Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Monday, May 31, 2010
Skunk Works
a group within an organization
given a high degree of autonomy and unhampered by bureaucracy
tasked with working on advanced or secret projects
Monday, May 24, 2010
Great Expectations
This arrived in the post today....
An Entwicklungsroman from the ever charming Penfold.
I am so excited to have new reading material...
it has preempted my CPE studies.
Thank you, Mr. Crockett.
An Entwicklungsroman from the ever charming Penfold.
I am so excited to have new reading material...
it has preempted my CPE studies.
Thank you, Mr. Crockett.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
my next generation
the surf was small this past weekend
very small
thigh high....if that
perfect conditions for a 9-year-old's first paddle out to the line-up
with the old boys
he paddles his surf mat as if it's a surf board...naturally
out of the white water & into some green face
caught a set wave
saucer eyes smiling from ear to ear
paddling back out for more
surfing with my son
best mother's day ever
Tuesday, May 04, 2010
flame
my truck
my dad has driven this beast for over 40 years
he drove me to the hospital in this
for my first set of stitches at age 5
(swing set, paint cans, split lip...fun)
i still remember sitting on the seat
my dad driving
holding an old towel to my face
i learned to drive in this
4 on the floor
lo med hi
never used 1st...the granny gear was strictly for pulling
a new engine several years ago
350 small block
whole truck rebuilt from the ground up
she was all primed & ready for paint
when she got way-laid by an old woman
bam!
original grill was totaled
(guess we both have facial scars...)
the new grill makes her look like a twelve-year-old with new braces
ugh...
dad's still making upgrades
one day she'll carry my boards in the bed
(instead of her own bench seat)
my dad has driven this beast for over 40 years
he drove me to the hospital in this
for my first set of stitches at age 5
(swing set, paint cans, split lip...fun)
i still remember sitting on the seat
my dad driving
holding an old towel to my face
i learned to drive in this
4 on the floor
lo med hi
never used 1st...the granny gear was strictly for pulling
a new engine several years ago
350 small block
whole truck rebuilt from the ground up
she was all primed & ready for paint
when she got way-laid by an old woman
bam!
original grill was totaled
(guess we both have facial scars...)
the new grill makes her look like a twelve-year-old with new braces
ugh...
dad's still making upgrades
one day she'll carry my boards in the bed
(instead of her own bench seat)
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
christmas in july
sshhh...
i've ordered a new board
you see....
the genius is old
suffers from many stress fractures & is starting to delam
i rarely ride her anymore & i don't want her broken
the stewart hydrohull has suffered a few dings of late
a rail gash (that i thought the cute boy would never speak to me again over)
a rock puncture from our last trip south & it too suffers from several stress fractures
sonja....well....let's just say the latest damage to her was kept from me (for a couple weeks)
i'm sure the cute boy thought i would never speak to him again over it
eh...shit happens
boards get beat up
so...
the cute boy and i started discussing local (pnw) shapers & the quality of their work, but that conversation quickly digressed into a bitch fest
sure...there are a handful of shapers that make nice boards with decent glass jobs that i could go to
BUT...
i started with the 'i wonders...'
i wonder if so & so would be interested in making me a board...
i wonder how much he charges...
i really like the idea of using...promoting...the back yard guy....a grass roots guru
with the 'i wonders...' it didn't take me long to come up with someone
a fellow blogger
talented artist
beautiful board maker
so i sent him an email...
totally stoked that he was willing to take me on
ssshhhhh...........
i have a new board in the works
and i'm keeping it hush hush
hee!
i've ordered a new board
you see....
the genius is old
suffers from many stress fractures & is starting to delam
i rarely ride her anymore & i don't want her broken
the stewart hydrohull has suffered a few dings of late
a rail gash (that i thought the cute boy would never speak to me again over)
a rock puncture from our last trip south & it too suffers from several stress fractures
sonja....well....let's just say the latest damage to her was kept from me (for a couple weeks)
i'm sure the cute boy thought i would never speak to him again over it
eh...shit happens
boards get beat up
so...
the cute boy and i started discussing local (pnw) shapers & the quality of their work, but that conversation quickly digressed into a bitch fest
sure...there are a handful of shapers that make nice boards with decent glass jobs that i could go to
BUT...
i started with the 'i wonders...'
i wonder if so & so would be interested in making me a board...
i wonder how much he charges...
i really like the idea of using...promoting...the back yard guy....a grass roots guru
with the 'i wonders...' it didn't take me long to come up with someone
a fellow blogger
talented artist
beautiful board maker
so i sent him an email...
totally stoked that he was willing to take me on
ssshhhhh...........
i have a new board in the works
and i'm keeping it hush hush
hee!
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Occam's Razor
I haven't read a book in months.
Not for lack of reading material...mind you. There are several new books (borrowed & bought) sitting on a shelf. Each and every one patiently waiting for their pages to be pawed. Unfortunately...nothing gets read this time of year. Well...excepting tax law updates, the NY Times and my horrid scope.
I stood at one book shelf and perused the goods.
Several borrowed.
Two in particular...that I've been wanting to read.
Devil in the White City...passed on to me by my uncle/boss. And...Autobiography of a Face...passed on to me by my uncle's wife. There are several more...but these two happen to be at the top of the stack.
I pick up The Devil...set it down again.
Not in the mood.
Pick up Face.
Too heavy.
Too...involved...for this time of year.
One new.
West of Jesus.
Surf oriented.
But really...I bought that one for the cute boy to read.
Wander over to the other book shelf.
(because my apartment is so expansive...that wandering is warranted)
Sigh...
Then I spot it.
Tucked in the corner...behind the wooden cat.
Straight Man
My favourite Richard Russo novel.
Haven't (re)read it for years.
He may have won literary awards for his other works...all, of which, I have read.
But this one..
has
repeatedly kept me engrossed.
Repeatedly kept me laughing aloud.
Repeatedly
kept me.
What I expected, was
Thunder, fighting
Long struggles with men
And climbing.
~Stephen Spender
Not for lack of reading material...mind you. There are several new books (borrowed & bought) sitting on a shelf. Each and every one patiently waiting for their pages to be pawed. Unfortunately...nothing gets read this time of year. Well...excepting tax law updates, the NY Times and my horrid scope.
I stood at one book shelf and perused the goods.
Several borrowed.
Two in particular...that I've been wanting to read.
Devil in the White City...passed on to me by my uncle/boss. And...Autobiography of a Face...passed on to me by my uncle's wife. There are several more...but these two happen to be at the top of the stack.
I pick up The Devil...set it down again.
Not in the mood.
Pick up Face.
Too heavy.
Too...involved...for this time of year.
One new.
West of Jesus.
Surf oriented.
But really...I bought that one for the cute boy to read.
Wander over to the other book shelf.
(because my apartment is so expansive...that wandering is warranted)
Sigh...
Then I spot it.
Tucked in the corner...behind the wooden cat.
Straight Man
My favourite Richard Russo novel.
Haven't (re)read it for years.
He may have won literary awards for his other works...all, of which, I have read.
But this one..
has
repeatedly kept me engrossed.
Repeatedly kept me laughing aloud.
Repeatedly
kept me.
What I expected, was
Thunder, fighting
Long struggles with men
And climbing.
~Stephen Spender
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
Thursday, March 04, 2010
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
Sunday, January 03, 2010
psycho(loca)lized
I...WE...had an interesting start to the new year.
yesterday....
I
came face to face with
the (one of many) town crazy.
I had walked to the mart for 13 bean soup fixens....beans, onion, tomato, cilantro.
I already had the ham hock.
on my way home...
I stopped to take a couple pics of the geese
that were occupying the Martella Farm pasture land
next thing I know....
some guy is yelling at me
cursing
coming up the street at me
with a big stick in his hand
I look around...
'cuz...well...you know
he couldn't possibly be talking to me
oops...
he's coming at me
yelling at me
telling me
I can't take pics
HERE
Where?
really...
i'm standing in the street
public street...that is
taking pics
of geese
needless to say...
he came right up to me
shaking his stick
telling me to leave
scared the crap out of me
I thanked him...and left.
what was I going to do...
throw a can of tomato & green chili at him?
I hurried home
trying to gain my composure before walking in the door
no such luck
I was in tears
angry
upset
at being scared
on a street
that I walk
all the time
not a good scenario
for the cute boy
I think I got out the words
"threatened"
"some guy"
&
"stick"
he was out the door
and
pissed
at this point...
my imagination has gotten the better of me
do I call the sheriff to report the harassment?
or...
call the sheriff to protect the crazy from
the wrath of gaz?
not to worry though...
the guy wouldn't come out of his cabin
while gaz screamed at him
threatening to pull him out
through the window and beat him silly
my hero
(chivalry is not dead)
the sheriff did come
I did give my report
and...being familiar with this particular guy
the sheriff
gave him a talking to
of course...
I'm still laughing at the irony of it all
small town drama
lack of meds
threats of violence
all for
a peaceful picture
of geese
ps.....we surfed today
yesterday....
I
came face to face with
the (one of many) town crazy.
I had walked to the mart for 13 bean soup fixens....beans, onion, tomato, cilantro.
I already had the ham hock.
on my way home...
I stopped to take a couple pics of the geese
that were occupying the Martella Farm pasture land
next thing I know....
some guy is yelling at me
cursing
coming up the street at me
with a big stick in his hand
I look around...
'cuz...well...you know
he couldn't possibly be talking to me
oops...
he's coming at me
yelling at me
telling me
I can't take pics
HERE
Where?
really...
i'm standing in the street
public street...that is
taking pics
of geese
needless to say...
he came right up to me
shaking his stick
telling me to leave
scared the crap out of me
I thanked him...and left.
what was I going to do...
throw a can of tomato & green chili at him?
I hurried home
trying to gain my composure before walking in the door
no such luck
I was in tears
angry
upset
at being scared
on a street
that I walk
all the time
not a good scenario
for the cute boy
I think I got out the words
"threatened"
"some guy"
&
"stick"
he was out the door
and
pissed
at this point...
my imagination has gotten the better of me
do I call the sheriff to report the harassment?
or...
call the sheriff to protect the crazy from
the wrath of gaz?
not to worry though...
the guy wouldn't come out of his cabin
while gaz screamed at him
threatening to pull him out
through the window and beat him silly
my hero
(chivalry is not dead)
the sheriff did come
I did give my report
and...being familiar with this particular guy
the sheriff
gave him a talking to
of course...
I'm still laughing at the irony of it all
small town drama
lack of meds
threats of violence
all for
a peaceful picture
of geese
ps.....we surfed today
Friday, January 01, 2010
New Year
The last day of 2009 fought its way to the end.
sustained winds of 40
gusts of 55
sideways rain
20ft @ 10 seconds
for most of the day
&
into the night
Our guests quietly arrived & left
before the storm hit.
Seven in total....
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
wish list
The V-man wrote up his list for Santa last night.
And...
He was kind enough to include a lil sumpin sumpin for dear ol' mom.
You got that Santa!?!
Happy Holidays All!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
a season of...
brokenness
emergencies
misgivings
the other pea in the pod
has called it quits
after 20 years
this has shattered any fantasy
of a perfect match
that...i ever had
the artist
has been in & out
of the emergency room
with his new squeeze
for weeks now
she's back there tonight
good energy to you M
this time of year
depresses me deeply
i struggle to keep
my usual schedule
the
emotional roller coaster?
stifled
with every ounce of type A
i can muster
here's to...
a new year
good health
good surf
emergencies
misgivings
the other pea in the pod
has called it quits
after 20 years
this has shattered any fantasy
of a perfect match
that...i ever had
the artist
has been in & out
of the emergency room
with his new squeeze
for weeks now
she's back there tonight
good energy to you M
this time of year
depresses me deeply
i struggle to keep
my usual schedule
the
emotional roller coaster?
stifled
with every ounce of type A
i can muster
here's to...
a new year
good health
good surf
Saturday, December 12, 2009
hiatus
i hadn't surfed for two months
shitty conditions
kid/job/life
obligations
there are days
that i truly hate myself
for always being
responsible
so when i paddled out last monday
after a weekend of domesticity
baking (for the cute boy's birthday)
laundry
& pretty sure i scrubbed a toilet in between hoards of hand washed dishes
wasn't expecting much
wasn't expecting anything
just needed
just wanted
to get wet
below freezing air temp
48 degree water
crystal clear day
4 @ 13
gaz & i paddled out at finicky's
quickly joined by jeff & farmer blake
the lone surfinoregon coveting the left at crab pots
eventually joined us
as link (the other gazza) finally suited up & made his way out
caught a handfull
before the chill set in
blue & shaking
barely able to sit on my board
sun glare
big locals
making their presence known
it felt good to be home
shitty conditions
kid/job/life
obligations
there are days
that i truly hate myself
for always being
responsible
so when i paddled out last monday
after a weekend of domesticity
baking (for the cute boy's birthday)
laundry
& pretty sure i scrubbed a toilet in between hoards of hand washed dishes
wasn't expecting much
wasn't expecting anything
just needed
just wanted
to get wet
below freezing air temp
48 degree water
crystal clear day
4 @ 13
gaz & i paddled out at finicky's
quickly joined by jeff & farmer blake
the lone surfinoregon coveting the left at crab pots
eventually joined us
as link (the other gazza) finally suited up & made his way out
caught a handfull
before the chill set in
blue & shaking
barely able to sit on my board
sun glare
big locals
making their presence known
it felt good to be home
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
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