Meet Stanley

I'd like you all to meet Stanley. Stanley is my 'dog'. He came to me in an interesting fashion. Let me explain...

My dear grandmother has a knack for picking up cute little knick-knacks to decorate her house. Seriously, if there is some sort of decoration that can sit on the floor, the edge of the coffee table, or the entertainment stand, Darlene Henderson has it. This is where Stanley originated. On one of my visits home from school I was over at my grandparents house and while sitting on the floor (I haven't graduated to furniture or moved up from the kid's table yet) I noticed this little be-spectacled dog peaking out from behind the davenport (old people term for sofa). I had to get in for a closer look. By the time that I had completely taken in this little nugget I was, not even kidding, rolling on the floor laughing. At the time, he was adorned in a santa hat and santa coat. My grandmother heard the ruckus and went on to explain that dear ol' Stanley actually has 13 rotating outfits that he dawns depending on the time of year.

From that moment on, each time that I went to my grandparents house, little Stanley would be there to greet me with a season appropriate outfit. And I would erupt into a fit of laughter. Every time. I'm not even exaggerating.

So, when my parents came for their annual August visit this past summer my grandma had sent a little package with Sherry and Greg. And what was in the little box? My little nugget Stanly and his entire wardrobe! God bless Darlene.

Stanley has found his place quite nicely in apartment 209. Currently he wearing his rainslicker--I do live in Seattle! I pledge that I will always keep you updated on the current fashion trend of my little Stanley.

With the holidays around the corner, I have a feeling there will be quite a few changes......

Let's Play Some Basketball!

The season is SO close! I found this video on Youtube and I totally got goosebumps!

Go Zags!

HSM 3

Not even a little bit embarrassed to admit that I'm really excited for High School Musical 3. I'll just have to wait to see it until I'm home with my 9-year old niece. That way it will be socially acceptable.

Award Winner!

New Poet

On Laurel and I's hike on Sunday we had some great conversation about a variety of topics, including spirituality, religion, our place in this crazy world and the awkward position many of us young career folk find ourselves in. During the course of our convo, Laurel quoted a poet named Oriah so I went home and googled her. And I'm glad I did! I found this amazing poem she has on her website. For many of the people my age we're all struggling with what we want to do with our life and I think that this poem really makes a person consider what is truly in their heart and soul when making that decision.

The Invitation

It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living.
I want to know what you ache for
and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing.

It doesn’t interest me how old you are.
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool
for love
for your dream
for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn’t interest me what planets are squaring your moon...
I want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow
if you have been opened by life’s betrayals
or have become shrivelled and closed
from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain
mine or your own
without moving to hide it
or fade it
or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy
mine or your own
if you can dance with wildness
and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes
without cautioning us
to be careful
to be realistic
to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn’t interest me if the story you are telling me
is true.
I want to know if you can
disappoint another
to be true to yourself.
If you can bear the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless
and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see Beauty
even when it is not pretty
every day.
And if you can source your own life
from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure
yours and mine
and still stand at the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon,
“Yes.”

It doesn’t interest me
to know where you live or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up
after the night of grief and despair
weary and bruised to the bone
and do what needs to be done
to feed the children.

It doesn’t interest me who you know
or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand
in the centre of the fire
with me
and not shrink back.

It doesn’t interest me where or what or with whom
you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you
from the inside
when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone
with yourself
and if you truly like the company you keep
in the empty moments.

Check our her website here: http://www.oriahmountaindreamer.com/home.html

Fall Hike

"I cannot endure to waste anything as precious as autumn sunshine by staying in the house. So I spend almost all the daylight hours in the open air."

Nathaniel Hawthorne

Today was spent the best way I know how to spend a day--outdoors! And I can't even begin to describe how perfect today was for a brisk fall hike! Laurel and I hit I-90 early this morning and found our way to the Mt. Margaret trailhead. We both took lots of pictures--some amazing views of the surrounding mountains, a few lovely pictures of the leaves starting to change and a few more of the beautiful scenery.

Mt. Rainier decided to hide behind a cloud all day:
Check out those colors:
Our final destination, Lake Margaret:
Laurel and Lake Margaret:
Snow littered a few parts of the trail:
The cool ice crystal things that actually grow up from the ground:
Laurel and Jen:
Mt. Stuart in the distance:
I heart fall!

This was definitely a good hike--9 miles to be exact. We got to eat some amazing wild blueberries, had the first snowball fight of the season and just generally enjoyed Mother Nature's unmatched pristine beauty.

I've often said that I see God the most in the time I spent outdoors witnessing his magnificence and with that in mind, I found myself perfectly satisfied with how I spent my Sunday....

Palin as Tina Fey? Gimme a break!

I just read an article that was talking about how the McCain campaign was going to counteract the amazing Tina Fey/Sarah Palin impersonation that has been rocking Saturday Night Live. The article mentions that Palin is planning on spoofing Tina Fey.

My reaction?

If Sarah Palin plans on 'spoofing' the incomparable Tina Fey it would actually be better. Tina Fey is an intelligent woman who speaks in coherent sentences that don't dodge the issues or sling mud at Barack Obama. Tina Fey uses the 'g' on the end of words that end in 'ing'. Tina Fey is amazing. Sarah Palin would be wise to spoof Tina Fey. And stay that way.