Did I mention how much of a nerd I am?

I just wanted to add a disclaimer about the countdown that you will be seeing here for the next few months--I am a giant Harry Potter nerd. I've said it before. I am not proud of it, but it is true. I can have hours long philosophical discussions about the wizarding world, argue intelligently about the merits of specific types of wands or the value of different spells over others. I am intimately familiar with the characters' lives. It is a sickness.

I had only watched two of the movies until last summer, when I started reading the books. I finished #6 at about the time that #7 (a masterpiece) was released. I am actually glad that I came to Potter late in the game--I can't imagine how painful it would have been to wait years for the next installment.

I was sort of disappointed in the 5th movie. I can give you a long diatribe as to why, but if you really want to know, you'll have to just ask. I am really looking forward to the next movie.

Thus the countdown banner.

Career Opportunities in IT from Cisco

I work with youth who are preparing for the future, planning to go to college, trade schools or right into the workplace. I always encourage youth to try higher education, and discuss career paths that are well suited to a young person's interests. There are several careers that I highly recommend to the youth that I work with, as they are growth industries and bound to fetch a good living. One such career is in IT. What is really great is that Cisco Systems, a company widely known and respected in computer systems and technical support, offers IT certification.

Cisco certification

This certification is offered in three professional levels, associate, professional and expert, and in six different paths; Routing and Switching,for professionals who install and support Cisco technology-based networks in which LAN and WAN routers and switches reside; Design, aimed at professionals who design Cisco technology-based networks in which LAN and WAN routers and switches reside; Network Security, directed toward network professionals who design and implement Cisco Secure networks;
Service Provider, aimed at professionals working with infrastructure or access solutions in a Cisco end-to-end environment primarily within the telecommunications arena; Storage Networking, for professionals who implement storage solutions over extended network infrastructure using multiple transport options; Voice, directed toward network professionals who install and maintain Voice solutions over IP networks.

Employees at companies such as Budweiser and DreamWorks have taken part in Cisco training. And with academies in dozens of cities throughout California, any area my youth plan to move should have one nearby.

Blue Sky!

It was pleasant, clear and nice outside for the first time in a month. There has been a delta breeze which has blown the smoke out of our part of the valley. I was pleased to see blue sky out the window today.

Over the weekend there were two firefighters killed, both from Washington state. One guy was 18 years old and on his first wildfire. Very sad.

Walk for Alzheimers Awareness

As you may know, my mom works for the Red Bluff Adult Day Respite Center, a day care of sorts for folks with brain impairments, including Alzheimer's Disease. My great grandmother also suffered from this disease, one that literally robs you of your self. The people mom works with and my gramma truly lost what made them, them. And from their point of view, they lose their spouse, loved ones, friends and home because they don't remember them. It is so painful to see mom's clients, from week to week, fade out. One woman begs for her husband to come pick her up, only to cry and panic because she doesn't recognize the man who arrives--she remembers him as a 30 year old.

Alzheimer's Memory Walk

The Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk® is the nation's largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer care, support and research – and it calls on volunteers of all ages to become champions in the fight against Alzheimer's. There are walks in more than 600 communities. A typical Memory Walk is a 2-3 mile walk held on a weekend morning in the fall.



By teaming up with the Alzheimer's Association, you can walk with a purpose – and move us closer to a world without Alzheimer's. Together, we can MOVE a nation.

Bravo, Firefighters

After a month of wildfires raging throughout the north state, we are finally reaching levels of containment. Our firefighters, and those from other areas (I've seen guys from Chicago, and heard that we have some from Greece!), have done a marvelous job, and should be commended. There were very few structures involved, and people were moved out of harms way. We even had a fireman rescue a baby bear cub. How great is that?

I am more than a little annoyed at the enormous waste of money the Prez and Gov's fly-over cost. It was not necessary, and the funds it took to pull off could have been used to buy more firefighting equipment, add to the firefighter's pay, or whatever have you.

I am so proud of my little brother for working for the fire department here, and for aspiring to be a firefighter. He is brave and strong, and will be a great one. Plus, chicks dig firemen!

Happy Bastille Day!

Bastille Day is an independence day in France, marked with celebrations and parades...

July 14th is also very near and dear to my heart because it is my birthday! I am 31 today. Funny, doesn't seem like I am a "thirty-something" but here we go. I had always held 30 up as the point where you become a grown up, but now I think maybe the magic age might be 40. I mean, come on, I am nowhere near grown-up. I like Harry Potter more than any one person should be allowed, I live to color (though I can justify it by calling it "art"), I bought a car because it was a "pretty pretty Mustang" etc. I am so not grown up.

My dad says that 40 wasn't it, nor 50, so maybe we are grown ups at 60? Who knows.

My very cool coworkers are taking me out to lunch today--Thai food. I never get to eat Thai because no one in my family likes it. I also could have gone for Mexican food, but the Mexican place that I like puts a hat on your head and sings to you on you birthday. I am so not feeling the hat.

I guess the only thing that I would really like for my birthday this year would be for my dad to come home and cook dinner--swiss steak. But not this year. I guess I'll have to go to Hawaii for lucky number 32.

More about Zenni Optical!

I told you earlier in the week about Zenni Optical, an online prescription glasses company. They've been featured on Fox News:
http://www.myfoxwghp.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid=EBE608CA931F2CA78F3EC273FF9A8D8C?contentId=5835241&version=3&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1

With prices like theirs, with glasses starting at $8, what a great choice if you need new glasses.

I checked out their site:ZenniOptical.com, and found a huge selection of frames, with single vision lens, sunsensor (potochromic)lens, tinted sunglasses lens, bifocal lens and progressive lens. The Secret to Zenni’s Low Prices is that they sell only their own manufactured frames direct to the customer, with no middlemen and virtually no advertising budget. Check them out--I'm sure you will find what you are looking for. And check out their spot on Fox News.

A sense of humor about death

I am completely nutso about a show called Dead Like Me. It is a dark (very dark) comedy about Georgia (George) Lass, an 18 year old girl who was hit and killed by a toilet seat dropped from Mir space station. Instead of "moving on" she was chosen to stay behind as a reaper, in her old home town. She is part of a little gang of reapers, and basically her afterlife is all about assignments, paperwork, deadlines, generally the business of taking souls. Oh yeah, then she has a day job as a temp. That's right, even in death you must work to eat and live.

She visits her family, which is falling apart after her death. Her mom and dad divorce, and her little sister knows that George is still around, is obsessed with toilet seats, and is generally having trouble coping, which leads the parents to seek psychiatric help for her.

George's appearance has changed, so she is unrecognizable to the living, and that means she can interact with family without being detected. She takes a job at the temp agency that she worked at for all of a couple hours before her death. She makes a family of the misfits of reapers that she works with. And she has to deal with the moral issues surrounding the taking of souls.

This show is great, a masterpiece. But Showtime (the network it originated from), in its infinite wisdom, pulled the plug after just two seasons. Now the makers are teasing all of us with an upcoming movie, which has had so many canceled opening dates, I am beginning to wonder if it is all a lie. Wouldn't it be great if networks actually saw the value of great shows in time to save them, rather than axing them and pissing off the myriad of fans? Anyway, check it out. Box sets are available, it is playing on Mondays on HD Net, and had run on the CW and SciFi. It is sure to pop up on a network near you. Then you can be one of us, that mourn the death of Dead Like Me.

Binoculars, anyone?

I live in some beautiful country. I do. Northern California, when it is not choking in smoke, is lovely, with our mountains, rivers, lakes, stunning views. I am in the market for some binoculars, and I am excited about the Nikon Monarch ATB from Optics Planet. They are sleek and high quality--what more would you expect from the Nikon brand?

These lenses are 100% Waterproof/Fogproof/Shockproof Ultra-rugged, rubber-armored, with a roof-prism design. They feature extended eye relief and central focus for viewing convenience and are fully Multicoated lenses for bright, clear images.

Optics Planet offers the full line of Waterproof Nikon Binoculars. You can receive a $50.00 gift card with purchase of any Monarch Binocular.

God talk for the new millenium

I have been capturing episodes of Joan of Arcadia on DVR. When the show first came out, I was still attending a Christian College, and I liked this show for making religion feel more approachable. I still feel that way, but I am so exhausted with a show with so much tragedy and drama. I mean, how can one family field so many tragic incidences?

I enjoy the characters Grace, Glynnis, and Adam. Joan is rather whiny and irritating. The two favorite incarnations of god for me are the preppy cordouroy guy and the spiky haired guy. It is a fun show, anyway.

A new direction for Stem Cell research.

I am a firm believer that stem cell research is the wave of our future. Honestly, the only way that we will find cures to diseases and injury, like paralysis is research in this area. I am a firm pro-choice proponent. Always have been. I was raised in a household that taught that my body belongs to me, and is no one's business but my own. However, conservative forces have put all the stops on research via fetuses. I am excited about a new prospect in step cell collection and research, via menstrual blood. Yes, icky, but hear me out. If we can cure these diseases, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, osteoporosis...awful diseases with no cure as of yet the squeamishness about menstrual blood should not factor in it. How can we argue with any type of research, no matter how taboo the source? Here's an article, from CNNMoney
"Press Release:
Taking Control: Future Therapies for a Host of Serious Diseases May Be Found in Women's Menstrual Blood

July 07, 2008: 01:28 PM EST


OLDSMAR, Fla., July 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- With today’s hectic lifestyle, where most women are juggling careers, family, relationships, and a host of activities, the idea of possibly facing a serious illness in the future is not something that readily comes to mind -- especially when a woman is in the prime of her life. But what most women don’t know, is that the key to treating a number of possibly life-threatening diseases that she, a parent, a sibling or even her children may face in later years, such as osteoporosis, heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, may be found within her own body -- in vital stem cells, which can now be harvested from her own menstrual blood.

Now, thanks to the revolutionary research and technology of C’elle, a service dedicated to providing women with a safe and easy method of collecting and preserving stem cells found in her menstrual fluid each month, even the busiest woman can take control of her future, right in the privacy of her own home. With C’elle’s non-invasive collection process, menstrual cells are processed and cryo-preserved (stored at a very low temperature) for potential cellular therapies that may be used in the future. These self-renewing cells one day may even be used for sports medicine or cosmeceutical treatments, such as anti-aging therapies.

"C’elle enables and empowers a woman to take control of her future health, and possibly of those genetically closest to her, in a fast, painless and stress free way," said Michelle Kay, Marketing and Sales Manager for C’elle. "We live in exciting times, as science and technology are discovering how extremely valuable menstrual blood stem cells really are, and the enormous treatment potential they represent for future therapies. C’elle’s ongoing research is supporting these promising findings."

For more information about C’elle, please call 1-877-892-3553 or visit www.celle.com."

I am excited at this new possibility. I really see it as a win-win for everyone. Pro-life and pro-choice can co-exist in the pursuit of cures for these problems and diseases. It is exciting and empowering that women may be able to provide this life-saving option for themselves and their families. I hope that this technology proves to meet these expectations. It is easy, it seems, to participate.

X-Files returns?

I just saw a television trailer for a flippin' new X-Files movie. What the bloody hell? I thought we were done with the 'files. I'm not dissing the show--I was a fan. The truth IS out there, I know it. But hey, that was a LOOOONG time ago. I just cannot imagine what else there is to say. Plus they killed my very favorite villian--the Smoking Man. Loved him.

Whatever. I'll probably see it. I'm a sucker that way.

My Sight is not 20/20

Friends, it is time for some new glasses. Don't get me wrong--I love my current pair. But they are getting a little wonky, falling apart. Plus, I am pretty sure that my prescription has changed slightly. New glasses are so expensive, so I am stoked to have found Zenni Optical. Visiting zennioptical.com is going to save me loads of money, since they sell direct to the consumer, with no middleman. How perfect is that?

Check them out. Even if your eyesight IS 20/20, you're sure to find something fashionable.

Happy, uh, 5th of July

I didn't look at the clock until just now, so I realize that it is no longer Independence Day. It was a little less exciting than 4th in the past. Due to the fact that nearly half of the state in on fire, they have postponed the city display until September, so we enjoyed a few safe and sanes in the front yard and called it a day. We did get to view some illegal aerial fireworks from the people the next block over, but I am pretty sure that they were tracked down by the roving FD folks.

We have had some really great news--my mom has been offered a job in Hawaii...she will be moving in the next month or so. I am excited for her, but feel a deep sense of loss at the same time--my best friend and mom is moving out of state. I will be lonely. It also means a huge shift in responsibility for me, as I will be buying their house here and taking it on. Wow, grown up stuff. No longer a renter, but full fledged home owner!

Workin' hard in hard workin' clothes

I have blogged about these guys before--LA Police Gear has tough clothes suitable for those hard working law enforcement folks or for those of us who like to do some outdoor recreation in tough clothes. Check out their sale here, 5.11 Tactical. To sweeten the deal, they are offering free shipping. Right now, while everything is expensive and driving to our nearest mall (30 plus miles away) costs an arm and a leg, online shopping is a very attractive option, especially when shipping is free!

I've said it before, but traversing the lava fields, or climbing Mt. Lassen, takes tough clothes that won't rip easily. One product I like is those pants that have zip off legs--pants when you need them, and shorts when it's too hot. I like that 2 in 1 factor.