Wednesday, June 30, 2004Scary doctors visit today...A few weeks ago I started developing little scabby, fluidy, blistery things on my skin and I finally decided to get it checked out today. The doctor said she didn't know what they were... not hives, not bug bites, not poison ivy, etc. The closest she could come to a diagnosis was a skin problem common for people living with celiac disease, but since I'm not a celiac, it couldn't be that. I tell her "Whoa! I'm not a celiac, but I AM allergic to gluten! Does this mean I might actually HAVE celiac disease?!"I've known for two years that I am allergic to gluten, but my doctors always assured me I didn't have celiacs. They also told me I could add gluten back in my diet after a year or two max and I should be fine. When did the blisters start appearing? Last Sunday after I ate a cinnamon roll and crepes at brunch. In fact, as many of y'all know, I've been slowing adding gluten back into my diet to see if my body would accept it since it's been two years of eating gluten free foods.
What's the difference, you might be asking, in gluten intolerance and celiacs? Instead of just being allergic to gluten, celiac disease is an immune system disorder that results in damage to the lining of the small intestine when foods with gluten are eaten. If left untreated, celiac disease dramatically increases the risk of certain cancers, osteoporosis, miscarriage, infertility and a host of other ailments, and it has a mortality rate twice that of the general population. Needless to say, I told my doctor today I wanted blood work done and now I just get to wait around nervously for a week or two to get the results from the lab. (I figured blood work would be easier than having a biopsy of the small intestine taken during an endoscopy). Also, I've also know for years that I was "borderline anemic," though just tonight I saw iron-deficiency anemia listed as a complication of celiac disease. That's not good.
Anyway, let's just hope these are all coincidences. Keep you fingers crossed for me?
Seattle PI Article on Celiac DiseaseRead on for more info about celiacs if you've got time on your hands...SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/food/169871_glutenfree21.html
For some, gluten can have devastating effectsWednesday, April 21, 2004
By JOLENE GENSHEIMER
SPECIAL TO THE POST-INTELLIGENCERThe problems began before Megan turned 2.
Her parents, Jennifer and Mark Fisher, saw her become irritable and clingy. She complained of frequent tummy aches. At her 24-month doctor visit, her weight and height percentages had dropped from the 95th to the 50th percentile. As the stomachaches became more severe, she would vomit every time the family sat down for a meal, and diarrhea set in on a family road trip. They also realized that her arms and legs were skinny, but her belly was distended.
The Fishers had just switched to a new pediatrician who correctly suspected that Megan had celiac disease, also called gluten intolerance and celiac sprue, a condition that affects children and adults. It can be triggered at any age and is characterized by an immune reaction to the protein gluten, found in wheat and several other grains.
They quickly removed gluten from her diet and saw a major improvement within four days. "We had this other kid back," says Megan's mom. Her stomach pain subsided and she began to gain weight again. They credit their pediatrician with a quick diagnosis and note that many children and adults suffer for years without being diagnosed.
"Celiac disease is highly undiagnosed. Roughly between 60 and 70 thousand people have been diagnosed in the U.S., but it is projected that 1.5 to 2 million have it," says Alessio Fasano, a gastroenterologist and the director of the Center for Celiac Research at the University of Maryland in Baltimore. Left untreated, celiac disease dramatically increases the risk of certain cancers, osteoporosis, miscarriage, infertility and a host of other ailments, and "it has a mortality rate twice that of the general population. Treated, the mortality rate goes back to normal," Fasano says.
Celiac disease is estimated to affect 1 in 133 Americans, and 1 in 56 Americans exhibiting classic symptoms or suffering from a related autoimmune disorder such as type 1 diabetes or thyroid malfunctions, according to a study published by Fasano and his colleagues in the Journal of the Archives of Internal Medicine in February 2003.
Symptoms for the disease vary greatly in type and intensity, and some people have no symptoms, making this disease difficult to recognize and leading to chameleonlike references. Extreme fatigue, often due to iron-deficient anemia, is one of the most universal symptoms. The word celiac comes from the Greek word "koila" meaning belly, which is where the most common symptoms originate. Abdominal cramping, severe gas, bloating, oily stools, weight loss or weight gain, and joint pain are just a few of the potential signs that gluten is wreaking havoc with your small intestine.
However, "any organ of the body can be affected or targeted. Sometimes it is diarrhea, sometimes constipation, miscarriages, or behavioral changes," Fasano says.
"Intestinal symptoms should raise a red flag. Some people who have been diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome may have celiac disease," says Dr. Michael Schuffler, a University of Washington professor of medicine and head of the Gastrointestinal Department at Pacific Medical Centers.
Three factors are required in order to contract the disease. First, a person must have a genetic disposition for it. Second, the person must consume gluten, and third, the disease has to be triggered. Common triggers include a viral infection, pregnancy, surgery or a trauma. For some, the disease begins in infancy with frequent projectile vomiting and diarrhea, while it may remain dormant in others until later in life. In fact, "a person can carry the gene but not ever get the disease. However, once it is activated it does not go back into remission," says Cynthia Kupper, a registered and certified dietitian and executive director of the Gluten Intolerance Group, a national non-profit agency based in Seattle.
The disease is characterized by damage to the villi of the small intestine upon consumption of gluten. Villi are small, fingerlike projections lining the small intestine. It is their job to reach out and grab the nutrients in passing food. When a celiac ingests gluten, these fingers are damaged, often shrinking, flattening or disappearing, and nutrients pass through unabsorbed. This can lead to forms of malnutrition in well-fed individuals who may experience weight loss, loose stools and a distended stomach from bloating. It also contributes to a higher incidence of osteoporosis and anemia, despite efforts to take in more of these nutrients. "Anemia, osteoporosis, diabetes, thyroid disease, infertility -- when those are out of control you must question why. Medication may not be being absorbed due to malabsorption," Kupper says.
The good news is that the damage to the villi is not permanent and improvement in health usually begins immediately after adopting a gluten-free diet. No medication is required, but the diet does require a serious lifelong commitment. Specifically, gluten is found in all forms of wheat, including spelt, farina, semolina, triticale and kamut, as well as barley, rye and possibly oats. Gluten also is used as a thickener in a host of food products and some medications. It even is used in the glue on the back of lickable stamps, in some toothpastes and as a powdery coating on some chewing gum.
"It is much harder to avoid gluten now because it is so prevalent," says Seattle-based gluten-free cookbook author Bette Hagman who suffered the effects of undiagnosed celiac disease for 50 years.
Besides painful gastrointestinal symptoms, Hagman had six unnecessary operations, including the removal of her appendix, ovaries and uterus until a doctor looking for cancer recognized celiac disease. When she was diagnosed in 1974, there were few bread products available without gluten. The prospect of eating rice cakes for the rest of her life forced her to learn to cook, and after nine years of experimenting with different flours, she published her first book, The Gluten-free Gourmet. Hagman and her six cookbooks are an inspiration and invaluable resource to thousands who are unable to consume gluten. She recommends finding a support group and wants people to know that it is possible to live and eat well without wheat.
Fasano thinks anyone with symptoms should get tested, including people with anemia or miscarriages without a clear reason, men with osteoporosis, and women diagnosed with osteoporosis before menopause. He adds that all family members of anyone with celiac disease should be screened. The study he conducted found that 1 in 22 first-degree relatives tested positive for celiac disease. Kupper adds, "Anyone with an autoimmune disorder who has other gastrointestinal problems should be screened."
Celiac disease has been linked with a vast array of other seemingly unrelated ailments, including Down syndrome, schizophrenia, epilepsy, lupus, chronic fatigue syndrome and the skin condition dermatitis herpetiformis. Some parents of children with autism also claim they have seen an improvement in behavior with a gluten-free diet.
Screening for the disease first involves a blood test, often called the celiac panel, and if that is positive, a biopsy of the small intestine is necessary to confirm the diagnosis. "The biopsy is much simpler than it used to be. It does require some sedation, but in skilled hands it should not take more than about five minutes," Schuffler says.
Schuffler says the biggest source of confusion is that people want to stop eating gluten immediately. However, he cautions people not to go on a gluten-free diet before testing, "because once you put yourself on a gluten-free diet, the intestine heals itself and the antibody tests that are abnormal become normal."
Schuffler also urges people diagnosed with celiac disease to get a bone density test. "One of the dangers of the disease is it can lead to osteoporosis or osteopoenia," he says, and warns that people must remain on alert for certain cancers for several years after going off gluten.
Jennifer Fisher encourages anyone diagnosed with celiac disease to join the Gluten Intolerance Group because "there is so much support there, and I would not be in the position I am today if I didn't join the support group," and says parents should join a R.O.C.K. group, which stands for Raising Our Celiac Kids. Information for both is available at www.gluten.net She also recommends parents read Danna Korn's book, "Kids With Celiac Disease: A Family Guide To Raising Happy, Healthy Gluten-free Kids." Fisher adds that www.clanthompson.com has an amazing database of gluten-free products that can be downloaded on a Palm Pilot or other computer. She types in "gummies" and a list of gluten-free options appears.
Young Megan's ordeal also has been a benefit to others, because the family was able to immediately recognize symptoms in her grandmother, whose celiac disease was triggered by the stress of back surgery around the time Megan was diagnosed. They realized that her grandmother had been suffering from undiagnosed celiac disease for many years. They emphasize that a trustworthy lab must be used in diagnosing gluten intolerance since a doctor looked at her grandmother's 10-year-old biopsy slide and saw that the original pathologist and physician missed the diagnosis.
Today, almost 4-year-old Megan doesn't miss out on much due to the dedication of her parents, who prepare all of her meals and are vigilant about scrubbing down their house to avoid gluten contact. They have a detailed routine for cleaning counters and keep separate containers, utensils, toaster and KitchenAid mixer for Megan's food. "The littlest crumb will make her throw up all morning," her mom says. The Fishers enjoy cooking and have adapted most family favorites to be gluten-free, including pizza. Jennifer has begun to teach some gluten-free cooking classes for Puget Consumers Co-op.
Megan can even have a Happy Meal from McDonald's with a cheeseburger minus the bun. McDonald's french fries are gluten-free and cooked separately from the chicken nuggets (Note: not all french fries are gluten-free). The Fishers request a new spatula be used in boxing her burger to avoid cross-contamination with the buns. The family also is planning a trip to Disneyland, which has given them a list of safe items for Megan to eat in the park, and the Disneyland Hotel already has gluten-free Mickey Mouse pancakes on the menu for Megan.
This recipe, from Bette Hagman's "The Gluten-free Gourmet Cooks Comfort Foods" (Henry Holt, 336 pages, $27.50) can be a treat for breakfast, lunch or dinner. For increased flavor, add more coffee crystals. For a mocha taste, use the chocolate chips.
COFFEE MUFFINS
MAKES 121 1/2 cups Four Flour Mix (see note) 1/2 cup sugar 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon 3 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted 2 eggs 2 teaspoons instant coffee crystals 3/4 cup buttermilk 3/4 cup chocolate chips (optional) Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease 12 muffin cups.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour mix, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.
In a mixing bowl, whisk the butter, eggs and coffee crystals until smooth. Stir in half the flour mixture until just moistened. Add half the buttermilk and half the remaining flour and stir. Finish with the other half of each. Do not beat!
Divide the batter between the muffin cups and bake 22 to 25 minutes.
Photo of the Day: The Gipsy Kings performs at Summer Nights
Last night I went to my second concert of the season for Summer Nights at the Pier. I saw the fantastic Gipsy Kings and danced my ass off for two and a half fabulous hours of rumba flamenca music! Like guitar? Like dancing? Like passion and cool old guys? Like watching shows as the sun sets over the mountains? This is the band for you! Highly recommended show!
Cat's Concert Rating: 9 stars out of 10!Over the years the Gipsy Kings – who hail from the gypsy settlements in Arles and Montpelier in the south of France – have included singers and guitarists from the Reyes (Canut, Nicolas, Pablo and Patchai) and Baliardo families (Diego, Paco and Tonino). Lead singer Nicolas Reyes is the son of famed Flamenco singer José Reyes, who with his cousin, guitarist Manitas de Plata, sold millions of records in the ‘60s and ‘70s. The band’s vigorous guitar work and passionate vocals are the trademark of an indigenous musical tradition known as rumba flamenca. The rumba – which originated in Africa – traveled from Zaire via the slave trade to Cuba and the New World, then back to Barcelona, where it was adopted by the Gypsies. The Gipsy Kings particular style reveals the influence of Paco de Lucia’s nuevo flamenco, as well as singers Cameron de la Isla and Manolo Caracol.There are no other examples of a non-English speaking band (the group’s language is the Gypsy dialect of gitane) with such a consistent winning streak in the US, where the group is the biggest-selling French act ever. Since the 1987 release of the international hit single “Bamboleo,” from their platinum-selling eponymous debut album, the Gipsy Kings have dominated the world music charts, and sold more than 14 million albums worldwide – more than 4 million in the United States alone. The platinum compilation The Best of the Gipsy Kings charted for more than a year. Their music has also been used in numerous motion pictures, including Peter Weir’s “Fearless” and Joel and Ethan Coen’s “The Big Lebowski.”
Tuesday, June 29, 2004In other news...
Whistler, CanadaChris and Alyssa are coming to visit Seattle this week! They've been to the Northwest a few times in recent years... including a visit to Seattle in 2001 and a visit to Vancouver & Whistler in 2002. This might be their final trip for a little while as Alyssa is now pregnant with their first baby! If y'all have suggestions on what to see or do, let me know. They've seen Pike Place, eaten piroshki, been to Seattle Center, and wandered Discovery Park. I suspect we'll hike Rainier and watch fireworks, but the weekend is otherwise open. Any ideas?
Go Dieter!Dieter was featured in a bike article about the Test of Metal race he did a few weekends ago. :) He completed the 45-mile mountain bike race on a two-seat tandem bike with our buddy Andrew. Read all about it!
Monday, June 28, 2004Photo of the Day: Diva Macy Gray performs at Summer NightsSummer Nights at the Pier started this week and yesterday I went down there for the Macy Gray concert. We had perfect blue skies and it was 80-degrees and super sunny. I was back stage for most of the day, which was a first for me and was really quite fun. Everyone was super friendly backstage... from the Wisconsin born chef to the Canadian volunteer, from chatty stagehands to caffeine deprived band members. For the concert itself, I had seats near the front and center, which made it easy to snap a few photos. While the opening band was just so-so, Macy's music was sexy, soulful, and dance worthy. She kept sneaking back behind the drum set and crouching down every few songs... I'm guessing to take shots of Malibu Rum or to partake in other goodies? Not sure. Either way, I'd definitely recommend her show if she comes through town again.
Cat's Concert Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.
Sunday, June 27, 2004Love Letter to JebKind readers... I went to a show last night where the theme was "get Jeb to stay." I thought I'd do my part this morning.
Dear Jeb,
Let me start by saying "why must you leave us?" I saw your show last night with the West Marginals and thoroughly enjoyed the evening. Your lopsided hat was endearing, your strip tease alluring, your tambourine technique entertaining, your song writing prolific, and your smile pretty cute. I think Bob Dylan said it best:
"Hey! Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me,
I'm not sleepy and there is no place I'm going to.
Hey! Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me,
In the jingle jangle morning I'll come followin' you.Take me on a trip upon your magic swirlin' ship [...]
I'm ready to go anywhere, I'm ready for to fade
Into my own parade, cast your dancing spell my way,
I promise to go under it."As you can see, I'm single and you're a rock star, a talented writer, and a cute boy who apparently likes photography and travel. Who needs a girlfriend and a $250 monthly mortgage when you could dump both to live in expensive Seattle and entertain an impressed new fan like me? I thought so. In closing, you can crash on my couch any time.
You rock,
CatPS Don't forget your promise to send me your blog URL
Cat's Concert Rating: 6.5 out of ten stars. Lyrics, music, and rapport with crowd - excellent! Vocals - could've used a little more enthusiasm/energy.
Saturday, June 26, 2004Photo of the Day: Movement Pt 3
Friday, June 25, 2004Cat + Summer + Seattle = busy as hell
Taking a breather in BaltimoreTomorrow, friends and events are fighting for time in the busy Pride weekend. There is:
- a baby shower for Janine, my favorite Aussie and favorite coworker
- gay bingo, which is happening at the same time as the...
- dyke march which I'd like to join friends for, but it's at the same time that other friends are going to the...
- free concert at the Mural amphitheater, raising $ for street youth
- Pride festivities at Volunteer Park as also happening, as are
- 3 different free outdoor movies (at Pride, Fremont, and U-District)... all happening at the same time as...
- a film premiere for the last indie film Caroline worked on (Unsung, $5, at the Henry), also at the same time that...
- Dunsany's friends are playing a gig in Georgetown.Can you say "not enough hours in the day??" I like friends and strangers, live music, indie films and free films, dykes, marches, and gay bingo. Not an easy day to pick between so many events! I plan to bumble my way from one event to the next until I get lonely or tired of being a social butterfly.
Wouldn't it be so much easier if all of my friends were friends with each other? Then I wouldn't have to pick between a march with Erin, movie with Caroline, band with Rebecca, shower for Janine, etc. Dorothy used to make "flit flit" noises any time I'd show up at her parties in Austin because she considered me a social butterfly and knew I'd probably need to head to a second or third event later in the evening. "You're sooo popular," she'd harass me. All it really means it that my friends don't hang out together, therefore I need to travel alone from party to party to be able to see a decent number of folks over the course of a night or weekend. Such is my life.
Happily, Sunday is a bit easier. Brunch is happening at the same time that the Pride parade starts, which will be ending sometime around the time I need to be at the Pier for the Macy Gray concert.
Tonight however, since the movie sold out and the music was rescheduled, I'll resign myself to my computer. I've gotten about 6 emails from relatives this week... all wanting pictures from the wedding. I guess now is my chance to sit down and work on them. Hope y'all are well!
Photo of the Day: Movement Pt 2
Playing and tired...I've been creating a new website for work and forgot how easy it is to waste away the hours just fiddling around on web development. I'm not even doing anything fancy for it... just lots of little trying this, changing that kind of thing. It's now after 1am and I really should get to bed. I've got to be out of the house tomorrow at 8:45am to head to the Cascade Mts. We're doing a service project in the mountains and I need to work out before then, make myself a sack lunch, shower, and find out why I have developed about 9 tiny little self diagnosed hives on my arms in the past week. Yes, hives. According to webmd.com, they can come from stress, sun, medicine, allergies to anything, or "for unknown reasons." Helpful diagnosis, eh? Alas. It's my bedtime. [PS Note to Lenny... I tried returning your call after video game time, but didn't reach you. Hope you're well!]
Thursday, June 24, 2004Photo of the Day: Movement Pt 1
Wednesday, June 23, 2004Photo of the Day
Tuesday, June 22, 2004Naked Cyclists in FremontA friend saw the Solstice Parade for the first time this year and described the festivities as "a parade on acid." I couldn't imagine what would make her think that... surly not all of the glitter, costumes, and odd colored bodies streaming through the streets on bikes, trikes, unicycles, and other toys. ;)
Monday, June 21, 2004Photo walkYesterday's brunch at Rod's Third Avenue Cafe was quite yummy as there was a new addition on the menu: crepes! Nutella + bananas + crepe = breakfast of champions! In attendance at brunch were Rod, Clare, Tom, Natasha, Naomi, and her cute little 6 month old Conner. :)
After brunch I meet up with photography friends for a walk around downtown Seattle. TYD was leading the group outing in honor of her little brother John who was visiting town. We started at the Pike Place Market and wound our way through downtown, along the waterfront, and up to Pioneer Square. Also in attendance were Jeff, Samantha, Tara, Jerry, Manuel, John, and Robin.
No detail was too small
Pioneer Square
Steinbrueck Park
Cold killer
Sunday, June 20, 2004And so beings Summer in Seattle...
Thousands of people came out to celebrate the Summer Solstice in Fremont with the naked bicyclists, art cars, crazy costumed people, and lots of glitter.
Even the Vladimir Lenin statue got in on the spirit and dressed up as John Lennon for the day. I'll post more pics throughout the week.
Happy Fathers Day!My dad is doing well and keeping busy in retirement. He's bought and fixed up some rental properties to earn some income (he's an engineer so I think fixing things is fun for him). With that income, he's bought a 1929(?) Model A that he's having fun fixing up and taking to car shows. And my parents are in the process of buying a new house and will be moving out of my childhood home. The new house is apparently a little smaller, but has more land, so I think fixing up the new house will be his next project. I don't think anyone really expected him to just sit around in his retire. That's my dad... he can fix anything, he's always helpful, and is a nice guy too. :)
Saturday, June 19, 2004Two very worthy celebrations...Life in Seattle means June 19th is the Summer Solstice parade with naked folks and tons of great photo opps. I plan to be there celebrating and will have a camera or two at my side. Life growing up in Texas, however, meant another very worthy cause to celebrate: Juneteenth. For those not familiar... "Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, annual holiday celebrated on June 19 in the United States to commemorate the ending of slavery. For more than a century, Juneteenth was observed mainly in Texas and parts of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. In recent decades, communities across the nation have adopted the holiday.June 19 marks the day in 1865 when word reached African Americans in Texas that slavery in the United States had been abolished. More than two years earlier, on New Year’s Day, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation. The proclamation had little effect in Texas, where there were few Union troops to enforce the order. News of the proclamation officially reached Texas on June 19, 1865, when a Union general backed by nearly 2,000 troops arrived in the city of Galveston made the announcement. That day has been known ever since as Juneteenth, a name probably derived from the slang combination of the words June and nineteenth." [Encarta]
I'm not sure if there are any Juneteenth celebrations in Seattle. However, there are definitely celebrations for today's Summer Solstice and they're taking place in the Center of the Universe. See y'all down there around 10:30am!
Friday, June 18, 2004Meet AndyI had an hour between meetings this evening and decided to spend my break at my favorite place in Seattle: the Market. I bought some cherries, drooled over the fish boys, got my first Oh My God Peach of the year (dedicated to you Miss Beal!), and got a cinnamon roll. I collected my goodies and went to sit at the waterfront park overlooking the bay.
No sooner did I pick a peaceful, secluded piece of grass did Andy join me and sit down within a few inches. He silently stared a little. He said hello. I said hello. He looked like many drug users do... as though he hadn't eaten food in months. His body was covered in sores, his eyes sunken, his hair thin. He couldn't sit still and started to talk. In the half hour we sat there chatting, I offered him my food and he offered me a glimpse into his life.
Schizophrenia: Any of a group of psychotic disorders usually characterized by withdrawal from reality, illogical patterns of thinking, delusions, and hallucinations, and accompanied in varying degrees by other emotional, behavioral, or intellectual disturbances. Schizophrenia is associated with dopamine imbalances in the brain and defects of the frontal lobe and is caused by genetic, other biological, and psychosocial factors.As a 24-year-old living with schizophrenia, he's not had an easy life. He's been in and out of jail and in and out of hospitals. After his latest suicide attempt, a social worker at the hospital referred him to a halfway house downtown specifically for psych patients. Apparently he does get regular meals, and does return regularly to the clinic throughout the day to get his medications. However, I think the drugs and life have still wrecked havoc on his mind, body, and soul. He was not capable of sitting still. He'd constantly inch closer. Get up to pace. Walk back. Sit down. Inch closer. Repeat. Couldn't stop talking (or mumbling if he wasn't talking). That said, he was a very sweet kid... even got all bashful about asking me for my phone number. Aside: I couldn't imagine it'd be easy to date if you were a schizophrenic living in a shelter, your destroyed body covered in sores, in withdrawal from trying to be drug free. However, he's apparently already hooked up with another one of the residents and apparently felt confident enough to ask me for my phone number. This should give me confidence... the next time I get shy about getting digits, just think of Andy and it should be a piece of cake.
Anyway, speaking of cake, I'm now home from orientation and need more food (peaches alone cannot sustain a Cat). Enough of my babble about Andy... I'm sure you can meet him yourself if you're wandering in downtown.
My newest toy...Kodak Jiffy 620, art deco, folding strut camera. Manufactured 1933-37. Twindar Periscopic Lens. Film size 620. Negative size 6x9cm. Handsome, eh? Guess I just need to find film somewhere (or learn to roll 120 film onto a 620 spool). Yea toys!
Btw... If anyone's interested in joining me for the Solstice Parade on Saturday, let me know. I plan to head down around noon, bring a camera or two, and enjoy all of the people watching.
Thursday, June 17, 2004Pics from my trip home to North Carolina
Wednesday, June 16, 2004Blog Meetup Madness!Tonight's Blogger Meetup at Ralph's Grocery featured free wi-fi, lots of food choices, and lots of Bloggers. There were over 20 people there, a pretty good mix of "regulars" as well as newer people I just met for the first time. In attendance were:
Jake
Chas
Jeff - check Jeff's site for mug shots of the group!
Samantha
Me
Myk
Dennis
Matias
Tara
Ryan
Anita
Rose
Eric
Ed (of the mysterious secret blogs)
Scott
Kelley
Justin
Justin, pt 2
Justin, pt 3
JP
Jerry
Stace
Clark
Jack
and a guest appearance by tyd.All in all was a pretty chill, laid back way to spend a Wednesday night. Oh! And did I mention there was Tupperware involved? TYD dropped by to hand deliver Tupperware to all of the good little boys and girls of the world. Yes, my friends, while I admit I'm a bit envious of Stace's butter huggers, I'm proud to officially be the owner of one lovely new Jello mold! Yeehaw!
Tuesday, June 15, 2004Yea!Dieter graduated with multiple college degrees this weekend, so send him your congrats! Yea Dieter! :)
Monday, June 14, 2004Babies on the mind...
Cousin Steph and super cute daughter JordynDid I ever mention that babies were the topic du jour all this spring? My cousin Steph and I were discussing parenting this week while I was in NC (see above). I also spent many days and nights thinking about the circle of life earlier this spring. Seems a bunch of my cousins are dating single moms, and seems that tons of my friends from TX and WA have gotten pregnant lately. Mary and Dale had their twins last fall and send adorable pictures on a regular basis. Chris and Alyssa are now expecting (congrats!), Janine and Chris are pregnant (yeah!) and moving back to Australia to have the baby (very sad news!), DeAnza just had her baby (total cutie), ex-boyfriend Chris and wife Aimee are due in August (wow), as are Cathy and Jeff (double wow!), and Erin's decided to adopt (exciting!). Anyway, just thought I'd share. Congrats to all the new mommies and daddies to be. And no, I personally don't plan to have any babies for years and years and years to come. :)
Sunday, June 13, 2004Two reasons...Two reasons why the tiny little Asheville airport is pretty cool:1.
Free wi-fi (yep, I'm blogging from Gate 3)2.
Used book store that operates on the honor system and benefits the public libraries (how cool is that?)
Saturday, June 12, 2004The knot is now tiedTonight was Kelly and T.Mox's wedding and the event was quite lovely... as was the after party at the Tavern where the crowd was working on draining the second keg when I left a little bit ago. It was nice to hang out with all of my cousins and family... they're all good folks and very fun. [I'll have to post pictures later this week]. Going to the wedding reminded me of the last wedding I went to in Seattle a few months ago where they had a rather, um, unique, cake. :) Kelly & Mox had a pretty cake with flowers and pearls... not quite the stack of books pictured above. Makes me wonder what other people's ideal wedding cake would look like...
Friday, June 11, 2004Almost there...Last night I stayed up till 3am chatting with my uncle Terry. He's lived a full, crazy life and it's always fun to talk and catch up. Today was spent helping decorate for the wedding reception, wandering around downtown Asheville, and hanging out at Grandpa's pool with some of my youngest cousins (they're about 13 years younger). The rehearsal dinner tonight was quite lovely and I'll have to post some quotes later if I can remember any. My favorite was one of T-Mox's uncles thanking him for bringing Kelly into the family and "improving the family's gene pool!" Many, many funny speeches! Hope everyone is well. G'night!
Thursday, June 10, 2004The Biltmore...In other (more family oriented news), today we made our first sight seeing trip in over 20 years... we went to the amazingly extravagant Biltmore Estate (owned by the Vanderbilt family). There are wineries, gardens, an inn, and a house that take up over 8,000 acres of land. "Four of the most fascinating acres at Biltmore Estate are all under one roof. America's largest home boasts 250 rooms, 65 fireplaces, an indoor pool, bowling alley, priceless art and antiques."
It's a 2.2 million sq foot castle here in Asheville that was built back in the 1800s. It features 43 guest rooms and all kinds of crazy touches like a chess set from Napoleon and indoor plumbing (very uncommon back then). Was a fun day... reminds me of the chateaus I visited in France, the castle in Prague, and the palaces in India. Quite extravagant indeed.
Eeek....Grandpa has cable TV and tonight Mom, Dad, and I bonded over a stomach turning episode of The Human Canvas on The Learning Channel. Yikes. They had footage of branding, neck stretching, foot binding, BDSN, etc. They also had lots of footage of Erik (aka Lizardman), and I got to share my stories of when I spent some time with him in Houston (he was dating a college friend of mine and spent the night in my apartment). I'm sure Mom and Dad were quite impressed. :)
Tattooing and piercing are everywhere. There's even a tattooed Barbie doll. Just when you thought the body modification fad had gone completely mainstream, a new "bleeding" edge is pushing the limits of this ancient art form. Get under the skin of this recent phenomenon and track down the most outrageous trends in "body mod" – from a Minneapolis group with outrageous facial tattoos to a secretive Japanese brotherhood of tattooers to people on society's fringes who are engaging in branding, implanting and stretching.
Wednesday, June 09, 2004As promised... pictures from our new libraryFor Steven: I just posted pics of the new Seattle Library. :)
For everyone: Have you been there yet? What did you think? Love it? Hate it? Do share!
Tuesday, June 08, 2004A bit more...Last Wednesday I took off for a conference in Florida. I met tons of amazing individuals, made some exciting decisions and commitments, and know my mind will be reeling for a long time to come! One a more specific note... weather was hot and rainy most of the time, though we did manage some time on the beach, in the ocean, and in the hot tub.
The conference ended Sunday afternoon and I'm now in North Carolina for T.Mox's and Kelly's wedding! Yesterday was my first day back and I got to see tons of family already! Mom and I went to lunch with aunt Bobbie. We did dinner with Mom, Dad, uncle Terry, Grandpa, cousin Steph, and Jordyn (the first great grandkid who also happens to be the world's cutest kid. It's true... she's even going to be featured on the cover of a parenting magazine next month). After dinner Kelly and T.Mox and lil Kenneth (Kelly's son) all came over and hung out for a while. Not a bad first day back, eh? That's just a small portion of the family and I expect to see many more before the wedding happens on Saturday. I also hope to find out more about some naked bike ride happening this Saturday. Anyone know anything about Asheville? Do share! Take care!
Monday, June 07, 2004One down...Well... I finished the conference in Florida and am now in North Carolina to see family and attend my cousin T.Mox's wedding. I'm still working on finding a decent internet connection, and when I do I'll post some pics and blog a bit more.
Song stuck in my head: Listen
Breakfast: instant oatmeal.
Movies I watched on my plane trips this week: 50 First Dates and Under the Tuscan SunThat's it for now. Take care! :)
Thursday, June 03, 2004More Olympic National Park
Wednesday, June 02, 2004And in other news...I'm heading out of town this morning for a conference in FL and then a cousin's wedding in NC. Not sure when I'll have access again, so hope everyone's well! Take care!
This news just in...Tis the season for live music! Summer in Seattle is great for live music. Not only are there tons of festivals with live music, there's also Summer Nights at the Pier. I've finally got the complete list of shows I'll be attending and I'm quite excited!
* Gypsy Kings (so neat)
* Travis Tritt (getting in touch with my Southern roots)
* Cyndi Lauper (a childhood hero)
* Indigo Girls (I love them!)
* BB King (an American classic)
* and David Byrne (he's so cool!).If you'll be at any of these shows, let me know and we can meet up! Anyone else going to other exciting shows this summer? I heard G-Love was coming to the Gorge at some point...
Tuesday, June 01, 2004This is how they suck you in...I has a meeting for work yesterday morning and scheduled it at a local coffee shop. (It's hard enough to work on a holiday... figured coffee would be a good thing). After I got my cup of chai, the hipster barista boy called me darlin and said it'd be free for me. Unfortunately, I'd already paid the nice barista girl, so he said if I'd come back tomorrow morning he'd make me a better one for free. You see... I'm now starting to understand how people become addicted to the caffeine. Cute boys offer you free drinks and get you to keep coming back again and again and soon your dying and can't work if you don't get your daily coffee fix. It all makes sense to me now. :)
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