5. Something You Have Done Spontaneously

A concert Kyle and I will never forget - resulting in this signature on Kyle's guitar. 
I have had some great times being spontaneous.  But I tend to be more of a planner.  This means that to me, something decided on a day or two in advance, still counts as being spontaneous. 
And that is what this next story is like. 
Kyle and I have both always loved the band The Wallflowers.  We both loved them before we knew each other.  Discovering we both liked them was one of the first things we realized we had in common.  I had seen them in concert many years ago.  They took a pretty long break and just recently have started recording together again.  One day, Kyle just happened to discover they were playing in San Francisco… the very next day.  On a work night.  Oh what to do?  This would mean getting off work early – getting home really late. Seriously, what to do?  Now remember I am a planner.  I like to think about things awhile.  But there was no time for that.  We both decided let’s just start with trying to get the time off work.  Once that was granted we reasoned on the fact that we are still young and should just do it.  And so we did.

The next day we got off work early and drove down to the city.  About a 2 hour drive.  Kyle brought his guitar to see if Jakob Dylan would sign it. We were the second people in line.  We wanted to be up by the stage.  On our way in they told Kyle he was going to have to check his guitar.  They even escorted him to coat check.  Long story short, including the fact that Kyle didn’t leave his guitar in coat check and the security guard saw this, Kyle was in the right place at the right time.  When Jakob Dylan entered Kyle was able to ask him to sign his guitar.  He said to give him a minute.  It felt like a million years waiting for him to come back.  Especially as the security guard was eyeing the situation.  He made Kyle check his guitar before Jakob Dylan came back out.  But then… they motioned Kyle to go back and get his guitar.  Jakob didn’t come back out to sign it but sent for it.  So the security guard took it back to be signed.  Kyle says of all the people who could sign his guitar, this is the one he would want. 

The concert was great.  We were so glad we took the opportunity to see our favorite band. 



4. My Favorite Season

My Favorite Season: Is rainy a season?  I guess that is cheating.  What if I only have one season I don’t really like but the rest are equal.  I guess that means I have to describe my feelings about each season.
Summer.  This is the season I don’t really like.  But for only one reason.  There are also wonderful things about this season but the heat clouds my mind to what those are.  Of course, if I lived in a different area that didn’t get as hot, maybe I wouldn’t feel so strong about Summer. Growing up, I didn’t live in an area that was super hot.  And growing up, Summer meant being out of school. Those memories give Summer a few points. 
Spring. In Spring it still rains, therefore I like Spring.  I also love watching the flowers bloom.  Not too cold, not too hot.  Generally a great season.

Winter.  I love visiting the snow.  I love when it rains where I live.  In my new house that is not insulated, the extra cold days and nights are a little strong.  Technically I think we are still in Winter right and we have been having sone incredibly warm days. Today however was a cold rainy day. It was lovely. Where I live Winter is all over the map.  The everyday mystery of what kind of Winter day it is going to be is part of the fun.
Autumn.  The leaves falling, the high temperatures also falling.  Beautiful days with chilly nights.  The desire to cook hot meals comes back.  The desire to bake delicious treats is raging. 
My favorite season?  I guess I haven’t figured it out yet.

You might notice that in this challenge I didn’t choose a lot of topics telling what my favorite _____ is.  This is because I think my favorites change on a daily basis.  They are just too hard to answer.  I tend to ramble on and on about the topic and never really answering the question. Have you noticed. 

3. A Picture That Makes Me Smile

A Picture That Makes Me Smile

I am assuming that I didn’t have to take the picture.  I figured that I should use the first picture that comes to mind. 
I can't help but smile when I see it.....

I first saw this picture on a coffee mug.  It was given as a gift to my mother in law.  I know it was purchased in Seattle, Washington.  While I was in Seattle, I looked everywhere for this mug.  I couldn't find it anywhere.  I found some cups and mugs with umbrellas in the wind on them which I didn't get because I was determined to find the one I really wanted.  This went as far as checking every single gift shop in the Seattle airport.  I kept seeing the other ones with the umbrellas but not the one I wanted.
I was running out of time as our plane was boarding within minutes.  I finally decided to get the cup with the umbrellas in the wind at the last gift store if they didn't have the one I wanted.  They didn't have the one I wanted, but this gift shop didn't have the umbrellas in the wind either.  Figures right.  The thought raced through my mind to go back to one of the first gift shops and get it but time was not on my side.   

I could look at this and feel regret for not getting the umbrella cup but instead I look at it this way: I know exactly what to get the next time I go to Seattle.  And I love Seattle so I will go again.  

Why does this picture make me smile when it has such a crazy back story? 

1. This is so me.  I am the one looking up in the rain, enjoying it while the others are protecting themselves from it. I don't think I need to elaborate any more on my love for the rain.

2. I love Seattle and now this picture reminds me of it. It reminds me of the search in the airport (I also love airports and do not visit them enough). 

So when I got home I looked up the picture online.  I still haven't acquired anything with the image on it.  But one of these days, I will find it.
And in the meantime, I was inspired to create the image below to tide me over.

2. What if...?

I often wonder what my life would be like if I never moved to Ukiah.  My life could be so different.  In Ukiah is where I met my husband.  I can’t imagine a better match for me than him.  I can’t image someone who I get along with as well as him.  Someone who makes me laugh no matter what mood I am in.  Someone who puts me first the way he does.  Someone who I want to spend most of my time with.  Someone who I can tell the stupid things I am feeling.  Someone who I can just be silent with.  The guy who was my best friend first.  I am thankful everyday that I moved to Ukiah and met Kyle.
Other things would be different in my life as well.  When I moved to Ukiah I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life.  But shortly after moving I found the job that I have now been at for almost 10 years. Of course there are times that the job drives me crazy but for the most part I have enjoyed my job.  I learned so much about photography there. Hands on training is the best.  I get to have fun and be creative.  If I hadn’t moved to Ukiah I might be stuck in a job that I hate like most people I know. For these main two reasons I am glad I moved to Ukiah when I did.