Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Burma

I'm a little late with the updates tonight, (it's gone 1am here - I'll be asleep on my feet tomorrow), because I've been out watching a special showing of a brand new movie called Burma VJ. It was premiered in 40 cinemas across Britain - all connected to the BAFTA cinema in London where there was a Q&A session after the showing. It's a good moving. About some damned courageous VJs (video journalists). The ordinary citizens of Burma who put their lives at risk to film the brutality and oppression that they see everyday. And the protests against the military junta. And who transmit that film across the world.

There's amazing footage of the protests of 2007 and some of Aung San Suu Kyi who was elected as leader with the kind of majority governments in Europe & the USA can only dream of, and promptly arrested & imprisoned.

I knew a fair bit of the history of these events and the struggle between the ruling junta (who want to permanently control the country they call Myanmar) and the pro-democracy movement and the ordinary citizens (who call the country by it's old name Burma). But this film told me things I didn't know.

If you're interested in what happened or have no idea but want to know then you'll find this fascinating. Go & see it if you get a chance. Well worth six quid.

Ze

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Monday, July 13, 2009

Cloudy Days

Yesterday we had splendid hail, thunder and lightning and today clouds with some sprinkles. What a nice change from the over-the-top heat for this wimpy chick. I'm enjoying my hoodie being on.

Tomorrow a return of our average summer weather they say...about 70-75 degrees with some early overcast and sunbreaks later in the day. Perfect.

Now back to your update...enjoy it!

Elisa

Elisa

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Sunday, July 12, 2009

So Close

Well the house is this close to being ready for pictures. I'm putting off tackling my desk area until tomorrow. E will probably do the same.

We picked Mike up from the airport yesterday. The kids are with my mom in Oklahoma this week. Mom already did the grandma thing and spent money on Cal. He informed me this morning he now has 28 Bakugan (she didn't buy him that many...just six...the rest went with him for vacation). She will, of course, make sure everything is even and bug Duncan about picking something out. I think he'd be just as happy to be dropped off at his friend's house every day to play video games.

Max also came home yesterday from his time at the Bone-a-Fide Dog Ranch. He had a great time but damn was he filthy. He's a brown dog so he didn't really look dirty but when I touched him my hand came away dusty. It took two rounds of washing to get him clean. I believe next time we drop him off for a stay there he'll let us leave without a whine.

Today has been relaxed and lazy for me. I cleaned a bathroom and have one more to get done before the day is through. I'm probably going to be annoying to live with for the next several weeks as I obsess over everything I just cleaned. I made a deal with E that she'll do the sweeping of the floors every day and I'll do the vacuuming. Give me vacuuming over sweeping any day. Plus I get to use the keen new Oreck vacuum cleaner. Yes, I'm a sad, sad case.

Enjoy your short update!

Tamara

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Saturday, July 11, 2009

Sunshine

Yes it's summer, hence once again I can complain about the sun and heat. For us wimpy Seattlelites this is too hot. I prefer 70's and these 80's are not my favorite. I feel a bit better though after speaking with Tamara's mom and in OKC today it was 104. Ew...that is so wrong.

On the home front, we got a lot done today and I think we're almost there. Our list shrinks hourly it seems and I'm happy. Real estate agent and photographer will be here Tuesday for those final pictures. That's the day we consider we need to be done. Then the period of waiting and hope begins.

Okay now back to your updates, enjoy 'em!

Elisa

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Friday, July 10, 2009

Fire Alarm Fun

I'd say the first week of Summer session was a success. No major issues beyond one of the kids setting off a fire alarm at the school today. Fire alarms are a target for him and it always takes whomever is with him little time to adjust when we're someplace new.

The fire alarms at the high school aren't quite as easy to spot as those at Fircrest but he has this uncanny fire alarm sense and always knows where they are. Fortunately the school contained us and a few students doing strength/endurance training for sports. If he manages to trip a fire alarm during the school year that's when the poop will hit the cooling device's oscillating blades.

It's a Buffy-centric night for y'all. Enjoy 'em.

Tamara

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Thursday, July 09, 2009

Time to Weed

First a nap. Then time to get down to business. Our prep the house to sell list is getting smaller each day. One of the main time consuming things left to do is weeding the front flower beds. Yesterday I got out there and used the weed eater in the front of the house next to the road, hence leaving the on your knees work for today.

Got off my real job a bit earlier today and went to lunch with Tamara. Now getting this update done a bit early and heading off to a nifty hour nap. Will allow time for my MP3 player to get all charged up and ready to go for a few hours of fun in the front yard.

Once that's accomplished I'm down to cleaning off my desk. How did I know that was going to be one of those accomplished items?

Enough rambling, on to your exciting update. Enjoy!

Elisa

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Wednesday, July 08, 2009

Nothing

Is ever as easy as you think it's going to be, is it?? Especially when it comes to household repairs. I've been meaning to replace the kitchen lights for most of the year, (we bought a nice new, brushed steel, spotlight array in the January sales, to replace the awful fluorescent tube that was there) but haven't had the time while there was enough daylight. And then I got mumps and had time but not the desire. This week I had both time and inclination. So I got cracking.

I opened the new fitting and checked it over. No back-box. (Building regs state that all ceiling light-fittings must have a back-plate or BESA box - you can't fix them direct to the plaster). No worries, I thought, I'll use the old one. I took down the old light. No backbox there either. After a short period of rest - to allow me to break into a cold-sweat thinking of all the things that could have happened - visions of the house burning down etc. I asked myself how the hell I could have put up a light without one before remembering that I didn't. It was here when we moved in. Presumably the clot who lived here before had done it. His d-i-y work scares me. He's the bloke who connected the porch light to the same fuse as the shower heater!!

I started ringing round the trade-suppliers for a backplate. Nobody had one. I started on the d-i-y places. Still no luck. Finally I was left with just B&Q. I hate B&Q. It's my opinion that the stuff they sell is crap. Lots of people like it though because it's cheap. The staff (though very willing) are generally (it seems to me) poorly trained. I shouldn't have to explain to the chap supposedly in charge of the paint dept. what a fitch is!! Needn't have worried. They didn't have one either. Though it took them 10 minutes to understand what I wanted!! I wound up having to buy a complete pendant set just to get a plate.

I got the set home, unwrapped the plate & went to fix it. It was only then that I noticed none of the cables had the little circle of red tape on them. One of them should have had it to indicate which cable goes to the switch. Do you think I could remember which cable had gone where in the old fitting?? Hah!! I had a choice of three. Know what that means?? Yep. It means I had to fully fit the new light and turn the power back on to check. And then take it down , move the cables around and re-fit it all over again if it didn't work first time. Wanna guess how many times I had to fit the light??

You got it. Three. I've marked the cables this time. And if the light ever needs replacing again we are moving house!!

Enjoy your updates, goodnight and may your God/s go with you.

Ze

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Tuesday, July 07, 2009

Joan Update

Hi folks - guest ramble tonight - an update from Joan. Remember her?? You were lovely to her after her first ramble so she's sending you an update. Take it away Joan.

    Transnews

    Hi ladies,

    Should you wonder what I'm talking about, please read the ramble dated May 26, 2009. Speaking of which, I want to thank you for all your very friendly reactions, and also for the fact that I didn't receive even a single flame. You go, girls!

    The long time it takes for a dog to become a cat is drawing to an end. I've had my final tests, concluding that all alternative therapies proved insufficient, and I've had a preliminary appointment at the clinic where the surgery will be done; on Monday, Sept. 21st I'll be admitted, surgery will take place the day after. Whew! I can hardly wait, even though I'll have to...

    I must admit that I'm scared. A fortnight in hospital is certain to drive me up the wall, and the expectation that I will spend some of that time in pain does not cheer me up, either.

    On the other hand, being able to admit my fears shows that I've come a long way, my "former me" would never have done that. But despite my misgivings, I have no words for how good it feels to finally arrive where I belong. Not long now, and I'll be able to fully join the "Ladies' Club".

    I can only hope that I'll be welcome. And I also hope to restore enough peace of mind that I get to finish some of the stories that have been in the planning stage for too long.

    Sometimes (laughs at self) I feel like a kid before Xmas :-)

    Joan


Wish her luck, won't you.

Ze

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Monday, July 06, 2009

Back to Work

Summer session began today and I must say it went well. I know that doesn't mean every day will go well but when you're only there for three hours the odds run in your favor for more good days than bad. My student in particular seemed to like the change of scenery. We get to work in a room called the production center that has a lot of hands on vocational activities. It was way keen and something I've wanted to be available to my student for a while.

So today I made it out of work by noon. I ended up sitting with one of Cal's friends (he was home sick) for about an hour and a half so his mom could get to her work. That let me read my book and a comic and avoid cleaning. Yay! Alas, the update is now done and I must get to it. Think I'll pack some rocks.

Tamara

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Sunday, July 05, 2009

Lists

The lists are made on what needs to be done prior to the for sale sign going up. So what did we do today? Well Tamara once again moved in the right direction, however the slug I am took a sick cat to the vet spending a chunk of change and then proceeded to take a nap. Got up from the nap and decided to go look at an open house dragging Tamara and my daughter along for the ride. I decided if I was going to continue to procrastinate, I should at least take Tamara with me.

Now hopefully the hot for Seattle weather (or not hot as Tamara says) will cool down a bit and allow me to get some of the chores off my list. Or then again I could become the complete slug and do nothing but surf the web. Who knows?

May you all have a grand week and we'll catch up towards the end.

Enjoy your update!

Elisa

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Saturday, July 04, 2009

US Independence Day

Well, it's officially the 4th here in the US. Most folks celebrate with cookouts and fireworks. In fact the kids are currently hanging out at a park in Mustang, OK waiting for darkness to hit so they can fire off a buttload of fireworks along with a few hundred other folks.

Here in Shoreline, we're enjoying the coolness (compared to Oklahoma's hot temps that is). E thinks it's horribly hot here right now. Feels just about right to me. I'm sure not looking forward to the day when I'm in agreement with her about what constitutes unbearable heat.

E managed to get the storage shed organized enough so you can walk through it. It can't be counted as square footage on the house but it's a nice extra space and it's a good idea to let folks get back there. I painted the one beam the painters missed outside. I also painted the screen door contraption E made a few years back for the French doors. This way I figure we can have it off when the pics are taken of the house for listing purposes but we can keep it on the rest of the time. It's quite nice to be able to open those doors and get the breeze while keeping the cats in.

Whatever you're doing today, have fun, be safe and enjoy the updates!

Tamara
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Friday, July 03, 2009

A Day Off

That means a day off from my weekday job...it only allows me to work more at home then. I get to wear what I want is really the key and, of course, work at my leisure. Today I definitely got into the leisure part. We took Max to the dog ranch for his week of vacation and then came home and watched one episode of The Closer. Not a high stress day.

Then finally I got my lazy bones up and did put in some quality time pulling weeds and dead things up in the front yard. I am now officially sore from working. Not to mention the attack from the rose bushes who hate it when I try and rip all the morning glory off them for survival. The yard looks better, more work to be done, but a lot closer.

Okay enough of my rambling...go enjoy your update!

Elisa

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Thursday, July 02, 2009

Quiet July

The kids landed safely in Denver earlier this afternoon and should be winging their way to OKC as I type this. It's going to be weird without them around. Very quiet that's for sure. Max will get me and E as houseguests tonight. I didn't want him to be scared and lonely with no one in the house. Then he'll head on his week vacation to the Bone-a-Fide Dog Ranch. I hope he has a good time.

Tomorrow E is off work for the 4th of July holiday weekend. Not sure what we'll do on the actual 4th. Probably just hang out. E has yard work planned and I need to start spiffing up the place for real estate photos. I much prefer cleaning to yard work.

Happy belated Canada Day to our neighbors to the north!


Tamara

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Wednesday, July 01, 2009

Too Hot, Too Humid

My brain won't work. Except in cranky mode. It seems to be doing quite well in that today.

I was standing in the garden just now, trying to get cool, and I looked up at the moon. (It's dark here and there's a bright half-moon playing hide-and-seek in the scattering of clouds. Hope the clouds mean rain - maybe it'll be less humid if it does.) Anyway there I was, looking up at the moon and thinking about the up-coming anniversary. In just under three weeks it will be the 40th anniversary of the first time a human being set foot on another planet.

Think about that for a bit. A human being set foot on another planet. Ok maybe the moon isn't really a planet but the sense of awe, the feeling of wonder is still the same. Six landings, twelve people. That's all. Just twelve people have stood on another world and looked back at this one. What do you do, what can you possibly do, after you've done that?? Do you always yearn to do it again?? I wish I could have done that. I wish I could feel for just a moment what it feels like to go into space. Maybe some day it will be as commonplace as a flight across the Atlantic which in some ways will be great. But it will be a shame to no longer have that sense of wonder.

See you next week. Good night and may your God/s go with you.

Ze

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