My dad was a pretty athletic guy growing up-he played 3 sports in high school, and was on the UW Baseball team in college. It's no surprise that he's a big sports nut to this day, even though he can no longer play, and why he has a soft spot in his heart for young athletes. So when the son of a former colleague of his decided to come to Portland for the summer to play baseball and needed a place to stay, my parents offered up our spare room. And when that son brought his two best friends with him to play ball as well, we converted the den into a dorm room.

I was in heaven that summer, sharing a house (and a bathroom) with not one, not two, but three college baseball players. And they were GORGEOUS. I was instantly popular, not only because I brought the cute boys with me to every party that summer, but because they could legally buy beer. In fact, the last time that I remember being drunk on beer specifically was with those three...

They had graciously offered to accompany me to a keg party being thrown by a former classmate of mine, and as soon as we arrived, the beer started flowing. Before I knew it, I was being challenged to keep up with the boys--for every beer they drank, I had to drink one too, and they couldn't get a refill until I had finished my last. Even when my cup was filled mostly with foam after tapping the third keg, I still had to chug it down so they could go get their refill. It was at that party that I learned that sometimes, emptying the entire contents of your stomach into the bushes is a great way to sober up...and makes room for more beer!

Sometime in July, my parents (remember, they're temporarily crazy) decided to go to Vegas for vacation, and they left me and the boys to watch over the house. We were more than happy to oblige, and immediately invited friends over for a little BBQ. I don't remember much about that night, but at some point we were feeding beer to the dog, and I found myself playing a pretty dirty version of "Truth or Dare", made all the dirtier by the fact that we were pretty drunk on Southern Comfort and Caffeine-Free Diet Pepsi.

Lest you think that I was a dirty whore that summer, or that the guys were less than gentlemen during their time living with us, let me put your mind at ease. Sure, we had our moments of drunken debauchery. But most of my time was spent at the ball park with my parents, cheering on the boys from the stands while eating hot-dogs and Cracker Jacks. It was an all-American summer, filled with our country's greatest past-time, national anthems, fireworks and--yes--beer.

I've tried many times since that summer to become a beer drinker. Despite all my efforts, the tang of hops and the yeasty taste of even the lightest brew only conjures up memories of puking up foam in the bushes at that keg party whilst Baseball Babe #1 held back my hair. And please, for the love of God, keep Southern Comfort (or any other liquor one might mix w/ Coke) far FAR away from me! But if you're looking to show me a good time, take me to the ballpark and buy me a hot dog. Even if our team is having the worst season on record (hello, Mariners? 100 losses, REALLY?!), I'm a sucker for a good game of ball.

La increíble Janis Joplin haciendo su versión en vivo de Summertime, una más de las grandes creaciones de Gershwin.

We go on approximately 4 mile walks during the summer months . . . mornings preferably. But the boys get bored of these walks so I break them up most days with a stop by the old park . . . one of them anyway, there are several on the route.  This particular park keeps their grass lush and green . . . this photo doesn't do it justice. The boys love this giant tree, pictured.

Um, thats all I got to say about the park, really.  I miss summer already so much.  That is, by far, my favorite time of year.  I would live outdoors if I could . . . my boys feel the same, I believe. :)

Yep, here's my dog.  He's pretty cute . . . as far as dogs go.  But the gem is his personality . . . great dog! Though don't go out and get a Jack just because I said that. Not all of them are this great and we did much research regarding the breeder, etc . . . we wanted a good temperament around the boys. And energy abounds!

Um, I wasn't doing an ad for Jack Russell dogs, I swear.  :)

As my tykes get older I see a bond between them.  Actually several.  Sometimes its wonderful, like in this photo . . . where they were laughing and carrying on before I pulled the camera out (of course) . . . sometimes the bond is that of hierarchy.  Like watching a small herd of horses in a pasture establish and maintain the pecking order . . . but they wouldn't travel too far without the horse they just bit the heck out of for getting in the way, etc.  They love and despise each other . . . all at the same time.

Its awesome.

Yes, that is sarcasm.

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I sobbed during The Biggest Loser. I mean, this isn't totally unusual for me; I usually cry while watching The Biggest Loser because I'm so moved by the weight loss stories, but this time it was a little different. See, this season it's Biggest Loser Families, so some of the couples are husbands and wives. Tonight the first husband, Ed, was kicked off and while he was leaving, his wife, Heba, (they are newlyweds) was sobbing, like heaving, can't catch your breath sobbing. It totally made me sob. BB looked at me from across the room and gave me a "for serious?" look. Yes, for serious. Heba was talking about how much she was going to miss him in bed (sidenote: do you think that the couples have sexual relations while on the show? I hope so, it's a lot of calories burned!), and Ed gave this beautiful speech about how she's the light of his life....I'm such a sucker for using terms like "light" or "sunshine" while speaking romantically.

Remember when I was so stressed this summer that my eye twitched? Today's stress level was on par with that. Everything was just crazy, moving at double or triple speed. I haven't been sleeping enough, anyway, and today I found out that in two weeks Miss March has a conference to attend to...a two-night conference. However, I'm going with another teacher, so it's going to be quite the Lucy and Ethel adventure (and let's hope, for Miss March's sake, that there's some cute male teachers there!).

Tonight was one of those nights that I really wished I had a prince charming who would knock on the door with Chinese, tasti, and movies. It's not that I was lonely, I just had a really long day and I would have loved for one of these men in my life to be like "hey, that girl had a long day, let me pamper her!" (I know, I'm out of my mind). It was one of those days where I felt totally drained from life and I just wanted someone to come along and help lift my spirits. You ever have those days? I did use my passive aggressiveness and changed my Facebook status to "Miss March decided this is what she wants: someone to bring her tasti with peanuts on top and watch her netflix with her. yup." The Prep texted me and said, "I'd love to bring u tasti with peanuts on top and watch netflix." I have to admit, as much as my feelings for him are sort of whatever, it was so nice to get that text and know that someone was thinking about what I may want.

Am I insane (or have I watched too many Rom-Coms?) to think that someday a man will go out of his way to make my day better?

Last night CB and I went to see Religulous (which was awesome, by the way). We had a lot of time to kill, so we sat outside (the smell of Fall was just in the air!) the indie movie theater and talked about life for a while.  We were watching people walk by when all of the sudden I had this weird premonition. If you know me, you know that I tend to get flashes of premonitions once in a while and then all of the sudden the thing will happen.

Well, sure enough. Out of the corner of my eye I see this tan baseball cap. I look at the face and my stomach dropped.

"Um, that may or may not be the guy who screwed me over this summer," I whispered to CB.

He asked if I wanted to go inside and see if it was him, but I really didn't. I was super confused. All I wanted to do all summer was confront him (especially if he was with another girl, which he was), but now I couldn't even recognize his face. Was it him? Was it not him? We walked into the lobby and I sort of followed him into the snack area. It felt good knowing that CB was just a few feet behind me. I walked over to the snack counter and tried to get a closer view of his face. When he turned around, I knew.

Well, if it isn't good old, MusicTeach.

I looked back to CB (and side note: did I feel bad watching this guy on my "date" with CB? A little. Did CB understand my need to do it? Completely. Hence, he's my friend first) and he waved me on.

What would I say? Go up to him and be like, "Hey asshole?" I still wasn't even 100% sure it was him. What was wrong with me that I couldn't remember it was him? However, as they say in Pushing Daisies (love it!), The facts were these: wearing the same baseball cap, same body type, same brooding eyes, hair color...and earlier in the night I thought I had seen his car in town, but had blocked it from my memory. The only thing which didn't match up for me was his nose, but he had a weird nose anyway (and according to the "account" from him, he messed up his nose in that "biking accident" he had; the accident which supposedly scarred him...did I see any scars? Yeah, no).

I sat down next to CB and MusicTeach walked right by; he looked me right in the eye and showed no sign of recognition. Yes, my hair was up, and he never saw it that way, and yes, I was wearing a fleece and jeans, and he only saw me in shorts and dresses...um, but, no sign in his eyes? Maybe my readers were right (see comment: "something is just off about this music teacher guy. i would stay away"...to which I didn't really listen) and there was something seriously off about him. He was with a blond girl. I called J and she gave the same response CB gave: go throw something in his face. Ha, I wish. However, looking back in retrospect, I'm glad I didn't say or do anything; who knows what his reaction may have been.

Also, I'm glad I didn't go up to him and say the wrong thing; or get nervous and look like a fool. I was actually pretty calm about the whole thing. It was funny, too, because I sent out a mass text to J, T, and A about it, and also sent it to Admiral Adama. He was the first to respond, and he asked if I was okay and was CB with me. It was a really nice text to get from him. Yes, this whole debacle was on my mind the whole night. I knew it was going to happen. I just knew it. I had that feeling.

Anyway, he looked crappy, and I was with a bigger, more handsome, and masculine man. Plus, I looked all adult in my teacher clothes. He looked like a bum. Not for nothing, but that sort of brings a smirk to my face. I wonder if he recognized me at all. Or if he went home and thought, "I know her from somewhere..." (uh yeah, Musicteach, you spent over $300 on dinner for me...and a book...and cds...).

One of the reasons I love this blog is because while writing this entry, I was looking back on my old posts about MusicTeach. Boy, was I in denial about that. He was a jerk. However, I was duped. He really led me on (you don't talk to someone from midnight to 8am on the phone about your life and then pretend it never happened, right?) in many ways. He also made me feel like an idiot, and screwed up my trust in other men. Bravo, MusicTeach.

All in all, one of the weirdest nights, ever.

Did anyone else have a weird night? I'm going to go read my horoscope and see if it says anything about this weird energy!

Summertime....

Summertime, time, time,
One of these mornings
You're gonna rise, rise up singing,
You're gonna spread your wings, child,
And take, take to the sky,
Lord, the sky.

But until that morning,
Honey, n-n-nothing's going to harm ya,
No, no, no no, no no, no...
Don't you cry — cry.

I think a lot of people associate spring as a season and time of new beginnings. To an extent, I'm one of those people. However, autumn is my favorite time of year. The other day was the first cool day of the season - one where I bundled up on the couch with thick socks and a book. Curled under a blanket in a room lit only by the dim grey skies outside, this weather which should bring me down or induce melancholy instead makes me reflective (yes, more so than usual) and feels like a time of renewal.

I love wearing sweaters and packing up my flip flops. I love the absence of humidity and the sun shining through inflated clouds that hover so low that you feel you could touch them if you could just reach out your hand.

Leaves turning color, leaves falling. Even the air smells differently.

And my music is different. These are the days to curl up with songs like this.

And so after a quite stressful week at work. Family with friends decided to push through with the plan of going to the water park --- Hurricane Harbor.

A water park for all ages and all walks of life. The kids had a blast while the adults scour for some shaded areas to sit back, relax and enjoy each other's company. From opening to closing and till we all drop and got hungry.

It was one weekend of fun, a family time and a whole lot more revelations were spilled. A whole lot were revealed and it was a good one. A great weekend indeed.

This summer was a pretty tumultuous one, but music was a constant. So, to mark the changing of the seasons I thought I'd share the songs that I listened to the most this summer. It's getting marginally cooler here in Austin, and I know the first cold front is just around the corner.

Sit, good dog, stay, bad dog, down, roll over
Well here's a good man and a pretty young girl
Trying to play together somehow,
I'm wasting my life, you're changing the world,
I get drunk and watch your head grow

It's the good times that we share
and the bad times that we'll have
It's the good times
and the bad times that we had

Well it's been a long slow collision,
I'm a pitbull, you're a dog,
Baby you're foul in clear conditions
But you're handsome in the fog

So I need some fine wine, and you, you need to be nicer
For the good times and the bad times
That we'll have

Sometimes we talk over dinner like old friends
Till I go and kill the bottle,
I go off over any old thing,
Break your heart
and raise a glass or ten

To the good times that we shared and the bad times that we'll have
To the good times
and the bad time that we've had

Well it's been a long slow collision,
I'm a pitbull, you're a dog,
Baby you're foul in clear conditions
But you're handsome in the fog

So I need some fine wine and you, you need to be nicer
For the good times
and the bad times we know will come
Yeah
I need some fine wine
and you, you need to be nicer
you need to be nicer
you need

For the good times
and the bad time that we had
Sit

Good times, bad times
Sweet wine, bad wine
Good cop, bad cop,
Lapdog, bad dog
Sit.

-"I Need Some Fine Wine, And You, You Need to Be Nicer" by The Cardigans

---

Our patience is fading.
consider this courtesy,
if not somewhat evasive underneath.
But even if it just thrills my soul,
or it burns another hole,
I've got to let it go
before we can't.
So long.
You've got to believe there's something better out there,
someone better out there for you than me.

So, there you left me standing
to fend for myself however.
but I'm holding up,
I'm pulling through.
I'm not sure what else you expect me to do.
but I won't deny that I'm taking it hard...
I'm taking whatever's available to me.
You see, that's just the way I deal with grief.

-"The Jeopardy of Contentment" by What Made Milwaulkee Famous

---

Hey don't you wanna
run and call her name
if I buy her candy
will she know who I am

She's famous
she's the best
cannot lay
my heart to rest
she is selfish
she is kind
no one can say
she is mine

like water like spring
fickle fancy fickle girl
rain down from the sky
when I need you the most

-"Buy Her Candy" by Sleater-Kinney

---

I'm an angel bored like hell
and you're a devil meaning well
you steal my lines and you strike me dumb
come raise your flag upon me

and if you want me I'm your country
if you win me I'm forever - oh yeah!

'cause you're the storm that I've been needing
and all this peace has been deceiving
I like the sweet life and the silence
but it's the storm that I believe in

-"You're The Storm" by The Cardigans

---

When darkness falls
on Summer's end
so in your absence
I shall begin
when Darkness falls the race iz done
and Love lives not
when Hope is gone
goodbye, sufer

everything's gonna be alright...

the longest night of every year
I spent beside you, baby
do you remember anything about me?
I was the one when Hope was gone
who took too long to sing this song

everything's gonna be alright...

when darkness falls
on Summer's end
so in your absence
I shall begin

-"Twilight" by The Twilight Singers

I don't know how entertaining this post will be cause I just don't feel like myself but I wanted to get it out there before I forget it. :)  As some of you know we went on vacation last week Wed-Sun. We had a wonderful time and the weather was absolutely beautiful except for Wed afternoon when I believe it actually rained cats and dogs.  We went to the Southern Outer Banks in NC ( Emerald Isle, Indian Beach, Pine Knoll Shores & Atlantic Beach).  From the north end of the island to the south it is only like a 25min ride total.  The road is right down the middle and you can see the Atlantic on one side and the Bogue sound on the other. Not a lot of land there.  Makes you wonder who thought it was a good idea to build a house there, I wouldn't have but I sure am glad they did. We were in a hotel, not a condo, which we learned may not be the best idea. It was nice, clean and friendly but I just couldn't get the heck away from my child.  If you have kids, you know what I mean, everyone needs their own space. We did all the normal beach activities like jumping waves, building sand castles, swimming in the pool and hot tub, shopping, eating ice cream and playing putt putt but we did do a couple out of the ordinary things.  We took a trip to Fort Macon and the the Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores.

Fort Macon is at the northern most point that you can reach without chartering a ferry.  It was AWESOME! I just have never seen anything like it in person ever.  It just amazes me that they built something so large without cranes and modern machinery.  The time and hard work really showed in the craftsmenship.  If you ever are in the area I would highly recommend checking it out. Oh and it's free. Just a couple sample pics from there. I have a bunch on Myspace if you want to check them out there.

   

The Aquarium was absolutely fabulous!  Mike & I haven't been to one in over 20yrs and Brandon had never been. He was like "What is a aquarium?" I said "It was big fish tanks will all different types of fish you never see." "Oh like at Wal-Mart". "No, way bigger like the size of a wall." He just stared off and didn't get it but I knew he wouldn't till he saw.  Needless to say he was so excited and amazed.  Everyone had the best time but I forgot the camera because we went on Wed when it was raining and I was rushing to the car so no pics on that one.  Brandon was fascinated with the conchs and the hermit crabs. He must of asked 30 questions and the patient volunteer answered everyone and didn't show the slightest bit of irritation.  Mike fell in love with the sting rays.  They had a petting pool where you could touch the rays as they swam by.  The rays were so used to human contact that if you lightly splashed the surface they would all race over there to be pet first.  It was so cool.  Brandon was reluctant to touch them and when he finally did gave a Ughghhhhhh sound and wanted to wash his hands immediately.  That was funny; he was NOT into that at all. My favorite was the jelly fish. They were so relaxing to watch and just so graceful. They had this round window/tank with a red light on inside.  The jellies just kept circling with their long tenticals it was hypnotising, like a lava lamp or something. Did you know that jellies don't have a heart, brain or any bone and are 95% water?  Just a little trivia for you there.

So there you have it.  It was a awesome, wonderful, fantastic vacation and can't wait to go back next year. Except next time I'm going out to Shakleford Banks to do some shelling and see the wild ponies! :)

Hoy seré breve:

Estos días ando enganchado a muchas cosas, y al menos una no es nociva para la salud. Se trata de una versión de la Primera Dama del rock, Janis Joplin. Y es, para mi gusto, la mejor versión que se ha hecho de este clásico popularizado precisamente por otra Primera Dama, a ésta la llamaban la Primera Dama de la Canción, claro, hablo de la enorme Ella Fitzgerald, en un genial dúo con Louis Armstrong.

Posiblemente figure entre uno de los temas más versionados de la historia; yo al menos ya lo he escuchado en todas las formas y colores posibles. Pero definitivamente me quedo con la versión que hizo esta simpática señora. Sí: El guitarrista mete la pata un par de veces, pero lo trascendental (y no hay más que ver el video), como casi todo en su corta discografía, reside en la voz, amarga y oscura, de esta afiliada al club de los 27.

Imprescindibles cascos o altavoces. Hazte un favor y no le des al play si usas los altavoces del portátil.

Frances Meiwes

]]> http://itsbashy.wordpress.com/?p=273 Fri, 19 Sep 2008 11:03:48 +0000 itsbashy http://itsbashy.ro.wordpress.com/2008/09/19/this-is-my-joint-right-now/

 

I'm digging this track still I heard Westwood play it first...I hope my man does a video to this. This is the kinda shit I wanna hear, it will duppy the clubs 'MEMBA I TOL' U!

O tuse magareasca si un nefericit debut de pneumonie ma tin in casa de o saptamana. Imi amintesc ca weekendul trecut iesisem la vanatoare de majorete in maneca scurta, iar azi dimineata din blocul de vis-a-vis a iesit o domnisoara cu helanca tricotata si palton de stofa lung. Ca si cum as fi lipsit cu lunile din peisaj. Convalescenta a atras dupa sine doua schimbari majore in viata mea: no more cigarettes & no more news. Parol.

Ultimele stiri de 5 minute ascultate, saptamana trecuta, pe un post de radio oarecare,  sunau cam asa:

1. Un barbat s-a intors acasa de la munca, s-a asezat la masa, sotia i-a pus mancarea in fata, el a gustat-o, nu i-a placut, a aruncat farfuria pe geam, apoi a luat o sticla cu benzina, a turnat-o pe femeie, i-a dat foc si a plecat linistit sa se plimbe. Erau impreuna de 20 de ani si pana atunci nu avusesera alte conflicte. Femeia a ars de vie si are sanse minime de supravietuire (probabil intre timp a murit).

2. Un baietel de 10 ani s-a spanzurat in camera lui dupa ce si-a vazut mama impreuna cu un alt barbat. Parintii lui erau despartiti de mai bine de 2 ani si marea bucurie a copilului era sa-si vada tatal in vizitele lunare, sperand ca intr-o buna zi acesta se va intoarce acasa. Inteleg ca nimeni nu-si pusese pana atunci  problema sa-i explice pustiului cum sta treaba cu sutul in fund si saltul inainte.

3. Doi bunici clujeni si-au dus nepotica de 4 ani la spital, pentru o extractie de polipi. Au luat-o acasa , cateva ore mai tarziu, moarta. Medicii au sustinut, la unison, ca au respectat procedurile standard ale anesteziei, respectiv operatiei, fara sa ofere nici o explicatie pentru decesul copilei. Asteptam sa se faca lumina si dreptate in acest caz.

4. La un an de la disparitia Elodiei, Cioaca a inaintat o cerere de divort impotriva sotiei sale disparute, de a carei moarte este suspectat intr-un alt dosar. Judecatorii se confrunta cu o dilema legislativa de gen: daca-l divortam de moarta, nu se supara colegii nostri procurorii de la dosarul penal?! si daca nu-l divortam, cum ramane cu prezumtia de nevinovatie ca si norma de drept?!

Motive pentru care, intelegand totusi ca nu eram nici pe departe la stirile-de-la-ora-5, am decis ca nu mai vreau sa stiu niciodata nimic. Sper sa ajung curand ca si mascaricii aceia intervievati mereu in preajma alegerilor, care nu stiu cine e presedintele tarii. Acum inteleg de ce. Si subscriu.

S-a intors toamna. Maronie ca un rahat proaspat eliberat. Uda, urata, intunecoasa, deloc parfumata, murdara, deprimanta,  plictisitoare si plina de boli. Din aceste considerente eu refuz s-o accept ca atare, o alung si astept revenirea ei cu semne mai blande, asa cum imi place mie. E vara deci. E doar o perioada friguroasa de vara tarzie. In 3 saptamani plec in concediu, la mare... se indrepta vremea pana atunci. :)

This shot was taken by my 13 year old girlie recently. She has fantastic perspective, that one!
~~

**For more great Theme Thursday:Playtime shots, click on over to Stacy's at The Land of K.A.**

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