Category: Uncategorized

During the Seattlites’ recent visit, I was introducing Jared to some of my basement music servers. They are certainly nothing to look at — in fact, one is held together with duct tape — mostly resurrected from obsolete but still working pedestrian Windows and Linux machines. But I have been inspired to consider something with some aesthetic quality to inject directly into the array of upstairs audio equipment by one Jeffrey Stephenson. whose stunning computer enclosures can be at  http://slipperyskip.com,  One example, his Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired Unisonian computer case, is shown here.  Now if only I had some woodworking skills …

Sunday we head for the Mt. Emily area to select a tree at one of the rural purveyors. After the requisite struggle to actually saw, haul and stash the thing, we discover that the battery of our conveyance has died, and refuses a charge. The tree farmer invites us to relax by the fire in his shop while we await an AAA rescue.

A little Christmas music, delivered differently …

Just spotted Ivi on her way from Portland this afternoon.  Here she is coming over Meacham Pass.

UPDATE 12/16/2011: Yep, Ivi had arrived by the time I got off work last night.  Sure enough.

We know you’re out there.  Heck, we are … one.  Try this link:

http://rockingarchitecture.tumblr.com/

Now start scrolling.

Here we go.  Everybody does it this time of year.  Here is the first in the Denver Post’s series of its “best” photos of the year:

http://blogs.denverpost.com/captured/2011/12/13/captured-2011-best-photos-of-the-year-part-1-of-3/5130/

Another in an intermittent series of boring-with-momentary-spikes-of-note sports events:

Friday we drive to Portland in fog that made for a beautiful, soft grey-white landscape.  After a quick stop at Trader Joe’s to stock provisions for the fierceness of the forthcoming winter, we go a few blocks to Portland’s historic train station to meet Nik coming in on a 7-hour ride from Klamath Falls.  From there it is down to Lewis & Clark to meet up with Ivi for dinner in Lake Oswego.  We return Ivi to her dorm shortly so she can resume finals study, then we immediately hit the road, battling Portland rush hour traffic and arriving home at 11pm.  On the way, Nik is interrogated about seemingly every aspect of his experience during the past three months, and we still haven’t heard enough by the time we drop off to bed; for some of us that meant 2am.

… almost as soon as she arrived …

After a couple of days of visiting friends, hanging out here & there, shopping, listening to just a little music and watching a great movie, Ivi gets packed for her departure, well-stocked with food, cooking tools and Christmas decorations.  With a departure set for 11am, then 1pm, then 3pm, finally after 4pm, Ivi works on an essay, Jordan installs his snow tires, L&C classmate Esa waits to be picked up for the ride.  Somehow everything is stuffed into place, and they are off.

Ivi returns home on Wednesday night, late.  The next morning she sports her new pajamas,  inspects a new kitchen utensil, and regales us with tales of college life.  Then it is on to gourmet vegetarian cooking for the Thanksgiving celebration.  Ivi concentrates hard, prepares her totally hand-crafted spanakopita, and takes the frequent dance break (Vagabond Opera plays in the background), while Jordan and Kim look on and add an occasional assist.  We learn, through texting updates via Ivi, that Nik is enjoying his Thanksgiving exploring San Francisco with a college friend.