Tutu's message to Obama

This article from BBC News, "Obama, don't lose goodwill - Tutu", pretty well expresses how I feel about Obama's presidency. I have high hopes for President Obama, as does the majority of the world, but I refuse to delude myself in thinking of him as the savior of the world. No single man can solve the world's problems in the way some people believe Obama could. As usual, however, Archbishop Desmond Tutu's caution to Obama is insightful - and hopefully advice that the President will follow.

Weekend with my Valentine

Tim and I spent Valentine's Weekend on the Oregon Coast with his grandparents, Grandma Barbie and Grandad Don. Since we didn't leave until after work on Friday most of our drive to Oceanside was dark. I would have never known we were at the ocean ... if it weren't for the sound of the waves on the shore when we got out of the car. But the sunrise Valentine's morning brought a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean from the third story of the house. It was so calming to just watch the waves crashing in on themselves as we sat cozy in a warm house and ate bacon, eggs, pears & cream, and orange juice fixed with love by Grandma Barbie's hands.

Morning Stroll

We took a stroll on the beach in the morning... it was so chilly Tim and I borrowed some of our grandparents' clothes to bundle up. But even with the brisk weather it was still a joy to walk on the beach, taking pictures of the natural beauty we so seldom see.

Tim in Borrowed Hat, and I in Borrowed Coat and Hat

In the afternoon we watched some old home video from when Tim's dad was little, and then from when Timmy was little. It was quite an experience, especially since several of the people who were in those videos are now dead - people I never met (and one that I did) that are talked about so much by the family they left behind. Following the home videos, we saw Grandad Don in one of his early plays in his younger days. Then it was onto the video from their recent trip through the Panama Canal along with the hilarious and ironic Nova documentary about the making of the canal. I worked on a small art project while we watched the movies, then transitioned to conversations about recent happenings.

We took another stroll on the beach at sunset before high-tailing it back to the house to catch the end of the sunset from a better vantage point.

Silhouettes

Surfers at Sunset

Sunset from the House

Dinner was at Roseanna's - a quaint restaurant in Oceanside with delicious food! I had grilled halibut with a yummy strawberry feta salad, asparagus and grilled potatoes. To top it off, Tim and I shared a yummy Marrionberry cobbler a-la-mode. YUM!

Roseanna's

End of Dinner - Marrionberry Cobbler A-la-Mode

We spent the evening chatting about the future of the ranch in Haines, got up for Mass on Sunday followed by French Toast breakfast put on by the Tillamook Sr. Class to raise money for several "causes".

The drive home was lovely - much better in the light of day - and a great way to top off a splendid trip.

After Dinner - Happy and Full


HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY
EVERYONE!!!

Decorating ideas for renters

I recently found this great slide show of great decorating ideas for renters at the Domino Magazine website (unfortunately March is their last issue!). For those of us who will be renting for the next few years, these tips can make our time as non-homeowners much more enjoyable!

This is one of my favorite ideas:

It has come to this

The story discussed in this editorial disturbs me. How is it ok to treat people this way (afterall, these are people) - some of whom have done nothing wrong but cross a line drawn in the sand seeking a better life? I think it's important to note that many people who enter the country without papers do not have any way to enter legally. It's not that they choose to enter illegally rather than going through the propper process. It's that there is no process for them because they have no US Citizen family, or they are not Olympic Atheletes, or they don't have their M.D. and are not sponsored by some specialty hospital who has the money to cover their immigration process. It seems to me that we treat convicted felons better than we treat undocumented immigrants! What upsets me the most, I think, is that this spectacle reminds me of photos I saw at the Holocaust Museum last month. I pray that we are not going there with our overzealous, xenophobic enforcement of immigration law.

I was there!

I traveled to DC for the Inauguration last week. Needless to say, it was very inspiring and historic. I could write a book, but I'll let a few pictures speak for the experience. To see all three albums on facebook, these are the links: Inauguration Day, DC Part I, DC Part II.

In front of the Jefferson Memorial

Jumping for Joy at the Jefferson

By the Washington Memorial

At the Lincoln Memorial

This guy was dancing to some impromptu music on the steps of the Lincoln. He was TOO cute!

Night on the Mall - this photo was taken by a freelance photographer and writer who I met in line and who happens to know several of the people I met during my study abroad in Latin America. It was quite an enjoyable and serendipitous night!

Ice Skating at the National Art Museum Sculpture Garden

4:45 AM on Inauguration Day - coming out from the Metro with a million people. EXCITED!

Dawn at the Capitol

Friends we just met - all trying to stay warm, but filled with excitement

Feeling patriotic and proud to be an American. A good moment.

The reason we all gathered in the freezing cold for hours and hours. President Obama!!

The huge crowd behaved itself but left a lot of trash. :(

Getting warm again at the Hawk & Dove - Cheers to the next 4 years!

Girls Weekend

This weekend I visited my friend Caris in Portland. Somehow I didn't take one picture the whole time I was there... but we had a great time. Friday night I had to ref a basketball game in Junction City, then met up with Tim and friends for dinner at La Perla in Eugene. By 8:00 I was finally on my way to Portland.

On Saturday we went to brunch at Pambiche, a Cuban restaurant in NE Portland. The food and atmosphere were truly authentic and very enjoyable, as was the company of course! Then it was off to bowling at Hollywood Bowl. I scored over 100 twice - quite an accomplishment for me! But Caris still beat me both games. After bowling we hit the theater and saw Gran Torino - such a surprising film! I highly recommend it.

We rounded out the evening with split pea soup (my first ever - YUMM!), and the Blazers game at Caris' parents' house on their huge HDTV. It was so fun to see how much the Blazers have changed in the last 5-10 years. They are selfless on and off the court, and they really work together as a team. Such fun to watch!

All in all, a fun time! Thanks for a great weekend, Caris!

Cameron & Christina's Wedding

So, I went to Estes Park, Colorado for my cousin Christina's wedding. I discovered I should be an event/wedding coordinator as I had so much fun pulling everything together in the last few days... Here are some photos:

Sisters - my mom, aunt Lura (the cake miracle worker) and Aunt Lesta (the mother of the bride)

Daniel and I dancing at the reception

Tim and I at the reception

The sweet and serene father-daughter dance turned CRAZY! :)

Cutting the beautiful cake

Family

Beautiful bride and groom

I played guest-book/program/gift table girl - and matched the theme too!

Steaming out the wrinkles in the wedding dress

White Christmas

This is my Christmas at Home in a few Pictures:

A Snowy Barnyard

Barn through the Trees

East Oregonian

The Boys in a Blizzard
(Daniel, Dad, Ben)

Parents in a Drift
(Mom, Dad and Mannie)

Snow Bunnies
(Tim and I)

Warming Up Inside
(Mannie and I)

Snow - the ups and downs

It snowed 4 inches in the Willamette Valley. Apparently this is a crisis. No one knows how to drive, and almost all the schools have been closed for 2-3 days. This is craziness in my mind. The temperatures have been anywhere between 0 and 32 degrees the last few days.

I got an e-mail from my mom yesterday saying "so far the weather here (currently zero degrees, and about one foot of snow) is not hampering too much." Now that's the Oregon I know! Who would have thought that one state could contain such diverse peoples from East to West? Oregon is just like that, though. And I love it.

The snow is beautiful to be sure. And I enjoy laughing at all the people who cannot drive in it. Those people with lift kits on their huge trucks that think they can speed and turn sharply in front of people without any consequences. Dumb. And then there are the poor people walking on the street who can't take a step without thinking they will slip and fall. I witnessed a woman in her 30s or 40s trying to walk down the sidewalk and hopping from not-so-slippery-looking-spot to not-so-slippery-looking-spot. She eventually couldn't find any more not-so-slippery-looking-spots apparently, because she got this trapped look in her eyes and just couldn't move any further. I vacillated between laughing at her and feeling sorry for her.

The downside to the snow is that all my reffing gigs thus far this week have been canceled. Dumb. That was Christmas money!

Oh, and we went to a "Holiday Sweater" party at our friends Kim and Alex's place this weekend... I think Tim won hands down. Bestest Holiday Sweater. See for yourself:

Inauguration Vacation

After thinking about it since November 4th, and constantly searching for affordable airfare, I finally purchased a round-trip ticket from Portland to Philadelphia for Inauguration week 2009. A ticket that had cost $480 on Monday, cost just $280 on Tuesday. It was a sign. *winks* I will be spending five days in DC this January, touring with my cousin Allyson and her husband Tobin and staying with my good friend Anna near Capitol Hill. I couldn't be more thrilled.

The only sad part is that Tim was unable to come. While I REALLY wish he could come with me to experience this once-in-a-lifetime trip, he encouraged me not to pass up this opportunity just because he couldn't come along. What a good hubby.

Anyone know of any great things I MUST do while in DC?

Sophie!

Big news everyone! Tim relented and let me get a kitty! :) I went to the Humane Society on Friday, picked out an adorable kitten named Kylie, and was working through the paperwork in the Cattery to adopt her, when this little gray kitten hopped up on my lap, curled up and started purring. It was done; she had chosen me.

As all the pictures indicate, I'm already quite obsessed with our little 3-month-old baby. Her given name was "Little Girrrrl" which was one too many "r"s for me. Sophie fit much better, and I think she agrees. She seems to be a bit more enamored with Tim than with me for the moment, but I have a feeling she will come around.

Her favorite perch - the back of the couch.

She also loves the windowsill

Napping on my leg - precious.

She wasn't too sure about me when she first came home.

He might look like a tough guy, but he's really just a big softy.