Washington Adventures Part Deux

Another trip to Washington has come and gone, and once again I was treated to a mixed bag of weather, including some gloriously sunny (albeit chilly) days. I arrived in Seattle decked out in my newest winter coat: a calf-length, hooded down coat that feels like a form-fitting sleeping bag. Perfect! I learned a valuable lesson this winter…the best deals on absurd winter coats can be found in the desert. I stepped outside the airport swathed in my glorified Snuggie, only to watch locals traipse around in thin cotton long-sleeves, obviously enjoying their “seasonably warm” evening. This wasn’t the last time on my trip I felt ridiculously overdressed. Whatevs…a person needs time to acclimate, especially a scrawny, desert and beach-habituated person like myself!

The next few days were full of activity. There were a couple days when Andrew went to work pouring concrete, and I relaxed around the house with his family while he was gone. Otherwise I made sure we did our best to get outdoors when the weather allowed, and tried to find new things to do. We spent some time outdoors with Andrew’s sister and our little niece, planting some new blueberry bushes and peach trees. Andrew also worked hard pruning the apple and pear trees, and set up some suet to attract woodpeckers. We also spent time outdoors practicing archery, our new favorite pastime. Although I’m a much better shot with a gun, I have to say! I guess it’s a lot easier to aim when you have a sight to look through. We also took a few walks, some in the neighborhood and some through the woods. This part of Washington is wondrously full of gorgeous evergreen trees and ferns, and I don’t know if the novelty of all the greenery will ever wear off. I’m sure the novelty of grey days will be gone in a flash, however!

Andrew’s parents were generous enough to give us a night in Seattle at their timeshare, and so we packed a small bag and took the train into the city. It was a lot of fun to use the public transportation in Seattle. We used an above ground train, an underground train, and a monorail while we were there. Public transportation gives you a unique, more thorough view of any given city, partly because you are forced to walk between stations and experience the sidewalk culture firsthand. One thing I learned very quickly is you must avoid standing under the edges of the awnings, or you will quickly be drenched with dirty water. You must also not use an umbrella, and if you’re a real Seattlean (Seattler? Seattlian?) you don’t stand under the awnings at all. A little mist never hurt anyone!

We had a wonderful dinner at a hip place called Restaurant Zoe. If you are a foodie and you are in the area, I highly recommend this place! And make sure you order the duck confit. It was divine!! The chefs were amazing, and they even added little “extras” in between our courses, which made me feel very fancy indeed. After dinner we walked around the neighborhood and found our way into a very eclectic bar. I think their theme was some combination of Lucha Libre paraphernalia and photobooth pictures. Odd. We stopped in for a drink and to observe the locals in their native habitat.

The next day we headed over to Seattle Center area, where the famous Space Needle is located. We had gorgeous sunny weather, and enjoyed strolling around the grassy areas, absorbing as much UV rays as possible. We also caught a showing of the IMAX 3D movie about the Hubble space telescope. It was phenomenal! The images that they have procured from that thing are mind-blowing. After a huge brunch of eggs and hash browns at a very local, very divey, very excellent bar, we headed back home to Puyallup. And no, I still don’t know quite how to pronounce that.

Now I am back in Tucson, enjoying the warm (almost hot!) sunshine, but looking forward to a more permanent living situation with my husband. While I was up in Washington Andrew and I had a couple of “interviews” at organic farms. I don’t want to say too much, as we have some possibilities brewing at the moment and I’m afraid to jinx them. I hope to know soon what is in store, and if no farms pan out we have a pretty good backup plan involving working hard for the summer, going to Burning Man, and possibly visiting my parents in Australia next winter. Not too shabby of a “Plan B” if I do say so… Fingers crossed that good things are a-brewin’ for your favorite traveling Ides!

Andrew looks so retro with his plaid shirt, poofy hair, and bow!

Doesn’t he look handsome with a rake?

Grace helped us plant the trees, until she saw an earthworm and was convinced it was a scary snake!

We walked past this exhibit and I really wanted to go in, but at $19 a person it was above our budget. Next time!

The combination of the early 60’s-era Space Needle and the monorail really made me feel like I was back in time…or at Disneyland’s “Tomorrow Land.” Hey older peeps: I’m curious. Are you disappointed the future didn’t pan out to be quite as “futuristic? as you expected? Or did it?

View from the monorail. Look at that BLUE SKY!!!

That’s a neat building, but more importantly…look at the sunshine on my face!!!

This is my “springtime in Washington” hiking attire!

On this hike there is a tall pipe with a ladder. We climbed it. Yup.

My most faithful readers will remember Gertie. She finally has her fenders! Isn’t she pretty?

Here’s a closeup, because I refinished them myself and am so proud that they are now part of my lovely bicycle! Now we just need to fix the flat tire…

City Mouse, Country Mouse

The other day my mom rang me up from Australia and we had a very nice chat. I have been keeping her in the loop about possible farm jobs, and she laughed a little bit and referred to me as a “city girl.” I was a little miffed at first, but after doing some heavy thinking I realized she was right. I am a city girl. Sometimes. I really love going into a city center, walking around, ducking into cafes and restaurants, strolling through museums. There is significant value to be found in the cultural centers of this world, and I will always enjoy experiencing the unique pulsing of life that each city offers.

On the other hand, I have always loved being out in nature. As a matter of fact, I have my mother to thank for that. She started taking us hiking and camping when we were just babies, and it wasn’t long before we progressed to backpacking, kayaking, and various other outdoor adventures. I first met Andrew when I decided to go on a fundraising camping trip alone, out in Joshua Tree National Park. On our honeymoon in Hawaii we kayaked 16 arduous miles around the Na Pali Coast of Kauai. Many of my friends and family members have insinuated that I have become more “outdoorsy” because of Andrew. It is true that I spend more of my time doing these things now that we are together. Part of that is because it’s much more fulfilling for me to have a partner in crime, someone with whom I can share the adventure. I have never been much of a lone explorer. I blame this on my twin. It’s hard to be alone for a long time when you shared the womb with someone!

This dichotomy is something that Andrew tells me he loves about me. I can spend all day spelunking in a muddy cave in coveralls, and later that night get dolled up for a nice night out. Hi, my name is Micha, and I refuse to be pigeonholed. I listen to bluegrass, Dixie jazz, hip hop, indie rock, and more recently, dubstep. One day I loaf around the house in my fugg boots and ratty old sweatshirt, the next I’ll squeeze into some skinny jeans and wear hot pink lipstick to a bar. I like to read, I like to paint, and create things with my hands. I enjoy playing softball, ultimate frisbee, and practicing yoga. I also like to sit on my butt and watch a good movie from time to time.

Of course being married to Andrew has certainly affected me. Several people have noted that I am more mellow and laid back than I used to be. I will readily admit some of Andrew’s personality has rubbed off on me, and I’m grateful for this. I like to think of myself as a “recovering consumer.” There was a time, not so long ago, when I coveted fancy purses, bought many pairs of high heels, and loved taking trips to the mall so I could replenish my wardrobe with the newest (and most cheaply made) threads. I still enjoy a nice cashmere sweater, a well-constructed pair of boots, and high-quality makeup when the mood strikes. I am not completely reformed, and although I do intend on making my own shampoo soon, I won’t forsake all of my material possessions. Everything in moderation (including moderation!). Our road trip also changed me significantly. I don’t think of our trip as merely a fun vacation or second honeymoon. For me it really was a way to move father away from my consumer self, and become more comfortable with a simpler way of life.

I am reading Blue Highways by William Least Heat-Moon, and came across this conversation he had with someone about his own road-trip back in the late 1970s:

“Your little spree sounds nice until you go back.”
“Don’t have to go back [to] who I was.”
“Can you get out of it?”
“I’ll find out. Maybe experience is like a globe—you can’t go the wrong way if you travel far enough…”
“You’ll end up where you started.”
“I’m working on who. Where can take care of himself.”

Exactly!

Many people are wondering where this desire to work on a farm is coming from. I don’t have any experience working on a farm. I wasn’t raised on a farm, or even anywhere near one. I have always been interested in animals and have volunteered many hours of my life working at nature centers and even a zoo. But never a farm. I am not hopelessly romantic about this lifestyle. I understand that it is going to be hard, exhausting physical labor. When I own my own farm someday, it will be emotionally and financially draining when things go wrong (which they will). What I do expect though, is to crash into my bed every night feeling like my hard work is meaningful. I will be truly satisfied knowing I am growing healthy, sustainable food for my family, friends, and neighbors.

When you work on a farm you don’t have time to peruse Craigslist, wondering what other exciting things are out there. Daily chores outdoors will provide a welcome respite from the constant barrage of information most people receive every minute on their phones, tablets, laptops. I’m not going to toss out my iPhone. But I vow not to keep it in my pocket, ready to distract me. Instead I will focus on the task at hand, and relish the moment when the seeds I planted first poke their sprouts out of the loam. My body will be tired, my muscles will be sore, but my spirit will be still with a calm serenity that is afforded only those who are satisfied with their life’s work.

See? I told you I had a twin!

The night we met! Who would have guessed, this was my husband-to-be?

We clean up nicely when the mood and/or occasion strikes

Last year we went backpacking near Idyllwild, CA

I was usually the first up in the mornings to feed and release our backyard chickens. I can’t WAIT to have fresh eggs again!

We went fishing with my brother in Oregon. I liked it so much, Andrew bought me my own pole for Christmas!

Andrew took me rock climbing near San Diego. I’m still a beginner, but the feeling you get when you finally reach the top is phenomenal!

Hurry Up and Wait!

It’s a difficult endeavor to write an interesting blog people will want to read when you spend the majority of your time sitting in the hospital, playing Words with Friends on your iPhone. “Earlier today I played “peyote” for 54 points! My life is so exciting, aren’t you jealous?!” In truth, it has been an arduous few weeks since I returned to Tucson. My poor grandmother has experienced one setback after another, and her doctors finally decided she needed to have her entire pacemaker replaced in order to remove any potential hiding places for the mystery bacteria that has been marauding in her blood stream. Fortunately her pacemaker removal and the subsequent replacement all went well, and Grams is recuperating nicely.

One happy side effect of potentially serious surgeries is that my dad and uncle Ed flew out from Sacramento and New York, respectively. Although the majority of the week they were here was also spent in the hospital reading, chatting, and playing more Words with Friends, we also managed to have ourselves a little fun. Ed and I went to the movies, Dad and I went to the gun range and cigar store (I guess I’m like the second son he never had?), and all of us spent a couple hours in the casino. We wined and dined all over town, but our favorite restaurant of the week was Lil Abner’s, an ancient, divey steakhouse out in the boonies. The walls were covered in scrawled autographs (evidence of over 60 years of business), the food was presented with nary a garnish, a giant bowl of soupy beans was plopped down to be shared, and…the food was absolutely spectacular. Who needs ambience when the ribs are so tender the meat simply melts right off the bone?

Another added bonus occurred when the two of them staged an intervention. I had been driving my truck around with a worn out clutch (a 15,000 mile road trip will do that), and was now accustomed to the occasional gear slip. I also had developed a great technique for hooking my toe under the sticky clutch pedal and pulling it back up so that I could shift again. I even managed this right after a pedicure without smudging my newly painted toenails! Dad and Ed were less than impressed with my skills and demanded I take the truck in to be serviced. After a day in the shop I drove off with a new clutch, and now that I have readjusted to what is normal I can see that it was a good idea. Fathers know best!

One of the stops on our way from the hospital was to the cemetery, where my grandfather is buried. He passed away four years ago, and I don’t often go visit his gravesite. I have a hard time appreciating cemeteries; I find them to be a tremendous waste of space and water, especially out in the desert. When I go I don’t feel like my grandfather is there, but it was nice to see his tombstone and it made my grandma happy that we went. The flowers, visits, silk-lined caskets, elaborate ceremonies and such that we afford the dead are really placations for the living. Throw me in the ground in an unfinished pine box and plant a gnarly willow on top! Or better yet, pass on the formaldehyde! Cremate me and spread some of my ashes under a tree, some on top of a mountain, and the rest into the ocean. The first law of thermodynamics states that energy is never created or destroyed, but merely transferred between systems. And so we go. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Many of my readers may disagree with me philosophically or theologically on what happens after death, but I personally take comfort in the thought that after I have churned away the years in my little fireball of life, the world around me will absorb that energy and propel it into new creatures, ad infinitum.

While I am not a mystical person, I do sometimes find meanings and signs in the commonplace. While we were standing over Gramp’s grave, two sprightly, dusty, gorgeous coyotes appeared in front of us. They frolicked together, groomed themselves, and seemed right at home in the cemetery. I immediately thought of how perfect the coyote is as a “spirit animal” for my grandfather. In many Native American traditions the coyote is a perpetual trickster, which definitely suits my grandpa whose favorite pastime was to slap you on the butt if you made the mistake of bending over in his vicinity.

Although it is still January, changes are coming and it feels like spring is in the air. The temperature in Tucson is rising back to normal after a few weeks of frigid desert nights in the 20s, and when I step outside into the sun I feel a warmth that stretches its energizing fingers down into my tired bones and restless soul. Andrew and I have a few potential farm job/apprenticeship options brewing up in Washington, and while I don’t want to jinx them by detailing them here, I feel good about the coming spring. It is going to be a time for renewal, and a time for us to rediscover our newlywed bliss. I wish the spring was already here, but there’s nothing for it but to hurry up and wait!

I realize posting a photo of me with a gun has potential implications. I do not own any guns. I do not know where I stand exactly on the gun control issues at hand. What I do know is that I enjoy shooting them for sport, and I’m a pretty darn good shot!

Least impressive decor, most impressive meal!

Grams is staying at University Medical Center, and we walked to lunch near campus the other day.

The Brothers Pino

The desert is full of life! (photo cred: Ed Pino)

My dad referred to these as “The Clothespins”. They are blue on one side and red on the other…Wildcat colors. “Bear Down!”

It’s art and stuff

I Left My <3 In Sunny Seattle

A think it’s a kind of curse that every time I go for a visit in Puyallup (near Seattle) the weather cooperates and I’m presented with gorgeous scenery, beautiful blue skies, and happy smiling people working in their gardens or taking their children to the park. I am usually prepared for grey, cold, rainy, misty, and that pervasive damp that chills you to the bone. And usually I do experience some of those days, but they have been mixed in with sunny days which makes them much more bearable. The problem with this is that I always expect to want to leave Seattle and get back to whatever warm weather locale I currently call home. This year my Christmas trip to Seattle included several amazing days spent outdoors in the sun and snow, and it was incredibly difficult to get on the plane back to Tucson. Of course this time it was even more difficult than usual, since I was once again bidding adieu to the love of my life with no definite plans for when we will next be reunited.

This trip to Puyallup was a whirlwind of food, people, noise, fun, love, and exhaustion. Andrew and I made a little nest on the floor of his mom Nancy’s office, and at first I found it a little difficult to make the transition from “me and my cat” to “me and five other adults, a toddler, three dogs, and the large swath of extended family” that was in town to visit. Our delicious Christmas diner, which was held at another relative’s house, included over 20 family members! Ultimately it was well worth it to feel the love and warm familial energy that engulfed the family households during this special time of year.

When Andrew and I decided we needed some time to ourselves, we spent a day in Seattle proper exploring the Pike Place Market where I spent $10 on a tiny (yet delicious!) cup of crab cocktail. Next we checked out the underground tour of the old city after having a few fancy drinks. Apparently the original Seattle was so close to sea level that the streets would flood and raw sewage would pour backwards out of the newfangled toilets and sewer systems, so they eventually raised the city up to avoid this problem. Fortunately the underground streets were pretty well preserved and it was a really interesting tour seeing the old sidewalks and building facades.

We were also lucky enough to spend a dry, sunny day up in the mountains snowshoeing with our friend Vindy and the snow-loving Zephyr. After a few fun, strenuous hours, Andrew and I continued up the mountain to ring in the New Year with his brother Bryan who works at the ski lift on Crystal Mountain. We had a grand time around a bonfire, meeting the various “mountain folk” and tourists who came for the big annual NYE party the mountain throws. Just before the fireworks started we walked back to the truck to check on Zephyr, and… wouldn’t you know it…he was gone. We hopped in and drove up and down the mountain roads calling his name, until we finally had the sense to check Andrew’s cell phone. Lo and behold, we had received a text from someone who had picked Zephyr up along the road halfway down the mountain. The $10 we spent on having our phone numbers engraved on his dog tag has paid for itself a thousand times over! We met up with his rescuer and did our dog exchange (we are pros at this by now), and made it just in time to watch the fireworks explode overhead.

After a cold, fun, slightly intoxicated night spent in the back of the pickup truck, Andrew and I returned back to the house. The clear skies afforded gorgeous views of the Olympic Mountains, and along the waterfront I spotted my second bald eagle of the trip! A few days later we headed back up to Crystal Mountain to get in some snowboarding, and the views from the top of Mt. Rainier were spectacular. I am still only okay at snowboarding, but I have fun trying and took a much-needed break in the lodge while the more advanced Ides hit the steep slopes without me

Unfortunately not everything during the trip was so rosy. My mother-in-law and my grandmother have each had a roller-coaster ride in regards to their health, and this winter is no exception. When I first arrived in Seattle Andrew took me straight to the emergency room where Nancy was being seen for some complications related to her cancer. She went to the hospital several different times while I was there, for various scans, treatments, and a blood transfusion. While I was away my grandmother was checked into the hospital for a blood infection that just won’t quit. She was only in the hospital for a few days, but on my second day back in Tucson she was readmitted for a high fever and other infection-related symptoms. I am getting quite used to visiting people in the hospital. It’s not a fun way to spend your day, but I am ever grateful to be the visitor and not the patient.

I still do not know what the future has in store for my little family. Andrew is working on getting rehired at REI in a store near his parents’ house, and I am still looking for opportunities to work outdoors on a farm. There is a farm a few hours drive from his parents’ house that I am interested in, and will submit an application to this week. Wish me luck! Of course the hard part is knowing that taking a job in Washington means leaving my grandmother alone in Tucson. It’s a really hard thing, feeling like you have to choose between your husband and your grandmother. I also don’t want my husband to feel like he has to choose between his wife and his mother! As you can see, I am sort of stuck between a rock and a hard place. But if there’s anything I know about myself, it’s that I have acquired the ability to accept things as they come and know that life will fall into place. After all, I’m only 28 and from what I hear, (and feel!), that is the new 18!

Nancy and I enjoyed spending quality time together on Christmas! Please disregard the zombie cousin in the background!

Couples shot outside the ever-crowded Pike’s Place Market

We snowshoed along a closed road in Mt. Rainier National Park.

I made a snow angel. Zephyr was unimpressed.

Zephyr found a perfect dogsicle for munching on while we rested.

Aren’t we the most attractive couple? Unfortunately both of our cameras are broken so we are relying on my iphone for now. Sorry for the fuzzies!

The fireworks were literally just overhead. Andrew complained about getting ashes on his face!

Look at all the sun glinting off our goggles! It was unbelievably gorgeous on the mountain.

The view of Mt. Rainier from the top of Crystal Mountain.

A sibling shot. No, they are not standing uphill. Yes, I am that short next to them!

A Blister a Day Keeps the Doldrums Away!

Historically I am not what you would call a good loner. I don’t crave alone time, solitude, or long quiet moments to myself. I am a social person in general, but I am probably my happiest when I’m spending quality time just with my husband, or one really good friend or family member. I think this might have a lot to do with sharing the womb with my twin. I am half of a whole, and when I’m left alone to my own devices I feel unnatural. Unfortunately I am alone a lot in Tucson, and it’s even more unfortunate that I have started watching television to drown out my loneliness. I think television is without a doubt the worst contraption mankind has ever devised. It is nothing but noise, product placement, noise, flashing lights, “BUY THIS BUY THIS BUY THIS” and more noise. Sure there is some entertainment to be found, but in the end it is not worth it. I must work harder to avoid flopping on the couch and turning on the boob tube when I’m feeling bored.

I am an adventurer (as you all know), but I am not typically a solo-flyer. My sister and I went to Israel together. I lived in Honduras with 15 of my fellow classmates. Andrew and I went on our epic road trip. But seldom do I step out on a limb and go adventuring alone. One of the few times I did do this I was lucky enough to meet Andrew. So this morning I woke up and decided to take a “Micha Day” outside in nature. I packed up some snacks, some water, and a camera and headed up the hillside to Catalina State Park, which is only a few miles away from my grandmother’s house. I spent several hours hiking up to some pools in the high desert. The weather was sunny and cool, and absolutely perfect for hiking. I saw cacti, palo verde trees, shrubs, rocks, lots of small birds, an adorable gopher (whom I saw on the way up AND on the way back down), oodles of people, and one scrawny (illegally hiking!) dog. We had lots of rain last weekend, and ample snow on the mountains, so the creek was flowing and the sound of the water babbling over the rocks was exactly what I needed to tune out the television jingles that have been taking up precious space in my noggin.

Lately I have been having trouble sleeping. Part of it goes back to being alone, and missing my Andrew who is supposed to be a warm furnace cuddling next to me. The other part is my brain. I can’t seem to stop it from whirring. Here is a typical hour or two while I attempt to fall asleep: “I’m really tired, I should get some sleep!” Whirrrrrrrrrr. “How are we going to be able to ever afford a farm?” Whirrrrrrrrrr. “Wait, but if we own a farm, how can we ever travel?” Whirrrrrrrrrrr. “This book I’m reading says you should start farming NOW on whatever land is available.” Whirrrrrr. “Maybe I should move to Seattle and start there?” Whirrrrrrrrrr. “I’M REALLY TIRED! Why isn’t this wine and/or melatonin kicking in?” Whirrrrrrrrrrrrr. “Why the heck did the cat poop on the rug?” Whirrrrrrrrrrr. “What time is Grandma’s doctor appointment tomorrow? Whirrrrrrrrr. And so on, ad nauseam.

I have had some really good days though, don’t despair my friends! My pal Adam came out for a three-day visit, and lucky for me he treated me to the movies, dinner, and drinks. We met up with another pal who is living here and had a real night on the town. He also brought me a Christmas gift of FOUR “you can farm!” books, which I am inhaling. Hence the farm-based whirring mentioned above. By the way, if any of you savvy, connected readers of mine know where we can get some awesome small, organic farming experience, do tell! We will work for rent and food!

I have also been spending wonderful time with my grandmother, and even played chauffer to my 88-year-old nanny who joined Grams and me for a lunch date. I also hang out with the neighbor Sally, who in her mid-70s is the young’un of the bunch. She has a sweet little dog named Twink (I couldn’t bring myself to explain why I giggled when she first told me this). Sally has been a godsend, as she frequently visits my grandmother and always brings her fresh flowers from her garden.

I have only a few more days before I fly up to Seattle to be with the love of my life and my wonderful new family for 10 short days. The whirring, worrying part of my brain keeps flashing forward to the point when I will have to stay goodbye again. I must do what I can to stay in the present, and try and make the time stretch out as long as possible. I will start by looking forward to tomorrow, because Grams and I are getting pedicures! I’m not sure if she understands this whole apocalypse drama (nor do I, really), but I think scheduling pedicures on the “last day of the world” is a little bit defiant. The world is ending? Well, at least my toes will look fabulous! I’m not excited for the pain my newly acquired blisters are sure to bring, but I wouldn’t trade them (or my solitary hike) for anything!

This is my view of Andrew when we chat. Video chat is so weird. The only time you can make eye contact is when one person looks at the camera, but then that person can’t see the other person on the screen, so it’s not REAL eye contact…ugghhh.