Pictures from a kid January 17, 2009

I like taking pictures, but I have to motivate myself to grab my camera before an outing or trip. Lately, I’ve had to motivate myself to do a lot of things that were previously effortless. I think the kid in me is giving up ever so slightly, but he’s not done yet. I still find myself gazing at red-colored sunrise skies dreaming of the eternal, or awe-struck by the sight of a butterfly (it’s brilliantly painted wings flashing in the mid-day sun), or moved by a passage of music that seems bent on revealing a mystery, but only points to new ones.

Now that I have that out of my system I can say that Amy and I are well, and we had marvelous adventures in Lakeport over Christmas, going to bed at 10:00 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, and a whirlwind trip to Florida to see family that felt strangely long but fast at the same time. I’ll let the pictures below tell the rest. Blessings, love, and cheers to you all!

You would smile too if a duck offered to take a picture of your family.

I am Sterling, I will look at you.

Just the three of us.

Oh, Mom, it's never too late for coffee and cigars!

Finally! May 19, 2008

When I was five, my mother sent my father to the humane society for a guard dog. My father returned with a pony. That was the beginning of a lifelong love of all things equine. When I left home for college, I left it behind, and it has taken me almost 20 years to recapture it. But finally….

This is “D”, my little quarter horse here in Santa Barbara. I don’t own her–just leasing, which means I pay a monthly fee for a portion of her boarding expenses, in exchange for a couple of days of riding a week. She may not be mine on paper, but in my heart she is. Maybe one day…

Frog Legs & Disco Balls May 6, 2008

On Sunday, Russ and I celebrated six years of wedded bliss…well, perhaps bliss is not a perfectly accurate word, but it’s certainly been more fun than not, and both of us are changed for the better so far…

We went to a lovely French restaurant in Thousand Oaks (thanks, mom!) and spent about 3 hours enjoying fine food and great conversation. Frog legs were on the menu, which I hadn’t eaten since my childhood, and Russ had never tasted. Of course, they tasted like chicken…but really good chicken nonetheless. About halfway through our meal I noticed a disco ball hanging from the ceiling. I was confused (and amused) by this decor choice, and wondered what its purpose might be…maybe the quaint country restaurant converted into a hip Parisian night club after hours? My question was answered when, as dessert was being served, our host (and owner of the cafe) announced ours and another couples’ anniversary, to the tune of Sinatra’s “Love & Marriage”, then proceeded to have us kiss for the crowd! Ah, the French…