Random sunset

If you look closely, you can see the ferry in one of these pictures, the sunset was much more beautiful then came out.

Americans Elect 2012 | What are your true colors?

Americans Elect 2012 | What are your true colors?

What the Media Didn’t Tell Us When Police Swept Through Occupy LA

What the Media Didn’t Tell Us When Police Swept Through Occupy LA

Random photo

a little light reading

so, this was posted at the beginning of October, and it does sort of seem like a list of demands, a list of demands the media says those crazy hippies don't have....
hmmmm

you don't have to agree, but its interesting to read.

http://occupyseattle.org/resource/official-statement-occupy-wall-street

OWS - Banks

Why I am not a fan of big banks, and why I made the change.

I moved to a credit union two years ago, and I have never been happier, and I can thank the economic downturn for this happenstance.

For years I was with Bank of America, I had a basic ATM only account for years, I actually thought I was with SeaFirst, a Seattle Bank, but I wasn't really. A side note on that, as soonas they were out of the closet as owned by BofA the customer service went downhill for a time, but it did get better. With an ATM only account, I had to do all my banking through the ATM and not bother the nice people inside, or I would get charged $3, you could do things the ATM couldn't do inside if you had to do it, but it was wise to not let them close to your account number, lest you be charged for getting quarters (get a $20 from the ATM, then go inside and get quarters).

This worked fine for me, you know it's a bank what more do you want, the main reason to choose it over a different bank, is I sometimes traveled to California,and they at everywhere there, and my best friend also had an account with them, and in our poorer days we had a transfer agreement for those emergency days when you needed and extra $50 to make rent, or eat.

And everything was fine, for many years, until, they started to get greedier, and I wasn't allowed to have an ATM only account for free, now I had to have 4 direct deposits per month for free checking, if I didn't it would cost $7 a month. For the first time in my life I went in to negotiate, saying I work basically freelance, and not all of my employers have direct deposit available, BofA waived the fee for a year.

By the time a year went by I actually had an average of 4 direct deposits, so, I didn't fret that my waiver was up, but the rules had changed, now the rate was $7 a month, with a discount of $5 for have the required amount of deposits, now I could not pay a fee if I kept $10,000 in my account at all times, but seriously. Every statement would annoy me, but I felt there was nothing I could do. Then came the letter saying they needed to raise the monthly fee to $11, because of the financial crisis and economic downturn and all. Now I was infuriated. I swore a little. And I started to shop around, since obviously, they didn't want my money.

I settled on BECU, a Washington credit union, and not only did I not have to pay for checking, I earned interest on my checking, and I could open a CD online in seconds, and everyone is super helpful. Plus, with the poor choices the big bank are making, my credit union gets more convienient, and as the world increasingly runs on debit cards, it makes less and less difference.

This brings me to the point of my story, the banks we bailed out, who, to be honest have paid the government back, as I understand it, are making record profits, Record Profits, but have decreased services and laid people off, have been told by the Frank Dodd act, that the amount they were charging business for debit transactions was usurious, and that it was capping the amount at 20 cents less, this will cost all the banks some 5 billion in revenue, they say, cutting into their profit, so, to make up for that they need to charge between $3 to $5 a month if you use your debit card for any transactions, not credit cards, because they already make more than 45 cents per credit transaction. But, this fee is not for everyone, it's for the poor and middle class, and really the middle class, since most truly poor people, can't even qualify for a bank account. I say this because you dont have to pay the monthly fee if you have the magic account minimum.

To be continued

Some fall colors

And a tame city squirrel.

Lately

I think I have been a little depressed lately, and I have been having a hard time motivating to do the simplest utilitarian task. There are things I want to get done, and I feel bad that I don't do them, but that doesn't seem to make it any easier.

I like knitting though.

Random photos from my phone

Let's see, the thumbnail photos are tiny. But we got some cat pictures, some pictures of the cover of my futon, that I made, a picture of Alice and I in the morning, Trixie at the vet. (she is fine, her lump is a fat lump, not a hernia or cancer) And finally Christina and Cole in Roslyn of Northern Exposure fame. There is no yarn store in Roslyn.

I may have

Figured it out.
The photos I mean, not the solution I wanted, but now I don't try to upload straight to picasa, I upload to windows and picasa finds it. It's what the computer wants to do.
But at the moment I am using an iPhone app to upload this, that says it can also publish a photo, that would be nice and easy too. We will see in just a few paragraphs if it's true.
But think of how annoying I can be with the ability to instantly publish what ever random crap I take a picture of.

So, I'm not sure how this will look, I don't think I will be able to isolate and discuss each photo on this app, so that annoys me.

On a completely different note, to see who reads this and if they will comment. I am crazy to remember crocheted teacups at grandma Seagraves's house? If I'm not, does anyone know the pattern, or how I could borrow one?

To be honest

I have not really tried to fix the photo thing, once and a while when syncing my phone or ipad I try to upload the pictures, and the computer squawks, and I give up, it wont fix itself, just like the speaker cable will not reattach itself to make sound come out of my computer speakers, but I think it might be because Im sort of hurt that it suddenly broke, for what I can see is no reason. Maybe I am getting old. I also think its because the only solution that comes to mind, uninstalling picasa and reinstalling it, well... I am pretty sure in my heart will not work, then what will I try?

And so I don't post, because pictures make it fun to update the 4 people who read this, um, maybe 6, people, since my life is pretty boring anyway.

What is going on, in my life?

Well, I am working 16 hours a week at the Intiman doing a late night improv show, other than that, I didn't work this week, but I did last week. I am teaching one person to knit socks on Saturday morning, its early, but I sort of like it, actually, Its also worked out that there has been at least one other knitting day (by that I mean knitting with friends, outside of my house) I am not sure really how I got to be so in charge of knitting meetings, but I am... oh well.

The projects I am working on now, two pairs of socks, one a gift, one fancy, (the fancy sock is part of a new program in my head, which is no more easy socks for myself, because I get a little bored, and then they ironically take longer) Im also making a Clapotis, I made one before, but it has gone AWOL, so I am making another, this one will be warmer, and more for winter, than the other. I also am slated to start finishing at least two of the sweaters I have already started.... But, trumping everything, is a bit of charity knitting, my friend Susan broke her hand, and with the splint, she cant tuck her hand in her pants or even most jacket pockets, and its Fall here, so, she asked me to make her a pair of mittens, one normal, and one outsized, so her good fingers don't freeze off.... This serves two purposes as well, since I am thinking about mittens, and I have to write this freakin' butterfly mitten pattern, so Christina and I can knit them.

I was doing so well.

I'm not sure what happened, I know what didn't happen... Blog updates.

still not really happening....

I will have to go off and think about something to say.

I am reading The Intimate Adventures of a London Call Girl
The Name of the Wind
and
Genome

I am knitting three pairs of socks, and a clapotis (shawlly-scarf)

I am making milk and water kefir. The milk is going gang busters, even though its supposed to be rehydrating, and the water just started yesterday, and is supposed to set 4 more days till I can start a batch of kefired coconut water (my ultimate aim). I also have yogurt culture, but you can't just make raw milk yogurt, you have to make a pasturized mother culture every week, as well as your raw milk yogurt, so, I am thinking about that, I might just make pasturized yogurt.

other than that, the apartment is a shambles, and the diet is going poorly. but every day is a new day, right?

crap

ten days, sorry.

I still haven't figured out the photo thing, so, no cool pictures. I might be able to do a work around, but, I don't care enough.... though, I might soon.

the last few days, well, I have started a couch to 5k training program, and its ... not fun exactly, but cathartic maybe, and hard... but I have not missed a day, and that means 4 runs so far.... I think twitter will tell you, so, you can keep me honest.

I have worked a little, Josh Groban, Janet Jackson, and some corporate event. Will probably work some Bumbershoot... but haven't heard yet.

I have been sewing a bit, in the last two days, and tonight I will finish, or get very close to finishing operation make this futon 8 inches wider. I picked a very fun lavender fabric, its a little velvety. and flowery. I think it will look great. I am taking a break right this minute from cutting cotton batting I am stealing from a different pad, but it was making my hand hurt, and I am delicate. I also made two head bands and some little towels for the gym. oh and hemmed some pants... its like I am a seamstress.... or something. I did buy too much of this lavender fabric, so, I will have to sew some more, to use it up, there might be a cat bed, or I might cover the other sofa-esque furniture piece. or both.... I will ponder it.

ok, I need to make a little progress before sleep.

Its been a few days

So, Camping was fun, but I can't post pictures yet since I have been too lazy to figure out how I screwed it up.

nothing much has been going on except camping, I finished my jaywalker socks, and they are bright, and I started my mawata mittens (mawata is layers of silk roving that you use like single ply yarn,) and because its silk, they will be super warm, and lightweight, and colorful, since I had to get three different colors. I also bought some new yarn... but not for socks, more mittens (or gloves) and a hat. The yarn is Epiphany by cascade.... and frankly, I would like to have its babies. Its alpaca, cashmere and silk.... so soft.

enough of that.

I have been trying to catch up on classic and influential movies, so, I just watched the original Manchurian Candidate, and the Vivien Leigh A Streetcar Named Desire. Both were excellent. But what most struck me about Streetcar, since I know the play fairly well, was the censorship of some of the major themes, and it sort of threw me at first... they changed the reason why Alan killed himself (Blanche's young husband) from being called disgusting for being gay to being called disgusting for being a poet, or sensitive, or just because.... and they made Stella leave Stanley in the end, because a rapist must be punished giving it what Tennessee Williams lamented as a happy ending. It made me think of calling it contemporary revisionist history.

that might be in in my world... very boring, tomorrow... I am do a few more things that might be remotely interesting, farmers market, knitting, and library.

Camping Tomorrow

So, tomorrow I am going camping with the Women Of Local Fifteen, I haven't been in a long time, I know it's going to be fine, but sometimes I get nervous.

Right this minute, I don't want to talk about my life and cancer, and I know it will come up, the fake booby will come up, swimming and bathing suits will come up. Exciting.

But on the other hand, a bunch of my work friends are going, and there will be lots of knitting time, which is great. And I have planned out all my meals, mostly, and that will be fine as well.

Speaking of meals, I have been doing fair on this program, yesterday I went completely off the reservation, and felt physically terrible, and the food I make tastes better, processed food is more addicting than tasty. But still it's hard, it's like quitting smoking again.

The other part, the working out part, well, that is going less well, but I have a new plan, and after camping, we are going to try it.

I am going to take a few pictures probably, but... I have to figure out how I screwed up that whole thing on my computer. That might be a while, the roommate has decided to be on the computer day and night, it's funny in a way, he wonders why we don't hang out anymore in the living room, but that might be because hanging out while someone watches tv on the computer is boring.

another day another ... what?

so, its been a few days, and since I have turned over a new leaf and all, at the moment...
um, not much has been happening... which is lame.
I went to knitting on Tuesday, it was cool, Cole showed up, which was a miracle, but Lisa did not, (she forgot it was Tuesday), I started work on my jaywalker socks but I can't post a photo because I screwed something up on my computer. (I just realized it.) I had changed its program that opens when I plug in my phone to get my pictures, because of the video fandango, and well, picassa can't fetch my photos, and makes the annoying donk noise. I will figure it out later.

anyway, started the socks, I'm halfway through the first heel flap, and I started a hat, a sort of classy hat, made less classy by the thick thin multi colored yarn, but its probably a gift, unless I really hate it. I got my new very expensive knitting needles in the mail, finally.... but, now I need two more sets, size 3 and size 5, the basic sizes for socks. sigh.

um, the diet, well, this week is supposed to be the light week, and I find the craving for chicken to be very strong, but I think it will be better next week, when there is more protein. I feel a little better, I only get heartburn if I eat something very citrus-y or I have eaten off the diet, but it goes away fairly quickly rather than being with me all day, and that is great.

so, in a week and a half I'm going camping with the Women of Local Fifteen, I'm excited and nervous, there will be talking about the stuff, the showing of the scar, I could not, but it gives it power to do that, and I'm desensitizing myself.

But here is a simple recipe for Tori
1 corn on the cobb
1 heirloom tomato
1avocado
1 green onion
1 lemon

remove corn from the cobb, cut up tomato, avocado and green onion, mix together. add the juice of one lemon, and a pinch of salt, mix again. serves one if this is all you have, or two as a side.

Brief update on life

So, lets see,
I am doing a raw diet-y thing, its going ok, what I like best about it is everything is laid out, with shopping lists and exact menu plans. But the menu plans need to be edited as they are not entirely correct, and the menus are a bit uneven. But the food is mostly good, simple, nothing more required than a blender or a food processor. Unfortunately I need to deal with my very unfortunate addiction to boneless hot wings aka chicken nuggets. (Maia would feel my pain) I think ultimately I will have to find something that satisfies like a chicken nugget, something good with hot sauce.
The other challenge is, I am supposed to work out for 20 minutes 3 times a day... as an inveterate couch potato, I find this difficult, but I am trying to trick myself into it.

I have been trying to tackle some biggish cleaning jobs, and get them into a proper rotation, I like to blame a certain amount of my lack drive on the couch potato roommate, but this may not be fair. Alas.

I have had a tiny bit of work , in the last few weeks, here and there, but its slow out there... and not likely to get better for me soon... My field is sort of second wave reactionary, in terms of conventions and theatre, for conventions, companies have to feel on solid enough footing for such a thing- which is costly and boastful, and theatre, which exists largely by private donation, and people donate less, when they feel monetarily pinched, or if they wonder if its a good bet, (as in the Intiman, which I am sure is having a hard time getting people to give to a theatre that is currently closed.) So, this will be tight until companies start employing more people, and those people start buying stuff, and those companies and stockholders start giving away money... is it too late to be an accountant?

Speaking of Theatre, I saw Porgy and Bess Last Wednesday - a Bucket list item if ever there was one, and now I know whats going on between well known songs, and I thought it ended happier, but it is an opera... I know I could have read the booklet that came with my cast recording, but that's boring. Afterwards I did a little research and I can see why it would have enjoyed some disfavor, white people telling stories of black folk and their lives, especially in the early part of the 20th century, it can feel full of stereotypes, what with the poverty and the drugs. But it can also be seen as last centuries The Wire.

What else... oh, I went to Churchmouse Yarn and Tea, last Monday with Christina and Tim, it was good, and I was Extremely well behaved, I only bought what I was there for wool wash, and my free pattern (socks), I also bought two other patterns, one for a stuffed chicken, and the other yoga socks.

Monterey Bay Aquarium Part 5

I may have already posted this one, of the random fish...
they are all random fish you say, or looking at your blurry fish pictures was more boring than waiting for you to post something... or actually you say nothing... err.

I still am not convinced sand dollars are actual animals.

a very thin fish!

did you read my twitter feed which tells you my CEA-EIA was 3.5, which is normal. I was going to wet myself with nervousness yesterday when I got my blood drawn. I'm sure you are thinking isn't she cured... (actually I don't know what people think) and well, yes, but something fishy was going on, and it seems that the fishiness was it was taking a bit for my body to get its protein marker cleaning business in line.

videos part 2

okay-
here we have an anemone and Maia dancing

Aquarium videos part 1

ok... so, top is animatronic seahorse babies in eggs, followed by school of fish, school of fish, a power of the waves exhibit, a second of fish, and a leopard shark.
in the background you can hear me, Sabine and Maia

Monterey Bay Aquarium Part 4

uh, the answer was quicktime. I might be an idiot.

Friday morning update

So, all is going well in Seattle, been working a little, I should be working more and that's my fault, and the economy's fault. It's been so nice to have the time to do social things, and catch up on movies and knitting. Not catching up with my blog, but oh well.

Biggest news in my life is my two friends from the Intiman who recently had cute babies, well, they are moving- it seems that babies are expensive, and you need a job to care for them. Lame.

The roommate and I talked a little and we are staying together. We are not going to sweat the moving until I have some money and we are going to wait for something we will be happy in for cheap. It might take a while, but twice I have found houses for under 900 with some outside space. So, when my CD matures in two months we will be in more of a position to jump on something.

I am about to embark on a 7 week raw food transition diet. By transition they don't mean gradually change over, they mean head first into the deep end. I'm excited in a way, because it will be good. The program tells you exactly what to make, and how to make it, and what to buy, the only thing I feel worried about is a water fast day, on a day I might be working. There are only two on the program, and I can talk about that in the online community when all this starts. Which is Monday. The only other thing, is I am going camping (hopefully) in mid August, with the Women Of Local Fifteen, so, I might need to modify so I can make things that don't require a blender- I'll ask about that too.

I still have a couple more days of aquarium pictures to post, and I need to figure out how to get the video off my phone so I can upload it, it's the most annoying thing, if I could just find the path in iTunes that might work too, but alas- and the videos won't play on windows media, so that's lame. I am hoping to email them to myself - that's the next plan. Wish me luck.... Or if you know anything? My other annoying technical snafu is- the above diet has a bunch of PDFs, but they won't transfer to the PDF reader on the iPad. My friends book transferred, so it's a mystery. Oh, and I got an app for reading knitting patterns, but it wouldnt read a pattern I put on there, but the PDF reader did, so that's a bonus.

The pattern I put on my iPad is for Grumperlina's jaywalker socks, which is my Facebook knitting groups August Knit-a-long, ok there are only three of us, but still...

I am working on a design and gauge swatch for the butterfly mittens, I think the whole venture makes me very nervous, which is why I am dragging my feet. But I am also contemplating recharting the Good Night Moon blanket squares. I think I might do it if Kandra agrees to knit it, because mistakes happen.

Oh, local crew shirts up for grabs - Widespread panic, U2, Katy Perry, and someone else.

Later.

Monterey Bay Aquarium Part 3

this was an a display of seahorse babies, wiggling in their eggs.
when I figure out how to download video from my phone and then upload from my computer, I will post the video.

school of fish... also have a video of this.

kelp forest.