Thursday, April 3, 2014

Only the Good Die Young

Today's post is sad.

A friend of mine from high school has passed away and early reports are that she took her own life. It breaks my heart. She was a person that was always bubbly and kind and never had a bad thing to say about anyone. She could be drowning in her own problems and would still take the time to lift others up. She's the best possible sort of person and I'm heart broken that I let distance take her out of my life and that the world has lost such a kind and loving person. She's exactly the sort of person that I aspire to be and I'm hurting that she could hurt so much to do this and not have anyone to reach out to.

Tell the people you love how much they mean to you, everyday. Don't say hateful things, even when they're what you feel in that moment. Have patience and kindness with everyone that you meet.

Love first, everything else second.

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Beach Please!

Per usual I am way behind with the posts I want to do. With school starting this week I'm going to have to continue (start?) to make this blog a priority, along with about 15 other things ;)

Two weeks ago I went with the parents and the baby brother to the beach and it was pretty much the best weekend ever. The weather and the company both could not have been better. We stayed in Seaside for the weekend, but I wish it could have been for the whole week. In fact, I would like to relocate everything that I love about my life in Seattle to Seaside, and maintain a permanent residence there. Please.

Anyway, Friday night I got into the campground late because I had dinner with a friend in Portland on the way to Seaside. Side bar - McMenamins at Cornelius Pass, so amazing. If you're in the Portland Metro area, go there. Great McMenamins food and beer, plus an awesome outdoor area you can wander around. There were huge outdoor fireplaces to sit by while you drink or eat. It was an awesome place to unwind on Friday after a long but sunny drive down from Seattle.

Saturday morning we got up and drove into the outlet stores at Seaside. They're small but it was fun to wander around the kitchen store with my parents and I got a great coat at Eddie Bauer. We went back to camp and had lunch then Baby Brother and I rode bikes down to the ocean.

I made Baby Brother take a picture with me down at the beach. He would tell you it's not a selfie since there are two of us in it. I would tell you it is a selfie, because I was both the photographer, and the subject. You can make up your own mind about what a selfie is, so long as we all agree that selfie's are hilarious and awesome. (many more to come, so if you don't like them, probably quit now).




After our bike ride we all piled in the car and went to see Terrible Tilly. I saw this light house that's located 1.2 miles off of Tillamook head on an Atlas Obscura post and I became captivated. I found a short (3 mile) hike we could do from the bluff down to a beach with view points of the light house along the way. This discovery (obsession?) was the impetus for the whole trip. Definitely worth it. The hike was gorgeous, exactly what I had hoped it would be. The family humored me through it. I thought that when I said short hike, they would know that I meant less than 3 miles, less than 1000ft gain. Apparently not. They were good sports though and I think we all had a great time.

Mom's REALLY into selfies. What can I say?*

 
Hikes over!

Baby Brother takes some convincing for selfie participation






























After the hike we went back to camp and made my favorite camping dinner, Hobo Stew. It's pretty much just meat and potatoes and veggies and sauce made in foil packets. I'm easy to please. :)

Saturday night we just enjoyed all being together, played some cribbage and went to the hot tub for a bit. Sunday we explored around Seaside and then packed up camp around lunch time.

There are no bad days to be on vacation at the beach, but this was an especially beautiful day

Turns out Mom's also really into photobombing
Mom's favorite activity, selfie taking, also, I love this picture of her :)
 
Baby brother came back and spent a few days up in Seattle, which was great both because I love when he comes and visits and also because it meant I had company for the drive back to Seattle.

Overall it was such an amazing weekend. I love that my family is so close, even though we're all so different. That's what family is though right, a bunch of people with the main thing they have in common being that they love each other like crazy? I wouldn't trade it for anything.
 
 
*Mom didn't know what a selfie was before this trip. She's now thoroughly educated. ;)