Sweetened Condensed Sarah [entries|archive|friends|userinfo]
Sweetened Condensed Sarah

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Candlelight Vigil until a decision is made [Jan. 7th, 2009|08:42 pm]
So we have a number of prop 8 cases coming before the California Supreme Court in the near future. I don't think I'm alone in wanting to do something through all of this to show support. In discussion this evening, we came up with an idea -

From the sunset before the oral arguments begin until the decision comes down, we hold an ongoing single candle vigil. This starts with a rally, speeches, something, and ends the same ways - celebratory or silent unhappiness.

There's a lot of organization required to do this - setting up a schedule, getting commitment from people to stay there with the lit candle until someone comes to relieve them, training people to handle the opposition, planning rallies, getting permits, etc. This will require money, will require people with media skills, etc.

But honestly, the first thing it needs is support. So, I ask -

Is there support for this?

Feel free to re-post, pass on, etc.
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Prepping for Traverse [Aug. 8th, 2008|01:10 pm]
[info]brian1789 helped me figure out the best path to specific points along the trails we used last year. Sadly, it didn't go as well as hoped - this was the day I lost a boot to a mud puddle.
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baaaa [Mar. 10th, 2008|11:34 am]
"March is Question & Answer month. Ask a question, and I may or may not answer it. Questions are screened, and if I choose to answer, I'll answer in a separate post."
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Hats! [Dec. 31st, 2007|01:53 pm]

Sarah and Kathleen in hats
Originally uploaded by marymactavish.
Too cute to not post. Yay! Thanks, [info]mactavish.
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Heading for the water [Oct. 26th, 2007|12:00 pm]

Heading for the water
Originally uploaded by sarahz00m.
I've written about the Andamans, and getting my scuba certification - now I've posted the few photos I have. Just beautiful..
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Nilgiri Mountain Railway [Oct. 26th, 2007|10:54 am]

Nilgiri Mountain Railway
Originally uploaded by sarahz00m.
My first weekend in India, we went to the Nilgiri Mountains. I've posted some pictures from that already - from the first day spent wandering the lovely town of Coonoor. This set is photos from our ride on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, a narrow-gauge steam train that runs up the mountains between Mettupalayam and Ooty, using rack and pinion to get up the very steep grades.

We got second class tickets, because we reserved them late. I'm glad we did. We shared our car with lots of people and spent lots of time talking to the family next to us and playing with their kids.
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Coming Out... [Oct. 11th, 2007|08:02 pm]
Today is National Coming Out Day. At NASA/Ames there was a celebration of this for the first time. Honestly, I didn't know that Ames *had* an LGBT group, much less that something like this could be put together there. The celebration had me laughing and in tears repeatedly through it.

First, Ardel Thomas, the chair of the LGBT Studies Department at CCSF, spoke. She talked about marching in Washington DC 20 years ago. About how powerful that was, for all involved. About how they were treated, about those who didn't come home from that - the ~200 people in the last stages of AIDS who went there, marched, and some of whom didn't survive. She spoke of the first time she saw the AIDS Memorial Quilt, the last time it was all on display in one place, across from the Vietnam Memorial. I've come to the conclusion that I would love to take a class from Professor Thomas.

Then, George Takei took the stage. He started by commenting that he was honored to be speaking at NASA. That he finds it really strange when NASA folks, scientists actually working on getting us to the next frontier, seem to find him and the other Trek stars to be heros. He talked about diversity within Star Trek. IDIC - Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations. Gender, race, sexual identity - both onscreen and off - were all widely ranging.

Then he spoke of what being an American means to him. He told of his childhood, the time he spent in internment first at Tanforan, then in a camp, thanks to Executive Order 9066. Of the view of the barbed wire fence and the guard tower - guns facing in - he could see through the window when he said the pledge of allegiance every morning in school. He told the story of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team - the Japanese-American men who chose to leave the internment camps and join the Army (women also made that choice, joining the WAC's). Amazing fighters, amazing feats. People who chose this, leaving their families in these camps, in custody of their own government. People who believed in America. He talked of asking one of these men why he did it - why he made that choice. The man responded that he said the pledge of allegiance every day while in school - and he believed and meant ever word of it.

He talked about the work, the time, the steps it's taken to make this country more and more diverse, more accepting, more inclusive. How each population has had to fight for their rights, their beliefs. How the front-runners of each population are critical.

He thanked all of us for fighting. For being open, for being there, for proving that we aren't abnormal, that the laws keeping us from having the same rights are abnormal. Marriage, military service, adoption. That this is the next fight and that by fighting it, we are joining the ranks of so many who came before us.

He took questions after this, chatting with us. One of the more interesting was someone asking about his decision to come out. He pointed out that while it's widely said that he came out in 2005, that is inaccurate. He has been with his partner for 20 years now, they have been out the entire time and have each been out for decades. In 2005 he publicly spoke out when Ahnold veto'd the first same sex marriage law that had come via the legislative process rather than the judicial, thus the media decided he was coming out for the first time.

By the by, I'm bisexual. In case anyone hadn't noticed. And today I feel honestly proud to be an American, for the first time in a while
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Memorials of all sorts [Jul. 31st, 2007|07:13 pm]

Memorials of all sorts
Originally uploaded by sarahz00m.
This evening I placed one of the [info]motogrrl Memorial Geocoins, at [info]karenbynight's request. I picked here and now for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that it's approaching the end of the world up here, nearing the bounds of where there is to go (if you're going north).

Another reason (the when) is that today would be her birthday. I held on to the coin until now, rather than placing it earlier, because it felt special to me. I have no idea if it was special to her or not but if it was, I hope she was watching.

The bigger 'here' related reason is that the coin reads "We shall not cease from exploring". If there is anything we do here it is to push ahead in exploration. Of this planet, of the next, and on into the everything. Due to that, there are also memorials here for each of the Columbia Astronauts. The cache holding the memorial coin is overlooked (as is camp) by the Inukshuk memorializing Rick Husband.

Explorers, adventurers, lovers of doing and thinking, learning and discovering. They gather here, in body or in spirit. I hope that I have added another piece to that energy.

I'm not going to lock this, feel free to link, I know I don't know anything approaching the number of people who loved Leigh Ann.
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mmmmm, squishee [Jul. 1st, 2007|05:21 pm]
[info]princeofwands and I just spent an hour driving around to find the 7-eleven turned Kwik-e-mart in Mountain View. Success! It's the new one over on Shoreline by the Googleplex.

Pink donut with sprinkles and a squishee. Radioactive Man thrown in for good measure.

Whee!!!
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Free Loveseat! [May. 20th, 2007|06:16 pm]
I've got a loveseat I want rid of - entirely a matter of not wanting to deal with it, so it's free.

My Craigslist Ad

If you want it and know where we are, c'mon and get it. If you can, call or IM me to let me know it's gone.
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Firefly [Jun. 26th, 2006|09:22 am]
[Tags|, ]

So, we can't find our Firefly DVD's, and have a feeling that we've lent them out to someone. No memory of who. However, I want to take them up north with me.

Can anyone help me out? If you have our set - fantastic. If you have another set you'd be willing to be without, we'll happy hand over ours when they return (assuming it's before I return) or a new set later if necessary.

If not, I'll probably go buy another set today, I'd just like to avoid it if possible (I've got more then enough on my last-minute to-do list).
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Job Opportunity? [May. 11th, 2006|02:33 pm]
[Tags|, ]

So, I have need of a Canadian who would like to spend their summer in the arctic, being assistant cook. Anyone have any ideas, or anyone they can point my way?
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Explanation [Apr. 30th, 2006|08:49 pm]
[Tags|]
[soundtrack |Stong Enough]

Explaining the new username:

Danger Pudding, The Traditional Method

:: Submerge a can of sweetened condensed milk in a pan of water. Bring to a simmer. Do not boil! As the water evaporates, continue adding water to keep the can covered at all times. Simmer for anywhere from one to four hours. Yes, you read that right. Four hours. The longer it cooks, the thicker it gets. Just remember, don’t forget to keep adding water. Wait until the can cools to open it, and when you do, have a spoon ready to slurp this stuff up!



An Even More Dangerous Recipe to Try

:: Put the unopened can of sweetened condensed milk inside a pressure cooker and fill with water until it covers the can. After the cooker releases steam from the valve, set your timer for 40 minutes. When the time’s up, you’ll have a caramel with a nice gooey consistency.



And, Finally, A Safety Net

:: Pour 1 can of sweetened condensed milk into a 9-inch pie plate and cover it with foil. Place the pie plate in a shallow roasting pan. Add enough hot water to the pan to come halfway up the sides of the pie plate. Bake at 400° for 1 1/2 hours, adding additional water as needed. Remove the pie plate from the water. Uncover, and stir milk with a whisk until smooth.

Some recipes say to bake the milk at 425° for 1 hour. You could always try this if you’re the impatient sort.

(from this site)
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Ooh, ooh! [Apr. 28th, 2006|03:01 pm]
[Tags|, ]
[soundtrack |Stong Enough]

[info]mactavish! I've been putting tiny amounts of this in apple juice and OMG.. yum. And, most of all, easy!

:)
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(no subject) [Apr. 24th, 2006|03:49 pm]
[Tags|, , ]

Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
-Margaret Mead


Most of you have heard me talk about Verde Valley School, my high school. Some of you were there with me. It's a unique place, not without its mix of good and bad things. Above all, though, it's a special place to me.

It was founded in 1948 by Hamilton and Barbara (Ham and Babs) Warren (history). They had a vision, and set out to create it. Ham died before I came to the school, but Babs was a fixture - helping to decorate the dorms, making sure that there were gardens tucked all over campus, having us over for tea and to hear her stories about growing up on a coffee plantation in Guatemala.

I just got e-mail from the current headmaster, letting all of us know that Babs passed away last night, at her home on campus, surrounded by loved ones. She will be greatly missed and remembered with joy and love by all of us.

RIP Barbara Warren
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Gone! [Apr. 20th, 2006|09:37 pm]
[Tags|, ]

Ga-gone!

[info]princeofwands and I had "bad haircut date night" tonight.

How we got there? Don't ask.

The result? His hair is shorter - and for the record, I didn't touch the front of it, he did that himself. My hair? Also shorter. Maybe 1/8". Whee!

We're... unusual, aren't we?

[info]karenbynight wisely says that we look like we were both attacked by the same lawnmower. And that she's staying away from that bathroom.
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I don't care, I don't care, I just wanna play my game... [Apr. 12th, 2006|12:05 pm]
[Tags|]

So, I've been avoiding this subject for years now, cause it seems like a place that causes more drama then it ought.

What subject? The ever messy one of 'lj friends' and unfriending. Oh noes!

I take a pretty basic view here:

1) I have limited time. This means that even if you're on my friends list, I may or may not read your lj on a daily or even weekly basis. It doesn't mean I won't either, though. If you've been around a while, I probably read it. If you're close to me in meatspace, I probably read it. Except on the days when I don't read anything.

2) You have limited time. That means that you may or may not read my lj. I understand and expect that. If there's something important that I need you to know, I'll find another way to tell you if at all possible.

3) I don't tend to take friending and unfriending personally. You probably shouldn't either. If someone I've known for a while unfriends me, I assume they have a reason and will probably remove them in turn - in most cases it means that they don't want to see what I have to say, and don't want me to have access to what they say. So it goes. I'm not likely to ask for an explanation unless you're someone close enough to me that it might indicate a bigger problem.

4) I use filters and a Default_View. I've been using these since they were first made available. If you are doing calendar counting and note posts you can't see, that may be what's up. I don't recommend freaking out about it. I have filters for things like "household fuss", "not_siblings", "address info", and ones for people in specific geographical locations. I also post privately from time to time. Oh noes! Maybe I am trying to hide something from you. Whatever will you do?

5) I like people. I find them neat. If someone friends me, there's a good chance I'll do the same in return. I don't bite (unless asked quite nicely).
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Good Heavens! It's a House [Mar. 21st, 2006|09:00 am]
[Tags|, , ]

As [info]karenbynight said, she, [info]princeofwands and I have named the house. It shall hereafter be known as

Good Heavens!

The exclamation point isn't optional. It shall never again be known as Observatory South, Observatory2, or any other terribly evil names we've been threatened with. If it is, there will be consequences. And you may very well not like them..
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oohhhhh [Mar. 1st, 2006|12:39 am]
[Tags|, , ]

I've been collecting Vosges chocolate bars recently, and today discovered these.

There will be cookies. (I got Black Pearl and Red Fire.)
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Chocolate Cake for Breakfast!! [Feb. 8th, 2006|08:48 am]
[Tags|, ]

"I is great! Gives me the chocolate cake!"

[info]melanie's Flourless Chocolate Cake recipe is To Die For.

Yummmmm....

(Though, as I said in conversation with [info]karenbynight - Mistakes were made. I think it really doesn't want salted butter (duh) and I used darker chocolate then called for... but still, yummmm)
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Food pr0n [Jan. 25th, 2006|04:52 pm]
As [info]patgreene left, having shared a lovely lunch, I thought that I should put something together for dinner later. So, I started tossing things on the counter. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs. Chicken broth. An onion. Garlic. Dumped all that in a pan. Added chopped celery, saffron, herbs, the juice from half a lemon. Left it alone for a while. Came back when it smelled yummy, stirred, added sliced mushrooms, a little shredded carrot, more saffron, a big splash of white wine. Pulled the chicken out and roughly chopped it up. Put it back.

Still simmering. Not sure what else I'm going to do with it other then probably add spinach, but it's going to be eaten with crusty bread, roasted potatoes and salad.

(Now, if this headache would just go away..)
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Housecleaning.. [Jan. 21st, 2006|10:59 am]
My LJ will be 5 in a little under a month - seems like forever, sometimes. I owe [info]ziemkowski and [info]shifter thanks for dragging me into it.

Anyway - just did a major friends list and community clean out. No offense meant, just seemed like it was time.

Comments screened, if you have something to say, feel free.
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Brain 'splody [Jan. 10th, 2006|11:23 pm]
Oh my. My first two days of classes. Haven't been in school since, um, fall '99. And, added to that, work is a madhouse, with major changes and political fuss, all of which means that I have Important Things To Do (though none of which, thankfully, seems to be making my job go *poof*).

I just finished the reading that Has to be Done by tomorrow morning's class. After class, work. After work, homework. *sigh*

I'll get used to this. I know I will. Not running on too-little sleep will help, too.

And the classes seem fun, thus far :).
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Oh my.. [Jan. 6th, 2006|04:17 pm]
Ginger Caramel Pear Tart.

Chopped apples stewing in the leftover ginger caramel.

*drool*
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(no subject) [Jan. 1st, 2006|01:49 am]
Post a New Year's resolution that you think I should do. Then post this in your own LJ, and see what resolutions people think you should do.
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(no subject) [Dec. 30th, 2005|05:12 pm]
Here, here
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Almost over, isn't it? [Dec. 30th, 2005|12:37 pm]
Seems like 2005 just started, and we're almost at the end. So the cookie crumbles, eh?

We're moved, if nowhere near unpacked. It's starting, slowly, to feel like home. I've almost stopped taking wrong turns while trying to get home. It's a lovely home, it just need unpacked and decorated and named.

Christmas was.. challenging. I'm going through yet another meds change and hit some really rough patches. I'm a lucky girl that not only my sweeties, but [info]broyd and [info]rightkindofme were willing to put up with me, especially when I added a cold to that. Disneyland was fun, though, and seeing my family was great.

I've now gotten not one, but two, Christmas presents that are attachment-using power tools. My drill and now a big kitchenaid stand mixer, in blue. It's *so* pretty. Apparently I was making great noises while reading the manual.

My doctor is a goddess, she gave me the good meds for this cold-turned-bronchitis. Ew. But the meds help, and I'm starting to feel like I might be human again someday. I'm planning a quiet new years, and hope that I'm feeling well enough for that to happen.

How are all of you doing?
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WTF, over. [Dec. 17th, 2005|01:02 pm]
So, I imagine that diamond sales are down right now. But why on earth does the diamond industry need to inundate me with the message "If those who love you don't buy you diamonds, they don't really love you"?

Cause, to begin with, I don't like diamonds. They aren't that pretty, they're sharp and tend to hurt me, and they're of questionable origin usually. Add to that how little jewelry I ever wear and the fact that my sweeties know me well and, well, no diamonds for the Sarah!

But damn are these commercials pissing me off more and more. How and why is this a good message to have out in the world?
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Whee! [Dec. 13th, 2005|03:17 pm]
EDUC058 Children's Literature TR 6:00pm - 7:40pm
ESCI2410 Environmental Biology TR 10:30am 12:10pm
Lab T 12:30pm - 3:10pm
HIST007A Colonial Latin Amer Hist MTWR 9:30am-10:20am
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Seeking.. [Dec. 13th, 2005|12:58 am]
I'm not sure if this will get me anywhere, but it seems worth a try, and the internet is a big place, right?

We're currently looking for a cousin of mine who's been out of touch for quite some time. Mary Elizabeth Whitman, age 29. Daughter of Paul Whitman. Anyone know or know of this person? If so, please ask her to e-mail me ( sarah at techbrat dot com )
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Help! Help! [Dec. 11th, 2005|11:28 am]
We're attempting to move the hot tub today. This task looks to take 6 strong bodies. Problem is, we've only got 3-4 available and in attendance. Anyone available to help us out for a bit? The help is mostly needed on the Hayward end, to get the tub up the hill, though it would be hugely appreciated on the Cupertino end, too.

All of us have our cellphones, or just show up. E-mail's not so likely to reach it.
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Running through my head on repeat [Nov. 11th, 2005|09:00 am]
One small year
It's been an eternity
It's taken all of me to get here
Through this one small year
The hands of time
They pushed me down the street
They swept me off my feet to this place
And I don't know my face
Now all through the night I can pretend
The morning will make me whole again
Then every day I can begin
To wait for the night again
One more tune
That never will be done
It's just another one for the moon
For the days in the ruin
Just today I woke up feeling fine
Like the world was mine
I was clean
And it was a dream
Where out of the blue came you and me
The wizard of oz had set us free
You let me float you to your feet
Just like you believed in me
It's like you believed
One small year
I wonder where I've gone
It shouldn't seem so long or so weird
And I was always here
I was always here
It's just one small year
-S. Colvin and J. Leventhal
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Yay! Home! [Oct. 4th, 2005|10:53 pm]
[soundtrack |Mr. Farmer]

It's 2300 now.

0630: Wakeup call
0800: Return rental car
0830: Check in
1030: Take off for Amsterdam
1315: Arrive in Amsterdam
1420: Take off for Detroit
cross 6 timezones (I think?)
1710: Arrive Detroit
1934: Leave for SFO
cross 3 timezones (again, I think)
2131: Arrive SFO!!!

Wh00t. Only, um, 21 hours of travel ahead of me!
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On Getting What You Want [Oct. 3rd, 2005|11:32 pm]
And did you get what
you wanted from this life, even so?
I did.
And what did you want?
To call myself beloved, to feel
myself
beloved on the earth.

Late Fragment
-Raymond Carver
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Science Break (a quick moment of joy) [Oct. 3rd, 2005|11:28 am]
[soundtrack |Mr. Farmer]

About 15 minutes ago our PI, CS, called out to the lab as a whole "Everyone stop, I'm calling a solar eclipse break!" She then proceeded to hand out pinholes and drag us all outside to look at the eclipse.

[info]marsgirl42: "Yeah, take pictures of the nerds!"
CS: "This isn't nerds! This is science!"
CG: "Ooh, look, I'm projecting it on [info]dangerpudding!"
[info]dangerpudding: "That IS nerdy"
CS: "Yeah, ok, that might be nerdy."

*grin*
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Week 4: Back to Work [Oct. 1st, 2005|08:05 pm]
[soundtrack |Black Eyed Dog]

( Day 22: Madrid )
( Day 23: Merida and back to Las Minas )
( Day 24: Back to the Research Bench! )
( Day 25: Planning is Hard )
( Day 26: World Aquarium Tour )
( Day 27: Itchy Madness )
( Day 28: Cross the Puddle )
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Week 3: Amsterdam! [Sep. 28th, 2005|10:28 pm]
[soundtrack |Polaroids]

WheeZoom. I've been very behind on all this, but have enough fantastic stories that they're well worth telling.

( Day 15: Home! Home! )
( Day 16: And the Devil... )
( Day 17: Aquarium #1 )
( Day 18: The Cute, it Burns! )
( Day 19: Strange things are afoot at the Belgian Beer Bar )
( Day 20: The joy of Activists )
( Day 21: Leaving Amsterdam )
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Oohhh, nifty. [Sep. 27th, 2005|09:05 pm]
This (A Handbook for Bloggers and Cyber-Dissidents), needs shared. So, shared it is.

(Haven't read it yet, not saying anything for or against, just "ooh, nifty")
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Week Two: Zooming Along! [Sep. 15th, 2005|11:57 am]
I left y'all at the end of week one, having just stopped for the weekend to give everyone a break. A break indeed!

( Day 8: Wrong turn? What wrong turn? )
( Day 9: Quiet and Solitude )
( Days 10 and 11: A Blur of Busy )
( Day 12: Aracena )
( Day 13: Hurrying Madly )
( Day 14: Zoom! )
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Week One: ¡Bienvenidos a España! [Sep. 3rd, 2005|01:12 pm]
[soundtrack |3 Small Words]

As I finally have a few minutes where nobody wants my attention too badly, and I'm awake enough to think, I'll start putting together this update. It's been a week, here. Only a week! I think I've worked enough for it to have been at least two or three. No surprise there - this is the price I pay for not being on call the rest of the time.

Picture intensive, all 400X300, all work-safe.

( Flight, arrival )
( Day 2: Adventuring in Madrid )
( Day 3:CAB/INTA )
( Day 4: Transit )
( Day 5: Up and Running )
( Day 6: RapidFire Fuss )
( Day 7: Breaking Point )
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Oh my Monkeys... [Aug. 30th, 2005|09:39 pm]
It's HOT!!!

41-42C.. sun.. ouch. Apparently hotter in the tent where most of the team is working.

hot. hot. ew.

(Oh, and we're in Rio Tinto now. More update later, maybe, when not so stinking hot)
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Here now! [Aug. 28th, 2005|12:05 am]
In Spain, in my hotel room, awake for my midnight snack (always need one when I crash out at 6pm after one of these trips).

Some snafu's needing worked out still, but we're all here, our equipment is all here, and I have yet to be hit on the head by any bits of sky.
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More Jamon! [Aug. 25th, 2005|04:15 pm]
[inner guide says |busy]
[soundtrack |All I Really Want]

I'm off to Spain in the morning, assuming all goes well and the river don't rise. I return on October 5th, and will update in the in-between time with stories about Madrid, Las Minas de RioTinto, Amsterdam, London and other bits in between.

Somehow it's only just gotten through to me what a big deal this experiment could be. I'm a little slow at times, I know. But, well, I've been a bit detail focused and not able to see the big picture. I think the big picture is looking good. My team is well prepared, organized, smart and most of us have done some field work together.

Now, to pull off the next miracle.

If you want a postcard or two and haven't filled out my poll, there's still time, though I'm not likely to remember to check it after early next week.

If you're in one of the places I'm likely to visit and want to see me, let me know. We're still working out accomodations for Amsterdam, ideas are welcome there.

WheeZoom!
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What's Happening? [Aug. 1st, 2005|09:53 am]
It feels like I haven't see people in weeks now. I know this can't possibly be true, but it feels that way right now. Things have been busy, or hard, or both, lately.

I've seen some lovely concerts though. My spring urges towards ticket-buying are finally paying off. First we saw the Indigo Girls (with opening act Girlyman - lovely) at the Fox Theater. Tasty goodness. Then, Suzanne Vega and Mark Cohn at the Montalvo Center for the Arts. Really fantastic venue, great show. We still have tickets to see Wicked this weekend, then Shawn Colvin and John Hiatt in a couple of weeks. Mom and Amy will be here for that show, should be fun.

Then, well, I take off for a bit. The trip should be fun, the work should go well (*knocking wood*). I'll miss everyone, as I always do, but am excited to see the folks I miss when I'm here, too.

That reminds me, I've been attempting to get my address book updated before I'm off adventuring in places to send postcards back from - Poll Here.

What adventures have all of you been taking and not telling us about?
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To love, honor and cherish... [Jul. 27th, 2005|12:13 am]
My 20th wedding anniversary is today.

See, about 20.5 years ago, there was a wedding. Jeff, Dad's best friend from high school was marrying his long-term sweetie, Mary. Mom and Dad had recently started dating, so he asked her and I to join him at the wedding. This was also the first time we met his parents. It was a great wedding (though all I remember is purple.. lots and lots of purple).

After that wedding, we drove back to Sedona from Phoenix, about a two hour drive. Me being the wee thing that I was (with a bladder to match), I had to pee before we got home. Dad pulled off the road at the Orme/Dugas exit and they let me out of the car. Fairly quickly, I was done and we merrily headed on our way.

When we got home, it was quickly discovered that my beloved teddybear, Rosebud, was missing. I didn't take this well at all, throwing a total tantrum as only a 3-4 year old can do. Dad, being the wonderful guy he is, got back in his truck and drove the hour back to that last pitstop. When he told this story, he narrated it including the thoughts running through his head. Something like "Oh shit, it's not gonna be there, what the heck am I going to do then? Where can I buy a teddybear this time of night?"

Because a lot of you know Rosebud, you know that there was a happy ending. When Dad pulled off of the exit, Rosebud had been put up on top of a mesquite tree (hush all you people laughing at the possible oxymoron). He brought Rosebud home and made a squeaky-voiced little girl very happy. And her Mom recognized that this was the guy for her.

On July 27th 1985, at a house in Sun Lakes, AZ, there was a wedding. A very small wedding, only closest family and friends. If there were invitations, I don't remember them. There were, however, custom printed napkins.

Jack and Tav and Sarah

July 27, 1985


Rings were exchanged, vows said, promises made. There were tears and hugs and there was food - this is a group that celebrates and mourns and everything in between with food.

There was love. There was a commitment unlike any other I've had made to me by someone not bound by blood. A commitment to care for me, to honor who I was and who I would become, and most of all, to love me.

I believe that these commitments can be made, and kept. I have this faith because they were, every day. I believe that relationships can withstand change, and chaos, and hard times. I know, in a deep and real way, that relationships don't need to be singular to be real and deep and meaningful. I have core values of support and tenacity because they were shown to me every time I needed them. I know that joy can be taken in others growth and change. Paths can diverge, and meet again, and still support each other from where they are. He and his family joined with my family and proved to me what that word really means.

I have all of this because of that day, those vows, that person.

Happy Anniversary Daddy. Thank you.
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The Deadlines are coming, the Deadlines are coming! [Jul. 15th, 2005|04:57 pm]
[soundtrack |How Am I Different]

Glancing at my calendar, I've got 41 days till I leave for Spain for 40 days. 25 days until the UI hits code freeze. 27 until all of our equipment must be shipped. 5 documents due before then, 3 of them my sole responsibility. 40+ people to get information from so that I can provide useful IT support in the field. 27 things on my Monday morning to-do list (that's up from the 18 I started today with, but not counting the 9 of those and 12 other things I did today, plus phone calls and can-we-chat-a-sec meetings that ate my morning). Oh, and 12 of those 40 days are weekends, not that I won't work some of those too.

Numbers! It's all their fault!

Oddly enough, I'm kinda enjoying the pressure. I've always done better with short-term goals, and being able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I like adrenelyn, so don't even mind some degree of stress. Plus, I've gained a pretty decent stress-to-risk evaluation set over time (when I'm in a decent mental state, like now). I believe in stress being equivalent to risk - if what I'm doing won't kill or maim me or anyone else, nor send us to jail, it only gets so much stress.

On other good topics, it looks like I may have work through February. Also, the meds seem to be working - I'm coping much better with the world, and feeling much less eeyore-state. I can get out of bed most days, and have many fewer panic attacks. All good things.

*grin* It also has come to my attention that I'm known among my co-workers for two things, mostly - competence and cute. It's a good world.
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Remember the Warriors [Jul. 15th, 2005|03:49 pm]
This was enough to make me tear up. Thanks for sharing, [info]ecopixie.
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Mexican Chocolate Mousse [Jul. 11th, 2005|12:49 pm]
In keeping my word, I'm posting the recipe for my oh-my-word-yum mexican chocolate mousse. I started with a basic recipe from The New Basics by Julee Rosso and Sheila Lukins - my current favorite cookbook. Then, I edited it.

( the recipe )
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You Can't Sink A Rainbow [Jul. 8th, 2005|03:38 pm]
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
--Margaret Meade

Twenty years ago this Sunday, a group of peaceful activists were attacked. One of them died in this attack, a photographer named Fernando Pereira. Those responsible for this attack denied it, though their involvement was eventually proven.

The Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior was sunk in Auckland Harbor, New Zealand on the 10th of July, 1985 just before midnight. French spies were eventually found to have placed the bombs that caused this.

Greenpeace has kept moving towards our goals, maintained a peaceful and strong stance of bearing witness for the environment and those who can't speak for themselves. I am proud to be a part of Greenpeace, and will take a moment of silence this Sunday to remember those who have fought before me.

More Information
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It's an Adventure! [Jul. 4th, 2005|10:06 pm]
[inner guide says |adventurous]

Last night, [info]karenbynight, [info]princeofwands, Becca, Drew and I went to a camp-in at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It was *so* much fun! Running around the almost-empty aquarium (there were only ~240 members there, and 10 staff), getting a behind-the-scenes tour of the Jellies and the big shark tank, and sleeping under one of the outer-bay jellyfish tanks. And the girls had fun, too ;).

( pictures! )
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