tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91263475176503973352024-03-13T08:26:42.535-07:00a dog and her girlkachenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581746475805972719noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126347517650397335.post-89598269220411142552009-02-05T09:40:00.002-08:002009-02-05T14:36:27.627-08:00blog test 5weiuhrpwiue owiehr ewpoirh oihr oeihrepoirhw epoirhwe <br />ewir weorih ewrew <br />ew rweroiehwoewi ew<br /><br />kachenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581746475805972719noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126347517650397335.post-85193023892481365692009-01-27T18:42:00.000-08:002009-01-27T19:22:36.446-08:00The hills above Ashland<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpoIacUmKSe2IMQcMHipFtbd8aOByJAPXln26moWDSncZFRrnrk5ooy7GS6YvC24W_c9ZBsuGReFicCBGSAmLWSMFBQWtu5oGXvP7Cv39QH3G02IjeLfq02CRlmZKthoiTtI4hCy8ETo/s1600-h/IMG_0102.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpoIacUmKSe2IMQcMHipFtbd8aOByJAPXln26moWDSncZFRrnrk5ooy7GS6YvC24W_c9ZBsuGReFicCBGSAmLWSMFBQWtu5oGXvP7Cv39QH3G02IjeLfq02CRlmZKthoiTtI4hCy8ETo/s320/IMG_0102.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296170135857546578" border="40" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjX-WG3a_FUGr9qO9J4f2wJ3GdzrRVTSkB_5xDi2kCyqsVU3AFGkJt4RtLUgRy5ykeYbF_Bn7I1SIR6RQykOGsaH5r7oPA2T2Hw5iHS2V5E3HKqqG56hpcdvI9ZeXYilswuKuIJFK6rAE/s1600-h/IMG_0101.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjX-WG3a_FUGr9qO9J4f2wJ3GdzrRVTSkB_5xDi2kCyqsVU3AFGkJt4RtLUgRy5ykeYbF_Bn7I1SIR6RQykOGsaH5r7oPA2T2Hw5iHS2V5E3HKqqG56hpcdvI9ZeXYilswuKuIJFK6rAE/s320/IMG_0101.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296170136819283314" border="10" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfZvC6O9gSn-0nLZILM0R8E7Q2dxp8k7Y_6LTV6SE6XtHXcII4lPm60Sm3tIVIsPZb1AUOBV8UuTzIwQH2EppIQYLQUhlBaNWVpp7yneG_YjLpMdxJ5kj33Fo7JWX9HhAglVJXc3Out0c/s1600-h/IMG_0098.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfZvC6O9gSn-0nLZILM0R8E7Q2dxp8k7Y_6LTV6SE6XtHXcII4lPm60Sm3tIVIsPZb1AUOBV8UuTzIwQH2EppIQYLQUhlBaNWVpp7yneG_YjLpMdxJ5kj33Fo7JWX9HhAglVJXc3Out0c/s320/IMG_0098.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296169856634663826" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6zMJQx_Ma2LJb0eRnI1mY0bazqJIuMQVhDTxDA00oS00KwAYzxnT9vGqZW8A2hLZn6wZNYNi74wjQNDutXyG-r91ilnCRpflVK3reMxspU_OWdIivQ4n-0hL4RC8GO-mwElxHOI2Dn00/s1600-h/IMG_0099.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6zMJQx_Ma2LJb0eRnI1mY0bazqJIuMQVhDTxDA00oS00KwAYzxnT9vGqZW8A2hLZn6wZNYNi74wjQNDutXyG-r91ilnCRpflVK3reMxspU_OWdIivQ4n-0hL4RC8GO-mwElxHOI2Dn00/s320/IMG_0099.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296170126431038066" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6okgVp7lqys_EuN5UZ4aiZF7VSJQf46-gY9m5T2xedJfCd4K2Kb2C-1O9St_jSuwZm07_HSgq31bB9ScUFAocNIhg6JPjbQZXig-i3xJ3OvUDo8F-9xnekZDguR2GdGzvEfGcvi-ONPg/s1600-h/IMG_0100.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6okgVp7lqys_EuN5UZ4aiZF7VSJQf46-gY9m5T2xedJfCd4K2Kb2C-1O9St_jSuwZm07_HSgq31bB9ScUFAocNIhg6JPjbQZXig-i3xJ3OvUDo8F-9xnekZDguR2GdGzvEfGcvi-ONPg/s320/IMG_0100.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296170127657294834" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Ixa and her pouff mamas. :-)<br /><br /><br /><br />There's hiking abundance here, today we hiked in the hills above Ashland:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvj5Zdd8HPnHR9ARPwHA6lzCD4k6YWcSX7kVeCRCG5Ah0oI6n3-lnxoR5pvsQR3YMhqUkOVy4hFKImVy6x10BIZ1zobD0beh8NnomiyZPGtRyScVtxr84PET2dR26cE9EV7xGogxMMOkI/s1600-h/AshlandTrails.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvj5Zdd8HPnHR9ARPwHA6lzCD4k6YWcSX7kVeCRCG5Ah0oI6n3-lnxoR5pvsQR3YMhqUkOVy4hFKImVy6x10BIZ1zobD0beh8NnomiyZPGtRyScVtxr84PET2dR26cE9EV7xGogxMMOkI/s320/AshlandTrails.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296172138245858978" border="0" /></a>kachenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581746475805972719noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126347517650397335.post-88185960892665831632009-01-01T07:19:00.000-08:002009-01-01T07:52:01.853-08:00LA to Ashland Lift Off, 2 days and counting<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn8r2kydnjIQw9LyZS-UHGIdGCyI5HUDxlIgJfvtJfnail9qvWcvktfKDSDTMuqefapBHeDN5iUj0IYRIsoIgsM2Lg3AalIwLJU3ihictB5zO-os4VYK7hYRfDpIIykbURb12ohW6zeQ0/s1600-h/PinkyStitches.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 197px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn8r2kydnjIQw9LyZS-UHGIdGCyI5HUDxlIgJfvtJfnail9qvWcvktfKDSDTMuqefapBHeDN5iUj0IYRIsoIgsM2Lg3AalIwLJU3ihictB5zO-os4VYK7hYRfDpIIykbURb12ohW6zeQ0/s400/PinkyStitches.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286353127005743602" /></a><br /><br /><br />Well, things have gotten sillier, if possible :-). Yesterday we anxiously awaited a call from escrow because there was a new issue with the loan and it looked like the whole deal was going to be delayed. Since we still have no domestic destination, it would have been a relief. But at 4:15, we finally got word that the loan funded and we're on for close of escrow on Friday ... erm, that's tomorrow.<br /><br />The beautiful picture is my post-op pinky. I got the bandages off yesterday. It's been immobilized for 2 weeks, so I can't bend it yet. Good news is that I can finally wash my own hair - and yikes, it needs it!<br /><br />Just for extra laughs, I awoke with a cold this morning. Nose running everywhere. I predict I will be disgusted when I start opening boxes in Oregon only to find wads of kleenex.<br /><br />We've decided to go for the retirement house I've been talking about. This kind of house is exactly the kind of house I NEVER want to find myself living - I can honestly say I've even been AFRAID of ending up in a house like this. Had I stayed my conservative Southern Indiana course during college, in the sorority being groomed for a Republican life, this is totally the kind of house that would have suited me. Funny, all the twists and turns my life has taken, and I'll end up in this kind of house afterall. :-)<br /><br />We've decided that this house is so easy, so unparticipatory, so unremarkable that we can move into it and ignore it. I won't be tempted in any way to alter or enhance it; it will be too invisible to distract me. The house will serve as a humble wet nurse to our recuperation and forward expansion. Under that bland milk-toast roof, I will build my web-site, my marriage, and my business ... well, start to anyway, we only plan to stay there for 6 months. :-)kachenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581746475805972719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126347517650397335.post-3900143949587390512008-12-31T08:35:00.000-08:002008-12-31T08:46:02.739-08:00LA to Ashland Lift Off, 3 days and counting<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.jfklibrary.org/NR/rdonlyres/BBBAC43D-556D-441C-B323-D7B5D30C55EB/25629/BBBAC43D556D441CB323D7B5D30C55EB.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 506px; height: 760px;" src="http://www.jfklibrary.org/NR/rdonlyres/BBBAC43D-556D-441C-B323-D7B5D30C55EB/25629/BBBAC43D556D441CB323D7B5D30C55EB.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I've been stressing about my stuff. I've purged a lot, but so very much remains. I understand that clearing the old space for the new, but I don't desire everything to be new! Yes, great changes are underway, but some of the old is wonderful and perfect and not to be lost!<br /><br />The stress comes in with not knowing which of the old is sacred and which is just noise. I feel a bit like a failed psychic - I can't choose the correct card behind the screen so I simply choose all the cards - it must be one of them!<br /><br />I just found one of my old and walking sticks in the back corner of the garage. It looks sacred, but is it more sacred than the little orange plastic footstool I bought while on residency in Banff? Or the bamboo poles we used in our wedding canopy? Every object is talking to me! Why have I never learned the code to decipher these mumblings!<br /><br />I guess all I can do is pack it all up and revive my spiritual radar and sort it out in So. Oregon.kachenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581746475805972719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126347517650397335.post-53980996890761027512008-12-30T12:39:00.000-08:002008-12-30T17:58:08.025-08:00LA to Ashland Lift Off, 4 days and counting<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://familyfun.go.com/Resources/Features/homegarden/gardening/famf0602forts_box1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 139px;" src="http://familyfun.go.com/Resources/Features/homegarden/gardening/famf0602forts_box1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />As of 12:39 pm we still have no Oregon destination! We're still waiting to hear about our first choice, and have put in a call to our third choice (the retirement house). Our second choice (a slightly dumpy Ashland house) has already been rented and our fourth choice (the Rogue River Retreat) is out due to lack of internet (!?!?!).<br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />5:40 PM. Still no house. <sigh> I think today's theme is "Oops, I forgot I'm a princess" (as in, "Why don't these people just give me what I've asked for - what is <span style="font-style: italic;">wrong</span> with them!?"). When I suffer a moment of rationality, I don't think this move is anymore stressful than anyone else's move. It's just that I've been so good at eliminating stress from my life that to find myself under such hideous pressure is truly shocking and unwelcome.<br /><br />On the up side: We've had days to pack with no rain in sight! Thank you sunny Southern California! :-) I will miss you!</sigh>kachenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581746475805972719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126347517650397335.post-67644828755618299812008-12-29T20:00:00.000-08:002008-12-30T12:38:41.184-08:00LA to Ashland Lift Off, 5 days and counting<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.boxdepot.us/images/large%20linen%20box%206.1%20cf.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 357px; height: 299px;" src="http://www.boxdepot.us/images/large%20linen%20box%206.1%20cf.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Yesterday was a whirlwind of final inspections and packing. One problem solved, next one to conquer: the rental house.<br /><br />At the last minute the rental management company asked me if the dog is a deal breaker - wha' the foo???? I couldn't have been more clear about having a dog, and the girl who showed me the house said there would be no problem. I wonder how many times they've been sworn at for asking how dispensable a client's baby is.<br /><br />Other than this, I have no recollection of the events that transpired today. There are boxes everywhere - I have no idea where they came from or what's in them. LOL! But who cares, since we have no idea where to move them to!kachenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581746475805972719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126347517650397335.post-75741879999119686352008-12-28T22:02:00.000-08:002008-12-28T23:15:15.579-08:00LA to Ashland Lift Off, 6 days and counting<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images.publicradio.org/content/2007/12/06/20071206_compass.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 600px; height: 450px;" src="http://images.publicradio.org/content/2007/12/06/20071206_compass.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Because I have a thick mane, and my finger is still recuperating from surgery, It's been too hard to wash my hair and it was getting pretty funky. My knight in shining shampoo (aka dear husband) finally relieved my misery and I now bask in cleanliness and the tingle of my peppermint conditioner. :-)<br /><br />I read "The Golden Compass" last week on my trip to Ashland, then quickly devoured the movie, too. I've latched onto the fantastical theme of having your soul live outside your body, in the book it's in the form of an animal called your "daemon". I'm likening it to my notion of parts of my soul residing outside my body in my art, which includes a myriad of material objects including my house.<br /><br />In "The Golden Compass" the deepest form of torture would be separation from your daemon (soul) - it would leave you as a ghost, irredeemably alone in the world in every sense. In this world and in my life, I get to separate from my daemons, yet remain vital, in fact, probably more vital instead.<br /><br />As I lay in the bath tonight, I memorized my jungle green bathroom ceiling - that I installed, as well as the pine molding, the handpainted glass tiles, the heavy beam painted nude, the wood trim and the lights, that I also installed. I've started to pack my functional and decorative doodads, which is already leaving the house a little alien looking. My extrication from this house, this production, this daemon, is exquisitely self-conscious.kachenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581746475805972719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126347517650397335.post-15989435774054951062008-12-28T08:39:00.000-08:002008-12-28T23:12:59.064-08:00LA to Ashland Lift Off, 7 days and counting<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.dvdinmypants.com/reviews/O-V/images/three_stooges3_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 325px; height: 244px;" src="http://www.dvdinmypants.com/reviews/O-V/images/three_stooges3_2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Yesterday was simply another ho-hum chaotic day in escrow. It was "install a wall heater that nobody wants, but FHA insists upon" day. The buyer showed up with a "bargain heater" purchased on Craigslist ... you know the problems started there! The contractors spent the first part of the day fixing the bargain heater. Installation ran from 8am to 5 pm which meant dust, noise and interruptions.<br /><br />Luckily we really liked the contractors who were upright fellows who know their shit and kept the work impact to a minimum for us. However, the heater is in and works about 1/3 as well as the existing space heaters and is loud and ugly like a motel heater. It blows all the heat under the living room couch, and the heat gets trapped there because of the 6 inch foam padding of the couch seat. I bow to great silliness.<br /><br />Alex and Ben scrambled to pack up some hand-me-downs, to send back to Georgia Tech. My stepson built a linux server box out of one of his dad's old computers, and is now the proud owner of my old turntable from 1981 and the best of my eclectic record collection. :-)<br /><br />Al's also getting our sturdy and dependable Revere cookware set - I bought it for $70 at Sears in about 1990. I was always proud of that set as a marker of my growing savvy. When I moved to LA in 1986, I had no idea how to go about securing a piece of cookware. I blew some exorbitant amount, something like $30, on a crappy pan at a supermarket. I didn't actually know how to use cookware, so I probably made short work of ruining that pan. However, 4 years later and 4 years smarter, I bought a full regiment of cookware (including bonus stainless steel bowls with lids!) for a mere $70. Seeing as my early years in LA had much to do with unfolding the sleeping giant of wisdom within me, it was a significant marker indeed.<br /><br />In fact, much of this moving business keeps putting my grown-upness square in my sights. What's funny is that it surprises me - I hadn't really thought of myself as grown up at all, but the evidence is incontrovertible. And it seems as though I'm leaving my growing-up nest, and moving onto the arena of my mature happenings. Hmmmm. Interesting.<br /><br />Anyhow, as of today, we have a moving truck coming in 6 days, but no confirmed place to move it into. :-0 The property rental company has been closed since 3 pm Christmas eve day, and has archaic practices for collecting applications and fees: my dad is kind enough to drive over there tomorrow morning to drop off cash when they open at 9 am, hopefully beating anyone else to it, as the first application with cash received gets first crack at the rental. (erm ... no cc payments or wire transfers?! Wha's up wit dat?) The tedious application sent Ben and I scrambling to find social security cards, even. Blech.<br /><br />It's no wonder people simply stay put - transition is hard. Even the cable company conspires to make our move difficult (we have to hand deliver the cable box to an office in Hollywood on the day of our move, and the new residents can't begin the week long wait for their service until we turn our equipment in - that is retarded, I say!)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Looking forward:</span><br />Our new hometown is organizing to gain status as a "Transitions Town", signaling a commitment to sustainability in energy, food, water, finance and other areas.<br /><a href="http://www.dailytidings.com/2008/1222/stories/1222_transitiontown.php"></a>kachenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581746475805972719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126347517650397335.post-90035522880981690812008-12-26T12:10:00.000-08:002008-12-28T23:14:09.250-08:00House Ritual<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXdMu5g_btK0wBCvb3A7XfBlDXgHDNjUscnd5_AYOn5tG5XDoebEkOt4rQA7TEJ6WSLEX797DcqA8-m3xqHjjDyUpCP6kXy2f_W6Ovn0TbXMnrVZtw7mXEMFjPvjSTUsLzknjzmuLI3Q/s1600-h/Gbread.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXdMu5g_btK0wBCvb3A7XfBlDXgHDNjUscnd5_AYOn5tG5XDoebEkOt4rQA7TEJ6WSLEX797DcqA8-m3xqHjjDyUpCP6kXy2f_W6Ovn0TbXMnrVZtw7mXEMFjPvjSTUsLzknjzmuLI3Q/s320/Gbread.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284196505459566322" border="6" /></a> My brilliant stepson Alex had the idea to make a gingerbread house, so he and I took a little time out from the madness for architectural baking fun. You know what I've been busy doing; Alex has been burning the midnight oil kicking the ass off a network programming project (I don't get the technical parts, but his dad is utterly impressed!). A fun diversion from projects, this is our first house, and plans for modernist improvements are already underway for next years architectural fantasy!<br /><br />Eugene saw this picture, and with his characteristically keen insight, relished in the symbolic connections between our constructing and devouring a house during this time :-). Hello Kali <munch, munch="">!<br /><br />Who will stop by to help us nibble away the delicious phoenix? ;-)</munch,>kachenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581746475805972719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126347517650397335.post-6160478869168640432008-12-26T08:13:00.001-08:002008-12-28T23:05:46.377-08:00Life in Escrow Hell - Day 36Today is the first day I have awoken with a sense of doing rather than a sense of waiting to hurry up. Today, all I have to do is hurry up - so simple, I love it! Rather than wondering where we, our dog, and our 5 tons of stuff (according to the movers estimate) will be in a week, I finally have certainty that we'll be on wheels, headed up to a warm house in the darling town of Ashland, Oregon.<br /><br />The last 35 mornings of escrow had greeted us, consistently, with chaos, new problems, and dramas created by an aggressive and inexperienced buyer's agent who complicated this process beyond measure. The likelihood of the sale going through waxed and waned throughout each day: part of the day I'd look for moving companies, while the next part I'd begin to prepare to go back on the market, and by evening I'd be scouring "freecycle" for moving boxes again. <br /><br />I had hired a lawyer to help with the tough stuff, but he turned out to be an obstacle in negotiation ... at $300 per hour.<br /><br />Why such chaos? <br />* This house is eccentric (diametrically opposed to tight-ass FHA requirements for the buyer's loan)<br />* Our real estate agents can't talk to each other<br />* The buyer's wife is a hormonally excited pregnant woman who NEEDS many things NOW<br />* It's a crappy market! On one hand we feel lucky to be selling the house, on the other hand it's harder to sell a house right now because all "professional" parties in the real estate/financial industries are in sheer terror and behaving erratically.<br />* I'm stubborn and refused to sell this house with out clearing enough money to pay off all my debt, and have plenty left over to finance a new business and make a down payment on our next house. When I leave this madness I'll have a car fully paid for, no debt and enough "fuck you money" that I never again have to be a cog in an institutional wheel! :-) So, as I complain about this escrow process, I also muse, "poor me, I'm the girl who got everything she wanted."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The good news:</span> We met with the buyers of our house yesterday to sort out a last minute heating installation that must be accomplished for them to get their FHA backed loan. Their agent had turned it into a hostile battle, but since we and the buyers are simply nice people who want to complete this transaction, we were able to ditch our agents and create an elegant solution. PHEW! <br /><br />Now we can finally sign the moving contract, put a deposit down on a rental house, and pack up what remains after having sorted through 20 years of material residue from my art and life in Los Angeles.<br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Some of today's topics:</span><br />I'm moving into a house with no garage - where will I put my sledgehammer and table saw? Am I really going to need a sawzall and or a 25# table vice again? Should I leave my 8' ladder behind? <br /><br />Because my psyche embeds itself in my material surroundings, questions about my building/studio tools and supplies become deep questions about my current mutation: who will I be??? Am I trading in my construction apparatus for the the home sewing kit? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN????!!!!! :-) It also makes me wonder who I really was. I spent so much time creating nomadic artworks, but in reality I am the most materially laden person I know! (except maybe for Eugene!)<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Stucco, cement and tile tools ... among the mass of stuff I didn't sell at our yard sale last week.</span><br /><img src="http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f393/kahtychen/moving%20sale/IMG_6223.jpg" border="2" alt="" />kachenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581746475805972719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126347517650397335.post-7339012648593089882008-12-25T14:56:00.000-08:002008-12-26T12:28:42.076-08:00Dog House HuntingAmidst the insanity of the escrow from hell, and 3 days after surgery on my right hand, I took a two day sojourn to the Ashland, Oregon area to find Ixa's next great dog house. This one'll be a rental, so we can try out the area. It's been so long since I filled out a rental application, what a strange feeling.<br /><br />There are a few ways to go: <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Ashland:</span><br />* rent in Ashland, live the vibe, be there now<br /><br />Living Room:<br /><img src="http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f393/kahtychen/blog/IMG_0020.jpg" border="2" alt="" /><br /><br />Family Room - aka Kahty's studio ;-):<br /><img src="http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f393/kahtychen/blog/IMG_0022.jpg" border="2" alt="" /><br /><br />View from 2nd story:<br /><img src="http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f393/kahtychen/blog/IMG_0021.jpg" border="2" alt="" /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Rogue River </span><br />* rest and recuperate 40 minutes out in the woods next to the glorious Rogue River - oh, did I mention it has a pool? ($1500/month)<br />Front Yard:<br /><img src="http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f393/kahtychen/blog/IMG_0033.jpg" border="2" alt="" /><br /><br />Ben's office view:<br /><img src="http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f393/kahtychen/blog/IMG_0032.jpg" border="2" alt="" /><br /><br />Master Bedroom View:<br /><img src="http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f393/kahtychen/blog/IMG_0031.jpg" border="2" alt="" /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Out in the country:</span><br /><br />* become pot farmers in a brokedown house with 20 acres fenced acres for Ixa and a pond - the young, stoner couple who used to live here have several kids and have moved to Ashland because their vegan donut business took off! :-)<br /><img src="http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f393/kahtychen/blog/IMG_0040.jpg" border="2" alt="" /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Medford:</span><br />* live like the retired, with the retired, in a subdivision for the retired, in a large manicured, carpeted home with a japanese garden, hot tub, and 3 car (yes, that's 3 car) garage:<br /><img src="http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f393/kahtychen/blog/IMG_0063.jpg" border="2" alt="" /><br /><br /><br />We've put in an application for the 1st one, the house in Ashland, but are still considering the Rogue River Rest and Recoup Ranch.<br /><br />Stay tuned for details on why escrow is a living hell.kachenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581746475805972719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126347517650397335.post-81469146372245544282008-11-15T15:44:00.001-08:002008-11-15T15:47:41.659-08:00New Finds in Art (for me)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.cremasterfanatic.com/Art/Art%20Tumbnails/t043.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 148px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.cremasterfanatic.com/Art/Art%20Tumbnails/t043.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />For Matthew Barney fans :-)<br /><br />And this guy is just ... gorgeous!<br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PwupTQt9zxY&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PwupTQt9zxY&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>kachenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581746475805972719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126347517650397335.post-12437006265363296852008-11-14T12:18:00.001-08:002008-11-14T18:50:48.779-08:00The Guest Tent!A functional sculpture, 2006-2008<br /><br />Once dubbed "Almost Legal", by an art writer, the guest tent was inspired by both my love for the safari tent and my interest in "sewing my own house." "Almost Legal" refers to the tent being non-permitted. Tune in for more details on this project.<br /><br />My father and step-daughter have both enjoyed their stays in the guest tent!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb9HhPB1IKbvNuYLG_LgdFniXgYU7Sym8lF9uRkCP9KeCnpqfD47OcueUtp2MC27h4gK6sQTqmAikdOyZH6yiRGDYNME7y16fiyrd6JPa5XKJT74T-fTQO6mvravSFZ11M5HhhUs9AwsI/s1600-h/tent.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb9HhPB1IKbvNuYLG_LgdFniXgYU7Sym8lF9uRkCP9KeCnpqfD47OcueUtp2MC27h4gK6sQTqmAikdOyZH6yiRGDYNME7y16fiyrd6JPa5XKJT74T-fTQO6mvravSFZ11M5HhhUs9AwsI/s400/tent.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268610688441517698" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkEokPvnf-6pqd6NrwpO-FgHFhXFWNjgOFZKVNzXQsG6_TTEtxpT9nIddHUcfYM33Ji3w9TFmVxcerf6msqMuJTul3m3_SPYm1YLJ2a7cFVE8Q3rsJcnIslyZs4CzgCv9FhIpdXErEiT4/s1600-h/tentbed.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkEokPvnf-6pqd6NrwpO-FgHFhXFWNjgOFZKVNzXQsG6_TTEtxpT9nIddHUcfYM33Ji3w9TFmVxcerf6msqMuJTul3m3_SPYm1YLJ2a7cFVE8Q3rsJcnIslyZs4CzgCv9FhIpdXErEiT4/s400/tentbed.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268610533522034066" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY3gKmk9XJYPqVzO-K-gTB__jga7lvZMaEr1s0C95GcgkuO9alKYPZG7zs7nIBrBDBp4ogWEkJlwCSCjsxPghRvRazjsOIxvAPl1Dnprtf99bcVuY_MBNxlbwNZ_NP7-S5MCOGYYrim2c/s1600-h/tentbath.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY3gKmk9XJYPqVzO-K-gTB__jga7lvZMaEr1s0C95GcgkuO9alKYPZG7zs7nIBrBDBp4ogWEkJlwCSCjsxPghRvRazjsOIxvAPl1Dnprtf99bcVuY_MBNxlbwNZ_NP7-S5MCOGYYrim2c/s400/tentbath.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268610416728644050" /></a>kachenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581746475805972719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126347517650397335.post-51086692902439921742008-06-09T16:55:00.001-07:002008-06-09T16:57:11.751-07:00Free HugsGreat video clip:<br /><br /><a href="http://transformationteam.net/video/free_hugs_campaign.php">http://transformationteam.net/video/free_hugs_campaign.php</a>kachenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581746475805972719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126347517650397335.post-43924276338651328212008-06-05T22:12:00.000-07:002008-06-05T22:21:09.875-07:00Day 8, 9, and 10 is back in LAWe stayed in yet another ratty "dog friendly" hotel ... gah! This one freaked Ixa out. The manager had a macaw (or some kind of large sqwalking bird) that scared the poop out of the big bad cow herder! She was so unnerved by it that she didn't relieve herself for 20 hours! <br /><br />We bought lots of gorgeous fresh fruit on the drive home, then were greeted by the majestic San Gabriel Mountains while driving back into LA.<br /><br />This morning Ixa made her first kill :-(<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOpBId6PfU91A_fQmdkdmSMnTgCZhrWdFa1J6UPf14sjHkcsOXLj9qJ8H5OhlYCsCpEwGIQnwrD-ZBacd54uesPg9J5zVaSXOll3Hdox5fxo_ieF3tV383asjFstpsWadMVJzFE1lpbYM/s1600-h/IMG_5890.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOpBId6PfU91A_fQmdkdmSMnTgCZhrWdFa1J6UPf14sjHkcsOXLj9qJ8H5OhlYCsCpEwGIQnwrD-ZBacd54uesPg9J5zVaSXOll3Hdox5fxo_ieF3tV383asjFstpsWadMVJzFE1lpbYM/s400/IMG_5890.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208633996402742834" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwuZU9R5xCK77otVQl6Llo-aPbGx5nUXVlccm7DnusDZYhnd9m0707Pe7vxtfRsYjByrS5VkNrisAO6OvSwCyaS1TTrOJZ6cg8Tv5mZgt5l5KzDFvYNwhN6Hb-O-PWQ7cObYL8HTacuWg/s1600-h/IMG_5892.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwuZU9R5xCK77otVQl6Llo-aPbGx5nUXVlccm7DnusDZYhnd9m0707Pe7vxtfRsYjByrS5VkNrisAO6OvSwCyaS1TTrOJZ6cg8Tv5mZgt5l5KzDFvYNwhN6Hb-O-PWQ7cObYL8HTacuWg/s400/IMG_5892.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208634001182225378" /></a>kachenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581746475805972719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126347517650397335.post-88779669744776201322008-06-05T21:04:00.000-07:002008-06-05T21:25:15.967-07:00Day 5, 6, 7 - Ashland, OrAshland is gorgeous! Ixa loved it so much ... she ran through the woods, rolled heartily in clover, and took note of every sheep and cow along the way. She also made life hard for the resident cat at my dad's house.<br /><br />And yet she was much loved,<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5yH2Y8eqmL891UR6ggmZR7s2aOK3k9tPPxgKG7-cxeYe5Wyc1eJU9T4hEVlZatNBcsncflk36Gv-e3ifHluCHjYq9NYYV6tviRlrp1UqvxLT0REJfpYUoYpEGCVOQQ153nVSloEAy0l0/s1600-h/IMG_5886.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5yH2Y8eqmL891UR6ggmZR7s2aOK3k9tPPxgKG7-cxeYe5Wyc1eJU9T4hEVlZatNBcsncflk36Gv-e3ifHluCHjYq9NYYV6tviRlrp1UqvxLT0REJfpYUoYpEGCVOQQ153nVSloEAy0l0/s400/IMG_5886.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208618316134797666" /></a>kachenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581746475805972719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126347517650397335.post-44226806352450612662008-06-05T20:39:00.000-07:002008-06-05T22:25:11.316-07:00Day 4 - Weeeeeed!Weed is a little town near the majestic Mount Shasta.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh20IUUrQt9kDvN5SQq_BKnDf7arhI3Ua6kSPd_cE-WJYcy1Yax0ogqXvdIPbEEyt6QzJ6eksO6-AaZ1GglWdpCnToSZhi6C2OaG9GykSAvkNp5hOE38Y011-j5ZEroK0j7008Xbc9fpX4/s1600-h/IMG_5884.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh20IUUrQt9kDvN5SQq_BKnDf7arhI3Ua6kSPd_cE-WJYcy1Yax0ogqXvdIPbEEyt6QzJ6eksO6-AaZ1GglWdpCnToSZhi6C2OaG9GykSAvkNp5hOE38Y011-j5ZEroK0j7008Xbc9fpX4/s400/IMG_5884.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208631528841119602" /></a><br /><br />Stewart Mineral Springs is one of my favorite places! It's near weed. They run a fabulous woodsy get away with mineral hot baths, a beautiful sauna, occasional sweat lodge, a great veg restaurant, and a variety of lodgings from teepees to a beautiful A-frame house on the creek. http://www.stewartmineralsprings.com/<br /><br />At the little cabin where we slept, we enjoyed the babbling chorus from the creek and heat from the wood stove (oooiks, that was way different from lighting a campfire!).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDdCtLSssx_rpLa5eHx2KIdURMJXTy6wKNz-feC0eSvoQRpKIS-HYUKhb29AK8p6zqIx1zYDRGvusV0KWlVG1-lu7hclPLtb_IBs1k12f7GhAr02Khq6FV0FvzGv1rm5jaWkLKr-qfLZo/s1600-h/IMG_5879.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDdCtLSssx_rpLa5eHx2KIdURMJXTy6wKNz-feC0eSvoQRpKIS-HYUKhb29AK8p6zqIx1zYDRGvusV0KWlVG1-lu7hclPLtb_IBs1k12f7GhAr02Khq6FV0FvzGv1rm5jaWkLKr-qfLZo/s400/IMG_5879.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208611951473776818" /></a><br /><br /><br />Ixa's fish breakfast sitting, ignored, while she takes in the richness of the forest ... doggie heaven!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjViwt3EefrjnFL16LtnQmeB1jM2hpkm-W7N-v5hJvByMlAaMlEhwzKYE2hJou_oRoQiV__kzozYChXf7h5xcDrTnHBYNIFqHSKVTyB-oMP9rG8wYD3jxUGGmOzT9E9NJl4osg7HSO0Z5Y/s1600-h/IMG_5881.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjViwt3EefrjnFL16LtnQmeB1jM2hpkm-W7N-v5hJvByMlAaMlEhwzKYE2hJou_oRoQiV__kzozYChXf7h5xcDrTnHBYNIFqHSKVTyB-oMP9rG8wYD3jxUGGmOzT9E9NJl4osg7HSO0Z5Y/s400/IMG_5881.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208611961097724866" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Ixa's future ranch<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirMc5rqujwly-l7XGnomnIsBrMCeJbZcVIYz5sH7xnag3SX-fj_IiyLlWp_IjsysIAclXM8IfgIkgIpftdAqLO16xRDEsBFuJf2T6eCNarnnXS0t4nIHRw12UWzijBYSa0BMoJnBEU0ZU/s1600-h/IMG_5882.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirMc5rqujwly-l7XGnomnIsBrMCeJbZcVIYz5sH7xnag3SX-fj_IiyLlWp_IjsysIAclXM8IfgIkgIpftdAqLO16xRDEsBFuJf2T6eCNarnnXS0t4nIHRw12UWzijBYSa0BMoJnBEU0ZU/s400/IMG_5882.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208631941220258514" /></a>kachenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581746475805972719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126347517650397335.post-23411835676271146752008-06-02T10:16:00.000-07:002008-06-05T22:07:33.577-07:00Day 3 - Mendocino/HumboltStumbled upon this Buddhist University outside of Ukiah. It was the only thing that interested me in the region. <sigh><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBugpdKIh-41GV61FA8EhPt76trvb4EoFY4a8_gTg_fwOUQApwAa2yChQsg6S3BB9xvXii4T0pbHJiau5b_rrPBHrUkS4y5trOuZBtosvHNq3sXrhDysv1i8VDoG_mnAlDlg12VLmNQkA/s1600-h/IMG_5856.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBugpdKIh-41GV61FA8EhPt76trvb4EoFY4a8_gTg_fwOUQApwAa2yChQsg6S3BB9xvXii4T0pbHJiau5b_rrPBHrUkS4y5trOuZBtosvHNq3sXrhDysv1i8VDoG_mnAlDlg12VLmNQkA/s400/IMG_5856.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207338193134994146" /></a><br /><br />Peacocks from the University capture the attention of Ixa (on leash!), and they were just as curious about her!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUNud2L035FMofiDz9bIOVrSjs87HkiP4XyzD5Dgnv5NBP929yqkm8epXDR4yB5RIEo2aUgwPF81AyvsIQ1o3wZcbBIj4PlE6OirSib3ivRYUWZaBg5hcpESlbsNp6FfqRcDQCrRsPa9Y/s1600-h/IMG_5858.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUNud2L035FMofiDz9bIOVrSjs87HkiP4XyzD5Dgnv5NBP929yqkm8epXDR4yB5RIEo2aUgwPF81AyvsIQ1o3wZcbBIj4PlE6OirSib3ivRYUWZaBg5hcpESlbsNp6FfqRcDQCrRsPa9Y/s400/IMG_5858.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207337660559049426" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Mendocino County bugs! After an accidental romp through some poison oak, in flip flops, I pulled about 4 ticks of of Ixa.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfD6WiSQzB-vJgiVMF0mJvjC16OYqqdoFHk3qeIv6UVG9IXuw77TocvyTpZLYOrfJaqObNLjb4XxE6o9hrKOcLreprfWiMmA0PT_lXM0CHpj_Ip2NuEV4y7ohfcTv_UHVC6j4Tv4OR_Fs/s1600-h/mendobugs.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfD6WiSQzB-vJgiVMF0mJvjC16OYqqdoFHk3qeIv6UVG9IXuw77TocvyTpZLYOrfJaqObNLjb4XxE6o9hrKOcLreprfWiMmA0PT_lXM0CHpj_Ip2NuEV4y7ohfcTv_UHVC6j4Tv4OR_Fs/s400/mendobugs.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207342367843205874" /></a><br /><br />Mmmm, the grandeur of the redwoods!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEWgF7QeGIT3ZYwnFxepHc-Nsb3af5_bU_1CCuGG_omL_mrpMsI0nZpwUevZ6c2B4jlqqLXLU6HfNRSAUtpSYSY86p2_NO7u5HnA14mxjw65-oQIzb-Qwt4QQxbtvz_ln2zvY1bxxjKL0/s1600-h/IMG_5865.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEWgF7QeGIT3ZYwnFxepHc-Nsb3af5_bU_1CCuGG_omL_mrpMsI0nZpwUevZ6c2B4jlqqLXLU6HfNRSAUtpSYSY86p2_NO7u5HnA14mxjw65-oQIzb-Qwt4QQxbtvz_ln2zvY1bxxjKL0/s400/IMG_5865.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207344038585484050" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcttoyYpvEtSEuO3ojq_SR4fuu4lFOHVnhnvt2ossYo2kL3s1Kta1LMKCzeVlj0jEp-czT4cgzMk_82TmYcibJSjeDTiTpAyNaH00DwejClaWshjLVSCSJRp1VyBfBsT9ue1ZDgrQJULQ/s1600-h/IMG_5864.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcttoyYpvEtSEuO3ojq_SR4fuu4lFOHVnhnvt2ossYo2kL3s1Kta1LMKCzeVlj0jEp-czT4cgzMk_82TmYcibJSjeDTiTpAyNaH00DwejClaWshjLVSCSJRp1VyBfBsT9ue1ZDgrQJULQ/s400/IMG_5864.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207344025700582146" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The drive through Humbolt County was monotonous! Windy roads and pine trees ... shees, I'd smoke a lot of pot, too!kachenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581746475805972719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126347517650397335.post-52986124329549418462008-05-29T20:51:00.000-07:002008-06-05T22:08:44.665-07:00Day 2 - SonomaMorning walk in Salinas ... no cows here, phew!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5Dxd7Jciqr9SK33AXbg-erZ9_CRPhVNFDl_4F2KP0GCmIEqcRozQ7vwLZenKmcmYWZCm1fINk0T92I10xqhvOxYExVNpkOaun7yrDEn0h-oUfR03_IjNkka3CrQtaKFBr-pPpiqKEYw/s1600-h/nocowshere.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5Dxd7Jciqr9SK33AXbg-erZ9_CRPhVNFDl_4F2KP0GCmIEqcRozQ7vwLZenKmcmYWZCm1fINk0T92I10xqhvOxYExVNpkOaun7yrDEn0h-oUfR03_IjNkka3CrQtaKFBr-pPpiqKEYw/s400/nocowshere.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206016266625794690" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Sonoma Princess, cow hunting<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGMdZhq9qAEeWZbTmwE71jDsrzpHjc21RgpsgPmF3TU8u6yDaAwd9V8Ub6nqf1p8lBipQuZp-fE3vO5dgOWGfx_KoaTBvL4TWCYze_JJGNpHHXta_7tgEwcSNrDIG5iC_QUcbmCoqxuAM/s1600-h/IMG_5873.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGMdZhq9qAEeWZbTmwE71jDsrzpHjc21RgpsgPmF3TU8u6yDaAwd9V8Ub6nqf1p8lBipQuZp-fE3vO5dgOWGfx_KoaTBvL4TWCYze_JJGNpHHXta_7tgEwcSNrDIG5iC_QUcbmCoqxuAM/s400/IMG_5873.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208627011285234434" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The Napa/Sonoma/Calistoga area captured my heart ... love at first sight! Too much to consider photographing ... perhaps on the way back south.<br /><br />Traveling with Princess<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg708DzgMjp5GsrGPMA4vur96w5kQqfskMav0NNYQCeXC-r59HynSK-u-lz2VqzwJL9w6dXsyg957TTnyr_vzLpUt364_HlBOWSXK15VA3Dz4cQmBEC2zxTkpIZiTpDzJylpB2m_0Ai0Zo/s1600-h/IxaFood.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg708DzgMjp5GsrGPMA4vur96w5kQqfskMav0NNYQCeXC-r59HynSK-u-lz2VqzwJL9w6dXsyg957TTnyr_vzLpUt364_HlBOWSXK15VA3Dz4cQmBEC2zxTkpIZiTpDzJylpB2m_0Ai0Zo/s400/IxaFood.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206017580885787298" /></a><br /><br />The cooler contains her frozen duck and mackerels, as well as her steamed veggies (and a few diet colas, string cheeses, and fruits for me, hehe!)kachenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581746475805972719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126347517650397335.post-44454134664352327762008-05-28T22:16:00.000-07:002008-05-28T22:24:12.234-07:00Round 'em up!<sigh> Ixa took herself off for a little herding session, courtesy of my bad call on an off-leash moment. She drove the cattle from the far left of the image, uphill through a pasture, through a couple of gates, along a fence, then gathered them under a tree. When I ran up breathlessly (fearing her injury from an angry bull or the muzzle of a rancher's gun), she checked her group then sat gloating at her accomplishment ... I wish I had a picture of that!<br /><br /><br />The 5 minute drive route: <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCz_QMQ80mlGqb2EjXM4-s60waLg5sdrBgfjUaehX53LcMgC-wZWN5Kp6EIIBqJNl_nsn3Uqg20gPq4LKlerP1met_txCRVuyhG8QXoWhbxcz9y-EnUEo2a-jm1xAFT0KgEyP17mL6TVY/s1600-h/roundup.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCz_QMQ80mlGqb2EjXM4-s60waLg5sdrBgfjUaehX53LcMgC-wZWN5Kp6EIIBqJNl_nsn3Uqg20gPq4LKlerP1met_txCRVuyhG8QXoWhbxcz9y-EnUEo2a-jm1xAFT0KgEyP17mL6TVY/s400/roundup.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205664951185883746" /></a><br /><br />Ixa's herd<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYRaj9mPTVggg_iqRsodJOjsx7h17ZJ1vIUlPBcpUyT-Nvsy5vdhyphenhyphen6u9GQZJqd4OjlOBPEdAabUQ3lhjnYxZJktT0RbEd8hfO1ruYR0KR3Pg0BtEXep_Z0ASHX4t6BuigIzT3yzhdtkac/s1600-h/IMG_5846.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYRaj9mPTVggg_iqRsodJOjsx7h17ZJ1vIUlPBcpUyT-Nvsy5vdhyphenhyphen6u9GQZJqd4OjlOBPEdAabUQ3lhjnYxZJktT0RbEd8hfO1ruYR0KR3Pg0BtEXep_Z0ASHX4t6BuigIzT3yzhdtkac/s400/IMG_5846.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205664955480851058" /></a><br /><br />Yeah, cattledog all the way.kachenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581746475805972719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126347517650397335.post-61541746910716458892008-05-28T21:19:00.000-07:002008-05-28T21:46:22.381-07:00Go North Young Dog!Day one, road trip north to find our next home town!<br /><br />First stop for a run on the beach in Ventura<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXip-GwIaRE5iRPN0LVT03vXAVb6kiJQ50DNHn3D-mnWzXRwCjPHB3z5ktYTRnw1oJ2PQF_Nv5xfZotdKZeSCYmKzIYzCkYeVKvw378JSvIY_jTMIeGRlTTQnpQWKAnEIAsyzjfNqDnnw/s1600-h/IMG_5842.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXip-GwIaRE5iRPN0LVT03vXAVb6kiJQ50DNHn3D-mnWzXRwCjPHB3z5ktYTRnw1oJ2PQF_Nv5xfZotdKZeSCYmKzIYzCkYeVKvw378JSvIY_jTMIeGRlTTQnpQWKAnEIAsyzjfNqDnnw/s400/IMG_5842.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205654523005289010" /></a><br /><br />Picnic at Lake Cachuma<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMb0EsqNtPI6XkFsfZ9T6ohpSClmkLulo6BdBCiNy3dv2C0m04kClSbcVzQafuCU18QhecnHhjfoD4ZL8keRuio_ZI0TXGiV_TLsS2FxWAWP_L1CcDnogYTmN5Vz_6R38tDjPWJowYwU0/s1600-h/IMG_5843.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMb0EsqNtPI6XkFsfZ9T6ohpSClmkLulo6BdBCiNy3dv2C0m04kClSbcVzQafuCU18QhecnHhjfoD4ZL8keRuio_ZI0TXGiV_TLsS2FxWAWP_L1CcDnogYTmN5Vz_6R38tDjPWJowYwU0/s400/IMG_5843.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205654535890190914" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />On the road agaaaaaain!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEUWnSlm0UF5epweN-QlZqZn_URXfgVUeU3CABxkZi_kKLlE8_jRxOsmIoyqcwY43tcTLDNuzPnyMYMAmx6uolNw14_ZiersTKGB6mO0UkwxfGS2Gzur2Fi-10dohpVM-CgpXohh0Qj0A/s1600-h/IMG_5845.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEUWnSlm0UF5epweN-QlZqZn_URXfgVUeU3CABxkZi_kKLlE8_jRxOsmIoyqcwY43tcTLDNuzPnyMYMAmx6uolNw14_ZiersTKGB6mO0UkwxfGS2Gzur2Fi-10dohpVM-CgpXohh0Qj0A/s400/IMG_5845.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205654540185158226" /></a>kachenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581746475805972719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126347517650397335.post-68709104873125310862008-05-28T21:12:00.001-07:002008-05-28T21:45:06.388-07:00holy mackerel!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-GF2-8eibMwBjtYzr8-HjmY91d4KjOVU6izzg8lvKZORwxPajt1UkQudE9Sixn6UCphCFVbk86Zdcqnmvm7QJLfUE_k_2UmtoOw-XwHn3JTGzI5plqT7GK685GxQWFNTcHytc7sou0E/s1600-h/IMG_5833.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-GF2-8eibMwBjtYzr8-HjmY91d4KjOVU6izzg8lvKZORwxPajt1UkQudE9Sixn6UCphCFVbk86Zdcqnmvm7QJLfUE_k_2UmtoOw-XwHn3JTGzI5plqT7GK685GxQWFNTcHytc7sou0E/s400/IMG_5833.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205648888008196642" /></a>kachenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581746475805972719noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126347517650397335.post-82069234896457881232007-12-19T11:50:00.000-08:002007-12-19T12:03:34.465-08:00We need a Bath<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.luxurylaunches.com/entry_images/0906/07/teak-bathtub.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://www.luxurylaunches.com/entry_images/0906/07/teak-bathtub.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Japanese bathing rituals came up on a discussion list I participate in, and this neat link was offered: <a href="http://www.monotsukuri.net/japan/24hours/24hours.htm">24 Hour Bath</a><br /><br />I read a novel by Yasunari Kawabata called "Snow Country" that I recall having lovely descriptions of aspects of traditional Japanese hot spring culture.<br /><br />Also, I'm guessing this book is pretty well known: "In Praise of Shadows", by Junichiro Tanizaki. It's a slim book, an elegant description of traditional Japanese houses, with a beautiful section on the bathroom.<br /><br />I go to Korean bath houses here in Los Angeles, and there are similar protocols ... cleaning (especially SERIOUS exfoliating at a trough), followed by a circuit of hot/cold baths, including an angelica tea bath, as well as a series of saunas with varying humidity and heat. Shoes are not worn into the locker room, and sandals are used for specified areas, like the toilet.<br /><br />When I first started going, the clientele was almost all Korean, and the baths were very clean and quiet. They've caught on with others, so are a bit noisier and slightly grungier. Which is ironic, since westerners often scoff at the idea of a public bath space being hygienically sound!<br /><br />Can't find any luxury "dog baths", but there seems to be a healthy market for dog bath robes!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.dog.com/Prod_Images/P48140.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://www.dog.com/Prod_Images/P48140.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>kachenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581746475805972719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126347517650397335.post-11753550506294408622007-11-26T19:52:00.000-08:002007-11-26T23:47:04.394-08:00Contemplative Walking<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.dojozen.net/images/kinhin_pieds.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://www.dojozen.net/images/kinhin_pieds.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I have practiced a few forms of meditative walking, but not since my dog Ixa came into my life. When I walk, in my urban environment, with Ixa, the distractions defeat me: aggressive dogs, cats and squirrels, kids, street crossings, and leashes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.goodgroundpress.com/images/carondelet.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://www.goodgroundpress.com/images/carondelet.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I also used to jog on a treadmill, and I'd find a steady pace that provided a deep, moving meditation. I miss that.<br /><br /><a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f393/kahtychen/trreadmill.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Last week, I set up a treadmill at home, for Ixa and I to use together. I simply wanted peaceful and comfortable walking. But, it turns out to offer a meditative experience, not only for me, but for her, too! She lowers her head and focuses on the path, present in her stride. It's so tranquil, and an enormous change from her normal on-guard, sniffy, excited tromp through the city. <br /><br />Surprisingly, the treadmill is our little spaceship for contemplative walking. But, perhaps, one day, we'll make a nice labyrinth!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.americankangdukwon.com/images/labyrinth.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://www.americankangdukwon.com/images/labyrinth.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>kachenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581746475805972719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126347517650397335.post-68496706372437179412007-11-21T18:00:00.000-08:002007-11-21T18:09:16.087-08:00Steven Seagal<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/Steven_seagalpa.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/Steven_seagalpa.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Mystical dog incident<br /><br />While being interviewed by PETA, Seagal was asked to provide an example of a special interaction with an animal. To lend context and meaning to his animal rights work, Seagal offered the story about a dog which approached him during his early aikido years in Japan. Seagal described feeling as if he had known this white dog forever. After keeping the dog for a few days, the dog (by barking) warned Seagal that his dojo was on fire. Seagal quickly summoned help to put out the fire. He never saw the dog again.[27]<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Seagal">Seagal Wiki Page</a>kachenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581746475805972719noreply@blogger.com0