Well, it’s been so long, it’s just hard to know what to write. Always seems so much is happening. I just got back from California on Monday. My dad had gone in for surgery and naively I thought I could stay away until the weekend after. My parents and I had discussed it, and it was decided in a really bumbly fashion: When should I come? When will you need me? I don’t know?! It was decided I’d be useful when he was back at home. But on hearing the news that he had to have the more invasive procedure (all things I knew could happen before) I decided right away to head home. The unknown often is the worse thing, and experiencing it without proximity - it makes it nervewracking. Trying to decide if things will be ok. Reading the tone of your family. It’s hard at a distance.

So I flew home last Wednesday and came back to Portland Monday. Gone less than a week, but was so glad to go. My dad, of course, came through with flying colors. I arrived - admittedly the less stressful of the days - the second day of his surgery. He was walking, albeit getting mad stares from passersby. I might be Cal Bear through and through and don’t get me started on the class differences of Berkeley vs. Palo Alto (apparently we call them the Robber Barons and they call us the Proletariat) - but I’ll give them some props on Stanford Medical Center. We had a really good crew of nurses and doctors. And a general shout out to the GP who caught the odd “hole” in my dad’s lung which at one point was thought to be caused by Valley Fever.

He had no symptoms. And while I was really sad that he had to have the rib spreading procedure which causes serious pain - not to mention the removal of his lower left lobe. (I’m sure he’s thinking - Jesus and I thought wearing a gown with my ass hanging out was sharing all my business! Sorry Pop! It’s just been really on the forefront - so I’m sharing it!) It turned out to be cancer. But they did the “gold standard” treatment as if it were cancer - so no chemo or radiation - just mad follow up visits and checkups from here to eternity.

My dad had so many tubes coming out of him, attached to an epidural of what my wizened sister assured me was some of the cleanest stuff you could get (sans bad trips) that was close to heroin, and not to mention bedecked in baby blue pjs sporting of all things shooting stars. But I tell you that man never looked sick. He grabbed that pole, donned his slippers and went for four walks a day around the grounds. I’ve never seen people look so agog. Given all he was attached to - even I was sure there’s no way this man is healthy enough to roam the streets. And yet here he was - good color, strong, and making the rounds.

It seems inevitable that I ready myself for the inevitable that some day my parents will pass. But I thank my lucky “shooting” stars - that this time isn’t it. Quite the contrary. I’m reminded how lucky I am to have such a strong set. Physically and mentally. I sit back and it’s almost bizarre how our family rallies in hospitals. Our dark humor seems cherry picked for the environment. Granted this time we were afforded more levity than usual.

Daffodil

Cherry Blossoms

Felipe went to bed about 4 hours ago. And I’ve been up trying to organize the last year of our lives in photos. If not longer. It’s been almost a year since we moved to Portland and I just feel as though I’m getting settled! Since the last post I got a new job! I’m now a front-end web developer at Pop Art. I really was missing the technical aspect of web, and I wasn’t really getting to do much of that working at my last job.

It seems like I’m finally getting settled in to work. The first month was insane as all of our clients were readying sites for upcoming conventions and shows. And it seemed like all of them had a redesign to complete by the same deadline. But I survived, and slowly I’m trying to rekindle a life outside of work and remodeling!

I’ve been on this kick of really hating the design of this site, and knowing I need to do something about it. I’ve been not wanting to write on it until it’s changed! But if I wait for that it’ll probably be next November! So I figure I’d write some semblance of a post tonight to clear the cobwebs.

Last weekend we had a beautiful Saturday of 75 degree weather. Felipe and I attacked our yard and all of the sudden I was interested in planting things.  Lots of things. I managed to sun-burn the top of my ass, as it was the one thing I didn’t cover with sunscreen but was apparently the closest thing to the sun. But it was worth it. I was literally out there from 8am-8pm, digging up our beds, working in new soil, and planting seeds and tubers.  I cleared 4 beds and planted vegetables in the raised bed, flowers in all the rest.  Felipe built 2 more raised beds this week.  So I’m hoping the weather cooperates at least one day this weekend.

It’s interesting when you move somewhere new, you observe the plants and flowers you want, and getting to plant what you covet, really rocks. We’ll see. I planted dahlias of every color and peonies. I’m not much of a girl, with the exception of my love of peonies. They are so… ok, for lack of better word. Flowery.

We also planted some seeds we’d gathered from the street from this gargantuan sunflower over in NW. It feels like so much has happened since the last post. I’ve managed to switch the stress from my job to just a feeling of being challenged. Felipe and I are doing well. We’re nearing the end on the home remodel.

This summer will probably be filled with a few paint jobs inside, and hopefully a new roof on my studio (aka two-story little garage…) and maybe a fence if we can afford it.

Well I feel like this post is a snooze fest. I just don’t know where to begin!

Here’s a photo from a relatively recent trip to the zoo. Relatively recent, given the last post on this site was from November!

I blew  NaPloBloMo.  It seemed like one exhausting month.  Props to folks like Boegle who pulled it off.  Tonight we’re heading for the beach!  I woke up like it’s Christmas.  Have so much to probably do and get together, but I’m trying to make this low key and not stressful, so hopefully that won’t translate to ill prepared.

This week went pretty well!  I met a new friend for tea that I had met from meetup.  I’ve never done that before and it was a truly positive experience.  We talked pretty non-stop (and not in just the oh god I must fill every silence way) for a couple of hours.  It was really nice.  It was nice to have a creative technical person to just chat with.  I’m wearing my other ones out!

Then it was Boegle’s birthday and we went over to her pad for potluck and festivities.  I managed to find her some galoshes with a little plaid red skull and cross bones on black.  They were really fun, and I was so relieved she liked them.  I was worried when I saw the really high caliber gifts and I bought her these cheesy funny galoshes.  But they ARE practical!

But it was wonderful and I’m always amazed when I see the number of friends she can amass in a short time!  And if they aren’t here, she imports them!

Well, better get hopping.  Yay it’s friday!