The sunrise

As I drove to work this morning, the sun blinding me, because I forgot my sunglasses, I thought about what the rising sun represents. Renewal, rejuvenation, reprise, a re-do if you may. It's like God gives us an opportunity to wipe the board clean and start over. Everyday.

How many times do we take this for granted? We sleep and wake daily, join everyone else in the grind and forget to remember the small things, like the sunrise. The new day, a fresh beginning. I am totally guilty of this. Of rising with dread of another day of work, running around, cooking dinner, laundry, then lather, rinse, repeat.

This morning felt different for some reason. The sun was so bright and decorating the tips of frosty trees making the dew dance. That beauty touched me. God was telling me something. To slow down, take it one day at a time, and remember the mulligan.

On another note, no pun intended, my Husband turned me on to The National. And it's official, I've listed to their album, The Boxer, like eleventy billion times.

Check um' out.

How NOT to get a hole-in-one!

i'm determined to get a hole in one on this course. This is the third time now that i've come pretty close...Grrrrrrrr.

Hole 4 (par 3) Ceders at Dungeness Golf Course
-marty

Bring Spring!

For my Sarah

It's my new fascination, lighthouses. For some reason i'm drawn to them, no pun. i asked my sweet wife to marry me under one, she walked down the isle to the song Lighthouse by Interpol...and well, i just become mesmerized when i see them. Some day i want to spend a weekend in one, with her. In the storm, with no power, just the sounds of the waves crashing on the rocks, and the glowing light circling the hemisphere as we wait out the night. Both pictures are from the Port Townsend Lighthouse...the one she said "yes" under :)

-marty

It's the place that's said to break
It's just as safe from the outside tonight

And I want that
I face the storms at the tides
From the lighthouse

And I want that
Unleash the storm and the night

Oh...

What do the waves have to say now?
What do the waves have to say now?

Slow now

And let the waves have their way now
Slow, and let the waves have their day

And I want that

Here I've been living on roofs made from sin
Upward and outward, "Begin, begin."

Here I've been lucid I'm living within
Inwardly urgent, I'm sinking again

- Interpol

When the Angels sing - Vic Chestnutt RIP

It was November 27th. It would be the first, and last time Sarah and i will have had our chance to witness (what i consider) one of God's most beautifully created voices to touch this earth. The show was amazing. The Crocodile, Seattle, a cold night and a warm Wife. This would be Vic's last tour, only playing 6 more shows.

i've had these cell phone pictures for a while now...so i figured i'd finally post them up.


Vic took his own life, and died on Christmas day 2009. Burdened by the bull-shit medical industry, he was stricken with medical bills he couldn't see a means of resolving. Read any message post USA and you'll see how many lives he touched, even mine. i was brand new to Vic, and all i kept thinking while i watched him perform was, "i want to celebrate in Heaven with this man". He was an amazing individual and his music, well, his music is just something of brilliance.

-marty

My Granny would be proud

Gasp! I can sew a some what straight line! I even did a blind hem. Word.

*The better part of this project is that while at Swain's getting a curtain rod I eagerly talked my Husband into the package that had two rods (we have two windows in the kitchen).

"Look honey, they're cheaper and you get two!"

Well, apparently it was a DOUBLE curtain rod set, you know for two curtains on the same window. NOT for two separate windows.

Yes, I ate a little crow on this one. Damn it for always tryin' to be cheap!

easy/lucky/free

did it all get real, i guess it's real enough
they got refrigerators full of blood
another century spent pointing guns
at anything that moves
sometimes i worry that i've lost the plot
my twitching muscles tease my flippant thoughts
i never really dreamed of heaven much
until we put him in the ground
but it's all i'm doing now
listening for patterns in the sound
of an endless static sea
but once the satellite's deceased
it blows like garbage through the streets
of the night sky to infinity
but don't you weep (don't you weep for them)
there is nothing as lucky
don't you weep
there is nothing as lucky, as easy, or free

don't be a criminal in this police state
you better shop and eat and procreate
you got vacation days then you might escape
to a condo on the coast
i set my watch to the atomic clock
i hear the crowd count down 'til the bomb gets dropped
i always figured that there'd be time enough
i never let it get me down
but i can't help it now
looking for faces in the clouds
i got some friends i barely see
but we're all planning to meet
we'll lay in bags as dead as leaves
all together for eternity
but don't you weep
there is no one as lucky
honey, don't you weep
there is nothing as lucky, as easy, or free

Ahem

Doesn't everyone need a mustache?

Random stuffs

Looking for interesting things to say this week...

I was going to write about the rude kid at the orthodontist office this last Wednesday. I mean really who wants to hear obnoxious rap music blaring from the ear bud of an ipod while trying to enjoy an article about pork and ramen soup in a Cooking Well magazine. Oh me, right? NO. I seriously wanted to smack* this kid. I could hear every word uttered. I mean EVERY word. I understand you want to listen to your music, really, I do. I love music, while albeit rap isn't my first choice, I can relate to wanting to listen to it while waiting for my turn. But to impose your choice on others who are waiting is really, just plain rude. Is this what it's coming to? Is it now acceptable to do this? I told my kids if they every did this they'd be grounded to infinity. Julian obviously picked up on my irritation with this kid because as I was describing the scenario at home later to Marty, he blurted out, "yeah, I could see your eye twitching!" Oi.

Marty's birthday was on the 22nd. He turned 35, 30 for the fifth time, 30! We had a lovely little "presidential" gathering. We decorated in red, white, and blue, threw up a few "vote" for Marty posters, and ate some great food. I made tamales, again, (the first time was for Christmas Eve, and apparently they were a hit because they were requested again for this celebration). We had a great time, and I've been informed in 5 years when he turns 30, again, I can throw him a GREAT big party. Which gives me plenty of time to arrange the dancing gorilla, *wink*. I don't have a single picture to document that festive day, well, because I forgot the camera. Which brings me to the following...

I have this recent obsession, neurosis, to get a new camera plan. Our little point and shoot is starting to have some peculiar behaviors and I fear it may be on it's last leg. Why not get another point and shoot you ask? Well, I wanna experiment with photography and learn how to properly use a camera, which involves vast knowledge of things like, ISO, aperture, shutter speed and how they all relate to each other, white balance, focal length, depth of field, and various other complicated things that I am desperately trying to understand. The camera that I want is more than just a point and shoot. And it costs more too. So my supportive Husband, who always stands by me in these moments of neurosis "adventure into new hobbies", suggested that I round up some stuff to sell and get little new camera fund started. So I did. Some stuff has sold, some hasn't. I'll keep you posted.

Which brings me to Craigslist weirdos. When you sell stuff on Cragislist you get inquires from all sorts of folks. Just an fyi. Sometimes they seem innocent enough, or sometimes they seem odd as all get out. I think through this we've seen our share of both. My wonderful Husband has taken over the task of managing all the Craigslist stuff so I don't have to deal with the weirdos. Thank you Dear.

Oh wait, I just did write about those things.

*I honestly, would never hit anyone and I used this purely as a figure of speech. I swear.

Zeros

I'm totally diggin' Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. They sound dreamy and surreal with a bit of folk mixed in. It's pure nice.

"Alabama Arkansas I do Love my Ma and Pa
But not as much as I do Love you
Holy Moly Me oh My your the apple of my eye
Girl aint never loved one like you
Man o Man your my best friend I scream it to the nothingness
that we got everything we need
Hot and Heavy pumpkin pie
Chocolate candy Jesus Christ
Aint nothin please me more than you

Home, Let me come Home
Home is Whenever Im with you
Home, yes I am Home
Home is wherever Im with you

Lalalala Take me Home
Mama Im Coming Home

I follow you into the park, thru the jungle thru the dark
Girl aint never loved one like you
Moats and boats and Waterfalls, Alleyways and payphone calls
I been everywhere with you
Laugh until we think we'll die, barefoot on a summer night
never could be sweeter than with you

like its only you and me jade/ebes your somethin to see

Lalalala take me home
Mama Im Comin Home

Jade, you remember that night you fell outa my window?
ya you came jumpin out after me
well, you were bleedin all over the place and I covered your ass with your dress and we went off to the hospital, you remember that?
ya
well there's somethin I never told you bout that night
what didnt you tell me?
well, while you were sitting in the back seat smokin a cigarrette you thought was gonna be your last, I was fallin deep, deep in love with you, and I never told you till just now!

Home, let me come home, home is wherever Im with you
Home, yes I am Home home is whenever Im with you!

Alabama Arkansas I do love my Ma and Pa
Yes Home, yes ward! home is whenever Im with you!
Home is whenever Im with you.

2009 recap, or how I intend to spark my inner blogger with a 2010 resolution to blog at least once a week

In 2009 the following happened...

• We Marty successfully completed the first phase of our remodel. I really didn't help, but more or less pretended to so I'd feel like I contributed to it. The boys moved in to Julian's new room, (Solomon will be squatting until the rest of the remodel is complete) on Christmas Eve eve. I can only imagine how my Husband feel about this. He really accomplished a lot on his own and I think the boys are loving having a "new" room. Phase 2 will commence in 2010.
  

• Marty bought me a horse, yes, one with 4 legs and a mane and tail. I haven't had a horse since I was a teen and really, even then she wasn't mine, she belonged to my evil step-mother (and that's a whole other story), but I was allowed to ride her. You can read about the new poneh, here. So far, he hasn't killed me and I've kept him alive. I think I'm doing pretty good.

• We grew real tomatoes and onions, seriously the kind you can eat. Eat with delight and glee. They tasted delicious too! The tomato harvest was plentiful. We enjoyed them well into September and October. Even Julian ate some! I think we have it figured out and can reap the benefits again next summer. Can you say homemade salsa?
  

• We completed our first of marriage. I say this with great pride because I believe marriage to be a great achievement. It's a relationship made on great understanding, compassion, and commitment. I am proud to be Marty's wife and for him to be my husband and I look forward to many more years of marriage and the romance being gone. (Sorry honey, bad joke)
  

• I went to my first top fuel drag race. OH BOY! I can't wait to go again. After a full day of the fumes, bits of rubber flying and the noise I can safely say I survived with no injuries, except a dang sunburn, oops. I was nervous, I had heard the stories. Marty joked and teased me about it for days before. I was smart. I wore two pairs of ear plugs and it worked great.
  

• We attended Billetproof 2009 where I shot super 8 for the first time and it was a blast! It was like a two night date for Marty and I, with day time fun thrown in. We paled around the car show on saturday looking at some really amazing cars and then later that evening watched the cruse. Marty worked on the super 8 film and put this together with our footage. I'm looking forward to the day when we can attend and Marty can enter his car.
  

• Speaking of super 8, additionally, Marty and I shot a wedding in Super 8. We'd been toying with the idea of shooting a wedding here and there for practice and fun and ended up finding one locally. It was a really good learning experience for us both. The film turned out great, except for some I shot with a camera that doesn't like to focus when you zoom in. Marty spend HOURS editing and put together a really amazing piece of work. I hope we can do it again in the future.
  

• We hesitantly sent Solomon into the 7th grade. Yes folks, middle school, eeeek. He really has taken it with great stride. He is an incredibly self motivated kid, with the desire to succeed. He's creating his own persona, experimenting with style, and still managing to make honor roll. All I can say is if middle school was this easy of a transition for him, high school will be a breeze.
  

• We ushered Julian into double digits. That's right folks, Julian turned 10. Egads. He's really developing into such a little smarty. Recently his wit and humor have sharpened and he can almost keep up with his older brothers. He loves food and is quite adventuresome with it. Which for me is a dream. I think because I know one of the kids will be willing to stop out of the "normal" food box I can try new things with less hesitation.
  

• We watched Reuben become a SENIOR. *faints* Yes, we have a senior in high school who is gonna graduate and all that stuff. I mean, sheesh. It's the first time I've ever ordered a cap and gown. I never got one, so it was pretty momentous. He's really risen to the occasion. He has a plan, knows what he wants at this point in time, and he's sticking to it.
  

• Reuben began his University of DAD driving lessons and that's all I'm gonna say about that. (Cause I don't teach driving)

• We bought a "new" used car. Gaah. Really, more stuff. But with Reuben learning to drive and eventually getting his license we needed another car. And I'm spoiled.
  

In other news, this blog will be combined with this one, because let's face it, I can't even keep one blog updated so trying to keep two going is just plain nuts. Which brings us to the other part of this post. One of my new years resolutions is going to be a blog post a week. Gasp, shriek, sputter. Yeah, I know. Gotta put my big girl britches on.

The summer ends and school begins *insert groaning from crumbs*

Yes, school started last Thursday with not much commotion at all. Aside from the jitters of the first day everything ran smoothly like a well oiled machine. Reub was up and out the door to his senior year, yes folks you heard right. A SENIOR! It's hard to believe. He's grown up so much in these last few years. His wit and sarcasm are becoming more fine tuned, he has a girl friend, and shortly he will get his learner's permit. (Marty will be the driving instructor)

Sol was easy. 7th grade. Middle school. He didn't want anything to do with us. "I'll just walk, no really it's fine." And he did just that, easy peasy. It's only 3 blocks from the house, but still. This is a big year for him. No little brother at school with him, 8th graders, a locker, changing classes. He's ready though. He doesn't sweat it, just puts on his "cool" face and viola. He's good to go.

Woody had some apprehension, but we washed it away be meeting his teacher the day before school started. Then it was like old news, "oh yeah, I've been there a thousand times." Marty and I were able to walk him into class though, but then it was time to hit the playground. None of this waitin' around! He's really come so far... as Marty and I walked across the playground to leave we only looked back once and he wasn't looking at us. It was sad because he's growing up, but it felt good too, because he was brave and wanted to be there.

There is really something to be said for routine, I myself, function much better when the routine is in place. And we are getting back into that routine and it feels good. As much as I'll miss summer, I welcome fall.