raindrops keep fallin'...

The Drowned Rat Rides Again.
[i think i just might have to be come a children's book author...]

If had could tip the scales a little so the Native American blood in my veins outweighed the Mixed-Euro-Rat, then I could be living the high life on a reservation, cocktailing at the local casino. And I wouldn't have to be riding my bike through the downpour to the start of another sixty+ hour work week in order to hand all my life savings to some nice people in exchange for hours of stress and sleepless nights.

Though, I'm sure that if the balance was more in my favor, they would probably give me a name like "Wandering Lonely Romantic With Eternally Rainsoaked Jeans."

Just my luck...

In happier news, 75% of the fam returns to me on the morrow!

sad news on a lovely sunday...

I regret to inform you that Sylvester has finally, after all these years, gotten Tweety.
And he left him on my back porch.

And when I decided to ignore the horrific and brutal scene [i had been engaged in a light sunday afternoon brunch when i first noted the situation], it naturally started to rain.

I used to believe I was a strong, capable woman. However, in desperate situations, one's true character often regretfully proves shockingly weak.

[hey! it was gross and soggy!]

As a girl home alone, I found myself in desperate need for a male friend who would be better suited to the task. Alas, no magical instant boyfriend genie appeared out of the teapot. There appeared to be no course of action but to take care of the situation myself.

And then, thanks to the fortifying words of a friend, I managed to cover the lifeless "present" from my villianous feline The Yankster with a newspaper, roll him in the burial funny papers, and deposit him in the trash can crypt.

I think that's very decent, don't you? And I think I deserve a prize for my amazing display of self-sufficency. [like li'l brudder, she cries, 'i can make it on my own!']

I think today would be a lovely day for drinking hot coffee and jumping in a park fountain.
Don't you?

just keep swimming, swimming...

If you had happened to be at the corner of SE 11th and Stark this morning at about 6:50am, you would have perhaps noticed a strange sight. You may have found it necessary to look twice to insure that your lovely hot Starbucks white chocolate mocha had, in fact, kicked in, and you were, in fact, seeing straight. It was indeed a strange sight: a drowned rat furiously riding a bicycle.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am here to tell you that I am that drowned rat.

The most amazing fact is that, despite my experiences, I remain a strong proponent of cycle-commuting. [okay. i'll be honest. if i didn't have Jesus and a sense of humor, i would definitely be crying right now. mom?]

As a season rider, I would like to present to you several gems of advice. Read, learn, and do not repeat the mistakes of others, young Jedi.

1. If you have to be at work by 6:55am to open [because everyone else office is on vacation or has a dentist appointment] and have a 20 minute commute, do not wake up at 6:18. [having slept through two, not one, alarms] This is a crucial mistake by the cycle-commuter, who was up til 11:30pm solo-cleaning the entire first floor of the house to prepare for the massive ant massacre occurring today. ['i miss my family. i have a thousand things to do, and no one to order around...'] I can guarentee you that you will not have time to complete final house preperations, feed the cat and dog, lock the dog upstairs, and follow a normal morning routine of cleanliness, cuteness, and breakfastness. [i. want. my. toothbrush.]

1a. Half a slice of cold pizza is not enough nutrition to get you through a 3.5 mile bike ride in the insane downpour and all the way through lunch. [which happens to be the rest of the cold pizza. joy] Half a stale costco muffin scrounged when you get to work doesn't add much either.

2. Know that you can't trust the previous days sunrays or the weatherman. [see 1. when you wake up this late, you have missed your opportunity to find a nice cheerful ride from a friend or neighbor. nor do you have time to learn how to hotwire a car] If you find yourself riding through a rainshower that would make Sunday night's tornado proud, consider it a chance to prove your loyalty to the environment and protest evil age-discrimination fees by insurance companies. Suck it up. You're from Portland.

3. Ignore the smirks from your non-rainsoaked coworkers. And don't forget to wash the mud splatters off your face and neck once you get to work. Look carefully. Somehow, it goes everywhere. [stupid bus. those bumperstickers should read '214 cars and 1 adorable cycle-commuter are at home because i've run them off the road']

4. Windbreaker pants are not enough to keep the rain from soaking through your jeans. Expecially in the seat area of your person. Unfortunantly, I have yet to discover proper preventative measures. [a conveniently placed hoodie tied around your waist does disguise the look, thought not the discomfort of working all day in soaked-through jeans]

5. Don't forget to take your contacts out before you go to bed. If you fail this task, you may wake up at 3:30am and wonder why everything light in the world is red. Yes. I have a nightlight. [scared the heck out of me. and considering i only had them out for three hours, i think i can explain this headache...]

6. A good cuppa coffee will do wonders. Or so I've been told. [not that i would know from personal experience...]

in conclusion, my motto for today is:
ride hard. and don't look back.

[edit. 12:40pm] 7. The rest of the pizza? Yeah. Tomato sauce. on my shirt. at lunch. Bad. But hey, things are looking up: my jeans are finally starting to dry. [my office is so cold, i was afraid that they would ice up earlier...]

just when you thought things couldn't get worse...
[edit. 1:14pm] Um. I just popped my elbow out of the socket. [mom?!] I think I got it back in, though. wow. ouch, this hurts. ["hi, uh, i've been turned into a cow. can i go home?" "ugh! yes, i suppose. anyone else?" "no, we're good."]

"do you ever take it off any sweet jumps?"...

As Portland newest [and cutest? well, debatable though it may be, you have to admit that it rhymes...] bike commuter, I am officially within my right to start complaining about the tumultuous relationship between hip, eco-conscious, classy individuals like myself and the evil man driving the gas guzzling truck who attempted to squish me this morning.

Riding a bike eight miles a day to work and back is a lovely experience. The morning commute is better, because there aren't as many annoying people on the road. And somehow, going south always seems like going downhill...[oh, wait. it actually is]

I like bike lanes. Yes, it is bad when they take out a road of traffic for the occaional biker's convenience, but I do appreciate my two feet of personal space early in the morning.

Yes, I realize that you are paying an outrageous amount to drive your ridiculous H3, and that you have paid for that extra two feet of roadspace. Please do not expect me to give you that space when I am in it, though. Especially when there is no one else on the extremely wide road and I am staying in the shoulder like a good little cyclist.

All in all, I love the wind in my face, the neighborhoods, and the opportunities to smile at the nice motorists who let me ride in peace and smile back.

Have you hugged a cycle-commuter today?

sweet, sweet june...

Saturdays last longer if you start them with an eight mile bike ride at 7 am.

I think that the June will always be my favorite month. However, nothing will compare with good old 2004.

Last June, I was...

getting lost on the georgia freeway system on the way to south carolina, virginia, and nationals.

finding that the end of the rainbow lies with friends. always.

eating alligator at a bar with my girls in florida.

beating the boys once again at Cranium with the Chaps.

mooching off everyone i know. for everything. for a whole month.

taking pictures with the band.

then sobbing goodbyes and racing off to the next adventure, realizing that without these beautiful, godly friends, i'd never make it.

these are the days you will remember
for the rest of your life
these are the moments you'll pack in a box
and you'll pull out sometimes
these are the days

what dreams are made of...

Last night, I had one of the greatest dreams ever.
I dreamed:

-that I had a horse living in my garage and rode it around my neighborhood and everyone thought I was cool. Now, this horse actually big enough to ride. Usually dream horses are more like minature ponies.
-that Bibo was still alive, and I got a smoothie. I was craving an Acapulco last week. And then I remembered that I didn't even really like Acapulcos. I think maybe I'll make crepes sometime soon. *sigh* That's what I get for reading Lalita's blog before going to sleep.
-but the best part of all, was when Allison came home! I was so excited to see her and gave her a huge hug and we made plans to hang out later and look at all of her Europe pictures and talk for hours and hours and hours. But mostly, I just got to see her and give her a hug. It was the best.

And the best part was waking up and realizing that this week, [at least part of] my dream will come true!

three thousand words...

Or maybe not.
Somebody managed to find time to finally send me these pictures. And I miss these people, so I had to post them.
The words are coming. I promise. [i was at home and awake for 10 hours total this week. yay for 61 hour weeks]

the breakfast club. on the last day of class, the boys made a lovely breakfast for everyone to enjoy. Katie, Tami, and Audree are the top

me and tami are making snarling faces at large dave

and then, naturally, we had to prove our sweetness and beauty

le addition...

We are pleased to announce the latest addition!

On Thursday, June 9, 2005, Helen the Apple of Troy was adopted from Maryland. We're calling her Ella. She is a delightful little 20gb with a swiftly expanding array of tunes and she looks good in pink. She joins Penelope the Faithful Dell and Calypso the Keeper of Files.

yeah, so i'm officially cool now, eh?

if you love me...

Tomorrow the eldest Emay starts off on a journey to the land of Oklahoma. I'm pretty darn proud of her, because not only is she driving a spiff new pathfinder ['the blue ones'], she's going to live through tornados in nomansland without friends [at the beginning, at least]. And she's not an advocate of self-inflicted punishment. She's going to intern for an excellent organization supporting persecuted Christians worldwide.

blessed are those who are presecuted for righteousness' sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. - matthew 5:10

There is so much need. So much hurt. So much sin in the world. In my happy, safe, comfortable American life, I'm oblivious to the sufferings of the world.

so when you hear the sound of the water
you'll know you're not alone
cause i haven't come for only you
but for your people to pursue


this boy is smiling because unlike many others, he actually has a house.
will you give him a foundation of Truth?

a ballerina living in a boxcar in a sickening garbage pile.
will you tell her Jesus thinks she's beautiful?

a first generation of girls learning to read in afghanistan.
[and they say we didn't accomplish anything there]
will you send them Bibles to read?

indian children recieve food through Gleanings.
will you give them the Bread and Water of eternal life with their Creator?

Lord, break my heart daily for the world. Let me love them.

you cannot care for Me with no regard for her
if you love Me, you will love the Church

[photo credits: worldvision.com/gleanings.org]