Don't be shy girl, go bananza, shake ya body like a belly dancer!
So if you hadn't already heard, I totally PASSED the LEED exam! It requires a 170 out of 200 points to pass, and I got a 173, which is GOOD ENOUGH for me, I tells ya. So now I am officially a LEED Accredited Professional, and I get to start putting that in my email and on business cards (if I had them). YAY!!!
Thanks to EVERYONE for massive amounts of support, ya'll. ILU all so hard.
I got a lovely bouquet delivered from The Girls (marymaria05, jennicole01, rebel_ebeth, Amy and Danya), which is was really quite fabulous of them because I’ve been excusing myself from a lot of events in order to study. Aren’t they pretty?! I am lucky girl indeed to have such friends!
Receiving the bouquet was quite the funny process. After my test on Friday (up in Mountlake Terrace), I went down to Ballard to hang out with Gretchen as per our plans for the day. I got a call in the afternoon from an unknown number, and I usually don’t answer those, but I thought it might be regarding my test, so I did. It wasn’t about the test, but a very excitable flower-delivery dude.
Flower-Guy: Hello, please tell me that you are home!
Me: Um, no… I’m in Ballard. * wondering how this guy got my phone number…? *
Flower-Guy: Are you going to be coming home soon?
Me: Not for several hours (I was not planning on being home until after lightningspark’s show)
Flower-Guy: Well, can we meet up somewhere, like in Magnolia?
Me: Uh, hmmmm. Can you try going around to the back of the apartment building? Sometimes that door is open.
Flower Guy: OKAY! * drives around the corner * Oh, my hat just flew off [sudden rainstorm]! Oh hay, the door is open.
Me: Imagine that. THANKS!
Me: * goes off to ponder who is having flowers sent to me, at my apartment *
Such is the joy of living in a “secured-access” apartment that offers very little in the way of security and a whole lot in the way of being a pain in the ass. Might as well have one of those direct-access type of apartments for all that! Or, possibly, move to an apartment with actual security!
Shawn and I experienced our first fight-for-the-remote aspect of our relationship - he wanted to watch “1000 Ways to Die,” which not only looks grotesque, but also terrible programming. He was laughing hysterically, I was feeling nauseated, and we’d only seen about 3 minutes worth. What a terrible idea for a show!!!
But he made up for it by finding this Christina Aguilera - Candyman video (can’t be embedded for some reason). Apparently it came out like a year ago, but I’m way behind on these things. I think this is a fun little song+video! I suggested to Shawn that he and I dress up in the 1940’s stuff like this for Halloween this year!
Although I've already been toying with the idea of Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy for Gretchen and I, respectively. WHAT? I love costumes. Shut up.
Catching up on my 75 Book Challenge - it’s the end of March and I am way behind due to the LEED studying. But that’s OK, it’s all over, and I am still a-readin’.
#1
Where Are They Buried? How Did They Die?
Tod Benoit
I actually started this last year, but finished this year, and so it pops up first. It’s about 400+ pages of famous and infamous people, with short little snippets on why they were famous, how they died, and where (down to the driving directions to the cemetery and walking directions to the plot!) they are buried. It sounds morbid, but really, it was fascinating. You always hear about how people LIVED, but sometimes how they died was the more interesting.
It’s an easy book to read in short segments, because every entry is only about half a page to 2 pages long. Benoit covers EVERYTHING, from classic movie stars to athletes to musicians to crazy-ass serial killers AND their victims. If nothing else, this is the type of book that could help you win at Trivial Pursuit!
#2
A History of the World in Six Glasses
Tom Standage
An interesting take on world history/Western Civ 101 by focusing on the "primary" drinks of the culture - beer in Ancient Mesopotamia, Wine for Greeks/Romans, Distilled Spirits for the Explorers, Coffee for the Enlightenment, Tea for the Industrial Revolution, and Soda for the Global Economy of the present day. While it is true that variations of some of those drinks coexisted, it would appear, based on the book's thesis, that one drink per civilization really flourished, and could be argued to either be a catalyst for technical advancement, or a goal for it.
This was a book club book, and I believe what we determined at our discussion is that while we were highly entertained by the book, we were slightly underwhelmed by the force of the argument and not totally convinced. But I would definitely recommend this book, because even if the thesis isn't as sound as it COULD be, it's still an interesting facet of civilizations that we are all descended from and influenced by. It is totally fun history, the kind of history I wish I could write and teach.
#3 and #4
A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings
George R.R. Martin
Aaaah, the beginnings to Martin’s epic and gory fantasy masterpiece. I will say this for the man, he has cajones. Unafraid to kill off… well, everybody?! Unheard of! How else does one know who to root for? Switching the roles of good and evil? Novel idea!
I am pretty sure I’ve reviewed these books on a previous book challenge (2007, I believe), so all I will say is : YES. GO. READ.
#5
Pope Joan
Donna Woodfolk Cross
This book came highly recommended from jennicole01 and I would definitely pass on the recommendation. The book is based on the assumption or legend of Pope Joan, a woman who successfully managed to rise to the highest position in the Christian world (in the 10th century) by submersing her feminine identity. At a time when women were thought of as little more than chattel, only slightly higher in the order of things than a cow and considered about as intelligent, she proved that not only was she capable, she was fully the equal of a man - in some cases, far beyond the men of her acquaintance.
How far she might have brought her world remains a mystery - she died giving childbirth while on a public procession through Rome, or so the legend goes. Cross gives a fairly detailed Afterward to argue her thesis for the existence of Pope Joan, but as is the case with a lot of history, it’s all about the interpretation. While I am highly intrigued by the possibility of the Female Pope, I’m not utterly convinced of her existence (see also: Jesus & Mary Magdalene’s bloodline), but it DOES make for an interesting story. And even if the story isn’t itself true, the research of the lifestyles of the people of the day is very well done.
#6
The Book of Shadows
James Reese
This book was… well, it grew on me. It wasn’t quite was I was expecting, but once I accepted the fact that it was going to be really unusual I was okay with it. I’m not quite sure how much detail I should put in here, because it’s really a journey of discovery for both the protagonist and the reader. I would almost say the purpose of the book is to remind those who would practice witchcraft that “an it harm none, do what ye will.” And there are stories within stories, in an Arabian Nights-type of way. The protagonist (I will not say he or she, if that gives you any indication) encounters a succubus who bleeds all over everything, a incubus with a very cold yet talented tongue, a quasi-demon named after an actual demon, and a lovely witch named Sebastiana (I rather like that name).
I would be careful to whom I recommended this book. If you like the occult, very detailed sex scenes (not many, but intense), torture, and a lot of detail, then I would recommend it. If you like happy books with romantic endings, I do not recommend it. An interesting read, to be sure - but best for a specific target audience.
#7
LEED For New Construction Reference Guide Version 2.2
U.S. Green Building Council (I'm sure there's real authors, but my book is at work, and I don't care because I have the drunk).
The book that sucked up my life for the last 2 months. It was 2 months of reading and over 400 pages, so I am totally counting this as a book. However, unless you are studying for your LEED professional accreditation, you are probably not interested.
The guide details the credits necessary for acheiving the certification required by the USGBC for an energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly building. Now, there are some interesting conundrums (for example, LEED encourages low Volatile Organic Compound [VOC] emittance, from things like paints, sealants, carpeting, etc. So leather technically satisfies that requirement - but the process of MAKING leather is pretty toxic to the environment. Hmmm...). And there's a difference between a building/site being sustainable and green, and yet the products that went into it having to be manufactured in such a way as to have a negative carbon footprint. It's just something to think about.
Oh look, peeeektures!
Starting with a picture of Tuppence (we had a little photo session with her this weekend). She almost looks... dare I say, normal, here? Although she does blend into the couch AND the carpet - I sent this pic to my my mom and told her this was the danger of too much beige!
The cat is contemplating clawing my face off some night, I suspect.
Right Eye: Set for STUN!
Beware of Kitteh.
I should really submit some of these to LOLcats, yes?
And some pictures of me, when I was feeling particularly pretty one day - in a Veronica Lake-type of way. Sidenote: DAMN, girlfriend needs a little eyebrow waxage!
And with my new HOTTT glasses. I am full of sexxxy, yes?
Last Monday, I went on a site visit to the new Olive 8 Hotel & Condo Combo (also being nicknamed the Egg Roll Building here in Seattle), to help prep me for LEED. So I am a Construction Cutie!
Then Shawn told me to do a "serious picture." This is possibly the worst photo of me I have ever allowed to be posted on the intarwebs. Quite the mug shot, eh?
I am standing next to, if I remember correctly, chilled water compressors. Behind me, in the red and black piping, is part of the fire protection system.
Big hearkin' chillers - 400 tons. And there are two of them, this is just PART of one.
Someone asked if I was a project engineer - apparently I look very professional, yes?
♥ my dear ones.
Thanks to EVERYONE for massive amounts of support, ya'll. ILU all so hard.
I got a lovely bouquet delivered from The Girls (marymaria05, jennicole01, rebel_ebeth, Amy and Danya), which is was really quite fabulous of them because I’ve been excusing myself from a lot of events in order to study. Aren’t they pretty?! I am lucky girl indeed to have such friends!
Receiving the bouquet was quite the funny process. After my test on Friday (up in Mountlake Terrace), I went down to Ballard to hang out with Gretchen as per our plans for the day. I got a call in the afternoon from an unknown number, and I usually don’t answer those, but I thought it might be regarding my test, so I did. It wasn’t about the test, but a very excitable flower-delivery dude.
Flower-Guy: Hello, please tell me that you are home!
Me: Um, no… I’m in Ballard. * wondering how this guy got my phone number…? *
Flower-Guy: Are you going to be coming home soon?
Me: Not for several hours (I was not planning on being home until after lightningspark’s show)
Flower-Guy: Well, can we meet up somewhere, like in Magnolia?
Me: Uh, hmmmm. Can you try going around to the back of the apartment building? Sometimes that door is open.
Flower Guy: OKAY! * drives around the corner * Oh, my hat just flew off [sudden rainstorm]! Oh hay, the door is open.
Me: Imagine that. THANKS!
Me: * goes off to ponder who is having flowers sent to me, at my apartment *
Such is the joy of living in a “secured-access” apartment that offers very little in the way of security and a whole lot in the way of being a pain in the ass. Might as well have one of those direct-access type of apartments for all that! Or, possibly, move to an apartment with actual security!
Shawn and I experienced our first fight-for-the-remote aspect of our relationship - he wanted to watch “1000 Ways to Die,” which not only looks grotesque, but also terrible programming. He was laughing hysterically, I was feeling nauseated, and we’d only seen about 3 minutes worth. What a terrible idea for a show!!!
But he made up for it by finding this Christina Aguilera - Candyman video (can’t be embedded for some reason). Apparently it came out like a year ago, but I’m way behind on these things. I think this is a fun little song+video! I suggested to Shawn that he and I dress up in the 1940’s stuff like this for Halloween this year!
Although I've already been toying with the idea of Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy for Gretchen and I, respectively. WHAT? I love costumes. Shut up.
Catching up on my 75 Book Challenge - it’s the end of March and I am way behind due to the LEED studying. But that’s OK, it’s all over, and I am still a-readin’.
#1
Where Are They Buried? How Did They Die?
Tod Benoit
I actually started this last year, but finished this year, and so it pops up first. It’s about 400+ pages of famous and infamous people, with short little snippets on why they were famous, how they died, and where (down to the driving directions to the cemetery and walking directions to the plot!) they are buried. It sounds morbid, but really, it was fascinating. You always hear about how people LIVED, but sometimes how they died was the more interesting.
It’s an easy book to read in short segments, because every entry is only about half a page to 2 pages long. Benoit covers EVERYTHING, from classic movie stars to athletes to musicians to crazy-ass serial killers AND their victims. If nothing else, this is the type of book that could help you win at Trivial Pursuit!
#2
A History of the World in Six Glasses
Tom Standage
An interesting take on world history/Western Civ 101 by focusing on the "primary" drinks of the culture - beer in Ancient Mesopotamia, Wine for Greeks/Romans, Distilled Spirits for the Explorers, Coffee for the Enlightenment, Tea for the Industrial Revolution, and Soda for the Global Economy of the present day. While it is true that variations of some of those drinks coexisted, it would appear, based on the book's thesis, that one drink per civilization really flourished, and could be argued to either be a catalyst for technical advancement, or a goal for it.
This was a book club book, and I believe what we determined at our discussion is that while we were highly entertained by the book, we were slightly underwhelmed by the force of the argument and not totally convinced. But I would definitely recommend this book, because even if the thesis isn't as sound as it COULD be, it's still an interesting facet of civilizations that we are all descended from and influenced by. It is totally fun history, the kind of history I wish I could write and teach.
#3 and #4
A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings
George R.R. Martin
Aaaah, the beginnings to Martin’s epic and gory fantasy masterpiece. I will say this for the man, he has cajones. Unafraid to kill off… well, everybody?! Unheard of! How else does one know who to root for? Switching the roles of good and evil? Novel idea!
I am pretty sure I’ve reviewed these books on a previous book challenge (2007, I believe), so all I will say is : YES. GO. READ.
#5
Pope Joan
Donna Woodfolk Cross
This book came highly recommended from jennicole01 and I would definitely pass on the recommendation. The book is based on the assumption or legend of Pope Joan, a woman who successfully managed to rise to the highest position in the Christian world (in the 10th century) by submersing her feminine identity. At a time when women were thought of as little more than chattel, only slightly higher in the order of things than a cow and considered about as intelligent, she proved that not only was she capable, she was fully the equal of a man - in some cases, far beyond the men of her acquaintance.
How far she might have brought her world remains a mystery - she died giving childbirth while on a public procession through Rome, or so the legend goes. Cross gives a fairly detailed Afterward to argue her thesis for the existence of Pope Joan, but as is the case with a lot of history, it’s all about the interpretation. While I am highly intrigued by the possibility of the Female Pope, I’m not utterly convinced of her existence (see also: Jesus & Mary Magdalene’s bloodline), but it DOES make for an interesting story. And even if the story isn’t itself true, the research of the lifestyles of the people of the day is very well done.
#6
The Book of Shadows
James Reese
This book was… well, it grew on me. It wasn’t quite was I was expecting, but once I accepted the fact that it was going to be really unusual I was okay with it. I’m not quite sure how much detail I should put in here, because it’s really a journey of discovery for both the protagonist and the reader. I would almost say the purpose of the book is to remind those who would practice witchcraft that “an it harm none, do what ye will.” And there are stories within stories, in an Arabian Nights-type of way. The protagonist (I will not say he or she, if that gives you any indication) encounters a succubus who bleeds all over everything, a incubus with a very cold yet talented tongue, a quasi-demon named after an actual demon, and a lovely witch named Sebastiana (I rather like that name).
I would be careful to whom I recommended this book. If you like the occult, very detailed sex scenes (not many, but intense), torture, and a lot of detail, then I would recommend it. If you like happy books with romantic endings, I do not recommend it. An interesting read, to be sure - but best for a specific target audience.
#7
LEED For New Construction Reference Guide Version 2.2
U.S. Green Building Council (I'm sure there's real authors, but my book is at work, and I don't care because I have the drunk).
The book that sucked up my life for the last 2 months. It was 2 months of reading and over 400 pages, so I am totally counting this as a book. However, unless you are studying for your LEED professional accreditation, you are probably not interested.
The guide details the credits necessary for acheiving the certification required by the USGBC for an energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly building. Now, there are some interesting conundrums (for example, LEED encourages low Volatile Organic Compound [VOC] emittance, from things like paints, sealants, carpeting, etc. So leather technically satisfies that requirement - but the process of MAKING leather is pretty toxic to the environment. Hmmm...). And there's a difference between a building/site being sustainable and green, and yet the products that went into it having to be manufactured in such a way as to have a negative carbon footprint. It's just something to think about.
Oh look, peeeektures!
Starting with a picture of Tuppence (we had a little photo session with her this weekend). She almost looks... dare I say, normal, here? Although she does blend into the couch AND the carpet - I sent this pic to my my mom and told her this was the danger of too much beige!
The cat is contemplating clawing my face off some night, I suspect.
Right Eye: Set for STUN!
Beware of Kitteh.
I should really submit some of these to LOLcats, yes?
And some pictures of me, when I was feeling particularly pretty one day - in a Veronica Lake-type of way. Sidenote: DAMN, girlfriend needs a little eyebrow waxage!
And with my new HOTTT glasses. I am full of sexxxy, yes?
Last Monday, I went on a site visit to the new Olive 8 Hotel & Condo Combo (also being nicknamed the Egg Roll Building here in Seattle), to help prep me for LEED. So I am a Construction Cutie!
Then Shawn told me to do a "serious picture." This is possibly the worst photo of me I have ever allowed to be posted on the intarwebs. Quite the mug shot, eh?
I am standing next to, if I remember correctly, chilled water compressors. Behind me, in the red and black piping, is part of the fire protection system.
Big hearkin' chillers - 400 tons. And there are two of them, this is just PART of one.
Someone asked if I was a project engineer - apparently I look very professional, yes?
♥ my dear ones.