Thursday, December 29, 2005

Look familiar bailee?


Look familiar bailee?
Originally uploaded by cena76.
I am trying out this nifty little program that will allow me to post pictures straight to my blog from my phone. Who knows when I will capture a moment that just can't wait?

Wednesday, December 28, 2005

Midnight oil

The trailer on fourth street that i grew up in was victim to a housefire on christmas day. We got word that there had been a fire earlier in the evening, and Herb the photographer already had pictures posted on his site. As we scrolled through the images - flames pouring out of window frames, licking at the crisp air - a familiar feeling crept into my mind. Finally, after seeing one pic of the snowroof being cut into, i knew which trailer it was. It makes me feel sad (so sad) for more than one reason. Of course i am sad that Shaggy, (the current tenant - nicknamed such for his resemblance to the scooby-doo character) lost every single one of his belongings. And do you know how hard it is to find size 13 shoes? I am also sad because, for the last few years, i have wanted to go knocking on that door, to ask whoever lives there if i may step in, to just have a look around. There's a pretty good chance i'd know the person, so it wouldnt be too weird. But i looked forward to that day when i'd be brave enough, when i would think of its importance to me and act on it, to feel those rushes of memories as i peered into each room. The room with the blue blue sky and the white white clouds on the wallpaper - tacky now but perfect when i was 10. The master bedroom at the far end, with its breath-taking view of the low-income housing. I would picture the masking tape line my sister and i made to separate each of our sides. The "dining room" area where i spent many meals covering my downcast eyes with my hand, so embarrassed of the family that loved me, that i loved too. So much time sitting at the table after everyone had finished, not being able to leave until i had eaten every gross brussell sprout, one time even sticking some of the uneaten food in the cupboard behind me. As i type these things out, the more and more i remember (like a magician's never-ending hankerchief being pulled from his pocket.) I am sad that it took that trailer burning for me to remember them.

Tuesday, December 27, 2005

...go together like a horse and carriage

Okay, all of the females around me are suddenly getting engaged, like there's something in the water. I found out about the umpteenth one today at work - one of my coworkers was persuaded to go out looking at all the houses lit up on sunday. They came upon her boyfriends fathers house, and he (her boyfriend) had set up the words "will you marry me?" in bright christmas lights. That's about as sickeningly sweet as it gets.

Monday, December 26, 2005

Happy Holidaze

Its been a long holiday season - one week to go. The christmas carols started while it was still november, the shopping lasted all the way up to the last minute, and the parties were non-stop. For christmas eve, we were invited by Penny to her house, where we got to be part of a samoan christmas. Huge family, excited children, tons of presents, even more food, it was truly an experience. Somehow we managed to end up at a house with a hotub, and didnt get home until 4am. That didnt stop us from getting up for present opening by 10:30 though... and santa was very kind this year. Tonight we had bob, kaleb and tom over for dinner, and i cooked a turkey in the george forman rotisserie that bob gave me as a gift one year. I have to say, i've never had a turkey taste better. It was tender, juicy, absolutely perfect. I've heard so many people rave about deep-frying turkeys, but i dont see how that could possibly make it taste any better. I think i've found a new favorite appliance (sorry mom, the rice cooker was awesome too!)The gift-buying will not stop here though. My moms birthday is Friday, Zieak's birthday is coming up in february, then theres valentines day, mothers day, the various birthdays which fall in between... i need to pick up something on the side to pay for all these gifts i give. I've committed to DJing a wedding reception this coming weekend, and at $75 an hour i figure i can sit on my butt staring at a computer for a few hours on a friday night. Wednesday night i will put on another team trivia competition at the harbor bar, i'll have done it two times this month and i get paid each time. The amazon book sales have really dropped off, but i think thats because i havent had the time to add any new inventory. I dont know when i will either, we have a couple trips coming up too. Portland in two weeks (work trip for me,) Anchorage in a month (work trip for him,) hopefully back east in february (again work for him, and to visit family.) We'd like to fit a mexico trip in there somewhere, but havent set anything in stone. On that note, i'll wish you all Feliz Navidad, and lets just get to the new year already.

Monday, December 05, 2005

Burfday

Yesterday was my birthday, and the ground was covered with heaps of snow. We were just in time to get one of the last douglas firs from the christmas tree lot. We popped the Grinch vhs tape in the vcr and spent the afternoon decorating it. Tonight we came home and were blasted with the fresh scent upon opening the front door. I love just staring at it, all cozy on the couch. We will finish the first season of Lost tonight, which is probably a good thing because i've been dreaming about it at night, in addition to daydreaming about it. Yes, it's as good as everyone says.

Viva las broke-ass

Yes, we went to Vegas. Again. Two times in less than a year. You'd think we were rich or something. Well, we wanted to be. We had high hopes of hitting a jackpot on the wheel of fortune slot machines. But alas, they took our money - fast. I have grown really fond of pai gow poker, since it is a slow game and easy to stay even or even come out ahead. I was not a fan of poker at all until last december when zieak introduced me to the game of pai gow. We can sit at a table for hours, (free drinks the whole time mind you) and at one point this time we were both up quite a bit. But what fun is it to put your cash in your pocket and walk away? We proceeded to spend it all plus some. See, it seems the group of us that went (karna, jen smith, brita, dyl and matte) suck at clubbing. Due to a mechanical, we were jipped out of our first night at the Luxor, leaving us with only two nights total. I rarely get to dress up here in petersburg, so i used the evenings as an excuse to get some use out of some silly purchases (ie. pink boots.)

The first night we planned on hitting the club at the Luxor called Ra. We all met at the bar outside the entrance, and waited and waited. We never saw anyone going in, bu there were no closed signs or anything. I finally asked the bartender what was going on, and he replied that it was closed for the WHOLE WEEK. Apparently some people like to go on vacation during thanksgiving week. So what did we decide to do? Go to a strip club of course.

The second night we planned on hitting the club at Treasure Island called Tangerine. Jennifer had gotten some VIP passes, and one of the cabbies we had threw more at us. We were raring to go, especially zieak and i because last winter we had the same hopes dashed when we found out it was closed for renovation. Guess what. Closed on sundays and mondays. So if we learned anything from those two nights, its that if you want to party, don't go the beginning of thanksgiving week. What did we decide to do instead? Strip club. And this time we did it in style. Upon leaving TI, we were about ready to hop in a cab when an employee of the casino hinted we should knock on the sitting limos window. Turns out he would drive us to the club - for free.

Yes, a good time was had by all. We came home with our wallets a little lighter, our stomachs fuller from thanksgiving at my moms, and our party skills wiser - NO WHISKEY SHOTS FOR CENA.