Crab Feast!

Yesterday, Jeremy and I joined a couple of curlers for the Monday night All You Can Eat Crab dinner at Thrasher's Corner Pub. I enjoyed the crab, though it wasn't anywhere near as good as the stir fried crab that my mother makes. Jeremy is not a big fan of shellfish, so he stuck with a Philly Steak Sandwich.

Earlier this evening I had an experience that left me speechless. I went to take the recycling out before dinner, and was hailed by a couple standing in the driveway next door. The house next door is a rental house, and was recently vacated. The first thing the guy said to me was "Do you speak English?"

Being born and raised in the Seattle area, I am always surprised when people make comments like that. Last year at a Seattle Mariners game, an older man was sitting next to me. He asked me if I was born in China? No. Was I born in Korea? No. Taiwan? No. Where were you born? I was born in Seattle. I received a blank look. He couldn't understand that even though I am Asian, thatI was born in Seattle. Sometimes I wonder what century I live in.

Breaking the ice and a walk in the park.

There was a small get together at the Seattle Granite Curling Club before the ice was melted last night. The first sheet had sand and hair all over it. Another sheet had the pebble scraped off of it. There was tire frozen to the middle of the ice, and we bounced the rocks off the side boards. We were a little surprised at how few people made it out.

Today we walked around Discovery Park sans beagle. Ali decided that she did not want to be stuck in a car with a whiny beagle. While we were on our walk, we came across some people with this weird balloon. Apparently they were going to attach a camera to it for arial views. After a very long walk we went to Red Mill for burgers and milkshakes.

Steak for dinner!!

Jeremy, Elaine (his mom), Gravity, and I had a steak dinner this evening. On the way I, I stopped by Costco and picked up a package of 4 fillets. I had forgotten that Alison was going to hang out with her Seattle buddies in the U District.

There was lots of yard work preceding the dinner, making the steak that much more tasty. Gravity the beagle is now crashed out in a meat induced coma. The coma may also have been created by her trip to the Lake Washington arboretum. Unfortunately I had to work today, so I only heard about the trip.

Here is a photo of Gravity and myself. I was playing with the Photobooth functionality of my MacBook Pro before I went to sleep.

Arrrgh. Not enough time.

There's just not enough time in the day.

Today I ended up staying an hour and a half past the time I was going to leave at. At this moment, I am waiting to help out on a release. In between the time I arrived home and now, I ate the dinner my hubby cooked, took out the garbage, washed two loads of laundry, and gave our dog a bath. I also too her for a quick stroll around the block.

When I finish testing, if I can work up enough energy, I need to clean the main bathroom. My mother in law and sister in law arrive tomorrow.

I'll probably end up sleeping in a little tomorrow.

Curling on the brain.

My friend Jason took this photo of me at the Last Chance spiel. My husband edited it, using the GIMP. This is my new favorite photo of myself.

Last night, I went to learn how to play bridge. There's lots to think about, and it made my head hurt. Much more complicated than learning how to play craps. I'll have to hunt down an online game to help hurry the learning process along.

Today I spent time harassing developers to update their bugs, so I could find out if I could finish my testing. Hopefully they still like having me work there after two weeks of pestering. On the plus side, some processes are getting ironed out. I just wish I didn't feel like such a nag.

Since I've been home, I've been fairly productive. I changed the sheets, started a load of laundry, and emptied the dishwasher. I've also played one turn of Scrabulous on Facebook, and I'm finishing up this blog entry. As soon as I've done that, I'll try and tidy up some more before the in-laws come in to town.

Snow in the middle of April

We've got some crazy winter weather in Seattle this year. When I left work on Friday, it was snowing. By the time after I got home, some of the snow had stuck.

I'm sure the weather was a surprise to Jeff and Mijung. It was surprisingly chilly in the church that they got married in. The bride looked beautiful, the groom looked handsome, and the maid of honor looked cold.

The ceremony was fairly quick. Jeremy and I arrived at the church a quarter to 3. We arrived at the reception area by 3:40 pm.

I had a fantastic time at the reception. Jeremy and I sat at a table with people from the curling club. Bob T, Dani T, Chris O, and Derek M. There were many conversations about curling, that were interspersed with the eating of appetizers, blowing of bubbles, and jokes about the bags of happiness.

Missed my last game.

Missed my last game today, due to work and lack of sleep. I didn't get to sleep until just after 9 am. I was unable to find a sub to take my place. An email from Leslie F let me know that Sara's kids subbed for me, and that they won, holding the other team to only one point.

Currently working on baking some crazy potato bake dish and washing dishes. Still really tired after a nap of about 3 hours.

Jeremy is still really sick. I hope he improves fast!!

Here's a couple of more photos from yesterday.

I dream of curling.

Well, at least I would if I could go to sleep. Still working. 2 hours, 45 minutes before I need to get up. *sigh*

At least my delivery is improving. My friend Jason stopped by, and snagged a couple of .AVIs. Leslie F, the woman that is skipping for my team, suggested that I choke up on my grip of the broom by about an inch. My left shoulder was not even with my right one.

I made the change in my second game, and now my weight is off a bit. I hope I can find it tomorrow.

Here'e a photo of the team, and an .AVI of my delivery from the first game.

Last chance to curl.

We finished the 2nd game of the Last Chance Bonspiel. Team Eng-Dinsel has lost a game and won a game. Both games were shut outs.

Poor Jeremy has been home sick with the flu. Lots of people thinking of him, and saying Hi - get well soon. Or, in Betty's case "Hi, get well soon so you can drink all the beer!"

My raffle ticket for the 50/50 did not win money, but won some donated beer from Pyramid. I had gone to talk to Dani and Bob T for a bit, then left my 3 raffle tickets there. Dani won beer. She pulled the next ticket, which happened to be mine, so Bob went and got the beer. He pulled a ticket, and Leslie F, the skip of my team won beer. An amusing coincidence.

More about the weekend later. I need to get to sleep. I have to test at 1:00 am for work. :P

Team Thibodeaux wins the C bracket, edging out the Korean Women's National Team!!

Back from Artfest 2008!

I had a great time at Artfest 2008!! This year was very mellow, hanging out with my best friend Maya. I got to her house at 9:30 AM and loaded up the car. We stopped by the library turn in some books, and Kinko's so I could make a few transparencies. We then drove to the University Village Apple store for a replacement phone charger and lunch at a noodle restaurant.

We made it to Fort Worden just after 3 pm. While we were in line, I bumped into last year's FestMates, Ellen, Lani, Julie and Kim. It was nice to see that everyone was able to make it back. On the way out of registration, we made a new and memorable friend, Andrea. Andrea managed to snag a spot 10 days before the start of Artfest, and had been feeling overwhelmed. We received a couple of hugs, gave out some words of encouragement, and went to check out our room in dorm 225.

Dorm 225 was soooo much nicer than 202. It had regular bathrooms - no banging knees on the stall doors. It also had two individual shower stalls. There was no having to sign up for a time slot to take a shower in the morning.

We made jewelry with gut (sausage casings) the first day. The instructor Melissa Manley said all the gut tended to make the room smell like wet dog. I didn't smell wet dog, but I did think the classroom smelled like brine. I stuck some gut against a window, and made parchment.

On the second day, I took Michael DeMeng's transparency class. The class was held in the Art Asylum. I burned some transparencies with a lighter, and made a shadowbox that holds a photo of my grandfather, my father, and myself.

Our last day was taught by Susan Lenart-Kazmer, another jewelry class. The class was difficult for me, but Maya took to it like a fish in water. She was truly in her element. What I loved about Susan, was her friendliness and willingness to help all of us that are new to jewelry.

We took a nap after class and almost missed dinner. We then headed for a brief tour through the crowded and stuffy Show and Tell. I dropped Maya and her luggage at the front of her doorstep, and drove home so I could see Jeremy play in the midnight draw of the April Spiel.

Owl ATCs

Finished up a couple of Owl ATCs for Artfest as well, here is a photo.

Coming home with 2 sets of crystal!!!

Team Galey : Sam Galey, Steve Galey, Jeremy Dinsel, and Cyndy Eng-Dinsel took 1st place in the Friday night league. First draw we had Beth C sub for Jeremy, and Matt T sub for Steve G. It was a close game going into the 8th end, but Team Galey beat out Team Vukich. We shook after two ends in the second draw.

In our Sunday novice, our team took first place in the novice hotshots competition. We scored 108 points, with the runner up scoring 90 points.

I've included a photo of our Friday night team.

Curling for crystal!

In just a couple of hours, I will be curling against the team that is sitting in second place. Our skip will be out. He's a high school senior who has a baseball game tonight. Apparently he is their ace pitcher. My husband is out, his ankle is still sore.
I'm excited. I hope to win. 1st and 2nd place will receive crystal.

Artfest is just around the corner. I'm busy trying to get the last of my things together and some stuff for the art asylum. I have a nice big box full of things for people to use.

Well, off to finish getting ready for the game.

82 Owls created!

82 owls, 1 tree, 1 gremlin, and 2 mutant bears are complete. Artfest is 2 weeks away. The anticipation is there. The Artfest group is full of newbie posts. Everyone is excited. Tick tick tick.

Thankfully, I have curling to distract me. I still ache all over from this weekend. I bailed on last nights game, and subbing for today. I will have a game tomorrow and Friday. Thursday I will go to the club, because they are having a meeting to see which ladies are interested in curling competitively. Saturday I am helping at an open house from 10 am to 2:30 pm, and that evening I will be going to Jeff and MJ's Stag and Doe party.

So the anticipation is dulled by the sadness of the curling season coming to the end. There is still a little stress lying about, trying to get a few more trades done. I think I will switch to making owl ATCs. Of course, there is also time to make some during the evening hours at Art Asylum as well. I hope my cough goes away before Artfest....

All American USWCA Bonspiel is over!!!

The All American USWCA Bonspiel is over. The team that I played on, Team Vukich took 1st place. Sharon Vukich was skip, Erin from the Evergreen curling club in Oregon played 3rd, I played 2nd, and Pam Bisenthal from Vacaville in CA played lead. It was especially challenging for Pam and Erin, as they are used to playing on arena ice.

Our first two games were won 10 -5 and 10 - 2, in which we shook early. Our last game was close. We were ahead by one in the 10th end, and the opposing team drew in for one and tied it. We had hammer, and they were sitting one with our last rock. Sharon made an incredible shot, and we nudge them out for the win and first place. I am now a proud owner of one of the coveted USWCA pins. Huzzah!

Army of Owls

Almost over the flu. What a nasty bug. I'm beginning to think I caught it during the 5 and Under Spiel when I saw and chatted with Wayne and his son Sasha. 6 days of sleeping, 4 days of somewhat normalcy, and I STILL have a lingering cough.

Today was my first day back curling. With 3 player, Eric, Jeremy, and myself, we beat Katie's team 12 to 5. It was an entertaining game, with Alberto decked out in a squirrel costume originally made for a 12 year old girl. He was testing it out for the April Spiel that is coming up.

Its crazy busy, with more craziness coming up. All of my weekends are booked in April. 2 weddings, wedding-like events, and Artfest. I am in full panic mode, trying to get trades ready. Unfortunately making stuffed animals takes quite a bit of time, even those as simple as my owls. I've got around 55 made, and had been hoping to have around 100. Not sure I'm going to get to my 100 mark before April 1st.

Tired. Exhausted. Sick?

Well, this morning I woke up with a half cough. I spent most of the time with my eyes glazed over. I took a nap in my car during my lunch. I got home around 3:30 and slept until 6. I'm getting ready to hit the sack.

I hope I'm not getting the flu that is going around. I don't have time to get sick. My day of art with my friends has been canceled on Saturday because of too many people being sick.

Curled last night. Our team lost to Linda Draper's team. We were ahead by 1, but she had hammer, and scored 3 points. It was a fantastic shot.

I spent some time working on my delivery on Tuesday as well as Wednesday. Sliding with a rock to the hog line, making sure I stay balanced. Getting better. Only missed the broom a couple of times yesteday, and it was on the outside shots!

I want to be a Rockstar Curler!!

So over the weekend, one of the 2nd year curlers told me about a competition, where they will select 5 people to train and compete for the 2010 Olympics. I'm only a first year curler, and I doubt I'll get a shot at it, but that doesn't stop me from being super excited at having submitted my application.

Ah the dream of curling for 6 months, 8 hours a day. I don't doubt it will be hard work. I'd give a couple of teeth for a chance.

My husband Jeremy and I have been curling since October. We belong to two leagues, the Sunday Novice League, and the Friday open. We are permanent subs on Tuesday, and I'm a permanent sub now on the Wednesday Womens league. We are also known to sub on the Sunday night mixed league and Mondays as well. Just a little curling crazy!!!

There are so many things that I am curious about this competition. Who are they going to select to try out? Do new curlers even have a chance? When are they closing the applications? Where are the try outs going to be? I can hardly stand it.

Jon Bonjovi and the Boss are closet curlers?
http://www.cbc.ca/arts/story/2008/02/11/curling-rockstar-boss.html

Last place in the 5 and under Bonspiel.

Well, I'm fairly disappointed to say, that Team Pirie took the booby prize in this years 5 and under. We played fairly well in the first round robin, and ended up in the S bracket, as S-3. From there, we couldn't hold it together, starting with our first game, where we got skunked 9 - 0. It continued to fall apart from there.

However, we had a most excellent time, and came away with this lovely parting gift of chocolate truffles. It was pretty amusing, considering I was wearing a pig fleece hat. It was as little disappointing that nobody else chose to do anything funky for the bonspiel. Jim's wife Sahara, wore her kitty cat knitted hat, but that was pretty much it.

After the bonspiel, I lost the first game I skipped in the novice league by two points. However, I did have a big 3rd end, where we scored 6 points. One of the ends we lost was followed by the the advice "Never attempt to follow a perfect draw with another perfect draw."

We hung around for the first draw on the mixed league, as Jeremy was subbing for Ian. I picked up Gravity after we dropped Derek off, and then my hubby. Lots of other cool things that I am missing, but I am just too tired. Oh, and there were many hat compliments. Mostly "Nice hat." Not sure if they were sarcastic "Nice Hats" or if they really meant it, but comments just the same.