{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:coell","title":"coell.livejournal.com","subtitle":"Greetings from fabulous Cyn City!","author":{"name":"Cynthia"},"link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/coell.livejournal.com\/"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/coell.livejournal.com\/data\/atom"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"service.feed","type":"application\/x.atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/coell.livejournal.com\/data\/atom","title":"coell.livejournal.com"}}],"updated":"2010-04-16T09:29:43Z","entry":[{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:coell:279765","link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/coell.livejournal.com\/279765.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/coell.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=279765"}}],"title":"Happy Abandoned LJversary!","published":"2010-04-16T09:28:52Z","updated":"2010-04-16T09:29:43Z","content":"<\/a>coell<\/b><\/a><\/span> turns 8 today!

I shan't delete this journal -- too much good stuff in the history! ;-)"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:coell:277835","link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/coell.livejournal.com\/277835.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/coell.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=277835"}}],"title":"Dreaming in Fiction","published":"2009-02-28T16:31:03Z","updated":"2009-03-19T07:20:49Z","content":"Dudes, I just woke up from the best dream evar<\/b>!! It was a complete episode of Supernatural, start to finish. There was a witch, sexy people in peril, and Sam's cleverness saved the day. ^_^ I've never been so tempted to try my hand at graphic novels, or fanfic, or some way to convey what a kick-ass story came out of nowhere - thanks brain! (Although details are slowly fading away ... ;-) At first, my sleep sucked - I was sore, keep waking up, and felt like I was missing something. But ah, when that story was in full swing, I wanted to stay forever. ^_^<\/a>

Last night I did bikram yoga, and besides having a shitty instructor, the practice itself kicks my face's ass. 26 asanas (poses) in a studio that's heated to 105 degrees with 40% humanity<\/strike> humidity. I invited my hiking group<\/a> to join me, so we got half-off as a group discount - about 30 people came. They agreed it's a great detox and stimulator, but the instructor didn't welcome anybody, and acted like we could've played a cassette to get the drill-sergeant-y speeches. :-P Namaste<\/b><\/i>, beyotch!

I've been neglecting my blog, eh? Sorry. My social life has completely taken over (I has BFFs now! ^_^), and I volunteer as a hiking leader, so I try to go a few times a week. Business sucks, but that's a combo of the economy and me not locking myself in the office like I used to. ::grumble::

My Seattle BFFs are coming to visit me next week, and my parents the week after that -- my 30th birthday is March 21, yay! I don't have a proper party planned, but we're having a Scavenger Hunt and the best tacos in Las Vegas, which will do, but I fret it won't be The Best Party They've Ever Been To, which unfortunately is the standard I'm always subconsciously aiming for.

Last week I had a swap party with my frugal group<\/a> and although people left with bags and bags of stuff, there's still a small mountain of clothes, shoes, purses, and jewelry covering every surface of my bedroom and dining room. I'll either box it up for the next one come summer, or I'll drop it off to a charity for the tax write-off. Two thumbs way up for the format though -- you all should have one with your friends and their friends, it's like a free shopping spree!"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:coell:277471","link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/coell.livejournal.com\/277471.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/coell.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=277471"}}],"title":"The Gods Must Be Crazy","published":"2009-02-09T11:18:41Z","updated":"2009-02-09T11:31:42Z","category":{"@attributes":{"term":"lolz"}},"content":"Hahahahahaha... Jeff and I were grocery shopping last night, and I saw an endcap with a bunch of Obama stuff. The next isle over had DVDs, and I pointed to one and said, \"They should've put that in the Obama section.\"

Hilarity ensued. <3


\n \n \n
\"The<\/a><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n <\/table>\n


I wonder if anyone else will notice and\/or find it funny before they fix it. ^_^

I'm inspired to start putting items where they don't belong for lolz. Pepto-Bismol with Hot Pockets, for example. What else?"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:coell:275720","link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/coell.livejournal.com\/275720.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/coell.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=275720"}}],"title":"Peanut butter jelly time!","published":"2009-01-19T19:53:57Z","updated":"2009-01-19T20:25:08Z","category":{"@attributes":{"term":"food"}},"content":"When I buy ice cream, I buy orange chocolate or cookie dough -- flavors both my roommate and I enjoy. When my roommate buys ice cream, it's peanut butter cup. I HATE PEANUT BUTTER ANYTHING!1<\/small><\/sup>

Vengeance is mine!<\/b> <\/a> <\/big> <\/center>
There's a voluntary recall on peanut butter anything, therefor, I have vowed to eat everything2<\/sup><\/small> my roommate buys for the next 10 days. Leave no bite behind!


1: Technically, I do enjoy a PBJ sandwich on occasion, but I plea eating disorder and everyone knows the bolder the blog the better. More half-true blanket statements in 2009!

2: In full disclosure, he later bought an industrial size cafetorium box of Little Debbie peanut butter crackers<\/b>. I'm not admitting that I ate ALL of them OMG<\/i>, but if they were gone the next day, I'm just saying that in some way it might or might not have been his fault. Luckily, we share a passive-aggressive and\/or no-blame household. All grievances must be aired via Livejournal or dry-erase marker on the bathroom mirror. It all works out in the end, I say. And when it doesn't, the FDA's got my back, baby! *chestfist*<\/small>"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:coell:275262","link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/coell.livejournal.com\/275262.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/coell.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=275262"}}],"title":"Food OCD","published":"2009-01-10T06:36:56Z","updated":"2009-01-10T06:54:45Z","category":{"@attributes":{"term":"food"}},"content":"I have a weird thing about repetitive food. When I make a meal I like, I tend to eat it a lot<\/i> in a row. For example, I bought a sack of frozen fish to have on hand and bake a fillet once a month, or less, it's so rare I even like fish. Practically never, right?

Except I made it every night this week.

And it was tonight I noticed my habit for doing that ... making something over and over, until I'm sick of it. I don't like pickles; I buy a jar of pickles for one weird day I think I might like one ... and the whole jar's gone. Won't touch them again for a year. One rice crispie treat? Try the whole pan. Swear I will barf if I ever see one again (yeah right, give it two weeks ;-) Two bowls of cereal a day for two weeks, then not one bowl for six months.

I ate five oranges today. I could literally eat two more, right now, just thinking about them. I don't even like oranges! (Ok, I like oranges ... but seriously, how many oranges can you eat in a day? I buy a sack, I should eat one a day for one week, not seven one day a week.)

I don't think it's a binge thing or an OCD thing, but I wonder if y'all get that way - eating the same thing over and over in phases, or do you keep it all spread out and mixed up nice?"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:coell:274798","link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/coell.livejournal.com\/274798.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/coell.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=274798"}}],"title":"Discworld art & other fandom links","published":"2009-01-08T14:51:11Z","updated":"2009-01-08T18:27:50Z","category":{"@attributes":{"term":"art"}},"content":"<\/a>yuletart<\/b><\/a><\/span> is complete, so I can link you to the art I made: Happy Hogswatch<\/a>, from the Discworld<\/b> book series. It's a photoshop piece featuring Death as the Hogfather, and my favorite bit to do, the Death of Rats. ^_^


In other fandom news, I just finished reading The Watchmen<\/b> and it is AMAZING. I am now a fangirl and cannot wait for the movie, except it's tied up in rights problems<\/a> and probably won't get released for a while. Thanks <\/a>cathybites<\/b><\/a>Supernatural<\/b> version of Jizz in my Pants<\/a> from SNL's\/Lonely Island's music video that is HYSTERICAL. Thanks <\/a>diner<\/b><\/a><\/span> for pointing me to today's hearty chuckles.

PS: Link to the original<\/a> with Andy Samberg and some dude I don't know<\/strike> Akiva Schaeffer. I love disapproving!Justin Timberlake in Aisle 3!"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:coell:274596","link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/coell.livejournal.com\/274596.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/coell.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=274596"}}],"title":"Vegas Snow Storm 2008","published":"2009-01-07T05:15:13Z","updated":"2009-01-07T05:15:13Z","content":"Before I went to my parents house for the holidays, we had a real, live snow storm<\/b> in Las Vegas, y'all. I kid you not. They say it hadn't snowed like that since 1979. Even my parents called to say they heard about it on the news in Michigan!

The top of Mount Charleston always gets enough snow to ski, and we might<\/i> see a flake in the air on the outskirts of town, but full-on snow down here in the valley? It was bizarre. I laughed at my Mexican friends who've never even seen<\/i> snow before. I moved here for many reasons and one of them was to get rid of that scene; no more six months of gray, no more blizzards from Halloween to Easter. But it was fun to play in, and it was gone within a couple days.

Unfortunately, it also broke half my trees, the wusses. I gathered up some photos from me and my friends, covering the two days before it was all gone (and my poor backyard full of debris.)



\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n
<\/strong>
\n\t\tHee! Teeny snowman!<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
<\/strong>
\n\t\tJeff's car in the driveway, while it snowed.<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
<\/strong>
\n\t\tOops, left a flip-flop outside. Won't be needing these today!<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
<\/strong>
\n\t\tMy street in the middle of snowing. Being from Michigan, I was not afraid to drive in a few inches of snow, but they were mostly empty ... cowards!<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
<\/strong>
\n\t\tWe went to the grocery store that night in case it was crazy the next day.<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
<\/strong>
\n\t\tSnowy carts!<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
<\/strong>
\n\t\tMy upper patio shows a couple inches left the following afternoon. South-facing, it didn't last long in the sun!<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
<\/strong>
\n\t\tSnowy patio furniture! We had almost six inches on my house, but my Henderson peeps got EIGHT!<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
<\/strong>
\n\t\tSnowy cactii along the roads down south.<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
<\/strong>
\n\t\tSnowy palms on my street.<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
<\/strong>
\n\t\tIf a hummingbird shivers, does it make the same humming sound?<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
<\/strong>
\n\t\tPoor peacock, go back in your peacock house, it's too cold out here!<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
<\/strong>
\n\t\tSnowman cheers for snowy cactii -- me too!<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
<\/strong>
\n\t\tThis is the back side of the famous \"Welcome to Las Vegas\" sign at Las Vegas Blvd and Russell. I love the palm tree arms!<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
<\/strong>
\n\t\t<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
<\/strong>
\n\t\tScenic loop of Red Rock is extra scenic this morning!<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
<\/strong>
\n\t\tBraving the roads in South Vegas.<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
<\/strong>
\n\t\tHiking in Red Rock<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
<\/strong>
\n\t\tHiking in Red Rock was more like snow plowing in some spots.<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
<\/strong>
\n\t\tMy hiking group had to get out in Red Rock to play in the snowy desert!<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
<\/strong>
\n\t\tVegas Valley looking west to Red Rock and Charleston. In the center of the valley, you can see the tall buildings of the Strip -- that's the Stratosphere in the right (north).<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
<\/strong>
\n\t\tSo many tree tops broke, I had to climb and cut the ones I could reach. There shouldn't be any green on this ground - I have a gravel yard!<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
<\/strong>
\n\t\tThe top 15 feet of one of my trees, broken off from the snow storm. It used to block my neighbors window looking over my patios. :-\/<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
<\/strong>
\n\t\tLooking down from my upper patio. That branch fell left on top of my palms. I need to find a way to cut it down, but the break is 15 feet off the ground and I only have a six foot ladder. :-\/<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
<\/strong>
\n\t\tLooking up from the bottom patio. That big branch used to stick straight up and provide shade.<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
<\/strong>
\n\t\tMy yard debris, cut and twined, stacked for pick-up. I kept the thicker branches for campwood!<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n <\/table>\n

<\/a>"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:coell:274290","link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/coell.livejournal.com\/274290.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/coell.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=274290"}}],"title":"Conversations in an Urban Outfitters","published":"2009-01-04T07:32:59Z","updated":"2009-01-04T07:32:59Z","content":"Three hipster kids were in the Urban Outfitters today, buying Converse shoes while I browsed the 75% off clearance section. They were arguing whether to get the black or gold tops.

As I am want to do, I randomly shouted, \"Black!\"

They laughed and yelled, \"Yeah!\"

Two went to cash out, while the third looked up from her texting. I shrugged as she leaned in to me and said, \"You must like Obama.\"

Am I weird, or is that a bizarre thing to say, or what? :-)"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:coell:273638","link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/coell.livejournal.com\/273638.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/coell.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=273638"}}],"title":"Vegas Santa Run 2008","published":"2008-12-09T01:45:26Z","updated":"2008-12-09T05:59:45Z","category":{"@attributes":{"term":"xmas"}},"content":"This weekend was the Las Vegas Great Santa Run, a 5K for charity. Last year they had over 7000 santas, this year I was #8009 with several thousand behind me, but I haven't seen the final number yet. They try to beat the world record every year, and I'm sure they did again - I saw some 9600's on bibs.

My time was 57:04, partly because it was a slow start shuffling until it spread out into paces... but mostly because I'm a fat bastard. ;-) I went with my Meetup volunteer group, Acts of Kindness<\/a> \"AOK\". Lovely people, beautiful weather, good times.

\"Las<\/a>
Where's Waldo? -- That's me front and center. :-B<\/small>

Click photos to enlarge...

\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n
<\/strong>
\n\t\tActs of Kindness \"AOK\" volunteer group photo<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
<\/strong>
\n\t\t<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
<\/strong>
\n\t\tSlow to start, but once folks got going, it split up into pace groups.<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
<\/strong>
\n\t\t<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
<\/strong>
\n\t\tI'm several thousand Santas away from the Start line. We had to shuffle along for at least ten minutes.<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
<\/strong>
\n\t\tCynthia, Charlie, and Alicia ready to rock.<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
<\/strong>
\n\t\tBen is ready to run!<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
<\/strong>
\n\t\tThe crowd slowly spread out as paces coagulated.<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
<\/strong>
\n\t\tCynthia Santa #8009<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
<\/strong>
\n\t\tTurn to Jesus or burn in hell, Santa. Originally just the wacko in the denim jacket, but Santas kept stopping to pose with him. ^_^<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
<\/strong>
\n\t\tSaint Nicholas<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
<\/strong>
\n\t\tFabulous misses santas? They only walked the first bit and cut a few streets for photos at the finish. No wonder, with those shoes.<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
<\/strong>
\n\t\tI came in under 57:00, partly because it was a slow start and mostly because I'm a fat bastard.<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
<\/strong>
\n\t\tOur friend Annmarie came as Elvis Santa. ROCK!<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
<\/strong>
\n\t\tNext year I'm adding something excellent to my costume!<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
<\/strong>
\n\t\tSigfried and Roy in the pace car.<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
<\/strong>
\n\t\tBob the Jewish Santa and Cynthia the Heathen Santa, being goofballs on Freemont after the race.<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n <\/tr>\n <\/table>\n
<\/a>"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:coell:273395","link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/coell.livejournal.com\/273395.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/coell.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=273395"}}],"title":"Thanksgiving Party Games","published":"2008-11-27T09:02:51Z","updated":"2008-11-27T09:12:16Z","content":"Since I don't have any family nearby, I put the invitation<\/a> out that I'm having Chinese food and going to the movies for Thanksgiving. Fifteen people RSVPed! Oh Vegas, you mecca for orphans, singles, lovers, and friends. I'm so pleased we'll all be together. ^_^

I try to have a game or contest for my dinner parties, but being in a restaurant and movie theater - something written or spoken would fit best. So I made a Thanksgiving version of Scattegories (PDF)<\/a>.

After we've ordered food, I'll pass out these half-sheets and give them a few minutes to write a word that begins with each letter. Then we take turns announcing our words, scoring 1 point for each original answer. Score 2 points for alliteration, like \"Bugs Bunny\" for a cartoon character. If a word is challenged, like \"knuckle\" for type of sandwich, the group votes. Highest score wins a prize.

I might also pass out an Autumn Crossword Puzzle (PDF)<\/a> or Word Search (PDF)<\/a>.

I also made a list of Thank-You's and will have people guess the languages. (Thank You PDF<\/a>)

How cute am I? ;D"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:coell:272952","link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/coell.livejournal.com\/272952.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/coell.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=272952"}}],"title":"ImPalin' Turkey","published":"2008-11-21T13:20:36Z","updated":"2008-11-22T03:33:50Z","category":{"@attributes":{"term":"food"}},"content":"There's a recent news article featuring Sarah Palin pardoning a turkey from Thanksgiving dinner. The joke is, in full background of her interview from the slaughterhouse, there is a kill-floor in action, and some people are butt-hurt that you get to see turkeys having their heads chopped off.



True, it's a politician's nightmare to have a press stunt go so terribly wrong. But did it?<\/i>

I'm curious ... Does anyone not know that turkey is made of ... turkey? Like, they imagine \"meat\" comes from some kind of plant or magical fairy? If you're going to raise and kill animals to eat them, how can you be upset that you had to see it happen?

\"If slaughterhouses had glass walls,
everyone would be a vegetarian.\"<\/big><\/b>
- Sir Paul McCartney<\/center>

When you go to the grocery store each week, the meat section is a nice pretty row of pre-cut dead animals, in neat little packages, chemically induced to remove the blood and rotting color from your precious widdle eyeballs. God forbid you associate killing animals with killing animals. It is a disgusting marketing white-out from a truly disgusting industry.

Do I eat meat? Sometimes. I love sushi. I've had tacos every Tuesday for two years. I've caught and killed and ate my own food. I know where it comes from. I've read the descriptions, I've seen the footage, and I had to make my own decision whether that price is something I am willing to pay. Every time you take a bite of meat, you need to thank that animal for suffering its entire life, being murdered, and processed by labor-abused and underpaid workers, in a filthy and traumatic factory line.

If you don't like seeing a man force a living and struggling turkey head-first into a machine that saws its head off and spurts blood onto the walls ... you should have Tofurkey next week. I also recommend the Chik'n, Boca burgers, and hundreds of other delicious meat alternatives that are readily available and frequently affordable.

PS: It's healthier. It's better for the environment. It's humane. I'm up to about 4-5 days a week myself. Still love cheese and eggs though. >_><\/a>

PPS: I love Countdown on MSNBC, but Shuster's voice has made me delete it all week.

PPPS: If you want to embed YouTube videos that skip ahead to at a certain point, you find the URL of the actual video in the embed code and add &start=1<\/font><\/b>, changing 1 to the number of seconds in that you want to skip, like 106 in mine.
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/v\/z-kjM1asH-8&hl=en&fs=1<\/a>"><\/param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><\/param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><\/param><embed src="http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/v\/z-kjM1asH-8&hl=en&fs=1<\/a>&start=106<\/b><\/font>" type="application\/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"><\/embed><\/object><\/small><\/blockquote>"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:coell:272781","link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/coell.livejournal.com\/272781.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/coell.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=272781"}}],"title":"Hiking: Zion Narrows","published":"2008-11-20T12:52:03Z","updated":"2008-11-20T15:27:43Z","category":{"@attributes":{"term":"adventures"}},"content":"I need a hiking icon.

Zion Narrows Bottom-Up Hikes<\/h2>August 23, 2008
& September 7, 2008
Wikipedia<\/a> & Outfitter Guide<\/a>

Zion Narrows in Zion National Park, Utah is a 16-mile canyon carved by the Virgin River. Canyon walls are over 1000 feet tall, sometimes with as little as 15-30 feet between them. 60% of the hike is spent in the water; usually below your knees, but sometimes so deep you have to swim. Both times I went, I only had to hold my pack above my head twice for sections up to my neck.

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There are three ways to hike it: 16 miles Top-Down in one day, Top-Down in two days 8+8 miles sleeping on dry camps, and my favorite Bottom-Up. The park bus takes you to the river where you walk a mile on land. Then you get in the river and hike up as far as you can, saving a third of your energy to turn around and go back to the bus. My personal record is 8 miles (4 up + 4 down).

I've seen trips posted on both the hiking clubs I belong to, but I was always afraid to go. Would I be physically able to do such a hardcore hike? They say it's like walking on wet bowling balls. It wasn't until I saw photos from a previous trip that I saw someone fatter than me on the list. I called her and asked, \"Do you think I can do this?\"

She told me that anyone could. It's a slot canyon so you can't get lost. If you get tired, just sit down on a rock and the group can pick you up on their way out. She insisted I go. So thanks to her, I had the courage to try -- and HOLY SHIT, IT IS AMAZING<\/b>. I ended up going twice in a row (8\/23<\/a> and 9\/7<\/a>), and I can't wait for June 2009 to go again. I will literally go as often as I have people to carpool with. I ended up buying my own wetshoes and poles instead of renting each time. Technically you can go whenever, but it's too cold in the winter, spring melt makes the river deep and fast, and autumn has a high risk of flash flooding.

True, it is tough<\/i>. Walking up against the flow of water is twice as hard as coming down. But if you go at your own pace and laugh off the scrapes, it's totally doable and totally worth it. I tend to hike on the slow side of moderate. On the second trip, the leader wanted to blaze ahead so he split the group in half and asked me to lead a slower version for people closer to my pace group. They made it 14 miles, we made it 7. For me, seven miles is something to PARTY FOR OMG, but I was limping home man. ;-)

It was 90 degrees out, and the river was 60 ... so it was laughably cold when you slipped and dunk in. I fell a couple times but nothing more than a bruised asshole and wet t-shirt. I usually don't drink much on hikes, but I brought 2 liters and was still thirsty on the way out. We brought lunches and ate them at the turnaround point.

There's a fork a couple hours in: The left continues the Narrows where the thinnest section of canyon is, and the right leads off to Orderville canyon where the climbing is. I've done both now, and I can say: Go right! Orderville also had deeper waters, so climbing is less scary when you know you have a bit of water to soften your fall.

I met Malia on this hike and we became fast friends. She and I paired off for Orderville and cheered each other on so well, we each set new personal records for climbing. I usually won't do more than a Class 2 or 2.5, like 3-8 feet -- but when we had to get up a 12 foot waterfall, she and I worked together and got up that CLASS 3 MUTHA! I wish I could find a photo of it, your brain would melt if you saw me Humpty-Dumptying over that sucker. ^_^<\/a>

In conclusion: SI SE PUEDE. Malia is awesome. Utah makes up for Mormans with amazing outdoor pwnage. Come visit me and I'll get a group together to go this summer! Many times!

Pictures never do scale justice. The mountains are crazy tall, and you're down in a 1000 foot canyon for miles. Creepy, stunning, awesome... you'll just have to come with me to believe it. :)

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\n\t\tHiking Group 8\/23\/08<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
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\n\t\tI'm going to climb up there next summer ... I hope. :-\/<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
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\n\t\tTake the park bus to the last stop, where you'll start the trail to the river.<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
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\n\t\tIn order to get to the Narrows, you have to walk river-side about a mile from the last stop on the park bus. You pass fabulous hanging gardens.<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
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\n\t\tRain soaks in at the top of the mountains and trickles down through the sandstone layers, leaking out when it hits a harder layer. Some of this water coming out at river level has been tested to be over a thousand years old.<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
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\n\t\tCynthia, Dan, Donna, Malia<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
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\n\t\tI met Malia on this trip and fell in love, she is super fabulous. She and I paired off to detour up Orderville Canyon, where we cheered each other through the hardest scrambling we've ever done. SO WORTH IT! ^_^<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
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\n\t\tDonna, Dan & Malia lovin' the sand bar to take a break.<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
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\n\t\tI went back two weeks later with a different group of people. Here's us passing the first waterfall.<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
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\n\t\t60% off the hike is water below your knees, passing gorgeous weeping rocks and steep canyon walls.<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
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\n\t\tThere are sections of land with rocks and trees you can take a break and have a snack (and get your camera out of the dry sack.)<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
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\n\t\tOn touristy days, the water gets way churned up -- you can't see the bottom and it's a bitch to walk through.<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
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\n\t\tVirgin River's 60 degrees in the summer - bring your wetsocks!<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
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\n\t\tWalking upriver is like walking on wet bowling balls. You need strong ankles and good balance.<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
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\n\t\tYou can either go around or over that rock on land ... or hold your pack above your head and go through the river gap up to your neck.<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
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\n\t\tPoor Sheldon sacrificed one of his hiking poles to the canyon gods in this rough patch.<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
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\n\t\tYour beautiful blogger South of Wall Street<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
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\n\t\tCynthia south of Wall Street<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
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\n\t\tCynthia sits her fat ass down on a rock and has lunch. ;-) Yes, those are guys basketball shorts - but they dry fast and cover my knees, so I'm happy.<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
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\n\t\tLeft of the fork, dry spots are harder to find. These erosion holes are big enough to party in!<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
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\n\t\tDan takes a break to adjust his shoes. You need to keep a mental note of the last high ground you passed, in case of flash flooding.<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
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\n\t\tThe tourists are coming!<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
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\n\t\tThe canyon walls are marked with erosion from the river over thousands (millions?) of years.<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
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\n\t\tIf you take the left fork, you will get a peek of sunlight before entering the narrowest slot of canyon.<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
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\n\t\tWall Street, the narrowest section of Zion Narrows<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
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\n\t\tIt's cold down in the shadows and water, so these little peeks of sunlight are good pausing spots to soak in some heat and rays.<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
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\n\t\tLook up!<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
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\n\t\tCynthia walking through the slot canyons at Zion, Utah.<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
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\n\t\tOn the September trip, there were 10 people. The guys wanted to blaze ahead, so I volunteered to be the guide for the ladies. I'd been before and they were happy to have someone closer to their pace to lead the hike.<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n <\/table>\n


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Zion is a pretty excellent park and only a couple hours away. If you asked me: \"Cynthia, you've been getting better at this! What's the one hike you're working up to?<\/b>\"

\"Angel's<\/a>Answer: I saw a friend's photos from Angel's Landing<\/a> in Zion and we passed it on the way to the Narrows. Shit the bed, I'm gonna get up there some day. Five mile loop up 1500 feet ... that's about as hard as Navajo-Queens I did at Bryce, right?

Oh, except it's a 5000 foot drop on both sides and you're on a foot-wide cliff holding onto a chain. o_O (More Photos!<\/a>) ROCK! \\m\/ (*is scared of heights*)"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:coell:272212","link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/coell.livejournal.com\/272212.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/coell.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=272212"}}],"title":"Hiking: Bryce Canyon","published":"2008-11-11T15:16:08Z","updated":"2008-11-11T20:33:59Z","content":"I haven't posted many photos from the many excellent hikes this summer, so I'm going to work on getting them all uploaded. Consider these the first in a bunch on their way...

Bryce Canyon Hiking Trip<\/h2>July 11-13, 2008
Las Vegas Hiking & Outdoors Meetup<\/a>
Bryce Canyon Park info on Wikipedia<\/a>

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Sunset Campground to Sunset Point, switchbacks down Navajo Trail<\/a> through Wall Street, then canyon floor connector to Queens Garden<\/a>, up to Sunrise Point and Rim Trail back to Sunset Campground. 6 miles: Descending 550 ft over half a mile, several gradual miles on the floor, up a 330 ft. mile, and back to camp. 5 hours.

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Definitely the hardest hike I've ever done. As usual, I cried near the end - because I was exhausted but proud. What an amazing park, famous for tower formations called hoodoos<\/b> and arches, all formed by plateau erosion.

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\"Wall<\/a>We rented a bus from Las Vegas to Utah and brought two kegs since Utah is run by crazies. We camped at Sunset Campground, which has toilets and sinks on-site. The general store a mile away has pay showers, and though they only charge $2 for ten minutes, after climbing Queens on both Friday and Saturday, I would have paid $20 for that beautiful, beautiful shower on Sunday!

Forty people went and we split into smaller groups of ability. I consider myself a moderate hiker, but compared to some of these folks, I'm a sea cow<\/strike> manitee. I'm fine with distance, but the climbs hurt. We did Queens on Friday night by moon. You see the main event on Saturday above, after I got up early with 3 people to watch the sunrise, and I skipped the sunrise on Sunday to curl up in my teeny tent. (OMG SO TIRED)

45 photos from this trip: http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/coell\/tags\/brycecanyon<\/a>

\"Cynthia<\/a><\/center>"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:coell:272116","link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/coell.livejournal.com\/272116.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/coell.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=272116"}}],"title":"Address List Update 2008","published":"2008-11-11T12:09:12Z","updated":"2008-11-11T15:45:37Z","category":{"@attributes":{"term":"icons"}},"content":"I'm starting to see holiday card address requests, so I'd better add mine to the mix. I am the worst procrastinator ever, so the sooner the better, eh? Whether you'd like a card or not, solstice or festivus, whatever ... I still like knowing where I can send you random porn<\/strike> goodies. ^_^

If you are on my friendslist, my address and other contact info are always available on my Intro to Coell Post<\/a> (locked). If you can't read that page, I can email it or you can link me to your holiday post.

View Poll: Address List Update<\/a><\/div>
Zombies are the reason for the season!<\/font><\/small>
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<\/a>I'd also like to get a head start on <\/a>deck_the_icons<\/b><\/a><\/span>, so I posted the Request Post<\/a> to open up 2008's molestation sensation. If you have an icon you'd like me to manipulate, go post and I'll start working through them as I have time. Most folks want holiday stuff added like santa hats and twinkle lights, but you can ask for whatever any time. Some of you get randomly molested as the muse strikes anyway. ^_^

Did you know ^_^<\/b> is my favorite (if not overused) smiley?

If you are an icon maker and would like to be on the roster this year, I love sharing the community. Let me know and I'll add you as an minion<\/strike> Elf. I also do banners and headers if you'd like your layout decked. (Harder stuff I reserve for friends, but the community's open to whoever. Feel free to pimp as the time nears.)"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:coell:271828","link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/coell.livejournal.com\/271828.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/coell.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=271828"}}],"title":"44th Prez","published":"2008-11-06T13:53:16Z","updated":"2008-11-06T14:36:03Z","category":{"@attributes":{"term":"lolz"}},"content":"

I don't know the source?<\/small><\/center>
Didn't Jonathan Coulton use those 43 to go with his Presidents song?

Anyway... YAY!!!<\/b><\/big><\/big>

By the way, the cat that I was cat-sitting these past few months? The owner can't take her back, so I put her up for adoption<\/a> on <\/a>lasvegas<\/b><\/a><\/span>. Next I'll try <\/a>lasvegashidden<\/b><\/a><\/span>, then craigslist (until the animal rights activists flag it down within minutes.) *fingers crossed* The sheer cuteness of photos should be enough to persuade someone!

She really is a sweetheart, but my allergies have been going nuts. Everett stays downstairs 90% of the time, and mostly sleeps in Jeff's room, so he hasn't been a problem. But boy lately, I've had the whole shebang: watery itchy eyes, congestion, asthma attacks ... EFF THAT!"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:coell:271267","link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/coell.livejournal.com\/271267.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/coell.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=271267"}}],"title":"Election Bingo","published":"2008-11-04T00:05:19Z","updated":"2008-11-20T08:28:18Z","category":{"@attributes":{"term":"politics"}},"content":"I'm having an Election Night Party and I'd like to make up a bingo card for funny terms or election buzzwords<\/a>. Can you think of a word, event, name, etc that could go on a square for Election Night Bingo? The traditional grid is 24 spaces, but I can do whatever I want. There are some available online, but if you have better ideas for spaces, please share!

Most of our guests are Obama supporters, but we'll have both sides present. So maybe one style for everyone, or a different set depending on your candidate? They should be easy enough to be fun, but rare enough so everyone doesn't win at once. Mockery encouraged!