stay at Hummel

Thursday:

Got up and did my makeup super pretty like because I was going to get my driver's license! Packed up my ID and some mail I've received to prove my address, and off I went to the Port Townsend DMV. I was gearing up to suffer but...there was one person in front of me in line. I sat for all of 45 seconds and then I was up! The guy working was jovial. Since I was already in the Washington system, it was just a matter of updating my info. Though I neglected to update my weight. Oh well. But yeah! It went super fast and painless. Just had to pay up and I got several tries at the photo. I look all dark haired and dark browed and pink lipsticked. Different from my brown reddish hair in my Cali license. Though I made a point to wear my same necklace and shirt in both photos. I wonder how long I can keep that look going?

I swung by QFC and got some food stuffs, including supplies to try this chicken crock pot recipe. Then back home I went! I got the chicken going and I did the watering of plants and some laundry and took it easy. Did some work from home. The chicken was buffalo chicken and I think I added too much sauce, or not enough chicken, but it shredded all right. Didn't eat it till the next day though.

Friday:

Had a hard time getting out of bed because I was feeling down, but I eventually got up,

Ate some green beans and hash browns for breakfast with coffee. Watered plants and put put slug bait. I tied some strings to the green beans to get them to stretch up and over to the trellis. When they start clinging, I'll cut those lines. Just don't want them to flop on the ground, ya know?

Did some more work from home. Marcus came over for a visit. I heated up the shredded buffalo chicken and put it over rice and yum yum so good! Then we watched The Fifth Element, which he had never seen! And it was fun to watch it with someone who hadn't seen it, because I was able to see if with sort of fresh eyes because that movie was such a convergence of stars aligning in terms of actors and time and place, but also totally amazing what Luc Besson pulled off because his director track record is all over the place with some really not amazing movies. So yeah, that was fun!

Nice to have company and chat about things. Marcus is good for chatting.

adult responsibilities

Three nice mellow days.

Monday:

Slept in. Let my body rest. Sat in the sun and listened to podcasts. Just took it nice and easy. Also made a doctor’s appointment! Go me being an adult and stuff!

Tuesday:

Another mellow day. It was a little bit colder so I got a good sleep, instead of thrashing about all sweaty. Had some noodles and then met Ma & Pa at Pho T&N and had more noodles! The Pho place redecorated and it looks nice. Nothing new to report to mom and dad, but they had some stuff to deliver to me so we met up. If I don’t order stuff, when ever will I see them?

Then we saw Spy, and Ma giggled throughout. Dad also got a few good guffaws. It was still good the second time around. Two thumbs up for Spy!

Got home at night and tucked into bed at a reasonable hour.

Wednesday:

Got out of bed late. Had a small breakfast and coffee in my new Things I Bought at Sheetz mug (you know that youtube show I’m an associate producer for?). Then I dug up this old RedBubble gift certificate that I never cashed in and took a gander at stickers. I didn’t order any, but wow I could get a lot of stickers!!

I did some work from home too. eBay drafts and whatnot.

I also looked up the steps to getting a Washington license and it looks like I don’t even need to take the test again, so I may just go to the Port Townsend DMV tomorrow and get that sorted. I’ll do my makeup all pretty and look legit. So long California ID, hello Washingtonian once again!!

Watered plants. My house still feels weird after having all the guests. So many minor rearrangements make massive differences.

Listened to podcasts. My time suddenly got busy with Marcus coming to hang out on Friday and a Bodi weekend and other plans. Nice to be busy! And I reconnected on Facebook with Yasuaki, one of my Japan host mother’s sons. The one I hung out with and saw the bodies exhibit in Kanazawa with. 

That was ten years ago!!

Fourth with Friends and Family

The 4^th of July felt like a really good success! It was a long, busy, fun day with plenty of good company and I’m still tired from it all!

Heather and Daniel arrived at just a bit after 10. I celebrated their arrival with sparklers. And we shot off roman candles across the clear water after dark. That was fun. The water and stones under the water were illuminated. And we stayed up late chatting and drawing and it’s so great to hang with friends.

Heat woke us up early. I got coffee going and we walked down to the beach and caught up with Ma and Pa. It was decided we’d take a quick swim before breakfast, so we got our swimming gear on and in we went! It was a nice, quick dip and the water was perfect. Warm enough with a few cold patches to remind us of what we are truly in.

Dad made poached eggs on toast, but sans the usual melted cheese. Perfectly poached goodness enjoyed on the porch. We did a bit more hanging out. Heather and I walked along the beach. Well, we walked IN the water along the beach. I pointed out a starfish and decorator crabs. When we got back to the house, there were snacks and hot dogs. We ate heartily. Justin and Jen arrived at around 1pm and we got to greetings and more hot dogs and a couple beers. Then it was time for the second swim! The serious swim! Daniel and I brought down the paddle boat. Justin and Jen kayaked, Mom kayaked, Dan kayaked, I floated on the inner tube, and did some snorkeling (after I got my snorkel from Mom, who was using it), and drank beer in the tube (in a can, not a glass) and chatted with Heather and generally enjoyed being oh so very warm in the sun. I hauled in the gear, took a hearty shower, and greeted Amy and Linda and Ryan and Sister Pine and Taylor and Reed! And then it was a full party, with a smorgasbord of healthy veggies and meats and salad and crab to put on the salad and skewers (I was full before I could get to a skewer) and later in the evening, after playing with Reed and Taylor (Amy and Ryan’s kids) (after they had got their swim in) we had apple pie and ice cream and chocolate cake. A marathon of food.

Heather and Daniel departed us early, but it was wonderful to have them up if oh so briefly. They’re great people, and Heather is an honorary Pedersen-Spencer.

After food was consumed to bursting point, we washed dishes (Sister Pine helped me dry and put them away) and toys were put away and finally we agreed that YES it was time to launch fireworks! Down to the beach we went. I gave smoke bombs to Taylor and Reed and had them place them and then I would light them (safety!) and I gave out sparklers. Dad pulled in the raft so that we could use it as a launching platform. I was his helper. Celia contributed a few fountains, and a few were very uber! It was a good blend of Roman Candles and fountains going PEEWW ZCHEEWWWW ffzzzzt BOOM and the six mortars I bought going way way up and way way bright! First year we had those, and to great effect. They encompassed the sky and got applause. At the end I was like “who wants more?” and I got applause and I said “I can’t hear yoooou!!!” and got more applause and repeated “I can’t hear yooou!” and got even MORE applause, and after a finale cheer after a finale demand of “I CAN’T HEAR YOUUU!!!” I lit the last fountain, though in truth the last firework will never be as good as the second to last firework.

What an amazing night! Kids were up past their bed time, I burnt my thumb on the lighter and banged my toes on the bolt on the raft, we all ate so much, and met new people, and met old friends, and yeah. It was just wonderful and the right amount of people and everyone got along. Wonderful.

The people who slept over with Jen and Justin, Ma and Pa, and me in the house by myself. I woke up tired and sore and lay still in bed for a while, and coffee didn’t wake me up, and an energy drink didn’t wake me up. Only a late afternoon nap really revived me.

Breakfast was an egg casserole with left over veggies and shrimp (yum!) with scones (YUM!) and watermelon (I assume yum) and jam on the scones. Wonderful after party food.

Jen took another dip, I sat and chatted with Justin, Ma and Pa packed up, I did some drawings and gave them to J & J. They departed. Ma and Pa departed. I realized Taylor left a bag but they were still at Linda’s cabin so I departed and dropped off the bag (it had a glasses case and library books, so important stuff!) and some sparklers because I’m a good influence on kids like that. I got to pet Gabriel, Linda’s dog, some more. Sweet lil puppy.

Then back to my house for some major relaxation. What a perfect holiday! Outside of me getting a few injuries, and Daniel also getting a few cuts, nothing went wrong.