A day in the life.

If I have to resign myself to working 7 days a week again, at least I can enjoy patio season with the best of them. Sure, I'm not one of the halter-clad-big-glass-wearing-cocktail-drinking-minxes, with my legs stretched out in the patches of sun poking through the yellow and white awnings, but I'm still there, breathing in the herbs crowding our little window-box garden, and soaking in the tulip colors of a Salt Lake City Spring.

Honestly, there is nothing prettier than an unexpected bloom, when your tables are sucking down iced tea like schools of fat, slippery fish.

Commonality, we call it. It's a place where needy, pompous restaurant guests and over-worked, bitchy servers can all find some middle ground. We all adore the flowers. And we all smile at the breeze, even when it blows coarsely ground pepper flakes into our eyes over a spinach salad.

When I'm not working, I'm obviously outside playing some sport or being active in some capacity. This year hasn't been quite as adventurous (yet). I had a profound realization just the other day as I ditched a soccer game and sat contentedly in my car in a grocery store parking lot, eating a Mediterranean olive mix, while blaring music with my moonroof open. It occurred to me that I'm lazy and whimsical, opting for leisure at any chance I get this year. It's depressing. I'd much rather be the hiking, biking, blading, wading girl that I was last year.

It'll come. Right? As long as these blasted clouds stop rolling in and looming on the horizon. I mean, impending thunderstorms make for spectacular camera ops, but there comes a day in every persons life when they'd like to feel a bit less like Eyore and more like Tigger. And I hate Winnie the Pooh, but sometimes if a reference works, a reference works. Who DOESN'T want to have boundless energy, bouncing of the walls and feigning ignorance to life's woes?! And it's a tiger, even if it's a trivial one, for godssakes. Yep, I want to be Tigger. Just for today.

But if there's one thing we know about Christie, it's that gardening makes me happy. So, there I was, at Wasatch Gardens, loading up my new (used) red Mazda hatchback with supplies. Upon sending the picture above to Julie, via iPhone, she replies, "Ok, hipster, I only want to vomit a little." My conventional Utahn sister will never understand...

Quirky or not, I am who I am. I once had a boyfriend who referred to me as a sun-goddess. Much more flattering than a hipster dufus, it kindof stuck. Not that I think I'm necessarily goddess material, but I do worship the sun, like any strawberry, freckled, desert girl probably shouldn't.

But when the sun loves you, it loves you and there's a lot to be said for mutual affection.

So whether or not I'm a lazy SOB, I at least drag my arse away from potato chips and over-stuffed couches long enough to spend the extended hours of daytime frolicking at the park.

Topaz, for one, couldn't be happier. That little girl is a climbing machine. I think it's because Spiderman is her alter-ego.

Post-park, we make faces as a mockery of the fun we just had. This is the point where Topaz is so tired and delirious that she's a snap second from hysterical laughter and an onslaught of tears at any given moment.

I, on the other hand, have just realized that nobody thinks I'm a sun-goddess anymore and that if I'm to be worshiped ever again as such, I must work on my powers of seduction.

Then suddenly, I no longer care and just lay back in the sun like it's the only place in the world I want to be anyway.

That is, until Friday nights when the sun goes down and it's time to dance amid strobe-lights and misters.

But the party-girl in me will always kick off those heels and wipe away that body shimmer early Saturday morning for a walk among the blossoms with my dog. It's the story of my life: no my feet don't hurt, no my head isn't still pounding and yes I can function like a normal person.

Sometimes, domesticity is all we have. Me, Topaz and the animals that cohabit this space, it's not a bad gig. And Max is pretty much the most adorable feline who ever adopted a laundry basket as his own.

But we all know that alllllll work and no play would make for a very, very sad Christie. Luckily, there are flowers and sunshine and animals and...

Topaz. I heart Earth.

Creatures great and small

Wellsville is such a vast sprawl to find oneself lost in. It's a picture of grasses and valley, framed only by mountain and sky. Mountains alone can make a person feel small. And when they take your breath away, standing on their summit, they alone make you feel like you could conquer the world.

But I don't really want to rule the Earth. Not really. I want to visit barnyards and cow-pastures for Easter, and relish the Springtime when animal babies are sweetening life just that much more.

That small degree, a centimeter really, of measurement, where fuzzy innocent against your cheekbone can flutter your senses and make you feel like the world is a decent place. You can't NOT smile when holding a tiny bunny.

You can't NOT squeal at the sight of a miniature, miniscule turtle---so small and darty that if dropped on the ground, it MUST be chased!

If I could steal that teeny little turtle, I think my life would be complete. I'd hold it forever and poke at it for hours in endless, simplistic-minded fun.

Really though, Baby Animal Days in the Northern Hemisphere of this grand old pioneer conquered state has become a tradition in the 5 short years that Topaz has been on this planet. It's fun for me, it's fun for her, which is essentially what I chalk up to a win/win situation. It's nice to have that in common---our love of animals. While my passionate protection of things great and small may outweigh that of my kidlet's, it's only a matter of time before she becomes a marine biologist, or a starving student of Veterinary Medicine, or something equally convicted and scientifically educated. Right? Ok, so perhaps I'm projecting. I'd be happy if Topaz grew up to be a finance analyst at some boring, pretentious firm, just so long as she adopted the occasional senior golden retriever or 5-toed kitten. Ahhh, to be a dreaming, conniving mother---it's certainly an amusing pass-time...

The Game of Life

The one thing we know for certain is that all good things must come to an end. This was true of the lengthy stint of Vet Teching, which finally bowed its ugly head and lent way to more adventurous opportunities.

However, I did relish those moments bonding with the multitude of creatures I came into contact with. Hours of tears, sweat and blood now haunt my memories. But there were also many kittens purring, tail wags and furry snuggles. I'll take that with me too. And everything else I learned along the way.

As for my blog, the lapse can be attributed to those very shifting sands. If you asked what I've been doing the past 12 months, I could chalk it up to the life of a working mom. Like everyone else probably, I clock in, clock out, then eat fries at a bowling alley with my kid or watch enough movies in 3D to build a fortress out of recycled plastic eye-wear.

I meet the new people that come into my world---some in apathetic recognition, others, more profound, in the shape of baby nephews named Colby.

Still others, who use all your coffee cups and talk to you at night about the men we're seeing. I now have 2 roommates, Lauren and Aiste. I never thought I'd revert back to this college-like stage in my life, but there are definitely times when it's nice. Despite the small disputes over dog hair and rent checks, at the end of the day it's comforting coming across that smiling face, ever-ready glass of wine and lotion-scented female perspective.

And let's be honest, sometimes at midnight, you NEED someone sitting across the couch from you, ready to reassure that everything is going to be ok. Because I can think of the dozens of times I've loved and lost, and loved again, and lost, but when I dust off my kicks, the girls are still there. This has been the year of 2 guys who should probably date a more simplistic creature. One of them will pull away forever while the other will forever chase. Isn't that the way it always goes?

So instead I'll play. I'll play like I'm a young uninhibited free-spirit, dancing in the rain with my friends like I've always done.

...and I'll continue to make the world my playground, like I'm always doing. I've met sooooo many amazing people in such a short amount of time and I like to collect them, like dimes, a friend amalgam for each jar on my shelf.

In this ever-evolving walk we call life, I can happily say that I'm still smiling,

and still ever-ready to do a cartwheel in the grass at a moment's notice. For now, there's not much more I could ask for.

Love is in the air...

A whole week dedicated to my gorgeous girlfriend, Amanda. Her fiance, Leo, made her an honest woman on June 17th, 2010. They are an adorable couple and I had a great time helping them get ready for the wedding.

First, we went to a park, post-bridal-shower. It was a mental health break, since everyone had reached the end of their ropes with family and home-baked brownies. Topie loves Amanda and spent the evening vying for attention.

You've gotta love this girl...

And this girl.

THIS girl had a few too many brews at the bachelorette party. Bah, the details aren't important!

Sir Brandon made a fashionable appearance. He is so much fun!

Amanda is pretty entertaining herself. We gave her a black boa for her last night of singledom. It looked smashing on her.

In this photo, my friend Lexi is leaning in on the right. She works with us at AVC and she's a fabulous veterinary technician. We walked about 100 blocks together to get to the sushi bar. I like to think of it as an incredible journey.

I love how expressions become a little more sloppy as the night progresses. Translation: we're having a good time.

Once all the debauchery was out of our systems, the big day finally came.

This sweet little boy's mom was busy curling Amanda's hair. It was the least I could do to flirt with him ;)

We had great company for this event. Good food, good friends, good times.

Some dancing was definitely in order. Look how big Kyle's hands and feet are next to mine---I love being small next to somebody.

You've gotta love a bride with spunk!

Although, I'm surprised that my feisty, edgy friend agreed not to smash cake into her hubby's face. Disappointing, for sure.

Ahhhh, Lexi...

Lexi aside, here we have Emily on my left and "V" on the far right---two other girls from AVC.

I've decided that weddings at golf courses are beautiful.

But seriously, how many times do you let gay men catch the bouquet? I'm thrilled to know that it will be easier for someone to get married for whom it's illegal in the majority of the states than for me. It should be a crime NOT to marry me ;)

No really, look how much fun I'm having. Who needs a ball and chain?

Not me...



Anyway, congrats to Amanda and Leo. They are so in love, I'm truly happy for them.

If it's not a picnic, make it one!

Another summer, another day at Liberty Park. Actually, I'm there at least 3 afternoons a week. I run, I roller-blade with Colleena, I kick around soccer balls---you name it, I do it. This was Topie's time though and we spent awhile watching baby ducks and snacking on peanuts. FYI, I love the South Beach diet mix because it has so many macadamia nuts. Mmmmmm.

That which doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

In my delayed blogging, I've not stopped exploring my immediate world, trying always to live life to its fullest. I can honestly say, I NEVER watch TV. Currently, I'm combining a desire to become an adrenaline junkie with my old ponderous past. That's right---I like to play outdoors, but catch a moment on a warm rock in the sun whenever I can. Anyway, I love this little plaque en route to Lake Blanche. Please pause and appreciate :)

Anyway, this is my newest pal Colleena. She's from New York. In her spare time, she enjoys picking fights with roller-bladers in Liberty Park and convincing me to buy a road-bike. She's my perfect outdoor companion!

Here I am smiling despite having just climbed to the highest peak this little asthmatic could handle. There was sweat. There was blood. Well, maybe not blood, but my feet were soaked and caked with mud. Can't you see why I love hiking?!

Views like this make it alllllllllll worth it.

We probably sat on that rock for an hour---eating egg salad sandwiches (my specialty), planning kayaking trips and talking about coworkers. It was pretty peaceful, if you ask me.

And that's my last shot of the day before running back down the mountain. I heart earth.