Bursting with Fruity Flavor

Big Afros & Riding Bikes

2011-05-02T14:06:00.000-07:00

We've been riding our bikes a lot lately. It's starting to get crisp and rainy in Christchurch. The leaves are turning a beautiful golden color before they turn loose.

It's strange to be gearing up for Winter in May. We decided to take a trip to the States in July to break things up. Our friends in Seattle are getting married and they've asked Andy to be their officiant for the vows. So, we are going to fly into L.A. and stay there for a few days to visit Mandy & Emily. Then we will go to Seattle for a week or so & visit our friends there. I will probably go to Arkansas to visit my family after that.

I miss my dad. He's starting to build his house this summer, so hopefully I will get to help out a little and hang out at the barn for an evening hot tub soak. I love it out in Booneville. It's really relaxing. I'm glad he's getting out of Van Buren and out into the woods like he's always wanted.

I'll hopefully get to see some friends and my sisters, Malen, Mackenzie, and Shannin (my cousin-like-a-sister).

I love planning trips. Almost more than the trip itself....well, almost!

Sydney

2011-04-03T14:03:00.000-07:00

Last week I went to Sydney, Australia to meet up with a friend from college. He is a hair stylist in St. Paul now and was traveling to Sydney to do hair for a wedding. It was so much fun and so great to see him. We hadn't seen each other in six years, but it was like no time had passed. He looks exactly the same.

Sydney was an amazing city. So much culture and so many things to do. I took a lot of photos and walked around so much. Too much, actually! My feet are killing me. They have great public transportation, but I found myself wanting to do what I call "urban hiking". There are so many beautiful art deco buildings and so many beautiful gardens.

Now I'm back in Christchurch boiling my water. The city is still reeling from our recent earthquakes. The waste treatment plants are not doing well and the water and beaches are still unsafe to drink or swim in. It's going to be a difficult winter for the people of Christchurch.

I haven't found a job here yet. I'm sure that it will happen in time. I've been busying myself with yard work and going to the YMCA every day. Meeting people has been a little difficult for me. Our community is much older, which is fine, but I would like to meet some ladies closer in age that share my interests. Now that the entire downtown is closed off for a few years I'm wondering where people are hanging out? It's sad, it was such a beautiful downtown. And it will be again, it will just take time.

Kiwi Times

2011-02-12T20:04:00.001-08:00

Doing some reading, gardening, & cooking in my new home.

I finished "Just Kids" by Patti Smith about her & Robert Mapplethrope. I enjoyed her writing style and thought it was a loving memoir of two New York artists. It’s prompted me to read "On the Road" which I’ve never read before. I think I’m finally ready. And I re-read "Into the Wild", which is a favorite. I also got into Agatha Christie over the last year. Christchurch has a lot of her novels for cheap and they always have an interesting twist.

Growing onions, strawberries, blueberries, tomatoes, cucumbers, pears, and figs. Trying to grow some sunflowers, but I think it’s too late in the season for that. I’ve got lavendar already started. Roses and dahliah’s too. There are some other flowers and plants already planted and I don’t know what they are. I need a New Zealand plant and herb guide book so I can figure out if I’ve just been growing a pile of weeds.Books can get expensive here so I’m trying to pace myself.

I found a great birding guide that has been very useful in identifying several birds here. I bought a new pair of binoculars (Andy Fever calls them Private Eyes) for birding. We took a hike through the Port Hills to the Pacific Ocean and I saw some dolphins. Their dolphins are small and compact here. Very adorable.

While I was working at the art gallery/retail space in Seattle I was able to buy some nice art supplies. I’ve been working on some drawings and plan to start painting once our belongings arrive by ship in late March.

I’ve yet to start job hunting, but I’m hoping to start volunteering at the Christchurch Art Museum so hopefully that will help me get on there. I already have a work visa so the hardest part is over. Although their recent earthquake has made jobs difficult to find. I’m not sweating it because I’ve got my bountiful garden to tend and plenty of books to keep me occupied.

New Zealand

2011-02-06T12:28:00.000-08:00

I finally made it to New Zealand after six long months of waiting for our cats to be able to travel. They are being held at a lovely quarantine station in the country. It might go down in history as the first time that bringing animals out to the country to live on a nice farm was actually not a euphemism for putting them down. They are actually doing fine out on a nice farm until the 22nd of February.

I've been here for a week now and I'm really settling in nicely and have enjoyed setting up our new place. We went for a fun weekend drive to some beautiful areas called Akorora & the Port Hills. Photos here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mishamac/sets/72157625865696405/

Toffeltour Ends

2009-07-07T11:06:00.000-07:00

My good friend, Emily, was visiting us by way of L.A. We had a blast & got to show her all the sights. She's a fellow Journalism major that didn't end up in the industry. Now she's a school counselor in L.A. & has her summer's off.

I wish she lived closer, but I enjoy having someone to visit while in Los Angeles. She's just one of those women that I could never get tired of being around. So inspiring, witty, & warm. I love those kinds of ladies. I hope to be one someday!

Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger

2009-06-15T10:00:00.000-07:00

A new week. A chance to be more positive & to show those around me how much I care.

I can really wind myself up & get too overwhelmed. Last week was a doozy, but it ended with a garden party for my condo. We dug up some ugly grass & planted lavender & rosemary & put some fencing up. How many chances do adult, urban dwellers get to play in the dirt?

Not enough in my opinion.

I'm going to see PJ Harvey tomorrow evening with a lovely lady that lives in my building. I'm looking forward to seeing her live because she's always brought out so much emotion in me. It will be magical.

This world does not make sense

2009-06-11T10:32:00.000-07:00

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20090609_11_0_TeOlhm209962

A friend I went to college with was hit & killed by a drunk driver in Tulsa. He was a dedicated cyclist & all-around great guy.

I went to high school with his brother & have known the two of them for years.

Just sad & angry.

There was good news today that made me smile. My friends Lacy & Jonathan are expecting.

We are fascinated and frustrated by this world so much of the time.

Clutter Cutter

2009-03-19T12:56:00.001-07:00

Whew! I'm back from Arkansas & had a wonderful time. I spent the first week tearing through my grandma's place. I cleared out bags & bags of stuff for the Salvation Army....so much so that they banned us from donating any more.

We tipped the garbage men $10 each & helped them throw away all the bags since there were so many. I threw away so many things that I'm pretty sure I undid all the recycling I've ever done.

It was too hard for my Dad to do, so I was down there to help. I'm hoping that he'll be able to rent it out & start working on building his own place out in the country. He's never had his own place & I'm eager for him to get started.

I made it up to Fayetteville for a few days & met up with my sister & a few friends. I went dancing at Scarpino's & went to a friend's new bar, Smoke & Barrel.

I love Fayetteville so much. It's always so great to be there & hard to leave.

Whew

2009-03-14T16:21:00.000-07:00

I did it.

I cleaned my grandparents place of all the dust & clutter. I got rid of so many things, but came across so many lovely memories. I found my grandparents letters to each other while my grandpa was in the Navy in WWII. They were so in love.

To have someone in your life as your best friend is truely devine.

I got to hang out with my dad in Booneville. We needed some hot tub intervention after all that moving. Yesterday I treated myself to a visit to Fayetteville & have been bouncing around to visit so many faces I've been missing.

This morning Kristin & Amber made me waffels. Such lovely lesbians.

Whew, I need a nap.

Big Sigh

2009-02-25T09:27:00.000-08:00

Ah, Miami was heaven. I saw so many curvy ladies on the beach, it was fantastic. I don't think a day went by that we didn't see a topless (or bottomless) lady on the beach. They are very open there.

We never realized that South Beach had such beautiful architecture. It was all art deco & they've restored a lot of their original buildings. We went to the Wolfsonian Museum & that was a blast. They had an exhibit on war propaganda posters.

I got back on the 18th & Mandy flew in on the 19th. We did a lot of dancing & shopping. She left yesterday & I'm exhausted! I've got a sore throat & I've realized that I'm a homebody. I wasn't really all that in to going out to bars & drinking all night long.

I've never been a big drinker, but now I rarely drink at all. I think Mandy was a little bored at times. We're only a year apart, but she's up for a party 24/7. Of course, it was her 30th birthday & she works nights as a nurse. Plus, she's single now & looking at all the dudes here. We have such different taste in guys.

It was fun to have my best girl with me, but I'm exhausted now & ready to couch sit & rest. Whew!

I'll be in Arkansas March 5th-17th to help my dad. We'll be pretty busy, but I'm hoping I can get up to Fayetteville to see some friendly faces at some point.

Traveling

2009-02-09T10:14:00.001-08:00

I just found out that Andy's taking me to Miami with him on his work trip. We're going to go a few days early & check out Miami. It's not somewhere we'd go on our own, but we both could use the sun.

It snowed last night, but it's actually quite sunny out. I talked to my dad & we decided that I would come to Arkansas for a few weeks next month so I could help him get my grandmother's house ready to rent or sale. I don't like the idea of him renting because it's a hassle he probably doesn't want to deal with. But, selling in this market will be too difficult.

Adulthood can really become tedious at times. I wish I would've reveled in childhood a bit more. I think I was a rather serious kid, now I feel like I've regressed.

It will be good to spend time with Dad. He's still sad about losing Helen, but I know that he is enjoying his free time & being able to do whatever whenever.

Leaving on a jet plane.....

2009-01-21T09:24:00.000-08:00

I'm flying to Los Angeles tomorrow to visit Mandy & Emily. Mandy just got a job in Laguna Nigel as a travel nurse. She has a six month contract, but I imagine she'll stay longer. I'm so proud of her for taking this new job on after all the things she's been through in the past year.

Emily is a guidance counselor in L.A.....I can't imagine how spoiled those kids might be. She said they all drive nicer cars than her. It's like that in Seattle too, except that I don't have a car to compare.

I'm so excited to see these two girls. I've known Mandy since I was 12 or so & I met Emily at the UofA in an Advertising or Marketing class. I knew she was different from all the other girls in my class when I saw her wearing Chuck's & a Pinback t-shirt. She was one of the founders of KXUA, the UofA student-run radio station.

Mandy & I were travelling for a game in high school when we became best friends. She was a cheerleader & I was on the dance team. She was singing a funny Adam Sandler song & I thought to myself,"A girl this pretty AND she's funny!?"

I'm just lucky to have them both in my life.

It's sunny here, but still very cold. I'm going to run some errands & get to packing all my summer things for tomorrow!

OH! I forgot the best part!! George W. Bush is no longer our president. Hello!? That was the longest eight years ever. What a mess poor Obama has in front of him but, for some reason, I'm hopeful. He inspires me to do great things as well.

Floods

2009-01-08T11:42:00.000-08:00

This is what Seattle's been up to after all the snow we had. I'm hoping to go snowboarding in Snoqualmie soon, but I guess I will have to wait until after the flooding.

I'm feeling more at ease now that all the holidays are over. I'm almost done working at my framing job & am planning some trips.

Mandy is working in Laguna, CA now & I'm going down to visit her. We're going to drive to L.A. & see Emily. I'm looking forward to this girly trip so much. I cannot wait to sit in the sun with those lovelies.

It will be a nice change from Seattle's rainy month. This winter has been particularly harsh.

I'm also planning a trip to Arkansas. My dad is now free of obligations & is finally going to start building his own place in Booneville where he has some land. Nothing will make me happier than helping him start this project.

He's even going to have a hot tub. I can only picture how rugged his place will be, but there will be a hot tub!

It's only a paper moon

2008-12-26T19:49:00.000-08:00

"I never feel a thing is real
When I'm away from you
Out of your embrace
The world's a temporary parking place

Mmm, mm, mm, mm
A bubble for a minute
Mmm, mm, mm, mm
You smile, the bubble has a rainbow in it

Say, it's only a paper moon
Sailing over a cardboard sea
But it wouldn't be make-believe
If you believed in me

Yes, it's only a canvas sky
Hanging over a muslin tree
But it wouldn't be make-believe
If you believed in me

Without your love
It's a honky-tonk parade
Without your love
It's a melody played in a penny arcade

It's a barnum and bailey world
Just as phony as it can be
But it wouldn't be make-believe
If you believed in me"

My grandma Helen liked Lawrence Welk a lot. It's the only show we watched together. We also liked to play Skipbo, a card game, & swim together.

I never told her that this song reminded me of her. I think it must have been a photograph of her that I saw once. She looked like Tatum O'Neal in it, or rather, Tatum O'Neal looked like her.

She died peacefully today. My family was right by her side. We talked briefly yesterday & she wasn't in any more pain.

My sweet Violet is back to the Earth now.

Snnnnnoooooowwwww!!

2008-12-21T16:58:00.001-08:00

Snow:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mishamac/

Snow, glorious, snow

2008-12-21T16:48:00.000-08:00

Wow! We've gotten over a foot of snow & it's snowing no signs of letting up. I don't think Seattle has gotten this much snow in years. I'm two days out of work, but enjoying tromping around in the snow.

I'm looking to head over to Laguna Beach to visit Mrs. Mandy. She's a travel nurse now & just moved out West. I think she's a bit lonely being the new girl in town. Plus, I'm a little over all this snow, so it will be nice to treat myself to a sunny vacation...especially since Virgin American has direct flights to L.A. now. I can see my girlfriend Emily as well.

2008-12-13T19:52:00.000-08:00

Weekend in Van Buren

2008-12-09T16:55:00.000-08:00

I had a quick trip to Arkansas to see my Grandma Helen last weekend.

The first night was a little scary. She has a blood clot on her lip & it started bleeding terribly a few hours after I got there. I'd never seen so much blood & I was very scared. Luckily my dad, her caregiver, was there to stop the bleeding. This happens a lot lately so he was prepared. I was not.

I spent most of my time there curled up in her therapeutic massage bed with her. We just talked & napped. I gave her a manicure & pedicure & put Burt's Bees products all over her. People forget how nice those little things can make someone feel. It made me feel good to do it.

As I was leaving she said,"If I don't see you again, good luck with everything."

I had to run out so she wouldn't see me cry. It was a good visit though. I will come back for a longer visit after the holidays so I can help out around the house for my dad. He just has his hands full just taking care of her.

I should change my blog's name...

2008-11-30T10:52:00.001-08:00

I don't feel like I'm bursting with fruity flavor today.

My grandma is making a steady decline. She's now on oxygen & seems to be quite depressed. She's agnostic, so there's no comfort when it comes to death.

I couldn't sleep last night because I keep recalling a conversation that Grandma Helen & I had after mom died. She told me that life happens so fast that it's impossible to remember it all. I've kept a paper journal since I was in elementary school and reading it makes me happy because what I cannot recall is written down....but you can't write down someone's laugh, or the way they hug, or the way their perfume mixes with their bodies & creates a unique fragrance.

My mom always wore Pavlova & I found a small bottle in her dresser the last time I was home. It was a familiar smell, but it wasn't quite right.

I miss her. I seem to miss her more as each year passes. It's been almost three years & there are nights that I still cannot sleep. It's those times that I feel most alone. I go into my living room & stare into the night waiting for her to give me a sign that she is out there.

But being agnostic, I doubt that I would recognize a sign were she there to give me one. That has been the most difficult part. I was raised Catholic by my mother, but my father is atheist. I grew up questioning, but always having the fear of making God angry with my doubt. I believe that's the definition of "Catholic guilt".

Now it is made worse by the fact that I want so much to believe that my mother is somewhere else, but the logical side of me knows this cannot be true.

I really hate this time of year. I wish I could just fast-forward through New Year's Eve, when we lost her. That is a time I do not want to remember.

I just don't get it

2008-10-30T18:56:00.000-07:00

I doubt anyone reads this, so I figure this would be a good place to vent about this upcoming election.

I just don't understand how anyone could vote for McCain. Especially after he picked such a ridiculous VP. He didn't even vet her. She is clearly the worst pick. I think he wanted Joe Lieberman, but I doubt the GOP would've gone for that.

I'm pro choice, so that's another reason I would never vote for McCain. I think he will pick Supreme Justices that will try to reverse Roe V. Wade.

Now I get that some people see abortion as wrong. Usually those people have never been in a tough situation with a difficult decision to make. I don't think that anyone WANTS to have an abortion, but I think that right should be up to the woman to choose. Nothing could or has ever changed my mind about this, especially in the case of rape or incest. Sarah Palin feels that even if a woman is raped (EVEN if it's someone in her own family) that the woman shouldn't have the right to an abortion.

I just think that's the most hateful thing in the world.

I needed to get that out, because I'm so sick of Joe the Plumber & all of this junk. Blah.

Helen Violet Carey

2008-10-28T14:09:00.000-07:00

Dad called this morning to let me know that my grandma was in the hospital with pneumonia. I knew that she had a cold, but I guess her immune system couldn't fight it off. She should be okay, but I hate it when anyone has to take a trip to the hospital. They are so cold & depressing. Hopefully she won't have to be there long.

I'm not sure when I'll be traveling to Arkansas again. Probably after all the holidays are over & I finish my seasonal framing job.

Turns out that one man died in that fire I mentioned. He was 80 years old & they were evicting everyone from the building for demolition. The theory is that he had nowhere else to go & so he shot himself & set the building on fire. The police found a gun among the man's belongings. Apparently it had been fired. Poor old man, he'd been living there for over 40 years & at 80 probably couldn't handle the stress of moving.

Aging is a bitch, so get out there & bust a move while you're young.

On the up & up

2008-10-27T14:17:00.000-07:00

I got a call from my dad at 6 a.m. (my time). It seems there was a fire in my neighborhood & he was worried it was my building. Luckily it was not, although I walked to the site & it was still on fire. Everyone got out okay as far as I could tell.

Dad is scheduled to take his final prostate test on the 29th. They should be able to detect any cancer cells that they may have missed with his surgery. He said that if there's any left they should be able to zap it with radiation. That should be it!

Boom!

2008-10-26T16:48:00.001-07:00

What a beautiful Fall weekend. I made a pot pie & have been kicking beautiful red leaves all day. Yesterday I saw a cat on a leash, a dog drinking coffee & a woman walking down the street in a Bat Woman costume.

Yep, some days I feel good about being an American.

Now get out there & vote!

Summer's almost gone

2008-09-23T09:20:00.000-07:00

So much to update.

I went to visit my dad during his recovery. I'm glad I went. We enjoyed our time together & had a lot of fun taking it easy.

Mandy & Malen came to Seattle the day after I got back. We had so much fun. Malen had never been to Seattle & it was fun showing her around.

Looks like Dad won't have any follow up surgeries. I'll know more in a few months. He's healing well & I'm glad he's through with the pain.

I'm going to L.A. Thursday to visit my friend Emily. I think the County Fair is in our plans. It will be nice to see some of L.A. finest hill folk.

We'll also be going to the Getty Art Museum, so that should be an odd mix.

Another one bites the dust

2008-06-23T13:45:00.000-07:00

I went on my first real bike ride of the Summer yesterday with Ishell, my lovely neighbor, and Andrew. We were having a wonderful time riding through the Washington Arboretum until we came to a cross walk & a car didn't stop for me. Ouch.

Luckily I wasn't going too fast, but I fell over & landed on my left leg pretty hard. Didn't break anything, but I think I'll have some lovely bruises just in time for skirt weather here in Seattle.

The leg is fine, it was just scary.

Looks like Dad will have his consultation on July 9th & then the surgery a week later. He told me he didn't mind if I skipped out on coming down. He said,"I don't want you to see me all laid up & start crying again. Just come up another time when we can do something fun."

So, that's what I'll do. I'd like to be there, but he's right, I'd just get upset & fight with my sister.

Speaking of, Malen is planning a trip to see me in September. I've got a few ideas of things for us to do, but I think she'll just be happy to be away from work.

A beautiful day

2008-06-09T13:00:00.001-07:00

Even though it is in the 50s here & rainy, I am having one of the best days of my life. I am embracing all things today.

My dad called me at 8am to let me know that his prostate cancer has not spread & that doctor's can remove it fairly easily. He will have to travel to Shreveport Louisiana for the surgery, but he seemed in really good spirits.

I'm thinking that I will fly down to Shreveport & drive him back, but it depends on what he wants. I don't want to smother him with my undying love. He knows. I remind myself most days that the people in my life know that I love them.

I have a niece, two sisters, a husband, a father, a grandmother, a best friend, and people that I can talk to. I feel incredibly lucky & satisfied today. It is the first time in a long time that I have felt like this & I'm going to wallow in it all day.

Loner

2008-05-28T21:02:00.000-07:00

Back from my trip down South. I had a mixed time, filled with great visits with friends, family, and people that I think about often.

I got to hang out with my dad a lot, which I always like. A few days into the trip he told me that he's been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Of course I cried. A lot. You're just never prepared when your parents get sick and it never really hits you that they age until you're far away.

We think it's been caught early, but I'll know for sure in a few weeks when he gets the test results back. Until then, I feel like I'm waiting in a doctor's office or an airport. I just feel really blank & scared.

At first I was scared for myself, now I'm just hoping that my dad isn't afraid. He's so wonderful & I hate not being closer.

I saw a man with the words "Loner" tattooed on his neck today while I was buying groceries by myself. Brother, you ain't kiddin'.

I'm glad the new David Sedaris will be out soon. I need a hearty laugh.

It was wonderful being home and then in Mexico. I needed all that sun.

Don't smell bums.

2008-04-11T13:06:00.000-07:00

I’ve accidentally started a dog walking business. The dog I walked today, Sam, is a husky/Australian Shepard mix. He’s adorable. I'll be walking him every weekday so I was glad that he already listens to me. He's not so great with crosswalks, but we'll keep working.

On our walk today a homeless man stopped me & asked me to smell him. He said he couldn’t trust his friends to tell him the truth. I declined politely, but Sam was more than happy to smell him all over. I thought it was a good compromise.

On a related note, if you can’t trust your friends to tell you when you’re stanky, well, who can you trust?