Photography Day Twenty-Nine... Look at me.

Today's pic: Something reflective. First thing that comes to my mind for something reflective is a mirror. This is a pic of Kristen taking a pic of partly the ocean in Carmel, but also of herself taking a pic of herself (never ending).

Good times...

Photography Day Nineteen... Strawberry Fields Forever.

I was lucky enough to drive by a strawberry stand on my way home from Gilroy and pick up these amazing fresh-picked strawberries. That is why I decided to use them for todays picture of something Red. They are so freaking delicious it's insane. I love strawberries and I wish they were in season year round, but sadly they aren't. Today I was able to enjoy fresh strawberry poundcake (yes POUNDcake, not shortcake) and tomorrow I plan on making the incredible sourcream and brown sugar dipping sauce. Oh man, my mouth is watering just thinking about it.

Photography Day Eleven Revisited... The Door to Hell.

I know that I already did a picture for today, but while I was at the hospital today sitting in the waiting room I decided to pass the time by reading a magazine. In this magazine there was a picture of a gas crater. To be more specific it's the Darvaza gas crater. This thing is amazing! I think it's so amazing that I had to do another picture for day 11. It is commonly known as the "Door to Hell" and it's location is not easy to get to. If you haven't read about this crater you should because it's a pretty interesting story. It's hard to believe that the fire has been lit for over twenty years. 

Photography Day Nine... Relaxation...

The best place to relax is the beach. This is the one California girl stereotype that I completely follow and will follow til the day I die. I love the beach. I prefer private beaches because I'm not into shit loads of people being around me and I like being able to read a book while listening to the surf without interruption.

Hawaii circa 1989

Hawaii circa 1999

Day Twenty... (Travel)

If I could travel to one place in the entire world, I'd choose Denmark. Not only is it beautiful, but I'm obsessed with windmills and my Danish heritage. Plus castles are simply gorgeous and I've always wanted to walk through one and see the insane amount of rooms and admire the architecture.

The traveler sees what he sees...

...The tourist sees what he has come to see. 
~G.K. Chesterton

2010: The year in full...

I have taken this idea of writing about all of the things (whether good or bad) that have happened over the past year from someone I have known my whole life. I want to dedicate this post to Camilla. She has been such an inspiration to me in more ways than one. If it wasn't for her and the things she so boldly and delicately writes about I wouldn't have had the courage or motivation to do so myself. I have found writing a blog, regardless of whether or not anyone reads it, has been incredibly helpful to me in many ways. The biggest way is that I can express how I feel without fear, get all of my feelings out in the open, and I don't have to worry so much about flying off the handle and losing my temper. So, Camilla, thank you for being such an inspiration to me and I'm sure many many others; and thank you for being such a wonderful person. I'm glad that we have reconnected in some way (through facebook or blogging). It was a joy to be your friend growing up and it's just as much if not more of a joy and enthrallment to have you as a friend now after so many years. So here's to you, Camilla, and all of my other readers... Happy New Year! and enjoy reading about my year in 2010...

• Opened the year in an abusive relationship surrounded by drugs and dishonest people
• Learned the meaning of a true friend
• Lost a loved one, a best friend, and the love of my life
• Gained new respect and understanding for myself and the world in which I live
• Received A's in my classes
• Am that much closer to fulfilling my dreams of being a police officer
• Learned how to shoot a gun
• Reconnected with old friends and family
• Dealt with the toughest times I've ever faced but continue to power through
• Got five different jobs after being unemployed for two years
• Won the battle of good versus evil in my own head
• Quit smoking and stopped all forms of drug intake
• Continued to develop my cooking skills
• Visited Cottonwood for the first time and saw everyone's head stones
• Alphabetized my movies (over 520 of them)
• Cleansed myself of all of the poisonous things and bad karma in my life
• Took as many pictures as possible to capture all the moments
• Turned 23 and had a jump house
• Went camping and was attacked by ninja raccoons
• Discovered Palo Alto has a zoo
• Only had two kidney stones instead of the normal five/year
• Made new friends that I actually trust and respect
• Closed the year with self respect, people I love and that are loyal, and have a new outlook on what's important and what exactly it is that I want

I haven't done many elaborate amazing things in my life, but I have come a long way from where I was at the beginning of the year. There have been many obstacles in the past 365 days and it has been a giant struggle to get through them. I am sure there are many more obstacles and problems to come, but I will continue to do my best to make it through and helping those I love along the way. So I welcome 2011 with open arms and hope it brings about happiness and tranquility for everyone out there.




The bad news is time flies...

...the good news is you're the pilot


HAPPY NEW YEAR!

When I Grow Up...



When I was 5 years old, my mom always told me that happiness was the key to life.
When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up.
I wrote down "happy."
They told me I didn't understand the assignment
and I told them they didn't understand life.

• I want to be a sexual assault detective and help victims not just legally but emotionally...
• Own my house that I live in now so I can not only cherish my childhood memories but relive them every day...
• Be a person of great character that people not only respect but enjoy being around...
• I want to have children whether they are biological or adopted because no matter what they will be mine to love forever...
• I want to teach an English class...
• Have my own library filled with every book worth reading...
• Have built my own playground... For adults... Slides, Swings, Monkey Bars, etc. I want to remind my generation of what it means to feel free...
• I want to go sky diving so I can see the world the way loved ones see it from Heaven...
• Swim with sharks... and not in a cage...
• Travel to Denmark to learn more about my heritage...
• Learn to tap dance like Shirley Temple...
• Gamble at a casino just so I can hear someone say "winner winner chicken dinner"... of course I have to actually win first...
• I want to drive an army tank...
• I want to drive an actual nascar car... then my nickname would actually have real meaning...
• Visit all the lighthouses around the world. (ever since our Girl Scout overnight trip i've become in love with them)
• Make someone smile if only for a moment...
• I want to meet Brooks and Dunn and let them know how inspiring their twenty years of music was to me...
• I want to visit LegoLand...
• I want to thank all of the military people for everything they've done for us everyday...
• I want to feel good about myself and the decisions that I've made...
• Play soccer again...
• I want to inspire someone the way others have inspired me...
• I want to be as smart, independent, and strong like my parents...
• Put on my ballet shoes and dance one more time...
• Meet a real cowboy... and maybe fall in love with him...
• Have no regrets...
• Believe in myself and the good in people...
• Release myself of all grudges I have... Life is just too damn short...

When I Grow Up...

...I want to be me