Studly Surfers

Every week, it gets better and better. Last week, I got to be with some studly soccer players and this week I got to hang with some pretty gnarly surfers. Yesterday, we played hooky from jobs and school, and went down to La Jolla for Surfer's Healing, a day long surfing camp for children with autism. Noah changed his name to suit the day, Moa-Moah became his Samoan surfing name. Bradley, his friend, became B-rad, and Gio was Rocky in honor of his very patriotic swim trunks. Noah perfected the art of swim&stim or should I say surf&stim while B-rad survived a sick wipeout only to bob up with a huge smile on his face. Blogger is not the greatest place to post a ton of pictures, so if you want to see the studly surfers in action, go to this link.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2012021&l=d30fd&id=159900391

Snarkiness and Studly Soccer Players

Snarky is one of those great British words that hits the nail on the head better than American English, and it makes you sound intelligent. It also sounds better than "jerkface" which is essentially what it translates into. I was guilty of being snarky when I was invited to a jewelry party with the "Desparate Wives of Canyon Country." See, there's a perfect demonstration of snarky. The entire time I was there I was alternately looking around for the reality show camera crew, and composing a a blog chock full of snarkiness. After I had time to calm down from my experience, I realized that my knee jerk reaction to tear these women down was just pure self righteousness/legalism/insecurity. I forgot that these women are part of the real world, and although they appeared to be fake to me, they do in fact daily struggle with trials beyond what I could imagine. I have in fact encountered many of these women in my job, and many of them have welcomed me with open arms as I invaded their family structures. How many times have I heard that love meets people where they're at? And where they are at is not a level below you? It doesn't beat them over the head and leave them uncoscious or treat them with condescenion. It exalts them and honors the fact that they are made in God's image. I judged these women for not reaching out to me, when in fact I was the one that responded with the infamous "ice queen." Fortunately, some of the time was redeemed, and I did have some good conversations with the women there. Hopefull, I'll have more oppurtunities to walk a mile in their shoes, and they a mile in mine.

In other news, I discovered I was as vulnerable to marketing madness as any other person. This was confirmed as I spent two days this week in Whole Foods. Everytime I walk into that place, my eyes glaze over, and I walk around in a dream like state forgetting that there's a good reason why they call this place "Whole Paycheck." I gave into my granola girl instincts by ordering a Veggie Fun Noodle Bowl which was overflowing with greens and tofu. Then I took the leftovers home, and left Jack speechless when I offered him a taste. You would've thought I told him I was a Democrat (which I already told him ;) and flaming liberal. Yes, I have partly bought into the Whole Foods, organic movement heart and soul. I have to admit though, diet is more important than we give it credit for. I have seen some remarkable changes in children with autim simply by adjustments in diet. It's made me make some significant changes in my own eating habits, and I have to say, what you do or don't put into your body has a significant affect on your state of mind and body.

Finally, I got to hang out with some pretty studly soccer players today as Noah had his soccer pictures. I have to confess I have longed to play soccer for years, and now I may get my chance. Someone has to accompany Noah on the field at all times, and so I may get to live out my World Cup fantasy although I'm fairly certain I'm not supposed to mow down kids or take shots at the goal. Soccer players, please feel free to send me some tips here. I'm going to need all the help I can get. I fully expect to spend my first game wrestling with Noah on the ground; however, he has surprised and humbled me more than once by sailing through unexpected situations. We have yet to try the cleats and the shin guards, but it could get interesting ;) Here's some pictures from the event.

Diving Into Marketing Madness

Let me preface this entry by saying I have nothing against marketing. I write this blog simply for pure entertainment, and to sharpen my writing skills;) That said, I was out and about at the mall with my girlfriend, Bizzie, having a school minimum day celebration. Bizzie was eating Pinkberry with gusto, and I was stuffing my face with a sub sandwich when I noticed this lady giving us what I would later discover was the "marketing" eye. At first, I thought she might be someone I knew from college, but then I saw her gaze fasten on Bizzie who is a four foot bundle of energy, freckles, and the toothless Life cereal box smile. "Are you sisters?" she asked. Well, I figured that was better than the alternative of being thought of as Bizzie's mom, but after I told her I wasn't in any way shape or form related to Bizzie, it became very clear that I was never the main attraction. You can't compete with the Life cereal box girl when you're 25. "I love her energy!" she kept saying which is a huge red flag that "Hollywood Joe/Josephine" is in the building. This was my introduction to casting director lingo. It turned out she wanted to recruit Bizzie and her family for this new game show entitled "Opportunity Knocks." I fondly think of it as "Opportunity Knocks for Product Placement." By the time we had picked up Bizzie's sister, Katie, from school, word had begun to spread like wildfire that we were all going to be in our own reality show with a fashion line in the works ;) We celebrated by going home and singing Cheetah Girl songs at the top of our lungs.

In other marketing news, my favorite story of the Olympics has become not Michael Phelps, not the "golden track girl" who fell on the last hurdle, or the tear jerking autobiographical sketches NBC does, but the little side story of the beach volleyball player whose sunglasses steamed up. Instead of just taking them off or running to Walmart to grab the 99 cent pair, he took the lenses out and played with just the rims on. Why, you ask? Because he had a contract with his sponsor. Doesn't that just warm the sentimental parts of your soul?

Okay, enough bashing on marketing. I'm like a critic who becomes a critic, because they couldn't make it in their field. Anyways, Noah has been pretty unphased by the Olympics marketing madness, but we did discover a sport he would watch with us.... platform diving. I know he appreciates the technical finesse and all that jazz, but I think he also is jealous of the fact that they are the closest thing to naked of all the Olympic athletes. "Guys, why won't you let me go out in public like that?!" You can see his support in his decision to watch it in the buff. That's true committment to the sport. It's also his way of non verbally protesting the fact that we make him put on clothes before he leaves the house.

When it Rains it Pours

Life in the Winkle household is a unique mixture of chaotic and peaceful. In the past two days, Julie came down with a 103 degree fever, all of Noah's therapists quit unexpectedly, and Noah's older brother ended up in the hospital with a concussion after a nasty mountain biking accident. A comedy of errors, accidents, and strange coincidences. And in all of this life went on, and we all adjusted, including Noah :) How good our God is who takes away what we think we need, and replaces it with Himself and His goodness. In the words of Anne Lammot, when life seems to be at its most confusing and hurtful, something beautiful is about to get born.

Happy Belated Anniversary, Monkey!

It's been a little over a year that our little Lisa Palmer, now Mrs. Wreesman, entered into holy matrimony with great dignity and also a lot of laughter. I know I told this story during the toast, Mrs. Wreesman, but the blogging world deserves to hear it told again. Now I didn't know Steven that well when they started hanging out, but I knew he was THE ONE after their first date. Steven had gone through the manly ritual of hunting with the men in his family, and had their prize elk's heart sent to the school. He invited Lisa to dissect it with him, and the rest is history.... There is no way to Lisa's heart like an elk's heart. Bring it on PETA, you can't deny true love. Love you guys, and may God continue to bless your marriage.