One Fall Day...photos by kim

So, in order to get away from the idea that we may have a snake in our house, I decided to take Fall photos of this particular area in Chico that I drive by practically everyday. And keep thinking to myself that I need to have the camera with me, in the car, so that I can get a photo of the fall leaves and the trees.

I did that very thing. I parked in Morning Thunder's parking lot, jay walked across the street and just began snapping away. There was so much to see and photograph. I was really enjoying myself. It finally felt much like a fall day. The wind was blowing a bit, the air was cool, but not quite crisp and the sun was out. The smell of damp soil and the green, green grass of home beckoned me to come forth and partake in the tradition of foliage viewing. I did just that.

This part of the park, by Little Chico Creek, which runs throughout the town and campus, also has a lot of folks hanging out, bbqing and enjoying the canopy of trees next to the flowing creek.

I snapped away and snapped away and was just enjoying the time out, the smell of life, the sounds of technology, and the chitter, chatter of some folks hanging out at one of the picnic tables.

I came up to them and asked if I could take there photo. They were so happy to see me and kept telling me I was so nice to be talking to them. And so pretty. They were cracking me up. Apparently, these three guys, I found out, hang out together quite often. Jim has a part time job, Bob is retired and Steve is out of work. They were a true bunch of characters but oh so human. I just loved them. Jim wanted to take a photo of Steve, Bob and me. So, I let him use the camera several times until he got a shot. As the photo shows neither of the two are smiling anymore. He didn't quite have the idea down that he had to click and hold the button. But then most folks don't when trying to use our camera. So I couldn't blame him. They weren't into smiling when I was taking the photos of them either, but as soon as I got back to chatting with them, they were all smiles. All three were pretty tickled when I showed them the photos of their hands and of Bob's wrinkled face. Jim was tickled that he finally figured the camera out. They were really great men and I look forward to seeing them around town more now. I told them they had to say Hi to me if they saw me and I would most definitely do the same.

We had some good conversation about stuff. They asked about me, Michael and do I only take photos when the seasons change. Good question but I let them know I take whenever the fancy hits me. They really liked the idea that I was willing to take their picture, sit down, and hang out. I was there about an hour.

So there you have it. I run from my home because of a possible snake and then it turns out to be quite an adventure on a fine fall day, in the park, in Chico.

Snakes Alive!!!!

I am in no way a drama queen, but today apparently this side of me, that I didn't know I had just came right out of me.

I decided to work on the spare room by putting away the boxes that we were going to use to move to Portland, Oregon, but didn't end up using. And then I was going to make the bed that I sometimes sleep in, when I'm having a tough night or need the overhead fan on to keep cool. So in my scan of the room, I thought I'd make the bed first. I tossed the blankets to the ground and then began gathering the sheet bedding, but in doing so I caught something in the corner of my eye. I looked over again...And there near one of the blankets was a foot long snake skin. AAAWWWKKK! I just freaked out. My first thought is where is the snake that used to live in that skin, and secondly, I had been sleeping in that bed the last couple of nights and that just made me freak out even more.

Oh, if it had been a tarantula, I may have freaked out also, but if it had been just a plain ol' spider it wouldn't have meant much to me. Usually, they bite me in the night anyways, so I know they are out to get me. BUT a snake...???

I just detest snakes of all kinds. I don't like them in the pet stores, I don't like them in the museum, I don't even like pictures of them, and I wouldn't eat green eggs and ham with one either. They are just gross to me.

Our friend, Don, has a Boa Constrictor and I will not touch or get near her. I don't make a big deal out of it but I just won't get near her.

But wondering if there is a snake in the house is just freakin' me out and Michael, usually home, is up in Paradise working and I had to ichat with him to let him know what was happening at home.

It was pretty funny and stupid of me to be such a drama queen about it. But I am home now, after having been gone for a couple of hours, so as not to deal with the snake issue. But the spare room door is still closed and I have no idea if there is a snake in there or not.

Anyways, I told Michael that our friend, Don, needs to come over and take care of this snake, if there is one... Let's hope not.

So that is the newest, overly dramatic adventure in my day.

And Interesting Tidbit...

I was at Barnes and Noble today and then headed to the Library to return some books and pick up some new ones. I just love the smell of the library, hearing the beckoning of the books calling my name and the satisfaction of feeling these works of art in my hands, thumbing through their pages and finally making a selection that will suffice my hunger for adventure, for reality, for history, for interesting characters and for my adventure in travel.

But there was something that I read just briefly that stayed with me throughout the rest of my day.

I read the subtitle, 'Have friends replaced families?'

I remember reading it but not paying too much attention to it after the initial intake.

But realizing when I got home I was still thinking about it and as I laid in bed, I was still thinking about it.

Actually, I found it to be quite profound in thought and in question.

My initial thought to the question is a resounding yes. But then I have been having to ask why and what has changed for this to be the new found sense of community and family nucleus?

There are lots of answers to the question I'm sure but my simplistic version, as that's how I think, is that with the breakdown of families, the blending of marriages, and the enormous numbers of divorce, there is little left but with those one associates with and those one would call friends.

Also, with distance, family issues and the lack of real family connections, I think friends have definitely been placed as key roles of support, community and sense of family. Sometimes one may even dare say that one is closer to their friends than their family. There is that sense in friendship, that you can truly be yourself, share all that is in you and not feel completely judged or expectant of meeting certain sets of expectations that families do put on each of us, unbeknownst to themselves, and sometimes to the detriment of that person's make up.

In a way it's a real shame to have to answer that question that way and for it to be true. The nucleus of a family should, if at all possible, still be that place of belonging, acceptance, understanding and development/nurturing of growth and love. But unfortunately, in today's society that is not always the case. But if family is broken then the will and love of friends is a wonderful tie to have and to belong to.

Just like family or a marriage, friendships also need to come to that place of authenticity and not just be all about acceptance, but where accountability and realistic interaction of thoughts, feelings and emotions are challenging the relationship in the purest form. If it's always good, it will at some point crack and crumble and even break apart if not dealt with realistically and authentically.

So, are friends replacing families? Sure they are but not in every case. There are families that are very much intact, loving and real in their deaings with one another. Can friends be more like and replace family? They can if done in a manner that is clearly realistic.

My Husband...

We celebrated 14 years of marriage this past June and let me tell you it's been a crazy, fun, wacky and exciting ride. Oh, there are definite times when it's been hard and trying, but the cool thing is that we'd gone through it together.

I think about my relationship with Michael practically every day. I hope that's a good thing. Because he is the sweetest part of my life, and there is definitely no one else who could understand me, put up with me and spoil me all at the same time like he does!

One of the things I think about when my thoughts are toward Michael and/or our relationship is that he makes me laugh sooo much. There are too many days where my stomach aches just from his being silly, imitating me, or just being the man I love in his uninhibited ways. I just love that I am the only one who gets to see this silly side of him. Though once in awhile it will come out in tidbits to those closest to us.

The laughter doesn't come from jokes or punds or even story telling but...Oh, I don't want to give his secrets away...So I'll just say from his own personality. And what a riot he is!

It is not only the laughter that makes our marriage wonderful but the fact that he reminds me that he is mine and I am his and we are stuck with one another. And then the Seinfeld mushiness comes out...Like my swoopie, my smoopie but we have our own names for one another but I can't divulge that information. It's top secret.

And of course, there are a zillion other things that make our marriage work, endure and amazingly wonderful. I just love to love him and he loves to love me and together we will continue to grow old together until death takes us both. But until then we still have a lot of living to do together and crazy adventures to enjoy with one another and much laughter to be shared between us.

Thank you, Michael, for being my amazing husband, my lover and the other great half of this beautiful union.

I love you, Stripe.

Your Yellow.

The Things of Portland...

It's sad that we are no longer moving to Portland, Oregon. There are so many things about that area that I am going to miss. Visiting will be fun but definitely not the same.

First and foremost, for Michael, it is Stumptown Coffee or for that matter, any of the number of great coffee spots we hit the two times we visited. Thanks to Dustin for that influence! Heh!

Secondly, I was really looking forward to making Ainsworth Church our place of community. It has a small, mixed congregation with an incredible welcoming feeling and place of belonging. And the Black Gospel was to literally die for!!!!

They also have an HIV/AIDS program that the church opens their doors to every day of the week for assistance, food, counseling, companionship, medical help, etc. I was really looking forward to being a part of that wonderful program, and it would have been one way of getting my hands dirty, locally.

Thirdly, would be just the taste of a new town, new city, new state and new environment all away around. Not to mention the wonderful rainy season. There is just so much to do and there are friends that live up that way that I was looking forward to reconnecting with in person. Also there are the amazing, cheap and culturally diverse restaurants that I was looking forward to finding here and there.

I was amazed at how friendly every one was in Oregon. It definitely made me feel at home and welcomed. It beats New York City any day, hands down!!!

And then, of course, there was the living and working with Dustin and Cara with Bola Moyo. But it shall continue on without us having our hands in the cauldron. We will only do what we can, as needed.

So, we shall have new adventures and fun times when we go to visit but it will not be the same as living there. Bummer.

But I know everything will turn out for the best, in whatever means and ways that will look like. Whatever it is...I'm sure it will be full of adventure and a journey to remember.

Thanks, jesus, for taking care of us...