Whimsical Elephants

Mental Health Parity 2010

2008-11-18T16:18:00.001-08:00

This is a big deal when and if it actually happens and insurance companies don't go crazy in the meantime...
Check it out!
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/06/washington/06mental.html

sometime soon

2008-10-16T09:52:00.001-07:00

I may just write something again sometime soon. In the meantime I am watching my roomate and dog do yoga together. She does downward dog, then he does. It's amazing!
You should check out the Film Call and Response though and educate yourself about human trafficking. It'll break your heart likely, and perhaps move you to fight for justice. I'm going on Saturday night.

SWIM!

2008-08-01T09:09:00.000-07:00

Fun Times.

why my dog is hilarious and [somewhat] not that smart.

2008-07-01T11:46:00.000-07:00

I just returned from a morning of appointments and errands. As usual I left Spike inside to nap and occasionally get into the random foodstuff container. He is smart in that when he is distraught that I haven't paid him due attention he decides to tear up mail or an easily accessible package of food. With serving, walking other peoples dogs, and then school I admit my attention toward Spike has been menial of late. Which will likely explain the following episode.

After bringing my groceries inside I let Spike outside. Usually he stays close to the car hoping that he gets to go with me to my next destination, even if I'm not going anywhere. Today he decided he was not going to get left behind. Standing a few feet from the back of my car Spike decides to take a chance at getting into the car by launching himself full force into the CLOSED door of my hatchback! All of a sudden I see him take this giant leap smack into the back of my car. His four legs all sprawled and claws trying to grab hold to the roof. Oh dog of desperation! Gravity quickly took over and Spike, a bit confused, planted himself back on the ground and gave me the most curious look-"what just happened?" (in his eyes).

"Um, well Spike, you just threw yourself headfirst, full throttle into a stationary object."

"oh. okay. ho hum." (my ex-roommate does the greatest Spike impression!)

I offered my condolences then had to laugh.

Then check out the paint on my new car...luckily both spike and the car came away sans injury.

I say [somewhat] not that smart because that is obvious...He is smart in the way he will get back at me if I'm not around enough. Generally he finds something that is mine and chews it up. Luckily he doesn't get mad all that often but he has eaten quite a few towels, old pizza boxes, a shoe, a book cover, and other recyclables within reach of his outside cable. Many times I've gotten in my car to leave only to see him go for a large piece of cardboard with a look of "take that ALISON!"

Spike also has a huge flab of skin on his neck that when pulled up looks like a fin. It also can be put into a pony tail. This is entertaining.

Spike knows how to sit, shake (although he hates it when you actually touch his feet so he just puts his paw up and tries not to have it touched), lay down, and go to his bed. The hilarious part about his tricks, however, is the fact that he just knows the behaviors not the word associated with them. So as soon as I get out a treat he goes through all of the tricks at once until he gets his food. I'm not too concerned about this as you can tell.

Successful car entry. Spike as a shark or dolphin. Spike asking "WHAT are you doing to me Alison?"

Generally I don't anthropomorphize animals. Today, however, is an exception. Spike says "hello" to all of you ;)

Shabbat!

2008-06-30T00:30:00.000-07:00

Meet my tattoo.

A Serious Question.

2008-06-30T00:22:00.000-07:00

Why is it that a man who can sing or play an instrument or do both well so enchanting/compelling/captivating?
Seriously.
Truly, what are your thoughts?

Urban Walker

2008-06-29T23:54:00.000-07:00

Of late I've noticed the widespread usage of the word "Urban." It is seemingly the "in" thing so I thought I would capitalize upon this little five lettered friend before it goes out of style.

I consider myself something of an urban walker. I don't necessarily walk to many destinations but I walk a lot. At work I walk around five to seven miles, around and around and around the restaurant, back and forth, up and down. Hey it's urban and I'm walking. Restaurant walking can be quite entertaining... As a server you just never know who you are going to walk up to and where they are at in their story. Perhaps they are celebrating an anniversary, a return from war, or a promotion. Perhaps they are having an affair (sadly and truly). Perhaps they are making out in one of the little corner boths every single time you come to the table. This style of walking is good practice for counseling I think, and developing what my professors call "containing" or "holding." Meaning keeping a lot of tension, ambiguity, and emotion inside (kind of) on behalf of the other person and yourself. Restaurant walking also strengthens my back and arms as I cary loads upon loads of cheese and meat and chocolate. It's almost a full body workout.

I walk dogs in various locations in Tacoma with no particular destination in mind, only with the purpose of moving around. For the most part I love these walks. Particularly at night in the summer. Tonight after I finished my urban restaurant walking I went straight to dog walking. Warm summer nights such as these are beautiful. My pace slows down and I notice life around me, perspective changes. I love the quiet calmness of sleepy houses. I love the warm lights I don't see during the day, the landscaping illuminated from the ground up rather from the sun. The night smells different, behaves different. Tonight the wind picked up and as I walked under the stoic old pines of North tacoma I felt their presence and that of the lazy air. Cooky looking cats always run around in the shadows. My mind spends time dreaming.

All this to say. I like to walk and I walk a lot. And I hope you get to walk a lot too and really SEE all that surrounds you.

Summer

2008-05-16T14:40:00.000-07:00

I like the smell of summer. I can tell it’s here when the heat conjures the musty molecules too heavy to rise in the cold winter months. Those molecules that lie dormant in my carpet and closets and basements and garages. Plants and trees also tell me summer arrived as I walk past their blossoms and do a double take with my nose…Really, that tree smells that good? Whoa. The lilacs are just beginning to bloom as well. This means my walks around the neighborhood will be interrupted by quick stops to breath in their fleeting fragrances. The cherry trees announced the arrival of spring a while ago with their crazy pink blooms. Now they mock winter’s snows by dropping their petals like a mid-December dusting. Except it’s pink. My neighbors even use their leaf blowers to clean up what I would dub a “party favor” for spring’s arrival. My next favorite tree is what I call the “wedding tree.” I don’t know the proper name, but they are short trees trimmed so that their long branches full of white or pink blossoms fall to the ground. They look like they should line a bride’s wedding isle. Their flowers are nature’s way of welcoming the wedding season I think.
Looking forward to roses, drinking beer on my back porch, and warm summer nights,
With Love,
Alison

What type of Journal are you? Life without suffixes

2008-04-25T23:02:00.000-07:00

While waiting downtown Seattle to catch the bus, my fellow classmate and I discussed our most recent journal writing assignment. It just so happened that a gentleman passing by eavesdropped into our conversation thinking we were talking about journalism. The ensuing conversation was hilarious and poignant.

Friend and I Talking...
blah blah blah...Did you finish your journal?

Man on Street (hopped up on something, dazed by something else): Hey so are you like a journal? I mean what kind of journal are you?

Me: Well, um, what do you mean?

Man on Street: What kind of journal are you?
(meaning what kind of journalist are you?)

Me: I write but I'm not a journalist. I just write for school and for fun.

Man on Street: Oh well, like, I'm taking a journal class at North Seattle College. Man, you're probably way ahead of me.

Me: Well, I don't know about that...

Man on Street: You know...just remember, just remember (pointing to his heart and smiling without his front teeth) it has to come from here. Not here (his head).

Me: Okay, thanks. Have a good day...

Man on Street: Yeah man. I'm Don. (utters some sort of blessing)

Me: Nice to meet you Don, I'm Alison.

Life without suffixes is entertaining. Obviously this man had a whole lot of issues but I was blessed by his passionate engagement and bright smile. Life is surprising. What type of journal am I? What type of journal are you? This guy was on to something, we truly are journals. We are each full of stories waiting to be read, stories that are hiding, and stories still being written. Most importantly, we are part of a much bigger journal whose main theme is redemption. It's called the bible. Woohooo. by the way my b key is broken so I have to cut and paste that letter everytime so the word bible is not capitalized. I am sorry!

A Spring Trek to the Washington Coast

2008-04-13T19:40:00.000-07:00

Enjoy a little bit of our hike with the dogs. My friend Cassie and I were the only one's on the trail (for good reason if you play the video.) I loved it because it reminded me of portaging in the boundary waters bugs and all. It was "hatching" season for hoards of water bugs and mosquitoes. Our feet were cold but the view was well worth it and we were the only people on the beach. We even jumped in the pacific and submerged ourself completely...twice! It was cold. The dogs had a blast and were soooo worn out by the end of the day, we were too. This little getaway was only a 24-hour time frame although it felt like a couple day vacation. We made a campfire the night before, slept outside, ate amazing donuts for breakfast, then hiked a lot, got a little lost, got muddy, laid in the sun, ran on the sand, and watch spike and jag frolic. A good day if you ask me, despite lacking the "10" essentials including lunch and a map (not suggested!). And I got to wear my awesome hat :)

My Family Vacation

2008-04-02T15:40:00.000-07:00

Yes, you may laugh loudly. Please do.
Don't worry, the weapons and money are fake.
Left to Right: Mom, Me, Tom, Grandma.

Under the Fries

2008-04-02T15:29:00.000-07:00

While eating lunch at this little cafe in Sedona, AZ my Grandma ordered "a salad." This is the plate that she got...Here is the dialog that ensued:

"Where is the salad?" we asked.

"IT'S UNDER THE FRIES!" said the server.

"oh." We laughed.

Iceberg lettuce under fries and a burger. So classic (unfortunately).

a short trip.

2008-03-18T23:02:00.000-07:00

I will be in the land of cacti and desert in approximately 25 hours if all goes as planned. I am in anticipation of sun!
In the meantime I will be cranking out 3 more glorious pages...that is if I can stop procrastinating. At this point, I may just as well go to bed. At least I get a solid "A" for procrastination.

Augustine on Reality T.V.

2008-03-15T11:19:00.001-07:00

I think Augustine would still say this about America's obsession with reality T.V. and T.V. in general. This is an excerpt from book three of his Confessions

"I was captivated by theatrical shows. They were full of representations of my own miseries and fuelled my fire. Why is it that a person should wish to experience suffering by watching grievous and tragic events which he himself would not wish to endure? Nevertheless he wants to suffer the pain given by being a spectator of these sufferings, and the pain itself is his pleasure. What is this but amazing folly? For the more anyone is moved by these scenes, the less free he is from similar passions. Only, when he himself suffers, it is called misery; when he feels compassion for others, it is called mercy. But what quality of mercy is it in fictitious and theatrical inventions? A member of the audience is not excited to offer help, but invited only to grieve. The greater his pain, the greater his approval of the actor in these representations. if the human calamities, whether in ancient histories or fictitious myths, are so presented that the theatregoer is not caused pain, he walks out of the theatre disgusted and highly critical. But if he feels pain, he stays riveted in his seat enjoying himself."

On the other hand, yes, TV is the "Great Dissociator" and sometimes I crave it.

The Suffering Community

2008-03-11T19:10:00.000-07:00

"Friends lets drink 'til our hearts break open
and our hands feel empty though they're full all the time.
It's so nice in here, I'm so glad you're here
can we just stay here all the time walk me home
we'll watch the sun come up
Don't leave me alone, cause I've been left enough..."

This insightful little lyric has brought me much contemplation over the last few days. To Chris Thile and the intrepid band of Punch Brothers I am grateful and awed. If I had a musical ability to respond with a thanks as beautiful as their music I would. But I don't and a simple word of thanks seems futile. I offer is blessings in their journey of suffering and joy. I will drink with you anytime ☺ Those who suffer much have the capacity for much joy, seemingly paradoxical yes, (true?) you decide.

Onto what I really mean to share...

Set to an elegantly solemn tender tune, the lyrics capture an aching for the invitation to suffer with friends. And not just suffer violently by getting trashed together and dissociating from the world (although is called for at times), but moving together to engage a sorrow so deep one cannot and should not bear it alone. As I listen my head conjures images of rest, vulnerability, and love. My hands are always full, I don’t easily allow myself time or space to suffer, I am afraid of asking you to be with me in my suffering. But if you will, how beautiful it will be! You don’t need to say anything, just be present and as we lift our glasses to our own depravity watch the doves of sadness fly away. By dawn the whiskey will be gone and our cups filled with tears. In the morning we’ll leave the gaze of sorrow gone by and empty hands, and turn our eyes to the sunrise. Don’t talk please, rest with me. This has been a tender and sacred time. Yes please, “thank you Jesus can I have another and another oh thank you Lord?” I’m not implying I know this time or space yet, moments yes, totality no.

Breaking closed hearts corporately. I commend those who have the capacity for the intimacy and vulnerability required to actually live out these lyrics and more precisely the contrast of feelings highlighted by the notes. I am thankful to imagine and hope for what transforming healing is possible with others. But really that’s what I’m all about trying to be.

Here’s to hope, longing, love, sorrow, gratitude, joy, desire, rest, delight, with the last word being redemption. May I celebrate with you and if time or space does not permit may you find others to celebrate with on this crazy unpredictable journey of heartbreak and hope.

And that I will drink to. Cheers.

Spike's New Thing

2008-03-05T15:28:00.000-08:00

After seeing my friend's dog Koosah do something like this, it didn't take Spike long to catch on.

A million other things

2008-03-05T15:07:00.000-08:00

I have been trying to start writing one of many papers for school and end up thinking of almost anything else to do instead. Right now there is about a million other things I'd rather be doing than sitting in front of my computer writing a paper! AGHHHHHH.

Watching Cars and Seattle Style

2008-02-21T08:40:00.000-08:00

I am up in Seattle three days a week for school. The routine (starting in Tacoma) generally goes as follows:
Spike runs on and off my bed, does it again, barks. Wake up. Feed dog. Make Coffee. Eat breakfast. If time permits crawl back in bed with coffee, my computer, and spike. Snuggle. Look at clock and realize I must move quickly. Pack up my life in a bag, throw meal together, head to bus stop. Get anxious about finding a parking spot. Make it on bus. Read. Get off bus. Watch cars and people as I walk downtown. School. Watch cars as I wait for the bus. I enjoy watching cars.

I don't know what it is about cars, but I find myself curious about all the cars that pass me downtown and the lives of people inside. Many of the cars that I see are luxury models with business suit dressed people inside. I think it is interesting the difference between the cars I see pass the Tacoma Dome station and the cars I see pass the Seattle bus stop on 2nd avenue. Tacoma is known to be "gritty" and if the cars are representative of this adjective it's true. A lot of dirty trucks, beat up cars, and used SUV's pass by me in Tacoma. In Seattle, especially if I wait in the afternoon or evening it seems that every car is newer, clean, and luxury. I just wonder about why people choose to purchase those cars, if they are happy in their luxury, what their cars mean to them, how often they get a new one. I admit, I like nice cars, the design, speed, technology. I also like gritty ones like mine. As the waves of expensive cars pass by me I consider the millions of dollars I watch every day. It is pretty amazing. I guess I want to know the story behind the cars, but it is fun to have them remain fleeting mysteries. I sometimes try to imagine myself driving in the drivers seat, where would I be coming from? Where would I be going? Would I have a family? Would I eat in expensive restaurants? Would I wear stylish clothes? It's a fun game to pass the waiting. Right across from the bus stop is a valet parking stand for a spendy restaurant. That operation gives me lots of fodder.

I also feel like somewhat of an outsider walking downtown Seattle because everyone seems so stylish. Black boots, black coats, black pants, ipods, eclectic/artsy outfits...I wonder what is behind the big sunglasses. I wonder if people see me as a tourist. You can generally tell who the tourists are. People up in Seattle are stylish. Perhaps I should take some lessons from them! That would be a lot of work though. It'd be interesting to observe different neighborhoods as all of my observations are downtown in the shadows of skyscrapers. I like Seattle.

Look.

2008-01-31T08:32:00.000-08:00

I am deeply saddened by the violence ripping through Kenya. The terror waits quietly on my doorstep in black and white. I am comfortably removed from the violence. I have never been to Africa, but many people I know have invested significant time in the country and I wonder how their relationships and places have been affected. Since I started reading the paper most mornings I am confronted by more injustice, fear, and sadness than I know what to do with. It is strange to be a distant observer. I am pulled to act but frozen in knowing how or where to start. It seems that all I can do right now is say "look!" and stumble through prayers of hope and grief.

My body slows as I sit down in a melancholoy awe of the destruction or lives, people, souls, relationships, and hope.

How can I be an agent of justice? Will I? Where am I called? Right now it is here, but I can feel the stirrings of change.

2008-01-22T20:46:00.000-08:00

If I were a monk I believe I would like to be a monk of New Skete. Dogs and Men, a good combination...HA

27 dresses and the single life

2008-01-20T21:16:00.000-08:00

A couple of my girlfriends and I (yeah you know who you are...HOLLA) just watched the newly released "27 Dresses." I must admit I am quite the hopeless romantic when it comes to this genre. Despite the handbook-like unfolding of predictable plotlines, I still melt in the end when the boy and girl melt in each others gaze, or embrace, or whatever verb you'd like to insert at this point in the film. Pretend you're back in first grade with madlibs. Those were fun eh?

With this movie and my marriage & family class as a backdrop, I somehow felt compelled to do a quick search on the books out there dedicated to the plight of the "singles." I, being one of them. There are so many books out there about marriage, I figured there had to be some good ones, or at least entertaining ones, about my situation. Here is a sampling of the titles I found.

To all the singles out there...these are for you and me :)
"Why you're still single, things your friends would tell you if you promised not to get mad"
A; okay friends, start talking...I won't get mad, well maybe not.

"Being sinlge is not a disease..."
A: THANK GOD! I was REALLY worried there for awhile. There has go to be some prescription pill out there somewhere though.

"Single: the art of being satisfied, fulfilled, and independent"
A: I guess I'm okay with being an artist. Really I think you could replace single with married though and the book would still work.

"The last year of being single"
A: Yeah, because you are so old the next year you will be dead. Okay that may be a bit over the top.

"Better single than sorry"
A: or...better married than alone

"The Christian Single Woman's Guide to Being a Player God's Way: A Practical Humorous Guide To Christian Dating"
A: 'A Player God's Way?' I wonder what God thinks about that...

"111 Ways to survive being single"
A: Now singles need a survival manual. Wow I didn't know how dangerous my life is.

"Being single on Noahs Ark"
A: Hmmmm.

and finally

"It's okay to be single"
A: phew.

You must admit there are some pretty funny titles out there. Happy Reading.

It's been while...

2008-01-19T19:28:00.000-08:00

I had pretty much given up on this whole "blogging" thing since I moved back to Tacoma. Perhaps I hadn't reached the giving up stage yet, but the wishy washy stage. I started the blog to stay in touch with people as I embarked on my dogsledding adventure and now, well I have lost motivation or perhaps the extra time to share my extraneous thoughts.

But tonight I guess I'm back. I was actually perusing various blog names I could use for a "dog blog" on the "soon to be coming website!" for spike and i. Really it should be up soon. Just some FTP work and vwal-AH. I looked at my last entry and decided it was time to give everyone who actually reads this a little bit of an update.

LIFE IS GOOD.
But IT RAINS here A bit TOo MucH

I have three great dogs at my house right now, all of them are crashed out on the floor from playing hard at the dog park then running with Cassie and I. All except Jag-who incessently feels the need to be right next to any human companion, breathing heavily while begging for pets. He is a devilishly handsome and charming lad so we all oblige. Thankfully my roomates graciously oblige as well, even more than me. My roomate is playing guitar in the background and the other one is cooking so as I write this I feel "nested" with the dogs, wafting smells, and background guitar. I also happen to be fond of using quotes tonight.

I am now back in school and taking a full load of credits. I also am not working much (at this point at all). This set-up is very pleasing to me as the perpetual background noise in my mind has quieted and I feel less crazy. This begs the question of, feeling vs being. Such feelings could be due to the fact that I've only had two classes. I like to live in the moment...

GRATITUDE is also a sentiment I have been feeling lately. It is easy to get disheartened by the gross injustice, tragedy, and *&@# that happens. (Side note-one of my favorite passtimes lately=waking up to coffee and the NYTimes at our doorstep, thanks to my housemate) In the middle of everything I still feel the glimmering of gratitude and hope, and hope for gratitude. I've felt compelled to rest, to slow down and be. And man is it good.

I agree there are plenty of life seasons out there and this is the season for now.

These are some of the topics I've pondered lately:
Composting (yeah really)
building websites
teaching a dog to come when called at a dog park-"SPIKE!"
learning to fiddle
warm places with seaturtles and waves
e-waste that gets dumped in developing countries for children to disassemble into metal and toxic fumes
good friends
eating a variety of vegetables with names that are new to me

...sidetracked

I went dogsledding in bend and then to hawaii. Both can be summed up in one word=AMAZING!

I encourage you to read, create, be, laugh, sorrow, move, and celebrate. Do the things that must be done.

Until next time,
alison

Spike and I

2007-10-12T06:54:00.000-07:00

It's official. I am starting a dog walking/running business in Tacoma! I should have everything ready to go pretty soon. Just in time to enjoy the pacific northwest torrential rains.

www.spikeandi.com

coming soon...

∆

2007-10-08T22:26:00.000-07:00

It's here. It happens. We grow. We learn.

My Theology Class

2007-09-30T12:00:00.000-07:00

I have never taken a theology class before and find myself surprised by my lack of thought in this area. I thought that I had been thinking about this, but to my surprise I never REALLY considered the evolution of say "the trinity." In the context of the brillant minds I feel surrounded by I find this quite embarrassing! For years I have been spoonfed ideas, constructs, traditions, and words with little curiousity as to the history behind them. I was not the type of person to spend hours wondering or being curious about philosophy. I was curious about different things. I am grateful for the chance to be curious about theology, to have conversations, and listen to the experience of others. Not that I haven't had this before, it is just different with an academic study to speed the process. In reading my texts for my theology class I find myself just saying Thank You to God. I have a strange peace about me.

And yes, you'll notice the word is spelled incorrectly in the blog heading. It is with purpose. Go back and read one of the first entries. You'll see why.

The Next Season

2007-09-15T15:10:00.000-07:00

You could quite easily be thinking I am referring to the impending change in chlorophyll, cooler nights, and looming gray skies. But, I'm not. Quite simply I am talking about my recent purchase of Season number 3, of dum duh dah...Grey's Anatomy. Yes, the engaging drama rife with professionals, who, frankly would benefit from some serious counseling. I am, however, biased.

It's these little things in life that make me smile. Like being so excited about my new vacuum cleaner that I post a picture of it on the website. This thing really makes you want to clean. Silly as it may be, I even decked it out with some stickers!

I also had to laugh at myself today for losing the cap to my laundry detergent. Of course there are other options, but instead I chose to lug the 3 gallon jug to the washer, push the button until I think I've added the right amount of soap, and then lug the soap back. To think I majored in Chemistry...definitely not analytical!

Lastly, I love watching my dog sleep. It makes me want to take a nap.

And on Tuesday I start fiddle lessons. Have to get ready for Wintergrass.

Me and the Boys

2007-09-14T21:56:00.000-07:00

Say Hi to Max, Mogley, Austin, Koda, Spike, and I!

Wedding #3

2007-09-14T21:03:00.000-07:00

yeah, they are squinting...it was really sunny

We kind of look like speed skaters.

The Rehearsal Dinner...Good Food, Wine, People. I like the scene this picture captures: the many moments in community it represents, and the conversations that echo from it, and the peace found in unlikely spots of chaos.
Congratulations Katie and Peter! Your wedding was amazing and beautiful. Meeting your friends and family was a gift and an adventure. Your friendship is lovely. Thank you.

A Rocky Mountain Visit

2007-08-29T21:07:00.000-07:00

Colorado is stunning. I had the pleasure of spending six glorious days in the little touristy town of Breckenridge. One of my closest friends from High School got married, this being wedding number 3 of the summer. Katie and Peter are wonderful, and I wish them adventures, love, and contentment. I tend to wish most married couples that in case you were wondering.

I decided after being on vacation, eating donuts, reading leisurely, exploring new geographies, sleeping in, meeting fun new people, biking, drinking coffee in fun cafes, reading, and playing, that I need to go on more vacations! Don't we all. I wish Spike could have come and played in the mountains too.

Kristy and Seth

2007-08-12T16:22:00.000-07:00

Beautiful. Congratulations Kristy and Seth. It was an honor.

Mel Gibson's Next Movie

2007-08-12T16:17:00.001-07:00

Perhaps Mel Gibson should read the gospel of psuedo-Matthew...it is quite entertaining. Read it here:
http://wesley.nnu.edu/biblical_studies/noncanon/gospels/psudomat.htm
Jesus makes dragons bow to him, lots of wild beasts, palm trees, and more-all while just an infant. Mary is pretty much "ultra-woman," who goes to great lengths to preserve her virginity. Nonetheless, this is an entertaining read. I read it for my New Testament final as an example of what a Gospel is NOT.

24 hour car camping bliss

2007-07-28T20:21:00.000-07:00

My soon to be married friend, married friend, and I headed to Leavenworth for a short but event filled camping extravaganza. A few of the highlights include (in order of occurence):
1. Driving in K.Rob's New, Air Conditioned CRV over the pass and through the mountains.
2. Meeting the elusive, but oft mentioned "Nick and Di."
3. Finding an awsome campsite by a gurgling creek.
4. Eating crepes in a look-a-like Bavarian Town,
5. Drinking Mike's Hard Lemonade, talking, and eating smore's with the campfire going strong.

6. Seeing a deer saunter right by our campsite.
7. Sleeping outside
8. Waking up at 5:30 am to beat the 100 degree heat.
9. HIking to an awsome alpine lake.

10. Laying out on a huge rock then swimming in the alpine lake
11. Meeting Mr. Marmot...we debated whether this creature was a male or female and decided to go with a guy. He was really cute!

12. Purple flowers
13. Starbucks
14. Driving in K.Rob's New, Air Conditioned CRV over the pass and through the mountains. And taking a nap.
15. Arriving home safe, then taking Spike for a long walk and to the dog wash.

My Girls :)

2007-07-24T15:51:00.001-07:00

Love YA!

Wedding #1

2007-07-23T23:23:00.000-07:00

Peter and Kari. Thank You. May you grow together in love, wisdom, grace, laughter, community, and God. Love ya.

riding in a limo, drinking champagne
A. Damn in feels good to be a gangsta..
B. I'm bringin sexy back...
C. She's freaky and she's knows it...

Lake Chelan Triathlon

2007-07-23T23:00:00.000-07:00

We are the Champions...okay not really but we can act like it
Mogley wants in on the action too!

Lisa-aka my support crew, and I

Happy after race glow in my cool new duds

Run

Transition 1

I am proud to say I finally got around to completing my first triathlon. I'm hooked. If they weren't so expensive and I wasn't unemployed I'd sign up for more. Hopefully I'll be able to do at least one more this summer. The weekend was fantastic. Good weather, good people, good scenery, and a good race (contrary to last years disaster). I did a lot better than I expected, I thought I would finish in about 3.5 hours. But I finished in a little over 2.5! My total time was 2:36, at this point in my racing career, the seconds are not essential. I got 2nd in my age group. That sounds pretty good, but there was only about 9 females. However, I placed 7th overall female, and 32nd overall. There were only 100 people though, so really, no big deal. I did get a pretty second place ribbon though. I was very pleased with my first one and had a blast. And I didn't puke or die or cramp up so really, I'd say it was a success.

The guys also got second in their Halfiron relay, they too recieved pretty red ribbons.

Thanks to lisa, bean, seth, max, james, mogley, and spike for a great weekend.

I'm a Happy Boy

2007-07-23T22:47:00.000-07:00

The Economy Bible

2007-07-03T12:59:00.000-07:00

I needed to buy a Bible so where did I go? Where else but amazon.com. What did I find. I found the "Economy Bible" and had to laugh at the description. No, it's not an economics textbook, it's a Bible. Since I have an economy car I thought, why not go for the economy Bible right? I bought it and hope that it's not missing chapters or something. It made me smile. Maybe if I'm lucky I'll upgrade to the "luxury" edition at some point...

No Morphine Button Here

2007-07-03T00:06:00.000-07:00

I have obsessively watched Grey's anatomy, yes seasons 1 & 2, over the last month. Maybe it is McDreamy, all the sleeping around, or good quality dissociation. I say that to preface my following thoughts...

Counseling, that is being IN counseling, going to therapy, seeing your shrink, whatever phrase you prefer to use is like surgery. Think about it. When you go into surgery a team of tech's, nurses, various doctors, and surgeons each use their specialized skills to cut you open, move things around, perhaps take something out, sew something up, and then put you back together. Depending on the surgery the recovery may be long or short. If you're lucky friends and family stop by your room to talk and bring flowers, nurses check in and take vital signs, doctors do their rounds, and you get drugs to ease the pain. You may go to PT, OT, or some other type of rehab therapy to return to your pre-op condition.

Then there is being in counseling. It is like having surgery on your psyche, your being, but without the morphine drip. All your insides are exposed, you are vulnerable. There is internal patching up, rearranging, and removing. Like recovery from surgery, recovering from the psychological incision takes a lot of time and energy. Often it happens without friends and family bringing flowers when you hurt. In fact, people around you may not even know you have gone under "the knife." But you feel the shift of your insides and the pain of the incision. You monitor your vital signs yourself and hope to God you are reading them right. When the pain gets unbearable you reach for the morphine; sex, drugs, relationship, food, exercise, whatever eases the pain. Except there is no IV and it takes time for the medicine to reach the site. The wound may become infected and need more attention. Or perhaps the first surgery had complications and required a second. Sometimes it may feel as if you are a walking operating room with your insides just dangling here and there. As you walk by your doctor, you ask with discomfort, "ugh, how long is this going to last? I mean, how long can I stay alive like this?"

Then, in time, you take your first steps with your new heart, breath for the first time with your new lungs and there is life. You exist in the world in a new way and still have some scars. Every once in awhile you may have to go back in for minor surgeries, or maybe even major. But when you recover, you recover what it means to truly live as well. And the morphine button doesn't actually look all that appealing anymore.

when i write we i mean i when i write i i mean you when i write i i mean us...?

2007-06-24T14:47:00.001-07:00

We are faced with decisions about how to live and for what everyday. Sometimes we think about it, sometimes we don't, the complacency of routine lulls us into security or acceptance. We are afraid to step into the unknown for fear of what we may lose, the trouble it may cause, the insecurity of not knowing. All of which are quite necessary to include when making a decision. But sometimes you just have to go with your gut. In between the head and the heart exists a body of ambiguity. How do you live with that ambiguity? We can resort to our head, which I often do. We can resort to our heart, which I often do. Or we can struggle to hold both. Sometimes the anxiety is too much to hold both and the pendulum swings one way or another.

I need to decide every morning how I will choose to live. Will I live for money, stuff, health, job, family, people, God, appearance, feeling, security, risk, adrenaline, joy, friends, soul, prestige, performance, music...? At least I'm asking the question.

1. Some mornings I don't decide, I sleep in late, drink too much coffee, and sit on the couch indecisively...all day. That's okay.

2. Some mornings I am decisive, self-aware, conscious, motivated, and hopeful. That's okay.

3. Sometimes we make decisions and later ask the question "what the hell was I thinking?" That's okay.

4. Sometimes the decisions we make scream "THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!" That's okay.

Today I hope the decision I make includes #'s 1, 2, and 4.

Father's Day

2007-06-20T10:11:00.000-07:00

Memories fade over time, what used to be so clear becomes blurred...Father's Day. I ran at the waterfront watching young families picking shells on the beach together, lone old men walking slow and alone, father and son riding bikes, a single leaf falling from a tree. Symbolism. I felt sorrowful for the relationship I once had with my father, for the children who have or who have never known their father, for all the dad's that are just plain jerks, for the estranged relationships, for the pain of families. Heavy and contemplative.

My Dad was a stellar man. He loved me well, loved my mom well, and loved my friends well. He had a temper. I often wonder what life would be like if he was still around today. It could be harder and infused with more pain or it could be lighter. I won't know. Perhaps it seems strange to you to have grief be so present 12 years later. It is for me, but I find rest in acknowledging the confusing pain of loss. Grief feels big, onminous, unspecified, peaceful. I'm finally able to cry the tears I tried to control for so many years and I find there are others around to catch them. They hold a cup for me to cry and are not drown by my sadness or confusion. I am at rest.

I was young when my Dad left this world. I didn't know what to do except go on. So I did. Now I am finding time and space to pause, remember, and grieve. Today is a day I feel loss, and a lot of it-not just of my dad but more. It comes at different moments, surprising, not so surprising. Sometimes it feels like life falls apart.

Thesis: Loss of Relationship

Conclusion: Hard, Sad, Life...

mush

2007-06-12T23:44:00.000-07:00

A New Genre

2007-06-12T23:13:00.001-07:00

Today I was informed of a new genre often utilized, easily recognized, but not often enough named:
that of the "half-assed, rapid-write, hope to God this does the job" paper
Not that I have any idea what my Professor and T.A. were talking about...

Dirt, Greed, and Sex...

2007-06-12T22:45:00.000-07:00

I was intrigued by the title of the assigned reading as soon as I opened the syllabus for my Sexuality, Intimacy, and Power class. The three words were followed by an even more surpirising subtitle "Sexual Ethics in the New Testament and Their Implications for Today." Countryman, the author, offers a refreshing, articulate, and academic synthesis of what the Bible REALLY has to say about sex. And what you may find will disturb you, compel you, challenge you, free you, welcome you, and repel you. My hope would be that it compels you toward a deep compassion and invitation to the outsider, those who have been marginalized for their sexual practices. The gospel is for everyone PERIOD. So get over yourself, and I'll do my best to get over myself. The gospel is for your neighbor who sleeps with different women weekly, for the man who longs to be a woman, for a woman who loves a woman, for a man who loves a man, for the celibate, for the adulterer, for the prostitute, for the couple celebrating 50 years together, for me, for you. I of course suggest reading this book, but below is a short summary I wrote of Countryman's main thesis. Enjoy and respond.

William Countryman challenges the modern sexual ethic often revolving around shame, exclusion, and physicality through careful examination of the New Testament text and culture. His attention to Greek language nuances, juxtaposition of ancient and modern culture, and overarching principle of grace invite the reader to understand sexuality and sex in light of the transforming gospel of grace and redemption, not condemnation and separation.

Throughout his work Countryman spends significant time specifying how translators imparted their own traditions and societal norms to the text, thereby changing the original meaning. Although translators may have chosen the best available word, the connotations and meaning our culture assigns to it alters the intended meaning (p.126). Countryman asserts in a variety of ways, “we must seek to recover from them [N.T. writings] not only what they say, but what their original audiences already knew” (p. 141) and “one must resist the temptation to read the ancient texts only in terms drawn from one’s own immediate experience and the tradition which has shaped it” (p.143). With this in mind, we must not be too hasty to understand subjects of desire, lust, purity, and other sexually charged words in the New Testament based on our own experience.

Countryman’s investigation of language frames the cultural picture he presents to show how purity and property norms differ significantly from today’s norms. Today sexual purity often presents as a moral issue, in the Old Testament world it was a way for the Jews to set themselves apart from other ethnic groups (p. 65). In the first century, the purity laws were abandoned in order to allow Jew and Gentile table fellowship, ultimately relationship. The change in societal code lead to viewing purity as deriving from the heart, not from physicality. Humility, love, compassion, unity, and peace were the author’s intended meaning of purity, not whether or not lovers are having sex before marriage or engaging in homosexual acts. These virtues intended to help the new church gain respectability from neighbors and maintain community (p. 129).

Property, not purity language was used around sexual acts that would dishonor a patriarch’s ownership of women and children. As difficult as it is to understand, much less accept the lack of women’s rights throughout most of history, the serious reader must not impose modern expectations or experiences of romantic love-choice, freedom, and individuality on the Biblical text. Ancients understood sex outside of marriage as stealing, not a breech in one’s purity in relationship to God. Christians who have used purity language from the scriptures to create very specific boundaries around what is and what is not acceptable sexually will likely experience anxiety and resistance when presented with Countryman’s elucidation. It is disappointing to find out that neither sex nor physical purity is of utmost concern in the New Testament (p. 141).

What is of primary concern is the availability of grace. Nothing separates God’s love from humanity. Contrary to the message of condemnation Christians have freely handed out to individuals living in “sexual sin,” Countryman reminds the reader that salvation is not dependent on purity. Abolition of the purity rules meant to unify, today often “Christian” culture uses purity rules to separate. Practicing purity rules is not wrong in and of it self, but what is to be examined is the “exaltation of one’s own religious excellence at the expense of others” (p. 95). Where does the bible say that having sex before marriage, non-vaginal intercourse, or homosexuality is a greater sin than that of pride? The simple answer is-it doesn’t.

Countryman closes his work with “the gospel works rather to express the power of God’s love, which rejects our rejections and breaches our best defenses and draws us out of our fortifications toward a goal we can as yet barely imagine” (p. 267). We need not be as concerned with our neighbor’s sex life as that of our own acceptance, expression, and bestowal of God’s indiscriminate grace and love.

Reference
Countryman, L. (1988). Dirt Greed and Sex: Sexual Ethics In the New Testament and Their Implications for Today. Philadelphia. Fortress.

late happenings

2007-05-10T23:13:00.000-07:00

I had a milestone event in my life today. After dreaming about a nice little pint of Haagen Daz ice cream while in my New Testament class I stopped by the store on the way home and picked up a pint of cookie dough ice cream. Luckily when I came home my housemates were up so I plopped down on the couch and enjoyed my ice cream all the way to the bottom. Never done that before. So here's to the creators of Haagen Daz, bless you and keep making your delicious little wonders.

I have been thoroughly enjoying life. About four nights a week I come home smelling like a fondue pot; I have been exploring Seattle thanks to my grad school; I'm sleeping on a new bed; riding public transit; and walking Spike. Oh and I'm training for an olympic distance triathalon. Things are going well-you know how sometimes almost too well, like okay what is going to happen next?

In the meantime I'm living in the good times, finding myself laughing and smiling at the small things. Like today as I was watching buses go by I thought the flashing lights denoting the destination said, "Berry Farm." I thought, hmm, that is an interesting destination for downtown Seattle...I smiled from behind the glass at Starbuck's when I quickly realized that the bus was heading to the "Ferry Term." Perhaps I need my eyes checked. A trip to the berry farm would be quite pleasant though. I keep thinking of Snoopy and Jam thanks to the Berry Farm at the Mall of America. Minnesotans you know what I'm talking about.

And lastly, deriving from my brief yet detailed survey of downtown Seattle in the last week I have concluded that Starbuck's is indeed trying to takeover America. Watch OUt!

2007-05-04T14:44:00.000-07:00

Spike makes me smile.

Easter Thoughts

2007-05-04T14:41:00.000-07:00

a letter for me?

2007-05-04T14:40:00.000-07:00

For those of you who happen to want to send me a letter (hint hint) Here is my new address!
3613 North Stevens Street
Tacoma, WA 98407
Remember postage goes up pretty soon

My Mom is so Cute

2007-04-19T11:14:00.000-07:00

Kyle Really wanted to give my Mom a nice kiss for coming to the kennel to visit. She was a great sport about it!

Little Bunny Foo Foo Hops into Alison's Mouth

2007-04-19T11:08:00.000-07:00

Two Days

2007-04-19T10:48:00.000-07:00

I arrived safely in Tacoma with a generous welcome from friends! As I drove away from Bend and the buttes, sage, and juniper I felt sad, but excited for my life back here. I will miss the good people I met, the amazing terrain, and my favorite coffee ship Bellatazza. Now I am back in lush Tacoma, which happens to be in beautiful bloom.

The last couple of days have been interesting to say the least. My friend Max and I went to unload my storage unit with his truck only to find I wouldn't have even needed an envelope to unload it. EVERYTHING had been stolen-clothes, shoes, books, outdoor gear, kitchen stuff, CD's, etc. I knew that was a possibility when the storage place called me and said my unit had been tampered with but wasn't really expecting it to be totally cleaned out. Fortunately they know who did it. When the officer arrived he allowed them to open the culprit's unit directly across from mine. Inside I found two of my bags with my name and address on the luggage tags. The theif also burglarized a few other units so the Lakewood police have a special operations detective on the case.

Although it makes unpacking easy, since all I have is what fits in my Honda Civic, I am bummed to lose sentimental pictures, letters, memories-and such. At the same time, as I was unpacking what fits in my Honda civic I was surprised at how much I actually fit in that car! Ultimately it is just "stuff" and most of it can be replaced. Luckily I have insurance. I highly reccomend getting renters insurance for all of you who rent! It is going to be my life saver. I am just relieved it is not one of my body parts, a friend or family member, or my dog! It's going to be a pain in the ass to do the paperwork, but that's all I can do. It is a very obvious reminder of the truth that material things can be gone in a moment and not to get too attached. Life is immensely bigger than stuff.

That happened my first day back.

When I woke up the next morning I found my new pet had puked, pied, and pooped all over the living room floor. Hello day number 2.

Today is day number three home and so far so good. I was a bit nervous to discover what else would come my way.

Spike Comes Home

2007-04-19T09:50:00.000-07:00

Rachel and I gave Mr. Spike a nice bath. He wasn't so sure about the endeavor!
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The arm rest also makes a great head rest.
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Ahh, the joy of pet ownership...

Spike and I

2007-03-23T18:30:00.000-07:00

Spike and I finished one obedience class and are working on walking on a leash and the essential "sit." So far so good.

I'm Melting

2007-03-19T18:11:00.000-07:00

It has been ridiculously hot here lately, at least for me and definitely for the dogs. The snow is melting and driving the sled is like running on snowcones. Eighty degrees is way to warm for me. I thought I could move back to central Oregon, but then I forgot about the summer. I'll be here for less than a month and the time is going by fast! See you all soon.

Spike and Starla

2007-03-19T18:08:00.000-07:00

Spike now has a new rival for the hole, meet starla.

Alison Makes ANOTHER new friend

2007-03-19T18:04:00.000-07:00

Me, Sexy? Setting the Record Straight...

2007-03-10T10:30:00.000-08:00

Everytime I show my blog to someone they often look at the picture of me on my profile and either scoff, wink and say with an inuendo Hmm, or ask why I don't put a different picture there. I put it up there because, well I like it. Perhaps it is a bit more risk-ay than what people generally think of me. But I don't really give a damn. Just to set the record straight I purposely used that picture. Sure I haven't dated a lot of people, But I can be a bit more of a muse than you think. And I can be sexy. Go ahead and put that on record.

April 15th Not Just Taxes

2007-03-10T10:19:00.000-08:00

It also happens to be my last official day in Bend. My last official day as a dog musher.

A Tacoma Visit

2007-03-10T09:56:00.000-08:00

I made a very quick trip up to Tacoma this past week. I loaded my car with a bunch of stuff I had big plans of using over the 7 months of being in Bend. I was going to do an extravagant amount of reading, an equally extravagant amount of playing my instruments, a bit less writing of letters, and of course exploring central oregon. My intentions were much bigger than my reality. So in order to make room for a new member of my family, Spike, to accomodate the large dufus, I hauled a load of stuff up to my house. More importantly, I spent time with stellar people. A few stellar people I didn't get to see, but you can't do everything in a 36 hour trip. I am so incredibly blessed by all these people in my life. You each bring me life in a different way. You challenge my thoughts and actions. You help me know what it means to be loved and to love. Thank You. I deeply appreciate your hugs, smiles, laughs, and honesty. I am glad that you understand my all around craziness infused with a bit of seriousness and perhaps at times topped with some wisdom. I'm like a good martini. And I bet I leave you feeling a little loopy if you have too much of me. Haha.

As I drove onto 705 and looked at the city it was a bittersweet homecoming. I felt sad to know that my time in Oregon is coming to an end. It surprised me because I thought I would feel "happy." Generally a place to me has been about people. But after living in Alfafa it has also become about the space. I'll miss the space down here-and everything that is in the space. Last year I thought I would end up in Tacoma for a long time. Now, honestly, as people move away and I myself change, I am more eager to finish school and perhaps leave the "City of Destiny" for awhile. Who knows though? Until then, I will savor the last month and a half I have here and try to prepare myself for this little call I have to be a counselor. Soon my early-to-bed and early-to-rise days will be few and far between, my eyes will be a bit more red from reading, and the strain in my wrists will most likely return from typing and serving people pots of cheese...But perhaps not.

Most of all, thank you to all the wonderful people in my life. I love you!
Peace.

My New Friend Dexter

2007-02-27T15:12:00.000-08:00

Meet Dexter the English Bull Dog.
He is my new friend.
And his owner is too.

A Sad, Snowy Morning

2007-02-27T14:56:00.000-08:00

I haven’t ever had to put a dog down before. All dogs are unique and Hank stood out in the kennel because of his shy nature, brillant golden eyes, and sudden decision to dart out of his house for attention. When I first met him he stayed in his house the entire time I was in the yard. The first time I fed him he cautiously came out of his house for enough time to grab his dish with his teeth and quickly return to the refuge of his spool. This went on for a week or so and at times I would glance over his way and find him tentatively watching me feed and water the other dogs. As soon as I came near, though, he retreated inside. After two weeks of such behavior and other moves of bravery like coming out to sniff my hand for a moment, or laying outside while I was on the other side of the kennel he decided that I was O.K. The next time I came over to feed him he darted out and danced around me like he had never even been shy. From that day forward Hank and I were buds. I had proved myself trustworthy. Hank was always shy at the mountain and for some reason clients gravitate toward our shy dogs- who really want nothing to do with them. When a pesky client would not leave him alone I could walk over and Hank would come bounding up for a hug, relieved to have someone familiar around. I did not think I would become as attached as I did to any of these dogs. When we had to put him down I cried a lot. I expected to experience the death of a dog at some point while working with a hundred or so, but you never are prepared. The loss made me sad. It is obvious, but I haven’t felt such a genuine sadness like that in a while. It seems like any loss moves me into a place where I can connect with other losses I’ve experienced in my life. That night after he died the dogs howled as usual. But I knew as I lay in my bed that there was one less dog out there participating in the nightly ritual. I teared up at the thought and continued to cry as I fell asleep. I felt heavy the next day and so did the others. The event weighed on us and the work on the mountain seemed tedious and slow. We all walked noticeably slower and spoke with more reserve. We intentionally brought up Hank’s brothers, Mickey and Willie. They bear a striking resemblance to Hank and looking at them brought us some sort of peace. The day after he died we awoke to a snow covered desert. Snow is magical and the covering brought us a smile and sense of peace concerning the events of the night before. It has been a few days now and we are not as sad, but Hank's house is still empty. It will be for awhile. In time another dog will move in, but probably not until after I leave. To Hank...

2007-02-18T10:42:00.000-08:00

Um Perhaps I'll have kids someday?...Or maybe I'll stick to pets...

Rach and I Goofing Off

Dad, Daughter, and the Dutch

2007-02-18T10:34:00.000-08:00

Rex

Zack And I

Kyle looking Awsome

Working Together

A God Walking Business

2007-02-18T09:51:00.000-08:00

I was writing an email to my friend and telling her about my brillant job idea for this spring, a god walking business. I had to laugh as I typed the mistake, what kind of freudian slip was that? Do I think I can walk God, or actually the Gods, as "god walking" implies more than one god? No, no I don't. But my fingers moved faster than my brain and what I actually meant was to type DOG walking business. I thought it was pretty funny.

Thank You

2007-02-18T09:43:00.000-08:00

I love people. I love my alone time too. And I love that I have both. Everyday I am reminded of how blessed I am to have the people in my life I do. I am blessed by the way they challenge me, by the way they remind me of our humanity, our shared struggles, and our shared joys. I am blessed by being able to engage in hard conversations and even more difficult decisions. I am thankful that I get to share peoples tears as well as my own. I am blessed in sharing moments of joy and "glory" with others. For those Mars Hillers you know what I mean when I say glory. I cherish, as Martin Buber coined, those "I-thou" moments when we see the other and in seeing, truely seeing and experiencing the other, we see God. All this to say thank you for letting me be in your life, for sharing with me, for letting me be my crazy self, and loving me well.

The Great Glove Fire of '07 and other important events

2007-02-18T09:04:00.000-08:00

Farley

Taking puppies for a walk-notice Spade the straggler-she's the runt of the litter but as cute as ever

Spike My Man

It has been quite an adventure the last couple days...For starters, two nights ago we nearly escaped disaster as we survived what we have aptly named "The Great Glove Fire of '07." After a relaxing evening out on the town I awoke at about 12:30 to a thick thick smelly smoke in my room. Knowing that this was most likely coming from the woodstove I nearly fell off my bunk to make sure the house was not burning down. As I made it to the living room I quickly noticed the problem. The clothesline of gloves we had hung near the wood stove had settled and the gloves were burning! Right in the middle one glove was pure red, smoldering embers. Unlike the woodsmoke smell, the chemically treated fabric made this smoke smell horribly of who knows what kind of toxic polymers. I quickly tried to get the glove down and at least throw it in the fire, but in the process managed to fling some of the embers a couple feet away on the carpet. Fortunately the burning glove just made a nice hole in the carpet, rather than setting the whole place on fire. Hearing my coughing and frantic running around opening doors and windows my roomate kyle woke up and began helping me in my firefighting. Luckily it was only slightly below freezing so purging the room of smoke did not result in extreme cold. After successfully putting out the fire and ensuring nothing else was going up in flames, I grabbed my sleeping bag and decided to spend the night under the stars. There was no way I was going to sleep in what I percieved as remants of a toxic smoke. The stars were absolutley amazing and the dogs howling woke me up the next morning. Half asleep when this whole endeavor happened, I didn't realize that it was not just one glove that burned but more like five or six. We are short on right handed gloves as it is, and this unfortunate event even furthered our one handed predicament. Today I think I am going to buy a fire extinguisher and maybe a new pair of gloves. Last night I closed the door to the woodstove and left my door open just to get more of the toxic smell out, so it was kind of like sleeping outside. We learned our lesson.

In other exciting news I was informed that I could bring home another beautiful dog, Spike. I of course would like to take about 5 dogs home with me, but with the offer of Spike I think he's the one. He is a big black dog with piercing blue eyes, lots of love, and just the right amount of energy! You can look at him above. So if anyone knows of a house with a yard that is looking for a cool girl to live with and one giant dog let me know.

Other News that Makes Me Smile-in no particular order
1. My friend Christine has an amazing English Bull Dog named Dexter, and I love him.
2. I found a stellar place to practice yoga.
3. The Puppies are growing like crazy and are as expected, exceedingly adorable.
4. We harness broke some more pups=fun and good work out.
5. Three of my good friends are in this neck of the woods this weekend.
6. One of my best friends is engaged!
7. Another one of my best friends had a successful surgery.
8. I like beer, now. Bend will do that to you I guess.
9. I recently recieved a new electric toothbrush as a gift.
10. It is sunny.
11. My mom came to visit which was a blast!
12. I am sitting in a cafe catching up with people I love.
13. There are about 40 calves on our road that were JUST born. Whenever I run by I try to go close enough so I can pet them, but as you can imagine cows are not the most affectionate animals...
14. I have Amazing friends and am blessed by their love everyday.
15. I am doing well and loving the days and little things.
16. We are celebrating b-days tonight on the town.
17. Day light savings is coming about a month earlier this year.
18. I have acouple pregnant friends.

Farley and I

2007-01-31T14:06:00.000-08:00

Here is a new puppy. I can take him home with me if I want. Hmmm.

A Precarious Position

2007-01-31T13:59:00.000-08:00

If you think you are having a bad day check out the Dude.

A game for you...

2007-01-31T13:51:00.000-08:00

So we came up with a fun new game for you...It's called "Guess wha'ts in the mugs." If you get all three of them right, I'll send you a prize.

Me Looking Hardcore

2007-01-31T13:48:00.000-08:00

Well not really...

randomality

2007-01-24T17:13:00.000-08:00

I'm sitting at the Backporch again and have been blessed with some insightful lyrics..."You can't rush love" and "You're freakin' me out." Sometimes I wish you could, and sometimes you do freak me out. I mean "you" collectively to my family, friends (some more than others-you know who you are), classmates, society, humanity, God. I think one of the first steps to recovering from an addiction is admitting it. As I am sitting in a cafe, drinking earl grey tea, I admit to you that I am addicted to caffeine. I love this stuff. This morning I had an "extra hot triple grande snickers latte." It was delicious and invigorating. That's it. If you want to intervene feel free. But I'm definitely not ready to give it up yet. Although Lent is coming up...

The last couple days the beauty of this place has hit me hard. It is so amazing. I drove the dog truck up to the moutain the other day which was empowering. Usually it's the guys who do that, but I was driving up solo so it was me. I controlled the music, the latte stop, and was responsible for making it safely up with precious cargo. I think I probably looked pretty hot too. All that to say driving to the moutain presents a skyline of peaks. Driving away, an amazing view of buttes ahead and moutains in the mirrors.

Today I had a day off and went downhill skiing and then topped it off with a bit of nordic. I'll post a pic sometime of me looking all hardcore in my rental helmet. I may be heading back to t-town mid-april and I am already playing through the drive home in my head. Today I am torn between absolutely loving this place and wondering how I could possibly leave to move back to Tacoma. But school and people are the easy answer. I love the snow and will await until the time I can live in it for another winter. Bittersweet is the perfect word. I know it's premature to get all sentimental, but I'll definitley miss this place. I feel like these months will be best summed up by the word transition. I guess life is pretty much always one big transition, but this feels a bit different. It's not over yet...

Fashion on the Mountain

2007-01-24T17:07:00.000-08:00

Sneezy's not so sure about his new duds.

Even the puppies get some fashion action.

Mickey isn't so sure either.

Hollywood Musher

2007-01-24T17:04:00.000-08:00

US Weekly here I come. Rachel and I hit the town with The Dude and THIS is what happened...Love it.

Winter in the Desert

2007-01-24T17:00:00.000-08:00

Delhi

Shakespeare

Random Moments of Happiness

2007-01-24T16:42:00.000-08:00

I hope these pics make you smile.

This is actually not an angry dog, not a scary one at all, although he looks it. It's my good buddy, Maverick, and this is how he smiles when you come over to say hello. Look at those beautiful teeth.

Starla's Paws

The Dude Smiles

A Gnarly Tree..

2007-01-10T16:34:00.000-08:00

This is an awsome old juniper. Beautiful and twisted...
I give you permission to go wild with your own metaphors.

Skijoring

2007-01-10T16:26:00.000-08:00

My nordic roots and love for dogs surface. Skijoring basically is harnessing up a dog and skiing behind it. It was a blast.

ThOuGHTs from The BackPOrcH

2007-01-08T14:08:00.000-08:00

I have been sitting in this coffee shop for almost four hours, surfing the web, catching up on emails, and fluctuating between being highly caffeinated and slightly less decaffeinated. Mars Hill Grad School is the first link on this blog and I often visit what I have known as "home" last year to check up on the happenings. I also spent some time visiting student blogs and was impressed by the depth, honesty, creativity, and beauty I found. So much so it almost and I mean almost, moved me to tears. Although many tangible and intangible things separate me from MHGS for at least a few more months, I have pleasantly discovered I am still deeply connected. Most of the time I am too impatient to actually read people's thoughts on their blog. I'd much rather just look at pictures. One because photos provide a visual connection, two because I get impatient, and three because sometimes people seem to be trying too hard. And THAT is a person I do not want to be. I must admit, I consider myself to have depth but not always. And so far this blog has leaned much more to the "not always" side. Even when I started this blog I noted my apprehension toward trying to be too much of a philosopher. Because I know myself enough to know I am not. And I'm insecure. If I post more than pictures and short captions will anyone actually read them? And does it really matter if they do? I guess we'll find out because reading other's peoples thoughts challenged me to go out of my comfort zone and share a bit more..

First off, why am I a dog musher? Surprisingly enough, it's not just another adventure, an escape from the "MACP three-year plan", search for a man (although.. I did met a rather stellar guy), faith crisis, or other such meltdown. It actually has more to do with my call to counseling, an ongoing dream, and putting those two together. I've tossed around the idea of using animal therapy, specifically with sled dogs, in a residential treatment program for addiction-for eating disorders. So here I am. After a year of exploring my own story (to tie a nice little bow on reality) and feeling the constant pull of curiosity to know, really know, if this little idea I had would be feasible I decided to forgo the life I knew in Tacoma, the community that kept me there, and move to a town where I knew no one and where my lifestyle would become that of a musher. I wanted to know how to take care of the dogs, if having a kennel at a rehab center would be feasible, what it's like to have 100 dogs as coworkers, but most of all, if these amazing creatures could teach me anything about life, love, and healing. And if they could, how can I share that with others? That's what I'm in the middle of...

The answer to this question is undoubtedly YES. I've learned to think in metaphors, or more accurately ACCESS these metaphors that are hiding in my mind. And to say that sled dogs provide a few metaphors that could be helpful in recovery is an understatement. From everything to food to trust to forgiveness to power to exercise to emotion, these dogs have it. I know that at any moment I can walk out into the yard and have an encore of dogs vying for my attention. I know that I can go and get a big hug from any of these dogs no matter how I feel, a taste of unconditional love. I know that these dogs rely on me. And I know that these animals love well and that they are a gift from God. I know that someday these dreams will come together...My best friend encourages me to always "live the dream." I feel content and proud to say I am.

more puppies

2007-01-08T13:16:00.000-08:00

We, and by we, I mean Kerry the mom, had 7 beautiful little puppies acouple of days ago. They look a lot like their papa, Oscar. Check out the size difference between the big white one and the little black one. We hope they all make it. Kerry is being a good mom and taking good care of them.

The Dude

2007-01-08T13:10:00.000-08:00

After worrying that The Dude was not fairing too well, we are pleased to announce that after a few doses of worming medicine he is a normal puppy.

Remember those animals I mentioned?

2007-01-08T13:00:00.000-08:00

Here is a drive by pic of the crazy lama and sheep..

Check out the Links

2006-12-27T08:54:00.000-08:00

Yeah, I know I'm cool and all, but the links just to the right are worth checking out. I wouldn't have put them up there if I didn't think they were important.

Brutus says Hello!

2006-12-27T08:50:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas

2006-12-27T08:37:00.000-08:00

In an attempt to diversify some of my Christmas traditions, Rachel and I enjoyed rather ginormous doughnuts purchased especially for us at the reputable pastry shop, 7-Eleven. They fueled us well for another day of crazy weather at the mountain. It's basically been blizzard after blizzard up there, which I am reveling in because who knows when I'll be immersed in so much snow for so long again. The past few days have been one of those times when I am grateful we just do day trips. Am I getting soft? Really don't answer that. Coming home to a warm house and dry clothes is sooo easy. I hope you all had a chance to savor at least a taste of the holiday season and the Life, Redemption, and Hope that we ultimately celebrate.

Look at ME!

2006-12-22T17:48:00.000-08:00

It's official. I am a musher and loving it.

Mushers and Snow

2006-12-22T17:40:00.000-08:00

We have good weather days and bad weather days. Blizzards are good for us, but when the sun comes out it is absolutely beautiful. Here is a good weather day with Rachel, Kyle, and I. And me hiding out in the truck during some crazy snow.

have I mentioned where I really live?

2006-12-16T17:07:00.000-08:00

I am a proud temporary resident of Alfalfa, OR. Since I've been here I've learned that Bend has a reputation that spans rugged- hippee-outdoors-farmer type people to yuppie rugged-hippee-outdoors-want-to-be-farmer people. There are expensive new houses, expensive botiques, and expensive restaurants, and a few hole in the wall places too. But I actually live about a half an hour outside of the city in a quaint little town where llamas with crazy flowing brown hair run next to the fence when I drive by, where shaggy scottish highland cows could potentially outnumber humans, and horses seem to appear in herds. And lots of cats. I don't claim to know much more about country living than when I arrived, but I do know I love the stars, the animals, the juniper, dirt, work clothes, of course the dogs, snow, riding four-wheelers, riding in trucks, the sunrises, mountains, the view from the outhouse (see below), and then, driving into town to get a latte. Above is the Alfafa Store, everytime I drive by it at night it makes me smile.

Weather and Beef Water

2006-12-16T16:49:00.000-08:00

As most of the nation knows, or at least those few Americans who happen to tune into the weather channel, the Northwest has had some impressive weather. In Bend we've had lots of snow and wind but nothing like the big name Pacific Northwest cities. It has been cold here which means whiteouts at the mountain, slow driving, and crazy winds. Chores are a bit different too. Scooping poop is much easier when it is frozen, but watering the dogs is more involved. We make a delicious beef water punch for the dogs to drink. If you care for the recipe here it is:
5 gallons water
1 can beef liver dogfood
1 large masher with Extented handle
Mash dogfood and mix together until blended nicely
Yum

WeLComE to ThE WoRLd PupPIes!

2006-12-16T15:55:00.000-08:00

For those of you who know me, you know that one key word in my vocabulary is puppies. Enter three new men in my life; meet Fletcher, Mogley, and The Dude. The dude is ours at the kennel, named after The Big Lebowski of course. Fletcher and Mogley belong to friends. I hope they make you smile and perhaps remind you of the new life we celebrate this Advent season.

Cool like us

2006-12-16T15:49:00.000-08:00

I thought I would just throw this out there for everyone to ponder. If you come to visit me like my friends kristy, max, and serena, you too could be a lucky person and get your photo on my blog. I know, the incentives are outrageous, aren't they. I purposely didn't put a question mark in there because really it iis a rhetorical question. In fact I'm kind of surprised you aren't jumping into a car, train, or plane RIGHT NOW.

2006-12-10T13:12:00.000-08:00

the mountain

2006-12-10T13:00:00.000-08:00

We've been at the mountain now for about two weeks. I love the snow. The mountains are gorgeous, the dogs love to run, driving the sled is awsome. The pictures explain it. call me if you want more of my thoughts.

Eat Dinner on the Roof like Shakespeare

2006-11-21T17:56:00.000-08:00

Maverick

2006-11-21T17:48:00.000-08:00

It seems kind of awkward to have this whole blog of me. I mean you all know what I look like. But the dogs have so much personality and then of course I want to be in the pic with them so you get both of us. Here's maverick and I. He is a sweetheart and makes the most entertaining movements with his mouth when you get close. It is hilarious. And he loves attention. We go running a lot together and this was taken after a run, he got to spend the night in the house and was absolutley loving it.

Maui

2006-11-21T17:45:00.000-08:00

CB and I

2006-11-21T17:40:00.000-08:00

I like CB, he makes me smile

what i've been reading

2006-11-21T17:36:00.000-08:00

I don't know why you would be interested, but if I was a celebrity you probably would be. This is what I've been eating up with my eyes lately; Currently The Brothers Karamazov, Under the Banner of Heaven, Angels and Demons, Grace and Addiction, Seeing is Believing, and National Geographic. Feel free to let People Magazine or US weekly in on the gossip. If you tell one they probably all will find out.

things I am thankful for

2006-11-21T17:21:00.000-08:00

In an effort to bring Thanksgiving a bit closer to my heart this year I have compiled a list of things I am thankful for. This year is, perhaps, the farthest away from thanksgiving I've felt. At least in the proximity to turkey, stuffing, and family. We do have a unprecedented amount of cranberry sauce in our pantry right now so every morning when I glimpse in to get the cereal I am reminded briefly of the impending holiday. I'm sure that after the holiday the cranberries will still be there. I have never lived out in the country and Alfalfa, OR definitely qualifies as "country." As a result driving in the evening is uber dark, I mean really dark as a result I am very thankful for anything reflective; specifically reflective paint. I also have a deep appreciation for those reflectors on shoes and jackets. Other material items I am thankful for: pilot precise V5 extra fine pens, coffee with cream and sugar in the raw, chocolate, dogs, snow, my ipod (I include my because I enjoy my music), danskos, down comforters, chopping wood (although I suck at it), russian literature on a stormy afternoon in front of a fire, canoes, water, jewelry, yoga, cookies and making them, journals, my mountain hardware fleece, carharts...the list could go on but that will suffice for now. I hope you all take time to contemplate those things that you are thankful for. My list was tangible so if you feel left out don't worry, I didn't mention anyone or any metaphysical element-so you're cool.

I apologize for not using spell check more often.

2006-11-08T18:21:00.000-08:00

In second grade I scored 100 percent on every single spelling test. That legacy was lost long ago. Perhaps next time when I am not as highly caffeinated I will look more closely at my letters. But you get my main thoughts.

the morning commute

2006-11-06T14:08:00.000-08:00

yeah I know it's cheesy. But this turn is absolutely stunning when it is below freezing and therefor frosted. I can feel my MN roots coming out. The other day it was 8 degrees when we started. (As an aside my room was a balmly 44-not bad under my down comforter but getting out of bed to put the clothes on is more of a challenge.) As my coworkers were commenting on how chilly it was I was delayering and saying that really it's not that bad. Could have been the caffeine.

Our family outing

2006-11-06T13:55:00.000-08:00

I felt special today as Kyle, Josh, Jessica, the baby (Kyra), cody (the crazy looking little dog), and I took a field trip to Costco to load up on groceries. I've never been part of a large family so it was a taste of what it would be like, if only for a few minutes. No fighting though, and no parents telling us that no we can't get that sugar cereal. Such the life. Attention TV networks: we'd make a cool reality tv show. But too bad for you, we don't want to have one. Talk to our agents. Josh, Jessica, and Kyra arrived about a week ago and we've been having a great time since they arrived. Now, as a amendment to "A Typical Training Day" I must insert sit in living room and let baby entertain us. She is a sweetheart to say the least. And the first baby that has actually excited me about potentially being a mom someday. Yeah, my mom is pretty excited about that statement. Josh and Jess are coming off a summer working up in Alaska mushing dogs on a glacier. They are super laidback and fun. We can sit around and talk for hours. The pace of life is definitley slow here right now and I am savoring it because it doesn't happen all that often. One of my favorite parts of the day is coming in from chores sitting around eating toast from Great Harvest, and conversating with everyone. We eat a lot of bread from Great Harvest, a lot.