Sweet Relief in the Methow Valley

Here is a slideshow of the scenic Methow Valley, in eastern Washington state. A lovely area, where I mountain biked, hiked (and ran into a pack of mules!), and took lots of photos. A nice retreat from my hectic life in Seattle.

Aloha!

The trip to Hawaii was fantastic! I got to hang out with all of my favorite people: my oldest friend from Chicago, Eileen, Kelly, Tracy, my middle sister Colleen, and my college roomate Anna (who came all the way from Geneva, Switzerland). It was great to all be in one place.

Highlights from Oahu included:

• Hiking up to Diamond Head (we walked there all the way from our hotel, which added another hour each way)


• Snorkeling on the North Shore


• Seeing turtles coming in to rest on the beach


• Surfing Waikiki beach (my new surfer buddy friend even has video of me!)


• Going on an eco-tour and learning about all of the history, flora, fauna, and folklore of the island


• Partying until the wee hours (bars stay open until 4am here!) pretty much every night

Here are some pics:

On the way to Diamond Head

Sea turtle resting

The lovely ladies

Cubs fans...we're everywhere!

Brasil v Canada futbol game

Welcome the Newest Member of the EU...ME!!!

Just recently I received my Irish Citizenship, which means I can now become a member of the European Union. This has been quite a journey for me. I first tried applying for dual citizenship back when I was studying in Ireland during college. Since then, it has been well over 10 years of gathering paperwork, working with the Chicago office of records, getting things notarized in dingy Dublin offices, obtaining letters from country priests in the west of Ireland, and submitting everything, including an ugly mug shot, to the San Francisco Consulate. I have to give credit to my younger sister, who currently lives in Galway, for helping to round up the necessary paperwork from her end.

Next stop: applying for my Irish passport. No more waiting for that last-minute, expensive Brazilian visa! :-)

Now...I can't wait to inform my boss that I'd like to be paid in Euros. Hahahahaha!

Adventure On,
Kristen

Love from Seattle

Every year on Valentine’s Day I like to send out an image of “love”, that elusive word that means so many things to so many people.

I came across this window display while walking down a street in Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood, and I knew immediately that this would be my picture.

The poet in me loves this image of the old-fashioned type-writer. I also love the juxtaposition of the thorny stand that supports the heart of flowers, and the Pro/Con sheet that lies just below, graphically displaying the yin and yang of love.

We may not ever be able to define it, but we know that we cannot survive without it.

Adventure On…Love, and Be Loved!

Kristen