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.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
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~
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~
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~
Wednesday, November 08, 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!
The green one is mine!
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
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!
Get out, get some fresh air and please vote today!
Thursday, November 02, 2006
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!
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!
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
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:
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
Monday, October 30, 2006
a beautiful calm
serenity so sweet flows
anchored from a certainty
one thats new but also old
returned, releasing or returning
and not just the one
but the others too
that were the glue
in the absence grew
clear horizon visions
lovely dreams in sight
treasures and adventures
all directions right
no hurries, no worries
all in its own time
no charts, no maps, just guides
joys in the journey and the ride
~ copyright 10/2006~
anchored from a certainty
one thats new but also old
returned, releasing or returning
and not just the one
but the others too
that were the glue
in the absence grew
clear horizon visions
lovely dreams in sight
treasures and adventures
all directions right
no hurries, no worries
all in its own time
no charts, no maps, just guides
joys in the journey and the ride
~ copyright 10/2006~
Friday, October 13, 2006
top 10 signs you might be a surfer...
10) if a wave has ever broken on your face or your melon
9) if you know why a rash guard is key
8) if you have ever driven off with your board on top of the car (but not tied down) or left it alongside the car while changing and drove off without it
7) if you can devour a table full of food even though you only weigh like 100 pounds
6) if you suddenly find yourself only able to speak two or three words at a time and sounding at least a little like Jeff Spicoli
5) if words like: pummeled and epic have an entirely new or very deep meaning
4) if you have paid the ocean gods in either blood or hard to replace merchandise
3) if you know the answer to: "booties - yes or no" has nothing to do with calls or bottoms
2) if there is sand in and on everything you own
1) if Dick Dale suddenly seems like the most brilliant musician of all time
9) if you know why a rash guard is key
8) if you have ever driven off with your board on top of the car (but not tied down) or left it alongside the car while changing and drove off without it
7) if you can devour a table full of food even though you only weigh like 100 pounds
6) if you suddenly find yourself only able to speak two or three words at a time and sounding at least a little like Jeff Spicoli
5) if words like: pummeled and epic have an entirely new or very deep meaning
4) if you have paid the ocean gods in either blood or hard to replace merchandise
3) if you know the answer to: "booties - yes or no" has nothing to do with calls or bottoms
2) if there is sand in and on everything you own
1) if Dick Dale suddenly seems like the most brilliant musician of all time
Thursday, October 12, 2006
electric storm
I haven't seen a lightning show like the one tonight since the last time I was in Arizona - rainless thunderstorms happen there all the time, but here thunderstorms are rare in rainy weather let alone dry!It was so beautiful! I went to watch it from a local beach access spot and found a nice little bench to watch the show from. I saw a lot of people along the way, but oddly enough, no one was at the spot I found, it was kind of like getting a private screening. I watched for about an hour, until it got too cold and the the storm began slowing down and moving south.
Its still playing havoc with the electricity - and one of the local tv stations went off the air for about 20 minutes. Pretty crazy but totally awesome!!
Friday, September 15, 2006
changing seasons
it has been pretty foggy the past few days, especially at night. Today is a bright clear day, but the chill of Fall is definately in the air. It has been a very full summer and I am ready for the slowdown that Fall brings with it. The one downside to this is that I am not sure I can force myself to brave the icy cold water to surf, even with a wetsuit. I guess I will have to pursue a tropical destination soon!
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Tourists say the darndest things
"When I grow up, I want to be a surf bum!" (start saving now kid!)
"Does the sun set like that every day?" (well, yeah - it sets everyday, but its kind of different each day...)
"Do you have a bowling alley or mini golf here?" (uhhh dude, look around, we barely have a town here)
"Why does the water come up so high sometimes, what makes it do that?" (that would be primarily the moon)
"Does the sun set like that every day?" (well, yeah - it sets everyday, but its kind of different each day...)
"Do you have a bowling alley or mini golf here?" (uhhh dude, look around, we barely have a town here)
"Why does the water come up so high sometimes, what makes it do that?" (that would be primarily the moon)
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
flickr pix & some updates
loaded some new pix up on Flickr - 1/2 were taken on a roadtrip I took with friends along the Big Sur coast Sunday which was a beautiful funny sunny day that left me with almost no voice at all from singing, rapping and generally yelling random crazy things at the top of my lungs for the heck of it and a stomach that ached from laughing so hard - the other half are random "U" shots I have taken here and there over the past few months. Most of the posted Big Sur pix are actually the handy work of a friend - who has a great photog eye, and who initially tried to help me up the gravelly hill to get the shots myself, but upon realizing it was me, who has been "miss graceful" this year, we just decided that he should take my camera and take them, good thing too, they are lovely and it is nice to have a different perspective.
I have been working a lot, trying to establish myself at the new job, there is just so much to learn and perhaps in my quest to insure diligence and attention, I have been a little too focused. I thought I would have all this extra time, and in some ways I do (catching up on laundry during the day, etc) but in some ways there is even less time. For example, I can't remember the last time I was able to log into and actually chat on IM, since my new job has an internal one they have us use and I don't really have personal chats with them, just business. I have also been doing a fair amount of side work and just trying to catch up on loose ends as possible, so hopefully I will find the right balance sooner than later. But it is still just WAY less stressful than the last place.
In the free time I have been able to create, it has been an incredible summer, full of so many fun random adventures that I often forgot to take pictures and sometimes didn't even know and/or remember to bring my camera, so there just haven't been that many pictures this year. We had a beach bonfire at least once almost every weekend this summer (excluding road trips to the bay area for work and family gatherings) I golfed a lot, spent a lot of time walking the beach and in the water surfing and boogie boarding, caught up with old friends from home, made treasured new ones unexpectedly, made peace with difficult things from the past and myself, learned so much, created a ton of artwork, attended many tasty BBQ's, just hung out, entertained many "framily" visitors and general tourists, tasted and consumed so much great wine my mouth might be permanently stained purple - essentially, whenever possible I have been outside and truly living my life. It feels full, rich, happy and I don't have the words to convey my gratitude.
As much as I am a sun girl and love the summer, I can just start to feel the stirrings of fall in the air and am looking forward to it, both because it is a beautiful time of year and because the tourists will finally go back to where they came from and give us our town back. But also because fall is the best time of year here for sunsets (and thus sunset pictures) they are gorgeous and set right into the ocean.
And, if I get the new house I just applied to rent, I will have an (only slightly obstructed) ocean view from the deck and will be only a short block to the pier, beach and heart of town. This would be epic for so many reasons...taking pictures, walking to town, (walking home if consuming adult beverages) a better set up for working from home, a kitchen I can actually cook in...so much goodness! I do love the little hobbit house on the creek, but honestly less so now that I am in it 10 hours a day working and have been in it for over 2 years. plus, I have already done the creek living, the mountain living, I can live that way and there are things about it that appeal to me, but I am kind of over it at the moment, I want electricity and plumming that work right regularly, I want a kitchen that allows me to create delicious meals, I want less spiders, less wild vegetation taking over my yard, less icky things that live in my laundry shed that i don't want to think about too much...ya know!?
I'll keep you posted =)
I have been working a lot, trying to establish myself at the new job, there is just so much to learn and perhaps in my quest to insure diligence and attention, I have been a little too focused. I thought I would have all this extra time, and in some ways I do (catching up on laundry during the day, etc) but in some ways there is even less time. For example, I can't remember the last time I was able to log into and actually chat on IM, since my new job has an internal one they have us use and I don't really have personal chats with them, just business. I have also been doing a fair amount of side work and just trying to catch up on loose ends as possible, so hopefully I will find the right balance sooner than later. But it is still just WAY less stressful than the last place.
In the free time I have been able to create, it has been an incredible summer, full of so many fun random adventures that I often forgot to take pictures and sometimes didn't even know and/or remember to bring my camera, so there just haven't been that many pictures this year. We had a beach bonfire at least once almost every weekend this summer (excluding road trips to the bay area for work and family gatherings) I golfed a lot, spent a lot of time walking the beach and in the water surfing and boogie boarding, caught up with old friends from home, made treasured new ones unexpectedly, made peace with difficult things from the past and myself, learned so much, created a ton of artwork, attended many tasty BBQ's, just hung out, entertained many "framily" visitors and general tourists, tasted and consumed so much great wine my mouth might be permanently stained purple - essentially, whenever possible I have been outside and truly living my life. It feels full, rich, happy and I don't have the words to convey my gratitude.
As much as I am a sun girl and love the summer, I can just start to feel the stirrings of fall in the air and am looking forward to it, both because it is a beautiful time of year and because the tourists will finally go back to where they came from and give us our town back. But also because fall is the best time of year here for sunsets (and thus sunset pictures) they are gorgeous and set right into the ocean.
And, if I get the new house I just applied to rent, I will have an (only slightly obstructed) ocean view from the deck and will be only a short block to the pier, beach and heart of town. This would be epic for so many reasons...taking pictures, walking to town, (walking home if consuming adult beverages) a better set up for working from home, a kitchen I can actually cook in...so much goodness! I do love the little hobbit house on the creek, but honestly less so now that I am in it 10 hours a day working and have been in it for over 2 years. plus, I have already done the creek living, the mountain living, I can live that way and there are things about it that appeal to me, but I am kind of over it at the moment, I want electricity and plumming that work right regularly, I want a kitchen that allows me to create delicious meals, I want less spiders, less wild vegetation taking over my yard, less icky things that live in my laundry shed that i don't want to think about too much...ya know!?
I'll keep you posted =)
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Happy Birthday MTV - 25 years!
Dude! 25 years? I so remember the launch of MTV, it was like the greatest thing to ever happen, music television, music videos, a whole channel made just for me and my friends - and we watched it almost constantly, somehow at that age, it didn't get old seeing the same things over and over. I lived for martha and MTV news, news I cared about, again seemingly just for me. Those were the days...Happy Birthday MTV!
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
it all happened on willow creek
ok, seriously - the weirdest stuff happens at my house!
so about a month ago, very late one night, I had two friends over and as we were sitting around my livingroom chatting, I hear a womans voice cry out "please help me, I need help!" I leap out of my seat and go to the door to find this chick bawling and kind of freaking out. Turns out she lives in town but was driving from visiting family in the valley and her car broke down a little ways from my house. We get no cell signal on this road, so she couldn't reach her husband for help. I agreed to take her home and only realized when pulling back into my driveway that she left her car in the middle of the road! There are no streetlights and people hall ass on that road, someone is going to hurt. So, not knowing what else to do, we grabbed a super flashlight to shine on the car should someone drive up and called the police to have it towed out of harms way. Before the police could arrive the woman and her husband finally showed back up and we all helped to move the car off to the side of the road. - so random
then, I come home on a sunday evening about 2 weeks ago, after being at the beach all day and there are two sherrif cars blocking my driveway - my first thought is "uh-oh someone broke into my house again" then i notice a car pulled to the side of the road so I figure they are arresting someone for DUI or something. The officer (who is my neighbor and who helped me when I did get robbed) apologies profusely for blocking me and askes if I would mind parking down the road until they are done...2 hours later they finally left.
then today, as I am walking out to get my mail, this dude just walks up and says "excuse me maam, I am so sorry to bother you but my girlfriend and I are staying at the RV park down the street, trying to find a place to move here and we ran out of water, could we pull up the RV and borrow your hose, I will gladly pay you." I have to say this really goes down as one of the stranger requests I have ever received. It seemed the neighborly/good samaritan thing to do to say yes, so I did. And he and his girlfriend are out there now filling up the water tank.
Apparently there is a sign somewhere above my house that I can't see that says "hey, stop here." so random, so funny!
so about a month ago, very late one night, I had two friends over and as we were sitting around my livingroom chatting, I hear a womans voice cry out "please help me, I need help!" I leap out of my seat and go to the door to find this chick bawling and kind of freaking out. Turns out she lives in town but was driving from visiting family in the valley and her car broke down a little ways from my house. We get no cell signal on this road, so she couldn't reach her husband for help. I agreed to take her home and only realized when pulling back into my driveway that she left her car in the middle of the road! There are no streetlights and people hall ass on that road, someone is going to hurt. So, not knowing what else to do, we grabbed a super flashlight to shine on the car should someone drive up and called the police to have it towed out of harms way. Before the police could arrive the woman and her husband finally showed back up and we all helped to move the car off to the side of the road. - so random
then, I come home on a sunday evening about 2 weeks ago, after being at the beach all day and there are two sherrif cars blocking my driveway - my first thought is "uh-oh someone broke into my house again" then i notice a car pulled to the side of the road so I figure they are arresting someone for DUI or something. The officer (who is my neighbor and who helped me when I did get robbed) apologies profusely for blocking me and askes if I would mind parking down the road until they are done...2 hours later they finally left.
then today, as I am walking out to get my mail, this dude just walks up and says "excuse me maam, I am so sorry to bother you but my girlfriend and I are staying at the RV park down the street, trying to find a place to move here and we ran out of water, could we pull up the RV and borrow your hose, I will gladly pay you." I have to say this really goes down as one of the stranger requests I have ever received. It seemed the neighborly/good samaritan thing to do to say yes, so I did. And he and his girlfriend are out there now filling up the water tank.
Apparently there is a sign somewhere above my house that I can't see that says "hey, stop here." so random, so funny!
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