New is old

In a rare paradoxy, new has become old to me. In that I have had my fill (for now) of new people, places, and things. Give me tried and true. Give me the usual. Give me traditional. Give me the old standby. Yes, amen. Are you a familiar face? Come talk to me. Are you an old friend? Splendid. Have I known you long enough to milestone any recurring season or time period that enables me to complete the phrase "the last time we did this ..."? Hallelujah. Nostalgia is my current passion. So I am marking any repetition, pattern, familiarity. The fact that my friend's one year old son stopped fussing when I arrived to today's Memorial Day picnic (ah, memory) recognizing me was enough to stem the tide of uneasiness I was feeling about sharing time with friends among acquaintances. Thanks, kiddo.

Shout out to Meredith for prompting this update. Co-sponsored by Mountain Dew for luring me into caffienating. Just kidding. I take full responsibility for being awake five hours before I need to go open the pool.

More pictures from Maui

 I totally screwed up the formatting. Anyway, these are, indeed, more pictures from Hawaii. It was pretty.

Hibiscus

Joe and Laura with their baby and Jan among the lava rocks.

Dad posing as a teenager

Me with big leaves

Delphine and baby waiting 
on the golf course outside the 
restaurant of her birthday dinner party

my niece with salami sushi

beautiful small plants

my parents and baby granddaughter

Wiki Aloha

This is only a month over due. But I can't seem to muster the juice to post. So anyway, I started this draft a few weeks ago...

Spent ten days in Maui with my family to celebrate my sister's 40th birthday. Pretty nice.

 

Here's the whole lot of us + friends.

Whale-watching "date" with my brother-in-law's mom. It was AMAZING!!!

Quick update is that I was hired at both Kamiakin high school as a paraed through the end of the school year and at WSU's Prosser Extension as a communications specialist. Start next week after I get back from Gosia's wedding in Warsaw. 

And so on

I've been working as a substitute para-educator (quite the tongue twister for me) in the Kennewick School District for the past few weeks. So: yay, job! I really enjoy it so far. Lots of stories. Another time.

In--what is becoming characteristic--fiscally liberal style, I am headed to Hawaii next week for my sister's 40th birthday. You may say this rings a bell, that's cuz last year we celebrated my other sister's 40th birthday. For a virtually unemployed girl, the rest of my travel plans for this non-sabbatical year surprise even me. Gosia, my friend in Poland, is getting married the first weekend of May. Joyce whom you know from her visit to me in NYC and my visit to her family in Atlanta is taking me to EPCOT/Disney World with her later in May. And I've got a cruise to the Bahamas on the docket for my uncle's 70th birthday. Just tonight, I ran into the dear parents of an old friend of mine who said she's going to Spain in July and renting a big place and everyone is invited...and of course my 2nd thought (after "Oh dear") was: July is open.

I think I can register for my proof-of-dementia-card soon.

Caffeine free diet Irene

As I told my friend Julie, I've been meaning to title a post the above for a few weeks now. Ever since I stopped drinking coffee one fateful day, I think it's been three weeks now, and survived the throbbing headache, I have, in fact, been caffeine free. I've quit coffee several times before in my life but this is the first time that I've really appreciated not being groggy and 'in need of a fix' in the morning/afternoon. So, I think I'm going to stick with it. I feel more clear headed, physically--not necessarily otherwise, and it makes me happy.

As far as "diet": I've been tracking what I eat and happily weigh a little less than I did two years ago at this time. We'll see. No big hopes, although I am going to Hawaii with my family at the end of this month. So there is a motivating factor.

I had my first full day as a substitute para-educator today. It was pretty fun. I liked the alternative high school environment I was at. Listened to a great sermon recommended to me by my ex-colleague and still friend Scott that reminded me of many Great Truths and so complaining about my wage is really towards the end of the list of things I can be doing with my life. :) I love perspective.

Scrabble cake made by Jessica. The "I" is for me and it is yummy! Thanks, Jessica!

Oh, and I finished the draft of the play that I was working on! Yay!

And a shout out to Alison whom I had the pleasure of lunching with the other day. She said my blog has been useful in disproving some of my alleged whereabouts. Thank God for that!

Just a sign that I'm in Richlandia. Note the politely stated limit. :) Another bonus of bus-riding: I get to walk a bit too and catch these treasures.

In true cyber-stalker fashion, I really want to meet this woman who reminds me eerily of myself, but she has not responded to my comment. I guess I don't make much of an impression in the blogasphere. :) But if you get a chance, read it! It's amazing.

Pounding the pavement or otherwise

So this is how Day 9 on the Richlandia job hunt went: up at 7:30am, sunlight streaming through the window from the east. Part way though quiet time my mom says breakfast is ready. So I go. No need to be all high and mighty about my QT, rather, eat while it's hot. Deftly avoid last week's Thursday morning topic of conversation and finish tranquilly. 

Back in my room, I realize there is no way for me to catch the 9:25am bus so opt instead to take my time, take a shower, etc. Select appropriate pre-interview outfit and run out the door at 10:25am tossing an easy "I've gotten good at this" to my mom as she locks the door behind me. Half way down the block, think, "I don't like this jacket. Not for today." Oh well-it and continue toward the stop when the #26 blows past me (at the helm: the driver who yesterday complained about increasing property tax to pay for education initiatives trickles down to renters). Gah! Walk slowly back to the house. At least I can change my jacket now.

Compare schedules to make sure the 10:55am will align with the #120 to Kennewick. It does. Shuffle around the closet to locate my springing pink mock-silk jacket and head back out the door at a conservative 10:50am. The #26 is caught and off I go.

I truly love the bus. I don't know what's come over me. I can only imagine that I experience each ride wearing Big Apple-colored glasses. I love the fat old ladies who travel with their doggies. I love the quietly chatting kids with angst-dyed hair and skateboards to roll home on. I love the smelly dudes nodding off in the handicap seats. I love the crotchety drivers. I love that it costs a neon-green stamp-sized ticket (valued at $1) to board and that I get a newspapery torn transfer slip in return. I love that I can wear headphones and really, if I actually did everything right, rides would only take on average ten minutes longer than it would to drive.

Fade out dream sequence. As scheduled, we arrived at the Knight Street Transfer Station and I hopped on the #120--my first inter-city ride! Due to my own stupidity, I got off too early and instead of walking (here's where this post's title comes into play) on the weedy dirt path (sidewalks end abruptly in Richlandia) to my intended destination, I decided to wait the half-hour until the next bus. At the Three-Rivers Transfer Center (I may hit them all before long), I enjoyed the sun, the side view of the county jail, Infinia Corp's shiny solar dishes, and best of all made friends with a middle-aged Iraqi lady named Thrwi. I know, how the heck do you pronounce that? Well, all I can say is that it sounds like it looks. :) Immigration officers must be much cleverer than they were when my parents came to this country.

Finally, at around 11:40am I am in a financial services office sitting with the nice lady who informs me they have already filled the position but she'll keep me on file. I was kind of stunned to get a sit down chat with anyone on the spot but I guess this is how things happen around here. And I was glad I had missed the first bus so that I could change my jacket. Really, the first one was the (if you know me well) polyester maroon jacket with golden-yellow fuzzy lining that my uncle got back in 1965 or something--older than me is all I know.

Back on the WB (or 'westbound' for all you personal car people) #120 I asked the bus driver is there was a stop close to the (sniff, I'm so sad it's not Espresso World anymore) Coffee Roaster place and she said no, the route turned onto Jadwin before stopping. No harm, just a few extra 100 feet. She later stops just in on Jadwin before the marked stop for my benefit, pretty nice. It's no good though, my left heel is already bleeding from too many steps in nice shoes. I finally make it to the job hopeful lobby and tear the little flap of skin from the back of my foot.

The office is locked. I leave the folder with my info perched on the handle of the door and leave. Text my friend Debbie to see if I should go back and receive ‘ABSOLUTELY’ in response. She's the one who gave me the idea to apply, so, I wait. The massage therapist from downstairs says she thinks he just went out to lunch. Meander over to the river and gaze. I time how long the baby geese stay underwater when they dunk. It's about 20 seconds. You were curious, right? Then I check back at the office, still not there. Do I catch the 1:15pm or wait more? I choose wait because 1) I'm already here with a cover letter dated Mar 4th, 2) I'm already dressed up, 3) I already have a blister, 4) I have no other pressing things to do. 

Second cool interaction: I go into the salon where I don't see the massage therapist but another also beautiful woman in the same uniform and ask her if she has a band-aid. She says, "I do!" and quickly fetches it for me. Now that is customer service. Amazing. Flowers might be overboard but if I had more money I'd consider it, I felt worlds better.

Finally met the guy around 2pm after a bowl of black bean chili (another surprisingly good thing, and only $4) from Rosy's Diner. Done. It's an awkward time now, just missed the 2:15pm so I walk along the river passing moms pushing strollers and retirees puttering after dogs. I feel out of place, and more so because of my hat, shiny pink jacket, skirt, and dress flats.

Two shots of the Columbia from my phone. 

Catch the 2:45pm after standing on the warm, dusty corner across from Denny's. Home around 3pm. Just over four hours start to finish. Eh, what's an unemployed girl gonna do anyway? Blog about it.

Like a place on W 49th St

My breakfast today. Picked up a package of Shoyu ramen from Uwajimaya in Seattle before returning to Richlandia. Most my NYC church friends will recognize what I am trying to re-create here.

Ramen, baby bok choy, fried egg, duck meat.

I really really should be working on the play so let me keep this short and go do that. :) This is the start of my sixth day here. I have applied to a couple places but no bites yet. And have taken up the quasi-urban hobby of riding the public bus around town. Aw yeah. Volleyball was fun last night, though, and so has been catching up with friends.

And since I'm at it

Here're the rest of the photos I wanted to share. Not feeling into captions so just comment with questions.

Also

My mom and I are headed back to Richlandia on Monday to resume Regular Life. Which I haven't been participating in for a while now so let's see how I do...Wanted to say that my sister's recovery has been very quick and smooth. PTL for that. I've learned a lot about my nasty habits and hard heart--especially when provoked by the little ones on whom Jesus said their Father always sees the face of angels. Or something like that. ;)

I finished "My Life in France" and loved it. Julia Child was a super cool lady. This is also fortuitous since my friend Yolanda has asked me to help with a Ladies Bruncheon wherein she is slated to give a Chinese cooking primer.

---- (added February 25) ----
Upon re-read I felt compelled to look up that angel-face verse and I got it backwards. It's: See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. [ESV]

Not Arizona

I told everyone I was going to Tucson, Arizona and many have asked me but the way things have worked out, I've been in Cupcake Land. This Seattle winter has been characteristically mild and I've enjoyed the many sunny days. My sister bought the Martha Stewart (my niece: why do you call her by her last name?) Cupcake book and we've gone relatively wild. Here's the meringue step of the lemon curd cupcakes we made for my eldest sister's birthday.

And these are clearly Valentine's. In detail: these are Red Velvet covered (and unintentionally infused with) chocolate ganache with melted white chocolate for the hand-written part.

Detail of Valentine's cupcake. And most likely, if you're reading this, I do. :)

My niece in birthday pancake drag.

Baby with "2" pancake.

More later. Glad my sister showed me how to locate images on her Mac. How confusing for a Windows girl.

Yeah yeah yeah

My FB friends know I'm a year older. 34. I heard from a certain woman that 35 is really hard. I could say I'm not looking forward to it, but since I am looking forward to 40, I guess I could say I'm looking forward of it. I helped the kids' nanny study English this afternoon and so "of" is significant since we discussed how "de" in Spanish can be "of" or "from" depending on context.

I would post photos as I have tons of cute ones but I can't find my camera. Oops. My losing things drives my mom crazy. I try not to tell her about it but she's so good at locating stuff that it's usually worth it to confess and bear the disappointment de mama.

My sister has been using only one crutch the past two days, so she is recovering. I think I'll be here through mid-February as she and her husband both have work travel and will need the help. My friend Carrie (from Las Vegas post) will be visiting Richlandia next month so I will try to make it back to see her.

A shout out to Anna U. for reading and for cracking me up by telling me about her 'kids'.

I went to Mars Hill Church on Sunday for a birthday treat and wound up meeting a nice young woman who invited me to her small group. So last night I went and it was nice. Should be a good thing for at least a month. Mark Driscoll went to Haiti and preached on giving and loving the church.

Today I covered my sister's volunteer shift at my nieces' classrooms. I was pleased that some of the boys' writing was really focused: Magic Man, the spinning chess pawn. Go with what they find interesting, right? Anyway, that's a random sliver of my current life. :)

Oh, and I finished "Tree" and have moved onto "My Life in France" by Julia Child and her great nephew.

Reading

I've been in Seattle for the past ten days taking over driving duties for my temporarily invalid sister. This includes piano lessons, violin lessons, gymnastics practice, karate, and possibly most importantly Costco. My niece accompanied me on my most recent trip and was a great companion, only getting distracted once by the fountain sculpture of a Boy and Sailboat. My days begin by being woken up by two little faces, those belonging to the eldest two over whom my bunk sets. They climb the ladder every morning not before 7 am and then hang out with me until 7:30 when it's time to get ready for the day. As my brother-in-law says, I'm living an extention of their life. Not really my own. But it's not a bad life as such. I'm reading "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" and have a laptop available to work on the play. But not much progress made in either.

My sister's surgery was fine but I did swing into full Florence Nightengale mode when she returned still getting over anesthesia and pain meds. Since then she's been well enough to crutch around though I don't believe she's left the house since Monday.

So that's my update. Still hoping to get to Tucson. Maybe I'll be there for the hot hot season.

Bed time

I'm driving to Seattle tomorrow to help Delphine out. The hamstring tear is complete, so surgery will be scheduled in the next few days.

Just hung out with Kristie who deserves a big shout out for reading. We watched Remember the Titans for research recommended to me by Jessica S. (Note for Jessica: my dad said he'd watch it once I have watched it and can tell him for sure that it's good.) Research for the play I have started writing that I mentioned in my last post. Finished the general structure and drafted the first three scenes. AND, I got 100% on my census worker test. They should be calling next week but maybe I'll still be in Seattle at that time?

My dad wishes I would get a job. My mom wishes I would get a job. Sometimes, I wish I would get a job too. In Tucson. A fun one with happy-level wages. Wishing is one thing that I'm almost sure is just the Disney word for 'worry' but that's debatable.

Ok, truly I need to go to bed. But I was just excited to post knowing that I do have readers of my non-photo posts! :)

Old year's end

My dad's 73rd birthday. I'd forgotten (bad me) but my mom reminded me before I got home. We ate shrimp for dinner.

Mooch with jingle bell from Robyn's wedding, winter spirit.

My sister Jane took my parents and me to the Seattle Symphony. It was beautiful. The Christmas lessons with sing-along carols, I leaned over to my mom during one point and whispered: this is better than church!

The Big 5, as we now call them. Used to be the Big 3 but now there's two more babies.

My eldest niece being very responsible with the younger two of the Big 5. We left the babies at home with my mom while we went to bell ring for the Salvation Army. Record breaking take in, cute kids = genius marketing.

Mom and one of the babies.

Jane's three after Christmas eve service.

Funny faces waiting for our newer tradition of prime rib and crab legs.

Mom and the other baby. As my brother-in-law Doug says, seeing my mom bounce around giving the granddaughters piggyback rides is not the picture of 73-years-old one usually thinks of.

Baby and "What God Wants for Christmas" boxes.

These two are the same age difference between me and my sister Delphine, only with two more kids in between.

Took Jane's two big girls on Seattle Ride the Duck tour. Pretty hilarious. Here they are with their quackers.

Got a chance to catch up with childhood best friend, Amy. She is in a Masters of Education program at University Washington, cares for her 2 year old son and is expecting. Phew!

This was last night's new year's eve hot pot dinner with my mom and dad. It was yummy and I stayed in and updated my iPod with all the CDs I've acquired over the year.

My sister Delphine fell ice skating a few days ago so on Sunday my mom will head back to Seattle (I just took the Greyhound back to Richland yesterday) via bus to help them out. I probably should have stayed but oh well. Hope to catch up with Tri-Cities friends and Monday I am scheduled to take a 2010 Census worker test. In other job related news, I'm going to try to start some sales leads for my brother-in-law's business and a friend from NYC asked me to draft a play he's been envisioning for some time now. So, praise God, "stuff" is coming up.