Whats with the wind?

I hate Santa Ana wind days.  Yesterday was one of those days, and it was awful.  I woke up exhausted and pissy and the kids were just like you would imagine Jr. Highers to be.  I would offically call  myself a bad teacher yesterday.  But today is better, I even handed out some chocolate and smiled at the little hormonal angels.  So, in honor of those dreadful Santa Ana's, I would like to submit this excerpt from a 40's pulp fiction novel, whose name escapes me.

"There was a desert wind blowing that night.  It was one of those hot dry Santa Anas that come down through the mountain passes and curl your hair and make your nerves jump and your skin itch.  On nights like that, every booze party ends in a fight.  Meek little wives feel the edge of the carving knife and study their husbands' neck.  Anything can happen."

(disclaimer - Jason was never in any danger, by the time the children left, I was feeling much better)

Currently Listening Begin to Hope By Regina Spektor see related

 I am not quite a prodigal son, but I have been gone for so long, enjoying the temptations of that other site and pouring my time and effort (albiet not much) into those pages. 

So, for those of you who may still check back here and can clean away the dust and cobwebs, here are a few highlights since... October?  wow...sorry

November: Jason and I made dessert for thanksgiving which was an incredible chocolate silk pie.  a very daring choice considering my family is a long line of chocoholics who look forward to Marie Calendars silk pie for thanksgiving every year.  it was a success thanks largely in part to Jason's amazing cooking skills.  some thing I am for sure going to benefit from :)  Jen comes for a visit next month!

 December: I threw a Christmas party at my house for my 8th grade girls.  35 showed up.  Just add chocolate and you can only begin to imagine what that was like.  I also got my traditional Christmas cold and I took a bike ride that forever changed my life and I ended December 28th engaged (that was as sappy as I could get, we saw these invitations at paper source that said "that one stary night under the stars, he kneeled in the sand in Laguna and changed their lives forever"  cute? yes, sappy? very).  For those of you who are counting back on your fingers, yes that would be 5 months that we dated before we were engaged.  Crazy, I know but good and exciting and stressful and funny and suprising and fun and challenging and very adventurous.  I also took my first trip to Joshua Tree which was beyond beautiful, and I managed to come back with no broken bones, but extreme soreness everywhere

January: hmmm, no major highlights... was this the magical month Jen came down for breakfast.  I dont  so here are just the words that come to mind:  cinnamon buns, long beach, new years hats and poppers, the game of life, constitution testing at school, wedding dress shopping...

February: We found a location and a date - July 14th!  We are trying to keep it relatively small and intimate since between the two of us we could easily invite 500 people.  But neither of us are independently wealthy (we are both teachers - wealth is not in our cards) 

March: we shall see!  Perhaps i will be more consistent in posting and we will have no need for the random updates

on a completely separate note, this is an event which happened at the house and I felt needed its own section: This is part of a series where Helmut the lawn gnome and Buddah the spiritual symbol get into a fight one late night at the house.  The event came to be known as "The Puncture at Palmyra" 

seasons again

there is something so invigorating and intoxicating about the changing of the seasons.    we're in this inbetween stage where you still remember and can taste the sugary hotness of summer so vividly, but are beginning to catch more and more drifts of the spicey cold starting to creep in.  the trees create a black lace on the violet horizon much earlier.  even the light turns to a hazy gold and the sun creates odd angled shadows.  there is a moist glowing ring around the street lamps by the beach where the scent of burning bon fires is being replaced by chimney smoke and cooking dinners.  sandals are almost packed under the bed in favor of warmer, more sensible shoes.  shoulders have said their last goodbye to the sun, finally in a loving relationship after an earlier burning period.  the brownish sun glow starts to fade from freckled cheeks.  christmas lights are already beginning to make an appearance along with thicker jackets and scarves.  and thus my firey mad love affair with summer fades into the consistent cool of autumn.  candles will burn, hot drinks will be enjoyed, frosty air will make breath dance in the light... and it will be good.  but still, my toes will miss the grass and the sun and the sand and entire days out of shoes.  but the thing is that summer will always come back around again.  it's dependable like that.

in other news, a few pictures from the summer (these are the only ones that have been sent to me:) to give you a little flavor of the joys.

OC fair house of mirrors, always good

big sur

weekends are your friend

Last night I was outside under the stars wrapped in blankets watching Goonies with Jason after enjoying an amazing birthday party a la Bri.  That morning we took a bike ride to the Filling Station and had breakfast consisting of huge Hawaiian bread french toast, scrambled eggs, and bacon.  Tonight was test grading at Diedrich with a blended mocha and good company followed by taco mesa and a movie.  Right now I am sitting on my couch with Jen Smith and Briana Helmick.... good way to end a good weekend..

Yeah, I know, weak comeback after a two month hiatus.  Babysteps