October 4, 2014

This is the second Saturday I have woken up in the early, early morning hours in panic of the alarm clock, only to realize that I get to sleep in. and what a relief that is.   Ethan had spent the night nearby at a friend’s house, and I heard him set down his bike  walking into the back yard with the ‘clank' of the gate door.   It was time to be up.  After only a cup of coffee, he and I made plans to ride bikes down to the farmer’s market.  I was thrilled to be back into biking season again.  He wanted to ride around as I perused the stands…I found one which had original labels from the fruit grower’s association here (this area used to be filled with pear orchards until a blight killed almost all the orchards in 1967).  The Indian food stand also dazzled me (as it always does) and Raj made me promise to come earlier next time to get some of the flavors that instantly sell out.  I also spoke to a sweet man from the Watsonville area, where the kids and I biked many years ago when we toured down the California coast.  I spoke to him about the time he spent on the road.  Poor guy…working so hard on the weekends and then construction during the week.  He later (upon our return) gave Ethan 4 free pomegranates.   

Onto the bike trail and then heading home to grab my card (which I intentionally left at home so as to avoid buying stuff) and Maggie’s bike since we needed to get a new tube put in.  I JUST.ABOUT.DIED biking uphill (and walking the bike up the super-steep hills – are you crazy?  This isn’t the Tour de France).  Once the palpitations were manageable again, I felt great.  Off to the Bike Shop!  It wasn’t really about saving the $7 it would cost for them to change the tire…I wanted to learn.  When I first got the Trek (14 years ago??), I had tubes, but I never learned how to change them.  I loved it.  It was another grand excuse to get my hands dirty.  Looking forward to hitting Davis tomorrow with the tribe for an adventure.

Back at home, it was time to for homework,  but I started listening to giants pregame  at 1:45 and any ability to write a paper vanished.  I ended up going into the kitchen (music center) where the Mac  is, and helped Ethan with his  Rosetta Stone.   Even with my German, which is damn good, the program refused some of my answers, so I started in my “German accent” and would yell in German (which is, as we all know, terrifying).  Ethan and I kept giggling and he ended up secretly recording me on his iTouch.

Mags got home from her adventure, the game was still on.  I started cooking dinner…the game was still on.    We ate a terrific meal… still listening to game.   After doing dishes, I decided I needed to de-stress, so I wanted to make chocolate chip cookie dough, but I couldn’t find the brown sugar.  Apparently, when I am on edge about the game (still on, btw)  I tend to lost my patience.  After the dough was made and I cleaned up – I sat and stared at the gameday app for the next hour until the Giants FINALLY won the 2^nd game of the series after 6 hours and 23 minutes.  A doubleheader in a single game – not done since the Houston Astros and Atlanta Braves in 2005 in a 5 hour 50 minute post season game.  LOVE those Giants!

After, we went to the park with Mabi – Annie was grounded to home since she ran after the cat AGAIN and just sat in the neighbor’s back yard.    We had a lot of fun and I’m looking to spending the day with my tribe in Davis before we head home so I can do HOMEWORK  <sadface>  Grateful there is a break in the series. 

Pictures: The Placerville Farrmer's Market; a rad station wagon I'd love to restore; A small portion of the recording Ethan made of me without my knowledge; the original label I bought today.

October 3, 2014

Slept deeply and when that alarm went off, I decided to skip yoga and added 45 minutes to snooze a little longer. I never actually feel asleep again, but it felt NICE.  Happy Fkn Friday.  It has been a hell of a week for a number of individuals, myself included.    Had a rocking musical morning and sang to the entire score of “Fiddler on the Roof” then  Ethan kicked in some "Hide" by NASA (not while we were walking to the car, though, he knew I'd dance), and some Bad Company on the way to  work. It continued during 2nd block where I was forced to liste, for the first time ever to the  first full-length Justin Bieber song  <Eww)

I was given the honor of being a judge for Cupcake Wars.  I haven't had sweets like this in over a month and now I am having a hard time blinking (this is no exaggeration). Later at lunch, while in a frenzy due to the Giants lead against the Nats, I ate the entire cupcake I'd been given.  While attempting  to nap later at home,  it felt as thousands of Strax from Dr. Who were ramming my blood vessels.

Here's what I'm gonna say:  I suck at accessing illegal streaming of Giants games, so I'll keep listening on my mlb app. I did, however, enjoy listening down the Left Coast; First, the Giants beat the Nats, then Vin Scully calmly broadcast the Cards kicking some Dodger ass (7th inning, #BeatLA), and I tuned in to hear Hosmer take the Kansas City to the lead in the 11th against the Angels, whom I'd go see when I lived in SoCal. I remember rooting for the Royals during the '85 WS when I was 14.  Glad they won tonight.  My dad never watched baseball and I could be wrong, but I think it was because of a boy named Greg Crowe.  <smile>

 The Boy's plan of cooking dinner for me oddly morphed into spending the night at a friend's house, instead.  I'm puzzled. <wink>  Was in CP waiting to pick up Maggie, while eating a carnitas burrito <THIS shit gas GOT to stop NOW! Especially  after I put on a unique  "shirt" I own and discovered that because I can fit into it, it's a sassy, short dress, instead> when I was  called and told she is spending the night, also.  I COULD be in Folsom right now, listening to Billy on his guitar, Issac on his bass and talking to Buzzy, but no....  It has been since CRB since I've been to a show and HSBF is taking place in SF *as I type*!!! <hsgfksgeksudgcsjcf!!!>

So I grabbed a glow-in-the-dark ball & Frisbee and headed to the park with the pups. I noticed the Big Dipper, which looked tremendously close this evening.  I remember long ago, a boy I knew named Junior Reyes died during high school.  He was the sweetest of guys and was very special to me.  I would lie on the block wall around my house and look at the Big Dipper with a few beers and think.  One night, I saw a falling star shoot right into the constellation and I knew it was Junior.  You are still missed, Sweet Boy.  ❤

Pictures:  Walking to my car after work with the Perfect October leaf; A Giant orange sky.

October 2, 2014

I smelled smoke as I went to bed and it sat in the air all night long, getting particularly stronger in the morning. The most recent update shows 97,718 acres burned and 2,451 firefighters still at work, and though it is 95% contained, the day of conat8inment has been extended a day, making it October 5.   I did not finish yoga this morning, I just couldn't.  One more 5:13 morning, and I can sleep in.  Thursdays wear me out…no wonder I’m exhausted at 7 something Friday evening.

Ethan told me yesterday not to hate, but he might get a minivan one day, because he could just take out the seats and live in there.  Oh, that boy.  He meant to show him the inside of a VW bus today, but the day was a marathon and it didn’t happen.  He’ll see pics tomorrow.  I’ll make that boy a hippie, yet.

I totally experienced "Fast Times at Ridegemont High" today at work.  Holy shit, I’m so glad high school  is over.

Interview today was (in my opinion) horrific.  After a particularly shitty day at work, I couldn't seem to make myself shut up and came off like a blathering psychological idiot.  Class was fairly good, but it couldn’t end soon enough.  Off to the store for late night groceries and heading home.  It’s a pretty bad fucking day when the highpoint of your day is your  interaction with cashier Cody at Winco and practicing your Prince screams all the way home (I’m pretty damn good now…it’s all about trusting in your falsetto abilities and Letting Go).

Actually, no.  The high point was my son asking me if he could cook dinner for me tomorrow night, then coming home and him helping me with groceries, he did all of the required homework, plus some (and he wrote about what a powerful  impact  I have made on his life) and we shared some Kalamata olives with anchovies (Mags was asleep).  These kids….  Still, I am considering dreading out my hair, re-piercing my nose (hoop this time) and going to trucker school.  I heard there is a shortage on NPR  and women drivers are growing.  I could be on the road in a few months….

 Picture:  Ethan’s homework

October 1, 2014

It started out so nicely…Beautiful stretching of the body (I remembered to light the incense this morning - I can't believe I forgot yesterday).  I love the mornings, I really do.  I just wish I could back to sleep after I’ve enjoyed them.  Kids are up and it is time to dance.  Maggie and I were actively shaking our groove things to today’s selection – Wild Cherry.  We are quite the duo.  Poor Ethan may soon present significant symptoms of trauma. 

Work was significantly delightful.  New student and I lead her around.  None have been thrilled with supervision during their first week, but at least it’s knocked down from two weeks.   Received confirmation that my time-off request for the music fest was approved.  Glad about that and I am already feeling relaxed hanging around a group of music lovers and my friends minutes away from my house <no loud nights for me – plus hot showers.  What a weekend>  I also received a picture of a gift from Bangladesh!!!  Check out Tripty.org.  It has some amazing products made by wonderful, hardworking artisans.  <made my day>

After work, I raced down the hill to get Ethan some requested clothes of sweats and hoodies (since he has very little).  Naturally, every thing I got was the wrong one, so I’ll be returning it and trying again.  Picked up the boy after tutoring  and it was MUCH better than yesterday.  Maggie asked if she could stay for varsity practice, so Ethan and I went to the damn taquería I have wanted to go to.  I embarrassed him when I realized I was making my “good food” noises.  I tend to do that and it is my version of When Harry Met Sally, I guess, only I’m not faking it….  Picked up Mags at volleyball – I’m glad she is working out with the varsity team.  I don’t quite understand why CMP places people based on grade rather than skill…doesn’t seem quite right to me.  Yes, at these ages the game is competitive.  They aren’t 2^nd graders anymore and competitiveness is healthy and natural. 

Got home and completely forgot the the storm door has lost the bottom pane, so both dogs hopped right out after greeting us.  Mabi stays behind, but Annie saw a cat and took off, barking.  Maggie and I were calling her and looking for her everywhere.  After a bit, Ethan came out, walked in the neighbor’s backyard (I could never do that) and picked up Annie who was just sitting there as if she was at home.  Smash-head-against-fence.  Mags and I had been CALLING HER NAME!!!  It was now  A) time to do homework while B) listening to the Giants in the wildcard slot.  It has been a miserable season listening  to bits and pieces on the radio.  I have seen perhaps 30 minutes the entire season and not ONE game at AT&T Park.  A guy I know said I could stream it, but I can’t seem to do anything like that successfully….    Even the kids missed watching games with me.  

Ethan and I sat and worked on his homework for a good 2 hours.  He has a lot to catch up on and he is not clear on HOW he is supposed to do this stuff (I’m a little confused, myself).  I am hoping that he will soon understand how this works.  Maybe I’ll talk to L about him staying longer with me so we can work on this….  He digs his own holes, I know, but it is SO damn tough to see him in them.  I told him today – I am ALWAYS on his side (he feels ganged up on), that at times I get frustrated and I lose my temper, but I am on his side and want only the best for him. ON THE BRIGHT SIDE – The Giants won, 8-0 over the Pirates.  VERY happy about THAT.  Wonder if I can get TV service for a month?  #OrangeOctober    Long day tomorrow – interview in da Heights and then class.  

Pictures: Junk drawers with lots of "necessary" postage for airmail;  My request for time-off is granted!; Giants and October!!!  #Orange