Oh geez, life has been BUSY lately. The end of Microsoft’s fiscal year and the end of the calendar year are the busiest times for me at work, add to that the fact that I’m planning my 10 year high school reunion which is taking place mid-July, and family stuff, and graduations, and birthdays, and the usual summer activities (yay summer!), and growing out my bangs, and everything else. things have been a little overwhelming (cue the reunion-related stress dreams).
At least it’s been really, really nice out in Seattle the past few months. No June-u-ary to be had this year. That’s meant that I’ve got to be outside a lot and also, randomly, see a ton of bald eagles lately. Let me tell you about some of the best sightings!
‘MERICA 1:
During the summer a group of us go to Brinnon, WA whenever we can to camp at Josh’s family’s property. The weekends are always filled with fresh, grilled seafood, sore backs from sleeping in cars, too many beers, and campfire mishaps. We try and make it to Brinnon over Memorial Day Weekend so that we can go to Shrimp Fest, which is super dinky but there are belt sander races, and a beer garden, and fried food, so really it’s perfect. Weekends in Brinnon always include a million bald eagle sightings. During this last trip I learned that Juvenile Bald Eagles don’t have white heads and tails. They’re still huge though, and once you know what they look like they’re super easy to spot. There were a few bald eagles that soared over our camp site all weekend.
Also, while camping, I pet this very scary looking dog and I discovered that SmartWool socks with Birkenstocks is the MOST magical, comfortable combo ever.
‘MERICA 2:
A few weekends ago Dustin and I decided to escape the city heat and head out to Rattlesnake Lake for the day. Dustin grilled hotdogs on his portable grill, I drank rose spritzers, and we fed ducks by hand. More importantly though, THIS is when we saw the MOST majestic bald eagle sighting of them all! EVER! There were eagles soaring overhead and at one point one was directly over our heads and then quickly turned around, dove down and caught a fish from the water right in front of us and flew away with the fish in its talons!!!! Merica for the win! Expired sunscreen not for the win though, because we both ended up with really severe sunburns :(:(((
‘MERICA 3:
Two weekends ago, Dustin and I went to Hood River for the night. Driving on i84 from Portland to Hood River I saw two bald eagles fly over head. That drive is super beautiful to begin with, add a little America goodness and it was like adding sprinkles on your ice cream cake! So much goodness. When I got to Hood River, I met Dustin and his childhood BFF + his wife for taco pizza and beers. Dustin and I then met up with Gaby who was graduating from college that weekend (!!!!!!) and we ran into an old high school friend of mine, Adrienne, on the street and ended up grabbing drinks with everyone.
Saturday morning was hot. Dustin and I got breakfast sandwiches then morning beverages and walked around downtown Hood River before he had to leave for a family thing and I had a hair appointment. Insert gratuitous post-cut selfie here:
After my hair appointment I drove to Portland where I stayed with my cousin Tad and his lovely S/O, Kelsie for the night. We met up with our other cousin and his family for Mexican food at a hole-in-the-wall with outdoor seating and then drinks on their patio, during which Tad ran into our cousin’s screen door and kinda broke it and I laughed harder than I’ve laughed in a really long time. We also listened to this song really loud in Kelsie’s Land Rover (“DRIVE USSSS, KELSIE!”).
The next morning after breakfast covered in gravy, we went to my uncle Bert’s house (per my demand) where we drank ice cold Keystone Lights on his patio until I had to leave for graduation. Gaby graduated from PSU and I got to sit with our good friend Dan and his daughter Allison during the ceremony. After graduation we all had dinner together and I didn’t get back to Seattle until like 11:30pm. #exhausted #worthit
‘MERICA 4:
I often see bald eagles on my way to and from work. They like to sit on top of light posts on the west end of the 520 bridge. A high point in my very long, very traffic-y commute which is totally worth it because I love living in Seattle and I love working at Microsoft. Being a young professional is pretty cool.
Oh, and bonus (similar) ‘Merica! Last weekend Natalie, Josh, Katie and I went to the Washington Brewer’s Festival in Redmond where we made friends with the guys pouring the White Salmon-area beers and found out that “locals drink for free!” yay! On our way over to Redmond, we saw a bald eagle soaring over Lake Washington.
So yes, lots of America! Lots of friendship! Lots of Summertime goodness! PS, I ordered this tank online the other day. Fingers crossed it gets here by the 4th of July. Counting down the days until my favorite holiday + a much needed long weekend! Oh and I’m also counting down until the end of MSFT’s Fiscal Year too (June 30th, Hey-O!). Kbye4now!
