(Title courtesy of my mother, though she's unaware that she inspired it.)
I'm about to go take a wild stab at an online Logic exam, but I thought I should update quickly first just so that I don't forget.
Today I thought I had no gutsiness to my name until I realized that I had been daydreaming about this stupid book I had seen at Barnes & Noble on the clearance shelf. It was a cookbook--a BREAD cookbook--and I kept fantastizing about it in the most deplorable way.
Long story short, it's 9:50pm as I write this. I finally found and purchased the book about 45 minutes ago. Let's just say that the Northgate location of B&N is dead to me, and the Alderwood one has reaffirmed its worth in my life.
I'm determined to try one of these bread recipes, tomorrow, to make up for my anti-climactic gutsiness today. This book is amazing! It's called "100 Great Breads" by Paul Hollywood, and I can't stop salivating as I look at the pretty pictures. Stay tuned for any gutsy bread attempts...dang, I think I need to go buy some active yeast!
I'll add that Flora took all of the driving around like a champ, although I think she's as ready to sleep as I am.
Hold up there, GLS. Time to go be logical.
Harrumph.
-The GLS
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Have A Drumstick.
I re-discovered a little music again, today.
Are you ready for it?
The fantastic album "Stunt" from Barenaked Ladies!
You know, I think someone burned me this CD about seven or eight years ago and I only just found it again. I put it in my car with the rest of my random burned CDs and popped it in for the long drive home for work. I needed something peppy.
And whaddya know, I remembered all the words and everything! There's some GREAT songs on that album. Brought back a lot of silly late elementary/middle school memories. The ever-popular One Week is on there, as well as Call & Answer, Alcohol, It's All Been Done, Never Is Enough. What am I kidding, the whole album is great.
On the whole, that might have been all of the gutsiness I had time for, today. I also filed my taxes and filled out my graduation form--the two things looming over my head, both due on April 15th. Cutting it a bit closer than usual, but at least they're done. It's hard to work full-time and then have a lot of random paperwork due elsewhere. I should complain. But I'm too tired.
-The GLS
Are you ready for it?
The fantastic album "Stunt" from Barenaked Ladies!
You know, I think someone burned me this CD about seven or eight years ago and I only just found it again. I put it in my car with the rest of my random burned CDs and popped it in for the long drive home for work. I needed something peppy.
And whaddya know, I remembered all the words and everything! There's some GREAT songs on that album. Brought back a lot of silly late elementary/middle school memories. The ever-popular One Week is on there, as well as Call & Answer, Alcohol, It's All Been Done, Never Is Enough. What am I kidding, the whole album is great.
On the whole, that might have been all of the gutsiness I had time for, today. I also filed my taxes and filled out my graduation form--the two things looming over my head, both due on April 15th. Cutting it a bit closer than usual, but at least they're done. It's hard to work full-time and then have a lot of random paperwork due elsewhere. I should complain. But I'm too tired.
-The GLS
Monday, April 12, 2010
A Little...Illumination.
I was just reminiscing about back in my old neighborhood when I had a "clap-on, clap-off" mechanism for one of my lamps. I really liked that thing. I'm kinda sad we got rid of it...
On a related note, I had a first today, which would never be considered gutsy by anyone else in this world but me.
I bought a lampshade!
Snore?
For the record, I've had this lamp for a long time. It's this pretty standard straight-lines walnut (I think) table lamp that I've had in my room since the dawn of time (or thereabouts). But ever since I can recall, it's always had a black lampshade.
Now, we're not talking a transluscent black, here. We're talking a completely solid black lampshade. Don't ask my why I wanted a black lampshade on this lamp. Who knows what middle school students are thinking, really? What did I know about interior design?
So in the midst of cleaning my room yesterday, I found myself pondering this lamp. It tends to be my "mood lighting" when I don't want the bright above-light on at night. It sits on the antique washstand I "inherited" from my great-grandmother (read: knicked from my grandparents' house) where my yarn, my cookbooks, electric kettle, and an antique coffee grinder live. And it looked woefully out of place with that ridiculous black lampshade, which by the way blocks most of the light I could be getting from this lamp.
On my lunchbreak today I bit the bullet, drove to Fred Meyer, and bought me a lampshade. An off-white, canvas-textured lampshade. I wanted something classic, but not outdated. I wanted something I could keep forever. No frills. Just a good ol' lampshade.
And here it is, in its natural habitat:
Ahh, would you look at that glow? So nice. :)
-The GLS
On a related note, I had a first today, which would never be considered gutsy by anyone else in this world but me.
I bought a lampshade!
Snore?
For the record, I've had this lamp for a long time. It's this pretty standard straight-lines walnut (I think) table lamp that I've had in my room since the dawn of time (or thereabouts). But ever since I can recall, it's always had a black lampshade.
Now, we're not talking a transluscent black, here. We're talking a completely solid black lampshade. Don't ask my why I wanted a black lampshade on this lamp. Who knows what middle school students are thinking, really? What did I know about interior design?
So in the midst of cleaning my room yesterday, I found myself pondering this lamp. It tends to be my "mood lighting" when I don't want the bright above-light on at night. It sits on the antique washstand I "inherited" from my great-grandmother (read: knicked from my grandparents' house) where my yarn, my cookbooks, electric kettle, and an antique coffee grinder live. And it looked woefully out of place with that ridiculous black lampshade, which by the way blocks most of the light I could be getting from this lamp.
On my lunchbreak today I bit the bullet, drove to Fred Meyer, and bought me a lampshade. An off-white, canvas-textured lampshade. I wanted something classic, but not outdated. I wanted something I could keep forever. No frills. Just a good ol' lampshade.
And here it is, in its natural habitat:
Ahh, would you look at that glow? So nice. :)
-The GLS
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Better Late Than Never.
A room has layers, just like an onion. But also like the earth itself. The layers in the earth tell you what happened during the time when that layer was the surface. The layers in your room tell you how long it's been since you cleaned off your floor.
Today, I went out to buy some random things. I bought some yarn that I had been eyeing (Patons!), and some books from Half-Price Books (afghans! woodstoves! farmer's almanac!), a hostess apron from the antique store (although if it's an antique I'll eat my socks), and a vinyl of the Chieftains (my second one) for $2. I brought all of my swag home and was very excited to pop my vinyl on my turntable...
...when I realized I COULDN'T because there was a mountain of magazines on the lid of my record player.
And then I looked around my room, and realized that there was junk still lying around from the Cetaceous Period (roughly), and decided to do something about it then and there.
Yes, indeed, I cleaned my room. No, I RAVAGED my room. I was unstoppable. I had a vacuum in one hand and a trashbag in the other. I did laundry, moved furniture, threw away old homework, got rid of some shoes I didn't like. It was epic.
I even attacked the "entryway" of my room (the little corner next to the door), which I kept avoiding because it's where all of the shoeboxes and giftbags end up from Christmases and birthdays and random shoe purchases. But no more. I was a recycling/garbage-canning machine. And now my shoes live where their shoeBOXES used to, nicely lined up against the wall.
And now, I'm sitting here in the middle of a spotlessly clean floor, and all I can think about is that my desk is still a mess. Oh well. We can't do it all in one day, now can we?
I really should have taken a before and after picture, because honestly...it was SO bad. And it's still not perfect (the aforementioned desk...AND there's a corner of the room next to my bed that I'm kind of ignoring) but for all intents and purposes it looks fantastic. If nothing else, my clothes are CLEAN! Starting out the week with clean clothes? Priceless. :)
-The GLS
PS: I'm also excited that I introduced the clerk at Half-Price Books to the wonder of Lord Dunsany. Though they didn't carry any of his books. Can't say I'm surprised.
Today, I went out to buy some random things. I bought some yarn that I had been eyeing (Patons!), and some books from Half-Price Books (afghans! woodstoves! farmer's almanac!), a hostess apron from the antique store (although if it's an antique I'll eat my socks), and a vinyl of the Chieftains (my second one) for $2. I brought all of my swag home and was very excited to pop my vinyl on my turntable...
...when I realized I COULDN'T because there was a mountain of magazines on the lid of my record player.
And then I looked around my room, and realized that there was junk still lying around from the Cetaceous Period (roughly), and decided to do something about it then and there.
Yes, indeed, I cleaned my room. No, I RAVAGED my room. I was unstoppable. I had a vacuum in one hand and a trashbag in the other. I did laundry, moved furniture, threw away old homework, got rid of some shoes I didn't like. It was epic.
I even attacked the "entryway" of my room (the little corner next to the door), which I kept avoiding because it's where all of the shoeboxes and giftbags end up from Christmases and birthdays and random shoe purchases. But no more. I was a recycling/garbage-canning machine. And now my shoes live where their shoeBOXES used to, nicely lined up against the wall.
And now, I'm sitting here in the middle of a spotlessly clean floor, and all I can think about is that my desk is still a mess. Oh well. We can't do it all in one day, now can we?
I really should have taken a before and after picture, because honestly...it was SO bad. And it's still not perfect (the aforementioned desk...AND there's a corner of the room next to my bed that I'm kind of ignoring) but for all intents and purposes it looks fantastic. If nothing else, my clothes are CLEAN! Starting out the week with clean clothes? Priceless. :)
-The GLS
PS: I'm also excited that I introduced the clerk at Half-Price Books to the wonder of Lord Dunsany. Though they didn't carry any of his books. Can't say I'm surprised.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Panda Cattle, Red Pandas...Forsooth!
If I had been Queen Elizabeth, I don't think William would have won the wager in "Shakespeare In Love." But this is only due to my bias AGAINST Romeo & Juliet, which I don't care to explain at this present time.
HOWEVER, having seen Shakespeare In Love fully for the first time this evening, I can safely say that it is a beautifully done film! Funny, romantic, and I had to put my eyes back into their sockets after seeing all of those costumes...those costumes!! My gosh.
In other news, I took Flora for her first drive to the zoo today! Woodland Park Zoo rocks my socks off, mainly because its URL is www.zoo.org...how awesome is that?
The bears were swimming, the siamangs were screaming, the gorillas were pooping in their hands (seriously), and in general all of the animals were quite frisky and happy and wandering about. It was refreshing to actually see them DOING stuff, as our animals tend to like to hide in their awesome habitats.
My only complaint (hence the title) is that we have no REAL pandas at the Woodland Park Zoo. Seriously, guys? We have an adorable red panda, and some rather unimpressed panda cattle, but no REAL pandas? Steal some from San Diego, if you must, but get us a panda!
All in all, a great day, if I do say so. :)
-The GLS
HOWEVER, having seen Shakespeare In Love fully for the first time this evening, I can safely say that it is a beautifully done film! Funny, romantic, and I had to put my eyes back into their sockets after seeing all of those costumes...those costumes!! My gosh.
In other news, I took Flora for her first drive to the zoo today! Woodland Park Zoo rocks my socks off, mainly because its URL is www.zoo.org...how awesome is that?
The bears were swimming, the siamangs were screaming, the gorillas were pooping in their hands (seriously), and in general all of the animals were quite frisky and happy and wandering about. It was refreshing to actually see them DOING stuff, as our animals tend to like to hide in their awesome habitats.
My only complaint (hence the title) is that we have no REAL pandas at the Woodland Park Zoo. Seriously, guys? We have an adorable red panda, and some rather unimpressed panda cattle, but no REAL pandas? Steal some from San Diego, if you must, but get us a panda!
All in all, a great day, if I do say so. :)
-The GLS
Friday, April 9, 2010
An Audio Experience...
The fun thing about finally having a CD player in my car is that I have an excuse to listen to all of those random mix CDs from forever ago lying around. Seriously, I have a ton. From back in high school when I didn't have a burner so I begged my friends to make CDs for me. And I don't bother to pop them into my computer, because I'm usually doing other things.
A list of ten oldies but goodies re-discovered today:
1. Away From The Sun by Three Doors Down...I used to think this song was SO epic. It kind of still is, in a nostalgic sort of way.
2. Wasting My Time by Default...I was really into that "alternative" stuff in high school. Pop alternative. Ha!
3. Big Country by Dashboard Confessional...actually it's a cover. But I like both versions. Except that DC's version is IDENTICAL to the original, which I always think is a little pointless.
4. Escape (The Pina Colada Song) by Rupert Holmes...YES. Oh my gosh, this song! I used to feel so guilty listening to it. A man writing a personal ad to find a new girlfriend, and when he receives a reply it ends up being...get this...his CURRENT girlfriend! The things they never knew about one another! *tear* Lovely.
5. Leather & Lace by Stevie Nicks and Don Henley...Take the song or leave it, but Don Henley's voice gives me happy shivers. "Give to me your leather, take from me my lace..." Yeah, in hindsight? Weird song.
6. Desert Rose by Sting...Hahahahahaha! *siiiiigh* Wow. Yeah, that's all.
7. Crazy For This Girl by Evan & Jaron...Remember this one, girls? I used to wish to high heaven that some guy would sing a mournfully acoustic version of this to me. My tastes have....changed a bit, since then.
8. Dare You To Move by Switchfoot...When that little sound effect at the beginning starts--that ice-cubes-against-glass sound--I get little butterflies in my stomach. This song was an extraordinary anthem in high school. I owe a lot to Switchfoot, oddly enough...
9. Jumper by Third Eye Blind...Honestly, who doesn't love a little Third Eye Blind every once and awhile? The voice of a generation, y'all. Or something.
10. Acoustic #3 by The Goo Goo Dolls...The GGDs were another band that was very instrumental in my formative years. And this song...short as it may be...was the epicenter. (Though, for the record, none of the specifics of the song have anything to do with my life...but it was the EMOTION, don't you see?)
I'm not going to even mention Creed. Ohhh *shudder* the Creed stuff. It was all over my favorite CDs in high school. Infesting, more like. And Evanescence. And a wee bit of N*Sync which had held over from middle school.
In other news, I'm reading Lord Dunsany. You should, too.
-The GLS
A list of ten oldies but goodies re-discovered today:
1. Away From The Sun by Three Doors Down...I used to think this song was SO epic. It kind of still is, in a nostalgic sort of way.
2. Wasting My Time by Default...I was really into that "alternative" stuff in high school. Pop alternative. Ha!
3. Big Country by Dashboard Confessional...actually it's a cover. But I like both versions. Except that DC's version is IDENTICAL to the original, which I always think is a little pointless.
4. Escape (The Pina Colada Song) by Rupert Holmes...YES. Oh my gosh, this song! I used to feel so guilty listening to it. A man writing a personal ad to find a new girlfriend, and when he receives a reply it ends up being...get this...his CURRENT girlfriend! The things they never knew about one another! *tear* Lovely.
5. Leather & Lace by Stevie Nicks and Don Henley...Take the song or leave it, but Don Henley's voice gives me happy shivers. "Give to me your leather, take from me my lace..." Yeah, in hindsight? Weird song.
6. Desert Rose by Sting...Hahahahahaha! *siiiiigh* Wow. Yeah, that's all.
7. Crazy For This Girl by Evan & Jaron...Remember this one, girls? I used to wish to high heaven that some guy would sing a mournfully acoustic version of this to me. My tastes have....changed a bit, since then.
8. Dare You To Move by Switchfoot...When that little sound effect at the beginning starts--that ice-cubes-against-glass sound--I get little butterflies in my stomach. This song was an extraordinary anthem in high school. I owe a lot to Switchfoot, oddly enough...
9. Jumper by Third Eye Blind...Honestly, who doesn't love a little Third Eye Blind every once and awhile? The voice of a generation, y'all. Or something.
10. Acoustic #3 by The Goo Goo Dolls...The GGDs were another band that was very instrumental in my formative years. And this song...short as it may be...was the epicenter. (Though, for the record, none of the specifics of the song have anything to do with my life...but it was the EMOTION, don't you see?)
I'm not going to even mention Creed. Ohhh *shudder* the Creed stuff. It was all over my favorite CDs in high school. Infesting, more like. And Evanescence. And a wee bit of N*Sync which had held over from middle school.
In other news, I'm reading Lord Dunsany. You should, too.
-The GLS
Thursday, April 8, 2010
She Has A Nice Face...
The exciting news has come to pass!!
After months of check engine lights, mysterious noises, screeching AC, static-y speakers, exploding headlights, dead turn signals, bucking gear shifts, schizophrenic temperature gauges, leaky tires, generally unpredictable behaviors, and a fantastic amount of whining (just ask Indefish)...I am finally saying goodbye to the good ol' 1993 periwinkle blue Dodge Spirit that was my first car.
I do say this with a bit of melancholy, as that was the car I learned to drive in and it's also the one that got me to camp and back several harrowing times, made many trips to different churches, ferried me to work and school and the beach, and was sort of a bear to parallel park.
But it's time to let go. And (forgive me, potential atheistic readers) God was in the entire process. Because the woman who sold us the car in the first place actually wants to buy it back, needing a car she can get to the park and ride in (which the Spirit is perfect for).
This freed me up to strike a deal with my parents regarding the purchase of a new (used) car.
I knew what I wanted. I had a pretty specific list, though I thought for sure it would be too much to ask. This is what I wanted out of a car:
1. Newer than '95.
2. A fun color (though NOT champagne or yellow, please).
3. Air conditioning (the Spirit's never worked).
4. Cloth seats (no vinyl...I like wearing shorts in the summer).
5. Smaller than the Spirit.
6. CD player (I've never even had a tape deck).
7. Under $2,000.
8. Reliable.
This wasn't exactly a tall order, but we also wanted to buy from someone we could look in the eye. AND who would have all of the necessary paperwork.
Long story short...one of my dad's coworkers is a marvel. And her 1999 (NOT '98 like I first thought) COMPLETELY fits all of my expectations...and more!
Meet FLORA THE COROLLA!!
Okay, you caught me. That's not Flora. Not specifically. BUT that's exactly what she looks like! Same color and model. Isn't she cute?
I couldn't be more pleased. And Dave Matthews' "GrooGrux King" was the inaugural album played on her fantastic stereo. :)
-The GLS
After months of check engine lights, mysterious noises, screeching AC, static-y speakers, exploding headlights, dead turn signals, bucking gear shifts, schizophrenic temperature gauges, leaky tires, generally unpredictable behaviors, and a fantastic amount of whining (just ask Indefish)...I am finally saying goodbye to the good ol' 1993 periwinkle blue Dodge Spirit that was my first car.
I do say this with a bit of melancholy, as that was the car I learned to drive in and it's also the one that got me to camp and back several harrowing times, made many trips to different churches, ferried me to work and school and the beach, and was sort of a bear to parallel park.
But it's time to let go. And (forgive me, potential atheistic readers) God was in the entire process. Because the woman who sold us the car in the first place actually wants to buy it back, needing a car she can get to the park and ride in (which the Spirit is perfect for).
This freed me up to strike a deal with my parents regarding the purchase of a new (used) car.
I knew what I wanted. I had a pretty specific list, though I thought for sure it would be too much to ask. This is what I wanted out of a car:
1. Newer than '95.
2. A fun color (though NOT champagne or yellow, please).
3. Air conditioning (the Spirit's never worked).
4. Cloth seats (no vinyl...I like wearing shorts in the summer).
5. Smaller than the Spirit.
6. CD player (I've never even had a tape deck).
7. Under $2,000.
8. Reliable.
This wasn't exactly a tall order, but we also wanted to buy from someone we could look in the eye. AND who would have all of the necessary paperwork.
Long story short...one of my dad's coworkers is a marvel. And her 1999 (NOT '98 like I first thought) COMPLETELY fits all of my expectations...and more!
Meet FLORA THE COROLLA!!
Okay, you caught me. That's not Flora. Not specifically. BUT that's exactly what she looks like! Same color and model. Isn't she cute?
I couldn't be more pleased. And Dave Matthews' "GrooGrux King" was the inaugural album played on her fantastic stereo. :)
-The GLS
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
