Summer Solstice, when the Fairies come out

The Other Kingdom is full of fantastical creatures, tricksters, wee folk, magic and my sister Merry.

Merry called me a few months back wanting to know if I would fly out to visit her if she had a Fairy Party. Um, of course! I mean, who wouldn't want to attend such an event?

I packed my wings, wand and as much glitter as my luggage would hold.

I arrived Wednesday and we got right to work by planning and baking and making the proper arrangements.

Friday evening arrived and the fairies came out of hiding for one night only to dine, tell tales and make merry.

Meet a few of my favorites...

Dori had amazing wings she made herself!

Mindy won the costume contest, she reminded me of a fairy from Disney's Sleeping Beauty

I don't recall her name, maybe Rachel? Her dress is beautiful!

And, of course, Merry herself. She made the entire costume.

We played fairy games, searched for hidden fairies in the garden and made our own fairy wands. I do believe we've started a tradition. Next summer solstice I'll be flying out again for Fairy Bash 2011.

He plays guitar.

Railyard playing at Seattle's Folk Life Festival

I’ve always had this silly school girl fantasy of meeting the lead guitarist of a band just after attending their concert. Of course he would find me amazing and we’d go out together after the show. Tonight it came true. Sort of.

I have a friend that plays in a band called Railyard. I’m using the term ‘friend’ somewhat loosely here, really he is an acquaintance. We met because we have a handful of mutual friends, we have talked once or twice, that’s it. What is important is that he plays guitar. And he plays in a band.

Tonight I headed into Seattle to check out Railyard for the first time and I was impressed. They are a little mellow in comparison to what I typically get into, but still very enjoyable. My music tastes have altered quite a bit in the last few years since I learned to play guitar for myself. Talent matters a bit more to me now. I would say this band has a lot of talent in it. It was a fun experience and I’m glad I went.

After the show I said hi to my guitarist friend. As it would turn out we were both heading to the same place after the show, to one of our mutual friends’ birthday party. I gave him a ride.

I seem to remember my day dreams turning out slightly different. So really it didn't come true at all.

But the band was great, check them out at http://railyardmusic.com

Death By Math

Words cannot describe the awesomeness of this picture drawn today by one of my students. Notice the detail, the pi in place of the 't' in 'math'. And the sigma for a mouth.

Pure. Awesomeness.

I walk alone.

Tonight I attended the adult session of Stake Conference. I don't actually feel as if I'm old enough to attend this, but technically I've been old enough for 12 years now, so I better learn to deal with it. Afterward I was standing in a group talking with a number of guys all of whom I consider my friends. It came time to part ways and we all said bye to each other.

As I walked out the door and headed to my car I suddenly felt uncomfortable. It was dark, very dark as some of the parking lot lights were out. I was alone. My body tensed and I changed into my single-girl-alone-in-a-dark-parking-lot mode. This means full alert with my eyes darting around to take in my surroundings searching the shadows, making sure to make clear eye contact with each individual around me, purse firmly tucked under my arm and my keys already in my hand ready to quickly open my car door so I can climb into safety. Girls, you know exactly what I'm talking about.

I cursed myself for being so stubbornly independent that I did not ask one of those guys to walk me to my car. I was sure it would be an inconvenience to them, so I didn't bother. In a scarier part of town I would have swallowed my pride and asked.

If I could have things the way I want Chivalry would not be dead. Gentleman would think to escort a lady outside in the dark. Among other things.

I'm not writing this to belittle any one of those guys tonight. I think very highly of each of them. I just think guys need an occasional reminder that girls need them. There is no longer a code of Knighthood they are bound to obey, but they do have something more important. The Priesthood. And Heavenly Father would have his daughters looked after.

Cousin Amber

Friday morning I received a surprise message from my cousin Amber on Facebook. She said she was coming to Seattle and would be here for the afternoon/evening so we should have dinner.

It had been about 5 years since our paths last crossed, so it was great news to know I would see her again. Here we are just after dinner with my mom.

Amber was full of stories about my Uncle Tommy, and all of her many siblings. It felt just like all those summers we spent at the Lake House (minus the house) sitting around talking. Amber also recommended a couple bands to me as we share a love of music. I'm on my way to becoming a fan of The Foxes. Check 'em out (I recommend the song 'Get Me').

Great to see you Amber, come back and visit soon.

Tengwar or Elvish for the English Tongue

As a follow up to my last post on Runes I am happy to report that my efforts in learning the Elvish Alphabet are going well. As proof of my hard work I offer you this.

In English it reads,

Proverbs 3 : 5 - 6

Trust in the Lord with all

thine heart and lean not unto thine own

understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge

him, and he shall direct thy paths.

This is my Mother's favorite scripture and I put it together as a Mothers Day gift for her. As many of you know my Mother was born in Middle Earth and her heart has always been partially there. Happy Mothers Day, Mom!

Runes

When I was in elementary school my older sister and I used to write notes to each other in code. Having a mother who was obsessed with Lord of the Rings this code was, of course, the dwarf runes used in The Hobbit. We wrote to each other so often in this alphabet I easily memorized it and still use it today.

On Sunday I was caught doodling on the back of a piece of paper in this language. My friend Brenda noticed and just laughed at me. I'm glad she finds humor in my more geeky side. She said that if I found a guy who could read it then I would have found the right man for me.

So I'm just gonna throw this out there, can anybody else read this?

Once my geek has been let out of the bag I am then often asked if I can also write in elvish. Sadly no. Or rather, not yet. This morning I looked up the details of Tengwar, the elvish alphabet. It is much more complicated but I'm going to learn it anyway. Just this morning I wrote my name in Tengwar. And it made me very happy.

Dr. K

There are two reasons I love my Chiropractor, Dr. K.  First is the most obvious one, he helps my body feel better.  It is a miracle to me that for the first time in 3 years I can get around my daily routine without being in any pain.

The second reason is that Dr. K is just cool.  He’s funny and friendly and even rides a motorcycle.  I like his sense of humor too.  Just this week I was lying on the table getting my adjustment listening to the conversation going on around me.  The lady next to me was telling us about what she had learned at church the day before.

“Too often we judge ourselves by our own intentions and others by their actions when we should be doing it the other way around.”

She went on to say this could be applied in all aspects of life, even driving.  “When someone cuts me off I need to remember their intentions were not to offend me and perhaps they were in hurry or having a bad day.”

Dr. K then cuts in to add, “In my family when someone cuts us off while driving we say they must be subluxated.”

Ask and ye shall receive.

The following happened between 10:07pm and 10:27pm tonight.

- the names have been changed to protect the guilty -

{DING!} A text message arrives.

Albert: How are you feeling?

Me to Albert: Sick. Saw the doc this morning, he thinks its strep throat, he put me on a couple meds. :( How are you feeling?

Albert: So-so. Taking things a day at a time. I don’t think I’ll be asking Lily out. I get the impression she is seeing someone. Or subconsciously I’m afraid and looking for a way out. Sorry you have strep.

Weasel: No weezing the juice! Ha ha. Guess which movie im watching?

Me to Weasel: Encino Man, what do I win?

Me to Lily: Are you dating anyone right now?

Weasel: A slurpee! So you can weeze the juice!

Lily: Lol, no.

Me to Albert: I can guarantee Lily is not currently dating anyone. So go for it. No chickening out or you’ll have me to answer to.

This is what went on while chatting with my mother eating "dinner" and avoiding my homework. (Blog post is further avoidance of said homework).

Then it got me thinking. Asking someone out is hard. I did this just a couple weeks ago. I've asked guys out before, and it really doesn't get much easier with practice. My experience reminded me to have a little more sympathy and respect for any guy doing the asking.

Then I thought about Albert, he's a great guy and he's fun to go on a date with too. I know from first hand experience. I'm going to hold him to his idea of asking Lily out on a date. I think they would both have a fun time.

I can't help but wonder if there's some guy out there debating if he should ask me out, but is just a little nervous too. I need a friend like myself to give him a push to just do it.

Perhaps it's Mitchell from church. I've caught him looking at me from across the room a number of times. Mitchell has even walked up to me and looked very much like he wanted to say something, but only managed to get out a whispered 'hi' and kept on walking. He's done this a couple times. I think his shyness is kind of cute, but we'll never become friends if he can't manage to move to the next step and say, 'how are you?'

So here is my advice to guys. I know it's not easy, but suck it up and deal with it. Chances are she'll say yes and you will have a fun time. My personal opinion is every guy deserves a first date. Exceptions to this rule are extremely rare. There is something very attractive about a guy with the guts to ask you out. Guys should know that.

Atypical

As I walked in the door from my evening out (making and eating dumplings, yum!) my parents turned me around and we headed out to Safeway for a late night ice cream run. Ben and Jerry's Cake Batter. I don't share.

While going through the checkout line, our cashier was a friendly gentleman named Pat. He recognized my parents as they frequent the grocery store around the corner from our house. My mother introduced me as her daughter and it came up that I was a student working on my masters degree.

"Oh? What are you getting your degree in?" he inquired.

"Applied Mathematics," was my response.

I watched him closely expecting the typical reaction of a blank stare and a comment about how I must be crazy. It didn't come. Instead he smiled, and turned back to my mother saying, "Whoa, you better watch out some guy is going to snatch her up and marry her!"

I like Pat. I think I'll introduce him to a few of my friends in the singles ward.