The tale of River Wolf.

Hiyo!! Based on my last post, you probably can guess that my expectations were quite high for River Wolf and our giving of thanks with this Weir family legend. Let me just say that in NO way was I disappointed and all expectations were wildly exceeded. I sure hope the same goes for you!

Here is the sweet thing herself:

The first thing I need to make absolutely clear is that I agree with virtually nothing that River Wolf says and believes. And I have no doubt that you will be on my team on that. BUT I also need to make sure you understand that this woman is the most loving, welcoming, and sincere lady I've met in a long time... and LOVES to share life and her beliefs with others, and much of the way she lives her life is admirable to me. She loves others unconditionally, forgives readily, gives thanks continually, and is eagerto serve and connect with those around her. The way she arrives at these practices is quite strange, but all in all... her lifestyle is reminiscent of how I feel called to live as a Christian.

You should also keep in mind that the crazy didn't stop. It was about 30 hours straight of nodding and smiling, secret glancing and "oh my gosh"ing, incense headach-ing and treasure hunting, fairy and vibration/energy discussing, question asking and "uh huh"ing, watching and admiring, listening and inwardly giggling... by the end, I was ready for a grown-up conversation.

Anyway. On to the good stuff.

River Wolf's real name is up for debate, it turns out. Legally, it's most likely Diane Weir. At least, that's what she was born as. However, in the time that Leslie has known her, she has taken creative license and has gone from Diane to River Wolf to Michelle to Mari. Mari is the most recent addition to her name repertoire and is what I shall refer to her as from here on out in this tale. I think that name is about 4 years or so old...? A few people we met still called her "Michelle" and we called her "Aunt Diane" but I don't want to make your head spin too badly...

Now, here's the setting:

Mari lives in a gypsy commune, essentially. It's in the backwoods of Northern CA, far beyond the county road line, and tucked away in a stunning gorge. As pretty as it is, if you wanted to murder someone, you'd go here to do it. It's a grouping of trailers, which all have a lot of land and access to the Trinity river in walking distance. We were informed that the lightly-trodden paths to the river were forged by pot growers, seeking water for their thirsty plants.

Upon arrival, we get the grand tour of the house and garden. I am really not exaggerating when I say that every single inch of space of her house and yard is occupied by some sort of meaningful trinket. These came in a array of shapes and sizes. One glance in any direction will immediately confront you with multiples of: garden gnomes, hand-painted rocks and rock formations, glass butterflies, statues of various gods and goddesses, stone sculptures, healing crystals, strategically placed drift wood, compelling arrangements of herbs and flowers, framed descriptions of healing essential oils, cd's hanging from trees, wind chimes, tapestries, fairy wings, candles o' plenty, old pictures, quotes of widsom, hand-made teepee with a red ball cap entitled "hank" on top as her guardian, feral (and sweet) community dogs running around, animal skin blankets and wall art, native american drums, bead curtains -- all the while, your ears are assailed with the ancient chantings of an unknown time, taken from sanskrit, and called "karitans" (i have no idea if that is actually how you spell that). Here are a few pictures. Zoom in and treasure hunt for yourself.

There were several fairly poignant moments with Mari that need to be explained.

The first is the inner vortex:

We went on a "hike" with Mari down to the river with our favorite community dog named Zucchini. On the way, we stopped at a small clearing about 100 yards from her house, and in the center of the clearing was a small mound of earth with a broken down rocking chair in the center. We walk up to the walking chair and Mari begins her explanation. The chair was placed there many years ago and marks the center of an extraordinary event inthe natural world. On the full and new moons, the space with the rocking chair opens up into an inner vortex. In case you aren't aware, according to Mari, we live in the 3rd dimension of the universe. There are 7 (i think? maybe 9) dimensions in the universe and from time to time, the beings of the various dimensions can interact with one another. The inner vortex is one of these times. At the full and new moon, faeries (the 2nd dimension) and big foot (the 4th dimension) can be glimpsed by the rocking chair... So.... we clarified what this all boils down to... and that is that River Wolf has seen Big Foot and, we would come to find out, has quite the extensive relationship with faeries. Here it is!

[nodding and smiling]

In the evening, Mari had a radio program that she was desperate for us to listen to. It's called "Coast to Coast." It reports things that "they" don't want us to hear about and it touches on the areas of life that we are "lied to" about in the media.... So we laid down in a twin bed. All three of us. With the lights out. And one candle lit. Looking up at a ceiling tapestry. And listened to a radio program about UFO sightings and ETs disassembling atomic bombs in the 1960's so that we humans stop blowing one other up and live in harmony so that we can ascend to the next dimension in 2012, when the world ends.

So. There was that.

Our Thanksgiving dinner was actually relatively normal... as we ate at a restaurant with one of Mari's good friends in the area, and they had a bazillion vegetarian options so I was in heaven, of course. Although I pretty much just ate my weight in mashed potatoes. The 75-pound, 3 foot thick buffalo thigh was a bit off-putting, but apparently well seasoned and quite tasty? I actually do love bison. Just don't really love seeing it in its natural shape.

In the morning, Mari likes to listen to the karitans that I mentioned, because it sends out good energy into the earth and "eases the faeries." Naturally, we had to do that. I'm not sure what an uneasy faery is like... but I prefer not to find out.

For income, Mari teaches yoga (no shocker), and house sits for this rich lady who has probably the coolest house in the world. It's wooden and weird and has rooms off to the side everywhere with windows galore, a massive garden, and a rope swing. OH and the 4 most adorable animals in existence. We spent the Friday after thanksgiving hanging out there, playing with our new weiner dog friend "Rodney" and watching yet another program on why we are here, UFOs and 2012, and we learned all kinds of interesting things that some hypnotherapist lady found out from her clients when they were unconscious. There was talk of the gnostic gospels, dead sea scrolls, pistis sofia, energies, vibrations, dimensions, frequencies, all becoming one... and the all-important fact that we were seeded here by aliens to accomplish certain missions on earth. I am part of the "3rd wave" seed and I'm supposed to bring peace and love to all people so that we can move on into the "new earth" in 2012 when the earth splits in 2 - old and new - and apparently we want to be on new. The best part of the day was our new animals friends. Here I am surrounded and here is my new best friend Rodney. I LOVE HIM.

In Mari's own words... the whole experience was "trippy." I felt like I was in an alternate universe for 2 days and Leslie and I used our horribly long and painful drive back to Medford as the time to debrief and come back to reality.

The trip to crazytown was well worth it, I'd say! I decided that she is a mixture of my sweet friend Becky Esch and Ashley Curl -- after they'd smoked peyote for 10 years. Becks and Ash, please don't. :)

may the faeries be with you.

~S

I knew this would happen...

... blogging laziness.

[sigh]

But since quite a few of you claim to be "withdrawing" from the drug of tester-ly distraction, here are some new tidbits from our small-town west coast livin'. Also. In my defense... I've been sick for almost a week. And no, I didn't get my flu shot.

Things have been running pretty smoothly around here! We are about half-way done with our Medford placement. Hmm "our"? I guess really, it's Leslie's placement. My new city fix... or something like that. I think I even once referred to it as "our job" -- thank you Ryan for pointing out that technicality. We're already discussing the big "what's next" question... more to come on that as it all unfolds.

NOW about my job:

I'm babysitting for 2 little girls, 4 days a week. Ages = almost 3 and 4.5 (NOT to be confused with plain ol' 2 and 4 for those of you who are not in the complex toddler-age world). Here are some highlights so far from my day job:

1. The youngest has developmental delays and is learning sign language. Which is actually really cool and I'm totally for youngin's learning multiple ways to communicate regardless of their capabilities. Anyway. So, she has these videos called "Signing Time" that we watch every. single. day. It is totally fun to learn the sign for "friend" and "helicopter" and "snow" (we got some today!!) and "daughter" etc. etc. but what isn't so totally fun is hearing the introductory song 5 times a day. Look. Striped shirt singer lady. I KNOW "it's signing time with Alex and Leah." IT ALWAYS IS.

2. Toddler quotes. "Stacey, are you old enough to break?" --- "No sis! Don't put the Jenga block in your vagina!" --- "Aubrynn, can you please make sure Karissa doesn't put her poopy bottom on the carpet while Stacey goes to get some more wipes??? Just hold her legs up. There you go. Prop it up on a few diapers if your arms get tired." (okay that one was mine.)

Hm. So I'm a little rusty with the diaper situation. All the more reason to go see the sweetest thing in the whole world, Naomi, in the near future. But if you're not too grossed out, I am done with diaper time, and please continue reading on other topics:

Good news! We found some diversity in Medford!!!! I don't know if you know this, but there are approximately 8 African Americans in this town... at least that we've seen. It's very off-putting. We did find some Latinos though, at a church whose opening song was "God bless America" as a great big American flag waved up on stage and the pastor thanked God that we (no joke) live in "the greatest country in the world." Maybe you also think that... but that nation-centric attitude doesn't sit well with me soooo despite the refreshing presence of non-white Oregonians, we did not go back there.

In the past few weekends, Lez and I have journeyed to the Redwood National Forest in CA. So beautiful and surreal. Here's a photo.

and went to Crater Lake... which is supposedly a dormant volcano, that after eruption some amount of time ago (?), collapsed on itself and is the deepest lake in the USA. Also, supposedly incredibly clear since the water is all glacial and snow run-off, BUT there was a snowstorm and we couldn't see the lake. Here's a photo of our marvelous view. We actually had a lot of fun playing in the snow, though, and I did decide that along with Glacier National Park, Crater Lake IS a place I must go back to in summer months.

This weekend, we are heading down to Weaverville, CA where Leslie's Aunt Diane lives.

and

I AM SO EXCITED TO MEET HER. Here's a taste of why!

Rumor has it:

She was a medicine woman in a Native American tribe, with the tribal name of River Wolf. Also, She found the portal to Middle Earth in a redwood tree and thinks Leslie was an elf on another vibration.

So, Thanksgiving surely won't be boring. I'm really hoping to dedicate an entire blog to River Wolf.

Last piece of news: I will be in NC from December 23-January 2 which means a RVA and (hopefully) ATL visit! WOOOOT!

loveydove.

~S

Jill of all Trades?

Folks! I'm back on the Rent-A-Center couch with my Richmond coffee and strange layering choices to ward off the chilly morning. Life is just sorta funny. Sometimes very. Listen to my week's highlights and I dare you to disagree:

+ I got a job! I am nannying for 2 precious little girls 4 days a week, about 20 hours total, 10 mins from my house. It's so perfect and I'm so so thankful for the blessing of it. So!

+ Leslie and I are continuing with our climbing escapades. We now belong to Rogue Rock gym, and now own equipment (minus a harness for me -- refer back to the no job thing). I gotta say... I feel pretttttty cool with my own climbing gear and can't wait to get all jacked up and whatnot. I've always been pint sized so maybe I'll get beefy and see if I can dominate those of you who have underestimated my scrappiness all these years.

- I ate beef. Why in the world did I think that was a good idea? For those of you who don't know, I was vegetarian for a year and very seldomly eat meat now... I'm a "high maintenance carnivore" or maybe "extremely selective/occasional meat eater" or maybe best - "vegetarian except when I don't wanna be." Either way - I bought some local beef. I cooked it. Ate it. Then died. For a few days. Saltines became my friends and I had a DTR with my stomach and we decided to not go there again.

+ As I said before, I love Craigslist. I especially love the "gigs" portion of Craigslist and somehow finagled a modeling job out of it this week with a local photographer, for an online Vintage store. Now, listen. Before you let your mind go any further with this... let's go back to college for a moment. Back to Kelli King and Facebook groups. Back to one particular group that was created to highlight how non-photogenic I can be ("Stacey Tester: so attractive yet photogenically incomprehensible"). As a fairly self-confident woman, I have NO problem saying this: I take some hideous pictures if I'm not careful. It's actually one of my favorite things about myself... so the fact that I am actually getting paid (sorta) for someone to take my picture might be one of the most ironic situations I've gotten myself into thus far.

But, alas, the irony continues:

- I agreed to do a photoshoot this week called "Trash the Dress" -- dress, like... wedding dress. And then. Disaster. The day before I'm supposed to do this... Leslie cooks that leftover death meat, the broiler starts smoking, and I go to open a window. I pull down on the blinds, hear a crashing sound, and feel something warm dripping down my nose. The blinds came off their hinges, pummeled down towards my face, and left a gaping wound right on the bridge of my nose. AWESOME. I think my email went something like this: "I was attacked by some window blinds. Don't think you wanted a trashed dress AND face. So next week if I'm healed?"

Moral of the story - beef killed me twice this week.

Moving on....

- Cooking dilemmas. I made sweet potato pie, which took me a good 3 hours. And here's why:Started off just fine! Peeled. Chopped. Notice Thomas Kemper Ginger Ale in the background.... Mackenzie Mumey, that's for you.

Realization 1 - I don't have a steamer. I didn't want to boil. Solution 1 - Collander. Propped up by 2 measuring cups so the potatoes didn't get soaked.

Realization 2 - Have to cover the collander and trap in the steam. Solution 2 - 3 pots. 1 lid. 1 pan. 30 minutes to steam. Can't say minimalism doesn't breed creativity.

OH, and here was my problem, and here is my face (before the swelling and bruising set in):

This weekend - we go to California and the Redwood National Forest! I'm stoked. But probably not as much as Lez, who has a serious tree obsession.

Love to all and I'd love some phone dates to connect our hearts. PEACE.

Journeyed to the Center of the Rogue Valley

Figured it was time for a new post. So I'm sitting at our Rent-A-Center table, drinking some Richmond coffee, listening to Local Natives, and contemplating our first 2 weeks in Medford.

Well, Medford is definitely no pacific northwest town in a lot of ways... the first main way being, of course, that it's almost in California. We are nestled in the southern Oregon wine country, surrounded by orchards and mountains, which catch some beautiful cloud developments and double rainbows! Definitely not lacking for beauty around here, but also not lacking the rain that you would expect out here. Which, superficially I don't mind because it helps my hair curl, nor emotionally, because I can sit on our big porch, watch the rain, drink some tea, and channel some "Ashley Curl" for some interpretive dancing to my favorite spirituals. Uptown girls know what I'm talking about :)

I've explored the city and surrounding areas quite a bit, and here are a few snapshots of our lovely scenery:

Now, as for the day-to-day setting:

Leslie works. She rehabs and lifts (mostly) sweet old folks at a nursing home all day and occasionally gets the inappropriate pick-up line that is immediately texted to me back at home. She's doing great as the breadwinner and keeping the ship a-sail out here.

I, on the other hand, have busied myself with the following activities so far:

- Broadening my culinary reach through "The Pioneer woman" and "The Barefoot Contessa" as well as haunting some local food hot-spots, like the farmer's market, the Ashland Co-Op (which is where I am basically begging to work), and occasionally stupid Safeway when I need that one ingredient I forgot.

- Throwing goldfish crackers in a ziplock baggie for Leslie's lunch, kissing her on the cheek (in my mind) with a "have a good day sweetie" to get her on her way in the morning.

- Obsessing over which climbing shoes are going to be best for our newly established rock climbing hobby... I have my father's genes when it comes to chronically researching products.

- Nursing rock wall wounds such as: achey forearms, achey shoulders, achey quads, achey toes, okay just achey body everywhere.

- Craigslist-ing like its my job... so I can find a job. I have emailed randos for the following "gigs" so far: Doing a teenage boy's Zombie makeup for halloween. Moving a lady out of her house (she called back and said, "You were the only girl to respond to my ad. So I had to call and tell you that you must think you're incredibly buff." I said, "Oh I'm tiny. But I'm willing."). Babysitting/Nannying. And I even posted my own ad about being a personal grocery shopper/nutrition consultant.

- Reading a lot. And contemplating: The concept of "home." Grad school options. Intentional communities. New monasticism. Why I'm on this adventure. Glorifying God where I am: right now. Wanderlust vs. community immersion. Relationships thriving. Relationships lost. Desires. Humility. Sacrifice. Thankfulness. [I have a lot of alone time]

- Sweating over my halloween costume. I really wanted to be a character from Arrested Development. I know, I know. The show's been off forever and it's "sooooo mainstream" now. But whatever. I love it and considered the options of: 1 - Tobias. But I'm not gonna "blue myself" and wear only cut-off jorts. 2 - Lucille. But I don't have a Chanel suit or a mainline of vodka. 3 - Lucille 2. But I think my hair is too long to make her characteristic "points." 4 - Lindsey bluth. But a shirt that says "slut?" really??? probably not. 5 - Rita (aka - charlize theron). But then I'd be technically going as a mentally retarded female and that's just a bit offensive. 5 - Marta. but it's just too generic. And there were 2 of them.

hm.

so I'm going with the partial peacock costume I got at this sweet vintage store around here. Except that I have to make my feather tail, which is no small feat. We're heading up to Portland tomorrow... where we'll hopefully see Ben Lambeth and head out to a party with our friend (and maybe yours), B. Cole.

That is all for now. Because that is a lot. And Mandy Moore's "Candy" just came on my itunes and that is just not acceptable at the moment.

Love and love and love.

~slt

Daily Lamentation.

When Oregonians say "Intermediate Salsa Class," they really mean "No Deodorant Party."

I mean, it was so bad that I even ran into the bathroom to check that it wasn't me, and the real irony of the situation is that the following are samples of directives actually listed as "dance etiquette" on the studio's website:

Shower the day of the dance or lesson, a shower or bath is a requirement.

Wear deodorant if you are going to a dance and or lesson, deodorant is a must. It is a good idea to carry deodorant in the glove compartment of your car or your dance bag.

Colognes and perfumes are often times very nice and attractive and if you like wearing these please do so.

If you are the type that perspires a lot while dancing a good thing to do is bring a "Clean" hand towel with you to wipe the perspiration off in between dances

Women should wear Brassieres and if wearing a Skirt or Dress that may fly up on spins or turns, undergarments are a must with the undergarments on the outside of the panty hose if panty-hose are worn.

And that is just a sampling. Other important issues touched: Apologizing on the dance floor, correcting others, "over-asking," sneaking in to a club, drunken dancing, and carpooling.

I had no idea that people had to be told to be clothed, hygienic and decent human beings. But based on last night, they should hand out hard copies of the etiquette guidelines before/after each class, and read them aloud together.

The Book Burning.

I didn't include this in my last post... mostly because it deserves one all to itself.

On our way from Seattle to Portland, we stopped in the logging capital of the world... a sleepy, quaint little town on the outskirts of Olympic National Park in Oregon... a little town called Forks. For those of you who have been sleeping under a rock for the past 4 years, Forks is none other than the setting for the Twilight series. It is the famous town where Bella blinks, grunts, shrugs, bites her lip, and mutters; it is also where Edward looks like he's constipated all the time.

So, naturally, we had to visit.

Now, I am a Twilight fan. I say this knowing you may judge me. Go right ahead, because the books are so entertaining and I spent countless nights awake until the wee hours pouring over those pages. (But yes, the movies are lame.) Before we moved from Richmond, we had a big yard sale and one thing that did not sell was our extra series of the Twilight books. Our friend Doug had the brilliant idea of destroying these books in a ceremonial, dramatic gesture while driving through Forks... So we ran with the idea.

We burned them.

In a grill.

At a public park.

Evidence:

Warshington and Moregon

what up! what uuuuup!

Thanks for all of the comments on the last post - oh wait, there were none. For those of you who don't blog [yet], those of us who DO put our entire self-worth on the # that comes before "comments" link on the bottom of each post. So read/respond accordingly. Also, I never exaggerate for dramatic effect (or use sarcasm. or blatantly lie.), but in all seriousness - I do kind of enjoy the fact that I have no idea who all reads this. Even if its 10 people -- awesome. Glad you're here! Also -- someone named Bert commented on a post. And we don't know a Bert. Identify yourself to kill our curiosity!! :)

Okay. So. October 20th. 18 days since we left. You should update US on what has happened in your life over the last 18 days -- please?

But you're reading this to hear more about our trip... and here we go:

After Glacier we drove through the desert of Washington (nothing. there is absolutely nooooothing in Eastern Washington) and got to Seattle, where we stayed at a great hostel called "The Green Tortoise" which is right across the road from Pike Market and the original Starbucks. We didn't drink their coffee, but we did drink local beer. We didn't go on a boat tour, but we saw a boat and a tour. We didn't go up in the Space Needle, but I did use the bathroom in its gift shop. We didn't see a concert or show, but I did sing my famous childhood "Who are my friends?" song in a chipmunk voice at the Music museum (can you say "highlight???"). If you've never heard that song, I made it up when I was 7 and would love to sing it for you. It immortalizes the inner very-pre-teen angst of not knowing who your friends or enemies are and facing the world alone, as Jesus is the only one who really knows the answer (can you say "drama queen???").

Portland was just a quick trip and we stayed with a friend of a few friends, B. Cole, who showed us a good time in his neighborhood Sat night and Sun morning at some local places. We're in fairly easy driving distance from Portland, so we didn't want to spend much time there yet. The plan is to head back for Halloween and a few other weekends. Portland is suuuuuuper cool and is very "Stacey" if I do say so myself...

Now. Medford. We got here Sunday morning and I'll have a new post tomorrow or Friday about life here so far! Teaser: our time here so far DOES involve a hotel secret admirer. Come back for more!

Lastly - weird observations du jour:

1. Subway serves breakfast. Ew.

2. Chic-fil-A doesn't exist out west. Pout.

3. Roads change names every block out here. Lost.

4. I have no job right now. Yay.

5. If we ever sleep in the same bed, my feet will sandwich yours during the night. Love me.

Grace and peace to you guys!! So much love from afar...

~StaceyLynn