The Road To and Fro

The open road. I felt a little carsick, it had been so long since I'd been a passenger. The road unwound before us and rolled over small summits, cut swaths through pine forests, and eventually curled it's way up to the old volcano lake. A perfect camp site awaited and my voice was lost (and the cough that never seemed to end was found...until I got home).

The next day, the road brought us closer to the ocean. It took us to an Enchanted Forest that thrilled little girls (and me) to no end. As it grew dark and we continued our journey, I felt as though we were being launched into space since it was all unfamiliar and the road twisted with unexpected turns through the dense forest. We reached our destination late: a small yellow house located a few blocks from the beach, generously shared by friends.

The beach! We spent days looking for shells, wading, hiking, searching for signs of sea life. Listening to the waves, feeling the mist (when it was there, it was a very sunny trip), watching the light flicker on the waves were all restorative.

Museums...Marsh's Free Museum and the Columbia River Maritime Museum, both excellent in their own way.

And then the road home. We were ready to return, making time, taking the most direct route. Now that I'm here, I wish I was there. Despite my newly discovered status as a not-so-great-traveler (why couldn't I loosen up and let go?), home brings an impossible heat wave, work, and short tempers. Today, I'll daydream about cool breezes while I wade through it all. And I'll also daydream about a new camera, since I dropped mine in the ocean. Photos will be scarce until I can find an old camera to use. Now I need to wander about and see what you've all been up to for the past week and a half....

See You Later, Sailor

This little family will be on the blustery beaches of Washington and Oregon with another little family for the next week and a half. We'll be back with tales of mermaids, oysters and tide pools soon.

And he's off...

Locked and loaded, ready to roll...

...ride safe, Boo. May there be a cool breeze at your back, the skies be empty of rain, and soft ground to lay your head at night. We'll see you in a week on the other side.

Fairytale Town '09--Long Day, Short Tale.

It was a gorgeous day, just like summer. Flowers were in abundance. Fun with friends, a yummy picnic, viewing and taking part in the beauty of life. I snapped 142 photos yesterday! Tired. Wishing today was not a work day...oh well, at least I have happy warm memories of a day spent out of doors.

Vacation Recap

Well, back to normality (or what passes for normal 'round these parts). Sigh. I liked not having to make any decisions greater than "Shall I have the IPA or the wheat beer with my dinner?" or "Which ride shall we try to talk Kidlet into riding?" I make it sound like the trip was a breeze (it was not) but once I got into the proper spirit, it became easier.

As means of explanation, we are a quiet family. To be in an environment where everything is quickly paced and the volume is loud...it was a challenge to adjust. On the second night, it was when we were watching the electric parade that I had an "aha!" moment. Sitting on the warm pavement, watching wacky little cars covered in lights twirl to silly synthesized music I had a Burning Man flashback. And from then on, I was good. Yes, remembering a counter-cultural festival helped me find my way in a commercial mecca. From my years of Burning Man 'training', I've learned that sometimes you need to let go of all plans and schedules. Be prepared with a calm voice, water and snacks. When it gets overwhelming, step back for a while and hide in the dark of your cool motel room. Re-enter when you are ready. This advice to myself served me well.

Kidlet loved the parades best of all. I got teary-eyed watching her glow with amazement as each float rolled by. Riding the big ferris wheel at night, feeling the cool ocean-tinged breezes was another favorite for all of us. And wow, if you get a chance to ride the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, do. Quite fun. The big roller coaster was pretty good...I give it a 'B'. Excellent start, but the second half of the ride was a bit flat.

Well, I was hoping to come back with one or two projects done, ready to present to y'all, but no. I was going to do a "Disneyland in 10 Polaroids a Day" series but that camera ended up being too heavy and bulky (not to mention all the film I was going to have to juggle through airport security). Then I thought I would do a drawing journal project. I took out my little journal the first morning, started doodling and then...there just wasn't enough time. Letting go of expectations, Lesson Number 7 (or was it 8?) learned.

I'm going to try and look at all of summer as 'summer vacation', despite the fact that I am still going to work and dealing with all the usual stuff (fixing the dented car, paying the bills). I need to carry the spirit of vacation as long as I can. Happy vacation, all!

Escapism

The earth keeps rumbling and we carry on. We drive north to our beloved desert lake and soak up the sun. I was chilly but resisted putting on my sweatshirt, trying to keep in the spirit of 'early summer'. I ask myself, 'what if this earthquake pattern continues like this for months? For years?' Gotta say, all this quaking doesn't do my little anxiety-ridden self much good. I am trying to just ride it out (ha ha). The one I experienced this morning was actually pleasant, sort of like riding a floaty air mattress on gentle waves.

Didn't get much work done in the yard this weekend. Tied up some rosebushes, did battle with the junipers (can I tell you how much I hate those plants (ie. fire hazards)?), watered and weeded. The whole backyard is in desperate need of loving care but I don't think it is going to get much until school is out (two more weeks!) and possibly until after the garage is cleaned out (soon? I can only hope...).

Things may end up being a little bit quiet around here for a while (no surprise there, eh?) . I am busy getting (well, attempting to get) settled into my topsy turvey work situation and finishing the aforementioned school. I'll try not to be a stranger.

Vacation-Go-Round

Well folks, I'm back. I had a mini-vacation. Six days! Can you believe it? Amazingly, I feel somewhat refreshed despite the fact that everything is ramped up to DEFCON 2 stress levels. Hubby starts his very first day of teaching sophmores today (woo hoo)! Kidlet goes back to school! Somehow I missed the line in the school paperwork that stated she only has a half day today so today is a big race from home to school to work to school to home to Nonna to work again. Oh joy! But that's today. I've got other stuff to relate.

I discovered that if I didn't work, I wouldn't blog or flickr. I don't know if blogging/flickring is a way to remind me that "yes, I can be creative" with the very limited amount of time I have when I'm working, but I had little desire to do either during the past week and it was wonderful. Since I had time, I wanted to do more 'real life' projects like actually print my photos to put around the house (except for the fact I lost the battle with my printer). I went to the state fair and saw the 'creative living' competitions and thought, "i need to enter some stuff. i can do this." I finished the purple socks and started on another (super secret) project. I've got a billion ideas swimming around in my head. I'm mentally prepared for the fall postcard swap. I love recharging the creative batteries.

I got a ton of schoolwork done too, in between trips to the mountain lake, the fair, and eating ice cream. However, last night I had the dreadful realization that instead of the 8 classes I thought I had left for my BA, I have more like 13 classes. That was a big blow. At the rate I'm going, I'll be done in 7 years. Yeah. And that doesn't even include the master's degree I have planned for myself. I'll keep plugging away for now since I only have about a month left with this class and then I won't need to do anything but create(!) until January. Maybe I need to rethink all this and go with plan B or C. Then again, if I quit school then I definitely will never finish. Better to keep on keeping on and finish someday in the distant future, right? Right? I still don't regret dropping out and living the wild life in New Orleans when I was 21. But it sure was easier to take 4 and 5 classes at a time when I was a kid instead of now when I have a kid and work full time.

Ok, that was a big ramble. But that's what you come here for, right? Right? Big hugs to you all and now it's off to catch up with you here in Virtual Land.