Anonymous List Number Four:

1. likes to play outside – hikes, kayaks, walks, runs, camps, something, anything
2. laughs in bed
3. crazy smart
4. funny
5. common sense in spades
6. loves to banter
7. teases me
8. will (occasionally) throw me up against the wall
9. tall
10. not skinny… not a football linesman, but not skinny
11. fast learner
12. loves music
13. sings in the car
14. quick smile
15. travels
16. sleeps with his arm over me
17. good kisser
18. does SOMETHING artistic. musical instrument, art, photography, something, anything
19. most comfortable in jeans
20. confident
21. a little dorky
22. could build our kids a playhouse
23. genuine
24. thinks i'm sexy... especially when i'm gross from a hike or from kayaking
25. gets me

(Want to know what's up with these Lists?? Click HERE to find out.)

Anonymous List Number Three:

1. Very smart (including, but not limited to, being a logical and critical thinker, well-educated, and a good writer)
2. Nice (including, but not limited to, being thoughtful, caring, considerate, and kind)
3. Inquistive
4. A feminist (including, but not limited to, being willing to have a serious conversation about taking my last name)
5. Likes and cares about his work
6. Teaches me (including, but not limited to, by giving me good advice)
7. Learns from me
8. Considers me an equal partner
9. Passionate about me
10. Liberal
11. Openminded (including, but not limited to, wanting to try new foods, places, and activities together)
12. Organized (including, but not limited to, being a planner)
13. Reliable
14. Will be a great father
15. Jewish
16. Attractive to and attracted to me
17. My height or taller than me
18. Aware of and able to articulate his emotions

(Want to know what's up with these Lists?? Click HERE to find out.)

Anonymous List Number Two:

1. She’s silly, and wants me to be silly with her.
2. She’s intellectually curious.
3. She likes to spend time outside.
4. She’s energetic and/or enthusiastic.
5. She’s an adventurous eater.
6. She’s happy.
7. She likes to be girly once in a while (sundresses drive me wild).
8. She’ll try (almost) anything once.
9. She can teach me something.
10. She’s compassionate.
11. She volunteers.
12. She cares about her health – i.e. eats nutritious stuff and exercises.
13. She cares about Mother Earth – i.e. eats conscientiously and isn’t wasteful.
14. She’s drop-dead gorgeous (in my eyes).
15. She’s not materialistic, but doesn’t feel guilty splurging on herself once in a while.
16. She slows down long enough to be awestruck by the beauty of life.

(Want to know what's up with these Lists?? Click HERE to find out.)

Anonymous List Number One:

1. Open-minded and accepting of differences
2. Very healthy appetite and love of all food genres
3. Funny or silly, or open to silliness
4. Intelligent
5. Humble
6. Generous
7. Compassionate toward those less fortunate
8. Left-leaning
9. Considerate and thoughtful
10. Affectionate
11. Dances, or likes to dance, or open to dancing
12. Courageous and mentally strong
13. Spiritual
14. Loves the earth
15. Faithful and trustworthy
16. A feminist
17. Truly confident in himself


(Want to know what's up with these Lists?? Click HERE to find out.)

Calling all Lists! Here's the lowdown, from an email I just sent someone who asked what a List actually is...

"The purpose of the Lists is purely educational -- hopefully for yourself and, if you let me post it anonymously on my blog, edifying for others, too. I wrote mine when I was heading up to AK after finally breaking up with and getting over a guy I had dated forever. These Lists are one neat/fun way to prioritize, remember what you're about, etc., in the whole datingmating (and life!) thing. Other than that, I don't take them too seriously. (i.e., It is not something I actively use on a day-to-day basis.) I also have to say here that I just really love reading them. They show the good in people, the lovely humanity and particular character of each person who writes them. So I'm being a bit selfish, too, by asking people to share them with me/us."

If you'd like to contribute yours, send it to me in the next few weeks, and I'll post it here. I already have 7 or 8 of them, and they are lovely. HERE's a link to the one I posted a while back, in case you need a little inspiration.

I'm going to be a nanny! This is not exactly what I had in mind when I was working on my Masters... But I am excited about the chance to hang out with a delightful 3 1/2 year-old, to learn more about and really use the Waldorf philosophy, to walk to work and to explore downtown Anchorage (art galleries, the museum, coffee shops, ice skating!) with a super cute kiddo. And after nannying, I'll have time in the afternoons to teach lessons, do music and art, prepare for my work at the museum, etc. This, along with some other unexpected opportunities and blessings, has reminded me recently that though life throws us some difficult loops, it also presents some truly lovely and previously unimaginable happenings. It's so good to be able to recognize the good stuff that comes along, and to be open to taking advantage of it.

in thanks for...

peanut butter in my oatmeal
a fantastic potluck on Saturday
the pink mountains out my window
a copy shop date with Elise
songs-- how they bring us back
opportunities to do good
emails from friends in KY
people who do the hard work

Potluck preparation: oh my, the PB...

Tonight is the Peanut Butter potluck!! ("Peanut Butter and Games: Two Very Good Things") This day has been much anticipated and planned for, by numerous individuals. I shall post pictures and recipes very soon. Until then, HERE's a link to more information about peanut butter...

Amy, Natalie and our 5 jars of peanut butter

Today these 3 lovelies came in the mail, all the way from Vermont and Lesotho...
...from these 3 lovelies! I do miss these incredible women-- miss singing with them, talking with them, learning from them. But it is a joy to know them at all and to know that we will stay in touch :o). Click HERE to hear recordings from the day this picture was taken (in June).

in thanks of...

music nights and people to sing with
a fridge full of food
green, growing things (jade, the plant from Maddy, aloe)
a walk with Elise
art in the mail
the sideways light
my incredible roommate
invitations

Here's Sky Gathering on the very-big-with-amazing-sound-system stage at the Wendy Williamson building at UAA. We played a medley of fiddle tunes, then Sweet Days ("Here's a song about the original Bioneers in my life, my parents."), and then Stars, by the Weepies. Didn't have time to do Cheap Oil, which would have been totally appropriate for Bioneers but will have to be premiered at our next gig, I suppose. Besides my freak-out wonky guitar-playing, I think it went really well... I LOVE playing with these amazing people!

Here's the Sky Gathering family, pre-rehearsal, having yum pasta and salad made with local veggies. Scott and Angela's dog, Sable (our mascot and sometimes backup singer), is hiding behind the table... Tomorrow we're performing at the Bioneer's conference at UAA, so wish us luck!

Sometimes I remember that it is just enough to smear the paint around, to play with color, with three different shades of gold. It is enough to run in the snow, to dance under the bridge in the morning sun, to sit on the dock and watch the water. To play the same song over and over, hearing subtleties of chords and truth in lyrics. It is enough, it seems, to just be, to process. Jan was talking about taking naps in the afternoons. Taking time to hibernate, rejuvenate? To sink in to whatever the new learning is. Maybe that's the time that helps clarify what we're about. Maybe those are the moments that, if honored, lead us to steps that are built on solid ground, or flights that are upheld by strong wings. It helps that we have each other to take care of and to love, fellow travelers to whom we attempt, with good hearts, to be tender and honest.

in thanks for...

01. hats made with love
02. food " " "
03. coming home to a warm apartment
04. the kindness of people on the bus
05. time for painting and piano-playing
06. letters from dear friends
07. my sisters
08. laughing with Lisa at work
09. memories
10. potential

My friend Deb Putnoi, in Boston, has been busy. I am inspired by her art, always, but equally inspired by her commitment to creating a better world. She really does believe in "art for a change." Click here to order one of the great Obama t-shirts she designed.

Today was the only day all week that I didn't work at the music store. (Since when am I a person who works 6 days in a row?? Scandalous.) So I woke up a little later than usual and did art, cleaned, listened to one of the 36 old podcasts of This American Life that I've been collecting, wrote letters, read a bit. Then headed to Elise's for a great Sky Gathering rehearsal (learned some fun fiddle tunes), and took a quick drive through the snow (!) to Anne and Merry's for Bible study with the girls. Finally, came back home where Natalie reminded me that I wanted to figure out how to sing the theme song from Mr. Roger's Neighborhood, which I did, and found this video in the process. Oh, Mr. Rogers. Good man, that one.

For the past few weeks, I've been working my tail off as Opportunities Coordinator for the Bioneers conference, held October 17-19th on the campus of UAA. I am super excited to attend and to meet all the amazing folks who are volunteering. Click HERE to get more info, and/or to find and download the scholarship/volunteer/work exchange application.