Nothing but bad news.

Can I just tell you that I really dislike watching the local news? There is nothing that will make me feel depressed about the world faster than watching it. Really, Craig and I will watch for about 7 minutes and then have to change the channel. Tonight: woman found in trunk of car at Liberty Hospital. Woman tries to smother her foster child at Children's Mercy. Someone robs a Quizno's. Do I really need to know these things (except maybe the Liberty thing--that was like 4 minutes from our house)? Can't I just live in happy oblivion imagining that we aren't all out killing or trying to kill each other? Oh, it's OK, an "Everybody Loves Raymond" rerun is on now. Thank goodness. :)

Random thoughts

likes:
creating things
when a design works
new paths in life

dislikes:
boredom
condescension

Crate and Barrel coming soon...very soon...

one of my undercover spy in the southland has informed me that the Crate and Barrel near Town Center Plaza now has the name and logo of the store in place. It shouldn't be long now... (thanks Colie!)

Incidentally, can I just say that I can't spell "barrel" right the first time, ever? (Should have two l's.) Or exercise. (Should have a c after the x.) Or broccoli. (Should have two c's and two l's).

New Toy!

Today at work I got a real grown-up graphic designer tool...a digital drawing tablet. It's pretty sweet. It sits on my desktop in front of my monitor and I can draw on it with a pen stylus instead of having to use a mouse. Like much new technology you are first learning to use, I'm still at the "is this really going to make me more efficient, because everything takes longer" phase, but I'm getting it!

The Soap Box Company

I was just looking at the website www.thesoapboxco.com. It's a company run by my friend Jeff's sister, and they sell all natural bath and beauty products. Unique, feminine indulgences and always free goodies and specials.

Childlike wonder at the air show

Today, Craig and I and a bunch of friends went to another friend's apartment in the River Market to watch the air show at the downtown airport. He had a great view from his apartment, but we also got to go up on the roof where we could see everything perfectly. The highlight was the Blue Angels exhibition. It is amazing how their feats of flying prowess turn all of us instantly in awestruck kids, oohing, ahhhing, yelling, clapping and covering our ears. It was just fun. Really fun.

On a side note, being down in the River Market never fails to make us miss living down there. We love having a house, but I will always love the downtown vibe. What a great neighborhood the River Market is.

Official geek-ness

I decided today that I am officially a geek. Because at the end of the day I was really excited about what I was working on, and what I was working on was...examining census data. I came back from the ministryCOM conference in Phoenix with a real sense that to be able to be sure we are putting the most effective communications out there, we need to know that our perceptions of who makes up our community are right. I got on the census website and downloaded some numbers, and just had a really fascinating time looking at them. Interesting.

New Barenaked Ladies CD

Exciting event in Nicole-world: Barenaked Ladies new CD came out Tuesday. Check it out here. No seriously, just do it.

The Bitfall Project

File this under "what will they think of next?" The Bitfall Project uses strategically timed droplets of water to spell words and display images for just a few seconds. Check it out:

Bitfall Project 1

Bitfall Project 2

A pile of useless expensive things

Next to our microwave, there is a pile of useless expensive things. It's a small pile, just two things: my broken iPod, and a pair of pricy sunglasses with a shattered lens. (Actually, Craig got the sunglasses for free from work, so they are only theoretically expensive, but anyway...) Every time I look at them, sitting there so pitiful, not realizing their potential, it makes me think about the true nature of "stuff." I know that money can't buy you love, or happiness, but I do remember the sense of coolness I felt when I first bought that iPod, and the first time I wore those sunglasses, but what are they doing for me now? Nothing except making me mad at Apple. (The sunglasses manufacturer can't be held responsible...the sunglasses shouldn't have been in the car cupholder anyway.) God's teaching me something here, I have a sneaking suspicion.

OK, so I'm finally doing it...

I've thought about starting a blog for a long time, and haven't because of the following questions:

• Will I update it? Answer: I think so.
• Will anyone look at it? Answer: Ummm...
• Is my life eventful enough to have anything to write about? Answer: Perhaps, but if not, I'll just tell my sister's stories, because they are generally way more interesting!
• And the big question...am I brave enough to put my thoughts out there for the world to see and comment on? Answer: I am at this moment.