Rare Books & Fishing Tackle: 2009

home

we're back.

i'll post more pictures soon. hope you all had a lovely Christmas!

back to california...

we're leaving for California on Saturday. here's a few reasons why I can't wait:

{getting to see this little guy}

{seeing them!}

{and of course this}

To whoever decided to shake up my snowglobe,

and then decided to just keep shaking because it was funny:

I know I told you that I wanted snow. A winter wonderland. Some white stuff, and less blue skies.

You took that and just ran with it, didn'tcha? A little beyond the mark? A little eager to please?

Thanks.

I'll be in California. Away from the freezing temperatures. Away from the heavy snow that made it nearly impossible to get out of apartment the other day. I'll be gone. On a ferry. And at Fisherman's Warf. Maybe even Stanyan Street.

So there.

love, me

Blissful Things pt. 3

So, I know, my last post wasn't exactly... cheery. So to make up for it, here is another list of

Blissful Things I Can Always Count On

{see previous lists here and here}

* a cup of hot chocolate with chopped up Queso Oaxaca in it *

{so delightful!}

* the new 30 Seconds to Mars album (esp. "alibi"... ok ok and jared leto lol) *

* old Sherlock Holmes movies *

* watching really bad Netflix rentals with Ty *

* candy apple red nail polish *

* red shoes *

{found here}

* pillows. lots and lots of pillows *

{found here}

* good books *

{found here}

* listening to "Home" by Vanessa Carlton when I have a bad day, and

instantly finding myself in a better mood *

* seeing Ty at the beginning of the day, even if that day

starts at 3:30 a.m. *

* my family *

what's your list?

Lack-of a Winter Wonderland ennui

I woke up very content and happy this morning. It was lightly snowing, and I had slept quite well.

And then I got to work.

For some reason, it all went downhill from there.

I felt ornery, out of sorts, abrasive, and far from wanting to be helpful. I didn't feel good, and then the sun started shining.

This would probably make a normal person happy. It makes me even more grumpy.

I. Do. Not. Like. Sunny Days. Especially when it's cold outside.

This is what winter should look like:

This is what winter looks like here right now:

BLEH.

At lunch, Mr. Hercules served me up a salmon taco from Cafe Rio and sat down next to me while I finished my Sherlock Holmes movie. "I feel grumpy today," he told me.

"I'm really ornery today too," I told him. "You're not grumpy because of me, are you?" I asked.

"Nope. Are you grumpy because of me?"

"Nope."

"Then we're good!" he said.

I love my mister. I love that he doesn't expect to be married to a robot, that I can have bad days and bad moods and so can he. We cuddled on the couch for a bit, he made fun of Sherlock Holmes ("Weatherman Holmes" is what he's calling him now), and then we sighed and went back to work.

My body and moods are quite sensitive to changes in weather. But, like I said before, it's backwards from most people. The gloomier it is, the happier I am. (I'm still working on a theory about why that is)

This year, Mr. Hercules and I are spending Christmas in California. I am VERY excited about this, and can't wait to relax. We're planning a trip to Half Moon Bay again while we are out there, and get to see Mr. Hercules's sisters and mom. We're also picking up Logan on our way. :) I can't wait--I miss that little guy...

{However, I'm going to have to trick my body into not expecting a white Christmas, since it'll probably be in the 60's while we're out there. :)}

Am I the only one who expects snow when it's cold? Every year, my brain forgets that I live in a high deserty area, and my body waits for the snow to dump.

{I think it's going to be a long winter...}

Thank goodness for snow days.

Also, I've been listening to this all day

(Thanks Joe!)

Thanksgiving

Our Thanksgiving was laid-back and relaxing. We spent it at my parents' house with my mom and dad, my brother John, and my other brother Joe and his wife Libby.

(I was a slacker and didn't take many pictures)

Dad and the guys played around with Dad's cool steam engine

how could you not love this guy?

putting up the Christmas tree on Saturday

why yes, those are Star Wars ornaments on our tree!

i love my mister :)

Merry Christmas!

love, mr hercules & captain jules

Thankful

I have been trying to be more grateful in my life. I think I do an ok job, but I want to rock at it. Lately, I've been thinking about it in the mornings, after Mr. Hercules leaves for work and I am in bed alone, waiting for another hour before I really have to get up.

My list usually starts something like this:

I am thankful for Mr. Hercules
I am thankful for this amazingly comfortable bed (made comfortable by this)
I am thankful for the harem of lovely pillows that Mr. Hercules puts up with (which leads me to be thankful for Mr. Hercules again)
I am thankful for our safe home
I am thankful for this amazing bed

And then I usually fall asleep again.

My mom gave us these gratitude journals a while back, and I've tried to write things in there, but haven't been awesome at it either. So the past little bit, I've trying to do better. So, with a little more thought, here is part of my list of gratitude.

I am thankful for my amazing husband. I couldn't have dreamed up a better man. Some days I wonder if I'm dreaming it all, or really married.
I am thankful for awesome parents who have no idea how seriously cool they are.
I am thankful for the ability to read (made possible by the awesome parents who have no idea how seriously cool they are), and the passion I have for it
I am thankful for my job
I am thankful for a reliable vehicle
I am thankful for simple joys from etsy that make my hands less dry and my lips less chapped (and my ears more pretty, and my body smell lovely, and my fingers all ring-y, etc. etc...)
I am thankful for the right to vote, even if it doesn't go my way
I am grateful that I don't have to be scared when I go out shopping, or come home at night
I am grateful that I have a kick-toshie family

I am grateful for this guy

and this little guy

and them

happy thanksgiving

Thoughts from "The Alchemist"

reading The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo, and thought I'd quickly share some thoughts that have stuck with me:

"What is the world's greatest lie?" the boy asked, completely suprised.
"It's this: that at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what's happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate. That's the world's greatest lie."

"People learn, early in their lives, what is their reason for being," said the old man, with a certain bitterness. "Maybe that's why they give up on it so early, too."

"When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it..."

"...people need not fear the unknown if they are capable of achieving what they need and want. We are afraid of losing what we have, whether it's our life or our possessions and property. But this fear evaporates when we understand that our life stories and the history of the world were written by the same hand."

Your Horoscope

Your horoscopes, compliments once again of The Onion:

Aries Mar 21 - Apr 19

Sometimes in life, you just need to stop whatever you're doing and take a step back. Actually, maybe it's two steps back. Yeah, that's good. Keep going. The stars will let you know when you're far enough.

Taurus Apr 20 - May 20

As you'll soon learn, there are scandals and then there are Scandals—depending on whether or not the word starts at the beginning of a sentence.

Gemini May 21 - Jun 21

A tragic boating accident will soon claim the lives of the lead singer, guitarist, and drummer of your one-man band.

Cancer Jun 22 - Jul 22

When played with skill and grace, the game of soccer is like poetry in motion. Which explains all the bored-stiff people just pretending to follow along.

Leo Jul 23 - Aug 22

You'll popularize a new dance craze this week, thanks in large part to the large, feral raccoon clawing at your back.

Virgo Aug 23 - Sep 22

Remember a couple of months back when the stars accurately predicted the birth of your second child? Man, that was great.

Libra Sep 23 - Oct 23

Keep in mind this week that anger is fear in disguise, although why you'd be afraid of the soda machine eating your dollar is for you alone to answer.

Scorpio Oct 24 - Nov 21

Like a moth to a flame, you too will be strongly attracted to a giant flame today.

Sagittarius Nov 22 - Dec 21

You've never worked a day in your life, though that's mainly because you keep getting the dang graveyard shift.

Capricorn Dec 22 - Jan 19

Due to adverse weather conditions and severe delays, your next stop this evening will no longer be "Party Town!"

Aquarius Jan 20 - Feb 18

You'll find yourself up the creek without a paddle this week, but take heart: Paddles are available for purchase at any decent sporting-goods store.

Pisces Feb 19 - Mar 20

Everything you desire shall be yours this week, providing you do not under any circumstances read your horoscope.

Welcome

what a perfect day looks like

home

back to california...

Blissful Things pt. 3

Lack-of a Winter Wonderland ennui

Thanksgiving

Thankful

Thoughts from "The Alchemist"