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Thursday, August 30, 2012

Birthday Buddies

In our group of friends there are an inordinate amount of September birthdays.   (Probably something about the holidays and term pregnancies being 9-10 months.)

So for efficiency purposes we had a collective birthday party for these total babes:


4 birthdays in 4 weeks. One party.

The maestra of all party-hosting pulled out all the stops and made us all feel like queens of the party.  There were flowers for our hair, how could you not feel like royalty?

We feasted on fruits and entree salads with fresh baked corn bread with honey butter. My taste buds were having a rave in my mouth.


Oh and this intensely moist mint chocolate bunt cake with ice cream was gooey goodness happened.  I could have eaten the whole thing. I almost snuck the half we didn't eat out the door in my purse and would have gladly sacrificed my purse in the name of this cake.


Headbands made by hand.  So crafty.

And party favors!


We told stories that made us laugh until we cried.  This usually happens but we usually don't tell stories about crapping your pants in Ikea or peeing you pants at the gym.  We save those stories for special occasions, such as this.

And remember when someone is blowing out candles, shout "swallow." Gets 'em every time.

Much love, gratitude and best wishes for everyone there.  It's going to be a good year, I can almost feel it.  

Better than Autocorrect

We have this fancy technology that transcribes voicemails into emails. 

It's amazing. Expecially when it works out to say this:


Good afternoon Dr. B_________. I hope this message finds you well my name is ______.I had a chance you get a brief recruiting I actually can't.

Recall elevator briefly sensual correspondence via mail with the photo whatever reminder in addition to an email message if you would give me a call at xxxxxxxx. I will be there messy appreciate it thank you so much have a great day bye bye.


I can't even imagine what the original voicemail said because I'm thinking it's said exactly how you would say "brief sensual correspondence" when wanting to be recruited.

So, this is your public service announcement to articulate when you leave voicemails. You never know what the computer will hear and then make you sound like a pervert. 
   

Monday, August 27, 2012

Title-less, because I just can't.

I've got a little birthday coming up and my dearest friends are helping me celebrate.  I struggled over which adjective to use for my 30th birthday celebration due to my adverseness to cliches.
For example: 
I am so over "Dirty" thirty.  
I don't exactly embody the "flirty" thirty, at least not in the traditionally overt way.  
So by process of elimination the party has been deemed the SQUIRTY 30. 
(Trust me: I googled words the rhyme with "thirty" and it is that very short list.)

Yes, I know, you're squirming....me too.  But I actually find it less offensive than the other words.  And because, when was the last time you had squirt guns at your party?  It's been too long and you know it.

So the invite went out to the crew.

It started like this, cute and innocent:



Then AE responded:


Then HV clarified:


Then AE responded and Fanta was disciminated against:


Then pinatas got involved: 


Then it got real:



And we ended here:



For the record I'm bringing animal print gangster hats, neon shutter shades, squirt guns and hugs for my friends who make me laugh so hard.

Stay tuned for pictures of the main event.  
It promises to be squirtastic! (<---will catch on, you wait and see)

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Trippin' - Day the Last

We called Williams, AZ home base for our trip which is a little town off historic Routee 66.  There were lots of motorcyclists and Europeans. It's a place desperately trying to keep alive the romaticism of America in the 50s and the Wild West of the pioneers alive. It's a bit strange, but everything I was hoping for.  As you can see:

They sell alien jerky.  Which to my best deductive reasoning skills can only be classified as dried mangos. 





I've returned back to Phoenix with a really awesome sinus infection. My system doesn't like the varying temperatures (AC to melting hot) and unfamiliar smells of motels. Sister had this fancy home remedy trick where you basically breathe in boiling apple cider vingear which loosens all the junk in allows it to flow out.  Gross; I know.  But it works like a charm. During the 5-7 minutes while your face is over the water you think you might sufficate to death, but that passes and you arise a snotty, yet breathing, mess.    

So that's my least favorite part of this trip.  But everything else has reached beyond my wildest dreams and expectations.  I saw things I've never seen and done things I've never done. 

I'm ready for whatever great big glorious thing that is coming next!

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Trippin' - Day 3

It's tough to beat the Grand Canyon. And we knew we certainly wouldn't but this time we went inside a canyon.  After a roadtrip north 3 hours we found ourselves strapped into the back of a pick up headed for Antelope Slot Canyon.  We tooled around in there a bit and here's what we saw:







Pretty cool, huh?  Yeah, I thought so, too.


There is something indescrible about the drive from Williams to Page, AZ.  In a 3 hour period you see prairie greens and fields of wildflowers, unique cloud formations, deserts with red rock monuments, lightening storms, torrential downpour, cattle, and populations living well below the poverty line.. 

Well into the drive home, I was thinking about a book I read in college called The Solace of Open Spaces that became one of my favorite reads. I imagine she could have written it about this very drive. I thought about what solace means. I thought how easily it would be to find oneself feeling insignificant in the vastness and how very likely many had made that drive with a sense of wander and wonder.  But I found comfort and release.  I felt that I belonged in this space and at this time.  That doesn't happen often, but when it does I hold onto it as long as I can.   



Friday, August 17, 2012

Tripping - Day 2 (aka: Mission Complete)

For as long as I can remember I've wanted to see the Grand Canyon.  It became my mission to see it before turning 30 and today mission became complete.  It couldn't have been more amazing. 















Top 3 Highlights:

Ilsa picked up a prickly pear and while removing the needles from her fingers was smacked in the head by a tree and then stepped in a catcus which needles pierced through her sneakers.  I almost died laughing.  Nature's karma is a bitch. 

A grown man conquering his fear of heights while walking out on one of the points eyes closed holding onto the hand rail.  When he reached Ilsawho was also standing at the railing  he proceed to wrap his arms around her in order to maintain contact with the railing.  He was today's hero. 

We hiked out to Yaki Point.  You could see both east and west views of the canyon.  It was just Ilsa, I and the Grand Canyon.  Quiet and serene.  I said a little gratitude prayer and found peace.


At dinner tonight we were laughing and chatting and Ilsa says, "You seem really happy."  and my respone was a mere, "I am."

So, let's go ahead and cross that off the list; I can turn 30 now. 


Cheers!

(More to come later as reception is questionable at best here and this is all I could get off my phone.)

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Tripping - Day the First


What was suppose to be a 3 hour drive from Phoenix to Williams, AZ turned into a 7 hour adventure including the following:

- 3 rental cars in 2 hours
- a tire shop - twice
- Lightening
- Torrential downpour
- chicken
- Mexican restaurant in Sedona
- Sopaipillas
- Switchback highway in the pitch black with over grown vegetation and falling rock
- 2 road side pit stops thanks to aforementioned Mexican, in the pitch black and pouring rain
- Finally at the Lodge on Route 66.

We survived, we even had some good laughs, no one even got mad. It just was what it was.  And what it was was pretty great.

Tomorrow the Canyon!

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

For my Birthday

Could Mumford & Sons please sing Paul Simon's discography in its entirety?  That would be an orgasmic music marriage. And a really lovely birthday present.

Listen

Who do I talk to for such a request? 




Monday, August 13, 2012

5 Cents

I think I will be approaching a situation that has the very real likelihood that I am totally going to eff up. Like on the epic level.  Most because I don't have patience. Oh, and I'm short-sighted, impulsive, compulsive and easily clouded by fantasy.

Today I was chatting with a friend who has been in a similar but reverse situation relaying the situation and her advice was, "Whatever it is that you WANT to do, do the exact opposite."

On the twitter-sphere tonight I read this:
"Everything happens for a reason. But sometimes the reason is you're stupid and make bad decisions."

Regardless of my inevitable colossal screw up to come, I think these are pretty good sentiments to share in general. 

So there you go, my 5 cents for free.

You're welcome.

Saturday, August 11, 2012

No Rush

I've been reading a really lovely book titled Savor: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life per recommendation of my nutritionist.  At its root it emphasizes Buddist principles as related to mindfulness in the sense of removing distrations and living in the present.  I've been practicing slowing down, savoring moments, and wrestling with all that comes with removing distractions.

At happy hour this week I met a friend at Ray's Cafe and our table faced the Pacific ocean and we shared halibut and rockfish tacos, some drinks and the pleasure of each other's company.  On our first toast, he said, "To no rush."  How apropros I thought.

As the sun set, I wrapped up in a blanket, air still warm, his arm around me and my head on his shoulder. As I nearly fell asleep I thought, nope, I don't want to rush this.

So here's to living in the moment.

Ray's Cafe, August 2012

Friday, August 10, 2012

Need a Good Laugh?

Because I got one for you.

Here you go

I.
am.
dying.

Happy Olympics!

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Cardiff by the Sea, CA - Day the Last

























- Let's just call this day the Day of Photoshoots (in which we take 300 photos of ourselves.)
- Stroll around Old Town San Diego, quite lovely
- And a crap ton of photos of us. on a beach. at sunset.  A trifecta of fierce makes for fabulous.
- oh right, an grilled peaches with sorbet for dinner, again