Welcome

welcome to the world Samantha Jane Rurup, we are awfully glad you are here!! Lots of love from your auntie!

Sam arrived at around 1pm, weighing just under 9lbs and was laying peacefully with her Mama last night when they called to let me know she was here :)

trick, no treat

I am ok, but last Wednesday night between 10:30 and 11:30 pm, I was robbed. Someone or ones, broke into my car, into my laundry/storage shed and attempted to break into my house via the back door, they also did much the same to my nextdoor neighbor. It was most likely young teenagers, and not someone wanting to hurt us, but it wasn't a fun experience and it has resulted in my general jumpiness. Even though I live in a very small town, its a fairly rural area, and I live in one of the most remote parts of town. I have always felt so safe there, and I look forward to feeling that way again, because it sure isn't how I am feeling right now. This too shall pass, however investing in a little home security helps :)

treat, no trick

Happy Halloween!

random

I got an email today, which in itself is not so odd...

but it was written to me in French

and it was referencing a blog site I created last year for the National Write a Novel in a Month Contest - which I had entirely forgotten about (and did not complete beyond the first 5 chapters)

and is written in English...

Once I translated the email in babelfish, it loosley translated into:

"I like this, I am busy now but will come back later to read more, your blog is very pleasant"

How random is that??!

clumsy week

evey few years I experience what I call "my clumsy week". It's when for no reason I can determine, that I seem to have an above average number of random "accidents" to my person. Apparently, this is my week.

Friday night, I lost my balance while sitting on a walkway railing at our company party due to a wardrobe malfunction and not only bruised my back pretty good, but also my pride. Saturday night, I somehow misjudged the distance while getting into my car and smacked my head so hard on the door frame that it made an awful sound and I literally saw stars, which has resulted in a nice goose-egg that doesn't feel anything fabulous just above my right ear.

Mostly, I find it fairly amusing, but of course, I would prefer to laugh about other things. To say I am now doing everything VERY carefully, would be an understatement. :) Hope it passes soon :)

the thunder rolls

An odd storm brews outside, plump grey clouds have been moving in at various speeds all day. It’s got a very tropical feeling to it, as the temperature outside is at least 80 degrees. Quite unusual for this area which generally gets cold weather storms and occasional spring showers.

I can’t even recall a true thunderstorm in the past 2.5 years I have lived here. In fact, I believe that the first seasonal rain was just this time last year, and it definately wasn't warm.

The first drops have just begun to fall as I write this and I cannot ignore the connection of what a mirror it seems to my emotions the past few days. Partly sunny, partly cloudy, possible thunderstorms. Although I am generally pretty happy, I have felt quite oddly melancholy at times for no specific tangible reason I can discern. There are certainly a few things going on that have a stressful quality to them at the moment, but this has felt much deeper and more unfocused.

I hesitate to admit that I actually cried myself to sleep last night, fat hot tears absorbed into the pillow, a frustration and despair that felt a bit overwhelming and even a little scary. I cannot recall the last time I did that. It made me long for the days when my parents could hug and comfort me and I believed them and it made everything alright.

Sometimes it is hard being a grown -up! :)

a few pictures

some of my latest and greatest

Fall-ing

Although we are definately experiencing "Indian Summer" days, I still feel Fall coming on. I can feel it in the light of the day, in the chill of the evening, in my bones. I feel the pull to hibernate, to eat and drink hot things, to ready the house for the coming Winter. In fact, a fire burns in the woodburning stove of my little livingroom as I write this and a cup of hot tea is brewing.

As much as I dearly love the spring and summer, sun girl that I am, I do like Autumn. The colors, the scents, the happy memories. Fall cooking and baking are some of my favorite things about the season. In my kitchen, two small pumpkins await the honor of becoming a delicious from scratch spicy pumpkin pie. Holiday spirit starts to fill the air and I still feel a little bit of that childlike magic thinking about Halloween being just around the corner.

I am ready for hot apple cider, big comfy sweaters, and cozing up to a good book by the fire. And they say we don't have seasons in California :O)

Update to paying it forward

I am very pleased to announce that we raised $7000 for Katrina relief at our fundraiser. :O)