Some Humboldt Green

Many wild and crazy things have happened since I last wrote, or blogged I should say. But that is the norm around my house. One minute you are making scrambled eggs for breakkie and the next minute you're packing for a trip to somewhere, you just don't know where yet.

Just after I blogged on Mother’s Day, I was hanging out by myself enjoying some “mommie time” while everyone was napping. I started reading people’s profiles on Ravelry. Hidden in someone’s profile I found an interesting group for a fellow crafter who had been recently diagnosed with liver cancer. (August 5, 2008) I wandered into her blog and found her to be funny, intelligent and with a ready and open heart. I encourage you to read her blog and the posts from the people who knew and love her in the Ravelry group created in her honor, Cyber Hugs. I am so grateful I read her blog on Mother’s day. It gave me perspective and made me appreciative of the very short time we have here on Earth and with our children when they need us most. Not a day, a hug, or a kiss from my babies has gone by without thoughts of her babies and her husband flashing before me. I hope they are well and I send them my love.

A few days later, DH decided we were going camping. Camping turned into a road trip to beautifully green and tasty HUMBOLDT COUNTY when Uncle R reminded us that DH’s cousin, C, was graduating from Humboldt U! So off we went to cheer her on in her wonderful and amazing achievement. She graduated with a degree in Philosophy at the age of 20! She started college when when she was only 16. Pretty bad ass, huh? I think so. Yeah~ That's my cousin! It was an awesome trip. We got to see a little bit of Norcal because we took the 36 and got into some pretty rural areas. At one point I looked over to say something to DH and I actually saw a deer eating on the side of the road covered by giant redwoods. I want to live there.

We drove down this winding road and suddenly, directly ahead of us stood the most enormous and pristine trees I have ever seen in my short, short, life. They seemed to part for the road as if to temporarily permit my curious intrusion into their mighty domain. Magestic seems too mundane a word for these forest lords. They were so giant that they blocked out the rays of the sun and it was difficult to tell whether it was day or night. A warm mist rose from a gentle brook that snaked just beside a camp I believe was called Grizzly Creek Campground. It is so remote and secluded that it is often possible to be the only camper in the area. Breathtaking. And to think some people actually live out there. Lucky bastards!!

C’s graduation was awesome. Humboldt County was beautiful. The people were like Berkeley 15 years ago, weird but super nice and homey. The mornings were cold but welcome after a night in a warm tent tent containing two babies. It was well beyond 9:30 by the time the sun came out and beamed on the relieved graduates on the awesome campus of Humboldt University. It was great to see my family that I love, even if it was only a part of the family. I have known C since she was two years old. She is a highly intelligent, dedicated, strong young woman. She gives the aura of knowing herself, and her place in the world. To see how she as developed gives me slight hope that we are not as bad off as it would seem. It was awesome to see her thriving in her life and I hope my daughter can in some way follow the road C has taken. She is a product of good parenting. As best as I have ever seen it. All three of R & R’s kids are exceptional and I love them all so much.

On the other hand, camping with two babies under 3. . . not so awesome. Our air mattress was damaged in transit due to a packing malfunction. Therefore, it was sleeping on the ground for 3 nights. DD and DS cried and fussed the first night in the tent. DH was ready to throw them both out of the tent but Mommie did her magic and I got them both to sleep with that mommie love and all was well with the world. That was the only not awesome part actually. I love camping. It’s just difficult with babies. They like structure and schedules. Otherwise they get cranky.

In other news, DD crawled for the first time on the same day as C’s graduation and I was able to catch it in photos. That was precious as she is my sweet baby angel. I am slightly concerned as DS was walking at this age, well, at 8 & 1/2 months. But she can already say Dah, Dah and Mah, Mah and does so at the appropriate times and DS didn't really talk until recently. All kids are different.

The best part for me was Saturday night. The babies were asleep in the tent and DH and I sat alone in silence eating smores and drinking beer in front of the fire listening to Coast To Coast. Even boring old Ian Punnett couldn’t ruin that night. That's when you know you've found somebody really special. When you can just shut the hell up for a minute and comfortably share a silence, despite Ian Punnett. Good times.

R’s sister, N, (who’s voice sounds just like R's) was crazy generous and gave us a bag full of ripe delicious strawberries. Since N and her husband M were just in Oxnard, I assume she gave me Oxnard Strawberries. Not any of that Watsonville trash! Camping being what it is, they got mashed and bruised by the time I got them home. So I decided to make jam and can what I could. DH and I made the 4 jars of best strawberry jam I have ever had in my life. Thanks N! I will think of you every morning during breakfast. Yummie. Hope you and M got home safely to Colorado.

All in all, I am happy to be home and eating my own homemade strawberry jam in my tiny little comfy home. So are my babies. We got home in the middle of a heatwave with the AC turned off, of course. Everyone immediately fell asleep except for me and DD. Later, the power went out so it was 9:00 before the upstairs was even tolerable. Two days later, everyone is back on schedule and as I write, DH is passed out on the couch, tired as all get out still from the trip. I think I’ll have one more beer and join him. It’s the best place in the world to be.

Mothers and Favre Watch

First of all, I would like to say Happy Mother's Day to all the Madrecitas out there. Here's wishing you all a beautiful day with your family. I hope you are all appreciated for the hard working center of the family you are.

I celebrated by sleeping in until dang near 8:00! It was marvelous considering DD gets up everyday at 6:00am. Not only did DH have breakfast ready when I woke up but he had already showered and fed DS AND had tri-tip going in the crock pot!! Yes, he's one of the good ones. I love the guy!

Secondly, for the fifth year in a row, our family is awaiting exciting news. This usually comes every year in March. However, last year it was at the end of the summer. We are on Favre watch. Yes, football fans. It looks like he might grace us with one more year of greatness. OMG!!

And to top it all off, he's going to play for the Vikes! Holy Crap! When GB traded him to the Jets they (GB) had a stipulation as part of the trade that NY could not trade Favre to anyone in GB's conference. They didn't want to meet Favre on the field. Because they knew he would shove the ball down they're throats! Rightfully so! But now, instead of submitting his retirement papers as a Jet, they released him; making him a free agent. Which means he can sign with anyone that wants him. Including a team in his old division, the NFC North! If he goes to the Vikes he will play Green Bay twice this season; week 4 in Minnesota and week 8 at Lambeau!

According to ESPN, the Vikes and Favre are currently evaluating the condition of Favre's right arm to see if he needs surgery. I don't really know how I feel about him being a Viking because there is kind of a rivalry there, but I would absolutely love to see him stick it to Ted Thompson. I am so excited. I think he'll look good in purple and white. And he's always done well at the Metrodome.

To all those Favre haters who always have something to say: You just WISH he was considering joining your team. If he was you wouldn't be saying anything. You'd happily take him, interceptions and all. Besides, what else goes on in sports this time of year? Baseball? NBA? Bah! Come on Fall!! I want some football.

In closing, I would like to send much love to Mothers everywhere! It's a hard job! You deserve a great day. Also, to Favre's right arm: Please, please be miraculously healed so that he can play one more spectacular, wonderful year! Just one more year, again!

The First Time

I started this blog weeks ago thinking it would be fun and easy. We’ll see about the fun part but I just haven’t had enough time to do it for it to be easy. With two little ones and DH to take care of, my plate is pretty full. But a girl’s gotta have something for herself or else she’ll go crazy; am I right?

Ok, so I guess an introduction is in order. I am a 37 year old mother of two (as I’ve already mentioned). I married my highschool sweetheart and we have been working through it for twenty years. Marriage is hard work. Anyone who tells you it is easy has cranial rectitus. I am blessed to have a great DH and pretty special kids. I also have a pretty cool sister who is nine years younger than me. I love and cherish her very much. She is the only member of my family who I still have contact with for the safety of my sanity and the well being of my family. My life has never been better.

My days are pretty full from six am until seven o’clock when my little ones finally go to sleep. Then I get some much needed Mommie time! I spend my time running from one thing to the next. But I love it.

My biggest regret is that, due to medical reasons, I will never have another baby ever again. I absolutely loved being pregnant. It was the most special time of my life. All the excitement of an enormous life change; wondering what the future might hold. What will my baby look like? Those were wonderful days. Despite the leg cramps, heartburn and being tired all the time. Good times.

I am originally from beautiful Port Hueneme California. It’s this tiny little town surrounded by Oxnard. Since I left, PH somehow became part of the valley. It used to be a sleepy little mostly hispanic agricultural beach town and now Oxnard looks just like the valley. Growing up in PH was awesome. I went to school with the same people my whole life. Some of them I consider family.

I moved to Antioch about ten years ago. I was homesick for years. But I have discovered that Thomas Wolfe was right, you can’t go home again. So this is my home now. Besides, isn’t home where most of the people you love are? Yup.