UPDATE 8/19: I've decided to replace YouTube with Vimeo as the video service for this blog entry. It seems to perform better. Thoughts?
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We generally assume that whatever the Wallers put their mind to, enchantment and delight is bound to be the by-product. So it should come as no surprise that when we celebrated Mika's birthday on Friday, we drank, danced and reveled in poetry (literally and figuratively).
The party started with the adults learning how to mix some of the most popular bar drinks: the Cosmo, the Mojito & the Trash Can. I learned that bartenders don't measure alcohol by shots but rather by counting as they pour. So they might put a five count of vodka into a Cosmo for example. With a 4-count equaling an ounce of alcohol, you can calculate how much liquor goes into any one drink. We also got to learn the fine art of muddling mint and lime. It was great fun and being a light-weight myself when it comes to drinking, I pulled back on the counts of vodka & triple sec for my mojito but it messed up the mixture and made it super limey--more practice needed I guess. Here is our guest teacher showing us how to make mojitos.
Once the adults had enough "liquid courage," we moved on to the physical activity part of the night and learned a hip-hop dance routine. Our friend Jim Lizzi a former hip-hop/aerobics instructor was coincidentally visiting us the same weekend as Mika's party and agreed to make up a special routine and teach it to the group. Jim was a great sport and everyone seemed to be in a dancing mood.
The surprise of the night came when Jeremy Richards performed an original poetry composition entitled TS Eliot's Lost Hip Hop Poem. It is absolutely sublime. See it in night vision below. (There is some strong language, just a few words, be warned.)
Watch him perform it at the 2002 National Poetry Slam HERE.
Glad to have been on hand to celebrate Mr. Mika, converse with such cool people and participate in some unique experiences. Great job to Sarah for organizing and again, Happy Birthday Mika!
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
CSI Ballard -- Cat Pee Investigations Unit
You don't know true pet-owning joy until you are crawling around on your hands and knees in the basement in the dark sporting a blacklight and a sponge.
What I used to get the stain/smell out is any one of a number of enzyme-based cleaners that remove all traces of the pet urine and leave behind a "fresh" scent. As an added precaution, I also doused the areas he marked with a citrus spray because cats hate citrus.
Tune in next time to see if Oliver gets the message or if I've kicked off a pissing contest in the basement. Yeah!
What I used to get the stain/smell out is any one of a number of enzyme-based cleaners that remove all traces of the pet urine and leave behind a "fresh" scent. As an added precaution, I also doused the areas he marked with a citrus spray because cats hate citrus.
Tune in next time to see if Oliver gets the message or if I've kicked off a pissing contest in the basement. Yeah!
Sunday, August 03, 2008
Books and other things with words on paper
I am delighted to say that during this weekend I have had long, uninterrupted periods of catching up on reading. Usually this just means getting current on Newsweek and the Sunday paper but this time I also got to delve into riveting material like a graphic (comic) novel, the IKEA catalog and PNW Magazine (which this week highlighted the growing need to pawn items to pay the mortgage and juxtaposed it to a profile of a million-dollar house with custom baby gates--classy.) I got to thinking about the things I've read in the last few months and wondered what it all added up to.
I Am America (And So Can You!) by Stephen Colbert
This is a brilliant satire and back-handed commentary on our society, politics and media. Also a full transcript of his Washington Correspondents' Dinner Address where he roasted Bush and the media--to their faces.
Anita Blake Vampire Hunter Guilty Pleasures Vol 1 & 2 by Laurel K. Hamilton
This is my guilty pleasure: a graphic novel where a sassy & sexy vampire huntress eradicates the city of St. Louis' undead, specifically the shirtless, Fabio-esque kind. I saw this in the WSU Bookstore when we were up at Homecoming last year. Couldn't put it down. (FYI: Graphic novel is the term for comic books that get bound into a compilation.)
Plenty Magazine, monthly magazine
Within the Green movement, a phenomenon known as eco-pretension is fast becoming a national pastime. Now, I own a Prius so I know what smugness is. But in an effort to live up to all the recommendations and do everything "just so," Plenty can come off--dare I say--elitist and inaccessible for most people. But keep trying Plenty, find the balance and include those who don't have mounds of disposable income. Why should "greenness" feel like an indulgence?
Things I Learned About My Dad, essays compiled by Heather Armstrong
Heather is the author of one of my favorite blogs, Dooce.com. So it only makes sense that a book put out under her watch would be something I'd like. Sure enough, it's full of some funny, poignant and smart writing about fatherhood/parenthood.
Stuff White People Like by Christian Lander
Spawned by the hilarious blog of the same name, this book should really be called "Stuff Kali and Ken Like--with a few exceptions." My brother, Austin, gave this book to Ken for his birthday and it has been quite a hit. While it claims to make fun of 'white people' for the things they gravitate towards, it's actually taking shots at the upper middle-class, urban, liberal lifestyle. Regardless, it's damn funny.
The Hardy Boys, The Shore Road Mystery (1964 version)
When Ken was a youngster, his neighbor had the entire set of Hardy Boys books. He's never forgotten this so when we were in an antique store earlier this year, he found book #6 and couldn't resist. Since then, he has been reading chapters of the book to me before we went to bed until last night when we finished it. Alarmingly, the further we read, the more convinced we became that no child should ever have been allowed to have this. Not only did these teenage boys find themselves in serious, mortal danger at least 10 separate occasions, one of them sustained severe motorcycle crash injuries only to go out later that night. They frequently didn't sleep and where out all night, engaged in detective work that they were not formally trained for nor paid for nor sanctioned by the police. Their absentee detective father was in NY the whole time and their mother clearly didn't assert the necessary authority/protection/discipline. But at every possible chance, the author reminded the reader that their poor friend Chet was fat by describing him as "portly," "rotund," & "stout" etc. Why did we stick with it to the end? I guess we just couldn't believe such trite literature was considered wholesome and inspiring fare for the youth of this country.
On our nightstands now:
Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder
When You Are Engulfed In Flames by David Sedaris
The Seventeen Traditions by Ralph Nader
McSweeneys Quarterly Concern
We'll see how that nets out in a few months. Until then, happy reading.
I Am America (And So Can You!) by Stephen Colbert
This is a brilliant satire and back-handed commentary on our society, politics and media. Also a full transcript of his Washington Correspondents' Dinner Address where he roasted Bush and the media--to their faces.
Anita Blake Vampire Hunter Guilty Pleasures Vol 1 & 2 by Laurel K. Hamilton
This is my guilty pleasure: a graphic novel where a sassy & sexy vampire huntress eradicates the city of St. Louis' undead, specifically the shirtless, Fabio-esque kind. I saw this in the WSU Bookstore when we were up at Homecoming last year. Couldn't put it down. (FYI: Graphic novel is the term for comic books that get bound into a compilation.)
Plenty Magazine, monthly magazine
Within the Green movement, a phenomenon known as eco-pretension is fast becoming a national pastime. Now, I own a Prius so I know what smugness is. But in an effort to live up to all the recommendations and do everything "just so," Plenty can come off--dare I say--elitist and inaccessible for most people. But keep trying Plenty, find the balance and include those who don't have mounds of disposable income. Why should "greenness" feel like an indulgence?
Things I Learned About My Dad, essays compiled by Heather Armstrong
Heather is the author of one of my favorite blogs, Dooce.com. So it only makes sense that a book put out under her watch would be something I'd like. Sure enough, it's full of some funny, poignant and smart writing about fatherhood/parenthood.
Stuff White People Like by Christian Lander
Spawned by the hilarious blog of the same name, this book should really be called "Stuff Kali and Ken Like--with a few exceptions." My brother, Austin, gave this book to Ken for his birthday and it has been quite a hit. While it claims to make fun of 'white people' for the things they gravitate towards, it's actually taking shots at the upper middle-class, urban, liberal lifestyle. Regardless, it's damn funny.
The Hardy Boys, The Shore Road Mystery (1964 version)
When Ken was a youngster, his neighbor had the entire set of Hardy Boys books. He's never forgotten this so when we were in an antique store earlier this year, he found book #6 and couldn't resist. Since then, he has been reading chapters of the book to me before we went to bed until last night when we finished it. Alarmingly, the further we read, the more convinced we became that no child should ever have been allowed to have this. Not only did these teenage boys find themselves in serious, mortal danger at least 10 separate occasions, one of them sustained severe motorcycle crash injuries only to go out later that night. They frequently didn't sleep and where out all night, engaged in detective work that they were not formally trained for nor paid for nor sanctioned by the police. Their absentee detective father was in NY the whole time and their mother clearly didn't assert the necessary authority/protection/discipline. But at every possible chance, the author reminded the reader that their poor friend Chet was fat by describing him as "portly," "rotund," & "stout" etc. Why did we stick with it to the end? I guess we just couldn't believe such trite literature was considered wholesome and inspiring fare for the youth of this country.
On our nightstands now:
Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder
When You Are Engulfed In Flames by David Sedaris
The Seventeen Traditions by Ralph Nader
McSweeneys Quarterly Concern
We'll see how that nets out in a few months. Until then, happy reading.
Saturday, August 02, 2008
Dancing around the World
A little more video fun but no singing this time. This is Matt. He travels the world and speaks the international language of, well, dance. It's an amazing phenomenon. He's been written up by the NY Times and featured on many a morning show & cable news segment about his videos. I find the videos touching and wish more Americans could experience the joy and appreciation that international travel imparts. It might change some of the ignorance one encounters in people who have never left this country. I don't know Matt well but he did some contract work a few years ago for the team I work for and his girlfriend currently works for the company Ken does. Small world.
Check it out:
HERE is his website. Go Matt!
Check it out:
HERE is his website. Go Matt!
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