My gurlz

I am so blessed to have so many strong, amazing female friends.  Amy, Allie, Kiyoko, and Lizz are all wonderful and supportive and loving.  I know that not everyone has the luxury of close friends who know you inside and out and show you unconditional love.  Why am I so lucky to have several?

Oh man

What an extraordinary day.

Little Baby Children

There's one thing that always brightens my day, no matter how broke or heartbroken I am (which is my constant state of being), and that thing is spending time with little kids and/or babies.  This morning, I began the summer session of Music Romp, the toddler music program I manage and teach here in SLO.  This was my first time meeting my class of 6 (although, there were only five there today).  The class consists of 4-year-old triplets (2 girls and 1 boy), a four year old boy, and a two-year-old boy.  The difference between a 2 and 4 year old is amazing.  The four year olds are independent and silly and lots of fun.  They can count and take directions and have conversations, whereas the two year olds are pretty attached to their moms, get shy, and don't want to participate.  There is something I've noticed from teaching these classes, though--all kids, regardless of age, love banging on a drum.  Hell, I do, too.  Sometimes I think I'm having more fun than the kids are.

Anyway, four year olds are amazing.  They all love you and want to sit on your lap and hold you hand and tell you stories.  One of the boys started picking me flowers (weeds) from the grass, and then they all did, making me a "bouquet."  It was much like starring on The Bachelorette, except instead of a bunch of skeevy men vying for my attention and 15 minutes of fame, it's a bunch of adorable children handing you flowers and giving you hugs.  How magical.

I really can't wait to have my own kids.  It will be so much fun and cuddles and sweetness and flowers.  This morning made me reconsider my choice to teach middle schoolers...maybe I'm more cut out for preschool and kindergartners!  But only if I could somehow get away with not doing arts and crafts.

Over the Border (written on June 30)

Today was a day full of driving, Tally Hall, and crazy weather!  We woke up fairly early and went over to a coffee shop by the waterfront in Sarnia.  We could see America right across the little river!  I convinced Becky and Adam to stop at Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum in Farmington Hills, Michigan.  One of my favorite bands, Tally Hall, has an album named after the museum, and frequently references it.  Even the band name, Tally Hall, is a reference to where the museum used to be located.  Tally Hall isn’t just a band I love, it’s also a band that I’ve seen live twice and spent hours singing along with with my best friends, Amy and Allie.  WE love Tally Hall, and as the twins are now in Thailand, the whole Tally Hall-day made me miss them immensely.  The museum was very cool and creepy, full of arcade games, animatronics, antiques, collectibles, and just kooky, “Are You Afraid Of the Dark?” type stuff.  If you’ve ever been to Museé Mechanique in San Francisco, it’s kind of like a smaller, more tightly packed version of that.

After leaving the museum and getting really pumped up about Tally Hall, we listened to their whole “Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum” album in the car.  Then we stopped in Ann Arbor, Michigan (home of Tally Hall) for lunch.  We had delicious Ethiopian Food that was vegan and filling at Blue Nile Restaurant.  Then, I slept in the car for awhile.  Also, played Tiny Wings on my sister’s iPhone.  Oh, tiny-winged bird, how I’ve missed you!  We went through a time zone change.  It’s always cool to time travel.  

We got to Chicago around 6:00pm.  I haven’t had much time here yet, but so far, so good.  All within a few hours, we experienced crazy heat/humidity, wind, rain, thunder, and lightning in Chicago.  It’s pretty cool to watch crazy lightning behind the skyline of a big city.  I also learned how to not get struck by lightning.  Useful!

For dinner, we stopped at Cafecito, a little Cuban place with free wi-fi!  It was one of my favorite meals on this trip so far.  When I went up to the counter to start asking about what was vegan, the owner helped me out.  I said, “Is your black bean soup--” and he interrupted, “Vegan?  Yes.”  Awesome!  How did he know?  Then I asked about the Eleez sandwich, and he assured me that even the bread is vegan and there is no butter.  I guess Chicago IS a vegan-friendly city!  He said people ask all the time.  The soup was pretty much really well-cooked/spiced/sauced black beans beside white rice.  Simple and delicious!  The sandwich was even more special: plantains, peanut butter, and guava.  Like a PB&J with plantains and delicious, grilled bread!  The owner said he was probably opening a location in LA next year, so I’ll be tracking this place down!

Tomorrow: Hopefully more vegan food, a better feel for Chicago, and winding this trip down with a bang!  I leave for home on Saturday!