Mom's day

It was the one year anniversary of my Mom's passing on Friday, November 13th.

Obviously, it was a day laden with complex and mixed emotions, and I was unsure for months about what I should do on that day. Should I honer her by visiting where we scattered her ashes? Should I write something beautiful? Should I lay in bed all day and sob? Should I....uh....?????

SHOULD I GO BUY A 3FOOT TALL PINATA?

Ummm...yes! Cathy played hooky from school with me, and Ned did the driving to downtown Los Angeles' pinata district (I know...who would have thunk it...a whole district for pinatas??meh?) where we were all taken aback by the beauty of this amazing fiesta store we had found ourselves in! There was every type of balloon, large and small, hats, noise makers, streamers, sparklers, and at least 40 different kinds of birthday candles. As far as pinatas...don't get me started. There were princesses, lions, butterflies, and way, way more. When I found that huge dinosaur, though, that's when I knew we were in business.

The whole experience was a laid back kind of day. It was surreal, and bittersweet that I would find myself buying something so celebratory on such a horrible day. But, really, there is no other way my Mom would have wanted it! She would have driven out here just to see this mythical pinata district, if for nothing else, and I can't think of a better way to honor her. And, yes, I sobbed. I sobbed myself to sleep, but when I woke up I was one thankful 23 year old girl. Glad to be living here, glad she made it possible for me to live here, and glad she believed in me. Man, I am also glad she gave me this outlook.

And in case you're wondering...I haven't smashed the dinosaur yet. Just like my Mom, I've formed an attachment to the little guy and the smile he gives me when I walk in the house everyday. Maybe at the end of the year for graduation he will meet his demise. But that's my Mom's pinata...and it makes me so happy to say that out loud.

A zucchini Bread and Etsy kind of day

Yowza!

I am so glad I skipped class today. I got a lot done!

First, I slept in and then I wrote a little in my journal. After that, it was straight out of bed I sprang into the kitchen to bake some delicious Zucchini Bread for the potluck at school tomorrow. As I was baking, I was overcome with emotion and started crying a little....but it was a healthy light cry. It was then that I realized I needed to take the day to myself and get down to personal business.

The bread was amazing. I used this recipe: http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/my-special-zucchini-bread-recipe-recipe.html. I didn't put in the curry powder, and ended up putting in some extra crystalized ginger and a tsp of nutmeg. MMmmmmm

Then, DUN DUN dunnnnn...I finally set up my ETSY SHOP!!!! (go ahead, click the link!) I am so excited to have finally done that for myself. Took the time, put in the effort, all in peace in my own home hanging out with my roommates dog. That means a whole lot more to me at this point than being in school for the day.

So now I am set and ready for the new day. I'm going to make myself dinner tonight, too. Zucchini, lemon and garlic with pasta...ah I love zucchini huh?

For shits and giggles, here is the link again for my etsy. Tell me what you think!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Adiegator

Polly in the Pocket

OH KAY. I can't stop dreaming of Polly Pockets. Day dreaming, night dreaming. Gathering these photographs today made me that much more excited to go home for Thanksgiving so I can get my paws on all of these treasures from my glory days. I am not taking this lightly at all.

These little toys consumed much of my life when I was young...them, and trolls. Now that I look back with childlike excitement in my slightly older age I can see why. Well, for one, my Mom also loved these things. She loved miniature anything, and we would always be on the hunt for whatever small trinkets we could find. This was my way of connecting to that part of her...and always ensuring I had new toys :)

At the swap meet we would find miniature pocket knives or miniature harmonicas (before they became hip at Urban Outfitters), and I remember just how her face and smile would light up in amazement and wonder. That expression would come out when I got a new Polly Pocket...for both of us. Walking down the aisle to check out at stupid Kmart, and then at home when I could finally open it. Those are real moments. Those are real objects, and that is all that matters.

Sure, it's plastic and pink, but that amazement, those pure emotions...they live on in everything I do. It's the small things, literally and figuratively, that make us who we are and make this world so god damned interesting.

And I thank my Mom for giving me this gift! It's almost been a year without her, and when I look at these toys, I can't help but be grateful she gave me years upon years of small and big world knowledge.

I think we ALL should go hunt out our old Polly Pockets, or Mighty Max, or He Man, or My little Ponies....it is there that we will find our strength!!!

P.S. so, so glad I didn't go to class today...I would have never had this exact moment.

New Neighbors

So, I have new neighbors.

Their home is modest and hand-crafted with ample room for bicycles. The walls are small and thin, but just tall enough so that I don't see them naked in their bathroom window while they lip-synch to Celine Dion. I haven't given them any baked goods yet, but it seems like their bellies would be a perfect place to put them.

And they seem to love each other, the new neighbors. Man and woman, bicycles together, sharing their new place. They puzzled together about the design and construction of their new home, and right now are probably bonding over a nice game of charades in their bed. I have seen them only once upright, the other times I was only granted vision of their heads peeking out one of their HUGE windows just over their bed.

Neighbors seem to know each other so well, intimately and subconsciously, and I think we will be friends, these neighbors and me. Maybe I could learn. Maybe we could learn.

ggggggg

Heeeey.

First.blog.ever.  You and I will be good friends, I think!