Talking Walls

It's strange to step into another person's sanctuary and see how they live. See what a space says about them. I have no desire to snoop, but the pictures on the walls tell story enough. My cousin travels. She has seen the world and recorded her moments in it. A sunset off of an ocean, children carrying baby monkeys and waterfalls. She has a bookshelf nook with statues from what I imagine are the cook islands. They must go with the memory box containing currency, stamps and a palm tree post card from the same place. And then there are the pictures of family. On every surface there is a picture frame or a photograph tucked behind ribbon. Our grandparents, her and her now husband, and everywhere, her mother, who died suddenly, so unexpectedly a few years back. A mother who's absence was felt deeply last weekend when her only daughter was married.

Hello from San Fran (again)

So Zach and I made it. I actually made a Facebook comment, which felt a teeny tiny bit strange. We're currently freaking my cousin's cats out by rearranging rooms and pitching wobbly tables for our computers. I'm not going to worry about the neighbors. (I'm NOT going to worry about the neighbors I'm NOT going to worry about the neighbors.)

*sigh*

No it'll be both fine and great. I'm really determined to make this work. And by "this" I mean working remotely. I'm determined to make that work. Hell, I may get more done here than I do at home, which, well, at this point with the drama in the office the last few days isn't saying much.

Really?

I recently discovered that I have little to no eyelashes on the under eye. I always knew that mascara looked funny down there but thought nothing more of it. Mostly, it just means I get bugs in my eyes all the time while riding a bike. B/c you know what keeps bugs out of your eyes? Under eyelashes.

So imagine my joy when I discovered there is a prescription medication for people like me. And even better, has Brooke Shields (long time sufferer of short lashes?) as their spokesperson. "Latisse- the first and only FDA-approved prescription treatment for inadequate or not enough eyelashes, growing them longer, fuller and darker."

Well thank you Brooke Shields and the people of Latisse. I never knew it was something that I should change about myself. I'll add it to the list.

Newsletter Anxiety

I'm slowly taking over our work newsletter. I use to run a craft/mixed media one but that is now more or less defunct. However in prep for Mom's retirement (eeek!) I've asserted myself into our main newsletter. It goes out to about 6,000 people, and even though we check the sucker 1 million times before it leaves, I still *hate* hitting the send button. I'd like to think this will eventually go away...but it's been like 8 issues now and it still is there. Vibrantly annoying.

Three Things Shower Water Sounds Like

I'm always trying to figure out tastes, but rarely am I trying to figure out sounds. Shower water against my skin sounded like:

1. A faster version of the standard car alarm off in the distance. Or maybe a siren but on fast forward just a wee bit.
2. Steaming milk for a latte.
3. Large group of water birds chirping at take off. I picture one of those National Geographic pictures of a big lagoon where a thousand birds take off and there is a frenzy of sound.

I think there must have been a squeak as the water pushed through the shower head. That's the only way I can reason 1 and 3.

Brain Mush

We made it back to my parents' driveway by 3am this morning. I suggested Z sleep in. The allure of coffee got me up at 8. This was a mistake. I'm making arm/hand coordination problems on my computer. (THE COMPUTER!) Also that coffee? Awful. And I'm going to drink it anyway.

So hello! It's always strange how when you're gone for a few days it can feel like months. I look at everything in my parents' refrigerator and just assume it's been bad for weeks. No, Kelly, you were just here on Wednesday. Calm down.

There isn't a ton to say about SanFran. Or maybe there is. I wasn't excited for the 2 Week Stay (next week) for about 30 minutes while Z and I sat in the crowded CA terminal. But then a few hours later as we whizzed down the I-5 I was again ignited with how cool this opportunity is. We saw my cousin's apt and it's seriously awesome and in a seriously awesome neighborhood. There are two Noah's Bagels AND two papyrus card shops, both within walking distance. There is a PaperSource nearby. And an independent movie theater. Seriously? I know it's just what I love about Portland neighborhoods, but I don't live in Portland. This is a serious treat for me!

Also my cousin's cats are hilarious. One should be a persnickety cartoon in a children's book. She'd be drawn as a pair of eyes following you back and forth but her body would be invisible. Just these eyes and maybe a tail coming out of a rundown chair.

Hello From San Fran

Z and I are down here for my cousin J (girl)'s wedding. I can't tell if I'm exhausted this morning from all the walking yesterday in bad shoes or because we got up at 4:40 yesterday morning to catch our flight. Either way I'm slow to wake up but will be totally excited for the free roof garden walking tour Z found for us at 10.

(There is a language outside my door I've never heard before. If I wasn't half dressed I'd rush out and investigate. Cool!)

When traveling I face two main inner obstacles: general travel exhaustion and laziness. I'm never quite sure where my decision making falls on that line. One thing I love about Z is that he's just ready for anything when traveling. I tire out a little more quickly and for example while I think it's good I slept in this morning, he's off trying to find delicious bread for us...and I kind of wish I was part of the adventure.

Add family and my laziness (mixed with a nice blend of family aversion) goes waaaay up. Last night after first open wine drinking (I did not drink) and trekking through the city for my parents' first try at Indian food, I just wanted to come home and curl up in an isolation holding cell. Today I have to make it through a wedding and a reception, which other than the family dynamics, I'm reeeeally excited for.

But maybe here's the lesson: tomorrow I'll get up early and tag along on whatever adventure Z is inclined to take.