Musings - sunnica's Blog - The Northwest Voice

Musings - sunnica's Blog - The Northwest Voice http://www.northwestvoice.com/home/Blog/sunnica Family, Life, Writing Family, Life, Writing en-us Baked potatoes http://www.northwestvoice.com/home/Blog/sunnica/31222 http://www.northwestvoice.com/home/Blog/sunnica/31222 <p>Does anyone really know how to bake a perfect potato?  I just googled it, and it turns out that you aren't supposed to use foil (sorry, Mom!).  The foil instantly makes it a steamed (not baked) potato, and completely changes the texture. </p> <p>Just f.y.i.  :)</p> -1 -1 Crisp & Cole? http://www.northwestvoice.com/home/Blog/sunnica/31219 http://www.northwestvoice.com/home/Blog/sunnica/31219 <p>Ok, so I know that last year this story was hot on the local web sites -- and when I take a peek at our neighbors over at Bakersfield.com, their bloggers are opinionated on allegations facing David Crisp and Carl Cole.  So, my question is: Do any of you know someone directly affected by Crisp & Cole Real Estate?  Or were YOU affected by it?  Just curious to know what's really going on.</p> -1 -1 Who's your favorite NASCAR driver? http://www.northwestvoice.com/home/Blog/sunnica/30381 http://www.northwestvoice.com/home/Blog/sunnica/30381 <p>Ok, this is purely unscientific and strictly for the sake of the next issue (cough, cough) -- but who is your favorite NASCAR driver? (for those of you who watch, obviously!)</p> <p>I'll start:  Ryan Newman</p> <p>P.S.  No dirt slinging!  I'll even keep quiet when the Jeff Gordon fans chime in.  :)</p> The next issue and my good fortune http://www.northwestvoice.com/home/Blog/sunnica/29265 http://www.northwestvoice.com/home/Blog/sunnica/29265 <p>On Friday, I finished our next issue -- and I just wanted to say THANK YOU to our contributors, many of whom read this board. You all outdid yourselves.  I have been here since January, and I am fairly confident in saying that I believe this is my favorite issue yet!</p> <p>I am particularly patriotic.  My house is decorated in American flags.  A few months ago, I remember my daughter saying, "Ours is the only house where it's always the 4th of July."  That made my heart smile.</p> <p>After you read our Northwest Voice, try to find a copy of the Southwest Voice, too (after, though--because a few of the stories repeat in the Northwest Voice, and I want you to see the NWV fresh for the first time).  The cover on the Southwest Voice is AMAZING.  I put out a call for photos and I used one of the contributed photos as the cover photo (same with NWV this week, which has an equally wonderful cover photo). </p> <p>When you read it, I hope you feel my passion for our country and to everyone who has helped make it as great as it is today. I hope you appreciate the love and passion of our fellow readers/contributors, who submitted patriotic-themed stories and photos. </p> <p>I love my job all the time, but it's moments like these when I think I am the luckiest person on the planet to have the pleasure of knowing people like you all (y'all? you guys?).</p> <p>Thank you for making my job so much better and easier.</p> <p>Love & appreciation,</p> <p>Dana</p>

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Caption: Northwest Voice, Bakersfield, California, 4th of July!
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Title:
Caption: Northwest Voice, Bakersfield, California, 4th of July!
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Northwest Voice, Bakersfield, California, 4th of July! Vacation trauma? http://www.northwestvoice.com/home/Blog/sunnica/28976 http://www.northwestvoice.com/home/Blog/sunnica/28976 <p>This weekend, my family and I spent some time on the Colorado River, where their grandparents live.  Before you get envious--it was 119 degrees in the shade. </p> <p>We had a great time on the beach and on the boat.  I had my camera (for <a href="http://www.northwestvoice.com/home/ViewPost/65992"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">our contribution</span></a> to the <a href="http://www.northwestvoice.com/home/ViewPost/61140"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">Voice on Vacation</span></a> fun!) and was taking photos of the kids playing "3 flies up" in the water.  At one point, I noticed that my daughter, Jaisyn, had stopped playing and was rubbing her temple.  When I asked her what happened, she said, "Sam hit me in the head with his elbow and now I have a headache!" </p> <p>I hadn't seen it happen, but to my surprise, when I looked back through my photos... this is what I found and it has been the source of non-stop laughter ever since:</p> <p><scroll down></p> <p>.</p> <p>.</p> <p>.</p> <p>.</p> <p><img src="http://www.northwestvoice.com/file/picture/243944/1/0/" alt="" /></p> Hey, what's this new fangled in-box when I sign in?? http://www.northwestvoice.com/home/Blog/sunnica/27597 http://www.northwestvoice.com/home/Blog/sunnica/27597 <p>Greetings, Northwest Voice.com users!</p> <p>In a few days, you will notice a change to the site when you log-in using your user name.  In the spirit of innovation and incredible technological advancements (grin), you will now be the proud owner of a personal in-box.  I would go into detail about it, but most of you are pretty computer savvy and will have it figured out in no time at all.  For those of you familiar with MySpace or Facebook, this will seem familiar. </p> <p>Feel free to click around and become familiar with it.  I have had an advanced look at it, and it's very user friendly.  It should not affect anything about your submissions or friends, just makes things a lot more neat & tidy and easier to find.</p> <p>Enjoy!</p> <p>Dana</p> Exhausted http://www.northwestvoice.com/home/Blog/sunnica/26529 http://www.northwestvoice.com/home/Blog/sunnica/26529 <p>As many of you know, I work from home on Mondays.  How do you feel about working at home?  Do you feel like you'd be successful?  Take too many breaks?  A long lunch?  Maybe even a nap??</p> <p>I think the main concern most employers have is that an employee will slack off.  If given the freedom of being outside the watchful eye of the office, perhaps employers think that we won't do what is required for the job.</p> <p>Not a chance!  I got more accomplished today than I would have working in a busy office with phone calls and visitors. </p> <p>I am here in the defense of all homeworkers!  I am fortunate enough to work for an employer who treasures family, so they like to make whatever concessions they can to keep their employees happy.  When The Voice hired me as the editor, I was told that I could work from home (yay!), and so I do.  And, boy, let me tell you... </p> <p>Today after I took my daughter to school, I sat down to work...and I don't think I got up except to get a drink of water!  I worked both Fri. and Sat. night at the Jazz Festival, so I thought I'd work a little today and take the day off tomorrow.  GUESS WHAT?  No way, baby!  It's the finale of the prom issue this week...  I am having to assemble and collect and post all the prom pics that have been coming in the past couple of weeks  Thankfully, Debbie has been helping me!</p> <p>Speaking of the Jazz Festival...did anyone else go?  It was a blast! I highly recommend that you go next year!</p> <p> </p>

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Caption: Special shout out to my gals from the Southwest! Thanks for stopping by the MAS/Voice/Bakotopia tent!
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Title:
Caption: Special shout out to my gals from the Southwest! Thanks for stopping by the MAS/Voice/Bakotopia tent!
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Special shout out to my gals from the Southwest! Thanks for stopping by the MAS/Voice/Bakotopia tent! Ice cream tickets and the BPD http://www.northwestvoice.com/home/Blog/sunnica/25471 http://www.northwestvoice.com/home/Blog/sunnica/25471 <p>What an odd combination of topics, eh? Well, today was a very busy day at <i>The Voice.</i></p> <p>First, I learned (very early this morning) that I had tickets to giveaway for the Junior Achievement Ice Cream "Sunday" social this weekend -- so I had to quickly post the contest on both sites (in my jammies, no less) so that y'all would have enough time to get your email and enter.  I'm sorry to anyone who didn't get the word in time!  I posted the contest as soon as I could.  We had two winners from the Northwest-- "<a href="http://www.northwestvoice.com/home/User/mandidarrin"><strong><font color="#003765">mandidarrin</font></strong></a>" and "<a href="http://www.northwestvoice.com/home/User/chrismcconne"><strong><font color="#003765">chrismcconne</font></strong></a>" who each won a 4-pack of tickets for Sunday (a sundae on Sunday).  We had one winner on the other site.</p> <p>Next, I attended a luncheon hosted by the BPD activities league (PAL), along with others from every other media outlet in town. <b>Here's what I learned and the point I want to get across to our neighbors</b>: At any given time, there has been and can be 75 emergency calls holding at the Bakersfield Police Department. So, when you call about a break-in or a stolen car, or a suspicious person in the neighborhood, and it seems as if you've been on hold for an hour (or it IS an hour), THAT is why!  There are only roughly 250 cops to patrol our city of nearly 350,000, and those 250 police officers are spread out into 5 shifts (allowing for vacations, illnesses, etc., too).  They are getting to our calls as SOON as they can, but each call can require a squad car, and if every squad car goes and takes care of something, then those calls holding have to keep holding until an officer is available.  How awful, huh??? </p> <p>Just makes me appreciate the job they are doing all the more.  Thank you, BPD.</p> Congratulations to our Rusty Shoop! http://www.northwestvoice.com/home/Blog/sunnica/24470 http://www.northwestvoice.com/home/Blog/sunnica/24470 <p>Rusty had his book signing at Barnes & Noble this weekend from 12-4.  It was lucky I got there at 1:00, though, because Rusty sold OUT of his book by 2 p.m.!!</p> <p>Congratulations to Rusty, who is now #1 on the Barnes and Noble Best Seller list!!  </p> <p>You can still order your book at B&N and they will call you when it comes in.</p> <p>A very successful first run for Shoopster -- AND a good read!! </p>

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Caption: Rusty Shoop sold out of his books by 2:00
Credit: Dana Martin

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Caption: Rusty Shoop sold out of his books by 2:00
Credit: Dana Martin

Rusty Shoop sold out of his books by 2:00 Dana Martin Blast from the past http://www.northwestvoice.com/home/Blog/sunnica/24254 http://www.northwestvoice.com/home/Blog/sunnica/24254 <p>Have you ever been in a work situation or just somewhere you'd never think you'd see someone you knew, and then POW!...out of nowhere, you run into someone from your past.  It happened to me today.  Within a split second, I was transported in time more than 20 years, everything else disappeared, and it was like I was 18 again.  WEIRD... because in that moment, I was 18, living back at home with my parents, no children, and seeing this man as a boy again.  It wasn't deja vu, it was more like stepping quickly in and out of a time machine.  It lasted about a minute.  </p> <p>It was cool, but not something you can recreate or even order up.</p> <p>Occasionally life just offers us really cool moments like this.</p> <p> </p>