Winter Wonderland

Chica was begging and begging to go for a walk today although it's a blizzard outside...so I decided to take her - but not without the camera to capture her jumping through the snow that pretty much went over her head!

We have to speak in code around Chica because she's too smart and discovers the meanings of words really quickly. We have to spell out w-a-l-k or p-r-o-p (mom and dad's house) or else she gets so excited and if we're not going that minute, it's too sad to see her let down. So, we feed her peanut butter sometimes as a special treat but we call it PB because she knows the words. Last night Brandon said "I think she wants some PB" and she got super excited. She figured it out!!! Smart dog. Hmmm...what can we say for peanut butter now??

Uno mas...

Okay, now for one more great experience that I have had. For my Visual Communications class, I had to visit a place and sit quietly, being present in the moment, sketch, write and photograph. I chose Muir Woods near San Francisco and it was one moment that I have never felt so close to nature. It was truly humbling. Here is a bit of what I wrote....

After walking the trail that led me to this place, I sit down on the soil and lean back against the trunk of an enormous redwood tree. The earth feels heavy beneath me. The air surrounding me is filled with moisture and is silent. I cannot comprehend how deep the roots must go and how many twists and turns the must have made to hold up this forest. Everything around me is grounded. It makes me feel grounded. I continually tilt my head back and lift my chin to look up the trunks of the trees and into the beautiful canopy of leaves above me. Each time I physically lift my head, I feel something internally bowing down to the ancient lives that surround me. I feel as though I have stumbled upon a great meeting of my ancient ancestors, standing together and discussing silently the wisdom of the ages. I try to listen.

Moments that define who we are....

I've been thinking about how each individual is uniquely shaped by their experiences in life. I began to wonder what experiences have made me the person I am. I've touched on this a little before in a past post and I thought of another moment that I think of often. It's so important that we recognize the experiences in our lives that are life-changing. If we are truly present in the moment, I believe these moments can happen daily. Something as simple as a sunrise or child's smile can inspire anyone...we just have to be open to realizing the beauty of it.

“Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Here's a picture from Alcatraz when Dave, Tam, Brandon and I went canyoneering. This image is taken right at that moment when you have to lay on your stomach on the edge of a 160' cliff, swing your legs around behind you and trust your gear to hold you as you slip over the edge and let gravity pull you the rest of the way over. It was probably one of the scariest moments of my life but I have never been so proud. It's so exhilarating. The view was breathtaking. This was my first rapel ever!! Anytime that I feel a little nervous about something that I have to tackle, I think of this moment, and I can have confidence that when I make a decision to do something, as long as I give my full effort, then the universe will conspire to make it happen. ;)

Perigee

No, this is not a word that I made up. Perigee is what happened last night. The moon was it's fullest and brightest that it ever is from our view on Earth. You know how weird things happen when there's a full moon? Like women having babies and crazy people robbing stores and stuff like that? Well, last night, it caused a group of us to gather together at Meag and Sean's house while wearing horrible Christmas sweaters. It's amazing what the full moon brings out in us.

Please notice the wing sleeves on my sweater and the beautiful pattern on Brittany's. Also the nicely detailed teddy bear on Mike's.Oh...what...this? This is what I call a turtleneck.

A nice touch is buying a sweater two sizes too small.

Here we are trying to be sexy....and not succeeding.

Here's Dave trying to be sexy...and succeeding exceedingly well. Rar.

The handmade sweaters were really a nice touch...

As hard as they try, they just don't look as manly wearing penguins and pearls...heehee

Tam and Meag

You can never go wrong with a nice sweater vest.

And if the sweater is just horrible enough...why wear anything else?

The scrunchie is a really nice touch.

I think Mike takes the award for the ugliest shirt. Check out the neckline...it's breathtaking.

And what is a Horrible Christmas Sweater Party without a little dancing?

It was a fun night and I think Meag and Sean have really started a great tradition with this one :)

Doesn't he just make you wanna?

Doesn't he? Okay, I totally stole that line from my BFF Emily. Just in case you were wondering, I totally meant to link only part of her name. I'm cool like that. Anyway, I couldn't think of anything better and she just has the literary talent to come up with phrases like that one. This is mi esposo and sometimes I find random pictures of him on our camera. So, I'll repeat myself, doesn't he just make you wanna??


I sometimes wonder. What's going through that beautiful brain of his when he does these little photo shoots? I guess we'll never know. We'll never know.

Obama-nation!

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die

A thought about the seasons...

"Spring passes and one remembers one's innocence. Summer passes and one remembers one's exuberance. Autumn passes and one remembers one's reverence. Winter passes and one remembers one's perseverance."

-Yoko Ono

Photo: May 2007. The Great Wall of Berlin.

Okay, so this is my mood NOW...

I just found out that for my Final Studio next semester, I get to be a part of a studio that designs a winery in Springdale, Utah (the town right next to Zion's National Park). Wahoo! Well, it's all pretend of course, but I can't wait to get started. What a great final project to officially graduate with! I'm super excited. Not only did I get my first pick for the studio, but I have my three BFF's in the class with me...Brittany, Mike and Dallas. We will have so much fun in our last semester together in the architecture building - it really has been our second home for the last four years. Oh, how I'll miss it. NOT. Okay, maybe a little. But not really. Just a tad. Now for a glass of wine to celebrate...

So...this is my mood right now...

"If you're in a war, instead of throwing a hand grenade at the enemy, throw one of those small pumpkins. Maybe it'll make everyone think how stupid war is, and while they are thinking, you can throw a real grenade at them."

-Jack Handey

I don't know if I'm just sick and tired of school and tests. Or if it's just that time of the month. Or if I'm getting sick ( I think I am). Or if it's a combination of all of these. I think this picture captures my mood right now. Bleh. Meh. Puh.