My heart will always belong to a Mac

With that being said, I broke down and bought a PC Netbook, a Toshiba nb205 in Black Onyx. I begrudgingly ventured into the PC world last week and have to admit it's not all bad. With the many workshops that I do, teaching and one of my present employers, all requiring some sort of PC software or hardware, I had to give in. It has made my life easier at the company I work with and I know it will assist with available projectors, cables and software whilst teaching and presenting.

Kim found the Toshiba nb205 on Amazon.com for a song. Splitting the difference, we bought it on Black Friday as part of my birthday gift and early Christmas present. Thank you honey bunny! It's a good little machine that will do the trick and appease those who require me to follow the rest of the minions. But secretly, behind closed doors, I will forever be singing Macs praises.

Mac Geekette forever! P.S. PCs are sooooo bad, they can tag along too.

I heart New York

Kim and I recently returned from visiting our friend Meg in New York City. I must say that I love this city. I don't think I could live there now, but it definitely warrants more frequent visits. Of course Meg was the ultimate hostess and took us where ever we wanted to roam. We enjoyed fine food, great shopping and superb company. This was Kim's first trip to the Big Apple and my return after a much too-long hiatus. Here are some pictures from the excursion...

View in Battery Park

Kim and I in Battery Park

South Street Seaport view

View of Ground Zero from St Paul's Chapel

The Sphere by Franz Koenig in Battery Park

Ice skating in Central Park

Meg, Withnail and I at the South Street Seaport

Meg, Kim and Withnail at the South Street Seaport

A view of Brooklyn at dusk

A view of the South Street Seaport at dusk

Kim and I in Time Square

A view of Manhattan from the Brooklyn Bridge

Thanks for everything Meg: for your company, hospitality and most of all your friendship.

A new ride

So last week I was driving home from a really long assignment and my car started to behaving a little strangely. A loud noise resonating from my engine became progressively worse and worse. I finally pulled over and tried to investigate. Mind you I was on the the freeway and in the middle of now where, literally. At this point my car ceased to function and I forced to throw in the towel. I called AAA and waited to be rescued, so to speak.

AAA promptly came within a half hour and towed me the 76 miles to my mechanics location. Luckily I had the company of a nice tow truck driver or that ride could have been miserable. I made it home safe and sound, but by now it was night time and I would have to wait a see what had happened to my car until the next morning.

Well long story short...I apparently, had let the oil run out in my old girl and killed my engine. To be honest I really didn't like I had neglected my car for that long, but after blowing out an engine I'll have to chalk that one up to experience. So I've spent the week researching possible solutions. Do I fix my current car and fork out 3000-5000 dollars on an old car? Do I change make and model altogether and go for something different? In the end and after a hellish week of playing car tag, I decided to stay tried and true and bought a newer model 07 Honda Civic. It drives like a sports car and has numerous bells and whistles that were lacking in the 99 Honda. I can finally play my iPhone in my car and I've even downloaded a new iPhone app to keep track of my maintenance, Gas Cubby. So far I love this car! Oh and by the way my honey, Kim, wants everybody to know that she found the car for me on Carmax.com.

Patty's visit and the giant pumpkin

Patti Gotrik came to town,not too long ago, and spent a long weekend with us. We went out to eat, a lot: Malhi's Indian Cuisine, Casa Gutiuerrez etc. I swear Patty's taste buds are on fire. I coaxed into eating everything possible spicy and when I waited for her to gasp or cough she simple replied, "eh that's not that hot." Then one nice cool afternoon we took Patty down to Ventura Beach.

We walked along historic Main Street, ate breakfast at the Cajun Kitchen Cafe and sat on the rocks at Emma Wood State Beach. Kim and I even had Patty take a picture where Kim proposed in 2007. It was great to get a candid shot to relive the moment. Thanks Patty!

Our final stop put us at a local farmer's market near the town of Santa Paula, CA. Anytime we are in the area, we always stop at Francisco's Fruit Stand for fruit, nuts or fresh local salsas. This time we were on the hunt for a great pumpkin and Kim had the final say. The sucker weighed in at 35-36 pounds and cost a whopping $30. It was well worth this face.

It took 2 hours of scooping through hefty pumpkin guts and carving tough skin out of this 35-36 pounder. This ghoulish, creepy tree sat on Rowdy and Dan's front lawn as we passed out candy to the kiddies. One of my all time favorite activities.

Here's hoping everyone had a great Halloween!

Honda versus Buck

So I was driving to an assignment in the middle of the afternoon last Sunday, when I caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of my eye. I saw a humongous blur and I knew that it was headed my way, but it hadn't registered in my brain. So I proceeded to drive and moments later I felt the impact. Stunned and in shock I stopped my car and looked out the rear view mirror. A full grown buck was laying in the road behind me. The buck, stunned like me, eventually got up, shook it off and ran on his merry way. Now for people who've grown up around deer, this must seem like no big deal. But for me, a California girl who grew up near the beach, this was a out of my realm. I know I'm really lucky and I'm glad I kept on going. Had I slammed on my breaks or had the buck been faster, this could have been so much worse...phew!

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

Pellet Stove

So this morning it was actually a little chilly and we decided to test our new pellet stove. I must admit, it's quite fabulous. It's not messy, it's quiet and it's very effecient. It is going to be really nice not having to depend on propane for heat or having to prep the fireplace in order to heat the living room. It feels good being green.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

Crazy little boy

Linus Henry loves to entertain himself on occasion and we should consider ourselves lucky. He's an energetic boy and needs a lot of attention, so when he amuses himself, we can sit back and laugh. For a while there he had an obsession with a bucket in the garden and I was finally able to catch it on video. He really cracks us up...

Linus and the bucket

Reading kick

I've been in reading mode lately and finished a few good ones that I thought I'd share with anyone that was willing to listen.

Stiff by Mary Roach

A playful narrative on the life of human cadavers through the centuries. It is bizarrely addictive and oddly fascinating. It is definitely not for the squeamish, but if you can get through some of the vividly rich imagery you will find that your morbid curiosity will get the best of you.

'

When you Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris

A collection of short stories of the continuing saga of David Sedaris and those who have had the fortune, or misfortune depending on how you view it, of crossing paths with the author. Hysterical and and often disgusting, Sedaris never lets me down.

The Anthropology of Turquoise: Reflections on Desert, Sea, Stone and Sky by Ellen Maloy

Vivid, luminescent and thought provoking tales through the author's memoirs and love for all things pertaining to nature.

Currently I an reading:

Naked by David Sedaris

Another collection of short stories about the authors life, focusing on his family and especially his childhood growing up in North Carolina and parts of New York. So far, as I suspected, not a disappointment....laugh riot!

Best Birthday

Yesterday, after a pretty uneventful birthday spent at work, I came home to a beautiful bouquet of flowers, a thick buttercream chocolate cake and an obnoxious singing birthday card. Perfect! Then, Kim took me out for Tikki Masala, Shrimp Curry and Naan at our favorite Indian restaurant, Mahli's in Palmdale.

We discussed our future together and started making plans. It was a special moment that I will never forget. How could life get any better? I really am a luck girl. Thanks baby for making my birthday great.

Unbelievable

I have been listening to a lot of talk radio as of late and I must say I'm flabbergasted. I can not believe any party or group, let alone any individual, could be so utterly disrespectful of the President of the United States. I understand party politics and I understand disagreeing with a particular point of view, but come on! The president is trying to politicize "our children" because he wants them to stay in school? Every past president has spoken to school aged children and some with a heftier political message ie. George W Bush and the war on terror. And that was never debated as politicizing "our children," nor were children's parents threatening to take them out of school. This is insanity. The right has finally gone of the deep end and has forgotten their paddle. (Pardon the mixed metaphors) And this whole nonsense about health care is really driving me up the wall. The bill would ban individual health care insurance? The Federal Government would control our medical treatment? Mandatory death panels for senior citizens? Are you f*ing kidding me?! I don't get it.

This is blatant racism, disguised as patriotism, with Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly and Glenn Beck at the helm. Revolting! I say President Obama needs to stop trying to placate and kowtow to the republicans and just do what he needs to to get the job done. I've had it! I'm with Mike Malloy. I may put up my dukes and fight or I may leave this country all together in disgust! Who are these people?! Really...

Marsh-Mellow Acres

The last weekend Kim and I were in Wisconsin we took a trip to "the land" near Sauk City. Always a much anticipated part of journeying to Wisconsin, this mini camping excursion to meet Kim's college gang, for a yearly reunion, and hang out with family and friends is always a blast. This year the weather was peculiarly cool with temperatures in the 60's and 70's, so swimming wasn't particularly inviting. We spent most of our short time sitting around the campfire sharing stories.

Here are some photographic highlights of the trip...

View of the Wisconsin River

Snapping turtles

Dad with the naughties Linus and Spencer

The big top tent in the woods

Randy off to inspect the troops ;-)

When is spaghetti night?

Hey Linda nice catch!

Mid summer storm is coming...unseasonably cool

Sunset camping, need I say more? Beautiful

Until next year friends, we think of you often and can't wait to see you again!

Wisconsin brood

Family snapshot potpourri from Madison.

Jordon

Garry - Pop

Kim & Cris

David - Dad

Janet - Mom & Cris

Aunt Patti & Kim

Uncle Don

The Elskamp's (Janet, Mary Ann, Eddie, Elaine, Patti & Tari)

Shelly & Jordan

Aunt Patti & Jennifer

House on the Rock

So whilst in Madison, Kim and I took off one day and had a romantic outing to ourselves. We drove to the House on the Rock in Spring Green which is about 2 hours outside of Madison. I had no idea what to expect and Kim didn't exactly clue me in either.

This place is just indescribable and I won't be able to do it justice.

"The House on the Rock is the grand vision of Alex Jordan, who believed that sights and sounds were the most effective means of stimulating the senses. He wanted guests to question his creation, to come to their own conclusions and to turn his world of dreams into their own. The Attraction has room after room of some of the world's most unique and eclectic collections" The House on the Rock

You can find more history and information about this place here and here too. I'll just let the pictures and videos speak for themselves. A playground for all or your worst claustrophobic nightmare? I thought of it as a Disneyland for adults, but you decide.

The House - Outside view

The Infinity Room - Above from the inside

The Water Mill - Part of the Mill House

The following pictures are from the insides of the buildings...

The Main House - The ladies bathroom

The steam train

One of the many carousel horses in the Carousel Room

One of many many curious autamata - depicting ghoulish and deathly themes

The Music of Yesterday - Franz Josef (Buy lots of tokens)

The Carousel Room - Told to be the World's Largest (Amazing)