Spring

David and I spent time taking a long walk in Irvine yesterday and we saw many lizards, butterflies and a few crawfish (which were really cool).

Today we went on a walk in the Environmental Nature Center in Costa Mesa. I was having a hard time taking pictures of flowers close-up, but got some great butterfly shots.

I kind of love that David encourages me towards nature more than I have ever felt in my younger years. In the past few years I have really fallen in love with being outside, and taking time to look at the small creatures all around me.

I want one mom.

So David has tried to convince me over and over again that you cannot have a lion cub for a pet, but you just look at these pictures and these faces and tell me they don't look cuddly enough to offer them a space at the foot of your bed.

Seriously though, if there was ever a time to visit the Wild Animal Park it is right now. There are 7, yes I said 7, baby lion cubs. David and I drove down with the main purpose being me intense desire to see these kitties.

I would say I watched them for upwards of a half and hour and that David is the best person to take anywhere because he is never like asks to keep going or to hurry up or anything. He has so much more patience than I do, and he allowed me to have a very leisurely time with the little baby lions.

I cannot wait to take my mom in a few weeks.

6 Days of My Life are Gone

In other words, I just finished watching the Season 6 of the show 24. I said I was done after the last season, but rented a DVD last week and went for it. I have been in a DVD coma for about two weeks now, so not that I am done maybe I will move on to a book. I honestly need something cleansing after spending that much time in front of the tube.

I am generally not a TV person- that is to say- not anymore. We don't have cable and I can't tell you the last time I turned on the TV to flip through the static-y channels. I do I watch the Office and Grey's Anatomy (1.5 hours per week) consistently, but other than that TV doesn't really phase me. I flip it on sometimes at D's house sometimes because it is a novelty, and tend to see about 2 movies in theaters a month. I also am pretty consistent about watching Project Runway on DVD and last year downloaded This American Life to watch on some plane rides.

I have to say that there is nothing about the show 24 that upholds my values. It's pretty violent, and multiple people are killed in every episode, and it very strongly stereotypes an Islamic hatred of America and the fact that many terrorist attacks come out of it. (Although this time Russia and China were involved.) I guess this season it dealt with some pretty hot political issues regarding the imprisonment of Middle Eastern and Muslim Americans in illegal holding camps. They were held without warrant, without due cause, or proper arrest procedures. So I guess the Fox producers of the show allowed that to be showcased and reflected upon, but beyond that it kind of falls into a violent soap opera (HT to David for that term). American once again, with their rogue agent, Jack Bauer, who never dies but is shot several times a season, or dies and comes back to life, saves the country. He has managed to save his life along with America for 6 Seasons now- each season is only one day long, but have spanned over at least 12 years (because I am pretty sure there have been three terms of presidents.) I am convinced he is some sort of super-hero or maybe just the quintessential bad-ass American patriot who defends his country with honor and killing after killing after killing. (I am Quaker for God's sake, can you believe I am watching this show? It kind of makes me slightly sick to think that I enjoy it so much, and even though I could swear off the next season right now, will probably wind up watching it at some point.)

So I spilled my guts. I have guilty pleasures that result in utter wastes of time. TV is so freakin' draining. Can anyone is explains that? It literally drains me to lay on the couch and watch 3 hours of TV. I feel like every now and then, between episodes I surface from my TV coma and wonder what the hell I am doing, but this thing called 24 certainly is like a drug. You can't have just one. You always want more And even though you know it is wasting you away you continue to partake. Lovely. =)



Oh yeah, and speaking of drugs today equals 3 weeks without nicotine. It's still kind of hard on certain days and I have to admit that I almost broke tonight, but I figured that since I had a television show controlling me at this time, I don't need something else doing it as well. No, but really it has been a hard habit to break, but I am proud of myself and will continue to try and be strong.

No broken hearts here.

Suppose I never, ever met you
Suppose we never fell in love
Suppose I never, ever let you kiss me so sweet and so soft
Suppose I never, ever saw you
Suppose you never, ever called
Suppose I kept on singing love songs just to break my own fall
Just to break my fall

(Regina Spektor)

Send light.

I've been praying, meditating, and sending positive thoughts out there for several months. In general I am meditating and allowing myself to be in a place where everything works out and all of the answers come to us.

Last week I broke down a little bit, because I felt like all that peace was just shattering and I needed to mourn that a little bit. I mean, I never felt divine confirmation that things would work out- but within myself I felt a sort of confirmation that I would come to peace with whatever the future holds.

So maybe what it supposed to happen doesn't look like what we thought it would. Maybe I just need to way, and stay resolved to the fact that I will seek peace in all situations that are given. And in the end perhaps we'll find our purpose or see some sort of overarching logic over the things that are happening (or aren't) right now.

But I don't think that makes it all that much easier at the present.

Send light please.

Cheese!

The rest of them are here!

by catbonny

Pretty, pretty.

So many pretty daffodils at Camp Stevens this Easter Weekend.

I cannot wait to go back to the camp with my mom on Mother's Day. It's about a month and week away, but I am sure time will fly.