Cat's Pajamas

New Blog

2008-12-30T16:37:00.001-08:00

As promised. Here is the new site: http://www.americanmomabroad.com.

Sorry it took so long.

Baby P - P for Peter

2008-11-19T07:05:00.000-08:00

It’s easy to go on about your day... get up... head into work... go about your day... come home... spend time with family... then repeat the next day. But one day just a couple weeks ago, there was something that touched my heart and brought tears to my eyes as I stood waiting for the morning train to work. It was the story of a courageous and tortured boy that is lovingly known as Baby P.

He died at 17 months at the hands of his incompetent mother, Tracey Connolly, and her sadistic boyfriend, Steven Barker, and paedophile lodger, Jason Owen. (By the way, I’m naming them, as I found their names on the internet... They should NOT be given the chance at anonymity for their safety) They repeatedly tortured the boy until one final blow to the head finally killed him. The most heartbreaking part of the story is that social services, police and doctors had 60 chances to remove him from the situation, but failed to do so. All the stories are here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/baby-p/

This particular story hits close to home as every day just seeing my little one brings an instant smile to my face. It baffles me how anyone could not such an innocent and loving child. But also, it makes you wonder... as one person, what can you do to prevent such things? Realistically, the world can be cruel and this will happen again to another child. But as a society who’s managed to do amazing things in the world, how can we not prevent a child (any child) from suffering as much as Baby P did? What can we do? Where do we start?

One Month Ago Today...

2008-10-22T03:21:00.001-07:00

My family stepped aboard a plane and left the States behind for D's home country. It's been a great adventure so far, including difficult adjustment and headaches. I haven't been able to keep anyone updated because we have had spotty internet connection, and it took nearly three weeks for me to get a proper computer at work.

But alas, here I am today. Some bullet point high&low lights:

- I'm taking public transportation to work! And that takes me 1.5 hrs each direction to go 20 miles. It's not the walk or the train... it's the frickin' shuttle bus from the train station to the office that takes 45 minutes!

- The food is not as bad as most people think! I've been having great food, but that's probably because not much as changed. D still does all the shopping and cooking!

- Family is nice to have around. We've had non-stop visitors since we've arrived. D's brother is particularly glad that he's home and has been coming around a lot since we've been here.

- Soaps are on in the evening. And omigawd, I'm completely addicted. And it's not like the soap operas in the States - these people aren't more pretty and well-off than the people watching it. Some are quite unattractive and most of the time it brings a cheer to your life that your life isn't as bad as theirs!

- There's a lack of customer service here. Unfortunately, unlike the States, raising a fuss for being wronged by a company only causes you more despair and heartache. We signed up for a home telephone service and spent an hour with a customer service rep providing all the information. On the day the service was to be turned on, found out that they had no record of us or our order. The process was repeated all over again and another 5 days later, we finally had a phone.

That's it for now... Hopefully, the internet connection at home will be coming online soon, and I can finally upload the new blog.

It's been awhile...

2008-09-12T21:33:00.001-07:00

I haven't completely forgotten about blogging... I'm just working on a new one. And it's taking a lot longer than I thought. Trust me, there's a reason for another new one....!

Cheezits

2008-09-03T11:19:00.000-07:00

Damn you, Megan, for making me addicted. That's all I have to say about that.

Gas Uner $4!!!!

2008-08-14T09:58:00.000-07:00

I paid 3.96 for gas today!!!!! Kinda sad when that's made me so happy, huh?

Simply Not Enough

2008-08-06T00:10:00.001-07:00

Hours in a day, that is... Between chores, work, appointments, meetings, grocery shopping, prepping baby bottles for the following day... there is simply not enough time. This is the first time I've had a chance to blog since I returned to the Empire.

But I guess the point of it all is taking it in stride. There is a new appreciation for sitting in rush-hour traffic. It is no longer a nuisance but rather a chance to decompress from a busy day of adult decisions, conversations and meetings into a playful and cheerful human being happy to be home to family. Today, I needed the extra fifteen minutes in traffic to shake off the last of the bad vibes from work.

With the lack of time, I've become more creative with my responsibilities... like laundry. A load goes in first thing in the morning before I get in the car to go into work... and it's moved into the dryer before I walk in to relieve D of the little one. After she's down for the night, the dried laundry is hung and put away.

It's nice to be on a consistent schedule. But, the little one does like to mix it up every once in awhile with the 5 a.m. wake-up call. Ahhhh, the little excitements of my life....

Back to the Grind

2008-07-28T14:31:00.001-07:00

After a long 12-week break, I have returned to work. People ask if I'm happy to be back, and I tilt my head to the side and raise an eyebrow to them. Seems like a rather silly question... Would you rather be back at work? Or home all day playing with your little one? Even changing diapers is a good alternative to the daily grind of a job. However, I did miss the some moments here at work -- the coffee break with teammates, and the quick hallway chit-chats.

Last Week: Vegas Baby!

2008-07-22T23:02:00.000-07:00

The last week and a half was a whirlwind. I had every intention of blogging as the trip happened, but there was hardly any time to sleep, let alone blog...

The morning after our arrival in LA, we made our way to Vegas to do sightseeing, a buffet and a show. It was stifling by the time we arrived, so I knew it would be difficult for the little one to be out in the heat. As much as possible, she remained indoors with me (she was a great excuse to not walk around in the heat) whilst the boys took in the sights and Cirque Du Soliel. Amazingly, there are many mothers who do bring their infants to Sin City. They lined the shopping areas of the hotels along with me and I found myself dreading the toddler walking phase. How would I be able to keep track of her in a crowd?

Surprisingly, the little'un did well during this leg of the trip. There was no crying fits and she kept on a great schedule. In fact, when we drove back to LA that evening, she slept the longest stretch yet! 12 hours! Unfortunately, she hasn't done it since.

Lion Reunited

2008-07-22T20:44:00.000-07:00

If you need a pick-me-up story to give you faith in the world, check THIS OUT. It certainly helped me today.

Baby Flies In Style

2008-07-14T15:17:00.001-07:00

Her first ever flight was on the Virgin America direct flight from Seattle to LAX. Because we booked so late, we could only get two exit row seats and a middle seat. I sat in a middle seat with her on by lap while the boys got the leg room.

Earlier in the day at the aquarium, I had gotten a great tip from a mom about babies flying. She told me that if I feed her during take off and landing, I could stave off her crying as her ears popped from the altitude change. It worked!

A kind lady offered her window seat to me in the flight, but I realized at 30,000 feet, I'd have to get up to change her... But Virgin has the best feature in their plane. You can text chat through the personal screens to another passenger seat. Because D and his dad were a couple if rows away, I didnt have to yell over two people just to ask him to change her.

Overall, she did well on her first plane journey! One short minute of crying during the descent and that was it. Whew!

Mobile Blogging Issues

2008-07-13T20:42:00.001-07:00

Pictures aren't showing up when I email them. Trip pictures will be posted on my flickr roll on the right.

Seattle Favorite

2008-07-12T12:29:00.001-07:00

In one of the most beautiful Seattle days, the Aquarium pier is one of the best places to be. And for the first time in my many visits, the octopus was moving!

Salty's Surrender

2008-07-12T10:05:00.000-07:00

I caved. But it was only seafood. Sigh, this is going to be a hard week...

Surprise (sorta) Visitor

2008-07-11T09:55:00.001-07:00

For weeks I weighed the pros and cons of telling D about his dad's surprise visit I had arranged. On one hand was the surprise arrival - think TV show type drop-in of a relative that you know hardly ever happen in real life. On the other, D had always told me that if his family ever came to visit, he wanted to show them all these things. The dilemma was, he never elaborated on what those things were. And asking, even in the most cunning guise, would raise suspicion.

In the end, I came to a compromise. I told D about two weeks ago to give him just enough time to plan the week's events, but at least he wouldn't have to wait so long. And I wouldn't disappoint either with my planning skills.

I borrowed a video camera from a colleague to capture the events D planned for everyone. And there's a lot of them...I worry his dad will need a vacation from his vacation! We'll see...

It all kicks off tonight when he arrives. Tomorrow's first event: Salty's Brunch at 9 am. This will be the first true test of my vegetarian life. Wish me luck.

Craigslist Does It Again!

2008-07-01T16:38:00.000-07:00

There's always been this part of my house that was meant for people to hang their coats and dump their stuff on as they get in the house. But I have never found the right items to use. Well, that's not completely true. I've found them, but I just didn't want to pay $600 for it. This weekend, I finally caved in and went in search of a bench and a mirror/coat rack to fill the empty space with.

I tried the usual places- Target, Fred Meyer, etc... but eventually I found it on Craigslist. The bench has storage was $40 and JUST fit in the area! The mirror was $25. Since the mirror was originally white, I spray painted it black to match (well, as close as I could get it) the bench. Hanging it was an interesting adventure, as I am terrible at using a level, but with a little readjustment with D, installation didn't take longer than 10 minutes. Now, I hope it holds up!

Karma?

2008-06-27T11:44:00.001-07:00

After recounting the traumatic raccoon encounter, there has been a new visitor our garden. Shortly before this picture was taken, the raccoon stood and looked at us staring at him through the window. It freaked the cats out, but it made me smile. The world brings surprises when you least expect it.

Wipeout

2008-06-25T19:03:00.000-07:00

Going on the American tradition of stealing great TV shows from other countries, ABC's Wipeout is a pretty good knock off. Ripped from Japan's Takeshi's Castle, Wipeout features Americans going through the strangest and funniest challenges in hopes of a $50k prize. The commentators are a bit "off", but if you're like me and love the cheese, you won't mind it so much.

During it's premier last night, I laughed so hard that I had to put the baby down in her seat because I thought I would drop her. The contestants are from all walks of life and go through the most ridiculously hilarious obstacles. The funniest one I found is the big red balls that contestants must bounce through to the next platform. The crashes that they were featured were just priceless. And the final course trumps the American Gladiators Eliminator any day.

It's great mindless television that should hold me over until regular favorites come back to season. I'm not sure it has staying power, but this season will definitely bring lots of laughs.

Update: Goodbye, Meat

2008-06-23T07:55:00.000-07:00

Upon telling anyone that I've stopped eating meat, they think that I am insane for making the radical change. It may be true, to an extent. But over the last couple of years, my life and how it is spent has changed dramatically and it will continue to as I build my new life and family.

My first date with D was at the Woodland Park Zoo. He had asked me what I wanted to do, and going there had been on my mind for months. He used to work there and the aquarium, and he gave me the grand personal tour of both places. In fact, he answered a lot of the questions I had about animals and shared with me a lot of his knowledge.

Ever since then, Animal Planet has been constantly been on my TV. We watched in marathon all the David Attenborough DVDs - Life in Cold Blood, Planet Earth, etc... And the more I learned, the more my love for animals grew. Wherever we traveled, we visited the zoo and/or aquarium of the area. In fact, some of our trips are based solely on visiting them... like our trip to the San Diego Wild Animal Park. I couldn't pick a favorite, but that is definitely near the top of the list.

I hadn't known how much my affection to animals had grown until one fateful night when I saw a raccoon on the road in Sammamish, taking its last breaths as a car had just struck it. I stopped my car in the middle of rush hour traffic to have D pick him up to take him to the vet. When we parked the car to check his state, D knew that there was nothing we could do for him. He walked to the bush and let him die in peace there. I cried. For 5 hours straight. Over a raccoon. Now, I have to hold back tears whenever I see roadkill... worse when it's a raccoon.

It didn't really come too much of a surprise when looking into a cow's eyes on its way to a slaughter house tipped both me and D over the edge. If we had to kill it, we would starve to death instead... T is right in the fact that there are places that treat their animals humanely and the options are wonderful here in Seattle, but they still die because of me. And I can't deal with that any longer. Sometimes I find myself craving meat, but I know it's just my body asking for certain nutrients and tastes.

I know this change in lifestyle (don't worry, I won't ask anyone to change their eating habits) won't make a dent in the state of the world and planet today, but every little helps the bigger picture eventually.

With all the meatless alternatives available, I don't see why it can't be done by anyone who wanted to try. I figure this is like the "going green" campaign that the world is going on about these days. Eventually, the world will get it.

The Reluctant Mother

2008-06-18T13:16:00.000-07:00

That would be me. I was never sure I wanted an offspring of my own. I was quite happy with leaving procreation to those who are more capable and deserving of a child... those who wanted one.

My stance on the matter had many reasons, some too personal to post on a blog and others were just my own selfishness. But the biggest reason was fear: fear that I'd screw up parenthood and my kid would end up in therapy forever, fear that the world today is too harsh for a child to grow up in, fear that my life would end (metaphorically, of course) upon the arrival of a child.

I can't predict the future reality of the first two fears. But with the blessing of a fortunate accident, made me realize how I was completely wrong about the last. It feels like my life was given exactly what it needed and this is simply the beginning greater things and big adventures.

The first few weeks have been the most difficult and scary moments of my brief existence. But I wouldn't change any of it. And yes, I'd even do it all over again for a second one.... much later! I need some sleep first!

Goodbye, Big Macs, Nuggets and McGriddles...

2008-06-17T12:21:00.001-07:00

There was a commercial on television today for Big Macs. And I cried. Soppy, I know. But I said a silent farewell to one of my favorite comfort food hideaways in life.

I made this decision to be a vegetarian and I'm sticking to it. But I am still mourning the loss of that part of my life.

Three Sheets

2008-06-12T20:45:00.000-07:00

I haven't been a drinker in quite some time. In fact, as soon as I became legal, it really didn't appeal to me a whole lot. Socially, it was fun, but if I overdid it, it was never a pretty sight.

Regardless of the former, I've found myself fond of a show on the Mojo HD channel called Three Sheets. It's a show about drinking around the world. As collegiately idiotic as the show might sound, I think it would appeal to the intellectual and well-traveled. The show follows its host, Zane, to various cities and countries as he learns of each location's alcoholic specials and the drinking culture.

The show is actually educational. I swear. And if you're looking for something to watch during the drab off-season television, this would be the one. They replay it often on the channel, and there is no story line so you can jump in any time. You won't be disappointed. If you are, you can utter profanity at me.

ps... if you don't have HD, Joost carries it.. (http://www.joost.com)

A Flying Penguin

2008-06-10T20:01:00.000-07:00

One of the best commercials I've seen so far. Who woulda thunk that the Washington Lottery could make something so brilliant?

A Confession

2008-06-08T15:33:00.000-07:00

Sex and the City brings with it a lot of memories. Not the show itself, but the times I had watching it...And all of it came rushing back when I watched the movie. And for the first time in years, I cried for those memories. It's not that I regret walking away... but I do regret walking away from certain people... and keeping them away when all they wanted to be there for me.

Goodbye, Meat...

2008-06-02T23:34:00.000-07:00

If you've ever driven through Central California, you've seen that "farm" with all the hundreds of cows practically piled on top of each other. You've also probably seen the semis loaded with cows on their way to become our meals.

That was the final straw. It tugged on our heart strings to see them with their innocent eyes along side our drive. And it was then that D and I agreed to attempt (I say "attempt" because it may not be as simple as we think it will be) to rid meat from our diet. Plain and simple: if we had to catch and kill our meals, D and I would never be able to do it.

This change isn't a cold-turkey attempt, but rather the step down approach. Besides, we had just been shopping before we left and don't want to waste our food. Since we've been back, we've only had meat a handful of times and have replaced our meat in-take with soy-based meat-like products.

Personally, I thought I would dislike a lot of these products, but I've been surprised. I'd have to say, however, I will miss sushi.........

Back From Cali

2008-05-29T01:42:00.000-07:00

On a whim, we decided to visit the family in SoCal. But because it was on a "whim," plane tickets were quite expensive - more so with the holiday weekend that just passed. So we decided to make a road trip out of it. It really didn't become the savings I expected it to be with the gas prices the way they are these days, but I digress...

On the way down, I discovered a few things to share with my faithful readers.

- Oregon is not as boring a drive as I used to believed it to be. The state has many breathtaking views, one of my favorite is just entering the state from California as you come down from the Siskyou peaks.

- Oregon's slogan should be "Road Work Ahead." In the past decade that I've made this trip to and from California, the same spots have always been under construction on the 5 fwy. Perhaps it's just what they do to keep some jobs going?

- Road trips are fun with the right people.

- When you rent a car for a road trip, double check that the car has cruise control before you drive off the lot. I drove nearly two thousand miles with NO cruise control... It's a luxury you can't just do without for such a trip!

- In my past life, I was a truck driver. I drove 21 hours straight from Seattle to LA and a few days later 19 hours from LA to Seattle. With NO CRUISE CONTROL!

- I have a lead foot. Yes, I got myself a big speeding ticket through Cow country Cali. Thank goodness for traffic school!

Sunny Day Treat

2008-05-17T21:16:00.000-07:00

I had a brilliant idea and made two of these today.. It went perfectly with the 90 DEGREE day.

2 cups vanilla ice cream (coffee flavored would be good too!)
1 cup milk (whole milk is best)
6 Double STUFFED Oreos

Blend until smooth (I used a magic bullet knock-off my mom left at my house during her visit)... pour in glass. Enjoy!

YUMMY.

Buying Affection? Guilty.

2008-05-16T18:34:00.000-07:00

Both D and I have been pre-occupied with our newest "kitten" lately and haven't had a chance to make time for the cats. They've been locked out of the bedroom in the evenings and they haven't been allowed on my lap due to the surgery...

So we did what every parent should (I'm kidding, of course) do. We decided to bribe them with a new gift to keep their affection. As I type this entry, they sit high above me, snoozing in the long-awaited sunshine. Yes, we spoil them.

So I've Been A Bit Busy...

2008-05-10T10:22:00.000-07:00

And haven't been able to blog...

The last two weeks have changed my life dramatically, more than I ever anticipated. And I find myself in unchartered waters. My parents were in town the last couple of days to help me navigate through the first week and help D around the house while I recover from surgery.

Though it's been physically tough and exhausting, I've found absolute contentment in life for the very first time. Sounds silly, I know, but having this newest member of our family is the greatest gift. Who knew...

My Weekend Plans as Illustrated by the Cats

2008-04-25T10:12:00.000-07:00

I Have To Admit...

2008-04-19T20:49:00.000-07:00

I love the feeling of food coma. If you're unsure of what food coma is, it's the sleepy feeling you get after eating too much good food. Or sometimes Chinese food that has too much MSG.

Often times, I find myself complaining of the feeling after lunch at work... only because it's not something I want to be dealing with at work. And there's no place to put your head down for a five minute nap. But at home, like this evening's fantastic Indian feast that D cooked, the feeling is most certainly welcome.

Mmmmm.... And tomorrow's honey chicken roast should bring the same great feeling. I know, I'm spoiled...

The Truth about Nail Salons

2008-04-12T20:04:00.001-07:00

Update: The only gardening I do

2008-04-02T20:23:00.000-07:00

It never really occurred to me why people were so obsessed with genealogy, but in the recent weeks, the research and the adventure has captivated my attention for HOURS... Hours probably adds to full days.

D and I even turned it into a bit of a competition. He was still optimistic of his chances of the amount of people he could add and how far back he could go, even when competing against a Catholic family and our huge numbers.

For awhile, he was definitely ahead. Though I had invited more relatives to join, his dad and grandparents were more helpful with historical information. I hit a wall with my side of the family as my parents hadn't provided me much additional insights. I got as far as my great grandparents, but they haven't given me names of their cousins and aunts and uncles. My research had come to a complete halt.

But then!!!! D shot his own foot. He signed up for a trial membership with Ancestry.com and used their functionality to compare your entire tree to any existing trees on the site. In his quest to find his relations, he came across some of mine... some, being an understatement.

A member of my grandfather's (on my mom's side) of the family had worked on a tree, and filled in over 600 members, all the way up to my great (x4) grandparents. I've migrated half the information and actually connected with this family member on Ancestry's website. He is my second cousin twice removed... so yeah, pretty far out there.

Our common ancestor was a priest in the southern islands of Philippines who traveled and fornicated more than a priest should as he had over a half dozen wives and multiple children from each of them.

Though this new found information was not really research I had done on my own, it is still astonishing to see how families expand and your own history.

I have yet to add the other half of the new-found information, but there is no rush... as I'm pretty sure I'm ahead of the little game D and I are playing...

Where is Spring?

2008-03-27T10:20:00.000-07:00

I thought it was supposed to be here by now... after all, we have SPRUNG forward. Much to my surprise, there were a couple of inches of snow on the ground when we awoke this morning.

Snow, though usually a pleasant surprise, shouldn't be here... when it's almost April. They say more is coming to the Puget Sound area this weekend. Maybe we'll postpone the trip to the zoo on Sunday in exchange for breakfast (brunch, probably) in bed and morning playtime with the kittens.

Now only if Ki would realize that our toes are not mice to attack.....

Hell Has Frozen Over... I've BAKED

2008-03-15T12:13:00.000-07:00

And no, Mr. Seno, it's not just mixing water and putting it a pan to bake... I actually measured flour, baking soda and mashed up over-riped bananas to make this masterpiece. There are pictures for proof! I'm calling it a masterpiece, even though it looks slightly off. Here is the recipe I used from AllRecipes.com

The brown sugar and butter mix

The kitten curious what mom's put in the oven

The final product... cooling on a rack

The Dreaded 15th of the Month

2008-03-15T11:30:00.000-07:00

For me, I dread the middle of each month because that is the paycheck where most the bills come from. Well, not most, but the bigger ones - like the mortgage.

I've never been fantastic with money, but improvement has come over the last couple years as I've learned to do the management on my own. The whole process has been trial and error with more error than anything. The process and pressure of the task was something I was oblivious to when I was with my ex. And if I could tell him one thing now, it would be that I should have been more thankful about his diligence on the task.

First came the money management software - MS Money. Too complicated. Doesn't interact well with my bank which made for extra steps just to get all my transactions sorted and what not.

I am now attempting another site, which I've had much more luck with an online system - Mint.com . It's supposedly still in Beta - and I figure that's because the updates don't happen as automatically as you'd like, but it's easy to remedy - just click the update button.

Obviously, there are many security issues that come with using a website for money management. But if you take the necessary per cautions, you should be safe. What per cautions? ... well, first, don't link it with a web-based email account like yahoo or gmail. And your password, better not be your pet's name or your birthdate.

The site doesn't display your account numbers or your social security number, etc, but it does store your log-in IDs to various banking/cc/etc accounts as well as your password so it can connect.

So far so good! As far as money management goes, I just now have to stop spending money on toys for myself... or D. The next big expense is coming up...and that is something we really need to save for.

The only gardening I can do

2008-03-12T21:44:00.000-07:00

Is helping figure out my family tree. The last week, I have been obsessed with the site geni.com (http://www.geni.com) and building up my family tree. Coming from an originally Catholic family - it was always to keep track who my relatives are.

Currently, I'm working on finding out the identity of my great grandparents are... and my parents' aunts, uncles and cousins are. So far so good, but the next steps are going to be difficult as I don't know really where to research that information. If anyone has any ideas, please do share!

Rock Band On!

2008-03-07T22:19:00.000-08:00

My Friday night consists of watching my other half and his bff playing the latest video game craze, Rock Band. As they've progressed from laughable to garage band status (in my eyes, at least), I've noticed their increasing likeness in the rocker behavior their character plays.

D, who swore up and down that he has no drumming skills, now holds the sticks like a true drummer and rocks out like one as he is playing. D2 turns up his guitar and bites his lip in concentration of his task.

Honestly, my lack of rhythm would cause me serious playing issues like its counterpart, Guitar Hero III, did. I have to give them credit for making rapid progress in their skill set. There is no ground for me to laugh too hard when they struggle.

Overall, it's not a bad way to end a week - listening to good music and hanging out with great friends... however, the kittens would probably beg to differ with all the racket they're making!

Gardening for the Impatient - Part 2

2008-03-04T13:31:00.000-08:00

See the Flickr photoset on the right - I guess the AeroGarden does work. The little Thyme pod was the first to bring some life to this experiment... And so far so good... we haven't had to add any water or tend to it.

The light just comes on when it's supposed to and it turns off 16 hours later. Now all I have to figure out is how to keep the kittens from attacking the little dome pods - which I caught Ossie doing this morning.

House Guests

2008-03-03T00:10:00.000-08:00

Call me crazy, but I love having house guests.

It's even better that our current house guest is from out of the country. D's best friend, D2, is over for a little over a week, and he is the best kind of house guest: laid back, content and down for anything.

There hasn't been a lot of sightseeing, but it really isn't D2's purpose here - at least that's what he says. Funny enough, they are so much alike that it's been easy to take care of both of them. All it seems to require is football (soccer) on TV, Gatorade, fast food, and video games.

Hopefully this week, D will be able to take him around the city some more this week. It'd be sad that he flew all this way to mostly sit in our living room.

Gardening for the Impatient

2008-02-28T09:20:00.000-08:00

Our newest experiment in gardening is As-Seen-On-TV's AeroGarden... will update with picture later once my phone gets some power.

This is supposed to bring fresh herbs into your home in just a matter of weeks. We've tried planting herbs in our garden to add to an already existing rosemary bush, but the little critters got to them as soon as they started to break ground. The same happened to my daisies.

The little AeroGarden machine has a UV light that has to be on for 16 hours a day for the first few weeks with little led lights up front that give you warnings when the water level is low and when the plants need their nutrients tablet.

Yes, it's gardening for the black-thumbed. But the jury's still out...

My Craigslist Addiction Continues

2008-02-22T13:57:00.000-08:00

I'm nesting... I'm cheap... but I like nice looking stuff. Naturally, I'm drawn to the odd, yet always fruitful world of Craigslist to fill our home.

My most recent purchase from this delightful world is a kitchen cart / island for a mere hundred dollars (normally $500-900 depending on where you're purchasing from). The kitchen was in dire need of extra counter space - as D's coffee contraptions have been taking up way too much of it near the sink.

The point of this blog entry, really, is to share how I've gotten my CL success - The best stuff (not gaudy and greatly priced) seems to be listed in the very late evening - after 9pm. The only reason I have been able to come up with for this logic is that these listers are looking to catch the morning audience.

Also, it seems to get their attention that you're truly serious about purchasing if you at least offer to paypal the money to hold the item. Most people don't like their time wasted by someone who'll come by then have to "think about it".

If you have any success with the above tips, please do let me know!

T

Sweet Dreams Do Come True

2008-02-16T21:35:00.000-08:00

I've walked out of the bedroom with an unshakeable smile. A cherry wood sleigh bed with a mattress that sits so high that I need a step stool to get up to it has just been assembled by D. He let me decorate the bedroom how I wanted it. All he asked was that I keep the floral decoration to a minimum, which isn't a problem at all.

After a decade of setting aside my desire for this bed (and a year of keeping a memory mattress on the floor), we splurged on it. The thing about it is - it wasn't a monetary splurge like I had been told it would be. The entire bed - including the new linens - cost us less than a new iPhone.

The bed frame is new - and purchased online on a great sale. Delivery was free, not to mention fast. It was here within a week and a half. The box springs are secondhand and purchased from Craigslist. The linens - king sheets, skirt, comforter, matching curtains - were purchased at Ross after a couple hours of hunting through the shelves.

There were a couple snags to the whole process of putting together this bed. The bed arrived in 3 major packages, none of which contained any instructions of how to put it together. After a few trial and error screws, D & I figured it out... all without taking each other's heads off! I expected to get chewed out when I put the feet of the slats on the wrong side. But once again, it was just bad memories skewing my perspective.

The second obstacle to the dream bed was finding an equally great deal on the box springs needed. I spent a week glued to Craigslist's RSS feed. I called every single listing for it. Most were already gone by the time I called or was waiting on the buyer to pick up the item. And after calling all the bedroom/furniture/mattress stores in the area, I figured out why. A king box spring requires 2 twin box springs. Each twin box spring ranges in price of $120 each to $400.

Yesterday, when all hope was lost and I was going to fork out the $250 for pieces of wood wrapped in cloth, I received a call from one of the listings that it was available. With paypal's help, D & I picked up the practically new items this morning.. Well, D did all the lifting. I just sat in the big white hick truck I borrowed from my brother. $40 and the hardest part was over.

Shopping for the linens at places like Ross tends to be like the experience I just had with Craigslist. You sometimes just can't find what you need when you need it, unless you are persistent. Some people like the challenge, and if you can handle the challenge, you can save a bundle. A king bed skirt at Linens N Things runs about $45 a pop - at Ross, $8.99. That is just unbeatable.

So tonight, I will finally sleep in the bed I've dreamt about for nearly a decade. The only thing is, I have to make sure I don't roll off it!

The Peeps at Work are Weird

2008-02-13T10:32:00.000-08:00

I enter our little kitchenette, grab the bright orange cup and make a bee-line for the water dispenser.

But, alas, someone with a much larger and very empty water bottle beats me there. He fills up his water bottle minutes later then once it's filled, stands there drinking his very full container in front of the water dispenser. Not only was he standing in my way as he guzzled, but he was guzzling with the rim an inch from his mouth, causing spillage. Picture geeky, gangly man with geeky shirt on, no shoes, just socks, with water dribbling down chin onto geeky shirt.

This very sight caused stunned silence. I was too disgusted to tell him to move. But because I was too stunned to say anything, he proceeded to repeat the process of filling up his bottle and drinking from it...

Finally, as if he could have possibly missed me in my size standing only a few feet away in his line of sight, he realizes that I am patiently waiting for the water dispenser.

Only here...

Freedom!

2008-02-05T14:29:00.000-08:00

That's what the kitten is saying this afternoon... He is currently on parole. His knee is healing, but not fully healed yet. He's allowed out of his prison (kennel), but no horsing around with his sister or climbing up counters.

Though at the moment, he's stalking his sister around the corners. I wish he'd just lay with me on the couch, but I can't blame him. He's been cooped up for weeks.

It's never just browsing around...

2008-02-03T10:25:00.001-08:00

Walking into a Costco or Sam's Club is like a trap. You can't just browse or pick up ONE thing... as the picture of our fridge shows. We went to get a new Sam's Club card as the other had expired and thought we'd pick up some juice while we were there.

We picked up juice... and soda... and Monster's new concoction...frappucinos... a laundry sorter... and many other things that filled up our cart. After an exorbitant amount of money, we filled up the car and went home. Damnit. I hate these places... at least I didn't come out with 48 rolls of toilet paper this time.

Lip Snackin' Good

2008-01-31T11:39:00.000-08:00

Over the past few months, I have been immersed in the delicious world of "snacks" and been loving every moment of this indulgence. These are some of my favorites, in case anyone is looking for a new addiction.

Caramel Cookie Waffles (Stoopwafels) and Butter Waffle Cookies: I first found these at Trader Joe's for about $3 a package. We purchased one of each, thinking they would go fantastically with a cup of tea. They do, but the cookies were so good that I noticed that I had just eaten the entire box of the Butter Waffle ones in ONE sitting. If you feel adventurous... and have your own waffle maker, you can find a recipe for stoopwafels here: http://www.stroopwafelshop.com/index.html

Sour Skittles: These suckers are rare in stores. I've only been able to find this in a little sweetshop at the mall near work. But if you see skittles in a lime green package, you must pick one up.

Snickers Ice Cream Bars: Must I really have to explain?

Tassimo's Chai Tea Latte: No tea or coffee shop I've been to has been able to replicate the goodness of this drink. Partaking in this might be a little bit pricey as you have to buy the Tassimo (http://www.tassimo.com) machine and then get the chai tea discs. Locally, I've been only able to find the chai flavor at Bed Bath & Beyond. Good thing they love to send those 20% off coupons in the mail!

Snookies Cookies: I was sent a package of these for my birthday. It's hard to make anyone say WOW with the abundance of brands and types of chocolate chip cookies. But this... is exceptional. You have to order online at http://www.snookies.com.

Chocolate Covered Macadamia Nuts: QFC started carrying the Mauna Loa package just a few months ago (at least that's when I remember first seeing them), and ever since then, they are on my regular grocery list.

Le Petit Ecolier White Chocolate Biscuits: It's the cookies with a French school boy on the chocolate. I mean, what could be better? Butter biscuits with sweet chocolate on top? Yumm. They also have regular milk choc and dark choc versions available to indulge in. Most grocery stores carry these goodies, so no need to go hunting too far!

Well, I hope I've made you hungry enough! Hmm.. wonder what I have in the cupboard...

Schm-organizing

2008-01-29T20:54:00.000-08:00

With big events coming soon (and not soon enough-- it depends on the mood), D & I have been on a "let's get sh*t done" mode.

We started with creating Weekly To Do Lists. After printing 25 copies of a template from Werd (spelling intentional) 2007 and mounting a small bulletin board on the wall between the living room and kitchen, we set out on our quest. The list is (gasp) is handwritten, allowing us the liberty to add and check off completed tasks quickly. Though I am normally all for technology, I find that having visual cues like this list has helped keep both of us task-oriented.

For me, I've require a little bit more than just this sheet. I need to be told what my day has in store for me, be reminded, be given lists to make sure I don't forget anything at the store. And to solve my dilemma, I got a digital personal assistant, Sandy (iwantsandy.com). I use her religiously with my email-capable phone. It's changed my life... sort of.

So far, D's been beating me at checking off things. And they're big things too. I should be grateful, rather than competitive. After all, at least he does more than just sit on his ass on the computer all night like yours truly. Omigawd, I've become exactly what I abhor...at least because that is what my body is limiting me to in this state.

Why did the Elk cross the road?

2008-01-25T11:49:00.001-08:00

I'm not really sure what the answer is. But I'm definitely going to have to ask them one of these days. The herd has been present all week on my route to work. Sometimes, the big male does his crossing-guard duties and other times, he just waits on one side for the rest of them to come by.

These are definitely beautiful yet gi-hug-ic creatures. If it was elk vs. car, I would be betting on the elk.

Hollywood Didn't Lie

2008-01-24T00:22:00.000-08:00

I've been on a movie hiatus for a few months. In fact, a lot of the major blockbusters over the last six months have zipped passed my radar. Because of the lack of new tv show episodes, we had some time to take in a flick.

Shoot 'Em Up was exactly what it advertised- both in trailers and its title. Clive Owen finds himself in amazing situations where he performs the most outrageous and unbelievable stunts. Honestly, it was just pure fun and I would recommend it... with the advice to go in without expectation other than it is exactly what they tell you. No need to read between the plot lines.

(Un)Lazy Sunday

2008-01-20T16:06:00.001-08:00

I wish I could have this lazy Sunday. But I can't sit still. Laundry has to be done, pictures have to be hung and dishes have to be put away. It frustrates me that I can't "shut down" and relax. It frustrates D that I can't.

During the week, work drains the life out of me... even when I work from home. The only time left to do anything is during the weekend. Maybe I should read this book: Productive Procratination.

Ice Festival '08

2008-01-20T10:03:00.000-08:00

After two mountain passes, we arrived in Leavenworth for the Ice Festival. The day was filled with many events: a Bavarian Mug Relay, Dog Sledding, Ice Smooshing Contest, Tug of War, Snow Sculpture and NW Dog Sled Pulling Competition. Most the events were hosted by King 5's weatherman, Jeff Renner, who is a lot shorter in person than expected.

We didn't participate in any events, but we watched most of them under the clouds that brought light snowflakes to help make the trip quite memorable. There were people from all walks of life visiting this Bavarian-themed town, all from the ones that don't bathe but once a month to the Posh-Spice-Wanna-Be.

My favorite was the ice smooshing competition. Four people strap 2x4 planks of wood and try to move in unison from one end of the street to the other. There were some highly skilled and coordinated groups, but there were a few that couldn't even make it 5 feet from the practice line to the start line. Good times.

We left just after the sun had set,and the drive home was quite treacherous over one of the passes. It worried me a little when D asked if our insurance would provide us a ride home if we were to end up in a fender bender. Honestly, I am not sure and I'll have to take a look at my policy.

But, we made it home without any mishaps. Just a really dirty car. Truthfully, if the event wasn't going on, the town would have been less than appealing.

Afternoon Delight

2008-01-17T18:24:00.000-08:00

The beginning of the week brought on some of that light and fluffy stuff for my enjoyment. Since then, there has been no rain and the temperature remained near or below freezing, allowing the snow to remain in tact in the yards and along roadsides.

Even with the restrictions set by the doctor (and my body) to limit my intense physical activity, she's been encouraging me to still remain slightly active by taking short walks around the neighborhood or in a park. After logging off work this afternoon, D & I took a quick jaunt to the local area lake.

We didn't walk around the entire lake, but it was great to see the snow covered grounds. We even saw some tracks that might have come from a bear! Hopefully this little excursion will help me sleep through the night.

This Is How I Felt This Morning

2008-01-14T09:46:00.001-08:00

Should I Be Worried...

2008-01-12T16:41:00.001-08:00

That I was ecstatic to receive my new 3.0 HP Shop Vac today? In the last year we've lived in our home. we've never had a large vacuum cleaner. We don't have a lot of carpet area, so we got by with Roomba and a powerful hand-held vac to do the stairs with.

I opted for the shop vac instead of the traditional vacuum, so I could use it for cleaning up around the litter box and the nooks and crannies of the kitchen. Oh yeah, and it was cheaper than buying a Dyson.

Perhaps my life is uneventful enough that the arrival of such a little treasure has completely made my day. It even made me feel better after I attempted to watch the Seahawks squander a great lead to the Packers.....

Not Quite Another Monday

2008-01-07T22:10:00.000-08:00

I always thought that the saddest thing about moving to my new home is that my commute would no longer include the beautiful drive over Lake Washington. But this morning changed that.

The snow covered homes, trees and mountains were beautiful enough to make me less unhappy about going back to work. It also helped to know that the person that made my blood pressure rise at work would no longer be gracing me with "its" presence.

Most of the snow had disappeared by the evening commute, but the news says that it is going to be returning tonight for more dusting. If this continues, I could get used to it...

Sigh of Relief

2008-01-05T14:32:00.000-08:00

After a couple days of uncertainty, the little kitten is now home resting in his kennel. He is expected to make a full recovery from his injury, but he has to be confined for the next four weeks.

He's hobbling around with his shaved leg whilst his sister tries to find a way in... probably to kick his ass for disappearing from her for a couple days. Now she sleeps alongside the kennel to keep him company as we watch the Seahawks kick the Redskins' ass.

We are glad to be home after a long time away. For the first time, I truly understand that the phrase,There is no place like home.

The Most Unfortunate Thing. Really. This Time I'm Not Lying.

2007-12-29T13:35:00.000-08:00

On top of everything that has gone awry with this trip (flu, etc), we recently received the news that one of our babies has gone and injured himself. He had a little run in with my brother's dog (the dog was after the food, not the cat) and managed to dislocate his rear left kneecap due to clumsiness. Doesn't he look pathetic (but adorable) with that splint on?

The knee is in such a condition that he does need surgery as soon as possible. In light of the news, we've changed our plans and will be returning home earlier than planned to care before before and after his surgery. My brother feels terrible, and I don't blame him or the beagle for any of it. It was just a series of unfortunate events.

For me, it seems as if its the most difficult thing to be away from the ones you love when you want to care for them... and already miss them so much. It wasn't a question whether we wanted to be home for the surgery, just a question of when was the soonest we could. Well, at least I'm getting better... which will make the trip home more bearable.

The Most Unfortunate Thing

2007-12-28T04:31:00.000-08:00

About this trip is that it hasn't been much of a trip at all. To this day, I am still congested and ill. It has been over a week since I've stepped outside this apartment, and today is the first day that I have felt well enough to even consider going out for a meal this weekend.

During the downtime, I've discovered my new favorite television show. It's The Lion Man. Think of him as Steve Irwin of lions. He hand raises lion cubs and trains them personally. His theme song is so cheesy, but catchy (It's apparently won a BAFTA!). If you want to catch a preview, see this youTube video.

On Boxing Day we did have a full house for a day of eating and opeing presents. I wasn't much help in the kitchen, but it looked like D and his brother M didn't really need any help from me anyway. Their menu included roasted chicken, roasted lamb shoulder, "veg", potatoes, yorkshire pudding, and stuffing. For dessert, we had an abundance of chocolate cake, black forrest gateau (sponge cake), mince pies, and lots of chocolate boxes. We still have lots of leftovers in the fridge.

I might partake in some gateau for breakfast this morning...if I can only stop coughing

AKA as a Jacket Potato

2007-12-19T09:42:00.000-08:00

For 2 and a half pounds, you can have a hot baked potato lunch with toppings of your choice. Mine included sweet corn and coleslaw. Sounds a bit disgusting, I know, but it was tasty. D has a slightly more normal one... it had baked beans and cheese on top.

In any case, it was great to have just before we rushed off for some Christmas shopping. And that, is no different from any country. It was busy.

A Little Piece of Home

2007-12-15T15:15:00.001-08:00

Much to my delight my first outing since the initial arrival into the country involved the familiarity of that lovely coffee lady in the photo.

It was packed like its original in Seattle. It was because of the novelty of its opening earlier in the week. However, unlike the ones in Seattle, they served the coffee in the mugs... rather than the regular paper cups. We wondered how many of them have been "nicked" since its opening.

After a bit of window shopping, we dined at the local chicken chain, Nandos. For 5 pounds each, we had a 1/4 chicken with 2 choice sides. The boys, of course, took 2 sides of fries ... err, chips... while I had roasted corn on the cob with chips. My chicken was flavored with lemon and just the right amount of kick (it was the mildest they had). It was delicious. The chicken fell off the bone easily and the roasted corn reminded me of the summers in our vacation home in the Philippines where we used to devour them as snacks. I will definitely asking for another round of that before we go.

When we were done, I didn't want to push my luck with my still iffy state and wanted to return to home before the temperature dropped too low. Now I sit here, with a full tummy and a new Top Gear on tv. This is almost heaven. Almost.

Chicken Coop

2007-12-14T10:08:00.000-08:00

Five days of my trip has gone, and I remain within the confines of the apartment because of this flu. However, I am optimistic for tomorrow. The coughing, sneezing and hacking up a lung has subsided... and Vicks and I will be parting ways soon (YAY!).

I wish I had more to share and blog about, but describing my dietary regiment isn't really all that exciting to anyone, even myself. The most exciting part of my day is finding that a Washington red apple had made its way into my fruit basket.

More interesting things to come soon... I hope.

Bacon!!!

2007-12-12T14:32:00.000-08:00

Though the last few days have been tough because of this bug, I did get to partake in one of my favorite British foods. The bacon sandwich (pictured).

It's not a fantastic, mind-blowing kind of sandwich, but rather a fulfilling one: Knowing there is meat rather than fat on your bacon. I had mine with just a little bit of ketchup, though you can have it with the popular HP Sauce. The bacon prices are comparable to its American counterparts, unlike a lot of things here. (I just watched a commercial for the Xbox 360 for 299#!!!)

It was the first thing I've tasted in days. Maybe that's why I feel so overjoyed by this meal, but for the most part, this is something you just can't have in the States!

Sniffles and Skittles

2007-12-11T11:11:00.000-08:00

In the town where Skittles used to be made, D & I are stuck in the apartment... completely ill. Neither of us can sleep nor breathe properly. Because I'm not allowed to take any other medicine, I've overcompensated to have D to take medicine for both of us.

Now, I'm taking these things called Lockets which are supposed to help my scratchy throat and blocked nasal packages. I've gone through most of the package, but it hasn't helped too much.

I really wish I can breathe soon!

Arrived in the GMT

2007-12-09T19:05:00.000-08:00

After a long Saturday of packing, cleaning and spending quality time with our kittens, we said our goodbye to the comforts of home for the time. I was quite distraught over leaving the little brats, but it's such a comfort knowing they're staying with family while we are away.

The plane departed late from Seattle yesterday because the crew was stuck in traffic. However, I'm pretty sure it was because they were out holiday shopping. They ascended to the terminal with bags and boxes from Macy's and such without any care that boarding had already been delayed an hour.

After boarding, we were greeted with a nice surprise. The in-flight entertainment had been upgraded to an on-demand model with a decent selection of movies, television and music. Economy plus brought some perks making the step up worth the while - nicely reclining seat with adjustable lumbar support and a leg rest. Plus, there were only two of us along the window, allowing me to make those repeated trips to the restroom.

The flight was pleasant, but it was difficult to sleep with the cold and sore throat still lingering. With the air being so dry and stagnant, it only worsened my condition and only allowed me a couple hours of sleep to meet the day and immigration with. This time, immigration went smoothly and the gentleman was quite nice about it. It was also a pleasant surprise to find that our luggage was in the first batch to arrive. We got through customs to be greeted by a sign (which was small to read from a distance, but the thought was great!) and balloons by D's sister and dad. It made me feel at home.

Getting settled into the apartment, however, didn't seem as easy. There was a miscommunication and waited an hour before we were let in by housekeeping. The apartment is nice, but upon settling in, have figured out there are things amiss: there was no hairdryer as promised and the bedroom window won't close without the proper key, which we were not given. Currently, it's jerry rigged to remain as closed as we could get it and have turned up the heat to compensate the difference.

It was great to see everyone at the Carvery for dinner and good converstation but I think D and I were much too tired to enjoy it completely. But I'm sure that won't be the last of those, so we excused ourselves and have since tried to sleep even with the windstorm.

Obviously, D is more sucessfull at that than I have been as I am up at 4am local time, wishing this cold and cough would be gone so I can really indulge in this trip. I guess I'll have to wait and see what tomorrow (errr.. today, I guess) brings....

Leaving On A Jet Plane

2007-12-07T12:10:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow, we'll be boarding the plane and I am ecstatic. Now only if I can breathe better... This stupid cold and cough has been lingering for days and no amount of vitamins or jamba juice has been able to cure me.

Maybe I'll do what I always do: stay up all night so I can sleep on the plane. With the packing and cleaning still left to be done, I'm sure that won't be too difficult. Other than the cold, there is concern about how comfortable I am going to be in the seat in my current condition. I'll let you know after we get there, I guess.

But, I do have my in-flight entertainment all ready to go. Comedy DVDs, the PSP with Lumines and lots of new albums on my iPod. Plus, they'll be showing Harry Potter on the plane. These are the little things that amuse me.

Winter Wonderland

2007-12-02T19:25:00.001-08:00

After days of forecasts predicting snow in the area, it finally arrived yesterday, starting at around 2 p.m..

It continued through the evening and gave us our morning surprise: about 2 feet of snow covered our garden and everything around us. The pathways disappeared and people were cross-country skiing on the road!

As we ventured through our neighborhood, we found that everyone was enjoying the winter wonderland. Kids were sledding down driveways and adults were having snowball fights. Others were riding their snowmobiles down the road to help clear the roads. Our trek took us to the neighborhood park where we found a frozen lake and deeper snow banks.

If this is how winter is every year, I'm going to love it here.

New Beginnings

2007-12-01T19:10:00.000-08:00

There is a desire to leave everything in the past where it rightfully belongs, and this change is simply the beginning of a new chapter in my life.

I hope you enjoy my new adventure with me...