oh, one more thing..

I recently heard from a friend that the yearbook staff was lacking a copy editor.

Now they are not.

:)

sweet heart

So my friend Dain, who I work with on ASBg and is in my lab this semester was a total doll and half today. We're leaving class and talking as we walk. He follows me over to my car, reaches in the window and unlocks the door, then opens it for me. He gives me a hug, tells me to have a wonderful day, and then closes it agian.

I had the biggest smile on my face as I drove away.

the best kind of morning

I woke up this morning to my friend and roommate Michelle saying, "It's so foggy outside."

It reminds me of Oxford.

It reminds me of mornings that I would get up and sit at my desk to finish a paper, and look out over the city through the fog. Of days walking to the Bodleain early in the morning, my boots clicking on the cobblestone. I think of days when I would want to cry because I had not seen the sun in seven. Everything about it was beautiful and wonderful.

This morning I sit at my desk, excited for what the day holds, and as I look out my window over the back of the Albertsons on Harbor and Wilson somehow I feel content with where I am. At the same time it is hard to be satisfied with a puddle, when you know there is an ocean.

september in southern california

Yesterday, for a friend's birthday, a bunch of us went down to the beach. And I am now under the opinion that September is the best month living in Orange County. It isn't super hot anymore, but not cold either. The ocean is so warm you can run straight into it without thinking twice. Signs of fall are slowly creeping up but for the most part its still summer here; without all the people.

We played frisbee in the shorebreak for a good hour yesterday. It felt great to run around and dive into the water to catch it. Everyone was laughing and having a blast, Bethany even tackled me into the water at one point.

This morning I woke up feeling like it is definately fall again. The air in my room is cool and there are clouds in the sky. I can't help to remember September in Oxford. It is strange to me that it was a year ago that I was there. I miss it today for sure. But I am also in the mood to bake today, and I think I am going to go to the store and get things like apples and nutmeg, oatmeal and brown sugar. My roommates will appreciate that I think.

dad they cut his hair!

So I have this guy in my life. I love him like crazy and he brings me so much joy! Today we swam in the pool, shot toy cars off the balcony, practiced letters and read a book together. He was a tun of fun and such a sweetheart the whole time.

When I was dropping him off with JM at the end of the day he followed me to the car and wanted a hug. He hugged me really tight and said, "I'm going to miss you so much!"

"Caleb I'll see you again in just two days."
"I know but I'm going to miss you!"

My heart melted.

septiembre esta aqui...

This is what fall looks like in Oxford.






The wind is started to gently blow leaves out of the trees again. The sun has slanted down just enough to throw golden light into the park around five o'clock. I wore a sweater today, with jeans, for the first time. Cool air fills my room in the morning and stays until the afternoon. I can feel the fall coming.

I made tea this evening. The house was quiet, even though there were four of us here. When I asked around each person said they wanted a cup. Huge smile on my face, I went downstairs and made a full pot of tea. Something I haven't done since coming back from Oxford. It felt like home, to make tea for everyone studying here.




The best sort of fall there is...

boom boom clap, boom de clap de clap!

So last night after I picked up some flowers for Rebekah (as it was her first day of kindergarten yesterday) I drove up to the Robecks and arrived probably close to an hour before dinner. I walked in on both Caleb and RRR dancing to the Hannah Montana soundtrack, up full blast.

It was chaos...fun chaos. So I quickly joined in and danced around the living room with them and Cristina for a good hour. We had pretend microphones, I showed them some new moves and by the time the rest of the dinner party arrived I was beat. Caleb is cute, he dances like crazy until he notices you watching him and then he gets this quintessential Caleb embarrassed look.

It was fun to dance around in a living room and not care what I looked like. I knew there was no judgement coming from anyone in the room...I'm actually quite certain I would have been judged had I not danced.

discovering kerouac

To horizons of golden
moment emptiness
Whither whence uncaring
dizzy ride in space
to red fires
beyond the pale,
rosy gory outlooks
everywhere.

San Francisco is too old
Her chimnies lean
and look sooty
After all this time
of waiting for something
to happen
Betwixt hill and house-
heart and heaven.

-26th Chorus, Jack Kerouac

church family...they mean the same thing

I got invited to a church fiesta on Saturday. I had been to this church a few times previously, and for those of you who know me, know that church potlucks are probably one of my all time favorite things.

The fiesta was held in a large park in the Mission Viejo area. Once we get there people start playing basketball, football, and frisbee just to name a few things. I felt a little shy among so many new people, but never out of place or unwelcome. There were children everywhere running around and playing games. Families were laughing and talking and setting up food. I played some frisbee, and a game of bocce ball, one of my favorite games.

Then came the food. Dishes and dishes of food. It was a fiesta, so most of them were of the Mexican food tradition. They had corn as well. I have never had it like this but there was some sort of butter-cornmeal-spice deliciousness all over it. Basically I ate way to much, and did not regret it at all. We threw around a baseball and watched the kids break open the pinata (I was a little sad that I am now to old to participate in this event).

But I feel like the best part about the entire evening happened after my friend James started banging a wiffle-ball bat on a megaphone calling everyone over for a game. Two teams, made up of probably entirely to many people each. On a big open field there were bases set up and each team consisted of men women, college students and young children. We all cheered and yelled for teammates. Jokes were made, friends were teased, teammates were encouraged and I quickly got over the fact that I haven't played anything like baseball since the 8th grade. We played as the sun was setting over the hills in the distance. The sky was lit up in a beautiful sunset and the game ended well after we couldn't see anymore.

didn't know..

Did you know that San Francisco is the only city in the United States that you can't get deported from? Or, at least this is what I hear. If there is truth in this fact, it explains so much about the city I love.