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I have worked with Nancy Heller, on and off, for about two years. It has made a marked difference for me.
Nancy has a real handle on the theories underlying family psychodynamics and family...
I have worked with Nancy Heller, on and off, for about two years. It has made a marked difference for me.
Nancy has a real handle on the theories underlying family psychodynamics and family systems including those affected by addiction or abuse. I have gained clarification around and developed a much deeper understanding of my thought patterns and feelings which has empowered me to make good choices in my relationships with my husband and extended family (of origin--mom, dad, steps).
Nancy Heller works with families, couples and individuals. Her number is 285-2209
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A beautifully or thoughtfully packaged gift says something to the recipient. It says "you matter to me and I want you to know." There is an art to wrapping gifts. Some people have that talent. Mary...
A beautifully or thoughtfully packaged gift says something to the recipient. It says "you matter to me and I want you to know." There is an art to wrapping gifts. Some people have that talent. Mary Neuschwanger, a co-owner of Packaging Specialties, is one of those people.
Not long ago I received a direct-mail piece from PS with the headline, "Life is too short for wimpy bows." With a very important birthday coming up, that is all I needed to know to put a trip to her clean-and-well-lighted-place for all things packaging on my calendar. It did not take me long to find a couple rolls of wrapping paper I loved and a spool of curling ribbon that teases, "open me open me open me open me open me open me open me open me open me open me open me open me..."
This is The Place to go for bags, bows, boxes, cards, tape, paper on the roll or by the yard, ribbon and unimaginable embellishments.
Mary is like the Willy Wonka of packaging, creative and imaginative. And while it might be tempting to mine her for ideas and inspiration and then go get supplies at another retailer or wholesaler (if you can), it's bad karma and I wouldn't be surprised if you get a paper cut.
Here is a http://www.ps-stores.com/index.html to the store.
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I have a problem....I'm a painter. The longest I have ever gone is a year and I was a wreck. Lately (perhaps having to do with the dark, gray days) "paint" has been really hard to resist and I have...
I have a problem....I'm a painter. The longest I have ever gone is a year and I was a wreck. Lately (perhaps having to do with the dark, gray days) "paint" has been really hard to resist and I have fallen off the "scaffold." In the last week I have painted one...two...rooms. Seeing the end of projects in my home, I have recently offered to help friends and relatives paint their homes. I am out of control.
My paint of choice? Pratt & Lambert.
My hook-up? Daly's Home Decorating Center
Part of the problem is proximity. Every Tuesday I have a meeting on Eastlake which takes me right by Daly's on Stone Way. Yesterday, with ten minutes to spare in a tight schedule, I was in and out of Daly's with a 2-ounce "sample" of Sea Crystal (P&L sells two-ounce pots for $3.99 of some of their paints so you can put it on a wall to get a real idea of how it will read in your home), a new roller and designs on my bathroom. I attended my meeting and no one knew, I was "holding."
The staff at Daly's is incredibly knowledgeable and ready to serve. There are paint color (they sell P&L and C2 and wood stain specialists (they have a private label line of wood finishing products that are reputed by customers to be the best). Their mixers are magicians who can match any color. Everyone on staff knows about the supplies and there is even a decorating service available if you need wall paper, upholstery or window treatments.
Last night was perhaps my low. My husband came home and found me, crouched behind the clawfoot tub, with a sample of in one hand and a brush in the other. "I'm ok," I said. "We need a color that does not compete with the color of the floor. Right?" He just looked at me, shook his head and turned away. I know he wants to "help" me, but for his own good he has to detach.
I guess it is back to Step 1: I am powerless over paint and my shed has become unmanageable.
God, grant me the serenity to accept the floor I cannot change,
The courage to change the walls I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference.
Here is a http://www.dalyspaint.com/index.html to Daly's site.
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There is no phone call more dreaded by a property manager than the one that includes phrases like "over-flowed," "backed up sewage," and "late Friday night." Such was the case for me last weekend...
There is no phone call more dreaded by a property manager than the one that includes phrases like "over-flowed," "backed up sewage," and "late Friday night." Such was the case for me last weekend when one of my Queen Anne renters called.
We know about the sewer line and have plans to replace the 100-year old ceramic pipes this summer. Our partner hoped to get to it last summer, but no. Too bad.
Anyway, after calling several plumbers to take a look and clear the line, the tenant got Beacon to make the call. The plumber came out and cleared the line to 60 feet and left. $320.00 later the line backed up again three days later, this time late Monday night. The plumber came out again and cleared the line to 70 feet, to the tune of an additional $300.00+ (which did not include the fee for the video tape he was trying to sell me for the low-low price of $200.00).
This was all fine a good, but the line goes for another 30 feet and that is where roots are causing part of the back-up. Well, I called them back again and asked them to "do the job to completion" (clear to 100 feet) and "at no-charge." I got an earful of all the things for which they had not charged me including clearning the line to 100 feet (50-100 is $171.00), which I would have paid because that was part of the job. We discussed and haggled and eventually compromised.
The plumbers came out when other plumbers could not or would not and I appreciate that. The plumbers were nice enough, but in the end I feel there was no value to the service. I feel like my urgency left me vulnerable and in that state they took advantage. I suspect I paid for someone's professional learning curve. I certianly paid for mine.
I think they should have reviewed the bill for the second visit and waived fees for the third. If the ENTIRE line had been cleared in the first place, the second-and third-visit would not have been required.
PS. Five days later and the problem is still not resolved....I have called Jim Button (http://members.judysbook.com/posts/revieweditems/service.aspx?ri=26669289)
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So I have this 4-plex in Ballard and while it is a lovely building, it is nearly 100 years old. Many people have occupied these apartments and some have taken better care than others.
Recently...
So I have this 4-plex in Ballard and while it is a lovely building, it is nearly 100 years old. Many people have occupied these apartments and some have taken better care than others.
Recently we pulled one off the market to give it a face-lift. We had the plumbing redone (http://members.judysbook.com/posts/revieweditems/service.aspx?ri=26669289), had new tile, blinds and carpet installed (http://members.judysbook.com/posts/revieweditems/service.aspx?ri=26662229) and had the place repainted, including cabinets and doors (inside and out).
Dario with PCS is our guy. His service is reasonably priced, he quotes up front (and in writing, just ask), has good follow-up and his crews are polite, professional and capable. Dario was quick to suggest paint colors that really worked for this apartment with northern exposure (although I did not get a chance to approve it beforehand...good thing he is trustworthy and color-savvy).
One word of advice: If your comfort level is managed by communication with your contractors and service providers, you might have to drive that communcation with PCS. They are very responsive, but not always proactive.
A general note: Just remember EVERYTHING IN HOUSE IMPROVEMENT TAKES TWICE AS LONG AS QUOTED. I always thought that was hooey, but it is not.
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This may be a long-shot and I don't know if you want to buy the belt or just rent it, but you owe it to yourself to call Western Costume Company. And if you are in LA, you must visit.
Western...
This may be a long-shot and I don't know if you want to buy the belt or just rent it, but you owe it to yourself to call Western Costume Company. And if you are in LA, you must visit.
Western Costume's world famous warehouse is over 120,000 square feet. It is full of every piece of every costume you ever saw in any movie ever! If there was a USPS uniform belt from the 70's or 80's, they have it and one of their dressers can find it.
I used to prowl the place when it was on Melrose (now located in Burbank, California ) and from 1920's Brooklyn Dodger uniforms to walking sticks ala Charlie Chaplin, I always found exactly what I was looking for.
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Seriously, during the summer (when it is warmer and the beaches are drawing more people to The Park) Bert's Red Apple Market in Madison Park is the place!
I used to live on 43rd Avenue East and I...
Seriously, during the summer (when it is warmer and the beaches are drawing more people to The Park) Bert's Red Apple Market in Madison Park is the place!
I used to live on 43rd Avenue East and I shopped regularly at Bert's. It never ceased to amaze me how cruisey it was, even before 8:00am. Singles (and some not-so-singles posing as singles...my personal experience) peering into shopping baskets, looking for something with which to start a conversation: "Is all that breakfast for one?"
The florist got a lot of this action. How is easy it to meet a girl with buckets and buckets of flowers available? Men would see a woman they fancied, go outside and pluck a rose from any one of a hundred buckets and make his move: "This buds for you."
These scenes reminded me of the great in-store pick-up line scene from My Blue Heaven:
Vinnie: You know, it's dangerous for you to be here in the frozen food section.
Shaldeen: Why is that?
Vinnie: Because you could melt all this stuff.
So great!
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First: Ask an Angelino! You might consider posting this question on the Los Angeles Judy's Book page.
Go to the top of you Judy's Book home page
Click on "change"
Select "add a location"
Type...
First: Ask an Angelino! You might consider posting this question on the Los Angeles Judy's Book page.
Go to the top of you Judy's Book home page
Click on "change"
Select "add a location"
Type in "Los Angeles, California" (or Westwood's ZIP CODE--96137)
Watch for "Seattle" to change to "Los Angeles"
Ask your question again
There are plenty of reasonably priced hotels (lodges, motels) near Westwood. You might also look in Brentwood (take Sunset Blvd. to Westwood) or Santa Monica (take Wilshire Blvd. to Westwood) or Century City (take Little Santa Monica Blvd. to Westwood). Many hotels offer pacakges that include tickets to The Getty Museum, for example.
If you are a member of AAA Washington, they would be a great resource. If you are not a member, I would consider it. I have carried a AAA membership card longer than I have carried my social security card. For reasons that I cannot begin to explain my dad signed me up on his AAA membership the year after I was born!
I always check with them if I have a hard-to-solve travel problem. AAA can not only help you find the budget motel of your dreams, AAA reps have screened hundreds of properties (some of which you might be interested) for cleanliness and safety (among other criteria) and negotiated discounts for members. Additionally AAA members can request maps of the area, Trip Tiks (a specially created map of particular routes) and coupon books FOR FREE.
And that is just the travel service. AAA is my first phone call for dead car batteries, flat tires and keys that are locked in my car.
Here is a www.aaawa.com for more information.
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Crow
Category:
Restaurants
823 5th N
Seattle, Washington 98109
(206) 283-8800
As it turned out I had dinner at Crow A fitting selection for Friday the 13th (crows figure prominently in superstition).
Here is my take on Crow based on the five stages of dining:...
As it turned out I had dinner at Crow A fitting selection for Friday the 13th (crows figure prominently in superstition).
Here is my take on Crow based on the five stages of dining: anticipation, trepidation, inspection, satisfaction and evaluation.
There was not much in the way of anticipation. The early-evening reservation was made mid-afternoon so there was not enough time to get ramped up. That said, I have been hearing about Crow for a while (a mixed bag of reviews) so I was very curious. The word on Crow is that the owners (formerly of Stumbling Goat of which I was not a fan) want it to be a neighborhood place for Queen Anne residents. As such, the menu rotates, the prices are reasonable ($7ish for salads and aps; $17ish for entrées; $6ish for desserts) and the room and amenities are casual, but sophisticated.
While my companion, KK, parked the car, I stepped in to check-in for dinner. The hostess station was unmanned, so I stood there, awkwardly, not knowing what to do: Enter trepidation (Will this be a good night? What will the food be like? Will the service serviceable? Will it be worth it? Hello?) Eventually (a minute or so) a waiter came over and greeted me, followed by the hostess with a phone up to her ear. No word, no eye contact. The waiter checked for our reservation, selected menus/wine list and lead me to a two-top. He thoughtfully asked if the table was to my satisfaction. It was. But doing double duty (waiting tables and seating guests) he had to leave me before he could offer to take me coat. I reapproached the hostess station where a coat rack was tucked. By now KK had parked and arrived. Again, no one. The bartender leaned over to give me some direction about what we should do with our coats. The same waiter lead us back to our table and gave us the 411 on specials-soup of the day was Pozole with pork and chicken. Fish of the day was seared yellow-fin tuna over a salad of frisee, pickled onions and Nicoise olives.
As we sat down the inspection began. The (perhaps) purposefully unfinished artsy-industrial room was sparsely populated: a couple at the bar, a deuce two tables south and a small party in the other room (created by a partition of some sort). As she was facing the dining room, KK noticed the lighting: drop pinspots over the tables, parchment-shades in the bar that looked like they came out of a cathedral and crystal chandeliers in the PDR did not visually leads us from room with room without feeling like we had gone over s small speed bump. However, the red neon outside casts a warm glow into the dining room. WIth high ceilings and nearly floor to ceiling glass store-front, I was concerned about acoustics, but ambient noise never seemed intrusive even as we were wrapping up three hours later and the place was bustling.
After warmly greeting us, the first question off our waiters lips was, "Do you have a tickets for a performance this evening?" The answer was no. We were dining and in no hurry. I ordered their signature Sidecar (my litmus test for bartenders) and KK ordered soda water. Upon his return I placed our dinner orders: fish special with a side order of green beans for me and pozole followed by pear-walnut salad and the mashed potato cake for KK. Comfortably tucked in now, we settled back and enjoyed our conversation.
Early on, the kitchen timing was solid. First came KKs pozole (traditional soup from Jalisco, Mexico). With tender meat and just the right amount of fat to make it silky in the mouth, it was just delicious with a fresh cilantro and a squeeze of fresh lime (which perhaps would have been better served on the side so diners don't have to fish it out of the broth). Not long after came our entrées. I did not taste the the pear-walnut salad, but it seemed like a hit from what I could tell. Falling under the heading Gilding the Lily, the buttery mashed potato cake was curiously mounded and topped with toasted breadcrumbs. My yellow fin tuna was perfectly seared (pink inside) and I loved the salad (although not a huge fan of pickled foods), but I wondered, as you might, about the green beans. First chance I got I inquired after them: "Oh, that's right, you did order beans." Yes, I did.
The green beans were brought to table (soft, but not at all overdone) and at that point I ordered a glass of white wine and KK asked for another soda. Back story: one of my problems with Stumbling Goat was stemware. I don't mind drinking wine out of a juice glass, but not when it is an expensive bottle. Happily at Crow the stemware is commensurate with the offering on the thoughtful wine list. But while I was pleased to sip my wine (can't remember what I ordered) from a beautiful wine glass KK waited for her soda.
Dinner plates were cleared and it was time to consider dessert and coffee. We tried the creme brulee and the chocolate cake (which found its way home to my husband). What I really wanted was a glass of red wine and more time to linger at the table (despite evidence to the contrary it was only 7:30 at this point), so I ordered the Chinook Cab-Franc and we kept our seats.
Evaluation time. In spite of a three missteps--a hostess who was MIA and two dropped orders--the overall experience was good. I credit well-conceived and well-executed recipes, a personable server, a well-priced menu and thoughtful wine list. In this case, I was happy to eat crow.
BTW: To "eat crow" means to suffer humiliation and specifically to be forced to admit to having made an error.
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Crow
Category:
Restaurants
823 5th N
Seattle, Washington 98109
(206) 283-8800
As it turned out I had dinner at Crow A fitting selection for Friday the 13th (crows figure prominently in superstition).
Here is my take on Crow based on the five stages of dining:...
As it turned out I had dinner at Crow A fitting selection for Friday the 13th (crows figure prominently in superstition).
Here is my take on Crow based on the five stages of dining: anticipation, trepidation, inspection, satisfaction and evaluation.
There was not much in the way of anticipation. The early-evening reservation was made mid-afternoon so there was not enough time to get ramped up. That said, I have been hearing about Crow for a while (a mixed bag of reviews) so I was very curious. The word on Crow is that the owners (formerly of Stumbling Goat of which I was not a fan) want it to be a neighborhood place for Queen Anne residents. As such, the menu rotates, the prices are reasonable ($7ish for salads and aps; $17ish for entrées; $6ish for desserts) and the room and amenities are casual, but sophisticated.
While my companion, KK, parked the car, I stepped in to check-in for dinner. The hostess station was unmanned, so I stood there, awkwardly, not knowing what to do: Enter trepidation (Will this be a good night? What will the food be like? Will the service serviceable? Will it be worth it? Hello?) Eventually (a minute or so) a waiter came over and greeted me, followed by the hostess with a phone up to her ear. No word, no eye contact. The waiter checked for our reservation, selected menus/wine list and lead me to a two-top. He thoughtfully asked if the table was to my satisfaction. It was. But doing double duty (waiting tables and seating guests) he had to leave me before he could offer to take me coat. I reapproached the hostess station where a coat rack was tucked. By now KK had parked and arrived. Again, no one. The bartender leaned over to give me some direction about what we should do with our coats. The same waiter lead us back to our table and gave us the 411 on specials-soup of the day was Pozole with pork and chicken. Fish of the day was seared yellow-fin tuna over a salad of frisee, pickled onions and Nicoise olives.
As we sat down the inspection began. The (perhaps) purposefully unfinished artsy-industrial room was sparsely populated: a couple at the bar, a deuce two tables south and a small party in the other room (created by a partition of some sort). As she was facing the dining room, KK noticed the lighting: drop pinspots over the tables, parchment-shades in the bar that looked like they came out of a cathedral and crystal chandeliers in the PDR did not visually leads us from room with room without feeling like we had gone over s small speed bump. However, the red neon outside casts a warm glow into the dining room. WIth high ceilings and nearly floor to ceiling glass store-front, I was concerned about acoustics, but ambient noise never seemed intrusive even as we were wrapping up three hours later and the place was bustling.
After warmly greeting us, the first question off our waiters lips was, "Do you have a tickets for a performance this evening?" The answer was no. We were dining and in no hurry. I ordered their signature Sidecar (my litmus test for bartenders) and KK ordered soda water. Upon his return I placed our dinner orders: fish special with a side order of green beans for me and pozole followed by pear-walnut salad and the mashed potato cake for KK. Comfortably tucked in now, we settled back and enjoyed our conversation.
Early on, the kitchen timing was solid. First came KKs pozole (traditional soup from Jalisco, Mexico). With tender meat and just the right amount of fat to make it silky in the mouth, it was just delicious with a fresh cilantro and a squeeze of fresh lime (which perhaps would have been better served on the side so diners don't have to fish it out of the broth). Not long after came our entrées. I did not taste the the pear-walnut salad, but it seemed like a hit from what I could tell. Falling under the heading Gilding the Lily, the buttery mashed potato cake was curiously mounded and topped with toasted breadcrumbs. My yellow fin tuna was perfectly seared (pink inside) and I loved the salad (although not a huge fan of pickled foods), but I wondered, as you might, about the green beans. First chance I got I inquired after them: "Oh, that's right, you did order beans." Yes, I did.
The green beans were brought to table (soft, but not at all overdone) and at that point I ordered a glass of white wine and KK asked for another soda. Back story: one of my problems with Stumbling Goat was stemware. I don't mind drinking wine out of a juice glass, but not when it is an expensive bottle. Happily at Crow the stemware is commensurate with the offering on the thoughtful wine list. But while I was pleased to sip my wine (can't remember what I ordered) from a beautiful wine glass KK waited for her soda.
Dinner plates were cleared and it was time to consider dessert and coffee. We tried the creme brulee and the chocolate cake (which found its way home to my husband). What I really wanted was a glass of red wine and more time to linger at the table (despite evidence to the contrary it was only 7:30 at this point), so I ordered the Chinook Cab-Franc and we kept our seats.
Evaluation time. In spite of a three missteps--a hostess who was MIA and two dropped orders--the overall experience was good. I credit well-conceived and well-executed recipes, a personable server, a well-priced menu and thoughtful wine list. In this case, I was happy to eat crow.
BTW: To "eat crow" means to suffer humiliation and specifically to be forced to admit to having made an error.
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