obesity uncovered?

the new "curved" shower curtain.

so have you notice these? tonight as i took a shower i realized that these new shower curtain rods make you feel like the shower is a lot bigger than what it really is.

my first thought was... are we all obese americans that can't handle the space that used to be provided for us? are we becoming the people on wall-e?

or are hotels trying to manipulate space to make things seem bigger than they really are?

becoming an oregonian

so saturday was the annual solv oregon clean up our beaches day. the night before some friends and i went over to lincoln city for my church's lil overnighter hoping for some decent weather to play ultimate on the beach and other such activities. friday night was full of scrabble games (one of my new investments this month).

so i've been researching about some hiking groups out of p-town and also hear from a co-worker about the mazamas. so i found out a group was going to netarts bay and decided to join forces and see what they were all about.

so my friend, dave and i, drove up the beach to netarts bay. let's just say it was lightly raining in lincoln city but really raining in netarts. i felt like this was the moment i had to show my devotion to my new residence. people here hike, bike, camp, do all sorts of things in the rain. i, myself, never have done such things in the rain before. where i come from, if it's raining, you stay inside. here it's a different story...you may never come out if that's your philosophy.

so in the rain we amongst a handful of others got our bags and headed for the beach.
yeah that's rain across that picture. lots of it.

i couldn't even open my eyes for this picture. i was trying to do a little mermaid shot but now i really know how ridiculous i looked yesterday. my faithful lama beanie from ensenada kept my head warm though.

dave and i even dug this plastic carton type thing out of the beach.
someone said it had been there for years.
that's devotion to the cause just like my soaking wet underwear and pants were.
the coast is just classic, like these awesome bathrooms.
so all i have to say is i'm putting in my time to feel like i'm a "true oregonian."
unfortunately there wasn't a large flux of people from the group but i did meet one or two people that made me more curious about the group and i plan on going to more of their planned hikes.
we'll see and i'm crossing my fingers i'll find some fun peeps that enjoy the outdoors.

so i am sacrificing for you oregon. this better pay off.
and my shoes are still not dry.

here's to spring

welcome spring.

thank you safeway for only $1.50

madras

lovely city i went to this week.

lovely quote i read today:

"I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustration of the moment,

I still have a dream."
~Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

12 miles to make one happy

some people feel good when their house is really clean

some people feel good with a new pair of shoes

i feel good when i leave my housework at home

and escape to mother nature.

it's worth about every other thing i could have/should have done

like my taxes.

so if you don't know... i love hot water. love it.

hot springs are magical to me.

whether it's under a bridge in costa rica,

a frozen hike in spanish fork canyon,

tiki torches in a side canyon outside of ensenada mexico,

or a dirt road in idaho.

i will go there for hot water.

i like more undeveloped ones but either will do.

my eyes were opened in colorado of if it's "clothing optional"

my friend and i might be the only ones with clothing

and i don't care.

some places are smelly, sulfury, or herbal scented

others may have lil naked kids, to old men hiking out naked

but i love them.

so hot springs #2 here in oregon was bagby yesterday.

we were unsure about how snowed in the road would be to the trailhead.

after an abandoned toyota car that should've known to not go that far blocked our ability to pass. it ended up being 4.5 miles to the trailhead we later clocked.

snowshoes in hand we embarked. yes the trail was the road for those 4.5 miles

but it was beautiful as the clackmas (i think) river was at our left.

the river turned a forest green

as we drove up towards the place we would park.

i don't think i've ever seen water that shade of green.

i forgot to take a picture of it. in my memory now.

we met a slightly frozen salamander in the snow

that we returned to the dirt on our way up.

we passed a crew of 6 xc skiiers heading to the springs as well.

bagby has a volunteer crew that helps to clean up

and monitor the place b/c of past mishaps.

the water is channeled through logs to then fill up tree tubs that have been dug out or a big barrel that we called our own.

lucky for us in the whole joint there was just two other people there

so we had privacy and peace.

we plugged up the barrel and sat and waited.

the place was impressive of the work others have done

to make it enjoyable for everyone else.

made me grateful.

the hike back down was so much quicker,

that always amazes me

as does how better food tastes in the great outdoors.

so like i told another friend yesterday

i'll pass the same story to you.

mother nature whispered in my ear

that she wants you back

she hasn't seen you in a while

and misses your face.

maybe you should go visit her soon.

and if you need a guide,

i'm here for you.

omsi scale

so i relieved memories going to a u2 digital (not to be confused with lazer) show last night

u2 reminds me of slow dances in high school

having a crush on a boy that liked drugs too much

but i'm happy is still alive today

that may be the trace of my first liking of men with longer or shaggy hair

u2 reminds me of 30-something women

who would give themselves to bono

at a drop of a hat

(i'm not included in this group)

u2 reminds me of singing it's a beautiful day!

when i was first on a mission for my church

and getting in trouble for singing "worldly" music

on a more sad note. while at the omsi i got on the scale

that represents how much you weigh on the earth, moon, venus and somewhere else.

let's just say i know i've been needing to get into shape

and have been trying

but this helped to seal the deal.

i didn't mind my weight anywhere other than earth.

reduce the big bootie and face the size of china campaign is back on

in full force.

feelin' the music

quick few from the concert...

lyrics and pics i like

some people are learning to die and some people are yearning to fly

you say this weakness in an empty pocket, no

and I'll tell you this weakness in an empty heart

and you say there's strength in the power to control

and I'll tell you no,

there's strength in only love and compassion

(oh there are so many more i like... more to come!)

I'll watch over youoh, my care will cover you just like the moon'll do

crowd sing-along
power to the people



There ain't no reasons things are this way
It's how they've always been and they intend to stay
I can't explain why we live this way
We do it everyday

Preachers on the podium speaking of saints
Prophets on the sidewalks begging for change
Old ladies laughing from the fire escape, cursing my name

I got a basket full of lemons and they all taste the same
A window and a pigeon with a broken wing
You can spend your whole life working for something
Just to have it taken away

People walk around pushing back their desk
Wearing pay checks like necklaces and bracelets
Talking 'bout nothing, not thinking about death
Every little heart beat, every little breath

People walk a tight rope on a razor's edge
Carrying their hurt and hatred and weapons
It could be a bomb or a bullet or a pin
Or a thought or a word or a sentence

There ain't no reasons things are this way
It's how they've always been and they intend to stay
I don't know why I say the things I say,
But I say them anyway

But love will come set me free
Love will come set me free
I do believe
Love will come set me free
I know it will
Love will come set me free
Yes

Prison walls still standing tall
Some things never change at all
Keep on building prisons, Gonna fill them all
Keep on building bombs
Gonna drop them all

Working your fingers bare to the bone
Breaking your back, make you sell your soul
Like a lung is filled with coal,
Suffocating slow

The wind blows wild and I may move
But politicians lie and I am not fooled
You don't need no reason or a 3 piece suit
To argue the truth

The air on my skin and the world under my toes
Slavery is stitched to the fabric of my clothes
Chaos and commotion wherever I go
Love, I try to follow

But love will come set me free
Love will come set me free
I do believe
Love will come set me free
I know it will
Love will come set me free
Yes

There ain't no reasons things are this way
It's how they've always been and they intend to stay
I can't explain why we live this way
We do it everyday

i needed you

dear brett dennen,

thank you for your concert last night. you picked me up, gave me hope, made me want to pray better, be better, be more gracious and grateful. it seemed like every song was for me. i sounds like you've read :"White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack" and own up and take it to heart to. thank you for your lyrics. i can't wait to hear more of your 40-some odd songs made in Jan 2008. thank you for you passion and message of your music. it was seen in your face and the way your body moved to feel the music. as an artist you inspired my mind to new ideas, thoughts, and actions. i want to be more grateful, forgiving, and loving.

thank you.

a more devoted fan...

sincerely,

me

bang gang

i'm in. i love getting my haircut. this new girl i went to today was fabulous. she took her time and i was putty in her hands. i love when people play with my hair. it reminds me (slightly taking advantage) of a guy in high school that i knew had a semi-crush on me and asking him to brush my long brown hair back then for hours in a van ride to some school activity. this woman today was meticulous and i closed my eyes and pretended i was in a distance warm place and was sad to reopen to see my pasty pale oregonian face. oh well you can't have everything right? so here's a looky... do i need more bangs?

and please post some comment sometime. i'm feeling cheated on having no comments. this could have been a bad idea in general but no one posted so i did it.

bangs

i have an appointment tomorrow to cut bangs. today i had a better day than the two over the weekend but as i often feel like i don't have complete control over my life, i do have control over my hair. so tomorrow it is. the thought resurfaced when holly came to visit and i started to covet her hair and bangs really. then with proceeding events it seems the only logical thing to do right now.

the only problem i see is that the 2 actresses that people have told me i look like don't or have rarely had bangs. that's my only worry. i need the hair dresser to tell me straight up if it's a good idea or not. wish me luck, or tell me now i don't have the face for it.

I just want to be ok

Ingrid Michaelson

I just want to be ok, be ok, be ok
I just want to be ok today
I just want to be ok, be ok, be ok
I just want to be ok today

I just want to feel today, feel today, feel today
I just want to feel something today
I just want to feel today, feel today, feel today
I just want to feel something today

CHORUS:

Open me up and you will see
I'm a gallery of broken hearts
I'm beyond repair, let me be
And give me back my broken parts

I just want to know today, know today, know today
I just want to know something today
I just want to know today, know today, know today
Know that maybe I will be ok

CHORUS

Just give me back my pieces
Just give them back to me please
Just give me back my pieces
And let me hold my broken parts

I just want to be ok, be ok, be ok
I just want to be ok today
I just want to be ok, be ok, be ok
I just want to be ok today

I just want to feel today, feel today, feel today
I just want to feel something today
I just want to know today, know today, know today
Know that maybe I will be ok
Know that maybe I will be ok
Know that maybe I will be ok

less than 20K

awesome and amazing. i'm obviously doing my taxes... and i made less than 20K last year. wow and i would say it was a pretty great year. i finished my graduate degree, dated a great person, traveled to central america, arkansas, ran the rogue river, didn't have a job for a good 4 months. it was a great year. yes my student loans helped to sustain me and i hate paying them back every month now but it was a good year.

now if i can just get someone to do my taxes for me. now that would be wonderful.

sigh...

so a co-worker of mine sighs obnoxiously loud...
it drives me crazy
she elevates the mood with her sighs
when i'm around her i try to ignore it
but it normally gets under my skin
moral of the story:
if you sigh frequently
refrain yourself
you're not making the day better for anyone

love us!

the fun continued with a saturday trip to the coast. before seeing the coast we needed a tour of the famous (and delicious) tillamook cheese factory. holly was giving some counsel to the cows... she's been reading way too many michael pollan books... on up hwy 101... holly learned that in fact oregon is significantly different than even northern california. not only do we have moss on trees we have picturesque rocks on our beach.

we arrived in cannon beach to bum around and take a walk as the sun left west on the ocean further to other lands. none of these pictures give the places seen credit, guess you'll have to learn yourself when you visit.

saturday ended with a fancy meal that the thought of makes me drool slightly.

the yurt thought got the backburner since it was already dark and we were only in seaside. so it was back to the via 1970s hotel on the boardwalk that i'm thinking may be a tradition to all out of town guests on the boardwalk. the night also includes sneaking into the hotel nearby that has a hot tub. good thing i acquired such skills as a teen in my hometown.

saturday night's highlight was sitting in the hot tub and seeing a grown man act like a mating bird. i literally saw him stick his chest out, like he was rustling his chest feathers as if he was a robin. it was quite amazing to watch as he tooted his own horn of being an md and and professor at osmi and then when he learned of boyfriend he quickly excused himself with his colleague. i haven't seen the animal channel in awhile but it was quite amazing how the instincts come back.

sunday started with a walk on the beach before heading back to p-town for the small events leading up to the departure. i was sad to see her go but cherished the time she was here. more adventures when she comes again in warmer weather.

love us!