Here's The Cake!

My girlfriend Kimm made this gorgeous cake for our friend H's 40th pirate birthday!. I missed it all--all two days of it!. Kimm left Saturday afternoon and came home late Sunday night. With all KINDS of stories! So sad for me... Please forgive me fine Irish pirate boy!

I spent all weekend working split shifts and having interviews for Ranger positions.

Today I was HIRED!!!!!

Me prayers have been answered mates!!! ARRRRRRR..I be a REAL RANGER!!!!

I've had such good luck lately that I'm wondering when I'll be hit by that Muni bus!

Although my luck wasn't good enough to allow me to party last weekend like the Irish girl I am (more Welsh actually).

I'll make it up to you next year H! Happy BDAY today!

Happy Fathers Day

This picture of me was taken by my little sister Keri when I was about 10/11. It's always been my favorite picture of myself. I'm not really sure why.

Maybe it's because it was the pivotal point in my life when I started to realize that I was really 'different' from the other girls.

But it's probably because I was wearing my two favorite pieces of clothing. My yellow ziggy t-shirt and a knitted blue and yellow vest that my sister-in-law Karen made for me.

I also remember that when this picture was taken it was a Sunday. We were in our front yard. And we were riding bikes. It was back when we could ride bikes on Sunday. Back then Mormons were even allowed to buy ice cream after Sunday school.

All that changed not long after this picture was taken. I'm not sure why.

Maybe it was because President Kimball (LDS President during the 70's) said so. But it's probably because my dad became Stake President (regional church manager) and we had to appear more holy.

But even tho' my Dad became Stake President and it ruined all of our Sunday fun, he was still the best Dad ever!

Happy Fathers day to all the deserving Dad's out and up there!

All The Good News Fit To Print

My Friends, I've got some good news!

First--Kimm and I are celebrating our 11th year together this month. We don't have a specific date. We like to call June our anniversary month. This picture was taken a couple of weeks ago at our home during a 'Naked Hot Tub Party'. Fortunately for ya'll, we have our clothes ON.

Secondly--I just received a phone call from a park supervisor who would like to interview me for a ranger position! He told me that I probably hadn't received the letter from headquarters telling me that I made FIRST POOL for hiring! Yes friends.. the tests have been taken and I passed them all with flying colors! I just have to give myself a little pat on the back. I haven't been so proud of myself in a loooong time. Now I'll shut-up.

Hopefully by this time next week I'll be a FULL-FLEDGED Ranger. Keep your fingers crossed for me. I have one last hurdle to jump.

Me And Dad

Here's me and my dad at the house I grew up at in Redding, Ca.

Believe it or not he looked EXACTLY the same then as he did up until a couple of years before his death.

The Alzheimer's changed his look dramatically.

Cartwheels

When I was 10 the most important thing to me was knowing how to do a cartwheel.

My dad realized this and decided he would teach me.

He was 58. I was 10. He stayed out in the back yard with me till I "kept my head down", and got the cartwheel right. He actually physically cartwheeled across the expanse of our lawn with me to show me how it was done.
That was my dad.

He will have been gone for two years on June 11th. I'll be posting more of him in the next few days.

Bluegrass Whore

I gots to get me in a bluegrass band.

June

June has a lot of good memories for me. And many sad ones...But lets just focus on the happy ones for now!

This song, Salad Days by Minor Threat, evokes some great memories for me. I couldn't find a video of Minor Threat doing the song. You can listen to the song and ignore the video...or watch it and fill it in with your own internal vision of friends you don't see too often anymore.

Anyway it's an awesome song.

The Perks

A perk of my new job is occasional free food!

lard have mercy!!

YUSAKUTA!!!

This almost made me forget about the goats. Here's my old ass kickin band Yusakuta on YouTube! The song is called '5 W's and an H'. Cassie was the singer--isn't she just priceless. My rock-n-roll angel Tedd is on the bass with the solo. Jamie on drums is never seen but definitely heard on back-up vocals. Ilhan is the tall and handsome guitarist on one side and I'm the chick with the blue guitar and blond wig on the other.

Oh and I can't forget our hot and sexy dancers Lisa and Jessica who you most unfortunately never get to see do their SHAKIN!

This was us playing the main stage at SF Pride festival 1998. We had a trailer next to Chumbawumba's. And our performance was squeezed in between the Flaggets and Mayor Willie Brown.

It was my 15 minutes of fame. I'd never do it again.

Goats

Who would senselessly shoot these beautiful creatures??

Just look at those little faces.

Every year, sometimes twice a summer, the county of Alameda hires several different goat herders to bring their herds to potential fire hazard areas. One of them is two blocks from my home in an open space called Kings Estate.

About a month ago I noticed the goats were back to eat up the LONG flammable yellow grass (and trash). All the neighbors around here can hardly contain themselves with excitement when the goats are here. We're all beside our selves with glee! Fire is a real threat up here in these hills (Oct. 91)

During the day you can see them dotted around the hillsides--At night you can hear them softly braying. It's seriously one of the best reasons to live here. The goats aren't just here near my home but ALL OVER Oakland and Berkeley. Including one of the parks I'm currently working at for the EBRPD.

So a couple days ago someone comes to the park near my house and shoots 15 goats and BEHEADS one!

It's times like these that I hate it here.

I PASSED THE WRITTEN TEST !!!!!

FRIENDS! I passed the written test!!!I just received the letter in the mail!!! WOW! I never think I do good on tests--and when I went back to work and asked some co-workers about my answers to the questions on the test they told me different answers than I answered...wince! But still I passed the mutha! Now I have to pass the NEXT STEP...a physical exam which is going to take place in Alameda. I don't really know what it will entail...except that I have to dress appropriately?!

This is me blowing out the candles on my 40th birthday.....Don't remember the moment--this is why photos are SO important! I'm kinda feeling that high right now..!

Keep a good thought in your heads for me..I really believe it helps!

Dream Come True...I'm Pretty Sure

Check it!

I got hired on with the Park Service!!!

I know...many of you will say...'but Kim I thought you were the consummate Handy Woman?'

No that is NOT me but my girlfriend. The other Kimm.

For most of my life I've wanted to be a ranger. Don't laugh.

I've wanted to work for the park service since I can remember. ANY PARK SERVICE...ANYWHERE! I know it may be hard to believe....but some people want to be Doctors and swill around in peoples' fluids--that seems weird to me.

A couple of weeks ago I went to the Park website. This was something I did nearly once a month or more. Just to see what they were hiring for.

They were accepting applications for a rangers and I decided on a whim to apply. A couple of weeks after I dropped of my application they called and wanted me to come in for an interview with the folks who run the parks rental facilities! It's only a 20 hour a week temporary job and I'll have to work weekends all through the spring and summer. But it pays even better than the ranger job! And I'm so happy to do it to get my foot in the door with the park service. Basically I'll be doing landscaping, light building maintenance and running weddings. This was something I have been on the other side of when I was catering for so many years. This was SO the job I wanted to have when I was catering.

I'm so excited!

This is actually a job I can RETIRE with!

Let's hope I feel this way next weekend after I've been working there for a few days.

I'm pretty sure I'll love it though.

YEAH!

With thanks to Jamie and the help of my pal Jesse I've been able to bring to you
The Gauchos!!


There are so many cool things about this video that I just don't know where to begin...
First and foremost the little girl singer. Amazing with that hair and the head banging. She plays some inspired air guitar and occasionally looks up at her big brother as if completely mesmerized. Suddenly taking a break on the bunk bed like she's slipped back stage for a hit of pure oxygen! Then back up to the front. She's Possessed!
Big brother guitarist-- Incredible guitar playing for a buck as young as he. Really shredding the solos AND singing!
I hope I look as good playing bass as the bass playing little brother! He totally has the moves DOWN! Throwing his hand off the neck when he hits an open string! And the Pokemon on his mic. AND t-shirt. Real stylie! Flashing the devil horns to his brother when the song ends. Fuck Yea!
And last but not the least that drummer boy in the back. Great job holding down the beat boy!
Man if I had kids...Those would SO be my kids! I would be the stage mom. Forcing them to practice Iron Maiden songs in their bedroom with bad wall paper until 2 in the morning. The neighbors would hate us.
Maybe I should reconsider before it's too late..

GGGGRRRRRRR

I've been trying to post several different You Tube videos for DAYS now! I can't get one of them to show up on my 'new blogger' format. I hate that when they FORCE you to 'update' the format and then nothing ever works the same!
If anyone has any ideas please throw them my way!!
I'm sufferin' over here.

JEALOUSY

Back in my 'Hazy' days we played with this band called 'Sistas in the Pit'. As confirmed by this flyer from a show we did.

I just read that they'll be opening for the Stooges reunion tour!!! Oh JEALOUSY!!! These girls are real good tho' AND very nice! Hit the link for some HOT Sista rocknroll.

On another note....If I was tech savvy I might have been able to get this to my blog but alas...I'm with stoopid. Click on this link for a priceless moment between mother and teenage son. I can't help but think with most of my friends the opposite will be true. Take heed my parenting pals...

And thanks Nat. for that link!

Know Your Blessings When You're Sick

I haven't posted in several days. And I just don't know where to begin.
Right now I'm home recouperating from the NASTIEST sinus infection I can remember. My head feels like a block of wood with nails being hammered into it. Unpleasant. Not a blessing.
Two weekends ago my lovely pal Cassie came for a visit from Chicago. This was most definately a blessing as Cassie is one of the most wonderful and talented people I've ever known and worked with (She was the singer for 3 bands we were in together). We spent time up in Sonoma wine tasting for a friends 40th birthday. Did it always cost $ to go wine tasting? If I'm going to shell out $$ to taste wine they better give me more than a sip. Come on people! Get thee heavy handed!
Work has been slow in picking up. I suppose since I'm sick anyway I should feel blessed that we have some extra money stowed away from our recent refinance. Although we did want to use it for rebuilding our front foundation. Oh well, gotta flow....
My little sis. announced that she's going to get hitched to her cute boyfriend. And that her engagement is going to be LLOOOONNNGGG. Which I always think is a grand idea. Blessing.
My Bio. mom (mother of engaged sis.) is coming for a visit on Wednesday. As usual it'll be wonderful to see her. We always have the best time with her. She is our undisputed queen of generosity. She is one of my best blessings! I am always grateful for her.

I suppose I'm in this mood because I feel so SHITTY. It makes me feel a little better to give a holla out to the good things I have.

Crock Pot

I made the BEST Swedish meatballs last night!
Even better than IKEA's.
Yea, I'm not kidding.
I LOVE my crock pot! When I was back visiting in Utah last month my aunt brought over her crock pot filled with yummy pork chops-mmmmmmmmmmmmmm
When I got back to Oakland I immediately went out and bought one. I used it nearly every night for about two weeks. Now I'm down to once or twice a week.
Love me some meatballs!

Fire Pits!

Here's my pal Robin. She's the cute one on the right (forefront). She's on the front page of the San Francisco Chronicle today! She and some fellow burners have offered their skills to the city of SF to construct fire pits for Ocean Beach.

Go RH!

My Profile Picture

I've snagged Maggie and Hopey from Love and Rockets as my profile picture.
I feel like I'm a little of the both of these two.
I always wanted a tattoo of them on my arm but I could never figure out which drawing of them I should pick...

The young Punk Rocker girls in love like this one with the green back drop.

The confidant yet obnoxious 20 somethings like this one with Hopey yelling down at someone...

or...
The older in their 30's Maggie and Hopey like this drawing....

What's up in this last picture? Are they living in their car? I've done that.

I guess my decision has been made.

A Hard Stretch...

I've gone through a hard little stretch. Starting on Feb. 25th --the year anniversary of the untimely death of my good friend Tedd.

But it's ending today with the signing of the loan papers which will bury our debt into our mortgage--never to be seen again.

Only paid.

Well actually it really ends next week with a check to me $$$.

That check will be gone in minutes to the vet as I have a dog who is now regularly having seizures. The one pictured with me in this picture at the Albany Bulb. Her name is Gabe. She had a seizure a year ago. Then two just this week. Here we are staring at the sculpture of a woman made out of drift wood. When you get up to it it's like 20 feet high. Very cool.

Kimm and I refinanced our house through my depression. Luckily it kept me occupied.

Other fun things that kept me busy over the last 3 weeks have been taxes, court, and lack of work. It's been a bumpy ride.

But it's ending and Spring is almost here! I'm hopeful of a quiet and powerful equinox.

How 'lesbian' is that for ya?

Albany Bulb

This is one piece of sculpture from the Albany Bulb.

Lots of sculpture--All made from what washes up on the bulb from SF Bay.

I'll be posting more pictures soon.

This is my new favorite place.

Funny how you can live somewhere for so long and ignore all it's corners.

OUCH!

I bruised by shin. No really I damaged it--BUT GOOD!
I was painting a room for a client. In the process of pushing a small scaffolding on wheels across a canvas, the wheels got bunched up in the canvas and the scaffolding came to a grinding halt. My legs did not and I plowed shin long into it's sharp metal step.
The pain was surreal. I grabbed an ice pack out of the lunch box and fell on their couch with my leg up on the arm. All I could do was moan in agony. I couldn't even cry. I couldn't even CATCH MY BREATH--it hurt so bad.
This was a week ago. I am STILL limping. It STILL hurts like HELL!
I don't care how many of you guys have been kicked in the balls or how many of you fine ladies have given birth--
NOTHING is worse then cracking your shin at 90 miles an hour.
I can't even guess when this golf ball size lump on my leg will go down.
And of course I keep hitting it on everything.
Is this some kind of curse?

GRRRRR

More on this at another time...

Blue Herons

Our beautiful Blue Heron's are back!

We get so excited when we see them. It means Spring is on the way. Here's a picture of one of the two sitting on our neighbors roof. This morning both of them were sitting in our other neighbors trees-one Heron in the pine tree and one in the Acacia tree. A very angry hummingbird was buzzing around the one Heron in the pine tree. I love how there is so much diversity in mammals. One bird can be so big and another so small. It was like watching a chihuahua annoyed with a great dane.

These birds are HUGE. They stand more than 3 feet high and their wing span is more than 5 feet.I'm hoping someday to find their nest so I can watch the chicks when they hatch.

When Kimm and I were camping in Monterey last year we saw several pairs of Blue Herons nesting with chicks in some pine trees. When the neighbors saw us screech our car to a halt and jump out with binoculars they told us that the Herons come back every year to nest. These people get to watch it from their living rooms. Must be nice.

Exercise!

Do I want to be this old woman someday? The answer is YES!

Back to the Bump and Grind

I've made it back to the delightfully naughty Bay Area!

Here's a picture I took of the Y on the mountain in Provo. Many of you will recognize this. It's taken from my mom's kitchen window. You can see it through a negative space of the house behind hers. I was thinking how strange that was to see the Y from her kitchen window. Then I realized, if I remember correctly, I saw that Y out some window of every house I ever lived in when I was there. Maybe ALL the homes in Utah Valley have a view of the Y. Creepy.

Anyhoo, I'll just sum up the adventure....

Mom still quite ill but slowly coming through it.

Younger sister who has worked tirelessly for the Republican party was to sit at a table with Orrin Hatch at some dinner. I tried to envision her excitement by thinking how I would feel if I was to even be in the same ROOM as Nancy Pelosi. He ended up being out of state for an operation. Hopefully on his brain-- (Sorry K... I couldn't resist)

And some snow on the ground but nothing I couldn't handle. Which was good because all I brought were my Converse tennies.

Other than that. I ate a lot of fattening food and I barely left the house.

Zion...The Beehive State

Well it's official. I bought my ticket back to Utah for another visit. I haven't been back since my Dad's funeral two years ago.
Here's a picture of three year old me. My mom is holding my little sister in the background. It was X-mas 1969.
This is not the best picture. But you can see the smile on my Mom's face. She and my Dad adopted me when I was 6 weeks old. Then one year and some months later they added another baby who became my sister Keri.
When my Parents adopted me they were 45 (mom) and 47 (dad) years old. They'd already had 6 children of their own. I love my parents. They gave me the best life. I owe almost everything to them. Except my Homosexuality--I owe God for that one.

My Mom has had some debilitating health problems for many years now. Every time I go back to Utah I wonder if it'll be the last time I see her.

It's not easy for me to go back there. I won't go into all of the MANY reasons I hate Utah...But in two words---Mormons and snow.

I do love my family though-even for all of their Latter Day Saintness. And it'll be good to see all of them. Although all of us kids grew up in California almost all of my brothers and sisters live in Utah now. So when I go back it's a real wholesome family fest! They ultimately remind me of where I come from and who I really am.

Maybe just to be on the safe side I should bring my
Dyke Doll and wear my upside down cross.

L is for Loser AND Lesbian

I know I haven't been posting much lately. But with animals like this around it's hard to do anything else. We're constantly being awe struck by their cuteness.

I'm still obsessed with finding another career. I might have even decided on one. But it's a big step and it's the most important thing I'd ever do so I'm not going to tell you what it is. I'm afraid I'll change my mind and then you'll be all like..."She's never going to amount to anything."

Proof

There really is a god.

This post is also proof that I'll never stop acting like a 13 year old boy.

Japanese Tub Finished

So we finished the tub finally. You have to put the two pictures together. We also bolted down the toilet and replaced the vanity and sink.
I'm so glad it's finished.
But now what?

On another note. And this is long overdue..I'd like to thank N. for giving me her BRAND NEW IPOD. With friends like that ..who needs a Jesus?

Japanese Tub

Here's the empty space in our clients home where we have since put a cute little Japanese corner tub. It hasn't been easy. I'll post pictures of the finished product when we're completely done.

This particular job has made me wonder how much longer we can do this kind of work. Every joint in my upper body hurts.

Can anyone tell me about some new careers I could choose from?

Wu-Tang Clan

Wu-Tang Clan - M.E.T.H.O.D. Man

Do you think your Wu Tang sword can defeat me?

I really love Wu Tang. I just found this on YouTube sorta by accident. I thought I'd put it on. Listen to how this guy flows...AAAHHHH YEAAAHHH!
Old Dirty Bastard RIP.

I wonder if I could get contacts in that color?

While driving through our neighborhood on the way back from our NYE party we came across this hapless soul.

The balloons that she's holding say 'Happy New Year 2007'.



Happy New Year Everyone!

Happy New Year

After gathering together with our friends in SF we high tailed it down to the 'Dog Patch' to see this band for our NYE celebration.
'Browntown and the Porch Honkies'.
Happily we've know and loved these kids for many years as members of other bands. But this line up is Extra special!
They started out the set with Cheech and Chongs 'Earache my Eye' then wound thru some Zepplin, Skynard, Van Halen and Areosmith just to name a few. It was a great Fucking show! They kicked our collective asses.
I played with the guitar player in another band called 'Mighty Tight' many years ago. In fact ..I was reminded.. the warehouse we were in was the same place that Mighty Tight had played years earlier where I fell into the drum set during our rendition of Skynard's 'Simple Man'. Cracking my guitar but recovering enough to tell J. the drummer to "Keep going!" Too much Wild Turkey 101.
Good Times.
Happy New Year Everyone!

JB

RIP JB.

He also has a great X-mas album. We listen to it every year.

Favorite X-mas album

Christmas with the New Christy Minstrels and

Merry Christmas from the Supremes.

I love those two albums. They have been by two favorites since I can remember.

Just look at Diana Ross in that hat--HOT!!!

I remember on the back of that album is the three of them riding a sled in the snow.

And I think a young Kenny Rogers is in that line up of the New Christy Minstrels. Awesome!

EARTHQUAKES

We've had three 3 point earthquakes in the last 3 days. Because we live one block from the fault line it's a little disconcerting...
But having three 3 points is better than having one 9 point! So I'm hopeful!
Happy Holidays to all ya'll !

Pretty Decent

I thought this was a good Holiday tattoo to post.
We had a little earthquake last night. I was cleaning the bathroom in a yoga position. Bending completely over at the waist to put hair "stuff" away in the cabinet. When suddenly it sounded like a train rolled through the front yard. But there was no shaking..? I've never experienced an earthquake with blood rushing to my head before. It was almost better.
It was 3.7 in the East Bay Hills. Not too shabby.

More Santa Con Madness

My mom forwarded me an email today.

Her friends in SF had snapped a photo last weekend from their balcony. They send it out to my mom and several other friends as an X-mas card. (This would be the first photo you see here).

My mom wanted to know if the picture they snapped was of that "SantaCon" we always attend every December.

It was...and not only that but we're in the photo! On the very far left above the railing on the balcony is where we be.

If you look really hard at the first photo you can see our friend in the tutu (second photo). Both pictures were taken at the same time. Kimm took the second one.

Isn't that just wacky!

Just more proof

Here are the blushing bride and dapper groom from the wedding we busted last weekend. This picture is off the internet. Notice the purple butt plug in the lower right being presented to the young couple. Now I cannot think of a better wedding present.
Can you?

Santacon 06'

I guess I've been a touch out of it the last couple of weeks.
I really hate the rainy weather.
Here's a picture from this years Santacon. It was last weekend. Here's where we busted a wedding in progress. It seems that every year Santa's come across a wedding.
Surprisingly the wedding party is always really enchanted by the drunk, sloppy Santa's yelling "HO"!

Thanksmas

Here we are at my Uncle's place outside of Mt. Shasta (See it looming in the background).
This was our Thanksgiving picture with the family--except for that little girl in the front wearing the pink shirt--I don't know who she is but she jumped right in. This year we had our Thanksgiving celebration and then two days later on Saturday we had our X-mas celebration... Thanksmas.
My mom and her husband are going to New Jersey for X-mas this year so we had our gift giving/Tree/Dinner thing early this year.
It's actually kind of nice because now Kimm and I feel freed up for the rest of the holiday season.
More time for parties and we already have our presents!

The only 4 guys this dyke would do.

Here they are in no particular order.
1. Mick Jagger circa 1970 "Performance" era. Mostly because he looked SO androgynous. And he had those hot young lips. But ONLY 1968 through 1972. 2.Johnny Depp. The only one of the bunch who looks better the older he gets. I know he's a big mega star but he's just so...Piratey!
3.Joe Dallesandro circa early 70's from Andy
Warhols films such as "Flesh","Trash" and "Heat". I'll also go
as far as to throw in "Frankenstein" and "Blood of Dracula" which came a few years later. He's so unbelieveably sexy especially in "Trash"---mmmmmmouth watering!
4. Iggy Pop of course--circa early 70's "Raw Power"
"Funhouse" era.Oddly enough he looks best to me when he's in the
worst throws of his herion addiction.
He is the epitomy of 'beautiful man' to me in those early years.
Especially when he had the platnum hair-YOW! I'll even throw in doing him after David Bowie 're- discovered' him and cleaned him up a bit-circa mid 70's.

Travel Trailers

I've not mentioned this previously. But I'm obsessed with small fiberglass travel trailers.

Here's a picture of a Casita. It's my dream to own one of these. A 16 ft. Casita Spirit Deluxe. Every Saturday morning I spend a couple of hours clicking back and forth between the Casita website and the Casita club website. Dreaming...

As a recovering Mormon I still can't shake the feeling that I'll eventually have 10 minutes or less to throw everything important into the car and speed off to Zion. In that case it would SO help to own one of these.

Free Porn

Well, tonite we'll be going to this Mondo Porno gig with some friends. Should be fun for all. Free porn, naked girlie clowns, a Guns and Roses cover band...Can life get any sweeter?

What the????

What is this you ask??? Our sewer line.

Those three holes?? They are in our sewer line.

This is a picture of that line right below the dirt. Those holes are OLD. And quite undisclosed to us by the previous owners. they had been patched many years prior. But in a jimmyrigged fashion. They covered them with somekind of thin metel and then poured concrete over them. Didn't really work unfortunately.

So last weekend this was our fate. We replaced this part of the sewer line. I did the digging and Kimm did the "replacing of parts".

But it's done!!! I've been fretting about this for a year. It's so nice to finish something this important that's been on the back burner!

YEA DEMS!!!

Conservative, Christian, Right-Wing Republican, Straight, Wh

Warning: This song may be stuck in your heads for days to come.
But it's pretty much hits the nail on the head dontcha think?