Rare Books & Fishing Tackle

moving

2011-12-06T13:46:00.001-07:00

We've moved!

Please continue reading our adventures at:

http://www.thegypsyandthegamer.com/

See you over there!

Kluay Buat Chee

2011-10-20T10:50:00.003-06:00

Coral Island, Phuket, Thailand

About this time a year ago today, I was sitting on a train platform with Tyson in Thailand, waiting to board a train for a 5 hour train ride to Hua Hin.

Phuket, Thailand

{ which you may recall as being my favorite place in the world. }

{ well, besides my bed }

Hua Hin, Thailand

Time has passed so quickly; I would have sworn we were only there a month or two ago. I woke up early this morning (something I of course never do), and laid in bed for an hour before it was time for Ty to get up. I thought about our trip, all of the amazing things we saw and did, the amazing food, the smells, and how cranky I am after I fly (sorry Captain Awesome).

I thought about how generous and sincere most of the people we met were. They had barely anything, and were the happiest people I've ever met. I am reminded again and again that I have SO much to be grateful for.

Coral Island, Phuket, Thailand

I promised Ty when we left that I would learn how to cook Thai food. I've learned a few things, but after thinking about all the amazing food we had there, I resolved again today to learn to cook more Thai food.

One of our favorite things we ate there (besides the VAST amounts of fresh fruit) was a dessert called Kluay Buat Chee, bananas cooked in coconut milk.

Make it. Eat it. Love it. I dare you. I triple dog dare you.

Kluay Buat Chee

3 Bananas
1 can coconut milk (I prefer Thai Kitchen)
3/4 cup sugar (more or less, depending on your taste)
1/2 - 1 tsp salt

Warm coconut milk over medium/high heat. Bring it to a boil. Add sugar and salt, and continue to boil for 2 minutes. Add bananas, and cook up to 2 minutes, until soft (but not squishy). Serve immediately. Prepare to have your taste buds BEG you for more.

la luna

2011-10-13T21:39:00.001-06:00

The night walked down the sky with the moon in her hand.

{ Frederick L. Knowles }

change

2011-10-02T20:00:00.000-06:00

It's been an interesting month.

September's never been my favorite. Especially this year. From a broken car, to having to completely change my diet, it's felt like one thing after another.

It could be far worse. Far, far worse. I know that.

But I think it's okay to sit, mope, and play Gears of War every once in awhile.

I'll be back soon.

{ morning }

2011-08-25T10:17:00.002-06:00

I'm not a morning person. Just ask my mother or my husband.

I don't think that people should have to get up before the sun does. And I prefer rainy mornings, not sunny ones, so you can imagine the fight I have with that one.

When we had Logan with us this summer, there wasn't much lazing about in the mornings. I had to get up early, get him up, feed him, get him ready, get myself ready, and then run out the door to drop him off at my sister's before I went to work.

The past few weeks since he's been gone, I've found myself lying in bed, wondering what to do with my extra hour in the morning. At first I'd get up, vacuum, do the dishes, throw some laundry in the washer, meditate, and then get ready. The last week or so, I've been rolling over, enjoying the comfort of our bed, and laying there until it was absolutely necessary for me to get up.

{ those walls will soon be blue }

{ and yes, that's a crown on my bed. Logan made it for me for Step-Mom Day }

I was feeling guilty about not getting up, about being lazy and lying cocooned in a mass of blankets, pillows, and the best mattress I've ever owned.

But as I laid there, I thought about priorities. The laundry always gets done. The yoga poses are done either in the morning or later in the day, it wasn't necessary to do it immediately upon waking. The dishes get done, the floor is vacuumed. What was I stressing about? I had a glorious quiet hour, probably the only quiet I'd find during the day--why should I feel guilty about appreciating it?

It is with that thought that I continually return to my blankets after Ty leaves for work. Now I just do it without guilt.

Carrie Snow said that "No day is so bad that it can't be fixed with a nap."

{ I just fit mine in a few minutes after I wake up }

disconnected

2011-08-16T13:19:00.002-06:00

Sunday night, through a series of events, I found myself without a working cell phone.

We don't have a land line, so this was my only means of communication with the outside world. We worked late into the night on Sunday trying to get something to work for me. Finally, I told Ty I was done, and wanted to go to bed.

"But you won't have a phone," he said. "Is that ok?"

I told him I'd made it without one for 2 weeks in Thailand, and if I could survive a foreign country without a phone, I could make it a day or two without it here.

I woke up Monday morning, and felt calm. It was quiet from a storm having rolled through the night before. I turned on some music that I usually meditate to, and started to get ready. I left the TV off, I left the computer off, and didn't once think about my phone.

I made it to work earlier than usual, and got ready for the work day.

It was the most peaceful day I've had since we came back from Thailand.

Of course, my phone is working once again, but I'm kind of sad that it is. I really enjoyed the quiet.

Ty and I had decided earlier to have one night a week where we turn off all power to the house, and just enjoy the quiet. I'm thinking it's time to do that with the phone, as well.

Catching up

2011-08-05T15:48:00.001-06:00

It's been quite the summer.

We've had so much going on, it's been easier to neglect this blog for the time being.

Slowly, things are returning to quiet.

I find myself ready to start painting again. I've found sketchbooks I'd set aside and forgotten about, then sketches and ideas for photos I wanted to take.

I find myself moving slowly--not cautiously by any means, just softer. Trying to just exist in the moment. Listening to quieter music ("The Long Road" by Eddie Vedder {not the Pearl Jam & Neil Young version} pops up on my playlist quite frequently).

I've sat and thought a lot about priorities. Why some things matter more than others, what things I don't find myself needing anymore and am ready to give up.

One thing we've had to give up lately is wheat. We found out about a month ago that Ty is allergic to wheat, so the cupboards, fridge, pantry, and freezer were turned inside out, purged of anything that could make him sick. Luckily for my husband, I can cook. Also luckily for him, I have an obsession with cook books, and also went through a period in college where doctors believed I had celiac-sprue disease, so I'd been through the process before, and had a basic understanding of what we were up against.

He's handling it much better than I ever did.

We've been experimenting with different recipes, and have successfully made brownies, which is the most important thing besides bread. That will be the next adventure, after my shipment of flours comes in.

We'll keep you all posted.

{ p u d d i n g }

2011-06-28T17:51:00.001-06:00

Sometimes I'm sneaky.

{ It's for the best }

He never knew what was in it!

Chocolate Pudding

(found in whole living)

3 avocados

6 tbs cocoa powder

1/4 cup raw honey

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Sea salt

Puree avocados, cocoa powder, honey, and vanilla in a food processor until smooth.

Sprinkle pudding with salt before serving.

**I added about 1 TBS of yogurt to add just a little bit more creaminess**

Zen

2011-06-23T15:29:00.001-06:00

"The only Zen you find on the tops of mountains is the Zen you bring up there.”

Robert M. Pirsig

Ennui

2011-06-20T13:00:00.002-06:00

It's been awhile.

I feel like we need to sit down with a cup of tea, looking over photos and catching up.

We're moved in.

{ mostly. ignore the boxes piled in the spare bedroom }

The view is gorgeous. Fields to the south, mountains to the east and north.

It's quiet. Exactly what we were looking for.

There's a garden, room for a chicken coop (that will come next year). Fruit trees everywhere; in the front, lilacs, and a birch tree taller than the house, shielding us from the hot summer sun and prying eyes from the road. In the back, a Weeping Willow broad enough to shade half of the back yard.

It's our own little heaven.

I've been feeling a bit of an ennui this past while. There's several books that I must read every year: Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer is one of those.

Ty listens every time I feel this urge to pick up and go. He calls my ennui a "spiritual claustrophobia."

I appreciate so much a husband who listens. He never pushes to get me out of a mood, but rather lets me move through it. Sometimes I feel like he even sulks along in it with me so I don't have to go through it alone. We talk about books, plan trips, and he encourages me to draw and paint again. It's these small things that seem to move me forward, more than running away from civilization with him.

{ although that would be lovely as well }

"So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism, all of which maybe appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more damaging to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. The very basic core of a man's living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing hoizon, for each day to have a new and different sun. If you want to get more out of life, you must lose your inclination for monotonous security a adopt a helter-skelter sytle of life that will first appear to you to be crazy. But once you become accustomed to such a life, you will see its full meaning and its incredible beauty."

- Jon Krakauer

Home

2011-05-06T07:27:00.002-06:00

This is the bright home
in which I live,
this is where
I ask
my friends
to come,
this is where I want
to love all the things
it has taken me so long
to learn to love.

This is the temple
of my adult aloneness
and I belong
to that aloneness
as I belong to my life.

There is no house
like the house of belonging.

{ David Whyte }

Need

2011-04-21T12:44:00.001-06:00

I've been going through our things these past weeks, trying to pack and prepare us to move into our new home.

A lot of thoughts have gone through my head as I sorted things, mostly about need and want.

I want a quiet house. I want a new mattress (the one we bought a year ago has a foot-wide/long hole in it that sinks to the bottom of the mattress. Thank goodness it's under warranty! I'll have a new one in 2 weeks). I want quiet neighbors. I want new jeans. I want more time to meditate. I want a peaceful soul. I want more books. I don't want to pack, I don't want to wait anymore. I want to find a grenade launcher and completely murder that car outside my window. I want to go back to Thailand. I want a cup of tea right now...

It's after these moments I have quiet thoughts of need.

I need. I need... I need...

Nothing.

It dawns on me.

I don't need anything. I already have everything.

resolutions, schmezerlutions...

2011-04-14T11:11:00.001-06:00

I don't believe in New Years' Resolutions.

{ probably because I never keep them. we won't talk about that }

But, I also understand that we can't move forward and become the people we want to be without setting some type of goal.

I just don't believe in struggle. I don't like it. I don't believe it's necessary. And resolutions for me have always been a struggle.

Every little while, though, I come up with a list of things I want to accomplish. I don't give myself a time limit, because I don't like deadlines. I like being able to move at the pace I think I should be going at, and that things come in their own time, when I'm ready.

{ Which is probably why I don't run or do marathons or anything like that... I think a person should only run if they're being chased. That, and I'm just that lazy }

A few months ago, I came up with a new list:

Write to a stranger
Create an immediate universe of Zen
Mail strangers mix CDs I've made
Read a book a month
Volunteer once a month
Work out five times a week
Drink more water
Meditate
Love specific things about myself

I had forgotten about the list (that's how I roll) until yesterday. I was really pleased that I could say I've accomplished some of those tasks already. Maybe resolutions aren't so bad, after all...

Anyone else got a list going? Want to share?

Change the World.

2011-03-30T21:03:00.001-06:00

It doesn't take much. All you have to do is show up.

Saving a life couldn't be easier. Or make you feel so good.
We are all of us connected--it's time to show it.

Contentment

2011-03-28T13:36:00.002-06:00

Last night, I told Mr. Hercules that I really want to go back to Thailand.

"I'm sorry," he said. He was referring to the fact that we are in the middle of buying a home, and will be completely broke for the next few months, and unable to travel--abroad or otherwise--for awhile.

"Don't be sorry!" I said. "Just because we can't go now doesn't mean that we'll never go back. We'll be back in a few years," I grinned. I was content with my memories.

It doesn't matter that we awoke within us the longing to travel while we were there. It doesn't matter that we won't be able to again for awhile. We are content with remembering the little family-owned cafe off the main street in Hua Hin where we had the best onion rings I've ever had in my life. We're content with watching video we took of the absolutely insane and amazing maneuvers of the tuk-tuk drivers down the streets of Chinatown in Bangkok. We are content with remembering how it felt to lay on the beach underneath a warm sun, trying to catch hermit crabs on Coral Island.

Today I read a post called "Contentment in Five Short Stories" by Chris Guillebeau of The Art of Non-Conformity. At the end of his post, he said:

"I know that contentment is more of an internal state of being rather than something that is
derived through external circumstances. Yet, I am human and therefore influenced by my surroundings.

Could I have this feeling anywhere? Yes. But I also don't mind going to Thailand or Toronto to find it."

I've had several people tell me since we've come back from our trip to "get over" wanting to go back, because we've seen it before. John Burroughs said, "To learn something new, take the path that you took yesterday." So we want to go back.

We found contentment in Thailand, because we found contentment in ourselves. We had it before, but what we brought home was more focused, and helps us to find contentment eating a bowl of ice cream watching a Netflix movie, knowing that we won't be traveling again for awhile, but that's ok. We discovered ourselves again in Thailand, and are content with that.

What brings you contentment?

{ As a side note, I find contentment in this being my 300th blog post.

Thanks for sharing it with me. }

A Peaceful Soul

2011-03-17T16:45:00.001-06:00

There are several things I have been searching for over the past few years.

{ bliss }

{ calm }

{ beauty}

and, something else I haven't talked a lot about to many people except for Tyson--

{ Zen }

In Thailand, I discovered that I have a peaceful soul.

It's been hanging on to it since we got back that I've struggled with.

There's a meditation I've been doing every day--

I am a peaceful soul

My mind is filled with peace

I radiate peace to the world

I feel the gentle waves of peace flowing across my mind

As these peaceful thoughts emerge in my mind I feel the stillness and silence envelopes my mind

I am a peaceful soul...

Today I did not have a peaceful soul. Work was difficult; I had to deal with some very rude people, and it was beginning to wear on me.

At lunch, Ty teased me with "Why don't you knock it off with them negative waves? Why don't you dig how beautiful it is out here? Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change?" (Oddball, from "Kelly's Heroes")

We tease each other with that quote all the time, telling each other to have more "positive waves."

When he told me to say something more "positive and hopeful," I said, "I am a peaceful soul?"

He laughed at me a little and said, "Honey, I love you, but you don't have a peaceful soul today." He made me laugh and cheered me up a little bit before we headed out the door to go back to work. He kissed me goodbye and I told him, "I'm a happy Earth Child." He looked down at me, smiled, and said "Then be one."

I thought back today about Thailand, and what made my soul peaceful over there. Tried to understand what it was so that I could bring it home and have a peaceful soul here.

There are a lot of answers to that question. But the one that came to mind most clearly was that in Thailand, I let myself BE. I just was. It was simple. It was a stream flowing in the direction it was meant to, not worrying about how it was getting there, or about the rocks underneath, or whatever was on the shore. It was happy to be the river, and reflect the sunlight off the water.

I will find that again. I will be that again.

I am a peaceful soul. I am a peaceful soul. My mind is filled with peace.

the sick room

2011-03-08T15:32:00.001-07:00

Today, I missed the jungles of Thailand. I missed the warm water, the food (oh my heaven, the food....), the smells.

Most importantly, I missed the humid air.

My little Vick's humidifier just isn't cutting it.
The only thing that comes close is when I'm in the 95 degree, 100% humidity bathroom.

I think it's time to go back to Hua Hin.

{ the sick room }

We've spent the last week sick, and today I am home by myself, trying not to be bored.

I've been spending my time watching Netflix movies, trying to guess where our next trip will be,

deciding what color to paint our new kitchen

{ we bought a house! }

cuddling in the new blanket my wonderful husband bought me

drinking tons of tea

and cuddling with Mr. Bacon.

Hopefully we'll feel better soon, because I am really tired of being sick.

February

2011-02-26T20:39:00.000-07:00

This has been a full month.

A month full of clear moments.

A month of racing and feeling overwhelmed and losing focus.

And then, clarity.

blissful things

2011-02-02T15:23:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile since I did a round of blissful things. I think it's time to do it again, do you? I'll wait while you grab your tea and put on some warm socks (because truly, what is more blissful than something warm to drink and something warm on your feet?)

{ Speaking of things on your feet... }

You know that quote from the commercial, "shoe love is true love".

It is. Trust me on this.

Thick, heavy throws. What could be more lovely?

Homemade bread with dry-rub

You have absolutely NO idea how amazing this is....

Sushi.

{ love }

There, I feel better now. How about you?

winter

2011-01-27T20:11:00.000-07:00

I struggle in the winter. In the high desert, where I live, it will snow once or twice, leaving us dumped with snow, and then be sunshine and freezing temperatures for months.

I struggle in the winter.

Mr. Hercules knows this. He's always very kind and loving, and tries to make it as easy on me as possible.

And then, he goes and leaves something like this on my desk at work and sneaks away while I'm in the back of the office and didn't even hear him come in...

There are 5 million and 2 reasons why I love him. That is one of them.

2010

2011-01-20T19:43:00.000-07:00

you're supposed to do your summary of the year in december, but I got lazy

{ january }

january was concert time

{ february }

in february, we cheered during the olympics (most loudly

for our beloved Apolo Ohno)

{ march }

my newest niece was born in march (she's 10 months old now!),

and I traveled to Denver to meet her

{ april }

in april, I had surgery for endometriosis, celebrated our first wedding anniversary,

and said goodbye to my brother as he left for two years to

serve as a missionary for our church

{ may }

may meant the return of spring (aka--paintball season),

and celebrating Clint Eastwood's birthday

{ june }

june is always reserved for camping, visiting family, and finally getting

to see Logan

{ july }

in july we watched amazing storms, played lovely silly dress-up games,

and attended 1st birthday parties

{ august }

in august, we regained our balance, began painting again, and read a lot of books

{september }

in september, we attended a star trek party, had more 1st birthdays,

tried to grow things again, and visited Denver again for

a wonderful event,

{ october }

we spent the last half of october in thailand

{ november }

in november, we got ready for christmas and tried to grow more things

(and tried to get better from the nasty plane food that made us sick precious)

{ december }

we spent christmas with my family, and had a wonderful december

I hope everyone else had a wonderful 2010, too!!

january

2011-01-15T20:57:00.000-07:00

Wonder is the promise of restoration:

as deeply as you dive, so may you rise.

{ christina baldwin }

Can we keep him?

2011-01-13T17:51:00.000-07:00

{ can I have one? }

We can't have any pets in the townhouse we live in, but Ty said when we build a house, I can have a dog.

I want an Irish Setter.

{ I promise I'll love him and feed him }

{ and not tell mr. hercules when i let
the puppy sleep with me when he has to work early }

Phuket & Coral Island

2011-01-06T18:37:00.004-07:00

{ we've nearly come to the end of our travels }

We spent the last week in Thailand in Phuket and on Coral Island. I feel homesick for that country already.

(and please be nice and don't leave me nasty comments about

having already been there and to get over it. I'll delete them.)

After Hua Hin, we took the train back to Bangkok and spent the night.

The next day we drove to the airport and flew to Phuket.

BEST. PLANE. RIDE. EVER.

The food was amazing.

They put humidity into the air so that it wouldn't be dry.

The stewards were nice.

If you have a chance, (you know, if you're in "the area"),

you absolutely MUST fly Bangkok Air. HIGHLY recommended

{ Side note: we will NEVER fly United again. }

So we landed in Phuket and found a friendly driver to take us to

our hotel, about an hour away. I fell asleep almost instantly.

It was worth the drive.

Once again, Ty outdid himself on the hotel.

It was GOREGOUS. It was steps away from the ocean,

and behind it (up a VERY steep road--

which I shall advise you not to try wearing flip-flops)

was the beach. Dare I say better than the Hua Hin beach.

{ There was a great restaurant next to the hotel. We ate there two or three times }

The tables were made from old sewing machines

Yep. We found Elvis.

I found The Oregeon!

We saw the sweetest little girls feeding the fish
{ they made me miss my nieces }

The next morning, we got up and went on a jungle safari

{ BEES }

Feeding the elephants

Baby elephants!

Learning how curry is made
{ we brought some home for you to try }

A rubber tree

How to shell a coconut

Everybody wants a water buffalo!

Riiight before the monkey stole that guy's sandal and broke it

Naughty little monkeys!

Best tour guide ever!

After our safari, we hopped on a longboat and took off for Coral Island, across the bay,
where we spent 4 days laying on the beach, snorkeling, parasailing,
reading, and relaxing.

Our bungalow on the beach

Exploring the island

Our friend, Lucky. She guarded our beach chairs
In return, we fed her table scraps of delicious food
(She doesn't like curry)

Our first time parasailing

The largest bats I've ever seen (we're guessing they have about a 6-foot wingspan)

We spent the last full day inside the bungalow,
listening to the rain and reading books

Dolphin-boy, our room key.

We hiked around the island and found this sign in front of
a house nestled into the side of the hills on the island.
It started downpouring right after this, so we didn't
get to meet whoever the house belonged to.

The rocks where I found the best seashells for my nieces

Scariest. Crab. Ever. I thought he was dead and then he moved. Scared me to death.

A friendly guest in our room our last night on the island

We left on a quiet morning, and flew back to Bangkok.

It felt so strange, moving from such quiet and relaxation to the hustle and craziness
of normal life. Being in Thailand felt normal, but by the time we flew home,
it was good to be back.

{ I'd go back in a heartbeat. }

Hua Hin: Part 2

2010-12-19T19:00:00.000-07:00

Day 2 in Hua Hin began with a journey to the Monkey Temple on Chopstick Hill.

{ The longest stairs EVER}

Only part-way up the stairs...

And then there were the monkeys...

We still have a LOT of walking before we make it to the temple...

Oy with the stairs already....

{ Best. Picture. EVER. }

{ How I felt after a few days out of the country }

This was right after the little monkey tried to steal Ty's waterbottle out of his pocket

{ I wanted to keep this little guy }

Ty got to feed about 50 or 60 monkeys. As soon as they saw the bucket, they started swarming like it was Night of the Living Dead and he was the last human in the county.

{ Next: Phuket }

Hua Hin - Part 1

2010-12-02T11:21:00.000-07:00

{ I think I could live happily the rest of my life in Hua Hin. }

Sadly, I would be away from my family, so that wouldn't be the best, so I will have to dream about going back someday.

We got off the train and walked to our hotel. Because we are white (white = foreigner = MONEY) we were stopped by an owner of a hotel, inviting us to stay at his hotel, it must be so much nicer than were we are going (yeah, and probably about 14 times as expensive). We politely got out of that one, and continued on our way. The hotel we were staying at wasn't far from the train station, and it was right down the street from some of the best food I have ever eaten in my life.

Ty was in charge of picking out hotels for us (he clearly is the more organized one between us).

He definitely got a gold star for our hotel in Hua Hin!

Every hotel we stayed at had the bath towels folded like different animals

I could have lived on that balcony

We settled in and cleaned up from the long train ride and set out into the city. We found somewhere quiet to eat, and then walked down to the beach.

The ocean was gorgeous. There's no other word for it. The water was warm, clear, and beautiful. We walked down the beach (which ended up being VERY exhausting), at which point I may have become a little whiny and tired of walking. My very patient and loving husband walked slower, held my hand, busted out the GPS and got us back to the hotel.

Since we weren't able to go to the floating market in Bangkok like we'd wanted to, going to the Hua Hin night market was a must. We had basic directions of were to go, so we set out when it got dark around 6:30. We went back to the train station, and started walking next to a few Thai men. They asked where we were from and where we were going, and showed us the way to the market.

I'm not shy to say I COULDN'T WAIT to go to the market. I was excited to see what kind of shopping I could do. We had found some great things in Chinatown in Bangkok, but didn't buy anything because we wanted to see what all of our options were. We never made it back to Chinatown, so I was hoping to get some lovely things in Hua Hin.

Before coming to Thailand, we read everything we could. Several places suggested not to pack as many clothes as you thought you needed, because clothing was so cheap in Thailand compared to the US. At the night market, we found several nice shirts, some swimming shorts, and sandals for Ty. I bought fisherman's pants (mine are dark green, but like these), T-shirts, and music for myself. (At about $4 a shirt, how could you pass it up?)

We bought some fruit from a vendor, and walked around until our feet were tired. On our way back home, we passed a park were some locals were doing yoga. I begged Ty to take video of it, but he didn't want to be rude, so we didn't. I wanted my sister to listen to the music they were doing yoga to. Just a month before we came to Hua Hin, Ann had organized a yoga event in Denver. The event was amazing, and the music was so soothing. It was music by Snatam Kaur--very relaxing, very Zen.

So what music did the women in Hua Hin listen to?

Kenny G.

The journey to Hua Hin

2010-11-19T16:23:00.005-07:00

{ To get to Hua Hin from Bangkok, we decided to take the train. }

I am married to a man who is a researcher by heart. This saved us from doing many stupid (and probably illegal) things while on our trip, for which I was grateful for him. (Feeding elephants in Bangkok = $300 fine, possible jail time. Feeding elephants in Phuket while on a guided elephant tour in the jungle? Priceless.) He had our train schedule printed off and had everything figured out a week before we even left for our trip (I'm more of a fly by the seat of my pants, "if we make it, we're meant to!" kind of girl).

We slept beautifully the night before, and got up a couple of hours before we were supposed to meet the train. We left our luggage in our room, because we were going to have breakfast in the hotel restaurant. When we came back to the room, our key card wouldn't work. Ty tried a few times, but it just wouldn't open. We went down to the hotel lobby and asked the desk clerk to have someone try to help us into our room so we could get our luggage and get to the train station on time.

They sent the handyman up to look at it, but the battery had died in the door; we're still not entirely sure what had to happen for us to get in the room. All we knew is that by the time we were back in and had our luggage, it was almost an hour, and the train we were supposed to be on had left the station when we were getting into a taxi to go to the train station.

Now, if you remember, this is the train station from the earlier post about Bangkok:

Pretty, isn't it? It was exciting when we got inside--lots of hustle and bustle, but a very friendly information desk that had English speaking workers. They helped us get our tickets for the next train, and told us our train was on Track 7, and we could board anytime it was there.

We excitedly went to the tracks, and found Track 7. The train was already there, so we stepped on and found a seat. It wasn't that comfortable. And the windows wouldn't come down, so Ty said we should get off and get in a different car. The SECOND we stepped off the train, it started moving.

{ It was not our train. }

I have no idea where it was going, but I'm glad Ty made us get out! We waited around for a bit, walked and looked at whatever we could find to keep our interest, and then I felt nature calling.

I have to say, Ty warned me. He did. He said I shouldn't use a public restroom (remember, he researched EVERYTHING before we left). I tried to listen. But I also knew it was a 3 1/2 hour train ride to Hua Hin, and I didn't want to sit cross-legged the whole time. Ty laughed, and we went to find the bathroom. Once again, he warned me. I was two steps in the bathroom when I had to return and ask Ty for money. It was 2 baht (about 6 cents) to use the facilities. (At least I wasn't the only tourist who had to go back and ask her husband for money!) I marched back in, ignoring him chuckling behind me, stood in line, and almost died. Literally. If you are able to die of the smell of ammonia and human waste, I am pretty sure I saw that distant white light. Finally, it was my turn to run and hide in a stall. I closed the door behind me, looked around, and almost cried.

I am spoiled. I really am. I have toilet paper. I have hot, running water. I could drink the water out of my bathroom faucet or bathtub if I really felt like it. I have a clean bathroom. I selfishly expect a clean bathroom. I am spoiled.

I was humbled at what I saw. A small, dirty (very dirty) toilet, with no toilet paper, only a very...used... bidet. I am ashamed to say, I cried a few tears, turned around, and left. I went to wash my hands, and couldn't even dry them. No soap. No towels. Only a long sheet-like towel laid across the sinks that was sopping wet and dripping water onto the floor. And a line of native women behind me who had no problem with what I found in that humble restroom.

I am spoiled.

(Yes, I crossed my legs the whole way there. It ended up being almost a 5 hour train ride)

Our train finally arrived, and we got on board.

We found a nice wooden seat, kind of like a pew, that no one wanted, so we happily set our things down and settled in for the journey. I got my camera out, and Ty bought some food from a woman selling it, walking up and down the isle of the cars.

At the first stop, a small old man with a foot-long hair growing out of his chin came and sat across from us. He saw us open the Saran wrap on the food we bought, and held up his hand. "No good! No eat!" he told us, making a face and holding his stomach. We decided to trust someone who has been in the country for more than the 2 days we had been, and didn't eat the food. He gave us a satisfied smile, and proceeded to tell us the name of every station we stopped at. He would make Ty say the name over and over until he was close to getting it right.

We spent a lot of that ride in quiet thought. It took quite a long time to get out of Bangkok, and we got to see a different side of the city than the skyscrapers and tourist areas.

{ Mmm.. makes you want to go swimming, doesn't it? }

The thing that interested me the most about Thailand is the amazing beauty, with stark poverty, and often trash, right beside it. We saw people trimming hedges, sweeping streets, shaping trees, and planting flowers, while walking over trash and not picking it up.

(We thought this was a marijuana field, but now that we can see the plants better, we don't think it is)

(Yes, that's trash)

What normal livestock looks like when they are allowed to roam, aren't fed hormones, and bred to be humongous... And probably not fed much.

Everywhere you look, even amidst all the poverty, are beautiful shrines

{ We saw children playing and living under this bridge }

We couldn't stop staring at the window on the long ride to Hua Hin, and met some really amazing people. We ended up being grateful that we missed the faster, earlier train, because of the people we got to meet. Including one man from Washington state who warned my husband not to go near the monkeys.

Obviously he doesn't know my husband.

{ Next: Hua Hin }

Hua Hin: the Preface

2010-11-11T17:01:00.001-07:00

{ PREFACE }

Before I tell you about my new favorite place in the world, Hua Hin, I must tell you that every day on our vacation was met with some sort of mishap or disaster.

Our first day in Bangkok, we asked a taxi driver to take us to a floating market. Ty had the address and name, and we had heard it was quite popular, so we had confidence in our friendly non-English speaking driver.

{ Until he pulled over and asked a pedestrian where to go. }

I felt a little less confident at that moment, but pushed it away with excitement at being in a new country, surrounded by completely unfamiliar sites and smells.

Ty got out to help the driver and the pedestrian, and tried to explain where we wanted to go. They got back in the taxi, laughing and smiling, and my confidence returned. We headed off!

Nearly a half hour later, we were leaving behind the large skyscrapers, and about forty-five minutes later the buildings were spaced farther and farther apart.

{ My confidence waned. }

Ty had his GPS out (SO grateful we had that, by the way!), and was comparing where we were to where we were supposed to be. We asked the driver to pull over and take us back to Bangkok. He shook his head and pointed at a sign. We realized later that he was driving us to the next big town, which coincidently had almost the same name as the market we wanted to go to. Ty asked the driver to pull over again, and take us back to Bangkok. Once we started back, and I could begin to see smog and tall buildings again, I felt relief. I hadn't quite been worried, just a little nervous. We'd heard all the warnings and stories about travelers ending up in jail or prison, or lost and never heard from again, but I thought the idea that anything like that could happen to us was silly, and we always laughed it off. Until that moment.

Ty's fear was that we wouldn't be able to find another taxi to take us back to Bangkok (around 90 km away). My fear was having to call my parents in the middle of the night back in the States asking for the number to the nearest US embassy.

Back safely in Bangkok, the driver dropped us off by our hotel (which he also had trouble finding, so we got out, used the GPS, and walked the rest of the way), and we paid him the 1200 Baht for the trip, which is about $40--which you wouldn't think much of, except every other taxi cost us no more than 400 Baht with a tip (about $13).

We never made it to the market, but with everything else we were able to see and do, I wasn't terribly disappointed. There were several other places we wanted to see on the trip, but weren't able to, but we still had the time of our lives, and I wouldn't trade a minute of it.

{ Next: HUA HIN! }

Bangkok

2010-11-10T15:09:00.002-07:00

We've got so many pictures from our trip to Thailand, I decided to break them down between several posts.

We arrived in Bangkok Sunday night around 11 p.m. We were instantly hit with a wave of heat, humidity, and a smell I will never forget (and have grown to love): curry, cigarettes, and sweat.

On the plane on our way across the Pacific!

Our hotel in Bangkok. The NICEST people work there

(yes, this was a VERY yellow room!)

The view outside our hotel room. Yes, there was a parking lot under us. It wasn't very loud, though, especially since the hotel spa was on the other side.

There are food vendors EVERYWHERE on the side of the road in Bangkok. We weren't brave enough to try them, even though they smelled SO good... We did eat from a fruit vendor, though.

Bangkok, Oriental city!

And the city don't know what the city is getting

The creme de la creme of the chess world in a

Show with everything but Yul Brynner!

(and I get my kicks above the waistline, sunshine!)

{ shame on you if you don't know that song! }

A Wat. (Not sure which one. Temples over there are called "Wats")

The train station. I will tell you the story of that little gem later...

The cute little vehicle in the center is called a "tuk-tuk" (pronounced "took-took"). We had the best driver when we road in one! It's basically a motorcycle with covered seats on the back.

Traffic in Bangkok is... an experience. There are no speed limits (unless you're at the airport), the lines on the road are just a suggestion, and there are no crosswalks for pedestrian. And, shockingly, no road rage! If you come too close to someone (i.e., about 2 inches--I'm not joking), they honk to let you know they are there, and life moves on smoothly.

Chinatown!

They wouldn't let me take home a monk. Or a monkey. :(

We got to watch them work on restoring these paintings.

We shopped, wandered, bartered, and searched for a killer place to eat. We found this great hole-in-the-wall place with THE BEST food I have ever had in my life--so simple, so amazing. We decided I am going to learn to cook Thai.

We had a hotel in Bangkok for the full two weeks we were in the country, so we were able to leave some things and pack lighter for the other flight and train ride that we had planned for our trip.

Next stop, Hua Hin!

{ aren't you excited? }

Home.

2010-10-31T07:23:00.000-06:00

We're home. I'll update soon.

Vacation

2010-10-15T11:03:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow, Mr. Hercules and I will be going to Thailand for 2 weeks.

We'll be in Bangkok, Hua Hin, Phuket, and then spending the last few days on Coral Island.

I'll post pictures when we get back! :)

awake

2010-09-27T22:44:00.004-06:00

I can't sleep.

This doesn't happen often anymore, so it's a little strange. (luckily I only have to work half a day tomorrow and can rest the rest of the afternoon, especially since I've been sick the last few days)

I spent nearly a decade as quite the insomniac, until I met Ty. Then, just as my mother promised would happen after I met the right man, I started to sleep.

Tonight, he's laying here asleep next to me while I look at pictures from the last couple of weeks, and I listen to my favorite Mumford and Sons, and Matthew Perryman Jones songs.

{I'm sharing one of my most favorite M&S songs here }

I already posted a picture for Photo Monday, but thought I would share a few more.

(isn't my mother the most beautiful woman?)

{ frosting in her hair from making cookies with Grandpa }

Photo Monday

2010-09-27T22:01:00.000-06:00

{ flowers from my mother, in my kitchen }

Photo Monday

2010-09-13T22:07:00.001-06:00

{ for jessie }

"I breath deeper when the sky consumes gray - in slow motion I move and dance about my day - at rest is my heart - awake is my mind - so still not a leaf turning - so still"

{ darcy stratton clark }

{ what we've been up to }

2010-09-09T21:19:00.001-06:00

{ We've been attending 1st birthday parties }

{ isn't her hair gorgeous? }

{ that's one happy little girl! }

{ attending a Star Trek party! }

{ playing with airplanes }

{ enjoying the coming of fall }

{ growing enormous tomato plants of doom }

{ trying to be creative again... yes, that is the Radiohead bear }

{ enjoying the feel of graphite, watercolor, and oil paint on my hands again }

Books

2010-09-02T15:51:00.000-06:00

Stole this from my cousin's blog. :)

Where do you fall in the list? The BBC believes most people will have read only 6 of the 100 books here.
Copy this, look at the list, and put an X after those you have read.

(I'm marking ones that I'm in the middle of reading, too)
1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen X
2 The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien X
3 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte X
4 Harry Potter series - JK Rowling
5 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee X
6 The Bible X
7 Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte X
8 Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell X
9 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
10 Great Expectations - Charles Dickens X

Total: 7

11 Little Women - Louisa M Alcott X
12 Tess of the D'Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy X
13 Catch 22 - Joseph Heller X
14 Complete Works of Shakespeare
15 Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
16 The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien X
17 Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks
18 Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger X
19 The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
20 Middlemarch - George Eliot

Total: 5
Total so far: 12

21 Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell
22 The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald
23 Bleak House - Charles Dicken
24 War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
25 The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams X
27 Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky X
28 Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck X
29 Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
30 The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame

Total: 2
Total so far: 14

31 Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy X
32 David Copperfield - Charles Dickens
33 Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis X
34 Emma - Jane Austen
35 Persuasion - Jane Austen
36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis X
37 The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
38 Captain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres
39 Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
40 Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne X

Total: 4
Total so far: 18

41 Animal Farm - George Orwell
42 The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown
43 One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez X
44 A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving
45 The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
46 Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery X
47 Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy
48 The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood
49 Lord of the Flies - William Golding X
50 Atonement - Ian McEwan

Total: 3
Total so far: 21

51 Life of Pi - Yann Martel X
52 Dune - Frank Herbert X
53 Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons
54 Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen X
55 A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth
56 The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
57 A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens X
58 Brave New World - Aldous Huxley X
59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
60 Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez X

Total: 6
Total so far: 27

61 Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck X
62 Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
63 The Secret History - Donna Tartt
64 The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold X
65 Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas X
66 On The Road - Jack Kerouac X
67 Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy X
68 Bridget Jones's Diary - Helen Fielding X
69 Midnight's Children - Salman Rushdie
70 Moby Dick - Herman Melville X

Total: 7
Total so Far: 34

71 Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens X
72 Dracula - Bram Stoker X
73 The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett X
74 Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson
75 Ulysses - James Joyce X
76 The Inferno - Dante
77 Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome
78 Germinal - Emile Zola
79 Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray
80 Possession - AS Byatt

Total: 4
Total so far: 38

81 A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens X
82 Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
83 The Color Purple - Alice Walker X
84 The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
85 Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert
86 A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistr
87 Charlotte's Web - EB White X
88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom
89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle X
90 The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton

Total: 4
Total so far: 42

91 Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad X
92 The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery
93 The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
94 Watership Down - Richard Adams
95 A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
96 A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute
97 The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas X
98 Hamlet - William Shakespeare X
99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl X
100 Les Miserables - Victor Hugo X

Total: 5
Grand Total: 47

Not too shabby :) Still a long way to go!

Photo Monday

2010-08-23T21:13:00.000-06:00

{ I've had a request for a return of photo Mondays. }

Autumn

2010-08-19T22:16:00.002-06:00

I love books.

{ this is an understatement }

There is a very large bookshelf in my kitchen, filled to capacity. Another one half that size beside my computer desk. Two more in the living room. Boxes of books under the stairs. Baskets filled on shelves in our bedroom. Even a box in Logan's closet.

{ plus some more in my old room at home, and my parent's garage.

Ty may or may not know about these }

But there are several books that are never far from me. They are tattered from being carried from purse to purse, carried to work to read on breaks, kept in the car for trips longer than 10 minutes, pulled out and read while waiting in line to get food or pay for groceries.. you get the idea.

Towards the end of summer, when I can feel fall coming (and it's coming soon, no matter what you think--it's going to be a long, hard winter), I am drawn back to these books. Moby Dick. Romancing the Ordinary. Anything by Thoreau. Into the Wild. Poems by Rod McKuen (he is never far from me; I almost always have a copy of him with me). Under the Tuscan Sun. The Count of Monte Cristo (this book changed my life). Lord of the Rings.

What I've gained

from being with you

(besides a belly

and a deeper beard),

I couldn't say--

but any need for knowing

anyone but you

is what I've lost.

{ Rod McKuen }

I never was much of a fad reader; I didn't enjoy the first Twilight book (I know I'm making enemies here, but I prefer my vampires sans-sparkle), I never got into Harry Potter. A friend asked me the other day what I was reading, and I spouted off no less than 17 books.

{ did I mention I love books? }

I love to see what other people are reading, and can appreciate why they like it, even if I don't care for it myself. The books people read are a quick, accurate insight to their minds.

Given that, I learn so much about myself from books. Sometimes, I can't quite put my finger on what it is that draws me to a certain read. Especially this time of year. For the past few years, this time of year, I always pick up Thoreau, Into the Wild, and, starting last year, The Last Season has made the list. Commonality? Wilderness. Solitude. Wishing I lived in the time of John Muir.

It is no different this year.

"Keep close to Nature's heart... and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean." { John Muir }

Fall is coming. I smell it every morning. I've started cooking comfort food again, pulled out the sweaters. I even got out our down comforter and am airing it out. { I've even slept soundly in it a few nights already. Ty has not. }

{ I guess I never was much of a summer person. I wait the entire season for it to get colder. }

I can't be the only one out there this way... even if it's not about fall and winter.

Right?

Keep Us

2010-08-06T22:20:00.000-06:00

If you've had a week like mine, you need this song.

My baby sister gave me a plaque with the lyrics to this song on it for a wedding present--she has no idea how much this song means to me; hardly anyone knows. To me, it's a prayer; I listen to it when I can't make the world, or my head, be quiet. It's one of the most peaceful moments I can have in a day.

So listen to it. It'll make everything better. I promise. Close your eyes and trust me.

Be the difference.

2010-08-04T20:06:00.001-06:00

Usually, we don't do something because we don't know what to do. Because, we're afraid of doing something new, something outside our comfort zone.

Or we may feel like the "little" we can do isn't enough.

But it is.

We are capable of so much good. It doesn't take much, aside from maybe getting out of our comfort zone. There is so much we can do together. One morning, a few hours, and we can help those who are waiting so desperately for our help.

You don't even have to come to Denver; you can help from the comfort of your own home. How much easier could it be to save lives? We can make a difference. YOU can make a difference. We WILL make a difference. Please, come be a part of it.

http://yogaforcongowomen.org/

2010-07-30T13:01:00.000-06:00

Dear Ab Circle Mini:

I love you.

I love how fun you are! I love how when I use you, I feel like a little kid playing instead of an adult exercising. I love using you while I watch the BBC Robin Hood series (while Mr. Hercules makes fun of it, of course lol).

You are fun. I love you!

love,
{ me }

What we've been up to....

2010-07-29T20:19:00.001-06:00

...going to car shows { Ty's dad built this! }

Playing...

attempting to make blueberry butter

Having fun at parades

{ coveting.... }

{ ...getting new pets!! Meet Charlie!! }

{ and, celebrating 1st birthdays! }

Stormy Weather

2010-07-22T10:33:00.000-06:00

So the weather yesterday was insane. I { loved } it. Rainy, full of crazy storms, lightning, thunder, the whole-shebang! I sent my family some pictures that I took of the storm--if we'd have been in Colorado still, I'm sure it would have turned into a tornado.

Mom told me to submit them to the news, so I did. I didn't watch the news, because I was scrubbing out a dryer filled with purple and yellow crayon (that's a whole 'nuther story...), but Mom called me and said one of my pictures was on the news!

Check it out here:

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

My profile didn't update to my married name, but it's still pretty awesome! :) Here's the rest of the pictures:

When you don't feel good...

2010-07-10T12:20:00.000-06:00

...and your husband is working late, and you don't feel like cooking...

Logan gets a "special Logan dinner" that he gets to pick out.

{ It usually involves Vienna Sausages }

{ contentment with just a cup of tea }

{ homemade fingerpaint to entertain the 6-old-year in your life }

Shopping list

2010-07-07T15:17:00.001-06:00

I was cleaning out my wallet while I was in line at the Taco Bell waiting for my Cheesy Nachos (yummo!), and found this:

{ i miss John. }

Yo quiero...

2010-06-17T13:47:00.000-06:00

Dear Taco Bell 79 cent Cheesy Nachos,

I don't care if you make me fat someday. I love you.

<3 Me

What we've been up to

2010-06-10T15:49:00.001-06:00

{ spending time outdoors }

{ being a silly gus }

{ making ads for Ford - just kidding }

{ growing plants...}

{ growing unruly hair... }

{ celebrating Clint Eastwood's birthday! }

{ a normal cake just wouldn't do for Clint Eastwood... So we had

Texas Sheet Cake. Much more macho }

{ celebrating my birthday - the cake says "Happy Birthday My Love" and was the best chocolate cake! Mr. Hercules made it for me }

{ spending time with family }

{ gotta love nature... }

{ my favorite Bollywood dancer }

{ my boys }

{ Life is Lovely }

2010-05-26T15:09:00.000-06:00

The world is too much with us; late and soon,
Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers;

Little we see in Nature that is ours;
We have given our hearts away...

{ Willaim Wordsworth }

Light Bearers

2010-05-20T15:04:00.000-06:00

You heard me say a bit ago that I've thinking a lot about the quote { become who you are }.

Along those same lines, I have been asking myself, what was I born to do?

I know what I like; I know a few things that I'm good at. I'm not confident that those are things that I was "born to do" though (unless you can become a professional accidental plant killer...)

I met a woman once who called me a "light bearer." The first thing that came to mind when she said that was, "Well that's intimidating..."

What was I supposed to do with that? "Hi, I'm Chantile. Welcome to Blah Blah Company, I'll be your light bearer today!"

I remembered what she said, kept it in the back of my head, and tried not to let it intimidate me.

But it's stuck.

I have the most amazing parents. All you others who think your parents are great? Nope, sorry, you haven't met mine. Sometimes my dad is like a very wise fortune cookie, and I'm sure he thinks that a lot of the things he says probably glide in one ear and out the other, but they actually stick. Same with my mom. My mother gave me the biggest compliment I've ever received, ever, and she probably doesn't even remember doing it, because that's just the way she is. Once, during a sad moment in my life (which I can't remember what it was now), my dad very sweetly told me that I was blessed with seeing the world differently. { I've liked to think of it as having "soft eyes." } He told me that I needed to share the beauty that I saw around me.

I never forgot that. I haven't done a very good job of it, but lately I've been trying very hard to refocus, share beauty, be a light bearer.

I started a painting for myself a few weeks ago (of course it said "become who you are"), and enjoyed the colors so much, I started a series of paintings for some special people I think could use one.

The first painting I gave away as a birthday present to a sweet friend who needed a small reminder.

I have another one, similar, started for another sweet friend. Maybe one will show up in your mailbox someday; you never know! I like to be sneaky that way. Plus I still owe a few of you presents... { don't think that I've forgotten you; moving 4 times in the last year has taken its toll! They will be mailed out! }

Something I've thought, though, is how all of us are light bearers. We all have that spark inside of us. Mine isn't very bright some days; it's practically a glimmer half of the time. But we've all got it; even if all we do in the day is smile at someone, the ripple effect that will have is astounding.

Over at Operation NICE there are some great little cards you can print and hand out. She's made a batch before, and I carry those in my wallet (I'm trying to become brave enough to hand them out!), and I can't wait to get brave enough to hand out these cuties, too! Grab 'em and print 'em--they're free! :)

Be someone's light bearer for the day. You never know the affect you'll have.

Why today will be ok

2010-05-05T10:49:00.001-06:00

Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever I find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses, and bringing up the rear of every funeral I meet; and especially whenever my hypos get such an upper hand of me, that it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people's hats off--then, I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can. … If they but knew it, almost all men in their degree, some time or other, cherish very nearly the same feelings towards the ocean with me.

- Herman Melville, Moby Dick

Today has been one of those Moby Dick days. Yesterday was, too. It would be the perfect day to stay home, away from the general public; sit in a warm bed with a cup of jasmine tea, listening to some quiet music, wishing it would rain.

Unfortunately, I'm not going to get to do that until Saturday. It's been a long morning, and it's going to be a longer week.

The only thing getting me through this ennui?

{ him. }

He can stand to be around me even on days I don't like myself that much. He brings me cups of jasmine tea (even buys the tea for me when he goes to the store). He always lets me take long baths. He puts up with my Oblivion obsession. He always wants to cuddle. He never tells me the ending of a book, even when I beg him. He encourages me to do the things I love, like photography, painting, drawing, reiki, yoga, cooking, playing the guitar, and never teases me.

He tells me he loves me at least 30 times a day. He eats anything I cook and never complains. He picks up after himself. He buys me BBQ when he can tell I don't want to cook. He makes plans with me (Thailand, here we come!! Well, in October...). He makes me feel beautiful, even when I've torn every piece of clothing out of the closet and can't find a thing to wear (don't look at the bedroom today...).

He always makes me feel special. He lets me watch "Lost" and only makes fun of it on the commercials. He can always make me laugh. He never makes me feel bad when I cry. He's always there when I wake up in the morning, and when I fall asleep at night (unless it's the random Saturday night the guys are playing Bad Company and I fall asleep before they're done lol).

I know I'll never have to feel like I'm doing anything by myself; I know he'll always be there, even when I feel grumpy at the world for no apparent reason. I love this man. More than he'll ever know. I may not be able to get to the sea, but he'll always be there waiting for me when I get home, and that is all I'll ever need.

2 years

2010-04-29T17:39:00.000-06:00

We dropped my baby brother off at the MTC yesterday. He will be gone for 2 long years to Melbourne, Australia.

{ This is how I felt about it yesterday: }

{ this is how I feel about it today: }

{ such a cute little guy! }

{ such a great guy!}

We're gonna miss you Elder!!!

year one

2010-04-26T14:31:00.000-06:00

One year.

It's gone by so quickly! It's been a crazy year, a busy year,

but a great year.

One year since I married my best friend.

We spent the day before our anniversary up by Flaming Gorge

{ who I lovingly call Flaming George }

If year one is any indicator, I know the rest of our

lives will be just as amazing.

{ it's hard to see my toes }

2010-04-16T18:01:00.001-06:00

{ my tummy is not as flat as it used to be... }

But no, friends, I am not pregnant. Just recovering from a surgery on Monday. Nothing serious, and I'm doing just fine. It was a laparoscopic surgery,so they pumped my stomach up with air which hasn't all been absorbed yet. Mr. Hercules and I have been laughing at how my huge stomach makes me look a little bit pregnant. Unfortunately, the pain in my shoulders from the air bubbles has been worse some times than the pain from the incisions.

But it's been a good week, with visits from friends and family, and beautiful flowers!

{ poor tummy }

{ this is how I've felt today }

{ but thanks to this guy, and my sweet little brother,
it's been a good week }

{ what the sick room looks like }

{ also, as the week has progressed, I have eaten a lot more
orange food [which I always eat when I am stressed or nervous]
it's actually kind of funny to observe }

Become Who You Are

2010-03-29T10:41:00.009-06:00

I've had the quote "Become who you are" by Nietzsche on my mind a lot lately, and this past week, I've come to realize that I am exactly where I am meant to be. I am doing exactly the things I need to do to be that person. For the first time in my life, I am completely happy, satisfied, confident and content with the person I am.

It's a good feeling.

a few days off

2010-03-25T15:44:00.006-06:00

I took a few days off to see my lovely sister's family

{ and I got to meet my newest niece - she's so perfect }

{ I think I missed my calling in life:
I think I should have been one of those
make-up artists that dresses up little girls
at Cinderella's Palace in Disney World }

{ make-up/tea party =
I think that a good time was had by all }

Also, to the guy in the white Lexus on the way to Denver: NOT COOL, dude. Not cool.

2010-03-12T16:54:00.000-07:00

Having a bit of a sad day.

Some things that are making it better:

{ music by Matt Nathanson }

{ Spearmint Chap Stick }

My new kitchen

my new closet (yus!!)

this little girl

and this little girl

Him

Knowing that I'm loved no matter what, even on my crazy bad days

knowing I will get to see these kiddos soon!!

Country Mouse

2010-02-25T10:19:00.000-07:00

I love mice. I think they are adorable, and if we could have pets in our apartment, I would definitely ask Ty if we could have one. (I also love bats, but that's another story...)

{ found here }

When I was little, I remember reading "City Mouse - Country Mouse." I liked the idea of switching things up, having a new perspective for awhile, trying on another life. But in the end, I always knew I was the country mouse. I wanted to be the city mouse, but I knew that really wasn't who I am.

I've been thinking a lot about movement and energy. I love the energy that downtown in cities have; so much to see, so much to experience (so much to eat!). It's so upbeat and uplifting, but after awhile it seems to wear me out and make me tired. Not to mention the road rage I "might" experience while trying to navigate the traffic. This is when I remember that I am a country mouse, not a city mouse.

I like things to move at a slow, leisurely pace. My dream home is a cottage with an herb garden. My favorite music is happy hippie earth child folk music. I love walking around barefoot in comfortable clothes, making comfortable food, reading long books. All of this says "slow" to me. It says home, comfort, peaceful. It says, "quit worrying about everything and go fishing."

One of my favorite cowboy movies is "Crossfire Trail." And one of my favorite quotes from that movie is when one of the cowboys tells a younger one to "Slow down; take your time--you'll get a more harmonious outcome."

In case you are in need of a Country Mouse weekend, here's a few of my favorite ways to slow down:

A hot cup of tea
A warm bath with favorite bath salts or oils
Talking on the phone with someone who is already having a slow day, so they don't stress you out
An old movie
Listening to quiet music with eyes closed
Baking something warm and comforting (cookies, a cheesy casserole, stew)
A foot rub
Picking one spot that needs work and slowly going through it (a box that's been in the same spot for months, a closet, a catch-all drawer...)
Looking through pictures
Flipping through magazines
Reading a book
Attempting to sew/crochet

What do you do to slow down?

Reason #542

2010-02-24T14:28:00.000-07:00

{ One more reason I'm excited for spring to come }

{ all my pretty shoes have missed me }