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!