Shawna’s Whimsical Weblog

I realize it’s been awhile since my last posting. This is due to the fact that my work did a full facility move on Friday May 20th. As one could imagine, it was fairly hectic leading up to the move. During the weekend of the move, I squeezed in a 3 hour break for my soccer game on Saturday and a 3 hour break for my hockey game on Sunday, but other than that I was at the new building trying to make sure everything was up and running come start of business Monday morning. I haven’t even begun to start unpacking my area. Monday-Wednesday was spent responding to everyone else’s problems. During the move we lost (we’re assuming the movers stole) a computer, a monitor and memory out of 6 desktops. What a pain. But all and all a very successful move. I’m curious to see what other problems surfaced during the rest of the week while I vacationed in Denver to see Angela’s graduation. See pictures from the old and new buildings.

Simply put I couldn’t ask for a better mom. I’m pleased as punch that I have such a good relationship with my mom and don’t think that will ever change. I meant to get a picture of the four of us celebrating Mother’s Day (Tim, Brian, mom and I) yesterday, but I didn’t find a backdrop to my liking. Thus all I can leave you with is “My mom rocks!”

Tim’s mom also rocks! Last Sunday Tim returned from Napa with the wedding scrap book that Sally had put together for us. It’s gorgeous! If anyone wants to take a gander at her fine work, let me know and I will bring it by. She says she has a few pages she’s still working on in it (a blooper outtake page, etc), but it’s good as is. She’s inspired me to finally get the wedding photos up on our website. I’m going to try and get them up there by our first anniversary in two months. I’ve managed to put up four new photo sections. I haven’t even gotten to the actual wedding yet. Yes, I’m a slacker I know. You can see what i’ve got so far here.

I had what I thought would be a good book idea while on the drive from Houston to Austin. The South-Central part of Texas reminded me a lot of the Pantanal in Brazil. It’s very green, abundant amounts of standing water, flat, with birds and cows present. We paralleled a railroad track for a period of time where the i noted a sign that was almost unreadable it was so overgrown with vines. It made me smile. The jaded environmentalist needs to see things like that. Nature reclaiming it’s surroundings.

Thus, the book idea. Pictures of nature in the process of reclamation. This could be a good calender or maybe a coffee table book. Ideas to date: plants in sidewalk cracks, coral on a shipwreck, vines growing over a car that has been dumped on a roadside, birds’ nests in urban places, flowers growing on fire-scorched earth. The catch comes with the fact that nature can be violent in reclamation -lava, tsunamis, etc. This book would want to promote the perseverence of nature, not serve as a reminder for disasters that have caused pain and suffering.

Anyone want to work with this project on me? It’d be fun to sort through photo submissions. Or if you have other imagery you think that would be appropriate that I should be searching for, let me know.

Venue: Thee Bungalow in Ocean Beach.

It was off to an Early Bird dinner, for our second dinnner club meeting. Thee Bungalow offers discounted meals on their French cuisine for people dining before 6:15 PM (M-Th). Thee Bungalow has been in business for 30 years. But I found the establishment wasn’t quaint with age, but musty. We again went with family style eating to try multiple dishes. Our samplings included: Entrecote Bearnaise (Bistro steak), Brined Pork Tenderloin, Coquille of Seafood Duman and Roast Duck. Everyone agreed that the house speciality, the duck, was the best item on our menu. However, the group was not thrilled with the overall meal. I enjoyed the sauces, and the Pinot by Fourth that Brian selected off their large wine menu was excellent. For dessert we ordered chocolate souffle and creme brule. The souffle was too alcohol-rich for my liking. Ayal and Brian found the creme brule too custardy (I don’t think i’ve found a creme brule i haven’t liked). I guess the bottom line is for the cost there are better dining options.

Rating: Meh