Monthly Archives: March 2008

Family/Friends, Travel

Happy (Belated) Birthday, Kathleen

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Happy Birthday KathleenOne of these years, all of my piscean friends need to be together for our birthdays…    but for this year, at least, I was able to spend time with Kathleen on her day (which is the day after mine) and got her to sit for a photo.  

She is so much fun.  Ashley, Kennedy and I stopped by with a small gift and Glaus French pastries (I have yet to find a comparable bakery in the Seattle area) and we had a great visit.  Especially Kennedy, to whom Kathy ALWAYS gives her personal attention. 

Kathy and I spent a couple of days with each other the next week, dining, running errands, watching movies, shopping, laughing and just catching up.  It’s good to spend time with friends – and this is one I just don’t see often enough.   Thanks Kathy.  Can’t wait for your visit next in May!

In the Garden, Photography

A day in pictures

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Yesterday, late morning, I looked out the window and noticed snow falling on my rock garden…

Garden - light snow
and here is what it looked like an hour later.
Snowy garden

This doesn’t happen very often, so I decided to take my camera out with me while I ran a few errands.

RainbowJust 2 weeks ago it was raining, and I ignored my inner photographer when it said – ah, take the camera.  About a mile from my house I came upon the biggest, brightest rainbow I had ever seen…. I snapped this shot through my windshield with my phone (totally doesn’t do it justice), but if I’d had my camera with me I’d have a frameable pic.  But I digress…

Here’s what I saw yesterday, all within a mile of my place…   Snow capped pansies and wetlands bathed in clouds and snowflakes.

Snow capped pansies tundra.jpg

Pink trees lining the streets and hidden away between evergreens.  And the trees are just starting to bloom.  So many varieties – we’ll have trees in bloom into May.  I love how long spring lasts here.

Pink trrees

And another wetland area.  It makes me sad to see development come along and cut down so many big trees.  I hope this wetland area will stay preserved (including it’s backdrop of evergreens) for a long time.

   snowwoods.jpg

By evening, all the snow had melted.  Today the sun is shining.

Whatever

Sexiest Man Alive

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Matt Damon - NOT the sexiest man aliveEvery year People magazine chooses the sexiest man alive.  Sometimes I wholeheartedly agree (George Clooney – 1997 & 2006) – and others, it seems a bit of a miss (Nick Nolte – 1991).  This year their choice was Matt Damon.  Now, Matt is a handsome young buck and a terrific actor – but sexiest man alive??? I think not.

While in Salt Lake last week, Ashley, Kathleen and I took a stroll through the covers of all the previous years of Sexiest Man Alive issues and gave them our own 1 – 10 ratings (and for the most part, were in agreement).   As we were oggling the pics at People.com, we commented on how a person’s behavior impacts their sexiness.

  • George Clooney: humanitarian/political activist = sexy.
  • Brad Pitt: humanitarian = sexy.
  • Mel Gibson: anti-semetism = not sexy.
  • Sean Connery: wife beater = not sexy.

This year I have painstakingly reviewed potential candidates (it was quite a chore, as you can well imagine), and have selected my own honoree.

I present to you now my choice for the 2007 Sexiest Man Alive:

Shemar Moore

Gaze upon his countenance and drool.

Shemar Moore - Sexiest Man Alive

This man is simply gorgeous.

I don’t know much about him or his personality, but I’m a fan of his character on Criminal Minds.

At some point I may learn of some unsavory detail about his life that reduces his sexiness – but for now, this is my dream boy.

Who is your pick?

Family/Friends, Reminiscing

Happy Birthday, Buns

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Michelle - 10th grade 

Happy Birthday to my best friend, Michelle….   

aka Honey, Goob, Shell, Shelly and Buns (nickname given to her by the neighborhood buys who appreciated her cute derriere). 

We’ve been best friends since 9th grade (which is a lot longer ago that it feels) and some of my best memories, most embarrassing moments, and my greatest laughter, have been shared with her.  

Happy Birthday MichelleShe’s smart, wickedly funny, talented, compassionate, a loyal friend, and looks as great today as she did 20 years ago.  Maybe even better.   Including her “buns.”  I’m jealous.   

I don’t know why, but when we are together we are very different than when we are apart.   Something synergistic happens and creates a force to be reckoned with.  Together, we were (and are) nuts. Immune to peer pressure… or family pressure…. fashion sense or any other boundary.  We were good kids – but we truly didn’t care what anyone else thought of us when we were together.  We did the silliest, dumbest things – and kept ourselves laughing constantly.

Things I’d never do on my own.  I could write volumes about the pranks we pulled and things we did together….  Umbrella tree fiasco, belly button filters, pantomiming food while walking down the street, tea parties, prank phone calls to our classmates that led to their embarrassment in the classroom (that is my favorite)….

Some people were really annoyed with us, some jealous (we got away with a lot)… and there were a good many who just loved to be around us to see what would happen next.   I’m sure my siblings will concur…. 

I love that when we’re together EVERYTHING is funny.  We could look at a piece of toast and burst out laughing.   And Michelle is full of the best one liners… really very witty.   She kept me in stitches on our trip to Butchart Gardens last year.  And she’s good sport, not afraid of looking foolish or laugh at herself, and she’s willing to be poked fun of and accept teasing as good natured fun.   Thank you for letting me draw hats and faces on your toes.  Have I mentioned she is really funny?

A true friend – knows me well, all my faults, my embarrassing secrets, and more – and loves and accepts me as I am.  Doesn’t matter how much time has passed, when we connect it’s like we were together yesterday.  I hope we’ll be making a lot more memories together in the next phase of our lives…. 

Love you!   Hope your day is great!

All decked out for Easter Vine ladies