California - A Year Of Edits

This year i have 5 days which i will take on a trip back home to California. I will fly out on Saturday and come home on a Wednesday. It's going to be just after my Dad's birthday and a welcome time away from IOWA. I've been gone since September of 2010, and this will be close to a year since i've been home. Wow!

It was nice to see my parents when they came out here in April, but them visiting and me going back to California are two different things. It's just missing that "homey-ness". I didn't get to see the siblings, or the dogs, i didn't get to have a beer with the friends, or even hug my grandparents.

My Cousin has had a baby and that is something that is exciting and new, and my brother & his wife are pregnant with child, so that is just adding to the newness of fresh family members. The family is growing and all with me out here in the midwest. Sometimes it feels so lonely, because i don't have the friendships that i have back in California. The pop culture out here does pop as fresh. Sometimes i think that adds to the stress of my relationship with SarahAcuff.

Plans are in the works either to start making the school thing happen, get property, & or plot out the next move. I'm hurriedly prepping my application for UNI, but there are things that may hold me back this semester. Like financing, and timing. I did get my Iowa Driver's License, however, and having that in my wallet makes me feel a little more like an Iowan, and a lot less like just someone passing by in the state.

There are things you miss: like Juice it Up, and choices. You miss the Mediterranean diet, and food that isn't steak and potatoes. I miss the camaraderie and family. I can now fully understand the Cheers song. The older one gets, however the more that friendships are strained; the more family is scattered. I wonder where i must go to cut out a piece of this land for me. to make my mark, kick up some dirt, shake the ground.

As far as sweets go, i like the candy that Halloween brings. It seems much more relevant during halloween, because you get to walk around in your costume to go gather it up.

I've never really been a fan of the cadbury eggs, but i do like the reese s pieces peanut butter chocolate eggs. Candy corn is gross, and so are a dozen other candies that come around in October ... but the king size butterfingers, the reese's pieces peanut butter cups, the hershey's kisses all sound off in a brilliant chocolaty yum!

Cadbury's Flake Easter Egg A Look At The Shell

i could give up easter candy. In fact, this year is the first year i didn't get a basket from the easter bunny (aka: m&d); we all didn't. This came with much protest from my 21 year old sister who says when she is a mom she will give her kids easter baskets until they die.

Easter, somehow has got this candy and egg theme going, which i think detracts from the sunrise service version where Jesus rose from the dead - a much more important motif. I understand, that there is a want to make things much more kid friendly.

@SarahAcuff was kind of upset with me yesterday because as we were decorating our eggs, she said i seemed detached. I wasn't as excited as say, when i was carving my pumpkin in October. Well, yes, that's probably true. I love carving pumpkins. The fall October time brings around a harvest and halloween element that makes this time a year much more crafty i think. The colors are more spooky, the horror factor is dialed up to 11.

I don't really think Easter competes with this, however. Easter has a certain yawning revelation to it. As if you have just seen the end of the world and then were saved by the credits. Easter Brunch, now that's something you can't give up. You've gotta sit and talk with family or friends while taking in some conversation and deviled eggs.

At present i am enjoying an Iowa Easter. Houston will search for eggs hidden with candy and money around the living room. He'll dive into his basket with an over joyous: "LOOK WHAT THE EASTER BUNNY BROUGHT ME!" We'll go to Church, have brunch with John and Julie, Alison and Grandma and Grandpa Wise. Read some scripture; and play some games.

Meanwhile, i'm missing the Ornelas' Easter in California. I'm missing the hugs and the coffee in the morning. I've wanted to body slam Max for quite some time now. I'm missing a healthy dose of the siblings, each bringing their own unique style and personality. I'm missing catching up with the Ramos'; and OH how i have wanted to see little Jeremy Michael Ramos.

Halloween is fun and frightening, but there is something that Easter morning brings that is totally different. I hope all of you have a wonderful Easter.