The smell of chineese take out (no doubt from nearby china town)

With this post, I am the #16 poster in the Orchard and Lynn is the #17. Actually, I think it was my last post, but still. Hey Lynn, I'm passing you up! Don't worry, though--I'm going to sleep soon because I've exhausted myself from my precarious posting.

anne lamott.

"that night when he bent his knees into the crook of hers, she yielded, melting into him, and they made love. Life was normal again, life was good - Bosnia to Paris in twenty-four hours." (Crooked Little Heart)

Prince.

Sneezing.

Short work days.

Winnie (sort of) learning to settle! I haven't tried it when she's really excited, but so far, so good!

Mt Shasta
Espresso

LUNCH TIME!!!!

it was grrrrrrrrrreat!

My mommy, who is remarkably good at listening to me when I'm alternating between crying, yelling at her, and yelling at myself for hours on end.
Websites which give me some clue of what to say in my toast tomorrow.

i'm really loving you guys today. apples are the BEST.

Winning Ebay auctions! Come to MAMA!

Making instant freinds with junior highers on bumber car rides.
Funnel cakes
Over greasy Pad Thai
Forgetting about my diet for a day

People who will post for you when you can't do it yourself.

:: here to help ::

Shakespeare in the park
the sun finally getting out of my eyes
not getting stung by a yellow jacket when it seemed inevitable
The orchardees

My best friend getting married!
The laughter of my fellow bridemaids when the decrepit Catholic priest tossed the term "sexual acrobatics" into his homily.
Those little battery-powered Dollarama fans.
The groom -- he's so good for my friend.
My best friend looking so, so beautiful.
The fact that my best friend actually slept last night!
Seeing old, old friends for the first time in years.
My hair staying in place all freaking day!
My dress!
Dancing with the flower girls for every single song!

Paula's Dahlias
Because they are chaotic and beautiful. In fact, the more chaotic the bloom, the more beautiful it is. Chaos is beautiful.

That reminds me... that riotous mélange of color in the yard of one farmhouse we passed on the way to and from the groom's house all week is definitely a favorite thing. I like to think of Scott and Paula's yard as looking like that.

Having a dad who throws lit bottle rockets at me.

Cute.

yeah, that's what i thought when one of them hit me in the head and got stuck in my hair and exploded!!

oh, and brandon's whining about some arm hair that got singed off.

The columbia river gorge
People who care about me
Playing ultimate frisbee till my heart explodes
People who don't balk about giving me a ride

Getting HOME!

The beginning of July: Independence Day, my mom's birthday, and the Tour about to start.
The color of the sky halfway across from the sun.
Crepuscular rays.
Sweat dripping from my chin when I'm working hard or riding the bike.
Fireflies swarming over freshly cut grass.
The sound of cicadas at dusk.
A bowl of chex in ice cold milk.

Being barefoot.

Lunch with dear friends, two days in a row.
that moment, playing with a band, where we're all together and in the moment and something moderately beautiful happens.
morning mist among trees and horses.

Getting a reply from the strictly platonic add I put on craig'slist.
Being able to sleep normally, and get up at a semi decent hour. again (ok, ok, ten is still a bit late).

floating around the pool on a raft.

floating around the quarry on a raft!

Watching the dog get so excited that her whole butt shakes when she wags her tail.

Having groceries!

Surfing the net in powell's bookstore

Sleeping well.

being completely finished with summer classes!!

not driving everyone for a change and getting rides from friends until my new car comes in 4 weeks.

The folks here! And these folks here!

Excedrin
Wild Black berry bushes in the backyard.

Pinnochio. Or, his dream.

2 dollars off each little bag of my favourite espresso beans! woooowhooo~! i love sales.
and being back in the orchard! you guys are so beautiful! mwah!

That Steve has a strong opinion. That he stands up for it.

Seeing d. amongst the list of "active user(s)" at the bottom of the front page!

: )

thanks girlie! i missed you! too!!
big hugs,
d.

DEB'S BACK!!!! YAY!!!!!

*does happy dance and embarrasses everyone around him*

Oh, and the redhead girl from Cornerstone e-mailed me back! I'm gonna marry that girl!

it takes a lot more than that to embarrass me, B
thanks, and 'yes, you are going to marry the redheaded girl from cornerstone'

Thanks, deb. That was prophetic.

Fantasies of quitting my job.

Adding to my vocabulary great new verbs like "tacklehugs" -- which I suppose could also be used as a noun! Thanks, Libby!

: )

A lovely $6 Malbec

- C

singing christmas songs in the summer

taking the backroads, even if it takes longer

hearing how much has been raised in the OTR love offering

taking the time and the money for a piece of pecan pie!
perfect.