She has arrived. She is sipping tall, fruity drinks with small umbrellas!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bula Folks,

Just wanted to let you all know we arrived safe and sound. We are now
sitting on the deck looking at the ocean, sipping tall fruity drinks with
umbrellas in them. Believe it or not I am working. I’ve spent the past 2
hours sending out e-mails – all work related.

We are waiting to meet our Fijian contact to go view the office space, the
set, the other hotel and not sure what else.

I’ll be in touch.

Redd
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Let me know your address Redd. I have to send you GB jr.

The short story of the long story below is: Tony is looking for a replacement brush for Simon. I haven’t actually figured out why Tony is trying to find a replacement brush, but that could be for another time. The specs on the brush are (see entry below for pics):

• plastic
• silver coated paint
• 15 rows long
• 5 rows wide
• with the exact number and shape of vents in its base
• ball tipped nylon brisstles

Tony thinks it was originally purchased circa 1981 in Britain. I guess I could ask that if anybody out there who happens to be reading my blog thinks they might have an identical brush for Tony, you could leave a comment here. I’ll forward any leads to Tony.

How fun. This might prove interesting.

Not a brush with a celebrity, but–quite literally–a brush and a celebrity. Actually, it’s not even my brush, but it is Simon Cowell’s brush. Apparently, he is looking to replace his brush with an identical one. Here is a picture of his brush:

Front Profile of The Brush

Side Profile of The Brush

My friend Tony (although in actual fact, I’ve only met him once–but I do talk to him in the IM and he’s an incredibly generous person) has taken the challenge of trying finding the twin brush.

I met Tony in April at a business meeting. He had just finished an evening at American Idol and laughingly told us this story about how Simon wanted to find a new–yet old (because it has to be identical)–brush. I finally got enough courage to ask him if I could post the picture of The Brush on my blog yesterday when we were chatting in the IM.

[18:34] tbeckerman: cool…so what you going to ask me
[18:34] YukonGirl261: When I first met you, you had an awesome story about a hairbrush…
[18:34] YukonGirl261: Do you have a picture of that hairbrush?
[18:34] tbeckerman: yes, you mean the Simon Cowell brush?
[18:34] YukonGirl261: And can I post something on my blog? In fact, you could write your story and I’ll post it on my blog…
[18:35] YukonGirl261: It’s a very random thing. It fits in nicely with my theme.
[18:35] YukonGirl261: That would be funny.
[18:35] tbeckerman: sure, you can write the story for me…with humor
[18:36] tbeckerman: I’ll e-mail you the picture of the “old” brush
[18:36] YukonGirl261: Always with humour. But, if I write the story…it’s from my perspective. It’s not necessarily the story of “The BRUSH”.
[18:36] YukonGirl261: And it will just be the bits and pieces I remember.
[18:36] YukonGirl261: But that would be funny.
[18:37] tbeckerman: no problems.. I like that. E-mail me your email address again……whoa…. my battery is going down and I have no cord with me…I’ve got about 5 minutes left
[18:37] YukonGirl261: oh. Ok. No problem.
[18:38] YukonGirl261: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
[18:38] YukonGirl261: I’m going to owe you a lesson or two on blogging–because you asked me once.
[18:39] tbeckerman: yep… I’ll try to send the pic before I lose power
[18:39] YukonGirl261: ok. Thanks. I’ll talk to you later. Have a great weekend Tony.
[18:40] YukonGirl261: I’m sure you will. Your family will be back.
[18:40] YukonGirl261: Bye.
[18:40] tbeckerman: you too….
Session Close (tbeckerman): Fri Jul 28 18:40:21 2006

Session Start (YukonGirl261:tbeckerman): Fri Jul 28 18:44:30 2006
[18:44] tbeckerman: check your mail
[18:44] YukonGirl261: Ok. Cool.
[18:45] YukonGirl261: ooohhh.. You just made my day. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
[18:45] YukonGirl261: I’ll have to think of what I’m going to write now.
[18:45] tbeckerman: wow, you’re easily made happy
[18:45] YukonGirl261: Are you threatening him with the brush???
[18:46] YukonGirl261: Or interviewing him?
[18:46] tbeckerman: yes, I told him that if he wasn’t nice to me, I was going to destroy the brush
[18:46] YukonGirl261: Hey. My happiness doesn’t take much sometimes.
[18:46] YukonGirl261: Have you found a new brush for him?
[18:47] YukonGirl261: Or. Rather, is he nice to you?
[18:47] tbeckerman: no, it’s such an old model that it isn’t made anymore. I’ve search all over
[18:47] YukonGirl261: Or brutally honest?
[18:47] YukonGirl261: Did you check ebay?
[18:47] tbeckerman: everywhere in the world
[18:47] YukonGirl261: oh.
[18:48] tbeckerman: I have a brush manufacturer who will make a mold and develop it for me
[18:48] YukonGirl261: It’s like you’re on a search for the Holy Brush.
[18:48] YukonGirl261: Really?
[18:48] YukonGirl261: A Simon Product ™
[18:48] tbeckerman: yes…the holy “fu##ing” brush
[18:48] YukonGirl261:
[18:48] YukonGirl261: What’s wrong with the brush?
[18:49] tbeckerman: it will be called the Simon Brush
[18:49] YukonGirl261: The Simon Brush ™
[18:49] tbeckerman: nothing, it’s just a very antique model that was made about 25 years ago
[18:49] YukonGirl261: antique!!!1
[18:49] YukonGirl261: 25 years ago??
[18:49] tbeckerman: he wants an identical one..not a new version
[18:49] YukonGirl261: I’m antique!
[18:50] YukonGirl261: Hey.
[18:50] tbeckerman: maybe longer, it belonged t his (late) Dad
[18:50] YukonGirl261: My aunt was a hairdresser 25 years ago.
[18:50] YukonGirl261: I wonder if she has brushes from then?
[18:50] tbeckerman: I began hairdressing 45 years ago… that makes me a dinasor
[18:50] YukonGirl261: I used to have a brush that looked like that. But it was purple.
[18:50] tbeckerman: it has to be exact
[18:51] tbeckerman: I could probably find it in a swap meet
[18:51] YukonGirl261: Hmm… What are the specs? After all, I am a technical writer.
[18:51] tbeckerman: with fleas and hair in it
[18:51] YukonGirl261: yuck.
[18:52] YukonGirl261: Does he not want to use this one anymore? Because it belonged to his Dad?
[18:52] YukonGirl261: Sometimes, I think you just need to update yourself.
[18:52] YukonGirl261: That includes getting a new hairbrush.
[18:52] tbeckerman: plastic, silver coated paint. 15 rows long and 5 rows wide. with the exxact number and shape of vents in its base
[18:52] tbeckerman: ball tipped nylon bristles
[18:53] YukonGirl261: Who was the original manufacturer?
[18:53] tbeckerman: I wish I knew that
[18:53] tbeckerman: no name anywhere on it
[18:53] YukonGirl261: Where did he buy it? In Britain?
[18:54] tbeckerman: It looks like an original something…yes in Britain
[18:55] tbeckerman: his father’s barber bought it many moons ago
[18:56] YukonGirl261: Many moons ago…
[18:56] YukonGirl261: ha!
[18:56] tbeckerman: before the wheel was invented
[18:57] YukonGirl261: Ha.
[18:57] tbeckerman: ok, really gotta go now and do a diaper change for my son.. He was 3 yesterday
[18:57] YukonGirl261: Oh. Sorry. Yes.
[18:58] YukonGirl261: Definitely a priority.
[18:58] tbeckerman: NEVER be sorry, you’re fun to talk to
[18:58] YukonGirl261: K.
[18:58] YukonGirl261: I might reference you as “my friend Tony”. Would that be OK?
[18:58] YukonGirl261: Because, when we’re talking in the IM. I think of you as my friend.
[18:59] YukonGirl261: But I don’t want to be presumptuous.
[18:59] YukonGirl261: too presumptuous.
[18:59] tbeckerman: You can reference me as whatever you wish. I never get offended
if you could smell him now….you’d realize how much of a priority it is
[18:59] YukonGirl261: Ok. Bye.
Session Close (tbeckerman): Fri Jul 28 18:59:56 2006

I had dinner with my friend KatieBird the other day. We were talking about cooking and eating and food in general (one of my favourite topics–of course!). She mentioned that her husband likes variety–trying something new all the time. She said she’s completely happy plugging along eating the same thing–well–because it works.

I said I had a few recipes on my blog. I also said I would put up a few more. I like salads. Here’s a recipe for smoked trout salad.

1 filet of smoked trout. I get my smoked trout at the local fancy grocery store in a rush, or at Costco when I’ve actually planned it out. My parents, on the other hand would probably go out and catch the trout themselves. They would probably go camping at Fox Lake, Little Atlin Lake, Tagish Lake or any one of the those completely accessible lakes within camping distance of their house. Then, they would probably bring it home and smoke it themselves. My parents are retired, by the way. They have time to go out and catch the trouts and bring them home to smoke them.

1 head of butter lettuce. I also get this at the grocery store. My Mum and Dad grow their own. No surprise there. Mum has an award-winning garden. My Dad recently built her raised garden beds–because they are easier to garden in. But of course she grows her own. Did I mention my parents are retired?

Some purple onion for colour and flavour. Slice it as thinly as possible. Razor-thin strips. Just for that hint of onion flavour.

About one cup of dried cranberries. I get these at Costco in bulk because I LOOOVVEEE dried cranberries. My Mum would go pick them herself from Wolf Creek Campground or somewhere just by her house. I don’t know if she would dry them though. Oh–who am I kidding? Of course she would. She would also grow her own onions.

I like glass bowls for my salads. I don’t know why, I just do. Find a creative-looking glass bowl in your cupboard. Tear up the butter lettuce into bite-sized pieces. It makes it nicer to eat. Flake the filet of trout over top. Sprinkle the cranberries. Top with the slivers of onion.

Now for the dressing. It’s the same dressing I use for French Tuna, Tomato, and Corn Salad. I don’t think my Mum makes her own mustard. But she may–I don’t actually know. Did I mention my parents are retired?

My sister Redd is going to be on location for a film in Fiji for the next five months. She’s offered to take GB jr for an adventure. Whoopee!!! I’m excited. I hope GB jr is excited. He doesn’t know yet though, because he’s somewhere in John’s storage.

John. You’re a party pooper.

Redd. The same rules apply though:

• Take interesting pictures of the bear.
• Take pictures with no humans in them–just props and the bear.
• Every so often, please send updates of the bear.
• Do not loose the bear. Please return the bear safe and sound.
• No pornographic pictures with the bear, SVP. This project is purely G-rated.
• And finally, do not–I repeat–do not, let Chris Danton take pornographic pictures of the bear.

First, I’ll have to get GB jr back from John. I’ll send him to you when you get an established address in Fiji.

No, this is not a recipe. It has been HOT here. HOT. HOT. HOT. I’m melting. But at least I haven’t keeled over like this cow…poor thing.

I just dug this entry out of my collection of starts for blog entries. I’d started this story sometime last year when I was still living in Healdsburg. I used to walk around Fitch Mountain every Sunday morning with my neighbours. We called ourselves Fitch Mountain Fitness. I haven’t seen my neighbours for awhile, let alone walk around the mountain. Carol broke her leg in the winter (skiing) and she’s just started being able to walk. I miss those walks with my neighbours. I miss my neighbours. Oh well. I can’t really complain about where I’m at. My neighbours are further away but they are still my friends.

I wrote this the day that our walk was spoiled by some self-appointed asshole acting as a self-appointed policeman. We were some pissed off–well, for a while anyway.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yesterday, on our regular walk around the Fitch Mountain with my group of neighbours (Fitch Mountain Fitness), we decided to take a road less travelled. Christine showed us that we could take Scenic Lane, cut across a field and pop out on the other side. However, this time, there was a big gate and a NO TRESPASSING sign. So, we just continued on the way of Scenic Lane.

At the end of Scenic Lane, there was what looked like a well-worn path to the other side (or so we believed). We started in. On the way, we paused to take in the visuals of Geyser Peak and Alexander Valley. Pretty spectacular. We are very lucky to live in Sonoma County. We ended up at a dirt road. We turned left onto the dirt road and started up to where we might find the road to take us home. As we just started in one direction, a big old Cadillac SUV turned the corner and approached us. We could hear the yappy dog before it stopped. The driver was as intense, but silent. He rolled down the passenger window.

“You are trespassing.” Yap. Yap. Yap. The yappy dog is a Jack Russell terrier.

“Oh. We’re sorry. We’re just trying to get to Powell. Does this road join Powell?”

“You are trespassing.” Yap. Yap. Yap. Paws on the window, right in our faces.

“Well. We are trying to find our way out. We just want to get to Powell Street.”

“Go back the way you came.” Yap. Yap. He pushed the dog out of his way so he could glare at us.

Three of us started explaining all at once. “We took the path at the end of Scenic Lane. There weren’t any NO TRESPASSING signs. How were we supposed to know? We’re not bad people. We’re just out for a walk.”

“Get off this property.”

Now we are getting annoyed. We were just out for a pleasant walk. “Who are you? Do you own this property? We didn’t see any NO TRESPASSING signs. What if we just walk up this hill? Can we get out? What’s the fastest way off the property?”

“Get off this property. Now.” He rolls up the window and continues on down the hill in the opposite direction in which we were headed.

Half of us decide to go back the way we came. Half of us decide to keep challenging him. Carol starts up the hill to see if there is a locked gate or something at the top. Mela starts back the way we came. Christine keeps yelling at the insolent man about how he needs to get a life and how, if he did, he wouldn’t have to ruin our pleasant Sunday hike. Who pissed in his cornflakes that morning? Why does he feel the need to police this bit of road? Was he hiding something? Maybe he had a crop of pot or something.

I was torn: challenge the impudence or retreat? I didn’t know if we were trespassing. But, there weren’t any signs. The man had pulled out of sight just around the corner and had gotten out of his car to make sure we went back the way we came!!! Eventually, all of us followed Mela. Carol was fuming. She does not like to retreat nor retrace her steps. She is refreshing that way. Christine and Carol ended up shouting comments over their shoulders while following Mela’s and my retreat. The best comment came from Christine. She was so mad she could hardly speak. She belligerently sputtered: “You! You! You are just a fat bastard with a limp dick and a dog that needs therapy!”

We all started to laugh. It was enough to lighten the mood. We went back the way we came, back round the mountain, and back home. Laughing. Laughing and shouting: “You are just a fat bastard with a limp dick and a dog that needs therapy!” Then laughing some more.

I was right. John decided taking pictures of the wee bear thing wasn’t going to work for him.

As things stand, GB jr is being stored in a safe place until I can retrieve him. I guess I’ll just make up a story and take the pictures myself over the summer. That will be an interesting project.

Stay tuned to the Valis blog though. It could be interesting.

When is it OK to sit on a toilet and use your cell phone? NEVER! That’s why they should be called When NEVER minutes. Not whenever minutes.

Here is an excerpt from and email I received today. I can’t believe this sort of thing happens. I mean, people in California barely even smoke for Christ’s sake, but they do this????

Yuck.

~~~~~~~~~~
>Jen,
>
>Something that happened today…
>
>I was in the [men's] bathroom washing my hands. I could hear someone
>talking. Someone was in a stall talking on their cell phone! Just as I tuned
>into the conversation, I heard:
>
>I can’t…
>
>Not now…
>
>I just CAN’T…
>
>BECAUSE I’M TAKING A SHIT…
>
>some more talking
>
>Hang on, I need to use both hands…
>
>Ewwwwwww. I guess he was using his “whenever minutes”. I can’t believe
>people do that. Maybe the phone companies should use this example to
>advertise their Bluetooth headsets!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Who do you think he was talking to? A colleague? Was he making a sale? Maybe he was talking to his wife or mother or something. Just so you know. It is never OK to go to the bathroom, sit on a toilet, and talk to me. I never want to be in one hand while your other is wiping your butt. NEVER.

Do you think that people need a reminder as you walk into the public bathrooms: For the consideration of others, please turn off your cell phones. Maybe all that’s missing is that polite reminder. Yuck. I still think it’s disgusting.

I went out last with a few colleagues from work last Friday evening. There ended up being a group of us from various companies. One person I met was just about to fly to Hawaii and return on a sail boat. Interesting adventure, I thought. I asked if it were a planned trip or adventure trip. He said his friend had a boat that was returning from Hawaii (the sailing vessel Valis to be correct). He was going along for the ride. I thought it would be funny and interesting to enlist GB jr (my wee teddy bear–yes, I have teddy bears and I’m not embarrassed to admit it. Because there is also a story behind the bears!!) go along for an adventure.

I think John (the real crewman) is slightly more than embarrassed to be carrying along a wee brown bear–especially since he doesn’t even know me. However, he was sheepishly game (but that was probably the beer). I think his pals will surely take the piss for awhile–but whatever–anything for blogging material. This ought to be interesting.

I’ve thought of a few simple rules for this project too.

• Take interesting pictures of the bear.
• Take pictures with no humans in them–just props and the bear.
• Every so often, please send updates of the bear.
• Don’t loose the bear.
• No pornographic pictures with the bear, SVP. This project is purely G rated.

I had a lot of fun with my Little People Project last year when I went home the Yukon for my parents wedding anniversary. I took pictures of the Little People everywhere. I even took them over the Chilkoot Trail.

That’s it. That’s all I can think of right now. I hope John has fun, takes the ribbing from his mates, and takes some good pictures. We’ll have to see.