I know this is political, but what was Gov. Jindal thinking with his recent rebuttal to President Obama's speech on the economy?
"...Something called volcano monitoring?" I understand that he's planning on running for prez in '12 and really wants to raise his profile in a good way, but sounding like an idiot isn't going to achieve that goal. Maybe do a little research before opening your mouth Bobby.
A lot of news sites and bloggers have pointed out that ridiculing money for natural-disaster research is kind of a bad move when you are the governor of a HURRICANE PRONE STATE! Duh. Idiot.
MSN
Alaska Dispatch
Scientific American
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
A little off
I am not feeling like myself today, or yesterday for that matter. Both mornings I woke up with episodes of vertigo -- which is basically me feeling like the room is spinning around, peppered with some nausea and lack of balance.
It's something I have experienced before but the feeling is quite unpleasant. Sometimes it will happen during the day as well and today I stumbled getting into the elevator. Nothing like looking drunk in front of your coworkers!
If episdoes keep coming by the end of the week, I'll be making an appointment with my doctor. My dad gets vertigo too so it's definitely a genetic thing!
It's something I have experienced before but the feeling is quite unpleasant. Sometimes it will happen during the day as well and today I stumbled getting into the elevator. Nothing like looking drunk in front of your coworkers!
If episdoes keep coming by the end of the week, I'll be making an appointment with my doctor. My dad gets vertigo too so it's definitely a genetic thing!
Saturday, February 21, 2009
The view from up here
What an absolutely gorgeous day today. Lots of blue sky and sunshine. AND, it's about 22 degrees ABOVE zero. Nothing to complain about here!
Nice vista from our bedroom window:
Our home is fairly well insulated so there are no icicles hanging down from the roof -- except for this crazy frozen waterfall spilling out from one of the gutters.
Happy Saturday everyone!
Friday, February 20, 2009
Free photo book
This is a great offer from Shutterfly: a free 20-page 8x8 photo book!
It's a $29.99 value, but FREE for you if you enter coupon code PHOTOBOOKS when checking out. Good until March 10, 2009.
I haven't ordered Shutterfly's photo books before, but friends have and the quality is pretty good. Plus you can't beat free, peoples...
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Moose alert
A friend and I made plans to have lunch together today, and as I left the parking lot at work it felt as if something was watching me...
The weather has been warm lately, which makes for slushy roads, really dirty snow and gray days.
The weather has been warm lately, which makes for slushy roads, really dirty snow and gray days.
Special delivery
Lots of packages arrived on our doorstep yesterday!
First up is a sample pack of pledge products. A couple years ago I joined a national testing panel and every few months the company sends me a package of items that I try out, tell people about and then write reports detailing my likes and dislikes of the product. It's all word-of-mouth marketing. The great part is that I get to keep all of the items after I'm done. Each package also includes a ton of coupons for the item which I can use or distribute. If anybody wants some coupons, let me know!
The panel has been good to me -- last year I tested and was able to keep a video game system and a Sonicare electronic toothbrush/sanitizing system for free!
First up is a sample pack of pledge products. A couple years ago I joined a national testing panel and every few months the company sends me a package of items that I try out, tell people about and then write reports detailing my likes and dislikes of the product. It's all word-of-mouth marketing. The great part is that I get to keep all of the items after I'm done. Each package also includes a ton of coupons for the item which I can use or distribute. If anybody wants some coupons, let me know!
The panel has been good to me -- last year I tested and was able to keep a video game system and a Sonicare electronic toothbrush/sanitizing system for free!
A lovely package arrived from my parents -- Ikea stuff, my favorite. A mattress cover to protect our new mattress, and a milk frother. Homemade lattes -- woot!
And finally, our first box of Full Circle Farms organic fruits and veggies arrived! It was so convienient to pick it up at work and throw it in my car. We're impressed with the quality. Everything is very fresh and looks amazing. We have two weeks to finish it all before our next box arrives!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Laundry rooms
I know that we are pretty lucky to have a separate space for laundry. In D's other house, the washer and dryer share space next to the fridge. D has been working so hard on remodeling our house and the laundry room is on the list -- yay! Last year I got a new washing machine for Valentine's Day -- it doesn't sound romantic, but I totally appreciated the gift.
The laundry room needs a lot of work (just like the rest of the house) -- the sink should be replaced and we have a capped hole where a toilet will eventually be installed. So for now I'm dreaming and gathering ideas for the new space! I'd love to have a nice countertop over the washer and dryer for clothes folding, sorting, etc -- and a set of cabinets or open shelving with baskets above.
Our room is fairly small and narrow, so we need some effective space planning. Love the baskets.
A bit too industrial for me, but the storage is great.
So bright and cheery! Nice cabinets.
Messy, but I like how the machines are off the floor with a center shelving unit. We don't have pedestals for our front loaders so they are low on the ground.
The laundry room needs a lot of work (just like the rest of the house) -- the sink should be replaced and we have a capped hole where a toilet will eventually be installed. So for now I'm dreaming and gathering ideas for the new space! I'd love to have a nice countertop over the washer and dryer for clothes folding, sorting, etc -- and a set of cabinets or open shelving with baskets above.
Our room is fairly small and narrow, so we need some effective space planning. Love the baskets.
A bit too industrial for me, but the storage is great.
So bright and cheery! Nice cabinets.
Messy, but I like how the machines are off the floor with a center shelving unit. We don't have pedestals for our front loaders so they are low on the ground.
Totally hidden machines! Love it.
I really want these in my laundry room. I do a lot of hang drying for delicates and also to save a little energy. Right now we have a foldable rack and it takes up a lot of space.
Another drying rack option.
Monday, February 16, 2009
At home
Received some news on Saturday that made me sad, so Drift and I headed outside to play and get some fresh air. After we returned inside he got mopey since I wouldn't feed him dinner yet -- he got a little dog biscuit instead.
I totally understand how Drift gains weight when we go out of town and have other people watch him. He pulls the "I'm soooo hungries -- can't you see I'm wasting away" face. Who can resist that?
This bottle of muscat desert wine has been sitting neglected among the other wine bottles for a very long time -- I finally decided to open it and check it out. A few months ago I volunteered at a wine tasting/charity event and had the opportunity to try a variety of amazing wine selections. A muscat (although they called it muscato) was among them and I loved it! A lot sweeter than regular wine.
Sam's Club sells these little plastic pods of edamame -- it doesn't seem like very much, but I finished the whole container and was super full. Good quality. I'll be buying more.
I totally understand how Drift gains weight when we go out of town and have other people watch him. He pulls the "I'm soooo hungries -- can't you see I'm wasting away" face. Who can resist that?
The last few days have been uncommonly warm - high 30's and almost 40's. Felt downright balmy outside with just a sweatshirt on.
This bottle of muscat desert wine has been sitting neglected among the other wine bottles for a very long time -- I finally decided to open it and check it out. A few months ago I volunteered at a wine tasting/charity event and had the opportunity to try a variety of amazing wine selections. A muscat (although they called it muscato) was among them and I loved it! A lot sweeter than regular wine.
Sam's Club sells these little plastic pods of edamame -- it doesn't seem like very much, but I finished the whole container and was super full. Good quality. I'll be buying more.
Coconut macaroons
With D away this past weekend, I kept busy with home stuff, namely cleaning, laundry and cooking. I made a huge double batch of tomato basil soup and picked up fresh french bread -- so yummy. And it was also time to tackle the coconut macaroons that I posted about here.
Cooling down before the dipping stage
My swanky vintage Sunbeam mixer -- originally owned by my mom. I've been tempted by those brightly-colored KitchenAids, but this one works so well that I have no excuse to get rid of it!
Apparently I need more practice with egg white separation
Success on the second try
I heart my blog readers
Ready for the heat!
Cooling down before the dipping stage
The finished product didn't turn out nearly as pretty as the Domino magazine examples, but they taste fabulous!
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
Take me to Homer
Homer is one of my very favorite Alaska towns, if not #1. Such a quaint little place, with good fishing, a very famous and tiny saloon -- Salty Dawg, cool art galleries and of course, the most wonderful bakery -- Two Sisters. I just found out they have a blog and have been reading all the old posts.
But really, I have never heard anyone say anything bad about Homer. Who doesn't like that place?
Bald eagle on the beach
Looking back towards Homer -- waaaay off in the distance
But really, I have never heard anyone say anything bad about Homer. Who doesn't like that place?
Nice view of downtown and the Spit
Bald eagle on the beach
Otters hanging out in Kachemak Bay
Looking back towards Homer -- waaaay off in the distance
A beautiful day in Kachemak Bay
Moose crossing
Moose are everywhere, all the time. Walking down the street, in parking lots and back yards, munching on our trees and shrubs (and totally messing up the growing cycle, by the way). And last night I narrowly missed hitting one on the street leading to our house.
It was an adolescent, but still huge -- and while the car in front of me stopped and swerved off to the right, I didn't see the moose in the dark until the last second. Thankfully I had enough time to drive out of the way and the moose ran off into somebody's yard. Those close calls make me nervous because I've seen first hand what a moose can do to a vehicle -- they can demolish the front end of a full size truck! And a moose ran in front of my mom's car years back, just absolutely crushing the windshield and bending in the frame. She was fine -- freaked out -- but ok otherwise.
So anyway, this morning I am driving to work and what do I see getting ready to cross Lake Otis? A moose. And this moose looks suspiciously like the one from last night. So I and all the other cars slow down, and he crosses right in front of me. I have been keeping my camera with me during the day but it happened so fast that I wasn't able to snap a photo.
It was an adolescent, but still huge -- and while the car in front of me stopped and swerved off to the right, I didn't see the moose in the dark until the last second. Thankfully I had enough time to drive out of the way and the moose ran off into somebody's yard. Those close calls make me nervous because I've seen first hand what a moose can do to a vehicle -- they can demolish the front end of a full size truck! And a moose ran in front of my mom's car years back, just absolutely crushing the windshield and bending in the frame. She was fine -- freaked out -- but ok otherwise.
So anyway, this morning I am driving to work and what do I see getting ready to cross Lake Otis? A moose. And this moose looks suspiciously like the one from last night. So I and all the other cars slow down, and he crosses right in front of me. I have been keeping my camera with me during the day but it happened so fast that I wasn't able to snap a photo.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Bad valentine
Saw this on msnbc.com -- hackers are attempting to infect computers through Valentine's Day e-cards. Just reinforces the fact that we should not open emails from unknown sources.
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