Yesterday, TUMC (the church I work for) hosted an all-church picnic. First of all, can I just say that picnics with old people are never a good idea? The potluck food was a disgusting mix of bean concoctions and mayonnaise-based noodle salads...all of which looked quite repulsive. Second of all, I was in charge of the "games". Well, I don't know if you know this - but old people HATE having fun! That is correct. I set up the games and got all ready...and not a single person would even entertain the thought. They preferred to sit, complain about their aches and pain, and glom more mayonnaise onto their waistlines....
Needless to say, I eventually gave up on getting any real games going and just played frisbee with the kids. We also fed some bread to the ducks and of course, played on the swingset and monkey bars.
While feeding the ducks, I asked my friend Jonah, who is 5 years old, why one of the ducks was white, even though the rest were brown? He said, "Because God painted him white, of course!"
Silly me...I should have known!
His sister and I named the duck Rapunzel...Jonah renamed it Bob the Builder....either way, that duck was the most popular and is probably stuffed with enough bread balls to last it a week.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Monday, August 9, 2010
Roots Rock!
Well folks, it's true - I am now 25 years old...a true quarter of a century. How did I celebrate my day of birth you ask? I enjoyed a lovely Thai food dinner and cake with my family on Saturday...and then woke up with the sun early early on Sunday morning to run the Roots Rock half-marathon in Port Gamble, WA. Although I 
was hesistant going into the half-marathon (it's only my second one ever!), I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It was my first ever trail run (instead of pavement) and it was so much fun. I was able to run the entire race (last time my dad and I walked a large portion of it). 
I even passed quite a few people! All in all, it was an incredible experience - I definitely understand the concept of 
a "runner's high". I hope to keep up my running practice, although it will be difficult with winter coming and the craziness of classes and work...but I'll do my best! 
On another note, I had a list of things that I wanted to accomplish by my 25th birthday. Unfortunately, a lot of them required money or a partner to do them with, and as I am currently money-less and partner-less...they did not get accomplished. So instead, I'm adding them to my list of things to DO in my year as a 25 year old...I plan to continue adding to the list and see what I get done before 26.
The one large thing that was on my list that I did accomplish was paying off all my undergraduate student loans...that was huge, and I'm so glad I did it. (Don't even get my started thinking about grad school loans...).
So far, here's my list for this upcoming year:
Skydiving
Being able to do a real pushup (guy pushup) consistently...I have no arm strength!
Shoot a gun
Get a bike
Finish reading the LOTR books (and eventually watch the movies)
Write my book
*there are more, but I can't remember them now! I'll add to this list as they come to me...*
was hesistant going into the half-marathon (it's only my second one ever!), I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It was my first ever trail run (instead of pavement) and it was so much fun. I was able to run the entire race (last time my dad and I walked a large portion of it). 
I even passed quite a few people! All in all, it was an incredible experience - I definitely understand the concept of 
a "runner's high". I hope to keep up my running practice, although it will be difficult with winter coming and the craziness of classes and work...but I'll do my best! 
On another note, I had a list of things that I wanted to accomplish by my 25th birthday. Unfortunately, a lot of them required money or a partner to do them with, and as I am currently money-less and partner-less...they did not get accomplished. So instead, I'm adding them to my list of things to DO in my year as a 25 year old...I plan to continue adding to the list and see what I get done before 26.
The one large thing that was on my list that I did accomplish was paying off all my undergraduate student loans...that was huge, and I'm so glad I did it. (Don't even get my started thinking about grad school loans...).
So far, here's my list for this upcoming year:
Skydiving
Being able to do a real pushup (guy pushup) consistently...I have no arm strength!
Shoot a gun
Get a bike
Finish reading the LOTR books (and eventually watch the movies)
Write my book
*there are more, but I can't remember them now! I'll add to this list as they come to me...*
Bears, oh my!
In keeping with the hiking theme, I have another adventure to share. Last week, my 
dad and I decided to take on a hike that we had done as a backpacking trip when I was a kid...(I was 
probably 11 or 12?). We did it a couple summers in a row actually. From what we remembered, it's a gorgeous hike in (all downhill) and a grueling hike out...uphill. However, we decided it was worth a shot.
Starting near the trailhead, there was snow!
Plenty of it. Apparently the snow is a little slow to melt this year...seeing as how it's August and it's still here! We crossed a few slippery snow fields before heading down into the valley - headed to Grand Lake. We were lucky enough to see a grouse, a few marmots, a 4-point buck, and of course plenty of birds and chipmunks.
After lunching at Grand Lake, we decided to trek up a little farther to Moose Lake (only about half a mile beyond Grand Lake). Moose Lake is also beautiful and was so quiet and peaceful. We wandered around the lake for a bit until my dad grabbed my arm and pointed across the lake - a black bear!
There she was just hanging out by the water's edge. We stood mesmerized and watched her (I named her Georgina) for a good long while until suddenly, her cub came bounding out of the woods! With that she turned and headed back into the trees. Needless to say, it was an incredible experience...and made the uphill trek out totally worth it!
dad and I decided to take on a hike that we had done as a backpacking trip when I was a kid...(I was 
probably 11 or 12?). We did it a couple summers in a row actually. From what we remembered, it's a gorgeous hike in (all downhill) and a grueling hike out...uphill. However, we decided it was worth a shot.Starting near the trailhead, there was snow!
Plenty of it. Apparently the snow is a little slow to melt this year...seeing as how it's August and it's still here! We crossed a few slippery snow fields before heading down into the valley - headed to Grand Lake. We were lucky enough to see a grouse, a few marmots, a 4-point buck, and of course plenty of birds and chipmunks.
After lunching at Grand Lake, we decided to trek up a little farther to Moose Lake (only about half a mile beyond Grand Lake). Moose Lake is also beautiful and was so quiet and peaceful. We wandered around the lake for a bit until my dad grabbed my arm and pointed across the lake - a black bear!
There she was just hanging out by the water's edge. We stood mesmerized and watched her (I named her Georgina) for a good long while until suddenly, her cub came bounding out of the woods! With that she turned and headed back into the trees. Needless to say, it was an incredible experience...and made the uphill trek out totally worth it!
Monday, August 2, 2010
Missing $1.14
Last weekend my dad and I decided to attempt a hike in the hills just outside Sequim. It is my first hike in at least a couple of years probably. eek!
Well, things got off to a shaky start. After driving way back into the foothills, we came to a parking lot that (we thought) was for the area we were to begin the hike. However, there was a $5 charge! What?! The information we had about the hike specifically said there was no charge. But we just assumed we had misinformation, so we opened up the wallet...uh oh. We didn't have $5. We had 2 $1s or a $20 bill. Was it worth $20? really? After a bit of debate we ended up leaving $3.86...(the $2 plus all the change scrounged from the ashtray) and a note that said we would pay extra the next time we visited a state park! haha oops!
Needless to say, we paid all the fee that we could manage...and headed up the "trail" in the direction the arrow pointed. However, this didn't seem so much a trail as a road...a mostly deserted, gravel road, but still a road. We kept going, thinking that it would turn into a trail at some point...and eventually it did - after 4 miles!! Well, we added 4 uphill miles to the trip right now to start with.
After we walked up the gravel road and finally made it to the trailhead (where there was another parking lot that didn't require payment!! doh.) We headed into the woods, and up towards old copper and manganese mines - Tubal Cain Mine Trail. That was another almost 4 miles in. However, after we go to the mine area (where there was a bunch of old rusted carts and mining equipment) we seemed to lose the trail! We wandered around a couple different little trails that all seemed to come to dead ends....and finally decided it was time for lunch anyway.
After lunch, still confused and map-less, we wandered back down the trail hoping that we perhaps missed a turn-off. After conversing with two seperate sets of fellow hikers who were equally as lost, we went back in the original direction. Eventually we found the path and it led us across a creek...and then up, up up! Up we hiked, up and up, until we bust out into the sunshine with an incredible view of the mountain peaks, that felt close enough to touch! We continued up for another 6 miles or so, and made it alm0st to the top of Marmot pass before we started to run low on water and decided to head back.
On the way back, we speculated the whole way about how we could possibly snag a ride back to our other parking lot with some fellow hikers. However, unfortunately, at the time we arrived back on the trailhead...there were no fellow hikers to be found! We began the last 4 miles of the journey on the gravel road down the hill...not more than 2 minutes went by before a big truck came speeding down the road. The driver halted (in a large dust cloud) and asked (!) if we needed a ride! WOW. We gladly accepted, although it meant getting awfully snuggly in the cab of this man's truck...however, we were tired...and gravel roads are really not enjoyable like hiking in the forest.
Needless to say, we ended up hiking 19.4 miles that day...and we didn't get a parking ticket, even though we were $1.14 short on payment :S. All in all it was a great day. These pictures really don't do it justice, but I'll post a few anyway because the mountains were so gorgeous!
Well, things got off to a shaky start. After driving way back into the foothills, we came to a parking lot that (we thought) was for the area we were to begin the hike. However, there was a $5 charge! What?! The information we had about the hike specifically said there was no charge. But we just assumed we had misinformation, so we opened up the wallet...uh oh. We didn't have $5. We had 2 $1s or a $20 bill. Was it worth $20? really? After a bit of debate we ended up leaving $3.86...(the $2 plus all the change scrounged from the ashtray) and a note that said we would pay extra the next time we visited a state park! haha oops!
Needless to say, we paid all the fee that we could manage...and headed up the "trail" in the direction the arrow pointed. However, this didn't seem so much a trail as a road...a mostly deserted, gravel road, but still a road. We kept going, thinking that it would turn into a trail at some point...and eventually it did - after 4 miles!! Well, we added 4 uphill miles to the trip right now to start with.
After we walked up the gravel road and finally made it to the trailhead (where there was another parking lot that didn't require payment!! doh.) We headed into the woods, and up towards old copper and manganese mines - Tubal Cain Mine Trail. That was another almost 4 miles in. However, after we go to the mine area (where there was a bunch of old rusted carts and mining equipment) we seemed to lose the trail! We wandered around a couple different little trails that all seemed to come to dead ends....and finally decided it was time for lunch anyway.
After lunch, still confused and map-less, we wandered back down the trail hoping that we perhaps missed a turn-off. After conversing with two seperate sets of fellow hikers who were equally as lost, we went back in the original direction. Eventually we found the path and it led us across a creek...and then up, up up! Up we hiked, up and up, until we bust out into the sunshine with an incredible view of the mountain peaks, that felt close enough to touch! We continued up for another 6 miles or so, and made it alm0st to the top of Marmot pass before we started to run low on water and decided to head back.
On the way back, we speculated the whole way about how we could possibly snag a ride back to our other parking lot with some fellow hikers. However, unfortunately, at the time we arrived back on the trailhead...there were no fellow hikers to be found! We began the last 4 miles of the journey on the gravel road down the hill...not more than 2 minutes went by before a big truck came speeding down the road. The driver halted (in a large dust cloud) and asked (!) if we needed a ride! WOW. We gladly accepted, although it meant getting awfully snuggly in the cab of this man's truck...however, we were tired...and gravel roads are really not enjoyable like hiking in the forest.
Needless to say, we ended up hiking 19.4 miles that day...and we didn't get a parking ticket, even though we were $1.14 short on payment :S. All in all it was a great day. These pictures really don't do it justice, but I'll post a few anyway because the mountains were so gorgeous!
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