A mental bath

Do you ever experience an environment that gives you a feeling of rest and contentment? I love these moments. To me, they feel like a sort of mental bath. I feel warm and complete, even in a simple setting.

Last night I was painting in the art studio and listening to Jazz on 88.5 KPLU, and I felt content and mentally stimulated.

Right now I am hearing 60s era R&B at one of my favorite coffee shops, El Diablo. I am texting my best friend and the weather is fall-ish.

I just had some of my favorite Mexican hot chocolate, too.

Other relaxing situations that I love:

-Sipping tea on my couch while listening to classical music, reading a book.

-Taking a bath with a Lush Honey Bee bath bomb (my favorite bath bomb, smells like honey and comfort and relaxes any tense muscles).

-Hugging/cuddling/blanket sharing. I am a very cuddly person.

-Hanging Christmas ornaments on the tree while listening to Christmas music.

-Sitting with my mom in the morning, reading magazines.

-Soaking in sunshine.

What are the little moments that make you sigh with relief?

help.

Oh, joy.

Today's airport experience hasn't been as pleasant as the others.

Yes! I am at the Seattle Tacoma International Airport! Today I am flying home, to spend nine days in charming Grass Valley. I hope to see lots of friends, get very tan, and enjoy my family. My mom had a baby about a month ago, so I get to finally meet my new little brother, Sky. And I get to play with my current favorite brother, Blaise. My first Californian meal is going to be In N Out burger, because it's been about 11 months since I've had one. (which is blasphemy). I can't wait to go to the river...get burned...see my old kids at Hennessy...hug my mom...gosh I am so excited.

BUT I MISSED MY FLIGHT.

Yes, I did. How many times has this happened to me? Like 4 or 5 times? Granted, one time I did miss my flight due to hospitalization (I'll tell you that story another day), but really...I tried my best to catch my 7:20 am flight on time, I really did! I even slept at a friend's house in Belltown so I could walk to the light rail instead of taking the bus to the light rail. I woke up at 5:15 and got ready in less than 1/2 an hour! (record time). I caught the light rail (early) at Westlake station even though I had to carry my horrendously heavy duffel bag. Everything was going according to plan, until I got to the bag check in line at SeaTac. With only 1/2 an hour to my flight, and about 20,000 people in front of me, I couldn't make it. And no, I never carry on bags, because I simply cannot pack light. That, and there is no way in hell that all of my liquid makeups combined can fit in one ziploc bag.

Really cool mural found at the Westlake Station tunnel, taken before I missed my flight/got stressed & stuff.

Usually when I miss my flight, I take it in stride. "Oh well," I usually think, "now there's more time to people watch and sip tea!" Or, for example, if I miss a flight in San Diego, I can usually just catch a friend to come pick me up to spend an hour or two with to kill time (the wait there is never long. Never.)

But this time I am frustrated. I am only home for 9 days instead of my usual 10, and I'll be spending most of day 1 stuck in the airport, sans-family/friends. That is disappointing to me. I really miss home. I need California. I've been working so much, it's like my summer vacation didn't start until last night at 10, when I got off of work and literally skipped around the streets of Seattle because I was so excited.

Oh well. For now, I pacify myself with a grande soy white mocha, and the prospect of browsing Fireworks for hours.

P.S. I totally agree.

Grass Valley

I miss my hometown. This summer is so different from any other that I've experienced. It is barely warm (high of 73 today...and it's supposed to be cold and rainy again tomorrow), the sun rarely comes out, and I am experiencing life in a big city. I have been enjoying getting to know Seattle, (I'll post some photos of my adventures when I get them from friends), but I miss the comforts of home.

I miss free chai's at Caroline's Coffee. (I prefer the Tiny Store that the amazing Megan works at).

 I also miss hanging out there in-between class and work. I made friends with some of the regulars and loved eating my Taco Bell lunch on that couch. P.S. I also miss Taco Bell.

I miss hippie dancing at Pioneer Park. We would do formation dances to the orchestra that practiced there on Monday evenings, eat snacks and sit in the grass.

I miss dressing up solely to take photographs, driving and obsessing over certain songs, and having sleepovers.

I miss the river. Swimming, sunbathing, rock climbing, picnics and people watching. It is usually prettier than this picture though, with green-blue water.

I miss my fun family.

I miss driving...it is amazing how liberating driving is.

Lastly, I miss being crazy tan. I tan so easily. In Seattle, if you are tan, you have either been on vacation, or you go to Desert Sun tanning salons.

Hopefully I get to visit home soon.

Duwamps

During the past hour and fifteen minutes, I have felt the most Seattle-ish than I have ever felt. Plus, I accomplished many things. Let me walk you through it.

First, I headed to Fremont for a meeting with my Craigslist job. I was supposed to meet them at 1, at by 12:57 I still had not left my apartment. (Fremont is about a 15 minute walk from where I live). I decided, on a whim, to ride my bike instead. I don't have a bike lock, so I never ride my bike alone, since I don't want it to get stolen. But I decided to do it anyway.

This is when I started to feel like a true Seattleite. It is an unseasonably warm, sunny day. I pedaled out into the sunshine and wham, it was magic. I realized that I love to bike.

Pause along the canal. I only had my phone camera so these pictures aren't the best.

(side note: I wore my hair in a large knot on the top of my head. This style is typical of the male Seattle hippie with long hair and/or beard, and even though I am not a man, I had fun "not caring" about what people thought of my hair.)

I got there, and told them that I couldn't handle the work load, and that I had to quit. They were really understanding about it, so I left the office feeling good.

Next, I decided to purchase a bike lock. If there are more sunny days like this ahead, I'm definitely going to need one. After checking at a local bike shop, (Wright Brothers Cycling, they were so helpful and nice. Photo here.), I saw that their locks were a little out of my price range. I decided to bike to Fred Meyer in Ballard.

 Piggy watering cans, found at Fred Meyer.

I have NEVER been to Fred Meyer. For those of you who don't know, Fred Meyer is the Wal Mart of Washington, but a little nicer. They have everything. It was amazing. I knew I couldn't spend a lot of time there, so I went straight to the sports section.

Bike locks are confusing. I ended up getting one with a "teflon" core, so bad-guys won't be able to cut through the rope. And unfortunately, they didn't carry the bike lock of my dreams: The snake lock.

Oh well :(

 

After that, I biked back along the canal trail, hit up Yak's in Fremont for a chicken and veggie humbow, and made my way back home. All in about 1 hour and 15 minutes.