sumpin' new

I promise to have some new stuff on my flickr page after this weekend... I went to upload last night and well, the husbandman had the magic cord that coaxes the pictures in the camera to move their way onto the computer screen. Said husbandman didn't get home until 10:30 pm last night and I was long into dream land by that point.

(Apples and Bikes, taken in Seattle June '06)

I have been thinking that I want to start making cards with my photos. To sell. Am I crazy? can I get some of you to help me pick out your favorites? Good ones to make into a product. I have some favorites, but I think I am emotionally attached to some and see things differently because, hmm, because I was there. So I would love some help, some constructive criticism. Whatcha think? (head over to my photos and add a note to those you think worth of such a project)

The other reason I will have new stuff on my flickr page after this weekend is that we (Mr. Noodle and I) will be meeting up with Urban Climber for a downtown photo hunt.
I think we need to do a Reno Flickr meet up- or a Photo Treasure hunt downtown this summer, wouldn't that be a hoot?

Lots of yoga in store for this weekend... And on Monday I am meeting up with a friend to swam yoga knowledge. She does Acro Yoga and I am so excited to do some flying.

Heading towards the light...

when you get comments like I have been getting the past two posts I know that there is light. (thank you all for your amazing words and comments)


when you have a good walk and talk and dinner with your longest time friend and lunches at home with one of your newest friends, you know that there is light.


when you get up and go teach yoga at 7:30am to a 70-something year old woman who can still get into triangle pose, you know that there is light.

Thank you Thank you Thank you
For all the light in my life. You all have touched me and I feel the light coating my heart, I feel the light shining from within and I feel the light expanding across the skies, and the heavens.
Thank you Thank you Thank you

so little..

there seems to be so little time to squeeze it all in, and yet what is time really? It is something we can manipulate just by turing the hands forward on a clcok if you really think about it.
The week after day light savings change happens always throws me. Plus I taught a yoga class at 615am on Thursday and so my internal clock is realy wacko.
Driving to class yesterday I saw the most beautiful cresent moon rising, huge and beautiful. That made it all worth it.

I have all sorts of amazing news this week.
there is a pumpkin seed growing in my best friend's belly, she has "ultrasonic" proof.
there is a diamond on my other bestfriend's finger, she has a tan line from Mexico as proof.

all this makes me want to cry. in a good way.
I am looking forward to a massage tonight, yoga tomorrow and sunday (three hours on sunday) and hopefully a walk with E to hear the proposal story and to get blinded by the new bling on her finger...

ahh, time...

"Giggle Twins"

more from the other week-



I was hamming it up for the little girls waiting their turn in the booth.
This one made them giggle as they watched the screen outside the digi-booth...and it made me think about my best friend and I. The "giggle twins" as our mothers called us.How long we have known each other (since she was born we always say), how I used to tell people at the grocery store that I had a twin sister. Only she was from a different mom and dad (that and we are kinda like Danny DeVito and the Goven-ator from the movie Twins). But she was the closest thing I had.
I remember eating lunch at my house(mac and cheese, of course) "My McDonald's".
I remember driving to Reno, probably for a dentist apt or something, and her mom singing to us- when we passed the huge American flag at Boomtown we would all break out in "this land is your land" I could never really sing, but boy could E hold a note even at 3 or 4.
I vividly remember her telling me how she was going to run away one day while we were supposed to be napping. She packed everything up and headed out the window... at the sly old age of 4.
We have so many memories like that together... The little girls waiting outside the booth are probably a lot like we were-
I watched for a few seconds as they climbed into the box. Hugged each other tightly and smiled a huge broad grin...
That set is going to be a keeper I said to their mom- she laughed and gave me a wink as I walked away with my fresh strip in hand...

For more Photobooth lovin' check out these spots
here
here
here

Photobooth Friday 2-23--07

It has been awhile...


First, thanks everyone for such sweet Valentine's Day wishes. We had a nice one and we are gearing up for hubby's birthday next week now that the day of love has come and gone.

I decided to take a week off from blogging because I am trying to simplify- I am also really needing to stop checking and updating blog/flickr all the friggin' time. It is one of the worst habits I have ever gotten into- can you all just stop being so interesting for me? (do you like how I pushed that over to being all of your faults?). I am trying to really evaluate where I spend my time, how I spend my time and with whom I spend my time.

Looking to just cut back a little in all areas so that I feel a little more grounded is all I really need.

We spent the long weekend lounging around the house together. We got our new GI-NORMOUS television (42 inches of hd insanity people- I try not to watch, but there it is...) and a dish, and a receiver, and a ton of speakers that are all over the living room. I sat most of the weekend and enjoyed the spectacle that is cable. We have been living cable free for the past 5 years. We would watch anything that would come through via the rabbit ears and lots of coaxing of the "12 inch wonder" (no not that "wonder" tee hee)...

I made pancakes and ate lots of soup all weekend. (hubby was sick and I was trying to not become that way.)
This photo is my ode to 3191, cuz I get up early too...

I worked on some knitting (skateycakes, that hat I was working on with you has been ripped and re-ripped and finally re-rolled into a neat little ball for another project-)I also finished two pairs of "wide-legged lounge pants". A pair of crazy red and flowers for me (I will try and get a picture this weekend, since I am living in them I am sure it won't be hard to do) The second pair was given (sans pictures) to a dear friend who is about 3 1/2 months "with child" and is quickly finding that she hates to wear elastic pants or the pregnant woman option- these were prefect.

I did make it to the booth last Thursday after yoga class- I used the $ I had found in the parking lot the week previous... It was good fun. there was a family waiting on the other side of the booth, two little girls cracking up at the faces I was making while sitting solo. I wish I could have got them to jump in there with me.


I look forward to another weekend home- this time friends from Portland coming down to see us.Wish me luck in not sending our guest in to an allergy attack due to a rouge gluten ingredient (ack!)...
Happy Friday everyone... for more booth action head on over here.

soggy

This weekend has been soggy, sloshy, wet and grey.
I couldn't be happier about it.
It has been raining since Friday.
Everything is damp, the pond in the back yard has grown and the ice in it has become a mini glacier.

I saw a double rainbow yesterday.
The dog got to play with a 1 year old and cracked me up the entire time, she also got to hang out with her favorite pit-bull/beagle and get muddy. (which means she got a bath too)
I got to visit with my mom and she made pesto (oh, the pesto).
I found a fabulous wee rocking chair at the thrift store along with some great
pillow cases,
knitting needles and
zippers.
Several things on my list have been checked off.
I pulled the "Creativity" card today from my stack of Angel Cards.
I am eating french toast and my Mukkah made the best froth ever today.
I am in my favorite ORANGE (Cal-Trans style) sweatshirt.
The sun keeps playing peak-a-boo with the earth.
Everything is soggy, sloshy, wet and grey (oh and maybe a bit greener too).

Goings on

There is something fun happening over here.

Guess who I got to meet this weekend? Pancakemama herself. She was wonderful to chat with while knitting- the two and half hours that passed seemed like minutes. I should have chosen the tea instead of the Thai cafe though- I think I talked way more than I listened (sorry)... Thanks Ani, it was so wonderful to meet up with you.

I started a new sewing project this weekend as well.
I am working on some "Wide-legged lounge pants" from the Amy Butler book.

We got to spend some fabulous time with family Saturday night- To the UNR game we went (What a game). I got to hold the most beautiful baby for so long and then we headed to Blue Moon Pizza for more visiting. It feels so good to spend time with my SIL and their men.

Found out some news from one of my dearest friends. My lips are zipped however. despite my heart skipping a beat over it all.

busy week ahead...

love in an envelope

I think we all dig when there is something in the mail other than bills and adverts right?



Even though I use email probably more than I should to communicate with people in my life, I still LOVE to send out cards and goodies in the mail. (I even have a favorite post office and a favorite post lady who is a character right out of a movie. She is plumb and wears her hair in the wildest up-do ever. She wears buttons and "flair" and always lets you cut back in line if you didn't fill out a form correctly the first time)
I like to imagine what the person looks and feels like when they see an envelope, hand addressed sitting in the box. When I get mail that isn't bills or credit card offers I always try to guess who it is from just by the handwriting on the envelope. I have a few friends that I can guess immediately just by the way my name is scrawled across the middle of the paper.
I love that.


And because I love that, I want to give a little "woot-woot" to a few people. Beacuse they have filled my mail box with joy.

A little thanks out there to a few people who have sent me things in the past month or two. People who I have never seen or met in person. My name written in a handwriting that is unfamiliar, yet totally fits...has been showing up in my mail box. It is exhilerating and wonderful- mostly because these people are sharing part of themselves with me. There have been things like photography and music and art work.Things like "lobster egg" gum balls and fabric and sweet sweet words. And plans are brewing to even meet one of these people to do a west coast version of this...
These things in an envelope took time and creativity and love. And these woman headed out to the post office just because I said I liked something they did. They were nice enough to put my name on an envelope and lick a stamp (or stick a stamp, what ever the case might be.
But those ladies help to make my trips to the mail box so much fun.


So here is to JesC, I have these hanging in my living room.
Stilt Houses 1
Stilt Houses 2
Stilt Houses 3
Stilt Houses 4

So here is to LeSophie, I have this in my car stereo.

So here is to Angela, I have this (or a version of it anyway)waiting to be framed (and a few others waiting to be passed on in the mail to others)

Thank you ladies for making my life a little fuller, a little more creative and for the connections....

Almost as good as a photobooth Friday

We never made it to a photobooth last weekend. There were so many things to pick from to do with ourselves. We could have filled up a week with running around and site seeing and still not hit everything the 5 of us wanted to do.
I snapped this as we were headed up to the shoe department in Nordstrom's (can someone please explain to me the draw of this place? (not the shoe dept, Nordstrom's) I don't get it? Is there any other store that people will proclaim on their license plate holder as a place "they would rather be"? Isn't Nordi's just a glorified Macy's, and isn't Macy's just a glorified Ross?)
Any way, like I was saying- I snapped this shot as we were headed up to the shoe department. Someone noticed that we were reflecting nicely in the elevator doors.... I took the shot and there you have it.


I took a few more as well. (I made them shut the doors and go up and down a few times- aren't I nice?)


I kinda like the ones where no one is paying attention.
I have known these girls forever. I have been roommates with two of them and known one of them pretty much since birth. I feel really lucky that we continue to keep in touch. I am also pretty impressed that we didn't strangle each other while sharing one room, two beds and one bathroom for the weekend...Come on- that is a small space and lots of blowdryers-.

___
Now for some real booth action, go on over to the new Flickr group that Hula created...

TILT 1-25-06

I must say, when I visit San Fran I often get totally overwhelmed by the humanity and the chaos and all of it. I want to look at everything, take it all in and then I realize that I have taken in too much. Like a sponge that has reached the point of total absorbtion I can't hold any more stimuli. This weekend's trip was no exception. I wound up with a head ache right behind my eye. But I rallied and downed some water and an Alieve and was good to go.

One of the best things I saw this weekend was a few guys in the middle of Union Square holding up signs stating "FREE HUGS" and it brought me back. I didn't get a chance to get my free hug, but just seeing this made me feel like I was a person again... hugs do that to a me- they remind me of my love of personal contact, one on one converstaion and love.
I am a hugger. It is just how I was raised. We hug and often time give big old kisses to each other (this by the way totaly caught my man off gaurd the first time hanging with the fam).

What can I say.
But doesn't giving someone your energy and you taking theirs feel so amazing?

Today's TILT is dedicated to all you people out there that I can't hug because you live somewhere far away- but know that my arms are wrapping 'round ya and I am giving you a squeeze- oh and this ain't no "butt poking out" kinda hug(you know what I mean, the fake kind, the I am not sure if I want to touch you kind), this is a full contact- full energy kinda hug- MMMMM!

doing less

Because so many of you responded to this post (Thanks by the way, for all of your responses, encouragement and sharing that you feel quite similar to the way I was feeling the other day.)I thought I would share a link to something that showed up in my in-box today. I love when things like this come to me, as if I had asked for them personally.

Oh, and speaking of things that "came to me"... I found a message in a bottle this weekend.
Yes, I did.
And here is what the message said,
"To the beholder of this letter: Love is the most powerful thing in the Universe. Only worthy of all that can give it. If you have the power don't keep it to yourself.
Give Give Give
I LOVE YOU, Andrew and Rose..."
The note was in Grolsh bottle of beer, crumpled and slightly burnt on the edges... the girls kept telling me there was just a wrapper in there, but I saw the little burnt edges and wanted it to be more- to have a message. I love this type of thing. Perfect- you have to open your eyes and take a moment to see things for more then they appear sometimes.

On the way...

Photos and a review of the weekend spent with the T-town girls on the way. I didn't have a chance to upload pictures last night. Didn't take quite as many as I would have liked, but did get some really fun ones.

We had a great time. It was such a pleasure to spend time with the ladies that I have known since such a young age. There was lots of shopping, eating, exploring and tea. Not as much drinky-drinky as there used to be, but that is a good thing I think.

Stories and photos tonight!

Blur...

The week flew past in a blur.

Work was busy. Consultants, server conversions (when did I become an IT nerd?), deadlines and lots of phone calls from parents and the public. Teaching yoga after work got me home around 7:30 or 8 every night. Andy was equally as busy. He was up late writing staff reports and preparing for next week, which is a big one for him at work.



The new yoga classes went well. Thanks for all your kind words and encouragement!
I am thoroughly enjoying the use of my Christmas presents in class.
I have three enthusiastic 5 year olds and their mothers in my parent/child class. They make me laugh and I am looking forward to using the book, "The Giving Tree" next week to guide our practice. I love all the giggles and the excitement to pretend and make believe. When do we loose this gift? Do we keep it but just stuff it down? I wonder.... (actually been doing a lot of this kind of wondering lately... How can I bring in my imagination, playfulness and "self" back to my world every day? Working with these little humans is so good for me.)



The adult classes were both really great as well. I have groups who are not afraid to ask questions, and that is really great since I don't always know if I am making sense up there in front of the room. I have all levels and even some guys in the both the classes, which is really great. What I love most is that I leave class refreshed and re-inspired, something I hadn't expected after teaching (the inspired part, yes- the refreshed part, no).



We finally took down the tree and other holiday garb yesterday. (yes, I know. But I am not super woman and I don't have the time or the drive to always spend my weekends doing chores.) We also had a great dinner last night with friends and got to hang out with a two year old who loved Andy- I haven't seen him laugh so hard or turn that red in a long time. It was pretty cute.
Today was a sleep in day- I actaully stayed in bed until 9- a small miracle and tribute to how exhausted I am right now. It is lounge city here at the the Noodle House.

It is a short week coming up- what with tomorrow a holiday and Friday I take off from work and leave for a splendid weekend with 5 of my girls from high school. It should be a riot. We are headed to San Fran for choas , shopping and girl time. 4 of us are driving from Reno/ Nevada City and the other two are flying up from LA. I can hardly wait.
Road trips rock especially when they are with girls that you have know for so long and can be incredibly silly with.... lets hope the weather cooperates - the less snow the better.
Photos taken last April, on the beach in Cayucos, CA.
I am trying to pull from the archives, I realized how many photos I have that I need to look at again...

PS there is something fun going on. Wanna play? Check what Stacie has come up with now.

Supporting Indie

Natalie was great to listen to last night.

She had some new material (which meant that Uma*, Q and I couldn't sing along with every song like last time) and she was well received by the crowd (much larger than the last time she was in town from LA).
Which meant selling CDs and t-shirts.

The cool part about the venue where she played (Walden's Coffee House) is that they do an open mic night every Friday. Which I knew about but haven't gone to in awhile. The other cool part is that it is a coffee house, so that means all ages, no smoking, and an intimate atmosphere (sometimes really intimate when there is a full band playing).
The mic and the room was scatterd with kids, teens 20-30 somethings and your hip seniors. I love that sort of thing. It is the way music should be shared- with everyone. They also have food and beer/wine, so you can enjoy while you listen.
Having all the other open mic-ers there playing music, gives out this really great sense of support. They all know what it takes to write, play and sing their own music. I loved watching and listening to all the different styles of musician last night.

It's All In The Cards

Sometimes I just stop and think about this deck of cards I have been given called life, love and family. I think about all the queens and kings that surround me, the jokers and the wild deuces. Stopping and looking at it I realize how all those cards don't quite fit in the box nicely any more. They overflow out of the box. Some of the cards are earmarked or bent a little. Some are in pristine new condition, and others are worn smooth, broken in and easy to shuffle and deal. Some of the cards are right there in between. Some have found their pair, others are working on a full house.



And then I look down at the stack of chips on the table before me. I think about how little I started out with. There were times when there wasn't even a stack. There was only a single chip sitting on the table in front of me (and my mom). The chip sat there like a loose tooth holding onto its roots just waiting for the promise of something bigger to take its place. The anticipation and the betting, the poker faces and the holding out just long enough.. out lasting the others around us and building back the stacks slowly and steadily. All that time, holding the heart cards close at hand, because that was really what would win us the jackpot.



Over the past month we have had a party every weekend (every.single.weekend). The house has been cleaned and re-cleaned. Food has been prepared and devoured, wine has been poured and spilled. Laughter has echoed through the walls of our home filing it with memories and love.
I know that my chips are stacked high now. I know that holding out for that straight flush in hearts was all I really needed to do.
It really is all in the cards that you are dealt.
And damn, I got a good hand.

Flamingos All Around

I don't know about you, but there is something about a flamingo that just makes me smile.
Is it their color?
Or maybe it is there long neck and the graceful way they can stand on one leg, as if in a perpetual Vrksasana.
Maybe it is the thought of warmer climates and palm trees... not quite sure.

All I know is that when I opened a gift for my birthday from my dear friend Uma* I could hardly contain myself.
I mean look at these things?
I love that she used the idea of a "Christmas tree" and flip-flopped it into something so unseasonal and wonderful.
I am totally in love with these little nick-knacks right now.
They are sitting pretty in the dinning room for all to see...
Awesome.

*names have been changed to protect the innocent

Day 7--- 11*12*11

Day 7 of 11*12*11

Day 5 --- 11*12*11

Day 5 of 11*12*11

cheating...


Not cheating

Day 2---11*12*11

Day 2 of 11*12*11

Photobooth Friday and Favorites

Cell phone addition...

I really debated about posting the entire strip or just one frame at a time- but I decided this grouping needs to be shown together. I haven't been able to drag anyone into the booth with me lately, so I decided a prop was needed... ha! Cell phone you can be the bringer of so many emotions- and faces. Perfect!

I stopped off at the mall on my way home from teaching my first yoga class at Studio 1. The class was small, but great. I had people that were all beginners so we did a lot of explaining and adjusting. I love when a class just creates itself instead of me having something scripted.

I have today off! Hurray! I am headed over the hill to Truckee to visit with my godmother and have lunch. I haven't seen her in months and a visit is long over due.

Today is one of my dearest friends birthdays-
Happy Birthday Ms. Taya! I love you lots and lots and hope you have a fabu day. Miss you. Hope the gala event of the weekend is supa fun.

This day also marks the month count down to my birthday... Tomorrow the silence begins. just photos peeps from here on out for the next month. I am interested about how this will turn out...

A few favorites from this week's Flickr browsing:
t u r n, supadope
awaiting, chillimonster
untitled, ToothAndTeeth
holla, jon...

For more photobooth love and friday goodness check out the mastermind...

Oh and this is my 200th post- so first commenter will get a little goodie in the mail-e-o as a celebration prize!