Fire Update

Just wanted to post a quick message to let everyone know we are okay. Luckily the fire that was miles away from our house is now under control and we were never in immediate danger. Everything does smell like one big campfire, though, and we were told to stay inside as much as possible until further notice as the air quality is horrible.

I have to laugh that I posted the message about the Santa Ana winds yesterday. By the time dinner rolled around, we had a major fire of our own nearby, fueled by these winds. Luckily, we have very little loss with our fire as compared to the area surrounding Malibu. I still like the Santa Ana winds. Just not the problems that come along with them.

"They're Here."

Lance woke me up early this morning after his walk with Sofi. All he said was "They're here." I thought in my sleepy state - Who's here? Aliens? The Mafia? The police? The cast from the Harry Potter movies? I mean - It was only 6 a.m. or so and for him to wake me up, it had to be someone special.

It turns out he was referring to the Santa Ana winds. This is our second year of experiencing the Santa Ana winds and I have to admit, I never cease to marvel at this geographic phenomenon. (Another name for them is the Chinook winds and I will never forget what these are because I missed this question in my US Geography class in college.) All of the pine needles from the tree outside of our fence are now are back porch and the cool breeze you expect to feel as you watch the leaves on the trees blow turns out to be quite hot instead.

Even though these winds can cause great destruction, as seen as the massive fire in Malibu this weekend, I feel they are, in a way, magical. Like, as Jack Black says in the movie "The Holiday," anything can happen when they blow. What an amazing world we live in. I knew I majored in Geography for a reason.

Carpooling

WARNING: THIS IS A FUNNY COMMENTARY ON OUR MARRIAGE. NOT YOUR USUAL "WHAT WE ARE UP TO" POSTING. HOPE YOU ENJOY!

We decided early on in our marriage that Lance would be in charge of anything relating to the cars. This includes maintenance, tab renewals, car washes--you name it. Occassionally, I will fill up the car with gas, but that is pretty much where my role ends. I also discovered early on that waiting until the last minute to do things is just part of who Lance is. ( I must admit I procrastinate a bit myself...but only with certain things like sending birthday gifts or doing homework.) He will always get things done...just on his own timetable.

With these two facts revealed, you can now guess why my Rav4 is sitting in the garage, waiting for the '08 tabs to be delivered and we are forced to carpool to work every day. Lance gets to hear me kindly "urging" him to hurry up while he gets ready every morning, listen to my grouchy comments at the radio annoucers and put up with my not so chipper attitude about his choice of conversation on the way to work. I think next year we will have our new license tabs well before they expire. Lance will remember this week and be sure of that.

To his credit, he usually just chuckles at my comments and thinks my "I wish we didn't have to carpool, don't talk to me before 9 a.m., I hate mornings" attitude is cute. I think one of the most amazing things about our relationship is no matter how flawed we are as people, we have the ability to look past those flaws and see the good in each other. And laugh and tease each other about our silly mannerisms. Maybe that is what love is. Whatever it is, I can't WAIT until I can drive myself to work. Less stressful (and peaceful) for all involved.

One of Our Favorite Things

Seeing as we haven't had a proper date for weeks, we decided to try to have an official one this afternoon. (Sorry Lance, but staying at home to order pizza and watch football or a DVD is NOT a real date. ) We started out by going to Tom's (my older, charming brother's) favorite restaurant - The Soup Plantation. We snuck in there at 3:55 p.m. so we could still qualify for the lunch discount price but still be able to take advantage of the dinner menu that starts at 4:00 p.m. Sneaky and frugal. That's us.

Anyway, our second destination was to be the local dollar theater so we could watch Hairspray. I wasn't too fond of the original one, but for $1.00 per ticket, I could suffer through it. However, my stomach wasn't feeling so well after our salad (or in Lance's case - pasta and baked goods) gorgefest so we decided to just drive around in the rain for a bit.

I have to say, this was much better than a movie. AND we saved two whole bucks. We talked and laughed about lots of things and listened to our iPod. We decided that car trips that involve listening to (and often singing along with) Katie Melua, Norah Jones, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, John Williams, the MoTab, The Fray, whatever 80's band that Lance has liked and Nickelback are one of our favorite ways to spend time together. (SIDENOTE: You KNOW our kids are going to think their parents are so cool with the types of music we enjoy. :-) )

I am now happily doing my homework, grateful that Steve Jobs invented the iPod. And that Lance is good about downloading music that not only he likes, but songs I like as well. All I want to do now is freeze frame this moment in my memory forever.

Because sometimes someone can say it better

My good friend Lisa and her husband just adopted a baby boy after a VERY, VERY long and difficult struggle with infertility. Their situation gives a whole new meaning to suffering (in my opinion.) She sent us an invitation to a "welcome baby" shower and the following poem was included on the invite.

We prayed and prayed for a baby to love.

We looked for answers from God above.

As time went by our hearts seemed to break.

Was our faith being tested, how long must we wait?

Please listen my child, your prayers I hear.

I have a plan, put aside your fear.

From the begining it was meant to be.

This precious baby is your gift from me.

So open your arms and dry your tears,

I give you this child the rest of your years.

Author of this poem is unknown but I must say thank you. Thank you for penning words the fill so many couples hearts who struggle with infertility. Thank you for reminding us that there is hope. Yes, sometimes someone can say it better.

In over our heads

I am happy to say I just finished my first grad school assignment. Have you ever had the feeling that you are the dumbest person in a room? Or a gut instinct that whispers "what have you gotten yourself into?" Well, I have had both of these feelings..A LOT...this week. Oh well - I guess that means I have a lot to learn from my fellow co-hort members! I am not trying to be the top of the class, that is for sure. Passing would be the best gift EVER. I am hoping it will get easier over time.

Funny side note: Sofi discovered how to open her doggie treat cupboard yesterday. I came home from dinner to find she had eaten four "greenies" dog bones and a good portion of her milkbones. She was lying on her side, whining a little when I walked into the kitchen. I guess her stomach was a little queasy. She made multiple trips outside in the middle of the night to relieve this queasiness. I should have taken a picture of our little glutton. It was a sight to behold and I couldn't help but laugh as she looked up at me with her "I don't feel so good" eyes. Serves you right, Miss Naughty!

And then there were six....

Welcome Neil William Anderson!

The Smemoe clan seems to be averaging at least 1 if not more babies per year. We are happy to announce that Lance's sister and brother-in-law welcomed their third son to the world on Friday, August 17th. Lisa and baby Neil are both healthy and happy and we now have a total of four nieces, six nephews and one great niece to claim as part of our extended family. And I am sure the family will continue to grow.