New Beginnings

mbining Seattle’s Seeds of Compassion with a family road trip has to be one of the best idea’s my husband has thrown out in a long time. Armed with our Seattle City Pass, we drove a rental car (much better gas mileage) up to Portland first (Hey, Nik!) and then into Seattle around 8pm Thursday evening. Max and I got up early Friday morning and set off to see His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and other panelists for a discussion on the social and emotional education of children.  This truly amazing conference kicked off a 5 day family trip of fun, activity, chaos, and family unity (totally not kidding).

Later that day we were surprised to discover our valet parked car had been vandalized and my husband’s Garmin GPS unit stolen. Really, it wasn’t the end of the world, but the hotel’s detached and nonchalant response was a little disturbing. Needless to say, my sheltered little lambs freaked a bit and need some time to talk about what had happened and why someone would steal from us.  Frankly, listening to educators and the Dalai Lama speak for 90 minutes earlier in the day was good preparation for putting everything in perspective.

Can I just say how blessed I feel to be able to one, participate in such an event (I received tickets for the Business forum on Monday also…amazing!) and, two, share it with my son. Truly a gift. My chaotic and loud little monsters were well behaved (relatively) the entire trip and had just too much fun. And the real cake topper was the fantastic time we all had exploring Seattle and being as touristy as possible: Pike’s Market, Woodland Park Zoo, Space Needle (including ridiculously expensive, but tasty dinner), the aquarium, EMP/SFM, and the Pacific Science Center. Vary rarely does one get to take a trip that encompasses so many aspects of who I am: mother, wife, Buddhist, educator, business woman.

Seattle Trip - April 2008

I’m back from our annual (semi-ish) family vacation on the houseboat at Lake Powell. I am refreshed and ready to conquer the world…well, after a little sleep (3 days driving home is exhausting). We had way too much fun. Way, way too much fun. I took almost 500 pictures and they don’t do justice to the beauty we were surrounded by. Below is a quick little video of Max wake boarding. Jeff and I were so proud of him we were like giggly kids watching him.

Back from my trip. Had a fabulous time on the coast and in Portland. We could have easily stayed a few more days to explore (and eat), sleep in, visit friends (and eat), shop, and soak up culture (and eat). I loved spending time with Jeff. With all the stuff involved in running a family and just living life, I sometimes forget how much fun we have together. I love my husband. It was nice to get back home to the kiddos, though. They’re definitely hyper little monkeys, but they’re our hyper little monkeys and we missed them. They, however, went with Grandma and Grandpa to the Treehouses, rode horses and flew through the air on 50 foot high zip lines. Good times!

On the last day of our trip (they day after my 38th birthday), I got a call from my friend. She went out again and wants me help her pick up her pieces. Again. It’s hard to know when to help and when to draw some boundaries. It’s not easy this whole alcoholism thing. It’s always there…it never goes away.

Tomorrow I go on a 5 day vacation with my husband. We’re leaving the kids with my parents and driving out to the coast to stay the night. Then we’re driving up to Astoria and down to Portland for a few days. I desperately need this time off…alone…with my husband. I need to sleep in with no plans and no schedule and no deadlines. I need to hear live music and order room service. I need to walk on the beach holding hands with Jeff. I need to get away from work and my silly resentments. I need to clear my head.

My best friend turns 40 today. Happy Birthday, MoMo, I love you!

For my birthday (next month) my husband is taking me on a mini-vacation. We’re going to take 4 or 5 days off and drive up the coast, stay the night in a lovely little hotel on the beach and then drive up to Portland and be touristy and visit friends. Without children. Just him and me. Two grown ups. Alone. Woot! We’re going to hang out in Powell’s, browse the Saturday Market, check out the yarn stores, and listen to some live music. I’m so excited!

Wow. After lviing in Oregon for over 2 years we finally packed up and took our Oregon road trip. We started at the Caves in Cave Junction and drove up the coast stoping here and there for a jet boat ride up the river and playing on the beach, the aquarium, and, finally, ended up in Portland for a day or so. The kids had a great time, as we all did. Unfortunately, my darling husband had to work so he wasn’t able to come. I think it’s a trip that he’ll love and we’ll definitely have to do it again next summer.

Uhm, has anyone else noticed that Portland is a pretty hardcore beer and wine town? Oh my. Don’t worry, though, I’m still sober. In fact, I’m a week away from 18 months…whodda thunk?