Stories, Musings and Mis-Adventures

Has it really been that long?

dandysparkle — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:26:10 GMT

Since I last posted? Or even hopped on Tribe? Oh... The Mommy madness must be starting already... Or is it the homeowner void that I have slipped into? Either way, it has been a very long time since I logged on, read your posts, or made one of my own. I see by the numbers on my page that there is a lot of catching up for me to do... What's new with me? (Us?) Well... I am no longer sleeping through the days for 15-20 hours at a go... Thank goodness for that... The laundry and dishes were starting to really pile up into mountainous proportions. I was beginning to think K2 had moved into my kitchen. And I am officially (barely) just past the halfway mark with this pregnancy. Thank goodness for that too. I am ready already. You know? (Well, actually we are no where near being ready for a little one as far as the house goes and getting the room ready, but physically and emotionally, I am more than ready.) My TBS (tiny bladder syndrome) has taken on even greater proportions... Every 20 minutes while I am awake, every 90 while I am *sleeping* and every time I change from sitting to standing or vice versa for good measure. And let's not forget the car trips... I now know where most all of the local establishments restrooms are, and if they even have one... Yeah... It is my new hobby it seems... We have the kitchen painted, and the office... And are procrastinating on the dining room and giant *bedroom* (formerly known as the family room)... But since I leave in a few weeks to get things all ready down south for the movers, we have little time to push things off further. By the end of September, we will have a bright and colorful home that is filled to the brim with stuff and things... (Putting all the stuff and things away (unpacking) is another matter altogether. I am getting excited for my visit to the Catskills to visit my family out there, see my brother's farm, attend my cousin's wedding and give my Mom (remember I have two Mothers that raised me) a long overdue hug. I get to be there for three weeks and return home just in time to be told that I am too far along to hop on another plane at my whim and whimsy. I finally LOOK a little pregnant, though depending on what I wear, I still just look fat. And I am doing very well on the baby weight gain. The Doctor is pleased (so no lectures on my only gaining 5 pounds thus far) and if I stay true to the current course, I will only gain the desired 25 pounds! Go me! (of course I gained almost 25 pounds trying to conceive, so I'll still have the typical 50 pounds to loose at the end... oh well...) My breasts have gained just over 5 inches so far... Yup. You read that right... 5 inches and still growing... And growing... And growing... They stick out much, mush, much further than the baby bump. (and they might qualify for their own zip code by now...) Since they are past a 30J and I am not aware of bra sizes going any higher than that, I have no idea what size I am, aside from way the f@#k too big. (and my Mother laughs that they are not going to go down afterwords, and they will only get larger with the next baby...) Seriously... Believe me when I say that I was serious about having them removed when all the breastfeeding is done. I have the date marked on my calendar already. (doubt me? ask Beloved, he'll confirm the agreement we made prior to conception.) Beloved is doing well at his new job... Though it is not all that new anymore is it? He likes the people that he works with and for and has growth potential that he is already experiencing. (he of course wishes for more international travel, but that will come I am more than sure...) And that is about it for now... At least I should end things here before I make this post waaaaay to long... I miss you all! (The photo is of the newly painted office... It still needs the drapes... Which I will make out of a graphic black and white print fabric. (which we are still looking for...) Notice that the parrot tiki mug matches? Turns out the Beloved REALLY does like this yellow/orange color...

Internet is up...

dandysparkle — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 03:40:08 GMT

We finally have internet at home... I was going to the library to use the net... Have a killer headache and Tylenol is a joke. Will post real Blog when I can run words together in a more coherent manner. But yes, I am still here. I have missed you all.

Advice from my sister-in-law...

dandysparkle — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 20:21:09 GMT

I called my brother this morning... With the time difference, it was lunchtime on the farm. Everyone was inside and clamoring for food and drinks, juice and sippy cups, and and and... But I got to have a great conversation with my brother. We spoke for almost thirty minutes before he passed the phone off to my sister-in-law. And this is what I took away from the conversation, even though as Mommy to four and one on the way, she has only a few minutes to spare as she is powering through the lunchtime rush... 1.) When I asked when the exhaustion would end... She laughed and said in about 18 or 20 years... she said to just push through as best as I can and get things done. 2.) When I told her about not being able to handle the smell of meat... she said I was just going to have to get over it at some point, since with the next one I would still have to cook the meals and feed them anyway. And we talked about other practical things like little kids and spilling on floors and cleaning hard wood versus pergo or tile... And so I have lots of food for thought about putting reclaimed wood in the kitchen and entryway... Might give more consideration to the tile that will be in the bathrooms after all... You know the woman truly is incredible when she can juggle four little ones, feed a hungry farmer, and still impart great wisdom and needed advice in under five minutes. Seriously, she is the best and I am very, VERY, lucky to have her in my life... (Even when it is only five minutes at a time...) Note: That is my youngest niece *helping* in the kitchen... (Yet another example of how awesome my sister-in-law is...)

Color me Happy...

dandysparkle — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 16:59:35 GMT

Okay... I know that we are moving to Pleasantville... But it cracks me up to no end to see that our house could have come right off the set of Swingtown... Seriously...1951 meets 1975 and toss in a bunch of 200 year old oak trees and you have our house. Yesterday we signed our lives away... Well... the next thirty years of our lives... And I have never been happier to be connected to another person. And by such a beautiful house that we will be able to make into our very first HOME together. Yup. THRILLING!!!! The afternoon was spent washing walls at the apartment with breaks spent buried in mountains of paint chips. It is difficult to pick which way to go. Soft and spa-like, bold and graphic, or bright and colorful. The only thing that I am sure of, is that when I am done, it will look like it is ready to be gracing the pages of House Beautiful. And so that you all can see just how close our new house does look like Swingtown, I am including this quickie clip from the behind the scenes of the show. Enjoy! Edit: Okay... I tried to include a clip from the show, but it does not want to do it. So here is the link... The clip is called *Set tour*... Sorry 'bout that. http://www.cbs.com/primetime/swingtown/

Note to Self...

dandysparkle — Mon, 19 May 2008 17:45:47 GMT

Had a great conversation with The Boyfriend this morning. Then he left for a quickie gym session. I glanced through my e-mail and clicked on a Dear Friend's profile. This song came out of my computer. I don't know what it was, didn't really get the words... But the melody touched me. I sat there on the sofa for the duration of the song, just a minute or two, and soaked it all in. And I was happy with my own company. Alone in my own space and thoughts and my own moment. Note to Self: Remember when the children are acting like kids, and the dog is wanting attention, and the dishes need to be washed, my Father is giving me grief for not calling enough, the man in my life is needing his best friend, my friends need their friend too, and I have dinner on the stove... It is a good thing and perfectly okay to take a moment for myself. To step away from it all and shut it all out for the duration of a good deep breath. It is the inner peace that brings me back to me and no matter how it may seem to the rest of the world, it is less selfish in the end if I have more of me to give. (And even if it is more selfish, I need to remember that I count in there too.) It is incredible how in the space of one song, how many solid deep breaths a body can take. And how good it feels. And no matter how tight the money is, how high the stress is, or how crazy the life is; you can always afford the moment to just BE. Yup. gotta remember that one.

Our Home's Evolving Decor...

dandysparkle — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 16:45:08 GMT

I have been busy making the apartment more like a home. The Boyfriend teases me that I am nesting, and I probably am. But with such a great end result, it really is a good thing, whatever it is called. I have updated the album that I started to keep track of how it all looks. There are tons of lengthy comments explaining it all too. And no, there are not too many... It is not too over the top. Just a little spring time decorating. I still have a rug and some more curtains to work on, but I am getting to the point where I really enjoy just sitting around and looking at how nice things look. (The bedroom is getting close to the spa look that I was after. A few more additions down the road and we could rent it out for $500.00 a night... Not that I would or anything, but you know what I mean.) http://picasaweb.google.com/dandysparkle/OurHomeSEvolvingDecor The Boyfriend loves it too. He jokes that he is going to wake up in the morning and not know where he is, but he smiles when he sees it and his eyes get all twinkly. (And that might account for the official statement that we now live together. He was very determined to make sure that I knew I had a permanent space and belonging here so that I could no longer voice my thoughts of living out of my suitcase with any validity. I like that. Sometimes, it takes a man emptying out his dresser to bring the realization home that I am... well... HOME. (The photo of us was taken this past Valentine's Day. We had a delightful evening curled up on the sofa with a rare delivered pizza as a treat... One that was so good, there was only one slice left at the end of the night. Served right from the box onto real dinner plates and accompanied by cloth napkins...Yup... It's home.)

The full Windsor baby...

dandysparkle — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 16:22:55 GMT

The Boyfriend has (another) interview today. Moving upwards and jumping ladders is a good thing, but can wreck havoc on the nerves. (He already has a good job, but it is time to be moving onward towards things that will take him the places that he is preferring to go. Or at least try out.) He is using my words as his mantra and seems much calmer this morning than last night. "Remember, you are interviewing them." It is always a two way street. The "good fit" needs to go both ways. (And he has a lot to offer...) So this morning, he put on the black suit that I picked up from the dry cleaners yesterday. He has on smashing black socks (with a small pattern on them) to go with his black silk tie that I had all laid out. (He even has the undershirt and striped shirt going on. He looks sharp.) Even his shoes are nicely polished. (He polished them, I avoid shoe polish whenever possible. Shined shoes are a must though...) And after several (numerous) tries at tying the tie, along with me as the peanut gallery getting in the way, he looks divine. (Or as he says: " I look like I am going to either a wedding or a funeral.") Then since there was an hour left to kill, I searched out how to properly tie a full Windsor knot. (Hey... It's been awhile. But you can bet that I'll be practicing for quite some time when I am all alone. Getting my hands on a man in a suit is one of my top pleasures in life. (Getting my hands on The Boyfriend in a suit... Well that's just out of this world...) Below is the great how to video that we found. Short and to the point and even has instant re-plays. Enjoy! http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-tie-a-tie-using-a-full-windsor-knot

Hawaii Day Five

dandysparkle — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 15:38:08 GMT

-Hawaiian morning rush -Kilauea Iki crater walk -Lazy afternoon -Nighttime tradition Walkin' on the Moon... That was what stepping across the crater's surface was like... Belches of sulfurous steam and gaseous smoke filled the air, leaving your throat lasting vaguely like strike-anywhere matches had been scraped across it. It permeated everything and it was inescapable. We walked through what seemed like a pre-historic jungle and arrived at a sudden view, startling for it's vast starkness. Here and there tiny plants struggled for a crack of life to sustain itself. And for almost as far as the eye could see, was the hole of the crater, like a gaping maw, waiting to swallow you whole. Down into the crater we went, step after step. My head pounded from the smell and the glare. (Only halfway across did it cross The Boyfriend's mind to tell me to put on my sunglasses. Which helped my eyes, but did nothing for my poor assaulted nose and throat.) Sound travels differently in the crater. Birds in the surrounding jungle seem as if they are right in front of you. Your spoken words sound blunt and buffered. And the crunch of the lava beneath your feet is almost ominous as you realize that about a mile below you lava still swirls. In places you can feel the heat through your shoes and warm your feet uncomfortably. About halfway across, it seems as if you have been walking forever. And that you still have forever to go to reach the other side. The unbidden thought that the earth COULD shift and open up below you is pushed from your mind again and again as you tell yourself that this IS a safe thing to be doing, crossing the cooled surface of a volcano's crater. You can almost feel the nervous laughter escape your lips, and you walk on. Light-headed, you finally reach the other side and begin the ascent back up and into the jungle. Back to where there are living things, and green, and cooler breezes, and (hopefully) fresher air. It is not until you are back in your car, bumping along the highway, many miles past the volcanoes that you can finally such in a sweet breath of air. And you gulp it in so quickly that you start to choke on it. And THAT is when it clicks into your brain that you really did it... You really just spent the afternoon hiking across the huge crater of a volcano (and lived to tell the tale). Your next thought is that you really would love to sit out on the lanai, look out onto the ocean, and sip on a cool beer. And that is what we did. (Well... I had a juice spiked with 7UP, The Boyfriend enjoyed a beer, but in the end, it's really all the same thing.)

Hawaii Day Four...

dandysparkle — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 16:38:03 GMT

-Hawaiian morning rush -Off roading in Na' alehu -South Point -Flying kites -Tide pools -Scaring the cows -Nighttime tradition -The Boyfriend ill Somewhere during the vacation, and not too many days in, both The Boyfriend and I lost a day. Or rather, we thought that we were a day ahead of where we were. Talk about being on local time... We took that to the extreme. Forget about hours having no meaning, days no longer had a place either. It was either daylight or dark. We were either going and doing, or just chilling out. There was no more pressing need for anything. Even yours truly, the poster child for type-A planning, tossed aside the list of things to do and just “went with it”. And that was how Day Four went... We gathered up our packed lunch and camelbak, along with a truly beautiful kite and went in search of a grand location to fly it. This was found along the cliffs in the soft, tall grasses at South Point. The air was as soft as the grasses, and as warm as the ocean spray. It was breathtaking. The sky was glorious and the butterflies danced along the miniature orchids in the expanse of fields. We napped on the grass, The Boyfriend and I. It reminded me of the nursery rhyme of Little Boy Blue... Just one of those lazy days where the rocking of the Jeep over the sandy bumps in the grasses felt more like a massage and less like the jolts of typical off roading. I was so relaxed that I was all but asleep before we got there. Awake just enough to snap a photo here and there of all the pretty sights that caught my eye. If you ever want to fly a kite, this is THE place to do it. Wonderful breezes that pull at the string and dance the kite along. And the colors of the kite stand out like the flowers in the surrounding jungle... Even the streamers swirl better here. Then we hopped back into the Jeep, which The Boyfriend decided needed a Hawaiian name, henceforth known as Eep'ee Ele' (The jeep, not The Boyfriend.) and did some more off-roading to get back to the house. On the way, we passed the road that goes to nowhere (Unless the more daring of the Hawaiians would like to dispute that a road that leads off a cliff and then suddenly disintegrates in mid-air about a 150 feet in the air above the ocean really does go somewhere...) and took some photos... And then a pretty herd of cows... Of which I saw a cute calf nursing and wanted to get photos of. So The Boyfriend stopped Eep'ee Ele' on the side of the road so that I could walk back to get my shots of the cows... That is when the biggest cow in the bunch decided that I was a horrible scary being that must be run away from. And it mooed to the other cows to join it. It ran about 50 feet away, literally jumping over a couple other smaller cows to get away from the terrible mainlander who so selfishly had thought to snap a few photos... The other cows scattered up the little hill after the big cow, the mother cow ripping the tit out of the calf's suckling mouth with a loud pop in her haste to join the others. There they stood all huddled together. I could almost see them shivering in fear. I have never felt so badly in my life. I was laughing because I felt so bad. (Why is that? When emotions run so deep, all I do is laugh. And that is not at all what I wanted to do. Really I felt terrible, but there I was trudging back to Eep'ee Ele' laughing like a fool...) The rest of the day was good, but after the cows, it took a slower and more quiet pace... We went through the Hawaiian vacation tradition, cooking, showering, eating, passing out cold in bed, totally ready for another start and another day on the island... Later that night... The Boyfriend woke up ill... Really ill... Sick and shivering and all clammy... After a bit of apologizing for being ill (Yup, always thoughtful my sweet boyfriend is... Like he CHOSE to get sick...) about a hundred times, The Boyfriend finally settled down for the rest of the night in a fitful sleep...

Recycling Question: Please Comment

dandysparkle — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 21:26:08 GMT

I want to take up the challenge to live more greenly... Not a bad thing... Even if I don't reach my own personal hopes, I am still dong better than what I have been... So here's the question(s)... Which things CAN be recycled? I mean, I know that almost anything can be recycled, re-used, re-gifted, re-turned, reduced and so on... But when you live in a place that has those blue recycle bins, what CAN go in them? I have seen everything from plastic bottles, glass, plastic, cardboard, magazines, paper, plastic shopping bags, to cereal boxes, styrofoam containers and peanuts, clothes and shoes, even an old computer monitor. But I know that not all of that is going to the right place in those blue bins... And do you need to rinse out the cans and plastic bags? Can a pizza box really go in there? So WHERE do you take the other things that can go someplace other than in a landfill? And while I am asking... What about composting? Is there a good way to do this? To avoid the smells? And what can go into that? I know this is probably ambitious... But better to be armed with the knowledge and the ability to actually do something than to continue on in bliss and feigned ignorance. So please... Comment... Educate me. Or tell me where I can go to find out better answers... What works for you? What has not worked? What do the folks that you know do? How much is enough? How far is taking it all too far? And not to be forgotten, what can go into those blue bins? As you can see... I am wearing a different kind of green today... And I really do need the helpful advice... Thanks!

Hawaii Day Three...

dandysparkle — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 22:33:39 GMT

Day three was a slower day. (For me, but I rallied.) We did the Hawaiian rush, and were out the door by 9:15. (It is great coming from California, we get to sleep in, go at a leisurely pace, and STILL have the whole day ahead of us.) The Boyfriend drove. We headed the jeep toward South Point and away we went for a tour of a coffee plantation. Kona Joe's, the only growers to use trellises for the plants. In fact, they have the whole thing patented. The result in a highly decorated, profusely awarded coffee. The best in the world, currently served in the White House, and simply the best coffee I have ever had. (And at $5.00 and ounce, or $250.00 a pound for a lower grade that is still the best I have ever had in my life, The Boyfriend agrees with me on this too, it is well worth the expense. Mmmm... As the Hawaiians say: Ono!) We toured the plantation for about a half of an hour. And as a wonderful bonus, the owner, Deepa filled in and gave us the most wonderfully narrative about the process of the plantation, the plants and the local growers. We tasted chocolates, mac nuts dipped in chocolate, and coffees. I shopped. (Of course.) And we sipped our large cups of coffee on the lanai overlooking the plantation and ocean. (And since we both rarely have caffeine, and I almost never, we zinged along for several hours afterward.) It was so wonderful, and Deepa was so gracious and beautiful, that I am naming the Ti plant I hope to grow when we get back home after her. A true Hawaiian Goddess. After the coffee plantation, we saw downtown Kona, had a picnic lunch at a little beach side park, saw the Heiu for surfers, took a ton of photos of the Little Blue Church, more photos at the Painted Church, and mistakenly found what we need to find for Thursday's adventures. The launching place for kayaks across from the Captain Cook Monument. A local, Regina, walked right over to us, introduced herself, and chatted. She is happy to rent us a double kayak at 7:30 on Thursday, just meet her right there. (Perfect!) She gave all sorts of local information and then pointed us in the right direction to get to the Point of Refuge, which we had been trying to find. We spent quite awhile “burning film” as my Mother used to say. We saw the old Hawaiian village and tons of Tikis... We watched the sun start to set... It was beautiful. Wary of driving the winding and twisting roads in the dark, we left before the completion of sunset. We did pause along the road so that The Boyfriend could snap a few incredible shots of the reds and golds of the sky... Just before reaching our main road, we avoided a huge black pig in the middle of the road... (Yes, we did feel like we should be looking for John Locke to be following along after it...) And of course, we performed out Hawaiian vacation tradition. Cooking, showering, eating, passing out cold in bed.

Day Two of Hawaii...

dandysparkle — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 05:04:24 GMT

I woke up to the sound of a rooster crowing. It was dark. It was very early. There was no sign of daybreak anywhere. But the rooster thought there was, so he notified all within earshot that dawn was upon us every few minutes, like an alarm with a snooze button that you can't toss across the room to finally get it to stop. So I dozed until the sky lightened, jolting wake at every crow of the cock. (And in this context, I can say it that way and get away with it. No matter how you read that sentence, you will get my accurate meaning.) That's when the other island birds joined in the morning's chorus. Twitters and chirps and squeaks and squawks... Bird song in earnest. And the bugs joined in, humming and clicking and tapping the rhythm of the day. A few dogs, mostly little ones in the distance, participated. I swear I heard a monkey call out, but I don't think that's possible. There were several sounds that I could not identify... Perhaps they were the flowers? The breeze picked up and the trees, bushes and tall grass joined in with rattles, whispers and jingles... You would think I would be annoyed at this point, and for the rooster part I was. The rest of it though, was the sounds of the island coming to life. Rearing up to greet the rising of the sun that was turning the whole sky pink and orange and red outside my windows. From the bed, I watched the morning shift into focus. Like a great watercolor streaking before my eyes to a grand symphony. (And then I realized that I was being selfish, so I nudged The Boyfriend awake so that he could bask in the glory of what is referred to as morning on the island. All I got for my troubles was a “shergggrrrmmpphhh- ohhh” before he rolled over and went back to sleep.) After that we did the Hawaiian rush. (I have decided that this is the performing of tasks back to back, with no great hurry until all the things that need be done are completed.) Breakfast, showers, brushing of teeth (The Boyfriend forgot his, I offered to let him use mine- which he did, he offered to get me a new one- which I accepted.), getting dressed, making and packing lunch and snacks, and so on. At 9:30 we were in the jeep and bopping down the bumpy dirt road. (I was driving with a wicked look of glee plastered on my face. The Boyfriend was hanging on for dear life and muttering something about letting me drive.) I pointed the car towards Hilo and started out for the long journey to the opposite end of the island. (It was the starting point for the Adventure that I had planned out for The Boyfriend.) We stopped in Hilo for gas, a trip to Walmart for toothbrushes, and plate lunch. (Which was very good. We were offered four veggies, three scoop rice and a beef dish that was wonderful. We shared, it was huge, and we eat often.) Back on the road, The Boyfriend and I decided that I really am the one to be driving here. I drive like everyone else here. In no particular hurry, with no road rage, happy to pull off to the side to let others pass if they like, ambling along, and prone to stop in random places without warning or indication. We drove past waterfalls in Waimea. We found the lighthouse. And searched without success for the Heiu. We saw Maui looming off in the distance. We saw the original statue of King Kamehameha. We walked along Banyon Drive and took photos of the gigantic trees. We found the tree house from the guidebook (Hawaii, The Big Island Revealed. The BEST guide book I have ever read for any location, ever.) We ate sandwiches watching the sunset. (It was beautiful.) We drove through a part of the Kohala Lava Desert. We made coral graffiti. (A giant heart with S+ A, it was The Boyfriend's idea. I love The Boyfriend.) We saw the signs for the Kona Nightingales. And then it was dark. Really dark. We stopped at the Walmart in Kona (For the water we had forgotten to get, again. A few souvenirs fell into the cart as well.) And I continued to drive. I drove, and drove, and drove. (I let The Boyfriend drive for a short bit when we were looking for the lighthouse and the Heiau.) Down around Kona, Around South Point, and back to the house, I drove. In one day, we had driven around the whole of the island. (No small feat, I assure you. I have driven from one end of California to the other in less time.) And, in what has become our Hawaiian Vacation tradition, I made dinner, we showered, and collapsed into bed, exhausted and blissfully happy.

Hawaii Day One:

dandysparkle — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 22:44:43 GMT

Day one was travel... A cab to the airport in Northern California. A plane to Honolulu Another plane to Hilo. A rental jeep to the house in Naalehu. It was a long day. By the time we got to our “part” of the island, it was dark, we were tired, grimy from the trip, famished, and lost. We drove around and around and around. I counted three ambulances and five garage parties. (Note to self: be careful driving. Question for later: what is behind the parties in garages?) We did find a grocery store before we left Hilo. The traffic cop was wearing white gloves. (I love that) a white short sleeve shirt and dark blue/ black trousers. He looked very sharp. We did not think to buy water, ours is not potable. (It is a new house that is in the final phases of being put together and does not have the filters installed yet. The water gets collected from the runoff of the roof and stored in a huge tank. Really cool, but wow, that's a lot of rain.) As we wee nearing the final miles of our long journey, we became very lost. The road we needed was not marked with a sign, so finding it in the dark was difficult. And I do mean dark. There are few street lights. When there are lights, they are yellow and our part of the island does not have any at all. So it really was very dark. And there we were, driving along on dirt and partially paved roads we had never been on looking for a street sign that was not yet there. And then... Right in front of us was a dog. An earnestly barking dog in the middle of the road. It was German Shepard, small by breed standards, huge by barking dog in the road at night standards. It came out of the bushes and came down to the jeep. It wanted us to go away from there in a big way. It corralled around the jeep and continued to bark at the doors as we turned around and headed back the way we had come. We figured that we must have gotten onto someones driveway, rather than a road. So back down the road we drove. We made another turn, and there was the dog again. Barking and herding the jeep again. I was a little on edge by this time and The Boyfriend was thinking that this was a little odd. But since the dog was in no way going to let us pass, we turned around and continued to look for the road to the house. And then suddenly, we were on it. We were not really sure how we found it, but there was a sign saying that we had found the second road we were looking for. (We never did find the first road, we just got lost enough to find the second road, thanks to the dog...) So we started to look for the house. In the dark. Late at night. There are only a couple of homes near ours, and of course, they were all in bed for the night. So we drove up and down looking for house numbers trying to figure out which one was ours. None of them were. We were starting to think sleeping in the jeep was a good idea. And then... There was the dog. In the middle of the road. Barking urgently now. It started trotting to the jeep and barking at the doors. It circle the jeep and kept barking. It was decidedly herding us back down the road. So we turned around again, and started down the road. The dog barking it's escort along the way. The Boyfriend was driving ever so slowly, trying to not hit the dog that was determined to heel at the front right fender of the jeep. And then the dog stopped at what was a break in the tall grass. We looked to make sure it was no longer at the side of the jeep, and there, just past the dog, in the shadows, was the house! The dog had taken us right to the driveway of our house! We drove onto the driveway, and parked the jeep in front of the garage. Looking around, we did not see the dog, so we carefully got out of the jeep. There was no dog. Not a single sign of a dog anywhere, not even a bark. The dog had taken us home when we were lost, and then vanished. The Boyfriend said Mahalo to the island and we quickly unpacked the jeep. (Of course we still had to hunt around in the dark for the key, and then hunt around in the (still dark) house to find the breaker box, but for the sake of the story, day one had reached it's close. The rest is all just dinner and showering, unpacking, and collapsing into bed...) Oh, how could I have left out the part about eating dinner at the best restaurant in Hilo? My birthday dinner was at The Hilo Bay Cafe. It was TO DIE FOR!!! Great service, beautiful presentation, incredible food. The Boyfriend had the special fish of the day, a kind of pink snapper on a bed of spinach with a burre blanc and topped with mac nuts. Mmmm... I had the pork chop with asparagus and red onion mashed potatoes, a red pepper coulis and demi glace. Mmmm... We shared a pineapple cake with a whiskey butter sauce and topped with vanilla ice cream. Mmmm... Heaven on a plate. (They also serve local beer. The Boyfriend had one, to which he said: Mmmm...)

Made it home...

dandysparkle — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 16:27:18 GMT

... safe and sound and a little tired. But happy. Very, very happy. There is lots to share... But I have photos to sort through and then I'll begin the mass of backdated Blog and photo postings... Loved the island, really missed having the internet. Had a really great time, but ohhh is it good to be back...

5 Random Thoughts...

dandysparkle — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 17:44:51 GMT

5 Random Thoughts: 01.) If I have to carry my laundry from the washroom to the closet, and 50 feet of the journey travels through the rain, do I still need to put the clothes into the dryer? 02.) Hmmm... My hair looks like a wig from 1980's Texas... 03.) Networking is work. 04.) Please don't let TSA take my water pistols... They are way too cool. 05.) Today is just not a day for matching socks.

Ais's Top 20 Reasons to be HAPPY in February 2008:

dandysparkle — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 00:40:03 GMT

Top 20 Reasons to be HAPPY in February 2008: 01.) finishing up projects 02.) reconnecting with friends 03.) creating new incredible recipes 04.) knowing that Dear Friends are jumping into new phases in their lives 05.) being off the pill is actually a good thing 06.) jelly beans 07.) finally seeing all of the LOST episodes 08.) post it love notes 09.) Valentine's pizza 10.) designer raincoats and windbreakers for more than 90% off 11.) beautifully made beds that look like they could be in a high-end hotel or magazine 12.) belly dancing on U-Tube 13.) waking up next to dimples each morning 14.) "NOT" craving coffee every morning 15.) discovering that the skinny girl on the elliptical machine next to you wears the same size pants as you 16.) 1970's green leather purses 17.) being able to leave the window open all day long 18.) cuddling on the sofa to watch movies 19.) resolving to not take on so many new projects 20.) meeting with more Legislators and bending their ears about breast cancer

Happy Valentine's Day!

dandysparkle — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 18:41:11 GMT

Hope today, and every day, is your ultimate LOVE FEST!

Join me tomorrow...

dandysparkle — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 21:59:04 GMT

I'm going on a visit. To speak to a Senator, if possible. In an article written by Alicia Lanier, "Free Health Screenings at Feb. 9 for Women's Health Forum in Santa Clara Sponsored by Senator Alquist" it states that: "Senator Elaine Alquist, California Senate District 13, is holding a free Women’s Health Forum, Thriving with Change, in Santa Clara from 9 a.m. to 1:30 on Saturday, February 9, 2008. This is a great opportunity for women to obtain several free health screenings, including bone density, blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, body mass index (BMI), and breast cancer prevention screening." "You’ll also learn about health care programs and services provided by the state as well as health care issues being considered by the California Legislature. Keynote speaker will be former State Senator Jackie Speier. The event will be at the Santa Clara Senior Center, 1303 Fremont Street, in Santa Clara. For more information and to sign up (space is limited), call Senator Alquist’s office at 408-286-8318." And yours truly just called the number above. I was told to "just walk on in". So please, come join me! I was also told that they will be taking down contact information for future events. (I love mailing lists! It takes so much digging out of trying to find out what is going on and making changes...) Here is the link to the original post: Free Health Screenings at Feb. 9 for Women's Health Forum in Santa Clara Sponsored by Senator Alquist http://hometownsiliconvalley.wordpress.com/2008/02/07/free-health-screenings-at-feb-9-womens-health-forum-in-santa-clara-sponsored-by-senator-alquist/ And the link to Senator Alquist's site: http://dist13.casen.govoffice.com/ Senator Elaine Alquist: She is the the State Senator representing the Heart of Silicon Valley. The 13th senate district covers much of Santa Clara County including the cities of San Jose, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Mountain View, and Gilroy.

Need to go pack...

dandysparkle — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 20:25:28 GMT

So it has been a whirlwind year thus far my Dear Friends! With so many people visiting and moving, the coming and going has taken up a monumental pace of entertaining dinner parties mixed in with socializing while moving things like beds and dressers from here to there. (Thank heaven Superbowl was one of the most boring and dull games in football history... It enabled me to squeeze in a few more hours with friends that I had been missing quite a bit... Well, the last three minutes were good, so it was not a total waste of pigskin, and there IS always next year...) And in what is quickly coming down to days, we will soon be off to a wonderful tropical island in the Pacific... (Bring on the Mai Tai's and the Poi, let me see waterfalls for days and hike through volcano forests until my legs beg to be separated from my body and left behind to rest... Bring on the black sand beaches and the kayaks... Hawaii, here I come!) I'll be sure to post up photos... That is, if I remember to pack the camera... (With all that has been going on, who knows WHAT I'll remember to pack...) Hope you all are having a blast doing what it is that you do... I'm keeping my fingers crossed that your interviews go well, your jobs don't drive you insane, that school doesn't leave you without at least a little time to find a party and let it lose for a night... I hope that your endeavors are fruitful and your road trips are calm and without upset. Here's to all of my loved ones that are moving to far away places; may you settle in quickly, make wonderful new friends, and be ready for my visit sometime in the not too far off future... And for those Dear Friends that are near to me, I'll be back in Mid-March and ready to bore you to tears with home movies, slides and photos of what has got to be the best birthday trip ever!

Top 20 Reasons to be HAPPY in January 2008...

dandysparkle — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 17:21:41 GMT

Top 20 Reasons to be HAPPY in January 2008: 01.) A wonderful New Year's spent with fantastic people 02.) Pink pajama parties with The Boyfriend 03.) Walks at sunset 04.) Crayola colored sunrises and freshly showered hugs 05.) Bento box lunches 06.) Bye bye birth control pills 07.) Making countless baby cards for my cousins 08.) Painting the Capitol PINK 09.) Making new friends and networking 10.) Only weeks until Hawaii 11.) Planning another Boyfriend Adventure 12.) Easy Stanford Hills Hike and picnic lunches 13.) Loving the one you LOVE 14.) Having incredible parents 15.) Siblings that are taking risks and following dreams 16.) Watching babies laugh on U-Tube 17.) Finally getting to see what LOST is all about 18.) Making food as pretty as it tastes 19.) Throwing dinner parties 20.) Finding a "steal" of a raincoat

Day two of elbow sex... Um... Rubbing...

dandysparkle — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 07:23:16 GMT

It has been a long time coming... What I have been up to... But there is just no spare time when one is trying to save the world... Or at least young women with breast cancer... Or at least myself... But at least I am going places... And fast... With possible funding for my Foundation through grants... And the offer of being recommended for intensive training for lobbying and pushing for legislative changes... Things are moving forward. (And I am very excited about all of the things that are going on... All of the incredible people that I have been meeting...) Day two of the trip to the State Capitol went even better than Day one... (How IS that possible?) I took so many notes... (And with the help of the best interpreter I have ever seen, a little go-juice- okay... so it was three cups of coffee, and a great table-mate also taking copious notes, I think I actually got every word. Did I mention that there were handouts and power point presentations? Information rules!) We participated in a Discussion Board that was filmed... As well as many of the top specialists in the breast cancer ares speaking, answering questions, and passing along the latest information. The key note speaker brought tears to my eyes more than once. What an incredible woman! And just like that, it was over as quickly as it had started... But I go back soon to continue to make waves... Make changes... Make awareness... Make a difference... Make something... (Perhaps the something is more than a few Senators and Assemblymen go off running in the other direction because they are tired of my petitioning face...) So there you have it... So much more to get done before I get to bask in the sun on the black sand beaches watching the lava flow in the near distance while I sip on a mai tai... Ohhh yeah... Don't forget the umbrella baby...

Rubbing elbows...

dandysparkle — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:17:11 GMT

Day one of rubbing elbows with officials, aides, and other activists went wonderfully! I met some really incredible people... An inspirational pair of young women from the Young Survivors Coalition, courageous leaders willing to share their wisdom, officials that really WANT to make a difference, officials that don't and a 13 year old girl from San Diego who, along with her young sisters started a foundation called "You Go Girl". (You should check it out... She is going to be among tomorrows leaders...) I am heading back for a one on one with an Assemblyman to follow up on the legislature that we are trying to get passed. (And I cannot even BEGIN to tell you how very, very excited I am over that prospect...) So... All in all, Day One went so much better than I had hoped... And to think that I was having Eleventh Hour Reservations... I am so glad that I came. I have a ton of photos that I took and when I head back into the real world, I will upload some of them... (It's just not possible from a Hotel computer...) I have a day of training and symposium ahead of me... (I love learning, s this is actually going to be FUN! Just watch out... I ask LOTS of questions...) So much to share with everyone about the great things I have learned, the information that I have been given, the discoveries that I have made... But later... Promise! Well... I am off to be the poster child (eh... young woman... um... un-insured/ under-insured woman) that we are actually representing... (I have told my story so many times that I am beyond tired of telling it. But, I am not alone in this, and changes MUST be made... So tell and re-tell I do... (Thank goodness that I don't embarrass easily...) Wish me luck! (Thanks for the well wishes yesterday! I did kick butt... I did take names... Actually, I really did...) Hugs, Ais

Happy thought for the day...

dandysparkle — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 21:31:17 GMT

So what is it that you feed a balloon dog anyway? The laughter of children... The smile on an observer's face... The dancing fingers of the clown that made it... Thought that might brighten your day... My personal happy thought... Trekking about the hills of Stanford with my best friend, and then sharing a picnic while looking out at the most incredible view... What is your happy thought?

Top 20 Reasons to be HAPPY in December 2007

dandysparkle — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 17:47:05 GMT

Okay... So I have not done one of these in ages. and I could come up with a list of reasons of WHY I was not focusing on the positive, but I think that would sort of defeat the purpose. Here are my (long overdue) Top 20 Reasons to be HAPPY in December 2007: 01) Finally getting a mammogram and ultrasound 02) Receiving an abundance of support and help when I asked for it 03) Being strong enough to ask for help when I needed it 04) Meeting The Boyfriends friends and really liking them 05) Visits from my Brother 06) Being able to give back all that I have received and possible make a difference 07) Trips to the tropics in the dead of winter 08) Getting older, but not really looking or feeling older 09) Creating my own "recipes" and having them be fantastic 10) Sleeping on flannel sheets 11) Waking up to a clean house every morning 12) Completing out my set of new dishes 13) Bargain shopping 14) Great customer service 15) Having great conversations on airplanes 16) Getting a totally cute yellow PT Cruiser as a rental car 17) Walks in the cool crisp air 18) Catnaps in the late morning sunshine that streams through the windows 19) Learning to do something totally new and foreign 20) Old fashioned body length wall heaters heaters that are perfect to stand in front of when it's cold outside

This is my head burried in the sand...

dandysparkle — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 05:03:31 GMT

Too much is going on. The world is spinning too quickly and I have talked until I am hoarse. So I am going to be an ostrich and plant my head in the ground for the rest of the night. This is me with my head buried in the sand. And the photo is my happy place of the moment.