Missing Kelly

With two of my favorite people coming into town this weekend it is hard to not think about the third that has to stay behind this time. You are missed my dear.

Yep

Never Mind

by Dorothea Tanning

Never mind the pins

And needles I am on.

Let all the other instruments

Of torture have their way.

While air-conditioners

Froze my coffee

I caught the toaster

Eating my toast.

Did I press the right

Buttons on all these

Buttonless surfaces,

Daring me to press them?

Did you gasp on seeing what

The mailman just brought?

Will the fellow I saw pedalling

Across the bridge live long

After losing his left leg,

His penis, and his bike

To fearlessness?

Will his sad wife find

Consolation with the

Computer wizard called in

Last year to deal with glitches?

Did you defuse the boys’

Bomb before your house

Was under water, same

As everything else?

My sister grabbed her

Silver hand mirror

Before floating away.

The dog yelped constantly,

Tipping our canoe.

Silly dog.

My fancy grandma

A Name for All

BY HART CRANE

Moonmoth and grasshopper that flee our page
And still wing on, untarnished of the name
We pinion to your bodies to assuage
Our envy of your freedom—we must maim

Because we are usurpers, and chagrined—
And take the wing and scar it in the hand.
Names we have, even, to clap on the wind;
But we must die, as you, to understand.

I dreamed that all men dropped their names, and sang
As only they can praise, who build their days
With fin and hoof, with wing and sweetened fang
Struck free and holy in one Name always.

---------------------------------------------
My grandma is gone. It isn't completely real yet. I wear her necklace that I tell myself still smells like her. I have her picture on her built in bookshelves that she wanted back. She still surrounds me even after she has gone. "Oh precious angel, you know I love you."

Harvey

Harvey

Harvey doesn't laugh about how I stay short while everybody grows.
Harvey remembers I like jellybeans - except black.
Harvey lends me shirts I don't have to give back.
I'm scared of ghosts and only Harvey knows.

Harvey thinks I will when I say someday I will marry Margie Rose.
Harvey shares his lemonade - sip for sip.
He whispers "zip" when I forget to zip.
He swears I don't have funny-looking toes.

Harvey calls me up when I'm in bed with a sore throat and runny nose.
Harvey says I'm nice 0 but not too nice.
And if there is a train to Paradise,
I won't get on it unless Harvey goes.

-Judith Viorst

I call my best Harvey and have for years because of this poem. She is now in London and very very far away for a long time and I miss her.

The Grouch is Exasperated

Every week I check my local listings hoping for a good show. Desperately hoping for someone I enjoy to come to my town and every week I'm disappointed ... until two weeks ago. Gary Jules and Cat Power were coming. My town was going to FINALLY have someone I LOVED. and then I realized I was going to be gone. I never leave town. Ever. and I was going to be gone for Cat Power. Gary Jules was playing on a Wednesday. Making it to a mid-week concert was looking hopeful until plans fell through. So here I sit while Gary Jules plays, exasperated.

Rose Bowl 2009

RIP DFW

Anyone who knows me knows my affection, admiration and respect for this brilliant man. The fact that the world will not be graced with any more words from him grieves me to no end. David Foster Wallace, you brilliant brilliant man.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122185639587957991.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Make your own meal

My dad

Yesterday marked five years since my dad passed away. My dad loved learning, books, family, camping, movies, reading and I miss him every day.

Reasons 587 - 591 why I love living here

#587 Being close to my favorite band and my favorite people


#588 Disneyland! Club 33!


#589 New Bookstores!!


#590 Great Concerts (Coldplay)


#591 This is my view from my office

Days 2, 3 & 4 in Cali

Bubble Gum Ice Cream ... mmmmm


We checked out two new used bookstores in town. Sad substandard disappointments.

Day two went to a "The Little Heroes" show.


Their biggest fans were there.


Hanging after the show.



and day three we had breakfast at The Longhorn.






Still anxiously awaiting everything we own to arrive on Monday and then the real work begins.

Next week I'll also be starting work at a law firm in town. I've heard the attorneys are pretty uptight there so we'll see how it goes. ;)

My Birthday Girl

Happy Birthday my sweet Maren.

They decorated the cake all by themselves. It was a princess volcano.




"Daughters can sometimes be too serious, teach them to laugh and not take life too seriously." ~Catherine Pulsifer

Mama's so proud

Mama's So Proud

It has come to a point where my kids ask me "is this healthy for me?" with every meal. They look at me with hopeful anticipation knowing that if the answer comes back positive then they can eat and eat and mommy will be happy. But if the answer comes back in the negative they are crushed because they KNOW that they will never see that tasty delight enter our home and the look on their faces is pure disappointment.

"Oh, so Oreo's aren't good for you?" "Can I have some more fruit leather?" As Carter has stated "You're raising geeks, Michelle. Nerdy kids". Yes, yes I am. Know-it-all, brainy, healthy, active, kids who love books, vegetables, and soy milk. It is my quest.

and as the video shows... I am one step closer. :) Happy mom am I.

p.s. this was ALL his idea. No persuasion on my part at all. Promise.

Let the Camping Season Begin!

There is just something about reading by campfire. I'm not a HUGE camper but I enjoy a good little camp out with friends. I got a little teaser at Wildflower and now I'm feeling the itch for a good hike and camp.

Living in Utah surrounded by the majestic beauty of these mountains creates a fierce desire to CLIMB them. I think a good rock climb is a must before I leave this beautiful region.


Books let us into their souls and lay open to us the secrets of our own. ~William Hazlitt

It's Official

The kids and I are moving to Santa Barbara. We are very very excited about our new adventure. We can't wait! As of June 16th we will be back home.

for the many questions some of you may have please email me at my yahoo address. :)

Eyes

Rocks and Socks

Only the pros can climb in socks.

"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go." T.S. Elliot

"One does not climb to attain enlightenment, rather one climbs because he is enlightened." - Zen Master Futomaki

"Remember that time spent on a rock climb isn't subtracted from your life span." - Will Niccolls

Wild Girl

Maren and I playing around. Photo by Angela.

What monstrous absurdities and paradoxes have resisted whole batteries of serious arguments, and then crumbled swiftly into dust before the ringing death-knell of a laugh! ~Agnes Repplier


The most wasted of all days is one without laughter. ~e.e. cummings

Another amazing weekend at home

Last weekend I went camping at Lake Nacemiento. Jenni was doing her fourth (? maybe fifth) Olympic Triathlon and her husband was doing a sprint triathlon and ended up being the Tri Legend of the weekend. One mile into his biking his gear shift malfunctioned and the back wheel wouldn't turn. Jon had to carry his bike ON HIS BACK for the 10 miles. Then, of course, he still had to run and play in TWO shows that night. INSANE! Jon is also in a band that played three shows at the Triathlon. They ROCKED! Little Heroes woo hoo!! Jenni completely ROCKED her tri. Her swim was in 25 minutes and her 10k under 51 minutes!! ROCKED IT!!!



I also had the wonderful opportunity of seeing Angela before and after the camp out. We went vintage shopping and found a couple goodies. Fun was had, memories were made. Shiny blue orbs.