Various Ramblings

30 Days of Thanks - Day 12

It’s simple, I’m thankful for home grocery delivery. I use one store in particular, but I’ll refrain from sharing to avoid judgment. I get stuff quickly and affordably, and shopping for it is easy. I don’t have to deal with the grocery store or wandering around trying to learn the new stores in the area. I used to use this weekly in Olympia, but then I moved into an apartment in Portland and had to start going to the store myself where I just did curbside.

I’m fully capable of going out and getting my own groceries, but I’m glad I don’t have to. If we’re being vulnerable here, grocery stores can be fun for me but lately they have been hectic nightmares. I’m only really off on evenings and weekends, and by the time I get home I don’t want to go shopping. The weekends, ugh, they’re full of people and it starts to make me feel overwhelmed and overstimulated.

I will occasionally run to Costco or Sam’s for bulk runs, but if I can avoid the local spots I will. I miss the days of 24 hour grocery stores - I’d go around 11 pm back in the day. Now, I’m in bed by 9 and my groceries are delivered hours before that.

What are you thankful for today?

30 Days of Thanks - Day 11

I think about this one all the time - I’m grateful for a garage! I was super spoiled in Olympia with a personal garage to park in and I was so excited to have that again in this rental in Ohio. I had a public garage in Dallas and Portland, but we all know how that turned out.. (My car was smashed into)

Having this garage helps me feel a little more secure while also being super convenient.

  • Going Camping? Pull the car out and take stuff to the garage to sort out

  • Shopping haul? Don’t worry about the weather, you’re in the garage

  • Need to vacuum out the car in the winter? You’ve got a garage for that

The garage is half full of cardboard and other shit from moving, but it’s a work in progress. I will organize the chaos in coming weeks. It is nice to have room for the kayaks and a grill (thanks to my brother). It’s also nice to have room to build something or have space to work on a project despite the weather.

I’m thankful for a range of things from this silly, but practical thing, to serious things like the post yesterday. It will continue to vary, so I hope you enjoy the ride. What are you thankful for today?

(I’m ashamed to say there is way more stuff to the right of my car now)

This is in a secure garage… “secure'“ is relative, I suppose. (Portland, August 2024)

30 Days of Thanks - Day 10

Today is a little less serious, but I’m thankful for audio books, podcasts, and other “radio” programs. My new commute is over an hour each way, which is fine, but now I get to consume some content. I’ve got my regular podcasts like Armchair Expert, the whole lot from Crooked Media, and the Dating Detectives. I recently listened to Ina Garten’s memoir and I have plans for a few other books in the queue.

Listening to people jabber on about whatever helps me focus on the road and also transitions me from work mode to home mode. And, when I’m not in the mood for one of the many topics, I just turn on my music.

What are some of your favorite podcasts or books? Taking recommendations now!

ALSO, what are you thankful for today?

this podcast is so good.

30 Days of Thanks - Day 9

Today I’m thankful for friends who are family. The past few years have been wild and I’ve had some good friends by my side along the way. I have some great family, but today I’m thankful for the friends who know everything and are “in” on it all. I’m grateful for all of the visits, late night phone calls, and endless text messages. I’m thankful for the people who helped me pick up the pieces when things fell apart, more than once in the past two to three years.

I’ve always had the best of friends, and I’m forever grateful for the people who I haven’t seen or talked to much in the past two years also. Being back in the Midwest gives me up that we’ll all hopefully see each other more often! I’d be nowhere without the people who help make life better.

Enjoy a few (or more than a few) photos from the past two years. Forever grateful. I love you all.

30 Days of Thanks - Day 8

Today I’m thankful for this big, new job I was offered back in August. I’m grateful to make more money than before and have a decent grasp on working towards that debt free life. I’m grateful for a new challenge and I’m learning so many new things. The job is in person, but there is flexibility for appointments and working from home when appropriate.

Working in the office again has altered the way I function for the better. Back in 2022, I was so excited to work from home, but found that the lack of structure and my diminished personal willpower was a downfall for my brain and productivity. I was not doing well with work and finding myself distracted to the max working from home. I’m now in a nice, quiet office where I get work done like crazy. There’s also a lot of work to do, which is actually nice compared to consulting and waiting on projects. I have a great routine on workdays and I thrive with routines.

I commute to work - about an hour and fifteen each way. Everyone says it sounds crazy, but it is really not that bad. Back in DFW Metro, I was doing the same time and not getting very far anywhere fast. Here, I drive 80 miles on a country highway and the roads are well maintained. The drive is relaxing and beautiful, even as the trees become bare. I finally get to listen to all of the media I’ve missed sitting around at home - podcasts, books, music and new stories.

I’m so thankful for this job. So grateful they wanted me. I’m glad to be back in the Midwest, and on the cusp of Appalachia. What are you thankful for today?

30 Days of Thanks - Day 7

Today I’m thankful for the size of the Columbus airport and all smaller airports across this country! I have not actually been inside the Columbus airport, but I’ve been dropping people off and picking them up since I moved here and I hear it is easy to navigate. The drive through the outside for passenger pickup and dropoff is so nice and the cell phone lot is huge and easy to access. Every time I get to to go the airport, I get to find a new brewery or restaurant in Columbus, so it’s always a win.

I loved stopped in at other small airports like Milwaukee, Kansas City, Midway, Grand Rapids, Alpena, Pellston, Traverse City, Portland (the biggest small airport on my list), Albuquerque, Roswell, Midland, and even Duluth. These places made it easy to get around and get in/out quickly.

As I anticipate some travel back west by plane, I’m excited to have the small option as my home base. I’m grateful to be only 30-40 minutes from the airport for my future travel and future guests.

What are you grateful for today?

One of my favorite small airports - Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, MI

30 Days of Thanks - Day 6

Today I’m thankful for the area in which I live - South-Southeast Ohio. The topography of Ohio and West Virginia is surprisingly interesting and it’s much more scenic than I ever anticipated. I am thankful for this area and all of the camping, hiking, and scenic drives there are to offer. I’m thankful for weekends so close to cool things so I can get my ass back outside.

My drive to and from work every day is always gorgeous - fall or not. Winding, wide lane roads that roll with hills are just peaceful and beats traffic any day. I get so excited driving to or from work because it’s usually just so enjoyable to look a the rock walls and hills in the distance, covered in trees.

I’ve been marking places to hike and explore and I haven’t been this excited since living just outside of Olympic National Park. I have so many trails within an hour, I don’t even know where to start. There’s camping and a couple-few national parks nearby, too! I’m excited to hike and explore the land on foot.

What are you thankful for today?

Fall reflections

Fall colors

WInding through the woods and rocks

Quiet country roads

Country roads, take me home (My route every work day)

30 Days of Thanks - Day 5

Today I’m thankful for the Great Lakes. It’s a vague and generalized thing to be thankful for, but I could go on forever about each lake that I have experience with and I just don’t have time for that right now. I’m thankful for their beauty and for their resources. I’ve watched countless sunrises and sunsets over the lakes, stared at the stars all night on the beach, and cooled my body on hot summer days for decades. These lakes are just glorious all year.

I’m grateful for a place to sit and think while I listen to the waves crash on shore. I’m thankful for friends who also enjoy these beautiful places along the lakes. When I lived in Texas or New Mexico, I missed being near them so much. While in Oregon and Washington, I had the ocean and it was a great substitute.

The Great Lakes must be protected and cared for, so go see them for yourself and learn how important they are to the world.

Sunset on Park Point in Duluth, MN over Lake Superior

Sunrise over Lake Superior on Park Point in Duluth, MN

Another Lake Superior Sunrise in Duluth, MN

A cold January sunrise in Duluth, MN over a frozen Lake Superior

Lake Huron sunset, 9pm, Seagull Point Park in Rogers City, MI

Lake Huron sunset in the late fall near Rogers City, MI

Lake Huron Sunset near Rogers City, MI featuring a tamarack tree losing needles in late fall

Summer sunset over Lake Michigan in Grand Haven, MI

Sunrise over Lake Michigan in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (from about 2005)

Summer Sunset over Lake Michigan

Waves crashing on a Lake Michigan beach

30 Days of Thanks - Day 4

Today I’m thankful the scenic hiking trails of the Pacific Northwest. It was the dream to live near all of them, and it was the sad reality that work and life get in the way of seeing them as often as I’d have liked. I’m thankful they exist and I’m grateful to have visited so many of them and that there are plenty left for me to see. I’m thankful they feel familiar and like home.

I’m thankful for every hill, view, and friend along the way. I’m thankful for the big trees and the knowledge of the land. The hiking trails out west hit different, and I will always miss living near them. Weirdly, it hurts less living far away from them now than it did before living out there. I still feel very deeply for the big trees, misty mornings, and snow-capped volcanoes. My heart aches for them, but now they’ll be reserved for special trips again only this time with better income, more time, and a new outlook on life. There’s nothing like vacationing to these gorgeous spots.

My appreciation for the expansive and larger-than-life hikes out west only makes me love exploring Appalachia and the Northeast even more. I slept on this region I now call home, and I can’t wait to see it all. Enjoy a few photos and memories from hiking in the PNW.

Cascade Pass - where I hiked up a mountain a few different times to see nothing but clouds. (Um, it was okay, still very cool and emotional and I heard an avalanche once)

Falls Creek Falls - This hike, with one of my most lovely and patient friends, revived my desires to explore and reignited my need for nature. This was a spectacular journey, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

Ecola State Park - Getting to show my best friend a place she’s always wanted to see will never leave my brain. The expansive views of the Oregon Coast have been one of my favorite places since the VERY FIRST moment I saw them in 2008. I’m basically in tears just thinking about this.

Windy Ridge - Have you ever walked on the land forever changed by a recent volcano? See Mt. St. Helens was insane and to think about how it forever changed the ground I was walking on was insane.

Skyline Trail - Hiking around Mt. Rainier is spectacular. Sure, seeing the summit so close you feel you could lick it is neat, but have you looked off in the distance? WOAH.

Mt. Storm King - Nothing prepared my for this hike. Through the gorgeous woods and the reward was the view. Take me back.

30 Days of Thanks - Day 3

Today I’m thankful for this house I rent in this quiet neighborhood in a nice, small town. I have space to breathe, stretch out, store things I love, and have guests for fun visits. I am so thankful to have found a place and that I can afford a house with a deck, garage, basement, and big yard for Chewy.

Back when I moved to Olympia, I had the space and mostly quiet neighborhood. The house was nice, but not like this. Portland was busy, loud, and overwhelming every day I lived there. (I lived there 227 days). I was not doing well with it and wasn’t going to last much longer there. I lived in a busy and noisy part of the neighborhood which started to drive me mad. I miss the people I love in the PNW, but I’m loving my simple and quiet midwest small town life.

I’ve always loved a quiet, suburban town and this is close enough to that here in Lancaster. If I need city life, Columbus is closeby with Cincinnati and Cleveland not too far away either. I can drive 5-6 hours and be in DC, Detroit, Grand Rapids, or almost Chicago or Indy. This place is great and I’m thankful every single day.

30 Days of Thanks - Day 2

Today I’m thankful for this new job and a flexible work schedule that lets me typically work four 10-hour days. The job is more interesting, brought me back to the midwest, and gives me flexibility most weekends. I’ve been learning a lot in the past six weeks, and have a lot more to learn. I’m working hard to make good impressions and navigate my new responsibilities.

This new job is opening doors that have been closed for years and teaching me so much.

30 Days of Thanks - Day 1

Today marks the beginning of November and a month I always try to celebrate how thankful I am for everything that I have. I’ll be doing a short post every day, highlighting something I’m thankful for and I encourage you to comment and do the same. Enjoy!

Today I’m thankful to be back in the Midwest. I’m so grateful to be near my brother, family, and friends in the Midwest and along the east coast. It’s so cool being within driving distance so that more spontaneous events can happen. I hope to visit so many of you and I hope you’ll make the trek to visit me too. The guest room is ready!

All the amazing people aside, there’s also so many good hiking and camping areas around as well so many scenic views. I’m excited to explore completely new-to-me-territory.

What are you thankful for today?

Tuesday Truths

Damn, it’s been a while. Hello again! Here are some hot takes for this fantastic Tuesday. Cheers!

  • Ohio is not as bad as it is made out to be.

  • Ohio State Fans are as annoying as any other football fans, only worse.

  • Moving is the worst thing.

  • Rental homes are all trash, no matter how they dress them up.

  • Commuting is better when it is not in a metro area.

  • Moving is one of the most expensive things you may ever do in your life.

  • Eastern time is the correct time.

  • The Google Pixel 9 XL feels better in the hand than a new iPhone.

  • 9:30 bedtime is literally for toddlers and I feel attacked, but also I’m tired.

  • Meal prep and having a predictable menu all week is the best.

The sunset from my front porch

My brother and his fiance brought a grill!

Thursday Thoughts - I'm Moving On

I started to write this post many times and my feelings vacillated between teary eyed and completely pumped. I have such mixed and complicated feelings around the topic of home, so it’s not surprising to have all of these emotions. “Home is where your rump rests” —Pumbaa

I’m trying to tell myself this wasn’t a waste of money, because it took a lot of money to be here. I’m trying to tell myself that it’s okay to not want something you thought you wanted for over 15 years. I don’t know where I’d be if I had been able to stay in Olympia longer, but that didn’t happen and this is the way the cookie has crumbled. Life kept going, no matter the circumstances, and it’s led me to this moment.

Me in front of the glorious Mt. Rainier

I tried new things. I tried to love Portland and the people of Portland. I tried new versions of myself. I tried alternate timelines and wild-to-me things. I tried. All of the trying made me feel weird and invalid. All of these mishaps brought me back to who I am - the outdoorsy, generally unaware, golden retriever that I am. I have no regrets because I tried things I knew I would have never tried before. I have no regrets because I learned from every experience and relationship I’ve had while being in the Pacific Northwest. I’ve made some genuinely wonderful friends and I’m glad to have them yet sad to leave them.

“I’m not sure my brand of outdoorsy is right for the area” is a thought I’ve had many times living here. I’m not super ambitious these days - more of a lazy outdoors person. I saw myself going out every weekend and exploring as often as possible. Well, reality always hits and it’s not always that simple. Depression, anxiety, burnout, time, costs, friends, other plans, crowds, and distance have all been factors in my lack of doing certain things I thought I wanted. I could sit here and make the excuses, but I’ll just admit that it wasn’t as easy as I thought to just go somewhere and do the damn thing.

I’ve wanted to live in the Pacific Northwest since 2008 when I first visited with my pals on our second big spring break road trip. I’ve wanted to live in Portland since 2013, and seriously considered it in 2014. I applied for jobs all over Oregon from 2009 onward and had several interviews, but nothing ever worked out. When I moved in to my apartment in January, in the middle of a blizzard (I’ve done that before, btw), I thought it was great. As I settled in, and the temperatures warmed, I noticed things that started to slowly drive me batshit crazy and I couldn’t wait to finish my lease and get out to the suburbs or rural area. The city is really not for me, and I learned that lesson living in a super busy area with thousands of people concentrated around me. I don’t like driving, parking, or dodging people with crazy dogs. I don’t like hearing my dumpster being emptied at 3:00 AM. I don’t enjoy not having an outdoor space of my own or paying an exorbitant amount for parking.

As the year crept forward and my general disdain for the city grew, I also realized I wasn’t saving as much or paying debt off fast enough and I needed a change. I started with a plan to move to Vancouver, WA with a roommate to save more money and have more space. That plan seemed perfect, until I realized I still wouldn’t be saving enough. After a chat with my dear friends, I made a new plan to move to Michigan to stay with them and get life back on track to where I thought I needed to be. As it turned out, life had other plans for me. I was contacted about a job in Ohio doing something that intrigued me, so I applied and interviewed. Fast forward a few weeks to accepting the job and packing my life for a move back to the Midwest in a different way than I had originally planned. I’m excited to be closer to my people, near the Great Lakes, and to be in an area that is a little more quiet and rural. I will genuinely miss those who made Portland and the Pacific Northwest feel like home to me.

I have no idea what Ohio will bring for me, but I do know I’m ready to start the journey and see what happens. I will always visit the PNW, as I have for all the years before but now I’ll have people to see and stay with when I visit. I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue this life and try something new. If you’re in the Midwest and want to get outside or hangout, you know how to reach me! Happy trails.

I haven't been to Ohio since 2007? 2008? This photo is from 2006 or 2007 on an adventure to Cedar Point in Sandusky.

I'll miss the PNW but I think it'll be fine without me. (Olympia, WA 2023)

Tuesday Truths - Summer Stinks!

I’m just living my truth about summer.

  • Summer is only good when you’re not in Texas. (I hate hot weather)

  • Sweet relish should be illegal (I’ve been tricked too many times)

  • Burgers without cheese have no place in my home

  • Hot dogs should have black on them

  • Sweet pickles should also be illegal

  • For hot dogs, yellow mustard is superior

  • Your fireworks look like shit

  • Marshmallows should not be burnt, just brown

  • It’s not a s’more without chocolate (Hershey’s plain chocolate)

  • Night swims are superior to day swims

  • Midnight walks or bike rides in the summer are the best

Tuesday Truths - Holiday Edition

Here are my hot takes on US holidays that no one asked for including my ranking:

  1. Christmas/Winter Solstice

  2. New Years

  3. My Birthday

  4. Halloween

  5. Thanksgiving

  6. Labor Day

  7. Memorial Day

  8. Independence Day

  • Thought I’m not a religious person, I love Christmas and I think many others do too because of the light and sparkle so maybe I really just like Winter Solstice? I think Xmas took all of the things about a Winter Solstice celebration anyway, so they go hand-in-hand.

  • Halloween/fall in general is nice because of the spooky factor, cooler weather, decor, and traditions. We love a reason to celebrate the onset of cooler weather and to tell scary stories around a campfire.

  • Thanksgiving ranks a little lower only because I think we should do this quarterly and not once a year and only for the food/friends/family, not the whole pilgrim thing. I should start implementing a quarterly Friendsgiving. I’m grateful all year.

  • My Birthday is actually more important than all summer buillshit holidays because summer holidays are not real. Celebrate accordingly.

  • Summer is either hell (in Texas, etc) or should be celebrated with gusto every day a person has off (places with nice summers).

  • I actually think the birthdays of friends and fall equinox are far more important than any bullshit summer holiday.

  • I didn’t include Easter because I don’t think it’s a paid holiday at work and I don’t celebrate it other than eating clearance candy (which I can do all year).

  • Fourth of July is the worst because of amateur fireworks and arrogant people who think they’re good at amateur fireworks. Between the jump factor and obnoxious smells alone, I’m over it two days before it even happens. Don’t even get me started on fireworks and forest fires… *head desk*

  • Memorial and Labor Days are fine, yay for a corporate day off, but why not just have 4-day work weeks all year instead of trying to recreate at the local lake with everyone and their brother one long weekend at a time?

  • I’ve worked for companies that have given me MLK Day, Presidents Day, Good Friday, and the days after T-giving/Xmas off. I have no real opinion on these days.

  • Federal holidays are weird in general because we’re not supposed to be a Christian nation yet our recognized days are mostly Christian in nature. As a godless heathen, I don’t really care why we get days off, as long as I can enjoy them.

Tuesday Truths

Here’s some more unsolicited opinions or facts, maybe both at the same time. I know, no one asked for this…

  • Arkansas (and surrounding areas) are absolutely not “it” in the summer months

  • Liking Dr. Pepper is not a personality.

  • Online training is superior to in-person training. (mostly because I don’t have to wear pants)

  • Pet rent should be illegal.

  • Wind chimes are either soothing/beautiful or absolutely the most annoying thing ever. There is no in between.

  • Every body is a summer or beach body.

  • Apartments in Texas do not need fireplaces. Period. What a waste of space.

  • Apartments and homes in the PNW should have central heating/cooling, it’s 2024.

  • I imagine skinny backpackers have lighter packs because I’ve seen some of the setups with their foldable foam sleeping mats. Y’all can have it. I’m way too heavy for that shit.

  • I only like DFW because it’s familiar and there are familiar things there. That’s it. I no longer fall victim to thinking I could live there again knowing how much I hated the summers and lack of anything interesting within 2-3 hours.

  • Once you start getting plants, it’s hard to stop. (Unless you kill them all)

Thursday Thoughts

I have to make my own happiness. This doesn’t mean I can’t have help from others, or rely on them sometimes, but I need to work within to bring my own natural joy out first and foremost.

I’ve been kind of letting the negative in life take me out. The chores, the absurd cost of living, and various doom around the globe have infiltrated my joy. So, I am working to compartmentalize and to have a duality - I can be frustrated about things but still enjoy other things. I can hate the way people are destroying one another in various ways, but I’m still allowed to enjoy the sunrise or various cultural events.

I have recently started walking to the Tillikum Crossing bridge in the morning. I’m trying my damndest to see the sunrise as often as possible, and it’s paying off. Having an objective that brings me joy adds a level of contentment to my whole day. Seeing that bridge with cotton candy clouds gives me a physical reaction I can’t hide - a big smile. I get giddy with a sunrise, and I want to feel that way about more things.

Seek things that make you feel good, even if things are on fire around you. Secure your own oxygen mask first, and then help others with theirs. It’s not selfish to do things to make yourself feel good, despite what we were made to believe.

Tuesday Truths - National Park Edition

Here are some unsolicited opinions (MY TRUTHS lol) on the topic of lands managed by the National Park Service.

  • Gateway Arch will never be a national park.

  • Cedar Breaks National Monument is prettier than other places in Utah.

  • Having to make camping reservations 6 months in advance to avoid them being sold out is a fucking nightmare.

  • The need to get “the shot” for social media is ruining the world and National Parks. People have turned into total monsters for a photo. I’m not mad that people are actually get out to these beautiful places, but I am mad at some bad eggs who make it miserable for many others. Also, stop parking like total fuckwads.

  • Olympic National Park is superior to other national parks because it has mountains, rivers, rainforests, regular forests, ocean beaches, petroglyphs, lakes, and waterfalls.

  • Death Valley is one of the best national parks and I don’t think enough people believe that fact.

  • Mt. Rainier is cool, but have you been to the national forest land around it?

  • Crater Lake is a deep lake that looks really pretty at sunrise. Again, have you been to the national forest lands around the park?

  • The hike to Delicate Arch is always worth it.

  • Sand Dune Arch is under appreciated.

  • Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is one of the most spectacularly underrated NPS sites.

  • If you haven’t gone to Redwood State and National Parks, you should. Go see the trees that tower higher than buildings in your hometown and tell me we don’t need to do everything in our power to protect them. Take this same mindset and go visit Sequoia/Kings Canyon too and marvel at the trees.

  • The North Rim of the Grand Canyon is the best rim in the park.

  • Bryce Canyon looks even cooler in the winter.

Tuesday Truths

Here are some more of my “truths” or opinions or whatever you want to call them. You didn’t ask for them, but I’m providing them anyway.

  • Being cold is better than being hot. Always. I’d rather have to add layers than be miserable and sweaty.

  • Freshly ground coffee is better than any other form of coffee.

  • I love the sound of a vinyl being played, but the whole concept is just pretentious and snobby now.

  • Mornings along a river in Montana are superior.

  • Earl Grey is the superior caffeinated tea.

  • iPhones are no longer innovative and are now just a money grab. (and that’s coming from ME “mr. new phone every year”)

  • Being overly cautious seems as dangerous as not being overly cautious - you just have more anxiety.

  • Children do not belong at breweries, distilleries, or bars. I was raised in a bar, I would know.

  • The outdoor places are overrun by snobby assholes who can’t say “on your left” when biking past you. Prove me wrong, I dare you!