Ahhh, The Great Outdoors...

We finally found some time this past weekend to escape to one of our favorite past-times: Camping.

But first I have to clarify. There are TWO different kinds of camping:

1) Princess camping

and

2) Camping camping

If you didn't know that there were two different kinds of camping, then chances are...You're a princess.

I am, at heart, a princess camper. I enjoy knowing that my nearest neighbor is only 10 feet from me and that I'm not surrounded by complete and utter darkness at night and left to the bears and cougars. I prefer knowing that the registration booth is only a paved loup away, and that if I get a little dirty, so are the showers. I also enjoy having all of our camping food in a nifty little cooler, having our airmatress that we can blow up thanks to our battery powered air-blower.

Will, is ALL about camping camping. "Princess camping? What is THAT?! You mean all you have to do is swipe your VISA card and they will deliver firewood to your campsite???" Will atually didn't even know that you could reserve campsites at state parks and camp and have such modern conveniences until a few years ago.

But this past weekend, we went camping the manly way: Camping camping.

We strapped on backpacks that are built to carry up to 50 - 60 lbs. All of our food fit inside, was either freeze-dried or granola. There were no showers where we went - only the icy cold glacier lake if you're brave enough. And you can't drive there. You must hike in - 3 miles in, 3 miles out. And your nearest neighbors are in fact, bears and cougars. (luckily ours were our friends Aaron and Erika).

So the four of us, after getting a late start Friday night after work, hiked up into a lake in the Cascades, pitched our tents, ate our scrumptous dinner of freeze-dried-just-add-boiling-water Chilly and Hawaiin Chicken, and went to sleep under a vast sky of the most brilliant stars you've ever seen.

(Erika and I soaking our feet in the lake....Brrrrrrr!)

(Aaron sunbathing upon the rocks)

(And Will sunBURNING upon the rocks)

P.S. This was not my first backpacking trip, and it was by far the easiest. Last summer Will and I backpacked 10 miles into a tiny lake in the middle of the Olympic Mountains, and I also backpacked for 2 weeks in the mountains with my grandparents, who have both been avid backpackers for 25 years.

But I still prefer the princess camping. :)

Visit with Niece Elena

Sometimes my parents invite one of their grandkids to come solo and spend a week with them in the summertime. It was Elena's turn, and so we went up to visit her while she was there.  

She was quite the little dancer, and enjoyed dancing while I played the violin.

I Love My Money-Managing Husband

I don't know how most couples manage their finances, but Will and I have a budget that we adhere to on a bi-monthly basis.

Within that budget, we also set aside an "allowance" for the each of us to use on whatever we want to. I usually blow mine as soon as I get it on clothes or whatnot. But Will, on the otherhand....he will invest his in the stock market so that it doubles or triples in no time at all. He has the most amazing control over his spending - like nothing I've ever seen before.

So for the last year, he was actually saving his 'allowance' for a toy he'd had his eye on for a very long time: a kayak.

TWO KAYAKS, actually ($$$$ ca-ching, ca-ching). You might think "What is so miraculous about that?" Well, hello, our personal allowance is only $30 every 2 weeks. Now do the math and consider just how long he had to save....LOL

And get this:

To pay for his "investment" (Don't worry, I also had to ask him how kayaks were an "investment" as well), he now rents them whenever we aren't using them.

And then here I am, shaking my head because I'm ever unceasingly put to shame by his finance skills over my own (is there any way I could rent out my clothes? LOL).

Here is his creative Craigslist ad - I got a kick out of it:

It's time to cool off and enjoy some of this beautiful weather. What better way to do that then by exploring our breathtaking waterways.

Have you been thinking of buying a Kayak? Here's your chance to own one for the day, weekend, or until you decide you want one for yourself. Take it out for a paddle and see if a Kayak is in your future.

What destination do you want to explore today? Try paddling along houseboats, and under skyscraper shadows along Lake Union. Explore the many parks and wildlife areas with the abundant lakes and calm rivers surrounding us. Soaking in a sunset with a paddle around Alki beach is a great date idea. Head up to the San Juan Islands for the weekend and explore all the inlets and bays.

So many people I have talked to have always wanted to try kayaking but never have because it's not a cheap sport to buy all the equipment to find out you don't like it as much as you thought. These are my personal kayaks that I bought for recreational use for my family. They are great entry level recreational touring kayaks for day paddling. I figured there are plenty of people out there that would crave the experience of paddling that's why I offer my kayaks for rent when we are not using them.

Just swing on by and I'll show you how to load them onto your car. They are extremely lightweight and fit on 95% of all cars (not the best for a convertible, and other random shaped cars).

If you're not sure where to put them in the water, I can point you to a few great local places depending on what you are looking for.

All equipment that is needed will be included in your Rental:
-Over 10 foot long sturdy & lightweight Pelican Sit-in Kayak w/padded adjustable seat & foot pads http://www.pelican-intl.com/pursuit-100-dlx.html
-Fully Adjustable Paddle
-Type III certified paddling life vest
-Water repellant spray skirt to keep you and your gear dry when paddling
-Temporary vehicle roof carriers that fit 95% of all vehicles will let you go where no kayak has gone before, or just down to your nearest watering hole.
-All self rescue equipment incase your daring adventure turns upside down.

Here's your chance to do all this at rates less then what rental shops will charge for an hour:
-$25 per day per Kayak (2 Kayaks available)
-One Rental Day is considered any day you have the Kayak more than 12 hours (minimum 1 day rental)
-Discounts offered for rentals over 2 days.

Let me know what days you would be interested in. Weekends fill up fast. Give it a try! You know you want to! Email me and let me know what days you want to have fun! Pick up location is at the south end of Lake Washington near Ikea.

Now he's only had this ad posted for 4 hours and he's already rented them out for the weekend, AND has about 13 more booked. WOW. LOL

Road Rules

We work too much.

Between the two of us, we've managed to squeeze in 5 jobs. Not that we ever really intended spread ourselves that thin, but it's just how things have "worked" out. Will is up to 3 jobs - Estimator, Real Estate Agent and part-time maintenance man at the complex that we manage and reside at. Jenni is holding steady at 2 - managing the complex full time and being a professional musician.

Fortunately, we were able to take a much needed vacation this past week. Will was able to take an entire week off of work, and Jenni's summer intern covered for her in her absense. Isn't it crazy that you work a full year so that you can accumulate 1 week's worth of vacation time? I propose that America adopt a more relaxed lifestyle like the European's do. Naptime in the afternoon, at least 1 month of vacation time every year, and close the office by 3pm.

So...the whole beginnings of this trip started out with a stripper who has been driving our car for the past 3 years in Vegas.

No, we're not joking.

Just before we got married, I (Jenni) decided to sublease my brand new 2004 VW Jetta out instead of making the payments on it. Will had a car that was fully paid for, so why not? Well, we found a company that takes care of subleasing your car out for you. Somewhere in that first year we lost contact with the subleasing contractor, had no idea where my car was, and later found out the company went belly up.

Fortunately, the person driving my car was honest enough to call VW and find me and tell me he had my car. He was in Vegas and it was his girlfriend (the stripper) who had been driving the car. 2 years and a nearly-over 4 year lease plan later, the stripper decided that unless she "had a really good month", she wouldn't be able to buy the car as planned.

Enter Will and Jenni's vacation.

So last week, we flew down to Vegas to pick up the car and drive it back to Seattle. I have to admit, I was a teensy-weensy bit excited to see my car again. The beautiful charcoal grey finish, power windows, leather and chrome dash, 8-speaker stereo system, cruise control (all things our Kia lacks)...I couldn't wait to drive it again.

Vegas was hot....110 degrees hot. And two detailed cleanings, an oil change, complete disinfectant and upholstry shampooing, and dent repair later...the car was driveable. Fortunately the condoms we found in the backseat were unopened. I don't even want to know...

Here is a fine dent in my baby:

After a fun night in Vegas at The Paris, we headed to LA.

We then headed to LA and stayed with Will's Uncle Kevin and Aunt Ellen. We went to Disneyland (the castle was much smaller than I remember it being). We also toured Beverly Hills, went to Malibu and up the CA coastline. And I thought Seattle traffic was horendous...

(Will smiling it up on the Jungle Cruise ride. You know he's lovin' it.)

(Jenni in line for the "Pirates of the Caribbean" ride at Disneyland)(Will, the hamburger connoisseur, not so impressed with his Disneyland burger.)

We then headed up to San Francisco, up through the Redwoods, and the California Coast. I loved San Francisco! They have fir trees AND palm trees. (I've always complained that Seattle needed to plant some palm trees).

(A trolley in San Francisco)

(below: Jenni at home on beach at Crescent City, California).
(Us in front of the Palace of Fine Arts)

(Jenni by a column in the Palace of Fine Arts)(Have you ever seen anything so beautiful? It's like out of a fairytale)

Eventually we made our way over to Eastern Oregon - where Will grew up. We were able to go through the tiny town of Paisley, Oregon - population 200. We stopped in at the local diner for some milkshakes, and fortunately we were able to catch the town mechanic to fix our flat tire that we obtained while travelling over gravel roads (the only roads over the mountains to Paisley!).

(This is the high school that Will graduated from. Class of 1995 - how many in his graduating class? Nine! The high school was also the junior high.)

(Will standing in front of their old home in Chiloquin, Oregon. It's now a Bed & Breakfast. We tried to get a room for the night, but they were booked. A disappointed Will said "I know how many rooms there are in that house, they could put us in the basement!")

(We also made it to Crater Lake - the deepest lake in the United States and the 7th deepest fresh water lake in the world. Something around 1,900 feet deep! And the water color was sooooo blue - almost turquoise like Hawaii water.)

We ended the trip by swinging to my grandparents home in Pendleton, Oregon and then making it home in time for us both to get to work by noon. So back to work it is.

We'll just keep working so we can afford the vacations. :)

Till next time,

Will and Jenni

Missing Your Mark

This is pretty funny. This was Will and Daniel goofing off at Whistler earlier this year.