First

Okay, so it went like this: we got married last October, then moved across the entire country the following February.

They say the first year is the hardest, and I'm certain that most people say that without having to live with parents or in-laws.  Or move back home or to a new part of the country.  Infact, I would say that most people don't have to do anything really that hard, except pay bills and write thank you notes and learn how to get along, in their first year of marriage.  The really big stuff, the kind of stuff that makes life hard in general, has nothing to do with just getting married at all.  It just so happened that we had a couple of really big stuff kind of things mixed in there too. 


It was a very hard year.  But, it would have been that way if we had moved in five years.  It too, was a fast year.  In a blink, I went from the girl dancing in her hotel room with her only remaining bridesmaid with a veil on her head, to someone who doesn't think twice about stating her new name. 

It went that fast.  So, maybe it wasn't that hard afterall. 

We stayed the night in Seattle on what would have been the anniversary of the day before the day before our wedding.  Just us walking the streets of Seattle, just us checking into the Westin (which seemed way bigger last year), and just us quietly celebrating a year.  Not just an anniversary of a date, but a whole year of growth, discovery, fighting, frustrations, bills, and thank you notes. 

A whole year later, I find myself saying that I wish I could do it all over again.  I know that's not true because planning a wedding is a miserable thing to do.  But, one night of having everyone we love in one room, yes, that is missed. 

I would do it over, maybe, but I really just like being married.  I like that we are one year down.  We made it, although its not like we weren't going to make it.  I like that we don't expect things to be perfect because we had that one perfect, solid day last year.  I like that we only had enough to afford one night in Seattle, and didn't exchange gifts and actually exchanged cards the day after our anniversary because we were lazy.  I like that we ate burgers and fries the night that we stayed over and watched sports documentaries on ESPN.

 I like that I am a little bit different now and so is he. 

Fireworks

Last month in Sunset magazine, Scott Aker described Fall in the Pacific Northwest: 

In the East, fall is like a really long parade from north to south. In the West, it’s like fireworks: a spectacular burst of beautiful colors over a short time.

I don't remember the colors of past Falls here.  All I can conjure is images of crisp sunny days, dead leaves underfoot, and then the realization that the rainy season has begun, signaling winter.  Missing from these memories are the vibrant colors that I'm seeing this Autumn.

We are back from the East Coast.  Ten days in Pennsylvania, where it was not quite one season or another.  I packed shorts, but the nights were bitter cold.  The weather couldn't make up its mind. 

 
We returned to literally change right before our eyes.  Not only are the leaves falling during the shortened days, but life is so completely different than it was in September.  K has a job now and with it the confidence and stability that most jobs bring. 

It was an expected accomplishment, but something that took so long to happen. 

And then, just like that, boom.  Offer accepted, life is different. 

Its a good different.  With its own share of adjustments and rearranging.

We work opposite schedules right now. 

But, there's always someone home with the dogs. 

Its nice for each of us to have personal time. 

Extra money doesn't suck either. 

All the while, I am just taken back by how quickly time flies. Soon the holidays will be upon us. After that, a new year.  At times, we are frustrated with where we are in our lives, while other times we are overwhelmed with how much we have done. 

Maybe it all comes down to how much you stop to notice.  Did I have memories of past Fall colors?  Or did I just not take the time to look?  It is but a fleeting moment here, a sudden, intense burst of oranges and yellows.  If you don't purposefully seek it out, then there is nothing to hold onto.  Things change so quickly, and don't seem to change at all I guess, if you don't really sit down and look at it all. 

So, I am back to blogging.  Back to seeking out what I want in life.  Back to recording and creating adventures.  Back to pushing myself to do better.  I think I slacked over the last two months.  My Summer List was a decent attempt at reaching out and exploring the season and surroundings.  There was always a constant thought in the back of my head, "You have not yet jumped in a lake fully clothed."  There was ample opportunity, but overall a lackluster spirit to do so.  I think it was because there was always the backup thought of  "I will do that later." 

Well, there won't be a Fall list, and you'll have to wait for Spring.  But you better believe that there will be more of an effort this Fall to do more.  Feel more. 

Its only a short season here.  Soon, the cold rain will push the leaves off of their branches and clog drain pipes.  Yes, winter is a special time too, but nothing can compare to the bounty that this season brings.  It may not be like the Fall that we've known back East, but I've always liked fireworks better than parades anyways. 

Be Back Soon

We're back in PA for a couple of days. It's mainly because of a wedding but we're also intent on fitting some quality time with friends and family. I've forgotten how muggy the Fall is here and I've never had jet lag this bad before. But K is very happy and that makes me happy and so there.

Although I love Washington, I'm still nostalgic for the East Coast. This is where it all started for a lot of things: us, this blogging thing, careers, well most everything.

I'll be back soon. Going to take a couple weeks off from the blogosphere to relax, regroup, celebrate, and such.

I think I'll come back better.

La Push

There should be a disclaimer before I start writing this post. 

I in no way want you to think that I'm a Twilight fan.  I'm from here and I understand that the franchise has brought a lot of good to the area.  But, seriously, I'm 27 years old, am smart enough to know that you should never spend the rest of your life with your high school boyfriend, and think that Buffy is a way better vampire product.  That story has been told before, with more satire, better sex, and Seth Green. 


And really, before I go in deeper with why I think all of that hoopla is pretty awful and annoying, I'm going to continue with the post. 


I've wanted to go to La Push ever since we moved back.  It seemed like it was the penultimate Washington adventure.  The most beautiful pictures of Washington are taken at La Push.  It seemed romantic, dangerous, primitive, untouched, a place that is often talked about but rarely visited by Washingtonians. 

Its very far away, even for us on the other side of the water.  Still, despite our recent trek across the country, K and I felt the need for a long drive.  The day was beautiful.  Crystal clear skies.  Spectacular scattering of clouds here and there. Trees tall and proud, framing each side of the vehicle.  Glimpses of small town America as we passed quickly through the top west corner of the state.  Road trip snacks.  Catching up on lost conversations from the week due to a hectic work schedule.  Green signs counting down the miles until we reach the shore. 

Ten minutes away from our destination, the sky started to turn.  "We're getting close to the ocean," K observes.  I think, "Great, we drove all this way and I won't even get a decent picture."

It wasn't like it was in the pictures that I've seen. Very different, but still good. 

We went from sun on our arms with the sunroof down to pulling tight fleece jackets on.  The combination of wind, salt in the air, and loose sand made our hair coarse and our eyes squint. 

It was if we had stepped into a late Fall scene.  It was cold out, not a Winter chill though.  And yet, people still embraced the day as if they were trying adamantly to hold onto the last moment of Summer. 

Swimming and jumping over waves like it was a balmy 85 degrees.  I know they were looked as like they were crazy. 

I know that feeling though.  Its hard to shake.  To jump in, despite the elements, and feel the earth around you.  Its a connecting feeling. 

I held back because it felt good enough to wear a warm fleece for once.  We have glimpses of Fall back home, but the season has not fully arrived. 

I sat on a piece of driftwood, my love behind me, and stared at the ocean.  Its been so long since I've seen the Pacific, a wild and completely different beast than the shore we frequently vacationed on.  We're visiting the Atlantic in two weeks and I miss its warm, hazy horizon.  But this Pacific, anything can happen here.  The Washington coast may not be the place to get your tan on, but that's why I like it. 

I'll admit, I was slightly disappointed when we first arrived.  The orange, pink, and dark silhouettes from the pictures were no where to be seen.  Instead, found ghostly peaks and crashing waves.  Romantic in its own way.  


My state is of many sights.  I believe that it is the most unique place on this earth.  On our drive we drove through so many different settings.  And when we go back to La Push again, it will be different too.  Maybe more like what others have captured, maybe a little bit of this and that. 

This is part of what Washington has to offer.  Vampires not included. 

August in Pictures: An Instagram Post

Now, I don't necessarily buy that Summer is over.  Rather, its all in our heads.  I know that is based on the fact that I do not have to go back to school, nor do I have to send anyone back to school.  But, also consider that I worked all Summer, so its all relative to me. 


Looking back at August, I literally shook my head with the number of posts I produced.  A whopping three.  I blame it on trying to acquire a decent pay check.  Still, we did do a lot between the end of July to now. 



So, here's a recap. 

Whaling Days and the Navy band.  I'd marry all of them but I'm already married. 

 We went to the Oak table every other week.  There will be a post sometime this Fall, I promise. 

Dahlias.  That means our anniversary is right around the corner. 

 She may have a pillow fetish.

Deer Family at work

Spontaneous Lynnwood date dinner.

BTW, Alderwood has a Lego Store.  I've been gone awhile.

K's first Golden Gardens sunset.

Garden helper

The Fair.  I know. This actually happened.

The best glove bunny ever made.

Toasting an old friend.

You can follow me on Instagram @cshutty 



Dog Days

I've had a reoccurring thought all Summer.

It most often occurs early in the morning, when the dawn fog is just beginning to lift.


I put on my work clothes, tie my hair back, and stare longingly at the bed. 


"You little bastards have it good."


The dogs lift their heads slightly, floppy ears warm on my pillow.  Then close their eyes and forget about me for eight hours. 

While we had a good Summer, a solid Summer,  the dogs really made out.  They frolicked, slumbered, stole produce from the garden, frequented the dog park, made new friends, ate a ton but still stayed slim, and mainly did whatever they wanted. 

I mean really, they have nothing to complain about. It wasn't even that hot.

Yeah, I froze their toys in ice a la Summer List.  Threw some orange slices in there for show.  It kept them entertained for an hour, which is all we could ask for. 

Many sticks, pine cones, and (I'm mortified to report) slugs perished this Summer. 




New packs were formed. 

And there was even time for a Summer fling.

Yes, it was a run around and get dirty, suck the nectar out of life, chew on slugs kind of Summer.

Still, I fear Fall.  Its only going to get colder and the mornings will be even more taunting. 

Whatever

I have nothing to write, except that's not true at all.  There are at least four post in the back of my head, which seem to be less significant as the weeks go on.  Instead, I'm huddled in bed, scrunched up Kleenex surrounding me, medicine cups sticky with strangely colored liquids, an old tennis sweatshirt with stretched sleeves on, watching horribly good pilots from the 90s on the laptop, needing to put in earplugs because I can't hear from the computer speakers, exhausted, pumping fluids into my body, and hoping that I'll have a few hours of energy during my days off. 

The last two days have been the kind of days that seep into your bones.  You don't realize how hard they are until you come to the end of the day and feel that achiness.  You pushed through, you were tough, but the hard-ache still resonates.   Work has been tough, and it seems like death is following me inside and out of it.  So, I made a decision to ask for help yesterday on my commute home.  Find a replacement for tomorrow, if you can.  They could, and it was a good thing too because my immune system was under attack and I didn't even know it yet. 

Maybe my body is letting down its guard because it knows that I need to rest.  And nothing is better for it than three doses of Airborne and Crystal light in a large Smart Water bottle, hot hot hot baths, dinosaur chicken nuggets, and a stack of magazines that makes the girl at Safeway say, "Gee, that added up fast." 

I have three days off and I might spend 2.5 of them in bed, covered in feathers from a down comforter that has a hole chewed in one of its corner. 

It's okay though, I stapled it shut.  That's all I have energy to do right now. 


I might write more tomorrow.  Doubt it though.  If I do, then we can all be surprised.  

That picture has nothing to do with this.  But, you're welcome.