we gave my parents a photo book, it features emily's nose

Merry Christmas Everybody!

emily sent this link, it's Bing and Bowie. Hope you all have a good holiday!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKTHvW2JcAA

Jobed

oh my goodness jr. high is crazy business! no time for lunch! I am like a full-blown "Miss Plewe" on a plaque, desk closest to the front reception jr. high secretary, which is not what I expected! today I made PA announcements, opened a stuck locker with a key and pliers, took sick notes, tried to remember about 12 names, helped student assistants, etc. it's going to be such a struggle to figure out all the attendance rules and how to explain them to parents and record them in the computer and use the computer as a cash register. I'm a little scared to be honest. but it felt right being there, unlike the puppy place, so I guess I'll push through and try and sort all this out. I did manage to block up the computer I was borrowing but it was solved with a control-alt-delete luckily, I think that's the worst thing I did today. not bad I guess.
crazy busy though! the day flew by. whew. they need more help so I'm going in the rest of the week too.
and if you call me at work, it's Miss Plewe to you!

Part-time job, take two

well, the bank account is suffering from the whole "jobless" situation, so to provide apples and tapioca for myself while finishing up the book I applied for a part-time job again, this time working in the office at a local Jr. High. luckily they hired me, so I'll start working thursdays and fridays and half-day wednesdays in the office there. it should be a challenge in a way I've not been challenged so far, helping out those kids and teachers and office people. I just hope there's enough jars of candy around that I can sooth any angry parent or picked-on kid with cherry flavored sugar. it works magic. let's hope I'm better at corralling kids than cats!
but I do think it'll give me more interesting stories to post here. :) I've now got to go get my uniform, a festive red holiday sweater. luckily my sweater skills are honed from shopping in Laramie for an outfit to wear partying this weekend. I possibly might also be required to get a feathered haircut, from the looks of things, but am putting that off for now.
I'm excited to see how this goes!

it's winter!

ward took me to Laramie

and Dennis took me to a place where the hot cocoa is as thick as bubble gum. mmm.

Interesting article in the Washington Post today-

Study: Monthly fasting may help heart

By MARILYNN MARCHIONE, AP Medical Writer1 hour, 38 minutes ago

Mormons have less heart disease — something doctors have long chalked up to their religion's ban on smoking. New research suggests that another of their "clean living" habits also may be helping their hearts: fasting for one day each month.

A study in Utah, where the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is based, found that people who skipped meals once a month were about 40 percent less likely to be diagnosed with clogged arteries than those who did not regularly fast.

People did not have to "get religion" to benefit: non-Mormons who regularly took breaks from food also were less likely to have clogged arteries, scientists found.

They concede that their study is far from proof that periodic fasting is good for anyone, but said the benefit they observed poses a theory that deserves further testing.

"It might suggest these are people who just control eating habits better," and that this discipline extends to other areas of their lives that improves their health, said Benjamin Horne, a heart disease researcher from Intermountain Medical Center and the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.

He led the study and reported results at a recent American Heart Association conference. The research was partly funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Roughly 70 percent of Utah residents are Mormons, whose religion advises abstaining from food on the first Sunday of each month, Horne said.

Researchers got the idea to study fasting after analyzing medical records of patients who had X-ray exams to check for blocked heart arteries between 1994 and 2002 in the Intermountain Health Collaborative Study, a health registry. Of these patients, 4,629 could be diagnosed as clearly having or lacking heart disease — an artery at least 70 percent clogged.

Researchers saw a typical pattern: only 61 percent of Mormons had heart disease compared to 66 percent of non-Mormons. They thought tobacco use probably accounted for the difference. But after taking smoking into account, they still saw a lower rate of heart disease among Mormons and designed a survey to explore why.

It asked about Mormons' religious practices: monthly fasting; avoiding tea, coffee and alcohol; taking a weekly day of rest; going to church, and donating time or money to charity.

Among the 515 people surveyed, only fasting made a significant difference in heart risks: 59 percent of periodic meal skippers were diagnosed with heart disease versus 67 percent of the others.

The difference persisted even when researchers took weight, age and conditions like diabetes or high cholesterol or blood pressure into account. About 8 percent of those surveyed were not Mormons, and those who regularly fasted had lower rates of heart disease, too.

Horne speculated that when people take a break from food, it forces the body to dip into fat reserves to burn calories. It also keeps the body from being constantly exposed to sugar and having to make insulin to metabolize it. When people develop diabetes, insulin-producing cells become less sensitive to cues from eating, so fasting may provide brief rests that resensitize these cells and make them work better, he said.

But he and other doctors cautioned that skipping meals is not advised for diabetics — it could cause dangerous swings in blood sugar.

Also for dieters, "the news is not as good as you might think" on fasting, said Dr. Raymond Gibbons of the Mayo Clinic, a former heart association president.

"Fasting resets the metabolic rate," slowing it down to adjust to less food and forcing the body to store calories as soon as people resume eating, Gibbons said.

made it!

made it to Laramie! blue skies and windmills all the way. and a vibrant greeting via dogs. (better photos on ward's blog)

space filler

soon ward and I will be taking off for a weekend adventure, so I thought since I won't post again until next week that I'd put something entertaining here in the meantime. staying in the same vein as adventure, this is an excerpt from Bill Bryson's "Notes From A Small Island: An Affectionate Portrait of Britain". I was sitting and finishing reading the book this morning over my raisin bran, and this passage had me laughing out loud repeatedly between bites. it's a simple case of miscommunication due to heavy Scottish accent, and maybe it's just my mood, nonetheless I post it here, and hope it is entertaining to all. If anyone has not visited Britain, I think reading this book gives about the same feeling as actually going, and it's much much cheaper (especially if you get it at DI for .50$ like the tag on this one says).
Anyhow, this is Bill upon getting lost in the Gorbals section of Glasgow and deciding to stop in a pub for a drink:

I wandered inside. It was a dark place, and battered, and there were only two other customers, a pair of men sitting side by side at the bar drinking in silence. There was no one behind the bar. I took a stance at the far end of the counter and waited for a bit, but no one came. I drummed my fingers on the counter and puffed my cheeks and made assorted puckerey shapes with my lips the way you do when you are waiting. I cleaned my nails with a thumbnail and puffed my cheeks some more, but still no one came. Eventually I noticed one of the men at the bar eyeing me.
"Hae ya nae hook ma dooky?" he said.
"I'm sorry?" I replied.
"He'll nay be doon a mooning." He hoicked his head in the direction of a back room.
"Oh, ah," I said and nodded sagely, as if that explained it.
I noticed that they were both still looking at me.
"D'ye hae a hoo and a poo?" said the first man to me.
"I'm sorry?" I said.
"D'ye hae a hoo and a poo?" he repeated. It appeared that he was a trifle intoxicated.
I gave a small, apologetic smile and explained that I came from the English-speaking world.
"D'ye nae hae in May?" the man went on. "If ye dinna dock ma donny."
"Doon in Troon they croon in June," said his mate, then added, "Wi a spoon".
"Oh, ah." I nodded thoughtfully again, pushing my lower lip out slightly, as if it were all very nearly clear to me now. Just then, to my small relief, the barman appeared, looking unhappy and wiping his hands on a tea towel... he said to me in a weary voice, "Ah hae the noo." I couldn't tell if it was a question or a statement.
"A pint of Tennent's, please," I said hopefully.
He made an impatient noise, as if I were avoiding his question. "Hae ye nae hook ma dooky?"
"I'm sorry?"
"Ah hae the noo," said the first customer, who apparently saw himself as my interpreter.
I stood for some moments with my mouth open, trying to imagine what they were saying to me, wondering what mad impulse had bidden me to enter a pub in a district like this, and said in a quiet voice, "Just a pint of Tennent's, I think."
The barman sighed heavily and got me a pint. A minute later, I realized that what they were saying to me was that this was the worst pub in the world in which to order lager, since all I would get was a glass of warm soapsuds, dispensed from a gasping, reluctant tap, and that really I should flee with my life while I could. I drank two sips of this interesting concoction, and, making as if I were going to the Gents, slipped out a side door.

Death-by-Bison Island

Joseph from seattle came to visit! He took me, cindy, his brother and his sister-in-law to lunch yesterday at a Thai place on state street, then cindy had to go back to work and the others went shopping, so I took him out to Death-by-Bison Island (formerly known as Antelope Island). It was so nice out there, silent, stealthy, so seemingly innocent. For some reason my phonecamera pictures came out all different sizes, most of them tiny, so I understand if you can't feel the menace, or the beauty, of the island through the pictures.
After a stop by the visitor's center (did you guys know it costs $9 to visit now?? crazy), we drove out to find some antelope. But before we even got in the car, there were three huge Bison just chewing away a little bit past the parking lot of the visitors center. We spent the rest of our time driving, looking at the beautiful colors, not seeing antelope, and careening around giant death-Bison in the road (I had to switch places and let Joseph drive for the fear of them, then he almost killed the car by heading straight towards an oncoming Bison fresh from a big Bison fight in the prarie and with fire in it's dark eyes and a hankering to stomp green nissans of a certain age. Scary stuff.)
After the island we went to ward's house, then to the SLC library where we met back up with Joseph's family and said goodbye to him again until he returns sometime, maybe in the spring. It was good to see you Joseph! ward and I then 'rented' some videos from the library and had a nice time unwinding, watching shakespeare, and eating mini-muffins.

beautiful...! I wish this was larger..


Joseph: "uh, that antelope just ain't right..."


liiiittle tiny death Bison


uh-oh, closer


not so scary!


Joseph conquered that mountain


after we regained senses enough to take a picture immediately following the near escape

Thanksgiving

*edit* - my camera ran out of room after only 12 shots! and that was before dinner was served, hopefully there will be more photos on emily's blog! sorry I am so lame with the technology. sigh.
but, on the plus side, john cooked thanksgiving dinner complete with 5 pies, everything from scratch, and it was completely delicious. a total success. :) even the appetizers were completely delicious. thanks emily and john for having us over! afterward we went to grandma's and worked on a puzzle. rich and jeanine were there, as were bob and julia and ned. the puzzle was of Nauvoo, and I think the hardest one aunt corliss has ever brought to the table. needless to say, we felt triumphant whenever a piece actually fit. which is nice, feeling triumphant, so it was very pleasant.



will took this one





Happy Thanksgiving everybody!

Art show

Emily and John had an opening reception friday for a small art show. there was very delicious cheese involved. more blurry cameraphone photos on her blog soon!

Fancy lunch

Mom, Emily and I went out to lunch today at Bambara in the Hotel Monaco. It was delicious, and not too spendy! Katie, we were planning when we can go next when you're here. my plate of food was extremely tall, doesn't the tallness of the dish correspond to the deliciousness of the food? I'm sure there's a graph proving that somewhere.



then we went back to Emily and John's house. Mom went to do battle with the social security office and Emily cut my hair.

Emily's fridge has three ice options- crushed, cubed, and stamped-


first she went to get William from school. here's how this played out-

me: "ok William, pose!"
W: "ok!"

W: "let me see!"
Me: (show him the picture)
Me: "ok, pose!"
("pose" apparently means "lean non-chalantly against the wall. where did he pick that up?)
W: "let me see!"


W: "let me see! let me see!"
"aaagghh!" (goes running off down the hall)


me after-haircut. I know I know, it looks the same, but it feels so much better! thank you Emily!


I can't help it.


he's just cute.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood

my friend Vanya had a rare day off today and was looking for someone to go hiking, so I told him I'd go and I promptly put off working and hit the road. we went to Wasatch-Cache National Forest (i.e. just up Big Cottonwood canyon), after wandering around Brighton watching them make snow and getting sorta lost looking for a trail. the national forest was a much better find, the weather was completely blue-skied, but we seemed to hit all extremes- warm, cold, dry, snow- repeatedly. all in all it was a nice afternoon to be walking around!

Vanya
tunnel of light (i.e. "dying")



touch moist lake!















tree popsicles

more yard leaf photos for those who are away!


hmmm, where does the neighbor's yard start?? I just can't seem to make it out...


yesterday we were invaded by a sleek collie dog and a mid-sized black lab, they were running joyously around the yard for a good 30 minutes. both had tags, and when I went out to see if I could call them over, they stopped, looked at me, then jogged off down the street. they knew they were busted. hopefully they went straight home after taking the afternoon off to do leaf doughnuts. sheesh. teenagers.


it's become pretty much like quicksand



.
some of you are curious about what I'm doing now so I thought I'd post a photo. this is where I go to work during the day. it's got a much better view than my cubicle at KPFF had, but I do miss the people.

ooooo.... I am the Night Sky....oooooooo...


Halloween was a little odd this year, I'm kinda glad it's over. An example of the oddness, Sarah Ward's party ended with her kicking everyone out with an emphatic "ok! party's over, I'm sorry!" after some party crashers tracked in dog doo doo and danced it around the house liberally. Technically my dress was supposed to glow but there was light everywhere, so it just sorta faintly shimmered, but people liked it anyway!

Tagged by Hyo

Ok, seven random things, here we go-

1. I'm more into clothes and shopping since I moved to Seattle and got annoyed with all the preppy-looking people there. It may have been grunge everywhere else, but on Queen Anne Hill it was preppy. I tried to stand out by finding interesting things to wear.
2. I love ketchup.
3. My thumbs are double-jointed.
4. I have a scar over my eyebrow that is very noticeable but people don't generally notice when they look at me to talk to me. It's from pretending to be a ghost when I was three or so, and stepping on the edge of the blanket, falling, and cracking my head on the corner of the brick fireplace. my mom says all I said when they were stitching me up was "down? down?"
5. I grew up in a historic house in Centerville in my early years. Boy Scout groups used to come read the plaq attached to the corner of the house, and we'd make faces at them through the window.
6. My car is called "The Muffin Car" by some of my friends.
and
7. There are photos of me in the LDS Family Home Evening handbook from the early eighties. my mom was friends with one of the photographers and they used us kids as models to illustrate the stories. In one I'm doing dishes with my sister at the sink in our old house.

- thanks Hyo, that was kinda fun!!

Bliss

you know, sometimes things align and there's suddenly, out of nowhere, bliss. this morning, seeing the glowing yellow leaves surrounding the house in a carpet, being inside, holding a fried egg on wheat toast sandwich and italian amaretto hot chocolate, is somehow blissful. these moments are everywhere. what a blessing. I can't get over it.

A trip to the Mountains

Dennis is briefly a man of leisure now sometimes, as am I (woman of leisure), so we decided to go to the mountains today to document some of the beautifulness. Lots of the trees had already lost their leaves, but it smelled wonderful and felt so different from being in the city, it was just a really good idea. Before we got out to take photos, we hit the snow and kept going up up up. Here it is, in October, snow-

here's Dennis-


I'm 'Photographer of Light'. Dennis was more 'Photographer of Color'. But we both earned titles.



Here's my dynamic waterfall picture-


Dennis setting up for his dynamic waterfall shot-


gnarled-


I call this one 'The Long Trousers'-