Radio Silence

A piece by James Sansing, installed in the
SF Airport as part of the Recology Exhibit

It has been very silent on this site for quiet some time now.  I have been struggling a bit with the idea of this blog, maybe been put on a bit of a self imposed strike for some months now.  Questioning my purpose, my identity, my cause in terms of this blog.  While I read and enjoy many other blogs, some daily, do I too want to be out there for just anyone to find?  Who is this blog for?  Myself yes, but who else?  Do I restrict it for just my family and a few friends?  Do I leave it open for perfect and complete strangers to find and follow along?  Do I want to grow the blog and leave it open or close it off to only those who I give permission?  What is the reason?  Why should I do this?  What do I want?

As the months have gone along with no posts to speak of I have thought of this little space often, and have missed it.  It has been a place to mark down memories.  Something to look back on to remember a trip, a visit, a milestone in life.  There have been many memories in the past almost year since my last post - birthday celebrations, a very important graduation (go Chris), a new job, a 9th anniversary, weekend getaways, and more.  I have found that by not marking them down in this virtual space, some of the details have been blurred or faded away.  Looking through the pages here has been a trigger for remembering times past, people seen, places shared.  

So - as for the identity of this place.  I am definitely not a 'blogger', not a writer, not someone to lead the trends.  This will not be a space for fashion shoots or product reviews.  There will be no sponsored posts or ads on these pages.  I will do my best to jot down the genuineness of my experiences to memory and try not to allow concerns for others to sway my words.  If you follow along you will likely find some differences here, some edited posts and deleted pictures.  I will document for myself yet protect the privacy of others who are unaware.  This blog will be a space for me, and for mine, and as for the perfect and complete strangers - if they stumble into this space - they are welcomed for now.

A Week Ago Today

We watched two great friends get married in Hawaii. What a joyful day. Thanks for having us there N&D.

Aloha

Locks of Love

Finally! I did it - 10 inches to Locks of Love! What a great souvenir of Hawaii.

Morning

I've been thinking 'how can we move here?' a lot since landing.

Here

Aloha Hawaii! We've landed, found our way to our awesome condo, and snorkeled already. We have a watched a very orange sunset and enjoyed warm evening breeze. I could get used to this!

Aloha

Off to Hawaii!

Motivation

The girls at the Cabin

Earlier this year I talked about completing a sprint distance triathlon.  Moving and a lack of motivation and training derailed that a bit - but I still hosted a triathlon weekend in May at the Bass Lake cabin for a couple of my girlfriends for their first triathlon and ran the 5K sister race.  I was a bit disappointed that I didn't accomplish my goal, but, it was a good reality check.  

How does one go from a run or two a week to a triathlon in a couple of months?  Especially when one is totally freaked out by the idea of riding a bike anywhere with even the remote chance of sharing the route with a car?  Conclusion - triathlons, while I am amazed by my husband and friends that even dare to cross the starting line - are just not for me.  

So what is for me?  Sticking to a normal exercise schedule - instead of 3 months on 6 months off - would be a good start.  The 5K I ran that weekend was faster than my first ever 5K, and with only a couple of runs as training in the month before hand, I was actually kind of pleased.  I also loved seeing my two girlfriends transition from their swim to their bikes, waving and screaming like mad to motivate them on their out and back run, and toasting their first triathlon with Gatorade mimosas on the dock.  

Since then?  I've started slowly with more walking and some exercise classes.  In the past few weeks I've increased my frequency and am feeling stronger with more Dailey Method Classes, walking, hiking, and yoga.  Up next, adding in my running again and looking towards more 5 & 10K races as goals.  

Triathlons?  Still not for me.

Missing in Action

Home Sweet Home

We did move, and have been swept up in settling in and getting our bearings for the past few months.  Dusty is with us and we are learning the new balance of our lives.  We have been busy, working and schooling, and learning a new town.  We've had family visits, two with my mom, one with my grandmother and father, and several visits with Chris's family in SLO.  We've been planning an upcoming trip to Hawaii and have spent two wonderful weekends at the lake.  I suppose I have been on strike with this space while I've been adjusting.  I'll try to catch you up on the highlights with a few posts to come, but plan to post on some of my new favorite things, current reads, and treats as well.  Until then.

Knock on Wood

Dusty hopped in the car trunk a couple of years ago, I think he might like our news!

Well, we went to see the duplex.  It was lovely.  Two bedrooms, wood floors, great windows and light, a garage/work shop for Chris, a laundry room with extra storage, a separate dining room and living room, and the owners allow dogs.  The neighbors are a German tech couple - really friendly and nice.  The place ticked off all our wants, except no dishwasher, and the location and price were way too good to pass up.  Luckily the landlords are very picky and they liked us!  
So.... it's ours.  We'll be meeting to sign the lease next weekend and moving in over the next month.  Can't wait to have dusty come live with us finally - Mountain View here we come!

Hunting

Chris started the apt/house hunt again - I randomly got craigslist posts e-mailed to me by him earlier this week.  We talked and I agreed that we do need to move for Chris to have some work space for school projects and his new radio repair shop.  We have been off and on hunting for the past three years and each time I have obsessed over craigslist, gotten way too emotional, and then given up in disappointment.  Chris and I made a deal earlier this week, I requested that I be banned from craigslist and any other real-easate rental sites - but that I would happily go look at his finds.  It's worked pretty well this week, except for my stress out tonight over dinner - bless my patient, caring husband.  We have a dog friendly duplex to look at on Saturday - wish us luck (and me sanity).  

9 Years

9 years ago tonight I was getting ready to go to my roommates birthday party in SF.  I must have known something big would happen that night because I just couldn't choose between two outfits - I switched back and forth about 20x before deciding.  I walked into the restaurant, sat down at the opposite end of the table as Chris, and my life changed forever.  He is my sweetheart, my soul mate, my best friend.  I love you Chris!  

Cloudy

The clouds and rain made me want to head home and curl under the blankets, but luckily I brought my gym bag to work, changed at work and headed to the gym for a great spin class.  Triathlon training starts next Monday.  Happy Leap Day everyone!

Bliss

Sometimes bliss is coming home to a clean kitchen, running out to stock your fridge, then sitting down with your feet up to the sound of a running dishwasher.

You're Home?!

Got home from work and Chris was already home.  This almost never happens and it was so great to see him before the normal 7:30 - 10 pm arrival time.  We are waiting for dinner to bake in the oven and are about to start a streaming Netflix show (Love).  We are both totally whipped from yesterday so are likely going to bed early - can't wait.  

Oscar

The 84th Academy Awards

We met friends B&C for dinner and the Oscars on our way home last night.  It was so fun to watch the arrivals with all the dresses, the clips of the movies (none of which I've seen... eek), and compare opinions and place bets on winners.  Thanks B&C for a great night.

Lazy Saturday

Looking up at the palms

We made it to SLO safe and sound and slept in today.  Had a late breakfast then went out for coffee at our traditional SLO coffee house with Chris's dad.  Sitting outside on the patio with my coffee I looked up at the palm trees above me, felt the breeze, and listened to Chris and his dad talk electronics and had this amazing moment of absolute and pure bliss.  Life really is good.

SLO Bound

Headed south for the weekend.

Yum

Mmm... dinner

A long day deserves a good dinner.  We are still on the low carb lifestyle change (1+ year) so I made a lasagna with eggplant instead of pasta.  I used to hate eggplant until I learned how to prepare it. Simply peel, slice, salt the h**l out of it in a colander in the kitchen sink for 30 min, rinse, blot dry, then oil and roast in a 400 degree oven for 15-20 min.  Then assemble your normal lasagna with the eggplant instead of noodles and bake.  A little labor intensive and messy - but delicious.  

Ugh! Dishes! (But so worth it)

Potential for Disaster

This cosy indigo sweatshirt was waiting on my doorstep when I got home.

There was potential for disaster today with little sleep, a late wake up, and the timer on the coffee pot failing to brew this morning - but somehow everything else went super once I got out the door. A boring work meeting was cancelled, I escaped to a fresh hot lunch with friends, snuck in some fruit and frozen yogurt for dessert, had some breakthroughs with my students, and had a package waiting on the doorstep when I got home.  Crisis averted.

Addiction

Yarn shopping spree... Yikes!  At least most of it was on sale.

Todays text message conversation with Chris:
me: 'Ok - um, so...'
me: [sent copy of picture above] 'I may have gone a bit crazy...'
Chris: 'The first step is acceptance...'[!]