Say Something Nice!

We need to do something like this in Kirkland. :) It totally made me smile.

[Except I'm trying really hard to ignore how many germs are on that thing.]

In 3 weeks it will all be over...

"What will be over?" you ask.

This will be over:

I'm going to Michigan with Jeff to meet his family. Wooooooooooooo!

I pray to the good, kind, gentle, accommodating and sweet Lord of Hosts that I don't make a complete fool of myself. 

But seriously, I'm really excited. Excited, as in, I have no idea what to expect, but I'm looking forward to seeing that side of Jeff's life. His dad is in town this week so we've just met, so I have sort of a preview of what our trip to Michigan will be like. He's the most warm, genuine man with the greatest laugh. We had dinner at Milagro a few nights ago, and at one point we were all weeping from laughter. Personally, I think if you can laugh with someone that hard that you just met, that's a good sign.

Now if I can avoid long, awkward prayers at the dinner table, pool volleyball and admission to milking my cats teats (which I've never done), I'm good to go.

Our trip to Michigan will actually be Part II of our adventure out East. Part I is Georgia, and Jeff is coming! Yeeee! $%&@#!!! Can you sense my excitement? First ever vacay with my man!!

Lord, have mercy.

Your Song, My Song, His Song, Her Song

Fave BAND! Great SONG! New VID! Awesome BEARD!

Also check out Rivers & Roads. Gorgeous location and killer acoustics.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Jeff and I tried watching the Perseids meteor shower this weekend, but were so bummed at the clouds covering up the show!

I hope you had better luck than us!

(photo found here)

P.S. Jeff's new form of entertainment is asking me to whistle "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"...because I stink at whistling! Then he makes me laugh, and really can't do it. I sound like a dying tea kettle.

Blue Ridge, Georgia

In just a few weeks I'm going to visit my Granddad and his wife Chris in Blue Ridge, Georgia. It's been about 8 years since we've spent face-to-face time together. I'm looking forward to seeing what his life in the eastern hills is like. They live on a huge piece of land down in a valley, in a big house with lots of rooms. They have horses and motorcycles and gardens. I can't wait! I want to pick apples, drink sweet tea, sit on the front porch and hear stories about his life. HE, on the other hand, is hoping I'll go river rafting on one of the Level 5 rivers near his house. Sorry Granddad, but I don't want to die.

[photo of the Blue Ridge Mtns. found on this sweet blog]

In his younger years, when he was in the Navy, he was the most handsome man I've seen in photographs. Then years later, he wore his hair long with tiny glasses and leather and rode Harley's all over the U.S., and looked just like Jerry Garcia. Still handsome, in a different way. Now he's 72 and his hair is short and I want as much time as possible with him.

I don't have very many family members who are active in my life. I wish I did. Family to me is like the missing link, the thing that helps me make sense of who I am, why I am, etc. When I have a family someday, I want my kids to have a sense of belonging, of knowing who they are, whose they are, and why they are. I want that sense of legacy to start now, with my family, my Grandad, and this trip.

I hope he's prepared to answer all the questions I have for him. I want to know about our Cherokee relatives, and how connected he is to them. I want to ask him about my Grandma, the one I've never met, what he remembers about her, and if her hair was really as platinum blonde as the black & white photo I have of her makes it look. I'm going to ask him why he left Southern California and Warner Brothers and moved across the country to start a new life. I want to know what it was like when my mom got back in touch with him after almost 15 years of silence. And I want to know what it was like for him to say yes to Jesus Christ, just a few months back. And just ask him what it's like to be him.

I might be able to dig these things out of him, and I might not. Either way, I pray it's a sweet time with him and Chris. I'm just happy I get to be with him.

Waves & Sand

This song is ok, but I like the video because it reminds me to not get so old and responsible that I lose the wonder I had as a kid, where every step into my yard became an adventure, where I didn't mind so much what people thought of me, and where everything had meaning.

move.learn.eat

1 trip of a lifetime

3 guys

44 days

11 countries

18 flights

38,000 miles

2 cameras

1 terabyte of footage

3 ambitious linear concepts

3 beautiful short films

Rick Mereki: director, producer, camera & editing

Tim White: DOP, producer, editing & sound

Andrew Lees: actor, mover, groover

Found here.

On a lighter note...

Every time I watch this, I weep. My body doesn't know how else to respond. Laughter is not enough.

BARTLE DOO?!!

Friday Thoughts

I like this guy (a lot).

And I like it (a lot) when we're together.

On a dock.

In the sun.

Or wherever.

He makes me smile (a lot).

And I'm so thankful I'm in his life.

Perseids

The last few years, I've gotten to watch the Perseids meteor shower pass through the skies over my house at night. Or should I say morning? I've set my alarm for 2 or 3am sometimes. Luckily, we have a pretty comfy hammock, so that helps. But it's ALWAYS worth it.

This video shows Perseids over Mt. Rainier. Incredible!

This year, the peak viewing time for Seattle is August 13th. I will be there, praying for clear skies and welcoming the wonder.