The anniversary of being from Nowhere

February 20 marks my official anniversary of moving to the Pacific Northwest.  It's been fifteen years.  This also means that I've pretty much spent an equal amount of time here, compared to other cities that I've lived in long-term (Houston, Austin), and much more time than others (Portland, Chicago). 

This is why I don't feel like I'm "from" anywhere anymore.  (I grew up in Houston, but I fantasized about leaving there since I was ten years old.)

I'm a nowhere girl.  I can't figure out whether this gives me positive or negative emotions.  But it does align with my dilettante tendencies. 

Also, I realized that I've been painting mandalas in one form or another for 13 years now.  How about that.  I actually found a hobby besides music to stick with.  Go me.

We could be Instagramigos.

I'm on Instagram.  We can be amigos if you want.  Warning:  I take a lot of pictures of very pedestrian things, such as sunsets, dogs, clouds, ferry rides, the Space Needle.  But also sometimes weird and unexpected things like bugs or puppets.  Ya never know.

Click on the picture.

I am a stack of papers

I received a packet of papers from my mother today.  The envelope was sealed with a sticker with Golden Retriever puppies on it that said Guiding Eyes for the Blind. 

The note inside with all of the papers said, "Maybe these papers can prove who you are..."

So true, and so untrue.

Mmmmm...Pens.

I am such a pen nerd that I am watching calligraphy videos on youtube.
I will sit there and almost not blink for an entire 4-minute video, because I am compelled to see every tiny second of the ink touching the paper.  I am fascinated by the swirly things on the ends of s's and different ways to make an r, and stuff like that.  I have been my whole life.

Yes, I am entertained by watching ink dry.
Pathetic and boring, cool, or just obsessive?

Sayonara, 2012

See ya, year.  We had some good times.  We had some sucky times.  2013, all eyes are on you.  Let's do this. 
And also, let's skip all the horrific death and suffering.

And also, less people going to the grocery store in actual pajamas (have a little civility, wouldya?).

The hills are alive with the sound of Jake, Elwood, and the blues

We were watching The Sound of Music a few days ago, and we realized that The Blues Brothers movie is basically The Sound of Music, set in Chicago with the blues.
Eerie coincidences, woooooo:
It's a musical.
The protagonist(s) are on a mission from God, each directly from Catholic school/abbey, and sent by Mother Superior.
The Von Trapp children are essentially Murph and the Magic Tones. 
The kids/musicians are being promoted for a big show, throughout the entire movie. 
They're being chased by nazis. 
Cab Calloway parallels the Von Trapp uncle who is a concert promoter.
There's also the jealous and evil girlfriend in each film: The Baroness in TSOM, and Carrie Fisher in TBB.
There's a happy ending in both, except for Jake and Elwood ending up in jail... But -- the Von Trapps escape into the mountains and Jake and Elwood get the money needed for the orphanage.
See, not so weird, is it?  It would have been kind of fun if the Blues Brothers and their band did a puppet show.  But instead they crashed a shitload of cars in a shopping mall.  So there's that.

Happy Chronica

This here's my stepkid with a gorgeous new 12-string.
The guitar count in the house is steadily rising as the teen years manifest.