Sunday, March 13, 2011
Totally Unhelpful Pictures of Topaz
Mom and Tracy have never been to Topaz.
I don't know when I'll be able to get out there to take more helpful pictures.
Hotmail is picture retarded.
Here is a totally unhelpful guided tour of Topaz in the frame of reference of a wedding.
Tempted as I am to take you on a tour of confusion, I'll give you the most helpful picture first. This is the house and the deck. The angled building to the right of the house is the "outside bathroom". Up against the hill is the highway. To the right of the shed is where the driveway goes, it loops up around the house. Further to the right out of the picture is the garage and way past that up the highway is the Lodge. To the left of the house you can see a couple trailers. Obviously, the deck faces the water. That tree actually comes through the center of the deck floor.
This is the dock and the garage. The house is to the left, Lodge up the highway to the right.
Here's the deck. It is light green now, but Elaine wants to repaint it before the wedding. There is a dead deer leg that has been hanging in the tree for several years now that will just have to be part of the decorations.
Somewhere to the left of Ant's eyeballs, maybe about where the window is, is where the Lodge is situated. If you understood what I meant by that, you deserve a cookie. If you look down by the water, where the shade abruptly ends is actually a rocky drop. Just to the left of that is where you drive boats down to the water and to the right of that tree is where I envision the ceremony.
Here's where the boats come in. Squint and see the garage at the top center and that rocky drop on the left. This is so unhelpful.
This is the level ground where I want the ceremony. This is not the boat slip but the flat ground just above it- the most flat ground at Topaz.
From the deck. With a panoramic view, the property looks much bigger.
More from the deck, just looking around. If you walk onto the deck, I'm in the back corner. My side of the deck faces the highway.
To my left, Ray is sitting with his back to the garage. My invisible ceremony is taking place behind him.
Same spot, now with Carol facing away from the dock.
There used to be a lot of open space down there behind Elaine, but now there are a couple trailers lined up. She wants them moved for the wedding, Mike says Ron's trailer will fall apart if moved, so I don't know if they will be there or not.
Now you can see the dead tree that has been removed. To the right, out of view, is another porch behind that tree.
This completes the 360 degree view, with the tree in the center of the deck.
During the winter, the lake goes down quite a bit. If you look at the picture with Carol, or the one from the jetski, the water is up about as high as it gets. That was late August, I think. With this picture or the two of Ant, you can see how low it gets.
Questions? Comments?
I don't know when I'll be able to get out there to take more helpful pictures.
Hotmail is picture retarded.
Here is a totally unhelpful guided tour of Topaz in the frame of reference of a wedding.
Tempted as I am to take you on a tour of confusion, I'll give you the most helpful picture first. This is the house and the deck. The angled building to the right of the house is the "outside bathroom". Up against the hill is the highway. To the right of the shed is where the driveway goes, it loops up around the house. Further to the right out of the picture is the garage and way past that up the highway is the Lodge. To the left of the house you can see a couple trailers. Obviously, the deck faces the water. That tree actually comes through the center of the deck floor.
This is the dock and the garage. The house is to the left, Lodge up the highway to the right.
Here's the deck. It is light green now, but Elaine wants to repaint it before the wedding. There is a dead deer leg that has been hanging in the tree for several years now that will just have to be part of the decorations.
Somewhere to the left of Ant's eyeballs, maybe about where the window is, is where the Lodge is situated. If you understood what I meant by that, you deserve a cookie. If you look down by the water, where the shade abruptly ends is actually a rocky drop. Just to the left of that is where you drive boats down to the water and to the right of that tree is where I envision the ceremony.
Here's where the boats come in. Squint and see the garage at the top center and that rocky drop on the left. This is so unhelpful.
This is the level ground where I want the ceremony. This is not the boat slip but the flat ground just above it- the most flat ground at Topaz.
From the deck. With a panoramic view, the property looks much bigger.
To my left, Ray is sitting with his back to the garage. My invisible ceremony is taking place behind him.
Same spot, now with Carol facing away from the dock.
There used to be a lot of open space down there behind Elaine, but now there are a couple trailers lined up. She wants them moved for the wedding, Mike says Ron's trailer will fall apart if moved, so I don't know if they will be there or not.
Now you can see the dead tree that has been removed. To the right, out of view, is another porch behind that tree.
This completes the 360 degree view, with the tree in the center of the deck.
During the winter, the lake goes down quite a bit. If you look at the picture with Carol, or the one from the jetski, the water is up about as high as it gets. That was late August, I think. With this picture or the two of Ant, you can see how low it gets.
Questions? Comments?
Preachy McPreacherson
It seems clear to me that the dangers clearly outweigh the benefits, so why are we still using nuclear energy?
I just read Encounters with the Archdruid, a book about David Brower, former president of the Sierra Club, visiting potential project sites with his enemies: a geologist, a developer, and the Commissioner of Reclamation. Each part/project had pros and cons but Floyd Dominy made some serious sense to me when he said:
"Hydroelectric power doesn't pollute water and it doesn't pollute air."
It does destroy habitats and some wildlife and drastically changes its environment. I don't think it is always the best option but compared to nuclear power, I'd prefer a dam. Where the hell are the wind turbines and solar panels? In the 1950s they didn't know about the radiation but we sure do now. There is no good place to store waste as I keep learning out here. Waste buried and bombs detonated underground left radiation. I met a guy from Fallon who said he was allergic to dirt. You're not allergic to dirt, my dear, you're allergic to what's in it.
Not to be a doomsday prophet, but doesn't it seem like weather events are getting stronger? Isn't that the prediction? Here's my really preachy sentence: Maybe Mother Nature is trying to wipe this plague of people off the planet. Nature gives us the most beautiful things and we are so often undeserving. I watched Pit Boss last night and was horrified again by stupid irresponsible breeders who think only of money and not where these animals are going to end up. Yesterday on my walk with Jody out at Rattlesnake Mountain where the wild horses live I saw a foal and its mother separated by a barbed wire fence. I felt so frustrated and worried and I didn't want to leave. Thankfully there was this couple out driving around looking at the horses and saw the situation. The wife went home to grab pliers and the guy stayed put to monitor things. I hope he cut many, many holes in that fence.
I feel horrible for the people in Japan who had only minutes of warning before the tsunami hit. Did you see how well their buildings withstood an 8.9 earthquake? If that had been Turkey, forget it. Japan was so well equipped to handle earthquakes. After two and half days of watching the news, I've only seen one collapsed building from the earthquake. There was damage, of course, but how unfair is it to survive an 8.9 earthquake relatively intact only to suffer a giant tsunami? How the hell do you prepare for that?
But why do we have nuclear power plants in the Ring of Fire!? I hope this situation changes our view about the safety of nuclear energy.
I just read Encounters with the Archdruid, a book about David Brower, former president of the Sierra Club, visiting potential project sites with his enemies: a geologist, a developer, and the Commissioner of Reclamation. Each part/project had pros and cons but Floyd Dominy made some serious sense to me when he said:
"Hydroelectric power doesn't pollute water and it doesn't pollute air."
It does destroy habitats and some wildlife and drastically changes its environment. I don't think it is always the best option but compared to nuclear power, I'd prefer a dam. Where the hell are the wind turbines and solar panels? In the 1950s they didn't know about the radiation but we sure do now. There is no good place to store waste as I keep learning out here. Waste buried and bombs detonated underground left radiation. I met a guy from Fallon who said he was allergic to dirt. You're not allergic to dirt, my dear, you're allergic to what's in it.
Not to be a doomsday prophet, but doesn't it seem like weather events are getting stronger? Isn't that the prediction? Here's my really preachy sentence: Maybe Mother Nature is trying to wipe this plague of people off the planet. Nature gives us the most beautiful things and we are so often undeserving. I watched Pit Boss last night and was horrified again by stupid irresponsible breeders who think only of money and not where these animals are going to end up. Yesterday on my walk with Jody out at Rattlesnake Mountain where the wild horses live I saw a foal and its mother separated by a barbed wire fence. I felt so frustrated and worried and I didn't want to leave. Thankfully there was this couple out driving around looking at the horses and saw the situation. The wife went home to grab pliers and the guy stayed put to monitor things. I hope he cut many, many holes in that fence.
I feel horrible for the people in Japan who had only minutes of warning before the tsunami hit. Did you see how well their buildings withstood an 8.9 earthquake? If that had been Turkey, forget it. Japan was so well equipped to handle earthquakes. After two and half days of watching the news, I've only seen one collapsed building from the earthquake. There was damage, of course, but how unfair is it to survive an 8.9 earthquake relatively intact only to suffer a giant tsunami? How the hell do you prepare for that?
But why do we have nuclear power plants in the Ring of Fire!? I hope this situation changes our view about the safety of nuclear energy.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Even more good news.
I think a nap may be unavoidable today. Okay, it's 6:30 but I am just worn out and I can't see making it to 10:30 or even 9, for that matter. I don't remember waking up last night and if I did I got back to sleep quickly but all day long I have been ready for a nap. Now I'm crashing and all I want to do is doze.
Riley is laying under my desk and her stomach is making some really awful noises. She found something in the grass when we were leaving for our walk and whatever it was was a BAD idea. We only just got back but it looks like I may have to periodically let her out tonight.
So the other news I forgot to mention about the doctor visit is about my test strips. I run out EVERY TIME and asked my doctor if he could throw in an extra box for me. According to what he says, the pharmacy is lacking math skills. He changed something in the computer and the problem will supposedly be fixed now. Keep your fingers crossed.
I wrote a check today to pay off the Dodge. While your fingers are crossed, think a positive thought about how LONG this vehicle will LAST.
Riley is laying under my desk and her stomach is making some really awful noises. She found something in the grass when we were leaving for our walk and whatever it was was a BAD idea. We only just got back but it looks like I may have to periodically let her out tonight.
So the other news I forgot to mention about the doctor visit is about my test strips. I run out EVERY TIME and asked my doctor if he could throw in an extra box for me. According to what he says, the pharmacy is lacking math skills. He changed something in the computer and the problem will supposedly be fixed now. Keep your fingers crossed.
I wrote a check today to pay off the Dodge. While your fingers are crossed, think a positive thought about how LONG this vehicle will LAST.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Check this out, Mom!
I am getting sooooo tiiiiirrreeeeddddd....zzzzzz
but it was a good day. I got up on my first day of spring break to go get stabbed at the VA. Boooooo. But Chris drove me so I didn't have to park five blocks away. It's such a nice deal- I go get stabbed, he goes to get a coffee... but once I'm in a lab chair I text him so he can head back. When I left the hospital he was driving up the street. Nice!
We went to Michael's to look at paper for our wedding invitations. I always tell him he should be grateful that I have a quirky style and not something he hates but this is my moment to say how grateful I am that he is willing to go compare paper and consider envelopes and color schemes. :D
I went to my doctor's appointment alone while he tried to nap off his New Glasses Migraine. (He gets one free pair a year and last year he lost them within a month, I think.) My doctor had some good news for me. You can't see what this says, but...
That's my A1C. 6.5. And those dates along the bottom are the last six years. For those of you who don't know what this means, allow me to translate. A1C is an average of how your blood sugar has been over the past three months. A meter can only give you an average of your readings; A1C gives the average of everywhere your blood sugar has been- monitored or not. The number translates to a range of blood sugar readings and the goal for diabetics is under 7. For the first time ever, I am under 7.
The doctor printed this for me and I have never been so careful with a piece of paper. I wanted to frame it. I texted Dad and here is his response:
"OMG. Nice Jen. That beats my best of 6.8."
Now I know I'm really cooking because Dad is a very well behaved diabetic. I was so gleeful and I couldn't wait to get home to show Chris. On the way I thought about how my endocrinologist changed my insulin ratio and how that was the reason... but then I decided to chuck that thinking. Sure, I needed the help but if I hold myself responsible for the high numbers, why can't I congratulate myself for the low numbers too? I need to be proud because while I haven't lost any weight, I have been working hard to limit my cravings and portions. I lose sometimes :D but I have been working hard, dammit.
Just last night Chris woke me up to see the tsunami as it was happening, somewhere around midnight. I was really upset about being woken up and immediately had to sit up so I wouldn't vomit. He got me water and made me test but before I even got the kit I figured out what was wrong: I hadn't taken my nighttime shot. Recently I set an alarm on my phone to take that shot, my kidney protector and my natural relax-and-go-to-sleep-now pill. I got distracted and took the pills but never made it to the fridge. Chris, who was calling everyone who was up (and a few who weren't) in order to be the bearer of bad news, told somebody over the phone,
"Hold on, I've got a diabetic here that's not taking care of herself."
This morning (long after the retort would be relevant), I reminded Chris that out of 365 nights, I miss maybe two a year. If I did my math right (and there's no guarantee of that), that means I remember to take my shot 99% of the time. Doesn't it suck that 99% isn't good enough? It is amazing how sick I feel if I don't get that shot within a couple hours.
Anyway, so I learned that when that alarm goes off, I need to stop whatever I'm doing and go take my shot. But now we're somewhere else. Where were we supposed to be going?
Ah yes, so sometimes I goof but a change in ratio alone would not yield these results. After 10 years of 1 unit to 15 carbs, seeing a piece of bread or applesauce or fruit in terms of 15s, correcting 1 unit per 50 points, I had to recalibrate. Corrections are now counted in 40s. Working with a smaller ratio means not rounding the sixes and fours. Suddenly I have to look at it all differently, like it's all new again. So go me, goddammit.
I came home and handed Chris the paper without saying a word. I watched his face but it was his voice that conveyed his feelings. It was soft and quiet. He pulled me to him, crushing the paper and me. I got kisses, kisses, and more kisses. He was SO happy. :D
We took the dogs to the park and walked the loop while Jasmine chased her monster and Riley hunted squirrels. Riley scampered and ran the WHOLE TIME. She also kept trying to get into the stinky creek remnants, but I managed to convince her otherwise. Last time she came out with solid black legs. Gross.
At home, Chris and Ant packed up for their drive down to Gardnerville. I'm sad because the Coasters are playing and Chris is doing their sound, but someone had to stay and take care of the dogs. They are grateful, I'm sure. Tomorrow we'll go meet Jody at Rattlesnake Mountain and the girls will burn some more energy.
I wanted to get some necessary evils out of the way during spring break so tomorrow will be a good time to do them- take advantage of a quiet house, defeat procrastination so this caca isn't hanging over me all week. It's only a break if it FEELS like a break, right? So there are benefits to being left behind, thought Chris still wants me to drive out for the show.
At 5:30, I went to meet my coworkers at a restaurant for a goodbye party for one of the counselors. The restaurant was crowded and we were sitting at a long table, so we didn't all get to interact but it was a good time anyway. I was surprised and happy that almost everyone was there. The food was awesome. At my end of the table, we decided to order dishes we could share so I sampled their fish and chips, chicken wings, shrimp scampi, avocado egg rolls, fried artichoke, and fancy mac & cheese. The avocado egg rolls were the big hit and I have leftover macaroni in the fridge. The mac was on this special menu of tiny items meant to be added to your meal. With a salad, that would have been a great meal, and the total including both would be around 6 or 7 bucks. The beer was just as much but it was tasty. I am really happy to see restaurants offering these tiny choices, especially for dessert. No one needs a giant slab of Death By Chocolate cake. Olive Garden and Applebee's have little dessert cups and even they are large enough to share, but it's not overkill.
So now I'm full and exhausted, so I'm going to put on a movie and pass out. Goodnight.
but it was a good day. I got up on my first day of spring break to go get stabbed at the VA. Boooooo. But Chris drove me so I didn't have to park five blocks away. It's such a nice deal- I go get stabbed, he goes to get a coffee... but once I'm in a lab chair I text him so he can head back. When I left the hospital he was driving up the street. Nice!
We went to Michael's to look at paper for our wedding invitations. I always tell him he should be grateful that I have a quirky style and not something he hates but this is my moment to say how grateful I am that he is willing to go compare paper and consider envelopes and color schemes. :D
I went to my doctor's appointment alone while he tried to nap off his New Glasses Migraine. (He gets one free pair a year and last year he lost them within a month, I think.) My doctor had some good news for me. You can't see what this says, but...
That's my A1C. 6.5. And those dates along the bottom are the last six years. For those of you who don't know what this means, allow me to translate. A1C is an average of how your blood sugar has been over the past three months. A meter can only give you an average of your readings; A1C gives the average of everywhere your blood sugar has been- monitored or not. The number translates to a range of blood sugar readings and the goal for diabetics is under 7. For the first time ever, I am under 7.
The doctor printed this for me and I have never been so careful with a piece of paper. I wanted to frame it. I texted Dad and here is his response:
"OMG. Nice Jen. That beats my best of 6.8."
Now I know I'm really cooking because Dad is a very well behaved diabetic. I was so gleeful and I couldn't wait to get home to show Chris. On the way I thought about how my endocrinologist changed my insulin ratio and how that was the reason... but then I decided to chuck that thinking. Sure, I needed the help but if I hold myself responsible for the high numbers, why can't I congratulate myself for the low numbers too? I need to be proud because while I haven't lost any weight, I have been working hard to limit my cravings and portions. I lose sometimes :D but I have been working hard, dammit.
Just last night Chris woke me up to see the tsunami as it was happening, somewhere around midnight. I was really upset about being woken up and immediately had to sit up so I wouldn't vomit. He got me water and made me test but before I even got the kit I figured out what was wrong: I hadn't taken my nighttime shot. Recently I set an alarm on my phone to take that shot, my kidney protector and my natural relax-and-go-to-sleep-now pill. I got distracted and took the pills but never made it to the fridge. Chris, who was calling everyone who was up (and a few who weren't) in order to be the bearer of bad news, told somebody over the phone,
"Hold on, I've got a diabetic here that's not taking care of herself."
This morning (long after the retort would be relevant), I reminded Chris that out of 365 nights, I miss maybe two a year. If I did my math right (and there's no guarantee of that), that means I remember to take my shot 99% of the time. Doesn't it suck that 99% isn't good enough? It is amazing how sick I feel if I don't get that shot within a couple hours.
Anyway, so I learned that when that alarm goes off, I need to stop whatever I'm doing and go take my shot. But now we're somewhere else. Where were we supposed to be going?
Ah yes, so sometimes I goof but a change in ratio alone would not yield these results. After 10 years of 1 unit to 15 carbs, seeing a piece of bread or applesauce or fruit in terms of 15s, correcting 1 unit per 50 points, I had to recalibrate. Corrections are now counted in 40s. Working with a smaller ratio means not rounding the sixes and fours. Suddenly I have to look at it all differently, like it's all new again. So go me, goddammit.
I came home and handed Chris the paper without saying a word. I watched his face but it was his voice that conveyed his feelings. It was soft and quiet. He pulled me to him, crushing the paper and me. I got kisses, kisses, and more kisses. He was SO happy. :D
We took the dogs to the park and walked the loop while Jasmine chased her monster and Riley hunted squirrels. Riley scampered and ran the WHOLE TIME. She also kept trying to get into the stinky creek remnants, but I managed to convince her otherwise. Last time she came out with solid black legs. Gross.
At home, Chris and Ant packed up for their drive down to Gardnerville. I'm sad because the Coasters are playing and Chris is doing their sound, but someone had to stay and take care of the dogs. They are grateful, I'm sure. Tomorrow we'll go meet Jody at Rattlesnake Mountain and the girls will burn some more energy.
I wanted to get some necessary evils out of the way during spring break so tomorrow will be a good time to do them- take advantage of a quiet house, defeat procrastination so this caca isn't hanging over me all week. It's only a break if it FEELS like a break, right? So there are benefits to being left behind, thought Chris still wants me to drive out for the show.
At 5:30, I went to meet my coworkers at a restaurant for a goodbye party for one of the counselors. The restaurant was crowded and we were sitting at a long table, so we didn't all get to interact but it was a good time anyway. I was surprised and happy that almost everyone was there. The food was awesome. At my end of the table, we decided to order dishes we could share so I sampled their fish and chips, chicken wings, shrimp scampi, avocado egg rolls, fried artichoke, and fancy mac & cheese. The avocado egg rolls were the big hit and I have leftover macaroni in the fridge. The mac was on this special menu of tiny items meant to be added to your meal. With a salad, that would have been a great meal, and the total including both would be around 6 or 7 bucks. The beer was just as much but it was tasty. I am really happy to see restaurants offering these tiny choices, especially for dessert. No one needs a giant slab of Death By Chocolate cake. Olive Garden and Applebee's have little dessert cups and even they are large enough to share, but it's not overkill.
So now I'm full and exhausted, so I'm going to put on a movie and pass out. Goodnight.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
P.S.
Oh, and now that we've got a date I can tell you that Chris and I are planning a wedding. It will be on 9-10-11 at Topaz, isn't that awesome?
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