Traveling and Frolicking in the Pacific Northwest

What's My True Sign?

2006-06-25T22:08:00.000-07:00

My True Sign Is Gemini

Charmer

Adaptable

Never Boring

Fun and Friendly

Commitment-Phobic

Eternally Youthful

The Life of the Party

Intellectual and Witty

Enjoy some procrastination and find out "What's Your True Sign?"

Seattle International Film Festival

2006-06-20T22:09:00.000-07:00

Over the past three weeks, I've become more of a movie geek than I was before. If Netflix wasn't addictive enough for me, I decided to volunteer for the Seattle International Film Festival this year. It was a great opportunity to see movies from all around the world, some of which will never get released. For some of the movies, directors and actors were there for Q&A's after the screening which was the highlight for me because you forget just how much vision and diligence is needed to take the written word and turn it to a visual masterpiece.

Here are some of my favs from the festival:

**Favorite** Quincenera: A beautiful tale about a make-shift latino family that was created due to religious conservatism within their respective families.

Arctic Son: A troubled Seattle teenage boy reunites with his Alaskan father in Old Crow Alaska, population 250. Old world meets new world, where the son learns the importance of living off the land and a simpler way of life.

The Line of Beauty: One of many coming-of-age gay movies set in the upper crust of England during the 80's. The star was a scrumptious looking boy that definitely captivated me.

Boffo! Tinseltown's Bombs and Blockbusters Hollywood heavy hitters talk about the science, or lack-there-of, to making hit movies.

Liubi: From Greece, this film focuses on a cross-cultural "forbidden" relationship between a live-in caretaker from Russia and her patient's Greek son.

Monster House: The film isn't officially released until July 21st but it was screened at SIFF. It's a good kid/adult movie with a great voice cast about a house that is alive. It's no Shrek but it's entertaining enough.

Factotum: It's a drama that focuses on a man who wanders around LA bouncing from job to job, woman to woman binge drinking along the way.

Weirdest concept:
Brothers of a Head: A mockumentary on conjoined twins who are plucked from obscurity to head a punk rock band. (no pun intended) Interesting idea, bad movie.

Love Sick: From Romania, this film focuses on a love triangle between two college lesbian lovers and one of their brothers. Adding incest was a pretty crazy angle but the film still managed to focus on the power and delusion of love.

2006-06-15T11:06:00.000-07:00

Another great barbecue at Golden Gardens, one of my favorite places in Seattle.

2006-06-15T11:04:00.000-07:00

It was so great to finally meet Olga, Joho's girlfriend. She's a keeper.

2006-06-15T10:55:00.000-07:00

"Campfire Beer-Butt Chicken" Who says you can't eat well while camping? The chicken was overshadowed that night by yet another game, "Tarp Tap". The rain was pouring down around us while we were safe under the tarps we had set up to protect us from getting wet at our campsite. The rain water would gather on the tarp and through the beauty of science, it would weave it's way across the tarp to spill off on the ground in a consistent manner. This repetition became the amusement of the night, meaning it turned in to one of the best drinking games I have played in my life. Every time the rain water crashed on the ground, we had to have a social. (Note: at times the rain was coming down so hard that we were drinking every 50 seconds) Serendipity in the rain forest at it's finest.

2006-06-15T10:51:00.000-07:00

Despite the rain, we managed to amuse ourselves with many simple games. This shot was snapped after a grueling "Move that log" competition. The game entails throwing stones from the riverbank at a log so that it's freed from the embankment to flow merrily down the river. Wicked good times.

2006-06-15T10:48:00.000-07:00

Newfound species found in the Hoh Rain Forest: Scientists call it a Joho.

2006-06-15T10:40:00.000-07:00

"Yakima Wine Country" On Memorial Day weekend, after braving the hail, rain and numb hands, we decided that instead of camping unprepared in the rain and cold, it was better to turn around and head in to town to the safety of a cheap hotel. (and yes, this was Ronald's idea) The hotel was more like a crack-den. Most of the South American hostels I stayed at were nicer and cleaner than this place. After making it through the night I was treated to a full day of wine tasting in the Yakima Valley. Being the wino that I am, I couldn't have asked for a better day.

2006-05-16T13:05:00.000-07:00

We decided to leave city life to head out for a fun-filled weekend camping and snowshoeing for the last time this season. It was absolutely gorgeous and was filled with many a butt-slides down the mountain. No sleds needed.

2006-05-16T13:01:00.000-07:00

We still haven't learned to prepare fully for the springtime snow. We went snowshoeing and camping this past weekend with only 1 hat. Needless to say, chivalry won out and I got to wear the hat. Ronald resorted to a fleece turban.

Where to go in life?

2006-05-05T14:11:00.000-07:00

One of the burdens of being in between jobs is the amount of time you have to question yourself, your purpose and where you want your life to go. I'm surrounded by these types of questions every day with little distraction and am slowly driving myself insane.

I'm smack in the middle of the interview process and am torn about which direction I want my career to go in. Each of the opportunities in front of me is different and has its own set of pros and cons. The challenging thing about being in limbo at age 28 is that I have to begin thinking about the future. The only difficulty is that I don't know where I want my future to go.

Being 28 is a weird age. I'm definitely post-college, am pretty established in my career, am in a committed relationship, living in a location I like but am still confused and not content. I feel as though I can't live life on a whim anymore and that freaks me out because that is something I've always had in my back pocket. It's not that I've shirked responsibilities because I've worked very hard to be able to frolic around and land back on my feet. It's just that I feel as though I should be making my life more stable, whatever that means.

I partially blame society for putting these subconscious life timeframes in to people's heads, especially mine. So where am I going with these ramblings? I have no idea. All I know is that tomorrow is another day full of possibilities. What society hasn't taken from me is the belief that I'll know where to turn when the moment arises.

Kinkiest Tale, Monster Cats and Mr. Personality

2006-04-29T18:11:00.000-07:00

Today I volunteered at the Average Cat Show to help out kitties in need. After adopting a lovely, if not whacked cat, of my own, I know how important it is for shelter cats to find a good home. And for the record, I am not turning in to the crazy cat lady although it took all my restraint to prevent myself from adopting another cat.

It didn't hurt that the show itself was a mockery of the typical cat shows. Young kids and adult cat people brought their cats in to compete and were so proud to get a ribbon. Besides first place, all the other entrants got second place. Very pc.

My Favorite Categories
Kinkiest Tale
Most Cross-Eyed
Monster Cat (Goose, one of the cats in my row won, weighing in at 24.8 pounds)
Cat Trick Competition (the winner could give high fives and shake hands/paws)
Best Decorated Cage (winner was set-up like a campsite, complete with a 2 cat tent)
Owner Look-a-Like
Most Obnoxious
Most Toes (a 27 toed cat was the winner)
Costume (there was a tie for a wizard and a girl scout)

"If you don't talk to your cat about catnip...who will?"

TV Show, Pychics and Me

2006-04-27T17:19:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, in the midst of my job search and interviews, I decided to volunteer to help out with another program that I've become involved with since returning to Seattle. The group was filming a Public Service Announcement on Seattle's local afternoon talk show and they needed bodies for the audience so I decided to sign up. The show was about a pyschic duo. Oh boy, I had no idea what to expect.

I arrived at the lobby intrigued and looked around at those waiting to go up in to the show studio. The majority of the people were women, much older than I was. From the looks of their dress, they didn't appear to be city folk either. The producers were asking around the audience to see if anyone had any questions they wanted to ask the psychic. I was surprised at how many people jumped at the chance. My skeptical nature prevented me from signing up.

The show started out with a soap opera recap. I was amazed at the audience participation regarding the characters and far-fetched plots. This alone gave me the motivation to speed up my job searching process in fear that I'd turn in to one of these soap opera watchers. (note: I have not stooped as low as watching tv during the day, although I have been burning through more of my netflix queue at a faster pace)

I don't want to downplay the pain and anguish that most of the audience members who talked with the psychics were going through but I felt as the psychics were complete bull. There were few connections made and I felt as though I could come up with most of their answers. Most of their responses had to do with energy which I buy in to but I seriously doubted any of their predictions. At least it was an entertaining experience and it's always fun to see the behind the scenes of show production. Now back to finding a job...

Earth Day

2006-04-24T17:41:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend, Ronald and I celebrated Earth Day by camping and volunteering with the Olympic Coast clean-up crew.

The weather was spectacular and I geniunely loved being at a beach again. The waves on the Pacific Ocean are immense and the logs, or should I say trees, that wash up on the shore are massive. It really was rewarding picking up the trash. I felt like I was contributing something for the day. Ronald and I even managed to haul out a lead crab trap like the ones used on Deadliest Catch. Those suckers are so heavy but it became a challenge and a matter of pride since the other volunteers that were on the beach were looking at us in awe. I had to maintain my tough girl image. The rest of the trash was composed of lots of buoys,rope, fishing twine and boots. So after 4 bags of trash, 1 crab trap and a tire, we called Earth Day a success and headed to the barbecue.

Random thoughts and questions from my time at the beach:
1.) Is there skill involved in UNO?
2.) If a person is a faster runner, will they be a faster galloper and skipper too?
(Ronald and I determined that the answer was yes through numerous beach races)

No more siestas

2006-04-06T15:18:00.000-07:00

It's amazing how fast your life can return to normal after being away for so long. South America feels like nothing more than a really good dream that I never wanted to wake up from but the darn alarm kept sounding so here I am.

I'm still in the process of finding my next career stage and have been "actively" searching for a job but am once again sustaining myself on unemployment.

In the meantime, I've been exploring more of what Seattle has to offer on the smallest budget possible. This included lunch and kayaking with a friend at my new favorite spring/summer place. After kayaking around Lake Union, I'm still half tempted to move for the fourth time in less than 2 years so that I can live in a houseboat. And yes, I realize that this free time is making me a little crazy.

I've also decided to actively train for a bike tour that goes from Seattle to Portland over the course of 2 days so I've been hopping on my bike as much as possible. I'm not sure that I'm actually going to go through with it but I love the idea of challenging my body to complete something so grueling. I must admit the training has allowed me to do some soul searching and see some beautiful sights around the city.

So my return hasn't been too crushing. I think it might have something to do with the fact that I have found some great Argentinian wine that isn't too expensive. My malbec is calling me now...

new adventures

2006-01-05T18:18:00.000-08:00

since i´m no longer sharing adventures in the pacific northwest, i decided to create a separate blog for my trip to south america. you can check me out at my new creation here.

the greatness of grandmothers

2005-12-19T09:09:00.000-08:00

For the Christmas holidays, my mom's side of the family usually celebrates earlier b/c we're getting so large. This past weekend was our holiday celebration. As always, it was filled with chaos, communication and all around fun. Think National Lampoons Christmas Vacation fused with an Italian heritage.

After the celebration, I stayed over my grandmother's for the night with my brother. I'm continuously surprised at the insight and moderness that she possesses, especially at 87 years old. We stayed up late talking about anything and everything. From my parents divorce and how it's affected our entire family to Ronald and I's relationship to my pending trip to Argentina and what I hope to get out of the experience. I can't explain how wonderful it was to get insight from a woman who has lived through so much and managed to maintain such a loving marriage.

I'm truly blessed to have her in my life. My grandparents taught their children and grandchildren the importance of family and living life to the fullest. I can only hope to instill the same lessons on to my children and grandchildren.

the worst flight EVER

2005-12-17T06:40:00.000-08:00

I've officially left Seattle until March and have begun my journey across the Americas. I'm now in the northeast but for awhile there, I wasn't sure that I was going to make it.

I had to pack for 2 different climates. Now, what's a girl to do? My shoes alone could take up the room I'd need to pack for 2 seasons.

1.) The frigid Northeast
2.) An Argentinean summer full of heat and humidity

To add to that, I brought Bleu, my cat, home for a long myriad of reasons but that definitely added to the difficulty of packing. Ronald actually had to park in the airport lot to help me get everything in to check-in.

We lugged my 2 backpacks, 2 kittie carriers and my carry-on in to the airport. Bleu's major drugs were taking place and her eyes started to take on an alien-like look. I couldn't keep from thinking about what I was doing to her and how there was nothing in my power I could do except for whisper to her telling her everything was going to be all right and of course, administer more drugs something I did not want to do.

After checking my bags in, Ronald sent me off on my journey with my cat. This is where the chaos began. I got to the security check and they made me carry Bleu through the security checkpoint. Mind you, the carrier is not an easy one to get Bleu in and out of and I'm still balancing a second carrier in case the first didn't fit under the seat and my carry-on back pack. Not to mention the fact that I've had to take my shoes off and get my jacket, shoes and laptop in to other bins. And the worst part was that no one offered to help me. Darn American citizens...so selfish.

I make it to the gate and ask the counter representative if she could test to see if the bigger carrier was going to fit under the seat. She tells me to board with the first class members. I try to but keep getting shoved aside and blocked by all the other people bum rushing the gate. I've never hated full flights more than that moment.

I get on the plane with the elite class members and find that luckily, the larger carrier fits under the seat. I get Bleu situated and keep petting her as best I can, trying to awkwardly bend my arm in ways it wasn't meant to move. My palms are sweating and I'm desperately worried about how she's going to react to the 5+ hour flight home, turbulence and other noises on the plane. I'm a total wreck and we haven't even started our red-eye flight yet.

She's pretty drugged and doesn't seem too bad which calms me slightly. We take off and we seem to be holding up well. I'm praying for a good movie to take my mind off things but alas, they were showing some REALLY BAD movie w/ Little Bow-wow and roller skates. I desperately tried to get in to it but it sucked too badly.

Now about an hour in to the flight, Bleu started getting restless. She began desperately trying to get my attention by sticking her arm out of the carrier to paw at my leg. She also started jumping out of the cage. All I could feel was the slight movement of the top of the cage and her body flung against it. I thought I was going to loose it. I was trapped in a window seat, next to a fat man that was hogging the 1 armrest and invading my seat space with a desperate cat underneath my seat. Since I had only given her 1/2 a pill, I thought that I should try to give her the other half.

Not being able to see in to the cage and blindly feeling around for her head and mouth, I thought I had given her the pill but found out when I got home that I hadn't. I'm glad I lived in ignorance. It seemed to be the only thing that calmed me as thoughts rushed through my head about how she may be bleeding and how it would be the worst Christmas ever if she died on the flight.

Yes, I know these are some morbid thoughts but at that time it was about 3:00am for me and I hadn't slept a wink and was so concerned about this cat who has taken up such a big amount of my heart in a little amount of time.

She made it my dad's and is adjusting really well so all my worrying was for nothing. I will say that I don't know if I'll be able to handle the flight back. It was so rough seeing and hearing her so freaked out. Luckily, that won't be until March and I'll have some time to mentally prepare for it.

there's nothing like the dentist to make you revert

2005-12-13T16:35:00.000-08:00

why is it that I dread going to the dentist more than anything else? today was a dreaded but necessary evil. i went to the dentist this morning for the first time in seattle.

because it was my first visit, i had the pleasure of a 2 hour appt. they had to take all sorts of x-rays, scrape and polish my teeth and conduct an overall analysis. mind you, i hate flossing and am far from being a daily flosser. couple that with having an overactive mind when it comes to self-diagnosis, i was pretty nervous and dreaded going like the best of the 6 yr-olds.

the hygenist was a great lady who said my teeth looked great but i could be brushing my teeth too hard. how the heck does one brush their teeth too hard? regardless, that was music to my ears. no major problems yet.

then it came time for my analysis w/ the dentist and in walks "dr. mcdreamy". seriously, this dentist was hot and young. all i could think of was how i hadn't showered yet, looked like hell and am not an avid flosser. and now the hot guy was going to take a look at my mouth. i prayed that i didn't have any major problems to embarass myself with. at that moment i vowed to start becomming a daily flosser.

the result was only 1 small cavity that he wanted to fill before i left for argentina. so i had to go back to dr. mcdreamy later to get it filled. we're chatting about his visit to ecuador and his brother's south american experiences and i think i'm being "cool girl"..that is, until he whips out the needle to numb me. i'm petrified and i knew that my cool girl status was about to go out the window.
my hands immediately began getting sweaty and i no longer had composure. the handshake goodbye was a sweaty,clamy awkward one.

showering will be essential for my next appointment.

typhoid, malaria, chagras, yellow fever, oh my!

2005-12-07T18:41:00.000-08:00

so i'm frantically trying to tie up all the loose ends in seattle and am preparing for my journey down in south america. yowza! it still isn't a total reality that i'm going to be living with a family down in south america. sometimes even i think i'm nuts but then i sit back and reflect on how it is these types of experiences that i thrive on.

when else will i get this type of opportunity. it's truly the chance of a lifetime and i'm preparing as best I can. yesterday, i had my travel advisory session and got needles galore. not a fun day but i feel like getting all the immunizations has prepared me even further for my journey. i hate needles yet i've got poked with 4 shots yesterday. typhoid, hepatitis A, yellow fever and tetanus. i also got anti-biotics to self medicate myself if need be and malaria pills. it's crazy to me that these infections are caused by mosquitos and other insects. dirty little creatures. and then there's diarrhea caused by numerous things i'll be exposed to. i would give anything to ensure that i don't have that problem...

i'm still in the process of finishing up on my TEFL teaching certificate. even though i'm not working, i feel as though i'm still busting ass to get things done and managing to enjoy myself at the same time.

i got to take a break today to meet up with my old coworker and friend, lillian at green lake and go for a walk. it was marvelous to be outside and be inspired by a really cool woman. she left msn to persue her art and had her first gallery opening and she's off to turkey for a 3 week trip. so cool.

we discussed how it's always important to surround yourself with people that are doers and love to experience life. and it's those types of people i know i'm going to meet down in south america. wow...i can't even begin to imagine all that i'm going to experience.

more to come on my prep, freak-outs and hair brained ideas soon.

dec. 1, 2005 (my 28th birthday)

2005-12-04T11:12:00.000-08:00

let me start by saying, i hate being the center of attention. it makes me feel awkward and uncomfortable. and often times, i blush a furious red.

it was my birthday on thursday and it happened to coincide with the last day of my contract at msn.com. in order to prevent a bigger deal being made, i kept my birthday a secret. i envisioned sitting in a conference room with the flourescent lights beaming down, eating cake surrounded by forced conversation. awkward. so when asked what i wanted to do to celebrate my year of service and hard work, i decided it would be drinks.

to keep it paired down even more, i decided to host it in my neighborhood in seattle, capitol hill, knowing that this would weed down the attendees to those who really wanted to be there and who i had a better relationship with. i chose a brew pub that i knew would create the ambiance i wanted to create.

it was so enjoyable to have a group of my coworkers swapping stories and having conversations that didn't involve the crazy big company speak that plagues msn. it was a wonderful send-off and i think much fun was enjoyed by all. i know i did. and knowing that it was my "secret" birthday too made it all the more enjoyable. they even created a mock-up homepage for me to remind me of all i went through this past year. it was just a perfect way to end my first contract at msn.

2005-12-02T11:26:00.000-08:00

'Move da chain' i got to see one of the best football games of the season. seahawks vs. ny giants between the overtime victoy to experiencing a game with the giants road crew to meeting oj anderson, it was a great way to spend a sunday. i loved walking around with my uncle in his full giants get-up...suede jacket and all.

2005-12-02T11:09:00.000-08:00

"dinner at the top of seattle" one of the highlights of my aunt and uncle's visit was our meal at the top of the space needle. it was a sunny day w/ views all around. we couldn't have timed it more perfectly...daytime views, followed by a sunset and finally a trip to the top of the space needle at night. truly, a great seattle memory.

2005-11-29T00:03:00.001-08:00

'civilized man' this distinguished gentleman sat sipping wine after our tour of the chateau ste. michelle winery with my aunt and uncle.

2005-11-29T00:01:00.000-08:00

'turkey craze' my uncle bob had the distinctive honor of cutting the thanksgiving turkey 2005.

menu planning

2005-11-21T22:12:00.000-08:00

first off, let me start by saying i am a dork. most of you reading this probably already know that.

thanksgiving is in 3 days and i'm so excited to have my aunt june and uncle bob out for a visit. growing up, my family and i always spent thanksgiving with my dad's side of the family. having my aunt june and uncle bob here is going to bring back a sense of familiarity with the holiday, only it has a new twist because i live in seattle and am the one hosting the big meal.

i love having people over. it's so much fun to entertain. i love creating an atmosphere that is comfortable and jovial. i've gotten my turkey votive candles from my cousin david out of the closet and have rearranged my apt to create a better flow and am loving it.

and i've been thoroughly enjoying putting the menu together full of our family traditions. both sides of my family loved cooking and food from scratch. no shortcuts. and that is what i'm doing.

starters
shrimp cocktail
grapefruit platter (a decorative touch from the gartner side. grapefruit topped w/ fresh pineapple and a cherry)
escarole soup (a lolli family specialty and the first time i've made this myself)

then comes the thanksgiving feast with all the fixins...oh yeah...my aunt jokes that she's going to come in sweatpants....i love that idea.

then the apple and pumpkin pie. another 2 firsts for me to make.

and of course, the wine will be flowing. i am going to introduce them to an argentinian wine. something from mendoza, a wine region i want to visit while i'm in argentina.

and now, i have to finish up the pumpkin pie.

ron labio, ron labio

2005-11-19T10:38:00.000-08:00

i double minored in spanish and business @ loyola and used to be conversational in spanish. yes, i butchered the grammar often but i was able to get my point across. and yes, tequila or any sort of alcohol always helped with the conversation flow. i'll be sure to carry a flask around with me down in argentina.

i must admit that i'm a tad apprehensive about regaining my vocabulary and ability to get my point across. jackie has graciously sent me out her old spanish grammar book and has given me pep talks to make me feel at ease. i also purchased a spanish-english dictionary and am going to start making flash cards to unlock the part of my brain that is holding my spanish language captive.

so last night, instead of playing our new favorite game, settlers of catan, ronald agreed to walk through and quiz me on some spanish vocabulary. i was going over body parts and came to lips which is labios in spanish.

ronald then decided that his rockstar name would be ron labio down in south america when he becomes famous. he even came up with the chant the crowds are going to shout out. my goal is to get him to share the chant w/ a posting on my blog. it's that funny.

march 7, 2006...where will you be?

2005-11-17T19:15:00.000-08:00

sometimes, life is just ripe with possibility. and i feel as though my life is going to take me on a wild ride over the next couple of months.

my contract for the homepage team is going to be ending in 8 business days. my coworker and friend mary, is keeping track for me. after that,i enter my 100 day break from msn where wonderful journeys await.

i get to go back east to hang with all my family and friends over the holidays. the holidays are always meant to be experienced surrounded by those that you love. ronald is still unsure if he's going to come home for the holidays. that baffles me. how can someone willingly spend the holidays alone and not seem to care?

all i know if that i'm going home for the holidays and can't wait to venture back and reconnect with people. the best part is that i get to share the preliminary stages of my trip to argentina.

yup, i accepted the volunteer position in iguazu falls, argentina. i'll be living with a family for 7 weeks and doing volunteer work at the national park. it's going to be an amazing journey that i'm very much looking forward to. tonight i'm going to book tickets back to seattle for march 7, 2006.

elvis has left the building

2005-11-06T10:07:00.000-08:00

i spent my night last night at one of my favorite music venues, the tractor tavern, kicking back some beers dancing to the red elvises, a russian rokenrol revolution. they were such an unconventional bar band that got everyone moving, shaking and having a good time. it's not often that you see a group of russian singers in leopard print suits bring out a harem of belly dancers as they belt out the song 'i wanna see you bellydance'. needless to say, much boogying was done last night. a group to flag the next time they visit this area. even the opening band was pretty fun.

it was the perfect way to end a great day. i spent the afternoon sewing table placements for thanksgiving when my aunt and uncle come out to visit. you all know i get excited for these things and need to keep myself entertained with fun activities. i realized, i really do enjoy sewing. thanks to a great tutorial from emily while she was out here, i feel like i've picked it up again. threading bobbins and pinning your pattern…piece of cake.

it all started because i had leftover fabric from my pippie costume that i got from value village, ronald's favorite store. i picked up some canvas to line the bottoms of the mats and just figured it out. my 3 years of sewing in eisenhower middle school came flooding back. It became a joke that i would never use the sewing machine that ronald got me for christmas almost two years ago. i think i'm going to become a machine (no pun intended) especially since the winters in seattle are kind of cozy in that stay in your pajamas, sip on some tea, and take time to yourself kind of days. i want to make curtains and new pillow covers for my next projects.

vet visits

2005-11-02T18:36:00.000-08:00

today was the third time i've taken bleu to the vet, dr. heino, in over a month. and today, i had the pleasure of going twice today.

as you know, bleu is a shelter cat and i love her with all my heart. having her makes me want to help and foster more cats. they really are such loving creatures.

this love drives my desire to make sure she is okay and going to live a long healthy life...once she overcomes some of her skitteriness.

visit 1
bleu has fleas. how an indoor cat gets fleas is beyond me. i have a sneaky suspicion that they came from a kittie condo that i bought in the giant chain, petco...if only i could prove it.

it's here i learn that
1.) my crazy cat is not 3 years old, like i had guessed, she's btw 5-7 based on her teeth

2.) yes, she did have fleas

3.) she has a lip ulcer due to bad tartar that could cause internal organ problems. what the heck is that? and how did the vet see this?

visit 2
i take a day off from work to take bleu to get her bloodwork done to see if she has internal organ problems due to her tartar. who knew?! this must be done prior to getting her teeth cleaned which is supposed to help her ulcer. they failed to mention that they were going to shave her neck to draw the blood. she came out looking hysterical. picture to come soon.

visit 3
teeth cleaning. i had to cut off her food and water supply last night so i could take her to get her teeth cleaned this morning. i already feel bad. i struggle to get her in the cage b/c she fears and bolts at the mear sight of the carrier. i find out that they put her under to clean her teeth...crazy. and now i have to jam antibiotics down her throat to get rid of a cold she had. let me just say...she loves me now.

but i did find out that i can take her home on the plane and drug her. there's all this paperwork that i have to fill out for the airlines. yes, bleu may be coming home to nj with me for the holidays. how cool is that?

2005-10-31T20:49:00.000-08:00

"white trash man" as ronald transformed himself in to ron, the nascar loving, miller lite drinking, used car salesman from southern florida, i realized that i may have to step in and prevent his real nascar fascination from getting any bigger. i never would have thought that he could have pulled off trashy quite so well.

2005-10-31T20:36:00.000-08:00

"pippie" ronald was my hair dresser as we prepared for a halloween party over the weekend. it was rather comical to watch him struggle to transform my unruly hair in to braids. surprisingly, it didn't come out half bad. thank god he had sisters.

2005-10-31T20:25:00.000-08:00

this shot was taken about 5 ft. from when i realized that the older i get, the more afraid of heights i become. seriously...there wasn't any more walking standing up at this point, only hand over hand movement. the trail ceased to exist at this point. the sides drastically sloped for what seemed like an eternity. i tried to focus my mind on moving forward and up w/out looking down but with each step, my heart kept beating faster and faster. at that point, i realized that the ignorance of youth gets tarnished as the adult brain is able to process consequences and the laws of gravity.

2005-10-31T20:20:00.000-08:00

yet another gorgeous view from our hike 2 weekends ago. at times i get homesick but then i get out in to the mountains and remind myself that this is why i'm here. i would be naturally challenged if i still lived on the east coast. you just can't get the same views.

the fork in the road

2005-10-23T12:29:00.000-07:00

as i've been mentioning before, on my 28th birthday, i am most likely going to take my first 90-day break as a microsoft contractor. when else am i going to be given the time to take off and discover myself through some non-monotonous means?

i'm sitting in my neighborhood coffeeshop, sipping my chai and am truly getting myself giddy w/ anticipation. guys, wait until you hear my latest scheme. i'm sitting here pondering my thoughts for an essay i have to write to make my latest adventure a possibility.

i have found a volunteer program that will allow me work as a volunteer doing marketing work at the national park, iguazu falls, in argentina. it's through a company i found online called i-to-i solutions. i think it would be pretty amazing to be able to work at a national park promoting the adventures that can be had there and living them at the same time.

plus, i'd get to live with a family and would love the opportunity to bring back the ability to hold a conversation in spanish. it'd be for about 2 months...the time i am required to take-off as a contractor @ msn.com. 1 year on, three month break....i could get used to that one.

and now i have to refocus my energies on why i want to volunteer in iguazu falls in argentina for 2 months...i'm getting those day dreams going, chai in hand.

2005-10-22T10:36:00.000-07:00

"homer" ronald's kick-ass jack-o-lantern. this year, he won the pumpkin carving contest, even though he doesn't know it's a contest...

2005-10-22T10:20:00.000-07:00

"scary kitty" my jack-o-lantern

2005-10-22T10:15:00.000-07:00

where in the world is ronald lyp?

cozy fall mornings

2005-10-08T13:12:00.000-07:00

after a fun night filled w/ cranium w/ our friend's megan and tj, i have gotten to relax this morning. ronald and i watched this old woman outside by the bus stop in front of our apt sweeping the leaves that had fallen. immediately, we thought of my grandmother. she actually sweeps the street in front of her row home in philly. she's a nut w/ so much energy despite her age. i can only hope to be like that when i'm older.

so i decided to call her and catch up. of course, i got an update on the philadelphia eagles along w/ updates on my aunts and cousins. she's like the hub of our family. my cousins find out about my life before i even mention it. i love that about my italian side of the family.

i have to admit talking to her and about my other family members made me really home sick. hearing that she and my cousin laurie were going to resurface her kitchen cabinets made me nostalgic for the days where i could drive down to spend some quality time with her and the rest of my family and friends.

at least, i have some good old quality time coming w/ my aunt june and uncle bob for thanksgiving. we're going to have a grand time and i must say that i'm looking forward to cooking my second thanksgiving dinner for family. i'm getting it down pat. i think this year, i'm even going to attempt to bake a pie. pumpkin or apple...it'll be fun to have the family traditions to share w/ ronald. i'll even make the grapefruits and may make our italian wedding soup. eand then we get to tailgate @ the giants and seahawks game a couple days after. this is going to be my first tailgate experience. i'm excited to think and plan for the ambiance and snacks before the game.

and now i'm off to play frisbee and grab a chai and donut in a new park that opened a couple of blocks away.

long time no talk

2005-10-04T20:13:00.000-07:00

so it feels (and has been) a long time since i've posted anything. why you ask? i have no idea. i'm not sure if it's the fact that i've been working killer hours or the fact that i've been in one of my internal reflection states. either way, it feels good to sit at my computer again and to share my life with you fellow people.

after an amazing and jam packed summer, i feel like fall is settling in and some of the hustle is leaving my life. and i thank god for that. i've just gotten back from austin to hang with my girls from college and check out the austin city limits festival . btw the good music, soul baring conversations and girl time, i feel like i'm ready to come back to seattle and face reality and moving forward.

over the next couple weeks, i'm going to be facing some pretty important decisions. as i've mentioned before, as a contractor @ msn.com, i'm required to talk 90 days off after a year (or take a full time position). i'm torn b/c i think i could get a full time position (possibly with our travel channel) if i wanted it right now. but i'm also really drawn to the aspect of traveling...i've been daydreaming about that time off for quite some time. my mind has taken me from volunteering in south america, to tracing my family's heritage and visiting the towns from my parents family's (italy, germany and ireland) to austrailia.

but some stability would be great too. i'd love to buy a place out here and working full time would help. to have a little house or condo out in this area would be a fun adventure in and of itself. i'd love to be a single woman with her own place to fix up w/ my pyscho shelter cat named bleu.

2005-10-01T20:12:00.000-07:00

the homeboys...mike kelly came out for a visit to seattle. it's because of him that i have met 2 cool seattlites that i know call my friends. and to think it all started in our college freshman apt...

2005-10-01T20:07:00.000-07:00

pretty sunset. and they say it rains a lot in washington. keep believing that all you east coasters...

2005-10-01T20:06:00.000-07:00

the four of us got to adventure out to mt. rainier. up close, we all debated our ability to climb and conquer the tallest peak in washington state. walking around the streets of seattle make the mountain seem much grander than up close.

2005-10-01T20:03:00.000-07:00

after a stint living in ethiopia, optimist and julie ventured cross country and stopped by for a visit. and of course a visit wouldn't be complete w/out a sunset picnic at golden gardens

2005-10-01T20:02:00.000-07:00

me and jackie dancing on the beach. there's nothing like your best friend to bring out the silly sisterhood in you

2005-10-01T20:00:00.000-07:00

from fire dancers to 12 piece bands...my beloved golden gardens at sunset is always a treat

2005-09-16T22:37:00.000-07:00

"the winos" jackie and i spent the day at the chateau. we started with wine tasting, then went on the tour that ended with more tastings, and then picniced on the grounds by the lake nibbling on cheese and sharing a bottle of wine and giggling in the sun. girl time is so refreshing. i realized that it is essential to my well being.

welcome to the visual world of my life

2005-08-29T22:22:00.000-07:00

yes, i know i've been slacking in my communication to the world in places other than seattle...life has just been filled with some wonderful experiences and people flooding in to my life. it's at that time that i dedicate myself and the experience to the visitors that have stepped in to my seattle life.

i work, i play and i reconnect with those people who have visited been visiting seattle lately. here are some fun snapshots from the past couple weeks that have been filled with sharing my life in seattle and experiencing all that it has to offer with good friends.

here's part I of my my visual tour....enjoy the memories and insight in to my whirlwind life. part II will come later this week as i prepare for Mike Kelly's arrival in to the music mecca that is seattle. we get to share a wedding and bumbershoot...seattle's music event.

2005-08-29T22:13:00.000-07:00

'the evolution of the seattle man'~ one of my favorite past times lately is to have a picnic @ golden gardens on the beach in this fine city of seattle...picnic blanket, bottle of wine, munchies, sunset, good friends (and new ones), views of the mountains, bonfires and yes folks, we were treated to a guy fire dancing too. it doesn't get much better than that. a perfect way to spend a summer seattle night.

2005-08-29T22:12:00.000-07:00

'tweedle dee and tweedle dumb' ~ "wait, where is the space needle again?"

2005-08-29T22:09:00.000-07:00

'the homeboys' ~ ronald and em bonded like true homeboys. ronald's mac is now stocked w/ some great new reggae and rap from sono. rock on, em'...

2005-08-29T22:05:00.000-07:00

'koi and the wordens'~ after i got back from my stint out in nj, i got a visit from emily worden...yes, jes' little sis. we had an amazing time frolicking around the city and experiencing the best in life. hence this scene from the japanese garden in seattle. we got to feed them, ponder life, share and just live life...yeehaw.

2005-08-29T22:04:00.000-07:00

'dinner time in d.c.' ~ after jenine and chuck's wedding ronald and i were off to spend time w/ pete and mya in their new place in washington d.c. it's always an inspiring time with them.

2005-08-29T22:02:00.000-07:00

'the first dance' ~ it was only a matter of time before these 2 tied the knot. the band rocked out like true jenine and chuck style.

2005-08-29T21:58:00.000-07:00

'the wynwood lasses' ~after the jersey shore, it was down to baltimore to take part in another very special wedding. jenine and chucks.

2005-08-29T21:57:00.000-07:00

'the teacher and his disciple'~ my cousin, david and my brother doing excercies on the beach. we've started a bet amoung our cousins to see who could get a 6 pack by christmas...who comes up with these things?!

2005-08-29T21:56:00.000-07:00

'the lolli ladies' ~my grandmother, aunt denise and my momspending a lovely lolli day at the beach in sea isle, nj.

2005-08-29T21:53:00.000-07:00

'the angel and the devil staring at each other's reflection wondering which one is going to win out...you have to believe that angels are going to always win.'

2005-08-29T21:47:00.000-07:00

'early morning bike rides'~ after nancy and hopkins wedding i got to spend a couple days down the shore w/ my mother, brother and grandmother. it truly transported me back to days gone past with my family. i saw an innocence and spirit in my brother that i hadn't seen in a very long time. we played like children out in the ocean and remembered a wonderful piece of our childhood that hadn't surfaced in a very long time.

2005-08-29T21:44:00.000-07:00

the linkwood crew @ nancy and hopkins wedding--i had my high school world and college worlds collide and it couldn't have been more fun. we partied like it was 1999 and loved every minute of it.

2005-08-29T21:41:00.000-07:00

'the proud papa'~ nancy and her dad walking down the aisle

living solo

2005-08-06T20:40:00.000-07:00

when i came back to seattle, ronald stayed east to spend more time w/ his family and friends....leaving me flying solo in the city. what's a girl to do?

i've been settling in to my new apartment for the past 2 weeks and have really loved my time alone to get used to my new place and reflect on the life ronald and i have created in seattle .

i've been unpacking, situating myself and have relished the time alone. this is the most time i've ever spent away from ronald and by myself for that matter. i've realized that i have started to carve a niche out for myself but am still a long ways away from having the social circle i want and need to truly be happy. ..more on that at another time.

on friday night, i went to a friend's artichoke and ukelele party (interesting combo, i know). it was somewhat of a first for me. i only knew 1 person at the party, showed up by myself knowing that i was going to be one of the youngest people there. needless to say, i found the night stimulating and full of insight that i wouldn't have gotten sitting home by myself. i realized that as long as you're comfortable with yourself, you can make any situation comfortable. i was surrounded by some very traveled and free spirited people who helped put my life out in seattle in perspective without even knowing it. i felt and believed through our interactions that i too, was intriguing and led a life that could inspire others.

with all this time of relection, i am ready for ronald to come back so i can share the insight gained with him and to show him the living space i created for us. it's comforting to come home to him at the end of a work day...

humidity, beach and sun...east coast summer visits PART II

2005-07-31T09:31:00.000-07:00

after the beach is back up to western nj to spend a night at my mom's before heading down to baltimore. i got to meet up w/ my old coworker and now good freiend, dave for drinks and always stimulating conversation. it's so refreshing to touch base w/ dave to see just how far we've come from early in our careers. it's that reality check to make us realize that 1.) we have matured (slightly) and have a better understanding of how to maintain a successful career 2.) there really are dumb people getting paid big bucks in corporations and we are 10 times smarter than those morons and 3.) despite this maturity, we'd still spend our afternoons at work playing "wall ball" (an amazing game to be played on office chairs (w/wheels), a koosh ball, a poster cardboard container (which you put over your arm so you no longer have just an arm...you have a bat for an arm), and a hallway that represents a mini-court. oh the fun, we had playing that one. a real career builder, that one was.

then it was down to baltimore w/ ronald for my third wedding of the season...jenine and chucks. this wedding was special b/c it was in the chapel on loyola college and i was able to show ronald some of my college life and because i haven't seen my old roommates in such a long time. i lived w/ jenine my freshman through junior years of college and went abroad to holland with her for a semester. we've been through it all and it's great to be able to reconnect with people from your past. nicole, sarah, laura, amy and i were able to regroup and share a part in jenine's big day. and ronald got to see another part to me and my life at loyola. so much fun. plus, i got to stay w/ mike kelly and meet his new girlfriend. and ronald got to experience his first walking tour of baltimore w/ mike. always an interesting experience.

for this wedding, i actually had my hair and make-up done...it was amazing to see what someone could do to my face to make me feel like a hot mama. coming from a girl who doesn't really wear make-up, it was so fun to play dress up, get my hair and make-up done and wear a princess dress.

and now to stop the sentimentality and share a v. good bridget jones moment from the wedding reception.

you all know i am not the best person to walk gracefully in heals since i'm usually barefoot or in flip flops in the summer. well, amy and i were coming out to the dinner area from the inside of the dance area and i was walking down the steps holding my baybreeze, when all of a sudden, i get my heel caught w/ the bottom of my dress. it catches and suddenly i feel my leg get trapped and my momentum continuing forward. yes, this bridesmaid was heading for a tumble down the remaining 2 stairs in front of a room full of people. with cat like reflexes, i manage to turn my body to fall on my bum and save my drink from spilling...who says college didn't teach me anything?! i look up to find amy and ronald laughing and all i could do was get up look around to see if anyone noticed (luckily not too many were staring) and then bust out laughing with a big emabarassed look on my face...the worst part was...i was totally sober...just clutzy.

after the wedding ronald and i got to head down to washington dc to visit pete and mya in their own washington. as always, it was a blast full of good conversation and insight in moving to a new area not knowing anyone and how another couple has dealt with the ups and downs.

then it was time for me to make my way back up to newark to fly home. i got to see aku for breakfast in baltimore before her life altering trip to india. i always find some bit of inspiration when i see aku when she tells me about her studies...so fun to bounce off our inner growth w/ each other. she too understands energy.

then i got to spend time at the lyps to see ronald's fam to catch up before i headed back to seattle for 2 weeks of alone time w/out ronald in my new apt.

and here i sit, reflecting sharing my life with my friends and family.

humidity, beach and sun...east coast summer visits PART I

2005-07-27T22:42:00.000-07:00

it's been a whirlwind couple of weeks. ronald's sister, tricia, came out to participate in the seattle to portland bike and inspired me to take part in it next year. driving them to the start line and then picking them up at the finish line in portland was enough inspiration to get me going.

in the middle of all that, ronald and I were in the process of moving to our third apartment in less than a year. yes, that's right, 3 moves. i think i thrive on the change of scenery.

so ronald and i feverishly packed up in to the wee hours of the morning, went to work, came home and finished packing and moved in to our new place...only to throw our last box in to our new apt and run to catch our plane back to good old nj.

i got 2 take part in 2 very special weddings this past venture back to nj. the first was the wedding btw mike/hopkins, one of my best friends from high school and nancy, my roommate from college my senior year. it was one giant fiesta full of friends from high school and college...i joked that it was my party too. and party, we did...until the wee hours of the morning...feeling totally alive. a couple great highlights of the night...getting nance in to her dress w/ all that crazy poof, walking down the aisle and seeing some of my best friends from two time periods of my life in the audience and then getting to party with them, seeing fireworks out of a hotel room window w/ jim, jes and joho, dancing w/ my girls (even denise was dancing) joho making fresh squeezed lemondade @ 2am in our hotel room, getting a call from ronald to meet him on the roof by going out a door on the first floor, over a chain link fence and on to the roof to find him...needless to say, i never quite found it.

funniest mental image from the wedding: ronald getting woken up by security @ 6am on the roof asking, "how'd you get up here?"

then it was off to my dad's w/ joho for a barbecue. my dad and i got to totally chat and catch up and relax, which is something we both needed. the highlight, as always was the lawn bocce deul with i vow to avenge.

then it was on to the good old nj shore w/ my brother, mom and grandmother. luckily, my aunt denise and cousin david were in the area too and we were able to have a good old child like time at the beach....many hours were spent body surfing in the waves. it felt so freeing to have such a pure good time with my brother biking and swimming. after all we've gone through, it was refreshing to find that we still do have some similarities and a history of amazing memories of times gone past. plus, spending time w/ my grandmom lolli is always a trip.

funniest mental image from lolli time: sleeping on a mattress on the floor in my grandmother's bedroom (the only one w/ air conditioning on an unbearable humid hot summer night). my mother and i were dressed in my grandmother's moomoo nigh gowns. my mom shared a bed w/ my grandmother, i slept on the mattress of the floor and my brother crawled up on the only remaining floor space next to the bed. all of us crammed in to the one tiny bedroom cracks me up.

random thoughts

2005-07-03T12:57:00.000-07:00

current bus ride book: ape and essence

current cd playing in the background: tom petty and the heartbreakers

where ronald and i had brunch today: b & o espresso

things to do today: hike and bike out in granite falls

Be Nice to NJ Week

2005-07-01T14:03:00.000-07:00

So July 3-9 is the official Be Nice to NJ week. How cool is that?! Who said NJ was overlooked?

keep on trucking

2005-06-26T20:44:00.000-07:00

so it's nearly official, we're moving again. i know, i know, it's like we move every 5 months or so. but it really is worth it. we get to experience all aspects of one section of capitol hill. we'll be moving a couple blocks further north in to a quiter section of the hill. we're still within walking distance from all our regular haunts but are closer to new sections.

we will have top pot dounts by us, which is a very tasty way to start the day. we also wound up walking by last night to see what the neighborhood is like and ronald found a bar that has a 2 top ms. pacman game...needless to say, we'll be spending many a night checking out that place.

so i've packed up a good portion of my apartment and am waiting for the final go ahead from our next place and then we're off to the races again. nothing like time for a change.

i'll get to create a new place where i can call home in the city of seattle. and this time, i'll be able to open my windows without hearing the sounds of the highway pummel their way in to my head.

through thick and thin...right?

2005-06-26T14:27:00.000-07:00

yesterday was a glorious summer day in seattle and we decided to go for a long bike ride. so i got geared up and before we took off, ronald warned me that we were going down town and to try to keep up.

huh,?! he acted as if he were the only one to be biking a lot. i've been spending many an afternoon riding around seattle, getting lost discovering new areas. the nerve to think i wouldn't be able to keep up!

so we began down the massive hill and came to a red light in the middle of construction. i saw that no one was coming and decided to pass him. as i rode by, i told him to, "watch this" as i sped by. he immediately followed.

no sooner had i gotten halfway through the light when i noticed 2 cops on bikes on the corner. Crap! they called out to us. i stopped like the good person i am and my boyfriend takes off down the street and books it. the nerve to leave his girlfriend!

so i proceed to get lectured on how it's a $110 fine for running a red on a bike. i flashed my girlie grin, giggled a bit and wound up getting a warning and a task to let me boyfriend, the "fleer" know that what he did was illegal.

nothing like taking the wrap for your man as he gets away scott free.

the benefits of tea

2005-06-22T20:31:00.000-07:00

i think i've realized just why people in seattle drink so much coffee. it's because every one is so darned busy. in order to do everything, we need that little extra boost to get us through the day.

well, for me, it's not coffee but i'm really starting to enjoy tea. right now, i've sipped my tea in my favorite coffee shop , bauhaus. the little boost of energy to start crossing off those pesky things to do is all i've needed to cleanse. i've checked both my work accounts...msn and general glass and am checking on my apartment posting on craigslist. yes , that's right, i may be moving again but it's something i enjoy. the thought of moving out of my apartment on the highway makes me giddy with delight.

i've realized that i need to live in a place where i can open my windows to hear birds chirping, not the freeway. this is by far the weirdest place i've ever lived and i can't wait to bid this one a fond farwwell. the only things i'll miss are my fireplace and the washer and dryer in the unit. those two things, i could get very used to.

i may have a beautiful new charming building to move in to in the coming weeks.

that would be nice.

spent...

2005-06-21T23:21:00.000-07:00

so it's time for a little vent session on keeping it all together. sometimes i think i'm an adult, living in a responsible adult world but i'll be damned if it doesn't get tiring to keep it all together.

i long for the days where you could just play hookie or not respond to a coworkers question. i think i've just been on over drive lately and am juggling a lot of balls in there air which makes me feel alive but i have to remember to take time for myself.

so here i sit alone in my apartment, reflecting on my life, what i'm doing, what makes me happy and what kinds of fun experiences i'll be having in the coming weeks. i know i've said this before but to me, being able to email, talk on the phone and reconnect with my friends and family is therapeutic and grounding.

it's weird being out here, really only knowing ronald. i really do feel that i'm learning a lot about myself and am becomming much stronger. ronald and i have been going through an interesting transition together and like we've always said, we'll either get through it all loving each other with a certainty that we couldn't get in nj or we'll end up just friends. i'm just taking it one day at a time and trying to keep my life in balance.

i feel better already.

2005-06-14T22:46:00.001-07:00

misty morning voyage

2005-06-14T22:46:00.000-07:00

the stay puff marshmellow woman

2005-06-14T22:45:00.000-07:00

ronald's usual view from behind. i was on the look out for otters. much to my dismay, i didn't see them, but i did see other creatures that fascinated me. the seals were awesome to watch...especially when they were watching you back.

2005-06-14T22:43:00.000-07:00

the boys (ronald and pete) on their trip w/out the ladies

2005-06-14T22:42:00.000-07:00

you all know i'm a pyro and even though we were with 2 guys, i still wound up manning the fire. great s'mores were shared by all. accompanied by some pabst blue ribbon.

2005-06-14T22:41:00.000-07:00

after a very long and trying ferry experience, we were treated to this fantastic view that first evening.

2005-06-14T22:37:00.000-07:00

notice the caption 'waiting room' prominently displayed. we wound up missing our first ferry in the morning and then proceeded to stay on the ferry past our island stop. this meant we had to wait for the next ferry back to san juan island to get to our kayaks...oh, mighty test of our patience...

crazy is my life

2005-06-14T21:46:00.000-07:00

whew...i'm finally taking a few moments to myself and am processing. you just gotta have time like that to truly realize what makes up your life. what have i been doing with myself for the last couple weeks.

i've been zooming through life taking it all in out here in the great pacific northwest. i can honestly say without a doubt that it fits me out here. it truly is amazing and new. i feel invigorated!

here are some quick glimpses from my life out here...

pete and mya's visit...man that was great to have them here. even though we've only hung out a handful of times, i feel as though we've shared so much. and to experience the san juan islands for the first time together was just another way to solidify that bond. camping and kayaking was something i'd never experienced before. i mean, we got to see seals, porpoises and bald eagles in the wild.

2005-06-09T23:32:00.000-07:00

the happy couple...and to think we've been friends since we were 6 years old and i got to share her memorable day. she's got herself a mighty fine frenchman who makes her so happy.

2005-06-09T23:30:00.000-07:00

flower's from sarah's wedding. simply beautiful. she had each of us bridesmaids carry a different type of flower in our bouquets and she had a combination of all of ours. great idea...

2005-05-31T23:50:00.000-07:00

the trip down...visability was a little sparse but we made it out...sunburn, but out w/ amazing memories

2005-05-31T23:49:00.000-07:00

morning views

2005-05-31T23:48:00.000-07:00

base camp @ sahale glacier

2005-05-31T23:47:00.000-07:00

mmmm. pop tarts in the tent

2005-05-31T23:46:00.001-07:00

heavenly

2005-05-31T23:46:00.000-07:00

god's country from up on sahale glacier

2005-05-31T23:45:00.000-07:00

peaks, peaks and more peaks

2005-05-31T23:43:00.000-07:00

coming up to beauty

2005-05-31T23:40:00.000-07:00

meditation at its finest

2005-05-31T23:39:00.000-07:00

ronald 'the zen master'

2005-05-31T23:38:00.000-07:00

cascade pass

2005-05-31T23:37:00.000-07:00

early morning wake-up...who needs coffee w/ a fresh mountain water around?

2005-05-31T23:36:00.000-07:00

VICTIM: Ronald the next morning with his chewed up tent pole bag.

2005-05-31T23:34:00.000-07:00

WANTED: Deer who abducted Ronald's tent pole bag, chewed it up, drooled on it and spit it out 50 ft from camp. Suspect was also seen licking ronald's pack through out the night.

2005-05-31T23:31:00.000-07:00

ronald eating dinner @ johanesburg camp...night 1

celebrity encounter

2005-05-14T07:26:00.000-07:00

thursday night, ronald and i saw bobby mcferrin perform at the moore. i had seen him when i was volunteering at the community theater back in morristown and he was simply amazing. a pied piper leading the audience through the beauty of music.

after the show, ronald asked me if i would recognize him walking down the streets of seattle. i said yes and he said that he'd probably pass him on the street, thinking he was a bum.

on saturday morning, i had an appointment to get my bridesmaid dress altered. i went down to the shop and the lady wasn't there. pissed off, i started stomping up the hill back to my apartment to check to see if i had gotten the address wrong. i didn't have my cell and my attempts at using a pay phone to call ronald were even more frustrating.

i was in my pissed off state when all of a sudden i look up to see bobby walking right towards me. who would have known?! i thought about what i could say to him about his magical performance but instead, i looked directly in to his eyes and smiled. he beamed back at me. i couldn't wait to tell ronald what had happened. (of course, he was skeptical that it was really him)

part II of the story begins w/ ronald dropping me off downtown for the second time to attempt to get my dress altered. i jokingly told him that i'd be back to go for a bike ride unless i was having lunch w/ bobby somewhere. no sooner do i get out of the car, but i see him walking towards me again.

i immediately turn to see ronald ready to pull away...bang on the window and "quietly" tell him that bobby is right in the square. he immediately rolls down the window and yells, "Bobby!" startling him from his daze.

i'm sitting there stupified and laughing at ronald approach. ronald starts mumbling, bobby can't hear him and skittishly takes a step closer to the car. i don't say anything for fear that he thinks that i'm a crazy person carrying a purple dress that keeps following him.

but i do go on to get my dress altered w/ a big smile on my face.

2005-05-13T20:17:00.000-07:00

her name is blue...at least for now.

even better than star wars

2005-05-12T17:57:00.000-07:00

if you thought star wars was good, check out store wars (thanks jes)

street cat

2005-05-09T20:36:00.000-07:00

as you all know, i'm totally enamored with my whacked cat named blue. i have no idea how old she is and i often wonder what happened to make her so timid.

she's so unassuming and gentile. after you call her over to you, she'll gently walk up to you and place her paw on you, gently tapping whatever body part is nearest to remind you that she likes to be pet and cuddled. it's so freakin precious.

i love when she walks in front of you collapses, rolls over onto her back to show her little belly hoping to be pet.

she's a keeper. it really is a rewarding thing to help a cat and watch her grow more confident and loved every day. i really get a lot of enjoyment out of fostering the cat, even though i am going to adopt her. this is something that i'd like to continue doing if ronald can stand it. for now, blue is challenge and enjoyment enough.

2005-05-03T23:16:00.000-07:00

as you've seen, ronald and i have just finished up a glorious hike out at granite mt. it was an interesting adventure. we had a glorious time hiking up the mountain, through the trees to the snow at the summit. it's always fun to get up in to some snow...there's something about it that brings out the kid in me.

once in the snow, i have energy to spare...we had a great lunch staring out at the snow capped peaks of the central cascades, chatting with this couple who was doing the same.

on the way down, we merrily parted ways with the couple, who conitnued to scramble down the rocks we came up on...while ronald and i set off down the mountain through the snow, pouncing like a gazelle. well, ronald was prancing like a gazelle and i was cautiously hopping down like a giraffe on ice with a big fat smile on my face, giggling like a 10 year old.

and then we came to a part where there was already a trail asking to be slid down...on your butts of course. if i can figure out how to upload the video, i'll show you the snapshots of both of our olympic runs.

then on the way down, ronald twisted his ankle. as he lay there beating his hand against the dirt in pain, leg shaking i began thinking about how i was going to get him down. luckily i had my hiking poles for him to use as a crutch. plus i was feeling empowered to carry him down the mountain.

you have to realize that i've been reading all about these miraculous survival stories in the outdoors. one man cut his own arm off that was stuck behind a boulder and another climbed out a huge crevase with a broken leg. i was prepared to ration my food and water so that we could survive the night...my own dramatic adventure story waiting to be posted on this very blog.

then ronald got up, shook off the pain, grabbed my hiking pole and proceeded down the mountain.

our time of crazy survival would come another day...