Oceanian, here I come!

My bag is packed - just Danny's old extra large backpack, and I am a-ready to fly out tomorrow to Fiji. I have fifteen ounces of waterproof sunscreen (divided into TSA approved 3 oz containers), bug repellent and anti-malaria drugs, my snorkel gear, swim suits, and not much else -(actually, that's a lie, by pack weighs a ton)! I have zip off pants and travel underwear... whatever that means. One stop in LA, and then a eleven hour flight to Nadi (pronounced Nan-dee), Fiji. We'll be there for just over three weeks, leaving November 30th for Honiara, Solomon Islands, where we will bounce around for another five weeks. We return home January 4th, just in time for me to start winter quarter at Seattle Central Community College. I won't have cell service while I'm gone, but hopefully I will have plenty of internet access. We have no reservations or plans just of yet, but I will try to keep my blogger updated.

ni sa moce!

SeaCompression 2010

I'm sitting here, at midnight, ODing on sugar (pumpkin bars that I made from a box...mmmm) trying to remember where I put my library book. Anyway, I'm finally feeling human again after two days of being stuck in bed with a bad cold. I had just a regular old cold all last week, but I was feeling a little better Friday and Saturday (thanks Zicam) enabling be to volunteer as planned with the NW Chocolate Festival. I helped set up with decorations and stuffing programs (including a very political flier for 'Yes on 1107', which was paid for by Coca Cola to repeal the tax - money that goes towards education - on certain candies and carbonated beverages, but who also helped sponsor the festival) and assisted with the presentations in the Keynote Speaker Room on Saturday morning. One of the speakers was a woman who started her own chocolate company called Aphrodite's Attic. She spoke on the aphrodisiac effects of chocolate and the herbs and spices she adds to her products. A very intriguing woman, who also lives in Seattle, and she really inspired me as she explained her process of creating. Leah and her friend Rachele met me there and very able to catch her speak as well. That night, both came over to the apartment, as well as Tina and her friend (who I can't remember their name) and we all got ready. This took a little while. First, we had to empty the entire contents of my costume bin on to my bed, which includes all my wigs, dresses, boas, scarves, hats, corsets, fishnets and more - as well as Leah's array of scandalous offering. We then had to strip down and try everything on. Twice. Finally choosing to wear the first thing we put on. Next comes the accessories - the hats and jewelry, the fake eyelashes.. and finally the hair and makeup. Less hair than makeup for me, but I still had to make the huge decision of wig or no wig - and then which one if I did choose. I ended up wig-less, but with my fabulous(ly expensive) necklace, I really didn't need anymore above-shoulder accoutrement. Like last year, Leah let me do her makeup for her, which I really enjoy. It's funny.. she started laughing at me during the process - I was painting her face. Like literally painting... my brush strokes were that for a canvas, not a face. :P Anyway, two hours later and with only a small amount of alcohol consumed (really! I had maybe a half of a drink the entire night) we headed out the door for Damian's birthday party four blocks down the street. I ended up heading back home for most of it - I wasn't feeling that well after all the getting- ready-partying, but by eleven everyone was finally ready to go to SeaCompression! Leah swung by with her van and everyone piled in the back, sitting on pillows or squatting so our dresses wouldn't get wet (it was raining cats and dogs that night - there was even an official 'storm warning'). I was wearing a very sexy velvet dress with my black boots, hug face eyelashes and my gemstone necklace. I felt very HOT. :)
The party was amazing... I totally forgot about my cold and I danced the night away! I saw so many people I knew too! Danny and Kathrine from next door were there, Dirk and Denee made an appearance for a minute (Denee called me earlier that day to ask if I'd heard of a thing called 'SeaCompression'? I told her yes and that they should definitely go!), I saw Fern, a girl from my English class (I think her name is Rachele...), Lindsy from Moisture Fest, as well as Luke and his band, Titanium Sporkistra (who were awesome!) as well as other random people who kept rubbing my head... for good luck?? There were three separate dance areas with DJs and live bands. One had a huge stage - with lights and lasers, and cages and boxes to dance on. It was crazy. Another was just an open space where performers and the audience could intermingle - this included my friend's marching band, and later, a whole troop of fire-poi dancers. The third area was a dome with carpet inside where you could dance barefoot with all the raver-hippies. Their were ladies being tied and hung up from the ceiling beams (in a sexy way), and so much other craziness to look at...I had so much fun.
We left at two when everything was closing up. Leah drove me home - and gave Danny and Kathrine a ride also, which was really nice. I slept until noon the next day, which is fine because I wasn't scheduled to volunteer until 1:30, the only problem was that I awoke with no voice. And I felt like shit. My cold got five times worse, and I pretty much haven't left the house or felt like a person until this evening, three days later. I'm going to say it was worth it, but I still felt like a pile of poo... I should probably go to bed and continue resting up, but I just wanted to put these thoughts down and let you know what I've been up to.

I'll write more later...

PEACE and GOODNIGHT! :)

PS, it's blowing outside like... well, blowing like a storm!

Oh the DRAMA!

Kat's Kitties

My neighbor Kathrine's felines:

Hiking in Charlotte with my bro

It's been a while

Hello everyone! It's been almost three months since I've written. Since then, I've completed two rotations on the boats (all three of them), fell in love with Maui, Hawaii, scuba dove with sharks and sea turtles, become addicted to my iphone, enjoyed five novels and one book of short stories, recognized mine and Danny's two and a half year anniversary, gotten sunburned (in Seattle or all places), watched a butt load (that's a technical term) of movies in and out of the theater, botched a haircut, learned about wines from a 21 year old, partied in Portland and enjoyed life.

I'm just now finishing up my second two week break, one of which was with Danny. We hung out in Seattle, not doing too much, and it was lovely. This week, I'm in Portland staying at my friend Cass's beautiful house on the south side of town. As she says, we painted the town red, getting into as much trouble as we can in the fews days I'm here. I head back to the Great North on Friday for another six weeks, and then home sweet home. I may also do some trips in October, but nothing is set yet. This fall and early winter, Danny and I plan on traveling! As to where, that is undetermined. It could be to the very remote Solomon Islands, or perhaps Thailand or some suba diving. Either way, we've set two months aside to play! I plan on being home in time to attend winter quarter at Seattle Central Community College. I applied for Government grants (through FAFSA) which I cross my fingers for. I'll probably have to get a real job too... but that's jumping too far into the future for this blog post. All in all, things are going well. The sun is shinning and the tips are good. I've also just had two glass of Pino Noir as well as a huge slice of our fresh made brownies... life is good. I'm super excited to finish up my season and move back into my cozy studio, but I hope to write again before then - Ciao!

A Pack'n

Well, here we are once again. Packing up my house for the third time to pass it over to my sub-letter so I can spend my summer working in Alaska. Times flies when you're having fun, I guess, because it feels like just yesterday that I unpacking this stuff. I have too much stuff - and it's not even that much! Argh. I am also getting over a cold that Danny and I have played catch with each other since Mexico (darn Australian boys!). Sigh.... I'm both excited and sad. Excited to finally start working again and to return to beautiful Alaska. Excited I have a vacation planned for my first break. I'll be spending ten days in Maui, Hawaii - which I am also packing for tonight. But I'm a little sad to be leaving again so soon. I love my little apartment and the life I've carved for myself here in Seattle - with my new and old friends, and my sort-of social life. I have my improv and my painting, but the thing I'll miss most is my wonderful boyfriend, Danny. I enjoy the time we have, but this summer we only get one week off together. We will be working on the same boat for a couple of weeks here and there, but that's not the same. All in all, this is a good thing - this Alaskan adventure. I work hard so I can later play hard.... and go to school. It mixes things up and lets me see what is most important in my life - and keeps me from accumulating too much stuff! :) On that note, I should get back to packing. My awesome landlord not only lets me sublet my place(under the table) but also keep my stuff in the basement while I'm gone. Too cool.

My next post will (probably) be from Alaska... so long Seattle! Hello Great North!

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Puerto Vallarta. Oh what fun. Danny and I spent just over a week at Hostel Oasis in a beautiful private room with a balcony right outside the door. We had planned on getting our advanced open-water dive certification, but after our first day of diving, both is us caught a throat and ear infection that was going around the hostel (those darn Australian boys!). Luckily, at the local Red Cross clinic for 50 pesos, we were able to get medication and a note allotting us refunded for the missed dives. Instead of under the sea, we chilled by the beach, at the movies, or around the hostel for most our visit. We also took a day trip to Yelapa, heading south by water taxi. This beautiful town of less than one thousand people is only accessible by pongas (a small, open-bowed boat). After hiking up to a waterfall and snorkeling, Danny and I then sat the rest of the day on the beach where we ate good Mexican food, drank Coronas, and did absolutely nothing. It was beautiful. The weather was sunny and hot the whole time, and I managed to get only a minor sunburn. I did not take many photos, but I had a really wondering time with Danny in Mexico. I definitely plan on going back... and traveling more in general!

Sailing on RAFIKI with Danny

Spring!

$2 sculpure from Value Village = Adventure Photography!

Adventure time!
Real Change?
he even got her number!
yeah! Crumpets!
no comment
Hey, what kind of fruit is this?
uhhh, what am I supposed to do with this?
Getting nutty with the nut lady
Where's the Stranger at?
OMG!
Show time!
Camouflage, butches!
At the stab and grab...
Gett'n my sexy on!

Everybody Wants To Be Naked And Famous!

My new oils

Cadminium yellow, yellow ochre, brilliant green, cobalt turquoise (the most expensive of the colors), cadmium red, prussian blue, quinacridone violet, rose madder hue, burnt umber, mars-ivory black (mixture), Utrecht white (mixture), linseed oil, oil painting medium (mixture), and odorless turpenoid = $135.62 and worth every penney!

thanks Danny :)

Mumford and Sons

http://popup.lala.com/popup/504684643780048074

IRONIC facial hair at the Olympics

"Though Olympic fashion continues to revolve around flags and garish patriotic color, a strange undercurrent of hip infiltrated this year: jeggings-esque faux denim, a surfeit of plaid, and the world's most ironic mustache." says gawker.com

1/2 off at Value Village Day!

Little white and black striped jacket: $2.00
Cute blue skirt: $1.50
Jeans (not shown): 2.00
The feeling you get when you pay less than $3 for clothes: priceless


PS, Happy President's Day!

Dinner and a movie

With Color!

new paintings - one is a work in progress

meeee!

MMMMmmmMMmmMmm.....

NutterButter and Marshmallow FluFF + Jaws at Central Cinemas = sugar rush with TEETH!