Alternative. Minimum. Tax.
We got hit with AMT this year. This must be how Republicans are made.
April 10, 2011
April 5, 2011
Victory Sleep
Having slain the terrible fuzzy stuffed cow, the warrior pup takes a well deserved nap.
Sometimes I think she's a little cat trapped in a big dog's body.
Sometimes I think she's a little cat trapped in a big dog's body.
April 4, 2011
Verse
This weekend I read through my T.S. Eliot collection and remembered how much I like his work. Today, I had images inspired by these lines running through my head:
It's been a long time since I've written poetry. This month I plan to read more, in celebration of National Poetry Month. Maybe I'll turn out a verse or two of my own as a result!
I do not know much about gods; but I think that the riverExcerpt from The Dry Salvages
Is a strong brown god - sullen, untamed and intractable,
Patient to some degree, at first recognised as a frontier;
Useful, untrustworthy, as a conveyor of commerce;
Then only a problem confronting the builder of bridges.
The problem once solved, the brown god is almost forgotten
By the dwellers in cities - ever, however, implacable.
Keeping his seasons, and rages, destroyer, reminder
Of what men choose to forget. Unhonoured, unpropitiated
By worshippers of the machine, but waiting, watching and waiting.
His rhythm was present in the nursery bedroom,
In the rank ailanthus of the April dooryard,
In the smell of grapes on the autumn table,
And the evening circle in the winter gaslight.
It's been a long time since I've written poetry. This month I plan to read more, in celebration of National Poetry Month. Maybe I'll turn out a verse or two of my own as a result!
March 31, 2011
Three Zero
Where did Q1 2011 go? We're on the prowl for a new house, work is ridiculously busy, and oh, I turned thirty. Yeah. Thirty used to be mid life. Half gone. Crisis time.
Well, maybe not. Certainly we're living longer these days, so 30 isn't exactly panic time. I hate the thought of getting old, though. Despite all the shit life dishes out, ultimately, I'm content and don't want it to end. It's still early, but I'm finding it difficult to come to grips with aging.
It seems I've spent most of adult life fulfilling petty childhood dreams. I own a dog. I went to San Diego Comic-Con. I own a Lego Star Destroyer and Death Star. I routinely feed my insatiable appetite for books. I collect original artwork. I order from Previews. I indulge in pretty paper, paint, and all manner of art supplies. I have awesome sex. I watch whatever TV shows I want. I own more than one corset. All these things I wanted as a child, all these small wishes, I've spent the last two decades fulfilling. It sounds selfish and ignoble, but in the end, the little pieces add up to a significant whole.
The best is that I've achieved financial independence. As a teenager, this was my wildest dream, my greatest hope - that some day I wouldn't need to rely on anyone else for money. In my thirtieth year, I can pay my own bills, provide for my loved ones, and plan for the long term. I'm proud of this fact, and while I'm sure the inevitable fall will come, at least for now, it makes turning 30 not so bad.
But then again, mid-life crisis is a good excuse to buy a Maserati...
Well, maybe not. Certainly we're living longer these days, so 30 isn't exactly panic time. I hate the thought of getting old, though. Despite all the shit life dishes out, ultimately, I'm content and don't want it to end. It's still early, but I'm finding it difficult to come to grips with aging.
It seems I've spent most of adult life fulfilling petty childhood dreams. I own a dog. I went to San Diego Comic-Con. I own a Lego Star Destroyer and Death Star. I routinely feed my insatiable appetite for books. I collect original artwork. I order from Previews. I indulge in pretty paper, paint, and all manner of art supplies. I have awesome sex. I watch whatever TV shows I want. I own more than one corset. All these things I wanted as a child, all these small wishes, I've spent the last two decades fulfilling. It sounds selfish and ignoble, but in the end, the little pieces add up to a significant whole.
The best is that I've achieved financial independence. As a teenager, this was my wildest dream, my greatest hope - that some day I wouldn't need to rely on anyone else for money. In my thirtieth year, I can pay my own bills, provide for my loved ones, and plan for the long term. I'm proud of this fact, and while I'm sure the inevitable fall will come, at least for now, it makes turning 30 not so bad.
But then again, mid-life crisis is a good excuse to buy a Maserati...
January 8, 2011
Starting 2011
Had a lovely vacation in Washington DC before New Year's. It was so nice to take some real time off! I haven't been that completely disconnected from work since the honeymoon in March.
We stayed at The Monaco, which was wonderful. In addition to being pet friendly (we got to bring the dog!), the building is historic and beautiful (it was formerly DC's general post office) with friendly staff and complimentary benefits: coffee/paper in the mornings, wine each evening, reliable wifi. We were upgraded for free to a spacious room with comfy king bed. It was walking distance to the metro, national mall, and a host of eating spots. I would definitely stay there again!
We did the usual DC tourist museum hopping and ate lots of great food. My favorite was Jaleo, a Spanish tapas restaurant, where the mixed drinks were amazing and every dish was fantastic.
It was a nice, relaxing trip. None of the snow hit DC while we were there. We spent the days sleeping in, taking long meals, strolling the streets, and generally enjoying ourselves. I couldn't have asked for a better way to wind down.
We stayed at The Monaco, which was wonderful. In addition to being pet friendly (we got to bring the dog!), the building is historic and beautiful (it was formerly DC's general post office) with friendly staff and complimentary benefits: coffee/paper in the mornings, wine each evening, reliable wifi. We were upgraded for free to a spacious room with comfy king bed. It was walking distance to the metro, national mall, and a host of eating spots. I would definitely stay there again!
We did the usual DC tourist museum hopping and ate lots of great food. My favorite was Jaleo, a Spanish tapas restaurant, where the mixed drinks were amazing and every dish was fantastic.
It was a nice, relaxing trip. None of the snow hit DC while we were there. We spent the days sleeping in, taking long meals, strolling the streets, and generally enjoying ourselves. I couldn't have asked for a better way to wind down.
December 23, 2010
December 17, 2010
Tis the Season
A few weeks ago, I went to a firing range for the first time.
Having never held a gun, much less fired one, I wasn’t sure what to expect. There were two experienced shooters in our group: a long time gun owner and a state trooper. Because of that, the range allowed the rest of us to rent pistols. The folks at the range were no-nonsense and quite friendly. And gun safety is really just common sense. Don’t point a loaded gun anywhere except down the range, wear ear protection and goggles, set the safety back after shooting, hands off the gun when talking to someone, etc.
I shot around 80 rounds, which isn’t really much. It proved to be a wonderful mental exercise and actually relaxing. My mind was focused on nothing but the gun and what I was doing with it – the immediacy of handling something that could so easily kill pushed aside all other worries and stress. The routine of loading, checking safety, taking stance, aiming, breathing, created its own kind of zen. I can definitely understand why some people love shooting and could spend hours at a range just being in the moment.
The rental was a semi-automatic .22 pistol and hardly had any kick at all. I think with enough practice, I could have shot that thing one-handed with considerable accuracy.
Then I tried my friend’s .44 and big difference! Thanks to Tai Chi, I didn’t fall over or hit myself in the face. But it definitely takes some strength to keep steady while firing. Movies and TV shows where the badass shoots high caliber pistols from each hand – yeah, I don’t think it works that way.
While I won’t consider owning a gun, I wouldn’t mind going back to the range and renting again. It was really fun and certainly a skill I wouldn't mind having.
Having never held a gun, much less fired one, I wasn’t sure what to expect. There were two experienced shooters in our group: a long time gun owner and a state trooper. Because of that, the range allowed the rest of us to rent pistols. The folks at the range were no-nonsense and quite friendly. And gun safety is really just common sense. Don’t point a loaded gun anywhere except down the range, wear ear protection and goggles, set the safety back after shooting, hands off the gun when talking to someone, etc.
I shot around 80 rounds, which isn’t really much. It proved to be a wonderful mental exercise and actually relaxing. My mind was focused on nothing but the gun and what I was doing with it – the immediacy of handling something that could so easily kill pushed aside all other worries and stress. The routine of loading, checking safety, taking stance, aiming, breathing, created its own kind of zen. I can definitely understand why some people love shooting and could spend hours at a range just being in the moment.
The rental was a semi-automatic .22 pistol and hardly had any kick at all. I think with enough practice, I could have shot that thing one-handed with considerable accuracy.
Then I tried my friend’s .44 and big difference! Thanks to Tai Chi, I didn’t fall over or hit myself in the face. But it definitely takes some strength to keep steady while firing. Movies and TV shows where the badass shoots high caliber pistols from each hand – yeah, I don’t think it works that way.
While I won’t consider owning a gun, I wouldn’t mind going back to the range and renting again. It was really fun and certainly a skill I wouldn't mind having.
December 12, 2010
Curling!
Tried curling today! Super fun way to kill two hours on the weekend. It actually requires more stamina than expected and I totally fell while sweeping. But it's a good time and the folks at the rink were delightful!
December 1, 2010
Autumn Leaves
Trees are awesome, until it's time to rake the fallen leaves in autumn. This year I learned how to operate the leaf shredder, which allowed us to process double the volume. The joy of being outdoors during lovely fall weather almost makes the cleanup worthwhile.
November 29, 2010
In Which We're Amazed at How Fast Time Flies
Wow, almost an entire month since my last post!
Mostly I've been working. Lots and lots of work.
Attended cousin's wedding at The Foundry, a really awesome spot for a party. Brick alcoves lit by candles, dancing under exposed beams, and good fun all around.
Hosted thanksgiving this year. Nothing huge, just his side of the family. Yummy Dr. Pepper glazed ham, apples & fennel stuffing, potato gratin, and my signature lemon cheesecake squares. Having parents over, even for a few days, is exhausting. I can't image how they dealt with us kids for 18 years!
Mostly I've been working. Lots and lots of work.
Attended cousin's wedding at The Foundry, a really awesome spot for a party. Brick alcoves lit by candles, dancing under exposed beams, and good fun all around.
Hosted thanksgiving this year. Nothing huge, just his side of the family. Yummy Dr. Pepper glazed ham, apples & fennel stuffing, potato gratin, and my signature lemon cheesecake squares. Having parents over, even for a few days, is exhausting. I can't image how they dealt with us kids for 18 years!
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