THE wahine

got some interesting news yesterday, the day I bought my surf board was a total comedy of events and unbeknown to me, the story has become quite the local legend - huh, go figure...so, apparently the owner of the shop thought it was so great that he would like me to be in their upcoming advertisements - I find this funny for two reasons 1) I am probably the least skilled local female surfer 2) no matter how I try to avoid the ad business, it always finds me and sucks me back in!

So the board buying story goes something like this...

I started boogie/body boarding early this year with a good friend. We went several times and were really enjoying it. It made me really want to surf. Then one day, her husband joined us, and we were having this great day until he and I got sucked into a nasty rip tide. I was totally trapped, no matter what I did, I would get pulled back - although the boogie board was keeping me afloat, it wasn't really helping me get anywhere and made it difficult to swim. I started to get really tired, was definitely getting scared and started to take in water gasping for air, I honestly don't know how I finally got out of it, but was shaken up when I reached shore and not sure I ever wanted to go back in.

Meanwhile over a few months before this, I saw this beautiful board in the window of one of the local surf shops, it had metallic green rails and belly and the deck had the most beautiful Hawaiian floral pattern, it was a 9ft long board, and I fell deeply in love. I would have bought it but the price was over 700 and I just couldn't justify it, so instead I would walk by it as often as possible, practically licking the window.

About the time of the rip tide incident, I started my new job which was a bump in pay and realized that I would probably never get back into the water unless I had really good incentive and a water craft that helped me, as opposed to worked against me. So while some friends and I were enjoying adult beverages at the bar down the street and we started talking about all of this, I jumped up and said "if the shop is open, im buying it tonight!"

The shop was open and here the 3 of us come blazing in the store a little buzzed, so excited they were open, very happy and ready to purchase! So I tell the guy to pull it out of the window, I kiss the damn thing and I am so excited that I can hardly even think! Everyone in the store seems pretty impressed that I have decided to take up the sport, since I am both female and no longer a teenager. So my friend (a much more experienced board buyer than myself) jumps in and begins haggling for the price and accessories. I walked out with everything I needed for just the original price of the board. We installed my fins and leash right on the spot and loaded it into the car, then invited the salesman to come celebrate with us, telling him the story of how long I wanted the board, my weekly window shopping ritual and why I wanted it now.

It worked, I spent so much on the board, and so many people were excited for me and offered to take me out and give me lessons, I knew it would override my fears, and it did. I surfed all summer and although I haven't gotten very good yet, I really enjoy it. If I can find a warm enough wetsuit I may even surf all year round!

One of these days I will get around to taking a picture of the deck and posting it - it may even bei n the ad and I can just scan it, but in the meantime you can see the belly of the beauty below in the "pictures" post.

season: autumn

chilly gray day
heavy clouds hang
soft drops splash
as they hit the pane

fire crackles in its place
fragrant tea steams my face
candles flicker as they flame
a good book stories fortune and fame

cuddled up in flannel and down
the music of nature the only sound
cinnamon spices scent the air
warm and dry the only care

its the season of quiet and calm
the twilight before the night
descending into winters dawn
and the festivals of light

~ copyright 11/2006~

writing inspired by nature

I have been writing a lot lately in my "down" time and decided to add this piece inspired by the electric storm last month:

flashes illuminating the night sky

cracks and sheets snap the clouds

lighting up the moment

etching the sillouette of the hills

streaks leaping and branching into the ocean

salty electric air thick and damp

thunder grumbling against the sea

drops begin to splash

power surges and gaps

disrupting home comforts

delighting all senses

Gods show

breathe it in

watch it glow


~ copyright 10/2006~

pictures

I have been taking more pictures again lately and going through the ones I have taken over the past year, here are a few of my favorites so far this year:

The green one is mine!

glorious!

I almost can't believe it is November because it has been sunny, clear and in the high 70's for the past three days! The sunsets have been full of deep reds, pinks and oranges against the blue sky and green/blue sea. Butterflies are everywhere, floating above the creek and hanging in the trees. The offshore winds are blowing warmly through the trees and the hundreds of wind-chimes hung around town. It's more like a spring or summer day! I have all the windows and doors open to let the breeze flow through the house. A perfect day for an evening walk, I think!

Get out, get some fresh air and please vote today!

All Hallows Eve

Boo!

Halloween, what Halloween?!

This year has to be THE least eventful, most quiet Halloween I have ever experienced!! Typically my favorite holiday, and barely even noted! How did I miss Halloween, how could this happen???

Well...my street is too remote, rural and slightly dangerous for kids to trick or treat on, working at home now - it's not like there is the whole "office festivities" to rely on, being both ill with the flu, under major project deadlines and doing combined work and personal travel the past four weeks leaves no time to really think about it or prepare and then add in the braces...yup, no Halloween.

And the kicker is that I actually went to a Halloween party sunday afternoon, only no one told me it was a Halloween party and no one was dressed up and it was daytime, so other than the themed cupcakes, it didn't really fit the bill.

I truly find this much more amusing than bummer. Although I do feel like I need to do something about it, either go out in costume or throw a costume party or something, and soon. There are aspects of the associated celebratory traditions that are purely good for the soul! I feel a plan coming on! =o)

I must note that last Halloween I did get in a little celebration but I also had one of the freakiest nights of my life, and I am happy to report that there have been no new instances of those events!

And last but not least, Happy 1st Birthday to Samantha Jane!! I finally got see her a few weeks ago and she is absolutely gorgeous, so smiley, sweet, observant and determined! if she is this cute already, man, she is going to be a heart breaker by 2! =o) It is going to be very hard to resist the temptation to spoil her rotten!

You know what all this means don't you? THE HOLIDAYS are fast approaching and 2007 just around the corner...just amazing!!

Happy Fall!

plastic mouth

it's official, i got my braces yesterday...the orthodontist decided to go with invisalign, so unless you catch the gleam off the plastic or hear the new lisp i have suddenly developed, you can't tell nearly as much as with traditional braces.

things i had not anticipated:

• how weird it would feel to have plastic over my teeth ALL the time
• having to remove them to eat anything or drink hot liquids (since you don't with traditional braces)
  
• which also results in having to create a whole routine around eating (and cooking since i can't even taste something with them in)

• how soon and how much i would anticipate the day i would be done with them
• how much my mouth would hurt

smile!!