nina turns 40

Mt. St. Helens

So my mother is an excellent road trip companion. She's good to talk to, she's flexible, but most importantly she'll go out of her way to pull over so that I can take pictures like this:

The mountain was pretty impressive, I'd never been so close, and in our wandering around on the way home today we encountered an unexpected field of tulips. I took lots of fotos, ate one of the best chocolate desserts I've ever had, and made another unexpected find in a cool coffee shop in Castle Rock, WA, where of course I stopped for a double shot with chocolate while my mom slept in. I'll post more fotos later. Oh, and I have some really good news: the papers are signed! Yes those papers. I'm not as relieved as I thought I'd be. I'm distracted by worries about moving, for one. And the fat lady ain't sung yet, either. I won't completely relax until it's done and official.

Technical aside: OK, all you digital foto gurus out there. Why do the words on my blast zone sign look all wiggly? How can I fix/prevent this?

We all know that I love road trips, and spontaneous road trips are some of the best. Well, guess what I'm doing this weekend! Yup. A mini-road trip with my mom. I haven't had any extended one on one time with her in soooo long. I even convinced her to not make any reservations for us for tomorrow night. Yay! I'm a vagabond again, however briefly (yes, of course I'm taking my camera).

to the curb

For the second time in less than two years the kidlet and I are getting booted out of our living quarters. Damn! At least this time we'd been thinking about looking for a bigger space anyway (Mommy, we need more room for my toys!). Man, it would be nice to own my own space. A little stability is a good thing.

In honor of Earth Day, I'd like to rave about all the folks who commute by bike. I've always admired these people very much. My route to work (that yes, I drive in my car) is also a popular bike route, and I'm always very conscious of giving them space, and watching them to see if they're going to turn in front of me or whatever. I might also be checking out their legs or asses or something, too, but that is completely incidental. There is a couple who bring their daughter to preschool everyday by bicycle; she rides in one of those trailers behind the bike, like some sort of princess, and the kidlet has often declared that he wants to ride in one of those, too. I hate it that most of my traveling these days is by car. Once the kidlet starts kindergarten and we get a new place, that will hopefully change. And don't get me started about Fucktard trying to act like he's done anything other than completely undo decades worth of environmental law and policy. Asswipe.

glub glub

things I love

I'm in a list making mood today. So, deal.

hot and sour soup
the smell of lilacs (and I've forgiven the lilacs for making me feel sad--not their fault)
walking down the same street I walk everyday, and seeing something new
street art (see above)
noticing all the different shades of green on the trees on Capitol Hill
cubies with a view (see above)
blogs. reading them, writing mine.
nibbling on the kidlet's tummy (tummy is yummy!)
getting on the elevator with a cute guy
parentheses (didja notice?)
that moment right before you fall asleep

things i'm coming to realize

I'm not going to date anyone for a year.
I'm quitting eVil corp. as soon as possible.
Everything that I thought a certain person could give me, I already have.
(Knowing that doesn't make me love him less.)
Despite all appearances, I really am moving forward.
I have no regrets.
I'm very blessed.
It's the body that remembers everything.
The kidlet always makes my heart happy.
I'm not sure where my life is headed now.
I haven't lost my capacity for love (if anything it's stronger than ever).
All offers of friendship still stand.
Life is as much a mystery as always.

here's lookin' at you, kid

I was just thinking about how much I like the word "melancholy", how nicely it rolls off the tongue, and how it sounds better than just "depressed" or even "blue". Then I went to Merriam Webster online and found this definition: "an abnormal state attributed to an excess of black bile and characterized by irascibility or depression", and decided it's not so great after all. Irascibility? Black bile? I was just feeling kinda sad and nostalgic, maybe a bit wistful. Also wondering about my pig headedness from the last post. Perhaps I am just refusing to accept reality. Why am I finding it so hard to let go? But it's not my head at all, it's my heart. My head understands everything perfectly well. My heart, on the other hand, is tenacious as all get out, can't follow a logical argument worth a damn, and believes what it wants to believe no matter what I try to tell it.