10 reasons to enjoy the rain

I stumbled across this article on my bloglines feed this morning. Ken Schram is KOMO TV's often commentator. I thought this was really funny and felt like sharing with all of you. Enjoy!

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Ten reasons to enjoy the rain

By Ken Schram

SEATTLE - I'm sometimes asked how come I don't come up with an occasionally positive commentary.

Seems some people are under the mistaken impression that I'm always grumpy, cantankerous and sarcastic.

Well, just to prove them wrong, I've decided that today I want to look on the bright side of things.

With that, I humbly offer the top ten reasons for why we should actually be enjoying all the wind and rain we're getting

Number 10: The storm has washed away the word "MetroNatural" that was painted on top of the Space Needle.

Number 9: It's fun to splash pedestrians as you drive down the street.

Number 8: Can't get enough of that video of salmon crossing the road.

Number 7: Fewer panhandlers because cardboard signs just get soggy.

Number 6: No more door belling by political candidates 'cause they're weather wimps.

Number 5: Not as many bicyclists to share the road with.

Number 4: Ducks swimming in Seattle's pot holes look so darn cute.

Number 3: We need more mud right before the election.

Number 2: Traffic hardly sucks more than when the sun is in our eyes.

And the number 1 reasons to enjoy all this rain: All the crack-heads and hookers stay inside which means if you really want to, you can actually use that $700,000 toilet down in Pioneer Square!

There... how's that for positive!

Post Election Mania

Today is November 8th and the election is over, thank God! I sat down to watch my favorite TV shows on Sunday night and every single ad on television was one of the candidates blasting the views of the other. I hate campaign ads and I really hated them this year.

I use reliable sources (voters pamphlet, websites) for information to make my decision about which candidate I am voting for and specifics about ballot initiatives. I sat down over the weekend with all of my research and finalized my decisions. And then the TV ads really got on my nerves. All I heard was that Maria Cantwell is against the war, Mike McGavick wants to privatize social security and was a bad leader at Safeco, Dave Reichert votes with Bush 90% of the time and Darcy Burner will raise your taxes. AAAHHHH!

The most annoying of these races was the race between Reichert and Burner for the 8th Congressional District. I watched the local political shows about this race, endured the ads on television, radio and the discussions at work only to learn when I went to prepare on Sunday that I don't live within the 8th Congressional District. I live in the 7th Congressional District. At least I didn't have to decide between Burner and Reichert.

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I fell asleep watching the news last night. I saw the beginning of the results for Washington but was sound asleep before the majority came in and I didn't hear a thing about the races in Utah. I mentioned this to a co-worker who moved here recently from Utah and he hadn't heard either so we pulled up the Salt Lake Tribune to find out everything we wanted to know. The first thing we found out was that Sen. Orrin Hatch had retained his office. This began a conversation about our "run-ins" with the Senator. I shared my encounter with him and subsequent learning what the word "smarmy" meant. And then my co-worker shared with me that Orrin Hatch had a CD out. I didn't believe him so I googled it and sure enough he has a Christmas Eve CD. You would think that I would have surely known about Christmas Music, but I did not. A further google search revealed a website titled The Music History of Orrin Hatch. When we pulled this page up were we immediately saw a picture of the senator with Barry Manilow. Who knew that Orrin was such a pop music fan. It doesn't change my opinion of him. I still think he is s smarmy jerk.


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The same co-worker as listed above and I decided that our new favorite 4-letter swear word is WAWF. It's a government acronym which represents another horrible ugly government website that is impossible to navigate. UGH! Our tax dollars at work.

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It has finally stopped raining but not much of the region is flooded. I have one co-worker who could not get home last night because the once small town she lives in is now an island. I wonder if that will increase their property value? I teased her about it this morning and she remains in good spirits despite the circumstances. The danger is not over yet. Many of the rivers continue to creep above flood stage and hundreds remain in shelters.

The good news is that it appears like we will have a couple of dry days.

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I was saddened to hear that Britney Spears and Kevin Federline were getting a divorce. Boy I really thought that was a marriage that would last.

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I think that enough griping for one morning. Have a happy day!

My fabulous little brother

My little brother Jimmy has spent the last 6 months teasing me about having a blog. He delights in pointing out that millions of people in this country have blogs and "No one reads them!" I know that he is just giving me a bad time because he likes to tease me because despite his claims that he doesn't have time to read blogs when I speak to him on the phone he mentions something that he would only know if he were reading my blog-- gotcha!

What are little brothers for if not to give their big sisters a bad time.

Well I am happy to announce that after months of pointing out my fruitless efforts to produce a blog, my little brother has decided to join the millions of bloggers with a blog of his own. He and his friend McSean have started a blog about the Utah Jazz. When Jimmy told me about it I immediately added it to my bloglines feed and have been reading it since. Up until today all of the posts have been made by McSean, so today I was delighted to see that Jimmy had posted something and it's a perfect "Jimmy post" titled New Look Uniforms about the alternative uniforms for the season. Only my little brother would find a way to incorporate fashion into a sports blog.

I love you buddy! :-)

What Season am I?

You Are a Winter

You look ravishing in: Black, burgundy, emerald green, hot pink, icy colors, navy blue, red, royal purple, and white

What Season Color Are You?

My mother used to be really be into "doing colors" and figuring out what someones season was. When she completed it years ago she said I was a summer but I am not surprised if I have evolved into a winter. She is a winter and I am more a winter than anything else now.

Attention Holiday Shoppers

I make it a habit to avoid any shopping establishment on Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving). Only once in my life have I broken this rule and that only resulted severe muscle aches from carrying snow globes 30+ blocks. Whenever I think about venturing out on the day after Thanksgiving the memory of the pain comes flooding back and I quickly talk myself out of it.

For those of you who cannot wait for Black Friday, I found a website that you will definitely want to see. I stumbled across Black Friday 2006 which has preview copies of many of the largest retailers in the countries planned sales for Black Friday. It's the perfect place to go and plan you Black Friday shopping trip!

Rain, rain, rain.... everywhere!

The "Pineapple Express" hit Seattle on Friday and in the last three days Seattle has had nearly 5 inches of rain. The most intense period of rain began last night and they estimate that we will get 2-6 inches of rain today. If today lives up to what the forecasts say it could go down as one of the 10 wettest days in Seattle history.

This is the most intense rain that we have had since I moved to Seattle. I watched the news and weather forecast but I learned long ago to now put too much trust in them. It has been pouring since I woke up this morning. It hasn't slowed down, it's constant and steady and I am beginning to wonder where it's all going to go. I didn't drive from Seattle to Kent this morning, I hydroplaned. I knew that puddles could form on flat roads, but did you know that they can form on slopes too. The concept of "urban flooding" is right outside my office window. There are huge puddles everywhere and the reservoir that was built on the empty lot adjacent to our building is completely full and spilling into the adjacent land.

It's going to be an interesting afternoon. Hope you are dry wherever you are!

Happy Birthday Steve F$#*ing Pool

I decided to watch the 11 o'clock news this evening so that I could be fully informed about the storm that is covering the area with rain by the inches. I know that the commute tomorrow morning will be long and I just wanted to plan accordingly.

Well it turns out that it's a special day and I didn't know about it! It's the birthday of my favorite Seattle meteorologist. The man I call Steve F$#*ing Pool. Happy Birthday Steve-o! I can't wait for you to spend another year annoying me with your generally smarmy nature and incorrect forecasts! :-)

Draft Wrap-up

It seems that I was "the queen of the drafts" this week. I had a lot on my mind and began several posts but didn't manage to get anything finished. I am compling the best of the drafts into this post.

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I ended up hearing one of my favorite songs of all time on three seperate occassions this week. It's one of those obscure songs that you just don't hear very often, so to hear it 3 times in one week is, I think, noteworthy. The song is Joe Jackson's "Stepping Out" and lyrics...

Now -
The mist across the window hides the lines
But nothing hides the colour of the lights that shine
Electricity so fine
Look and dry your eyes

We -
So tired of all the darkness in our lives
With no more angry words to say
Can come alive
Get into a car and drive
To the other side

Chorus:
Me babe - steppin out
Into the night
Into the light
You babe - steppin out
Into the night
Into the light

We -
Are young but getting old before our time
Well leave the t.v. and the radio behind
Dont you wonder what well find
Steppin out tonight

You -
Can dress in pink and blue just like a child
And in a yellow taxi turn to me and smile
Well be there in just a while
If you follow me

Chorus repeats

This song always reminds me of my mother. She loved this song back in the day. She always said that the final verse reminded her of long road trips when she would find a "driving buddy" and stick with them just like the yellow taxi in the song. I think I heard this song this week to remind me that my mom was leading me through the fear of facing my tests.

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I love the new CD from Carbon Leaf. They continue to be one of my favorite bands of all time. The new CD is titled Love Loss Hope Repeat and the title song is fabulous. My favorite part...

Remember the days that would never end
So much time you couldn't comprehend
When the sun so slow to fade
And tomorrow was more of the same
And the easiest April Rain
Was enough to ignite the flame
And you fade out with a grin
With the company you were in

And when the high wind blows everything
Like a lion attacking the spring
I love you more than I'll ever let on
And that's a fault of mine
I'm workin on
I'm workin on
And when the sky's a dusky hue

I am beginning to agree that the seasons ought to be... love, loss, hope, repeat.

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I took my first midterm of the semester this week. I got an 86%. I was a bit disappointed. It's a B, which is a fine grade, but I wanted an A.

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It's turned to the rainy season in Seattle. We have had more rain in the month of November (and it's the 4th) than we did in June, July and August combined. I was ready for the rain. It's easier for me to induge in my favorite things when it's cold and rainy outside. I feel no guilt curling up with a cup of tea and a book on a rainy day. Or sitting at Starbuck's for hours in front of the fire. It just seems the season to relax a bit more and indulge in the things I love the most.

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Well my laundry calls. Have a good weekend! :-)

Good for another year

This week I completed the tests for my annual cancer check-up. The good news is that everything is clean and in some instances it is even better than last year. I breathed a huge sigh of relief and marked one more year off the count that I keep in my head.

So it’s official… 4 years, cancer free!

Five year survival is the ultimate goal to which I have been striving for the last four. The odds of reoccurrence decrease every year, but the ultimate goal, the “magic number” is 5. After 5 years of clean tests I can be reclassified from “cancer free” to “remission.” Four years ago the thought of striving for a goal five years away way overwhelming and way too distant; Now that I only have one year to go, and four years behind me, it seems like a breeze. I always said that I wanted to do something significant to mark my 5 years, but I didn’t want to jump the gun and start planning it at year 1 or 2, but I think it might be time to start thinking seriously about how I want to mark this milestone in my life.

I am so fortunate to have the love and support of good friends and family members. Thank you! You are the best cheerleaders that a girl could ask for. I think that my friend’s husband said it best on the phone last night when he said, “So, you are good for another year! Congratulations!”

Favorite Cancer Book

I was hanging out at home on Friday, October 13^th and had the TV on in the background when 20/20 came on. They did a story about a movie that would be appearing on the Lifetime network the following week. It was based on the book Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy by Geralyn Lucas. I stopped what I was doing and watched the interview. I was blown away by Geralyn’s gutsy nature and attitude towards her journey and felt and immediate kinship with her.

I picked up the book during a shopping trip with a friend that weekend. I immediately began reading it and I loved it. I have read a lot of books about cancer. I have read stories of those that have won the battle and those that have not. I have always found pieces of each and every story that I have related to, but there was something raw and honest about the way that Geralyn told her story that is like nothing else I have ever read in a cancer memoir.

There are some similarities about our stories (we both underwent surgery and chemo in our 20’s, we are both the oldest child with two younger brothers) but also some obvious differences (she had breast cancer, I did not). Yet I felt at times that she had found a way to articulate many of the fears and feelings that she had in a natural, profound and elegant way; that I have never been able to.

She had encounters with not so sensitive doctors, as did I. She shared her diagnosis with complete strangers only to have them share something totally profound and meaningful, as did I. She second guessed her decisions about treatment, as did I. She was scared, as was I. I found the following passage to be one of the most profound in the entire book.

When the technician asked me if I was claustrophobic right before he put me into the huge machine, it made me think about all the things that I’m really scared of now that I have cancer. He dimmed the lights and I considered telling him that I am actually scared of the dark or pretending I’m claustrophobic so I could get our of this thing. Because I am terrified I can’t handle more bad news. I’m scare of dying before I turn thirty.

The lab technician looked so serious that he was making me even more scared. Why couldn’t he just smile--would it kill him?

When the machine started to rumble I was embarrassed to remember the things that used to scare me:

Cockroaches.

Wearing no makeup and running into an old boyfriend who broke my heart.

Algebra.

Having to ride from the lobby up to the tenth floor alone with Barbara Walters at work-how do I make conversation for ten straight floors?

Having to tell my doorman that I forgot my key to my apartment again and could I borrow the secret key just one more time?

The dark (I always sleep with a nightlight on).

Now I am just scared that my cancer has spread.

I am scared they will tell me they can’t cure me and that I only have months to live.

I am scared they will discover that the pain in my neck is actually a huge tumor and not a pulled muscle from trying to look cool at the gym.

I am scared that people at work are just being nice because they think I might die.

I am scared my husband secretly thinks he married damaged goods.

I am scared not enough people will come to my funeral. I am scared that I did not amount to enough. I am scared that I will not have an obituary. Scared that my student loans will not even be paid off when I die (I check the fine print and felt a little better knowing that they can’t make you pay if you’ve died). I am scared that my younger brother Howard will not be able handle his sister dying on him. I’m his big sister and I’m supposed to protect him. I am scared I have let so many people down by getting cancer. It is so strange to have cancer at twenty-seven. I’m not a kid with cancer--that’s super tragic. But I am still young enough that it is quasi-kid tragic. I feel like such a baby having my parents there with me at my doctor appointments. I need my mommy and daddy now. I was never scared of monsters when I was little. I am so scared of cancer now.

I am scared to go to sleep because I think I won’t wake up. I will just close my eyes and I won’t even know that I died. Is that how people die? Will I know that I died? I am scared on rainy and cold nights that I will be lonely when I die, I will miss everyone. I am scared that I won’t be missed.

I am scared that my cancer is incurable. That it is aggressive-- I mean, how could I ever have a passive cancer? No way. Just ask my Dad. I am scared sometimes when it is quiet that the cancer is starting to grown again. That it is swishing around my body as my heart is beating.

I am scared that I will never be the same.

If you are looking for a very-real yet positive story of someone facing cancer, I recommend this book. I didn’t want to watch the movie until I had finished the book, so I have seen it yet, but I have talked to several friends who have seen it and thought it was good. Also you can check out Geralyn's website at: http://www.whyiworelipstick.com/