I just got back from an impromptu trip to Seattle with my mom. She needed to take a business trip, I wanted a free trip to Seattle...it worked out well for the both of us.
I fell in love with Seattle, but I'm told the city was on her best behavior because it was sunny and clear skies the whole time. And it could be the weather or it could just be their natural dispositions but I felt like the Seattleites were so happy and warm to be around. They reminded me of those hippy, idealistic, artsy young people that seem to be simply nice to everyone and have tattoos of things like wings, or coke bottles or cupcakes. Yah...I saw a lot of those types. Best behavior or not...Seattle you caught my eye. Oh and it was quite easy to like you with great weather and a stay at the Four Seasons (thank you Mama's business).
Lunch at the Athenian, where they filmed a scene of Sleepless in Seattle!
In honor of the new movie coming out with Emma Watson, The Perks of Being a Wallflower,
I've decided to reread the book. To be honest I didn't remember the book too well, just enough to know that I enjoyed reading it. Last night I picked it up and then I couldn't put it down. The author writes from Charlie's perspective who is writing letters to a "friend." I love that the book comes from Charlie's perspective because one of the themes in the novel is the way Charlie's keen insight and ability to watch others is a remarkable gift but how it also tends to take away from his actually participating.
The novel has so many keen insights into life and adolescence that I am continually underlining and starring lines in the book. I'd like to quote a line I got from the book that I think relates to blogging.
"As I walked up the stairs to my dad's old room, and I was looking at the old photographs, I started thinking that there was a time when these weren't memories. That someone actually took that photograph, and the people in the photograph had just eaten lunch or something."
I think this is a comment on living life in the moment. That often we can look back and think of how wonderful a time or memory was but it is rare that we are actually aware of how special these moments are as they actually come. I think for me blogging helps me to be aware of how special the moments in my life are when I'm actually living them. That these are the moments and the pictures I'll think back on.
Anyway, if you haven't read it you really should. I think the book has something to offer everyone.
We had a little mini college reunion this weekend at my house. Cameron just loves craft beer so we decided to try this brewery he had heard about in Orange County, The Bruery. It was popular and friendly and had that Orange County feel to it...I have no better word to describe it than with the word "Indie." Indie is the people with wide rim glasses, maybe a tattoo here or there, flannel and floral prints; an easy affordable look that says "no we are not mainstream, no we do not care about brand names." And with the look comes people who dare to be different, who value intelligence, morals, religion, and acceptance of others. At any "totally local" place in Orange County, you can be sure to find these kinds of people. Maybe on another blog post I'll share pictures of what this style means to me.
Anyway, we had such a great time together the whole weekend. Times where the conversation continues to spill out because we're just so excited to be with each other again. It was a real treat to start out my Labor Day weekend with really good friends. And I'm finishing it with blogging and watching a little Band of Brothers, to remember what this holiday is really about. How did you spend your 3-day?
Gratitude is one of the key paths towards an overall satisfaction with life. I think a great way to stay grateful about the life you live is to really try to appreciate and savor the things around you. I think blogging helps a lot of us to do that...maybe that's why bloggers just seem happier. :) I think a great tool for appreciation is to look at the familiar places in your life and look at them as you would if you were seeing them for the first time.
That's what I did on an impromptu trip with my aunt and sister to get gelato at Laguna Beach. I've been to Laguna Beach dozens of times, but this time I really appreciated it for what it was.
Yesterday we had to take Tucker to an animal eye care specialist for his "non-healing corneal ulcer." When we got there the vet explained that because of his age (he is 12 now!) he had developed a film in his eye that kept his wound from healing. They performed a pretty quick procedure that should clear it up but we have to wait and see.
This is one of Tucker's favorite activities, he'll scratch at the window until we put it down for him to stick his head out
In the vet's office he jumped up on our seats and sat behind us trying to hide, needless to say he hates going to the vet
After the procedure, "I just wanna get out of here!"
