National Geographic Photo Contest

I have decided to enter a couple of photos into the National Geographic Photo contest for 2011. All entries will be in the "Nature" category. This is exciting for me! After looking at the first 9 weeks of photo entries, I doubt I will win, but it's worth a shot. Nobody ever achieved anything without trying, right? Let me know what you think.

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I am in a whirlwind of thoughts. Sarah Palin is driving a bus to nowhere, Weiner is showing off his package, the weather is manic, people have no patience, and my friend has brain cancer, again.

I've been waiting for her pathology report to come back since before her surgery two weeks ago. I know, I know surgery has to come before anything else, but I am inpatient when we are talking about my friend's life. Prior to surgery, I knew they were suspecting a Glioblastoma Multiforme.

The first time around her surgery was very dramatic and oh so scary. She had so many post op complications and I was worried sick. I am still worried sick, but the second go about she is so much more capable and chipper that I was hopeful that this would be just another blip in the road. I've been calling and messaging her more often and getting prompt responses from her, which is a great sign as to her mental capacity and recovery.

This afternoon, I called her to find out the results of the pathology report and the outcome of the workup for the clinical trial she is trying to be part of. Pathology: Glioblastoma Multiforme Grade IV. And the only treatment she will be doing is a phase II clinical trial. No more chemo. No more radiation.

The conversation that followed the big revelation of diagnosis and prognosis left me somewhat stunned.

My friend and I reminisced over the fun we had, our times at work, and all of the people in between. She went on to tell me the things I had said to her years previous impacted her so much they framed the path she would take and the studies she would pursue in college. She went on to tell me how my work ethic, morals, and values changed her life. She then told me that a conversation we had had led to her first compliment from a mentor for whom she great respect. Her mother read her a book I recommended her while recovering from surgery.

Wow.

I had made that much of a difference in her life? The words I spoke had such an impact on her that she used them as a means to proceed with goals and her future life?

I listened to her words and asked myself how it is that I am placed so highly in her mind, a mind that is reviewing life and preparing for the unknown and yet I cannot do the same for myself?

I don't even know how to respond to this or what to think. All I know is that I would like to skip school and go to the wetlands and just breathe. And plan a trip to LA in the next few weeks.

Ashland, Oregon

Call us crazy, but we woke about 0300 again and headed due North with intent to spend the night in Redding, CA. After reading some of the weather reports, we decided to keep going and get through Mt. Shasta and the Siskiyou summit while the going was good.

Eager to get on the road neither Carl nor I realized how tired we were. It took about two hours before we realized this stretch would require some modifications...we had to do shift driving all the way there.

We made it by early afternoon leaving us time to walk around downtown Ashland, visit the co-op, and have a nice meal out before crashing for ten hours.

Ashland has a special place in my heart. Every year, they have a Shakespeare festival. My grandma used to go to a similar festival in Utah every year until she could no longer go due to cancer. I couldn't help but feel the magic of her all around me just being in the same place as a festival she loved so dearly. The festival runs February to November every year. Although Carl and I decided to opt out this round, we've decided to go back and make a time of it and see a few shows.

Ashland was the last stop on our tour. We were both ready to head home and prepare for the upcoming school and work ventures.

The only problem with returning to Portland was our bed. After staying in hotels (and motels mind you) with better beds than our own we decided it was time to change that.

Thank heaven for IKEA.

Oceanside and Vista

When we last met, I said we would be heading to San Diego. Well, we stopped short and decided to watch the surfers in Oceanside and visit friends in Vista.

We never realized how lovely Oceanside is. We randomly went there for a lazy day at the beach only to find a secret we've been waiting to hear about. Beaches lined with sand, fire pits, surfers, and people. A pier to walk out into the ocean with a restaurant at the end. Brown beaked pelicans fishing the sea mere feet in front of you. One of the best sunsets We have ever been privy to set our sunset loving eyes upon. There is something to be said for having the love of your life wrapping their arms around you while the sea carries away the day and welcomes the night.



I love this California trip because it has enabled us the opportunity to see people I haven't seen in a decade and Carl has never met. In Vista, we visited Wendi and Jonathan. We had dinner and a lovely evening catching up. Sometimes I wonder why more than a decade passes before reconnecting with people who are so much fun and entertaining. If I had a magic wand, I would wave it and have some of our best friends and family all live relatively close to one another. I suppose this may take the magic out of seeing them in far away places, but it would be so nice to have deep seeded connections closer to where we live.


Call us crazy, but we left Vista at 0300 and headed north, very north. We are just two hours shy of reaching Ashland, Oregon our last anticipated stop on this trip before returning to Portland.

L-A

LA!

What can I say, the original plan was to stay 24 hours but the city had other plans for us.

Upon arrival, we were able to meet up with one of my dearest friends at a lovely restaurant for some yummy lunch and a very much desired connection to reunite. There are some people who just make the world a million times better and D does just that. You see, she had (yes HAD-just got the all clear last month) brain cancer. She went through surgery, chemo, and radiation all while GOING to SCHOOL to maintain health insurance to beat cancer. But that's not what makes her so special. She's a person who inspires and empowers me and has since we worked together at a coffee shop oh so long ago. She sees me for every last ounce of my potential and loves me for my flaws. She is the most amazing friend with the best sense of humor. And we got to start our LA adventure with her presence and beauty.

From there, we went to our hotel, the magic castle, just off Hollywood BLVD. This is the best hotel of the entire trip. These people met us with a glass of sparkling lemonade and a toast upon our arrival. The rooms are amazing and attention to detail impeccable. These people know how to open their arms and welcome guests in style. Classical music welcomed us to our room as did a bed that swallowed us up in down comforter. This place made me want to stay and hang out in the hotel and forget the rest of the city. Thankfully, we left the room and explored Hollywood and Sunset for our evening activity.

Not only did we look for all of the stars on the walk of fame, we took photos and made out like the average tourist with a visit to Voltair for a fortune telling extravaganza. Grauman's theater was packed and full of super heroes, musical legends, and strippers, of course.

To end the night, we cruised Sunset blvd to check out the scene and get to know the city.


The next morning, we knew we had to stay another night. Not just because our hotel was awesome, but because we had people to meet and sites to see. We starred the morning off with a trip on Mulholland drive for a city view (smog filled) and the Hollywood sign too. We drove through Beverly Hills to check out the neighborhood and all of the fancy cars.

Griffith park was next on the docket with a walk around the observatory and more city views. Hunger pangs led us to meet up with friends at a restaurant known for the best breakfast in LA, Blu Jam. Tasty, but Portland food is mighty flavorful....

After a lovely meal, we met up with a couple I haven't seen in 12 years for adventure filled tours to the first pueblo ever in LA (such humble beginnings) then Chinatown, little aremnia, and Ethiopa Village where we dined on nice grub.

The details escape me as we prepare for bed and our next adventure in San Diego. Life is a beach, baby.

Yosemite

First, let me start by saying I love the sheer magnitude of the mountains in Yosemite valley. Second, I am so very glad we saw them for the first time covered in snow and ice.

We picked the right day to adventure to the mountains. A storm had blown through earlier in the week and knocked out power and covered the passes in thick snow leaving them impassable for a couple of days. When we arrived to the lodge, we discovered it was the first day Yosemite had power restored after a week of none. Lucky us.

The roads were mostly clear too. Only at one point did we put chains on and it was just below the summit and only for a few short miles.

Since the weather had been so poor, many people cancelled their reservations. I loved this because there were very few people and the best cabins were up for grabs. We splurged and took the best one, with a view.

Our evening was mostly calm and quiet. We took a tour ride around what roads were open (not many) and went for very quiet walks. We happened upon talkative deer and a very timid coyote scavenging in the snow.

The falls were amazing. The ponds frozen and begging for someone to ice skate on them. The camps were empty and serene. Most importantly, we were breathing fresh cold air pocketed with the satisfying scent of ponderosa pine.

At 0340, we found ourselves awake and ready for another day. Los Angeles was an easy decision. We have many lovely friends there and we both want to see the Hollywood sign.

We took our time getting ready and left Yosemite long before the sun was signaled by the rooster.
This was a relatively peaceful night on a journey full of fire and spice.

one crazy night in San Francisco

Oh, San Francisco, how I love you.

This city makes my heart come to life. It has been fifteen years since I first set foot there. The first time, San Francisco taught my heart to beat and to keep beating for the life that was to come. This time, it provided much appreciated perspective. And this time, I was with my husband and lifelong love, Carl.

Our sights to San Francisco through wine country were phenomenal. Rolling green hills and vineyards As far as the eye could see. Highway 101 started us out with a trip over the Golden Gate Bridge, a first for both Carl and I. why not keep the magic alive and hit up all of the best sights first? Next up, Lombard street! I must have taken a super secret route because on a Saturday, we waited in no line whatsoever to go down this street. I don't know how it happened, but it did. We rolled slowly down the most crooked street in the world (I question this after seeing ice road truckers) and kept rolling down hill until we reached Fisherman's Wharf. We parked the car along the waterfront and walked a few miles from one end to the other. Oh, the people and the places we saw.

After finding a hotel based upon a park ranger's advice, we found ourselves staying where all the traveling performers stay when they do shows for the park service. The place was cool enough. A little retro, but who stays in their hotel room when in San Francisco on a Saturday night? We walked back to the Wharf and did a little more sight seeing before we took a pedi-cab to chinatown for a look. That place is a hill no matter what direction you look! Everything was written in Chinese too, the street signs, names of buildings, venues, etc. It was beyond awesome. We stopped in an herb shop where I walked around telling Carl about the bulk herbs and completely astonished with the knowledge I have gained while in school. From there we found a most amazing tea shop where we went through all of the teas and sets. Oh how I love Chinatown.

We walked anther two miles back to our hotel and took a much needed rest. As we were preparing for bed, the folks in the hotel room next to us began fighting and slamming doors. I figured it was a Saturday night and we were going to hear some riff-raff. Well, middle of the night comes and the riff-raff increases as well as the drug use apparently. Carl hears people coaxing the neighbors to open the door because someone overdosed on drugs. I slept through it all, thank god for walking 9 miles around town.

We got up bright and early (0430) the next day only to walk back to Chinatown for dim sum. Following that we hit up other districts around town too; the financial district to see the great Transamercia building, Coit tower, North beach, Russion Hill, the bay bridge, and back along the wharf toward our hotel.

We were going to stay another night and do some touristy activities, but after our extensive morning walk and the ground we covered, we decided to drive to another destination. I had been viewing all of the tourist brochures and saw day trips to Yosemite. We did a quick road check for conditions, called Yosemite to check the weather and conditions, and off we went.

San Francisco to Yosemite. Always onward, always adventuring. Into the snow we go!

We are at it Again

We decided to hit the road for spring break - spontaneous style.

We began by heading south to Crescent City, California bright and early Friday morning. When we arrived it was a raining small children and the skies were gray. The chamber of commerce in small towns are worth their weight in gold. They have the best information and in what order to do it all if you are going to fly on the seat of your pants and go where the wind blows you.

We ended up going to Stout Grove and Howlind Hill Road to see the redwoods and bask in their glory as they dominated the forest. Of course, we had to go to Pebble Beach and check out the waves while the storm whipped and whirled the sea.

One of the more interesting stops was the harbor- or at least where the harbor should have been. The earthquake in Japan and resulting tsunami completely wiped out the harbor in Crescent City. As we drove to see the harbor and the massive effort to recover several sunken boats (15 left to recover the morning we went) I realized the most of the people in the full parking lot were fisherman unable to work. They sat in their trucks and watched as this huge crane and several divers worked to clean up the disaster the giant wave left behind. My heart sunk as we watched knowing what this meant for them. This was after all, a fishing town.

We stayed on the beach in a small motel with zero amenities (we should have checked upon inquiring about the room). There was not even a telephone.

When we woke the next morning, we looked to one another for a place to go next. We pulled out a map and suddenly, San Francisco was looking pretty good. With our backs to the wind, we drove south into the sun.