tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57818210971459009592024-02-06T20:05:37.908-08:00The Urban AgrariansIan and Casey are getting back to simple living in Stumptown.Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10108900037676496386noreply@blogger.comBlogger145125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781821097145900959.post-36973881824093920402012-02-17T13:23:00.000-08:002012-02-17T13:23:42.987-08:00Easy Vegan Chocolate Banana Bread<div style="text-align: center;">
I've had seven spent bananas sitting in my freezer for nearly a month. I kept telling myself that I was going to make banana bread. I WAS GOING TO DO IT.</div>
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Yesterday, I finally did. It's pretty darn good. I actually think the batter tasted better than the bread itself (not something I usually find true). But, the bread (cold, with a tiny smearing of Earth Balance on it) it pretty great, too. I like this recipe, as it's not ridiculously sweet. It has a decent amount of sugar, but not as much as in many quick bread recipes.</div>
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The recipe comes from Isa Chandra on <a href="http://www.theppk.com/">Post Punk Kitchen</a>. <i>Per loaf</i>:</div>
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<b>1/2 c brown sugar</b></div>
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<b>1/2 c white sugar</b> </div>
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(if you're trying to be a good vegan, as I am, try to use unrefined sugar, the refining process is a little horrifying)</div>
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<b>1/2 c margarine</b> </div>
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(room temperature or slightly melty)</div>
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<b>3 very ripe bananas</b></div>
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(mashed well, I used 7 bananas for 2 loaves)</div>
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<b>2 c flour</b></div>
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<b>1/2 tsp baking soda</b></div>
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<b>1/4 c vanilla soy milk curdled with 1 tsp apple cider vinegar</b></div>
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<b>1 tsp vanilla</b></div>
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<b>1 tsp cinnamon</b></div>
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<b>1/4 tsp allspice</b></div>
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(I subbed 1/2 tsp cardamom here)</div>
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<b>1/2 tsp salt</b></div>
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<b>1/2 c cocoa powder </b>(my own addition)</div>
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Preheat oven to 350 and lightly oil your bread pan. Cream margarine and sugars together. Add bananas and curdled soy milk to the sugar mixture. Sift/wisk together the dry ingredients. Add wet ingredients to dry and mix very well. Fill your bread pan (it'll rise about 1- 1.5 inches). Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour 10 depending on how psychotic you oven is.</div>
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Quick breads are very likely the easiest baked thing to veganize as bananas are an effective egg replacer.</div>
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Thawed banana (pre-mushing). You should have seen it coming out of the peel...</div>
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I'm not usually a batter eater, but this stuff tasted like chocolate frozen bananas.</div>
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Super moist and awesome for breakfast of with vegan ice cream (bonus points for sprinkling the ice cream with cardamom).</div>
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What are your favorite quick breads?</div>
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<br /></div>Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10108900037676496386noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781821097145900959.post-38855145867247326122012-01-27T12:49:00.000-08:002012-01-27T12:49:50.462-08:00Mini Goals<div style="text-align: center;">
Last year I set monthly challenges and tried to adhere to each for 30 days. I ended up giving up about half way through.</div>
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This year, I'm going to set weekly goals (they'll be Saturday to Saturday). Some of them will be simple and week specific, some of them will be small pieces in the larger puzzle of who I'd like to be a the end of this year.</div>
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I've really got to start moving forward again. I feel so stagnant. I even occasionally fantasize about moving. And I hate moving. I do wish we had a dishwasher and that our laundry was inside our unit, but I digress.</div>
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Each Friday I will write a post containing the goals for the coming seven days and each Sunday I'll write to tell you how the previous week went.</div>
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This is what I want for this coming "week." I'm going to keep it pretty easy for this first go.</div>
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<b>1.</b> Stick to the training schedule. Week three of mileage build up training: Sat 3 miles, Sun 5 miles, Mon rest (anaerobic) , Tue 4 miles, Wed rest (anaerobic), Thur 4 miles, Fri rest (anaerobic), Sat 3 miles</div>
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<b>2.</b> Clean the litter box EVERY day.</div>
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<b>3.</b> Bake banana bread. (I want to bake once a week, but this is taking it as the weeks come).</div>
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<b>4.</b> Finish reading <i>The Wasp Factory</i></div>
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<b>5.</b> Finish writing chapter three and at least 2,000 words of chapter four in the Jecheon book.</div>
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<b>6.</b> Finish the new in house menu (Publisher file) for Oasis.</div>
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Alright, that's it! I'm gonna get to it!</div>Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10108900037676496386noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781821097145900959.post-73996951275516863562012-01-06T12:50:00.000-08:002012-01-06T12:50:01.637-08:00Resolute!<div style="text-align: center;">
I promise that I'll get those holiday pictures up soonish. It looks like Blogger is going to make me upload them as I use them in the post (instead of all at once), so it's a bit of a pain. But, I really want to put them up here. Peter suggested that it might be time to look into Blogger's competitors, and he might be right. Google is going through a lot of changes in their various interfaces (I have an Android, I use Gmail and Blogger, so I feel like I'm all Google all the time).</div>
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Now on to the cliche January business. Resolutions!</div>
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Ian and I are in a couple's competition with his family to see who can lose the greatest percentage of body weight before his sister, Alena's, wedding on September 1st. Each couple has $150 in the pot. The rules are pretty straight forward, each couple will post weigh-ins each Sunday (Tuesday at the latest or there's a $5 penalty) and their combined percentage of loss will be the one considered. No fad diets, no pills, no liquid cleanses or anything like that. Veggies and exercise, basically. So far, it's been fun. We're using a private Facebook group for it to keep it easy and, since we're all pretty competitive, it's been fun so far. I think it has a lot of potential to keep us motivated.</div>
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So, that's one if Ian and my "together resolutions." I need to finally hit my healthy weight and Ian has goals for this year and beyond. We bought home gym equipment so that we can cancel our gym membership (we both prefer to run outside and it's easier to stay motivated that way). Looking to hit the pavement 5-6 times a week.</div>
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We're also emphasizing teamwork on keeping our apartment clean (even when we aren't expecting visitors, ha).</div>
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This one kind of fits right into the "healthy weight" resolution, but we're planning more meals and snacks from home and keeping our eating out to 1-2 times a week. We're always out and about on our days off, so this is a tough one, but it will save us money and keep us healthier.</div>
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I'm looking to write (AT MINIMUM) 5 hours a week and both of us are trying to read more. I think I should easily finish a book a month. We watch too much t.v., which is humorous since we don't have cable.</div>
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There are others, but these are the big guys. Oh, and I'm also flossing. No lie.</div>
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How cliche are your resolutions this year?</div>
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<br /></div>Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10108900037676496386noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781821097145900959.post-85525455601527055952011-12-29T15:48:00.000-08:002012-01-12T13:33:23.406-08:00Our Christmasses Three<div style="text-align: center;">
This has been awhile coming. There won't be as many photos as I was hoping for because I have to upload them in chunks, but here this post is, nonetheless. Finally!!<br />
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Ian and I, like many Americans, have several Christmas celebrations in order to spend time with everyone. It can be cumbersome, but mostly its fun to spread the joy out.</div>
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When I was a kid, we used to celebrate Christmas Eve with our immediate family, homemade pizza and sugar cookies.</div>
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Now that our family has grown and the holidays pull us in so many directions, we've had to adjust it (calling it Christmas Eve Eve Eve... and so on for awhile), but its still a lot of fun. We gather at Rob and Danie's house (we being Ian and I, Mom and Bruce, Justin and Richelle [super close family friends]).<br />
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Their house was totally decked out (you'll see, in some of the photos) their fridge was even a snowman for the occasion.<br />
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My favorite part is giving the kids (Audrey and Grant) their gifts, personally.
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But, the whole night is a total blast.<br />
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I don't have a single picture of Justin and Richelle. They didn't get to be there super long due to work schedules.<br />
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On Christmas Eve we braved morning traffic (which turned out to be a breeze) and went up to Grays Harbor to spend the day with Ian's family.<br />
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But, we did have to get a tire changed when we got there. We discovered we had a flat outside of Grand Mound. There, Ian ran into to buddies of his from high school. After that we were on our way to family fun.<br />
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We retired to Mom's after that, where we stayed the night and spent Christmas morning before heading to Gramma's. I was excited to see her decorations and even more stoked that she had a totally vegan spread out even though it was almost 10pm when we got there.<br />
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Morning:<br />
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Last, but not least, on to Gramma's!<br />
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Phew! The end. Now I can officially move on into 2012. Ha!<br />
<br /></div>Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10108900037676496386noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781821097145900959.post-5183728019190222282011-12-14T23:31:00.000-08:002011-12-14T23:31:41.675-08:00I was going to post this on Facebook...<div style="text-align: center;">
But, I thought better of it. This is one of those things that might be downright offensive to some people and I don't need an 87 comment debate on my page. Here, it's a little less in everyone's face.</div>
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But...</div>
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I can't be the only one who has a problem with this song. It turns my holiday joy into rage. I mean, I get the message, in fact, I like the idea of the message. But, the ridiculousness of the statements "There won't be snow in Africa this Christmas." "Do they know it's Christmas time at all?" really overshadow the whole business.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Here's the original:</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/c-w-CmCCF7k" width="420"></iframe>
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It was the Glee Christmas special that forced me to think about the song again. Luckily, I haven't really heard it much on the radio.<br />
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Here are the lyrics, complete with notes on why I find them troublesome (and, sure, I'll admit that I'm putting too much energy into this):</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
It's Christmas time</div>
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There's no need to be afraid</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
At Christmas time</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>We let in light and we banish shade</b></div>
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<i>light= good, shade= evil, as we get further into the song we learn that if Africans knew it was Christmas, they would have a better standard of living</i></div>
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And in our world of plenty</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We can spread a smile of joy</div>
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Throw your arms around the world</div>
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At Christmas time</div>
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<br /></div>
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2But say a prayer</div>
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<b>Pray for the other ones</b></div>
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<i>Again, the "otherness" of the Africans seems to be the problem we're combating with our overpowering Christmas love</i></div>
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At Christmas time it's hard</div>
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But when you're having fun</div>
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There's a world outside your window</div>
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And it's a world of dread and fear</div>
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Where the only water flowing</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Is the bitter sting of tears</div>
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And the Christmas bells that ring</div>
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There are the clanging chimes of doom</div>
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Well, tonight thank God it's them instead of you</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Feed the world</div>
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<b>Let them know it's Christmas time</b></div>
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Feed the world</div>
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<b>Do they know it's Christmas time at all?</b></div>
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<i>Considering Africa is largely Christian or Islamic, the answer to that question is a resounding "yes." 2000 years ago? Probably not.</i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>And there won't be snow in Africa</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>This Christmas time</b></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Wikipedia says, "Snow is a rare occurrence in South Africa, with snowfall having been experienced in Johannesburg in May 1956, August 1962, June 1964, September 1981, August 2006, and on 27 June 2007, accumulating up to 10 centimetres (3.9 in) in the southern suburbs"</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>The greatest gift they'll get this year is life</b></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>That is the greatest gift anyone gets every minute of every day</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Where nothing ever grows</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>No rain nor rivers flow</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Madagascar is still Africa, and it's not even the only region that gets rainfall</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Do they know it's Christmas time at all?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Feed the world</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Let them know it's Christmas time</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Feed the world</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Let them know it's Christmas time again</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
BRIDGE:</div>
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(Here's to you) raise a glass for everyone</div>
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(Here's to them) underneath that burning sun</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Do they know it's Christmas time at all?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
END: Feed the world</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Let them know it's Christmas time</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
********</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Seriously. Rage.</div>
</div>Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10108900037676496386noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781821097145900959.post-79414444534529631152011-12-12T03:55:00.000-08:002011-12-12T03:55:15.244-08:00O Christmas Tree!<div style="text-align: center;">
We got our tree up today! It's a live tree, so we had to wait to buy it because they can't be inside for too long.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Also, about a week ago, we went downtown to make a swag and check out the big tree in Pioneer Square. It's almost 4am, so I'm going to keep this brief, but here are some photos of our Christmas festivities so far:</div>
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Swag branch!</div>
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Pioneer Square.</div>
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Ava would not allow us to put the hat on her.</div>
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Satch let us, but he cried a bit.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
We took our pictures for our Christmas card (to be sent out on Thursday!) tonight and when I put the kitties' sweaters on them, they both flopped on the ground and seemed to lose the will to live. Go figure.</div>
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Trimming!</div>
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Ian expertly puts our snowflake-star atop the highest bow.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIzqoT6QdDhJHtPYxOVmskPbrAXc5OgPer2etBWX4RFpt88DLe9cBf8A_YFKtTwfr19S8-EhGC9orVieEfN5cNG__8N2XrksMHu6yYwZ1ach5LlWQfnmEFU9vDYRAfkgKXWLIzlqfLmSBT/s1600/158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIzqoT6QdDhJHtPYxOVmskPbrAXc5OgPer2etBWX4RFpt88DLe9cBf8A_YFKtTwfr19S8-EhGC9orVieEfN5cNG__8N2XrksMHu6yYwZ1ach5LlWQfnmEFU9vDYRAfkgKXWLIzlqfLmSBT/s400/158.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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Crooked lil' tree.</div>
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Goodness 'sakes. Good night!</div>Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10108900037676496386noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781821097145900959.post-78969870171126030432011-12-02T13:50:00.001-08:002011-12-02T14:29:59.988-08:001 Down, 30+ to Go<div style="text-align: center;">
I've written (the first draft of) the first chapter of the Jecheon novel. Chapter one is called "Arrivals," but I have no overall title for the book. That probably won't come to me until much, much later.</div>
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It's 3,215 words (six pages in MS Word). So, it's about the normal length for a modern chapter. I'm beginning to get concerned about the length of this book, though. Here's my working outline (I'm outlining three chapters in the future, so each time I finish a new chapter, I'll be updating the outline):</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span>Chapter 1 (Arrivals): airport to bus ride 3,215 words (drafted)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span>Chapter 2 (Florals):
picked up in Wonju by Mrs. Cho & Diane, Family Mart, Apartment unpacking,
phone call home, not sleeping and staring out the window <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span>Chapter 3 (Procedures):
hospital visit, "Italian" lunch, visa pictures and photo-shopping, electronic store<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span>Chapter 4 (Lessons):
10 hours making plans under Julia, home for an hour, welcome dinner</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Four chapters and we haven't even taught a single class. There's a good chance things will speed up in the middle, though, when we start getting more accustomed to things (just like in real life). What do you guys think? </div>
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Let's say it's a longer novel and ends up at about 40 chapters... roughly 3,100 words per chapter... that's 124,000 words total... about 350-400 words per paperback page... so, 310- 355 pages.</div>
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Alright. That's about normal. I'm just worried about whether I can end the year 350 pages. I'm probably going to have to be a little creative. How does one market a book that's 90% memoir and 10% fiction or so?</div>
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I'm thinking that I'll make a Google document of the chapter to post on here as soon as I have a couple of folks read it.</div>
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I'm pretty excited. But, at the rate I'm writing it'll take me 2.4 years to finish it. I'd better work a bit harder.</div>
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There's a lot of math in this post.</div>
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Just for fun, here's a picture of folks protesting at the Chase bank on Hawthorne:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaA-4ZFnK-2Pr-MHGu2Qp6pZCw-RdPtIyg1bH5DT05T6j-ngM9i9SjZpPvkdGSgGjQINpuWDAGMXc_PeWLKHjkTARpmqFlMxmVWVaf_-hShGSPWTk21z5MAV3aj-3Sd8707fZlM9N2T6Py/s1600/IMAG0412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaA-4ZFnK-2Pr-MHGu2Qp6pZCw-RdPtIyg1bH5DT05T6j-ngM9i9SjZpPvkdGSgGjQINpuWDAGMXc_PeWLKHjkTARpmqFlMxmVWVaf_-hShGSPWTk21z5MAV3aj-3Sd8707fZlM9N2T6Py/s400/IMAG0412.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The white dog's sign says, "I'm more of a person than this corporation."</div>Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10108900037676496386noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781821097145900959.post-11571470136163345642011-11-18T11:53:00.001-08:002011-11-18T12:38:22.074-08:00New Camera, Same Old Life<div style="text-align: center;">
I am really starting to get into the seasonal/holiday spirit. It's been a few years since I've been so excited for this.</div>
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I finally picked up my new DSLR: a Canon Rebel T2i. I got a pretty darn good deal on it, too. Now, I'm trying to learn how to use it. So far, the camera is doing all the work in Full Automatic or one of the many auto options. I figure that once I know the camera better I'll switch to Creative Auto and then transition into the manual modes.</div>
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Here's what I've (read: the camera) done in the few days I've owned it. All of these are "straight out of camera," meaning that I haven't tried to fix them in any way.</div>
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<u>Kitty portraits</u>:</div>
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Satchmo</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH-VdeqKx4sLUkSbJDGYOAhlR6z6Iqx0m5uMMD664NCu8e1OyKNXIhkYjls_jEA_8xfpvgIioqe8hOghzILXtnd3eQ5U0HkTIeAlpF88jh10WFIkacHP_6M_kZzq7gMMrairnBctc2YkkZ/s1600/new+camera+tryouts+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH-VdeqKx4sLUkSbJDGYOAhlR6z6Iqx0m5uMMD664NCu8e1OyKNXIhkYjls_jEA_8xfpvgIioqe8hOghzILXtnd3eQ5U0HkTIeAlpF88jh10WFIkacHP_6M_kZzq7gMMrairnBctc2YkkZ/s400/new+camera+tryouts+004.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Ava</div>
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<u>The last of the autumn leaves</u>:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj81pg1eXp1VkkVg7G4XVf2YAkSVYOW8t3BKAjUrG-wehAsRHUP6GTlh-49AP6emTJluI3ElaYaByST_2JjlBrZdX9CnA-1Ly6yyr9SMI_2fmJkcsha-nFa4k7cKkEu33x07hbWVmwuyLt2/s1600/new+camera+tryouts+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj81pg1eXp1VkkVg7G4XVf2YAkSVYOW8t3BKAjUrG-wehAsRHUP6GTlh-49AP6emTJluI3ElaYaByST_2JjlBrZdX9CnA-1Ly6yyr9SMI_2fmJkcsha-nFa4k7cKkEu33x07hbWVmwuyLt2/s400/new+camera+tryouts+010.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcNibXVYE2U51xYTKb8LtZZyEqALCj5J9kyrZrwdYbsEMZ7Y8pLAX5UFVBMupsmSasLMp3NrbAjhjNM5fqYR_8hjsQyOBgqJbnCA_milsT7b0IULVTVOlttqZNQ0T68AClH-1GoQTdqXex/s1600/new+camera+tryouts+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcNibXVYE2U51xYTKb8LtZZyEqALCj5J9kyrZrwdYbsEMZ7Y8pLAX5UFVBMupsmSasLMp3NrbAjhjNM5fqYR_8hjsQyOBgqJbnCA_milsT7b0IULVTVOlttqZNQ0T68AClH-1GoQTdqXex/s400/new+camera+tryouts+012.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaDenipFlBhH29mR80aSVbPIGkuawcGBEchHtgGZMm4siaYrxjBlb6aDdI_sFo4fQJ_7y8UkU3xaft_gMss0bzR1XiwH_1gwKgEfNd2HJjqCogcaVDUtt4IneP67_JNmSKNRbbUwe7HP2n/s1600/new+camera+tryouts+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaDenipFlBhH29mR80aSVbPIGkuawcGBEchHtgGZMm4siaYrxjBlb6aDdI_sFo4fQJ_7y8UkU3xaft_gMss0bzR1XiwH_1gwKgEfNd2HJjqCogcaVDUtt4IneP67_JNmSKNRbbUwe7HP2n/s400/new+camera+tryouts+014.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir7CvHhucZE5BgNZxkkfUBDN74NQJ_ymFqzJvQrlUmDKL38KQRforRnIT-DQCVsUN1x16XW3TBjWYaH2VZs-bKzuW2q1QIdsHVjR1qjR9VFqPWIJqQ4C5721LBaMTwXck-3XPoTEcBLfr4/s1600/new+camera+tryouts+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir7CvHhucZE5BgNZxkkfUBDN74NQJ_ymFqzJvQrlUmDKL38KQRforRnIT-DQCVsUN1x16XW3TBjWYaH2VZs-bKzuW2q1QIdsHVjR1qjR9VFqPWIJqQ4C5721LBaMTwXck-3XPoTEcBLfr4/s400/new+camera+tryouts+018.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<u>Pizza Oasis life</u>:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Or4wL1EY4bJhr5n8xwuBysjo_YaAxZA4Zckqv254duCZSNyeTVbvCHQAeG8pAPZVa1nuOVFFVWCC6mkMAxFF4Qa1wSWNxuWzh86rlLFylS06LqnsXssLCmME-BctSqdoistUXsTkuf6A/s1600/new+camera+tryouts+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Or4wL1EY4bJhr5n8xwuBysjo_YaAxZA4Zckqv254duCZSNyeTVbvCHQAeG8pAPZVa1nuOVFFVWCC6mkMAxFF4Qa1wSWNxuWzh86rlLFylS06LqnsXssLCmME-BctSqdoistUXsTkuf6A/s400/new+camera+tryouts+006.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Making dough gives Ian rage.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkySB0U-Js_Nbi0zseUDXjTPsJ-bzSbQBCRVRg_fU5FKubzbQHNTv-jIU1GgozDTToCO_uiEaQvx4izDYnfsyfXZg_yKBOzOk26_YR7jcjUoLMeKfobDYBpmocVqftr1X7kBhv2WwjRLK/s1600/new+camera+tryouts+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkySB0U-Js_Nbi0zseUDXjTPsJ-bzSbQBCRVRg_fU5FKubzbQHNTv-jIU1GgozDTToCO_uiEaQvx4izDYnfsyfXZg_yKBOzOk26_YR7jcjUoLMeKfobDYBpmocVqftr1X7kBhv2WwjRLK/s400/new+camera+tryouts+005.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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Pretty nice camera, am-I-right? Considering I frame a shot and it does the rest, I'd say so. I can't wait to learn more. </div>
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I have a camera that can take photos of things that move and things at night! Hey, Ian, let's go back to Vietnam and retake the picture of <a href="http://www.saigonlocalguide.com/quoc-tu-pagoda/">this pagoda</a> at night. Sorry, I don't have our original picture on this computer. It will be on our wall, though, in all of it's subpar-focus glory.</div>
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Well, I'm supposed to be working on the Jecheon piece and I have to be at work at 3, so I'd better get to it.</div>
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<br /></div>Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10108900037676496386noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781821097145900959.post-90221729938432385832011-10-19T13:33:00.000-07:002011-10-19T13:33:53.425-07:00Life Since...<div style="text-align: center;">
A lot has happened in the month since I last posted. I've decided that I'm going to post here when I have something concrete to say/show. That way, I'm not scrambling to try to blog I have nothing of interest to say. I'm still writing, however. I have put down the first few pages of the draft that will eventually be the Jecheon novel.</div>
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Pictures from the past few weeks:</div>
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Ben and Amy had a baby! Piper Rylee Nanney!</div>
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This family moment brought to you by Ian creepily leering in the background.</div>
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Audrey and I playing at Grant's soccer game.</div>
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Grant is the man! I think this is the game where he had his hat trick.</div>
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Audrey turned THREE!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0eNl1QQDUfFzpBVl1Gut7p4rk4N9vw8BboNx7nsJDOb7uKjPbNoly9wfEAfe_XD7OpCHFZArHGK9OytTLvwkCMdR93iEDWQ41QdMgl3KBHX_a0BOIWCQJ8eSVCoC-ymVoOk_rEaeOvrdK/s1600/summer+into+fall+103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0eNl1QQDUfFzpBVl1Gut7p4rk4N9vw8BboNx7nsJDOb7uKjPbNoly9wfEAfe_XD7OpCHFZArHGK9OytTLvwkCMdR93iEDWQ41QdMgl3KBHX_a0BOIWCQJ8eSVCoC-ymVoOk_rEaeOvrdK/s400/summer+into+fall+103.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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Her party was at a pumpkin patch in Olympia.</div>
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Lovely family!</div>
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Oh, and we had an incident a the shop. Long story short, there was a flood in one of the apartments and our ceiling got the worst of it. You can see that 1x4 section where there's no longer a ceiling at all. Woo hoo! Luckily, we have insurance.</div>
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I'll be getting a camera soon. And we're hosting Thanksgiving this year. So, good things ahead. </div>Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10108900037676496386noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781821097145900959.post-80321770370011083922011-09-22T00:34:00.000-07:002011-09-22T00:34:44.510-07:00Burt-Day<div style="text-align: center;">
Ian planned a super fantastic birthday for me. He didn't tell me anything in advance, either.</div>
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First we picked up our lunch from Sweet Pea (my favorite vegan bakery/delicatessen in town) which Ian had called in. Then we drove down the freeway... I had no idea where we were going, but we ended up at Multnomah Falls. It was pretty fabulous.</div>
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Here are some pictures:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjobsptI42w1d_6sgtHRhayfWwWjFGY6Cg7xt69wd1gM8_kaTyU84VWRcM-g7vqUzJJj9_NxuNGd_X7Y1qQeBkjkbx2vfwifqCjx0U99lzuj6vl_pEn9cELcznpETInmDrOUd687EC88S7o/s1600/burt+day+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjobsptI42w1d_6sgtHRhayfWwWjFGY6Cg7xt69wd1gM8_kaTyU84VWRcM-g7vqUzJJj9_NxuNGd_X7Y1qQeBkjkbx2vfwifqCjx0U99lzuj6vl_pEn9cELcznpETInmDrOUd687EC88S7o/s400/burt+day+001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Perfect weather, lovely surroundings.</div>
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One of the things Ian got for me was this adorable owl apron. This photo is so unflattering it makes me giggle.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0MR2bnb-FRfMMSC7m37g84_WrsslGiDJXQxR2G7WiVHxpslC8L-RecJ7t8xLW5Alz8LAqXJFHrDm71o2x1w3xpuDDT3h1s1b8fl9ohxQbKasB9OlZkHcNxMDa8k5kCnzsvjyD8MEHkaTJ/s1600/burt+day+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0MR2bnb-FRfMMSC7m37g84_WrsslGiDJXQxR2G7WiVHxpslC8L-RecJ7t8xLW5Alz8LAqXJFHrDm71o2x1w3xpuDDT3h1s1b8fl9ohxQbKasB9OlZkHcNxMDa8k5kCnzsvjyD8MEHkaTJ/s400/burt+day+004.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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You can't have any of Ian's sandwich... or soup.</div>
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Falls!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDAwyFpEwV-UdSsRRAkBzIvu_LJY0dvAcDLgnkeDPUw6asJT9yeRfPt4WRRS_AYn2iYRbAlZ8afVlGB2h_CAf99UzJ9j4Arh-3fVG_AXwbaBbse0qLb1OOp1V62ofBpPziA7WS35E_rpKu/s1600/burt+day+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDAwyFpEwV-UdSsRRAkBzIvu_LJY0dvAcDLgnkeDPUw6asJT9yeRfPt4WRRS_AYn2iYRbAlZ8afVlGB2h_CAf99UzJ9j4Arh-3fVG_AXwbaBbse0qLb1OOp1V62ofBpPziA7WS35E_rpKu/s400/burt+day+007.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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Falls!</div>
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Party photo! I need to relax my face in pictures!</div>
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Ian ponders the falls.</div>
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Fall(s)!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFGt49q0T5BjjqQeuq5a0G_QSoBtY9u8JbjTie_CkcVrT07Q7zBxa6JB094-4Ztop906fzHEihfA0Uml8A3xlW1GeqWQ6fptZGx81ngHoyoB5VIvNjK5YpE9QDUcy7rFwTyfl5kZpsAX7C/s1600/burt+day+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFGt49q0T5BjjqQeuq5a0G_QSoBtY9u8JbjTie_CkcVrT07Q7zBxa6JB094-4Ztop906fzHEihfA0Uml8A3xlW1GeqWQ6fptZGx81ngHoyoB5VIvNjK5YpE9QDUcy7rFwTyfl5kZpsAX7C/s400/burt+day+015.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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This is what it looks like if you turn your back to the waterfall.</div>
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Mt. Hood is naked.</div>
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After that we went to the Portland Art Museum (where I respectfully took no photos). I think our favorite exhibit was <a href="http://www.portlandartmuseum.org/exhibitions/series/APEX/APEX-Adam-Sorensen">Adam Sorensen's APEX</a>.</div>
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Here's a picture of Sorensen in his studio from the Willamette Weekly:</div>
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We had dinner at Rob and Danie's where we watched the 1980's Transformers movie with Grant and Audrey and played "Imaginiff" (a board game). It was a great ending to a fantastic day.</div>
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Good night!</div>
Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10108900037676496386noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781821097145900959.post-21038877553201471342011-09-20T01:58:00.000-07:002011-09-20T01:58:57.340-07:00Super-Awesome-Fantastic Sunday<div style="text-align: center;">
(Remember, if it's orange, you can click on it...)</div>
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Yesterday Ian planned a sort of "pre-celebration" for my birthday. First Amy, Ben, Ian and I ate lunch at the food carts downtown and then we headed over to OMSI, the Oregon Museum of Industry and Science. The featured exhibits were Game On 2.0 and Narnia.</div>
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The Game On exhibit walked you through the history of gaming technology and culture and gave you a chance to play over 150 consoles. It was pretty rad and Ian made some 11 year old boy cry when he beat him at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bomberman">Bomberman</a>.</div>
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They did not have a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_Boy">VirtualBoy</a> on display or for demo, so that was disappointing. They were such a market failure, according to Wikipedia that only 800,000 units were shipped worldwide, making them valuable. I wish I still had mine. I wouldn't sell it. I'd just play a lot of Mario's Tennis.</div>
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The Narnia exhibit was definitely more intended for small kids, but we still had fun playing around in it and looking at the costumes from the movies.</div>
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After OMSI we met Justin, Richelle, Phil, Charlotte, Heidi and Jesse and had dinner at <a href="http://www.montageportland.com/pageContent.aspx?id=16">Le Bistro Montage</a>. It's a trendy place with a sort-of Cajun vibe to the menu. I had linguine with veggies (chopped collard greens in pasta!) and it was fantastic. Ian had gumbo. It was lively and fun.</div>
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Ben, Amy, Justin, Richelle, Ian and I concluded our evening over at the <a href="http://www.mcmenamins.com/427-kennedy-school-home">Kennedy School</a> where we played pool and shuffleboard.</div>
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Here are a few phone pictures (forgot my camera) from throughout the day:</div>
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Ava's ears are clearing up and she's back to meowing at my face until I wake up in the morning. Yay!</div>
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OMSI also had an exhibit on fetal development (oddly appropriate). Amy was the same size as the model cut out.</div>
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Ben, Amy and Ian going through the fetal development exhibit. The exhibit included a week by week growth timeline with plasticized human fetuses (whom all perished naturally or accidentally according to a placard). It was done by the same folk who do "<a href="http://www.bodyworlds.com/en/exhibitions/current_exhibitions.html">BodyWorlds</a>." It was intense, but awesome.</div>
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Killing time with a coin whirly thing between OMSI and dinner.</div>
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Montage makes your leftovers into animals and other fun things. Charlotte got a giraffe!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKhyphenhyphen47uhBNwy-eDyTuOfljF6oSpV4HWC1So1anobgtP9Aixb7DfPxiNAYXpRtwxg5klJGsl8HmThd5o6aul6YbrV49EMkqufkCX4XOD4isYLT1EkUvntkrFYtIAo6j0aJ0faIs3m0AbdVK/s1600/IMAG0382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKhyphenhyphen47uhBNwy-eDyTuOfljF6oSpV4HWC1So1anobgtP9Aixb7DfPxiNAYXpRtwxg5klJGsl8HmThd5o6aul6YbrV49EMkqufkCX4XOD4isYLT1EkUvntkrFYtIAo6j0aJ0faIs3m0AbdVK/s400/IMAG0382.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Amy's baby belly prevented a decent shot, so she improvised.</div>
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It was a great time. We had to say goodbye to Ben and Amy this morning, which was a huge bummer, as we completely adore them. I'm still recovering. But, we will see them soon. And in a few weeks, there will be another Nanney! Yay!</div>
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Good night!</div>
Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10108900037676496386noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781821097145900959.post-61825725158573132742011-09-18T00:30:00.000-07:002011-09-18T00:31:23.122-07:00Chewing Ice and Other Fun Past Times<div style="text-align: center;">
It looks like I might be iron deficient. Along with being unreasonably tired, I've found myself chewing ice. Lots of it. I actually had no idea that my new behavior could indicate anything other than boredom, but I stumbled upon one of those "5 things you didn't know..." article this morning and it happened to be on it.</div>
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So, I'll probably be going to get some blood work. Eventually.</div>
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Ben and Amy (and Joey, their wee dog) are here! Unfortunately, they leave for Medford on Monday. Boo. According to Google Maps, their new place is 258 miles from ours. Further than our guest bedroom, closer than Korea.</div>
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Tomorrow we are going to <a href="http://www.omsi.edu/">OMSI</a>! I'm totally stoked. I'll be sure to take lots of pictures.</div>
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Good night!</div>
Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10108900037676496386noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781821097145900959.post-20016322339751404142011-09-17T01:30:00.000-07:002011-09-17T01:31:10.094-07:00Inactivity<div style="text-align: center;">
Motivation. Want to. Energy. Productivity. Ambition.</div>
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Whatever you want to call it, I am lacking.</div>
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I am so tired all the time. Even on "short" shift days I have a hard time doing anything before work. I'm always thinking about getting ready to go and I feel too rushed to do much else.</div>
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Ava is feeling better. She's more alert and interested in attention. Her ears are still pretty red, though. We give her treats after her ear drops to take the edge off.</div>
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We are watching <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0389828/">C.S.A. The Confederate States of America</a>.</i> It's pretty funny, I recommend it.</div>
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Well, I don't have much else to post since I haven't written a sentence of fiction or otherwise.</div>
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Good night!</div>
Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10108900037676496386noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781821097145900959.post-25680858960668767442011-09-16T00:19:00.000-07:002011-09-16T00:20:16.737-07:00Poor Ava<div style="text-align: center;">
I didn't do any writing today. I also did not go for a run.</div>
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Instead, I took Ava to the vet. She has an ear infection.</div>
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She's a pretty sad little girl right now. Super mopey. She did very well at the vet's office, though.</div>
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Twice weekly cleanings and four medicated drops in each ear twice a day and she should be good as new in a few weeks.</div>
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Sad Ava in her box waiting for the doctor.</div>
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I'm probably going over to a PCC campus tomorrow to take my placement tests (I'm trying to get into a Korean class at the community college), but I don't feel prepared. I also don't want to have to take them, as I've graduated university... So, I'm not sure how much writing I'll get done. My class starts on the 27th, so I'd better get these tests done soon, if I don't do them tomorrow. I can't register until I take them.</div>
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Good night!</div>
Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10108900037676496386noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781821097145900959.post-2584317766620190912011-09-15T00:17:00.000-07:002011-09-15T00:19:34.304-07:00Goals!<div style="text-align: center;">
I don't feel like I've done a very good job with this blog. Posts are infrequent and random. Now, I'm thinking it's time to use it for its intended purpose.</div>
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I'm out of practice and I've become pretty lazy. Diary posts are easy things to bust out. I need to write more essays, poems and stories. So, that's what I will be doing.</div>
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Sure, I'll still write diary posts. I'm hoping for one or two drafts of a fiction piece or essay a week. I'll be starting an essay tomorrow.</div>
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Here are a couple of pictures from the Portland Saturday Market:</div>
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Pretty flowers...</div>
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The man in pink. He dances around and hopes you pay him for it. Ian said he ended up in front of Oasis one day.</div>
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The little owl that I got for my purse. I haven't named him yet, but he was hand made!</div>
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Alright. I'll have either a draft of some sort tomorrow.</div>
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Good night!</div>
Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10108900037676496386noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781821097145900959.post-1279626159603784942011-09-01T12:23:00.000-07:002011-09-01T12:42:53.933-07:00Mint Ice Cream<div style="text-align: center;">
I love mint ice cream. In fact, I could really care less about ice cream as a dessert until there's mint involved. So, I was really excited when I finally found these at Fred Meyer:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjibXUAYYgvU8VvExwVozMaqsrWMxhoL5bnkvdarS0oN1ZzCULJk8OZR5oKwfzLZpd0oZo_S5-84qgSzdnzE_fXm2kzHWN9hwI6Q9matRWilxpIVH5MjfdLZ6jomIpbCAOJQ97F6QJ4PxFU/s1600/mint+marble.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjibXUAYYgvU8VvExwVozMaqsrWMxhoL5bnkvdarS0oN1ZzCULJk8OZR5oKwfzLZpd0oZo_S5-84qgSzdnzE_fXm2kzHWN9hwI6Q9matRWilxpIVH5MjfdLZ6jomIpbCAOJQ97F6QJ4PxFU/s400/mint+marble.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The "Purely Decadent" coconut based dessert is about 10 times better than the "So Delicious" soy based flavor. It's creamier and the mint is much more powerful. All soy based ice creams have a soy undertone, so I tend to go with nuttier flavors usually. You can usually taste the coconut milk in these products, too, but I didn't taste any crossover in the mint chip. Both are made by <a href="http://www.turtlemountain.com/">Turtle Mountain</a>, so proceeds go to helping endangered sea turtles.</div>
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Ian chose a color for our bedroom (and Ben painted it, because he is the world's greatest house guest. He should have his own reality tv show...) and:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX4v-KfbO1GShOEugbVlUgN86K-ngS0XWgSAv65-pS0aX_0mL-sxUHMtIYxKY-o1UhiszQMuiakJHBFueMOgagzgAq5fY0sTA7RzGyXZ-RIxVCBBTAPfHpJCKtZZpCdywsRnsoC7NKvBRx/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX4v-KfbO1GShOEugbVlUgN86K-ngS0XWgSAv65-pS0aX_0mL-sxUHMtIYxKY-o1UhiszQMuiakJHBFueMOgagzgAq5fY0sTA7RzGyXZ-RIxVCBBTAPfHpJCKtZZpCdywsRnsoC7NKvBRx/s400/003.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Instead of "yellow grass" like it was billed as, it's mint ice cream, too. I still like it.</div>
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Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10108900037676496386noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781821097145900959.post-30550913375266378902011-08-25T11:55:00.000-07:002011-08-25T11:55:30.292-07:00Random Updates<div style="text-align: center;">So, I'm starting to adjust to my new schedule. The best part is that I see Ian about 110% more than previously. The worst part is that 97% of that time is spent working at the shop.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I signed us up for the<a href="http://www.terrapinevents.com/run-like-hell-portland_info.htm"> <i>Run Like Hell</i> </a>10k at the end of October to keep us motivated with our workouts. I'm out of shape and my joints ache, but I'm confident that I'll be ready for the race. Mom is doing it too, and (last I heard) so is Danielle, so it should be a blast. It's Halloween themed (with the sub theme of "zombies" this year) and you're encouraged to do it in costume. I think it's a good, laid back choice for a first race.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It's been uncomfortably warm. The past few days have pushed 90 and we have yet to acquire a fan... The cats laze around all day.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Like this:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw2KuxweM88oDBXGa68pLO0mtZc8pMfnEogEaRDJaldJF242-Oef2gYf9pIVNkA82Xav1bK6wEzqpmBSolQhrUKHylSUpheyYYV_Wrc9y1RSJ_3gCxtrAu5MpsGMy6500sR8UCyjl5gw1x/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw2KuxweM88oDBXGa68pLO0mtZc8pMfnEogEaRDJaldJF242-Oef2gYf9pIVNkA82Xav1bK6wEzqpmBSolQhrUKHylSUpheyYYV_Wrc9y1RSJ_3gCxtrAu5MpsGMy6500sR8UCyjl5gw1x/s400/020.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And this:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifQj0OYxqwxHqL4wuEHQrjo3aPMITcrbfzgn77bCxELOvGOyDJD_3djy6i2o7jdeRq-u7OuErhbZGBn_-2eoxdkdg2xaZX_7-K29ro3_GPy4YQLboqfak6_X4Vs3ck9d1U3rGwkPAZhgX-/s1600/026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifQj0OYxqwxHqL4wuEHQrjo3aPMITcrbfzgn77bCxELOvGOyDJD_3djy6i2o7jdeRq-u7OuErhbZGBn_-2eoxdkdg2xaZX_7-K29ro3_GPy4YQLboqfak6_X4Vs3ck9d1U3rGwkPAZhgX-/s400/026.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Ben also painted our accent wall and dining room because he is awesome.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv9hnqBzJNuBIZ6nI-FL7Hu_tfvH4FZKMrcXc1VFbfeojXDsh4wRNZocB3YLRLzcCy3Za3r-AgBIA7FoaRRpxO9EBbLt93Bc7JeZ93dk-brp8c9H9ZX1Zd5poOYdRik8E3eA7nxmJss0oD/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv9hnqBzJNuBIZ6nI-FL7Hu_tfvH4FZKMrcXc1VFbfeojXDsh4wRNZocB3YLRLzcCy3Za3r-AgBIA7FoaRRpxO9EBbLt93Bc7JeZ93dk-brp8c9H9ZX1Zd5poOYdRik8E3eA7nxmJss0oD/s400/028.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOc9krsZhNSJTPQF-Ai7I3ZB8KWsvImK-nqT_ZZuPcYzZTlwEMiR6-KSFPjJqoJjBsqgX6e-lEoH4RjgbNOGfflIiAd5IQueC_aBCrvQwA7o38xtgLXkSZ6P9fS-FWRcH1TMu9BuU78YE8/s1600/030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOc9krsZhNSJTPQF-Ai7I3ZB8KWsvImK-nqT_ZZuPcYzZTlwEMiR6-KSFPjJqoJjBsqgX6e-lEoH4RjgbNOGfflIiAd5IQueC_aBCrvQwA7o38xtgLXkSZ6P9fS-FWRcH1TMu9BuU78YE8/s400/030.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This color is actually much more yellow.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I made Mom some vegan caramel for her birthday.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLB1tuRnE87P8LRwICV-Qahmfiq20f-RhW0xjw1YuVybJRYSaBxf_V3KzAAV33NXMeTtn043dFhGGhF2rmjivkn4kULVRg-RQARJ4OiMZNO5Z1ePpnB4i-xrNjcqmric9hRJULOQyVLoD3/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLB1tuRnE87P8LRwICV-Qahmfiq20f-RhW0xjw1YuVybJRYSaBxf_V3KzAAV33NXMeTtn043dFhGGhF2rmjivkn4kULVRg-RQARJ4OiMZNO5Z1ePpnB4i-xrNjcqmric9hRJULOQyVLoD3/s400/006.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Plus this:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZxsj8NGGkxPwniXiQxda8qkRPOaAl2QyRBcN0nFJVG8-JcEsgi0kTr1efeNiHcQqkMLblYO7-pF6o00-TLC8QqYiGNb7NwF7EQ0jREXWPRM9IfLEj_Bw9fuNU4VgCcTrnu33cqy8xrqoy/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZxsj8NGGkxPwniXiQxda8qkRPOaAl2QyRBcN0nFJVG8-JcEsgi0kTr1efeNiHcQqkMLblYO7-pF6o00-TLC8QqYiGNb7NwF7EQ0jREXWPRM9IfLEj_Bw9fuNU4VgCcTrnu33cqy8xrqoy/s400/007.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Equals this:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0yKkkFvmAMgsmwzdiB9Fj_EakTYt0LXZWqsRtt7FzGlZ47CXAI8zz2ewKh8VR_Gi8jIGPfHuf4ogDzSad9DsWOgexFlHA3DU6oMAPAQZMs0sifuLbzxVEqHF0bvO7Iv917SbpFy-SsZHo/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0yKkkFvmAMgsmwzdiB9Fj_EakTYt0LXZWqsRtt7FzGlZ47CXAI8zz2ewKh8VR_Gi8jIGPfHuf4ogDzSad9DsWOgexFlHA3DU6oMAPAQZMs0sifuLbzxVEqHF0bvO7Iv917SbpFy-SsZHo/s400/008.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Except I have no candy thermometer and it didn't set properly. So, it was delicious sauce instead.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">ANDREA CAME TO VISIT. And we took about 2 whole photos. We had excellent food and cocktails at Hungry Tiger Too and went to Mom's to relax and see her before she goes to Bali (tomorrow night!).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2gEvkBX2cl0l97QRNboxfI5CaPJ0JEgojxZkURcYtM4FzD6UKgmV3QWeQKBT3g1m5eZHuzkhx1IBh-AQWHE0lJKdticL_OFhwk0S4GEonFEclVk0yVrwRtswbsOS5-duhrBEAz9DeXLi/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2gEvkBX2cl0l97QRNboxfI5CaPJ0JEgojxZkURcYtM4FzD6UKgmV3QWeQKBT3g1m5eZHuzkhx1IBh-AQWHE0lJKdticL_OFhwk0S4GEonFEclVk0yVrwRtswbsOS5-duhrBEAz9DeXLi/s400/012.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Andrea and I at the Olympia Waterfront.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We were waiting for her bus because:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8fGM2AQKSXHd3cN5WFlpt6R0LF9AFErPXJ-i4Xyc9Y6gLGUvlRElxypPq94zVulpuObVgmSBczSzLHHq-LVsop0P7gDrSd_xLBz8YJLrk33z9M8LBBXWCyaGkFmLFkzRhqQjwBZ9vtKWu/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8fGM2AQKSXHd3cN5WFlpt6R0LF9AFErPXJ-i4Xyc9Y6gLGUvlRElxypPq94zVulpuObVgmSBczSzLHHq-LVsop0P7gDrSd_xLBz8YJLrk33z9M8LBBXWCyaGkFmLFkzRhqQjwBZ9vtKWu/s400/018.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was super late.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0LwW9zuGvqnkEtplkvjckoJ5wGzEgFo1_gkFrfQjpR77TDwcazjJ0NAkpJUJ7gQhke00KnqSh6m8xNUhWbZVz9PGTLofbg6OaTQ293RiYapdqbfdo6IpSbBeWEOsq5KcIgr102K4uXsaa/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0LwW9zuGvqnkEtplkvjckoJ5wGzEgFo1_gkFrfQjpR77TDwcazjJ0NAkpJUJ7gQhke00KnqSh6m8xNUhWbZVz9PGTLofbg6OaTQ293RiYapdqbfdo6IpSbBeWEOsq5KcIgr102K4uXsaa/s400/017.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ben dared Ian to walk across the fountain, so he did. He walked very stiffly, as he was afraid he would get wet the whole time.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Well, that's life right now. I work open to closes over the weekend, so I'm not sure when I'll get to post again. I'm excited to get pictures from Mom when she's in Bali. I'll post any that I get here. </div>Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10108900037676496386noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781821097145900959.post-51200268377671276042011-08-12T15:40:00.000-07:002011-08-12T15:40:15.939-07:00It's Alive!<div style="text-align: center;">I've been away forever!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I don't have much time, as I am posting from Oasis (where I live now).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">But, I wanted to give you a few photos from our little camping trip. Our mini vacation turned out to be a bit boring because there wasn't enough to do and virtually no vegetarian (let alone vegan) food.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Oreos and beer. That's mostly what we subsisted on for a few days. Don't judge.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKchHQkOW1pkKQ1Yh6S2CQt8aekpv-sXE09aU0_SCT-Bxi-OLEVSHHi8VUCgmY1AVPSzxbfwT0AN8vFCFlalnHR_WAKhIpYohAzEovRXaSGYCRtxOZtbXADNyWvP07tnpOnLWBXPI2yoi/s1600/camping+%252B+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKchHQkOW1pkKQ1Yh6S2CQt8aekpv-sXE09aU0_SCT-Bxi-OLEVSHHi8VUCgmY1AVPSzxbfwT0AN8vFCFlalnHR_WAKhIpYohAzEovRXaSGYCRtxOZtbXADNyWvP07tnpOnLWBXPI2yoi/s400/camping+%252B+002.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">It felt good to carry my ruck sack again.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvNLLIj9brLeo6dXOX_i4JTDebvZgw2b4EV0wcwdSxcRVmbDECE0IWTSbD8scMfhBZfNwuoDx_YmG7MFTFXI1mPkiTvqpVJbz7n9OS0Mclkv-WYbQhkZtlJHtYOgl0Ax7FYnQYVPd32e7a/s1600/camping+%252B+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvNLLIj9brLeo6dXOX_i4JTDebvZgw2b4EV0wcwdSxcRVmbDECE0IWTSbD8scMfhBZfNwuoDx_YmG7MFTFXI1mPkiTvqpVJbz7n9OS0Mclkv-WYbQhkZtlJHtYOgl0Ax7FYnQYVPd32e7a/s400/camping+%252B+004.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Ian is king of the beach.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGnk-qXe6YKMc_bazqHUqyfcdBHYUsYDhnnzMWwLipjfXvigbX2IlYfRhAS7SYIt17da-lXwwsA5mDE7FcSxgPHV_PFOwSUsrg6ncvCfDsw1rrDN41mBBmL-BQRhAceeyOnAgIV2G2NaMc/s1600/camping+%252B+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGnk-qXe6YKMc_bazqHUqyfcdBHYUsYDhnnzMWwLipjfXvigbX2IlYfRhAS7SYIt17da-lXwwsA5mDE7FcSxgPHV_PFOwSUsrg6ncvCfDsw1rrDN41mBBmL-BQRhAceeyOnAgIV2G2NaMc/s400/camping+%252B+014.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Two years. Oh my goodness.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhluNpRI0XxpARHmCpKXvzLZU0S1T5ORWkSXNPWL5avyWdhcImXBW5i-8MsT7494WitnCL0w2lYXCADY4QNgxTR6Z8Vsp11OYWtqyfmc-OvUzW2YLdsmitJctv_Nysy2Nt8BPeKeFTYj6Q/s1600/camping+%252B+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhluNpRI0XxpARHmCpKXvzLZU0S1T5ORWkSXNPWL5avyWdhcImXBW5i-8MsT7494WitnCL0w2lYXCADY4QNgxTR6Z8Vsp11OYWtqyfmc-OvUzW2YLdsmitJctv_Nysy2Nt8BPeKeFTYj6Q/s400/camping+%252B+017.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Beer and fire.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYUK4XnxMKODlWNeJUnIuYTIv-5Ship-z0FpNYPDIa8G7hDVJKs9whP_DI2IOXjwe-bfIzgbufo0JOn2CXl58BRp4E7sGhtXBB7SwlbuD6hf2rFboyuumKpSjOmY2gPxHGvZ2ne8mtepDw/s1600/camping+%252B+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYUK4XnxMKODlWNeJUnIuYTIv-5Ship-z0FpNYPDIa8G7hDVJKs9whP_DI2IOXjwe-bfIzgbufo0JOn2CXl58BRp4E7sGhtXBB7SwlbuD6hf2rFboyuumKpSjOmY2gPxHGvZ2ne8mtepDw/s400/camping+%252B+018.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">"Toasted" bagels for brekky. Really, it was more like they were smoked because the grate didn't fit all the way across.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9VpvMjUOiY_pbKa5XMCqxWkTAOm1N7lKxuXTHpDBRHdVbvRBaE8yczZCX9gQL61Dd4l4PICoZuWbLwun2mv0z1ZE4hyphenhyphenHBt4_G9R2n2RqfwKSa4eHlyXBHCWFuGYUZYK64jQVrynqhMxOq/s1600/camping+%252B+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9VpvMjUOiY_pbKa5XMCqxWkTAOm1N7lKxuXTHpDBRHdVbvRBaE8yczZCX9gQL61Dd4l4PICoZuWbLwun2mv0z1ZE4hyphenhyphenHBt4_G9R2n2RqfwKSa4eHlyXBHCWFuGYUZYK64jQVrynqhMxOq/s400/camping+%252B+022.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We went whale watching, but the fog wouldn't lift. So... we went fog watching.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJvkdBBSMBu0cm7aS1n-BMTfsx0EwqvjCjuipfQQcEzYClfSRWRgt7l34vBpD8bbVHPTdZCcSLLp3oNWsuFxr8uiPqJ-bt4Pz8ueAPoDxKVwWh2SQiBcT37IT-3o1NNCIp6qdC6z_5AshC/s1600/camping+%252B+024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJvkdBBSMBu0cm7aS1n-BMTfsx0EwqvjCjuipfQQcEzYClfSRWRgt7l34vBpD8bbVHPTdZCcSLLp3oNWsuFxr8uiPqJ-bt4Pz8ueAPoDxKVwWh2SQiBcT37IT-3o1NNCIp6qdC6z_5AshC/s400/camping+%252B+024.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Jesus loves you and wonders if you'd like to buy a t-shirt.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And lastly:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh26cFW4icZUSW71Qm_B-ZwBz0rVz9olaZJBFWm8fWfWYtKanzKDdU9v9tyvMEop7KJr28VYtfSKResGeLQBd2nQTsh31XocypESMELXq0AsbsxTo053ZcRTZ9UshrALIzKiLWo5cLrT_Ww/s1600/camping+%252B+028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh26cFW4icZUSW71Qm_B-ZwBz0rVz9olaZJBFWm8fWfWYtKanzKDdU9v9tyvMEop7KJr28VYtfSKResGeLQBd2nQTsh31XocypESMELXq0AsbsxTo053ZcRTZ9UshrALIzKiLWo5cLrT_Ww/s320/camping+%252B+028.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ben is here! That's him in Pioneer Square drinking some broth that came with his chicken and rice. Food carts!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Alright. Hopefully, I'll be back soon.</div>Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10108900037676496386noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781821097145900959.post-59151690789699324932011-08-01T00:44:00.000-07:002011-08-01T00:44:46.055-07:00Loose Lips Sink Ships<div style="text-align: center;">Most of you are probably aware that the editor of Pure Slush (Matt) isn't very happy with his appearance in the blog, as per his comment (and email to me).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I've emailed him back, but it will need to be addressed here as well, in my opinion, because the whole matter is regarding the public forum of <i>Urban Agrarians </i>to begin with. I wanted to acknowledge what's happened right out of the gate, but I'm not going to say much until I hear back from Matt. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I never intended to cause offense or even to show him in a negative light. Please note, I've never questioned his talent as a writer or editor here, only what decisions <i>I </i>should make regarding his suggestions.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">That's all for now.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Good night.</div>Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10108900037676496386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781821097145900959.post-85263979563603549932011-07-31T10:10:00.000-07:002011-07-31T10:10:08.202-07:00Take a Look<div style="text-align: center;">So, the editor from Pure Slush has posted his first contribution to "travel month."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I won't give any opinion, because I want you to form your own.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pureslush.webs.com/bikermollatgaylake.htm">Click here to go to the page and read it</a>.</div>Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10108900037676496386noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781821097145900959.post-38295719938228425812011-07-30T20:59:00.000-07:002011-07-30T21:08:29.128-07:00Not Quite Finished...<div style="text-align: center;">So, I heard back from the editor at Pure Slush and he wants more edits. I'm really unhappy with his suggestions, or "tweaking" as he calls it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's what he sent me:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span id="internal-source-marker_0.8227612276095897" style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We followed Julia to the car. Like her, it was stately, expensive and a little intimidating. She waved us to the back as she slid into the driver’s. I sat. A sickly sweet floral fragrance drifted from a plastic air freshener, the only marker of ownership on the </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: line-through; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">nearly</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> sanitary, bread-colored interior. The awkward roil in my stomach was something I was growing accustomed to in the three days I had been in Korea.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Where are we eating dinner, again?” I asked Ian in a </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: line-through; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">hushed, mumbled voice hushed</span><span style="color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> hushed mumble</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, torn between relief at Julia’s sudden neglect and worry for my lack of preparedness for the evening.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I don’t know. “ He leaned forward. “Julia, where are we going to eat?”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Uh,” then she said something I didn’t understand. I tried to work it out in my head. ‘Bead-um’ is all I heard her say. I repeated it over and over in my head, searching for a match. Beans? Berries? Bread? Nothing logical came to me. “Rice, vegetable, fish, soup,” Julia continued to Ian.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Does she remember that we’re vegetarians?” I asked. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Um. Julia, will the restaurant be alright for vegetarians? We don’t eat meat.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Oh, yes. Okay. You eat fish?”</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“No. No fish, chicken, beef or anything like that. We do eat eggs and milk, though.” His shoulders tensed with the effort of explaining, rising and taking his voice with them</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: line-through; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. His</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> briefcase clip made a rhythmic, metallic click under his nervous hand. After the last eight hours making and remaking lesson plans naïvely seeking her approval, I couldn’t look at her. I counted glowing red crosses atop churches. Eleven if you count the ones just past those hills. I had thought Koreans were Buddhists.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Your parents are vegetarians?” Julia continued.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Mine aren’t,” Ian said. “They eat a lot of meat, actually. Casey’s mom is, though.” Hearing my name drew me down from the hills and into the car.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Oh, really? It’s good to do. You are nice children, obedient.”</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We drove a few minutes more in silence. Julia began to mumble to herself. A cab passed us hurriedly. I leaned toward her, worried she was trying to talk to us. She wasn’t. She dialed her phone, a jeweled J swinging heavily from it</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: line-through; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">,</span><span style="color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: line-through; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">slowing</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">slowed</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> further as she divided her attention between her phone and the road. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With a screech of rubber the car suddenly swung 180 degrees, and gripping the door handle,</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I squinted into </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: line-through; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">oncoming</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> headlights of </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: line-through; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the oncoming cars</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> as we reversed directions on the four</span><span style="color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">lane street. After </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: line-through; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">a minute-long phone call in</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">more</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> exasperated Korean and </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: line-through; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">punctuated by</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> considerable sighing </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">on her ‘phone</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: line-through; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">she</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Julia</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> made another U-turn and we pulled into a nearly empty parking lot. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: line-through; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I released my grip on the door.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Releasing my grip on the door, I looked out at</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: line-through; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I interrogated (interrogated?)</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> the restaurant’s fluorescent sign, moving my eyes over the Korean writing </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: line-through; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">again and again</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">back and forth</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: line-through; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">,</span><span style="color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: line-through; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">b</span><span style="color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">B</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ut the dramatic</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: line-through; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ally</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: line-through; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">written</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> symbols were beyond me.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: line-through; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Small, blocky type i</span><span style="color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">n the lower right corner</span><span style="color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, small, blocky type</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> answered my question: “Vietnam Cuisine”.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></span></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">*******</span></div></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Most of that doesn't really bother me. I don't like the way in which he is changing the voice of my writing. I feel he is editing for <i>style, </i>which I find inappropriate. I'm especially bothered by the line he added about screeching rubber. What is that? He's been pushing for something like that with every edit, blaming it on pacing or asking me to <i>explain</i> how the character <i>feels</i>. Trying to lean that toward fear. I don't even know how to deal with it, it is so out of place in my writing. This is starting to make me feel pretty darn small, cheap and down right bummed out.</span></span></div></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span"></span><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"></div></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">What say you? Peter had some good suggestions, which I will definitely put thought into, but I just don't know how to deal with this. How many times will he send it back to me? I don't want to focus all my time on one piece and we're about to go out of town. I don't like feeling this way about writing. It makes my blood pressure go up.</span></span></div></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></div></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"></div></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Boo!</span></span></div></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></div></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"></div></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sorry about the weird spacing. The format's being strange since I pasted that.<br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Good night.</span></span></div></div>Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10108900037676496386noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781821097145900959.post-67791576184220404522011-07-30T20:39:00.000-07:002011-07-30T20:39:22.375-07:00Handing it Over<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzY80OFW_yOs5JGva71a6qtyZflKLitzMwLS6qguVZbW5r6qEQQwbXxp23DKVP74_J3y2snxm-ctEL9P9I3_DJYYhMaoJvOrhdLXxr-jamm0d90WGfNDXePFavDNQmxlwUjbRMrr-fd6vH/s1600/IMAG0367.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzY80OFW_yOs5JGva71a6qtyZflKLitzMwLS6qguVZbW5r6qEQQwbXxp23DKVP74_J3y2snxm-ctEL9P9I3_DJYYhMaoJvOrhdLXxr-jamm0d90WGfNDXePFavDNQmxlwUjbRMrr-fd6vH/s400/IMAG0367.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">That's all she wrote. Today was my last day at Netflix. Bittersweet, really, as I had an an awesome supervisor and coworkers. That's my headset, bag and FOB (electronic key) that I turned in as I left tonight.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It feels very strange knowing that I don't have to get up at 5:30 tomorrow.</div>Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10108900037676496386noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781821097145900959.post-44515213589505427222011-07-28T22:27:00.000-07:002011-07-28T22:27:04.261-07:00New Glasses<div style="text-align: center;">I picked up my new glasses from Costco the other day:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNTMV5Jc4MxOhPO61o9NWhdFb-IHtZpAD0XoBpj8WxXvDS-CNVZAof_olk3DvtbfzRAOqgEoA-VwSx_ys33Hdx5Q9JKoNiUKC5FKqR5flhfvI1cw3lMtIDh2K3CWmrqUX8gUZyQA73CuHC/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNTMV5Jc4MxOhPO61o9NWhdFb-IHtZpAD0XoBpj8WxXvDS-CNVZAof_olk3DvtbfzRAOqgEoA-VwSx_ys33Hdx5Q9JKoNiUKC5FKqR5flhfvI1cw3lMtIDh2K3CWmrqUX8gUZyQA73CuHC/s400/004.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Primary pair. Lucky Brand. Nerd!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVbDPEqK3TZ6YRYLC4v4CjfQdZ_QmgPnAResUMEuY6p_afcOxJJ4vrEELQ14L86LMocqnGISSMZa8w15RkOnWKwa-CUucE5i1Mzt-x3Y-LG8lJ4-7-Kp6VcwMsDLrFzNCUdgSYk1LfGfJp/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVbDPEqK3TZ6YRYLC4v4CjfQdZ_QmgPnAResUMEuY6p_afcOxJJ4vrEELQ14L86LMocqnGISSMZa8w15RkOnWKwa-CUucE5i1Mzt-x3Y-LG8lJ4-7-Kp6VcwMsDLrFzNCUdgSYk1LfGfJp/s400/005.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Second pair. Kirkland (Costco brand), made out of recycled materials. Cat eye!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrn17ZOiG4MG8_KlE26GOYUcXwkXVlOa3aEZ4O2Tu2FyA3wFNLkv9FGU8EPlz3oaYm0kP1a9ZP6IldNEDTw6KAI2xUPtX0o3OZfH4UMPw_gAcV7ahczuTx_zpOd2Lb6KM8_r28rONV-s3X/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrn17ZOiG4MG8_KlE26GOYUcXwkXVlOa3aEZ4O2Tu2FyA3wFNLkv9FGU8EPlz3oaYm0kP1a9ZP6IldNEDTw6KAI2xUPtX0o3OZfH4UMPw_gAcV7ahczuTx_zpOd2Lb6KM8_r28rONV-s3X/s400/006.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Facebook is crazy. It wants me to send him a message for our anniversary. Hey look, there's Wendy!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Good night!</div>Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10108900037676496386noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781821097145900959.post-89126651891795160142011-07-27T12:00:00.000-07:002011-07-27T12:00:50.517-07:00Morning Tea<div style="text-align: right;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">I've had a good morning.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I got my story in to Pure Slush. It's slated for September 6th in the itinerary. He's put it under nonfiction, which isn't stylistically accurate, in my opinion, but that's alright.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I may have a small contract writing job with a wholesale cosmetics company. We shall see. I don't even know any of the details, yet.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Top all that off with a well rounded breakfast of tempeh, rye toast and fruit. And some tea, of course.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgywjPy7bDHY_oP4vih8iCAJneKVhtC4ziYuT5X4btXcKF-S2aOpVdLKGfWIo3aAf-cGRiqu8UfEc3WR2VAxWCIjEfIblP_I5feSPgp74vmI7QQ9hX7KTle08IYMUn6wJpwE8gTv21OPROC/s1600/056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgywjPy7bDHY_oP4vih8iCAJneKVhtC4ziYuT5X4btXcKF-S2aOpVdLKGfWIo3aAf-cGRiqu8UfEc3WR2VAxWCIjEfIblP_I5feSPgp74vmI7QQ9hX7KTle08IYMUn6wJpwE8gTv21OPROC/s400/056.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I don't know if I've blogged about this before, but Ian and I bought this 2 cup teamaker from Teavana awhile back. It's pretty rad. You put loose leaf tea in, follow it with hot water to steep and then you set it on your mug. The bottom is pressure released, so it opens and pours in your hot tea. This is Thai inspired tea with dried fruits and star anise in it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCj-hpeO3X2nl4PRFBrndJOXWhkSUW9FKOhhvpP1x6knvlcEQ3ebiwNEgb-kLICk50viH4BuRuzL1t2VBZ1zkwj4H2mkMSwkXQXBlXMvb0eUgOeHD_53107ZiJgacPZh7UT-zhZc_4_ddJ/s1600/060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCj-hpeO3X2nl4PRFBrndJOXWhkSUW9FKOhhvpP1x6knvlcEQ3ebiwNEgb-kLICk50viH4BuRuzL1t2VBZ1zkwj4H2mkMSwkXQXBlXMvb0eUgOeHD_53107ZiJgacPZh7UT-zhZc_4_ddJ/s400/060.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We don't have a microwave, so coffee and tea water gets heated on the stove top. That's fine until you need a warm up.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqb68x2nkfJkWudtjfErE3B7WewKtDc5v5zCbDDuk5bPskgp5TMDVUp2om3FUz-2M9x1juaH-8xzFbGaFUOJ5J5UIPBUW13XcnuMZQKhw5vzsxJQpPwWn8HjyvxLIbBFOVfrK4ZMHIixwn/s1600/065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqb68x2nkfJkWudtjfErE3B7WewKtDc5v5zCbDDuk5bPskgp5TMDVUp2om3FUz-2M9x1juaH-8xzFbGaFUOJ5J5UIPBUW13XcnuMZQKhw5vzsxJQpPwWn8HjyvxLIbBFOVfrK4ZMHIixwn/s400/065.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Delicious. I like how it foams just a little.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzmggryxEZU-iltm8SZz7aPJnC0b-n2f70_-m2YkxVdfGwRYGCB5WsbsI0MI35tVyppqSfifxYpHNPrQRIMwQWiUcRTl5LnD-S-kdRmaxkoLv_e_G4nv9SlcyTcH-QFqOoE5EfMMVHYR17/s1600/061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzmggryxEZU-iltm8SZz7aPJnC0b-n2f70_-m2YkxVdfGwRYGCB5WsbsI0MI35tVyppqSfifxYpHNPrQRIMwQWiUcRTl5LnD-S-kdRmaxkoLv_e_G4nv9SlcyTcH-QFqOoE5EfMMVHYR17/s400/061.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">My mom gave me this mug for Valentine's Day four or five years ago. Ian says it's heinous, but I think it's hilariously adorable.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10108900037676496386noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781821097145900959.post-40302391778372857152011-07-27T10:11:00.000-07:002011-07-27T10:13:11.009-07:00Draft<div style="text-align: center;">Alrighty, here is the latest draft I'm sending to Pure Slush. I spent two hours on it this morning. I've had a hard time being motivated to work on it. I don't think I was really up to taking his suggestions. At one point in his edits, he told me that my choice of the verb "letting" was something a child would say.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sigh.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I've spent the last couple of years being subservient to just about everyone I encounter (Korea, Netflix CS, Oasis...), so I suppose I was tired of feeling small and I was unhappy with that feeling creeping into my writing. But, I sucked it up and made some changes. It's <i>always </i>good to rework a piece, no matter whether you agree with the direction or not.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">********************************</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Welcome Dinner</div><br />
<br />
We followed Julia to the car. Like her, it was stately, expensive and a little intimidating. She waved us to the back as she slid into the driver’s. I sat. A sickly sweet floral fragrance drifted from a plastic air freshener, the only marker of ownership on the nearly sanitary, bread-colored interior. The awkward roil in my stomach was something I was growing accustomed to in the three days I had been in Korea. <br />
<br />
“Where are we eating dinner, again?” I asked Ian in a hushed, mumbled voice, torn between relief at Julia’s sudden neglect and worry for my lack of preparedness for the evening. <br />
<br />
“I don’t know. “ He leaned forward. “Julia, where are we going to eat?” <br />
<br />
“Uh,” then she said something I didn’t understand. I tried to work it out in my head. ‘Bead-um’ is all I heard her say. I repeated it over and over in my head, searching for a match. Beans? Berries? Bread? Nothing logical came to me. “Rice, vegetable, fish, soup,” Julia continued to Ian. <br />
<br />
“Does she remember that we’re vegetarians?” I asked. <br />
<br />
“Um. Julia, will the restaurant be alright for vegetarians? We don’t eat meat.” <br />
<br />
“Oh, yes. Okay. You eat fish?” <br />
<br />
“No. No fish, chicken, beef or anything like that. We do eat eggs and milk, though.” His shoulders tensed with the effort of explaining, rising and taking his voice with them. His briefcase clip made a rhythmic, metallic click under his nervous hand. After the last eight hours making and remaking lesson plans naïvely seeking her approval, I couldn’t look at her. I counted glowing red crosses atop churches. Eleven if you count the ones just past those hills. I had thought Koreans were Buddhists. <br />
<br />
“Your parents are vegetarians?” Julia continued. <br />
<br />
“Mine aren’t,” Ian said. “They eat a lot of meat, actually. Casey’s mom is, though.” Hearing my name drew me down from the hills and into the car. <br />
<br />
“Oh, really? It’s good to do. You are nice children, obedient.” <br />
<br />
We drove a few minutes more in silence. Julia began to mumble to herself. A cab passed us hurriedly. I leaned toward her, worried she was trying to talk to us. She wasn’t. She dialed her phone, a jeweled J swinging heavily from it, slowing further as she divided her attention between her phone and the road. I squinted into the headlights of the oncoming cars as we reversed directions on the four lane street. After a minute- long phone call in exasperated Korean and punctuated by considerable sighing, she made another U-turn and we pulled into a nearly empty parking lot. I released my grip on the door. <br />
<br />
I interrogated the restaurant’s fluorescent sign, moving my eyes over the Korean writing again and again, but the dramatically written symbols were beyond me. Small, blocky type in the lower right corner answered my question: “Vietnam Cuisine”.Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10108900037676496386noreply@blogger.com4