Moonrise Kingdom

I finally saw Moonrise Kingdom this weekend! I think if I could actually live inside of any movie, this would be the one.

I had some fun finding things that remind me of this film and that I wouldn't mind having in my life:

Plaid Cape, Preston Bellini Glasses, Crosley Turntable, Old Town Canoe, To Build a Fire Scout Book

Deer Print Sleeping Bag, Handmade Arrow, Bike Basket, You're Weird, Canvas Backpack, Saddle Shoes, Wolf Mask

Everything Is Moving So Fast

July, please slow down just a little bit! I need more time for BBQ's and hanging in my hammock and riding my bike before summer ends.

I did manage to get one good day of hammocking in this week.

In other news:

• I bought a kayak and will be picking it up on August 2nd. It's about time I got one, considering that I'm the co-President of our newly founded Canoe & Kayak Club.
• I finally put some work into our website for Gray's General Store. I think it looks pretty good and we actually have some really fun classes coming up!
• I got a new part-time gig planning events and coordinating social media stuff for Grays Harbor College.
• I'm playing with the band Best F-Tigers Forever at the Thurston County Fair on August 2nd! My first live show - here's hoping I don't trip or throw up or just sound bad.
• Bicycle Revolution this Thursday!
• My fellow bloggers and I will be promoting our site Go Go Grays Harbor next Saturday at the Aberdeen Art Walk - We will have a photo booth and will be handing out some jazzy bright blue wayfarers to passersby, so make sure you pay us a visit.

Sun, Finally.

We finally have been getting some nice weather around here, so I took full advantage of it and ended up with a sunburned shoulder (yes, just one)... but I'm not complaining!

On Friday, I took Milly (the crazy eyed Boston Terrier) out to Westport. She doesn't really love riding in the car - you can tell by her loud/frantic panting and her eyes start to get bloodshot and goobery - but she seemed to be doing ok this time with the 30 minute-ish drive. Maybe it was that we had the windows down and she was too windswept to know what was happening.

We hung out at my favorite coffee shop, Tinderbox Roasters in Westport. Tara told me I have a knack for showing up when they aren't too busy, which is great because she was able to sit outside on the deck and chat for a few minutes. It didn't last long though, the crowds starting coming once again and she had to get back to work.

I spent a good hour or so there, working on a few projects and enjoying the sun... which is where I picked up that sunburn. After I realized my red shoulder, we packed up and headed back inland. I dropped off the dog and hopped on my bike. I hadn't gone on a long ride in a while.

I decided to head out to Bowerman Field in Hoquiam. Once I got past downtown Hoquiam, I rode along the waterfront and over toward the airfield. Unfortunately, I only saw one plane coming in to land as I was riding back toward home, but it was great to walk around the hangars and also down the boardwalk through the Wildlife Refuge.

I wrapped up my weekend on Saturday with band practice in Olympia with the Best F-Tigers Forever and meeting up with my friend Meghan who just got back from Micronesia where she had been volunteering for the last two years! Hard to believe how fast time flies.

A True Independence Day

I woke up on the 4th of July and thought "hmmm this is one of those holidays that people make big plans for and I've got nothing... I'll just lay here a while longer." I debated putting on some vintage red white and blue dress I have and wandering around looking desperate for a family BBQ to attend, but instead I decided to go out to Seabrook. What could be more American than spying on the families at this completely brand new beach town that looks like it was carried over by aircraft from the Atlantic Seaside? Plus my friend's band was playing and, though I'm not a country music fan, they are pretty good.

First, I had to pay my respects to Pacific Beach, Washington. I love this town. It's everything that Seabrook doesn't have - an old fashioned country-cozy bakery called Emily's, super close beach access and a place called the Wacky Warehouse which not only carries a random assortment of new and used goods but also a stage that looked ready for a live performance and the town radio station. I listened as a woman rambled out a list of businesses and what they had to offer - all within a block of where we stood.

I grabbed a slice of quiche at Emily's and wandered to the beach and around through the neighborhood. Then hopped back in the car to drive the mile or so over to Seabrook.

Seabrook is probably the Seattle family's version of paradise. It's a complete town with only one road coming into it off the highway. They have bike cruisers to roam around on, a little grocery store with espresso and a fancy restaurant. At this event they also had a photographer out taking pictures that you could purchase, a bounce-house and, as I mentioned before, a country band playing live music.

After listening to a few songs and chatting with my friends in between sets, I drank an orange soda and read my book in the sun. 

I had to head back to town to work the night shift that evening and I was lucky enough to witness a huge fireworks display right outside the window in front of my desk. Overall, it wasn't a bad Independence Day... especially if you knew my history with this holiday.

Hoquiam River Kayak

I went out kayaking with my friend Nikki yesterday. We recently started up a facebook group called The Grays Harbor Canoe and Kayak Club and have planned a group outing for next week. We wanted to check out the timing of our little voyage, so we grabbed the kayaks and got in the water before the rain came (ps - our timing was perfect... while replenishing ourselves with a beer after the paddle, it started pouring rain).

I'm very excited about our club and the potential it holds. Since I returned to the harbor in November, I've heard about so many people who kayak but there isn't any place locally for kayakers to gather or coordinate outings. The most troublesome news is that there isn't a kayak rental spot here. It's a shame because we are completely surrounded by beautiful waterways! If all goes according to "plan," we'll find a way to provide rental kayaks by next summer so start planning your visit!

We put in near the docks you see above. The Hoquiam River is a great location for kayaking: parking is easy, there is a city owned dock to launch from, the 8th Street Ale House is a mere half-block from the dock and the water is pretty quiet. Just be sure to check the tide schedule so you don't get dragged out to sea.

I only got a little bit wet and since I recently dropped my precious iPhone and cracked the screen, I decided to just throw caution to the wind and bring my phone with me so I could take some pictures.

Up the river, there's some cool old industrial pieces that are sticking up out of the water and an old railroad bridge. We joked about turning it into some ultra-hip restaurant or modern house.

Can't wait to get out there again next week!

Lemolo Album Release Show at Columbia City Theater

Dare I say, Lemolo might be my favorite band ever. Honestly, their music is so intense and interesting to listen to. Also, they have fog machines and glitter at their concerts so obviously they are pretty cool.

I went to their Album Release show at The Columbia City Theater on Friday. It was crazy hot and muggy in there.

Kaylee Cole was first up. She did a great cover of Kanye West's Runaway (keep in mind this is just a solo singer and a grand piano). Next up was Lost Lander from Portland - they are so so great and the crowd seemed to be enjoying the tunes.

Lemolo put on a great first headlining show. I find something very intense about their performances and it's amazing how much sound can come out of just two people.

When it came down to the last song of their encore, glitter started falling from above. We quickly realized we were right in the target zone for the glitter dumping. The core group of about 6 people directly under the fan gathered up about 80% of the glitter. I'm still finding pieces in my hair.