Pro Bowler!!

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Originally uploaded by gaslantern

What better way to celebrate a birthday than with some bowling?

Monkey Cake!

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Originally uploaded by gaslantern

I just had a birthday!

And wowie, it was fun. Went bowling with my peeps, then back to our place for some random fun (does anyone else take turns reading childrens' books aloud?). I was honored by the presence of some very thoughtful, creative, amazing and wonderful friends and Mom - and two cakes!

I have to give thanks to Melinda for finding ever-more creative ways to not buy anything new. She surprised me with three (3!) bags of gifts: a coat she snagged from a friend at our garage sale last year (that she knew I wanted), my missing water bottle (OK, that's a little bit of cheating), a partially used set of nature cards (Goodwill?), newish (well, maybe entirely new) camping cookware she got for very cheap, AND a cow mug (Thanks so much) that included a gift card to Goodwill; the icing on the cake was a re-used birthday card, with the previous givers' names crossed out in a handmade envelope! I think part of the reason we've done so well with the Compacting is that it is so fun to see how we creative we can get.

Check out Andrew's photos of the momentous occasion.

My friends' adventure in Africa

Amazing. I just finished reading my friends' Kelli and Joe's blog account of their short-lived time with the Peace Corps in South Africa. I highly recommend reading some of it, even if you don't know them - it is fantastically written, has great pictures, and an incredible story (start reading mid-December, especially). Long story short: a mere few months into their 2 year tour with the PC, they got most of their stuff stolen, had to be helicoptered off a mountain and were forced to resign. I can't say enough how much I admire the dignity, optimism, and good faith that Joe and Kelli showed during their ordeal, and continue to show. Check it out: petrickafrica.blogspot.com.

Evidentally, 7.5 miles is my limit

I wasn't intending on doing Bloomsday, but was suckered into it by a very enthusiastic Forstie family. I was generously lent (too-small) walking shoes and other clothes; I started out in the walking shoes, but switched over to my new Crocs (yah, yah, "what about 'the compact'? you say) at about mile 3 (see me in mile 7's photo). Boy, I'm sold on those suckers - saved my feet, they did. But I am a bit sore in the hip flexor area ... we'll see what happens tomorrow, especially after sitting in a car for 4 hours for the drive back to Seattle.

Sidenote: In "researching" links for to attach to this blog about Crocs, I discovered an "I hate Crocs" blog. Do people really have nothing better to do than blog (and create t-shirts for sale... oh wait... could it be that they're making money?) about a shoe fad? yikes.

Ok, maybe I should see someone about this problem

See, I think I'm a book-aholic. I can't keep from buying used books. Especially kids' and nature books. Jonathan and I and a few other folks went to the annual Seattle Library Book Sale today. If you've never been, it's held in an old hangar (picture VERY large open building) at Magnuson Park and it's crammed full of tables of books. And people. (oh the people... it's downright dangerous in there). I've been every year for the past 3 or 4, and I think this is the easiest I've gotten off - I only spent about 8 bucks! (It was half price day). And I got 11 books!

So I got this brilliant idea to catalog all my books. I'm using Google Spreadsheets (YAY Google!!!!!!) and it's fantastic - it's the ultimate compulsive organizer outlet. I do love lists. So far, I've only done the children's, nature, science, and curriculum books in the apartment (no fiction yet). I might even post the link on my blog. Because I can.

Caught my favorite "I know the guitarist/singer" band at Easy Street Records for their CD release party on Friday. Go True Bugs and Curtains for You! I'm gonna be able to say "I knew Mike" back in the day....

Business cards and offices and assistants, OH MY!

These things are now a part of my life! One large part of me is so excited to have such items of professional maturity - I've never had them all to myself before - but another is worried I'll lose touch with "on the ground" EE as I get more office-y. But for now, I'm syked. I just picked up my business cards today - 100% post-consumer recycled paper, of course - and am breathlessly awaiting giving them away to everyone. "My" office, which I share with "my" assistant, an AmeriCorps volunteer (who is awesome!) is not quite "mine" yet, but I can't wait to organize and put up my own stuff! Those environmental posters I've been hanging onto for five years? They're goin' up!!

So, my first week (training) has gone well, and I now look forward to going to work. I've met volunteers and the board (so far, so good) and been on a tour of the hatchery (lots of stuff to know). The people I'll be working with seem pretty good, and I can't wait to actually get started.

I have one more day of soul-sucking work at the school-who-must-not-be-named. I was supposed to come in next week, but CANNOT! They'll do just fine without me. (@$%&*). I'll be so glad when I'm done with that place.

In other news: Jonathan and I just passed our 5 years together mark! It's been awesome. Also, we're going to visit our good friends Schimmy and Schimmy + pups + new house and forest soon. YAY! And, we had fantastic time hanging out with former IslandWood folks and playing knee coup at the Sculpture Garden (Park, whatever). Good times.

This picture has nothing to do with anything aforementioned. I just like it. Took it at the Volunteer Park Conservatory, one of my favorite places in Seattle.