Caught Unawares

Caught unawares.

My best friend in Tacoma is moving back to Wisconsin.

I cant believe it! She's been here for four years.  I remember the day she arrived.  Just having come from a tumultuous situation in the wild city of Chicago, she arrived on my doorstep November 1, 2007, bleach blonde, skinny as a rail.  Brit and I hit it off.  She was much more careful with me than with most people.  She can be brash but at least you know where you stand with her.  If she doesn't like you, you'll know.  That's something I appreciate about Brit.  You get what she's giving, whether you like it or not.  She'll tell if you she doesn't feel like going to Matador again or would rather watch a comedy than a sad, indie film.  She's just ... HERSELF.  She's one of those multi-faceted friends.  She's not the friend you go out for a glass of wine with, the friend you go dancing with, the friend you meet up at a coffee shop with, the friend who helps you move, the friend you get a tattoo with, or the friend you play sports with --- to me, she's all those things and more.  We have had a blast these past four years and, to be honest, Tacoma won't feel the same without her.  All my best memories of living here are because of her.  She made Tacoma feel like home.  Even though we're not blood related (she's my husband's cousin) we always told new people we met that we were cousins.  I love her like family.  She IS family.

Her going away party is Wednesday and then we're roadtripping to the midwest.  Hopefully I can process all of this sadness and let her know how much I'll miss her.  In the meantime, I am posting some of my favorite photos of her from the past four years.  Enjoy.

Hiking.  March 2011.

Brit's surprise birthday party.  October 2010.

Modeling.

Brit's birthday party.  October 2010.

Victor's funeral.  Victor was a bunny Brit had for 1 week.

Las Vegas, Sept 2009.  Photo by: Dan.

France Party - Spring 2009.

Fall 2008.

 I LOVE YOU, BRIT!

Go Skate Tacoma

 Go Skate Tacoma! 
It Happened... and it was AMAZING.

I was woken up early in the morning by Ben and Sam (who had started setting up at 5am) because they needed my drill and hammer to fix some things on the skate ramps.  Since I live close by, I was down there pretty quickly to help.  

It was so sunny!  The nicest day we've had since last summer, I'm sure!  Everyone had great attitudes. We gave away a ton of stuff!  It was awesome.  Everyone was asking if we could do it again next year.  Ben was so tired yesterday that he said he didnt want to do it again but it was such a success that I think we can convince him.  

My buddy Sam poses (somewhat unwillingly) in front of my chalk art.

The best part of this event is the support we got from the City.  Councilman Marty Campbell spoke on behalf of the City and Mayor Strickland saying (twice) that "Skateboarding is not a crime!".  He was thrilled to see so many people enjoying Tollefson Plaza and enjoying the sport and transportation of skateboarding.  Many cities consider skateboarders and skateboarding a nuisance.  We force these kids into the fringes of society by telling them they cant partake in their favorite hobby in public places.  I'm not completely naive; I know that some skateboarders damage property and have a complete disregard for anyone but themselves.  But, that's just people.  Some people are stupid... but most are not.

Perhaps if we start treating skateboarders like a part of society they won't feel the need to be idiots.  My case in point would be "The Garages" on Broadway.  Tacoma gave graffiti artists a designated place to do graffiti and it seems as though vandalism has gone down.  Now that skating is legalized in Tacoma I think it will do two things:  1) Help marginalized kids feel like a part of a community, 2)  Let the other members of this city see that skateboarding, and its participants, are not all bad.  I am so happy to live in a city that's so forward-thinking and not afraid to try things like that.  Go Tacoma!

This is the man who made it all possible!  My pal, Ben!

Giving out free gifts, like these helmets from Daddy-O's, was the best part!

Our peace-keeping advocate and advisor, Bob.

There were approximately 1,500 people in Tollefson Plaza throughout the day.

Free Skate.

Dan snuck this picture of me in my RAD go skate tacoma shirt.

The judges for the 17 and under competition.

Judges on the 18+ Best Trick Competition.

I thought this was the cutest thing EVER!

The first band:  Si Si Si, from Tacoma

One of Tacoma's best party bands, The Wheelies, rocked out around 9pm to end the event.

Tom, Rusty, "Map", and Joe of Wheelies!

Creator

Several months ago, I shared with my community group that I was so worn out by LIFE.  My life was on spin dry, like a broken washing machine that's been spinning for far too long so that the clothes inside are totally crusty and dry.  I just had nothing to give.

I'm learning that I am stronger than I allow myself to be.  More importantly, I'm learning that anything I lack I can get from God.  That doesn't mean I'm weak, that just means that I need my Creator.  The created is nothing without her creator.  God invented life, He wrote the manual.  Why do I always try to figure things out on my own?  If you believe in God then why do you struggle through this life when there's a higher being who's got it all figured out for you?

Sometimes I still don't have anything to give.  My life is still nuts and that's probably not going to change.  Sometimes I need to ditch my mostly self-imposed obligations and just be free.  Other times, I need to get out there and help people.  Listen to people, share with them, feed the hungry, clothe the naked.  One thing is for sure, I cant live life on my own timing and terms.  When I just give up all the anger and anxiety, that's when I will have something to give.  Life's not about ME.  Life is meant to be shared.  That's the way my Creator intended me to be.

What do you do when you're "on empty"?

Style Nouveau

My hair has been long and layered and balayaged for far too long.  Dont know what balayage is?  It's hand painted highlights that give a softer grow out than foiled highlights or all-over-dye.  I am a HUGE proponant for balayage.  Before balayage, I re-colored my hair every 4 weeks.  Since I died my hair brown a year ago I have done balayage twice:  Once in Ocotber, and then again in February.  February was over 3 months ago!  It was getting really grown out - like 2 inches of roots.  So, I got my hair done over the weekend!  She cut about 3 inches off and went WAY LIGHTER.  I like it, though.  I set up the ol' tripod and did some self-portraits and only one turned out.  The others are so goofy.  I cannot successfully do the serious side-look without looking like a total noob so I just stare at the camera and smile and pretend like it's Dan taking the picture.  :)

I've also been trying different things with my nails.  Blue, pastelly green, minty green, bright pink.  The other day I tried a bling finger.  I dont know if that's what it's called but that's what I'm calling it.  You paint 1 nail a different, stand-out color.  This is Maybelline Gold Rush on my ring finger... I mean, bling finger!.... and OPI Shanghai Shimmer on the rest.  Loves it!

Spokane + Baby Shower

This weekend I drove a really long way to see my sister (Sister #3) at her college:  Eastern Washington University.  My mom and Sister#2 drove there, also, from Vancouver.  So, it was a girls weekend!  We didnt have an agenda, just wanted to spend time together.

Sister #3 showing us around EWU.

Sister#2 at Red Robin in downtown Spokane.

After two nights in Spokane, we were all going to leave Sister#3 and head back down to Vancouver for Amanda's baby shower.  Amanda was my neighbor when I was in high school and we played softball together, too; my dad was one of the coaches. My sisters are friends with her, too, and obviously my parents have known her for a long time so we were all invited to her baby shower.  I got a few things off her registry and also found some white onesies that I wanted each of the ladies to customize for Amanda.  On Saturday we got to work with some 90s music on the iPod and some of Sister#3's acrylic paints.

My mom created an argyle pattern with a monogrammed "M"

I went with a sailor-theme.

All four "M" onsies.

Amanda is married to Marshall and due to generations of family tradition, they have to name their baby an M-name!  HAVE TO.  They haven't chosen one yet but I figured since their last name starts with an M it's safe to say that an M-emblazoned-onesie would be kosher.  So, even if in her drug- induced post-labor state Amanda decided to ditch the M-name, their last name is still an M.  (God forbid).

Here are some photos from Amanda's baby shower.  (She's due September 23rd.)

Me and Amanda. 06/12/11.  [Photo by:  Sister#2].

Family Ties

It's amazing how 4 people can all be related and be so different.  I have two sisters and a brother; I'm the oldest.  There are few similarities between us.  Let's start with me because I'm the oldest and I'm always first.

I'm brash, self confident, selfish, independent, an extrovert who likes loud concerts and wild parties, a photographer, a documenter.  I want people to like me but dont make an extra effort to ensure that that happens.  I like most people and making new friends.  I'm bossy and I'm a control freak.  And (if you couldnt tell) I'm really hard on myself.

Sister Number 2 is creative, an amazing painter, a hard-working employee, a concerned friend.  She's selfishly insecure but at the same time knows exactly how to make anyone feel like a million bucks.  She gives the best, most creative and thoughtful gifts.  She's an introvert who would rather watch movies at home or go to coffee with a friend than be in a noisy, crowded place.  She is very funny!

Sister Number 3 is loud and wild, completely uncoordinated, an introvert who knows how to party.  She's a caring friend and a responsible student.  She loves to read, write, and paint abstract art.  She's five years younger than I am so we never went to school together.  We've lived really different lives even though we grew up in the same homes.  I am thankful for her patience and her peace-maker attitude, especially throughout all my recent family drama.  She is the rock of the family.  Secretly I think she's everyone's favorite which doesn't bother me.

Little Brother is the youngest, lives at home, and is the most introverted of the three.  He can sit and wail on his guitar for hours.  He's horribly messy, extremely smart, talented, and he's a good handyman.  He knows how to fix a lot of things.  He is critical (which makes me think he's a perfectionist) but he's usually right.  He's seven years younger than I am.  He was 11 when I left for college so I haven't lived with him since then.  He is so talented creatively and I hope and pray that he gets to use his gifts more as he gets older.

So, those are my siblings!  We're a rag-tag bunch of hooligans.  We argue and piss each other off but we can also pull together and throw a pretty good party or laugh our butts off at Youtube videos.  Our sense of humor and our life experiences are what keep us going.  I am so blessed to have a big, crazy family.  I love them all, flaws and all, and I know that they love me, too.

Afternoons and Coffee Spoons

There's just something about sitting in a coffee shop - especially on a rainy day, which we have quite frequently here in the Pacific Northwest.  And we Washingtonians (and Oregonians) really love our coffee!  However, to cut costs, I tried brewing my own espresso this week.  It was decent, at best.  Part of the fun of paying $2.50 for an Americano is that A) Somone else made it. and B) I get to sit in a cool, cozy coffee shop.  I do not think that this making my own coffee thing will work out too well but I'll keep trying!

Here's a look back at some past cups of coffee via my Photo of the Day project.

Skate Expectations

The past weekend was the most gorgeous weekend of 2011!!! (So far!)  It was sunny and warm and it was MAGICAL!  I have a friend, Ruthy, who has never been on a skateboard EVER so I was going to teach her how to longboard.  [A longboard is a longer skateboard with bigger, more stable wheels.  You dont do tricks on them, you just ride.]  It was really just an excuse to hang out with her and be in the sun.  Anyway, she got sick (and still is!) and so my lady-skateboarding-date turned into dudes-plus-Lindsy-skate-fest.  My friend Ben once longboarded across America to raise money for the Boys and Girls club.  Pretty cool, right?  Needless to say, he's pretty good on a longboard.  Then, Shannon and Andy came.  They're both pretty good, too.  I know from my time on a snowboard that a) guys are usually faster and more daring than I am -and- b) I'd better be ready to haul balls.  So, we geared up and we stopped at Caffe Dei on 6th Ave for a vegan breakfast sandwich and then headed to Five Mile Drive at Point Defiance Park.  Guess what?  I didnt suck.  It was so glorious!  I didnt feel like I was holding them up in any way which was a major confidence boost.  It was sunny and the trees provided the perfect amount of shade. 

Everything was going great until Ben decides to ride the Fort Nisqually hill alone.  Andy, Shannon, and I took the easy way down to wait for him.  After a few minutes, Ben comes bombing down the hill and turned the corner.  By the time we caught up with him, he was in the dirt with a bloddy leg, his board upside-down, hunched over and shaking.  A guy in a truck had run him off the road, even though he was in the bike lane!  He transitioned from concrete to gravel and mud going about 15-20 mph.  Nobody can do that, not even Ben.  His leg is all bruised and scratched.  We are still so mad.

Skateboarding has always gotten a bad rep.  Until just last week, skateboarding was illegal in Tacoma.  Ben has been working with the City of Tacoma to legalize skateboarding as a viable form of transportation.  You can read the article here.  ALSO!  I am working with Ben and many, many others on a skate event in Tollefson Plaza (Pacific Ave, by the Marriot).  Go Skate Tacoma is a free event on June 21st from 2-10pm.  There's free skate, a cross-city ride, skate competition, and live music.  Please check it out and bring your whole crew!

http://goskatetacoma.com/

Piano

So, we moved a GRAND PIANO in!  How awesome is that?  Thanks to all the guys who helped!  I love it so much!