So Here's Hoping....

Thanks Before the Turkey

2009-11-29T15:33:00.000-08:00

This year we gave thanks over a large turkey, with lifted hearts, with people we love. As I ran here and there and set the table, and fretted over stuffing, I realized...

What a blessing to have a home to welcome people to....

What a blessing to have those people!

To have a table people can sit together and hold hands to pray at...
To buy beautiful food to savor and to gobble gobble up!

How wonderful to know that before you even invite the people, before you roast the turkey, before you set the table.... you already HAVE much to be thankful for! The perfect (or not so) meal cannot make or break it.

Hill Girls

2009-10-18T20:11:00.001-07:00

Last month I spent a fantastic week with 17 beautiful Hill women.

We talked and laughed, drank lots of coffee in the morning and wine at nite.... we ate and giggled and shopped and told stories and posed for many, many photos.... We rode scooters on islands and climbed lighthouses and smoked cigars and had campfires and hugged tight and wondered why we have let all this time go by without at trip like THIS.

Dollars, Sense...

2009-10-14T21:51:00.001-07:00

Lately I've thought a lot about money.

Not about how much I have (or really, don't) or want or need (or really, don't), but just about how money determines pretty much everything. People who have money have not only their basic needs met, but they have access, they have choices, they have worries who only go so far.... they can afford to dream, they can afford to vacation, they can afford healthcare. They can consider education and they can sleep at night. People who don't have money are lucky to have their basic needs met, but have no access, no choices, no vacation, no real healthcare, no sleep. No rest.

Money can build and destroy. Money can bring unity and divide nations. Everyone needs it, everyone wants it, everyone works all day to make more of it, just to spend it and have to work again to earn more of it. It kind of blows my mind to consider that a basic unit of currency sets the world in motion.... And I wonder... Was it supposed to be this way?

This photo shares some beautiful thoughts on money.... from the amazing (and impoverished) Tanzania. Great (free) food for thought....

Three Day Weekend!

2009-09-06T20:31:00.000-07:00

Julie and Julia

2009-08-30T16:13:00.000-07:00

So you all know I rarely post (on average about once a month), but I just could not let this go.

SEE THIS MOVIE.

Two things, both worth mentioning:

1) The book is good, but the movie is GREAT. This never happens.

2) Do not go to theater for said movie on empty stomach (as I did). It is torture.

So much to love about this movie. Mid-20th centure France, Meryl, food, Stanley Tucci, food, Amy Adams, more food, moments to laugh out loud (thank you Julia), moments that lump catches in your throat, more food, Nora Epron, parallel storylines, blogger name in title, more Meryl, more food.

A perfect Sunday afternoon treat. Now, time for a proper Sunday dinner and a desperate online search for the lovely Julia's "Mastering the Art of French Cooking".

Bon Appetit!

The Lovely Point

2009-08-30T09:56:00.000-07:00

Sunday mornings I get up and make coffee. I open the shades to rain or sun, thankful for either, thankful for both. I sit and sip and feel contemplative, quietly considering spiritual matters. I know I'm not alone in this, on this day- Sunday is churchy day. That said, I seek not preaching and pews, but what the lyrics of beautiful hymns and sensationalist scriptures can mean, CAN DO, for world, for nature, for life.

Much of society argues that Christians are crazy. Quite often, I agree. The (tel)evangelists, the scandals, the cheesy bookstores and bumperstickers. The arrogance and self-righteousness. I admittedly cringe to be associated, to be "lumped in" with this group because I feel as though my heart cannot participate (and winces) at this label... though we know, we worship, we seek to understand the same God.

That said, all of this distracts from the core, the essense, the truth of who/what God is, and beautifu, original intentions.... for peace, for beauty, for unity, for love that transcends, for perfect and lovely nature, for good, for truth. I see/experience God most in nature.... nearly a year ago, I ventured into and out of the Grand Canyon with three friends. The trip was exciting, it was tremendous, it will be the story I tell my children.. "when I was 26 and single, I put on a backpack and went into the canyon and slept next to the river".... A component of all of it was seeing the sunsets, wandering through this wonder of the world... and just feeling, just knowing, that the wind which passed through it was the very breath of God. Tiny flowers had been planted and protected to thrive in bone dry rock, the Colorado snaked through to give water and life, to quench thirst, and the laughter and conversation of friends, families and adventurers would echo for hours and hours. I could not help but think, this is the stuff of good, this is the stuff of nature, this is the stuff of God.

Words of a very wise man which sum this thought up beautifully:

Thanks be to you for the miracle of life

That happens as seed meets soil

Be our constant reminder that we are both: seed and soil giver and receiver.

So enable us to sow faithfully that Your blessings is spilled through us

Into the soil of this beautiful and broken world.

Catching Up! And Moving Forward.

2009-08-08T19:35:00.000-07:00

Greetings my lovely blog followers! Yes, Grampa and the Bend family, this includes you!

Oh, August. The last few months have been a great, hot blur. Ever feel like you rush and rush around, doing this and doing that and have nothing really to show for it? Well. That's how my last few months have been. Not a bad thing! Just a busy thing. I always start a summer with ALL KINDS OF PLANS for fun things.... hikes, camping, berry picking, bbqs, backyard parties, beach, sun, road trips, lemonade stands, etc, etc, etc. Done some of those things, have not done others, but when all is said and done, summer 2009 has been savored, sun-kissed and enjoyed.

Such to say, I am:

Moving.
Not far away! Up the road to the Beach House!! I am thrilled. Big house, beach view, spacious kitchen, a yard for a garden, big deck for relaxin with wine after a loooong day, and just much more. What else? Oh yeah! Little Juli Robinson will be my roommate! BFFs for nearly a decade and we finally get to be roomies! What a treat. Also looking for a 3rd roomie, so if you ARE or know some nice, fun girl who would like to live in a house in West Seattle, on Beach Drive for $500/mo, give a shout.

Making Plans. Job-wise, That Is.
I've been with UW Advancement for two years now and currently in a job I love.... but I've been challenged to dig deep, determine dreams and strenths and (GASP), put together a PLAN (a real four-letter word for 20-somethings the world over). Which I've done! I'm REALLY excited about it and what just might be down this road and around the corner. After years of semi-shirking responsibility and commitment to a more defined career, it feels SO good to pursue just what I'm pursuing. Can I be more vague? Probably not. But more to come. :)

Involved in The Wokovu Project.
My great friend Karen Gray recently went to Tanzania to volunteer as a teacher at a girls school. She returned stateside with stories and pictures and passion to provide for young women in need. In a very loving and practical way. The Wokovu Project is her grassroots effort to support Kilimanjaro Young Girls in Need (KYGN). KYGN is a local non-profit based in Moshi, Tanzania providing education, vocation training, support services and ultimately, hope to at-risk girls in the villages surrounding Mt. Kilimanjaro. The girls who attend KYGN are young women who have experienced significant hardships in their lives (abandoned, extreme poverty, orphaned, no money for school, absuse etc.) and are at KYGN for a second chance. "Wokovu" is Swahili (the language predominately spoken in Tanzania) meaning rescue, redemption and/or liberation. To learn more: http://thewokovuproject.wordpress.com/about/

Burned Out.
I can't remember the last time I took a REAL vacation, you know... the kind where you pack bags and go away and rest, relax, sleep when you want, eat what you want kind of vacation. Work has been so busy and the life gets in the way and oh yeah, as you're ready to book your flight to Mazatlan, Swine Flu hits. Anyhow, weeks from now, I'll pack those bags, board that plane and head for the beautiful and exotic, faraway location of..... Duluth, Minnesota. Followed by a few days in Wisconsin. Will I lay on beaches? No. Will I laze about and play and eat and drink and hike and shop?? Well yes. You see, Hill Girls Reunion 2009 is fastly approaching and I gotta say; I'd rather kick it for a week with 16 Hill women than sit on any beach I can think of.

Finally Seeing James Taylor in Concert.
With my parents. At the Puyallup Fair. Dream come true. Enough said.

Missing Triple Digit Temps.
I love a hot hot hot day. Seattle hit 100 for like 3 days and all I heard was crying, whimpering and the sound of mad scramble to Bartells for box fans. People!! Heat, sunshine, warmth, summer is a luxury here in Seattle. 100 degrees is to be enjoyed and appreciated because it comes and sets records and then goes in an instant. Why is it August 8th and I'm wearing two hoodies and jeans?? Because that's normal. Real heat is not. Bring on the roasty toasty!

Making Jam, Growing Flowers, and Reading Seattle Mag.
I've somehow become my mother. Which is something I'm proud to say. :)

Twenty Seven.
I'm young but I'm old. I'm feeling more contented than ever and find that in my "old age", I'm far more concerned with making things happen than what people think of me. FINALLY. Sigh. Don't get me wrong. I want to make friends and keep them. I want to be liked, but approval and opinion don't weigh as heavily as they once did. I feel more comfortable in my own skin, and more relaxed, which ironically, energizes me to run forward, to say things that need to be said, make decisions which must be made, and to live boldly and honestly.

Certain that THIS is the year the Mariners will not choke at crucial moment. Certain also that the Sounders WILL.

Done With This Blog Entry.
Happy August, every single one of you. (Grampa, thanks for tuning in. Love you!)

Lovely.

2009-05-23T13:44:00.000-07:00

Dream home/cottage? Found it. Isn't she lovely?
To see more of this sweet sweet classy Bahamanian beach bungalow- and I KNOW you want to ;)- begin your tour here: http://www.elementsofstyleblog.com/2009/04/away-from-here-tom-scheerer.html

P.S. I have. The worst. Sunburn (faceburn?) EVER. Oh sunblock, why is it I always feel I am too good for you??? Does Bartel's sell spf 85?

Bad Blogger. But Whatever.

2009-05-21T22:27:00.001-07:00

Add me to the droves of people who intend to keep a blog and get to it, OHHHH, maybe once a month if they are lucky. Gosh. I didn't think I would be THAT blogger, but then again, I was never consistent at writing down my daily diatribes in my Minnie Mouse diary when I was a little gal, either. These habits are hard to break.

So what's new??

Lots of things!

I've planned a trip. I planted a strawberry pot. Got my hair cut/bobbed. Visited family. Missed the entire season of Grey's Anatomy but tuned in for the shocking shocking finale. Rediscovered Robert Frost. Went on a hike, celebrated birthdays, won and lost at tennis, ran through the rain. Got SUN. Sang. Tried reading Twilight and quit halfway through (what's all the fuss about?), played multiple multiple multiple rounds of ring around the rosy with toddlers, went to a few bars. Hula-hooped. Discussed wisdom and magic and bullshit. Shopped at farmers markets, had last Bible study of year with lovely girls. Got crabby. Got happy. Ate Pho. Napped. Gossiped. Giggled. Thought about boy. Got a $250 parking ticket. Watched a documentary on world water crisis. Began to love U District. Made a cake from scratch. Bought coffee almost every day. Fell asleep praying. Saw high school friends! Planned next tattoo. Wine, lots of wine. New ipod. More tennis. Beach. Work. Life.

There's a bit. And a few pics to illustrate the time between April 5 (last post) and May 21 (this one):

Next blog (I'm sure) will be a rave about all things Summer. I find I come to life this time of year. Everything just breathes easier when there are longer days, shorter nights, warmer weather, things blooming. Spring/Summer Julie is ALWAYS happy and carefree, lazy. Winter Julie?? Ooooh. Grumpier, foggier, less shiny version. Everything just looks better when you throw a little sun on it.

Get out there this Mem Day (LONG) weekend, all you people!! Fire up the grill, plant a little flower, sunburn, frisbee, do what you do! Whatever you do, be sure to love/enjoy/remember it.

Finally.

2009-04-05T08:52:00.000-07:00

For six months now, we've bundled up and grabbed umbrellas, layered seven sweaters, and prayed our shoes would take the puddles and the rain and the snow and slush. The bitter gray and wind have become unwelcome bedfellows. There were times I'd forget that Spring would ever come. And then the cold was not so bitter, sunshine showed for moments, and there were bits of green on every tree. This weekend, we will hit 60 degrees two (maybe THREE!) days in a row. Hello, August.

So as I put my mittens away and begin to consider spf, my heart is light. Something in me wants to buy little yellow shoes and a helium balloon and go skipping down sixty-second street, reminding everyone that YES, yes, it's true. Weather has caught up with calendar and it IS Spring.

The problems of our lives and of the world seem more manageable when you can go for a stroll and breathe fresh, clean, fragrant air. Somehow everything is lighter and better. No wonder those snowbird grannies are so happy. Sunshine does good for any and every soul.

From here I see Alki. There is almost nothing more lovely than Sunday mornings here. Olympic backdrop, gentle water, sunshine, quiet. People pass quietly on bike, on foot, on skate. Happy babies in bright "baby legs". Very quiet chatter. Coffee and breeze. Old friends, new family meet for Cafe pancakes or picnics. It is a bit of Cali heaven and before I scamper to it, I will say this one last thing. Spring and Summer, come to us. We quit the Winter. BBQs, cut grass, tees and tanks, flips and frisbees, long days, sun burn, sweat ... we welcome you with our very open (albeit pasty) white arms!

Oh. And GO TAR HEELS!!!!!!!!!

Lately, the Things that I Like

2009-03-14T11:08:00.000-07:00

UNC Tar Heels. Ranked #1! Hansbrough just points away from history. Who needs the silly, overpaid, over-blinged NBA when college b-ball is THIS good??

Yoga. Never has an hour of working out (and yes, it IS working out, ya gym rats) felt this great. Who says that you've got to kick box, run for days, or climb a million stairs to do something good for your body? Try doing (and holding) "the wheel" and you will be humbled. I yoga with girls from work every Wednesday at lunch time. Our instructor is a 60 year old rubber band with a soft and soothing voice. It's great to feel the burn, to hold "plank" for longer you ever thought you could and to settle into "dead man" at the very end to rest after all that work. Namaste.

Starbucks Verona Blend. Worth mentioning as I am currently on 3rd cup of day. Not new to this girl blogger, but a longtime friend. A go-to and often the highlight of a Saturday morning on Alki. No blend is better. And believe me. I have searched high and low and tried and tried. Wish I could say that "X" blend of "X" mom and pop local coffee shop wins for best brew the world over, but I'm not there yet. Go Verona. So smooth, bold.

" />Indoor Herb Garden. I don't know about you fellow gardeners. But it is mid-March and still well below freezing. This week it was a balmy 27 degrees in Seattle. I had to scrape ice. I dream of planting and flowers growing and herbs taking over. But the way things are going that won't be happening until early July. Until then, I discovered (economic, even) indoor alternative: little herbs in a cup! Where did I find these? Yup, that's right. Your local neighborhood dealer for fine Swedish furnishings. IKEA. You get a little cup with a little brown tablet and packet inside. You add 4 oz of water to tablet and LIKE MAGIC real live dirt instantly fills cup. You sprinkle seeds and just days later you see little green curls of herb. I will have chive and basil. Hopefully.

My job. Where I work. We've had a tough run these past few weeks and months. We moved, which wasn't great but turned out okay. Our budget took a big hit and we lost some GREAT people, which really wasn't okay. And still isn't okay. But the dust settles and spring comes and plans are made and we all move on. A winning team hasn't hurt. Neither has a stock market that has finished well the last 4 days. And Husky mascot puppy "Dubs" is darn cute. Yes, folks. This just might be the start of an upswing. After a long and dark winter of worry, we are ready and it is time.

Sense and Sensibility. Who doesn't love a good social commentary? Funny how well you can relate to scribbles from centuries ago. Poetry, really. A fan of finding new books, new stories to absorb and share, but oh. A re-read. Like visiting with an old friend who hasn't changed at all but whose same soft (but SHARP!) words mean something new. The Emma Thompson adaptation is fantastic as well. For once you are not dumbing yourself down if you opt for film over book.

Mom's recipes. Merilee Hill, the sweetest, has been "learning the computer" and typin up the recipes I grew up loving. Thank God for computer classes and email because NOW I can whip up all the great ones in my very own kitchen. It's true. Moms have the touch. And my pastitsio will never taste JUST like hers, but that is just fine. My finished product is close enough to remember easier, simpler, (tastier) younger days.

Adele! Well gosh. How has it been this long and I have yet to mention Adele!?!? Aka the voice of the year, the non-cracked out talent that is honey through even the crackliest of radios, the British gal whose "19" could serenade any given mood on any given day. Notable, chilling (in a good way my friends) tracks include "Chasing Pavements", cover "Make You Feel My Love" and current favorite "Right as Rain". i Tunes? Ready, GO.

On with the running shoes, out the door to sunny(ish) day I go! And just a word... don't forget to do your taxes! Say no to prison.

Also, shoutout to Grampa Cliff in Bend, OR! See?? I don't write about Obama ALL the time. Love you and miss you!

Oh.. next blog: Planning Your '09 Summer Vacay!

Newsworthy

2009-02-07T09:07:00.000-08:00

Inauguration. So that happened.

That day I somehow resisted the temptation to take vacation and instead opted to curl into my cubicle with kleenex and streaming CNN.com. Such a proud and defining day. As soon as our new President was officially sworn in (and who really cares that THAT was a bit mangled), a colleague cried, I clapped, and from down the hall I heard a resounding "YES WE DID!!".

So Michael Phelps has been suspended from competitive swimming for taking a hit from a bong. Oh yeah, and he won't be able to sell cereal anymore either. Really?? Celebrities doing drugs?? Young athletes let the money and fame and time off go to their heads (literally in this case) and make mistakes? Wow. Are we really surprised? Unfortunately for young Michael, his truckload of gold medals has made him a national hero. Tons of tiny swimmers in speedos and swimcaps look to him and dream of Oly glory one day. Take a lesson from Brit Brit, Michael.... Your hard work and professional rewards have made you wonderfully famous. You don't have to be perfect. Just don't be stupid.

Also, a lonely, love-starved lady in California gave birth to a litter of babies a couple of weeks ago. Sweet babies. Silly lady. Don't forget the other SIX toddlers she has at home. Oh and she is a single parent so she will go it alone. "Ethics", judgment aside (and this lady has received plenty), SO curious to see how the coming weeks, months, years will stack up for the Angelina lookalike and her brood. Maybe (hopefully) she will defy every critic and raise very happy and healthy children (who are committed to their therapy). Far crazier things have happened.

These seasons are a-chaaaanging. Now it is February. Over the next 4 days, we will observe Friday the 13th (maybe not that one), Valentine's Day, President's Day. NEXT? First day of SPRING!! Just a month away. A few days, really. To gear up, I have daffodils on my desk at work, I am taking serious inventory of Spring wardrobe, and simply ignoring weather reports which include snow/sleet/ice/hail/cold.

The weekend takes me to Portland for a weekend with dear friends! Chit chat, chick flick, dinner, karaoke, tax free shopping await.

In considering love this Valentine's Day, a thought from someone who knew and lived the topic well:

The success of love is in the loving - it is not in the result of loving. Of course it is natural in love to want the best for the other person, but whether it turns out that way or not does not determine the value of what we have done. Mother Teresa

Much love... and happy Valentines!

Resolutions

2008-12-31T10:54:00.001-08:00

2008. Check.

A (well, almost) Happy New Year to you all!

I feel like New Year's is an odd holiday. If it's a holiday at all. There is the crush and rush that is Christmas and just as you're catching your breath, it is time to celebrate again. Time to say goodbye and turn up the calendar and hopefully get a few more things right this time. Time to take stock.

Moments after you finish Christmas dinner, you flip on the TV to see ad after ad for gym memberships, weight loss programs, countdown parties and big sales. We're barely through one moment before we're rushed to the next. At any rate, 2009 is nearly here, and with it comes the laundry lists of resolutions. Some will be forgotten as soon as they are made, a couple will be given the good college try and none (probably) will be kept. But I believe the resolution intent is good. Of course goals are good. My blog appropriate intentions for '09 include:

Save more $$! Diversify! Sell! Sell! Sell!
Not feel guilted into joining a gym. Not feel guilted into quitting coffee.
Be more intentionally kind. And aware of my words.
Begin planning, if not travel to, next international travel destination.
Consider, investigate ongoing education. In one form or another. Whether this means pottery class or master's degree.

So, best wishes for a bright new year. Whether you're headed downtown or couchbound this evening, may you feel hope and joy for brand new start.

Oh, and the picture above. One day I will be in Vegas for New Years. Not Times Square. Who cares about a dropping ball?? I'll bet the strip does New Years up RIGHT.

Repeat the Sounding Joy

2008-12-24T22:28:00.000-08:00

It is Christmas Eve. Really? It seems yesterday I was out at the beach working on my tan and just earlier today I was picking out a pumpkin. Tomorrow is Christmas. It's true what they say. The older you get, the faster time goes...

I love Christmas. Most people do. What are my reasons? Well,

1. Peanut butter balls. Merilee Hill's recipe. I have tried to duplicate on my own, which should NOT be hard, there are only four ingredients (she swears, but I have my suspicions). I try and try, but they are never as good. Moms just have the touch.

2. Finding the perfect gift. Shopping ALL day (or for about 20 minutes) for that tricky person on your list. You wander. You worry. You consider popcorn in a can. And THEN. You see a display and FLASH you have an idea and it all comes together and you have found... the perfect gift. The gift people will talk about for years to come, the gift you just KNOW this person will not stash away in the "what is this, save it for a white elephant gift exchange" box.

3. Well, obviously there is the baby J. No, not me. Jesus. Laying in a manger. No story is more lovely. I still get tiny butterflies when I unpack our little family nativity.

4. The Family Stone. Quickly becoming one of my favorite holiday(?) movies. Talk about putting the "fun" in dysfunction. Who doesn't love the pothead brother from Berkeley (Luke Wilson, perfect casting), the high-strung and fiercely protective/overbearing mother (with cancer!) and the girlfriend no one likes (Sarah Jessica, sigh), all stewed together for some meaty holiday chaos. Just LOVE. Our family watches it Christmas Eve while sipping Bailey's cocoa and nibbling homemade treats. Perfect.

5. Holiday Music. Well to a point. "Warm 106.9 plays nonstop holiday favorites" makes me want to roll down my car window, poke my head out and throw up a little bit. Oh, no. Great holiday music belongs to the Carpenters, James Taylor, Nat King Cole (how can you not?), Bing Crosby and an elite few more. Who needs the Jonas Brothers do God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen? I do NOT.

6. Alki Christmas. So I have some friends who keep me company on Alki. We're like a silly little family. This year we decided to have our own little Christmas with pizza, presents and even a bowl of cash for a needy family. Just wonderful.

7. Looking Back. Christmas is a great time to evaluate the year behind you. 2008 was a great year. Highlights include the GRAND CANYON (so grand), skydiving, Barack Obama (and all that entails), Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It), and of course people and the memorable moments/joy they bring you.

8. Snow. We have a white Christmas this year! Pretty special. This does not happen often in Western WA. So when we do have a trace of white or a few little flakes fall on the right day, it really means something. So magical, so quiet.

Well. Speaking of white Christmases, I'm off to curl up and pop in that Bing Crosby holiday classic. Not much else to do on a night like this! And for the record. I have always been so very jealous of Rosemary Clooney's hair/makeup/wardrobe in this movie. Just, let it be said.

Peace and joy to you.

Good Words

2008-12-03T14:00:00.000-08:00

Our deepest fear is not that we're inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to manifest the Glory of God that's within us. It is not just in some of us. It's in everyone. And as we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Nelson Mandela

Newer Things

2008-11-30T09:55:00.000-08:00

It's the Sunday morning after Thanksgiving. And for the first time in (almost exactly!) four months, I feel like sitting down and capturing all this. With a cup of coffee and Sarah Bareilles (Live album).

A lot has happened the last third of a year. Autumn/Winter has set in. I have jumped out of planes, I have stood up at weddings, I have cheered the victor of a race. I climbed into and out of the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. I have raised a glass and given Thanks and I have cried the tears of heartbreak.

There have been job shakeups (both good and bad), friendships, music, great books and great words. Family has gathered. I remain grateful as I continue to grow. I was telling a friend yesterday that you can love God your whole life, but what an amazing thing to continue to wrestle intelligently AND rejoice through life. My heart is full but what a gift to have a mind to reason and consider and think and discover. Because of all this, I'm a different person from what I was last year, and five years ago and twenty-five years ago. What a blessing it is to grow and change. And what a blessing it is that God doesn't.... "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:20b) God's timeless presence continues to captivate and comfort me. Even when finding peace feels impossible.

I can't help but mention that (and not to get all political) I find real joy in Barack Obama's victory this November. I look forward to a return of national pride and real leadership through this bleak, bleak national crisis. Things won't change and improve overnight. It is naive to believe they could. But I eagerly await that day when I can trust the words of my president and have every reason to confidently travel to the ends of the earth and proudly say that yes, I am an American. These are the days I will tell my grandchildren about; and I will always remember where I was when it was announced that Barack Obama was elected President and there was celebrating in the streets the world over. (Conservatives, put your hankies away. It WILL be ok.)

Foggy day today. There is something so beautifully soothing about foghorns across Puget Sound this morning. So very restful and quiet. I'm about to jump up and clean my apartment from top to bottom and winterize my little garden. That seems fine but I'd really rather jump on my bike and ride till dark like I did when I was a kid. At any rate, whatever I do.... I am thankful for this day ahead and others like it. Sappiness and sentimentality aside, there is my latest.

Verbatim

2008-07-27T08:46:00.000-07:00

From TIME Magazine (August 4th, 2008 edition):

"Wall Street got drunk."

George W. Bush, describing the nation's troubled economy at a GOP fund raiser after requesting that all cameras be turned off.

Thank you, Mr. President. For doing your part to devastate the American economy these past eight years. Thank you that millions of working American families now CAN'T afford to drive to work AND put food on the table. Thank you that millions of jobs have been lost, homes have been taken away and the money that our grandparents counted on for security after a lifetime of hard work is being poured into a thoughtless, endless and costly re-creation of a wild west showdown.

Thank you for your deeply moving and sympathetic explanation for our national crisis. This is the sort of political poetry that is sure to grant hope and comfort to the masses.....

The masses who will turn out in record numbers in November to vote for a junior senator from Illinois because he brought water to a dry America with just one word.....

Change.

Read This

2008-07-25T08:16:00.000-07:00

Right now I'm finishing this book. And it's SO GOOD. Really some of the best writing I have read in a very long time. I love just getting lost in a GREAT book. The kind of book you pick up to read and hours and many pages later you wonder where the heck the time went. The kind of book where you don't just take words from a page but you feel you're a real witness to a great scene and then SNAP! Your bus gets to your stop and you've forgotten you have a real life and a job to get to. Unfortunately. :)

Not to get all political...

2008-07-24T11:55:00.000-07:00

... but here is another reason to admire the Obamas: They give their daughters $1/week for allowance! (according to People Mag)

And um. The McCains claim over $225,000 in personal credit card debt (Baltimore Sun).

I guess fiscal responsibility looks a little different for everyone. ;)

Hill Women

2008-07-21T18:30:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, I spent some wonderful, quality time with Hill women.

We're scattered from Bend, OR to Bellingham, WA... I miss these women every day, but when we get together, it's like no time has passed. Miles are between us as we live daily lives, but there is nothing distant about the bond between us.... I know, I know. Hold the phone, Hallmark. But it's totally true and it's a beautiful reality I'll reflect on and instantly feel consumed with thankfulness and joy. You can't buy love like this. Such profoundly loyal sisterhood, motherhood can't be forced and will never fade. We know each other, we love each other, we have the same hair, the same walk, the same talk, and we never forget how special it is to be Hill women.

We shopped, we laughed, we drank, we talked, we cried, we ATE, we walked together, we shopped some more.

It was just such a precious (and FUN!) time.

Say What You Will...

2008-07-13T18:17:00.000-07:00

... about John Mayer and his "illustrious" personal life. And say what you will about covering classic songs.

But he has released a PHEnomenal cover of Tom Petty's "Free Fallin'", which he performed live for his "Live From Los Angeles" album. Yes, that's a capital P-H-E.

It's an accoustically personal, deeply soulful and just, simply beautiful version of the song. You should just buy the whole album for it (plenty of other greats on there as well) or get it on i-Tunes. It's the best 99 cents (or buck seven, but who's really counting) I've spent in a long time. Please release all perfectly valid judgments of said performer and check it out. And let me know what you think!! I was pleasantly surprised, but I am um.... a um.... fan of... John Mayer to begin with. His music. Not his love life. Once, in college, I was at a bar where Mayer was performing. After the show, I snatched up the empty water bottle Mayer had used during the concert as a souvenir. The guy who was cleaning up, gave me a funny look (rightly so) and said, "You know, his syphilis is all over that thing." Gross. But whatever. A great musician with another great song.

Currently in Chicago, enjoying last nite in my favorite non-Seattle city (for now, anyway). A fantastic time, more juice on that later. I'll tell you this much... Juli and I got into a bit of trouble with a bouncer, we had high tea at the American Girls flagship store (yes we are two grown girls of 26), and I love flaming cheese... OPA!!! (Shoutout Greektown)

Much love!

God Bless America Tour 2008

2008-07-08T08:47:00.000-07:00

I hope you all (all= the four of you who MIGHT read this. Hi Mom.) had a fabulous Fourth of July weekend!

Let's talk about God Bless America Tour 2008, also affectionately referred to as "GBAT 08", for those of you who are crazy for acronyms (like me).

The weekend was SO GREAT. First of all, I turned 26. The perfect age. No need to rehash that, but it has been a real joy to be blessed by and celebrate with the wonderful friends and family I am fortunate to be surrounded by. Thank you for your nice cards, gifts, wishes and sweet treats.

GBAT 08 started with a 9 am meeting of seven silly girls in West Seattle on the morning of the 4th of July. Makeup free and in grubby clothes, we packed coolers, packed cars, made a quick stop at Safeway for ice, beer and batteries and hit the road. A little more than 4 hours later, after one pit stop, one "check engine" light incident, and more than a couple "what the..?" drives through teeny tiny Eastern Washington towns, we arrived at our destination: Maryhill State Park, located on the Washington side of the Columbia River, 12 miles from Goldendale, WA. Maryhill is a beautiful green oasis in the middle of a very dry and expansive desert of brown nothing. It is difficult to fully capture natural beauty, even digitally, but I tried, so here is a glimpse:

Our campsite (#55!) was big and grassy and had lots of trees. We set up camp, which consisted of 3 tents, 5 coolers, 8 camp chairs, and bags and bags and bags and bags of food.

We spent three full days relaxing, eating, drinking, giggling, reading, laying in the sun, telling stories, sittin round the campfire, playin bocce, throwing frisbees, swimming and just enjoying some life.

Highlights include (but are definitely not restricted to):

Fourth of July "fireworks" in Goldendale, WA. We had heard there would be fireworks there, so we drove into this little All-American town, asked for directions from a 13 year old girl with koolaid hair, found the park where the big show was to go down, and waited. And waited. And waited some more. We watched random people shoot off random fireworks at random times. And then we realized. That WAS the big show. Needless to say, we were confused.

Shortly thereafter, we got the heck out. People were shooting each other with roman candles and we did not want to get caught in the crossfire.

Squatters!! The second day of the trip, we noticed that someone had staked a tent at the campsite next to us. The park ranger/volunteer told us that whoever belonged to that tent had NOT checked in when they had arrived. Squatters!! Oh, it gets better. THEN a group of 4 people in their mid-20s showed up at that same site. Two guys, two girls and their dumb yappy chihuahua named Isabel. I wanted to kick that dumb dog into the fire. Anyway, that group of 4 insisted that they had reserved the site as well and were determined to stay. They were pretty pissed about the whole thing. In fact, the group set up their two tents, one on each side of the "squatter" tent. We knew that all of this meant one thing- SHOWDOWN! We were excited for what the evening might bring.

That evening, the group of 4 left for a concert and would not be back until late. The "squatters" were still nowhere to be seen! Later that night, it's dark. We girls were just sitting around the campfire, makin smores and just waiting for the big showdown. With every passing car, we would get excited thinking the squatters had finally arrived and then the car would pass. No squatters. We were in the middle of sharing our most embarrassing moments, when we heard motorcycles roar into the campground, and we JUST KNEW. The squatters had arrived.

Smores, stories, all was forgotten. As the motorcycles roared into the neighboring campsite, we seven girls were struck. It was like a scene from a movie. We were riveted. With eyes wide and mouths open, we watched the two motorcyclists park and turn off their engines. They exclaimed, "Where's our stuff?! What's going on!?" They were confused and angry. So Sarah and Natanya kindly went over and explained to them what had happened. The woman was loud and upset, and waved a receipt in their faces saying they had a confirmed reservation which they had booked weeks before. They sort of thanked Sarah and Nay. We went back to our chairs and slowly resumed smores and chatter, resolute to stay awake until the other group returned.

We did not have to wait too long. Soon, the now drunken group of four arrived! They were very loud and obnoxious. Again, we fell silent. What would happen next? Would there be a brawl? Would the small dog accidentally/hopefully be smashed in the process? Would we have to intervene? We braced ourselves. One of the drunken girls yelled something and interrogated the motorcycle couple. Motorcycle lady said something back. Voices were raised. There was confusion. Lots of explaining, lots of excuses. We listened as their heated conversation continued. THEN!

Then they all made friends! They apologized to each other. They all decided to stay. They even started a campfire together. It was okay, but we were a little disappointed. The End.

We ate. We ate GOOD. Incidentally, there were 7 girls on the trip and 7 meals needed to be prepared. So we each were responsible for a meal. Tasty meals included feta and garlic stuffed chicken burgers, marinated teriyaki chicken, quesadillas, pancakes and mimosas, delicious wraps, sandwiches, homemade pasta salad. And there was plenty of tasty beer and hard cider to wash it all down with!

In the end, it was one of the best camping trips I have ever been on! It all really went off without a hitch. No broken down cars, no nasty allergic reactions, no drama, no one got lost, no one got sick, no one went hungry. It was just seven slightly sunburnt friends having a lovely, fun time in the GREAT outdoors. We are already planning our next trip.... August or September, this time in western WA. Stay tuned!

Storms, Sonics and SICK

2008-07-03T08:31:00.000-07:00

HAPPY Fourth of July weekend! I hope you all (whoever reads this blog anyway) have a fantastic weekend! If you think of it, light up a sparkler for me! ;) Tonite I am packing, packing, packing for a 3 day camping trip to Eastern Washington!! I can't wait. I went to the store last nite to stock up on vacay food, and somehow spent $70 on fixins for just one meal, bottled water and some snacks. Food is so expensive these days! I remember when my mom could easily buy groceries for our family of four for a week, spending $100 or less. Those days are long gone! Anyway. Camping! Friends! Fun!

Who doesn't love a good thunderstorm with some lightning thown in?? Here in the good ole PNW we rarely have any kind of exciting weather, unless you count that ridiculous snowstorm we had last April. Here, it is gray and rainy, then the sun peeks thru for a couple of months, then we go back to gray and rainy. But THUNDER! LIGHTNING! Love it.

The Supersonics are leaving Seattle. It's sad. To be honest, I don't really understand why they are moving. I know that a lot of people are glad they are leaving and others are deeply saddened and very angry. I know they have not had the best record and not a lot of people go to games. But at the end of the day, it's a loss.

Rush Limbaugh just signed a $400 million deal to stay on the radio for eight more years. Ridiculous does not begin to describe this news. It is just sick. I am a firm believer in our freedoms of speech and of press. I do not personally agree with Rush Limbaugh or anything that he stands for socially and/or politically..... but he does have every right to put his opinions out there. I DO find it disgusting and nauseating that ANYONE be paid ANYTHING near this figure to clog the airwaves with selfish rants and raves simply designed to shock and offend the masses. It is disheartening to live in a country and to be a part of a culture which would offer up this kind of greedy reward for classlessness. I cannot help but think that $400 million could go a long way to feed the 800 million people who are starving worldwide. $400 million could do a LOT of GOOD in this world. And I just can't find anything inherently GOOD about Rush Limbaugh.

Whew. That's all I have for now. :)

Farewell Twenty-five.

2008-06-27T11:58:00.001-07:00

So this is my very last week of being 25.

I will miss 25. It has been a great year. Lots has happened. I started a new job that I love, I did some travelling, made some new friends, learned some new things, and just had some really good times.

Soon I will be 26. I think that 26 is the perfect age. My friend Tina and I have had many discussions about this. When you are 26, you can be married with a couple kids and it's fine. If you're single and just doing the working and having fun thing, it's fine. You are a few more years out of college, so you are taken a bit more seriously by your bosses and colleagues. It's really, a perfect age.

Turning 27, however?? I am terrified. But I have a year. No worries. Plenty of time to dig myself deeper and deeper into denial.

Plans for the big day?? OH. Well, going camping with the other Alki gals at Maryhill State Park! I am very excited, for "God Bless America Tour 2008". It will be three days of hot hot hot camping, smores, silliness and maybe some windsurfing. This will be me:

So I have high hopes for 26. I think it will be a fantastic year!!

YES.

2008-06-25T08:16:00.000-07:00

Another reason to love Summer....

2008-06-24T13:27:00.000-07:00

... is lots of tennis. Namely, the Championships at Wimbledon.

I LOVE following this, the greatest championship in pro Tennis. And many years, I've gotten a bonus birthday gift of a Wimbledon final on my birthday. You cannot put a price on a Federer/Nadal final. And to be perfectly honest, some years, Wimbledon tennis has outshone any birthday gift I received. No offense, Mom. I just love this game THAT much.

Women's tennis? Ah. I can take it or leave it. Right now, the girls don't have much game. We've got the pretty, silly girls (aka Maria Sharapova.... and do not even get me started on Anna Kournikova, though I'm not even sure she still plays tennis, or if she ever really did) and the mean, self-involved ones (Williams sisters). Until the girls can step up with some class (aka Justine Henin, Steffi Graf), I will give a yawn and watch the boys play.

And for the record, I still miss Pete Sampras. Sigh.

Fremont on Parade

2008-06-21T17:58:00.000-07:00

Today I went to the Fremont Summer Solistice parade and street fair with some friends. I had never been to this (in)famous event. I knew it would be crazy. I knew that there would be hippies everywhere, naked painted people on bikes, colorful costumes and probably a couple of political demonstrations. Nearly 7 years in quasi-liberal Bellingham did not prepare me for this. In the above picture, someone dressed as Dick Cheney is drinking a carton of motor oil while riding on a papier-mache tank covered in balloons. Of course the scene would not be complete without Papa Smurf on a bike riding alongside.

Additionally, I should have taken a picture of the 10 foot long marijuana joint painted like an American flag, complete with sign saying, "Weed, not War". In my state of shock/amusement/"what the..", my camera was long forgotten.

Sometimes when I observe these neo-political statements designed to offend, I think about Chehalis, my conservative little hometown and wonder what the rednecks and churchy grannies would think about THIS.

As shocked and fairly overwhelmed by such a display as I was, I find myself grateful for freedom of expression. It was a crazy, colorful and chaotic spectacle for sure, but it is always interesting and refreshing when beliefs, cultures, statements, and causes collide in one place, even on one little street.

For most of the humid afternoon, our little group of normally chatty friends was rendered speechless. Surely nothing on cable can compare to people-watching on the first day of Summer in Fremont. Eventually we peeled away from the crowd and sat on a curb, eating our Vietnamese chicken skewers, fighting exhaustion, and watching bleary-eyed as the crowd went by.

Our new friend Cody took this picture of Sarah, Natanya and I, which I felt was blog-worthy.

A fun, enlightening day for sure.

Now I am off to nap.

SUMMER

2008-06-20T08:59:00.000-07:00

It is finally, finally here. After months of rain and wind and cold and gray and snow in April, SUMMER is here TODAY!

This morning, I excitedly threw on my white skirt and my new Nine West ($30 on clearance!) silver ballet flats to celebrate. I tossed my sunglasses into my bag, KNOWING I would use them today.

Words cannot express my love for this very season. Summer means sunshine (usually), BBQs, dusty flip flops, big coolers full of cold drinks, hitting the tennis court at 9 pm knowing you still have plenty of time to play, frisbees a-flyin, no more teachers and no more books, laziness, tans, watermelons at 2 cents a pound, eating outside, Mariners games with the roof open (ahem, more on that later), 4th of JULY (!!), flowers, gardens, and little ones splashing and squealing thru sprinklers wearing their teeny tiny swimsuits and not caring about a single thing. YES. I LOVE summer.

I have high hopes for this summer. I hope I get lots of cherry tomatoes off my one little plant. I hope the Mariners can get it together and preserve some kind of team dignity. I hope that Seattle gets the sunshine it deserves after a long, dark fall/winter/spring, and I REALLY hope to fully enjoy every little and big thing this season has to offer. Without spending $5/gallon to get there.

So. What do YOU love about summer? What are you looking forward to??

Let's do a blog...

2008-06-19T12:05:00.000-07:00

I love blogs. I love discovering blogs that I love. I love writing and commenting on silly and somewhat important things. So I thought it was time to start a blog. Yes. Another thing to take up giant chunks of my time that is somehow justifiable because everyone seems to be doing it, and paying attention to it. These days, blogs have become entirely relevant (socially speaking), but what's great about them is that they are also personal and creative. And hey... even grandmas, school children and criminals have blogs these days! So it is time to blog.

This will not be a "let's transcribe my personal diary for the whole world to see" kind of blog. Oh no. I believe such things are meant to be private. I do hope to run commentary on the following:

-Random happenings, silly stories
-News, media and politics
-Seattle
-Religion (mine and others)
-Things I buy that I love
-Sports
-And whatever

Thanks for reading. :)