Kate

January 12th, 2006

02:10 pm - All Growed Up
So Ashley and I went to a financial adviser last night. We are going to meet her again to set-up a Roth IRA for Ashley... What I'd like to know is: when did I become a grown-up?

Weird.

In other news, I never LJ'd about our Alaskan Christmas Adventure™. Well, as you may have guessed from that intro, we went to Alaska for Christmas. It was great fun. We went snow-machining (which is "Alaska talk" for snow-mobiling) and even did some "dramatic sledding." Both of which you can see here:

Current Mood:

calm

January 5th, 2006

08:36 am - Sick & Wrong
I have a question. What genius at Sherwin-Williams paint thought this was a good idea for a logo:

Cover the earth with poisonous paint... Doesn't the red evoke images of blood dripping off the planet?

I mean, at least pretend like you care about the environment, people. If not just for PR purposes. They need a better marketing department...
Current Mood:

annoyed

December 19th, 2005

10:30 am - Innocence Takes a Turn...
This is Gary...

He tries to come off as the "innocent type". Hiding under blankets and just generally acting frightened of his own shadow. Gary is the last cat you'd expect to attack you in the middle of the night.

Yes, that's right. Gary attacked me.

A couple of nights ago I woke up to searing pain. Something was terribly wrong. Gary, without warning, decided that my leg looked either threatening or enticing. Either way, he bit me. Hard.

It happened last week sometime, and I still have marks. The strange part of it is that only one of his little fangs actually broke skin. But all four have left nice little bruises on my leg. It's like I got a snake bite.

So, basically, consider yourself warned.
Current Mood:

frightened

December 14th, 2005

10:08 am - Gibberish
Once again time has been flying like mad. It is already mid-December folks. Wow. Don't hear me wrong, I'm definitely not complaining about that. We leave on the 22nd for Alaska and it can't come too soon.

So anyway, here we are. I suppose that since I haven't written in awhile I should just do a "summary of Kate's life"... Well, Kate works. Kate goes to movies. Kate has been cold while outside and in. Kate and Ashley had a small holiday gathering this Friday that was good times. Kate was at Poppe's Martini Bar this Saturday and she swears that she saw Chris Feet. (Does anyone know if he is local to Bellingham?) Kate and Ash spent money on new cell phones...

Okay, this is going nowhere fast...
Current Mood:

confused

November 29th, 2005

08:39 am
It snowed!

November 25th, 2005

12:22 pm - The World is Flat
Wednesday we went to The Moore to see Fiona Apple. We sat up in the balcony, which is so incredibly steep. You feel like if you lean over too much, you will fall off the face of the earth. Whew! It was scary...

The concert was amazing. I am so happy that I finally got to see Fiona! She played lots from her previous albums, which I absolutely loved. Yay! Plus, Napoleon Dynamite was on keyboards, so that was neat. (I liked his sleeves...)
Current Mood:

grateful

November 23rd, 2005

11:13 am - Meet the Press...
Ashley and I were listening to NPR in the car yesterday and I found the topic pretty interesting... The guest was Dan Savage, the editor of The Stranger. Dan (yes, we are on a first-name basis) was talking about how he thinks that it is essentially futile for newspapers to strive to be completely objective. He pointed out that the media gaining in popularity today are openly biased (such as The Daily Show and blogs). Apparently in England, and other places, they have embraced the fact that it's impossible to not have bias and so they have newspapers that are open with where they're coming from.

I hadn't thought about news reporting in this way before. In the US, we have this notion that news can be totally neutral. That there are facts A, B, and C and you can report on these facts. But really, is it that simple? Maybe you feel that A and B are part of the story, but C is just not interesting enough to print. Or maybe fact B will upset so-and-so... And on and on...

The stories one chooses to report, the quotes you use, et cetera all are influenced. The solution? Go the British way and have papers, shows, websites that say, "Hey we're coming at you from [insert mindset here]."

This puts a whole new light on the issue of Fox"News" (watch the documentary OUTFOXED: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism). The real problem isn't that Fox is undoubtedly right-wing. What is outrageous is that they claim to be "fair and balanced" when they're not. At least you know what you're getting when you pick up a copy of The Stranger.

Okay, if you actually read this whole post.... Well, I just don't know what to say other than sorry for all my blabbin'

If you happened to be interested in the program we were listening to... click.
Current Mood:

yak yak yak
Current Music: "smooth" jazz

November 21st, 2005

09:01 pm - One long happy sentence
Ashley and I just returned from a long walk in the fog where we figured out what our plans are for the next few years and I'm really feeling excited.
Current Mood:

jubilant

November 8th, 2005

12:27 pm - Cover the Earth
I just got done having a half-hour conversation with a co-worker about racism, the civil rights movement, etc. It's so much fun to not be working at work! Somehow the conversation started when I asked him if he's seen Sherman Williams (the paint company)'s slogan: Cover the Earth. Isn't that just scary and wrong? Cover the Earth. I think the logo is actually red paint being poured over the entire globe. Woo.

Anyhow, we ended up talking about how people today (read: white/ignorant people today) seem to want to think that racism isn't a problem anymore. That is so ridiculous. People who fought against the civil rights movement are still alive. This isn't far off history, folks. Rosa Parks just died for goodness sakes!

Okay, I could talk and talk about the inequalities and injustices in the world... but I'll just leave it at that for now.
Current Mood:

uncomfortable
Current Music: Captain & Tennille's Muskrat Love (can you believe it?)

November 7th, 2005

09:08 am - Sitting Here in Samuel's
As promised, I am posting some pictures just for you from the Japanese Gardens...

The gardens were so peaceful that Ashley actually gained enlightenment while there! (Notice the floating..) Ever since, she just keeps asking me, "If a tree falls in the forest, does it make a sound?"

Hum...

Anyways, this weekend we went to see the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet with our friends Vaughn and Craig. It was so good. There were three different performances; I found an image from the second one, which was just amazing. (But prehaps reminiscent of the [in]famous Blue Man Group...)

We also tried a new restaurant in Bellingham, Chiribins. It's owned by the D'Anna family, so I had high expectations. And that always leads to disappointment, doesn't it? Sheesh. I did like the atmosphere, but the menu and service just didn't make the grade. Oh well, it's always good to try something new.

In other news, yesterday's sickness feeling has continued into today. Fun.
Current Mood:

sick
Current Music: Jimmy Cliff - Sitting Here In Limbo

November 3rd, 2005

10:00 am
Well, here I am sitting at my desk with piles of work to do. So of course I thought I'd update my journal instead. Brilliant.

This past weekend, Ashley and I went down to Portland/Vancouver to visit Ashley's mom who was in town for a conference. It was so much fun. We stayed at the new, posh Hilton in Vancouver. Only the best! While in Portland we went to the Saturday market and the Japanese Gardens, I'll post some pictures if I remember to do so. The gardens are so beautiful and I'd love to go back in the summer or spring when the flowers are blooming.

The other notable experience was our visit to Cinetopia in Vancouver. We sat in these leather recliners with ottomans and ate fancy-shmancy desserts. You can even have a complete, fancy-shmancy dinner while watching your movie. Excellent.
Current Mood:

mellow

October 24th, 2005

11:27 am - Kate Update
Just thought I'd do an update since it's been awhile. Since I last left you we had just had the most horrific movie experience with the History of Violence. Well, we have now seen two movies that have redeemed the concept of "movies". They were: In Her Shoes and North Country. In Her Shoes was cute "feel good" movie and North Country was a powerful "cry your eyes out" movie. Both come recommended by Kate.

This weekend we carved our pumpkins for Halloween. It was good fun as you can see...

Other than that, nothing too crazy happening. Jess and her financé are coming over tonight with La Fiamma and we're stuffing invitations... should be fun :o)
Current Mood:

complacent

October 10th, 2005

07:54 am - FYI
A History of Violence is the worst movie ever made. Ever.
Current Mood:

angry

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October 4th, 2005

10:54 am - Beware of the Locals!
Just read this great article in the Times. Apparently, Florida just passed a "new 'stand your ground' law, which lets people use guns or other deadly force to defend themselves in public places without first trying to escape." Scary, eh? You don't even have to try to get away? Just shoot to kill.. everything will work out just fine...

Well, in response to this insanity the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence has come up with this great campaign. They're warning visitors to Florida...

MIAMI, Oct. 3 - A national gun-control group is riling Gov. Jeb Bush and Florida's mighty tourism industry by warning visitors that arguing with locals here could get them shot.

The group, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, based in Washington, began handing out fliers at Miami International Airport on Monday, cautioning visitors to take "sensible precautions" and to be aware that altercations on highways, in nightclubs or on the beach could provoke a shooting.

The fliers offer tips like "Do not argue unnecessarily with local people," and "If someone appears to be angry with you, maintain to the best of your ability a positive attitude and do not shout or make threatening gestures.

Isn't that just great? Be careful of those darned locals, they's crazy. I think it's really funny and, hopefully, effective. Here's one of their posters.

Current Mood:

amused

September 29th, 2005

03:20 pm - Rain... Rain...
Well, today is the first "rainy day" of the fall. And I love it. There's just something about it when it's dark and windy and wet outside that makes it feel so good to just be at home lounging around. Mind you, not that I'm doing that right now. But I'm really looking forward to the lounging this weekend. I hope it's still rainy!

The past two weekends, Ashley and I have been out of town. First it was Portland (so much fun) and then Leavenworth (free condo!). Both were good times, but I am so looking forward to being at home. Plus, right now we're house sitting, but tonight's our last night. Basically this post is about how I want to be a hermit this weekend and how much fun that will be for me.

So there you have it.
Current Mood:

lazy

September 23rd, 2005

08:22 am - Konsumer Kate
So I'm sitting here at my computer typing on my new wireless badasswordup keyboard just having finished using my wireless badasswordup mouse after having installed (finally) Windows XP on my 'puter. Also, I am wearing my new kicks (which, yes, are also bad ass and word up). What do I have to say for myself? Sometimes one can't help but be a mindless American consumer. Yes folks, owning "stuff" does complete me.

Ashley, thank you for a great birthday!!
Current Mood: consumer-y

September 13th, 2005

08:43 am - So True...

Current Mood:

amused

August 31st, 2005

10:13 am - Word.
I just got a sweet new keyboard at work. It is small so it doesn't take up too much space and it types like butta. I am so excited about this it's pathetic.
Current Mood:

pleased

August 24th, 2005

11:23 pm - And I feel fine...
Have you seen this "The End of the World" flash animation?

It's great.
Current Mood:

amused