Wine and Barbed Wire

New jams are live!

2009-02-01T16:39:00.000-08:00

Three new jams are now available in my Etsy store. Hooray!

Additionally, I've also opened up a store on Artfire so if you'd rather shop my goods there, please do.

Update...

2009-01-30T10:16:00.000-08:00

Due to unfortunate technical difficulties, I wasn't able to post the new jams last night. However, there is a new plan, and I'm crossing my fingers that they'll go online this evening... Stay tuned!

Jam alert!

2009-01-29T09:51:00.000-08:00

Tonight in my Etsy store some rad new products go online! Check out my latest and greatest:

Strawberry Kick Jam - balsamic vinegar, reduced to bring out its sweetness, combined with local Washington strawberries and honey for a super rad jar of yum!
Holy Cranberry Jam - tart cranberries and sweet Anjou pears cooked with ginger and cinnamon for a tangy topping.
Gone Bananas Jam - organic bananas and lemons, lemons, lemons! This is a sweet (literally) dessert-type jam and it's uber-bananalicious!

Stay tuned for these and more delish treats!

Oh!

2009-01-19T16:48:00.001-08:00

Having trouble keeping up with your spice collection? Have you been repurposing non-spice jars, refilling commercial containers, or just plain can't remember what you bought when and when it should be tossed out?

Hoo boy, do I have a solution for you... Check out these printable labels from Craft Leftovers, and get out your crayons and colored pencils!

Spice Jar Labels

Jam for sale!

2009-01-19T12:24:00.000-08:00

Today, I have the express pleasure of sharing some exciting news with you... I've opened my Etsy store! I'm starting small, with just a few jars of jelly and mustard, but the inventory will expand soon. Check it out!

Catzia's Jam Session

Accomplished, she is.

2009-01-10T14:41:00.000-08:00

My last post was written just a few days after I began my last semester of college. I'm really sorry that it's been so long. Now that the quarter is over, I finally have a little time to share with you all about the experience.

For those of you still playing along at home, I graduated in December. That pesky unfinished goal is no longer, and a brand spankin' new B.A. is mine, courtesy the University of WA and my pocketbook.

For starters, some of you probably are probably dying to shoot off that age-old college pick-up line in my direction. You know, "What's your major?" Hold on to your chair. My degree is in Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences with a concentration in Ethnic, Gender and Labor Studies. Essentially, I studied social justice and injustice through the ages, with a particular focus on work-related issues and racism. These issues are so close to my heart, as you know, and it was really a pleasure to devote so much time and energy to studying not only the history of these issues, but also to help explore possible solutions.

So, there you have the basic foundation of what I've been up to, but in order to fully appreciate the scope and scale of my studies, there's something else you should know. In a system based on the 10-week quarter and 12 credits equated to "full-time" status, I was working on 21 credits (and holding down a near-40hr/wk job too). Sounds like a handful, eh? It was. But wait, there's more.

A chunk of my credits came from a research assistantship to Dr. Michael Honey. He's a founding faculty member of the campus I attended (Tacoma) and a published author several times over. In addition to continuing research, he's active in local and national efforts toward social justice. He did, shall I say, keep me rather busy with my research as well as acting as TA for a course on the history of black labor in America.

I'm exhausted. Please stay tuned for further recounting!

Today's "Already Did" List

2008-10-02T11:27:00.000-07:00

Ok, so it's not even noon yet and I've accomplished the following amazing feats:

- hemmed a pair of pants (and wearing them now)
- left the house without coffeeing up (oh, sweet regret)
- gave advice on healing fractured ribs (owie owie owie)
- terminated and unterminated two employees (uhh, oops)

What a life.

Life is like a root canal (sometimes)

2008-09-24T10:58:00.000-07:00

The other day, a friend of mine likened the difficult times in life to a root canal.

She said, "It's exactly the same, if you think about it."

And I said, "How... exactly?"

She pointed out the following interesting similarities, and the more I think about what she said, the more I know that her assessment is right on the money.

A root canal...
- starts with intensely painful symptoms
- will be more painful before the procedure is over
- is more expensive than you thought it would be
- cannot be avoided and cannot be postponed, lest things get worse
- may require narcotics (and/or other numbing substances) to endure

From here, it's easy to extrapolate a viewpoint wherein the emotional messes of life can be lumped into the same category as dental procedures. I can see where each point on her list is not just valid but truly true, in the deepest sense of trueness. And I've accepted that, despite the difficulty.

Life is full of difficult things, like root canals. It's also full of wonderful things, like friends who use dentistry to comfort you in times of distress. I've never had a root canal (knock wood) but I've got tons of friends who care enough to draw these wild similes and make me smile.

Dear patient readers,

2008-09-17T09:53:00.000-07:00

My sinus cavity is a mess. My histamine blocker is not blocking. I'm a sniffly, sneezy, itchy-nosed, watery-eyed bundle of tired.

Thus, very little is getting done on the school/blog front. I hope to recover quickly, and rejoin the world in some sort of human-like fashion.

The Plan

2008-09-12T10:07:00.000-07:00

What am I doing here?

We've all asked the question, I'm sure. I ask myself frequently, but for the purposes of this conversation, I'm not asking about my place in the universe, my reason for living, or anything quite that esoteric. What am I doing here, with this blog?

The idea is to document, explore and reflect on my very last quarter as a college student. In two weeks from yesterday, I will take on the last chapter of the challenge I issued to myself oh-so-many years ago. In this, my last 10 grueling weeks, I face the challenge of not just completing but blowing out of the water a full 21 credit load. (Note: 12 credits is considered full time. On my campus, most full timers are enrolled for 3 courses, totaling 15 credits. So there.)

I'll use my remaining two weeks of "freedom" to get a jump on things. I'll be reading and writing, and generally doing everything I can to lessen the shock of this huge workload. During these two weeks, I'll check in and share what I'm up to. Once the quarter begins on September 24, my intent is to post two or three entries a week for the duration of the quarter. I'll share some details of what I'm working on, reflections on my final courses, and a little bit of my thoughts for the future.

My entries are likely to range widely in frequency, length, content and style. Think of this project as something akin to a box of Cracker Jacks. It will always contain a prize, but none of us know beforehand what that prize might be.

That said, I encourage you to visit often and share with your friends.

Be well.

Turning the page...

2008-09-10T17:58:00.000-07:00

I'm not leading a double life. I'm leading a triple life.

I always wanted to be able to say that. But as with most things we wish for, I didn't really understand what I was getting myself into.

In one of my three lives, I am the dutiful cog in the machine of a large investment firm. It's not exactly representative of my life's hopes and dreams, but it's close to home and affords me a myriad of benefits that I suddenly can't imagine living without. And perhaps most importantly, it enables me to partake in the second of my triad of lives.

My second life consists of wide-eyed dreaming, unchecked curiosity and debate in the vast universe of academe. By my calculation, I've spent more time inside the classroom walls than asleep in bed, and far more time than in any other avenue of my life. Being an adult student, though, gets you thinking not only about the staggering number of hours you spend at school, but also the enormous costs-- both financial and emotional-- that come with the status of "nontraditional student."

Among the costs is the immeasurable impact on my third life-- the as-yet private one. In this life, I am a poet and a would-be collage artist. I'm a chef and an author. I take care of animals and they, more often than not, take care of me in return. This private life is not the one I intend to unfold before you, although hints and glimpses are sure to show through from time to time. All I can ask is that you, dear reader, be kind with your consideration of what is and should remain a quiet affair.

My initial intent-- my impulse here, my experiment-- is what I will share more about in my next entry.

This says it all.

2008-09-10T17:21:00.001-07:00

100 Things you should eat

2008-08-29T08:37:00.000-07:00

Very Good Taste, a UK website, published and made famous the Omnivore's Hundred. It's a list of the 100 things every omnivore should eat in their lifetime. I heard about it a while back, but not being an omnivore in any sense of the world, it didn't pique my interest.

Now, Hannah at Bittersweet has published the Vegan's Hundred list, and I'm in.

In true meme style, I've decided to post the list below and make some indications for my dear readers. In bold are the items I've already eaten. I've ~~crossed out~~ the things I would never consider putting in my mouth.

I absolutely encourage all of you, vegans and omnivores alike, to check out these lists and consider posting this as a meme yourself.

*Note that this list does not contain exclusively vegan items, but many items that can be "veganized." I reserved the right to argue that some things should NEVER be veganized.

*Note2: I've retained many of the links that Hannah used in her original post, so if you're not sure what a certain item is, just clicky-clicky and you'll have the answer.

Without further delay, the list:

1. Natto
2. Green Smoothie
3. Tofu Scramble
4. ~~Haggis~~
5. Mangosteen
6. Creme brulee
7. Fondue
8. ~~Marmite/Vegemite~~
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Nachos
12. Authentic soba noodles
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. ~~Taco from a street cart~~
16. ~~Boba Tea~~
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Gyoza
20. Vanilla ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. ~~Ceviche~~
24. Rice and beans
25. ~~Knish~~
26. ~~Raw scotch bonnet pepper~~
27. Dulce de leche
28. ~~Caviar~~
29. Baklava
30. Pate
31. Wasabi peas
32. Chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Mango lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Mulled cider
37. Scones with buttery spread and jam
38. Vodka jelly
39. Gumbo
40. Fast food french fries
41. Raw Brownies
42. Fresh Garbanzo Beans
43. Dahl
44. Homemade Soymilk
45. Wine from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Stroopwafle
47. Samosas
48. Vegetable Sushi
49. Glazed doughnut
50. Seaweed
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Tofurkey
54. Sheese
55. Cotton candy
56. Gnocchi
57. Piña colada
58. Birch beer
59. ~~Scrapple~~
60. Carob chips
61. S'mores
62. Soy curls
63. Chickpea cutlets
64. Curry
65. ~~Durian~~
66. Homemade Sausages
67. Churros, elephant ears, or funnel cake
68. Smoked tofu
69. Fried plantain
70. Mochi
71. Gazpacho
72. Warm chocolate chip cookies
73. Absinthe
74. Corn on the cob
75. Whipped cream, straight from the can
76. Pomegranate
77. Fauxstess Cupcake
78. Mashed potatoes with gravy
79. Jerky
80. Croissants
81. French onion soup
82. Savory crepes
83. Tings
84. A meal at Candle 79
85. Moussaka
86. Sprouted grains or seeds
87. Macaroni and "cheese"
88. Flowers
89. Matzoh ball soup
90. White chocolate
91. Seitan
92. Kimchi
93. Butterscotch chips
94. ~~Yellow watermelon~~
95. ~~Chili with chocolate~~
96. Bagel and Tofutti
97. Potato milk
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Raw cookie dough

Today's "Already Done" List

2008-08-27T12:20:00.001-07:00

So far today, I have accomplished the following:

-contemplated metal babies
-misplaced my phone in my office
-carried a 40lb box of papers around when I didn't have to
-cut my thumb
-broke a stapler (it's not even a Swingline)
-gotten the lyrics to "Love Shack" stuck in my head
-envied a man who works 4 hours a week and makes more money than I do

And it's barely past noon... wtf.

Through the canyon

2008-03-27T14:12:00.000-07:00

Last week, I spent several days hiking through the Needles district of Canyonlands National Park in Utah. It was hot (clear, sunny, 70+ degrees) and wide open, as one expects the desert to be. This was my first backpacking trip in the desert, and probably the last. I'm not built for it. But while I was there, I saw some spectacular views, listened intently to the deafening silence, and breathed deeply enough to clear out any bad juju I had been carrying along with me until then.

One foot in front of the other is the best form of therapy for a gal like me. It's my chance to step outside the words, structured sentences, carefully constructed paragraphs and meticulously placed semi-colons. I step one foot and then the other outside each syllable, and replace it with something a little more... organic. I find something uniquely comforting about the deep reflection that comes when words are set aside. I didn't go to the desert to think. I went into the desert to be.

Far from home, I often find myself. It's the journey back that is the most difficult, as exhaustion sets in and I sometimes feel overcome by the urgency to return to the rest of the life I left behind. But, it's all my life. It's all my life, and most days I'm glad to set foot in any part of it.

This complicated world in which we live

2008-02-19T14:37:00.000-08:00

Warning: Political and legal discussion to commence in T-minus 3, 2, 1...

I'm currently involved in a multi-faceted debate about national security, constitutional law, executive prerogative, torture, and the like. It's been raging for weeks, and today's edition was particularly thought-inducing and troubling. Today, I face the unanswerable question that has robbed me of sleep many a night.

Is it better to set up guidelines to deal with the "lesser evils" currently carried out by the administration, the military, et al or... is it better to stick to your guns, apply Utopian principles to our legislative processes, and hope that the damage can be reversed?

If these questions plague you as they do me, I'd love to suggest some arguments for you to read. However, "most" Americans (and likely most citizens of the greater world community) shy away from these topics at first mention. Isn't that precisely why we elect representatives to our state and federal governments? So we, the people, do not have to dirty our hands with such matters? Yes, I believe that's exactly the response many would submit. Regardless of that claim, I still have to contend that it should be different.

People (ahem, Americans) are far too eager to shift responsibility to someone else - whether that party is correct or not, regardless of their relative lawfulness, and often irrespective of whether the resulting action or policy reflects anything that resembles what the electorate, the people, wanted in the first place. Too much power is given away, and too often the structure of our representative democracy is falsely blamed.

The presidential election campaigns are upon us, and this is no time to forget our responsibilities as citizens of this liberal democracy. It's not our job to pass the buck to our elected officials, at any level, and turn a blind eye to the impact on the rest of the world. Quite the opposite, our responsibility is to keep those officials in check at every step, inasmuch as we can, and to limit their abilities to act outside of the boundaries of U.S. law, human rights, and common decency.

Moving forward, I hope that we can all observe what happens closely and carefully. A keen eye to the past is essential as well. There's no excuse for inaction at this point in the game, and no mercy left for those who opt not to play.

You

2008-02-03T21:50:00.000-08:00

You are the insanity I crave...

and you bloody well know who you are.

You probably didn't know...

2008-01-27T12:27:00.000-08:00

My toenails are always painted red or black. I rarely paint my fingernails because it makes me feel like I have something stuck on my fingertips.

I'm desperately addicted to coffee, but I drink herbal tea all day long. I prefer to wear men's shoes over women's. They don't squish my toes.

I hate makeup but I always wear eyeliner.

Even though I live alone, there is enough food in my house to feed an army for several weeks. I miss the Waffle House. It's incredibly difficult for me to leave the house without something on both wrists (bracelet, watch, bandanna, I'm not picky).

I don't think I've ever been comfortable for more than an hour.

I like to drink Kahlua and cranberry juice in the same cup. I love death metal music. Sometimes I think I should have joined the circus when I had a chance. I've recently developed a strange adoration of 'chick rock.'

Now it's your turn.

This post idea was shamelessly stolen from This Fish.

It'll be a cold day in hell...

2008-01-26T12:34:00.001-08:00

...when it all makes sense.

I'm sure of it. The terrible thing is that it does make sense to me. I'm fine. I'm feeling rational, comfortable, even sane despite the chaos.

My poor brain, as with my calendar, is overflowing. I'm working on a number of interesting projects right now, not the least of which is myself. I wish I was in any condition to offer a progress report, but I haven't even set my objectives. My "one day at a time" philosophy works for me, but seems to be troublesome when I actually decide to interact with others. "Doesn't play well with others" perhaps? Could be.

Bwahahahaa!

2008-01-13T18:29:00.000-08:00

If there was ever a question about the ridiculous nature of our government agencies, this article oughta take care of it.

It can't all be wedding cake.

2008-01-07T12:28:00.000-08:00

It's true what they say.

It really can't all be wedding cake. But there's a perfectly good explanation for it. If you're tempted to question my position, I'll hope you'll hang in for just a moment until you've heard it all.

Here goes.

She's so beautiful,
I can hardly stand it.
It's nearly painful.
The softness of her nature impresses me.
I think I'm jealous.
She loves so deeply and so hard--
it feels like a movie.
The lights are on.
She's got eyes like a hurricane
and hands like pudding.
My attention is diverted.
She's not mine.

It really can't all be wedding cake. There's got to be mud and rocks, and ice and rain, and can openers and socks. But it's all the same. The mud and the cake. It's all the same.

I'm shrinking, maybe?

2008-01-06T14:02:00.000-08:00

I've never been one of those gals who obsessed over her weight, was addicted to deadly diet fads, or who spends hours scrutinizing her body in the mirror. I don't "watch what I eat" or "count calories" or keep a food journal. My vegan diet pretty much keeps me out of the danger zone where that's concerned. In fact, I've been pretty comfortable in my own skin for as long as I can remember. I'm no super model, but I'm healthy and active and what more could I really want, right?

So, it comes as a big surprise to me today when I slipped on my brand new pair of corduroy pants. I tried them on at the store before making my purchase last week, and I was surprised at that time to find that I was walking out with a size smaller than my "usual" size. At the time, I assumed it must be one of those quirky manufacturer things. All the women out there know exactly what I mean. Size 8 from one company equals Size 14 from another. It's really a mystery where they come up with these numbers!

At any rate, my one-size-smaller pants are fitting so loosely today that I will definitely require a belt before venturing out in public. They're big at the waist and even a little loose through the hip area (where I don't have much "going on"). I am officially perplexed.

If I've lost weight, I hadn't noticed. I don't own a scale to confirm or deny this theory. So, the mystery will persist. I think a more likely explanation is that I must have, somehow, stumbled upon the cousin of the infamous Traveling Pants. This is obviously the pair they opted not to make a film about, and I can see why. It's difficult to be inspiring when your drawers are falling down.

Do you ever feel...?

2007-12-30T21:27:00.000-08:00

...like you have just *lost* your *damn mind*? Ever wonder if the most wonderful thing may just have been poison in disguise? Do you ever think that your best judgment isn't worth its weight after all?

I feel these things. I wonder these things. I think these things.

I'm restless in my own head today. It's been coming on for a few days but came to a head shortly after waking this morning. I don't think it's a "wrong side of the bed" thing, but I suppose there's room for me to be wrong. That's what this day has really been all about, in retrospect.

I tried a few of the usual things to settle my mind. I skipped the news, I had some tea, I went for a walk. The restlessness did not fade. If anything, as the day passed, it grew stronger. I preoccupied myself by worrying about others. I waited to hear from a dear faraway friend, but didn't. I wonder if she's out there, if things are really ok. I busied myself with mundane tasks, to no avail.

I even tried to drown it. It turns out, it can swim.

Seattle no longer the most literate U.S. city

2007-12-28T12:21:00.000-08:00

Maybe we're too busy at the coffee shop or shopping at REI. Or perhaps we Seattlites just spend too much darn time in the woods. Whatever the case, Seattle has fallen from the #1 slot among the rankings of most literate U.S. cities.

The details of the study are really interesting, in my personal lit-head opinion. For instance, did you know that Seattle, Minneapolis (our current #1), Denver, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C., have all been in the top 5 since the first study in 2003?

All you Clevelanders out there will be interested to hear that the study ranked C-town highest for library resources. Cleveland ranked a fairly respectable #13 in the overall scoring.

For a look back over previous years, including commentary on what has changed and why, you must clicky-click right here.

School's out for this guy...

2007-12-28T10:52:00.001-08:00

Hmmm.... maybe I should be playing the lottery instead of paying my tuition bills like a good little school girl...

Panties for Peace

2007-12-24T20:45:00.000-08:00

Heard about what's happening in Burma (aka Myan Mar)? The unchecked power of the military regime there is not new, so activists are getting creative. Really creative. If you've been looking for a new and interesting way to act globally, here it is. Send your panties to Burma. For peace.

Why underwear? Good question.

For starters, the junta has perpetrated countless crimes against women, such as rape, as a large part of their war strategy. The Panties for Peace campaign, which is largely unorganized, is a way for women around the world to express their outrage to the Burmese embassies.

Additionally, according to Burmanet.org, Burma's superstitious generals believe that contact with any item of women's wear actually deprives them of their power. I knew the right pair of undies had a mighty powerful effect on a man, but I had no idea!

So, get on board, ladies. Ship your panties to your favorite Burmese embassy. It's for a good cause.

Postcards from the edge

2007-12-22T11:01:00.000-08:00

Do you remember when you were young, in grade school perhaps, and your class wrote letters to students in your sister school in Russia or China or Germany? Do you remember the excitement of holding on to a little piece of someone else's life? Someone you would never meet? Someone half a world away?

Well, I do. And I miss it, dammit.

It's not that my same-hemisphere acquaintances aren't enough, no. There's just something really special about getting connected in a very small but real way to someone way out there.

The internet is not our only hope. Of course, it helps, but there's a tangible method that I'm about to try. Postcrossing is a free online service that acts as a postcard matchmaker. Basically, you register and request an address - of another Postcrossing member. You get their address and a special ID code and off your postcard goes in the mail. When they receive it, they log in and tell the system, and then you're next in line to receive your own postcard. Lather, rinse, repeat.

I'm testing it out ASAP, so stay tuned for a full report. :)

Things to do in Denver when you're dead...

2007-12-18T20:28:00.000-08:00

Well, I haven't been dead, but now I've been to Denver. And not just DIA either!

This afternoon, I crash landed (metaphorically, of course) back at SEA and I could swear that my heart whimpered just a little bit when I looked out of that ovalish airplane window and saw the grey-white sky and sideways rain once again. I'm missing that big midwestern sky already.

As with every trip I've been on, anywhere, it's good to be home. It's nice to know where everything is, to be greeted by affectionate furry faces, and to sleep in your own bed again. It's comforting to have a seemingly endless supply of clean clothes, and to be able to drink right out of the carton without feeling self-conscious. It's good to be home, but my travel lust is hardly sated. In fact, it's sparked up all anew all over again, just like I knew it would.

I've promised a post or three to some special people I know, and if you're out there now, I want you to know that I haven't forgotten. I'll be playing catch up for the next few days as I slowly readopt this "reality" thing, but you're on my mind. Stay tuned.

Peace, friends.

Avoidance

2007-08-14T08:24:00.000-07:00

I've managed not to post for over a week, and I'm so terribly sorry for that, my friends. As free time is lacking in the present, here's the quickest of quick recaps to bring you up to speed...

- My family was in town for a few days. That was exhausting, but fun. We did all the must-see tourist stops, plus Rainier, and I need a long nap to recover. Pictures may follow.
- More major changes are ahead in the workplace. They don't directly impact me, but they do make the ground tremble not to far from me. I'm keeping an eye out.
- Getting to know new people is damn fun, and I should do it more often.

That's all for now!

Sounds like SOMEone's got a case of the Mondays...

2007-08-06T16:13:00.000-07:00

Oh, boo hoo. Get over it, already. Once every seven days, the demon lord inflicts upon us these 24 hours of hell (edited for programming, of course). It's a grain of sand, really, in the grand scheme of it all.

It's been this way since the virtual beginnings of our collective memory. Transforming it into a cliche or a joke does not begin to detract from its vile nature, and yet we persist. No matter what sort of sugary sweets you gorge on, it's not getting any better. (And, the rear-view tells me that it hasn't been working for a long time...) You know who you are. I love you all anyway, but oh-my-god.

WTF, I say to you dear friends. W.T.F.

It's all in the orientation...

2007-08-03T20:29:00.000-07:00

I spent the week in a room with nearly 20 salespeople. Well, that's not quite true. Actually, it was 4 days and one very long evening.

A few years ago, I would have run screaming at the mere idea of that. Things are different now.

Without going into too much boring detail, I will say that I was pleased to have the chance to get to know some strangers and to be able to call a few of them friends now. My world is so often wrapped up in busy-ness and obligation that socialization is frequently sacrificed in favor of things like sleep and food. I am forever in search of the balance between the two -- between my work and my soul, my chores and my desire. In a lot of ways, I have it better than most in that I love what I do on a very deep level. Spending time with other folks who feel the same way, but perhaps for different reasons, was a really interesting way to spend the week.

I'll be interested to see what happens next.

holy stuff i shouldn't need batman!

2007-07-27T20:19:00.000-07:00

Just check this out.

I want one. Soooooo bad. I can't even tell you why.

Photographic accidents, errands and ink

2007-07-27T16:44:00.000-07:00

All of a sudden, I can make miracles with my digital camera. Or, it was just one big happy accident. See evidence here, as demonstrated by this lovely shot of me and and my little Luna(tic). Today was productive and eventful. It's a day off, and yet many house chores were completed, errands were run, and 2+ hours of tattooing crossed off the list. My bad kitty piece is nearing completion, and shaping up nicely. Sorry kids, no photos at this time... stay tuned... :)

Head pain

2007-07-24T16:09:00.001-07:00

My head is literally splitting. I could die.

Adventures in gastronomy (is that a word?)

2007-07-23T20:35:00.000-07:00

After braving the post-accident traffic yesterday, I spent the afternoon with my brother, sister-in-law, and 10-year-old nephew at Bite of Seattle. It was excruciatingly entertaining to watch my brother and nephew try to fill their tummies with all sorts of goodies. Our first stop was the Louisiana BBQ pit for alligator on a stick. Perfectly disgusting. Unfortunately, taking photos was an after thought so I can't show you just how vile it looked. Trust me, it was putrid.

I, of course, passed on the alligator and held out for a more veggie-ful meal, which I did find at Inchin's Bamboo Garden. They're in Redmond, WA, for anyone who wants to know and I definitely recommend them to anyone who loves fresh, home-made Indochinese cuisine. I chatted briefly with one of the owners on-site and learned that the vast majority of their dishes with a vegetarian designation are actually vegan. They don't even use egg in their fried rice. Purrrrrfect.

We (the SIL and I) spent most of the rest of the afternoon following the boys around while they alternated lunch items with dessert items and back again. We did take them up on their offer to share some chocolate dipped strawberries and pineapple though. Messy, but yummy. A little extra sugar on a humid summer day in a crowd full of smelly strangers goes a long way toward making the day more tolerable.

Also of note, I think I caught a glimpse of an old friend of mine in the crowd. I could be mistaken, though. It all happened so fast. If you think it was you, let me know.

I also had a lovely time being licked to death by my brother's overbearing Irish Setter, Lucy. She's a sweet dog and very sharp, but is too prone to flailing about with her spindly limbs for my taste. Pictures of the dog may follow in a later post.

It's nice just to be alive

2007-07-23T18:22:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I spent over two hours idling in traffic. The interstate was closed due to an earlier accident. It was this one. At the time, all I knew was that there had been an accident. Less than a mile from the accident site, I hadn't seen a single emergency vehicle, but traffic on a 4-lane highway doesn't back up for miles over nothing. We all knew someone had died. I was sad for that unknown person, and quietly grateful not to have been personally involved.

Many of the strangers around me were losing their minds. I watched in virtual horror as a woman on a cell phone got out of her Lexus and walked to the car behind her, to scream and curse at the other driver. To Driver #2's credit, she ignored the irate woman yelling at her through the rolled up window. After the first hour, I estimate that I had traveled less than a quarter-mile. Impatient drivers had started driving in the paved right shoulder. It wasn't long before some brave/stupid souls built a further right lane on the sloped grass. All I could do was shake my head and wait.

The authorities had been diverting traffic off the interstate for approximately 4 hours by the time I arrived close to the accident scene. Just that moment, they opened up 2 of the 4 lanes and allowed us to pass. As I drove past the accident scene, I was impressed to see that all of the vehicles involved had been removed, as well as most of the debris. What remained were char marks and a large reddish brown area on the pavement. We all knew what that meant as well. Again, gratitude swept over me. It was all I could do to avoid becoming an accident victim myself as my fellow drivers sped and swerved in order to make up for lost time. All I could do was take a deep breath, and drive more carefully than I had driven in a very long time...

TrailsFest decompression

2007-07-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

Saturday was one wicked long day. The 4 members of Trail Divas manned the booth at the North Bend TrailsFest. For a while during setup, it looked like the rain gods were going to be laughing at us all day long. Amazingly, the skies cleared just before the Fest opened to the public and the weather was pretty decent for the remainder of the day. Until, of course, it was time to pack up and go home. :)

Overall, it was a fantastic day. We met a lot of enthusiastic outdoor lovers, old school gear whores and a lot of women who were eager to break out onto the trail with fellow female hiker types. Like us! If you're one of those ladies in the Pacific Northwest area, visit Trail Divas and sign up for our new e-newsletter for upcoming hike information!

We were able to share a lot of great outdoor gear and information with our guests at the booth. The Freezer Bag Cooking book sold very well, and Sarah (the author) was extremely proud. I heard that her cooking demonstration was also a BIG hit - even the event organizers said that it had the highest turnout they had seen for one demonstration. Awesome!

The Divas look forward to visiting TrailsFest again in 2008, so mark your calendars and don't miss it!

Comics, trails, raindrops, and whiskers on kittens

2007-07-20T17:13:00.000-07:00

Four Stories is a teeny comic anthology. It arrived in my mailbox today, and I am uber-excited to tear into it. It was published by my dear friend Chris Arrant, who has been in the self-publishing biz since before it was a biz. For him, at least. This little book is a lot slicker than the 'zines from the old days, and I promised Chris that I would give it a thorough (and public) review in honor of its 1-year anniversary if he tossed a copy my way. I always keep my promises to Chris, so stay tuned in the upcoming days for my thoughtful commentary.

Also of note:
If you are in the greater Seattle area tomorrow (Saturday July 21) and you are the least bit outdoors-inclined, you MUST visit TrailsFest in North Bend, WA. I will be there hocking wares for FreezerBagCooking.com with my fellow Trail Divas. Stop by and say aloha!

Also also of note:
It's been raining A LOT for the last two days. I adore it, strangely. We haven't had much rain this summer, and this is a big relief after the heat wave that just came through. I'm feeling like a little rain is good to cleanse the soul, and it makes me remember this one time (not at band camp) at a party or something way back in the day when I danced in the rain with a skinny blond friend of mine who is now married to my prom date. What a strange world we live in.

Also also also of note:
If you have indoor cats with claws and you desire to keep your furniture intact, travel immediately to your nearest pet supply story and invest in an iScratch system. I just brought one home for my adorable feisty beasts, and they are LOVING it. I will give a more detailed report in a few days after I am fully convinced of its awesomeness.

Hot summer nights...

2007-07-16T20:30:00.001-07:00

Thank goddess for popsicles! Especially yummy home-made ones!

Hooray for cancellations!

2007-07-15T22:04:00.000-07:00

My appointment has been moved up.

Tuesday afternoon... inkage! Ground control, please commence with the countdown......

To him, in the sand

2007-07-15T18:01:00.000-07:00

It's really no wonder
that you spin circles around me
after all these years,
spider that you are.

I'm not surprised at all
that it's taken this long
to get back to where we started,
sober and scared.

This wavelength is so much a mess,
and so much a part of me.
This story is so much stranger
than fiction.

The grandkids will be amused.

A Letter to My Readers

2007-07-15T09:18:00.000-07:00

Dear Bloggeratti,

I'm so sorry to tell you that I've been away because this summer heat wave has eaten my brain. I thought there might be a bit left from which to blog, but that was not the case. I have downloaded a temporary patch to run while I wait for my replacement brain, which I'm told has been back-ordered indefinitely. Unfortunately, this patch comes only with a 14-day trial so please pray to the binary gods that the supplier steps up production and fills my order post-haste.

In the meantime, I have been busy reading uncharacteristic sci-fi novels and articles about "awakening your inner warrior" through astrology. I have imbibed more coffee than one Italian Seattleite should and battled a wicked heat rash that prevented me from finishing my black cat tattoo on Friday 13th. I also got a wicked bruise on my left knee. The gods were not smiling.

There are a few other chunks of randomocity I'd like to share, so here we go...

I continue to rearrange the living room furniture until it resembles something I actually find appealing. Still in search of the perfect coffee table.

Rescheduled inkage for Monday July 23. I'm very sad to have to wait this long, but my dear artist is getting maaaaaaarried to his partner of 15 years (and mother of his 3 children) so I guess it's ok for him to take a few days off.

Trailsfest happens next Saturday July 21 and as such, I will be working as a helper (read: booth whore) for Sarah of Freezer Bag Cooking. There will be enough gorp for everyone, and then some. And there will be goats, but not in conjunction with FBC. Good times.

Stay tuned for more poignant commentary after Sunday's first cup of coffee has been consumed...

TGIomigoditsfinallyFriday

2007-07-06T21:37:00.000-07:00

So, yesterday evening, there was much tattooage. And it was good. I'm sore and sleep deprived, and it feels oh-so-good.

One of the most difficult things about getting tattooed again is not what you might think. It's not the sunburny feeling or the itchy-scaly mess than follows or any of that. It's the single solitary fact that, after coming out of an hours-long tattoo session, all I really want to do is have a smoke. But, you see, dear readers, it has been a very long time and many miles since I was a smoker. Full time, anyway. It's not that I have any desire to go back to those days. However, it should be noted that the substitutes for perfect habits are rare and, well, often expensive.

In other news, there's a hike on the agenda for tomorrow. Stay tuned to my newest blog for an inaugural report to be posted after the fact.

Happy Anniversary

2007-07-04T09:02:00.000-07:00

Meet Luna (on the left). Two short years ago today, Luna experienced something that I wish on no kitty. She escaped the house and tangled with a raccoon. She came home on July 3, 2005, with her torso torn open and severely dehydrated. After several hours in surgery, she was allowed to come home. I spent the rest of the summer delivering antibiotics, pain killers, bandages, carting her to a dozen or so vet visits (including two more surgeries), and finally, she started getting back to normal. (Anyone who is interested in the details can view gruesome photos of her recovery here.)

Today, the only evidence of Luna's near death experience are a few scars. She is still not afraid of the outdoors, much to the chagrin of her sister and myself. Luna's the bravest little kitty I know, and if I had to do the whole disgusting, expensive mess all over again, I would in a heart beat.

Next on the reading list...

2007-07-03T23:11:00.000-07:00

Sleeping in Flame by Jonathan Carroll. Not my usual genre, but seems like an interesting enough read so far. I'm practically halfway through already, so it won't be long before I'm ready to share my thoughts.

Stay tuned...

Feelin' like something the cat drug in

2007-07-02T13:25:00.000-07:00

In honor of the not-too-distant-past passing of Kurt Vonnegut, I just finished rereading Timequake.

My first encounter with this novel was shortly after it was published in 1997. The version I just read was the 1998 reprint, in which Vonnegut comments at various places in the text itself on his thoughts and reactions to the book's initial release. This reprint is endless more fascinating than the original version, and I can see why dear Mr. Vonnegut felt compelled to make this happen.

I won't comment on the plot. I will say that this book is less novel and more autobiography than many of the author's works. It's also, dare I say, more interesting than some of his more widely acclaimed books. I highly suggest this book to anyone who enjoys a surreal read, a good chuckle, and a somewhat dark and twisted outlook on the universe.

You will be mine.

2007-07-02T10:44:00.000-07:00

Oh yes, you will.

In just a few short months, your beautiful off-road machine self will be mine. And when that time comes, I promise to feed you all the mountain air and Forest Service grit you can stomach. I vow to take you out almost every weekend, to fill you up with muddy boots and rain-soaked tents, and to always wash your skidplates after we get home.

I promise to love you forever, or until your transmission breaks. I promise to change all your various fluids, and to try not to spill my soy lattes on your upholstery. I promise to take you on a vacation down the Pacific Coast Highway, and hunt the ghosts of dharma bums with you. If you promise to keep me safe from snow and ice and gravel pot holes, I will do my best to make sure that you enjoy every mile on the road.

Yours truly,
your future driver

I am terrible at this.

2007-06-30T17:51:00.001-07:00

I've neglected you, my poor blog. I'm so sorry. It's not that I don't love you dearly. I think about you practically every day. But sometimes, you need a little distance from the ones you love. Especially when being close means holding up a magnifying glass to your life. Sometimes, it just takes a little preparation before you're ready to get into all that again.

I'm on vacation now and still thinking of you. When the vacation is over, I understand that it will be time to get back to all sorts of serious work. That means you and I will be meeting again very soon.

Until then, take care, and watch out for my postcard in the mail.

Love,
the author

Oh yeah!

2007-05-24T16:21:00.000-07:00

So, on Tuesday, I met with my new best friend, I mean, my new tattoo artist. And what an incredible artist he is! I spent about two-and-a-half hours under the needles, and I am floored by the results. All I could say for hours afterward was, "Wow."

When I arrived for my appointment, I had the remnants of what had been a very good idea for a tattoo, but poorly executed and then eaten by fire ants. (Now I remember why I left Florida in such a rush all those years ago.) When I left, I felt finally like I was a walking work of art.

I won't post photos on the net, because I'm insanely protective of my art and the original concept for this tattoo has already been duplicated (in ink, on another human being) without my permission or even my advance knowledge. If you'd like to see it, send me a message and we'll chat. :) What I will say for now is that my once-neglected ghoul girl has a new perch. She is now nestled comfortably in the branches of one wicked freehand tree.

Next week, I visit the master again for another few hours of color and shading. After that session, I'll call this piece done - for now. Then, it's on to planning the next set of images...

T-minus 3 hours...

2007-05-22T10:09:00.001-07:00

...to tattoo time!

Photos to follow, for you lucky few. :)

Where you lead, I will follow...

2007-05-16T10:05:00.000-07:00

Some of you may be surprised by the contents of this post, so hold on to your seats. That will be my only disclaimer, and there won't be any apologies either.

Last night signified the end of an era. It was an era of witter banter and sharp come-backs, of vats of coffee and all-too-real relationship rollercoasters, of small town eccentrics and the struggle to figure out just who you really are. Last night, the final episode of Gilmore Girls aired. And it was good.

After seven seasons, it was time to go. Rory is all grown up now and about to embark on a life of her own (which, at 23, is about damn time). Lorelai might finally be able to work things out with Luke. The grandparents have mellowed as much as they possibly can. Christiane Amanpour even made an appearance. What else could there possibly be? Well, a cameo from Jess (Milo Ventimiglia) would have been nice, but I understand he's pretty busy with that other show. :)

I won't discuss the details of the episode for those of you who have yet to see it and would like to. All I can say is that I'm not really sure what to do with my Tuesday evenings now, although I'm sure I'll think of something. I think it will be a long time before we see another show that can come close to capturing some of the elements that the Girls accomplished.

I also have an overwhelming urge to begin a Friday Night Dinner Club campaign across the nation. The Gilmore tradition of movie marathons with pizza and junk food pig-outs would probably kill me, so Friday night dinners are probably a better (and safer) idea. Is anyone with me?

Just one of those days...

2007-05-14T12:12:00.000-07:00

It was a morning like any other morning. After spending a restless night, tossing and turning, and trying to block out the celebratory sounds of private school graduates, the alarm sounded. I awoke sore and tired, and wrestled my way out from under the gigantic mound of fleece sheets and insulated blankets. A cat was twisted around my ankles, and she was purring. As soon as my bare feet hit the cold slats of the wood floor, I knew this day would be one of those days.

For some reason, on some days, time is infinitely warped. Although the same number of minutes was allotted to my getting-ready-ness, there was just not enough time. Everything was late. The hot water took too long, and then it was too hot. I dropped my clean towel on the not-so-clean bathroom floor. One of my contact lenses fell in the sink and got covered with toothpaste goop. There wasn't enough time to dry my hair. (Ok, I should admit that there is NEVER enough time to dry my hair, but at least some days I get close.) Breakfast was a disaster, and I walked out without ingesting my previous vitamins and supplements. And with no caffeine.

Hours later, I ponder the events of this morning and try to play a little game of "How will we improve?" I find myself at a complete and utter loss. The only suggestion I can muster includes making smithereens of the alarm clock and subsequently calling it a day. I'm still not convinced that I shouldn't do that.

I will spend various bits of the next few hours contemplating further, and working out tomorrow morning's plan in my head. For some reason, though, I know that tomorrow will not be one of those days, and for that I am eternally grateful.

My true beloved

2007-05-12T18:37:00.001-07:00

This says it all.

Something I can never be

2007-05-12T18:27:00.000-07:00

I did something today that I have not done in nearly six years. It took forever, and was thankfully not as painful as I had anticipated. It was messy, and by the time I was finished, I was completely bored and pruney. Can you guess?

I shaved my legs.

Try to contain your ghastly responses. This is not territory with which I am familiar. I have many reasons for not making this a regular practice, and I won't go into them here (that's a whole other post, eventually). For now, I will tell you about the reasons that I decided to undertake this adventure earlier this morning.

I have a tattoo on my calf. A big one. And it is not finished. So, I finally found an artist that I seem to be in-sync with, ink-wise, and made an appointment. May 22. It's circled on my calendar.

So, part of the process of getting inked requires that the area be relatively fur-free. Because leg-shaving is not a regular activity for me, I thought I should do it well in advance, and multiple times, before my tattoo appointment. Otherwise, the itchies would be overwhelming. So, today was the day.

I bought special shaving lotion (Alba Coconut Lime - highly recommended for all you regular shavers) and a brand new razor (Schick Quattro for Men - nice!). I took a nice long shower, washed thoroughly, and then spent what felt like an hour tracking down each and every little teeny brown hair on my legs. By the time I thought I was finished, my fingers were dense and wrinkled. I couldn't believe how long it took, but boy oh boy are my legs smooooooth.

After the shower and a generous lathering of Mountain Ocean Skin Trip (a.k.a. heaven in a bottle), I thought I was done. However, it wasn't long before I realized the ultimate downside of this whole endeavor. I suck at leg-shaving.

The knees were the worst. I missed most of the fuzzy goodness there, as well as strays here and there and everywhere. I couldn't believe just how bad it was. So, I set forth to attack them all, one by one, with a little game of "I'll git you sucker." After what seemed like another hour, I finally feel like I've gotten them all. Smooth and clean. Ready for ink!

I am too wired

2007-05-09T12:57:00.000-07:00

On a quick foray around the internet today, one thing has become alarmingly clear to me: I am too wired in.

I have e-mail accounts through Yahoo, Gmail, and half a dozen other indie servers, on top of my work and school accounts. I check them all regularly.

I have profile/blog pages on LiveJournal, MySpace, InkedNation, BME, LinkedIn, Biznik and probably a few more I've forgotten about by now. Although I regularly check in and read the goings-on of the lives of all my friends and acquaintances, I tend not to be very productive on my own pages. Just signing up for them, at times, can seem like some sort of addiction. Want to try the next greatest thing? Want to "start over" and create yourself anew? Want to finally do something with your time in cyberspace?

There are also a variety of IM-chatty-type services that I have been known to employ... but I won't even begin to make that list.

It's one thing to be accessible. It's another thing to be well-connected. But, let's get real. Despite having usernames and passwords to what feels like half the sites on the internet, none of my profiles are particularly well-developed. Most of them are half-assed, and created as an afterthought to some great project that I should have been starting at the time. At times, I feel like I've just sprinkled little bits of myself throughout the cyber universe so fast and furiously, without any planning or consideration. I feel lost in between the pages of the cyber life web.

Are you angsty?

2007-05-09T10:14:00.000-07:00

You think you're the angstiest person since, well, name a really angsty historical figure... The whole world pisses you off... You occasionally want to scream at the sunshine and kick a puppy... Almost everyone you encounter is out to get you...

Well, you've got nothing on my girl Jess. She's the angiest broad I know, and I love her for it.

Later.

And so it goes...

2007-05-09T09:51:00.000-07:00

I'm on the boat, and it's about time. I spent an inordinate amount of time online. I harbor an undeniable techno-lust. Hell, I grew up here--out in the wilderness of cyberspace--much like many of you, I'm guessing. Out here, I learned to upload like nobody's business, love like it was going out of style, and to kill fire-breathing baddies for platinum. I also learned to drink triple-shot espressos like Kool-Aid and juggle electronic devices like bowling pins. Look at me go!

So, who the heck am I, you want to know already. My name is Catzia and I’m a 20-kaff-something HR professional and non-trad student. I've come here to crawl out of a pit of the past, and flex a little mental muscle for the sake of itself and this here art. This blog will probably end up reading like a journal, but it most likely will not contain much in the way of deepest, darkest fears and desires. I’m not the kind of girl to keep a lot of secrets, but the few I do have are whoppers. Let's see how long I can keep them.

Later.