I'm told it's all in the ATTITUDE

The night after my birthday, I decided I'd try to get some extra sleep and go to bed early. 10:30pm or so. I know, real early, right? As I had just barely drifted to sleep I was jolted awake by the sound of a car alarm. Now, this wasn't super alarming (no pun intended) as this is not entirely unheard of (again, no pun). This is thanks to the ultra-sensitive and ultra-annoying multi-sound alarm across the street.

At second thought - it sounded pretty familiar. My head popped up off my pillow and I dashed out to the living room where Michael was on the computer. "Did you hear that? It sounded like my car alarm..."

He threw on a jacket, bolted out the condo door and down the stairs to the covered carport while I watched from behind the side of the blinds in my bedroom window. Then my heart sunk as he motioned up to me to grab my phone. Uncertain if there was still someone next to my car, we called 911. Before the police arrived, we had discovered that they had already ran away leaving my driver's side window smashed and a massive amount of tiny little glass pieces all over the inside of my car like snow on Christmas Eve. My center console was open and debris was tossed all about. Several cars down, a neighbor was less fortunate and had both side windows of their 2-door coupe shattered and even more belongings tossed around.

Several cop cars and one canine unit later, we were told there was no evidence they could use. And although we could file a police report, there was likely no way we could identify who the culprit was. Apparently this part of town is divided between two local gangs and all property within range is free game to be tagged, broken and sometimes even stolen. Funny how that piece of information isn't willingly offered during a condo sale agreement....note taken to research police reports.
Of course, this left me in a fury. How is it that "these kids" could break windows costing owners hundreds of dollars, take personal property and then just skip away scot-free? (Yes, I'm pretty sure they skipped.) Probably leaving them more confident for next-time around. And there's absolutely nothing we can do about it? Nothing besides not park in my reserved and covered parking space? Nothing besides emptying the contents of my car every evening and locking up the steering wheel with a Club?? Letting them..... WIN??? Nuh uh.

Well, the irony in it struck me the next afternoon as I sat in Quality Auto Glass' old and very used waiting room. Just enough space for three chairs and a table full of old magazines. There was a framed quote up on the wall, pointed out by the very kind mechanic, that talked about "Attitude." This was the piece that I remember:

It's 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react.

So I took that little piece of wisdom and decided to make a list of all the good things that have come from my car being broken into. Here is the Top 10.

1. The inside of my car has finally been vacuumed clean.
2. The perpetrator now has discs 4 through 9 of "Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship At A Time," a well-known audio book by Keith Ferrazzi. Hopefully, they learn something from this. 
3. They can now charge their iPod while driving and simultaneously listen to it through an audio cable. Now THAT's one high tech burglar!  
4. I got to work from home, on my couch, while sitting in my sweats right up until my Auto Glass appointment.
5. I made friends with a very lovely local police officer named Officer Kohn, and had an educational discussion about the happenings of juvenile punishment in the Seattle metro area.
6. I met some new neighbors (in their pajamas) and bonded with old ones.
7. I now have the chance to get darker tint on my front windows - take that you interstate pervs!
8. I now, more thoroughly, appreciate a nice solid atuo glass window - very underrated, mind you. Especially going 60 in 40 degree weather.
9. It didn't rain once while I had no window. And we're in SEATTLE!!! What are the odds??
10. I still have a car.

The Help

In hopes to keep my road rage ay bay during my hour commute into work and hour drive home every day - I've started listening to audiobooks. In just a matter of about two weeks, I finished the 18+ hour audiobook for The Help by Kathryn Stockett.

The book takes place in Jackson, Mississippi in the early 1960s during the height of racial segregation. It is narrated in the perspective of three southern women - one white, young woman who has just returned home from graduating college and two black women who are maids for middle to upper class white families. What caught my attention about this book was that it not only provided the point of view of various lives, it also wove in significant historical moments in a way that makes you feel like you have lived through them.

When Skeeter returns from college to find her beloved maid, Constantine, is gone she does what she can to find answers. In the process, she is exposed to a whole new world that exists in Jackson, MS - the ugliness of racial segregation and cruelty of hate crimes. And she crosses lines that turn much of the town against her as she fights for what is right in the only way she knows how - writing.

The touching storylines and various points of view were very captivating and the three female narrators were top-notch. The southern accents portrayed in the audiobook version is something you definitely do not get from reading the printed book. Although I would undoubtedly recommend this book to anyone, I highly recommend listening to the audiobook. It had me thinking and occasionally speaking in a southern accent!

So what are you waiting for? Go out an get this ASAP!

Holiday Cards!

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New TravelBugPhoto Website!

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This new website showcases photos from travels around the world - Landscapes, Animals, Cuisine, Portraits, Architecture, and Botanical. And it provides contact information on how you can order your very own TravelBugPhoto photo! :)

Check it out and give your feedback!

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An Air Force Graduation!

Just recently I was so fortunate enough to head to Texas for my brother's graduation for the Air Force Basic Training. This is an 8 1/2 week program to weed out the weak and give all Air Force members a basic knowledge to then move on to their specialties.

The trip kicked off with a 4 AM wake up (let me call out that this is CENTRAL time, not a good time change for a west-coaster). We headed to Lackland AFB for an early Airman's Run and a later Coin Ceremony to kick off the graduation weekend.

Let me begin by saying that this was the first time that we had seen my dear brother since he entered the physically rigorous program 8+ weeks earlier. An hour or so after the Airman's run and on the way back from concessions, my mom and I walked past a line of Airmen in their dress blues when one smiled at her with a formal "Good morning, ma'am." After a quick passing, I stopped my mom who had continued to casually walk back to our seats to say "That was Scott!" With utter disbelief and a confused look on her face, this was the moment it became clear to me that my own mother had not even recognized her own son as he had marched by. Maybe it was the uniform, the shaved head or the unbelievable physical transformation - but it happened. And I laughed.

We sat through the Coin Ceremony rich with Air Force traditions as they played the National Anthem, gave speeches and handed out specialized Air Force coins to all the trainees turned Airman.

After the ceremony, the Airman were ordered to remain at their position until family members had met them. That first mutually tearful hug made the entire trip. And a very sincere and direct "I'm so glad you're here" broke my sad attempt to keep it together.

After greeting everyone, we headed into the auditorium for the Honors Graduate Ceremony - because, yes, my little brother graduated with honors! This requires being in the top 10% of 611 Airmen/Airwomen graduating from this round of basic training.

Afterwards, there was some serious business to be taken care of. This involved tracking down a Reese's cup and Snapple and consuming them at record speed. See, a huge part of Basic Training involves very strict rules. A trainee cannot go anywhere or do anything without being directed to do so by their Military Training Instructor - a new pretty term for Drill Sargent. So when an Airman gets free reign to eat, drink, or go anywhere else on base besides dorms and drill pads, they go a little crazy!

Exhibit A:

Post-scarf and with Base Liberty for the day, we toured around Lackland AFB to check out the several Mini Malls on the base as well as a comprehensive tour of all the various places the squadron has had to run, do drills, complete crazy tasks, etc.

The next day consisted of the Graduation Parade where the Airmen and women were sworn in. The ceremony consisted of a marching band, flags, more traditional AF songs, and speeches from some very decorated Air Force members.

Post-graduation parade, we were able to meet up and explore the Squadron's dorm to see where they've been sleeping for the last 8 1/2 weeks and to see what they've been cleaning daily. :) I do have to say there is nothing like the military to help a fella get organized. Check out this tidy space!

After exploring base, we were able to abscond with our newly graduated Airman on his Towne-Liberty pass for the day portion of two and a half days. We explored several off base military stores, did some shopping and OF COURSE visited the Alamo and the Riverwalk nestled in downtown San Antonio, TX. All very amazing. Here are some pictures from those ventures:

Likely in part to the several 4 am wakeups, the trip seemed to be a long break from reality. It was so amazing to see family and to be able to witness this graduation which is so symbolic of all the hard work and effort dedicated in the last 8 weeks. To see how it's transformed my brother in such a great way is so amazing. I'm so proud of my little brother for having the drive and dedication to not only make it through this training but to pass with flying colors!

Congrats, Scottie and I wish you the very best in your upcoming technical training.

Reestablishing TravelBugPhoto!

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Mazama - The Northern Cascades

When my dear Bethanne booked a weekend trip to Mazama in the Northern Cascades and invited me, I was unsure at first whether to head out of town for the third weekend in a row but I asked myself.... When have I ever turned down a trip? NEVER! And I'm so glad I went!

For those of you who have never seen the Northern Cascades - you're missing out!! It's so beautiful and a very good breather from city life. We took our time on the several hour drive up, stopping along the way at Cascadia Organic Farms to get ice cream and some goodies as well as an incredible view point of Diablo Lake and the dam.

Once checked into our very remote cabin in the very small town of Mazama (literally a couple buildings), we began enjoying the quiet right next to the pool in the warmth of the sun. :) While we were there, we enjoyed the amazing food at the one and only restaurant in Mazama (conveniently located down the hall from our room), checked out the hot tub and explored the dirt roads that weave through the area.

One day consisted of checking out Winthrop which is a larger town down the highway. My condo definitely benefited from this trip - my bank account, not so much. Lots of good finds though. And what would a trip to the Northern Cascades be without checking out a local winery?? We stopped by the Lost River tasting room for a full tasting of their wines and, to stay true to myself, I walked out with a couple bottles.

To get away from the crowds in town, we also took a drive up Hart's Pass and Dead Mule Pass to hike on part of the Pacific Crest Trail with some friends. And I can't begin to describe how beautiful it was! Up in the fields, wild flowers were still blooming and my camera LOVED it! There's something about being out in the wilderness that is so refreshing. It brings you back in balance and gives your mind a rejuvenation from the craziness that life can be. Another trip like this is definitely in the cards soon!

Here are just some of the many pictures I took on this trip.

Link to more pictures: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2010695&id=149200395&l=e6070818bc

A Florida Wedding & Fun!

Apologies for running a bit behind, but I wanted to be sure to blog about the lovely Florida wedding I attended for my lovely Aunt Kris AND the fun little vacation we had while staying in Florida for a week. So here is the abridged version.... although, I'm sure it will be long enough (we WERE there a week, ya know). If it is any consolation, there are a lot of pictures. :)

After flying into Tampa and making an overnight stop at our home base of St. Pete's Beach (one of the many islands that strings along the Gulf side of Florida), my mom, her boyfriend and I make the quick jaunt to the place that all children dream about and many parents dread. Fortunately, there were no children with us - unless, that is, you count me being a goofball about seeing.... DISNEY WORLD! We checked into a hotel in the town of Kissimmee, FL and made our way to the very magical Magic Kingdom. We hit all the big rides (Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, you name it), we rode the train around the park, ate the yummy and extraordinarily overpriced food and, of course, watched all the Disney characters as they strutted down Main Street during the daily parades. Here are some pictures from our Disney fun:

THEN the next day we visited some place even more MAGICAL - Epcot! Don't get me wrong, I love a nice Disney character as much as the next guy, but Epcot was AWESOME! There was a nice amount of fun rides (although, I do admit I almost vomited on MISSION: Space) including Sorin' which takes you with a bird's eye view across California blasting the scent of oranges and pine trees at you AND Test Drive which is a replica of the GM tests they run on all their prototype vehicles - pretty spiffy. My favorite part; however, was the back half of the park where there is a lake surrounded by 11 country duplicates. Everyone showed up to play - Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Italy, United States, Japan, Morocco, France, United Kingdom and Canada. It was a blast! We grabbed una cervesa en Mexico, a German beer and pretzel in Germany, gelato in Italy... this place is otherwise know as Jessie's Heaven. Here are some Epcot pictures:

THE WEDDING

Ok, now to the wedding part. :) We drove back the night before the Rehearsal. My mom, grandma and I prior to the rehearsal went for some very important business - mani's and pedi's!!! DUH! Afterwards, it was time for the Rehearsal and Rehearsal Dinner. It was so great to see more family and friends.

Bride-to-be, Mother of the Bride, Sista of the Bride and Niece of the Bride:

The day of the wedding consisted of a Ladies Brunch (and, of course, a Dude's thang at a bar down the street which we do not speak of).

...and then an unexpected parasail through the Gulf of Mexico with some amazing ladies....

...and then WEDDING TIME!! We got ready, took some pictures and before you know it, Ms. Kristen Johnson walked down the isle to meet Mr. Rick Avila. Let the pictures speak for itself....

The wedding was beautiful and everyone looked stunning. We were fortunate enough to have a sunny day (although very toasty), to skip the random tropical storms that hit the coast that week, and on top of that have an amazing sunset. The wedding was followed by a happy hour and then a DELICIOUS reception dinner at Patrick's (Patrick not only owns the restaurant but was also the minister - two birds with one stone!).

POST WEDDING

After recovering from the lovely wedding, we explored the Gulf coast a little by driving north to Clearwater, FL. The Gulf coast in this area is lined with tons of small islands all connected with small bridges. Very cool to see. Once we were north in Clearwater, we explored the pier (covered in pelicans and seagulls) and docks - we were lucky enough to see both a manatee and a pod of dolphins from the pier. Shortly after we were caught in a torrential downpour. And I mean TORRENTIAL. Coming from Seattle, I've never seen anything like this... it dropped 3-4 inches of rain in about 5-10 minutes! Florida means business when it rains. Here are some pictures of our last bit of time in Florida:

Later that evening, we absconded with my grandma in a "beach chair" to get her down to the Gulf of Mexico to get her feet in the sand and in the water. It was quite a site, I do have to say....

And then we ended the trip, yet again, with some beach relaxation and then back at Harry's Beach Bar... *sigh* What an awesome vacation and getaway from reality. Thanks, Aunt Kris, for having your wedding in such an amazing location! hehe. :)