Bears, Beets, Battlestar Galactica

Joe and I are making our way through each season of Battlestar Galactica right now. I can't say how surprised I am that I actually liked this show. Joe has raved about this show since I met him and I wrote it off because it was a scifi show....scifi couldn't be that good.

Well...it is.

For those of you who haven't seen it let me tell you a little about the storyline....

Humans created a robot race called Cylons to be the little worker bees (similar to iRobot) who got wise to that fact and decided to kill all the humans - which led to a great big war. Humans and Cylons separated completely for 40 years of peace until a surprise attack by Cylons who know can look just like humans. The Battlestar Galactica survived because of it's ancient technology (phones with cords and actual paper) which was WAY to old for Cylons to even understand.  

The craziest part of the show is the theology. The humans worship the gods of Mt. Olympus (Zeus, Artemis, Apollo...ect.) and the Cylons worship the one true god.

Don't worry people, there are no conventions in my future....yet! ;)

Sunshine and new rings.

There has been sunshine in Monterey for three days!

I know that many people think that all of california looks like L.A. or Malibu but the majority of us are not dumb-fake-tan-highschool-drop-outs and the weather in't "bikini weather". No, up in the Central Coast we actually have to work for our money and wear long sleeves while doing it.

So it is with great satisfaction that I came to work in sleeve-less shirts and bared my Irish-white skin to soak up a year's supply of Vitamin D in one week.

As any good Monterey resident would do, I made an appearance at the Farmer's Market on Alvarado St. Here are a few things I love about Monterey Farmer's Market:

1. The languages you hear spoken.

2. The live music. 

3. The fresh fruit samples. 

4. The wonderful tellers at the bank.

5. The smell of the BBQ stand. 

6. Running into absolutely everyone.

7. The tasty meal made with "market food".

8. Running to get the eggs before they are sold out.

This week was especially fun because I bought a really cute aqua-marine colored crystal right. I know that it was overpriced but it is so pretty and what is spending money for if you don't SPEND it!?

One Whole Year!

In two days Joe and I get to celebrate our FIRST wedding anniversary! Here's a glance back at our first year.

July 2009 - Signed the lease on our first apartment!

August 15, 2009 - Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Smith

September 2009 - Adopted Tyler. Here he is ready to handle Monterey cold!

January 2010 - Down in Big Sur

June 2010 - Trip to the Midwest to see family!

Cheater Cheater

Today I challenged Tyler to a fight - so I took off my cute gold sandals - and glared at him; daring him to make the first move. He jabbed to the left - I dodged to the right. He followed but it was a fake and I had him chasing me all around! 

He never stood a chance and turned tail in defeat. But wait! He was headed right to my cute gold sandals! No! This can't happen! How does he know my only weakness? I watched in horror as he picked up my sandal and carried it around the room. 

He had what I wanted in the grip of his mighty fangs! How can I save them? Every possible scenario ran through my mind. Nothing. I admitted defeat and he politely dropped the sandal. 

I walked away with the gold - but he was the true and generous winner. 

The Big Week

A lot is going on this week.

Joe is speaking at church this Sunday.
I am doing two kids services and then setting up for the other two this Sunday.
We are preparing to fly to Indiana this Sunday on a red eye.

While each of those things is bringing our life stress right now they are all good things....

Joe doesn't naturally say, "I want to talk to 600 people this week"...(who does?) but he is prepared and will do great! I'm sure that God will speak through him to the congregation and it will go well.

I am so glad to have all of the young ones I do in my classes! With out them I wouldn't have a purpose at our church or a place to call my own. They often end up teaching me more than I feel I teach them. I get to sit in an office decorated with precious pictures, crafts and mementos from their little hearts!

We miss our families! If that means Joe has to get on a plane and I have to spend a week getting my lists in order, doing laundry, cleaning out the fridge, and leaving my Tyler that's what it takes. The plane will arrive safe, I'll try my hardest not to forget anything, the laundry is done, the fridge will wait, and Kathryn and Tyler will have fun together while we are gone.

I am looking on the bright side!

The Biggest Typo Of My Life

typographical error

–noun

an error in printed or typewritten matter resulting from striking the improper key of a keyboard, from mechanical failure, or the like.

 

 

That is what happened to me today. I was talking with friends on a Facebook thread about the oddity of a possible VH1 Remember The Teens Decade Special. My last reply was long and, ironically, I re-wrote it several times to make sure it said what I wanted it to say. Well...it didn't. Pretty much I ended up announcing to the vast realm of Facebook that Joe and I were pregnant. Which is not true. Agh...this has been a long day.

  

The Grunion are Running

Crazy things are happening in Monterey!

Every night Joe and I look out the window and see the squid fishermen on the bay. I tried to find a picture to post but nothing that did the sight justice. They fish at night and shine lights into the water (this is all hearsay so don't quote me) to catch the squid. Imagine stars on the water...it's like that. Each night we open the blinds there are a few more added to their number.

Today at our youth leader meeting we spent an hour talking about one of our leader's job. He works in a prison and told us all kinds of stories about what an inmate's life is like. I am laughing as I write this...but I caution you: the following material is of a graphic nature.

 There is a heavy population of a particular gang in this prison. Somehow the gang continually smuggled contraband into the prison without the guards' knowledge. Can you guess how they were doing it? Yep...they were smuggling things up there bums!

Apparently the way it works is someone in prison calls a buddy on the outside with a grocery list. A low-ranking gang member will then be the mule and get the items in by being arrested for...say...public drunkenness (I'd want to be drunk too if that was my job).  Once he is on the inside the items are...delivered.

These 'items' are a variety of things, I'm sure. What I'm wondering is how are they not ashamed of using, smoking, ingesting things that were once up someone's butt? Our friend says that he once smelled marijuana around some prisoners. "Are you smoking butt-weed," he asked them. So shameful!

On the home front I am itching to get my sewing machine from my parents' house this summer. There is so much sewing to be done in this house! Not to mention all the sewing that needs done for the Egypt themed Vacation Bible School this summer!

 Alright y'all - Office time!










 

Tyler - He's our baby.

Two weeks ago I took Tyler to the dog park while Joe practiced his drums. I usually meet really nice people at the dog park. That day I sat on the bench with the other "parents" talking about how old our dogs are, if they know how to raise their legs yet (Tyler tries and falls over), and what our dogs' favorite chew toys are. Another man joins our group with two beautiful Malemutes. The larger of the two is a male. "Dad" holds him close on the leash as the other dogs begin to sniff and greet.
"Is he friendly," I ask. As soon as the words leave my mouth the dog is unleashed and runs at Tyler. He snarled as he lunged at my baby! Tyler yelped so loud it sounded like a child crying. When I finally grabbed Tyler out of the reach of that horrible dog I saw blood and panicked! It wasn't as bad as I assumed but the dog bit a hole in Ty's ear!

The poor guy was so nervous around the other dogs after that so I took him to see Joe. The other owner didn't even seem to care. When I brought Joe back to speak with him he didn't even stand up from the bench and hardly apologized. 

He is doing much better now and has even been back to the dog park a few times.

Revelations

I love my family.

Psalm 39:4-7a

"Show me, O LORD, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life. You have made my days a mere hand breadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man's life is but a breath. *Selah* Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro: He bustles about, but only in vain; he heaps  up wealth, not knowing who will get it. But now, Lord, what do I look for?"

I read this passage tonight and could totally identify with David. It is sad to think that we aren't meant for a life apart from God and living here on earth is frustrating sometimes. Just as it sounds like David has lost hope in the world he says...

Psalm 39:7b-12

"My hope is in you. Save me from all my transgressions; do not make me the scorn of fools. I was silent; I would not open my mouth, for you are the one who has done this....Hear my prayer, O LORD, listen to my cry for help; be not deaf to my weeping. For I dwell with you as an alien, a stranger, as all my fathers were."

We have hope in Him. The One who created us. 

Do you ever think about what your life would look like if you didn't care about what other people thought? What about if you didn't give into or let fear influence you? What then? I'd bet it would look very different. 

Estate Sales and Tyler Baths

Saturday morning I got together with two friends for coffee. It was so refreshing from my usual Saturday routine of sleeping late, cleaning my house, and doing our laundry. On my way home from coffee I saw a sign that changed my whole weekend...

ESTATE SALE

...My friend Ashley blames her car for driving her to the mall and now I know what that is like. Before I knew it I parked in front of a shabby old house full of possibilities. Rusty tools and fishing gear were scattered around the driveway...not promising...and the garage was filled with cheap old Christmas Decorations.

The real treasures were inside the living room...tea cups, carnival glass, lace table cloths, a beautiful stained glass lamp, and tables full of jewelry. I suddenly realized how much I loved stopping at garage sales, estate sales, and antique malls. I had my eye on the carnival glass and the lamp but they were a little too pricey. Instead, I bought some jewelry and some tea cups.

After the little old lady in the garage took my money she said, "If you come back tomorrow everything will be half price."

What! After I just bought all this stuff? Now you tell me?

I went back the next day and bought the lamp.

~

January was two months ago. January was the last time Joe and I gave Tyler a bath. He hasn't been to the beach or anywhere he could get too dirty but it was time.

Now he is clean and sitting happily on my chair. My house smells good again!

"I'm never washing this hand!"

Last Sunday was the Jeremy Camp concert and part of his show was a meet and greet with some fans from the front row. He impressed me so much by how he talked to all of the people and made everyone feel important, all while battling a nasty cold.

When he reached our group he gave a little girl a high-five before signing her poster. She turned to her mom, all smiles, and said,"I'm never washing my hand!"

Jeremy looked up and said, "I've have a cold, you might want to wash it for her."

The show was great and he and his band were a delight to have. The best part of the night was that I didn't have to stay until 2am vacuuming!

Drums, Girl Scout Cookies, and Rain

What has our life been all about lately?

Drums Girl Scout Cookies Rain

Three things which normally have nothing to do with each other except now.

Joe is working on buying his dream kit. I really hope this all works out for him because it would be a great deal on a custom kit we normally wouldn't be able to afford. We'll see...

I ordered ten boxes of Girl Scout cookies months ago and they finally arrived yesterday! Wooohoo!

The rain has been pouring down for days. Tyler hasn't gotten good exercise because he is afraid of the rain. I spilled my smoothie all over the place while trying to hold onto my umbrella.

All in all drums are good (when they aren't in my house), cookies are good (when they are in my house), and rain is good (when it's not in my hair). Three good things. Life is good.

Zingers

Oh Me Oh My!

It has been too long since I posted on this blog. I am going to try to do the blog a few times a week from now on. 

Have you ever wanted to be able to speak your mind at the exact moment it should be spoken? I have always been able to think of good comebacks after the moment has passed. Well, I landed a real zinger last week. 

It was Monday and Joe and I took Tyler for a walk past Lover's Point towards Asilomar. The sun was out, bees were buzzing and there were a couple of otters playing just off shore. On our way back when we reached the sidewalk at Lover's Point on our way back to the car a man and a woman walked past us. He turned around and hollered at me(because I was walking Tyler), "Can't you see the sign? No dogs in the park!"

I hollered back, with just a hint of sarcasm, "Thanks for letting me know, since I was only on the sidewalk!"

I did it. I hit my target with a real zinger. My chest puffed up. I walked tall knowing someone tried to knock me down and I got them instead!

But with each step I took the heat of the moment cooled into doubt and the urge to run back and apologize almost froze me in my tracks. 

I hadn't won anything when I got back at that man. I had given in to one of life's "little foxes". The sneaky little temptations the enemy throws in front of my cross-hairs. Instead of catching that zinger and killing it with grace and forgiveness I recharged it with anger and hatred before I threw it back. It is probably still out there somewhere, bouncing from person to person leaving hurt angry people in it's wake. I was a part of that. 

Christmas with the Smiths

Joe's mom, dad and sis - Emily - are finally here! They arrived on Thursday and we celebrated Christmas with them this morning. Joe got a new Northface fleece and I got all the long socks and footie jamas I wanted!

Thursday night I started feeling sick though and had to deal with a fever an all that on Friday. I got all doped up with pain meds and went with everyone to the beach but I couldn't even eat lunch and passed out right when we got home.

Today I am feeling a bit better and we are going to drive around Big Sur for a while. I don't want them to leave. I wish that my family could come out here too.

I'm a millionaire!

Did you know that investing $100 a month for 40 years at a 12% interest rate will result in $1,176,000!

I could be a millionaire by the time I am 61!

So can you tell I started my Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University? All I have to say after that first lesson is, WHOLLY CRAP! *pardon my french*

In other news...Joe has been growing his beard for a few months and tonight decided to shave it off. The only thing is that he left a creepy 'stache!

Vacation!

Joe and I found out we had Monday and Tuesday off this week so we drove down to Pismo Beach!

Yesterday we woke up to the sound of waves just below our window. We walked from our hotel, down the beach, to the Splash Cafe...home of the AMAZING clam chowder bread bowl.

Pismo is pretty small and all of the shops are just like the touristy ones on Cannery Row. The only shop we really liked was a pet store filled with the cutest puppies! I wanted to take them all home.

There are all kinds of caves in the rocks below our hotel and we explored them until the tide pushed us out.

Over all it's been a great trip. Joe's favorite part is our free upgrade to an ocean view room.

Tyler is a Cat!

Over the past two weeks we have found out that Tyler is afraid of a LOT of things...

glass or automatic doors
water
crossses (no joke)
Joe's electric razor
loud crowds
men dressed in black
motorcycles
trucks

And that is just to name a few. He is the bigest 'fraidy-cat I have ever seen.

Sick as a dog!

Poor Tyler has a cough, runny nose, and had a fever...sound familiar? I had no idea that dogs could get a cold. He is going to see the vet tomorrow but for right now he has just been giving his parents a scare.

Our First Post!

I'm at home with my little guard puppy looking out at the beautiful bay watching Kathy Griffith make fun of Michael Jackson.

Joe and I worked all day and night yesterday for the 10th Ave. North concert which went off without a hitch...well, maybe there was one or two small ones but they were very small. I was so proud of Joe, he and the band played so well! If there was anything I'd change about their set I would have made it longer!

Yesterday and today have been in the 80's and poor Tyler has had no energy to play. He is a wimp with the weather and a wimp with doors (don't ask me why). He comes with us to work sometimes and runs like a greyhound through the office.

Not much else is new around here. Joe is hard at work at the Theater tonight so I get to watch all kinds of TLC shows that he doesn't like!