Saturday, July 30, 2005

Aloha and Mahalo



I think that's enough of a hint of where we're off to....it's for a conference, people, and I am just the corporate wife tagging along. Beach or pool? Pool or beach? Pineapple or guava? I hope those are some of the biggest questions I'll be dealing with in the coming week.

Mahalo!

Wednesday, July 27, 2005

Miscellaneous Linky Links

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Props to DieselBoi via Tiny Meat for that cool thing you can get at http://metaatem.net/words/

And snaps again to Tiny Meat for this wonderous wonder. Make your own google logo. Here's mine.

Tuesday, July 26, 2005

Aarrgghh. I've hit the ceiling in the Free Flickr category.

No more uploads this month for me unless I upgrade to Flickr pro. Beyond limitless upload (I think), what other perks do Pro accounts enjoy? Is it just time I admit I need to do it and do it or should I continue to limp along with the freebie version?
I'd post a photo to go with this post, but, well, you know. I can't and all. My god. To think my blog would have to rely on my writing alone. That's a nightmare.

Monday, July 25, 2005

Where in Oregon is this?


tasty view
Originally uploaded by Lelonopo.
If you've been here, you should know where this is.

Just returned from a mini vacation and I feel great. Motored around the high desert and mountains, and worked a bit on developing that ever-elusive base tan.

So back to the picture...I keep thinking there will be different pictures on the wall when I return the next time. They're for sale. But alas, the same ones are always there. The ostrich burying his head in the sand, the Kinkade rip off, and then there's the plaques of eagles and wolves and yellow roses with sayings like Sisters are Forever. Don't make me buy you one. I've been tempted.

Thursday, July 21, 2005

Living what I believe: Rally at the Capitol

signing SB1000 messages for the Oregon house
SB1000 rally

I’m glad I went to the rally for SB1000, even if the bill was gutted and stuffed the following day, by members of our House that rely on sneaky lunchtime hearings. Surrounded by believers, supporters, and hearing our governor, and Roey Thorpe speak, energized me, no matter what’s to come.

During any struggle there are dissenting voices, but I know that if I get involved in what I believe, I can live with myself, my beliefs, and who I am. For me, politics are personal, because currently, the political climate is attacking my personal life.

Midway through the rally I realized I had been standing behind this gentleman:
Democracy is not a spectator sport

And his shirt says it all. Democracy is not a spectator sport. If you believe in things, stand up for them. If you hear people speaking against your beliefs, challenge them, or, at least share your beliefs. And for gods sake, if you, as a community, like the GLBTQ community, are being attacked and put down and cornered and condemned, standup. This is not a spectator sport.

Summer of pico de gallo


We’re making a lot of pico de gallo this summer. I don’t know what it is, but the fresh produce lends itself to the best flavors in pico de gallo. AdRi insists on her pico de gallo in the most purest of manners. No extras. It’s straight tomatoes, onions (white), cilantro and jalapenos. That means no lime in there. Or radishes. You can have those things on the side, but not IN the pico de gallo. We’ve been growing our own cilantro, seeding every few weeks, so we always have fresh cilantro. And soon, the tomatoes will be from our own garden. In the past we’ve gone through phases (read: I’ve) of making salsas. But pico de gallo? It’s a staple. Viva la pico de gallo!

Monday, July 18, 2005

Hello, Karen Minnis? Hi. LeLo here.


I called Karen tonight and asked her to please allow a vote on SB 1000 before the end of the session. I got her answering machine, but I left a real nice message, for both her and Wayne Scott. It's real easy to do. Just take a second and give her a buzz. Her number is 1-800-332-2313. Just leave her a message.

The Oregon Senate voted for it and passed it on to the house: the least you can do is put it out there for a vote. Aren't we a democratic society? Of course we are. Thanks Karen!

Love,
LeLo

P.S. Hope you're having a great summer!
P.P.S. If I don't hear back from you, don't worry. We can catch up in Salem on Wednesday night. I'll be there for the rally: hope to see ya!

Sunday, July 17, 2005

Playing dress up on a hot afternoon

dress up
A hot thursday in October, 1976
Back to the box of childhood memories recently received. I still haven’t gone through all of them. But I love the scrapbooks, where I pasted photos with captions, my birthday cards, random pieces of paper from places I went…kind of like an early version of LeLo in NoPo. These were my best friends growing up, twins Betsy and Sally, and their dog Toto. They had the best box of dress-up clothes at their house: I always wanted to wear that double-sided satin skirt. The fabric was super smooth, and I thought it was beautiful. Shout out to Sally, who sometimes lurks on this blog all the way from Vermont. We’ll always be friends, no matter how far away we are. Miss you, your freckles, your laugh and your great taste in overalls.

Friday, July 15, 2005

White trash or no?

I challenge Ja'AmLo to this test.
I am 23% White Trash.
Not at all White Trashy!
I, my friend, have class. I am so not white trash. . I am more than likely Democrat, and my place is neat, and there is a good chance I may never drink wine from a box.

1980's photos: Stuff Portrait Friday

The 80s were so cool. Or so I thought. Such is the theme for Kristine’s Stuff Portrait Friday this week. Oy vey. Here we go.

Something from the 80's I can't let go of • A picture of me from the 80's • A CD or movie I have from the 80's

Something from the 80’s I can’t let go of…
Why do I still have this shirt? This is from high school. The famous Espirit brand must be the reason I continue to hang onto it (?!)….and yes, it fits me a little, err, differently now. I remember wearing this to the Drive-In. Very cool.
Espirit Shirt
A picture of me from the 80’s…

Keep in mind that if the picture didn’t crop where it does, the hair would keep going about another 8 inches. I worked that hair like nobody’s business. Colored, permed, blow dried, scrunched, and curled. With the help of my good buddy Sebastian (the 2 foot tall white can of hairspray), we got that hair amazingly big. I love this picture for the jewelry the most. This was the late 80’s, BTW, and I believe my 21st birthday.
big hair blonde

A CD from the 80’s…
Loved me some Oingo Boingo and the freakish beauty of Danny Elfman. Today he’s the name you see on the score for The Simpsons and most of Tim Burton’s movies. (I wish I had the Pretty in Pink soundtrack to show for this entry: CLASSIC!)
boingo

Thursday, July 14, 2005

Ha ha! Tim Nashif of the Defense of Marriage Coalition/Oregon Family Council is busted!


You have to see the movie. The double-talk and lies are there for all to see. This movie so kicks ass.
“Same-sex couples should seek marriage-like rights through another avenue, such as civil unions.” Tim Nashif, Oregon Family Council Director and an organizer of the Measure 36 campaign Bend Bulletin 8/20/2004
Well, Tim, we are now doing just that, and funny, but the Oregon Family Council seems to be backtracking on your words.

Rediculous!

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

Tell Karen Minnis she doesn’t own the House of Representatives!


BRO rally
Originally uploaded by Lelonopo.
Can ONE person really overrule the will of the Senate, the Governor, the House and the Majority of Oregonians?

Speaker of the House Karen Minnis thinks so. She’s acting more like a monarch on a throne than a fair arbiter of democracy, pledging to lock SB 1000 in a legislative dungeon where it will never see the light of day.

Speaker Minnis says SB 1000 will never come to a vote in “her” chamber. Her chamber? Apparently she has forgotten that she doesn’t own that seat—the people do!

So what are you doing next Wednesday?
Tell Speaker Minnis: She doesn't own the House of Representatives—the people do! And the people want an up or down vote on SB 1000 before this session ends!

The Rally is next Wednesday on the capitol steps: Wednesday, July 20, 6 PM
It’s a Capitol—not a Castle!

For more information on SB 1000 and how to get involved, Basic Rights Oregon.

For current news on GLBTQ issues and SB 1000, visit the hotties at Gay Rights Watch.

Tuesday, July 12, 2005

All Look Same—The Test

How well can you tell the differences between people who are Chinese, Japanese or Korean? Put it to the test. I did so bad I'm not even going to tell you my score. Very cool project though. Props to Ja'AmLo for the linky link.

Monday, July 11, 2005

500 Delicious Salad Recipes

from the Culinary Arts Institute: one of America’s foremost organizations devoted to the science of Better Cookery, 1949*

I love a good salad: fresh greens from the garden, toasted pine nuts, dried cranberries, feta and a freshly made vinaigrette with some shredded basil. That’s good stuff. Now you KNOW that recipe isn’t in this book, don’t you? Enough of my babble. Let’s get to the goodness…
Salad cover
From the introduction….”…molded salads whose beauty and lusciousness are bringing them rapidly into favor.” I don’t know if this is a picture of a molded salad. I don’t know if this is a picture of a salad, actually…

Salad intro

This book was once owned by Rae Woodcock.
Rae Woodcock

There’s such a plethora to choose from: appetizer salads, fruit salads, salad bowls, tossed salads, vegetable salads, molded salads, salad plates, chicken salads, fish and meat salads, frozen salads, holiday salads, salad garnishes and salad dressings. If this was my salad book I’d add a category for Elaine from Seinfeld: Big Salad. Let’s peruse and pick one from several categories, shall we?

Appetizer Salads…Artichoke and Crab-meat Salad uses 1 cup diced cooked artichoke, 1 cup crab meat, 1/2 cup heavy cream, whipped, 1 cup Mayonnaise, 1/2 cup tomato catchup and 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce. Ya’ll let me know if you want me to send you the directions for what to do with those ingredients.

Fruit Salads…it’s a toss-up between Banana Salmon Salad (with pickle! And of course, Mayonnaise) and Coronation Salad. Coronation salad calls for Whipped Cream Mayonnaise (?) and Red Bar-le-Duc. No clue. Main item is pears. Fresh. (not canned!)

Fruit Salad in Ice Bowls…Ice Bowls: Freeze water, colored pale green, in bowl shaped mold. When sufficient ice is formed for all, break through thin ice layer in center and pour out the water. Freeze water in enamel bowl, covered and packed in ice and salt. When frozen 1 inch thick press down small bowl until water runs out. When freezing process starts again remove smaller bowl. To unmold dip bowl into hot water. Repeat process for individual bowls, coloring each in different pastel shade. Holy crap. That’s process. See ya in a week.

Tossed Salads…Picnic Salad Bowl: 1 No. 2 can asparagus tips, Mustard French Dressing, 3 hard-cooked eggs, 1/3 cup deviled ham, hearts of lettuce, 2 strips pimiento, 6 wedges Swiss Cheese. Deviled ham!

Recipe break: take in the full color beauty of the cover and back….
Salad cover

Molded Salads…so many to choose from including Chicken in Aspic, Chicken and Olive Loaf and Jellied Salmon Mold. At least Sparkling Fruit Mold doesn’t have Mayonnaise…”A shimmering mold of jellied fruit salad will tempt the most languid summer appetite.”
Salad inside-molded salads
We’re going to skip right by the Tongue and Cabbage Salad. And yes, it does have Mayonnaise.

Holiday Salads…includes the Drum Major Salad (lots of olives) and Washington’s Salad: Cover a 4-inch straight section of banana with mayonnaise. Roll in chopped nut meats and place on bed of lettuce. Garnish with cherries and a hatchet fastened in a slit in the “log.” Damn. I missed the Independence Day Salmon Ring.

Okay peeps. There’s the goods. Bon appetit.

*I’ve actually been to the Culinary Arts Institute in Chicago. It still exists, and is a great facility for focus group testing.

Saturday, July 09, 2005

Lazy summer days...


Frida en El Jardin
Originally uploaded by Lelonopo.
...in the garden, around the house, taking it all in. Here's Frida, doin' one of her favorite things. Watching the bees and bugs from the garden path. She's AdRi's garden helper, following her wherever she goes. Here she actually posed for me. Can you tell what I've been doing all day?

Why did I wait this long to get a really great digital camera?

I don't know. Oh wait. Yes I do know. They're expensive. Well, thanks to George for his help in getting a great deal. Props to you mijo. And here's to a whole new world...
Hydrangea
Fuschia
Dahlia

Greenthumb, the hydrangea pic' is for you. :)

Friday, July 08, 2005

Traveling across this great country of ours

Does that title make you want to put your hand over your heart and sing about waves of amber? Well, don't get too excited. I just took this cool little quiz, and realize I've been to 54% of our countries states. How about you?


create your own visited states map
or check out these Google Hacks.

Thanks to Pseudo-Intellectual for the link!

Thursday, July 07, 2005

Stuff Portrait Friday

The photo assignments can get interesting. Though there wasn't too much creativity in my composition and lighting this week. Deal with it people. You want my stuff? You got it. Shout out to Kristine, goddess of the Stuff Portrait Photography exercise. If you haven't visited her blog, get your ass over there. She's crazy with her camera and has a hellofa lot o' fun. Okay, here's my stuff. This week, with back story. Backtalk always welcome.

The assignment?
magazine subscriptions • household pet peeve • favorite framed picture

These are the magazines I subscribe to:
mag subscriptions
I guess this mix makes me a socially responsible, organic gay. Hmmm.

These are what I usually buy in addition to subscribing:
mags i buy
Hmmm. Do Sunset and Bust cancel each other out? And why don't I just subscribe to Fine Gardening? That magazine ALWAYS kicks ass. Yes it does.

And I'm not posting all of the ones I read for my work. I'm a news/info whore.

Household pet peeve
These things seem to jump off our feet and land all over the floor downstairs...*
DSC03080DSC03079DSC03078DSC03077DSC03076DSC03075DSC03074DSC03073
But they never land in the home I made just for them, behind the door...
DSC03081

*there's a pair up there specifically for Recovering Straight Girl: can you find them? If you look very carefully, my pedicured toes are in there for you too.

Favorite framed picture
I have lots. Can't pick one. Here are two.
fav picture
David Hockney's Pear Blossom Highway kicks ass. If you have a chance to see it in person, DO. It's at the Getty in LA. I love this style of Hockney. Snapshots of a scene all placed together in a collage, but together, making one scene. And Pear Blossom Highway? When I was little, we were stranded in Pear Blossom due to a snowstorm. I licked icicles. And slept on a spare mattress. It was scary. It was exciting. I was 5.

fav picture
This is the first of our habit of taking photos of AdRi kissing my cheek. Taken about 9 or 10 years ago, on the beach in Yelapa, Mexico. Our first vacation together. After that trip, we knew we would be together a long time. This weekend is our 10 year anniversary (of being together, and 1 year anniversary of celebrating our marriage with friends and family). Shout out to AdRi. Lovin' you G-friend.

Wednesday, July 06, 2005

OregonLive continues to be down....

....and I believe we're looking at day 2 or 3. That is just lame. I can't hold out on this Chocolate Cosmos post anymore. IT'S ABOUT CHOCOLATE PEOPLE!!!!!!!!
So welcome to the LeLo in NoPo hosting of the Sassy Gardener blog. (that link is currently not taking you to sassy gardener, just the lame-ass temporary holding page)

I'm growing chocolate!!!
Chocolate Cosmo
Okay, okay, so they're Chocolate Cosmos , but hey. It's still chocolate! And no calories!
Chocolate Cosmos are a fav' perennial. They bloom that deep, sexy, dark chocolate brown/burgundy, they're easy, work well in dappled light, and should produce blooms until late in the season. The one you see above glows with late afternoon/evening sunlight, and don't you just want to eat it up? Well, don't. Smell it instead. That's when you'll take in the sweet aroma of chocolate. How is this possible? I have no idea. It's like scented geraniums. How do they make them smell like pineapple? Ginger? Apple? I have no idea. But I'll enjoy it.

Sidenote: I once planted a little area in a friends' and called it dessert: strawberries, vanilla, and chocolate. Strawberries were the real thing, but they hung out with vanilla-scented Heliotrope and chocolate cosmos. Better dieting through gardening.

Tuesday, July 05, 2005

Don't you want to pick me up and hug me right this very second?


Paloma Picasso
Originally uploaded by Lelonopo.
You know you do. Don't make me crawl up there on your shoulder. Because you know I will.