Write-A-Thon Week #4 Update

Posted on July 17, 2010 by Pamela

Wow, time passes completely different outside Clarion West than inside. I can’t believe week 4 is over.

I did 3542 words this week. I’m still playing catch up from all that soccer so I haven’t managed to accomplish any other writing stuff. I’m going to aim to put in a good blob of time tomorrow.

Thanks again to all my sponsors.

There’s still time to donate. There’s info about the Write-A-Thon here and my donation sponsor page here.

Nice blurry shot of my berries mixed together with sugar and citrus zest. I intended to add some spices but forgot.

I keep making these pies to give to other people so I promised Bob I would make one just for us.

I very rarely make berry pies but I had this on the brain so I ran down to the farmer’s market this morning and bought the berry trio.

My pie crust disaster last week had a twist that’s new for me. The dough was so wet and sticky it was a splash of water away from being pancake batter. I re-traced my steps over and over trying to figure out how I managed to do that. I didn’t think it tasted spectacular but the gift recipient and other taster thought it was just fine.

Today I tried a different recipe and went back to my usual problem of it being way too dry, like trying to hold sand together. That happens so regularly that I’ve accepted that that’s how pie crust is made.

It smells incredible. I can’t wait to have a piece after the game tonight.

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Pie Disaster #791

Posted on July 15, 2010 by Pamela

Last night I made a pie for uncle-former-boss’s birthday today. I think it was one of my top three pie making failures. Regular readers will recall that I screw up 4 out of every 5 pies I make.

Resist the urge to send me your fool-proof tips. I’ve tried everything. Pie making is my kryptonite. Sometimes.

This pie crust was a disaster and I patched together the bottom crust because who cares? It’s filled with pie. But I did a couple of tricks and was very patient and managed to make a decent looking top crust.

This morning I had to take my car back to Toyota (long story omitted but it was less than $100 and totally worth it) and got a ride to work. On the way, a car ran a red light and we had to slam on the brakes. My carefully wrapped and guarded pie slid out of my lap. I grabbed it but ended up with fingers in the pie.

It wasn’t ruined but it was pretty messed up.

Better the pie than me.

Posted in baking disasters | 5 Comments

Write-A-Thon Week #3 Update

Posted on July 12, 2010 by Pamela

Oops. I forgot to do my Write-a-thon update for week #3 which ended on Saturday.

I did 3057 words about half of them at the last minute owing to a miscalculation where I accidentally had applied words from Week #2 to the new total. Now I have three weeks of write-a-thon with no soccer so I’m going to try to amp it up a bit. Maybe finish and submit something.

Thanks to my latest round of sponsors, especially the ones I bullied.

You can still donate if you don’t want to be left out. There’s info about the Write-A-Thon here and my donation sponsor page here.

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Big Giant Wrap Up Of All Things (For Now)

Posted on July 11, 2010 by Pamela

Party Beverage Crew preps for the party.

World Cup is Finished: Games 63 and 64

Game 63 between Germany and Uruguay was pretty fun considering everyone was bummed to be there and only wanted to win because it would be better than losing. Germany had a bunch of different players including a goalkeeper named Butt: I hope he names one of his kids Stinky. I liked Uruguay a lot, esp. Diego Forlan, but I was still glad Germany won.

Game 64, the final between Spain and Netherlands, was a turd. The players were whiny and brutish. The pace was clonky. The ref should have gotten the trophy.

I’m glad Spain won.

And I’m glad the tournament is finished.

I went to a Timbers game last night — only 4 more home games plus an exhibition. At least for now. Plus a Sounders in Seattle in August. But otherwise I’m winding down. (Heh heh)

Last night Timbers played Miami. At one point the kids sitting behind us yelled: Put in LeBron. Later when the Timbers scored, this kid who had brought a plastic piggy bank modeled after the World Cup trophy ran to the front of the stands and held it up. He was wearing a Barcelona FC jersey. It didn’t even make sense. He got sent back to his seat.

Cranky bear takes it out on the utility pole.

4th of July Weekend

The night before we left on our trip there was a surprise playoff game between the Timbers and rivals the Seattle Sounders. The stadium was sold out. The scene was insane — loud and boisterous. The game was fantastic and went into overtime and then to penalty kicks. It was a late kick-off anyway and with all the extra stuff I didn’t get home until 11:30pm. So I was completely thrown off schedule by a worthy cause (except we lost by 1 PK).

(Also quick Sounders question: what is that name of that color for the uniforms: “booger”?)

Then I had to get up at the crackass of dawn so I could take care of all my last minute stuff so we could be on the road by 8am to drive to California.

Trip went smooth. We had a big party weekend in honor of my Dad’s 80th birthday. It was perfect weather. Tons of great food. Awesome company. Everyone helped out. Now that I sit here to write this, I don’t have any details. I was so frazzled getting down there I didn’t even have my little notebook. I always have my little notebook. It was an epic party. I’ll put more photos on Facebook.

The Pamily

We’ve had this smoked salmon in the freezer and I keep forgetting about it. I finally went online to look for some recipe ideas.

I found one for smoked salmon and sausage chowder that sounded promising even if it isn’t really chowder weather. The “sausage” part of the recipe was chopped pepperoni sticks. Why would you even think of that?

I ended up making a sort of dip thing to spread on crackers that wasn’t wonderful and a pasta thing that was only okay. I think the problem is that this is some stout smoked salmon. It was like forest fire smoked salmon. I think it would better served as a nibbling snack on a warm afternoon with cold beer to wash it down.

Party! Note my bday gift to my dad: a custom authentic German National Team jersey.

Last note related to the Timbers game. Don’t you love it when you joke around with random strangers? Rather than cracking a joke and having a random stranger look like they’re about to call the police? I joke around with random strangers a lot because I’m uncomfortable in social situations and this is how my coping has evolved.

Before the games, co-worker and I go to this sports bar next to the stadium for burgers and beer. The booths are always full when we get there but we like this terrible little table that’s between the doors to the restrooms and the edge of the bar. They keep the brooms and vacuum right there.

There’s a TV right above the table and there was a guy standing in front watching it. We asked if it was okay to sit down and he said sure.

I struggled to get my chair out with the brooms right there and said: We like to sit by the vacuum.

The guy sad: Well, yeah. That’s the best spot most places.

He stood there a minute longer and then said: I’m going to move along. It’s creepy to stand here while you two are sitting there.

Oh well, seemed funny at the time.

Last item for this post:

I just went through my comment spam and this is my favorite, I wish it was a real comment:

“I didn’t quite get the point this to begin with. But when I read it a fourth time, it all started to make sense. Thanks for the insight. Absolutely something to spend some time on.”

Posted in doing it wrong, pamily, TIMBERS! | Tagged , | 3 Comments

FIFA WORLD CUP GAME 62

Posted on July 7, 2010 by Pamela

Me and my Mentros (sp?). Josa and Fernando made a bunch of these as a fundraiser to take Fernando to Disneyland. I picked this one because it has a hat and magnifying glass. Ryan got Darth Vader. I didn’t know you could do special orders. Like the handy place I keep my camera when my dress has no pockets? Photo from July 4 party by Aileen Wilder.

FIFA WORLD CUP GAME 62

Germany v. Spain 0-1

Wah. My team lost today. They played pretty much doo-doo. During the first half they seemed to have minimal interest in trying to score. And Spain played great.

It’s going to be a fun final on Sunday with Netherlands and Spain. And I get to see Germany play one more time in the consolation game on Saturday.

Then soccer will be mostly finished (still have Timbers) and I can become a productive member of society again which I’m sure will please a number of people but particularly the one I live with.

Tonight I got home from work late and made myself do some exercise. All I did on vacation was eat, drink and sleep. I needed to move around a bit.

Then I did the first major yard watering of the season. While the side part watered I worked on the garden and pulled a ton of weeds, harvested 3 beets — I’m eating the greens for dinner — and 4 little potatoes. I’ll never go hungry again!

Posted in doing it wrong, Orleans, pamily | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Vacation Done, Soccer, Write-a-Thon Week #2

Posted on July 6, 2010 by Pamela

Klamath River Bar, July 4, 2010

We’re home. We had a fantastic trip. Tons of great people and great food.

I had three naps that should have space shuttles named after them.

Photos and details to come this weekend. (Not of the naps. Not much to tell there.)

I’ve got several more busy days ahead.

FIFA World Cup Games 57, 58, 59, 60 and 61

All four quarter-final games were fan-freaking-tastic.

Netherlands sent Brazil home – amazing.

Uruguay and Ghana – heartbreak city.

Germany destroyed my cute Argentina boys in the best possible way.

And Spain and Paraguay – that second half was insane.

I did not get to see today’s game because my DVR was re-setting itself when we were leaving and it wouldn’t let me program something that far in advance. I already know the score but there’s a replay tonight that I have set so I can watch tomorrow.

And I’m going to work super early so I can get caught up and take a long lunch for the Germany v Spain game.

Write-A-Thon Week #2 Update

3953 words this week.

Thanks again to all my sponsors. I think I’ve almost made my goal. I haven’t had time to check all the details since I returned. Still plenty of time to donate if you’re bored and have nothing to do. Info about the Write-A-Thon here and my donation sponsor page here.

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FIFA World Cup Games 55 and 56

Posted on June 29, 2010 by Pamela

Look what snuck out since I was out in the garden on Sunday.

Round of 16 is finished. Only 8 more games. And two days off. Quarter-finals don’t start until Friday.

Paraguay v. Japan

The Paraguay kits look like they came from Santa’s workshop. I want red-striped socks like that.

Japan is so cute and so much fun to watch.

Is there anything more heartbreaking that losing in penalty kicks? I didn’t see the entire game but loved the 90 minutes I watched. Sorry to see you go Japan.

Portugal v. Spain

I really like both these teams and hate to see one go home early. Portugal seemed to have it together for the first half and made tons of great shots that didn’t go in. But then Spain took over. Later they substituted with dreamboat Fernando Llorente who had the misfortune of getting his shirt torn and then he had to go change it which ESPN cut away from. What the hell ESPN?

These last phases of the World Cup are so much knuckle-biting. Can’t wait to see Germany and Argentina this weekend and grow another 50 grey hairs.

Bus Accident this morning

This morning my bus got in a fender bender.

I’m too lazy to look for the cite but I’m positive that state law in OR and WA says cars must yield to the bus. Where the commuter bus gets on the freeway two lanes merge into one. Mr. Crazy-Guy seemed to think the bus should yield to him. From what I could see, he invented a 3rd lane in the middle, honked his horn for about 3 minutes and bent his side mirror.

The bus lets him go ahead and he stopped in front of bus, parked and a guy looking the lost Carradine brother jumped out and ran for the bus.

The bus driver opened the door. I thought we were all going to die. Crazy guy started yelling why didn’t the bus yield. Why did he break the mirror. Stop! No one was going to go anywhere.

The bus driver agreed, we’re stopped and he initiated his procedure. He phoned the transit people, made arrangements to get us on another bus and then passed out passenger witness cards.

All the passengers looked at each other and said: “Uh, wasn’t he trying to cut off the bus?”

Meanwhile crazy guy got out his camera out and took photos. Then came back and argued some more.

Our bus driver is cute, sorta like Kal Penn, remained completely calm the entire time. He said, “We have video cameras all over this bus, I’m not going to argue with you.”Â

Crazy guy examined the damage further and decided his side mirror wasn’t really broken and he needed to get going because, you know, “He had things to do.”

The bus driver was like, “Hard cheese pal. We’re in the process now. You can’t run off.”

Meanwhile, the passengers on the bus are seething because they’re going to be late for work. Not me, although I was also seething, it was because I was going to miss the kick off for the Paraguay v. Japan game.

The next bus arrived to pick us up and one of the passengers went over to say something to crazy guy. I almost followed with my camera.

What was he thinking? Don’t pick a fight with the bus. Even if the bus driver is wrong, which I don’t think he was this time, just take your foot off the gas. I’d love to be a fly on the wall when he finds out he’s responsible for the damage to the bus.

– – –
I’m going to be offline for about a week. When I return, more soccer updates and Clarion West Write-a-Thon Week #2 Update.

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FIFA World Cup Games 53 and 54

Posted on June 28, 2010 by Pamela

This is the hallway between the restroom and our office. It’s always kinda awkward if someone else is coming down the hall. Do you say hello? Do you ignore them? And it’s awkward to follow or be followed. But it’s awesome for me to practice my tumbling passes like my round-off flip-flop flip-flop whip-back flip-flop double-twisting layout. You gotta be careful at that dog-leg though.

I’m taking actual leave time later this week so I don’t really want to burn through a lot of leave time watching the games. Ionly watched the first half of the Netherlands v Slovakia. I decided to watch the second half of the Brazil v. Chile game which was a bummer because they were up by 2 at the 2nd half when I started and got another goal in the 58th. No point in watching when Brazil is up 3-0. So I tried to get a bunch of work done in anticipation of Spain v. Portugal tomorrow. The other game is Paraguay and Japan and that should be good, too.

There was one point during the Netherlands game that sounded like a parody of Dutch soccer commentary. “Van Hooten to Van Spooner. Van Cucumber picks it up then to Van Harken. Passes to Van Wicket.” Where was Van Halen?

Slovakia needs a new hair-stylist. I’m all for daring hair but those mohawk things aren’t working for me.

This is me at the yoga studio. That tiger means business. No slacking. My arms are about to fall off right now from class tonight.

I didn’t phone my old webhosts today because I was hoping beyond hope that it would be taken care of magically behind the scenes. That’s on the list for tomorrow. Also I ordered an item online that I desperately need before the end of the week. I actually paid the ridiculous charges for 2-day shipping.

Never do this. This is the second time I’ve done it and the item wasn’t delivered in 2-days. It’s not like they give you your money back. I have my fingers crossed for 3-day shipping tomorrow otherwise yet another hysterical phone call I have to make.

Oh. Also, we received a check from the government for approximately half of the ginormous sum we paid for our federal taxes. Seems I missed out on a deduction we were eligible for because we earn our money from working. I’m not making that up.

I love paying less taxes as much as the next person but offering a deduction for earning money “from work” sounds spectacularly stupid. But, we’ll take it.

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Clarion West Write-A-Thon Week #1

Posted on June 27, 2010 by Pamela

The reason I took this photo is to show Thighs. See the guy with his shorts pulled up? I’m not sure what’s up with that. The people on our left call him Mr. Funny Pants. The people on our right call him Diaper Boy. I shouted: “Pull down your pants!”

4200 words for the Write-A-Thon this week.

I’ll be honest, they aren’t great words. But I put something new down every day this week.

Thanks to all my sponsors so far. I’m still a bit short of my goal so if you’ve like to donate there’s more about the Write-A-Thon here and my donation sponsor page here.

And if you’re not sure what to do, just drop me an email.

Oh yeah, and if you haven’t seen it yet, here’s my tuckerization by Michael Swanwick.

Timber Joey — would you like to touch his wood?

FIFA World Cup Games 51 and 52

Germany looked FANTASTIC this morning. I’d like to take Podolski’s ’32 goal out for drinks some time. A really fun game. Oh yeah, bad call against England. That was a black mark. But 4-1 England it’s not like they were looking so great until that moment.

I talked to my Mom after the game and she said she saw the last 10 minutes and “it was a really good game.”

“Mom,” I said. “Germany was up 4-1 at that point. The game was over.”

“I know,” Mom said. “But I get so nervous that was the only part I could watch.”

During the Germany game I started making up a Tiger Beat profile for Phillipp Lahm.

Favorite color: blue
Favorite food: schnitzel
Favorite Twilight character: Bella

In the next game Germany is up against my mullet-licious boyfriends from Argentina which is really a bummer because I like both these teams so much. I’ll be rooting for Germany.

I watched the first half of the Argentina v. Mexico game. In this game, Argentina won a goal that they didn’t really earn because of another bad call. They won 3-1 so I think they proved themselves. I decided to stop watching after goal #3 because I had some other things that needed to get done before I went downtown to watch another soccer game.

Timbers v. Tampa Bay

Finally, the Timbers win one. Warm sunny day. Cold beer.

There’s a guy in our section a few rows back who’s a screamer who seems to enjoy screaming more than paying attention to the details of the game. One of his favorite things to scream is, “Both ways, ref. Both ways.”

I have no idea what that means but the kids sitting behind us took this up — in a hilarious way — and started saying at completely random times: “Both ways ref, both ways.” Which made us laugh every time.

Posted in doing it wrong, TIMBERS! | Tagged , | 3 Comments

FIFA World Cup Games 49 and 50

Posted on June 26, 2010 by Pamela


There is is. Twenty year anniversary of Concrete Blonde: Bloodletting.

I didn’t go to shows at the Palace in Hollywood a lot. I can probably tell you every show I saw there (based on my ancient memories so could be wrong): The Bangles, Mr. Big, Concrete Blonde and a benefit show for Lee Selwyn that included Concrete Blonde. I remember there was a vacant lot on the walk to the venue and there was graffiti that said: Agnes Moorehead is Dead.

Last night we were at the Roseland. I loved every minute of the show except the talkers and that loud drunk girl that’s in front of us at every show we go to. This time she whistled through her fingers every three minutes. We paid for reserved seats upstairs. It was mostly all people our age in those seats. I used to love general admission even though I’m severely height challenged but now spending a couple hours of pushing and shoving and looking at the back of other peoples’ heads is not appealing. I liked the seats.

Everyone there seemed to have some sort of mobile device that they could check every three seconds or else hold up to record? Take photos? Twenty years ago, everybody smoked. The room was full and it was a diverse crowd. A little bit of everything including tons of young people who bopped around and sang every word. It was a slavishly devoted crowd. I’m glad we went.

In other non-soccer news, guess what showed up on my credit card? Yes, a charge from my old webhosting. You remember, the one that I phoned and sent two cancelations notices to plus responded to all their repeated billing notices with heated hysteria about I canceled the account only to be reassured again and again that my account was canceled and I would not be billed?

OChosting. Tell your friends. OChosting = LAME and INCOMPETENT.

Meanwhile, their system is burping so they’ve sent me (so far) 28 notices that I’ve been billed in the last 12 hours. I dropped a love note to support and they responded by telling me that I needed to discuss this issue with billing.

OChosting – webhost loserville of the galaxy. Let’s see how long it takes to get this straightened out.

Okay soccer.

Enough with the crowd shots. I could very happily live my entire life without seeing large groups of grown-ups with flags painted on their faces.

Damn you USA for getting my hopes up. I should know better. It was a good game but it would have been better if the US had won. Ghana was relentless. They were good.

Wasn’t it weird seeing President Clinton and Mick Jagger hanging out?

The S. Korea v. Uruguay game was also pretty good. I like seeing an underdog team do well but I like Uruguay, too.

Fourteen games left plus two Timbers games this week plus Eclipse. Never a dull moment.

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