Feathering the Nest

I have read about the nesting instinct this summer while we were on the road and unable to acquire all of the necessities and niceties of novice parenthood. Once we got back to Eugene I was perusing the local Craigslist 'Baby and Kids' adds before I had my bags unpacked. Our wonderful roommate, Katie, will be moving out at the end of the month and we will then begin converting her room to a nursery....a project that has been completed time and time again in my imagination from the paint to the nick knacks.

This week Greg and I made our first big baby purchase...we traded out our papasan chair for a gliding rocking chair! I have had my heart set on a rocker since the moment I ploped down into the glider at the Meyer household. You don't need a baby to fall in love with this rocker, it's already getting good use!

Celebrating Eugene

One weekend a year the people of Eugene barricade the main drags in town and showcase their local flavors at the annual Eugene Celebration. The local food shatters the image of any stereotypical fair food: from marinated tempeh over veggies to organic muffins and hand dipped chocolate bananas. Microbreweries and local wineries tempt the will power of all those possessing a valid driver's license. A broad pallet of local music fills the air from four open air stages and five indoor venues. Jazz, Blues, Punk, Bluegrass, Rock, Hip Hop, Folk. Local vendors offering everything from local threads and jewelery to massage and reiki. It bears a strong resemblence to our beloved Saturday Market, it's just a lot bigger......and there's a parade! My neighbor, Lindsey, and I went down to the market in search of the season's last offerings of berries and were able to enjoy the parade from beginning to end.
Belly Dancers, a Magic School Bus, a Marching Drum Circle, Tae Kwan-Do Tikes and Presidential candidate look-alikes, all followed by the newly crowned Slug Queen, who would give Santa Clause a run for his money in any parade. It was truly a celebration of all things Eugene. The pride of the people and their politics, their creativity, their diversity and their ingenuity were in full display for three sun-filled days. It was fun to imagine next year's celebration and introducing our little one to such a vibrant community of unabashedly colorful locals.

Dog Days of Summer

Magda and I went out in search of Chanterelle mushrooms yesterday, however due to the late summer, the season will likely be late too. They like it cool and wet and it has been hot and dry. But you won't catch me complaining about a prolonged summer! We took the opportunity to spend some time by the water and soak up some sun while our canine companions ran amok. It was little Brewer's first time off leash in the wilderness and he did great! Here are some highlights of our adventures, plus a sneak peak at the not-so-elusive belly!

Team Building Exercise '99

I was able to return to work just in time for the one year anniversary of A Healing Space, a new family of healers to the Eugene scene. This is by far the most amazing group of people I have ever had the privelage of working with. When Adam and Wendy Drapkin set out to start up their own holistic clinic and yoga studio they held true to their own definition of success, which is more founded in being true to themselves and their co-workers than it is in making money. And as a result the whole staff has been blessed with a flavor of success that is rarely tasted these days.

In honor of a whole year of this success Wendy's father, Terry, lead the group in a day and a half of soul revealing, goal oriented team and leadership exercises. One of the main focuses was "Going into the Resistance", meaning we must face and embrace our fears and push the boundaries of our comfort zone if we ever wish to grow. In order to do this we must take Personal Responsibility for our past, present and future goals and dreams. By taking responsibility for our lives we are able to reach our goals and see results, which requires us to let go of the many reasons and justifications we hold that allow us to not achieve our goals. Reasons and results are mutually exclusive. We must let go of our reasons if we are to see results. There are no victims in life.

It was great to be reminded of my own power over my life. These are things that I have always felt inside of myself and after this seminar I feel them even more strongly. We played many games that allowed us to forget our protective boundaries for a day and just laugh and be with eachother as friends. We worked our way from a simple game of touch tag, to a blindfolded maze, to a low ropes course balancing act, to climbing to the top of a twenty-five foot pole, standing on top of it and then jumping out into midair to ring a bell....quite the progression!

I though it would be good to instill a strong sense of adventure in my growing little baby, so, with the support of doctors and healers, I did the climb and took the plung! There's nothing like a good adrenaline rush to make you feel like you can do anything you set your mind to!

Go Prego GO!

Back to the Grind

After a summer free of obligation and responsibility to the proverbial 'Man', Greg and I are facing the ineveitable necessity of increasing our financial flow.
I went back to work at A Healing Space today for a team building seminar that will continue into tomorrow. I will then swing into a regular super-part-time schedule in the near future.
Meanwhile, Greg has begun to get calls about potential jobs after applying to a few positions last week. It's hard to say whether it was the thought of returning to the work force or the thought of wearing a helmet on another ninety degree bike ride that inspired him to bust out the razor and lose the locks. Regardless of the motivation, the result is an image of cool responsibility. So while we get back to the grind and reluctantly surrender the 'Last Summer of Our Lives as we Know It', we look back on the past couple months of memories as blessings that we will likely savor for the next eighteen years or so.

Sweet Home Oregon

After a summer of revisiting our Midwestern roots Greg, Bishop and I have finally landed back in Eugene. We made the thirty-two hour drive in three very long days. With fall nipping at our heels all the way west we were happy to find summer is still in full swing here in Oregon.

Greg has been catching up with the disc golf scene, timing our return just in time for the Eugene Celebration tournament. I have been reconnecting with my favorite people and places around town. A River walk at Mount Pisgah with Magda and our canine companions. An eventful Fall Creek hike with Magda, Heather and Ellyn. The Saturday Market with Jes. Hangin at the house with Katie. And a Bomb Blueberry Banana Breakfast with Candace.

It is fun to revel in the day to day details that have become novelties after being away for so long. Sleeping in our own bed. Walking to Sundance, the best market in town. Cooking breakfast. Watering house plants. Taking the bus downtown. Eating at Laughing Planet, Hideaway Bakery, The Sweet Life and other local favorites. Seeing this town with fresh eyes has made it feel more like home.

As we settle in to our routine we are preparing for all of the epic transitions our lives are about to undertake. I start school in three weeks. Greg will start a new job before he knows it. The baby belly will continue to grow... and grow...and grow... and then one day we'll wake up and be full fledged parents! And a little farther off, but still super fun to think about, is the Oregon wedding in the summer of 2010.

I will be using this blog as a place for me to reflect on all of these changes and stay in touch with all of you loved ones who are so far away. If there is one thing that I know after this summer it is that we are so blessed to have a love and suppport from our families and friends that goes way beyond geographic proximity.