Museum of Glass

Last Friday (the 13th) I took 50 kids on a field trip to Tacoma's Museum of Glass. It was pretty incredible. Certainly we can appreciate the beauty of glass and how much it improves our lives, but until you see the process of creating it: you simply cannot fathom how much time goes into these pieces!

The bridge pictures are of The Glass Bridge, created by Tacoma's own, world famous Dale Chihuly. He's nearly single handedly brought the Venetian (Murano, really) style of glass work back to life and into the modern art world. -Absolutely stunning.

Janet, our librarian, and myself. Matching each other and the art.

It kind of made me want some rock candy. Yum!

A visit to the "Hot Shop" to watch the glass pieces being made. There are visiting artists who come to use the shop for anywhere from 3-5 days at a time. It's very expensive to use the space, but it is one of the finest in the country. Too bad the pictures didn't turn out better.

Baby Boom

So I'm taking a little poll: how many women do you know having babies in August, September, and October? I'll try to list the ones I know of here:

Aug 21- Mindy
Sept 6- Tamara
Sept 10- Me
Sept 19- Mary Jo
Sept 19- Sarah
Sept 22- Tonia
Sept 25- Lisa
Oct 21- Robin

I'm sure I'm forgetting some. And these are just the ones I know personally. I'm thinking December was a very cozy time. I know we were completely snowed in, here in Washington.

6 of the 8 in my list are here in Washington. Blizzards are good for something...

Costco

After school today, I was trying to think where might be the best place to buy a Speedo swimsuit. Then I had this epiphany: Costco.

But do you think I am a member? It made sense to me to join today. For one thing I needed a swimsuit ($20) and a pair of goggles (or three. It turns out Costco doesn't really sell things in singles). And I was thinking this might be a great deal on diapers and wipes down the road.

I opted not to use the grocery cart. No kidding: it was almost the same size as my Mini. So after I procured the swimsuit and goggles, I thought: let's see what else Costco has! It was then I found BabyBelle cheese. I probably don't need 24 of them, but it cost the same as buying 10 of them at Safeway. And of course it seemed a shame to come home without a ten pound bag of Northwest grown pears.

My trudge out to the car made me rethink the no cart idea. I found my purchases healthy and random, and I'm okay with that. I did kind of think I needed a mini-van to go with my new Costco persona.

Oh well... a dollar saved (equals about 4 baby cheeses, it turns out).

Ode to the Grapefruit

Ode to the Grapefruit

Liz Cornelius

You beckoned me tonight

and woke me from my slumber.

Though I resisted, you promised satisfaction

that could not be equalled by sleep.

Quietly, so as not to wake my bed-mate (Chester),

I tip-toed to the kitchen for our rendezvous.

I began cautiously enough

With a bowl and a knife and a napkin.

Alas, at the taste of your lush meat

I lost all reserve.

And so, there I was in my bliss

Napkin forgotten; juice running down my chin and chest.

When I was caught red handed.

There stood Chester with accusation in his eyes.

Guiltily I returned to my bedroom

But not to my rest.

For there is one grapefruit left

And I know tomorrow temptation

Will best my will again.

Nas-tay

Oh man, I just heard Nine Inch Nail's new song "Closer" on the radio. Well, I heard part of it, since a ton of it was blurred out due to questionable language. Oooh it's nasty. Why do I love these songs so much? My theory is they tap into a bad girl that never really developed. I have to live vicariously through rock bands (and their groupies, I guess).

I was thinking of the different songs that have jumped out and grabbed me by the... throat over the years:

Blood Hound Gang- "Hooray For Boobies" A.K.A. "You and me baby ain't nothing but animals..."

Nickelback- "Figured You Out" A.K.A. "I like the dirt that's on your knees..."

Eminem- "Shake That"

I would be horrified if my God-daughter or God-son got a hold of my iPod. Maybe it's just a guilty pleasure?

Oh I just can't help myself; it's my vice.

And as they say: sex sells. And while dysfunctional, anonymous sex in real life is most definitely problematic and disease ridden- it sure makes for great music.

Cheers, Marshall Mathers.

Goodness, Gracious, Great Balls of...

About once a year each Army unit has a military ball. It's full of pomp and circumstance. There are grog bowls (full of every conceivable liquor known to man, ostensibly related to the unit's history somehow). And there are speeches and dinner. There is usually a DJ and some music, though the dancing is hit or miss.

Last night, despite feeling pregnant and fat, and having the shortest hair I've had for a ball, AND despite the fact that I was drinking Shirley Temples all night while Bob imbibed: it was still fun.

The ball was held at a posh hotel in Tacoma called Hotel Murano, and it was very well organized and attended. And the music and dancing were above par.

These pictures were taken about six hours into the event, so we're not looking our most refreshed, but you can see my beverage of choice. I tried to go for the 1920's vintage Hollywood look. Not my usual thing, but it ended up being interesting. And hey: I was able to zip my gown.

And of course there's Bob acting goofy after his contribution to the Grog bowl: Jaegermeister (to commemorate our unit's time in Germany).

You know what they say... it's not the Jaeger that gets you. It's the Meister.

Lacey Loves To Read

Each year our community, Lacey, sponsors an event called "Lacey Loves To Read." It simultaneously promotes literacy and raises money for our local libraries (which are now in the merciless clutches of state funding problems).

Last year, we were just moving to Washington, and we missed the event, though we gathered it was a rather large shindig. This year, I got in on the action.

The author Lacey invited to read to us was Sy Montgomery: a scientist and fabulous animal writer. She's got four or five adult books (about man eating tigers, pink dolphins, a giant pig, and maybe a couple more). Additionally, she's got tons of informative, interesting kids books that have the most gorgeous photographs.

My book group read The Good Good Pig in honor of Sy's speaking engagement. The book is a non fiction account of the runt of the runt litter, Christopher Hogwood, and how he came to be rescued by Sy and her husband. The next fourteen years proved to be one adventure after another, and Christopher opened doors Sy would never have dreamed possible.

Someone likened the book to Marley and Me, but it really wasn't. It was even more feel good than Marley (which I LOVED). But this book talks about the goodness in the world, in animals, and in humans who are open enough to recognize life and hope in our families (both blood families and those families we form through purposeful engagement).

So last night Sy came to town, and our book group was invited to have dinner with her. She was marvelous, and had the quaintest New Hampshire accent. Her stories of her animals, family, and travel were engaging. You just wanted to be friends with her.

To recap: Lacey Loves to Read is a fun and needed annual activity, Sy Montgomery is an author worth reading, and nature books don't have to be dull and textbook-ish.