Indian Dress & All The Rest

I get pretty lonely 'round these parts, even with Ross's relatively nice schedule, I can get down about how few actual connections I have here locally. I love being back in America and so close to so much family that can always be there for me and the crazy adventures I love to have. But coming back to America and family and friends meant that I did have to leave some very near and dear friends behind.



I never wrote about it, but by far one of the most difficult things about leaving Grenada was leaving behind not my colleagues, but my friends. I grew closer to those women than I did any of my neighbors or people in the Significant Others organization. I try my best to keep in touch, but it just doesn't replace 8am conversations, 5 hour shifts, birthday parties, and craft nights.



I always felt loved and cared about. I knew that saying goodbye to the island meant saying goodbye to them. Even after my last day of work, I kept coming back to hang out and say goodbye again.



I would leave Grenada and that experience a thousand more times, but I don't think my heart could handle saying goodbye to them even half of a time more.

You can imagine my joy when a piece of my Grenada friends arrived on my doorstep. Figuratively that is. My friend Anitha mentioned that she would pick up some Indian clothes for me when she was there over the summer. Probably partially because she knows I adore her outfits, but mostly because she loves me. The start of the school year is always insane for her with orientation and all the new students but she still found time to get things together to ship to me. And with the help of my other dear friend Karla, the package was off and headed across the seas to find me.

But THREE pieces of beautiful clothing?! Spoiled rotten.

 I was overcome with love! Not because of material possessions but because of the amount of love that went into this gift. I was pretty speechless, but when words failed and I was frustrated that I couldn't express my gratitude, I remembered one of my favorite Anitha sayings,

"Sharing is the only way we make it through."

Or something to that affect. I have never met another person that has so much love and caring in her heart. Thank you Anitha, I love my new Indian dress and I miss you so much!

Music Monday #15 The Thousands of Stars

Sometimes, I have very specific memories of music. I remember the very first time I listened to Angels and Airwaves. I was sitting in my boyfriend's car at a gas station on University Parkway, listening to the music he had playing from his ipod. I remember sneaking a look at the ipod while he was gone so I could find out what band it was. And as they say, "the rest is history" (for me and Angels and Airwaves at least).

Angels and Airwaves already had two CDs out by that point, so I had a great deal of catching up to do, but they quickly became my favorite band. For many months I listened to them exclusively. Being very formative and important years of my life, it's not too dramatic to say they got me through a lot. Even as I continue to listen to the music after all these years, I can think of thousands of associated memories. Some make me happy, some make me sad, and most always it, well, inspires me.

I think it is about time I do a Music Monday for one of my favorite songs from the band.

"Call to Arms" is from the band's second album, I-Empire. It is an amazing song and I've thought out many different interpretations for it. Today I am just going to pick out some lines.

"Have you ever felt a sad heart buried alive?/ You can do almost anything." 

The imagery in this line always gets me. In our moments of true desperation, when we feel truly forsaken and forgotten, the imagery of a sad heart buried alive begins to capture it. But this is followed directly by the line, You can do almost anything. It makes me think of a friend encouraging and lifting you up.

"And the thousands of stars come out thousands of times/ We can go, only if you believe/ Only if you believe."

A great deal of Angels and Airwaves music is centered around space and ethereal themes. Which again, makes the imagery of stars in the night sky absolutely stunning. I think back to times when I have seen the stars best. It was in isolated places, when the night was darkest. Only then are the stars most visible and bright. The stars have shown up in the night sky thousands upon thousands of billions of times. It is a pretty sure thing. The next line speaks to me about faith, believing. And how it is crucial in life.

"Do you feel like you've lost everything you can lose?/... Do you ever lay awake with a look in the eye?/ Asking God if a wish is too big to deny/ I will offer a line, and it's ready for use."

I think we've all had times in our life when even when surrounded by people we know love us, we feel so alone. This song always gives me hope. That desperation I was talking about, the feeling of not being able to lose any more than you have, are captured in these lines. Maybe it is the christian in me that likes the next bit. There have been so many times in my life where I have pleaded with God. Whether it is on my knees in prayer or lying awake at night, hoping in faith that my wish wasn't too big to be denied.

"When you can't go on, you got to get up and try/ This is it, can you feel me?/ When the bombs come down, you will make it alive/ But only if you want to believe." 

Again, I think of an encouraging friend who is right by your side. With the name of this song being, "Call to Arms" I appreciate the line about the bombs coming down, and making it out alive. Because in life we all have our metaphorical wars and battlefields. Call to Arms is a summon, an order, to take up and fight, which we all need to do to make it out alive.

This last little bit I love because I can never nail down what I think it means.

"I'd like to say, that you're my only fear/ and when I dream, it slowly disappears/ And when I wake, I'm right here by your side/ to feel your heart, beat in and out of time." 

I have a few ideas... but what are yours?

Pumpkin Patch and Apple Picking

I'm really not trying to rub it in, but it's so much fun being near mom and dad and Ali. It's just fun being back in he States and closer to EVERYONE!

Even though us west coast folks are still waiting on cooler fall temperatures, that didn't stop us from a little fall lovin' this weekend! 

(As I told Ali, I keep trying to "make fall happen" -it's just not working)

Mom dad and Ali met at our apartment and we headed up to Oak Glen to stuff our faces with all things apple. Mmm. 

The orchards were kinda insane but thanks to dad's wizardry we got a super secret spot over by the Wildlands Conservancy. We just needed Ross Long Arms to hoist up this barrier so we could drive through.

V.  I.  P!!!

It was pretty busy but always fun to get out and people watch I mean, hang out as a family and sample apple stuff. But seriously, there were some grabby people. See below where a family started setting up enough camp chairs for a Mormon family reunion, ALL AROUND Ali. 

We were at the Los Rios orchard and it was fun to look around. They have this table where you can sample all these different kinds of apples there were probably close to 15 different kinds. As one lady said, "I didn't even know there could be so many kinds of apples!" 

It's amazing what you can learn when you leave San Bernardino! *dramatic eye roll*

Ross's favorite was "Liberty" which tasted like a Washington with the firmness if a Honeycrisp -Quintessential Fall with overtones of freedom. Ali's favorite was the Honeycrisp and the Winesap Staymen. Coincidentally, those were also my favorites! And I also really liked the Pippin. Mom and dad also liked the Honeycrisp, but mom had to go easy on the sugars.

They also had their famous apple cider for tasting, or if you are a grabby senior citizen, gulping. The "ONE sample each please" sign appeared to be frequently ignored. But I can't blame them. Ali and I were thinking if making moustaches to go back for seconds. In the top left of the above collage you can see an apple press, where they just super-smash apples for cider.

They also had some amazing homemade jams and jellies. Me, being a total sucker, made off with a few, including a mile high apple pie!

We got pictures by the little pumpkin patch display and after mom dad and Ross taking turns staying in the gnarly line, we had food! We got some tri tip and pulled pork sandwiches (with apple cider to drink). It was delicious.



It was a fun time and after an atrocious time waiting in line for the bathroom, we headed back down to Redlands.

I keep trying to hold back things from people who visit because I need excuses for them to come visit. But mom and dad had a ton of energy (from apple consumption?) and so we did some fun things around time before dinner.

Things like visiting the Smiley Library, and showing mom all the cool stained-glass in the children's section.



And the creepy marionette doll in this mirrored case that makes it look like a twin.



We made a visit to the bookstore in the library and there was this weird little kid that seemed to be following Ali around. 

We also visited this adorable children's bookstore that sounds like a dirty word.

With a recliner that dad is now obsessed with.



It was  and colorful little place!

Also hit up a little nickel and dime style candy store. Before we got some macaroons and a cupcake. Ever since I tried them last time Ali was here I have been obsessed (note: too poor for addiction). 

They have adorable holiday-themed cake pops too. 

Then we came back to the apartment and hung out and had some dinner. Had some apple pie and laughed about old memories. It was soo much fun. I get so sad when I see mom and dad and Ali leave. It's good I love them, but I think part of me still suffers from Grenada where every moment some one I love leaves, I panic I won't see them again for months.

Oh Hai Utah: Part II

Friday morning we set out to Salt Lake City, making a few stops along the way. One of which led us to run in to this lady, bringing her pet bird into the store with her. The bird just very nicely sat on her purse, in the cart while she shopped around.

In Hollywood we get puppies in purses, and in St. George you get parrots on purses. 

Since California is experiencing a pretty massive drought, it was incredible to see how green southern Utah is! They had some huge rainstorms come through, and although they resulted in road closures and flooding, looks like a bunch of green popped up. The colors, reds, blues, greens, were really bright. 

We made it to Utah and had a fun time hanging out, and playing with Jen's dog, Corndog. 

Corndog tends to steal the show whenever she is around, mostly because she is so cute, partially because she is pretty hyper.

This weekend is what we call in the LDS church, "Conference Weekend." It comes twice a year and it is the opportunity we have to listen to church in our jammies hear from Church leaders and our Prophet. We projected it up on the wall so we could watch in IMAX style. Although the event spans two days, we still had time to do some fun things. We made some delicious personal pizzas, took a walk in the park, and did some shopping. 

But the biggest event of the weekend was celebrating Rissa's birthday!! She is going to be out of town on her birthday, so it actually worked out great to come to Utah and celebrate early. You can tell my sister is a genius because she chose a variety cheesecake.

Rissa also finally taught me how to make these cool crepe flowers! 

Sadly we had to say goodbye Monday, and we headed back. Quite unfortunately for us, we were hungry right around Payson, which next to maybe Beaver, couldn't be a more fantastically horrific place to be hungry in Utah. I might even take mid-southern highway weeds to eateries in that area, particularly after my mom's bout of food poisoning on the way up. 

But, mom, always giving people the benefit of the doubt and searching for the next big thing, was convinced we could find something. Ali and I, thoroughly unimpressed and jaded from years of sub-par "mexican" restaurants in Utah, were fairly unenthused about Don Chuy's. We sat in the parking lot awhile convincing my mom that we shouldn't go in. 

But, as you might imagine, mom won. And it wasn't half bad (given the circumstances). The carnitas was crispy and flavorful and the carne asada was a little spicy and didn't have a bunch of gristle. The employees were super friendly and helpful too. But the best part? No food poisoning yaaay!

Our next food stop was just outside of Vegas at a Triple D restaurant. It took us forever to navigate to it, and we were pretty hungry when we arrived, but it was worth it. It's a place called Lola's, a Louisiana kitchen. And the food was incredible. I would definitely go out of my way to go back there. 

After a stop at State line it was the long boring drive back, but at least we got a beautiful sunset.

Oh Hai Utah: Part I

This morning I woke up in Mesquite. Here was my view. Deja vu to only two months prior.

But first let me back up so you don't think I woke up from a drugged induced coma, gagged and bound in the middle of the desert in Nevada. 

Ali and I, being consistently unemployed, have talked about going on a road trip. I, being the crazy and somewhat financially irresponsible one, said it should be a long one. A BIG one. Just leave one day and start driving. Doesn't everyone secretly want to do that? Well I do. Ali suggested a road trip to Utah, having family, friends, and specifically two sisters there, we thought that would be a good destination. Ali gave in to the idea that maybe we could stop at the Grand Canyon at some point. 

BUT, as things turned out, momma was able to come! It kind of happened really fast, and we knew it would have to be a quick trip so mom could get back to work (work?! what's work?). But nevertheless we wanted to see my sister for her birthday. 

We set out after work on Thursday night, stopping of course at the coveted Mad Greek Cafe. I got a Baklava shake which was actually 10,000 more times amazing than you would hope. Sometimes, I still have dreams about it, faint sweet delicious tastes of it in my mouth. 

Mad Greek is absolutely classic, and we all know my love affair with Greek food, so it was a good time.

In fact, maybe a little too good. Funny story. I was standing by the table as we were getting ready to leave, Ali was still sitting in the booth. When I hear, coming from the booth a couple away from us. 

"Must be good."

I guess I was in my baklava shake happy place because apparently I was staring out the window slurrping up the last but of flaky pastry goodness from the cup. Embarrassed and surprised by him calling me out, I did my classic nervous laugh, accompanied by some stupid comment about, "Oh yeah, it's a baklava shake, and it's pretty good." Then did a Napoleon Dynamite dash out of the restaurant. Okay people, I AM SORRY THAT I NEED A MOMENT WITH MY SHAKE. #noregrets

We stopped for the night in Mesquite, saving the rest of the trip for tomorrow. That just about brings me to the beginning of this post, but not without mentioning my engineering genius. 

I realize that is a bold assertion when Ali is right there, but I do not take it back. My sister has a bit of a foot issue, meaning, she hates when people touch her feet. On accident or intentionally, doesn't matter. Now of course, that makes sharing a bed a bit tricky. But I came up with a great idea... a pillow divider down by our feet. Now the feet shall remain separate but equal, along with the added benefit of some nice air circulation. Voila!

And that ladies and gentlemen, is how I woke up in Mesquite.

Wake Me Up When September Ends (or when Fall finally arrives)

Well, September is now gone, and you coulda fooled me because it's still crazy hot. I keep trying to make fall happen if you know what I mean.

I officially and unabashedly joined the Boot Club, but for $12 for those beauties how could I not?! 

Another reason I want Fall to happen: PIE. 

Thank you Pusheen. 

Another fun September happening was playing Legos with my favorite little man. I'd be a total liar if I said I wasn't tempted to steal the Guardian of the Galaxy Legos from a 4 year old. 

While I am in Palmdale, it's not uncommon to go to Tommy's for a chili burger. It happens sometimes. And while I eat that glorious burger I feel like Princess Fatty on cloud 9. But even Princess fatty has her limits. I saw this advertisement for a breakfast sandwich in the window of the establishment. I am pretty sure it deserves this meme I made for it. 

Ross and I have been trying to track down a record player. Used or new, we don't care. We just want something we can play all of our records on. It is getting a bit ridiculous. I was pretty surprised when one day Ross announced we would be going to an independent record store in Claremont. Whoa. That is determination.

It was a cool store with a decent selection, but unfortunately "independent" often comes with a price tag we can't afford so we had to pass. But we still bought some records for that turntable we will ahve someday. 

I haven't been baking much because it is so hot, and never cools down. Plus, now I live in America I can get anything I want at the store anyways. But not this bread. 

Through various nutmeg misunderstandings, this bread almost didn't get made. But I am glad I did because I am addicted. It is a zucchini bread with orange zest and warm spics like clove, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Perfect way to continue to pretend that fall is happening here. 

Camping in the San Jacinto Mountains

I love being outdoors, and sometimes, to maximize your outdoors time, you go camping. Now, when it comes to camping, I'm not quite a glamper, but I'm definitely not hardcore. 



But Ross and I have some camping gear, and we enjoy an occasional overnight camping trip. We have been trying to go camping for awhile now, but Ross's schedule doesn't really allow it... until now! His "golden weekend." 

He's like an animal set loose in his natural habitat. Lovin' him some forest.

What was particularly fun about this trip was that it was into unknown territory. I did a fair amount of research and scouting for a good campsite, and it turned out great. We were up in the San Jacinto mountains, which has a very different terrain, even from what I have experienced in southern California. I still had the opportunity to teach Ross about the trees though, my dad would be proud. :D 

We picked a cozy little campsite and bought some wood. We walked down the road into town to buy some essentials for breakfast the next day (aka the eggs spilled all over the ice in the cooler and we wanted new eggs). Then we got to work building a fire and eating some food. 

I really love camping food. I know I sounds crazy, but there is something comforting about eating your dinner out of tin foil that was just nestled in some coals. But really, I am just a sucker for dessert. One of my all time favorite camp foods are these little sammich pies my dad would make for us growing up. You butter some bread and put it in this cast iron device, put some pie filling in-between, then stick it in the coals to get nice and toasty. Mmm. 

It was fun to introduce Ross to a family tradition. That pie-maker is actually my grandpa's! We enjoyed the nice break from the warmer temperatures at lower elevations, but it got chilly pretty quick and we headed to bed. To wake up in the morning like this. 

Pretty much looking like a homeless person. I was freezing cold, and in a moment of glamping inspired weakness, I drank my morning hot chocolate in the car with the heater on, Ross laughing at me through the window.  We packed up camp and set out for a hike. There are some pretty intense hikes in the area, which were definitely  not for us, but we settled on one that would be challenging and fun, called Devil's Slide. 

You need to have a permit to be in the area for hikes, even small hikes. It's free, but you have to have it so they can track down your body when you don't come back. I'm not joking folks, the San Jacinto Mountains have been on one of those "I Shouldn't Be Alive..." truTV shows. 

It was a pretty hike, interesting vegetation and climbs very rapidly. Up, Up, Up! The hike climbs about 2,200 feet!



I love this picture of Ross, King of the Mountain. Also, I love my wardrobe change. the shade was really cool, the sun was pretty toasty, and hiking warmed me up too, so I had a hard time staying comfortable.



The views were very scenic and about 2.5 miles later we made it to this clearing area called Saddleback Junction. The perfect flat spot for lunch.



I was pretty tired but I figured the descent would be easier. My ankles had a different idea though. I hate feeling like a decrepit old lady when I hike, but next time I should probably wrap my little chicken ankles or something, the rocky trail wasn't helping much.



See Ross poking out from under the rock?

We passed many people on the trail, turns out that day was actually a free National Forest pass day, so maybe that motivated people to get out. One couple had a dog with his own little pack. It was pretty adorable, the dog followed us a little bit, guess he wanted to be our buddy.



Can you blame him? Look how awesome we look. After we finished the hike, we wandered into the town of Idylwild. It's a small-scale version of Big Bear. It has cute little shops and restaurants. The sky look pretty threatening but that didn't stop us from having a little fun.



My favorite part of maybe the whole trip (second to the dessert sammich) was CHOCOLATE COVERED CHEESECAKE. For only $5 we got a huge slice of cheesecake, dipped in chocolate and rolled in our topping of choice. We opted for crushed pecan pralines because duh sugar.



It was amazing. I want a whole cheesecake of them in my belly.

It started sprinkling a little, we got some mexican food and free cupcakes, and I used one of the world's sketchiest bathrooms (oddly enough dirtier than a campsite bathroom). Then we headed home.

While we were winding our way down the mountain I could tell that the sunset was going to be beautiful.



Then we turned the corner and bam!

This doesn't capture it, but man, that valley floor, mountain road, and beautiful clouds get me! It was a satisfying ending to a really fun weekend.