not sleepless in seattle

thanks, laurieb!

2006-03-19T06:32:34Z

Your results:
You are Worf

Worf		60%
Deanna Troi		60%
Will Riker		55%
An Expendable Character (Redshirt)		50%
Data		43%
Leonard McCoy (Bones)		35%
Chekov		30%
Spock		25%
Geordi LaForge		20%
Jean-Luc Picard		20%
Mr. Sulu		20%
Beverly Crusher		15%
James T. Kirk (Captain)		15%
Uhura		10%
Mr. Scott		5%

You are trained in the art of combat
and are usually intimidating.

Click here to take the Star Trek Personality Quiz

yet another rant about someone on the bus

2006-03-03T05:46:04Z

Dear idiot:

It's 5:30 am. I'd appreciate it if you didn't whistle. You're keeping me awake and it's pissing me off.

Love,
Melissa the non morning person

finally feeling better

2006-02-25T20:11:47Z

I pushed myself last night at Jet City to stay until after 9pm, and I made $40. Not too bad, although I basically collapsed after work. I woke up at 7:30 today. Soooo sad that I can't sleep in any more. I think we're going to go out and see the Living Daylights tonight (it *is* Mardi Gras night!) so hopefully I'll be able to sneak in a nap so I can not only see music but enjoy it.

Z is making veggie stoup (not quite stew, but not quite soup). It's simmering now and smells yummy. I can't wait to eat it.

In other news, we're going to Wakarusa this summer! www.wakarusa.com I can't believe I sacrificed a trip to the canyon to spend 4 days in Kansas in June, but I can't get over that line up. Almost everyone I like in the current jamband circuit is playing! Besides, we're going to go somewhere Memorial Day weekend, probably to Montanta, and we may do a canyon trip for my b-day if we don't go somewhere else.

desertgirlva @ 2006-02-24T13:28:00

2006-02-24T21:30:33Z

Well I stayed home again yesterday, went to work today but was sent home around 10am because my boss said "you look terrible!" Fortunately we weren't that busy today. I feel okay sitting around the house, but being up on my feet makes me feel blah. I do have to work job #2 tonight but that's only for a couple of hours, and I don't work at all tomorrow. We were supposed to go out and see music tomorrow night but with me feeling icky and now Z is too it might not happen. Oh well, we'll see.

sicky sick

2006-02-22T19:47:04Z

Here I am, home sick for the second time in two weeks! Blech. I was up all night suffering from some sort of stomach flu/virus. Ginger ale is helping, but I still feel horrid. At least I'm not puking my guts out anymore.

Last Cous has been so sweet today. She hasn't left my side since Z left for work. I guess she knows mommy isn't feeling well.

dear lord, what has happened to me?

2006-02-21T06:33:23Z

Since I had the day off (from both jobs!) for President's Day, I got to sleep in...and I woke up at 9am! WTF?

Didn't do too much today, ran some errands, went to Goodwill, cooked quiche for dinner for Z and I. It was grey and blah and cold today; after all the sun we've had the past few weeks, I think it made me a tad apathetic.

Off to bed soon...4:30 sure comes early.

Happy Sunday

2006-02-20T07:04:25Z

This afternoon we went up to Stevens Pass to play in the snow. It was fun although I fell down a bunch of times (it was mighty icy! I should wear snowshoes next time!) It was great to get out of the city for a little while, most importantly.

a crazy story

2006-02-18T05:14:08Z

Tonight I was at the pizza gig, trying to make a delivery, minding my own business, when I thought I heard someone yelling. Next thing I know, somebody's pounding on the back of my car. I opened the window to find out why he did that, and he started demanding a ride. I told him I was working and couldn't do that, and he responded that he would pay for the pizzas I was trying to deliver. I told him to get the fuck away from my car or else I was going to call the police. I started to drive off, and he yelled, "Fuck you bitch!" He was obviously drugged up on something.

What made this so weird, is that this was a pretty nice neighborhood! I might have expected this in a shady part of Vegas, but not in the Wedgewood neighborhood in Seattle!

In more news, it's cold as balls here. So cold that my thighs are chapped. Seattle winters sure suck. When is spring coming?

blah

2006-02-09T21:21:27Z

I'm home with the flu. Blah. Figures on the warmest day we've had in months I'm stuck at home.

long time, no post!

2006-02-05T21:38:05Z

It was actually sunny and not to cold today so Z and I went for a much needed walk this morning. I can't wait for spring but it seems I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. There's buds on some of the trees and a few early flowers are starting to bud as well. Plus several days this week it's supposed to get up into the mid 50s. Still chilly but a lot better than it has been.

In happier news, I think we are going to go to Arizona over Memorial Day weekend!!! All of this rain has been making me fiend for the desert something serious. I was thinking grand canyon, and then Z mentioned he had always wanted to go to the Painted Desert, so it looks like we'll spend a day there, and a day at the canyon. I can't wait!!!!

Meanwhile, watching the kitten halftime show during the puppy bowl on animal planet. Yay for puppy and kitten cuteness!!!

more on jamcruse

2006-01-17T04:34:02Z

We got down to the port around 10:30 and waited. We got on the boat around 1:15. Unfortunately we didn't see our luggage until about 8 hours later, but we spent the time exploring the ship, eating lunch, etc. It was pretty chilly by Florida standards, a high of about 65, and it got much chillier than that and quite windy after dark. Finally when the luggage arrived I was able to put on sparkley stuff and decorate our door. The highlight of the evening was probably Keller Williams.

The next day was spent lounging around on the deck soaking up the sun and listening to music. Lee Boys, Remarkable Elba Kramer, Everyone Orchestra. It was awfully windy again, alas. We could see Cuba from the boat most of the day also.

A funny thing happened this day. Z and I got married! Well...sorta. There was a mass "spritual" wedding with a number of couples on boards and we decided to join in. I guess we're divorced now that we're off the boat, but we had fun calling each other "hubby" and "wifey" nonetheless.

The theme of the night was Luau night and here is a picture of my getup for the evening. After getting dressed, it was off for more music! Honkeytonk Homeslice, Bela Fleck, and mah man Karl Denson.

I am really starting to think that Karl Denson is one of my favorite musicians in the jam band scene right now. He always rocks the house, is high energy, and I can just never seem to get enough of him. And some Karl D at the pool stage was the perfect end to this night.

The next day was our first shore excursion--Jamaica!!! We went on the shopping and enchanted gardens exursion. I bought a purse and had lots of women offering to braid my hair at the market. They kept calling Z Moses and offering to sell him hash. During the enchanted gardens tour, I got the opportunity to photography lots of tropical waterfalls and meet some tropical birds that I did not realize were tame and would land on my head.

After we got back to the boat, I took a long nap and got ready to see more music. Gomez started off the festivities before dinner, then Bela Fleck later. Originally planned to go to see the Fantastic Four but went down to the jam room instead and boy was I glad I did! My man Karl Denson amongst many many others were down there making mind blowing music! Have I mentioned what a great idea the jam room was?

The next day the boat went to Grand Caymen Island and we blew off the shore excursion for sleeping and relaxing around the pool in the sunshine. Michael Franti and Spearhead was the late afternoon entertainment. The theme for the evening was pajama night hence the new icon (that picture was taken in the formal dining room btw--only on jam cruise could you get away with that!!!) We went to see Steve Kimock after dinner but soon afterwards Z became very sleepy so I walked him back to the room and told him I would wake him up later. I had planned on going back to Steve Kimock but ended up at Scott Law's set which had become half of Honkeytonk Homeslice with Scott Law (in the same venue that became the jam room later on, nonetheless.) After that, I caught the end of Steve Kimock then Remarkable Elba Kramer. After REK I woke Z back up then went to see Brain Damaged Eggmen which was basically Beatles and Pink Floyd covers. I'm not such a fan of cover music, I like to see original stuff, so I went down to the jam room to check out what was going on down there. I stumbled upon what was basically a Seattle loft party: Skerik and Chris Littlefield amongst others jamming out on stage, complete with a half naked girl in a teddy dancing in the front row. (It *was* pajama night...rolls eyes)

The next day we arrived in Costa Maya, Mexico. Our shore excursion for the day was taking a tour of some mayan ruins. It was a long ride out into the country, two hours one way, and it wasn't the most scenic, but it gave a glimpse into what life in the middle of nowhere in Mexico was like which was cool.

The ruins were worth every second we spent on the bus and was by far the highlight of the trip. I've been including Z's digicam pictures with this entry as I haven't gotten my film developed but I cannot WAIT to see how these turned out. I got a very spiritual feeling climing the pyramid at the ruins amongst the other jam cruisers. Very cool.

On our way back to the bus, we saw howler monkeys in the trees! They didn't seem to particularly like us hanging around the trees they were up in, and started howling, then throwing feces at us. Of course we were all like, "Cool! The monkeys are throwing poop at us!" Finally they got us back on the bus for the long drive back to the port.

After we set sail again it was time for yet even more music. More Lee Boys, Karl Denson, Honkeytonk Homeslice. During Honkeytonk Homeslice my stomach and back started to hurt really bad and wouldn't stop so I called it an early night and didn't really check out the jam room (which according to Z was amazing once again). I'm wondering if I didn't have a tad of sea sickness because the boat really was rocking back and forth a lot that night.

Thursday was the last day of the cruise but sure had a shitload of music. The day started out with Fantastic Four, Kim Manning, Zilla, then Critters Buggin (in which Skerik had a hilarious rant about the terrible pizza on the boat). Blew off most of the Everyone Orchestra to go to dinner and get dressed up for Chinese New Year (the theme for the night). After the New year's parade and awards show, we went to check out Michael Frant but we were both feeling sort of drowsy, so we went back up to the pool deck for air and Gomez since the jam room didn't seem to be happening. After Gomez was Gabby La La in which a sudden, five minute thunder and rain storm rolled through, then was over with as quickly as it started. After Gabby Z and I went down to the jam room for a while, then he went to bed and I went to see the closign set of Galactic.

The next day we had to leave the boat and fly home. Sigh. Unfortunately we had to be out of our rooms by 8am but they wouldn't let us leave until the people who put a cash deposit down on their bar tabs and went over what they deposited settled their accounts which took some time. I was taking a nice nap on a couch when an improptu jam session started up. First with just Kim Manning on piano, soon there were several guitars, a drummer, a singer, and a harmonica. The poor people who work on the boat were probably like, "Don't these people ever quit?" Finally the announcement came that we all had to get off the boat to get ready for the next cruise. After going through customs and getting a ride to the airport, I found a nice couch in the airport for a nice long nap before my flight home.

back from jamcruise

2006-01-15T01:01:44Z

Got back last night. Had a blast and a half. Lots more to come. :)

dateline ft lauderdale

2006-01-07T00:13:15Z

I'm here!!! Flight was pretty uneventful and managed to catch up on some sleep. Haven't done a lot today besides nap and get in the hot tub. Off to jam cruise tomorrow!!! Woohoo!

happy new year!

2006-01-02T05:23:49Z

Hope y'all had a good one! Didn't do too much here, just went down to Seattle Center and photographed the fireworks.

meme time

2005-12-30T06:25:37Z

kindly snagged from djlaurieb

January
1. Did you have a new year's resolution this year?: I'm pretty sure I did not.
2.Who kissed you at midnight?: nobody
3. Does it snow where you live?: not usually
4. Do you like hot chocolate?: *only* if it is made with soy milk
5. Have you ever been to times square to watch the ball drop?: No

February
1. Who was your valentine in 2005? thezzyzx
2. What did your valentine get you?: a Grateful Dead picture book, and dinner at the teahouse. It was my first time eating there and it's become my favorite restaurant in Seattle!
3. When you were little, did you buy valentines for your whole class?: I think so.

March
1. Are you Irish?: Definately not.
2. Do you wear green on St. Patty's Day?: usually
3. What did you do for St. Patty's Day in 2005?: Stayed in bed recovering from surgery

April
1. Do you like the rain?: No.
2. Did you play an April fool's joke on anyone this year?: no.
3. Do you get tons of candy on easter?: No

May
1. What's your favorite kind of flower?: Roses and tulips
3. Do you like the spring?: I lovelovelove spring time
4. Finish the phrase: April showers bring...even more showers if you live in Seattle
5. What would you think of as a spring color?: pink

June
1. What year did you graduate from school?: high school, 1991
2. Did you go on any vacations last June?: Alaska baby!

July
1. What did you do on the 4th of July?: Worked after seeing Widespread Panic at the gorge all weekend.
2. Went on any vacations during this month?: No

August
1. Did you do anything special to end off your summer?: Bumbershoot, but that wasn't till september
2. What was your favorite summer memory of '05?: Alaska, WSP at the Gorge, Horning's Hideout
3. Do you go swimming a lot in the summer?: No, I don't swim much. I got in the wading pool at the Gorge, and I swam in the lake at Horning's because there were no showers, but that was it.
4. Do you go to the beach a lot?: No. We went in late July down to Long Beach WA, but that's the only time I've been to the beach all year.

September
1. Did you attend school/college in '05?: No
2. Who is/was your favorite teacher?: It's been so long since I've been in school I'm not going to bother with this one.
3. Do you like fall better than summer?: Usually I'd answer yes, but summer is the best season in Seattle. In fall, the perpetual rain and cold starts right back up again.

October
1. What was your favorite halloween costume ever?: Probably my fairy costume in 2000.
2. What's your favorite candy?: anything chocolatey
3. What did you dress up like this year?: nothing.

November
1. Whose house do you usually go to for thanksgiving?: My own
2. Do you like stuffing?: As long as it's vegetarian.
3. What are you thankful for?: Not having a cyst anymore. Having Zzyzx and the couses in my life.

December
1. Have you ever been kissed under mistletoe?: I don't believe so
2. What did you want this year for christmas?: my two front teeth
4. What's the best present you ever got for Christmas?: Who knows?
5. Do you like cold weather?: I freaking hate cold weather.
6. How would you rate your 05?: It was the year that everything broke, including myself. But it did have it's redeeming moments. I don't really feel like I can rate it fairly.

a rant

2005-12-29T05:01:19Z

Dear Nimrod on the bus:

Please do not attempt to make conversation with me. It's 5:15 in the morning and I am so NOT a morning person. It's bad enough parking is too expensive for me downtown so in order to get to work I have to ride the bus with people like you. The least you can do is shut up and let me doze off on the 30 minute ride downtown. When you work two jobs, every little cat nap you can squeeze in helps. Thanks, and please shut the fuck up.

Last but not least, Dear Yuppie snob in the parking garage:

Just because I work on the bottom floor of 1001 4th Avenue in the restaurant does not make me stupid, an idiot, or a moron, and neither does the fact that I don't know every company that has offices inside the building I work in. Furthermore, even if I was stupid, an idiot, or a moron, does not give you the right to be rude to me. So fuck off, leave me alone, and don't talk to me, please.

desertgirlva @ 2005-12-24T21:49:00

2005-12-25T05:50:17Z

Merry Christmas everyone!

happy thanksgiving!

2005-11-25T07:45:28Z

I hope everyone had a good day! I had a great thanksgiving and am very thankful for all that I have. I'm thankful to be here with David, and I'm thankful for not having a cyst anymore.

We put up our tree and it's pretty cool. It's a hippie tree! Lots of Grateful Dead and sparkley stuff. I need to taka a picture.

Tomorrow--Lord of the Rings Triology and lots of people over! Wee!

It's kinda sad that I feel this way, but...

2005-11-20T06:59:37Z

Somehow, I'm not surprised to read this

haven't done one of these in a while

2005-11-19T06:53:39Z

It's time for the Friday Five!!!

1. What do you do for fun?
Weather permitting, I like to go out in nature and take photographs or just hike. I love to go out and see music also.

2. Is there a person from your past you would like to talk to again, even if it would be a potentially painful conversation?
My former friend Michelle who introduced me to the Grateful Dead. We were really close until I moved away in 1995. I tried to maintain contact but sorta gave up after my repeated efforts were ignored. It's funny how you can be so close to some people yet they forget all about you once you move away.

3. What is your favorite comfort food?
Chocolate!

4. What is your preferred form of self-expression? (Do you dance; or express yourself through music, conversation, etc.)
Definately photography, but if I'm really worked up about something, i can write and write and write about it until my fingers just about fall off.

5. You just received $5000; what do you spend it on?
Probably pay off a hell of a lot of bills with most of it, but I'd set aside some to get some of my work enlarged and framed and put into some galleries.

one more thing

2005-11-17T06:03:57Z

I offically got a new job today. I'll be working for a catering company downtown. Bad news is I have to be there at 6:00 am (which means leaving the house at 5 and catching the bus downtown because there's nowhere to park). Good news is I get benefits.

I hope it works out. I do have another job interview at a photography studio on Friday which obviously would take first priority if I got offered that job.

and some new pictures

2005-11-17T05:45:00Z

These are from my trip to utah and arizona in June of 2001.

That's monument valley. (Southeast Utah)

That's Bryce Canyon. (Southwest/South Central Utah)

That's Red Canyon (Near Bryce)

And here is a link to a few pictures from Arches National Park.

ahh soft

2005-11-17T05:36:12Z

We got a new bed. Ohhh it feels so good on my back. I think it's the most comfortable bed I've ever had. It sure beats that futon, that's for sure.

desertgirlva @ 2005-11-11T23:18:00

2005-11-12T07:11:06Z

Happy day after Utica everyone.

desertgirlva @ 2005-11-11T23:16:00

2005-11-12T07:08:16Z

long beach #5

and one more from long beach...