Have a very safe and happy New Years everyone.

I've been wanting a papasan chair for years, and now we finally bought one with the use of a giftcard. On sale for $69, while still a lot, it was the only wantable thing in the store that we could find. We chose the Oxblood red color...I wonder why on earth someone decided to name this Oxblood? It certainly does not make it appealing, and most people in third-world countries wouldn't be able to connect the actual color of an ox's blood with this shade of red anyways, so it's not like being so descriptive actually helps.

Yesterday Slate posted an article explaining why the US Naval Observatory added a "leap second" to the atomic clock. This brings a smile to my face, because it reminds me of my highschool SymBowl (STELLA) project the Deceleration of the Earth, where my team and I made a simplified computer math model explaining how the deceleratioin happens. During this project I first learned about the concept of geophysics, and it lead me to look into geophysical sciences programs for college in addition to geology.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas List

-Pomegranate Green Tea* (Paul and I are addicted!)
-socks
-pajamas
-a snowshoeing trip

*We got this as a wedding gift in a gift basket during our honeymoon in Bend. Paul doesn't even like tea, and he loves it, and for me it's now in second place--competing with my all time favorite Good Earth Green Tea which I drink every day.

VOTE!
I can't decide, and I need to soon: Should I return to work as a Program Leader at Outdoor School for Spring Session?

a) yes
b) no
c) maybe so

I have to admit a secret. I really do like watching Miss America. I've never planned to watch it, but anytime I happen to scan the channels and it's on I get excited. This year I'll be missing it due to no television in our apartment.

Goodwill chief agrees to pay cut after a state audit
Even though he will still have one of the highest salaries of a Goodwill executive, I am still happy to hear about this 24% pay cut. $831,508 a year as the head of a local "non-profit" is just ridiculous, as I've mentioned in a past post. Goodwill is the store that I most frequent, but since the first mention of the high salary over a year ago, I have cut back my shopping at Goodwill (I just couldn't bear to completely boycott it) and have only donated to the Salvation Army. Now I'll probably keep to the same schedule, but feel less guilty about it.

for all those admirers of ira glass (and i would guess that about 85% of my readers are), here's an amusing article, the ira glass manifesto, about his history and starting out in radio and tips for new radio producers/writers.

i have to admit that i've listened to every episode of TAL, mostly during my many hours of geocoding. it's definitely my favorite radio show.

i am craving truffles
we have some left over from our wedding, and i ate a large handful last night
melt-in-your-mouth-amazingness

storycorp recordings easily make me cry. i listen to these at work (as i'm doing this morning) and every time i get teary-eyed i hope that no one walks by or comes to talk to me.

i still love sufjan, who sounds amazing live [video]

Joys:
* two solid grad school apps turned in today by paul
* bowling tonight with my mom's work
* i'll be seeing some friends who i haven't seen in years later this evening. i'm excited to meet again
* clean laundry
* Vancouver, BC was good
* new shoes. the joy of wearing new shoes and adoring them with every step.

Concerns:
* not a single Christmas present has been bought
* i got offered a full-time, well-paying, great gis job today, that i can't take
* thank-you notes have not been started
* i'm super out of shape

After returning from our large road trip last week, we are now departing on a much smaller one in the morning. Paul and I are heading to Vancouver, BC. Along the way we'll be picking up K&R in Seattle who will be joining us on our adventure (I haven't really met them yet besides a small hello at the portland wedding reception). Saturday night we'll be watching a friend's thesis dance/video project which I'm very excited for, and then on Sunday we'll be returning to pdx via Seattle where we'll hopefully meet up with some friends. fun fun. And more time to learn how to drive a stick for me (and this time there will be other spectators in the car who may laugh at me!).

How fun is this? A drinking game of capture the flag with the pubs involved! If I wasn't heading to Vancouver, BC this weekend this would be fun to check out.

Capture the Flag--Midnight Saturday
Reply to: comm-116801512@craigslist.org
Date: 2005-12-08, 2:10PM PST


Meet in Pioneer Square on the steps at midnight this Saturday.

Teams will divide in two. Each team will be given a flag and sent in opposite directions with 10 minutes to place their flag.

Flags must be placed where it can be approached from two streets--i.e. a street corner.

Boundaries: SW 10th to SW 2nd and SW Salmon to SW Stark. The dividing line is SW Morrison with Pioneer Square as the neutral zone. A map will be supplied.

You will be given a band that must be worn visibly on the upper arm or head at all times.

Once you cross your territory line--anyone from the opposing team can tag you and send you to jail.

If your territory is the North side, you must cross back over the line and go to the Virginia Cafe and ask for the Capture the Flag shot. They will be running a $3 special on it. Any other shot is full price...deal with it.

If your territory is on the South side, you must cross back into your territory and go to the Yamhill Pub and ask for the Capture the Flag shot.

Once you have consumed your beverage, you may rejoin the game. For any non-drinkers, you should stay in the bar for at least 3 minutes.

You may use any wheeled aids you want BUT once you have the flag, you may only use your feet to transport it across the line.

Once a team's flag is captured, it must be run to Pioneer Square--once it touches the bricks--your team wins.

At 1:15, if no one has won, or if no one told you the game is done, meet back at the steps at Pioneer Square.

I would advise you to travel in small groups and get key phone numbers so that if the game ends--you are not wandering for a long time.

Another game will commence or we will just head to a bar.

We are asking for participants to consider $1-2 donation to help pay for the team bands. Send this info out to anyone you know---the bigger the better for stuff like this.

One last note, don’t be a jackass. Play fair, treat downtown like it is your friend’s parent’s house. If one person in an armband does something moronic, everyone in an armband becomes a target for the repercussions.

2 teams: Yamhill Yankers versus Virginia Venereals --let the game commence!

I work with a shapefile titled "POINTSOFINTEREST" for the Portland Metro Area. Of the 61 places listed, there are many that I have never truly visited (even though I may know about them or have passed them many times). So I'm making a list of places in the Portland metro area that I want to visit sooner or later:

Multnomah Art Center: 7688 SW Capitol Hwy
Leach Botanical Garden: 6704 SE 122nd Ave
Berry Botanical Garden: 11505 SW Summerville Ave
McLoughlin House: 713 Center St
Clackamas County Historic Museum: 211 Tumwater Dr
Willamette Shore Trolley: 1900 SW Harbor Dr
Washington County Fairgrounds: 880 NE 28th Ave
Oregon School of Arts and Crafts: 8245 SW Barnes Rd
Beaverton Mall: 3655 SW Cedar Hills Blvd
Tigard Town Center: 16200 SW Pacific Hwy
Portland Expo Center: 2060 N Marine Dr
Portland International Raceway: 1940 N Victory Blvd
Jubitz Truck Stop: 10310 N Vancouver Way
Portland Meadows: 1001 N Schmeer Rd
The Armory: 10000 NE 33rd Dr
Chinese Classical Garden: 350 NW 3rd Ave
World Forestry Center: 4015 SW Canyon Rd
Children's Museum: 4012 SW Canyon Rd
Hoyt Arboretum: 4000 Sw Fairview Blvd
Oregon Historical Museum: 1230 SW Park Ave
The Village: 4501 W Powell Blvd

Check this out!

Public transit via Google and the official Google Transit Trip Planner. Google has been working with Tri-Met on this for a bit now, and it's so exciting to see it finally come out this morning!

As most of you probably guessed, I am not still stranded in Omaha. In fact, Paul and I arrived back in Portland last Thursday after a long drive through the night (and snowstorms!) from Fort Collins, CO. We stopped at the Sierra Trading Post Outlet in Cheyenne, Wyoming on Wednesday and it was awesome. I bought a pair of earth shoes, and lots of discounted smartwool socks. score.
We told only worried relatives about our safe return to the Northwest on Thursday, and decided to lay low for a few days as we slept a ton and organized and cleaned our incredibly messy and chaotic new apartment. The first public appearance the new place makes will be tomorrow evening for a fantastic dinner (it's a surprise for now, but I will say that one recipe is coming from our new Moosewood Restaurant Cooks at Home cookbook, which I adore!) which will be my highlight of the week (second place is of course pub trivia, but food always wins). So starting Friday, feel free to invite yourself over anytime...by then the apt should be in livable condition. ;o)
I am back at work in my little cubicle, sitting in front of a computer for 40 hours a week. This means that I must urge everyone to blog or email frequently and fervently, because I am desperate for stuff to read as little work breaks.