Friday, July 31, 2009

Business as Usual

Wow this month has flown by. I have enjoyed this stint of 6 weeks in Northern California more than other years. I know the farmer's market schedule and which one has the date guy and which one has the best seafood purveyor and which farmer doesn't use pesticides. I know the best beach for body surfing and the best way to get to Pacific Grove.
I have my list of must do's every year:
1) Visit Carmel Valley Wineries
2) One evening spent at the bar over looking the 18 hole @Pebble Beach Lodge, eating fried calamari and drinking good local wine.
3) Eating Ciopinno at Phil's Market in Moss Landing
4) Eating sand dabs on the wharf not visited by a ton of tourist on Monterrey Bay and watching the otters play between the sailboats.
5) Slurping down a few Fanny Bay oysters at the Farmer's Market.
6) Visiting the gardens at Earth Bound
7) Takine long morning walks to hear the seals bark.
8) Listening to endless amounts of KPIG radio.

After 4 years in Las Vegas it is now a great pleasure to be wet and cold for days on end in July. It no longer depresses me to be covered in a thick fog and only see the sun shine for a few hours each day. I no longer miss my new home, but enjoy staying cozy in my RV keeping my son close by all the time.
I love the life Adrian has for one month. He has a fort, a sand pile and a tree he plays in with his friends for hours at a time. He sleeps in the tent with his best friend. He runs so much that his skinny jeans bag on him!
I have been accepted (at long last) by the riders, trainers and owners. I look forward to seeing them every year. And my friend Dion, who I spend hours with talking endlessly about our different religion philosphies trying to figure it all out and coming away fulfilled, but still perplexed!
I'm gonna miss life here next summer. It seems the US Open will be taking place at the Pebble Beach Golf Course and there isn't enough time to prepare for the show. We're looking at Oregon, Washington and Europe for next year's summer. I'm thankful that I have a business that allows for so much traveling! Otherwise I'd not be me.

Friday, July 17, 2009

Adrian's View on the deYoung Museum




If you look real hard you can see the Golden Gate Bridge on the far right hand upper corner.

Summer Time

Taking a ride on the Sea Turtle at the Institute of Science in San Fran.
Can you see the turtle under the gator's head?

Harry Potter at the base of the falls in the Redwood.
Big Sur.
"On the big rock candy mountain!"

Big Sur Bridge

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Writing in Sand

As mothers, how conscious are we of the effect we have on our children? Our life as a mother requires a constant awareness of how every word and every action we create is a moment our child may reflect on for the rest of their lives.
There is no stronger proof of this than reflecting on the history we share with our Moms. Is their anyone else that can disrupt our being more than our moms? And it is done so easily, maybe with a comment on the book we are reading, a remark regarding our favorite outfit, or criticism of our feelings. Not any other love one effects us the way our Mom does. Friends don't effect us this way. Moms say things to their children they would never say to a friend.
There are extreme cases of childhood abuse and of these I am not referring. But in the instance that we remember the words spoken or not spoken by our Moms, moment that we carry with us for a life time, we can ask ourselves "Did she really mean to have such a negative effect?" As moms we're not deliberately trying to hurt the ones we love the most.
I often think of my son grown. What will our relationship be? Will I proffer unsolicited advise? Or will I be able to stand by him with love and support and with no judgement on who he has become? Do I do that now?
I strive to always be open to feelings my child or a love one may have. I reflect on how I may contribute to their discomfort. But I will not try and change their feelings or who they are, cause only they can do that (perhaps that should be my mantra). And when I realize that maybe I didn't handle a situation in the best way, I will say "I'm sorry, I realize I played a part in this conflict."
Because a child and parent relationship is the longest we will have, they tend to be written in stone, to be less flexible than other relationships. That is why I find it so important to show my son that I can change. I don't have to respond a certain way every time. That I can be the best he needs me to be. We can write our story in sand.

Sunday, July 5, 2009

4th of July on Spanish Bay

This is our first week in Pebble Beach. The first week is a dressage show. Paul drove us here, set us up and then left us. He will take care of the the house, garden and taxes while we enjoy the Northern California beaches and hopefully put some money in the bank.
I aiming to understand the recent heartache and in between the sadness and the madness we have a little fun.