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Happy Halloween from Greenwood!

Love these fantastic flamingos one of my neighbors has.
It’s been a very full Halloween week. Last week we kicked it off with the school carnivale and business trick or treat. We dressed Miss Bit up in her way cute Pirate Princess costume and hit stores from 87th all the way to 65th.   So much fun. The school carnival was a blast, with games that included rat toss,  where they tossed rats into a toliet. Miss Bit had a blast

Then it was pumpkin carving with Patrick and I.

Here is my pumpkin

Then today our little pirate princess scored big.

First, it was the school party. So many sweets, so many treats. I was surprised that her drama club leader though he could lead a productive session today, but he did a pretty good job. Then we headed out to Northgate where we trick or treated at the mall. Then it was over to Greenwood Christian Church. There she got candy, won a costume contest and scored a raffle prize too! The white tiger she got as a raffle prize was very appropriate. Patrick’s number was also called, though i snagged it when it was called, and got the prize, a churchy coffee mug and  a package of coffee.  I owe him one.

We’re home now. We’re watching Willy Wonka and eating candy and enjoying the time together while Patrick is off to a party. Happy Halloween.

“I’m British, we know how to queue” Arthur in Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.

This morning I saw the most baffling thing as I headed to campus.

People lined up for the bus.

I decided to try a new route this morning that gave me an axis of the Lynwood Transit Center. The transit center is a bit far North and is embedded in suburbia. I got off at the center and wandered over to the bus stop only to find a small line of people waiting. Not wanting to be disruptive I took the last spot in line. Sure enough within about 5 minutes there was a small line snaking around the bus shelter of people waiting for the bus.

After we got on we drove past another park and ride stop, and there too there was a polite line of people waiting.

How weird.

When was the last time you were at your local library?  If its been a while you might be surprised at what they offer. We live a block and a half from my local library. I’m there at least once a week picking up, dropping off or just browsing books. Recently though I’ve been able to appreciate the library in whole new ways.

Saving Money:
I’m a magazine hound. I love magazines, particularly around this time of the year. My buying spree increases with  the early thanksgiving issues through the eating healthy issues of January. I want them all. This year my local library supplied a solution as I begin to check out magazines from last holiday season for ideas. One of these days I’ll run down to the big central library and exploit their larger magazine collection in the same way.

New Ideas:
Since Miss Bit is home with me most days after school I’m also using the opportunity to check out kids craft magazines and books. Projects that use recycled materials are preferred, and medium mess easy cleanup. So far we are working on paper mache pumpkins and i have a few “holiday” ideas up my sleeve. 

More entertainment:
DVDS. Lots and lots of DVDs the best thing about checking DVDs out of the library? It doesnt hurt to check something out and have it turn out to be awful. I’ve checked out a few movies that I’d heard good things about but were stinkers*, and I’ve checked out movies that i’d never heard about that I ended up loving. It’s random what will be on the shelf and its delightful to try something new with no risk.

More accessible:
Tonight I was looking through the books of a favorite author and ended up on a list of ebooks. digging a little deeper, I now have 15 pdf ebooks checked out to me.
From cookbooks to a series of Terry Brooks that I’ve been wanting to start.  Fun. Next up? Figuring out how to get the audiobooks onto my shuffle/sansa so I have “reading” for the bus. All done from the comfort of the big chair. No going to the library neccessary.

More educational:
I’m lucky enough to not only have a great city library but a great county library system, and KCLS offers free language lessons. Through a program called Mango online, I can brush up on my German, French, Japanese or Spanish.

So this week, Seattlejo suggests you check out your local library.

*I feel either too old or too out of it, but I didnt get Napolean Dynamite.

Saturday we packed up the car and did a roadtrip down to Vancouver so i could meet my fiances brother before he goes in for surgery tomorrow. It was my first introduction to my future in-laws , talk about nerve wracking. We were up early, and hit the road only to realize we missed on crucial step. As soon as we hit the freeway, Miss Bit had to pee. So it was a stop in South Seattle at McDonalds for her to pee. We finally hit the road for real about 9-9:30.   It was the longest roadtrip Patrick, Miss Bit and I have done together, an important  step in calculating our long term  compatibility. 

Getting to Vancouver
All in all it went fairly well. Miss Bit chattered in the back and played with her groovy girls and we chattered in the front. I discovered that the new car has heated seats . Its something I consider totally frivolus, but I enjoyed them coming home, even texting Aron that I had a “hot ass”  heh.

We got into Vancouver around 12:30 and visited for a while with Patricks nephew and brother. Since we were planning on having dinner with them and other friends in the area, we opted to leave for a while, and visit Powells.

Visting Powells
So we got to Portland, had a pretty ok time reaching Powells. I think Patrick was overwealmed by the number of rooms there were. We stayed for about an hour, visiting the childrens section first, then  we split up and explored on our own. For me it was off to craft books and cookbooks, for Patrick and Miss Bit it was the childrens clearence, and the sci fi books. We met up again at the coffee shop, picked up a drink then headed back to Vancouver.

Many of my friends adore Powells  and I usually give it a hit when i’m down in Portland. Overall though, I’m not impressed. Perhaps its the organization, the crowd, just how overwealming it is. Perhaps its that its not easy to see the used books in with the new ones, perhaps its that the prices just arent that great. I’m finding with books in general, i have a hard time paying anything near retail for them. I’m much more up for buying them used, and checking them out of the library a couple of times to see if it is something i really need.   So Powells yieled a few more books on my library list and a few more on my radar in general, the only thing that came   home with me was a book on stats to prepare me for one of my winter quarter classes. So yeah, i’m glad we stopped, but  still don’t feel like its a mecca for me.   (Next time I’d love a visit to Yarnia or Penzeys instead.)

Dinner in Vancouver
We headed back to Vancouver, and spent more times with my future in-laws. Patrick’s sister in law came home from work and we ended up having at an Indian Buffet that Patrick’s friends took him too the last time they were in town.  Over Indian food there was more visiting, and his friends were also able to join us. Poor Miss Bit was a bit overwlealmed at this point though, with so many adults to get attention from and was less then well behaved.  She did pretty well with the indian food though, so I have to give her credit there.  

Back to Seattle
We were back on the road by nine and home by 11. Miss Bit fell asleep pretty much right away and Patrick had a nice chat the way home. Its nice to get away from the computers and spend some time talking,  and I take my job seriously as a navigator in the car. Patrick offered to let me take a nap, but instead i chattered up a storm, keeping us both awake the way home.

Next time? Well next time I’d say its not a day trip and we’ll spend the night. 7 hours is a long time in the car for a day.

On Friday’s I have a tradition of going to Makeda after dropping Miss Bit off. I have coffee, go over my to do lists, a little bit of productivity and a little chatter with the coffee gals.

i also get to visit with th dogs who come in. This one is Rocket and he was adorable.

From 111NIKON

I have a personal assistant. i copy her on emails, send her text messages and give her chores to do. In return she sends me text messages and other reminders  when I have a task coming up. She keeps my to do list, and tracks the catagories of my tasks.

The cost? Free.

Iwantsandy.com is my new digital assistant. Part of a swiss army of knifes worth of  tools i use to keep track of everything going on in my life.

i find that i use it on the bus most often, reviewing my tasks mentally, I’ll think of something i want to do  and send off a quick message. Its then recorded on my to dist When i check in on the website I have the satisfaction of ticking off the things that i have done. I love ticky boxes. There is a certain amount of satisfaction gained from being able to tick off those things that are done.

Give it a try, I’m sure Sandy would love to help you with your to do list.

As the bus rounds the north end of Lake Washington, i’ll admit to looking towards St Edwards Park and Bastyr and wondering what this year would be like. But in the end, i
m thrilled to be at Bothell.

This is why i love this campus

From Bothell

From Bothell

From Bothell

From Bothell

From Bothell

From Bothell

This is my campus. With purple for spirit and all.

From Bothell

This little guy greeted us as we got to the Waterhouse Center, clearly signaling that “Here There Be  Dragons”

I was apprehensive about the course , as I’m sure you all realized.  I didn’t expect that it would turn out to be such a negative experience for me.

We did a total of 5 main challenges.

There was the balancing bridge, the lava maze, the bone crusher, the spider web, the cube, and the tonpoco river.

The purpose was for us to function in teams to complete the tasks.  We were able to complete most everything. We learned about leadership conflict, effective leadership, and i picked up some feedback in regards to styles of leadership
i learned that there is real truth in this statement

The most effective way to do it, is to do it. Amelia Earhart.

The first challenge was the bridge, led by a girl who drove me nuts the entire day. The bridge challange is a balancing bridge that you need to get everyone on and keep balanced, if it tilts, you start over. We had to get 23 people on. The girl who drove me nuts was given leadership because she had done this before, something she reminded everyone of all day in a “This one time at band camp” sort of way. She was a stabalizer and spent 45 minutes listening to what everyone wanted to do and debating, without trying things out. It was pretty pointless.

To be honest, I also resented her enthusiasm. The class sessions leading up to this she had extolled the virtues of this and “how much fun it would be”. So it hung over my head that  “She thinks this is fun, i just want to get this done and get out of the damn woods.”

This is the bonecrusher the point is that you have to move over the spool there, without touching the sides of it.  It meant that we literally boosted people over, had them climbing on each other and pulled them over. The last guy? Had to jump and be pulled over by his arms only. I was very concious about standing on someone’s back and having to be lifted up to the spool. Of course I also helped lift people. Which meant an invasion of personal space. I said the tag line of the class should be “Touching Butt in the Woods of Monroe”
 
It didnt get better from there. After lunch we did the cube, where you have a six sided cube each side a different color. You have to go in one side  and out the other without touching the cube.  So we all lined up according to size, the 6 who “couldn’t be lifted” and then 6 who could be. Guess which one I was? 

One of my classmates, we’ll call him Sarcastic Jack,  was good about it. He stepped up said “I’m one of the biggest guys here so I need accomodation, and so will some of you others so please step up.” But he also brought more to the game. In the cube challenge since we had to lift people in and out of the cube, he was a major player. For one move he literally tossed people over his shoulder, put them in the cube and they stepped out.

The Tanpoco river was the worst.
See that platform? That can only be reached by swinging on a rope across the “river”. You can stand on the platform or on a hula hoop island. You can not move from the hula hoop island to the platform, nor from the platform to the island. So how diid the girls get in the hula hoops? Those guys standing at the front , Sarcastic Jack and the Marine caught people and put them into the hoops.  

I ended up on the platform, with 15 other people, with the girls in the back holding me up as we got more crowded.  How did i get over to the platform? By swinging across the rope playground style. The first time i ended up flat on my ass on the ground in front of the platform. Nothing hurt, just my ego.

In the end most of the day was a challange for Sarcastic Jack as he lifted and carried people here and there. He joked at the end that he had lifted 20 girls over the threshold and didnt even get a handshake.  It was his motivation that got us through it.  Was he motivated by the fun? Nope. He also wanted to get this done in the most effecient manner to get us out of the damn woods.

The worst part?
I left with my body image in shreds. Literally I wanted to curl up in a ball and cry.  My body image is pretty good. I am aware of my weight and size, and am happy. I have a fairly active life, i dont eat baby flavored donuts, and maintain a pretty  balanced diet.  To spend the day  in a “team building” excerise where I was assessed for my physical attributes and the challanges they bring to the team was devastating. In a work group or class team my weight should have no impact to my classmates. (Beyond the occasional asshole who has a bias against fat people) In this though, my size, and the body that I’m comfortable with were a drawback and emberassing. I wasnt the only one either.  The day was mean to teach me to engage and bond, instead I am struggling not to question my attributes. 

Body image can be a fragile thing, and to have this  team building exercise hinge on physical prowess was  hard on me.  I’m not about to go jump on a gym membership or the latest diet. (though I must admit my condition of omg so fat must go to the gym for the next 45 hours did hit me)
 Instead my hurt has channeled into a feeling of betrayal at the course.  Last night I drowned my feelings with a hard cider and a hot bath, this morning I’m feeling better, but am still very thoughtful aboout the event.

I’m not particularly graceful. I have broken bones on my right arm 3 times. Once while simply running down the street. Once during a party game at Mickey D’s.I broke it twice during the same summer.

When my youth group went skiing, it was verboten for me to go. The year my best friend Flynn was moving and the ski trip was his last event? Yeah I got to go, under firm orders not to ski. My mom told me I had to wait until I was 18 and responsible for my own medical bills.

So you can understand why I am apprehensive about about doing a low ropes course today.

From Blog Photos

It’s a team building exercise for a temporary team that dissolves today. Merely created for the class. I’m not sure the point of uniting a temporary team like that.  We watched “Game Set Murder” , an episode of Psych,  last night because the episode was interspersed with  scenes of Gus at a company event similar to what I’m doing. So now I’m expecting an exchange like this.

Person A: I tried a new trust exercise  today, where I hold a rubberband stretched at my partners eye and say “Do you trust me ? Do you trust me?”

Person B: Yeah? How did that go.

Person A: I wish my grip was better, on the other hand the cornea is a resilient thing.

Indeed.  Aron’s asked me not to break my neck, and I’ve geared myself up  with my Doc Martens. (My ankle has been bugging me lately, I’m really prone to twisting it.) I’m also wearing layers and praying that it won’t be raining in the middle of nowhere er Monroe .

Above all I suggest cozy socks for chilly fall days. I also suggest warm hoodies

Today’s Seattlejo Suggests is really about podcast’s though. I’ve recently begun listening to Podcasts again and wanted to suggest the ones I’m listening too and see what you have to suggest to me.

Coverville is a podcast based on covers of songs. I never thought I’d be so delighted in hearing a whole show dedicated to Stairway to Heaven,  but I was. There was such a variety and so much pure fun in the version that were chosen.

The Splendid Table: I love Lynne Rosetto Kaspar. I love the Roadfood column done by the Sterns, I love the calls from normal people with food questions. It makes me think, and sometimes gives me great suggestions.

Groovelectric DJ Steveboy knows how to get me dancing. This podcast and podrunner his fitness podcast are fabulous. When I’m trying to work my way through homework and need an audio push without distraction this is where I turn. My favorite so far has been the mix “Martini Gods”

Irish and Celtic Music Podcast I’ve got a weakness for celtic music and this is a great way to get exposure to new bands without going broke buying things I might not like.

Globalization 3000 (Videocast)
This is the only video podcast I watch. It’s a compelling look at global issues, with a personal perspective. Very enjoyable.

Lastly..
I’m listening to Dave Ramsey. i can’t really reccomend it yet as I’ve only started listening, but what I’ve listened to so far I’ve liked. One of the tasks Patrick and I have ahead of us before we get married is getting on the same page financially. I don’t want to combine finances, but want to have transparency regarding our personal finances and to work toward a common goal. We’re discussing attending a course like Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University to orient ourselves to the same page.

So what am I missing? I used to listen to Weekday, but found it really hard to keep up with it.  I listen either in the kitchen or at my computer. My main  mp3 play doesnt do itunes and I’ve not bothered to try to subscribe any other way.