I feel like Violet from Willie Wonka. I've been eating a lot of dairy and sugar. I might explode like that guy from that Monty Python skit. "It's wafer thin..."

While we're talking about movies...I gave Pineapple Express a second shot. I didn't really like it either time. It's a stoner movie that isn't for stoners...I mean the graphic violence and half blown off ear pieces, the 20 minute car chase, the lame characters, the fact that it's 2 hours long...not a good stoned movie.

"They say california is a recipe for a black hole

I say, I've got my best shoes on

I'm ready to go"

Home is relaxing. The house is so big and I have it all to myself. I don't have to shut the door when I pee. I want to live alone for a while--don't get me wrong, having roommates is super fun and they keep me in check. The ever present reminder that my sloth-ness is being noticed helps me do one productive thing a day, at least. I can't afford to live alone for now. I guess really I want a place where I live with one other person that I can boss around (boyfriend, fiance, whatever). That way I don't get lonely, and I can keep things how I like them :) Pieces of me are so stupidly stereotypically womanly, for instance my need to coddle heads against my breasts.

I saw Sex and the City 2 and it made me crave New York City--the lights, the speed, the noise. The people. I don't know how or when I'll end up there, but I sure do miss it while I'm gone. I'm almost willing to drive cross country with Jordan and the two cats just to get a free trip there. But those cats are smelly.

<3

more granola, less lycra

This blog was started in a kind of response to the movie "Julie and Julia", which is about this girl who starts a blog. Maddie's always brilliant phrasing is inspiring me to challenge myself on my blog too.

This month's challenge:

More yoga, less drinking.

I was thinking today about what I need to do to take care of myself and work towards being the happiest I can be. I know that yoga really helps my health, my happiness, and my general productiveness, so I decided I needed to find a way to make sure I'm practicing. I kept thinking about how I don't have the money, and also about how much I've been drinking lately, and I realized that if I just put all the money I've been throwing down on booze into buying a yoga membership, I'd probably have cash left to spare! So, for my own well being, on June 7th, for a month, I will put all booze money into yoga. I'm not saying I'm not going to drink--if someone buys me a drink I'll drink it :) Best plan ever, if I do say so myself.

Hiking and meeting people. And sunshine. (And food. And beer.)

That last post had great points, but it didn't pull together cohesively because of the booze. I edited a lot out, too, but to no avail. :)

I've been slacking on the blogging, but so has Maddie so it's ok :) We'll be better, I swear, because I'm sure you can't wait to hear all about our awesome lives and we can't wait to talk about them!

Subjects for blog: hiking, dating, and meeting people. Ok, now to play catch up--

HIKING IN WASHINGTON IS THE BEST! Some of my new friends are avid hikers that plan a hike every weekend, and I'm now a part of the group! It's quickly becoming my favorite part of the week, and my favorite part about Washington! The first week we went to Wallace Falls. The weather was overcast, I didn't have proper footwear, but it was overall a successful first hike, meeting people and realizing the wilderness potential for my new life here. My new friend Alex organizes the hikes and rides, and takes un. believable photos. I think because he writes his name on them it's ok that I repost them. Well, I'll have to remember to double check with him next time.

Wallace Falls

Last weekend we went to Otter Falls (10 mi). It took us forever to get to the trailhead on pot hole filled roads in the middle of nowhere. There were no signs so we just started walking on the trail and figured we'd get to the falls sooner or later! We ended up at some other beautiful falls and talked to some people and found we had totally missed the split off earlier for Otter Falls. But that's ok, we got to see both falls! It was an absolutely perfect day with tons of great puffy white clouds and the most clean and fresh air you can imagine. I couldn't stop myself from breathing it in consciously taking in the most air I possibly could and then sighing in happiness as I let it out. I tried to take some time for myself when we stopped for breaks and just "find some peace" (as Alex put it) in the beautiful, quiet surroundings.

-me "finding peace" on a rock at the bottom of a waterfall-

-great photo of Jessie crossing one of the many streams on the trip-

-Otter Falls! Really slow moving, huge, rock waterfall. There was a huge frozen ice chunk in the lake at the bottom. Awesome-

-the group at "Wrong Falls"...haha-

-so we decided to walk on these frozen trees, and I was super stoked to practice my rusty balance beams skills, but instead I slipped on the ice on the trunk and ate it HARD. I got this mad awesome bruise from it, and it made me feel really really alive. Hence the happy face-

This week's hike was to Rattlesnake Ledge/Peak (11 mi). It was a one way hike over a mountain. The first hour or so was a brutal incline and I was drenched in sweat. The work was seriously worth it, though: the view from Rattlesnake Peak was one of the most amazing panoramic views I've ever seen my whole life. I could have sat there an entire day on the edge of the peak, soaking it all in. A spiritual experience. Seriously. Possibly one of my favorite places in the world. I'm already planning a return visit.

I guess I'll come back to the dating topic another time. On to meeting people. Which is all I've been doing! I can't believe all the new friends I'm making. I'm practically becoming a social butterfly! (I know, right?) I have a few people here that I'd consider new friends, and I have a list a mile long of cool people I've met and talked to. I love it. I'm definitely doing the amount of drinking beer and meeting people that a lot of people do in college, but I never did. Maddie and I went to this really fun birthday party for a new friend from UW, and we danced and looked great, obviously. :)

The last few days in the city have been a beautiful 70-75 degrees with blue skies and plenty of sun (insert shocked faces here). I've been outside, soaking in the sun, forming this season's tan lines, and exploring nearby neighborhoods in varying degrees of sobriety. My lawn has become my office, complete with laptop, sunglasses, red lips, CSA fruit, and a big glass of water. I realize now what a California girl I became in my 12 years there--getting some (cancer) rays really is one of the most pleasant ways to spend an afternoon. (photos by Maddie)

-roomies outside on a beautiful day-

-just me. obviously the wine isn't mine and I'm a poser, because a) I don't drink white wine and b) Maddie is holding it in previous photo-

I've been eating delicious healthy (mostly) vegan food and becoming more in touch with my body and what it wants/needs and doesn't want/need. I had caffeine this morning and almost puked it messed me up so badly! Since I've been exercising more I've been learning which foods give me the best long lasting energy (whole grains and veggies, go figure) and it's interesting to really truly understand that Jack-In-The-Box at 11pm "just because we're hungry and nothing else is open" really kills my body the next morning.

I guess that's all.

public living

The private/public line we draw is something I've been pondering. I don't want to put myself on the net completely because I feel like my life is for me and not for public consumption (facebook, pictures, twitter, etc). So many people make me sick, putting on this show that they expect everyone to buy into. Maybe a huge part of my privacy has to do with a fear of measuring up. I especially hate this because at no other time in my life do I really give a shit about it. In "real life", if you will. Measuring up doesn't matter and I'm happy with where I am, where I've been, and where I'm going, personally. Sure, I don't have the experiences others do. I haven't traveled the world or lived the greek life in college. I don't have loads of acquaintances. I won't have that many tagged pictures, that many facebook friends, that many comments on my birthday, that many adorable status updates about how happy I am and how much I LOVE MY LIFE, so why even try?

So, this is me. I'm not just saying I don't give a fuck, I really don't. My friends are my real friends--I value them, and I don't collect them. I take some pictures, some I share and some I don't, and I save some pictures other people take so I can look at them later. I don't always look good. I'm not always happy and excited. I sometimes am, more often than not, lately, but I revel in that privately or with people I'm close to, without proclaiming it online. I'm happy I don't do those things, yet I still feel a need to measure up. I just have to try to not let it bother me.

Which brings me to the subject of blogging. Blogging is an extension of Facebook, really, because it is a piece of yourself that you put out there to be read, but really judged, by others. So how much of myself do I want to put on this blog? The first few posts are generic, easy, and shallow. I feel like I should write about more interesting things. But the truth is, I'm really awesome, and the things I do aren't especially interesting lately, which I'm also not really worried about.

Wow, I was just about to write a few really self conscious sentences there. I stopped myself, not for public appearances, but because I'm feeling really great about my life and myself lately. It's an interesting transition. I feel like I'm been pretty self conscious for most of my life. New attention from men, overall confidence in my life in Seattle, and my quest towards personal health (which makes me care a lot less about how I look) is making me a person I don't quite understand yet.

So I guess, for now, this blog is what it is. And I'm ok with that. And I won't put on a show, no matter how much I feel like I should. Story of my life. Once in third grade I raised my hand to answer a question everyone single other person in the class thought had the opposite answer. I should have conformed, but I didn't--I stood my ground. And guess what, I was right all along.

xoxo

PS I did that again when I could have gotten a pendant signed by Joe Montana when I won a raffle in elementary school, and the whole school told me to pick the Joe Montana prize, but I chose the other pendant, which was signed by two football players no one cared about at all. Non-conformity was a FAIL that particular time :)

footprints

Today I want to talk about feet, but mostly footprints.

I'm realizing lately the importance of quality footwear. I'm not usually a person who talks about ((shoes.)) But, good shoes can really change your outlook about being outside. They can give you comfort, confidence, and energy or they can make you sad and hurty and want to go back home. I paid a little extra last fall when I replaced my running shoes, and it still feels like walking on air every time I use them. I got great boots for my trip to Europe and New York, and I could trek around the cities the entire day without feeling too casual or uncomfortable. Today I bought hiking boots (well, a birthday gift from my mom), and I think they predict a successful summer as an avid hiker in this beautiful city. The sun shone all day, and everything was as green and bright as Emerald City and every hard surfaced reflected light. It felt clean. I still hold by my theory that living somewhere with bad weather part of the year inspires you appreciate the good even more.

And now to footprints. I've been thinking a lot about my carbon footprint. I have been making great strides into being, in my opinion, a better human being. Not that I judge people that eat big hamburgers or gorge on cheese (well, that's not true), but I do think the things I do to eliminate the unnecessary suffering of other living creatures make me better. Which is why I do them. Plus, it makes me feel better health wise and doesn't hurt the wallet and is great for my bod. :) Win win! I'm still not perfect, of course, but I'm trying.

My next steps: WALK EVERYWHERE! I can get to so many things by foot. I don't have much need for my car, so saving the environment AND gas money are huge pluses. The bus system is decent here so that, combined with using my feet = lowering my carbon footprint even more! It disgusts me that the lowest I've ever been footprint wise is still insanely higher than the rest of the WORLD'S average!

Another challenge I have for myself is to go one whole day a week without the use of ANY electronics. No computer, no phone, no ipod, no stereo. Maybe no lights, either. I love using candles at night anyway. Why does that sound so scary and impossible! That sickens me. I feel a little bit like a hypocrite and an addict at the same time. I'm going to make myself do it, though, and see if it makes me realize anything about myself or society.

Today's blog was pretty inspirational--this guy is a little eXtreme, but I think he has some really great ideas on how to make your life the exact life you want.

http://crazysexylife.com/2010/how-i-transformed-my-life/

Farmhouse Ale Imposter

The highlight of today:

It may look like just an ear with an adorable little freckle, but there's more to the story!

Last summer I bartended at a brewery in beautiful Camino, California. One of my favorite regulars was Mike. He had a cat named Post-it that he brought everywhere with him like a dog (leash and all). On hot summer evenings when everyone would be on the lawn drinking and playing cornhole, Post-it and I would chill inside killing flies with the electric fly swatter, sneaking beer shots and generally rocking out. Mike and I were good pals, probably because I'm the same age as his daughter, and also because he's a bit of an old perv. He only drank Whitewater Pale Ale, to which he added ground cloves that he made me keep behind the bar to make it taste more like Farmhouse Ale, a beer that hadn't been made since the owner swindled all of the profits on erectile dysfunction pills, prostitutes, and online porn sites, and thus had no money for the production of the more expensive beers.

Mike worked at Snowline Hospice Thrift Store during the day and would always give people little gifts of things he found there, like an ugly fake flower bouquet which ended up as a joke bar decoration for months, a "RESERVED" sign he put on whatever table he sat at, and the above pictured turquoise earrings. Not only are they totally cute, but they are the only pair of earrings I own that don't give my ears an allergic reaction. I thought I had lost them forever and had mourned their passing, but turns out they were just in my secret purse compartment waiting to be found and worn again :) I did a little dance.

I need to get out of the house more often...

I love my new home, Seattle. Now I'll write about it. I'll probably also talk about cooking, eating, and good beers. I'm going to take some pictures and re-develop my seriously disintegrating writing skills. I'm going to try to spend a little more time each day being creative instead of rotting my brain with (all) seven seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

I've been trying to force myself back into a morning routine where I get up, bathe, brush my teeth, turn on some music, clean my room, light some incense, and start my day like normal working people do. Sitting around in my pjs is getting old.

Today Maddie got me out of the house and off the couch to work at Zoka, a coffee shop down the street. It's nice to work out in public, except for the fact I'm forced to take fewer breaks and can't sidetrack myself with watching youtube videos of broadway performances. Well I guess it's a good thing :)

We ate dinner at one of my favorite local joints, (hot) Diggity Dog. They have sage potato apple veggie dogs and a decent beer choice, with a kids zone in the back, cheesy 90s pop playing, and pictures of dogs on the walls. It's owned by a nice local family and we loooove it here at the Mystery Spot!

Maddie made an I N S A N E strawberry rhubarb cobbler with our CSA fruits/roots (?). I love our CSA. Everyone should get one.

It was obviously super good.