Happy Valentines Day!!!!

Waterfalls have always been a place of magic and mystery to me. I have always felt as if there was an amazing power and luminosity to them in each one that I have seen. But none as much as Yosemite Falls on a full moon in Yosemite. There is something that happens during a full moon at Yosemite falls it is called a Moonbow. It makes standing at night at one of the most beautiful waterfalls ever, even more incredible. You find yourself overtaken by the roar of the water, feeling the spray on your face, and then you catch the colors from the moonbow. It is different than a rainbow as the colors are muted but still dark and beautiful. They seem to reach inside and touch your dreams and your toes and come back to your brain to make you see in a soft light as you watch the colors shift and fade as the moon moves. It is best to see in the spring when the water levels are at the highest, and it can be cold to stand out there to wait for it, but it is a once in a lifetime experience and well worth it.
If you take someone you really care about with you, it is an experience that you will always share. The full moon tours are another romantic way to spend an evening in Yosemite with that special someone. So, I find that now that I am in the land of eternal green, and eternal rain, I now have a whole new set of waterfalls to explore.

We took the hike to Drift Creek Falls and it was a small but spectacular falls. I am planning to see the falls in Silver Creek State Park which has over 10 falls to see on the trails. Then in the Columbia Gorge there are several falls that are along the way that I am also going to get out and see in the Spring. Of course I have to wait for the snow to melt. Best that way as I don't like to be THAT cold! So I have lots to look forward to this year, and feel the spray on my face, and hope more magic fills me. It might be the positive ions, but I thing there is real mystery and magic that unfolds as crystal clear pure water spills over the edge and cascades down the sides of cliffs. Silly I know to be romantic over a natural phenomenon, but hey, it's February and Valentines Day is almost here. I for one, believe that there are many romantic things in nature that make me feel as if I can believe in magic. Even when things aren't going perfectly, we can find those things that can make us believe in the positive and good.
Happy Valentines Day to all of you.

New Year on the Coast

Happy 2012 everyone! I have spent the last week out on the coast everyday watching the magnificent Gray Whale pass by on it's annual migration to Baja California. It makes this trek every year starting in December to either give birth or to make whoppee in three different bays in Baja. You don't see much on the southern trip except spouting and maybe some tails when they dive. (no laughing girls!) but these third largest whales are a miracle to me as they were close to extinction not to long ago due to whaling. They follow the coastline and never vary. They give birth in the same bays each year, so it was easy for the whalers to go there and lie in wait for them. Now they are back to good numbers. Where I live now on the way back starting in March going through June the Mothers and babies travel closer to shore and we get a chance to see them right here. I got to stare at the ocean for three hours every day come rain, hail, wind, cold, fog or shine (not much sun this week). But I met some very interesting people and it gave me some very good new stories. They were all full of good intent some visiting the coast with children, some retirees that do this every year, some live here. All were different and full to stories to tell. You just have to ask.
In the spring the Whales in Depoe Bay and Whale Cove they come within a few yards of the sea walls and are easy to see. It is a glorious sight. Some people had stories of them coming in close contact and seeing amazing things. And to think man almost killed them all off. Hmmmmmmmm. Makes me wonder about us and our footprints on this planet. Cal says it would happen anyway. Some animals will just natually go away eventually, but I think if we can keep them around for a few more generations, well why not? Those people standing out in the rain to watch for them seem to think they are worth it.
I have been watching a couple of shows on History one is American Pickers that find all these antique things and they recycle and resell them? There was an old man on there not too long ago that said he had several children that didn't want any of the things he had saved from his childhood. His toys and pieces of history that told where he had grown up or about his life in the midwest, but he was selling it all off as they didn't want any of it. I was saddened by that. Everyone should know their family history, good or bad. I didn't get a chance to find out mine due to family fighting and still can't tell you where either of my grandmothers were born or what their childhood was like. I would have liked to have those stories. It is family history.
What type of history are we passing down for our planet? For the Gray Whale it is a good ending at least so far. Same with my favorite whale the humpback. They are also coming back from the endangered list. So is the wolf in Yellowstone and several other endangered species. This keeps everything in a fragile balance. I like that. Balance is my new year's resolution. I am going to balance my life with my work (if I find it) and I will balance my wants with my needs and keep my bad in tune with my good and hopefully that will give me balance.
I will be happy that I have a clear day and not grouse about the cold, I will wear my rain boots instead of complain that I am wet. Balance in all things is a something to strive for. Balance in my diet, balance in my thoughts, balance when I walk so I stay upright! Yes that is a good one! PH balance in my body. Balance.
Other than that, I have to root for the RAIDERS! Sorry no balance in that, and I have to root for Oregon in the Rose Bowl too. Go Ducks! (Really?!) Hey when in Rome.
So all of you have a happy new year and find your balance. 

Christmas at the Coast

This has been a surprising December here at the Coast. It has actually been more sunny than rainy! Shocking I know, but I have had a bit of time to go out and look for whales and check out the beaches even though it has been wicked cold. I still try to get out and find the sun on the sunny days and take a moment to see the beauty around me.

This is at Pacific City just about 45 minutes north of us. They have a great pub right on the beach. It kinda reminds me of Morro Bay because of the rock out there.

This is Siletz Bay from one angle. The water is in right now. It has many moods and I seem to be fascinated by all of them at all times of the day.

Every play of light, every wave, every moment it seems that there is something new to see. High tide, low tide, something spurs me to watch.

until it gets too cold and I have to go in and get warmed up! Hope you all have a warm and happy holiday season this year! I will be thinking of all of you.

First Impression of New York

I am back from New York and have to say that I had a great week. Each day was a new and exciting experience for me there. My friend Jane who you will see in pictures in later blogs was a perfect person to see the City with. She let me see the highlights and yet we didn't overdo any of it. I flew into Long Island and it was certainly easier than the larger airports by a long shot.
There were a few glitches, as in a Noreaster came through on Saturday so we had snrain as they call it. It rained and snowed, so it became slush in the part of Long Island I was in. Some other parts got up to 10 inches. And because the trees had not lost most of the leaves yet, there were a lot of limbs that came down with the weight of the snow on them. Lots of power outages in Conneticut and places north of us. We didn't have any problems. The next day it was sunny and there was a little snow on the ground at Jane's building. She bought her apartment in a beautiful old brick building across the street from the Freeport Police Station, so it is very there. She is three blocks from the train and has her car in the underground parking in her building which is very lucky in the winter.
 I didn't know that Long Island was shaped like a fish, did you? The head, is Nassau County and closest to New York City. It is also very flat there. That is where my friend Jane lives. The Hamptons is on the West end of the tail of the fish in Suffolk County, and the Long Island Wineries are on the East side of the tail. it is more hilly and "countrified" as Jane calls it.  It takes about two hours to get out there as I found out. It has many beautiful areas and lots wonderful old homes that were summer homes for the rich to go and see. We went to see a couple of them while we were there.
We went into Manhattan twice to see the sights and I will go into detail about those jouneys later. But I was fascinated that I got on the Long Island train and rode about 45 minutes into Manhattan, passing through Brooklyn to get there. While there we walked, rode the subway, took a cab twice and a double decker bus. On the last night there I drove the streets of Long Island, so you could say I did it all.
I had heard so many stories about New Yorkers and how rude they were, how unfriendly and uncooperative they could be. I didn't find that to be true anywhere, well except at two wineries, but again that will be for another time. Most were more than helpful, kind and funny with the accent of the area. I loved them. I did hear more honking of horns, and they don't worry about any speed limits anywhere. I found that 15 to 20 miles over the speed limit seems to be the norm.  Even if a cop is right there. But they signal when they change lanes and they let you into traffic if you do, so there is a trade off. I guess. It was a bit intimidating even for a person with a lead foot like me.
I have to say there is so much more that I want to see of New York when I go back but this was a good start. And when I watch TV now showing anything in New York I can smile because I recognize the scene myself as being there. That is the memory I hold onto.
That and the fact that I spent a week with my friend Jane getting to know her all over again. It was so much fun talking about anything and everything all the time. I am sure she was ready for a little quiet when I left. I was happy to be home, but sad to leave such a good friend so far away. As always, I miss all of my friends and wish I had you all closer so I could visit and be a part of your daily lives. Ah well, such is life, I get a little here and a little there. But New York is worth seeing anytime of year.

Just 24 miles

I am taking a writing class in Newport. It is just 24 miles down the coast from me every Saturday. Doesn't sound like much driving and normally it isn't. But here on the coast where we get heavy rain and 70 mile an hour wind, it can be a bad drive. But I decided to take it because, well, as you all know, I love to write.
This was about how to write your memories for your family and to pass down to your kids so they have a living history of not only the births and deaths of family members and a few old photographs, but the stories that you remember your mother, father, uncles and aunts or grandparents telling you along with those stories you have stored that will be forgotten or lost when we are dust in the wind.
So, as I got into this class I was surprised at how many stories I came up with. How many things other people in the class sparked a memory for me that made me want to write about other subjects. It was very energizing.
It helped that Saturday was a beautiful day of blue skies and calm winds and cotton ball clouds. The people I met at the Senior Center were interesting and funny and spurred me to go have lunch on the bay and take some pictures. It was glorious!
On the way back I took my time and really saw the sights. I stopped at Moolak and Beverly Beaches and wondered how they got their names. I drove out to Yaquina Lighthouse and looked around again. It was getting to be close to sunset and the fog was in the distance as it usually is around here so I was not able to go out to the Devil's Punchbowl again and see the tiny winery that is there at the western most place of the continental US, nor did I drive out to Cape Foulweather which is aptly named during the winter. This is where most of the bad accidents happen when it gets really wet and icy then. But I did stop at Otter Rock for a moment to take a peak at the slash of orange that was trying to break through the cloud layer and make a sunset anyway it could. Then I went through the quaint town of Depoe Bay past the sea wall and the cement whale there. Over the bridge and the smallest harbor ever, past the whale watching building on the ocean side. Around past the resorts and then the view of the coast line that I never tire of.
A short drive through Lincoln Beach and Gleneden to the four small bridges that take you  along the wetlands, over Drift Creek and the Siletz River and then brings you to Siletz Bay. I think at high tide its all of 6 to 8 feet deep at any one part, and at low tide you can walk out onto most of it as it is just wet sand. The Three remaining rocky pieces that stand in it catch my imagination with the one or two pine trees that grow there so forelorn. One morning while driving by I saw a regal bald Eagle sitting atop the biggest tree surveying the water.
Then you pass through the five burroughs of Lincoln City. There is Taft, Nelscott, D Beach (the shortest river ever)Wecoma, Land's End, and you see the small theatre the Bijou that should be saved. It is a single theatre that is old and only shows one film and I love it.
So on a short 24 mile drive I cross five bridges, the smallest harbor, the smallest river, the most western winery, drove along a beautiful coastline, through a short canopy of trees at Cape Foulweather, past a beautiful bay and end up at my house looking out at the ocean. Not to mention there are six art galleries that I pass on the way.
So, I think it's a fair trade. What do you see within 24 miles of your house? I may not have these sunny days as often as those of you south of me in California. And I do miss the sunshine and warmth, believe me I still do. But I find when I do get a clear sunny day no matter how cold it is I am ready to make my way outside and enjoy it.
Happy travels.

New York, New York...the talk of the town......

I have never been to New York City. It has always been the BIG CITY that was a little scary to me. Chicago or Dallas or even Washington DC didn't bother me. But New York, well that was a bit overwhelming. There is so much I want to see, and so much that I want to be aware of. So in 12 days from today I will be winging my way to visit my old friend Jane who lives in New York. She lives at the north end of Long Island. I am going to see her for her 65th birthday. I have not seen her since 1999 when we were in Yosemite together living in a tent for the summer.
I have written about that adventure and how much fun we had in that summer mostly due to Jane and her winning ways. It was a great summer and now I get to go and see her as I haven't seen her since. She and I have kept in touch but this seemed to be the right time to go. So I will spend a few days with her and she is going to show me her New York.
My only request is to see the Statue of Liberty. And to eat some good italian food while I am there. Maybe see a show if we can but mostly take in the city she loves.
Now, I have to tell all of you that it is the first time that I will fly across the country all day stopping in Chicago to change planes mind you. I don't like doing that much flying  being restricted in a little seat, but I can sleep and I will take snacks to have on the way. On the way back I have a two hour layover in Vegas. Now won't THAT BE FUN! Oh well.
So, back to New York. I am not going to plan on all the things I would go to see if I were with Cal. I would plan to go to the museums and all the historical places. But I have found that when you have someone that lives there, they have all of that down. They will take you to all the places that are the best ones for you to see. Like when people used to go with me to San Francisco. I have a day tour that takes them to all the sites that will get them the best pictures and then if they have more time they know where they want to go back to. If I know Jane, she will already have our week mapped out. She knows me well enough to know we will be visiting a bead store (I happened to mention that to her.) and she and I love to window shop. So I have to pack some good walking shoes too. Walking in New York, Ya Think? That's good though as I know we will be eating a lot!!!!
I am trying not to get too excited about this trip yet as I have a bit of time yet to go. So, I will be thinking of 5th Avenue, Central Park, Times Square, Broadway, the Empire State Building, the Guginheim Museum, Radio City Music, Rockefeller Center....did I miss anything?
So on to the next adventure. I am so looking forward to sharing this trip with all of you and letting you know how I take a bite out of the Big Apple. Stay tuned!

Age is just another trip

I had another milestone this year. I have been part of the AARP set for a while but there have been those milestone birthdays that you always seem to impress upon you certain stages of your life. When I was 18 and free of home, when I was 35 and now felt like an adult with a career instead of just a job, and 60 when I realized that I still feel 35. Oh I don't mean physically, I mean mentally as in I think I am still able to do what a 35 year old can do. Now, do I want to be that age again? Never! Do I want to go through the trials and tribulations of a single Mom working two jobs to support us? No! Do I want to deal with roommates and moving and dating and raising a child alone? Hell No! But I still think that I have the same zest for life, with more experience. I still have the same enthusiasum and verve that I had then, maybe more because I have the time to do those things that I didn't have before. Then, I was happy to get a full nights sleep.

So, the journey that started at birth, has taken me through many twists and turns. Meeting many amazing people who have shown me mountains of lessons many I am sure I have forgotten over the years, but some have stayed with me.
1. Like never try to shower when you are too drunk to stand up.
2. Never go to the California Rodeo without your own car to come home in. (Or drink Gin!)
3. Always listen to your instincts when it comes to dates.
4. Keep a twenty dollar bill in your wallet at all times.
5. Follow your heart in both work and love.
6. Keep your secrets to yourself, the moment you tell anyone, it is no longer a secret. Even if they tell noone.
7. Find that core of friends that you can trust with your life and keep in touch with them all of your life.      (Usually you can count them on one hand)
8. Find something you absolutely love doing, and don't give it up. Not for anyone.
9. Find yourself first, be happy with yourself, and then find someone to love. It works better that way.
10. Adopt a pet of your choice at least once in your life. It will change you in so many ways.
11. Show your children that they are the most important thing in your life every day they are with you, because they will leave sooner than you think. (It feels like a blink of an eye)
12. Don't ever put a job before your children.
13. Make sure that you are taking care of yourself everyday and you will be a better parent and spouse/friend/person/worker. if you don't you won't be good for anyone.
14. Work out old wounds and put them in the past. Not letting go just makes more negativity for the future. The physics rule, for every action there is an equal and oposite reaction is very true. So the more good energy the better you get back.
15. Growing up and growing old is not the same. We can be adults but still be young enough to enjoy all that life has to offer at any age.
16. Find the wonder and beauty in every day.
17. If you can't get away from home take a mental vacation by reading a book or watching your favorite movie.
18. Find the positive in everything. (I know, this is the hard one for me to do all the time, but I try!)
19. Forgive yourself and others.
20. Have faith that things will work out. (Why not? It can't hurt.) 

So that's the first 20 I thought of. I have to say they were not in any order. It is the journey not the destination and I keep coming back to that. I am on this road that I have set for myself and I keep moving, I just know I have many more lessons to learn and many more sights to see. If any of you have things to add to this list I would love to hear about them. Let meknow.
Travel on! Coy