Thematic Photographic - Red

When I was a Valley Girl (Yes, a real-live Valley Girl) we had a central fireplace. We lived quite indulgently, as Los Angeleans burning wood as our only heat source. Have you seen fallen trees in The Valley? Us either ;) Luckily, lots of imported wood chunks at the grocery!
'round here, there are lots and lots of fallen trees, right on our property... Renewable energy heat source ♥ Even if I've got a tendency to burn our fires RED hot! This is what happens when I throw a little Pine Tar Napalm into the fire.
Aaaah Oregon Pine... I didn't know what I was missing!

I gots me Pashmina!

When your friends go to Paris for their 25th wedding anniversary, sometimes they take the time to bring back the booty for their stuck-in-America friends... I'm so blessed! ♥
Pashmina is how you say "Freaking amazing silk scarf" in French. I learned me that, and now you know, too. You're welcome!

I also learned, so I can share with you, what this warning label on French cigarettes says:
Smoking will diminish your blood flow and provoke impotence.
Impotence. Provoke. Bwahahaha. tee hee. lol hilarious!

This little guy came home for Hayden.
No there's no message to Hayden there, merely an acknowledgment of his all-time favorite American slang;
combined with mama's favorite cartoon character = Nirvana!
He's already converted the design to stencil form, so be sure to keep an eye out on Hayden's upcoming (spraypainted) Art Projects.

You're FIRED!

okay, not really, but kinda...
A student requested I not be their interpreter anymore.
I'd melt into a puddle of goo, except I have just coached my boss through a similar situation.
That, and I'm practicing my Q-TIP principle every moment I can (and yes, it's hard not to take the frequency of practice moments personally!) and every moment I can't, for that matter ♥
It makes sense that not every interpreter is an appropriate representation of the Deaf client.
And it makes sense that a professional interpreter flow easily in and out of assignments.
Mostly it makes sense that none of this be Taken Personally.
And that is why it's easy for me to show up and work (almost) every day, doing the kick-ass job I know I can do. Even in the moments when I'm *not a match* I'm still kickin' ass!
----------------------------
*Quit Taking It Personally

Fresh as Dew

The Elixir of Life,
Water dropped carefully chaotic
onto Earth,
becoming a part of all We Are.

Car Talk

On a date with the boy, a really fun afternoon together,
shopping for birthday gifts, household supplies
and the ever-important Nerf Guns!
As we returned to Corvallis, Hayden noticed the sky's beauty
and offered to take a picture for me!
Yeah, sure, maybe he was worried what would happen
if I tried to snap and drive,
I prefer to remember it as the moment he understood
and supported Mommy's Photography Habit ;)

Holy Holly Days Batman!

We're so glad you've come!

i thank You God for most this amazing
day: for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes

(i who have died am alive again today,
and this is the sun's birthday; this is the birth
day of life and of love and wings: and of the gay
great happening illimitably earth)

how should tasting touching hearing seeing
breathing any--lifted from the no
of all nothing--human merely being
doubt unimaginable You?

(now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened)
-e.e.cummings

The world has been made a better place by the existence of this amazing being.
My life as a mother has shifted from knowing her, even from afar.
My soul has been awakened by her presence in my home. Her echos continue, sha-la-la-la-yeah!

Newly November

I ain't gonna do none o'dat fancy-pancy NaWhateverMo, however,
I'm bringing me to you as daily as possible for the whole month of November ♥
Here's our backyard as the month begins, life and death happening side by side.

My Life in the Stars

I'd almost feel bad that my only update in days is a reprinting of my horoscope; yet, here's a perfect summary of where I'm at:

You are like a kite that is flying around in the breeze today. You may feel rather ungrounded and as if you are at the mercy of the changing winds. Fortunately, steady currents allow you to gain altitude. But there are also strange weather patterns that make it impossible for you to know what will be coming next. Your best strategy is to remain flexible until calmer times return.

And return they shall, those elusive calmer times, I just know it... ♥

The Wapsi Girl Project

Paul's call for submissions came at the perfect time!
I needed reminding, I am indeed a Wapsi Girl ♥

As you probably know, I do my best to show women as positive roll models in my comic (all shapes and sizes), be it through body image or handling of life's curve-balls. About a year ago, I’ve had several female readers and fans of my comic contribute to a new project called the "Wapsi Girl Project". As often as I can, I feature a new positive roll model that exemplifies the spirit of the "Wapsi Girl" and that’s for each of the women spotlighted to define, as it‘s an open ended question. I have everyone that contributes write a few paragraphs to answer the question, "What is a Wapsi Girl?" and relate how these elements pertain to themselves or any story they might like to share.. In short, centering on real women with real problems that find creative solutions to keep going. ^_^

I'm excited to submit my wisdom for consideration... Wapsi Girls are pretty freaking amazing!

It's a New Day

oh yes it is! I am still cycling through thoughts that bring me up and those that will bring me down. Mostly I'm seeking that safe, peaceful place in the middle. And often I find it. The more often I find it, the longer I stay there, the easier it is to find it again when I need it.
Yesterday, I did some guided meditation with Andrew Weil... whoa! As I'm breathing, I hear his voice "use this breathing each time something pops up that upsets you..." aaaaahhh what a welcome voice to add to my choir. I can't wait to check out the Deepak Chopra meditations, too :)
I have an appointment today at The Mind Spa on campus (almost wrote Mind Spay, wtf?!). If it goes well, I plan to make a standing appointment, weekly! Me and the Light Box and the Vibrating Chair, the Meditation Corner and the Bio-Feedback - what a team ♥