Crater lake and the redwoods

Since fall is my favorite season at home and i was feeling a little homesick for apple orchards and chilly weather, i decided that this weekend off tony and i would go away to a cooler climate. I originally meant to find an apple orchard so that we could pick some seasonal fruit and feel a little more like home, but my search continually came up empty for orchards near our house. I looked up into oregon and though that i had found some. After searching the many u-pick, pre-picked and all the other orchards out there, i deduced that it was nearly impossible unless we drove all the to washington state... in my search for orchards though i found crater lake national park in oregon ( don't ask me how, i just did). so we decided that a national park in a little chillier weather would sufice. The drive was scenic and a very short 7 hours. Tony and i listened to a mystery on my mp3 player on the way up and we got there in no time.

Our cabin was at a place called union creek, which is about 23 miles from the park entrance, and it was cute! a little one room cabin with a bathroom, mini fridge and coffee maker were its amenities.

Since we got in around 6, we walked across the street to the little diner ( also a log cabin) and had for the first time in our lives huckleberry pie. it was sooo good!

we kept it low key that night because i wanted to get up early in the morning to go to the park, so we played some cards and got to bed early.

In the morning, when it was only around 55 degrees ( even though the weather said it was going to be hotter) i realized that the back up coats that we leave in the car for traveling had made their way into our place when we had all our recent visitors. So we went to the camp store and bought some long sleeved shirts and headed out to the park.

Upon entrance, there was a sign to be weary of bears! i really didn't realize how many places near us have so many bears. The intial entry to the park looked very similar to yosemite and even a bit like the grand canyon, but that all changed quickly as we hiked our way up to see the lake.

The lake is in the tops of a mountain, or rather a volcano.

Crater Lake is located in Southern Oregon

on the crest of the Cascade Mountain range,

100 miles (160 km) east of the Pacific Ocean.

lies inside a caldera, or volcanic basin, created

when the 12,000 foot (3,660 meter) high Mount

Mazama collapsed 7,700 years ago following a

large eruption.

At least this is what the information on the map that they give you on entrance says.

It was astouding, the water was so blue that it looked fake, like the kind that you see in little diaroamas. It was so far down the cliffs, like falling into it was not an option.

There was one place where we could hike down to the lake...it was a steep decline that took about a half an hour. once we got to the bottom it was worth it. i put my feet in the lake and it was freezing, like the snow from a millino years ago was still melting in it. tony and i lay on the dock and jus watched the water for awhile and then headed back up the sttep climb. It was the equivelant to 65 flights of stairs, and let me tell you, we felt each step. tony and i stopped a few times to take a break and check our heart rates, we were totally working at cardio maximum!

after that we drove around the rim to see other views of the lake.

then we drove back to get some dinner and spent the night playing cards again. at one point tony went outside to get something from the car and there was a deer just hanging out near our cabin. it was cool.

the next day we got up early and drove out. We planned on driving along the oregon coast to get home ( we were more near the middle than the coast.)

So we headed out and got a little lost. not exactly lost, we just ended up going through a state park on a dirt road that was a one lane road with no guardrails. And below where the guardrails were not was a drop like i have never seen before, straight down the side of a mountain. at least a few thousand feet. it was a little scary, but we conquered it.

Luckily, we did get a little lost, because instead of the oregon coast, we ended up driving through redwood highway, which is exactly as it's name says it is!

it was amazing, like a part of the wizard of oz, when they are walking through the enchanted forrest and there is no light coming in from the sun because the tree canopy is blocking it, and there is only one narrow road to get past the trees. i can not even put to words how awesome it was.

We got out and hiked a bit through it, i felt like we had to.

our drive also led us to a meadow where wild elk ( which i thought was funny, because are there really tame elk) hung out and were eating. after we stopped for some photos, a little ways down the road was a huge herd of them hanging out near someone's horse farm. Also really amazing.

We finally got ourselves home and although we were appleless, i had an amazing time!

And now we have to work. but only a few short weeks until we go to hawaii for our anniversary.. i can not wait!

tara's turn

Tara got in on thursday, but we had to work. We whined and whined and managed to get out of work 2 hours early so we could get some sleep so that the next day we would have more time to hang out. When we got home she was up, which was bad because we all needed sleep but great because i missed her and love spending time and chatting with her...also we stay at her house a lot when we are home and it was nice for the roles to be reversed-this time we got to spoil her.

once we got up the next day we got some lunch and headed to fisherman's wharf. she got to see the sea lions, alcatraz and we had a drink by the ocean. she also bought me this adorable necklace that i can't wait to wear.

we spent a good amount of time in the city and then headed back to our place to change our clothes and meet brandy and anthony at our new favorite cuban restaurant. they have great food and the best drinks ( especially for the book nerd-me, ) they have hemmingway which is a rum drink that i will learn how to make soon!

after dinner we headed home to get some rest, we had a long weekend ahead of us.

in the morning brandy and anthony came over for mimosas and a sourdough cheese volcano bread that tara picked out at the boudin bread company at the wharf and we all headed off to the milbrea art and wine festival. we were going to have wine and see some art, but mostly we were there for EVOLUTION a journey cover band. they were amazing but even better then the band was the drunk couple. the man was a leather clad fellow who was quite proud of his best lady who was doing interperetive dance to journey songs and he was clapping like a maniac. then we decided to join the fun and anthony and i showed them a few of our own steps while brandy, tara, and tony looked on in horror.

once the band was done we decided to have one more glass of wine and then get home to go swimming and get some dinner. that was the plan, instead here is what really happened.. tara and i went into a a little diner to go to the bathroom and some sleezy dude followed us out. shortly after tony and anthony told them to walk away and leave us all alone, but the one guy followed us to the train station all the while commenting on body parts and making lewd comments. Anthony asked him to stop and just walk away, but instead this fool decided to call anthony some names and eventually slapped him in the face.. this started the ultimate fighting championship of the homeless a-hole versus the kid from jersey, and well it ended with the a-hole from the train station calling the police and then running away. nothing happened except some mild embarrassment from anthony and some nice posed photos of tony and anthony fighting.

we did make it to the pool and then came back to our place for dinner of delicious kfc. well i didn't have any, but tara and the kids did.

the next day, as if we didn't have enough wine at the festival, we took tara to napa with the kids.

luckily we all went because at the second winery, i decided to not drink because i was driving and anthony decided that tony and i should be able to drink with our friend so he became the designated driver. good thing, because 4 wineries later, and no lunch i was in no shape to drive.

i did come home with 5 bottle of wine though.

we parted ways once we got back to our apartment and tara, tony and i went for tapa's at a place down the street from us called cascal. our eyes were definately bigger than our stomaches. we didn't finish our food.

the next day was labor day, which is true to it's name for nurses, we had to work. tara spent the day at the pool trying to fix her silly tan. then we took her for pho and headed out to work.

the next morning tony and i took a little nap while she packed and got ready to go home-boo

when we woke up from our nap we took her to a breakfast place called hobee's and then off to the airport..

boo another fun vistor gone. tara and i had played the mega millions while she was head in hopes to extend her stay ( and buy a house and help my mom retire early) but we lost, damn it. oh well .

oh i forgot to mention that while we were at the wharf we tricked tara into getting freaked out by the bushman...

it is this street performer who wears camo and holds up a few branches and when unsuspecting people walk by he jumps out and hollers at them. we lead her right into the lion's den. luckily she was a good sport and didn get pissed at us. it was funny though because we have been trying to get everyone with the bushman, everytime we take someone to the wharf, but we always get there too late and he is gone..

ahhh, that is what friends are for, scaring the pants off each other.

our first mt. view visitors

my mom and dad caught a flight into san fran international airport just a few minutes after we did. tony and i got off the plane and promptly realized that we were going to miss the train so we would have to take a cab ( it costs a million to get home from the airport if you take the train.)

so we met mom and dad at their terminal and got a cab home.

when we got their we noticed that our place had been changed around while we were gone. Our friends brandy and anthony were watering our plants while we were gone and watering the plants wasn't all they did.. everything in our place was upside-down. all the photos on the mantle, everything on the fridge, and all the artwork on the walls.. not to mention that all of our booze and wine was spred about the place, in our bed, at the door, on the couch. as tony was going to the fridge to offer my parents something to drink, he found his hat in there and his slippers in the freezer.

it was funny, although just wait until we watch their place..

i guess they were going to turn our heat on so when we got in it would be as hot as it is in their place ( we have air AND a fireplace-they have neither) but since my parents were going to be coming home with us, they decided otherwise...

in the morning we got up nice and early, mom and i ran some errands and then we were off to napa to do some wine tasting ( and purchasing : ) )

we spend most of the afternoon there and then headed back to our place. I took them on a few detours though. we stopped at muir woods, a redwood forest, we crossed over the goldne gate bridge and then our last stop was to fisherman's wharf to see alcatraz and the sea lions.

the next day tony and i had to work so it was their day to do whatever they wanted...before work though we took them for our guilty pleasure of pho. it is the best soup in the world, next to any soup that i make of course!

to be honest, i can not remember what it was they said they did.. perhaps my mom should start a blog ;)

then on thursday tony and i took then for wahoo's fish tace and off to santa cruz..

there we met with brandy and anthony for a sailboat cruise around the harbor, dubbed the booze cruise.

we were supposed to be done my 8, but the boat stalled and there was no wind. the harbor patrol met us in the ocean and threw a set of jumper cables out to the captain, who dropped them 56 feet into the sea. this prompted my dad to say "next time let the girl catch it" because there was a girl assisting the captain. The harbor patrol came back and the assistant ( the girl) had retrieved a net to catch the cables in. after that we were back in the harbor in no time.

unfortunatly we had to work the weekend so my mom and dad were on their own. I know for sure they went to an art and wine festival one of the days and spent a relaxing time reading books another day ( watch out, you come to my house, you'll be reading for fun in no time)

monday we were off, but sleepy from work. after a little nap we took them to a Cuban place for dinner where brandy and anthony met us once again. The food and company was great and i didn't really want them to leave because i feel like we were working the whole time that they were here.. that just means when they come to visit us wherever we are next,it will have be a week when we dont' work so much.

we took them to the airport and headed home. we had do a little cleaning because soon we would have our next guest...

wedding bells...

So, once again a whole month has come and gone and i have been so busy that i have not posted anything..

So, once again, that means that following this post will be a million more.

First off, i went home for 12 days. Nicole was getting married and it was my bridesmaid duty to be home to help throw her an amazing bachelorette party!!! and of course to be there for her wedding..

Tony and i got home at 6am ish and were met by my mom and her new ride...i have to say that my dad did a great job picking it out... very sleek and fast.

we had breakfast, and then tony and i got a much needed nap-because we both knew that the 12 days ahead were going to be busy....and as always, they were.

Friday we went to his cousin Nicki's wedding. It was at a gorgeous place on the east side and the name of it escapes me at this time, but it was really lovely. i also got to meet many more of tony's relatives and to see ones that i have met before and already love!

i got sick from someone on the plane, and i think in turn i gave it to a bunch of people, but because the party was the next night and i was feeling realyl crappy. tony and i made it a shorter night than usual.

i got some sleep and the next day showed nicole, what we all hoped was the best bachelorette party she had ever been to!

everyone met at tara's for food and cocktails and then off to the bars it was.

i was planning on spending the night at tara's with the rest of the girls, but i was still feeling like crap, so i had tony pick me up and we ended up going to my mom's house ( where i think i gave her the cold that i had)

sunday my mom had family over for dinner. uncle butch and auntie rosie were both having birthdays coming up soon, so we had cake with them and spend some time with family on my side too.

the rest of the week was a giant blur so much happened in so short of a time it is unreal.

i had to get my dress altered- i knew it was going to be huge and i starting having nightmares about being the one who ruined nicole's wedding, due to my lack of a hair appt and my huge dress..6 plus inches too big!!!

but luckily lana fixed my hair problem.. i actually had an appointment, but it was with someone that i don't know well. my regular hair woman was off that day and the only one available at the salon was a woman known for prom hair.. and well i am 30 and i prefer class over sass when it comes to weddings.

and then tara fixed my dress problem- we had our dresses altered by a friend of hers. thank goodness.

also that week we had breakfast with gwen and tony. we got to catch up with them and see what was new in their world.

we also had some time to see mark, tiff, and nate. man that kid is growing like a weed.. we saw him only a few short months ago when we were home for the shower and he was walking along the furniture. this time, i gotta say, that kid has speed on his side.. he was running all over the house. and i am pretty sure that that laugh can make anyone's day. he is the sweetest little man. although i may be biased :)

tony and i also got to squeeze in a dinner date with mark and sarah. we got all the details on their new house and took a little drive passed it.. i can not wait to see the inside, and not just in pictures. really i can't wait to come home and be treated to some kora/stanley hospitality in the new house!!! we also got treated to ice cream by mark. what a great guy.. i am so happy for the two of them, if not a little green with envy. :)

we also managed to get dinner with jay and cathy. it is always nice to get to spend time with all our friends. i think we do a pretty good job of getting to see everyone and not be too stressed out.

nearing the end of the week was nicole's rehearsal dinner. i think that we were pretty well behaved, considering tara and i were together :) we tend to be inappropriate, pretty much all the time, but i think we did a good job for nicole .

friday morning tony went off to see his new school, i think it was friday. he had a ton to do while he was home too. lunch with jay, wings with mike, new school orientation. i swear when we move back to the mitten no one is going to want to hang out with us, we'll be old news, but when we are away, everyone wants a piece of time... not that i mind being loved :)

anyway while tony was doing his thing tara and i went to get our nails done. we were supposed to meet nicole and pop a bottle of champagne and have some girl time, but she was a little late. so tara busted open the first bottle while i went out to get a replacement.

nicole finally met us at the nail salon and we had a great time. i left them while they were getting their toes done.

the next day was the big day!

i woke up way too early, and grabbed a magazine from tara's perfect stack and waited for the others to get up. soon after i was up, lana called and told me to meet her at the hair salon. she and i hung out while i was getting my hair done and then we stopped for coffee and back to tara's house. liz and tara were soon there and we all got a little lunch before we headed out to the church for photos and getting ready...

as much as i loved my wedding day, it is so nice to be a part of someone else's and not have to worry about everything.. just know that you are their with your best friends to have a good time it was wonderful!!

all the girls looked amazing- the dresses were gorgeous, the jewelry, everyone's hair was perfect...so was the day.

i have to say that i had doubts about being able to keep cool in that church. the church was very old and really amazing inside, but hot as can be during rehearsal.

but the day of her wedding was perfect...not too hot, not too humid.

unfortunaly nicole wouldn't let any of us see her before she walked down the aisle, and did i mention that NONE of us, except her sister and mother had seen the dress.

so needless to say when the doors opened and she began her walk down the aisle, tears were pouring from everyone's eyes.. she looked like a princess. and i'm pretty sure that michael thought so too. you could see it in their eyes, they were the only people in the church from that moment on. it was gorgeous.

afterwards we climbed into two separate limos ( tara, liz and i were in the one with the newlyweds and the adorable flower girl and ring bearer)

we got to the hall and then after what seemed like millions of photos.... it was time to party!!!

tara, lana, brandy, tony and i had a room there so we could party like rockstars, and party we did.

after last call we headed back to our room where shortly after we were visited by michael and nicole..

we finally got some sleep and in the morning we went to breakfast and then tony and i went back to my mom's house for a minute... we were there only for a short time so i could spend some time with my brothers and then we met nick and mike at the bar. i had yet to see jeff and he was working, so we got to see him for a little bit too.

not too late though, because in the afternoon monday was our flight back to california, and this time we had some guests...my mom and dad were on a flight that landed just about 15 minutes after us....