bippity boppity boo

35mm

I've decided to post a few choice photographs from my childhood.

It all started with my dad's hairy leg and split 80's bathrobe.
Not really (cracking up at this photo! what in the world? what am I so confused about?).

Let me begin again.
It all began with a pink onesie.



From there, my love of eating (and sneaking bites when I thought no one was looking) began. Other than looking like a child of Spock, I'm loving my haircut & t-shirt here.



Once a cheesy smile, always a cheesy smile. (That's Ryan & Heather next to me.) And I want to know what's up with all of our mis-shapen diapers?



This one's my favorite. Just crazy! And I'm pretty sure I've had the same haircut since I was two.



Ryan would kill me if he know I posted a pic of him wearing a diaper on his head.

Gentry

This fellow's style is perfection.



I saw this photo today (compliments of you know who) and just can't get enough of it. I keep going back. So many flawless details.

#1, his haircut is just great. It sits atop his brow like a soldiers cap. Off duty, but ready for action.

#2, his jeans. The wash. The rips and holes. The mini cuff. The lengh.

#3, nice hands; enough said there.

#4, the t. Clean. Cuffs!

#5, his stance; even though he's not standing, he's at ease. It's like he was taken by suprise, but at the same time doesn't give a rats tail that his photo is being taken.

#6, he prefers a bike. That's just the cherry on top, isn't it?

I just love his look so much. But why? Mm, probably because it looks like he's not trying. That's key. In fact, that's HUGE. The most important. You lose it all when you try too hard. Effortless, but hits the mark.

Then (just now) I realized he's idential to my late favorite uncle, Gentry. Looks just like him! Tragically, my uncle died in a motorcycle accident when he was 30. But what I remember of him is beautiful!

He was my mom's only full brother, 2 years younger than her. He'd visit occasionally, and when he did, I preferred to ride on his back like he was a wild donkey. I was that little. I remember he'd light up a room when he walked in. He was tall and lanky, sensitive but hilarious, and would play harmonica on demand. When he was there, the volatile home I lived in was at peace.

Here he is.


(on the back of this photo, he says: "65 lb backpack with guitar, flute - small box behind my head - crawfish trap. Note: the fish hanging I caught him the first morning." hahaaaa. How can you not love him?!)



It's funny how you can miss someone you hardly knew, and even less remembered. But he is one of my only wonderful memories from when I was that age, and so I treasure those memories!

Fabrics make me so happy.

Gifts

I'd prefer to keep this simple and short.

WHY, oh why, do I strive for a thing which cannot be gotten by way of desire, hope, daydreaming or tears?

THING. Meaning: a confidant stance before the living God.

That thing, that promise, is a gift given to those who believe. If I believe it, that gift allows me to stand blameless and perfect before Him, to find my purpose in Him, and to find my end in Him.

And on that weighty thought, I'll end this post and go to bed.

I like these.

Tom's Shoes. White with brown trim. No laces. Love.

Thought.

God doesn't respond to our need, He responds to our faith.

Just a few...

...of my favorite photos from The Sartorialist.

I would be honored to wear them all.

Fry Boots? Yes! Please!

Ten Thousand, my new favorite song, at least for now, by John Mark McMillan

Ten thousand glimmering like coals in our chest
Ball bearings drawn to the magnetic breath
Of ten thousand weeping with wings on their tears
Amidst ten thousand voices for ten thousand years
For ten thousand graves yawning unlocked and unlatched
Now ten thousand holes with rocks on their backs
Ten thousand tombs gaping wide singing the praise
Of ten thousand bodies unlaced and unlaid

As the ten thousand highways unfold their doors
For the ten thousand standing on Nineveh's shores
Where the blood of a husband silences wars
For the girl who rises to meet him
And she sings

World, I've overcome you
World, I've overcome you
World, I've overcome
By my song and the blood of a Son

Ten thousand rivers run red like my veins
Where the bones of men hum like a rattling cage
For sinew to cling to, for wind to remain
In ten thousand lungs for ten thousand days
Breathing like a choir of holes in the ground
Where the cynical have lain, where the cynical go down
Save the gravity of time, lets go of her drowned
Like ten thousand sparrows unlocked and unwound

As the ten thousand highways unfold their doors
For the ten thousand standing on Nineveh's shores
Where the blood of a husband silences wars
For the girl who rises to meet him
And she sings

World, I've overcome you
World, I've overcome you
World, I've overcome
By my song and the blood of a Son

I took some pictures today.

Gee-tar

My grandad gave me this guitar.
I have constantly sore, peeling, hopefully caloused fingertips.
Love to jam loud when nobody's home.
Shy when using a pick.
Love my instructor, Vinnie.
Want to kick butt at fingering, because it's so beautiful.
The goal: to write amazing songs, starting with one for my mom.
Secondary goal: coom bi ya around a campfire.

I left my heart in Sunnyville.

This last weekend, I went to Pasco to visit my Uncle Gordy and Aunt Helen. They pretty much rock.

Me & Uncle


Too hot at 10am


Anyways, my time with them was wonderful, but the drive back home was so fun. I just love long drives with no time line...where I can pray, sing as loud as I want and stop and take pictures at any point...which is exactly what I did.

I took the Sunnyville exit and had to stop when I saw the cows and wheat fields.







Did you know if you eat the wheat kernels, and keep chewing, it turns into gum? True story.

Ok. So then I went on a cherry hunt. I swear I followed those "fresh cherries" signs for 5 miles until I pulled down a long, dusty driveway...which led me to...

Lisha


Alberto


...and of course, Cookie & Peewee


Lisha was so cute. She was making them pose for the camera.


I seriously loved this little girl. Her & Alberto took me on a tour of the farm and my heart just melted.


I ended up with 10 lbs of cherries too. :)

Then I took the Zillah exit and went wine tasting at this place called Agate Field Winery. Agates are rampant out there. Who knew?




Antique/Fresh Fruit Shop



I-90 was a mess on the way back through the Cascades. I was getting antsy at this point, which meant I started singing old songs from 6th grade concerts. Example: The Lion Sleeps Tonight. The perfect song to sing because you can make up your own hilarious lyrics really easily. "the lion flies a kite" or "the lion gets in a fight" or "your mother likes to fly". Whatever. It passes the time.


I have a new appreciation for Eastern Washington. It's not the coolest place if all you do is stay on the freeway... but if you get off the main road, you might meet some cool chihuahuas or even better, Lisha & Alberto.

Sea + Friends + Family

To-See List

This weekend, I have a list of to-do's, or rather, to-see's. There are some special people in my life I must make time for, and want to make time for. My schedule doesn't always allow for it, especially since I have to make a trip to see them.

1. Shannon C.

Shannon's my oldest friend - from 1st grade. I remember seeing her at school, with her cool paint-splatter t-shirt and freckled face. One day I was playing in my front yard, and she pulled around in the driveway in a old blue ford that her dad drove. We smiled and waved and I knew from that moment on, we would be good friends. She stayed my friend even after one of our cows kicked her in her face and knocked her front teeth out. Gotta love the friends who stick with you through the thick and thin. I've probably laughed more with Shannon than all my other friends combined!

I had the privilege to be a bridesmaid in her wedding to Craig about 6 years ago. Since then, Craig has lived with Lou Gherig's disease (ALS) for about a year. He's not been given much more time to live, and it's heartbreaking to see his condition worsen and their lives dramatically change. It's times like these I wish I lived 5 minutes away. I would want to make them meals, try my best to make them laugh, or just listen. I pray for them and I want to see Craig back to his old self.

2. Jenny A.

Jenny, Jenny, Jenny. I met her in 5th grade, at church, I think. She was crazy. And I loved being with her. My wildest stories as a kid must all link back to her somehow. She was Anne and I was Diana. She's the friend I learned to dream with. We were always dreaming about the Thelma & Louise style cross-country road trip we'd take the moment we graduated from high school. We knew exactly what kind of men we'd marry, and that we both wanted long tree-lined driveways to our picture perfect homes. I've seen five of her dreams come true: Roger, Abby, Emily, Lily and Matthew.

So this weekend, I'll go stay at Jenny's. My heart has missed her!

3. John Charles

What to say, what to say...this one's a doozy.

I'm officially making the drive down south because of him. Because of Father's Day, and he's my father. I haven't seen him in years. He's a hard man to keep track of. But there's no dad like him. When he laughs, I die laughing - it's contagious, I can't help it. His eyes and smile stand out from his tanned, leathery face. He's been a logger for over 30 years, so he's tough and lean. He has a brokenness about him that makes me want to cry forever when I see it in his face. I want my dad to be whole and new again. I had a dream once that he was at church with me, and he was wearing a classy fedora, and his skin was a smooth as a child's.

So I'm going to try and hunt him down tomorrow, and if I don't find him, I'll go to....

4. the Pacific Ocean

I need the sea. I need the wind and the cold, salty air. I need the sand in my toes. I need to go on a looooooong walk and talk with God.

This will move you.

Days with my Father

When the sun seems so far away....

I wish I were at The Parker.


I'd walk through those big orange doors...


Through the lobby...


And have a nice cool drink at Norma's. Then I would most definately take a nap in the shade.



After that, I'd probably go on a walk through the grounds...





I'd have dinner and dessert...



And sleep sound until the next morning when I do it all over again...

Death by Laughter

Go here NOW.

Consensus of the Masses

Last night in a conversation with a friend (who will remain nameless, I will call her J.S.), the question came up:

To a true buttrocker, is "buttrock" a derogatory term?

(And since then, I've wondered if it's one word or two? I'll address this shortly.)

So, I thought I would text the question to the masses (or certain choice friends with wit), to see what they thought. Their names will be shortened to protect the innocent.

T.A: It should be. :-) Who is educating you on buttrock? Buttrock is gross! AC/DC is like the poster boys of buttrock. I hate buttrock!!

O.D: Never. I can hear White Snake in the distance.

L.B: What the?!? In what context, you crack head?

K.Y: I don't think so. What exactly is buttrock anyway? Glam metal? Hmm.

Still no answers, just some funny responses. So thanks to urbandictionary.com, this is what I found out:

"Fashion items include, but aren't limited to, tight spandex (with or without leopard print), colored boas, leg warmers (over the pants), really tight leather jackets with studs in them, denim galore,etc. Hair was generally teased up with an insane amount of hairspray, known as the metal afro. Members wore copious amounts of makeup lending to a very sassy look.....One good way to tell if a band is "Butt Rock" is if during their music video, the drummer blows a kiss to the screen while drumming...One would argue that these labels could be deemed negative or a positive, depending on your like or dislike of this particular style of music."

So...my question never really got answered. But I did find out that the proper way to write it is Butt Rock - two words. Good to know for future reference.

If you're interested in what reformed family-man butt rocker's look like, see an old post from December 28, 2005.

Twinkle Tree

I don't know about anyone else, but I like trees with twinkles in them.

"I wish I could sit on the moon."
- Ieuan Price-Davies, 5, London, UK

Hurricane Ike

Check out these amazing photos of what happened when Hurricane Ike came through.

Thought of the day.

I like white, and I'm proud of it.