Double Rainbow Awesome

12 am the cold floor of my moms kitchen greets my feet. I am on vacation and wide awake. I enjoy writing when I travel.. though usually I do it sitting in a bathroom in a hotel so I don't wake anyone. This feels so much like being at home and I am inclined to stay in bed but has been a long time (feels like forever even though it has only been a few weeks) since my fingers dedicated themselves to the vocal styling of keyboard klicking.

 Much has been going on. Willows Birthday was pretty dang awesome. I rented a huge van and gathered a group of girls up from school and, after dinner, we all attended opening night of catching fire (#2 in the hunger games series ). After which it was homemade cupcakes and presents and movies into the night. The following morning I took the lot of them to a local college campus so they could attend an young womens science conference.  Willow has acquired a wonderful group of friends this year. All strong willed, intelligent and quirky in ways that bring out Willows  confidence in her own geeky goodness. They remind me a lot of my first real group of girl friends. Friends that I might not interact with often but who remain an important part of my life to this day.   Anyway.. It was a great time.

With the arrival of Thanksgiving we found ourselves in route to the old hometown. It has been an unusual trip. My mom was gone for the most part. Off to see my brother and his family who sound like they are doing as well as can be. How strange to be in her house without her. We spent the better part of our time visiting a wide variety of  people that we have not seen in quiet a while.

Upon our arrival we were quickly joined by Jimmy Jim Jim. I met him in college when he played bass for my ex's band. We share a love of reading, writing, music and movement. Hes one of the few people I am confident sharing my rough drafts with and I know he is always there to bounce ideas off of.  Anyway, we talked of our passions and he expanded our knowledge of physical therapy.. (He is a physical therapist to the US Olympic Rugby teams.) .. and introduced us some guy.. who as I go to look up his name find that I can not find it.. (A little help here Jim?! I want to share!) anyway this guy does amazing things with his body. Nothing bad mom! Just in terms of flexibility and movement. Anyway, Jims trip over was not just limited to catching up but he also bearing Willows Birthday gift. I had given her a riddle clue to its identity a few weeks before her birthday. "Iben sez its not a fish" She stumbled over it for quite a while. And one day about 3 days before her birthday she began pestering me about it again. This time as I was sitting by the computer. She didn't have a clue as to how to decipher my code speak. So I googled "fish" just to play along. We quickly stumbled upon a site that had a "match the fish with its  sound" game. Three pictures of unnamed fish are presented along with a aquatic serenade ..no it didn't sound like Under the Sea.. more like glurp glurp.. anyway we had no clue and upon clicking the pictures learned that this VERY FIRST SOUND came from a spotted bass. I had not intended for her to figure it out so easily. But she was stoked. Jim asked her what music she listened to so maybe he could find a riff for her to practice and she came up with the Duck Song.  Yes. The Duck Song. She is my girl alright. Anyway,  It was a great visit, shared some air and drank some brews.. but it was cut short by the fact that we were quite road weary and all had a long few days ahead of us.

Thursday was dedicated to family of course. We gathered at my cousins beautiful home and gorgeously set table with my Grandparents and other extended family and friends. Great food, company and conversation all around... the triptophan kicking in and a happy drowsy contentedness settled upon us.  Still weird my mom wasn't there.  It just wasn't the same. But it was wonderful none the less. Willow and Connor got to visit and play with their cousin. I however was slightly out of commission with a major sinus headache which dampened my spirits a bit,  but not enough to stop me from appreciating the fine qualities of everyone there, Nina Simone playing quietly in the background and adding a soulful ambiance, the laughter of children and the passion of the story tellers.  I am not a big fan of Thanksgiving.. or rather the myth of the happy pilgrims and Indians. but I respect the day as one of recognizing the bounty of labors, the warmth of friendship and the love of family. And all these things were in full measure this Thanksgiving. My love to all of them!

Friday we met up for a slightly early lunch with Sid, One of my first girlfriends whose reflection I see in Willow's Friends, and her husband and son. Sid and I are worlds apart these days, its been about 5 years since I last saw her. But she is someone I can and always will pick right up with no matter who or where we are. Shes the one I turn to these days for questions about ranching and live stock. Drawing on her youthful experiences. How she laughed when I proudly displayed the butt of my wrangler jeans and told her how I now do my clothes shopping at the feed store. Connor and her son Jaime got along like the best of friends as well. We are looking forward to a visit from them in the Spring.

After Lunch we went over to Greg's Grandmother and Aunt's. Beautiful, heartwarming women both. Grandma was feeling particularly well which is a blessing. We chatted for a couple of hours. Reminisced about grandmas youth (she almost became a nun) and history. She has some amazing stories. And we tackled the present and spun our tales. It was a very enjoyable visit and, as always, I left wishing we lived somewhat closer.

Next up it was dinner with Jon and his family where I learned to make pot pie.. which will come in handy when I take out the rogue roosters this week! (And coming back in for a late edit as it is no longer 12 am in my mothers kitchen but several weeks later at home).. Anyway.. Jon and I go back to Jr. High.and he once held this young girls heart. Now however he and his lovely family reside in this old mothers bosom. Oh my goodness to they have a houseful! 3 five year olds and an eight year old... repeat... 3 five year olds and an eight year old! Jon is driving semi's and hauling mining debris.. its a job but its hard and hes on the road for a week at a time. Its a better living then when he was working the oil fields in North Dakota (If I am not mistaken). Then there was the time he was one of the Ice Truckers up North. He has quite a story but then don't we all? Anyway.. the atmosphere was super charged with the activities of the children ... I remember those days and how stretched you are as a parent .. I can totally feel for Jon and Alison.  There was wine and whiskey and the making of pot pies, not to mention the experiencing the thump. They bring the Bass for sure. After the young ones were tucked in we sat comfortable and exhausted and watched Thor. A movie I want to pick apart while watching due to its inaccuracy but not wanting to upset the viewing and so just sat back and enjoyed a mindless moment of merriment. And with that we were back on the wind and soon riding the dream stream.

Saturday Morning we headed back to reno to have brunch and bloody mary's with Melissa after which she took us on a tour of the warehouse where some of the art for next years Burning Man is being created. The communal work space was quite impressive. An artist dream which contained a wood shop, a metal shop, a fabric arts studio, a fully functioning kitchen and just about everything one would need on hand to make.. well.. anything. Heavenly. And the work being done.. magnificent. There are of course aspects to burning man that don't appeal to me (mostly dealing with some of the idiots that attend) but the dedication and vision of the people behind the scenes is utterly inspiring.

And then we picked up mom and spent the remainder of the trip visiting with her, Grandma Nor and GG. We drove home Sunday and the traffic was horrible for half of it but we arrived safe and sound. The following morning Greg and I were up at 4 and on our way to San Jose where I dropped him off at the airport for a week in Vermont and returned just in time to wake the kids for school. They were cranky and tired but they made it through the day.

The week was packed with school work. There were parent teacher conferences ( long story short there are areas both the kids are struggling in like Spanish but they are both giving and recognized for giving thier best).

The teen age chickens have begun laying eggs. Turns out we have a breed which lays blue eggs!

One of the roosters met his end.

I think I may become a vegetarian.

And in the world of the weird the girls detected a Ghost in the Barn. Even I will say that it was sort if creepy.

That Friday I was up early and on my way once more to the airport. Only this time I was catching a plane to meet Greg in Chicago for a weekend get away. Greg met me at my gate as he was flying in from his meetings and we caught a taxi to our hotel which was located in the "south loop." We tucked into the hotel and then took a stroll to find dinner. We supped in a little Thia café around a hub of university campus's.. which are built up into sky scrapers as opposed to the sprawling of buildings around. The architecture and the details... I have always loved stone construction.. and the way the rail rumbles over head. The air was clean .. not like phoenix.. ick. The place I always base my concept of "City" on. This is done in error because some cities really are Beautiful. It was chilly. Not going to lie. It reminded me of the frigid cold when the cuz's and I went to Sundance. After dinner we caught a taxi to the arena and enjoyed a Blackhawks game. Did I mention that everywhere I looked were my colors? The hotel.. the colors people dressed in.. The restaurants.. EVERY WHERE! And the FOOD! Saturday Night we went Uptown for Dinner at this Sushi place. HOLY TUNA! That is an exclamation not the name of the restaurant. It was a mighty fine time. Walked toward the hotel... Oh the Hotel... THE ABSOLUTE MOST COMFORTABLE BED IN THE WORLD!! any way walked toward it after the game( I felt I was shaking hands with the surface of the city.) Taxi's don't stop near the stadium so you have to go a ways to catch one.. sooo many taxi's zooming around... but not right after the game or where we were. So we walked. -10 with windchill... they call it the windy city for a reason. We were bundled and managing but it was a fair distance to the hotel... 5 miles.. and we wondered into a whisky bar to warm up. OMG the Whisky!! Tasty! We managed to get a cab after that. The next morning we wandered about 2 miles to a corner pub and restaurant for brunch... Think cheers.. I had a perch sandwich from the lake and bloody marys. yum! We wandered back and took a nap.. until 6. Then caught a cab uptown to a restaurant that came highly recommended. And .. yeah.. Wow. Then more sleep and a mile walk the next morning for breakfast. It was worth it. It was just beginning to snow as we packed up. We then walked through swirling flakes for another mile with our luggage to the blue line train so we might get in that experience before leaving. I could just ride it around all day. So.. we got to the airport.. Our flight was scheduled to leave on time. Things were looking good. But we sat on the run way for a long time and were finally de-iced. Then we faced headwinds. Long story short we missed our connection in Phoenix. The only way we could both make it home that night was if we split up. Greg took the keys and flew into San Jose. I flew into Monterey and got a ride home from Angele. I arrived home just in time to get a call from Greg who needs the ticket to leave the parking garage which is in my purse. So I bundle up and get into gregs little sports car. Ive got my driving gloves and my scarf.. he doesn't have a heater in his car at the moment.. or a radio.. and drive to San Jose at 11:30 at night. Greg is due at the office early as he has a host of Japanese Business men to convene with. whew!

And that just about brings us up to speed. Pictures.. I have to figure out how to make then available. It seems that technology has advanced and Im fumbling with how to adjust.  

The tree is up and the house is decorated for Yule. Thursday the kids have a school play. Anyway... time for me to get back on the road. I have a lot to catch up on.

 

13

Thirteen years ago .. birth.. it was traumatic. For both of us. But out of it an amazing girl.. a jewel.. A unique and amazing being with spunk and fire and sass. Im might proud. However, party preparations underway which I must attend to. Not a whole lot of time to chat. So, I will honor my daughter and this day with more words once we wrap up the weekend festivities. 

Offstage.. In the midst of word craft.. volumes appear to be unfolding.

If my life were a 60's sitcom...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LnYFZ9cs0Q

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

Someone asked me how I was going to prepare Charlie for the eating.. I declared he would be... "Unrecognizable!" We had a joke around the house about making Charlie Pot Pie.. But I didn't know how to make that. So I sliced him up.. Dismantling a chicken is not a fun process. It's a little nauseating actually... And Connor, sensitive as he is, had a very hard time with what little he perceived when he stumbled around the corner while I was in the midst of it... Anyway I tossed the slices in ranch and breaded in crushed up potato chips. It was truly scrumptious! Oh boy .. I honestly can not tell you how juicy and flavorful he was. But despite that the meal was eaten with more solimnity than most. A quiet mindful reverence hung over our plates. There was gratitude but not in the way of great joyful jubilation. It was thanks embedded in a feeling of loss.  Every bite sort of hard to swallow.  

In retrospect, this whole event has served to remind me how amazingly far away we industrialized nations are from our food. How removed our "typical" food is and how it origins lie beyond a sea of factories... surgical, sterile, chemical.. detaching us from the life we consume. Because whether plant animal or fish.. We eat life. But this simple truth is disguised and lost behind media, marketing and madness. Where is the Reverence? ... For that is what we felt for Charlie... It's almost non-existent. It needs to be reclaimed. 

As a result of this, I am feeling a need to heftily scale back on my meat consumption and eventually limiting it to what we raise and cull ourselves. It doesn't seem right otherwise.

Another unexpected result of Charlie's death has been a shift in fowl formation... The pecking order. Charlie.. Even though he was a bit brutish, kept the young roosters ( of which there are three in check.

 

 

As it is now .. if they aren't trying to dominate each other.. they are banding together to gang rape the hens. It's pure mayhem out there . Lord Stanley has been laying down the law when it becomes to much but he is tired of the petty adolescent behavior.  It may be just about time to hone my butchering skills soon once again. .. does the fact that they look delicious make me a meat monger?

In other news.. Greg was home for a quick and short weekend visit before jetting off to Woodstock. Vegas to Woodstock.. Very different worlds.  Anyway, here is the view from his hotel. Proof it is winter... somewhere!

 

 

I had Greg watch some v-sauce and he seriously had a panic attack. It overloaded his curcuits a bit. He's better now. Love the v sauce!

Anyway here is a really interesting little bit .. During one of Greg's conferences some time ago he had the chance to meet an incredible mind and someone in whose presence he felt entirely humbled. The woman, her name eludes me, is a physicist who has determined a way to .. It's hard to put into words.. Her work is the application of physics to psychology and she does so for the biggest of the big. Essentially she can plot the perfect social structure for an organization.. She can find the people who are hubs and she can tell you where to put them to maximize thier potential or can let you know who to pull to make the ship sink. It sounds to me like she has found a mathematical key for plotting sacred geometry. Think about the power in that. Greg's company is going to be utilizing her services to propel them towards being a mega c o r p .. The sooner we get off that crazy train the better. We are working on an exit strategy, however, In the meantime, it will be fascinating to learn more as that implementation eventually gets started.

I died my hair.. I tried to catch some of the color...

Earlier this week I chaperoned a field trip of Connors to the tech museum in San Jose. Good times and headaches.  The experience began with a lab experience. We did a few experiments. Connor is fascinated by chemistry. I was talking to some of the other moms.. They were about 10 years my senior and they said that they never even learned about the periodic table in high school. I started in jr high and here these 5th graders were being introduced to endo and exothermic reactions. Wow has time altered education. Good? Bad? Debatable.. but not now...  After that we got to play in the museum. 5th grade boys are a hormonal lot and the three I had were not great pals and each wanted to go in different directions the entire time. It was a bit trying at times and I had to get a little fierce once or twice. I was glad when it was over. So was Connor. 

School choices.. There is another option on the table for jr high and hs that is more reasonable/affordable. With a bus!! At a cost, for both kids to attend the private Christian school (yes you heard that right), which is less than the prestigious Monterey all girls school for willow alone.  I've started the applications. Both Willow and Connor are excited at the prospect. So am I as it is the most balanced prospect and will free me up to better pursue employment as I wont be having to do the commuting thing.

Willows birthday is around the corner. 13 almost already! Thanksgiving.. then Chicago. Joyous times ahead to be recanted later. Time now for me to turn in so I can get a run on it all in the am. 

Death, Life and all things in between

Curled up in bed. Toes frozen. They won't warm up in this empty bed. Greg in Vegas. They keep me alert. Awake. Which is maybe a good thing. Allowing me the space to stop and catch a breath and tell some tales from the adventure that is this life I adore and cherish. My aunt has told me step refers the writing to the video which I guess I will placate her some as it also means I can stay curled up.

So it's been a busy week and a half almost since my last post and.. well... Lets start start with Halloween...

Connor was a vampire in the spirit of

Vincent Price.

Willow was a peacock.

I was a gypsy jellyfish and Greg rounded out the lot of us as a monkey man. Irie and Aden opted out this year and stayed to pass out candy to non existent tricker-treaters. The weekend before there was a trunk or treat event at a friend of Connors church, willow had a party to go to, and Connor Greg and I attended a Halloween creepy event at a library put on by the local herpetological society. In other words, we went to check outs snakes and spiders and cockroaches and other such form of slithering and crawling creatures. Good times. Later during the week there was a costume parade at school and parties. The upper grades had a dance which I chaperoned. Chaperoning equates to maintaining the food tables. It was a feast which needed bowls to be filled and drinks to be ready. I assume Willow had a good time but only she could tell you for sure. That night was trick or treating. Which was your standard fair. Not much to say other than it was chilly and bitey.

 

During the week, Connor had a science project to do for school. I happened to catch it on video.  Watch my boy burn through his experiment!
 

In the evenings, I attended a number of school board meetings. Checking out the currents and testing the high school waters. Long story short, there is a program track at one of the local high schools that we have had our eye on. However in the last month an announcement has bee made that the program wished to become a district charter. The process towards that has begun and it has happened quickly. Parents are shell shocked with the news but its moving with such speed because it needs to. If the charter does not move forward and we put Willow in the program ( assuming an inter district transfer is approved and willow qualifies for the program with her grades) then she will be in a school with 1300 students and class sizes of 35 to 50 students. Wha?! Yes 50 in a class. This is an excelled program and the aim for the charter is to get the students out of these overpopulated general   classes and get them more focused studies. Hmmm...  And if the charter passes well we will still need to transfer and acceptance to get in which means this choice is not a done deal. . In a few weeks we will tour a private all girls school.  Through Surfrider I am already acquainted with a couple of teachers there and am certain of the quality of teaching and care of students. Class sizes are about 18. She would do magnificently there. You get what you pay for and I expect I will need to get a job by next fall.

And speaking of work.. I've been mentioning the options that face us here at the ranch.. And.. other than the mushrooms.. We have decided/realized that we are not the farming kind and have let the land lord know that we won't be able to move further in that direction. With Greg's travel and our already brimming full lives it is just not feasible. But... What about starting a food co-op like what has been grown in Reno? If I can get it off the ground...There is my job. If I can get it off the ground.. There is a win for me, for the comunity, and for our region. Im angry at the way things are, the evil driving force of food manufacturing corporations. Taking this on will be a stab at the vile beast. One of the vile beasts anyway.. for evil has many faces. (Maybe more on that later?! Deep topic needs delving first!)   Anyway.. Change has to start somewhere. We are stronger when we build a community.. when we strengthen the ties.  Why not give it a go? What is to loose? So I will be exploring that in depth next trip home and seeing about the steps are needed to move forward... towards a truly better world and towards private school.

This weekend I cleaned out the garage .. ick... rodents.. it is the country after all.  Greg began prepping logs for inoculation out in the grove and we attended a day of the dead party at one of our new neighbors where we learned Mexican dancing. It was quite enjoyable and discussions are in the works for a weekly neighborhood dance workout.
 

This week Willows class put on a poetry reading. They have been preparing for some time and all I can say is WOW!! I was unable to get any footage but let me tell you these kids are talented. Their voices ringing out clear and proud and strong. Poems ranging from dealing with watching a grandmother die of cancer, to ruminations on technology and how it disconnects us from the moment, to declarations of self possession and identity, to simply playing with sound. Mr. T had indicated that the presentation was intended to invoke deep emotion and it did just that. I laughed, I questioned, and I cried.. only a little.. tears staining the corners of my eyes. I didn't want to embarrass Willow in front of her classmates with a fit of sobs and tearing into the tissue although some of the poems certainly could have carried me to the realm of soulful weeping.  It was a wonderful and inspiring experience. And given the totality of these children's voices and their depth of character I realize just how bright our future can be. Bravo!

 

I killed Charlie. That's right, he is dead. I slit his throat Tuesday and tonight we ate him. My first kill ever (well not counting fish.. so removed from our food we are (said in my head with a Yoda-ish accent ). Warm blood bathing my hands. Neighbors pulling up to watch.. seriously.. sort of.. I picked a day and time when I could be alone to do this, allowing me to prepare emotionally and keep my mind on the task. I made a sacred killing space a pace away from the house so the blood would not bring predators into our space. I dedicated a new, sharp knife and cleaver to the task. I strung up Charlie. Hung him upside down. They go passive and calm that way. Id say he didn't see it coming but I told him on the walk to the killing ground and thanked him for. He looked at me and emitted a single "bawk" in response. As if to say "What?!" To which I looked him right in the eye and replied "You know what." After which he accepted his fate with dignity. The deed was done quickly, honorably and thankfully.  Then I dunked him in hot water and the plucking was easy.. That's when I realized I had an audience. They were not watching, distracted with the work they were doing in the adjacent field. Im not even sure if they saw me.. but they were there. Sharing the moment with me. Part of the circle of life... tending to the crops. We all have to eat. The rest of the process was harder and more time consuming. Skinning and gutting. Interesting.. here is the lung.. here is connective tissue.. Here is the craw.. That part took me the better part of two hours. But dang if he wasn't tasty. The meat in his legs was sooo dark. Darker than any turkey drum I have seen at Thanksgiving and certainly darker than any I have ever seen on a chicken from the store.



Charlie Before
 



Charlie After

And since you cant taste him.. I closing I leave you with this mornings sunrise and  this fun little mimicry of  a hen...

 

Fill er up!

So I have been getting quiet loud. What?! you haven't heard me?! Must be because I have not yet cruised by. Seems I'm out on the road. Bass thumping. Looking for some honeys... No not really. Well.. Except for the bass part. Anyway... Life has been filled with various activities and distractions. Flat tires, car issues, a stunned blackbird who flew into some glass, seeing Irie off to a week of homecoming events, Halloween parties (costume pics to come)  sick kiddos, helping friends put out fires,  and a host of other non routine events. Oh! And my anniversary gift of cashing in Greg's frequent flier miles to see the ducks vs Blackhawks has been scheduled. The next few months will be busy. Birthday and holidays.. But it's like that for everyone I guess!  In the midst of all of that I stopped a few times .. Come with me now for a quiet trip to the beach, then ride along with me while I go on about this and that then enjoy a few vignettes and me going on some more. And brother billy goat thought I was talkative before! Evil laugh mwahahaha! Just wait bro. By the way.. Look at them niners!

A trip to the beach
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8_L8JW5Y-o

A trip in the car
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=359t7Uei8N0


And a bunch of other stuff
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6P_ihBFFFk

And so now I am off and running.. well not really.. Not quite yet.. the internet connection goes dead at 8:00. But shortly after Im off to take the roommate to have a wisdom tooth pulled. Oh Joy! Willow had new braces applied yesterday.. Ouch there too.  So it goes...

Back on the road again.



 

Setting some pace

I am back in the saddle, yo!  And well... here you go.

http://youtu.be/YNyCfrcjxOU