A happy Thanksgiving

Well, I did it. I hosted my very first Thanksgiving dinner. With the assistance of two of my female co-workers, we put together a meal complete with bird, homemade stuffing and gravy and several other yummy side dishes and hot spiced cider. We even stayed up until 2 a.m. the night before making pies. Thursday morning I got up and figured out how to roast the turkey...it was easier than I thought. People arrived at my house for dinner at about 1 p.m. There were six of us, all from the newsroom and all from the Midwest—except one who is from Hawaii.
We had a really great time, but the one thing missing was, of course, Rick. I missed him. But he'll be so impressed with my newly acquired turkey-making skills, I'm sure. He's scheduled to be here on Dec. 12, which is coming up quickly. I can hardly wait!
Initially I had been dreading this Thanksgiving, since I thought I'd probably be home alone, just petting the cat. But it turned out to be a really fun, festive day spent with new friends. And for that I'm thankful.

Oil spill

Just in case people were wondering, the oil spilled in the San Francisco Bay is not expected to reach the shores of Del Norte County. Our environmental reporter looked into it, and her source said that at most, we may find a few oily birds that flocked north to escape the toxic waters, but that they will likely be resilient birds and will do okay.
The whole thing is such a tragedy, and especially now that I know what plethora of wildlife actually live by the sea, it's even sadder. All the pictures of oil-slick sea birds, both dead and alive, just make me feel sick to my stomach. Luckily, our fair shores of (really far) Northern California will stay beautiful (see below) and be a welcoming place for the many marine lives that make it their home.

God's secrets

I was just reading my sister Stephanie's blog post about meandering. Basically, it was about the lost childhood art of wandering and not being guilted by distractions, about enjoying the "journey." Anyway, that was a very simplistic summation of her blog entry, which was prompted by one of her friends' blog entries. So it's like a chain, because it in turn prompted this entry.
Since I moved to California, I've discovered that lost art of wandering and meandering and "doing nothing" in between my "doing somethings." Maybe it's the new environment or maybe it's living alone. Either way, I've learned to be able to just sit and watch stuff. The ocean, birds, trees, rocks, animals...anything!
At first it was hard. I got easily bored. But after about five minutes of sitting and watching the ocean, you really start to *notice* things. At first, it's all the big picture, but then your mind starts to focus on bits and pieces that are more interesting—like groups of birds, sea lions, new plants and flowers, wave patterns, noises, all sorts of things. You start to see things that aren't easily noticable. That's when I feel special that I've noticed them, like God shared a secret with me.
Sometimes I go out to watch the sunset. People come out every night to watch the sunsets along Pebble Beach Drive, which is along the coast and near my house. They are mostly elderly people though. I suppose people begin to remember how to wander, meander and enjoy the journey again when they get older. Hopefully some of us won't wait that long.
(The photo doesn't really have that much to do with my post, but I thought it was beautiful, and it's one of my favorite spots, just minutes from Crescent City.)

Odds and ends

Things are busy as usual in the newspaper business—especially with our short staffing situation. We recently hired three new reporters though, and they begin on Monday! I'm pretty excited, since our two current reporters are having a tough time keeping up with everything. We also have another candidate arriving for the editor's position. Of course, I'm psyched about that, since I'm having a tough time keeping up too. I'm dreaming of 8-hour workdays...
Rick is definitely planning to return to Crescent City when he's done with school in December, and we're looking forward to continuing our Wild West experience. That also means that people have to come and visit us, since we'll be here longer! My publisher is trying to convince me to convince Rick that he should work as an ad salesperson here at the newspaper. (She *really* wants to make sure he gets a job out here right away so I don't leave.) He'll do what he wants, but it's a viable option nonetheless.
Speaking of Rick, he got tested for allergies the other day, and found out that he is certainly allergic to cats. Poor Weezie can't help herself though—she'll always be a cat. We agreed that we can't get rid of her. She's an important member of the Rico family! Rick also found out he's allergic to all kinds of other things too, which explains his recent misery. Poor guy. He was perscribed some meds, and I'm happy to report that he's doing much better now.
No new updates on the fall season here. Weather has been pleasant. Some rain and gorgeous sunshine. I think whale-watching "season" begins this month. I'll have to break out the binoculars.

The changing season

I know it's been a while since I last wrote, but I've been busy with work and relaxing every chance I get. Fall weather is just starting to roll in, and the breezes off the ocean are stronger and more brisk than they were just a couple of weeks ago.
I was actually dreading fall, since it's my favorite time of year in Michigan. I love the leaves, the cool air, the sunshine and all the annual activities that go along with this time of year. I wasn't (and still am not) exactly sure what to expect from fall here on the North Coast.
One thing I've noticed just this week is the vibrancy of the sunsets. They really have kicked it up a notch! They are the most beautiful sunsets I've ever seen—like an ever-changing Easter egg between 7 and 8 p.m. I haven't had the chance to really sit and observe the change in seabirds, but I'm looking forward to checking out any new activity...or lack of it.
This photo was captured shortly after the best part of the sunset, but it's still lovely. If I get a better one, I'll switch it out.

Filing a complaint

I can't be the only one who hates it when someone says, "You look tired." Unfortunately, I've been getting that more and more since I've been working longer hours. Just now, as I am ending my work day (which was shorter than usual, I might add) I was on the phone, and a woman said, "You sound tired." Gee, thanks. Maybe I just needed a drink of water or something. I don't feel that tired. Anyway...just a note: Don't tell someone they look tired unless you're trying to annoy them.

On another topic: Did anyone see the lunar eclipse the other night? It began at about 2 a.m. Tuesday morning here in California, so I guess it would have been pretty late/early Tuesday in Michigan. I stayed up to see the very beginning of it, but then I got really tired (and I probably even *looked* tired) and went to bed. I guess it was a sight to see though. The moon was incredibly bright that night. I pulled off to look at the ocean under that bright moonlight. Usually, the ocean and the sky above it is so dark (for obvious reasons), but not that night. It was a crystal clear, but I couldn't even see many stars because of the moon's brightness. It was cool.

Good times

After a whirlwind couple of weeks with my parents here to visit, I'm tired! We had a great time though, and a little tiredness is a small price to pay for a visit from the folks. Actually, I think I tired them out more than I tired myself out : ) We did *almost* everything on my long to-do list, and I think they had a good Northcoast experience.
Just a few of the highlights include: the ocean, redwoods, rivers, a jet boat tour of the Rogue River in Oregon, lighthouses, a picnic on a very scenic overlook, movies, games (Yahtzee and No-peek), sunsets, tidepooling, hikes, the Yurok Tribe's Klamath Salmon Festival, the harbor, seabird-watching, sea lions, a spectacular meteor shower, seafood, stone skipping on the Smith River, Trees of Mystery...and so on...
The photo is us at our picnic on the scenic overlook. I was on my lunch break from work, hence the work clothes.