Divine Goosebumps

I'm not sure how far this subject will propel my train of thought, but I want to find out. And in case it goes somewhere good, I'd like to share it. I've always had a feeling that goosebumps or chills were the effect of a more-than-physical cause. Science says that they happen when we're cold or afraid, which is true (don't get chills so much when I'm afraid though), but it doesn't address the bleeding obvious fact that people also get them when they're inspired, witnessing profound beauty, feeling indescribable love, or when something resonates deeply with their core beliefs. I was just reading a bit of my book, where a shaman was telling a native story to his apprentice about a magical deer. It may sound silly out of context, but the flow of events, the feeling behind the story, and the imagery conveyed induced some mad goosebumps, followed by a tightening in my throat. There's something beyond mere physiology going on here. I guess the subject captivates me the way it does, because to me, it's kind of like a tangible manifestation of something beautifully mysterious and Divine. More on this later. I want to get back to my book.

I Love to Weave

Jewelery making is one of my new passions, I do declare! I was walking around Michael's the other day with the intention of buying a compass and a new pencil sharpener, when a spool of multi-colored hemp string caught my eye. It excited me, and I felt compelled to buy it, so I did. I googled "how to weave a hemp bracelet" when I got home, and voila! A new hobby was born.

"A bracelet a day keeps the doctor away" is my new motto. I still love apples, but making these little beauties is really therapeutic and satisfying. I made a rose quartz bracelet yesterday, and I'm thinking about making another tonight before I go to bed. There's nothing like creating your own things. Who knows, maybe this can blossom into a small, lighthearted business.

I have a job interview at the campus bookstore tomorrow morning. I'm nervous just thinking about it. This'll be my first ever interview. I wasn't interviewed for my last job at Baldy View Gymnastics, because I knew everyone in charge personally for years. This time, not so much. Phew... It will be fine. It will be fine. It will be fine. It will be fine.

Today was a good day. I had a nice sleep-in, went in to Moonrise Herbs for an organic salad and took advantage of my Sequoia Park Zoo annual pass. It's a small zoo, but a gem, and it was very worth my trouble finding it. I found a nice bench in front of the howling gibbons. I forgot the name of the brown male. I think Bono? Well, me and Bono had a nice munch on lettuce together. I used a fork, and he used his foot.

It was nice being able to wander the zoo at my own pace, observing what I wanted for how long I wanted. Besides the gibbons, I had a good look at some pretty spider monkeys, a spotted owl, a couple of ravens, a western blue bird, a sacred ibis, a bunch of friendly goats, flamingos, and THE RED PANDAS! Oh my god, I love those guys. Just look at them:

The first time I checked out their new habitat, they were hiding, so I was really excited this time to see one poking its head out of its hut and the other chewing on bamboo in plain view.
Soo on my way out of the zoo, I had a look around the gift shop and bought a much needed coffee mug that has one of the best, most comfortable handles ever. I'm drinking coffee out of it now and loving it.

Anyway, I've used up most of my blog writing energy for the day. Power to the animals! They make me happy. Really happy. I want to go back to the zoo again and again and befriend every species there.

Medley

I had the best three days with my parents, Winslow, Caitlin, Fiona (who is getting cuter by the day) and Rocco and the best evening and afternoon with Bridgit, Felix and Francis going on the Friends of the Dunes walk and combing the beach finding wild blackberries, crab shells, sand dollar fragments and beautifully tumbled, multicolored beach stones. *deep inhale... aaanddd exhale*
Family love is wonderful. I'm now equipped with a pretty wide array of cooking utensils and a cookbook, thanks to my mom. Can't wait to make hummus, portobello burgers, pesto, chocolate chip mint cookies and rigatoni al forno with roasted asparagus and onions amongst a whole bunch of other delicious things involving garlic. Pretentious? Maybe, maybe not.

*note to self: Go to Humboldt Herbals this Sunday for a free herbal tea brewing class and tea tasting at 5:15 pm. Seriously, don't be lazy. Go. Take advantage of every interesting free class you can find.*

So, I'm currently sipping some organic coffee and listening to Reece's gorgeous singing voice blasting through the speakers. And it's about time I head 'round my brothers to pick up those resumes he printed for me and then resume the job hunt. Finding a normal job isn't easy, since the only experience I have is teaching kids how to do gymnastics.

Stuff from a walk around Humbold State University and the Manila Dunes:

Yosemitebear Mountain Giant Double Rainbow 1-8-10

Quickie

Caught the 4:25 showing of Inception with Reece and Justin at the Broadway Theater today. It had been so long since I'd been to the movies. Especially since I'd seen a movie this grand and seat-gripping. It was a really great piece of art. And I finally got to put my movie popcorn cravings to rest.
Hm. That was the crux of my day.

It's 9:50pm now. I can definitely see how personal preference may be a cyclical thing, because I'm all infatuated with nighttime again. Not long ago, I felt most at peace when the sun was up, and before that I found my solace in the night, and that's where I am again now. So in a few months I'll probably find myself awaiting the rising sun and falling to sleep at decent hours again. For now, it's all about lighting candles, savoring the sight of objects in moonlight, enjoying the sound of crickets and frogs, and relaxing to the absence of hustle and bustle.

Plants & Stuff

Plants. They make sterile spaces fertile and alive. They make breathing easier. Smell a flower, and be healed. They're just all around good looking. Green is my favorite color I think. Or blue. I've always been a fan of a good deep purple too though. Oh, colors! Oh, plants! I love them all.
My bamboo has been heading downhill for quite a while now. I thought it would enjoy being outside more than inside, so one day I set it on the balcony, and there was a ton of rain over the course of the following few days, and I think all that water may have rotted its roots, because all its leaves turned completely white. Hardly any chlorophyll left whatsoever. So this afternoon I gave it a good tilling, trimming and a nutritional lunch of coffee grinds. I also cut some really good smelling lavender flowers off their stalks and stuck them in a ceramic bowl for who knows what. And I gave my new rosemary some water and attention. Better go do the same for the Spanish grass outside, eek! It's getting a little yellow. I think it's natural for that to happen to them in the summer though.
Hmm... paint. I need some paint. Drawing with graphite is all well and good for a while, but it's time to put some color into my art experiments.
Hmm... It's Wednesday. I finally remembered to wear my "business time" shirt on the right day. So proud.
Also, Michael left today. His family came and picked him up after coming down from Oregon. Hopefully he'll be back soon to move in with Justin. And hopefully Justin will find a place to move into soon. Whatever happens, it's nice to have one or two friends up here to give Reece and I a reason to be more