tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13311440Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:34:53 +0000Go read and figure it out for yourself.http://onthebrightside.net/noreply@blogger.com (Simone)Blogger136125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13311440.post-1397811596319035949Tue, 20 Jan 2009 23:10:00 +00002009-01-20T15:15:47.893-08:00http://onthebrightside.net/2009/01/new-start-new-era.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13311440.post-6981102363268456653Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:54:00 +00002009-01-06T22:12:31.427-08:00In the fall of 1995, I spent four weeks in the beautiful town of Antigua, Guatemala. The purpose and quest was to brush up on my crusty college Spanish in one of the city's many language schools. Which I did. But I also ended up falling in love. I fell in love with the sound of feet, hooves and paws shuffling over the ancient cobblestone streets. The crisp, herb-scented morning air I would draw http://onthebrightside.net/2009/01/el-caldo-real.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13311440.post-2906903081825834614Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:18:00 +00002009-01-05T09:26:09.798-08:00Yes - this marks the return to my blog. Do I hear a chorus of white-clad angels sing "Halleluja"? Oh, wait - that's a bunch of little red horned devils with tiny pitchforks dancing the conga instead... I know I've neglected the blog (and with it my writing prowess), but one of those pesky New Year's resolutions has been to be better about it all, and get back into the swing again. So what better http://onthebrightside.net/2009/01/sweetest-story-ever.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13311440.post-227914656759731047Fri, 17 Oct 2008 18:09:00 +00002008-10-17T11:39:06.314-07:00Yeah, yeah, I know. Long time no updating this blog, bla, bla, bla. Let's just say that life sometimes is strange and busy. And sometimes, it's strangely busy. Just the other day, for example, I've finally finished processing and editing my pics from Burning Man 2008. I've finished this task a full 6 weeks after returning from the Burn. Need I really say more?I'm not sure I'm going to have the http://onthebrightside.net/2008/10/burning-man-2008.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13311440.post-5895057827237002702Fri, 15 Aug 2008 21:27:00 +00002008-08-16T09:28:09.155-07:00Her name is Pearl. She is roughly 3 feet tall on a slim, wiry frame, weighs 48 pounds, and is covered in soft, supple fur. And pearls. And real Swarovski crystals. And ... el-wire.And no - she is not some spoiled new pet of mine. She is ... my hot cruiser wheels for Burning Man 2008. I created her as an ode to the 1950's, Bettie Page, and all things glam - a time when in a post-war country, the 'http://onthebrightside.net/2008/08/meet-pearl.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13311440.post-925679291012341969Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:38:00 +00002008-07-10T09:07:08.203-07:00Only 51 days until the Man burns again. And still so much to do! Design and build a new shower, fine-tune the Desert Tent, "fur" the cruiser bike. I wonder if this guy has already decided on a design for his back hair again ...http://onthebrightside.net/2008/07/51-days.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13311440.post-2170553133068081997Fri, 02 May 2008 21:24:00 +00002008-05-03T11:06:10.109-07:00For hubby's birthday yesterday, I took him to the one restaurant in Bend I had previously resisted going to - Deep.The brain child of another one of Bend's most successful food enterprises, Merenda, owner and chef Jodie Denton created Deep with a heavy Japanese flavor. I'd heard legends about how expensive the place was and maybe got scared off a bit by that in the past, but decided yesterday http://onthebrightside.net/2008/05/deeply-epicurean.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13311440.post-4331949407467372907Thu, 17 Apr 2008 20:16:00 +00002008-04-17T14:31:14.208-07:00It's April, and yet another season of baby showers and weddings is creeping up again. Most people are offended when I politely decline to participate in the first, and to photograph the second. They don't understand because they don't know. So then here is my confession: I've been traumatized. During the last baby shower I went to, the organizers thought a funny game would be to have the http://onthebrightside.net/2008/04/traumatized.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13311440.post-2446618304651956978Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:09:00 +00002008-03-20T11:01:31.084-07:00Recently, I got tired of listening to the same music over and over again. Never mind that my iTunes boasts something like 4,000 songs and I could theoretically listen to my music for 23 days uninterrupted, without ever repeating a track. Alas, my musical tastes tend to drift, morph and reinvent themselves over time. Sure, I enjoy listening to some of the old stuff - sometimes. But the mood reallyhttp://onthebrightside.net/2008/03/like-ocean-of-warm-velvet.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13311440.post-7175871603819615274Thu, 20 Mar 2008 01:35:00 +00002008-03-19T19:00:33.563-07:00Fellow burners will understand my instant dismay upon hearing this: SAN FRANCISCO -- A man once accused of attempting to set fire to San Francisco's historic Grace Cathedral has been released from custody after pleading no contest Friday to reduced misdemeanor charges, his attorney said Monday.San Francisco police arrested Paul Addis -- an "eccentric" performance artist according to his attorney,http://onthebrightside.net/2008/03/yepp-its-that-hole-pyro-again.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13311440.post-4765080853877236861Thu, 13 Mar 2008 17:12:00 +00002008-03-13T11:13:17.186-07:00If I knew what was good for me, I would just shut up, shrug and move on with my day. Alas - sometimes I (i.e. my opinionated brain) get the better of me. So then here it goes: When I read an article (titled "Housing forecast: It'll only get better") in The Bulletin a couple of weeks ago about a real estate breakfast at the Riverhouse and how their keynote speaker touted the local real estate http://onthebrightside.net/2008/03/local-media-is-going-to-shits.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13311440.post-6820699136385684248Sat, 22 Dec 2007 07:28:00 +00002007-12-21T23:31:29.525-08:00The almost-full moon illumates my frozen world. The trees, meadow and river outside my window shine with an unearthly siver light, their outlines eerily crisp and sharp. The white moutain off in the distance seems to be entirely from a different world but this one. It's winter solstice - the longest night. What better way to spend it than in a hot tub, 20F-degree air on my face, hot liquid http://onthebrightside.net/2007/12/longest-night.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13311440.post-8324823405008032477Tue, 20 Nov 2007 17:20:00 +00002007-11-20T09:26:46.243-08:00A few weeks ago, wandering around the local library's music section, I came across a CD by a band called Disciple. I'd never heard of them, but the cover art was promisingly gothic, so I borrowed it on impulse. After uploading the album to my iPod (what? I wasn't supposed to do that? I'm *so* sorry, RIAA ...), I listened to it in my car on the way home. I instantly liked the songs. Good solid http://onthebrightside.net/2007/11/disciple-by-accident.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13311440.post-198695828765564022Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:30:00 +00002007-11-19T18:42:47.274-08:00[This one's for Kat ...]Ok - so it's 6pm, snowing outside like a mother, you haven't mounted the studded tires on your car yet because you stubbornly believed it was NOT GOING TO SNOW. You've been working all day on your computer till your eyeballs threatened to abandon shop and peel out of your skull - and all's you want now is a soothing little martini. That's not too much to ask for, is it? http://onthebrightside.net/2007/11/snowflake-martini.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13311440.post-6022535972709848122Mon, 19 Nov 2007 23:16:00 +00002007-11-19T17:12:05.897-08:00Confession: I love chicken. No, I'm not talking about the ugly, feathered creature with the beady eyes, nasty scaly clawed feet and hideous scream in the morning (that is supposed to romantically wake you up, but really only makes you want to get up for the single reason so you can wring its neck). Instead, my affection extends to the fowl you find at the market: that plump little poultry body, http://onthebrightside.net/2007/11/moist-delicious-chicken.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13311440.post-7474140983083447986Sun, 18 Nov 2007 19:03:00 +00002007-11-18T11:58:56.159-08:00Sadly, I can relate to this:More great stuff just like it (for geeks and non-geeks alike) over at xkcd.com.http://onthebrightside.net/2007/11/wasting-my-life-on-internet.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13311440.post-1470368164246304826Fri, 16 Nov 2007 20:03:00 +00002008-01-09T16:03:04.981-08:00It's getting cold and rainy outside now, with snow just around the corner. Soon, the world will darken and be drowned in the seductive merriness of flickering candles and twinkling holiday lights. Bands of children will skip about, singing Christmas carols on the streets. Warm scents of baked apple and pumpkin pie, roasted meats, steaming mashed potatoes, hot cider, and spiked eggnogg will waft http://onthebrightside.net/2007/11/anti-holiday-movie-list.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13311440.post-5163841679493560766Sat, 03 Nov 2007 19:02:00 +00002007-11-03T12:44:29.807-07:00Hubby wants the world to know: This is a great bike! Absolutely hate to see it go. I bought this KTM from the original owner with 5k miles in April 07. I rode it on a couple of trips this summer and had an awesome time. Plenty of power, and it handles like a dream. The bike now has 8500 miles [pic]. I live in Bend, Oregon, and would be happy to deliver the bike to Western Oregon via an enclosed http://onthebrightside.net/2007/11/for-sale-blackorange-2006-ktm-950.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13311440.post-6450943570209731527Tue, 18 Sep 2007 18:34:00 +00002007-09-18T12:41:28.879-07:00Wednesday, August 29thAnother hot day is cooking itself up on the playa. There's a threat of rain in the air. I get up late, hang out, shoot the breeze with my neighbors, but am in general not terribly motivated to do anything or go anywhere. It just seems to be kind of a calm, relaxed day. Also, Renee is moving into her friend's RV today, about a block away, as was the plan all along - so I'm a http://onthebrightside.net/2007/09/burning-man-2007-day-5-art-appreciation.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13311440.post-1118483302643451627Mon, 17 Sep 2007 19:48:00 +00002007-10-25T13:51:40.971-07:00Tuesday, August 28th It's inescapable. The news of The Man's untimely burn last night has swept, rippled and gushed through Black Rock like a tsunami. Not in the least because the tall wooden statue, clad in green neon, is usually visible from almost every vantage point in the city. This morning however, he resembles more a black, charred and crispy imitation of his former self. Media Mecca is http://onthebrightside.net/2007/09/burning-2007-day-4-crispy-man.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13311440.post-3093079915291677160Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:26:00 +00002008-01-09T16:53:58.336-08:00Monday, August 27th:As I crawl out of my tent this morning, the weather is calm and beautiful. No wind or dust in the air. But with the clarity, a sense of inevitable afternoon heat is already building. This is going to be a *very hot* day ...With all the new arrivals since last night, the noise and activity level has risen to new heights too, and the city seems truly alive for the first time - http://onthebrightside.net/2007/09/burning-man-2007-day-3-moon-and.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13311440.post-1949631193519578835Mon, 10 Sep 2007 21:17:00 +00002008-01-09T17:01:23.467-08:00Sunday, August 26thRenee and I get up late after our first night sleeping on the playa, putter around camp for most of the morning, set up the (new and improved) shower, and just let the playa mood permeate our beings. Where else in the world does virtually every single passerbyer wave or smile at you? Some people wandering by say hello or welcome, some get off their bikes to give spontaneous http://onthebrightside.net/2007/09/burning-man-2007-day-2-welcome-to.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13311440.post-4546414968150977193Sat, 08 Sep 2007 17:25:00 +00002008-01-09T17:08:38.433-08:00Saturday, August 25th: After months of preparations and anticipation, it's finally that time again. I rub the sleep out of my eyes at 5am and grab a cup of coffee, ready to slide behind the steering wheel of my rental minivan and hit the road to that dusty, scorching hot and windy place in the Nevada desert called "Black Rock City" - a huge, temporary city, arising out of an ancient dry lake bed http://onthebrightside.net/2007/09/burning-man-2007-day-1-time-travel.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13311440.post-6421275281179091299Fri, 07 Sep 2007 21:02:00 +00002007-09-07T14:07:35.028-07:00I'm still decompressing, folks. But I *am* working on my first day Burning Man post, to be live ... uhmm... soon. In the meantime - for all your pyros out there (you know who you are)... a shot of the Man burning last Saturday night: http://onthebrightside.net/2007/09/for-pyros.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13311440.post-6688690965378876384Wed, 05 Sep 2007 17:09:00 +00002008-01-09T18:12:52.657-08:00That's right. I'm back. But I'm in my usual post-burn decompression depression funk. Once that has subsided (and I get my image-processing computer back from Jake), an account of the happenings with pics shall follow. Until then - you can amuse yourselves a bit with these blog entries in The Source from my camp mate and writer Renee Davidson. And if you look closely, you can even find a pic of mehttp://onthebrightside.net/2007/09/back-from-burning-man.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Simone)2