bekeeblog

friday five.
1. What is your favorite type of literature to read (magazine, newspaper, novels, nonfiction, poetry, etc.)?
i like satirical news and local free-press.
2. What is your favorite novel?
a book that i've read over and over and over again, with the spine of an old man and pages falling out, is James and the Giant Peach.
3. Do you have a favorite poem? (Share it!)
with a complementary tattoo to match:

Hug o' War
I will not play at Tug o' War
I'd rather play at Hug o' War,
Where everyone hugs instead of tugs
Where everyone giggles and rolls on the rug,
Where everyone kisses and everyone grins
And everyone cuddles and everyone wins.

Posted by bekee at 10:11 AM | permalink | licks (1)

Our lease is from Aug 15 to Aug 14. We were asked to re-sign (if we had planned on it) or not re-sign our lease by Jan 15 of this year. How does /anyone/ think 8 months in advance in regards to living spaces? Unless, of course, you own. So, today is the first of hopefully not too many "showings" of our apartment. I think it's creepy. I mean, strangers and some rental agency guy who doesn't know us are traipsing through the house.. looking at our things, seeing how it's (poorly) arranged (because there is room for nothing). I'm hoping the lack of a utility closet won't deter them from signing right away. I mean, our mops, brooms, ironing board and vaccuums are scattered throughout the living space in such a way that it either looks like we clean every day, or there just isn't anywhere to put them when they're not in use. The second scenario is more accurate.
This brings me to my point of excitement to move. Not to actually move, but to relocate to a place that I believe Kurt and I will be at for a long time. We'll have a dining room! I am so excited. Also, since we're friends with the homeowner, he's allowing me to construct a full-on floor to ceiling bookshelf in said dining room. He's got one in his flat already, so I'll have a plan to go by. But, really, I hate moving.

Posted by bekee at 11:25 AM | permalink | licks (0)

It seems like everyone is just kinda "blah" lately. I'm attributing it to the mid-febblues. I finally brought lunch today. After spending $4.25 on a sourdough baguette with hummus and roasted red peppers yesterday, I've decided that my boycott needs more stringent sticking-to. I'm such a snot. I'm going to a baby shower this weekend and want to think of something cute and nice to give to the mom-to-be. Something not child related.. more like something for her. Lucky for me, she just took up knitting. :)

Posted by bekee at 8:55 AM | permalink | licks (0)

Today is the first day in a lonnnnng time that I've just not wanted to be at work. I kinda knew this would happen after becoming a "regular full time employee". It's a mental hurdle that I must overcome. I promise, no more workblogs. This last weekend went really fast.. almost unfortunately so, but Kurt and I got in some good QT and some pool playing. We also had a pretty good breakfast at Barber's out between Stoughton and McFarland. We might find ourselves there for dinner some night. Mom was raving about the Wednesday spaghetti dinner. :) On the knitting front, Kurt's skullcap/beanie was completed on Saturday. I'll get a picture up soon, if he'll remove it long enough for me to take it!

Posted by bekee at 3:55 PM | permalink | licks (0)

It's way too big for my head. I don't wear hats anyhow.. I may just mail it to the website that the pattern came from; Headhuggers.

Posted by bekee at 11:07 AM | permalink | licks (0)

to drink water when it's dark out. I drink my share of water all day at work (after the coffee is consumed), but once I leave work, that life-responsibility leaves me. I fear that with tax return in hand, I will spend the day on eBay getting things that I don't need. You know I will.

Posted by bekee at 8:16 AM | permalink | licks (0)

If you haven't already, file your wisco taxes online. I had mine prepared and filed last Sunday and the refund was deposited into my checking account /yesterday/! Anyhow, I'm all for online transactions. Now for the Friday Five.
1. What is your most prized material possession?
I'm pretty proud of the computer that I built and maintain and paid for and sold my soul to get the coolest monitor. I think this is a good possession because it's not like a Ferrari or a boat.
2. What item, that you currently own, have you had the longest?
I have this lamp that was my moms with a plastic shade that has painted on mushrooms and foliage. I've had it since I was about 15. Most of my other childhood possessions (dolls, toys, bears) were ruined in a flood in mom's old basement about 4 years ago... I'm not broken up about it.
3. Are you a packrat?
Sometimes. I try to go through things and donate them if I haven't looked at it for over 6 months.
4. Do you prefer a spic-and-span clean house? Or is some clutter necessary to avoid the appearance of a museum?
I think the only rooms that need to be clean are the kitchen and bathroom. This is where very important and sanitary things occur.
5. Do the rooms in your house have a theme? Or is it a mixture of knick-knacks here and there?
It's a mixture of things that really need to be put in my car and taken to St. Vinny's this Sunday.

Posted by bekee at 8:12 AM | permalink | licks (3)

Too busy! This is so weird. Nothing at all has really changed in my actual responsibilities between being "temporary" and "permanent". Though, for some reason, now that I am permanent, I'm all busy and crap. It's like I magically inherited more respect and responsibility. Weird? Yes.

Posted by bekee at 4:17 PM | permalink | licks (0)

Some days I really like this place. The people, mostly, but this company also has good vision and quality product. Other days I wish I had the gumption to follow through with the 5year goal (which, incidentally, is scheduled to expire in a year). I think it'll turn, slowly, into an 8year goal. I need to get my feet wet here for a little while. Onward and upward.

Posted by bekee at 8:46 AM | permalink | licks (0)

I need to update my resumé. Sooner or later, this bureaucratic environment will get to me.

Posted by bekee at 11:08 AM | permalink | licks (0)

I don't have anything profound to report on today... Oh! One thing; read your cellular phone contract before you call up and yell and the poor customer service rep who only has the job to get free minutes.

Posted by bekee at 8:29 AM | permalink | licks (0)

This story is pretty good news as far as users of Blogger should be concerned. I'm sure you've read it already though, if you're into blogs and whatnot.

Posted by bekee at 8:20 AM | permalink | licks (1)

can't... use... the... mouse. I knitted for ~8 hours yesterday, finishing Kurt's beanie, only to discover that I have to add another inch to the rim. This is not a particularly difficult endeavor, but requires skills that I hadn't planned on learning until next winter when I knit my first sweater. It simply involves a ring of fabric sewn to the bottom rim of the existing hat as one would sew an arm sleeve to a sweater shell. Enough shop talk. I'll be very busy at work tomorrow (read: lots of mousing), so I shouldn't be on the computer so much at home for fear that my wrists will turn into mush.

Posted by bekee at 8:00 AM | permalink | licks (0)

I could, very happily, live in a log cabin and never go outside. I think this is a testament to just how easily amused I can be. Provided I still have everything that I do now at my disposal. The ferrets, this morning, are on my nerves though. They stand at the door to their (my) room, scratching. When I go in the room and sit down to play, they run all around, everywhere but near me. What do they want!? Gah. They've just now been placed in their cage for a time-out.

Posted by bekee at 9:16 AM | permalink | licks (0)

Cuz it's kinda lame. It's all about "why did you start your blog?" "who reads your blog?". Feh. As a matter of fact, I'm kinda too busy today to do any blogging. Maybe after work. Happy Valentimes Day to you all!

Posted by bekee at 8:13 AM | permalink | licks (1)

Being escorted to work by a great friend for the last three days has made this week just fly by! I mean, it's already Thursday fer chrissakes. And to top it all off, I actually woke up before the alarm, though slightly less-than-chipper. I can't wait until this week is over. :) Before being part of the daytime work crowd, I always wondered why people were so damn interested in the weekend. Most of my jobs have been Tue-Sun, or Weds-Mon, I've always had to work on the weekend and never had the affection that I do now for my days off. Maybe it's cuz I know I'll be doing it for a while and it's a bigger deal than a gets-me-through-college job. Maybe it's cuz I don't work 2-11 and can't sleep in. Maybe I just really like waking up at my leisure, sipping coffee while reading the morning news online; maybe that's why it seems that everyone else at work is slow to start and though they get to work at 8, they don't actually /get to work/ til 9. Wish me luck driving with my new clutch.

Posted by bekee at 7:06 AM | permalink | licks (0)

Well, I'm now a regular and permanent employee at the fabulous Pleasant Company. They even accepted my job description (almost as submitted) and allowed me to keep the job title (the hold-up was because no one in the organization is a "technologist"). So, you're lookin' at a bonafide Front-End Design Technologist. What this means to you: nothing; I may have to work late a couple more nights a week once a month, but whatever. What this means to me: my job has shifted slighty towards more design and less production. We are, however, hiring a "Special Projects Employee" (what I was until yesterday morning) to do some grunt work and help "around the house". I've also gained insurance, paid vacation, and a moderate paycut. What this also means to me is that I need to, again, boycott the cafe for monitary reasons and not just cuz the salad bar sucks 3 days out of 4. Congratulations will be had at the bar tonight. You know which bar. Oh, and my resolution is to limit outsourced content to Fridays. :)

Posted by bekee at 8:08 AM | permalink | licks (5)

This-or-that again!
1. Bacon or sausage?
omigawd. like, gag me with a spoon!
2. Eggs: scrambled or not?
Hmm, poached.
3. French toast or regular toast?
Regular.
4. Pancakes or waffles?
Waffles.
5. Muffins or bagels?
Bagels, absolutely.
6. Coffee or tea?
Coffee.
7. Juice: orange or grapefruit?
Orange.
8. Hot or cold cereal?
Hot.
9. To put in cereal: bananas or strawberries (or some other fruit)?
Raisins.
10. Eat breakfast at home or at a restaurant?
Restaurant, probably, but sometimes we get on a poached-egg-and-english-muffin kick.

Posted by bekee at 1:38 PM | permalink | licks (11)

The Fonduerama was superb! Bob really did a great job and had no reason to be as nervous as he was. The selections and presentation was faboo. An entirely positive first-fondue experience was had by yours truly. Kurt and I didn't hang out as long as I had wanted to, but my 9to5'er job has turned me into this weird, sleepy person when 9.30p rolls around. I get all ornery and snarly. No, just kidding, I only get tired. :)

Posted by bekee at 9:10 AM | permalink | licks (1)

It's finally done*! (code for image removed by something) *note to recipient: the color is not
accurately captured by my crappy digicam.

Posted by bekee at 8:32 AM | permalink | licks (0)

All I wanted to do was to go shopping for a new satchel. I got no more than 2 blocks from my house and the damn clutch cable snapped. Very irritating.

Posted by bekee at 2:58 PM | permalink | licks (0)

1. You're going out-of-town for a month and won't be using your new car. Do you offer it to a friend who needs one?
Why would I buy a new car right before a vacation? Or a "you're going to SF for a seminar for a month", which would never happen. But yes, I'd let them use my old crappy car if they really needed it.
2. Your agent helped you when you were struggling. Now a large agency with powerful connections wants you. Do you dump your agent?
Can you rephrase the question?
3. The environmentally friendly laundry detergent costs two dollars more than the regular brand. Do you buy it?
I /have/, but it doesn't seem to clean as well. I just use the Arm & Hammer brand cuz I'm allergic to all those scents and dyes and stuff.

Posted by bekee at 9:43 AM | permalink | licks (0)

According to the Belief-o-matic, here's my breakdown of appropriate religiousness (please note that the site explains that "even a score of 100% does not mean that your views are all shared by this faith, or vice versa").:
1. Unitarian Universalism (100%)
2. Liberal Quakers (92%)
3. Theravada Buddhism (91%)
4. Secular Humanism (84%)
5. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (82%)
6. Mahayana Buddhism (71%)
7. Neo-Pagan (71%)
8. New Age (70%)
9. Bahá'í Faith (66%)
10. Nontheist (61%)
11. Jainism (60%)
12. Taoism (60%)
13. Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (58%)
14. Orthodox Quaker (51%)
15. New Thought (48%)
16. Jehovah's Witness (47%)
17. Reform Judaism (42%)
18. Scientology (41%)
19. Hinduism (38%)
20. Mainline to Conservative Christian/Protestant (37%)
21. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (34%)
22. Sikhism (32%)
23. Seventh Day Adventist (25%)
24. Orthodox Judaism (25%)
25. Islam (22%)
26. Eastern Orthodox (11%)
27. Roman Catholic (11%)

Posted by bekee at 9:39 AM | permalink | licks (1)

my orange juice container says, "shake well for best taste". i think everything should say that.

Posted by bekee at 10:02 AM | permalink | licks (0)

five. This Friday Five is particularly lame. However, even though I've been "talked to" about using unoriginal content, this is for my hardcore blogreaders to participate as well:
1. What did you have for breakfast this morning? If you didn't have breakfast, why not?
I don't eat breakfast during the week. Partly because I don't have time and partly because most easy-to-eat breakfasts are sweet (i.e., cereals, waffles, things with syrup) and I am not fond of sweet things.
2. What's your favorite cereal?
The last time I had cereal, which was forever ago since I also don't drink milk, was Cheerios.
3. How often do you eat out? Do you want that to change?
We eat out fairly regularly. This doesn't stop me from complaining about how spinach, garlic, onions and rice can cost a customer $8.95, but you know how it goes.
4. What do you plan on having for dinner tonight? Got a recipe for that?
Hmm. I'll probably have a poorman's grilled cheese.
5. What's your favorite restaurant? Why?
I really like TonTon. Though Kurt and I have been cheating on them by attending dinners at other Japanese restaurants, they'll always be my favorite. The prices are competative, the fish is cut nicely, the sake is great, and the people know me. Fer chrissakes, there's a picture of me behind the sushi bar holding a dragon roll. How famous am I? :)

Posted by bekee at 9:33 AM | permalink | licks (0)

It amazes me just how frequently I can withstand social settings every single night. Whether it's hanging out at the Tavern, catching a snack with workmates, or shopping for the latest in wire and bead supplies. I used to be a complete introvert... at least as far as interacting with more than one person. Maybe that's why I'm an INFP.

Posted by bekee at 8:36 AM | permalink | licks (3)

I'm excited about the hilarity of this site.

Posted by bekee at 10:30 AM | permalink | licks (0)

I forgot to do this or that yesterday.
"While you were sleeping" is the theme:
1. Morning or night person?
Very night.
2. Heavy or light sleeper?
Reg'lar
3. Remember your dreams or not?
Yea, but sometimes they're so real that when I'm driving to work I have to think whether or not they actually happened.
4. Do you need a lot of sleep, or just a little?
I have a 3.5 hour sleep cycle. If I get more than 7 hours, I'm groggy and slow-to-start.
5. Do you need something like a nightlight or TV to sleep, or do you prefer complete darkness?
I don't like lights on, but I have to have the noise of a fan because of the loud 3rdshift downstairs music playing at 5am neighbor.
6. Flannel sheets or some other kind?
T-shirt sheets. Though, the bed never looks "made" with these kinds of sheets.
7. One pillow, or more?
At least 3, just in case.
8. Bedroom door opened or closed at night?
It depends. If I sleep in my room, it's open, if I sleep in Kurt's room, it's closed.
9. Wrap yourself into blankets like a cocoon, or just cover yourself with them?
Cover. I roll around too much to be wrapped.
10. Alarm clock: wake to music or buzzer?
If I sleep in my room, radio, if I sleep in Kurt's room, buzzer.

Posted by bekee at 9:10 AM | permalink | licks (0)

Really though, I know I complain about being not-so-busy at work.. and it's really not /that/ bad, but when I am busy, the week just goes by so much faster and I'm just that much closer now to sitting on the couch Saturday morning with my knitting. That's all I want. Nothing extraordinary has taken place yet this week.. mom, you know what I'm talking about. My work café boycott isn't going so well.. I've gotten a salad a day for a couple weeks now. I think I'll be okay as long as I steer clear of the "specials".

Posted by bekee at 8:52 AM | permalink | licks (2)

There's only so much yarn a person needs before it looks like they just collect yarn. I'm referring to this (links to ebay auctions removed because they no longer exist). But don't they look superfun? I love knitting.

Posted by bekee at 8:29 AM | permalink | licks (0)

after this one last post about the poor person who is lookin' to get his or her haircut. Here's the final count of searches from January 2003 with haircut references... [drumroll] 125! My favorite one was "haircuts for me", haircuts for me?! How the heck does google know who you are? G'luck, pal.

Posted by bekee at 10:42 AM | permalink | licks (0)

This weekend was kinda uneventful... I was TurboFun Bekee on Friday night, but that had a severe, adverse affect to my ability to be functional on Saturday. I slept in til 1 and missed the peace rally downtown. I'm a turd for that. Sunday was spent at breakfast (per usual) with friends and family, grocery shopping, picking up some more yarn and needles, and watching the boys play shoot 'em up games while I added another 2 feet to the scarf. I use bamboo needles, and the only thing I don't like about them compared to the classic metal knitting needles, is that they don't make the clicky noise to indicate to passerbys that you're knitting you arse off. Anyhow, with the scarf almost finished, Kurt has put in a request for a beanie hat. I have a feeling the hat is a little too advanced for me at this stage, so I might do that and another scarf at the same time. Thanks, I'll be here all week.

Posted by bekee at 9:26 AM | permalink | licks (0)

These weekly affirmation things sure make for ease in content.
1. You suspect another parent at a co-op daycare of stealing $20 from your coat. This person is made treasurer. Do you alert the board?
"Alert" is too reactionary. If I could prove that my 20 spot was stolen by this person, I would have talked to someone about it prior to their move to treasurer, unless those two things happen simultaneously. I don't think I'd make a fuss, I'd just make people aware.
2. You're well-to-do. Your children, ages 24 and 26, ask you to settle part of their inheritance now. Do you?
No.
3. You've accepted a date to a movie when someone you really like asks you to a concert on the same night. Do you try to get out of the first date?
Perhaps, if there's enough time, the movie date could be rearranged. The concert date is obviously a little more permanent and fixed as they don't happen 60 times a week.

Posted by bekee at 3:23 AM | permalink | licks (1)

I'm getting too old to stay up with the kids anymore. This doesn't stop me from closing the bar every couple of months. b o b remarked how "full moonish" it seemed last night. People were definately acting different. I think it was the low pressure system.

Posted by bekee at 3:14 AM | permalink | licks (2)