Well, hello there!

Long time no blog. :)
So, last I was here it was May of 2010.  I actually thought of abandoning ship. But seriously, what good captain would do that?

I didn't go overboard to have more fun elsewhere, it was much like my last posts indicated, a lot of sitting and watching life go by.  I did a lot of doing everything to keep my head above water---just to keep from drowning.

Recently, the waters have begun to calm.  Not all of them, who could be so lucky!

Oh, on second thought, that would be boring really, wouldn't it?   ;)

There have been adventures, I've been able to move from the commie condo, my dearest pup has passed.  There is too much to tell so onward we shall move.  The past will catch up with us.  It always does.

: )

Things I'm Grateful for #10

Ah...the weekend.

Here in the Puget Sound we have high clouds and sun. The arcadia door is open along with most of the windows in the place. Though I still have that nagging feeling deep down that the sun may come and never go away, allowing the temperatures to creep up and up and up until it is sweltering by 0800...I am enjoying that it is a rather nice day!

Last weekend I was in Portland with a friend. A friend who really loves the Twilight movie. She has been to all the places where it was shot. She had been to Carver Cafe once before and suggested we should eat there for lunch.



We went over a bit early (we were starving) and had some brunch. It is a small place-much smaller than it appears in the movie. We sat down right away and the place was already rather full. Since another two folks had come in with nowhere to sit, the staff asked if we'd mind sharing a table. It was set for six...there was plenty of room...we said "of course not".

I ordered a half size biscuit and gravy with a side of bacon and some coffee. I'm sure this is shocking information-ha ha ha!

All I can say is WOW! The biscuit was amazing and the bacon was just like I remember having up in the high mountains. The gravy was good...not the best, but very tasty none-the-less. This was some seriously good grub!

Of course, as all the small towns up here impacted by Twilight, this place is using the phenomenon to help their business as much as possible in these tough economic times.

Behind the counter is a cut out heart with a polaroid of Waylon Forge that says "R.I.P. Waylon". They have a guest book for Twilight fans and they sell black tees that say "I got a bite at Carver Cafe".

We were informed by the man sharing our table that the establishment has had many owners, but the food now is the best ever (no argument here!). He also let us know that the film crew completely redecorated the place prior to filming. If you're ever in Damascus, OR, I recommend stopping by!


This is what I'm grateful for this week: Great diner food found in cozy little corners of the world!









A special bonus...having the folks you share a table with buy your meal. What a friendly place!

Do you enjoy hitting up little local eateries when you travel about? Any foods you like to try out whilst there??

Things I'm Grateful for #9

Firstly: I'm not ungrateful or lazy. Ok, sometimes I am rather lazy...and I guess I've been known to be a bit selfish now and then...but not in this circumstance.

I have been feeling a bit overwhelmed, however. This fact has definitely had an impact on my blogging.

Secondly: I have lots of things I want to blog...so if things slow down there may be an onslaught of posting.

Thirdly: What I am actually grateful for: friends! I haven't actually kept track of the things I've stated I'm grateful for and I know I've mentioned the weather on more than one occasion. I am still very grateful for rainfall and the abundance of it we've been having.

Point being: I might be grateful for the same thing or something similar in more than one post. It just means that thing means a lot to me :)

(and it's my blog, I can do that!)

Two weeks ago I had the privilege of spending time with my friend Brenda. She is also one of my friends who I've been to the peninsula with...photos not yet posted :) Brenda is a friend I always have great fun with...even if we're not doing much of anything. On this occasion, however, we went to the outlet mall.

We had a fun day of looking for bargains and strolling about the rather empty mall. After our shopping trip we lounged at my place for a bit before going for pie on pi day.

Can you guess what the date was when this adventure occurred???



This first photo is of Brenda and me being tough.
We are very tough, trust me.
You would be quite fearful coming upon us in a dark alley.
Really, it is true.
I'm sure you're frightened just seeing this photo.

Ok, it could be the multiple chins I've created with that tuck--but it is frightening, no???





OK.
Perhaps not.
We did try.
This look, however is much more likely to be seen when we are hanging out.
The shirt I'm wearing was $5.00.
It says: "Hangnin' with my gnomies".
It is quite wonderful.



I've been having some good times with friends...and I'm quite thankful.

Anything you've been particularly grateful for this week???

Things I'm Grateful for #8

Mid-winter snow storms.

We've had a lot of storms recently that involve snow. It will accumulate rapidly before it quickly fades away. It is so beautiful to go about with everything accented with touches of white.

Spring is scheduled to arrive on Friday. I've been fascinated every year at how promptly the trees and shrubbery befin to bud right on schedule with the calendar. Kinda weird.

Hopefully next weekend will involve some sort of get-a-way. Hope the start of the week has been wonderful for all of you!

Things I'm Grateful For #7

I'm not exactly sure what is causing the weeks to feel like they are never ending. I forget what day of the week it actually is. I'm sure that it must be Thursday, but no, it is Tuesday. Things with work feel so busy...so much paperwork, so many kids to see, so many reports to write and hearings to attend. By the time I arrive home I have no energy to do anything. I know I'm not the only one.

As this week was creeping by, I thought how much I have always hated wishing time away.

Though I may be utterly beside myself looking forward to something, I know better than to wish time away. We'll never know just how much time we do have. I try to enjoy each day...somehow :)

We were lucky enough to have rain much of this week. I like rain. I like when it pelts my windows. I like when it dances on the rooftops...especially those made of metal. For me, rain is good.


Here is a shot of the raindrops on my window at work. The drops pattered against the pane of glass most of the day on Wednesday. Rhythmically pattering, musically weaving a sense of peace through my soul...an echo of sanity.

I am very grateful for the rain.



Then...I awoke on Thursday morning to snow! There was quite a dusting of the white stuff on all the outdoor surfaces and it continued to lightly fall. By the time I was mostly ready for work...there were big fluffy flakes falling. When I went to start my wee auto there was over an inch piled atop it. I knew it wouldn't last, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I love driving to work surrounded by snow covered trees and shrubbery. I find the layer of cool snow to be very calming...soothing to my spirit.

I am grateful for the snow.

How about you guys this week? What helped make your week special, or just help you make it through?

Things I'm Grateful For #6

Being away last weekend, I didn't realise I missed a week of 'grateful' posting.

Ah well...there was much to be thankful for on my peninsula adventure. Between my friend and me, we took over 500 photos. I've been going through them when I've had some spare minutes through the week--sadly fewer free minutes than I'd like! Hopefully I'll have a few shots together to post later today

In the interim, I thought I'd post a scan of the collage I made to give my friend Maya from our trip to the Peninsula in January. I've been very blessed throughout my life with good friends. I continue to be blessed as I now have friends all over the world to keep in touch with and enjoy.

I know the quality is rather poor. The actual .pdf didn't load through Blogger...ah well.


I'm quite fond of traveling & adventuring on my own. Recently, my adventures have been with friends. Though a different experience, I've found that it is as much-if not more fun when traveling with someone of like mind and adventuring skill!

I hope everyone is having an enjoyable weekend! The rain has returned here and I'm more than thrilled (of course). I think I've mentioned before that this does not mean the sun is nowhere to be found. It has been shining around the clouds for about an hour and a half...but the smell of wet ground and pine fills the air...another thing to be grateful for!

What are you grateful for today??

Things I'm Grateful For #5

Ah, what a week!

I received this cool new blog design from my sister, Bers! She used a photo I took when I was at First Beach in La Push last month and the color scheme I asked for. Isn't she terrific!!!

So, of course, I'm grateful for Bers. She put in quite a bit of time and put up with me whilst creating!

Let me know what you guys think about it-good or ill :) Feedback breeds improvement, right? She's trying to convince me I too could do something like this. I know, however, that I struggled with even changing the colors on my previous rounders theme! She has mad skills!!

I'm also very grateful for what I do have...a warm bed, food to eat, hot baths, work that provides me a decent paycheck, friends to hangout with, lots of local things to see, do and enjoy. I'm trying to focus on these and the many other wonderful things I have (tangible or not) as times are getting a bit rough and it's time to cut corners even more.

Time to treasure the small things!!

I went to Olympia, the capitol of Washington, on Wednesday to sit in on the House Bill 1505 hearing. It was interesting to hear the parties testify. I was a bit mesmerized by the spin put on so many different facts. In the end, it is my hope that no matter what people say, they are truly interested in helping the female youth in our state become safe and give them some good options to leave a life of prostitution.

:sigh:

I took a few photos around the grounds. I like this one:

I'm not sure exactly which building it is...but looked nice against the crisp, wintry blue sky. Gave me a feeling that things are possible. I do hope I can be a part of actual change in our county and state. More than talk and high hopes, I want to be a part of something real these girls can turn to for a way out. Something that will help build trust and give hope.

I hope you all have a pleasant weekend.

Things I'm Grateful For #4

Another week has passed. Actually, another month... Time flies!

I am still a bit overwhelmed with how much work I have to accomplish to be even close to up to date with things. Just when I feel I'm on track something comes along to completely derail me. Ah well. As many have said, and I'm sure I will say again, I'm happy and thankful I have work.

January was the first of four months this year I am mandated to take a furlough day. Yes, I have to remember I'm just thankful to have work... In light of the budgetary constraints I've been looking around for things to do locally that are inexpensive or free. I'm lucky to live in an area with many things that fit the bill!

Last weekend my friend Julie and I decided to attend one of the free seminars from Rick Steve's Travel Center. We went up to Edmonds and learned more about Vienna, Prague, Berlin and many small towns in those areas. Though I'd much rather be out traveling...this is a great way to learn about places I'd like to go, then when traveling is back on, I'll be able to make more informed travel decisions. Plus, the photos are beautiful!

The day we went was very crisp and clear. I could see all the way into the Olympics across the water to the West, the Cascades were towering up from the East and Mt. Baker was standing tall in the North. I went down to the waterfront and snapped a few photos. As much as I love my Canon point and shoot...the one thing it doesn't do well is landscape. I still like this shot of the bay. The blue in the distance is merely the opposite shore, near Kingston. What isn't visible in the photo is the white caps of the Olympics. If you close your eyes, you can imagine them there :)

I've never lived near the ocean or any other great body of water. It is kind of nice.

This is a self shot of Julie and I outside the Travel Center. I'm sure we'll be over for another class sometime soon. I think I'm registered for one this week to learn about Travel Journaling.

Yay for free, fun things to do close to home! ...and friends to share them with!

Things I'm Grateful For #3

Another busy week has passed. Tomorrow begins the last week of January, the end of the first month of 2009. Is it just me, or does time seem to just whirl by?

One thing I've really been trying to do in recent years (and I've failed) is to be on top of family birthdays. That said, all of you, my lovely family born between 30 December and now (you know who you are, or your wife/mother is telling you I wrote this): I apologise. I will try to be a little belated. I do love you all!

This week I didn't do much, other than work. I don't think I took any photographs until yesterday. I did, however, think this week about how wonderful it has been to be able to go to the movies recently. Going to see films is one of my favorite things to do. I love the theatres, the big screens and sound, the treats and the whole experience of going to the movies.

The reason it has been possible for me to attend more frequently of late is due to the fact I've received movie money on various occasions.

I love movie money!

Thanks to all who have thought to give such a wonderful treat. It has been thoroughly enjoyed!!

p.s. When I went last to the theatre the fellow who sold me my ticket saw my movie watcher total. He was shocked, and said in a rather questioning voice: 346 points!??! I smiled a bit sheepishly, but responded I've been a member for a long time. AMC is rather new up here. I have to say when they started to take over many of the theatres...I was THRILLED! Next to movie money, free stuff from MovieWatcher is the BEST!

Things I'm Grateful For #1

Here I am, 10 January 2009. After quite an odd sort of December, the first week of January really kicked me in the pants. The traffic was beyond horrific. The workload was utterly overwhelming. The weather...was still gray and rainy, which means it was truly a bright spot for me :)

Last weekend however, was brilliant. I was able to start the year off with a five day weekend which included an overnight trip that I will post about more tomorrow.

I'm not very good at consistency on my blog. So, I've been thinking it will be nice to make sure each week to post something I'm grateful for, something I've noticed, that I've looked around me and found. This is somewhat (ok, mostly) inspired by D & T and their lovely blog. (by the way, I absolutely love D's response to pit zips - utterly inspiring)

So here goes: I am so - so grateful for winter!! I have loved the snow, the frost and the crisp wintry air. I am wishing for more!!!

Forest along HWY101 between Port Angeles and Forks, WA