I'm still here!

I haven't fallen off the face of the earth. We're just back from a glorious week in Oregon, so I have lots of catching up to do. I've also been "tagged" by my friend Kat, which means I have to answer some questions about myself, then choose someone else. That will be my next post, but gimme a few more days!

Rocky top

To escape triple-digit temperatures last month, we took a drive to Rocky Mountain National Park, about an hour and a half away. It was about 20 degrees cooler, and at one particular elevation, I put on a sweater and pants. Notice my hot-pink Crocs. Ugly? Probably. But very comfy. Made in Niwot, Colo. The recent IPO was a smashing success.


The dogs weren't allowed on any trails in the park, but we managed to get them in a few photos. This one was taken by a middle-aged biker couple. We returned the favor and took their pic in front of the Continental Divide signage.


A beautiful view from somewhere around the top. I think the highest elevation we reached was right around 12,000 feet, about a 7,000-foot gain from Denver.


A little snow was left. During some parts of the drive, I was scared senseless because of the steep edges with no guardrails. I was literally almost in tears at one point, though I didn't tell Michael until later (he was driving; don't know if that made it better or worse for me -- I was on the side with the edges). Michael's uncle mentioned he didn't much care for that aspect of the drive either when he visited.


Angus was enthralled by ...


A chipmunk. They were cheeky and coming right up to people.


Esther had to sit out the chipmunk portion of the trip. Too much excitement for her little brain to handle, and I was afraid she'd jump over the edge going after one.

Ray of "Sunshine"

OK, if you never listen to anything else I say, please, please, please go see "Little Miss Sunshine" or add it to your Netflix queue when it comes out. It is a darkly delightful, perfect little movie. The kind that reminds you why the medium of film exists in the first place. Perfect casting in every way and a flawless movie. The audience actually clapped at the end. How often does that happen?

Side note: Denver band DeVotchka performs much of the music.

Lego loco

Thanks to Maria for this Lego link of crazy creations, including Han Solo trapped in carbonite, above. My Lego skills never made it beyond your basic, not-so-mighty-mighty brick house.

Boy in the 'hood

Our little neighbor Grayson and his parents are among our favorite Denverites. It's been fun watching him grow and seeing him learn to walk. He loves playing with Esther; she likes to bite at his pants, a la Coppertone ads. 

Git along

Last week, on a day when it wasn't in the triple digits (sigh), Michael and I went to watch agility dogs in a regional competition. These are the best shots we got -- those little rascals are fast, and you have to hit the shutter at just the right second. I especially liked the mostly bald Chinese crested (top). The star of the event was Olympian Greg Louganis, but I had my camera on the wrong setting (always something with my camera, isn't it? user error this time, though) so action shots of Mr. Mustache and his cute dog didn't turn out. The guy's in great shape, but that mustache has got to go! Doesn't work on him.

Yesterday, to escape the heat, we drove to Rocky Mountain National Park and savored weather in the 80s (60s-70s at some altitudes). Photos to come.

New friends

Michael and I made a few new friends when my mom visited a few weeks ago. At top, Swetsville Zoo in Fort Collins; the other two are from the Denver aquarium, where we visited on the 101-degree day. My lucky mom always seems to visit during heat waves. That night, we saw the Al Gore global warming movie, which seemed appropriate given the heat.

Sorry I haven't written much lately; the summer just seems to do that to me. We did get a new, cheap phone to replace the lost one. I called Cingular and the woman bent the rules for me so I didn't have to buy the $120 one.

Off to work. I have a few more photos up my sleeve that I'll post soon. Scout's honor (as a former Brownie and Girl Scout, I can say that).

AT&T, phone home

OK, I need your help. We've lost our cell phone, and our options until it's time to renew our contract in October (when we can get a better phone for cheaper) are 1. Buy a new, super-basic, low-end phone for $120 (in October with a contract renewal we could get a better phone for $75) or 2. Find a cheap or free replacement in the interim. If we can get our hands on an AT&T or Cingular Nokia, we can put in the new SIM card and use it. So, if anyone has such a phone sitting around gathering dust that they'd like to unload, please let us know. There are some relatively cheap ones locally on Craigslist , but I thought I'd put out the call, so to speak, here too.

Also, if you could e-mail me your phone number(s), that would be great, too, since all the stored numbers on the now-deactivated lost phone are gone. Thanks!

The Sundance Kid

Michael & I finagled tickets to a Robert Redford speaking engagement and "VIP" passes for a reception afterward. Unfortunately, 100-200 people also had passes to said reception, and while there was a nice dessert/champagne setup, it meant no autographs or real photo ops other than snapping pictures of him on his way out. Michael managed to get the shot of me just after I shook Redford's hand and he'd moved on to the next person.

Michael did get a brief moment with him, sending regards from a family friend who was Redford's frat brother in college. Michael's mom says the guy sends naked Christmas cards every year!

Redford's talk was enjoyable; he touched on his movie career and activism. Said he bought a 2-acre piece of land in Utah back in the day for $500 that's now part of Sundance. It's also where "Jeremiah Johnson" (my mom's favorite) was filmed. He was asked what his favorite Paul Newman food product was, and he said he didn't eat it (sounds like they are still pals, though, and I heard recently they may have a new project in the works). All in all, he seemed like a pretty well-rounded, normal, happy guy.

Also, he is fairly short; I was wearing 4-inch heels (very unusual for me), but he didn't seem much taller. Maybe 5'8"? And for a nearly 70-year-old -- whoosh! He's still got it!

The leather men

OK, in retrospect, these photos aren't that exciting, but I got you to check back, didn't I?

While at the Derby party, we noticed a couple of leather men heading into the church across the way. Before long, there were groups heading in every few minutes, all men, all in leather. I started snapping photos from my vantage point. Our party's interest was piqued; we figured maybe it was a wedding. When I saw that a photo session was going on at the church, and since I had several hours of mint juleps in me, I walked over -- mint julep and camera in hand -- and asked the guys if they'd like me to take a group photo. They were happy for the opportunity, and I had them say "Happy Derby Day!" rather than "Cheese!" I also asked what was the occasion; they said a leather dinner.

I took the close-ups with their camera, not with mine, as I didn't want to intrude (which I did anyway from a distance), though later Michael said they'd probably have gladly posed for me seeing as how, well, they were in leather and probably would love the attention.

Walking home a block away later, I peeked into the church, and it just looked like your run-of-the-mill banquet: a bunch of dinner tables, a speaker behind a lecturn -- and leather as far as the eye could see.

Mile high Derby

My, how the time flies when the weather's lovely and the Blogger photo feature gives me fits. I started to write a Derby entry in a timely fashion, but the photo crap tripped me up, so I set it aside. Decided to go for a simpler approach but then had trouble with this lone photo. Then the weather started getting fab, and so I've been spending a lot of time sitting at the picnic table under the umbrella in the back yard enjoying the plants and the crazy Chihuahuas. Some days I don't even turn on the computer (not necessarily a bad thing).

Anyway, who knew that Colorado would be the spot for a Derby party?! We had a couple of friends in town that weekend and all went to a party up the block. What a spread! Rivaled any Derby party I ever attended back home -- Benedictine (cucumber-cream cheese spread for you non-Kentuckianans), bourbon balls, mint juleps, grilled ham and all your standard picnic fixings (potato salad, deviled eggs and such). I made a couple of Derby pies, so we were set. We took our silver julep cups with us, and I was not without minty goodness for a solid six hours or so.

Will continue this posting soon (for real!), as there's more to say and more photos to post, including some of guys heading into a leather dinner at the church across from the party. Now I know that will have you checking back for more!

Nirvana

I'm a few weeks behind on this, but had a lovely time visiting Stacy and family in Seattle. It reminded me just how much I love and miss the Northwest (like I could forget!). Stacy ensured that I saw lots of the city. I had seen only bits here and there during past trips when I lived in Oregon, usually when I drove up for a concert, so it was fun getting a feel for neighborhoods and all the funky spots scattered throughout the city.

First up was an outing with the clan for seafood at Chinook's, where we had a table with a view of the marina. Andy and I had the Oregon rockfish; Stacy and the girls had fish & chips. We also tried oysters on the half shell.

The next morning we hit Top Pot to start our day with a donut sugar-rush. Stacy and I did some shopping at Trader Joe's, the best grocery ever, and I lamented, as I often do, not living near one (Colorado has zero locations and no plans for any; one opened in Albuquerque a few months after we moved away). I picked up dog treats for Angus and Esther, wasabi peas, snap pea crisps and some of my favorite flavors of Stash tea. We also stopped at the "regular" grocery, where I was happy to find Pacific Crest trail mix, my favorite (and after searching for the link, I have discovered I may be able to buy it at the REI here!). Andy was called in to work at the hospital for a couple of appendectomies (you know, a routine day at the office), so Stacy, the girls and I dined on yummy homemade lasagna.

On Sunday, it was off to the Fremont Market, where the prices were great, but unfortunately I couldn't fit a dresser or 50s lamps on the plane. The Fremont neighborhood boasts lots of cute shops and restaurants, as well as a giant bronze Lenin statue. And since Stacy and Andy knew I was jonesing for McMenamins fries with malt vinegar, we stopped at Dad Watsons. I also had a Ruby raspberry ale. McMenamins has a chain of pubs, restaurants, hotels and theaters in Oregon and Washington. They take historic buildings -- such as Edgefield, an old poor farm; Kennedy School, a former elementary school (complete with blackboards in the guest rooms); and Grand Lodge, a former Masonic home -- and imprint them with their unique stamp (which includes whimsical, sometimes creepy art in the hallways) for a fabulous experience. (Be sure to check out the photo galleries to get an idea of what makes them so special). If you ever travel to the Northwest, you've got to check out some of their locations! My first date with Michael was at a McMenamins (Thompson's).

Stacy, on spring break, and I volunteered at Ada & Harriet's kindergarten on Monday. We had a blast watching all the cute kids work on their art projects. Later I played "Candyland" and "Angelina Ballerina" (complete with acted-out pirouettes) with the girls, gave them piggyback rides and read to them while we sat on pink beanbag chairs. Then I went to dinner at former Louisville roommate Debbie's house. She and her husband, Steve, said I couldn't publish their photo on the blog; their brilliant, hilarious kids, Aaron and Isaac, were much more accommodating.

On Tuesday, Stacy and I checked out Experience Music Project, near Seattle Center, home of the Space Needle. At EMP, I got an eye-level view of Gene Simmons' studded metal codpiece (that alone made it worth the price of admission). There was a great Bob Dylan exhibit, which included one of his handwritten school papers, along with tons of other memorabilia, and a Jimi Hendrix exhibit, featuring some of his flamboyant costumes. Of everything we saw, I found myself most moved by seeing one of Kurt Cobain's shirts, for some reason. We also checked out novelty shop Archie McPhee's. Later the whole family went to Cupcake Royale, where I had a to-die-for cupcake with lavender-flower icing. That night, Stacy and I met my mother-in-law, Becky, who happened to be in town for work, for dinner at the 5 Spot in the Queen Anne neighborhood. The restaurant is known for featuring different regions of cuisine at any given time. We were there on South Carolina night, though I don't think any of us ordered from that supplemental menu. I did, however, have a Scarlett O'Hara, like a cosmopolitan but made with Southern Comfort.

Before I left town, Stacy and I scoped out the Coryell Apartments, where much of "Singles" was filmed. I was surprised to see there was no fountain. Oh, and speaking of scoping out housing, I failed to mention that we drove past Stacy and Andy's fab new bungalow many times over. Unfortunately I didn't get to see inside because they hadn't closed on it yet, but next time I visit, I'm sure they'll put me up in even grander style.

Must-see DVDs

I had never heard of "Wonderfalls," but Michael came across it somewhere and thought it was worth renting. Was he right! The 2004 Fox series didn't even make it an entire season, but luckily the whole season made it to DVD.

The show tells the story of Jaye, a college philsophy grad who finds herself working at a Niagara Falls gift shop and living in an Airstream in a trailer park. She already doesn't fit in (her family is made up of socialite author mom Karen, doctor dad Darrin, lawyer sister Sharon and theologian brother Aaron) but finds a new quirk from the first show: Inanimate objects in the form of animals talk to her and, she finds, lead her to shape the fate of others.

The premise sounds silly, but it's one of those gems of a show and worth renting if you love quirky humor.

While watching, we kept thinking the show smacked of familiarity, as Jaye reminded us a lot of Georgia/George/Millie (aka "Toilet Seat Girl") from our beloved "Dead Like Me," which lasted two seasons on Showtime. Turns out, both were created by the same guy, Bryan Fuller. "Dead Like Me" revolves around a group of grim reapers who "live" among the living and must carry out their job on a daily basis. Check them out!

A 'Grey' matter

Has anyone seen "Grey Gardens"? I read about it recently, and we borrowed it from the library. It's a 1976 documentary (released on DVD in 2001) about "Big" Edie Beale, an aunt of Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, and her daughter, "Little" Edie Beale. Michael and I were intrigued but perplexed by it. Apparently it got smashing reviews upon its release and has had a cult following ever since. Fashion designers and others talk of the influence of this film on their work. As far as we could tell, it was little more than a home movie of a couple of crazy ladies in their crumbling East Hampton mansion. We kept watching because we hoped for background of some sort, but all we got were more song and dance routines than we could stand.

Both women were high society back in their day -- the old photos are proof of that. But the movie never explains why they seemingly went cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs, why they never leave the house, what happened to Big Edie's other kids and why Little Edie has no hair or eyebrows (illness? neurotic pulling and plucking?).

We didn't understand all the hubbub over the movie (there's a Web fan site devoted to it, a musical, and a movie next year that will star Jessica Lange and Drew Barrymore as mother and daughter) since nothing's ever explained. Maybe the women were bigger than life at the time and people knew their back story, but we felt cheated out of any details. I haven't been able to find anything much online beyond the obvious. So if anyone has any insights, would love to hear them. We were compelled by the story but just felt like we didn't learn much about the women. Even the DVD extras offer nothing helpful.

Beautiful girl

A gigantic, heartfelt CONGRATULATIONS to Mal and Joe on their beautiful new daughter, Lucy! They have been in China for two weeks and have been awaiting this moment for nearly two years. Love and all the best as their start their new life together in Kentucky.

Read more about the Journey to Lucy Mei.

Marcia Brady syndrome*

It is a well-known fact that I have trouble with stick-to-itiveness (potentially lesser-known fact: That is an actual word in Webster's), so even I am amazed that I was able to knit a whole hat in a mere matter of days.

First, a long-winded background on my needlework history (not including my stints with '70s latch-hook rugs and long-stitch embroidery, which were as rampant as bell-bottoms and "Frampton Comes Alive!"). Though I grew up in a house with a grandma who could crochet and sew (I'm guessing she knitted, but I don't remember her doing so), I never bothered to learn much beyond your basic crocheted chain, and my cousin Jahna and I went through a mini-beanbag-making stint using scraps of fabric and, I'm pretty sure, actual beans.

Fast-forward to the '90s, and I realized I really should have mined that wealth of handiwork right under my nose when I had the chance. But I didn't, so I took a handful of classes at the sewing paradise Baer Fabrics in Louisville and finagled a sewing machine for Christmas. I made a skirt out of cute Cicely Mary Barker Flower Fairy fabric (though the pattern involved a weird shape and I've never worn it), and I made a curtain for my kitchen window. Then came a polyester blouse class. First, I never would have worn the shirt in real life. Second, it involved buttonholes. Needless to say, I didn't finish it before the class wrapped up, and the shirt lived unfinished in a Baer's bags for years, until I finally sent it along with a thrift-store donation during a move. Let someone else finish what I started. Aside from the occasional repair of clothing, the sewing machine has mostly been unused since (except for a brief quilting stint last year, but more on that later).

Fast-forward again, to the 2000s, and I decided it was time to take up crochet after failing to teach myself from a book. I found a helpful woman who ran a shop in Oregon, and next thing you know, I was dropping in for her help all the time. I made a baby afghan for goddaughter Claire and ordered personalized labels to sew onto my creations. I found a pattern for adorable baby hats with handcrafted flowers on top and made several for friends' kids. Then I was seduced by a class at the shop in tatting (which I'd seen on TV once and was enthralled) and another, at a private home, in rug-hooking. NOT to be confused with latch-hook. Traditional rug-hooking involves strips of wool hooked into burlap, and the most elaborate are amazing works of art (unlike the Ziggys and Tasmanian Devils of the past).

Around the same time, I decided I should learn knitting. There were no classes to fit my schedule, so the woman at the shop offered to put one together if I could round up enough people. I recruited four late-night co-workers, we managed to pull ourselves out of bed for a few mornings and off we went to knit ... a vest? From a pattern that had been devised by the shop owner and still needed tweaking? That involved the old tape-measure-around-the-bust for sizing purposes, not to mention math? Ack. The class lasted five weeks, at the end of which I had a back panel and one other random piece. None of my co-workers finished either. Our dreams were shattered. We'd expected to make something easy, like a scarf. I ended up with another bag containing another unfinished project. I had also started one of two crocheted afghans I'd planned for Stacy's twins. I practically finished one, then, in a fit of overwhelmedness (not in Webster's), I stopped. Everything. Unfinished tatted lace, unfinished rug, unfinished vest, unfinished afghan. That was in 2004.

Next? You guessed it: Fast-forward. This time to New Mexico. My mom had since taken up knitting, so when she visited in 2005, she taught me to make a dishrag. Yay! Something small that I could actually finish. It came out shaped more like Arkansas than a square, but it was functional, and I was obsessed with it until I finished it, misshapen and all. I also made a scarf while she was there -- super-easy, I was surprised to find out. Then I made a scarf for my friend Ann for a belated birthday present. Then I took apart the sad "vest" from Oregon and started a scarf for Michael (though I didn't finish it until the following Christmastime, in Colorado). Then, who knows? I wanted to make more elaborate projects but was scared away so stopped once more. Decided what I really needed to learn was quilting (believe me, I realize the ridiculousness of it all). Actually I'd tried to learn quilting while in Oregon but couldn't get classes to match my schedule. Turned to my master-quilter friend Lydia, who got me quite far along in the process, but then I moved to Colorado. The unfinished quilt is in my closet, though I promise I am going to finish it. It's just a matter of pulling out my sewing machine, setting it up and reading the instructions again on how to thread it. The quilt's potential is too high not to complete it, what with its Roy Rogers theme and all.

After moving here and finishing Michael's scarf, I thought a knit hat would be nice, though I knew nothing about knitting in the round. Found out that a co-worker knits, so we met for coffee one day to make hats. Utter failure. I left with nothing but a promise to myself to never pick up knitting needles again! Mom was almost ready to fly out and show me herself when she realized I was throwing in the towel yet again. When I went to Seattle, Stacy -- who was in the process of making a sweater for a friend's baby shower and had just finished a hat for another friend's baby -- offered to help me. I pshawed, especially when she told me double-pointed needles would be involved -- but somehow, miracle of miracles, I managed to do it. Yes, the brim is a little funky, but for the most part, I'd say it's quite a lovely first hat. And the most miraculous part of all -- I finished it on the airplane! It was clear I wouldn't finish it before I left, which filled me with fearful visions of another unfinished project, so Stacy gave me pointers on the double-pointed needles. I was highly dubious, but since I had time to kill at the airport, I figured I may as well keep knitting in a circle. I started the decrease before I got on the plane, then picked up where I'd left off once I boarded. Before I knew what hit me, I was knitting with double-pointed needles, and then I had a hat. And no one to share my disbelief with until I saw Michael.

It would seem that my stories, like my needlework, take a long time to get to the point. Now you see why I said, when I first started this blog, that I may not stick with it. Who knows what'll come next, if anything (though my trip to Seattle and all those cute DIY shops really have me wanting to get out the sewing machine). It's anyone's guess.


*In "The Brady Bunch" episode "Today I Am a Freshman," Marcia tries to fit into high school by joining every club possible, only to suffer burnout. Further proof that most scenarios in life are relatable to the Bradys, the Partridges or the Cleavers.

Northwest bound

I know I have been a little lazy on postings lately, but just so no one thinks I have totally given up on the blog, I will be out of town Friday through Wednesday. Going to Seattle to visit Stacy and family. Surely we will get into something interesting to write about, not to mention I'll be hanging out with nearly 6-year-old twins. I'm sure they will provide good photo/story fodder.

In the meantime, go see "V for Vendetta"!

I hope they didn't eat any giant marshmallows

My friend Joe's mention of Ambien reminded me that I had been meaning to post this:


From The New York Times:

The sleeping pill Ambien seems to unlock a primitive desire to eat in some patients, according to emerging medical case studies that describe how the drug's users sometimes sleepwalk into their kitchens, claw through their refrigerators like animals and consume calories ranging into the thousands.

The next morning, the night eaters remember nothing about their foraging. But they wake up to find telltale clues -- mouthfuls of peanut butter, Tostitos in their beds, kitchen counters overflowing with flour, missing food, and even lighted ovens and stoves. Some are so embarrassed, they delay telling anyone, even as they gain weight.

"These people are hell-bent to eat," said Dr. Mark Mahowald, director of the Minnesota Regional Sleep Disorders Center in Minneapolis and one of the sleep experts researching the problem. He and colleagues are preparing a scientific paper based on their findings -- that a sleep-related eating disorder is one of the unusual side effects showing up with the widespread use of Ambien.

Most of the people who use Ambien say the drug puts them to sleep and that they wake up without incident. But several doctors and a number of patients say that sleep-eating is one of a variety of unusual reactions to the drug. The reactions range from fairly benign sleepwalking episodes to hallucinations, violent outbursts and, most troubling of all, driving while asleep.

From Newsweek:

Lori Cox didn’t remember ordering the ring she had just got in the mail. But her phone records said otherwise, showing she’d made a middle-of-the-night call to a home-shopping channel. She also discovered she’d made cell-phone calls to her ex-boyfriend in her sleep. And a few times, she woke up to find empty beer bottles and cracker crumbs in her kitchen -- evidence of predawn snacks she didn’t remember eating.

“It’s scary,” she says. “One side of your brain is asleep and the other side is directing you into this secret life.”

What caused the odd behavior? Cox believes she has found the answer: Ambien. Cox began taking the sleep medication a year ago, after a traumatic breakup with her longtime boyfriend kept her awake at night. Until recently, Cox thought she was alone with her odd nocturnal habits. But recent weeks have seen a spate of reports about patients blaming strange behavior on America’s most popular sleep aid.

Some patients drove in their sleep and ended up in accidents with no recollection of them the next morning. Others report eating or, like Cox, shopping in their sleep after taking the drug. Earlier this month, after interviewing a number of patients across the nation, New York City attorney Susan Chana Lask filed a class-action complaint citing clients who’d driven, shoplifted and feasted on raw eggs and uncooked vegetables in their sleep after taking Ambien.

Jakehead

I have seen only four of Jake Gyllenhaal's movies, so I suppose I have to fess up that the main reason I like him is the cuteness, puppy-dog-eye factor (and he's a fellow Sagittarius). But I have to say, his real Oscar snub wasn't "Brokeback Mountain," it was "Jarhead." We only just saw this movie in the past couple of weeks, and I can't figure out why it was shut out for statues (Michael thinks it was too political).

Worthy of Oscar nominations in numerous categories: best picture, director (Sam Mendes), editing, cinematography, supporting actor (Peter Sarsgaard; maybe even Jamie Foxx) and absolutely actor. This was Jake's Oscar role, far superior to his "Brokeback" performance.

This one's up there with my top movies of last year, along with "Crash," "Mad Hot Ballroom," "Breakfast on Pluto," "The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill," "Broken Flowers" and "Batman Begins."

My husband, the columnist/novelist

Go here to read a column Michael recently wrote about the writing process for The Albuquerque Tribune. Here's an archive of some of his past columns; unfortunately, I couldn't access the one he wrote about getting married on Valentine's Day or seeing a bluegrass show in Santa Fe.