August 15, 2008
July 14, 2008
Otters, impressionists & naked cyclers: A weekend indeed.
If this weekend was an essay, it would get an A+.
On Saturday, Zack and I got up early and went to the Seattle Aquarium, where we oohed and awed over strange fish, cute seals and even cuter otters. From there, we went to the Seattle Art Museum to see the “Inspiring Impressionism” exhibit. Really engaging. I enjoyed how the exhibit called out the influences by not only comparing motifs, but, in many cases, the actual paintings. You could see the influencing painting and the Impressionist adaptation side-by-side.
Heading back to the apartment, we were about to cross Pike only to be stopped at the curb by a group of about 40-50 naked bicyclists riding through the intersection. Apparently, it was World Naked Bicycle Ride Day.
After the group of nude bicyclers passed, a tourist in front of us turned around and was scanning everyone’s faces, with a look that clearly asked, “Did any of you see what I just saw?” He looked at me with a chagrined smile, “Seattle, huh? Seattle.”
Sunday was also quite nice, sans nude cyclists. We bought our final coffee at the Denny Vivace location (Goodbye bricks). We rambled around Georgetown at the Art & Garden Walk. And then Zack took a reluctant and protesting me to Elliot Bay Books. . . where I then preceded to enact my revenge by staying longer than he wanted and buying three books (The Shock Doctrine, The Autograph Man and The Thin Place).
Hooray for summer weekends that nearly make up for missing the SP 20 Festival.
June 30, 2008
Summer and Kierkegaard
Every summer—it never fails.
For the past four years, I’ve set-out to spend a summer getting through Søren Kierkegaard’s Works of Love. I’m not completely sure why I’ve associated it with summer. Probably in part because I purchased it on a whim right before a road trip with Jessica, so now it’s forever associated with basking in the heat of the eastern Washington sun along the shore of Lake Chelan.
But while I’ve always started the book nearly each summer since then, I’ve never quite made it through to the end. It’s not that I’ve not been engaged by what I’ve read. It’s just that, somehow, I’ve lacked the stick-to-itiveness necessary for this 384-page tome.
So once again it’s summer and my thoughts turn to as yet still un-read Works of Love. Except this summer, I’m determined, even hell-bent, to finish the thing.
My resolution begins tomorrow, July 1. I’ll be tracking my progress via blog—more stream-of-consciousness thoughts and musings to come as I aim to truly and finally read Works of Love.
June 21, 2008
June 20, 2008
HyperMiling-my new obsession.
It should be of no surprise to most who know me that I’m ever so slightly obsessive compulsive (though my siblings just prosaically described such character traits as “bossy” and “controlling”).
But after listening to an NPR spot last week about “hypermilers” (along with the fact that Seattle traffic sucks) I’ve been inspired to new heights.
Though I haven’t gone so far as to drive without my shoe (a technique some hypermilers recommend in order to better control acceleration), I have begun incorporating a few new techniques into my driving to save on gas. And I must say it’s become something of a pleasant obsession.
~ On long hills, I shift into neutral. It’s amazing how far you can go with a little gravity.
~ When I’m on the freeway, I no longer ride with the windows down. It’s cooled fan air for me (or AC, which is apparently better on gas mileage than lowered windows when you’re at highway speeds).
~ In stop and go traffic, I let up on the gas and try to coast—reducing the number of times I actually have to brake.
~ At long traffic lights or bridge stops, I turn off my car to avoid idling.
~ When I can, I find parking spots where I can pull directly out, since reversing is also a gas waster.
~But the biggest change—and the hardest—has been trying to maintain my speed around 55 or 60 (usually 60). Apparently for every 5 mph above 55, you can lose as much as 10% of your fuel economy.
And, yes, I get in the slow lane when I’m in 70mph zones.
June 16, 2008
In praise of sun, sloth and movement.
This weekend was a perfect blend of activity and slothfulness.
On Saturday, Zack and I stayed at home with Ichy, lazing, cleaning, playing games, reading—all while enjoying the good weather from the comfort of our living room.
Our only excursion was to go get ingredients for dinner, though we had to do that twice, since the Trader Joe’s tomato sauce was defective, refused to open and had to be exhanged for a new one before we could get on with the business of dinner-making.
By contrast, Sunday was filled with doing. Up at 7:45 to run (for me, it was the first time in nearly two months). Breakfast at Dahlia Bakery. Downtown wandering. Lupper at Whole Foods Café. Bocce ball at Gas Works Park. Reading throughout the evening. Nearly all transport services courtesy of SLU Streetcar.
In a word–lovely.
June 12, 2008
Standing in the way of control
A soundtrack. In a movie or at a party it’s about a carefully crafted selection of songs that lends a cohesive mood. I get that.
But I find it fascinating that soundtracks can develop more organically. Days themselves build their own soundtrack. Today for instance, I’ve given no thought to what I’ve listened to, just picking one song after another. But now at 3:18, reflecting on much of what I’ve listened to, the collective mood is a pretty accurate gauge of my emotions.
And, I’d say I’m a little angsty, but agreeably wallowing.
Here’s a sampling (of the music, not the wallowing):
Modest Mouse – Never Ending Math Equation
The Knife – Silent Shout
LCD Soundsystem – Time to Get Away
Le Tigre - Deceptacon
The Gossip – Standing in the Way of Control
Yeah Yeah Yeah – Gold Lion
The New Pornographers – All the Things that Go to Make Heaven and Earth
June 8, 2008
In miniature
Zack: “Don’t kiss my head!”
Amber: “Why not?”
Zack: “I put two clumps of cat fur in my hair.”
Amber: “Why did you do that?”
Zack: “I wanted to see what I would look like with gray hair.”
May 29, 2008
I like this
“When you use words, you’re able to keep your mind alive. Writing is my way of reaffirming my own existence.”
–Gao Xingjian, French/Chinese Writer
May 3, 2008
May 3, 2008: A review
- After five full days of congestion, coughing, and struggling to breathe, Amber started to feel human again–in that she is staying awake for longer than 5 minutes consecutively and the Sudafed-induced hallucinations have ceased.
- Zack and Amber gained 10 new comics courtesy of Free Comic Book Day.
- Ichabod celebrated his 2nd birthday. (To commemorate, watch last year’s celebration.)
- The (truly) environmentally-friendly, sustainable, design-outside-the-(big)box lifestyle apparel company, Nau (based in Portland, OR), announced today that they no longer had enough venture capital to remain open, and so today was the last day in operation, though the remainder of merchandise is still available online at a 50% discount.
