4th of July Weekend

We’ve had a busy weekend.

Our friend Shannon has been staying with us since our family trip and is settling into Seattle from Florida.  To get some exercise and help acquaint her with some of the scenery in Washington, we decided to try a somewhat tougher hike and climb to Lake Serene.  My friend Becca (from school) and her fiance Jason tagged along, and together we toughed out the 7.5 mile hike.  I’m proud to say I finished strong, but my body is still angry with me!

The weather was a bit iffy, but the hike was amazing.  It was steep climbing, but we passed Bridal Veil Falls, which was strong and amazingly wide at the top, and pretty and less strenuous at the base.  After the falls we basically hiked up the side of the mountain and got amazing views of the valley.  Finally we reached the top, turned a corner, and dropped down into a glacial lake.  The temperature probably dropped 20 degrees in 5 minutes of hiking, and all of a sudden we were surrounded by thick clouds and a half a foot of snow.  It was the most bizarre thing I’ve ever seen on a hike.

Most of the lake was frozen over, but parts had bright blue water showing through.  Mount Index also towered over the lake, but was hard to see through the thick fog.  Aaron kept joking that he felt like a unicorn was going to pop out from behind a tree because it just felt so eerie and magical.  If only it hadn’t been so COLD, we probably would have stayed longer at the top.

 

After a tiring climb down we headed home, showered and changed, and went to Beth and Carl’s to watch the fireworks over Lake Union.  The free food hit the spot, and we could see fireworks all across the city, from Kirkland, Bill Gates’ House, Bellevue, and Elliott Bay.  I got my fireworks fix and was ready to call it a night.

On Saturday we had a goodbye party for our close friends Luke and Katie, who are moving to Taiwan to teach English.  On Thursday we had a girls pizza night to hang out with Katie, and then all met together on Saturday for a final goodbye.  Luke has led our small group for the past year and has done an amazing job, especially considering how demanding his schedule and classes at Fuller were.  We’ve consistently met and eaten together for over a year and a half, and are going to miss the Birge’s a lot.

Frost Family Reunion

So this past week was filled with great Frost family reunion fun (that’s Keba’s family in case you were confused by the last name thing).  Aaron and I flew to BAUston and rented a CAH, picked up Teddy and Lori, and met the rest of the family on “the cape” - which Aaron says with a haughty manner while rolling his eyes. 

 

It turns out that Cape Cod was not as stuffy as we expected, and actually rather laid back and undeveloped.  We stayed in a B&B with 30 of my relatives (Aunts, Uncle, Cousins, Siblings) in Brewster, which was by the beach but very quiet and quaint.  It was really good to see all of my family members, and it reminded me how grateful and privileged I am to be so close to my extended family (especially considering how far away they are).

 

My Grandpa, in true Frost family style, planned lots of great events for us, but also kept a few days clear on the calendar.  We had a few planned all-family meals, a train ride through cranberry bogs, a 60th birthday party for my mom, a chartered fishing trip, a lobster feast and clam bake, and a family genealogy talk.  In addition to these “scheduled” events, we also spent a lot of time just relaxing at the beach, swimming, and driving around Cape Cod.  One day we drove all the way to the north tip to Provincetown, which was a beach-like version of Capitol Hill and a lot of fun.  It was a good place to walk around and people watch, and there were also a lot of small art galleries.

Another day, Aaron, I, Ted and Lori took a ferry to Martha’s Vineyard, and rented bikes to ride around the island.  We didn’t have much time to see the different towns, but I was surprisingly fond of what we did see.  It helped that the weather that day was beautiful.  Then, another night, Aaron and I checked out a Cape Cod League baseball game in Chatham, which is college level players, but with a like-a-high-school-game feel.  I think it was a highlight for Aaron and at least entertaining for me. 

 

After 6 days with family we headed off the Cape, and stopped in a little town called Sandwich along the way.  We spotted the Sandwich police, along with the Sandwich fire and rescue.  Luckily we enjoyed a good lunch of Sandwiches, without having any interaction with these public agencies.  It was a fun afternoon.

Finally we parted ways with Ben and Jenna, dropped Ted and Lori off at their hotel, and met up with our good friends from college, Brian and Sarah Bhuta.  We stayed three nights with them in Providence and were treated to some great food, good hang out time, a tour of all the sites in Boston, and a “Water Fire” display in dowtown Providence.  It was random, but also a lot of fun.

Thanks to my Grandpa (and whole family) and the Bhutas for such generous hospitality.  Even though we were far away from MD/PA, it still felt nice to be on the East Coast again.  Though we sure don’t miss that humidity!

Click here for a slideshow of pictures.

Thank you for sun

School has been over for a whole week now, but I was really struggling to get that “you’re finished” feeling.  I think it was because the sun was hiding last week.

After my final presentations, papers and assignments, we had an end of the year picnic for our program and gave out awards to top faculty.  Despite the dreary weather, my classmate Michael was able to round up a group of frisbee players for a staff/faculty vs. students game.  I didn’t play (the back is still not cooperating) but I think I was a good cheerleader.  We crushed them.

Though we had several “goodbye for summer” events it was a bit anti-climactic.  I’ve spent so much time with these people that it’s almost weird to think of what I’ll do with my time.  I realize that a lot of the things I did before school I just don’t do anymore.  I’ve turned into such a slacker!  Aaron gets the mail, does the dishes, folds the laundry, and cooks dinner.  I don’t even reply to all my emails or call people back, which I normally am really good about.  I hope after a week or so I’ll get back to my normal routine.

This past weekend we had a last minute guest in town, and we were thankfully able to show her some good weather and the sites around Seattle.  Retha was in Navs with Aaron and me in college, and is living in Bismarck, ND.  She stayed with us Thursday thru Sunday and was a great house guest.  We did some touristy stuff downtown, but also went on a hike on Saturday in the Cascades.  Cris, Jeff, Lucas and Wren Ramdsdale also came along, and brought a friend, Anna, from Alabama.  It was an easy 4.2 mile hike with a very rewarding waterfall at the end.  And thankfully the sun was out all weekend.

This friday we fly to Boston for the Frost family reunion and a couple days with Bhuta and Sarah.  I’m really looking forward to it, but I’m mostly wishing for a little more sleep!

Olympic Coast

Despite that I only have two weeks of school left, and three very major, very large group final projects to work on, I am SO glad we went away this weekend.

Aaron and I aren’t really “campers”….The first time we ever used our tent (thanks Matt Guy) and sleeping bags (thanks Aaron and Kellie) was in a Chik-fil-a parking lot in Westminster (when we slept out to get free meals for a year).  Our second camping experience was in College Park in Greenbelt Park, with airplanes overhead and the freeway right by our doorstep.  The third time was with Mel and Matt at Larrabee State Park, which was awesome (except for the fact that it rained a lot).

So, I think it’s fair to say that this past weekend was our most successful camping trip thus far (and hopefully will encourage future trips).  We drove around the southern part of the Olympic Peninsula, spent some time at Quinalt Lake and then made our way to the Kalaloch campround on the coast.  We got one of the last sites available since they are first-come, first-serve on Memorial Day weekend.  The campground is on a bluff overlooking the ocean and you can hear the waves crashing on shore.  The location was awesome, though next time I think we’ll try to avoid all the RVs and just camp on the beach. 

 

On Saturday we drove to the Hoh rainforest and walked through the “Hall of Mosses.”  While on the trail we ran into at least 7 or 8 elk, including a bull and some babies!  Even though a rainforest is still just a forest, I was really impressed by the size of the trees and the crazy moss that was everywhere.

 

After the rainforest we drove to La Push and down to Rialto beach.  After a tough 1-mile walk (the sand sunk really far so it took a lot of effort), we got to a place called hole-in-the-wall.  It was by far my favorite place we visited.  We climbed over a pretty large cliff and made it to the other side.  It was beautiful.

After a tiring hike back we decided to try to catch the sunset at Second Beach, which was a 15 minute drive away, with a short hike in.  We made it in time, but were disappointed because the sun was setting so far north.  There were three or four people with tri-pods set up, so we watched until we saw that the sun set so that it shined directly through the hole in the rock formation.  It kind of reminded me of the temple at Machu Picchu where they set up the three windows for the sun to shine on the alter on the summer solstice (remember Mom?).  Anyway, it was pretty.

That night we got back after dark but made a successful fire, hot dogs on wheat bread, and s’mores.  We actually slept in pretty late and made our way to Ruby Beach.  The weather on Sunday was dreary in the morning, but the beach was still pretty and we saw some sea stars and sea anemones.  Once the sun came out we drove East and did a few hikes in to some pretty falls - Sol Duc Falls and Merrymere Falls near Crescent Lake.

The weekend was great for three main reasons: good time with Aaron, beautiful weather and things to see, and tons of exercise.  [see more pictures here] I think I’ll be feeling sore for the rest of the week, but I’m so glad we went.  The only problem with a mini vacation is that it makes getting through the next two weeks even harder.  I can’t wait for summer to officially begin!

Happy Birthday Aaron!

Aaron turned the big 26 last Friday.  He’s officially old like me.

We had a busy weekend celebrating and the weather was amazing.  I think it got to 90 degrees on Saturday, with blue skies and no humidity.  I got a lot of new freckles and it was great.

Friday night after work we went to Chinook’s at Salmon Bay to get some decently priced seafood and drink mojitos in the sun.  We also rewarded ourselves with chocolate mousse (see Aaron enjoying it?) and then walked around the docks and looked at the fishing ships.  A lot of the Alaskan fishing ships, including the ships from ‘Deadliest Catch’ dock in the area, so they are pretty impressive in size.  It was a beautiful night to walk around and celebrate his birthday.

 

Saturday we did our coffee shop routine, Aaron got a haircut, and then we stopped by Trader Joe’s to pick up hambugers, hotdogs and their veggie equivalents for our building BBQ.  I was in charge of “marketing” - in other words, I made the evite.  We had a great turnout and got to know people in our building better.  People from the neighborhood also walked by and said hi, and we talked about our landscaping plans for the outside of the building.  We decided we can do it ourselves and don’t need to hire anyone, so it will be a challenge, but I think we’ve got some great ideas (including a vegetable garden in front, and an expanded little sitting area).

That afternoon we caught the bus downtown and saw a Mariners game against the Padres.  A bunch of friends met up with us there, including our friend Deji who we know from Maryland - we ran into him at a gas station a little over a year ago and realized that he had moved out for a job at Microsoft too.  What a small world.

It was a fun, celebratory weekend. And it helped that the weather was so nice.

Happy birthday Aaron.  I’m glad you were born 26 years ago.  I love you

Life

Life is so busy lately.  I’ve neglected the blog, which may be a good or a bad thing.  I’m currently writing a post with the clear intention of procrastinating, because I’m at a coffee shop with good wi fii and it’s more fun to be on the internet than it is to read about public management and how to work in teams. 

Life also seems a bit less interesting lately.  Since the end of spring break we’ve had a pretty steady schedule of work/school/everything else.  We’ve gotten better at adjusting to schedules, eating more healthy dinners, and even cooking together more.  Aaron especially has improved in that department - he’s been experimenting with fish and fresh vegetables in anticipation of a summer of good, fresh food.  I’m excited.  I’m also excited about cheap berries to freeze, eat and cook with.  Blackberries are a weed in Seattle so you can basically get them for free all over the city, especially in Discovery Park.

Looking forward I think I have a lot to be excited about for this summer.  While I didn’t get the internship I applied for, it means I have more flexibility and can look for another job that works with kids and is less “technical” and more hands-on.  We’ve got a lot of plans to explore the Great Northwest - including the Olympic Rainforest, Oregon Coast, Northern Idaho Lakes, Glacier National Park, and North Cascades National Park.  I’m just praying for another stunning Seattle summer.  And I’m eager for school to be over for the year!

Today was a glimpse of summer.  It was about 70 degrees, no humidity, so Aaron met me at school and we ate at Agua Verde, one of my favorite spots in Seattle.  Then we walked to the park close to our house, where Aaron played pick-up basketball with a bunch of guys from the neighborhood, and I laid in the grass and studied Econometrics.  Aaron probably had more fun, but at least I got to study in the sun.  It was one of those days where you realize how thankful you are for life.

 

 

A Beautiful Mess

I’ve discovered a bit of beauty.  I love the lyrics, but her voice is what draws me in.

Far Far - Yael Naim

Far far, there’s this little girl
she was praying for something to happen to her
everyday she writes words and more words
just to spit out the thoughts that keep floating inside
and she’s strong when the dreams come cause they
take her, cover her, they are all over
the reality looks far now, but don’t go

How can you stay outside?
there’s a beautiful mess inside
how can you stay outside?
there’s a beautiful mess inside

Far far, there’s this little girl
she was praying for something good to happen to her
from time to time there are colors and shapes
dazzling her eyes, tickling her hands
they invent her a new world with
oil skies and aquarel rivers
but don’t you run away already
please don’t go oh oh

How can you stay outside?
there’s a beautiful mess inside
how can you stay outside?
there’s a beautiful mess inside

Take a deep breath and dive
there’s a beautiful mess inside
how can you stay outside?
There’s a beautiful mess
beautiful mess inside

Oh beautiful, beautiful

Far far there’s this little girl
she was praying for something big to happen to her
every night she hears beautiful strange music
it’s everywhere there’s nowhere to hide
but if it fades she begs
“oh lord don’t take it from me, don’t take it”

She says, “I guess i’ll have to give it birth
to give it birth
i guess, i guess, i guess i have to give it birth
i guess i have to, have to give it birth
there’s a beautiful mess inside and it’s everywhere

Just look at yourself now
deep inside
deeper than you ever dared
there’s a beautiful mess inside
beautiful mess inside

Here’s a video of a better-known song:

Voting against Genocide

I’m on lots of email lists for the good folks at Save Darfur and their partner orgs; Evangelicals for Darfur, Investors Against Genocide.  I’ve gotten three or four emails about our proxy vote for Fidelity and how many of the companies that are included in several of Fidelity’s funds are linked to China’s contribution of weapons to Khartoum (weapons for oil).  In other words, we’re making money on funds that support the genocide in the Sudan. 

Anyway, I finally got around to voting today and it was so much easier and more interesting than I anticipated.  The proxy vote said that Fidelity’s board recommended I vote against:

A shareholder proposal concerning Board oversight procedures to screen out investments in companies that substantially contribute to genocide. 

So, of course I voted FOR the proposal.  I did a little bit of homework on the funds, but honestly it’s all very confusing to me.  I just hope one little vote can make some sort of significance to the people of Darfur. 

If you’ve got any financial accounts, don’t throw your proxy vote form away.  Take two seconds to see if your fund has a “Genocide” proposal.  You can find out more here: www.investorsagainstgenocide.org.

And here are some other interesting news bits, for your reading or listening pleasure:

Interview with Eric Cohen on genocide-free investing, Fox Business News, 03-19-2008

Fidelity Resists Pressure to Break Sudan Ties,  on NPR Morning Edition, 03-20-2008

Darfur outrage spreads to mutual funds - Shareholders get a say, Wall Street Journal, 03-12-2008

 

Spring Break….what to do?

I must say I’m a bit disappointed in my spring break.  It’s already gone, and I don’t have a tan, my back still hurts, and our condo is ten times messier than when the quarter ended.  My crowning achievement is our painted bedroom, and our two new couches.  (In other words, all I did was spend a lot of money).  Oh well. 

Some fellow students had a bit more creativity and decided to stage a flash mob pillow fight at Pike Place.  While not necessarily on the scale of New York City flash mobs like the no pants subway riders or frozen people in Grand Central, it was still front cover material for the Seattle P.I.  If only I’d been there….

My America, Your America - Our America

Aaron has already warned me of the onslaught of criticism that I’ll receive from more conservative family and friends for posting this, but I hope that those reading who may not endorse Obama can still take the time to listen to what he has to say.  He is after all, a human being. And believe it or not, God loves Democrats too

With respect to those with different views, I believe strongly that Barack’s message is for all Americans, and for the future of our nation.

This speech is somewhat long, but it is an important and often ignored discussion on race, Christian faith, and what makes us Americans.  It is a conversation that Barack has avoided in attempts to exist beyond his race - which he does well.  But his boldness in this discussion goes beyond what would be politically savvy, to what is ultimately necessary for this nation.  I commend him for speaking with boldness, maturity, and conviction.  To see the text of the speech, you can also click here.

 Here is a snippet, but there is much more:

“For we have a choice in this country. We can accept a politics that breeds division, and conflict, and cynicism. We can tackle race only as spectacle - as we did in the OJ trial - or in the wake of tragedy, as we did in the aftermath of Katrina - or as fodder for the nightly news. We can play Reverend Wright’s sermons on every channel, every day and talk about them from now until the election, and make the only question in this campaign whether or not the American people think that I somehow believe or sympathize with his most offensive words. We can pounce on some gaffe by a Hillary supporter as evidence that she’s playing the race card, or we can speculate on whether white men will all flock to John McCain in the general election regardless of his policies.

We can do that.

But if we do, I can tell you that in the next election, we’ll be talking about some other distraction. And then another one. And then another one. And nothing will change.

That is one option. Or, at this moment, in this election, we can come together and say, “Not this time.” This time we want to talk about the crumbling schools that are stealing the future of black children and white children and Asian children and Hispanic children and Native American children. This time we want to reject the cynicism that tells us that these kids can’t learn; that those kids who don’t look like us are somebody else’s problem. The children of America are not those kids, they are our kids, and we will not let them fall behind in a 21st century economy. Not this time.

This time we want to talk about how the lines in the Emergency Room are filled with whites and blacks and Hispanics who do not have health care; who don’t have the power on their own to overcome the special interests in Washington, but who can take them on if we do it together.

This time we want to talk about the shuttered mills that once provided a decent life for men and women of every race, and the homes for sale that once belonged to Americans from every religion, every region, every walk of life. This time we want to talk about the fact that the real problem is not that someone who doesn’t look like you might take your job; it’s that the corporation you work for will ship it overseas for nothing more than a profit.

This time we want to talk about the men and women of every color and creed who serve together, and fight together, and bleed together under the same proud flag. We want to talk about how to bring them home from a war that never should’ve been authorized and never should’ve been waged, and we want to talk about how we’ll show our patriotism by caring for them, and their families, and giving them the benefits they have earned.

I would not be running for President if I didn’t believe with all my heart that this is what the vast majority of Americans want for this country. This union may never be perfect, but generation after generation has shown that it can always be perfected. And today, whenever I find myself feeling doubtful or cynical about this possibility, what gives me the most hope is the next generation - the young people whose attitudes and beliefs and openness to change have already made history in this election.”