Today, we signed an apartment lease! So regardless of my homesickness, I'm here for at least another year. We are moving into our new apartment, in Bayside, this weekend.
It was an awesome relief to be done with the apartment search and be able to move onto the next phase.
Then we realized the next phase is actually packing up and moving, and unpacking and settling in. Again.
I hate moving. Why can't I never remember this!? Well we have the cutest, coziest two-bedroom apartment, and I am really looking forward to setting up my house again and having MY SPACE, OK our space. But it will be so nice, that's all I'm saying.
Oh, I'm also saying that we rode our bicycles after work today. About a six mile bicycle ride, and the same or a bit more yesterday, if my map-using skills are worth the keyboard I'm typing this on.
Which I have no idea if they are. Especially since Mike stared at the map and figured out how far we went while I sat next to him reading my book.
But that's not the point. The point is that after a really hard work day, a Monday no less, I could have been my usual tired lazy self. Instead I remembered Mike's desire to go for a bike ride again the next day, and suggested we do that. And we did. It's just that simple. Today, anyway.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Sunday, July 29, 2007
This is a Picture I Really Like
...because it illustrates that Mike really has a face, and it's a good one:
So today we rode our bikes for about two to three hours and ate our packed lunches and had a grand ol' time. I hadn't ridden my bicycle in quite a long time and it felt good to be out on it. I forgot my camera, else I'd have pictures. We rode over one of the Samoa bridges that connects Eureka to Woodley Island across the bay (that's Humboldt Bay, not to be confused with The Bay, which is San Francisco Bay), and looked at all the sailboats in the marina. There was one called Good News. We were going to ride our bikes over Bridges 2 and 3, but it was so terribly windy up there on the bridge and Mike didn't want to overdo it on our first attempt to bike to the beach and then have me never do it again. I thought he was just being silly/overly cautious but by the time we got back home, my sore knees realized that he was right and I was grateful that he took that care with me. There was quite a lovely view of the bay from the top of the first bridge, and meandering around the marina on our bicycles was pleasant. We stopped in the Eureka "Old Towne Square" to eat our lunch that Mike packed.
Tomorrow after work if we are both up to it and the weather is less windy we are going to attempt the second and third bridges as well as the first and actually see if we can make it to the beach. The key around here is that if it is windy on the bay, and definitely a bit more inland than that, then you don't even want to attempt to go to the beach, where you are likely to get blown right over and away.
We got home around 3PM and played about fifty games of Mancala. We are at about a tie, I think. OK, Mike wins more than me, but it's because he counts and I try, but I get too lazy to keep it up.
Now I'm going to bed. I just wanted to show a more recent picture of Mike as he was looking all fluffy in the last post and his beard isn't quite so huge these days.
So today we rode our bikes for about two to three hours and ate our packed lunches and had a grand ol' time. I hadn't ridden my bicycle in quite a long time and it felt good to be out on it. I forgot my camera, else I'd have pictures. We rode over one of the Samoa bridges that connects Eureka to Woodley Island across the bay (that's Humboldt Bay, not to be confused with The Bay, which is San Francisco Bay), and looked at all the sailboats in the marina. There was one called Good News. We were going to ride our bikes over Bridges 2 and 3, but it was so terribly windy up there on the bridge and Mike didn't want to overdo it on our first attempt to bike to the beach and then have me never do it again. I thought he was just being silly/overly cautious but by the time we got back home, my sore knees realized that he was right and I was grateful that he took that care with me. There was quite a lovely view of the bay from the top of the first bridge, and meandering around the marina on our bicycles was pleasant. We stopped in the Eureka "Old Towne Square" to eat our lunch that Mike packed.
Tomorrow after work if we are both up to it and the weather is less windy we are going to attempt the second and third bridges as well as the first and actually see if we can make it to the beach. The key around here is that if it is windy on the bay, and definitely a bit more inland than that, then you don't even want to attempt to go to the beach, where you are likely to get blown right over and away.
We got home around 3PM and played about fifty games of Mancala. We are at about a tie, I think. OK, Mike wins more than me, but it's because he counts and I try, but I get too lazy to keep it up.
Now I'm going to bed. I just wanted to show a more recent picture of Mike as he was looking all fluffy in the last post and his beard isn't quite so huge these days.
Long Overdue Picture Blog - A Cool Evening at the Beach Back in June
More pictures to follow, I've got Blues by the Bay, Hayley and Dan's visit, lots and lots more! But first, Mike and I are going to finally ride our bikes to the beach, because it is a beautifully sunny day and we need the fresh air.
My Favorite Chapter from Great Expectations
...is Chapter 55. There are so many components to this story that it is impossible to pick only one favorite, yet this part made me laugh out loud and smile so many times through reading it. A lot of this book made me laugh really. It is quite clever. I am not sure if this will make sense without a leadup, but I don't want to spoil it by trying to explain it, so we'll see how it goes.
A few things it might help for those of you who have not read Great Expectations to know: The main character is "Pip" and Pip is the one telling the narrative in the first person. "Wemmick" is a very serious and private character whom Pip knows through a business arrangement. There are two sides to Wemmick; the person he is at work in front of his boss, an infamous defense attorney called "Mr. Jaggers," and the person he allows Pip to see, since they have become sort of friends. Also, Pip refers to Wemmick's very wide mouth as "the post-office," as it reminded him of such when he first made Wemmick's acquaintance. Also, the "Aged" is Wemmick's elderly father, AKA "Aged Parent," AKA "Aged P." Miss Skiffins is a lady Wemmick has been secretly seeing. Walworth is the town where Wemmick lives, and Little Britain is where Wemmick works. It'll all make sense as you read, I promise.
So now, I think you are caught up. Here is the Excerpt:
I invited Wemmick to come up stairs, and refresh himself with a glass of grog before walking to Walworth. He accepted the invitation. While he was drinking his moderate allowance, he said, with nothing to lead up to it, and after having appeared rather fidgety:
"What do you think of my meaning to take a holiday on Monday, Mr. Pip?"
"Why, I supoose you have not done such a thing these twelve months."
"These twelve years, more likely," said Wemmick. "Yes. I'm going to take a holiday. More than that; I'm going to take a walk. More than that; I'm going to ask you to take a walk with me."
I was about to excuse myself, as being but a bad companion just then, when Wemmick anticipated me.
"I know your engagements," said he, "and I know you are out of sorts, Mr. Pip. But if you could oblige me, I should take it as a kindness. It ain't a long walk, and it's an early one. Say it might occupy you (including breakfast on the walk) from eight to twelve. Couldn't you stretch a point and manage it?"
He had done so much for me at various time, that this was very little to do for him. I said I could manage it - would manage it - and he was so very much pleased by my acquiescense, that I was pleased too. At his particular request, I appointed to call for him at the Castle as half-past eight on Monday morning, and so we parted for the time.
Punctual to my appointment, I rang at the Castle gate on the Monday morning, and was received by Wemmick himself: who struck me as looking tighter than usual, and having a sleeker hat on. Within, there were two glasses of rum-and-milk prepared, and two biscuits. The Aged must have been stirring with the lark, for, glancing into the perspective of his bed-room, I observed that his bed was empty.
When we had fortified ourselves with the rum-and-milk and biscuits, and were going out for the walk with that training preparation on us, I was considerably surprised to see Wemmick take up a fishing-rod, and put it over his shoulder. "Why, we are not going fishing!" said I. "No, returned Wemmick, "but I like to walk with one."
I thought this odd; however, I said nothing, and we set off. We went towards Camberwell Green, and when we were therabouts, Wemmick said suddenly:
"Halloa! Here's a church!"
There was nothing very surprising in that; but again, I was rather surprised, when he said, as if he were animated by a brilliant idea:
"Let's go in!"
We went in, Wemmick leaving his fishing-rod in the porch, and looked all around. In the meantime, Wemmick was diving into his coat-pockets, and getting something out of paper there.
"Halloa! said he. "Here's a couple of pair of gloves! Let's put 'em on!"
As the gloves were white kid gloves, and as the post-office was widened to its utmost extent, I now began to have my strong suspicions. They were strengthened into certainty when I behld the Aged enter at a side door, escorting a lady.
"Halloa!" said Wemmick. "Here's Miss Skiffins! Let's have a wedding."
That discreet damsel was attired as usual, except that she was now engaged in substituting for her green kid gloves, a pair of white. The Aged was likewise occupied in preparing a similar sacrifice for the altar of Hymen. The old gentleman, however, experienced so much difficulty in getting his gloves on, that Wemmick found it necessary to put him with his back against a pillar, and then to get behind the pillar himself and pull away at them, while I for my part held the old gentleman round the waist, that he might present an equal and safe resistance. By dint of this ingenious scheme, his gloves were got on to perfection.
The clerk and clergyman then appearing, we were ranged in order at those fatal rails. True to his notion of seeming to do it all without preparation, I heard Wemmick say to himself as he took something out of his waistcoat-pocket before the service began, "Halloa! Here's a ring!"
I acted in capacity of backer, or best-man, to the bridegroom; while a little limp pew-opener, in a soft bonnet like a baby's, made a feint of being the bosom friend of Miss Skiffins. The responsibility of giving the lady away devolved upon the Aged, which led to the clergyman's being unintentionally scandalized, and it happened thus. When he said, "Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?" the old gentleman, not in the least knowing what point of the ceremony we had arrived at, stood most amiably beaming at the ten commandments. Upon which, the clergyman said again, "WHO giveth this woman to be married to this man?" The old gentleman being still in a state of most estimable unconsciousness, the bridegroom cried out, in his accustomed voice, "Now Aged P. you know; who giveth?" To which the Aged replied with great briskenss before saying that he gave, "All right, John, all right, my boy!" And the clergyman came to so gloomy a pause upon it, that I had doubts for the moment whether we should get completely married that day.
It was completeley done, however, and when we were going out of church, Wemmick took the cover off the font, and put his white gloves in it, and put the cover on again. Mrs. Wemmick, more heedful of the future, put her white gloves in her pocket and assumed her green. "Now, Mr. Pip," said Wemmick, triumphantly shouldering the fishing-rod as we came out, "let me ask you whether anybody would suppose this to be a wedding party!"
Breakfast had been ordered at a pleasant littler tavern, a mile or so away upon the rising ground beyond the green; and there was a bagatelle board in the room, in case we should desire to unbend our minds after the solemnity. It was pleaseant to observe that Mrs. Wemmick no longer unwound Wemmick's arm when it adapted itself to her figure, but sat in a high-backed chair against the wall, like a violoncello in its case, and submitted to be embraced as that melodious instrument might have done.
We had an excellent breakfast, and when any one declined anything on table, Wemmick said, "Provided by contract, you know; don't be afraid of it!" I drank to the new couple, drank to the Aged, drank to the Castle, saluted the bride at parting, and made myself as agreeable as I could.
Wemmick came down to the door with me, and I again shook hands with him, and wished him joy.
"Thankee!" said Wemmick, rubbing his hands. "She's such a manager of fowls, you have no idea. You shall have some eggs, and judge for yourself. I say, Mr. Pip!" calling me back, and speaking low. "This is altogether a Walworth sentiment, please."
"I understand. Not to be mentioned in Little Britain," said I.
Wemmick nodded. "After what you let out the other day, Mr. Jaggers may as well not know of it. He might think my brain was softening, or something of the kind."
A few things it might help for those of you who have not read Great Expectations to know: The main character is "Pip" and Pip is the one telling the narrative in the first person. "Wemmick" is a very serious and private character whom Pip knows through a business arrangement. There are two sides to Wemmick; the person he is at work in front of his boss, an infamous defense attorney called "Mr. Jaggers," and the person he allows Pip to see, since they have become sort of friends. Also, Pip refers to Wemmick's very wide mouth as "the post-office," as it reminded him of such when he first made Wemmick's acquaintance. Also, the "Aged" is Wemmick's elderly father, AKA "Aged Parent," AKA "Aged P." Miss Skiffins is a lady Wemmick has been secretly seeing. Walworth is the town where Wemmick lives, and Little Britain is where Wemmick works. It'll all make sense as you read, I promise.
So now, I think you are caught up. Here is the Excerpt:
I invited Wemmick to come up stairs, and refresh himself with a glass of grog before walking to Walworth. He accepted the invitation. While he was drinking his moderate allowance, he said, with nothing to lead up to it, and after having appeared rather fidgety:
"What do you think of my meaning to take a holiday on Monday, Mr. Pip?"
"Why, I supoose you have not done such a thing these twelve months."
"These twelve years, more likely," said Wemmick. "Yes. I'm going to take a holiday. More than that; I'm going to take a walk. More than that; I'm going to ask you to take a walk with me."
I was about to excuse myself, as being but a bad companion just then, when Wemmick anticipated me.
"I know your engagements," said he, "and I know you are out of sorts, Mr. Pip. But if you could oblige me, I should take it as a kindness. It ain't a long walk, and it's an early one. Say it might occupy you (including breakfast on the walk) from eight to twelve. Couldn't you stretch a point and manage it?"
He had done so much for me at various time, that this was very little to do for him. I said I could manage it - would manage it - and he was so very much pleased by my acquiescense, that I was pleased too. At his particular request, I appointed to call for him at the Castle as half-past eight on Monday morning, and so we parted for the time.
Punctual to my appointment, I rang at the Castle gate on the Monday morning, and was received by Wemmick himself: who struck me as looking tighter than usual, and having a sleeker hat on. Within, there were two glasses of rum-and-milk prepared, and two biscuits. The Aged must have been stirring with the lark, for, glancing into the perspective of his bed-room, I observed that his bed was empty.
When we had fortified ourselves with the rum-and-milk and biscuits, and were going out for the walk with that training preparation on us, I was considerably surprised to see Wemmick take up a fishing-rod, and put it over his shoulder. "Why, we are not going fishing!" said I. "No, returned Wemmick, "but I like to walk with one."
I thought this odd; however, I said nothing, and we set off. We went towards Camberwell Green, and when we were therabouts, Wemmick said suddenly:
"Halloa! Here's a church!"
There was nothing very surprising in that; but again, I was rather surprised, when he said, as if he were animated by a brilliant idea:
"Let's go in!"
We went in, Wemmick leaving his fishing-rod in the porch, and looked all around. In the meantime, Wemmick was diving into his coat-pockets, and getting something out of paper there.
"Halloa! said he. "Here's a couple of pair of gloves! Let's put 'em on!"
As the gloves were white kid gloves, and as the post-office was widened to its utmost extent, I now began to have my strong suspicions. They were strengthened into certainty when I behld the Aged enter at a side door, escorting a lady.
"Halloa!" said Wemmick. "Here's Miss Skiffins! Let's have a wedding."
That discreet damsel was attired as usual, except that she was now engaged in substituting for her green kid gloves, a pair of white. The Aged was likewise occupied in preparing a similar sacrifice for the altar of Hymen. The old gentleman, however, experienced so much difficulty in getting his gloves on, that Wemmick found it necessary to put him with his back against a pillar, and then to get behind the pillar himself and pull away at them, while I for my part held the old gentleman round the waist, that he might present an equal and safe resistance. By dint of this ingenious scheme, his gloves were got on to perfection.
The clerk and clergyman then appearing, we were ranged in order at those fatal rails. True to his notion of seeming to do it all without preparation, I heard Wemmick say to himself as he took something out of his waistcoat-pocket before the service began, "Halloa! Here's a ring!"
I acted in capacity of backer, or best-man, to the bridegroom; while a little limp pew-opener, in a soft bonnet like a baby's, made a feint of being the bosom friend of Miss Skiffins. The responsibility of giving the lady away devolved upon the Aged, which led to the clergyman's being unintentionally scandalized, and it happened thus. When he said, "Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?" the old gentleman, not in the least knowing what point of the ceremony we had arrived at, stood most amiably beaming at the ten commandments. Upon which, the clergyman said again, "WHO giveth this woman to be married to this man?" The old gentleman being still in a state of most estimable unconsciousness, the bridegroom cried out, in his accustomed voice, "Now Aged P. you know; who giveth?" To which the Aged replied with great briskenss before saying that he gave, "All right, John, all right, my boy!" And the clergyman came to so gloomy a pause upon it, that I had doubts for the moment whether we should get completely married that day.
It was completeley done, however, and when we were going out of church, Wemmick took the cover off the font, and put his white gloves in it, and put the cover on again. Mrs. Wemmick, more heedful of the future, put her white gloves in her pocket and assumed her green. "Now, Mr. Pip," said Wemmick, triumphantly shouldering the fishing-rod as we came out, "let me ask you whether anybody would suppose this to be a wedding party!"
Breakfast had been ordered at a pleasant littler tavern, a mile or so away upon the rising ground beyond the green; and there was a bagatelle board in the room, in case we should desire to unbend our minds after the solemnity. It was pleaseant to observe that Mrs. Wemmick no longer unwound Wemmick's arm when it adapted itself to her figure, but sat in a high-backed chair against the wall, like a violoncello in its case, and submitted to be embraced as that melodious instrument might have done.
We had an excellent breakfast, and when any one declined anything on table, Wemmick said, "Provided by contract, you know; don't be afraid of it!" I drank to the new couple, drank to the Aged, drank to the Castle, saluted the bride at parting, and made myself as agreeable as I could.
Wemmick came down to the door with me, and I again shook hands with him, and wished him joy.
"Thankee!" said Wemmick, rubbing his hands. "She's such a manager of fowls, you have no idea. You shall have some eggs, and judge for yourself. I say, Mr. Pip!" calling me back, and speaking low. "This is altogether a Walworth sentiment, please."
"I understand. Not to be mentioned in Little Britain," said I.
Wemmick nodded. "After what you let out the other day, Mr. Jaggers may as well not know of it. He might think my brain was softening, or something of the kind."
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Homesick
I have been pretty homesick since I moved out here. I try to be as positive as possible about it. I will survive. I will be disappointed in myself if I give up and move back home. Each passing month gets a bit easier. But I still really miss Wisconsin more than I can even begin to explain. I miss all my family's faces. I miss the familiar. I miss what I know. I miss feeling like I belong somewhere. Though I'm not sure that I felt I belonged there either.
Don't worry, this isn't really a pity party. It's just my raw honesty.
I hope you all don't forget about me until years from now I'm just a distant vague memory of a strange and intriguing (or is that strangely intriguing) girl you once knew. Is that what you choose when you move 2000 miles away from your hometown? I really hope not.
Don't worry, this isn't really a pity party. It's just my raw honesty.
I hope you all don't forget about me until years from now I'm just a distant vague memory of a strange and intriguing (or is that strangely intriguing) girl you once knew. Is that what you choose when you move 2000 miles away from your hometown? I really hope not.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Apartment Shopping and Ant Igloos of Death!
So we are full force apartment shopping. We really wanted this little blue house we found and could actually afford. But alas, the owner decided the fair thing to do was accept the first qualified applicant, though she assured us we were qualified, just not the first one.
We haven't found anything as cool, and it's getting increasingly hard essentially living in a college town and having the college students filter back in and snag every decent and affordable place. And still, we press on. Because I gotta get out of this house I'm in. I need my own space, sans roommates (except Mikey, he can stay).
So this evening I noticed a long trail of ants underneath the desk in our bedroom. ICK. So we go to the store and get some ant traps. There are literally hundreds of them. Ants, not traps. The four tiny ant traps look like little igloos. Mike put one under the desk.
"Stop obsessing on the ants," he says a few minutes later. I guess I was staring at them or something, daring them to go into the igloo of death.
There are so many other things I could have just posted about that are way more interesting, and yet I "obsessed" on the ants. Oh, well.
Here's something interesting; I'm actually going to finish Great Expectations! That book is long! And I'll admit I wasn't reading it everyday. But I'm nearing the end. Like the last 20 pages or so! And then I get to read another book, which is so exciting.
Oh yeah, but back to apartment shopping. It's tough here in Humboldt. I never had such a hard time finding a place as I have here. Rent seems relatively inexpensive around here, so that's not the issue. But the second something is listed in the paper, someone snatches it up. We have circled and driven by and called on so many places just to be told that it "just got rented." I mean, how do you get that edge? Does someone have an inside connection in the Classifieds or something?
All we can do is keep on keepin' on. Hope you are too.
We haven't found anything as cool, and it's getting increasingly hard essentially living in a college town and having the college students filter back in and snag every decent and affordable place. And still, we press on. Because I gotta get out of this house I'm in. I need my own space, sans roommates (except Mikey, he can stay).
So this evening I noticed a long trail of ants underneath the desk in our bedroom. ICK. So we go to the store and get some ant traps. There are literally hundreds of them. Ants, not traps. The four tiny ant traps look like little igloos. Mike put one under the desk.
"Stop obsessing on the ants," he says a few minutes later. I guess I was staring at them or something, daring them to go into the igloo of death.
There are so many other things I could have just posted about that are way more interesting, and yet I "obsessed" on the ants. Oh, well.
Here's something interesting; I'm actually going to finish Great Expectations! That book is long! And I'll admit I wasn't reading it everyday. But I'm nearing the end. Like the last 20 pages or so! And then I get to read another book, which is so exciting.
Oh yeah, but back to apartment shopping. It's tough here in Humboldt. I never had such a hard time finding a place as I have here. Rent seems relatively inexpensive around here, so that's not the issue. But the second something is listed in the paper, someone snatches it up. We have circled and driven by and called on so many places just to be told that it "just got rented." I mean, how do you get that edge? Does someone have an inside connection in the Classifieds or something?
All we can do is keep on keepin' on. Hope you are too.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Here's My First Experience in Festival Production Blog Post
So last weekend was the Blues Festival here in Humboldt for which I was the assistant director. It was a smalltime festival, as far as festivals go, but still bigger than anything I've ever put on before. I worked 82 hours last week alone. It was intense, amazing, crazy, challenging, wonderful, unexpected, thrilling, exhausting, eye-opening, successful, flattering, educational, brilliant. It was so much more than the adjectives I'm struggling to find to describe this experience.
We are still working on the numbers, but at this point we are looking at 2500 to 3000 people in attendance which was a pretty good turnout. The artists and bands were incredible, though I was running around for so much of it that I heard the music but didn't really hear the music. I was able to stand backstage and catch glimpses of some/most of the performances, but there were a few artists that I wish I could have seen their whole shows, like Corey Harris for one, and Zac Harmon for another. I've been promised a copy of the whole performance, so I really hope that I do get that and have a chance to really listen to and appreciate the musical talent.
Speaking of the musical talent, did I already mention it was incredible? The down-to-earthiness of these people was incredible as well. I met many of the bands and artists (there were 12 bands spanning over two days) and they were just such nice low-key chill people. It was a blast. As a matter of fact, a highlight for me was when one of our artists, Guitar Shorty, invited me to dinner. The director and his girlfriend, as well as our stage manager and of course my Mikey, came too. He even posed in pictures with me, which I'll of course post (he said I could - I asked him). That's Shorty, not Mikey. You see Mikey in pictures with me all the time, Sillies.
Now perhaps only true blues fans know who Guitar Shorty is. But this man is a living legend. At dinner we learned he got his start with the likes of Ray Charles. On a semi-unrelated note, I also learned that he is headed for Dodgeville, WI, though I do believe that is not until 2008. And that a month ago he played in a little town in Wisconsin that starts with a D, but not Dodgeville. It was not Deerfield or DeForest either. I'll have to brush up on my D-town, Wisconsin geography apparently. I'm probably forgetting a big one and am a d-d-d-dummy, no make that with a capital Dummy.
I feel like attempting to write this down and give it some level of due it deserves is pretty much impossible. But I can't just not tell you guys about it. This has been my whole summer and it finally reached its pinnacle. I'm glad I take photographs because they can speak volumes when I cannot.
And I'll also point out that though I made some awesome friends whom I hope to have for life, I wish my friends back home could have been there too! And because I'm a "foodie" I have to mention that the man who did the hospitality made some of the best food I've ever eaten, even if I never had time to really sit down and eat it like a normal person. I still got to grab a plate here and there.
So anyway I'm just now starting to recover. I'm looking forward, already, to next weekend, when I can just relax for a moment. I haven't had a lazy day in quite a while.
In other news, we are apartment shopping, and now that I'm done with the blues festival (this week is my last week at the office) I'm going full time at my other job. I have a lot of learning to do there is well. The crazy ride ain't over yet. Probably never will be. And that lazy weekend I'm looking forward to, well, there's apartment shopping to do, so yeah, never mind on that lazy weekend. With any luck we'll have our own place before the HSU students come back for the fall semester.
And of course, as I always say lately, I will post some photo album blogs soon. I have a lot of pictures to show y'all.
We are still working on the numbers, but at this point we are looking at 2500 to 3000 people in attendance which was a pretty good turnout. The artists and bands were incredible, though I was running around for so much of it that I heard the music but didn't really hear the music. I was able to stand backstage and catch glimpses of some/most of the performances, but there were a few artists that I wish I could have seen their whole shows, like Corey Harris for one, and Zac Harmon for another. I've been promised a copy of the whole performance, so I really hope that I do get that and have a chance to really listen to and appreciate the musical talent.
Speaking of the musical talent, did I already mention it was incredible? The down-to-earthiness of these people was incredible as well. I met many of the bands and artists (there were 12 bands spanning over two days) and they were just such nice low-key chill people. It was a blast. As a matter of fact, a highlight for me was when one of our artists, Guitar Shorty, invited me to dinner. The director and his girlfriend, as well as our stage manager and of course my Mikey, came too. He even posed in pictures with me, which I'll of course post (he said I could - I asked him). That's Shorty, not Mikey. You see Mikey in pictures with me all the time, Sillies.
Now perhaps only true blues fans know who Guitar Shorty is. But this man is a living legend. At dinner we learned he got his start with the likes of Ray Charles. On a semi-unrelated note, I also learned that he is headed for Dodgeville, WI, though I do believe that is not until 2008. And that a month ago he played in a little town in Wisconsin that starts with a D, but not Dodgeville. It was not Deerfield or DeForest either. I'll have to brush up on my D-town, Wisconsin geography apparently. I'm probably forgetting a big one and am a d-d-d-dummy, no make that with a capital Dummy.
I feel like attempting to write this down and give it some level of due it deserves is pretty much impossible. But I can't just not tell you guys about it. This has been my whole summer and it finally reached its pinnacle. I'm glad I take photographs because they can speak volumes when I cannot.
And I'll also point out that though I made some awesome friends whom I hope to have for life, I wish my friends back home could have been there too! And because I'm a "foodie" I have to mention that the man who did the hospitality made some of the best food I've ever eaten, even if I never had time to really sit down and eat it like a normal person. I still got to grab a plate here and there.
So anyway I'm just now starting to recover. I'm looking forward, already, to next weekend, when I can just relax for a moment. I haven't had a lazy day in quite a while.
In other news, we are apartment shopping, and now that I'm done with the blues festival (this week is my last week at the office) I'm going full time at my other job. I have a lot of learning to do there is well. The crazy ride ain't over yet. Probably never will be. And that lazy weekend I'm looking forward to, well, there's apartment shopping to do, so yeah, never mind on that lazy weekend. With any luck we'll have our own place before the HSU students come back for the fall semester.
And of course, as I always say lately, I will post some photo album blogs soon. I have a lot of pictures to show y'all.
Regina Spektor did a cover of this song which they just played on the radio and I love the words to it so much.
Little Boxes by Malvina Reynolds
Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes made of ticky tacky,
Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes all the same.
There's a green one and a pink one
And a blue one and a yellow one,
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.
And the people in the houses
All went to the university,
Where they were put in boxes
And they came out all the same,
And there's doctors and lawyers,
And business executives,
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.
And they all play on the golf course
And drink their martinis dry,
And they all have pretty children
And the children go to school,
And the children go to summer camp
And then to the university,
Where they are put in boxes
And they come out all the same.
And the boys go into business
And marry and raise a family
In boxes made of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.
There's a green one and a pink one
And a blue one and a yellow one,
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.
PLUS the radio stations out here play the best songs.
Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes made of ticky tacky,
Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes all the same.
There's a green one and a pink one
And a blue one and a yellow one,
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.
And the people in the houses
All went to the university,
Where they were put in boxes
And they came out all the same,
And there's doctors and lawyers,
And business executives,
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.
And they all play on the golf course
And drink their martinis dry,
And they all have pretty children
And the children go to school,
And the children go to summer camp
And then to the university,
Where they are put in boxes
And they come out all the same.
And the boys go into business
And marry and raise a family
In boxes made of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.
There's a green one and a pink one
And a blue one and a yellow one,
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.
PLUS the radio stations out here play the best songs.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
The Things We Take For Granted...
This is HUGE, because you don't appreciate what you have sometimes until you don't: My CAR HAS FOUR WINDOWS, glass and all! No more plastic and duct tape! It's soooo beautiful.
Also, the ladies at the auto glass place are from Wisconsin too and they recognized my accent.
Also, the ladies at the auto glass place are from Wisconsin too and they recognized my accent.
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Blues Festival Update
Mike is making pretty glass things for his vendor booth that he and his buddies Gabe and Ryan are having at "my" Blues Festival. I'm sitting next to him for moral support and important design suggestions that he most likely ignores. I'm also modeling one of his recent pendants, which is like his Humboldt County Goo Ball marble style, incorporated into a pendant. It's pretty kickass.
The festival is next weekend, the 14th and 15th, and I'm both nervous and excited. Starting tomorrow, it's going to be mayhem, lots of last-minute things, lots of running around, lots of people coming and going. The day before the festival, as well as both Saturday and Sunday will be long days and I will have to work hard. But I'm looking forward to meeting this challenge. I am up for it.
Oh and just in case you don't know what his Humboldt County Goo Ball marble style is, here is a picture for reference:
The festival is next weekend, the 14th and 15th, and I'm both nervous and excited. Starting tomorrow, it's going to be mayhem, lots of last-minute things, lots of running around, lots of people coming and going. The day before the festival, as well as both Saturday and Sunday will be long days and I will have to work hard. But I'm looking forward to meeting this challenge. I am up for it.
Oh and just in case you don't know what his Humboldt County Goo Ball marble style is, here is a picture for reference:
A Few Random Memories...
Going on two weeks ago now, on a sunny warmish Wednesday afternoon, Hayley and I went to the movie theater, where we watched the third installment in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. I was none too impressed with the second one, but they really made up for it in the third film. I hadn't been to a movie since I moved out here so perhaps I was also just excited to be in a movie theater again. But I thought it was funny, original enough, never a dull moment, and wholly entertaining.
~~~~~~~~~~
Yesterday Mike and I went for a stroll at the Arcata Marsh, where we witnessed an amazing sight. Hundreds of large birds flying in the sky, all landing in this small pond. As we approached, we noticed their shape, their long beaks and the curve of their necks. As they flew they resembled pterodactyls, and we both agreed on that point. As we continued to approach the pond, more and more continued to swoop down, flying low over our heads, dark gray in color, eerie against the overcast sky. They appeared to be Pelicans! Hundreds of them! Mike and I sat on a bench overlooking the pond and enjoyed the show. It was one of those moments where you really wish you had your camera. Trying to explain it doesn't even do it justice. The pelicans appeared to be having a meeting of some kind, and there was quite a racket in that pond. After the meeting was apparently over they began to bathe, hunt, and/or fly away, always in packs (flocks?) of about 10-20. They were so big! Mike said they resembled huge humminbirds, and I thought their dark color and the sheer number of them against the sky was like looking at a bunch of odd-shaped bats or a scene from Alfred Hitchcock's movie, The Birds (except they were not attacking us, or even acknowledging us, for that matter, which was A-OK with me)! It was pretty awesome to behold, though I wish I could share a glimpse of it with you.
~~~~~~~~~~
Yesterday on our way to the grocery store we drove by a man sitting on a fire hydrant using his laptop. I wouldn't think that would be an ideal place to use your laptop, but perhaps he was walking along on his way to a more suitable spot, a coffee shop for instance, when some laptop emergency arose, so he looked around for the nearest chair, and there was a very convenient fire hydrant. The fire hydrant was yellow, in case you were wondering.
~~~~~~~~~~
Speaking of weird, if you are ever in a very small and strange town called Cloverdale, just north of Santa Rosa, and you are wondering to yourself, "Self, where is the best place to purchase some gasoline in this town of Cloverdale?" Then you should go to the place where the gas is cheap, about 20 cents cheaper than any other spot for literally hundreds of miles, and that is at some guy's house. I kid you not. The gas station was his house. I know, because he let me use his bathroom. It wasn't like he lived in a gas station, it was like their was a gas pump at his house, and he had a window at which you paid, and when you looked in that window, it was his living room.
~~~~~~~~~~
Also, while Hayley and Dan were here, we discovered the fun that is Uno. I mean, I already knew it was fun previously, but it doesn't get more serious than when the four of us sit around our roommates' gigantic poker table, and play some SERIOUS UNO. Another fun thing we did was stay at this place up in Trinidad called Cabin in the Redwoods, in Emerald Forest, where it was just the four of us, no roommates in our very own cute little cabin. We went to the grocery store together and got some food. We prepared about three meals together: spaghetti and red sauce and salad and garlic bread one night (Hayley and Dan made that one); eggs, bacon and toast the next morning (I made the bacon! Hayley did the toast, Mike is the egg-master); and pesto noodles, salad and pizza the following night (that was Mike and me but it was leftover salad from the night before, a frozen pizza and an already prepared pesto sauce that you just stir into the noodles, and it's very delicious). Sitting down at the table together and eating was so nice. It felt so familiar and good to me.
Another food-realated thing we did while they were here that I'm glad about is have some delicious seafood. We ate at a place in Eureka called Gallagher's which is an Irish pub that has some delicious fried calamari and New England clam chowder. We also ate at a place in Fortuna called Eel River Brewery, where we dined on lobster and oysters and fish and chips and calamari and prawns galore. We even had some to reheat the next day.
And then the aforementioned bonfire night - Mike and Hayley ran around collecting driftwood (this is totally legal I promise) and Dan and I had the important job of holding down the log on which we were sitting. Mike had brought a pocketfull of scrap paper and pretty soon we had a pretty little fire going, an ocean, warm sand on our feet, a sunset, a few beverages and unlimited good fun. It was my favorite memory of the time they were here, by far.
~~~~~~~~~~
OK back to working on pictures, Stay Tuned for some pictures, y'all.
~~~~~~~~~~
Yesterday Mike and I went for a stroll at the Arcata Marsh, where we witnessed an amazing sight. Hundreds of large birds flying in the sky, all landing in this small pond. As we approached, we noticed their shape, their long beaks and the curve of their necks. As they flew they resembled pterodactyls, and we both agreed on that point. As we continued to approach the pond, more and more continued to swoop down, flying low over our heads, dark gray in color, eerie against the overcast sky. They appeared to be Pelicans! Hundreds of them! Mike and I sat on a bench overlooking the pond and enjoyed the show. It was one of those moments where you really wish you had your camera. Trying to explain it doesn't even do it justice. The pelicans appeared to be having a meeting of some kind, and there was quite a racket in that pond. After the meeting was apparently over they began to bathe, hunt, and/or fly away, always in packs (flocks?) of about 10-20. They were so big! Mike said they resembled huge humminbirds, and I thought their dark color and the sheer number of them against the sky was like looking at a bunch of odd-shaped bats or a scene from Alfred Hitchcock's movie, The Birds (except they were not attacking us, or even acknowledging us, for that matter, which was A-OK with me)! It was pretty awesome to behold, though I wish I could share a glimpse of it with you.
~~~~~~~~~~
Yesterday on our way to the grocery store we drove by a man sitting on a fire hydrant using his laptop. I wouldn't think that would be an ideal place to use your laptop, but perhaps he was walking along on his way to a more suitable spot, a coffee shop for instance, when some laptop emergency arose, so he looked around for the nearest chair, and there was a very convenient fire hydrant. The fire hydrant was yellow, in case you were wondering.
~~~~~~~~~~
Speaking of weird, if you are ever in a very small and strange town called Cloverdale, just north of Santa Rosa, and you are wondering to yourself, "Self, where is the best place to purchase some gasoline in this town of Cloverdale?" Then you should go to the place where the gas is cheap, about 20 cents cheaper than any other spot for literally hundreds of miles, and that is at some guy's house. I kid you not. The gas station was his house. I know, because he let me use his bathroom. It wasn't like he lived in a gas station, it was like their was a gas pump at his house, and he had a window at which you paid, and when you looked in that window, it was his living room.
~~~~~~~~~~
Also, while Hayley and Dan were here, we discovered the fun that is Uno. I mean, I already knew it was fun previously, but it doesn't get more serious than when the four of us sit around our roommates' gigantic poker table, and play some SERIOUS UNO. Another fun thing we did was stay at this place up in Trinidad called Cabin in the Redwoods, in Emerald Forest, where it was just the four of us, no roommates in our very own cute little cabin. We went to the grocery store together and got some food. We prepared about three meals together: spaghetti and red sauce and salad and garlic bread one night (Hayley and Dan made that one); eggs, bacon and toast the next morning (I made the bacon! Hayley did the toast, Mike is the egg-master); and pesto noodles, salad and pizza the following night (that was Mike and me but it was leftover salad from the night before, a frozen pizza and an already prepared pesto sauce that you just stir into the noodles, and it's very delicious). Sitting down at the table together and eating was so nice. It felt so familiar and good to me.
Another food-realated thing we did while they were here that I'm glad about is have some delicious seafood. We ate at a place in Eureka called Gallagher's which is an Irish pub that has some delicious fried calamari and New England clam chowder. We also ate at a place in Fortuna called Eel River Brewery, where we dined on lobster and oysters and fish and chips and calamari and prawns galore. We even had some to reheat the next day.
And then the aforementioned bonfire night - Mike and Hayley ran around collecting driftwood (this is totally legal I promise) and Dan and I had the important job of holding down the log on which we were sitting. Mike had brought a pocketfull of scrap paper and pretty soon we had a pretty little fire going, an ocean, warm sand on our feet, a sunset, a few beverages and unlimited good fun. It was my favorite memory of the time they were here, by far.
~~~~~~~~~~
OK back to working on pictures, Stay Tuned for some pictures, y'all.
Holy Hot Weather, Batman!
I just checked the weather in Madison and it's 95 degrees there! You folks back home, please drink plenty of water and stay cool! I'm worried about you!
Here in Arcata, from where I post this blog, it's 55 degrees and sunny with a high of 66 degrees. That's a bit cooler than it's been lately but it's still much more pleasant than a stifling 95 degrees.
In other news, I'm working on pictures to post soon since I haven't posted any in a long time. Except for the one in the last post, but other than that...
Here in Arcata, from where I post this blog, it's 55 degrees and sunny with a high of 66 degrees. That's a bit cooler than it's been lately but it's still much more pleasant than a stifling 95 degrees.
In other news, I'm working on pictures to post soon since I haven't posted any in a long time. Except for the one in the last post, but other than that...
Friday, July 6, 2007
Our Favorite Moment
Hayley and Dan's trip out here wasn't all bad - this was our favorite night, at least I believe that's the consensus. We had a bonfire at the beach, though this picture (my personal favorite) is pre-bonfire.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Still Naive, But Significantly Less Enthusiastic
Well, Hayley and Dan are back at home. They left yesterday on a red-eye home to good ol' Wisconsin. I was very sad to see them go, but relieved that they got on the plane without a hassle.
And why is that, you might ask?
Because, I feared the entire weekend that Hayley would not be allowed to board the plane. This is because of stupid jerky people who care more about themselves than respecting other people's things.
What am I talking about?
Well, after a nice walk at what I thought was a nice beach, the four of us (that's Mike, Hayley, Dan, and me) returned to the car to find two of my windows busted out, a car full of glass, and two purses including wallets and all identification (that's Hayley's and mine) gone.
Yes, yes, I know that's why you don't leave your purse where it can be seen. I have no excuses for this. I thought it was a safe road. It was the middle of the day. There were other cars around. OK, those suspiciously read like excuses.
If I could take back one moment in my recent life, it would in a flash be the poor decision to not put Hayley's and my purses in the trunk.
Speaking of the trunk, it was packed full of nice things, and yet left unscathed. No one popped the trunk popper. I guess that is a silver lining.
This has been a terrible weekend for my poor dear sister and her poor (not-as-dear-as-Hayley-but-close) boyfriend. This was supposed to be their vacation. Now they have a bad taste in their mouths that is associated with my home, a place I considered to be happy until my sister and I were violated, until my boyfriend had to put tape over the windows where glass used to exist and vacuum the inside of the car out repeatedly to get all of the broken glass out of the car.
There is what I consider to be a bittersweet outcome to all of this, proof positive that there are kind-hearted and good people in this county that is Humboldt.
My car was broken into Friday early evening, but still past business hours. While at the sheriff's office Monday morning, waiting for a rushed case report only after what seemed like hours and hours of haggling over the weekend and making phone calls and then going in and pleading our case as to why we needed the report done on a "rush" basis (so my sister could board her flight home and go back to her life and her job and responsibilities - with no photo ID and the ever-increasing airport security you can imagine the anxiety she was feeling about this; we all were).
Well this is where things get complicated. No, the story is not complicated yet. Just wait.
So, we are at the sheriff's office. I decide to walk out to the car to get something from it. We are already delayed in leaving town because of how long it's taking to find an on-duty deputy to complete a portion of the report. Mike and I walk out to the car; Hayley and Dan are still waiting inside. My boss at the festival office happens to drive by at the moment I'm walking on the sidewalk to the car, sees me (the sherriff's office is on a busy business highway), sort of pulls over/double parks and yells out the window, "Hey! I've been trying to get a hold of you all weekend! Call the ladies at HAF (that's my other job) - did you lose your purse? Someone there found your stuff!"
So, shaking I pull the Yellow Pages from the rental car and fumble to look up my work. Unable to work the book I am about to toss it to Mike to look for me, and then I remember I've been telling people the number on the phone for about two weeks and actually have it memorized. I call my other job and it turns out my coworker there was out walking her dog at 6:30 Saturday morning (which she never does and her dog woke her up early so she decided to make the most of it), when she saw a credit card in the gutter. She read the name on the card, and it was mine. She looked around and spotted three more cards, a debit card of mine, a debit card of Hayley's, and Hayley's driver's license. The thing we needed the most to ensure she could board her plane.
This is weird because the ID and cards were found 20 miles south of where the incident occurred and nowhere near either of my employers. I hadn't yet called them with another number at which to reach me because it didn't seem like a weekend priority (my cell phone was in my purse and was stolen), and I had no way of imagining someone that knows me in this town - because I can still count those people on my two hands - would find my stuff. I guess I should have thought again.
So after receiving verbal confirmation about six times from my coworker (I just couldn't believe what she was telling me), I went inside to tell Hayley and Dan, and then to let the woman working at the sheriff's office know that we didn't need the narrative portion of the police report and that someone had found her license. The woman looked like I was speaking to her in Blibber Blabber or something. I am not sure she believed or could comprehend what I was telling her. I still can't really piece it together in my head; it's just so random how events came together and how we were still in town and able to receive the ID in a timely manner.
Anyway. The rest of our stuff unfortunately is still missing. A lot of sentimental value and some expensive things too. One of the items both of us are extremely upset about is our respective datebooks, as those sort of help us run our busy lives. Starting from scratch and memory is a really tough thing. Hayley lost her MP3 player which was a special gift two years ago. My favorite (slightly expensive) watch was in my bag. There is significant damage done to my car that will be costly and time-consuming to repair, and until the repair is done the car is not secure or safe (it's also unsightly, to say the least).
This entire experience is one I think I could have lived without. And if I could change it even one little bit, if I had to somehow go through this and learn this lesson personally, I would spare my sister. She and Dan were supposedly on vacation. When something like this happens, you no longer feel very vacation-y. I wish I could at least have spared her this painful experience.
And if you ever think your actions don't affect anybody, or that it won't matter that much, I would say rethink that one as fast and as completely as possible. I am learning more and more how closely connected humankind is. How everything you do affects someone in some way. How small the world is, and how often and much we cross each others' paths. Mike at one point before it had all sunk in mentioned that maybe this was someone who was in such a bad way he/she needed the money and things more than we did. I appreciate his point. But I hope I am never that desperate, and if I am, I hope I remember to put myself in someone else's place anyway and not to disregard someone else's belongings in order to take care of myself. I hope this person that did this to Hayley and me feels at least a tinge of remorse for his or her stupid selfish jerky actions.
Probably not. But I can still hope. I guess that's where the naivety factors in.
And why is that, you might ask?
Because, I feared the entire weekend that Hayley would not be allowed to board the plane. This is because of stupid jerky people who care more about themselves than respecting other people's things.
What am I talking about?
Well, after a nice walk at what I thought was a nice beach, the four of us (that's Mike, Hayley, Dan, and me) returned to the car to find two of my windows busted out, a car full of glass, and two purses including wallets and all identification (that's Hayley's and mine) gone.
Yes, yes, I know that's why you don't leave your purse where it can be seen. I have no excuses for this. I thought it was a safe road. It was the middle of the day. There were other cars around. OK, those suspiciously read like excuses.
If I could take back one moment in my recent life, it would in a flash be the poor decision to not put Hayley's and my purses in the trunk.
Speaking of the trunk, it was packed full of nice things, and yet left unscathed. No one popped the trunk popper. I guess that is a silver lining.
This has been a terrible weekend for my poor dear sister and her poor (not-as-dear-as-Hayley-but-close) boyfriend. This was supposed to be their vacation. Now they have a bad taste in their mouths that is associated with my home, a place I considered to be happy until my sister and I were violated, until my boyfriend had to put tape over the windows where glass used to exist and vacuum the inside of the car out repeatedly to get all of the broken glass out of the car.
There is what I consider to be a bittersweet outcome to all of this, proof positive that there are kind-hearted and good people in this county that is Humboldt.
My car was broken into Friday early evening, but still past business hours. While at the sheriff's office Monday morning, waiting for a rushed case report only after what seemed like hours and hours of haggling over the weekend and making phone calls and then going in and pleading our case as to why we needed the report done on a "rush" basis (so my sister could board her flight home and go back to her life and her job and responsibilities - with no photo ID and the ever-increasing airport security you can imagine the anxiety she was feeling about this; we all were).
Well this is where things get complicated. No, the story is not complicated yet. Just wait.
So, we are at the sheriff's office. I decide to walk out to the car to get something from it. We are already delayed in leaving town because of how long it's taking to find an on-duty deputy to complete a portion of the report. Mike and I walk out to the car; Hayley and Dan are still waiting inside. My boss at the festival office happens to drive by at the moment I'm walking on the sidewalk to the car, sees me (the sherriff's office is on a busy business highway), sort of pulls over/double parks and yells out the window, "Hey! I've been trying to get a hold of you all weekend! Call the ladies at HAF (that's my other job) - did you lose your purse? Someone there found your stuff!"
So, shaking I pull the Yellow Pages from the rental car and fumble to look up my work. Unable to work the book I am about to toss it to Mike to look for me, and then I remember I've been telling people the number on the phone for about two weeks and actually have it memorized. I call my other job and it turns out my coworker there was out walking her dog at 6:30 Saturday morning (which she never does and her dog woke her up early so she decided to make the most of it), when she saw a credit card in the gutter. She read the name on the card, and it was mine. She looked around and spotted three more cards, a debit card of mine, a debit card of Hayley's, and Hayley's driver's license. The thing we needed the most to ensure she could board her plane.
This is weird because the ID and cards were found 20 miles south of where the incident occurred and nowhere near either of my employers. I hadn't yet called them with another number at which to reach me because it didn't seem like a weekend priority (my cell phone was in my purse and was stolen), and I had no way of imagining someone that knows me in this town - because I can still count those people on my two hands - would find my stuff. I guess I should have thought again.
So after receiving verbal confirmation about six times from my coworker (I just couldn't believe what she was telling me), I went inside to tell Hayley and Dan, and then to let the woman working at the sheriff's office know that we didn't need the narrative portion of the police report and that someone had found her license. The woman looked like I was speaking to her in Blibber Blabber or something. I am not sure she believed or could comprehend what I was telling her. I still can't really piece it together in my head; it's just so random how events came together and how we were still in town and able to receive the ID in a timely manner.
Anyway. The rest of our stuff unfortunately is still missing. A lot of sentimental value and some expensive things too. One of the items both of us are extremely upset about is our respective datebooks, as those sort of help us run our busy lives. Starting from scratch and memory is a really tough thing. Hayley lost her MP3 player which was a special gift two years ago. My favorite (slightly expensive) watch was in my bag. There is significant damage done to my car that will be costly and time-consuming to repair, and until the repair is done the car is not secure or safe (it's also unsightly, to say the least).
This entire experience is one I think I could have lived without. And if I could change it even one little bit, if I had to somehow go through this and learn this lesson personally, I would spare my sister. She and Dan were supposedly on vacation. When something like this happens, you no longer feel very vacation-y. I wish I could at least have spared her this painful experience.
And if you ever think your actions don't affect anybody, or that it won't matter that much, I would say rethink that one as fast and as completely as possible. I am learning more and more how closely connected humankind is. How everything you do affects someone in some way. How small the world is, and how often and much we cross each others' paths. Mike at one point before it had all sunk in mentioned that maybe this was someone who was in such a bad way he/she needed the money and things more than we did. I appreciate his point. But I hope I am never that desperate, and if I am, I hope I remember to put myself in someone else's place anyway and not to disregard someone else's belongings in order to take care of myself. I hope this person that did this to Hayley and me feels at least a tinge of remorse for his or her stupid selfish jerky actions.
Probably not. But I can still hope. I guess that's where the naivety factors in.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Visitors from Another Planet
And that planet is Wisconsin.
Don't worry, they are not really aliens, and I'm not really funny. I can live with that.
This is the blog where I announce with glee that Hayley and Dan, my sis and her boyfriend for anyone who might not know (why wouldn't you know?!?), are coming to visit me in A FEW SHORT DAYS and it's just not going to feel real until I pick them up at the airport! But I'm so excited to see their faces, I can hardly stand it.
I AM BESIDE MYSELF!
WITH GLEE!
In the meantime, I have to try and focus on work. Learning a new job is hard enough, but make that learning-a-new-job-while-going-into-crunch-time-on-the-other-new-job-that-I-just-felt-like-I-got-the-hang-of and YIKES I am more than whelmed, i.e. overwhelmed.
Yeah, not funny. I know.
Don't worry, they are not really aliens, and I'm not really funny. I can live with that.
This is the blog where I announce with glee that Hayley and Dan, my sis and her boyfriend for anyone who might not know (why wouldn't you know?!?), are coming to visit me in A FEW SHORT DAYS and it's just not going to feel real until I pick them up at the airport! But I'm so excited to see their faces, I can hardly stand it.
I AM BESIDE MYSELF!
WITH GLEE!
In the meantime, I have to try and focus on work. Learning a new job is hard enough, but make that learning-a-new-job-while-going-into-crunch-time-on-the-other-new-job-that-I-just-felt-like-I-got-the-hang-of and YIKES I am more than whelmed, i.e. overwhelmed.
Yeah, not funny. I know.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
I Walked
We have two city parks that I love; one is Sequoia Park in Eureka, within a mile of my house, and the other is Redwood Park in Arcata. I'm sure I've mentioned both.
This past week I walked. I worked, and I walked. Sunday I walked from my house to Sequoia Park, which is attached to the local zoo. I hung out with the black bear at the zoo, who was looking for some food at about 10 in the morning. He was smaller than I would have thought, as I have only seen him from the back of his "area" sleeping. Sunday, he walked right up to the front and looked at us onlookers like we had fish in hand that we were withholding. I walked through Sequoia Park down one of the trails through the woods to the duck pond, and after walking back up another trail out of the forest, I sat in the gazebo in the small garden on the other side of the zoo and talked to my grandma. I had walked for about two hours at this point but wasn't ready to stop walking. So I kept walking away from my house and ended up at the video store. I picked up two DVD's that I still as of today have not watched. They are due back tonight, but it's so nice out that I don't know if I'll get to them. I walked a total of four or so hours. It was so ... relaxing ... and relieving. Walking, in solitude, is the best way to get to know oneself, I have found. Walking in pairs, is the best way to get to know each other, I have found.
Monday night after work Mike and I walked from our house to Sequoia Park (Eureka). Tuesday night after work I went to Arcata to pick Mike up from his work and we went to Redwood Park (Arcata) and walked. Wednesday, Sequoia Park. Thursday, Sequoia. Friday, Redwood. Saturday, Grizzly Creek, which is somewhere else amazing altogether, save for the poison oak they have growing in spades.
Each walk on the trails was over an hour and sometimes two hours. Each walk was downhill as well as up. It was exhilerating. My muscles feel the results of such consistent walking. I had been walking everyday up until this point, but the length and the level was incredibily varied and sometimes the walk was no more than 15 minutes, and essentially on flat land, though that is hard in this hilly county in which I reside.
We are about to go for another walk. It's beautifully sunny here, and not too windy. I like the structure of an everyday job, but I live for the stress relief that is walking. Taking a moment at the top of the trail to stand and behold the huge trees and listen to the sounds of the birds, to reflect on how alive and beautiful the forest is...well, I'm having trouble finding the words, so just go find out for yourself. Your body and soul will thank you for it, I promise.
This past week I walked. I worked, and I walked. Sunday I walked from my house to Sequoia Park, which is attached to the local zoo. I hung out with the black bear at the zoo, who was looking for some food at about 10 in the morning. He was smaller than I would have thought, as I have only seen him from the back of his "area" sleeping. Sunday, he walked right up to the front and looked at us onlookers like we had fish in hand that we were withholding. I walked through Sequoia Park down one of the trails through the woods to the duck pond, and after walking back up another trail out of the forest, I sat in the gazebo in the small garden on the other side of the zoo and talked to my grandma. I had walked for about two hours at this point but wasn't ready to stop walking. So I kept walking away from my house and ended up at the video store. I picked up two DVD's that I still as of today have not watched. They are due back tonight, but it's so nice out that I don't know if I'll get to them. I walked a total of four or so hours. It was so ... relaxing ... and relieving. Walking, in solitude, is the best way to get to know oneself, I have found. Walking in pairs, is the best way to get to know each other, I have found.
Monday night after work Mike and I walked from our house to Sequoia Park (Eureka). Tuesday night after work I went to Arcata to pick Mike up from his work and we went to Redwood Park (Arcata) and walked. Wednesday, Sequoia Park. Thursday, Sequoia. Friday, Redwood. Saturday, Grizzly Creek, which is somewhere else amazing altogether, save for the poison oak they have growing in spades.
Each walk on the trails was over an hour and sometimes two hours. Each walk was downhill as well as up. It was exhilerating. My muscles feel the results of such consistent walking. I had been walking everyday up until this point, but the length and the level was incredibily varied and sometimes the walk was no more than 15 minutes, and essentially on flat land, though that is hard in this hilly county in which I reside.
We are about to go for another walk. It's beautifully sunny here, and not too windy. I like the structure of an everyday job, but I live for the stress relief that is walking. Taking a moment at the top of the trail to stand and behold the huge trees and listen to the sounds of the birds, to reflect on how alive and beautiful the forest is...well, I'm having trouble finding the words, so just go find out for yourself. Your body and soul will thank you for it, I promise.
Friday, June 8, 2007
Where I Live (AKA The Best Dictionary Entry)
While looking for a word in my dictionary I came across the best entry ever:
la-la land (la'la') n. 1. A place renowned for its frivolous activity. 2. A state of mind characterized by unrealistic expectations or a lack of seriousness.
I have been accused by just about every teacher growing up of being in la-la land. But I did not know it actually existed, according to my rockin' dictionary, and that just clears up so much for me! You have no idea how excited I am.
I guess this means there is a real name for my condition.
Hahaha. Just kidding.
Changing the subject, the lowlight of my day was when a fiber optic in our little Humboldt County made the internet go away for all people everywhere/in Humboldt County. This meant at my second day at my new job I was able to do hands-on training MUCH less (like not at all) than I wanted.
In related news, the highlight of my day was that the internet was down so my coworker and I went for a hike on our property, which has its very own hiking trails. Oh yeah, I love my life and I love la-la land.
PEACE.
la-la land (la'la') n. 1. A place renowned for its frivolous activity. 2. A state of mind characterized by unrealistic expectations or a lack of seriousness.
I have been accused by just about every teacher growing up of being in la-la land. But I did not know it actually existed, according to my rockin' dictionary, and that just clears up so much for me! You have no idea how excited I am.
I guess this means there is a real name for my condition.
Hahaha. Just kidding.
Changing the subject, the lowlight of my day was when a fiber optic in our little Humboldt County made the internet go away for all people everywhere/in Humboldt County. This meant at my second day at my new job I was able to do hands-on training MUCH less (like not at all) than I wanted.
In related news, the highlight of my day was that the internet was down so my coworker and I went for a hike on our property, which has its very own hiking trails. Oh yeah, I love my life and I love la-la land.
PEACE.
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
End of Trail
Here is one pic for y'all - this is the only time you'll see me by this sign (this was the point at which we hiked up another gazillion yards to a "vista point" and THEN turned around and walked the entire trail back to the car).
I Get to Help People For a Living
OK I'll let the website speak for the organization I'm now proud to be a part of; it is called Humboldt Area Foundation and its website is here.
I oversee and advocate for the Angel Fund, which provides money for low-income families and individuals who need assistance in paying for health- and medical-related expenses; and also the Angel Dental Fund, which helps pay for dental needs of children.
I work two days per week at Humboldt Area Foundation and three days per week at Redwood Coast Music Festivals. After my assistant director gig at Blues by the Bay mid July I will go full time at Humboldt Area Foundation.
I feel like I've found my niche.
I oversee and advocate for the Angel Fund, which provides money for low-income families and individuals who need assistance in paying for health- and medical-related expenses; and also the Angel Dental Fund, which helps pay for dental needs of children.
I work two days per week at Humboldt Area Foundation and three days per week at Redwood Coast Music Festivals. After my assistant director gig at Blues by the Bay mid July I will go full time at Humboldt Area Foundation.
I feel like I've found my niche.
Monday, June 4, 2007
ALSO,
I haven't been posting because I've been too sore. Stupid, eh, but true. In a way.
A few weeks back we hiked 8 miles and it was rough, on the muscles; the scenery and the trail and the experience were all wonderful. Last Sunday, one day less of a week after the first hike at Headwaters Trail, we had another go. The entire trail is something like 11.6 miles. And we hiked the entire trail.
That may not seem like much to you, but holey moley was it hard. It's 5.3 miles in and then you loop around and come back. The entire fourth mile is very steep uphill. Everything after that (so that would be the entire fifth mile and then the .3 mile that felt like five miles all in itself) is barely a trail and completely overgrown with lots of stuff. I thought we were in the middle of a jungle or something. The "trail," if you can call it that, at that point is so uneven and rocky that it was a good thing I had such great hiking boots (that Mike bought me in January when I was out here for a visit) that provided ankle-saving support, no doubt.
I am so glad I did it, and I even have a picture of myself by the "End of Trail" sign to prove I was really there. But I tell you that will be the last time I make it that far. I felt the last mile and some was overrated. We have decided to hike 10 miles the next time around, for at the five-mile mark is a beautiful secluded little part of the redwood forest with streams and logs and growing things (i.e. ferns, wild purple irises, other things for which I know no names) everywhere, where we sat and ate our lunch (I have never eaten a more delicious turkey and swiss and avocado and black olive sandwich in my life as the one I ate after hiking five difficult miles).
I didn't know mere walking could be so hard. I no longer think of hiking as "mere walking." My muscles felt it for all of last week. I've just now recovered enough to type blogs again! My goal is to hike those 10 miles until they are not so difficult anymore.
A few weeks back we hiked 8 miles and it was rough, on the muscles; the scenery and the trail and the experience were all wonderful. Last Sunday, one day less of a week after the first hike at Headwaters Trail, we had another go. The entire trail is something like 11.6 miles. And we hiked the entire trail.
That may not seem like much to you, but holey moley was it hard. It's 5.3 miles in and then you loop around and come back. The entire fourth mile is very steep uphill. Everything after that (so that would be the entire fifth mile and then the .3 mile that felt like five miles all in itself) is barely a trail and completely overgrown with lots of stuff. I thought we were in the middle of a jungle or something. The "trail," if you can call it that, at that point is so uneven and rocky that it was a good thing I had such great hiking boots (that Mike bought me in January when I was out here for a visit) that provided ankle-saving support, no doubt.
I am so glad I did it, and I even have a picture of myself by the "End of Trail" sign to prove I was really there. But I tell you that will be the last time I make it that far. I felt the last mile and some was overrated. We have decided to hike 10 miles the next time around, for at the five-mile mark is a beautiful secluded little part of the redwood forest with streams and logs and growing things (i.e. ferns, wild purple irises, other things for which I know no names) everywhere, where we sat and ate our lunch (I have never eaten a more delicious turkey and swiss and avocado and black olive sandwich in my life as the one I ate after hiking five difficult miles).
I didn't know mere walking could be so hard. I no longer think of hiking as "mere walking." My muscles felt it for all of last week. I've just now recovered enough to type blogs again! My goal is to hike those 10 miles until they are not so difficult anymore.
I Got Another Job!
I haven't been on here in a while... busy with work, blah blah blah, same story different day or something like that.
But anyway, I had the strangest thing happen, strange because it's never happened to me before, not because it's actually odd: I'll have to tell you later, i.e. look at this post's title for a big "clue"/the answer. And why it's strange/odd? Again, I'll add details later.
But no worries about my assistant director job at the music festival non-profit; things are going absolutely wonderfully there - I'll explain the circumstances and details later/soon! I just didn't want y'all to think I gave up on this thing.
Love and Stuff,
But anyway, I had the strangest thing happen, strange because it's never happened to me before, not because it's actually odd: I'll have to tell you later, i.e. look at this post's title for a big "clue"/the answer. And why it's strange/odd? Again, I'll add details later.
But no worries about my assistant director job at the music festival non-profit; things are going absolutely wonderfully there - I'll explain the circumstances and details later/soon! I just didn't want y'all to think I gave up on this thing.
Love and Stuff,
Sunday, May 27, 2007
If You Want to Cry for Two Hours Straight...
...Watch the movie version of The Five People You Meet in Heaven.
If not, well I don't know. Do something else.
If not, well I don't know. Do something else.
Friday, May 25, 2007
Why I love Hwy 1 (Pictorial Evidence)
That is, as far as highways go...
P.S. The driver of the vehicle and the handler of the picture camera were not one and the same individual. Also, no animals were harmed in the making of this blog content.
P.S. The driver of the vehicle and the handler of the picture camera were not one and the same individual. Also, no animals were harmed in the making of this blog content.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
At My New Job...
...there is spam poetry in the email. Some of it is "really good!"
Here, see for yourselves:
The world itself is pregnant with failure, is the perfect manifestation of imperfection, of the consciousness of failure.
Never lose a holy curiosity.
You have been my friends, replied Charlotte, that in itself is a tremendous thing...
Give me a lever long enough, and a prop strong enough, I can single-handed move the world.
All these primary impulses, not easily described in words, are the springs of man's actions.
Every failure is a step to success.
The child is not to be educated for the present, but for the remote future, and often is opposition to the immediate future.
Calamity is virtue's opportunity.
The empty vessel makes the loudest sound.
Creativity is a highfalutin word for the work I have to do between now and Tuesday.
Human history in essence is the history of ideas.
It is by its promise of a sense of power that evil often attracts the weak.
I worked very hard. I felt I could play the game. The only thing that could stop me was myself.
Another one here:
Two of us, Docteur and Madame Machin, who stand
His sightless eyes horribly watch the air;
Out of the road into a way across
Some stubborn sprouts up through the stubble hay,
Pallid waste where no radiant fathomers,
Figures of light and dark, these two are walking
I bring down a bit of its light
At the white place of the road's vanishing
I do not betray you, I still go forward,
Silent patch of ultimate paint. You are
The winter road from the St. Simeon farm
For any part of them we can make out
I've drifted somewhat from the distant heart
That this mud draws on the stone.
Lucky the bell—still full and deep of throat,
That only you and I can know. Les deux
Suddenly, in a savage, dreadful bend,
—Now that you notice it—have just moved past
He never even dreams, being sheer snow;
Ah, Spam Poetry. I personally love the "creativity is a highfalutin word for the work I have to do between now and Tuesday" line. Yeah. Can we not all understand this sentiment!?
Also, when you are finished enjoying the poetry, you can, in the very same email, purchase Adobe software for the low low price of 99 cents. Originally One Thousand Dollars.
In other job news, my job rocks. Though today it will be hard hard hard. I have to get off the blasted internet now. Now that the day has started.
Ta ta.
Here, see for yourselves:
The world itself is pregnant with failure, is the perfect manifestation of imperfection, of the consciousness of failure.
Never lose a holy curiosity.
You have been my friends, replied Charlotte, that in itself is a tremendous thing...
Give me a lever long enough, and a prop strong enough, I can single-handed move the world.
All these primary impulses, not easily described in words, are the springs of man's actions.
Every failure is a step to success.
The child is not to be educated for the present, but for the remote future, and often is opposition to the immediate future.
Calamity is virtue's opportunity.
The empty vessel makes the loudest sound.
Creativity is a highfalutin word for the work I have to do between now and Tuesday.
Human history in essence is the history of ideas.
It is by its promise of a sense of power that evil often attracts the weak.
I worked very hard. I felt I could play the game. The only thing that could stop me was myself.
Another one here:
Two of us, Docteur and Madame Machin, who stand
His sightless eyes horribly watch the air;
Out of the road into a way across
Some stubborn sprouts up through the stubble hay,
Pallid waste where no radiant fathomers,
Figures of light and dark, these two are walking
I bring down a bit of its light
At the white place of the road's vanishing
I do not betray you, I still go forward,
Silent patch of ultimate paint. You are
The winter road from the St. Simeon farm
For any part of them we can make out
I've drifted somewhat from the distant heart
That this mud draws on the stone.
Lucky the bell—still full and deep of throat,
That only you and I can know. Les deux
Suddenly, in a savage, dreadful bend,
—Now that you notice it—have just moved past
He never even dreams, being sheer snow;
Ah, Spam Poetry. I personally love the "creativity is a highfalutin word for the work I have to do between now and Tuesday" line. Yeah. Can we not all understand this sentiment!?
Also, when you are finished enjoying the poetry, you can, in the very same email, purchase Adobe software for the low low price of 99 cents. Originally One Thousand Dollars.
In other job news, my job rocks. Though today it will be hard hard hard. I have to get off the blasted internet now. Now that the day has started.
Ta ta.
Monday, May 21, 2007
PS I did ride my Bicycle to Work on Friday too
And that is about 8 miles round trip as well. I am going to try and bike all the time. I will have to post a picture of my bike; it's so cute with the milk crate on the back, which is very nice for holding a book and my water bottle and my lunch and my rain slicker (in case it starts to rain) and then not have to have a bunch of things on my back. I work three days a week, so really that's not expecting too much out of myself to bike three days a week to work. And the weather is really so prime for biking, not too hot and not too cold. So I have no excuse not to do it, really.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
8 Miles Through the "Rainforest" AKA Banana Slugs EVERYWHERE!
So we just recently, within the last two hours recently, went hiking. 8 miles at Headwaters Trail right south of Eureka. A lot of uphill. A lot of downhill. A fair amount of mud. Some rocks. A lot of banana slugs. Rainforest-like weather conditions. (Yes, that means misty-like rain-stuff that is not really rain but accumulates and sticks and makes ya all wet anyway, as well as extremely humid and steamy, naturally.) It was hard. It was gorgeous. It was nice. I'd do it again. But not tomorrow.
My buns are sore now, y'all. Like they need some ice cream. Hahaha.
P.S. Besides the strangely large number of banana slugs we saw a fire belly salamander - which Mike picked up - a stripey garden snake - Mike picked that up as well because he's like a little boy and they must pick up wriggly things - and I guess that is it. But we heard animals in the bushes. And we went into the scary dark woods to have a look, which reminded me of when my siblings and I did that a lot as kids. And didn't have a fear of the spooky forest darkness of it either. Also, the air smelled so sweet, from all the flowers and trees and uh, nature, and I took the deepest breaths I could as often as possible, but it was never deep enough. It really was a marvelous experience, good for my soul. And my sole(s). Heehee.
My buns are sore now, y'all. Like they need some ice cream. Hahaha.
P.S. Besides the strangely large number of banana slugs we saw a fire belly salamander - which Mike picked up - a stripey garden snake - Mike picked that up as well because he's like a little boy and they must pick up wriggly things - and I guess that is it. But we heard animals in the bushes. And we went into the scary dark woods to have a look, which reminded me of when my siblings and I did that a lot as kids. And didn't have a fear of the spooky forest darkness of it either. Also, the air smelled so sweet, from all the flowers and trees and uh, nature, and I took the deepest breaths I could as often as possible, but it was never deep enough. It really was a marvelous experience, good for my soul. And my sole(s). Heehee.
Friday, May 18, 2007
Gnarly. (This Post is Where I Blame Being In Love and Happy for My Recent Weight Gain.)
I mean, what the hell. I am active everyday more than I've been in years. I'm learning about and consuming healthier and more organic foods. OK, so I may perhaps eat sweets on the daily as well, but I always did that! Blast that Mike has introduced me to the wonders and evils of Haagen Dazs. But seriously. I don't think that should account for the 20 pounds I've put on since I got here. (OK a bit of it was prior to leaving Wisconsin, but I attributed that to stress. OK, I've been stressed here as well. OK, whatever. Excuses, excuses.)
Mike says I'm beautiful and look wonderful but he's just a blind-in-love liar. But I of course mean that in a good way. Haha. But I mean, I finally for the first time in my life feel happy in a romantic relationshp, feel confident and secure in myself and in my partner, and I blame this, not the ice cream, for the weight gain. And the stress. OK, it's the fault of the ice cream as well. But besides that, don't happy people and people in committed relationships stereotypically "let themselves go?" Is this what I'm doing? I HOPE NOT!
Well, anyway, back to reality, it's the beginning of my third day of work today, and the first day without the aid and training of the assistant director whom I am replacing. I'm on my own today. And I'm excited to get in there and get to work. So I gotta jet, y'all. I'm riding my bicycle, because I gotta get moving! And stop eating Haagen Dazs! It's all natural amazingness, but of course comes at a price, like so many sweet things in this world.
PEACE.
Mike says I'm beautiful and look wonderful but he's just a blind-in-love liar. But I of course mean that in a good way. Haha. But I mean, I finally for the first time in my life feel happy in a romantic relationshp, feel confident and secure in myself and in my partner, and I blame this, not the ice cream, for the weight gain. And the stress. OK, it's the fault of the ice cream as well. But besides that, don't happy people and people in committed relationships stereotypically "let themselves go?" Is this what I'm doing? I HOPE NOT!
Well, anyway, back to reality, it's the beginning of my third day of work today, and the first day without the aid and training of the assistant director whom I am replacing. I'm on my own today. And I'm excited to get in there and get to work. So I gotta jet, y'all. I'm riding my bicycle, because I gotta get moving! And stop eating Haagen Dazs! It's all natural amazingness, but of course comes at a price, like so many sweet things in this world.
PEACE.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
I Have a Yob!!!!
OK I really have no idea why I think saying "yob" instead of "job" is funny, but other titles in the running for this post were "I've Been Jobbed" and "You are Looking at the New Assistant Director for the Redwood Coast Music Festival." First one could be inappropriate, second one is not actually true, unless I post a picture, because you are not actually looking at me.
But I digress. The actual point, and yes I do actually have one, is that I GOT THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR JOB THAT I WANTED! I am the proud new employee of the company that brings you such music festivals as Blues by the Bay and Redwood Coast Jazz Festival. You can find their site here: www.redwoodcoastmusicfestivals.org.
I will be helping the director coordinate and put on the Blues by the Bay event, scheduled for July 14 and 15 in my very own Eureka. My job description is, and I'm not kidding, do what it takes to put on Blues by the Bay. It's a two-person office, I'm the second person.
But I digress. The actual point, and yes I do actually have one, is that I GOT THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR JOB THAT I WANTED! I am the proud new employee of the company that brings you such music festivals as Blues by the Bay and Redwood Coast Jazz Festival. You can find their site here: www.redwoodcoastmusicfestivals.org.
I will be helping the director coordinate and put on the Blues by the Bay event, scheduled for July 14 and 15 in my very own Eureka. My job description is, and I'm not kidding, do what it takes to put on Blues by the Bay. It's a two-person office, I'm the second person.
According to My CAR, I'm a Californian Now (Monday, May 14)
So last night was the Ziggy Marley show. It was a total blast. We danced practically the whole time. Had this really awesome organic syrah. We left at midnight just as Ziggy finished his encore.
Today we went to the DMV and *FINALLY* all was in order and I've got my Californian registration, title, and new license plates. They make you physically hand them your old Wisconsin plates, so I can't ever go back. Haha, just kidding.
So then Mike dropped me off at the store and went to work. I realized he had both sets of keys. He realized it too and was about to head back to Eureka. I told him not to and I'd call him when I got home, since I thought Sarah might be home and able to let me in. I walked home and checked the door. Locked. Rang the doorbell. Looked through the mail. Got this really cute Wisconsin Cow postcard from Hayley. "Just a minute!" Yay! Sarah was home. Called Mike and told him not to come back to Eureka. I was in.
I watched The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, since apparently I'm in a movie-renting-and-watching phase these last few days (also, it was a 3 titles for $5 movie deal). It was humorous, especially the part where everyone in the galaxy is apparently British. Naturally.
Oh yeah, and I got a phone call back from the jazz place and it sure sounds like I'm in. They are trying to coordinate with the board of directors and could I come back for another interview? He told me it is mostly just a formality and that "they are going to love you" and not to worry. So I can't help it, I feel like I basically just got hired there. Cross your fingers. I'll let y'all know for sure.
Today we went to the DMV and *FINALLY* all was in order and I've got my Californian registration, title, and new license plates. They make you physically hand them your old Wisconsin plates, so I can't ever go back. Haha, just kidding.
So then Mike dropped me off at the store and went to work. I realized he had both sets of keys. He realized it too and was about to head back to Eureka. I told him not to and I'd call him when I got home, since I thought Sarah might be home and able to let me in. I walked home and checked the door. Locked. Rang the doorbell. Looked through the mail. Got this really cute Wisconsin Cow postcard from Hayley. "Just a minute!" Yay! Sarah was home. Called Mike and told him not to come back to Eureka. I was in.
I watched The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, since apparently I'm in a movie-renting-and-watching phase these last few days (also, it was a 3 titles for $5 movie deal). It was humorous, especially the part where everyone in the galaxy is apparently British. Naturally.
Oh yeah, and I got a phone call back from the jazz place and it sure sounds like I'm in. They are trying to coordinate with the board of directors and could I come back for another interview? He told me it is mostly just a formality and that "they are going to love you" and not to worry. So I can't help it, I feel like I basically just got hired there. Cross your fingers. I'll let y'all know for sure.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Sunday, May 13)
Mike went to work. I stayed home and watched Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. On DVD. It was soooooo good. I love it.
It was so crazy and beautiful and funny and scary (not scary scary, but a little scary). Starts at the end. Then the story of them, their love story, is told via Jim Carey's memories. At some point, even though he hired this man to take his ex-girlfriend (Kate Winslet) from his memory, he changes his mind and decides he needs to keep the memory of her. But he is sedated so he can't wake up to tell the "doctor" to stop erasing his memory. So he takes her (Winslet) and starts "hiding" her in memories she never occurred in, like from his childhood.
Also because much/most of the movie is taking place in his dreams there is crazy dreamlike stuff happening, things and people disappearing and reappearing, scenes flip-flopping and changing, very strange and broken continuity. Makes for interesting presentation.
I don't think I gave away too much since this movie is like four years old or something and that means, I'm quite sure, that I'm one of the last people to have seen it. My friend Nick kept telling me it was one of his ultimate favorite movies, and that I should watch it. I think we even attempted to watch it once. But now that I've seen it and felt like I could really relate to the impulsive and neurotic Kate Winslet character, I am paranoid that Nick recommended the movie to me because he thinks I'm crazy like her.
Whatever. I'm over it.
I also watched Sideways. It made me want to drive around California and taste wine.
It was so crazy and beautiful and funny and scary (not scary scary, but a little scary). Starts at the end. Then the story of them, their love story, is told via Jim Carey's memories. At some point, even though he hired this man to take his ex-girlfriend (Kate Winslet) from his memory, he changes his mind and decides he needs to keep the memory of her. But he is sedated so he can't wake up to tell the "doctor" to stop erasing his memory. So he takes her (Winslet) and starts "hiding" her in memories she never occurred in, like from his childhood.
Also because much/most of the movie is taking place in his dreams there is crazy dreamlike stuff happening, things and people disappearing and reappearing, scenes flip-flopping and changing, very strange and broken continuity. Makes for interesting presentation.
I don't think I gave away too much since this movie is like four years old or something and that means, I'm quite sure, that I'm one of the last people to have seen it. My friend Nick kept telling me it was one of his ultimate favorite movies, and that I should watch it. I think we even attempted to watch it once. But now that I've seen it and felt like I could really relate to the impulsive and neurotic Kate Winslet character, I am paranoid that Nick recommended the movie to me because he thinks I'm crazy like her.
Whatever. I'm over it.
I also watched Sideways. It made me want to drive around California and taste wine.
Monday, May 14, 2007
The Farmers Market (Saturday, May 12)
Set alarm for 6AM. Hit snooze for approximately 1 hour 20 min. Got dressed, washed face. Took Mike to bus stop for the 7:48AM bus. Bus schedule informed him that the first Saturday bus is at 9:50AM (this is why I waited for him even though he told me I could just drop him off). Went back home. Packed up shoulder bag and laptop. Brushed teeth. Left house at 8:30. Dropped Mike off at work. Parked at Arcata Co-op. Purchased "ready to eat" wrap made up of filafel, hummus, cabbage - YUM - fresh organic strawberries - amazing - bottle of Venatura red table wine - for later - Naturtine dark brown hair dye (expensive at $15.39 but healthy for me and earth), yummy mix of cashews and choco chips and raisins and peanuts called "Good Stuff" in the bulk foods section. Still not a member of the co-op, but brought my own cloth bag so that was my redeeming value/thing.
Next I parked a few blocks off the square and walked to farmers market. Things for sale: carrots, leeks, strawberries, lettuces, cabbages, spinach, asparagus, herbs, cacti, flowers, plants, trees. Had two women comment on my Made in Wisconsin shirt and said they were too - one from LaCrosse, the other ran away without specifying after grabbing my hand and saying "me too!" I had a mouthful of hummus and filafel and couldn't do much besides smile close-lipped and hope it came across that way (as opposed to a grimace, which seems more likely considering how quickly she turned and disappeared into the crowd).
After gazing longingly at the raspberry cheese danishes provided by Los Bagels at the center of the market, and deciding I'd purchased enough food already, I walked the two blocks to Sacred Grounds, where now I sit enjoying a delicious fresh cup of coffee (light roast) with brown sugar and half-n-half, having snagged the last cushy chair in the house. Coffee is one thing. I can justify coffee. Danishes, not so much.
11:13AM
A woman I would guess to be in her late 40's to early 50's approached me in the coffee shop. "Wisconsin? Really?!" She was born and raised in Ashland and has been here since 1975. Always goes back for visits. "Welcome to northern California," she said. Friendly conversational strangers make this world a much better place.
1:14PM
Sat and listened to Magnolia (rhythm and blues type band, including a guitar, drums, cello, alto sax and violin, lead vocals female, everyone looked mid 40's and older, did lots of Tracy Chapman covers but also a lot of their own music, had the crowd dancing) at farmers market for about 30 minutes. Then purchased a couple of tamales at a stand (Loleta jack cheese and black beans, side of mole sauce) to take back to the studio for Mike and me.
5:43PM
Rode my bike back to Sacred Grounds where now I sit. It's so windy outside, hard to ride. Spilled coffee all over my journal and decided to read my book instead. Coffee spillage unrelated to the windiness outside.
6:13PM
Layers upon layers of clothing. That's how people dress around here. Like RIDICULOUS amounts of layering. I frequently see both men and women with about three pairs of pants, women often have two or more skirts over their pants. And then there are the shirts. Oh, don't get me started on the shirts. I only have two on at the moment. Two! What was I thinking?
Next I parked a few blocks off the square and walked to farmers market. Things for sale: carrots, leeks, strawberries, lettuces, cabbages, spinach, asparagus, herbs, cacti, flowers, plants, trees. Had two women comment on my Made in Wisconsin shirt and said they were too - one from LaCrosse, the other ran away without specifying after grabbing my hand and saying "me too!" I had a mouthful of hummus and filafel and couldn't do much besides smile close-lipped and hope it came across that way (as opposed to a grimace, which seems more likely considering how quickly she turned and disappeared into the crowd).
After gazing longingly at the raspberry cheese danishes provided by Los Bagels at the center of the market, and deciding I'd purchased enough food already, I walked the two blocks to Sacred Grounds, where now I sit enjoying a delicious fresh cup of coffee (light roast) with brown sugar and half-n-half, having snagged the last cushy chair in the house. Coffee is one thing. I can justify coffee. Danishes, not so much.
11:13AM
A woman I would guess to be in her late 40's to early 50's approached me in the coffee shop. "Wisconsin? Really?!" She was born and raised in Ashland and has been here since 1975. Always goes back for visits. "Welcome to northern California," she said. Friendly conversational strangers make this world a much better place.
1:14PM
Sat and listened to Magnolia (rhythm and blues type band, including a guitar, drums, cello, alto sax and violin, lead vocals female, everyone looked mid 40's and older, did lots of Tracy Chapman covers but also a lot of their own music, had the crowd dancing) at farmers market for about 30 minutes. Then purchased a couple of tamales at a stand (Loleta jack cheese and black beans, side of mole sauce) to take back to the studio for Mike and me.
5:43PM
Rode my bike back to Sacred Grounds where now I sit. It's so windy outside, hard to ride. Spilled coffee all over my journal and decided to read my book instead. Coffee spillage unrelated to the windiness outside.
6:13PM
Layers upon layers of clothing. That's how people dress around here. Like RIDICULOUS amounts of layering. I frequently see both men and women with about three pairs of pants, women often have two or more skirts over their pants. And then there are the shirts. Oh, don't get me started on the shirts. I only have two on at the moment. Two! What was I thinking?
The Country Store (Friday, May 11)
Went to work with Mike. Talked to Grandma on the phone. She leaves on her train trip tomorrow. Went to McIntosh Country Store while Mike was in Glass House next door. Enjoyed fresh cup of coffee and organic dried whole banana. Mike joined me and we dined on beef tip sandwich (Mike) and garlic and olive oil tofu with homemade pesto noodles (me). Bought a slice of pumpkin bread to go. Everything at Country Store is freshly made right there. Much of it is organic. Went for a walk down the street to the convenience store. I can't remember and did not write down much/anything else. So The End.
P.S. I also left a message/voice mail on the machine at the jazz and blues music festival place. That is the main job I am trying to get.
P.S. I also left a message/voice mail on the machine at the jazz and blues music festival place. That is the main job I am trying to get.
"Do Nothing Thursday" (Thursday, May 10)
So, today is apparently "Do Nothing Thursday." Because that is what we have done today.
Got home really late last night from our fantastic road trip. Spent the day resting on Thursday.
Mike is doing laundry. I have determined that Grey's Anatomy is on at 9PM PT. We went for a walk by the horse stables (at Redwood Acres, behind our house) before it got dark.
Super duper enthralling, but nice to rest.
Got home really late last night from our fantastic road trip. Spent the day resting on Thursday.
Mike is doing laundry. I have determined that Grey's Anatomy is on at 9PM PT. We went for a walk by the horse stables (at Redwood Acres, behind our house) before it got dark.
Super duper enthralling, but nice to rest.
Road Trip! Mendo County (Wednesday, May 9)
Yesterday was the best day! Mike drove us from Eureka to Mendocino (about a two-three hour drive - he drove so I could enjoy the scenery). We drove on Highway 1, which is coastal and winding and crazy and AWESOME! There was a direct view of the ocean for very much of the ride.
We sold over $900 in glass just today! We had a lovely dinner at Cap'n Flint's - fresh seafood at the harbor (south of Ft. Bragg, north of Mendocino). The weather was PERFECT.
We made $99 reservations (mid-week special, naturally) at The Beachcomber, which was this fantastic motel right on the coast in Ft. Bragg, with our room's private balcony facing the ocean. We went to a reggae show at the Caspar Inn (in Caspar, between Ft. Bragg and Mendocino) - Sister Carol. The whole day was just wonderful. And Mike and I were both so happy to be together and on the road together, enjoying the beautiful scenery.
Of course, we took plenty of pictures which I hope to post soon.
11:41AM
We're like big kids. This morning we went down to the lobby and got coffee and danishes (mine was cheese!) and then ate our breakfast with the patio door open and the ocean view and music. Then we ran around at the beach and looked at tide pools and climbed all over mollusk covered rocks for an hour. After we got back to our room we ate milk and cookies, for a mid-morning snack of course.
(I took picturs of the sea anenomes and the starfish and the mollusks and other fun things, of course!)
1:35PM
We ate breakfast/lunch/brunch at Cafe 1 in Fort Bragg on Hwy 1/Main Street. All organic food. Delicious!* I had "heuvos diversaderos (rancheros)" which consisted of two scrambled eggs (but you can substitute tofu if you want), vegetarian beans, cheddar and jack cheeses, fresh avacado, two salsas, sour cream, served over corn tortillas, potatoes on the side. Mike had "hungry person" which included eggs, bacon and the best pancakes I've ever tasted in my life. Blueberry pancakes, I don't know if it was nutmeg but something made them so yummy. We also split an organic housemade bagel with butter and housemade jam. And plate-swapped. We love to share our food. It's just so ridiculously sappy, I know. But, whatever. We are happy, so leave us alone.
Now we are on the road again.
5:10PM
From Mendocino County to Lake County. Hot today. Mid to upper 80's. Sweaty hot. Beautiful and sunny. The lakes in Lake County with the sun reflecting off their still surfaces are sparkling/shimmering/gleaming. People are full of summer moods. Smiles from strangers. Windows wide open. Wonderful (wonderful adj. causing wonder, awe-inspiring, miraculous...).
8:40PM
We walked over by a lake and there were fish heads. It was gross. The lake was much prettier from afar. We stopped and ate Chinese fast food in our last little town before heading for home. It was neither the best nor the worst food I've had. Much better than McDonald's. No MSG, they advertised. And cook in olive oil for our health. The name of the town was Clear Lake. The name of the restaurant was something like Panda Bear or Big Panda. There was a huge TV on the wall playing a Shania Twain in Chicago live concert. I found that strange.
*delicious adj. delectable, palatable, savory, tasty, luscious, mouth-watering, appetizing; pleasant, pleasurable, delightful, joyful, charming
We sold over $900 in glass just today! We had a lovely dinner at Cap'n Flint's - fresh seafood at the harbor (south of Ft. Bragg, north of Mendocino). The weather was PERFECT.
We made $99 reservations (mid-week special, naturally) at The Beachcomber, which was this fantastic motel right on the coast in Ft. Bragg, with our room's private balcony facing the ocean. We went to a reggae show at the Caspar Inn (in Caspar, between Ft. Bragg and Mendocino) - Sister Carol. The whole day was just wonderful. And Mike and I were both so happy to be together and on the road together, enjoying the beautiful scenery.
Of course, we took plenty of pictures which I hope to post soon.
11:41AM
We're like big kids. This morning we went down to the lobby and got coffee and danishes (mine was cheese!) and then ate our breakfast with the patio door open and the ocean view and music. Then we ran around at the beach and looked at tide pools and climbed all over mollusk covered rocks for an hour. After we got back to our room we ate milk and cookies, for a mid-morning snack of course.
(I took picturs of the sea anenomes and the starfish and the mollusks and other fun things, of course!)
1:35PM
We ate breakfast/lunch/brunch at Cafe 1 in Fort Bragg on Hwy 1/Main Street. All organic food. Delicious!* I had "heuvos diversaderos (rancheros)" which consisted of two scrambled eggs (but you can substitute tofu if you want), vegetarian beans, cheddar and jack cheeses, fresh avacado, two salsas, sour cream, served over corn tortillas, potatoes on the side. Mike had "hungry person" which included eggs, bacon and the best pancakes I've ever tasted in my life. Blueberry pancakes, I don't know if it was nutmeg but something made them so yummy. We also split an organic housemade bagel with butter and housemade jam. And plate-swapped. We love to share our food. It's just so ridiculously sappy, I know. But, whatever. We are happy, so leave us alone.
Now we are on the road again.
5:10PM
From Mendocino County to Lake County. Hot today. Mid to upper 80's. Sweaty hot. Beautiful and sunny. The lakes in Lake County with the sun reflecting off their still surfaces are sparkling/shimmering/gleaming. People are full of summer moods. Smiles from strangers. Windows wide open. Wonderful (wonderful adj. causing wonder, awe-inspiring, miraculous...).
8:40PM
We walked over by a lake and there were fish heads. It was gross. The lake was much prettier from afar. We stopped and ate Chinese fast food in our last little town before heading for home. It was neither the best nor the worst food I've had. Much better than McDonald's. No MSG, they advertised. And cook in olive oil for our health. The name of the town was Clear Lake. The name of the restaurant was something like Panda Bear or Big Panda. There was a huge TV on the wall playing a Shania Twain in Chicago live concert. I found that strange.
*delicious adj. delectable, palatable, savory, tasty, luscious, mouth-watering, appetizing; pleasant, pleasurable, delightful, joyful, charming
The Day Before a Road Trip (Monday, May 7)
Interviewed at a non-profit organization for a program assistant position at 9AM. Four ladies went around the table and asked me hard questions for an hour. They were really nice. My future potential boss brought me coffee.
Got home, changed clothes, made a phone call I needed to make (to get my California plates - need info from my bank). Watched two-hour episode of Grey's Anatomy on my computer (does it still count as watching TV if I only watch one show when I can on my computer? Meh, whatever).
Drove to Arcata. Walked to bank to deposit a check. Walked to Sacred Grounds and sat and read the paper for an hour while sipping an iced cherry mocha (it is HOT today! High was nearly 80 and sunny as all get-out! Nice though.). Walked to Safeway and bought some food for Mike and me, tofu snack sticks (smoked flavor - delish), fresh strawberries, dried veggies (squash and green beans and carrots and cabbage and yams), California roll six pack, a bottle of water. Walked back to Mike's studio listening to Alicia Keys Live and Unplugged in my earphones. The girl's got it goin' on, just so you know.
Sat with Mike and shared the sushi, sampled the dried veggies, shared two out of three tofu sticks, and each had a strawberry. Then we went for a walk around the big loop at the Arcata marsh.
Went for a bike ride about 8PM while Mike worked. Went home for the night around 9:30PM.
Tomorrow we are leaving for Garberville, Willits, Mendocito, Santa Rosa. To sell glass. We are hoping to stay at a beach in Mendocito. I'm free all week since I won't hear from the non-profit people until early next week and the director at the jazz and blues festival headquarters is on vacation this week.
Got home, changed clothes, made a phone call I needed to make (to get my California plates - need info from my bank). Watched two-hour episode of Grey's Anatomy on my computer (does it still count as watching TV if I only watch one show when I can on my computer? Meh, whatever).
Drove to Arcata. Walked to bank to deposit a check. Walked to Sacred Grounds and sat and read the paper for an hour while sipping an iced cherry mocha (it is HOT today! High was nearly 80 and sunny as all get-out! Nice though.). Walked to Safeway and bought some food for Mike and me, tofu snack sticks (smoked flavor - delish), fresh strawberries, dried veggies (squash and green beans and carrots and cabbage and yams), California roll six pack, a bottle of water. Walked back to Mike's studio listening to Alicia Keys Live and Unplugged in my earphones. The girl's got it goin' on, just so you know.
Sat with Mike and shared the sushi, sampled the dried veggies, shared two out of three tofu sticks, and each had a strawberry. Then we went for a walk around the big loop at the Arcata marsh.
Went for a bike ride about 8PM while Mike worked. Went home for the night around 9:30PM.
Tomorrow we are leaving for Garberville, Willits, Mendocito, Santa Rosa. To sell glass. We are hoping to stay at a beach in Mendocito. I'm free all week since I won't hear from the non-profit people until early next week and the director at the jazz and blues festival headquarters is on vacation this week.
A Day of Rest (Sunday, May 6)
Slept in. Got up. Sat around outside. Sipped coffee. Took Mike to work by 2PM. Rode my bicycle to the square and got a rack for the back, on which to put my pink milk crate. Walked around the square and then rode bike to Safeway grocery store. Bought a chocolate and cherry thing that Mike likes, an organic banana that I like, and a trashy magazine (Life & Style, $1.99, sometimes I'm such a sucker). Rode back to shop. Gave Mike the chocolate and cherries. Had a couple (obviously). Walked over to the marsh. Sat on a bench by the sparkling pond. Made a few phone calls. Read my book for a while. Walked over to the edge of the ocean water where there are all these big rocks right off the footpath, and sat on the rocks. Watched these flocks of birds do their birdy thing(s).
The weather is GORGEOUS today. Sunny, mid-to-upper 60's. Best day so far, weather-wise, I think. Occasional breeze but not wind. Sunshine constantly. Warm but not too warm. Just lovely.* Peaceful to watch the birds. Walked the big loop on the foot path. The foliage has really grown since last I was there. Smiling faces, other walkers, laughing children, tweeting birds.
*lovely adj. attractive, handsome, comely, beautiful, adorable, exquisite, elegant, pretty; delightful, charming, enchanting, fascinating, enjoyable, aggreeable, pleasing, pleasant; winsome, winning, lovable, cute, sweet, captivating, alluring, engaging, endearing, irresistible, fetching; good, fine. (Yes! The day WAS adorable. How did my thesaurus know?!!? It gets me.)
The weather is GORGEOUS today. Sunny, mid-to-upper 60's. Best day so far, weather-wise, I think. Occasional breeze but not wind. Sunshine constantly. Warm but not too warm. Just lovely.* Peaceful to watch the birds. Walked the big loop on the foot path. The foliage has really grown since last I was there. Smiling faces, other walkers, laughing children, tweeting birds.
*lovely adj. attractive, handsome, comely, beautiful, adorable, exquisite, elegant, pretty; delightful, charming, enchanting, fascinating, enjoyable, aggreeable, pleasing, pleasant; winsome, winning, lovable, cute, sweet, captivating, alluring, engaging, endearing, irresistible, fetching; good, fine. (Yes! The day WAS adorable. How did my thesaurus know?!!? It gets me.)
Saturday, May 12, 2007
To San Francisco (Friday, May 4)
Woke up around 8:15AM. Lounged in bed. Mike was sweet and cheered me up. Insisted we didn't rush out the door. He went to the store for coffee. I called Grandma to say hi and cheer myself up by hearing her voice (and hopefully cheer her up too). Mike came back with a tiny chocolate cake with raspberry filling from Ramones Bakery. I got ready, put on makeup, fixed my hair. We sipped coffee and shared half the cake out back. Packed the other half to take with us. Packed an overnight bag. Painted toenails red ("ruby slipper red," from my mom before I left).
Left Eureka at 11:15. Stopped in Willits, sold glass. Stopped in Santa Rosa, sold glass. By this time it was around 5PM, so we walked around Santa Rosa and found a place for dinner. Agreed on a place called Flavors with some nice outdoor seating and a deliciously varied menu. Mike ordered a cheeseburger (hormonal and antibiotic free meat) with bacon and salad with bleu cheese dressing. I couldn't pass up the special, and I'm so glad I didnt: mahi mahi, fresh grilled asparagus, skewered shrimp, amazing garlic mashed potatoes. I had a glass of Merlot, St Francis. Fresh bread and olive oil was delivered to the table minutes after we were seated. Crab cakes and pasta candy (candy shaped pasta stuffed with spinach and cheeses) for appetizers. Lovely perfect weather for outdoor dining. Expensive, but Mike says worth it. I think so too.
After dinner we strolled around Santa Rosa for a few blocks. Then drove to San Francisco. Found a hotel to stay in (Hotel Whitcomb on Market Street) for a reasonable price. Got ready to go out, had a drink at the hotel bar. Walked from Market and 8th toward 1st in search of a club Mike found a few years ago that plays dancehall. Walked all the way down to about 2nd St and then were drawn by the sound of music to Beale Street. Had a drink at a bar on Beale St that had a pretty good funk band playing (no cover). Asked bartender if he knew of club in question (6th St, as it turns out, two blocks from our hotel). Bartender said no dancehall on Friday nights. We thanked him and after finishing the drink trecked back to 6th St (about a mile each way). Grateful to get a chance to walk a while in San Francisco. Along the way back I noticed side streets called "Anthony" and "Jessie" - I know it's not Jessa*, but still, it was the same street, only it was Anthony one direction and Jessie the other. I thought it was cool. :-)
Got back to 6th by way of Mission and then found club with a line. It was the club Mike wanted! Club Six. No reggae but a hip hop artist upstairs and a DJ downstairs. $15 cover. The biggest bouncers I've seen IN MY LIFE. They dwarfed me in every direction, imnotkidding. The place was bumpin'. I was one of the only white girls in there (Mike is not white, nor is he a girl. There was one other white girl that I saw but she knew about 10 people that knew the rest of the people, and so "belonged".) - it was a good experience for me if nothing else, to know what being the minority feels like. Coming from Wisconsin I've not experienced this before. Not really.
Danced from 11PM to 1:45AM. Walked back to hotel (the short way this time).
It was a very nice/fun day and night.
*Family who may not know: Jessa and Anthony are my former roommates in Wisconsin.
Left Eureka at 11:15. Stopped in Willits, sold glass. Stopped in Santa Rosa, sold glass. By this time it was around 5PM, so we walked around Santa Rosa and found a place for dinner. Agreed on a place called Flavors with some nice outdoor seating and a deliciously varied menu. Mike ordered a cheeseburger (hormonal and antibiotic free meat) with bacon and salad with bleu cheese dressing. I couldn't pass up the special, and I'm so glad I didnt: mahi mahi, fresh grilled asparagus, skewered shrimp, amazing garlic mashed potatoes. I had a glass of Merlot, St Francis. Fresh bread and olive oil was delivered to the table minutes after we were seated. Crab cakes and pasta candy (candy shaped pasta stuffed with spinach and cheeses) for appetizers. Lovely perfect weather for outdoor dining. Expensive, but Mike says worth it. I think so too.
After dinner we strolled around Santa Rosa for a few blocks. Then drove to San Francisco. Found a hotel to stay in (Hotel Whitcomb on Market Street) for a reasonable price. Got ready to go out, had a drink at the hotel bar. Walked from Market and 8th toward 1st in search of a club Mike found a few years ago that plays dancehall. Walked all the way down to about 2nd St and then were drawn by the sound of music to Beale Street. Had a drink at a bar on Beale St that had a pretty good funk band playing (no cover). Asked bartender if he knew of club in question (6th St, as it turns out, two blocks from our hotel). Bartender said no dancehall on Friday nights. We thanked him and after finishing the drink trecked back to 6th St (about a mile each way). Grateful to get a chance to walk a while in San Francisco. Along the way back I noticed side streets called "Anthony" and "Jessie" - I know it's not Jessa*, but still, it was the same street, only it was Anthony one direction and Jessie the other. I thought it was cool. :-)
Got back to 6th by way of Mission and then found club with a line. It was the club Mike wanted! Club Six. No reggae but a hip hop artist upstairs and a DJ downstairs. $15 cover. The biggest bouncers I've seen IN MY LIFE. They dwarfed me in every direction, imnotkidding. The place was bumpin'. I was one of the only white girls in there (Mike is not white, nor is he a girl. There was one other white girl that I saw but she knew about 10 people that knew the rest of the people, and so "belonged".) - it was a good experience for me if nothing else, to know what being the minority feels like. Coming from Wisconsin I've not experienced this before. Not really.
Danced from 11PM to 1:45AM. Walked back to hotel (the short way this time).
It was a very nice/fun day and night.
*Family who may not know: Jessa and Anthony are my former roommates in Wisconsin.
On My Last Day of Being Exactly a Quarter Century Old (Thursday, May 3)
Mike and I sat out back and sipped coffee. Left "around 8." I dropped him off at the bus stop. Went to Target. Bought a few items. Sat in Target Cafe at bar by window and ate breakfast sandwich (egg and cheese on english muffin). Went to beach and walked. Sat in sand and stared at ocean while listening to Girlyman in my earphones. Skipped on the beach. Yup, I did. And twirled too. Got my feet wet. Ran. Smiled. Laughed. Sang.
Now I'm back home and I must call State Farm, DMV, and Grandma. She gets her stitches out today.
7:52PM
Day spent driving back and forth to Arcata three times - going to the DMV twice (and still not having proof enough that I paid off my car loan! Not even to mention the hoops one has to jump through to obtain a driver's license around here - social security card and current valid WI DL NOT sufficient! Official birth certificate and/or passport required!), stopped by State Farm and gave them a copy of my policies because my agent in Wisco (Californians love to shorten words) is taking his sweet time faxing them a copy of it (surprise, surprise), but then spent $157 on DMV registration, so I am not ready to discuss rates and parting with more money that I neither have nor earn. Anyway, progress was made. I'll have to call my bank and have an "official" letter sent that states I have paid off my car loan. Which I have. And I have a letter from Summit, but it wasn't signed.
One of the various times I was in Arcata, Mike and I went to a shop and sold glass. He bought me a green teeshirt that says Humboldt across the chest. We went to this little watch repair shop and had the battery replaced in my favorite purple watch ("Funky purple watch, I like it, I bet it's your favorite," said the shop owner). Mike and I walked the few blocks from the watch place to the car in the rain. We were laughing and teasing each other. Making plans to make a trip to the Bay area tomorrow. Mike went back to work, and I walked from the studio to Porter Street BBQ, in spite of the rain, and then to Sacred Grounds, where now I sit with a very large and very hot cup of peppermint tea. It's open mic night, and to my left two gentlemen are creating a song on the spot which they will perform.
This is a very crowded coffee shop but it's one of the only good ones in Arcata. I'm feeling more comfortable than other times sitting alone in public. Coffee shops seem to be designed just for that. Alone but not alone. Near humans but doing your own thing. It's interesting to me, fascinating even.
Now my dilemma: I'm more comfortable here than in Mike's cold shop. I walked here - I needed to even though it was raining (though I did go for a nice walk this morning at the beach, I want to get into the habit of walking or biking every time I can and biking in the rain was out). I don't want to walk down South G Street in the dark. I don't want to call Mike to come get me. I don't want to leave just yet. It will be getting dark soon. That's my dilemma.
Tough life, right? Oy.
I didn't even call Grandma today. :-(
Now I'm back home and I must call State Farm, DMV, and Grandma. She gets her stitches out today.
7:52PM
Day spent driving back and forth to Arcata three times - going to the DMV twice (and still not having proof enough that I paid off my car loan! Not even to mention the hoops one has to jump through to obtain a driver's license around here - social security card and current valid WI DL NOT sufficient! Official birth certificate and/or passport required!), stopped by State Farm and gave them a copy of my policies because my agent in Wisco (Californians love to shorten words) is taking his sweet time faxing them a copy of it (surprise, surprise), but then spent $157 on DMV registration, so I am not ready to discuss rates and parting with more money that I neither have nor earn. Anyway, progress was made. I'll have to call my bank and have an "official" letter sent that states I have paid off my car loan. Which I have. And I have a letter from Summit, but it wasn't signed.
One of the various times I was in Arcata, Mike and I went to a shop and sold glass. He bought me a green teeshirt that says Humboldt across the chest. We went to this little watch repair shop and had the battery replaced in my favorite purple watch ("Funky purple watch, I like it, I bet it's your favorite," said the shop owner). Mike and I walked the few blocks from the watch place to the car in the rain. We were laughing and teasing each other. Making plans to make a trip to the Bay area tomorrow. Mike went back to work, and I walked from the studio to Porter Street BBQ, in spite of the rain, and then to Sacred Grounds, where now I sit with a very large and very hot cup of peppermint tea. It's open mic night, and to my left two gentlemen are creating a song on the spot which they will perform.
This is a very crowded coffee shop but it's one of the only good ones in Arcata. I'm feeling more comfortable than other times sitting alone in public. Coffee shops seem to be designed just for that. Alone but not alone. Near humans but doing your own thing. It's interesting to me, fascinating even.
Now my dilemma: I'm more comfortable here than in Mike's cold shop. I walked here - I needed to even though it was raining (though I did go for a nice walk this morning at the beach, I want to get into the habit of walking or biking every time I can and biking in the rain was out). I don't want to walk down South G Street in the dark. I don't want to call Mike to come get me. I don't want to leave just yet. It will be getting dark soon. That's my dilemma.
Tough life, right? Oy.
I didn't even call Grandma today. :-(
"Look, Palm Trees on the Farm" (Wednesday, May 2)
Today, I have emailed several people regarding work/job interview-related things. I have an interview with a non-profit oranization next Monday. I called State Farm and made an appointment with them to get my insurance coverage transferred. I made an appointment to get my car smog certified. Mike took a break from work and went with me (I was fine with going by myself but he offered and didn't mind). I balanced a checking account (I now have one out here in addition to my Wisconsin account) and paid my cell phone bill.
Exciting, right? Well, ya gotta do what ya gotta do. Not everyday can be thrilling, unfortunately. Or maybe that's a good thing.
I hung out with Mike while he worked for a little while. Listened to music. We have been trying to pool our resources, including using one car (and only when necessary). So that sometimes means I take him to work and then keep myself busy running errands and exploring Arcata, instead of Eureka. It's fine with me. Arcata is charming. :-)
What else did I do today? Oh, well, I online chatted with Hayley for a bit. I sat on the back patio with Mike and drank coffee while watching the sun come out - this is something we try to do everyday.
Mike and I went to Glass House and got some clear glass rods and 24K gold wire for him to work with. Next door is the Country Store; they have the BEST food, all made from scratch, some vegan, many things organic. They had Thai chicken curry soup on special so I had them fill my fat pink travel mug with it. We also got organic dried whole bananas (they are soooooo yummy), chocolate covered raisins, sesame garlic sticks, chocolate peanut butter brownie (still hot from the pan - this is Mike's favorite), pineapple carrot cake with cream cheese frosting... we didn't eat it all at once! Some of it was for later. All of it was $13.99, not bad for two people for the whole day, in my opinion. The soup was creamy but not heavy, spicy and sweet at the same time - peanut thai sauce and coconut curry I'm guessing - chock full of green squash, chicken, potatoes, onion, carrots, rice. YUMMY. Big chunks, well made. Mike's "not a soup guy" but he ate about 1/3 of it after tasting it.
After smog check we stopped at Sacred Grounds for coffee refills. $3.22 after tax for my pink mug plus Mike's big thermos. More than three refills worth, most definitely, but you get rewarded for bringing your own containers in Arcata. If you count having tons of coffee to drink a reward. I guess I do. (Oh yeah, and it was driving by a farm on the way to the smog place that Mike made the comment that I chose as this entry's title: "Look! Palm trees on the farm...have that in Wisconsin?" Smarty Pants.)
Mike has made nearly 20 pieces already, and it's only 4PM. Plus he stopped twice - for Glass House/Country Store plus Smog Check/Sacred Grounds. We got here around 10:45AM, which is sort of late. So not bad for a day's work, Mike.
So, Mike put my bike on his rack, which just fit over my spoiler, so that I could have my bike in Arcata. Now I'm going to ride my bike to the bank to cash a check. It's really nice and sunny out there.
Oh yeah, and also today I talked to Grandma on the phone. I miss her. She is always glad to hear from me. I just said to Mike: "Grandma is my favorite. She just thinks I'm wonderful." Mike said, "You ARE wonderful!" (Oh yeah, did I mention he put my bike on my car all of his own volition and didn't say anything so I'd be surprised when I came out of the house? "I thought you might want to ride it around after you get bored hanging out with me.") It's 4:06PM - Bicycle Time!
9:37PM
I rode my bike from 4:00 to 5:00. Went to the bank and cashed my check. Explored a few streets of Arcata.
At 5:15 we went up to Orick (past Trinidad) to Lady Bird Johnson Trail - one mile hike, so a good one to start with - in "Bears and Lion Country." There were signs explaining how to deflect/avoid bears ("make lots of noise") and what to do if one approaches ("stay calm," make noise? - or stay quiet - can't remember now. Probably this is an important detail...? Oh yeah, and "DON'T RUN!" If attacked, "Fight Back Aggressively." Great.)
It started to rain after we got back into the car (good timing!) and we saw two big beautiful rainbows. Of course I didn't have my camera. It's OK though. I enjoyed them with my two eyes.
Then we stopped at a beach north of Trinidad, south of Orick, and walked through the sand in our sandals (typically we travel with hiking boots and sandals so as to be prepared). Climbed a big rock. Watched the waves.
Came back to Arcata. Mike and I counted 27 pieces and I think he's made 7 more. I'm going to walk somewhere to use the bathroom and grab something to drink (there is a bathroom at his rented studio space, but it is so gross I can't bring myself to go in there).
Oh yeah, also I noticed the instructions for "what to do" were only if you see/meet a bear. It did not tell what to do in the unfortunate event you cross paths with a mountain lion. Though it did say we were in "mountain lion AND bear country". So I asked Mike what we would/should do. He said, "Take a picture!"
Yeah. Thanks, Mike. That is very helpful information. NOT.
11:18PM
I walked from South G St, Mike's Work, to Sacred Grounds on 7th and F. It was closed. The walk was only about five blocks up and one block over. I'm glad I did it but South G was very very dark and the shadows scared me. I called Mike to let him know I was going into Safeway (grocery store) to shop and was he done soon because I was too scared? No, I didn't like to do that, but better safe than sorry. He was just about done and more than happy to come and get me.
Exciting, right? Well, ya gotta do what ya gotta do. Not everyday can be thrilling, unfortunately. Or maybe that's a good thing.
I hung out with Mike while he worked for a little while. Listened to music. We have been trying to pool our resources, including using one car (and only when necessary). So that sometimes means I take him to work and then keep myself busy running errands and exploring Arcata, instead of Eureka. It's fine with me. Arcata is charming. :-)
What else did I do today? Oh, well, I online chatted with Hayley for a bit. I sat on the back patio with Mike and drank coffee while watching the sun come out - this is something we try to do everyday.
Mike and I went to Glass House and got some clear glass rods and 24K gold wire for him to work with. Next door is the Country Store; they have the BEST food, all made from scratch, some vegan, many things organic. They had Thai chicken curry soup on special so I had them fill my fat pink travel mug with it. We also got organic dried whole bananas (they are soooooo yummy), chocolate covered raisins, sesame garlic sticks, chocolate peanut butter brownie (still hot from the pan - this is Mike's favorite), pineapple carrot cake with cream cheese frosting... we didn't eat it all at once! Some of it was for later. All of it was $13.99, not bad for two people for the whole day, in my opinion. The soup was creamy but not heavy, spicy and sweet at the same time - peanut thai sauce and coconut curry I'm guessing - chock full of green squash, chicken, potatoes, onion, carrots, rice. YUMMY. Big chunks, well made. Mike's "not a soup guy" but he ate about 1/3 of it after tasting it.
After smog check we stopped at Sacred Grounds for coffee refills. $3.22 after tax for my pink mug plus Mike's big thermos. More than three refills worth, most definitely, but you get rewarded for bringing your own containers in Arcata. If you count having tons of coffee to drink a reward. I guess I do. (Oh yeah, and it was driving by a farm on the way to the smog place that Mike made the comment that I chose as this entry's title: "Look! Palm trees on the farm...have that in Wisconsin?" Smarty Pants.)
Mike has made nearly 20 pieces already, and it's only 4PM. Plus he stopped twice - for Glass House/Country Store plus Smog Check/Sacred Grounds. We got here around 10:45AM, which is sort of late. So not bad for a day's work, Mike.
So, Mike put my bike on his rack, which just fit over my spoiler, so that I could have my bike in Arcata. Now I'm going to ride my bike to the bank to cash a check. It's really nice and sunny out there.
Oh yeah, and also today I talked to Grandma on the phone. I miss her. She is always glad to hear from me. I just said to Mike: "Grandma is my favorite. She just thinks I'm wonderful." Mike said, "You ARE wonderful!" (Oh yeah, did I mention he put my bike on my car all of his own volition and didn't say anything so I'd be surprised when I came out of the house? "I thought you might want to ride it around after you get bored hanging out with me.") It's 4:06PM - Bicycle Time!
9:37PM
I rode my bike from 4:00 to 5:00. Went to the bank and cashed my check. Explored a few streets of Arcata.
At 5:15 we went up to Orick (past Trinidad) to Lady Bird Johnson Trail - one mile hike, so a good one to start with - in "Bears and Lion Country." There were signs explaining how to deflect/avoid bears ("make lots of noise") and what to do if one approaches ("stay calm," make noise? - or stay quiet - can't remember now. Probably this is an important detail...? Oh yeah, and "DON'T RUN!" If attacked, "Fight Back Aggressively." Great.)
It started to rain after we got back into the car (good timing!) and we saw two big beautiful rainbows. Of course I didn't have my camera. It's OK though. I enjoyed them with my two eyes.
Then we stopped at a beach north of Trinidad, south of Orick, and walked through the sand in our sandals (typically we travel with hiking boots and sandals so as to be prepared). Climbed a big rock. Watched the waves.
Came back to Arcata. Mike and I counted 27 pieces and I think he's made 7 more. I'm going to walk somewhere to use the bathroom and grab something to drink (there is a bathroom at his rented studio space, but it is so gross I can't bring myself to go in there).
Oh yeah, also I noticed the instructions for "what to do" were only if you see/meet a bear. It did not tell what to do in the unfortunate event you cross paths with a mountain lion. Though it did say we were in "mountain lion AND bear country". So I asked Mike what we would/should do. He said, "Take a picture!"
Yeah. Thanks, Mike. That is very helpful information. NOT.
11:18PM
I walked from South G St, Mike's Work, to Sacred Grounds on 7th and F. It was closed. The walk was only about five blocks up and one block over. I'm glad I did it but South G was very very dark and the shadows scared me. I called Mike to let him know I was going into Safeway (grocery store) to shop and was he done soon because I was too scared? No, I didn't like to do that, but better safe than sorry. He was just about done and more than happy to come and get me.
Hooking Up, a girl's all-out guide to SEX & SEXUALITY, by Amber Madison
So this book is geared more toward high school and very young college aged, maybe even older middle school aged, girls (as you can imagine, since it's a book on sexuality that has very basic, but detailed, information on what every person should know about sex, written with a young female audience in mind). Still, it's a really well- written and presented book, full of very important information every girl should know ASAP.
Especially the chapter on sexual assault and rape.
Also the chapter on STD's.
And the chapter on pregnancy.
These are things no girl should have to wonder about for very long. Her parents should, at the very least, give her this book.
In my opinion.
An excerpt worth reading, from the chapter on Sexual Stereotypes (another good chapter! see, there are lots of them):
"WOMEN DON'T GET HORNY OR ENJOY SEX AS MUCH AS MEN DO
"Stereotypically, women aren't supposed to want sex. We're like the sexual benchwarmers; we're supposed to get all dressed up to play (makeup, cleavage, tight pants), but then we can't go out on the field (or we're 'slutty' if we do). And since we're not supposed to want sex, many people believe that women actually don't want it. Some people think that women don't get horny or that, if they do, they don't get nearly as horny as men. Sure it's true that women may be more hesitant than men to engage in sex, but that's not because we desire it less.
"Guys are raised to be in touch with their sexual side. They are bombarded with pictures of half-naked women in poses that imply, 'Hey, baby, wanna screw?' Name a typical 'guy thing,' like sports games or beer commercials, and there are usually hot, half-naked girls connected with it. Furthermore, the American idea of a 'man' is a guy who wants to get it on as much as possible.
"Imagine if the world tried to make us permanently horny in the same way it does to guys. What if our girly magazines were filled with pictures of ridiculously hot, naked men? What if shows like Oprah had hot male cheerleaders who shook their asses every time she made a good point? And what if 'being a lady' meant behaving like a porn star? It seems ridiculous, but that's essentially the world that guys grow up in. Guys don't want sex more than girls, or get hornier than we do; it's just that they've been taught it's OK to express their sexual desires, whereas we're supposed to suppress ours.
"Girls may be more hesitant to engage in sex acts, but it's not because we desire sex less than guys do. We just have more to lose. When a guy has sex, He's a 'pimp' - he's not going to get himself pregnant, and his chance of catching an STD is half that of a girl's. And even if he's having sex for the first time, he's likely to have an orgasm.
"When a girl has sex, she has to worry about people frowning upon her 'dirty' decision. She has to deal with the anxiety of a possible pregnancy and the increased chance of catching an STD. And even after risking all that, there's a good chance that she won't even get off. So if women are slower to want to jump in the sack, it's not because our sex drive isn't as strong - it's because sex is riskier for girls than it is for guys.
"The problem with thinking that women don't get horny or don't want sex is that it makes sex something that we do for guys and not for ourselves. It sets us up to feel used and dirty when having sex because we're told that we don't really want to be doing it. And it completely undermines our sexual satisfaction because if women don't want sex, what does it matter if we enjoy it? We have to acknowledge our sexual desires and needs, because it's not fair to go into sexual encounters thinking a guy's experience is more important than our own."
SIDENOTE FROM THE PEANUT GALLERY (that's me): Only teaching abstinence in substitution of sex education is NOT effective, intelligent, or actually even sex education at all. Small children will always reach puberty and will always be curious. You can teach them your morals, to wait until marriage, whatever you think is right. But you shouldn't not teach them about sex and its risks, as if teaching them will cause them to jump into a sexual relationship with someone else. On the contrary; not teaching them anything about it makes for ignorant, curious, horny people who can and will make really stupid choices. If you teach them the risks, it might actually help prevent them from doing some things before they are truly ready. PARENTS: no, I don't have kids, so no, I don't really know what it feels like. But if you want safe, healthy, happy children, the least you can do is teach them properly.
[End Rant]
Especially the chapter on sexual assault and rape.
Also the chapter on STD's.
And the chapter on pregnancy.
These are things no girl should have to wonder about for very long. Her parents should, at the very least, give her this book.
In my opinion.
An excerpt worth reading, from the chapter on Sexual Stereotypes (another good chapter! see, there are lots of them):
"WOMEN DON'T GET HORNY OR ENJOY SEX AS MUCH AS MEN DO
"Stereotypically, women aren't supposed to want sex. We're like the sexual benchwarmers; we're supposed to get all dressed up to play (makeup, cleavage, tight pants), but then we can't go out on the field (or we're 'slutty' if we do). And since we're not supposed to want sex, many people believe that women actually don't want it. Some people think that women don't get horny or that, if they do, they don't get nearly as horny as men. Sure it's true that women may be more hesitant than men to engage in sex, but that's not because we desire it less.
"Guys are raised to be in touch with their sexual side. They are bombarded with pictures of half-naked women in poses that imply, 'Hey, baby, wanna screw?' Name a typical 'guy thing,' like sports games or beer commercials, and there are usually hot, half-naked girls connected with it. Furthermore, the American idea of a 'man' is a guy who wants to get it on as much as possible.
"Imagine if the world tried to make us permanently horny in the same way it does to guys. What if our girly magazines were filled with pictures of ridiculously hot, naked men? What if shows like Oprah had hot male cheerleaders who shook their asses every time she made a good point? And what if 'being a lady' meant behaving like a porn star? It seems ridiculous, but that's essentially the world that guys grow up in. Guys don't want sex more than girls, or get hornier than we do; it's just that they've been taught it's OK to express their sexual desires, whereas we're supposed to suppress ours.
"Girls may be more hesitant to engage in sex acts, but it's not because we desire sex less than guys do. We just have more to lose. When a guy has sex, He's a 'pimp' - he's not going to get himself pregnant, and his chance of catching an STD is half that of a girl's. And even if he's having sex for the first time, he's likely to have an orgasm.
"When a girl has sex, she has to worry about people frowning upon her 'dirty' decision. She has to deal with the anxiety of a possible pregnancy and the increased chance of catching an STD. And even after risking all that, there's a good chance that she won't even get off. So if women are slower to want to jump in the sack, it's not because our sex drive isn't as strong - it's because sex is riskier for girls than it is for guys.
"The problem with thinking that women don't get horny or don't want sex is that it makes sex something that we do for guys and not for ourselves. It sets us up to feel used and dirty when having sex because we're told that we don't really want to be doing it. And it completely undermines our sexual satisfaction because if women don't want sex, what does it matter if we enjoy it? We have to acknowledge our sexual desires and needs, because it's not fair to go into sexual encounters thinking a guy's experience is more important than our own."
SIDENOTE FROM THE PEANUT GALLERY (that's me): Only teaching abstinence in substitution of sex education is NOT effective, intelligent, or actually even sex education at all. Small children will always reach puberty and will always be curious. You can teach them your morals, to wait until marriage, whatever you think is right. But you shouldn't not teach them about sex and its risks, as if teaching them will cause them to jump into a sexual relationship with someone else. On the contrary; not teaching them anything about it makes for ignorant, curious, horny people who can and will make really stupid choices. If you teach them the risks, it might actually help prevent them from doing some things before they are truly ready. PARENTS: no, I don't have kids, so no, I don't really know what it feels like. But if you want safe, healthy, happy children, the least you can do is teach them properly.
[End Rant]
Sunday, May 6, 2007
I HAVE MY VERY OWN THEME SONG!!!
THANK YOU, RUSSELL, THIS IS THE COOLEST PRESENT!!!!
Updated to add the song lyrics in case your computer and/or environment does not allow you to listen to sounds:
Let me tell you about a girl
Who loves Dr. Seuss
She's got a great writing style
A photogenic smile
Bringing joy to the people on the streets
She embarked on a new adventure
And moved to Californ-I-A
Spending her time reading in the sunshine
Listens to the ocean to clear her mind
She'll publish a book one day you'll see
And her name is Naomi
Naomi Yeah Yeah Yeah
Naomi Yeah Yeah Yeah
Naomi theme song tonight
| Naomi Theme.mp3 |
Updated to add the song lyrics in case your computer and/or environment does not allow you to listen to sounds:
Let me tell you about a girl
Who loves Dr. Seuss
She's got a great writing style
A photogenic smile
Bringing joy to the people on the streets
She embarked on a new adventure
And moved to Californ-I-A
Spending her time reading in the sunshine
Listens to the ocean to clear her mind
She'll publish a book one day you'll see
And her name is Naomi
Naomi Yeah Yeah Yeah
Naomi Yeah Yeah Yeah
Naomi theme song tonight
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Happy Unbirthday to Me!
The new Girlyman album, Joyful Sign, just came in the mail today!
I don't know why I love this band so much, I mean I think they are really good, but for some reason it's deeper than that. I listen to them and feel sort of like we understand each other. Plus the harmony is off the hook.
Anyway. I'm off to listen to my new CD.
I don't know why I love this band so much, I mean I think they are really good, but for some reason it's deeper than that. I listen to them and feel sort of like we understand each other. Plus the harmony is off the hook.
Anyway. I'm off to listen to my new CD.
A New Month Means New State Registration
My plates have expired on my Nissan. This means I have to go get California plates now. I wonder if I could get a vanity plate that says Made in WI. I wonder if I would really want to do that. I'm rather proud of Wisconsin and always have been.
Why is that? Perhaps it's because they know the appropriate amount of cheese to put on their pizza, making them the TRUE dairy state, in my book?
Maybe it's just because I was ... made there.
Happy May, y'all. It marks the beginning of my third month here out west. It means summer is right around the corner. It means longer, easier days. It means I'm about to move from mid-twenties to ... gasp ... I can't even say it. I think I'll stick with mid-twenties for as long as possible. (Why do we do that? I've always loved growing older. When does that stop?)
Why is that? Perhaps it's because they know the appropriate amount of cheese to put on their pizza, making them the TRUE dairy state, in my book?
Maybe it's just because I was ... made there.
Happy May, y'all. It marks the beginning of my third month here out west. It means summer is right around the corner. It means longer, easier days. It means I'm about to move from mid-twenties to ... gasp ... I can't even say it. I think I'll stick with mid-twenties for as long as possible. (Why do we do that? I've always loved growing older. When does that stop?)
Rented!
My Madison apartment is officially rented! Yeah yeah yeahyeahyeah.
This is so cool.
I really hope my Anthony and Jessa like their new roomie... Alli is her name, Epic is her game.
This is so cool.
I really hope my Anthony and Jessa like their new roomie... Alli is her name, Epic is her game.
Review-ish: the five people you meet in heaven
By Mitch Albom
This book is like nothing I've ever read. It's swirly whirly in its imagery. The lessons are important. I cried about five times (one for each person), at least. The ending was definitely not what I expected. I didn't feel like the book just dropped at the end and left me hanging either. It is a complete story. That's rare in a novel, I have found.
I'm terrible at reviewing books. But this is one I think people should read. It does not mean you have to believe in heaven or that people are going to heaven. It's about the meaning of life in a way. Like this old man thought his life meant nothing. He learned that wasn't even the beginning of the truth. He learned how he had affected other people's lives in such intimate and life-changing ways and vice versa. That we are all connected.
It might sound kind of "hippy dippy" but it's just a lovely book.
A few of my favorite quotes:
"No life is a waste. The only time we waste is the time we spend thinking we are alone."
"Sometimes when you sacrifice something precious, you're not really losing it. You're just passing it on to someone else."
"Lost love is still love."
OK, but seriously, if you haven't read this book, go and read it. I don't think anyone will regret that choice. Even if you think its premise is silly. It might be. Maybe we are not going to heaven. I never said I believed that. The author acknowledges that he may not believe that either. That's really not the point of this story.
This book is like nothing I've ever read. It's swirly whirly in its imagery. The lessons are important. I cried about five times (one for each person), at least. The ending was definitely not what I expected. I didn't feel like the book just dropped at the end and left me hanging either. It is a complete story. That's rare in a novel, I have found.
I'm terrible at reviewing books. But this is one I think people should read. It does not mean you have to believe in heaven or that people are going to heaven. It's about the meaning of life in a way. Like this old man thought his life meant nothing. He learned that wasn't even the beginning of the truth. He learned how he had affected other people's lives in such intimate and life-changing ways and vice versa. That we are all connected.
It might sound kind of "hippy dippy" but it's just a lovely book.
A few of my favorite quotes:
"No life is a waste. The only time we waste is the time we spend thinking we are alone."
"Sometimes when you sacrifice something precious, you're not really losing it. You're just passing it on to someone else."
"Lost love is still love."
OK, but seriously, if you haven't read this book, go and read it. I don't think anyone will regret that choice. Even if you think its premise is silly. It might be. Maybe we are not going to heaven. I never said I believed that. The author acknowledges that he may not believe that either. That's really not the point of this story.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
