Crashing California

I have had a wonderful and sort of "debrief-ish" last couple of weeks. I've finished up some large freelance projects, continued to fall into the grooves of JC and all that entails. My personal life feels at present always busy but good. I guess it's a good rut to be in. Of course alot of things have been happening outside of my life as well. Last week we were all "allowed" downstairs to our lunch room to watch the inauguration of President Obama, and I watched (among the absolute throngs of people in Washington and all over) American History unfold itself. I also watched a gentleman in front of me (African American) crying and wiping his eyes, which struck me much more than watching the president himself. I guess I have an interesting perspective on things ... being a Canadian in America I did not grow up with segregation, nor the racial politics and strife that this nation has endured and is now trying slowly to diminish. The weight of this presidency fo...

Some extra pictures from the cliffs today

Well, anyone who knows anything about me, will know, my birthday is in two days. Yep, the big 3-1 ... I think 3o was a harder year for me, 31 just sort of feels like an extension on the previous year ... no milestones evident just yet, though we cannot know what this year will hold. I went down to San Diego to spend some time with Laura and Andy and little Mira ... and they had a wee-surprise party for me ... birthday cake and all ... which was wonderful except I was not expecting it, so Jay wasn't able to come (!!) but it was still cool, I spent the night, Jay picked me up the next day and we went to our old stompin' ground in Point Loma and down to Sunset Cliffs, which was SUCH a treat because the tide was sooo low we could walk down on the rocks and scope out the usually covered up treasures embedded in the rocks. I felt like it was God giving me an early present. There were birds and dolphins and lots of little "weird" tidal things you don't usually see, such ...

Happy New Year Everyone! One of the best things about New Years for me, is how it seems to bring out the dreams of new hope in starting over -- the chance for us to have a clean slate in life and choices. Like if we were having a rough year (as it seems so many have had) because the clock rolls around to midnight and the calendar year begins again, that it's licence to "christen" our dreams and BEGIN NEW. Really, it's mostly symbolic if we're honest with ourselves -- a good excuse to "begin again". We could do that at any time really. It's an interesting observation to think about how human nature feels the need to have a pinpoint-significant place in time to start over again, to try to fix what might be broken, or start new goals. Don't get me wrong, I put myself into that category too! In fact, this year Jay and I did up some lofty goals (some not so much) for ourselves, our band and our lives. It does feel good to be able to sit at the edge of...

(a holiday breakfast for two) Well, seems that Christmas has come and gone for another year. For me this year, two things highlight the season. This Christmas Eve we were a part of a Christmas Eve service at the church that we've been going to :Generation Church in Oceanside. We did 3 services and one "midnight mass" of sorts. I got to play piano on one song (!!!) during the first three services, (and sang, of course ) and Jay played electric. Then last service of the night, we gathered at 11:30 p.m. as the Winter rains sprinkled down on Southern California and sang and lit candles and truly worshiped God. A memory special to me, was the last song of the night, Silent Night, where everyone in the congregation lit candles and we sang the old classic acapella ... it was such a precious moment, I will not soon forget. Christmas morning was totally chill, I made "Wifesaver" (thanks Momma H.!!) Jay and I opened gifts (Jay got a new hoodie and I got a great new eas...

(Photo from my JC Christmas Party last Saturday -- they had a photo booth set up with props -- was pretty fun) I am right now as I type, filling my face with Minestrone soup from the cafeteria downstairs and thinking of how warm my insides feel. It's been a good and busy week for me. My supervisor is now officially coming back for the 22nd, which is a comfort to me, since I am tired of doing everything here at JC's CS for the last 3 weeks, it's been good, and if one thing, at least is shown me, to myself that I can hold my own, but i am indeed only one person -- I need my supervisor here, and I am SO GLAD that the hectic pace is almost over. It's been an absolute juggling act between JC work, freelance work, home time, visiting and music stuff. Though "the band" is taking a wee Christmas Break, with some good thinking and praying and deciding where we want to go next year (and with *whom* we're going to go there with). I am playing piano more, and want to ...

Our Show last Thursday (for M. and others) The black and white's are taken by Kristin, John's fiance ... the color's are from Peter. Enjoy =) love, a.