I really wanted to call this post "Fucking Sidewalk Replacement". And then in my head I was all, "but what if that's what goes up at Feed Tacoma and people are all offended and shit?" And then I remembered that I made a promise to myself that even though my Mom reads this blog from time to time (hi Mom!), that I wouldn't censor myself for anyone. That this is my own space to write whatever the hell I want...but then again...Feed Tacoma isn't my own space. Conundrum! Especially after all the publicity from yesterday.

I'll have to talk to Kevin about that. What's Feed Tacoma's official policy on swearing like a sailor?

Anyway...

This is my sidewalk:

I know it's my sidewalk, not only because it's directly in front of my house, but because I just paid the city of Tacoma over $1000 to replace it. They sent me a letter telling me that I had to replace it, because of the terrible condition of my unholy sidewalk:

(Click to read)

Am I the only one missing the terrible condition of my sidewalk? Especially, say, in the front six squares in the picture? Are there some booby traps or sidewalk demons I'm missing? No wayward tree roots have made their way skyward, and all of the cement is pretty much in one piece. I've read the description of "dangerous" sidewalks in Tacoma and I don't think mine falls into that category, but whatever.

So for the sake of peace, I've given in and paid for the stupid sidewalk replacement. Am I the only one pissed off by the fact that the original assessment of the sidewalk was done the year prior to my owning the house but I'm still paying for it? And why is the city forcing me to have ugly-ass sidewalks instead of keeping some semblance of historical accuracy since I live in the North Slope Historic District and I want to keep my neighborhood the way it is?

See my old-timey stamp?

See the hideous, glowing, ghost-like, new cement?

Am I the only one who thinks this patchwork of new and old cement will look like crap on a cracker? Get ready to welcome this look all over neighborhoods near you!

Posted by: Ensie at 04:43 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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1 Well, amusingly enough though the title didn't have swearing most of your first paragraph showed up on feed>>tacoma as well

Posted by: izenmania at November 30, 2007 05:03 PM (/fI+2)

2 Oh well. I tried. Can't win them all.

Posted by: ensie at November 30, 2007 05:08 PM (6We+3)

3 On a more thought-out note... right now I'd just settle for sidewalks being open. what with Prium developments on all sides, 505 Broadway and whatever is going in across the street from there, construction has taken over 6th and 7th, forcing me to criss cross (or just walk in the middle of the road, which is more my style anyway). There are certainly sidewalks out there that could use replacing. Those with protruding panels encouraging the tripping of unobservant pedestrians and such. But yours looks to have been one of the nice ones. I don't know. As a non-property-owner I can't really say how I'd feel about it.

Posted by: izenmania at November 30, 2007 05:14 PM (/fI+2)

4 It's really good to get the perspective of someone who does a lot of walking around Tacoma like you do, izenmania. That sucks that so many of your routes are closed due to constructions. I know there is so much going on around Wright Park at the moment it's a bitch to drive around there, I can imagine it's twice as bad to walk. In taking the dogs for walks around our neighborhood there are definitely sidewalks that need replacing. I've fallen down over several. However, I just can't believe that my particular sidewalk is one of them with it's 99% flat surface and 1 or 2 small cracks (vs. massive eruptions of tree roots and feeling like you're climbing a small Everest in some areas). Nor do I believe that laying down bright white unmatched concrete is the best option for a neighborhood that prides itself on being a historic landmark.

Posted by: ensie at November 30, 2007 09:11 PM (6We+3)

5 The "conundrum" caused me to laugh aloud. I have censored myself on occasion as well for very similar reasons. That sidewalk does indeed resemble a crap cracker.

Posted by: sparkrobot at November 30, 2007 09:20 PM (lsev4)

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Today's South Sound Technology Conference at the UW Tacoma was a blast. I had the chance to see a number of local bloggers speak, some of whom I am very familiar with, others I have never heard of before.

While I enjoyed listening to all the speakers and panelists, highlights for me included:

The "How Blogging Has Transformed the News" panel, featuring David Zeeck, Executive Editor of the Tacoma News Tribune, who was fascinating to listen to. He was a HUGE proponent of sharing resources and ideas, which was really great to hear, considering the arguments that have come up in the past between bloggers and "official" news sources.

The ParentBlogger panel which featured Elle of Life of Elle (among other awesome parent bloggers), who I met later on. How did I never know about this blog before? Definitely taking a permanent place on the blogroll.

Justin Carder on the "Civic Blogging: Public Discourse and Participation Through Blogs" Panel, who is working to create neighborhood blogs through his myzip.net network. His Capital Hill Blog reminds me a lot of Feed Tacoma in that it's a place for people in a neighborhood to come together and become a neighborhood.

Several other bloggers and tech folks were present, including Derek of Exit 133, Kevin of kevinfreitas.net and feedtacoma.com, and Andrew Fry (who did a great job being "policeman").

Posted by: Ensie at 05:20 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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A dog can never really be separated from its forever person. Neither time nor space can ever come between them. So when the dog comes to the end of its earthly life, and must go on ahead without its person beside them, the guardian angel becomes a loving bridge that connects the two friends for as long as the person remains on earth.

--Excerpted from For Every Dog An Angel by Christine Davis

Thank you to Dr. Warren and the staff of Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital for making Pharaoh's last hour one of peace and love. And to the awesome folks at Mud Bay and Lucky Dog for the treats and hugs on his "farewell tour".

Posted by: Ensie at 11:44 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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After much consideration, Frinklin and I have decided to find a new home for Sadie. This is doubly painful as it comes at the same time as we are dealing with Pharaoh's impending death, but it has become very clear to us over the last couple of weeks that Sadie is not fitting into our family the way we had hoped she would.

Initially, we assumed the Princess of Thumbs would eventually give way to the rule King Percy. He's a relatively benevolent King , allowing things to play out daily without interfering most of the time. However, this defiant female usurper who refused to bow to his kitty will definitely rankled him and he set out to break her. While initially these started out as long, annoying games of "I'm not touching you..." they progressed rapidly to something far more annoying and eventually dangerous.

We've been listening to cat fights that have been growing in intensity and frequency over the last few weeks. They've been upsetting the other cats, the dogs, and Frinklin and myself. They can and do erupt at any time - when I'm on the phone with clients, when we have friends over, or in the middle of the night. Nothing like waking up to wailing, shrieking, spitting cats in the middle of the bed at 3 AM!

The cat fights have also manifested in Sadie not being able to move comfortably around the house, causing her to start urinating in odd places like: the floor, the countertop, and the top of the kitchen cabinets. Yes - the top of the kitchen cabinets! Fortunately I own an arsenal of cleaning supplies and have scrubbed down and sterilized everything in my house regularly. Once the cat fights diminish, I believe the litter box issues will disappear.

The Humane Society does not accept cats with litter box issues, which is the category she falls into. So I'm looking for a new home for Sadie on my own. I truly feel that Sadie just needs the right home, not to be put to sleep. She needs a place where she feels secure and safe, and isn't chased away from the litter box(es). I think a home where she is an only cat would be wonderful. Dogs are not a problem. Cat-safe dogs are fine for her. I think she would be just fine with kids that wouldn't be too rough with her. She loves to sit in laps and be cuddled for hours while she purrs.

If you or anyone you know are interested in Sadie, would you please e-mail me at ensie1@gmail.com

Posted by: Ensie at 04:24 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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This is totally something I can get behind!

Instead of Buy Nothing Day, which I think is kind of silly (isn't it better to avoid the shops you want to protest all year?), use this day to focus on local shops who need the income just as much as the chain stores.

Posted by: Ensie at 10:09 AM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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1 That's funny, I was working on a buy local day entry while you were posting this. I think we'll see a bunch today around Feedtacoma.

Posted by: Jen at November 23, 2007 10:35 AM (LMqvC)

2 I hope so.

Posted by: ensie at November 23, 2007 11:16 AM (6We+3)

3 One of the best Tacomics of all time.

Posted by: Erik B. at November 25, 2007 01:06 AM (QOBbx)

4 Love the pic!!

Posted by: Sharoni at November 25, 2007 11:18 AM (BqcQE)

5 Buy local day is a much better idea than not buying and thing at all. It'd prove a point to the larger corporations and help out smaller local businesses that really need your help.

Posted by: The Beagle at November 25, 2007 12:57 PM (TlAxk)

6 Same difference. Cool. MB2-632 Take it for granted. You should appreciate the fact that you have parents who love you. Don't take it for granted. 640-863 Don't be so stubborn. jn0-303 What's the big deal! 70-448 You'll die a horrible death. 000-206 I can't believe it.

Posted by: Pass4sure engine at February 02, 2009 07:38 AM (P7E/+)

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Yesterday I took Pharaoh, my elderly great dane mix, to the vet. He came home with me, but there's only a limited number of hours left.

It's been a long time coming. This trip. It was a consultation on his worsening condition. Since we brought him home he's had terrible back and hip problems, so bad initially that he slept outside for the first week. Stairs have always been his nemesis, and lately they've been more and more of a problem.

He's an incredibly proud dog, and hanging around anywhere near his hind end while he negotiates any obstacle is a good way to end up with puncture wound. His body language is clear, "DO NOT ATTEMPT TO HELP. I CAN DO THIS MYSELF." Touch him, and a roar of anger will emit from within and he will go down, all forward progress stopped while he flails to reach you like an alligator in a mud pit. Charming, no?

Pharaoh wasn't meant to be here this long. We adopted him to have a home while he lived out his remaining weeks or months. Instead he lasted a year and a half.

He started following me around after a few days, insisting that his broken, clunky body get up and down to be in the same room with me, even if I was just changing the laundry around. He loves to plunk his head down in my lap, expecting his entire head to be roughly scratched and rubbed for a good 10 minutes before he will finally relax in his own bed. He's slept beside me since he could make it inside the house.

But he's started snarling and snapping at the other dogs and cats, inciting fights with The Jeffrey and ending up the loser in a number of battles. He's refusing to eat more and more often, and he can't seem to remember when he's in or outside before letting loose his bladder anymore.

During the car ride to the vet yesterday he couldn't get all the way onto the car seat to see out the window - possibly his favorite thing ever. He had to ride on the floor.

So this weekend Frinklin and I will have a Pharaoh Day with car rides and walks and dog park. He's on super-duper pain killers to keep his body up to the tasks his mind will enjoy.

Next week he will be put to sleep and his ashes spread over the Tacoma Narrows.

As I write this he is curled up beside me as best a great dane with back problems can curl. I am already missing him.

Posted by: Ensie at 01:12 PM | Comments (9) | Add Comment
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1 When I first read this, I couldn't respond. Largely because I had too many tears I was trying to fight back. Having had the honor of meeting Pharaoh, I know he's an admirable dog. Lots of pride, but still a total sweetheart. I will definitely miss him. I think your Pharaoh Day is such a sweet, wonderful idea. I'm so glad Pharaoh has been able to spend is latter days in your household. You and Frinklin are the best pet parents ever.

Posted by: Cassioposa at November 21, 2007 02:12 PM (/fI+2)

2 Love you guys and Pharaoh too. He's been such a sweetie when we've come over and definitely a dog even I could love. He has great parents and I'm sure is very grateful.

Posted by: KevinFreitas at November 21, 2007 02:16 PM (/fI+2)

3 I am so sorry. I hope he has lots of nice walks this weekend. You are very special people to have met him where he is at all this time.

Posted by: Jen at November 21, 2007 02:19 PM (LMqvC)

4 I am so so sorry. I know what it's like to have to make this kind of decision and, even when for the best, it is never easy. As fellow pet lovers we thank you for taking Pharaoh in, keeping him, caring for him and loving him so well he lived well beyond his expected time. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend together and please let us know if we can do anything. Angela & Steve

Posted by: Angela at November 21, 2007 02:20 PM (N/glr)

5 Sad to hear Pets are family and it's never easy

Posted by: Michael at November 21, 2007 02:34 PM (/fI+2)

6 Thanks everyone. In between bouts of crying I've been doing OK. Pharaoh has been getting lots of extra walks out of Frinklin and enjoying treats of hot dogs. I really appreciate your support.

Posted by: ensie at November 21, 2007 08:17 PM (6We+3)

7 All condolences. What a wonderful year and a half you've given him

Posted by: Eden at November 21, 2007 08:34 PM (BDCWt)

8 I came across your blog while looking around on Blog Explosion. As a dog lover myself (We have 6 of 'em lol) I've been through similar situations as this and your story brought tears to my eyes and an urge to just hug you .. despite you being a complete stranger. My thoughts are with you .. and thank you for sharing your story. I know too well how painful this is. "Dolphin"

Posted by: Dolphin at November 24, 2007 04:47 AM (M5GX9)

9 Pervert! Let's get out of here. There are so many perverts here. He's the same as always. 310-065 How should I say this? Pick on someone your own size. 640-460 That's the way it is. e20-001 I don't know what you're thinking. 310-202 I had no idea. 642-973 See you later.

Posted by: Pass4sure engine at February 02, 2009 07:37 AM (P7E/+)

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I was really excited to be checking out Crown Bar which recently opened on 6th Avenue. Owned and operated by the same team that handles my favorite Tacoma restaurant, Primo Grill, there was no way this could be a bad experience, right?

Wrong.

Since it was a Friday night (November 2nd), I assumed it would be difficult to get a table, however, at 7:30 during the Dia Day Los Muertos procession down 6th Ave. myself and Cassioposa walked right in and were seated. There were a couple other free tables, but the small bar was full. We ordered a couple of beers; mine a European Apple beer was fantastic, but at $8.50 a bottle I wasn't going to drink more than one.

When we were joined by a third, we ordered up the bratwurst, grilled bread, and curry ketchup appetizer. The grilled bread was delicious, the curry ketchup sweet and a little bit spicy, and the bratwurst was average. There was an agreement at our table that an appetizer of the grilled bread alone would be a great addition to the menu, as we all loved it, and could have taken or left the bratwurst.

When it came to ordering dinner, I chose the much-talked-about Jerry Stokes berry's buttermilk fried chicken, butter braised local greens and substituted the garlic mashed potatoes with the goat cheese olive campfire potatoes. Cassie had the Cougar gold mac and cheese.

Disappointment reigned over dinner. My fried chicken arrived hot from the fryer, but was bland and tasteless. It seemed as through there were no spices in the mix at all. On the contrary, Cassie sampled her mac and cheese, finding surprising peppercorns as she swallowed her few bites. My "greens" were a soggy, greasy mess of chard that was almost inedible.

I did enjoy the potatoes that were yummily mixed with goat cheese and green olives. They made up the majority of my dinner, as I hardly any of the chicken or chard.

The topper was a cocktail for Cassie that tasted like Windex mixed with rubbing alcohol. It claimed to be some sort of martini, but after we all sampled the blue concoction, it was proclaimed to be the worst drink ever mixed. The nearly full glass was left on the table with the majority of our dinners.

After tip our bill was over $100 and I felt ripped off. For "street food" this is enormously expensive. We had two beers, one cocktail, one appetizer, and two meals.

All but one table was empty when we left at 9:30PM. A bad sign.

I really, really wanted wanted to like Crown Bar. But the concept and the execution don't seem to mesh very well. And...well, are you a bar or a restaurant? If you're a bar serving street food, should your bill be a hundred bucks after eating there? And if you're a restaurant, can you get the rowdy people at the bar to stop screaming and yelling, and to quit leaning over my table and listening to my conversations? It's highly distracting and annoying. I'm also not thrilled with the decor (seriously - the silver fireplace rock? It's hideous), but I see what you're going for.

The food is the biggest issue though - if the food is good I'll sit through bad drinks, high prices, weird decor, and drunk guys leaning over my plate. Unfortunately, it's not.

Posted by: Ensie at 02:48 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Today I was browsing the internets as usual and came across Dooce and her most recent entry about how Apartment Therapy wanted pictures of her workspace. Of course she submitted tasteful and artful pictures of various items arranged on desks and walls. All her shit is artsy and cool.

I wonder if this is how her workspace is every day, or if it gets cluttered and piled up, the way my desk is? It's so the opposite of artsy and cool. If Apartment Therapy ever wants my desk shots, here's what they'd get:

It's crucially important that my cell phone be comfortable.

That green thing is The Jeffrey's Dogzilla Halloween costume.

Looking at these pictures makes me see it through new eyes. Yikes!

OK - so this is pretty messy. But technically it's in piles. Piles of incoming, outgoing, and, uh, important stuff. VERY IMPORTANT STUFF. So don't touch it.

This cracks me up every time I look at it.

Is it wrong that there are more comics than work related items on here?

God it's good I don't meet clients at my office.

Books, books everywhere! Those shoes are also very important for work.

Posted by: Ensie at 02:47 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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1 Is that a Keith Knight strip on your board? I *heart* him.

Posted by: Erin at November 01, 2007 03:23 PM (nLYxS)

2 Yes it is. I have two pieces of his art up, in fact. I met him at the Seattle Emerald Con a couple of years ago. His stuff is fantastic!

Posted by: ensie at November 01, 2007 04:06 PM (6We+3)

3 I'd just like everyone to know that this is completely her doing. This room was fairly well organized before it became her office!

Posted by: frinklin at November 02, 2007 04:59 PM (6We+3)

4 I'm just glad it's not just me...

Posted by: LD at November 04, 2007 12:47 PM (BsXSX)

5 As I may see – only your cell phone is comfortable there

Posted by: Frank at November 09, 2007 07:23 PM (p0O2M)

6 He rubs me the wrong way. You really did it this time. Watch me. 70-647 Don't try to pull one over me. 000-207 In vain. I did it all in vain. xk0-002 That's not the point. NS0-501 This is destiny. TK0-201 That's an exaggeration.

Posted by: Pass4sure engine at February 02, 2009 07:22 AM (P7E/+)

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