Flashback Friday: my Buddy.

When I was a young teen, early morning always began as such: I'd hear my parents moving around the house, and at around 630, my mother would say "Buddy. Buddy, go get Leslie up." In my somewhat creaky home, I would hear four paws carry their owner up the stairs, an off rhythm beat. Dog sniffing and a headbutt at my door would swing it open, and in would come Buddy, my Airedale, round side of my bed, where he would promptly stick his face in mine. Mostly, I would be somewhat awake already for this and greet him affectionately. Occasionally, I would pull the covers over my head and the dog-nosed-nudging would become more and more insistent. The best? When I scooted over towards the wall and patted the bed. Buddy would jump on up, turn in a circle (likely stepping on me -- it was a twin bed) and snuggle on in.

He was such a silly dog. We taught him to shake his paw, but he was overzealous, and it got to the point where I could sit with my back to him and he would scratch it by continuously "shaking." When I was in 8th Grade, I came out of math class to see him sitting outside. Once, I was driving home from my friend's house in a bad storm, and my mother said he sat by the window until I pulled into the driveway.

Best friend. I still miss you.

Flashback Friday: love at first sight.

Somewhere around twelve years ago, Crosby and I were sitting in AP History contemplating Quakers and in walks Anna---new at Amador from Ithaca, New York. She walked in and an awesome vibe came with her: super intelligent, unconsciously cool and big curly poofy hair. Crosby and I were like Yes. We are going to be friends with her.

This picture was taken approximately three days later, as part of a photo assignment I had for class where I made everyone dress up gothy and we took pictures in black silky dresses. Friends then, friends now, and this first time hangout picture makes me very happy.

Flashback Friday: Christmas with 8th graders

Oh goodness. I do love me some Flashback Friday, an event both reminiscent and joyful because I get to wax nostalgic, and, well, it's Friday. Double doses of smiles all around.

What we have here is a Polaroid taken in the corner of the junior high gym during 8th grade. I'm going to go with the idea that it's a Christmas dance, given Monica's awesome red pants and Christmas tree sweatshirt. Also supporting this theory is that I KNOW what I am wearing here and I remember loving this outfit thoroughly: a green crushed velvet dress with an off-white lace bodysuit underneath. Did you catch that? BODYSUIT. Hellsyeah.

Eighth grade was such a pivotal, awkward year. I remember feeling a tad odd about this photo because I was only good friends with about half of the participants, and a couple of them I hardly knew. This was the year when people started doing crazy things; cutting (not school), drinking, dabbling in the drogas. I remember sitting in gym class and listening to a girl talk about losing her virginity, astounded and shocked. Shocked not because I thought it was wrong, but because having sex was pretty much the LAST thing on my mind. I was trying to cope with things like not really needing a bra but kinda wanting one because of the locker room situation. It was like getting shell-shocked out of playing with Nerfuls.

Change is change. The year after we left Harvest Park to enter the realms of high school, they built a new gym; an amazing structural phenomena with two basketball courts and shiny light fixtures. Class of 97 always seemed to be a year off on the new stuff. Alas, I bet they even had professional photographers the year after for school dances instead of 8th graders taking other 8th graders Polaroid pictures for $1 as a fundraiser. Whatever. I probably would have thrown the professional one away. This, I cherish.

Flashback Friday: This is me.

Yep. Pretty much.
(after a softball on a coin operated horse in that old Straw Hat when Gene's Fine Foods was Alpha Beta and that Thifty's still had good ice cream. aka, 1988-ish)

Flashback Friday: Troop 493

Walnut Grove Elementary used to have a huge field where we played soccer and tag and flag football and where Girl Scout troop 493 planted a tree. I remember thinking that planting a tree was cool, that we were doing something good, and that one day, I would be able to come back and say, "Yes, we planted that huge tree. Let's sit in it's shade and have a picnic." And then the tree would give me all sorts of things, including fruit to sell, and wood to build a house with, and finally, an old stump to sit on. That was then. I'm pretty sure there is a building now where we are standing in our acid-washed jeans with pseudo mullets and 80's gear.

Note: I am short! I have always known I was/am short, but goodness! Studying this picture made it very obvious. Also, I am a mischievous imp, even at nine. Oooh, but look at Megan. Look at that sass in the 49-er jacket and poofed bangs. :)

Flashback Friday: Seeeesters

Today is Friday, they are paving the parking lot outside my work window, and I believe the inside of my brain is rattling as loudly as the building. So, given that we are all slowly (or not so slowly) going batty today, I'm throwing in the towel and flashbacking from work. Don't judge me; I'll sic the guy with the compressor on you. He's only, like, 15 feet from me.

Flashback Friday taking it easy style. My sister and I, I'm guessing around 1983. This photo tells me a number of things:

1. We are at my grandpa's house. Note the awesome carpet.
2. My sister is wearing an amazing pink and white checkered bandanna that I remember coveting. Who knows, perhaps I'm trying to discreetly yank it off her neck.

3. My entire family had those quilted slippers in different colors throughout my entire childhood. The inside fuzzy lining always started so fluffy but became flat and disappointing rather quickly.

4. I want that chair in my apartment. Family, does anyone have that chair tucked away?
5. I would say that my dad dressed me (overalls), except that I match really well and there are tight pigtails involved (thanks mom).
6. I really wish I could read my sister's sweatshirt. I am, however, enjoying the pinkness of her outfit.

and finally,
7. She might be scratching my head or about to pull a pigtail, but sisters love.

Happy Friday.

Flashback Friday: on any given Sunday

Me and Mom. That looks like church paneling behind us, and we are definitely in church outfits, so I think it's safe to say we were at church. My mother was always obsessed with bows in my hair; they are evident in almost every school photo I ever took, except the year my dad dressed me on make-up picture day, which is another Flashback Friday post altogether.

I think I'm five here. And it's definitely the 80s.

Flashback Friday: Freeing Tibet

June. 1996. End of Junior Year at the Tibetan Freedom concert at the Polo Fields in SF. The day introduced me to MUNI and Boone's Stawberry Hill (you know you feel me). I obviously had awesome sunglasses.

Crosby and I went into the pit for Rage, because we are brilliant. One of our friends was wearing birkenstocks (because we were cool) and her feet were VERY bloody. Someone crotch-grabbed-hoisted Crosby in the chaos and she crowd surfed out. We lost her for awhile, and during that time, she was interviewed by Spanish television.

I saw Foo Fighters for the first time that day as well. They were all new and fresh from the turbulence of Nirvana's end. I was standing on a hill, next to a line of port-o-potty's, watching Dave get all angry at the microphone. I wondered if he could see me.

And in that field, on that beaten down grass I saw people having sex. Sure, the blanket was just moving back and forth, but even me, in my 16 year old-wine buzzed-heat stricken-MUNI chasing form, knew what was the what next to that boxed wine box.

Flashback Friday: Grad night

December 14th-ish, 1997. In our high school gym, games, a bouncy house, a dj yadda yadda...all set up to celebrate the class of 1997. I bought my fun hat at Raley's with Anna an hour before the evenings festivities. My dad chaperoned (he worked the gate by the parking lot) and as Anna, Af, and I walked up, Af remembered he had a bottle of alcohol in his backpack. Purely by accident. I remember in his panic, he totally told my dad abruptly about the illegal cargo. My dad just sighed with a wee chuckle, shaking his head...like hell would his daughter be drinking it. They walked and put it in my Dad's truck. We all drank soda.

There are some other pics from this evening, groups of us posing with wooden clowns, but they aren't on my computer, and I put my broken scanner on the street yesterday.

Also, that night, I remember my poor tiny heart breaking because of a stupid boy. And then I remember jumping in the bouncing house, savagely, giggling, and flailing my arms to the tune of LoveShack.

Flashback Friday: Ren Fair gym-style

Intro: Flashback Friday, an idea stolen from Amy who stole it from someone else who undoubtedly had the idea first. Unfortunately for many of my friends, Flashback Friday for me also draws them in....

We begin with some beauties from freshman year of high school. A renaissance fair was held during English period in our gym; there was sword fighting, costumes, and, for some reason, Adrienne Jackson playing the violin. The best part was the dressing up. My mom and I sewed my costume and I was SO excited to wear it. It probably won't surprise you that I had a huge imagination (one that still hates scary movies), so for 45 minutes, I WAS maid Marian.

Katie Perry and I. She had a cape.

Look at this gem! Crosby, SteveZ, and me at 14! Crosby's dress was all authentic-like...I seem to remember Steve was in a brown sheet with rope, along with all of his friends. Boys.