"In the Field"

Good Morning Rainier!

It simply doesn't get much better than this!

Cool, crisp air fills the nostrils as the sun emerges to illuminate this sleeping giant. Who could ask for more?

The Class (above)

The Pro (below) 

Randall Hodges, professional photographer.

A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.

This man's passion for the outdoors and capturing the essence of the beauty God placed before us in unparallelled. He gave attention to the group as a whole, as well as taking special care to individually instruct and assist each one present. Since my camera was LACKING greatly compared to all the rest...I had the privelage of being Randall's "shadow" in order to learn to operate a professional grade camera. I had it in my mind to obtain one prior to the class...but now that I've had the lesson, I am 100% hooked. I am obsessed with getting my Cannon 50D...

Randall taught me how to optimize my little Sony though, and I spent the rest of the weekend maxing out it's capabilities as I hiked around Rainier taking in God's artwork.

A beautiful buck!

Wildflowers

A snowy trail from the top.

Very questionable whether or not I wanted to brave this trail as it was VERY steep and slick. (duh!)

Okay...so I made it past the first little portion. You can see the many places along this path where people did slip and slide probably 20-30 feet though!

Here you can see how steep it actually was...and I caught someone who was in the process of sliding down the little glacier lol. (I probably would have been laughing had it been myself...so I can "lol"!)

I made it to the end of the snowy part!

My self-pic with the magnificent view behind me.

Another of natures very interesting creatures...a marmot catching some rays on a rock.

It was like he was posing for me!

All great things must come to an end and this day was no exception.

I found a marvelous spot to shoot sunset...unfortunately, my baby camera didn't capture it as well as I would have liked, but it did the best it could!

The next day I did make it to the opposite side...the North side of the mountain, but the weather was not near as cooperative. In fact, I hiked about 5 miles from the Sunrise parking area. When I left, it was 61 degrees. In the middle of my hike, the fog rolled in so quickly that I could only see the trail in front of me and not much else. It cleared periodically, but by the time I got back to the lodge, it was raining and 39 degrees! It was amazing to observe the fog rolling across the trail as quickly as it was. I've never seen anything like it! I have always layered up for my hikes and taken extra clothes and rain gear with me, but this is actually the first time I've had to use any of it! I took a few pix, but haven't managed to download them yet. They pale in comparison the those I've already shared...

Looking forward to my next "In the field" lesson with Randall!

(Hurry up May 2011!!)

Hitchin' a Ride

Working at night is so joyful!

It affords one the opportunity to get out and run errands during daylight hours, then NOT sleep before going back to work again!

Sometimes, in the course of one of these days, one might find something that sparks their interest, such as....

I know, I know....it's dangerous to consider this interesting...sorry, it just IS!

Who would have ever thought that there are actually numerous websites dedicated specifically for hitchhikers? Well, there are.

One could go on hitchhiker.org and find a trip they want to 'hitch a ride' on, hook up with the driver and just take off!

 Technology is Amazing.

Driving Mom to the airport first thing in the morning (or evening for a night worker) and then rushing back home to (not) sleep and prepare for work again the same night....that very interesting sight appears....

Without a thought, the car is on the shoulder with the flashers on.

Click, click, click...

"Where you headed?"

"Where are you headed?"

"Home haha"

"Can you take me to Sequim?" (Puts the HUGE backpack in the back seat & hops in.)

"Sure, I'm headed to PA & it's on the way"

(gets out the map) "Can I ride to PA with you?"

"No problem! Where are you coming from?"

"Everywhere. New York, California, South Dakota, Wyoming. Just checking out the country."

(Noticing the accent) "Where are you from?"

"Denmark."

"Nice! What brough you all the way here?"

"I've been accepted to University. I start in the fall in New York. I have a couple months off, so I'm making the most of it."

"What will you study?"

"The science of religion." 

"Do you plan to preach?"

"No, I'm not really into theology. Just the different religions and how they affect society. You are much more religious in the US than the people in Denmark."

"Do you believe in God?"

"I believe in something higher than myself."

"Well have you heard of Jesus?"

"Yes, I just don't know what I believe. What do you believe?"

"I believe that Jesus is God's Son, Who He sent to earth to live perfectly because mankind can't, and that He was hung on a cross to die so I can go to heaven some day."

"Interesting."

On and on and on.....

Eventually finding out that 20y/o Chris, from Denmark, was quite receptive to the Bible and it was a great opportunity to teach the love of God to a stranger. Planting seeds is our purpose here, right?

There are definitely dangers involved in picking up hitchhikers, but the benefit seems to greatly outweigh the risk.

Besides, while doing such a deed you may be unknowingly entertaining angels.

 So, the next time you see this.... 

Consider it an opportunity rather than a burden.

Stepping out on a limb can be scary, but I bet Jesus was scared too. 

All for numero ??uno??

First of all, I really don't consider myself to be 'numero uno' but most ppl know the saying...

So, I'm not into editing my posts, or explaining them so that people who choose to read my blog can understand them, but apparently there are times that we must clarify things for people to help them relax.

Rather than put my business 100% out in the open I speak much of the time in third person or code. It seems that you can write a bit more creatively that way. I don't really consider anyone else to be just like me, or feel that anyone else actually draws a parallel between me & themselves (or anyone else in the world,) but I suppose when you're really looking hard for something,

you can find it.

Anyway....just to clear the air for anyone who really wants to know....my blog is about me. M.E. ME!! I vent here. I blow off steam here.

I talk about my adventures here.

I talk about my struggles. I talk about my life.

I talk about my good qualities.

I bash myself when I am behaving pathetically.

There are some who read it and pray for me. (Thanks ^.~)

I think it's okay to have an awareness that pushes you into some

"self-bashing"

from time to time...too often may be a bit unhealthy, but occasionally could actually prove to be good for you? I don't know. I've ridden my rollercoaster for quite some time now, like...my whole life...so I think it has actually helped me when I realize how pathetic I am from time to time. If others care to draw parallels between me and them, I suppose that's their perogative....but when I'm self-bashing, it's fully intended for just that

--ME--

 and usually helps me to stop partaking in the behaviors that I'm bashing myself for doing.

If at any time someone happens upon my blog and decides that me writing about ME is offensive...my best suggestion is for them to stay off of my blog.

I write it for and about me!

(Well, and of course those who pray for me when I'm being pathetic.)

So....for all those ppl out in blog land who read this or any other blog...if you didn't like your visit, it seems that not repeating it is a superior idea.

Cheers!

Sand Art

"Alien vs Bender" by Carl Jara

 You never really know what type of adventure you might come across while walking around downtown Port Angeles...

So....a few days ago, I was walking on the Discovery Trail, and this is what I discovered when I hit the pier!

I was absolutely amazed at the talent these artists displayed in their work.

This is my favorite, titled "Alien vs Bender" by Carl Jara

                   

 "The Three Laws" by Damon Langlois (above)
1. A robot will not harm a human
2. A robot will not perform an action that will result in a human being harmed.
3. A robot will not harm itself unless in doing so, no harm will come to
a human.

"I'll Be Back" by Firat Uysal (Above)

"The Time Machine" by Dan Belcher (above)

"Planet of the Apes"  (missed the sign w the sculptor :/)

"Luke & Laia" by Sue McGraw (above)

A shot from a distance to show the actual size of the
sculptures. (Above)