Writers, Towers, Batteries, Light Bulbs, and Jobs

That damn writers' strike continues. (Now, that doesn't explain my own recent silence, but it *feels* related, doesn't it?)

Oh how I miss the Daily Show. Can't those giant companies just pay the writers for their work? Is that such a crazy idea?

Good story about the strike on NPR the other day. And if any of you are on facebook, I encourage you to join the group Petition: Bring back 'The Daily Show'!.



The other night (okay, last night), Emily invited me to the Providence holiday party at Smith Tower, the company's current downtown headquarters. (Alas, they soon will move out to the suburbs . . . ) Anyway, they sure love that building:

Smith Tower cookie


Smith Tower ice sculpture. And doesn't Emily look nice in that tie?

Good party: nice people, free drinks, scallops wrapped in bacon (serious decadence; and deliciousness--who says nuns don't know how to party?).


What else? Well, we recently joined Flexcar, a super-cool car-sharing company. Now when we need to drive somewhere, we can, but without having all the downsides of car ownership. Nice. (Driving from here to the suburbs during rush hour? Not so nice. Good to have the option, though, right?)

And where did we take this eco-friendly car (sounds impossible I know, but if any car is eco-friendly, it's the car you don't own)? We took it to buy some cute eco-friendly lights:



Speaking of power, my computer's been acting up, so I took it to an Apple store today to see a "genius." Now I don't know about the title, but he did give me a new battery for free, even though the laptop's not under warranty any more, so cheers to that guy!



Finally, I am not as desperate for a new job as I've been in past Decembers, since I can stay at SU if I want, and I like the job and love the city. Nevertheless, I've been doing a bit of applying. It's going fine, I guess. Point is, though, for anyone curious about what applying for philosophy jobs is like, I suggest taking a look at a philosophy job market blog. I've been enjoying it lately (that nice 'I'm not alone' feeling, you know?) A word of warning: it's a stressful life, and stress sometimes results in the use of foul language.



Oh,
and in case I don't see you before the end of the month, Happy Holidays, dear reader.

Yep, Snow

Merrica and Jeff drove in from Helena for the weekend. Was fun; and we got to see a rare snowy day in Seattle. (More on their drive home below.)

Cal Anderson Park, Saturday afternoon

Maybe the weirdest part was that as soon as they arrived Merrica (yes, Merrica!) suggested Japanese for dinner.

At Hana


Then it was off to a show:

Les Savy Fav

It was pretty good, but I may be getting a little old for it . . . (no comment on whether or not that also applies to the lead singer.)

Next morning, we took them to B & O, which was great as usual.

Isn't my cappuccino cute?



Merrica was a little tired at breakfast on Saturday (did I mention that the band didn't go on until 11:30?)


And it snowed!

In the snow


Jeff is a fan of beer (so of course I like him): we sampled the fare at Elysian Brewing Company on Saturday, and then at Pike Brewing Company later the same day.



I think there is a subtle clue in the photo that should enable you to provide your own caption . . .


As for the drive home, they made it, but it took a little extra time, since the weather was pretty rough. I hear they had to wait like an hour for the avalanche crew to work on the pass outside of Seattle. (Us? At a bar watching Kansas basketball, obviously.)

Taken from the Washington State Department of Transportation's webcam on top of Snoqualmie Pass right around the time Merrica and Jeff were up there on their way home


In other news, we started getting into the December spirit.

Mimi with our tree



First ornament on the tree



And just in time for her birthday (or maybe for Christmas?), Amelia's cape is almost done; and it *almost* fits Emily

Who Couldn't Love These Faces?

Emily's got her scanner working at her office, and I just can't resist posting this great old photo.

King, Mike, and Yancy (circa, what, like 1995?)

Thanksgiving in Montana

Taken on Snoqualmie Pass, on our way out of Seattle

A long drive, but worth it. We had turkey at Marisa and Ryan's; had drinks with Chet (and his brother and sister); met up with people I'd not seen in many years; went sledding at 3am (well, Mimi and Marisa did, at least) watched football (f**k Mizzou) with Mike; hung out at Merrica's cool new apartment. . . . So much fun I forgot to take very many pictures, but I did get a few: please enjoy.



The Christensen's handsome decorative turkey



Now that's a big remote control



Mimi readying one of the two turkeys


How pass the time while the turkeys cook? Well, we could ask Maraya to show us some of what she's learned in Karate class . . .




Family sitting down to dinner

Thanks, Marisa and Ryan!



Marisa and Ryan's road



How much has Helena changed since I lived there? This much



Taken by Emily Donahoe: her apartment building. Was cool (if perhaps a bit weird) to see her again after like 15 years. She's doing well--does, among other things, most everything for Your Time, which is put out by the Independent Record. . . .



Emily's new dog Abra (also her picture)



Yancy & Emily, taken by Emily



Well, I tried to get a good photo of Emily with my phone, and I feel like I came close with this one . . .


Later, back at Marisa and Ryan's:

Um, yes, Ryan is wearing Mimi's new boots . . . um, no, they didn't really fit . . .



Finally, how Montana is this? (Taken on the highway outside of Helena when we were on our way home)

M.I.A. is A.W.E.S.O.M.E.; and Some Cute Stuff

We saw M.I.A. last Friday, and although the set was a bit off-kilter at times, she was just awesome. Here are some blurry phone photos:

Want to impress me? Who is she sampling on the Now Playing track?


She brought the fans onstage. (Us? No, no . . .)



And she climbed the scaffolding . . . good stuff.

Want better photos? Try The Stranger's post.



And here are some cute things:

Cute "mini" breakfast from B&O



I have a cubicle instead of an office, and, like many other people, I'm not in a tenure-track spot, but at least I got this nice cup, right?

Finally, thanks for the comment, Pravina! I too am a huge fan of those legs.

Smell, What Smell? And 1899!!

I could see a case made for you not wanting to know this, reader, but it's been about ten years, give or take, since I last wore any deodorant or antiperspirant. It just doesn't seem necessary, and I think it's kind of gross.

Anyway, there was a story in last week's Times about why I'm right and you're wrong. So there.

A quote from the article:
"For the average person, if you just wash once or twice a day, excessive smell and excessive sweat shouldn’t be an issue,” said . . . a dermatologist in private practice on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. “Often times people are surprised by how little they are bothered when they don’t use anything."

Glad that's settled.



Moving on,
It's now the best Kansas football season since 1899. 1899!

Mimi celebrating after the win over Oklahoma State.



Part of the huge crowd of KU fans we watched with.

Rock Chalk!


Finally, instead of flowers, this week it's doughnuts from Top Pot:

Fall Colors

Thought I'd take a moment to celebrate some of the colors we're enjoying this season.

First, isn't this a lovely wreath? (Yes, those are chili peppers; yes, they're pretty damn spicy. The kitchen, though, smells wonderful these days . . .)






Next, hard as it may be to believe, is football. Kansas football is having its best year since 1908. 1908! They're currently ranked in the top five in every poll. They're even in National Championship conversations! ??!!??

Might as well enjoy it, right? Here's a photo taken at the Spitfire, the bar recommended by the Seattle chapter of the KU alumni association. In the picture: Colleen, Yancy, Dana, Emily, Jamie (or is it James now?).

Colleen and Dana also heard about the place through the alumni association--Colleen is a KU grad, and Dana is from Nebraska, so they came to watch the KU-Nebraska game. After the score got out of hand, Dana decided she should be photographed surrounded by victorious KU fans.

Out of hand? Yes. It was only the second time in 39 years that Kansas beat Nebraska, but they tried to make up for some of that disparity: the final score was KU 76, NU 39.




Jamie, by the way, is a friend from Lawrence who recently moved out here to do sports on TV for the local ABC affiliate, KOMO-TV. Been great for us having someone else to wear the blue with. And he's lived here a little longer than us, so has great restaurant advice. Took us to a great sushi place, in fact, called Umi Sake House, where they even had Merrica's favorite, sesame ice cream. Mmm.


Finally, I'm sure you're dying to know what Braxton wore for Halloween:

Great costume, no? Read more about Duff Beer on Wikipedia.

My Favorite Conscientious Liberal: Live!

Well, last night was pretty damn cool. Emily took me to Town Hall, in downtown Seattle, to hear Paul Krugman, professor of economics at Princeton and my favorite, favorite Op-ed writer for the Times.


He even signed some books

Was the speech upsetting? Well, how would you like finding out that under Eisenhower the wealthiest were taxed at a rate of 91%, whereas now it's like 30? Eisenhower!

He did, however, end in a very optimistic mood because of the current political climate, which actually (and I think I might even agree on this) looks hopeful for the first time in a long, long while . . .



Paul Krugman speaking. It was great; and I finally have confirmation that it is indeed pronounced "Kroogman" . . .



The signed copy. He thought the name "Merrica" was unusual, but then said something like "it's a nice name; I'm surprised we don't do that more often" (!)


Thanks, Mimi!



Also, thanks to Keisuke, who recently sent some of his photos from Texas. Enjoy.