Date:	2008-10-07 09:21
Subject:	Progress!
Security:	Public
Mood:	amused

I've been making homemade bread for the past week. It's delicious, takes five minutes of my time, and it's cheap! I'll post the recipe later.

Veggies are growing bigger. Snap peas aren't doing so great, so I need to figure something out for them. Everything else is thriving. The left side of the gate into the garden was totally broken, so Jerimiah and I bought a power drill and made a new one. We concretized it into the ground on Sunday. This makes us feel very rugged.

Devin now knows sit, stay, come, and lie down. We've been teaching her with hand signals too, so we can be all stealth about getting her to do stuff. I definitely am thinking that she's jack russell mixed with chihuahua now that she's a bit older. She's very very quiet (yay!), but when she does bark, it's at the dumbest things. A peanut butter jar fell out of the recycling bin and kept wobbling back and forth. She barked at it for about 2 minutes straight. I could not stop laughing.

Finished my short story a few days ago. Jerimiah gave me feedback. Working on two more short stories, simultaneously.

Date:	2008-09-30 16:21
Subject:	Temporarily Fired UP
Security:	Public
Mood:	thoughtful

Just got temporarily fired up again about the wedding...

What if we rented a big 'ol cabin in Tahoe and held the wedding in the backyard? Some of these places are only $200/night, and they look FANTASTIC. And then we could have a bbq dinner and buy our own booze.

Huh...

Still trying to figure something out that'll be fun, and not too expensive, especially now that the economy seems to be going down the crapper.

Date:	2008-09-30 14:26
Subject:	I have an ulcer
Security:	Public
Mood:	blah

So a couple days ago I noticed my eye was feeling irritated - as if I had something stuck in it. Yesterday I looked in the mirror in the morning and noticed a white dot on my iris.

Doctor trip!

It's an eye ulcer. I put drops in it every two hours. It will probably leave a scar, but it probably won't affect my vision. So maybe I get to keep this little white dot.

Another visit on Friday to have it checked on.

It already doesn't hurt as much, so I'm taking that's good news. I'm wearing my old-ass crooked so-many-crack-and-pits-they-look-constantly-dirty glasses, so that's pushed me to go glasses shopping.

Eyes can have ulcers. Who knew?

Date:	2008-09-26 12:05
Subject:	Vegetable Garden
Security:	Public
Mood:	excited

I got up early this morning to take some photographs of our veggie garden in progress. I was greeted by this little reptilian fellow on our deck (did I mention we painted it? =)).



( Follow for the rest of the faux-toes! )

Phase 1...nearing completion!

P.S. Here is a recipe my mom gave us (after we'd done all the work) that is for good soil and will help break up clay - in case any of you run into that problem.

"Recipe for a good garden soil:
for each 100 sq. feet add :

5 bags Master's Gold Rush (10 cubic ft) or Master Bumper Crop
5 lbs Ironite to acidify, break up clay and add iron
10 lbs Master's vegetable Food or Master's Flower Food, Master's Formula 49 can be used for ground covers.
40 lbs. Gypsum. It loosens hard soils as it add sulfur & calcium
Mix well with your soil to a 4" depth and water well.

Really the main ingredients for breaking up the clay is gypsum and ironite. Then add any organic or natural fertilizer that you prefer."

Date:	2008-09-23 08:30
Subject:	Self-Sufficiency
Security:	Public
Mood:	tired

To-Do List

-plant a vegetable garden (almost done!)
-make our own dish detergent (once ours runs out)
-buy a soymilk maker (for soymilk, tofu, and yogurt, est. 3 months)
-get chickens (est. 1-2 years)
-look into purchasing solar panels (est. 2-3 years)
-get a compost heap going (compost bin arriving in 4-6 business days)
-make our own bread (found a great 5-min recipe, will try this weekend)
-buy a scooter (est. 1 year), eventually sell one of our cars and buy a hybrid (est. 3-4 years)

Yesterday I ran into someone from the dorms. I couldn't remember his name or where I knew him from until 30 minutes after the encounter. Awkward!

We're still digging up the side yard to plant the remainder of our vegetables. I'm tired.

Date:	2008-09-22 08:12
Subject:	Yard Work
Security:	Public
Mood:	exhausted

Tired. Spent the weekend painting the deck and starting our vegetable garden. Still have to finish getting in between the boards on the deck and finish tearing up the dog run so we have enough room for all of our veggies.

For those who are in the Sacto area - you should check out Capital Nursery! Wow! It's amazing. We bought a grapevine, broccoli, salad greens, cauliflower, chinese cabbage, snow peas, and strawberries. The store looks pretty small from the front, but you go inside and it extends out the back forever.

Went to a BBQ at chicken-owning friends' place. Chickens were so cute! They were almost adult-sized, but were still peeping. I fed them cottage cheese, and they ate it while making distressed sounds (I pet them while they ate).

Jerimiah's on board with the chicken idea. We're making it a mini-project to move toward more sustainable living. We're going to get a scooter to save gas on our in-town trips (and because they are FUN!), going to look into getting solar panels installed at some point, and going to get a compost heap going.

Backyard work has been sort of fun so far, though tiring. Our neighbor gave us some of the chicken he was bbq-ing. SO GOOD.

Date:	2008-09-18 08:44
Subject:	Raising up Puppy
Security:	Public
Mood:	excited

I'd heard that taking care of a puppy was SO HARD, so I expected the worst. It's actually not so bad! Jerimiah thinks she's tough to care for because she won't leave him alone, but he does not properly utilize the puppy-secrets of peanut butter and chew toys. And I notice if I take her for a run, she'll sleep for at least an hour afterwards.

She's starting to get more of a personality now that she's 13 weeks. She LOVES to be on your lap, and to be turned over and have her tummy rubbed. I'm teaching her to sit, to stay, and not to jump or nip at my hands. She is sooooooo cute! Jerimiah took a gajillion photos, so that when you scroll through them, it looks like you're watching a stop-action film. Hah!

I planned out a garden for our side yard, plus some space to possibly put a chicken coop in a couple years. We're going to remove the wood chips this weekend and start landscaping. I'm excited. We want to plant some winter veggies.

Now that I'm all into the idea of having chickens, I've been noticing other people that have chickens. Sorta weird, huh?

Date:	2008-09-11 14:29
Subject:	Intense, Irrational Jealousy
Security:	Public
Mood:	jealous

So...two of our friends, Jamie and Joe, recently got themselves three chickens that they're keeping in their backyard. They MacGuyvered a coop from an upside-down abandoned shopping cart, and their neighbors gave them the ok.

I AM SO JEALOUS.

I want to raise my own cute little chickies and keep them in the backyard with a coop and have fresh eggs and fresh fertilizer and bug control.

Way too busy right now - I haven't even gotten back to wedding planning yet.

BUT I WANT.

They invited us over to come see them sometime, and I am halfway eager and halfway afraid that this will send me into some dark, downward spiral of envious chicken-wanting.

Date:	2008-08-26 16:25
Subject:	A note
Security:	Public
Mood:	accomplished

Just a note, I've been riding my bicycle to and from work - saving $20/month on bus fare (Wooo! I'm rich!).

It's 5.5 miles each way, about 30 minutes. I am starting to feel more fit again.

Date:	2008-08-25 10:58
Subject:	I'm a PUPPY!
Security:	Public
Mood:	excited

We took Devin and Zorro out into the yard today for a bit of a romp. Got some better photos of her.



( This way for more! )

We tore up two dead trees this weekend and planted an orange tree. We found out we have built-in surround sound speakers, so we're going to try to figure out how those work tonight.

Housewarming soon? When's good for y'all??

I'm hoping to get the jacuzzi working by then! :D

P.S. Still working on my short story. Jerimiah read it and thinks it sounds really good so far. Huzzah! It's got love at first sight, a missing girl, and a conspiracy.

Date:	2008-08-21 19:04
Subject:	Ker-sock-er
Security:	Public
Mood:	curious

Anyone know when Kousaku is going to be around? Spoke on gchat when he was still in Japan and texted him when Brett was in town (DnD reunion!) - but not sure if he still has the same phone #.

I think he told me when he was going to be in town, but I don't save my chats. Bleh.

ETA: Nevermind! Got a hold of him!

Date:	2008-07-08 08:16
Subject:	Anniversary
Security:	Public
Mood:	loved

Two years today, since our first date. =)

It's been determined that we are buying one another a house for our anniversary.

Date:	2008-07-05 13:57
Subject:	Gardening
Security:	Public
Mood:	caffeinated

I've been growing three potted tomato plants in the anticipation of tasty, tasty tomatoes. I have an Early Girl, a Roma, and a Mr. Stripey (by request of Kaleb, the being that tastes with his eyes and not his tongue).

Early Girl has a bunch of tomatoes growing. One's going to be ready to pluck any day now. Roma is growing a few as well.

Mr. Stripey? Nothing. Yeah, those are pretty flowers and all - and a bit bigger than the other two plants. But Mr. Stripey, you FAIL at making tomatoes.

Moving on the 19th. Semi-packed, semi-cleaned.

10,633 words on my new project.

Date:	2008-06-30 17:18
Subject:	Sick, sick, sick
Security:	Public
Mood:	sick

I've been sick all weekend - hurrah! And I stayed home from work today as well. Ugh. I hate feeling so gross.

I managed to drag myself out to Fair Oaks on Saturday, to meet our possible new future dog. Well, I can say that he will 99% likely be our dog! He's super cute, really friendly, and is house-trained. Still debating whether or not to change his name. It's Jango right now - Kaleb likes Riley, and Jerimiah likes Bailey. I don't really care either way.

I picked up a cute collar and lead for him. I'm excited!

Date:	2008-06-24 15:49
Subject:	Aw, crap
Security:	Public
Mood:	indescribable

Kinda forgot...10 months, 1 day to go until expected wedding date.

House and dog stuff has been taking up all my time and energy. I DID buy the correct type of floral wire to try those paper roses again, but haven't had the time to sit down and do it yet.

Have to look at venues again too. There were a couple I made a mental note of, but now I have to go look them up again. I don't remember their names.

I DID find out that IKEA has vases for super-cheap though!

Done so far...
-bought the dress
-picked the colors
-mentally considered different options and visited some venues
-picked sister as maid of honor
-wrote a guest list
-tried and failed to make a paper rose
-established a tentative budget

That's...about it. This is dumb. I'm waaaay too excited about my new house and new possible future dog (SO CUTE!) to even work up an inkling of excitement for the wedding right now.

Ho hum.

Date:	2008-04-29 10:13
Subject:	Dreary
Security:	Public
Mood:	blah

Got another very nice rejection yesterday, on my full manuscript. She praised my characterization and plot, but said she wasn't 100% on it, so was deciding to pass.

Bleh. Still mailing stuff out.

Kaleb sleep-walked for the first time ever last night, freaking out both Jerimiah and I. He knocked really loudly on our door at 2AM and said in an upset voice, "I really, really need FOOD right now."

When questioned later, he didn't remember this at all.

Date:	2008-04-23 10:36
Subject:	Interview - Done!
Security:	Public
Mood:	excited

Yay, done with that! Now, if I can just hear positive news back on my book and hear that we got that house we're waiting on =) Oh yeah, and if this wedding stuff works itself out without me having to plan any of it.

Then life would be perfect!

I think I did pretty well. It wasn't actually as hard as I thought it would be. It wasn't easy, but I think I had good and thorough answers for all the questions.

Date:	2008-04-21 15:17
Subject:	Vacation
Security:	Public
Mood:	excited

Taking a 7-night cruise to Mexico in July. We're planning on doing a little diving while we're down there.

Anything we simply must/must-not do? I'm planning on smuggling my own booze on board. And I've never been to Mexico!

I've stopped the wedding planning for now. Trying to focus on getting an agent and house-buying. Tired of looking at venues and astronomical prices. I might just go ahead and start working on my centerpieces though since we've got our colors worked out.

I cleaned my ring on the weekend, and it's distractingly sparkly. Jerimiah bought me my own ring, so now I, who never wears rings, have two. I never really owned expensive jewelry before, so this is weird (but fun!).

We have an atrium in our rental, so I planted three tomato plants there yesterday. They're potted so I can take them with us when we finally get our house. I'm all excited to have fresh tomatoes. 1000x tastier than grocery store tomatoes.

Saw Forbidden Kingdom last night. Very Karate Kid. It brought back lovely memories of watching an old Chinese television show on the Monkey King. I tried, without success, to find a vhs/dvd online with English subtitles. *sigh*. Teh intarwebz has failed me.

Date:	2008-04-19 05:54
Subject:	Lulz
Security:	Public
Mood:	amused

This photo makes me laugh every time I see it.

When Jerimiah and I were in Thailand, we went to a fish farm. You could pay 5 baht and get a bag of little fish to feed to all the big fishes. 5 baht? With an exchange rate of 35 baht:1 dollar, why not? So I bought a bag of the little stinkies.

In one section of the farm was an enclosure of groupers. I'm not a fish expert; I have no idea what species of grouper this was. But they were big and mean-looking. Big as a coffee table. Jerimiah tried to get a good photograph of one, but they all sat at the bottom of their enclosure.

So I said "Here, let me help!" I took my baggy over, and waved to get one of the grouper's attention. Then I dangled the fish over the enclosure.

The grouper rose from the bottom with all the speed of a bubble in a swamp. Jerimiah snapped this photo:



The grouper slowly opened its mouth, revealing some rather large, rather sharp looking teeth. My brief thought was, it has teeth?, before it jumped out of the water and snatched the fish right out of my fingers.

I think I sat there for about ten seconds or so, too startled to move.

So that's the story of how I exercised the "stupid" part of my brain and nearly lost a finger or two to a grouper.

Date:	2008-04-18 16:21
Subject:	I like living here
Security:	Public
Mood:	energetic

I just rode my bicycle home from work, ~7 miles.

It was nice. I'm thinking about bicycling in on some mornings. There's a locker room and shower at work.