TP: Travel (w/Hannah)

This is the travel case we use for Hannah's Ashes. We've schlepped it all across the country, it continues to collect stickers and mementos of Hannah's Life.
This picture is from our most recent visit to Mitch's Ashes, in the cupboard at the San Fernando Mission.
It's quite cool to have a physical representation of Hannah's freedom to travel at will ;) I do wish we'd kept more of Mitch's ashes...
For a glimpse of the places Hannah's ashes have been, check out her blog: Hannah's Ashes.
Oh the journeys yet to be documented, Christopher Moore and Richard Bach included, are bubbling to the top of the blogging to do list ♥
If you're in need of some Hannah ashes of your very own, let me know, we'll figure out a way to get her to you without illegal use of the US Postal System ;)

TP: Travel (w/Ed)

This is my dad, Ed. He's the Travelin' Man in my life, my whole life. He left his home early, as early as he could lie about his age for work. He hit the road with the carnival at 14 and didn't settle down for another 10 years. A few of those were after he had a wife and kids; including me ♥
For all the cross-country travels he's done, June 2009 was his very first visit to the Pacific Ocean (Lost Creek Beach, south of Newport, OR).
He didn't admit this until we were leaving, though his tide-line marking and awe-struck demeanor gave him away much sooner.
Don't let that finger fool ya, I'm his favorite kid. He's tellin' me I'm #1.

TP: Travel (w/Carmi)

Last March, while traveling to visit the Grammas in Los Angeles, I discovered Carmi's blog and his Thematic Photographic project. His themes gave a whole new perspective to the familiar scenes.
This familiar scene happened to be a One Last Time in my life. Gramma Baby (Evangeline Venus Alcaraz) died September 22, and fate decided that Carmi's father would join her the very next day.
While internally processing my own grief for Mitch's Grandmother, Hayden's Great-Grandmother, and quite possibly the most intrepid person I'll likely meet in this lifetime, I quietly followed Carmi's delving into grief and that of his children. When I became brave enough to comment on his sadness, I realized I was brave enough to confront my own.
It's incredibly different to grieve a 91-year old woman who was fully cognizant of her life's end, than for Mitch at 32 or Hannah at 9.5.
The Acceptance stage flits in more easily, this time; I'm unwilling to admit that may be due to practice.

TP: Travel (w/Buddha)

Today alone, two young men have traveled away from my house, hearts heavy with love and longing for this lil guy, Buddha Goldfish ::::clown music::: Dawg.
A rescued bait dog to truckin' dog to family dog, he's 180* from where his breeders thought he'd be and right where he belongs!
He stayed in the first place because Chance fell in love; he stayed still because we've all fallen under his spell ♥ He's leaving (we all hope by Christmas) because CJ loves his dog and longs to have him back forever.
Just hours after Chance left, CJ's truck driving job brought him through Corvallis. The dog's love cup runneth over ♥ Two travelers under his spell. In the immortal wise words of Cesar Millan:

"Don't get the dog you want.
Get the dog that will change your life,
change who you are."

Buddha, you ARE that dog.

Thematic Photographic - Travel

Held on by the visor clip that says: Daughter, I love you very much, please drive carefully, lives this funny dollar that Scotty received as change. He immediately tried to buy a lotto ticket from the grocer's machine and, well, God was watching and denied the purchase!

I am comforted throughout my daily travels, with the mere idea that God does exist and s/he is watching. (note: I still have niggling doubts about any action taken by god/s, though existence and watching are just a tiny bit less doubtable in diana's world ♥)

Tuesday's Bakery Case Star

These were a barely-resistible temptation to my dairy-free (a.k.a. hive-free-face) life... Chocolate Sour Cream muffins with dried cherries and almond slivers...Check it out, up close and personal...
I got to sell the last one tonight, talkin up my own skillz - and my inability to eat my delicious creations - she'll be back for more!

Reading is Fundamental

I walked past this guy a few dozen times,
before peeking over his shoulder to see what he's reading...Aaaah, a student of wisdom ♥

Thematic Photographic - Red too

Red is a great reminder of my Blue day
We had breakfast at Sunnyside Up
Scotty and Chance readied to bring Holly to the airport
I walked to work, admiring the Autumn Beauty
and thinking how lucky this leaf has a place to land
and how lucky I am to come along and appreciate it
Holly has a place to land
and lots of folks to come along and appreciate her
Red days are better than the Blue ones.

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.