So the last two days of just continued in awesomeness. They are legen-wait for it-dairy. Haha, couldn't resist that one. Friday we stuck around Upper Montclair and it is a gorgeous area. We went and had brunch at Jackie's Grillette and went shopping (though we only really bought things at the bookstore). Then we went out for dinner with the family for Liam's 6th birthday. They are such cute kids! All in all, it was a pretty low key day, though I think Meridith and David were kinda surprised that we would rather do the family dinner, play with the kids and the kittens and watch a funny movie before going to bed, instead of going out and doing a Pub Crawl. Althuogh a Pub Crawl would be fun, I just don't think I would have had the energy to get through one and still make it back to the house at the end of the night.
Then yesterday Jen and I went back into NYC. Today we walked around and saw a lot. We started with the Chrysler Building and Grand Central Station, followed it up with the Empire State Building, walked to Little Italy and Chinatown (where we bartered for purses), and then continued south to the site of the Two Towers (although its just a construction site now). Then we took the Subway back up north, checked out Times Square and the library before going to dinner. David got us reservations at Sparks Steakhouse. I don't think I've ever eatten somewhere so fancy and probably never will again. OMG. It was so delicious! I definitely felt rather out of place though, I don't think two girls dressed for wandering the city all day are their normal patrons. Best steak I've ever eatten though. To top that we went to Chicago. I was sadly a little disappointed by this show. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't everything that I had been expecting. Wicked put it to shame in my mind. Then David's driver Nabil came to pick us up and take us home. This actually rather amused me. We insisted we could take the bus but David wouldn't hear of it. Turns out it's because he was worried when we took it back the other night and sat up all night until he heard us come home! Made me feel bad because if I had known he wasn't alseep I would have gladly sent him a text to let him know where we were and that we were ok. Jen and I have been officially spoiled though, and were not really entirely sure what to make of it, particularly Jen. Were going to try and set up something nice for David and Meridith but were still trying to figure out what!

East Coast

So I've been over here for a day and a half now. I'm staying with David and Meridith in their home in New Jersey, which is gorgeous! (Both the home and NJ). Jen came over with me and we've been having a blast. Spent yesterday evening playing with Ainsley and Liam, and they are the sweetest kids ever. Then this morning we walked to the creperie for breakfast. After spending the morning wandering around, we hopped on the bus to NYC. So much fun! We bought our city passes and went to the MOMA and the Museum of Natural History. Saw all sorts of cool things. We also wandered through Central Park for awhile. It was pouring rain all day, but we still had a great time. One guy was singing by the museum for money and he was so good! We gave him some money after sitting around for four songs.
After all of our exploring, we went to a fabulous little Italian restaurant for dinner, and then off to Broadway for our first show. We saw Wicked, and it was fantastic! Thanks Janaya, for getting the whole soundtrack stuck in my head a couple years ago. It totally built up the anticipation, and I was not let down. Just wish I could have bought the Defying Gravity T-shirt, but I wasn't about to fork over $40 for that. I'll just have to make my own instead at some point.
Tomorrow were going to explore Upper Montclaire some more, check out their little shopping district. Then in the afternoon its Liam's 6th birthday. It should be a lot of fun and we definitely are looking forward to it. This is going to be one awesome week!

Fall so far.

So I've been really bad about updating, no matter how much I tell myself I'm going to work at being more consistent with it. So this is sort of a cumulative summary of the fall so far. I'm sitting in Cafe Moro where Heather works in Pullman doing the crossword. Life is good, ignoring that I'm a little sick. But scones and tea are putting that to rest. I met my lookalike at the bagelshop. Mike's daughter also named Nicole came into the shop for the first time.I don't think we look quite so much alike but we had fun proclaiming over it to her dad's pleasure. Our meeting had been several years in coming so it was a fun experience. My mom and I went to the Jason Mraz concert this last week. It was incredible. The concert was outdoors at Riverfront Park and it was a perfect evening. Gorgeous, perfect temperature, and great music. His opening act was G. Love and the Special Sauce and they were incredible! Definitely not what I was expecting by their group name. They sounded really similar to Jason actually.
I also went to Collin's house for a barbeque. That was a lot of fun. We played washers, beer croquet, halo, and just had an all around good time. Collin is quite a good cook too. Everything was delicious. I was just sad I was to full to eat a bowl of jummbalia.
Everyone had a lot of fun and it was good to see everyone.
Now I'm just enjoying a day off with friends though (ignoring that Heather's working since I'm at her job harassing her). It's always good to spend time with people, something I forget when I get to holed away at home. I'm glad to be out and about.

Summer Begins to Close.

I'm sitting up here at the lake, looking at a beautiful late August day, and the lake is completely still at 10am because NO ONE is up here. It's shocking to me. It's gorgeous and still warm and everyone already went home before labor day. Just means there's more space for me to enjoy though. And it's rather nice to have a slow moving lazy day after the last of this summer with its jam packed awesomeness.
San Francisco was beautiful! I walked the entire city repeatedly and after two days feel as though I know its general layout and bus systems rather well. I met random people, and had an absolute blast. It was also exciting to do so alone and know that Yes. I can travel alone and get on just fine. Just after walking Lumbard St. I met three amazing ladies at an Irish Pub where we shared stories of music, travel, and chocolate over Irish coffee.

There were two exceedingly sweet ladies I met on the bus while moving to see Tut's exhibit at the De Young museum. I regularly saw them over the course of the day as we were viewing a lot of the same things and it was fun to see a familiar face and be able to give a jaunty wave. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge, which was a crazy fun experience. Saw a kid with a pirate puppet on it too, using it like a ventriloquist and making it wave at the city.


I received free wine and a rose for going to an Italian restuarant as a lady on Sunday night, climbed Coit tower, went to the aquarium, traveled under the bridge, and saw a ton of art at 6 different museums!



Overall it's been an amazing summer full of surfing, traveling, swimming, rock jumping, and making plans for so many more travels. I can't wait to get out and see the world! In fact, I'm thinking about making a bucketlist.

It's been an awfully fun couple weeks. Lots of tubing with battle wounds to prove it. We all went up to the Upper Lake, swimming at the sunken islands, rock jumping at Indian Rock, and all manner of sports in between. Best of all, I learned to successfully surf without the handle this week, with by far my best run this morning.


These couple weeks at the end of July and beginning of August are always the prettiest and most fun. All of John's family is up here and its been sunny and warm. The water is 75 degrees. What more can you ask for up here. Next week I'll be going to Pend O'Reille Lake with Heather and her family. That will be fun too. I can't wait to go down and meet up with Jen in San Francisco too.

Your result for The Sorting Hat Test...

SLYTHERIN!

You scored 60% Slytherin, 16% Ravenclaw, 16% Gryffindor, and 32% Hufflepuff!

Or perhaps in Slytherin

You'll make your real friends,

These cunning folk use any means

To achieve their ends.



Slytherins are known for their ambition, guile, and Machiavellian sensiblities.

Take The Sorting Hat Test at HelloQuizzy

Your result for The Quick & Painless ENNEAGRAM Test...

8 - the Asserter

Thanks for taking the test !

you chose AY - your Enneagram type is EIGHT (aka "The Challenger").

"I must be strong"

Asserters are direct, self-reliant, self-confident, and protective.

How to Get Along with Me

• Stand up for yourself... and me.



• Be confident, strong, and direct.



• Don't gossip about me or betray my trust.



• Be vulnerable and share your feelings. See and acknowledge my tender,
  vulnerable side.



• Give me space to be alone.



• Acknowledge the contributions I make, but don't flatter me.



• I often speak in an assertive way. Don't automatically assume it's
  a personal attack.



• When I scream, curse, and stomp around, try to remember that's just
  the way I am.

What I Like About Being a EIGHT

• being independent and self-reliant



• being able to take charge and meet challenges head on



• being courageous, straightforward, and honest



• getting all the enjoyment I can out of life



• supporting, empowering, and protecting those close to me



• upholding just causes

What's Hard About Being a EIGHT

• overwhelming people with my bluntness; scaring them away when I don't intend to



• being restless and impatient with others' incompetence



• sticking my neck out for people and receiving no appreciation for it
  



• never forgetting injuries or injustices



• putting too much pressure on myself



• getting high blood pressure when people don't obey the rules or when
  things don't go right

EIGHTs as Children Often

• are independent; have an inner strength and a fighting spirit



• are sometimes loners



• seize control so they won't be controlled



• fugure out others' weaknesses



• attack verbally or physically when provoked



• take charge in the family because they perceive themselves as the strongest, or grow up in difficult or abusive surroundings

EIGHTs as Parents

• are often loyal, caring, involved, and devoted



• are sometimes overprotective



• can be demanding, controlling, and rigid

Renee Baron & Elizabeth Wagele

The Enneagram Made Easy

Discover the 9 Types of People

Harper
SanFrancisco, 1994, 161 pages

You liked the test?

so S P R E A D I T ! tell everyone!!!
(use Quick-Paste below)

you wanna know MORE?

so check out, what Google found
about your type...

or do you prefer to

---

You are not completely happy with the result?!

You chose AY

Would you rather have chosen:

BY (FOUR)

CY (SIX)

AX (SEVEN)

AZ (THREE)

Take The Quick & Painless ENNEAGRAM Test at HelloQuizzy

It's been an adventuresome week! First I finally accomplished wake surfing. That was a lot of fun.Riley took his favorite rock with him everywhere. Carried it the whole 2.5 mile walk and then back again so he could play fetch with it. Unfortunately he lost it on the first throw and had to find a new rock. He's such a not head.Then on Wednesday my mom and I drove to the Portland Expo Antique Show. I bought a cornet which I am very excited about. It was a lot of fun. We left Portland yesterday around 10:30 and headed north for Snohomish antiquing all the way. Then we took Steven's pass to Cashmere and Wenatchee. After dinner at 7:30, we decided on a whim to take highway 2 to Spokane, and since it was dusk and only 30 min. off our path, we decided to go to Grand Coulee Dam and watch the laser show. It was fabulous and a beautiful drive.We didn't make it home until around 12:30 at night, but it was an awfully fun trip.