Saying Good-by is Tough

I can't begin to count the number of people I have said good-bye to over the past few years. I think at the rate I'm going...I say good-bye to more people than I am meeting. Kidding. But it sure has been a lot.

It makes me think about whether or not I've put all of myself into the relationships and what things might change in my life. I am always sad when I say good-bye. It was probably the hardest when one of my best friends moved away to teach English overseas.

I have been so blessed to know these friends and while I'll miss them, I am excited for them. I am hopeful that this new chapter will be full of exciting new adventures. Wonderful new people. Experiences that help them learn and grow. And that occassionaly, they remember to keep in touch. ;-) It's hard to always want the best for them when I feel like there is now a gap in my own life. I miss all of my friends dearly. Even though there is Skype and I can talk to my friends...it's not quite the same as having coffee or getting a meal together and shooting the breeze. I will miss all the hangouts. The BBQ's. The Game Nights. The Jokes. The Laughter.

It's a new chapter for me as well. Making new friends and becomming more aware of myself and the things that I do. The impressions that I leave people with and the importance of being open and honest in everything that I do.

I am looking forward to the new year. I can't wait to see what's in store for me and all of my friends.

Karen's Leaf Mustache

Leaf mustache
Originally uploaded by kiki5253

I had a fun weekend. There was dinner and Castle Crashers, a hike up Mount Pilchuck (should've worn real hiking boots and not athletic shoes) and a day of lounging and napping at the Ballard Locks while listening to Big Band music.

But first...I HAD to take some leaf mustache pictures. I'm all for being rediculous...some of the pictures turned out much worse than this one. And by worse, I mean I am making some of the worst faces in the history of photography.

All in all, a good weekend with many friends. :)

-Cheers

P to the S: if you're interested in climbing Mount Pilchuck, read this first: http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/mount-pilchuck

The Week

What a fun and long week! I'm excited for this next one too. Last weekend I went out for Korean BBQ with a group of friends. I've never grilled before, but it was a lot of fun. I can't wait to have Laura come over from Spokane so we can grill together. :)

My parents also sent me some beautiful lillies this week. It was a bit of a surprise to not have any blooming when they arrived, but I guess that means I just get to enjoy them for a little while longer. I tihnk lillies are one of my favorite flowers.

On Friday night I went to see South Pacific at the 5th Ave Theater downtown with my parents. I didn't really remember a lot about South Pacific, but it was a cute play. I think for 1949 it was a very forward thinking play due to the way it confronted people's views on mixed race couples and families. I loved the fact that this Frenchman had polynesian children who spoke French. Apperances aren't everything right? It reminds me of the time I was eating lunch on top of QA at one of the parks and a lady started talking louder and slower to me. It was a bit startling for me and quite confusing. Ah well, there's no such thing as a perfect world.

Yesterday, was Valentine's Day at the zoo. The zoo keepers put out treats for all the animals at different points during the day. Upon entry, we were given a list of times that the different animals would be given their treats. The first stop was the Golden Tamarins in the Tropical Rainforest building. They had strawberry slices and other fruits to munch on. Next was the snow leopards. I've never seen them so active! And by active, I mean up and moving around. In the end they didn't do much to their valentines, bugt at least they were up and moving. There were two pinatas of treats and a bag full of grass and something else. One cat just rubbed it's head all over the grass bag. The other two got one of the pinatas down to rip open. The pinatas were shaped like a flower and a strawberry. Apparently, there was an incident last year involving an Elmo pinata of sorts. For some reason the zoo keepers didn't have anything so they stuffed Elmo full of chicken bones and other raw meat. Elmo was ripped to shreds and the little children did not like that. HAHA! There was screaming and apparently a girl asked her mommy, "Is Elmo going to be okay?" I think someone responded by saying Elmo was so dead. Poor scarred children.

I think the best animal valentine was the Orangutans. There were jello hearts attached to the glass windows and little treats and decorations left all over there exhibit. One swung around to eat all the jello hearts...even sucking them off the window; not even bothering to peel the jello hearts off the wall. Another one just grabbed all the tissue paper balls full of popcorn. It was so entertaining to hear everyone laugh. It was great fun, it sure would be fun to go again next year to see more of the animals. A day at the zoo is always good for the soul.

Christmas

Merry Christmas! I know, it's Christmas Eve and the strange thing is...it doesn't really feel like Christmas. You know...the way it felt when you were a kid. The rush and thrill of presents, snow, food and family. It's a different kind of rush. Christmas snuck up on me this year. All the sun and warm weather in Seattle has kind of messed with me. In spite of that, I am excited to see my family this weekend. I'll get to see family and friends...what a great Christmas. If that's all I got, I would be satisfied. Winter break starts now! :)

Cheers!

Who's gonna be there...

I'm finding more and more that there's a distinct difference between great or best friends than regular hangout friends. I currently have 3 maybe 4 best friends who all live in different areas of the world. The reason they're great friends is because when I'm hurting or in trouble, they will call, email or visit me in the blink of an eye. This is distinctly different from the ones you call who ignore your call and never return it to talk to you.

I was sad on Friday after returning from my grandparents house. It wasn't that the visit didn't go well or anything like that. I had a marvelous time down there. But grandma wanted to talk about my older brothers and then we started talking about death and it just made me sad. I know my grandparents are getting older, but that doesn't mean I enjoy talking about death or even want to think about the day they're gone. I don't like the idea at all. So on my way home I called a friend because I just wanted to get these things off my mind. Well, they never returned my call. Mad? A little...I thought they were someone I could talk to if needed. I only called because I couldn't think of anyone else in the area. So with that I went to bed early.

Saturday though...I went to look a condo. It has a lot of work and is probably not something I want to purchase right now. It was listed as a 1 bedroom but in reality it's a studio with a loft for a bedroom. Still no call back. I'm not expecting this person to be a best friend, but the decency of a call back would've been nice.

After looking at the condo that I started chatting to one of my friends who I've known since elementary school. In the midst of chatting she kept trying to come up with ways she could see me. On Friday I had wanted to drive all night to just get out of town. She offered to meet me for a late dinner in Ellensburg, but we decided or mostly she decided that she would drive out to see me on the 21st. I have a date for a wedding AND I get to see one of my closest friends. I'm grateful for her and for all the years we've been friends. She has certainly gone the extra mile this time...now if only I can find a way to do the same for her when she's in need of a close friend. With that all I can say is Thank you...from the bottom of my heart.

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Now playing: Jimmy Eat World - Hear You Me
via FoxyTunes

New Photos

Seattle Weekly
Originally uploaded by kharms5253

This is one of many pictures taken downtown along the waterfront. I'm excited to have some new pictures up...it's been great to have Sarah in town. I usually take more artistic shots when she's around. Some of the new photos in my Flickr account were taken by her.

It's another lovely day in Seattle! :)

Cheers!

Lonliness

I have struggled lately with the feeling of being alone in this life. That I no longer have someone to share things with and that no one is left who understands me. how wrong I often am, but it is a daily struggle to get up each day when your closest friends are far away and you live by yourself and have no one left to get a cup of coffee with on a regular basis.

I wish I didn't feel this way; that just facing the day would be okay and that I would start seeing all of the wonderful things that actually do surround me. I am blessed, but it's hard right now. By no means do I want pity, I am not pathetic...just tired of how things are right now.

New Year's Eve

Woo Hoo!  It's the end of the year and the beginning of a new one.  What's not to love?  It's a chance for a fresh start and for most people, a new outlook on life and everything in it.  Funny how that works...when something ends, something new begins.  

This year I'm not doing anything too spectacular.  Staying in and sleeping.  I may stay up long enough to watch the fireworks on TV, but I think I will be in my apartment for most of the evening.  Tomorrow I want to take more pictures...so I may pick up some more film tonight and then work on filling up 5 rolls so I can get them developed. :) 

I must've done my celebrating early because last night I stayed up till 4:00 a.m. with friends.  It was a great night, but a bit over the top too...I think we all had too much, if you know what I mean.  I ended my night by crawling into a closet and sleeping there.  At least the closet had a mattress and a pillow.  

I am officially done moving and now have everything in the world to unpack and arrange.  Not sure how I'm going to decorate my apartment, but it's exciting to think that I get to choose how things are done.  Not that this place is going to look incredibly classy or sophisticated...just nice and homey.  Kind of like growing up...I'd love to get nice things, but instead I'll have mismatched furniture and random pieces of art all over the place.  And I'm excited for that.  

Anyway, Happy New Year to everyone.  I hope this new year brings a lot of surprises, great memories, new challenges and a lot of great relationships. :)

Home and Christmas and such...

It was great to fly home on Christmas day! I ran into someone who knew Phillip at SEATAC. Turns out he lives in Seattle and we're flying back on the same flight (Monday evening). Perhaps we'll see each other again...maybe even get together in Seattle for some havoc. :)

It's weird to not be at work...this has been an incredibly nice vacation and I have enjoyed not working. But it's also been hard because I haven't seen anyone in about a week and a half. Getting snowed in in Magnolia is kind of a PITA. The roads are closed and I can't take my car anywhere. That means I watch a lot of TV. Boooo! Some TV is good...I can enjoy bits and pieces, but to constantly be watching TV and different shows...my brain just dies. Thank goodness for the friends that could get around. They would pick me up and take me out. I'd get to visit people and play games and do something different.

So the new year is about to start. Crazy...I have some things I need to finish up before the end of the year. Taxes might be one of them...mostly getting my transcript in so I can finally graduate and submitting my address change to the DMV. Now that I live in Magnolia I apparently have to tell everyone so I don't get fined or summed or something weird and then they can't find me and life sucks. Oh well!