Viva la!!!

Right now, Santa Barbara is in recovery mode. The beginning of this week marked the end of what is always an EPIC celebration in the city of SB. The celebration is called Fiesta. It's a big deal. This is my first summer away from Fiesta in a few years, and to be perfectly honest, I've had a bit of a withdrawal.

While it's pretty clear that almost NO-ONE in Santa Barbara knows why the heck we celebrate Fiesta, with some quick internet research, I myself have just discovered the origins [which I will of course share]. Taking the liberty to summarize, Fiesta is meant to be a celebration of the city's heritage from Spanish founders from the Spanish, Mexican, and North American pioneers who first settled in SB and built the city. Basically, this translates into a week-long party throughout the whole city.

State street shuts down for a HUGE parade that is filled with bizarre and random floats (although the Summer Solstice celebration takes the cake for the craziest parade). The Fiesta parade usually has bunches of people in traditional Mexican costumes, and lots of men riding horses. It's safe to say that one of the horses usually freaks out, and there are often incidents involving spectator injury. No big deal. It's all very entertaining to watch while you're eating street taco's from one of the many vendors.

Did I mention that the entire city of SB is also covered in a layer of confetti during this week as well? There are TONS of people selling confetti filled eggs on the streets. The purpose of these eggs is simply to purchase them, and ultimately smash them onto the heads of your friends and/or complete strangers--henceforth showering them in a blanket of multicolored tiny pieces of paper. From about August-February you'll continue to find confetti in the strangest of places throughout your house and the city. We're talking THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS of these eggs. I'm sure the production of these little gems starts the week after Fiesta and goes through the whole year to prepare aggressive and over-zealous egg smashers. To note: any future Fiesta attendee's must be willing to eat some confetti with their traditional Mexican food.

For Fiesta entertainment you can enjoy several carnival-like rides, watch the cutest little Mexican Hat dancers you've ever seen in your life (little girls who are 3 and 4 years old), go to various performances at the Court House, listen to the mariachi bands that are meandering on State Street, and if you're lucky...search and take a picture with the SPIRIT of FIESTA!

It's truly a great week in Santa Barbara. However, it comes with the drawbacks of epically high cover prices to all restaurants and bars, NO available parking, clothing staining confetti, and crazy out-of-towners. I'm sure there's a sigh of relief in SB to have completed another successful Fiesta. I'll make it back one of these years. Maybe I'll apply to be the Spirit of Fiesta 2011. I'm pretty sure that one of the pre-requisites is to be fully Mexican, but maybe I can somehow get around that rule....

changes...

I'm depressed. It's a good thing. It means I'm one lap closer to the finish line of accepting the fact that I'm moving away from my best friends, my fiance, and beautiful Santa Barbara. I've finally moved away from the denial of this fact, and into the depression of existing in these last few moments in town. (Isn't there a science for this? I feel like there's 12 steps or something to help me better handle this...maybe that's for some other illness....I don't remember) To top it all off, I can't find my journal or my Bible. I'm pretty sure they're packed up in the abyss of my Honda Civic (which by the way, holds an impressive amount of wares!). So here's both my apology and warning, my little bloggy is taking the hit that my journal may have usually absorbed. Cheers to emotions, feelings, and getting it all out on paper, so to speak.

I've lived in Santa Barbara for the last six years. Believe me, I've talked a LOT of smack about this place in those years. I've complained about the constant sunshine, the omnipresence of beach sand during the summer months, ludicrous cover charges downtown during Fiesta (ridiculous!), and a multitude of other things. But when I really get down to my true feelings for this city, I realize my complaints were just a front for what I really feel about this place. I'd like to think I can have my cake and eat it too... I've got a fierce pride for the state of Colorado (Go Buffs!), and I can still be in love with Santa Barbara at the same time. Let me be clear, some of my complaints about this city are LEGIT. To name a few: I lived in a house for three years with rats the size of small cats (MADRONA: a kitchen cabinet that smelled like urine, a bee-hive outside of my window, a hole in the floor of my room, a window that wouldn't shut, and a kitchen sink that sounded like an earthquake every-time it was used), I've been way too close in proximity to out of control wild-fires, and seriously, cover prices during Fiesta are truly silly. But really, I love Santa Barbara. I love the weather, I love the people, the uniqueness of the climate, the beauty of life in the plant world (plant classification: BEST CLASS EVER), and I love the friends I've made here. God has been good to me in this city.

I never thought I'd live in California, I never thought I'd go to Westmont, and I NEVER thought I'd stay in Santa Barbara after I'd graduated. But God's pretty tricky that way, and here I am six years later not wanting to leave. Plus, when I received an opportunity to go and live at casa Madrona with Maddie, the answer was an obvious YES. Going to college here was pretty snazzy, but when I look back at Westmont I am mostly grateful for the friendships I was blessed with while I was at school. Shoutout to the older and wiser mentors in my life who said I would make my best friends at college. I'm not talking "best friends" like high-school buddies, I'm talking about best friends who are lifelong partners in crime; the kind of friend you call in the middle of the night because you're in a crisis; the kind of friend you video chat with in the same room; the kind of friend who will always download the music I want and then email it to me; and the kind of friend who will stick by your side through thick and thin, not judging you for certain events that may or may not have happened at Q's.

I've already had to deal with a few of my best friends moving out of town, curses to you nursing school! But when it comes to the longevity of my friendships here in Santa Barbara, one Madeline Madison "insert any word here for middle name" Jacks takes the cake.

Without releasing too many of my emotions into cyberspace (and also because of the fact that Maddie's already had a healthy dose of it in my going away letter that was riddled with ridiculousness), suffice it to say that one of the hardest reasons for me to leave Santa Barbara was because I would also be leaving my bestie Madison. I realized a few days before I left SB, that for the past four years of my life, I've pretty much seen Maddie everyday. Breakdown moment #1: I wasn't sure if I actually knew how to function without her!

I know that I probably took advantage of my friendship with Maddie, and just how wonderful and amazing she is. After I've been in CO for a couple of weeks, I've had even more time to realize what a pleasure it was to live with a best friend. Maddie, you've seen me at my worst, my ugliest, in the hardest and saddest times of my life...and you've supported me through it all. You've also been a huge part of the best times of my life, some of my happiest and most meaningful. It has been such a blessing to have you in my life. Because you're funny. And you make amazing playlists. And you are always cooking interesting things. You share your clothes with me. You share amazing stories about your office. You know all the shortcuts in Santa Barbara. You have all-time access to blueberries. And the list goes on and on....

I LOVE MADDIE!

QUOTE: sarah c sheets

2nd post in three days?

Yes. It’s true. I’m attempting to become better at updating zee blog. Why? Probably because I’m really important, I have so many followers, people need to know what I’m up to...and let’s just face it--lives depend on this blog. Exempli gratia, post numero DOS en trois jours.

First things first. Shoutout to the Denver Bronco’s. 5-0. Solid performance Kyle Orton. I’m thinking the special teams needs a smidgeon of work, however (um.....can we NOT give the other team THREE CHANCES to get a first down after we’ve held them off? eesh) And I suppose, since I’m feeling spirited, I’ll give the Rockies some credit as well. Playoffs two times in the last three years? That’s somewhat impressive after their drought of, oh, about a MILLION years without so much as tasting the playoff experience. Buffs...not so hot. Although I’m faithfully wearing a jersey every Saturday.

I will now take this opportunity to comment on the sheer ridiculouslity of Santa Barbarians. The date is October 11. The temperature is 62 degrees. OBVIOUSLY this calls for full-on winter garb. I’m talking mittens, scarves, wool coats, winter hats, leggings...and I wouldn’t be surprised if people have foot warmers in their knee high boots. Ok, YES, I know you just spent 300.00 on a coat that is far to warm for this environment. By all means, get some use out of that overpriced piece of wool. While it may exemplify this season’s latest trends, you and I both know that you’re sweating like a pig in there, and just pretending that you’re still cold (as you pull on your trendy fingerless mittens that serve absolutely no purpose while you shop for yet more useless winter garb). To cut the Saint Barby’s some slack, many of them have never been exposed to environments that drop below 45 degrees. However, knowing that almost everywhere else in the world gets colder than it does in Santa Barbara, California, I can’t help but think all this winter clothing is just plain silly.

While I’m on the topic of clothing, I’d just like to point out one more fashion woops that basically drives me crazy. Belt-buckles that spell words. In my opinion, there is a lot going wrong with these babies. First of all, they usually say ridiculous things like “cutie,” or “hot.” Second, they draw attention to an area of the body that is somewhat personal. Call me crazy, but I don’t think I would want someone staring at my crotch until they figured out that my belt spelled “stop looking at my crotch.” Maybe I’m the only one this fashion trend bothers. Maybe because I’m missing the social buffer that says, “hey, someone just walked by with an ugly belt that spelled something, but don’t stare”--because I can’t let it go. You’d better believe I’m going to follow that person until I know what statement they’re trying to make with the apparatus they use to keep their pants up.

That said, I feel as if I can move on to bigger and better posts. Por ejemplo. Today I was domestic. I made (1) applesauce, AND (2) chili.

1. For some reason, I don‘t like applesauce from the store, and I only like it if it’s warm. So it’s just easier for me to make. Aaaaaaand it makes the house smell SOOOOO good. It’s also very autumnal....
2. CHILI! It’s football food. And it’s nice and warm--a perfect compliment to a gray day. My first attempt at Kapsie’s usual make---and I’d like to think I represented the recipe quite well. Of course, I was missing several key ingredients, but I’m a master improviser. Let’s just saw I had no complaints.

As a conclusion to my endless and pointless babble, I will say that I’m an epic fail as a member of my book club. We are reading East of Eden, by John Steinbeck. And when I say “we,” I mean everyone but myself. I successfully finished the first chapter the other night. (hooray!) I’m supposed to be on Chapter 30. I don’t know what’s come over me. I’m typically such a good reader--I need to get my tooshie in gear. I know, I should probably just stop blogging.

PSYCH.

As if I would desert all of my avid readers at the drop of a hat. I don’t think so.

Kapsie and Jeff Jeff in SB

Mom and Dad were in town this past weekend for a wedding, and we were ACTIVE. Let's just say we strolled the art walk, went sailing, rode bikes for a picnic at the mission, Kapsie and I went SPEED WALKING from downtown to Shoreline Park, we danced at a wedding, and we ate lots of food. Good food. Cantwells, The Palace, Palazzio's, and of course, the Hotel Santa Barbara Scones because YES I will be eating these please, HELLO, my parents are staying here for FREE. (Thanks again Maddie!! :) )