February 2012
9 posts
swearing-in ceremony
I was sworn-in as an attorney yesterday afternoon. Clay stood near to take pictures. It was a hectic arrangement with Clay and I rushing downtown on our lunch breaks but I was tired of waiting for the “right” time. The time was now!
As I considered who to administer the attorney’s oath for me I felt hesitant and unsure about judges or clerks or officers that I didn’t know....
ways to build community
turn off your tv – leave your house know your neighbors look up when you are walking greet people, sit on your stoop plant flowers use your library, play together buy from local merchants share what you have help a lost dog take children to the park garden together support neighborhood schools fix it even if you didn’t break it have pot lucks, honor elders pick up litter, read stories aloud dance...
weekend
This weekend was slower. Not one adventure after another but centered around meals and conversation and time in my room. It was restful. And I loved it.
On Friday night I went climbing with Clay, ate Sushi Island to-go and promptly fell asleep. Saturday had WINGs in the morning and Veggie Grill with the GGs for lunch.
Awkward picture in the parking lot of the Grove’s farmers market.
In...
“O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how...”
– Psalm 39:4
revisiting gratitude
Yesterday God allowed me to feel grateful again, really grateful, tears gathering at the corners of my eyes, grateful. It was in part due to the sermon that randomly played from the iPod, also due to the box of cupcakes that arrived at work.
When I forgot how much I had, God didn’t take away to remind me of my abundance, but instead gave me more, lavishly.
My boss has been stressed...
January 2012
18 posts
organ crawl
Weekend bits have become unwieldy, wordy and picture-heavy. So I’ll be sharing about my weekend and other happenings throughout the week instead of forcing it all into one post. Posts will still be unwieldy, wordy and picture-heavy.
I’ll begin with the organ crawl.
The First Congregational Church holds an annual organ crawl. Clay loves the sound of organs so when I heard about this...
week-week go away
This week I made a real effort to drive less and sleep more. It has been good. I went to my prayer circle with Eunice and Esther on Monday. We have been faithfully meeting and have now added a fourth gal named Joyce. It it always an encouraging time. On Tuesday I spent the evening at home and fell asleep at 9pm. On Wednesday I had a conversation with Stephen that was a long time coming. It was so...
Went climbing with Grace at Rockreation this past Thursday. Picked up In-n-Out and went to Kristal’s to hang out and pray. I love those girls so much and am so thankful for them. Comfortable and hilarious and honest are times together.
The piece of Kristal’s Grandmother’s plant she brought from Colorado, flowering.
Weekend bits after the jump…
On Friday my boss asked me...
5 links
1. Word as Image: Fun play with the shapes of letters and meanings of words.
2. Antogo Fishing Frenzy: Villagers in Mali rush into a lake and try to grab fish. Isn’t Earth a crazy-interesting place to live?
3. 5 Stupidest Habits You Develop Growing Up Poor: Hilarious and perceptive.
4. Anne Roiphe’s words on her Late Husband: Reading this prompted me to text Clay. Immediately. {via...
Cold evaporating over the Sepulveda basin.
Southern California has suddenly decided it’s winter. The cold temps have ushered in a low layer of fog that covers the Sepulveda basin. On my way to work the sun is just beginning to rise and it looks eerily beautiful as the fog ascends to disappear into the heat. I wish that I could wander for hours taking pictures.
How charming is this? A...
weekend bits
I really needed this weekend. Last week was draining. To recap in one long sentence, there was one night when I slept before 9pm, there was the day I left work early to take my mom to the ER, there was the day I got a $1.75 raise (BAAAALLINNNN) and realized I have got to get the heck out of this office, the day I gave Clay his first piano lesson of the year with homework and all, and the night I...
“Do not grow old, no matter how long you live. Never cease to stand like curious...”
– Albert Einstein (via thatkindofwoman)
weekend bits
On Friday Clay and I spent our evening at J&N’s. We ate mini meatloaf cupcakes, green beans, mac n cheese and salad. Clay played with Mahlah and I longed for our friendship with J&N to deepen. In time.
Playing “Hide”. Mahlah’s favorite game.
On Saturday I had breakfast with my parents at Denny’s. We talked of job prospects and my sister-in-law. I then met...
“Learn to cook. Invite new and old friends to dinner. Practice hospitality and...”
– Shauna Niequist
P.H. Fitzgerald →
He is one of my favorites. I love the mood and tone of his photographs. Beautiful, soft, honest.
happy new year!
Happy New Year friends.
2011 was an exciting year for me. PC ended, I flew an airplane for 2 seconds, went climbing outdoors often, got a new sister/my brother got married, graduated from law school, drove through 6 states with Clay, passed the CA bar and transitioned back to life in Los Angeles. But the things I consider my greatest accomplishments are not the things listed above.
One huge...
December 2011
30 posts
christmas 2011
More pictures after the jump.
Mom wearing Calvin’s old jacket from middle school and Dad’s tennis shoes.
On the tram up the mountain.
Dad tried sledding with a broken sled and nearly took out Mom.
“For a child was born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon His...”
– Isaiah 9:6
friday
I did not have work today so I slept in. Marvelous wonderful sleep. I drove down to Torrance to have lunch with Clay and then took him to the airport.
I came home and slept some more. I have been sleep deprived running around all the time.
Picked up Caroline and drove to Michelle’s new apartment! We had a little wine then walked to Farfalla for dinner and hung out at Michelle’s...
christmas with clay
Gifts from my thoughtful boyfriend.
1. Ear picker. This gift fulfills a wish and allows me to win an argument. I’ve been trying to convince him to allow me to pick his ears for a long time. When I was young my mom would pick my ears and I found so much pleasure in it that I would drool. I just want to pick Clay’s ears okay?
2. A framed map was made by Clay. Decoration for my new...
This is an exciting time of year, and an exciting season in my life. Between Christmas, Mom’s Birthday, Clamy’s Anniversary and New Years, I get to see a lot of family and friends and eat tons of good food. On top of that, this particular season, Winter 2011, has been so special. Mountains beyond mountains of blessings.
It is not that things are perfect, but that I feel the nearness...
KEEPS: Live Like You're Dying by Chuck Palahniuk →
Great advice—live you’re dying, because you ARE.
I’m reblogging this old post from over a year and a half ago because, just like everyone else, I think of the New Year as a new opportunity. And this article by Chuck Palahniuk never fails to remind me of that.
keepsdiary:
In the new April 2010 issue of Men’s Health, Author Chuck Palahniuk crafted a beautiful piece in The Best Life...
weekend bits
Friday hung out at the trailer with Clay, Lindsay, Daniel, Joseph and Harold. We ate dinner and then went to Handel’s for dessert. It felt like we were in high school cruising around in Dorris. We had fun compiling a list of immature HS shenanigans we could engage in—toilet paper Colin’s, make dry ice bombs, ghost ride the whip, buy one small coke and ask for five large waters at...
words
One of the things I get to share with Clay is a love of words.
Last Friday as I was driving to his place to begin the weekend, he sent me a tiny poem, which I share with you this Friday.
Fifty-four hours The Cattail’s seeds burst forth My heart sings
Life has been so busy lately that I am really looking forward to our plans tonight, which are to nap and eat grilled cheese with soup....
Dumping "Modest is Hottest" →
The phrase makes me cringe but I often think along those lines. This article by Sharon Miller suggests, ‘“modest is hottest” also perpetuates (and complicates)…[the] objectification of women by equating purity with sexual desire.’
8 bits
1. I visit the Starbucks across the street from work at least once a week. The parking lot attendant recognized me on the sidewalk yesterday afternoon as I walked back to work from lunch. He shouted, “HI FRIEND!” with a big smile on his face and just about made my day. I will write him a card for Christmas.
2. My boss is beginning to receive goodies from...
weekend bits
On Friday I spent the evening with Clay. We split a pizetti and salad for dinner, then shopped around for gifts, and watched Felicity. Something we ate didn’t sit well so we battled our bodies the rest of the evening together. Oh frailty.
On Saturday we delivered a couch and mattress to Lilian’s family. If you remember, Lilian is a woman we met while delivering a “Boxes of...