Sad day...

"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me, I once was lost but now I'm found, was blind but now I see…"
  
     Its been a sad couple of days for many of those in Chico and beyond.  Two wonderful people have passed this week, Roger Williams and Patty Lynch.  Both too young to go.
     Mr. Williams was my high school principle, and it was because of him that I thought all administrators were just plain nice.  He always had a smile on his face, was always greeting students by name; beyond my high school days, he always made the time to relax and talk, sincerely wanting to know what his past students were up to…
     Patty Lynch is a family friend and although I didn't know her, I just saw her last weekend at her granddaughters soccer game.  She spent her final days in the presence of those she loved and I know it meant the world to her family that she fought so hard to live as many days as she could.
     I pray that both are happy now, that any suffering is over.  And I pray for their friends and family, that they can make it through these difficult days, weeks, months and years; that they know Roger and Patty are looking down upon them, providing them the strength they need through such a horrible time.

God bless their families, Robin

The IRS and a Wedding…huh?

"I've got sunshine on a cloudy day.  When its cold outside I've got the month of May.  I guess you'd say what can make me feel this way?  My girl, my girl, my girl.  Talkin' 'bout my girl, my girl."  

     I've left you all, but now I am back; sorry about that.  Life kind of got in the way.

     Its been a crazy 10 days for me.  Remember that post where I confessed to being a procrastinator?  Well, it bit me in the behind…My income taxes were incomplete and due.  

     Normally the tax thing isn't that big of a deal for me.  Sure, like everyone, I dread the hours sitting at the computer, meticulously going through the Quickbooks reports trying to add up every donation, every medical bill, any and every tax break I can find.  My advantage is that I am an organized person: I actually use my Quickbooks register, I collect donation receipts in a bright orange hanging file, I start filling in the blanks of my "tax organizer" in January when I receive it in the mail, and then I get my tax refund before April 15th!

     These 2009 taxes have been completely different.  Although I was still organized in 2009, still collecting, I had a lot on my plate come January.  Just a little thing called marital support.  I was proofreading, editing, sometimes writing Mike's cover letters for grad school programs (although he didn't use anything I wrote--what a waste).  February was our time to relax: we had worked so long on all the applications, we were exhausted from some intense discussions on where we would like to move/go to school, frankly we were pooped!  So we took some time off of thinking about our future…we read, watched movies, pretended we didn't have a care in the world.  March and April I really don't have any excuses for.  May we wrung our hands and awaited the acceptance letters and letters of rejection; side note: I now know what it feels like to be a parent watching their high school senior go through the process.  Its hell basically.  June we made thorough lists of everything we needed to accomplish around the house (you know, that "honey do" list).  July we started the horrible task of finding a place to live; taking one to two days at a time to drive to Berkeley, look at all the "contenders" we found on Craigslist, running away from some, refusing to get out of the car for others, basically thinking Mike was going to commute daily.  August we finally found an apartment and decided we couldn't put off the house renovations any longer.  By the end of August Mike had moved to the "big city" (thats everyone else's term, not mine by the way--oh yea, stop using it, we're tired of it) and my in laws, sometimes my parents and I were working day and night on the house.  Somehow September finally came, a godsend really, the work was done, the tenants moved in, and I found myself living once again with my husband.

     What I could've said was that I have been busy, however its too fun making you read about the stress I had to live.  But really, who wants to do their taxes when you have a bathroom floor to install, a room to paint or a house to pack into storage?  Not I.

     So after putting the dreaded taxes off for too long, I sat down last week and started the process.  I even turned off my phone.  And the good news is that I sent them off yesterday!  One more thing off my shoulders...

     

     But I also have been busy because of fun things.  For instance, a wedding!  God how I love weddings.  I really, truly do.  And I really, truly do not understand those crazy people out there who do not love weddings, who would rather send a gift and stay home to watch CSI Miami or another lame show.  I just love them.  I even love weddings where I don't know the bride or groom very well.  And you know what?  I'll still cry when the bride walks down the aisle; I'll cry when the bride and groom get choked up during their "I dos"; I'll cry when the father and daughter, or mother and daughter, dance together at the reception.  Pull me in off the street and I will cry at your wedding; plus I am the best wedding guest--I'll dance all night and help keep the dance floor filled, and there will be more cake for you because I don't eat it!  Perfect.

     And while I am rambling on and on about my love of weddings, good friends please don't make me beg, "can you please start getting engaged"?  And once you do, will you please stagger the weddings?  Maybe every 6 months to a year…If what I love is to look forward to weddings, then help me out and don't have them all at once.

     Sorry about that.  The writer has some pent up emotions she has to let out.  Back to the most recent wedding…Lucia and Patrick's.  Lucia and Patrick got married outside the funky little Danish town of Solvang.  What a trip that was!  Literally.  Its like you are in Europe with lots of tchotchkes, pastries of course and you run into your friends on every corner…so bizarre.
     And the wedding was gorgeous!  It was outside underneath a huge oak tree with vineyards surrounding the ceremony area and the air was filled with love and happiness.  Oh weddings, see what you do to me!  The reception was wonderful as well: the food was de-lich, especially that little cheese bread thing, the wine was a-flowing and sooo many people were on the dance floor.  In fact, my snobby dancing partner (that would be Mike), got "upset" how many people were on his dance floor…um, ok.

    To top it off, the night ended at a swanky cowboy bar in the middle of nowhere.  But that's not the good part.  The amazing part was that none other than the "John Corbett Band" was playing that night.  And let me tell you, that 49 year old is hot, hotter than on the big screen and all I could think of was (heavy sigh), "Aidan".  

    Now, I am not a celebrity stalker; I find it very uncomfortable to even see a celebrity in person.  But my friend Tahira got me to go talk with him…so embarrassing, but he was really a nice guy.  Plus, we had a little talk about Chico and how he really wants to play there.  Being the Chico girl that I am, I gave him a few good and bad places to play.  Now remind me to sign up on the band's email list…

    

     Here are some photos of the weekend and of course of John Corbett.  I am still waiting for the photo of him and his group of stalkers, but I will post that soon.

Picturesque, right?

 

I promise this won't be me at your wedding…hahaha!

Sigh, I am in LUV.

Love, Bird

*My song quote of the day doesn't relate much to the post, but it is in homage to the song Lucia and Sally danced to for the daughter-mother dance.  Or at least I think they danced to "My Girl"...

Lazy Sunday...

"…I wish it was Sunday, 'Cause that's my funday, My I don't have to runday…."
  
     Sundays are the days I allow myself to be lazy & not feel guilty about it.  Which means sleeping in, maybe going to breakfast, of course doing something fun with Bailey, reading on the couch or in the sun (where-ever is most enjoyable) & I love early Sunday dinners.  Sundays also mean relaxed blog posts.
     So this is what Bailey & I "woke" up to this morning at Point Isabel: a clear day.

Golden Gate to the right, the city in the middle & the Bay Bridge to the left...

     Enjoy your Sunday & be lazy, too!  Love, Bird

It's A Dog's Life...

"It's a beautiful day, don't let it get away…"

     Bailey & I have already learned that the best part of the Bay Area (so far, that is) are all the dog-friendly activities & parks!  Each morning when we go outside to "make our business", & by 'our business' I really only mean Bailey, we head across the street to the neighborhood park, Cedar Rose Park.  Depending on the day & time there could be 1 other dog playing, or 5.  Regardless of how many are around, another dog always wants to play & that's just fine with Bailey.  Although its supposed to be a leashed park, the same neighbors & dogs frequent the area, so everyone knows one another & each dog's temperament, making an off-the-leash play session acceptable to all.  
     See, Bailey had/has some great dog neighbors back in Chico.  Bailey, Stormy & Mazzie could be found every night playing on each other's lawns; you know, being dogs.  So, it was a disappointing thought that Bailey wouldn't have very much daily-doggie-play.  No need to worry about that now!  Although she misses that sassy little Boston & huge lovable Golden greatly (as do her parents…), her new neighborhood hangout is easing the pain.
     We've also found that the dog parks, aka beaches, resorts, "Heaven(s) on Earth", aren't too shabby either.  Um Chico, take some notes…
     On Sunday of last weekend we ventured over the bridge to good ol' San Francisco.  Our friend Laura had told us about this big dog park right on the beach, so we thought we'd check it out.  Here are some photos & videos of our afternoon at Fort Funston…make sure your sound is on!

Bailey & a "red" Boston playing catch…no comparison to Sassy Stormy though!

"I wish my parents would take me here every Sunday…"

Just a taste of our crazy-fast Bailey…don't lose sight of her!

She's a pretty tough 23-pound Boston if you ask me…a long video, but worthwhile!

     Hope you all can come visit; bring your pooch & we'll head over to Fort Funston!
     Love, Bird

The Craziness of it All

"I remember when, I remember, I remember when I lost my mind…"
   
    I like to have about 27-30 messages in my inbox at all times.  These 27-30 emails are my reminders to get things done: email friend back, put date on calendar, upload photos, etc.  Some of these emails have been in my inbox since March of 2009, no joke.  Obviously those emails aren't time sensitive.  Um, I might as well admit it, I'm a bit of a procrastinator.
     The point is, I don't like clutter.  I like organization; excuse me, I LOVE organization.  In fact for a fleeting moment just out of college I toyed with the idea of becoming a 'Professional Organizer'.  I'm pretty certain my sisters' still wish I had…
    Back to my neurosis: I can have (small) piles around me, but those piles are very organized.  I actually know what is in each of those piles.  Right now, I am completely out of my element.  My office is a mess & its REALLY difficult for me to work efficiently with heaps of piles filling what desk space I have, the floor of the office, my mind.
     It might not look like much, but here is a glimpse into my own personal chaos….

a bike, an empty file cabinet, a bag full of work...

office supplies waiting for a home...

     (Sorry, I'm too ashamed to show you "real" photos, I had to pretty-them-up to hide my embarrassment.  By the way, these photos were taken with the Hipstmatic app, which I finally learned how to use today.  Yay me!)

     In conclusion, you will have to bear with me a little.  I received so much support & congratulations for my inaugural post ("you like me, you really like me!"), not to mention lots of questions, that I had planned to follow up today with a little more information.  We'll call it "Ah, the Beginning...There's More to the Story".  Problem is that the current state of my office has thrown me.  I guess it's all apart of the learning & growing process--be more spontaneous.

     So, thats it.  I had good intentions, but when you don't feel it, you don't feel it.  For all those unanswered questions hanging out in my inbox, which is now at 50+ emails: we'll see if I get to you.  They might be answered in a post, or an actual 'Robin to friend' email, but the important thing to remember is that I am still learning & growing…let's not forget that I am still a procrastinator.

    Love, Bird

     

Ah, the Beginning

"Let's start at the very beginning, A very good place to start…"

     The series of events that has put me where I am today is a little unclear, but the love of my life, Mike (aka, the Berkeley Grad Student) thinks it best I start this blog with a quick history.  Many of you don't know we've moved, some know we've moved but don't know why & others don't even know us.       
     Well, welcome to the beginning.  My name is Robin, aka Bird, & I will be your tour guide for this blog.  "We're walking, we're walking, we're stopping…"
     Up until about one month ago, The Berkeley Grad Student, Bailey Blue (aka "Poop McPoop", the teenager, Drama Queen) & myself lived in Chico, California.  We were living the "American Dream" with steady jobs, an antique house (with a long 'Honey-Do' list I must add), our families close-by, great friends, etc.  Problem was that the American Dream was a bit too cookie cutter; oh yeah, & the Berkeley Grad lost his job.  Well, what do you do when life gives you Rocky Road instead of smooth, yummy Vanilla?  You realize what you really want in life & you make it happen.  (I personally really like vanilla with hot fudge…that's not a metaphor, I really like vanilla ice cream.)
     So after a tumultuous year of questioning our lives, with my encouragement & blessing, the Berkeley Grad went for it all on a whim; he applied to grad school.  (Seriously, he decided to start the application process about one week before the last GRE test of 2009 was offered.)  And then about one stressful month later of portfolios, letters of intent, statements of purpose, letters of recommendations…the list goes on, Mike had applied to 4 of the top 10 programs in the US for Masters of Landscape Architecture, plus one school in the Netherlands.  Phew!  All that is over thank God! 
     Then the admission letters, & truthfully rejections, started coming in.  The process was brutal for all involved.  Enough said.  But the end was near; it came down to two schools & after a lot of soul searching & advice from his undergraduate professors at the University of Oregon (shout out!), the Berkeley Grad Student decided on Berkeley…obviously.
     Lots of stress, procrastination, & yelling later, oh with a handful of 'Honey-Dos', too (a future post on that), we are officially moved, settled & living in Berkeley.
     Wow, writing it all out makes it seem simple.  Please do not let that fool you, as I am still recovering.
     Now Bailey (of course she made the journey, too!), the Berkeley Grad Student and I have two years of Berkeley adventures ahead of us.  You're invited to come on our journey…ok, not really "come" with us, more like read along.  I hope you make it part of your day, I hope you enjoy what we do, I hope you enjoy how I write & I hope I can do this!


     Enjoy….Love, Bird