Author: Jana

  • celebrating


    goin’ swimmin, originally uploaded by pilgrimgirl.

    This weekend we celebrated CatGirl’s birthday with a wild slumber party (lots of tween girls, their giggles, their voracious appetites and their cameraphones documenting everything). All in all, it was a great experience, and even GameBoy says he doesn’t mind that the midnight truth or dare game included an speed hug dare(!) with the (hawt) sleeping older brother.

    I had a moment to reflect on how our family parties have changed in the past few years. It used to be that when a birthday rolled around we’d go to the party store to pick theme party goods, including paper plates, napkins, cups, candles, invitations, etc. This year CatGirl sent out email invites to her friends and they used our everyday washable cloth napkins and dishes for their snacks and meals. I popped their popcorn on the stovetop (yum), baked the cake myself (and frosted it with help and advice from the birthday girl). We did buy a few large pizzas, but in doing so we patronized a favorite local business. As party favors CatGirl assembled friendship bracelet kits in each of the attendees favorite colors–with embroidery floss recycled from grandma’s abundant stash.

    Photo: A favorite of CatGirl from when she was a toddler. See how she’s holding up her index fingers? She’s showing her ‘sucking fingers,’ which were both named “Aubergina.” Yes, CatGirl is quite a character and we love her so.

  • what your home says…


    the pinwheels, originally uploaded by pilgrimgirl.

    I love the bright colors in this photo–the seeming randomness of pinks and yellows and the uneven crinkly petals.

    My friend SarahK and I were chatting last night about how you can tell whether someone is liberal or conservative simply through their taste and the orderliness (or not) of their homes. Turns out that there’s even some scientific backing for those ideas (hat tip to John for the link).

    I’m guessing that my house–with its purple overstuffed chairs, scented candles, bright-colored persian rugs, three cats, funky music, arty photos, and BOOKS–says much about my proclivities (and we won’t even mention the amazing spider web in the kitchen nook that I am loathe to destroy). So much so that visitors here probably don’t even need to ask which way I vote. :)

    What does your house say about you? Is there something about your house that you’d like to change so it could better reflect your values and personality?

  • open to growth


    soft and pretty, originally uploaded by pilgrimgirl.

    “I do not think that I will ever reach a stage when I will say, ‘This is what I believe. Finished.’ What I believe is alive … and open to growth.”
    ~Madeleine L’Engle

  • Hope


    Hope., originally uploaded by mind on fire.

    John took some beautiful pics at the anti-prop8 rally in Laguna Beach last night. You can see the whole set by clicking on the pic above.

  • sore and prickly


    sacs of pollen, originally uploaded by pilgrimgirl.

    The past few days I’ve had a bit shorter fuse than usual. I think a huge part of it is that my wrists are really bothering me–my carpal tunnel issues are flaring up–and it’s keeping me from getting as much work done as I’d like.

    I don’t have the patience for much nuance in my correspondence and I am sitting on some ‘to-do’s” that just won’t get done until I feel better again. On top of that, the devil winds are back and that always makes me fussy, too (people it was 90 degrees here today, which kinda sucks for November).

    That said, I have been watching more movies that usual because of my owie hands (not a bad thing, necessarily, because I rarely allow myself that time-sucking luxury). Saw “Children of Heaven” a few days ago (adorable and sweet) and “The Prestige” tonite (good screenplay, that one).

    I’m totally ready for any and all advice you have for CT issues, barring surgery. The splints and wraps work, but are awkward and cause their own kinds of pains eventually. I used Ben-Gay this afternoon which gave me some temporary relief so I could putter around in my garden a bit–but it smells pretty awful. What else do you recommend??

  • why I like candles


    thoughtful, originally uploaded by pilgrimgirl.

    “Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”
    ~Buddha

  • where do we go from here?*

    We’ve been driving around with a pro-gay marriage bumper sticker on our car for years. Sometimes we get angry honks about it and sometimes a thumbs-up from fellow drivers. When we put that sticker on our car, we had no idea that gay marriage was even a possibility in California anytime soon. It just seemed important to let our views be known as widely as possible.

    So today I am disappointed in the success of Prop 8, even as I am simultaneously thrilled that the margin of its passing was so close that this is sure to never happen again in California–the next time gay marriage is on the ballot, it will succeed. The bigotry is dying even as the rising generation realizes that gay marriage is a natural extension of civil rights.

    Of course what is most disappointing is the LDS church‘s involvement in the fight. This is the face of bigotry. As much as I love my Mormon heritage, I feel morally repelled by all of the hate and anti-gay fervor that’s been spewn by LDS activists. And I feel both pleased and relieved to say that I did not raise my hand to sustain the current leadership of the LDS church.

    The upshot: I will not stop fighting for equal marriage rights. Yes, we’ve had a major setback in California today, but the battle is far from over. And we will win.

    This union may never be perfect, but generation after generation has shown that it can always be perfected. And today, whenever I find myself feeling doubtful or cynical about this possibility, what gives me the most hope is the next generation–the young people whose attitudes and beliefs and openness to change have already made history in this election.
    ~Pres-Elect Obama


    As we celebrated the presidential election last night with friends, we made some predictions about how many years it would be before we have a female president, an Asian president, a gay president, a Chicano/Latino president, or an atheist president. We predicted that we’d see at least two of those within the next 20 years. What do you think?

    *Caroline chose this same phrase to title her post on Prop 8. If you’re interested in LDS activism, you might want to take a look.

  • yes


    H/T

  • today


    exercising my rights, originally uploaded by pilgrimgirl.

    I’m glad I voted early because today I’m going in for some emergency dental work (blargh). But today feels like Christmas anyways–that same feeling of nervous anticipation.

    Tonite, if I’m not too uncomfortable, I’ll be joining friends at the UCI pub to watch the election returns. Please consider joining us if you’re in the area.

    Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.
    Barack Obama

  • closing that door


    pretty in pink, originally uploaded by pilgrimgirl.

    Today I had an appointment in the Infectious Disease Clinic. After a thorough exam my doctor gave me a hug and told me good-bye, explaining that I didn’t need to return again unless something went awry with my leg.

    When she ushered me out of the exam room she pointed out a different exit door–not the one I usually use that leads me to the receptionist for a new appointment.

    That may well be both the first and the last time that particular door will close behind me. Let us hope…

    :)

  • Just one reason why


    gimp carrots, originally uploaded by pilgrimgirl.

    Just one reason why I love the carrots that I buy from the farm down the street from where we live.

    :)

  • morning has broken


    perfect pink, originally uploaded by pilgrimgirl.

    Morning has broken, like the first morning
    Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird
    Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
    Praise for the springing fresh from the word

    Sweet the rain’s new fall, sunlit from heaven
    Like the first dewfall, on the first grass
    Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
    Sprung in completeness where his feet pass

    Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning
    Born of the one light, Eden saw play
    Praise with elation, praise every morning
    God’s recreation of the new day
    ~as sung by Cat Stevens