“We have not laid off anybody yet, but I would hate to lay somebody off and think that we just burned up $30,000 in fireworks.”

- Reno Mayor Bob Cashell on why the city and several downtown hotel-casinos are foregoing fireworks this year, despite the crowd of tourists and downtown business they draw each year.

Posted by tee in quotes
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Tags: economy, nevada, quotes, reno

Yesterday afternoon we took a short road trip two hours south to Topaz Lake, just across from the California border, to pick up a beautiful, authentic Norwegian aging barrel we found on Craigslist. It was really just an excuse to take the trip, but the barrel is beautiful and is now serving as a very Hemingway-esque end table between our two couches.

More photos.

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Tags: day trips, nevada, photos, topaz lake

More photos of the new living area here.

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Tags: cats, dogs, home, nanook, pets, photos, triskit

This morning at 4:19 a.m. a 4.5 magnitude quake struck at a depth of less than two miles just outside of Quincy, California – about 80 miles northwest of Reno. Exactly one minute later I sat straight up in bed, alarmed out of sleep and thinking I must have just had a bad dream, but had no recollection of one. I didn’t realize it at the time, but the timing and the strange physical energy that followed would be too much of a coincidence otherwise – it was probably a barely-there sensation from the quake that woke me.

That brings my experienced-quake tally to three (a 5.1, 5.4 and 4.5), and despite all the places on the western North American coast I’ve lived or spent substantial time in, all of those have been in Reno.

Shane and the kids slept through it; I only found out about it because I got up to get a glass of water and sat down at my laptop for a few minutes, which still had the recent quakes map up (a favorite). Out of habit I refreshed it, and was surprised and very, very giddy to see the big then-red box on the quake map.

I ran back to bed, tweeted it and then woke Shane up to rub it in that he slept through it, then proceeded to keep him awake for the next 20-30 minutes while I went on and on about it until all that buzzy energy faded (he even pretended to listen intently between periodic snores). Ahhh, l’amour.

Anyone else here feel it?

Edit: make that four quakes — forgot about the Loma Prieta quake of 1989 when I lived outside Sacramento (though even that was less of an experience than two of the three Reno quakes were).

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Tags: earthquakes, geology, nevada, reno

And it’s a big, white one. Lots of snow falling, Shane’s mom and sister are on their way back over the pass to go home and we’re getting a fire started to enjoy before it’s time to head south to my mom’s for dinner later today.

Nanook can’t really think of a better Christmas present than snow. Maybe pizza crust.

Posted by tee in de la vida
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Tags: dogs, holidays, nanook, nevada, pets, reno, snow

I feel like I’ve turned adventurejournalist.com into a billboard lately, but I can’t help it – I’ve got so many talented, creative, exceptional people in my orbit and I want to share with everyone. This morning it’s a link to my friend Lonna’s new Etsy shop for groovy, unique, handmade book thongs. She’s got stuff for guys, kids, penguin-lovers, dreamers, hippies, stylistas, Twilight fans, and just about everyone else.

If you’ve never heard of, much less used, a book thong – they’re ropes, strings or chains that are weighted at each end for use as a non-slip bookmark. Avid readers love them because they don’t fall out and leave you frantically flipping around trying to find your place, and they just make reading all that much more fun and relaxing.

Check out Lonna’s Book Thong Etsy Shop. She keeps making more, so bookmark the site or add her to your favorite sellers so you can have first dibs on all the new stuff she’ll be posting.

Posted by tee in general
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Tags: book thongs, etsy, friends, gifts, good stuff

If you’re panicking right now because you’re still at a loss for what to give your aunt Daphne or your cousin Bob (or a neighbor, teacher, friend, dog-sitter…), I’ve got a great idea:

Give an autographed copy of Eric Shiveley’s award-winning independent movie, Everyone But You, along with a CD mix of the best music from the movie and two of his albums, for $25 (+$5 priority shipping). Includes gift wrapping and gift tag.

I’ve only got five autographed CD/DVD sets to send out, so if you want it for yourself or as a gift for someone else, better speak up fast – it’s a first come, first served deal.

Buy before 3pm Pacific time on Monday and I’ll ship it out same day. While I can’t guarantee arrival by Christmas (because, try as I might, I don’t control the post office), a priority package sent Monday should arrive to most U.S. destinations by Wednesday the 24th. Otherwise, your recipient will get a fun, post-Christmas surprise on Friday the 26th.

To read my review, see the movie trailer and hear samples of the soundtrack, follow me. If you’re interested, comment here or send me an email and I’ll give you the PayPal details and get your shipping information. I’ll post an update here when all five sets are spoken for.

Update: all five sets have been taken. Thanks!

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Tags: eric shiveley, friends, gifts, good stuff, music