P.S.

Did I mention I'm still packing?

Did I also mention how ridiculous I think it is to have a $25 fee for bringing a second bag*?

Do you think I could sue the airlines for discrimination against women?



*Actually I have learned to be a light, one-bag packer over the years, even to the point of packing less than my brother on a trip a while back. I would not be mentioning this if I wasn't going to be far, far away tomorrow.

Bonjour et Au Revoir

I don't really know if that title is grammatically correct. Because I'm not French.

Ok, so apologies for the lack of noise on the good ol' blog lately... summer is in full swing and I am busybusy. But this is me, saying Hi. The last 48 hours have included:

- meeting deadlines on several projects at work
- organizing two upcoming social events
- making vanilla bean gelato (I'm practicing for you Dad!) and vanilla extract (what in the world am I supposed to do now with a half bottle of vodka?!)
- the acquisition of a very rad new-to-me couch. Needs a little TLC, but believe me, this is red leather in the best sense of the word. words. whatever. More on that later.
- forgetting. remembering. forgetting again. about my nephew's upcoming first birthday
- last minute follow-ups on plans for this weekend
- a late-night run to the ATM (requiring the use of a parking garage! please say Boise isn't getting that big...) to get cash depleted by the couch-buying, so I can
- leave for Washington to go on vacation tomorrow morning

Yes I know, if I'm leaving tomorrow (early!) for vacation, and it's... uh... 10:47pm, what in the world am I doing up?! Well... there's this thing that happens I go on vacation. I can't sleep the night before. Call it excitement, whatever, I'm all sleepy and then once I finally get to bed, I can't sleep. So I figure I might as well stay up. However, when I got home from going to the ATM and realized I had left that precious vanilla bean gelato out on the counter (gasp), I think I had proof that I need some sleep.

So this is me, saying Goodbye. For now.

I will be back.

Have You Ever Tasted a Bar of 99% Cocoa?

Don't.

2008 Twilight Criterium

Kristin Armstrong, third from the left, on the semi-outside

"The Wells Fargo Twilight Criterium was inaugurated in 1987 as a grassroots effort to create a premier cycling event that would attract more participants to the sport, provide an enjoyable family-oriented event for the community, and drive business for downtown merchants and restaurants by attracting people to downtown Boise. Enthusiasm and support for the race quickly grew after the first year- the electric atmosphere and fast-paced, high-stakes drama was a big hit with spectators and participants alike. Now, over 100 cyclists from around the world, including former Olympians and National Champions compete for the $20,000 purse in cash and merchandise. Today more than 20,000 boisterous spectators flock to the streets of downtown Boise to enjoy what has become one of Boise's major summer attractions, making it the 3rd best Criterium in the U.S. (ranked by VeloNews)."

Now I know nothing about cycling. Except that you pretty much have to have a bike to claim to be a cyclist, and too many miles = a pain in the rear. Despite my lack of knowledge/care about the sport, the Twilight Crit is exhilarating, year after year. Perhaps it has more to do with my obsession with speed than anything related to cycling. Last night's event was extra-special because Kristin Armstrong, a Boise native, came back to participate in the women's race before leaving for the Beijing Olympics in a week. Natives will always be the hometown favorite. And beating the competition by 2 whole laps doesn't hurt either.

Men's race, first corner. Watch the girl in the foreground almost get a complimentary nose job!

*I hope you enjoyed these videos. It took my computer over an hour to load them. Anyone wishing to donate to the "New Computer Fund" may send their donation to 2720....

Meet the Neighbors

I was walking home from the bus stop this afternoon and I noticed an older gentleman watering his lawn, right next to the sidewalk where I would be passing in a few steps. As I got closer I could see that he was dressed in long pants, long sleeves twice over, and socks and shoes. On a 90-degree afternoon. Smoking... uh... something. With very bloodshot eyes. As I got closer he started talking to me:

Neighbor: Do you an X.I. in bo della D?

Me: Umm.... uh.... Sorry, what did you say? (actually the only thing I could get my brain to formulate was "repite por favor??")

Neighbor: Do you have any sky-tee bodella D?

Me: Umm.... I'm sorry but I didn't catch that. Say again? (thinking I'm going to have to ask him to repeat his question 5 times over before I understand him... and I'm not sure I want to understand him, considering this appears to be the same old man in the same front yard from last summer, who, when I passed him, made a very bold comment about my... figure. Lord, I know I should be friendly and get to know my neighbors, but... this guy? Really? Well... I should at least be kind to him.)

Neighbor: Do you have an exciting bottle of Deet?

Me: Uhmmm..... (very confused at this point)

Neighbor proceeds to tell me all about how "a young woman 'just a block that way!' (points down the street) contracted west nile virus last year and the doctors at Mr. Luke's (he interrupts himself to say that he can't call it 'Saint Luke's' anymore, because there are no saints left in that billing department on the third floor) thought she had the flu and didn't diagnose it as West Nile until a week later and she died, and then there was that other lady 'just a block that way!' (points the other direction) who got it last summer and she died too, and he calls those orange bottles of Deet exciting because they will keep you from dying of mosquitos, so be careful that you cover every bit of skin with it because you don't want mosquitos to attack you, and you know, when the city was first built, they installed underground ponds all over the north end, but they aren't hooked up to the sewer system, so they sit still all summer long, like the one at the end of my street, just over there, and..."

Still talking a mile a minute, his cell phone rang, so he fished for it in his shirt pocket and promptly turned his back to me, while juggling his cigarette (I use the term "cigarette" loosely here) and trying not to drop the garden hose...

Can I still be a friendly neighbor... from across the street?

Thank you Lord

...for a car that runs well

...for a door that locks securely

...for a cellphone that gets me out of tight spots

...for a friendly neighbor who invites me in

...for Greek yogurt and cherry preserves on a hot summer night

You know you've been wearing your hair in a ponytail a little too often when...

You walk into work with your hair down and four people comment.

Public Art

...of monumental proportions.

Rock stacks spotted on my way into work this morning

New blog on the block

Meredith has joined the blogosphere!

Happy Fourth of July!

Yes, your eyes were fooling you for the past few days. I really did post this on the 4th. Heh heh.

Well Happy Independence Day to all of my fellow Americans... it's one of the best days of the year, in my opinion, simply on the merit of fireworks, not to mention the historical significance. I lllooovvee fireworks, as you will see in a minute. But first let me introduce you to the Cactus Cuties, a Texas-based vocal group of 5 little ladies (get your Texan accent on there, y'all) ranging in age from 13 to 8: Baylee Barrett (13), Andi Kitten (11), Tatum Lowe (11), Blaire Elbert (10), and Madeline Powell (8). They are A-May-Zing. Their rendition of the Star Spangled Banner almost made me cry. Check 'em out.

And now some of Boise's fireworks, taken with the "fireworks" setting on my camera. Bet you're surprised I knew the camera had the capability and that I had the I've-got-the-instruction-manual-memorized knowledge to get it to do that. And you would be right. I'm lucky if the shutter opens, most the time. Functional camera or not, I had a great evening with Meredith and her co-worker Jan, and Jan's family.

Let's get patriotic!

"Red, white & blue"

"Christmas in July"

"Shizzl'in"

"Sea Anemone"

"Palm Tree"