Taking the Long Way 'Round

Random Musings about Barbados and such

2011-04-29T20:02:00.000-07:00

Though I love to travel, I don't particularly like airplanes. Not that I have a fear of flying at all--more so I am incredibly claustrophobic, am sensitive to gross body odors, tend to get restless and bored easily, and despise mundane conversations with complete strangers...especially those who think stories of their close encounter with a 6-inch fish in the ocean holds any excitement for me. Listen, unless I've known you for more than 5 minutes, or you're a good-looking single male, please refrain from talking to me on planes. Can I sound anymore stuck-up? Insert smiley/winkey face.
Okay, so this isn't just a rant about dull people on planes...I actually have a point. I recently returned home from Barbados. I didn't even know where it was when the idea to go was first presented. I said to one of my friends, "I wish I could speak Spanish for this trip." Right, they speak English there, as my friend so kindly told me, promptly after he laughed at me. That was inspiring enough to look it up. A tiny island in the Caribbean, it's actually the only one that's not volcanic. Hmm...I should've used that as a retort to boring-close-encounter-with-6-inch-fish lady... In all honesty, the teeny island country has a pretty interesting history....which I won't go into now. Instead, here's a wee visual synopsis of my trip:

Soup Bowl. This was the view from where we were staying in Bathsheba.

This little guy is Spice. That's right, the monkey's name is Spice...and he lived up to his name...crazy little devil. Too bad you can't see the earring in his left ear in this photo.

And here we have my brother, in all his moooostached glory, and our friend Snake.

The water...amazing. I have an issue I like to call arctic-aqua phobia. Barbados put that phobia to rest, and then some. Paradisiacally glorious.

This is where we surfed. I know, it doesn't look like much, but it was fun.

Us, in the little lego of a car we rented.

Future Me=Curator of Art/Historic Objects

2010-10-13T10:06:00.000-07:00

Never thought I'd live to see the day, but I have a career path. I'm working toward becoming a curator at a museum. A lot of you have asked me recently what exactly a curator does. An article in the Princeton Review on a Day in the Life of a Curator explains it well.

Oh ya, my blog!

2010-09-25T12:26:00.001-07:00

Travel is not in the cards for me right now. Nor has it been for months. Due to the wretched economy destroying any hopes of getting my dream job, I'm stuck in this bloody country for a while. So, instead, I make excitement of the U.S....more specifically, I make excitement of towns no more than 20 miles from home...So. Cal style.
Living at home until my job situation gets better, I've been surrounded by kids nonstop. My life currently consists of a lot of slug bug and Spongebob. Apart from that, though, I've managed to squeeze in some classic southern California activity.
Disneyland, surfing, Laguna Beach, wedding receptions, birthdays, graduations, the OC fair, entertaining family in town, L.A. days, Angels games, more surfing, and just simple hanging out with friends. Here's a montage:

These next two photos deserve their own explanation. Here you see me with two legendary surfers. I'm currently working one day a week for the Surfing Heritage Foundation in San Clemente. It's basically a surf history museum, and is pretty awesome. I get to help with a lot of events, and have met some pretty famous people in the surf industry. These two pics were taken at the Sacred Craft convention in San Diego (a huge surf expo).

This guy is Paul Strauch. He surfed in Hawaii with Duke Kahanamoku, back when surfing was just starting to take off. Nicest (and smiley-est) guy I've ever met. http://files.legendarysurfers.com/surf/legends/lsc301_duketeam.html

(I hate that my eyes are closed in this pic) This is Robert Weaver, known to most as Wingnut. He starred in the movie 'Endless Summer 2', and is almost 60 now...and still a handsome devil!
http://www.surfermag.com/magazine/archivedissues/intervwwingnut/

As of late...

2010-06-27T12:33:00.000-07:00

I've:
Moved back to CA
Got a new phone
Reunited with my dear friend the ocean
Lived in a tent
Applied for a gazillion museum jobs
Had three interviews
Considered moving to San Diego
Considered moving to Los Angeles
Considered moving to Washington, Utah, Spain
Obsessed over the World Cup
Finally bought a globe
Filled my life with nieces/nephews, and a lot of Spongebob
Lost a good friend
Gained 4 new friends
Said goodbye to my brother as he left for deployment
Wondered and prayed about where I should really be
Wondered how, with all this gypsy blood running through my veins, I'm considering settling down somewhere.

A life less ordinary, no doubt.
Something exciting to come...

M R Ducks

2010-05-13T15:40:00.001-07:00

This post is dedicated to Holly, who has roots in Georgia, and does the best fake southern accent I've ever heard.

You can't help but grow fond of southern charm. I'm leaving North Carolina in a week, and, though I won't miss the abnormally large crickets that I could likely saddle up and ride, I'm going to miss this place. Without further ado, here's my tribute to North Carolina.

Ole is what you put in your car when it's gone drah.
Any worry can be fixed up raht with a piece of Mama's pah.
Talkin' 'bout a pacific thing has nuthin' to do with the sea,
but when you say "specific" they're not shore what you mean.
They'll call you honey and darlin', and purty young thang,
but it don't mean nuthin', cuz they're all wearin' a ring.
Their "pocketbook" is called a purse in the west,
and in the springtime that pollen won't give you no rest.
A church-goin people, most are set in their ways
and believe in the legends told since colonial days.
My friend says, "Mah mama and mah daddeh, they've raised me up raht."
Fed her baar-b-cue, mashed taters, and nanner puddin' each naht.
But wanna quick bite? Go fer a Bojangles plate.
Want sumthin' healthy...
Hellthy? Honey, you in the wrong state.
Still, give me humidity and green, stately pines.
James Taylor knew raht with Carolina on his mind.

THEEEE EEEENNNDDD

Ya, not much to do at work with only a week left....hence a lovely NC poem.

WELL HOWDY-DO! North Carolina, I luuuhhvv you!!

...and the grass grows by itself

2010-04-26T15:01:00.000-07:00

Spring, as they say, has sprung! Flowers, twitterpation, chirpy birds, and sunshine...enter Spring Fever. There're two things I know for sure: 1) Spring Fever is waaay better than Bieber Fever, and 2) the South knows how to do Spring.
Granted, most of it is taken care of by Miss Mother Nature, but I've gotta give top marks to the people and their gardens as well. This was taken around the corner from my house. It's okay, you can be jealous.
If you visit NC, I highly recommend a springtime visit.
Most of these were taken at Duke Gardens in Durham.
This view was breathtaking in person. It's so very Anne of Green Gables to me. People were picnicking all over the park. It was incredibly charming and, I daresay, romantic. Perfect backdrop for a picnic.

I spied this dapper fellow out of the corner of my eye, and couldn't stop smiling. He won my heart for a second.
So then, to recap, North Carolina in the Spring=
Flowers and trees like this,
clouds and skies like this,

and recreation (aka awesome fun) like this.
It's gonna be rough to leave in a month.

Land of Milk and Honey

2010-04-10T10:10:00.000-07:00

I have an addiction. I'm a honey-holic (if that's even a word). Actually, I've come to the conclusion that I'm part bear. I love the water, raw fish, big hugs, climbing trees, eating people's left-overs, nature, berries of any kind, taking reeaally long naps (I swear I was about to go into hibernation when I lived in Utah for 3 months), and, well, honey. I've been called a honey bear before...and no, this is not because of an uncanny resemblance to Winnie the Pooh---not quite a tubby little cubby.
I'm ashamed to admit that, though this is not a recent development, my honey obsession has gotten worse. I went through a 22 oz Mason jar of honey in a week and a 1/2 recently. Eaten on top of everything from bread to strawberries, and by the spoonful too. But I'll make this for your benefit.

The best honey, and the best places to buy it...and trust me, I'd know. I'm no 'honey is honey' girl. I'm a connoisseur. So, first and foremost, good honey DOES NOT come from a grocery store. Ever. Those honey bears have crap for contents.
Most good honey is found at local farmer's markets, because the best honey isn't shipped from across the country, but is found in your own backyard, wherever that may be. Local grown honey is going to taste the best, and actually has benefits on your immune system, skin, and hair...AND helps with allergies and colds.
Then there are the different types. Depending on the plants the bees feed on, honey has different color, taste, and texture. My favorite is dark avocado honey....obviously from avocado tree pollen.
Thus far, the best honey I've had came from the Andes Mountains in Peru. That went fast.
Okay, I'm done being your National Geographic informant for now.
The End.

"and I miiiss you, I'm going back home to the weeest coast."

2010-04-04T13:51:00.000-07:00

If any of you have ever gone through grad school, you understand the toll it takes on a person. Raised stress levels, diminished social life, nail biting hours waiting for papers or tests to be returned from teachers, constant reading of boring school books, the sometimes even lack of personal hygiene (not that that's ever happened to me). I just finished grad school, and for a while didn't quite know what to do with myself. And being away from home for an internship, I don't have much of a social network...hence no welcome distraction of friends. So, I've decided to make up for lost time.
I read. A lot. My bookmarks are mostly a collection of clothing tags. They work great for bookmarks.
NC Lit list, so far: Animal Farm, The Good Earth, Book Thief, Harry Potter 7, Scarlet Letter, Old Man and the Sea, Secret Life of Bees, Screwtape Letters, Of Mice and Men. Like I said, making up for lost time. (I'm really not that pathetic. I've made friends, they just happen to all be married...Books are my best friend...at least for the next month and 1/2 until I leave.)
Currently working on 'The Vagabonds'.
And projects...here are my Easter weekend projects:
I like how they turned out.

And I've got a list of places out here that I need to hit before I leave. And some that I've already done.
There's this little beauty. Raleigh, NC LDS temple. The sky was really that blue. That night was gorgeous.Went to a professional soccer game...Carolina Railhawks vs. some Canadian team...Montreal something. I love live soccer games. Nowhere else are you allowed to be completely biased, judgmental, prejudice, and ruthless in tongue-wagging than at a soccer match (or any sporting event, for that matter). My favorite of the night was this little ditty, sung to the tune of 'The Farmer in the Dell':
AMERICA'S HAT, AMERICA'S HAT, OOOHHH CANADA'S AMERICA'S HAT!!

Still, I'm craving In-N-Out, and miss the surf. I miss the ocean a lot...I'm 3 hours away from it here, so I do this, and am pacified:

Ya, that's a conch shell.

Today, I Love NC

2010-03-26T13:05:00.000-07:00

City Market=coolest little market in the Raleigh...nay, in the south....why not, coolest in the continental United States.
Take a little jaunt through Moore park, and you'll run into a section in downtown Raleigh called the City Market. This pic is doctored a bit. More apropos this way. Big heart from me to this pic.

Love this door, and the reflection in the window. Cute couple.

Much of downtown could be considered 'rustic', but this area wins. Granted, I love red stuff. So, naturally, the area already had top points in color.
Cobblestone road lay around the whole market, bringing it out of downtown and into its own little world.

To me it was just a bit nut.
This was supposedly some kind of symbol of the 'dawning of each new year.' Why they chose a giant acorn is beyond me (I'm gonna build a statue next to it of a giant squirrel to symbolize the closing of each year).
Before I walked away from my love affair with the City Market, I ate lunch at one of the perfectly charming little diners. Had some mashed taters and nanner puddin', in true southern fashion.

Scenic Route

2010-03-13T19:33:00.001-08:00

Some of you may know that I have a terrible sense of direction. So, not surprisingly, tonight I got lost. Guh.
9:30 at night, driving home from somewhere half hour away, and missed my exit off the fwy. Then, in an effort to backtrack, I somehow ended up on another eff-way (as they are so affectionately known to me when I'm lost), and that was that.
I ended up on a long, dark, lonely highway...Looked a little something like this:
No streetlights....or lights of any kind, other than my headlights.....anywhere. I could've sworn I'd seen a horror movie just like this.
After ten minutes on this road (and my gas getting low) I had a mild surge of panic run through me. Even if I had someone to call, how would I tell them where I was? 'Uh, ya, I'm just passing a huge tree...there's another one...and there went one a bit smaller.'
Finally I popped out onto a familiar road....
And drove another 5 minutes in the wrong direction before realizing it and turning around.
Damn you North Carolina.

NC Lately

2010-02-28T12:37:00.000-08:00

So this is my museum. Well, obviously it's not mine, but it's the one I'll be working at until June. It's awesome.
The Science Museum is directly across from us. Here's a snippet of what you'll see in there: They even have a live butterfly exhibit.

And here's a quick jaunt down Fayetteville St., one of the cool little streets downtown. Cool, old houses like this one are all over the place in Raleigh. Makes me nostalgic for a time I never knew.

Post office...I think. Anyway, a cool shot, if I do say so myself. These are two of the tallest buildings in the downtown area of Raleigh, NC. Notice they're not really skyscrapers, as you know them in some of the bigger cities. Apparently, instead of building their capitol city Up, they built Out. The Raleigh area is pretty big, but downtown is small.

Just a random alley between two of the buildings. Here's another random one. A weird shot of the buildings down Fayetteville St.

Okay, here's the good stuff. A Vietnam War memorial statue, next to what they call the Old State House.
And here's the Old State House. It was the Legislative building back in the 1800's. Made with granite hauled from a quarry in southeastern Raleigh with horse-drawn rail-cars, it's a sturdy building.
Side shot. Front shot. The statue is of the three presidents North Carolina gave the country: James K. Polk, Andrew Jackson, and Andrew Johnson.
It's built around a domed rotunda...you can't see it from these angles. During the Civil War, confederate troops used it as a station to see enemies from afar off, and to relay signals. One of the Lieutenants, while attempting to set up his station atop the building, fell through the skylight of the dome, and was saved from a 97 ft fall by the wire mesh that supported the shape. Apparently, through this hole is where soldiers entered the building, and an Ohio soldier stole the state's copy of the Bill of Rights, that was only recently returned to the state. Cool story, Hansel.

And thus far, this is my favorite place for the weekends.
It's called Raleighwood. Kind of like a dinner theater, but with a film instead of a stage show. They have menus with burgers, nachos, and that kind of trashy/delicious food. They've set it up with nice, cozy office-style chairs, and little faux-granite tables. The movies are ones that have been out for a while (think dollar theater movies), so the ticket is cheap. The dinner is where your wallet will empty. There are waiters/waitresses, so you're expected to tip as well. Still, it was a cool atmosphere, and I would say worth the $4.50 I spent on that hot chocolate.

That's my NC update for now.
Thank you and goodnight.

Taste-Worthy Travel

2010-02-12T16:15:00.000-08:00

I just made some most delicious cookies--North Carolina style. I'm in North Carolina for a temporary period of time for an internship, and thus consider myself a long-term tourist. As such, I feel obligated to experience touristy things. Mainly the food. The south is known for its BBQ pork, which I've had, and ya, it's good, but what I can't get off my mind are these little dark chocolate ginger cookies I bought at a gift shop.
I made my own version tonight...and can die happy now.
But it spurred some thoughts of the best food I've had in all the places I've been. Here's a list. If you go to any of these places, try these things.

Oahu, Hawaii: Matsumoto's Shave Ice in Haleiwa...try the Lilikoi flavor with ice-cream on the bottom.
Giovanni's Shrimp Truck in Kahuku...the shrimp scampi plate is to die for.

New York: Magnolia Bakery in Greenwich Village...it's famous for its cupcakes, but the real winner here is the banana pudding.
Also, I don't even like hot dogs, but couldn't get enough of the hot dog stands. Those dogs were goood. Find a cart that has hot nuts too.

Santa Cruz, California: All about the clam chowder in a bread bowl at the wharf. I've eaten clam chowder in a bread bowl in nearly every fisherman's wharf I've been to. For some reason, Santa Cruz had the best chowder.

Costa Rica: The food here was super good. Sushi was fresh and delicious at Tsunami Sushi, and the fried plantains were pretty tasty anywhere you go. My favorite place though was the Taco Bar in Jaco. The food was good, but the atmosphere was the best. We sat on little jungle swings in an outside bar to eat our food.

England: My dad's British, so I grew up on bangers & mash, shepherd's pie, and beans on toast. I'm a lover of black licorice and vinegar and gravy on everything. Despite all this, I don't have the fondest memories of British cuisine. One thing I did love, however, was Banoffee Pie.
It's made with bananas, toffee, whipped cream, and a graham cracker crust. Pretty amazing.

Peru: This one's hard, 'cause I ate so many good things here. The cheese was weird, squeaky and salty, but really good. The pizza at Paddy's Irish Pub in Plaza de Armas, Cusco was awesome. The coca tea (mate de coca) was delicious (and really did help with altitude issues). I'll say my favorite thing though, that I still think about, was the Lucuma ice-cream.
This is Lucuma fruit.
This is the ice-cream version of it. Salivating.....

Let's see, what else. I'll leave Singapore and Taiwan out of this, since the only things I even remember from those places were the rooster, cooked with beak and all, and the fish with head still intact, all teethy and gross.

And I can't remember eating anything note-worthy from any of the other states I've been to. So I'll leave you with what you have. And now I need more chocolate ginger cookies. Goodnight.

Road-trip USA #4

2010-01-31T13:20:00.001-08:00

NOTE***This is the last of a series of 4 entries. The first one is called 'At Long Last...something something'. Go read that first.***
So we made it to North Carolina safe and sound, minus a cracked windshield, and a couple of sore bums from all the sitting.
The Outer Banks was our next feat. 3 hours away from where I live now. We made the trek on
Day 5 (that's right, day 4 was spent re-cooping and building stamina for another long drive).
The drive to the OBX (local lingo, I'm in with the in-crowd) was pretty awesome. Lot's of random trees that went forever, old run-down houses, and one special little place called Mackey 's Fe r r y Pe anuts. Oh the beauty and joy of that place.
If you ever make the drive from Raleigh to the OuterBanks, STOP AT THIS PLACE. (This sign said Peanut Lover parking. haha. We got Lover parking)
It's no Toto's Tacos, but on an entirely different level, this place was WORTH THE STOP. I guess it's a southern thing to boil peanuts (they pronounce it boled peanuts)...we tried some. SOO good. And bought ourselves a bag. As well as dark chocolate covered pralines (A-MAZING) and peanut brittle and other such heart-happy foods. Yum. And we were happy.
The drive continued for another hour and a half-ish, until we came to a series of bridges. This was slightly creepy, 'cause the fog had rolled in and you couldn't see the other side of the bridge. Just ocean on both sides and fog. (I sepia'd this one, 'cause it looks cool like that).
When we finally got there, we were overjoyed to see the ocean waves crashing on the shore. We'd driven from coast to coast! We're awesome.
So here's a sneak-peak at the Outer Banks. A really cool place.
Bodie Lighthouse
Lovely little gas station, that was so appropriate for me.

Rodanthe
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse We ate dinner at this little joint (recommended by the Barefoot gas station people) called Finnegan's. Massive burgers. Delicious, but massive. It had the atmosphere of a diner from the old days...thus, the we waited forever for our food, and did this to pass the time. Overall, a fabulous experience and fabulous day.
Fabulous trip. I highly recommend it. THE END.

Road-trip USA #3

2010-01-31T12:53:00.001-08:00

NOTE***This is the third of a series of entries. The first one is called 'At Long Last...something something'. Go read that first.***

I failed to mention in the last entry that we actually did go through Indiana as well (that's where that Santa Claus sign was). I can't seem to find the photo for the state sign though. Maybe K has that one too.
Anyhooooo, on with it.
Still Day 3....we'd just passed into Kentucky....ye 'ol birthplace of Abraham Lincoln. And I though I needed room for the Louisville pics, but I actually only have 3. Cool city though.
Soon thereafter, we crossed into West Virginia, and by this time, we were trying to book it to North Carolina as quick as we could, so we didn't have to stay in another motel. We crossed over Virginia, which sprung itself on us without warning (came out of a big tunnel, and there was the sign)...needless to say, we missed the photo opp. on that one. We knew NC was coming, and we both got all nervous for the sign. Finally, there it was, in all its glory.
I think I'm actually IN this picture....somewhere...
We made it to the house around 11:45 p.m. ...and crashed.
To Be Continued....

Road Trip USA entry #2

2010-01-29T14:21:00.000-08:00

NOTE***This is the second of a series of entries. The first one is called 'At Long Last...something something'. Go read that first.***
Okay, continuing on...
After the AMAZING Toto's Tacoz, we continued on our way...across the country. Finally, after much groaning about how long Kans-assss was, and a newly cracked windshield (curse them flying rocks) we saw this:
The sweet, sweet sign of civilization. Skyscrapers. Blessed be that Kansas City..... I LOVE this picture.

And not long after, we crossed into Missouri! And both let out a sigh of relief. We stayed with my friend and her husband in St. Louis that night (Thanks Danelle!). They showed us around town as best they could, and we left early the next morning.

Day 3: Friday, January 15
We started the morning off...worn out already from driving...and quicker than expected, crossed the Illinois state line...but mine photo's crap, 'cause it was 6:45 in the a.m. ...you can't even see the sign, so this is what it should have looked like (got it on the good 'ol interweb).

Illinois was a quick jaunt of stuff like this: Quaint li ttle house, no?
Funny signs like this one, and lots of trees like these.

And then this:
Can you see that? Those are bats. Effing bats! You know how I know? Because this was the birds, not 30 minutes later when the sun finally rose completely...
Those birds reminded me of ants. So organized. Especially after those chaotic bats.

And then we hit Kentucky.... which will be saved for the next post...'cause Louisville was Awesome, and I need room.

At Long Last....the Cross-Country Drive

2010-01-29T11:27:00.000-08:00

I'm gonna break this up into a few posts.
We were in southern CA for New Year's, saw the ocean, then drove to Utah. Two weeks in Utah, loaded all my crap into my little Chevy Tracker, and started the drive across the country.
Day 1:
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
We woke up at 5:45ish, left by 6ish (give or take an 'ish'). On our way. Oh, by the way, it was me and Red K. Good friend since childhood.
These pics are gonna be a bit out of their proper order, 'cuz K can't get the ones on her camera to me yet. I'll add them later.
Drove up through Wyoming (a mistake made by following a AAA trip-tik...wasn't too bad though. Pretty snowy mountains, and actually saved us some time), and made our way down to Colorado. My mini-suv was packed...to the very brim. Barely a sliver of sight out the back window; passenger seat was at a 45 degree angle forward. And poor K, when she drove, her knees hit the underside of the steering wheel. A decision was made. We stopped in Denver, about 8 hours from our starting point. Found the Amtrak station, and shipped 3 big boxes full of my crap...yes, by that time, it was crap in both our minds....it was almost chucked out the windows with no regard. (Plug for Amtrak shipping. Cost me a mere $80 to ship 130lbs of junk across the country. Not bad, comparing to a $1,200 truck rental).
The drive was so much more pleasant after that. And we were suddenly in better moods when we crossed the Kansas border.
K and me at the Kansas border sign.

We stopped in a little down called Goodland. Isnt' that cute? Goodland, Kansas. I wouldn't say it lived up to its name or anything, but still, there was some sort of comfort in that name...and in the Motel 6 we stayed in.

Day 2:
Thursday, January 14
driving driving driving....

Kansas was pretty awesome, despite what some may think.
Check out this sunrise... Pretty, huh? Lots of long, flatness in Kansas. Plains plains plains. So, in return, there was a lot of this kind of randomness:

And lots and lots of this:

And these:

Every time we saw one of these, K would yell, "MONSTER!!" And every time, I would almost crash the car 'cause she scared me.
So, Kansas continued. FOREVER. Seriously, we felt like we were in Kansas forever. People would call to get an update and go, 'You're STILL in Kansas?' Look at a map. It's a pretty long state to drive across the middle of. As such, we got bored...UNTIL....
Signs for A: Alma Creamery
B: Wizard of Oz Museum
Huzzah! At least some sort of excitement.

Alma. Cutest, most random little town. But the creamery had some excellent Jalapeno squeaky cheese, that served as an awesome little road-trip treat.And K's face when we got there. This girl loves her dairy. I should buy her a cow.

Oz Museum ...$7.... Although pretty cool to say, "I've been to the Oz Museum in Kansas," unless you're a major Oz enthusiast, it was kind of a waste of ten minutes.

On the other hand, this little taco shack next door...Toto's Tacoz....was OZSOME...pardon the pun.
Not sure if it was just 'cause I was so hungry, but those beefy little tacos were quite possibly the best things I've ever eaten. So, if you're ever driving through Kansas, and see signs for the Oz Museum, GO. For the tacos alone. You won't be disappointed. Man, it's making me hungry.

To be continued.....

If you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there...

2010-01-10T11:40:00.000-08:00

From here on out, this blog is going to live up to its url.

Indigenous Vagabond.

Welcome, Twenty Ten...

I’ve lived in Hawaii, California (northern and southern), Wyoming, and Utah. Come January 18, I’ll have lived in three different states within 5 months (CA, UT, NC). Everything I own fits in my car. I’ve traveled to Singapore, Taiwan, England, Costa Rica, Peru, and Mexico (it counts), as well as Oregon, Washington, Nevada, New York, Florida, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and New Jersey. If I had more moola, I’d have been to a lot more places. As possessions go, I am most fond of my camping gear and my books.

Having just been on the coast in California for New Year’s, I took a brief hiatus in Utah, and am now on my way across the U.S. to North Carolina. Ultimate road-trip….driving from coast to coast. My partner in crime, Red K, and I are making necessary random stops.

NECESSARY RANDOM=places people see on the roadside that look weird or interesting, but no one actually stops to get a closer look.

In short, I’m one that loves discovery, intrigue, and change.

Get ready to live.

I have a crush

2009-12-22T11:49:00.000-08:00

on Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

What's funny is, Heath Ledger used to be my movie-star crush. I never thought I was the type to get 'star struck', but I was really sad when Heath died. When I saw an article for 500 Days of Summer, I had to double-take the photos that accompanied it. Joseph looked like Heath.

Now tell me, is there anyone else out there that has the Heath Ledger/Joseph Gordon-Levitt charm? If so, I'm single and already love you.

A Basement Christmas...

2009-12-14T00:00:00.001-08:00

My roommate and I don't have a Christmas tree, but we do have a green chair.
Christmas Cheer....I mean Chair.

Appropriate for the holidays, don't you think?

Say Hello to the newest soon-to-be resident of Raleigh, North Carolina.

2009-12-08T18:53:00.001-08:00

As I say goodbye to this blasted Utah snow.
More to come...

Leaves, Pioneers, and Zoobies

2009-10-18T22:36:00.000-07:00

So not only is this my first experience ever with the blessed season called *Fall*, which is apparently a Utah favorite...and a new found favorite of mine, but I have also been exposed to some amazing phrases indigenous to the state as well.
First of all, I met a guy tonight...we were having a delightful conversation...then somehow the conversation took an ugly turn. Suddenly, without realizing it, we were talking about 'Pioneer Stock'. I laughed at first...because I've never heard the phrase, and could only assume it was a joke. Come to find out, Pioneer Stock is an official phrase in Utah, and some people won't date you based on the fact that you AREN'T from this so-called 'Pioneer Stock'. eeewwww. I was disturbed, to say the least....but am thinking I may need to invest in this stock, if I want a future with a good solid Gomer Pile mormon man. That's a man's man, I'd say.

Are these your ancestors? If not, you are of no worth dating-wise.

Here's another favorite. Zoobie. What, you may ask, is a Zoobie? I asked the same, and was answered with a sort-of dance routine with goofy voices and ridiculous phrases as an explanation. Apparently this species of person thrives in Provo. I can't wait to see one in real life.

URBAN DICTIONARY DEFINITION:

1.	zoobie	172 up, 29 down
	A term used in Utah, mainly Utah Valley, to describe the excited bunch of mormons that go to BYU and engage in excessive social activities. It's a very common usage here. I was awoken late at night with chanting by who could only be the Zoobies, exclaiming in chorus that they were to, "Paint the Y! Let's Paint the Y!"

You know that, obviously, the thumbs down on the rating scale are coming from said Zoobies.

And once again, I love Utah.
Surprises me daily. And this smile has not yet left my face, whether of the sheer beauty, or the sheer abnormal hilarity of the place.
And my brother just said, "Come again?" He's been here too long.

Gypsy Endeavor #36--take 2---

2009-10-01T19:14:00.000-07:00

I've started using the phrase 'Good Heavens' and I'm working on picking up 'Gads' and 'fer cute' also. For now, here are some more photos.

Look closely at the vehicle being filled with gas outside the car door. Yes my friends, that's a tractor. That made me so happy. Utah is a video scavenger hunt of goodness.

Like this next photo, for example:

You know what I say to this? Oh Good Heavens.

This next one is me trying to touch a cow....that I was kind of afraid of....Fer cute, right? :)
SO then, on to my next matter of business....General Conference is this weekend....WHO'S IN FOR BINGO???

Gypsy Endeavor #36

2009-09-16T11:00:00.000-07:00

Departing from: Huntington Beach, CA

Destination: Salt Lake City, UT

Departure time: 5am

ETA: 3pm

ATA (actual TA): 3ish pm

Total drive time: Roughly 10 hours…including brief stop at Del Taco, two petrol fill-ups, 5 pee-stops, and one arbitrary running amuck in a golf-course.

The Plan: Earning my keep as a guitar and voice instructor for Sounds of Music studios. Finishing my thesis. Visiting my sister in Twin Falls often. Training myself to do the splits.

Already Weird: There is an LDS church on every corner, and I swear I drove by an area that had three in a row, with maybe two or three houses in between each. Supposedly it’s ‘necessary’, but it kinda freaked me out.

Day 1: Rained all day. I live in a basement. My brother has my car. Stranded.

Day 2: I’ve come to realize that “basement” is a modern word for dungeon. But at least it’s a nice dungeon…not to mention FREE, and comes with a cool roommate…namely cousin Brittany.

In other news, I feel like a foreigner. People give me directions using strange numbers and code words (point of the mountain? near the canyon? I’m sorry, but there are 15 mountains in my immediate view, and at least 10 canyons. Please specify for the out-of-towner).

I couldn't help myself on this one.
Man taking a nap in his car in a public parking lot. It's normal. And yes, I took a picture of him...which is also normal.

Priceless. Probably my relatives.
Random tractor...next to a very random golf course...next to the highway.
Oh Utah, I'm so fond of thee already.

500 Days of Zooey

2009-07-28T08:18:00.000-07:00

It hasn't quite been that long, but I blogged about Zooey Deschanel on March 1, 2008...so almost 500 days...kind of. Anyway, with her recent rise in popularity, I thought it appropriate for that old blog to be revisited. Here you are:

http://indigenousvagabond.blogspot.com/2008/03/i-love-zooey-deschanel.html

Take a gander...it won't disappoint.

And if you haven't seen 500 Days of Summer, go see it. I exhort you. It's sooo good.
Here's a trailer for it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsD0NpFSADM

Ridin' through the city on my bike all day 'cuz the filth took away my license...

2009-06-27T22:42:00.001-07:00

I bought a bike. She's so pretty. Ordered it online, and it came in a ginormous box yesterday. I was a bit overzealous and pulled everything out of the box, then didn't know what to do with myself after that. Of course, I coaxed a boy into putting it together for brownies. I have to give total assembly credit to Jayson. The bike was kind of a terror to put together, and he put a lot of time into it to make sure it came out smokin' hot. Thanks J.
Baby pictures. In bits and pieces.

Slowly coming together. Isn't she a dream?

I love this picture. Not only does it show brotherly love, but check out the shine on those handlebars!

As these boys so obviously show, this bike was made for me. They look so awkward on it, while I look just right. Question is, why didn't I get one years ago?

"Keep Oregon Weird"-real OR mantra

2009-06-05T21:13:00.001-07:00

Last weekend I went to Portland, OR to visit my friend Jesyca Tang. This is what I saw:

We ate at this little place that was working on their women's bathroom, hence the urinal. Notice the picture above the urinal....a half-naked woman. Nice to know what men are looking at while they pee.

Pittock Mansion. Crazy huge mansion on a hill overlooking Portland. I loved these stairs.

The temple was sooo pretty....all tucked away in the woods, peeking out all holy-like.

The sacred grove. Just kidding. This is what most of the streets looked like. Jesyca's house was on a road similar to this. Everyone just lives in the woods and it's totally normal. I loved it.

We stopped at this place called the Kennedy School...a school from the 20's and 30's that was bought out and turned into a hotel/meeting house/reception hall/weird theater. They kept a lot of the artwork from the kids back in the day. Click on both pics to see up close. You won't be disappointed. The place was cool and old and creepy. I swear it was haunted.

Jes and me. These stairs were cool too. This was a hike we did to Pretty Waterfall (aka I can't remember the name of the falls).

Green Green and more Green.

Here's Lake Oswego, where I stayed (where Jes lives).

Ya, so I like stairs. Portland has so many cute old houses-turned boutiques.

And one very appropriate sign....minus the Mt, of course.

You're the best

2009-05-27T17:29:00.000-07:00

I love this.

Thou Shalt Not Covet....and yet I do

2009-05-22T22:51:00.000-07:00

I have a love/hate relationship with internet shopping. I love it for obvious reasons: you don't have to try it on, and you don't have to leave your house. I hate it for obvious reasons as well: you can't try it on, and you're stuck in your house.....and, of course, those blasted shipping charges. I recently coveted a sweatshirt one of my clients had on. "Urban Outfitters," she told me. Of course I went online, found it on sale, justified buying it because it was on sale, and ended up paying just about the same amount I would have if it wasn't on sale, due to shipping. Ah, economic growth.
Being a single girl with a steady career, I feel entitled to selfish purchases now and again....but I also have a mean frugal nature about me that proves to overcome my wants. I splurge by going to the thrift store....and must say I love it. So instead, I 'screen shop'. That's window shopping of the future. Or I guess you could call it 'screen-saving'.
I like this dress. Nay, I love this dress. It has pockets! And the boots. They're kinda funky...thus i love them too.

I've been wanting this little guy on my wall for quite some time now. Until I break down and buy the overpriced bird hook, my keys go on a rusty nail hammered into my closet wall.
Loving owls right now. How cute is this little owl mug?

Now I'm hungry, great.

2009-05-01T09:33:00.000-07:00

I grew up eating beans on toast, bangers and mash (sausage and mashed taters), and tomato and mayo sandwiches with salt and pepper. Straight British style, I know. But I've since developed an acquired taste for weird concoctions. Here are some of my favorites:

1. Strawberries dipped in honey
2. Apples and cheese
3. Strawberries, dipped in sour cream, then in brown sugar.
4. Edimame, feta cheese, fresh basil, cranberries....fully cooked edimame (chilled), dried cranberries, feta, and fresh basil chopped fine. Combine, and chow. Go easy on the feta.
5. Cucumbers and kiwis....Remove furry kiwi cover, slice the kiwi and cuc. That's it. Eat together.
6. Green bell peppers and Catalina dressing. Just pour on or dip the dressing with the pepper spears.
7. Chicken baked with maple syrup, italian dressing and sliced green apples. The syrup and dressing is the marinade. Throw in a pie tin with green apples. The apples get soft and deeelicious.

One that was shown to me on my Costa Rica trip was grilled pbj. That was sooo good. Like a grilled cheese, but with peanut butter and jelly, sans the cheese. Butter the outside of the bread and grill it up. Delish.

Anyone have any good ones?

Cosby is the man

2009-04-14T22:57:00.000-07:00

I like to laugh. In fact, I really kinda love it. And thus, as you might have imagined, I like things that make me laugh. And, rightly so, I kinda love people that make me laugh. I have so many YouTube 'favorites' that I watch when I need a good hearty guffaw. (Yes, guffaw is a word...I know for a fact, 'cuz I typed it and it didn't come up with a red underline....but now that we're on the subject, 'cuz' isn't a word...nor is 'didn't', apparently. Hmm...but I digress). So I had to share this with the blogworld. I have always loved Bill Cosby.
I grew up listening to his tapes. Dad would throw them in on road trips right after listening to mom's 'Carpenter's Greatest Hits'. I watch this clip of good ol' Bill quite a bit. Always gives me a good belly laugh. It's kinda long, but totally worth it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt33zqib2qk

Pursuit of Happiness

2009-03-13T23:14:00.000-07:00

I'm a bit apprehensive to do what I'm about to do....and I'd venture to say I'm doing it against my better judgment, but thus I go. This is a recent journal entry that I felt like sharing.
"I've been really happy lately. Just so grateful for my life, and the way things are playing out. Things are finally falling into nice little places that make sense. It took a lot of work on my part to get things there, but that's what it's all about---doing the best you can with what you have, and God will make up the difference. It makes you happy. Learning to cooperate with God is happiness.
HAPPINESS IS: LEARNING TO COOPERATE WITH GOD. Ya, that makes good sense.
I find myself smiling for no apparent reason, which may seem weird, but I say it's normal now. Eating well, exercising, learning to be happy with what I have, taking control of my life....it boosts my mood. I've heard it a million times, but the line upon line stuff actually works. Who knew? The little changes I've made in my life recently are all things I can control, step by step. And the things I can't control, I let go of. Sounds so simple. I wish I'd figured this out a long time ago. Life is good, if you let it be."

Blonde Moment

2009-03-11T10:40:00.000-07:00

I locked my car key inside my car today....you're all thinking, "Why doesn't she have a spare key", right? Ya, that was my spare key. The regular keys are at mom and dad's....long story. Anyways, I called AAA to come unlock my car, feeling like an idiot. The guy came, I got my key, and drove home. Happy ending? Yes....but there's more. So I got home, parked, and happened to glance back....noticing that not one, but BOTH backseat car doors were unlocked. Pardon my french, but bloody 'ell! I'm losing my mind.
I'm so glad the AAA guy didn't noticed. Boy would my face be red. "uh, just kidding, just wanted to see how fast you'd get here. heh heh. Job well done. I knew the doors were unlocked the whole time [uncomfortable gulp/awkward smile]." I may as well have had a convertible with the top down....cryin' for help cause my front doors are locked. My dad made the comment that while the AAA guy was struggling to unlock my front door, I should've been like, "Oh, do you need some gloves?" and open the back door and hand them to him as he kept struggling.
Amy's right....Total Sponge-Bob episode.

Be Still My Beating Heart

2009-02-13T22:10:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day. Here's my ode to the day devoted to Love. This is more so for the ladies in my life, but I'll gladly give a shout-out to the men in my life too *Love ya! Woot woot!* There. K, back to all the girls. I've compiled a page of all of my favorite men throughout the years in film. First the ones who the term 'heart-throb' were coined after, then on to today's. They're sooo dreamy.

Paul Newman, we would never have a 'failure to communicate'.

James Dean, kind of a wack-job, but da*# you were hot.

Elvis Presley, I Can't Help Falling in Love With You either.

Marlon Brando, uh...go to the mattresses?

Sean Connery, in my life you're number one, never 7.

OMG, Bruce Willis, he's so much man he can't even handle himself.

Jason Statham is right up there with Bruce. Too manly for words. I may have just drooled a bit.

Brad, I think it's time you ditch your wife again.

Simon Baker: Australian, surfer, funny....need I go on?

Believe it or not, I first fell in infatuation for David Beckham from a poster in the movie 'Bend It Like Beckham'.

Johnny Depp will be accepted as playwright, pirate, or gypsy. Or any other alter-ego he wants to take on for that matter.

Steve Zahn is more a love for his hilariousness....but I must say, quite a looker on top of that.

I heart James Marsden. A lot.

Christian Bale, in all his glory. So he's done a couple stupid things lately. Can anyone be mad at that face for too long? I think not.

My all-time favorite, Heath Ledger, rest his soul.

Runners up include Ewan McGregor, Jude Law, Kurt Russell, Hugh Jackman, Matthew McConaughey, Justin Timberlake, and possibly a few guys from the Pierside Ward. Haha.
Well that's it. Bless their beautiful hides, wherever they may be. And Happy Valentine's Day to all you lovely people taking in this eye-candy.

'There is Fun to Be Done'- Dr. Suess

2008-12-27T23:03:00.000-08:00

First time watcher of the Bucket List last night, but long time user of said list (mine's just called 'Things to Do'), there was one thing I want to add to mine. Riding a motorcycle across the Great Wall. Anyways, I thought I'd share some of my list on here, and see if I can manage to gather up any cohorts to accompany me. I always carry a little notebook with me, and keep all these things written in there....just in case one spontaneously comes about and I need to cross it off, I should have the book handy, right? Now, I know some of these things are a little far-fetched, but if you know me at all, you know that fetching far is a favorite past time of mine. The first one is what started it all, roughly ten years ago:

Drive a Tractor
See Aurora Borealis
Play guitar in a coffee shop
Go sky diving
Watch to World Cup live
Go to the X-Games (totally doable, I just haven't done it)
Build and ride a bamboo raft (not so doable, hence why I haven't done it)
Sail as a deckhand on a ship
Mush a dog sled
See Paul Simon and Bill Cosby live before THEY die
Camp at the Outer Banks in North Carolina
Memorize Pachelbel Cannon in D on piano
Hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Take a train ride to Big Sur
Scuba dive
Explore a castle
Volunteer as a baby cuddler
Read the books on BYU's english lit class list
Pet a white tiger
Visit Spain, Morocco, Greece
Visit the Colosseum in Rome
Sing jazz songs in a lounge with a jazz band
Ride bikes in Martha's Vineyard
Write a book
Marry my best friend/love of my life
Learn Spanish fluently
Take a road trip to famous American places (Graceland, Mount Rushmore, Chicago, New Orleans)
Make-out in an elevator, while singing 'love in an elevator' in my head
Own a house with a porch and a library
Plant a garden
Sing harmony on stage with Cyndi Lauper and Zooey Deschanel
Learn to play the violin
Learn to juggle....well
Be a voice of a cartoon
Explore the signs of the free masons in Washington D.C.
Work out my stomach into a six pack
Ice skate at Rockefeller Center
See the Mona Lisa at the Louvre
Be part of an archeological dig (actually, I really just want to be the girl on the travel channel)

These are things that have been crossed off my list:

Learned to sail (actually owned a sailboat for a time too)
Surfed in Costa Rica
Learned Annie's song on the guitar (this song was what got me to play guitar)
Got stamps in my passport (Singapore, Taiwan, England, Costa Rica)
Did something that you would never think to do (visited a leper colony)
Rode the roller coaster in Coney Island
Figured out the rubik's cube
Drove PCH to Carmel, Big Sur, Santa Cruz
Act/sing in a play (two years ago, called Smile, at the Gem theater in Garden Grove)
Started a blog

The Rich Cost is Alive and Well

2008-11-21T18:35:00.000-08:00

I have a disease called Wanderlust. Grandpa says it runs in the family. A genetic thing. I crave adventure and discovery, and thrive off of change. Some call those type 'people that have zest for life'. Others call them gypsies. Whatever, I'll take both. My pirate ancestors will be proud either way.
Costa Rica had been one of those shiny distant objects that I wanted, but was never within my reach. I can't remember exactly what first stirred the emotional attachment I gained with the country I'd never been too, but it's been there for quite some time. Sometimes I wish life was a bit more like Mark Twain's stories, where I could run off into the woods barefoot and jump on my homemade raft and leave for a week with just a rag with some goods tied on a stick. But alas, life costs money. Good thing life takes Visa. So I made the decision that for my 30th birthday, I needed to do something fantastic. And that the fantastic needed to be REALLY fantastic....a.k.a. a trip somewhere I've always wanted to go.
I started talking about it with Lindsey, my co-worker and surfing buddy. She told her husband, I mentioned it to some friends, and we bought tickets. Can't believe how easy it was, actually. Must've been in my cards. Too be continued........

Been Stoned

2008-10-21T21:25:00.001-07:00

For the past three months I have been fighting a battle. A battle against good and evil. Good being me, evil being a bloody kidney stone. EEEVILL. And yes, I did say the battle had been going on for three months. I won that battle last Sunday.
Let me inform the uninformed on the issue of kidney stones. So, medical lesson number one....human anatomy: We all have two kidneys on each side of our mid-section, and a bladder, right? Right. So the kidneys collect a bunch of junk and take what's necessary while eliminating what is not. The unecessary is sent to the bladder department. To get to that dept., this unwanted stuff has to take a little trip through a tiny tube called the ureter. And when I say tiny, I mean tiny...especially on me. Now then, let me introduce a little bastard (pardon the french) that I so affectionately (or very unaffectionately) named Bruce...named after the Incredible Hulk, a.k.a. Bruce Banner. He was very calm and never bothered me when he was relaxing, but when he got mad........self explanatory.
K, moving on. This isn't mine, but a photo I found online of one about the same size (4mm). About the size of the O letter on a keyboard, with added spikes. Mine was sort of star shaped. Ironically, the one in the photo was named Kenny the kidney stone. Apparently people really develop a relationship with their stones. They occur in 1 in 10 people in the U.S., and I am officially the 1 of that statistic. Lucky me. So these little devils are crystal/calcium/mineral build-up in your kidney. Here's what my doctor informed me, trying to help me eliminate chances of getting another. "Try to cut back on salt, protein, soy, soda, vitamin C, muti-vitamins, chocolate, cranberries, blueberries, and possibly tap water. OH, and drink a glass of lemonade every night." Then he asked me if I had any questions. I said, 'Isn't lemonade vitamin C?' He said, "Oh, that's just what we're supposed to tell you. Just live your life normal. Chances are you won't get another one. But if you do, you'll most likely get more, so just be careful." I left there swearing that I would be on a strick diet of oatmeal for the rest of my life.
Here's a close-up shot of the razor-blade ridden stone that went down my tube.

And All That Jazz

2008-08-21T21:47:00.000-07:00

This is an ode (that sounds funny. Saying 'ode' without saying it 'to' anything. But I digress).
I'm a passionate jazz aficionado.
The lingo (why don't we paint the town), the dance (shimmy shake til' her garters break), the music (where the gin is cold, but the piano's hot), the style (rouge my knees and roll my stockings down).
Of course you can name the negative as well, but ultimately it was just a classy time period.
'Just a noisy hall where there's a nightly brawl'. And all that jazz...*insert kicking legs and jazz hands....you know the ones*. It was, as they say, the birth of 'cool'.
The love was first instilled from performing songs for church road shows (sheepishly admitting I enjoyed them), and from high school choir musicals. Jeff Redmond sang 'It Had To Be You' by Harry Connick, Jr. my freshman year. Although senior Jeff was so dreamy, the song was what really got me. It was the start of it all.
I fell in love with Harry, and pouted when I found out he was married. I then discovered an old AM radio station called 570. I was a 'lounge lizard'. (The station went off the air two years ago. Major disappointment at that). That station introduced me to Louis Armstrong (the legend), Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, Bobby Darin, Billie Holiday, Tony Bennet, Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, and, of course, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and the rest of the rat pack.
I went to college and had a roommate that grew up on Louis Prima. Louis Prima was a class act, and pretty much automatically became one of my favorites. Everyone remember King Louie in Jungle Book? That's Prima. He wrote the classic swing song, 'Sing, Sing, Sing'. He was a ham. His album even has a recipe for BBQ Roast Suckling Pig (anyone want it, let me know...sounds de-lish). Anyway, he has several songs with Keely Smith, who I actually want to be. Sultry voice. Workin' on it. Okay, confession, I want to be a lounge singer...with finger waves and a red dress (a modest one, Dad, of course), on a dark stage with spotlight, and full band behind me, loving the microphone. Visualize it?
I never got too into Frank Sinatra. He's got talent, yes, but I've always been drawn more to Dean Martin. LOVE his voice. Remember the old cartoons in the chicken coup where the rooster's would sing and the hens would swoon and pass out? That's me when Dino sings. PBS showed a Ken Burns documentary a while back called, well, JAZZ. Fitting, yes. It's long (like 12 discs), but really good.
I will say, I love how in the past few years it's been coming back a bit. Norah Jones, Diana Krall, Micheal Buble. And of course, Harry. He'll always be number one. Even if he is married.
Here are some favorites....
I'm Beginning to See the Light--bobby darin
Old Black Magic--louis prima/keely smith
Get Happy--judy garland
Come By Me--harry connick, jr.
Sway--dean martin
Young At Heart---frank sinatra

Voy Camino a Costa Rica

2008-08-05T19:40:00.000-07:00

Right, so there I was , minding my own business, checking out info for my upcoming trip to Costa Rica...when suddenly and without warning, I felt like I was gonna throw up. You might be thinking, 'Oh poor Becki must have food poisoning' or something else like that. But if you were, you'd be wrong. I started getting so excited about the trip that my stomach got upset from the adrenaline rush or something. I had to remind my self that it's still 3 months away.
Ya, so I'm going to Costa Rica....sort of a dream I've had since I was a wee lass. It's still a bit unreal to think that I'm actually going. And obviously I shouldn't think too much about it anyway, or I'll be tossing the old cookies right and left. But since I'm in nauseous mode right now, I may as well talk about it. I"M SO EFFING EXCITED>and i'm spent. Excuse me while I stop myself from shaking. So check out where we're staying. AMAZING. www.hermosabungalows.com
Endless stretches of warm ocean and surf, tropical rain forests, geckos and MONKEYS. Freak....gotta settle down again. Ziplines, sunshine, rickety bridges, hammocks. Crap crap crap. I want to be there yesterday.
Geez, I hope I'm not disappointed. With over ten years of excitement built up in researching the place, my expectations are rather high.

Everything you've never wanted to know about me

2008-07-29T20:25:00.000-07:00

This was spurred by recent conversation, trying to find something in common with someone else.
Things I love:

Optimistic people; the ocean; peanut butter; shells; being submerged in warm water; rubik's cube; laughs of good friends; sunshine; photography; the color orange; Abraham Lincoln; Monet; art in general; camping; the spanish language; history; sculpting; painting; interesting conversation; integrity; biplanes; ships...boats in general; cool canteens; Albert Einstein; violin music; skateboarding; dogs; muppets; my family (funny this comes right after muppets...and right before monkeys); monkeys; good smells (fresh cut grass, neoprene, sticky bumps wax, grapefruit, coconut, sfactor hair product); holidays; babies...of any species; making clothes; creating stuff out of other stuff; bottles; stars; lightning bolts; dancing; lilies; dressing up; barefooting; french fries; useless facts; etymology; maps/globes; books/reading; vintage (cars, clothing, furniture, photos); avocados; cool instruments like the concertina; singing at the top of my lungs; crochet; soccer; crossword puzzles; my religion; rummikub; stripes; surfing 3 ft/slow waves; hammocks; travel; pineapples; palm trees; opposable thumbs; Huckleberry Finn; dark chocolate; banoffee pie; rope swings; climbable trees; waterfalls; jazz/swing/big band music and era; red and aqua together; random red items (ya, like a stapler); gardens; kissing real men; North Carolina (though I've never been); America; England; mud; beanies; acerola cherry vitamins; L. Tom Perry; roller skates; tube socks; triscuits; shrimp scampi; trader joe's; orchids; steel drums; dutch mints; 2000 stripling warriors; mustard; Bill Cosby; jamba juice; guitars; '66 VW squarebacks; Claussen pickles; Hawaii; Captain Moroni; people with random skills; anchors; hiking; bamboo; Paul Simon; waffling.....uh, did I miss anything?

Okay, okay, here's a new post. HAVASUPAI HO!!

2008-07-07T19:37:00.000-07:00

I've counted, and to date I have 38 bug bites. 6 of which are on my face...4 on my ear....two on the knuckle of my thumb (honestly, is there even any blood there? Stupid bugs) and the rest on my arms and legs. And yes, bug spray was on me. They broke through the barrier to get to my sweet sweet blood.
But apart from that, what an amazing place. Havasupai, deep in the Grand Canyon of AZ, is Huckleberry Finn's paradise. Rivers, caves, frogs, rope swings, trees, hammocks....and injuns.
Also, my paradise. No work, no makeup, no shoes, no chores, no homework (and might I add, less clothing as well). Lots of sunshine, trees, and turquoise blue water. Kinda makes me sound like a tree hugger. Truthfully, although I don't like shoes (or bras) and love nature, it's more of the Huck Finn in me than the Granola.
We hiked down in the middle of the night (to avoid the sweltering desert heat), camped off the trail about 3/4 of the way, then finished our trek at 5 a.m. ish...reaching our campsite at roughly 7am. Then slept some more. I think that's when those vicious little creatures (bugs) did most of their dirty work...while I innocently slept. Little devils.
The campsite sits kinda midway between a bunch of different waterfalls that you hike to. Including the hike in and out, I think we did roughly 30 miles total. We're hardcore to the max. Livin' off of oatmeal and jerky, catching lizards and spiders, and hiking barefoot uphill both ways in the snow. Ya, hardcore.
(alright, i lied about the snow).

Call the Exterminator

2008-06-06T23:28:00.000-07:00

Gas prices are sky-rocketing. I love the headlines that say things like, "Gas prices still setting records, but some slowing seen". Slowing? The only slowing is the quantity of moola going into my bank account. But way to look on the bright side guys. California has the most expensive gas in the country right now. Does that mean we win a prize? On the contrary...we're all screwed.
As a general rule I try to avoid giving all my money to 'the man'. I've been riding my bike as much as I can lately. Trying to just drive my little money sucker (a.k.a. car) only to church and otherwise when absolutely necessary.
Today was an absolutely necessary day. This was awesome. Pay close attention. It's Friday. I haven't driven my car since Sunday. I opened my car door, gingerly stepped inside, and came headlong into a spiderweb string. I wasn't sure that it was really a spiderweb until I came to a stop sign, and saw the sun glinting off of spiderweb strings following the dashboard to the passenger side door and back.
Now, this was disconcerting on two notes.
a) I had spiderweb goo all over my face, and I wasn't in any kind of nature
b) There is a freaking spider somewhere in my car!!!!
All this to save a little gas money.

Ruby Peach

2008-05-27T18:09:00.000-07:00

On Sunday night I was stitching a dress. A little country girl, gunny sack dress. A friend stopped by and asked what it was for. I sarcastically replied that I was singing at a bar at 11 o'clock that night in a little blue-grass gig. He laughed along until he realized it was true.
Here's me in my little blue-grass band, Ruby Peach.
Ruby Peach was actually the name of a woman that died back in 1920. The Peach family lived in Nashville, and were all buried there together.

Seems to me, Adam and Eve had it easy

2008-05-06T20:07:00.000-07:00

My latest brain train has been driving for a few weeks now. Attraction is a funny thing. What is it about this thing called 'attraction'? Why is one person attracted to someone, when another person finds the same person unappealing? And say, I think one guy is to die for, while a close friend thinks he looks like a "salamander"? The thing that's weird to me is that she and I are obviously attracted to each other as friends, yet our attraction to men is vastly different (not that I'm complaining...the less competition the better).
But why is it, say, a guy can find a girl irresistible, but the girl isn't interested at all, but loves him 'as a friend'. I mean, there are, of course, the obvious answers to this question...said girl is dating someone else, said boy has smelly armpits, or what have you.
But when you take a male and female that are both attractive, intelligent, good-humored people, common sense would tell you that they should be attractive, intelligent, and good-humored together, and make fabulous, perfect babies. But that's just naivete, sadly.
Pheromones have a lot to do with it...but seems to me that some people's chemicals get a lot more attention than others.
I tried to do some psychoanalysis on myself for this topic. So I know that a lot of who we are attracted to has to do with WHAT we are attracted to. Like how raccoons are attracted to shiny objects. The things that I find enticing have a lot to do with my upbringing...my shiny objects, if you will. I love the men that have similar attractions to my shiny objects.
My dad's an artist, and as such my siblings and I have grown up with an eye for the interesting. Things that are influenced by creativity. As much as I sometimes just want to fit in, there's a part of me that always rushes toward breaking free of the norm and being different. I think I usually end up with a mix of the two, which will suffice, but it makes my brain battle for what I really stand for...and for who I really should be attracted to. I'm drawn toward people in general that don't think acceptance means you have to be just like everyone else. I see that as wisdom in a person. Wisdom that authenticity is always the most attractive thing.
This thought could go on for a while, but I'm spent. For now, it is what it is.

Wrong Walkers!

2008-04-22T10:50:00.000-07:00

For those that know me well...or even not so well...you may know that I'm not particularly fond of shoes. Living in Hawaii for almost 5 years simply intensified the dislike (I might add, I hate socks even more so than shoes). Some even refer to my little feet as paws, and know me to have (against all rules of being a girl) the dirtiest feet ever. Hence the name barefootbex. Over the years, I have met several that follow my barefoot lifestyle (Pepper, you're number one on that list), but I have also converted a few. So, on to my point. I listen to NPR once in a while, and happened upon this awesome broadcast. For all of those that have ever mocked me and my kind :), this puts us in the lead.
www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89830802#share

2008-04-18T15:13:00.000-07:00

By the way, if you haven't voted yet, and still want to, go to
www.myfoxla.com. (see post below)
Click on the tab that says HotList,
Then click Hair Salon
Scroll down until you find Eden Salon and Spa, and vote!
Mahalo for your kokua.

My 3 Seconds of Fame

2008-04-17T21:04:00.000-07:00

This is rad. I'm on tv. My salon was nominated as the best in OC, and have had the most hits to our website...as such, Fox 11 came and filmed us. We were on Good Day LA. Right now we're number four, but the voting goes on until May 15, so if you haven't voted yet, please do!
I'm the first one you see, and I'm talking to my client about how awkward it is to have a giant news camera on my head.

Aesthetics--the branch of philosophy which considers ART

2008-03-21T10:21:00.001-07:00

"Generally art is a (product of) human activity, made with the intention of stimulating the human senses as well as the human mind; by transmitting emotions and/or ideas. Beyond this description, there is no general agreed-upon definition of art. Art is also able to illustrate abstract thought and its expressions can elicit previously hidden emotions in its audience."

I love art...and as such, I have my favorite artists. Monet (pay the proper respects), Andy Davis, Tom Adler, Shannon Wing, and Pascale Jean Delorme...Then I added one of my own. Self Portrait, if you will.

Bottle Shootout

2008-03-11T17:12:00.000-07:00

It all started with a conversation comparing the Nalgene bottle to the Camelback 'Better' Bottle. Notice the name actually says it's better...no false advertising here folks. It's named that for a reason. Behold, the blessed bottle. Although I have a Nalgene bottle, and can pay my proper respects to it, the Better Bottle is, well, just better. You don't have to open it, you don't have to tip it, it's virtually indestructible, has a nice grab bar that you can hook to a carabiner (or as I like to call them, beeners), and to top it off, it's dishwasher safe (any grown woman can appreciate that).
Now that I'm done with that, here's a list for you to contemplate. I've experienced both sides of all, so I'm a good source. Any and all are up for debate, but my opinion dominates on my blog, so thus I go:
Camelback's Better Bottle is to the Nalgene bottle as
Mac is to a PC
Gmail is to Yahoo
Target is to Wal-Mart
Low expectations are to High expectations
Beach Berries is to Golden Spoon (sorry Jill)
Huntington Beach is to Newport Beach
Dogs are to Cats
Dean Martin is to Frank Sinatra
British is to Austrailian
Alpha RS is to Omega RS (piersiders inside)
Soccer is to Football
Ocean is to Land
Surfing is to Snowboarding
Reading is to Watching the tele
My list is to Your list

Jill, I'm a blogging machine!!!

2008-03-04T11:29:00.001-08:00

Tiller Towards Trouble

2008-03-04T09:41:00.001-08:00

I love water. Oceans, lakes, rivers, streams, what have you. As such, I love boats...and any type of transport on said water. Surfboards, rafts, dingies, inflatable tubes...you get the gist. I have a friend that works the hard labor of the shipyards. I mistakenly asked him how the boats were one day...he nearly bit my head off telling me that they were SHIPS, not boats.
So what makes a boat become a ship. I found this....kinda funny:
Question:
Please help settle a family feud! My husband is constantly calling our cruise "vessel" we sail in a boat and I keep telling him, no, it is a ship. When does a boat become a ship? Does anyone at Cruise Critic have the answer?

Answer:
We do, but far be it from us to contribute to any marital discord, so our answer -- and it's the truth -- is that there is no difference.
However -- and this is paraphrased from Chapman Piloting: Seamanship & Boat Handling (63rd Edition), the mariner's bible for all things maritime -- though there is no official difference, the line is generally drawn at 20 meters (or, about 60 feet), at which point a "boat" becomes a "ship," though neither designation in incorrect for any length.

But, in a similar vein, which of the following three vessels is not considered a yacht: a) a 12-foot outboard inflatable dinghy; b) a six-foot kayak; or c) a 32-ft. motorized charter catamaran?

Answer: c) the charter catamaran. The yacht, by the "official" definition, is a pleasure craft not for commercial use. Now, before everyone who's taken yacht charters fire off angry e-mails, remember I said "official definition." Nowadays, the term is used far more loosely, but if you are rowing a rowboat, you are still considered to be piloting a yacht!

You see that? Someday I will finally own a 12-ft inflatable YACHT, and feel peace and tranquility about calling it such. And I'll name it Killer, so when people see me go by, they'll shout "Hey Killer!", and I'll smile and wave...me and my yacht.

2008-03-01T18:44:00.001-08:00

I love Zooey Deschanel. *For those wondering who this is, she's an actress. She played Will Ferrel's love interest in 'Elf'.* She sings, plays the guitar, and loves to do films for kids. And I love her style. Classy. She has a style more reminiscent of an early Hollywood movie starlet than that of most of the actresses of today. Her interests include jazz singing, philosophy, fashion, and photography. She plays the piano and the baritone ukulele.

"I love old music, old movies, screwball comedies, vintage clothes, and basically I'm an old-fashioned gal."-Zooey Deschanel

I would love to hang out with her for a day.

Paid anxiety

2008-02-29T22:27:00.000-08:00

Why are scary movies scary?

the music

unanticipated loud noises/actions

darkness

mannequins

fact that it could become a reality

Intentional stress. We should all go to therapy, because we pay to have our bodies put through that anxiety. I just saw 'I Am Legend' at the dollar theatre, and have to say, I don't like scary movies. I've never been able to handle them well, and never will, so I don't know why I keep doing this to myself. I can barely get through a scary movie preview without having to cover my eyes. My nerves are shot, and I paid for it. I said to the lady, please give me an anxiety attack. And she did. For $3. At least I didn't pay $10 for it. Anxiety attack on sale. Good for me, I guess.

But really, I think about scary movies, and why they affect me the way they do, and I've come to these conclusions. You can decide for yourself which is most apt.

A...I'm just so pure and innocent that my mind has not been desensitized to all that freaky goodness.

B...I enjoy it. It is kind of a rush. The adrenaline gets pumping, my scream gets a go, and if I'm with a boy...well, he gets to feel manly and protective.

C...I'm a huge wuss. A weiny baby, if you will. I'm the baby girl in my family, and have always been looked out for. But more so, I have always been traumatized in the dark. Older siblings can be so cruel. I'm afraid of the dark. I admit it. I'm afraid of the unknown in the darkness (this could very well lead to an amazing cheesy sacrament pulpit story). And I'm terrified of being ALONE in the dark. Ooohh, that's the worst. I don't really even like being alone in the light, honestly.

Possibly, the conclusion is that I'm a healthy (or unhealthy) mix of all of the above.

Zuzu's Petals

2008-02-09T12:08:00.000-08:00

"I know who I am. Partly. The other half I'm searching for. I don't want to work in a cubicle. I'm not afraid to work. I have an independent streak. I like a creative challenge. I want to be inspired. I want to learn the craft. I'm looking for the answers. I'm asking all the questions. I have a passion. I love being me."

Believe it or not, this was quoted from an Aveda Salon ad....very fitting for me, I must say.

Ways to Be Healthier

2008-01-30T09:10:00.000-08:00

1. Laugh out loud
2. Drink water
3. Wash hands
4. Eat anything in the produce aisle
5. Floss
6. Deep breathing
7. Hang out with friends
8. Get a massage
9. Decent posture
10. See a doctor
11. Sleep enough
12. Have a pet
13. Work your brain
14. Maintain a healthy weight
15. Get back to nature
16. Exercise
17. Love someone
18. Serve

Google your name

2008-01-28T15:43:00.002-08:00

I had the day off of work today, and saw the sun shining bright outside. I thought I'd take a walk. That all changed once I stepped outside. So deceiving! The air was soo cold. I brrrrd really loud and went back in, and have been playing on the computer ever since. So slothful, I know. Jill will get on my case if I don't update my blog often though, so this is for you Jill.
I was messing about, and googled my name. The correct spelling of my name only came up on Darcy's blog, but spelled Becky, this is what I found.
Check out Becky Church, from the Columbus in Bloom Group!

Front row: John Lemley, Nick Rush, Becky Church, Jim Dietz, Doty Harvey, Casey Ritz;
Back row: Judy Lemley, Gordon Elsbury, Geri Wilt, Chuck Wilt, Judy Jackson, Nancy Elsbury, Sandy Hummel, Mayor Fred Armstrong, Lynn Lucas, Cindy Frey. The man in the shadows in the back is a representative of Evergreen - the company that sponsored the Landscape Award.

And this one....
Becky Church
Executive Assistant
Email Becky

Becky began her position in June of 2003. Prior to this position she worked for Central Michigan University. She began as a secretary for Industrial/Organizational Psychology and within a year was the Administrative Secretary for the Experimental Program and the Industrial/Organizational Program. She is currently obtaining her B.A in Business Management at CMU. Becky has served as an Office Professional for the past 12 years.

This next one was creeeepy...
Smith, 52, was convicted in 1983 of the Pike County murders of his teen-age girlfriend, her daughter, the girlfriend's mother and the girlfriend's sister. Smith, who his lawyers contend was under the influence of drugs when the murders took place, has apologized for the killings. Smith shot and killed his girlfriend's mother, Mary Thompson, 48, and sister, Betty Maynard, 27, with a hunting rifle after a falling out with the girlfriend. While emergency medical workers were treating those victims, Smith returned and shot his 17-year-old girlfriend, Becky Church. One bullet left her body and struck her 18-month-old daughter, Amanda Church, killing her.

Doc Thursday

2008-01-28T15:23:00.000-08:00

This started about a month ago. The premise is :we watch documentaries on Thursday nights...hence the name, Doc Thursday.
Neil is the brain trust behind it, and does a blog every week for it.

http://docthursday.blogspot.com/

Dark Angel

2008-01-05T19:27:00.001-08:00

I thought I'd dye my hair to match the bruise on my back. Mostly this was a why not experience. 2008 do.

The Progression of the Famous Contusion

2008-01-04T18:33:00.001-08:00

,

The Story BEHIND it (get it?)...
I went surfing on New Year's Eve, against my better judgment (I was sick). One of my friends' board got loose during a big set that came in, and was getting chucked in the waves (a ten foot board, mind you). I was duck diving, and the other board came down and t-boned me. The rail karate chopped me. Basically, I got in a fight with a surfboard, and it came out on top. Literally...i was knocked to the ocean floor. I grabbed my board and let the white wash take me in to shore. I was really lucky it didn't hit me higher up on my back. And p.s., my back is not usually that bulbous...it was soo swollen that it showed through my pants.

2007-12-29T10:34:00.001-08:00

Christmas will never be the same

2007-12-25T17:39:00.000-08:00

Christmas night....went to dinner at a buffet in downtown Jackson. Tyler (Jenni's kid...one of the twins...3 years old) was eating some awesome cake and said, "Mmm, this is yummy" is his little man voice. His dad leaned over with a broccoli chunk and said, "This is yummy too. Have some of this." Tyler looked at him in all seriousness and said, "That's not yummy, that's poo poo."
On the way home from dinner, Isaac (Amy's kid...3 years old) sneezed without covering his mouth...a big nasty slobbery sneeze that kid's love to do. Amy said "Isaac, cover your mouth when you sneeze, or your gross germs will shower all over everybody!" Katie (Amy's oldest, 5 years old) piped in, "Yay! Germ shower!"
Later that night we were by the Christmas tree putting together one of the kid's cool toys. Uncle Andrew found a little present that was overlooked...it belonged to Zack (Jenni's other twin...3 years old). Jenni said, "Look Zack, you've got another present to open!" Zack took the gift in confusion and said, "What the hell is this?" Jenni sort of scolded him, trying to stifle her laughter. Zack opened the present, saw it was a book, and tossed it aside to get back to the cool toy.

Work boat cruise and Church boat cruise

2007-12-14T11:02:00.000-08:00

Okay, so the work one wasn't quite a cruise...it was on a duffy in the harbor. Still fun though. Especially when the nocturnal killer ducks came out in hoards. I mean, I drop one tiny cookie crumb in the water for one lone duck, and he calls the troops! Rats of the water, apparently. They followed us for a good 20 minutes, and showed their teeth a couple times. One tried to bite me.
The church Christmas Cruise was super fun. Nothing tried to bite me...except that one guy.

2007-12-13T09:12:00.000-08:00

fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too
Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can.
i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

PS Hwo'd you lkie to run tihs by yuor sepll ckehcer?"

In order for everyone to read it, the first and last letters have to be right. And it's cool that we can read and understand this, because that's how dyslexic people see words, and they can read.

Huntington Beach Craziness

2007-12-04T23:36:00.001-08:00

Okay, there were issues with the earlier photos. They should be fine now. The headless one is my favorite.

I'm still getting used to this blogger business. Although I want off this boat called 'Lonestar', I am actually have fun with my single life.

"ah duh duh, haaappy birtday"- GusGus

2007-11-15T17:40:00.000-08:00

The birthday started at 5:30 a.m., with a little drive down to San Onofre for some surf. The day ended back at Jill's place for a little bday party with friends and pizza. Good times. Pretty much the coolest birthday ever. I have good friends.

All Hallow's Eve

2007-11-14T17:25:00.001-08:00

Halloween this year....3 costumes, for good reason. The original was the paper doll, but when I put it on, I realized I couldn't walk in it, let alone show my moves on the dance floor in it. So for the first party, a fly. For work, the paper doll, and for the last party, a troll doll.

Tukes of Hazzard

2007-04-12T15:54:00.000-07:00

Custom made beanie on my noggin. This is cosmo school days.

What's not to love

2007-03-09T18:29:00.000-08:00

These are things I love:

etymology, optimistic people, ocean, peanut butter, shells, being submerged in warm water, rubik's cube, laughs of good friends, sunshine, photography, the color orange, Abraham Lincoln, being electricuted, monet, art in general, camping, the spanish language, history, interesting conversation, honesty, biplanes, ships, boats in general, canteens, Albert Einstein, violin music, painting, skateboarding, figuring out how to build/assemble things by myself, dogs, muppets, monkeys, smell of fresh cut grass/neoprene/sticky bumps/grapefruit/coconut/Sfactor hair stuff, holidays, babies...of any species, making clothes, creating stuff out of other stuff, bottles, stars, dancing, lilies, dressing up, barefooting, french fries, useless facts, maps/globes, books, vintage cars/clothing/furniture/photos, avocados, cool instruments like the concertina, crochet, 8, soccer, crossword puzzles, church stuff, rummikub, stripes, travel, pineapples, palm trees, opposable thumbs, dark chocolate, banoffee pie, rope swings, trees, waterfalls, jazz/swing music and era, red and aqua, gardens, america, england, mud, beanies, coolio, acerola cherry vitamins, Costa Rica, L. Tom Perry, roller skates, triscuits, shrimp scampi, trader joe's, orchids, steel drums, york peppermint patties, dutch mints, 2000 stripling warriors, mostasa, Bill Cosby, jamba juice, guitars, 1971 volkswagen squarebacks,