Days 54+++

Have been keeping up with The 100 Day Challenge on FB, but not re-posting here. Have gotten a little lazy about writing much and so it seems a bit duplicative (? look it up?)...

https://www.facebook.com/album.php?fbid=10150094572264755&id=638414754&aid=275059&l=4d381e19c7

Day 53 – The last thing you bought

'Nuff said - soy latte, coupla honeys. mmmmmmmm

Day 52 – A picture of yourself celebrating for getting this far

This isn't really from Day 52, but it captures how pleased I am to have stuck to The Challenge so far. I so rarely stick to anything (jobs, working out, cities for that matter...).

Day 51 – Something passed down from your parents/grandparents

Itchy feet (I thought about photos of actual itchy feet but that seemed gross, and off-putting so this little globe will have to do).   

My well-established wanderlust goes back generation upon generation - but I can only really speak to my parents and grandparents.  And what a wonderfully itchy feet they all had.

An Australian convertible

My parents met, were married, and started a family in - of all places - Alice Springs, Northern
Territory, Australia.  Both Americans who were traveling and working in the Outback; totally normal, right?  I bet most of your parents met & started a life together in a similar way/place.  Both had traveled quite a bit before bumping into each other in Australia.  Mom and Auntie BAH did some serious gallivanting - two California girls setting up camp in faraway lands, re-frying their own beans and generally soaking up as many new places and experiences as they could find.  Dad saw the world first via the Air Force and then through his own wanderings. Between the two of them - hitchhiking and wandering across most of Europe, Central & Southern America before making a home in the very definition of the middle of nowhere.

Can you see my tiny noggin over all that snow?

After Alice Springs we lived in Anchorage and Arizona - and then started a back & forth bounce between AZ & OZ that lasted for the rest of their lives.  The grass always being greener, I suppose.  But maybe it was something more basic, more genetic than that.

G-ma Hynes on her cross-country drive

My mom's folks were both travelers as well - both having made their way out to California from smaller, slower places somewhere in the middle.  My grandmother drove all the way across country by herself - mind you this was when cars were first taking off and before highways truly existed in this country.  They both made the trek to Australia for to see their youngest daughter (my mom) marry a hay-seed fly-boy from Virginia.  No small journey since one of them didn't like to fly and the other was afraid of the ocean - flying over and boating back, ever the loving compromises.

G-pa Wheat in the Merchant Marines

My dad's dad was a world-class wanderer.  Some of that was fueled by his raging alcoholism, but it's more romantic to remember his Merchant Marine days as that of a wild-eyed seeker - always looking ahead to his next adventure.  I don't know all the details, but I do know that the traveling-genes aren't all Hynes-family related, the Wheats had some itchy feet as well. 

Day 50 – Something you drew

Lately - (since apparently it's poor-me-month, even I'm sick of myself) - all I've been drawing is the short straw. Blech.

Day 49 – A day you remember really well

I'm cheating by resurrecting an old post - but it's a goodie. And it was *quite* a day.

http://butweremakinggoodtime.blogspot.com/2009/08/runaround-sue.html

 

Day 48 – Your best friend

I'm sure today's photo comes as no surprise to anyone who knows either of us. I have often wanted to put our friendship to paper, to describe what Lisa truly means to me. Just as often, I fall short, unable to find elaborate or superlative enough words to explain even a fraction of what a friendship like this feels like.

From that fateful 1992 tour of the dorms all the way through life's inevitable triumphs & tragedies - Lisa Marie Davis Schoneberger continues to stick it out and to love me through all my flaws & foibles.

Let's face it - she's a lucky, lucky girl ;-)

Day 47 – A room in your house

I still think of the apartment in NYC as my "house" so thought of it for today's challenge rather than the current apartment in Denver. And, bonus, since it's only one room - here's a photo of "a room in your house". Guess that made it easy to choose, if nothing else.

Sigh - someday I'll have a real house, with rooms to choose from.

Day 46 – A picture of your favorite state

South Dakota, for obvious reasons.

Day 45 – Your favorite food

Look kids - Big Ben (this one's a repeat, and while I love food so can completely embrace a second favorite, I'm gonna stick with my original choice on this one). 

http://butweremakinggoodtime.blogspot.com/2011/02/day-11-your-favorite-food.html 

Day 44 – A hobby of yours

I don't know if one can claim a hobby before they're any good at it. I've wanted to learn to play the guitar for a few years and just kept putting it off. Found this little gem a couple of months ago (thanks Craigslist!) and have been banging away at it since.

I have the calluses and the carpal tunnel to show for it. And can now *kinda* eek out something like Walk the Line, Knockin' on Heaven's Door, Redemption Song & Stand By Me. Of course, all four songs sound exactly the same, and they all sound like I'm playing from inside a giant bottle of molasses but still - I'm learning something new and *that's* saying something.

Bring on the campfires!!

Day 43 – The weather outside

It's Colorado - so you never can tell what the weather will be. This week is a perfect example - snowed on Monday, is gonna be 71 & sunny for Opening Day on Friday, expecting 80's for the weekend. Today, being Wednesday and all, seems somewhere safely in the middle.

Team Get Cari to Move to Colorado promised me great weather, gazillions of days of sunshine & immediately melting (infrequent!) snow -- and most days I wholeheartedly agree with them. Then there are those times in November/December when it's below zero for a week and I've gotta scrape ice off the car or shovel him out of his parking spot. But the rest of the year makes up for it - and camping is juuuuuuuuuuuust around the corner.

Day 42 – Something you did today

Pilates. Yep, pilates.

I think I might have found some exercise that I actually like doing and will show up for now and again. And yes, I'm initially in love with it because we lay down the whole time and I can really get behind that kind of exercise. And I've stopped being freaked out by the really hands on teaching (read: the teacher keeps realigning my pelvis in a disconcerting way).

But all in all - I finally like something that's good for my body. Huzzah!

Day 41 – Someone in your family

I couldn't help but combine this with the embarrassing photo theme from yesterday. Suppose I could post a current shot of Josh but this so much more fun. Plus, this is how I see him in my mind's eye - regardless of how big or grown up he gets or how he's become not only an adult, but a husband and father. Sigh.

Truth be told, I have are MANY more embarrassing photos of Josh than of me and it was all I could do to not post a series of them for Day 40. Typically he was either in full cross-dress mode (ain't older sisters grand?!) or in a state of semi-undress (always missing the bottom half).

Either way - in his lady-shoes or in the buff - he's my favorite family member and the shining star of my life. I love and adore and am proud of you baby brother.

Day 40 – An embarrassing picture from your childhood

I don't even know where to start. It's not that it's so embarrassing of me, but since I can't even count the number of Michael J. Fox pictures on those walls, not to mention the splatter paint dresser & the "custom" drapes (which I would later catch on fire while burning incense)... I'm embarrassed mostly for my 11 year old self's decorating sense.

Damn I loved me some MJF!!! Think I was single-handedly keeping Bop Magazine afloat.

Day 39 – Your favorite picture

Oh man, oh man - how are you supposed to choose one favorite picture? This one truly does top the list though, and I've got some fantastic photos to choose from.

Please note my high heels and sassy pose. Not to mention Josh's bikini, with stuffed top and cowboy boots.

Freakin' weirdos!!




Course - this one  is a precious, precious gem as well.  ------------> 

Day 38 – A useless trinket you own

 I have many, many, *many* a useless tchtotchke... one of my favorites is this flea market find. She seems like I could pull off having lugged her back from Russia, but no - the Alameda Flea Market in the Bay Area is where the real treasures hail from.

Don't even get me started on the smattering of useless junk in front of her - I can't help myself. At least there aren't many shelves in the current digs to clutter up with things. It's genetic, I swear...

Day 37 – The last restaurant you ate at

Who knew that Arizona had delicious craft brew? And who knew that Lisa was a good enough friend to taste each one with only a handful of "gross" and "blech" tossed in. She took me to the San Tan Brewing Company so I could enjoy some lovely local brews. Colorado - watch yourself, AZ is on to something.

Oh, and there was food too - beer cheese soup!

Day 36 – A place were you spend a lot of time

Oy, it's so sad. I had a choice of my desk @ work or my couch @ home. Lame. I'm lame and must get a life right this very minute. Hey - I'm gonna be a workaholic and a homebody no matter where I live, what job I'm doing, and how many (AHmazing) friends I have ready access to. I might as well finally fess up to it and embrace it!!

(Disclaimer - I see and adore my friends alllllll the time, and am somewhat prone to exaggeration. I'm just sayin')

Day 35 – Favorite movie that you own

Tough call - I don't really own any movies.  I have only three, I think, somewhere.  Blazing Saddles, Better Off Dead and...  Awwww yeah - Say Anything.

No better romantic movie moment before or since then when Lloyd Dobbler holds that boombox over his head outside whats-her-name's window.

Sigh.

Day 34 – Something that makes you smile

Aunt Cari & Silas on his 1st Birthday

My challenge within the Challenge is to challenge y'all to come up with something that makes you smile more than this guy. I'm absolutely in love with this little boy and I can't wait to watch his life unfold.

It doesn't hurt, not one little bit, that watching my baby brother become an amazing father is also incredibly smile-inducing.  

Day 33 – Something you made

There was a time when some of you out there were terribly, terribly worried about me when you saw that I was making these lil' critters instead of having a life.

Now y'all are clambering for handmade critters of your own.    Hmmmm, funny how life works out that way, ain't it?

;-)

Day 32 – Something you collect

What? They make me happy, that's all.

Day 31 – A picture of yourself taken today

What serendipity that today's photo of me just happens to fall on a day spent with many of my favorite people.

I love these girls more than I could ever come up with the words to say. 

This beautiful, consistent, strong, hilarious, honest, smart, witty, charming, long-suffering, loving group of women have been my strength and my comfort for every moment that has mattered in nearly the last two decades.  I love each of you for your own unique qualities, your own unique shortcomings and your own unique way of loving me back.   Seriously, where would any of us be without this group of old ladies???

Day 30 – Your breakfast

Lisa makes number pancakes for her kids' birthdays and since I was at her house for Day 30, I wanted her to make them for my photo. But Laine always makes me breakfast when I'm there - so it only seemed right to put his mad skillz to work instead.

I love this family, and I love my early morning alone time with Laine before the chaos hits as everyone else wakes up. He's genuinely one of my favorite people on the planet and I'm so lucky that he's part of the package.

Day 29 – A pretty flower (yes go take a picture of a flower)

It's a little early in Colorado yet for pretty flowers... but soon, very soon it'll be time to transform the lanai by planting gerbera daisies, potato vines & whatnot in flower boxes like this one from last summer. It looks a little grim now, has been out in the snow & sleet all winter, but by mid-April or so it'll be full o' flowers and drawing me out to the lanai for morning coffee, evening beers & general weekend lounging.

Will I see any of you there as well? Who's coming over?

Day 28 – The shirt you wore today

Day 27 – The shoes you wore today

At first I was bummed by how simple today's topic was - not much there to write about. But then I realized that, not only did we change our clocks this weekend, making for sunshine after work for the first time in months, but it was warm enough to wear these new, strappy, yellow lovelies today. Buh-bye winter (until we see you again next week)!!!

Day 26 – A gift from your family

There was a tie for this one today... and both are actual things, items that I've received as gifts from a family member. But, since Auntie BAH is visiting right now and so very much front-of-mind, her sweet gift wins the race.

See, she's had this one bracelet, forever. Gorgeous large gold interlocking loops. For my entire childhood I don't remember ever seeing her without it on. And I wanted it. Bad. We'd joke that someday, very far off into the future, when she (God forbid) left this world, then I could have it. At some point, mid-college or so, I started teasing her saying that I didn't even want it anymore because she wears gold and I wear silver and so clearly this would never work out.

Fast forward to 2007 - BAH had just returned from a looooooooong trip to Australia (she doesn't fly and boats to and from Australia tend to take their time). We had a chance for a quick visit and, when I got home, I found a small green box tucked into my suitcase. Inside the box was this - the bracelet - but in silver, from a jeweler in Sydney. How sweet is she? To have a copy of the bracelet made for me in silver while on her trip?



I'll tell you how sweet she is... the bracelet she gave me is the original, not a copy.

When she first got it, as a bridesmaid gift in Australia before I was even born, it was made in silver. But she wears gold - remember? So she had it gold-plated 35+ years ago and has worn it ever since. On that last trip she asked the same Sydney jeweler to make her one in gold and to strip the plating off the original so that I could have my silver version. The bracelet she gave me is the exact same one she's worn all these decades, back to it's original color especially for me. She must have been planning that switcheroo for nearly as long as she was planning the trip & I love her dearly for it (and for so many other reasons!).

The tie was with a gift that my Mom sent, every February, like clockwork. A little red envelope would show up in the mail with instructions not to open it 'til Chinese New Year, lest I risk the bad luck of breaking into it ahead of schedule. There were always ten or twenty dollars in there, a small treat for the New Year (um, because we're clearly Chinese and tradition is everything!). I still get those envelopes each February. And, although Auntie BAH has never mentioned it, and I've never asked, I'm pretty sure I know who's sending them on my Mom's behalf. Only a sister would remember something like that and make sure that it still got done, even long after it was possible for my Mom to do it herself.

So I guess Auntie BAH wins for both versions of "best give from your family" today...

Day 25 – A gift from a friend

circa 1992

I know today's challenge was looking for a thing, a wrapped up gift given for a birthday or holiday, or other special occasion.

But I argue that likely the greatest gift from a friend in the history of gifts from friends is this -- one Lisa Marie Davis Schoneberger's continuing, loving, unwavering friendship with lil' ol' me. Absolutely without question the hands down very best gift I've ever gotten. Period.

Day 24 – Favorite purchase ever made

The tiny Tiffany bean necklace.  This was an easy photo to find since in more than a decade I've hardly ever take it off. This photo, while a weirdo shot of me, is a lovely shot of the bean. (And was an amazing couple of months in Costa Rica, sigh.)







 






I suppose I could've (should've?) answered that my little slice of Manhattan is my favorite purchase ever made.  It was definitely the biggest, scariest purchase I've ever made.  And it continues to haunt me today, what with it's regular mortgage & maintenance payments, it's ever new tenants, and it's general far-away-ness. 

 

Nah - I'm sticking with the Tiffany Bean answer.  Best $90 I ever did spend... I love it so.

Day 23 – A school picture

 I think these pretty much speak for themselves.

 

Ooh, ooh - but I have one more treasure to share:  Check out the tough girl in the front row with the crossed arms, the Buddha Belly and the sweet flares.

Day 22 – Favorite cd that you own

What's a CD? http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2011/03/09/134391895/the-legacy-of-the-cd-innovation-that-ate-itself?print=1
Oh - music. Gotcha. Lemme check my iTunes since I haven't had CDs in a loooooong time.

I'm leaning towards Road to Ensenada (Lyle Lovett) or Life for Rent (Dido - yes, that Dido) or Supply & Demand (Amos Lee) or The Story (Brandi Carlile) or Simple Times (Joshua Radin) or Swing This (Kermit Ruffins) or Les Essentiels (Paolo Conte) or Graceland (Paul Simon & Ladysmith Black Mumbazo) or Hey Eugene! (Pink Martini) or Polka Party (Weird Al Yankovic) or Taking the Long Way (Dixie Chicks) or Licensed to Ill (Beastie Boys) or or or... I clearly can't make up my mind.

There are a handful of favorite mix-tapes/CDs that people have bestowed upon me over the years.  The ones below are definitely favorites. Have converted them all to play lists, 'cause I'm 2011 like that.

Cari's Old Skool House Mix - lovingly prepared by one Pippin Chapman for the now infamous Groundhog's Day Party 2003

Denise "QJ" Krawitz gave me this mix tape for my 19th birthday in the Manzi-Mo dorms at UofA.  It was a mix of her favorites & mine - telling.

Joshua Satin - the boy I made out with on a 1991 trip across Russia - sent me a mix-tape post-trip and introduced me to many of my favorite artists.  It was promptly stolen inside a lifted car stereo, breaking my heart a second time ;-)

Hands down my favorite mix of all time.  Sweet, sweet Molly Fast sent me this CD (and a whole lot of love) on the 7th anniversary of my parents' death.  I love these songs and I love her for this and so many other reasons.

Day 21 – A picture of your cell phone

I couldn't for the life of me figure out how to post a pix of my phone when I use my phone to post pix. I also couldn't figure out a way to make today's topic interesting in any way. Sigh.

Day 20 – Your Grades/Report card

It's a little hard to read but... yep, that says under $1,000 on that pay check. I picked this as my Grades/Report Card because it's representative of how valued (or not) I feel lately at work. The teensy paycheck is a lot like a Report Card... it's reflective of how I'm doing. Making less money than I made in my first few jobs out of college - 15 years ago! - in non-profit! - is starting to feel slightly limiting. Or is it starting to feel incredibly crippling? Either way.

My favorite part of the pay stub screen shot is the text "non-negotiable"... ironic.

Day 19 – One of the best days of your life

Again with the Sophie's Choice - how to pick one of the best days of one's life?? Having been blessed to be living a wonderful life, with amazing adventures, traveling & living in stunning cities, surrounded by The. Best. Friends. Ever... How to choose?

I keep coming back to one trip, one place, and two people - Christmas 2007, Denia Spain, Libby & Amy. I'm not sure that I can pick one day in particular - but since every glorious day runs together when you're with people you love in a place you have to pinch yourself to believe - we'll count that trip as One of the Best Days of My Life.

Primo Terraza Grande

Learning something fascinating about bats or rocks or biology

Best Day detritus

My Tribe - it's always the best days when these two are there

(A close second might be this - http://butweremakinggoodtime.blogspot.com/2009/06/god-bless-broken-road-that-lead-me.html - That punch-drunk lunch the day after the walk was one of the most hilarious times ever. AH-mazing.)