What The Helk Was That?

At the last moment Justin and I decided to truncate our vacation. Instead of returning home Sunday evening we decided to get home early Sunday morning instead. This shortened time spent with my extended family but luckily we still got to see everyone. 

We listened to "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," on audio on the drive back. It helped keep Justin awake. For me however it provided a nice ambiance coupled with the heavy rainfall. I dozed intermittently for a period of two-three hours which is highly unusual for me in a car. 

We were approximately an hour and a half from home while I was messaging a friend on my phone not really paying full attention to the road. I noticed a tan blur out my passenger window. Justin screamed, and I was like the hell is going on?!

Well it turns out an elk was standing in the right lane of the freeway facing the left which we were driving in.

 

He was like, "top of the morning to yeah," as we sped by at 75 mph. And we were like, "omg what is an elk doing standing in the middle of the road?!" And he was like, "tf is this road doing in the middle of no where," and we all thanked our good graces that nothing more than a few chin hairs got sacrificed in the interaction. He needed a good trim any way. 

Three Days

Our vacation continues to get better and better if that is even possible. Justin and I are finally getting to really relax. This we took a nice long walk from our hotel to the beach.

We ambled around the beach for a few hours.

I stalked birds. I even helped "save one" or severely annoyed it.

 

He only had one leg. I considered building him a peg leg but he didn't look like he wanted to be a pirate. He also had something wrong with his wings and used them as crutches as he tried to limp back into the water. I took off my shoes and helped guide him back out to sea when the tide kept washing him back up to shore. Eventually he got there and it was pretty cool. Except from his perspective he was probably like what tf is this girl doing?!

Later Justin and I stopped by this lighthouse. It seemed exciting except we didn't feel like waiting for the tour guide to return from his current tour so we bitched out. 

Next we went down to the pier. It smelled like death and destruction. Poor fishes. Justin was able to get a "Mr. T" burger and a caramel ice cream waffle cone. It was exciting. 

We closed out the night with a fire on the beach. Justin persisted until he kindled the perfect flames and we relaxed in the warmth before the rain came in.

 

Day Two

Justin and I left this morning from Lake Wallowa just as the sun was shining on the tips of the mountain tops. It was a breathtaking view and a tough one to leave. However I knew in a few hours (nine to be exact) we'd be on the beach. And I could waive hello to a much missed friend. 

Justin commented several times about how it looked like I was home. I guess the ocean is one place I always feel at peace and safe. Even despite tsunamis, Sharks, and killer crabs. 

We went for a walk as the sunset on the beach. For a few moments it was just us in our own little paradise as far as our eyes could see. It was glorious. 

In the end I even got to experience the dementor's kiss. 

On Vacation

The Finally after I don't know how long Justin and I are on a real vacation. Naturally it is jam-packed with things to do and people to see but I think it is safe to say we are both thankful to get away from the day to day. 

Our first stop was Baker City, Oregon. I've visited this town a half a dozen times with work so we had planned to have lunch and place an order for a custom piece of jewelry for my friend's upcoming birthday (shhhh don't tell her). Unfortunately the place we like for lunch was randomly closed. We settled for some bagel sandwiches. Justin even managed to lock his keys in the car with the car running. Luckily the man is super handy and found an awesome way to let himself in the car. I can't share it though because some people who read this blog might be inclined to try to steal vehicles. 

Next stop? Wallowa Lake. Here are a few photos for you. 

Yay beach

We went on a double date

Making friends

I have a friend who is terrified of fish so when I noticed the Kokane spawning signs everywhere Justin and I stormed over and had strong words with those bastards. We told them not to scare innocent people. They just flapped around like a bunch of assholes but at least they were pretty. 

Fish 

Justin having words with the fish 

There were really interesting dead things all over the beach; like trees, trees, more trees and some not so interesting dead fish. I found myself gravitating towards the rotting trees and wanted to take 1,000s of photos. We propped up my iPhone on the sandy beach amongst the HUNDREDS of spiders. Apparently they like dead things too. And they like trying to kill me. And I'm pretty sure it's their fault the photos are so blurry because when I asked them to hold my iPhone the were like I'm gonna cut you bitch. Except not really. They just wanted to suck my soul out. 

Me trying to get my glasses off before the timer camera goes off. At least Justin is photogenic. 

Dead things 

Justin by some dead things 

Justin skipping rocks

Bye bye for now :) 

Adventures

This past weekend was an adventure. The full story will come on another day; one in which I'm not nodding off to sleep as I type. For now some photos to share a mini trip I took with one of my favorite people, and of course some animals that are majestic as hell. 

Lovely Leah looking towards our destination. She knows we will get there. 

Train tracks

Horses

Horse

More horses

Miniature horse

Not so miniature horse in the background named Gandalf. 

Yay photos. More evidence to the fact that I need 95 animals. 90 of them cats, 10 of them horses, and 10 of them dogs. That equals 90 right? Maybe just 89 cats. 

Strange Things Been Happenin'

I've been MIA once again. I've been debating starting an entirely new blog. I know you're thinking; 'please save us all including yourself and don't partake in that adventure.' It's true. I've been so sporadic with my posts that starting a new blog seems pointless. 

I've been mentally working on my book. I've been busy with lots of mini trips with Justin as we enjoy the last days of summer. I've been crammed full with work duties. We've been working on wedding plans, I've been dealing with some personal things from the past. Pick whichever excuse you'd like. My plate has been overflowing but along with it my cup runneth over. In a good way. 

I need to make a choice. And rather than make that choice I've been sitting on the fence eating bon-bons while I try to determine which option is best. Say goodbye to the few years' worth of 

history on this page and start fresh, or let it be and continue posting here? I guess there is always option three take a big sabbatical from blogging altogether and finish my book. I'll figure it out at some point. Why are the small choices the tough choices? 

Here is a photo of Justin and me on one of our adventures. This is to prove I'm still alive. Hopefully this will tide me over. For now. 

To the Windows

For one of the job sites I work I have closing duties. Sometimes I have a hard time remembering all of the closing duties because I am so excited to get off work mostly to eat, but sort of to see Justin too. You know much of a hopeless romantic I am. Well with Justin at least there is lots of hope considering we are to be wed. 

I decided to use this familiar song as a helpful tune in remembering what to do... 

'To the Window!' (I close the blinds)

'To the Wall,' (I fill the printer on the wall) 

'Til the Sweat drips down ma' balls,' (I just gyrate here when no one is looking) 

"House keep keep mothafucka house keep keep," (I empty my shred bin) 

Then it's time to go eat and I get super happy. End. 

Lake Anthony

So I intended to post some of these photos from while I was away on business but never got around to it. So what better time than now?

This place was freaking gorgeous. Justin and I used it to inspire our upcoming vacation for which I am SO looking forward to. I love going new places with that man because he is full of wonder and it is beautiful to watch as he absorbs his surroundings. So stay tuned because in about a month we'll be on a lovely vacation and I might share photos. 

Grumpy Bear

Sometimes Justin gets hangry. I feel I've mentioned this before. Regardless of any aforementionings I'm mentioning it again. Because it is Saturday morning and I'm awaiting a phone call. So rather than sit and twiddle my thumbs I'll be somewhat (not really) productive and pen a blog. With my phone. Not an actual pen. Because technology. 

I was messaging Lacy the other evening which is a thing now because she is my work wife and there rarely goes a day where we don't text. :) Anyway Justin was feeling pretty hangry so I was trying to depict his demeanor via text which is nearly impossible. So I found some photos. 

On our way home we drive about an hour in traffic on a car-laden freeway. Bumper to bumper can really trigger one's emotions. Coupled with hungry? Justin is usually like this before we cook and eat dinner:

This is him during:

And this is him after:

Fin 

Paint Nite

Justin and I like to do different things from time to time. We decided to put on our creative hats and head to paint nite with some friends. 

We arrived at a swanky restaurant at "The Village," that at least we consider swanky because we eat like wolverines and rarely show our faces in sit down restaurants. Fortunately the 20 or so of us who had purchased a paint nite voucher were seated in a closed off room. I proceeded to order sushi loudly while our instructor explained our different paint brushes; large one- Chris Hemsworth, medium one- Jennifer Lawrence and small one Justin Bieber. 

I was starving so naturally I wolfed down my sushi in a flash. The only problem was that I've recently gotten braces on so my mouth was pretty much seaweed. I spent the last hour or so trying to suck the chunks of food from my braces and apparently it worked because this photo.

 

A couple of things. One; moments before this was snapped I timbered backwards through the banner behind us which is why my friend is laughing so hard. I honestly thought it was a solid wall. Nope. And this photo was taken in the middle of the aforementioned swanky restaurant right in front of snooty patrons who don't tumble backwards into anything ever. Secondly you may have noticed something off with Justin's painting. I assure you it is a submarine. I also assure you also that he will not turn into Hitler Junior despite his... abstract-esque painting.... attempt? 

Back in Town

The Saturdays immediately following my out of town work trips are typically followed by some R&R since I'm a tad of an introvert and need to catch up on me time at home since I was just forced into me time at a strange hotel. Not this Saturday. This Saturday was filled with activities :) 

We had one of our usual get togethers with our friends this evening. It's nice to chase the last days of summer. It feels like tomorrow they will be gone. Time really does fly, and life changes as it passes by. It is interesting to notice the subtle or sometimes gargantuan elements of our lives that ebb and flow with the changing of the tides. 

There are friendships that have stood the test of time, there are the toxic people we had to cut from our hearts-be them blood or otherwise, there are the moments when we achieve significant things we never thought possible, there are the breaking points, the rock bottoms, the hurt and painful times, there's the falling in love, there's the sunrises, there's the laughing until it hurts, the healing, there's the building of trust, the tearing it down, but it is life. And it is great. 

See what happens when I miss my R&R? I get all weird. Here are some photos from our get together to break up the strangeness of my blog post