Updates, updates everyone...and HOPE!

Life is continuing on. I am going to post updates from the last couple months. Probably mostly highlights. As told in the pictures I take with my phone...

I am adjusting quite well to the new situation, now that I am getting used to it. I won't pretend that my life isn't drastically different, but that's not a bad thing. I struggle still sometimes, and don't always like having to be responsible, but who does?

Without further ado...from January, to now....

In January, on a much-needed day off, my best friend, Pinktini, took me on a lovely drive up to Tahoe with her dogs. She has Huskies and I got to have one of the leashes. This is Burney and he's a gorgeous dog! This was a great day and I feel so lucky and blessed to have such an amazing friend...

On January 25th, I got to be a part of one of the most amazing experiences EVER! I have been a TED Talk junkie for awhile now. I watch them whenever I can, which is to say, not terribly often because if I do, I get sucked in, and then I look up and somehow, I have lost four hours of my life jumping from TED talk to TED talk! This, however, was the FIRST TEDX (independently organized TED talks) organized in our town and on our Campus! Lest someone call me a liar, I know they have done them out at Burning Man before, but this was literally, the NEXT BUILDING OVER from where I work! When I found out about it, I contacted some of my friends at Extended Studies and told them I had to be involved. I ended up getting to help with the registration process and handing out of name badges, and getting to see all the talks live. They were inspirational, phenomenal, and I can't think of a better way to spend a day!

Here's a link to a play list that I created on YouTube with all the talks from that day:

TEDx - University of Nevada Reno

I will truly never forget that day! There's another story related to this that I must tell, but it deserves it's own post, so it will get it =)

As part of my new job, we got to bring Tiesto to Reno. The show was going to be March 7, but leading up to that, I formed a very small street team, and we got to get the word out around campus. This involved doing several tabling events in front of the Joe Crowley Student Union. This was some big fun for me! I will say though, that it makes me sad that young people have become so jaded that you truly offer them a chance to win something for free, and they are suspicious or sure you are going to somehow compromise their information. We did six (I think) tabling events and at each one, we gave away a pair of tickets to this show. There were times, though, when people wouldn't even look our direction because they were sure that we were trying to sell them something. It was a great learning experience for me, though, and I had a lot of fun doing this. I wonder what comes next with this job?!?

My sister's birthday is February 11th, so on the 10th, myself, her son and his wife, and her roomies and besties all went out for Sushi. This is one of the large platters that we laid waste to. YUM!

Every month in Reno, downtown, there is a wine walk. It's been going on for awhile, but I had never participated in it. Until February of this year, that is =) My bestie, again, asked me if I wanted to go, and I invited my beautiful daughter to indulge in a little multi-generational binge-drinking! Yay! We had SO MUCH FUN! We didn't drive, we all arranged designated drivers and it's a good thing, too. It's all fun and games until you go to a place that has shot specials.

Not all of the places are even bars...this lovely airstream experience was courtesy of RENO ENVY and the bonus is, on this day, they ALSO served wine. WIN!

This is as we were at the end of the wine walk, but the evening didn't end here for me. I am not normally a tame person, and it's been very hard for me to be good for a very long time since having this new job. I was not good on this night, nor very tame. It ended about 11am the next day and I wasn't right for a few days, but I sure had fun =) No regrets!

Some time during the next week, while indulging in Panda Express, which is a staple because it's right across the street from work, I was gifted with this amazing fortune. Sometimes, it's not the big, exciting moments, but perfect small moments that make you feel all warm inside =)

This was a great event I got to help a little with. Girls and Women in sports day. Everyone seemed to have a good time!

Got to go to Virginia City with a dear friend. This is a sign back in the Old Washoe Club. I guess they just call it the Washoe Club now, but I will probably always call it OLD because that's how I've always known it =) They are doing fantastic and amazing things trying to restore this awesome place! Before the end of Summer, it is my fervent wish to be a member of their club to help restore their place and perpetuate their awesome!

Post Tiesto, this was the detritus of ONE security guard. 'Nuff said..it was a sparkly night, and a great experience and I learned a TON!

The day AFTER Tiesto, I had a small event at 7am, so this is a very sleep-deprived me, with one of my favorite staff people from this last year. She came to work for me through Sierra Nevada Job Corps, and graduated this Friday. Blanca, I know you will do amazing things, I just hope you keep in touch to tell me about it!

THIS, is TK421. The last time I posted a picture of her, I think she was listed here as #4. Her sister (we think) has been named Wayne for reasons probably safer not to go into other than to say that Wayne is a much loved Burning Man camp mate and said he'd be honored to have a birdie named after him =) TK421 is our new pride. This is her less than two months after that itty bitty little hatchling posted in the other picture. She is a complete love bug, loves to cuddle and snuggle and has quite the personality. Our birdie flock is large and in charge!

My bestie messages me and says we have to do something up in VC upcoming and it has to do with balls. Here's the proof. I was there. We did it. It was fun, and tasty. I will do it again, and go earlier next time!

This was the first "nugget" that came our way. Minced and wrapped in a wanton wrapper, served with sweet chili sauce, it was tasty!

Here is Pink tearing in to hers. Can you see the trepidation and cautious delight as her palette tries to battle with her brain over what she is eating?!?

This is the self-proclaimed BALL MASTER. Shortly after this photo was taken, a very large trophy came his way, as his team did, indeed, win all that is good at the Rocky Mountain Oyster Feed. Notice the conspicuously empty platters to his left. I had to wait a long time in line to sample these balls, but it was worth it!

Here are his wares:

And here I am, indulging:

My favorite of the day, indeed!

The next day, of course, was St. Patrick's Day. I get that we aren't supposed to celebrate a mass murderer. I do. I celebrate my Irish heritage, and it's an excuse to see friends I haven't seen for awhile. On the left in the hat and kilt, is my friend Willie. He and I serve on the board together of the Reno Celtic Celebration. Next to him is the owner of the bar, the Sierra Tap House, who is getting an award for supporting our Celtic Community, and next to him is my dear friend Jill Marlene, who is a member of the Celtic band 3-17 who was playing music that night and was ostensibly the reason I went out this night.

It was actually because I honor my dad every year by raising a pint to him and having a shot of whiskey...to celebrate that part of my heritage:

I wanted to take a picture of the whiskey too, but it was gone before I thought to take out my phone/camera. I saw a few other awesome friends there that night, and it was good to be out and relaxing!

Finally, this week, I went to change the bag I used to keep my shredded paper, and the whole thing blew up on me:

Some days are just like that...and if that's the worst that happens to me in a day, it's been a pretty damn good day!

Slainte!

hanging in there....

the last six months have flown by! life has been interesting to say the least. a little happy to start. before burning man last year, two of our cockatiels decided to mate, and we had a couple of baby birdies. those birdies are now essentially full grown, but still under a year old. my husband being who he is, of course, their names are Darth and Vadar. Here they are, this picture was taken 12-26-12:

here are the new babies. so far, they are named 3 & 4, but this was taken yesterday, 1-12-13:

please ignore my double chins up there, i was using the forward facing camera on my phone taking that, and i was very impressed and excited that the front one was looking right at the camera. to give you an idea of scale, this is what the above one, looking at the camera, looked like newly hatched:

i think i have probably questioned everything that i am, my choices and my life A LOT in the last six months. it hasn't all been roses. there has been some hard stuff, mostly related to adjusting to a new job, a new work culture, a new place, and realizing how very comfortable i had been, what i had, and trying to decide what the best thing for me and my family is. i am mostly still not sure about a lot of that, but am slowing making my way towards establishing a new comfort zone, i think.

burning man last year was an interesting thing for me. i worked A TON of hours leading up to it, and the day i actually left turned into an epic day at the day job, followed by frantic packing, driving an unfamiliar car, some waiting, and some frustration. the end result is that it was more than a 24-hour day, with us arriving on playa saturday pre-event at about 8am. i don't really feel like i ever caught up from there and when one works long and hard at a day job, it's hard to do the same thing on what is supposed to be your vacation. i think i came home more exhausted than when i went, and crashed right into a shitstorm of epic proportions resulting from taking a two-week vacation two months into a new job. it was very hard and has left me re-evaluating many things.

right now, life is pretty good. i feel like i am making a lot of progress on a lot of things.

i am sad because i haven't been able to do a lot of the things that i really enjoy doing. i have spun fire one time, around election time, since before burning man...in fact, since compression. i haven't been able to bellydance in longer than that and while i had started going to the gym and kept at it more than six months going 3-5 days a week, i haven't been now in a few months and finances have dictated cancelling of the gym membership, but this is something i need to seriously get at again.

i struggle, sometimes, still. i am going to see if i can get back to doing some of the stuff i love. i need to do that. i also want to do more yoga...seems like the thing to do.

that's where my life is right now. have a lot to do to try to make it to germany at the end of june. my kids are great, and in general, i have much to be thankful for...and i am. it's just working out the kinks and trying not to be spoiled and entitled =)

best christmas present ever was getting to skype with my son and his wife in japan for about two hours on christmas day. love that kid, love his lovely lady, and yesterday we got a box of sweets and other yummies from them they sent from japan. he is safe, he is healthy, and trying to figure out how he can live in japan. if he makes it, then i get to go visit him =)

~peace.

hahaha...times, changing

I actually do never seem to catch up on some things =) I guess getting some stuff done sort of precipitates that other stuff will not get done. It's funny to me that I introduced the world to Dozer in the last post I did, and I just saw him again last night. Jerk! Here's a more recent pic:

Again, I can't believe how much has changed since my last post! Shortly after that, my sister moved to Sierraville, California, to follow a dream to help build sort of an artists community. That didn't work out for a variety of reasons, but she's trying to make the best of it and is currently living near her love in Davis, CA. I was there this last weekend for Ranger Training, and got to see her, her love, and Dozer. All three are doing well! I applaud Joy for wanting to make a way and a life for herself outside Reno. I know it's hard sis, but hang in there! Even if you come back to Reno, at least you will be able to have said that you did this!

My most exciting news is that I HAVE A NEW JOB!! This has been in the planning stages for me for a long time, but I didn't want to say anything because I was afraid to jinx myself if I put my intention too plainly out there, or seemed assy or over-confident about it before it happened. I also want to list here the reasons I've done this and what led me to this...

In 2001, I did not consider myself a traditionally creative human. I could appreciate art, but didn't really feel I was artistic or that I had cultivated that in myself. I vowed to change that. As my kids were getting older, they needed me less, wanted their independence more, which they were certainly entitled to, and I was left thinking to myself that if I did not build a life for myself, I would be sad and lonely when they made their way into their own existences by not having anything to do or anyone to hang out with or do things with. I was actualizing SOME creativity in the form of Pagan ritual and worship, teaching that to youth through the Unitarian Fellowship in Reno, and making and teaching activities for that group, but felt pretty unappreciated and isolated in those pursuits.

Backing up to late 2000, I don't remember how I stumbled upon it, but late in the Summer of 2000, I stumbled upon a Burning Man web site. I started reading, I followed some links to other links, and was completely captivated. I found out that someone I used to be related to through marriage had gone to this thing several times. It was too late that year for us to pull off a trip to Burning Man, but I vowed that I would go the next year come hell or high water and that I would spend that intervening year learning everything I could about Burning Man so that I would have an awesome time when I went. And that's pretty much what I did...

Since that time, I can't even express how amazing my life has been. Burning Man was an amazing experience, but my first couple of years I remember myself thinking "All these people are so creative, I wish I could be creative like that..." Our second year at Burning Man was the "Floating World" year. It was a great year for us personally, we saw and wandered all over the city and filled a passport with interesting and fun things we went around and did. During this process, we met a guy who was a "Ranger", his name is "Sasquatch" and he Rangers still. This gave us the impetus to give back to the community and also Ranger. By virtue of my involvement with Rangers, I began by being a perimeter guard for the local Fire Performance group, called Controlled Burn. I safety'd for them for about a year before I picked up some tools and decided to try for myself. Also around this time, a good friend of mine dared me to take a belly dancing class with her, which I did. I am sad because I am the only one of that group of women who all started on a dare who still dances, but I have never looked back and I cannot even express the ways in which belly dancing and fire dancing have enhanced my life.

As time has passed, I've done more and interesting things. I helped co-produce a festival called the "Drum, Dance and Didgerido Festival" the last two years it ran, then I took my hand at my own event, now in it's fifth year, called "Compression! Art and Fire!". I've taken a "Welding of Art" class, and tried forms of dance and performance I would never have tried before I started this wild ride! All these things have brought more magic, more creativity into my life. BUT, I still had my old, non-creative job sitting behind a desk.

Earlier this year, I was told of a possible opportunity that may come up, working with events full-time, but still on my college campus, which would keep all my benefits and retirement in the same place. I waited and waited and waited, but finally the position was posted! I had to think long and hard about taking this job, because it would be a HUGE change for me. No more behind a desk (ask much as I was before), potentially having to work nights and weekends, being here when events happen, more stress, more accountability. Ultimately, I decided to go for it. I had felt stagnant at my other job for awhile, but very safe and secure.

I GOT THE JOB! Today marks the beginning of my third week, and so far, it's a dream come true for me. Every day, I get validation that this was the right move for me. So many things have gone right, the amount of serendipity in my life is beyond measure and an amazing thing. I love my life! I know there are tough times ahead, but for this moment, I am reveling in the newness, the excitement, the potential, and welcoming the perpetual creativity into my life!

~Peace.

Never seem to catch up....

This was one of my Bro's last hospital trips, October, 2011

I guess that's the sign of a busy person eh? Not sure whether to be happy or not about that =) Generally, I am happy, but sometimes, it all just wears on me.

And then, there are days like today where almost all projects seem caught up, and reflection appears to be my friend, and I can take the time to jot down some thoughts. SO MUCH EXPERIENCE to record!

As I get ready to start posting about this years Compression, it strikes me that I haven't even recorded here my experience from last year's event. Pretty sure I have that written somewhere, so I will transfer it here.

Most recently, there have good times and sad times. My brother Steve passed away on April 18 after a long battle with Cancer. I will just say here, Cancer sucks. Really badly. I got to be there for him in his final weeks and this made me happy, but I am sorry for his pain, I am sorry he is gone, and I won't have him around anymore. We were not always close but we did love each other. Now, I must go, but I will edit and finish this later....I love you Stevie!

Still behind....

and wow, i did not realize the last time i had posted was on the anniversary of my mom's death. i opened the page today and went "whoah". sad sad sad. i still miss her every single day of my life! there's other family going through some stuff right now, i hope it all gets worked out...

me? i am pretty chill right now. there are new things on the horizon for me, i hope, and life is good. being busy is awesome, but also exhausting.

not that i often find myself being resolute about anything, but i did make a commitment this year to being more mindful of living a healthy lifestyle, and of health in general and mind in specific. i'd been feeling sort of crappy, so a couple of days after the post about my mom, i decided to join a gym. a friend took me and i really liked the atmosphere, classes and people. it's been almost two months now and i'm still going strong. i am there about five to six days a week, depending on the work schedules and am feeling a definite improvement in my cardio health. quicker recovery, stuff like that. it's been very interesting trying to be mindful of health again. i am ashamed to say that it's been a long time since i've been in good cardio health, i think maybe we don't realize how sedentary we are until we aren't anymore, or we start the process to change all that. it's different for me, and my experiences are different. it's like i am learning my body all over again, and what it feels like to be winded, have my heart rate in the "target zone". i remember it being harder and perhaps that's where my somewhat fitness level came in from dancing the last several years. i am four weeks into a six week program to jump start my new goals, and it's been a lot of fun. i am enjoying myself, which is something i didn't think i would say much about exercise. there are several dance-centered cardio things i do, plus weights and stuff in a pool. i like it! go, me!

in that same vein, i'd been feeling a little "off" around the holidays and thought maybe the 'ole diabetes had finally caught up with me. it's true, it had. i hadn't been to a doc in a couple of years, and my sugars are now consistently high. that means it's time to start testing, so i signed up for a diabetes education class and got a monitor, and have been testing twice a day. that's interesting, and i am also keeping track of my blood pressure. it all sort of goes together, but there's other stuff i need to change. i am okay with that because i want to live a long, long time, i think.

that's the daily update. this morning, there is snow outside, maybe only the third snowfall of the winter, so we desperately need the water resources. it's still snowing =) this last weekend i worked the state basketball championship tournament and it was fun, but long, sort of boring days. some of the games were good, though, and it made me feel good to be able to make the experience something to remember for those high school kids. i hope they do =)

had a long talk with my son yesterday, who is now in germany and loving life. there is a part of me that is jealous, but i wouldn't trade places with him. we will be visiting them in june of 2013.

there is also a new kitten in the house, and he's pretty cute. his name is dozer and he is full of kitty energy. here he is with grizzly:

World, meet dozer:

have a great monday!

peace....

And today....

This is interesting and cool:

http://www.smh.com.au/world/science/viking-burial-site-found-in-scotland-20111020-1m9m1.html

Today, it has been five years since my mom passed away. I am sad, but feel like everything I do is a tribute to her. I wonder what she would think about certain things, or when I experience certain things that I know would make her laugh. God, I miss that woman, still.

That's about all I got, today.

Wedding, redux....so beautiful!

So, I returned home from Scotland, and truly, really did not stop running until after Burning Man...which presented a whole new set of challenges...

The weekend after I got home, or a scant four days, I was on the Playa, doing Ranger training, participating in 4th of Juplaya, and generally, relaxing. To be honest, now that I am writing this the first part of November, I know I was there, I know I had a good time, but I don't remember a ton about the entire experience. I remember sitting through training....I remember eating and hanging with friends, but nothing stands out. This was the first camping trip for our new birdie at the time, Kilo. She got spooked the final day we were there and flew out of the trailer and on to the playa. My sister saved her, ran after her. I remember feeding Keeper, who was in her last trimester of pregnancy, and cooking yummy food.

Then there was a week of work, and final preparations. My son had gotten married in February, but this, July 11th, is what we called "The Pageant"...the formal wedding, the show, the experience for all friends and family. This caused a tad bit of stress. I was just returning from an expensive over-seas trip and my obligation as the bride of the groom was to host and organize the rehearsal dinner.

We had previously talked to Chris' dad (that's another story and series of posts that is on my list to catch-up on at some point...but not now) and his family drove here all the way from Ohio, and they were going to rent a house. They did rent said house, and it was gorgeous! They had spoken of renting a house, and we had approached them with the idea of hosting the rehearsal dinner there, but there was some implication that there might be weirdness surrounding the entire situation, and I didn't want any weirdness, so I had sort of decided to just handle it on my own.

The biggest hurdle with this was money, but with any luck, this would be the only time my son got married, and it was an overall small piece of everything that was done, but when you're hurting, it's hard to see those things, it's just stress! The alleged potential weirdness ended up being nothing, a misunderstanding. When we had asked Chris what he wanted to do for rehearsal dinner, his wish was to BBQ at a house not too far from where we would be at the Lake, grill some dead cow, eat good food, drink, and all hang out and get to know each other. There was bonus family, too. In addition to Chris' dad, Tom, and his wife Melody and their four kids, they brought Tom's mom, his brother and his wife, and their small daughter too. Yay, family! Chris always wanted a large family and that's something I just couldn't really give him, so I am glad he has that with the other part of the family...

So, I got the chance to talk to Melody on the phone, and there was NO weirdness at all, we arranged to buy the bulk of the food, and they agreed to host at this awesome house they had rented. I made a giant batch of potato salad, we did a lot of bread and it was Summer, which screamed tri-tip and plans were laid and made.

In absolute, I REALLY don't think the weekend could have gone better! The rehearsal dinner was exactly what Chris had said he wanted, Tom and Melody were kind enough to offer us space to stay in the house they rented, the wedding was beautiful with a stunning and not-to-be-believed location, everyone was lovely, friendly, loving. This day made me feel blessed on a level that I cannot adequately express. I was SO thankful for EVERYTHING! My colleague and friend Jim was the officiant, my friend Lenae and her cadre of photographer friends took professional photographs, all the family came and was loving and we all had a good time and there was very, very little drama! I adore my new daughter-in-law, it was fantastic to meet her parents and brother and friends, and there was Sake drinking that was fantastic and good times were had by all! It was a win for everyone!

And here are the pics....I don't have them all labeled yet, but I will work on that...might need to consult with some folks to ensure I get all the names right....eeeeek!



I could not have been more proud of my son, my family, my community...this was truly the sort of day that dreams are made of! I only hope that those who participated feel the same!

Peace!