Brief Travel Journal

Whew. It feels like I've just returned from visiting my friend NJA in Washington and tomorrow I leave for San Fransisco, where Matt and I will spend the weekend. I don't have much time, but I wanted to post a quick report, mostly in photos, about my adventures in Washington.


Thursday, May 20, 2010
Burgers for lunch, Tacoma Art Museum, Museum of Glass, and The Red Hot for dinner.

The Bridge of Glass

Outside the Museum of Glass

The Ruston Ragin' Cajun at Red Hot

Friday, May 21, 2010

Sage's Brunch House, shopping in downtown Olympia, Tumwater Falls, and dinner made by NJA.

Breakfast at Sage's

Trail near Tumwater Falls

Turkey burgers on challah, asparagus,

sweet potato fries, and limeade

Saturday, May 22, 2010 

Hike through the Hoh Rainforest around Lake Quinault, and dinner at Iron Rabbit.

On the trail

Lake Quinault

French Dip at Iron Rabbit

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Padres-Mariners game at Safeco Field, beer and pizza for dinner.

At the ballpark. Go Padres!

Brewery City Pizza and Fat Tire at NJA's

Monday, May 24, 2010

Space Needle, the Experience Music Project/Science Fiction Museum, Pike Place, and Underground Tour.

Space Needle

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

After a night at my former boss's place in Seahurst, it was time to return home.

View of the Sound from the guest room

Traveling

I'm in Washington state! Specifically, I'm staying with a dear friend in Tumwater, which is near Olympia, the capital. We wrote a post together on her blog, Vinegar upon Nitre. It features some awesome music videos. Check it out!

Hair Part II

I almost forgot to share this!

When I was doing research about donating my hair, I learned about Matter of Trust, a non-profit that seems to do a variety of things, including collecting hair clippings from salons and pet groomers to create mats to clean up oil spills.



I thought it was pretty cool and decided to bring it up to my stylist next time I went in for a trim. Then last month as I was reading about the BP oil spill, and decided not to wait. So I composed an email to my salon, telling them about the program. I received a response the same day, thanking me for my input and stating they would be starting donations the following week! I think the salon owners may already have known about the organization, and to be honest I'm not sure which makes me more happy, the idea that I may have helped or the idea that my salon is just that awesome.

Thank You . . .

So, this is the first installment of my Thank You Series, in which I thank the people around me for increasing my life's awesomeness. Given that today is Mother's Day, I thought I'd start with my mom.

My mom and me after I received by Bachelor's. 

Thank you, Mom:

• For always fostering my imagination. Some parents subscribe to the Thomas Gradgrind school of childrearing, all fact and no fancy, but fortunately for me, my mother wasn't one of those. Whether it was orchestrating a wedding between Cuddles, my stuffed bear, and Bunny, my stuffed . . . well, bunny, or describing the fairy village that existed under a bush in our yard, she always indulged my storytelling.
• For making me try a bite of everything on my plate. The meals we ate growing up were the antithesis of adventurous, but as a child I was so picky that even our very middle-American diet was too wild for me. I didn't even like sauce on my spaghetti noodles. However, my mom made me at least try a bite of everything, and as I grew older and discovered new foods, I was game to appreciate this rule, because I have consequently discovered a whole world of delicious edibles.
• For introducing me to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Some people think television corrodes family relationship, but watching Buffy with my mom was a bonding experience. My mother likes sci-fi, horror, and fantasy, so she was into the show immediately. I was more skeptical, but I started watching it with her and became hooked. It was a weekly date, and after I moved away to college we were still following the spin-off Angel so I would call her during the commercials to discuss the show's events.
• For your accepting attitude. While it wasn't always the case, I can honestly say I feel comfortable discussing just about anything with my mom. I know she will always accept me and my decisions and I enjoy our candid conversations.

So thanks!

My mom at 17 years old.

Save Saturday Service - Update

Thanks in part to Rachel's plug of my mail project, I've had quite a few volunteer recipients. Initially, only existing friends asked for letters, but now the number of strangers (or potential friends, if you will) has surpassed the number of participants I know personally. Additionally, I have now sent to four states (including California) and two (soon to be three when I write my next letter) countries other than the United States, and I've received responses from three of the letters I've written.

Since my original post, I have also been pleased to discover that I'm not the only one doing this sort of thing, and a great number of bloggers have hosted mail swaps, or offered to send postcards or letters, or posted entries about the joy of receiving mail the old fashioned way. And Annie at Snail Mail Lover has a whole blog dedicated to all things related to letter writing.

I'm having a wonderful time writing the letters and plan to continue the project as long as people are interested. So if you want me to send you something by post just send your address (formatted according to your country's guidelines) to mistymichael15@gmail.com.