christmas recap

I woke up Christmas morning with strep throat and slept for four days straight.

But on the good news side of things, Christmas Eve day was amazing. We went snowboarding with Toby at Willamette Pass and it was perfect! Andy 'n I bought each other 5 day passes for Christmas, so we'll be on the mountain for sure this year. I'm hoping to get confident enough with my skillz to bring my camera on the mountain one trip...maybe I'll just buy a throw away camera.

Johnston Family Christmas was amazing this year. Christmas Eve dinner hosted at the newlyweds house, we all pitched in with the cooking, and the eating and of course there was a single gift given before the evening's close.

the boys relaxing after a long day on the mountain.




Erik and Halo, the perfect Christmas pair.



My one picture from christmas morning! Everyone's eating a delicious breakfast, made by all the lovely ladies.

screwed on just right.

One of my new favorite little people, doing what little people do...reminding us to find the enjoyment in everyday things in life...
She stood between her mother and I and discovered how to do something new and she loved it, over and over, and over again.






~ Oakes p.s. i love you.

random things from california

A little looksies at some things from California.

My Gramps and his thumbs are one of the things in this world that I adore. Here's the first photo of my little thumb and his big thumb.
I love it.



A couple of people I Love! My sister (in-law) Mara and my man.



We hadn't seen each other after 4 days apart (the longest we've gone since getting married). See how we love each other?



Here are a series of photos that I took in honor of science...future fans that are definitely "Approved by Science"







JoScience with our nieces and nephew...



He was reading them the only thing a Scientist should read to the next generation...



What's a trip to SLO without a visit to Bubblegum Alley?



Yeah, that's bubblegum...



Down an entire alley...



A preview of a little princess' first birthday party

one thing I forgot

In my post about preparing for the train ride, I mentioned that I didn't forget anything on my list. Well. There was something I forgot, something I forgot to put on the list - Airborne. If you don't believe in Airborne, well that's alright, but my congested sinus', clogged ear, sore throat, coughing and sneezing really wish I hadn't forgotten to get it on the list.

So I'm sick. I wish I'd been able to write a bunch of blogs, do a ton of reading, or watch a lot of good movies, but this is the kind of sick that knocks you out, no Nyquil needed, and makes you sleep all day and all night.

I was back at work for a half day and then spent the afternoon sleeping. I'm just trying to stay awake long enough so that I can stay asleep all night...perhaps some blogging is in my future.

as promised.

When riding on a train, and looking out a window at a new and beautiful land, there are many things a girl will see that she would like to share. So, here are a group of photographs I took while traveling by train down the state of California and as promised in a previous post - oodles of pictures.

A California prairie




i like industrial things...not what
they do to the earth, just the way they look.













Everything looks better in the morning light





Tracks. Going one direction, all around the country.






The only US Navy Fleet docked
in fresh water in US territory...or something like that.




A California train station.



Me, on a train, going through a tunnel.

the day I rode the train.

I made lists. Lists for what to pack, what to buy before I could pack, what to do for work, what to do when I arrived, what to do for 22 hours before I arrived and after I wasn't home. And I wouldn't believe it if I didn't see all the check marks myself, but I actually did everything. I didn't forget anything, I didn't overlook anything, I didn't miss anyone. I actually succeeded in making, buying, packing, visiting - or have plans to visit - everything. Who knew I was so responsible, so organized?

It all began when a good friend brought me to the train station in Eugene. Andy was working in Salem, so he and I had said goodbye earlier when he came by my work at lunch, and we vowed to call each other often and stay alive until we were scheduled to see each other again on Monday night.

My ticket in hand, bag checked, hug given and received and my friend gone - the adventure began. If you've ever been alone anywhere where you have to scope out who's going to be with you on your trip, an airplane, a bus terminal, a train station, then you know what I was doing. I was reading a book, looking over the pages and looking for a friendly face. I then was trying to look friendly myself. I sat cross legged, leaning on the armrest, smiling up if someone walked by. I thought this was the best, unassuming, friendly thing to do.

A young girl, in her twenties (yes that's young!) sat next to me, shuffled her bags to her left and then to her right. Checked her watch, then leaned over toward me, "is the train supposed to be here at 5:10 or leave at 5:10, do you know?"
"I thought it was supposed to leave at 5:10, but now I'm just hoping it'll be here by 5:10."

And that was that. Contact. A bit of security, a somewhat familiar face on the train. They announced the train's arrival to the station, I picked up my bag and made my way through the dark and rainy night to the bright door of the train.

And so it begins.


a view from my window

a little bit of life in a dark land

my first glimpse of snow this season

the first early morning stop

the first post of many, or...me rambling about my time in California

First a bit of an explination.

A big shout out to the Mighty Oak! Thank you and thank god for you. - The reason I haven't blogged yet about my amazing train ride and time in California is that the Mighty Oak has had my laptop for a few days. Now don't feel worry, feel relief.

The fear that once you buy a computer it immediately is out dated is something that plagues us all. Well, I'm happy to report that although my computer is coming up on its third anniversary, it is now practically as good as a new computer. The RAM is insane, the memory is beefed up, the programs and operating systems are brand new and unbelievable...I don't know all the technical terms, but I'll let you know that I won't be buying a new computer for some time, sorry Apple.

Oh and one last thing, the new keypad and shell feel like they're bullet proof - thanks for finally coming up with a remedy to a broken shell Apple-face.


I know people like to read short a sweet posts, that are riddled with photographs. So. This is one of the short ones and the ones with photographs will come shortly.
Pi-Zah!

Science saves the day again!

It looks like Science is coming to the aid of these kids just in time...(cause right now, they're invisible!)

on my old stomping ground

I couldn't be more proud.

look and read and do

I'm officially in California, right smack dab in the middle of it (more to come regarding the trip down later). Come see me, call me or join me for a show. Oh, and then there's this...


8 Dec 2007 21:00
Ryan’s Reedley, California
9 Dec 2007 20:00
Black Water Cafe Stockton, California
10 Dec 2007 18:00
Urban Outfitters San Luis Obispo, California
11 Dec 2007 19:00
The Starline Fresno, California
12 Dec 2007 20:00
Plush Cafe Fullerton, California
14 Dec 2007 20:00
The Vault Laguna Hills, California

Need I say more?

a bit out of the ordinary.

I'm arriving in San Luis Obispo, CA on the train this friday afternoon.
I can't wait.

I have grand ideas of what a solo train ride from Oregon to California will be like, and come Saturday, I'm sure I'll be blogging about my true experience. But for now, I'm going to imagine the amazingly productive solidarity, the peaceful and serene landscape, and the uninterrupted novel reading...all while on a delightful 22 hour train ride.

Am I crazy for thinking this is a good idea? Has anyone else been on a long train ride and would like to share your experience? Or wait, maybe I don't want you to share...I can't decide. Did I mention that I haven't done anything on my own like this since I flew to Australia? Okay, so that was a big deal...but that's not a regular thing. I don't even go to movies by myself, or take trips places by myself. Oh geez. I'm insane aren't I?


In other news, I decided to decorate the house...with white lights, greenery and snowmen...I know, I know, I'm leaving for 10 days in December, but I couldn't leave the house cold and undecorated. Plus, when I get home and Christmas is a week away, I'm going to be so happy to smell the evergreen and sit under the flickering lights.

i'm back.

In more ways then one.
first, since the nanowrimo is over, I'm allowed to write elsewhere, other then on my "novel", so here I am.
Also, I've spent a few minutes and created a new myspace profile. please help me out and friend me so I don't have to search all over the place to find people.
And lastly...I'm, almost, back in California, look for me next weekend around SLO.

things about me that I'd like to share with you:

It's been pouring outside all day and I can't stand how much I love it. I watched "The Science of Sleep" and I think I've found a new favorite to add to my shelf. Me 'n andy did errands today and when I thanked him for coming along with me he said, "I didn't know we were doing errands, I thought we were just hanging out." And I love him for that.

We're making more Science stickers, the tour is nearing us, and I've just had the first two day weekend in...well, I can't remember how long ago and it was amazing.

Oh, and thank you mom and dad for our early Christmas present...