2nd page

I prefer two-page scrapbook layouts - so I built a quick 2nd page (which was probably a disservice to the pretty one. But, it is okay.)

The current vote is to add an errata note to the pull-out tab.

scrapbook errata

I was standing in the shower thinking about how everyone had the same comment about Jared's scrapbook page ("Not a word out of context") that it hit me. The Broncos did not play the superbowl! Curt's fave team, the Bears played. I knew this. I watched them get beaten down! Duh. What do I do? I cannot let a totally untrue fact go down in scrapbook mythology because the layout is pretty and the story is better in my fictionalized account. I have to fix it. Suggestions?

Random Things I Noticed Today:

The lady in the toilet next to me pees really fast. It’s impressive. She must be important.

The elevator smells like a rotten Veronica.

There is a taller than Six foot Asian Woman at my work. Almost as strange and the Black/French/Mormon girl I once knew. Some things are amazing only when they occur in combination.

A woman’s body type that doesn’t get enough media attention is the box. You know the one: hunch-backed, broad, square shouldered, and straight down from there. This body type occurs freakishly often in the office setting – and is generally a sign that it’s time to retire.

I bought a plushy monkey. I want to sew it clothes, diaper it, and pretend it is alive. On a related note… a pet monkey retails for $3,000. I am both appalled and intrigued by the idea of buying one.

hardest layout ever (tear potential)

I have tried to scrapbook these pictures a bunch of different ways and always tear the layout apart when I'm done, usually crying. But - this one is okay. I am going to add two pull-outs on the right side bar later - one with pics of us together as babies and our relationship journaling, and one with his obituary. I was thinking of trying to find a field lines rub on (in blue if possible) to add across the top white space - which feels a little out of balance... too much?

The journaling is a little fuzzy, if you want to read it:

It's not fair to say that Jared was dying his whole life, because the truth is, he was living: Living like someone who knows that time is short and you have to play the game as hard and fast as possible in order to come out a winner. During his last month, Evan and I visited for a week. He was feeling a little better so on a couple of days, he got out and played. And when he couldn't, we all watched football, ate pie, and he would arrange a prank from the couch. His team, the Broncos were contenders for the Superbowl - and I think he was trying to stay alive to see the game. They got to play, but he didn't have to see them lose.

Jared Curtis Hatch
June 3, 1976 - January 24, 2007

The Diz

As you can see, I got my scrap on today. You probably remember these photos from the quick collage that I posted back in August when the Thompson's and I actually made these memories.

Mark took me to see "Spiderwick" this morning - fun, movie - in the spirit of "Neverending Story."

The work week turned my brain to oatmeal. I 'officially' (as far as paid/work) start studying next week, so all I can do to rejuvenate... I'm doing.

Maybe I'll have more on paper tomorrow to support that claim. I have a few more ideas brewing.

review

I wish I would have posted my planning on the last scrapbooking page. I actually did a bunch of sketches and made couple of 2x2 inch to scale mock ups with thumbnail photos first in two different designs to decide which one to make. It might help one appreciate how much goes in. Maybe it's best not to admit how consuming the stuff really is.

This week's in review:

Our crew took our manager to lunch for her birthday, her choice: Korean Tofu Soup. So, we got a little fish, battered and deep fried whole (it was watching me eat it), a raw sea creature of some kind that looked like noodles, a raw egg to crack into our tofu soup, rice, and many little mini portions of different things - pickled cabbage, boiled what-I'm-guessing-were-turnip greens in some kind of sauce, and some burnt rice soaked in boiling water (which looks like dirty dish-water by the time you eat it.) This was not my first experience with real Korean food, so I knew I would largely like it. My main limitation is that I just don't like the taste of food from the sea (fish, crab, shrimp, whatever.) But, I am always willing to try it, and am growing to like it here and there. I tried everything at the lunch, liked most of it, and ate a majority of the soup - which was hot enough in both ways to be very filling. No wonder Asians are so skinny.

I was on the official list of "new rotation employees" that goes out every quarter to all the actuaries. Lower level actuaries transfer, or "rotate," every 18 months or so for professional development. I got a badge and a new computer (I keep my laptop, too) - with 4 processors and 1 terabyte of memory - and two special software programs with a one-year seat license price of $400,000 (that's my share of the total 1.2 Million price tag for our group.) Crazy. Six software support people flew in from Boston Thursday and Friday for two solid days of training/installation on the newer program (the older program people were here a few weeks ago.) They took us to a nice upscale lunch. I am doing better at work, I think. Getting the hang of things. A little behind schedule due to these meetings popping up.

Last night was date night, so we went to the movies: No Country For Old Men. This Cohen Brothers movie is about violence and crime and how old timers feel like the world is going crazy. It is not a dark comedy, like Fargo. I liked it, but, I like solicitous and pointless violence. It's not going to be for everyone.

I am studying. There are millions of similar formulas that I am trying to keep straight, and I am making a little progress.

I am also in the design stage on a Disneyland scrapbooking page from when Eva/Roger/family visited in April last year. It was the Funnest Place On Earth on that particular visit, so I wanted the page to be special and haven't had the inspiration until this weekend. Maybe if I make enough progress on my formulas, I will reward myself by having something scrappy to post by next week. Also, if I can figure out transportation, there is a scrapbooking expo next weekend.

right brain, match

I know. I'm supposed to be studying and you've already seen these pictures. I just had a little fun this weekend. (Superbowl wasn't bad either.)

I cut the title words with my cutter... the shamu and dolphin frame by hand, stiched the seal and seahorse embellishments with embroidery floss, and wrote the calligraphy with a mixture of ink, paint and glitter. If you ever decide to write with glitter-ink and a dip pen, bless you. I don't think I'll be doing this again. (It looks pretty, though.)

boring meets bizarre

I was stuck in a special advanced software training for the past two days.

On the way home, I hopped on a bus on Hollywood Blvd and noticed a lot of trucks blocking a lane, and then a lot of equipment and thought... they must be getting ready for a pre-oscars event (held there next month)... a couple of seconds later, I hear a slowly building roar of several hundred people shouting and screaming as a big black SUV pulled away...

I could make out lots of people yelling "Jennifer." I'm presuming it's the blonde girl with her back to the bus under all the heavy lamps. She must have just arrived, because blinding flash bulbs are going crazy, the screaming is intensified, and everyone on the bus gravitates to one side grabbing at their cell phones to take pictures. (Me among them, obviously - we are inately a herd when it comes down to it, really, I had no choice. At least I had an actual camera.) The cool thing about the scratchy bus window in the picture, is that unlike the pictures Mark took a while ago of Will Smith and Tom Cruise at same venue, his looked professional and nice, so you would not know that he was actually standing in front of these folks. Sure, they look better, but no one will believe that he took them. - If you missed them, I can't create a direct link but you can scroll down his archive to December 12,2007 to see them.

I can't think of who the blonde bob-haired famous Jennifer might be in my photo. I found an alphabetical list of all the famous Jennifers and narrowed it down to (at some point in time had short blonde hair - since I don't track the current status of these things) possibles and came up with: Aniston, Grey, Jason Leigh. I also looked all over the internet (not my strong suit) trying to figure out what event was going on, and all I learned is that the oscars go on display there tomorrow, and that the California Presidential Debate is in that building tomorrow. Today? Nilch.

But the whole thing was more exciting that the greviously insane lady that kept swatting at invisible bats and yelling racial slurs on the bus yesterday. (Interesting always happens on the LA public transit system. If you want an adventure, ride. It will not disappoint.)

the first sign of a long day

from my sketch book

I did both of these today:

Always my greatest inspiration, The Man.

and a self portrait.

Together, it sort of looks like I'm giving him the sexy eye, and he is either totally grossed out, or trying not to laugh. I can't decide which.

the cat's meow

I might have forgotten to post this. Of course she's blurry. She's a cat with a hat.

putting the stud in study

It occurs to me that you must really love me to be reading about the extremely banal things that I decide to write.

Captains Log: Stardate 1.25.2008 ...
Encountered a gaseous planet. No. That's just the bathroom.

Actually, I attended a technical lecture today on a theoretical technique of statistically predicting future losses, hosted by the published and accomplished actuary who came up with it. So, it's not as interesting as seeing around town the actors who play (that I can think of):

• dad character on 'Alias,'


• the crazy guy from 'Prison Break,' or


• the geeky guy from 'The Office...'

or getting asked if we want to be paid to have a Hallmark commercial filmed in our apartment, or having the building across the street burn down last week and have 6 blocks closed down for the day, or such a storm the last two days that there were tornadoes in Malibu and hail falling at our place... but those things happen too. They just aren't as interesting as Stochastic Regression Models.

We watched "I Am Legend" and "Cloverfield" last weekend... and are back to the theatres for date night tomorrow - probably "There Will Be Blood."

I also started studying this week. The great news is that for the next 17 weeks, you can expect a predictable post every day saying "All I did is study." Every now and then I'll throw in the occasional, "I tried to study, but I just couldn't" to change things up. Living vicariously through me will have to wait until summer break. Good thing I'm not trying to make any money with my blog or anything, as encouraging as I am to my readership.

Mark is still whittling away on the old final draft of his script. It just gets better and better with each draft... and I am excited for him. He has another couple of weeks worth of work to do.

I was told officially today that I got my position at the Corporate Home Office, and am no longer in limbo. (This is great news, I think.) I guess everyone thought that someone else had already told me for sure, so it's been official for a while... I was just the last one to find out.

I guess I had something to say after all. And here I thought all I did was study.

labor dispute resolved

LOS ANGELES -- The brain returned to work two days ago after a long hiatus of several weeks. Labor striking has left a broad swath of functional tasks unmanned from Household Initiatives to Sweeping Professional Credibility, as brain service shut down at major terminals in both the right and left hemispheres over the past few weeks. This nightmare scenario has overlapped peak seasonal operations in the area of critical exams and holiday hustle. Millions of Neurons were disrupted by the conflict.

There has never been a strike of this magnitude in the brain's 31.5-year history, and recent developments in talks between the brain and Mona make likely that additional future striking will be averted, either through a last-minute deal or intervention by Medical Professionals.

The brain walked out largely as a result of wage disparities of oxytocin and seratonin between the right and left hemisphere, tough working conditions and unsuccessful meditation to resolve the conflict.

Siding with the unions, the hypothalamus recommended that wage increases be made retroactive and that labor divisions equitably divide the brain's resources. Mona, which relies on the Brain and its subsidies, is worried about whether it can afford the back pay.

Under the Brain Equality Labor Act, most disputes that get to this point end with a contract with the Emergency Scrapbooking Board. In cases when that doesn't happen, Sleep usually imposes the board's recommendations.

Still, officials for Mona across the country are bracing for the much hoped for increase in productivity as the brain returns to its acclaimed high standard of service.

I got a zero

(I'm going to be that much more impressed with myself when I finally pass.)

exam

The passing candidate numbers for the actuary exam I took were released this morning. My number was not on the list. I was expecting that, so I have already been studying again. I'm sure I'll do better next time. I will post my points as soon as I get them. (It's a scale of 0-10 with 6 required to pass. As long as I get at least a 3, I will be happy.)

A plus

I don't know how to spell the sound effect that goes with this posting, but imagine choirs of angels and ascension to heaven... because that is how I feel.

I tinkered with my Christmas toy, (the not-so-fun part of installing drivers and getting the hardware and software communicating, calibrating settings, testing, etc.) And finally, I made my first "cut" -- this letter "A." I needed an 'a' for this page I just made prior to getting the cutter. (The rest of the word "april" is cut by hand, the time consuming way.)

whoopee

My big Christmas gift arrived today.

I am on page 22 of the user manual, and forgot to eat two meals. I don't think that has ever happened before. (Either thing.)

merry craftsmas

Our cats' favorite holiday is coming to a close. They love climbing the tree and batting the glass ornaments off the branches, unwrapping the presents with their claws, climbing into empty boxes, and chasing scraps of crumpled paper around the house. (Here is a picture of Kazi trying to look innocent.)

I made everything mostly from scratch... even clumpless gravy from the ham drippings! The gravy was surprisingly good with a sweet touch from the honey glaze. I made most preparations in advance so that it all threw together in about 1/2 hour. Everything was as delicious as it was beautiful. A major accomplishment. (I even crafted the centerpiece.) I'm kind of proud of myself here, and not abashed about it at all.

This little John Deer tractor is one of the new ornaments we got to start our emphasis on the tree being a story of our lives. It reminded me of trips to look at tractor stuff with my dad when I was little.


Above: Mark with some of his movie-buff booty... second only to his love affair with books.

Above: Another new ornament that speaks to the special relationship we have with our kitties... how much they mean to us, and how we love and pamper them.

trimmings

Mark and I went to AZ for quick holiday hello. I helped decorate the family tree - I wanted to hear the back story on each ornament... we found an old photo of the tree in the early 1970's and tried so see how many ornaments from the picture were still on the tree.

And one of my favorites - we watched old 8mm family videos - Mark repeatedly falling on his 18-mo-old face trying to run downhill... and skating a half-pipe when he was 11... (a reel we thought was lost.) Pretty amazing.

lost

In a rare moment, I must confess that I am REALLY a big fan of the T.V. show "LOST."

At first, it was a guilty pleasure that I would try to conceal... like my mail order catalog fetish, or my love of soft socks and patterned paper.

But, I have been watching season 3 on DVD - and have noticed something new. This show is not just a pithy soap opera. It has deep and meaningful subtext, philosophical parody and satire. And the characters are far from generic stereotypes.

Check out the wiki if you don't believe me. I particularly enjoyed the list of character references (many names are pulled from famous thinkers during an 18th century battle of ideas: free will/social democracy ergo American Revolution vs. Calvinists pushing for social morality/Socialism & Royal Decree - as well as other fine moments of revolutionary thought.) Very Shakespearan - with the difficulty in pinpointing which group are the savages...

And I never really noticed show much literature is mentioned. (Or that it is always Sawyer reading whatever he can get his hands on.)

Thank you, TV land, for making one good show. If only you could figure out how to reproduce it.

2 years

I took Friday off and we went to Sea World for our anniversary. It was a very nice to have the whole day and just play.

This all white Beluga Whale was one of our favorites. So large and graceful, I could have watched this one swim all day.




I petted the sting rays and touched a starfish and some kind of plant grabbed my finger and suctioned it. I also threw slimy fish at the seal.

We were one of the first people there and had a few minutes alone with Baby Shamu. It was very cool, because it seemed like she was playing with us.

The shark walkway, penguin habitat, and eel cavern were other faves.

Much fun.

nancy

My friend asked me to help her make a scrapbook for a Christmas gift... so the past few days, we have been churning out an elegant little book.

Nancy is a prodigy. Here are a few of her layouts. Keep in mind, this is the first time she has ever done this. I'm jealous of her gift.

Here are a few of the ones I made. I love that Nancy's taste pushes me to streamline my layouts into simple and clean.

More.

elf

Click to see my elf dance.

family tree

I was going to respond to McKay's question in a comment, but I really had meant to say more about our tree. I think I got interrupted and just posted quickly in order to do something else without completing my thought.

As I was saying, we decided that this will be our last "pretty" tree... because we got in a conversation about the trees we had growing up and how each ornament had a story attached to it. As a collective, the tree held the family history. "This one was from that time we went to Yellowstone," or "I made this when I was in the third grade."

... and while my tree is lovely... it doesn't have our story. We decided that from now on, we will collect ornaments on our travels and during our life that mean something... and our tree will be an eclectic collection of our stories... it will be colorful and imaginative. But it won't be a Macy's Tree.

I think it will probably still be just as pretty, just in the sense that we think our life together is beautiful.

As a first ornament toward our story, I want to buy a melting clock to commemorate our trip to see the special Salvadore Dali exhibit at the local museum.

tree

This holiday, Mark and I decided to intentionally consider what traditions we want to have in our holiday home. We agreed that this will be my last attempt at an "Aunt Reta / Martha Stewart" tree.

We will have tamales on Christmas Eve (McCowen standard), Orange Sticks (Dad's C's legacy) and an orange at the toe of the sock (Mom C's legacy), and a ham dinner Christmas Day. (Even though this year it will just be dinner for two.)

What are some of your traditions?

edge-you-kay-shone

Following Jamie's bravery, I am posting the education requirements for my blog.

home again

I stole this image from Evan and made it my own.

We look a stink-load alike in this picture. You would think we're related.

I didn't get any pics of the dinner or Mark's family. We were too busy eating and hanging out.

I also realized that I really don't like knitting with a pattern. It is just too much like auditing a spreadsheet - keeping your columns lined up, making sure the right thing goes in the right cell, and all the numbers meet... it's work. I want either creative OR mindless - and knitting with a pattern is neither.

home

We drove out to Arizona for dinner on Thursday.

Although short, it was one of the best trips I've had lately. (Not saying much, since most of my trips this year have been funerals or business.)

But, it really made me remember how it feels to be surrounded by people who care. To be hugged incessantly. For the first time I realized... Arizona is as much my home as Utah or California. And Mark's family is as much my family as the one I was born into. I'm a McCowen. Don't panic, biological family, I haven't revoked my charter-membership to your particular brand of crazy. I'm just expanding my definition to include some very normal mid-Western folks with great genes. (My kids will be tall, leggy blondes.)

A major highlight was getting to spend a few hours holiday shopping, eating turkey leftovers and wrapping presents with Evan. In particular, I find it hard not to live close to the LB.

radical

I recently took an inventory of what I wish the world was like. No one will argue that it seems like society has taken a turn of some kind. Bad? We are haunted by romantic histories of quintessentially genteel, slower ane more human pasts. And now we rush about ignoring each other to the point of isolation under artificial lights and get our sense of community at a shopping mall.

I expected my inventory to be about family... since I have always been clear on knowing at least that much about what's important. And maybe in a way, it did. The common theme that I noticed was that I believe in human goodness. Not necessarily at an individual level, but as a group, on the broader scale. This surprised me a lot, because I deeply care for particularly few individuals.

I just read this BBC Article about 6 month old babies preferring puppets who are socially kind. I think this might punctuate my point. We prefer to be helpful, loving, and kind. We may not be good at it, but that's what we prefer. And that's how we see ourselves, generally: as "nice."

I'm usually pretty annoyed by the government, so I was also surprised at how much credit I give to the government as an institution that has lost it's way. I still think there is hope... but much to change in order to keep that hope.

Most of all, I really care about social equality and social responsibility. I think in our "American Dream," we get caught up in serving ourselves We forget that in terms of making a better world, getting ahead of each other may not be as easy or advantageous as creating a just and equitable world for everyone. The masses have much more power to facilitate massive economic reform than one person with a home-business... and creater wealth and stability for everyone is better than 2% of the U.S. population owning over 50% of the world's wealth. Interestingly, Bill Gates owns more than twice what Saudi Arabia does.

I guess believing in people, freedom, and equality makes me a radical. Dude.

weekender

On Friday night, we saw the play, "The Chicago Conspiracy."

Almost all of the actors in the play have been in tv and movies. The performance was really amazing.

I scrapped to recharge my batteries, but that backfires when I scrap until 5 a.m. I still need new batteries, but my heart is scrapalicious.

I am now reading "Good in Bed" by Jennifer Weiner, a story about a Larger Woman coming to terms with her size. I read while I work out and enjoy the irony.

I am really starting to live for my weekends. For the first time in my mature adult life, (as recent blog posts attest) we are doing stuff on the weekend. Going places, events, fine eateries. It suits us to stay home, but as long as we're here in this Entertainment City, it seems necessary to "take advantage of it while we can." Because unless the housing market falls 300%, we will never be able to buy a home here... and will eventually leave.

Note: you know you are growing passive when a $200,000 studio condo sounds like a bargain you might consider.

bueno

I am trying to go to the gym six days a week to make up for exam slack. I'm on day five. If I do it often enough, I actually get addicted... and I have to remind myself to go home and do other things. (I never would have guessed this about myself in former lifetimes.)

I am just finished reading "The Birth House" by Ami McKay and am still reading "Profit Over People" by Noam Chomsky. Both great.

And thinking a lot about the way society has changed.

sigh

I just took my exam yesterday. Ahh - the sweet feeling of nothing hanging over my head. So, here's how it goes. I have to wait two months to find out by what margin I did not pass, so that I know how hard I have to study for the next attempt (and let me just go on and guess ahead of time - a boat load.) Everyone I talked to (who thought they were prepared) agreed that this particular form was a beast - and no one thinks they will move up to the next topic. (In a way, this is good news, because it means a lower pass curve... but even though that's what they are for, I'm not getting my hopes all wiggly.)

My work gave me half-days for the prior six weeks and a week off leading up to exam day to prepare. It felt wierd to stay until quitting time today... my first full day of work in a long time.

I have some big plans... the much missed free time kind - like cooking real meals, with (gasp) ingredients other than a drive through... and going to the gym to cycle off the synthetic polymer ones I've been eating lately.

And Crafts-mas is coming, so I'm going to get my glitter on... I'm going to make paper lanterns shaped like stars to put over my Christmas lights on my tree, so Martha of me.

Oh, and reading... books, with actual plots.

Oh, and movies - in one sitting... without feeling guilty. Maybe a guitar lesson or two.

I'm like a kid in a candy store. Oh, good Idea! I can make holiday candies. Mmmm.

wiggy

I know I should get over myself, someday. But every time I look in the mirror since I cut my fringe, I don't recognize me. And that's like not seeing your own reflection and being sure you're a vampire.


I think someone transplanted my thinker into this (old) lady's body with the costume wig.

As as aside, I love mail order catalogs, crafts, coffee and christmas. Who doesn't?