okay washington. i love you.

so, guess who completely forgot to pack her camera before leaving on vacation to washington state? yes, yours truly. and I am seriously so depressed about it. then again, it's yet another reason to go back ... not that I need a reason. I could go back right now. I LOVED IT. I'm going to find some stock pictures to give you an idea.

this isn't quite the view from the ferry, but close enough

pike place market was amazing! andy and I both got some books from a used book shop - I got a couple of matching old signet classic editions of northanger abbey and pride & prejudice - the cover art is so clever and just my style. I got a beautiful pashmina scarf for cheap from 'el gringo imports' - a place which also had an exact replica of my very own (I thought) incredibly unique alpaca sweater. I still felt cool :) I also got 2 $5 sterling silver rings. andy got smoked salmon and bought me the loveliest sweetpeas. they made me feel so pretty.

the flower market had the most beautiful fresh peonies in light and deep pink hues and the most enormous bouquets, that you'd pay 45 or 50 for in a flower shop, were only 20 at most. it was incredible.

here's where we were staying on the map:

we went with suzy and patrick and the kids (who were delightful) and they rented the most gorgeous, perfect little house on the hood canal. it was quite old (built 1920) and beautifully restored and furnished. all wood floors, narrow staircases, windows everywhere. it was just heavenly.

there is no question. it was amazing. so so want to go back.

we were staying right on the edge of olympic national forest, but we drove around to the other side to do the hikes we had in mind. we went hiking in the quinault valley of the forest. it was so perfect, that hike. my favorite part of the whole trip. (except maybe for riding the ferry out of seattle at 10 pm with a full moon and the city skyline all lit up and holding my boyfriend in the wind) (yeah except that)

they even had slugs!! like this one:

AND I have discovered that I really like driving long distances. this was my first time driving on a road trip and though I got tired, I actually like driving! a lot! which was convenient, because andy does not very much.

too bad there aren't any stock photos of me and my boyfriend to be found on the internet. cause we would have looked lovely in washington. in fact, we did.

balance

success: using superglue as a tool for awesome
- fixed my hand-held mirror
- fixed my leather sandals that wouldn't stay on my feet (NOW they will - bwahahah)

fail: missed 2 shifts of work already this term
- won't get a raise if it happens again

success: aced my religion final 99%
- only studied for 45 minutes

fail: went to see toy story 3 yesterday
- it doesn't come out til friday ...

success: got up the courage to get my ears pierced
- it totally didn't hurt

fail: my skin did so much better when I was backpacking
- even with sunscreen & sweat
- too bad I can't live in the wild - I would

backpacking!!!

went on the backpacking trip for my class this past weekend - thursday through saturday - down at the tip of the escalante national park on boulder mail trail. it was so. much. fun. it was also a series of unfortunate events :
- forgot my t.p. and all my ziploc and trashbags while transferring my gear into my backpack
- went 3 miles the wrong way and had to start over again
- locked the truck key in the van at the wrong end of the trail
- pace problems with some people that made for a long long 2nd day
- stuck in the narrows in the rain in flash flood areas
- RAIN and hail too.
it was pretty crazy. but I loved it. I had such a good time! I was completely amazed at my body's ability to carry that much weight without trouble and to go that long. I can't wait to do it again. though while everyone was raving about the landscape, I was thinking to myself I hate this miserable landscape and spent all my time looking at the exquisite sky and clouds. that was just the first desert day - after that we were down in death hollow and the red rock and greenery along the creek was lovely. I'd still choose the shenandoahs any day.

at the end of the trail

I was very much proud of the efficiency of my pack - only used up half the backpack space - and I always knew where everything was. there were some people who had way more than they needed and could never find stuff. I guess that's one advantage of being a categoric, organizing person.

I have some sweet bruises on my knee and many battle wounds on my legs from the murderous underbrush. but no poison ivy! which is amazing, considering the amount of poison ivy we walked through. also, my calves are awesome. if only I could go backpacking every weekend.

shhh -- you should listen when the stars are speaking

whisper sky grey kitten

with your paws on the hood of the car

you're always trying to get in

and I always want to eat you --

with love, of course.

who waits for the tender touch

of your sandpaper tongue

dragged ever so haltingly across

the palm? and your daintiness --

to land in the lap?

chuchote, petit chat du ciel gris

et murmure tes secrets sur mon oreiller

si seulement je pourrais te comprendre,

grand miracle des étoiles --

hors de ma fenêtre.

attends, chéri, la tendresse qui touche

à l'intérieur profond de l'âme,

exprimée de la sensation de ce monde

loin, au-delà de toi --

sorcier de finesse.

shhh -- chuchote

à mes yeux encore --

sky kitten.

late

isn't my boyfriend adorable?
he is adorable :)

duck duck duckies

food escapades (and other things)

carrie made korean for dinner (she served her mission in korea) and it was so delicious.
this is my very empty bowl.
that I emptied ONLY with korean chopsticks.
I was amazingly skillful, I have to say.

pastorero!
i love you

I got a kid's meal (3 pastor tacos instead of 6)
and when I opened it up, there was a freaking smiley churro
and it made me so so happy :)

oceane came to visit and
- amazingness -
reluctantly permitted a photo
LOVE

I'm trying to remember to take more pictures
so I've been sticking my camera in my backpack
I kind of forgot it was there until I saw this adorable duck family

then I was looking for beautiful utah things to photograph
so, timp, of course:

it's so much easier to enjoy the beauty of utah when it's unmarred by meteorological misery.