Seeing stars

Tonight we had the pleasure of seeing our dear friends, Emily and Phil, who are moving to Sudan/Uganda in a week. At one point we were all sharing facts about flight (I know, it sounds REALLY nerdy) and Emily chimed in with, "Well, my uncle got hit in the...(giggles, can hardly finish)...the head with a football and he saw stars." We all started laughing, even though we had no idea what it meant.

She went on to explain that in 2nd grade her class was learning about stars, and all of the kids were raising their hands and telling great stories about their experiences with stars. The only thing she could come up with was that her uncle once saw stars after being hit in the head. The teacher replied, in a mean, mean tone, "That has nothing to do with what we're talking about."

That teacher was wrong. That had everything to do with what they were talking about. We love you, Emily. Please don't move. PLEASE. Okay, do move. It will be good. Great even. But, don't leave us, okay?

Yellow ski bibs

Sometimes a girl's just got to wear yellow ski bibs. My time came a couple of weekends ago. I don't what's gotten into me, if it is the bangs or what, but I wish I could wear them all the time. Too bad they were borrowed...

(John, Bekah, Anna, Kerry, Michael, David, Lily, and me at Sierra Summit.)

Capsizing kayaks and other adventures

My dad, step-mom Jen, and twin brother Gary came to visit this weekend. We hiked up Bishop's Peak, tried on armor and hats downtown, went wine tasting, laughed and laughed, ate nachos twice, made fun of Snuggies, and looked ridiculous while kayaking at Avila. The waves were abnormally large, and we had a tough time getting out there and into the smooth water. After tipping once, I made it through and sat back and enjoyed watching my dad and Jen as they capsized 3 times each. It really was hilarious. There was a crowd of people watching from the beach as the kayak rental guy yelled, "Paddle! Go now! Paddle hard!" Once out there we paddled over to the pier, where my dad got too close to the sea lions and they started barking and jumping in the water. The whole time Jen was nervously scanning the water for shark fins. We actually were kayaking right where the lady was killed by a great white a few years ago, so we are pretty brave. It was quite an adventure. It's strange to think this might be the last time they visit before we move away from SLO. This place holds a special place in my heart. 

(Gary in his very own Snuggie. Actually, it's like a Snuggie, but even better because it ties. It's called a "robe.")

Penny, the lamb

David and I have been hanging out with a little baby lamb. She's only a week old, and her mom at the Cal Poly farm rejected her. It makes me want to cry. They tried to graft her on to a new mom, but the new mom didn't want her either. I just can't understand why. My coworker Sada and her husband Matt are making sure that little Pen Pen grows up healthy and strong by bottle-feeding her and taking her home every night to sleep...in their bed!  

(Baby Penny cozying up in David's manly arms.)

Penny visited the office today, and created quite a ruckus. People were literally lying on the ground to look at her and oohing and ahhing whenever she baaed. She's very sweet and she'll just sit in your arms all day. Or she'll follow you around. It kind of reminds me of that Arrested Development episode where the employees are herded to Catalina. Oh, silly sheep with small brains. But cute. 

Happy birthday sis!

This is my sister, Kim (the one facing the camera), and it was her birthday a few days ago. Actually, she shares a birthday with Abe and Darwin. Not bad. Happy birthday, Kimosabe!

Things I love about Kim:
She gives me hope that you can have 3 kids and still be hot.
She saves me when I'm in Chico and I feel like I'm going to go crazy.
She got married young and has 3 of the smartest, cutest, kindest, most awesome boys in the whole world.
She loves to dance and she'll do it anywhere, anytime, in any company.
She likes me even when I'm grumpy or feeling blah.
She has not 1, but 2 extra ribs. And she'll remind you if you ever forget.

I love you and I wish you didn't live in the desert so we could hang out more often.

(Me, Kim, and another sis Leslie at the Beverly Hills Hotel the day after Leslie's wedding.)

A chunk of my heart

Today I am missing my friends. Not the ones I turn to when I'm sad or the ones I like to cuddle and chat with, but the ones who stole a chunk of my heart in Uganda a few summers ago. The ones who escaped war in their own country and are attempting to make a life in an unfamiliar one. The ones who don't even know how important they are to me. The ones I want to hug and just sit with and be still.

The ones who send emails saying, "Thanks for loving us and still be in contact with me. Greeting to Dv and you too." They send other emails too, saying, "Hey my best how are U. Here we are fair. We have our friend Amos sick from TB. Good bye, yours Johnny." These are the emails I fear. I am overwhelmed.

My spirit longs to comfort and empathize and say that it will be okay. Amos will get better and you will be well and you will make beautiful music that will make the world dance and sing.

But all I do is pray. And not often enough.

We clasp the hands of those who go before us
And the hands of those who come after us.

We enter the little circle of each other's arms

And the larger circle of lovers,

Whose hands are joined in a dance,

And the larger circle of all creatures,

Passing in and out of life,

Who move also in a dance,

To a music so subtle and vast that no ear hears it

Except in fragments.

Wendell Berry

I will love you forever

Saturday was the day for lovers, and, like last year, my lover and I delivered flowers for Albert's Florist. My roommates Janne and Kathleen worked at Albert's during college, and the owners, Barkev and Tsolig, became friends of mine and David's.

My favorite delivery of the day was to a nice little house near Bishop's Peak. A sign on the door beneath a rusty bronze bell said, "Ring bell LOUDLY." After ringing a few times, and covering my ears to protect from ear damage, a woman came to the door dressed to the nines in a powder blue suit and pearls. She said, "Oh how beautiful! I'll add them to the others." She had already received 4 arrangements, and it was only 9 in the morning. I said, "Wow, you must have a lot of people who love you." She replied, "That's what happens when you're 95. My baby boy is coming to visit me today too. He's 52." What an incredible thing, to be alive for 95 years and to experience such depth and richness of love. I felt so peaceful talking with her. If I live that long, I hope I get at least one flower from someone who loves me.

After delivering I surprised David with a couple's massage and champagne. I lied and told him we were going to the beach, and he felt like a goober when he showed up at the spa wearing sweatpants and a huge striped poncho from Tijuana. The massage was lovely, and then we went to the beach for burgers at Longboards.

I love you, Husband. I will love you forever.

Snowing in SLO!

This morning David and I woke up before our alarm, so we laid on the couch together and listened to the rain. When it was time to go to work, we walked outside and realized it wasn't rain coming down, but snow! To be honest, it was hail, but it looked magical on the cars and street and I pretended that I was in a winter wonderful.

For those who don't know, it NEVER snows in San Luis Obispo. Literally never. Sometimes it snows on the Cuesta Grade, like it did the other day, but never in SLO. Snow is a big deal in these parts. It's a Christmas miracle!

That weird lady downtown

So you all know that weird lady who hangs out outside of Peet's? The one who wears dark, shaggy clothes and pushes around a basket on wheels? Well, she's not just weird, she's crazy. Let's just call her Crazy.

Last night my Bible study went out to dinner for Michelle's birthday. We decided to go to Thai Palace, which happens to neighbor Peet's. While walking to the restaurant, I spotted my lovely friend Erin in the window. After getting her attention with lion motions and sounds, she noticed us and came out to giggle and hug and chat.

She wasn't alone. Crazy came too.

Crazy walked directly up to me, stood a foot away, looked me in the eye, and asked, "Are you going to hurt my family?"

Me: "No."

Crazy: "I hope not."

She then turned around and sat at a nearby table. Excuse me? Why, out of our entire group, did she accuse me of wanting to hurt her family?

I will never know.

Why

I created this blog so I could have a record of things that happen in my life. I've never been good at journals or photo albums, and I decided this might be an adequate substitute. There are so many weird/funny/great things that happen in life, and I don't want to forget them.

So....with that, I begin.