Summer fades away

It’s been a while since I’ve written – my apologies.  No good excuse really, except the usual busyness of life.

After Glacier we took it easy for about a week, except that I started working a second job teaching students study skills, learning styles and brain preferences (left brain, right brain…though I’m not sure how scientifically proven all of that is, it is still fun).  It was a good experience for three weeks, but I was also working at Communities In Schools in the afternoons, so I was pretty busy.  Now that teaching is done, I’m working part time again at Communities In Schools until the quarter starts, when I’ll begin TAing for Public Administration.  I’m excited.

Aaron and Ethan on the Olympic Coast

While I was working two jobs that week, Ethan was still visiting us for a few days after the trip, and Aaron took off some time to spend with him.  I thought they’d be tired of sightseeing after a week in Montana, but they went all out.  They did a day long hike around Mt. Saint Helens, and then later did a day in Olympic National Park.  Despite all three of us getting salmonella poisoning from Chipotle (so sad), we had a great time with him, and he was a remarkably easy houseguest.  We tried unsuccessfully to get him to agree to move out here, but Aaron says he’ll keep working on it.  Aaron also took a bunch of pictures that he’ll eventually post to the picassa site – I just have to “remind” him to do it.

Before Picture #1

Before Picture #2

 

After picture - Reading Corner

After picture with Reyna asleep

Two weeks after we got back from Glacier, Mel and I teamed up and did a room makeover for my neighbor, Reyna, who is 12.  Reyna’s little brother Jacob was born almost a year ago, so Reyna lost her bedroom and a place to sleep.  So using my resourcefulness and Mel’s amazing decorating skills, we transformed the basement into a pre-teen wonderland.  It’s not completely done, but it has come a long way.  The two themes of the room (as requested by Reyna) were Hannah Montana and Harry Potter.  Harry Potter was easy because Mel has read all of the books and is a BIG fan, so she brought in some creative ideas with the colors, bed decorations, star lights and more.  It was a fun project and I think Reyna likes it a lot too.

Ben and Jenna in Seattle

The next week, Ben and Jenna came to visit.  I had a LOT of fun with them and they got to see some of the highlights, but it was a short trip and the weather was gross, especially for what is usually a good month.

Diablo Lake

Over the weekend Ben, Jenna, Aaron and I went camping in North Cascades National Park – one of the least visited National Parks in all of the United States.  The low tourism rate isn’t due to a lack of beauty, but accessibility.  The park is 90% wildnerness, and most of the trails are long, backcountry, and difficult.  The park is also strange because the Seattle City Electric company still operates primarily out of three man-made dams that were created before the land was set aside as a National Park.  With only a full day there and some delays in getting there, we just did the easy driving route, checked out the lakes and mountains, and enjoyed some down time at the camp fire.  

Because of the rain, Ben and Jenna didn’t see as much as a typical visitor would, but we still enjoyed a LOT of coffee shop conversations and just good chill time together.  I’m practicing taming down my visitor itinerary, as Aaron says I overdo it sometimes. 

For the next couple weeks I’m in preparation mode for school and the transition that comes along with it.  As Aaron, Allison, Jessica, Emily or anyone else who has lived with me would attest, I can get a bit stressed out with a lot of transition, so I’m doing my best to take it easy, plan, and prepare myself.