Timer

I've been thinking a lot lately. Mostly about the future and what I want to be when I grow up; two hard topics to contemplate considering my general lack of future knowledge. If I were able to know how one event would effect another and in turn effected myself, then I might be better able to make a decision and stick to it (in regards to what I want to be).

I watched a movie today called Timer. It's a sci-fi romance, featuring the actress from Buffy the Vampire Slayer who played Anya (Emma Caulfield). At the time when this movie takes place, most everyone has a timer. The timer is a devise which is attached to your wrist that will count down to the very day you meet your soul mate. On that day, when your eyes meet, the timer beeps and you just know.

I see the allure of such a devise. Not only do you know that an event will happen, you also know how many days until said event (unless, of course, your soul mate does not have a timer). I know this is a bit abstract, but I wish I could simplify my decision making process in choosing a profession so easily. I would just buy a devise, it would read some sort of scientific, hormony level...then poof! I would just know. All doubt erased.

I wonder if anyone would like to act as a timer for me? What is a career that you think would fit this artist and farmer?

I'm Max!!!

Further thoughts on Harry Potter

*There is some information in this post about books 4 & 5. Nothing that would spoil them, but information nonetheless.

I was ruminating a bit more on the bravery shown in the face of fear throughout Harry Potter. In their most terrifying of accomplishments they usually survived on sheer nerve. Harry used all the resources he had and faced the fear. The one point of weakness for Harry was in his mind.

I would rather face a dragon than face what's going on in my mind. At least the dragon is straight forward. "Accio Firebolt!" I would cry, then see where my wits would take me. Hopefully I would survive, but it's a dragon I'm facing and let's face it, I don't really know how I could prepare myself beyond the survival instincts I was born with. You might be able to store a few tricks up your sleeve, but in a case like this you're just going to improvise then it's done. Pretty straight forward.

In the mind you have to grapple with things you can't touch or strangle. One of the hardest books for me to read is The Order of the Pheonix, because it has so much to do with the mind. Harry's scar prickles then his mind is assulted. He can't detach himself from it. I don't know how you can. My mind is always at work and sometimes it feels like it's working against me. It's as if I have my own Lord Voldermort spinning lies and deliusions that I (for reasons beyond me) believe. It is this mind of mine that creates obstacles and fear. How do I fight my own mind?

I either need to learn Occlumency (does any one know how to do this?) or fight by other means; with the love in my heart and the memory of those who care for me.

Greetings!

Yesterday I finished reading the Harry Potter series for the second/third time. I actually finished the last book on Friday, but it was just too hard to put that seventh book back on my shelf. So, I re-read the last 200 pages slowly, soaking in all the wonderful details.

It's become quite plain that I am in awe of J.K. Rowling. Her stories are so intensely filled with imagination and heart. I cry and shout in triumph right along with the characters. Neville Longbottom is by far my favorite character to cheer onwards and I often throw my fists up in victory as he accomplishes something he once thought out of his reach. By the seventh book I am utterly filled with pride as I read about Neville and his dedication to the people he cares about.

Yesterday as I put the book back on the shelf, I felt a real sense of missing. I felt apart of the story and with it gone, so went that part of me. In the story they do sometimes foolish and daring things, but always with a drive to either content their curiosity or to work out a solution to fight the darkness invading their world. I was challenged as I looked at myself and realized how often I am discouraged by the simplest obstacle and often give up as I pursue my curiosity or drive to ward of the darkness in my world.

I say this often, but I will say it again--I want to be brave. I want to go beyond the obstacles. I want to do the things that frighten me. I want to be able to throw my fists up in victory as I face my fear head on; kicking, punching, and screaming at the fear if need be.

As Seen On Mt. Tabor

• A large man riding a scooter sized crotch rocket.
• A mid-twenties surfer boy on a long board hanging out with a forty-something woman in a leopard print leotard on roller blades.
• A man that looked like Dr. Emmett Brown (Back to the Future) riding his long board (I wished it was a hover board--but I guess they don't take those out into public yet).

Cannon Beach

Dave and the ocean

Molly and Kate

Artistic shot of me

Artistic shot of Dave

Molly finds a seashell!

Molly, Alexis, and John walk in the big bath...

Yoda Likes Grass.

Yoda occasionally makes the great escape. These rare adventures into the wild come after months and months of sneaking around by the door and waiting for a moment when we slip up and leave it open for a second too long. His small head has almost been smashed by the door because his speed didn't quite match his desire to be outside (poor thing).

On the rare occasion that Yoda does get outside, he is really cute to watch. He'll stare at the sky for long lengths of time; smelling the air and basking in the glory of sweet freedom. He rubs his face in all the plants and chews on grass. He'd probably be a great cat for Wendell Berry.

In an effort to make living inside more appealing to our not-so-street-savvy cat, I went to the Portland Nursery to purchase grass. The place is so monumentally huge that I had no idea where to even begin looking for edible grass. I wound up stalking one of the Portland Nursery employees until he noticed me and asked if I had any questions. "Yes," said I, "Do you have grass that my cat could eat?" He told me that there wasn't any in the potted section but that they had some Cat Grass (or Oat) seeds in the main building.

Cat grass??? Grass just for cats? You betcha! It even boasts of being good for them and reducing hair balls (which it has). So, I purchased some seeds and planted them. Now, every morning Yoda gets a grassy treat and a small taste of the great outdoors.