, who should be paying less. For us to say that makes you a socialist, I think is an unfortunate characterization that isn't accurate, and I don't want my taxes raised, I don't want anyones taxes raised.

"The U.S. already has a progressive federal income tax structure. Those with higher incomes already pay more. The nation has Medicare--nationalized, subsidized health insurance for seniors as well as some others. Congress just approved a bail-out that partly nationalized banks--a deal Republicans and Democrats supported." Lynn Sweets, Washington Post

I've never understood why if one party does something it is okay and if the other party supports the same thing it is wrong and is given a name with a negative connotation. Everyone is guilty, please stop! And for those of you that have your ballots already - VOTE! That way this is all over sooner.

Amusing

One from Home and one from Work:
Last night -
As I lay falling asleep last night, something woke Bob and he jumped in his sleep. When I asked what he dreamed about the response was, "A book attacked me." I of course started laughing and he said, "A bug, a bug attacked me." I then told him that I hear a book, not a bug and that if books are attacking him in his dreams, we need to talk.
This morning-
When microwaving my tea I had to move an empty box of ibuprofen. I then took it to the office manager to make sure she knew it needed to be restocked. Work is not home, you don't just leave empty boxes! When I mentioned my opinion to the OM, she said, "Thank you."

The Obama Office

Today, Bob and I rode our bikes down to Obama's Salem Office. I was really surprised and encouraged by the number and diversity of volunteers. We were told about the different tasks we could volunteer for, how to register voters, how to ignore the polls and for the first time in history, Marion county has more registered Democrats then Republicans! I must add that this was not Bob's idea, it was mine. This time we were not going to sit back and watch the show. This time we were not going to say, on election day, "What could we have done?"
So over this next week, we have a packet with various names of people whose doors we will be knocking on. And we took a big step. We aren't staying in our neighborhood where we know how people are voting, we are headed to Turner. (For those of you not related to us and didn't grow up with us, this is where our parents live and where we went to high school. It is a rural town that used to be mainly farmers 10 miles from Salem.)
It is time for Change!! (10% is not enough)

Fear Mongering

I am so tired of these scare tactics! Obama is not a terrorist, he is not a uni-bomber, he is not a communist. If we want to talk about who has connections let's not forget McCain is tied to Liddy (Watergate) Keating 5 (Savings and Loan crisis in the 80s) Palin is connected to Troopergate (current investigation in Alaska) and participated in an Alaska Separatist Group.
Definition of liberal:favorable to progress or reform, as in political or religious affairs
Does that really sound bad to anyone? I think to be liberal, is a good thing. We need change in health care, change in taxes, change in environmental policies and to GET OUT OF IRAQ. I don't want someone who will run right in to war or has a 1 in 3 chances of dying in the first term, or thinks owning 7 homes is normal and you have to make over $1 mil to be wealthy/upper class. (what about over $250,000 which is less than 1% of the population in the U.S.)
So where will you find me on Saturday between 2 and 4pm? At the Obama Headquarters, possibly calling you or knocking on your door.
And what would be so bad about federal health care? If everyone was covered, all prescriptions, surgeries, births, cancer treatments etc., what is wrong? Talk to someone who has a pre-existing condition or can't afford coverage or someone who has had coverage in Sweden, Germany, Japan, Canada, England (oh yeah, just about every other developed country besides the U.S.)
Also, it is NUCLEAR, not Nucular.

Rant and Rave at the DMV

My fellow blog readers, you know how I lived and drove a car in Oregon for over 10 years before I moved to California for less than two. Two weeks ago I went to the DMV to get Oregon plates and a new license. I could only complete 1/2 of the task because I only had a passport and a CA driver license, but I was told to bring in my W-2 and it would be a breeze. I didn't need to fill out a form or retake a test because my Oregon License doesn't expire until 2010. So today I went back only to find out that starting today there is a new law, here is the form, the fee has doubled, and I have to take the test. Not only that, but I also have to take it before 4:30pm, and who knows how early I have to get there to do that! I asked why I was not informed of this 'new law' and was told that they didn't know about it when I was in last. I then asked how a law could be changed with less than 2 weeks notice and was told that they weren't notified of it and didn't know when it was changed. Do they know anything?? One lady said I had to retake the driving test even! Ridiculous!! I filled out a comment card, but I'm trying to find out who to call. Maybe if I wait a week they'll figure things out.

Ty and Heather's Wedding

This last weekend I was home and hung out with girlfriends and worked in the garden, but the weekend before that we were in Omak! Well first we were in Kennewick for Bob to present a paper he received a grant for, then we were in Spokane for the bachelor party (which ended around 4am and included a trip to the Idaho border and back by cab - I only know this because of my husband of course) and then finally in Omak. Heather's family is from there and it is a beautiful area and cute town, plus it was closer than Montana where Ty is from. We had a great time at the dinner Friday night, fun setting up for the wedding Saturday and then partied into the night with the bride and groom. The next morning we saw them off and said goodbye to our other Montana friends. It was great to have everyone together, but it is the last of the weddings (Bob's college buddies) and it is a bit sad not knowing when we will all be together again.