Friday, August 31, 2007

Ode To The Green Card

This song was written to celebrate the happy ending to my 10 year wait for the magic green card. I post it today in honour of my green card annivesary!




Ode to the Green Card

Tune: This Land Is Your Land
Lyrics and Vocals by Myra

Our friend Elzabeth —came from Canada.
She worked her tail off for nearly ten years.
She did the paperwork and then she waited...
Yes, you can have a Green Card, too.
You file the papers and start the process.
The INS will keep them safely.
Then, when you think they have lost the whole mess...
Yes, you can have a Green Card, too.
Elizabeth has learned– a great deal of patience.
She’s has prayed and waited (and waited and waited),
And wondered if she– would ever have it.
Yes, you can have a Green Card, too.
We’ve watched Elizabeth trusting in God.
Her faith has been tested–beyond all imagining!
Our God is faithful. He loves His children.
Yes, you can have a Green Card, too.
So, now we celebrate with happy faces,
For our friend is now— able to stay here.
A little Green Card is in her hand now.
Yes, you can have a Green Card, too.

Wondering Where the Grunion Are...

Well it is 2 am ... I should be logging on to tell wonderful tall tales about fish flopping on the beach. I looked forward to sharing the euphoria of *FINALLY* seeing the grunion. Alas, it wasn't meant to be. Big sigh.

Apparently, the grunion didn't read the webpage that announced they would be spawning on the beach between 11:00 pm and 1:30 am this morning.

On the updside I had a great time tonight celebrating my birthday and green card anniversary at the beach with friends and fellow grunion hunters. It was a beautiful, peaceful and warm (very warm!!) evening. It is so tranquil strolling on the beach in the wee hours of the morning and listening to the waves come in.

The perfect way to greet a new day.

I could have stayed all night, soaking it in, but the the practical side reminds me that it is a school night and I have to work tomorrow (ooops ... today).

Click on pictures for Larger Image


The Grunion Hunters



Alice and Tricia Set Up For The Party



Blowing Out The Candles



Cutting The Cake



Eating Cake at 1:30 am At The Beach

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Lunch Time Walk

Went for a little walk at lunch today. There is a neat walking path that winds behind the various office buildings. Just a little ways down there is this really cool building that is mission style with a courtyard and everything. Reminds me of Mission San Juan Capistrano.

Here is a snap of the fountain in the courtyard!


Tuesday, August 28, 2007

The Grunion Are Coming, The Grunion Are Coming!!!

Hey There Blog Buddies,

It has been ages since I have organized a late night grunion expedition. After many sleepless nights and no grunion my enthusiasm faded for a few years. But my energy is back and I am as excited as ever about the grunion!

Friday is the 1 year anniversary of my green card approval and coincidentally my birthday. What better way to honour the occasion then getting up in the middle of the night (on a school night no less) and looking for grunion!!!

Click here for Grunion Central!

According to the grunion gurus ... they will be running Thursday 11:25 pm til Friday 1:25 am. See ya at the beach!

Peace Out,

Tippie

Dance Party II

One week until Season 5. A little Dance Party to hold you over until then!

Monday, August 27, 2007

Picky Sleeps

The Pickster enjoying her favourite pasttime.


Sunday, August 26, 2007

Sunday

Well today is Sunday and it has been filled with a variety of activities.

Church is always an adventure these days - you never know what will have changed since the last week! The front yard was pretty torn up. The garden bed (sans an actual garden) that I have been weeding the last few work days was all dug up. The area where I sit (the back of the bus) now a bare concrete floor. A little regression after we spiffed it up with new paint! Those bold enough to sit up front were enjoying brand new carpet. Also, new this week was a beautiful wood cross. Only a few more weeks until we officially celebrate the new location. I am going to miss the excitement of the ever changing decor.

This afternoon I spent a couple of hours packing food. The event was sponsored by Friends and Family Connection and Kids Against Hunger. We were packing bags with a heaping cup of Soy Protein, one scoop of a powder that contains 21 different vitamins, a scoop of dehydrated chicken and veggies and a cup of rice. 46,000 bags of food were packed this afernoon. 1/3 of them will go to needy families here in San Diego - the rest are going to be sent to Tanzania, Africa to help feed the hungry there.

The packaging was done in a parking lot in a plaza out in Poway. This morning the weather was reasonably nice on the coast today but it was stinkin' hot out there in Poway!! By the end of the afternoon I was melting -- the antidote was a trip to the beach on the way home and a jump in the ocean to cool off.

I joined this family team for the first half of the afternoon



This 4 year old was my packing buddy for the second half of the afternoon!



25,000 bags in 2 hours. Pretty awesome -eh?!?



Sample food bag

Saturday, August 25, 2007

Talky Blog - Picky Goes To The Vet

Picky shares about her traumatic trip to the vet!

Friday, August 24, 2007

Friday Blessing

The LORD Bless you
and keep you;
The LORD make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
The LORD turn his face toward you
and give you Peace.


Numbers 6:24-26

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Dance Party I

11 days until the Season 5 premier of Ellen.

A little dance party to hold you over until then!

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Geek Quote Of The Day

It's not a bug, it's a feature!


Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Thought for the Day - No Man An Island

No man is an Island, entire of it self;
every man is a piece of the continent,
a part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less,
as well if a promontory were;
as well as if a manor of they friend's or
of thine own were;
any man's death diminishes me,
because I am involved in mankind,
and therefore,
never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
it tolls for thee


John Donne, Meditation XVII

Monday, August 20, 2007

Midnight Madness Bike Ride

Saturday night I went on the craziest bike ride ever. I met up with friends from work and we participated in the San Diego Midnight Madness Bike Ride. It really was mad!

Around 10 pm people start gathering in the parking lot of the County Administration Building downtown. There were costume contests and bike lighting contests and way way too many men in speedos (shudder!).

At midnight hundreds of people flooded the downtown streets in the dark of night and start racing, zig zagging, jumping curbs, hooting and hollering through downtown.

The ride was about 20 miles and took us through downtown, Shelter Island, Point Loma, Old Town, the Ball Park district, over pot holes who threatened to eat us alive and finally back to the County Admin building.

It was fun but I was a little freaked by all bikes zig zagging, sirens (thanks to Mr. Fireman) and car horns.

Todd and his friends finished in 1 hour 35 minutes. My timidity slowed us down a little - but Bev and I still finished in just under two hours. A down right respectable time if I do say so myself!

Some Video Clips Of The Starting Line Festivities




Todd and Bev Hanging Out At The Start Line



The Firefighter



Tuxedo Man



The Masses ... Heading Up Harbour Drive



We Made It!! Bev and Elizabeth at the Finish Line

Sunday, August 19, 2007

Thought for the Day - More


Why is everyone hungry for more?
"More, more", they say.
"More, more."
I have God's more-than-enough,
More joy in one ordinary day
then they get in all their shopping sprees.
At the day's end I'm ready for sound sleep,
For you, God, have put my life back together.

From The Message - Psalm 4

Saturday, August 18, 2007

Quote of the Day

The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead. His eyes are closed.
Albert Einstein

Friday, August 17, 2007

Thursday, August 16, 2007

I Need To Wake Up

I am not an island
I am not alone
I am my intentions
Trapped here in this flesh and bone

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Thought for the Day

Do not forget that the value and interest of life is not so much to do conspicuous things ... as to do ordinary things with the perception of their enormous value.

Pierre Teilhard De Chardin

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Saturday Bike Ride

WoW! It is late Tuesday night -- and I am just getting around to downloading my pictures from Saturday's bike ride.

Friends were in town from Utah last week. It was great to have bike riding buddies for a change! Good-bye thin tired road bike (it likes to toss me the moment it hits beach sand) -- Hello beach bike (well really it is a mountain bike -- but it hasn't seen many mountains).

Our destination - Mission Bay/Beach.

In the morning we did a loop around the Bay and then stopped at a funky little cafe for lunch. They had really good homemade chocolate chip cookies. I inhaled several of them before my breakfast croissant arrived.

After lunch we crossed over and rode up the boardwalk. A first for me and very cool. It was a bit of an obstacle course at times with all the bikes, bladers, boarders and pedestrians. Once we got closer to the pier it opened up and it was an absolutely gorgeous ride. Saturday was such a beautiful day - blue skies, sunny and warm... but not hot. There was a wonderful gentle breeze coming in off the ocean.

I am normally drawn to the North County beaches - Mission Beach and PB are just too crowded and 'happening' for me. I only go to Mission Beach to blade on the boardwalk during the winter when things are quiet. Turns out I have been missing out- it makes a wonderful summer bike ride!

My Bike Riding Buddies



Bay Side Bike Path




Today's Bay Watch Moment



The Pier





Cool Lawn Art




Unusually Warm Water 72 deg F!!!

Monday, August 13, 2007

Quote of the Day - Mindfulness

Days pass
Years vanish
and we walk sightless among miracles.


Jewish Sabbath Prayer

Sunday, August 12, 2007

Thought for the Day - Generosity

I think that generosity has many levels. We have to think generously, speak generously, and act generously. Thinking well of others is the basis for generous giving. It means that we relate to others as part of our 'gen' or 'kin' and treat them as family. Generosity can not come from guilt or pity. It has to come from hearts that are fearless and free and willing to share abundantly all that is given to us.

Henri J.M. Nouwen. Sabbatical Journey

Friday, August 10, 2007

Another Friday for Peace

This picture was taken while riding my bike. I saw this the other week while returning home to UTC after a ride up the coast.

Thursday, August 9, 2007

Friends

Time spent with good friends is something to cherish.

My dear friends Russ, Lynn and Simon moved to Salt Lake a couple of years ago. I really miss them and look forward to their visits twice a year. This week they are in town! Wednesday night a group of us got together for dinner. We descended on Myra and Andrew's place.

Two of the kids had recent birthdays. Simon is 5 and little Elizabeth just turned 4. WoW, where does the time go. It seems like just yesterday we were all single and getting together on Friday nights as a small group to share our joys, trials and offer each other encouragement for the journey.

I like to take a group photo each time we get together. At Christmas I had problems with my self-timer and drove everyone crazy taking the group shot. This time I was prepared - tripod and everything!

He is the latest picture of the gang.

Thought For The Day

"When I was young I admired clever people. As I grew old, I came to admire kind people."

Abraham Joshua Heschel

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Message to Myself

It's funny how you find just what you seek
Love is what you get, when love is what you speak

I'm sending out a message to myself
So that when I hear it on the radio
I will know that I am fine
I will know that I am loved

I made every choice along the way
Each day I spent in hell, I chose to stay
It's funny how what you fear can make you weak
Truth is what you get, when truth is what you speak

Tuesday, August 7, 2007

El examen final

Martes es mi examen final. Estudio mas vocabulario.



en español In English


¡Qué chistoso! that's funny
mejorar to make better
estresado stressed out
quemado burned out
relajado relaxed
¡Fenomenal! wonderful
¡Qué padre! how cool
satisfecho satisfied
tenso tense
animado in good spirits
relajars to relax
sonreír(se) to smile
el bienestar well-being

Monday, August 6, 2007

Thought For The Day

"Some choices will choose you. How you face these choices ... is what will define the context of your life."


- Dana Reeve 1961 - 2006

Sunday, August 5, 2007

Sunday Smile

This insert made its' premier appearance a month ago in the church bulletin. It immediately became my all time favourite.

Today it made an encore appearance!

Saturday, August 4, 2007

Painting

Today was another work day at church. Getting up and hauling my bones there by 8:00 am was a bit of a challenge.

The place is really starting to take shape. Each week there is some new improvement. It is amazing what a coat of paint and pulling some weeds can do. It is fun watching the incremental changes and gradual transformation.

I am not the most qualified set of helping hands - I tend to get almost as much paint on me as on the walls. This time we were painting the back of the sanctuary -- which is where I like to sit. It was great to watch the the dingy, dirty, banged up walls disappear and be replaced with freshly painted ones.

Friday, August 3, 2007

Where the Surf Meets the Turf

Happy Friday!

Today I met up with some friends from my 'old' job at the Del Mar Horse Races. The Del Mar Race track has this cool sense of history about it. My favourite part of the races is going to the paddock and watching the horses parade around before the race. I like to cheer for the horse with the prettiest colours or funkiest name. I don't gamble - but tonight I was convinced to let the moths out of my wallet and make a two dollar donation for Jack's Wild in race 7. Turns out the cool name strategy isn't as successful as I had hoped.

Click here to join in the fun and listen to Bing Crosby sing 'Where the Turf Meets the Surf at Del Mar'.

Here is a collage of pics from the evening. Click on the picture for the larger version.

Thought For The Day

I on Thy path, O God
Thou O God, in my steps

from the Celtic Way of Prayer
Esther Dewaal

otro el viernes para la paz

Peace Out


Wednesday, August 1, 2007

One

Thought For The Day

Arabian Proverb
A friend is one to whom one may pour
out all the contents of one's heart,
chaff and grain together,
knowing that the gentlest of hands
will take and sift it,
keep what is worth keeping and
with a breath of kindness
blow the rest away