That Zim Zum Kind of Love

Pastor Rob Bell is one of my favorite teachers. TIME magazine put him on their 100 Most Influential People list. He's a young + progressive pastor, founder of the Mars Hill Bible Church, and best-selling author.

He and his wife, Kristen ((no, not that Kristen Bell)), wrote a book ((ZimZum of Love)) that I can't wait to read. I saw them talking about it with my favorite lady, Oprah. I literally took notes.

Zimzum is a Hebrew word that represents the space God created outside of Himself in order to make room for the Universe. It means the energetic space between two people, that is contracting and expanding for one another, and because of one another.

Their philosophy is that both partners should make a conscious decision to create space outside of themselves in order to make room for the other and to prioritize their life together.

Something I realized I can be better at in my marriage is the scorecard. For example, "I'm not going to pick up your clothes because I always pick up your clothes. You're a grown man, put them in the hamper." Good "zimzum" can't thrive with a scorecard mentality. When you are "keeping score," you are withholding love + good energy, and waiting on your partner. That stalls the zimzum, or keeps the momentum from building.

However, disassociating with the ego, and wanting to make your partner happy, builds up the momentum. It weakens personal ego and strengthens the union of your partnership. This is one area where G really crushes it. He is such a giver. He always rubs my lower back when we hug, he dishes out compliments to me left and right, and brings me coffee in bed every day. I just think it's all about intention. Because if he did these things to score points, they would be to strengthen his ego. The energy between us would be different. He just does this naturally, and selflessly. In that regard, I strive to be more like him. Not because I want to "even the score," but because I want to keep the momentum in our zimzum goin' strong. The GOAL isn't to be a "better wife" ((strengthening my ego)), I want to drop the scorecard//competition, and give selflessly because the energy between us will strengthen. I want to keep up with the laundry, clean the dishes, and cook our food, without pointing these out to him to get a pat on the back ((current habit of mine that is totally annoying and that I'm working on)).

So, G and I fight. I know there are some couples out there who say they just never fight, but yeah, we definitely fight. But there is a good way to fight, and I want to continually get better. I felt a mental shift when I heard this line:

"Assume your partner is seeing something you don't. When you get married, you gain a second set of eyes."

Usually in the heat of the moment, I want to show my perspective to G, because I'm convinced I'm right, and he could learn from me. Hehe. That sounds so snarky and rude ((but it's truthful))!!! Since I'm neutral now, I can realize that mentality is super-micro. If I zoom out, and take a way more macro point of view ((and yes, it's new-agey and philosophical, but if you read my blog you know that's my style, so whatever)), I want my LIFE to be a RICH human experience. I want to do as much, learn as much, and experience as much as I can. By being married to George, I have the unique advantage of seeing the world through not only my eyes//perspective, but also his. And now, with LG, I also see the world through her eyes! Which gives me a much bigger view on life. This emotional maturity helps me connect to a much broader range of personalities. That's an incredible gift! Even though I may disagree with the way G sees a particular situation, being willing to see the world through his point of view only makes me wiser and smarter.

Tangible example if all of this is too wordy-

I have a tendency to be wordy ((obviously)). I'll skirt around my point in an attempt to be polite and well liked. I think some people appreciate that in me, and I think with some people, it's necessary. Sometimes George's straight-to-the-point comments strike me initially as rude. But I can see that through his perspective, he is respecting the other person's time by not BSing, and just saying what he thinks. As a result, I have gotten better at hearing curt comments directed toward me. My skin has thickened, and now, with the appropriate people, I can even speak similarly.

So, Dave Matthews kind of coined the phrase "The Space Between," but really, I think the zimzum is all about the space between. Is there too much space between us ((distance, exhaustion)), too much overlap ((losing personal identities, goals, and friendships outside of the marriage)), or is it just right? When it's "just right," the zimzum energy is flowin'. That space is SACRED. Being a power couple isn't about having status, money, or power over society. It's about that sacred energetic space between two people.

I know all relationships have ups and downs. I know we will have off days and tough times. And now that I've published this post, I'm fairly certain at some point, it will come back to bite me in the butt, when I'm not being true to myself and ego has taken over. I think subconsciously, I want that, because I really do want to keep getting better. Luckily, when ego pops up in either of us, and the other one can neutrally and lovingly bring us back to our true self, love wins. I am grateful for our spiritual partnership, friendship, and chemistry. We fight and love passionately. I'm so thankful to get to co-create a life with you."Grace is when you know you're loved exactly as you are." Thank you, George, for showing me so much grace over the past 10 years.

xo,

L

"Are You Working IN or OUT Of The Home Today?"-My Super Sweet Feminist Husband.

A few months ago, on any given morning, George would ask, "Are you workin' today?" and without hesitation, I would tell him "yes" or "no" and then flash him a smile. I never thought twice about it, but apparently, he did.

One particular morning, I noticed a shift in the way he asked the question. "Are you working in or out of the home today?"

I smiled first.

Then answered, "in the home today."

It was a moment that I will always remember. Of course, it doesn't compare to events like our wedding, or the birth of our daughter, but I honestly will treasure that day, and that conscious shift, which I didn't even request.

I am one of the luckiest girls on the planet, because most of my days begin with my hard-working husband getting out of bed, and bringing me a cup of coffee and our daughter. We all snuggle, and then while she eats breakfast and watches one of her shows, I get some quiet time in.

On days when I work "outside of the home," I get up around 5 or 5:15, and don't see our baby. I still have my quiet time, and still enjoy my coffee. Then, I typically enjoy my work shift, with my fun co-workers, executing RN duties, and feeling grateful for my education which allows me to work part-time and still make a substantial income.

 

I work part-time as an operating room nurse for one surgeon. When he is out of town, or operating at a hospital other than our office, I don't get hours. That means I get to enjoy the time off, but it also means my hourly paychecks suffer. Fortunately, George's job spots me, and while we don't live anywhere near the realm of excess, we get by comfortably when we focus on what makes us happy. Feeding the ducks with LG, riding our bikes//Burley, binging on Netflix in our bed, or sometimes just good heart-to-heart conversations. Those are the best.

 

When I have weeks with 0 or 1 shift, I feel conflicted, but am trying to feel satisfied. The first week that went by with zero hours, I loved it. I even thought I could do the whole stay-at-home mom bit. But we pay for the nanny whether or not we use her, so after week 2, when I realized I was a stay-at-home "wife," I started to feel like I wasn't contributing enough.

I told George, I wanted to do home improvement projects to feel productive, but so often those cost money, which I'm not currently making. So, I added bead-board to our kitchen wall. Then, I painted a wall. I made a couple hanging plants on firewood. I painted shelves that have never matched our living room. I felt really happy and fulfilled on those days.

Even something as simple as spray-painting the red shelves black make me feel productive. Small victories. Hehe.

What made me feel the best, more than any home improvement project, or yoga class, or even solitary shower ((mamas out there know that a solitary shower without a time restraint is a total luxury))...was George's warm embrace, kind eyes, and encouraging words. He reiterated that he couldn't pursue his career without my support. I handle all the finances, bills, mail, home organization, laundry, groceries, etc...and he appreciates it. Truly! And he tells me all the time! I feel really grateful to be with a man who goes out and makes the bacon, loves what he does, and still thanks me for what I do...even when it's not making money.

I have to remind myself that it's okay to be really happy. I think throughout the pregnancy, I was so worried about how we were going to make it, I still feel residual anxiety when I look around at our house, and realize I've made no money on that given day. I try to compensate by making something. If not money, allowing my artistic side to create something. But if a day goes by where I've made nothing, my ego starts chipping away at my self-esteem.

But, I won't let my ego get the best of me. For the longest time, I felt afraid of how happy I was. Like at the drop of a hat, it could all go away and be taken from me. I think the idea is pure + good....it stems from the notion "don't take anything for granted." I still think like that. But if I let that worry become more powerful than the present gratitude and happiness, it rips my current moment away.

I also have had to tell the rebellious feminist in me to pipe down at times. For so long, I made more money than George, and I felt power in that position. I still want women to make equal pay for equal work. So I guess, there's a subconscious ((now becoming more conscious)) part of me that feels like I'm the "beta" partner now, or the "submissive" partner now, or the "traditional female role" now, or I don't know...just...it's different. But if I get real, I can admit, I've NEVER BEEN HAPPIER. And fortunately, I have a feminist husband who asks me if I'm working "in or out of the home." I mean, I should seriously just count my freakin' blessings. At times I feel like I have it all, and then that part of me starts to worry it could all be taken away in a second.

So, self-talk.

Today was a great day, and I don't take it for granted. Yesterday was awesome, and I think tomorrow will be really great, too. I just really love life right now. 

I have a great family ((the one I was born in to, and the one I chose...here's lookin' at you, Papa G...)) They make my life sweet.

xo,
L

"It's Not Always Rainbows and Butterflies...

...it's compromise that moves us along..."

Right? You know you're singin' it. At least you are if you're a girl, and you've seen this YouTube clip a million times when Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams are awarded Best Kiss (I think I'm probably 50 of the 1 million+ views!).

Of course, Ryan Gosling isn't really Noah from the Notebook, and the adorable Feminist Flickr isn't exactly real. Which brings me to my blogpost.

I have blogged about George more than any other topic in this blog. Back in 2010, I blogged about how scared I was to one day live with the man. Reading that post again today helped calm me down a bit.

While George and I share many commonalities (ie: our sense of humor, mutual love of the outdoors, free-spirited nature, and love of deep philosophical convos), we are also very different.

I admittedly have two personalities. I can be very chill and laid back, but also very type A and obsessive. It's the Gemini in me. George tends to leave little trails in the house. Diet coke cans, beer bottles, shoes, socks, dishes, trash. I like every item in the house to have a home. I'm not a 'clean freak' (I shamelessly haven't dusted or vacuumed since moving in, which is horrible since we've been here since May 10th!) by any means. But I'm ORDERLY. And he's the opposite.

His apartment got so messy (before we got married), I wouldn't even spend the night and I rarely went over, because the disheveled wreck put me in anxiety mode. I just avoided it. Twice, I helped him all weekend completely organize his room. Both times I told him "I won't be doing this again." Ha.

So, I'm going on strike. Wife Strike. The reason is because it bothers me if housework is not done. It doesn't bother him if it's not done. And half the time, I'm fairly certain he's unaware of the work I even do. So I told him I was going on strike. I wasn't going to do a single chore until he was aware of how much I do, appreciates what I do, and helps out.

The laundry pile is continuing to grow...

Here's the thing. I love George. I love his heart, his mind, his personality, his quirks. But we both work full time jobs (and I'm VERY grateful for this!). I'm not a housewife. I'm a workin' woman. So why is it that when I come home, with swollen feet from being on them for 12 hours, I have to do 90% of the housework? Jessica Valenti coincidentally wrote an amazing article TODAY about this very topic. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (a legit source) shows that women-EVEN THOSE WITH FULL TIME JOBS-still do the bulk of housework. "On an average day, 48% of women and 19% of men did housework. Married women with children who work full time spend 51 minutes a day on housework while married men with children spend just 14 minutes a day." This is insane. Don't get me wrong...if I stayed home, I would expect to do all the housework. And if George did, I would expect him to do all the housework. When we BOTH work out of the home, we BOTH need to work in the home. Period. It's 2012. I know that George never had to worry about this before, and it's coming as a bit of a shock now, but I figure if I don't put my foot down in the first few months of our marriage, I'm setting myself up for misery. I don't want that, and I know he doesn't want that....

The dishes continue to sit....

It's so ridiculous, I think it's kind of humorous. That's why I decided to share publicly. That, and because for all 28 times that I've gushed about George, I think it's only fair to make an accurate portrayal of our relationship. Yes, I'm still giddy in love with him, and I know I'll love him forever. But he annoys me with his messiness, and I have to put my foot down at some point. I know it's sounding one sided since I'm the author of this post, so to be fair, I know I'm on his nerves right now, too. I know he thinks I'm being dramatic and mean. There are three sides to every story...his, hers, and the truth. My hope is that eventually (and hopefully that's SOONER rather than LATER) he will realize all I do, appreciate all I do, and help out. Until then, enjoy the disgusting pictures of our humble abode...

My biggest reason for going on strike is explained in this photo. About 4 days after moving in, George lost the mailbox and housekey. I never had a chance to make copies. I asked him multiple times to handle the situation, but going in the backdoor and ignoring the postal service seemed to be easier. I finally told him I'm going on strike. 

This was a note from George on our one and only toilet. He clogged it up with dog feces and paper towels after picking up the mess and doing one big flush. We didn't have a plunger. Past-tense, because I picked one up after work today. (I guess I'm not as tough as I like to think I am!)
 This was what I woke up to this morning. This is part of my reasoning for going all out in a "Wife Strike." 

This would be one of the other reasons! We have puppy pads. George either didn't know where they are (mind you we live in a 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 800 square foot house), or didn't want to take the time to get one out, so he put down two paper towels. All day long. This was before the wife strike. I cleaned up this mess, but this is also part of my reasoning for putting my foot down.

Everyday I clean up the dogs' puppy pad mess. Not today.

Everyday I clean up his Diet Coke cans. Not today.

Everyday I pick up his trash (wrappers, pieces of paper, empty boxes, etc.), and when the trash/recycling piles up, I usually take it out. Not today.

We got a package today. It's still sitting outside!

Oh yes. The straw that broke the camel's back. When George was hanging a shelf on our bedroom wall (a task that he does NOT care about or desire, and one I've been asking him to do for about 6 weeks), my vintage sconce from Canton fell and broke one of our Anthropologie coasters. The lightbulb shattered on the floor.
When I zombie-walked to the coffee maker yesterday morning, I stepped in broken glass because he didn't clean it up. He left the broken glass on the floor! After throwing a fit that evening, he hung the sconce back up but didn't replace the bulb or shade. So now it's sitting on the bed, and I'm NOT GOING TO FIX IT!

Okay. I feel better now. I've ranted, I've tried to maintain a neutral perspective, and I've shown the world (more like the few people who MIGHT care) that all that glitters isn't gold. I wouldn't trade George for anything in the world. I LOVE being married (believe it or not!) and living with my best friend. But I'm also not going to pretend that we are in this perfect relationship because it is the cool online social media thing to do. It's not perfect. Nobody's relationship is. I know this is transitional and I know we are going to get better at this living together thing.

xoxo,
L

Thoughts on Being a Wife.

Ahhh. It feels so nice to have the internet. And my cup of coffee, warm in my hand.

Several times since returning from our amazing honeymoon, I've had conflicting thoughts bouncing around in this overactive, obsessive-compulsive brain of mine.

I'm happy. So very, very, happy. After dating for 7 years, it feels amazing to have George in my bed every night, and it feels very comforting knowing we have both decided to do this thing called "life" together.

Photo by Stephanie Rose Photography.

We are in the formative months of our marriage. We've been married for about two months, and I feel as though almost every decision is laying down the foundation. Sure, dating had to precede this foundation, but now I feel I am creating the future I want to have with this man. Little things...like, I finally picked up flowers to hang near our front door. Is this something I should attempt to hang myself, or let him, because he's the "man of the house"? Having found feminism somewhat recently, I constantly have internal conflict wondering if I should prove that I CAN do certain things, or if I should encourage George to take the traditionally male gender roles.

So far, the gender roles are working, so I'm not going to complain. He mounted the TV, hung up our wall pantry (no real pantry in this tiny little cottage!), and moved the heavy items. He also assembled the Cat Genie (oh my gosh yall if you have multiple cats, GET ONE OF THESE BAD BOYS), and has picked up a few checks this week that have made me smile from ear to ear. I've made breakfast on our one and only leisurely morning (see, a "good wife" would ensure her husband had a good meal at least once a day, but I digress), and I've definitely been the CEO of the home organization. I feel confident that this is my strong contribution to our little family of two. I also have been tidying up after the dogs, cats, and hubs. My favorite traditionally "female" gender role I've taken on has been (of course) the decor, and DIY projects.

Our bedroom accent wall, a work still in progress...

I've also had some conflict wondering how to balance the families we each have come from, and the family we are now starting. Not having any children made me think this would be easy, but I have wondered at times if I should be at home in Grapevine, or home in Flower Mound, with my parents, on certain occasions. For instance, "Glee Nights" are Tuesdays at my mom's, and I would hate to give this up. I wouldn't, actually. Sometimes I caught myself feeling obligated to go home right when it was over, because I felt bad if George was home alone without me. One night I stayed the night at my parents', and it felt great being in my old bed, with my family. I guess doing whatever feels right is okay, as long as I consider George's feelings. He's fairly laid back. For the most part, we both lead busy lives, and it's not too big of an issue, but I still feel an obligation to my parents (and "obligation" sounds like it's a chore...it's not, it's something I want to do) and I also feel an obligation to George, and it's hard to determine which one wins out. I can only imagine how tough holidays will be, and even worse, when kids come into the picture....I guess that's why we're figuring out what works now, before it gets too complicated. I don't mean for this to sound negative; I'm so grateful that I have two loving, married parents, 10 minutes down the road, who I can spend time with. I'm so happy to be married to my best friend. I'm just saying it's not easy as pie determining who you're going to spend time with when you want to merge the two, and your husband isn't a Glee fan. Hehe.

I drove with my mom, dad, and sister, to Lubbock this past weekend to watch Laura graduate from Texas Tech. I was so proud! Getting to have family time in the car felt really nice. I flew back by myself, and George picked me up. That was an example of something different since the marriage...I probably would have driven back with my family if we weren't married. However, I really enjoyed the time with family and the short flight back, and MOST enjoyed the concert George and I went to after. I don't think I hurt anybody's feelings, so I think it's all good...I hope? I'm constantly paranoid about letting people down.

So in summation, I feel some conflict, but nothing that I can't handle. Just like when I graduated high school, or college, and felt bittersweet...like a part of my childhood was behind me. You want to graduate, you're proud to graduate, but you leave a little bit of innocence behind. I guess that's my point with marriage. I wanted to get married, I'm proud to be married to George, and I wouldn't change a thing. But when you grew up in as loving a home as I did, leaving behind a small part of your childhood isn't easy. Today I'm focusing on how fortunate I am to have both my family and George in my life. I feel very full of love.

The Honeymoon.

After George proposed (you can read about the proposal here), wedding planning kicked in. I blogged a couple of times about the process (you can catch up here), but have been really busy since November 18th! Planning the "wedding of my dreams" was time consuming, and planning a honeymoon wasn't on the radar.

However, last June, the two of us went on a roadtrip (you can read about the "Great Adventure" here). We turned off our phones, bought a map, and had 5 days or so of freedom. We weren't sure where we were going (although we knew Marfa was going to be a goal! We wanted to see those lights....and we did!), and we weren't sure where we were staying, but that was going to be part of the fun. I thought back on the trip, and how much I completely enjoyed myself, and thought something similar would be fabulous for a honeymoon. Due to the generosity of our family and friends, we were able to use the same concept, only bigger scale. We planned more this time...we bought plane tickets to San Francisco, plane tickets back to DFW from Seattle, and we booked about 4 different hotels. We left gaps in between, which gave us some more freedom in between pitstops. We knew we could take advantage of public transportation in San Fran, so we booked the rental car on our way out. 

After the best day of my life (which I think I will refer to my wedding day as, indefinitely...), March 24, we had about 24 hours to pack up George's apartment in a storage unit, pack our bags, and board a plane. And so begins a picture-book story (online version) of our trip.

Because part of me is Type A, I assembled a book with our reservations and passport/birth certificate.

George, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, checking us in at DFW. Keep in mind we have not slept in over 24 hours; I think he looks great! :)

En route to Phoenix for our layover, I was too excited to sleep, George made himself comfortable on my shoulder. After arriving in Phoenix, we made use of our time by ordering drinks. At 7:44 AM. We then flew to San Fran, and started our adventure.

DAY ONE.

Checked in to the unbelievable HOTEL MAJESTIC. I would strongly recommend this hotel to anybody. Charming, over 100 years old, and luxurious. We stayed in a "haunted" room, but we didn't see, hear, or feel a presence. This was the view from the bed, looking into the living area, and the beautiful bay window overlooking the streets of San Fran, near Fisherman's Wharf.

We had affirming signs everywhere! Right when we checked in, we noticed the Butterfly Lounge to the left of the check-in desk. If you didn't already know, I've been drawn to the butterfly since I was in 6th grade, and collect butterflies and butterfly images. This lounge is the home of the largest collection of butterflies NOT in a museum. How cool! We didn't even know until we got there.

Hotel Majestic kindly left an ice bucket with champagne in our room. We had a toast before meeting my friend Katie at a nearby bar.

We got to meet up with my "Library Big," or my favorite co-worker who taught me the ropes at the bar in Norman. Katie is doing well in San Francisco! She is working for a gym and looks amazing herself. We had Irish Car Bombs for old time's sake. Katie, if you're reading this, thank you for making our trip EXTRA special with your presents. We love you! And whenever you're out this way, give me a call!

DAY TWO.

This breakfast was so good, I ate it two days in a row. Hotel Majestic's Spinach Omelette, Hash Browns, Mimosa, Coffee. Sourdough Toast. To die for!!!!!!!

Daddy called this gem of a restaurant and pre-paid for our lunch. The location is PRIME. The food is DELICIOUS. And the service was AMAZING! This was definitely one of our favorite meals. Thanks so much, Daddy!

Our "Newlywed Cheesecake" and coffee to warm our bones at Scoma's!!!

Then, thanks to a recommendation from Rachel and Ryan, we went to the Musee Mecanique, or the mechanical museum. This was free, and really fun. We explored all over Pier 45 and Pier 39. 

We spent a few days in San Fran and got to see Haight-Ashbury...

...and the Aquarium of the Bay...

...had an amazing meal compliments of the Naslund's at E&O Trading Company (the decor was unbelievable)...

...and on the third day...

...we finally got our RENTAL CAR! We don't have pics, but the first stop we made was to see Bill Graham's tombstone. He's a major influence in George's life. We found it, and George left him a yellow rose, symbolizing some Texas love. It was really beautiful. And quiet. And I knew it meant a lot to him. We then traveled on to the Muir Woods! 

We had our first little squabble as a married couple at Muir Woods. But the size of the trees made the argument seem really small. I realize how corny that sounds. But it doesn't make it any less true. 

After Muir Woods, we knew we were heading North. We hopped on Highway 101 and started making our way up the California coast. There were few items on our Roadtrip Bingo cards (thanks, Mommy!)...mainly trees. Once we hit the Avenue of the Giants, we were in another world. This was one of the highlights on the trip, for sure.

After seeing sights as gorgeous as these, and finally seeing the coast for the first time, we had to get out. George insisted on dipping his feet in; I was freezing and wasn't so sure. But he convinced me. We took off our shoes and ran in the ocean. After getting sandy-feet-syndrome, we rinsed our feet with freezing cold water, dried them with t-shirts in the trunk, and decided this was as good a place as any to stay. It was quiet, beautiful, and had some character.

Our first glance at the coast after driving through the Avenue of the Giants. Stinson Beach.

We ate at this darling cafe. The windows overlooked the gargantuan waves. There was a fireplace beside us. We sipped our wine slow, and ate fish fresh off the coast. This was one of my favorite memories, for sure. The clouds just hovered over the cliffs; it truly felt like we were in heaven. 

After knocking on a couple of doors, we found shelter at the Stinson Beach Redwoods Haus Inn. With the succulent garden patio and the butterfly pillows, we knew we were in the right place. 

I slept like a rock in our cozy little room. The decor was all straight from the late 70's, and our bed was carved out of wood, with a mirror as the headboard. We woke up early, sipped coffee on the succulent garden patio, had some home-made breakfast, and hit the road again.

It was hard to leave this beautiful beach, but being Napa-bound certainly helped.

We drove for a few hours, and had to decide between Napa and Sonoma. We thought as our first time, Napa would be a better experience. 

We went to the Black Stallion vineyard and had a delicious and romantic wine tasting.

The vineyards are absolutely breathtaking!

Thanks to Leslie's recommendation, we also stopped by a place called Brix. What an amazing restaurant! And what an amazing experience. 

While at Brix, we met a man named Abi. He is from Zimbabwe, and is a practicing physician. He comes to Napa weekly, and after a hard day's work, stops by Brix for a glass of champagne to "celebrate life." We spoke to this man for a while at the bar, and I truly felt like my life had changed after talking to him!!! I swear he was an angel or something. We talked about love, marriage, life, and philosophy, for a while. He bought us champagne, and we toasted to life. We were again, positive we were in the right place at the right time.

To life. Cheers.

Everybody in Napa told us to stay the night there; that it wouldn't be possible to make it to Crescent City that night. Because of our impromptu stay in Stinson Beach, I felt like we really needed to make up some time. George drove for hours. I slept a good bit of the night. I think we ended up in Eureka, but I'm not sure. I know he drove a long time in the dark, like a champ. We stayed at a Best Western or something, and hit the road again in the morning. Portland-bound!!!!

We were lucky enough to drive through Humboldt County. Another dense forest. This was the epitome of the perfect roadtrip. My passenger window was far more entertaining than any TV show I've ever seen!

We took every "Scenic Route" possible. That was the POINT.
And I'm so glad we did.

On our way to Portland, little waterfalls, big waterfalls, small streams, and massive rivers, ran beside us. The misty clouds were heavy and right above us the entire drive. It was an absolutely rich forest. From the water to the trees, everything felt so alive. Including me.

I'd hoped for a rainbow with all the rain. And what do you know?

We made it to Portland. In Oregon, you can't pump your own gas. Which is actually, kind of fun...

We checked into a McMenamins, thanks to a recommendation from Dr. Davis. We felt a little dumb, because this McMenamins was more of a bar-scene, less of a hotel-scene. I guess they have rooms upstairs above the bar for people who get too intoxicated to make it home...we were the only ones with "reservations" and the girl/hostess looked at us like we were from another planet when we were "checking in." I had my itinerary and everything. Thank God George told me to leave my rolling luggage in the car. 

Hahahaha. We had a beer and made our way upstairs.

McMenamins is communal style, so inside our tiny bedroom we had a bed and a sink. And that's it! There are two toilets and a shower that everybody uses down the hall. It was a fun experience, and helped out financially. 

This was opposite the john in the communal bathroom. Definitely an interesting place! Lots of character...

...but we were ready to get out of Portland. Too many hipsters. We loaded up on coffee at a diner and trekked up north toward Seattle.

And if we didn't find the most ADORABLE little inn!!!! This place was so charming!!! We stayed here 3 nights.

The Space Needle!!!!!!

  

We saw the Experience Music Project, or EMP, another great recommendation from Dr. Davis!!! This display of instruments was two stories tall, and twisted like a tornado. Unbelievable!

We checked out both the Jimi Hendrix exhibit, and the Nirvana exhibit. I learned a lot at the EMP!

This is a community-involved map of bands. The lines represent times when different band members have collaborated with other bands. This visual display shows how rich the Northwest is in terms of underground music. Look at those names! And they're all connected. How cool.

Everywhere we went, we got to throw around the term "honeymoon," "husband," "wife," etc...and just that alone was really fun. "My husband is meeting me here; he'll have a local Amber and I'll take a gin and tonic." What a fun phrase. 

We had some hiccups along the way, which is to be expected when half the trip isn't planned. This is George in one of those "hiccup" instances. I find taking pictures even when he's angry, helps to dissipate the tension. We end up laughing at ourselves...

...or making ourselves comfortable on a random island (Bainbridge) and having drinks all day long in lieu of catching the ferry on time to Victoria...

We made friends everywhere we went. This is a guy named David. Moved from Hawaii....helping his grandmother move into a retirement center...we had drinks and a long walk with David. It is mind-blowing how many commonalities we have with complete strangers; all it takes is the time to get to know them. Usually, time is what we are lacking in our daily lives; not the desire to make friends! With ample time thanks to missing the Victoria Clipper Ferry, we were able to relax, unwind, and meet good 'ol Dave.

I also made friends with these guys after sipping some tea by my lonesome at a cafe. George went to a bar; I went shopping, and then needed a warm drink. I heard some music from across the road and walked over, plopped down, and had a great time.
(Bainbridge Island, Washington)

We stayed the night in Bainbridge, then took the ferry back to Seattle. We tried again for the Victoria Clipper, and weren't able to board because of a passport issue. We then had a free day in Seattle. In hindsight, everything happened exactly the way it was supposed to. Plus, now, I get to take another trip out to Victoria on a weekend when the Butchart Gardens are even more beautiful! Win-Win!

Of course, I had to stop by the ORIGINAL Starbucks! And get my usual Grande Coffee, Soy Milk, 2-Pump Sugar-Free Cinnamon Dolce. It was delicious.

We walked around Pike's Place Market, and had a leisurely day. 

 Local, fresh, delicious. Just how food is intended to be. 

We even had time to go bowling...and this bowling alley was an absolute blast. We had an amazing waitress bringing us drinks and fried raviolis, and the tunes overhead were, I swear, from some of my iPod playlists. I busted out some granny-style moves, and was actually winning for a brief period of time.

Because we have a tendency to be young at heart, we played on the playground and made the best of our last day in Seattle. I swear if I'd known George as a little kid, we would've been friends then, too. He had so much fun bouncing on this floor covering after the rain. It felt like we were wearing moonboots. Then, we went back to the 11th Ave. Inn, and watched Wonder Years on the iPad as we drifted off to sleep. Our alarm went off at 4:45, and we called a cab to take us to the airport. 

We made our way through security one last time...then landed safely back in Dallas. Daddy picked us up, we caught up with my parents over some delicious Carmine's pizza and wine, then got settled in our apartment. As husband and wife. It was really an amazing adventure.