Just when Shannon thought her belly was getting big...
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Java's "Special Friend..."
Java has found a new "special friend" with whom he loves to play!
Not the bears...not the deer...not the baby...(I never did say he was a terrifically brilliant love dog!)
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Bearing Witness
6am Saturday morning...Shannon and I are both in dreamscape when we heard the garbage cans being dragged over the gravel driveway. At first I could not understand why our house guest Felix was taking the garbage out so early in the morning...yet then Shannon exclaimed, "Di! There are bears in our trash cans!" And sure enough, we had visitors.
I ran downstairs, camera in hand, to capture a few choice shots. While I think my big bare-bellied body scared them off...I did manage to get a few.
What cuddly creatures they appear to be, eh?
Cruising Considerations on Lake Pend Oreille
Our great friend Pam bought a boat lately which we lovingly call "Flaquita!" She is a 1965 cruiser boat -- vintage fun for all! Solstice we took her on a maiden voyage with friends Jan and Paula, enjoying high skies and light late into the evening. On the way we did some "fishing" and got the "catch of the night" -- a 180 lb. Jan-fish, hooking him right on the behind!
We took Flaquita out again just days later to explore the Pend Oreille River en route to the new Willows Resort for supper. A magnificent evening of nature, water, great food and belly-aching laughter! Thank goodness for our friend Timmy who was able to navigate us home in the dark...
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Bump Watch
We're still growing! 3 more weeks until we get to meet little "H" and the anticipation is mounting! With hope, I will be able to fit into my few clothing options all the way until delivery!!!
Considering "Turklets"
Feline Gourmet Considerations
Sweet love that she is, Shannon decided to make supper for me on Sunday night -- so while I put my feet up and rested, she prepped the veggies, seasoned the steaks and got the grill humming! It was lovely outside, so she set the table on the patio -- everything was just perfect!
She called to me upstairs, letting me know that supper would be served in "just one minute..." and just then, I heard a scream! I ran downstairs to see what happened and much to our surprise, Sam, the cat, had helped out with the appetizers...
Oh, he is a sly little one!
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Human Rights Considerations, among other things...
Shannon and I were asked to join the Bonner County Human Rights Commission Board. I attended my first meeting on Monday night -- nice folks doing good work. We figure the 2 out lesbians, one a Jew, with their fatherless kid and 3-legged dog was enough to make us the poster children of "all things diverse" in Sandpoint. The group was originally founded in reponse to the Aryan Nation activity in the area and are now working on issues such as:
Opposing Conservative Christian Right candidates
Supporting Conflict Resolution Programs in the County schools
Speaking out against recent events of toture in Iraq
Promoting educational forums on diversity
We will all march in the July 4th parade and support the recently established Gay Student Alliance at the local highschool. Time to stand up and be counted!
While a bit out of date (but soon to be worked on...) - more information can be found at http://www.bchrtf.org/
Opposing Conservative Christian Right candidates
Supporting Conflict Resolution Programs in the County schools
Speaking out against recent events of toture in Iraq
Promoting educational forums on diversity
We will all march in the July 4th parade and support the recently established Gay Student Alliance at the local highschool. Time to stand up and be counted!
While a bit out of date (but soon to be worked on...) - more information can be found at http://www.bchrtf.org/
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Lopezian Considerations
"What do you say we go on a final "pre-baby getaway," Di? We could drive over to Lopez, hunker down in the yurt, drive home through the glorious North Cascades, stay in a cute little inn in Mazama -- all for a romantic escape before our lives change forever..." -- Shannon Barnes
And so we did...
And wonderful it was!
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Considering Lessons from Ants
This week's considerations are of a somewhat distinct nature...ANTS.
For those who have visited our new home, you may have heard tales of my late night obsessions with killing the ginormous, black ants who seem to invite themselves into our kitchen through our lower cabinetry and dishwasher. Now, we are not talking little, innocent ants which blithely traverse the floor en route to the cat or dog food...we are talking "mega ants" with heads and thoraxes to rival any WWF champion! These nightly intruders come thievishly into the house with not a care for the deabolt on the front door! In short, they disgust me.
For several weeks, Shannon has frustratedly observed my growing intolerance for our intruders. I have tried (well, sort of) to muster a Buddhist acceptance of the devils, but between sheer disgust at the sight of them and my own raging pregnancy horomones, I have been nearing my threshhold...then, the tipping point...
This weekend I was hosing off the deck and also washed off much of the shingling where wasps nests were beginning to appear. In doing so, I noted a few of my dark-side rivals close to the front door. I wasted no time in taking out my week of frustrations on them, doucing them with water to flood their big heads. I was in "extermination mode;" not something to be proud of, but real nonetheless. Soon, on the steps, I saw a HUGE ant with wings! I actually thought it was a termite and promptly stepped on it, feeling a satisfying crunch underfoot. Feeling triumphant and more relaxed (oddly!) that I had accomplished my mission to clean the deck, I went inside.
Well, the next morning all hell broke loose! Gigantic black ants swarmed the front porch! They were everywhere -- crawling up the front door, just begging to get inside...I freaked! I went off to work with crazed fantasies of horror films in my mind -- Shannon and I coming home to a house filled with swarms of Formicidae eating away at the house's foundation, crawling in our bed, overtaking the kitties...you get the picture. My paranoia led me to call Northern States Pest Control who said we may have a "colony" under the house or in the crawl space..."A colony?" I asked... "Yes, ants build colonies guided by their queen. If the large winged ant you killed was the queen, you have probably angered the workers quite a bit," replied the receptionist. Holy crap...who knew?
Long story short, Bill came yesterday to assess the situation, bravely crawling on his belly (and I think I hate my job sometimes...) underneath our crawl space to indeed verify we had a large colony living downunder. I'll spare you the execution details, but suffice to say, Bill took care to spray profusely, ridding 106 Lost Horse of the ants. Hurrah!
Yet, here is the clincher...all morning I have been a bit obsessed with learning more about ants...Google "ants" and amazing things appear! Since ancient times, scientists, philosophers, architects and mathematicians have studied ants, their behavior and their social interactions. There is a growing field of study called "Ant Colony Optimization" where interested parties are looking at ants' complex social behavior through the lens of mathmatical algorithms and their theoretical applications...again, who knew?
If you are interested, you can also Google "Myrmecology" which is the branch of entomology dealing with ants. Fascinating!
So, just when I thought Northern Idaho was an intellectual wasteland...look who needs to rethink her very intelligent and highly sophisticated surroundings...
For those who have visited our new home, you may have heard tales of my late night obsessions with killing the ginormous, black ants who seem to invite themselves into our kitchen through our lower cabinetry and dishwasher. Now, we are not talking little, innocent ants which blithely traverse the floor en route to the cat or dog food...we are talking "mega ants" with heads and thoraxes to rival any WWF champion! These nightly intruders come thievishly into the house with not a care for the deabolt on the front door! In short, they disgust me.
For several weeks, Shannon has frustratedly observed my growing intolerance for our intruders. I have tried (well, sort of) to muster a Buddhist acceptance of the devils, but between sheer disgust at the sight of them and my own raging pregnancy horomones, I have been nearing my threshhold...then, the tipping point...
This weekend I was hosing off the deck and also washed off much of the shingling where wasps nests were beginning to appear. In doing so, I noted a few of my dark-side rivals close to the front door. I wasted no time in taking out my week of frustrations on them, doucing them with water to flood their big heads. I was in "extermination mode;" not something to be proud of, but real nonetheless. Soon, on the steps, I saw a HUGE ant with wings! I actually thought it was a termite and promptly stepped on it, feeling a satisfying crunch underfoot. Feeling triumphant and more relaxed (oddly!) that I had accomplished my mission to clean the deck, I went inside.
Well, the next morning all hell broke loose! Gigantic black ants swarmed the front porch! They were everywhere -- crawling up the front door, just begging to get inside...I freaked! I went off to work with crazed fantasies of horror films in my mind -- Shannon and I coming home to a house filled with swarms of Formicidae eating away at the house's foundation, crawling in our bed, overtaking the kitties...you get the picture. My paranoia led me to call Northern States Pest Control who said we may have a "colony" under the house or in the crawl space..."A colony?" I asked... "Yes, ants build colonies guided by their queen. If the large winged ant you killed was the queen, you have probably angered the workers quite a bit," replied the receptionist. Holy crap...who knew?
Long story short, Bill came yesterday to assess the situation, bravely crawling on his belly (and I think I hate my job sometimes...) underneath our crawl space to indeed verify we had a large colony living downunder. I'll spare you the execution details, but suffice to say, Bill took care to spray profusely, ridding 106 Lost Horse of the ants. Hurrah!
Yet, here is the clincher...all morning I have been a bit obsessed with learning more about ants...Google "ants" and amazing things appear! Since ancient times, scientists, philosophers, architects and mathematicians have studied ants, their behavior and their social interactions. There is a growing field of study called "Ant Colony Optimization" where interested parties are looking at ants' complex social behavior through the lens of mathmatical algorithms and their theoretical applications...again, who knew?
If you are interested, you can also Google "Myrmecology" which is the branch of entomology dealing with ants. Fascinating!
So, just when I thought Northern Idaho was an intellectual wasteland...look who needs to rethink her very intelligent and highly sophisticated surroundings...
Monday, May 15, 2006
Spring into Summer Considerations
The heat is on! Or so it seems in Sandpoint, Idaho... We are due to have recordbreaking highs today in the 90's!!! And based on our weekend events -- barbeques, outdoor gatherings, garden planting, hiking in the Cabinet Mountains...I'd say, summer has arrived!
Some choice photos of a workmate bbq at our house and an evening of fun at our dear friend Pam's house...
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Courtyard Marriott Considerations
Having just eaten the most gargantuan burrito I have ever seen (and eaten all of it!), I am settling in for the night at the Hilsboro, Oregon Courtyard Marriott motel. The room is nothing to write home about (or even comment on here for that matter...), but the space does offer just the right lack of compelling distractions (Shannon, Java, good TV dramas, dinner with friends) to get some reflections onto the blog. I took out Writing Down the Bones, by Natalie Goldberg, again and was reading it on the plane. She reminded me that writing is a practice, and as such, must be considered daily in order to improve. She also reminded me that less is more and that I need not seek perfection but must "write to be sane." I found this intriguing and beg your forgiveness as I, thus, write here in pursuit of my own sanity...
Shannon and I spent the weekend in Seattle prior to my departure to Oregon for work. We had the pleasure of time with friends and time once again in the big city. We re-discovered some treasured spots like the Panama Hotel in the International District, where we played backgammon and dominoes with Lara and Melissa, as well as Beechers cheese shop in Pike Place Market where they stir curds of cheese in huge, smelly vats. The arboretum was in full bloom and we chanced upon the Japanese Garden on "free to visitors" day, so after 7 years of running past the bamboo gates, I finally got to see the interior. There are huge coi (coy?) fish, swimming like ancient submarine ghosts and many playful looking turtles who stretch their necks long as if to reach the sun itself. The flowers are abundant now all over the arboretum -- azalea way is filled with coppers, pinks, purples and gold. It is amazing! Sandpoint is nearly a month behind in the bloom cycle, yet with hope, we too will have such color in our landscape.
Here in Hilsboro, I am doing an observation-analysis of the new Management Training program I wrote for Coldwater Creek. I am spending time in one of the Training Stores and will also visit another local store and one of our new spas. My mission at the spa will be "walk-in pregnant lady who wants back to back treatments" and see how they accommodate me. I find the role of secret shopper enjoyable as it is somehow theaterical in concept as I am supposed to be me, but not really be me...I am still debating what "attitude" my personae will take on --whether to be the hormonal "of course you are going to give me what I want" customer, or simply play it cool and see what I am offered. The goal is to measure the service standards being delivered...stay tuned.
On a completely separate note...I was listening to the BBC report on the immigrant rights marches and this brilliant chap was asking another reporter how many immigrants she saw "in LA" and when she gave him a specific number he chuckled, and then replied, "Oh, I thought there were many more people than that living in LA..." implying of course that everyone in the US was/is/has been an immigrant at some point in time...driving home the ridiculousness of "illegal" status and many of the attitudes floating around the Bush regime these days...I feel pretty far outside the loop of the effect the rallies are having on current legislation -- but is was heartening to see the many faces in Seattle walking downtown to join in protest on Monday.
Ah, that's all for now...off the call the love of my life!
Shannon and I spent the weekend in Seattle prior to my departure to Oregon for work. We had the pleasure of time with friends and time once again in the big city. We re-discovered some treasured spots like the Panama Hotel in the International District, where we played backgammon and dominoes with Lara and Melissa, as well as Beechers cheese shop in Pike Place Market where they stir curds of cheese in huge, smelly vats. The arboretum was in full bloom and we chanced upon the Japanese Garden on "free to visitors" day, so after 7 years of running past the bamboo gates, I finally got to see the interior. There are huge coi (coy?) fish, swimming like ancient submarine ghosts and many playful looking turtles who stretch their necks long as if to reach the sun itself. The flowers are abundant now all over the arboretum -- azalea way is filled with coppers, pinks, purples and gold. It is amazing! Sandpoint is nearly a month behind in the bloom cycle, yet with hope, we too will have such color in our landscape.
Here in Hilsboro, I am doing an observation-analysis of the new Management Training program I wrote for Coldwater Creek. I am spending time in one of the Training Stores and will also visit another local store and one of our new spas. My mission at the spa will be "walk-in pregnant lady who wants back to back treatments" and see how they accommodate me. I find the role of secret shopper enjoyable as it is somehow theaterical in concept as I am supposed to be me, but not really be me...I am still debating what "attitude" my personae will take on --whether to be the hormonal "of course you are going to give me what I want" customer, or simply play it cool and see what I am offered. The goal is to measure the service standards being delivered...stay tuned.
On a completely separate note...I was listening to the BBC report on the immigrant rights marches and this brilliant chap was asking another reporter how many immigrants she saw "in LA" and when she gave him a specific number he chuckled, and then replied, "Oh, I thought there were many more people than that living in LA..." implying of course that everyone in the US was/is/has been an immigrant at some point in time...driving home the ridiculousness of "illegal" status and many of the attitudes floating around the Bush regime these days...I feel pretty far outside the loop of the effect the rallies are having on current legislation -- but is was heartening to see the many faces in Seattle walking downtown to join in protest on Monday.
Ah, that's all for now...off the call the love of my life!
Monday, April 24, 2006
Considering Simple Pleasures with Family
"If you want to know who we are...we are gentlemen of Japan..." or so goes the opening to The Mikado which we had the pleasure of seeing Friday night with Deb, Jack and Noah at our local theater, The Panida. The Royal Carl Rosa Opera from London was in town and performed a fine rendition! For those who don't know, The Mikado has been a favorite of the Gore girls since we were young, as Deb made her theatrical debut as Katisha as a mere 8th grader! We've loved the show ever since -- especially its background set for the hilarious Chevy Chase/Goldie Hawn film "Foul Play." If you haven't seen it, it is a must!
Shannon and I hosted Deb and the boys for a slumber party at the house and then SEB and I got Jack and Noah for the morning while Deb made her way early back to Spokane. Despite protestations, we got the boys into the woods with Java for a walk and explored many "amazing natural delights!" Colorful and odd-shaped lichens, shelf fungi, varieties of animal poop, pine cones of all shapes and sizes, prints from many animals...it was delightul and educational for us all. The boys even admitted later in the day that the walk "was not all that borning..."
Sunday, Jack and I spent playing at Riverfront Park in Spokane riding the rides, while Shannon went to teach and Deb and Noah flew to SF. It was a glorious day -- sun high in the sky and bright light making everything seem fresh and alive! Jack's favorite new trick is to reach around my belly as he hugs me to see if his fingers will still touch...for now, we're still in reach -- I imagine soon this may not be the case.
Monday brings us back to work, but with plans ahead for another weekend trip to Seattle and a week of work for me in Portland...if this sun keeps shining, I can't think of anything that could get our spirits down.
Shannon and I hosted Deb and the boys for a slumber party at the house and then SEB and I got Jack and Noah for the morning while Deb made her way early back to Spokane. Despite protestations, we got the boys into the woods with Java for a walk and explored many "amazing natural delights!" Colorful and odd-shaped lichens, shelf fungi, varieties of animal poop, pine cones of all shapes and sizes, prints from many animals...it was delightul and educational for us all. The boys even admitted later in the day that the walk "was not all that borning..."
Sunday, Jack and I spent playing at Riverfront Park in Spokane riding the rides, while Shannon went to teach and Deb and Noah flew to SF. It was a glorious day -- sun high in the sky and bright light making everything seem fresh and alive! Jack's favorite new trick is to reach around my belly as he hugs me to see if his fingers will still touch...for now, we're still in reach -- I imagine soon this may not be the case.
Monday brings us back to work, but with plans ahead for another weekend trip to Seattle and a week of work for me in Portland...if this sun keeps shining, I can't think of anything that could get our spirits down.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Seattle Visit
Gotta love "going back home!" Shannon and I had a wonderful trip recently going back to Seattle and hangin' with the gang in the Emerald City. We got to attend one famous "Fairy Princess Party" for now 4-year old Chapel and had a splendid crepe feast with the galz.
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