New House

I moved and it was amazing - well, not so much the moving process, but the end result.

#1 - Fun roommates (see previous post)

#2 - I live on another street other than High Street (where I've resided the past 4 years)

#3 - I'm closer to Trader Joe's which I love

#4 - I'm closer to work, which my gas tank loves

#5 - I have a bedroom ceiling that doesn't slope and I can't hit my head on the ceiling everyday

#6 - I have a trailhead across the street which leads to fun places like Whatcom Falls

#7 - It's totally a party house, but a classy party house. I'm so above college-level entertaining.

#8 - My roommate has every season of Friends on DVD

#9 - I have my own bathroom - quite a change from sharing a shower between 6 girls previously (not at the same time, perverts)

#10 - I have converted my previously college-study-computer desk into an art space. Now I can release my inner ghetto pig on a regular basis. I like to art.

Long time

Oh hey blog. I have been spending time with my less-digital friends lately and have had an absence of creative bloggerage energy...I guess. Well, good things are happening:

I'm moving. That will be a good thing once I find a place to live. I'll be living with some quality individuals - Krizzly Bear and Millard Fillmore (see below). They are nice.

2. I'm not a counselor at Ray of Hope camp this year, which means I have not been hit, kicked, punched, yelled at, or spit on by children this summer. It's an improvement for sure (I do miss the good times though).

3. I'm getting a tan (slowly)...who knew it could happen for me in Bellingham. They should call me bronze beauty pig.

It's a good summer.

Hula Hoop Night

Aww, I love summer...especially in Bellingham. I know summer is on the way when hula hoop night at Boundary Bay is up and running. I love the outdoor fun of hooping it up with your buddies and, a little later into the evening, reggae-hippie dancing with the crowds. So much fun! Also, Boundary has an amazing Brown Ale that will make anyone have a great ol' time. So, on this 18th of June, just a few days before the official summer solstice, I will be hooping and dancing and, uh, "ale-ing" it up. Also, it is my half birthday, so I will be accepting gifts and cash.

Ghetto Rabbit

A ghetto pig cannot be hidden, but a healthy ghetto pig cannot be stopped! I've decided in light of my amazing, new vitamin D-filled life, not to mention the fact that summer's on the way, that I am in need of a health kick. Perhaps a health kick in the pants. My office job and winter's gloominess has taken it's toll on my previously pristine body (haha), and I'm ready to start moving more again. And maybe along the way I'll eat some spinach and carrots-I like 'em. I think I'll feel 10,000 times better if I make healthy decisions and on top of that there's all the hotness that will inevitably accompany this journey (have you seen me run in sweats?--Hott!). So here's to sweating like a pig...like a ghetto pig and eating like a ghetto rabbit...hmm. Yeah. I guess that's right.

Readers Make Better Drivers

Ski to Sea! Woo! Better Lovers! Yeah!

It was a day to remember: On Sunday, May 25, 2008, eight of the Better Lovers took on Ski to Sea. As a fellow Lover and supporter of the team, I volunteered for the driving portion of the race --dropping off the Biker (J. Swob), the runner (Flanhoodles), and the mountaineers (Kris-cross country ski and Lindsay - downhill snowboard). There were some interesting adventures throughout the day--the canoe leg canceled, getting sunburned at the mountain top, running to the finish line to see KJW ring the bell, etc. Perhaps the most unexpected portion of my Ski to Sea experience, however, was my own surprise competition, the Downhill Driving Leg.

As Kris and I began our trek down the mountain in J. Swob's car, Nessie, we realized there were only about 30 miles left to go before we were out of gas. After an hour and a half of slowly, slowly going down the mountain because of all the crazy traffic, we still had roughly thirty miles to go before the next gas station and only 15 miles left of gas. It was time to use my driving skills to conserve. So, on I drove down the mountain, shifting into neutral whenever possible and catching speed at curves to get enough gumption for the straightaways. All seemed lost when we finally reached the town of Glacier and there was not a gas pump to be found. We nearly lost hope, but having faith in Nessie and hope in my skills, I careened further down the mountain until the terrain began to flatten out and become more hilly.

As Lindsay shouted from the back, "I think we're almost to Maple Falls," I saw a HUGE hill come into view. Nessie and I were going to have to take it on if we ever hoped to reach a gas station, but time (and fuel) was running out. I sat low in my seat and shifted into drive as the great hill approached. I placed my hands carefully at ten and two and began to accelerate. After a few minor sputterings, we began to fly up the hill, maintaining enough speed to manage the climb without wavering or puttering out. Yes! We determinedly made it to the crest of the hill, just in time to shift into neutral and ride the next part out. Maple Falls soon came into view and with shouts of joy and wails of victory, we pulled into the cleverly named "Maple Fuels" gas station.

Some have said I am a hero for managing this imperative ski to sea leg, but I'd just call myself a true Lover, a true reader, and a true Ghetto Pig.

Vitamin D

So, I've been feeling really lethargic, tired, unhappy, blah, for the past few months and now that I have fancy new health insurance, I decided to see the doctor about it. She suggested a blood test among other things and it turns out my vitamin D levels are really low. Hmm, well given that we live in Gloomtown USA for the winter, I wasn't surprised. My doctor said that they've been giving patients vitamin D for similar symptoms and they're feeling better. So, they gave me a MEGADOSE that I only take once a week, and you know what? I'm starting to feel a little sunshiny & peppy again. Hey, vitamin D: you-make-a-me-feel-so-good! Also, in my research to find out more about the magic little vitamin, I found that there's actually a vitamin D society: www.vitamindsociety.org/

That's amazing. I'm thinking of joining.

If you care to know more about vitamin D, read on. If not stop and look at the glorious picture and leave me a comment.

We get vitamin D from sunlight--naturally, living in a climate where sun exposure is limited, it makes sense that one would be deficient. Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium, helping you to have strong bones. Lack of vitamin D is linked with bone thinning and osteoporosis, but it's also been linked to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and depression. If you think you're vitamin D deficient, you can take a supplement (D3 is most easily absorbed by the body) and load up on vitamin D rich foods, like fortified dairy products and fatty fish. There aren't a lot of Vitamin D rich foods, so a supplement is probably best, but there's always the option of rolling up those sleeves and going outside. Oh, or you can get one of those sunlamps and bask in the light of it. Go vitamin D!

Book it!

Back in my glory days of juvenile delinquency, there were some protective factors which I believe led my resilience from "going down the wrong track." One of those factors was a little reading program called Book it! Anyone remember this? You had to read a certain amount of books or pages every month, and if you did you got:

1. A FREE personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut


2. A Book it! Button and corresponding stickers

Awesome! Who wouldn't want that as a kid? I have to say, I read a lot of books because of this program, and who knows, maybe I wouldn't be the BRILLIANT person I am today without it. Now all I want to know is, what about having Book it! for adults. It's important for adults to read too, and I'd like a button and free personal pan! Come on Book it! Show us some love.