What?

A few days ago someone, in all seriousness, called me an introvert.  Me, an introvert?  Really?  I don't think I have an introverted bone in my body.  I'm not sure what prompted this person to think that of me.  I am not their biggest fan, so I wasn't talking to them very much.  But they've seen me in social situations, so they know what I am like, usually.  But introverted?  Me?  I don't think so.  I'm pretty extroverted and that is not likely to change.

A little addition to the family next year

For those who haven't heard (and for those that have and just want more gossip, because you can never have enough...), there is an addition to our little family, due in July 2012.  And because Kevin is a camera nut, here is the latest photo:

As you can see, the baby is not much bigger than a jellybean, but seems determined to make it's presence felt.  I have been constantly "car-sick" (low-level nausea) and craving red meat like there is no tomorrow. I think I've eaten more red meat in the last two months than in the last year.  Weird. 

Once we started telling my aunts and uncles, the medication questions started coming.  So, here is the deal.  I started going off my medication (for bipolar disorder) at the end of August, and was completely off by the beginning of September.  It's been hard.  I am running mostly manic, which means my mind feels like a hamster on crack, I've been fairly easily irritable, and I have a VERY hard time falling asleep.  We'll see how the next seven months go.  But as of right now, I really miss my meds and desperately want them back.  I can only imagine the whole thing will get worse as pregnancy hormones continue to raise their ugly heads.  I feel sorry for Kevin, and that he has to deal with it, but he seems to be okay with the whole situation.  We'll see how he feels as this goes on. 

When I started going off meds, we told my parents (they know my whole history and can work with Kevin and the doctor, if need be), and a few friends I hang out with fairly often and know me very well.  My "circle of trust" has been fabulous, keeping an eye on me, checking in, and ready to report to Kevin if I am slipping too far beyond normal (and, poor things, your job is not over yet.  There is still seven (+/-) months to go!). I appreciate the care and support.

We'll be finding out if the jellybean is a girl or a boy around February or March, and we will definitely be sharing that information.  As for a name, we'll be waiting on figuring things out until we find out the gender, and then we will begin working on a list.  Until then, I have a nursery/guest room to rearrange and decorate, color schemes to look at and narrow down (and then choose once the gender has been identified) and some other stuff to work out.  There is a lot to keep me busy in the next several months.  Wish us luck!

I'll be home for Christmas...

One of my favorite Christmas songs is "I'll Be Home for Christmas" by Bing Crosby (and covered by a multitude of other artists over the years).  This year, I will be home for Christmas.  Kevin and I are travelling north to the homestead and will be living it up in the cold splendor that is Eureka!  I love it up there; it is actually winter with the cold (and potentially rainy) days and nights, the small-town atmosphere, and seeing the people I've known since I was little.  I have a list of the things I intend to do, and am super excited to start crossing them off.  It's been a while since I've had the opportunity.  It's been a while since I've been up in Eureka, period.   

1) Lunch at Vellintini's Bakery.  Turkey Lurkey season is here!  Yay!!!!!!!

2) Dinner with the fabulous Candy at Applebee's.  It's our spot together and always a good time.

3) Touring the Christmas displays at Pierson's.  There is always super cool/cute stuff by local craftsman. LOVE IT.

4) Wandering Old Town and perusing the used book stores (there are two up there and I've never found any other place that can compete to these locations.  Awesome).  

5) Hanging out in front of the fire and reading, for hours on end.

6) Speaking with far-flung family and friends.

Happy Christmas everyone!  Enjoy the time you spend with friends and family and be safely merry. 

That's all it took?!!!?

We have some friends that moved into the ward the same time Kevin and I got married, and they have a little two-year old, Madie, who is super adorable.  But despite knowing Madie for three quarters of her life, her being over to our house multiple times and us being over to her house on several occasions, and we always sitting together at church on Sunday, Madie remains pretty stand-offish with me.  She kind of rejects me.  However, when she was over at our house last week with her parents for a little holiday gathering, I wound up painting Madie's fingernails.  It was pink and sparkly, and she loved it.  Now, she apparently LOVES me.  She approaches me, says hi, waves, suddenly learned my name, and is no longer so reticent around me.  Is this the secret to kids liking you?  I should have painted her nails a year ago, and then I wouldn't have been part of the out-crowd with her, but someone she actually likes.  Lessons learned, I guess.  When a friend brings their child over and they seem a little hesitant around you, paint their fingernails and they will suddenly love and adore you.  And cease to be afraid of you.

A Grinch-y Christmas

One of my all-time favorite Christmas movies is "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (the cartoon, not the fairly awful Jim Carey remake).  I love that movie and watch it every year.  I've been thinking about it a lot, lately.  Mostly because I've had a hard time getting into the Christmas spirit.  We've been exceedingly busy since October and I feel like I haven't had a moment to catch my breath, work has been hellish, and life has just been getting in the way of things.

One of the things resonating with me the most this year about the Grinch is his inability to get into and understand the Christmas spirit.  Granted, he goes a lot farther than I ever would in destroying Christmas, but he starts out with a heart two sizes too small, and by the end, it grows three sizes that day.  It is a movie that always makes me smile, and reminds me that Christmas is not in the ribbons and bows, but the heart and the spirit that prevails amongst family and friends.  I hope you enjoy this holiday season and find joy in the time spent with those you love.

Old Friends

It is always good to see old friends.  I was delighted with a visit from Miss Carrie Fuller yesterday.  She is a friend from the LBC days and is now located in Washington DC.  We spent some time catching up, reliving the old days, and made plans to meet up in Utah when the fabulous Julie Black gets married in May.  It will be a grand time and a wonderful adventure.  I'm contemplating taking the train from here to Utah.  I've never done a long train trip and it seems like it might be interesting.  Has anyone made that trip before?  Any tips, advice, or just random thoughts?

And the kudos are gone

Maggie has lost her footnote in history.  She started barking again.  And refuses to give up.

Mark this day in history!

Maggie the Wonder Pup, defender of the homestead, did not bark at all last night.  It is a momentous occasion worthy of a blog post, because she has been barking at something (raccoons, squirrels, stray cats, her own reflection...) for weeks now.  Every. Night.  And last night, NO BARKING!  Yea, Maggie!  Keep up the good work.

Merry Early Christmas

Kevin got the new iPhone for Christmas, and he wanted it early.  So we ordered it a couple weeks ago and had it shipped to my office.  It was due to arrive on Friday. The problem with that was my office was closed for the holiday.  So there the coveted iPhone sat, in a box at the FedEx office in Pleasanton.  And at 10:00 this morning, Kevin comes running out with the shipping invoice, stating that he was going to Pleasanton to pick up his phone.  He was like a kid at Christmas.  He's been updating, syncing, transferring, and fiddling with it all day.  He even already called his brother, Dan, to show off a little.  It's been so funny to watch him playing with his new toy.

Dickens Festival

A friend of mine scored some free tickets to the annual Charles Dickens Christmas Festival.  Kevin and I went with her family to observe this fascinating bit of culture.  This is a group of people seriously dedicated to their craft.  They have some pretty intense rules for the costumes and how they act.  Read about it here.  Seriously.  You'll get some enjoyment and head shaking out of it, I promise.

We started with some lunch; traditional Dickens era meat pies.  Seriously delicious and some of the best fair food I've ever had.  Fresh, warm, and oh, so tasty.  Yum.  But the rest of the day was fabulous.  Amelia, our four-year old friend, was my willing model for all sorts of masks and hats.  She struck some poses that did my heart proud.  Plus, she's adorable.  Marley's ghost was wandering around, I saw Scrooge with the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future.  It was pretty surreal.  The entire book of "A Christmas Carol" was being acted out through various parts of the festival.  It was AWESOME!  Everywhere you went, people were wearing period costumes, speaking in (fairly decent) British accents, and wishing you a Happy Christmas.  Really, it was pretty surreal.  I thoroughly enjoyed my time there and would love to go back.  It was vastly entertaining.  But don't take my word for it; see the photographic proof below!

Being Davis

I grew up with my Davis cousins (my Mom's side), and we are all pretty close.  But, as happens with all close family units, we have our own "language."  Being Davis has its ups and downs (mostly ups, though).  We are notorious for not being able to do anything musical; we cannot hold a beat, a tune, or dance.  Seriously, watching my aunts and uncles dance at my brother's wedding reception was HILARIOUS.  Some of us are slightly better at some musical things than others, but really, not by much.

On the other hand, we are chocolate connoisseurs.  As long as there is chocolate, life is good.  We are also a pretty inclusive bunch; we are happy to welcome almost anybody to our clan and will give you a fair chance to join our crazy antics before you tiptoe away in possibly sheer horror.  We often use the phrase, "it's Davis" to describe a multitude of things, and I am very glad to be a part of that group.  


There are moments when I wish I was musically inclined; that I could sing, dance, and be able to play an instrument, but at the end of the day, I'm glad to be part Davis and have all the aspects that make up the family legends.  We can truly put the "fun" back in dysfunctional.  

Random Memory

We lived in LA until I was about ten (as most of you know, we moved to Eureka, in Northern California, from Los Angeles) and the school I went to was a concrete jungle.  It was basically two city blocks of asphalt with all the necessary equipment scattered around, enclosed in a 10' tall chain-link fence and no green space to be found.  LA is basically desert (so really no wild animals to speak of).  We would go to the beach frequently, but you never saw any animals out in the wild.  Most of my animal experiences (outside of the usual dogs, cats, etc) occurred at the San Diego Zoo and Los Angeles Zoo.

When we moved north, we started to see wild animals in their natural habitat.  On one of our exploration trips, before we officially moved, we saw a bear cub on the side of the highway!  Deer were frequently spotted standing on the side of the road.  And then we started at our new elementary school.  It was on the edge of a forest, with a huge green field used for soccer and such.  Deer used to come out of the forest during school hours and munch on the grass field.  It was amazing; I would stop and watch every time it happened and could not figure out why my classmates were not similarly amazed.  My junior high and high school were the same basic setup; on the edge of the forests with huge green fields that deer would come out and munch on.  My behavior remained the same; I would stop and watch the animals in their natural habitats and just be fascinated.

To this day I love to see animals in nature.  I love seeing a deer wander out of the woods and start nibbling on the grass.  I could watch dolphins breaking out of the waves at the beach for hours (and do every year at the Beach House).  Nature fascinates me, and I am endlessly intrigued by the interactions that I am able to have with it.

Displaced hair

I have been shedding a lot lately.  At the rate I am going, I will be bald by 2012.  Every time I turn around, there is hair all over me.  I can't figure it out.  It's getting colder, but I am shedding like a dog in the summer.  It's getting annoying.  I don't think I have ever lost this much hair before and I can't figure it out.  It's on me, my clothes, the carpet, my chair at work, the seats of our cars, and littering streets and sidewalks wherever I have chanced to walk.

On the other hand, I have figured that I am now a main contributor to birds nests across several states and throughout Northern and Southern California.  If I have to go bald, at least birds can live in fluffy comfort with a colorful nest.

A wedding, vacation, and reception

This is an EXTREMELY long post.  With photos.  You have been warned. 

Last week we drove out to Las Vegas, where my brother Jeff and his beautiful fiance were married in the Shark Tank at Mandalay Bay.  It was very intimate and beautiful.  Kerry was lovely and Jeff glowed with happiness.  It was fabulous to have our whole family gathered together.  My dad's sister and her family came out from Arizona.  I saw my Klima cousins, who I haven't seen in five to ten years (one of each).  It was a fabulous reunion.  Since the reception was in LA the next Saturday, we took the days in-between to have a little vacation.

First stop was a tour of Hoover Dam.  It was built in the 1930s and I geeked out over all the Art Deco details and took tons of photos.  Art Deco is one of my favorite architectural periods.  Hoover Dam is amazing.  It generates enough energy to pay for itself and an engineering marvel.  There are several ingenious methods that were created in order to build the dam.  Seriously, amazing.

Next was the Grand Canyon.  Neither of us had been there before.  It was amazing.  The colors at sunset are beautiful.  There are some fabulous buildings that were constructed in the 1930s, with the architecture reminiscent of native peoples.  Amazing.  The canyon did look like it was the painted backdrop of a movie set; it kind of looked fake.  It is astonishing what nature can do over millions of years.  It was FREEZING cold while we were there.  We were camping and the temperature dropped into the teens.  Like 16*.  I was a frozen popsicle almost the whole time we were there.  The bonus of going in the extreme off-season is that we practically had the place to ourselves and could linger as long as we wanted without having to jostle around crowds.

Some bonuses of camping were the wildlife that wandered into our campsite.  There was a buck (7-8 years old) that wandered through on our first day (I was only a couple feet from him!) and a herd of elk on our last day (10-15 mothers and babies).  I love to see wildlife in their natural habitat.  It is always so cool to me.

Next was the trip to LA for the reception.  We decided to drive Route 66 through AZ to CA.  it was interesting.  There are a lot of little blink-and-you-miss-it towns and a VERY curvy road, but it was interesting nonetheless.  I want to drive the whole thing someday.

LA was fabulous.  I saw all of my aunts, uncles, and cousins at the reception.  I was able to spend some time down in Long Beach and hung out with the girls who still live in the area.  We went to dinner, I got a pedicure and manicure at my favorite nail salon EVER, and made a trip to Sweet Jills, the best bakery ever.  It was a fabulous trip, full of fun and catching up.

Enjoy the random photo montage below.

The newlyweds: Jeff & Kerry.  10/30/2011

Hoover Dam

At the Grand Canyon

Watchtower at the Grand Canyon

Gettin' our kicks on Route 66!

Sunset at the Grand Canyon

They Said Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is official; Jeff and Kerry are married.  The ceremony was beautiful, Kerry was beautiful, and Jeff looked extremely happy.  They have been together for five years, and our whole family is extremely thrilled about this step in their relationship.  Kerry has been a Klima (and Jeff a Belvill) forever, so it was just a beautiful day.

Jeff (my brother) and Kerry (his wife) were married in the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay Hotel, Las Vegas, NV.  It was a beautiful day and the whole family was there.  Aunts, uncles, and cousins from LA, Chicago, and IL were there along with a myriad of friends.

I am currently posting from the lobby of the hotel (where there is free Wi-Fi; otherwise, you have to pay $13/day for Wi-Fi in your room.  Rip-off!) so I will have to post photos of the happy couple when I finally upload them.  But otherwise, yea!  I have a new SIL who is incredible and a brother who is super happy.  It's been a great weekend.  More fun to come in the next week; Grand Canyon, meeting up with the LBC girls for dinner, PEDICURE AT THE SWAN, hanging with the Davis clan and the McLeary's, and then the reception on Saturday.  I have lots of great stories, but need more time in which to detail them.  But the long and the short of it is, Jeff and Kerry said yes, so now they live happily ever after.  Good deal.

Just like the cartoons

You know in cartoons when the dog barks really hard and the force of the bark pushes it backwards?  Yeah, Maggie did that the other night.  There are some raccoons sneaking around the neighborhood and Maggie, in her position as dog defender of the homestead (what else would you expect from a Wonder Pup?) has taken to going after them.  She will bark so hard at them that she jumps back a few inches.  It's hilarious.  It would be more hilarious if it wasn't at 3 AM and I was woken out of a sound sleep.  But hey, what can you do but laugh when it produces hilarious results.

RIP Nonie

My mom called me tonight to tell me my Nonie had passed away this morning.  Nonie was my Grandma's friend, and an adopted Grandma to my brothers and I.  She has been a part of my life since before I was born.  Grandma and Nonie travelled everywhere together; they went to Hawaii four times, drove across the country a couple times, came to Eureka to visit us more times than I can count.  Nonie came to all of our birthdays (when we lived in LA), our baptisms (even those who were baptized in Eureka), and spent every Christmas with us.  She was a grandmother to us in all the ways that mattered.

She had some major and minor strokes years ago, and kept having them.  She was sick, and in pain, and it was her time.  I don't quite know how to process this.  I am sad that she is gone; it is the ending of a chapter of my life.  On the other hand, she is in a happier place and free from her pain.  It is a surreal feeling.

But this I know.  I know that through the Savior, we can be with our family again; forever.  I have a strong testimony that this includes family we create in our hearts, not just DNA.  I will see my Nonie again.  And it will be a joyous reunion.

Because I'm just not busy enough...

Remember this post?  You know, when I witnessed an armed robbery at Jack in the Box in Fremont?  Guess what I got in the mail today?  A subpoena to appear in court on October 25, 2011.  I have to be there at 8:30.  In the morning.  And stay there ALL day.  This is, of course, the same week that I have to pack and prep the house for a week-long trip to Vegas, Arizona, and LA for my brother's wedding.  I have to finish up stuff at work and get things in order there so it doesn't fall apart while I'm gone.  And oh, so much more.  So know I am taking a day off of work to go down to Fremont and deal with this.  Really?  November would have been so much better for me.

Peace fills the soul

Saturday night, Julie Beck (Relief Society General President) gave four firesides in our area.  My week had been hectic, the day had been hectic and stress-filled, there was a lot of craziness going on, and all I wanted was some peace and calming down.  Mentally, I needed it.  Two of Sister Beck's firesides were closer to me; Oakland and Fremont.  I wound up going to the one in San Jose due to some time constraints.  The Lord sends us to the places we need to be, to see the people who can help us the most, and listen to the words that were meant for us.  I received all of that at the Fireside in San Jose, in a variety of ways.  I am grateful for the Spirit of the Lord as it guides me in the direction I should go, and puts the people I need to hear from in my path.  It was a wonderful evening.  The Spirit filled the room and peace filled my heart and soul.  I am thankful for those moments of peace and love.        

Glamping

Now this is my kind of camping trip.

Armed Robbery

First of all: Grandma, I was perfectly safe and fine the entire time.  OK, on to the story.

Last Saturday, Vanessa and I met at Jack-in-the-Box in Fremont (our half-way point) to catch up and hang out for a little bit. We were sitting there, at about 10 PM, sipping our beverages when I looked at the door to the restaurant.  Two men in black hooded sweatshirts, with the hoods pulled up, came in.  One had an automatic-looking gun (the police told me it was a Teck 9; you can see a photo here), and the other a duffel bag.  Since I was facing the door, I got a good look at them.  They did not spare any of the seven people in the establishment a second glance, just went straight to the counter and hopped over.  I have to confess to freezing for a moment; there had been a HUGE gun a foot away from me and my six-months pregnant friend.  I mean, what is the protocol in a situation like that?  Since they robbers hadn't said anything to us diners, I made a decision to get us up and get out.  I grabbed my phone and dialed 911 on the way out the  door.  I was able to tell the police what was going on, where we were, and as luck would have it, the robbers drove right by us on their way out of the parking lot, so we got the license plate number, as well.

The police soon converged en masse and began the process of interviewing us.  I told them my story, and they asked me to hang out in order to ID a suspect in the field.  The high-speed chase had ended in Milpitas (about 10-15 miles away), with the suspects abandoning the car and fleeing on foot.  They caught one guy, and drove myself and two other people down there to take a look at him.  After that they drove us back to Fremont to speak to a detective.  After hanging out there for an hour, they had us drive to the Fremont police station to speak to the detective there.  I drove there and then hung out for maybe 45 min. longer, waiting to speak to someone (thank goodness for my iPhone; it saved my bored bacon AND helped me navigate my way to the police station).  Finally, they let us go home and told us to keep our phones on because they might need us to come back and ID the second guy, if they caught him.  At this point, it is 2 AM; I was EXHAUSTED.  I went home, gave Kevin the whole story in detail, and went to bed at 3 AM.  I slept until noon (which never happens), missed church (which started at 9) and was exhausted the rest of the day.

Monday morning, while at work (and still insanely exhausted), I got a call from the police detective, asking me to come down to the police station ASAP to ID the second suspect.  I traveled 30-40 min. to view a guy through a two-way mirror, tell them I thought it was the second guy, and was on my way back to work five minutes later.  They will be in touch concerning court dates, etc.  I hope they just plead guilty and spare me the headache.

It was an insanely surreal experience.  Things like that don't happen in real life.  But it did, and it all turned out okay.  Just exhausting and kind of freaky when you sit down and think about it and how it could have been different.

Technology withdrawal

I haven't posted in awhile. There is a good reason for that. My computer is currently in the hospital. The outcome looks bleak, but the doctors are doing everything they can. I remain cautiously optimistic, and take comfort in the fact that I am married to my IT guy and that we purchased a three year extended warranty on my laptop.

I am doing okay in the wake of this sickness, but REALLY miss my laptop. Pray for my sanity.

Labor Day Weekend Adventures

This was an action packed holiday weekend full of fun and adventures.  I went camping (shocker, I know).  But it was Kevin and I camping with Dan and Jackie, my brother-and-sister-in-law, in Richardson Grove.  It is a beautiful State Park on Hwy 101, not too far from Eureka, and met my requirements for camping; flushing toilets and shower facilities.  And they were fairly nice for a campground.  We hung out in camp, played in the river, cooked around the campfire, and drove through Avenue of the Giants.  And wouldn't you know it, but my parents house is only 25 miles from the end of Avenue of the Giants.  So it only made sense to stop by and visit, and maybe have them feed us dinner.  It was a lovely weekend full of laughter and hijinks.

Good Day

I like to wish people a good day, tell them to have a good weekend.  That kind of thing. I do it on the phone at work, to the check-out person at the store, the people I interact with when I am out and about.  I like to think it makes their day maybe a little bit cheerier.  So it kind of puzzles me when people, especially those in a good mood, do not return the well-wishes.  Even more so when they do not even acknowledge when I wish them a good day.

What is the big deal?  Why can't you just say "you too" when I say "have a good day?"  Do they just not know how to be polite?  Are they too self-absorbed?  It is not something I dwell on too terribly much.  I just notice it some days more than others.  Today was just one of those days.  Wouldn't this world be a much better place if we all wished each other a good day, back and forth?  Then maybe the world could be a happier place.    

Maggie the Wonder Pup

Just to preface, Maggie is not a barker.  She is the quietest dog I have ever had in my entire life (and I grew up with dogs).  But every once in a while, she turns into the ferocious warrior dog and starts barking up a storm, especially after 2 AM.  This is the dog that will  ignore the person walking into the backyard, but bark at a cat sitting on the sidewalk ACROSS THE STREET.   When we are in bed.  Asleep.  One (or both) of us gets up, tells her to hush; she calms down.  And then it starts over again.  Eventually, she winds up in the bedroom, because we both need to just get some sleep and have to work the next day, no matter what.  Sometimes that stops the barking.  Sometimes not; she stands on her hind legs to look out the window and continues to growl.  At nothing.  The cat or raccoon has long since left.  But there she is; our fierce 12-pound-ball-of-fluff-defender-doggie, guarding our house and protecting us from rogue urban wild animals.

I have a couple theories.  One is Maggie has spidey-senses.  And they are tingling a lot lately.  The past week, there have been three nights of barking.  She is barking at something she cannot see; at whatever random cat or raccoon she thinks she heard through the closed front door.  She doesn't even go outside to investigate!  Just barks at the crackling leaves rustling in the wind.

The second theory is the Twilight Bark (a la 101 Dalmatians).  Maybe there is a message system for animals, passing stories and information along the best way they know how (Maggie might have a Facebook page, but not every four-legged friend is so technologically advanced).  If that is the case, I hate to interrupt good communication, but it needs to happen when I am not trying to sleep.  There are tons of daylight hours where such a communication method is non-abusive to my sleeping habits.

Camping at home

It was so hot and gross the other day.  The house did not cool down at all.  Even the AC didn't help.  Outside it was nice.  Inside, not so much.  So how to solve that problem?  Sleep outside!  Kevin slept in the hammock (he claims it's comfortable), and I slept on the camping cot.  It was cool.  The only downside?  Sunrise was at 6-ish AM, and I don't have to get up until 7:00.  Whatever.  I was able to sleep, and that is what matters.  We might have to do this again.

The best reason I've heard to go to Italy...

SHOES!

The whole country is shaped like a boot; you're going to love it there!

Grass!!!

You might have seen my backyard.  It was hard packed dirt, lots of dead and crispy weeds, and some unidentifiable stuff.  It was just not pleasant, plain and simple.  In the last few months we've put some (minor) improvements to the place.  There was the gazebo, the outdoor dining, planting the garden, hanging the hammock, and a variety of other projects.  The final process was putting in some grass seed.  We are doing very inexpensive updates; we are renting and don't want to do anything to major, but since we will be here for a while, there are some things that we have to do to make it more habitable.

I went to work on Friday, while Kevin had the day off (he works 9/80s), and by the time I came home for lunch around 2 pm, he had the yard tilled, the grass seed spread, and the top-soil laid down.  AWESOME!!  I was all prepared to help out once I got home from work, but he had it all done.  In four to six weeks, we should have some nice grass.  It will be wonderful to fully enjoy the backyard.   It already feels cooler back there.

Kevin is a handy guy to have around.

Cousin fun!

One of the things I enjoy most about living in the Bay Area is being closer to cousin Meghan.  My Uncle John and Aunt Elizabeth did not always live close by the rest of the Davis clan, so they could not attend all the family functions.  As a consequence, I was not able to get to know my cousins, Meghan and Sara, as well as the other cousins.  That changed a little bit with summers Meghan spent with my family in Eureka, but that was when we were teenagers.  Who knows themselves as teenagers?

Meghan moved to Alameda a few years ago, so when I moved back to NorCal, we were able to get together.  Kevin and I are able to double date with Meghan and her finace about once a month, and they can come to some of the gatherings we host here at the Drunken Puppy.  It has been wonderful connecting with Meghan.  Family is family, and there are similarities in us because her Dad and my Mom are siblings.  I love having someone so close by who knows what I am talking about when I refer to something as "Davis," and can reminisce about the stories of the past.  Love it.  

What are friends for?

I've been loving this website lately.  There are just some really interesting sayings.  My favorite thus far has been the "Friends are cheaper than therapy."  Agreed.  Thanks guys, for all the free therapy over the years.

Busy Saturday

Kevin and I went to Sacramento for our nephew, Benjamin's, first birthday.  I didn't get any photos of the birthday boy (I know, I should be shot), but I did get some other good ones of Maggie the Wonder Pup and James (another nephew).  There haven't been any Maggie updates lately, and I know her public is just clamoring for updated info and photos.  

 Maggie road tripping

 Just waiting for the kinds to drop some food.  Patience is a virtue richly rewarded.

 James enjoying a cupcake

Kevin and Maggie chilling in the shade.

Being a girl

There are some aspects of being a girl that are just no fun.  And there are those parts that are just sheer joy.  I would have to say pedicures and, by extension, bright pink toes, are right up there at the top of the list.  They make me happy.

How a guy throws a party

A friend of Kevin's got married over the weekend, so the bachelor party was held at our place (I absconded for the night with my sister-in-law, Jackie).  I offered to bring out serving items; platters, plates, etc., and was denied.  Apparently, this is how a guy sets up for a party.  Give them a keg of root beer and some video games, and they were happy campers.  I could only shake my head and walk out the door.  But they had fun, and it was a beautiful wedding the next day.

How to deal

Sometimes I think I make a bigger deal out of things in my head than they really are going to be.  I'm the type of person that tries to anticipate the outcomes of situations before they happen.  Sometimes I even prep with a little role playing in my head.  Or out loud when I'm alone in my car.  I'm sure that looks really weird to the people driving around me.  Maybe they think I'm just going along with whatever is on my radio.  But I digress.

I'm a planner.  I believe a good offense is the best defense.  I like to have control of things and feel like I can control my reaction to situations if I have a dialogue in my head first.  The problem with this is that sometimes I get so worked up about the situation that I can't even broach it to those around me.  I have all the arguments, discussions, responses, and outcomes mapped out.  And usually nothing has happened yet!  And it may not ever happen.

The thing is, I should take a hint from various twelve-step programs and just, as they say, "let go and let God."  The more I relax and let things happen as the may, the easier it will be for me to go with the flow and just accept what life throws at me.  I can't control other people.  I will never be able to fully anticipate what they might do or say to me.  But I can grow stronger in myself and know that what they do is not a reflection on me, necessarily, but a reflection on how they see and feel about themselves.  I am strong and secure in myself, and the more I depend upon my Heavenly Father, the stronger and more secure I become.  I know me.  And knowing that will help me catch what the world tosses and be able to respond accordingly and appropriately.  Without having crazy role playing sessions in my head.

Dear Lisa,

I posted a few things because it has been a while, and you told me that I needed to put some stuff up for your reading entertainment at work.  So, three posts sit below for your reading enjoyment (and anyone else that might read my blog).  But I just wanted to let you know that I was thinking of you.  Happy Monday!

Love,

Shaine

Thanks for being a scout widow

I received this letter in the mail yesterday from the Bay Area scout council yesterday.  It is a thank-you note to me for "allowing" Kevin to go to Scout Camp and "letting" him spend so much time with the Scouts, molding young men into adults of good character.  They assure me that all the time I've spent alone while he is in Scoutmaster mode is not in vain. 

In all seriousness, it was a nice thing to receive (if a little corny).  I've never begrudged any of the time Kevin spends with the Scouts doing what he needs.  And I usually use that time to spend with my own girlfriends, so...win-win, I guess.

But if the San Francisco Bay Area Scout Council wants to thank me for being a Scout widow, well, that is fine by me.  And maybe next time there could be a gift card to DSW in there?

What to do with myself

When the Scouts were prepping to leave for camp a couple weeks ago, I cannot tell you how many times someone asked me, "what are you going to do with yourself with Kevin gone for  a whole week?"  Like without Kevin I don't have anything to do.  Little did they know that I had already prepped my week, well, weeks ago.  In addition to getting up and going to work (every day), hanging out with Katy and Lisa, some Relief Society activities, and spending some quality girly time with Maggie the Wonder Pup, I also decided to host a dinner party (which deserved its own post, so see below).  Maggie tried to hook a ride with the Scouts and go to camp.  She even dressed the part.  Unfortunately, she got left behind.  She was devastated the whole week.  But she sure looked cute waiting for everyone to load up.

Zestfully Lemon Dinner Party

A little while ago, I posted about a fruit arrangement that inspired me.  With Kevin gone at Scout Camp, I decided to use the Friday night to the best advantage and host a dinner party for some of my girlfriends in the ward.  I decided to be a bit more formal than usual, and sent out the invites, rather than my usual Facebook or evite methods.  But I used lemons and limes as my theme throughout the evening.  We ate outside, used the fine china and silverware, and the table linens.  It was so pretty!  The menu consisted of lemon chicken, green beans with lemon zest, and some yummy bread.  We also had a sparkly lemonade as our adult beverage.  It was just such a fun and relaxed evening.  I thoroughly enjoyed myself from planning to hosting, and can't wait to do it again.

 The invites

 The outdoor dining set-up

Dessert!  Lemon-lime cupcakes with lime sorbet.  De-lish!

 

Thievery

Kevin and the scouts left for Scout Camp after church on Sunday, and before they hit the road, they had lunch at our house.  There was a little sandwich buffet lined up; you know, meats and cheeses.  The usual.  After all had left and I came back inside to start cleaning up, I noticed that there seemed to be a great deal of cheese missing.  Then I looked in the backyard and saw Maggie acting suspiciously.  I went out there and found her with a HUGE chunk of cheese, nibbling it down and trying to hide it in the vegetable bed. Little sneak.  She had managed to get through half of it, and I took the rest away.  But still.  She had somehow managed to jump up on the dining room table (which she has never done), snag the cheese (which is something she loves), and took it outside to eat it without being caught.  She almost got away with it.  It makes me wonder what else she has gotten into without me being any wiser.

I am a genius!

Ok, not really, but I like to pretend that I have great spurts of ideas sometimes.  It makes me feel good about myself.   A couple days ago, though, I think I did have a stroke of inspiration.  I had been thinking about an idea for cupcakes and tested it out the other day to reports of "bomb-diggity" and "I need another one" from my co-workers.  Flattery is just music to my ego.  But I made lemon cupcakes and infused vanilla frosting with lime zest and lime juice.  It was super yummy.  I'm definitely a more adventurous baker than a cook (and better at baking than cooking), but I'm super jazzed that what I was going for turned out so well.  Yea!!!

My favorite things, continued

I like my bathroom.  Actually, I REALLY like my bathroom.  I love the light in there, the color scheme.  Bright yellows and greens make me happy.  It sounds kind of silly, I know.  It's not like any significant part of my day is spent in there.  But whenever I'm in there, I just enjoy how I've set it up.  There are mementos of my travels, butterflies, and my make-up and girly stuff.  It's a happy room, and I enjoy it.

Words to live by

My friend, Wendy, found this quote and shared it with me.

"Cinderella is proof shoes can change your life."

Truly, words to live by.  

Happy Independence Day!

This past weekend Kevin, Maggie, and I headed to the Beach House for the annual Davis Family Reunion (and Robb and Vanessa joined in as well.  We've adopted them into the clan).  There was lots of laziness, laughter, and talking.  It was definitely a much needed break.  It is good to get away from home and do absolutely nothing.  The fireworks were professionally illegal, and it was a consisten 75* all weekend.  Lovely.  Maggie was very happy to have all those people adore her, but was a little scared of the fireworks.  When we came back to the house from the beach, we found Maggie under the bed in my aunt and uncle's room.  She didn't yip or bark, or totally flip out, but she did snuggle up to my Dad and just tremble extremely violently.  Later she climbed up in bed with Kevin and I, curled up, and did not move the entire night.  She was wiped out from the noise.

I love the extended family.  I love how much fun we have together, and hearing the stories they tell when we're together.  And hanging out at the Beach House is never a bad time.

On a more patriotic note, I have several family members who have served and are currently serving in the military.  I am grateful for the freedom of my country and the foundations it was built upon.  There are a lot of problems with the USA, but at its bones, we are are a wonderfully fortunate people to be able to call ourselves Americans.  God Bless the United States of America.

Recuperating from the fireworks

What would you take?

I have been intrigued by this blog lately.  It is basically a photo of the things a person would grab on their way out the door if their house was burning.  Things they like, sentimental things, irreplaceable valuables (valuable for one reason or another).  I go through this blog and look at what someone would think to grab.  What they would reach for and why.  Some things I understand, other items I just roll my eyes.  But I've been thinking.  What would I take?  What is so important to me, and so irreplaceable, that I would grab it from my house?  I am a collector.  I like stuff, specifically my stuff.  Things I've gathered from around the world and have sentimental value for one reason or another.  Then there are the practical items; things I should definitely have just to survive.  Most of my family is in the greater Los Angeles area.  At one time or another, all have faced the wildfires that raged and had to have things packed and ready to go, just in case they had to evacuate.  I never asked, but I did wonder, what did they grab? What was important to them?

What is important to you?  What would you take?

0_0 That is all I could say

I was getting dressed for church this morning, and had a pair of bronze harrachi sandals on with my dress.  As I pulled out some jewelry to start the accessorizing, Kevin looks at my choices and says, "If your going to wear that necklace, you should really wear the natural wedges you wore at Vanessa's wedding."  I don't think my eyebrows could have risen any higher or my eyes gotten any bigger. 0_0  I had been contemplating a jewelry change, but after that, I just had to change my shoes.  Let me just spell this out for you a little bit more:

Kevin
A) knew the proper color and style of shoes I had bought for an occasion a full year before I met him
B) offered styling advice for my outfit and, out of all the shoes in my closet, had pulled out the style that would work perfectly
C) knows all the shoes in my closet.  Mind-boggling.

Peace

The past two weeks have been hell on earth.  Work has been so insane, I've contemplated just putting my pen down and walking out.  Things are just amped up, and it seems we are asked to do things for which we have no time and even less support.  I heartily dislike my job, and have been searching diligently for something else for the past eighteen months.  I've had one bite out of countless applications, and got passed over for that.  It seems like I am doomed to be at my present employment forever.  And the thought makes me shudder and cry.  Needless to say, I've been going crazy and haven't felt very good or happy about anything, let alone life in general.

Thursday night was temple night for my stake.  Kevin and I went, and made it to the temple with about 10 minutes to race to the dressing rooms to get ready and make the session.  Thanks to a horrendous traffic jam, the session was incredibly small and we were able to sit in the celestial room for a good while.  It was the calmest and most at peace I have felt in a long time.  I went with questions a need for guidance, and while the answers did not come in a lightening strike, I was comforted by the presence of the Spirit and the knowledge that my Heavenly Father loves me.  I love the temple.  I love the feeling of joy and peace that abounds.  It is a sanctuary and truly our Saviors home on earth.  The Lord truly does walk in His Holy Temples on the earth.

Confession

So, I might have seen a photo of a bouquet earlier today.  And I might have thought of how I could rearrange it to suit myself as a centerpiece.  And then maybe I started planning a party around the theme of that centerpiece.  All because of some lemons and limes.  But it is just the perfect thing for summer, and just lends itself to the horribly warm weather we are forced to endure right now.  A nice evening, a gazebo, some misters, and good food, good friends, and, of course, lovely decor.  Kevin is currently rolling his eyes at me.  But I can't wait to start planning.  Let's see if I can make this work.

Bonding

My brother, Chris, is staying with Kevin and I this summer while working at my company.  He goes back to Eureka in August to finish his final semester at HSU.  The job isn't glamorous, but I am so happy to have a sibling close by.  And Maggie especially appreciates him, since she gets to sleep in a BED with a PERSON every night.  This is a very rare treat, and she is becoming pretty spoiled by this turn of events.  Chris is always a good time, and we've had some very lovely sibling chats, moments, and adventures lately.  Plus, coming home to find he and Kevin watching the Giants game together last night?  Priceless.  I'm glad Chris is around.  I enjoy his company, and am glad he is my friend, as well as my brother.  Amusing, sarcastic, and always entertaining.  That's Chris.

The best advice my Dad gave me...

I was reading an article that various people had contributed to.  The subject?  "The Best Advice My Dad Gave Me."  I instantly thought of some of the things that I learned from my Dad, and the nuggets that he still gives us and the quotes the boys and I still use.

*"There are no small parts, only small actors." (I was sad that I had a very small role in a local Shakespeare production.  Dad reminded me that ALL the roles are vital to telling the story.  Otherwise, they wouldn't be there).

*"The pink part is my thumb.  The white part is the rope.  Only cut the white part."  (A line from a magic trick he performed, but still, a great reminder to watch what you are doing).

*"Have fun, be smart, learn something." (Dad always said this to us when we walked out the door for school or when he dropped us off.  It worked while we were in school, but it is also a great life lesson.  We should always have fun, be smart about what we do, and always looking for opportunities to learn).

*If you did it right the first time, then I wouldn't have to tell you to do it again. (Self explanatory, and mostly aimed at my brothers.  But at me, occasionally.  Very occasionally.    :-)  

*Measure twice, cut once.

I could go on and on, but you get the gist of it.  I learned a great deal from my Dad, and am still learning from him.  I am a very lucky girl to have my Dad as my Dad.  He is incredible in so many ways.  I love you Dad!  Happy Father's Day!

A long road back

I went to the gym tonight.  I've gone a few times in the past couple weeks, which is more than I've been in, well, months.  For those who have known me for a long-ish time, know that I was pretty good about getting to the gym a few times a week.  I know why I stopped going.  It wasn't because I'm lazy, or to wrapped up the newlywed life.  The gym is just one of the things that slipped away from me in the past year.

About the end of February/beginning of March 2010 I got kicked off the cliff by some events into a clinical depression.  I got married, went on a honeymoon and spent the first nine to ten months of my marriage clinically depressed.  It was not a fun time for anyone, least of all Kevin.  I feel bad that our first year of marriage was pretty much a train wreck, thanks to my issues.  There are a lot of things that I lost.  I had to drop out of school because I couldn't focus on me and getting better and a grueling graduate program.  It took everything to get out of bed in the morning.  When taking a shower took all of my strength, then going to work part-time sucked the the rest of the energy out of me, and all I could do was go home and sleep for four to five hours until Kevin came home, the gym and the some of the rest of basic living was just beyond me.

I've been working and struggling to get me back.  I miss me.  I miss the me that was in charge and just did things.  I just miss me.  So, I'm working on getting me back.  It's a process, and a struggle.  When you spend that long lost in the dark and have to struggle just to get out of bed, then deal with the feelings of failure and despondency, you have to work hard to just to get some semblance of self back.  You don't just wake up and find yourself back where you were before the plunge off the cliff.  You have to climb up an inch at a time; sliding back down sometimes, regaining lost ground and then continuing with the climb back up.  It isn't easy.  And sometimes giving up seems like the easier thing to do.

I'm lucky to have a strong support system in Kevin, my parents, and my friends.  It hasn't been fun for either of us.  I feel bad that we were cheated out of a "normal" first year of marriage.  Maybe the second will be more traditional.  But I'm fighting every day to get me back.  And getting back to the gym is just part of it.    

Notes

Letter writing is a lost art, I think.  Remember in elementary school, when you had pen-pals from another school somewhere across the country or in an entirely different country?  You would write a letter a week, anxiously await for a reply back in the mail.  Good times.  Whenever I had friends on out in the mission field, I was pretty faithful about writing them (and most were really good about writing back).  But now there is email, texting, IM'ing, and phones are much more convenient to make long-distance calls on.  But still, letter-writing is deteriorating; grammar, structure, how to give news and make it sound interesting--that is all going by the wayside.  

I have a great deal of pretty note-cards that I keep stored in a box.  Just sitting there waiting for a special occasion to use them.  But here is my "sudden" realization.  There really is never going to be that special occasion to use them.  I have to make it.  We all like to get something in the mail.  Gifts are the best, but a nice note is almost as good.  : )  So I am going to do my best to start a letter writing campaign.  I'll send notes to my friends and family members.  If someone responds, yea!  If not, then I'll keep writing.  But I want to keep the art of letter writing alive, somewhat.  Because really, don't we all deserve something in the mail besides bills.

Talents

Today's lesson in Relief Society was all about talents.  The usual suspects came out; music, art, sewing, etc.  These are the talents that usually get thrown into the mix.  I generally acknowledge myself to have no discernable talent.  I'm not musical, I'm not artistic, and I really don't sew (I dabble, is more like it).  So, when they were discussing talents, and the various attributes that people in the ward have, I had to think long and hard about what my talents were.  They are not necessarily apparent to the naked eye.  Here is the conclusion I came to; my talent is friendship.  Just to take a moment and blow my own horn, I am a pretty good friend (I think).  Whenever someone in my circle needs something, I tend to be there.  I am fairly social and like to get people together and perpetuate some bonding.  So, it might not be big or grand or noticeable, but there it is.  My talent is friendship and socializing.  It is somewhat useful, since I moved around a lot, and now I'm using it to establish myself in my new-ish ward.  I have a talent.  Yea!

I think most everyone has this conundrum.  They don't know what their talents might be, or think they don't have any.  But we all have something, no matter how small and seemingly insignificant.  What do you think your talents are?  

Birthday of Flowers

My birthday was lovely and fabulous.  I had a great deal of love sent my way.  Interestingly enough, a lot of it came in the form of flowers.  Kevin brought flowers to me at work, and when I came home, more flowers were scattered throughout the house.  During my birthday party, my cousin and her fiance brought me a bouquet and a couple friends also brought me a bouquet.  It was lovely.  I love how fresh flowers look and smell in the house.  They brighten it up and add a lovely perfume throughout the house.  I love birthdays (and not just my own).  Everyone deserves a day where those around them can be joyous and appreciate the fact that they are in the world.  I'm happy to be here, and appreciate the fact that those I love are here, too.

Scents and Smells

I love things that smell good.  I love to smell good.  Perfume, lotions, flowers, candles.  You name it, I probably have it.  And use it fairly often.  When I shop for deodorant, I stand in front of the displays and just sniff at them.  If I'm using it daily (and I am!), then it needs to be a scent I can enjoy day after day.  So  I have a variety and change them out when I'm in the mood.  And then I can enjoy the scent throughout the day (and know that it is working).

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

There are so many things I would put here to brag about my Mom, but even if the blog had space, everyone would get pretty annoyed by the length of the post.  As the only daughter (I have three! brothers), my Mom and I share a special bond.  In addition, I was born the day before Mother's Day, and like to consider myself the best present she ever received.

My Mom is seriously the best human being I know.  She is kind and considerate, honest, and has a total love and empathy of her fellow man.  Family is her priority, and we are all--immediate and extended families--close because of her.  I have always thought that if I could be half the woman my Mom is, then I am a lucky girl.  I have been thinking about the incredible person she is, what she overcame in childhood and how she, along with Dad, made the decision to change the structure of our family and make it a place where love is felt and everyone hugs everybody else; and we tell each other "I love you" all the time.  

Usually I think of the ways I need to grow in order to be like Mom, that I don't stop and think of the ways that I am like her.  Mom is a big adventurer; she loves to see new things and places.  As a kid, and a young married, she traveled across the USA and up to Canada and down to Mexico.  She just wants to experience everything she can.  Mom was all about the random hikes and day trips; we would just hop in the car and go.  This happened before I was born and all throughout my childhood.  Disneyland, Patrick's Point State Park, Santa Barbara, day trips to Oregon; these were all pretty common occurrences.  

Education has always been a top priority for Mom.  She took eighteen years to get her BA, going to two night classes a semester when us kids were little.  She only ever missed one class and that was to give birth to the youngest, Ben.  I think she gets a pass for that.  She has two Master's and is working on her MFT license.  I have always know the importance of education, both academic and general life, and am proud to consider myself a life-long student of whatever I can learn.

I could go on, but I don't want to make this too long-winded.  Needless to say, I have so many traits that  I inherited from my mother, and am proud to be her daughter.  I am nothing without her, and she is truly my best friend.  Happy Mother's Day, Mom.  I love you lots, and am so glad I get to share my birthday around this holiday; it always makes me think of you.

Happy Mother's Day, Grandma!

Mother's Day is approaching, and that makes me think about the important women in my life; my Mom and my Grandma.  

I've only ever known my Grandma.  My other grandparents passed away long before I was born.  The boys and I used to spend Friday or Saturday nights with Grandma.  We would have slumber parties at her house while Mom and Dad went on a date.  Grandma always had the best treats to give us; banana chips, popsicles, and every once in a while, some ice cream.  I would spend time at her house in the summer, visit for weekends when I lived in Sacramento, and she was always at our house for Christmas.  For a little while this past Christmas, we thought we would lose Grandma pretty quickly.  Everything turned out to be okay, and Grandma is sticking around for a good long time.

My grandfather died of a heart attack when my Dad was only seven and my aunt was three.  She was a single mother all of a sudden, with two kids to raise on her own.  She figured it out and my Dad is a pretty amazing guy because of it.  

But there are some ways in which I like to think I take after my Grandma.  She is pretty girly; I have a love of make-up, nail polish, clothes and shoes.  So does my Grandma.  She traveled all across United States, and has had some pretty big adventures.  I bet I am the only one who can say that my Grandma was a race car driver.  : )

So, Happy Mother's Day, Grandma.  I am so grateful that you are in my life and I love you lots.  Thanks for being my Grandma.

Name Calling

A customer at work called me stupid today.  It wasn't a commentary on the company, the services provided, or anything like that; she called me, personally, stupid.  I told her that wasn't acceptable, wished her a nice day, and then hung up on her.  I hate anyone calling anybody stupid.  It is incredibly derogatory and is designed to cut people at the heart of themselves.  I know I am not stupid; that is not what this is about.  I hate when people try to find a way to cut someone down and feel that it is no big deal or completely acceptable because they are upset about something.  Name calling is never acceptable; personally attacking someone is never ok.  Calling someone stupid is a particular pet peeve of mine.  Out of all the attacks, that is one I find particularly appalling.  So maybe we can dial back on our name calling and make the world a little friendlier.  Or at least not try to tear down those around us.  Self-esteem is a terrible thing to bring down.

Dinner Party!

My cousin, Meghan, and her fiance came over for dinner Saturday night.  The weather has been so beautiful, we decided to BBQ and eat outside, using our new gazebo-thing (for the tale of its construction, see post below).  We moved the dining room table and the chairs outside, set it up, and had a very enjoyable evening.  Sometimes it's fun to be silly; and I had way to much fun setting the table.  But it was good food, good times, and good friends (family).

 Maggie supervises the grilling; and hoping for a handout.

 The finished gazebo-thing project.

 A close-up of the table, just because I had way too much fun with it.

Easter Weekend

My parents came down for Easter weekend.  We hung out, had some fun, hosted an egg dyeing party, and Kevin and I got talked into a gazebo-type thing by my Dad, the Pied Piper of Projects.  With some "you could do this, build it like that, put it over here.  It'll be easy; we'll have it done by noon."

And the next thing you know, Dad and Kevin are researching it out and going shopping together.  We came away with something nifty, and I really like it.  They wound up not building something so much as put it together, but all in all, it was a project that was some fun and has a great result.  Maggie was the job dog, and supervised the event.  She did a good job keeping Dad and Kevin on task.

Want to see the finished product?  You should see the next post!

Office Dog

Today is national Take Your Child to Work day, so where else would Maggie the Wonder Pup be but at work, with me.  Kevin refused to take her, citing his security clearance for work, and the fact that Maggie did not have one.  I think he just didn't want to have to take her outside for a little R&R when she got restless.  Whatever.  More fun for me!  And everyone loves Mags.  How could you not?  She is a very hard worker and was a great help to everyone today.