Reasons to love my in-laws:

They should have been sitcom stars in the eighties. I'd watch this show.

Their fashion sense was/is impeccable. Where did you find that sweater ms. rita?

They are all very tall. Notice uncle Steve on the STOOL, grandpa Ted in the chair, and cousin Robert Wadlow, I mean, cousin Mark just being tall. (I'm going to meet him next week, sweet!)

And most importantly, look at the awesomeness that sprang from their loins. Wee Jesse in his Johnny Jump-up. (note impeccable fashion sense at 7 mths)

You Turkey.

A porch with a view.

A Bellingham Summer.

What, I dare you, is greater than a weekend in Bellingham in the summer? I know I live here, I should have these every weekend but family members and friends always lure us to other parts of state when the Friday bell tolls. But this was the mother of all Bellingham weekends. And true to form I am exhausted from being on Lake Padden all day, from eating and drinking all last nite, and spending too much time sleeping on Saturday to truly express myself right now. I am freshly showered, freshly sleepy, a little banged up, and ready for my big comfortable bed. Tomorrow evening I hope to express, more honestly, what an amazing weekend we had, in pictures and in words. Until then, I bid you all an evening of tossing and turning in jealous angst over wishing you had spent the weekend here in Bellingham.

Por mi hermano en Alaska...

I drink your milkshake...

...so, earlier today I started a post with 'I drink your milkshake' which in turn got Kelis' 'My Milkshake...' stuck hard into my head. Which distracted me enough not to finish the post, or even remember what I was posting about. Instead...I did this.





and so I wasn't the only one...



but if you knew how limited my skills were you'd be slightly proud.

I could teach you, but I'd have to charge.

Today I am going to:

-set up my at home postal stuff.
-pay an overdue med bill.
-get my camera out and actually put my own pictures on this thing.
-not puke.
-save the world.

Oh yeah, and this...

If my bike were blue...

...it would look like this.

Instead imagine it white...I think I am going to just fix the bike. I love it. It means the world to me...plus I owe a lot of student loans and it would make the most sense. Until I can buy a retrovelo I may as well ride the bike I have. How does the song go? If you can't be with the one you love then love the one yr with...

Today's Facts, So Far...

-Facebook makes you funny friends. Remember IM'ing? you can do that on Facebook...old school and meta.
-You really never get over old relationships, no matter how insignificant they are, or if they are your's or someone else's. Heck, even if someone looks like an ex, or an ex trouble-maker, it can stir some serious emotions...
-It is really awesome to, once again, realize who yr good friends are. The ones who understand where you have been and understand where you are going, and love you know matter where you are.
-Wine is a bitch at a bowling alley, ALWAYS ask for a regular glass instead of a wine glass. Cause who the 'F' drinks wine while they are bowling?
-If you are to drink wine make sure you bowl a 172, ahem, like I did tonite. oh gosh, gush.
-Looking good while riding yr bike is the most important part of the day. My shades matched my shirt, which matched my earrings, which matched my shoes, which matched the sky...oh!

Office Space

Best office ever.

New Goal in life:
-make this office happen. All the storage for my goodies. All the privacy of a real office. All the kitsch of a road trip. Plus it's like home, I spent the summer after freshman year living in a trailer in my parents driveway...


This is Kathy Sierra's office, she does this thing called About Creating Passionate Users. She's all into artificial intelligence. Which, btw, are my initials. AI. I'm just saying.

I really like that top shelving. It would make a lot of sense in my office. It's really big, the picture is small. I have spent around $80 on shelving in my office (big lots is rad) and this thing would be twice that. But I'm thinking it may have been worth it. Oh, Ikea.

I don't know where this lovely file cabinet came from, I found it on www.strongproject.com, which sells some pretty incredible office furniture. From reception desks, to modular walls, to recreated classic modern pieces. And I heart this strange little file cabinet with it's lovely laminate.

I'm having office anxiety issues. Because of the work I do the product is always changing and I'm constantly getting new catalogs and new samples from 40 different companies. Like everyday and my office is in our spare bedroom which also happens to be my clothing closet. There are a lot of strange things happening in that space. I'm lucky to have the best view ever. Since we are just renters I don't feel I can make big commitments in office furniture, as it is the shelves are going be AWFUL to move. But at the same time I need more space and more organization, less furniture. Which is why I like that first dealy, it is shelving (for catalogs) but it also can be storage tubs (for samples), and you can change them around.

I am office brained these days...

Martha my dear...

Oh, Martha Stewart. Since I was a little girl, you've always broken my heart. Why doesn't my office/studio look as amazing as yours?

seriously, it's like porn.

Today's Facts, So Far...

-gluten free can be super radical. For these reasons:
1. My tummy has zero grumbles
2. Crazy new experimenting with food
3. I don't have to eat spaghetti!
4. GF baked Mac and cheese, so f'n good btws.
5. My Mother in Law is all into it

-Jobs are funny.
-It gets a little weird when yr husband is a fire fighter and you (who hates fire) get a little hyped when the pager goes off and there is a million tones which means there is a structure fire somewhere.
-No matter how old you get people are all the same.
-Ignoring negativity does not make it go away, eventually it comes to the surface.
-The Tulalip Casino Resort smells like bark and new plastic. Which I guess works for a casino hotel.
-My nails are gold and I heart it.
-Despite all the bullshit I had an amazing time on the fourth with an old friend and a younger brother.

Pink Like Salmon...

...Delicious Like Love.

When you can't get sashimi grade salmon but you want to make hand rolls, or you just feel like salmon, salmon marinade:

Marinade:
One Cup part Kewpie Mayonnaise
1/4 cup Mirin
1/4 cup Rice Vinegar
3 TBL Juice from pickled Ginger container, or 1 TBL feshly grated ginger

Topping:
Toasted Sesame Seeds
salt and pepper to taste

Whisk ingredients together until well blended. Put salmon in deep baking dish, like a casserole dish. Add marinade and make sure salmon is coated. Put salmon skin side down in casserole dish and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds. Bake, covered, at 350 until salmon is flaky with a fork!

This marinade will do a whole grip load of salmon, or a small amount, whatever you feel like eating. The cooking time varies depending on the size of the salmon.

The eating time varies depending on the size of yr hunger. Happy Salmon eating!

Dinner!

Mama got a new hairdid...

Mama got new shades too. Mama is going to stop referring to herself as Mama.

Dinner.

Temaki!

Did you know that both soy sauce and imitation crab have wheat in them? Boy. I'll figure something out I'm sure.

P.S.

New Goals in Life:

-Amazing gluten free Pizza and gluten free Mac and Cheese.

Tonite's Facts, so far...

-I can ride my bike further than I think I can, but not as far as my husband.
-Hippie hopping, old timer music, is better than most new "indie" bands, not ALL, but most.
-Not drinking really good Boundary Bay beer is not as hard as I thought it would be.
-A salad is always better with red meat.
-Sometimes my style can be defined as 'soccer mom chic'...at least we can add 'chic' to it.
-Steak and Wine tastes better when you've earned it.
-I always write with an audience in mind, and that audience is you, Greg, and Claire.
-I always use the bathroom with an audience in mind, and that audience is you, Houston.
-Things are about to get a lot funnier now that my audience has grown.