For the last few months, I've been preoccupied by the thought that I'll be turning 29 (the final frontier of my twenties) in December. I've thought about it so often that while entering my personal information on a treadmill at the gym - age, weight, workout duration - I absentmindedly listed my age as 29. (I entered the weight incorrectly as well, just not quite so absentmindedly.) I also recently told someone I was 29, then backpedalled and assured them I was really only 28. Most people think I'm about 20 years old anyway, so whatever... Maybe my subconscious is making peace with 29 so that when December 9, 2014 does finally arrive, it won't sting quite so much. I'm 28... I'm 28... I'm 28...
Another milestone I've blogged about recently which ties into this approaching birthday - my 10 year high school reunion. I have friends who want to go and other friends who (really) don't want to go. Meanwhile, I'm thinking why don't we just plan something we ALL want to do and then all go do that thing instead? We'll see... Parts of me are curious about meeting up with the Class of '04, but more parts of me find the prospect pretty repellent. Eesh.
Last weekend began with a high, dropped to a low, then rested lightly on another high.
The first high came in the form of brunch at Millcreek Cafe with the girlfriends. All of us in town at the same time? Better make a brunch of it like the fancy ladies we are! After a head count I realized that among the 8 of us we have a total of 6 husbands, 5 toddlers, 1 infant, and 2 more little ones on the way. Cumulatively we've all done quite well for ourselves! And though things are always changing, I'm glad we all remain comfortably "the same." I love these ladies...
After brunch I enjoyed a run at Millcreek Rec Center (and by "run" I mean a jog-walk-jog-stagger). Then I puttered about with some errands and chores, finally resigning myself to what would be the low point of my weekend: preparing my Relief Society lesson. Humbug.
I often feel intimidated and anxious about teaching (as any sane person would), but these feelings usually diminish as I prepare a lesson. Throughout my calling I've noticed certain topics are a little more teachable than others and this week's topic was the Oath & Covenant of the Priesthood. I agonized all week long over how I would present the lesson to our Relief Society. The recent social/political climate within the Church regarding women and the priesthood certainly wasn't making things any easier. Then with last week's hubbub over the founder of Ordain Women facing potential excommunication, my preparation came to an absolute stand-still.
How, how, HOW was I going to teach this lesson?
Surprisingly, teaching the lesson was my concluding high for the weekend. Everything came together remarkably well, though my overall contribution was minimal. I've decided Singles' Wards are the best... I wish all discourse within the Church could be as affirming and compassionate as those insights shared by the amazing sisters in my Relief Society. I am always impressed by their testimonies and willingness to share what they know. They get it.
Oh yeah, and then there was Post A Photo of Your Dad On Facebook Day. Formerly known as Father's Day. He would never admit this himself, but I think my dad enjoys being fussed over every so often. He's our Grumpy Dad with a heart of gold... We honored him with rib-eye steaks, pajamas, Lemon Heads, and a new roll-y suitcase with wheels that not only roll to and fro, but spin. Now he just needs to go on vacation so he can use it... Preferably the kind of vacation where we're all invited, but Dad pays for everything. Yeah...
There is a gargantuan fly buzzing around my room. My fear is that as soon as I'm asleep, he will fly into my mouth and I will swallow him. "I don't know why she swallowed that fly." Perhaps I'll die.
The weekend was lovely - Maleficent and fro-yo with friends, dinner and movies with the cousins, pool time with my sister, Sunday evening BBQ and volleyball in the backyard. I felt I should publicly showcase some of my social interactions like any self-assured, social butterfly type person would. I do fun things with fun people! No pictures, but these things definitely happened. They did!
This Wednesday is my company's Lagoon Day. Since they turn 22 on June 6th, my plan was to treat Katie & Michael to an epic birthday-at-Lagoon CELEBRATION! Subsequently winning Best Sister of the Year award and outshining all other birthday well-wishers. Michael hasn't been in years, so I was especially excited for him to see all the new attractions. I requested enough tickets for the 3 of us + 2 more for Alisa & Dustin. HOO-RAY!
Then on Sunday I found out Michael had spent all of Saturday at Lagoon with his newest PG (Prospective Girlfriend) AND bought himself a season pass, making my oh-so-thoughtful birthday ticket for him redundant. "Now you don't have to buy me one!" ...I took it fairly well, though. At Sunday dinner when Michael asked me to pass the salt I said, "Are you sure you want me to pass it? Wouldn't you rather go out and just buy your OWN?" But we're all friends again and looking forward to a beautiful day at the next-best-thing to Disneyland you can find in the state of Utah.
Coldplay... They released a new album and I don't care what anyone else says, they are great. Greatest ever? Maybe not. But I just don't care.
Happy news... Sometimes good, exciting things happen to people you know and you can't help but feel happy for them. The genuine kind of happy, not the okay-I'm-happy-for-you-but-I'm-not-about-to-throw-you-a-party happy. I really do feel genuine happiness for most people, so feel free to share any good news with me!
Ingrid Michaelson... I am a sometimes fan of her stuff, but I've loved this new "Girls Chase Boys" song. Here's a fun game! First, watch Robert Palmer's video for "Simply Irresistible"...
Then watch the "Girls Chase Boys" video...
See? Such fun.
Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham... Lorelai Gilmore wrote a book! And it isn't terrible! Except it sounds a lot like Lorelai Gilmore. Which is majorly entertaining, but sometimes hard to follow.
Spring... And all its various sights and smells! Since I can't be outdoors all the time, I've resorted to throwing open plenty of windows.
Running through sprinklers... My siblings and I planned a trip to our community pool which was supposed to open on Memorial Day. When we arrived, the door was bolted shut. A few phone calls later we found out the pool hadn't been heated or treated yet, so NO POOL... We resorted to backyard sprinklers and childishly chasing one another with a garden hose. I officially hate running in a bathing suit.
Sunscreen... The official smell of warmer weather.
Reverse Charades... It's just like it sounds - you divide into teams, but only one person from your team tries to guess as everyone else performs. When our team drew Fred Astaire, my dad didn't feel like he could pull it off. So we told him he could be Ginger Rogers when we acted it out.
This Book... The title of which sums up how I feel whenever I hop on my Facebook or Instagram accounts these days...
YES. Yes, they are.
Ugly Betty... I think I caught half of the last season when it originally aired in 2010. The show popped up on Netflix recently so I decided I'd start from the beginning. BLECH. Thank heavens there are only 4 seasons, because I could not commit to more. I paused it the other day when my mom walked in the room. She asked, "Are you watching something naughty?" and I said, "No, it's just stupid. And I don't want any witnesses."
Almonds/Chocolate... Any combination of the two, really. Except almond chocolate milk. ICK.
Family... However you define family... We all need somewhere safe where we can find encouragement and feel comfortable being ourselves. You can't choose your family, but ideally you'd choose them anyway. And that's how I feel (most of the time) about my family.
Last night I went to see The Little Mermaid with some friends. I love it when Disney re-releases their classic movies in theaters. This was the first big movie I ever saw, way back in the days of Starship Theaters on Wasatch Boulevard. I was 4 and I remember practically skipping out of the theater after the movie. Our family played the soundtrack everywhere we went in our Ford Aerostar and if I ever found myself in a pool or a bathtub, I was soon crossing my legs at the ankles and calling myself Ariel.
Back to last night... The theater wasn't very full, but there was a lot of audience participation as the movie played. I think it's impossible to watch something like that without singing along, but nobody seemed to mind.
I think my favorite part of the whole thing (besides Prince Eric's dimples and blue eyes) was when a girl, probably about 4 or 5 years old, got up from her seat during "Under the Sea" and just started dancing. She jumped down to the open area between the floor seats and upper seats and didn't seem to mind other moviegoers could see her. When she finally sat down again, everyone in the theater lightly clapped for her. Her uninhibited joy made me tear up a little, it was so sweet. Nostalgic Lauren is a very emotional creature.
Before we knew how to smile in pictures...
After the movie we navigated the crowds of couples and grabbed some 2-for-1 fro-yo at Red Mango. So not a bad evening, really.
Earlier that day, the company I work for had a Valentine's Day potluck and brought in Papa John's Pizza for everyone. For the first time in a while, I actually enjoyed being at work. The Coworker's been out of town since Thursday and won't be back until Tuesday. I've had my own little mini-vacation from discussions on gluten-free recipes, how expensive gluten-free groceries are, how her gluten-free crackers taste, and why she and her husband won't buy quinoa. Pssst... It's for political reasons... Yes, we're all gluten-free FREE until Tuesday. I don't even mind the extra work.
There is a long list of Christmas to-do ahead of me today... This evening the Waters' will play host to our cousins and their families as well as our dear Grandmama. My list starts with "Make Jello salad" and ends with "Clean bathroom." But there's still plenty of time for all that...
As with every Christmas, this year I've felt my fair share of holiday cheer as well as holiday humbug... The humbug is usually at its worst whilst shopping for gifts - fighting insane crowds (that's quantity, not quality... though some shoppers are insane), air-polluting traffic, freezing temperatures, and my own gift-giving indecision. Thank goodness I can usually find my way out of this ho-humbuggery. So instead of dwelling on the joyless moments of the holiday season, here are some things that have cheered me most this year...
...Beautiful snow!
...Being among friends and family more regularly.
...Giving of my time and resources, even if only a little. Very little. It should be more.
...Singing... A lot.
...A snowy sleigh ride complete with sleigh bells.
...Holiday movies. Even the cheesy Hallmark ones... Sometimes.
...Forgetting the over-commercialized, mass-consumer mumbo jumbo of the season and finding the Savior.
...Seeing my sister walk away from a terrifying accident involving a collision with a semi after an 180 degree spin across 3 lanes of traffic. Her bruises are pretty gnarly, but they're preferable to other frightening alternatives. One or two angels definitely earned their wings that day.
...And lastly, these verses from "I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day"... Because some of the topics trending online lately have fueled my holiday humbug. People really are the worst sometimes, you know? And good will seems in short supply...
And in despair I bowed my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."
So if you're reading this and are in need of and extra dose of holiday cheer, I hope it finds you. And Happy Christmas!
I don't remember being this sick at all last year. Not even a sniffle. And even though this latest bout is just a cold, it's never really just a cold. I'm not sick enough to justify staying tucked in bed, but I'm not capable of embracing my normal to-and-fro schedule either. Too, too much... Even so, I will endure this discomfort a while longer and hope it passes. Colds are nothing. Colds I can handle. This is my mantra... I just wish I could sleep better.
Anyway... Despite being a congested mouth breather for the past week, I did have a fun evening out last Saturday night. Which brings me to my purpose in writing this entry...
Catching Fire...
Ooo, I got goosebumps just typing those words... Catching Fire.
I loved the first movie and had extremely high expectations for the second. I don't even know where to start... You really should just see it for yourself, but I will share a few in-no-particular-order highlights. And then maybe we can see it together sometime, yeah??
Caesar Flickerman... He's just so campy! Stanley Tucci wears those Dayglo teeth well.
Special effects... I hope you aren't squeamish about flocks of screaming Jabberjays or blood-thirsty Mandrill monkeys. Rafiki has some terrifying relatives...
Fashion... I wanted half the outfits worn by the female leads, including a butterfly dress worn by Effie Trinket at the reaping. In another scene, Katniss wears a black and red dress with wings at the shoulders. It is so gorgeous, someone reaches out from the crowd and creepily strokes the dress as she passes. I would have been that creepy if I had seen this dress in person. Even the guys had some nice costumes. Excluding a pair of unfortunate diaper pants worn by Peeta.
Finnick Odair... A nice balance of swagger and sensitivity. And very handy with a trident. I was not at all, ahem, finnick-y about the casting choice of Sam Claflin. Knee-slap. Then again, dimples go a very long way with me.
Supporting cast in general... Returning characters were still solid and the new characters fit in nicely. Just don't get too attached, because chances are they won't be around for long.
Story... There was a good balance between the political narrative and all the action. We also see the personal relationships evolve more... So, the real question is... Team Peeta or Team Gale?? Maybe I'm Team Finnick for now...
Gale... We see a lot more of Gale in the second movie. And for a brief time, we forget about poor Peeta. Would you pass up a kiss from Liam Hemsworth??
Peeta... I have very tender feelings for The Boy with The Bread. Let's be honest, we're all Team Peeta... How could you be anything else?? Especially when Josh Hutcherson plays him so perfectly?
Katniss... She is our reluctant revolutionary... A hero who doesn't try to be heroic, she just is. And Jennifer Lawrence makes the character that much more likable. Bella who??
As good as the book...? If not, if comes closer than most movies do.
Soundtrack... I strongly recommend having a listen to both The Hunger Games and Catching Fire albums - they are full of great music. And Coldplay wrote the main track for the second movie... For all you Coldplay fans out there?? I know I'm not alone.
Right now I'm sitting in bed eating Hatch's chocolate and listening to Harry Connick, Jr. Radio on Pandora. I don't usually stay in bed in this late, but I couldn't even tell you what time I finally fell asleep last night. I know it was after 2 am... Late enough to justify sleeping in.
Last night I went to dinner with a friend and did some shopping at The Gateway. It was a fun night out and one I really needed. Since Friday is my only free evening during the work week, I'm usually content to just drive straight home and settle in for the evening. Last night was a good change! And it culminated with hot cocoa at Hatches. Hence my chocolate breakfast this morning.
I came home last night and stayed up late talking with my parents. This happens fairly often depending on who's home. We share the highs and lows of the day and everything else in between. I come from a family of deep thinkers. Sometimes that means we are over-thinkers. But sometimes all that thinking leads to valuable insights.I don't know if they benefit from these discussions as much as I do, but I appreciate my parents and their willingness to listen as I ramble. And I can ramble on and on.
As for today... Today I will clean, finish my homework, see The Book Thief, recover from The Book Thief, and try to find something healthier than chocolate to eat for lunch.
I am blogging right now at the ungodly hour of 4:30 am. Why up so late/early?? My family and I watched a movie of my mother's choosing earlier Saturday evening - a movie she remembers being thoroughly creeped out by when she was younger. I was fine during most of the movie. It was very dated and we all laughed at the hokey hairstyles and outfits of the early 1970s. Even so, the story was pretty grim. Then it took such a dark turn at the end I thought I was going to be sick. My mom called the movie creepy, but it was the most disturbing things I've seen in a long time. Maybe ever. The movie is called The Other (not the Nicole Kidman movie) if you're interested, but I wouldn't recommend it... I give this movie an F. F as in There's no FREAKIN' way I'm ever watching this again.
So while I wait for daylight, I'm trying to think of more cheerful things. I even watched 2 other movies - Star Trek: Into Darkness and Penelope - to create a sort of movie buffer between myself and the evening's earlier viewing selection. That worked briefly. I've gone over my notes for my Relief Society lesson tomorrow. That worked briefly as well. The trouble occurs when I actually close my eyes and try to fall asleep. I know there's nothing but nightmares waiting for me there, so wide awake it is.
Think cheerful, Lauren...
I'm getting excited for fall. This current cooling off has me seeing warm hues of red, orange, and gold. If I could find a place where the weather is in constant transition between summer and winter, I would never leave. Even the rain has perked me up. And guess what? There's a word for that! Thank you, Pinterest.
Speaking of fall, I'm finally right in the thick of the semester. My tuition is paid so there's no going back now! I miss my leisurely weekday evenings, but at least I have Friday thru Sunday. This past Friday I co-hosted a party for a friend who recently returned from an internship in D.C. We knew we wanted to have a themed party around a specific movie and that we wanted to dress up fancy. We debated Disney, Jane Austen, Downton Abbey, The Great Gatsby, and various superhero films. We finally settled on a Captain America party with everyone wearing 1940s dress. We had old-timey music, strands of paper lanterns, mocktails, appetizers, and fondue. Because when it comes to Captain America...
...We most certainly fon-DOOOOOO!! And if you fon-DON'T, you're crazy.
...Austenland by Shannon Hale… A fun and funny read! I enjoyed it, though previews for themovieseem a tad unfortunate. We'll see...
...Keeping Up Appearances… Maybe I’ll see you at one of Hyacinth's candlelight suppers.
That's B-U-C-K-E-T.
...Songs from The Civil Wars’ new album. Beautiful!
...Parking lot dance party reunions and seeing old friends.
...Trips to the mountains where there's no light pollution and you can actually see the stars. (There were SO MANY stars!) I spent Friday up at Silver Lake with the Bird Girls then drove up to a friend's cabin in Oakley where we spent the night and hung out with her cute grandma. I needed a break from the stifling heat of the valley.
...Drop Dead Diva… They brought the show back AND it isn't terrible! Knocks wood… ...Zumba GNO! ...Corn on the cob. ...Summer sunsets.
Loathes...
...The Civil Wars… But just lately. I do love this band. Their music is beautiful and their chemistry is pretty incredible considering they aren't romantically involved. Or are they?? Personally, I wish they were… Anyway, the band had a falling out while on tour late last year and released a statement on facebook citing “internal discord and irreconcilable differences of ambition.” They canceled the tour, but promised new music for 2013. Fans speculated and whined about the break-up, but months later they made good on their promise and announced a new album. Hooray! But wait… Interviews released through their official site state despite releasing the album, the duo has not reconciled… They aren't even speaking… And “if you want to know what happened to the band, listen to the album.” Erm... Hooray?? I still love this band, but I can’t help but feel The Civil Wars are exploiting their own supposed civil war to promote this record. Though it won't stop me from buying it.
...Flooded basements and the moldy smell of drying carpet. Like Pirates of the Caribbean, but more stinky. And, sadly, not in Disneyland.
...Back-to-school nerves. I'm all jittery because though it’s finally happening, I worry about what will happen now. Now that it’s not just some obscure goal. ...Wardrobe malfunctions. ...Summer heat. ...Mosquito bites.
Wednesday, June 12th... We made a very early start, bidding our hospitable hosts farewell. SERIOUSLY. If you want the Martha Stewart treatment on your next trip, might I recommend the Beach residence? They were so good to us! We were sad to go… Thanks, Beaches!
Our drive got off to a fairly good start… We wanted to stop for breakfast at a Denny’s in Centralia, but ended up at a much cuter restaurant called Country Cousins that shared the same parking lot. I think their food was about 10 times better, too.
Our only non-essential stop during the rest of our drive was at Multnomah Falls in Oregon. We stayed just long enough to walk up to the falls and take a few pictures… Walk walk walk… Marvel marvel marvel… Then it was back to the car and the open road. Drive drive drive… I think the longest, ugliest part of the journey was driving through Northwest Oregon and parts of Idaho. Brown, dry hills for miles and miles. And traffic cops…
Yes. Traffic cops. Somewhere in Oregon (where the highway speed limit is only 65 and enforced to the LETTER) Lauren was pulled over for speeding. I was distracted by my GPS and wasn't aware our car was picking up lots of speed as we drove down the canyon. I glanced up from the GPS just long enough to spot a highway patrolman sitting in his car off to the side of the road. My eyes darted from his car to my speedometer - we were quickly approaching 90 mph. I shouted a 4-letter word and slowed immediately, checking my rearview mirror to see if I was as busted as I felt. Sure enough, our highway man came driving... With a flash of his lights, we pulled over and waited for the price tag of our road trip to skyrocket. Apologies were made as I handed over all my information. What annoyed me most was that I’d been on cruise control for most of our drive so I would avoid speeding. Minutes later our officer returned to my window and explained that driving even 15 mph passed the speed limit is as hefty a fine as $180. He clocked me in at 89 MPH – a fine of $500…
… But our friendly officer, with his little highway patrol hat and a big dimple in his chin, just smiled and told us to slow down. No fine, not even a written warning. Just a reminder that the speed limit in Oregon is about 10 miles slower than everywhere else. I almost kissed that dimpled chin of his.
I couldn't tell you much about the rest of our drive. It was pretty long and boring and awful. So awful it almost cured me of my fear of flying. Almost... But tedious as our coming and going was and despite Alisa and I getting on each others' very last nerve in our final hours, the trip was a huge success and totally worth it. Hooray!
Country Cousins Family Restaurant / Holy Cow... Alisa / Multnomah Falls / Pancakes / Alisa at the falls / Our welcome to Washington... We were sad to go! / Multnomah Lodge / More water falling / Bottom of the falls / BACON and other side dishes / Multnomah Falls / Lauren & Alisa... hiding our naked faces...
Tuesday, June 11th... Since we’d taken Paige from her baby for 2 days straight, we gave her the morning off from being our tour guide extraordinaire. After sleeping in a bit, Alisa and I drove to the very picturesque Lake Sylvia in Montesano (mahn-tuh-say-no), but Lauren was like, Montesa-YES! I loved this little town. And it was so close to the lake! We hiked around for a little while and then relaxed lakeside among the trees – Alisa’s foot wouldn't allow for much more than that. As we headed down one lonely trail, we kept psyching each other out by saying things like “What was that?” or “Do you think they have a lot of bears up here?” The path was pretty isolated and the only other person we saw was a man and his dog as they passed us and disappeared further down the trail. We saw him again a few minutes later coming back up. “Do you think he knows something we don’t?” When I heard something moments later that sounded an awful lot like a bear grunting behind some bushes, I stopped dead in my tracks. Without a word, I turned around and walked as calmly and as quickly as possible back out of the forest with Alisa hobbling behind me. Don’t run… Don’t turn around… Just be natural… Alisa will be the first to go if you’re chased… She’s not going anywhere with that bad toe… Happily, no bears gobbled us up and Alisa’s broken toe didn't impede her escape. But I definitely heard something in there.
A leaf bigger than my face / Boardwalk at Lake Sylvia / The Lake / Flora / Damn Dam / Again, the Damn Dam / Lauren & Alisa / Savory Faire / Hiking / Beautiful Canopy / River from Lake Sylvia / Port Angeles Root Beer / Bridging the Damn Dam / Make way for ducklings / Tiny Daisies
After lunch we headed back to the Beach’s house for Paige and cute lil' Cooper. We bought a couple kites at Walmart - Ninja Turtles and Barbie, if you must know - and met Paige’s husband at a beach in Grays Harbor. Beaches and Waters sharing an evening at the seaside… How appropriate! The beach itself was stunning – we walked a sandy pathway through dunes topped with tall grasses and beautiful bushes covered in yellow flowers. The wind was in full force and it wasn't long before our kites were airborne.
We collected more stones and shells, strolled a little in the freezing water, and lounged in the sand with our kites anchored to our shoes. Cooper even ate some sand. Yum... When we finally left, my poor Barbie kite flew out of my hands and got caught in some bushes. There it flies to this day… I was sorry to leave it behind.
After the beach, we took a couple pictures of a nearby lighthouse and then headed to a favorite restaurant of the Beach’s called Bennett's Fish Shack where I finally ate some Fish N Chips. They were delicious and the food coma I slipped into afterward was particularly comfortable. Later that evening we watched a movie and then fell right to sleep. Blessed sleep… How precious you would be to us for our long journey home...
Lauren's new beachside condo? / Beautiful day... / Dunes / Lauren & her kite / Airborne! / A pagan idol...? Crafted by the natives, no doubt... / Our path to the beach / Leeser and her kite / Lighthouse / Cooper, my lil' backseat buddy / Sand Dollar / The Beaches on the Beach! / Twin kites... / Fish N Chips / Bennett's Fish Shack
Monday, June 10th... We spent a lot of time in the car, but I didn't mind too much. We drove through Olympic National Park and up the coast, whizzing past dense rain forests of the greenest green I've ever seen. Our first stop was Ruby Beach where we explored their tide pools and beaches. We made an early start that morning due to the tide schedule. Arrive too early or too late and the tide would have completely submerged the pools and their marine inhabitants. I was in raptures over how beautiful it all was. Here’s a little of what we saw...
Coast / Rocks / Rainbow / Lauren / Olympic National Forest / Tide Pools / Starfish & Urchins / All that driftwood! / Down on the Beach / Patrck Star's bum... / Ocean
We shared the beach with a bus of elementary school students who were probably there to actually learn... stuff. Meanwhile, we adults opted for a more hands-on approach, treating the beach like our own personal playground. We climbed up and down muscle encrusted rocks and squeamishly touched prickly starfish and slimy sea urchins that recoiled with every poke. Touch it... No, YOU touch it... I did find one star fish (see above) that looked like Patrick Star caught mid-noogie with his pants down. Such a cute bum!
After our exploring, we scoured the beach for rocks and shells. I picked up a few smooth white stones and a cool piece of driftwood. Then we just sat on the beach for a while. Lauren read Warm Bodies while Alisa and Paige relaxed on a blanket in the sunshine.
Because we were in Twilight country, you best believe our next stop was Forks, WA. Why, you may ask? Why not?? Guys, this town is small. Their Chamber of Commerce was this tiny building plastered ceiling to floor in Twilight memorabilia. The Forks Timber Museum next door was closed, which really was a shame... I guess they've moved on from timber to vampires. The lady inside the Chamber of Commerce gave us the lowdown on all the Twilight landmarks - places they've actually designated within Forks as sites from the book. We signed their ridiculously huge guestbook, picked up some maps, took a picture with Bella’s truck, then sat down for a picnic lunch. We later drove through town with our trusty maps, finding Bella’s house, Fork’s High School, and Dr. Carlisle Cullen’s parking spot at the local hospital… Oh, yes. When in Forks… Sadly, no vampire sightings. But it was rather sunny.
In true Bella fashion, we then journeyed from Forks to Port Angeles. There we walked along the pier, visited a wildlife exploration center, and glimpsed Canada across the Salish Sea. Still no vampires or werewolves. I did see a couple dogs, but they were Golden Labs. And neither of them responded when I yelled, "Jacob!!" Driving home we stopped by Lake Quinault Lodge. Well, we tried... We were on the wrong side of the lake and the more we drove, the wilder the forest became. We thought maybe Paige was driving to a secluded location where she could leave us for dead. But we eventually found the lodge and Paige did not kill us.
The 87-year-old lodge is where President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a bill first establishing the Olympic National Park. It was a very charming old building inside and out. Sadly our many hours driving caught up to me by the time we reached the lodge and I became very acquainted with their nice ladies' restroom. TMI? But the rest of the lodge was lovely, too.
Barbie Edward / Lake Quinault Lodge backside... / Lake Quinault Lodge frontside... / On the green by the lake... / Paige's take on Bella / A pin for every visitor... / Hello, Canada! / Inside the Lodge / Welcome to Forks / Forks Population / The Lodge / Barbie Jacob / Lounging / Lauren's take on Edward / Bella's Truck
So... Back to my spontaneous road trip with my sister. Oh, you'd forgotten?? So did I.
If you're planning a road trip to Washington, do yourself and your travel buddies a favor and divide the drive between 2 days. Alisa and I had a 14 hour drive to and from our destination - NOT including pit stops - and foolishly decided we could muscle across 4 states in one day with ease. Staring at the open road for that long does strange things to a person, both body and mind... In the days following our trip, I felt mildly panicked at the thought of even climbing into an automobile again. Blind optimism carried us to Washington - We’re going on vacation! - and nothing but defeated desperation and bitter tears - Road, why you so long?? - got us home.
Moving right along...
Saturday, June 8th... We departed Salt Lake at 7:30ish am MST and arrived in Aberdeen at 9:30ish pm PST. One highlight of our drive, maybe the only highlight, was stopping at Cancun Mexican Restaurant for lunch in Boise. I hadn't been there in years and nothing perks Lauren up like some delicious Mexican cuisine. The only pictures I have from our drive are a couple shots of Mt. Hood towering over the remaining landscape. It freaked us out a little bit. Enjoy. Sunday, June 9th... Our first official day in Washington. No church for Lauren & Alisa! Dearest Paige had an itinerary for our stay and Sunday’s attractions included Olympia and Seattle. In Olympia we visited the state capitol and ate a picnic lunch (lovingly packed by Paige) down at the pier. We checked out a little 100 year old tugboat (toot toot!) and considered commandeering several other vessels docked at the marina. We settled for strolling on the mainland instead. The morning was a bit overcast, but the rest of the day was clear and beautiful as can be. We even saw a group of locals gather on a splash pad for some dancing to live music. One homeless-looking man was twirling around this little old lady, but she seemed to be enjoying herself. He had some pretty good moves.
Percival Landing / Paige & Alisa / Cool mural / Aboard the tugboat / Lauren & Alisa... ding, ding! / The Sand Man / Dancing locals / Diet Coke / Olympia's capitol / Lauren / War Memorial / Tugboat / Roses / Percival Landing
In beautiful Seattle we walked around downtown and headed over to Pike’s Market. We didn't see any vendors performing fish acrobatics, but the market itself was an experience. Lots of booths full of fresh produce, flowers, fish, poultry… and people. And smells. Good smells and bad smells. Then there were booths for vendors selling homemade wares - jewelry, crafts, clothing… Not surprisingly, Seattle markets on a sunny Sunday are very crowded. So crowded we even rubbed elbows with some drag queens dressed as nuns with winged habits. Like The Flying Nun but with deeper voices and heavy, HEAVY makeup. I was simultaneously fascinated - Should we ask for a picture? - and terrified. Come on, Lauren... Drag queens are people, too. After the market we hobbled back to our car and drove to the Space Needle. Alisa's healing broken toe (line drive to the foot while playing softball... OUCH!) didn't make for a very comfortable walk, but she was a good little soldier. As we looked for parking near the Space Needle, a very nice lady stopped us right in the middle of a lot and gave us her parking spot. Turns out she paid for several hours worth of parking when she only needed a couple. She told us she was a believer in karma and offered us her parking slip which was good until 11 pm. Thanks, nice lady!
The Space Needle itself was little more than a glorified elevator ride at $20 a pop, but it is a Seattle landmark and something I've always wanted to see. The weather held up beautifully - we had clear views of the city and the surrounding landscape from every angle. No regrets there. And I loved seeing the sailboats in the harbor. After the Space Needle and Lauren’s customary purchase of a thimble memorializing her visit, we headed to a restaurant called Red Mill Burgers where Oprah herself once dined. I had the Bleu Cheese Bacon Burger and sang Oprah's praises as I ate. That was one tasty burger. The restaurant accepted cash and check ONLY (first non-tithing check I've written in a while) and you had to sort your own trash into garbage, recycling, AND compost. Sorry, I’m new here. Maybe I'll go all granola and live in Seattle with their cool markets and tasty burgers.
Pike's Market / Lauren and a Piggy Bank / Pretty striped umbrellas / Flowers / Alisa & Lauren at the Space Needle / Seattle Art Museum / Seattle from the Needle / Smelling roses / Space Needle / Sailboats / Produce / Alisa and her burger / Inside the market / Red Mill Burgers
When I came home from work last Tuesday I found my sister talking to my parents about a potential road trip up to Aberdeen, Washington. She recently left her job and wanted to take advantage of the free time while she could. Her only problem? Her husband wasn't able to take time off from work on such short notice to accompany her. And he really didn't like the idea of her driving 14 hours alone. So when she casually mentioned needing a travel companion, I may have casually responded with something about always wanting to visit the Pacific Northwest…
Aberdeen, birthplace of grunge rocker Kurt Cobain and namesake of another Aberdeen I know and love in Scotland, is a small town approximately one hour west of Olympia where my sister’s dear friend currently resides with her husband and baby boy. Though it was short notice, my work cleared me for some time off. You already know I have co-workers whose work attendance is often inconsistent, but the days I needed for the trip were all clear on our department calendar. Not a conflict in sight. Before you could say paid time off, I blacked out the 10th through the 12th all for myself. Thus, an adventure was born...
Friday night I went to dinner and a movie with a friend who’s leaving soon for her internship in Washington, DC. We ate at the Zupas in Sugarhouse and then saw Warm Bodies (for the 97th time) at Movies 10. If you haven’t seen it yet, I think you should. Especially when you can see it for a dollar or two at the discount theaters. It’s worth at least that much! I recently checked out the book from the library – we’ll see how it measures up to the movie.
I spent most of my Saturday outdoors with the family preparing our yard and garden for warmer weather. I was up to my wrists in dirt and snail carcasses for about an hour while weeding our front planter. I did find a few slimy occupants still housed in their shells (very icky and very much alive), but I simply picked them up and tossed them in the garbage with the rest of the unwanteds. And I only squirmed a little. I’m basically invincible while wielding a spade and wearing thick work gloves. No invertebrate stands a chance.
We also uncovered all our patio furniture, hosed down our decks, unearthed a dead bush, and mowed the lawn. All that and my allergies didn't phase me one bit! The yard still looks a bit wild and untamed in some spots, but at least it’s now habitable. I was never one for overly manicured yards anyway - I don't have the patience. I think our next family project will be the GARAGE… If we have the strength. Its completion may require several Saturdays and an act of divine intervention. This will sound lame, but I love our house (and Paris!) in the springtime. We have a wreath on our front door covered in flowers that match those growing in our planters - pansies, tulips, daffodils… Our lawn is still green as green and the weeds have yet to overwhelm the flowerbeds. The only other time of year I enjoy more is Christmas - the house covered in snow, framed by lights, and our Christmas tree slowly spinning (yes, spinning) in the window. I pull up in my car and think, “Man, if I were just someone randomly passing by, I would want to go inside that house.” It’s not very big and in 60+ years it hasn't seen the most up-to-date-state-of-the-art-this-n-that, but I do love it. I must... because here I am!
In other news... I’m still attending Zumba classes. And when I’m not in Zumba, I’m on an elliptical at the rec center. And when I’m not on an elliptical at the rec center, I’m walking around my neighborhood. And when I’m not walking around my neighborhood, I’m kicking myself for not doing anything... But even kicking is a form of exercise.
Don’t worry - I am not going to blog about Kristen Stewart again. It’s just that sometimes I have opinions about Hollywood celebrities, okay? UGH.
I’ve also decided to take it easy on the diet & exercise confessionals. Yup, the share-fest is over for now. We’ll just let the changes speak for themselves as they occur, whatever those changes may be.
Like you, I’ve spent my week trying to acclimate to the end of Daylight Savings and (like you?) I’ve struggled. My body does not like early mornings so this week it’s been especially uncooperative. No, Lauren. Sleep. Sweet sleep. How comfortable you are. Sunday was a breeze since church didn’t start until 1:00 – I just let my lazy self sleep in a bit. Then I woke up to lovely sunshine and made a nice breakfast that I ate in bed. But when my alarm sounded on Monday morning, at what still felt like 5:30, my room was dark and there was no time for breakfast. I walked in to work yawning and a co-worker mock-scolded me: “Now Lauren, none of that!” So I yawned again.
I still hadn’t adjusted by Tuesday and left my house with half my hair still dripping wet. My attention was divided between the road and my reflection in the rearview mirror as I drove to work. Oh, the perils of (cautiously) applying mascara and concealer while operating a moving vehicle. I have this weekend to get my rhythm back. No more puffy-eyed, woozy zombie mornings for me, please.
Thursday night I went to Eisenhower Jr. High’s production of Seussical the Musical. My cousin Avery played a Who and was honestly the cutest, most animated Who up there. It was like the Who’s Who of Whos and she was the very best. The entire show was darling and made me nostalgic for my school musical days. They are a big deal when you’re that age, no matter what part you’re playing.
In 7th grade I remember being cast as a Pick-A-Little lady in The Music Man - I took it very seriously. So seriously that when I completely missed a cue for all the townspeople to walk onstage and congregate around Harold Hill, I didn’t just stay put and wait for the next entrance. How will they perform this scene without townsperson #43! Actually, I think my character’s name was Augusta. Our drama teacher made up names for everyone. Because in theater there are no small parts, only small actors. Anyway, without giving it a second thought, I awkwardly walked onstage well after everyone else had already assembled. And as if my late entrance wasn’t conspicuous enough, I tripped over my skirt for good measure. Right in the middle of Harold’s soliloquy. Augusta… the town drunk. Sometimes in the midst of nostalgia you remember only the embarrassing.
So I’m headed on vacation this week to visit a friend for her birthday. Missouri - The Show-Me State (do I dare ask?), home of Mark Twain and the St. Louis Cardinals. I got time off work and booked my flight a couple weeks ago. That all sounds very grown up, but I know better. It’s weird. Am I really at a point in my life where I buy plane tickets and visit friends who have gotten married and moved out of state?? Yeah, it’s weird. But I am excited.
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