The Bubble Gum Inspiration

Caution: the following finds Wozzie in quite the "Emo" and reflective mood. But that's not really a bad thing.

I have heard references to the mystery of changes that happen when someone is between the ages of 28-31 and didn't give it much thought. I just assumed that it was the quarter life crisis that so many are plagued by complete with the heaviness these particular years carry. That perspective changed today when I heard/saw the term "Saturn's Return" three different times. I finally broke down and read about it and, as I did, a grin started to grace my face. I, my dear friends, have been experiencing what I now know as the Return of Saturn.

"If you're in your mid-to-late twenties or even in your early to middle thirties, you are close to the heart of your Saturn Return, and are probably feeling the crush of Saturn's black boot more than you ever have before. If everything feels like chaos, if your relationships are breaking down and you're questioning your career, your friendships, and your very life, it is likely that it's just the ripples of your Saturn Return descending."
 
So THAT'S what the holy hell has been going on in my life the past couple of years!
 
Honestly, until today I hadn't thought of this being more than just the name of a beloved No Doubt album. Turn's out the album's working title was originally announced as Magic's in the Makeup in May 1998 and later as Saturn Returns in November 1999. Lead singer Gwen Stefani was confused by her feelings of depression and interest in Sylvia Plath while recording the album. Her boyfriend turned husband, Gavin Rossdale, told her that she was going through her Saturn Return. Saturn's orbit takes 29.4 Earth years and, in astrology, the time when Saturn returns to its position during a person's birth is believed to be a period of self-evaluation. Many of the songs were written during Stefani's Saturn Return.

On the heels of my family vacation was a trip to Portland at the end of "Try Vegan Week". To end 7 days filled of lectures, cooking demos, movies, and lots and lots of yummy vegan food, Portland decided to have an 80s themed vegan prom. Did someone says 80s music, dancing, and vegan food all in one place? I'm there.

Keeping with the theme, many people dared to get dolled up in their 80s best. Some went Blues Brothers formal:

Others went Madonna-esque or Punk chic:

I took the opportunity to just get dressed up all nice and pretty like:

The food was fantastic and I got a real kick out of all the dancing. Some people brought back 80s breakdancing at its best:

Speaking of dancing...my feet sure did hurt. But the shoes were just too cute to take off:

The official name of the evening was Purple Rain. Oh how I lurrrrve Prince and the Revolution:

Needless to say, the last song of the night was the aforementioned Prince masterpiece. It turned out to be the only slow song of the evening and happened to be the first slow dance for Roger and me. Thank goodness we already have a "song" or else Purple Rain would now be it!

The night was so much fun and we didn't even get our feathers all in a ruffle when we spent an extra half hour driving back to our cute little B&B. (Curses to you Google maps!). We spent the night at the Bluebird Guesthouse in the Sherman Alexie. I'd never stayed in a bed and breakfast before and it really kicked the pants of a hotel in terms of fun and charm!

The next day was a trip to Veganopolis for lunch and a trip to the mecca known as Powell's Bookstore. I managed to get out of there with only one book in hand! Trust me, that was an amazing feat! The drive home was easy and the evening snuggle with the kitties topped it all off just right.

I'm taking a small break from filling you in on my vacation excursions to just bask in what is known as the Summer Solstice. I am so excited that summer is OFFICIALLY here and that the sun is out warming the world today. I've been wondering what sort of things this summer will bring and am excited at all the possibilities. Fresh fruit, running through sprinklers, ice cream cones at 10 p.m.

This summer I'm commited to spending A LOT of time outdoors. More time out with Lily (my beautiful bike), more walks about town, more trips to the farmer's market, more hikes, more happiness. I'm especially looking forward to the prospect of heading to the coast and burying my feet in the sand while looking out into the ocean. 

So many possibilities begin today. What are some of yours? 

It seems like if there is almost one thing I can count on when spending time with my Grams (besides fresh tortillas) is that, if given the chance, we will be heading to the nearest ching! ching! This trip was, of course, no exception to that rule! After a long day at the ball field, we were planning an early morning wake up call to head to Louisiana bright and early the next day. The time change was killing me but hey, I could sleep anytime so why waste vacation time, right?

Two cars geared up Monday morning to go to L'Auberge de Luc in Lake Charles. I must admit that after living near Vegas for 4 years I'm not all the keen on these places but this one was actually quite pleasant. And when Grams sets you up with gambling cash, it's a lot of fun! My favorite slot machine of the day was this one:

I'm a sucker for any and all things hound related but this one was too perfect! Everytime I would spin the reels I would shout "Go Chabbies!" which of course was in reference to my beloved (and newly deceased *sniff sniff*) hound dog, Charlotte.

But serioulsy, doesn't this:

Have an uncanny resemblance to this:

You see it now, don't you?

Papo and Potsy were the big winners of the day and Grams was happy with her slot side Amaretto Sours. As for Aunt Dee, Diane, Dave, Maria and I, well, lucky we still have day jobs! 

Stay tuned for more. Next stop, Pecan Country. 

Last Saturday morning I was up and heading to the airport by 5 a.m. My 6:15 flight to Salt Lake City was quick, comfortable and I was so excited that in just a few hours I'd be seeing my family; most of which I hadn't seen in over a year. When I got off the plane in Houston, I noticed Dave waiting for me first with Maria and Papo not too far behind; I cried when I saw them. Cried because it had been so long. Cried because I love them so much. Cried because without my family I'd never have made it through these past 7 months.

We headed first to my cousin Jaclyn's graduation party. Due to the hour delay I had in SLC, I missed the majority of the party and they were already cleaning things up by the time I arrived. But I was so touched that so many of my relatives stayed until I got there. I hadn't been to Texas in almost 10 years and while on the plane I realized that my last trip to Texas was after losing my grandfather and that this trip was being made after losing another important man in my life. Something about Texas is like going home to somewhere safe. I hope I don't wait another 10 years and I definitely hope it's not in the wake of something painful again.

Saturday night was a lot of hanging out and being generally exhausted from traveling but the next day was time to see the family's favorite baseball team in action! This was my first time at the famous Juice Box.

The clouds were swelling as we neared the stadium. Lucky for us Minute Maid Stadium has a retractable roof to keep out rain and it's air conditioned to keep us cool in the sweltering Texas heat!

Here it is!

Score!!

Pop sports the jersey of the best team around:

Dave and I toasted with special Astros brew:

Here's my gorgeous cousin Jaclyn (congrats on graduating!!) and her sweetie, Jason:

After the game we did a little shopping. Can't leave town without the proper attire. And of course a few more photo opps before leaving.

Here's Pop and Potsy a.k.a. Danny D:

And here's me with my favorite Astro of all time. Wozzie hearts Craig Biggio!

Stay tuned for more Texas Homecoming! 

But this time it's different. This time it's with someone I've known my whole life. This time it's with someone who knows me inside and out. This time it's with someone who promises to stand by me through the thick and thin. This time it's with someone I've overlooked and taken for granted for way too long.

This time...it's me. And that feels good.

Speaking of love, I'm leaving on Saturday morning for a short trip to see my family. I haven't seen most of them in over a year and that is WAY too long. This will be the first time I've seen them since my world turned upside down. I'm in need of hugs and they are just the ones to give them. Stay tuned for pictures of the adventure that is called my family.

Well, I guess there has to be balance to everything and a city I've found so much good in had to bring me a dose of reality sooner or later.  As I got in the Kitty Cruiser yesterday, excited about seeing the much anticipated Sex and the City movie, I noticed things in my car had been moved around. Sunglasses and lucky stone on the driver's seat, and then I noticed the big gap where my iPod used to sit. It was gone. Simply gone and I began to cry. 

I came from a town where you didn't have to worry about something like this. Shoot, the entire time I lived in Kanab I didn't even have a key to my house; the doors were always unlocked and I never gave it a second thought. But just outside my house here was where something of mine was taken and I hate that feeling. I hate that it happened, I hate how it feels that a stranger took something of mine and was in my car for a brief period of time. The feeling of invasion isn't one that I'll likely grow comfortable with.

What bothers me most is that the iPod was a gift. Someone cared about me enough to give me something and someone else had total disregard for that and took it away. 

So there you have it. The iPod that carried all the music on it that my brother took the time to send me is gone. The same music that is mostly gone after the post office lost and/or damaged the majority of the media I mailed out here to Oregon because I thought it would be safer. My heart is heavy and I won't be hearing music anytime soon and if you know me, you realize how much that sucks.