Oh, Canada!

We're flying to Canada tomorrow for 10 days of Christmas, New Year's, and my little bro's wedding. It's 30 degrees below zero there... -48C if you figure in the wind chill. My folks are setting up a hot tub in our garage instead of in the back yard so our faces don't freeze off...oh, and my sis says she's eating moose roast tonight for dinner. Canada. Love it.

Pics...

Leaning Tower of Lisa

So I wrenched my back this week and sent it into a crippling spasm. This wasn't accomplished by attempting a particularly athletic move, engaging in wild sex, or even lifting something heavy. Nope. I merely stood up after taking a pee. I immediately recognized the seering pain across my lower hemisphere as the begining of an all-too-familiar-contortion. I fell to the ground clutching my ice pack, and began to pray that it wasn't so...then I cried...and finally, yes, I cussed. The first time this happened it took 3 weeks for me to heal. The second time was on the morning of our long awaited vacation to San Fran and Redding the summer of '07...it took about a week of chiro and massage treatments until I was at least walking without listing grotesquely to one side. Now I know what it's like to feel 112 years old and I am also aware of how much I take my mobility for granted. I am determined to turn a new leaf this year...no more sickness and no more back wrenching. I resolve to build up my immunity by consuming one bale of Echinacea per week along with my vitamins and a truckload of vegetables, and (gulp!) turn the development of my physical fitness over to my husband. I'm scared. He will make me into a "Crossfit Nasty Girl". I bet those chicks don't put out their backs when they go to the bathroom.

Meet Our New Ride...

Our new wheels: welcome the '89 Jeep Grand Wagoneer....so sweet. Only 800 bucks. I've always had a secret desire for one of these "endangered Rhino's of the road" as they're so aptly nicknamed. They're also nicknamed "Woodies" which I think is just spectacular. There will be an ongoing battle in our house over which one will stick...Brad rootin' for Rhino and me chirping back, "Woody!..it's Woody!" I had the priviledge of taking her on her maiden voyage, about a 10 mile spin from Shasta Lake to home. We attached the new plates, gave her some choke, and I slid behind the wheel, proud new owner. As I cautiously slipped her into gear the handle broke off in my hand...I also figured out a few blocks down the road that the brake was on...thank God, I was thinkin' something was wrong! From there on she cruised easily along...at 10 MPG. As I pulled into our apartment complex I saw my elderly neighbor Claire hangin' outside. "Do you like my new car?" I asked cheerily. "Why, yes", she replied. "It has a very nice rumble to it. Is it a diesel?" Um, no. I must admit I had to deal with some fossil-fuel-guilt-issues over buying this car. To overcome them I have determined that my new challenge is to drive as little as possible...at least until we can obtain a little "green" tin car that gets at least 34 MPG. And Brad will keep biking to work. And in reality, this is what we could afford. Everything else listed around $1000 had appealing descriptions like, "runs occasionally", or "only 279,000 miles", or "needs some minor work...especially a new transmission". And so we have our Rhino/Woody car...justified. And I am in guilt-free love.

Not so Simple Week...

How ironic that, after gushing about our lust for the simple life, the week we just lived through might have been the most complicated one we've had since moving to Redding. I mentioned we are in escrow for a new house...and our truck died three weeks ago (another story in itself). My day timer illustrates what's all gone down the last seven days, if you can make anything out through the mass of criss-crossing scribble: numerous inspections at the house, getting forms from the bank, meeting the realtor late at night to sign papers, 2 late night classes for me, 1 late night class for Brad, the other night a meeting with a classmate to work on a project, a couple chiro appointments, an appointment to get my forms turned in for substitute teaching priviledges, driving up to Shasta Lake City to test drive a car, driving back up another day to pay for our new car (another story in itself), an appointment at DMV to register the new car, another trip up to get the new car, and of course the normal work of a week. And through it all I fought the flu...again. I seem to be getting it once a month at least...I guess I'm havin' a problem getting used to all the new bugs here on the West Coast. So for six days I fueled my body with ginger ale, a couple cans of chicken noodle soup, gummy bears, and 10 crackers. Yummy. The week culminated last night with a 4 hour round trip to Sac to return our rental car. I talked on my cell 'till it died, chewed so much Juicy Fruit that my teeth turned furry, bopped around to crappy songs on the radio like "Hey Baby, Let's go to Vegas", took off my left shoe and sock for variety, saw 6 shooting stars ('n' definately freaked out more than neccesary), marveled at the brightness of the full moon, and tried to stay between the lines. My wonderful husband, who I was looking forward to chatting with all the way home, tipped back his head and checked out. Maybe we'll have time to talk next week!

Escrow....

So we're in Escrow. That fun word that teased me forever with the mystery of what it really means. Basically it means a lot of papers and signatures, a lot of inspections, and writing a lot of checks, and waiting...and waiting...Our hopefully new home (built in 1968) is a blank white slate crying out for paint and new windows and new appliances and a new deck...and one day a shiny hardwood floor! The chimney checked out just fine this week which was the most important inspection in my mind...if we wouldn't have been allowed to light a fire in that double fireplace I might have walked away from the deal! Can't wait to fill this house with color and laughter and friends and lovin'! Oh, and the smell of apple pie!

In Search of the Simple Life...

For quite some time Brad and I have been talking and thinking and dreaming and taking small steps to simplify our lives so that we can live sustainably (we have a long way to go)...the last two Sunday's at The Stirring we've been challenged to live simply so that we can love loud...and I keep hearing this song on Pandora. I think the theme is pretty clear...

When I get up in the morning, put the kettle on

Make us some coffee, say hey to the sun

Is it enough to write a song, and sing it to the birds

They'd hear just the tune, not understand my love for words

But you would hear me and know...

That I want to live this

I want to live

I want to live a simple life

I dreamed you first, but not so real

And every day since I found you, such moments we steal

Like little fields, we rub our hands

And hold our hearts between them

But will you hear me and know...

That I want to live this

I want to live

I want to live a simple life

Move on, move on, time is accelerating

Drive on, all night, traffic lights and one ways

Move on, move on parking violations waiting

Turn off the car, breathe the air, let's stay here

I'll kiss you awake, and we'll have time

To know our neighbors all by name, and every star at night

We'll weave our days together like waves, and particles of light

I want to live this

I want to live

I want to live a simple life

I want to live this

I want to live

I want to live a simple life

-The Weepies

What Goes Around....

Jester is a bad-ass cat. He prefers sleeping upside-down at least 20 hours of the day on soft things... purring and sometimes letting his tounge hang out for fun. But whenever he gets outside something takes over...he becomes a scrapper, a cocky trouble maker. He'll often strut home with his tail swishing and a few hairs out of place, satisfied with his ability to defend the title of "king cat" in the 'hood. Today, he fell from the throne. I heard the screams...blood curdling squeels that sent a chill down my spine. Moments later my "Jestee 'Roo" staggered through the door...his once white fur was black with dust, his face had been mashed into the dirt, his back paw was bleeding, and one of his feet was green! Green! Jester is no longer cocky. He is curled up under the bed...he'll probably sleep for a day and come out ready to scrap again. He is a bad-ass. My sis Amberly is recording a song she wrote called "What Goes Around"....you know the rest. I'm gonna ask her if Jester can sing backup...

This is Mt. Shasta...our new home in Redding CA offers a spectacular view of her to the north. Every time I see her I get this weird lil jump in my heart...I look for her whenever I'm out - can I see her from this hill? Where is she now? The number one cause of traffic accidents in Redding is from newcomers craning their necks to gaze at her beauty as they drive. Kidding...but believable. I asked my friend Caroline, who has lived here her whole life, if she has ever stopped being freaked out by the beauty here. She hasn't. I hope I never will either. It takes my breathe away.

I went on a walk yesterday with Duke in the balmy air of December (Really? December?). I'm having a hard time feeling like Christmas is just days away...like when I see someone in their shirt sleeves stringing lights on their house, or a plastic Santa frolicking in the green grass. I took a trip to Michael's yesterday to get into card making mode...maybe that will help. Mt. Shasta's gonna be on my cards.