“I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.”
- Jimmy Dean
Monday, July 6, 2009
sky and sea
“I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.”
- Jimmy Dean
Sunday, July 5, 2009
golden rain
it was an amazing fourth of july.
i love this holiday, mainly because it's in the summer and there are fireworks. i adore fireworks. i thought the palm trees might block our view of the show, but it was one of the most memorable fireworks displays i've ever seen precisely because they were framed by the silhouettes of those tall lean symbols of california beach life. i had my jaw agape the entire time, falling in love again, as i so often do, with this town. the golden shower of sparks that rain down slowly after they explode are my very favorite. i will never forget the scene of them falling down over the palms and the beach and the harbor, thousands of people around gazing in awe, capping off a day where i was in total amazement at just how festive and vibrant my hometown was everywhere i went.
quintessential santa barbara, except for the fact that a usually car-filled boulevard by the beach was closed to traffic, except for the bike and pedestrian kind...
and this photo because this dear friend knows how to do holidays and good times, complete with the appropriate colors...
i love this holiday, mainly because it's in the summer and there are fireworks. i adore fireworks. i thought the palm trees might block our view of the show, but it was one of the most memorable fireworks displays i've ever seen precisely because they were framed by the silhouettes of those tall lean symbols of california beach life. i had my jaw agape the entire time, falling in love again, as i so often do, with this town. the golden shower of sparks that rain down slowly after they explode are my very favorite. i will never forget the scene of them falling down over the palms and the beach and the harbor, thousands of people around gazing in awe, capping off a day where i was in total amazement at just how festive and vibrant my hometown was everywhere i went.
quintessential santa barbara, except for the fact that a usually car-filled boulevard by the beach was closed to traffic, except for the bike and pedestrian kind...
and this photo because this dear friend knows how to do holidays and good times, complete with the appropriate colors...
strawberry rhubarb crisp
Mom & Brad came to town, and, claro que si, I had to take them to Blush to try the most amazing dessert in town. If we'd gotten a photo of our ping pong tournament earlier in the night at The Neighborhood, I would have added that here too... these people are fun.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
sangria summer
Quintessential summer night in Santa Barbara, the Thursday night free concerts in the park... oldies music and hundreds of people dancing in the most carefree way... sangria and a picnic with friends...
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
a thousand words
every day in july i'm going to post a photo.
most of them will be from that day, sometimes i might slip in a photo from a day in the past. i will still write some blog posts when i am able.
i decided that a photo a day would make my july better.
it's not to improve my photography skills. it's to pull me into the present and keep me grateful. i really need both of those things right now.
For July 1st, here's little Blake and I up at Knapp's Castle on Sunday.
most of them will be from that day, sometimes i might slip in a photo from a day in the past. i will still write some blog posts when i am able.
i decided that a photo a day would make my july better.
it's not to improve my photography skills. it's to pull me into the present and keep me grateful. i really need both of those things right now.
For July 1st, here's little Blake and I up at Knapp's Castle on Sunday.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
won't you be my neighbor...
She honestly makes me feel like I'm the funniest person in the world. Her laugh is particularly great, its honest and jovial and given with complete abandon.
There's nothing I can't tell her that she won't listen earnestly to, she takes in every word and gives thoughtful feedback.
She is mellow, direct, easygoing, and so much fun. Those are the things I love about her, and she kindly says I'm all those things too, and likes that about me.
She never ceases to make me feel wanted, like I'm not just family but that I add to her life in good ways.
I met her almost four years ago, she was holding her darling little boy and had a sweet husband whose name rhymed with hers. They had just moved into the house next door. I made up a whole story behind them, and I love that I was way off, and that once I heard their actual story I adored them even more.
She lets me ramble, be neurotic, be upset and then gives me a glass of wine and helps me figure it out.
I honestly don't know what my life would be like right now without her.
The other night I gave her the Myers Briggs test. She came out as an ESTP. I was shocked and laughed, telling her that I could see how she was an ESTP but that funnily enough, I've said before that this exact type was my worst romantic match. I read more of the description to her and she said wryly, "Yeah, I would make a really bad boyfriend for you."
She and I and her darling six year old son burst out laughing. Her gorgeous little blonde baby clapped her hands.
Karen may be right about that, but she makes one of the most incredible friends I've ever had.
There's nothing I can't tell her that she won't listen earnestly to, she takes in every word and gives thoughtful feedback.
She is mellow, direct, easygoing, and so much fun. Those are the things I love about her, and she kindly says I'm all those things too, and likes that about me.
She never ceases to make me feel wanted, like I'm not just family but that I add to her life in good ways.
I met her almost four years ago, she was holding her darling little boy and had a sweet husband whose name rhymed with hers. They had just moved into the house next door. I made up a whole story behind them, and I love that I was way off, and that once I heard their actual story I adored them even more.
She lets me ramble, be neurotic, be upset and then gives me a glass of wine and helps me figure it out.
I honestly don't know what my life would be like right now without her.
The other night I gave her the Myers Briggs test. She came out as an ESTP. I was shocked and laughed, telling her that I could see how she was an ESTP but that funnily enough, I've said before that this exact type was my worst romantic match. I read more of the description to her and she said wryly, "Yeah, I would make a really bad boyfriend for you."
She and I and her darling six year old son burst out laughing. Her gorgeous little blonde baby clapped her hands.
Karen may be right about that, but she makes one of the most incredible friends I've ever had.
Friday, June 26, 2009
a great slice
Last night at around 11 I found myself walking alone for many blocks up State Street, all dressed up, and devouring a piece of pizza.
I'd just been at a fabulous museum event, with live music, bananas foster hors d'oeuvres, young and fun people all dressed up, outdoor dancing and more. I was with great friends and we laughed and gave toasts to the wonderful summer to come. We left hungry and went to our new favorite chic place for some appetizers and more fun.
Sitting there on the patio, I realized that all night I'd felt truly in the moment, excited to be right where I was. It was a relief. My goal at the beginning of the year was to work on doing exactly that, and avoid thinking too much about the next step or what could be different about the present. And I've been doing so well I surprised myself. Until the past couple weeks, when anxiety about the future came rushing in, stealing my sleep, edging out my gratefulness for where I am. It's been maddening. So last night was a welcome relief, a reminder that when my life is normal, nights like these are what it includes, with friends like these, and how lucky am I...
I decided I didn't need to celebrate my respite from worry with $16 lobster mac n' cheese. In fact, it would be nice to celebrate it, to soak in this gratefulness, alone. Maybe on a cool evening walk, with a cheaper snack, on the way to my cozy bed.
And so that's how I ended up in my high heels and fancy headband, heading the opposite way of most dressed up young folk walking on State, with my clutch under one arm and both hands dealing with the delicious slice of $3 veggie pizza from the hole-in-the-wall in Paseo Nuevo. Of course the worrying came back today, but I feel quite a bit better since that walk.
I'd just been at a fabulous museum event, with live music, bananas foster hors d'oeuvres, young and fun people all dressed up, outdoor dancing and more. I was with great friends and we laughed and gave toasts to the wonderful summer to come. We left hungry and went to our new favorite chic place for some appetizers and more fun.
Sitting there on the patio, I realized that all night I'd felt truly in the moment, excited to be right where I was. It was a relief. My goal at the beginning of the year was to work on doing exactly that, and avoid thinking too much about the next step or what could be different about the present. And I've been doing so well I surprised myself. Until the past couple weeks, when anxiety about the future came rushing in, stealing my sleep, edging out my gratefulness for where I am. It's been maddening. So last night was a welcome relief, a reminder that when my life is normal, nights like these are what it includes, with friends like these, and how lucky am I...
I decided I didn't need to celebrate my respite from worry with $16 lobster mac n' cheese. In fact, it would be nice to celebrate it, to soak in this gratefulness, alone. Maybe on a cool evening walk, with a cheaper snack, on the way to my cozy bed.
And so that's how I ended up in my high heels and fancy headband, heading the opposite way of most dressed up young folk walking on State, with my clutch under one arm and both hands dealing with the delicious slice of $3 veggie pizza from the hole-in-the-wall in Paseo Nuevo. Of course the worrying came back today, but I feel quite a bit better since that walk.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
