i spent monday driving to santa barbara. i took a side trip to big sur just because i hadn't seen it for a while. there were few cars on the road. i got to drive as if i owned the highway, stopping and pulling over at will.
i'm having a lot of fun despite having to work eight hour days. i never knew i could be so happy working. evenings g takes me shopping up and down the coast. she even takes me to places she has never cared to shop at. yes, she's my best friend.
i'm not taking many pictures though. mostly because it's already dark when i'm out and about. so, mike, why don't you take some pictures of nyc and show us for a change?
i had a good week in santa barbara. good weather, good people. seems like it's the most productive week i've had since i was last in town, working and otherwise. i got to knit, sew star pillows, see friends, eat out, and shop. only if i could live in my own house.
i went by salinas place the day before i left town. the creek was green, the water was shallow, and the magnolia trees were
in full bloom.
i stood around in the common yard for some time checking for mallards and smelling flowers. then i spent hours digging around in the garage. i don't remember taking this next picture though.
sky, i think
this was posted right in front of g's house. it's the first time i've ever seen a lost pet poster in spanish.
pobrecito
two power poles away, the standard version.
some dog!
did i ever mention how awesome my office manager is? there's nothing she can't do. here she is helping santa putting together a christmas present.
julie vs the foot powered low rider
monday evening i went to the office christmas party. this year it was held at the waterfront grill. the food was lackluster but the party was a blast. the white elephant gift exchange kicked the volume up thirteen notches. i brought a texas hold'em card set to the masacre and survived with a shrek 2 dvd. not bad.
also this year, the party became a small baby fest. look how the hat wearer has grown!
i have been mostly good this year. about 71% of the time, which is way above average. please bring me these few things this christmas. ring apartment 301 and i'll buzz you in. or you could try coming down the chimney if you'd like. we have a real fireplace this year. i will put out the fire before midnight.
anyway, the list is a lot longer but, being a good girl, i have narrowed it down for you. if you can bring me the car, you can pretty much forego the other stuff.
thanks, santa. have a safe evening of deliveries. much love to you and rudolph,
schmeebot
a usb external hard drive
a wireless router
these or the simpsons dvds
this dvd or baraka
this or any of the knitting books i don't already have
a sewing machine
a snowboard that looks like this and may be some boots+bindings
like i mentioned, if you could bring me the keys to this next item, you can forget about the rest of the list.
a german convertible car
ps: i know it's pretty late notice so if you can't bring me anything, don't sweat it. you can try again next year. either way, don't forget to have the soy milk on the mantle before you leave.
i've been staring out the windows again. it's been raining incessantly for the past three days. it let up some this morning but not clear enough to see the ocean. it's half past noon right now and this is what i see from my desk.
the forecast says it will be raining for the rest of the year. i thought i would seize the day for the last clear paronama of 2004.
looking east
looking south through bedroom window
southwest
and northwest through living room window
what an appropriate series of pictures for me to conclude my first year of web logging. it's been a good year learning the in and outs of this website, making new friends in cyberspace, and overcoming the events that nearly deactivated schmeebot. i hope to keep it going for many more months just so i can continue to inundate you with random jpegs and nonsense tid bits. thanks for looking at my little brown blog, everyone. i hope you'll stick around until the day schmeebot runs out of pictures.
have an excellent new year. may your 2005 be full of love, health, and happiness!
