So Happy, Getting Smacked Around, the Holiday ends...

These past 4 days have been excellent - so much needed rest and relaxation. It takes like two days just to relax and not think about work and the other million things we have going on and actually relax. The you spend Saturday in love with life and not thinking of the petty crap (helps to see a movie like Milk) - Sunday you're back in the saddle and even if you're not ready - you're looking towards Monday. Monday. Monday. But right now, we're not quite there yet.

Today, just to get ready for the rest of the week - I went to Wrecked League practice. This is a "rec" league but joke that they are "wrecked" - too injured, too old, too done to continue derby. That, of course, is not the case at all. They're a great group of gals who just want to play - not scrimmage hard enough to hurt anyone and when the jammer is too tired or wants to call it off (since we only have one time keep) they cry "uncle". It's pretty fun but you do get to work on some of the things you're trying to change or fix and it's pretty easy going for skaters coming back from an injury - or in my case - creating them. I got this nasty bruise/wheel burn while doing a warm up drill - I kicked myself. Yes it hurt.

There's some work to be done for work - there is another scrimmage to go to tonight - there is an apartment to clean up before heading into the next week. But there is also a nap to be taken and a turkey breast to be eaten. It's still Sunday.

Monkey, Sushi & Milk...

My cat Monkey is highly entertaining on a thousand levels. She's sees a dot on the wall and she watches it forever and will go back to it. Anything circular, it's hers to play with from bobbins to milk rings. Lately she's cracked me up because she watches TV and it's pretty hilarious. She's a big fan of the Discovery Channel - whether it is a nature show or Myth Busters. Once she jumped off my lap to get a better view of the sharks on TV. It kind of cracks me up. The other two cats aren't that interested in television and she'll sit there and watch it for an hour. I should probably start limiting her television watching.

Since moving to Seattle, I've fallen for sushi. I have to admit, I wasn't a big fan at first and it had nothing to do with raw fish or anything like that - it more had to do with exposure. I only ever ate at one place in Cleveland Heights and only on special occasions. I ate pretty typical affair. I would get store bought sushi once-in-a-while and believe it or not, Safeway had their own sushi chiefs and it was pretty good. And then I had friends who LOVED sushi start taking me to their favorite places and I became expose to the Dragon Roll, Spider Roll, Black Cod, and a million individual pieces that I can't even name - that I now love sushi. I love going out for sushi (though you have to budget for it) and I've eaten it twice over this Turkey Turkey holiday. Yum.

Last night, Katie, Lara and I went to see Milk - the new film about Harvey Milk. I knew about Harvey Milk - very minimally. I knew he had been the first openly gay elected politician and I knew that he, and a very progressive mayor, were assassinated. The film was great - as both an educational piece, a social justice piece and just completely frustrating. I was frustrating to know that we're still fighting for the same things we were fighting for 30 years ago. It's still the gay community vs. the conservative religious communities. That part was maddening. And just makes you feel like we still have so far to go. Still. Damn it. But he was a pretty charismatic guy who unified a community and in a very short period of time fought an incredible battle and gave more legitimacy to a movement. It was a good film. And it required beers afterward. And humility. Really, when I find myself getting completely frustrated about derby, work, relationships, volunteering - whatever - keep in mind that there are bigger fights out there. Much bigger ones.

Happy Thanksgiving!

This picture looks a lot like the pictures I use to color in school when I was a kid. I've had a great thanksgiving so far - cooking garlic smashed potatoes, cranberry relish - sewing - decorating my apartment. And I'm soon heading out to Kelly's house for a fabulous dinner and then out dancing. It ranks up there is one of the best days of the year (as long as you don't read the news, check your emails or think about work - all of which I've been able to avoid.)

Gobble Gobble!

Recessionista...

...is what the sign read about reduced price tchotckes at Firefly in Westlake Mall where I had a fake Thai lunch today. It cracked me up - so I had to go in and see what exactly was on sale - and it wasn't anything that I wanted nor was it at a price I couldn't find elsewhere but I enjoyed the good humor.

This short stressful week finally came to an end. After a little nap and PFM practice (which you might remember from my very early derby days) - which I hadn't been back to since I left PFM almost two years ago - I went to favorite grocery store to buy just a couple more things for tomorrow. And probably because I was hungry and the fact that I'm eating Turkey Day at Kelly's house (which means no left overs for me) I had to buy my own turkey. I wanted turkey sandwiches and day old turkey dinners. I became slightly obsessed with it and after walking around the store for 10 minutes pondering it, I ended up with a 12 lb turkey. (They were out of turkey breasts - which would have been so much easier.) I may wake up tomorrow and decide to keep it in the freezer if for a month until Christmas but for now I'm pretty excited about my very own leftovers.

I'm so excited that it's Wednesday. I'm so happy that I have nothing to do tomorrow until I head over to Kelli's. I'm making helmet panties (for another roller derby group), drinking holiday beer, and hanging out with Lara and the kitty friends. It's a pretty great evening.

It's Oh So Quiet...

... which is a very fun song by Bjork. It's also how I would describe the commute into work this morning and the stroll around downtown tonight. There were lights twinkling in anticipation of the Thanksgiving holiday and just a sprinkle of people. I'm sure it will be much busier for the Thanksgiving Parade and the shopping that follows after it. But right now it's quiet.

And I can't wait until tomorrow.

I can wait to sleep in for Thanksgiving day.

Limits...

After a long day of planning our entire 2009 fundraising season, talking about budget stuff and other things that made my day run from 8 am - 5 p.m. (of non-stop thinking) I headed over to the HIV/AIDS Trail Unit Community Advisory Board meeting. It's funny, after nearly 1.5 years volunteering for this group, I finally feel like I understand what's going on and could actually talk about the complexities of HIV and vaccines. I came home just in time to meet Heidi for a swim - an exhausting swim. I am starting to feel the effects of the "Molly is going to kick your ass" training yesterday and I wanted to swim some of it out today so it wouldn't be so bad tomorrow.

And swimming gave me time to think. (I've gotten the arms and legs down at the same time - now it's just remembering to breath.) I was thinking of all the work I have to do in 2009. I was thinking of the fact that I'm now the Board President of Jet City Rollergirls. I was thinking of other committees I've been asked to join. And skating. And skating on the travel team. And swimming. And getting women elected to office and I was just wondering what I could manage? Years ago, I would have said yes to everything. But I've learned that saying yes to everything spreads the jam too thin on the toast (and making it rather bland). So I'm thinking. What is the number of things I can do and enjoy it - all.

Arm, arm, kick, kick, don't forget to breathe.

Church of Perpetual Rollerderby...

An absolutely beautiful weekend erupted on Saturday morning after a long "dark and stormy night". (I stayed in to rest, clean, do those "homey" things.) All the mountains were visible as there wasn't a cloud in the sky - bright - sparkly and chilly! I had an early hair cut and then headed over to swim class where we got into the back stroke - which I've always enjoyed. There are so many subtleties to swimming that I didn't know, didn't learn or just didn't remember. I headed up to a noontime meeting in Everett, at the Skate Deck and then we headed over for a Carnie baby shower -in a bar. It was pretty damn fun.

Saturday night, XE and I headed to Rat City's Black and Blue Burlesque - it was awesome. There were very sexy traditional pieces; hilarious "skits"; unique, clever and creative ones. I was laughing so hard at some of the performances that I literally had tears in my eyes. It was a great show, very artful and entertaining and from what I understand a journey for so many gals to be able to do this - and to see themselves as sexy and beautiful (which of course they were.) I went to a dance, dance party afterwards for a bit but headed home for yet another long, action packed Sunday.

And it was another beautiful, cold Sunday. I got up early in the morning to attend my "church of perpetual roller derby" by skating with some Carnies and others. At one point I thought, My Sunday morning worship includes 8 wheels, sweating, knocking each other around, and having a good time. But I also realized my whole weekend was perpetual roller derby - and not just Sunday. It's kind of your whole life.

Inspired by the bright sunny day, I caught a ride with Glitter to the Ballard Farmers Market where I bought some "cool veggies" like lettuce and some carrots that far more successful than any of my attempts. I also stopped by at JoAnn's - with an intention to make a fun holiday skirt for me (and one for Glitter) for her holiday party. I also picked up some knitting needles in a size I didn't seem to have to try to get back in the "habit" of knitting. I took a nap, like a cat in the sun, before heading out to cross training with the Pink Pistols (also known as "Molly is going to kick your ass" sessions.) I had dinner with a couple of friends and am off to yet another action packed week - but thankfully a much shorter one. And I can't wait. I can't wait to do some crafty things, eat yummy food and relax.

It was a great weekend - I forgot about the crappy week that had happened. I forgot about the miserable economy that seems brewed in my coffee pot each morning. It was all about "perpetual derby" and great friends.

An aside - I wish I had the capacity for bioluminescence. Wouldn't that be neat?

Why I don't listen to public radio...

I left work pretty upbeat. I mean there are a thousand things to do and the sour economy isn't making my fundraising job fun or easy but I got a lot done and was heading off pretty satisfied. I got picked up and while driving home the radio blare on and on about the auto-industry bail-out which just set me off because I'm completely against it (why don't we extend unemployment benefits for my 15 unemployeed friends and the million others before we go giving out giant blank checks to an industry that ignored its own trends and fought the government on every since regulation - but I'm not in the mood to go into it.) So that got me riled up - which lead to me to call my friend Karen to make sure I wasn't completely irrational (she confirmed that I am not) and then I talked to her husband which just reminded me of the other thinks that are ALSO frustrating... and my older, very conservative brother called me and couldn't believe I was against it (but he didn't quite agree on my reasons he was still surprised) - I guess we can all have something in common.

And now my hard working day has turned into a completely frustrating day - that's what I get for listening to public radio.

Relax... in the dessert

I went swimming alone tonight - with like 40 other people. Pygmy had just come back from Wisconsin and thought she was going to be able make it but in the end was too whooped. I went anyway because work has been so stressful (was in Bellingham all day yesterday) and I am still on that manic upswing from Nationals - I just want to work out and be the strongest and fittest and fastest and most agile derby skater ever. (Don't worry - it will wear off to a normal, even healthy amount of fitness.) So I went. And I worked...on breathing... then kicking... finally with arms. I put it all together and swam for a while but it wasn't that much fun. Then I remembered the thing that Bruce (Carnie Coach) often tells us - just relax. Right. My last few laps were rather fun and it all came together so much more easily. Just relax.

Last year at this time I was in Egypt with Kelly and Lara. It was our 3 day there and we were were probably heading off to pyramids or museums or something around Cairo. It was a the beginning of very fun times. Recently, they found yet another pyramid buried somewhere in the desert that is like a 4,500 years old or something crazy. It's like the 113th pyramid that they've found (busy people - those Egyptians). And it's pretty amazing. The director of antiquities said that it's amazing what they find in the desert.

When I was in the Peace Corps there was a saying that "nothing ever gets lost in the desert." The sands shift around and those things that were buried a hundred years ago or even 20 years ago reveal themselves. And since the desert is particularly dry, many things stay intact - including thousand year old pyramids, bones, civilizations, etc. I always thought it would be interestingto take a giant vacuum and "Hoover the desert" just to see all the secrets it's hiding from the rest of the world. That would be pretty amazing. And humbling too.

Nationals... wow.

This weekend I was at Rollerderby Nationals in Portland. There is so much to write about - how lovely the city is - what a great time I had with the people I stayed with at La Quinta - the amazing derby I saw - Windy City (Chicago) stealing my heart - amazing derby. Absolutely amazing derby.

But I'm whooped and need to get to bed so I'll have to save this conversation for another day - it was awe-inspiring and AMAZING. Truly.

Sometimes...

You just have to take a break from it all and laugh. Natalee Dee.com makes me laugh - often. This is truly one of the reasons I don't like Jelly Beans... you just don't know what flavor you're going to get. You are mystified by the red - or is it pink? Is it cherry or strawberry or watermellon or soda flavored? The brown one could be chocolate or dirt. You just don't know. And though that can be fun - but not if you don't like them enough to appreciate the surprise.

I went swimming with Pygmy last night - and it's getting fun again (it's just hard to coordinate breathing, arms AND legs.) It's definitely getting easier. Then I just vegged out and went to bed. I was spent from my work day - the cold rainy days we've been having and all the gloomy news. Sometimes you just need to veg.

Turns out that it's true....


"You shouldn't eat 30 minutes before swimming or you'll get cramps." And boy, even though I only had 1/2 of a stuffed pepper, I got a stitch in my side that relegated me to the open lane with a blue kick board. It was a good swim but truthfully, at this moment, it's not as much fun to be swimming. I am trying so hard to do it correctly and consequently, I am not relaxed. But it will get better. I am sure.

My day was feeling a little bit "dark" as a I was leaving a tough Monday at work. I couldn't help but read the 1,000s of jobs being lost - and thinking of my friends who are all losing jobs. Pymgy's group at work minus her grant funded job and a few other people (preventative health - dept of health) was laid off. (Lucky for her - her entire department at her last job was let go.) As much as I want to feel optimistic, I've been feeling so stressed out.

Then I got a call from my best guy-friend James - who recently left Cleveland for DC - a year after getting married. He's having a good time - getting to know people - embracing a city that is embracing the new president. It turns out that James graduated from the same high school as Obama (he was in the same class as Obama's sister and him mother and her mother knew each other.) DC is "Obama mad". And we had a good time chatting up the changes in our lives and being excited about the changes yet to come.

It was great to chat with him - and lifted the cloud even just a little bit. There is a lot to be hopeful about. Patience. It's all about being patient. I'll learn how to swim better. We'll have a great president who will lead our country through better times.

It's hard to believe I'm even saying this.

I'm pretty excited about it.

Post Election Blues...

I don't have them - I have plenty of other things to fill all the time I spent doing election stuff - swimming, crafty things, work, swimming, work, some derby, planning a party, work and more work. I also didn't -try - to so invested in this election because of the serious blues I had in 2004. Plus, I just find myself so happy...

However, I do have friends who have the post-election blues. The type of "blues" come with any big event for work, big events in your lift, elections are included. Some of these friends actually did a lot of work for the election and some of them were just so emotionally invested in the elections that now that they are over, they'd don't know to do next. They're sad. They're going to be early or they're finding themselves drinking more than usual (I would chalk that up to celebrating).

And even as I write this, I've spent the weekend getting caught-up on those things that have been neglected (like cleaning) and sleeping. I've taken serious naps both yesterday and today. Perhaps I have post-election blues - though I doubt it. I'm pretty damn happy right now and am ready for the next challenge...

American can always be counted on to do the right thing... after they have exhausted all other possibilities." ~Winston Churchill

Today was a great, relaxing, very-much needed day. I went to swim class this morning and no one showed up in my adult swim group (our class is divided into two groups) so I essentially had a private lesson. It was great. We worked on my arms - which I don't use quite correctly, or if I do I forget to kick my legs. Somehow I've been swimming my whole life - just not that well. By the end, I was kicking, breathing (and breathing out thru my nose), and had my arms mostly correct.

The complete downpour that had welcomed in the morning, had tapered to "just raining" and by the time we left swim lessons, it was bright and sunny with big puffy clouds. Taking advantage of the great weather, Pygmy (whose in the other swim group) and I went for a coffee; strolled around up and down Phinny Ridge (we often got to hang out after swimming) soaking up some sunshine and window shopping - and of course, celebrating the election. (I have had these great dreams about great things coming and just wake up happy.)

After discovering a few new shops, we parted ways and I headed over to my P-Patch to "winterize" the plot (removing dead plants, finally pulling up the tomatoes, clearing our some weeds.) I covered half the patch with leaves which keep the sun from bleaching out the vitamins and other nutrients from the ground. I might try a couple of winter veggies. I love the P-Patch - we just lose steam for each in the fall...

I had a much needed little nap before heading to one of my favorite local shops for a "trunk show" at Laura Bee Designs. I've bought designed purses from Laura Bee and a majority of gifts for friend's birthdays or going home to Cleveland have come from there (at least for those people who would appreciate something from Laura Bee.) Though these gifts, I've exposed other people to Laura Bee and now my friends shop there too (and once-in-a-while I get a gift from there too.) They donated a gift certificate for our auction and the winner of the certificate came in an order a bag and decided to have a holiday party there for her staff (and prepaid for 13 purses) - which is great! That $50 gift certificate was stretched far - raising money for the Law Center, bringing new clients to Laura Bee and giving a boss a "cool" holiday party for her staff. That made me happy.

The rest of the night was watching Shawshank Redemption with Lara whose been home sick for a few days - which is an awesome film that I haven't seen in years. Monkey is sitting on my lap purring... what a great way to end an evening.

Happy, amazed, drunk...

Even where the United States is held in special contempt, like here in this benighted Palestinian coastal strip, the “glorious epic of Barack Obama,” as the leftist French editor Jean Daniels calls it, makes America — the idea as much as the actual place — stand again, perhaps only fleetingly, for limitless possibility. NT Times.

Pygmy and I had a beer after swimming (for only 20 minutes) tonight. She didn't make it out last night to all the celebratory events - so we had to have our own celebration. And there were so many things to celebrate: our candidate winning, the first African American president, our candidate winning, a smart, optimist leader who has our attention, a world who wants to get to know him better, our candidate winning, hope, faith and inspiration restored to a people. We had lots to celebrate.

Today, the whole day, everyone seemed to be a little happier. At my grocery store, and I kid you not, every since stocker said, "Hi! How are are?" .A little old man followed me out the store and tugged on my jacket and said in his Norwegian (Ballard) accent "Congratulations!" I told him how I was so very happy and I had bought celebratory (post election hangover) donuts to take into to work . He told me how happy he was for us.

At work we all talked about where we were, if we ended up being a part of the group partying in the streets in Capital Hill (I was in Capital Hill but missed it - it was awesome), what we thoughts of the issues and other ballot initiatives. Where where you when Ohio was declared? What did you think of Virginia... it happened so quickly...Where you when... did you hear his speech?

I was telling one of my colleagues about all of the world leaders congratulating Obama and wanting to meet with him and work with him on all of the problems in the world. She said like a 5 year old brat, "It's my turn to play with Barack!" Which made me laugh. Of course, who isn't going to want his attention. The shiny new president - with all of his ideas and hopefullness. Isn't it like the sun is shining and rising after such a long gloomy time (as my friend Carol said, an 8 yeard depress). Isn't it amazing how hopeful we are? It's it amazing how hopeful everyone else is for us?

I left the bar last night - drunk - waiving an 18" American flag that I took from the bar decorations. I was so proud (and drunk) to be anAmerican. I was waiving it around, happy, so happy, cars were beeping at me as we walked around the city. I went into a little convenient store and the owner, Lebanese or Indian, I don't remember, asked me if he could have my flag. And I asked him if he voted and he showed me his sticker. And I gave him the flag. And I was really happy - Heidi and I talked about this - about those proud moments of being an American. And how maybe they're going to come back to us in waves. We're going to own more of those moments.

I think I'm just going to keep celebrating all week. I plan go to bed drunk (not from alcohol) every night, and live out this celebration just a little longer.

WOOT.

Oh, the Onion, was hilarious. As usual.

http://www.theonion.com/content/news/nation_finally_shitty_enough_to

YES WE CAN!!

OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG!

Yes we did.

And thank you... to Kathy to who was the subtle outspoken Obama supporter among those who were not; Shanny & Shlymy who worked to make sure the vote in OHIO happened; Weedy who worked to GOTV and so many millions of hours;(I heart you); Rebecca who made it worth it to thousands of volunteers; Lara who decided it was time to make a difference; the other Rebecca, my favorite Rebecca, who as my best friend, always didn't agree but in the end agreed to make it happen; to all the rollergirls who made IT HAPPEN; to all the Roller Girls (mostly Carnies) who bought "Roller Girls for Obama" shirts and wore them ALL OF THE TIME; to my father who, for the first time in thirty years, had someone show up at his door to ask him to vote, who also felt inspired by a candidate- for Obama and he gave them a positive TWO THUMBS UP; to Sandra, who always believed it would happen; to CAROL who called me first - because she knew OHIO would DO IT; to Arson who believed early on; to the thousands who volunteered time, sweat, tears and emotion to believe in a man who BELIEVED IN US; to Nanci and Teri who remembered how hard it was the last time and made sure we succeeded; to my mother who always believe in me and put the importance of voting in my life EARLY on as I stuffed envelopes for the Republican Party... and to Countess who is passing it on to HER CHILDREN, ... to all of those who "reach for their ballots"; to Denise who lost her job but not her HOPE; to Pygmy, who I was wishing was with me the whole night, whose views are tied together with mine like a friendship bracelet from the 80's; to all of those who fought for every single vote: THANK YOU!

ALL OF THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE OF YOU.

YES, we did...

We want change...we want change, we want change, we want change...

And it came to us tonight.

Welcome to the next 4 years of your life.

I hope YOU ARE READY to work for it.

I am.

Thank YOU.

YOU.

ARE YOU READY?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjXyqcx-mYY

Optimism...

I could tell you about the gazillion of calls I took tonight - ranging from "quit calling me" and "I will do everything in my power to make sure your candidate never makes it to office (yes, f*ing scary)to "I appreciate all of the things you're doing, thank you so much" and "I'm getting my classmates together and we're going to stand on street corners with signs - can you tell me what is legal."

I could tell you about the INSANE number of volunteers we had in the offices this weekend. I could tell you about how hard it is to fundraise right now and how much work I have to do until the year.

I could tell you about being cautiously optimistic - but I'm not there yet.

I could share with you the BEST chili recipe of all time. I've make it three Sundays in a row - that is how freaking fabulous it is. And everyone who eats it thinks its absolutely amazing: http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/print/index.php?r=1598 - from meat-eaters to strict vegetarians. (Thanks Rebecca for this magazine subscription!)

I could tell you about the freezing cold rain and the absolute dark that descends upon a "fall back" Seattle. I could tell you about a man who wanted to jump off the Aurora Bridge this morning, snarling traffic and making me an hour later for work. I could tell you how he succeeded in his unfortunate wish.

I could tell you about having a beer after work, after volunteering on this very LONG, Monday, November 3rd. And typing in my blog and playing the Dixie Chick's version of Fleetwood Max's "Landslide" and tell you that I'm not optimistic tonight.

But I think I am.

Just a little.

Monsters playing dodge ball...

Friday after work I joined a bunch of friends for Thriller - the video and the making-of. It came back like it did when I was 10. However the thing I couldn't stop thinking about when I saw it as an adult was "Wow - they did a lot of coke in the 80's" and "I wonder if half of them (dancers) survived the AIDS epidemic." It was a fun walk down memory lane... a bunch of us when out for a few tasty beverages and walking back to my car I noticed monsters playing dodge ball at the Seattle Central College tennis courts. It was pretty funny to see vampires, ghosts, pac man, superman and others jumping around trying to avoid a little orange ball.

Saturday was adult swim classes - which I am doing with my friends Pygmy and Lara. While waiting for the class to check in - I ran into my friend Julie who had moved from Cleveland over a year ago. She had been on the staff of Cleveland Bridge Builders - I went to a going away party for her and we had played phone tag a bunch when she first moved out before giving up... I ran into her two weeks ago at Greenlake! And now we're in the same swim class together. It was fun - only 30 minutes. I got some great feedback to make my kick better and go confirmation about my stoke - on the crawl stroke. Only. So far.

The weekend was also full of Obama/Gregoire volunteering (7 hours each day) - and a very fun Halloween party on Saturday (I did dress up as "The Christmas edition of Judy Jetson") at Glitter's house and a fantastic practice tonight (after our captains ripped off the band-aid and told us to get our acts together.) I'm pretty whooped but pretty happy on this cold, rainy Sunday.

A long, hopefully happy, week lies ahead!

Yes we can repair this world...



... because I can't wait for this election to be over. And the days, weeks and months of advocating for your nominee not because they are the ONLY choice but because they are the RIGHT choice. And though I understand those Blue State v. Red State emails that go around, I can't stand them because I have been that itty bit of blue in a red state; I have been that election protector; I have done that canvassing in my neighborhood of rather disenfranchised people; I have been that person who started and ended the campaign with you in my city; I have been that person that person who was drunk and crying at 4 a.m. discussing what we did wrong even though we hadn't even technically lost; and those emails are discounting all of the work all the progressive people do in Alabama, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Arizona. And there are lots of us.

I have spent a lot of time volunteering - much like 2004 - but less like 2004. Its an emotional roller coaster - wanting us to win - but waiting. Patience is a virtue. Just not one of mine. Which is why I volunteer - to satisfy the need I have to make a difference - immediately.
So when impatience takes over...

I watch this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjXyqcx-mYY


Or read this hilarious blog.
http://margaretandhelen.wordpress.com/


It's nearing an end. I am an optimist. I voted for an optimist. I'm all about hope. 2009 will be our year.

If bananas could talk...

The ones I've bought lately would probably say "you forgot about me" too. Bananas are super great snacks that curb hunger and give you that little pick-up until you can get your hands on another coffee. After a weekend of events, volunteering, crashing out cold on Sunday, I found another banana - obviously meant to get me thru some part of the weekend - at the bottom of one of my bags - brown, uneaten and too mushy for my likes. The Auction was great (so everyone said) with roller girls sprinkled into my work and a day of volunteering with Obama on Sunday. Yesterday I swam at the Ballard Pool and had a tasty beverage and tonight was more volunteering. There is so much going on and so much to be done... but I need to remember to eat bananas... and take vitamins... and get to bed early enough...

Judy Jetson skirt and my homeless friend...

I made my Judy Jetson skirt tonight for my auction tomorrow (and watch a public television documentary on Ronald Regan who I despised growing up - even as a kid Republican). I made a bunch of them for my teammates who are volunteering for the event and then I made one for myself - circles instead of stars - not quite as disk like.

There is a guy who sells the Real Change (like the Homeless Grapevine) at the corner of Denny and Rt. 99 - which is where I get off to go to work. Lara and I carpool these days between volunteering for Obama, work, derby, etc., I'm driving 1/2 the time (and I really do miss taking the bus) and drop her off sometimes on my way in. He's "our crazy guy". He's definitely mentally ill but sells the newspaper with such enthusiasm that I have to buy one (for $1). He's a super nice guy. He was gone for a week and I was worried about him. It turns out he had been beaten senseless, broken nose and jaw for all of his $500 that he had - his whole life savings. All of his money.

I recently told him about a bank program in Seattle that I had read about in the paper (http://www.everyoneiswelcome.org/) sponsored by the County to get people to put their money in the bank so that things like this don't happen. It's amazing how many people in Seattle (which is probably representative of the rest of the country) don't have bank accounts because of things like banks fees and issues with IDs. He said he would look into it. He said he had enough money to pay the fees for Bank of America (no - go thru the county). I really didn't realize how prohibitive banks were for a lot of people.

I'm glad he's ok.

Qurabby...

When I was in Cote d'Ivoire, I would tell my French friends, once-in-a-while, that so-and-so was being crabby or I was feeling crabby... and my friend Oliver would reply "I don't understand this 'qurabby'? What is this? You mean this?" And would make pincher hands. It would crack me up.

But today I was crabby. My cold came back to haunt me - which encouraged qurabby. Luckily I had a bunch of errands to run for work, dropping off stuff at Board member's offices which meant I got to run around the city on a bright, cold Tuesday - getting fresh air and window shopping. That helps alleviate crabby.

Tonight I took an nap (also good to get rid of crabby) and worked on Judy Jetson skirts for my organizations auction this weekend. Some of my teammates are volunteering to sell raffle tickets (who can resist buying tickets from a roller girl?!) and I promised them a skirt to help with the "future" feel which is the theme of the event. Tomorrow night Glitter and I will sew them together.

When are you coming back to Africa?

Was the question I got today at lunch time when talking to a former Peace Corps volunteer who was now works for the International Partnership for Microbicides and wanted to involve our CAB (community advisory board) in a local trail. Microbicides fascinate me (http://www.ipm-microbicides.org/). I think for once the movement is actually thinking ahead and is working on a vehicle for the product, event if they don't have the product ready. They are taking into consideration women, poverty, access to health care, everything. So I am a fan. And Andy, from the IPM, appreciated my enthusiasm. We also shared many stories about Peace Corps (he served right next door in Guinea and had a Fulbright in Abidjan), being on the "special list" for the airlines, and travel in general. At the end of our meeting, he asked me "so, when are you coming back to Africa?" Yeah. I'm working on it. I just have to take care a few things here first.

Today was a long day at work - Mondays generally are. I was still (and am) disappointed in the game this weekend. I earned the title "bad girl of the game" for all of my penalties. And it just isn't a great feeling. I'm never in the box that much and it made for a rough game - especially when you have only three jammers (you can't jam when you're in the box). So I was feeling bummer about that, trying to get everything done so I can help out with my work event this weekend and had a four hour shift at the Obama campaign after work.

Volunteering was fine (part of "those things I need to change here"). When I got home, I found pieces of legitimate mail - a Halloween card from Rebecca and kids - I love Halloween with Gabriel! (I never got to go with the girls.) And a fabulous surprise from Honey.

What a nice way to end a long Monday.

Fat girls in skinny jeans not allowed in the short stall...

Is one of the ridiculous conversations I had this weekend. It was part of a late night conversation with a gaggle of roller girls on the Southward Ferry heading back to West Seattle. Other conversations included "crazy carrot lady" and getting accosted in the women's bathroom by a drunk middle aged woman. We had a bout this weekend in Port Orchard. The teams were combos from all four of our league's teams. (Our season was technically over and we were spent but enough of us came together to form two hodgepodge team - I was part of the Evil Honeys.) They were both really tight games - total nail biters! With a minute and a half left, I found myself on the jammer line, down by 3 points. I looked over at Audrey playing B3 and sighed - I've found myself in this position 4 too many times this year. It makes for a great game - don't get me wrong - but it makes for a tiring season. (Plus, I would have preferred to win all of them!) The Evil Honeys couldn't pull it off and ended up losing by 3 points. But the ferry ride home was the most fun - and since I was the sober one (bad cold).

One of the skaters crashed on the coach (5 of us had carpooled together with her car) and I laid down at almost 2 a.m. glad to done with our "first official season" but disappointed in how the game ended that night. And it sat with me the rest of the night.

I volunteered at the Obama campaign today. The three hours I was there was totally worth it in that I got two new Americans organized enough to register to vote. They had missed the deadline but some of our canvassers had told them we would help them out and I was the person who helped with that.

I went home for a little cat nap (still have a nasty cold). Then it was off to bowling with the Carnies - as opposed to practice. We had a great time! It was super chill. I managed to take some of my Wii bowling skills and apply them to the real game. There were some suprise winner but it was just fun - eating greasy food and having a beer. We had birthday brownies (for a skater who didn't show up) and the team gave me a card and a very generous gift certificate (for tattoo!) as a thank you for the two seasons of being a captain. It was very sweet. It was totally unexpected and it was the best way to end the season - bowling and drinking beer with my team.

Bew...

So all of that burning-the-candle-on-both-ends caught up with me and I woke up with a sore throat. I called in slick, slept until 11 a.m., went to Target for tasty medicine (and Penny's for a pair of brown pants), and took another nap. I'm getting ready to call it a day. Not terribly sick - just a cold. And you know, tired.

Yippee crazy veggies! (thanks for the reminder Nataliedee)

Dreams...

Perhaps that evokes peace and tranquility. I had two very disturbing dreams last night. Someone in my office said that I have the craziest dreams - but I don't so. I just happen to remember my dreams which is what differentiates me from many other people - the remembering part.

One dream was about getting "laid off" from a job which I really knew I was being fired for being a whistle blower for something. (This stemmed from two stresses - another friend was recently laid off and I just read an article about a whistle blower getting compensation for being illegally fired.) I created some kind of trouble I'm sure. I am a trouble maker on many levels and I wasn't surprised but wanted to make sure the world knew about whatever these issues were...

That dream dissolved into another dream where I was with my whole family - the twins were still just babies. My brothers were there, sister-in-law and parents. We were in some rental and there was a leak in the purple bathroom in the basement (??). But the most upsetting part of the dream is that Darth Vader (yes, from Star Wars) was going to kill me. That wasn't the most upsetting part - the upsetting part was that you didn't really die - you only died for 10 minutes (which was going to be miserable I'm sure) but then you lived forever (kind of like vampire) and I didn't want to live forever (!!). And part of the curse of getting killed by Darth Vader is that you had to kill two other people who would also then live forever. And I didn't want to do that either - because who would you curse to live forever - another family member? A friend? A complete stranger? How do you chose? It was distressing and I was trying to get away - but really how do you get away from Darth Vader? I was watching a guy try to do it and it was like watching a mouse get away from a cat - interesting but pathetic. (Usually at this point I'm able to wake myself up and say, um, Michelle, not real but I just watched this time.)

I woke up later - completely exhausted and stressed out. The apartment was filled with the aroma from the vegetarian chili I had made the night before. I was running around as quickly as a could so that I would be late for work - packing my lunch and dinner to eat at my Obama volunteer shift after work.

What a way to start a long Monday.

(But what a cute picture of Fezzi under warm blankets on a cold rainy Monday.)

Flipping around...

On my way back from practice tonight I was flipping around the radio stations. (My hundred satellite radio has been disabled because of battery/alternator problems I was having.) I ran across Delilah which I've listened to periodically on every single road trips, on my way home from late night jobs, bored with the CDs in my car. Delilah hosts a radio show on the soft rock station and is a show were people call in to tell her about their love life, their problems with their children and other random rather emotional stuff - she dedicates a very sappy song to them. Reads them a poem. Gives them bits of wisdom. Cheeeeeesey. Sometimes I flip to Jack 101 which is modern country, reminding me of my brothers or an Oldies station for the familiarity established in my youth. I've listened to Focus on the Family driving between cities separated by vast amounts of rural Americ where I can't get any of the other stations and am saddened by such hatred and falsities. All these radio stations take me places - these songs and this music. Usually home.

This weekend was much like flipping through the various radio station.... I went to the annual dinner for Washington Women's Lawyers and got to hear Donna Brazile (who replace Elizabeth Edwards who canceled at the last minute) - she was amazing and inspiring. I was completely thrilled to have heard her speak and was motivated to do more. Saturday I went to a Derby Brat's practice - middle school and high school roller girls (some even younger!) who play against other "brat leagues". Trixxie and I teamed up to lead a couple of pairs of derby brats through some drills. They were great and it was so fun to teach what you knew. I raced home to shower and head off to the Obama Campaign where I was trained in GOTV canvassing (which I've already done) and was trained to answer the phones. After 4 hours there, I headed to Kelly Rae's art opening with Kate (Misses Unshine) and then out for some dancing at I Heart Shiva. It was a Bollywood with some great mashing going on. The main reason to go to dance, dance nights like these are to hear what's going on in the music scene in the rest of the world.

This morning I visited my P-Patch which needs to be winterized but the tomatoes won't let me do so just yet - I picked about 40 cherry tomatoes! I headed back to a very hectic campaign offices where I got moved off the phones and worked on signing people in for volunteer shifts and directing them to various offices and activities, ran to Target for things like kitty litter and then off to practice. It was a great practice. I left the Skate Deck, worn out from the weekend, flipping the radio station to find something to listen to, heading home.

That Mean Man...

He was a friend of the family and I've know Frank Miller since I've been alive. He was married to my mother's best friend from Denver, Janelle. He's was Melanie and Joey's dad. He was in the military. He had just finished a 3 week trip around the country visiting family members who were dying - his sisters-in-law has a terrible disease that escapes me now, another sibling had cancer and they visited Janelle's brother who is not ill. They stayed with my parents for the weekend on their way back home last weekend. They attended the funeral Melanie's mother in-law today. And then Frank had a massive heart attack and die this afternoon. He was 60. He was a friend of the family.

When I was a little kid though, I didn't like Frank. He was scary, always seemed angry. We would visit often as Janelle as they were just in Pittsburgh - not that far away. We spent many Thanksgivings there and they had this super fancy cable (just regular cable be we didn't get it in rural Ohio.) I was kind of afraid of Frank as a little kid - but I was just a little kid. What did I know? Of course as I got older I realized he just had this gruff demeanor.

And he wasn't that bad at all.

They say they're addictive...

I made and paid for an appointment right after Labor Day, finally knowing what I wanted to my next tattoo to be. I got it done Monday night. I'm pretty happy with these reluctant creatures.

Look familiar...

My tights...

My new co-worker walked into the kitchen this morning (where I was mixing my yogurt/granola breakfast and brewing coffee) and said "OMG - I love your ti-" as she went to set her gallon coffee cup mug on the table and missed. A gallon of coffee ended up on the floor. I finished her sentence for her "tights. You loved my tights?" Yes. They're great. And they are great tights.

I helped her clean up her coffee.

Cold, raining Monday...

I think Seattle got the memo that they had one weekend to check into Fall. I came home from Boise to cool rainy weather fall weather. (I enjoyed both Boise and Denver - Boise is high dessert, lots of sunshine. Denver was just sunny.) A pot of coffee make enabled me to get thru the Monday.

I like this Nataliedee.com comic. I'm a week from my next hair cut and people have been commenting on how long it is... I'm growing it out so I don't have "derby hair" (read: sweaty helmet hair) and can pull it back into a ponytail or pigtails. It's kind of silly, to grow your hair out just to pull it back. It will last a few months, I'll get sick of it and chop it off again.

Boise, Politics, Surprising Weekend.

This weekend Jet City Rollergirls went to Boise to play Treasure Valley Rollergirls. I flew out Friday after work, taking a 20 minute bus ride to the airport. Most of my teammates took vans - which I was going to do but we had a woman's caucus event that I was going to be at for work so I flew to make it back in time. It was a pretty uneventful Friday - Arson Annie joining me at the hotel later - we chatted and watch 3 episodes of "What Not to Wear" on The Learning Channel before heading to bed.

On Saturday we headed over to the fairgrounds where we met the Treasure Valley Rollergirls, tested out the rumored slippery, polished cement floor (not bad at all!), ate pulled pork sandwiches with the other skates (I hung out with "Violet" who also originally hailed from Cleveland), and skated around, smacking around some of the new skaters who had joined us to help fill in our rosters. It was a great warm up. We stopped by the costume shop back to our hotel - as is mandatory with any group of roller girls - you're always on the lookout for great fishnets, boots, tights, and other fabulous accessories.

The game was fantastic! It was broken up into 3 - 20 minute periods. We were up by 20 some points at the end of the first 20 minutes. We had a pretty good start - I scored some points as jammer and rocked the B3 position. The reffing was frustrating as there were various interpretations of 3.1 WFTDA rules (which regulate our game). The second period we seemingly lost our edge, lost most of our lead and had way too many penalties. But we pulled it together for the third period and everyone stepped it up. It was a thrilling and fantastic game with 1.40 minutes left, Molly Python managed to pull us ahead from our tie and our blockers held their jammer to no points. It was a thrilling and exhilarating game. Audience members came over and thanked us for such a good game. We cleaned up and headed to the after party which was more fun times, playing drinking games and dancing.

Treasure Valley does an incredible job of entertaining their audience in-between the periods and have been the most hospitable host team to-date. We learned plenty of things from them. They were great hosts and I can't wait to have them in Everett.

I pulled myself out of bed in plenty of time to catch an airport shuttle and head home. I made an earlier connecting flight in Portland - thankfully. I needed lunch and a nap so badly before the women's caucus event. I headed off to that and was looking around at the usual suspects. I was slightly disappointed thinking it was going to be preaching to the choir but ended up not being that at all. It was about women in politics: how do we more women elected to office, how do we run for more offices; what resources are out there; what does it mean to have Palin and Clinton in the forefront. It was a very good, though small, meeting of organizers, women who are interested in getting more involved and women who want to make sure their voices are heard. I left very excited and we'll see what comes of it. I volunteered to help make some things happen.

What a fantastic weekend. I was pleasantly surprise by our bout and by the event today. I like surpises like that.

3 victories!!

I usually don't write about work because it's never a good idea to blog about your job... but today was our third victory in a string of cases that are making the world a better place for women, families, everyone. WOOT!!

It's nice to be on the winning side - even if it's just for a little while. At the end of an extraordinary week where sleep has been elusive and hope is slightly deflated - the people are a little nicer, the fruit is a little juicer, and you don't even notice the rain.

Sleepy...

So my days and nights are running into each other and I either have my skate bag in hand or not, mailing in my hands or not, sometimes I find my toothbrush.

Ok. Ok. It's not quite that bad but I'm pretty damn busy just the same (as proof, I'm writing my blog posting at work when I have a few minutes as opposed to later tonight when I'll be struggling to pack and get to bed.) I head to Boise, Idaho for a bout this weekend. I fly back Sunday to work a voting event for the Law Center... then on to the rest of the week. Phew. No much has changed... but I just find myself more tired sometimes. Truly.

My candle burns at both ends;

it will not last the night;

but ah, my foes, and oh, my friends

- it gives a lovely light!

Edna St. Vincent Millay

No luck with my new super power....

I didn't get anyone on "rabbit rabbit" today and consequently all of my luck has been taken for the month and that was pretty apparent today as my mailing kind of went down the tubes and I spent the whole morning obsessing about sharks. Poor sharks. My friend Kathy laughed when I told her about how upsetting slaughtering millions of sharks for a trendy soup was. She said she didn't think that saving the sharks really solves the problem - they are really just the victim of a much larger issue. Of course, she's right.

That made me think of my superpower. It's a question Megan asked when I went camping over Labor Day weekend - if you could have a super power - any super power - what would it be? I now ask this question anytime I go camping. I thought Megan had the best ever - to be able to speak any language. Of course, I came up with an even better one today! I would have "trend setter" capabilities. I could swoop down into any culture and create different trends: Make it trendy for Americans to walk to work... the French find smoking is no long chique... Taiwanese reject shark fin soup. Roller derby makes it as a national sport... I would only use my power for good - I promise.

Getting back to sharks... so that documentary was great and completely disturbing on how we're killing the sharks who are so necessary for our oceans. Oceans=oxygen=life on earth. That is on equation that I pulled away from the film Shark Water. It's amazing and I highly recommend it to everyone. And I'll be perfectly honest, you'll want to do everything possible the next day to save the sharks. You really will.

And just to give you a head start, here are something you can do:

Ways you can help save sharks http://www.savingsharks.com/

Thank you for your passion and support! You can help save sharks by telling everyone you know to watch Sharkwater and spread the word. We need to give sharks a new image and make ocean conservation a part of our daily lives. Click here for more about saving sharks and to send this to a friend.

Ways to get involved:

Watch and tell your friends to see Sharkwater. Find out more at http://www.sharkwater.com/.

Tell teachers and students to watch Sharkwater, then download the study guides at http://www.sharkwater.com/ for info and photos about shark conservation.

Don’t eat shark fin soup—refuse to eat at restaurants that serve it; encourage others to do the same.

Dive and snorkel with sharks. The more money that goes into shark tourism the more people will realize the value of keeping sharks alive.

Find out if your country is one of the 17 countries that have banned shark finning. If not, write your local government official asking them to ban shark finning.

Demand that your country stop the sale/importation of shark fins.

Click here if you would like to volunteer your product, service or talents at some future date.
Start a letter writing campaign to the Secretary General of the UN requesting international bans on shark finning and the importation of fins. Click here to send a letter.

Visit http://www.seashepherd.org/ and similar organizations such as http://www.oceana.org/ and http://www.wildaid.com/, to take action to save sharks.

You can donate to help save sharks at http://www.sharkwater.com/.

Thank you!

Facts about sharks

• Sharks have been around for more than 400 million years
  
• There are 375 shark species
  
• Sharks are intelligent and can be trained
  
• 100 million sharks are killed each year for their fins
  
• The largest shark is the Whale shark, averaging 9 metres (30 feet) in length—the size of a large bus
• Whale sharks are not aggressive. They eat zooplankton, small fish and squid.

• When a shark loses a tooth, a new one grows in its place
  
• Mako and Blue sharks are the fastest swimming sharks
  
• Sharks can take hours or even days to die after being finned
  
• Sharks are a critical part of marine ecosystems
  

Yesterday...

The economy stressed me out. My longtime friend Denise and her husband both work at WaMu and though they're going to be fine - eventually - it's stressful when they have a new baby, a new condo and live in a city where she hasn't had many nibbles for a different job in the past few months (Chicago). Yesterday my friend Kelly-Rae got laid off from her retail job - she's an artist - a painter who maybe is realizing it might be time to take the plunge and "be a starving artist - for real." They become 6,7,8 of my friends or family who have become unemployed in the last few months (4 in September alone.) It's depressing and like nothing I've experienced before. (I was a kid in the 80's during the Saving and Loan scandal and other crisis. I had just come back from Peace Corps at the Dot Bomb.) Phew. And I'm trying to raise money in the climate.

Today...

I am watching a show on sharks. They're 450 million years old. Amazing. They survived 5 massive extinctions on Earth. And now there's so few of them. They're at the top of the food chain in the ocean which holds 80% of the world's living things. Boy, I hope they survive.

Shattered glass across the sky...

... what the late night sky looks like at Heart of the Hills campground in the Olympic National Forest this weekend - so many stars that you can't discern the constellations that usually litter the night sky. We stood there just looking at the stars - Weedy, Lara and I - while John tended the fires. It was a beautiful weekend to get away from the stress of work and all the other things line life (the economy, election, etc.) and just be. As Weedy stated "you don't feel like the Apocalypse is near..." which is true (though I don't often feel like the Apocalypse is near - or at least very near.)

It was a perfect weekend - sunny and warm - no rain though the forecast had predicted a chance of it. We went to Hurricane Ridge and camped in Heart of the Hills on Friday night after work. The kindle wood didn't start (because of the starter chemicals) and we finally had a last S'more snack. We got up a little later on Saturday - awoken by the Boy Scout troupe - particularly Jordan and Andy who had to make their voices clearly heard. We had a late breakfast and hiked around the top of Hurricane Ridge in the bright sunshine and watched some thick clouds roll in - had a late lunch in Port Angeles at an "Asian Bistro" and then headed to Salt Creek for low tide... there were no sea stars though there were anemone, crabs (of all sizes), sea weeds, barnacles, mussels and clams. We didn't see many fish though a bunch of different birds.

Sunday morning we packed up, ate breakfast and were the reluctant creatures heading back to our "normal lives." There was plenty of coffee and relaxing before it was time to leave as the gray jays were waiting for us so they could dive in an clean up our camp site (though they were disappointed as we were very clean campers.) It was a great weekend to get away.

What a day...

First WaMu, a Seattle giant, who had already gone under much transformation, selling off debt, cutting staff sank this morning as the FDIC took over the JP Morgan Chase bought what little was left on the skeleton of this giant. Then Heller Erhman, a San Francisco law firm with an office in Seattle had survived the 1906 earthquake, the Depression and was as recently as 2004 rated the one of the top law firms in the nation, dissolved. This effects my organization as we had many cooperating and pro-bono attorneys from Heller. It also effects a friend who had spent almost 10 years at Heller on the admin side. It's finally coming to home to Seattle - the struggles that the rest of the country has been facing have descended upon the Pacific Northwest like an eagle coming to rest.

And here I am writing fall fundraising appeals on a sunny fall day. With such a smack in this city, you feel like you should see something going on... but it's business as usual - or so it appears. I had lunch in the mall 4 blocks from my office and the talk all around me was about the economy and WaMu.

*sigh*

I'm going over to the mountains this weekend to do a little fall camping. I was wanting to write about the last day of being the captain of CarnEvil and how I felt about that (woot! and very proud and somewhat sad) but it seems like those feeling have been replaced by more important things.

Fezzi came home!

Phew. Bad kitty.

Fezzi is lost...




It looks like he must have fallen off the balcony (or jumped off going after a bug) and is nowhere to be found on a rainy night. Lara didn't get home until 9:30 and didn't notice him gone for a little while. I got home at 10:30 and we went out looking for him - even with Friday (his pal) but didn't find him anywhere. Monkey of course is beside herself wanting attention. She probably doesn't quite know he's gone.

Bew.

Heroes, equinox, and two of my favorite things...


Tonight was the season premiere of Heroes - of which I've only seen a about half of the first season - but I had to miss it because I had to go swimming. I love swimming with Pygmy on Mondays. We went for a beer afterwards (whoops, kind of defeats the point of the swimming) at Molly McGuires and chatted about a million things under the sun, including our new found love of swimming. I came back home and luckily Lara had taken some notes from the season opener to get me caught up to speed. It's a very good show - great stories and even better characters. About Heroes: when I was out camping a month ago, Lara asked Megan and I if we could have a super power - like in Heroes - what would it be? I couldn't think of anything specifically that I wanted.... maybe to have incredible jumping power like a cricket or something very physical. Megan had the best response - she said her super power would be able to speak any language fluently. That is the best super hero power ever - I wish it!


Today is the first day of fall - and I'm pretty sure Washington state got the memo. It was cool, bright and rather chilly. The air had a bite. I am so glad I had a weekend of vitamin D in Denver (ha - that would be a great marketing strategy for a city that has 350 days of sunshine a year!) I had a great time in Denver - one of the first times really looking at it as an adult (the last time I was there was in 2000 - and I was at a wedding). The neighborhood where I spent most of my summers as a kid had little farmers market - and fun artsy boutiques and restaurants. It's a city struggling with growth (sprawl)as the Rockies hover in the distance and the clouds billow upward - providing a great backdrop. It also changed my perspective on this city that I had spent a lot of time in as kid. This was always the wild west. And it was. But it's not the "west" - Seattle is the west. California is the west. It's the last outpost of the "mid west" - before climbing into the Rockies. I'm still chewing on this one and will probably have more to say about it another time.


The girls, my whole reason for going to Denver, were just as fabulous as I expected them to be. They have to be some of the most well behavior, vivacious, gregarious 3-year-olds I know. Of course, I am completely biased and I just love them to death. They still say the cutest things: Alexandre "Aunt Michelle are you going to the Bronco's game with us?" I don't know. Maybe. "But I love you and if you come I'll give you a piece of candy." She would also quip about cleaning up after a crafty activity "oh, Aunt Michelle, I am just so tired. Cleaning up is just so much work." Lucia said similar witty things and things that made me laugh so hard. When exchanging toy paper money with Alexandre "Alexandre, I love you more than money." They got use to Marie's giant dog Holly. They danced like crazy girls. They yelled a lot of "Go Broncos" and gave their little sister a kiss (at least Alexandre did. Lucia would get close to her face and say "McKenny" very sweetly.) They were the best even when they coughed on you (both had colds) and made you go to the bathroom with them many times.


There are many other things to say about my Denver weekend - like watching someone grow old and looking at 4 generation of a family. I got to visit my Peace Corps friend Nikki and had a great conversation on the plane. I devoured a book over the weekend reminding me how much I love to read.


It was a great weekend, and like turning a page in a book to reveal the next chapter: autumn.

After a week like this...

I am so ready to get out of town for a little visit to Denver. I haven't been there in 8 years - last going for a two week visit after the Peace Corps for my "cousin" Jen's wedding. I'll see my fairy godmother, my friend Nikki, hang out with Marie and most importantly spend time with those damn fun (and cute) Johnson girls! I can't wait to see them! I got some fun crafty things we can do while we're there - besides hang out in the park next to the house. It's going to be in the high 70's, low 80's. Perfect weather and 3 year old twins - who could ask for anything more!

One of those days...

It was one of those days and it appears there are going to be a lot of them - super busy, no real lunch break, sneezes from fatigue (yes, that is a odd sign that I am tired - I sneeze), and just busy, busy, busy. And then I have to deal with my car. The alternator died over the last week, though I feel like it's been on it's way out for a couple of months. I had to jump almost every time I tried to start the start it.

My NEW auto repair shop, where I've almost spent $1k in the last month, wanted another $780 to replace the alternator and battery (though there was no proof that the battery actually needed to be replaced - it just had a low charge - because the alternator wasn't charging it.) I told them I would replace the battery myself (if it actually proved it needed it) by going to Sears and got the bill to just under $580. Ugh. It was another one of those situations where I wish I had a small house with a garage and I would just fix it myself... or with the help of some friends. I know people who have changed their own alternators so I know it's no that difficult. Bleh. Frustrating only because I'm spending all the money I was saving for a bike - as in bicycle - on my car. Though it's still cheaper than having a car payment every month.

Swimming!

I went swimming with Pygmy tonight at "Adult Senior Open Swim". She had been going to a couple of the open swims and wanted a swim buddy. When we got there, the Masters Class was ending and I hopped in with my sleek Speedo swimsuit (that I bought 8 years ago after getting back from Peace Corps), put on my swim cap (the first one that I've ever owned) and my goggles. It took about 5 minutes to get use to the lanes and the lane etiquette - I mean it's been since like 5th grade that I took a swim class on any sort of organized level but it was GREAT. After like 10 laps I totally hit a wall and of course swam thru it and just had a great time for the next 25 minutes. Then I realized that there is probably a more effective way to do this - swimming that is. Because it's been since like the 5th grade that I took any kind of swimming class. I hopped out of the pool and was thrilled. I loved it!

And I'm signing up for "Intermediate Adult Swim" for the month of November and December. I'm pretty psyched! It's so good for you - it's great core strength (awesome for derby!) and the community pool is, I kid you not, only one blck away from my apartment. (I live on 64th and 14th - Ballard High School is on 65th and 15th.) I can't wait. I love the idea of swimming and swimming at my community pool. Woot!

Pale moon rising over the cake of an incredible weekend...

There is an absolutely almost full moon (tomorrow) hanging out in a clear cloudless sky with the Cascades acting as a back drop. I finished an hour in my garden (amen!) pulling out mint that had taken over everything, and freshened up the soil with some compost before planting some more lettuce that I know will be happy with the turn of the season this week.

I saw three trees with orange leaves and I have been told repeatedly that Wednesday is the last day of summer - I'm just happy it last three weeks longer than I expected. There was a cold snap a bit ago and I thought our summer was going be only 6 weeks long (&!?#^#%@) - luckily it has lasted a couple of weeks longer - all bright, beautiful, clear (sometimes cool) sunny days... just gorgeous and one of the many things that Seattle is reputed for - and all coming to an end on Wednesday when rains comes rolling in and the low sixties.

Today was a long day - I was at a work event from 9 a.m. to almost 1 p.m. and then actually went to work for a couple of hours. (I had a work event on Friday that was super successful and fun!) I scooted home and headed to Discovery Park for a two hour hike before heading to my P-Patch. It was great to tear up the plot and plant new things. I was rather happy and relieved.

However, the icing on the cake this weekend was the Dockyard Derby Dames (DDYD) and Jet City Roller Girl Bout on Saturday. It was a match-off a year in the making and it was great! Each JCRG team played one of the DDYD teams for a 30 minute mini-bout (two-15 minute mini halves with a 5 minute break that served as half time). We were ranked pretty closely by our rank within our leagues. We were squared off with Mollys - I had been on the Mollys for about a month when I first got involved with derby (and was driving 103 miles round trip to skate. As my carpool buddies dropped off, it became impossible for me to keep it up.) I was thrilled to play the Mollys - as it was like coming back home or at least to your sister's house. We both had purple and black uniforms. Both our teams had a hard time winning though we always put up a great fight. Yeah, we were perfect matches!

We were at a serious disadvantage as our injured list is longer than our healthy list! A few people were out of town but we had a group of gimps who called themselves the "CC"s - Carnie Cripples. So a standard game day roster has 16 - 14 of which are playing and 2 others are on the roster "just incase"... we had 9 healthy skaters and no "just incases". And just as life would have it, we lost Vibe Raider, one of our up and coming blockers, 30 minutes before we were going to go on (dislocated knee cap) and had to rewrite line-ups. Everyone played 2 or 3 times in a row (read: exhausting). There were only three jammers and when you weren't jamming you were out there with the blockers smacking people around. It was great, exhausting and incredible!

We were up by 10 points as the half, even with only 8 skaters but the points slipped out of our hands and we found ourselves TIED (see on of January postings for an idea of what that was like) and as history would repeat itself - I was jamming (but in the box!) It was a total nail-biter! I skated out of the box, like hell on wheels, and tried desperately to grab more points than the other jammer (taking her out along the way!) but she had the advantage of catching my point (while I was in the box) - I scored 8 points - she scored 9. We lost by one. It was devastating and though thrilling at the same time to have played so low in numbers, have some questionable calls, and only lose by 1 point. It was also thrilled to play the Mollys. And if I hadn't been so exhausted and PROUD at the same time, there might have even been some tears.

There will be a rematch! There will be more long weekends. There will be a weekend trip to Denver to see the most beautiful girls in the world. There will be financial intuitions that will fail. There will be cases won (yeah, two last week!) and lost. There will be more friends that will lose their jobs and others that find better ones. There will be more injuries and more tie breakers. There are so many more things to anticipate. But tonight there is a huge pale white moon in the sky over the Cascades and the thrilled of such a weekend.

What a week...

I knew yesterday was going to be one of those days when my bus, already running late and a short bus rather than a long one, had to make an emergency stop on Elliot Bay Ave because a passenger right in front of me passed out. Coincidentally, we stopped at a stop where a doctor was waiting - to get on to a different bus. I hopped off and jumped on anther bus behind us (I was of no use) and headed to work... and the day just didn't stop until 5 p.m. when I ran out the door to catch another bus home and meet Lara at a bar before our league meeting/practice. I needed a beer. I needed fried food. I needed the intensity of the day to go down 15 notches. One my bus ride home, I found the gal who had fainted on my bus - obviously she made it thru the rest of her day.

Today, my work is hosting a great event "Get Schooled in Title IX" which includes a CLE (continuing legal education), a salon (panel discussion with a variety of female athletes including a national phenom named Jaime Nared - google her) and after that we're heading off to a Seattle Storm's game. Saturday, Jet City plays Dockyard Derby Dames in Monroe and Sunday I have a 30th Anniversary Reunion - again for work. Then it's Monday... again.

My P-Patch needs my attention - the tomatoes and corn are fighting for sun. Cucumbers have sprouted and lettuce is struggling to stay alive in late summer warm days. It's been unseasonally BEAUTIFUL in Seattle lately.

Hopefully I'll get to it - before the end of the month.

Tea....

I popped a "happy pill" in my bath tub tonight along with some absence salt to take out some of the poison from the day. It had been an antagonistic long day at work (um, who ever said that women's rights work was easy) followed by a long board meeting and a happy pill was just what I needed. The happy pill you buy from Lush - its orange and lemon scents melded together (thanks Audrey!) with a bunch of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). It's warm, fuzzy fun that smells great and turns your bathwater into ice tea. Friday, the cat, licked my shoulder and for a moment the ice tea I was sitting in became a 1970's poisoned river from which the book Yellow Springs was derived - or maybe not - that's the kind of day I was having.

Tonight I talked to the Political Organizer of the Washington Obama campaign and she did little to reassure the panic I felt at noon today - when I called my mother and best friend - begging them both to get involved with the campaign. Pleating. My mother said she would call next week. (I figured she owed me from all the envelopes I licked closed for the various Republican campaigns as a kid.) My best friend felt like she couldn't do much about it (not true!) The thing is I think I'm still recovering from 2004 when I worked as an organizer for Planned Parenthood, Move On and other groups. I put in a gazillion hours from August to November and somehow I didn't win. (After crumpling in tears, my work sent me home.) The thing is, after that election, I don't have the emotional energy to do that kind of work. It's too much with work - derby -relationships - but I have less energy for four more years like we have now. So I'll find it - in the bottom of my gut - somewhere hidden and I will throw myself into it. Because I have to. Because no one told me that my work would be easy. Any of it.

One thing not related to politics or anything is just about bills. I became a beer drinker for three reasons 1. beer is cheaper than wine 2. it causes less headaches and 3. beer is cheaper than wine. I truly enjoy wine - love it - in fact. But I will take an IPA over a glass of wine any day. And that comes from my years of working in the ".org" as opposed to the ".com". I didn't make enough money to buy wine. I would go out with my friends and for $10 I could get to pints and throw in a buck for the tips/taxes/appetizer. The glasses of wine cost $12 each. I couldn't afford that. So I drank what I could afford and my taste is for "beer" over wine - but I do like wine. Tonight, I paid $50 for two beer and a snack. My total bill was $24 but when you get the check and everyone is like "split is X of ways" - you end up paying for peoples $16 glass of wine (um, that would be 4 beers!) I guess I'm just more sensitive - because I was that person that couldn't afford beer. And I had those friends that didn't drink. If you order caviar and I order fries -sometimes there's more to it than preference... like maybe environment or a million other reasons.

Thank goodness for that bath. The poison has all but vanished. I have another long day tomorrow - actually the whole rest of the week. But I'll find the energy. No one told me my work would be easy.

Can-Can Ladies...

Today I hopped on the bus, zig-zagging through the city to meet a board member in Pioneer Square for a meeting. I hop on the 49 and two little old ladies sitting across from me took notice of my fishnets. Nothing stellar - medium holes (worn with a short back skirt, fitted pink shirt with light honeycomb print) and black shoes. Look at her fishnets! Those are just like what the Can-Can Ladies use to wear! (well anyone can wear them now). Yes, true, but they had black seams up the back of their legs. Those Can-Can Ladies wore those kind of fishnets! Just like those. Those are so nice.

And yes, I am sure the Can-Can Ladies wore these... but now any of us can wear them. Even to work. Even to my kind of work.

Karma...

On Friday, at work, I had an instant of very good karma. And though a blog is not necessarily the place to get into details, some people from outside my agency I had tried to work with kicked me out of their sandbox (passively aggressively of course) and I just went about playing under the tree and doing my own damn thing. And it turns out it was a good thing - as it always it - the karma that I sent out in the world (by not getting into a pissing war with the others in the sandbox) came back around to me and I succeeded. Of course I had to run down the hall at work and yell "That's your bad karma coming back to bite you in the ass!" to, of course, no one who understood what the hell I was talking about.

Today I went to get gas before heading to the Fred for a couple of pre-bout errands and there was a guy who came over to me pitching a story of needing some gas for his truck - just enough to get to a local neighborhood... I told him I needed to get my own gas and really did he need to harass me so early in the morning - spending too much time in my personal space. He went on about how the pumps were cheating me (no they aren't, they're regulated), and if I could just help him out. As I was about to put the pump away he kept on going on and on about needing gas so I filled his little red can about a dollars-worth and hopped back in the car. And of course my car won't start - the radio worked, the lights went on but the alternator must have given out at some point - there wasn't enough juice to turn the engine over. Well the crazy guy comes back with his friend and asks a million times "is it automatic? Is it automatic? Is it automatic?" No! And it's not the battery and it doesn't have loose cables. Well, he's thrilled about the idea that the car is a manual and he and his friend push the car while it's in first and I pop the clutch - and it starts - driving it off the Fred. It was reluctant karma - I gave the guy gas - not because I wanted to and he helps me out - not because he had to.

Not about karma -today I played in a very fun bout - with skaters from a variety of leagues from all around the Pacific Northwest - I had a great time playing in a couple of jams with them and look forward to more. That is one of my favorite reasons to play derby - planning with other gals from other places. It's the best.

Surprise!

Tonight, as I was heading out the door to practice, I decided to try my trunk clicker to my car. It had stopped working months ago - maybe even February (I would like to say it was winter but that's months long and too hard to use as a gage). And to my complete suprise - it worked! I tossed my bags in the trunk and saved myself a few minutes of unlocking it with a key, etc. I popped the trunk leave practing and was just so happy. It's going to be nice when it's raining and I don't have to fumble with the key. It's not that big of a deal but it was a rather pleasant surprise. And who couldn't use a couple of those a week.

Or at least one.

Reluctant Creatures Abound!

I can't say I was 100% looking forward to this weekend's camping trip. The weather wasn't supposed to be that great - it was a long drive just to get to the coast - 5 hours - and I wasn't sure I wanted to be away camping in the rain...

I was so delighted I went! I was "off the grid" all weekend at Kalaloch (ka-lae-lock) in the Olympic National Park. Lara, Megan and I grilled fish, corn-on-the-cob, summer squashes, shrimps, potatoes; drank lots of wine; made super tasty s'mores; went on short hikes, took naps on a beach littered with glacier-flattened, smooth pebbles; skipped stones on creeks emptying into the ocean; found the roundest stones imaginable; watched the tides come in and saw the most tide pool reluctant creatures ever! (We saw sea stars, anemone, mussels, tube worms and small fish which out scored last summer when we only saw a dead headless seal.) The stars at night, when not fight puffy clouds, number in the billions. I got a touch of both wind and sun burn on my face while wearing long sleeve shirts and jeans. It was cool and sunny - a wonderful weekend of doing lots of nothing - eating, thinking, telling stories and being humbled by the ocean.