7 days old

Its hard to believe that just one week ago today the sun was shining and I was hopping into my new ride.  How they grow up so quickly?

In other non Sparky related news, what a weekend I had!

Saturday the PhotoGods (well two of the PhotoGods) went out to a local cemetery that has several thousand military tombs.  It's humbling to say the least.  Its hard to be amongst so many men and women who gave their lives for freedom and not feel some sort of tug at the patriotic strings.  Its easy to forget the sacrifices that are made for us and I appreciated the opportunity to be thankful for just a moment. You can check out all my photos here if you feel so inclined. 

 My focus this trip was depth of field. I was trying to pay attention to how much was in focused with each shot and how much I wanted in focus in each shot. 

This shot below, I think, would make a killer jigsaw puzzle.

On Sunday the 3Day crowd gathered at Safeco Field for a Mariner's baseball game. I'm not a regular fan in that I don't watch all the games and I couldn't tell you but maybe one player on the team. But I do like a good game and when the home team wins, everybody wins.

This wasn't just your ordinary game though. We were treated as a thank you to watch the game from the Safeco Suite.  I've been in suites before at our football stadium and recalled how glorious it was to not have to wait in line for a bathroom break, to have any drink you want within your arm' reach, and more food than you could ever imagine.  Safeco was no different. 

The players on the field may be unfamiliar, but the beautiful smiles and warm hearts of the 3Day folks is not.  Thanks Erin (and Erin's hubby) for arranging such a wonderful day of food, baseball, laughs and a little more food just for fun.

This is my last week at work before Jenn's Excellent Summer Vacation begins.  I'm not really sure where to start and I doubt it'll really hit home until Monday. Saturday and Sunday in the Great Northwest is looking sunny and warm.  I suspect I might burn through a tank of gas just driving around with my top down.

I'm going to try to blog every day of my 100 days.  Even if it's just to say I did nothing.  I've been very lax in writing and I know you all have suffered greatly because of it. I will try to redeem myself. Heck I might even proof read my blog and check it for spelling errors.  Crazier things have happened.

And we welcome Sparky into the mix...

It arrived! Finally. I wasn't sure it would make it yesterday and then I'd have to wait until Thursday to pick it up. But as I was driving into my garage the phone rang. It was George the Sales Guy (seen above) calling to let me know the car was done and in their show room.

IN THEIR SHOWROOM!

I high tailed it to Seattle trying desperately to drive the speed limit and not kill myself getting there. The sun was shining high in the sky and it was clearly going to stay there.

I drove into the lot, hopped out and went into the show room. There were 6 sales guys standing around shining up Sparky. I got a super tough sealant on the car called Cilapat or something like that and they were finishing up the shining.

Yet they all stood there and marveled with me at the beauty of this car.

There were a couple camera guys hanging around shooting different photos of the car. Finally they told me this was the first convertible of the 2011 or 2012 model they've sold or have had on the lot.  So everyone seemed to be out to see it go to it's new owner.

Finally, they drove it out into the sunshine.  Sadly they wouldn't let me drive it out, but whatever. I was still trying to get them to give me the Shelby or the Cobra that was in the showroom (if you look closely to the top picture you can see the Cobra and then the Shelby behind my car.)

Once outside I took no time to hop in!  George grabbed my camera from me and snapped a couple pictures.  They had a video guy there who asked if I'd be interested in doing a testimonial for their website.  Sure, why not!

Finally I was ready to leave. George and I drove across the street and he filled her up with a tank full of gas (about the same worth as the car - sheesh). Once he was done I was off. 

Wind whipping through my hair and the sun shining down on me. Drove straight to BigBro's house to show SSIL the car...she was covered in dust, paint and a little dirt.  Thankfully she didn't get too close to the car. = )

So today we have the Seattle Sunshine coming down - top had to go up. My new rule is the top has to go up before it goes into the garage. You never know what the weather here is going to be like so it's probably a good idea.  A cousin who's a convertible owner and has been for as long as I've known her sent me two rules of convertible ownership: 1) the top MUST be down if the sun's out. Period. and 2) the car MUST always be clean!

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go stare at the car. I may even sleep in it.



It seems to me the only thing you've learned is that Caesar is a "salad dressing dude."

I've decided to call my 100 day break "Jenn's Excellent Summer Vacation" in reference to Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure. I know, old movie, rather dorky, but what can I say...I fit all those qualifications too.

I've been asked at least a hundred and 4 times, "So what are you going to do with your 100 days off?" Instead of listing everything off I figured I'd start the list here.  I've been collecting things for a couple of months now, and have gathered all the scrap pieces of paper, all the napkins with notes, all the notes in my planner...and now the list.

1. Look for a job. - While I have a job to come back to, one can never tell.

2. Read a LOT. I have a list of books and frankly I may have to take more than 100 days. Until someone smartly pointed out that I can still read once I'm back to work. I do have a summer reading list which is vastly different from the summer reading list we used to get in high school.

3. Back up iTunes. I usually back up every month or so the purchased songs. I put them on CD and put that CD in a pile.  I don't know what's on those CDs so I've decided I should perhaps get better at paying attention and actually documenting what's on those CDs.

4. Organize my scrapbook paper - thrilling I know. I had an epiphery (If you watch the Office you would know that Michael says epipery instead of epiphany...funny stuff) in that I need to put my card stock and my pattern paper together so I know what pattern paper doesn't have matching card stock. Then when I do feel the urge to purchase scrapbooking stuff, I'll know what colors I need.

5. Paint the bathroom. I've wanted to do it for 2.5 years now. Its time.

6. Thoroughly clean the kitchen. This means wiping down all the cabinet fronts, wiping down the inside of the cabinets, etc. Maybe I'll do that when the Parental Units are in town and get mom's help.

7.  Photography. This should be a given.

8. Do a little walking. Can't use the excuse I don't have time, cuz I will. I figured if I can get into a routine and walk first thing in the morning, perhaps I can carry that routine over to when I'm working again.

9. Study Marketing.  Since I got a "D" in Marketing in college, I find it ironic that I'm in a Marketing team and LOVE Marketing.  So I figured I could brush up on the trade a bit. I've started reading some Marketing books and every single one of them has sleeping powder in them. Weird.

10. Wonder Pike Place Market. I love Pike Place Market...and sunny days in Seattle means some of the crazies come out and mingle with the tourist.  I want to be one of those crazies...with a camera.

11. Whidbey Island. There are little jaunts or day trips I want to take. Whidbey Island is one of them.  Nothing particular to the island, just beautiful drives, a fort, and some old friends who moved up there several years ago that I've not seen.

12. Caught up on Scrapbooking. I'd love to have EVERY single photo I have scrapbooked. Could be a dream, but I can try.

13. Insurance photos.  I want to categorize my belongings for insurance purposes and determine if I need to increase my renters insurance.

14. Clean out garage. It needs to be reorganized.

15. Photoshop Elements classes. I have two online classes that need to be completed.

16. Catch up on all Photography books. I must have 6 that I've started reading and haven't finished. Now is the time.

17. Sort photos for the wall. I have a plan to put a collage of black and white photos on my walls in the living room. I have the black frames thanks to Mrs. Landlord, I just need to figure out what photos to get printed and hand them.

18. Interview Financial Planners. Its time.

19. Clean blinds. Ugh. It needs to be done and I can find an excuse every weekend to NOT clean them.

20. Misc day trips. Assuming gas goes down, there are a bunch of day trips in the Seattle area I'd like to take.


That should keep me busy. Any other ideas what I should do with my summer break?

Hold Still! I suck!

There's a funny story about the title of this blog...and I'm gonna tell you right now. And I promise there is a point to this. I swear. The question is can I remember the point.

Many moons ago, like back in 1999 or 1998, I can't remember which, my good friend Mr. NotSoNewlywed, my roommate at the time, Lars, and his girlfriend, all went to Whistler.  It was a fun trip and one that proved that I no longer wanted to ski.  We had gone out to dinner - and honestly I can't remember if it was on the drive up or while we were in Whistler - I was trying to walk along a cement curb by putting one foot in front of the other. 

I was having a horrible time staying up on this 4 inch curb - and yes I was sober.  Lars was standing next to me on the ground. I wasn't keeping my balance very well so in two distinct sentences I grabbed onto Lars shoulder and said, " Hold still!  I suck!"  Which then got turned into a joke amongst us.

So maybe that's not nearly as funny to you as it is to me and the other two.  The point is, I suck at this blog thing.  I really need to get more focused and start writing more.  Though its most like from a lack of exciting things going on.  Just wait though...summer is amongst us.

I've decided to call my summer break, "Jenn's Excellent Summer Adventure".  I have my list of things I'd like to do - some in doors, some out doors, some no where near where I live, some across the street.  We'll see how many get done. I have 15 days until my last day on the job. The first week off I plan on getting all my ducks in a row.

Speaking of ducks, look who came to visit this morning. FRANCIS!  Pookie was all shades of interested. He spoke cat to me and said he was ready to take Francis down.  At which point I pointed out that he'd most likely lose that battle.

Last Sunday was Sunday dinner. This month I decided to kick the summer off by doing a BBQ.  Everyone brought something delicious and we had, as usual, a great time. In fact, we came up with a new nickname for my friend Claudia - whom I've not been able to get a nickname for. She'll hence forth be known as The Pantry Goat.

See The Pantry Goat is trying to eat everything in her house.  And while discussing that we talked about a potential job for her going from house to house helping people eat through their pantry.  Thus she became the Pantry Goat.

You can see we had the usual suspects at dinner.  For dessert we did s'mores. The Pantry Goat had purchased an Indoor S'more thingy at a garage sale so we figured we might as well give it a try.

A lot of discussion took place about the right and wrong way to cook the marshmallow. Some of us normal people liked the charred texture. Other odd balls like it more "golden brown". Turns out with this little hook up getting it "golden brown" takes quite a bit of patience - where as I'm more the "BURN IT!" kinda girl.

Even Puck got into the spirit of it. 

In more ways then one did he get into the spirit of it.  Turns out Puck can't float upright.  Could be the red wine, could be the physics of his making.

Now, that I've got your attention, the Stang Status. 

The car should be here next Tuesday, May 24th. They called on Monday to give me the heads up about that.  I'm not 100% sure what route it's taking (maybe the Pony Express) but its sure taking its time getting up here from Las Vegas. The Seattle Summer may be over by then.

One Day Closer ...

For the past day or two I've been singing this song in my head.  I've used this song in the past as kinda a mantra about finding "la otra media de naranja".  But now I seem to be singing it about the pending convertible purchase...it works all the same. And yes, I have been deemed insane.

So I'm not gonna worry
No I'm in no hurry
It's in the hands of fate
There's nothing I can do
And it might be tomorrow
Or the one that follows
Got the rest of my life to look forward to
Cause everyday is one day closer to you

I was marveling last night at how my phone was ringing off the hook. Suddenly, I have three men all calling and vying for my attention. Of course they want my money, which made me feel kinda like a prostitute.  Though in reverse...

I took the stang out yesterday and had it washed and slightly detailed. We have a killer car wash here on the East side that does all that for you.  SSIL had given me tickets from their coupon book so I got the car clean and a deal. 

As I sat watching the car roll out of the washer, I was stunned and just how beautiful that car is.  I love the Candy Red color.  Love how it sparkles in our non sunny, gray sky.  And so despite my efforts to be influenced by my friends and family, I think the Candy Red will win in the color game. Who knew it would be so difficult?

I mean that's a beautiful car to me.  And then I have to look again at the Kona Blue.

ARGH....They're both so pretty. The Yellow Blaze has been scratched off the list. Even though I think sports cars look awesome in Yellow, I just think it looks like a bumble bee and we all know how I feel about bees.  Plus, I wondered if I'd get tired of that yellow after a couple of days.  So I had to pull up the photo.  And realized I really am not a Yellow Blaze Girl. I'd love to drive one as a rental or something. So sorry guys, Yellow Blaze is off the list.

Tonight could be the night.  I have an appt with the dealership who sold me my last two Mustangs.  They've been quite willing to deal over the phone. They know all my wants as in trade in value for my car, what I'm willing to pay for a new 2012, and that I have been preapproved. So tonight, I'll test drive, again - a girl can't test drive too many times. And we shall see. Stay tuned for tomorrow...cuz it might be tomorrow...though I'm willing to walk away if they can't meet my deal, which is a great place to be.

The Great Mustang Convertible Purchase of 2011

Its happening.

Can you feel it?

The air is all a buzz with electricity of the pending purchase.

I have all my little ducks all in a row, ready to play the game with an unsuspecting dealership. Well, okay, they're expecting me, and they've sold me the last two Mustangs, so they may know my drill. 

Let's assume I've already done all my research and know exactly how much I want to spend, and how much they will give me for my car. Because I'm nothing if not an avid researcher when it comes to cars and their worth.

Step 1
Apply for auto loan - hold breath to see if you get it and a good rate.

See in 2006 when I bought the current baby my credit wasn't nearly as good as it is now. I've worked very hard to get it up to a good score.  I hadn't requested any loans since then so I wasn't really sure what I'd get.  Turns out my credit score is WAY better than I thought and I got a killer interest rate. 

Step 2
Pick up loan papers - shamelessly flirt with 20 something loan officer.

What? He was cute.

Step 3
Meet with dealership sales guy and wow him with my research.

Step 4
Get them to agree to what they'll pay me for my car. Shake on it.
I usually come prepared with what Kelley Blue Book says my car is worth for its excellent condition.  They'll try to low-ball me with a price they think they can get at auction. Which, frankly, I don't care about. I know what the car's worth and they can give me that, or slightly less. I'll ask high and work my way down. It's part of the fun and games.

Once that's decided on, I'll let them in on what I still owe on it and use the rest as a down payment.

Voila!

On to Step 5

Step 5
Get them to agree to what I'll pay them for their car. Shake on it.
This is the tricky part to me. I come prepared with the invoice price and the MSRP price. I'm willing to let them make $$ on the deal, but not THAT much $$.  They don't much like a well informed woman. They'd prefer you come in without a clue so they can stick it to you.  But I'm not that kind of woman. Its my hard earned $$ and they have to work at getting it from me.

Thankfully, as I've said, I'm familiar with this dealership and so am comfortable with them.  It should be just fine.

Step 6
Decide on a color.

Oy vei but this is the hard part. I'm taking an informal poll of color options. 

Kona Blue

Red Candy (and my current Stang color)

Yellow Blaze (because it's a sports car and I think yellow is AWESOME on sports cars)

I have my preference. What is yours?  And remember I'll have the personalized plate of DULCNEA so think about what that'll work with.  What does it mean? Oh, well it's Don Quixote's girl friend, Dulcinea.  He thinks she's a princess, when really she's a bar tramp.  No comment on which I am. It has also been told to me it means SWEETNESS in Spanish...so well, that fits me perfectly!

Discuss amongst yourselves!

Mama, mama you know I love you

I figured in the spirit of Mother's Day I'd 1) make my mom cry and 2) put some photos up that prove I am my mother's daughter. 

Remember when you were a teenager? You swore...SWORE you'd not turn out like your mom. She was nuts, after all. And represented everything you thought was old and conservative.

Then somewhere in your early 20's when you're living on spaghetti O's and the dreams of our future, you stop yourself when you say something your mom used to say.  You have a moment where you have to sit down and think, "Holy crap! It's happening."

Then in your 30's you start to repeat things your mom said ALL THE TIME.  In fact, it becomes so frequent that you can't tell where her vocabulary ends and yours begins.  Then you have to sit down, take a moment, and suddenly feel that you're mom's a pretty cool person and you don't mind at all being just like her.  In fact, you're glad you are.

Maybe that was just how my life felt. Maybe not.  Now that I'm in my 40's I can see so many resemblances that it's scary. Too scary.  And as we've aged, we find ourselves finishing each other sentences and calling at the same time.  Spooky.

So mom, for Mother's Day - beside the awesome flowers I sent you - I give you this: Old photos that'll make us both groan, and song lyrics that really express what you mean to me. I lubya! (and no ChickenLady that's not a typo. Well it once was a typo between mom and I. Then it became such a frequent typo during chat that we now just type it.)

Song for Mama

You taught me everything,

And everything you’ve given me,

I always keep it inside,

You’re the driving force in my life, yeah

Circa - a hella long time ago or 1983

There isn’t anything

Or anyone I can be

And it just wouldn’t feel right

If I didn’t have you by my side

You were there for me to love and care for me

When skies were grey

Whenever I was down

You were always there to comfort me

And no one else can be what you have been to me

You’ll always be you always will be the girl

In my life for all times

1986 - At the Alhambra, Madrid Spain

Mama, mama you know I love you

Oh you know I love you

Mama, mama you’re the queen of my heart

Your love is like

Tears from the stars

Mama, I just want you to know

Loving you is like food to my soul

Saudi Arabia - Summer of 1986

You’re always down for me

Have always been around for me even when I was bad

You showed me right from my wrong

And you took up for me

When everyone was downing me

You always did understand

You gave me strength to go on

There was so many times

Looking back when I was so afraid

And then you come to me

And say to me I can face anything

And no one else can do

What you have done for me

You’ll always be

You will always be the girl in my life

Yah, no I don't look anything like her.  Too bad we aren't that skinny anymore.

Everything bites in the desert...

I can't take credit for the title. BigBro stated this while in Tucson a couple of weeks ago.  And he's right. Scary.

I have nothing really exciting to tap out tonight, other than I wanted to post some photos of things that bite from Arizona. 

You'll notice in several of these photos that there's this pink duck in them. That's Puck. My new side kick. Every superhero needs one. And while I'm not a superhero yet, I can start practicing by having a side kick.

Beau the Poodle doesn't bite, and he wasn't at all interested in letting Puck sit on his head

This tree/bush, while beautiful, was FULL of bumble bees and other bee types.  I used my telephoto lens on this. No way. No how I was getting close to this yellow, buzzing, tree of death.

I think BigBro called this the Elk Horn ... which makes sense considering it looks all horny.  Yes, I did just say that.

Puck didn't seem to mind the horns on this one.

He did, however, mind them on this one and got one stuck in his little, pink, duck butt.

He thinks its safer in the flower.

I was willing them to open. Apparently prickly pear cactus flowers start out pink and turn yellow. At least the variety in the Parental Units "yard" do this.

I'm pretty sure this little critter doesn't bit. But if you're a Monty Python fan, one cannot be too certain. Run away! Run away!

Ahh how sweet. A bunny and a quail eating dinner together. Neither, I believe, bite.

Meet Freddy. BigBro has this weird superhero power to replicate calls of animals. Sure enough he can sound like a  road runner. Poor Freddy was so confused I'm sure.  Wondering if it was a she road runner? Or perhaps competition? Or perhaps a prostitute road runner?

Either way, Freddy road ran away.

Just stopping by...

This week is going to be a hell type of week at Hotel Californiasoft. Which is okay by me because 1) I have a job, 2) it’s not that often that we have hell weeks and 3) we knew it was coming. So I’ll buck up, work a little harder and be satisfied with such efforts.

We started this week with what some consider exciting news, the death of Osama Bin Laden. I thought maybe I was conflicted about how I feel about the killing of him. But then I realized I wasn’t. I didn’t associate him as person, but as a monster. And his death, to me, means that perhaps closure can now come to thousands of people who lost loved ones in 9/11. I can’t, for a minute, pretend to understand their heartache and suffering, I just hope that this can bring some closure to them and they can move on.

What impressed me more about this operation to capture or kill bin Laden was how AWESOME our Navy Seals are. This is the first time in my life, that I can remember, where it was so evident that the “special ops” teams are responsible for this endeavor. It made me feel very proud that we have courageous service men/women in our military. And it reminded me that any person who joins the military has a level of courage to them that I can only sit in awe and stare.

Mother’s Day is around the corner. Have you taken care of your mother? I have…though she doesn’t know it. Well, she might now after reading this…but she doesn’t know what it is. SURPRISE! She’s probably hoping that the surprise is repayment of any past debts she thinks I still have. Nothing that grand…sorry Mom.