To the cats that fight outside my window at 2am:
Well, congratulations. You proved me wrong. There is a worse sound than you mating outside my window- you incessantly fighting outside my window.
If you could kindly cease and desist ALL noises at 2am, that would be fantastic.
Jerks.
Kindly,
The woman who seriously, definitely is going to start throwing rocks at you any time she sees you
To the cats that mate right outside my window at 2am;
Please stop. That is the most hideous sound I have, perhaps, ever heard in my life.
Sincerely,
The lady who WILL begin throwing rocks at you
I’m part of the Sojourners mailing list and just received their current issue found here.
I try not to pay too much attention to inflammatory remarks made by Christians I don’t generally agree with (Dobson, Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell etc.). But, admittedly, I’ve been having a hard time sorting out the facts of the Obama/Dobson feud. More accurately, I have a hard time figuring out the “truth” when any feud, political or otherwise, breaks out.
Enter Jim Wallis of Sojourners. Now, Jim (yeah, I’m on a first name basis. What’s it to you?) is just a man. A man with his own opinion, own views, own theology. But, it seems like he really is a man after my own heart. I don’t love him because he’s “on my side” or because I always agree with him. I love him because he desires truth and justice and is willing to stick his neck out for both.
Do I always agree with him? No. But I always respect him.
All that to say, thanks for taking a stand and clearing things up Jim.
A few weekends ago the roommates and I road-tripped our butts down to Oregon to raft the Deschutes River. You see, the gracious individual who planned it lives in Portland and this was one of the closest rafting companies to him. So, while we could have rafted several different areas that are closer to Seattle, we instead joined in with the Oregonians. Portland would be our base camp and we would head out to Maupin (2 hours east of Portland) for the actual rafting extravaganza.
First, the drive from Portland to Maupin was just incredible. The forecast for Portland was rainy and overcast but about 45 minutes out of the city it started clearing up and a few minutes later, the real beauty began:
And the fun began once we reached the rafting company. Simply put, Sage Canyon Rafting Company is a relaxed group of people just looking to have fun out on the river. They provided an amazing lunch of steak, chicken, pasta salad, potato salad, 5-layer dip, fresh brownies and, believe it or not, they made a beer run for us.
The river was quite a bit colder than was expected and they don’t provide wetsuits which I think is probably their only downfall. I’m guessing it isn’t worth it since normally they’re rafting in 90 degree temperatures. Still, we were freakin’ cold by the end of it.
It was a great weekend with great friends and I was glad to be a part of it. If you’re ever in the town of Maupin (I don’t know WHY you would ever be there) and care to do some rafting, check ‘em out.
I’m on the phone with someone trying to solicit our agency for ads when, all of a sudden, I see some strange looking creatures across the street from my office:
Ladies and gentlemen, it’s President Bush and Vice President Cheney.
This sparks several questions:
Happy Friday everyone! I hope yours is as random as mine. And, if you know anything about the paper-mache’ officials, please let me know.
A random (but awesome) group of us hiked Mailbox Peak this weekend. A friend of a friend (who is now a friend of mine after reaching the summit of this intense hike) is training for climbing Mt. Rainier and was able to rustle up a group of co-workers and co-worker’s friends to do it with her.
To get to the Mailbox Peak trail head, follow I-90 to exit 34, turn right on S.E. Middle Fork Road. Follow this road for about 2.5 miles until the concrete road turns to gravel and you’ll soon see some parking on your right and left. You have to hike up a barricaded road to get there but soon after, the trail head will be on your left with a very formidable warning sign.
The sign doesn’t lie, this hike is hard. A 40 degree trail grade isn’t uncommon and there aren’t many switchbacks to give your legs a break. The final scramble was probably the toughest; you keep thinking you’re at the peak but always have a little further to go:
It took me, Kathleen and Jay (2 rock stars training for Rainier) 2 hours 45 minutes to reach the peak. Our group was a bit fractured so people made it up anywhere between 2 hours 30 minutes and a little under 3 hours.
The view was stunning:
It took us about an hour and a half to get back down to the cars. We inadvertently took the other trail on the way down which turned out to be a welcome change. It was less steep and a bit muddier, both of which helped my knees out.
Bottom Line: Had someone called me when I was halfway up the trail, I would have forbidden them to ever climb Mailbox Peak- it freakin’ messes with your body and your head. However, after reaching the summit, getting an endorphin-high, and taking in the views, I would highly recommend it. It’s probably not the best hike to start your season with but it’s worth a trip.
Over Memorial Day weekend some friends and I went camping at Dash Point State Park. A few factors “forced” us to camp at this spot that’s a just a few miles outside of Federal Way, but once we got there it was actually quite pleasant. You travel through crowded Federal Way to get there but when you hit the park boundary, it’s all woods and most of the campsites are fairly private.
There weren’t really any hikes to speak of but we walked Mud Mountain Dam River Trail and the Cedar River Trial via Landsburg Park (both a significant drive from Dash Point). You don’t gain any elevation for either, but they were fun to walk. I would recommend the Cedar River Trail over Mud Mountain since you at least get to follow a beautiful river, just be sure to turn back before you hit the housing developments and construction.
We also read a trashy romance novel aloud around the campfire. Corny, you say? Nay, brilliant. Thanks to Natalie for bringing that gem of a novel also known as Up Close and Dangerous. I’ve learned the perils and joys of getting in a near-fatal plane crash with a “rugged pilot”, fighting off hypothermia, ultimately surviving to face the man who sabotaged your fuel system, and spending the rest of your life with the man you love. It was a highlight.
The low-light of the trip was getting in trouble for under age drinking. We’re all OF-AGE so, be forewarned, Dash Point rangers are on power trips.
All in all it was a fabulous weekend.
My co-worker and I recently described our job as a “prison”. It’s not that we OFTEN feel that way but the weather outside is so sunny and inviting and we’re stuck in an office building. It can occasionally feel stifling at work.
However, I feel it necessary to point out that while I, in all of my egocentricity, am complaining about my stable job with wonderful people that do some pretty wonderful work throughout the community, tragedy is striking around the world.
78,000 dead in Myanmar/Burma, almost 25,000 dead in China, countless dead in Sudan… and these numbers are still growing. My own city has a large homeless population; individuals who don’t know where they will rest their heads tonight.
Tragedy is all around me. My problems seem miniscule.
I’m often paralyzed, feeling as though there is nothing I can do. Donate? Sure. Volunteer? Maybe.
Perhaps the best thing for me to do is step outside of myself, take the energy away from my pity-party, and put it towards gratitude for all that I have while so many go without. Spend less time complaining and more time thinking about and praying for those experiencing true tragedy, those in true need.
Self-pity is so inviting, but I’m working on turning down the invitation more and more often…
Some good friends and I went to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival this weekend. There really isn’t much to it except for some gorgeous tulips and beautiful views of the Cascades, but it made for a lovely, leisurely Sunday. If you want to relax and take in some good views… too bad, I’m pretty sure the festival ends the 30th. But, mark your calendars for next year, it’s a quaint trip to be enjoyed with good friends.
We decided to try Tulip Town (one of the fields that you can choose from) and weren’t disappointed although there are sure to be cheaper fields (Tulip Town will set you back $5).
We also swung by the Skagit River Brewery & Restaurant and enjoyed some delicious food.
I recently finished reading Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer. I realize, of course, that I’m a little behind the times and most people in America have already read the book or seen the movie. Well, the masses are right- it’s a great book. It tells the story of Chris McCandless/Alexander Supertramp, the well-to-do college graduate who donates his trust fund, burns his money, thumbs his nose at society, and takes off into nature to live a nomadic life throughout the western U.S.
For someone whose feet are already itching to go somewhere (ANYWHERE) this was a dangerous but beautiful book to read. My entire family is from Alaska and I’ve done a few mini-trips into the bush, (mostly when I was a child so it was nothing like what McCandless did) but this made me see Alaska in a whole new light. It made me want to plan an adventure throughout the state. With family there, I already have a base-camp, right?
McCandless’ extreme and, at times, cocky attitude towards nature did cause a bit of aggravation and Krakauer’s tangents into his own experience in Alaska I could take or leave, but I’m glad I read the book. It opened my eyes to see nature with a new appreciation.
Anywho, verdict: Recommended.
