Mind Traverse 2

Encounter with Careful Planning (or lack there of)

2011-01-13T19:24:00.000-08:00

There are two of them, speaking rapidly in Hispanic accents. One is short and chunky, older, at least compared to his compadre. The other is short and skinny and younger. “Yo gotta watch out for those coyotes, you know.” Coyotes? What are they talking about? The male version of a ‘cougar’? “…especially in the morning… they look at you and go, ‘ooh, there is a good hunk of meat’. Ya that is really what they say.” Oh really? The morning, huh? More than in the afternoon or night? Well then… I laugh awkwardly -several times. I didn’t know what else to do. Except for leave; which I do promptly after paying for my two gallon gas can and my two gallons of gas.

My car sits silent, in the middle of South Lake Tahoe, about a mile from the gas station. The gas gauge had read “reserve” for the past several days. I had attempted filling up once, but the pumps weren’t working correctly and after giving up, I claimed ‘tired’ as an excuse and went home, not to return to the filling station until today, out of complete necessity and not at all to my convenience. I had run out of gas; in fact, I had even run out of the fumes that I normally am able to limp into the nearest gas station with. Fail.

But my heart is happy and the day is bright. I can’t help but be thankful (and perhaps a bit smug): I’m thankful that I live up the hill, and was able to coast downhill, shortening the distance to the gas station by at least half. I’m thankful that S. Lake is a small town and easily traversed. I’m thankful I had the foresight to wear my galoshes and not my snow boots or some other sort of shoe as it is raining heavily and puddles and slush were in excess. I’m thankful that nothing pressing was listed on my “to-do” list.

And I’m also thankful that the whole situation happened in the afternoon, and not in the morning when the coyotes happened to be about.

Encounter with Green Tea

2010-12-17T23:06:00.000-08:00

On green tea:

I love it. It comes in second place, in my list of most favored drinks (apart from water). Coffee is barely holding its top position. A place which, believe me, it has held with no competition for MANY years.

This rise of green tea is really quite a phenomenon. I have tried for the past several years to convince myself that I LOVE tea. For the past several years, I have failed miserably. Until this year. The year that I decided my relationship with tea was built entirely on false perception and that it must be consummated.

And here I am, drinking two cups, sometimes more, of tea a day. This is a good thing. And I am quite happy about the development of things, only that...

...its weird.

Its been awhile, darling

2010-12-09T19:06:00.000-08:00

At this point in time, I'm supposed to assure you (the random blogging world, my one follower, and anybody who happens to trip across my staked out piece of internet), that I missed you terribly. That is what all the popular bloggers do. Unfortunately, I cannot do that, because I did not miss "you". My insincere apologies.

Why for heaven's sake am I back? Because I meet people, I see things, I do activities; it's life and some of it just need to be told. So forgive me or not: I'm back.

She hearts skiing.

2010-03-13T09:37:00.000-08:00

Kayce and I are obviously sisters. We love skiing (not to mention we totally rock it)... and hot chocolate (we rock the milk chocolate mustache too).

Shred and Refresh -days 4-10

2010-02-11T10:08:00.000-08:00

When one is busy chasing after sweet powder stashes, one has little time to seek good internet connections. And those times that we did have internet? Well, sleep sounded so much more pleasant. Do you see? When I started out on my blog-about-my-one-and-0nly-ski-road-trip-that-I-have-ever-and-probably-ever-will-take idea, I took none of the above in mind.
Therefore, here I am summing up 7 days in one.

My sincerest apologies.

Day 4: Whole Foods -would you be my valentine? Healthy food on the go; couldn't be better. Renown Hospital -I will never forgive you for giving my fan base a reason to move FIVE HOURS away from me and only 30 MINUTES from Mt Rose and 50 minutes from any bit of awesomeness around Tahoe (yes, I'm a bit jealous)! Congrats on the new adventure, C&D!

Day 5: Mammoth -steep lines and sunny skies: day made. Done.

Day 6: June Mountain - perfecting Warren Miller ski tricks and playing cards in the lodge. Don't forget a broken clavicle for Carter. One clavicle out of 8, not too bade of an average. Sadly, our party dropped down to just the original 3 amigos.

Day 7: I take back everything I ever said about the Big D's driving. He's a master. I signed him up for the Daytona.

Day 8: Alta -my eyes are still burning from an overload of helmet heads and old-school skiers. My legs are still burning from one-thousand too many moguls. P.S. I never thought I'd say this, but, I missed ye ol' snowboarders.

Day 9: Black Diamond -seriously, as much as I love your gear (minus the Joules -which I avoided all this week and opted to borrow, yes BORROW, beg, steal, whatever, my sisters K2 Phat Luvs), you need to step up the outlet department; if I wanted Mammut gear, I would have gone to the Mammut factory.

Day 10: Home -it feels good. Smiles all around.

Shred and Refresh -Day 2/3

2010-01-25T11:10:00.000-08:00

*That is day 2 plus day 3. Not two-thirds of a day, for you technical minded folks.

**To my dear and dedicated fan base: Thank you for your continued support. I almost retired from blogging after hitting eldorado with the last post. However, you must bear with me; the fat lady is not yet singing.

A steaming stack of freshly ground wheat blueberry pecan pancakes dripping with maple syrup around 9:00 pm and 5 hr "nap" in the middle of the night welcomed in day 2. 3 am and Chelsea and Denver and I stumbled out the door into the car, for the first leg of our journey: Chiloquin to Squaw Valley. The trip was delightful; I slept -a major accomplishment when Denver is driving, I would normally be jolted awake every 10 minutes by the vibrations of the grooves planted in the side of the road, or a sudden gasp from Chelsea and a jerk of the Subaru's tires!

We planned to arrive at Squaw just as the hill opened and would have been on time if half of Sacramento hadn't had the same plan. We hit bumper to bumper traffic at Truckee and crept our way into the ski park by 10:30. Despite the crowds the snow was light, albeit chopped up, and the day was good! In fact, for a Northwest girl, the snow was incredibly light -I can't wait to be flabbergasted by Utah's glory snow!

Advice of the day: Throw a high-calorie granola bar in your jacket prior to heading to the lift line. This keeps your energy up and allows you to aviod the mayhem of skiiers/boarders tumbling over eachother in attempts to nab the one remaining lunch table at the lodge.

Lesson of the day: Attitude gives skiing a bit of pep and looks awesome hucking off cliffs (1 ft to 20 ft). Bad attitude is simply lame and doesn't huck off of anything. If a member of your skiing party appears as though she/he might sport some, leave her/him at the lodge, and don't look back.

Day 3. Voted best back-country day of the year... by yours truly. Pictures tell all:

Advice of the day: Go backcountry. Get freshies.

Lesson of the day: Track your subjects.

Shred and Refresh -Day 1

2010-01-22T10:45:00.000-08:00

10 days, 5 ski resorts, 4 friends, 1 Subaru, 2445 miles. The goal is simply this: shred pow; refresh the body and spirit.

Wednesday before last, I hitch-hiked onto my Uncle Phil and his daughter Lauren's dad-daughter ski-day on Mt Shasta. Shout-out to a wonderful and ever so generous family! On the drive home, U. Phil commented on how a day on the mountain does so much more for his spirit then a day in church. I couldn't agree more. When I'm outdoors, my whole being is engaged in worship of my incredible God. This is not to say that worshiping God in the traditional setting with other believers is inferior (in fact, God calls us to do that); however, I do believe that we often overlook other ways of worship. With this in mind, I'm looking forward to a beautiful and completely revitalizing 10 days. God is One. He is the Creator of all things good. And I am going to immerse myself in this truth and revel in His glory. Body, heart and soul.

And because He's so freakin awesome, read this: "He gives snow like wool; He scatters the frost like ashes. He casts forth His ice as fragments; who can stand before His cold? ...He does not delight in the strength of the horse; he does not take pleasure in the legs of a man. The Lord favors those who fear Him. Those who wait for His lovingkindness." Excerpt taken from Psalm 147.

Today is day one. Prep day. My gear is strewn about the house, upstairs, downstairs, across the garage floor, on the dining room table, even draped from the chandelier. I'm so glad I took half of yesterday to thoroughly clean my house! heh. My roommate watched as I dumped an arm full of soft-shells, skin layers, wool socks and gloves in the middle of the living room and slid sideways out the door mumbling something about needing to go work-out. Know: this is not because I have a lot of gear; this is simply rule #1 of organizing: make a BIG mess. Now would be an appropriate time to pity those that will be sharing a small four door car with me for the next week plus.

Advice of the day: a good music mix is essential on prep day. How to make waxing skis interesting? Mix it with a few well-placed dance moves to Michael Jackson's "Beat it." It has the same effect as singing karaoke into your broom handle on house-cleaning day.

Lesson of the day: make certain that your leather gloves are completely dry prior to water-proofing. Did I really think sealing in the moisture was a good idea? I'm only hoping that having completely waterproof hands will be as warm as having waterproof gloves.

A day on Mt Shasta

2010-01-14T09:46:00.000-08:00

On the mountain? My heart is at the feet of the incredible Jesus Christ. Renewed. Refreshed.

Sweet 16

2010-01-02T17:44:00.001-08:00

Kaitlyn and I began talking "photo shoot" in early November. She, her two adorable friends, and I met up for a very short hour to snap a few shots in early December. Finally, here is my blog post; it's early January. This post is late in coming, but... I couldn't resist putting it up here.
Fresh, lovely, vivacious, sixteen years old... These girls are a complete to joy and simply a delight to photograph! Happy sweet 16!

Jennifer, Taylor, Kaitlyn

A Step Up

2009-12-09T21:08:00.000-08:00

I do believe I have made the leap from "active" Medfordite (hikes Table Rock) to "hardcore" Medfordite (hikes Pilot Rock). YES! I feel so accomplished.

View of Mt Shasta

Graffiti: a must have

My treacherous way up. (Trust me. It was WAY worse then it looks.)

**Love these images, please. I shattered my lense filter to capture them.

Prep Business = Radical

2009-12-04T13:45:00.000-08:00

This is my cousin Jared.
He's a few months older then me and has been my competition and role model since he and his family moved to the same town I lived in when we were ten or eleven. Ever since then, much to his chagrin, I've included myself in (read: forced myself on) all his "friend groups", thinking us inseparable amigos and two of the three musketeers. Today, I had the honor of snapping a few shots of him for his company's website.

I have such a handsome family.

Travis and Karen -ENGAGED!!!

2009-12-01T10:05:00.000-08:00

People, I HAVE to tell you:
My bro, the one who is my hero, the one who is always gone, the one who finally came and visited his poor forgotten family, that one? Well, he's GETTING MARRIED! I met the lovely Karen Nelson this past weekend, and if she wasn't already in taken, I would marry her myself! I'm so stoked for the two of them!

Yes, this is my family. Any other questions?

2009-11-30T12:48:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving with the fam = epic week[end]. Love these people of mine.

She's all that + more

2009-11-09T10:38:00.000-08:00

Meet my sister: the sweetest thing -a total princess who loves BIG earings and sparkly things, but wrestles with her brother and rides the snot out of her pony.

Mmmm, love her.

Essence of DELIGHTFUL

2009-11-06T21:28:00.000-08:00

And this is after a begrudgingly deleted half the pictures I originally planned on posting. Can you not get over that face?!

J+A in black and white

2009-11-06T19:44:00.000-08:00

News Flash: HOMESCHOOL KIDS ROCK PHOTO SHOOT LIKE NONE OTHERS.

2009-11-04T09:29:00.000-08:00

It has been such a long time... but, the wait has been totally (shout out to Mum here!) worth it!!! PHOTO BOX madness from the Chiloquin and Beyond Homeschool Group!

These kids set my world ON FIRE.

Overexposure marries Radical

2009-10-17T16:19:00.000-07:00

Amanda+Jason

2009-10-16T15:48:00.001-07:00

WOOHOO! For two beautiful people!!!
If anyone has the "look of love" about them, its Amanda and Jason. The gentle, steady gaze, with an intense sort of communication... if I wasn't a hopeless romantic, that look, their look, would have forced me to make octopus faces and throw snowballs at them in true Calvin and Hobbes style. Lucky them.

This is take #1; stand by, good people, for more radical awesomeness!

Hello, Mr. President

2009-10-16T14:51:00.000-07:00

This little gilded portrait of George Washington, makes me happy. Really happy. It hangs in my powder room and I go to the restroom at least one extra time per day, just to say hi to him. It's like having a dog.

I'm going to start a foundation, built to rescue all these misused prints of our first president and educate the public on proper care and the ills of abandonment.

This is a serious issue, and people need to know about it.

Before I die, I want to...

2009-10-10T12:02:00.000-07:00

An encounter -of the wonderful variety

2009-10-04T11:48:00.000-07:00

It's really of no consequence to you, I suppose.

I met a good friend at church today. A really good friend. He said it warmed his heart to see me. I said I missed him.
I hadn't recognized him at first; he was wearing civilian clothes -I had only once before seen him out of uniform; he had also procured a respectable amount of facial hair since our last meeting -he is normally clean shaven; and he was at church -I had never before seen him in church. He was passing out the "elements" of communion, and I must have been staring at him for a good while, my mind unable to bridge the gaps, because he suddenly turned from the people he had been assisting, caught my eye, and winked.
Chuck. Chuck Barry. He's a firefighter and an extraordinary guy. He's saved me on scene, he's saved me off scene.
He made my morning. No, more like my hope.

Black. and White.

2009-09-29T11:04:00.001-07:00

In the words of Scott Kelby, taken from his book, "Lightroom 2: book for digital photographers":

I don't know many photographers who don't just love black and white. Well, actually the color black. You see, once you become a serious photographer, you want to sell your prints. Of course, once that happens once or twice, you're no longer satisfied with what you wold your first prints for, so now you have to find a way ot charge more. But here's the catch: you can't just sell the same prints and charge more, right? You'd have to shoot new stuff, better stuff, in fact, better stuff then you can actually shoot, which is tough because in reality you can only shoot as good as you can shoot. So, what's going to make up for your lack of talent and vision? Black clothing. You need a black shirt, pants, socks, coat, shoes, etc. Black clothing on a photographer is like magic because that tells the wrold you're not just a photographer, you're an artist and obviously mourning something deep inside your soul. Perhaps an emotional loss, but you're so tortured by it that you can't talk about it. The only way to express your inner angst is through your "art," which is now worth a whole lot more because you're no longer some schmuck with a camera trying to make a buck, you're a deep, mysterious artist they could never understand. This makes your irresistible to people who love buying the work of tortured artists (which is just about everybody). So now you're living in a luxury apartment on the Upper East Side and you've decorated it al in just one color -white. Why white? Because you needed to make a personal statement about monochromaticity, corporate plundering, and man's inhumanity to man. That, and you're really sick of black.

Thank you, Mr. Kelly.

There. Do you see the conflict? The struggle within? The agnst developing in me for the earth and mankind? See the magic.

Sneak Peak: Rachele

2009-09-28T18:16:00.000-07:00

R is an incredible lady and an amazing friend. I LOVE every photo I took of her.

Yet, none of them do her justice.

Sneak Peak: Haley

2009-09-28T16:29:00.001-07:00

How lucky am I? Totally.

Not only did I have the honor of shooting ONE of my cousins' senior photos (see Lauren), I was able to shoot a second cousins' pictures!!!

Meet: Haley.

If all senior's were this fun and easy to photograph, I could definitely, easily, no-maybe's-here, make a career out of this!

The Website is up, peeps!

2009-09-27T21:17:00.001-07:00

WOOHOO! The PHOTO BOX now has a website! Check it out, here: www.thephotoboxsite.com

Self Control

2009-09-18T10:39:00.000-07:00

I don't want coffee.

I say to myself as I pass a sign leading me to Mellolo's Coffee Roasters.

I don't need coffee.

I say to myself as I swerve around a car turning into the Human Bean drive-thru.

I don't really need coffee.

I say to myself as I catch Starbucks from the corner of my eye.

I want coffee.

I say to myself watching a group of cars surrounding Black Rock Coffee's coffee hut.

I need coffee.
I say to myself as I run a yellow light while staring at Dutch Brother's coffee.

I'm out of coffee.
I say to myself as I unlock the front door to my house.

The Fan Base BBQ: PHOTO BOX madness

2009-09-14T10:39:00.000-07:00

Sneak Peak: Lauren

2009-09-13T16:54:00.001-07:00

Beautiful. Intelligent. Fun. Totally awesome. And she is my cousin.

BOOYAH!

Portrait Practice

2009-09-11T15:22:00.000-07:00

contact me please

2009-09-10T09:45:00.000-07:00

At times, I live for eye contact, I think. The connection makes me feel alive, vital, beautiful.

The man with the reddish, blonde pony tail in the VW Van across from me at the stoplight.

The crazy (take it literal, kids) lady on my gurney with the startling gray eyes .
My partner over our patient's head, while he (the patient) happily munched a peanut butter/butter sandwhich I had made him (his choice of sandwhich, not mine; and btw, he thought it was quite yummy).
A friend in the middle of an argument.

Often I hold on a second too long; just long enough to see the polite "eye-contact acknowledgment" fall away, revealing their thoughts. Which normally entails varying levels of annoyance at my brazeness. I know, I'm so wild.

This on the other hand is just creepy:

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the thrid had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. (Revelation 4:6-8)

IMAGINE. HE must be into eye contact I think.

Look deep into mine eyes, peeps.

2009-09-09T13:03:00.001-07:00

COLOR

Chelsea and Denver

2009-08-30T18:48:00.000-07:00

I am...

2009-08-17T19:33:00.000-07:00

...in need of fresh wit.
...wishing I could call in sick -just once.

Mastering the Portrait Workshop

2009-08-16T16:29:00.000-07:00

Spent the last weekend immersed in the art of photography. Many many thanks to Missy of Melissa Rae Olsen Photography and models Billie and Lea!

28

2009-08-08T12:23:00.001-07:00

The number of years these two incredibly amazing people have been married:

Happy Anniversary Mum and Dad!

You two mean the world to me.
Oh, wait. You pretty much ARE my world.

Mucho love.

Your perfect middle child,
J

As of today ...no, this today. Ah, that was yesterday.

2009-08-01T20:07:00.000-07:00

My thoughts are running, running, running. I try to slow them down, so I can sort through them, or count them, or organize them, or identify them, or... whatever; but, they go faster, faster, quicker, like a merry-go-round that ceased being merry twenty spins ago.

So many ideas. So much I want to do. So much I want to be.

How? When?

Now?

I have no clue.

I blunder ahead.

As of today

2009-07-31T08:21:00.000-07:00

Persistence prevails. Thank God.

More Photo Fun

2009-07-24T19:05:00.000-07:00

Could they be any cuter?

THE Client

2009-07-23T18:02:00.000-07:00

The first brave soul showed up on my doorstep this afternoon for the introduction of the PHOTO BOX! Meet: Jenny.

She is also the first neighbor to welcome herself to my backyard and introduce herself. Hooray for the arrogant cat soul.

Never to forget: the photographer with the client shot!*

*1 cat sneaking into my house + 1 sunbathing session interrupted = 1 way cool sunglass shot.

OPEN for business: the Photo Box!!!

2009-07-22T02:34:00.001-07:00

It is THE place, my friends, to be crazy. It is cool. It is wild. It is funk. It is punk. It IS the PHOTO BOX.

Wish me luck. My stomach is filled with a thousand crazily, prettily colored butterflies, and I can't keep track of their flight.

A snapshot out a night-shift cured brain

2009-07-15T10:28:00.000-07:00

Today:

Is my Friday. Six days off.
My photo box equipment comes today. Behold: Box Photography comes to life.
I supposedly climb Rainier this weekend. Interesting.
I love my patio. I like clear blue curly garden hoses.
Should I AGAIN check to see if the UPS has come? No. Wait.
My house is a mess. Always is after a full work week. But I'm going to sleep and THEN clean it... after I set up my studio, after I rent my climbing gear, after I do yoga. Cleaning is SUCH a high priority.
I have nothing to say. The mind is numb. I should go.
I will regret this post. Oh well.

fail

2009-07-10T21:42:00.000-07:00

I fell today, in the middle of the cross walk of a 4 lane wide intersection. I tripped on the center curve and sprawled head on into traffic. My knees are skinned.

All for the sake of this:

which is a lousy picture anyways.

"Simming" in the lake

2009-06-23T22:27:00.001-07:00

Jade Linn

2009-06-23T22:18:00.001-07:00

Life Update #2

2009-06-08T19:04:00.000-07:00

Overheard (conversation among Starbucks' baristas):
Barista 1: ...'07
Barista 2: I graduated in '06.
Barista 1: Really? How old are you anyway?
Barista 2: Yeah, but I think you're older then me anyway... you're 21 in...?
Barista 1: 21 in November.

Laugh all you want people over 21. I'll be 22 in August, and it makes me feel like this:

(and yes, I did commander a "stock photo" enjoy the x)

Life Update

2009-06-04T16:42:00.000-07:00

God is pulling out all the stops in my life.

I'm so glad.

Flora and Fauna

2009-06-03T18:29:00.000-07:00

Lu "getting some"

2009-05-30T19:26:00.000-07:00

That's what they call it over in the cross-fit gym. That's what they call it when you pour out every bit of mental and physical strength to complete and perfect a work-out. When you go 150%. When you do what you told yourself you could not do.

Ladies and Gentlemen, presenting...

2009-05-26T22:08:00.001-07:00

My weekend(!):

If you ever wondered what a short person sees when they look at you, this (with a slight pan up or down depending on size):

at random

2009-05-05T07:36:00.000-07:00

My reality

2009-04-30T19:38:00.000-07:00

In previous blogs, I spoke about things that I saw across the fence, and thought, "Ah, how I would love to have that." Then I dreamed up all aspects of that life, which was really no life at all. Today I realized how LAME those thoughts are. And, right on time, (like God always is) my mum gave me her devotion of the day, which pointed me back to ACTIVELY THANKING GOD for all that He HAS given me.

So I did.

And people? God IS so good.

Things that I love:

JESUS, God's incredible love, family, down comforter, Mercy Flights, new days, bluebird days, cloudy cuddly days, my patients, the opportunity to go to college, my brain, the way God is so practical and so unpractical all in one, a healthy body, stars, books, other people, open facial expressions, my apartment, my soon-to-be roommate, biking, lilacs, fuzzy green grass, accounting, a reason to "balance" my checkbook, Oregon's ecological diversity, growing up in Chiloquin, growing up with God-fearing parents, being the middle child, having a little sister who wishes I would never have to go back to Medford, boxing with my 3 yr old brother, the bible, the way God gives me power in Him, spring days, running, dirt, fresh paint, morning coffee, being a paramedic...

You know the list keeps going. Really, I have so much to thank God for. More then a running list though, this, people, IS my reality.

Thank God, for that!

the day I fell in love

2009-04-26T15:25:00.000-07:00

...is today. People, could it be possible? The perfect little house, on the perfect little road, with the perfect little pasture for my perfect little horse.

FOR RENT
NEWLY RENOVATED FARM HOUSE WITH ACREAGE

Million $ views & close in.
4-5 acres, country living.
1370 sq ft
New Doors, Windows, Electric, Plumbing, Paint, Insulation, Individual room heat, Carpet, Hard Wood, Most appliances and New Bath.
New Exposed Aggregate Concreted, New Plantings, Some Yard care included.
Large Rustic Barn & shop was grainy.
Irrigated Pasture for couple horses or other livestock.
Dogs negotiable. Perimeter fence, Dog door, Single spayed Cat Possible.
No Smoking.

1100. Month, 1100 Deposit.

Make Appointment to See. Will Try to get more photos uploaded soon!

Oh, no. It can't be. But it is a glimpse, and perhaps, one day... One day, when I finally pop my roomie's personal space bubble; and develop (at the minimum) a green pinky.

Life is a strangely beautiful thing.

2009-04-24T12:16:00.000-07:00

Brookings/Bandon

2009-03-23T23:07:00.001-07:00

Bouldering

2009-02-03T21:03:00.000-08:00

Chelsea beginning the ridge route

Denver took this just as I was clearing the top...

I love the curvature of the boulder that Chelsea was able to capture in this shot of the Denver.

Never complete without a "gear" shot.

Haglestein out-of-focus

2009-02-02T22:28:00.000-08:00

windy, nutty, fluttery

2009-01-21T09:57:00.000-08:00

a conversation

2009-01-17T09:54:00.000-08:00

See me, see you

2009-01-15T12:01:00.000-08:00

5 years big

2009-01-14T08:47:00.000-08:00

Fire glow

2009-01-12T11:19:00.001-08:00

My yesterday

2009-01-10T11:06:00.000-08:00

Work late.

Run an emergency call that rocked me rather then me rocking it.

Spend an extra 15 minutes working through charting problems.

Break the ice that has formed over a puddle in the parking lot.

Realize I forgot my coat.

Find out my bike has a flat -a complete rim against the pavement flat.

Smugly know that I did NOT forget my apartment keys.

Relish a cold walk home,

with sparkling frost covered leaves,

and bright stars,

wrapped in the love of God

and attempt to sculpt my frozen face into different facial expressions.

Fall asleep cozy in my down comforter.

Know that I could not be loved more.

Source of lights

2009-01-10T10:50:00.000-08:00

my brother is a boarder

2009-01-08T12:04:00.001-08:00

fireside

2009-01-02T09:21:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T08:54:00.000-08:00

Day 40

2008-12-28T17:10:00.001-08:00

Day 39

2008-12-19T19:21:00.000-08:00

Outside my window, looking in with a reflection out.

Day 38

2008-12-18T10:08:00.000-08:00

This is me. Saving lives. In my 30 seconds of fame... or whatever you want to call it. I'm the one in the green coat, facing the camera, providing stellar emergency care:

It's 1915 (o'clock not year of our Lord) and I finally get to go home after a normal, crazy, fun, and long day on the ambulance. I had just thrown my boots in the locker and striped myself of any identifying name tags, happy to return to "civilian" status.
"You owe us ice-cream girl." One of my FTO's and part-time supervisor stalks towards me.
What do you mean?
"Did you see the paper today? ...Front page? Your face." This is the same FTO who docked me in my evaluations the previous weekend for driving 10 miles under the speed limit (I know, pitiful, right? I am, after all, driving an ambulance!)
It can't be that obvious... just a small picture of me behind some firefighters... or so I'm told.
"Ah no. It's obvious. I like chocolate." Another medic comes towards us, chuckling and nodding his head. "I like vanilla."
Okay, so those are really lame flavors, people. If you're going to make me buy you icecream, you may at least try something exciting, like Peppermint Bark! or Blueberry! or Dulce Leche!
"What?! You don't know about our tradition?"
Ah, no. I guess I missed that part in our policy manual. Besides, I'm the one who took the hit for our team, shouldn't all of you treat me? A Cold Stone's gift certificate should work.

So, friends, that's my story of the day, included with a slightly embarrassing photo on the front page of the Mail Tribune in a derogatory article about the exhortation of ambulance services.
You can check out the full article here, at the Mail Tribune Online.

Ice-cream is on me. Enjoy.

Day 37

2008-12-16T22:29:00.001-08:00

Another view of another road

Day 36 -the last few weeks did not exist.

2008-12-15T17:57:00.000-08:00

Courtesy of finals, the last two weeks did not exist. Look deep into the lights and repeat after me, "The last few weeks did not exist, the last few weeks did not exist, the last few... they were a figment of your imagination..." ...if they didn't exist for me, they didn't exist for you. And therefore, picking up the following day:

City Lights

Day 35

2008-12-09T20:18:00.000-08:00

The German couple

Another Day, Another Character Study

2008-12-06T15:58:00.000-08:00

He tosses a single pink rose arrayed within baby's breath on the table. I catch his eyes and smile. He points a sturdy but wrinkled finger at me, "Not for you." We both laugh; his demeanor relaxes. It's four in the afternoon and the the smell of aftershave floats off of him. I wonder how long he stood in front of the mirror, working to get every strand of hair slicked back. His head looks like a field of freshly mowed grass. The comb marks appearing carefully winnowed.

Five minutes later, he glances out the window, and then quickly takes a swig of coffee attempting casual, as she makes her way to the door. He swallows and then wipes both hands on his black slacks; casual off, he jumps up to greet her.

Right hand extended, "I'm Tom."
"Ann."

They shake, then their hands drop awkwardly to their sides. He offers her the pink rose. "How sweet!" I can't see his face, but the half-relaxed, half-stiff stance of his shoulders belays a blush.

Tom is a truck driver with a hobby in photography, who has never listened to books on tape. Ann has a down-syndrome daughter who is 31 and doesn't like being compared to a banana. Ann has listened to a few books on tape. They both use Blue Tooth -especially when in California. They both go to church. They both have crow's feet around their eyes and easy smiles.

A Character Study

2008-12-05T16:13:00.000-08:00

A sunshine yellow latte mug with a paper 12 oz with a coffee sleeve. A blue blazer and orange camisole with a red and navy rugby shirt. Brown clark clogs and dress socks with dirtied Nike Airs. She arrived an hour late. But when she walked through the coffee shop's door, he seemed to have forgotten about the 45 minutes of drumming his fingers and tapping his toes to the perpetual holiday music.

They are both in their late thirties. "Distinguishing" gray streaks have established themselves in their hair. Hands clasped, eyes locked, they talk. About them? About their interests? About the work day? About the design of the whip cream on her latte?

Interesting is all I think. Interesting.

And then I wonder about eharmony and bookclubs and community do-gooder meetings and office romances.

She gathers her purse, saying she must leave before it gets too late. He rises as well. They walk out the door.

Then I think about team communications, leadership strategies and an organization testing process called the Plan-Do-Act Study.

Day 34

2008-12-04T16:36:00.000-08:00

Day 33

2008-12-04T09:58:00.000-08:00

I believe a strong woman
may be stronger than a man,
particularly if she happens
to have love in her heart.

I guess a loving woman is almost indestructible.

-John Steinbeck

But to her? She's just another mother, wife, daughter, and sister giving her best, which never quite seems to measure up.

Day 32

2008-12-02T20:15:00.000-08:00

Georgie's infamous "charge." She thinks she is the most amazing, super-starred horse when she rears. (I might have had a little to do with that... )

Day 31

2008-12-01T19:41:00.000-08:00

Welcome in the Christmas season

Day 30

2008-11-30T20:14:00.000-08:00

A Thanksgiving Quip

Mama: If I ever get to the life stage of requiring a nursing home, just take me hunting.
Family: ???
Mama: As in, "Oops!" Misfire. There goes Grandma.

Parents keep life interesting...

Day 29

2008-11-30T20:05:00.000-08:00

The pony named Princess

Day 28 -what are YOU thankful for?

2008-11-28T09:58:00.000-08:00

In lieu of Thanksgiving, I wanted to post a few pictures of things that I'm thankful for. So this morning, I started snapping shots of things I love. I couldn't quit.

Remember the song, "...count your blessings, name them one by one..."? I started this morning, and I believe I'll be here until next Thanksgiving, still counting. I suppose it will be one happy, peaceful 12 months.

So here goes my short list, as of this morning (order not specific):

...Soft makeup brushes, laughing, sisters, funny faces, lights, cows, those "moments", my dear family, time, sunglasses, my little red horse, fresh water, skiing, learning, door mats with geranium petals, my job, tea and green tea kettles, driving, talking to God...

What is your short list?

Day 27

2008-11-27T21:13:00.000-08:00

Day 26

2008-11-26T18:40:00.000-08:00

Day 25

2008-11-25T20:00:00.001-08:00

Shoes

Day 24

2008-11-24T09:07:00.001-08:00

Green leaf, black stick.

Day 23

2008-11-23T21:10:00.000-08:00

My hardcore sister's bike page:

Day 22

2008-11-23T20:49:00.000-08:00

The Big D's bike page:

Day 21

2008-11-23T20:44:00.000-08:00

It rained, but it was not a sad rain.

Sometimes I love being a medic, other times... I adore it.

2008-11-20T19:41:00.000-08:00

Somedays, you just need a good cup of coffee. Today was one of those days.

Sitting outside the coffee shop was an old man, with the sweetest, round, cherry face, and a fall-colored, Scottish hat perched on his head. He made such an adorable picture, I wanted to pull a chair up to his table and have a "coffee" chat with him. It would have been good just to sit and soak up the morning sun, with him, elbow to elbow. Instead, I smile, say, "Good morning!" and pass.

On my way out of the shop, he stops me. "If I ever have a heart-attack, or a stroke, or something else, I want you to be the one who comes to help me... that way, when I die, you... your beautiful face will be the last thing that I see."

He doesn't have much faith in my paramedic skills. But he knows how to brighten one's soul.

Day 20

2008-11-20T19:24:00.000-08:00

G-man. The best little "dude" ever!

Day 19

2008-11-19T19:04:00.000-08:00

No matter where I am, or who I am, I'll always love cowboy.

Day 18

2008-11-18T19:44:00.000-08:00

Beautiful sun.

Day 17

2008-11-18T19:27:00.000-08:00

Wild Burro piles in Nevada. Love that state!

Day 16

2008-11-17T13:45:00.001-08:00

My Fanbase cruising pro photo websites

Saturday night, 1815, my work day complete. I'm peddling furiously toward my little apartment, charging stop signs and swerving the yellow dotted lines. Car lights close in behind me, until they illuminate the entire road before me, but the car doesn't go around; instead, it honks loudly and I hear obnoxious yelling. My first thought was to ignore the car, but I couldn't resist getting one peak. I glance over my shoulder, accidentally throwing my bike into the middle of the lane. The car stops. My eyes bug. It's C and D! They're laughing; we're all talking.

I love surprises! Especially when they come from two people who aren't able to keep a good secret for longer then a three hours.

Sadly, this is the only picture I got of our weekend. You can tell its a super good time, if I don't think to pack my camera around with me. I suppose these memories will just have to remain a secret.

Day 15

2008-11-17T13:29:00.000-08:00

Electric fan, circa 1920's

Day 14

2008-11-14T19:10:00.000-08:00

The headquarters for the ambulance agency that I work for is attached to a hanger in an airport. (We do flight transports as well as ground.) The building is old, and space is limited, so our locker and fitness rooms, take adjoining corners in the main hanger which houses our helicopter.

As my main mode of transportation is bicycle, and biking in a stiff uniform with pants that are about an inch too short is extremely uncomfortable, I keep my uniform in the locker.

The women's bathroom (the only "changing" room) is in the adjoining building. Therefore, to change into my uniform I have to pass the bathroom, pass through a one-way locking door, go to my locker, unlock it, get out my uniform, go back through the locking door, squeeze past the off-coming crew in the hall,back to the bathroom, change quickly (before the dripping water faucet in the sink -the only space to place my clean uniform- has time to soak through my crisp shirt), past the crew again, back through the door, fold my clothes in my locker, make sure I have my keys, back through the locked door -you get the idea. Not a super hassle, but when I'm a few minutes late...

So I shortened the process.

For the past two and half weeks, I've been changing in the open helicopter bay after a quick glance around to make sure no one is in the line of sight. Occasionally things get "close" but in general, its been a great idea.

Today, I noticed the security camera. Pointed directly at me.

Aha. Yeah, I do remember seeing the bay through one of the six monitors in the Dispatcher's room.

There is no photograph today... Sure, hoping to remain unknown. ;)

Day 13

2008-11-13T18:46:00.001-08:00

Day 12

2008-11-12T19:24:00.000-08:00

Feathers.

Day 11

2008-11-11T17:38:00.001-08:00

My Gramps. A Korean War vet. Happy Veteran's Day!