wait till you hear this story....

So, as you can see, there are pictures on this post. Pictures of my trip to the west coast last month. Remember how I have been promising to post them. Remember how I've NOT posted them. (like I need to remind you of that) Well, aside from having picture uploading issues, here is the reason why....
I put my CD full of every picture I took on the trip on top of a pile of outgoing mail. And outgoing it went. I'm losing it! I "mailed it out" and never saw it again. Thankfully, all of the photos were saved on my parents laptop, or I would be a crying mess. Lesson learned....must back up everything TWICE!

So here is the continuing story of my trip with pictures to enjoy. Last post was about Vancouver. We left Vancouver by way of the sea. Here we are heading out and taking some goofy shots along the way.


Our beautiful boat. Each little partitioned off section is a balcony from a room. We had a slightly different view. But on a cruise like this, we were off the boat more than 80 percent of the time, so it didn't make a huge difference.

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must.visit.this.site....

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=27753303

It's Jenna Fischer's (Pam from the Office) myspace site. She does a blog from her desk on the set. I had heard about it a couple months ago and just remembered it. Totally addicting. It sounds like so much fun to be on that set! Buy Season 2 HERE.


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creativity explored

This week, my Bible study group joined with the guys study and we had a pumpkin carving contest. Here's the little guy I created.....


 

here, there and everywhere

*******this wouldn't post when I wrote it, so it's a couple days old. Blogger is finally working!

Okay, so I didn't go here this weekend, but it is a visual aid for one of the things I did.

Side note: I did get to go to the set of the funniest show on TV besides Scrubs (went to that set too!) when I was in LA. The studio is in the middle of yuckytown LA. Not pretty. Not palmtreeye. Not beachy. Just industrial. Perfect for what they need. If you have ever watched the show and they are outside of the office building, this is where I was! There were Dunder Mifflin signs everywhere. Too cool. Me and the bro were a little excited as you can see in this photo.

This weekend started off with a bang. An AMAZING episode of Battlestar Galactica. I mean, really...can it get any better?!! (for those of you who still mock my TV choices. continue as much as you would like. I'm the one who's laughing!) It was one of those times when you have to call someone to share in the fun during commercial breaks. Oh, yeah!
Then Saturday morning, the bro and I headed to see Flutag (pictures to follow later). It's the Red Bull human flying machine competition. Oh...my...gosh... I'm glad I took pictures cause you wouldn't believe some of the things that these people made. The idea is to make a "flying" contraption that you and your "team" push off of a HUGE platform over the water. The judges score on how far you go (30ft, etc...), creativity, and something I can't remember. Basically, it's 1,000 of people standing around watching a bunch of crazy people fall in to the water. And man, oh, man was it fun! You can't help but laugh everytime!
After that...went to a birthday party for a friend. SO GOOD to see her.
Came home late and watched "The Office" season 2 (see? that's why the picture is there!)
Then...Sunday, went to church (really good as usual. I love my church!) and then the Renessaince Festival. Again, it's a freak show. Where in the world do these people go when it isn't going on? People watching is the best activity there.
We:
ate pork pockets (delish)
ate HUGE apple dumplings
stared at the people dressed up like, well, I don't know how to describe it. Just imagine any 3 Musketeers movie or even "Ever After" with Drew Barrymore. That's the style they were going for.
watched really good shows by a comedy troupe who does Shakespeare
watched a sword swollower
saw a guy dressed up as a Stormtrooper get in a fight with a random kid who tackled him.
Guess what was the most talked about event?!!

Good weekend. Full of great memories. Time well spent.

in the news

My life right now....

• Shopping this past weekend at the scrapbook store by my sister's place. I gathered a huge pile of goodies to use in future projects. 7 gypsies everywhere.
• My new LG phone. Internet, MP3 player, camera. It's wonderful compared to the old timer that I had for 2 years.
• Warm sunshine after being in the cold all weekend. I got to spend 2 hours outside today working the climbing wall. My fingers are raw, but the sun felt amazing.
• TV is in full swing. Veronica, Battlestar, ER are my favorites so far this season. I love going home at the end of the day knowing there is something good to watch in the evening.
• West Wing season 1. I was addicted to this show during it's glory days. I bought this season on sale at Best Buy and have loved watching it again on my lunch breaks. Those characters are priceless.
• Missing my friends. I really miss my girls who live so far away. I'm ecstatic that one of them is moving back (yesssss!!!) to the area. I can't wait.
• Must print out pictures. It's the horrible, ugly secret in digital photography. I'm almost a year behind. (yup, I never printed out all of my Europe trip. that's sad...)
• Wondering if anyone reads this blog. Seriously. Do I just write it for my own sake? Do I write just to get it out of my head? Is anyone listening to me? (as the field trip lady says on Billy Madison to the group of 2nd graders)

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Painting with the moon

I took these pictures way back in the thick of the summertime and then forgot about them. The moon was HUGE one night over the water. I had my brothers amazing camera that night and decided to have some fun. Kinda like a sparkler leaves a trail when you play with it. I left the shutter open for a long time and moved the camera around at the same time. This was final product.




I know. I know. Why am I not finishing posting my pictures from my trip. Well, I don't have them within grasp today. I so very much enjoy a post with a picture, so this is what you get.....
Great time this past weekend was had by the sisters in my family. (aka me and my little sis) It was fantastic to see her and see how her belly is growing! It's still weird that I have to get on a plane to see her. Then my flight home....I sat on the plane for 2 hrs. Technical problems. Not fun. But not really such a huge deal either. Southwest has been a favorite airline of mine for a couple years. Their employees are so nice and they really do try to make you comfortable. So yes, it was their fault, but they did their best. It's easy to forgive someone when they are trying so hard to make things right, isn't it?!! I'll fly them again cause they are so darn cheap. Love that! 

Wisdom from Oswald

As I have posted before, I love, love, love Oswald Chambers' My Upmost for His Highest. It is humbling and thought provoking. If you have never read it, DO it! Here is the entry I read last night while doing my devo's. I had to read it twice and still feel like I should really read it again to fully wrap my brain around it. I know it's only a human's response to the Bible, but wow!

"We do not grow into a spiritual relationship step by step-we either have a relationship or we do not. God does not continue to cleanse us more and more from sin-'But if we walk in the light,' we are cleansed 'from all sin' (1 John 1:7). It is a matter of obedience, and once we obey, the relationship is instantly perfected. But if we turn away from obedience for even one second, darkness and death are immediately at work again.
All of God's revealed truths are sealed until they are opened to us through obedience. You will never open them through philosphy or thinking. But once you obey, a flash of light comes immediately. Let God's truth work into you by immersing youself in it, not by worrying into it. The only way you can get to know the truth of God is to stop trying to find out and by being born again. If you obey God in the first thing He shows you, then He instantly opens up the next truth to you. You could read volumes on the work of the Holy Spirit, when five minutes of total, uncompromising obedience would make things as clear as sunlight. Don't say, "I suppose I will understand these things someday!' You can understand them now. And it is not study that brings understanding to you, but obedience. Even the smallest bit of obedience opens heaven, and the deepest truths of God immediately become yours. Yet God will never reveal more truth about Himself to you, until you have obeyed what you know already. Beware of becoming one of the 'wise and prudent.' 'If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know....' (John 7:17)."

It's amazing....I was blessed in the fact that I came to know Christ at a very young age. To the outside world, it would seem that being saved over 20 years should make me an expert. Yeah, right! How humbling to realize that I am just getting started to understanding God. His wisdom is something that I still can't explain or even judge myself against. It leaves me speechless and small and insignificant and there is no other place in life that I would rather be.....
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SREAMING loudly!!!!

Today was one of those days when things just didn't seem to go right anywhere. My computer wasn't playing very nice which always makes me grab the screen and shake it. So to dissolve my anger, I took a jaunt over to You Tube to clear my head. The oh, so lucky You Tubers made 2.5 billion dollars today for selling themselves to Google. Not too bad for a days work.
Anywho...found this fun clip from Veronica Mars last week. It made me laugh. Just what I needed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFfZKX0PiTM

What's better than 2 of your favorite shows referencing each other. So for those of you who don't watch Veronica (shame on you) or Battlestar (even more shame upon your heads), it will make no sense and you will just think I'm weird. Just go and rent Veronica Mars season 1 or Battlestar Galactica season 1 instead.
As for me, I'm laughing and enjoying the moment and thankful that someone decided to create You Tube all those years ago.


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filmed in....

Vancouver, BC, where production sets abound. It's was a TV girl's paradise...

"the talon" from Smallville. Unfortunately I didn't spot the adorable Clark Kent...

Battlestar Galactica's headquarters. This place is HUGE!

This was just the streets of Vancouver. We were walking to dinner for the night and found all these trucks set up. Found out from someone working there that it was for a movie with Renee Zellweger. There were trucks like this everywhere in the city. Pretty cool!

Not 1,000 words

I know the saying is that a picture is worth a thousand words, but for some reason, I can't upload today. I have a post all ready to go but without the pictures, it just seems silly.
Instead, I'll give you a link to a new website that I am in love with.

http://www.boutwellstudio.com/blog/

The world of photography still amazes me. I've never been into art in the form of painting or drawing or sculptures (though I do try since that is the form two good friends use to express their creative sides and I want to appreciate their handiwork). So going to an art gallery isn't all that exciting for me unless I really put effort into it. It seems like art should grab you, not let you look away, take you to another place or wish that you could, make you FEEL something or send a chill down your spine. That's how I feel when I look at a photo. I love my own pictures. I look at them over and over. I love looking at other people's as well. I love finding photography blogs. I have several that I look at everyday. They inspire me. They make me think. They give me new ideas to take my own photos. Plus they make me want to save my $$ for the camera that I'm dying to have.
This blog is amazing. The entry for 10/6/06 made me gasp. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do. How absolutely, unbelievabley amazing would it be if I could use them as my photographers one day!

Charming Vancouver

Such a nice city. Busy, yet so much more easy going than most American cities. The weather was BEA-U-tiful while we were there so that couldn't have hurt my impression either! It was amazing how many times we saw people shooting this movie or that small film. (More on that in a later post....) We had a wonderful time and just like my family said I would... I loved it there. Here's a couple of my favorite shots...

From the cruise boat as we left the dock. These glasses (which my brother constantly teased me about) were a source of great mocking on this trip. The bro called me "Skelator" everytime I had them on.
Lions Gate Bridge, which the film studio (that my bro worships at the feet of) Lions Gate is named after. So cool. You can walk across it or bike across it as well as drive. I took this laying on the ground in the middle of the pedestrian path.

The view as our cruise boat pulled away. I love how the city looks in this picture.

The crew enjoying the evening in the city. We had just had dinner at the Spagetti Factory. Sat outside to eat under the heat lamps. A film was being shot in the direction we were looking.

This shot reminds me of my Loch Lomond shot.

Funny Story:

My Daddy-O forgot his sunglasses one day as we were driving around. I offered him my "skeletor" glasses and he wore them most of the day. As we were at a stop light, I noticed 2 guys staring at him from their car next to us. I said "Dad! Turn and look at them! I think they are laughing at your glasses!" When he turned around, they doubled over in laughter and gave him 2 big thumbs up. That happened at least 2 more times that day! Seriously, those glasses have their own story to tell about that trip...

The lions guarding Lions Gate Bridge.

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Here begins the vacations photos....

These are of my time with the W's. It was so, so, so good to see them as usual. Mommy in the family was my college roommate. We've stayed close through the years and I love going out to see her in Seattle as much as I can. She and her husband are so much fun to be around. She has two little gems now. This was my first time meeting her youngest. He's a charmer, let me tell you. A smile that is pure sunshine. Her daughter is too cute. She was singing along with us in the car to "Come What May" from Moulin Rouge. I love that she actually remembered me this time and didn't want me to leave. It was really hard saying goodbye after only 3 days, but it was SO good to see them. I wish that we could live closer. They are amazing and I hope that everyone has friends as wonderful and loving as they are. I tooks tons of pics of the kids. Here's a couple of my favorites.




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Ali's weekly challenge

I'm a big fan of Ali Edwards scrapbooking style. I check her blog often to get ideas for cards and pages. At the end of last week, she posted a little challenge to try. A mini album of 5 favorite things right now. I LOVED this little challenge and decided to go ahead and give it a try. Here's my finished project. It was so much fun to create! I had so many great ideas and just went with them and didn't second guess my ideas.

Here is what it says...

#1. Photographs (sticker: 7 gypsies)

#2. Blogs (paper: Basic Gray, number by Heidi Swapp)

#3. In Style (circle stamp used throughout from Paper Source)

#4. Zach Braff

#5. Paper Crafts (paper: Basic Grey)

On the back, I wrote why I picked each one so I wouldn't forget 10 years down the road. Again, so much fun. Try it! Even if you just write it down in a journal or on a scrap of paper to find a couple years down the road.

Oh, and don't show it to your mid 20's brother. He won't be impressed and will basically laugh at you. You would think I would have learned that by now.

Three other things...

1. I will post pictures from the trip. I will. Just be patient....

2. I'm ecstatic about Battlestar Galactica starting on Friday. I will be planted on my couch as soon as 9pm hits. 2 hours of sci fi goodness.

3. Veronica Mars starts tomorrow. mmmm, Logan....

AND I found out that Josh Groban has a new CD coming out in a month. Oh, happy day! You can hear the new single on his website

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Listening

I'm addicted to these songs lately....

Click on the links and then look for the song name.

"Ride" by Cary Brothers

"Chocolate"by Snow Patrol oh and "Chasing Cars" too

Both songs are on The Last Kiss soundtrack which is an extra yummy CD.

Oh and just about anything by Joshua Radin.

And to close....me at Grauman's Chinese theater. Yes, I was that excited. Mostly cause I was standing between Cary Grant, Julie Andrews and Clark Gable's footprints. Old Hollywood magic is alive and well at Graumans and I LOVE it!




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I miss...

THIS.

Our last night in LA. We went for a walk on the beach. Venice Beach. It was stunningly beautiful. I have a ton of pictures, but this was one of my favorites.

It's really hard to try and pick the pictures to upload because I have so many favorites. When people ask me what my favorite part was I don't know what to answer. I loved all of it. Starting with my visit with the W's, to Vancouver, the cruise and ending in LA. Movie locations, TV sets, studios, beaches, cities, towns, forests. How can a girl choose. And I got to spend quality time with my family. It was an awesome trip.

I've also realized how much I love to travel. While it was good to sleep in my own bed and eat in my kitchen, I would have given them up to stay another week or 5. Kinda strange since I am such a home body. I'm ready for another trip. Thankfully, I have one coming up soon. A visit to see my sis and her prego tummy.

So what do I say to wrap it all up? I guess it will take more than one post to re-play everything. My one big highlight from the end of the trip. I got to walk on to the sets of Gilmore Girls (Loreli's parent's house including the dinner table and living room. Right through the "front door" plus the streets of Star's Hollow) ER (walked through the emergency bay doors past the County General sign....surreal) and Friends (Central Perk, baby! I sat on "the" couch!). This was one TV addict that was lovin' life at that moment. If you love TV, do a studio tour. They are ridiculously expensive and worth every penny. I have a couple pictures but not a ton since they keep everything tightly under wraps (aka NO PHOTOS here).

My only regret. I didn't get to see one famous person. It wasn't for lack of trying. Oh, well. That just means I've got to go back.
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I know you are....

upset with my lack of pictures, but I’ve tried several times tonight with no success. You’ll just have to wait until I get back. There are some good ones to share, so just wait a little bit longer, okay?!
I’m LOVING LA. We have driven all over the place finding this location and that studio (Scrubs, the Office, Sony Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Buffy, Angel). It’s TV heaven for me! My family is so patient to drive and find each one. The weather is perfect. 80 degrees, no clouds and warm lovely sunshine. Do I really have to leave? I could live with this weather forever and ever. Must come back.
California is really charming. We had breakfast today in Santa Monica, not to far from our hotel. Lovely. The beaches are so long and wide. It’s much more relaxed here than the east coast. I still haven’t seen a movie star though.
Tomorrow we are headed to do the Warner Brothers Studio tour. Oh,yeah! Hoping to see someone one famous or at least another fun set. It’s our last day here. Can’t believe it’s been 2 weeks already! It’s going to be hard to go back to a routine that doesn’t include searching for movie sets as a main priority. Such is life.,...


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200th post and I'm in....

San Francisco. The sun is shining and the sky is clear. I'm sitting on the back of the cruise boat looking at Alcatraz typing on the laptop. Crazy! I have tons of pictures to upload, but we have a super slow connection through the cell phone right now.
The trip has been amazing. Astoria and Cannon Beach were beautiful once again. I love it there and this trip sealed the deal. The beach is heavenly. I really love it here in San Fran too. We took the sightseeing trolley tour around the city, across the Golden Gate Bridge and through China town. Then took and old fashioned trolley ride and hung off the side hanging on to the poles. We jumped off at Lumbar Street and walked down the crooked street.
Vancouver was really neat. We saw several different places where things were being filmed, saw the Smallville studios, Battlestar Galactica studios and just enjoyed the city. Victoria was cute too. Bad rainy weather though. Tomorrow is Catalina island and then on to San Diego. Yes!!! We end in Los Angeles in a couple days. Will post again when I can.

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Seattle was....

amazing as usual. It was wonderful to see the W's. It was hard to leave after just a few days, but so good to at least see them. Thanks Rach for a wonderful time! I'll post pictures when I get them uploaded.
I'm in Vancouver, BC right now. We toured the city and outskirts today. Found the film studios in the area. Saw lots of Smallville sights. I'm a total tourist and lovin' it. Will post pictures soon......

Once again

Headed out....

Will post from the road if possible.
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Matanuska glacier, AK

The last of the Alaska pictures. Had to finish posting these before I leave for my next trip!

Matanuska glacier was a beautiful glacier. It was the only place in Alaska that I saw a bit, and I do mean a small bit, of sunshine. You can actually drive up to this glacier and walk across the rock debris it leaves behind to stand on the blue ice. Really amazing!

The rocky mess it leaves behind as it recedes.

Don't we look like a happy bunch!
Just love the color blue in the ice. Yes, this is ice and rocks are frozen in it.
As it melted (and continues to), the rocks formed this perfect line.
See the sun on the mountains! I was practically jumping up and down with delight in seeing the sun. I don't know how they do it in the winter there! It's dark almost all the time!

Thanks for the amazing visit Stephanie, Jack and Luke. I had the best time!! Thanks for sharing your wilderness with me.

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Hatcher's Pass, AK

More Alaska pictures....
Hatcher's Pass is an old gold mining community. It was one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen! And this was on a cloudy day. I took over 100 pictures. The buildings had the amazing red trim around all of the windows. Everything was still very much like it was when the mine closed in the 50's. They have tons of pictures of the people who lived there in the visitor's center. The old wooden structures were left as they fell. There were mining cabins way up in the mountain, little winding paths in the hills. It was such a fascinating place.

One of the easy hikes we did up through the hills. Found a spot for a picnic.

The hills were all rock/boulders covered in this beautiful green plant.

A picturesque pull off on the way up there.

The view from our lunch spot.

The reflections in the windows were magical.

These were left in one of the buildings. Just like this. No one touches them. There is no rope or sign telling you to keep off either. Every spot was a postcard picture begging to be taken.
This little creek ran down from the mountain and was a major part of the mining for the whole community. Wouldn't you love to live in that little spot?
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Hatcher's Pass , AK

After I came home, S mailed me pictures of this spot on a clear day. There was a whole mountain range behind these with snow capped peaks. They were hidden in the clouds the day I was there.
Peeking in the windows. Many of the building are still as they were left in the 50's which adds so much charm.
The visitor center's view of the little community.
LOVE the red trim!
These are little cabins where you can stay. They are only open for a short time each year because of the sever weather there. What a view!

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Fun things that brightened my day

A package from a friend full of Veronica Mars season 2. mmmmm......

Flipping (by chance) to the last few moments of the Angel crossover episode when Buffy comes to visit and he becomes human for a day.

Sunshine.

Taking a picture with my new cell phone.

Wearing my camo capris.

An email from a friend.

Reading my favorite blogs.

Knowing that I leave for California in less than a week!

Being inspired by other people's art.

Battlestar webisodes. Whoever came up with this idea is a genius!

behind the scenes

Lately, I've been looking around on the 'net to see if I can find filming locations for some of my favorite TV shows when we go to California on my next trip. I typed in (dear old Google) a show name and then "filmed" and I found tons of sights and even the studios they use. It's amazing the stuff you can find online. While I researching Veronica Mars (Oct. 3rd season premiere can't come fast enough) I found out that the creator of the show loves bloggers who write about his show. As appreciation, he picked a couple of them and invited them to come and spend the day on the set. This was my favorite re-cap of the day. I LOVE behind the scenes stuff. People goofing around behind the scenes. Wardrobe trailers. Props on set. Magic behind the story. It's all so fascinating to me. So, Rob Thomas, if you ever want more bloggers to come and visit your set, I'm ready at any time. And meeting "Logan" wouldn't be too bad either!