One advantage Comcast has over Direct TV is the Soundstage/Palladia station.

Music concerts in HDTV.

Maybe a little bit too much high def (don't always care to know who's had botox or not), but usually fabulous music!!

Until Lynard Skynard. Close.your.eyes. Music almost as good as it was. Don't look at reconstituted corpses on guitar.

For those who asked about this the other night, here's the recipe that I found for a good marshmallow "fluff" that you can make at home--no marshmallows required, but this assumes you have an electric mixer!

3 egg whites
2 cups light corn syrup
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups powdered sugar
1 Tbsp vanilla

In a large bowl combine egg whites, corn syrup and salt. Mix on high speed for 10 minutes or until thick. Add sugar, beat on low speed until well blended. Add vanilla and mix until blended. Enjoy!

The fluff can be stored in frig for 1 week, or can be frozen.

I recommend that unless you have a recipe requiring a lot of this, to only make a half or third of the recipe...

It is a rather bittersweet vacation--enjoying the travels but tempered with knowing many good friends have also lost their jobs.

But enjoying it immensely--this is the view from our hotel room--a bit clearer this morning. It will get more cloudy during the day, and rain later in the afternoon/evening. Welcome to hot and humid tropics. But with skyscrapers.



After breakfast Jaicee and I are headed to Hong Kong Disneyland--it was her "must do" for this trip. I have to admit since I've not been to *the* Disneyland since I was 5, I am looking forward to it, too...

My niece and I have been in Taipei for 3 full days now. We have discovered an alternate theory for the extinction of the dinosaurs.

Our hotel room has a view of a t-rex skeleton on top of a building, and we had to find out why it was there. We discovered it was on a BBQ restaurant with a "Jurassic Wild West" theme. You sat under or even within various dinosaurs, and some artwork rounded out the theme. And the 'dumb waiter' was awesome.

Quick trip synopsis: very nice people--cross walk timers--orchids--foot massages--traffic--clean--top of the world!--damper babies--turtles--temples----no ducks--sore feet--Confucius squirrels....

Thanks to tfabris for taking photos at Marian Call's recent gig at Wayward Coffee House, one of which was of some doodling I did during the show (guitarists are always nice subjects)--and she loved and posted them!
Full location is
http://flickr.com/photos/mariancall/3268031410/in/set-72157613540654669/

Hi folks, I've taken the artwork concept from the guitar straps I made for Sooj, and have come up with "LGPA Booty Bag". Before I go crazy making oodles of them, I'd like some feedback--whether to go for launch or (k)not. A big chunk of the proceeds from sales will benefit our dear S00j, of course.

This one has 5" wide opening, snap closure (w/ strip of bright leather inside the top for fun), and 7" wide at the bottom, and 7" high (inside the stitching), and a 48"+ adjustable buckled strap. I'm experimenting with other leather & artwork colors. And the other side has "Never Give Up/Never Give In"



I do intend to have some at the Vixy&Tony Gathering Grove gig tomorrow night--though just how many I have will depend on your interest! I'll also have available a small zippered case w/ the artwork for your safely stash smaller booty in backpacks or brief cases...

And if it's a go for launch tomorrow, I will update the 'save our s00j' and my website, too, for broader release. Thanks!

This morning had thought I was just meeting a new friend Rusty for coffee. Turned out due to some unexpected delays with prepping the project boat his friend William recently bought, W invited me along with them for the ride while his boat was towed from the boat yard in Ballard, thru the locks and to another marina-- had I known it this marina was on the Duwamish River, I might have said 'no thanks' (since this entails into the Sound, down thru Elliott Bay--a long time when going a handful of knots).

But I'm glad I didn't know. I had a great time, and R, W, and P were very nice and I'm glad to have met them!

Though it's been many, many years, I have spent some time on boats, and if I don't know what I'm doing, at least I know how to stay out of the way, but I was able to be helpful. The said project boat was a 28' sailboat built in 1935, which will be quite nice when he restores it, and per William, 35' mast from her deck. This was important later.

Going thru the locks was great. And I'm sure we entertained the operator of the train bridge outside the locks--the tow line broke, and took a while to get things hooked again. And towing a sail boat with a power boat not designed for towing was problematic against current, let alone in 2-3' waves up-wind. Patrick, who captained the cruiser towing us, opted to turn into Shilshoe marina to get out of the wind and waves & consider options.

A new tow line (bridle) configuration was rigged, winds had calmed, and a break in the clouds (called a "sucker hole") opened up, so we continued on our way. I rode in the cruiser from this point--which was indeed not as wet or cold. And it was calmer, and we were going down wind. And it turns out the GPS/maps feature on my iphone was useful to check entrance to the Duwamish (I just showed it to P, he chose which side to go down--word to the wise, pick the western most channel, else you tour the port!).

And I googled to check for clearances for the bridges we had to pass under along the Duwamish to get to the marina. According to sources I found, we had clearance. But the source for the last 2 bridges was a bit optomistic (seattle yacht club site, no less!)--turns out we were very lucky we got there at low tide!

Add about 3' to the mast height to get to the waterline. Then fit 38' mast under a bridge with just over 38' clearance. The tip of the antenna on the mast actually hit the bridge!

Once the boats were secured, we then walked to Marginal Way to catch a bus downtown, then took the trolley to South Lake Union where P was parked, and he drove us back to the boat yard where R & I had parked in the morning.

Not for the faint of heart, but it was a helluva lot funner than just meeting over a cup of coffee! R, W, and P were fun, and I enjoyed the (mis)adventure!

Example of what can happen if you stay in one place too long in this storm:

(no actual birds were harmed during filming of this in my yard)

Some pictures of feathered visitors to my feeders since yesterday:
Townsend's Warbler -->

Cluster of Bushtits -->

Hairy Woodpecker -->

The (very territorial male) Anna's hummingbird -->

And a hemlock in my backyard. Feels like I'm in a ski lodge!

Better than "new car smell": Fresh baked goodies from Larsen's Bakery (a pile of their Kringles and a donut). Combine with aroma of one small noble fir tree. Lovely to run errands and be greeted with yummy aroma inside the car after each stop. Now I really feel ready for the holidays.

And just watched a Downy Woodpecker get chased away from the suet feeder by a determined Flicker, who then hammered away for a while at the suet.

It's been warm enough today that nearly all the ice on my street has finally melted.

Love living in Seattle, even though we're weather wimps and freak out on predictions. Oh, well, plus side is fewer folks on the roads that don't know how to drive well.

Oh, the hummingbird is sitting on a branch near the feeder. I have made a new batch of sugar solution (1 cup boiling water to 1/4 cup sugar--no color!), and will put another feeder out wrapped up tight, as the one from yesterday is SOLID! At least the chickadees, wrens and bushtits can feed off the suet...

Hope all of you having to commute today made it safely there, and will get home safely again!

Thanks again to lovely Cerulia House for a wonderful gathering of friends!

Per request, here's the recipe I used for the Turkey Pot Pie. I did pull this off of www.allrecipes.com, the "After-Christmas Turkey Potpie", but I added lots of fresh rosemary and a bit more fresh pepper and fresh nutmeg. I also decreased the onion and used more celery than called for, and I don't think my soup was "golden mushroom":

1 C (cup) sliced carrots
1 C finely chopped onion
1/2 C chopped celery
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/8 tsp pepper

Saute the above with 3 Tbsp butter or margarine unit vegetables are crisp-tender.

2 C cubed cooked turkey
1 Tbsp all-purpose flour

Combine turkey and flour in a large resealable plastic bag, shaking to coat the turkey with the flour. Add turkey to the vegetables along with:

1 can (10.75 oz) condensed (golden) mushroom soup, undiluted
1 C frozen cut green beans, cooked and drained

Mix well.

Prepare basic pie crust for 9" double crust. Line a 9" pie pan with bottom pie crust, fill pie with turkey mixture, and roll out the rest of the pastry & cover the top, seal and flute the edges. Cut slits in pastry (if you want to cut out center w/ a cookie cutter, do so before putting the pastry on the pie!). Brush with milk, cover edges loosely with foil and bake at 350 degrees F for 55-65 minutes or until golden brown.

Serve warm and enjoy! Nom.

Not the best camera for this type of thing, and I kept missing it every time he tilted his head back out of the feeder... He's on the right perch, right of the green pole.



Finished the cookies and clearing the driveway (two distinctly separate tasks!) and will head out soon to join the folks at Red Tent Day!

I finally cleaned and refilled my hummingbird feeder--the Anna's that visit it year round are obviously pleased I put it back out! This morning I had to knock the snow off of it--and I realized I forgot to wrap the reservoir with an insulator (I use one for 'soda' cans), and so the sugar water is already half ice! But the two hummers (a male & female) have been feeding this morning. Will try to get a picture--the bright green bodies (and flashes of red from the male's head) are gorgeous, especially now against the snow covered plants!

Have the car loaded with everything I can think of that I will need for the Holiday Bazaar today. I think I have plenty of catnip toys and good variety of my leather bags and jewelry. Glad it's only four hours, and there will be wine tasting event too! So hoping that folks will be a little more likely to buy after having some wine, and that there are freebies for vendors :D.

It's the first year the Candlelighter's have done this, so not sure how many vendors or visitors will be there--25% of our proceeds go to the charity for childhood cancer, so it's a really good cause.

Forgive me a bit of shameless self promotion for my little venture "Bansai8 Creations", but if you're around Capitol Hill this afternoon, please stop by Gilda's Club, 1400 Broadway and say hi!

Awesome site this morning driving to work--just north of Lake Forest Park, two bald eagles sitting together in a tree right next to the road. I just love living here!

So I had an interview at a very small company yesterday--where I'd be THE Quality Department. Interesting opportunity.

But what really stood out was the red stapler on the supply shelf. 

The interview was at the conference table that was in the room that was the production/supply/finished goods/shipping&receiving area.  Thus I had a good look at what was on the supply shelf.

The QM would have an office, which was decent size & had a window, and its own desk, unlike Sam Lowry's office/cell.  And unlike Milton, *my* desk would not need to move (much) to be in the storage area. And I think the red stapler had a label "supply room". 

Before the physical part & file slinging starts, I have time to put on the headphones while I move electronic files about the etherspace.  Best way to describe my collection is "heterogeneous", and the resulting poem is indeed a tribute to shuffle mode!

I'm gone find my baby

Have you seen the little piggies
You're playing with fire
Ever stop to wonder
This is a message from inner space

Number 9
Revolution rock, it is a brand new rock
And what costume shall the poor girl wear
Day by day, people get sick of one another

Lost my time, lost my place in
Babe--oh dream about me
See me big woman, big woman look how you dance
I'm all lost in the supermarket

Don't ask me what you know is true
Love rescue me
Flew in from Miami Beach BOAC
When I came up from out of the meat locker

And you huh?
Please forgive me
Bring on the kingsize charade
My situation never changes--or very little

Officially I have 22 working days left at my job. We are now in packing mode--sending off whatever is appropriate to the folks in Huntsville, and tossing the rest. It is very strange returning to the office after a week of vacation and seeing this already underway. My boss has his office all packed, including his name plate!

He says we won't physically have to be at the office anymore if there's no reason. As long as we have the cell phone and work email on, we are "working". I imagine by the end of this week we'll have everything sorted & packed. Then telecommuting. It's tough, I know.

But I think I prefer the immediate notice of layoff. Boom. It's over & done, you deal with it and move on. But the retention bonus at the end of this will make waiting out the 6 months since they told us worth it. But it's been a like suspended grieving process. Overall I'm very happy about it, but it's always tough leaving a place you've been for many years...

And some insane recruiter thought an interview at 10am on a Monday after a long holiday weekend was a good idea--I politely said no, and they set it up for 1pm.

Tomorrow I'll be back in jeans and ready to toss parts into crates! About as close as I can get to replicating the printer smashing scene from Office Space and remain employed!

No, not of life, the universe, and everything--but The Big Picture movie theater. In Seattle, or for those left-siders, there's one in Redmond too. It is the most awesome place to see a movie (have been a fan for a couple years now). Yummy drinks--current fav is "Den of Sin" (living room or bedroom isn't an option on the menu), but the Bogart is fabulous, too--like its namesake. Kind of like a home theater on steroids. No kids, no commercials, and rarely does anyone talk during the movie (not counting tfabris). Fabulous!