Vacation Pics

A couple weeks ago, we took a trip up the coast, to stay in a lovely B&B. We had a great time along the cliffs and among the redwoods. It was wonderfully rejuvenating to get a way and take it easy (and not have to cook!) for a few days.

Here are some pics:

Big Basin

Just got back from a camp out at Big Basin with some friends from church. It was a nice, short get-away. Campfire, sina-along, flashlight walk, mosquitos, redwoods and all. Very relaxing. Hopefully solidifying some friendships, & of course nice to be away with DH.

Tent now drying in the sun. Should bring it in soon . . .

Serendipity

I went on-line today to find out who to make the check out to for my passport renewal--a chore I've been avoiding--and discovered that the fees are going up tomorrow. So I called and found out that if I can get it postmarked today (which I was able to do) I can still pay the "current" fees. That is a significant savings. And it was just the impetus I needed to finally send in my application. Now all I have to do is wait 2 months . . . I'm sure I'll manage to keep busy avoiding something else . . . ;-)

Return from Middle Earth

Where we spend 6 days in the City of Sails, which is a land desired by many, built on 48 volcanoes.

We socialized with local Unitarians, kayaked on a quiet bay, enjoyed the bush and the surf and the black sand beaches on the West Coast, and attended a cultural performance.

We encountered two of the three varieties of Kiwi in real life, and lots of pictures of the third, much shyer variety.

We skipped a day on the way there, and had a 48 hour day on our return.

And all we brought home were a few trinkets and postcards to send.

If you haven't figured out by now where we went, Google and Wikipedia should be able to help you out.

Home

It's funny. I haven't lived here in 5 years, and even before that, it had been 6 years since I'd been a permanent resident of this particular abode. Yet it is still home. It feels good. Even with the humidity.

The corn fields are soggy. Not as soggy as last year, but still wet enough to limit growth in some places.

And we learned that grain dust is explosive. That's why mills were dangerous places to work and why grain elevators sometimes blow up. Interesting.

Family Time

Spending the weekend with a friend and her kids. I used to live with this family, and it's really easy to slip back into the routine with them and feel at home. I almost feel more at home here than in my own place, but not quite, especially since they have cats now . . . Luckily the daughter has a trundle bed in her room that I can sleep on and we can keep the door closed.

The kids have a party to go to this afternoon, so I'll get a little free time then. I wish I'd known. I would have brought my own computer. But at least I have internet access and my thumb drive. :) 

Happy New Year!

Had a happy new year at 3 pm at my Grandma's Assisted Living Facility. It's great fun. We've done it several times. They have a band in, and play oldies, and get all the residents to come and wear feather crowns and top hats and blowing horns and shaking noisemakers. :)

Later we took Grandma to visit her old neighbor at the other building. That was fun, too. :)

Now we're back where we're staying, and we're watching a bit of Down with Love.

Trip Log

It's been a nice week with my BF in the Midwest. We had snow on the ground when we arrived and more fresh overnight. Then we had ice and rain and thaw and so forth. :) We skipped the day trip . . .

We got to spend time with some of my friends and time alone together exploring the town. I got to meditate in the Domes (M. had several books to read while I was busy). We also had an official tour of the Domes, so M. could see them. There were a couple of other MSAE/MUM (see sidebar) graduates with their girlfriends on the tour as well. It was kind of weird--they've grown up and changed a lot, but then, I suppose, I have, too.

Now I'm in the Chicago area with my parents. We dropped M. off at the airport (in Iowa) on our way here. Tomorrow, we'll visit my Grandma. I'd better close now. I ought to get ready for bed. :)

Melt to Ice

So first it melts, and then it rains, and then it freezes. Just in time for us to go on a day trip tomorrow! Well, not if the roads are icy . . .

Merry or Pippin Christmas

It's white and snowy and cold and cozy and fun, here in the Heart Land.

Travel was slowed a bit by cold and technical troubles, but we got in the same day, before dark, so that was good.

We've got lots of plans and stuff to do, and I'm happy because everyone is getting along so far.

Very Merry to you too . . . And very Pippin. ;-)

Silicorn Vally, Here I Come

Our affectionate name for the town I grew up in. It's surrounded by cornfields and full of software start-ups. I head there tomorrow too early to mention. Must check-in on-line and finish last minute errands.

From Hell to Highway

The past few weeks have been an emotional hell, but I've slowly gotten my perspective back. I'm also back to working (and commuting) regularly. One of the comic artists whose work I follow posted a comic on the Drive 55 campaign, and I've been trying it out. It forces me to slow down mentally as well as physically, and my commute feels much less hectic when I drive slower than the traffic flow, instead of trying to keep up. It isn't always practical, time-wise, but I do it when I can.

Going Here

Well, not exactly, but they didn't have a Yosemite background. Still coping. Have gotten some help, but big issues don't resolve instantly. Still more questions and concerns than answers.

And Unpacking

We're back. It was a long week. I really enjoyed it--especially the "dime tours," but I am in great need of rejuvenation. We were pretty much always doing something--going to the coast, exploring M.'s home area, or visiting friends and family members. It was a lot to take in.

Going to church this morning filled some of my need for rejuvenation and helped me get some perspective back. Usually, I need to be alone to recharge, but today I needed to be with my community. I feel more at home with the members of my church than I do in most communities. I feel like everything is emotionally "up" right now, and even though I know it's an opportunity to grow and learn and become a better person, it's not exactly easy. So having the support of my community today really helped. I feel like I'm coming back to my center. Last week I did a lot of coping, and now that I'm home, maybe I can process some of the issues that came up.

Packing

Now I've done some emotional unboxing, I'm starting to think concretely about preparing and packing for my upcoming trip. May not be on-line much over the next week . . .

Life is good right now. Saw the twins I used to nanny for, yesterday. They are 4 now, and just had their first hair-cut. Which is hard to believe, as both of them have incredibly long hair--but apparently the ends were ratty.

Anyway, they remember me, even though its been a year since I've worked for their mom. We all had a good time. :)

Got to meet some of M.'s soon-to-be former co-workers. Am looking forward to meeting his family, too.

Now it's just a matter of pulling together the lose ends before we leave.

Off to the Beach

We're going to the coast for a day and a half tomorrow. Plans for Beach and Aquarium and whatever. :)

Last night, as I was driving home, I ended up behind and a lane over from a quiet, lighted ambulance. Not flashing lights, just a lighted interior. I could see the passenger, and even though I knew it was some kind of medically serious situation, the whole scene just looked really peaceful. It was also kind of weird, having a glimpse into someone else's life like that.

Today is going well. I have a long list, and I'm doing pretty well at checking stuff off it.

I've got a concert to go to on Friday, business stuff on Saturday, and work on Monday, so I don't know when I'll be back on-line.

More whenever.

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jog

Conference was good. Got back this morning around quarter to 9. It was really nice to arrive and have the whole day ahead of me. Spent the morning and lunch with M. talking and stuff.

Am currently exhausted from way too little sleep, but not so emotionally drained as if I'd been at a birth. Actually, I'm feeling rejuvenated by the conference. I learned a lot and I have a lot running around in my head. I think I'll be adding some new links as I do more research on what I learned. I wish I could afford a real web site so I could explain why the links are there, instead of just posting lists of them . . .

Anyhoo, glad to be home. Have lots of plans for using time effectively over the next few weeks until I get another client. Annual Report and Taxes are at the top of that list. :) But right now, home and TM and sleep sound nice.

Off to Conference

with other students from my school (AAMI). No work scheduled for next week, which is a bit of a problem, as this conference is putting quite a strain on my wallet. Still, I plan to use the time productively for typing up notes and implementing ideas for growing my business.

Emotional explosion of the weekend solved through deep, sensitive conversation yesterday. Got put to bed after covenant group--very sweet. :)

Spent the day working and helping a friend. Came to the library "briefly" on my way home. Have been here 45 minutes so far. Really need to go home and meditate and eat and make a packing list and all that good stuff.

Look for more updates when this is all over, i.e., Monday or Tuesday of next week.

Mother at Home, Sort Of

My mom is "home," in the area, staying in her childhood house, where my granny still lives. Granny just had hip surgery, and should be out of rehab soon, but in the meantime, Mom has some time to visit old friends and so forth. I stopped by for a couple hours this afternoon between jobs. It was really nice and normal and refreshing. :)

Other than that, not much news. M. is still sick, but getting better and expects to actually be off this weekend. Now let’s hope no babies interfere with our plans!

I got my car washed for the first time in about 9 months.

I got my heater turned on, at the tail end of winter . . .

I got to bed on time last night.

O.k., now I'm really struggling for news, so I'll quit before I eat any more shoes.

Enchanted

Was a good movie to see with kids. Very funny--Disney spoofing on itself. Kids are tired now, one is crying and threatening to "tell", they were all whining a bit on the way home. The whole weekend has been great so far. The kids seem so grown-up compared to when I lived with them. They follow instructions and entertain themselves and play together well. Their mom only had to work one day this weekend, instead of two, so we've had more time together than I had originally expected.

Last night, my friend and I watched I Am Sam. It's a bit heavy: about a dad with mental delays trying to prove that he is a good father and can handle having custody of his 7 yo daughter.

I talked to my BF this morning and made plans for tomorrow night. He's been a real sweetie about doing all the research. :)

Now I should go meditate. My friend has already started, and if I start soon, we can be done about the same time.