Instant Reactions to A Bunch of BS (And A Bunch of Good to Balance That Out):

It's been awhile, and dad has been impatient for a new post, so, herrrrrre we go...

:( Stupid words: Go away. I don’t want to hear delish, spork, yummy, or slang words on the news or Facebook anymore. Full words are awesome, and simply using forks and spoons. And if you are over 30 and still using your Facebook as a pedestal for the world to know EVERYTHING about your every move, well, deactivate your account for a few days and see who actually pays attention to you, THEN spend more time with them than on Facebook.

:) Sundays: I am growing to love you while sleeping in, laying in bed until almost noon, watching movies, and the all important Dockside breakfast with whoever shows up before 1:00. Thanks.

:( Kim Kardashian: If you divorce someone after 72 days, don’t take the advice of your fame hungry mother and keep the 20 carat ring. Return it to the poor sweet guy who got kidnapped by your bullshit family for profit. And you pretty much suck too…stop dipping your face in a bowl of makeup every morning, get your family to break the professional relationship with Ryan Seacrest, and go live a quiet life in the Swiss Alps or something. We would all be MUCH better off.

:) Snowboarding: You are the only reason I will likely survive winter in Oregon again this year. Big shout out to Chris Wade for forcing the sport on me a few years ago.

:( Occupy Portland: Yea, there was a point to this. But smoking tons of weed, allowing the whole homeless population to migrate in, and costing my county tons of tax dollars when I already got my ass kicked by the new state biennium contract just doesn’t sit well with me. Regroup, rethink, and figure out a more productive way to prove a point…soon! And trust me, I am liberal as all Hell, but something about this just drives me nuts.

:) Mexico Roadtrip: I really look forward to you next week, laying on beaches, and allowing Bailey Dog his first international trip ever at the age of 11 years 8 months. Going to be a great time.

:( Reality TV: So, this awesome show called The Buried Life about some do-good teens who do positive things and raise money for a bunch of good got scrapped by MTV to make way for more Snooki, mindless hookups, and salaciousness. Bummer.

:) and :( Halloween: This is the first year I actually put a true effort into Halloween. And, I actually liked it. Though I still don’t understand how all our costumes went from full coverage to bare asses.

:( Cavalia: I am sorry, I don’t like your tents in my hood, and from the commercials, your show looks like a bad combo of Lord of the Dance and a horse circus from Hell. I will skip this for certain.

:) It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia: Having no cable resulted in me finding this awesome show on Channel 9. How did I miss this for five years?!

:( Beaver Football: %***@#WTF#**ARRRRRRGH!!!!!! Need I say more?!

:) Friday Morning Hikes: Rain or shine in scrubby clothes and a ponytail with two awesome mutts…couldn't ask for anything better.

;) So, Dad: I finally wrote a new blog post! Maybe I will get another one done before 6 months pass.

Sitting On a Bridge, Contemplating the Unknown...

I started this on my phone Sunday evening while waiting to get over a bridge to my parents’ house for dinner. Sat in my idling car a while as the boats passed through, and here is what I managed to scribble down in that time, with a little more added…

If I knew exactly what my life will look like three years from now, would I be living it differently or just keep going with the grand adventure? I’m applying for and interviewing for new jobs, rejoined the world of caring about what the opposite sex thinks of me, and am being as active as I can to avoid going stir crazy. I am at the point again where I want to know all the answers to what my ‘near future’ life will look like. “Patience is a virtue and I want it now!” This quote keeps ringing in my ears.

This said, maybe the excitement should remain in the unknowing: Will I get my dream job? Leave the state (both agency and actual rainy Oregon) prior to deciding that I’m settling down? Could Bailey help raise a new puppy prior to his death (still a few years away at least), or will he retire to my parents? Will I finally win the lottery, fall upon a huge inheritance, or sell all my stuff so that I can go do full time philanthropy work and stalk the super hot TOM’s Shoes founder (whose name is Blake, not Tom)?

Actually, I just read through a lot of my blog over this past week and realized…I’ve asked many of these questions before, always to end up landing on my feet with new awesome additions, twists, and turns.

I guess not knowing isn’t so bad, and probably a good thing for me at the moment…for all of us, for that matter. If we knew exactly what tomorrow looked like, we would possibly get apathetic, less passionate about what we want, and a little bit entitled...

Oh, up until quite recently, I probably confused the shit out of any guy who tried to compete for my attention against the fall to spring on and off other half. I apologize for that, and have to some of them already. Many caught on, seem to have forgiven my sporadic-ness, and forged on with the idea of friendship. I’m still about 25% jaded at the moment, but, it shall pass. And on that note…when it comes to the opposite sex, listen to your damn friends…they are typically 95% right, 12% wrong, 47% going to trash him and say, “you’re too hot for him,” or “he’s a douche,” and “umm, I’m available if you want a boyfriend now,” AND 35% are just going to say, “Go for it and I will be here on the other side when you crash and burn from that disaster.” Thanks to all my friends who offered me many variations of the mentioned support forms… ya all are the best.

And with that, please remember that I fearlessly hit ‘POST’ after writing all this (and for the past six years) to remind anyone else out there having the same exact thoughts that you’re not the only one. Life is a trip…we stand, fail, cry, smile, love, succeed. Enjoy life with every ounce of your heart, minimal fear, and no regrets while you still have it. May hurt a little more, but it may bring bigger rewards as well...

And Aly and Taryn approved this message...

Spring and Summertime Goals

Float the Clackamas more than once ~ Hike every trail in Forest Park ~ Camp at least three weekends (including one at Spark’s Lake) ~ Find my tiara ~ Cook more than I eat out ~ Sit in the sun on my porch A LOT ~ Sit in the sun on decks at restaurants around Portland A LOT ~ Run to the waterfront and back a dozen times (at least) ~ Go on a whitewater rafting trip ~ See a play at the Shakespeare Festival in Ashland ~ Admit that I am a snob for driving my own car to the family trip in Coeur D’alene and Leavenworth ~ Wear a dress at least twice a week ~ See some summer concerts ~ Keep walking to the beat of my own drummer ~ Believe it’s all going to happen the way I want it to ~ Hike a mountain side or two ~ Have a blast at every First Thursday and beer and food festival ~ Leave the state more than once ~ Maybe even leave the country ~ NOT be in a wedding for once ~ Kayak ~ Win the lottery…preferably a big one ~ Climb on real rock outside and maybe master a couple tough indoor climbs ~ Walk instead of drive whenever possible ~ Find a cheap bike so I can be ‘sooooo Portland’ ~ Never pretend that I don’t care ~ Wear my sunscreen instead of trying for an ‘Oregon’ tan ~ Be the sober girl on the crazy summer boats (most of the time) ~ Read a book, or seven ~ Catch up with everyone who will be coming out of winter hibernation to play… Seriously, hunt me down this spring and summer if there are adventures to be had… I want to partake in as many as possible!

33 Ways to Be Happier Than Yesterday (For Year 33 of Course)

See smile and laugh lines as a sign of a life well lived rather than as wrinkles ~ Don't dwell in the negatives of your past or the pasts of others ~ Throw blankets ~ Hug goodbye more often than handshakes ~ Be ok with being super sentimental and keep pics of loved ones all around ~ Have an awesome dog ~ Try new things no matter how old we get ~ Continue to make new friends and be able to let go of the crappy ones ~ Say thank you as often as merited ~ Say 'I love you' as often as possible ~ Don't smoke cigarettes ~ Watch your alcohol intake if you’re in a bad space ~ Get out of town when you can ~ Eat stuff that may not be good for you now and then ~ Stay active to balance it out ~ Don't be afraid to open your heart to those who may deserve it ~ Learn to love again even if you think it's going to be hard ~ Enjoy art, live music, and culture ~ Live life with less fear…maybe even none ~ Don’t always stick to a routine ~ Find something (or someone) to believe in…whoever or whatever that may be ~ Learn to say no more often ~ Learn to say yes more often ~ Love someone like they may not be there tomorrow ~ Give second chances, but not too many past that ~ Get lots of sunshine ~ Have more faith in yourself ~ Have more faith in others ~ Forgive and forget ~ Remember and appreciate ~See as much of the world as you can ~ Always remember how beautiful or handsome and loved you are ~ Have a theme song…