Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

When we were kids my Mom used to bundle us up in the Suburban and we would take off for a camping trip- girls only. We did not make reservations, we just loaded up, picked a lake on the map and drove there with our fingers crossed. Looking back, I have no idea how my mother had the courage to do that with three kids! But my Mom is great that way. As we have grown up, moved out, and acquired our own families, it has been 15 years since just us girls did a trip like that. So we decided my graduation would be a great occassion. We picked Big Sur, loaded up my Subaru and hoped for the best. We got very lucky because it was not quite the busy season and we found a campsite that was repairing the bridge used to get through its main entrance. We flagged a woman down to ask her about directions or something and she graciously said that we would be welcome to camp at her campground and gave us directions to the back way in! This meant that we got to camp along Big Sur River in a Redwood campground that was occupied by maybe 5 other families. We were only there for two nights but we had a wonderful time. It was typical weather for our area, foggy and cold, the first night and half of the next day, but around 2pm the sun came out and we got warm weather the rest of the day and until we went home the third day. Of course we went to the beach which was stunning as always and thats where most of my pictures are taken. We also had dinner at Nepenthe, which is something I make a point of doing anytime I am in Big Sur (thanks to my good friend Artana!). It sits 800 feet above the water so you can imagine the view. I took about 125 pictures just at the beach so I will try to be selective in picking just my favorites here!

Summer Part One: Hurling Through Time and Space

Well I have not blogged in months...
I have friends who blog basically come rain or come shine. I have avoided blogging much in the same way I have not been journaling or working on any of my artwork. But its time to get back in the process because frankly, there is too much to process and life is speeding by like a freight train-hurling through time and space at dizzying speeds. Such hurling leads to a lot of adrenaline and laughter as well as the occasional bout of white-knuckled motion sickness. This has meant a continual reminder to breathe deeply, love slowly, forgive as often as possible, overlook momentary lapses in judgment (mine and others!), a lot of perspective, even more patience and of course a reminder to keep the faith. So my goal this weekend is to make a few posts about what has been going on in my life in the last few months, (pictures included!). Apparently I missed an entire season! Where did summer go?

Well, it went to...
A camping trip; another camping trip; an unfinished thesis; Mom's breast cancer; preparing for my sister; a week in WA with the family; moving my sister in; living with more animals, a trip to New York and Ireland; volunteer training for CASA; and of course all those little mini-adventures in between (you know-work, eating, sleeping, blinking :-)

So stay tuned...