"In the moments of our life that come and go so fast you could never hold them, I try to hold on anyway."

-Still Waters

Okay, so I just spent two minutes staring at the empty screen trying to think of a good intro for this blog, and then I started nodding off, and that was when I decided to accept the fact that I don't have an intro, or really anything to say at all, and that's just how it is going to be. Hmph.

Now, for an important e-news update.

I can fit almost all of my hair into a ponytail now.
It is very exciting.

"Another turning point,a fork stuck in the road, time grabs you by the wrist directs you where to go, so make the best of this test and don't ask why"

-Green Day, Good Riddance

I talked to Mommy today and she had just got back from a Memorial for a friend of the family that recently passed away. His name was Chris, and he was a sweet, happy man that I have known for most of my life. I went to school with one of his sons, he was a good friend of my mom's, and he gave my sister her first job. He was diagnosed with cancer not too long ago, and it hit him pretty fast. The doctors had origionally told him that he only had two months to live, but he managed to prove them wrong and stay with us for a bit longer.

The last time that I saw him was at Lora's wedding in September. He came up to me to say Hi, and I honestly didn't recognize him at all. He literally was skin and bones. Luckily he was with his wife, so I put it together and realized it was him. He was so happy to see me, and he was smiling and he asked me if my mom was going to be there and I said yes and he looked so happy. That is my last memory of him, out in the woods, watching Lora get married. His wife told me later that day that he had just recently decided to stop his treatments, so I wasn't terribly shocked today when I found out that he died.

Still though, it's sad.

I feel like this whole year has been one thing after another and that I'm supposed to be learning something right now and that it should be clear to me what that is, but instead I just feel cloudy.

"Never jump into a pile of leaves with a wet sucker."

-The Great Pumpkin

Work was soooo slow today. I don't seen I've ever seen the store have so few customers. But it was fun, because my coworkers are insane and crazy and that always makes for some good times. I should've taken pictures of everybody, but I was too lazy. So I only got a few pictures. I was a salt-shaker. I know, lots of girls use Halloween as a time to get all primped up in cute sexy costumes, but no sir, not me. I'm a salt-shaker kind of gal. Plus, the costume was so huge on me that it kind of felt like I was wearing a blanket all day. And I like blankets.
I went to Ben and Kai's after work and ate yummy food and watched The Great Pumpkin. Once again, I was too lazy to use my camera. So there are no Ben and Kai pictures. Sorries.

I've been up since 2:30 AM. I had madcrazy insomnia last night. I remembered hearing that warm milk helps people sleep, but I was afraid that I would make it too hot, so I drank a glass of cold milk instead, which ended up making me feel sick to my stomach, which only contributed to the fact that I couldn't sleep.

Speaking of sleep... good night.

"Isn't life a funny climb... you try and try, you do your best to understand, just do the best you can."

-Kate Powers and Steve Einhorn

For those of you who don't know, today is the Celtic New Year, and for the first time, I really am feeling it in my blood. It has been a long, hard year for me and for many of the people in my life. Hopefully these tough times will pass, but until they do, I'm doing my best to send out good energy and love to all of you. Life's twists and turns are always unexpected, but hopefully they will make us stronger and remind us of how lucky we all are to have eachother. Much love, and Good Samhain to all.

When the mountain touches the valley,
all the clouds are taught to fly
as our souls will leave this land
most peacefully
Though our minds be filled with questions,
in our hearts we'll understand
when the river meets the sea.

Like a flower that has blossomed
in the dry and barren sand,
We are born and born again
most gracefully,
Thus the winds of time will take us
with a sure and steady hand
When the river meets the sea.

Like a baby when it is sleeping
in its loving mother's arms,
what a newborn baby dreams
is a mystery
But his life will find a purpose
and in time he'll understand
When the river meets the sea.
-John Denver
(That song goes out to my Mom. Love you, mommy-face)

"True, it may seem like a stretch, but it's thoughts like this that ease my troubled head when you're away, when I am missing you to death..."

-Iron and Wine

"Just like that, life comes in. And things begin to change."

-Sex and the City

At 3 AM yesterday morning, (the 23rd), Amber started having contractions. I got off of work early today and met Amber, Adam, and Amber's mom at the hospital. Also there was Alyson, who is Amber's Doula. I met up with them in the cafeteria, and then the five of us walked around the hospital, because Amber said that it felt good to walk. Her contractions were coming quite often, but they were mild compared to what came later.
Then we went back to the Delivery Wing, and I waited in the lobby with Adam and his mom while they moved Amber to her own room. Then we all went in Amber's room and waited for Nacho.
Amber FINALLY gave birth, right around 4:45 AM this morning. For those of you who did the math, you'll realize that meant that this went on for OVER 25 hours. To hold up Amber's back when she pushed and to be able to watch this baby be born... it was amazing. I'm not even going to try to write about it, because any words that I have to write will just diminish the experience.

Welcome.

"I heard a song on the radio just yesterday, the same one you always asked me to play, and when the song was over I wished they'd play it again..."

-Garth Brooks, Every Now and Then

I'm pretty much always taking pictures in my head and wishing that I had my camera with me. So today, I took alot of pictures. Well I guess technically that was yesterday, since it is going to be 4 AM soon. Whatever.

I slept for 10 hours last night. not sure why, because I didn't know I was that tired. But yeah... I woke up and listened to Celtic music and did cross-stitch and thought about lots of stuff.
Then I walked to work. I pass alot of walls on my way that have graffiti on them, and most of them don't really catch my eye, but these two always do:
And look, here is my old home:
And here is the few pictures I took while I was walking through the International District. Normally I would've taken more, but I stopped at a produce stand to buy an apple, and then my hands were too sticky to use my camera, and it took me a while to find a water fountain. Sorry.
Here are my train tracks that I love so much:
And here is a picture that I took of a little cafe that has a man-made waterfall. Normally that would annoy me, but as a Seattle gal, I'll take whatever waterfalls I can get.
And here is Pioneer Square:

And here is the Waterfront:
And here is the city at night:And oh yeah... happy birthday to me.