8/16/08

So, I finally did something I've been wanting to do since I got my license; I went camping by myself for 2 nights! I scheduled myself for 2 days off in a row (doesn't sound that amazing, but believe me, it is) on Tues. and Wed. and took off for Camano Island where I went camping a few weeks ago w/ Abby and Becki.

Anyway, it was so just what I needed! The weather was absolutely perfect and I slept the first night w/o the rain fly, which, when you live in WA is practically unheard of! (The second night I had to put it on cause it barely sprinkled for about 2 minutes) There was a meteor shower that night around 2am, but I couldn't stay awake for it. I woke up sometime in the middle of the night and tried to see some, but there were too many trees and my eyes don't focus that well when I'm tired. Oh well.

Tuesday I actually slept in till 9, which really surprised me since lately I've been waking up at the break of dawn everyday even though my room is fairly dark! And I was in a bright tent with people up and about and stupid crows cawing. Oh, the crows. Don't get me started, don't even get me started! Too late. That was the only downfall of the whole trip was the crows. I think it's the only animal that could really make me go insane with frustration and anger! I wish I had a gun. Seriously.

But that aside, I had an incredible time with just me and God. After it got dark was the best times for me. I would light a fire and read my Bible and pray. Awesome.

I want to make this an annual thing cause it was seriously what I needed. It was kind of funny cause I wasn't sure if I was going to freak out when it got dark and come home early. But I think there were enough other campers around I felt pretty safe. The weirdest thing was only talking a couple times in 3 days! And that was to my sister on the phone and the guy who sold firewood.

Good times.

8/7/08

This week has been pretty good so far! We had a family gathering at my parents saturday and sunday since my cousin, Cody was in town and my dad's b-day was on monday. The weather was perfect and we spent some time on the beach and since my parent's house is so small, most people ended up sleeping in tents out in the yard. I would prefer that anyway! Nice, fresh air! So that was fun, but way too short of a time.

I also had yesterday off. Cody and I had planned a Seattle day complete with kayaking. Well, I had gone to bed feeling fine the night before, but woke up with my upper back totally messed up and I knew I wouldn't be able to kayak at all. So I went and picked up Ben and Cody from the ferry and my rommate ended up tkaing them all kayaking while I went to the chiropractor. After that, I drove down to meet them and we went to REI for about an hour and a half and then we were all starving so we went to Salumi, a famous sandwich place downtown that Cody heard about and wanted to go to. It was very good! We got it to go and ate in this cool little park that was enclosed next to a building complete with trees and a waterfall. The cool things you find when you get out of the tourist zone! I didn't even know that existed! I was kind of glad Cody didn't want to do our usual touristy things. I get kind of sick of that and it's fun exploring parts of the city you've never seen before! I took Ben, Tori and Rachael back to their car and then Cody and I ran around the city for a couple more hours. Unfortunately he had to get out of town early to meet another cousin of his (on the other side) so we had to get back and buy him a bus ticket to LA! All in all, I ended up driving 115 miles yesterday! Crazy! But it was a lot of fun despite the pain in my back all day. I was really blessed to be able to spend the time with my cousing whom I rarely get to see! I probably got the most time with him out of my whole fam. Ha!

7/23/08

I'm really grateful that God has provided me with a really good job that pays well, but man, I'm getting really sick of it! This week is the Anniversary sale at Nordstrom and though this is my 3rd year working the sale, I have never had to manage one! It's enough to make me want to quit. I know I won't, but it's definitely something that's been going thorugh my head a lot the past 6 days! I'm getting burned out not having an assistant and there is no end in sight. I have nothing to look forward to, no vacation, no respite, only week after week of the same stress and being miserable!

I was talking to my sister yesterday and I am thinking about just taking 2 weeks off the next chance I get and just going somehwere, anywhere! I would love to just get a little traveling under my belt and just go! I could just point at a world map right now and leave. I don't care where. My escapism is getting the better of me. When things get tough, run. It's an instinct I've always had. Pretty cowardly, but hey.

Today is my only day off in a 10 day stretch. I keep meeting people who work a lot more than I do and I just wonder how they keep sane? I don't get it! I need my sabbath and I don't feel guilty for it. It's biblical. I think I was born on the wrong continent. I was made for European life where everyone takes the middle of the day off to rest, they only work 4 days and they eat dinner at 10 or 11pm! That's so for me!

Anyway, I'm very complainy, I'm trying to be content, even trying to be thankful cause I know I have it good! So praise God for the trials and for his provision and gifts!

7/15/08

So, I just bought my latest time waster. Actually, it's a productive thing, but anyway, I got a bead loom! So now I can make really cool bracelets and anklets! I've always liked making jewelry and now it can look really good! So, I will be going and buying yet MORE beads today. I know I have thousands of them somewhere, but I have no idea where they are and I'm not willing to go up into our spider infested crawl space to find them.

So, some bad news. We had an instpector come to our cabin today because the campus is starting some plans for new buildings and such. Anyway, we asked the guy if they were planning on tearing down our cabin and he obvioulsy wasn't supposed to say anything, but basically said that usually when he does inspections it's because they are going to tear something down. So we kind of took that as a "you better start looking for places to live". So that's something to be in prayer about because we are getting a killer of a deal at this place besides the fact that it's an awesome place to live AND it's historical! I mean, it's not a definite thing that they'll be tearing it down and we have no idea what the time frame is on that. I knew I wasn't going to be living here forever though!

Time to go buy some beads (and some coffee)

07/09/08

Last night I got to have my first beach BBQ of the year! 2 summers ago we did it just about every week and this summer, since my parents don't live on this side anymore, we just haven't done it! So I decided to take matters into my own hands and organize it. I got to see my nieces, who, though they live just a couple miles from me, I don't get to se as often as I would like. Gabby is getting really cute! And I say that because I think most newborns are pretty weird looking. (No offense to those who think they're all adorable. They're not.) Tiranna was crawling around in the dirty sand and was absolutely filthy by the end. (There were a lot of coals from the barbecue in the sand)I gave her her secret Indian name: Blackfoot.

Anyway, it was just really nice to be able to hang out and relax at one of my favorite places with some of my favorite people!

07/05/08

Yesterday was a great 4th of July. We did things a little differently this year as we ususally go to the Millers for their Independence Day extrodonaire. Anyway, Abby got free tickets to a Mariners game through work and we got to sit in a suite!!! It was sweet! Ha ha ha. We got free parking up close, the staff there treated you like you were special (aka, RICH). So we hung out there until the 7th inning (Mariners were winning at that point. Still don't know what the final score was)

Next we headed down to our church where there was a block party with bands, food, inflatable stuff for kids, etc. The band that kicked the whole thing off was called, Grunge and they were seriously good! Sounded exactly like Nirvanna, Sound Garden, etc. We left there after about 2 hours (not very many people there that we knew).

Last on our 4th of July tour, we headed north for the family BBQ at my brother's house. I got to see 3 of my precious chiblings and a bunch of people I don't get to see too often. Anyway, the food was great, fellowship even better and we stayed till about midnight gathered around the fire pit watching neighborhood fireworks (There were some narrow misses). Seems that every year I get more and more leary of fireworks. But it definitely keeps you on your toes!

7/02/08

I'm always surprised at the biginning of a new month! What the heck happened to (fill in the month)? Anyway, I feel like summer just jumped out of no-where and before I know it, it's going to be fall again!

This week is going SO much better than last week. Thank the good Lord Jesus! My crew seems happier, things are goings swimmingly at work, I get Thursday AND Friday off, I get to spend time with my family. Now, hopefully it doesn't rain on my days off like MSN weather keeps telling me. Guess I can't have everything.

Last night we got to watch my sis-in-law graduate from massage therapy school. It was a small number of graduates which made it a much more entertaining and personable graduation. We went to Rory's afterward to have a drink and a lb of love. (I just learned after seeing that on the menu for a couple years now that that means fries!! Who knew? Not me!) After Rorys I went to Jon and Saras to watch Man of the Year. That was Sara's mom's choice as I tend to shy away from anything with the creepy Robin Williams. But it was surprisingly good! Not at all what I thought.

Tomorrow is community group. I'm really looking forward to it as we have split into several groups and are smaller now. MUCH more personable! Plus, we're having patriotic food. LOVE it!