New Posts

Going up on MJ Photography! There have already been a few from the Free Photo Shoots that I've shot over the last week. And more to come!

Meet Matt

Meet our new friend Matt. He was wandering through TVA with his travel pack and carrying his guitar. Stuart just happened to be playing his as we were walking out so there was an immediate connection between the "fellow musicians". They started talking and Stuart immediately asked if he was looking for a place to stay and invited him to stay with us that night. We parted ways having exchanged numbers and promised to call when we were back home.



Matt came back that night and they had a little jam session. When it was time to sleep we got the couch cushions out... Not the best accommodations but hopefully better than his sleeping on the beach the night before. In the short time that he was here Matt made so many new friends and wants to move out here. We hope that he's able to work that out.





Today we said good bye (hopefully not for long) as Matt left for the airport. Here he is with all his gear leaving looking just like he did the day we met!




We couldn't let him go before we took some pictures together and of course I made him do a little 10 minute photo shoot. We had him sit down and just jam for a sec. You can see those on my PhotoBlog.


PS did you notice how tall he is? He makes Stuart who is not short look little... haha! He's 6 ft. 7 in... I asked.

Tag I'm it

Dan Tagged me a while back... sorry its taken me so long, but here it goes.

Basic rules....List 3 joys, 3 fears, 3 current obsessions/collections, 3 surprising facts, and then tag 5 other people. Leave a comment for the people you tag so they know they have been tagged.

3 joys:
1. Stuart: He is the biggest joy and love of my life... not a big surprise to anyone i'm sure.
2. Photography: it makes me happy. And it's something that i'll be able to continue to grow in... for a very very long time!
3. Memory Foam Mattress Topper: Its true... it brings joy to my life and really good nights sleep. I absolutely love our bed... we got one of those mattress toppers from costco almost a year ago for christmas (Thanks Mom (J)) and it is heaven.
4. The Ocean. Love it.

3 Fears:
1. Watching kids jumping into pools... It seems like they jump straight up and right next to the edge of the pool... i get really nervous... I've also seen a kid jump in backwards but barely jumped back so his chin hit the edge... I rest my case, I'm not crazy.
2. Murky water and then something touches my leg... Most times its my own leash but it still freaks me out....
2 1/2. Blue Bubbles: They hurt like no other. Some of them aren't bad but the one that made me cry for an hour straight and made my whole are hurt for 2 days... yeah I'd say I fear them.
3. I fear that when we have kids they won't like me. Kids love Stuart so I'm grateful for that, but I fear that not only will they like him better but that they will just plain not like me. Am I being unreasonable? Maybe.

3 Current obsessions/collections.
1. Photography yes its a joyful obsession. I love learning about it and trying to capture things in ways out of the ordinary. I hope this obsession will never go away!
2. Smoothies: They are wonderful! Lately we've been making them in the morning and adding some go lean crunch to it kind of like an acai bowl (I've never actually had a real acai bowl) but its like an imitation one.
3. EBay: This obsession is over. I promised Stuart that it was! In my defense, I got REALLY good deals. And the last 2 suits I got (I got 3 suits total) are really good suits plus they were 1/6 of their normal price and I used the money that I won in some contests from work that I designated for my new suit fund. Anyways.... obsession over.

3 Surprising facts.
1. I used to be fearless
2. I'm a pack rat (but trying to get over that) ... that doesn't surprise you? haha oh well.
3. I really want to go sky diving... and we almost did a couple months ago. That's probably not surprising either though....

K I now tag: Andie, Mahina (yes that means I am forcing you back into the blogging world) Crystal, Karen, and Jen Kane.

Stuart

Last week we were surfing V-land and this is what Stuart's face looked like later that day....
(actually, This was taken today but you get what I mean)

Here's a close up of his stitches:

That I took out for him today.

I'm hooked!

I Love:

ebay

So the other day I was bored and on the computer and decided to check out ebay. I had set up an account and made a paypal account some months ago when I was looking to buy something but never ended up using it. So I found a cute suit that was super cheap and thought i'd make a bid of $4... and what do you know.... I won! I got the suit in the mail a couple days ago and it was so exciting!

A few days ago I found a wetsuit top and I made a bid but someone outbid me. I decided how much I could spend on it and made a few more bids until i was the highest bidder... there were still a few days left so I wasn't really expecting to win this one. But today at 2:49 pm the auction ended and I was the WINNER!!! For 1/2 the regular price! This is what i'll be expecting in the mail hopefully next week!



Every winter it gets a little bit chilly in the water and somedays I'll be out surfing with goosebumps and chattering teeth... Once it really gets cold I always think... "I should get a wet suit top" but its already towards the end of the cold winter season so I figure its too late and it would be a waste. But thanks to ebay I will have this sweet jacket to keep me nice and toasty this season!

So yeah... I love ebay. I'm not much of a shopper so I think this worries Stuart a little bit. But not to worry... I just find good deals on stuff that i sorta "need". Plus I hear you go through phases with ebay. I have been wanting to try and sell something on here but don't know what.

SURFED THE BEST WAVE OF MY LIFE TODAY.....

Plain and simple...

A Phone Conversation...

Me: Hi!!!

Mahina: Hi how are you?

Me: Good how are you?

Mahina: Good.... I was just calling to tell you that the baby (Kawena) has a cracker in between her toes and is eating it...

Pause waiting for that statement to register in my brain.....

Me: what? really?!?!

Mahina: uh huh

Me: Baaahhhahahahaha!!!

Mahina: We asked her where she learned that and she said Malia

Me: She actually said Malia??

Mahina: Well she said "Lia"

Me: Hahaha!!! That's awesome!!!

Mahina: Yeah so mitch wanted me to call and tell you thanks and that we were thinking about you.

Me: What a great influence I am!

Mahina: I know.

Blah Blah Blah.... Good Bye Dialogue.....


Needless to say I was cracking up about that one.... but just to clarify, I DO NOT eat crackers from between my toes! Don't you wish I was around your kids teaching them all sorts of goodness like that?!?!


Background Story:

When I was in Oregon, at some point while I was there (maybe a couple of times) I was holding Kawena and if she dropped her blanket or a stuffed animal or something, I would grab it with my toes and bring it up to my hand so I wouldn't have to bend down to get it. Kawena being the extremely bright and impressionable young thing apparently picked up that little skill... I saw her pick up her blanket with her toes once while I was still there. I was so proud! I guess I forgot to tell her that we shouldn't pick up our food that way!