After leaving Chelan we drove on some backroads so that we could visit the Grand Coulee Dam. It was large. Some of mankind’s endeavors are simply astounding. Like dams. And paper. And cars. And space-travel.
From Coulee we went to Davenport and looked around the town museum. Hannah’s family traces back to the city so we asked the woman at the desk if she knew anything about them. She didn’t, but she helped us do some research, which was a lot of fun, even though we didn’t end up finding anything.
As we drove to Spokane we felt like we were already in a different state. The mountains were gone, the trees were gone, and the water was gone. It was kind of sad. Spokane was a bigger city, though, so we enjoyed being there. Hannah met up with one of her friends from high school, and I met up with Karrie, one of my high school friends. As always, I had a lot of fun with her, and I got to see her family for the first time in three years. Hannah and I slept on couches, and didn’t get the best sleep due to a can crying “mom” all night.
On the way out of Spokane I managed to get a speeding ticket. Needless to say, I was not happy about it, and I don’t really know what I’m going to do. I’m thinking I’ll send in a check with a helpless “please don’t cash this” note. I doubt it’ll work, but I figure it’s worth a shot.
Anyways, when we finally, yes FINALLY, left Washington State, we both started to really feel like the trip had begun.
Our first stop in Idaho was Couer d’Alene. We went to the lake and took some pictures, but it had suddenly turned freezing so we didn’t really want to be outside that long. It was still beautiful though.
The next stop was Wallace, ID, a cute little town close to the ID/MT border. We looked in a few antique shops and of course got our picture taken at the center of the universe.
We got to Montana a little while later and were very excited to be two states from home. After a quick stop at the 50,000 Silver $ store and an great picture with a couple of uber hot guys, we headed up to Charlo, a tiny little town that we walked around in about 10 minutes. Hannah and I were both floored by how small the place was, but equally amazed by the surrounding beauty. Hannah’s friend, Jasmine, took us up to MacDonald Lake, which was incredible. On the way back the car was challenged by a bull, but Hannah stared him down and scared him off.
When we got back into town, we stopped at the bar Jasmine works at and got some food. I loved sitting at the bar watching four older cowboys sitting across from us drinking and laughing. The scene was so different from what I’m used to. I wish I had worked up the courage to take a picture, but sadly I did not.
That night we just relaxed, hung out with Barrett, Jasmine’s son, and watched a movie. Hannah and I both passed out once we went to bed, despite having found a hobo spider in our room earlier that day.
We woke up around 11 a.m. (only 10 a.m. our time), got dressed then went to the bison range with Jasmine and Barrett. At first we didn’t see much, but then we spotted a lone elk. Hannah called to him a few times, and he actually answered back. It was very fun. Eventually we found a few bison lounging next to a fence. Hannah and I were very excited, so we jumped out of the car and walked closer to where they were, against Jasmine’s warnings. We decided that the flimsy fence would protect us, and we were a ways away so we hoped we could run faster than them and get back to the car safely. Hannah wanted to test the strength of the fence, so she kept making provocative noises. I made her stop though. As we were walking back to the car, a park jeep drove by. We were so scared they were going to yell at us, but luckily they just passed by. Phew. Jasmine couldn’t believe it. When we turned around to come back we saw a coyote running really fast to on our right. We all got so excited and realized that it was going to cross the road in front of us. It was moving too fast for us to get a good pic, but we just enjoyed watching it. When it got to the left side of us, we discovered that there were three other coyotes waiting and they were all planning to attack a pack of deer (or antelope, we’re not sure which). However, our excited screams seemed to alert the pack, so the coyotes probably weren’t too happy with us. We also saw our elk friend again on the way back, only this time he was standing is a stream getting a drink. He and Hannah talked again for a bit before he wandered off again. We also saw a second-long glimpse of an even bigger elk, but then he ran off. After the tour we bought some buffalo jerky that was deeLISH!
After that we out of Charlo and to Missoula. We were so excited to be back in a “big” city again. We drove around a bit before settling in at a Starbucks to check email and make sleeping arrangements for the next few nights. We overheard a couple talking about Seattle, so of course we asked them about it. Turns out they have a daughter living there and they were heading home from there to Great Falls, MT.
We finally made it to Hamilton, MT where we stayed with Hannah’s friend, Janelle, and her husband, Bryan. We had a lot of fun hanging out, looking at pictures and playing Rock Band. I’m convinced my dreams of becoming a drummer will come true. As long as I’m set on “easy” the whole time.
So far things are going really well. Hannah and I are keeping in good spirits (for the most part), although we may be losing our minds a little. We keep having small communications issues (i.e. one of us mis-speaks and the other gets very confused), but it’s made things more entertaining and it’s good that we’re getting to work on communicating together. An example: while we were in Chelan, Hannah was standing in our room and she said, “I want some juice.” I start asking her if we still had part of the Odwalla that I didn’t finish earlier. I was a little annoyed because Hannah was looking at me like I was a moron and she didn’t know why I was mentioning this. She asked me where it was and I said I didn’t know, probably in the fridge. She’s still looking at me like I’m weird when she says, “Why are you talking about this?” Now I’m really annoyed and I tell her “because you JUST said you want juice.” Her eyes get wide and she asks if she really just said that out loud. I say yes and we both start cracking up. She swears she was just thinking about wanting juice, and I’m convinced I heard her say it. The situation was pretty great.
I keep having little moments where what I’m doing really hits me. I feel like my life has finally begun. Like everything leading up to this has been boring, and the rest of my days will be filled with excitement. And my goal is to make that happen. I hope that some of you reading this will hold me accountable for that.
God bless, over and out.
~Marissa
Friday, October 2, 2009
Thursday, October 1, 2009
½ Tank #2
After we left Sam’s on Sunday (Sept. 27, around noon, rather than in the morning like we had planned), Hannah and I found our way to Hwy. 2 and began the journey east. Hannah was kind enough to offer to drive since I’ve never been on that stretch of road and she’s done the trek a few times. It is a beautiful drive and I suggest you make a trip out that way at some point so you can experience it yourself. We had our first car jam session to Freebird (by Lynyrd Skynyrd), with Hannah on steering-wheel-guitar and me on air drums. Then we actually switched instruments, something only great performers, like us, can accomplish successfully. It was pretty wonderful. We also cracked up about something ridiculous, but I’ve already forgotten what it was. Maybe Hannah remembers.
Our first stop was Leavenworth since I’d never been there, and it was a treat. The buildings were so cute (yes, cute) and they had some really fun stores to explore. Oh, and let’s not forget the delicious polish dog we ate. Mmmmm.
The next stop was Chelan, although we had a little trouble finding the correct turn out of Wenatchee. Han and I were both pretty tired by this point, so the ride north was a tad quiet. When we arrived at Sandy’s house she was babysitting a couple of kids from her neighborhood: Jaiden, who is probably around age 7, and Skylar, who is 3. At first they were both pretty shy, then Jaiden started to warm up to us just before she and Sandy went to meet up with J’s dad. So Skylar hung out with us, playing on the swing set and answering “no” to almost every question we asked. He also told us several times that we were not funny, but he was frequently trying to suppress a smile. He was pretty hesitant to trust us adults, and that made me kind of sad. It seemed like maybe he had been let down by grown ups more than he should have been in only 3 years. Once he saw that Jaiden was having fun with us, he decided to join in the festivities. For as much as I really don’t want to have kids of my own, they can be a lot of fun. Tiring. But fun. We swung them around in the air a bunch, had a grass war, took a break a break because the battle wore us out, tickled each other when we would “fall asleep” (great idea by Hannah, and super funny to watch). Then at some point both children decided it was time to play “dog-pile-on-Marissa” which is a game that gets old (at least for me) pretty quickly. :)
After the kiddos went home, Hannah and I went a bike ride around town and eventually ended up having pizza for dinner again. Once we got back to Sandy’s we unpacked a bit, started some laundry, and watched “White Fang.” I should say I watched “White Fang.” Hannah and Sandy both fell asleep.
The next day Hannah and I trekked up to Winthrop, a cute little town that looked straight out of the old Wild West. We got some yummy treats then headed back to Sandy’s. That night Sandy made us a great dinner and we made another friend under the age of two, Keegan. He was adorable. He was also the child of a young mom, which has to be tough for both of them. I think it’s great that Sandy is in that area, though. She is great with all those kids, and I’m sure it’s nice that the parents have a trustworthy person to help watch their children.
The next morning we had a great breakfast of eggs and bacon then hit the road once again to head to Spokane.
Until next time, God bless.
Over and out.
~Marissa
Our first stop was Leavenworth since I’d never been there, and it was a treat. The buildings were so cute (yes, cute) and they had some really fun stores to explore. Oh, and let’s not forget the delicious polish dog we ate. Mmmmm.
The next stop was Chelan, although we had a little trouble finding the correct turn out of Wenatchee. Han and I were both pretty tired by this point, so the ride north was a tad quiet. When we arrived at Sandy’s house she was babysitting a couple of kids from her neighborhood: Jaiden, who is probably around age 7, and Skylar, who is 3. At first they were both pretty shy, then Jaiden started to warm up to us just before she and Sandy went to meet up with J’s dad. So Skylar hung out with us, playing on the swing set and answering “no” to almost every question we asked. He also told us several times that we were not funny, but he was frequently trying to suppress a smile. He was pretty hesitant to trust us adults, and that made me kind of sad. It seemed like maybe he had been let down by grown ups more than he should have been in only 3 years. Once he saw that Jaiden was having fun with us, he decided to join in the festivities. For as much as I really don’t want to have kids of my own, they can be a lot of fun. Tiring. But fun. We swung them around in the air a bunch, had a grass war, took a break a break because the battle wore us out, tickled each other when we would “fall asleep” (great idea by Hannah, and super funny to watch). Then at some point both children decided it was time to play “dog-pile-on-Marissa” which is a game that gets old (at least for me) pretty quickly. :)
After the kiddos went home, Hannah and I went a bike ride around town and eventually ended up having pizza for dinner again. Once we got back to Sandy’s we unpacked a bit, started some laundry, and watched “White Fang.” I should say I watched “White Fang.” Hannah and Sandy both fell asleep.
The next day Hannah and I trekked up to Winthrop, a cute little town that looked straight out of the old Wild West. We got some yummy treats then headed back to Sandy’s. That night Sandy made us a great dinner and we made another friend under the age of two, Keegan. He was adorable. He was also the child of a young mom, which has to be tough for both of them. I think it’s great that Sandy is in that area, though. She is great with all those kids, and I’m sure it’s nice that the parents have a trustworthy person to help watch their children.
The next morning we had a great breakfast of eggs and bacon then hit the road once again to head to Spokane.
Until next time, God bless.
Over and out.
~Marissa
Monday, September 28, 2009
½ Tank #1
(Editor’s note: The title refers to the fact that we are trying to keep our gas tank at about half full, so instead of gauging what we’ve done per tank, it’ll be per half-tank. Sorry for any confusion this causes.)
On Wednesday, September 23, 3009, I filled Pete (that’s our car, in case you haven’t read any previous posts yet...which you should do) with gas and we headed out of Bellingham via Chuckanut Drive. We met Hannah at her younger brother’s soccer game down in Edison, then hoofed it to the ferry going to Orcas and got in line just in time. That night we hung out with a few of Hannah’s friends from high school, which was fun, although I zoned out a bit because I had no idea what they were reminiscing about. Hannah and I did get into a couple “strong discussions” during the few days we were on Orcas, one about our food- and health-life choices of all things, but I think it was actually really good for us. Partly because it gave us practice with disagreeing and still being friends afterwards and also because I think we both got to hash out our opinions and came to more of a respectful understanding.
We had planned to leave Orcas early on Saturday morning, but instead we decided to leave late on Friday so that we would have more time (and energy) to do everything we needed to do Saturday. It was difficult to watch Hannah have to say goodbye to her family, especially her brother, because it reminded me of my farewells to friends in Bellingham. There was a voice telling me that it was difficult because I don’t have anybody like that in my life, but I remembered that that simply isn’t true of my life anymore, so I told it to shut up.
As we were running errands Saturday I told Hannah that I hoped every day of the trip would be like that day. We had a pretty tight schedule for the day and it could not have gone smoother. The whole we were just about right on time for every stop we had planned. Even when it seemed like Costco shoppers, traffic, and community donation centers not accepting a mattress were going to be barricades, we were able to pull through at all the right moments. It served as a great example that although things may seem impossible, God is in complete control. There were many prayers answered and I even saw a few signs (literally) of comfort as I was questioning the beginning of the trip and what was to come for me. One was a business reader-board saying “GOODBYE,” another was a “IGBOK IT’S GONNA BE OK” bumper sticker, and another was a well timed real estate advertisement for “NEW HOMES.” And when I was wondering about that last one really being from God today, I saw another sign saying the same thing but followed immediately by a sign for a politician where only the last name was really big enough to read. His last name is LORD. :)
So by the end of Saturday night Han and I were exhausted and very ready to relax with our old roomie Sam and a couple other friends. It was great to hang out with Sam again, and it definitely made me miss the old college days when we all still lived together. And we figured out (AKA were commanded by Sam) that the latest we could return to Seattle is March 5 because Sam gets married on the 6th. So there is some good news for those of you who might be afraid we’ll never be back.
There were a couple thoughts that stuck with me after all the people we came into contact with during this first half-tank. For starters, I was awed by how many people talked to have actually been on trips like this before, whether it was across the states, or over in Europe. I thought my idea to drive around the U.S. was an original one, but it seems like there’s a LOT of folks out there who have already done this. And that was great for us because we ended up getting a lot of great advice and encouragement. One of the bits of advice we received from almost everyone was not to trust anybody. At first I didn’t think much about it because I just naturally don’t trust other people, but then I realized how it bothers me that everyone said the same thing. I despise the fact that we live in a world where you can’t trust anybody, and where people advise you not to trust. I really wish it wasn’t that way, and that people weren’t creepy and, well, unworthy of trust. It stinks that there are people out there who do horrible things and thus ruin it for the rest of us who are trustworthy. Ugh. I really wish I had some chance of changing the world, and just making it a better place, but I have no idea how to do that. I’m not sure if it’s enough to just live my life in a trustworthy manner and hope that others will begin to do so as well. It certainly doesn’t feel like enough.
To view more pics, go here.
God bless, over and out.
~Marissa
“Live as though the world were as it should be, to show it what it can be.” -- an episode of Angel (Go ahead and make fun of me because it’s an awesome show. Watch it a few times and you’ll see. Joss Whedon, I love you. WB or whichever company cancelled the show, you suck.)
On Wednesday, September 23, 3009, I filled Pete (that’s our car, in case you haven’t read any previous posts yet...which you should do) with gas and we headed out of Bellingham via Chuckanut Drive. We met Hannah at her younger brother’s soccer game down in Edison, then hoofed it to the ferry going to Orcas and got in line just in time. That night we hung out with a few of Hannah’s friends from high school, which was fun, although I zoned out a bit because I had no idea what they were reminiscing about. Hannah and I did get into a couple “strong discussions” during the few days we were on Orcas, one about our food- and health-life choices of all things, but I think it was actually really good for us. Partly because it gave us practice with disagreeing and still being friends afterwards and also because I think we both got to hash out our opinions and came to more of a respectful understanding.
We had planned to leave Orcas early on Saturday morning, but instead we decided to leave late on Friday so that we would have more time (and energy) to do everything we needed to do Saturday. It was difficult to watch Hannah have to say goodbye to her family, especially her brother, because it reminded me of my farewells to friends in Bellingham. There was a voice telling me that it was difficult because I don’t have anybody like that in my life, but I remembered that that simply isn’t true of my life anymore, so I told it to shut up.
As we were running errands Saturday I told Hannah that I hoped every day of the trip would be like that day. We had a pretty tight schedule for the day and it could not have gone smoother. The whole we were just about right on time for every stop we had planned. Even when it seemed like Costco shoppers, traffic, and community donation centers not accepting a mattress were going to be barricades, we were able to pull through at all the right moments. It served as a great example that although things may seem impossible, God is in complete control. There were many prayers answered and I even saw a few signs (literally) of comfort as I was questioning the beginning of the trip and what was to come for me. One was a business reader-board saying “GOODBYE,” another was a “IGBOK IT’S GONNA BE OK” bumper sticker, and another was a well timed real estate advertisement for “NEW HOMES.” And when I was wondering about that last one really being from God today, I saw another sign saying the same thing but followed immediately by a sign for a politician where only the last name was really big enough to read. His last name is LORD. :)
So by the end of Saturday night Han and I were exhausted and very ready to relax with our old roomie Sam and a couple other friends. It was great to hang out with Sam again, and it definitely made me miss the old college days when we all still lived together. And we figured out (AKA were commanded by Sam) that the latest we could return to Seattle is March 5 because Sam gets married on the 6th. So there is some good news for those of you who might be afraid we’ll never be back.
There were a couple thoughts that stuck with me after all the people we came into contact with during this first half-tank. For starters, I was awed by how many people talked to have actually been on trips like this before, whether it was across the states, or over in Europe. I thought my idea to drive around the U.S. was an original one, but it seems like there’s a LOT of folks out there who have already done this. And that was great for us because we ended up getting a lot of great advice and encouragement. One of the bits of advice we received from almost everyone was not to trust anybody. At first I didn’t think much about it because I just naturally don’t trust other people, but then I realized how it bothers me that everyone said the same thing. I despise the fact that we live in a world where you can’t trust anybody, and where people advise you not to trust. I really wish it wasn’t that way, and that people weren’t creepy and, well, unworthy of trust. It stinks that there are people out there who do horrible things and thus ruin it for the rest of us who are trustworthy. Ugh. I really wish I had some chance of changing the world, and just making it a better place, but I have no idea how to do that. I’m not sure if it’s enough to just live my life in a trustworthy manner and hope that others will begin to do so as well. It certainly doesn’t feel like enough.
To view more pics, go here.
God bless, over and out.
~Marissa
“Live as though the world were as it should be, to show it what it can be.” -- an episode of Angel (Go ahead and make fun of me because it’s an awesome show. Watch it a few times and you’ll see. Joss Whedon, I love you. WB or whichever company cancelled the show, you suck.)
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
The End is Not the End
I write this post on the eve of my departing Bellingham for hopefully the next to last time.
I have been saying a lot of goodbyes in the past several days, some of which have been more difficult than others. Because I switched schools a lot in my youth, I now have a difficult time getting attached to people. When I meet new people I tend to assume that they won't be close friends for life, although I know some people will always be friends, even if I only talk to them once a year.
I believe that life does occur in "seasons," or, as a friend and I discussed last night, in "subplots." When one story begins to be wrapped up, a whole new plot line begins. So I'm not really sad about moving on, at least not yet. I have greatly enjoyed my time in Bellingham, and have met SO many amazing people. Some people I got to spend a lot of time with while others were only around for a short period, but everyone had an impact on my life, and I can only hope that I had a good impact on them. I see no point in missing anyone because I know that I am going to where I'm supposed to be, and that you all are where you should be. If our paths cross again in the future, that will wonderful, but I don't like the idea of pining away for the past. I have fond memories that I will carry with me, but I also know that I will be making new ones as well.
And while I sound strong right now, I may break down as I'm driving away tomorrow. Just like I broke down last Friday as I headed home from my last day of work. Those people set the bar really high for my next job. Thanks again to all of you if you're reading this. :)
This trip has so much in store for Hannah and I, although we have know idea what all that is. We have already learned a lot about ourselves and about each during the weekends that we've spent together and we haven't even left yet. Part of me had been worried about the disagreements we would inevitably have, but so far we've been able to "fight" (that word is too strong, but I don't feel like trying to find another one right now) and then work it out, which is a new experience for me, and one that I am really enjoying. I'm learning to stand up for myself and not feel bad for voicing my opinion, even when I know others won't like it. Typically I just avoid confrontation altogether because I want people to like me. Now I'm learning that I can voice my disagreement with people AND *gasp* they still like me. To all of you who are helping me learn that, including Hannah, thank you!!
There's probably a lot more I could say, but I'm not sure any of it is really that important. So I'll just say "Goodbye Bellingham."
I want to end this post by thanking everyone who is reading this (yup, I'm talking to YOU), whether I know you or you are some creepy stranger who randomly stumbled upon this blog. It's nice to know that there are people out there who are actually interested in my life and who are excited for us. If there is some aspect of this trip that you want to know more about that I seem to be completely lapsing on, feel free to ask about it. I'm a pretty open person most of the time, so if there is ever anything you are curious about, don't hesitate to post a comment or email me (hopefulsoul619@gmail.com).
God bless, over and out.
~Marissa
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer." -- Romans 12:12
I have been saying a lot of goodbyes in the past several days, some of which have been more difficult than others. Because I switched schools a lot in my youth, I now have a difficult time getting attached to people. When I meet new people I tend to assume that they won't be close friends for life, although I know some people will always be friends, even if I only talk to them once a year.
I believe that life does occur in "seasons," or, as a friend and I discussed last night, in "subplots." When one story begins to be wrapped up, a whole new plot line begins. So I'm not really sad about moving on, at least not yet. I have greatly enjoyed my time in Bellingham, and have met SO many amazing people. Some people I got to spend a lot of time with while others were only around for a short period, but everyone had an impact on my life, and I can only hope that I had a good impact on them. I see no point in missing anyone because I know that I am going to where I'm supposed to be, and that you all are where you should be. If our paths cross again in the future, that will wonderful, but I don't like the idea of pining away for the past. I have fond memories that I will carry with me, but I also know that I will be making new ones as well.
And while I sound strong right now, I may break down as I'm driving away tomorrow. Just like I broke down last Friday as I headed home from my last day of work. Those people set the bar really high for my next job. Thanks again to all of you if you're reading this. :)
This trip has so much in store for Hannah and I, although we have know idea what all that is. We have already learned a lot about ourselves and about each during the weekends that we've spent together and we haven't even left yet. Part of me had been worried about the disagreements we would inevitably have, but so far we've been able to "fight" (that word is too strong, but I don't feel like trying to find another one right now) and then work it out, which is a new experience for me, and one that I am really enjoying. I'm learning to stand up for myself and not feel bad for voicing my opinion, even when I know others won't like it. Typically I just avoid confrontation altogether because I want people to like me. Now I'm learning that I can voice my disagreement with people AND *gasp* they still like me. To all of you who are helping me learn that, including Hannah, thank you!!
There's probably a lot more I could say, but I'm not sure any of it is really that important. So I'll just say "Goodbye Bellingham."
I want to end this post by thanking everyone who is reading this (yup, I'm talking to YOU), whether I know you or you are some creepy stranger who randomly stumbled upon this blog. It's nice to know that there are people out there who are actually interested in my life and who are excited for us. If there is some aspect of this trip that you want to know more about that I seem to be completely lapsing on, feel free to ask about it. I'm a pretty open person most of the time, so if there is ever anything you are curious about, don't hesitate to post a comment or email me (hopefulsoul619@gmail.com).
God bless, over and out.
~Marissa
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer." -- Romans 12:12
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
17 Days and Counting
September 26, 2009. That is the day Hannah and I plan to begin our journey. I can't even express how excited I am to have a real date set. I've been dreaming about this trip since Dec. '08 and it's starting to look really tangible. (I'd like to note that the song "Hungry" -- this version by Candlefuse -- just started playing on the online radio station I listen to. Very appropriate.) There were many days where I questioned whether or not I should try to make this trip happen, whether it was really okay with God that I do this. Part of me felt like I was running away from my responsibilities, but another part of me felt so unfulfilled in what I was doing. I'm not sure yet where my passion lies, or how to live it out for God, but I don't think it's what I'm doing now. So hopefully I'll find it in another city or state.
The downside of having a specific date in mind is that Hannah and I are realizing how much we have to do in so little time. Today I finally went through the process to get my student loans deferred, and hopefully this afternoon I will get the phone situation figured out (if we end up having to get a new phone number for a while, I'll let ya'll know). Hannah and I are both trying to figure out how much of various things we need to bring, and trying to balance that with how much room we have in the car. It can be an overwhelming task.
This past weekend was great, though, and helped get me more pumped for the trip and the experiences we'll have. I went to visit Hannah for a few days, and we mostly just hung out at her Grandma's house. On Saturday the three of us had a really cool discussion about all things God and we were all able to share our views on various ideas. It reminded me how fun it is to talk to people who have different opinions, especially when the people involved don't cling to their beliefs so much and don't feel the need to defend themselves. I am sooo looking forward to having more moments like that!!
Well, I think that's all I have to say for now. As always, your thoughts and prayers are much appreciated, and if you have any questions about anything, please ask!
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The downside of having a specific date in mind is that Hannah and I are realizing how much we have to do in so little time. Today I finally went through the process to get my student loans deferred, and hopefully this afternoon I will get the phone situation figured out (if we end up having to get a new phone number for a while, I'll let ya'll know). Hannah and I are both trying to figure out how much of various things we need to bring, and trying to balance that with how much room we have in the car. It can be an overwhelming task.
This past weekend was great, though, and helped get me more pumped for the trip and the experiences we'll have. I went to visit Hannah for a few days, and we mostly just hung out at her Grandma's house. On Saturday the three of us had a really cool discussion about all things God and we were all able to share our views on various ideas. It reminded me how fun it is to talk to people who have different opinions, especially when the people involved don't cling to their beliefs so much and don't feel the need to defend themselves. I am sooo looking forward to having more moments like that!!
Well, I think that's all I have to say for now. As always, your thoughts and prayers are much appreciated, and if you have any questions about anything, please ask!
God bless, over and out.
~Marissa
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Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Pete!
Whelp, it's finally happened -- yesterday, I bought a roadtrip vehicle! It's a '92 Honda Accord wagon. It's "pearl green" according to the couple I bought it from (who were incredibly nice, btw). :) I decided to christen it as "Pete" because the 3 letters on the license plate are PYT. I will be sad to lose Klaus, it's been a good car, but it is exciting to have bought my own car.
That's really the only big news I have. This week will be a busy one for me since I have to move out of my apartment by this Friday at noon, and that also means most of my stuff will belong to Goodwill or Value Village soon. So far I haven't come across anything that I'm super sad to get rid of, but that will probably change.
Hannah just moved back home and is working hard to make extra money while also trying to enjoy what's left of summer. We're both trying to improve our photography skills so that we can accurately document the people and places we discover on the trip. If you get bored, check out pictures here.
I can't think of anything else you all might want to know, but if you have questions, feel free to ask.
I hope that things are going well for all of you who read this!!
God bless, over and out.
~Marissa
That's really the only big news I have. This week will be a busy one for me since I have to move out of my apartment by this Friday at noon, and that also means most of my stuff will belong to Goodwill or Value Village soon. So far I haven't come across anything that I'm super sad to get rid of, but that will probably change.
Hannah just moved back home and is working hard to make extra money while also trying to enjoy what's left of summer. We're both trying to improve our photography skills so that we can accurately document the people and places we discover on the trip. If you get bored, check out pictures here.
I can't think of anything else you all might want to know, but if you have questions, feel free to ask.
I hope that things are going well for all of you who read this!!
God bless, over and out.
~Marissa
Monday, June 8, 2009
Here's the deal
With all of the fun things that have been happening lately, I've decided that the trip has officially begun. We still don't have a car, and we're still working (in two completely different cities), but the point of the trip is to have adventures, and adventures we are having!
Hannah and I's birthdays were last week (you'd think we were twins, but we're not -- hers is two days before mine) so I went down to visit her and then we went camping with a couple other friends. The night of her birthday we went to dinner at this awesome little seafood restaurant (Totem something). We noticed the place because their reader board said "God bless the world" and Hannah had been craving salmon, which didn't end up getting. When the owners found out it was Hannah's b-day, they gave her a free fish taco in addition to the meal she had already ordered, and a free milkshake. Later they also brought us both a free apple crisp-type of dessert. It was very cool to see how willing people are to give even before the trip started.
On Friday we headed out to Turlo campgrounds with a couple other people and had an amazing time relaxing in nature away from the daily grind. That night we had lots of laughs while playing card games next to a small river. It was so great sleeping with the sound of rushing waters in the background. Saturday morning Hannah and I dunked our faces in the river (which is formed from glacier runoff) to help us wake up, while Justin decided to go all the way in for a "river shower." Hannah and I decided we should too, so we went to change. The ranger was cleaning the bathrooms while we were there and his response to our plan was laughing and then asking, "You're not really going to, though, right?" LOL But we really did it. It was SO cold but such a fun experience. And we actually started feeling warmer afterwards (Justin explained that it's good for your circulation), so of course we went in for another dip before heading back to get warm. We decided to drive back into town for breakfast and ended up meeting up with Sam, a past roommate of Hannah and I.
When we got back to camp we asked out neighbors if they knew of any good hikes in the area and they recommended Lake 22 which was just up the road. It was the MOST AMAZING hike I've ever been on. Not that I've been on many hikes, but the views were incredible. We got high enough up that we were actually hiking through snow for a good while. The lake and mountains we discovered at the end made everything worth it.
After the hike we were all a bit tired, so we just sat around the fire and chatted. Sam ended up leaving early, and the rest of us got into a "discussion" about God and our differing opinions. Justin stayed pretty quiet, gracing us with some guitar playing despite a broken string, and when Becky and Hannah were starting to get too heated, God blessed us with a distraction -- a few bikers had pulled in a bit earlier and they had decided to come over and hang out with us. They brought us an offering of "Holy Water" (Vodka) which I thought was pretty ironic considering the situation they were walking in. [If anyone ever says God doesn't have a wicked sense of humor, don't believe them.] James, Jenny, and Michael ended up staying for quite a while and were kind enough to share some of their firewood with us, since we were out. We found out that James was married and had two daughters, something Justin didn't envy, and that he had apparently been to prison, although I don't think he ever fully explained why. James was hilarious, tripping multiple times over the same root, and kept pretty quiet except to make small, mocking jabs towards Michael, who was more of a talker. Michael told us that he was from Illinois and had worked at a church camp during summers until he was 19, when he was kicked out of the house. He eventually became a stripper to pay the bills, but he "never danced for dudes or did anything extra." Insert a comment from James. Michael wasn't married and didn't have kids, but he sounded like he was hoping to find the right lady sometime soon. Jenny was fairly quiet too, but very animated when she did talk. She was also married and had a step-son who recently turned 18. It sounded like he doesn't respect her a whole lot, so these little bike trips are a happy getaway for her. Jenny was describing her husband to us a bit (tall computer geek with a ponytail, but will to ride in her sidecar) and we asked how in the world they had gotten together. She then told us that she used to work at Microsoft [shock!] as a programmer [shock!]. Here's this lady who wears leather and rides a motorcycle and she used to work at Microsoft! I love people's stories!! Anyways, she said that because of the free pop they were given at work and the many hours she put in sitting at a desk, she gained a lot of weight and got really unhappy. She also developed carpal tunnel and eventually decided to leave. Now she and her husband have a farm with a variety of animals, including horses (Hannah was more than a little envious of this). Around 2 or 3 A.M. our new friends were feeling the effects of the "Holy Water" and decided it was time for them to wander back to their camp. Before passing out one of them did start up their bike to rev the engine a few times, as they had promised. We eventually made our way to our tents as well, and slept very well that night. If you want to see more pics from the week, go to here and here.
It was such a fun week, and I'm not completely excited to go back to work tomorrow. But Hannah and I are looking forward even more to when we actually leave the state. We've heard from a few new people about where we might stay as we travel -- two in Pittsburgh and one in Colorado -- so things are slowly falling into place.
As always, your positive thoughts and prayers are always needed and appreciated, so keep 'em coming! We hope you're all doing well, and having adventures of your own.
Over and out,
~Marissa
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