Only because we are friends

I got Tagged by Jenni, so I'm doing my bit:

Here are the rules:
1. Post the rules on your blog
2. List 6 random things about yourself
3. Tag 6 people at the end of your post

1) While I would probably not get along with them in person I kinda have a thing for Anthony Bourdain (I know he is married) and Greg House (I know he is not real).

2) I love sushi even though half the time I eat it I throw up later.

3) I love cooking

4) I have next to no memories of my childhood

5) I used to hate reading and now I love it

6) I am not a pet person, but when I see dogs on TV I want one

I'm tagging....

Heather
Brittany
Darbi
Meggie
Krista
Heidi

Today is June 25^th 2008. I turned 28 yesterday. I am one of those individuals who love birthdays, maybe that is because my mom always put a lot of effort into making sure we had fantastic yet realistic birthdays when I was growing up. I have to say I have had a lot of really good birthdays, last year I went sailing with a great group of friends. The year before that I had a BBQ with a very similar group of friends, and this year is no exception. It was a great birthday, I had great fun at the Youth Group Pool Party in the afternoon and then Faith threw me a great party with just my close girl friends. It was simple and lovely. At last evenings party my friends went around and toasted me. (This aside from being somewhat embarrassing was very touching.) It was at that moment that I realized how fortunate I have been these last 28 years. I have always had a fantastic group of friends to celebrate life with. Maybe that is really why I love birthdays so much, it is a chance for me to hang out with some of my favorite people, and just have a good time.

What was interesting in all of their toasts was that we all (minus my mom) just kinda fell into being friends, there was no effort, nor any great moment in time where we can pin point being friends, we just are. I love that. With my mom of course there was of course that moment that she first saw me 28 years ago. Still I am glad that we are friends, more than just mom and daughter.

Boy did we have a good time. There was lots of laughter as we created our own mii characters and then proceeded to bowl on the wii. I loved that we could just be who we are and love every moment of it. That I was surrounded by some great ladies who know me just as I am and love me anyway made for a great birthday.

What birthday would be complete without a delicious dessert to end the night? My mom put together these lovely little bowls of yummy goodness.

Sight Seeing

Friday is my normal day off, but not usually a day off for my other friends so not usually worth too much of a fuss. This week though my friend Brandon and I took off for Monterey to board a boat to watch for whales. The weather decided to cooperate with our plans, and the rain held off, as the sun broke through.

We had just left the parking lot when we were stopped by a man with a badge. He claimed that I had been caught smiling. Immediately I thought, "oh no. We are on Candid Camera." (because the shoot that show in Monterey.) As it turned out we were just being asked for a donation to help battered women and children. We both got a sticker mine having a cat smiling, and Brandon's was supposed to be a still shot of him, was in actuality a cartoon of Calvin of Calvin and Hobbes picking his nose.


Since arrived at Fisherman's wharf early so we grabbed a bread bowl of award winning clam chowder enjoying it and the view. After some browsing of gift shops we made our way over to our boat. The Sea Wolf II.
We boarded the boat and rode the waves out to sea. There were some nice size swells and we got sprayed in the face more than once, but we both kept our lunch. Once we had traveled a bit whales were spotted at 1 O' Clock and for the next hour or so we spotted quite a few of them. We saw mostly their backs and spouts but caught a glimpse of a few tails as well. It was a good way to spend a Friday.



You can check out all the pictures on my Flicker site just click on the Flicker icon on the Right of the page.

things you don't want to hear in an ER...

The steps going down to my humble apartment are what one may expect, slippery when wet. Yet they sure caught me off guard Tuesday night as I made my way down the uneven pathway to my little home. Down being the operative word. As my slick soled FloJo (flip flop to those of you who don't know)made contact with equally slippery surface of the redwood portion of my stair and I found myself on the ground before I even realized I was falling. Actually, very little of me came in contact with the surface, mostly just my the top right section of my right foot. Being my mothers daughter I am quite accustom to falling, so even though it hurt (a lot) since I really, really needed to pee, I picked myself up and made it the rest of the way to my restroom. A minute later, my friend Brandon arrived, and let himself in, and by that time my foot had not only turned lovely shades of black and blue it had also become quite puffy. It was clear that our pasta dinner plans had just been tossed out the window,as I phoned my Dad to take me down to emergency.

Being the amazing Dad that he his, he kindly rushed over and helped me hobble back up my many steps, dirt stick covered path to his waiting car. We tried with no avail to make it to the local Urgent Care before the 9pm closing and then made our way down to the E.R. Where we were to sit for the next 3 hours.

The first hour or so, the waiting room was actually quite full, and the TV was tuned to AMC and Death Wish II. Not really the kind of movie I suspect most people who are waiting in for a doctor are in the mood to watch. Filled with scenes of blood, and dying, rape and people creating false identities to work in hospitals. As comforting as that was, I was pretty jazzed when we were the only ones left on our side of the room and got to change to the Food Network just in time to watch Anthony Bourdain eat the still beating heart of a cobra. Now I realize that while this still might not be something most people in a hospital waiting room would find comforting it is like being at home for me. And it provided just enough of a distraction to take my mind off of the pain shooting though my foot. Apparently two other people who walked in agreed and made their way over to our corner of the world to join us in the stomach wrenching fun.

It was right between the switch in Television programing that a nurse came out of the back to get a guy (who had apparently brought someone else in)saying to him, "I think she wants to say goodbye." Are you kidding me? This is not something you want to hear a nurse say. Perhaps a better choice of words would have been, "She is okay enough to stay without you so she wants to talk to you before you take off for the night." I don't know anything but, "I think she wants to say goodbye."

Of course there are other things you might not want to hear in the E.R., I know I was not pleased to hear that I had broken my foot, and that meant 6-8 weeks on crutches.

Yep, so not what I wanted to hear, but better than..."I think she wants to say goodbye."

Friends in High Places

I am lucky enough to have some friends who are doing big things with their lives. As I was chatting with my friends lately about their endeavors to start up new buisnesses along with my own I thought I might take a chance to offer some free promotion to those of my friends who are just starting out.

So check these sites out

By Hand Writing

Photo Edge

When you cry the whole world cries with you...

I don't know if that is an actual saying or just something that my mind has complied into a saying that fits my week. (now I am thinking it was originally when you smile)Whatever the case I started crying on Wednesday when one of my students went missing, and with all of the rain that we have right now, it sure seems like the whole world is crying with me. As it should. The world should be in grief over the state of our youth culture, where lives are being torn apart by early introductions to a messed up grown up lifestyle. Where teens are expected to grow up fast, and yet are unprepared to do so, where they are not only experimenting with drugs but using them, not only depressed but showing it on their arms as the let their own blood flow to ease the pain they are holding inside. My heart it broken not just for my student who has left home, but for the many students who are experiencing similar situations. For the Jr. Higher's who are out late, alone, lost in a world they stumbled into, for those who have been sent away to get the help that they cannot find here, for the kids who are having to be moms and dads because their parents are acting like kids. My heart is broken and I weep as does the world outside. And I cry for the parents who have lost hope who have no more answers and who feel like they have lost all ability to relate. I grieve for you all and for our society as it only seems to be deteriorating faster.

Nothing Cheep and Easy is Good For You (so this must be great for you)

Asparagus Sformato with Fondata Soup

Orzo Salad


Prosciutto-Wrapped Breadsticks
Northern Italian Caponata with Potatoes

Braciole


Our Italian Christmas Feast

A Plate of Yummy Sticky Goodness
Honey Drenched Christmas Fritters: Struffoli

Feasting on Friday

A day of simply soaking up life is always my preferred way to spend my day off. So when my Friday went from sitting around my apartment to spending a few hours with a friend enjoying some delicious dishes, funky fresh atmosphere and of course conversation I was delighted.

My friend Melinda came over and we headed downtown and ended up at 515 Kitchen and Cocktails. It is the third time I have been there for lunch and it did not disappoint. While I am a huge fan of trying new restaurants, in fact prefer it, I often get stuck in a rut when it comes to ordering at a place I have been. That is not the case with 515, each time I have been tempted to try another dish, and each one has been more fabulous than the one before. Melinda also enjoyed a fabulous meal. Dining at 515 is only made better by the atmosphere funky chairs, couches, and lighting mixed together tucked into nooks make the restaurant one of my new favorite places to dine. From 515 we decided to go and search out another new addition to Santa Cruz.

Ironwood and Black China Bakery and Cafe. I discovered this place by watching Travels with Romney one morning this week as I was getting ready for work. I am pleased to say that we found the place to be even better in person than it appeared on TV. We both ordered a coffee drink and sat outside despite the iffy weather, the vibrant bamboo and garden sculptures were just to inviting to turn down.

My day ended with dinner with another one of my favorite friends Faith. We also decided to break away from our normal Friday night spots and tried a place we had both wanted to try for sometime now, Hula's Island Grill.
A great finish to a day of dining with friends. The food was great and we loved the island party atmosphere.

So if you are in the area and have nothing better to do check out one of these three new additions to the amazing collection of restaurants in Santa Cruz. If you won't be here anytime soon then I suggest that you grab a close friend and go find your own new spot to relish on your next day off.

Warm Stones

Oh my gosh. Yesterday I went back to The Spa Los Gatos for my friends birthday. But this time instead of having a deep tissue massage. I had the Warm Stone Massage. And let me tell you...this is heaven. Okay a slightly awkward at first Heaven, but heavenly non the less.

Of course given my last Spa experience was less than a month ago I this time I knew what I was getting into. I knew what size robe, and sandals I wanted, and I knew my way around. I knew they were being ironic when they mentioned they had a library and I knew how much clothing I was expected to leave in my locker. So I came into the whole Spa experience much more relaxed, the way you are supposed to enjoy it.

There were some things I did have to get past though. Like the fact that my massage was given by a man this time, and that we went upstairs, I did not even know there was an upstairs. But once I got past that, and was able to relax, trusting that my sheets were not going to fall on the floor, then it was how I hope Heaven will be.


The fist 15 min. He just used his hands to feel where my tension was, and then, then he grabbed some warm stones from a tub of water and began using them as extensions of his own hands. And I began to melt.

Up until that point I thought he was just going to set warm rocks on my back and then when my mussels had relaxed from the heat he would work on my back again. But no, for 80 min. He rubbed the warm stones into my tired body, and every pain and anxiety I had (minus the one about my sheets slipping off) melted away.

If you have never had this experience I suggest you stop whatever you are doing and go get some warm stones and oil, and a strong guy. You will love it. I do have a disclaimer though, if you are my friend Carol or if you are married, or perhaps if you are a guy, you may not find this as enjoyable as I did. But for the rest of you this is a must do.

Followed by a Steam Shower filled with the sent of Jasmine and my skin was like butter.

Seriously, take my word for it and go find a stong guy and some warm stones and oil.

Aquarium

While my parents were out gallivanting around Burkina Faso with my sister Krista, I took Lizzie, Jordan, Mr. Crabs (Brandon) and Cindy Loo Who (Cassondra) to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. I have got to say, perhaps the best part of my day was discovering that if you take a Season Pass Holder with you to the Aquarium, it comes with nice perks such as skipping the forever long line. As well as discounts at the gift stores. Who knew, being friends with Crabs finally paid off ;) Just kidding. But seriously not having to wait in a line that went on forever was a huge relief.


I had not been to the Aquarium in years, in fact I don't even recall when it was that I was last there. But I enjoyed it much more this time than the first. Maybe it was having the kids with us, watching them take it all in, or maybe it was just that much better. I am not sure, but it was a great way to spend the day, with family and friends.

http://s53.photobucket.com/albums/g51/scbeachgirl/Aquarium/

My Birthday

Concert in the Park

Here are some pictures not great pictures but pictures non the less from the Brandi Carlie concert I got to go to last week! It was amazing, but if you want to read about it just check out Brandon's Blog, he is a great writer, and took such great notes, I am sure everything you may want to know is in what he has already posted. Sorry about the quality of the pictures, they are from my phone...no I did not forget my camera, just the memory card that goes inside it :) Ahh technology.

What a Girl Wants

My friend and I were talking and he said something to the effect that it is difficult to be the guy that girls want because we want various things. We want the silent brooding type, yet get mad when that same guy seems distant and unresponsive. Or perhaps we want the guy who will let us open our own door, and pay for things, but then we complain that the guy is not the gentleman we have always dreamed of. You get the idea.
I pointed out girls have the same issues. We don't know what to be the girl next door, or the independent self reliant woman. Unsure if we should pursue a career or be simply wife and mom. Should we be loud or soft spoken.
He said it was totally not the same because guys know that they are not going to get what they want, while girls hold on to the hope of finding that guy who can be perfect, brooding at times and talkative at others.
I found it mildly frustrating that he has given up hope of finding what he was looking for, until he went on to say that what he really wants is a woman who will leave him alone. At least that is what he wants right now.
I for one agree that I am holding out for the perfect guy, but not perfect in the sense that he is actually perfect, just that he is perfect for me. I don't know for certain what that entails but with each year that passes I am getting a clearer picture.

I do know this...The guy must have a sense of humor, able to find humor in life and to laugh with me and make me laugh. I want to be able to make him laugh as well.

Not Quite Italy

I've been meaning to write about this far a few weeks now. I was waiting to get some pictures off of my phone to post along with the blog, but I am thinking that may never actually happen...so here we are without the visuals.

On a Saturday two weeks ago I took Lizzie (my little sister by 14 years) out for the day. When I picked her up I figured we would just run some errands and end up at the beach. But as it turned out our day took on a life of it's own.

We did run an errand, but then because it wasn't quite warm yet we decided to go downtown. When we got there the streets had been transformed into a rainbow of tents. Surrounded by balloons and filled with people. It was Children's Day in Santa Cruz. So we wandered through the various canopy's and in and out of stores truly enjoying Santa Cruz. As we were strolling along we were instructed to clear the street, because the parade was coming. I love a parade, even the lamest parades offer ample opportunity to people watch with out being rude. And this parade did not disappoint in that regard. This was a bike parade to celebrate the end of Bike to Work Week. At first it was just a bunch of kids with steamers on their bikes, but soon came some of Santa Cruz's best. Bikes fully decked out in propaganda, people dressed to match their bikes. There were those with huge butterfly wings, a guy who had transformed himself and his bike into a giant bug. There was a whole squad of unicycle riders of all ages and heights. A guy on stilts who missed the memo about the bikes. Someone who had deconstructed their bike so that there was nothing connecting the front to the back allowing for some interesting stunts. Others had also altered bikes to hold up to 6 people on two levels, I am not sure why those on top had pedals but they were doing their best to be a part of the team. It was a truly Santa Cruz parade.

When it was over and we were allowed to cross the street, we wandered into Urban outfitters and each picked out 7 outfits for the other to try on. Creating a mini fashion show if you will. To both of our surprise everything fit and we did not buy anything.

Then we made our way back to the car but stopped along the way to make a chalk drawing together. Then covered in chalk we washed off in a near by water fountain, and proceeded to the car. But on the way a sign caught my eye advertising a Saturday Market in the park. So instead of turning left we continued on and crossed the bridge to the park. The Saturday market left much to be desired, but we stumbled upon a Broadway review that was just about to take place on the Duck Pond Stage. So we plunked down on the grassy hill to watch the show. It was by this time sunny and getting quite warm. We sat there together soaking it all in.

We left a bit early, to get back to the car in time, jumped in and headed to lunch. We ended up deciding to eat at the Crows Nest overlooking the beach, harbor, light house and Ocean. We sat outside upstairs to take full advantage of the beauty. By the time lunch was over we decided that it would be okay to save the beach for another day. Ran another errand and headed home. We finished off our day with the rest of the family enjoying BBQ Hamburgers on the patio.

It wasn't quite Italy, but it was a beautiful day filled with vacation like moments. And plenty of memories.

Happy Moments

I have been thinking about what makes me truly happy. You know the kind of happy where you just cannot help but smile inside and out. Where you feel totally content. I guess the train of thought started on Tuesday AM when we (my fellow staff and I) were praying, we prayed for joy. Now I firmly believe that there is a difference between joy and happiness, and I don't really want this to turn into a theological discussion about the difference between the two. I just wanted to share what it is that makes me happy with the hopes that it might inspire you to think of what it is that makes you smile. And perhaps thank God for some of those things that we just take for granted. So here is my list thus far...

Dancing, candles, a good cooking show, cooking, sitting outside at a cafe and people watching, coffee, my family (most days), students who get "it", packages that are from friends (not the IRS), cards, snuggling, when I finish a task, spending time with God, the beach, the sun, a good (but not long) rain, certain songs, old people (the funny nice ones not the grouchy ones), chocolate (this is new for me, I used to not like it), time with my closest friends, buying presents for people just for fun, cute shoes, shopping for my house or a new outfit, the days I wake up and look in the mirror and think "not bad", when I get to write, when I am inspired with a new idea, having fresh flowers in my home, eating out with friends, being held, praying, reading a good book, watching a travel show or a movie about Italy, traveling,driving,throwing parties...

Okay, now it is your turn. What makes you Happy.

Taste of Life

When in high school you could not have paid me enough money to cook you a meal. Well, babysitting kids aside that is, those kids suffered (according to my sister) having to eat my mac and cheese. I even spent some time living with people who forced me to cook, thinking that I would change my mind about cooking if only I was forced to participate in the cooking of meals.

High School is now almost 10 years ago and I can honestly say that I have gone from dreading cooking, to desiring the chance to chef it up for family and friends. This last year or maybe two I have fallen in love with cooking.

The last two weeks have given my ample opportunity try out my cooking skills numerous times. I had my family over for Thai food. Then two of my youth students invited themselves over for some steak, scalloped potato's, and green beans. But this last Sunday was the most adventurous I have been in the kitchen as of late. The theme was Italian.

I had three friend's over to enjoy the meal with me. We started out with a first course of steak tomato's topped with a lightly breaded and fried goat cheese atop of which sat an herb salad spritzed with balsamic vinegar.

Then we had some homemade pizza. An herb crust topped with caramelized onions, green olives stuffed with garlic, Gorgonzola and Fontana cheese and sprinkled with fresh parsley.

There was also an herb pasta tossed with a fresh plumb tomato sauce.

And of course we had to have some tiramisu gelato for desert.

All in all we had a great time around the table. Looking back it is hard to figure out what it was about cooking I could have hated. I am not sure what is on the table next, but I sure look forward to making it.