To Do List

~Burn cds for my car.
~Make cd case so they don't end up scratched on the floor.
~Go to Hobby Lobby and find containers for loose-leaf tea.
~Draw in my new journal.
~Drink lots of tea.
~Continue reading The Man Who was Thursday by Mr. G. K. Chesterton.
~Relish in the fact that I am now employed.

Create

I was talking with Samantha May on Skype a few days ago, on Skype because she currently resides in South Africa, and--she being a person who has inspired me so much in the last five years--our conversation was wonderful. I was venting some frustrations and she said,

it's all perspective.

Sam is a person who sees potential in things. She pulls articles of clothing off racks that I would never touch, and yet she puts them on with something fabulous and I find myself calculating when it will be clean again so I can wear it. She sees beauty in people that I skip over, whilst looking for something I'm expecting. She captures things in her art that have begged to be in a picture for centuries. She sticks with things, even if they are four years in the making. And thus she has filled her life with beauty-- in furniture, art, and people.

Photo by Sam May. 

Me too.

A Little About the Rodeo

Thursdays are usually interesting.

Today, Wednesdays were.

I went to the San Antonio rodeo last night with some friends. I think my favorite part was when the kids rode the sheep, or when one man came out steering six horses with reigns and standing bareback on the last two. The barrel races were also really cool to watch. I really felt the Texas culture all around me.

We got home about midnight and I went to get my keys from my purse and realized I had left them in my room. So I went and slept at the Pingel's house and borrowed some of Ana's pajamas to sleep in their spare bed. We got up this morning and worked out--by the way, I've been working out lately, strange, I know--to the P90x videos they have.

I got home around 10:00 this morning and Dorothy said, "Why didn't you use the spare key??"

Oh, right.

Happy Birthday Dad

Just for the record, my mom caught this fish. 

Today is his birthday, one more special than the rest. My dad rocks in so many ways. He can do the most awesome things like, cut down trees, drive tractors, fix broken engines, catch fish, set up camping sites, and find cool things at the ocean. He also rocks at encouraging me, shooting off fireworks, making great chili, BBQ, and fantastic hugs. 

Love you dad. 

Things I Love About California

1. The sunshine, and how it is always warm when it hits your back.
2. The ocean; listening to it while falling asleep, the smell of it through your window, next to it by a fire, and the way it feels in September.
3. Laventina's Big Cheese Pizza.
4. Driving down the PCH, whether in Dana Point or south of San Francisco, day or night.
5. Lizz Hopkins, and our obsession with chai tea.
6. That everyone drives at least 15 miles over the speed limit on the freeway in so-cal.
7. Fresh sushi.
8. Mass availability of Boba and people who love it.
9. People ride bikes in California.
10. California has San Francisco in it.
11. Spending time with my roommates out on the porch, with a bonfire, twinkle lights, music and a warm summer breeze.
12. Pizza nights at the Robeck's house.
13. Fresh strawberries by the side of the road for $1.00 all summer long.
14. The grass is literally almost always green.
15. Mountains.
16. Artsy downtowns and the way whole cities shut down for art walks on Thursday nights.
17. Taking Wilson to Victoria and turning down Superior to completely bypass any traffic going down Newport Blvd.
18. People at Saddleback Covenant Church.

                         Ode to enchanted light

                          Under the trees light

                          has dropped fro the top of the sky,

                          light

                          like a green

                          latticework of branches, 

                          shining 

                          on every leaf, 

                          drifting down like clean

                          white sand.

                          A cicada sends

                          its sawing song

                          high into the empty air.

                          The world is 

                          a glass overflowing

                          with water.

Then it Melted

The First and Last

This morning I woke up to squealing outside, "No school!!!"

I can't believe it snowed in San Antonio. A pitiful, measly amount but I think of two southern California kids who would be just as delighted with this dusting. The roads are shut down, schools are canceled, work is called off. Last night my friend Z. Caleb, who is six, was telling me all about how in the morning I have to wake up really early and make snowmen and throw snowballs and make snow angels. I'm sure he's elated this morning. The kids in our neighborhood have been out since 7:30, sliding down the street on their bikes or scooters, so excited for the day.

I wish I was eight again.

National Public Radio

Two things.

Firstly, I want to thank NPR for keeping me connected to the world. Bethany and I used to stream it in our room while getting ready in the morning and those mornings were always so sweet to me. We would listen and talk and listen and debate and listen. It's the only thing I listen to in the car anymore especially since the road trip here. James and I started following the events in Tunisia and now I've been listening to Egypt since it began. It is incredible to me that these two stories are so similar, and the more I listen I really feel like these last few days have been moments of history. This 5000 year old country is the same I learned of in middle school social studies and the threat of losing control over the Nile, the actual Nile river, is real. I think about women and children there, families, new babies, that need supplies or maybe don't feel safe in their homes. I pray for their safety through these events.

A little news from San Antonio; freezing rain here tonight, which I have never seen before. It isn't snow, but rain that freezes on the first thing it touches. The roads were covered in a sheet of ice and I saw three accidents tonight on my way home-- I traveled about one exit down the highway. Our friend Thomas had warned me about unprepared Texas drivers before we left, so I stayed on the access road instead of risking the highway, good thing. It's only supposed to get colder and there is actually snow in the forecast for the morning. Oh, but 75 again on Sunday.

Guess I'll job hunt from home tomorrow.

Book Lovers

Dorothy--of Bill and Dorothy Leal, the couple I live with--has a children's book collection. All of the Caldecott and Newbery prize winning books since, well, they began giving out the awards. It is a fantastic collection and my friend Olivia and I got to help her cover the 2010 award winners (top). I could sit and look for hours, and I may.