California or bust!

So we decided we were boring and needed a little trip to California to spice it up. Can't come to Oregon and not check out the Redwood Forest in northern Cali.

 Don't think Molly was that interested.

 Yay, California! Even if I did have to relinquish my locally grown Rainier cherries.

 You can't tell, but this tree was HUGE. If I had to guess I would say about a 10' diameter.

 Making Shawna look small.

 This was a tree that must have been cut down then laid there for quite some time. If you look close you can see the carvings in the stump.

 Should have done my research on what beach this was. It was along Hwy 101 down the coast on the California side.

 Molly accidentally got her feet wet. She did NOT like the ocean. Scaredy cat.

From one of the "Vista Pointe's" along the 101. What the hell does that mean, anyways?

 Along a trail I took (only a short ways back) from a day camp in the Redwood Forest. Shawna thought I was going to get eaten by a bear, so I had to come back.

 I was here.

 Where the Pacific Ocean dumps into the Klamath River. We were WAY up high in the middle of a residential neighborhood. How cool to live there!

 The Klamath River in the middle of the picture.

 Some whales that everyone in the local town was yapping about. Grey Whales, maybe? The story goes that the mama whale took her baby into the river to get away from the meanie Killer Whales that were tormenting her.

 More of the Klamath River a little more downstream.

 Damn tree-huggers.

 A cute stream and/or part of the Klamath River back in a different residential neighborhood. The water was  so deep and so clear you can see the rocks below the surface. Really pretty.

 Aaaaaannnnnd some more water.

So by this time it was about 4 pm and we were super hungry. We decided to stop for a bite. I remember my Grandpa giving me a great piece of advice, saying something like "You can survive a bad meal, but you will never get back that missed exposure." We decided on the nearest town of Klamath. (wherEVER did they get that name?!) Let me set the scene. It was on an Indian Reservation. There were only 2 places to eat. Those 2 restaraunts and 1 gas station were divided from the rest of the community by a large 8 ft tall chain link fence. There were numerous cars along the side of the road and numerous children running amuk. Let me remind you, we were famished and the next town was 45 minutes away. We decided to take our chances on the cafe on 'the main drag.' We were OBVIOUSLY not welcome there. If I hadn't seen the women actually preparing my fish & chips I would swear they hocked a lugie in there. Hands down, the most awkward experience I've had in quite some time. Moral of the story... do your research, or at least be prepared for some sideways stares. At least the food was good.

Overall, a good day.

The Clan says "Cheese!"

The Clan decided to get together to grill and take some pictures. This is what came of it:

All smiles

Silly, giggly girls

Whatcha packin in there, Britney?

Cheese!

Close-up

And again...

and this is Kenan's version.

Heeeeeeyyyy!

I really wanted Andrew to take a picture with me. Took a little persuading.

The "Pound-slap" trademarked by Andrew and myself.

Goodbye to the Alfson's

During the Last Supper with the Alfson's, we decided to get a little funky with the photos. Have you ever seen the webpage or the book titled "Awkward Family Photos?" If not, check it out. Anywhoo - indian tacos + bottle of wine = good times. Love you guys!

Mantra of the day.

I will NOT kill anyone today. I will NOT kill anyone today. I will NOT kill anyone today.

I am scared. I am scared for the lives of the people in the surrounding area of my new hometown of Medford, Oregon. There are a few reasons, the most important at the moment being the ancient IV pumps at Rogue Valley Medical Center. My Rapid City peeps... you thought we had it bad with the busted ass, half-broken machines? No way. This shit is fierce. At least they won't have me with the more invasive machines such as CRRT and IABP.

I repeat: PLEASE, God... don't let me harm anyone.

Energies and Aura's

I'm feeling enlightened today. That, or like a total downer. Shawna and I went to Ashland today. For all the non-Oregonians, it is the neighboring town that is SUPER cute. Major hippie town with adorable shops and eateries. Anywhoo - Shawna decided to get a "Psychic Reading." So she goes all out for the all-out whammie and gets the heavy duty full reading. This woman, smelling of incense and patchuli, takes her back into the storage room for "more privacy." I, having nothing else to do, sit by the chair placed next to the door to the storage room. Shawna is back there for a good half hour. This woman is going into major detail... she is really getting down and dirty. After the reading was complete, Shawna comes out and says it was really pretty good. She pays her tab. I am now interested. I opt (being the cheap ass I am) to get the quick $10 ask-her-any-two-questions deal. I settle into my chair, and her into the one across from me. She asks me to put my hands out palm up. With her hands now hovering over mine, she asks me what my question is. I ask her, she pauses and procedes to tell me that we "need to go into the back room."

We go into the back room, I sit down, but not before she asks me to sit "further away from her." WTF? Afraid you're gonna catch my cooties, lady? I digress... She tells me she was wrong all along... it wasn't Shawna that was all dark and twisty... it was ME! She said my "negative energy" was so powerful that she could feel me from outside the room. The whole time she was doing Shawna's reading, she was picking up on my very powerful aura.

Well shit... Guess she didn't tell me anything I don't already know...  So I went to the hippie bookstore down the street and bought a book about Clearing Your Aura.   :)

Warning!

This is a warning. I will be using explicit verbage. I will not have correct grammar, spelling, or punctuation. I will possibly be offensive to some people. This blog is not meant as a form of education or enlightenment. I am not witty, not entertaining, not interesting. I want to share what I DO offer with those of you who care to read about it. I wanted to experience this journey, but want so many people with me each step of the way. This is my way of bringing you all with me, while documenting my folly along the way. This blog has been a long time in the making, but because I am technology impaired, it will take me a while to catch on... bear with me.