Last day of School cakefacefest

41....4/11

17 years

Cousins Camp

Family Reunion

Spring Break.....Day 1....Mostly Driving

 We wanted to get to Utah as fast as possible, and I think this was the first trip where all of us had our headphones on, each listening to our own personal road trip soundtrack.   Gone are the days when we have endless hours to sing and play games, whine and fight.   It isn't a bad way to travel, other than that  parental guilt yelling at me to use this time together to bond.  I just gave the parental guilt some headphones of its own..Beastie Boys...as high as the volume would allow.

 

 Me wondering how in the world it can be so quiet on this trip...Did we leave the kids at the last reststop?  Impossible, they NEVER need to pee on these trips. 

.... And this is why we want to get to Utah.  It is non-stop fun and laughter from the minute we walk into Stacey's house.

little boys in wigs

ladies dancing with dogs

The Occasionally United Us in the United Kingdom June 23-July8

Braces off....August 8th. 2013

Picking up a hitchhiker

"Oh, look at that cute old man" I said the kids in the car, two-thirds of whom had earphones in their ears and couldn't hear me anyway.  I'm used to talking to myself.  
He was slouched slightly at the bus stop.  I was just passing when I noticed his oversized, awkward thumb sticking up.
Before I thought twice, I turned onto the corner and opened the door.
"Do you need a ride somewhere?"
He wobbled a few feet away from the pole, probably checking to see if I was hitchhiker picker upper material....that I wasnt the type who looked like I would steal his wallet and leave his body in a ditch.  
"I just need to get down to Fred Meyer.  Do you mind?"

"Sure.  Hop in"
I opened the sliding door and he grabbled a hold of the seat before lifting himself clumsily into my van.

"I thought you were waiting for the bus when I saw your thumb up."

"What? Wait a minute" he yelled while he adjusted his hearing aid.


There is a saying that goes like this.  "Life is all pain.  But you got to make the most of it. "

There is a saying that goes like this.  "


My wife was telling me last night that I wasn't going to die anytime soon.

I live alone, so it is nice to talk to someone once in a while.

I grew up on 8th and Freya until I was 15.  Boy did I see a lot of sadness that year.  You wouldn't believe this, but I saw my mother and my father and my grandmother and my cat and dog all die within 7 months.  

I headed out to Hollywood, but that sadness has never gone away.  I have carried it with me all my life and even saw a Shrink once about it, but he didn't know what the heck he was talking about.

Gary Williams.  

You've got such a kind smile.  I am just so happy to know that there are still good people out in the world who will stop and help an old man out.  

God Bless you.

One thing before you go.  Don't ever get old!

Savor

I am frozen...
Three of mine
willfully combined
laughing
Running
With Big Sticks
and bare feet..
darkness creeps closer
I don't dare break the spell
I can't speak
I can't breath
I can only will this moment...
this peace...
to find a space 
in and between
each and every one of my cells.
I will store its fatness 
so I won't starve 
on famine nights 

Spring Bare-foot test... barely... passed

I had almost given up.  Seriously.  I had no hope left.   This spring/summer better be a good one or I may have to reconsider my relationship with the Pacific Northwest.

My gazingus pins

A gazingus pin is something that you just buy.  You may not have it in that color.  You may not have quite that flavor.  You tend to have a lot of them, far more than you really need, and sometimes you may even have more than you can use.  Common examples are flavored lip balm, or shoes, or yarn.  Alternatively they could be the latest electronic thing, or power tools, and so on.  They’re tiny pleasures, but if overdone, the pleasure can be diluted because it has become a habit more than a treat.  And sometimes they’re not so tiny pleasures because the gazingus pin in question is expensive or the sheer quantity of pins adds up disproportionate to a person’s budget.  When either one of those scenarios happen, it’s a good idea to think mindfully about the spending habit and maybe even cut back on it.

Mine are 

1.  BOOKS

2.  CANDLES

3.  JACKETS

Not in a green mood.

St. Patrick’s Day is weird. I think I started hating it when the girls were small and we lived in St. Louis, which boasts one of the largest St. Patricks Day Parades in the nation.  Think this is a lovely family event?  You can bet on the blarney stone that it is one of the worst family events ever.  Admittedly,  the parade is fantastic and the amount of candy thrown is unforgettable.  Unfortunately, it was like taking our kids to a birthday party in a bar.  Everyone was drunk and loud, thinking it was hilarious that they were throwing their beer cans in the streets and peeing behind vehicles.  

Last year in Spokane, we made room on the parade route for a passed out man to be loaded in an ambulance at 10:00 am! The horses painted green seemed depressed.  No more St. Patricks Day parades for me.  

What other holiday  do people joyously pretend to be another ethnic heritage by flamboyantly “celebrating” that heritage’s negative stereotypes?  If you think about it, it’s a very odd thing to do. I mean, we could at least emulate their more flattering stereotypes, like being awesomely clever, awe-droppingly strong, and great at river dancing or knitting or something.

Even so, I am determined to conquer my winter blues.  Maybe they would be more tolerable if they were green.  Having the winter greens sounds kind of nice.  When I couldn't find my green food coloring (a leprechaun had hidden it behind the thyme and I found it the next day), I got creative and mixed watercolor paint in the toilets with a paintbrush.  We had corned beef and cabbage.   

I'm still more excited about Buzzard day. 

Chicken Pot Pi Pie......Happy Pi Day...March 14

This winter has been killing my spirit.  I need to find things to celebrate...even if it is a mathematic symbol.  I must be getting desperate.  Spring better come soon, or I may be celebrating buzzard day next week.  Oh, it's real....find out more here http://www.brownielocks.com/BuzzardDay.html  Buzzard pot pie?  Sounds good to me.

"Admit something:
Everyone you see, you say to them, “Love me.”
Of course you do not do this out loud, otherwise
Someone would call the cops.
Still, though, think about this, this great pull in us to connect.
Why not become the one who lives with a
Full moon in each eye that is always saying,
With that sweet moon language, what every other eye in
This world is dying to hear?"

Hafiz 14th century Persian Poet

I came across this poem today. I feel so 'cliche' when I admit that I love a full moon and I always follow the calendar of the exact dates the full moon falls upon.  I have always concluded that I love it because the world is illuminated in darkness just for a few days.  I treasure anytime that I feel illuminated in darkness.   Ansel has been tracking the moon in his class this month and it has been fun.  It is one of those experiences that reminds me of what an absolute miracle this world of our is.    I am in love with our universe.  I love you, universe.    

Ansel's 9th Birthday....March 6th

Ansel gave us no clue as to what he wanted for his birthday, if he wanted a party or a cake, or where he wanted to go for dinner.  We primed the pump with evocations for several weeks to no avail.  Finally, two days before his birthday,  his wishes came gushing forth at a healthy rate per minute.

"I am going to have a party on Thursday.  I talked to all my friends and they all said that Thursday works for them.  We are going to go play laser tag and then have ice cream and pizza and watch a movie.  I don't want a cake.  I want Krispie Kreme donuts in my classroom and here is a list of things
I want to get."

Wow.  If he is going to plan his own birthday party, I will give him all the Krispy Kremes in the world.

Despite my annoyance at the 11th hour decisions, I was grateful that his desires were fairly simple.

 Tom Sawyer and Awkward Pet Photo Calendar

 A Pen that Shocks you when you try to use it.  

 Emmy and Ansel laugh as Savanna gives it a go

 Skylander Giants

 Ansel gets a close up view of the gift

New Tennis Balls that actually bounce

Just because I love the look on his face

 Gonzaga T-Shirt

 His favorite......a coupon book made by Emmy, filled with promises such as being his slave for a day, teaching him to do something, cleaning his room, letting him pick the movie they watch, etc. etc.  Ansel's language of love is definitely time. 

 Again, just because I love his smile

 Headphones

 His second favorite gift.....A promise for a drawing of his choice from Savanna

 His doughnut cake....my favorite part of his birthday.

 His last request of the day:
"Mom, do you know what my ultimate birthday wish is?"
"What?"
"To make the most disgusting drink I can make"
"May your wildest wishes come true.  Go for it."

 PART II:  THE FRIEND PARTY

All you need is $1 dollars worth of dry ice and some rootbeer and you can make any boy happy

 One movie and one round of laser tag later............

 I love 9 yr. old boys.  They are so easy to please.  It at least puts a dent in the counterbalancing of how impossible it is to please a 15 yr. old girl.