tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-142721382024-03-14T04:37:43.376-07:00Wackmobiles and Spurious BrainchildrenI swear, I don't make any of this stuff up. It just happens this way.Spoony Quinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730057249256927206noreply@blogger.comBlogger569125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14272138.post-41624015574791970282012-02-10T12:24:00.000-08:002012-03-01T12:26:29.831-08:00Confession: I've been working for a different blog...It's called <a href="http://madsciencewriter.blogspot.com">Mad Science Writer</a>, and it does involve updates on my life. Please do check it out.<br /><br />I'll continue back-filling the posts here, it's just taking longer than usual.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
google_ad_client = "pub-0390306350918355";
google_ad_width = 728;
google_ad_height = 90;
google_ad_format = "728x90_as";
google_ad_type = "text_image";
google_ad_channel ="";
google_color_border = "6699CC";
google_color_bg = "003366";
google_color_link = "FFFFFF";
google_color_url = "AECCEB";
google_color_text = "AECCEB";
//--></script>
<script type="text/javascript"
src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
</script></div>Spoony Quinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730057249256927206noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14272138.post-49053548285431663102011-08-29T20:40:00.000-07:002011-10-09T15:16:19.697-07:00Hangin' with skepticsI have been working on other things, but I do have a few more posts ready -- mostly photographs because I haven't been keeping the best written record. Sad, I know.<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);">` In my last post, and in my next post after this, there's some nice photos from camping. In this post, I vaguely document my entry into the skeptical community -- that is, people who promote critical thinking and emphasize problem-solving as well as not being swindled.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); font-weight: bold;">July 19, 2011:</span><br /><br />After a while of getting lost, I found the pub in which the skeptics are meeting. This week's guest is Ophelia Benson -- who has a website about various world issues, called <a href="http://www.butterfliesandwheels.org/">Butterflies and Wheels</a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5968111904/" title="jun-jul 494 Ophelia Benson by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6012/5968111904_c9c6485571.jpg" alt="jun-jul 494 Ophelia Benson" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />I didn't pay much attention, mainly because I had ordered a delicious salad and it didn't come to the table. So, I was really hungry during her talk. Then again, she went on mostly about feminism (and of course someone else brought up <a href="http://freethoughtkampala.wordpress.com/2011/09/11/elevatorgate/">Elevatorgate</a>) more than anything, so for the most part I guess I didn't miss much.<br />` I also met some cool people, including Meg Winston, who was also a victim of abuse/brainwashing, and she says there's a kind of effective, evidence-based therapy that she's actually involved in assisting. Don't remember what it's called, though. I should ask her.<br /><br />After the talk, I got a cool picture of train station clock tower.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5968111972/" title="jun-jul 495 by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6015/5968111972_57d2afda51.jpg" alt="jun-jul 495" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />In the following days, I got some other cool pictures, too. Here's the neighbors' roses:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5967555801/" title="jun-jul 496 by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6005/5967555801_c2d6c5dc3f.jpg" alt="jun-jul 496" height="500" width="375" /></a><br /></div><br />It's amazing how well the flowers in our flowerbed look despite our not tending them much:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5967555903/" title="jun-jul 498 by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6008/5967555903_49f291ac9e.jpg" alt="jun-jul 498" height="500" width="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Vada seems to be a lot happier now that Rusty has stopped coming back to the house. My poor giant fluffy kitten! I wonder where he is?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5968112354/" title="jun-jul 501 Me YAWN! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6011/5968112354_d7574ee897.jpg" alt="jun-jul 501 Me YAWN!" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">July 21 or 22?</span><br /><br />I'M TALKING TO EVAN BERNSTEIN OF <a href="http://www.theskepticsguide.org/">SKEPTICS GUIDE TO THE UNIVERSE</a> ON SKYPE! W00T!!! I got a picture of Lucas getting in on the conversation.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5968112446/" title="jun-jul 504 Me and Lucas chatting with Evan from SGU by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6029/5968112446_0ab88ed991.jpg" alt="jun-jul 504 Me and Lucas chatting with Evan from SGU" height="336" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />I guess that's hard to see. Also, Evan looks kind of like Bruce Willis. Ha! I got another picture later, with the camera at the right angle to see my laptop screen.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5968112504/" title="jun-jul 506 Skyping with Evan Bernstein by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6029/5968112504_d9830c61ed.jpg" alt="jun-jul 506 Skyping with Evan Bernstein" height="367" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />Whatever did I do to earn this? Why, I only chatted with Evan on Facebook and have a hilarious sense of humor, which he likes a lot, and said he wanted help making a blog, which I helped him with indeed.<br />` He said, though, that he might not actually start a blog for a while because he's learning how to be an accountant, and accounting might take up a lot of his time. Exciting, I know.<br /><br />Not too long after that night, Roommate Troy noticed that there was a leak coming from the water heater. I called Lucas about it and he freaked out and came home from work, saying that leaking water heaters can't be left unattended or they will flood your entire floor!<br />` So, off came the insulation and it turned out that this water heater was installed a month after I was born (May 1982!). That's a long-lived water heater, alright! I guess we got our money's worth.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5967556335/" title="jun-jul 508 Insulation off tank by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6022/5967556335_99a179414a.jpg" alt="jun-jul 508 Insulation off tank" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />Lucas hooked a hose up to its little spigot and slowly got the water drained out of it. Not only did I miss going to the gym at my regular Lull Time, but when I caught the next Lull Time, I also took a shower there because we don't have hot water.<br />` Unfortunately, all the gym showers in the womens' locker room have no COLD water! Lucas told me that I was wrong, because the men's showers have cold water, but I tested all the faucets and found that they have two settings; scalding and off.<br />` I also got a picture of the gym, along with the sign of the really crappy Tae Kwon Do place where everyone completely sucks and Lucas teaches us not to do the stupid things they do. The funny thing is, it's called Tae Kwon Do Way, and since 'Do' means 'Way', Lucas and I call these folks the 'Tae Kwon Do-Dos'!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5967556437/" title="jun-jul 510 Gym at night by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6134/5967556437_825caf023e.jpg" alt="jun-jul 510 Gym at night" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />Here's me the next day, missing my poor giant kitten Rusty:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5967556549/" title="jun-jul 512 Looking at boats over morning coffee by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6150/5967556549_eea24d6612_z.jpg" alt="jun-jul 512 Looking at boats over morning coffee" height="640" width="480" /></a><br /></div><br />I was also staring at the moon:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5968112764/" title="jun-jul 513 Moon in daytime. by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6123/5968112764_de085befde_z.jpg" alt="jun-jul 513 Moon in daytime." height="556" width="640" /></a><br /></div><br />And poking Vada with a stick!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5967543203/" title="jun-jul 516 Poke the Vada! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6122/5967543203_c4802fc97d.jpg" alt="jun-jul 516 Poke the Vada!" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />"Do not poke me!"<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5968099776/" title="jun-jul 520 Chomp! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6124/5968099776_5d8b852f29.jpg" alt="jun-jul 520 Chomp!" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />And I saw a NASA Plane!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5967543451/" title="jun-jul 521 NASA plane? by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6022/5967543451_ec85b2f7f8.jpg" alt="jun-jul 521 NASA plane?" height="494" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />Anyway, my next post will be of the Goat Lake Trail camping trip that Lucas and I did, complete with pictures of the really great scenery! To see just the photos, and a lot more photos, here's my <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/sets/72157627017870751/with/5967543451/">July photos Flickr page</a>!<br /><br />Did I forget anything? Oh yes, the hot water heater. I found this guy from Ireland and England, on Crigslist, who had a big garage sale, and was selling stuff people gave him while remodeling their trailers, including a fairly new hot water heater, also an overhead fan, a garbage disposal, a toilet, and other things that we needed, including a scissoring lawnmower!<br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 204, 204);">` Everything put together was only $100! How lucky was that! We just had to go there and get it! We got the hot water heater replaced within a few days (we needed some help for that), and now we're just waiting on getting the cash for help with getting the downstairs toilet uninstalled.</span><br />` I can't wait for that, considering that both my roommates have to share the same bathroom, and it's also right in front of my bedroom, and the fan is really loud, so it's waking me up all hours of the night.<br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 51);"><br />Got to go -- am very busy all the time, but next post will be up soon!</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
google_ad_client = "pub-0390306350918355";
google_ad_width = 728;
google_ad_height = 90;
google_ad_format = "728x90_as";
google_ad_type = "text_image";
google_ad_channel ="";
google_color_border = "6699CC";
google_color_bg = "003366";
google_color_link = "FFFFFF";
google_color_url = "AECCEB";
google_color_text = "AECCEB";
//--></script>
<script type="text/javascript"
src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
</script></div>Spoony Quinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730057249256927206noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14272138.post-79509561225921793042011-08-15T17:52:00.000-07:002011-10-09T14:27:32.481-07:00Our unexpected campsiteAlways in a game of catch-up with my photojournal...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">July 17-18, 2011:</span><br /><br />On Sunday, I was all ready to go camping, but Lucas wasn't feeling well. Still, I prodded him to, just to get out of the house and away from the humdrum everyday life.<br /><br />Rusty sez: "Humdrum? I'm not humdrum!"<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5967550077/" title="jun-jul 426 Rusty in midst of camping gear by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6030/5967550077_1ffa66a6ae_z.jpg" alt="jun-jul 426 Rusty in midst of camping gear" height="640" width="480" /></a><br /></div><br />Lucas and I set out for Goat Lake Trail, although he wasn't feeling good at all, what with intestinal/ankle trouble. He got me to drive all the way up to Arlington before a woman at the Food Pavillion told us it was in Granite Falls.<br />` At about this time, I got a call from Anthony. Turns out, HE had just tried to call Lucas' phone, and it was at the Safeway we had just stopped at!<br />` It was a good thing, because Lucas had thought he'd left it at home!<br />` As the Safeway was along the way back, we went back there and then continued to the Mountain Loop Highway. Lucas begged me to take him back home, so we wound up compromising and just stopping at a car campsite. Boring!<br />` But, as it required no walking, and it had a regular bathroom, yet was far away from our house, I thought it was a good place to stop. So, in lieu of hiking, I put my boots on and then jogged around the place for a little while.<br /><br />Our campsite was next to this river:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5968106384/" title="jun-jul 427 Misty river by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6121/5968106384_71da68d855_z.jpg" alt="jun-jul 427 Misty river" height="480" width="640" /></a><br /></div><br />As usual, Wonkyfoot has followed me:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5968106850/" title="jun-jul 435 Wonkyfoot track by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6122/5968106850_113a055400_m.jpg" alt="jun-jul 435 Wonkyfoot track" height="240" width="180" /></a><br /></div><br />The trees around there were all so covered in moss:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5968106912/" title="jun-jul 436 by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6142/5968106912_c14648cbc5.jpg" alt="jun-jul 436" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />Home is where you hang your sleeping bag:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5968106674/" title="jun-jul 432 Home is where you hang your sleeping bag by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6137/5968106674_2fb6a4ab2b.jpg" alt="jun-jul 432 Home is where you hang your sleeping bag" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />The sun has finally come out!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5968107002/" title="jun-jul 437 by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6002/5968107002_f823cb84b0_z.jpg" alt="jun-jul 437" height="640" width="480" /></a><br /></div><br />This picture is up the river:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5967550791/" title="jun-jul 438 by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6004/5967550791_30412e5e0b_z.jpg" alt="jun-jul 438" height="640" width="480" /></a><br /></div><br />Another one several minutes later:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5968107152/" title="jun-jul 440 by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6011/5968107152_be4bab5d3c_z.jpg" alt="jun-jul 440" height="640" width="480" /></a><br /></div><br />We only had enough wood for one small campfire, so we saved it for morning. In the meantime, we had an interesting night light:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5967550933/" title="jun-jul 441 by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6020/5967550933_b9044bf770.jpg" alt="jun-jul 441" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />By nightfall there was, as usual, Wonkyfoot-associated UFO activity. Yawn.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5968107200/" title="jun-jul 442 by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6026/5968107200_acf570de40.jpg" alt="jun-jul 442" height="360" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />The river the next morning:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5967551127/" title="jun-jul 445 by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6141/5967551127_8c2e2144b5_z.jpg" alt="jun-jul 445" height="640" width="480" /></a><br /></div><br />Evidently, there was some sort of scuffle during the night:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5968107686/" title="jun-jul 447 by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6021/5968107686_6862f81374.jpg" alt="jun-jul 447" height="500" width="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Lovely morning:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5967551743/" title="jun-jul 450 by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6009/5967551743_ff0dc568f7.jpg" alt="jun-jul 450" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />The river again:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5967551837/" title="jun-jul 451 by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6144/5967551837_80a22dd382.jpg" alt="jun-jul 451" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />The shiny water:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5968108324/" title="jun-jul 452 by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6147/5968108324_61aa822f39.jpg" alt="jun-jul 452" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />Me on a big rock:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5967552103/" title="jun-jul 453 by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6129/5967552103_2b0d44115f.jpg" alt="jun-jul 453" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />Looking up the river again:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5967552411/" title="jun-jul 456 by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6001/5967552411_170d5f6ab7.jpg" alt="jun-jul 456" height="500" width="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Looking back toward the shore:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5968109174/" title="jun-jul 459 by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6124/5968109174_2f191bd179_z.jpg" alt="jun-jul 459" height="640" width="480" /></a><br /></div><br />The trees:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5968109338/" title="jun-jul 460 by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6027/5968109338_dd5124c668.jpg" alt="jun-jul 460" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />Our tent:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5968109562/" title="jun-jul 462 by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6030/5968109562_b534f74268.jpg" alt="jun-jul 462" height="500" width="375" /></a><br /></div><br />It's not very far from our car!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5968109702/" title="jun-jul 463 by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6142/5968109702_fca3aba382.jpg" alt="jun-jul 463" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />Trees, trees, everywhere!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5967553581/" title="jun-jul 464 by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6149/5967553581_79375cf59c.jpg" alt="jun-jul 464" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />More trees:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5968110012/" title="jun-jul 465 by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6141/5968110012_298811f378.jpg" alt="jun-jul 465" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />Bye, river!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5967553953/" title="jun-jul 467 by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6150/5967553953_d1d9daeaa9.jpg" alt="jun-jul 467" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />Back to my plane-makin' civilization:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5968110292/" title="jun-jul 469 Look into Boeing! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6141/5968110292_496c989fc1.jpg" alt="jun-jul 469 Look into Boeing!" height="278" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />And when we got home... no comment, LOL!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5968110344/" title="jun-jul 470 Seriously. by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6014/5968110344_15d6535dfb.jpg" alt="jun-jul 470 Seriously." height="500" width="375" /></a><br /></div><br />It was not long until we realized that Rusty had been missing since the night before, and I got worried about him. Even so, I stopped to pick the raspberries.<br /><br />Here's the large variety:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5968110448/" title="jun-jul 472 by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6007/5968110448_2f5ecaa63a.jpg" alt="jun-jul 472" height="500" width="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Have some, Vada!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5968110700/" title="jun-jul 475 Have a raspberry, Vada! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6027/5968110700_9ec3bf1683.jpg" alt="jun-jul 475 Have a raspberry, Vada!" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />Come on, now! Let's go find Rusty!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5968111056/" title="jun-jul 478 by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6137/5968111056_53293a71cc.jpg" alt="jun-jul 478" height="500" width="375" /></a><br /></div><br />But then, some barking poodles scared her away, all the way from up here!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5967554927/" title="jun-jul 479 Deckpoodles scared Vada away! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6141/5967554927_082ea84651.jpg" alt="jun-jul 479 Deckpoodles scared Vada away!" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />Then, hours later, who should show up at the door? Rusty! He gave a meow and did a little dance, jumping by lifting his paws off the ground one at a time. Very strange! Wherever he's been, he's glad to be back!<br />` Then he went to join Vada in staring down our neighbor's cat Mr Yoboshi:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5968111366/" title="jun-jul 483 by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6011/5968111366_4d8e4bd0c0.jpg" alt="jun-jul 483" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />He doesn't know why she stares at him with such hostility, as you can probably tell.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5967555413/" title="jun-jul 485 Vada staring down Mr. Y by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6143/5967555413_e6a792e5fd.jpg" alt="jun-jul 485 Vada staring down Mr. Y" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />She must have the loudest stare of any cat I know!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5968111702/" title="jun-jul 487 by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6013/5968111702_9be804d0dd.jpg" alt="jun-jul 487" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />Boring!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5968111736/" title="jun-jul 488 Mr Yoboshi Yawns by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6121/5968111736_c4be5fafa2.jpg" alt="jun-jul 488 Mr Yoboshi Yawns" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />Rusty was like, "Hey!! But I like him!"<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5967555609/" title="jun-jul 490 by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6030/5967555609_5e19c65145.jpg" alt="jun-jul 490" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />After this, however, Rusty disappeared again and hasn't come back. I suspect that Vada has chased him off, perhaps with that very stare!<br />` Poor Rusty. I love the fuzzball. And his piles of debris.<br /><br />Also, I realize this post has very little substance -- I mostly just crammed in as many photos as probably would not crash the average browser. For the rest of my July photos, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/sets/72157627017870751/with/5967555623/">click here</a>!<br /><br />There'll be a lot more next time!<span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
google_ad_client = "pub-0390306350918355";
google_ad_width = 728;
google_ad_height = 90;
google_ad_format = "728x90_as";
google_ad_type = "text_image";
google_ad_channel ="";
google_color_border = "6699CC";
google_color_bg = "003366";
google_color_link = "FFFFFF";
google_color_url = "AECCEB";
google_color_text = "AECCEB";
//--></script>
<script type="text/javascript"
src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
</script></div>Spoony Quinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730057249256927206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14272138.post-6212932262070511962011-08-10T12:23:00.000-07:002011-08-22T18:26:34.875-07:00July fireworks and other cool photos!Catching up with my photo journaly-life. Poor Rusty is still gone. I miss the poor baby! Myerrrr!
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5914016894/" title="jun-jul 150 Mrawr, welcome to the kitteh club! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6047/5914016894_5e69b89f79_z.jpg" alt="jun-jul 150 Mrawr, welcome to the kitteh club!" height="640" width="480" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />I suspect Vada had something to do with it. Just look at her expression when she's around my precious Giant Kitten!
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5913455115/" title="jun-jul 158 Rusty caught the scrap of paper! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6039/5913455115_771cedb63d.jpg" alt="jun-jul 158 Rusty caught the scrap of paper!" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />I don't have any text entries just yet, but there are some stunning photos. For example, this is a view from one of my neighbor's yards:
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5913455185/" title="jun-jul 160 Sailboat past the beach chairs by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5280/5913455185_d08a4dea8c.jpg" alt="jun-jul 160 Sailboat past the beach chairs" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />A little farther back...
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5913455251/" title="jun-jul 161 Made it to the end of the driveway! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6026/5913455251_1a8d292e01.jpg" alt="jun-jul 161 Made it to the end of the driveway!" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />Sunset through our window:
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5914017946/" title="jun-jul 174 The sunset making two "UFOs" by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5240/5914017946_61535d7750.jpg" alt="jun-jul 174 The sunset making two "UFOs"" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">
<br />July 3, 2011:</span>
<br />
<br />I hate being sick, and have even gone back to being unable to get out of bed for a while. In other news, at the job I just had to quit, there's been a new Joel, bigger than the former Joel, but not fatter, and considerably darker -- asphalt-like instead of pasty.
<br />` He's a really good canvasser, except now he's been accidentally fired and re-hired through a series of coincidences, which I may not be able to explain clearly.
<br />
<br />Try to bear with me: It looked like his fiance had signed up from him, but it was actually because Miguel had signed her the day before Joel had gotten hired, and she'd forgotten to cancel.
<br />` Lucas thought he would have to fire Miguel, but it turns out that even though Miguel had since been to her house, he didn't recognize her from when he'd signed her up, that's why he didn't know about it, and OMG it's so confusing! I'm'a throw up!
<br />` Or is that the vodka?
<br />
<br />This is just the weirdest story of the past few weeks that I can think of. There are other, similar things that have been going on, but I don't remember because I've been extremely sick and on some days, bedridden. Now it seems I'm slowly recovering.
<br />
<br />BEE! In male kiwi blossom:
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5914018318/" title="jun-jul 183 Bee about to land on kiwi by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6002/5914018318_a4d73e67e2.jpg" alt="jun-jul 183 Bee about to land on kiwi" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />I went to the bank and then Value Village yesterday morning and got some shorts for Lucas and a toaster... and got pulled over on the way back for having tabs 2 days expired.
<br />` I went home and purchased them, having just deposited a bunch of money in the account, but won't have a chance to pick them up until Tuesday because Fireworks Crazy Day is on Monday.
<br />
<br />I need something to counteract this impaired state of mind. And I hear meat-pounding. For barbecue, that is, LOL! I sure would like to help Lucas with his meat-pounding. Sigh. But Bob is also here -- he supplied the meat!
<br />
<br />Our garden supplied the veggies!
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5913456689/" title="jun-jul 197 Another shot, this time with more contrast by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6003/5913456689_9e24cf0b8e.jpg" alt="jun-jul 197 Another shot, this time with more contrast" height="500" width="375" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />It's after dinner -- THIS! (That's Bob's crotch, BTW.)
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5914019060/" title="jun-jul 204 Oh yeah, cookout food! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6050/5914019060_0c778b3a74.jpg" alt="jun-jul 204 Oh yeah, cookout food!" height="500" width="375" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />And now, they're blues jammin'. Here's the moon at this time:
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5914019390/" title="jun-jul 216 Crescent moon by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6051/5914019390_75200ffabd.jpg" alt="jun-jul 216 Crescent moon" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: left;">Also, just over to my right was some Pre-Crazy Day fireworks:
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5913457437/" title="jun-jul 222 Fireworks and ferry again by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5273/5913457437_66b37584d8.jpg" alt="jun-jul 222 Fireworks and ferry again" height="367" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); font-weight: bold;">July 4, 2011:</span>
<br />
<br />Fireworks Crazy Day, down by the ferry terminal!
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5914019826/" title="jun-jul 235 Ferry going away by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6006/5914019826_0b40a61462.jpg" alt="jun-jul 235 Ferry going away" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />Lucas and I started out sitting by the floaty dock, which was bucking on the waves, and people were having fun riding it. Whee!
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5914019954/" title="jun-jul 239 People gathered on dock by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6031/5914019954_29cf12991e.jpg" alt="jun-jul 239 People gathered on dock" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />Most of the fireworks are hard to see in my pictures unless you look at the original version on my Flickr site, but here's a flare that's easy to see at blogging scale:
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5914020030/" title="jun-jul 242 Ferry and red flare by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6040/5914020030_5c5a94cdd4.jpg" alt="jun-jul 242 Ferry and red flare" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />Also, you can see some larger fireworks on the land here:
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5914020142/" title="jun-jul 246 Ferry psasing in front of fireworks by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6018/5914020142_0d376c5d6f.jpg" alt="jun-jul 246 Ferry psasing in front of fireworks" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />I zoomed in on them:
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5914020384/" title="jun-jul 259 Clearer distant fireworks by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5080/5914020384_731b96ee89.jpg" alt="jun-jul 259 Clearer distant fireworks" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />It was around that time that the park ranger kicked us out, so we stopped by Ivar's checked out the fireworks from there, and went back up the hill. Oddly, we could hear them on our way up the hill, but not at our house.
<br />
<br />I don't have any more text entries until July 17th, when I went camping, but I do have PLENTY MOAR PICTUREZ!
<br />
<br />Male kiwi blossoms:
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5913458427/" title="jun-jul 261 So many male kiwi blossoms by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5238/5913458427_d34f4172d6.jpg" alt="jun-jul 261 So many male kiwi blossoms" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />Neighbors' cat Mr. Yoboshi:
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5914020658/" title="jun-jul 265 Yoboshi does the driveway sprawl by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6042/5914020658_f6ec431024.jpg" alt="jun-jul 265 Yoboshi does the driveway sprawl" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />Vada, attacking the fierce grass:
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5968100194/" title="jun-jul 289 Rawr, I eat you, grass! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6004/5968100194_10f5128590.jpg" alt="jun-jul 289 Rawr, I eat you, grass!" height="500" width="375" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />Here she is near the RoofGarden, saying, "Where won't hoomans bring their leaf blowers?"
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5967543959/" title="jun-jul 291 O hai, just watchin teh naybor by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6005/5967543959_63b48560f3.jpg" alt="jun-jul 291 O hai, just watchin teh naybor" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />Rusty playing with me, on a chair:
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5967544215/" title="jun-jul 295 My fluffy lion!! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6024/5967544215_2cdc357078.jpg" alt="jun-jul 295 My fluffy lion!!" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />All stretched out!
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5967544263/" title="jun-jul 296 Rusty bent backwards by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6124/5967544263_4e19ae54c1.jpg" alt="jun-jul 296 Rusty bent backwards" height="500" width="375" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />Crow chasing a golden eagle:
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5968100698/" title="jun-jul 298 Out, out damn eagle! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6009/5968100698_839e2b8e0d.jpg" alt="jun-jul 298 Out, out damn eagle!" height="266" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />Get out, vile raptor!
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5968100722/" title="jun-jul 299 Eagle getting the hell away by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6126/5968100722_b557e83810.jpg" alt="jun-jul 299 Eagle getting the hell away" height="500" width="386" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />Female kiwi blossoms:
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5968101036/" title="jun-jul 306 Female kiwi flowers 4 by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6138/5968101036_6cc690f53c.jpg" alt="jun-jul 306 Female kiwi flowers 4" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />Have you noticed? Rusty just loves to bend over backwards:
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5968101158/" title="jun-jul 309 Rusty bending over backwards by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6028/5968101158_c7af1d62e5.jpg" alt="jun-jul 309 Rusty bending over backwards" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />The Abraham Lincoln passing through our neighborhood:
<br />
<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5968101798/" title="jun-jul 323 Closeup of aircraft carrier by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6028/5968101798_a9e6de2f64.jpg" alt="jun-jul 323 Closeup of aircraft carrier" height="377" width="500" /></a>
<br />
<br />An extremely low-light photo of Rusty on the RoofGarden with the moon in the background:
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5968101880/" title="jun-jul 326 It's Moonlit Rusty by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6011/5968101880_c0d13fc846.jpg" alt="jun-jul 326 It's Moonlit Rusty" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />It was so dark I actually used my flash for once. Does that look better, or worse?
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5967545483/" title="jun-jul 331 Rusty caught in flash by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6009/5967545483_f6e0b932e3.jpg" alt="jun-jul 331 Rusty caught in flash" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />Best giant kitten ever!
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5968102134/" title="jun-jul 335 Looking up at Rusty by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6020/5968102134_3ce3db86e1.jpg" alt="jun-jul 335 Looking up at Rusty" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />The plum tree: Rusty's secret ladder to the RoofGarden!
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5968102788/" title="jun-jul 348 Rusty's roof hideout by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6023/5968102788_341e63dab6.jpg" alt="jun-jul 348 Rusty's roof hideout" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />My hand is so tasty!
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5968103308/" title="jun-jul 360 Yummy hand! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6021/5968103308_7f2a063877.jpg" alt="jun-jul 360 Yummy hand!" height="500" width="375" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />Not that I didn't get any pictures of Vada during this time -- it's just that Rusty is cuter! Here he's drinking out of the gutter:
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5968103820/" title="jun-jul 373 Biggest drink ever! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6004/5968103820_772c95c37e.jpg" alt="jun-jul 373 Biggest drink ever!" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />Vada on the fence and Rusty on the roof:
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5967547783/" title="jun-jul 378 Rusty still stares at her by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6148/5967547783_bb3f9a8418.jpg" alt="jun-jul 378 Rusty still stares at her" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />Rusty says, "Let's play!" and jumps onto the fence:
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5967547919/" title="jun-jul 381 Rusty jumps! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6141/5967547919_114db9b11c.jpg" alt="jun-jul 381 Rusty jumps!" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />Vada says, "NO!"
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5967547979/" title="jun-jul 382 Get over to your side of the fence! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6004/5967547979_da4b155ab0.jpg" alt="jun-jul 382 Get over to your side of the fence!" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />Vada escapes from Rusty:
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5967548179/" title="jun-jul 387 Vada jumps to the roof! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6131/5967548179_7e2a74399a.jpg" alt="jun-jul 387 Vada jumps to the roof!" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />Can I watch sunset with you, Vada?
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5968105066/" title="jun-jul 400 Closeup of Vada and Rusty by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6029/5968105066_63c03e6cf5.jpg" alt="jun-jul 400 Closeup of Vada and Rusty" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />Rusty about to pounce on Vada:
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5967549025/" title="jun-jul 406 He makes ready to strike by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6022/5967549025_bcd3610413.jpg" alt="jun-jul 406 He makes ready to strike" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />Where did she go? (Her ear is visible...)
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5968105428/" title="jun-jul 408 Where did Vada go? by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6134/5968105428_e5672dfa97.jpg" alt="jun-jul 408 Where did Vada go?" height="367" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />"O hai, Vada! Wat you doin' up here?"
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5967549443/" title="jun-jul 414 What's that over there? by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6121/5967549443_996ce463ff.jpg" alt="jun-jul 414 What's that over there?" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />Vada gets ready to push Rusty off:
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5968105770/" title="jun-jul 416 Oh, what are you doing here? by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6017/5968105770_e62a1a17fb.jpg" alt="jun-jul 416 Oh, what are you doing here?" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />"Why she do dat to me?"
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5968106102/" title="jun-jul 422 Rusty patiently waits for Vada by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6012/5968106102_ae5dc12aa8.jpg" alt="jun-jul 422 Rusty patiently waits for Vada" height="500" width="375" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />Vada sez: "Rusty, you fail!"
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5967549945/" title="jun-jul 424 Chimney Cat Sweeps Herself! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6007/5967549945_ab294226fa.jpg" alt="jun-jul 424 Chimney Cat Sweeps Herself!" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />These RoofCat pictures took place just before my camping trip -- that will be in the next post!
<br />
<br />To see moar of these photos, ones I didn't have room for, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/sets/72157627017870751/with/5967549945/">go here</a>! It's neat-o.
<br /></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
google_ad_client = "pub-0390306350918355";
google_ad_width = 728;
google_ad_height = 90;
google_ad_format = "728x90_as";
google_ad_type = "text_image";
google_ad_channel ="";
google_color_border = "6699CC";
google_color_bg = "003366";
google_color_link = "FFFFFF";
google_color_url = "AECCEB";
google_color_text = "AECCEB";
//--></script>
<script type="text/javascript"
src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
</script></div>Spoony Quinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730057249256927206noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14272138.post-65731825435495899722011-07-30T13:41:00.000-07:002011-08-22T12:34:45.569-07:00My story continues, with more June photos!Still no sign of giant Rusty kitten. Maybe he's been annoyingly friendly with the wrong critter? As I'm still behind on my story, here's where I left off:
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5912736499/" title="jun-jul 045 The blue flowers are blooming! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5112/5912736499_e7270a9bb0.jpg" alt="jun-jul 045 The blue flowers are blooming!" height="500" width="375" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">June 11, 2011:</span>
<br />
<br />Drove Anthony up to drop his kids off at their grandpa's, in my car! They remembered that they were supposed to go in my car last time, in their car seats, but Anthony had used another vehicle instead. I explained that indeed they were right, and this time they got to go in my car! Yay! After that, I dropped Anthony off at work.
<br />` I was late in getting home, and was just getting back to my cards when our neighbor Pam knocked on the door and said that one of Andrew's friends was just over in a blue Lexus with one orange door panel... the same guy in the same car who had previously asked her, while she was jogging, if she had wanted to have sex with him! Literally!
<br />` As she was telling me, her husband overheard, and, as he's a paranoid criminal profiler, he said it was a stalker and they called the police about it, so that took up a considerable amount of time.
<br />
<br />Important note: Later on, now seems that Andrew's friend was just being an ass because Pam had given him an annoyed look for blasting his stereo so loud.
<br />
<br />
<br />Between this entry and the next, I've been taking a lot of sunset pictures, especially with Rusty, my good Giant Kitten:
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5913298952/" title="jun-jul 061 Rusty is so distracted! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6006/5913298952_c5db2edfa5.jpg" alt="jun-jul 061 Rusty is so distracted!" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />Sunset iz in house?
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5912737319/" title="jun-jul 064 Rusty looking at window reflection by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5039/5912737319_0d4c35c944.jpg" alt="jun-jul 064 Rusty looking at window reflection" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />One particularly vivid sunset:
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5912737471/" title="jun-jul 068 The rain clouds on fyyyerrr! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5272/5912737471_30d9026f5c.jpg" alt="jun-jul 068 The rain clouds on fyyyerrr!" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />A few minutes later:
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5913299328/" title="jun-jul 070 Multicolored rainclouds by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6006/5913299328_89060e0c9b.jpg" alt="jun-jul 070 Multicolored rainclouds" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />Even when it's completely overcast and rainy, we still get nice sunsets -- here's one!
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5912737845/" title="jun-jul 077 The multicolored sun! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6014/5912737845_0776e8265a.jpg" alt="jun-jul 077 The multicolored sun!" height="380" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">June 18, 2011:</span>
<br />
<br />I have been so sick it isn't funny! I've just been bedridden, and there's no way I can work even if I did have a job!<span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span class=" down" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_CreateLink" title="Link"><img src="http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif" alt="Link" class="gl_link" border="0" /></span></span>
<br />Lucas was telling me about going to the Mariners game, and Mark the actor/scoreboard guy put 'Congrats on the Marriage, Ryan & Clinton' up on the scoreboard. Brian took pictures to humiliate them later.
<br />` Also, Mark got a role in this show called <span style="font-style: italic;">Leverage</span>. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leverage_%28TV_series%29">It must be this one</a>, about these modern day Robin Hoods. COOL!
<br />
<br />
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Moar picturez:</span>
<br />
<br />Vada about to pounce on Rusty's stick.
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5913300258/" title="jun-jul 091 Vada fascinated with the stick by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5312/5913300258_ac637ee5ee.jpg" alt="jun-jul 091 Vada fascinated with the stick" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />Rusty about to pounce on Vada's tail:
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5913300812/" title="jun-jul 099 Rusty launches toward Vada! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5320/5913300812_c125c1fb68.jpg" alt="jun-jul 099 Rusty launches toward Vada!" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />Rusty all tuckered out:
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5913301184/" title="jun-jul 104 Giant Rusty Yawn! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6021/5913301184_c521ea5a5c.jpg" alt="jun-jul 104 Giant Rusty Yawn!" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">June 21, 2011:</span>
<br />
<br />I climbed a tree with Vada, but didn't get a picture. I did, however get a solstice sunset picture.
<br />
<br />I think it was this one:
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5913301350/" title="jun-jul 108 There's like a sunset in the island! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5112/5913301350_db536ec1bd.jpg" alt="jun-jul 108 There's like a sunset in the island!" height="500" width="375" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />Here's another rainy sunset, with bonus heron!
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5913301626/" title="jun-jul 116 The pink horizon by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5274/5913301626_ce77cd4bf2.jpg" alt="jun-jul 116 The pink horizon" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />Ceiling cat drinkz Pabst:
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5913301942/" title="jun-jul 123 YAWN! Have a beer! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5235/5913301942_661cee9b24.jpg" alt="jun-jul 123 YAWN! Have a beer!" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />Mattress Cat hides from ceiling cat:
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5912740325/" title="jun-jul 130 Snzzzzzzzzz by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6011/5912740325_5141870023.jpg" alt="jun-jul 130 Snzzzzzzzzz" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />He is never far away from Mattress Cat...
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5913302214/" title="jun-jul 131 Rusty always near Vada by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6014/5913302214_5c47e5f44e.jpg" alt="jun-jul 131 Rusty always near Vada" height="500" width="375" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />Rusty is always sure to be practically glued to Vada, just as sure as these thingies go back and forth:
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5912740373/" title="jun-jul 132 Ferry in the morning by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6027/5912740373_39fd492f5e.jpg" alt="jun-jul 132 Ferry in the morning" height="230" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />Rusty playing in the broccoli:
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5912740807/" title="jun-jul 136 Rusty prowls the broccoli by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6007/5912740807_08a53a1e5a_z.jpg" alt="jun-jul 136 Rusty prowls the broccoli" height="640" width="480" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />I may have sore chest muscles from coughing -- which makes karate difficult -- but at last, I've cleaned the kitchen!
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5912734471/" title="jun-jul 143 Finally I am well enough to clean the kitchen! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5276/5912734471_040fe0713d.jpg" alt="jun-jul 143 Finally I am well enough to clean the kitchen!" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />Yet another Epic Sunset!
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5912734503/" title="jun-jul 144 Pink stripe sunset by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5119/5912734503_47c350eaf7.jpg" alt="jun-jul 144 Pink stripe sunset" height="273" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />Good night, everybody!
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5912734585/" title="jun-jul 146 Cool cloud sunset pattern by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6001/5912734585_1ce1b68ce6.jpg" alt="jun-jul 146 Cool cloud sunset pattern" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />Those were only some of my photos -- all of my June photos are <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/sets/72157626766881531/with/5912734585/">here</a>!
<br />
<br />I'll be back soon to continue the story of my life, and to display more photos! Just as sure as Rusty is no longer glued to Vada....
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
google_ad_client = "pub-0390306350918355";
google_ad_width = 728;
google_ad_height = 90;
google_ad_format = "728x90_as";
google_ad_type = "text_image";
google_ad_channel ="";
google_color_border = "6699CC";
google_color_bg = "003366";
google_color_link = "FFFFFF";
google_color_url = "AECCEB";
google_color_text = "AECCEB";
//--></script>
<script type="text/javascript"
src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
</script></div>Spoony Quinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730057249256927206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14272138.post-56308942361724384832011-07-20T15:03:00.000-07:002011-08-22T16:47:42.786-07:00My second-ever full-time job, beginning to end!<span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);">The weeks have been hurtling by, yet I've barely written anything of it! I'm going to continue where I left off at the last post, and hopefully catch up soon -- just as sure as Rusty loves Vada!</span>
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5800242967/" title="may 107 Rusty luvvz Vada by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3002/5800242967_96a0aba21e_z.jpg" alt="may 107 Rusty luvvz Vada" height="640" width="480" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />Speaking of which, I haven't seen him today. I wonder if Vada has finally gotten up the nerve to mail him to Abu Dhabi?
<br />
<br />
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">May 18, 2011:</span>
<br />
<br />I've been getting so many things done with my limited daily routine, until I started working on Monday. Now it's Wednesday, and I haven't gotten much done despite my strict regimen:
<br />
<br />Today, right after I got up, I went to the gym, right after that I went to work, where I walked around in the lovely sunny day and accomplished nothing for the company.
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5800796458/" title="may 106 My dorky too-big Clear NRG shirt by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3477/5800796458_f388401c70.jpg" alt="may 106 My dorky too-big Clear NRG shirt" height="500" width="375" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />Right after that it was time for karate, right after karate I had a snack and went outside, stirred up soil and steer manure, waited for Lucas to finish mowing a section of lawn and pulled the hose over, watered it and planted peas and beans, then I washed some dishes -- they are really piling up on the counter, along with garbage, now that I have a job and am not around all day to clean up after everyone.
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5800797290/" title="may 120 This is what happens when I'm not home to clean the kitchen all day by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2696/5800797290_9d137f6fa9.jpg" alt="may 120 This is what happens when I'm not home to clean the kitchen all day" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />Having just finished that, it's 9:17 and time for massaging Lucas' cramping muscles before bed and I wake up and do it all over again, except for the planting peas and beans part.
<br />
<br />Luckily, I still have Lucas, along with my giant kitten who comes inside all dirty and leaves a pile of debris on the couch! It's actually kind of cute!
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5800243343/" title="may 111 Lucas holding a very dirty Rusty by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5268/5800243343_247b0411a6.jpg" alt="may 111 Lucas holding a very dirty Rusty" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">
<br />May 19, 2011:</span>
<br />
<br />Today after work, Lucas has been working on his golf swing. Not bad!
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5800243957/" title="may 122 Lucas' golf swing by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2464/5800243957_b7bf8cd9ef.jpg" alt="may 122 Lucas' golf swing" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />Here's Lucas' butt, after just having mooned me while picking up the balls, and Vada is over to the side in order to watch the balls fly at a safe distance.
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5800797620/" title="may 123 Vada checking out Lucas' pants coming down by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5119/5800797620_1710a35683.jpg" alt="may 123 Vada checking out Lucas' pants coming down" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />
<br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); font-weight: bold;">May 20, 2011:</span>
<br />
<br />Today, after I did my note-cataloging and workout, I called Lucas and he said he GOT THE SILVERTIPS TO SIGN UP FOR ADVERTISING! You know what this means? Thousands of dollars -- and royalties! Wheeeee-ha!
<br />
<br />Then, I paid our internet with my mom's credit card, and called her to tell her that I did so, and that we're racking up money and want to pay her back for all the money she's given us. It's sad, but true.
<br />
<br />It was another sunny day canvassing, I got TWO leads! W00t! I came down to Seattle with Anthony, Lucas came too, went to our boss Nigel's house [name added later, for safety purposes], which had three huge monitors for his water-cooled computer, a creek with ducks and fish, and he even had a cool bathroom sink, which looked like a punchbowl.
<br />` Nigel wasn't so pleasant though, and was obviously drunk and on coke, and especially was pissed off that Lucas told him he had karate four days a week, even though Lucas had told him this before. He kept saying, "Don't interrupt me!" even though he was interrupting Lucas!
<br />
<br />Then, there was a knock at the door and he told this other canvasser with a tree removal company, that he was a renter. He must not think much of canvassers, despite the fact that his OWN canvassers (us) are what get his company some sales.
<br />` (Correction, he IS a renter; he just lied to US that he owned his home. What a tangled web we weave!)
<br />` It was getting very heated between those two, and Lucas sent me out to wait in the car. When he came back to the car, he said that if it weren't for the fact that he actually brought Anthony back to this company to come work for <span style="font-style: italic;">him</span>, as canvassing manager, that he would just stop working for this assh----!
<br />
<br />Then, we went to the bank to deposit our checks and Lucas went back to Everett for more business, and after work, I signed a check over to Anthony, who bought me a car wash, and then we vacuumed the interior.
<br />` I was going to wipe off my dash, but Lucas sent me on some errands, and as soon as I got back it was karate class, with Michael, Alex and Troy, went great in the Comedy Dojo, then I wiped off my dash and called my mom to tell her I got my first two leads, then went to the Seven Eleven for ice cream and beer.
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5800798418/" title="may 134 Ferry on the pink water by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3278/5800798418_ef85558d26.jpg" alt="may 134 Ferry on the pink water" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">May 21, 2011:</span>
<br />
<br />Today's been as busy as usual. It's only 8:15, so I have some book cataloging cards to write until 9, when it'll be time to start drinking and watch some really neat videos and eat ice cream. Really takes the edge off!
<br />
<br />Sunset over Rusty!
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5800245881/" title="may 149 Sun setting over Rusty by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3562/5800245881_5753c2fb2c.jpg" alt="may 149 Sun setting over Rusty" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">May 30 -- Memorial Day:</span>
<br />
<br />Par-tay!
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5800801680/" title="may 167 Rusty digs Lucas' rhythm by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2458/5800801680_bba3dd47e3_z.jpg" alt="may 167 Rusty digs Lucas' rhythm" height="640" width="480" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />Nate and Rebekah were the first to show up, with their son Charlie!
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5800248369/" title="may 169 Charlie melee! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3529/5800248369_6565e2e0f4.jpg" alt="may 169 Charlie melee!" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />They also brought the Best. Chili. Ever. It had cashews and stuff in it, too!
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5800248629/" title="may 171 Best chili evar! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5270/5800248629_538a37d07c.jpg" alt="may 171 Best chili evar!" height="500" width="375" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />Then Anthony and his kids and girlfriend showed up, and they brought their little kid-jeep, and all three kids had a ball with it!
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5800249797/" title="may 180 Anthony jumps on the back by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5314/5800249797_db2fb76e90.jpg" alt="may 180 Anthony jumps on the back" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />Then, Nate and Lucas started sparring and somehow Lucas moved to get out of the way and his nose got broken! I'm not sure how it happened, but at least one camera-phone shows how!
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5800250065/" title="may 183 Hooray for video phones! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5188/5800250065_706698755a.jpg" alt="may 183 Hooray for video phones!" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />There was also golf involved -- here, Anthony is teaching Little Anthony how!
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5800250517/" title="may 189 Anthony teaching Little Anthony to golf by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3516/5800250517_af5eb44e20.jpg" alt="may 189 Anthony teaching Little Anthony to golf" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />Poor Lucas' nose!
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5800804210/" title="may 190 Lucas' nose almost broken! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2327/5800804210_6863c9bd2c.jpg" alt="may 190 Lucas' nose almost broken!" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />Troy, on the other hand, got drunk on cream soda and passed out on the couch -- LOL!
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5800804334/" title="may 191 Troy passed out from Vanilla Cream by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2026/5800804334_e037aac75c.jpg" alt="may 191 Troy passed out from Vanilla Cream" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />
<br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 255, 255); font-weight: bold;">June 1, 2011:</span>
<br />
<br />Lots has been going on and I've been too busy working to write about it, especially now that the office has been moved from Mukilteo, where everyone lives except Nigel, to Seattle, near Nigel's house, so that all eleven of his employees have to drive a half hour or so just to get to work -- that's ten dollars in gas per day!
<br />` Thus, I have time to write this in the car on the way to work! I've been literally working my ass off, plus gym and karate, so I'm skinnier than ever. Also, Lucas officially signed the Silvertips for advertising services, meaning money and royalties for us!
<br />
<br />Miss-Know-It-All (=MKIA=Jen) has also been working as a bicycle delivery person for Zippy's Java Lounge, yet for some reason her ass has been getting bigger. She also isn't paid an hourly wage, only tips, and has apparently only made $15 in her first 6 <span style="font-style: italic;">weeks</span>, so she can't pay rent.
<br />` She actually wanted her smaller, retarded brother to live with her so he could pay rent! How pathetic is that? Now she's having to move out because "Oh well, I guess I just can't pay rent!" So she's a know-it-all and has a strong victim complex, so there really IS nothing you can do for her.
<br />` As for the owner of Zippy's/dumb ugly bitch, she's committing a crime by not paying her employee, so we've notified friends who hang out there to boycott Zippy's.
<br />
<br />In a way, I'm paying Jen's rent because I'm the one with a real job. Yesterday, I was walking in this rural neighborhood in Woodinville where I saw a couple of tame mule deer, and was later stopped by this crazy multi-lingual old lady who drove up and was picking on me for walking door-to-door because of the break-ins people have suffered in the area.
<br />` Her husband in the passenger seat between us was kind of biting his tongue. She asked what I was selling and I said I was canvassing for a window company, and she said, "Harold, tell her about our windows!" and he said, "Shut up!" By then, Lucas was also on the scene, and guess what? We got them to sign up for a window inspection/estimate, and they'll probably buy because they have a broken window and a screwed-up sliding glass door.
<br />` We also met a tree service canvasser on an electric bike, and Lucas stopped to do some business with him. Then we met a dog trainer who was so rude, until we started walking away, then she became friendly.
<br />` What is it with people hating on canvassers? Are we really that scary? One lady barked like a police officer, though her window, "Step away from the front door! NOW!"
<br />
<br />We were going to leave for home, but our one boss, Ryan, told us that even though it was okay with him for us to not come back to the office to punch out, he called to tell us, WHILE we were driving home, that Nigel was expecting us to come back and if we didn't we'd be in trouble!
<br />` So, we drove back, to the office in Seattle, no one was there, then Nigel showed up as through he saw us through some sort of surveillance system at his house, and was waiting for us! He also got us a van -- I wonder if it's wired? By the way, Anthony is sitting behind me and I can't tell him about all this funny business with Nigel -- but I'll post it here!
<br />
<br />So, we got home an hour and a half late, missing karate altogether, although no worries as this is the third or fourth time in a row that Alex and Michael have canceled.
<br />
<br />OMG, right now we're pushing ahead in the carpool lane and just now passed this really obese lady texting behind the wheel of her car so fast that she was jiggling!
<br />
<br />Now I'm in the office, Nigel is telling us how screwed up the van is, with one of the windows not rolling up all the way, and its smelling like dogs, and Anthony said, "That's a tight van!" LOL!
<br />
<br />Hey, WAIT A MINUTE!! Nigel is PRETENDING that Lucas only had karate two days a week, not four, even though I WATCHED THEM THE OTHER DAY clearing that up, and also all the other people in the room knew all that too!
<br />` WHOA! Nigel just said, about Lucas' dojo, "Pardon my French, but I don't give a fuck!" and everyone looked at him like 'OMG, what an asshole!'
<br />
<br />Spent all day walking around, holding a broken umbrella at the top to keep it open, my arm lifted over my head. Thank goodness for my mad ambidextrous skillz. Barely any homeowners to talk to, mostly people with new windows it seems. Or were they?
<br />` I asked this one old couple, "You don't have any old windows downstairs, do you?" and they said no, but then Anthony went up just after me and asked, "I thought I saw some old windows downstairs." and they said, "Oh that's right, there are!"
<br />` Got back ALMOST in time for karate, Anthony being picked up by someone else.
<br />
<br />I really am starting to hate this job, and am starting to look older than my years! (Maybe it's all the smiling?) Thankfully, Lucas is there for me.
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5800975700/" title="jun 001 All tired & droopy after work by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2219/5800975700_d3f8601233.jpg" alt="jun 001 All tired & droopy after work" height="500" width="375" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">June 2, 2011:</span>
<br />
<br />Another day, another morning I don't have time to clean the kitchen.
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5800421219/" title="jun 005 Another morning I can't clean the kitchen by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3369/5800421219_543454700f.jpg" alt="jun 005 Another morning I can't clean the kitchen" height="500" width="375" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />On my way to this stupid job again. Just called Express to say I'm available for work. Aren't cell phones great? Anthony is paying a traffic ticket over the phone in the backseat. Last night I put the printout for my first speeding ticket EVER under the police station door, saying I couldn't pay, needed some time.
<br />` First door I knocked -- GOT IT! It was this lady with dreadlocks who said she had a Ph.D. in neurobiological computation -- "Right, because we need cyborgs!" I said. Unfortunately, not enough people agree, so she's poor and living in a house with windows from the 1940s, 1970s and 1990s, or something like that. She also told my boss how cool and professional I was! AWESOME!
<br />` Got home, took karate, went to bed. Too tired to do anything else. Lucas would have welcomed some canvassing as he spent all his time either driving us or other things, such as hiring Former Roommate Joel! He starts Tuesday.
<br />
<br />
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">June 3, 2011:</span>
<br />
<br />Today, I'm carpooling with Anthony because Lucas is going to work early -- we saw each other as I was pulling out of the gym parking lot as he passed by. Got to Anthony's house, knocked on his door, he knocked back from the shower! It was like this:
<br />Me: Knock, knock-knock-knock, knock
<br />Him: Knock knock!
<br />` Now I'm at the office. It's a nice office, yes, but WHY does it have to be so far away from everyone? Oh yeah, because Nigel procured it. There's a couple rooms, desks, tables, white boards, and there's also some weird New York and Empire State Building prints with some oil paint slathered onto them so that they look like fake paintings.
<br />` We're having a meeting with Ryan, no one else is here right now. Oh, here's Bob from Dry Hump City, and he's wearing a suit! His girlfriend Sarah lives within seeing distance of this office, although she's been living over at his house.
<br />
<br />Today I braved a fierce-looking dog, who barked and bared his teeth at me, and nothing I said to him seemed to affect his demeanor. His owner came out of the house, apologizing and saying she was too sick to talk about anything other than to explain that the dog was half-blind and completely deaf, and very protective because she was so run-down, but also that he wouldn't really bite.
<br />
<br />Hey, lookit! A fly that looks like a wasp! Almost fooled me!
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5913296392/" title="jun-jul 003 It's not a wasp! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5034/5913296392_af467285e3.jpg" alt="jun-jul 003 It's not a wasp!" height="285" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">June 4, 2011:</span>
<br />
<br />Watched Anthony's kids for a half hour as they went and got a means to transport them. We drew on the white board in the kids' room, and then they kept me busy trying to get a nonexistent toy car from under the fridge, keeping us all occupied until Anthony showed up.
<br />` On the way out Little Anthony showed me how he could stomp, so I showed him how I could stomp, and then Ryan stomped, so the three of us stomped all the way down the stairs, saying, "Stomp, stomp, stomp!"
<br />
<br />
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">June 5, 2011:</span>
<br />
<br />Best meal ever! Thanks Lucas! Really makes me forget I'm sick!
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5913296626/" title="jun-jul 010 Vegan sausage -- not bad! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6056/5913296626_dbeff898f4.jpg" alt="jun-jul 010 Vegan sausage -- not bad!" height="500" width="375" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />Unfortunately, Lucas also put my cell phone through the wash. Cleanest phone ever! Now, I've been phone-less before in this job, only because I hadn't paid the phone bill, but for some reason Lucas could still call, so at least he could call me to find out what street I was on. Now what do I do?
<br />
<br />
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">June 6, 2011:</span>
<br />
<br />I'm so sick today that I couldn't go into work, so I quit. I guess this job was hard enough even when my phone worked, but without a phone, and with me vomiting and all, what else could I do? Vada knows: "PET ME!"
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5913297110/" title="jun-jul 024 Vada just loves a scratch! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6020/5913297110_0359c05300.jpg" alt="jun-jul 024 Vada just loves a scratch!" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />Also, I can keep the house clean, finally, when I'm not puking!
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5913297358/" title="jun-jul 028 Without that pesky job, I can clean again! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6013/5913297358_c1267f73bb.jpg" alt="jun-jul 028 Without that pesky job, I can clean again!" height="375" width="500" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">June 8, 2011:</span>
<br />
<br />Today was the second day on the job for Former Roommate Joel, who had called Lucas three times about this job because, he said, he didn't want to be operating an illegal car-flipping business any more.
<br />` This was his second day, and Lucas had told Joel not to try to buy people's cars, and within an hour, the police came up to Lucas and Bob with a scrap of paper on which Joel's name and number were written on, and asked, "Are either of you Joel? He left this on someone's car. He's not really in trouble or anything, but..."
<br />` Lucas said, "Oh, yes he is!"
<br />` Joel had elected to find his own way home. LOL!
<br />
<br />Also, I got a new cell phone, and hope that no one has tried to call me about the part-time job I applied for, so I went back and checked to make sure in person.
<br />
<br />Must... get... job... RAWR!
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5913297820/" title="jun-jul 037 Shirt string! Must get it! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5236/5913297820_1f364e7dd7.jpg" alt="jun-jul 037 Shirt string! Must get it!" height="500" width="375" /></a>
<br /></div>
<br />I think that's enough blogging for this time, but there's more interesting things to come -- I know this because it's already happened!
<br />
<br />For more pictures, check out my Flickr account for <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/sets/72157626668130024/with/5800794086/">May</a> and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/sets/72157626766881531/">June!</a>
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
google_ad_client = "pub-0390306350918355";
google_ad_width = 728;
google_ad_height = 90;
google_ad_format = "728x90_as";
google_ad_type = "text_image";
google_ad_channel ="";
google_color_border = "6699CC";
google_color_bg = "003366";
google_color_link = "FFFFFF";
google_color_url = "AECCEB";
google_color_text = "AECCEB";
//--></script>
<script type="text/javascript"
src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
</script></div>Spoony Quinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730057249256927206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14272138.post-67840985766273433602011-06-05T17:03:00.000-07:002011-06-05T17:11:38.755-07:00The happenings between my incessant activity (if that can be said to be logical)O hai ther!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5696923302/" title="mar-apr 245 Rusty sez: Meow! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3504/5696923302_a04111a836_z.jpg" alt="mar-apr 245 Rusty sez: Meow!" width="480" height="640" /></a><br /></div><br />Yes, I'm still blogging, despite the fact that I've been SO DARN BUSY! And I mean, REALLY BUSY, catching up on all the stuff I haven't had time for because of school.<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 204);">` During the time of this post, I accomplished so much in way of my collecting, categorizing and compiling the notes I've been taking for my writing/website projects, and then also doing masses of new research and actually working on said projects!</span><br />` Yet, how could I make my hyperactive self sit still for so long? My regular exercise at the gym and karate class isn't even enough, so I've also taken to working on keeping the house looking cleaner than it has in a very long time. Naturally, cleaning up after yourself is nothing, but when you live with four people, it's so much more work!<br />` (At least, that's the way it's been going before I got a full-time job and had to marginalize all this again, but that will be covered in my next post.)<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">April 23, 2011:</span><br /><br />Today, I got so many pictures of Lucas draining the carport roof -- many bathtubs worth! -- by putting a hole in the gutter!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5696347559/" title="mar-apr 244 Many bathtubs worth of water, gone! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3114/5696347559_685671fb39_z.jpg" alt="mar-apr 244 Many bathtubs worth of water, gone!" width="480" height="640" /></a><br /></div><br />This was for the purpose of putting buckets up there, with tomato plants and cages covered by red plastic. What this plastic is supposed to do, I don't know, since I can't seem to find any information about it on the internet. Seems like a scam to me! It's kinda cool-looking, though.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5696923762/" title="mar-apr 250 Red plumes of doom by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2687/5696923762_8f505e53d3.jpg" alt="mar-apr 250 Red plumes of doom" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />I also took some pictures of Rusty -- this is him not wanting to be in my picture!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5696923368/" title="mar-apr 246 Rusty jumping off railing by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2438/5696923368_4b3e114405.jpg" alt="mar-apr 246 Rusty jumping off railing" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />I also took a pic of my first habernero, ripening on the deck, which is considerably more boring than Rusty. Yet, later on I was on the phone with my mom's boyfriend (my mom was asleep on the other end of their boat) and was so into my conversation that I didn't take pictures of Lucas crafting flames in the sunset, which looks kinda cool.<br />` He was using the flames to... cook food for me, Jen (aka Miss Know-It-All) and Andrew, using both our food and the meat MKIA's brothers were meant to eat but didn't. Those were the biggest hamburgers ever!<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); font-weight: bold;">April 24, 2011:</span><br /><br />I got a picture of Rusty sheltered from the evening sun (W00t! Non-dark evenings!) wondering why I'm taking a picture of him while he's eating his foods. Will I ever stop following him around with my damn camera?<br />` (Since this photo of Rusty is cooler than that one, I'll show this one instead:)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5696345885/" title="mar-apr 265 I can climb down myself! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5304/5696345885_045e6c26f0.jpg" alt="mar-apr 265 I can climb down myself!" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />I keep thinking I haven't done much today, but actually I called people because it's Easter. I called my mom and got my brother James' number. I called him and told him about how life is going and how Lucas' business is booming, and he told me about his band in Ohio and how they're faring (their new lead singer, an old blues singer, singing KISS songs?).<br />` However, being my brother, he spent most of the conversation somewhat comedically ranting about how our grandma is even crazier than ever and being such a control freak, which pisses him off because he just turned forty and she's still telling him what to do!<br />` Let's just say, Lucas was somewhat amused that most of the words he could hear emanating from the phone were swear words.<br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">` James also said that she asks him, "I wonder when Sarah will come back home?" Let me try to answer that; I used to live with my mom in Ohio, but now that I'm a grown-up, I consider the Pacific Northwest Coast my home, so I am home! Also, now that my mom's retired, she considers the Gulf Coast her home, so same thing there!</span><br />` She also asks if James has heard from my dad, who is at least as crazy and abusive as James' dad. Why does she ask that? Of course he hasn't heard from that psycho! She's just weird, apparently, and bitter that her family is either living far away or doesn't want to see her anyway. It's sad, but you can't really blame us!<br /><br />Anyway, James was making mashed redskin potatoes, going to pick up Aunt Linda's mom, Esther, who's cool, and take her over to Grandma's for Easter. Later on, I called my grandma and told her that James was bringing the mashed potatoes!<br />` She was about to feed her husband, that is, through the feeding tube. No, sadly he does not get any mashed potatoes because he can't swallow properly. James had remarked that, with his dependence on tubes for eating and breathing, the guy looks like he should be dead, but it's a frickin' miracle that he's not! LOL!<br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">` James also ranted somewhat about how crazy my aunt Linda is. Apparently, they arrived at the adobe hut airport for cousin Danny's wedding earlier than they thought they would, and Linda said she couldn't pick them up because it wasn't the original time they were supposed to arrive, so they would just have to wait.</span><br />` James asked her son, also named James, what was so important that she couldn't pick them up, and cousin James was like, "That's just Mom...." LOL! This is why I try to stay away from crazy family members!<br />` Then, of course, Linda told my brother James not to worry about wearing a suit because not many people would be, and he didn't bring one... and then he was the only one not wearing a suit! And then, when they had to get up at 3:30 in the morning (Him: "When?" Me: "Three-thirty in the morning!") to get to the airport, she wasn't packed yet! LOL!<br />` And then they couldn't see where they were going because it was <span style="font-style: italic;">when?</span> Three-thirty in the morning! Then, the GPS broke and they went in circles and got there JUST in time. Otherwise, it would have been another week, apparently, before the next flight left from the adobe hut airport!<br /><br />(Just to break up the text, I thought I'd add a picture of Vada drinking out of what's left of the carport roof puddle in the red shadow of the tomato greenhouse.)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5696346507/" title="mar-apr 273 Vada in red sampling giant puddle by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2228/5696346507_374203116b.jpg" alt="mar-apr 273 Vada in red sampling giant puddle" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Also, James said he has had a laptop for a whole year, despite being techno-illiterate. I vaguely remember my mom telling me he was going to get a laptop or something... well, it's a good thing he reminded me, because now I can send him links to videos and stuff!<br />` Of course, he was all crabbing about how he doesn't know how to sign into his email address, so I suggested that when his computer-savvy friend comes over to install some anti-virus software, he should help him set up another email address so I can send him links to videos and pictures and stuff more easily than over the phone!<br />` After battling through much ranting, he's agreed to do that, so I hope he doesn't change his mind!<br /><br />Also, Random (of <a href="http://www.randomoriginal.com/">Random Originals</a>) is coming over -- or maybe he just has? -- to install video-editing software on Lucas' movie-making computer. W00T! Speaking of which, after such ranting from my brother, I must relate to you this anecdote about Miss Know-It-All:<br />` Lucas has a MacPro with the instantaneous HD movie-rendering speed of 4 gigahertz, and 2 terabytes of hard drive space, which is enough to store a whole lot of feature-length HD movies. Well, MKIA said that in 1996 she had a computer with 2 gigahertz of processing speed and a 64 megabyte hard drive, which is so tiny that there's no way you can fit a program on there that requires 2 gigahertz to run it!<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);">` Now, it is realistic to say that she had a computer with 2 gigabytes of hard drive space and 64 megabytes of processing speed -- which was typical of nice computers in 1996 and similar to my first computer -- but, when Lucas suggested this, she insisted she knew better. Miss Know-It-All, everybody! Displays her ignorance for all to see! Yes, she knows everything, especially when her mentally challenged brothers come over!</span><br />` In fact, just recently her skinny little brother, Aaron, saw Lucas and our neighbor talking near the neighbor's driveway, in which is his work vehicle, whose side reads "The A-Team". Aaron said, "Hey, you know, the A-Team? That car says The A-Team on it! Ha ha ha!" Lucas was like, "Uh yeah, we know, that's his car!" LOLOL!<br />` Is it retarded that I use abbreviations like LOL? Well, I'm using 'em, dammit, because that was both retarded and LOL-funny! (I won't say that Aaron is retarded, because that's not considered to be very nice.)<br />` Anyway, his obvious and banal observations, as well as his laugh, which somehow reminds me of the Disney character Goofy, has convinced me that he is actually more retarded than MKIA. I wonder if she thinks she's a genius because of this? Well, she's not fooling me! A-hyuck! I mean, LOL!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">April 26, 2011:</span><br /><br />Lucas' yard is coming together, a new ferry has been circling in the waters, we totally made bank at the wood dumpster, and also, I saw my first Dreamliner take to the air! Got a picture, too!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5696346723/" title="mar-apr 275 Dreamliner by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3136/5696346723_879db5a1d0.jpg" alt="mar-apr 275 Dreamliner" width="469" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 204, 204); font-weight: bold;">May 2, 2011:</span><br /><br />Finishing up my cleaning like crazy, which has involved scrubbing everything from windows to walls. I even scrubbed the bathroom light switch cover to reveal that it has a pattern on it, and I obliterated the dark streaks on the handrails! Behold the before/after photo!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5696960526/" title="may 007 Cleaning away the gray by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5306/5696960526_08b6b6aff3.jpg" alt="may 007 Cleaning away the gray" width="500" height="361" /></a><br /></div><br />Also, there's a lovely dead mole on the porch. Thank you, Vada, for this Insectivore offering!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5696960832/" title="may 010 A tasty mole, for me! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3547/5696960832_e74d245ffb_z.jpg" alt="may 010 A tasty mole, for me!" width="480" height="640" /></a><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"><br />May 4, 2011:</span><br /><br />I don't remember when the last time someone cleaned the main bathroom, but I know it's been months! (Doesn't make me feel so bad about cleaning mine only every two or three weeks!)<br />` It was so much work, cleaning from floor to ceiling (literally) and I since the tub has feet, I had to get on my back and peel the toilet paper tubes off the floor as best I could and then scrub the immense filth off.<br />` Since that is such an unpleasant thought, here's a lovely picture of Rusty chewing on a kiwi twig:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5696385337/" title="may 013 Mm, tasty leaves by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5190/5696385337_54afb1b9f1_z.jpg" alt="may 013 Mm, tasty leaves" width="480" height="640" /></a><br /></div><br />Also, another cute image comes from when I was on the elliptical machine at the gym -- during a time when the traffic was stopped, I saw a mother duck and her cute fuzzy babies all trying to cross the road from the median barrier.<br />` A man got out of his vehicle -- I think it was a truck driver -- and helped them across the street, in front of the gym, where they stayed for a while before heading off down the sidewalk all in a row like children on a school field trip.<br />` Mother ducky: "On your right is the four lanes of traffic we just crossed, and on your left, children, is a construction site, so please don't stray!"<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 204, 204); font-weight: bold;">May 5, 2011:</span><br /><br />On my way out of school counselor appointment, I walked through Cinco De Mayo celebration in the new giant cafeteria. Then, I saw the English teacher whose fall class I'm about to sign up for, told her about my writing style and struggles in life, and she gave me the book <span style="font-style: italic;">A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius</span>, a mostly-factual autobiographical work in a style similar to my own.<br />` How encouraging that anyone could publish a book like this! She also gave me some titles of other books, which I'll have to get my paws on -- must get Sno-Isle library card so I can just go to the library down the street. Why, that's staggeringly genius!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 204, 204);">May 6, 2011:</span><br /><br />Good news all around! Lucas got a job at a window company that pays $15/hour, and it's with Anthony Soto, which we've both worked with at Penguin Windows, and who has 56 Employee of the Month plaques from Penguin before they were forced to shut down.<br />` He is just that amazing of a canvasser, and canvassing is also the department that Lucas is managing. Soon, I'll get a job there, but for now, I'm furiously getting my projects done!<br />` Also, the grafted tomato plants have arrived, so now we'll have special tomatoes which are two different types in one!<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 153);">` Also, Alex and I passed our orange belt tests, although since we can't afford actual orange belts, Lucas scribbled on them with an orange highlighter as an indication that we're real orange belts.</span><br />` MKIA, by the way, has stopped with karate for lack of money, but this is okay because she really can't take direction. I mean, you pay someone to teach you, and then argue with them -- I thought <span style="font-style: italic;">I</span> was crabby!<br />` Lucky for her, she's just gotten a job, although she's working for tips and not a real wage, so I hope she makes enough to pay rent!<br /><br />Also, I should mention that Lucas and I went down to the liquor store and Rusty started after us!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5696961392/" title="may 015 Rusty following along by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2525/5696961392_ab1054262d_z.jpg" alt="may 015 Rusty following along" width="480" height="640" /></a><br /></div><br />He kept following until he became too frightened by the street and dogs, then he started wailing because he was also too afraid to go back! I went on and Lucas stayed. A couple passed me, and I mentioned to them my cute kitten's predicament, and they continued up to Lucas, who explained what was going on, and believe it or not, but Rusty followed them!<br />` I arrived at the liquor store just as the clerk was putting up the 'Closed' sign, however -- ten minutes before seven -- and so I decided I would at least take advantage of the scenery, as well as the visibility of the antique fire truck, although that wasn't as cool as this:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5696961670/" title="may 018 Flowerbed in sunset by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5062/5696961670_c3d95def59_z.jpg" alt="may 018 Flowerbed in sunset" width="480" height="640" /></a><br /></div><br />When we got back, Vada was on the deck railing hissing at Rusty, who was on the fence with Mr. Yoboshi, just as she had detested Violet for associating with Yoboshi! Poor cats! All they want to do is make friends!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">May 7, 2011:</span><br /><br />I'm sssmmmokinnn'! (But not literally.)<br /><br />Sorry, I'm not sure what this entry refers to, so I'll include some cool pictures from around that time. Like these magnolias:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5696386505/" title="may 026 Magnolias in the morning sun by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5265/5696386505_21c5394a71_z.jpg" alt="may 026 Magnolias in the morning sun" width="480" height="640" /></a><br /></div><br />Here's me spinning Rusty around in a circle with a piece of bark from the chopping block:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5696963700/" title="may 039 You be taking my stick! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5308/5696963700_cf3026051b.jpg" alt="may 039 You be taking my stick!" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />A little while later, here's Rusty spinning Vada around by playing with her!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5696388959/" title="may 048 Vada and Rusty swat each other by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3035/5696388959_d91975af28.jpg" alt="may 048 Vada and Rusty swat each other" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Just then, they moved their play activities over to the wheelbarrow of raspberry plants that Ray Sundal had just brought over. (He's the neighbor that those Norwegians had asked us if we knew, ironically just hours before we met him!) They spent a while both playing and sniffing around it.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5696390625/" title="may 055 Vada checks out the plants again by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3515/5696390625_ea75f19a3d.jpg" alt="may 055 Vada checks out the plants again" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Also, here's Rusty and the magnolia blossoms:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5696391083/" title="may 063 Rusty yawning by magnolia by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5150/5696391083_d89170c4d9.jpg" alt="may 063 Rusty yawning by magnolia" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Here's our new raspberry patch with plants from Ray and then more plants from Roberta (and I helped!):<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5696967662/" title="may 072 Raspberry patch again by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5063/5696967662_e9f0fda5bc.jpg" alt="may 072 Raspberry patch again" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Just when Rusty was wondering where Vada was....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5696392371/" title="may 074 OH HAI, VADA! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2686/5696392371_9db71b2bd5_z.jpg" alt="may 074 OH HAI, VADA!" width="480" height="640" /></a><br /></div><br />"Vada, I duvs you!" Awwwwww!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5696968208/" title="may 078 Vada, I duvs you by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2017/5696968208_42327a0aee_z.jpg" alt="may 078 Vada, I duvs you" width="480" height="640" /></a><br /></div><br />Another shrub is blooming, one near what used to be Violet's favorite spot:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5800240763/" title="may 082 This is finally blooming by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5320/5800240763_cda185c912.jpg" alt="may 082 This is finally blooming" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />"Aw Mom! We'll make the bed later!"<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5800794488/" title="may 083 We'll put the sheets back on later! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5268/5800794488_34fdfa9f47.jpg" alt="may 083 We'll put the sheets back on later!" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Come to think of it, washing the sheets and ALL the pillowcases is apparently part of the reason why I'm so sssmmmokinnn'! Also, drrrinkinnn'!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5800240989/" title="may 084 Much better than plain vodka! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3084/5800240989_a12566dc7d_z.jpg" alt="may 084 Much better than plain vodka!" width="480" height="640" /></a><br /></div><br />Another cool sunset, brought to you by The Earth Turning!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5800241013/" title="may 085 The sun is falling! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3095/5800241013_2b15ee051e.jpg" alt="may 085 The sun is falling!" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 204, 204);">May 9, 2011:</span><br /><br />While Troy was baking cookies, I rescued Jen from this terrifying spider by gathering it onto a cloth, and it actually tried rappelling down with its silk by jumping! I've never seen a web-weaving spider jump before!<br />` After this, Jen says that I'm more of a man than Troy! LOL!<br /><br />A couple days later, I think it was, the day that Jen, Troy and one of Troy's friends, were having some Nerf Fun on the lawn...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5800794888/" title="may 089 Those kids and their nerf guns by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2473/5800794888_aa6d2bbab8.jpg" alt="may 089 Those kids and their nerf guns" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />And then, not long after, IT HAPPENED! Lucas forgot to water his expensive grafted tomato plants one day and they UTTERLY WILTED! So he moved them into the living room....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5800795310/" title="may 095 Lucas' grafted tomato plants, ALL DOOMED! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2717/5800795310_2cf3387a1e.jpg" alt="may 095 Lucas' grafted tomato plants, ALL DOOMED!" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />AND THEN, THE OTHER THING HAPPENED... I GOT A JOB! There will be no more fun and games! But that's all coming in my next post, which I'll try to get done on my next Sunday off!<br />` For the rest of my pictures -- as I dare not stuff any more into this post -- check out my Flickr albums for <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/sets/72157626554527336/">April</a> and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/sets/72157626668130024/with/5800795310/">May</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
google_ad_client = "pub-0390306350918355";
google_ad_width = 728;
google_ad_height = 90;
google_ad_format = "728x90_as";
google_ad_type = "text_image";
google_ad_channel ="";
google_color_border = "6699CC";
google_color_bg = "003366";
google_color_link = "FFFFFF";
google_color_url = "AECCEB";
google_color_text = "AECCEB";
//--></script>
<script type="text/javascript"
src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
</script></div>Spoony Quinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730057249256927206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14272138.post-85369235764948691782011-04-27T17:50:00.000-07:002011-04-27T17:58:49.837-07:00Vacation from Crazies AND School?<span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);"></span>It's been so vacationy, I've almost taken a vacation from uploading my photos, and, by extension, making blog posts with photos. That's a silly thing to do, considering how many oddities have been building up in this draft -- watch out, it's gonna blooooowwwww!<br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 51);">` On a more serious note, this blog's dependency on photos seems to reflect on my own bloglaziness for this blog rather than the constant chaos I'm used to enduring. Really, I ought to devote more time to my blogs/Corrigendopedia more, considering how much time I'm <span style="font-style: italic;">not</span> devoting to school. (Still practicing my Spanish, though!)</span><br />` Interestingly, some of my blog commenters have asked questions about the photos, or about something written in the first paragraph, even though the answer is vividly described in the text. (Some of you know who you are, so hang your heads in shame!) So, I got this crazy idea -- why not write posts with almost no photos at all? Ayyyyyy!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5643704353/" title="mar-apr 017 Two months of training gets you pretty yellow! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5302/5643704353_d3c873ffac_z.jpg" alt="mar-apr 017 Two months of training gets you pretty yellow!" width="480" height="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">For those of you reading this, gasp in horror. For those of you who have stopped reading at the word 'vacationy', I don't blame you, since I agree that it's a terrible adjective. I'm thinking of changing my approach to this blog again, back to what I was originally going to do years ago before my life continually went to hell on a regular basis in some way or another.</span><br />` That is, to put all my journal posts on the S E E Quine Anomalous World website, and for the ones that don't have photos, or at least don't have photos hosted on Flickr, use my Flickr photos, and build my Abnormally Humorous Photo Gallery.<br />` I should probably take down the few old things I put on there first and completely start over. After all, I do have that website saved on my computer, not that there's even that much to save, and it should be easy to re-organize into the way I want. Easy, yes, and time maybe incredibly time-consuming as well!<br /><br />Is this a sign that I'm bored and don't have anything else to do with all my spare time? Or is it because I'm really interested in getting faster and more confident at writing so that I can avoid failing English a third time, and maybe even have a career in which writing is an important part?<br />` It's hard to tell at this stage.<br />` Nevertheless, I present to you... where I left off, wayyy back, on:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 204, 204);">March 19, 2011:</span><br /><br />It's Saturday night, and what a strange evening it's been! Strange in itself is the fact that I took my newest roommate (Jen) with me to the Hunan Palace to meet some friends: The last time I've done this is years ago on the day we'd met, except, that night ended with her storming out of the restaurant because she'd thought I had been arguing with her! (In reality, I had been trying to explain that I <span style="font-style: italic;">wasn't</span> arguing with her.)<br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">` On my Corrigendopedia website, I used this as an example of human defense mechanisms (although I won't bother linking to it since I'm also about to re-organize that website as well), and now that she's my roommate, I've found that she has quite a large number of them! Luckily, I've never been so foolish as to discuss anything with her again, but instead, I prefer to be entertained by 'Miss Know-it-All' (now henceforth referred to as 'MKIA').</span><br /><br />I shouldn't be bringin' her down, though. She's actually cool sometimes. She even has been known to wash dishes! WOW! Anyway, it's been such a long way we've come from the Hunan Palace the first time!<br /><br />And what of the Hunan Palace this time? Well, I didn't even really talk to MKIA that much, but I did spend a lot of time talking with this woman named Donna, who said that she had two suitcases full of sex toys in the trunk of her car because she has to make sure her 16 year old daughter isn't around when she carries them upstairs.<br /><br />This is me, Donna and Michael:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5643707025/" title="mar-apr 041 At the Hunan Palace by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5149/5643707025_aeb27f8daa.jpg" alt="mar-apr 041 At the Hunan Palace" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Being a member of Fet Life, she described all kinds of... stimulating things, including electricity, urethral poles, and even flaming alcohol (though presumably not electrified urethral poles flaming with electrified alcohol)! One guy, she said, was so relaxed while she was setting fire to alcohol on his genitals that he fell asleep. Another guy, a homosexual who was horrified by vaginas, screamed in horror when, right after some bondage fun, he was unblindfolded just in time to see a fist exit a vagina right in front of his face!<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 153);">` Scream in horror if you've gotten this far!</span><br />` A funny story was about the time a State Highway Patrolman in Montana pulled up when they had a flat tire, a bull whip in the backseat, and tons of other scary-looking things in a bag strapped to the roof. That was a close one! She also told of a FetLife get-together where they bought items from a dollar store, made them into sex toys, and then used all of them! Her ball-whacker, for example, is made from a lotion bottle.<br /><br />Although she told me lots of things I didn't think of to ask about the lifestyle o' fetishes, my favorite story was when she was in a cowboy bar with some women friends and the tampon machine was open, so they went into the men's restroom, wet the tampons and stuck them to the ceiling above the toilet!<br />` They waited outside the restroom, and guys kept going in and coming back out until finally, one screamed and ran out of the bathroom with his pants around his ankles and a tampon on his shoulder.<br />` Donna and her friends were thrown out. Gee, can't they take a practical joke?<br /><br />After that story, Jake arrived and I squealed and hugged him. Poor Jake. The stuff he puts up with from me!<br /><br />Here's me, Jake and Michael. Alex was going to come, but she decided not to.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5644274314/" title="mar-apr 044 Jake and Mike are right behind me! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5270/5644274314_a75a284168_o.jpg" alt="mar-apr 044 Jake and Mike are right behind me!" width="576" height="768" /></a><br /></div><br />Then, I got a fortune cookie, which said, "Your talents will prove to be especially useful tomorrow." (Picture, too.) Donna and I looked at each other and laughed hysterically.<br /><br />On the way back, I made sure I didn't wind up chatting much with MKIA by playing my Pink Floyd CD, starting with one song I heard at karaoke. Made the wrong turn to the gas station, though, when I was below the last line on the gas gauge! Speaking of gas, I'm almost out of it myself! What else can I think to write?<br /><br />Oh yeah -- my fiance Lucas already has his computer back from Director Random, so he's not using mine anymore. Yay! The sad part? The others had bailed on the project Random had been working on. FAIL!<br /><br />Hey, check out these gratuitous cute cat pictures -- here's Vada hiding from Rusty behind a tiny box:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5643707607/" title="mar-apr 049 Rusty swats at Vada... by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5141/5643707607_b24c091450.jpg" alt="mar-apr 049 Rusty swats at Vada..." width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />And here's Rusty on his ShelfBed displaying his big boy teefs that are growing in:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5644275054/" title="mar-apr 053 Rusty yawn! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5182/5644275054_3bd7d2e4d7.jpg" alt="mar-apr 053 Rusty yawn!" width="500" height="341" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">Thursday, March 24:</span><br /><br />On Wednesday I did an audition for Lucas' Eastwood-Carey Scale, which he made to help actors know whether they should act more deadpan like Clint Eastwood, or more extreme like Jim Carrey. (Never mind that Jim Carrey has been pretty 'extreme' in other ways, but that's another story!)<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);">` My audition footage is going to be used as a 'good' auditioner, in contrast with a really bad one, because I'm too tall for the part that's being auditioned for. Believe it or not, this is my dream come true -- actually being portrayed on camera as a good example compared to someone else! All expenses-paid ego trip! W00t!</span><br />` One of the bad auditioners, a high-school aged girl, gets the part of a scantily-clad cue card-holder who makes out with this hot guy. Considering her reaction to getting this part, Lucas described her as a "super-virgin", and then today on the phone, she described herself as a "super-virgin"!<br />` We had a good laugh about this, and that's why I'm writing this to you now, before I forget!<br /><br />Also today, we had outdoor karate -- that's MKIA and Alex.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5644276694/" title="mar-apr 067 Karate outside today by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5144/5644276694_e30b0400fe.jpg" alt="mar-apr 067 Karate outside today" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />I kept falling down because I suck balancing on a hill and have barely any feeling in my feet. I was starting to feel so self-conscious until my giant kitten Rusty, who was climbing in the yellow-flowered bush, lost his footing and wound up hanging in an awkward position.<br /><br />Also yesterday, the employee at the gym who had told me there had been too many complaints about me turning off TVs when the 'no turning off TV' signs went up (a likely story), told me this time that he was closing up early because I'm the only one there.<br />` He's the only one who's done this to me before, so I told this to a different employee who said that's not right, and that he would tell management so that they wouldn't think this complaint had come from me. ("Not Sara again!")<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">Friday, March 25:</span><br /><br />Today I felt a bit nervous about letting Rusty out of the house by himself because of the bald eagles I've been seeing, so this was a somewhat comforting sight:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5643709825/" title="mar-apr 072 Eagle harassed by crows! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5148/5643709825_3b453ee6d2_z.jpg" alt="mar-apr 072 Eagle harassed by crows!" width="550" /></a><br /></div><br />Then, I threw Rusty into the neighbor's yard so he would meet Tanner the Amazing Yapping Dog! Rusty actually chased him around -- Tanner is hiding between the two flowerpots in the upper left:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5644277658/" title="mar-apr 079 Rusty chasing Tanner by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5102/5644277658_134cca35d8.jpg" alt="mar-apr 079 Rusty chasing Tanner" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Before long, Tanner was frantically scratching at the door -- LOLOL!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5643710757/" title="mar-apr 082 Open the door! Quick! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5187/5643710757_864b7b5106.jpg" alt="mar-apr 082 Open the door! Quick!" width="500" height="360" /></a><br /></div><br />After Rusty came back, I took him for another kind of exploration -- at the vet's office! He was such a good boy, climbing and exploring. He's actually only 9.5 pounds and eight months old, which is a little older and lighter than I'd thought. I wonder if Vada has shrunk? Now I have doubts as to whether Rusty will turn into a Towering Giant Cat!<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);">` He didn't cry at all until the mean vet stabbed him with needles! He's lying on my office floor right now -- just took a big sigh and put his chin directly on the carpet. So tuckered out -- and tomorrow, for the first time, I will show him the horrors of Advantage flea control! Luckily, he'll be in good company with Vada.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 204, 204);"><br />April 1, 2011:</span><br /><br />I was quite amazed at the way Vada and Rusty didn't freak out and try to run away from their shoulder regions when I applied the Advantage. Oh, got you -- April Fools'! But, there have been some unusual things going on that really are sort of unbelievable.<br /><br />No, not the indoor swordfighting with roomies Troy and MKIA:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5643713017/" title="mar-apr 102 Thwack! Thwack! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5029/5643713017_c11d1c33f6.jpg" alt="mar-apr 102 Thwack! Thwack!" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Or the fact that Troy beat Lucas!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5643713119/" title="mar-apr 103 Troy slays Lucas! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5150/5643713119_f8e6b2e8bd.jpg" alt="mar-apr 103 Troy slays Lucas!" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />First, I'll start with the most believable one:<br /><br />The shoot for the E-C scale went PERFECT! Also, the super-virgin was going insane with the hot dancer guy apparently, and her mom seemed so amused! I didn't see that, though, as I only stopped by to bring the food. Basically, I got up with very little sleep, followed Lucas' instructions for cooking the burgers/veggie burgers and chicken, and brought it over -- Lucas said the burgers were PERFECT! Cool. I've never even cooked burgers before!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5643713255/" title="mar-apr 105 They really liked the burgers I cooked! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5262/5643713255_5d52acc49d.jpg" alt="mar-apr 105 They really liked the burgers I cooked!" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />I did, however, get to hang out with Lucas, Director Random, Actor-Playing-the-Director Big Hair Mark, and the actors playing the actors. Confused? You should be. And it's comedy gold. It'll be on YouTube just as fast as it can be edited!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5644280550/" title="mar-apr 106 Random, the real director, Mark the fake director, and Lucas by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5026/5644280550_c7e66b8559.jpg" alt="mar-apr 106 Random, the real director, Mark the fake director, and Lucas" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />As I was leaving, I remember kissing Lucas good-bye, and then saying bye to Mark, who also puckered up, and I almost fake-kissed him! LOL! Don't tempt me, Mark!<br /><br />Want to know something even more unbelievable? Lucas just told me that Ex-Roommate, Restraining-Order Rick, has showed up a couple nights ago, but left when he saw Lucas. WHAT A CREEP! He just won't go away!! Lucas is actually just now about to email Rick's friend, Rick Alden of Skullcandy, about this new development.<br />` Well, if he does anything funny, I have a feeling Rusty might attack. He regularly takes on the couch, which is hundreds of times his size!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5644281802/" title="mar-apr 115 Rusty bites the couch! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5024/5644281802_87619a565f.jpg" alt="mar-apr 115 Rusty bites the couch!" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Also two nights ago, Lucas' muscles have been acting up (different problem, same amount of impediment) for the first time since November. I had to get him some Somas because he seized up in the middle of karate class and was in so much pain he couldn't move.<br />` All the clinics were closed, so he tried to call a doctor, couldn't get through to any, so then he started calling around until he was able to indirectly get ahold of Mona, the sister-in-law of Ex-Roommate Stinky Johnny.<br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">` MKIA was so cool, she went with me and made sure I didn't get lost in the pouring rain. This was particularly necessary because my brain wasn't working to begin with. Mona was there with her insane, controlling husband (I should call him Stinky Joe) who wanted to make sure that Lucas didn't come, and to pocket Mona's money. He was all nice to me, too, but I know he's just being an asshole.</span><br />` Then, we went to Taco Bell for Lucas and cashed in on the fact that they gave him the wrong order last time. Ha! Believe it or not, MKIA said, to the guy who must have been the manager, that Lucas was on the manager's list, and he said, "Oh yes, Lucas, three double-decker taco supremes, coming right up!" I'm impressed!<br />` After we got home with all that, Lucas was able to move again, he wasn't in horrible pain, and he was able to get some food in himself.<br /><br />Most of the rest of the time in my life, there's been so much to do, so little time that I actually feel like doing it, but I keep plugging along anyway even when I feel so tired. Lucas is also very busy with gardening, planting seeds. I took a picture of a three-leafed watermelon sprout, which struck me as odd, considering that it's a dicot, not a tricot. In fact, there's no such thing as a tricot... maybe it's a mutant?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5643834201/" title="mar-apr 125 Is this what you call a 'tricot'? by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5067/5643834201_428369f6c1_z.jpg" alt="mar-apr 125 Is this what you call a 'tricot'?" width="480" height="640" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">April 3, 2011:</span><br /><br />I really need to practice my Spanish more. Went to Las Margaritas, which is near the crackhouse I used to live at, and that helped. Alex was there, we talked about all sorts of things. Finishing up the evening, one of the employees was watching this show called Sabado Gigante where guys were picking up girls by prancing around on stage half-naked. I'd make a joke, but I'm not sure which direction to go....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5644400970/" title="mar-apr 128 At Las Margaritas by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5185/5644400970_fff9ca97c5.jpg" alt="mar-apr 128 At Las Margaritas" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br />Something else also unbelievable and annoying is the fact that Lucas went down to the cabinet shop dumpster to get some firewood, and some guy with an ENORMOUS truck had completely overloaded his truck bed with wood scraps. He said, "Oh, I just heard of this place last week -- I'll be out of your way in just a minute."<br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">` Now, a rational person would think this means, "I'll be out of your way in just a minute SO THAT you can have some wood, which is obviously the only reason you came here." Apparently, what he really meant was, "I'll be out of your way in just a minute so that you can see that I'm not going to let you have ANY of this wood, and you'll just have to go somewhere else."</span><br />` Lucas deduced this because the man then proceeded to climb inside the dumpster, completely empty it out, and then somehow manage to shove it all into his overflowing truck bed.<br />` Not willing the jeapordize the general public's dumpster privileges, Lucas could only sit there and think to himself, "Yeah, thanks buddy, you think you got enough?"<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">April 4, 2011:</span><br /><br />Turns out that Rick hasn't been stalking us anymore because he's in Colorado. Evidently, that was just some other stalker. But who?<br /><br />In other news, I'm anxious, moody, and sick as hell of listening to Andrew snore all day below my office. He probably won't get up until three in the afternoon, so that he doesn't have to wait very long before he can start drinking again.<br />` Considering all that, snoring is my only complaint with him. He is actually in AA and doesn't want anyone to have problems because of his drinking, so, that's cool. The snoring, well, he can't help that because he's asleep, so what can I do but find something else to do?<br /><br />BTW, my cats are pussies! They're so afraid of Roberta's dog TJ when she comes over!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5644401836/" title="mar-apr 135 Our cats afraid of little ol' TJ?! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5188/5644401836_c695b7a122.jpg" alt="mar-apr 135 Our cats afraid of little ol' TJ?!" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">April 7, 2011:</span><br /><br />I've been kind of under the weather, but am now getting better -- I went to the doctor's and had a very draining experience just sitting there for an hour and a half... just for the doctor to tell me what's going on with my ear is blocked sinus... and so then I had to go home to experience some sinus draining! Lol!<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 255, 153);">Then I went to the gym (in the daytime!), practiced some Spanish, did karate, and despite very sore legs stayed afterward to practice Fukyu Kata Dai-san. Then, as always we moved the couch back across the room with Rusty riding on top, barely seeming to notice, then enjoyed a lovely sunset in the living room with Lucas and Troy -- Rusty was, rather, enjoying the taste of human flesh.</span><br /><br />He also enjoys squeezing into his tiny box while tasting human flesh:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5644403978/" title="mar-apr 151 Must bite! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5029/5644403978_d35261e613.jpg" alt="mar-apr 151 Must bite!" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />In addition to human flesh and boxes, he enjoys frolicking outside and following us around. "Come on, Rusty, you have to go <span style="font-style: italic;">around</span> the bushes to get down here!"<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5643840135/" title="mar-apr 170 You have to go AROUND, Rusty! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5022/5643840135_e0ed9888e7_z.jpg" alt="mar-apr 170 You have to go AROUND, Rusty!" width="480" height="640" /></a><br /></div><br />He actually did figure it out and raced us to the woods, where he explored a lot whilst meowing at us, just like Violet used to! "Meoooowww!"<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5644407650/" title="mar-apr 177 Rusty has pounced... by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5145/5644407650_d86bd66e3a.jpg" alt="mar-apr 177 Rusty has pounced..." width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />He even ran so fast that he beat us back to the house! "What took you so long?"<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5644408466/" title="mar-apr 184 Rusty's waiting for me! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5146/5644408466_a20c0e24ee_z.jpg" alt="mar-apr 184 Rusty's waiting for me!" width="480" height="640" /></a><br /></div><br />What a precious little duvvy!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 204, 204);">April 14, 2011:</span><br /><br />Last night was full of hysterical laughter -- Lucas had laid down across the bed, on his side, facing the foot of the bed so that I'd have to wake him up when I came to bed (which he recalled this morning). However, when I came into the room, he didn't quite wake up.<br />` Instead he reeled back in shock, then started talking about something and making a frame with his fingers in front of his face, as if he were talking about shooting a scene, but I couldn't make out much more than, "and then here comes Sara, like this..."<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 153);">` I was like, WTF? So, I tried waking him up and pulled off the blankets, and told him to get over to his side of the bed since there wasn't room for me. He just said, "Nah," and so after much pushing and shoving, I eventually just pulled the blankets over both of us, and squeezed in between his back and his pile of pillows at the head of the bed.</span><br />` After a while, my feet became cold and I tried to get onto my side of the bed, with my cold feet jammed in the backs of his knees. That finally woke him up, and he told me to move. Then I told him, "But Lucas, you're lying across the bed, <span style="font-style: italic;">you</span> move!" And finally he looked up, saw the window was on the wrong wall and then he himself was like, WTF?<br />` Then, he went off, got a snack, came back, and I told him all about when I had tried waking him up the first time and he said, "You're just making that up!" I then described his hand-motions, and he said, <span style="font-style: italic;">"WHAAAT?"</span><br />` Then, he just broke into hysterical laughter and I did, too. His face and my jaws began to hurt, and then our abs began to hurt, so we eventually had to stop laughing lest we start cracking up on a more structural level.<br /><br />Later today, I took Rusty to the vet for his booster shots. He was eager to explore the room, but, again wasn't happy about being anally penetrated by a thermometer, and cried again when he got stabbed with the big, scary needle.<br />` There had been three walks-ins who had delayed out appointment, and by the time we got out of there my blood sugar level was so low that I needed food ASAP. So, I stopped at Taco Time drive-thru, and also showed the girl at the window what was strapped in the box at the seat -- a bewildered-looking Rusty.<br /><br />And before I forget, that same gym employee told me he was closing up 15 minutes early again, because I was the only person on the third floor. I said, "Excuse me?" and he just repeated what he'd said, as if I wasn't obviously pissed off again.<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 204);">` I was -- not only was that fifteen minutes of cardio really valuable to me, but I was enjoying the quietness of the movie theater when its projector is broken. I was so pissed off that I wanted to call the other employee Lucas and I are friends with and tell him it happened </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 204, 204);">again!</span><br />` When I got home, Lucas said, "Luckily, I have his number!" so he had a nice conversation, part of which was about this -- with me cursing loudly in the background -- and it shouldn't happen again! Yay for having people's numbers!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">April 15, 2011:</span><br /><br />Lucas sunk the advertising deal with the Silvertips guy with Random! W00T! Also, Bob, the guy who wrote Dry Hump City, met with Random and came over to the house. In their playing guitar, Lucas found that his mixing board was gone -- he KNEW that Mike and Joel had stolen something, because Joel had deliberately left something expensive of his. Luckily, it wasn't that incredibly expensive.<br /><br />Bidness is boomin'!<br /><br />Well, it's 5:25, better get on my karate gi! Everyone is waiting!<br /><br /><br />Gratuitous photo of ferry boat at night:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5644408694/" title="mar-apr 187 Ferry In The Dark by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5188/5644408694_ebf307b52f.jpg" alt="mar-apr 187 Ferry In The Dark" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />...And through a rainbow!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5643843147/" title="mar-apr 196 Ferry in rainbow 2 by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5310/5643843147_cbb3c87b27.jpg" alt="mar-apr 196 Ferry in rainbow 2" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Also, on the 19th, Lucas built this trellis in the garden, behind which Vada is trying to hide from Rusty. Tiny boxes and structures that are mostly holes... somehow he always seems to notice her!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5644412390/" title="mar-apr 214 Vada and Rusty come join me by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5021/5644412390_108128fc42_z.jpg" alt="mar-apr 214 Vada and Rusty come join me" width="480" height="640" /></a><br /></div><br />Later, I got a picture of Troy's Naruto cards, and then it turned into a party of picture-taking, along with Lauren who was over for another steamy evening. I didn't say that!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5643846713/" title="mar-apr 219 Troy's Card Mountain! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5024/5643846713_315c5c1d67_z.jpg" alt="mar-apr 219 Troy's Card Mountain!" width="480" height="640" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">April 20, 2011:</span><br /><br />Today, Lucas and his friends Nate, 'McCagney' and Will went to the Seahawks game. First off, they discovered that Mark, who works the scoreboards, has Seriously Abridged Hair now, so I'll have to call him Formerly Big Hair Mark.<br />` Cagney, by the way, has changed his name (or at least his internet name) to McCagney, because of a humorous scoreboard flub, thanks to Formerly Big Hair Mark.<br /><br />Lucas tells me that baseball games are largely about hanging out, chatting and drinking beer, more than they are about baseball. The guys were talking about home-schooling of all things, and this lady with a baby chimed in behind them to agree on something, and then Lucas was like, "Hey, want to get your baby's name on the scoreboard?"<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">` She thought he was being goofy until he stood up and waved at Formerly Big Hair Mark, then called him on his cell phone. By the time the woman's relatives came back to their seats, they saw the names of Lucas and his pals, as well as the baby's name, Carson, flashing in lights!</span><br />` Nate(squatch) -- who is so tall that he unwittingly creates new bigfoot stories every time he goes hiking -- came over to our house and took karate. You should have seen it -- Nate is so agile for being seven feet tall! He actually left his gi at home, but luckily keeps extra clothing in his car, including clothes for work and apparently working out, too. Handy! He'll be back when he figures his schedule out at work. Kewl!<br /><br />Gratuitous photo of flowers in our yard!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5644413814/" title="mar-apr 222 Flowers in our yard by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5022/5644413814_ae2a856f84_z.jpg" alt="mar-apr 222 Flowers in our yard" width="480" height="640" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">April 21, 2011:</span><br /><br />The somewhat-dessicated dog poop that Ex-Roommate Mike had not cleaned up off the front lawn when he'd left was mysteriously gone this morning, and a nice crescent wrench, of which Lucas' had also disappeared when Joel and Mike had moved out, also mysteriously appeared among Lucas' tools.<br />` Mike and Joel, thanks, wherever you are! Now, about that sound mixer....<br /><br />Today, no one showed up at karate (Alex went to Idaho, Troy is at work or something, and MKIA was told she has bronchitis but doesn't believe it). Upon returning from the store just earlier, Lucas and I saw Rusty in the now dog poop-free front yard, frolicking in the sunshine with Nicodemus, the neighbor's giant gray dust mop. Just then, Andrew exited a car in time to see them.<br />` Rusty's got a cat friend, yay!<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">Well, I ran out of pictures, but not out of story! I'll be back with more next week when I'll upload more photos (knock on wood)! There's still a ton that I haven't been able to fit on the page, as I don't want to freeze up anyone's computers when they come here, and you can find them in my <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/sets/72157626127245055/">March 2011</a> and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/sets/72157626554527336/with/5644415904/">April 2011</a> Flickr sets!</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5644415904/" title="mar-apr 231 A wink and a lick by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5141/5644415904_91c7d91131_z.jpg" alt="mar-apr 231 A wink and a lick" width="480" height="640" /></a><br /></div><br />Bye for now!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
google_ad_client = "pub-0390306350918355";
google_ad_width = 728;
google_ad_height = 90;
google_ad_format = "728x90_as";
google_ad_type = "text_image";
google_ad_channel ="";
google_color_border = "6699CC";
google_color_bg = "003366";
google_color_link = "FFFFFF";
google_color_url = "AECCEB";
google_color_text = "AECCEB";
//--></script>
<script type="text/javascript"
src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
</script></div>Spoony Quinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730057249256927206noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14272138.post-85164400597635156422011-03-12T18:50:00.000-08:002011-03-12T19:06:56.146-08:00What else have I been hiding from y'all?It's <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">March 5, 2011</span> , and when I sat up in bed this morning, Rusty, who was stretched out with his tail towards me, flipped over just to lick my nose!<br />` I took a picture of that rascal today -- I tried to take one photo earlier, of birds bathing on the carport roof in the dazzlingly sparkling sunshine, but the battery wore out before the camera could process it, and my other batteries didn't work because the charger had been unplugged all this time!<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">` By the time my batteries were charged, it was already dark, so I took pictures of Rusty in one of his favorite spots -- between Lucas' feet!</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5520584065/" title="mar 005 Rusty and Lucas' feet by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5179/5520584065_0d4aa706c4_z.jpg" alt="mar 005 Rusty and Lucas' feet" width="550" /></a><br /></div><br />So, what didn't I mention in my last post?<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 204);">` For one thing, Lucas has had a few auditions -- one actually just after Christmas, which he didn't go to because it was just after Christmas and he forgot, another one which he forgot, another which everyone thought he would get the part because it was for the part of a guy who would get really freaked out by some windshield wipers, and he has this really cool eye trick that might have been useful, but he didn't get the part; and another thing where it was for the part of a guy who jumps off the building, and it was improv, but he was one of the only serious actors, the others were mostly horsing around -- he didn't get that one either.</span><br />` But of course, he did do the Team Awesome film, which you can't view anyway without a password.<br /><br />Also, I didn't tell you that I missed Alex birthday party on February 12 -- Karaoke 'til 2 a.m.! How? Well, I don't like to leave the house after 9 because I need to get home at least by 10 so that I don't wind up staying up all night, which I have a tendency to do. But... here's a Facebook thread in which I confessed:<br /><br /><label class="mts mts commentBtn stat_elem optimistic_submit uiButton uiButtonConfirm" for="u477947_6"><input value="Comment" name="comment" id="u477947_6" type="submit"></label><input value="{"src":9,"sty":100,"actrs":"1366075639","targets":"163646713688092","object_id":163646713688092,"pub_time":1297675242,"fbid":"164776606908436","s_obj":55,"s_edge":1,"s_prnt":55}" name="link_data" type="hidden"><a class="actorPhoto UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_MED_Image" tabindex="-1" href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1371306862" ft="{"type":"actr-profile-pic"}"><img class="uiProfilePhoto profilePic uiProfilePhotoLarge img" src="http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/49151_1371306862_401_q.jpg" alt="" /></a><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" ft="{"type":"msg"}"><div class="actorName actorDescription"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1371306862" hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=1371306862">Jt Blaylock</a></span></div> <span class="messageBody" style="font-size:100%;">I don't know if I'll make it. I have to work Sunday morning. :(</span></h6><input name="charset_test" value="€,´,€,´,水,Д,Є" type="hidden"><input autocomplete="off" name="post_form_id" value="651c7faca29212bef84c99d488d56c63" type="hidden"><input name="fb_dtsg" value="apZs5" autocomplete="off" type="hidden"><input autocomplete="off" name="feedback_params" value="{"actor":"1371306862","target_fbid":"164254780293952","target_profile_id":"163646713688092","type_id":"100","source":"0","assoc_obj_id":"163646713688092","source_app_id":"","extra_story_params":[],"content_timestamp":"1297494521","check_hash":"a17bb19d2167a40b"}" type="hidden"><span><span class="uiStreamSource"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=164254780293952&id=1371306862"><abbr title="Friday, February 11, 2011 at 11:08pm" date="Fri, 11 Feb 2011 23:08:41 -0800">February 11 at 11:08pm</abbr></a></span><span class="UIActionLinks UIActionLinks_bottom" ft="{"type":"action"}"> · <button class="like_link stat_elem as_link" title="Like this item" type="submit" name="like"><span class="default_message"></span><span class="saving_message"></span></button><span class="feedback_toggle_link">· <label class="feedback_show_link" title="Show comments and other feedback">View Feedback (3)</label><label class="feedback_hide_link" title="">Hide Feedback (3)</label></span></span></span><ul class="uiList uiUfi focus_target fbUfi" ft="{"type":"ufi"}"><li class="ufiNub uiListItem uiListVerticalItemBorder"><input autocomplete="off" name="xhp_ufi" value="1" type="hidden"><br /></li><li class="hidden_elem uiUfiLike uiListItem uiListVerticalItemBorder"><br /></li><li class="uiUfiComments uiListItem uiListVerticalItemBorder"><ul class="commentList"><li class="uiUfiComment comment_1836204 ufiItem ufiItem"><div class="UIImageBlock clearfix uiUfiActorBlock"><a class="actorPic UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_SMALL_Image" href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1366075639" tabindex="-1"><img class="uiProfilePhoto uiProfilePhotoMedium img" src="http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/187661_1366075639_3585239_q.jpg" alt="" /></a><div class="commentContent UIImageBlock_Content UIImageBlock_SMALL_Content"><a class="actorName" href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1366075639" hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=1366075639">Alexandra Lockhart</a> <span jsid="text">Sorry :(</span><div class="commentActions fsm fwn fcg"><abbr title="Friday, February 11, 2011 at 11:44pm" date="Fri, 11 Feb 2011 23:44:47 -0800">February 11 at 11:44pm</abbr> ·<span class="comment_like_1836204 fsm fwn fcg"><button class="stat_elem as_link cmnt_like_link" type="submit" name="like_comment_id[1836204]" value="1836204" title="Like this comment"><span class="default_message"></span></button></span></div></div></div></li><li class="uiUfiComment comment_1836276 ufiItem ufiItem"><div class="UIImageBlock clearfix uiUfiActorBlock"><a class="actorPic UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_SMALL_Image" href="http://www.facebook.com/JustJake85" tabindex="-1"><img class="uiProfilePhoto uiProfilePhotoMedium img" src="http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/41392_511605670_328_q.jpg" alt="" /></a><div class="commentContent UIImageBlock_Content UIImageBlock_SMALL_Content"><a class="actorName" href="http://www.facebook.com/JustJake85" hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=511605670">Jacob Clark</a> <span jsid="text">Nooooo! you don't need work! you need PARTY!!</span><div class="commentActions fsm fwn fcg"><abbr title="Saturday, February 12, 2011 at 12:07am" date="Sat, 12 Feb 2011 00:07:44 -0800">February 12 at 12:07am</abbr> · <span class="comment_like_1836276 fsm fwn fcg"><button class="stat_elem as_link cmnt_like_link" type="submit" name="like_comment_id[1836276]" value="1836276" title="Like this comment"></button></span></div></div></div></li><li class="uiUfiComment comment_1843086 ufiItem ufiItem"><div class="UIImageBlock clearfix uiUfiActorBlock"><a class="actorPic UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_SMALL_Image" href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=692039200" tabindex="-1"><img class="uiProfilePhoto uiProfilePhotoMedium img" src="http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/50099_692039200_7596396_q.jpg" alt="" /></a><label class="deleteAction stat_elem UIImageBlock_Ext uiCloseButton uiCloseButton uiCloseButton" for="u477947_7"><input title="Remove" name="delete[1843086]" id="u477947_7" type="submit"></label><div class="commentContent UIImageBlock_Content UIImageBlock_SMALL_Content"><a class="actorName" href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=692039200" hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=692039200">Spoony Quine</a> <span jsid="text"><div id="id_4d72949b7a1b42c08532776" class="text_exposed_root text_exposed">Sorry I missed it, guys! I don't know what happened, I'd been planning to get to the party all day! I finished some important business in the morning, went out with Lucas for the afternoon for lunch, then a walk on the beach in the cold and<span class="text_exposed_hide">...</span><span class="text_exposed_show"> rain. I tried to get a nap in because I was too tired to do my homework, but Lucas kept me awake for about two hours.<br />I finally fell asleep at about four, fully intending to wake up and do my homework before the party, expecting Lucas to be using my computer for something important while I was asleep, as his computer is being rented for $1,000 a week for six weeks. (Ch-ching!)<br />However, when I woke up, it was SEVEN already, and the first thing Lucas asked me was my password to get on my computer, so, he still NEEDED to get on my computer!<br />He didn't get done until 7:45, so there was NO WAY I could have gone to the party. I wasn't done with my homework until about 9:20. Damn. At least I got some of my homework done....</span></div></span></div></div></li></ul></li></ul>Yes, so pathetic! I actually intended to go to her party until I realized that I couldn't, and all because of general stupidity! I really was genuinely upset, because usually I don't make so much of an effort to go somewhere as I did.<br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">` What reminded me of this is that Lucas got his computer back the other day because the filmmaker who was using it has no further use for it -- the whole production of the film stopped! Darn. Well, at least we got Final Cut Pro and stuff out of it!</span><br /><br />What else has been going on? Well, Andrew and I have been laughing about how Andrew, who is used to beer, had accidentally gotten really drunk on vodka, and how he kept putting empty plates in the microwave, which Troy was telling him, "No, that plate is empty, too!" LOLOLOLOL! He knows now that he's no longer used to liquor! Maybe that's a good thing?<br />` I myself have imbibed gin in order to sit still long enough to watch <span style="font-style: italic;">Dances With Wolves</span>, which is almost 4 hours long! I don't know about anyone else, but I think that sitting still is so tiring!<br /><br />The day before yesterday, Jen started karate, and she was pretty good for the first day. But then yesterday, we both got our gi (uniforms) -- she didn't have one of course, and I refused to wear mine because it was too big, so now I have one that fits better!<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">` After that was... THE YELLOW BELT TEST -- we had to do Fukyu kata dai ichi! Alex, Michael and I PASSED! WOOT!</span><br />` Lucas came up to us with the yellow belts stuffed in his gi and handed them out, pointing out that although we each made one mistake (he said, "Nice adding the kiai after the punch."). When he got to Troy, however, he had no belt -- Troy did try, but as he didn't start karate as early as we did, and he hasn't been to as many lessons because of things like work interfering, he didn't quite have the technique down enough. Next test he will get his yellow belt for sure!<br />` Then, we ate the Papa Murphy's pizzas and cake that Alex and Michael had brought over, along with sody pop!<br /><br />She and Michael left, but forgot her camera... luckily she came back and got it... next day she had <a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1897346757817&set=a.1281070351292.43285.1366075639#%21/photo.php?fbid=1897343597738&set=a.1281070351292.43285.1366075639&pid=2255797&id=1366075639">this picture of everyone kicking</a>, which Jen took.<br />` Sorry, don't know if I should try to embed that one, but you can see it if you click on the link to Facebook -- it has comments you might enjoy!<br />` Jen also took <a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1897346757817&set=a.1281070351292.43285.1366075639#%21/photo.php?fbid=1897346757817&set=a.1281070351292.43285.1366075639&pid=2255798&id=1366075639">this pretty, electric blue pic of everyone else doing rising blocks</a> -- that is, Lucas, Alex, Troy, Me and Michael.<br />` Yes, I'm not wearing my gi top in this picture because my hand got caught in it and that scared me something horrible -- not something one wants to be surprised by when doing a kata. (Does that mean I'm topless?)<br /><br />Also, yesterday, some appliance recyclers came and took away the old fridge that has been sitting by our carport since we moved into this house and discovered that we had no working fridge! Finally! It's been one hell of a paper weight!<br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">` So, we did that, and last month Lucas and I hauled away the six broken TVs that had been surrounding the fridge, so there's a clear space by the gravel driveway. Also, of course, we made a new gravel driveway, and before that, Lucas fixed the front door so that the trim doesn't pop off the door frame every time someone opens it!</span><br />` W00t! Our house is slowly getting more presentable!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Some more pictures, because I have so many:</span><br /><br />Rusty tries to get a good look at the scary neighbor kids!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5520584685/" title="mar 015 Rusty stands on hind legs for a closer look by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5014/5520584685_93ecd3f940_z.jpg" alt="mar 015 Rusty stands on hind legs for a closer look" width="550" /></a><br /></div><br />I'm scairt, Mommy!<br /><br />And here's the shakey moon, which I took while being yelled at. Sigh... I'm not lazy! I'm just trying to take a picture!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5520585249/" title="mar 025 The shakey moon by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5216/5520585249_8743e0c200.jpg" alt="mar 025 The shakey moon" width="500" height="384" /></a><br /></div><br />Oh well... I learned a lesson -- always make sure the bleach cap is screwed on properly after cleaning the bathroom, and always close the large cardboard box over the litter box after dumping out all the litter before you go taking pictures.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">March 7, 2011:</span><br /><br />A day of many photos:<br /><br />Bye, Vada! I'm off to school!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5520585703/" title="mar 030 I'm off to school, Vada! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5135/5520585703_596b21ca0d.jpg" alt="mar 030 I'm off to school, Vada!" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />So tired after school! I need to not be sick anymore!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5521176636/" title="mar 031 Taking a look at the birdehs by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5057/5521176636_c5d05eeff7.jpg" alt="mar 031 Taking a look at the birdehs" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />On the way home from school...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5521177048/" title="mar 040 Everett and trains by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5291/5521177048_720746f8b1.jpg" alt="mar 040 Everett and trains" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Neighbor's dog, Tanner, staring at Vada through the kiwi vines. Amazingly, he's not barking!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5520586727/" title="mar 046 Proper view of dog (Tanner) by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5137/5520586727_ee45f0a423.jpg" alt="mar 046 Proper view of dog (Tanner)" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Vada in the yard... near a spot where X-roomie Mike's collies used to pee, which you can see!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5521178068/" title="mar 050 Vada in the yard by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5176/5521178068_cc224c05b4_z.jpg" alt="mar 050 Vada in the yard" width="480" height="640" /></a><br /></div><br />You can also see the spots where Other X-roomie Joel HIMSELF used to pee! GROSS!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5520587307/" title="mar 051 Spots where Joel used to pee by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5131/5520587307_0eea44a20c.jpg" alt="mar 051 Spots where Joel used to pee" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Rusty looking amazed at Vada as she jumps across the tree! (Hm, looks like there's some stray beer cans from the windstorm.)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5521178316/" title="mar 053 Vada leaps, Rusty looks by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5294/5521178316_cc1bbc320d_z.jpg" alt="mar 053 Vada leaps, Rusty looks" width="480" height="640" /></a><br /></div><br />Rusty does a little tree-climbing himself:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5520588385/" title="mar 058 Rusty in the cedar tree by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5133/5520588385_d99b4a87f1.jpg" alt="mar 058 Rusty in the cedar tree" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Rusty wants to play, but Vada feels more like kicking his ass!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5520589367/" title="mar 062 "Wanna play?" SWAT! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5020/5520589367_3a138842cc.jpg" alt="mar 062 "Wanna play?" SWAT!" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />She tries to escape to the other side of the fence, but he knows exactly where she is -- he has Va-dar! Lolol!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5521180278/" title="mar 063 Rusty follows Vada even when out of view by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5098/5521180278_217c1f9770.jpg" alt="mar 063 Rusty follows Vada even when out of view" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />He remains undaunted by her escape.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5521180338/" title="mar 064 Rusty is determined to impress Vada! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5176/5521180338_aaea58f0d5_z.jpg" alt="mar 064 Rusty is determined to impress Vada!" width="550" /></a><br /></div><br />I FOUND ANOTHER HANDKERCHIEF THAT'S BEEN OUTSIDE FOR MONTHS! So now I have two. And it was under my feet the entire time -- that's good because the one I've been using is so beat-up now!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5521180448/" title="mar 065 Found my other hanky, literally under my feet! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5137/5521180448_59a50993f5.jpg" alt="mar 065 Found my other hanky, literally under my feet!" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Later on, BEST DINNER EVER, thanks to Lucas! Octopus and shrimp on rice, and yes, that's a blue potato!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5521180476/" title="mar 066 Lucas' gourmet cooking by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5137/5521180476_29cba03e60.jpg" alt="mar 066 Lucas' gourmet cooking" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br />I swear, that man spoils me -- and himself, too!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"><br />March 9, 2011:</span><br /><br />Lucas, as usual, not only boiled some water for me, but he made me some yummy coffee-Ghiradelli hot chocolate! Why? because I'm sick. And because he normally jumps on me and boils water for me and stuff to help get me up, especially when I'm sick, and often now makes me hot chocolate coffee!<br />` I'M SO UNBELIEVABLY SPOILED BY THAT MAN!!!<br />` He got me out of bed, then I went into the living room and collapsed on the couch. He put his blankie on me, but then took it off and pointed the heater at me when he gave me the coffee/chocolate. AWWWWW! SO SWEET!!! The coffee was sweet, too.<br /><br />Driving home after Spanish class (no regular English classes this week!), there was a rainbow that appeared to be extending down into the water, and I had a perfect view of it from the park... too bad I hadn't taken my camera with me to school! ARRGH!<br />` Then I got home, and Rusty was going crazy for Vada, as he usually does. Yesterday, Vada spent half the time sleeping on top of the mattress and Rusty spent all of that time staring at her like a creepy stalker.<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);">` Lucas wound up playing with him at some point and he wound up under the coffee table, whereupon Vada jumped down from the mattress and scared him so bad that the entire coffee table flew into the air and tipped over!</span><br />` Today, he was staring through the sliding glass door at Vada, who seemed to want him to follow her, so I went out with them... but then it started raining like crazy and they both hid under the beams of the deck!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5520590035/" title="mar 069 Rusty takes shelter under the deck by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5256/5520590035_6d4f9b7a4a.jpg" alt="mar 069 Rusty takes shelter under the deck" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">March 12, 2011:</span><br /><br />Arrgh, I bin sick. I also bin studyin'. I also bin actin' like an idiot and not realizing it, which is kind of scary. I mean, it's one thing to do it on purpose, but another thing when you have to ASK why someone thinks so.<br /><br />Ooh, flowers!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5520590265/" title="mar 072 Looks like an Ericaceae plant -- and birdhouses! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5179/5520590265_7836643442.jpg" alt="mar 072 Looks like an Ericaceae plant -- and birdhouses!" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Enough of that -- today I'd like to talk about how big Rusty is. Well, he was less than 1 1/2 pounds when we got him in November, and now he's about 10 1/2 pounds, or however heavy Vada is. Of course he's still growing!</span><br />` This past couple of days, Lucas' friend Cagney came over and saw Rusty and asked, "Who's this?" Lucas told him it was Rusty and he was like, NO WAY! How did he get so big?<br />` Then, yesterday Lucas' friend Dan came over and said, "Who's this cat?" it didn't even occur to him that it was the little kitten he had seen a few months ago. Lucas said, "He's just a gigantic kitten!"<br /><br />Not only is he a gigantic kitten, he's been utilizing his Va-dar. The other night he was following Vada around like the stalker he is:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5521181028/" title="mar 075 Rusty follows Vada through the bar stools by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5293/5521181028_462121296d.jpg" alt="mar 075 Rusty follows Vada through the bar stools" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Followed her into my office:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5521181040/" title="mar 076 Can you hide me from this freak? by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5056/5521181040_a1d91fe12d.jpg" alt="mar 076 Can you hide me from this freak?" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Stared at her a bunch:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5520590481/" title="mar 078 Rusty's gaze is glued to Vada by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5177/5520590481_e54033fcc7.jpg" alt="mar 078 Rusty's gaze is glued to Vada" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />She couldn't take it, so she jumped out the window, into the rain:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5521181278/" title="mar 080 Bye, see you later! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5218/5521181278_2ea1e01a6f.jpg" alt="mar 080 Bye, see you later!" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Decided it was too wet:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5521181200/" title="mar 081 It's too wet out here! Coming back in! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5052/5521181200_2c2b4d271d.jpg" alt="mar 081 It's too wet out here! Coming back in!" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Was depressed that she could not escape:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5520590943/" title="mar 085 I may have to go out on another mission! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5295/5520590943_090c5a1ba4.jpg" alt="mar 085 I may have to go out on another mission!" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br />Meanwhile, Rusty had some fun exercising his big boy teeth as I sat on my office floor doing various homework items.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5520590773/" title="mar 086 RAWR! I bite your homework! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5252/5520590773_436309c2c3.jpg" alt="mar 086 RAWR! I bite your homework!" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />The next day, that all changed when Troy demonstrated his NERF MACHINE GUN!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5521181636/" title="mar 087 Troy demonstrating his Nerf machine gun by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5214/5521181636_bd3fb04755.jpg" alt="mar 087 Troy demonstrating his Nerf machine gun" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br />So many darts to pounce on, so little time!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5520591039/" title="mar 089 Rusty has a Nerf bullet by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5292/5520591039_147f116499.jpg" alt="mar 089 Rusty has a Nerf bullet" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br />All the better for Vada...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5521181888/" title="mar 092 Vada enjoying the book case refuge by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5213/5521181888_38fb8fc3be.jpg" alt="mar 092 Vada enjoying the book case refuge" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Well, that's quite enough photos for this post! There are plenty more photos where those came from -- check out <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/sets/72157626127245055/with/5520591039/">my March photo folder</a>!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
google_ad_client = "pub-0390306350918355";
google_ad_width = 728;
google_ad_height = 90;
google_ad_format = "728x90_as";
google_ad_type = "text_image";
google_ad_channel ="";
google_color_border = "6699CC";
google_color_bg = "003366";
google_color_link = "FFFFFF";
google_color_url = "AECCEB";
google_color_text = "AECCEB";
//--></script>
<script type="text/javascript"
src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
</script></div>Spoony Quinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730057249256927206noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14272138.post-53834082284279347682011-02-27T17:02:00.000-08:002011-02-27T17:51:31.494-08:00Photos and News, January and February 2011!Wow, I've been both sick and busy for a while. What have I been keeping from y'all? Check it:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5350749028/" title="jan 018 A hard day's work! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5044/5350749028_36dd143688_z.jpg" alt="jan 018 A hard day's work!" width="550" /></a><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">January 4, 2011:</span><br /><br />I forgot to mention yesterday that I started school again. It's going well so far. Making sure I don't get behind this time.<br />` I managed to make it into the line for the bookstore when the line went only down to the end of the hallway. A few minutes later, I found that the line was all the way down the other side of the hall, as it had been yesterday.<br />` I got what I needed for English class, and a drawing pencil and refill leads, which are rectangular in cross-section.<br /><br />HOLY SHIT! SOME GUY WAS LOOKING FOR HIS COUSIN LOU RYAN AND FOUND LUCAS" WEBSITE -- <a href="http://louryanproductions.com/">Lou Ryan Productions.com</a> -- and called him. He talks all funny because he has a messed-up throat from cancer, including no saliva glands, and he made an artificial saliva pump to prevent his mouth from being like glue and metal shavings and OMG HE WANTS TO DO A COMMERCIAL!<br />` And later Lucas is going to do business with Nils Osmar.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">January 5, 2011:</span><br /><br />Lucas and I just heard word from the roomies that people have been coming by the house and taking pictures of it. One of them was asked, "What are you doing that for?" and his reply was, "This house is going up for auction pretty soon!"<br /><br />Thank goodness Lucas' and my mom are into buying this house off of Roberta before it goes into foreclosure. The bank is trying to screw over Roberta, but we're preventing it as best as we can.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">January 6, 2011:</span><br /><br />OMG, the wood is here!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5350136085/" title="jan 024 The Wood's Here!!! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5162/5350136085_7ce9e68129.jpg" alt="jan 024 The Wood's Here!!!" width="500" height="314" /></a><br /></div><br />We had a race to stack it. There's Joel and Mike posing.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5350136353/" title="jan 026 No minor accomplishment by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5048/5350136353_d47140fdd9.jpg" alt="jan 026 No minor accomplishment" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Later on; Andrew has been pacing around the house, and only seems capable of saying, "Sorry, my bad." No matter what you say to him. That's not good.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">January 7, 2011:</span><br /><br />The fifth thing that woke me up last night was the ambulance coming to take Andrew away. Medication problems? Andrew came up the stairs just as Lucas and I were telling Troy about it, he said that he kept forgetting who he was and didn't even know what hospital he was at, but he was well enough to go to court in the morning.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">January 10, 2011:</span><br /><br />Not much funny stuff has been going on, although the kitchen window was wide open last night, and two pages of Troy's cookbook were found torn out and on a plate that apparently had food on it at some point.<br />` Lucas, Troy, Joel and Mike discussed this and thought it was probably Andrew, using 'drunk logic', using them to soak up grease or something. He's probably just bingeing before he's going through the AA program. Poor Andrew....<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5350136875/" title="jan 041 Rusty casually swings at Vada by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5283/5350136875_60d7bc324c_z.jpg" alt="jan 041 Rusty casually swings at Vada" width="480" height="640" /></a><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">January 11, 2010:</span><br /><br />Something significant has happened, but I forget what it is. Let's see... Troy found his blanket in Mike's room... so he had to put it back in the wash. Hmmm... Oh yeah, it's been the entire theme of my day... being pushed around.<br />` So, this morning in English class, I put my bag under the chair I was going to sit at, and in which I had sat in a couple of days the previous week, where all the 'cool kids' are sitting, and I turned to talk to the previous instructor, and this other girl who got to the chair before me on Thursday and Friday was suddenly sitting at the chair.<br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 51);">` Everyone said, "Hey, she took your seat!" I said, "Yeah, I was going to sit there," and she said, "No, this is where I've been sitting."</span><br />` So, tomorrow, I'm going to be first in the door again and show that rude bitch what-for, and if she says anything, I'll tell her to fuck off.<br /><br />Then, for the entire rest of the day, literally, I spent 8 hours trying to do my Spanish listening homework assignment, except Andrew was playing music in his room, directly downstairs, or there was a conversation going on upstairs, which I can hear very well.<br />` Normally, I just wear earplugs, but see, this was a listening assignment, and the noise was like trying to look at someone and have someone keep putting their hand in front of your eyes, no matter how you try to look around them.<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);">` Amazingly, every time I had to pick up and move and sit down somewhere else, I'd get interrupted again, FOR EIGHT FUCKING HOURS!</span><br />` Near the end of it, sitting in the living room with the fridge unplugged because it is SO LOUD when it runs, I even yelled at Lucas for running the bathroom fan, which is also SO LOUD and annoying, just minutes after I told him I was going crazy because someone else had just done so, because he could have used the other bathroom. EIGHT HOURS!!!!<br /><br />I didn't quite finish it all, either, it was mostly just eight hours of trying to defend myself. I should get paid for this! It was almost as insane as when I WAS wearing earplugs in the Su Chiang condemned house with literally constant 24/7 noise that you could not escape from unless you left the house! How did I even LIVE through that?<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">January 12, 2011:</span><br /><br />Last night's snow melted just in time to get to class! I was going to show that girl what-for, wearing my tough-girl clothes and stompin' boots and badass coat, but she came in late, and besides, by then everyone had moved their chairs in a circle.<br /><br />ALSO LUCAS IS A GENIUS! He amazed Team Awesome with his Eastwood-Carrey scale, and his ideas and his nunchuks and they want him to be their star for several gigs!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5350135595/" title="jan 044 Eastwood-Carrey Scale by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5288/5350135595_9bd842df4b_z.jpg" alt="jan 044 Eastwood-Carrey Scale" width="480" height="640" /></a><br /></div><br />Also, another discovery, when Lucas went to steam clean the carpet upstairs: Mike had neglected to pick up his dogs' poop EVEN BEFORE he went to steam clean the carpet. LOLOL! Lucas had to clean it out, of course.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">January 15, 2011:</span><br /><br />Yesterday, that girl got my seat, but today I DID! I got to sit with the cool kids, and they liked my crazy life story, as I have a cool way of telling it now. And they even liked my cool thing that I wrote in class, as part of a class debate with the teacher over something or other OMG I'M COOL NOW!!<br /><br />Then, when I was playing outside with Vada and Rusty (pictures) I got dog poop on my shoe and didn't even notice, because of all the mud in the yard, until I got in the house! ARRRGH!! And then I left 15 minutes late for an appointment because it was so hard to wash out -- thanks, Lucas for scrubbing it out, and then chewing out Mike as I left late.<br /><br />Also, Lucas got us a new piece of glass for the woodburning stove, one without a big hole in it!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5483307629/" title="jfeb 002 The new stove glass! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5215/5483307629_c1eea3c541.jpg" alt="jfeb 002 The new stove glass!" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">January 16, 2010:</span><br /><br />Joel has really cool friend -- Anthony (68 consecutive employee of the month at Penguin Windows), Leo and Adam (from Israel!), who tell him where he is lacking in maturity.<br />` While I was making hot chocolate, I heard Lucas lecturing him about something and caught the words he said, something like "You're stretching out my butt-hole!" What has Joel done now? Not that he's a bad kid, but he's from the ghetto (says he used to share a meth-pipe with his parents) and he brings the ghetto with him.<br /><br />Time for turning my brain off with the Sponge Bab and hot cocoa.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5483308019/" title="jfeb 005 Rusty climbing down by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5298/5483308019_3ec80aae7a_z.jpg" alt="jfeb 005 Rusty climbing down" width="550" /></a><br /></div><br />Rusty is both getting into climbing and growing in his big boy teefs!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5483901988/" title="jfeb 009 Yay for teething! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5220/5483901988_e8b628d257_z.jpg" alt="jfeb 009 Yay for teething!" width="480" height="640" /></a><br /></div><br />And playing with his 'big sister' outside!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5483311769/" title="jfeb 021 Rusty sneaks up on Vada by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5131/5483311769_d76c063fee_z.jpg" alt="jfeb 021 Rusty sneaks up on Vada" width="480" height="640" /></a><br /></div><br />Not to mention, Troy's Nerf gun!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5483906920/" title="jfeb 035 Rusty is excited to see the Nerf gun by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5259/5483906920_bf80a5068d_z.jpg" alt="jfeb 035 Rusty is excited to see the Nerf gun" width="480" height="640" /></a><br /></div><br />Mah Vada!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5483907836/" title="jfeb 046 Me scratchin' Vada's chin by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5095/5483907836_d0273010ba_z.jpg" alt="jfeb 046 Me scratchin' Vada's chin" width="480" height="640" /></a><br /></div><br />Mah FenceCats!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5483315495/" title="jfeb 053 Rusty really looks up to Vada by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5140/5483315495_c5c6ea60cd.jpg" alt="jfeb 053 Rusty really looks up to Vada" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Lucas had been killin' the apple tree:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5483910186/" title="jfeb 062 Lucas in the apple tree by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5173/5483910186_05bd35229e.jpg" alt="jfeb 062 Lucas in the apple tree" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Rusteh's hidin' in the laundreh!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5483319533/" title="jfeb 091 Rusty's ambush hideout by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5139/5483319533_69c1a01555.jpg" alt="jfeb 091 Rusty's ambush hideout" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">February 20,2011:</span><br /><br />Wow, I really need to keep up with my journaling. My entire attention has been taken up by illness, school and other research which I haven't been writing about online.<br /><br />I also have the flu right now, so I've spent the past few days debilitated. Let me get ya up to speed:<br /><br />What has gone on between now and last time I wrote in here?<br /><br />For one thing, Lucas' mom and my mom both got the house from the landlady! WOOT! It's practically ours now!<br /><br />Then, I recall that at the beginning of February, I wanted to write: The driveway's here!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5483398217/" title="jfeb 115 That's a lotta gravel by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5140/5483398217_07105a10d0.jpg" alt="jfeb 115 That's a lotta gravel" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />We had to shovel it ourselves into place! It was me, Troy and Lucas for most of the time, but then Andrew and his friends pitched in for part of the time, too. It only took about half an hour. Now everyone has a place to park!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5483992248/" title="jfeb 120 Got the driveway all spread out by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5299/5483992248_19df97e47f.jpg" alt="jfeb 120 Got the driveway all spread out" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />But then, Mike and Joel left so they wouldn't have to pay this month's rent. But before they did, Mike showed me this video of an exploding sea vagina, and I asked Captain Disillusion about it on Facebook and he showed me that it was part of a horror movie. The Good Doctor made mention of this <a href="http://nociceptor.blogspot.com/2011/02/amazing-exploding-sea-vagina-mystery.html">in this post here</a>:<br /><br />Also, I pissed off some guy over some miscommunication at the gym over the TV. I was just trying to ask him why he was watching the TV in front of me and not the one in front of him, which was on the same channel and everything, and he said, "I don't know!" and started screaming at me.<br />` The next day, I came in and was told by one of the employees not to touch any of the TVs because there have been "too many complaints about me". Too many? You mean, just one? And so, I went upstairs and there were signs on TVs saying not to touch them!<br />` According to another employee, Greg, this guy is not only very explosive, but he knows both the owners, and now everyone's being punished because of that incident!<br /><br />It's sad... almost as sad as my nose after being licked by Rusty!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5483399849/" title="jfeb 132 Owie, the spiky tongue! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5091/5483399849_d3b931ff15.jpg" alt="jfeb 132 Owie, the spiky tongue!" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br />What else weird has happened? Well, try picturing everyone in Spanish class singing "Cabeza, Hombros, Rodillas, Pies" (Head, Shoulders Knees & Toes), and the Hokey Pokey in Spanish. Oh yeah. Mas rapido! Mas rapido!!<br />` The next week I had a scary presentation to do for English class, which I did in the teacher's office because I stuttered to the point of not being able to do it in class. Talk about stage fright!<br /><br />Lucas and I also took a walk on the beach... during a storm! I think we're crazy.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5483996564/" title="jfeb 167 The wind is blowing so hard! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5300/5483996564_d7836dd6f3.jpg" alt="jfeb 167 The wind is blowing so hard!" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br />On our way back, soaking wet and freezing, we saw all the pigeons who had been displaced by the old Rosehill Community Center being torn down crowded on the archway! They apparently aren't able to roost on the new Community Center. Poor birdehs!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5483997220/" title="jfeb 171 The old archway and the new community center by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5252/5483997220_59e818c7de.jpg" alt="jfeb 171 The old archway and the new community center" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Thankfully, the weather's cleared up and Rusty and I have gotten back to our outdoor adventures.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5483405981/" title="jfeb 190 Help me, Daddy! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5139/5483405981_4646a89ee2_z.jpg" alt="jfeb 190 Help me, Daddy!" width="480" height="640" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Back to today:</span><br /><br />Lucas spent all day yesterday shooting another Team Awesome film, where he's one of this angry mob who physically attack people for littering. Not only was he worn out from that, but he was also worn out from shivering in this 40 degree wind!<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 153);">` He says the scene where he smashes the baby carriage to bits is priceless. Also, he said the police went to talk to them just before they went to throw this guy into Puget Sound (for 10 seconds).</span><br /><br />Holy snap, I just erased that whole paragraph because my hand slipped. I have the flu, okay? I'm disorientated!<br /><br />Anyway, the day before that, Troy's friend Jen moved into the room that Mike and his stinky dogs had vacated a couple weeks ago. Now Mike's room belongs to Jen, and Joel's room (Yes, it's The Love Shack) belongs to Rusty.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5483999538/" title="jfeb 193 O Hai, welcom to The Love Shack! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5092/5483999538_fd58001fc5.jpg" alt="jfeb 193 O Hai, welcom to The Love Shack!" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />I'd better go, because I have more stuffs to catch up on!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">February 27, 2011:</span><br /><br />I've seen Lucas' most recent Team Awesome film, which unfortunately is not available for embedding on blogs. Just as well, it's not as good as the footage it's made out of.<br />` Also, for the past few days, it's been snowing a lot lately, but the sun keeps melting it. It's finally gone now, I think, which Rusty is happy about!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5484000492/" title="jfeb 203 Next day and Rusty's outside in the snow by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5100/5484000492_66b988571f.jpg" alt="jfeb 203 Next day and Rusty's outside in the snow" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Here's the rest of my <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/sets/72157625723038242/with/5483319533/">January Photos 2011</a> and my <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/sets/72157626161574412/">February Photos 2011</a>!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
google_ad_client = "pub-0390306350918355";
google_ad_width = 728;
google_ad_height = 90;
google_ad_format = "728x90_as";
google_ad_type = "text_image";
google_ad_channel ="";
google_color_border = "6699CC";
google_color_bg = "003366";
google_color_link = "FFFFFF";
google_color_url = "AECCEB";
google_color_text = "AECCEB";
//--></script>
<script type="text/javascript"
src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
</script></div>Spoony Quinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730057249256927206noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14272138.post-77059485551136170942011-01-03T18:29:00.001-08:002011-01-04T00:19:35.404-08:00The Hearos Commercial! ($5,000 contest entry) It's up and I'm in it!<span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">YES! It's up! And it was better and different than I thought it would turn out -- I had the wrong impression as to the storyline of it, because it actually uses the proper layout of the house and everything.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 255);">` In the video here we can see Moses come out of his room, which is next to a band and zombies, etc. and Lucas is in the gorilla suit with the nunchuks.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">` Then, he goes downstairs with the crazy singing and dancing and scuba diving and emergency services, and through the DJ room, and that's me in the orangutan suit, and I hug the banana. Then, Lucas is in the kitchen as the red-haired gladiator.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">` Moses returns to his room, goes through the belly dancers and the madness, and guess who that is out on the balcony -- in the final shot? Yes, it's me! YEAH!</span><br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/WMtGR2LH9pU?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/WMtGR2LH9pU?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />YEAH AGAIN!<br /><br />I have some more things to write in this blog post, both really, really good and really really bad. Maybe if you come back to show your friends this video, I will have written them. But, I've got to go get Lucas' truck right now.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">After getting Lucas' truck:</span><br /><br />It's not fixed -- this is so messed-up: We took Lucas' truck to Mike's shop four days ago, after we got his ass out of bed in the afternoon! Then, he went to Portland! Today, Lucas got his ass out of bed at 2:30 in the afternoon and... two hours later Mike called to say that Lucas' truck was fixed! Two hours was all he needed, and he could have done this before going to Portland?<br />` So, we drive all the way up to near Mike's shop, but Mike doesn't know the name of the street his shop is on, so Lucas is driving around for twenty minutes on the icy, light-bedecked residential streets looking for it!<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">` Long story short, Mike drives up to where we are and then we take him back to his shop in my Jetta, then go back and get Lucas' truck, and... nothing had changed! The front wheels are still pointed in slightly different directions, and so smoke was coming from the tires and Lucas was veering all over the road. He can never drive to work like that!</span><br /><br />And yes, Lucas is still working -- he explained to his supervisor Derrick that he's paid $1,000 to work at UPS so he can get health insurance eventually, and Derrick said he could come in on Wednesday.<br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 255, 153);">` And he'll be holding the Union Scheduler in his pocket when he says "hi" to the bitch who hired him on as a permanent and had him carpool with another guy because of this, and who later wouldn't give him the scheduler because it's "only for permanents". HA!!</span><br />` Tomorrow, or rather, at two in the morning, he is going to drive his co-worker to UPS, but then come back home. Perhaps he'll have more news then.<br /><br />As for Mike the Questionable Mechanic, Lucas is going to make him pay full rent next month, and not Mechanic's Rent here, because of his dubiousness and Questionableness, and hire another mechanic when my timing belt needs to be replaced.<br /><br />Which reminds me of a most bizarre tale -- brace yourself! Now, Mike is not so fast at picking up his dogs' poop out of the yard, and much of it has been ground into the grass. One morning, in late December, Lucas watched the dogs poop in the yard and told Mike to go pick it up. He said he'd do it later, so Lucas went out and got most of it himself! Only after Mike had taken a shower did he get the rest. Why is he so reluctant? Keep reading:<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">` Later on, Mike kept saying he'd get his stuff out of Lucas' carport, including his bed, by a certain point. He didn't, so Lucas went out to embarrass him by moving his stuff into his bedroom. And you know what he found? That Mike also isn't so fast at picking up his dogs' poop -- in his bedroom!!!!!!!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Later on, there was a pile of dog poop in his bedroom that had accumulated! WTF?!?!?!</span><br /><br />And Mike's response to Lucas' work? "Oh, thanks!"<br /><br />Hopefully, we'll be able to kick Mike, and also Joel, who is playing ghetto tricks on Lucas, out of this house soon -- our mothers are going to buy it! That might mean lower rent for us, I'm not sure. But if it does, then it's bye-bye Mike and Joel!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
google_ad_client = "pub-0390306350918355";
google_ad_width = 728;
google_ad_height = 90;
google_ad_format = "728x90_as";
google_ad_type = "text_image";
google_ad_channel ="";
google_color_border = "6699CC";
google_color_bg = "003366";
google_color_link = "FFFFFF";
google_color_url = "AECCEB";
google_color_text = "AECCEB";
//--></script>
<script type="text/javascript"
src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
</script></div>Spoony Quinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730057249256927206noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14272138.post-17772798447794900822011-01-01T16:56:00.000-08:002011-01-02T18:24:07.047-08:00December 2010, Make Way!<span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">December was a month full of strange creatures, strange snowmen, and goofy cats! We shot a commercial and had a bit of par-tay-ing, for all to see!</span><br />` It's also a new year and this post is finally ready, despite being too sick to write for a couple days! I'll begin with an adorable picture of Rusty licking my face:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5282604184/" title="dec 004 I'm tasty to all kittens! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5123/5282604184_85fcfa8d18_z.jpg" alt="dec 004 I'm tasty to all kittens!" width="480" height="640" /></a><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">December 1, 2010:</span><br /><br />Today, Rusty wasn't sleeping as he usually does when we're doing karate, but instead standing straight beneath me, swatting at my belt! We had to lock him in the bedroom with Vada, where she was sleeping.<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 153);">` For a while, we heard Rusty cry frantically, and then it stopped. When I opened the bedroom door, Vada was sitting straight up with a troubled look on her face, and the room reeked of kitten diarrhea -- but at least Rusty had picked a good place, on the instruction manual for my calculator.</span><br />` Though I had wanted to read the Spanish side again, I was glad, at least, that it didn't get anywhere else! Poor Vada!!!<br /><br />I knew I shouldn't have let him drink that milk -- I just didn't count on him being away from his litter box when it hit him!<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><br /><br />December 2, 2010:</span><br /><br />No more karate for Lucas! He's all sad now because he can't do any kind of activity at all until next Tuesday. Also, my school bag smells -- I hope it's not from Rusty.<br />` Vada seems to be taking it in stride, though, and trying to eat his kitten food as usual....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5282003185/" title="dec 014 Rusty and Vada by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5249/5282003185_776150d266.jpg" alt="dec 014 Rusty and Vada" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Rusty's getting to be just as wide as Vada! She's also tolerating him even more, especially when she's asleep!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5282003413/" title="dec 025 Rusty sneaking up to Vada by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5210/5282003413_d595d14522_z.jpg" alt="dec 025 Rusty sneaking up to Vada" width="480" height="640" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">December 6, 2010:</span><br /><br />Found mysterious Christmas presents, from someone named Vicki -- they look old, and Lucas doesn't think that's Troy's mom's name.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Later:</span> Troy informed us that Vicki is actually is his mom's name and the presents didn't get distributed in 2008 because of the snowstorm preventing everyone from coming together, and then got put in storage.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">In RustyNews:</span><br /><br />Can you just let me out? This kitten is driving me nuts!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5282003661/" title="dec 034 No, don't go outside! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5124/5282003661_afd69dfbd4.jpg" alt="dec 034 No, don't go outside!" width="373" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br />Get offa me! I'm try'na sleep up here!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5282003827/" title="dec 042 I'm warning you, Rusty! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5207/5282003827_a10cc2be4c.jpg" alt="dec 042 I'm warning you, Rusty!" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />More coffee table highjinks!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5282605554/" title="dec 055 The coffee table game! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5201/5282605554_982eb41868.jpg" alt="dec 055 The coffee table game!" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Rusty's also a Pit-Licker, just the way Violet used to be!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5282004289/" title="dec 060 It's Pit Licker 2! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5283/5282004289_76ca8ac266.jpg" alt="dec 060 It's Pit Licker 2!" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Rusty playing fetch! Good boy!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5282005103/" title="dec 086 Jump across with the red thing! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5088/5282005103_59a9a65164.jpg" alt="dec 086 Jump across with the red thing!" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"><br />December 18, 2010:</span><br /><br />Today, Lucas and I did a Commercial Shoot for Hearos ear plugs, my first brand of ear plugs, though I had to stop using them because they were too expensive. I don't remember how well they worked, but <a href="http://www.webbikeworld.com/Earplugs/hearos/">according to this biker guy</a>, and <a href="http://www.slate.com/id/2118800/">this earplug-needing guy</a>, they're not bad, in the scheme of things.<br />` Accidentally, Lucas got me up at 6:30 in the morning, two hours before we needed to leave instead of one, but at least I was be awake-enough to help him navigate to the giant filmmaker's mansion.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5282005367/" title="dec 093 The Hugmore Mansion by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5002/5282005367_2071d063bd.jpg" alt="dec 093 The Hugmore Mansion" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />I remember when Lucas and I and those other talented freaks tried to get a filmmaker's mansion together, but the mansion and all the talented freaks fell through, and we wound up moving into Crazy Ghetto Queen's Condemned House of Certain Doom.<br />` Me-mories...<br /><br />This mansion had this painting that I swear I've seen a picture of on the internet, it's Hugmore -- and he's been shot! They also have a popcorn machine....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5282005485/" title="dec 099 The Hugmore Room by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5282/5282005485_d24a8d621e.jpg" alt="dec 099 The Hugmore Room" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />In putting on his first costume, Lucas managed to split the gladiator pants, so they put a loincloth-thing on the back of them. It looks good, though!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5282607124/" title="dec 112 Practicing wielding weapons by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5282/5282607124_2c8197af1c.jpg" alt="dec 112 Practicing wielding weapons" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />In putting on my first costume, I needed a bit of help because they involve both a mask and clumsy gloves. That's me -- Dr. Orang U. Tan!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5282005905/" title="dec 113 Today I get to be Dr. Orang U. Tan by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5124/5282005905_8106cbca49.jpg" alt="dec 113 Today I get to be Dr. Orang U. Tan" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br />We started shooting downstairs, and the craft services chef was actually cooking in the kitchen scene, and I think he's in the final take, probably out back, grilling up some burgers.<br />` Amazingly, I found a veggie-burger and it was delicious!<br />` After lunch, I went upstairs and donned climbing gear, and joined in a game of Twister, but finally, they had me go outside onto the balcony and act like I had just climbed up!<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">So, you're probably wondering, how does the commercial go, exactly? Here's the storyline, accompanied by rehearsal photos:</span><br /><br />Moses comes out of his bedroom to find clinking belly-dancers and guys wearing turbans in the hallway...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5282006031/" title="dec 119 The belly dancing community by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5288/5282006031_813b2da0d0.jpg" alt="dec 119 The belly dancing community" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />...comes through the door to find people juggling and tossing psychadelic beach balls, is blocked from going around the bar by the people playing Twister, so he climbs over it and the camera turns, we can see the band playing, the Voyeur Dead zombie chicks, a guy in a rabbit suit, a unicyclist, and Lucas in a gorilla suit doing his nunchuk thing.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5282607310/" title="dec 122 The band and Lucas in his costume by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5204/5282607310_ea31ef3dd6.jpg" alt="dec 122 The band and Lucas in his costume" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Out the window, you can see me climbing over the balcony...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5282006109/" title="dec 123 They put me outside to climb the balcony by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5044/5282006109_bfc429fbbb.jpg" alt="dec 123 They put me outside to climb the balcony" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Then, Moses goes into a corner room, and in the next scene he goes down the spiral staircase into the foyer<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5282606748/" title="dec 101 Walking backwards! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5167/5282606748_9d6aa338a0.jpg" alt="dec 101 Walking backwards!" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />...where there are several people dancing in synchrony, other people dressed as elves and presents, singing 'I want a hippopotamus for Christmas', one of the Team Awesome crew SCUBA diving in the enormous swimming pool-like fountain, which has a window in the side, with a toy double-rotor helicoptor flying around.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5282005939/" title="dec 115 The firefighters are gearing up by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5203/5282005939_c76a8efb37.jpg" alt="dec 115 The firefighters are gearing up" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br />Then, he goes into the hallway where firefighters (one of them had brought the unicycle and the climbing gear) were chasing some smoke with a hose, then there was a room with a real DJ with a fake set-up -- or at least it wasn't plugged in -- and a six-inch mohawk, surrounded by a guy in a penguin suit, a girl wearing a Snuggie (the stupid blanket with sleeves) and a luchador mask dancing with an excited dog, me as Dr. Orang U. Tan, and a few others with crazy costumes.<br />` Somehow, I didn't get a picture of the scene I was in, but it was almost as scary as this other Hugmore painting:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5282006157/" title="dec 126 Another Hugmore Painting by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5081/5282006157_be1c9e267e.jpg" alt="dec 126 Another Hugmore Painting" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Then Moses stops at the door to the kitchen, the camera cuts away, and then he puts in the earplugs.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5282005717/" title="dec 108 Choreography in the kitchen by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5001/5282005717_73ba247e51.jpg" alt="dec 108 Choreography in the kitchen" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />We get a close-up on his face as he sighs with relief, then he continues while I come through the door, make like I haven't seen the banana playing the guitar in for ever, while space aliens and such dance outside the windows, then Lucas dressed as the ripped-pants gladiator fighting a be-furred guy with a battle-axe, some odd poker players (the teddy bear was winning!) and an S&M couple.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5282005753/" title="dec 109 Poker-playing creatures by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5287/5282005753_f139240232.jpg" alt="dec 109 Poker-playing creatures" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />And, for what it's worth, Moses says the Hearos worked so well that he couldn't hear the director yell "Cut!"<br /><br />It's all a brightly-colored blur now... anyway, it was a lot of hard work, somehow, and we wound up very tired. In any case, I am so jealous of the people who live at that mansion. Even their bathrooms are amazing. Here's the downstairs bathroom door:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5282607382/" title="dec 127 Their actual restroom doors are like this by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5286/5282607382_1cb7e8ae60.jpg" alt="dec 127 Their actual restroom doors are like this" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />This bathroom has a Hugmore:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5282607414/" title="dec 128 This bathroom has a Hugmore picture by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5085/5282607414_01e327aa6f.jpg" alt="dec 128 This bathroom has a Hugmore picture" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />ALL the bathrooms have a bidet!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5282006201/" title="dec 129 And they have bidets! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5050/5282006201_9215d1acc1.jpg" alt="dec 129 And they have bidets!" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br />It's almost like they don't even have to wipe their own asses! That would also explain the utter lack of toilet paper in the entire house... either that, or they had just hidden it from all the people so it didn't get used up... or else is all got used up by the people here already!<br />` So tired!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">December 19, 2010:</span><br /><br />I had been so tired from yesterday, but it was so cold in my bedroom that I couldn't fall asleep, and for some reason, Rusty wasn't trying to keep me warm. I had just seen the heater fan downstairs and knew it must be keeping the house warm. Except I was wrong about that.<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);">` At 2 in the morning, Lucas got up to find the entire house very refrigerator-like. It was in the den, which was about 80 degrees. He turned on the light to find Anthony and his girlfriend sleeping in that room with a girl, with Rusty on his head!</span><br />` Apparently Joel had moved the heater into there and then didn't take it back out. I'm surprised at him because the heater fan was in the same place as the fireplace fan -- he should have known it was for keeping the house warm.<br />` And then, when I got up in the morning, Anthony teased me for having 'Gotten Up Late Hair' because I had been tossing and turning from the lack of the heat he had been enjoying.<br /><br />Well, better luck tonight getting to sleep early.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"><br />December 20, 2010:</span><br /><br />My grandma called, and she's depressed because most of the family has moved away, and she needs help taking care of Vic, who she has to feed through a tube. Sucks for both of them.<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 153);">` I tried to cheer her up by telling her about the commercial shoot, but she said, "I don't care to hear about that cra -- uh, crazy stuff." So, I called my mom and told her and she was thrilled! At least someone wants to hear about it!</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">December 21, 2010:</span><br /><br />The package my mom sent came, and with $100! I took some of the money and after Lucas' eye appointment, used some of it to buy a Christmas tree and put the presents under it!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5282006637/" title="dec 144 What do the blue ones taste like? by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5205/5282006637_daeb507069.jpg" alt="dec 144 What do the blue ones taste like?" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br />In other news, Vada and Rusty seem to be friends, and I've trained Rusty to go up into the kitchen window (and not the counter!) to watch me wash dishes. I've been finishing unfinished tasks and keeping the house clean like a mofo!<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5282006811/" title="dec 151 Rusty thinks the sink is so amazing! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5081/5282006811_f741d15a04.jpg" alt="dec 151 Rusty thinks the sink is so amazing!" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Lucas has always impressed everyone at UPS, especially the way he gets down in shiko dachi to sort boxes and is very careful. But yesterday at work, he figured out that not only has his eye injury cost him $2,500 in income, which is a bit more than a month's rent here, but is going to cost him his job!<br />` So, today he proved himself to all the supervisors etc. by going around and revving out all the bins!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">December 22, 2010:</span><br /><br />Lucas went all around the warehouse today cleaning house, and the supervisors were so impressed that when his supervisor told him to come in at 3:30 tomorrow, another one said, "No, make it 1:30!"<br />` Yay! Two extra hours!<br /><br />Also today, our neighbor Dean, who had come over to our house before, brought some wine, including wine by Francis Ford Coppola (the director of the Godfather movies, etc.).<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">December 23, 2010:</span><br /><br />Today at UPS, Lucas loaded a truck all neat and orderly-like, which had had 27 misloads the day before, and the driver actually shook Lucas' hand and said "thanks, that's beautiful!"<br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">` One of the safety ladies was passing out union schedulers and Lucas, a member of the union, asked for one and said, "Sorry, these are only for permanents." Lucas said, "I was hired as a permanent!"</span><br />` That was when he learned that the supervisors can't prevent him from getting laid off, so he found the biggest mucky-muk in the whole warehouse and told her he'd like to not get laid off, and that he'd been doing such a good job that the sups have been sending him all around to help everyone else, and that he could also offer body kinesiology and video services, such as instructional videos. She thanked him for working so hard so far.<br />` His sup, Derrick, was standing right there, and we can hope the exchanged words. Now, all the supervisors have to do is tell Karen they want Lucas to satay and she knows who he is.<br /><br />Also, Sarah and Barb got us a Christmas Dinner!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5282608200/" title="dec 154 Vada tastes the blue one again by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5206/5282608200_431f3c097e_z.jpg" alt="dec 154 Vada tastes the blue one again" width="550" /></a><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Gossip:</span><br /><br />We stopped at Nina's McDonald's and she says that her sister Sarah has had another baby a month ago, but won't tell who the father is. Lucas was astonished, and told her that exactly ten months ago, we'd heard Stinky Johnny behind closed doors with Sarah, which is his cousin by marriage....<br />` INCEST!!!! Kind of. That poor girl has no respect for herself!<br /><br />Also, at the gym the other day, I ran into John 'Galoot', Charolotte's friend, who told me that Char and Brad were living at Char's mom's house and have a baby boy named Loden, and are much more calmed down than they used to be.<br />` I wonder how long that will last?<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); font-weight: bold;">December 24, 2010:</span><br /><br />Lucas greatly outperformed this reformed and crabby crack whore at work today by doing an excellent job of loading two trucks!<br />` Par-tay over here with Dan and Melissa, Dan of Doom and his girl, and, when I became too drunk, I went away to watch my Netflix DVD -- season 1 of Bullshit.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">December 25, 2010:</span><br /><br />Prezzents! Including re-gifts from Troy's mom! (Shhhh!) One of them was this Mickey Mouse Christmas ornament with Mickey and Goofy on a little train going around a Christmas tree, with Donald in pursuit, and it plays a little tune.<br />` Yeah.<br />` My mom got everyone some blueberry jam, Jeep hats and stockings and she got me a couple shirts. Lucas says, "How does it look?"<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5313767998/" title="dec 166 Lucas and pretty pink shirt by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5246/5313767998_4d7ba4d8ac.jpg" alt="dec 166 Lucas and pretty pink shirt" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Tom, being a Burkhardt brewer, must have been behind this one:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5313768116/" title="dec 168 Drinking the invisible kool-aid by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5089/5313768116_aa276df3fd.jpg" alt="dec 168 Drinking the invisible kool-aid" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />She also got the dogs and cats toys... Rusty's already broken his:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5313768252/" title="dec 172 Rusty has the toys by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5162/5313768252_7e6f5b4164.jpg" alt="dec 172 Rusty has the toys" width="433" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br />He also is greatly thrilled with the wrapping paper, so I don't think he's disappointed! I also sent my gramma these postcards:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5313768694/" title="dec 175 Postcards I sent to my grandma by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5042/5313768694_db74ba1d69.jpg" alt="dec 175 Postcards I sent to my grandma" width="500" height="444" /></a><br /></div><br />Lucas prepared the turkey teriyaki-style, which Rusty was enjoying -- wait, here comes Vada!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5313175231/" title="dec 177 Here comes Vada! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5125/5313175231_c835454f8d.jpg" alt="dec 177 Here comes Vada!" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">December 29, 2010:</span><br /><br />Lucas still has his job, but since there's so little work, he's stuck at home. So, today, he made a bunch of snowmen! The ones with arms and legs are playing bocce, while the others are relegated to watching.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5313177639/" title="dec 193 The suspense is killing me! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5005/5313177639_a63ae6b1f7.jpg" alt="dec 193 The suspense is killing me!" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />I couldn't join him because I was too sick to do anything, so I just lazed around and slept occasionally when I could get warm enough. I didn't even blog or anything because I was in so much pain and discomfort and exhaustion my brain couldn't work.<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">` Meanwhile, Troy played video games. I mean, like, </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">all</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);"> day. Like, eight hours! Then, while Lucas went out at night to add more to the snow scene, he was </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">still</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);"> playing video games! Yeah, he doesn't drink or do drugs, but I think this is just as bad!</span><br />` Lucas was so tired that he fell asleep on the couch and wouldn't even wake up when I had told him his beer had thawed!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">December 30, 2010:</span><br /><br />Lucas finally woke up at about four in the morning and found the house nice and toasty. Amazingly, Troy -- who was <span style="font-style: italic;">still downstairs playing video games</span> -- had stoked the fire! Way to go, Troy!<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);">` Unfortunately, he had wound up burning two whole bins of wood, so we were almost out again. So, today we went out and got more wood, and there was no new wood in the dumpster -- and then this guy came out with a forklift and used it to smash some wood racks or whatever they are, and Lucas broke those in half!</span><br /><br />Then, another snowman pulled up a chair to watch the bocce, but was in danger of turning partly yellow!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5313774280/" title="dec 223 I sense that a yellow snow-leg is imminent! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5210/5313774280_5146bd610c.jpg" alt="dec 223 I sense that a yellow snow-leg is imminent!" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Then, we went to the bank because now is the first time ever that we can qualify to refinance my car -- except then we found out that I can never qualify to refinance my car because it's seven years old!<br />` Apparently, there are no companies that will refinance cars older than five years, no matter if the car's in great condition with a new clutch and its resale value has bottomed out. My car may be ideal for refinancing, but rules are rules and no one can break them! WHY, GOD, WHYYYYY!?<br /><br />Oh well, at least I got a pretty picture of the sunset through the neighbor's house:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5313181033/" title="dec 224 Sunset through neighbor's window by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5010/5313181033_9d5047cf7a_z.jpg" alt="dec 224 Sunset through neighbor's window" width="550" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"><br />December 31, 2010:</span><br /><br />Got my Financial Aid check for winter quarter! Yayyyyyy! It was over $2,000! That's how much they like me!<br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">` Also, since Christmas I'd been trying to get Lucas to watch the first couple episodes of </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">Penn & Teller: Bullshit</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"> (the comedian-tricksters of Vegas expose scams and trick people with fake scams of their own) because I thought he'd really like it.</span><br />` Each day, he said he would watch it, so I didn't drop it in the mailbox so that we could get our next DVD. But he just didn't and wasted our literally valuable $$ DVD-time!<br />` Finally, this morning he just told me that he hated TV shows except for sports and that he didn't really want to watch it at all. Then why the hell did he keep saying he would? He could have already watched his next DVD and I could have had my second by now if he'd just been honest to begin with!<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 204);"></span>After that, we had some morning fiascos -- frozen coffee spilled on the carport wall, Joel and the dogs tearing up the flower garden and breaking a snowman, and the front door knob not working anymore -- and then went on our errands -- yay for the check!<br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">` I would have liked to have been writing blog posts and such, but that was finally when Mike decided to get out of bed and take Lucas' truck to his shop.</span><br />` Since he had previously driven Lucas' truck 80mph on the highway (something Lucas has never done) Lucas insisted that Mike lead him in his truck and me in my car to his shop. Little had we suspected, this wound up being a two-hour trip!<br /><br />So, all that took a huge chunk out of my day. Then, on the way back home, Lucas' co-worker at UPS/co-carpooler called, and we picked them up.<br />` We hung out with them for a bit, then had to do some stuff -- Lucas had to work on collecting some unemployment, and I needed to ride the exercise bike in my office because the gym was closed and my tummy hurted from sitting still all day. At about 7:30 they left, saying they would walk home. Whatever!<br />` Lucas and I should have gone to Troy's New Year's bash at AFK (Away From Keyboard), a new gaming bar a stone's throw away from the crackhouse Lucas and I used to go to, in the building that used to be Bogey's and then Cherry Blossom sushi.<br /><br />Instead, we were losers, stayed at home, fell asleep, got up in time to pop the cork at midnight, and there were barely any fireworks! It was so disappointing!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5313181365/" title="dec 229 Firework at New Year's! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5165/5313181365_ef465fdc6a.jpg" alt="dec 229 Firework at New Year's!" width="500" height="447" /></a><br /></div><br />Only Andrew was there for a few moments, and then he was bored with it. Have we forgotten how to have fun?<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">January 1, 2011:</span><br /><br />At about 2:30 in the morning, there were children here, one of them was playing video games with Joel really loudly and I had to get up and ask him to turn it down. Turns out that Anthony crashed out here with his kids because he was too drunk to drive home last night.<br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">` I woke up to the sound of Lucas and the kids strumming and drumming downstairs, although Rusty tried to keep me in bed as usual by using tongue-fu on my nose! He's like my personal Biore strip, that kitten!</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5313270707/" title="jan 003 Anthony and his kids join us by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5003/5313270707_b70bda48df.jpg" alt="jan 003 Anthony and his kids join us" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />I spent all morning playing and whiteboard drawing some, having some fun and whatnot. We even had cake! My favorite -- 2011-flavored!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5313271555/" title="jan 009 My favorite, 2011 cake! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5121/5313271555_2651a28353.jpg" alt="jan 009 My favorite, 2011 cake!" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />The kids also tried to knock down Lucas' snowmen, but by now, Lucas had reinforced them so much that they were solid ice! The kids just bounced off!<br /><br />Lucas is telling me to come check out the sunset -- I'll have that picture up here in my <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/sets/72157625723038242/with/5313271419/">January 2011 Flickr album</a> soon.<br />` Also, there are tons of good pictures I didn't have room for in this post, including ones that are of things I never mentioned -- you can see them here in my <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/sets/72157625525137719/">December 2010</a> album.<br /><br />See you next time!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
google_ad_client = "pub-0390306350918355";
google_ad_width = 728;
google_ad_height = 90;
google_ad_format = "728x90_as";
google_ad_type = "text_image";
google_ad_channel ="";
google_color_border = "6699CC";
google_color_bg = "003366";
google_color_link = "FFFFFF";
google_color_url = "AECCEB";
google_color_text = "AECCEB";
//--></script>
<script type="text/javascript"
src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
</script></div>Spoony Quinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730057249256927206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14272138.post-78000177523492529962010-12-26T13:25:00.000-08:002010-12-28T12:02:04.931-08:00Some hugely drastic changes -- Part 3<span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">As promised, here's Part 3 of 'Hugely Drastic Changes', which includes the tragic end of my most beloved cat, Violet, and the beginning of my new kitten, Rusty. Also, there'll soon be more where this came from!</span><br /><br />I left you last in this story with October 19th's entry; "And then -- IT HAPPENED!" Finally I can tell you that 'it' was the time I passed through a major developmental stage, which is now serving as the platform for all my current mental developments.<br /><br />'It' also had something to do with this cool drawing I made:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5082051283/" title="oct 048 Glider critter, revisited by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4151/5082051283_d14aaab712.jpg" alt="oct 048 Glider critter, revisited" width="376" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br />Conveniently, I've just explained the psychological implications on my art blog, and you can read about it here:<br /><br /><a href="http://seequinesart.blogspot.com/2010/12/i-can-still-draw-and-it-helped-change.html">I can STILL draw -- and it helped change my life!</a><br /><br />Really, it did. I don't know how important the drawing was, but it helped stimulate my brain to keep going. It also eventually got me into Spongebob Squarepants because it was The Best Day Ever, even though I was coming down with the flu!<br />` (Or El Mejor Dia -- and there are two separate Spanish translations of the Spongebob show, did you know that!?!? And so, a while back I made a blog post about <a href="http://nociceptor.blogspot.com/2010/12/spanish-spongebobs-traducir-los-bob.html">translating it in Spanish class!</a>)<br /><br />So, that was a really great day for me, but fairly quickly, things started to go downhill. At least that didn't take away my brain skillz from me! It all started with coming down with the flu and missing a day of karate.<br />` Then, I started noticing that my cat Violet started coughing, not like she had a hairball, but like she had the flu as well. Karate student Alex noticed it as well, as she likes to sit up on the upended couch while we are doing karate:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5160000470/" title="oct 118 Violet and Vada in the mirror by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4046/5160000470_df0d2f5e0e.jpg" alt="oct 118 Violet and Vada in the mirror" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Also, some things I remember overhearing at Karate:<br /><br />"Sidekick stretch? I thought you've been saying <span style="font-style: italic;">psychic</span> stretch all this time!"<br />"Now, face Whidbey Island..."<br />"Arm circles forward, now backward, now one arm forward and one arm backward..." (A real exercise, and one I'm good at!)<br />"Hit me harder! Smack me!"<br /><br />Here's another picture, it's Troy frosting a friend's birthday cake. This friend likes Super Mario, and also says she needs to 'get a life'. Well, how about a 1-Up (life) mushroom?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5159396951/" title="oct 135 Troy frosting a cake he made... by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1345/5159396951_31a144b3c4.jpg" alt="oct 135 Troy frosting a cake he made..." width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br />Ha! Get a 'Life'! It went over well....<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><br />October 30, 2010:</span><br /><br />Lucas played this freak show character at this kid "Skyy's" Halloween party, down at 'The Estate', as the staff called it, for 'The Family'. But who was the family? Lucas was not allowed to find out!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5159398639/" title="oct 155 Lucas preparing for his role... by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4027/5159398639_ff5922657b.jpg" alt="oct 155 Lucas preparing for his role..." width="277" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);">He met the mother, but she couldn't use her real name, and wasn't allowed to meet the father. Why? Because he must be really famous and thus recognizable to the public!</span><br />` The only thing we know about them is... their address! And there's no way to look them up in the Yellow Pages because they're unlisted!<br /><br />Lucas said the mansion was cavernous and there were about twenty staff members with their own quarters living there. He and some of the staff members went around the humongous backyard and hid in the bushes to scare the kids!<br />` The kids, however, weren't so afraid of him, but rather, tagged around him and called him 'Elefante', and played around with him. When the party was over and he went to the office to be paid -- handsomely -- and took off his mask, the kids were like, "ohhh, he's a regular guy!"<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">October 31, 2010:</span><br /><br />We don't have Trick-Or-Treaters in our area, although Lucas' mom (MathMom) does and she handed out candy while helping me with algebra.<br />` Roommate Andrew was saying that he wanted some candy, so I went to the store and got him Reeses' Peanut Butter cups, and also a glow stick that I found on the street at the top of the hill!<br /><br />I don't have any pictures of that, but I have some pictures of the cats doing some cute things -- here's Violet jumping off the carport roof!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5160004370/" title="oct 161 Violet jumping by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4145/5160004370_3c95884408_z.jpg" alt="oct 161 Violet jumping" width="480" height="640" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">November 2, 2010:</span><br /><br />After so much hairball treatment, Violet seems to be feeling better, so we went for a run in the woods! I almost took my video camera because the leaves were so nice, but figured that would be too much distraction for our fun and games.<br />` "Are you coming?"<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5159400503/" title="nct 170 Aren't you coming, Mommy? by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1161/5159400503_3902f9b44d_z.jpg" alt="nct 170 Aren't you coming, Mommy?" width="480" height="640" /></a><br /></div><br />Now she's following me...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5159401435/" title="nct 178 Violet stalking on the trail by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1125/5159401435_b8dbf15209_z.jpg" alt="nct 178 Violet stalking on the trail" width="480" height="640" /></a><br /></div><br />By the bridge...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5160007214/" title="nct 182 Violet by the bridge by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4067/5160007214_fdfc227692_z.jpg" alt="nct 182 Violet by the bridge" width="480" height="640" /></a><br /></div><br />Here she is trying not to cough...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5159402397/" title="nct 183 Violet urging me on by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1341/5159402397_93dcd3b9d7_z.jpg" alt="nct 183 Violet urging me on" width="480" height="640" /></a><br /></div><br />At least she seems to be feeling well enough to run around -- and she was running, although most of my pictures of that just showed a blur!<br /><br />Meanwhile, Vada's been sleeping on Lucas' costume hat!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5159392063/" title="nct 186 Vada likes the skerry hat, too! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1121/5159392063_4716511141.jpg" alt="nct 186 Vada likes the skerry hat, too!" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">November 3, 2010:</span><br /><br />I woke up from my nap to hear karate sounds -- why hadn't I been notified that class had started? I rushed out of my room and said, "Hey, what's going on here?"<br />` But, it was only Alex and Michael, and Lucas had been at a neighborhood meeting which, I didn't realize, was next door. They thought I had been with him!<br /><br />He came back after they had gone home, at 7:30, and told how he had brought the whole neighborhood together. Basically, the problem is the cars Mike and Joel are working on are clogging up the cul-de-sac, and we really need to get all cars off the street!<br /><br />Also, I'm really worried about Violet because she looked really sick today and hasn't come back home. The last I've seen her was just before I took some pictures of Vada defying gravity....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5159494991/" title="nov 013 Let's play 'annoy Vada' by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1412/5159494991_aafb616875_z.jpg" alt="nov 013 Let's play 'annoy Vada'" width="550" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Friday, November 4, 2010:</span><br /><br />After school, Violet was not waiting for me on the carport wall, so I went through the backyard and into the alley and called -- she came out to greet me. I was so relieved!<br />` She seems to be feeling a little better. I carried her home and gave her the new hairball remedy -- this has soy lecithin in it, and she seemed to perk up even more after this.<br />` Finally, I have a bit of peace of mind! Also, here's a bad picture of karate class:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5160099136/" title="nov 019 A crude picture of the usual karate suspects by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1213/5160099136_f3f8f374e6.jpg" alt="nov 019 A crude picture of the usual karate suspects" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><br /><br />Saturday, November 5, 2010:</span><br /><br />Violet really looks terrible. She's stopped coughing and we think she's swallowed the hairball, so I've been massaging her intestines. However, something's not right, since her abdomen seems to be much smaller than her chest.<br />` I've been trying to tell Lucas about this all day, waking him up from his nap and all, but he said she looked better than she had yesterday and told me to stop hovering over her, that she would be fine. She looks like she's having trouble breathing, which I noticed when putting her on the couch and sitting with her for about a half hour while Lucas napped on the other couch.<br /><br />After Lucas was up, I tried to tell him again, and, knowing that this might be the end of Violet, I took a picture of her in this state at about three this afternoon:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5160099244/" title="nov 020 I was sure something was wrong... by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1150/5160099244_e83480f7cc.jpg" alt="nov 020 I was sure something was wrong..." width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />He just told me not to worry and to stop freaking out, that Violet would be fine.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><br />Sunday, November 6, 2010:</span><br /><br />Violet's dead.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5159495489/" title="nov 021 Next day -- mourning for Violet by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1383/5159495489_76008e5ca5.jpg" alt="nov 021 Next day -- mourning for Violet" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br />My eyelids are so swollen from crying I can scarcely open them.<br /><br />At about seven thirty at night last night, I was trying to do my math homework, but was so distracted by Violet having trouble breathing that I felt horrible because it seemed that I was just ignoring her and Lucas kept telling me not to take her to the vet's.<br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">` Then, she crawled over to me and snuggled up, as if to say 'Help me!' and I freaked out. To collect myself, I took a quick shower, and when I got out, Violet was waiting for me, crouched in the middle of the hallway. Finally, I got up the courage to go try to tell Lucas again, as I had been, repeatedly.</span><br />` He was watching a movie, and I got him to come upstairs and take a look. Finally, he actually <span style="font-style: italic;">saw</span> her and started crying. He said he knew from the look on Violet's face that she was 'saying goodbye'.<br /><br />We eventually got her to the emergency vet's and the vet said she had a lot of phlegm in her lungs -- it wasn't a hairball after all. We thought if that was just an infection, she wouldn't need surgery that we couldn't afford. We left her at the vet's and they called us back.<br />` Apparently, we would need three thousand dollars to start treatment. We were $1,500 short. I called my mom for help, but she said she didn't have the money. I said, "Well, thanks anyway," and then... I had to make the tough decision to have Violet put out of her misery.<br />` Lucas and I went back to see her -- she was in an oxygen cage and the vet showed us an enormous tube of pink pus he had removed from her chest cavity. She had a collapsed lung, even.<br />` We said our goodbyes. Unlike with my last cat, this vet let us watch her fall into a lifeless heap.<br /><br />Early the next morning, or more like night, my mom called, saying, "I have the money! You can save Violet's life now!" I told her, "It's too late," and she said, "No, it's okay, I have the money!"<br />` Why it was too late was a tough thing to tell my mom. She asked, "Are you sure?" She just couldn't believe my favorite cat, my smart cat, was dead. So she called Lucas and asked if he was sure.<br /><br />Cattain Niyu, we barely knew ye! Yet we're not surprised she died of an infection because she was always a sickly little furball -- here's a photo of 'the cattain' the first time she got sick:<br /><br />Kitteh Phone Home!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4242016105/" title="cl4 i need to phone home by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4071/4242016105_8a42e6ae2b_z.jpg" alt="cl4 i need to phone home" width="451" height="640" /></a><br /></div><br />How tiny she was compared to Lucas' hand! She only lived about three and a half years, and she's never made it off this planet of Hideous Hairless Giants. <a href="http://seequine.blogspot.com/2007/08/cattains-log-zarrdate-9375842.html">I remember that blog post -- most of the pictures of my wobbly kittens are still there.</a> I need to fix all that stuff when I re-do my photo website.<br /><br />I'd say this is the Worst Day Ever. Or was it yesterday? I'm not sure. She actually died during that extra hour of Daylight Saving Time -- well, it's the worst weekend ever!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Monday, November 8, 2010:</span><br /><br />After I got home from school, I had something special to do, but Lucas, who was driving off, pulled up next to me in the garage and Andrew just happened to be coming home, pulled in behind him.<br />` Lucas told me to back out of the driveway so we could use my car, and I exchanged a bit of paint with Troy's car while just barely clearing Andrew's car. It was terribly confusing and I forgot all about what I was going to do!<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 153);">Then, we went around town, and then to the Animal Shelter to look for a new Fuzzball, and I found one right away! Well, they needed a signature from the landlady, whose office we had just come from, so we went back to her office and returned with the signature just in time -- some girls had just come in and were saying, "Look at the kittens!" right as we were leaving with ours -- and he's the most outgoing one!</span><br />` I used my mom's credit card -- at least she could contribute something towards my cat-happiness.<br /><br />The kitten's name was Phil, but since that name has too many associations, I changed it to Rusty Waters, after the drag queen -- <a href="http://seequine.blogspot.com/2006/11/catching-up-on-more-photos.html">pictures are still here on this post with her, too</a>! Why not? It's a splendid name!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5167952026/" title="nov 025 He's reading my notes! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1317/5167952026_067dd6da7a.jpg" alt="nov 025 He's reading my notes!" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />With all this excitement, I forgot what I was going to do that was so special... here's a photo of the heap of love -- me and Rusty on Lucas' back!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5167351887/" title="nov 038 Rusty makes me look grotesque! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4010/5167351887_26d50d3c21.jpg" alt="nov 038 Rusty makes me look grotesque!" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br />Unfortunately, Vada isn't yet feeling this sentiment, so we have to keep him shut in our room most of the time....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5167352089/" title="nov 044 Vada says, "OMG, KITTEN!" by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4088/5167352089_59b0551ef2_z.jpg" alt="nov 044 Vada says, "OMG, KITTEN!"" width="550" /></a><br /></div><br />This is Rusty, Day 2:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5167953434/" title="nov 056 Come back here and fight like a kitteh! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4124/5167953434_cce53b31c6_z.jpg" alt="nov 056 Come back here and fight like a kitteh!" width="480" height="640" /></a><br /></div><br />Rusty, Day 3:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5167954314/" title="nov 065 Rusty, day 3, on my shoulder by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4003/5167954314_2ff4a889ea.jpg" alt="nov 065 Rusty, day 3, on my shoulder" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Rusty, Day 4:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5282553900/" title="nov 070 The 'Rusty' look! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5282/5282553900_2ac43b053a_z.jpg" alt="nov 070 The 'Rusty' look!" width="480" height="640" /></a><br /></div><br />Here's me getting a break from Rusty:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5281953903/" title="nov 093 Me, Troy, Morgan, etc. by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5084/5281953903_3c9934551a.jpg" alt="nov 093 Me, Troy, Morgan, etc." width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Tuesday, November 16</span><br /><br />It has been SO BUSY!! Homework, karate and playing with Rusty are my whole life now! He loves climbing up the green mattress and has such prodigious cornering ability, although he's getting slower and clumsier because of how fast he's growing!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5281954399/" title="nov 107 BackflipCat! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5009/5281954399_b529ec5566.jpg" alt="nov 107 BackflipCat!" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br />It's also been quite an eventful day!<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 153);">Andrew, who is apparently on a new medication, came in our room last night, thinking it was the bathroom or something and Lucas told him to turn on the light. He did, to find me, Lucas and Rusty all staring at him. It was so funny! He said, "Oh, sorry," and went across the hall.</span><br />` This morning before school, I found that the bathroom door was open, the shower was pouring freezing water, as though it had been left on, and no one was there! I'm a bit concerned about that boy. Maybe he shouldn't drink as much when he's on that stuff....<br /><br />In Spanish class, 'Juan' brought us all these really great tamales, and then later was this international fashion show! Oh yeah, that's why I had wanted to bring my camera, but forgot, DUH!<br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">` My Spanish teacher was wearing a traditional Spanish dress, Heidi Weiss-Green (most awesome and sexiest math teacher in the school) looked like the Saint Pauli Girl, Denny, my first Spanish teacher, was all enthusiastic in his Ecuadorian poncho, and Derrick Dieter, the educational studies guy who's really white and blond, was wearing this African jumpsuit-thing, I forget what it was called.</span><br /><br />I'd thought that, with all the photos and videos being taken that I could find someone else's online, but <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr_fWTKscSs&feature=related">this video of the Japan segment</a> was all I could find.<br /><br />Then, Troy singlehandedly made a Thanksgiving dinner, complete with the smoked turkey his boss had given him, and he did it today because he has work on Thanksgiving! Of course! (I cleared all the dirty dishes out of the kitchen first, though.)<br />` Waldorf salad, anyone?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5281954565/" title="nov 110 Troy's singlehanded PreThanksgiving! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5287/5281954565_fca57198a1.jpg" alt="nov 110 Troy's singlehanded PreThanksgiving!" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br />I have to say, although Troy may be too distracted by video games to look over and notice that the fire has died down in the woodburning stove, he is actually capable of great things when he has some goal to work toward!<br /><br />Meanwhile...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5281954585/" title="nov 111 Clawring over Lucas' foot! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5247/5281954585_43df033830.jpg" alt="nov 111 Clawring over Lucas' foot!" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br />Dinner's done!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5281954623/" title="nov 112 Singlehanded PreThanksgiving table! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5004/5281954623_fa07de8b8d.jpg" alt="nov 112 Singlehanded PreThanksgiving table!" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Oh yeah! Good times! Good food! Good job, Troy! You RAWK!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Sunday, November 19, 2010:</span><br /><br />It snowed! Rusty says: "That's what you call this stuff?"<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5281954887/" title="nov 118 Rusty's first snow! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5084/5281954887_7e1705963b_z.jpg" alt="nov 118 Rusty's first snow!" width="480" height="640" /></a><br /></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">Last night, I got a call to pick up Roommate/Mechanic Mike's collies from the cops because he got arrested for a hit-and-run. Whoa. And do those dogs stink! Sylvia kept trying to lay down on my gear shift at first, but finally I got her to lie down in the back seat.</span><br />` Then, we got back home and I let them out in the snow to run around and made sure they had food and water. Poor dogs!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5281955105/" title="nov 125 Roses in the snow by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5043/5281955105_bba29fe9e5.jpg" alt="nov 125 Roses in the snow" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br />Also, Lucas got us a vacuum cleaner, so now the carpet's clean -- I had to empty it five times! Ha!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Monday</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">, November 20, 2010:</span><br /><br />Joel got back from Hawaii! Lucas was skeptical that he had even gone to Hawaii, but I saw photographic evidence, so I knew it must be true. Unless... it's FAKED! Which I doubt.<br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 255);">` He actually bailed out Mike from jail, which was $1,500, so thank goodness he still had cash! But then... he spent a couple of hours having fun sliding his friend's car around in the snow, resulting in $1,500 worth of damage, so now Mike has to fix this guy's car for free!</span><br /><br />Because, yes, it's snowed some more -- speaking of which, here's another use for Violet's harness; Rusty the YukonExplorerCat!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5281955833/" title="nov 143 Rusty looks out on the patio by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5007/5281955833_2dd3f42680.jpg" alt="nov 143 Rusty looks out on the patio" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br />P.S. Andrew is listening to Enya? You know, Phil used to listen to Enya... never mind.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Tuesday</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">, November 21, 2010:</span><br /><br />School is closed from the snow, and we have the rest of the week off! That's okay because Lucas took my car to work. He also salted the street and cleaned the driveway -- and he apparently has pink eye, which is greatly annoying!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5281955911/" title="nov 147 Rusty on the back of the couch by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5241/5281955911_78185579db.jpg" alt="nov 147 Rusty on the back of the couch" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Later on, he tried to build a snowman, but it fell down....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5282551756/" title="nov 158 Lucas making a snowman by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5048/5282551756_663926677f.jpg" alt="nov 158 Lucas making a snowman" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">In Cat News:</span><br /><br />Vada is fast-becoming tolerant of Rusty... as long as she doesn't realize he's sneaking up on her...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5281951309/" title="nov 159 Little does Vada know... by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5121/5281951309_7f2df338e0.jpg" alt="nov 159 Little does Vada know..." width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br />Or, if she's too busy eating to care...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5281951353/" title="nov 160 Rusty wants to eat with the big kitty by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5169/5281951353_77ae4f6633.jpg" alt="nov 160 Rusty wants to eat with the big kitty" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><br />Saturday</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">, November 25, 2010:</span><br /><br />I found my Spoony spoon, which had been missing since the day before Joel left for Hawai'i! Apparently, though Andrew had gotten some spoons from his room, he found this one in a place so secret even he didn't know about it! YAY! I HAVE MAH SPOON BACK!!!<br /><br />Also, it's THANKSGIVING! The real Thanksgiving, too! Our neighbors Sarah and Barb gave us a nearly-complete Thanksgiving meal because they had to make other plans at someone else's house!<br />` The turkey was pre-cooked, but you'd never know by the way Lucas prepared it! Then me, Mike, Joel and the friend whose car Joel banged up, ate it!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5281951403/" title="nov 161 Nice bird! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5287/5281951403_76066bcc19.jpg" alt="nov 161 Nice bird!" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Here's Rusty on the couch with Mike:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5281951483/" title="nov 164 Rawr! I get you, couch! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5283/5281951483_5e898b9062.jpg" alt="nov 164 Rawr! I get you, couch!" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Lucas also whipped some cream for the pies we had -- cherry, razzleberry, chocolate and pumpkin -- here's Joel sampling it!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5281951495/" title="nov 165 Joel savoring creamy goodness by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5244/5281951495_2deb6d064e.jpg" alt="nov 165 Joel savoring creamy goodness" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Hey, ring, ring, who's that on the DVD player?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5281951545/" title="nov 168 Joel has a call from the DVD player by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5006/5281951545_12e85e8c62.jpg" alt="nov 168 Joel has a call from the DVD player" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br />It's called 'After Dinner Cat-Ertainment!'<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5282552170/" title="nov 170 Mike lassoing Rusty by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5088/5282552170_1dff1b8974.jpg" alt="nov 170 Mike lassoing Rusty" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">In other Photo-News:</span><br /><br />A birdeh flew through a rainbow!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5281951947/" title="nov 189 Birdeh flies through rainbow! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5170/5281951947_aa7ea04b25.jpg" alt="nov 189 Birdeh flies through rainbow!" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Rusty improves his fetching skills:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5282552586/" title="nov 191 He brings the string again! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5130/5282552586_4011994d84.jpg" alt="nov 191 He brings the string again!" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br />Pretty hummingbird!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5281952207/" title="nov 196 Pretty shiny green! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5204/5281952207_4e77b01a30.jpg" alt="nov 196 Pretty shiny green!" width="500" height="306" /></a><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><br />Wednesday, November 29, 2010:</span><br /><br />Vada vomited a mouse in the hallway this morning, with blood coming out of it! Eeeeewwww!<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);">` This was in our preparations to leave for the day; Lucas' eye is now bothering him so much that he had to go to the doctor. Since he has passenger anxiety, he had to drive me to school, wearing a paper eye patch, which I made from a piece of paper in the glovebox.</span><br />` I called him after school at eleven in the morning and he said he was at the eye clinic and that Landlord Steve was coming over to pick me up. Awfully nice of him! Lucas had called Troy first, but Troy said he was 'too tired'.<br /><br />The eye doctor told Lucas he should have come in earlier -- he has delayed-onset iris inflammation, simply called iritis, which can cause blindness. We drove all the way from Everett to Mukilteo to pick up his medication and waited there for half an hour in a lobby with automatic doors being tripped every few seconds -- it was freezing in there!<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 153);">` By the end of that, Lucas was writhing in pain because the eye painkiller had worn off, and they told him that they didn't have his medication!</span><br /><br />Lucas was pissed, to put it mildly. So, I drove 15 minutes all the way back to where Lucas' eye clinic was, up to the driveway of the nearby pharmacy, when Lucas told me to turn around and drive to the other side of the next block and park in the parking garage. I asked him why, and he said it was so that we could see where the pharmacy was.<br />` I pointed to the procession of cars by the building and told him it was the line for the drive-through pharmacy, but I guess he couldn't see it and impatiently told me to go on to the parking garage. Since he was so angry and in pain, I did what he said.<br />` When we got out of the car and looked back at where we had driven from, Lucas finally saw the pharmacy and said, "Why didn't you tell me the pharmacy was right there?" So, we got back in the car and drove back over, waited in line at the drive-up window... and they wouldn't give us the medication because they didn't have the insurance information!<br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">` So, I parked the car and we got out -- only Lucas, who was now unable to uncover both of his eyes because they were both so light-sensitive, was going in the wrong direction toward the door! Once I led him inside, he was on the phone for quite some time, and then after that, they still wouldn't give us the medication because the LNI claim hadn't gone through yet!</span><br />` What? But it had paid for the doctor's visit! Ah, but the pharmacy posts its bills online, which means they must be paid instantly. Which meant we had to pay $120, except we only had $40 in our bank account, and if Lucas didn't get this medication ASAP, he would start going blind!<br /><br />Luckily, we had some money to pull out of our asses. However, the one medication, which was supposed to prevent the eye damage from getting worse, wasn't approved or something, so they had to switch to another generic brand, and he also had to persuade the doctor to prescribe him pain medication because by now he was writhing in even more pain.<br />` By then, it was already two in the afternoon -- three hours had gone by! This is what Lucas' eye had looked like by then:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5281952299/" title="nov 199 Good LNI photo... by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5124/5281952299_f10e8382da.jpg" alt="nov 199 Good LNI photo..." width="500" height="380" /></a><br /></div><br />With that, Lucas can't work for at least a few days, and instead of going into his 'big overtime break', he's getting partial payment for normal hours!<br />` At least it's not as bad for me, as his truck is broken and if he'd have to drive to work, he'd need to take my car, so I'd have to ride the bus to school -- not a fun extra three hours added to my day!<br /><br /><br />Well, that's it for November -- my next entry will be for December! But before I go, here's one last photo for this post -- it's Vada tolerating Rusty!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5282553564/" title="nov 215 Vada revels in showing Rusty up by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5003/5282553564_4a633878a7.jpg" alt="nov 215 Vada revels in showing Rusty up" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />There are plenty of more, even better photos, but instead of bogging down your internet browser, I keep them here on Flickr -- here's my <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/sets/72157625089793388/">October photos</a> and my <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/sets/72157625219027181/with/5282553564/">November photos</a>!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
google_ad_client = "pub-0390306350918355";
google_ad_width = 728;
google_ad_height = 90;
google_ad_format = "728x90_as";
google_ad_type = "text_image";
google_ad_channel ="";
google_color_border = "6699CC";
google_color_bg = "003366";
google_color_link = "FFFFFF";
google_color_url = "AECCEB";
google_color_text = "AECCEB";
//--></script>
<script type="text/javascript"
src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
</script></div>Spoony Quinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730057249256927206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14272138.post-39815926956262842072010-12-19T17:50:00.000-08:002010-12-19T17:54:02.413-08:00Getting back to posting...<span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">Sorry, all (who care, which probably isn't many anymore), but I've been a little reluctant to keep going with the traumatic blog posting with my cat dying and all. Now that I have something really awesome to write about, I've gotten up the courage to continue -- on all my blogs!</span><br /><br />To save me the trouble of explaining more, the Good Doctor Nociceptor explains -- <a href="http://nociceptor.blogspot.com/2010/12/ive-come-this-far-and-here-comes-more.html">follow this link</a>!<br /><br />I'll be back on all my blogs before you know it!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
google_ad_client = "pub-0390306350918355";
google_ad_width = 728;
google_ad_height = 90;
google_ad_format = "728x90_as";
google_ad_type = "text_image";
google_ad_channel ="";
google_color_border = "6699CC";
google_color_bg = "003366";
google_color_link = "FFFFFF";
google_color_url = "AECCEB";
google_color_text = "AECCEB";
//--></script>
<script type="text/javascript"
src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
</script></div>Spoony Quinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730057249256927206noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14272138.post-32551195621160454162010-11-26T14:43:00.000-08:002010-11-26T15:00:46.133-08:00Some hugely drastic changes -- part 2It's about time I got around to posting this entry. In memory of Violet, of course:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5048867551/" title="oct 006 Violet looks back at us by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4105/5048867551_99bf8cb841_z.jpg" alt="oct 006 Violet looks back at us" width="550" /></a><br /></div><br />Best. Cat. Ever.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">October 1, 2010:</span><br /><br />My fiance/Sensei Lucas is starting his third dojo in our living room (yes, he has a license)! We were hoping to get space at our gym, but another martial arts instructor, which the gym owner agrees isn't as good as Lucas, got to it just before he did.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5048867719/" title="oct 007 Finishing up karate by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4125/5048867719_396e69ac26.jpg" alt="oct 007 Finishing up karate" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br />Anyway, the first class went great! It was me, Alex and Michael, who kept having to lie down until we realized he was forgetting to breathe! I know I've had this problem myself with other things, but the concept is so funny -- don't we normally breathe? How can we forget?<br />` All in all, we were having a somewhat awkward and comical time. Lucas is a great teacher, and I think we'll be doing much better by next week.<br /><br />The coolest part is, our living room is easily-convertible back into its former state, except now we have this mattress for making sure no one falls into the fireplace during class. Violet likes it well enough.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5049487760/" title="oct 008 Karate over -- Lucas' feet are black from teaching! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4133/5049487760_935e98ebcf.jpg" alt="oct 008 Karate over -- Lucas' feet are black from teaching!" width="266" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br />Also, I drew the two fighting dudes for Lucas' dojo sign:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5048867843/" title="oct 009 Our karate whiteboard by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4104/5048867843_9d84c11e6f.jpg" alt="oct 009 Our karate whiteboard" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br />Looks more official with ancient karatikas on it, doesn't it?<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">October 8, 2010:</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 153);">At about 4 in the morning, Lucas is often woken up by our ex-roommate, Restraining Order-Rick, driving slowly driving through the cul-de-sac, stopping by our house, and then going back out again. He knows it's Rick's car because of the distinctive engine noise, and the bald tires making a grinding noise on the pavement.</span><br />` Also, who else would be that devoted to harassing us by stopping by at four in the morning so that we wouldn't know?<br /><br />Lucas has been talking about this to the police, and they said that Lucas should actually go outside to confirm that it's Rick, then call 9-1-1. They should be able to stop him because there are only a few ways Rick could drive out of the area, and because his little 1990's red Honda with a black hood is distinctive.<br />` Also, taking a picture if possible would be really useful if they didn't catch him.<br /><br />In other RickNews, we've figured out that although the meth-heads that had been visiting months ago could well have taken Roommate Troy's radio with his WuTeng Clan CD, we suspect that Rick had stolen the other things of Troy's that disappeared -- especially since Rick was always the one to point out to Troy that they were missing!<br /><br />In More Exciting News, yesterday was Landlady Roberta's first day of karate class. She was clearly feeling odd at the idea of saying, 'Hai sensei' to her tenant! The rest of us are doing much better at karate already, so it was even more awkward for Roberta!<br />` Her daughter was supposed to come in today, but she didn't, although this time, Troy got home in time for class, so he got to see Alex, Michael and me doing our first day of <span style="font-style: italic;">shiko dachi</span> ('sitting stance'). Don't let the name deceive you -- it involves 'sitting' in the air with your legs bent at right angles out to the side!<br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">` I think we all did okay, though, and Troy is very much looking forward to his first day of class. Also, we all laughed when Lucas was demonstrating a kata to us and punched very near Troy's face, which took on a quite-unnerved expression!</span><br /><br />Also, other people have expressed a desire to take Lucas' class -- it seems everyone wants to get in on the action -- even the morning glory vines are in our dojo!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5160002046/" title="oct 134 A vine growing thru the wall! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1110/5160002046_efe1a46b79.jpg" alt="oct 134 A vine growing thru the wall!" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">October 9, 2010:</span><br /><br />This morning, I was doing my homework on the bed and Lucas came in, crying, and snuggled up with me. I asked him what was wrong and he said that Rick's threats and then stalking us has been driving him up the wall.<br />` He's been keeping Rick Rael's childhood friend (and founder of SkullCandy) Rick Alden, updated to what's been going on and said that since Alden and his company are partly responsible for Rael's rotten behavior and feeling of entitlement, that he might have to sue SkullCandy.<br />` For one... <span style="font-style: italic;">million</span>... dollars!<br />` Wellllll... probably not, unless it keeps going on like this. Let's just say, comforting Lucas has taken a couple hours out of my homework time. I've honestly never seen him cry for that long, despite the fact that we've had much worse troubles than this in the past (as my past bloggings will attest).<br /><br />Let's just say... we're feeling a little... trapped.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5082643762/" title="oct 022 Spider has foods by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4088/5082643762_a3cb446f58_z.jpg" alt="oct 022 Spider has foods" width="550" /></a><br /></div><br />Lucas, of course, is a black belt, but even a black belt is no match for a dumbass who might have a gun, for all he knows.<br /><br />Then again, at least he isn't in our house anymore, constantly sabotaging us and pretending to have a job and fricking trying to poison my poor cats! Plus, the utility bill is only a small fraction now compared to what it had been with Rick maliciously wasting electricity and water!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Other News for which I don't have a date:</span><br /><br />Lucas has applied for the role of a dwarf in The Hobbit and is planning to take out a huge ad in the Wellington Times that says "Peter Jackson, Call Me!"<br /><br />We were thinking that our mail had been somehow sabotaged by Rick until, precisely when Michael and Alex came over for karate at 5:30, the mail carrier finally delivered the mail -- after the post office was closed and everything! Even though it was time to begin class, Lucas had a long discussion with the mail carrier to make sure everything was in order.<br /><br />By the way, karate is changing my life already!<br /><br />Did I ever mention the crazy construction going on at college? It's kind of annoying, since the cafeteria's closed, but now there's a really great taco stand near there where I can order tacos in Spanish!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5082645252/" title="oct 053 From another window by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4089/5082645252_d9cb4810a7.jpg" alt="oct 053 From another window" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);">Lucas has since tried out many more realistic ways of getting a job. For one of them, he went into a trailer with a big sign outside that says 'Now Hiring', and the guy behind the counter said, "Go home and apply online."</span><br />` If you're supposed to apply online, then why didn't they just make a big sign that says to apply online and not bother with spending money to move a trailer into the spot and <span style="font-style: italic;">hire a person</span> to tell everyone that? What is the point? Are they <span style="font-style: italic;">trying</span> to piss people off?<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">October 14, 2010:</span><br /><br />Though Lucas had swept all the sawdust from his woodcutting off the carport floor the previous night, there was a huge piece of metal stuck in one of his truck's tires in the morning.<br /><br />How could that have happened?<br /><br />Well, he remembered having woken up at 4 a.m. the night before, hearing the sound of Rick's car stop on the street, then a noise in the carport, and then a few seconds later, the vehicle drove around the cul-de-sac the <span style="font-style: italic;">wrong</span> way!<br />` Why the wrong way? Because if he was driving the correct way around (counterclockwise), you could see his taillights and his license plate from our house. However, since he drove around clockwise, the headlights would obscure one's view of his car, especially the license plate.<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);">` Since it's clear that there's only one person we know who would dedicate his life to such patheticness, and since we have got to do something about it Lucas has hatched a plan....</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">October 15, 2010:</span><br /><br />Starting at three in the morning, Lucas actually slept on the reclining lawn chair/lounge in the carport, with Violet on his shoulder and my camera in his hand. Sure enough, a car that sounded like Rick's car pulled by, with the grinding of bald tires and everything, just as it has been doing at four in the morning all this time!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5082644808/" title="oct 045 The roses (and spider) again by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4110/5082644808_62f11aa480.jpg" alt="oct 045 The roses (and spider) again" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Lucas got the camera ready, but then saw that it was a white car, not Rick's red Honda! But then... it swung around the wrong way and drove off! Rick must be using another car! Lucas said he got a picture of it, but none were recorded, despite the fact that he had spent a while practicing turning it on to the right setting.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5082051233/" title="oct 047 Roses by day by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4132/5082051233_79338d8f28.jpg" alt="oct 047 Roses by day" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br />Drat.<br /><br />Later on today, however, we went to the celebration of Queen Ananda's 28th year reigning over faerie court. For some reason, I didn't write anything about this, but I did take plenty of photos.<br />` At first, I was going to get some white cardboard constructed into a 'Mukilteo Ferry' costume -- there's another one around here now!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5159997976/" title="oct 073 They just passed one another by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1311/5159997976_d2f41bb97b.jpg" alt="oct 073 They just passed one another" width="500" height="270" /></a><br /></div><br />In the end, though, I resigned to being the 'Karate Fairy' -- here's me, and Justin, who was rocking out on his guitar so hard I almost ejaculated. Luckily, my karate gi survived his jamming.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5159998518/" title="oct 086 How do you like my haircut? by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4092/5159998518_a3a273fb85_m.jpg" alt="oct 086 How do you like my haircut?" width="180" height="240" /></a><br /></div><br />Michael and Alex were there, but they weren't nearly so freakish-looking as Jake... who's wearing a Vulcan shirt, by the way.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5159393417/" title="oct 085 'Freaks' by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1188/5159393417_e16c7d25e7.jpg" alt="oct 085 'Freaks'" width="500" height="389" /></a><br /></div><br />Even Jesus was even stranger-looking than usual, besides looking like Reniassance paintings of Jesus.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5159394505/" title="oct 103 You look good in that hat! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4087/5159394505_30389c3dee.jpg" alt="oct 103 You look good in that hat!" width="500" height="446" /></a><br /></div><br />Finally, Ananda showed herself -- while Lucas was jamming out on his guitar and didn't notice, and then she got to teasing him:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5159998822/" title="oct 091 Don't upset THIS fairy! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4031/5159998822_a70365d7f8.jpg" alt="oct 091 Don't upset THIS fairy!" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />And, in addition to jamming out on his guitar -- HOLY FRAK IS HE AWESOME! -- Justin was working on his looking sad and horrified at being Trapped Here Forever! (And there's Michael with the top hat.) What do you think?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5159998890/" title="oct 092 You mean we're trapped here FOREVER? by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/5159998890_52cd6602a9.jpg" alt="oct 092 You mean we're trapped here FOREVER?" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br />No, can't escape, sorry!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5159394217/" title="oct 098 They have a makeshift sitting space by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/5159394217_8b187208bf.jpg" alt="oct 098 They have a makeshift sitting space" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Even Troy showed up, as did Elizabeth, despite the fact that she lives in Canadia-land now. Here is a bad picture with them:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5159999584/" title="oct 105 Even Troy is ninja! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1170/5159999584_a2199efc5e.jpg" alt="oct 105 Even Troy is ninja!" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />That's already enough photos to seriously slow down my browser, but there's more where that came from....<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"><br />October 16, 2010:</span><br /><br />Roberta volunteered to us some security cameras and a recorder-monitor, which we're trying to hook up to one another, but we're missing some cables.<br />` Also, we have two new roommates -- Mike the mechanic, his two collies, and Joel, The Other Guy. Lucas is enlarging the downstairs studio fake room -- originally for the TV show which isn't materializing -- for Joel. Unfortunately, it cuts off the downstairs sliding glass doors, so there will be no dragging the exercise bike inside when it rains.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5049513684/" title="oct 011 Keystone Collies by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4090/5049513684_82836646cf.jpg" alt="oct 011 Keystone Collies" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Also, the other morning I couldn't find my sturdy military grade cell phone, whose battery lasts 3 weeks. 'Oh well', I thought, and I just went to school anyway.<br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 255);">` We did hilarious skits in Spanish class -- mine was Ropa de Muerte. The guy who sits next to me, Kelvin, sold me a tie of doom (corbata mortal) for my crazy killer dad, and a suit for the funeral. I think we were the first to erase Juan's awesome van, which he was dealing out of in his skit.</span><br />` As I was on my way into the house, I noticed that my school bag was dripping -- my jar of iced tea had come unscrewed! So, I took everything out of the bag and left it open on the living room floor, then set about looking for my phone.<br />` I didn't find it again, so I just started on my homework. It wasn't until three hours later that both Lucas was home and I thought to use his cell phone to alert me as to where mine was.<br /><br />And where do you think I heard it ringing from?<br /><br />My school bag -- and it was a wonder that it was ringing because both the displays were broken! It had been in my school bag all day, and it could have rang in the middle of Spanish class skits -- although not math class because the teacher wasn't there today -- and now it's broken!<br />` The next morning was Saturday, and the phone didn't even turn on, so I went to the Sprint Store and got a free phone -- a flimsy one that barely holds a charge. Ah well, at least it gets slightly better reception than my other one, but it still doesn't always work.<br /><br />(Lucas' cell phone is the same military-grade one that I'd had, but he always got perfect reception at our house.)<br /><br />One of the employees at the Sprint store said to put my old phone in a bag of rice and it would probably at least turn itself back on so I could get my phone numbers transferred to the new phone. I did, and took it back to the Sprint store, and it worked!<br />` So, at least it has all my numbers on it, too....<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">October 17, 2010:</span><br /><br />Mike's collie, Max, jumped out his bedroom window yesterday, and Mike and Joel looked for him for an hour. A few hours later, Mike got another dog! This dog doesn't get along with Sylvia, though.<br />` Reminds me of the 'Ice Man' episode of South Park, where this guy falls into an ice cave and people searched for him 'all afternoon' before giving up, so his wife 'moved on' with her life. (Except, her children with her new husband were older than they should have been....)<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">October 18, 2010:</span><br /><br />Now convinced to look for Max, Mike found him at the pound -- after almost getting hit by cars -- and took the other dog back to its former owner.<br /><br />Also, Lucas put the ad in for Peter Jackson. It was expensive.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">October 19, 2010:</span><br /><br />And then... and then... IT HAPPENED!<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">Well, okay, Lucas was convinced by 'Sebby' down at Wingnut Studios to take back the ad in the Wellington Times, but that's not what I'm referring to.</span><br /><br />This was something that happened to me! What was it? Well, you'll have to wait for Part 3!<br /><br />In the meantime, enjoy some more photo-y goodness from <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/sets/72157625089793388/with/5159393677/">the rest of my October photos on my Flickr account</a>. You know, the ones I didn't have room to add.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
google_ad_client = "pub-0390306350918355";
google_ad_width = 728;
google_ad_height = 90;
google_ad_format = "728x90_as";
google_ad_type = "text_image";
google_ad_channel ="";
google_color_border = "6699CC";
google_color_bg = "003366";
google_color_link = "FFFFFF";
google_color_url = "AECCEB";
google_color_text = "AECCEB";
//--></script>
<script type="text/javascript"
src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
</script></div>Spoony Quinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730057249256927206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14272138.post-87512049894994663292010-11-13T16:03:00.000-08:002010-11-13T16:16:03.639-08:00Some hugely drastic changes -- Part 1<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">ARRRRGH, I just spent the whole morning working on this post -- so that I'd have the rest of the day to do my homework -- and Firefox crashed, and even though I saved frequently, NOTHING GOT SAVED! That can't be right... but I can't find my post anywhere!</span><br /><br />So... from the top! There's so many things that have been going on, but because I'm now running out of time (THANKS, DUMBASS FIREFOX!), I'll have to settle for doing this in three parts.<br /><br />However, I will tell you of the major developments up front, and this November, as many of you know, my best feline friend in the world, the most smartest cat ever, Violet, died horribly.<br />` This was her just after the last time I left off my blog posts:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4985029461/" title="sep 014 Violet smells all by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4090/4985029461_20b881c40b_z.jpg" alt="sep 014 Violet smells all" width="480" height="640" /></a><br /></div><br />Yes, she's really dead. However, we got a new kitten that really reminds us of Violet! He's even super-smart like her, so we can have the same kind of Special-Cat love for him. (Not to say that we don't have Special-<span style="font-style: italic;">Ed</span>-Cat love for Vada....)<br /><br />What else? Well, in September, Lucas was in a couple more acting projects -- you can view one of them below -- it's HILARIOUS!! And he looks like a little boy!<br /><br />Then, since October began, my fiance Lucas has been teaching karate at his third dojo -- our house! Also, we got two new roomates and they don't appear to be psycho!<br /><br />I myself have also changed, going through another stage of childhood development -- so now my brain's less backwards than before! YAY!<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">So, time to re-write my journal entries (working from my notes). What's first? The weekend of September 11 and 12. I didn't write about this, but I took plenty of pictures....</span><br /><br />CESSNA SQUADRON ATTACK! Head for the... oh, never mind!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4985030845/" title="sep 031 A squadron of Cessnas! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4087/4985030845_a83538cfff_z.jpg" alt="sep 031 A squadron of Cessnas!" width="550" /></a><br /></div><br />There were also some really old planes as well. Here's a photo of a biplane I took from my house:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4985630518/" title="sep 044 The biplane turning by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4133/4985630518_a3833f3483_z.jpg" alt="sep 044 The biplane turning" width="550" /></a><br /></div><br />This went on all day, and both Violet and I were watching intently. I have more pictures of all this on my Flicker account, link below.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">September 12, 2010:</span><br /><br />Lighthouse Par-tay! Lucas and I were invited, and conveniently since it was at our next door neighbor's house, he was able to slip out and come back with a couple guitars! Rock out!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4985032153/" title="sep 057 Lucas playing guitar at the party by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4130/4985032153_3a722bf1b3.jpg" alt="sep 057 Lucas playing guitar at the party" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Everyone liked him, and they liked me, too! The kids did, especially. I spent probably most of the time with the kids, and they thought I was awesome, and commented that I was different from the other grown-ups.<br />` Yes, I got along with them so well, it was like... I was one of them! I even encouraged them to use their broken glow-bracelet to write on the patio! Here's a picture of the fireworks, taken from the balcony, with the kids down in the yard playing with their glow-bracelets.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4985631266/" title="sep 061 Kids with glow things watching fireworks by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4087/4985631266_9fac3fb1bf.jpg" alt="sep 061 Kids with glow things watching fireworks" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br />And here's a close-up of the fireworks, with Whidbey Island and a ferry in the background:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4985631588/" title="sep 071 Closeup of fireworks, ferry going by by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4085/4985631588_e2757b9a82.jpg" alt="sep 071 Closeup of fireworks, ferry going by" width="500" height="445" /></a><br /></div><br />A good time was had by all -- I even got invited to the youngest girl's birthday party at Sky-something-or-other, which is basically this place that's one huge trampoline and... it sounds like fun! (I didn't go, though.)<br />` I took plenty of photos -- even of Vada keeping tabs on us over the fence, and of Roommate Troy and his Naruto crew, who were hanging out downstairs with Roommate Andrew.<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); font-weight: bold;">In the following days...</span><br /><br />The crazy, terminally-ill guy who had taken Michael Tuckman's TV station hostage has finally died. In his last week of life, Tuckman offered him millions of dollars so that he could at least have whatever he wanted, and so his widow could have something, but he refused.<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 204);">` Now the TV station is up for auction, and we're hoping that Tuckman gets it.</span><br /><br />I'm getting over my (allegedly Rick-induced) infections (more than one kind!), and my car is getting fixed enough so that I can get tabs so I won't get pulled over again! 'Cause I got pulled over, right in my own neighborhood in fact! (I got off easy, though....)<br /><br />I'm in school again now. I'd study as much as I need to, yet I need to give back a library book. Decisions, decisions!<br /><br />Also... it turns out that at least one of the kiwi plants is a female after all!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5049394918/" title="sep 091 We have a female kiwi plant! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4084/5049394918_a56da999da_z.jpg" alt="sep 091 We have a female kiwi plant!" width="550" /></a><br /></div><br />Yay, baby kiwis! They're too late for the Farmer's Market, though....<br /><br />Speaking of sex, Lucas was very amused to find gay porn downloaded onto his MacPro, as Rick did not delete it off the 'downloaded' display. *Ahem.*<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);">` Yes, it's pretty obvious now that it was Rick who stole Lucas' debit card and used it to download porn off of Lucas' computer. And it's gay porn!</span><br />` So not only was Rick a closeted alcoholic and a closeted JERK, but he was also a closeted closet case! No wonder he never had a REAL girlfriend!<br /><br />Cutest picture of Vada and Violet EVER!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5049397502/" title="sep 108 Vada and Violet chill on the deck by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4086/5049397502_5d1cce22d6_z.jpg" alt="sep 108 Vada and Violet chill on the deck" width="550" /></a><br /></div><br />Also, I was going to show you these clips of a movie that Lucas is in -- it's a Sci-Fi comedy. There are many clones of Lucas in this movie, so he's 'beside himself' on screen once more.<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 153);">` In these clips, Lucas sings this messed-up military song that's really funny, but they were only up for a short amount of time (just to show the actors snippets of the final product), so they're not there to see anymore.</span><br />` In fact, I was originally going to start my next post at this time so that I could put them up for all to see, but then, even more things happened:<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">September 25, 2010:</span><br /><br /><div>I wrote this letter to the Skeptalk email group:<br /><br />You're not going to believe this, but I'm at someone's house right now and retired NFL player Norm Johnson is trying to get my fiance and some other people to sign up for MyShoppingGenie, which is a network marketing scam.<br /><br />[I included these videos, which are taped off someone's TV screen. It's a news investigation, and I found, in my own investigation, that all this stuff is true, and more!]<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CAZYbxRCqgg?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CAZYbxRCqgg?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />[Here's where it really gets crazy....]<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6-vjrhXAnY8?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6-vjrhXAnY8?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />I included other links as well, and collectively we were able to put together a better picture of what was going on (which was difficult because My Shopping Genie, which is only the latest name for this scam, had a huge number of web pages saying "it's not a scam!" because, you know, they're trying to prevent you from seeing other people's accounts).<br /><br />Before I go any farther, yes, it really was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norm_Johnson">Norm Johnson</a>. Here's a really bad picture of him and our friend <a href="http://www.myspace.com/mako34">Mark Johnston the Jack Sparrow</a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5048781151/" title="sep 135 Bad picture of Norm and Mark by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4145/5048781151_97e4074640.jpg" alt="sep 135 Bad picture of Norm and Mark" width="500" height="357" /></a><br /></div><br />Neither of them have made any money so far, but they sure have a lost a lot, since they have to pay a mandatory thirty dollars each month. Also, here's Lucas getting enthusiastic:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5049400826/" title="sep 134 Lucas and Smeagol by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4087/5049400826_98f732fbce.jpg" alt="sep 134 Lucas and Smeagol" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />I don't think Smeagol bought it, though.<br /><br />Basically, the investigator guy was right, but Lucas thought it was all just sensationalism and refused to look at all the other stuff I had found because he was convinced that they were so biased that they were not even worth clicking on!<br />` This despite the fact that his previous network marketing ventures had never worked out. Gee, I wonder why? Well, there's a great explanation for that. There's a lot to it, although <a href="http://www.mlmwatch.org/01General/10lies.html">I think it's put best here</a>.<br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">` To condense the ensuing weeks, Lucas basically refused to look at all the stuff I'd found, he wouldn't even read the emails of the other people on Skeptalk explaining to him the difference between network marketing, franchises and movie distribution (he kept saying, "I already know this stuff!").</span><br />` Finally, he did his own damn research and agreed it was a bad idea for various reasons, though not because he <span style="font-style: italic;">already knew</span> that over 99% of network marketers lose money because the structure of the business is mathematically set up for failure.<br /><br />He wasn't convinced that this scheme was no different than others, and he was insulted that anyone would point out the fact that it was run by a poor, persecuted scam artist, so he set out to look for information on My Shopping Genie in particular.<br />` Among other things, he found that their patented <span style="font-style: italic;">copycat software</span> is inferior to other versions -- one of the things that he wouldn't listen to when I told him! -- and that they won't even tell you how much money people generally make on average.<br />` Probably negative-900 dollars, just like all the other ones!<br /><br />It was a crazy couple of weeks for me, in any case!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5049401448/" title="sep 139 My brain emitting a cloud by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4083/5049401448_fba74faf34.jpg" alt="sep 139 My brain emitting a cloud" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">September 26, 2010</span> -- Lucas and Mark Johnston were both in contest entries for GoDaddy! Not long after, we could view them online!<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Though the original links were broken, I found the one Lucas was in. It's very different from the movie clip I saw where he's playing a guard -- he looks like a little boy! Ha!</span><br /><br />Unfortunately, the 'embed' feature doesn't seem to be working, so you'll have to <a href="http://www.video.me/EventShow.aspx?showid=338&vid=101243">click on this link to watch it</a>.<br /><br />"Did your mother dress you today?"<br />` "No?"<br />` BLEEP!<br /><br />There were two others I saw on the queue, and I thought at first glance that they must be the other two -- Mark's and the old lady with the shopping cart that Lucas knocks over in Sex-A-Peel, but they were both the same video! Evidently, he's thrice-over popular!<br /><br />I remember the one with Mark had the guy asking, "Do you have a tattoo of a rainbow on your back?"<br />` "No."<br />` BLEEP!<br />` "It's a <span style="font-style: italic;">prism!"</span><br /><br />And the one with the old lady: "Did you come here alone?"<br />` "Yes."<br />` BLEEP!<br />` "Well, I <span style="font-style: italic;">thought</span> I did."<br /></div><br />Ah, if only lie detectors could actually function like that, they would actually be worth a whole lot!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">September 29, 2010:</span><br /><br />A couple mornings ago, the wrench that Lucas has been using to keep his wood cabinet shut was mysteriously missing. Also, there was a 'Vacant' sign in mailbox! According to the one of the postal workers, the only way that could happen was if someone were to fill out 'change of address' forms for everyone in the house!<br /><br />I smell a Rick!<br /><br />In other news, Mike the Mechanic and Joel with his minibike (and Max and Sylvia the collies) have been over, and Mike's been fixing Lucas' clutch, which apparently was almost at the snapping point.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5048784059/" title="sep 153 The collies playing by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4089/5048784059_eefb0a656d.jpg" alt="sep 153 The collies playing" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />The wrench went missing in between the time when Mike started to fix the truck and when the clutch parts came in, while Lucas' truck was sitting up on blocks for a few days. Perhaps Rick saw that Mike was over again and wanted to frame him?<br /><br />P.S. Here's Lucas defending Violet from one of the collies! (She's on the railing.)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/5049404244/" title="sep 155 Lucas defends Violet from the ferocious puppeh! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4091/5049404244_70557591fd_z.jpg" alt="sep 155 Lucas defends Violet from the ferocious puppeh!" width="480" height="640" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">September 30, 2010:</span><br /><br />Lucas has done some more talking to the postal workers, and apparently the 'Vacant' sign just had to do with our mailman reminding himself that Rick didn't live here anymore... or something like that. We're still trying to figure it out.<br /><br />Anyway, that's all for now. I'll be back with Part 2 -- October! -- fairly soon. (When I say 'fairly', I mean THIS MONTH.)<br />` It's now almost four in the afternoon -- it took me FOUR HOURS to do just this much. (Once again, THANKS DUMBASS FIREFOX!) For more of my excellent photos on Flickr, check out the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/sets/72157624768810333/with/5049404562/">September 2010 set</a>! There's a lot more that I didn't have room for!<br /><br />Oh jeez... I had planned to have had my homework done by now, but of course, I'm so DETERMINED to finish what I should have done in September that I finally DID IT... and now Andrew's all blasting music and stuff in his room, below my office.<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">` In case y'all wonder why I'm still not so enthusiastic about blogging -- it takes a while. And also, fiascos like this sometimes still happen. Well, gotta go.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
google_ad_client = "pub-0390306350918355";
google_ad_width = 728;
google_ad_height = 90;
google_ad_format = "728x90_as";
google_ad_type = "text_image";
google_ad_channel ="";
google_color_border = "6699CC";
google_color_bg = "003366";
google_color_link = "FFFFFF";
google_color_url = "AECCEB";
google_color_text = "AECCEB";
//--></script>
<script type="text/javascript"
src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
</script></div>Spoony Quinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730057249256927206noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14272138.post-84488318983710998592010-09-06T13:50:00.000-07:002010-09-13T02:25:22.535-07:00Post-Rick festivities -- more than I'd bargained for!So much has happened since last time... as usual... where to start?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4929862283/" title="aug 121 Violet back in her favorite spot by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4114/4929862283_3a6a148572.jpg" alt="aug 121 Violet back in her favorite spot" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br /><div><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); font-weight: bold;">August 26, 2010:</span><br /><br />It seems as though at least two weeks have gone by in the past few days, so I figure it's a good time as any to resume writing about what's been going on again.</div><div><br /></div>Things have been a lot better since, Rick Real (or Rael or whatever), the would be cat-killer roommate, was practically hauled off by the cops.<div>` Interestingly, the CEO and founder of Skullcandy, Rick Alden, helped us out! On Monday, he sent over these kids to clean out Rick Rael's room, and they didn't feel comfortable doing so because it was so disgusting!</div><div>` Well, if you can't hire someone else to do it, might as well do it yourself. Rick Alden himself said he'd fly over from Utah tomorrow, presumably with a biohazard suit, to do it himself!</div><div><br /></div><div>In the meantime, we had no other plans, so... we went hiking! Troy was awesome enough to drive us to the trailhead, which is a half hour walk in the scorching sun.</div><div>` There was the community garden... which has an actual flower BED, as well as crops for the Food Bank.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4929862765/" title="aug 125 There's a 'Flower Bed!' by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4116/4929862765_dfc15b2542.jpg" alt="aug 125 There's a 'Flower Bed!'" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div>The trail was very nice and pleasant... and dotted with bike ramps and ladders up which to climb when you are being pursued by rabid woodland creatures!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4929863185/" title="aug 130 Ladder in case of rabid raccoons by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4119/4929863185_639ee07cd6_z.jpg" alt="aug 130 Ladder in case of rabid raccoons" width="550" /></a><br /></div><br />In one spot there were just jump after jump in a row!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4929863209/" title="aug 131 Many bike jumps by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4116/4929863209_3aa8e67a91.jpg" alt="aug 131 Many bike jumps" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />We were trying to make it down to the train tracks and to the other end of Japanese Gulch, but wound up going in a circle. So, we went in again, discovered our mistake, and found the path we had taken up the hill last time -- on the fourth of July when we got lost for six hours!<br /></div><div>` I was hoping to get some exercise with -- and photos of -- some of the more extreme-looking hillside bike ramps and other structures, which look kind of surreal and are fun to run over.</div><div><br /></div><div>However, Lucas unfortunately managed to take a wrong step that extended to the rest of his body, and we had to find our way out into the nearest neighborhood.</div><div>` It happened to be our own neighborhood, and as we were walking down our own street, we passed the house that had burned down. At least they apparently rebuilt the garage.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4930453442/" title="aug 137 There's a lot of rebuilding to go! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4115/4930453442_e268bfd976.jpg" alt="aug 137 There's a lot of rebuilding to go!" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Interestingly, I heard it was possibly self-arson, as the last fire in the neighborhood had been. Though the house practically had to be torn down, the valuable heirlooms and whatnot where undamaged.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The next day, Rick Alden did indeed fly in just to come over here, at exactly noon, with a police officer and the West Coast distributor of Skullcandy, just to clean all traces of Rick Rael from the house, and presumably help the guy out -- then fly back home to Utah!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4930454214/" title="aug 143 Rick Alden; he has it together! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4117/4930454214_7a7fe1b197.jpg" alt="aug 143 Rick Alden; he has it together!" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br /></div><div>Yes, all the giant broken TVs Rick R. had amassed -- like the one on the wall -- were thrown out.<br /><br />How could such a successful entrepaneur be friends with such a loser? It turns out that they're both about 52, and they grew up together, so they've known each other since before Lucas and I were born!</div><div>` As Rick Alden became more successful, Rick Rael failed a whole bunch of times and apparently has never even gotten laid. Well, I don't blame anyone for not wanting to sleep with him. That's why he wound up a loser with a crappy car who can't even keep his room sanitary.</div><div>` Apparently, Rick Alden didn't even know how bad off his friend was, and how mentally defunct he has become.</div><div><br />The good news is, Rick Alden got to know Lucas a bit, got to know how compassionate and decent Lucas is, how much he's been trying to help Rick R. and how clean he keeps his house, despite what Rick R. has probably said about him.</div><div>` The other good news is, Rick Rael had a bunch of frozen chickens and ground hamburger in the fridge that they were just going to throw out, so we're taking those... and we're going to have a Rick-e-que!<br /><br /></div><div>In other news, since my car also works now after several months of not working, I've been trying to get tabs, which expired in June. Unfortunately, to get tabs, my car needs to pass emissions check, and in order to do that, the little doohickeys that monitor the engine's function need to come online, and despite having driven around since my car was fixed, they aren't all reset.<div>` In better news, I finally got my driver's license renewed just this morning, after standing in line an hour before the DMV opened. I was nearly first in line, and the rest of the line disappeared around the corner of the building.</div><div><br />Why did I do that?<br /><br />Because, I had gone to the DMV just days before, taken a number, found that I was number 65 and that the number count was at 31, so Lucas and I went out for half an hour to get something to eat. Upon our return, the number had only moved to 33!</div><div>` According to the woman holding #64, the other DMVs in the area are closed, so ours is packed at all times! Anyway, I only had an hour's wait this time and finally renewed my license, which was $25.<br />` It's been suggested to me by many people that I get my driver's license renewed every time I move, but I've moved seven times since I've lived in Washington, therefore not doing so has saved me over a hundred bucks!</div><div>` And the picture... well, I'll have to show you when I get my new driver's license in the mail....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4964037687/" title="aug 185 My new driver's license... by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4153/4964037687_f70318ff4c.jpg" alt="aug 185 My new driver's license..." width="500" height="434" /></a><br /></div><br />Basically, my last picture made me look like a stoner, despite not being one, and this time I look more like I'm on crack. In any case, it's nice to have a valid driver's license again, now that my car works!<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); font-weight: bold;">August 29, 2010:</span><br /><br />Been busy lately! Saw a blimp the other day. It circled over the park, then practically flew over the house!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4964035911/" title="aug 170 I can see the passengers! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4089/4964035911_2b8e62ed07.jpg" alt="aug 170 I can see the passengers!" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Picked up my mom at the airport! On the way, saw an actual Mini Cooper from abroad, with the steering wheel on the right (wrong) side and everything -- got a picture! It's not important enough to be on here, so it's on Flickr.</div><div>` Also, just before we saw the MiniCooper, we were almost rear-ended by a silver Jetta with two broken taillights that was swerving all over the place. I almost called it in, but forgot what number to call... argh.<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); font-weight: bold;">August 31, 2010:</span><br /><br />This morning, Lucas found his gas can tipped over in the bed of his pickup truck, which has no logical, ordinary explanation. Instead, it looks like another one of Rick's set-ups -- like the 'collapsing bed' trick -- and Rick had mentioned something about burning down our house!<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 204);">` It looks as though Rick tried to create an 'accidental' gasoline spill that would wind up burning down the cars, firewood and eventually the house if Andrew were to smoke a cigarette outside. Luckily, Lucas' gas can is of a special type that never leaks.</span><br /><br />Just like last year in Georgia, me and my mom went to a nice shoe store. They didn't have the shoe I wanted in my size, so we're going back tomorrow. We did, however, go on a walk to the Diamond Knot Pizza House -- Violet couldn't follow us the whole way, though.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4964037651/" title="aug 184 Taking a picture of taking a picture by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4154/4964037651_b253e9cb84.jpg" alt="aug 184 Taking a picture of taking a picture" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Later, I went back to the doctor to treat my RickInfection, if that's what it is. I swear, the man must have put three months expired milk in my underwear, just as he did the cats' food -- it happened at the same time!<br />` Apparently I've also had a bladder infection as well as a yeast infection this whole time, and the doctor would have known this if she had listened to me the first time!<br />` The doctor I saw this time, however, did seem to take this more seriously and sent off a urine sample for further analysis.<br /><br />If that wasn't enough RickEffects for one day, we then had the good bit, Rick-e-que! Michael and Alex and JT and Ananda and Morgan all showed up! Made baked potatoes, Waldorf salad, coleslaw, and cooked six cheeseburgers and three chickens!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4964640366/" title="aug 191 JT's here, too! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4147/4964640366_17534d7172.jpg" alt="aug 191 JT's here, too!" width="500" height="336" /></a><br /></div><br />What all happened, I barely remember! There was much eating and much talking, that's all I know.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4964640432/" title="aug 193 Morgan and Ananda! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4128/4964640432_a904d2828a.jpg" alt="aug 193 Morgan and Ananda!" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br />Oh yeah, Lucas did rock out... and Andrew did entertain us with his root beer-influenced singing.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4964038315/" title="aug 195 Lucas rockin' out. by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4111/4964038315_e0eae38499.jpg" alt="aug 195 Lucas rockin' out." width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />I had to go to bed at some point, and I put in earplugs to help, but then there was this screaming about "I'm not a sinner!" But then it was over and I fell asleep.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">September 01, 2010:</span><br /><br />I woke up at 4:30 in the morning and everyone but JT was still there! Apparently, the screaming I had heard was Troy who thought that others were attacking him and trying to get him to admit to being a hypocrite to his religious beliefs. Evidently, there's some sort of conflict that runs deep, because he put that on himself, no one was trying to do that.<br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">` By five o'clock, the sky was getting lighter, and I had some of the Kahlua pie that Alex and Michael had brought, which also complemented the strawberry-rhubarb pie that Troy had bought. Got a picture of the pie and the clock.</span><br />` Also, got pictures of the watch-with-wings hanging around Ananda's neck, which Alex had made. I call it the BoobyWatch! Not to be confused with BayWatch.<br /><br />I'm not putting all these pictures on my blog because they'll overload it and people's computers will crash if they try to come here, so I have links to them at the end of this post!<br /><br />Later on, long after everyone had left, me and my mom went to the shoe store -- the shoes finally came in, but didn't fit, so I got another pair anyway.<br />` We were going to go to the fair, but Lucas was so busy with court preparations for dealings with Rick that we didn't have time. Eventually, Lucas and my mom went to the Farmer's Market while I went to the gym.<br /><br />Apparently without the benefit of sleep first, Michael came over, and wanted to apologize to Troy, but Troy wasn't there so we had a frenzied, weird conversation about other things.<br />` I thought it was odd that Michael didn't want to believe that Lucas -- one of the most disciplined karate instructors -- knows how martial arts works.<br />` While Lucas was trying to explain that you can't understand martial arts just by talking about them, you have to DO them, Michael was saying things like 'that's just your opinion' and 'Muppets are really awesome, don't you think?' Eventually, though, he did listen.<br /><br />He said, "I'm a leader, not a follower", but yet he's an apologist to darn near anything. Sure, all these different points of view are neat, but he doesn't seem troubled when people believe that J.R.R. Tolkien's tree ents are real creatures because having no clear distinction between fantasy and reality supposedly doesn't hurt people.<br />` He doesn't seem to realize that not being able to figure out what's real versus what's not real can be a huge disadvantage, which I witness all the time (and should write about here but don't).<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">September 02, 2010:</span><br /><br />This morning, Lucas and I went to court. We stopped at the snack shop beforehand, but they didn't have my chai ready in time, after Lucas had finished his sandwich.<br />` The same guy who was there last time we were in court -- Andrew Mudd, who has long hair and a beard, and his own company -- and was still trying to serve a restraining order against this guy who was threatening him. Trouble was, Andrew couldn't find him to serve him!<br />` There was, however, nobody else there! Rick, or any representative of Rick, did not show up, after all that Lucas and Rick Alden have done to help him get the criminal charges dropped and everything!<br />` Well, the restraining order defaulted to us, so there was nothing left to do but go back for my chai.<br /><br />Later in the morning, Lucas, Mom, Violet and I went for a walk in the ravine. Violet found a tree growing out of a nurse log! Good Violet!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4964731350/" title="aug 221 Violet shows us a tree growing out of the nurse log by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4088/4964731350_300ef84f43.jpg" alt="aug 221 Violet shows us a tree growing out of the nurse log" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Lucas also found a tasty mushroom, which was soon to be in a salad. Even later, we went to the fair! There was bunnehs and pretty pheasants...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4964733180/" title="aug 235 Male golden pheasant by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4110/4964733180_51c7f654cc.jpg" alt="aug 235 Male golden pheasant" width="500" height="341" /></a><br /></div><br />...and alpacas and babeh pigs....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4964734594/" title="aug 242 Mama pig must be used to this by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4090/4964734594_b831dd3d9a.jpg" alt="aug 242 Mama pig must be used to this" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br />...and highland cattle, and dinosaurs, and goats that look like dinosaurs because they have no ears, a basillisk...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4964140555/" title="aug 266 Eek! A basilisk! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4086/4964140555_18cbb93a36.jpg" alt="aug 266 Eek! A basilisk!" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br />...a sasquatch, a guy on two unicycles, and... True Alaskan Racing babeh piggehs!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4964144015/" title="aug 273 Alaskan Racing Pigs take on the hurdles! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4107/4964144015_17c252a4f6.jpg" alt="aug 273 Alaskan Racing Pigs take on the hurdles!" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />The strangest creature of all was probably <a href="http://www.prettygoodmagic.com/">Steve The Pretty Good!</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4964748058/" title="aug 279 Steve the Pretty Good Sez... by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4132/4964748058_745a7fc39c.jpg" alt="aug 279 Steve the Pretty Good Sez..." width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />He was pretty good!<br /><br />Oh yeah, and later on, Michael called, wondering if we wanted to go to some seance or something. "It's right up your alley," he said. Uhhh... okay... sounds... <span style="font-style: italic;">interesting.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">September 6, 2010:</span><br /><br />I spent more time with my mom. While Lucas was doing some pruning, we went out for lunch and Michael called again wondering if we wanted to go somewhere.<br />` I suppose me and my mom didn't do much of any spectacular note, besides hang out, and hang out we did until she left on the third.<br />` Thus, I'm finally getting caught up on everything that I had been catching up on to begin with.<br /><br />But what else happened between now and then? Well, we discovered was will probably be the last batch of new adult Rickflies, probably from his Rickmaggots, one of which Troy discovered just after Rick had been ousted.<br /><br />Vada also had a small wound on her chest, which we amusingly treated with Neosporin. I suspect a certain squirrel may have tried to have her assassinated!<br />` You see, just days before I had seen her wait at the bottom of the plum tree for a squirrel to descend, which it did! Vada leapt onto the tree, the squirrel sprang to the ground, ran around the tree trunk with Vada following closely, and she almost caught it as it scrambled back up the tree!<br />` That cat can still corner -- when she was a baby she would run in circles on a vertical surface!<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 255, 153);">You know what? It's kind of depressing how un-fun and un-creative my posts have gotten over the past few years. Why? Because life has been so strange, and mostly stressful, that there's been plenty of crazy stuff to write about, but I've been so miserable there wasn't much point in having fun with it.</span><br />` That's because most of it hasn't been fun. Actually, the <a href="http://nociceptor.blogspot.com/2010/09/where-have-all-mechanical-henchmen-gone.html">Good Doctor has something to say about this</a>... Hopefully, now that Problem Roommate #10 is gone, I'll get my mojo going again!<br /><br />Whatever mojo is.<br /><br />At least my pretty pictures are still something to see...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4964754170/" title="aug 301 There's the Space Needle by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4103/4964754170_91dc59823f.jpg" alt="aug 301 There's the Space Needle" width="500" height="348" /></a><br /></div><br />Check out the rest of my <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/sets/72157624640913386/">August</a> and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/sets/72157624768810333/with/4964754170/">September</a> photos!<br /><br />Hopefully, my mojo will recover....<br /></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
google_ad_client = "pub-0390306350918355";
google_ad_width = 728;
google_ad_height = 90;
google_ad_format = "728x90_as";
google_ad_type = "text_image";
google_ad_channel ="";
google_color_border = "6699CC";
google_color_bg = "003366";
google_color_link = "FFFFFF";
google_color_url = "AECCEB";
google_color_text = "AECCEB";
//--></script>
<script type="text/javascript"
src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
</script></div>Spoony Quinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730057249256927206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14272138.post-88527678360811000512010-08-21T19:48:00.000-07:002010-08-21T19:55:52.387-07:00Would-Be-Cat-Killer Roommate Gets Served!<div><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">Though he is #10 of the problem roommates, "Maggot Rick" is the first to try to poison my cats! They seem to be okay now, and luckily by the time we found this out, we had just gotten a restraining order on him.</span><br /><br />Though he's long been a hilarious problem because he seems to think that he can get away with stuff as long as he lies about it, it's not funny anymore.<br />` Basically, if this is how much light I have shed upon him last post...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4898388833/" title="aug 043 Violet and Vada, and a crack of sunlight by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4073/4898388833_281c862542.jpg" alt="aug 043 Violet and Vada, and a crack of sunlight" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />This is how much light I will shed in this post!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4898389313/" title="aug 047 Will they be swallowed up? by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4097/4898389313_1be8210663.jpg" alt="aug 047 Will they be swallowed up?" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />So, we've served him the restraining order. However, since I've gotten complaints about talking about his insane antics too much on my last post, I decided to start this one off with some non-Rick business.<br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">Thursday, August 4, 2010:</span></b><div><br /></div><div>This morning I took the bus to school because neither of our vehicles work now! Upon following me down the trail to the bus stop, Violet was very upset when I passed the gate and kept going, and she begged me to come back!<br />` I took a picture of this -- it's on Flickr. There's a lot of pictures I can't show in one blog post that are on Flickr, which is why I always link to them at the end.<br /><br /></div><div>Luckily, I caught my bus, found that they'd raised fare, and had a seat. At the Everett Station, an ESL student from Punjab named Roman, who wants to be a doctor and also help homeless people, got on the bus and sat right across from me! Her English is really coming along!<br /></div><div>` I showed up for class about half an hour early, so I listened to a science and critical thinking podcast for a while until I realized there was no class going on in the room. (I couldn't see inside, so it took a bit of critical thinking to figure out.) Apparently at this time, the room is a study hall of sorts.<br /></div><div><br />I didn't get my test back yet, so darn! I also realized I didn't have enough change for the trip back, so I got a tasty treat at El Rey Authentic Mexican Food Stand before heading back to the EVCC bus station.</div><div>` I listened to my podcast for most of the time taking the buses back home -- which took about an hour and a half, as opposed to a 20-minute drive. I walked back up the trail, calling for the cats, but they were nowhere to be seen.<br />` After getting in the back door, Violet ran out making happy cat sounds to greet me, and Lucas said that she had been very traumatized by my having left her behind and not come back for hours!<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Lucas also told me about the Rick situation. As you may recall, this man, who we're pretty sure is 52, has been really belligerent about insisting on using the dishwasher instead of the sink to wash dishes, which doesn't usually work out well and Lucas winds up washing the dishes anyway.</div><div>` As you may recall from near the end of my last post, after Lucas had washed his own dishes and cleared out the sink, and left far more than enough dish soap for Rick to wash his own plastic containers, the dish soap disappeared right as Lucas turned his back to Rick.</div><div>` In other words, Rick poured the dish soap out. After that, he clogged the drain with spaghetti so none of us could use the sink.</div><div style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);">` Today, Lucas confronted him about this and told him to clear out the drain. Reluctantly, Rick pulled a few strands of spaghetti out of the drain, and then left Lucas to clean up the rest -- an entire bowl's worth of them!</div><div>` Then, Lucas went downstairs and chewed Rick out about this, in front of Troy and next to Andrew's bedroom door. He said that if Rick doesn't want to behave appropriately, etc. he can find somewhere else to live!</div><div>` Predictably, Rick started making baseless accusations, but all in all, I think he was taken aback.</div><div><br /></div><div>As I've been writing, Rick has been exceptionally and hilariously dramatic over the past month, and it's only getting more amusing -- and annoying.<br />` Why doesn't Lucas kick him out? Because, Roommate Rick is -- amazingly -- friends with Rick Alden of Skullcandy, whom Lucas is trying to make a business deal with, and he's not about to jeopordize that.</div><div>` In any case, Lucas is raising Rick's rent because he wastes so much electricity it isn't funny -- the electricity bill has increased $150 more since he moved in!</div><div>` We can attribute this to his leaving the lights on all night, leaving the sliding door open all night, doing loads of laundry consisting of one item, falling asleep with the TV on, using the 1960's dishwasher that really doesn't work well, etc.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, Lucas is off getting his truck fixed -- the slave cylinder and the brakes need replacing -- and if all goes well, I'll be able to drive it myself!</div><div><br /></div><div>Later...</div><div><br /></div><div>A canvasser from the same window company Lucas and I had once worked for knocked on our door. I told her, as I usually said, we're renters, and she asked me how well I knew my neighbors. Huh? She said that a worker at the house was talking about something my neighbors had, and the other one said, "I already have some of those."<br />` She showed me the house and it was our landlords' place! I thanked her and told landlord Steve's nephew, and later on I called Lucas and told him, too, and he called Steve and told him, and... it turns out, it was just his son and his son's buddy sanding the deck, not to worry.</div><div><br />Neighbors don't let neighbors get jacked... even when they're just sharing!</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4898980638/" title="aug 034 Creepy red sun! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4080/4898980638_a89168071c.jpg" alt="aug 034 Creepy red sun!" width="500" height="366" /></a><br /></div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">Friday, August 06, 2010:</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Lucas called Rick's former landlord, Raul, who asked, "Is he misbehaving?" Oh, yes.<br />` Raul told Lucas that Rick has done exactly the same stupid stuff he is now, and that he had also been fighting with the roommates and had to be kicked out.<br />` "We got along pretty well and I really hated to kick the guy out," Raul said, "but his behavior was unacceptable."</div><div>` Lucas told Rick this, and Rick was like, "Well, one of the roommates was racist!"</div><div>` And Lucas was like, "Raul said the problem was you!"</div><div>` And Rick was like, "This is because you hate my bill!"</div><div>` You'll recall that Rick's hypocritical bill says that people who have had DUIs -- like Rick -- won't be allowed to have alcohol -- like Rick does, though he claims he goes to the bar for socializing purposes only. Does he even have friends?<br /></div><div>` Rick just kept blaming other things for Lucas getting angry, so afterward, Lucas could hear him in his room; "Hello, Raul?" and then he left, presumably to talk to Raul.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, Rick was gone, and Troy and Andrew weren't here either. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>When Rick got back, however... he came upstairs, and without saying a word, washed a dish!!!</div><div><br /></div><div>Is there hope for Rick?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"><b>Saturday, August 07, 2010:</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div>The fluorescent light bulbs in the main bathroom had been working just fine, according to Lucas, until Rick got up this morning. Then, I saw with my own eyes, that both light bulbs were burnt out, at the same time!</div><div>` I guarantee that isn't a coincidence.</div><div><br /></div><div>Later on, Lucas was watering the lawn when it started raining! He finished up, in case the rain didn't continue, but it did, all day!</div><div>` Then, I called Ananda later on to invite her to the Red Cup for open mike night on Wednesday, and she was like, "Are you coming to the party?" Nooo! I missed the party at the beach house! Arrrrgh! Not much fun in the rain, but still, all my friends I've been neglecting are there and I forgot about it!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">Sunday, August 08, 2010:</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Andrew's hooking his computer up to the internet right now. Speaking of the internet, I haven't been online much lately because of the construction going on in my office. It's kinda disruptive.</div><div><br /></div><div>Lucas allowed Rick to redeem himself by helping Andrew with his internet access, but Rick wouldn't listen to the Comcast tech support person and he even snatched the paper Lucas was using out of Lucas' hands!</div><div>` Rick managed to drag the frustration out for two hours -- however, as soon as Lucas made him wait for the directions, they were done in 15 minutes.</div><div><br /></div><div>Later on, Rick dropped the loose sliding glass door on Troy's head. Passive-agressive?<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">Monday, August 09, 201o:</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Getting back to working on the Corrigendopedia more. I'm starting to use my new-used desk like a person who has a normal office. No sooner did I get a desk however, that we started using a fan for ventilation, in my office, although it doesn't bother me as much as I thought it would.</div><div><br /></div><div>Michael Tuckman, by the way, plans to pick up Hump City (starring Lucas) and The Boob (in which case it will be starring Lucas), so it seems we'll be able to get along without the help of 'Skullcandy' Rick Alden. Michael has assured Lucas that Lucas is THE MAN.</div><div>` While Lucas' mom was tutoring me in math via phone, Michael Tuckman called Lucas, thinking that Lucas had emailed someone something he shouldn't have.<br />` Lucas assured him that it wasn't who Tuckman thought it was, and in the end, Tuckman was even happier with Lucas and even added Lucas onto his team. Or something. I don't quite remember, since I was on the phone with Lucas' mom, who was also listening. It was quite a blur, as it was an emotional rollercoaster for Lucas.</div><div><br /></div><div>As for Soon-To-Be-Former Roommate Rick, he was talking on his cell to one of his friends and was saying that Lucas is a racist. Of course, he isn't, but now I understand why Rick was calling one of his former roommates racist -- he considers himself a minority! I would have never guessed!</div><div>` Lucas has also talked to Rick's former landlord, Raul, once more, and he's agreed to meet Lucas tomorrow and give him Rick's official kick-out letter and whatnot, so that Lucas will be armed to the teeth when he kicks Rick out.<br /><br />Armed and full of garden greens!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4898387849/" title="aug 032 Our garden vegetables! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4078/4898387849_02782122c9_z.jpg" alt="aug 032 Our garden vegetables!" width="480" height="640" /></a><br /></div><br />Hooray for giant colanders!<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">Tuesday, August 10, 2010:</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Today after school, Lucas and I went to the police station and got some consulting on why or when to call them in the process of kicking out Rick. Then, back at home, Lucas finally decided to tell Rick to get out because of Rick's behavior, and I watched.</div><div>` Lucas explained that as long as Rick decided to get out in a few days, he'd refund him his deposit and help him move out. If Rick didn't, Lucas would put a 20-day notice on his door.</div><div>` Rick seemed to think this was a joke, and said that Lucas held a lot of resentment towards him and was kicking him out because of the thing over the computer.</div><div><br /></div><div>Something tells me that Rick has a lot of resentment towards Lucas.</div><div><br /></div><div>He was also laughing in a self-assured way and told Lucas that he would sue for defamation of character.</div><div>` Me, I was catching Rick's eye and laughing every time Rick laughed after saying something retarded. Since he still seems to be apologetic towards me (as with most problem roommates we've had), he might have interpreted this as me laughing along with him.</div><div><br /></div><div>Lucas is meeting with Raul at two o'clock.<br /><br />Can't wait 'til this is over!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4898976370/" title="aug 064 Funny, I never see anyone sitting there by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4076/4898976370_694beeb38c_z.jpg" alt="aug 064 Funny, I never see anyone sitting there" width="550" /></a><br /></div></div><div><br />We're closer than ever to a Rickless Paradise!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4898383627/" title="aug 065 I walked down the driveway and saw this by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4075/4898383627_8a46001310.jpg" alt="aug 065 I walked down the driveway and saw this" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Later:</div><div><br /></div><div>Lucas got Rick's kick-out letter from Raul. Apparently Rick has been a control freak, becoming more and more overtly threatening, doing weird things to be intimidating like walking around in a suit, etc, so that's kinda scary.</div><div>` Also, when we got into Lucas' truck to go to the gym, smoke came out of the engine! Also, the truck was dieseling when he parked at the gym. We suspect Rick did something to his engine, and left oily disturbances which would cause it to smoke. Hmmm....</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">August 11, 2010:</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Rick has not agreed to get out, so Lucas said he's going to file a restraining order on Rick. Well, Rick laughed and said Lucas was acting like a "13-year old girl" and that he's going to get laughed out of court.</div><div>` He also yelled loud and clear, "Don't go there. I've hurt people before and I can hurt you, I can hurt your house, I can hurt your finances, and I can hurt your emotions."</div><div>` Lucas asked him, "Have you ever been kicked out of a house before?"</div><div>` Rick said, "No."</div><div>` So, Lucas showed him Raul's rejection letter, and Rick said, "That's a fine forgery."</div><div>` Then, Lucas went to call the cops and Rick was like, "For what?"</div><div>` Lucas said, "For threatening me."</div><div>` Rick said, "I didn't threaten you."</div><div>` Lucas reminded him of how Rick said he could hurt Lucas and then Rick said, "I didn't threaten you, I said, I could hurt you, but that I don't want to go there."</div><div>` Whatever! Same thing!</div><div>` So, now the cops are over....</div><div><br /></div><div>And now, the cops are gone. Since Rick didn't actually do anything to Lucas, they can't arrest him. Darn. And I thought we were so close! Gee, how many cop visits has this been at our house?<br /><br />Lucas is also gone, as Steve the landlord came while the cops were here, and then they left to go play golf and get wasted. And Rick thought <span style="font-style: italic;">he</span> was friends with Steve!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">August 12, 2010:</span><br /><br />I think I did well on my fifth exam! That'll be all for this quarter, maybe now I can focus on something other than math... and Rick!<br /><br />Speaking of which, he's been walking around in a suit all day, just as Raul said he did! He's been talking loudly on the phone, but then he got one phone call that made him go all quiet.<br />` Apparently, it was Rick Alden, telling him to just move out of the house and stop being an ass, since Lucas has been reporting his behavior to Alden. Why? Lucas agreed to trade his business deal with helping us get Rick out of the house.<br /><br />Later on, Rick said something that he said to me yesterday when I went and got the mail for him, and that was, "Don't you think it's interesting I haven't gotten my mail?" because he was waiting for some parts for his TV that he said he hadn't gotten.<br />` I told him that I'd once not gotten a package at the post office, and that the post office doesn't deliver mail every day to everyone. I suggested that "Tomorrow, maybe everyone will get a lot of mail!"<br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 255, 153);">` Later that night, while I was cataloging notes at my chair-desk he said to me, "Before, you said something about roommates not getting their mail?" No...</span><br />` I explained what had happened -- years ago (back when we lived in the crazy landlady's condemned house), my mom sent us a package full of Christmas presents that never made it to our door.<br />` I had gone to the post office and they said they hadn't received it, even though my mom's post office said they had, weeks ago! It turned out that it was sitting in the back room and hadn't been scanned.<br />` He grinned and said something about we're only humans, everyone makes mistakes sometimes. Whatever.<br />` I asked him about the two pink notices from the post office about failure to deliver a package, and he said, "Oh, that was something totally unrelated."<br /><br />Then, he started talking all about Obama ruining the economy, and I bit my tongue and pretended I agreed with what he was saying as best I could. Then he asked me what my major was, and I told him it was science writing, and soon he began bragging about a children's book he said he wrote called 'First Wings', about how to deal with a death in the family.<br />` I suggested he could make more money about that and he said something about getting it re-published. I wonder if that book even exists? Can't seem to find it on the internet, anyway.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">August 13, 2010:</span><br /><br />Today, Rick was strutting around in a suit, but 15 minutes after Lucas emailed Rick Alden, Roommate Rick got a call and became very subdued. He then changed into sloppy-looking clothes and left.<br />` When he came back, he said something over his phone, "I'm at the house now" and then apparently was listening to instructions and nodding, saying, "Uh-huh".<br /><br />After this mechanic guy came to look at my car, then left for a doctor's appointment (doctor's appointment scheduling problems are why he couldn't fix my car yesterday), this Norwegian couple came up to our house, looking for for a couple named Ray and Diana Sundal, who they said were probably relatives of theirs, if they were from the same village.<br />` We suggested that our neighbor Tom might know something about it, but he was apparently gone for the weekend. They didn't want to leave information with us, though, and they said they had to leave tonight.<br />` Later, when the mechanic, Mike and his friend, Joel and two collies came over to fix the car (okay, I guess the dogs don't really participate in that part), one of the dogs, Max, escaped and ran off.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4898977354/" title="aug 073 Do you know how to drive this thing? by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4141/4898977354_af446838bc.jpg" alt="aug 073 Do you know how to drive this thing?" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />This one lady down the street said he had just been freaking out in her yard -- while we were on the other side of the block, of course -- and then Max shot out of someone else's yard and back down to our house.<br />` Then, there was this old guy watering his lawn we always wave at, and almost met at a party at our next-door neighbor's house, and Lucas and I introduced ourselves. He said, "I'm Ray Sundal." and Lucas and I were like, "Ohhhh! We finally met you just a few hours late!" He looked a lot like the Norwegian couple!<br />` We had a good conversation. He was indeed Norwegian and said he had been hanging out with Norwegian sea captains all day -- and indeed he knew a lot of Sundals back in Norway, though he didn't know how he could get in contact with the couple who was looking for him. Darn!<br /><br />Later on, I got to show off my knowledge in things mystery-mongering. I had this to write about it in an email thread on the strangeness of people's ways of thinking (slight edits for clarity):<br /><br />"...there were these guys over fixing my car for cheap and they are real awesome, and seemed impressed with my being able to respond so knowledgeably about woo-ey topics they were curious about.<br />` Like, the remote camera picture of the 'black blob' bigfoot in dude's garden, I was like, 'it's a crow flying' and the mechanic was like, 'but what does a bird have to do with someone's garden being raided?' and my fiance Lucas was all, 'correlation isn't necessarily causation -- the bird has nothing to do with the garden being raided, it was just flying by.'<br />` I never would have guessed someone would think the bird flying by would have to have something to do with someone's garden getting raided!<br /><br />Over dinner, he was talking about the 'water powered' car, which he's seen people make, and the government was covering it up, and I was like, 'what about the rest of the world?' and he said Japan already had them, they're called hydrogen fuel cells.<br />` I had to explain to him that they're two entirely different concepts, but that in either case, it takes more energy to get the hydrogen from the water than the energy you get out of it, so therefore the water isn't the fuel, the electricity you put into it is.<br />` The only way you could use the hydrogen as fuel is if you put it in your car already in hydrogen form -- but since that takes more energy than it's worth to make, it's more efficient just to use batteries. I don't think he quite understood, but he did seem impressed with my knowledge. (That doesn't happen every day! Pat on the back!)<br />` I thought it was most interesting when I was like, 'the thing over Stanley Meyer's trial was that he claimed to break the first and second laws of thermodynamics, and he couldn't demonstrate that his water engine actually did that, and he was sued for fraud.'<br />` He was like, 'Well, maybe you can.' and I said, 'Break the first and second laws of thermodynamics? I don't think so.' He didn't say more about that. I don't know what he thought."<br /><br />A little later, after the guys had continued work on my car, Rick was all hanging around the mechanic's car, taking his license plate number, apparently, around which time his car door lock mysteriously broke.<br />` In fact, I got a picture of that... there's Rick with his back to us. I guess the computer I edited this on has a screen that's way darker, because I couldn't originally see all the purple and green distortion.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4898384819/" title="aug 075 Problem Roomate #10, Rick, going to scope out the mechanic's car by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4121/4898384819_c57ff81a77.jpg" alt="aug 075 Problem Roomate #10, Rick, going to scope out the mechanic's car" width="500" height="385" /></a><br /></div><br />It's the first picture I have of Rick, but it may not be the last since that one sucks.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">August 14, 2010:</span><br /><br />OMG, I woke up at 8:30 this morning and Lucas told me that he had to stay up almost all night because of Rick and his police-calling shenanigans!<br />` The mechanics had to stop work last night/this morning around 1:30 because they didn't have a wrench bit, so they drove off to get some Jack-In-The-Box and some beer.<br />` They were coming back to sleep in the house, so Lucas was making up the futon near Rick's door, and he heard Rick call the cops to report a DUI, saying these mechanics had been drunk and obnoxious and were now driving home -- though he hadn't even seen them in hours!<br />` In response, Lucas called the cops himself, explaining that it was just Rick being a jerk once more -- and he emailed this incident to Rick Alden.<br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 255, 255);">` Later on, at about three in the morning, Rick was in the tool shed, bending over his box of tools, which he had earlier offered to the mechanics as I recall. (Lucas told them, 'no! Don't trust him!) Now, Lucas heard him muttering, "I know, I'll tell them they stole my tools, that's what I'll do."</span><br />` Seriously!<br />` Lucas watched this apparently apnea-induced sleep deprivation, stupor-like state Rick was in for a couple of minutes, then said, "Hi, Rick," and Rick stood straight up, wide-eyed like he'd been caught doing something wrong.<br /><br />In morning news, after Lucas fixed them a wonderful breakfast and I'd made a smoothie, Mike fixed the garbage disposal, and now it seems clear that Rick had broken it, because he found... a piece of gravel!<br />` As I've written before, Rick had been happy about its having stopped working at first, and insisted that, although we had gotten it working again before, that we could not this time.<br />` How can a piece of gravel get in the garbage disposal? I think Rick must have done it, and he knew the disposal wouldn't work anymore!<br /><br />Later on, Troy drove me to Office Depot and I got some more miniature paper and a couple more mini-binders in which to catalogue my notes. Almost done!<br />` Meanwhile, it's been ideal car-fixin' back at the house....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4898978704/" title="aug 083 The dogs are saying, 'Can we go play?' by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4076/4898978704_671a549102_z.jpg" alt="aug 083 The dogs are saying, 'Can we go play?'" width="480" height="640" /></a><br /></div><br />Giant Bucket o' Coronitas n' Limes! Also, Bocce ball!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4898978910/" title="aug 084 Lucas and Joel playing Bocci by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4116/4898978910_62b95018a3.jpg" alt="aug 084 Lucas and Joel playing Bocci" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />This afternoon, Rebecca and Nate came by, with their 2 year-old (and 2 months!), Charlie! He is so tall, and he's talking now, which is a relief because Rebecca had been paying for speech therapy because she was afraid there was something wrong with him!<br />` Whoa.<br />` Indeed, he seems older than he is, and he was kicking at the Bocce balls saying, "kick! Kick!" Then we did a little bowling, and I even held Violet still enough to be kissed and petted, and then put her in a safer spot. Charlie was so cute, Nate was so laid-back and Rebecca was so dotey, and said some things I rolled my eyes at and won't repeat here.<br /><br />Idnee cute?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4898979192/" title="aug 088 He's only a little over two years old by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4073/4898979192_a0508dbe0d_z.jpg" alt="aug 088 He's only a little over two years old" width="480" height="640" /></a><br /></div><br />Though Charlie was all peeing on trees like a pro (he's too short to reach the toilet), he sat down on our front stoop and really looked like he had to go #2, so Rebecca brought him into the upstairs bathroom. I heard Rebecca say, "It won't touch you", apparently referring to the stain in the toilet.<br />` He didn't like the bathroom, evidently, and I take that as a sign that someone should clean it. Troy's the only one who ever has so far, and I never have barely ever used it.<br />` Luckily, there's one reliable way to get it out of him, and that's hiking! And whaddaya know, Lucas took them on a walk down the trail, and Charlie got to splash in the ravine... and then... yes... it worked!<br /><br />I actually spent much of this time indoors, finishing up my note-cataloging, although I did get up to get Rebecca the rest of my smoothie and come hang out some more.<br />` After they left, I actually managed to finish my Corrigendopedia notes! I have never done this before! Amazing! I'm up to date for the first time in... ever since I started last year!<br /><br />Though it was mechanic paradise at our house, with a tub full of Coronitas on ice with lime wedges, the boys couldn't install the clutch because it was the wrong size! That's right, the clutch that the parts store employees probably told everyone was for a Jetta actually doesn't fit, and no other stores had the right clutch, so we had to get it from Pignataro VW, which was $250 more than the one we had just bought.<br />` Of course, the office closes early on Saturday, so we have to wait until Monday to order one, and it takes four days for it to arrive.<br /><br />After the ice had melted in the Coronitas tub, I figured that dipping Violet's feet in the tub would cool her off, but no soon did I manage that than Rick had come home and she ran up to him and greeted him.<br />` He petted her and was all, "Oh, isn't she so cute? She does that every day when I come home!" and then gave a huge belly laugh, which scared the bejeezus out of me!<br />` The only thing I could think was 'what are you going to do to my cats, asshole?'<br /><br />After they had gone home, the neighbors had a wedding, with a loudspeaker and everything!<br /><br />Yet later, Lucas videotaped me getting the mail today -- and my taken-apart car, in case Rick tried to accuse Lucas of stealing his mail, or taking parts of the Jetta, whichever.<br /><br />Troy got more pie! Strawberry-rhubarb and cherry! And vanilla ice cream, too! Whoo hoo!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">August 15, 2010:</span><br /><br />On the couch where Vada naps, I found a pile of cat vomit that hadn't even been digested. Now, the cats' dishes and food bag, which Lucas keeps open all the time, is directly below Rick's cupboard.<br />` I looked through it for foreign substances but couldn't find anything but cat food, though it had white speckles on it. I broke open a piece of the food to find the same white speckles on the inside.<br />` Then, I went outside and called for my cats, but only Violet came. I started to suspect that Rick had done something to Vada when she appeared in the downstairs room.<br />` Maybe he hasn't done anything yet, but I'm keeping an eye out.<br /><br />Thankfully, Rick seems to be more subdued. Probably another call from Rick Alden. I mainly ate pie and ice cream and lazed around, because it's so hot, and because I just need a rest day, although I did get through all my emails.<br />` Rick did say he got a job, after praying with his pastor in church, and said he came back and cried with his pastor because after working his ass off he finally got a job and blah blah. Whatever! He also said he found some places to live nearby.<br />` Even so, if he's going to be living nearby, we're going ahead with the restraining order, which I've spent all day preparing for by compiling my 'RickFiles' for use in court.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">August 16, 2010:</span><br /><br />Lucas can't file the restraining order today because he can't drive his truck, or much else, because he's having another excruciating muscle episode, which he's heavily medicated for.<br />` Michael and his sister Sharon came over for a bit, and Michael offered to drive Lucas to the court house, but Lucas said, "Nah, I might as well wait for the police report to come out before I go to court anyway. I need as much ammunition as I can."<br />` Good strategy! And to think I was up until 2 in the morning making sure it was all in line, and then not waking up this morning until 11:45! I must have been tired! Lucas has been too, because his muscles kept him up all night.<br />` Rick, on the other hand, has presumably been at work, although we don't know where. We had planned to serve him the restraining order at work, but now there's no huge hurry.<br />` Besides, he'll probably do something stupid that we can use as fuel.<br /><br />Lucas and I walked down to the liquor store, got this cream vodka -- it is amazing! Then we got our swamp cooler action -- spraying water into the air in front of the fan, pulling all the shades down, putting Vada's quilt in front of the window that doesn't have a shade.<br />` Rick got home, I asked him where he worked, he said Anacortes. What? Yet he said he was going to move up the street from us by the end of the month, which is creepy! Why would he want to live near us if he works at least an hour's drive away?<br /><br />What a tangled web of lies he weaves!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4898983188/" title="aug 096 Closer look at the spider by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4100/4898983188_bb0b0f277a.jpg" alt="aug 096 Closer look at the spider" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">August 17, 2010:</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Our lives are somewhat centered around getting rid of Rick -- can you tell?</div><div>` Also, I'm starting to suspect that Rick doesn't really have a job -- yesterday he left at 7:30, today he left at 9:00.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, though he says he will move out, we need him out of here in short order before he pulls anything else.</div><div>` We should have taken Michael up on that ride to the courthouse on Monday because we don't really need the police report.</div><div>` Unfortunately, we got there too late to file for a Restraining order, firstly because we went to the gas station and then Lucas realized he didn't have the wrong clutch he was taking back to the parts store, nor something that he needed to take to the courthouse, so we had to turn around and get them, which took ten or so minutes.</div><div>` Then, while we were taking the wrong clutch back to the parts store, we had to wait for half an hour for our cash. Finally, when we got there it was just past three in the afternoon, which was the deadline!</div><div>` Arrrgh!</div><div>` Next time, Rick, next time!</div><div><br /></div><div>Later on, when we finally got home later on, it was dark and I shoved a pizza in the oven. While waiting for it to cook, I went outside and played with my cats using a holly branch that Lucas must have pruned off recently. I was so proud of them both for attacking it so fiercely -- usually, only one of them attacks the branch and the other is very half-hearted about it.</div><div>` Then, Rick came outside and told me the mechanics didn't know what they were doing and bla bla, and I sure hope he hasn't tried to screw up my car, which has been sitting half-taken apart since the fourteenth.</div><div>` We should have the new part in by tomorrow!</div><div><br /></div><div>I was going to email someone, which I've been trying to make room for since the beginning of break, but I was so tired. So, I decided to do something I've never done before -- start writing my screenplay! This requires categorizing my screenplay notes, as well as a lot of creativity.</div><div>` I was so stoked, so I had Lucas get rid of the noise that drives me crazy all day, and I got all settled down and started work, when Lucas got all upset at the fact that one of the locks from our office doors had gone missing, locks that we need to keep Rick out of our stuff. It took forever to find the lock, and by that time I was really upset and couldn't think straight, so I figured I'd just put it off until tomorrow, along with the email.</div><div>` And one wonders how I keep putting things off? Before, I was upset all the time and constantly being interrupted, but now, it seems that this type of thing only happens when I get around to doing something actually important!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">August 18, 2010:</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Okay, so today, Rick left for work at 8:15. Come on! Does that make any sense?</div><div><br /></div><div>We set off for the courthouse just after I had woken up today, and... got there right at the beginning of their break! So, we had to wait around for an hour and I got a smoothie from Zippy's.</div><div>` I didn't tell Lucas this, but it was four dollars, as usual, but only half the size as it used to be! I was outraged, but as I'd been waiting for fifteen minutes after paying for it and it was time to line up at the office door, I didn't have time to complain.</div><div>` With my smoothie o' pineapple-y goodness, I returned, offered Lucas some, and we went up to find that no one was even forming a line, really. After waiting by the door ten minutes, we got in, and they enlarged the statement Troy had written of Rick threatening Lucas, and apparently Lucas had filled out the restraining order form upside-down so he had to fill out another one.</div><div>` During this time, two charming blokes from North London, who were in America to coach soccer and "to get speeding tickets", were in the next window, so of course I flirted with them. One of them had a bracelet that said I *heart* Boobies. I said, "I have boobies! Laser boobies, <i>pew pew!</i>" They thought that was funny.</div><div><br /></div><div>That whole episode took up about four hours of my time, which I would have spent at home doing what I put off last night if I had known I didn't need to be there.</div><div>` Anyway, I was so exhausted and relieved by all this that I took a nap, and woke up at three o' clock when Mukilteo Farmer's market was starting, and we walked down to check that out, had some good food, bought some really great blueberry peach jam, some olive oil from New Zealand and some fruits and vegetables -- but not Ed Boring's vote!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4914419762/" title="aug 104 Lucas and Ed Borey by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4075/4914419762_7c50fb74f7.jpg" alt="aug 104 Lucas and Ed Borey" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />When I got back from the farmer's market, there was this loud generator going and it was so distracting that my brain shut down and I took another nap until after 8:00 at night!</div><div><br /></div><div>Now we know Rick is lying about working in Anacortes -- when he came home, he said he was hopefully going to get a house up there, overlooking the Deception Pass bridge -- except are no houses there, just state parkland!<br />` Lucas overheard this and asked Rick whereabouts in Anacortes he worked, as Lucas had worked there once, and Rick suddenly had to go, inexplicably.<br /></div><div>` Then, Lucas videotaped me getting the mail again.</div><div><br /></div><div>I just heard Rick call someone on his phone and say, "I can't get a job, so I'm working in Anacortes, okay?" Huh? He can't get a job, so... he has a job? Except he doesn't anyway.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, before I go to bed, I'd better work out on the exercise bike or something because I didn't even go to the gym today, I've been so tired from stress or something.<br /><br />It's after my workout now, about midnight, and for the past half hour I've been hearing Rick badmouthing Lucas to a woman I thought was the neighbor, and at first I shrugged it off because this neighbor knows he's an asshole. However, I can't hear it outside... I can, however, hear it outside of Rick's room.<br />` I heard him say, "I lost my girlfriend, I lost my job..." I know he didn't have a job, and I kinda doubt he had a real girlfriend back in Colorado!<br />` It isn't even a woman in his room, it's his speakerphone, and he's trying to provoke Lucas -- Lucas, however, did not take the bait.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">August 19, 2010:</span><br /><br />Rick left at 7:00 today to go to 'work', whatever he's doing. Lucas and I left at 8:30 to go to court and get a restraining order. Get it we did, after a bunch of people changed their last names, including a seven-year-old boy who the judge addressed as "Mr." and whatever his name was.<br />` Interestingly, I didn't even need to testify, all the judge needed to hear was what Lucas had to say, and read the testimony of Troy, about when Rick was threatening Lucas outside his bedroom door. She didn't even question Lucas about whether he thought it was appropriate to get this guy out of our house -- I think his body language was enough.<br />` Best of all, the lady in the office where we were getting our copies of the restraining order said that we could serve him on the premises.<br />` What a relief! We were celebrating all the way home, and when we got home, we kept falling asleep! At one point, Lucas woke me up to tell me that he can call the police to serve the restraining order in our own house and it doesn't cost a dime!<br />` Then I went back to sleep and must have slept until noon.<br /><br />Even so, Rick Has Struck Again! I washed the canned food residue out of Violet's bowl, and poured some dry food in, and there was a maggot in it!<br />` I picked the maggot out, which was so quick that Violet failed to catch it. That seemed to be the only one in the bag, so I figured now was the time to get another bag. Even so, I dumped the bowl out and poured some more cat food in it, but Violet recoiled from it and walked away, snorting.<br />` Then, she meowed at me and Lucas, and Lucas went over to her food bag and inhaled deeply. It smelled really nasty, and the kibbles were lighter in color and larger than they should be, as if they'd gotten wet and expanded, and then dried.<br />` I am not making this up!<br />` Then, Lucas found an opaque plastic milk jug sitting by the recycling bin-- different from the translucent ones we normally have in the fridge -- so he took the cap off, crushed it, and a horrific stench came out! Then, he put two and two together:<br /><br />Rick poured rancid milk in our cats' food!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4913817033/" title="aug 108 The rancid milk bottle and the food bag it was emptied into by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4117/4913817033_3bd3a5ab90.jpg" alt="aug 108 The rancid milk bottle and the food bag it was emptied into" width="500" height="335" /></a><br /></div><br />That explains why the cats have been so wild and playful, and why they haven't come inside at night, and have been killing all those small animals, and why Vada is so skinny! They're hungry!<br /><br />My poor predators -- and their victims!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4898982650/" title="aug 053 Good morning, Mommy! We brought you breakfast! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4143/4898982650_c35d07099a.jpg" alt="aug 053 Good morning, Mommy! We brought you breakfast!" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />And as for where the maggot came from, I'm not sure, but Lucas and I both remember Troy saying that he's been finding maggots on the bathroom floor every couple of days, and he couldn't figure out how that was possible since there's nothing for flies to lay eggs in!<br /><br />Also, we found a piece of metal that comes from one of Rick's cigarette lighters in the sink. Apparently, he discovered that the garbage disposal works again and was trying to break it once more. Psycho!<br /><br />Anyway, it's about four now, and I'm to wake up Lucas, and we'll drive to the pet store and get more cat food and then go to Pignitaro VW for the new clutch.<br /><br />It's nearly seven in the evening and the mechanic has been putting the clutch back in. We're waiting for Rick to get home so we can call the cops and serve him his restraining order.<br />` Also, the cats were happy to get their food -- look how skinny Vada is, and how happy she is to have food!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4914419870/" title="aug 106 Post-poisoned Vada happy to eat again by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4100/4914419870_a39aa845fa.jpg" alt="aug 106 Post-poisoned Vada happy to eat again" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Interestingly, after that, both cats were suspicious of the food dish and looked at us until we encouraged them to eat.<br /><br />So, at ten thirty tonight, the cops came and went, without incident other than Rick being his damn pathetic self, saying, "I lost my job today!"<br />` I thought he lost his job yesterday! But it doesn't matter, because he hasn't had a job, he's just been staying away from the house all day, probably sleeping, so he can come home late and do things while we're supposed to be asleep -- except Lucas has been up late.<br />` At eleven o'clock when the mechanic finished with my car, they found something Rick did! He busted my starter!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">August 20, 2010:</span><br /><br />At six this morning, Lucas had me videotape him unplugging Rick's damn alarm clock. I won't miss that sound.<br /><br />As for my starter, the mechanic said it was probably himself just not connecting the ground wire. Okay, so it looks like Rick didn't get my car! In further car news, my car is fixed, Lucas drove us in it today. This was after we went to the cop shop, with the cat food bag and my underwear, filed a report, then went to my doctor's appointment.<br />` Why underwear?<br />` The doctor says that rotten milk could have caused inflammation -- which started eight days ago -- that could have led to an imbalance in bacteria and... a yeast infection. Our last couple of loads of laundry have sat in the dryer overnight, accessible to Rick.<br />` Know what I'm saying?<br />` Luckily, I've just swallowed the magic pill that will fix that, which finally got to my pharmacy after our trip to the gym -- in my car! -- and I luckily got the message just in time before the pharmacy closed!<br /><br />Can you believe people used to die horribly of yeast infections? And now all's we have is to take a pill that cures them! From that alone I'd be dead three times over!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">August 21, 2010:</span><br /><br />I think that today's a good day as any to try to find a 'normal' pattern with me, now that I am assured of having no more crazy people in the house. Is it safe for me to finally do as I please? This is a goal I've been seeking since 2006. Have I survived to see myself fulfill it?<br /><br />I have my own desk and quiet room and everything!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4914923338/" title="aug 117 Back to my new desk... by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4135/4914923338_5157d1c192.jpg" alt="aug 117 Back to my new desk..." width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Of course, Rick's stuff is still here, and we suspect that he has a maggot farm, which we want the police to take care of ASAP. Maybe that's where the RickFlies come from, rather than from him leaving the doors open?<br />` In any case, the clouds of flies that have been zig-zagging all over the house are gone. Also, the little brown beetles that die in the same spot on our counter, and which appeared two days after Rick moved in, and which Rick pointed out to me, also seem to be disappearing.<br />` Hmmm... I had thought, about the beetles, 'I hope he doesn't think we've always had insect problems because this is the first time I've seen those!' For the longest time they were in the butter dish and on the toaster oven, or in boxes of crackers that had been opened the day before, and now I don't see any!<br />` Was this guy breeding insects and putting them around the house? Seriously! That's weird!<br /><br />Rick of the Flies!<br /><br />Anyway, I must run to the gym. There are plenty more pictures <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/sets/72157624640913386/">here</a>, from hummingbirds to peas and a few funny things -- they're on Flickr so as not to overload my blog and crash your browser!<br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
google_ad_client = "pub-0390306350918355";
google_ad_width = 728;
google_ad_height = 90;
google_ad_format = "728x90_as";
google_ad_type = "text_image";
google_ad_channel ="";
google_color_border = "6699CC";
google_color_bg = "003366";
google_color_link = "FFFFFF";
google_color_url = "AECCEB";
google_color_text = "AECCEB";
//--></script>
<script type="text/javascript"
src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
</script></div>Spoony Quinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730057249256927206noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14272138.post-82381038149280070412010-08-04T23:11:00.000-07:002010-08-05T00:18:48.976-07:00The entire month of July... and beyond!<span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">I have a good explanation for being late with this journal entry. Let's just say, it's been eventful. Some of the eventfulness stems from our amusingly-childish roommate, Rick, and his low-IQ mind games.</span><br />` While 'crazy' roommates have been a staple of my blog content for years, there's also been other things here and there going on, Like Lucas' brother's wedding. Where to start? How about with the first of July -- and a bad picture of me!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4855059784/" title="july 011 Me looking through kiwi blossoms by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4117/4855059784_4576e5794b_z.jpg" alt="july 011 Me looking through kiwi blossoms" width="480" height="640" /></a><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">July 1, 2010:</span><br /><br />There's something about guys with leather pouches for their nutsacks who are really not so tough. Just saying.<br /><br />There's something even funnier about guys who go to the bar every night, yet claim they don't drink and tell you that you shouldn't drink, either, and then call you for help when their car gets stuck at the bar!<br /><br />You may recall that last spring, me and my fiance Lucas had finally caught up with rent after being shortchanged thousands of dollars by our worst roommates from December to March.<br />` You may also recall that after Lucas had succeeded, our roommate Rick was loudly accusing him of spending Rick's rent money on beer instead of giving it to the landlords. Why beer? Because Lucas drinks beer when he watches sports.<br /><br />That, and because Rick blows his own money on beer and then claims he's not getting paid enough and that gas prices are climbing to the 4-5 dollar range. (When Lucas and I pull into a gas station, Lucas says, "$2.89 -- oh no, it'll be over four dollars any day now!")<br />` In fact, Rick goes to the local bar every night and thus cannot partake in beer-drinking and sports-watching along with Lucas.<br />` So, he tells Lucas that he shouldn't drink, either, and that he should instead go to church. Lucas then reminds him that Rick isn't his daddy.<br /><br />This drama has reached new heights tonight: As Lucas and I were on our way home in Lucas' truck, Rick called from the rear parking lot of a bar up ahead on the road, asking if we had a tow strap.<br />` We pulled in to see Rick and his car's ass-end sticking up from a ditch! He said someone had 'bumped' him in. Somehow I think that in that tight, crowded parking lot, there's no way anyone could have gone fast enough to knock his car ten feet.<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);">` The tow strap wasn't in Lucas' truck, but we actually went home and found it, so Lucas brought it to Rick. Another guy used his much larger truck to lift his car with the strap, and as Lucas was leaving, the cops (including that one woman cop who's been to our house several times, who we saw on the beach the other day) were driving into the parking lot!</span><br />` For a half hour or so, Lucas and I figured that Rick was probably being questioned or arrested or something, when he came back and thanked Lucas for the tow strap.<br />` I'm thinking he probably won't give Lucas trouble over rent money this month.<br /><br />Even so, every time we leave the house, we lock up our former bedroom and my office, using the locks we originally bought to keep Brad and Char out last winter. We just don't trust the guy.<br />` I'll also remind you that the reason that room is our former bedroom is because Rick, Mr. "I don't have sleep apnea" kind of drove us to Stinky Johnny's former room with his deafening snoring. (It was a lot of work de-stinkifying it!)<br />` However, we have a purpose for the former bedroom -- Lucas is going to move his office into there and then build a sound stage for Hump City, the show he stars in, in its place.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">July 2, 2010:</span><br /><br />I took the cats to the vet today... one in a cat carrier and the other in Lucas' "Lucas" Brand duffel bag, because evidently our former roommate Stinky Johnny had taken the other one when he had left with his own cat.<br />` I actually tried to use another box that was the same dimensions as a cardboard cat carrier, but Vada quickly clawed a hole in the side and escaped.<br />` As terrifying as being shut up in a box may be, the cats were so good at the vet's office, and then I got them a new box carrier, and some Advantage flea killer.<br />` I told the vet about this weird thing on Violet's mouth, which had appeared to be a tick. Lucas had burnt it with a hot match-head, singing two of Violet's whiskers off, but it took a few days to turn black and drop off. The vet said it may have been a tick, and in the future, to use tweezers to very slowly pull ticks out. Works much better than burning them!<br />` Then, I took them home, dosed them with Advantage on the front stoop and let them run away from the bad smell.<br /><br />Later on, this door-to-door guy for this painting company, who appeared to be several years younger than me, asked "Is your mom or dad here?" And I'm 28 now! I just played dumb and Lucas, who was watering the lawn, told him we were renters.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">July 4, 2010:</span><br /><br />After a good aerobic workout at the gym, Lucas and I walked to the bottom of Japanese Gulch, expecting to find our way back up the hill to our neighborhood.<br />` We walked along all kinds of giant log bike ramps and paths that had raised sides so you can ride sideways around the curves. I've never seen anything like it!<br />` On this one hill, I climbed almost straight up a long ways, then managed to climb onto the front of a bike ramp. I turned around and looked down and was like, "How could anyone just ride their bike off of that?"<br /><br />I didn't take pictures of these bike ramps, though, because it was bizarrely dark and cloudy today, and looked like night-time under the trees. I figured I could get better pictures some other time.<br />` Our goal was somewhere up the hill on the other side of the train tracks, so that's where we set off for. At least we crossed the train tracks... Lunch Break!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4854441571/" title="july 016 We brought goodies! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4093/4854441571_62136e0b51_z.jpg" alt="july 016 We brought goodies!" width="480" height="640" /></a><br /></div><br />After hours of hiking, the sky was getting dark, but we figured we'd find out way out at any moment. We could hear cars and caught a glimpse of someone's house and even an area practically in someone's backyard where the tree trunks were completely covered in paint ball splatters.<br />` Unfortunately, the path kept curving away from the houses and we wound up going back to the train tracks again and again. As night approached, we also saw stuff like really old junk having been dumped down a hillside -- decades-old vehicles and mattresses and clothes! Apparently this hill had been a dumping area, and it almost looked as if civilization had fallen victim to a landslide!<br /><br />At last, we ran out of path and wound up following the train tracks all the way to Boeing. After six hours of hiking, we'd found civilization at last!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4855061052/" title="july 023 Boeing! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4123/4855061052_d7a9e298f9.jpg" alt="july 023 Boeing!" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />And then we found that we were trapped inside! Oh noes! We had to crawl over the fence and then walk along the Boeing Freeway like a couple of hitchhikers in order to reach our neighborhood.<br />` When we finally were getting close to home, the 4th of July fireworks were already starting! But, we got delayed for about twenty minutes or so when we ran into this guy walking his black lab. We told him that we were exhausted from being lost in Japanese Gulch, and he told us that he's part of a committee to stop it from being developed.<br />` A very long discussion ensued as I mostly stood around and looked awkward and talked to the dog. I could hear the fireworks and the sky was so dark -- thank goodness for street lights!<br /><br />We could see the fireworks from the crest of the hill before we even got home, and I snapped a halfway-decent picture by putting my camera on top of a mailbox to steady it. We had planned to go up to Harborview Park to watch them, but we were seriously exhausted and felt it was better to watch what we could from home.<br />` Rick was there, already watching the fireworks from the deck. I said, "You'll never guess where we were!"<br />` He quipped, "Was your car stuck in a ditch?"<br />` As both our cars were visible from the deck, I figured he was just being a jerk.<br /><br />We watched the fireworks and I tried to take pictures, which is difficult when you're propping your camera on the same deck that people are walking around on. Still, I got some okay ones of both the fireworks and the ferries:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4855063018/" title="july 056 It's the big scary blurry thing! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4073/4855063018_5da72227a8.jpg" alt="july 056 It's the big scary blurry thing!" width="500" height="387" /></a><br /></div><br />Vada and Violet were watching them as well, but they kept running away when I tried to get near them, so I figured they were ascairt of all the explosions and our interest in them. "No, Mommy, we don't want a closer look!"<br /><br />We eventually got too tired to watch anymore and went inside. That was when there was a knock at the door. The man on the other side had long, black hair and was doing the Drunk-O Hula -- it was Former Roommate Drunk-O Steve!<br />` Apparently, he had run into Stinky Johnny, who said that we were still able to keep the house after he'd moved out, so he thought he'd come by on his way home from the fireworks.<br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">` Lucas tried to make clear that Drunk-O was one of the people who, upon moving out, made it possible for us to continue living here. I'm not sure he really understood, being that he was wondering if he could still call Lucas.</span><br />` We told him we were just going to bed -- and so we did.<br />` In so doing, Violet crawled under the covers with me. Then, Lucas came into the room and adjusted his side of the bed. Disturbed by this, Violet hopped down and then tried to get us to let her out of the room.<br />` Lucas said, "Violet, get in your bed," -- and so she did!<br />` I was so exhausted, having gotten up at seven in the morning and later working out for an hour, and then spending six or so hours hiking, most of it trying to get home. Still, I didn't get to sleep until about four in the morning.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); font-weight: bold;">July 5 -- Vada Down!</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4855063976/" title="july 063 Rolling over on her side by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4094/4855063976_66b0fe01ea_z.jpg" alt="july 063 Rolling over on her side" width="550" /></a><br /></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); font-weight: bold;">July 6, 2010:</span><br /><br />I limped my Jetta to school today, and wished I had brought my camera because a deer trotted by, going the other way! I wonder if it's the animal that's been systematically eating our lettuce from left to right?<br /><br />Tonight, Lucas says, is the happiest he's ever felt! Lou Ryan Productions is heading forward and he has no worries for now. It's so nice outside that he's lit the tiki torches -- one of them caught on fire where it shouldn't be on fire, though he put it out.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); font-weight: bold;">Julys 7-10, 2010:</span><br /><br />We really did stay up almost all night, although Lucas fell asleep on the old lawn chair chaise with the cats. I kept him company while working on The Corrigendopedia, and long after he'd fallen asleep, finally put out the tiki torches.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4855064986/" title="july 075 Vada guarding Lucas by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4142/4855064986_12001072cf.jpg" alt="july 075 Vada guarding Lucas" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); font-weight: bold;"></span>Also, Andrew's put the fist down on Lacey again and has kicked her out of the house, and maybe his life, for good. I know this because first thing in the morning I hear him talking about how there's no reason for her to hang out anymore and saying, "I'm not going to reward you for your behavior by driving you somewhere."<br />` She was like, "Reward me?" And she threw a fit. I took a picture of her down on the deck below my room, looking all pathetic in her pajama pants. She really didn't know what to say, being a meth-head and all, and he closed the door on her. Later on, another one of Andrew's car's tires was flat -- which also happened the last time he told her off.<br />` I'm seeing a pattern here....<br /><br />I also got a picture of Violet doing a great impression of Lacey...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4854447133/" title="july 086 Noes, you cannot tell me how to make a movie! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4121/4854447133_bc03b8347e.jpg" alt="july 086 Noes, you cannot tell me how to make a movie!" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br />I also got some bad pictures of our systematic lettuce-eater... it's the neighbor's cat, whom we call Llama Kitty! (Vada says; "I'm just watching!")<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4855066164/" title="july 087 Vada and Nicodemus in the lettuce patch by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4098/4855066164_f724d5d576.jpg" alt="july 087 Vada and Nicodemus in the lettuce patch" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />In the next pictures after that one, Lucas chases Llama Kitty by walking very slowly, with Llama Kitty looking over his shoulder. At last, as Violet and Vada watch, Llama Kitty finally goes under the fence.<br />` He may not be the only one, but we've seen him a couple of times eating our lettuce. There's only one head of Romaine left, all the rest are eaten!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">July 11, 2010:</span><br /><br />In the Roommate Circus today, Rick was telling me to tell Lucas that Troy was unable to sleep in his bed last night because of a leak coming from the ceiling.<br />` "Troy's a nice guy," Rick said, "and he pays rent on time. Lucas should really do something about it."<br />` As if he wouldn't.<br />` See, this has happened before a couple of times, months ago, and we had no idea where the leak was coming from. Not only that, but it went away, so he couldn't exactly fix a problem that wasn't even there.<br />` Lucas is investigating the problem as I write....<br /><br />Later on, this movie-making guy, Vamsee and this other guy, came over and Lucas auditioned for him -- I was the supporting actor for the scene. The character's name was 'Jose', but he apparently can be any ethnicity, as Vamsee doesn't know everything about American culture, and they eventually changed the name to 'Mark'.<br /><br />Later still, Rick took the time to do a load of laundry that consisted of only one shirt. I am not making this up. He also left the lights on all night. Between that and his running the dishwasher, this probably explains why our energy bill is so high....<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">July 12, 2010:</span><br /><br />This morning before school, Troy saw the spot where his ceiling was leaking -- at the same time, Rick had just taken a shower (above Troy's room) and had flooded the bathroom floor.<br />` Can ya figure out what coulda happened there?<br />` Lucas yelled, "Aw, dammit! Rick flooded the bathroom!", then told Troy why his ceiling was leaking while Rick was standing there. After that, Lucas taped up the surround-shower curtains so it couldn't happen again.<br /><br />All this day, Lucas had been trying to get ahold of Michael Tuckman, the TV station guy, and both his phones gave a disconnection message! Lucas had wondered if he was dead or something, and was just calling Tuckman's office so I could hear the message, and it started ringing instead, and he answered!<br />` Tuckman assured Lucas that he is not dead and that Lucas is THE MAN, and invited us to a party for his indoor football team at Hooters casino-bowling alley.<br /><br />Whoo-hoo! I'm so happy that I'll give you a random pretty photo:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4855068748/" title="july 112 Closeup of the beach chairs by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4080/4855068748_3bb503af6c_z.jpg" alt="july 112 Closeup of the beach chairs" width="550" /></a><br /></div><br />That's the end of someone's driveway, just up the street!<br /><br />Speaking of driveways, the neighbors who use the alley as their driveway are getting it all paved, including the section that was formerly an elevated gravel parking spot! I have pictures of Violet staring at the whole thing!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">July 13, 2010:</span><br /><br />I swear, Rick is really terrible at looking intelligent. He was talking on his Bluetooth for quite a while, complaining about his son's text messaging seemingly the whole time, then asked Lucas to call his cell phone because he couldn't find it -- and it was in his pocket!<br />` That was kind of a blow to his ego, and he was eager to find a way to put Lucas down:<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">` Later on, he was on the front deck and someone handed him a notepad-sized notice about the house being potentially foreclosed. Triumphantly, he returned through the door and came up the stairs, practically bragging about it! Oh, he really got Lucas this time!</span><br /><br />Lucas knew this must be some kind of B.S., so he called landlady Roberta and got her to tell Rick, over the phone, that it was a mistake in refinancing the house, it wasn't really in danger of being foreclosed, and it had nothing to do with us.<br />` Amazingly, Rick believed her!<br />` Apparently, this mistake was due to someone who seems to have Down's Syndrome, and because the bank really wants this house, they apparently tried to scare us by posting the notice on our door instead of hers.<br />` I know this because Lucas had a long conversation with her over a bottle of fine wine. I walked over to her house with Violet, in the dark, to check out the fresh pavement in the alley -- nice and smooth, but still hot! -- then Lucas came out of the house and the three of us walked back home, Lucas and I laughing about the whole matter.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">July 14, 2010:</span><br /><br />Having been defeated yesterday, Rick took it upon himself to look up our legal history at the house. He found record of the "eviction notice for all of us" that Steve the landlord filed specifically in order to help drive out three of our abusive (and squatting) roommates.<br />` He confronted Lucas with this, touting it as evidence that Lucas was not the best at paying rent. Lucas responded with something like, "You dipshit -- that was for domestic violence, and didn't even have anything to do with me. You would know that if you had read it!"<br />` Rick didn't bother him again after that.<br /><br />I also have a bit of Vamsee News today; we received a Performer's Callboard audition email from Vamsee, and Lucas was shocked to find that the role he had just gotten, 'Mark', was listed! I suggested that maybe it was a typo or something.<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 204);">` After all, Lucas had met with Vamsee again this week and they had discussed the script and its cultural subtleties at length. Lucas had also arranged to bring his track and dolly for use in the movie, and even to perform music as 'Mark'. Heck, they changed the character's name just to suit Lucas!</span><br />` Surely, since Lucas had already invested so much into the movie after being accepted as the lead role, this has to be some kind of mistake. Right?<br />` Lucas has been trying to get ahold of Vamsee, but no news yet.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">July 15, 2010:</span><br /><br />I swear, for 48 years old, Rick is so like a child, which he demonstrated again today. I suppose I ought to mention that each morning, when his buzzing-flashing TV-blasting alarm goes off, Lucas normally has to bang on Rick's door before he even wakes up. While the other roommates are annoyed by the alarm, they leave this job to Lucas, presumably because he's in charge.<br />` This is in fact why it's most logical to think that, last month, Rick purposely loosened all the bolts in his bed frame before going to Portland, and purposely didn't tell anyone, and purposely left his alarm on.<br />` He knew that Lucas would bang on his door as usual, find nobody there, and turn off his alarm, and in so doing, lean across his bed, causing it to collapse!<br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">` With all the B.S. Lucas has been putting up with lately, he didn't bother banging on Rick's door this morning, and the other roommates had to put up with two hours of a huge ruckus while Rick snored on.</span><br />` Lucky for Rick, he managed to wake up just in time to hurry off to work. I guess he doesn't really need anyone to wake him up anyway!<br /><br />In today's Vamsee news, Vamsee finally called and told Lucas that there's no mistake in the audition email -- he wants to recast 'Mark', because he wants a different look for the character.<br />` I'm sorry, but... what the hell, dude? He had Lucas <span style="font-style: italic;">already working on</span> his movie project, and then, without even telling him, invited other people to take his place! That is <span style="font-style: italic;">so</span> not cool!<br /><br />And, in a RickWarfare Update, Rick has resorted to leaving the door open when he smokes outside so that the smoke gets into the house and the entire downstairs smells like Menthol.<br />` Need I say more?<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">July 17, 2010:</span><br /><br />Wow. Just... wow. Stupidity... just... read:<br />` Off and on today, starting at five in the morning, I've been hearing this high, droning noise that indoors sounds almost like Indian music, but when you open the window, it sounds more like a shop vac.<br />` I commented on this to Rick when he said he saw a gray whale in the sound early this morning, thinking he might have heard it, too, and he said, "Oh, a weird vacuum cleaner sound is the sound a whale makes. You've never heard a whale before, have you?"<br /><br />I'm going to pause for comedic effect.<br /><br />Bwaaa haa haa haaa haaaa!!! Gray whales don't sound like vacuum cleaners!!! Also, Puget Sound is several blocks away, and the only time I ever heard whales was when I put my head underwater -- I couldn't hear them at all above water! Sound is like that, you know?<br /><br />This afternoon, even though I had massive homework, I was eager to see a meeting between Lucas and Michael Tuckman, so I decided to go to the indoor football party!<br />` In Lucas' one-window, junky truck, we passed by Ananda (aka 'Nympho'), who is looking for an apparent census dodger, and blew kisses at one another. We went to the gym first, though didn't have time for a full workout, then drove an hour to the Renton Hooters Bowling Alley and Casino.<br />` Yes, it's real!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4854450191/" title="july 117 Hooters bowling alley and casino! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4094/4854450191_50bc313fef.jpg" alt="july 117 Hooters bowling alley and casino!" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />For the most part, we were stuck with the rest of the indoor football fans and pep squad to watch choppy, live internet footage of an indoor football match, with a radio broadcast of the announcers being blasted from a speaker right next to my ear.<br /><br />The football fans, whose team (the Predators) Tuckman had just bought, were talking about him as if he's some awesome, legendary figure, especially because he's going to put their games on TV instead of this internet B.S.<br />` We were excited because he's getting the TV station back (from the crazy, terminally ill guy) probably on the 23rd, and he's said that Lucas is his his number-one talent and wants to purchase Hump City, the web comedy Lucas is starring in.<br />` I got tired and went out to sit in Lucas' truck, and called some friends, which I'd been meaning to do. Then my phone went dead. I tried to call back with Lucas' phone, but they didn't pick up, so I called the only other person whose phone number I can remember off the top of my head and we had a proper conversation (compared to the one we'd had this weekend, which was interrupted on their end).<br /><br />At the end of two hours, Lucas finally called Michael, who said that he was actually in Utah at his cousin's wedding and thought Lucas knew about this and apologized profusely.<br />` The bad news -- we just wasted four hours, and I had a lot to do today and I haven't finished it and to hell with it. The good news? We learned that Michael Tuckman is apparently larger than life, another good sign of his competence. I think.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">July 22, 2010:</span><br /><br />Once again, Rick has spilled sugar -- our sugar -- without cleaning it up.<br /><br />In other news, Lucas' mom, who was on a trip, and, being a math teacher, helped me with my math while on the road, and later in a hotel. I'm going to ace the test, I just know it!<br /><br />OMG!! Someone else who knocked on the door -- a college student apparently much younger than me -- asked me if my parents were home! Seriously!<br />` She was asking about some educational program and was looking for households with kids. I told her that I didn't have any kids. Ha!<br /><br />Must be the acne.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">July 23, 2010:</span><br /><br />I almost aced the test! Okay, so I really screwed up on the first problem, which was really easy, but I guess I'll live....<br /><br />Too bad I didn't take the camera for this one. Out in the hot sun, amid the sounds of beach-goers and bagpipes, Lucas has been trimming the secret pathway in the hedges for the neighbors. I was out there admiring his handiwork when Vada plopped down in the middle of the path.<br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">` Little did she know, that iridescent green hummingbird she keeps trying to pounce on was sitting in the tree behind her, plotting an attack! He launched himself, and very slowly swooped lower and lower behind Vada's head!</span><br />` Lucas and I were standing about ten feet in front of Vada, laughing our asses off and gesticulating at her, but apparently not understanding, she just gave us her Cross-Eyed Teddy Bear Look of Confusion.<br />` After much darting about, the hummingbird was apparently frustrated that he couldn't even get a reaction out of her, and he flew off through the bushes.<br />` I swear, that cat is so blind! Lucas said that the other day, she was standing on the railing next to him, hissing about 20 degrees to the left of Mr. Yoboshi, who she couldn't see through the male kiwi plant. Lucas said that Mr. Yoboshi looked at him as if to say "Why?"<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">July 24, 2010:</span><br /><br />Lucas has finished the Hump City set (a fake bedroom) just in time for his mom, Charlene, to arrive and use it! (And for Violet to go through one side of the window and out the other!)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4854454197/" title="july 146 Violet inspects the new TV set by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4095/4854454197_eb9a4d26e8.jpg" alt="july 146 Violet inspects the new TV set" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Charlene, by the way, is pronounced with a 'Ch' instead of a 'Sh'. Rick was very taken aback at how much younger she seemed than him, and how much more cooler she is than him.<br />` After him saying, "I knew a Sharlene once," and Lucas replying, "That's very similar to Charlene," he kept a low profile.<br />` Especially after she was candidly talking about marijuana or something with Lucas. Rick's face got so red!<br /><br />She's actually here because we're going to Lucas' brother Boone's wedding this Saturday and she's visiting everyone in the area. We were actually expecting her tomorrow morning, but she made it tonight! With some wine! Much conversation has ensued, too much to keep track of!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">July 25, 2010:</span><br /><br />Lucas, his mom and I walked down the even more-trimmed trail for lunch at the Diamond Knot pizza house (which is right near the Diamond Knot Brewery). Do we ever stop talking? Violet followed until we got to the street, then she meowed piteously. I told her to wait for us.<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 153);">` A couple hours later, when we were walking back from eating both lunch and dessert (berry-peach calzone!), I chirruped for Violet, and she emerged from the undergrowth! Then she cowered down when a terrifying jogger passed by. Wow! She endured all those scary strangers just to wait for us! What a loyal cat!</span><br /><br />Later -- too much later -- we pulled into the parking lot of this Greek restaurant, but as it had closed, the Greek guy turned off the OPEN sign -- and then shooed us away like we were raccoons or something!<br />` We wound up having salads from Pizza Hut. They were actually pretty good! While we were waiting, I was observing a family, apparently from Eastern Europe or something, talking in both English and a language I didn't recognize.<br />` On the TV at Pizza Hut, there was this boy who had killed his abusive dad when he was 12. Charlene was like, "Why would they blame a 12 year old kid? They don't normally do things like that unless something in their life is messed up." And thus, spurred some interesting conversation about parenting and how children are influenced by their parents.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">July 26, 2010:</span><br /><br />Tonight, Lucas cooked dinner -- shrimp that Charlene peeled, with salad that I picked from the garden, and yummy rice and asparagus that was so amazing that even Charlene thought it was good!<br />` The conversation was in an eating-lull when Rick came up the stairs, saying, "Lucas! I have a cramp! Help me!" I swear he's the most dependent 48-year old I have ever met, at least in my adult life. And yes, Lucas did help him!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">July 29, 2010:</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">It's been pretty busy these past few days. Charlene has taken Lucas and me to Value Village, and bought us clothings and also a big desk and a little coffee table that I can use as a chair! It's awesome, and it fits perfectly in the space in my office where I moved my electric piano from earlier this month!</span><br />` We actually went in Charlene's little Miata convertible, which the cats thought smelled like Charlene's road trip, I expect, and Lucas brought his truck down to move the furniture -- although not before helping this one girl tie mattresses to the top of her car.<br />` She could speak Spanish, so he was speaking what Spanish he could to her and her family, which they thought was really cool -- plus it shut their kid up, who was being annoying, as most Spanish-speaking kids are shocked when some gringo speaks Spanish to them!<br />` My piano, by the way, is now in our bedroom, which is the quietest room in the house. I haven't played it yet, but I'm definitely going to pretty soon.<br /><br />Charlene's also gone shopping with her granddaughter Jessica and gave her some driving lessons. (Not in her Miata, though!)<br />` Meanwhile, the RickGames have been mostly re-runs, although he's onto something new. For a while, he seemed to enjoy bemoaning his warehouse getting shut down and the fact that he's soon to be jobless, but now he's talking about how he's got everything covered because he's getting these shipping-damaged plasma screen TVs for free and is planning to sell them.<br /><br />Oh yeah, and we've been eating fancy food a lot.<br /><br />Tonight we went to Ivar's down on the waterfront -- the outside is the fast-food chain whereas the inside is the original Ivar's, which is super-fancy gourmet seafood! I had the pledar-canked slammon with nazelhuts and backblerry ketchup -- see if you can find that on the menu below, only spelled right!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4854458143/" title="july 176 Ivar's gourmet menu! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4119/4854458143_224d9830fd.jpg" alt="july 176 Ivar's gourmet menu!" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Lucas and Charlene had to wear bibs for their food, although I didn't get any pictures -- I did get pictures of the ferries loading and unloading outside the window. At the end, chocolate mousse. We couldn't even quite finish it.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4855077544/" title="july 183 The other ferry approaches by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4100/4855077544_336fef16a3_z.jpg" alt="july 183 The other ferry approaches" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />As we were leaving, we ran into Mary-Anne from the Co-Op and Barry from Safeway -- ironic that two people working in the food store business would be there together! They looked rather dazed and confused to run into us.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">July 31, 2010:</span><br /><br />Boone's wedding is today, and Lucas' mom has gone for now.<br /><br />Rick's at it again, this time with the new TVs he's bringing home. You see, Lucas has found some buyers for Rick's TVs, one of whom will even fix the TV so Rick doesn't have to bother, but Rick doesn't want to sell them.<br />` Why? Because the buyers only want to spend $500-600, and the TVs are actually worth twice as much.<br />` But if he's been getting them for free, and can sell a whole bunch of them, that's still a lot of money, right?<br />` So now Rick claims that he hasn't been getting them for free, as he's repeatedly told me, Lucas and Charlene. Instead, he's been paying for them on his credit card.<br />` If he's using a credit card, then why has he asked Lucas for gas money in the past few days? You'd think he'd use his credit card if he didn't have cash, right?<br /><br />Okay, so, which thing is he lying about? Sometimes, it's really hard to tell!<br /><br />Another thing I can't figure out; Rick says he's talking to the governor or whoever and is trying to get a bill passed. Let's see if you can figure this one out:<br />` Rick has gotten at least one DUI, says he doesn't drink, and apparently spends a lot of money at the bar.<br />` This bill is about making it illegal for people who have had DUI/DWIs to purchase or even possess alcohol.<br />` In other words, he wants to make what he's doing illegal. That's about the most hypocritical thing I've heard in a while!<br /><br />Well, time to go to the wedding!<br /><br />It's a 2-hour drive -- you can almost smell the Tacoma Aroma!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4855079072/" title="july 198 The Tacoma Narrows bridge by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4139/4855079072_b24bd19b80.jpg" alt="july 198 The Tacoma Narrows bridge" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />It was only after the Tacoma Narrows bridge (and onto southern Whidbey Island) that Lucas finally had to pee so bad that he got me to drain the rest of the giant lemonade bottle for this purpose.<br />` Yes, I was indeed thinking of pulling the ol' 'lemonade trick' on someone, but... eh... I didn't.<br /><br />The wedding was at this Irish musical group place called Magic Hill. It's by this field where we saw this steer and a calf.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4855079410/" title="july 201 The big male looks up by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4077/4855079410_68928363d5.jpg" alt="july 201 The big male looks up" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />There were a lot of people camped out, including Lucas and Boone's other brother, Noah, and Boone's daughter Jessica, who was taking pictures with Boone's very nice camera.<br />` She was also wearing the boots that Charlene had bought her the other day -- and Charlene was wearing hers, too. They lit the candles together, also -- here they are hoping they stay lit!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4855080558/" title="july 210 Yay! They're lit! But they're not staying lit... by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4098/4855080558_9360ba1455.jpg" alt="july 210 Yay! They're lit! But they're not staying lit..." width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />There's Boone (actually called Fletcher by everyone else there) and Erin, in the process of being married. (I admit I didn't get the best pictures!)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4854462005/" title="july 212 Happy day! (We hope!!) by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4115/4854462005_31a4e34e87.jpg" alt="july 212 Happy day! (We hope!!)" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />After that, the Irish band struck up and many of us walked to the other side of Magic Hill to see the water -- which was straight down below the trees! I have pictures of all that on my Flickr account.<br />` If you think the above picture was bad, check out this one I took at the reception at Child's House Bed&Breakfast -- Lucas, Noah, Boone, their mom, and Jessica!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4855082940/" title="july 230 Let's be funny, now! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4141/4855082940_048d5def3c.jpg" alt="july 230 Let's be funny, now!" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Classic! And it wasn't even my fault! By the way, Charlene also bought these really cool M&Ms for the wedding!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4854464383/" title="july 233 Closeup of M&amp;Ms! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4080/4854464383_a5f7680f4c.jpg" alt="july 233 Closeup of M&amp;Ms!" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />In the scale of things, that's a rather good photo of Boone and Erin... Here's another really bad picture of Charlene, who was just explaining to us that every time she wears black pants, something white gets on them!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4855083190/" title="july 234 Lucas' mom talking about being ambushed by white powder... by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4100/4855083190_ab8a4ac0e3.jpg" alt="july 234 Lucas' mom talking about being ambushed by white powder..." width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Now, LOOK BEHIND HER... that white-haired guy. That's Jeff, Lucas' dad. He's really a jerk, and that's why he's been relegated to the sidelines. In fact, this is my only picture of him, and I'm showing it because I can't figure out who Lucas looks more like -- his mom or his dad?<br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 255);">` In fact, this photo was taken just after I was introduced to him, and he teased me for having two first names. I countered with saying, "I had an ancestor once who was named Hazel Hazel." He was like, "Well that's not very creative." I said, "Actually, she married into the family and changed her name to Regina."</span><br />` I know that 'cause one time I looked at the Hazel Family Bible, which has the family tree in it over many generations. After that, Lucas told me that his own family had a joke that goes, "Never trust a guy with two names." So, in other words, that was more of an insult than anything!<br /><br />After dinner, and much family commotion, Lucas and I walked back toward Magic Hill, where the truck was parked. We saw Mount Rainier on the way....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4855083350/" title="july 236 Mount Rainier from our walk back to the truck by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4074/4855083350_1af860aa7c.jpg" alt="july 236 Mount Rainier from our walk back to the truck" width="500" height="323" /></a><br /></div><br />I got a couple more pictures of the cattle, who were right up next to the fence, then Lucas managed to get the truck turned around and we started our long trip out of there. Although, first we stopped at Dairy Queen.<br />` By the time we got home, Vada and Violet were waiting for us and were so happy! Violet was all licking me, and I got a picture of that as well.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">August 1, 2010:</span><br /><br />More business as usual, enjoying time with Charlene, talking about everything from science to old times that I was not even a part of.<br /><br />Oddly, the sunlight today is really red, and at 1p.m. the sun shining through the windows looks like it's from a sunset!<br />` Later on, I took pictures of the sun and sunlight at about 3p.m. and you can see there's a lot of pollution in front of it.<br />` Later yet, I took another picture of the sun as it set, and it was really red, and in fact, it looked like... like... Hurry, Gelfling! The Great Conjunction is upon us!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4854720815/" title="aug 006 The Great Conjunction is upon us! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4097/4854720815_3eb2b077fd.jpg" alt="aug 006 The Great Conjunction is upon us!" width="500" height="408" /></a><br /></div><br />A little later on, Lucas found Rick's lunch containers in the dishwasher after he had already washed them today. Rick said, "Leave them in there! I like my dishes to be sterilized."<br />` Lucas reminded him that the last time he put them in the dishwasher, they came out still full of macaroni-and-cheese remnants, partly because he stacks them one inside the other, and partly because the dishwasher is from 1968.<br />` Rick responded with, "Don't touch my stuff! Please, just don't touch my stuff!"<br />` Charlene was in the living room with me, mouthing words that looked like, "You should get rid of this guy! All he wants to do is pick fights!"<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">August 2, 2010:</span><br /><br />It's been another Red Sun Day -- I wonder if there's some sort of smog alert I haven't heard about? After Lucas' mom helped me with more math, and left for the rest of her trip, it was time for the 'Rick Alden of Skullcandy is Calling' meeting!<br />` As you may recall, Roommate Rick knows the guy and has tried to get Rick Alden to do a business venture with cross-advertising and funding the projects Lucas is involved with. He didn't even look into it at all, presumably because Roommate Rick is... well, himself.<br />` He didn't really know anything about it until Lucas emailed him later, explaining that because Roommate Rick tried to help him out so much that he is now obligated to help him out when his car is in a ditch behind a bar! Well, that, and his actual projects, in some detail.<br /><br />Who was there? Three men, namely Mark A Johnston -- he's <a href="http://www.connect.facebook.com/Mako34">this crazy guy</a>, and he does a great Jack Sparrow a la Johnny Depp impersonation -- as well as Director Andrew Hu, who wrote <span style="font-style: italic;">The Boob</span> script, as well as Director Mike of <span style="font-style: italic;">Hump City</span> (who brought our camera dolly and tracks back), and they crowded around excitedly in anticipation of the call.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4855340812/" title="aug 009 Its' the Rick Alden's Calling Lucas party! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4142/4855340812_c17b146a02.jpg" alt="aug 009 Its' the Rick Alden's Calling Lucas party!" width="500" height="344" /></a><br /></div><br />Mark actually came over more for possibly buying the wine Lucas' mom had brought and meeting the other guys. The other guys came over in hopes that they'd get to talk to Rick Alden.<br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 255, 153);">` For an hour, Lucas talked to him, and found that Alden has his proposals firmly in the 'no' category, but he is intrigued enough to actually follow up and do some research. Lucas tried to get him to talk to Mike and Andrew, who could better answer his business questions, being that they're actually doing this while Lucas is just an actor.</span><br />` Alden set up another appointment to call next week, and said that this time he'll talk to the other guys. Oh well, progress is progress. The guys went home.<br /><br />We've noticed lately that Roommate Rick has been really subdued. Has Rick Alden been talking to him, too?<br />` Seriously -- the worst thing he's done today is pour out the last of the dish soap because he wants to use the dishwasher and not the sink for washing dishes!<br />` Luckily, Troy was a dear (as usual) and bought us some more cheap dishwashing liquid. This time it's a pretty green color!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">August 3, 2010:</span><br /><br />I swear, it's starting to look like Mars, what with the red sun and pink sky! I've found myself alone in the house, oddly: Lucas and friends have been called off to a Mariners' Game by Mark the Jack Sparrow, a.k.a. Mark the Scoreboard Operator.<br />` They didn't realize that they were walking past Mark's office at one point, otherwise Mark would have let them in. He did, however, put on the scoreboard, "Lucas, McCagney, Meg, and Nate RULE!"<br /><br />I've actually seen Rick with a couple TVs, which he is indeed fixing himself. Maybe that's something he really can do? One thing he apparently can't do is dishes.<br />` Indeed, he says, "I don't do dishes." And, in another attempt to prevent us from being able to use the sink and thus be forced to use the dishwasher, he put spaghetti noodles down the garbage disposal, which he damn well knows has been broken since June.<br />` So now, there's a huge pile of dishes and we have to undo another clog!<br /><br />You know, thinking back to June, when the garbage disposal first broke down, and Rick's gladness over it, and insistence that we could never get it working again, I wonder if he had anything to do with it?<br /><br />After I finished all my math for tomorrow's test, he was all bragging to me about the anti-drinking bill he's passing with the governor, who he's meeting with tomorrow.<br />` He asked me if I'd heard about it. I said, "No," and he said, "I told Lucas about it, he got really pissed." Basically, I played dumb, but asked smart questions, such as, "How can you make sure that people with DUIs are not drinking alcohol?"<br />` His reply was that possession of alcohol was a $20,000 fine. And that was it! You pay if you get caught! So, as long as you don't call the police on yourself, you won't have to pay!<br />` Genius plan!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">August 4, 2010:</span><br /><br />Lucas finally got home this morning from the after-Mariner's party, at 8:20. His friends had convinced him to drink, so he spent the night mostly not sleeping. Amazingly, he managed to drive me to school in his falling-apart truck -- we're fixing my car really soon, and his truck! -- and slept most of the time I was in class.<br />` I think I did pretty well on the test, by the way!<br />` (Actually, Jose the ESL student from last quarter was leaving just as Lucas was arriving. He said he'd fallen asleep in class, so he's going home now.)<br /><br />Poor Lucas! He still has a hangover from smoking a cigar. It was so strong he couldn't even finish it! No, really, it was a real Cuban cigar. While we were watering things in the backyard, he told me that you don't inhale cigars, or even get the smoke in the back of your mouth, you just taste them and get high. Cool!<br />` Hey, lookee, I just made a pretty rainbow!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4860794683/" title="aug 021 Me 'shooting at' a rainbow by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4080/4860794683_e1ffceee9b.jpg" alt="aug 021 Me 'shooting at' a rainbow" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />There's not much blogspace for pictures, but all of them from <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/sets/72157624516074049/with/4855083350/">July</a> and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/sets/72157624640913386/with/4860794683/">August</a> (so far) are up on my Flickr account, including other weird sunsets and of course, all manner of flowers, roughhousing with Vada and Violet, the other neighbor cat Mr. Yoboshi, and even one of those pesky hummingbirds!<br />` That's all for now!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
google_ad_client = "pub-0390306350918355";
google_ad_width = 728;
google_ad_height = 90;
google_ad_format = "728x90_as";
google_ad_type = "text_image";
google_ad_channel ="";
google_color_border = "6699CC";
google_color_bg = "003366";
google_color_link = "FFFFFF";
google_color_url = "AECCEB";
google_color_text = "AECCEB";
//--></script>
<script type="text/javascript"
src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
</script></div>Spoony Quinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730057249256927206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14272138.post-70005904438702560562010-07-19T15:38:00.000-07:002010-07-19T15:41:32.941-07:00Better for me, worse for my stupid roommate<span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">I have a huge amount to post since last time, and yet only June's text and photos have been up -- since June! -- but, I apparently considered the antics of July too unimportant to put up here, so that'll be next post.</span><br /><br />But first... a big, shineh flower spike!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4705007942/" title="june 033 Fully in bloom! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4048/4705007942_80874bb809_b.jpg" alt="june 033 Fully in bloom!" width="550" /></a><br /></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">In all my hubbub about Lucas last post, I forgot to mention just how cool I am. Somewhere near the end of those journal entries, I forgot to mention how I actually obtained for Lucas some pharmaceuticals that he needs for his condition.</span><br />` Now, he's been strung along in jobs and then laid off before qualifying for health care, so he's always had to pay for medical treatment out of his pocket, and he can't get any doctors to prescribe what he needs, so he has to get them illegitimately, and the one time he wasn't able to get any... well...<br />` I covered all about that in <a href="http://seequine.blogspot.com/2008/03/ah-interruptions-of-life-two-comedies.html">a post I wrote back in March of 2008</a>, back when we lived in the ghetto. Here's a 'clip' that entertainingly describes the nightmarish difficulties we faced when we weren't able to get any meds for Lucas (called by his superhero name, Lou Ryan):<br /><blockquote> <div style="font-family:georgia;">...[I]t was hard for me to make myself sit still. Superhero Lou Ryan, however, could hardly be any more still: As he trains his muscles to not do the wrong things anymore, they periodically lash back by agonizingly seizing up. (Kind of ironic, huh?)<br />` He had specifically been referred to a doctor who could prescribe him the narcotic Soma, which is the only pain reliever that actually works for this level of muscle tension and pain. (Lou knows this because he's tried them all, whether he's wanted to or not.) He had waited months for this appointment because his regular doctor had refused to give him any, <span style="font-style: italic;">just in case</span> he was a narcotics-abuser. At his appointment, however, he learned that the new doctor is unable to prescribe anybody any kind of narcotics at all due to a little mistake some years back.<br /><br />...Then why was he referred to her at all? How does this <span style="font-style: italic;">happen?</span><br /><br /><div>This doctor told him to go to the ER, but Lou wasn't willing to pay a ton of money, nor the hundred bucks he'd paid to see her, so at least she gave him a refund. Defeated, Lou Ryan returned, limping through the door to me....<br /></div></div><br /><div style="font-family:georgia;">On Saturday, March 8, I was really stressed out because a) Lou's muscle tension had gotten worse, and b), because I had found out that we're having to move out of our apartment very soon. ...<br />` I was barely able to concentrate on doing homework that day. As for Lou Ryan's pain, he was almost in tears despite having had a potent dose of Vicodon, beer, and other tasty treats. Where did he get the Vicodon? Let's just say that a little bird being treated at the methadone clinic is overflowing with narcotics....<br /></div> <span style="font-family:georgia;">` Of course, the stupid Vicodons didn't get rid of the pain - in fact, they didn't help at all! He was immobilized and/or asleep for the entire day, wonky to the point that he wasn't sure of what day it was.</span><br /><br /><div style="font-family:georgia;">It was because of this that Sunday was the worst, most disruptive day of all! Lou Ryan was awoken by agonizing muscle pain, and one of his legs was so tense that he couldn't even get out of bed (much less back <span style="font-style: italic;">into</span> bed after I'd gotten him up).<br />` With Lou Ryan utterly unable to save the town, should it need saving, this was quite a serious emergency. So, it was off to the Room of Emergency! But first, I had to put his socks and shoes on for him (!) and help him out the door. As we were struggling up toward the gravel driveway, who should pull up behind my car but two retarded former neighbor kids!<br />` Needless to say, Lou started yelling and screaming at him [the son] to get his ficking car out from behind mine because we needed to get to the Emergency Room, <span style="font-style: italic;">NOW!</span><br />` The smartass guy said; "I was just going to pick up my mom!"</div> <span style="font-family:georgia;">` At that moment, Lou had stepped awkwardly and couldn't move at all, so I had to act as a prop for him to lean on. Having backed down the alley some, the neighbors watched intently for the next few minutes as I assisted Lou with getting up the hill and into the car - he couldn't even shut the door [himself]!</span><br /><br /><div style="font-family: georgia;">By the time we'd gotten to the ER he couldn't even walk far enough to get to the door, so some firefighters helped him into a wheelchair and that was much easier to get around in!...<br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">...But my homework wasn't there, now, was it?</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:georgia;">` I figured I'd have a late start [on homework], but I'd at least have some time after Lou got a couple of Somas to set him off for the next several weeks. But the doctor who greeted us wasn't very much into this idea - in fact, he looked like he was about to burst out laughing.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">"Somas don't relax your muscles," he kept saying. "They make you sleep, and </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >sleeping</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> makes your muscles relax."</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">` Alright... </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >I know this,</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> and Lou knows it too: Soma doesn't even make Lou drowsy (for some odd reason), and as you might recall he had just been wrenched awake by huge leg cramps, so I don't think sleeping has much to do with it.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">` ...[J]</span><span style="font-family:georgia;">ust one dose cures him of this debilitating pain, or at least it's gone for six weeks or so until he progresses and his muscles start fighting back again (resulting in a different constellation of hyper muscle tension). Why, I have no clue, but I've seen it work several times - which is always a good thing because Lou doesn't have his own wheelchair.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">` But </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >nooo,</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> apparently the doctor thought that Lou was probably an opiate junkie and was just making up some kind of pathetic excuse to get meds - either way, he kept telling Lou that hospital policy involved </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >never</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> prescribing walk-ins any narcotics, lest they be looking for a fix.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">` Honestly, I think the guy needed a black eye to go with his condescending grin.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">` His name? Dr. Dickson! (He must be so much like his father!) The only thing he would give him was - get this! - </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >Vicodon!</span><br /><div face="georgia">` Exqueeze me? Isn't that part of the reason he came in there in the first place? [As you'll recall, he had so many Vicodons in his system that he was loopy.] Sayy, just <span style="font-style: italic;">how much</span> time and money were we wasting?</div><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">As the doctor started walking away, Lou lost his composure and broke into tears. Dickson was still adamant that the Vicodon would be strong enough for his pain. Give me a break - that </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >already</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> didn't do anything, and he couldn't even </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >stand up,</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> much less walk out the door!</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">` That was when Lou began wheeling himself down the hallway, shouting; "I didn't come into an Emergency Room on a Sunday morning just to be told there's nothing wrong with me!" He was, as you might say, bitching on wheels. ...</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">` It is best to avoid a raging superhero, as they can be quite formidable even while they are paraplegically ambulating themselves down an ER hallway, hurling their dignity away by ranting about how tons of junkies get thousands of Somas from methadone clinics while people who need them for </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >legitimate medical reasons</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> can't even get a prescription!</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">` Finally, at the central part of the emergency wing he managed to get the attention of someone who suggested talking to the head nurse. Sold! Long story short, she got him a shot of Diladin and in </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >three minutes</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> he was already walking around - and he wasn't sleepy even though she said he </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >would</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> be!</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">` When the head nurse came back she was absolutely stunned to see him up and doing stretches, as opposed to sitting in a drugged stupor!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >Now</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> he could walk out the door!</span></blockquote>It's been over two years since then and we're now waiting to receive the benefits of the formerly-Republican Health Care Plan, now called by Right-Wing Republicans the 'Liberal Democrat Health Care Plan of Certain Doom' because it's tainted by association with their sworn enemy, President 'Hitlerobama'.<br />` It'll take about three years before Lucas receives any benefits, and when that day comes, the U.S. will finally have entered the twentieth century, so saith the Europeans.<br /><br />In the meantime, Lucas has been very on-top-of getting Somas so that such a nightmare hassle doesn't happen again. His usual source, a sweet lady who needs cash, is more than willing to sell him some of her medication for a profit.<br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 255);">` Unfortunately, she happens to be the wife of Joe, the brother of our former stinky roommate, 'Robusk' Johnny. He isn't as stinky, but he's almost as unpleasant. And he crushed a kitten to death. And he abuses his children. And he threw all the family memories and legal documents out in the rain after his mom died. Nice guy!</span><br />` Well, he's at it again.<br />` Joe seems to think that his wife is having affairs with Lucas when he buys his medication from her, so he's been commandeering her cell phone and not letting Lucas into the house, instead giving him the medication and pocketing the money for himself.<br /><br />Well, we've been rebelling. It's like when Princess Leia said to Governor Tarkin: "The more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers."<br />` I don't know how this woman tolerates such treatment, but she does roll her eyes at his stupidity. Lately, we've had to call using different people's phones and different voices so Jealous Joe doesn't suspect anything.<br />` Well, it was my turn to call, and I didn't get her or Joe, I got her mother, who said she'd be back in an hour. But, apparently my name's on their Caller I.D., so Joe called me back and asked to talk to Lucas.<br />` I hung up on him and told Lucas what happened. Well, it wasn't such a big deal since Lucas wasn't in pain yet, but... then Lucas had this genius idea that I call Joe back and pretend that Lucas was too disgusted with him to bother calling, and that he told me not to call, but I was anyway because he was in too much pain, and please don't tell Lucas I called!<br />` So I did.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255); font-weight: bold;">AND IT WORKED!</span><br /><br />I said I had fifty bucks, but he said he only had $20 worth. Well, I only brought $30 with me to our meeting spot, and he asked if I had $50 -- anticipating this I said, "Oh, I left my other twenty in my emergency envelope."<br />` Ha!<br />` And I got the whole bag of meds for $30! Upon giving Joe a ride back up the hill in my poor, limping car, he said "I don't know why Lucas has to cop and attitude" -- of course, he damn well knows! He also said he'd "keep it under wraps from Lucas" and that I can call him anytime if I need to!<br /><br />YES!<br /><br />And that isn't even getting into any of the stuff that's happened <span style="font-style: italic;">since</span> my last post on June 11!<br /><br />So, what's been going on? Do you know, Vada?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4705008010/" title="june 034 Vada in a stripe of sunshine by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4068/4705008010_42c9de0813_b.jpg" alt="june 034 Vada in a stripe of sunshine" width="550" /></a><br /></div><br />"Arrrgh! The dreaded Day Star!"<br /><br />What about you, Violet?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4704368515/" title="june 036 Violet in my office window by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4029/4704368515_cf8a8cd9b4.jpg" alt="june 036 Violet in my office window" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />"I is blinded by the light! Can't see you right now!"<br /><br />What about you, Troy?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4705008416/" title="june 040 Troy has that 'radiation' thing covered by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4065/4705008416_ede98cfa7c.jpg" alt="june 040 Troy has that 'radiation' thing covered" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Oh, never mind, I'll have to tell you myself:<br /><br />I'm not sure what day it was, but one evening, Lucas and I were trying to practice Spanish and Rick had his TV turned up, Andrew had his music turned up to drown out the TV, and then there was this extremely loud motor noise outside that went on for ever!<br />` This was all driving me so crazy that I just had to go on a walk, so I went a couple blocks and saw the source of the noise -- a Stanley Steemer truck, at ten at night! Just then, a large vehicle came up the driveway, and this really drunk woman got out the passenger side, apologized for being plastered and for the noise, and explained what had happened.<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 153);">` Apparently, her cousin's daughter, who has MRSA, was staying with her and poisoned her dogs! One of them died, and she had her other dog, a black poodle, with her, said he needed shots every day to help him recover. She was drunk, she said, because it was helping her to deal with the pain.</span><br />` Her husband, who had been driving, didn't say anything, but he looked very solemn. The woman, whose name I can't quite remember, said that this girl had flooded the lower floor of her house and apparently couldn't clean it up, so she had the Stanley Steemer truck over to do it.<br />` Wow.<br />` I suggested that, since I had some pretty crazy roommates, when someone threatens you, and there's no civil way to get rid of them, just be a jerk to them so they can't feel welcome, and she said, "Thank you, I needed to hear that."<br />` Then, this girl wearing pajamas came out of the house and was acting kind of sheepish, came out of the house and told her that she'd tried to call her, and the woman said "I told you, I didn't take my cell phone with me." I surmised that must be the guilty criminal there.<br />` Indeed, killing someone's dog is a crime, or so Lucas told me. Well, good! It ought to be! I should have told that woman to call the cops, in that case!<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); font-weight: bold;">June 15, 2010:</span><br /><br />I've been really hard at work on my note-cataloguing, copying notes neatly into my little notebooks for The Corrigendopedia.<br />` I have a post on that, with a photo of my binders full of notes <a href="http://corrigendopedia.blogspot.com/2010/06/working-off-website-more-than-on.html">here,</a> in case you were wondering how dedicated I am. 'Cause I'm that dedicated.<br />` Unfortunately, I am running out of paper, and my binders are almost full, and Lucas stopped by Staples to get me some, but they were no longer carrying them. Oh noes!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">June 16, 2010:</span><br /><br />Not only was I all poopy from not finding any more paper and binders at the paper store near the gym, but there was a pathetic mean girl with bleached hair and a fake tan at the gym todayyyyyy!<br />` I just about to get on the elliptical I usually got onto, because it was farthest away from the music speaker, and without even putting my water bottle on it, as I usually did, I turned around to look at what was playing in the movie theater, and when I turned back this girl was just stepping onto it!<br />` I said, "Oh, I was just about to get on that!"<br />` And she said, "There's one just like it right there!"<br />` Instead of saying, "Well, if you think so, why don't you get on it?" I said, "Uh, that one makes an annoying clicking sound." Well, it was true.<br />` She said, "There's another one right there, too."<br />` I said, "It's right next to the speaker."<br />` Then she said, "Well, at least there's ellipticals actually open today. You know, sometimes there aren't any that are free at all!"<br />` Bitch.<br />` I slumped away to the elliptical by the speaker in defeat, only the music coming out of it was driving me crazy, and making it impossible for me to hear my podcast (<a href="http://skeptoid.com/">I love you, Brian Dunning!</a>). So, after a half hour, she got off the machine, but I didn't have the heart to get on it myself.<br />` Bitch.<br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">` I obtained a hug from Lucas, and we left early. On our way home, he told me that the pathetic bitch was griping about the incident to her even more pathetic, fat ugly friend whom she probably keeps to make sure the guys look at her.</span><br />` According to Lucas, she was saying, "Oh my god, what kind person wants to get on one particular machine? That's just so stupid! I can't believe it!" and on and on for several minutes.<br />` How fricking pathetic!<br />` I hadn't wanted to contest her possession of the elliptical -- I mean, it was only an elliptical, and I wondered if I was overreacting -- but Lucas said what I should have done is turn to directly face her and say, "If they're all the same to you, then why not switch machines yourself?"<br />` Next time, Gadget... next time!<br /><br />It's been really rainy today, but even so, since my car doesn't work, Lucas drove me to Office Depot to get another mini-binder and some more mini-paper. Hooray!<br />` However, they are different from the ones I had been getting at Staples, so, I'll be able to look back upon my notes and say, "Ah, yes, that was when I made the switch from three-hole to seven-hole!"<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">June 17, 2010:</span><br /><br />Jackhammer-noises woke me up in the blinding sunlight of 9:00 in the morning, and they sounded like they were coming from inside the house!<br />` I went into the living room and saw Troy reading a book on the couch, apparently undisturbed by this. I went out the front door and saw that a flicker was perched above the living room window right above Troy.<br />` I shooed it away and the bird went winging back to the trees. I came back in and told Troy, who was surprised because he apparently had thought that only a power tool was capable of generating that ungodly-loud of a noise!<br />` No, indeed, behold the power of the mighty beak!<br /><br />I was on my way to the locker room at the gym, and who I find Lucas talking to but Anthony, the star canvasser for the window company he trained me to work at, and before that, Lucas also used to work with him!<br />` Anyway, Anthony had run into me before at the gym and I told him all about Lucas' big acting career. So, today, Lucas and Anthony came to be sitting in the sauna together, and Lucas hardly recognized him because he had lost so much weight.<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">` They struck up a conversation and Lucas started talking about acting, and Anthony thought he looked like this big actor guy he saw on YouTube that I was talking all about. Lucas asked, "would that actor be me?" Indeed, Anthony didn't recognize him as the same person without a beard!</span><br />` Finally, when I came down the stairs and walked past them, Anthony put two and two together and realized that I was the fiance Lucas had also been talking about! He was blown away! Apparently he thought I was really cool and that Lucas does not deserve me!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4752174615/" title="june 056 Panoramic view by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4082/4752174615_393252285a_b.jpg" alt="june 056 Panoramic view" width="550" /></a><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">June 21, 2010:</span><br /><br />My first day of class! Lucas drived me in his truck! Chuck Jones is my math teacher -- he's a zombie! No, not really. He's really cool because he has us do all the steps of a problem, to help get our brains wrapped around it.<br /><br />Rick is really hogging Lucas' comptuer. Thankfully Rick gets his computer in the mail soon, because when Lucas came in to check his email, Rick is all like, "I just got home, I just started a short story", only he didn't just get home, and he's in the <span style="font-style: italic;">middle</span> of the short story!<br />` So, he's on Lucas' computer all the time... as is Troy, but at least Troy gets off when you ask!<br /><br />OMG, Rick keeps asking me to get the 'password' (encryption code) off my computer so that when his computer comes in the mail, he'll be able to get on the internet... only, I'm pretty sure that's not where to find it.<br />` I've looked for it, but he says it's no problem, he should be able to hack into the network, never mind the encryption.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">June 22, 2010:</span><br /><br />Why does Rick have to be such an ass?<br />` Last month, when we went to the 48-Hour Film Festival and <a href="http://seequine.blogspot.com/2010/05/lucas-is-finally-movie-star.html">Lucas was a sort of movie star for the first time</a>, Rick had taped up Lucas' truck window, which would have otherwise been dropped down into the door.<br />` While we did appreciate the near-closedness of the window because we were driving on the interstate in the rain, it would have been nice if Rick had just asked first before doing something like that. It isn't as if Lucas would have said 'no'.<br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">` He also replaced all the light bulbs in Lucas' area of doom, so that when you flip the switch, all the lights turn on, instead of the only one he needs. And then, of course, he's left all those lights on all night, along with leaving the sliding glass door open, presumably.</span><br />` Another thing -- he'll do an entire load of wash with only one shirt!<br /><br />Rrgghghhghggh!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4752175467/" title="june 065 Rawr! Death to stick! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4134/4752175467_d31b871f75.jpg" alt="june 065 Rawr! Death to stick!" width="550" /></a><br /></div><br />Rick got his laptop in the mail! Whoo hoo! Now he won't be on Lucas' computer. However, he wasn't able to hack into our network. Duh! If you ask me, it's because he doesn't have the encryption code. If you ask him, however, it's because his kids screwed something up. Whatever!<br /><br />I looked, and could not find it on my computer, and told him so as he was taking pictures of the view on his cell phone. I was on my way down into the woods with Violet. We ran around and I got my bare feet all muddy, but I also found the handkerchief I had lost months ago! It's icky, but I brought it back home and put it through two loads of wash.<br />` It doesn't look very clean, but it is better.<br /><br />After the gym, Lucas and I went to a beach party, which also happened to be the beach party of many high school graduates. I signed Holli's yearbook. I wrote that she had shiny braces and should cherish the time she has with them. Ah, high school memories! I have none, but I wonder if maybe that's a good thing.<br />` One girl's cousin hit a bear -- here's the picture!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4752176189/" title="june 077 Her cousin hit a bear! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4118/4752176189_f7243c2b4d_b.jpg" alt="june 077 Her cousin hit a bear!" width="550" /></a><br /></div><br />Srsly. Hey, there goes the train!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4752817184/" title="june 084 The moon's getting higher by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4076/4752817184_04ee4737a6.jpg" alt="june 084 The moon's getting higher" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />There was this one girl I overheard saying, "What do we do now?" The other said, "Let's go join that group over there!" Like they can't do anything without being in a group?<br /><br />As the ranger and police were breaking up the celebrations, we recognized the woman cop who we know has been chasing Lacy.<br />` By the way, did I mention that when Andrew officially broke up with her, which he did a good job of, his tire was flat the next morning? Hmm, suspicious!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">June 23, 2010:</span><br /><br />I had a hell of a time figuring out what buses to take home, so thank goodness Lucas was there to pick me up!<br /><br />Finally, I Lucas and I called Comcast and they gave us the router address to find our WepKey, which is the encryption code Rick needed.<br /><br />Also, I finally remembered that the Mukilteo Farmer's Market is today. Missed it again!<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); font-weight: bold;">June 27, 2010:</span><br /><br />Yesterday, I had the biggest ice cream cone ever, though Lucas helped me eat it. It was especially hard to eat next to the ferry docks, because the algae smells so bad and was leaving a bad taste in my mouth, so I had to get going!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4752177565/" title="june 103 Arrr! Death to ice cream! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4115/4752177565_4915449e23.jpg" alt="june 103 Arrr! Death to ice cream!" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br />Later on, I was trying to do a million things at once, and Rick needed some other encryption code for the internet. I called Comcast, but then I didn't need them because he finally figured out that he had typed in the number wrong. I knew I should have written it down instead of Lucas!<br /><br />After an exhausting day, I grew tireder and tireder, and tried to go to bed early. However, it was so warm in our bedroom that the stinky Johnny smell was leaching from the carpet, along with the stinky Lucas smell, so I had to get up and sleep on the couch.<br />` I awoke this morning at 6:30 to the sound of Lucas knocking on Rick's door because his alarm was going off. After a few minutes, it became clear that Rick wasn't even home, so Lucas went in his room, put one foot on Rick's bed, shut off the alarm... and the bed collapsed!<br />` Damn.<br />` It's now after eight in the morning, and I've finally gotten my ass woken up completely. Where the hell is Rick, anyway?<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">June 28, 2010:</span><br /><br />Apparently, Rick left to go to Portland without even telling anyone, as far as anyone could remember. And his bed just happened to be about to break? And his alarm clock just happened to be left on?<br /><br />Right.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">June 29, 2010:</span><br /><br />Rick is home again and really pissed about this whole bed-breaking thing, but Lucas says he figures it's a setup, so he won't back down.<br /><br />Also, I didn't do well on my first math test, but that's only because I missed the first two problems -- and the rest I did well on.<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">And that's all for June! There's even more amazingly silly stuff going on with Rick as well as a bunch of completely different/ crazy/ exciting stuff in my next installment.</span><br />` <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/sets/72157624122157895/">Here's my June photos</a>, by the way. There's even better photos in there than the ones I showed on this post.<br />` Be back with July next weekend!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
google_ad_client = "pub-0390306350918355";
google_ad_width = 728;
google_ad_height = 90;
google_ad_format = "728x90_as";
google_ad_type = "text_image";
google_ad_channel ="";
google_color_border = "6699CC";
google_color_bg = "003366";
google_color_link = "FFFFFF";
google_color_url = "AECCEB";
google_color_text = "AECCEB";
//--></script>
<script type="text/javascript"
src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
</script></div>Spoony Quinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730057249256927206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14272138.post-49180647836654130012010-06-29T16:35:00.000-07:002010-06-29T16:56:22.820-07:00Production Photos from the 2010 award-winning 48 Hour film, Sex A-Peel<span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">I have much more to blog about in my own life, but first... as if I haven't blabbed about this enough, I have photos from the making of Sex A-Peel, taken by Renee Scougale.</span><br />` Lucas told me to upload them on Flickr so now he can show all his friends and business associates, and that also means that you, too, can see a closeup of this:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4747432856/" title="IMG_3756 by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4076/4747432856_53bd3b3b48_b.jpg" alt="IMG_3756" width="550" /></a><br /></div><br />Also, you can see him plowing over the shopping cart with the old lady stunt-double!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4746787563/" title="IMG_3380 Lucas goes flying! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4076/4746787563_3856490661_b.jpg" alt="IMG_3380 Lucas goes flying!" width="550" /></a><br /></div><br />And tossing the rich guy out of his Lamborghini!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4747424932/" title="IMG_3169 by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4115/4747424932_b103d8a504_b.jpg" alt="IMG_3169" width="550" /></a><br /></div><br />Not to mention, fly through the air with an orange stuffed in his mouth!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4746780929/" title="IMG_2928 Jumping for special effects by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4073/4746780929_a46ff80e57_b.jpg" alt="IMG_2928 Jumping for special effects" width="550" /></a><br /></div><br />Actually, he's pretending to materialize in front of this guy:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4746776921/" title="IMG_2708 by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4074/4746776921_4fbb558d6e_b.jpg" alt="IMG_2708" width="550" /></a><br /></div><br />And for having such nice lens-boobies, he's gonna blow his brains out... wearing kneepads! You know, so he doesn't hurt himself.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4746780415/" title="IMG_2966 by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4079/4746780415_2e96e1e38b_b.jpg" alt="IMG_2966" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />That and more are all here in their own <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/sets/72157624263055839/">Flickr Photo Set</a>! I hope I didn't, um, you know, infringe on any copyrights by doing this!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
google_ad_client = "pub-0390306350918355";
google_ad_width = 728;
google_ad_height = 90;
google_ad_format = "728x90_as";
google_ad_type = "text_image";
google_ad_channel ="";
google_color_border = "6699CC";
google_color_bg = "003366";
google_color_link = "FFFFFF";
google_color_url = "AECCEB";
google_color_text = "AECCEB";
//--></script>
<script type="text/javascript"
src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
</script></div>Spoony Quinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730057249256927206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14272138.post-5114334990309748242010-06-11T20:58:00.000-07:002010-06-11T23:20:59.876-07:00Lucas one-upped by bickering senior citizens and even weirder stuff!<span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">As usual, I have a whole feast for my faithful readers, from over the past coupla weeks! All kinds of things have happened -- including the utter destruction of one of my neighbor's houses -- to the discovery that one of my current roommates can be just as crazy as some of my past crazy roommates!</span><br />` But first, Lucas getting one-upped by bickering Senior Citizens: You all should know about the movie starring Lucas called <span style="font-style: italic;">Sex A-peel</span> from my past posts. It has little to do with sex appeal, but more has to do with humorous gratuitous violence due to one very special and magical orange.<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/iHN0yS6PFhQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/iHN0yS6PFhQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />Well, at the 48-Hour Film Awards, there were other films we hadn't even seen before -- apparently, the showing I went to was just one of four. And so, it is no surprise that there was another film even better than his... though I will argue that it has less sex a-peel.<br />` It's called <span style="font-style: italic;">Behind the Scenes of Twisted Love</span>. Of course, it isn't behind the scenes of anything, it's just a comedy mockumentary where senior citizen actors play the parts of filmmakers griping at one another, and they're quite good! I thought it was hilarious!<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LPBPWyRci9k&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LPBPWyRci9k&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />More about the films, and much more... in my journal entries! Here they are, since last time:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4627803093/" title="may 052 Violet and her favorite Rhododendrons by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4057/4627803093_6029767c4d_b.jpg" alt="may 052 Violet and her favorite Rhododendrons" width="550" /></a><br /></div><br />O, hai Violet! I luv mah kitteh!<br /><br />During my post last weekend (May 22-23), Lucas was off camping with a couple of friends and some of his friends' friends. He jammed out on his guitar and they played Beersbee, a game invented by his friend Dan.<br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">` There was an orgy, but he didn't participate in it, instead going to sleep in his tent, though there was this girl who could not stop talking, ever, who kept asking him for some of his orange juice. "Oh, are you really that tired? Were you really asleep? I'm so sorry! I just wanted to fill my cup again...."</span><br /><br />I didn't go on this camping trip, mainly because I was so busy with homework, plus I had the check for the landlady, and I was waiting for the landlord to bring the new dryer... except he never knocked on the door, so I had no idea that he'd just left it in the carport until after Lucas had gotten home Sunday morning.<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);">` By then, Troy had already hung out some towels on a line in the front yard, though with Lucas' help, Troy and I actually managed to pick up the new dryer and set it down in its spot! We couldn't plug the plug in, though Rick solved that by taking the old cord off the old dryer and putting it on the new one!</span><br />` Wow -- he really knew something Lucas and I didn't!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4637157586/" title="may 055 Our dryer broke! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3349/4637157586_21c38b9626.jpg" alt="may 055 Our dryer broke!" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">May 24, 2010:</span><br /><br />After finishing up my volunteer hours with English-learning students, I was driving home when I saw a billowing cloud of smoke on the hillside where my house is, circled by news choppers!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4637158882/" title="may 064 Better shot of the same news chopper by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4056/4637158882_a946ddb3b0.jpg" alt="may 064 Better shot of the same news chopper" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />A police officer parked on a corner made me stop and park my car a few blocks from my house because of the fire trucks that would be coming in any minute and blocking the street.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">I called Lucas and asked him what was going on: He said one of the houses on our street was on fire!</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">` Well, at least it wasn't our house -- otherwise I wouldn't be typing this!</span><br /><br />I walked on up to find Lucas among a slowly-growing crowd of onlookers. We talked to Ruthie and Chuck Lee, the couple who had been eating lunch at about 1:30 when their smoke alarm went off because of the fire that had somehow started in their garage.<br /><br />The firefighters got there as soon as possible, when the garage structure itself was still intact -- yet, now it was nearly three in the afternoon and the fire was still blazing!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4637159346/" title="may 068 Closeup of one of the firefighters by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3341/4637159346_b32f1e3341.jpg" alt="may 068 Closeup of one of the firefighters" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />You know I took lots of photos, as did the photographers and a guy with a news camera.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4637160136/" title="may 076 A mini-media circus by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4012/4637160136_73b1b1115c_b.jpg" alt="may 076 A mini-media circus" width="550" /></a><br /></div><br />As time went on, more and more firefighters showed up to contain the fire, but it raged on until about 4:00 when I left. At this time, there was still a small amount of fire being stamped out among the remains of the Lee couple's cars in the rubble of the garage.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4636550745/" title="may 073 Those had been cars in the garage by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3344/4636550745_31d41ebcd8_b.jpg" alt="may 073 Those had been cars in the garage" width="550" /></a><br /></div><br />I watched for a long time, along with every other rubbernecker in the neighborhood, amid the smoke and the beeping noises which largely came from the firefighters standing still with their hoses trained so long that their Lack of Motion alarms would go off and then they would have to do the 'firefighter boogie' to make it stop.<br />` As for the house attached to the garage, a corner of it had collapsed, and probably all of their belongings have been ruined.<br /><br />To think that that might have happened to us all at the Su Chaing house because of the faulty wiring!<br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 255, 153);">` Actually, as you may recall, the neighbor's house that she owned actually did have a small electrical fire, but it was quickly taken care of and nothing was really damaged -- in fact I recall that these neighbors' TV was apparently on the entire time.</span><br />` This house for some reason kept burning, and there were many explosions that came from the garage -- perhaps exploding paint cans? Whatever was exploding in there was apparently providing more accelerant, and the firefighters couldn't even go in.<br /><br />Upon arriving home with pictures, I showed Troy, who had been woken up both by this activity and Rick breaking down his own bedroom door, apparently having accidentally locked it like Drunk-O Steve used to. By the time I made it home, however, Rick was heavily snoring.<br />` Troy advised me to try to sell the photos to The Herald on my way back to college for my evening class. I didn't think that made much sense, considering that I figured they were on it, but I did send them an email in case they did not catch wind of this, as well as a link to my photos.<br /><br />I also recall that Lucas told Andrew that the street was clogged with like 15 fire engines, but Andrew apparently didn't believe him and drove off for one minute, then was back. No wonder!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4637160966/" title="may 081 The hydrant, and the street is packed by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4018/4637160966_31b940db5d_b.jpg" alt="may 081 The hydrant, and the street is packed" width="550" /></a><br /></div><br />However, the trucks did clear out of the way soon, and by 4:15, when I had to drive back to college, not many were left, though I still had to walk all the way to my car.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"><br />May 25, 2010:</span><br /><br />Well, it turns out that <a href="http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20100525/NEWS01/705259919#Blaze.destroys.a.house.in.Mukilteo">The Herald was on top of the fire story</a>, as I had speculated since I noticed that several news outlets were on top of it.<br />` Apparently one of my pictures (above) was actually of their own photographer, so I must have seemed like a huge dumbhead if anyone there happened to see that, which I doubt.<br /><br />Also in the Herald this morning is a brief <a href="http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20100525/NEWS01/705259814">report of an earthquake</a> in towns south and east of Everett, that registered a 3.4 on the Richter scale, which I wouldn't have mentioned if it weren't for the fact that Rick thought it was such a big deal.<br />` Lucas and I explained to him that the effects of a 3.4 are similar to a train passing by -- according to the article, it mainly rattled mirrors on peoples' walls and scared their dogs and cats. Rick, however, insisted that it was a 'major earthquake' and advised me to call Everett C.C. and ask if classes had been canceled.<br />` I checked their website for any such cancellations, just to satisfy him.<br /><br />Seriously!<br /><br />Rick also added that later on there was another earthquake nearer to Seattle that must have been connected to the first one, and was confused as to why we didn't feel it up here, then said, "that isn't right" as if something suspicious was going on.<br /><br />This is an example of what I had meant previously when I mentioned that Rick has the I.Q. of a small soap dish. It's like he's off in his own world and hasn't a clue as to what's going on, much like our former stinky roommate, 'Robusk' Johnny.<br />` Fortunately, Rick is a nice guy and is very amiable, whereas Robusk Johnny was a horse's ass and labeled normal people as 'snobs' for not accepting his lying, cheating and 'robuskness' (lack of hygiene and manners), and for pronouncing the word 'robusk' as 'robust', because to him, everyone else and their dictionaries were wrong on certain words.<br /><br />Indeed, Rick would furrow his brow and look confused rather than try to start a fight. So, though we may roll our eyes at him sometimes, it's not a real problem, though I wonder what he must think of us!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">June 03 2010:</span><br /><br />Yay for June being here!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4688890174/" title="june 004 Orange and purple clouds by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4002/4688890174_eed360c0ce_b.jpg" alt="june 004 Orange and purple clouds" width="550" /></a><br /></div><br />I've been so busy with school, but I'm done with my English essay so I can breathe a little. On Memorial Weekend, Troy threw a party on Sunday, and three of his friends (and one of his friends' children) were over. (Cute li'l 2-year-old Kira, who Lucas got to do a forward roll, almost!)<br /><br />What's really odd is that Lucas and the Mother of Cute Li'l Kira got into a debate over how to pronounce Ghirardelli, and Lucas insisted that it starts with a 'J' sound because that's how the people at Ghirardelli Square pronounced it when he went there last year as well as when he was a kid.<br />` She insisted it was pronounced with a hard-G sound, which I confirmed when I looked it up on my computer and found this on their website (including the 'Gear-ar-delli' parrot poster). I also called Ghirardelli and the phone system also pronounced that way, but I left a message anyway, and the next day someone actually called Lucas back to explain to us dumbasses that the parrot's right!<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 153);">Then, on Tuesday, BIG NEWS! We went to the awards ceremony for the 48 Hour Film awards, and saw movies from the other groups that had won awards, none of which I'd ever seen, such as a crime scene investigation one (the victim stabs herself while cutting an orange), and this one were little girl spies kill each other (which is hilarious because they're little girls), and even one where magical characters found jobs (although not the Fremont Troll, alas!).</span><br />` There were also two other movies from the group that Lucas' movie was in. One of these was <span style="font-style: italic;">Strange Fruit,</span> which won Most Gratuitous Use of Prop Award, and when we were standing in line to buy tickets, the guy who played 'Orange' was behind us, and he recognized Lucas as the guy from <span style="font-style: italic;">Sex A-peel!</span><br />` I decided to post that film as well, considering that it is pretty funny and weird, and more typical of most 48-Hour films. I recommend watching it -- just wait 'til you see who Orange 'really' is! (Although you might remember from my last post that mentioned this movie.) Mua ha ha ha!<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jKC4Fe2BbSc&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jKC4Fe2BbSc&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />There was, however, one film that was clearly better than <span style="font-style: italic;">Sex A-peel,</span> and that is <span style="font-style: italic;">Behind the Scenes of Twisted Love</span> (or, <span style="font-style: italic;">Bickering Old People Make A Movie</span>), which I trust you've already viewed at the top of this post. That film did have the best acting, and all in all, it won five awards, including Best Film.<br />` The filmmakers (who were fairly young) were quite surprised because of their lack of production expenses, but the actors they hooked up with really were something else!<br /><br />Not to be outdone, though, <span style="font-style: italic;">Sex A-peel</span> won six awards, including Second-Best Film. The guys at Pinprick Studios got a ton of Adobe software, too!<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 153);">And, now that I've told you the great news, here's the not-so-great news: Rick has gone beyond stupid, and has officially become an asshole.</span><br /><br />It was actually last week that I was rolling my eyes over Rick loading the dishwasher so that the sprayer won't go around and not thinking that mattered, and then he put away the dishes that hadn't really been cleaned properly in the dishwasher right as Lucas was about to wash them, and then put more dishes in the dishwasher, once again blocking the sprayer arm.<br /><br />This is the kind of thing I roll my eyes about a lot.<br /><br />In the midst of this was when Rick offered to fix my clutch, and really seemed to know what he was talking about -- at least for a while. Since Lucas' clutch doesn't work at all because his slave cylinder needs to be replaced, Lucas proposed that Rick first fix his first so that I could drive his truck if need be, because that would be cheaper first off.<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);">` However, Rick asking whether or not the slave cylinder is hydraulic and other clues have led Lucas to be more suspicious of Rick's competence.</span><br />` Also, Rick was talking on the phone to his girlfriend and offered to drive all the way back to Colorado to visit and fix her car for cheaper than she could get it fixed, but she insisted, "no!"<br /><br />However, I don't think that Lucas will give Rick the chance because Rick is starting to act like a horse's ass. Really.<br />` Today, instead of giving Lucas the rent to give to Landlord Steve, Rick told Lucas that he had already looked up who our landlord is and given him his rent check, without even telling Lucas!<br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">` Later on, after Lucas had given Landlord Steve's wife, landlady Roberta, everyone else's rent check, Steve called and informed Lucas that Rick had knocked on his door, and introduced himself, claiming that he's an executive of a company, and though Rick actually didn't give him the check, he proposed doing so and advised Steve to keep it a secret from Lucas.</span><br />` If Lucas is the one who pays Steve all our rents, how the hell does he expect to not give Lucas his share of the rent and keep it a secret from him? Is there any logic here?<br />` Besides, who does he think he is? He only just met Steve! Meanwhile, back in December, Lucas was already able to trust Steve enough to pretend to evict everyone in this house in order to help us get rid of three of our roommates. Lucas is practically friends with Steve, and yet Rick, practically a stranger, expects Steve to keep a secret from Lucas for him?<br /><br />So, not only is Rick being such an incredibly stupid jackass that I can't believe it, but he also lied about giving the landlord his rent check. And if he does give rent to Steve today, Steve said that he will tell him to give the check to Lucas next month.<br />` Why would he do such a thing? I'm afraid it's partly my fault, and partly my stupidity.<br /><br />You see, I let him know that we were trying to make $1,800 to make up for the debt caused by the asshole roommates we used to have, who cost us about even more money than that by refusing to pay rent, bills, and running up the utilities by constantly doing laundry and vacuuming every day, etc.<br />` I now see why Rick thought it was so important for me to tell him this; he doesn't trust Lucas -- though strangely, he does seem to trust FOX News. Hmmm....<br /><br />I could also note that our relationship with Steve and Roberta is the reason that we still are living here, despite our having been behind on rent since the asshole roommate fiascos, which was long before Rick moved in.<br />` Despite the fact that we, amazingly, managed to take out a loan just after our money crisis and make up rent, Rick apparently didn't believe this, which must have been why he had told me the day after that he was moving out soon. And then didn't.<br /><br />Like, WTF? Why would he not believe that? I don't know! But that explains why, when I told him that Lucas was paying the landlords regular rent, Rick said, "I thought he already did that two days ago."<br />` I said, "Well, no, two days ago, he paid the amount he was behind, and this time, he's paying normal rent." And Rick's response? "That isn't right." Like something suspicious was going on! What's so suspicious about that?<br /><br />Really. But, at the time I shrugged that off because he said, "That isn't right" about so many things that most reasonable people would not have a problem with, so I wasn't sure if he meant that with all seriousness or not.<br /><br />Apparently I've been giving him too much credit.<br /><br />And then, he insisted that our reason for being behind on rent was not due to any asshole roommates, who Lucas and I actually told him about when Rick moved in, but Rick doesn't seem to recall that.<br />` Well, if you need evidence, just check out the crazy events I recorded in December, January and February on this blog -- they're quite surreal, but they actually did happen, and there are also many reader comments on those posts timestamped back at those times!<br />` I know all my bloggy friends have heard the tales back when they happened as well!<br /><br />Later today, Rick called Lucas and chewed him out over the phone, accusing him of not only still being behind on rent, but that the reason why being that Lucas has spent Rick's rent checks on beer.<br />` Beer!<br />` Why? Because Lucas drinks beer, but Rick can't because he used to be an alcoholic. But, just because Lucas does drink beer doesn't meant that he's an alcoholic.<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 204);">` Basically, the phone conversation was really one-way, amounting to Rick making these baseless accusations and Lucas starting to assure him that we're not behind on rent, and then having to say over and over, 'will you just let me talk? Can I finish, please?' because Rick would just go off on another insane tangent before Lucas could even complete a sentence.</span><br /><br />I seriously cannot believe this. This guy is seriously off in his own world!<br /><br />Perhaps Rick's bad judgment and general stupidity partly has to do with his former alcoholism? I don't know. But in general, he just seems to say whatever he feels like, reasonable or not, and thinks that everyone else does the same, so he's on equal grounds for argumentation.<br />` Just like Stinky Johnny. But now he's being belligerent!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">June 04 2010:</span><br /><br />Troy is awesome -- he drove me to school, as I'm not driving my car due to clutch difficulties, and Lucas picked me up. Lucas was late, though, because he kept forgetting one more item, and another, and another, on his way out the door, and I didn't have my cell phone.<br />` By the time I got frustrated and called him on someone's cell phone in the Japanese building, Lucas answered only to tell me that he was waiting right outside the door! D'oh!<br /><br />I brought him a bacon Rice Crispie treat that Kimba made, which he said is pretty good, though not very bacony.<br /><br />At least Rick paid Landlord Steve today -- Lucas knows this because he saw Rick come back from Steve's house, pouting and stomping his feet like a little child and go into his room.<br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">` Seriously. I guess Steve must have told him what he said he would, which was; "I'll take the check this time, but from now on, you pay Lucas, not me."</span><br /><br />And now Rick's all mopey!<br /><br />Luckily, I'm not intimidated by Rick. He may be a dipshit, but I'm not afraid of him. In fact, most of the Crazy Roommates that I've ever had were not really hostile towards me, except for Char, because she was hostile in general, sometimes Brad, and at the end there, Stinky Johnny, who called me a liar for observing him doing something to mess with Lucas when he didn't realize I was in the next room.<br />` Even Nat and Steve Drunk-O thought I was relatively sweet and innocent and were apologetic towards me when they were leaving (and Nat gave me some of his Atlases), though not towards Lucas.<br /><br />As far as Rick goes, I could care less about him. That's the benefit of having roommates that don't hang out with us like we're best buds, which is why we have this arrangement. I think that Rick has good intentions, but he's just an idiot. A paranoid idiot, maybe even.<br /><br />Well, we'll see what develops. I'm onna do some Spanish homework now.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">Tuesday, June 8, 2010:</span><br /><br />The last of my finals ended yesterday at 6:45 p.m. and I am free at last! All I want is to have a day off, full of rest and relaxation. Perhaps I'll limp my car over to the library and see what's going on?<br />` Perhaps I'll see Brokeback Jake, as he's finally up and at 'em, albeit encased in an enormous back brace. I just tried calling him, actually, but my phone isn't getting reception at the moment.<br /><br />And of course, no entry is complete without mention of Rick's stupidity. He's not doing anything else annoying, thank goodness, but he did complain that there's some smell from Andrew's room that's getting into his own room and even into his clothing.<br />` Of course, this is probably because Rick cannot tell how much his own room stinks, and in fact, Troy and Andrew both have commented on how disgusting it smells. It's not as bad as what Stinky Johnny's room used to smell like, but it is definitely worse than Andrew's when he leaves dirty dishes in his room.<br />` Yes indeed, not only is Rick unaware of his stupidity, but he is also unaware of his own stinkiness. Kind of like Johnny, actually, just not apparently a total low-life like Johnny.<br /><br />It's a semi-sunny day today. I got a couple photos of Lucas, who has shaved his face again a couple days ago, with Violet in the garden that used to be the Overgrown Secret Cat Hangout.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4688892068/" title="june 027 Lucas, now cleanshaven, followed by Violet by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4052/4688892068_b0a9c77c98_b.jpg" alt="june 027 Lucas, now cleanshaven, followed by Violet" width="550" /></a><br /></div><br />I hear all manner of birds chirping, and occasionally, dogs barking and cats meowing. Also, I hear plenty of airplanes -- this weekend Lucas and I heard and saw many WWII aircraft, and I thought how cool it was that they're still around! I wanna ride in one!<br />` Only thing is, they are amazingly loud! Well, if there's one consolation about the threat of being bombed in WWII, there was no way you could NOT know they were coming, unless maybe they were really high up....<br />` I also hear Andrew snoring in the room below me. I can tell it's him by the occasional werewolf-like grumbling sounds.<br /><br />Wow! There's just nothing to do but for me to construct my own schedule -- and listen to the birds and the dogs and the Andrew! Oh wait, he's talking to someone on the phone now. His voice is almost as deep as Barry White's, so it carries readily through the floor.<br /><br />Anyway, I'm off to copy notes and organize things. Wheeee!<br /><br />Also, I just uploaded my <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/sets/72157624122157895/">June photos</a>, as of today.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">June 11, 2010:</span><br /><br />Still screwing off! Enjoying my freedom rather than blogging as I had been planning.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 204);">And Lucas? Well, they're re-shooting some of the first episode of </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 204, 204);">Hump City</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 204);"> because a) they're replacing the character 'Bob' (the normal guy) and b) they're going to start filming at our house!</span><br /><br />That's right, <span style="font-style: italic;">Hump City</span> will now be at our house!<br /><br />Why? Because, the people at the house they had been shooting at were becoming intolerable, like playing their guitar in the middle of a take and stuff. So now <span style="font-style: italic;">Hump City</span> is at my very own house! Whooo!<br />` Also, Lucas went down to read lines with potential new Bobs, and the <span style="font-style: italic;">Hump City</span> people were amazed at how unfat and unslovenly he looks, especially without a beard!<br />` One of the Bobs really was rather good, but he didn't look the part. I hope they find a Bob soon! Then they can get their asses up here!<br /><br />But, as for screwing off, yesterday Lucas and I walked to the second Diamond Knot place, the pizza one, on Lincoln, and we had a thin crust. They are ridiculously good and inexpensive! Who could ask for anything more?<br /><br />But, now I have some more work to do.<br /><br />Though first, I'm in the middle of cooking spaghetti. Gots to go!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
google_ad_client = "pub-0390306350918355";
google_ad_width = 728;
google_ad_height = 90;
google_ad_format = "728x90_as";
google_ad_type = "text_image";
google_ad_channel ="";
google_color_border = "6699CC";
google_color_bg = "003366";
google_color_link = "FFFFFF";
google_color_url = "AECCEB";
google_color_text = "AECCEB";
//--></script>
<script type="text/javascript"
src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
</script></div>Spoony Quinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730057249256927206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14272138.post-27553679411735505822010-05-21T22:39:00.000-07:002010-05-26T17:06:28.340-07:00Lucas is FINALLY A MOVIE STAR!<span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">And it only took two days!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 51);">Presenting, <span style="font-style: italic;">Sex A-peel</span>, a shoo-win in the 48-Hour Film Festival, starring my very own Lucas Ernst (a.k.a. Lou Ryan to his music fans) as the star of this short film about time travel, oranges... and just how damn sexy Lucas is as Van Saskin (though it's supposed to be 'Van Saskia' -- oh well)!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">WATCH IT NOW! You know you want to.</span><br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/iHN0yS6PFhQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/iHN0yS6PFhQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);">Those Van Saskins sure are hot, aren't they?</span><br /><br />There's more about the film, its production, and the other films in the 48-Hour Film Project in my journal entries, which also cover the real-life drama we've had over the past several days -- but first, a peregrine falcon that flew over the house one day!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4609689591/" title="may 019 Peregrine falcon! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1421/4609689591_d8e918db7e.jpg" alt="may 019 Peregrine falcon!" width="500" height="343" /></a><br /></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); font-weight: bold;"><br />May 13, 2010:</span><br /><br />Terror strikes once more upon our humble abode! Our landlady called up and told us that someone will be coming over to look at the house tomorrow -- because they might want to buy it!<br /><br />WHAT?<br /><br />Apparently, because we're still behind on rent ever since we were screwed out of thousands of dollars collectively by the Crazy Couple Brad and Char, Drunk-O Steve and Robusk 'Stinky' Johnny, which I've written so much about starting last December!<br />` I may have mentioned before that we've been allowed to stay here because there's no way in hell they could get anyone else to rent here, they're seeing if they can sell this house -- for far more than it's worth!<br /><br />I'll keep you posted.<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); font-weight: bold;">May 14, 2010:</span><br /><br />False alarm -- Landlady Roberta called to tell us that the person canceled. Then, Landlord Steve called, wondering if we had some more money for them.<br /><br />Suuuure!<br /><br />Apparently it was a ploy all along, which makes sense because if they were really selling the house, we would stop paying them, period. Our original schedule was to have it all caught up by the time July's rent is due, but apparently they need the money NOW!<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">Also, Lucas has auditioned for a couple more movies lately; a 48 hour movie about a guy who time travels by eating an orange (which he will play the star of tomorrow); and another movie about atheist Christian bookstore owners competing for business, which he hasn't heard back about yet.</span><br /><br />Here's another random picture -- a honeybee on the chive plant on our porch:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4627803427/" title="may 034 Ultimate honeybee and chive closeup! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3346/4627803427_ff238816f7_o.jpg" alt="may 034 Ultimate honeybee and chive closeup!" width="550" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); font-weight: bold;">May 15, 2010:</span><br /><br />Lucas has left for Seattle at four this morning, leaving me in charge of the house. He's off to run around and shove oranges in his face.<br />` What a hoot!<br />` He called me around 9:30 to tell me that he's been running down the street this morning, with lots of people asking him if he was alright and if he was being chased by someone. A couple of people weren't so convinced by the camera, saying; "Are you <span style="font-style: italic;">sure</span> you're alright?"<br />` Well, I guess he's just a really good actor!<br />` Also, their crew got kicked out of this one area because some people with big, fancy FILM cameras were shooting a feature film. Well, I never!<br /><br />Speaking of films, I got a message from Clint Berquist -- one of whose films in which I was the naked dead chick, I think. It's an invite to attend the screening of his upcoming Seattle Komedy DokumentaЯy. <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Venues/Stiff?film=3978467">You can watch the trailer here</a> -- it's hilarious!<br /><br />Later on....<br /><br />Lucas has been using the exercise bike to keep him limber on such a cold day on the streets of Seattle because of all the stunts he's had to do:<br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">` In one scene, he sees an old lady pushing a shopping cart that has oranges in it, knocks over her and the cart (a man played her double for that shot!), and then starts shoving oranges into his mouth.</span><br />` In a different scene, he materializes out of thin air in front of a guy who has just decided not to shoot himself in the head, startles him, and he pulls the trigger anyway! Whoops.<br />` In yet another scene, Lucas pulls this guy out of a brand new Lamborghini (that just happens to be orange) and throws him several feet away, then gets in the car... and who should drive off in the car? A 'stunt double' -- because there's no way Lucas would be allowed to drive the car himself!<br />` The coolest part of it is... Lucas has been so professional that other people think he's been acting all the time for many years -- no, not really, but now his career is taking off, I think!<br /><br />And now for a cuteness break -- Violet and Vada at their most absurdly cute as they clean yogurt off their faces.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4628406118/" title="may 035 Vada and Violet the yogurty cats by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4070/4628406118_838b86d5a4.jpg" alt="may 035 Vada and Violet the yogurty cats" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Later yet....<br /><br />You're not going to believe this.<br /><br />Since my mp3 player headphones stopped working unless the cord is bent at a certain angle, I thought to myself, 'what luck that Skullcandy founder Rick Alden sent us these Full Metal Jacket headphones!' (Well, at least the movie funding proposal got us one thing useful!)<br /><br />Otherwise, I was going to have to spent $20 for a new pair. Oooh, expensive, right?<br /><br />However, since there are three thingamajiggies on the jack -- one for a microphone as well as each ear -- they don't fit on the player as snugly as my last headphones, and at my first day bringing them into the gym, I was stepping into the elevator while trying to find a way to coil the new, longer headphones cord around my body and....<br /><br />...My mp3 player fell exactly down the elevator shaft!<br /><br />The headphones began to follow, but then stopped -- but the mp3 player had already 'let go' of the cord, falling several stories into the sub-basement.<br /><br />There wasn't anything anyone could do.<br /><br />After I'd had enough trying to exercise with four TVs, music and a movie playing in the background, I went nuts and sped down to Fred Meyer to buy myself another. But... my credit card was with Lucas!<br />` Luckily, he was driving back from Seattle and was only 20 minutes away, so he stopped by to give it to me.<br /><br />So, in all, those new headphones indirectly cost me $50!<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">May 16, 2010:</span><br /><br />Why didn't I test the new mp3 player out sooner? The headphone plug-in was wack -- it didn't work that well with the Skullcandy headphones, so I tried the headphones that came with it and those didn't work at all, so I know it was not my headphones!<br /><br />Farewell, new mp3 player. I barely knew ye.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4627803313/" title="may 037 Goodbye, second Sansa clip! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3384/4627803313_e1211490fe.jpg" alt="may 037 Goodbye, second Sansa clip!" width="500" height="350" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />Unfortunately I couldn't exchange one for another because they didn't have any more blue ones and I needed an additional thing if I were to exchange it for a black one. So, I had to go back home and come back to finally exchange it!<br /><br />I was smart this time by determining that the headphone jack -- though not perfect -- works more or less, before I left the store. This time, since the headphones that came with it (which I would never use in a million years) do work, I suppose that doesn't count as 'wack', so I'm sticking with this black mp3 player.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">May 17, 2010:</span><br /><br />Necisito cuatro mil dolores -- ¡pronto!<br /><br />Seriously. So, not only are we almost $2,000 behind on rent, but my Jetta is soon to need a new clutch and that will be another couple thousand!<br /><br />Later...<br /><br />We just pulled the remainder of rent out of our asses (no, not literally), so I think that as long as we have no further setbacks, we'll be fine.<br /><br />You can come out now, Violet!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4628406592/" title="may 048 My undercover Violet by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4052/4628406592_74cdbe6013.jpg" alt="may 048 My undercover Violet" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">May 18, 2010:</span><br /><br />Further setback: our roommate Rick announced he'll be leaving soon because he lives way too far from his workplace at Skullcandy and is paying way too much for gas.<br /><br />I swear I don't make this crap up.<br /><br />Not that it's a huge loss. I think I've finally figured out why, despite Rick's adamant promotion of Lucas and Andrew Hu and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Boob/247019188673?v=wall">The Boob film</a>, nobody at SkullCandy told anybody about it, why roommate Rick couldn't even persuade Rick Alden to talk to Lucas, and why Alden only sent us stickers and a pair of headphones in an envelope for our trouble.<br />` It has to do with Rick's I.Q. being roughly equal to that of a small soap dish. I am seriously starting to think he is mentally retarded, and I can see why anyone who knows him -- like Rick Alden -- would be reluctant to take him seriously.<br /><br />Ah, well, I did get a grant in the mail today for college. 'College' expenses include rent, don't they?<br /><br />Oh, and by the way, I aced another Spanish test today! That's six for six!<br /><br />You know, I was recently thinking to myself something ironic -- Lucas and I have lived here for about a year now and our newest roommate Rick is apparently the only one of us residents who's seen whales out the window! (Unless I shouldn't take him seriously about that, either.)<br />` Really -- just this past April Rick said he saw some gray whales a few times, as well as some orcas, early in the mornings before there are many boats out.<br />` And where was I? Asleep. Of course!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">May 19, 2010:</span><br /><br />Went to the <a href="http://www.48hourfilm.com/seattle/">48-Hour Film Festival</a> with Lucas -- and of course I just had to slip and fall in some mud on the way in!<br />` This year, the required line is 'I can't believe you just said that', the required prop is an orange, and the required character is a carpenter named Van/Vanessa Saskia, which explains <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Team-Awesome-Seattle/151758181518">Team Awesome's</a> movie -- <span style="font-style: italic;">Sex A-Peel</span>.<br />` Basically, Lucas is the star, Van Saskia -- except they misspelled it to 'Saskin' -- who eats an orange he shouldn't have eaten... and then he winds up traveling through time and unintentionally causing death and destruction in his wake on his quest to find more oranges. (The guy who played Kip Castille from <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wK6iFDxHRRs">Crypticon Idol</a>, on which Lucas was Pinhead, was among the injured orange-bearers.)<br />` In the end, Van amazingly manages to double his sex appeal!<br /><br />Speaking of which, this is the closest our neighbors get to Lucas' real sex appeal, since he's always hard at work in the yard when he's not acting or busy in his office....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4627803873/" title="may 049 Lucas taming the wild patch by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4004/4627803873_16fbd9a81d.jpg" alt="may 049 Lucas taming the wild patch" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br />He's been recovering an overgrown garden lately!<br /><br />Anyway, at the film festival there were many other movies, but <span style="font-style: italic;">Sex A-Peel</span> was put last for a good reason -- you can't really follow it up with anything! It's the best movie there, and I'm not just saying that. I know we're going to win!<br />` Not money, but Adobe software -- that's still awesome!<br /><br />The very second film in the screening was pretty funny, though -- it was called <span style="font-style: italic;">Capital Energy</span>, with the tech support guy on the phone with people, saying he's sorry for the inconvenience for the lithium gas leak and it'll only be fifteen more days until people can leave their homes, bla bla bla... this one girl was like, "I've been in my house for four days and I'm kinda running low on provisions."<br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);">` The tech asks if she has received their Capital Energy provisions package, and she says, yes, but it's outside on her porch, and he's like 'So what seems to be the problem?' and she's like, 'I can't open my door or I'll die!' and so he puts her on hold... eats an orange... then picks up and offers to sell her a containment suit, to be delivered to her porch....</span><br />` And Van Saskia? Oh, this one dies horribly.<br />` The end was pretty funny -- the bigwigs of Capital Energy are having a meeting about what to do after this mass-death catastrophe. "I know, let's change our name!" They start talking about names having to do with safety and puppies, and... "I know, LithCo!" "I can't believe you just said that."<br /><br />You'd have to see it.<br /><br />There were some other good ones... In one of them, Van Saskia is a former soldier from Afghanistan who is having some serious trouble on the construction site because of his PTSD, but he has a chance to overcome it, and oranges are used to symbolize friendship. Believe it!<br /><br />In another, Adam just can't get it up for Eve, but apparently an apple will get him going! Problem is, barely anyone knows anything about fruit anymore, and they get scammed by a 'fruit dealer'! (It was funny when Adam assaults the 'fruit dealer', who drops a melon and the girl who was buying it screams, "My grape!") You can guess who the luminous carpenter would be....<br /><br />In yet another, film a couple of douchebags decide to have some fun with the dorkiest private eye in the world by sending him on a wild goose chase... but little do they know, this guy's far from being a hapless dork -- or a private eye!<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);">Oh, and I can't forget the one about the people actually filming their 48-Hour film, except after this really creepy Van Saskia asks them to squeeze him some orange juice, all the stars wind up shoving oranges in their mouths and dying dramatically because they were rendered poisonous by some kind of citrusy hell demon.</span><br />` That one was hilarious because it made no sense.<br /><br />Speaking of oranges and death, this other film involved this guy who accidentally kills his roommate with an orange -- and now he and his other roommate can't make rent!<br />` So... they put a blanket over the dead body and show invite another potential roommate in... Van Saskia, who is then killed by another orange.... But, there isn't enough money in Saskia's wallet to pay for the rent that month. Well, NOW what are they going to do?<br /><br />And if that wasn't enough hilarity, we blasted out of there as fast as we could to make it to the next screening -- Hump City, at the house of one of the filmmakers!<br />` We were in such a hurry that Lucas had to contend for bathroom space with me. It was amusing, but I don't think you want to know. Then, we were off to Dick's Drive-In... but they don't take debit cards!<br />` Lucas was going insane from low blood sugar by this time, so we stopped at a more evil establishment and went on to Hump City screening -- which was bedecked with food!<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">AND THE PILOT WAS HILARIOUS! Unfortunately, it was only a rough cut so the audio was hard for me to hear -- but there were many visual aids and flashbacks. I like how J.R. has a list of things he can't steal from Bob. Not one of them is 'car'... but one of them IS 'automobile!'</span><br />` But, Bob pointed this out too late, as J.R. and the other loser roommate attempted to use Bob's car to travel to the future in order to see if Svedka Vodka really is the best Vodka of 2033 so that they could file a law suit for false advertising.<br />` (In case you were wondering, <a href="http://w3.svedka.com/#about">this really is their actual slogan</a> -- but you must be of drinking age to view the website!)<br /><br />And even more good news... Rick is not moving out this month. Nor has he been killed by an orange, so we should have no more rent problems for a while.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">May 21, 2010:</span><br /><br />Today, I practiced Spanish with an ESL student from Mexico! And later on, I posted this and brought my Flickr account up-to-date... I took this photo of Violet just earlier:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4627802905/" title="may 051 Violet being cautious by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4045/4627802905_6e55103611_b.jpg" alt="may 051 Violet being cautious" width="550" /></a><br /></div><br />I have some more <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/sets/72157624026844926/">May 2010 photos up for all to see</a>!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
google_ad_client = "pub-0390306350918355";
google_ad_width = 728;
google_ad_height = 90;
google_ad_format = "728x90_as";
google_ad_type = "text_image";
google_ad_channel ="";
google_color_border = "6699CC";
google_color_bg = "003366";
google_color_link = "FFFFFF";
google_color_url = "AECCEB";
google_color_text = "AECCEB";
//--></script>
<script type="text/javascript"
src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
</script></div>Spoony Quinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730057249256927206noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14272138.post-39125318519571504312010-05-11T12:36:00.000-07:002010-05-11T12:59:46.105-07:00Lucas is now the famous 'dancing janitor!' SWEET!<span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">Check it out!!!! The video with my fiance Lucas as the Dancing Janitor has gone viral -- here it is once again:</span><br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/w1Zy-T7Av4Q&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/w1Zy-T7Av4Q&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />How viral is it? Well, it's mentioned in the title of a local website <a href="http://www.techflash.com/seattle/2010/05/whats_your_favorite_viral_video_touting_office_2010.html">TechFlash article</a>, about the Microsoft contest, and a few other places....<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 255, 153);">I may as well continue with my journal entries, as well, considering something really weird happened the day after my last post:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"><br />May 10, 2010:</span><br /><br />At six in the morning, Lucas woke me up, asking me if I'd ever heard of Geni-Value. A short time later, he came back up, saying that our bank account had been drained, plus an overdraft charge, in the wee hours of the morning, from this Geni-Value, which turns out to facilitate monetary exchange with pornography websites, and that the entire history on his MacPro had been deleted.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);">Evidently, someone was up late last night and used Lucas' computer to buy porn with our bank account!</span><br /><br />When I came home from school, Lucas had gone to the bank and determined that someone had taken the new debit card he had been sent in the mail. And, since it couldn't have in a million years been Troy, and it also couldn't have been Rick, especially since I could hear him loudly snoring as usual in the wee hours of the morning, then that leaves Trouble Boy, Andrew.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Later...</span><br /><br />Lucas called Andrew's dad over and they talked about this whole thing... apparently, he really, really didn't do it. This has been a bad day for him, considering that he realizes now just how much Lacy the meth chick was using him now that she's been kicked out of the house.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Later yet...</span><br /><br />Lucas' new debit card came in the mail after all! So, where did the new card number come from? According to the lady at the bank, someone used Lucas' identity and ordered another debit card and activated it -- just to buy porn?<br /><br />As far as the computer history goes, that was Rick's doing, because he himself was banking online last night and didn't want his information to be saved on Lucas' computer.<br /><br />So, the thing with the computer is just a coincidence -- this is why I don't like jumping to conclusions!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">May 11, 2010:</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 153);">The Debit Card Drama continues, as I study for yet another Spanish test. Apparently, the lady at the bank made a mistake -- there was no new debit card number being used after all. What really happened was that someone has stolen Lucas' debit card number.</span><br /><br />Who? Nobody at the bank can tell. We did have the police involved, but they can't do anything either.<br /><br />In other news, Lucas has been growing his beard out again for the next episode of Hump City.<br /><br />In yet more news... there's been a few more sub-plots going on that I never mentioned. For example, just as we were having difficulty with Lacy the homeless meth chick that was playing Andrew like a fiddle (and made him pawn off all his stuff), Troy brought by a much nicer homeless non-meth chick for a few days.<br /><br />That would be Jen -- but the night she made us dinner was also the night she was moving into her new house, so she's not homeless anymore.<br />` By itself, this is not remarkable, but it was also at this time that a female relative of Rick's was just getting out of jail (she had gotten into jail because she fled the police) and she didn't have a place to stay.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 204);">So, we could have had three homeless chicks living at our house at the same time! But we didn't.</span><br /><br />Pues, vamo estudiar ahora! Chau!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
google_ad_client = "pub-0390306350918355";
google_ad_width = 728;
google_ad_height = 90;
google_ad_format = "728x90_as";
google_ad_type = "text_image";
google_ad_channel ="";
google_color_border = "6699CC";
google_color_bg = "003366";
google_color_link = "FFFFFF";
google_color_url = "AECCEB";
google_color_text = "AECCEB";
//--></script>
<script type="text/javascript"
src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
</script></div>Spoony Quinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730057249256927206noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14272138.post-30997938171496342202010-05-09T17:54:00.000-07:002010-05-09T18:04:24.164-07:00Lucas's Microsoft Commercial, Official HC Trailer, and MORE!<span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">Boo-yah! Lucas' commercial was a finalist in the Microsoft Office commercial contest -- he plays Robert the Janitor! He is so good with that mop... isn't he fantastic? Not only does he mop the carpets, but he does all the other work at ThinkSpace!</span><br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/w1Zy-T7Av4Q&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/w1Zy-T7Av4Q&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">And that beard of his, of course, is for that show, 'Hump City' -- or whatever else it might be called -- so that he can look as slovenly as possible. Here's the Official Trailer for that:</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object width="400" height="265"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=11546730&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1"><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=11546730&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="265"></embed></object></div><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://vimeo.com/11546730">Upcoming Pinprick Films Web Comedy Project</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/pinprickfilms">Pinprick Films</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</p>Isn't he a cutie McWootlebee, all drugged-looking and stuff? So, I promised April's journal entries in my last post -- with some of my photos -- as well as what's been going on since then.<br /><br />Well, after several hours of typing and editing photos and whatnot, here it is!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">April 1, 2010:</span><br /><br />Instead of a stupid prank, Troy got us all a box of chocolate frosted donuts!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4541543196/" title="mcr 019 No foolin'! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2736/4541543196_8fc831458e.jpg" alt="mcr 019 No foolin'!" width="388" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br />At the store today, Lucas ran into this guy from William Scotsman, the construction company he worked with two years ago. He said that there had only been three small jobs since Lucas had been laid off, so this is why they hadn't called him back.<br />` In the next aisle, Lucas found this guy from his karate days, so they're going to go to this karate event together!<br /><br />While dialing my number at the gas station a little while later, Lucas was sitting in his truck with a view of a guy's butt, of which whose pants were around the bottom of, revealing boxer-briefs! So Lucas started singing,<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">"Pants on the ground, pants on the ground,<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">lookin' like a fool with your pants on the ground,<br />underwear in my face, underwear in my face..."<br /></div><br />The guy turned around, saw Lucas' massive hulk, and turned back around. That's when I picked up the phone and Lucas said, "Hi sweetie!" like nothing had happened!<br /><br />Another sad-but-funny story: Troy's boss got fired because he sold beer to a minor, after looking at said minor's ID, <span style="font-style: italic;">in front of everyone who was there for the company meeting!</span><br /><br />In other news, Troy is getting his costume together for SakuraCon tomorrow!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4540910909/" title="mcr 027 Troy getting ready for Sakura-Con by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4027/4540910909_e7eee30fce.jpg" alt="mcr 027 Troy getting ready for Sakura-Con" width="311" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">April 2, 2010:</span><br /><br />He also showed Lucas and I an episode of this anime where setting a field of marijuana on fire saves the day!<br />` To Troy's surprise, it was not accurate in terms of portraying being high, probably because Japanese people would not be expected to know better, although did look cool nonetheless.<br /><br />Ananda called -- apparently, Jake's broken his back. He didn't mean to, of course, and now he's on drugs for the pain. We're hoping to see him tomorrow.<br /><br />Also, Rick has moved in. He's the friend of the founder of SkullCandy, Rick Alden (who talks about how he founded the company <a href="http://blip.tv/file/556954">in this video</a>), and this may be of benefit to Lucas' acting/music career!<br /><br />You know what's funny? I overheard Andrew asking Lucas how old I was -- 28 -- after apparently not really believing me because I look older to him.<br />` Honestly, I think what he's mistaking for me looking older is the fact that I'm much more mature than him, and Lacy, who later came back into our house apologizing for leading the cops here after her hit-and-run with Andrew's car. (Well, at least she was being a designated driver!)<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); font-weight: bold;">April 3, 2010:</span><br /><br />Ananda went to the store and got some birthday/half-birthday frozen yogurt, and proceeded to come over here, but then got lost in the confusing maze of rich neighborhood, partly because she thought that the street leading to my neighborhood was a dead end because of the No Outlet sign.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4541544376/" title="mcr 031 Ananda got me birfday frozen yogurt! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2698/4541544376_525c9e4d34.jpg" alt="mcr 031 Ananda got me birfday frozen yogurt!" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br />On top of that, she somehow locked her key in her car, so we had a rockin' time going back to her house for the other key, and continued having a rockin' time at my house until 2 in the morning, which was right before Troy got home from SakuraCon. (She only left because she had to meet Andre after his shift was over....)<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">April 4, 2010:</span><br /><br />Today I was fatigued and hadn't gotten enough sleep so, after taking an early-morning shower, I slept in until noon, went to the gym, then went shopping for headphones (though not Skullcandy).<br />` Right now I'm listening to Troy's SakuraCon stories and Lucas discussing how he wants to smoke pot on TV and get in trouble for it to draw attention to him and the TV and movie people he's affiliated with.<br />` Anything for art, right?<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">April 7, 2010:</span><br /><br />Better news for Lucas -- he's got the lead role in Dry Hump City, so now he plays J.R.! Apparently, J.R. is even more beardy and slovenly than David, so he's going to have to keep the damn beard.<br />` In fact, he's just thoroughly dirtied some shirts for the part, but they came too clean in the wash. Why is it that shirts you want to keep clean don't stay clean, but shirts you drag through the mud and everything else don't stay dirty?<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);">Also, yesterday, the TV station guy, Michael Tuckman, called Lucas, and explained why he never got back to him with the Norm Squareby and the Angry Chef shows:</span><br />` Turns out that in December, right when Brad (the Angry Chef Himself) rented the U-Haul with nowhere to go (and then called the cops, blaming us for it), the owner of the TV station was doing the same crap!<br /><br />Apparently, one day the Sheriff just showed up to evict them all after the owner hadn't paid rent for five months -- and also hadn't told this to anyone who worked in the building!<br />` Then, the owner got three enormous moving vans and packed up all his crap -- most of it was outdated equipment and junk -- and had nowhere to take it! Finally, the guy did find a building, but it was out of range of the digital broadcast antenna, so he is now illegally spliced into the Comcast cable!<br />` Even more annoying, he towed Tuckman's car, which had a lot of stuff in it, such as his documentations that his valuable items are what they are.<br />` The guy is nuts, literally, though maybe I ought to cut him some slack since he's dying of cancer. Presumably when he does die, Michael will be able to get that stuff back.<br /><br />You know what else is funny? Michael Tuckman didn't realize we're actually poor and that all the 'gourmet' food that Lucas and Brad the Angry Chef catered that one day was either from the food bank or from our garden!<br />` We still don't have much money, but we do have years' worth of wood!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4541546424/" title="mcr 055 EVEN MORE WOOD! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4541546424_a45dd815c5_b.jpg" alt="mcr 055 EVEN MORE WOOD!" width="550" /></a><br /></div><br />Vada looks stunned.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">April 12, 2010:</span><br /><br />SO BUSY! Lucas has been playing J.R. all weekend. He used a little of Troy's gourmet root beer for the front of his shirt... it was devastating. At least for Troy....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4541547112/" title="mcr 064 No! Don't use the root beer for your shirt! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4042/4541547112_5684d3f2ca.jpg" alt="mcr 064 No! Don't use the root beer for your shirt!" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br />Voila! Lucas as J.R. -- Vada doesn't know what to think!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4541547332/" title="mcr 067 Off to be on TV now! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2744/4541547332_df02b3f9d2_b.jpg" alt="mcr 067 Off to be on TV now!" width="550" /></a><br /></div><br />Ha ha! You peed your pants!<br /><br />As Lucas was through Safeway before the shoot, with his coat open and his filthy shirt exposed, he got a lot of looks from customers.<br />` The cashier looked horrified until Lucas informed him that he's a not really an alcoholic, he only plays one on TV, and the beers were for the show!<br /><br />On Sunday night, he came back looking really beat up....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4540914903/" title="mcr 074 The makeup lady did a good job, no? by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4008/4540914903_40a9480af9.jpg" alt="mcr 074 The makeup lady did a good job, no?" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br />But he was only pretending! I took a picture, thinking that perhaps he really did have a nosebleed from some stunt, but that was makeup, too! He has just driven all the way home with the fake-bloody tissue in his nose!<br /><br />Also, what's funny is, Dry Hump City is made by Mormons, and there was this Mormon guy there who said he was against the show on religious grounds! Also he's a 35 year old virgin.<br /><br />This guy I speak of was supposed to be promoting Lucas and Andrew Hu, creator of The Boob and Dry Hump City, to Rick Alden, who we were hoping might fund the making of The Boob -- but it turns out he's too uptight.<br />` By the way, you can read the first ten pages of The Boob, as well as watch a 'trailer' of people reading said ten pages and laughing their asses off <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Boob/247019188673?v=wall#%21/pages/The-Boob/247019188673">here on his Facebook page</a>.<br /><br />Interestingly, the 'against my religion' guy said that Rick Alden would not approve of such a thing, and to prove this, he got online to show him. Right there on SkullCandy.com was the results of a survey that said 50% of pollsters approved of using BOOBS to improve the Skullcandy website!<br />` He dismissed that, only to find pictures of Rick Alden with his arms around scantily-clad young women with huge cleavages in all manner of situations. He dismissed that also, saying that Rick wasn't really like that.<br /><br />And so, no, he wasn't going to promote Lucas to Rick Alden.<br /><br />ARRRRRGH!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4540914405/" title="mcr 069 I KEEL YOU, WOOD! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2711/4540914405_be644060be.jpg" alt="mcr 069 I KEEL YOU, WOOD!" width="500" height="308" /></a><br /></div><br />It's too bad because Rick was supposed to come over to our house tomorrow, but his trip was canceled.<br /><br />Double-ARRRRRGH!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4541547908/" title="mcr 072 RAWR!!! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4022/4541547908_bdee9dd8e2_b.jpg" alt="mcr 072 RAWR!!!" width="550" /></a><br /></div><br />Oh well, at least Troy and I got around to cleaning the house -- Troy tackled the entire main bathroom while I got up some of the non-meth head urine carpet stains, as well as windows and windowsills, dishes, and other things here and there.<br /><br />Right now, it's bedtime, especially since I'd gotten up at 6 this morning and rode the exercise bike outside so as not to disturb the roomies. I am going to sleep on the couch, however, because Rick is snoring and Andrew has turned up his TV to drown it out.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">April 13, 2010:</span><br /><br />Aced my first Spanish Exam, did all three English readings, meanwhile Lucas was at the Fox's house, doing some more wood-chopping.<br />` Poor Nate is dealing with Rebecca's insanity. She's spending all this money on speech therapy for their 22-month-old, Charlie. Yes, he's not even 1 1/2 years old, but he's great at communicating -- signing and trying to talk -- yet she's blowing her money because she thinks he might never learn!<br /><br />Neurotic!<br /><br />The speech therapist couldn't get him to blow air, because she was ASKING HIM TO, and Rebecca was so afraid that this meant something bad! So, to encourage Charlie to blow air, Lucas started doing this beat-box thing into Charlie's toy microphone, and Charlie imitated him!<br />` It worked... and it was free of charge!<br /><br />Rebecca, being jarred out of her world of panic, viewed this with suspicion.<br /><br />Lucas explained to her that he has had years of experience working in childhood development with hundreds of little kids Charlie's age and older, and had seen them learning to talk.<br />` He has a degree in psychology and knows all the stages and the ranges of age, and has trained other people on the job as well. Clearly, he knows what he's talking about, but Rebecca just kind of smiled and nodded.<br /><br />She also gives Charlie sugar pills for teething pain, which also pisses Nate off to no end. Why does Charlie like them? Because they're sugary, not because they're painkillers!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">April 17, 2010:</span><br /><br />Andrew was storming around this morning, all pissed off, throwing things around his room and swearing. Rick, apparently not being attuned to Andrew, innocently asked; "Are you okay in there?" Andrew growled, "I'm just <span style="font-style: italic;">fine,</span> Rick!"<br />` After Rick, Troy and I were crowded around, wondering what the hell was going on, Lucas went up to Andrew's room and asked what was wrong. Andrew replied that it burns when he pees. Apparently he had some sex he should not have.<br />` A few hours later, the cops came over and hauled Andrew off for missing court. So, he's got the clap, but he's in jail and can't do anything about it!<br /><br />Sigh... this is why I don't get involved with meth-heads anymore.<br /><br />Meanwhile I'm all carrying on and having fun with the kittehs as usual!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4540920537/" title="mcr 120 Lots of interesting smells! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4025/4540920537_fb0b32e434_b.jpg" alt="mcr 120 Lots of interesting smells!" width="550" /></a><br /></div><br />My Violet!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4541554068/" title="mcr 122 The cat that sat alone on a log by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4041/4541554068_58757aecba_b.jpg" alt="mcr 122 The cat that sat alone on a log" width="550" /></a><br /></div><br />My Vada!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4541554318/" title="mcr 124 Vada drinking at the stream by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2774/4541554318_425eb80f3f_b.jpg" alt="mcr 124 Vada drinking at the stream" width="550" /></a><br /></div><br />My landlady's lawn-humping dog!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4541554874/" title="mcr 129 T.J. humps the lawn by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4023/4541554874_1c2382a43f.jpg" alt="mcr 129 T.J. humps the lawn" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />My J.R!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4541555152/" title="mcr 132 Lucas' 'Before' photo... by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2782/4541555152_3e6214bae4.jpg" alt="mcr 132 Lucas' 'Before' photo..." width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br />...He's turned back into Lucas now, through the magic of SHOWERING!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4540921837/" title="mcr 133 Lucas' 'After' photo! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2739/4540921837_31986c3c94.jpg" alt="mcr 133 Lucas' 'After' photo!" width="500" height="486" /></a><br /></div><br />Oh yeah, can't forget... MY SELF!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4541555214/" title="mcr 134 Me at my chair desk by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2681/4541555214_7640e1cdee_b.jpg" alt="mcr 134 Me at my chair desk" width="550" /></a><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">April 25, 2010:</span><br /><br />Much has been going on, hence all the photos. For one thing, Rick has been snoring so much that we moved into Stinky Johnny's Former Stinky Bedroom... Violet is bummed because there's no more windowsill water to drink, nor can she jump out the window.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4593267064/" title="pr 002 Violet wants out! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3337/4593267064_059810839f_b.jpg" alt="pr 002 Violet wants out!" width="550" /></a><br /></div><br />Well, it's nice and quiet for studying, anwyay.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4592646885/" title="pr 003 Next day, homework... by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1386/4592646885_faedc6f18b.jpg" alt="pr 003 Next day, homework..." width="500" height="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Also, Lucas has further improved our view by pruning the neighbor's apple tree....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4593268770/" title="pr 011 Lucas sawing the branches by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4065/4593268770_22cf9a58cb_b.jpg" alt="pr 011 Lucas sawing the branches" width="550" /></a><br /></div><br />Well, the other day, who should walk back in the door unexpectedly but Andrew, who explained that he was freaking out from claustrophobia so badly that the cops just let him out of jail.<br />` Wow! So now you know, if you ever really, really want out of jail for missing a court date, alls you have to do is freak out!<br /><br />Also, I wanted to mention that whenever I'm walking from my car to my first class and it's five-til 8, meaning I'm almost late for being early to class, a military trumpet sounds in the distance, so I yell "Charge!" and start running!<br /><br />It's one of those little weird things I thought I'd mention.<br /><br />Oh yeah, and we're having a Pampered Chef Party... and here's the star of the show right now, Lucas' friend Nate Fox (whose trees they've been chopping), the Pampered Chef himself!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4593269506/" title="pr 021 It's Nate Fox! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1168/4593269506_7674b75329.jpg" alt="pr 021 It's Nate Fox!" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br />Troy's mom was the only invite who showed up... but we had a rockin' time and some excellent food!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">May 3, 2010:</span><br /><br />Man! I've been so busy lately attacking my homework and stuff that I haven't really gotten to writing down any nutty things that have been happening lately.<br /><br />Lucas, by the way, did not get the endorsement of Rick Aldin, but he did get some Skullcandy stickers and microphone-earbuds for an iPhone, which doesn't work with our cell phones.<br /><br />Too bad -- Lucas coulda been the star of The Boob if only Andrew Hu had gotten the money to make The Boob!<br />` And now, apparently, Andrew Hu has signed away the script to Paramount or someone who probably won't make the movie, and if they do there's no way in hell they're going to let Lucas play the boob!<br /><br />I've passed all my Spanish quizzes and tests with A's despite the fact that Lacy has been living here for the past few days, which freaks me out. She even asked me if I might give her a ride! Sorry -- meth-head squatters don't get rides from me!<br /><br />Especially when they leave their underwear on the stairs!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4593270702/" title="pr 031 Meth head chick's underwear! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4060/4593270702_d552d84efc.jpg" alt="pr 031 Meth head chick's underwear!" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div><br />Even more oddly, that was the second time I've been asked for a ride on the same day. Just earlier, I had been at a gas station and this guy with spiral earrings - presumably a meth-head or something - asked me which was I was going. I said I was going toward Evergreen and pointed down the street, which terminated at Evergreen.<br />` He said, "No, Evergreen is that way," and pointed in another direction (further down on Evergreen), then he raised his eyebrows at me as if I was supposed to realize that he caught me lying to him, which I wasn't.<br /><br />He asked if I'd give him a ride to Bothell for $2.50, and instead of saying, 'You can catch a bus with that money!' I truthfully told him that I was volunteering at my college. (I was, for teaching ESL students.)<br />` He asked if I was going to my college and I said, "No, I'm going home first." He said, "Oh, to Evergreen?" I said, "No, I live in Mukilteo," which is on the other side of Evergreen.<br />` Eyebrows high, he said, "I thought you were going to Evergreen! Aha! Aha!" as in 'Aha, you <span style="font-style: italic;">are</span> lying to me!' and walked off.<br /><br />Well, at least I got rid of him.<br /><br />And then, having gased up my car, I drove off, crossed Evergreen, and continued on to the Boeing Freeway, which leads into Mukilteo. See? I was telling the truth all along!<br /><br />This happened, by the way, while I was on my way home from the computer shop. I paid 'only' $75 because it had a pain-in-the-ass virus I couldn't get rid of that was telling me to buy anti-virus software.<br />` I tried to get it to close and then go on the internet, but that didn't work, so I tried to trick it into connecting into the internet under the pretense of buying the anti-virus software... and THAT didn't work, either, so I was stuck with this popup window that claimed to be virus software.<br />` Pretty counter-productive for a computer virus, huh? Most computer viruses don't stop your computer from working, but rather hide in your browser and tell Amazon.com to give some guy money every time you make a purchase, or use your computer to distribute spam or something.<br /><br />You can easily get twelve viruses in a day, but software like ClamWin, SpyBot Search and Destroy, and MalwareBytes, none of which I had updated in a while, can get rid of almost all viruses. I just wasn't using mine much, that's why they didn't work!<br />` Yeah, if you have anti-virus programs, it is important to utilize them!<br /><br />These programs are free to download on the internet, by the way: Those ones that people buy are different mostly in that you have to pay for them, and because they tell you there's added benefits to using them over the free software, which are really advertising gimmicks, as any software expert knows -- that's why THEY use the free stuff, too!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">This Has Been A Public Service Announcement!</span><br /></div><br />Arrr! I may not slay computer viruses so easily, but I eat octopuses for breakfast!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4592760721/" title="apr-ay 081 Say hello to my tasty friend! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4069/4592760721_727718f4c5.jpg" alt="apr-ay 081 Say hello to my tasty friend!" width="500" height="385" /></a><br /></div><br />Troy saw this and was rather shocked.<br /><br />And I haven't even gotten around to what happened today! Lucas has gotten to Andrew (the roommate, not the filmmaker) about Lacy living here and all: She's back, and she took our wash out of the washer and put it on the floor, then proceeded to do two loads of laundry!<br />` As a consequence, our laundry is still in the dryer at almost midnight... except one of Lacy's dryer sheets must be in there because it stinks so bad! I'm going to have to wash my clothes again! Anyway, I'm staying up to make sure they get dry, and then after that I'll put Lacy's second load in the dryer.<br />` Apparently it's kind of an excuse so she can stay over again... she did apparently want to leave, but commandeering our wash was not the best way. Oh, here she is now!<br /><br />Close call.<br /><br />By the way, Troy's memory cards have gone missing, as have one of my octopuses -- octopedes? I'm locking my office door.<br /><br />Indeed, meth-heads should try not to mix... it's like trying to mix salt-water and rain-water... it doesn't turn out well!<br /><br />...At least in the case of water, it's preeeety!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4593274406/" title="pr 055 Half blue, half gray water! by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1072/4593274406_f3cda06ccf.jpg" alt="pr 055 Half blue, half gray water!" width="500" height="317" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">May 8, 2010:</span><br /><br />The days have been flying by! The good news -- Lacy has been banned from the house!<br /><br />Also, Jen, the girl who stormed out of the restaurant in an incident <a href="http://sites.google.com/site/corrigendopedia/howtofigurestuffout%2Candhownotto%21/is-that-a-fact/opie-what-o-knees">I wrote about on The Corrigendopedia</a>, is apparently really cool when she's not arguing about arachnids.<br />` She cooked dinner last night and a couple of Troy's friends came over. Fettucini alfredo of doom, Cesar salad of doom, and stuffed poultry of doom! AWESOME!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">May 9, 2010:</span><br /><br />It's Mother's Day! I called my mommy. She's taking up painting lessons again! Called my Gramma, too -- she really liked the card I sent her!<br /><br />And wait... there's MORE! That's right, more photos and more story on my Flickr sets...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/4592762461/" title="apr-ay 094 Me reading on the front porch by seequinerun, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3569/4592762461_393796de67_b.jpg" alt="apr-ay 094 Me reading on the front porch" width="550" /></a><br /></div><br />Check out <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/sets/72157623780809229/">April</a> and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26580665@N08/sets/72157624026844926/">May 2010</a>! You know you want to!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
google_ad_client = "pub-0390306350918355";
google_ad_width = 728;
google_ad_height = 90;
google_ad_format = "728x90_as";
google_ad_type = "text_image";
google_ad_channel ="";
google_color_border = "6699CC";
google_color_bg = "003366";
google_color_link = "FFFFFF";
google_color_url = "AECCEB";
google_color_text = "AECCEB";
//--></script>
<script type="text/javascript"
src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
</script></div>Spoony Quinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730057249256927206noreply@blogger.com2