It's all about the small stuff

Borrowing a post from the lovely Polly over at Yoga is Yummy, it's all about the little things that make you smile. Here are a few that have made my list lately

1. Driving with the windows rolled down. I'm notorious for rolling down my windows, hair whipping in the wind without a car....in February. So long as it's not snowing and anywhere near 60 degrees, down go the windows. This usually means driving with the heat on full blast at the same time, but I just can't help myself. I love the feel of the breeze and my left hand resting outside the door, usually thumping on the blue metal in time to the music. Yes, I'm that crazy person in the car ahead of you on I-90 or the 520 bridge. I've also discovered that Washington smells absolutely glorious at this time of year. When you can inhale the scent of pine and lake water while driving 65 miles an hour, that says something about the air quality here, methinks.

2. Random trivia. Case in point, this evening while watching Nightly News with Brian Williams, there was a story on about Princes William and Harry. The report mentioned the word Shropshire, which Brian then repeated, chuckling spit out the "foreign" word. Something deep in my brain twisted around, and I blurted "THE SHROPSHIRE SLASHER!!!!!" in crazy cartoon intonation. My co-worker turned around, wondering if I had again lost my mind. Nope. It's from a Looney Tunes episode that I probably saw some Saturday morning 15 years ago. I explained the premise of the cartoon to him, and he didn't believe me. Ha! Behold, the beauty that is youtube! Deduce, you say? Vindicated by the glorious interwebs once again! I love that while I may not remember where I left my crackberry 30 seconds after I walk in the door, my brain somehow manages to dig up something completely obscure from childhood.

3. Words. Written, spoken, sung, I can't seem to get enough of them lately. I've been on an NPR bender, the likes of which I haven't done in at least a year. I've been reading anything I can get my hands on. I'm fascinated with what's happening in Iran right now, and have been trying to learn as much as I can about that part of the world. I also recently finished this book that talks about the Israel/Palestine conflict. It was recommended to me by a friend, and I was so struck by the author's quiet strength and insight.

That's just a handful of what's crossed my mind lately. It's a loud, messy place in there, and I love it!

Wondering on a Wednesday

Hello hello. Once again I've been neglecting my little space. I have no excuse really, other than to say I'm lacking a little focus. I've made a promise to myself that this will change. Stay tuned.

I'm wondering on a Wednesday, holed up in my lovely new workspace. They finally finished the renovations and moved us from the broom closet we were crammed into for six months to the new and improved newsroom. It has its quirks, but the lighting is wonderful and I really enjoy having my own desk again. Perched on one corner is a small framed picture of waves crashing at Point Judith, Rhode Island. One of the engineers picked the photo up with a smirk the other day, asking if that was my boyfriend. I laughed, saying it was merely my own little patch of workplace zen. As he walked away, I considered his query for a moment. The beach may as well be my significant other, in that I don't think I've loved anything else quite so unconditionally. Not even my family. I can say that because the beach has never attempted to ground me, or stolen my favorite sweatshirt. The beach is always there when I need it, its rolling voice at turns calming and driving. Encouraging me to relax, take action, or simply be. Often times when I find myself wrapped in anxiety, thoughts buzzing too quickly to sort, I picture myself body surfing in Newport or being tossed about like a pebble in Cabo. If I close my eyes tightly enough I can almost feel the cool soothing weightlessness of the water, wrapping me up and pushing everything else away. Saltwater washes clean the parts of my day, the parts of ME that refuse to be quieted by anything else.

Here in Seattle, the sound is generally too cold to swim in. I've grudgingly accepted this for now, and am gradually willing my easily-chilled skin to get used to it. I will go wading, and the days when I come home with dried salt on my legs and sand covering my feet are by far my favorites. I've planned a vacation to Little Rhody in July that I'm so excited for I almost don't know how I'm going to make it through the next month. Those perfect summer days, the salty memories that will last a lifetime. This summer is going to be all about building on that, whether I'm on the left coast or the right. A beach nearby is what makes a place home for me. Someday when I'm rich and famous, I would love to live where I can walk out the door in the morning with my coffee, and good book, a beach blanket, plant myself in the sand and watch the waves roll by as my body adapts again to being awake. Someday, this is my dream.

What about you? What makes a place home?

My one true love....