Road Damage and Power Out

Expect some delays on the road for the next week or so.

After all that rain, the river has begun eroding a hillside that is supporting our little highway, so... Caltrans to the rescue! There will be some road closures Monday - Friday, 7a.m. to 5 p.m., near the State Park. And, during that time, the power will be cut off for us lucky enough to live south of the SP.

All I have to say is YAY FOR GENERATORS!

Snow!!!

We are bundled up for a little trip in the Sierras. We just put the
chains on because, sadly, we do not have 4 wheel drive. Yeah, I know.
We live in Big Sur and don't have 4 wheel drive!?
Don't judge me! We all have our faults.

Sunrise

Ahh The Storm Is Over

The skies are blue today! Only a few sprinkles here and there. It
sounds like the weather next week won't be as bad as predicted. Sounds
good to me. We will be busy clearing the debree from our yard.

Crazy Stuff

A huge redwood tree was struck by lightning not too far from our home. THE WHOLE TREE EXPLODED!!

Bits of it were scattered up to hundreds of yards away.

This is a 3 foot shard of wood that shot over 150 feet from where the tree originally stood. If you look in the background, behind the people, you can see a branch of the tree laying on the ground. Under that limb is the stump.

Rainbow

Seriously Big Waves

Half Way There and All Is Wet

We've had some wild winds blowing down branches and the tops of trees. We've had buckets full of rain drench us and muddy the yards. But we're still here and so are the roads!
Granted, this is only Wednesday. The rain is supposed to continue a few more days. I've heard next week is bringing a whole new storm front. But, for some reason, I feel like the worst is over. We'll see.

A lull in the storm but still dark and scary

Rain, Rain, Don't Go Away!

The rain is here and here to stay.

Everyone is talking about the deluge that will saturate Big Sur for the next week. I've never see such excitement for rain. Like it's the first snow of winter and we're kids again. Everyone is running around nervous and giddy at the same time. I am beginning to understand that this is the Big Sur equivalent of a snow day.

All this rain - 22 inches predicted - means life slows down. You can't work outside, which is where most of us spend half our days. Roads might get washed out stopping our long, often stressful errands in town. (I have friends who are almost wishing there will be a mudslide just to get a forced break from driving to town!) With the rain comes cold, windy days, so we keep the fireplace smoldering and the house cozy.

 But, first we have to run to town to stock up on any necessities just in case we're stuck at home for longer than expected - things like toilet paper and rice and dog food. We resupply our larder of dry firewood and kindling and bring in big armfuls to keep by the hearth so we won't have to brave the cold rain late at night. We scurry around our yard, putting tarps over things that aren't waterproof, gathering tools and supplies to put in the shed, making sure nothing is out that can easily blow away in the gusts of wind so common with these storms. I feel a little like an ant. It's fun, the whole "batten down the hatches!" feel to preparing for days on end of rain.

Then the rain arrives. And we relish it. Not only because it brings much needed water but because it slows us down. We settle into it, like a big bear in winter settles in to hibernate. We curl up next to the fire with our loved ones, sipping hot tea, and wondering at the beauty of mother nature's fury. We read books, take naps, bake, sew, reconnect with our families and ourselves.

Adjusting to this "Rain is coming!" life, where you bend your routine around the weather, feels awkward, but I like it. I get such a strong sense of community just by the fact that we are all affected by this one thing. We are all going about preparing at the same time. We are all thinking and planning and looking forward to the same event. We are all ready to help and support each other if there is a mudslide.

And, what is most awkward for me but is routine for everyone who has been here a while, we accept that, while we do what we can to prepare, in the end we relax into the storm. I don't know how to explain it, but I'll try. Life is bigger than our own selves, right? We all struggle with that truth. I just see that here, in a place where wild animals, fires, and storms can do all kinds of crazy stuff and people can do NOTHING to stop it, I see people comfortable with the bigness of life around them. This is what I struggle with but am learning to do. The letting go. The relaxing after preparing, so that we can enjoy the beauty of the storm and not just fear its power.

Creativity Everywhere

This morning I was thinking about titles. Like, titles for blog posts. Titles are not very easy to come up with. Well, good titles aren't very easy to come up with. They are supposed to reel you in, you know, make you salivate for more. There's a level of creativity involved. Then I started thinking about titles in general - titles for movies, books, articles, tv series, etc.
Now, bear with me here because I do have a point. Kind of.
I guess I started looking around and realized just how much creativity is out there. Someone had to came up with the awesome, soft material for my couch. Then someone else created the couch design itself. My coffee table, my plates, my silverware, my bedspread, the shows my kids watch, the shows I watch, music, books, commercials, wrapping paper, cars, clothes... Even the little intro thing that networks do to tell you what's coming on next. There are so many creative people out there! So many expressions of creativity!
That's kinda cool and. . . somehow a little overwhelming.

Forgiveness

"I contend that lack of forgiveness is holding onto the past in thoughts, energies, or actions. True forgiveness is demonstrated by "energetically" moving on cleanly to the next NOW."

Howard Glasser, M.A.

crazy suv with sculptures welded to it. Love it!

WHATEVER!

My daughter just turned three. She is advanced for her age, however, because she already has the rebelious teenager thing down.

For example, she was being loud and wild at the table, so I said, "You need to calm down now."
She ROLLED HER EYES!! Rolled those adorable, innocent baby blues!!!! And GRUMBLED UNDER HER BREATH,"WHATEVER." Just like she was thirteen and I was telling her that her skirt was too short. WHATEVER!!!!

Like the good parent that I am - totally on top of the situation, ready with the wisest, most discerning response - I start giggling and can't stop until the tears have started flowing.

Sheets of Eternal Reward

I recently bought a sheets set for our bed. They were originally pretty expensive, but because they were at a good sales price, I bought them. They felt soft when I felt them in the store, so they seemed like really great sheets. I bring the sheets home, wash them, and put them on the bed.

That night when I lay down I realized my mistake. I did not buy cotton sheets afterall. I had bought FIBERGLASS SHEETS! Seriously. These effing sheets are made of tiny glass particles! I had to change the pillowcase because otherwise I would break out in a festering rash if I continued snuggling up to the new one.

I still have the sheets on the bed oddly enough. Maybe subconsciously I am trying to atone for my sins. Or enter sainthood. Because I'm telling you. These sheets would do it. I will shed enough blood and suffer enough pain sandwiched between these two scraping, tearing shrouds that surely I will earn some type of eternal reward.

Beach Sunset

The Perfect Blog

So, I watched Julie/ Julia last night. I loved it. Totally. It is so sweet and cute and . . . Delicious! And, my husband and I walked around the rest of the night mimicing Julia Child's very strange voice.

I have to admit, Julia Child creeps me out a bit. She was really sweet (as portrayed in the movie anyway) but, you know, just  a little creepy. I say that with all the love in my heart.

Another confession: watching Julie with her crazy 365 day project and her daily blogging made me envious. I want to blog! Yeah, yeah. I am aware I am posting a blog this very minute. So, to be more specific, I want a project/ writing opportunity that transends my life and even the time-space continuum. Where I write about my one great passion. Where I know exactly what to write and how to phrase it in the most intreguing, entertaining, and endearing language known to mankind. Where the words flow from my fingertips automically without any strain. Where all this happens in a creamy, golden sort of way in which nothing truly discomforting happens.

What did you just say? Of course, I'm in touch with reality!!!

Good Morning!

5 Calories in Each Packet!

My 7 year old, skinny-as-a-rail son just yelled across the house from his perch in front of the tv, "Wow! Mom, there's this new thing that has just five calories in each packet!"

Dishwasher Envy

Yesterday, I had some friends over, and we got to talking about dishwashers. They were laughing at how they had tried to figure out a dishwasher while on vacation and had ended up with a fountain of suds pouring out onto the floor because they had used the wrong soap. I giggled and was like HOW DO YOU PEOPLE SURVIVE WITHOUT DISHWASHERS!! Because they didn't have one. They had children in their home dirtying dishes every three seconds just like me but NO DISHWASHER! Did you hear me? NO dishwasher! This I do not understand. It's as if my mind cannot accept that as a reality, so it shuts down. I hear someone say, "Well, we don't have a dishwasher." And, the next thing you know, my eyes are crossed and drool is dripping from the side of my open mouth while I moan and rock back and forth, back and forth.

So, I very calmly and maturely said, "I would DIE without a dishwasher! Seriously. D - I - E."

Then my very awe-inspiring dishwasher-free friends looked at me like "Bless your heart."

Something you should know about the phrase "Bless your heart": years ago I was taught by someone in the know that the loose translation of "bless your heart" is "You are to be pitied because you are mentally challenged." Really. So, the next time some sweet little old lady grins up at you and says, "Awe, bless your heart," rest assured she is really commenting on your stupidity. Feel the love.

Serious Cell Phone Phobia

 A while back, my husband told me about a study proving that using an earpiece reduced the risk of getting a brain tumor.
To which I asked, "Reduces it from what?"
"From risks involved with using a cell phone," he expounded.
At this point, I stopped in mid-step, put down my laundry basket, looked him in the eyes, and very intelligently responded, "Huh?"
My very patient husband then explained how studies have been conducted to test the long term risks of using cell phones. Apparently, one of the risks is brain tumors.
"In fact," he said, cheerfully wrapping up his pep talk, "Radio towers are built with fences around them because if a deer walks too close to the tower, it gets microwaved - cooked. And, since cell phones are basically tiny, miniature versions of a radio or cell tower, there are similar, albeit smaller scale, versions of the same risks."
By this point, I am ready to flush my cell phone down the toilet, and obviously the look on my face expressed that sentiment because my husband said. "You mean, you hadn't heard any of this before?"
I then launched into a panicked tirade about how in the world did cell phones become legal for use if this research was out there!? How much can a person use a cell phone before the tumor begins to grow? How can they be sure the earpiece helps? I wear that phone in my pocket all freakin' day! Am I going to get ovarian cancer because of that?
When I finally calmed down enough to hear my husbands voice over my hyperventilations, I realized all he could say to comfort me was, "I don't know." So helpful.
As my pulse slowed a bit, I began to think to myself, "Okay, in case this is all true, I will be sure to use an earpiece. If an earpiece isn't handy, I'll put it on speakerphone. Okay. I'll be okay."
I can't help but wonder, though, let's say I'm a good girl and use the earbud every time I talk on the phone. I put the earpiece in; then put the phone in my back pocket.
Does this mean I run the risk of developing ass cancer? As if my butt isn't big enough already, it's got to grow a tumor, too.

Coyotes

I'm reading a book called The Daily Coyote by Shreve Stockton. I really like it. It reminds me of where I live now, my childhood, and all the daydreams I have of rugged mountains and rolling plains. Oh, and it satisfies my coyote infatuation. I really like coyotes.

Coyotes are not as romanticized as wolves, but in some ways I think they are even cooler than wolves. For instance, instead of becoming endangered when over-hunted, they actually increase in number! They have adapted to living within the human world with very little difficulty and are often seen hanging out in suburbs and even cities.

I can remember waking up in the middle of the night when I was a kid to hear the raucous yipping and howling of a pack of coyotes that lived on our land. They would come down the bluff from the woods to drink from the pond behind our barn. It always sounded like they were throwing a big coyote party. They were laughing and shouting and having a big time. Instead of being afraid, I was entranced. They just sounded so happy to me, like they would be a lot of fun to hang out with. I could even hear the high yips and barks of the pups which was too cute for words. Then I would fall back asleep to dream that hundreds of coyotes were surrounding our house. The dream was a little creepy.

Tree Issues

Time to take down the Christmas tree.

I don't know why I'm like this. Every year, I want my Christmas tree up as soon as possible, like the day after Halloween. Seriously. I am all about two solid months of Christmas lights, ornaments, holiday glow, and anticipation. Then about 2 days after Christmas, I'm done. Over. It. Take that damn thing down! It's cluttering the living room!

This year, I lasted all the way up to yesterday. I started feeling a little pressure yesterday morning, like; "Okay, time to get out the Christmas storage boxes and put the decorations away." This morning, it was more like, "WHERE ARE THE BOXES?" Now, this afternoon, everytime I look at the tree I feel like a dead pet is staring back at me. The tree's got to go!

Can anyone guess what I will be doing when I'm done writing this post?

Open Windows

I know something as mundane as the weather should not be so exciting to me. But. . .

OMG! I can't get over this Big Sur weather! We just started the new year, winter is still in full force, and yet I played ball with my kids outside in the warm sunshine yesterday! We even had a picnic lunch for goodness sake!

I spoke with a friend back east. She happened to be outside when I called. She was scrambling to get inside out of the cold while I was walking around my house opening windows. I felt a little guilty. . . but I was still smiling.

Happy Caffeine! I mean, New Year!

Yay me! I am starting this New Year off right! I just spent God knows how long reorganizing our filing system for last year and setting up a system for this year. See! Aren't you proud of me?

Before that I sent a check to a charity I really like, including some money my son wanted to give. I had put this little task off for months. So, I'm happy to finally complete this task.

Next I'm going to feed my poor, hungry children and then clean this pig sty of a house.

My productivity streak is solely due to the power of caffeine. I loaded up the coffee pot this morning with what I thought was the decaf coffee I have every morning. After about an hour of hyperactive cleaning and frenzied organizing (accompanied by a serious case of the shakes), I realized my mistake. Aside from mistyyyyping every othther letterrr, I'm doing greate!

Shout out loud with me now:

WOOHOO! CAFFEINE!

Now laugh maniacally, and you've got the idea.

South coast Hwy 1