orgiastic

This word is fantastic, and for that I'm orgiastic.

visual storytelling

So my classmate is a street racer. He recruited me to work with him on a documentary of it for our class project. The group I'm filming is involved in both the legal and illegal varieties of racing. We have shot a bunch of interview footage as well as a quick burst. The climax of the film will be a race of some sort. All of it is going to be "tricky" to capture. The weather will have to cooperate, and one of the guys will have to get his machine fixed. He wrecked it in a legal drift race. I'm trying to get them to find a drag strip of some sort where we can film it without the intervention of jonny law. I also want to get some shots from an overpass and maybe from the perspective of a sunroof. We may shoot everything slow and then speed it up, which might make it more comical.

I'm back from Nashville, y'all . . . (Post by Mom)

Just got back a few minutes ago and am checking the blog. I got about 3 hours of sleep last night. Had a great time. This hotel was fabulous. It was huge and was all indoors under a high (17-story) window roof so there were palm trees and all kinds of other tropical type plants everywhere plus waterfalls, lots of fountains, etc.

We went to the Grand Ole Opry last night (at the Ryman) and heard both Alan Jackson sing a couple of songs from his new gospel albun as well as Vince Gill and several others. We left after the first three "sets" and still didn't get home until midnight, hence the lack of sleep. Had to get up at 3:30 to leave for the airport at 4 a.m.

Anyway, we also went to the Country Music Hall of Fame, The Wildhorse Saloon, two Antique Shows, a plantation tour at the battle of Franklin and pulled pork barbecue complete with okra and chess pie. I'm wondering if Greyson will know about chess pie. One of the antique shows had a big buffet with Tennessee ham--totally delicious. One of the vendors who does business with Jamie gave us complimentary tickets for manicures and pedicures at the hotel spa. It was a really fun time but I'm glad to be home.

There appears to be a man moving personal items into the house that is across the creek from us -- the first one in the cul-de-sac on the right. Guess we'll be having lots of new neighbors soon. There are for sale signs up all around.

No new car yet. The latest was that it was to be here between the 24th and 27th. Tomorrow is the 27th, but I'm not holding my breath. Traci took our truck back home because she didn't have snow tires on hers, and there was lots of snow/ice on the pass. So we are now driving her car which is okay except that the heater seems to be permanently "on" and at a pretty high heat.

Visit with Emma

We had Emma over for a pretend family day yesterday. We had some friends over that have two little girls age 2 and 4 so Brian and Jenn let me borrow Emma for a few hours to fill in as my child. The three girls had a good time and played very nicely all day. I think it tuckered Emma out because she was almost falling asleep in her pizza at dinner. The other two little girls wouldn't touch the veggie pizza (even though the family is vegetarians) but Emma liked it, peppers, onions and all. It was fun to play house for a day, but my nice peaceful night of sleep was also nice.

So mom and dad, do you have your new car yet?

Traci and Tim, do you have your hottub in yet? How is the book publishing going?

Jenn, I heard your student vs. teacher volleyball wasn't all that successful for the teacher's. How could this be?

-Mel

Dean family update

Well we all survived the flu.  My toe is still broken.  Kalena is walking around everywhere- she can turn, pick up something from the floor, and is attempting to pick up the speed.  Emma keeps coming up with new words- and uses them appropriately.  I’m biased I know- but she is one smart cookie!  She was using something metallic in the back seat to make noise- and was telling me it was her “instrument”.  In addition she tried out the word “nervous” the other day about when Dennis came over to the house- it made her “nervous”.  Finally- a not so good word- she called her brother an “idiot”.  Gabriel got in trouble at school for drawing a violent picture- apparently he has been warned about this before.  So the school had consequences and he had consequences at home.  X-box games have also been restricted to only “E”…unless mom is playing with them- since I am only able to play Halo 2.  I am improving though- so watch out during the next tournament.  Nicholas was invited to be on a team called “freedom” for indoor soccer.  Well the bell is ringing- back to work!

Post byMom/Janice

I'm off to Nashville tomorrow (Tuesday) about 2:30. Hope to get to see lots of fun stuff. I know that a plantation tour and some kind of boat ride are part of this. I am hopeless in terms of clothes - can't figure out what to take. And when I finally was sure of one cream-colored blouse I noticed that it is past due for a trip to the dry cleaners. I need a personal stylist or something like that.

I have gained back a pound. Very discouraging. I binged a bit on Sunday and have regretted it since. Some evil person left a bag of potato chips in the pantry and I foudn them while going through the pantry looking for something good to eat. Bad combination of events.

Katia has not been having her fecal incontinence (aka pooping in the house) since Larry has been gone again. Its pretty clear that this problem has some kind of psychosocial basis.

Since I'm talking about dog poop, its pretty obvious I don't have anything interesting to report. Just hoping to get the rest of you posting so I'll know what's going on with you.

Grandma has gained significant weight but I'll let her tell the numbers. In fact, she broke her scales and had to buy a new one.

Be back Sunday.

XOXOXO

House of germs

Greyson has declared sickness. He has some sort of cold or flu with the body aches and headaches and dry cough. I have been babying him as much as possible with food, medicine, a warm fire and turning in his homework for him. I feel alright so far. Last year I had the flu really bad and was in the field and had to work through it. That was miserable. I figure that should tide me over on sickness for awhile.

I bought some more fish for our fishtank for fun last night. We now have a long, skinny arowana, a pretty discus and a pair of rainbows. It is getting to be quite the busy tank now. I looked into getting dirt and barkdust(hemlock). I can pick up a yard of either for $19.50 or have 13 yards delivered for $310 (only $56 delivery fee-included)or 5 yards delivered for $172 ($74 delivery fee included). You could always use extra dirt and barkdust right?

It is very cold (23)and windy (60mph gusts) here in the Gorge. All the sunshine is deceiving. I am glad to have our woodstove even though it takes up room in my small livingroom. No snow yet. I am working at Pasco on Tuesday and it is actually supposed to be 10 degrees warmer (51) then at home that day. Not often that happens in the winter.
Enough small talk- Later, Mel

Weather (Mom/Jan's Post)

LA in the 80's & Prineville in single digits. Isn't weather a cool thing? I think I missed my calling as a weatherperson.

word for the day

I know a lot of you have really been distraught about the lack of new and exciting vocabulary words on the blog. To be honest, I haven't exactly posted a nimiety of them lately.

Getting busy

I am entering the busy season at work again. Starting March 3rd and going through May I will be off on jobs so don't count on me attending any events or being home much. It is nice to get busy again; I just wish I wasn't trying to finish my class at the same time.

I am determined to do something with the garden this year. We were talking about revamping the beds, so maybe my father could help my husband do that for me this spring. I have missed eating the beans that grew so well at our last house. I have spring on the brain which is bad considering it is snowing at my house today.
-Mel

manual labor

Manual labor just isn't for me. I had six days to try it and be sure. No I don't like it Dad I Am. We do have a great soaker system and lots of the grunt work done. Dad was a real trooper and Greta supervised the whole project when she wasn't knocking things over or chewing Grandpa's glove or getting herself caught up in twine. Tim was sick and gone. Probably better that way since I can't handle sick people when I'm working. I got lack of empathy from my mother I think.

My eyes are awesome. Save up three thousand and go for it!

I'm sending the last of my seven tries to New York these coming days. Then it's a 4-6 week wait.

jen, glad to hear you're all on the mend. That's miserable.

Seven Feathers: I was wondering who all wants to meet for a weekend, maybe stay overnight and have some fun? Thinking any weekend after the next couple of weeks or Spring Break which is at the end of March.

Tired, but happy traci.

On the subject of birthdays....

Well I got to thinking about birthdays and I am having a big one this year and I am not too happy about that. But in case anyone wanted to start shopping now I just wanted to let you know that there are some things on sale at Eddie Bauer right now that I might enjoy.
In general I am a large tall (12TALL)in shirts (Eddie Bauer, Gap) and a 10 long in pants (Gap, Jcrew, Banana Republic)(lowrise bootcut or boycut jeans)(inseam needs to be 34 or 35". But specifically here is what I saw that interested me, was in my size and was on sale:
Eddie Bauer Outlet Online:
Extended-Cuff Wrinkle-Resistant Oxford Shirt Blue($29)
Cotton/Cashmere Hoodie ($20)
Fair Isle Yoke Henley Sweater Blue or Grey ($30)
Twill Cargo Capris–Vashon Fit ($20)

I could also use spring and summer clothes. I have tons of workout shorts but need some casual shorts that fit (size 10 again). I will keep an eye out for other things I like that come on sale.

We have Mother's BDay, Father's Day, Traci's and Greyson's Birthday. (I can't remember when Brian's birthday is.) I am sure there are a bunch of kids birthdays but I can't keep up with all of them. So for all of you with birthdays coming up please post some gift ideas if you have them. Also, Ada and I share the same birthday and she would like a new Rhodesian playmate for her present.

Happy Birthday Jennifer

Happy Birthday Jenn. Hope you have a house free from sickness on your birthday. I had your present shipped directly to you and it should arrive sometime early in the week. Hope you like it.

minify

minify-to understate or reduce the size or importance of something.

This is one of those words that makes absolute sense from its sound, but one that I have never used, and I don't know if I've ever heard it used. I would like to minify my belly.

Melanie update

Luckily my household has escaped Kalena's stomach flu. I have noticed how Jennifer likes to get everyone together when her children have some nasty bug. I hope Kalena is feeling better and no one else gets it.

I just got done doing a little late winter cleaning of the flower beds in this beautiful sunny weather. I have finally got down to cutting out all the dead vegetation from last year and was happy to find all sorts of new growth starting to poke through the surface. It seems like the plants are getting busy very early this year. My roses, lilacs and evergreen clematis are all budding out. The black eyed susans and mums are sprouting new growth. It was fairly windy last night(60mph gusts) but I slept through it. The power went off again last night but was on this morning.

I spent most of last week at a really boring conference (NWHA- northwest hydroelectric association). Normally when I go to conferences it is a bunch of biologist that are fairly causal in their dress (jeans and a fleece). But when I get to the NWHA conference it is a bunch of lawyer/manager types dressed in suits and ties. I was a tad bit underdressed the first day in my jeans and sneakers that I wore. I got out my new wool blazer for day two and felt rather stylish. My boss was somewhat surprised when he saw me and said "wow, I like your hair". He normally sees the ponytail I wear when working on top of the wind swept dams. The curly blond hair kind of shocked him I think.

What else... I put a deer block out in the field. It looks like a salt block but consists of compressed grains. I have seen fresh deer poop and the block has been nibbled on so I think it is a success. I love to watch the deer and squirrels and birds. I got 100% on my GIS midterm. This seems like the easiest class I have ever taken. I don't know if that is because it really is or because I have been out in the real world and just compared to work it seems easy.

Hope everyone is getting outside and enjoying this beautiful weather.

Dean family update

Kalena seems to have slowed down her vomiting- and only woke up once last night.  I did not go to work yesterday- because I was throwing up the night before.  I did however make it to my last basketball game- to watch my girls play their worst game of the season.  If I’m not up hollering at them- they just seem to fall apart.  I’m praying that no one else in the family gets this stomach flu- I noticed that Susie (the teacher who works next to me- and came to the birthday party) is gone today.  Her e-mail says she’s feeling really dizzy and weak.  I don’t remember what I updated you all on- the broken toe is healing- but I’m still wearing flip-flops.  Did I mention I’m glad its Friday!  What a week.  Luckily students are all taking a test today- and sixth period forensics is going to look for raccoon bones while the weather is so nice.   Well that’s a little of what is going on at my household.  Have a wonderful weekend!  Tim and Traci- let me know how your spa turns out- you are getting the other model that we considered- I think its filtration would have been better.  Spring is the best time to use it- with a cool breeze on your face. 

laconic

laconic (lu Kon nik)-Using or marked by the use of few words; terse or concise. I will keep this post laconic.

Review:
ab initio:from the beginning
banderole:a forked flag or banner
calumny:maliciously false slander
doff:to remove, take off, or discard
effloresce:to bloom or blossom
flummery:meaningless words, esp. flattering
garrulous:chatty
histrionic:with excessive drama, overreactive
immure:to confine as if by walls:jail
jerry build: constructed cheaply or shoddily
keen:a wail or cry, esp. for the dead

Weight Loss Part II

Okay,

So I finally got an accurate measurement with my new and improved Tanita body fat scale that only set me back -- well, I won't say because some people would see just how fanatic I am -- and it said that I weighed in at 179.6 lbs and had a 17.7% body fat. It also told me my %water, % muscle mass, MBR or how much I can eat and still maintain my weight, visceral fat (i.e. the stuff around your belly), and metabolic age, but I'm just bragging now. Anyway, when I entered the figures into Mel's BF spreadsheet I told it I wanted to lose 10 lbs of fat and gain 5 lbs of muscle. This would put my final weght at 175 and my BF at 12%. Game on!!!

keen

keen 2 (kn)
n.
A loud, wailing lament for the dead.
intr.v. keened, keen·ing, keens
To wail in lamentation, especially for the dead.

I found this word in a Dean Koontz book, in the form of keening.

As I walked in the valley of Blood Gulch, I could hear the keening in the distance–Someone had backed over Sgt Cpap in the warthog!

Mom/Jan talking

My home computer is like a big iceberg, frozen that is. So, I finally remembered to take the blog address to work and have caught up on the news.

Dad is gone to Traci's to work on THE PROJECT and I don't expect him back anytime soon unless she gets frustrated and kicks him out.

Life as usual otherwise. Grandma went with me to Lebanon last night so I could go to the car wash. The car was getting embarassingly dirty and I couldn't will myself to go out and wash it myself. Mina reinitiated it with her dirty paw prints right after I got home (nice warm engine, you know).

I want a new car -- Rav 4-- and Dad is stalling. Mine no longer has a working radio, working clock or working side view mirror adjusters. Maybe while he is gone I could go shopping.

Gotta get back to work.

Jennifer talking

Updates:  well I’ve been home for two days playing trains and coloring.  Kalena has been unable to hold anything solid (or formula for that matter) down.  Brian has Wednesdays off so I will return to the real world tomorrow.  Its been beautiful at home- and the whole family had a chance to go in the hot tub yesterday…even with the sick littlest one. 

Grandma Sharp- I found the letter wedged between the car seat and passenger door- ripped a little- so I put it in a new envelope, with the correct address, and it should be arriving within the next day or two.  For some reason our postlady did not take it the first day I put the flag up- it was just stuck in with the newly arrived mail.  Something seems very odd about the forces working against mail reaching you.

I broke my toe a few hours ago- this isn’t the usual one though…so wearing some slip-on shoes to go to my meeting.  What a start to a week!

Gabriel seems to have recovered from the hair cut from hell.  Nicholas is his usual calm and steady self…although he told me he hates playing the recorder and plans to just get an F in it.  Hmmm.  So I guess I need to buy a couple recorders this weekend- and we’ll start our own family band when he returns.  I love to torture them. 

I’ve been playing a little X-box with the boys- trying to reconnect with them…and I think I’m actually improving.  In order for me to “win” I just have to beat my number of kills on both of them- so I’ve had five as my max. 

I will let Brian update you himself.  But as usual he is sleep deprived.

Emma is now a big three year old- and becoming quite the mommy’s girl- she let daddy know that when he came home today from work.  I took her to practice with me yesterday and she said she wants to play basketball.  So there is hope that one child will play.  Well I’ve got 40 e-mails to get through.  Take care one and all. Love. Jenn

jerry-build; football and boulders

jerry-build (v.):to build shodily and cheaply.

I'm going to jerry-build this post.

I was sad for the Seahawks. Two critical touchdown calls (and some ridiculous holding calls) could have made this a very different superbowl for them. They played so consistently well! Now I know why I don't follow football very much. It's too frustrating.

We have a very large boulder to move, and with a large group of us, we could move it-much like our Egyptian ancestors. I'm Hotep.

Valentine's Day

I got an early Valentine's gift from Tim. I helped pick it out naturally. It's a cool fountain, antique looking with a wrought iron gazebo top and lights to show off the spray at night. If the weather is good we should get 75% of our backyard project done in the coming week - including our Hotsprings hot tub. We're excited.
Tim bought himself a fancy scale that measures bone density, body-fat, and three or four other things. I guess that's his Valentine's gift. No Sees candy for us this year.

Christian got third in the regional hoop shoot contest. He didn't choke, his shot was straight and his form perfect, but with all those three pointers he's been shooting, his shot was slightly long. To be honest, I was kind of glad because these all day trips during the most hectic time of the year are hard. Hope Emma enjoyed her birthday.

Tucker got student of the month for "conflict management". He's a pretty friendly guy when he stops moving I guess.

Traci

California Grandma Sharp's first Very Gay movie

Hi Everybody,

Grandma Sharp( California) and Chris/ Sister just got back from watching " Brokeback Mountain"..... To say the least, it was certainly an eye opening experience for Grandma. Since she left her hearing aids at home, she missed a good part of the dialogue. But her eyes are fine, so she saw more than she was expecting. Can you imagine taking a (young) 83 yr old to that movie?.. Well, after all she lives in California now; need to be exposed to the "alternative life style". I actually tried to warn Mom about it maybe being a "little uncomfortable". But you know those kids, they just don't listen. ha ha.

Tomorrow she leaves for Laughlin and is excited to get going. The casino is called AVI which is an Indian reservation resort. Maybe she'll meet some rich Indian and become somebody's Indian Maiden.

Grandma says "Hi to everybody" and misses you all. Remember Chris has two empty bedrooms so anytime you're in the area stop by.

I read all the past postings to get Mom/ Grandma up to date with Hazels health and the rest of the clan's news. That about does it from here.

Much Love,
California Grandma Sharp/ Mom and Aunt Chris/ Sister.

immure

immure (v.) to confine by, or as if by walls:jail
im yoor

I'm feeling a bit immured these days with the severe weather lately.

Missing game, underwear and jeans

Mom writes: Some of you may remember Brit carrying around dog food in her mouth and hiding it or burying it in a variety of places. It must be a breed characteristics because Charlie does the same thing. Last week, she was attempting to get some of the previously hidden food from under the couch cushion (complete with doggy histronics) & when I took the cushion up to make sure we had removed all the dog food, there was an X-box game. I'll take it to Washougal this weekend in case it belongs to any of the Washingtonian family. There is also a nice pair of salmon-colored lady's undies and jeans about a foot too short for Larry. I'm guessing these are the Rudds since they were the last ones here.

Salishan was very nice. Speakers were very good the first day and terrible today. I could have gone home at 4 p.m. yesterday and not missed a thing -- well, I would have missed shopping at the Outlet Malls in Lincoln City!


Mom

histrionic

histrionic (adj.) overdramatic in reaction or behavior.

There is a histrionic fellow in my visual storytelling class, punctuating everything he says with a snorting snicker, especially if humor was intended.

Beautiful white clean cracked teeth

Well I am in a foul mood. I went to the dentist for a routine checkup and cleaning. The hygienist gets done telling me "your teeth look just great, they are so white and clean and it looks like you have been flossing" (which I have). Then the dentist comes in, sits down has a quick look and says "your teeth are really clean and white; they look great except for this back molar that is trying to split in two and will need an $800 crown and you need to get a $400 night guard so the one on the right side doesn't crack any more and fall out too." All that oral hygiene and I am getting crowns just like my parents. I am really ticked. |It couldn't have been 10 cavities that are 80% covered, no it has to be the thing that is only 50% covered. I guess that's life. How is your eating going Grandma Far-away and how are the eyes Traci? Well,I think I will go to bed early and hope my teeth are still in one piece in the morning.
-Moping Mel

garrulous

garrulous (adj)- gar uh lus

talkative, esp. excessively. chatty

I have been quite garrulous on the blog lately.