memorial day weekend

Feeling really lucky after the weekend I had. 
I spent it at a cabin on a lake with some of my best friends. 
I don't get any cell service there so it was 
really nice to completely disconnect for a few days.  
The weather wasn't great but we played lots of board games, 
ate delicious food, jumped in the lake, 
and even had a glowstick dance party... 
here are some photos from Sunday: 

The weekend was definitely a success and I loved being able 

to spend it with Joe and some of my besties. 

Thanks to all who made it a reality.

My neck is KILLING me after that dance party (I may have busted out 

my Flashdance moves for the first time since college). 

 I am not as young as I once was. 

And we are all dorks. 

The end. 

in the garden

Today is better.

My students are too exhausted to be obnoxious.

Here are some photos from my garden earlier in the week...



 

I love how the garden starts to really work in May.

I have lots of tiny vegetables just popping up.

Lettuce, carrots, and beets, mostly.

The tomatoes have been transplanted.

The peas are climbing away.

Hopefully the sun comes back soon.

stuck in middle school?

I cannot express how happy I am that tomorrow is Friday. 

Not only that, but the Friday before a three day weekend. 

The end of the year makes my students mean. 

It's wearing on me. I need a break. 

I ended the day with a 7th grade girl 

crying in my room about her impending breakup. 

He won't respond to her texts or calls.  

I found it difficult to find things to say... 

I'm not going to be honest and tell her this is just the beginning. 

That her heart will be broken again and again. 

Because that's just mean. Even if it's true. 

And yes, one day it will all work out, right? 

One day she'll meet a boy who won't break her heart. 

So what to say? I still don't know. 

I told her any guy worth dating wouldn't do that to her.  

I told her to tell her friends and to let them be there for her. 

And then I distracted her with things coming up to look forward to. 

Is there anything else anyone can do for a broken heart? 

Thinking back to our middle school years,  

it's easy to dismiss those times as being the Worst. Ever. 

Are things really that different? Or are we just better at handling it? 

Because sometimes I still feel like my middle school self. 

I didn't get invited to the get-together with old friends. 

I am still in constant fear of getting my heart broken. 

I still think about myself too much. 

I still stay up too late on school nights... 

It's only Tuesday?

One of those days...

where I realize after arriving at work  

there's a stain on my shirt and a hole in my sweater...

I forgot to put on deodorant...

and I get to be here for 13+ hours.

So I listen to old Fleet Foxes, stare at lab reports,

and count down the hours until I can go back to bed. 
 



summer in May

We're back to clouds here in Seattle, 

but those two weeks of summer weather were amazing! 

Here are some photos from the past couple weeks: 

Scenes from around the house: 

the cats eating lilacs cut from my backyard, 

a late daffodil by the sink, 

and some new squash plants getting bigger. 

I spent an afternoon at my parents' house on Whidbey 

and enjoyed this view while we ate dinner on the deck. 

Cat naps, dinner outside at Ravish with Kelly, 

and vegetables about to be grilled at Joe's. 

Kayaking after work on Lake Union, 
fish and chips outside at A Terrible Beauty, 
hiking at Carkeek Park with my little sister, 
and buying flowers at Pike Place for Mother's Day. 

Bridal Veil Falls

We had a good two weeks of gorgeous sunny weather this May. 
I have been spending time outside and away from my computer. 
Last weekend Joe and I headed for a hike. 
Along with everyone else in Seattle according to the parking lot. 
We managed to find a spot at the Lake Serene trailhead 
and headed up to Bridal Veil Falls. 

It wasn't a very long hike but it felt great to be out on such a gorgeous day. 
I am sad to say that was my first hike this spring. 
I hope to get out much more frequently now that the weather is improving! 

c a l i f o r n i a ( 2 )

Our second day in Paso Robles we ventured 
out to some surrounding towns.  

We enjoyed a foggy view of Morro Bay and trusted

Morro Rock was out there somewhere.

We walked around San Luis Obispo and got some fro yo.

On the way back we drove through gorgeous sunny hillsides.

Finally we were ready for more wine,

so we stopped at a couple wineries.

Chateau Margene had two cats and a dog who became my best friends.

Daou had amazing views and plenty of comfy chairs.

We shared a bottle and soaked in the sunshine.

 

On the last day we drove along the coast and stopped in Carmel.
We had lunch at an amazing Greek place where the employees
played some lively music and sang for us.
We flew home that evening and it was back to reality.
Great weekend getaway and I will definitely be back!