Day of Projects

This week pretty much flew by. My trip to Scottsdale AZ was quite lovely. The weather was quite hot (well into the 90s). We stayed at a lovely resort with no less than three pools (and me w/o my bathing suit!), ate copious amounts of resort food (and drank quarts of grapefruit juice... yummy!), and even learned a little along the way. It was amazing to be in the same room with a large group of people who understand the work I do and can get excited about it. I won't bore you with the details, but the job I do is a specialized niche of accounting that generally only CPG (consumer packaged goods) companies have to deal with.

Today, I'm planning on getting some projects if not finished, at least started. I have stuff I'm doing for the band for their final shows (which makes me a bit sad), more along the lines of personal projects I've wanted to do for years and just never made it a priority. I've also got a few things around the house to do, so I'll just have to see how much I can get done.

On another note, I received my free* Day Timer leather binder with all the inserts and accoutrements I recently ordered last night. It came with samples of all sorts of different pages, including graph paper! Now I need to get the phone book tabs and I'll be set. Most of my contacts are in my email program or on my Palm (yes, I have both a paper and an electronic planner, I'm finding out what will work best for me as I have used both to varying degrees of success) but I learned from the Laura Stack, the Productivity Pro, to use the alpha tabs in the phone book as a filing system in the planner as well as a phone book. Since there are some very exciting opportunities coming up at work, I want to work hard on my productivity and my organization to give myself that extra boost.

In my slightly scattered way, I just checked my queue in the midst of writing this post. My next movies coming from Netflix are quite exciting, and the tv show is one I've been waiting to see all year (since I don't get WB on my rabbit ears). Netflix is my compromise with myself regarding visual entertainment. I just cannot justify the $40+ a month for cable for me and my kitties, when I have so much else I should do (writing, reading, projects). So I get my movies, fit them in when I can, and call it good. I'm sure I've ranted this before, but I do feel strongly about it (and I can get digital cable at Mom's whenever the urge strikes).

Off to check the mail and get working on those projects.


* with purchase of a year of inserts and S&H, still a good deal overall.

Tagged Again

1. The last movie you saw in a theater, and current-release movie you still want to see:
Saw Cars at the dollar movie – I loved it!

Little Miss Sunshine

2. The last movie you rented/purchased for home viewing:

The Constant Gardner – Very good

3. A movie that made you laugh out loud:

Dogma

4. A movie that made you cry:

Big Fish

5. A movie that was a darling of the critics, but you think didn't live up to the hype:
um I don’t generally keep up with the critics,
6. A movie you thought was better than the critics:
see above

7. Favorite animated movie:
Mulan

8. Favorite Disney villain:
Ursula

9. Favorite movie musical:
On a Clear Day You Can See Forever

10. Favorite movies of all time (up to 5):
Princess Bride

To Kill a Mockingbird

Casablanca

It’s a Wonderful Life

Labyrinth

Got Tagged

The hardest part of this one, was that I had to pick only ONE in each… tried for the first one I thought of.

1. One book that changed your life - the hardest question first. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

2. One book that you've read more than once. – A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

3. One book that you'd want on a desert island. – A large collection of short stories or fairy tales

4. One book that made you laugh. – Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris

5. One book that made you cry. – All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarch

6. One book that you wish you had written. – Wicked by Gregory Maguire

7. One book you wish had never been written. – Mien Kampf

8. One book that you are reading at the moment. To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis – funny time traveling literary goofiness

9. One book that you've been meaning to read. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes

Business Trip Prep

Whee! Today I'm going about making lists, ironing clothes, figuring out what items need to be checked and which I can carry on all in preparation for my business trip next week. I actually leave tomorrow afternoon, so hence the running about today.

My department is sending me to beautiful Scottsdale AZ for a conference. I'm going to meet others in my field (which is fairly specialized to CPG companies) as well as folks from my parent company. There will be a presentation by our new software provider about the module we just implemented for my department (for which I'm busily troubleshooting and refining processes). I'm glad I got business cards a couple months back, they'll get a work out this week.

I also have time to bond with my current supervisor, who is the other attendee from our company. We have gotten along well over the last couple months since she joined our department. I'm hoping that the time together will be good for both of us. I know that I can learn a lot from her, and I hope that she can learn more about our specialized field from me.

When I get back, I'll let y'all know how it went. It's a short trip, so I'll see you soon!

Newness

Short and quick post here.

It's amazing how wonderful and special things are when they are new. Even a treadmill, pre-owned and representative of long hours of hard work can be a bright and shiny thing.

And the cats think it's a wonderful new toy to climb on or nap on... silly kitties. (No, I don't let them near it when I'm using it)

Weird, wild stuff.

Five years ago

This morning I woke up to the song stylings of Lee Greenwood's God Bless the USA.

Five years ago tonight, I sat in a new hottub, listening to Mr. Greenwood and watching the Twin Towers fall over and over again on every channel.

The Towers of Light are on in NYC tonight, still the only thing to have risen from ground zero.

I just heard on the news that it takes 7 to 10 years to get over a sudden and tragic loss.

Today I had an active and exciting day, and tonight, after finally being alone for the first time since early this morning, I'm experiencing an admixture of at two very different griefs, one very public and shared, the other very private, yet on some level shared.

Just reflecting in a scattered, disjointed kind of way.

Good things about today

A nice quiet day today.

First off, when I was out cleaning my car (it's going in for repairs next week), I heard distant bells. In a few moments, the familiar melody of an ice cream truck came around the bend. I saw the tiny truck drive by, and nearly flagged it down to buy a drumstick or a pushup pop. It rounded the bend and its little melody followed it before I could give in to its haunting lure.

Later, after a flash thunder and hail storm, in the freshly washed air, I found a perfectly golden leaf clinging to my car window. As I drove to the rest of my errands, I passed a golf course. The late summer storm had left a snowy white covering on just the greens.

Day out and about

This morning Mom called and we decided to visit the wee one, now that she and her parents had a week to get used to the full body cast she is in after surgery to correct her hip displaysia. Happily, the surgery was a success, now the next several weeks in the cast must be endured to let it heal.

We had a quick bite at the local fast food joint, and drove across town. My aunt and uncle (Grandma and Grandpa) were babysitting (Mom and Dad at work). We spent a couple hours with the family, as the cast of characters changed (Grandma leaving, Mom arriving). Playing Magna-Doodle, watching PBS Kids Sprout and trying to understand sweet little words spoken around her favorite binky comprised some of the exciting activities. It was good to see everyone, and spend time with the wee one, even a sometimes cranky wee one.

After our visit, Mom and I went to the dollar movie (not quite as good as the fifty cent movie from bygone days - I'll see anything for fifty cents!) and saw Cars. Mom had seen it before, and allowed that she would see it again. I really enjoyed the movie. It was much more geared for adults than I expected, and I even cried a little (*sniff*).

After the movie and a relatively slow dinner, we adjourned to the house to make orange mini muffins (yum!) for Mom's church function in the morning. Nothing like orange mini muffins baking to fill the kitchen with tasty scents and feelings of home.

Um, surprise??

You are a Social Liberal (71% permissive) and an... Economic Liberal (25% permissive) You are best described as a: Democrat Link: The Politics Test on Ok Cupid Also: The OkCupid Dating Persona Test

Weekend over

The weekend has officially ended, and on a good note.

Friday evening, I had a good time at my nephew's birthday party. He looked very happy and had a good time with family and friends. We all whipped out our cell phones and called his new phone so he could add the numbers in his address book.

Saturday was extremely quiet, I did a lot of stuff around the house, projects I needed to start or finish, stuff like that. Both kitties enjoyed me being home, and I spent time playing with or petting on them on and off. Watched Labyrinth and Arabian Nights in the background.

Sunday, quiet again, until I got myself going around 2. Made my way to Mom's, where we ended up playing cribbage and watching part of Meet the Fockers (which was much funnier than I expected, all the hype notwithstanding).

After the movie watching, I went over to GirlZoot's and got my game fix for a couple days. We played a quick and dirty hand of Magic, then 3 rounds of Mexican Dominoes (also called Train Dominoes among others). The Boy joined us and we had a rousing time of wit and banter as well as game-y goodness. Three hands of Hearts followed where I got to take the Queen at least once (after I gave it away no less). I always enjoy playing games at GirlZoot's or my kitchen table. I think it's my turn next (whenever they can make it up in my neighborhood).

Today (well, yesterday now) I did some more around the house, with the added benefit of a partner in crime. We managed two meals out, the laundry, the bills, the sheets, and the carpets. Whew!

Overall, a very relaxing weekend, with lots of down time (which I needed more than I realized). I may have to take another day off sometime this month (before my weeklong vacation in October for which I will need to be forgiven). And next weekend, we're off to see the wee one for a few hours at least. We didn't make it to see her this weekend, but since she just got home Friday, I'm sure her parents are looking forward to having some time to adjust.

See you in the world.

Looking into a long weekend

I think I'm all caught up on the major events and activities of the last few weeks.

Here's where I am today.

We are going to go see my baby cousin (I've got to come up with a better descriptor than that, she's nearly 2!) at Children's Hospital later today. She had surgery to correct hip dysplasia, and will be in a cast from the waist down for 6 weeks, then another half cast for another 6 weeks. The good things here are that it was caught early (imagine 12 weeks in a cast as an active 6 or 8 year old), she probably won't remember this with stunning detail, and even the doctor said it will be harder on the adults than on her. She's an amazingly adaptive and sweet little girl, and I know she'll come though this and still be a sweet, happy little girl.

I took today off, so I have a nice 4 day weekend ahead of me... where I will endeavor to keep my mind off my job. With all that is going on, it sometimes creeps into my thoughts on my time off, and I try not to let it bother me. The other day, tho, I woke up in a start and called myself at work to cancel something I had scheduled by mistake... Fun times!

After visiting the wee one, I will be going to celebrate my nephew's birthday. He just started high school and is now 15 years old (as of Wednesday). He is taller than me (and his mother, and I believe his father as well) and I can still remember him spitting up on me when he wasn't much bigger than a football. I had just started college when he was born and all sorts of memories are swirling around in my noggin, of his previous birthdays, of when he and his mother visited me in my college dorm, of playing video games, and board games and laughing and watching this incredible boy grow into the young man he is now. And I am honored to be one of the privileged few friends invited to the family dinner tonight.

One last thing, I had a very strange dream last night. Girlzoot and I were mudding on the old HLII MUD. Somehow, instead of just colorful text, it was live action as well, some sort of combination that may have been just part of the dream. Anyway, one of the elder gods was helping Girlzoot and me gain in the attributes of our class, which for my part involved me being humiliated but remaining true to my honesty. Once I was humiliated to death (in the game) I raised my attribute and resurrected in a room called Up on Altia's Rooftop. I tried to read the text of the room (it was created for and by Altia when she attained godhood back in the day) because I wanted to save it. Well, things started happening, as they do on the mud, and the text either never showed or it scrolled by too fast to read. When I was recalled (by the same elder god) I met Girlzoot (in the live action part of the game) and told her what happened.

Ok, I'm off to shower and dress to go see the wee one. Enjoy your holiday weekend, everyone!

Renovation

Our local ABC is under renovation, so we have to decamp early tonight. Next week is Labor Day, so I got my writing group fix as best I could tonight.

Survivor brought his lovely wife, Mrs. Survivor. We hit it off, and even enjoyed a brief interlude outside in the cool evening air talking before we had to pack up and leave. I'm still mulling some of the things we talked about.

All in all, a good night, even if the group part ended too quickly. See everyone in 2 weeks!

Punk Rock 101

Before the Get Happy Tour concert tonight, I met Girlzoot at Brothers BBQ on Washington and 6th Avenue. My KC Brisket tickled my tastebuds greatly, and the sweet bbq sauce tasted just fine. We talked, and listened as we finished our tasty meals.

After finding a good spot to park by Charlie's, we wandered across the street to get our tickets at will call and stand in line. While getting the tickets, we watched some of the members of the various bands (mostly the folks from Bowling for Soup) cross Colfax with a darling french bulldog named Sherman (which GZ found out later). At previous concerts, I have always delighted in seeing part or all of the band before the show.

While we waited in line, Mitch joined us. It really made me happy that the three of us could get together for the concert. While we have kept up in various ways over the last year since Kerri's funeral, it felt good to all be together.

Once inside the Ogden, I noticed that the upstairs had expanded quite a bit, and had wings coming out toward the stage along the walls. It took a few minutes to register this, seeing as I hadn't been in the theatre for a couple of years.

Since this was a 16+ show, we had to prove our age to get up to the balcony where the drinks were. Our tight neon orange bracelets made quite a fashion statement, going very well with our Batgirl and Tinkerbell t-shirts (can you guess which was mine?)

We had a few drinks and I made some impromptu earplugs (so out of practice). Before the show we got in some chatting and talking and laughed quite a bit.

Four bands performed, Army of Freshman, Punchline, Lucky Boys Confusion, and Bowling for Soup. Though I didn't know anything of the first 3 bands but Girlzoot's good word, after they finished, I discovered I definitely like their music. We bought a Lucky Boys Confusion EP for $5, and I now have three albums in my iTunes shopping cart. And I'm looking forward to the new BFS album coming in November *whoot*

The Bowling for Soup set had a total of one song I didn't know, which in itself was awesome, but they also played every song I wanted to hear (Surf Colorado, Ohio, 1985, Two Seater, Girl All the Bad Guys Want, Punk Rock 101, The Last Rock Show, Get Happy). I'm going to be buzzing on this for a while.

Thanks Mitch and Girlzoot for coming out! I had a great time and we should do it again soon (or something like it).

Whooo hooo!

One final look

Saturday I drove into a wet and rainy Boulder to see the last show on my punch card. After much deliberation, I chose to do a repeat performance.

I parked at the Library (huzzah for free parking!) and walked by Boulder Creek under Broadway and up to 13th to the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art. I got my last punch for Arachne and wandered through the muesum until the show was opened. I got a second row seat along the back, where I could see the entire stage (the first time we were to the side and missed part of the story in the stage dressings).

I saw a few of the actors from different pieces at the Fringe, which was fun. Everyone seemed to be supporting everyone else.

With a different persepective, and a different night, the show came alive in a different fashion. Some of the surprise had left the piece, like the skittering spider part, however, the story and the acting withstood the loss of my innocence.

Whereas some of the pieces at the Fringe showed different or updated visions of an older story, Arachne told the myth set in the time and place of its origin. "We tell the same stories over and over again." "If we're lucky and we have a story where we're really smart or really clever, then we tell that story over and over again." Her retelling of this ancient tale not only brought the myth to life again but also gave me a glimpse into the eyes of an angry Goddess and I felt the loss of faith that Arachne purported keenly.

"I am here in the corner, where you don't want me. But I am still here."

Flying Solo

Friday afternoon, I got an email from DJ, he was unable to make it out on Friday night. I pulled out the festival schedule to see if there was anything I wanted to change about the shows we planned on seeing. Luckily, the shows were all in the Dairy Center for the Arts, a nice central location, close to some good eats and relatively easy to park near.

I got off work early, due to summer hours and drove into Boulder. The sky was overcast a bit, with the sun peeking out at different times. By the time I got to the Dairy, it had warmed considerably and I decided to run by Noodles for a bite to eat. With my book (the reading of which I wouldn't be noting on my CV, as it would mean I didn't like to socialize), I walked down to the restaurant and ordered a nice trio of breaded Parmesan chicken, mushroom stroganoff, and a caesar salad (with real grated Parmesan cheese on it). Quite tasty, and I read my book for about an hour before heading back to the venue.

By now, it was raining lightly, like it had last Saturday walking back from *Bux (which, incidentally is next to Noodles). I went into the Dairy to get my tickets and I got a chance to meet Sophie Nimmannit, the artist and actor in Arachne. She was very personable and genuinely excited to hear feedback. Later, while waiting in line, she put on the Athena mask (with mirrors for eyes, which just felt so right for a Goddess) and handed out flyers to her show.

The first show I saw was Something is Rotten, a very off beat version of Hamlet, with puppets, a goldfish as Ophelia, a construction truck as a very convincing Laertes, and a ghost sock with pink stripes. As before in many of the shows we saw at the Fringe Festival, the actors continually broke the fourth wall. All in all it was funny and entertaining, definitely something unique in the treatment of Hamlet.

After a brief break, while the stage was set for the next performance, I found myself in the same seat (front row stage left section). The Decameron Project had large imposing asymetrical blocks for the staging, looking almost like rock formations or distant mountains. Later in the show, everyone had a start when one of the big crags came crashing down by mistake with a thunderclap.

Set in a future where mankind seemed to be nearly destroyed by an undefined plague, six survivors told each other stories to keep the dark at bay and remind themselves of their essential humanity. Some of the stories, like the Family Bed and the Office Sex Toy (my titles, not theirs) touched a deep vein of humor and sexual banter. Others, like Come Back After Death and Wrong Therapist, had humor laced with a piercing meaning, reminding us all of what it is to be human. While the actors physically broke the fourth wall by leaving the stage and sitting on the floor before it, they never spoke to the audience. I loved the storytelling aspect and how the others would participate in acting out the story. It gave a richness of experience and allowed the players to be different people all within the context of the show. Serious, but ultimately uplifting.

After the last show, I was quite tired, and left the beautiful Boulder valley to wind my way home. One more punch for tomorrow and the Boulder International Fringe Festival will be over, at least for me, until next year.

Pearl Street Up and Down

Tonight the plan was for catching a show together at the Trident at 8:30. Since I get off work between 5 and 6 o'clock, I figured I could take in another show before the comedy improv. Plans changed after I heard from DJ. Now we were taking in two shows, after a quick bite at Illegal Pete's (mmm good).

IP's is at 15th and Pearl. We walked down to the Boulder Co-op at 19th and Pearl to see w/e, a one man dramatic piece (picture above). I really liked the way the story unfolded, and how the characters interrelated. The actor, Robert LaRonde, had an amazing grasp of kinesthetic sense as evidenced by the transformation between Miles and Cynthia. Miles' near frenetic pacing and Cynthia's tentative smile stayed with me.

Afterwards, we walked back down Pearl Street to the Trident (at 9th). Along the way a busker was performing for a small crowd, balancing something on her chin. She had a chain demarking the stage, one of the yellow plastic kinds. DJ told me about another performer he had seen, who did an amazing Zip Code trick. He had a chain outlining the continental US and asked for audience members to tell him what Zip Code they were from (preferably out of state). He would unerringly place them in the correct home towns and fill the map with the folks watching the show.

We got to the Trident with plenty of time, and we got some drinks. One of the performers we had seen on Sunday had just finished his set and was staying for the next one. I said hi and told him how much I enjoyed his show. He remembered me and DJ from the other night (most of the venues are very intimate, we're talking inches not feet from the stage at times).

The improv, Comedy a la Carte, was done by Mile Hi-Larity, a local Denver improv troupe. We had an MC and four players varying from Jeopardy to guess the activity with a twist. As always, audience participation was manditory. Occupations, outdoor activities, and favorite colors tumbled over each other vying for promenince and the chance to be chosen. One of my favorite improv activities is always Rewind, and they did a good job with a trucker piece. One I hadn't seen before was Flashback, where the action rolls for a while then the MC calls flashback and the players act out a scene that happened before the last scene. Confusing, but definitely entertaining.

Two years in a row, Kerri and I went to Impulse Theater under the Wynkoop for her birthday (after trying abortively to see something closer to home). It was always fun and we laughed so much we cried. Under the overhang at the Trident, in a place where I was pretty sure she had never been, I could feel her with me, laughing and being amazed at the speed and hilarity ensuing before me.

After the laughter subsided, and I could breathe normally again, we wandered back toward my car, parked at 14th and Canyon. After I dropped DJ off at his car, I wound my way back through Boulder, enjoying the quiet and the cool evening air, and wondering what tomorrow would bring.

Reunion

Today we had a reunion of sorts at my office. We've been in the new building since December last year and we finally have a beautiful new full service cafeteria. Everyone who ever left the company was invited (and I heard quite a lot of opinions about this).

There was a treasure hunt (going around to all the floors and getting stamps from different places, learning that the main executive office is the size of a small apartment) and a prize drawing. Tee-shirts, water bottles, and a long line for some scrumptious finger foods. It was fun to see some of the folks I worked with over the last several years.

At the prize drawing, both my guest (my mom) and I won prizes (gift cards to the new Cafe).

Then we took a long, hot drive to Aurora to enjoy a chocolate malted.

Tuesday at the Library

Well, ok, it wasn't exactly at the library, but I parked at the library, does that count? It's a very lovely building, the Boulder Public Library, and I enjoyed parking there close to the creek and all. While I have dozens of books at my house that are begging to be read, I still could have passed a pleasant evening in the confines of the library... and it might have been slightly more entertaining.

Tonight I met DJ down by the library and we went to another of a series of Fringe Festival events. The venue, the Trident, is set up quite nicely for a little sheltered outdoor patio experience. Before the show, we kept getting peeks of the actors, getting set up on either side of the stage (behind tall white walls). I sort of felt like we were seeing the bride before the wedding. DJ thought they were eager and that was a good sign.

My mother taught me that if you don't have anything nice to say, it's best not to say anything at all.

So after the show, we walked back to the library parking lot and talked for a bit. After the night flies and the 'squitioes snacked on us enough, I drove home under the darkening sky.

Quiet

I got to our local internet cafe and had a yummy chicken cordon bleu panini sammich with a pickle chaser. I spent most of the evening chatting with Shaych, Girlzoot, and Seraphmoon. Fun times.

Not a lot of non-chat writing, tho.

More Fringe to come tomorrow!

A Fringing we will go

Second helping of the Boulder Fringe Festival today. The first performance was at the Trident Bookstore out on the back patio, which had a sand box and a high ceilinged covered section. We saw Curriculum Vitae by Jimmy Hogg, the Brit who approached us yesterday to come see his show. It was wicked funny. During the performance he went from wearing a bathrobe to dressing himself for an interview. We got Star Wars references, surreal moments from my own life, and audience interaction. I would see this one again, if there weren't so many other shows I have planned.

After the show, DJ and I walked down Pearl Street and the entire length of the mall. As I am not a frequent patron of the mall, I walked pretty slow and did a bit of window oogling. I also noticed an It's Your Move game store (one of my weaknesses). We had a quick dinner and walked to the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art for the second show of the evening.

The performance was upstairs in a space with seating on three sides. Before we were seated, we wandered around the galleries with both wood and metal sculptures and paintings with some mixed media. There was also a scary looking open lift. *shiver* My life long fear of heights kicked in and I stepped back while DJ investigated. It did look interesting, sort of reminded me a bit of the lifts in Metropolis (which I need to retrieve from who I lent it to).

Arachne was a one woman show with puppets and masks. The artist came out in a full spider outfit and skittered across the floor in a very realistic, and somewhat creepy, manner. (Note, I am not overly fond of spiders, I try to refrain from screaming when seeing one) The interpretation of the myth explored the story from Arachne's point of view. I quite enjoyed it.

Afterward, we walked through City Park, under Broadway, and over Boulder Creek. Running water sounds soothing and always captures my attention. We stopped momentarily on the bridge where the creek ran under our feet.

Before I knew it, I was back in my own car driving home with a smile on my face. I could get used to this.