Merry Christmas...From Canyon Road.

I am actually singing.

My Mom.


Me and Mr. Glen Livet.

Merry Christmas... from Santa Fe.

Winter...

A Winter Song for all of you...

HERE

Happy Holidays.

We are hitting the road.

New song mix for you too, on the sidebar.

Weight of the World.

Depleted.

I am sick again. I have been since last Wednesday. It is evident that there are three 'sure things' that I receive from my part-time gig as a surly, substitute teacher; dirty looks from parents who say,"Oh no! You're here?! What happened to Miss Perky McPerfectson today?" An exposure to every known cough, cold, or virus known to man, 'Please greet each student with a firm handshake,' (No amount of Purell can combat sneezy second graders), and a measly daily rate.

I also got Steven sick, but at least we are sick at the same time, and not too worried about accidentally drinking out of each others' tea cups (not a euphemism).

I am also mentally depleted.I am depressed. What is on my mind? Oh the usual- death, cancer, politics, starvation, gay rights, ugliness, grief. HAPPY MONDAY!

My friend Lori brought my attention to this post. Check out the comments. I would like to thank Becca for posting this. I really appreciate it. It is one thing for someone like me (agnostic on a good day, liberal, theatre major) to say something, but for her to be so strong and take a stand, well that is inspiring and brave. Some of the comments on her post made me physically sick to my stomach. There were people who actually said that it would be better for an orphan to die than to be placed with a gay couple. Knowing that there are people like this in the world, makes me want to crawl under the covers and never come out.

Beautiful Becca, thanks for speaking out.

Does anyone else feel like they are just biding their time until the next cancer diagnosis? Is there anyone out there who is NOT dealing with cancer in some way? When I first heard about my mother-in-law's diagnosis, I immediately consulted Dr. Google. Look what I found. Steel yourself first...

Baby Emily (Not an adoption blog unfortunately).

Joseph (Yeah, you read those dates right).

Then, last week, there was news from a friend who found out that her fifteen year old nephew was facing a diagnosis of his own.

Then there is a friend that Steven has known longer than he has known me. This friend called because his father also has a glioblastoma. His father had surgery on Thursday. Steven spent part of his weekend explaining to his friend some of the exercises he could do with his father to help him recover.

And what about Abby ?

Epidemic. Cancer is an epidemic. Why is there not more research on what causes cancer? There are millions and millions of dollars pumped into researching treatment options and new drugs.
Like this one.

Guess how much that helped Chris? Not at all. It turned her green like the Incredible Hulk. It did not help her in any way. Not in any way.

When I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer the doctors asked me if I grew up near a nuclear power plant. Uhm, no I didn't. What is your next guess doc?

I am frustrated. I am scared. I am angry. I don't want to lose any more family members, fleshy or furry, to cancer. I don't want you to either. But we will. We will all continue to lose our loved ones to cancer.

I know what you are thinking.... "Bring back Jane Kurtz!!" (She'll be back on Friday).

Cancer. Gay Rights. What on earth am I trying to say and why am I saying it on my adoption blog?

Life is short.

Live fully.

Hug longer.

Gaze into each other's eyes.

Connect.

Forgive.


For a few of the people who commented on Becca's post...


If you happen to meet someone who loves someone of their same sex, open your arms, your minds, and your hearts. Congratulate them on their happiness. Let go of your anger, and your prejudice.

It is ugly.

It is as ugly as cancer.

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Tonight on the Bachelor...

Will he propose? Will she say yes?

Doesn't this picture of Steven remind you of 'The Bachelor'?

Anyway, I said yes, many years ago.

This picture is from Big Sur. I planned to write about the incredible wedding we attended there, but I am tired. The Fullers just left, and I am still not 100% healthy. So instead a romantic picture of my husband.

Hey, it's my blog!

Friday Friend or Family Feature...

Sorry, no feature today. I am busy.

Tunnel. Vision.

It is the Star to Every Wandering Bark...

Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.


Today I am headed HERE to see two dear friends tie the knot.

In California (and Massachusetts), Love does not discriminate.

Today is one of those rare days when I feel proud and happy to live in California.

Babymoon?

Did Steven and I just have a Babymoon?



Babymoon n. a planned period of calm spent together by a just-born baby and its parents; occasionally, time spent by parents without their baby; (hence) a vacation or holiday taken by a pregnant woman and her partner.

I guess a Babymoon is supposed to be some sort of last romantic hurrah that couples have before being burdened with car seats, strollers and those addictive little goldfish crackers.

I used to find this word almost as repulsive as Push Present.


Can you have a romantic Babymoon if this is your room?



What about if these people are there too?



Yep, my parents.


Thanks to the extreme generosity of my mom and dad, Steven and I got to visit the absolutely gorgeous island of Kauai. Did I mention that it was beautiful?


We toured the spectacular Waimea Canyon, saw whales swimming off of Shipwreck Beach, took a muddy hike, and sipped guava juice while watching the sun set.We went to a fantastic farmer's market, and Steven snorkeled at Poipu Beach.




It was romantic...

FOR MY PARENTS!


They are so cute together. After forty years they are still affectionate with one another. One night before dinner my dad was watching my mom and he said,

"T, you are looking really stacked tonight. Could you walk back and forth a few times?"

Okay, it sounds a little crude, but the point is my parents still find each other attractive. I think that might be pretty rare.

I don't know what it is. Maybe it is because I had cancer, maybe it is just because I am getting older, but whenever I get to spend time with my healthy parents, I feel extremely grateful. They are agile, vibrant, strong people. I know that this will not always be the case. I relish these days with them. I guess instead of a Babymoon, this trip was my last chance to fully relax with my parents. I am sure that in the future, as a mother of two toddlers, I might not be as much fun to be around. (Not that I am a barrel of laughs now.)

I also felt much more aware of the families traveling with small children. It looks like a complete pain in the ass. Where do you change a diaper on a plane? That is going to be a loooooong trip home from Ethiopia.

Aloha, and Mahalo mom and dad.