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.)

Day 18 – Your favorite outfit

My favorite outfit is nothin'.

(No, that's not me - duh)

The second I hit my front door after work I leave a path of clothes strewn about. It's been a running joke for years that I need ample warning if friends are coming over so I can put some damn pants on. Consider yourself warned...

Day 17 – Your pet(s)

In searching for a good picture of Sit, I've had a terrible revelation this morning - I haven't had a dog for nearly 10 years.

How does so much damn time go by without us realizing things? If it's been that long since Sit, then it's been that long since I lived in San Francisco, that long since my last real-true-love, that long since I could call and ask my mom what the sugar/egg/cream of tartar ratio is for the gingerbread house mortar, that long since I ran a marathon, that long since I suffered with low-low-non-profit pay (wait, that one's back - never mind).

I figured this sad, sad math out today because not one of the 11,171 photos taken since buying a digital camera (to go to Spain in 2003) have Sit in them. OK - so it's been closer to 8 years since all that stuff listed above... but still, that's a long, long time to live a full life without a dog or a serious boyfriend in it, don't you think?

What have I been doing this whole time? What has truly changed? Have I grown at all? How the hell am I making less money now that I was making them?

Wait - this is supposed to be a photo of my pet - I digress (but I'll be back - ugh).

Sit came to live with Lisa & I in New Orleans. She was a pound puppy from Jefferson Parish, Louisiana and, as often happens with pound puppies, she definitely chose me. I immediately loved her and she patiently moved with me from New Orleans to Tucson to Cleveland to Perris to Oakland to San Francisco. (Cleveland was not her favorite stop either - Louisiana dogs don't pee gracefully in the snow.)

Sit was a great judge of character - once biting a bad news boyfriend of Lisa's. The dog knew he was bad news before any of the rest of us figured it out. She was a prolific pooper. She was a fantastic catcher of mice; often leaving them in the shoes of unsuspecting and unappreciative boyfriends. She was awful on the leash and hilarious when chasing her tail. And she never, ever complained about her name - it only confused other dogs, Sit knew who she was.

Have been jonesing for a dog lately. And now that I'm tripping down memory lane with Sit and realizing that she's nearly a decade gone... hmmmmmmmmmm
.

Day 16 – Something embarrassing in your room

Um, wow. Two things:

1) I loved VC Andrews as a kid, learned way more from Flowers in the Attic in the 6th grade than should have been allowed. My parents were not paying attention.

2) No, I did not check this out of the Denver Public Library. Better - picked it up at a roadside bar on my way to/from camping. They have a pile o' books - leave one/take one style.

Don't stand at my grave and weep...

I've recently been to two funerals in as many weeks and, frankly, I would prefer to not to go to any more in the near or distant future.

To make things just that much more heartbreaking, both funerals were for children of Red Cross volunteers. Adult children, but parents burying their children all the same. It's just plain not fair. Both of these volunteers are a wonder to behold. They are dedicated, loving, graceful men who choose to spend their well earned and well deserved spare time in retirement putting in long hours for your American Red Cross and the clients that we serve. It's an honor and a pleasure to watch them give so selflessly. It's painful and hopeless to standby and watch as they grieve and miss their son & their daughter. I feel so helpless, there's not one damn thing I can do to fix this for them.

As I listened to friends and family remember the dead tonight, and as I tried to focus all my love and attention on Jack (the volunteer & dad), my mind was, frustratingly, beginning to wander. The same thing happened two weeks ago as I stood in support of Jim at his son's funeral; my brain betrayed me and went wandering off...

I couldn't help but think of my parents and the funeral that we did not have for them.

We didn't invite friends, family, coworkers, neighbors and students to gather, to say kind things, to tell lovely stories, to laugh and to cry and to remember. We didn't publicly say that we loved them, that we would miss them, and that we would never forget the lessons they taught us or the quirky way they did this or that. No one prayed, no one spoke, no one put together a photo montage or a program with favorite sayings, songs and pictures.

We didn't let everyone say goodbye.

We didn't know that we could.

The circumstances surrounding our parents' deaths was so obscene, so wildly out-sized, so sudden and embarrassing and shocking. Nothing about it exactly made it clear that we could have still celebrated, could still have shared the pain and grief with others, that we didn't have to hide. I didn't know that this was permissible, and so we kept it to ourselves and didn't allow all those other people who loved them dearly to have their say. I regret that with my whole heart today. People must have desperately needed that moment, that public and painful moment to say goodbye. It would have been so reassuring to see all the lives they'd touched collectively loving them and, by extension, loving us.

We didn't let everyone say goodbye.

We didn't know that we could.
.

Day 15 – Your childhood home

We had many, many childhood homes, there are photos of each (and more thoughts on Home here: http://butweremakinggoodtime.blogspot.com/2009/06/home-where-my-thoughts-escaping.html).

The one that stands out though, perhaps because many of my earliest & fondest memories are from there was in Camp Verde, AZ.  We moved there from Alaska when I was about 3 years old, Josh was born there, and we stayed through the end of 4th grade for me.  I made my first friends, started school, raised chickens & cows, stepped on snakes, had my first trip to the hospital (not snake-related), rode our bikes everywhere unattended, got my first of many dogs, and generally had a merry-ol'-time. 

Some inside shots below to give you a flavor of the 70's hippie-school-of-home-decorating style we were rocking.  Please note the generous amounts of wood paneling, the gold flecked mirror tiles & Little Boy Blue "painting" in the bathroom, the latch-hook wall hanging, etc. Wow.

Day 14 – Something you hate

I've got nothing, suppose that's a good sign. Altho I'll probably back to fill this in the next time I have to pack for a trip...