Summer...It Turns Me Upside Down

"Magic," The Cars

Most of the time when I run, I find myself going over my internal to-do list, envisioning myself using Inspector Gadget-like powers of productivity upon my return home; swiffering the kitchen, scrubbing the bathrooms, and reading an entire section of the paper within the first hour back from pavement pounding. Other times during my run, my brain wanders into more intellectually profound territory (Does Rihanna or Beyonce sing "Halo"?) Regardless, I constantly depend on my iPod to keep my feet moving and my brain occupied. This player has all kinds of theme-based playlists, many mixes specifically made for running, however more often than not I find myself putting the entire iPod on random shuffle. True, there are a number of songs that I fast-forward (Tim's techno disasters and Richard Marx's "Right Here Waiting" are not sufficient running material), however it's a great way for me to come across music I have nearly forgotten. Yesterday, The Cars "Magic" came blaring into my headphones, and the beat was a perfect pick-me-up at an otherwise tough spot during the uncomfortable heat of the San Diego summer.

(That paragraph? A --perhaps unnecessary-- explanation as to where today's post title came from).

San Diego Summer: Operation 2009 has been near-perfect so far. We've spent lots of time with friends and family, read a few books, gone on a number of ocean swims, unsuccessfully tried to find new ways to cool down our apartment (thanks, landlord, for cutting down the ONLY tree that offered ANY solace of shade into our now oven-like abode), and found a bike frame in the dumpster and re-built the cruiser. Well, wait. That last one was just Tim:




Speaking of Tim, his bachelor party was last weekend. They went fishing all day Saturday, and then went out Saturday night. According to the slices of memory he can hazily piece together, he says they had an incredible time. Three of Tim's best friends (and groomsmen) generously flew in from all over the US, Chris was able to come down, and Chuck fished on Saturday as well. I know Tim was so grateful.







I really have no words for the toilet set-up, however:



We had a low-key weekend; Melissa and Koz came by to visit, we went to a graduation party, and spent quite a bit of time at the beach. Koz came bearing Nixon presents, and reminded me yet again why we love him:




It's July, and I'm currently right in the middle of my second work-free summer. Being a teacher is full of bright and fulfilling moments all school year long, and I am already having pangs of excitement for my next new set of students. However, summer's off are the most incredible gift, and I wish this was a luxury in every person's job. I figure, I'm allowed a little brag-room, seeing as how a stranger looking at my W-2s would assume I work at a retail store. But sleeping in, relaxing with the paper, coffee, and a DVR-ed episode of Law & Order: SVU in the mornings, taking the dog on long and overdue walks, laying on the beach with a book in hand, and late night glasses of wine with no early-morning consequences are all indulgences that make my meager salary more than worth it. I guess the fact that I love American Literature and my students helps, too.

"Oh, Earth, you are too wonderful for anybody to realize you. Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it--every,every minute?"
-Our Town, Thornton Wilder

You Know I've Always Been a Dreamer

"Take it to the Limit," The Eagles




Someone once told me Don Williams' song "Good Ole Boys Like Me" paints a strong picture of my dad's life. With interest, I listened to the song and heard the lyrics "...With Thomas Wolfe whispering in my head." At the time, my dad was breezing through Wolfe's Look Homeward, Angel, spouting off memorable quotes and willing me to read it next. In the next stanza, Williams muses:

Nothing makes a sound in the night like the wind does
But you ain't afraid if you're washed in the blood like I was

Again, fitting: My dad's strong Catholic upbringing certainly conjures the idea of being "washed in the blood," regardless of the less-than-cleanly image the line otherwise denotes. But really, my dad's life, passions, and experiences are entirely too varied and decorated to be summed up within the lines of a single song. He's creative, generous, temperamental, passionate, kind, focused, and a fervent follower of his dreams. His accolades are plentiful, but a stranger would never know this due to his humble nature. His strength and heart are inspiring, and I'm so lucky...


But I was smarter than most, and I could choose
Learned to talk like the man on the six o’clock news
When I was eighteen, Lord, I hit the road
But it really doesn't matter how far I go...

I can still hear the soft southern winds in the live oak trees
And those Williams boys they still mean a lot to me;
Hank and Tennessee
I guess we’re all gonna be what we’re gonna be
So what do you do with good ole boys like me?

I've Got Forever on the Tip of My Tongue...

That rebel moon is shinin'
Those stars burn like diamonds
Hell bent on chasin' down that crazy spark
I'll follow you where you're leading
To the first sweet taste of freedom
You got me runnin' baby,
Wild at heart
-Gloriana



37 Days...

As Long as the Planets Are Turning...

"I'd Do Anything for Love," Meatloaf

Two weekends ago, Chuck and Debbie hosted an amazing pre-wedding celebration/couples shower for Tim and me. We arrived early Saturday morning, and the house was completing decorated: balloons, streamers, posters, a cake with our picture on it, gifts...it was absolutely incredible. Moments later, the girls left for pedicures and the boys went off to spend the day skeet shooting. After the pedicure, Debbie had arranged for a (fully stocked!) limo to whisk the girls off to a full day of wine tasting, appetizers, presents, and fun. I honestly didn't have words; the generosity was overwhelming and we had an absolute blast. At the end of the day, we arrived back to Chuck and Debbie's house to a full-blown party, complete with catered food, a DJ, and a karaoke machine. I had had ENTIRELY too much wine at this point, considered myself Michael Jackson incarnate (too soon for those jokes?) and proceeded to sing (read: butcher) at least a dozen songs, including (of course) this blog post's title reference. My dad (ever the camera enthusiast) has a few of these brutal numbers, in their entirety, on his video camera. I am spending the upcoming weekend with him, and plan to allow these tapes to accidentally fall into the burning fireplace. All in all, the weekend was spectacular and Tim and I were rendered speechless by Chuck and Debbie's efforts.

Tonight's Gonna Be a Good Night

"I Gotta Feeling," Black Eyed Peas

I have to agree with Thomas Jefferson: "I find friendship to be like wine, raw when new, ripened with age, the true old man's milk and restorative cordial." This sentiment seems fitting, since I spent last weekend with some of my best and oldest friends (and lots and lots of wine).

Because I have some of the best friends in the world, I went to Napa last weekend for my bachelorette party and had an incredible time. Amidst silly dances, scandalous and inappropriate gifts, and entirely too much wine, there was also the perfect amount of sentimentality, happy tears, immensely humbling speeches, bonding, and lots of laughter and happiness. My friends rented a 3-bedroom house (complete with a GREAT yard and spacious living area) and we spent one night in and one night out on the town. In between, we went wine tasting at 5 of Napa's infamous wineries: Domaine Carneros, Mumm, Girard, Peju, and Chandon. The wine was delicious, the weather picturesque, the conversation plentiful, and the friendships unparalleled. I don't know how I got so lucky, but I do know I'm so grateful.














"Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather is one of those things that give value to survival."
- C. S. Lewis