"I'm not doing a hike with the word 'misery' in the trail name!" I said to Bryce as I carried our 20-pound baby on my back. We had just crossed the footbridge over the river at Smith Rock State Park and the trail sign in front of us was for Misery Ridge Trail. There were… Continue reading Baby’s first canyon hike
She stared at us from inside her presumably heated car as we walked by in rain gear and a rain cover over the baby's stroller. Saying it was pouring rain would have been an understatement. It was dumping buckets sideways. We had just parked in the lot for the Heceta Lighthouse in Florence, Oregon. It… Continue reading Torrential rain won’t stop us
"How was Osaka?" "It was good. Well, I prefer Tokyo though," I replied. My mom's reaction to my response was a burst of laughter. She then followed with: I'm not surprised. Because we are Tokyo people. This conversation occurred more than two years ago. Bryce and I had just returned to my grandma's house in… Continue reading Osaka v. Tokyo
Every New Year's Day, my mom would make osechi ryori, traditional Japanese New Year foods. Actually, I need to correct myself. She'd be cooking all day and night before New Year's Day. If we weren't home in Seattle, then we'd have an even more elaborate osechi in Japan with my baa-ba (grandma). In recent years… Continue reading Flower carrots, sleep deprivation and memories
As my friend and I chatted, we kept referencing how this wasn't the summer anyone had planned for. She had planned to spend the entire month of August back here in Seattle. (She currently lives in Spain). Now she doesn't even know when her next trip back to visit her parents and friends will be.… Continue reading Not the summer we planned for
I've been blocked from Instagram for more four weeks. (At this point, I've actually lost track. It may be five!) I can still log in and access my account. However, I am unable to post photos with a caption, nor am I able to like, follow or comment on other accounts. (What does this even… Continue reading Blocked, and at home
What would you do if you had an extra day? This year is a Leap Year so we will have 29 days in the month of February instead of the typical 28. We'll get an extra, sacred, 24 hours. I can't remember what I did the last time we had a leap year but I… Continue reading To Disneyland for my “extra” (leap) day
I'm no stranger to long road trips. Or, lots of driving done in a short amount of time -- as was the case last weekend. Bryce and I had planned a few months ago to do a Southwest road trip. We would hit up White Sands National Monument Park, Roswell and Carlsbad Caverns National Park.… Continue reading 72 hours in the Southwest — lots of driving and very worth it
"What are you listening to?" my coworker asked me. "Christmas music," I replied. I'm in this state where I am trying to fully embrace the holiday season, yet I am not exactly ready for it to be here. I had a mental list of fun things I wanted to do this fall. (You know, like… Continue reading Where did fall go?
Thankful for the blue skies, the dark nights, the bright sun and the rainy days. Thankful for the two feet that have taken me miles and miles -- running marathons and walking through new parts of the word. Thankful for the people in my life. I choose for these people to surround me with support,… Continue reading Thankful
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