Return of the Jedi

Been awhile, eh?
I've been on a bit of a road trip...trip. Two weeks ago was down to Portland for a day with Lyd, this weekend was cross-country from NC back home with Oscar. Yeah, I drive alot. Don't worry, I have a support group.
Since I didn't take time to yet, I think now will be the time for the sharing of the pictures from both trips. First up is P-town, followed chronologically by the cross-country trek.

Zoom zoom...

I don't have any pictures of me from the trips, so you get to see Lyd instead...Well, there's this one...But we don't talk about that one...

No Tax

The first trip, one week ago(ish), was Portland! City of...whatever they're the city of! The original plan was to ride the Amtrak down there, but the day Lyd found out she had the day off from work, tickets went up $12 each way! So, we instead decided to drive our own selves down there and save us some money and time (trains aren't fast...).
Our first stop was North 23rd Avenue (or something like that, I don't remember exactly). It was a decently longish street lined with independent shops and boutiques. They definitely had some cool stuff around there, including phone poles on the street corners absolutely Covered in staples and scrap paper from so many flyers being put up. I can't imagine what Seattle would look like if we had wooden poles on corners like this...
After a stop at Powell's City of Books (which is awesome), we proceeded to Lloyd Center; it's a big mall. We didn't really go in many stores at all, we basically just walk around the entire place then left :). On our way back to the Max (an above ground subway, you might say), we stopped for some sitting time in this little park. I found a ladybug on the bench we were going to sit on.
I also saw a cool tree from where we were sitting.
In all, a brilliantly fun trip. It was an excellent break to just not think about work at all and actually relax for once! There will definitely be a return trip...

I'm tired, let's ride the street car back...

"Your three is broken"

Being chronologically sound, the second trip was our XC excursion (that stands for cross-country).

After flying out to Charlotte on Thursday, we hit the road Friday morning at about 4:20am. Our first destination was Wichita, Kansas to visit Oscar's brother Jesse and to help install a transmission in this here truck. Well, we made it to about 100ish miles outside of Wichita before the serpentine belt and power steering pulley gave out (one first, which proceeded to incapacitate the other). No nearby auto stores had the pulley for which us to by (grammar intended), so Jesse was going to come pick us up. Then Jesse decided he was just going to bring out a truck and trailer and we would load up and just take the car back to Wichita and fix it out there (more places to find the part there than in Emporia). Jesse comes, we drive across the street to Wal-Mart to buy some straps to secure the car.
Jesse's truck won't start. We spend the night in the parking lot.
Saturday we get a tow to a nearby shop, they get us running, we make it back to Wichita and don't turn the truck off until necessary. We find the pulley at a junk yard, get a new belt and we're in business.
Day three; Sunday; we leave Kansas in our dust and head north, to home! Somewheres betwixt Kansas and Wyoming, I found this young robot on a gas station door. I liked it, so I took a picture. Fuelman!
This is I-90, just after crossing the Montana/Idaho border on the way home Monday. Yay almost home!

We made it back on Monday around 2pm to Sambica. I think we figured around 3000 miles (mas o menos) and 43ish hours for the trip.

E

A Fabor For Roy-O

Long time no see. Where have you been? It seems like it has been ages since I've seen you last!
I think quite a bit has happened since my last post. For starters, I fly out to North Carolina Thursday to drive cross country with Oscar. Lyd and I went to Portland this last Saturday; pictures coming to both blogs.
I made it through March and getting my credit card payed off with the whole alternator hoopla and God is continuing to provide for me.
I can't think of anything of consequence on my mind at the moment to write a good post about, so I think this shall be all for now.
Expect pictures soon.

Pretty woman, walkin' down the street...

Holy Grail

I have found it. My own holy grail right here at camp.
Recently I've been itching to get outdoors more regularly. The medium that happens to have come upon me is backpacking.
I've been looking into bags, stoves, compression sacks, utility tools and the like, trying to see what it would take to get me on my first adventure. Right now I am currently in the possession of one mummy bag (it's no superlight, but it'll definitely hold up in the temperatures we get around here). But hey, it's a start.

Until I found it...

My holy grail...

Andy asked me to bring a box filled with topo maps from the 80s and junk like that to the "wilderness shed." "We have a wilderness shed?" was my reply. He told me where it was. I did a couple other errands before arriving up in the area he was telling me of. But, by the time I got up there, I had already completely forgotten why I was going. Coley asked me what I was doing, I said I honestly had no clue, but Andy had told me something about the door to the right of the accomodations closet, so I went on to scope it out.
I try the first door, it doesn't budge. I try the next door it opens.
I don't recall actually hearing the Hallelujah Chorus upon this discovery, but in retrospect, it seems it would have been appropriate.
It turns out the 'wilderness shed' is basically camping gear for about 40-50 people! Oh discovery of all discoveries! There are internal frame packs, sleeping bads, sleeping bags, tarps, tents, stoves, climbing ropes, ice axes and salt packets! Jimminy Christmas!
Last night I went in there exploring some more. There are several types of bags. First, there is one Kelty Ridgeway (the only recognizable name), which was of course too small for me. Next try was the Mountain Equipment Co-op bag. Again, a real bag. Again, too small. Up next were the Jansport bags. The last ditch effort (but hey, a bag's a bag). First of them were the ones with the color I liked most, a grey/yellow/black combination. After I fenagled with it a bit, I came up on the size tag. "Small." No luck for me. My next try was a blue Jansport bag, labeled regular with the stitching "Rockies 90." I donned the bag. Amazement came over me! Never before in my life had I actually worn a pack where the hipbelts bore the weight of the bag (as is supposed to happen). I had never felt comfort like this when wearing a pack! I had finally found what I was looking for! I brought the pack home and opened all the pockets and hung it upside down above our space heater to air it out.

Yesterday after my initial discovery of the shed, I asked Andy if I was allowed to use some of it, he said "yeah, and 40 of your friends? Just ask before you borrow any." He also said he was going to see if we might sell them if they weren't going to be used for another couple years, probably for $20-25 a pack; I told him I would buy one for sure (even more so now that I know one fits!). Now I would just like to get a small compression sack for my sleeping bag (and maybe some clothes) to keep those nice and dry when I hike and a small stove (like the MSR PocketRocket). If you're ready to go hiking then let's make a date and hit the hills!

And a Kelty brand Noah's Tarp 12

Savage Chickens

Go take a looksie at Doug Savage's comic strip blog, Savage Chickens.
Around Christmas I got linked over there and saw a funny strip, which I have recently rediscovered when browsing through his site, it's link is here. I think you might be able to tell why I like this one :).
Go check the rest of his stuff out, too. It's all good.

Cluck

A Trip Down Memory Lane...

I was flipping through ill-used blogs and decided to check the comments on Mel's top post. The final comment was Jenne asking when speak like a pirate day would be. Well, you're in luck and can catch it this year on the e'er noble date of September 19th.
Enjoy :).

Aye; avast!
Wait...do pirates even speak in semi-colons?...

So Much, So Little

So much to do, such little time to do it.

This weekend was very tiring. I worked a lot, but didn't get much rest. Four hours of sleep Thursday night, Friday night and Sunday night and about six Saturday night. At the moment I'm not too tired, but I was feeling it a little bit yesterday. I wanted to take a nap, but wasn't allowed to...
I ended up making a little more than anticipated this weekend; God is providing for me even further. I feel like I'm going to be busy until almost May with all the stuff I have already scheduled.

Today I have to go to the bank to make a deposit before they close after I get off work. Tomorrow is rest home; Wednesday I'm going to Edmonds for advising; Friday is a slumber party in the wintery north; Saturday is Bronwyn's wedding; Sunday is church and Poulsbo (does anyone in Pbo know this yet?...:); the weekend of March 24-26 I'm in the kitchen again (Brad is in Pennsylvania, so I'm taking his shift); April 1 I'm helping in the kitchen again Saturday from 6:30-3:30; two weeks later, April 13, I fly down to NC to drive across the country (which I have always wanted to do) with Oscar in his Caddy, then the very next week I'm in the kitchen again (April 21-23) for my own shift.

Yeah, I feel too busy. My car works fine, though. I got it back Thursday evening.
OH! Ok, so yesterday was only the nicest day ever! Well, maybe not ever, but it sure stood out because it's still winter! It was nice and sunny- warm sunny! Lyd and I certainly enjoyed the warmth of God's wonderful creation all afternoon. The sun was warm enough when we just sat in it that it felt like summer; had to roll up the pants and kick off the socks and long sleeves. Oh what a day!
As for now, it's about time to head off to finish my work day. Only six hours left (one is lunch), then it's off to the bank and nap-land! Hooray for naps!

Zzzzzzzzzzzz...

Culinary Arts

For those of you who haven't heard, I currently plan on returning to school in the fall at EdCC. I shall be entering the Culinary Arts program (in theory) for two years (summers off) and then (hopefully) entering the job field somewhere and a cook or some such.
I recieved my program information packet today in the mail detailing things I need to do to enter the program and things I will need when I'm in it. Things like ~$200 in knives, ~$250 in uniforms, plus tuition, books and other sundry kitchen things.
Yeah, it's pretty much going to be fun :). But, there are a couple scholarships that I may be able to apply for, and hopefully I will be recieving some good old fashioned financial aid to, well, aid me.
Anyways, I'm looking forward to my meeting on Wednesday as well as the program.
Oh yeah, and I'm going to ask Mama about getting whites and stuff through Sambica or something wholesale as such and seeing if it's cheaper :). Score.
Prayer would be much appreciated in the matter (Wednesday and this fall- this summer too)!

A big, poofy white hat!

Taken Care Of

All is well in the world.
Today I learned that my defective alternator that I bought from Schuck's has a lifetime warranty! BUT! Last night Rick installed my alternator because his guys stayed late finishing up some loose-end jobs, one of which was mine. However, the bill is payed, and Rick has a very trustworthy air about him, which was comforting for the nigh $500 just added to my credit card :S.
Rick suggested I take my alternator back to Schuck's to see if they'll pay me back for it. I'm openly pessimistic about it. I'm doubtful, but still think there's a chance it may work. At worst, I have a (in theory) well running car now, and I'll have an extra alternator...woo. Rick's work has a 1 year/12k mile warranty, so that's good. He said that includes towing; so if I break down in south Seattle they'll haul it back up (I joked with Lyd about road-trippin to Cali and calling Rick from LA and being like "Hey, how about that one year warranty :D"...mmk, not really...).
So right now, I'm feeling ok about the position I'm in. I work extra Friday night, and then babysitting Saturday is going to be a while. I start at 5, but Amy says it has a chance of running kind of late (I'm guessing 10-11), but that's ok because the boys will be in bed and the extra funds will be heartily accepted.

Good luck to all you kids preparing to finish your quarters. I do hope to see you all soon!

Sail away, sail away, sail away...

PS- I was jealous of Meg's blog, so I took a note from her and changed things up a bit. See if you can find them :).

$487.60

To the penny.
-Rick Sorenson

God Provides!

With all this alternator business, at first I was a little worried about getting it paid for (and even worse, maybe having to look for a new car). But after a to the point sermon from Ken (only hearing the last 10 minutes) I knew God would provide.
And He does! I just called to get the final price on the parts and labor, but what's-his-toes is on lunch for another half hour or so. BUT! Yesterday I was informed that the alternator would be $200, plus another part, plus labor. I was hoping for under $300 on the bill. Right now, I've got several opportunities wide open to help me cover this burden.
First, Parent's Night Out on Friday at clubhouse; Fugee says $75-100. Saturday I have another opportunity to sit for the Guinn boys; $40-60 (my guess). April 1 I am going to be employed in the kitchen from 6:30 until 3:30 (because we have like 200 people here); ~$50+ (based on 8/hr).
So just that in toto is about...$165-210ish. That's my alternator! The bane of my car's existence!
Praise God from whom all provision flows :).
Not to mention that I've still got my money from the last two times I've sat, plus some from Sarah's birthday party back in the day (and three people still owe me $10 for that party!).
PLUS I still have to send in my tax return for $125!
And on top of it all, I get to go to resthome tonight (thanks to Lydia coming to pick me up and bring me back!) after having been gone for I don't even know how long. I missed last week due to ailment and several (3?) weeks before because of work.
God is so good!

God is good all the time!
All the time, God is good!

PS- I also just emailed Traci Edlin (if I remember proper) who is the head of the Culinary Arts department at EdCC to make known my intentions of attending in the fall as well as to see if she is available to see me some time next week :).

On The Other Hand...

I got a hold of Sorenson's today. First try they told me to call back after two. After two, it was an hour. Then at 3:45 or so I tried and they told me it was a defective...alternator! My favorite car part ever!
I became informed that the alternator is going to be 200 plus labor, and he's also looking for some part that's supposed to have a watertight seal into the back of the alternator (which wasn't proper on mine) to make sure his doesn't go wrong.
Bye-bye cushion :). I'm hoping that with the extra part and labor I won't be staring down more than $300. Hopefully...

Scorch! Pow!

Gastroenteritis

Happy March everyone!
Monday evening I was privy to a bout of Gastroenteritis (or, more commonly, the stomach flu)...or such is the conclusion I have drawn.
I was quite fine Sunday and most of Monday. I didn't even feel the slightest incling in my stomach until Monday afternoon (maybe 1 or 2ish). At that time, I thought it might be good for me to have something low key for dinner, maybe some meat and plain white rice. Well, by the time dinner rolled around, I already had an upset stomach and had vomited (woohoo). After the party in my mouth evacuated, I began getting the chills, then the sensitive skin closer to home. I only threw up once more after I returned home, then slept 12 hours the rest of the night.
Stayed at home all day (sans a run in the morning for ritz crackers, ginger ale and pepto) trying to rest. I finished my open pack of saltines, one pack of ritz and an ale yesterday. Today I've knocked out one ritz and a GA and only one pepto today.
I've been feeling better since my long sleep Monday night (better = less bad, not better = done).
The worst part of it was that I had to miss resthome yesterday :(. Boo. Of course this has to be the week that Jenny's home and Moi is coming... But, on the upside, I was only out of it for one night and one day. Today I was back into the fray and up at 5:30 for clubhouse again. I only have three hours left in my day, and half an hour is left for lunch :).
That's my story of the week (and probably month, since that was still during February :).

Four score and seven minutes ago...

One Eyed Jack

This week was mid-winter break for all of our kids. That meant field trips all week! This is good...and bad. Days were short but tiring.


Our first field trip was to the Woodland Park Zoo on Monday. It was a fun visit. I was sure to plan ahead for being outdoors in the cold for a few hours and wore an extra layer, brought my work gloves and chapstick. It wasn't too much to keep the kids in check, sans a few ocassions (like one kid who would Flip Out every time he saw animal feces). This picture is from the sign of the men's bathroom out in Africaville or something.

Day two was the Museum of Flight. Besides telling the kids not to yell or run, it was a very fun place to go. They had a wing dedicated to WWI and II planes which was very cool. They even had this little sandbag trench area (which I enjoyed).


Day three we were off to the Space Needle and on to Argosy Cruises for a harbor tour. This photo is of the Komo 4 chopper which was flying overhead to land as we were crossing the street from parking to the Needle. I think the Needle and cruise were the two easiest field trips to handle kids on, because they couldn't go anywhere! Woohoo! The observation deck on the Space Needle had some interesting little things to do. I think I saw Kasey's dorm, but she didn't answer her phone to wave at me! That would've been so cool... The cruise was educational and loud. They have a tour guide-type person on the top deck on a mic describing everything you go past and history about a lot of it. Smart kid.
Today was day four of field trips, but I stayed at camp and did some accomodations, then went down to clubhouse when they returned from the trip. Today was to the Seattle Aquarium, which I was a little disappointed to miss, but I'll just have to go again someday (which will hopefully be with no children).


Yesterday was also Sarah 'Ah-Lee's birthday, so Andy threw together a hawaiian themed party for her. We had pizza, Hawaiian Punch and cake. We had a lot of hawaiian decor from summers past, so there were tons of leis for wearing and decorating. I tried to be sure to get all the pink ones, but missed a couple. I did, however, decide that I was going to wear all of the leis by the end of the night, which I did. After acquiring every lei and wearing them for a while, I thought it should be Sarah's turn to have all of them! So we worked on passing of them to her (which was funny) and seeing how she looked covered in fakey flowers (also funny). It gets pretty hot under those things when you've got (so I was told) almost 200 of them crammed around your upper body. When the edible party was finished, some of us retired to Sarah's for some Catch Phrase action and a little tv before it was time for bed.
Speaking of which, I think I slept just the right amount last night (maybe?), because I woke up a little before my alarm. Actually, I got out of bed and turned my alarms off so they weren't blasting when I was in the shower! Amazing!
I'm looking forward to this weekend, though. Jenny's home tomorrow for a whole week! w00t. And on top of it all, I open next week (which means I'll be done at 3:30 at the latest every day!).
Right-o, I think that's about enough post for this week's update. Hope everyone is doing well in these states of unison.

All's fair in love and...wait. Does that even make sense?

This Just In...

This just in:
I turned anonymous comments back on.
P4WNED!

Hammer time!

Anonymity

Due to the anonymity of the internet, I have been forced to disallow anonymous commenting on my blog. This saddens me, as it restricts people without blogger accounts from commenting here. However, you don't have to start a blogger blog to have an account, it's just a name and password :).
That is all for now.

Growlbacks!

Wood Chipper

Today I purchased some Prismacolor professional art markers. They retail for $45 a dozen, found them at Office Depot in a beat up returned box for $25. Found out later that one of the markers was missing the fat nib (each has a fat and fine nib)! Returned!
That's my story for today. Yeah, I'm boring.
I'll post when I'm inspired, don't rush me...

Oh, sweet colors of spring.

Hoover Decade

Since I have a little time to spare (and since my mom is freaking out...

BUCKETS!
I just composed this whole dag post, then when I did my blockquote, everything disappeared but what lies above! DRAT IT ALL!
I sum up:
Found TJ's; bought utility-type knife-type device at Lowe's, tools are poison to men (among other things); life slowly getting more or less organized, top two shelves full of books, cds, dvds; starting to feel more like spring. this just in: sun produces heat, not just light!
I am disappointed...
But, I think this shall suffice for the time being.

Ne'er ado o'er fleeces and couches,
Where deftness rules twilight.
When once again are caught in slouches,
Nought find slumber in sight.

Rapture

After a serious of not-so-unfortunate- even wonderful- events, I am not caring at the moment if my blog is commented on or not and I'm going to post anyway! So :P. Plus, I was in the kitchen all weekend (woot) so I didn't have much time for such things, anyway. And if I did, it was spent resting as hard as I could.
Friday was breakfast, sack lunch (which was great, because after we got the lunch all packed up, we were done! and extra free time is always well spent), then dinner. Saturday was breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Oh, this reminds me to at this time inform you all as to this group's...persuasion? It was a bunch of high schoolers from some church or school in Oregon. They were messy. It wasn't that I minded a Whole lot cleaning up after them, I was just kind of shocked at what was happening. They wouldn't just leave a few crumbs or something, I would find big globs of syrup, or people who left their whole plate and silverware and cup! How do you forget to take your dishes away! Bah! Anyways, they got old after about four meals.

Sunday was breakfast and a busy lunch. Between meals that day was looooong. I usually listen to music when I'm working, and it helps me a lot to keep energized and, basically, not bored. But Mama wanted it quiet for a while, so I got Really bored doing my junk because it was so quiet. I got to set up the salad bar for lunch, and I guess I did it to specifications (Mama told me what general things go where and some pointers and let me go myself). I almost killed myself trying to get all the ice out of the center bin, though!
It was a long weekend in all, but not as long as I thought it was going to feel. It was a good way to kind of get an idea about what this summer might feel like as a dining hall program assistant. Though, I would be doing less of the work myself and more delegation (but there would also be more work to do and more people to do it). We shall see, we shall see indeed.
Last night I took on some of the best relaxing I've had for a good while. Sundays always seem to be such a good day for some rest (big surprise), and I am certainly one not to let such a day go to waste :).
This week I open in clubhouse, so early starts and finishes every day. 5:30 always sounds so bad at night, and especially bad when you hear "beep...beep...beep, beep...beep, beep...beep beep beep, beep beep beep, beep beep beep." You get the idea.
Salud, compadrés!

One hour? Who ever heard of such a thing!