Balinese Dancer

submitted to Moody Monday: exotic

Brainy girl? My mom would be so proud. LOL!

You are a Brainy Girl!

Whether you're an official student or a casual learner, you enjoy hitting the books. You know a little bit about everything, and you're always dying to know more. For a guy to win your heart, he's got to share some of your intellectual interests. A awesome book collection of his own doesn't hurt either!

What Kind of Girl Are You?

Another Hot Day

Oh how I wish we were at the lake.

Today's temps in San Jose peaked at 108, muggy and partially cloudy. The air was thick. Blech. We were watching the Weather Channel this evening and saw that 75% of homes in the nation have air conditioners. I was surprised because I'm sure that less than 40% of the homes in the Bay Area have AC. Because of this, people are seeking refuge outside of their homes. We went to the movies today and the line was long. The people behind us said "Is this the end of the line for air conditioning?" People joked about how they didn't care what they movie they saw, just let 'em in the theatre. Unfortunately for one viewer though, it was too late. Jimmy and I took our seats and the poor woman in front of us was having a heat stroke. I'm not exaggerating. She was young and fit, in her 20's. But she was delirious, foaming at the mouth, eyes rolled back and sweating uncontrollably. The paramedics came, gave her oxygen and took her out. It was very sad and scary. I hope she's ok now.

We saw "The Lady in the Water". It was very good and totally not what I expected. I'll end with that lest I give anything away.

Blazing

I try not to complain about the heat. Growing up in the Mojave Desert, 112 degree summer days weren't unusual. But I haven't lived in the desert for over 18 years. And today was uncomfortably hot. Broke all kinds of record highs in the bay area.
We spent the day at my inlaws. Happily, they have air conditioning. But we kept thinking about our poor kitty left behind in our sweltering little duplex. This is what she looked like when we got home at 8pm. Poor thing, trying to keep cool on the wood floors. It was over 90 degrees and muggy as hell in here.
That's downtown San Jose and the Santa Clara Valley. A very hazy day.

I know everyone in the country/world is suffering from the heat. Our humidity usually stays below 40% so I still feel pretty fortunate.

How hot is it where you are?

Jack Sparrow

I admit, I bought the cereal only because Jonnny Depp as Jack Sparrow was on it.

Peace

One of 3 cards we made tonight during one of my stamp clubs.

Thanks GT for 2 great projects! I'll certainly be doing this technique again.

Stuff

Sure, exploring new places is the best part of geocaching, but looking through all of fun and crazy stuff people leave is a top highlight, too!

submitted to Thursday Challenge: Stuff

Kauai Chickens

We're planning a trip to Kauai in September.
I'm sooo psyched!!

Feral chickens are everywhere on the island. In 1991 a major hurricane hit Kauai and many chicken coops were damaged, freeing all the chickens.

Overwhelmed

Artwork created by and copyright Misty Mawn.
Only partial view of the actual piece, didn't want to infringe on her copyright anymore than I may already be. I highly recommend clicking on her link to see her amazing artwork.

I received a print of this for my bday from Phin. I stumbled upon Misty Mawn's art within the last year from blogging and art challenges. I so admire her art and style.

Thanks again Phin. I love it.

Low 5

submitted to Pxite: Number

Minimal

Kelso-Cima Road. Mojave Desert.
submitted to Lensday: theme - minimal 

A grand day

Rarely does a birthday go by with complaints. The 103 degree temperatures didn't even phase me today!
Started the day with a trip to Capitola and breakfast at a little cafe Jimmy and I stumbled upon several years ago during a spontaneous outing.
I had amazing artichoke cakes (think crabcakes but artichokes instead) with poached eggs and hollandaise sauce. We sat by the window and had views of the Pacific Ocean.
After breakfast we walked onto the beach and enjoyed the warm sun.

These colorful buildings are iconic in Capitola. Little bungalows with million dollar views of the ocean.
After a leisure walk up the wharf, we headed back towards home where temperatures were quickly heading to 100 degrees...and it wasn't even noon! No worries though, an few hours at the movie theatre to watch The Devil Wears Prada then browsing at Borders killed the hottest part of the day.
Received several cards, many emails, 2 e-greeting cards, 5 phone calls and lots of comments from blogging friends. Loved when my MIL, FIL, SIL, BIL and 2 neices called together and sang Happy Birthday on the speaker phone! I thank everyone for making me feel so loved. My cup runneth over. 

Thank you!

I just wanted to thank everyone for all of your comments on the last couple of posts I left. I was feeling nostalgic and all of your supportive words really pulled me through!

Jimmy and I are on our way to the oceanside for a bday breakfast.

Me - 37 years ago. 

38 years ago

Tomorrow is my birthday.

I can't help but think about my mother. I spent my entire teenage years battling her. And nearly all of my adult years till she died. It's been over 8 years since she's been gone and I'm just now able to write about her. And damn, do I miss her. I think now that I'm older and not in constant conflict with her, I can see the way we interacted with each other more objectively. I can see her perspective a lot clearer now.

She was strict. Stricter than all of my friends parents. Stricter than my "cousins" (ie: all the other Filipinos in town) parents. She wasn't afraid to smack me around. She used guilt and was good at it. That's how they did it in the Philippines. The problem though, we weren't in the Philippines. I was born in a small, remote desert community about 2 hours from Los Angeles. When I was born, my mother consciously made the decision to raise me as American as possible. She succeeded. A little bit to her dismay. I listened to punk rock and new age music, I watched MTV, the Brady Bunch and John Hughes movies. I talked back (enter the smack across face), I talked on the phone too much, I got my drivers license as soon as I turned 16. I sneaked around behind her back. But I got good grades, almost always made curfew, never did drugs or smoked. Didn't date till I was 17. Went to college and married my high school sweetheart.

We constantly fought. Our relationship was strained. She wanted to beat me into submission. I wanted independence. She wanted me to act like a good Filipino daughter. But she raised a good American daughter. I became exactly the person she wanted me to be, but I didn't have an ounce of filipino-ness in me. She regretted not teaching me the language or customs. She constantly compared to how things were like “back home”. I had no concept of “back home” because this was home.

There were a lot of other things that contributed to our strained relationship, but now that she’s gone, I understand why she did the things she did. We were continuously fighting a cultural battle.

As I approach my birthday, I wonder what she was like before I was born. She died before I could really conceptualize that my mom's life was more than “she grew up poor in the Philippines”. I was still too young and immature. But she was about 36 when she came to California, 39 when I was born. I’ll be 38 tomorrow. I’ve done a lot of living already, and it would be sad if my hypothetical child had no concept of how important those years are to me.

I also wonder what my mom went though when I was born and what I was like as a baby. In the late 60’s it was really unusual for a 39 year old to have a baby. Was she scared? Was her doctor kind? Did she breast feed? Did I cry a lot? How long was her labor? How old was I when I started potty-training?

I also wonder if she were still alive today, would our relationship still be strained? Would I not be able to see beyond our differences?

All this soul-searching has me craving cake and ice cream.

Bring it on!

Leopard Lily

The leopard lily grows wild in the Sierra Nevada's. This bunch is growing in our neighbors front yard. And the big shiny black bee happily pollinates it.
I can't take credit for this photo, Jimmy took it.

I don't even know where to start

We were up at the cabin for several days. I'm amazed at how far behind a person can get in daily blogging activities. I subscribe to most of my daily/weekly reads via Netvibes and I have over 110 posts I want to read. I have at least 5-6 posts I want to write, too. I have to ask myself, how, over the course of a year, did blogging become so much a part of my life? And how I have become so attached to people I've never met? A couple of blogging friends haven't been feeling well and I honestly feel concerned about their well being. Total strangers less than a year ago, people I've formed an attachment to now.

Our cabin is in a relatively remote area, ie: dial-up connection. I suppose most would appreciate getting away from the computer when they're at a hideaway but not me. I need hi-speed connection. I miss visiting my blogging friends blogs. I hate not being able to post till I get home. And then when I get home, I get overwhelmed with all that I have to say that I don't even know where to start. So normally I don't say anything and just post photos to various challenges. But I'm trying to 'spill open' a little more. I enjoy reading about my blogging friends activities so I'd like to share more, too. Plus I can be quite self-deprecating and think "who cares what I have to say?". I'm fairly confident in my photography skills. Not so much in my writing skills. And as I'm rambling on at this very moment, I'm certain none of my blogging friends are even reading this far. And what does this paragraph have to do with dial-up connection now? Shouldn't I have started another paragraph somewhere in there?

Photo of a day lily in our neighbors yard at our hideaway.

Ritual

Native Rituals
Keep demon spirits away
Totems Guide the tribe

submitted to One Deep Breath Haiku Challenge 

Artist

There's a great drive in Marin County, north of the GG Bridge that offers the best views of San Francisco and the famous bridge. The view is breathtaking, especially on a day such as this one, unobscured by fog. Artists, photographers, admirers, lovers, tourists, locals gather here.

submitted to Pxite - Theme: Painting

Taiko

Went the the San Jose Obon Festival on Sunday. We got there about 1/2 an hour before the San Jose Taiko Drummers started to perform. They were awesome, so very expressive, so full of energy!



 

Journey

Listen to the wise.
Journeys speak her reverence.
Earth, spirit unite.

submitted to One Deep Breath: Journey

Brother's Fishing

submitted to Thursday Challenge: Outdoor 

Whoever Said Afternoon Tea Was a Small Meal Never Ate Like This

Phin and I went to afternoon tea at Lisa's Tea Treasures in Campbell because I wanted to thank her for helping me with my 5k training. I truly had zero confidence in being able to jog/walk the race, but with her support, encouragement and patience, I know I'll be able to do the race without passing out and putting myself in the hospital.

Tea is such a fun treat. It's decadent. The food seems so miniature that it seems like you're not really eating a lot. Not the case at Lisa's. Already on the table before you're seated is a little bowl of lemon curd and a cookie jar full of ginger snaps. Then comes a big pot of tea for each person and a plate full of tea sandwiches and scones. Finally you get a selection from the dessert tray.

It's definitely something reserved for special occasions, the food is so rich and comforting. But it's such a nice way to spend the afternoon with a girlfriend.


Phin's sandwiches from the Venetian's Romance and my decadent dessert from Louis XIV's Favorite. 

Willow Grace

Street sign in my neighborhood.

But has absolutely nothing to do with why I named my blog "Willow Grace".
It's becuase of this and this.

July 3, 1967

Today would have been my parent's 39th wedding anniversary. Bless them...getting married in the California desert in July. No wonder their reception was at night.

Coinsidentally, this weekend at the cabin, I was unpacking a bunch of boxes that have been in storage and found my parents cake topper. Gotta love the bride's blonde hair!! heehee! 

One Bird

One
Bird
Waiting
Silently
In her nest of twigs
For her babies to emerge safe

Last week's haiku challenge was awesome and I'm sad I missed it. The theme was to create a haiku that followed a Fibonacci Haiku sequence with syllables of 1/1/2/3/5/8.
We just returned from our little cabin in the woods and there was a nesting bird in the tree in front of our deck. After reviewing my pictures, this Fib Haiku just flowed so easily off my tongue. So despite missing the submission deadline, I still wanted to share my poem.