Denver!

Dear me, oh my!

I haven't mentioned that I went to Denver for Thanksgiving!

I blame it on the crazy amount of final projects I had.

Sawyer + Sarah

So, yes. My final trip of 2014 was to Denver, Colorado. It was a short trip--I left Phoenix Wednesday night at 10:40 pm, and arrived back in Phoenix Saturday morning at 9 am. However, the brevity of the trip did not detract from the adventure.

This was my third (fourth?) and final year spending Thanksgiving in a different state than my parents. I initially was going to go to Tucson with them (to stay at the Hotel Congress and watch the ASU vs U of A game) but they stalled in making hotel reservations.

I found out in September that two of my friends, Sarah and Sawyer, would be unable to return to Phoenix for neither Thanksgiving nor Christmas, so I booked a plane ticket to Denver.

Life lesson: Consider checking your savings account before you book a plane ticket on a whim when you're in college. It may take months to recover. Not to say that happened to me.

As the weeks passed and as Thanskgiving drew nearer, I became increasingly excited to leave my homework behind for a while and head out to a new territory.

I've visited Denver once before, but this was my first time flying into Denver and spending time in the southern side, and my first time going in the winter.

It was basically freezing when I arrived. I'm so glad I bought a coat for this trip. When my flight landed, I took a moment to enjoy the art in the Denver airport (there are a lot of conspiracy theories about it) before getting in Sarah and Sawyer's car and going home and to bed.

I slept soundly on the most. comfortable.  air mattress ever. created. As soon as I awoke, we began drinking coffee and cooking food. I made my favorite dish, green bean casserole with fresh green beans. It was heavenly.

We ate Thanksgiving dinner picnic-style and discussed what we are most thankful for this year.

My list included my parents' house, Sarah + Sawyer, my boyfriend Adam, the ability to travel, and my education.

Because we ate so early, we had a full afternoon of time to kill. We sat around. We watched tv. We ate pie. We drank wine. We went shopping at 6 pm on Thanksgiving day.

Yeah, I just said that.

It was my first Black Friday experience, and it wasn't even on Black Friday. It was also incredibly tame--the line to enter Target had dismantled by the time we got there, and there were still piles of large televisions for people to purchase.

I bought two pairs of gloves and that was it.

We went to World of Beer afterwards and enjoyed the potluck there (our second Thanksgiving dinner) and local pumpkin ale. It was a very peaceful, low-key holiday, and I loved it.

Friday was spent crafting and watching the ASU vs U of A game on the air mattress.

Sarah has picked up watercolors as a hobby, and she's really good at it. Like, Etsy-good.

I, on the other hand, created glamorous stockings for Adam and I. They are argyle and metallic and shiny and spectacular.

Unfortunately, I awoke incredibly early Saturday morning to head home to Phoenix. It was a rough early morning, but the sunrise was beautiful from the Southwest gate and the view of snowcapped mountains under my airplane's wing really made for a gorgeous end to my trip.

I arrived back in Phoenix well rested and ready to finish the semester off.

Adventures: Past and Future

I've done a lot of learning as I've traveled in 2014.

My trip to Austin in February taught me to be spontaneous, which is really the biggest lesson I've learned. That, and to always remove my laptop from my luggage before going through TSA.

In March, I learned that I am just as badass as one of the boys when it comes to backpacking, camping, hiking, etc. That was the trip where we drove to the Superstitions, arrived late, hiked in and set up camp in the pitch black night, were rained on, and nearly rained into the canyon. This is also when I had a bee fly into my backpack (while I was wearing it) and woke up to a beetle in my sleeping bag. And I didn't freak out either time.

May is when I committed to my trip to Oakland and Portland, spending more money on transportation than I ever have.

When that trip came around in June, I had learned a lot about being flexible. My plans never really materialized until a week before I left, and I didn't have my travel date for moving from OAK to PDX set until I had already arrived in Oakland.

I spent a lot of time by myself (especially in Oakland/San Francisco) and that was a beautiful thing. There's an art to getting lost--lost in a city, lost in thought. I mastered that art and made some wonderful life revelations in my time spent alone with a cup of coffee, camera and notebook.

Portland brought its own joys, one of which being Rhea, my mentor. Seeing her may have been one of the single best events of this year, partially because I realized what I want to report on, as a journalist.

Which brings me to where I am today.

I've got a lot of adventures under my belt for 2014, but I have an even bigger adventure ahead.

For one, I'm graduating from Arizona State in May (gasp, how did that happen), so I'm going to have to find a job, and it will hopefully look like an immigration reporting/photojournalism job and not a coffee job (although I'd really love to do that for a while.)

For twosies, I got into a fairly competitive border reporting class and will be traveling to Nicaragua in March 2015 to report on immigration between Nicaragua and Costa Rica. The two countries have a similar immigration disposition to Mexico and the United States.

I first learned about this class nearly two years ago (and even blogged about it) as a means for Cronkite students to get experience reporting about border-related issues in other countries, and I nearly can't believe I'm getting to join it this year.

Huzzah!

Fall Break in Portland

That title is misleading. It was mostly Fall Break in the car, and a day and a half in Oregon.

It's been hard to write about this. I did, after all, move my best friend to a city that is roughly 1,300 miles away. Round trip, this adventure was 2651.1 miles of driving.

brother sister

I went up to Portland with three of my best friends and returned with two. Nobody died, it was just a moving trip. We took two cars and a bike and a lot of stuff and drove up in two days, stayed in Portland for a day and a half, and then took a day and a half to drive back with infinitely less stuff, and one less car and one less person.


The drive itself was far more enjoyable than I would have imagined. We were impatient to get to Portland, but we were able to stay with my friend Shane (who I met at Eva's wedding in August) in Redding, and meet his sister and friends. It was awesome because I don't really know him all that well, but he and his friends got along really well with me and my friends. We drank beer and talked about backpacking and got coffee and oatmeal for breakfast the next morning.

The short time I spent in Portland was categorized by coffee (duh) beer (also duh) and old, lovely friends. It felt like a giant reunion. It was the first stretch of time I had spent with Ben and Raquel and Brenna together, plus Liz and Cassie and Sydney who all moved to Portland earlier this year.

We just spent life together, and it was so so sweet to see everyone like the good ol' days.

family dinner

Then we just left Brenna there (she's doing well--we talk frequently) and headed back to Phoenix. The route we took was very desolate--through the top corner of California and south through Nevada. The sound of my car's tires on the barren road was the perfect soundtrack for our somber drive back.

And I also got to witness a bear run across the road in front of me.

And Ben got a speeding ticket.

And we explored some beautiful, lonely places like Bordertown, CA and Lunning, NV.

 

Cali: Take 2

I can hardly believe it was only two nights ago when I was loading Jess and Dave's bags into the back of my car for my second weekend in California. I can confidently say, though, that it will be the first and last time I ever do an overnight road trip. Leaving Phoenix at midnight was brutal, but it was what we needed to do to make it in time. Not only did we make it in time, but we also made great time, and got to see a nice sunrise when we arrived at Jess' dad's house in California.

The mountain behind the house gave us a great viewing spot.

After our sunrise hike, we headed out to Venice Beach where I completely zonked out on a beach towel for an hour or so (I only slept an hour and a half on the car ride) and only got lightly sunburned. I think Dave used the term "splotchy." By the time I woke up, everyone else was disenchanted with the beach (which is a sentiment I completely do not understand) and wanted to sleep. All I wanted was coffee.

The crew.

Everyone was a good sport when we piled back into the car and I drove to Intelligentsia on Abbott Kinney. Intelligentisa is the first third wave coffee shop I ever learned about, so it was really nice to pay a visit and drink a cold brew.

Once we got home, we all rested, ate lunch, watched a movie and then headed out for second lunch. Because apparently we're a bunch of Hobbits who like to eat multiple meals.

Jess stayed home but we (it was her sister Sarah's birthday weekend, too, and her friends spent the whole time hanging out with us as well) drove into downtown Los Angeles to eat at Syrup, a coffee/breakfast cafe.

I was really hoping it was an old school soda fountain, but I was completely and pleasantly surprised when I saw it was a coffee shop similar to Samba Latte and Caffe Medici, narrow with multiple stories. I had a crepe that rivaled Jobot's, and we all played Jenga and enjoyed the air conditioning.

Bendix building. I have no clue what it is.

With time to kill and food to walk off, we jaunted down to the fashion district on a hunt for gym shorts and a suit for Dave. All we really found were overpriced USB drives and gangsta' basketball shorts. And a lot of fabric. And a lot of crowds. It wasn't exactly what I expected, but the old buildings, populated alleyways and general skyscrapers pleased my eye.

Once we returned home, I did homework and napped a sweet, sweet nap, bringing the total amount of time I slept up to approximately four hours.

Our evening was spent preparing to see Rocky Horror Picture Show for Sarah's sweet 16th. The show started at midnight (a short 24 hours after we first left Phoenix) and the movie didn't actually start until 1 am, leaving us leaving the theater at 2:45 am.

I fell asleep as soon as I got home (and washed the red lipstick off my face--apparently it's normal to draw on people who are seeing the show for the first time) and then woke up at 10 am this morning, a short hour before we planned on leaving to return to Phoenix.

Oh, right. The other point of this trip was to move Jess home to Phoenix. It took a grand total of twenty minutes to load all her stuff in my car, and she did most if it while I was still asleep this morning.

Los Angeles, I love you so.

And so, we left after a fun/amazing/crammed/spectacular weekend in Los Angeles, and returned to Phoenix with a rat, a bike and a few boxes of other things Jess owns. And a lot of stinking great photos on my phone.

I honestly feel like I've done more living in the past 48 hours than I did from Monday through Friday, which makes me wonder how much living I'll be doing in Portland over fall break. Now, excuse me as I go take my laundry out of the dryer and finish packing. I leave again in three days.

Cali: Take 1

I'm back from the first of two back-to-back weekends in California. I've been back since Sunday, and I'm heading out late tomorrow night for my next adventure.

Last weekend I went to Santa Clarita or Valencia or somewhere in that region for free with my friend Mitch, because he's a great person and knows I love travel.

He also knows I'm a dependable person who enjoys offering a helping hand, which is what I did. This was a volunteering trip, although it didn't feel like much work to me!

My weekend was spent brushing elbows with influential TV set designers and movie producers and head animators and all sorts of people I'd probably never meet otherwise.

Me+my camera+ocean

I helped out with the grunt work associated with a Disney art and wine auction, where the proceeds will go to scholarships for CalARTS students. Let me just say, it was a blast, but it felt SO weird being surrounded by so many "influential" people.

I'm really comfortable bumming around in my Birkenstocks, and while I enjoyed getting super dressy and seeing a Salvador Dali print, I was much more comfortable when I got to go to the beach the next day with Mitch and his family.

Who, by the way, are incredibly nice people. I love his parents. They're so witty. And generous.

So, yeah. That was weekend one. Art+famous people+beach. Now, weekend two!

(Amanda LaCasse/DD)

Check out this piece I wrote about how Phoenix is (and will somehow always be) my home.

Wedding Bells, PA

I'm back from a gorgeous wedding in Pennsylvania (and I've been back for a while.)

Eva and Mama Wilson

Pennsylvania was full of beautiful surprises. It was nice to see my friend Eva, the bride, as it had been two full years since the last time I saw her. Her wedding was put together largely by her mother, whose organizational skills are envied by moi. (Seriously, she did SUCH a good job organizing everyone and planning out meals and who was staying where. Mad props to her.)

The wedding was great, of course. I was a bridesmaid, and didn't hate it. I actually really loved it, and not just because I was escorted down the aisle by two men in uniform (although that wasn't too shabby.)

Sheer joy.

In fact, this was the fifth wedding I attended this summer, and I can confidently say I don't hate weddings anymore. I guess I've been bitten by a love bug or something.

Very little occurred in Pennsylvania that wasn't associated with the wedding. We all (bridal and grooms party, family, extended family, out of town friends) spent a lot of time together, which brought me back to my roots. I rediscovered how much I love eating food with other people, and bonding that way.

Of course, there were a few other shenanigans.

DSLR selfies are the best selfies.

Namely, a really kickass wedding after party, including all the groomsmen (most of whom were British) singing Mumford and Sons on karaoke, a few of us playing pool, and the obligatory DSLR selfie.

All fun and games and relationshippy things aside, this trip was just glorious because I made friends.

Heidi (pictured next to me) is one of Eva's oldest friends, and I'd heard a lot about her, and it was so great to finally meet her. I can see how she and Eva have been friends for so long--she and I are a lot alike.

I also met a traveling buddy as I got in line to print my boarding pass at the airport. He saw my ASU sweatshirt and said "Oh, you're heading to Arizona?" and BAM I had a traveling buddy to sit with on the plane and eat dinner with during our two hour layover in Chicago between Philadelphia and Phoenix (for him, Tucson.)

It always makes me happy to meet fellow travelers on the road. (Or in the air.)

At the beginning of the summer, I was hesitant to take this trip, but in hindsight, I am so glad I did. This has been a summer filled with travel, and I couldn't imagine a better way to end my summer (but not ending my travel.)

Until next time, friends.

I'm going to LA twice within the next six weeks, and Oregon once.

I'm always going places.

Washington, DC // Reflection Pool

This is the part where I got smart, and realized I could draft posts on the airplane.

DC's Metro make my heart soar.

So as I type this, I am flying somewhere over mid America.

I like the way that sounds.

And typing on my iPod touch (this technology is almost four years old) makes me feel particularly poetic, because this is where I write stuff sometimes.

Nonetheless, I digress.

I'm flying home from Washington DC. I haven't been on an airplane since the day before yesterday, and my next airplane ride is a whopping 10 days away.

DC was good. As with any two-day conference, there is a lot to process and digest, but I feel it moreso after a conference with USAS. At least I have a good concept of where USAS-ASU will be directing attention this year. Also, there was a gorgeous party last night, and I exercised my right as a 21-year-old and purchased a box of wine (not Franzia--who do you think I am?) and enjoyed drinking that out of Starbucks cups on the roof of an old townhouse in downtown DC while talking about Zines with my friend Alyssa.

I'm really digging all this travel, but I kinda miss my cat, who I've actually only had for a week anyway. Her name is Hayduke, after the Edward Abbey character.

But, again, I like this solo travel because it gives me time I stop, think, write, listen and contemplate.

home. Phoenix. love.

I've stopped a lot and double checked directions. Paid more attention to my surroundings (and not just to stay safe--to be in the moment, in the space I'm in). I've thought a lot about minimalism, gypsy living, just how long I can go without a shower. I've written a little bit about flying and landing. (I realized this flight I am now on is my tenth flight this year. Tenth. That means I (or others who have graciously assisted me) have spent at least WELL more than 1k to spend at LEAST 24 hours midair in this beautiful metal contraption that never stops astounding me.) I've listened to other people, their stories. Accepted them where they are at (just like I do for cities). I've also listened to a lot of new music, courtesy of Zia, Stinkweeds, an friends. Architecture in Helsinki (not Helinski, as I spent most of my life pronouncing it), and have been jamming out to Bon Iver's new track (no shock, there) as well as Anberlin's final album. As for contemplation, I've been thinking about everything. I remember praying in June/July while I was in Oakland or Portland, and asking God for energy and endurance, particularly for this upcoming school year. And I think I've got it! I'm so ready to do border reporting. I think it's really what I want to do in the long run. I mean, it's got me fired up like nothing else. Think back to that Cuba post.

And I'm pretty confident everything else will just fall into place sooner or later. I'll get a job after graduation. It'll all be fine.

And if there's one thing I've learned this summer, it's that I will always be up for traveling. After a summer of unemployment and a lot of travel, I know a lack of money will basically never stop me from adventuring.

That being said, bring on the $200 bridesmaid dress and trip to Pennsylvania!

Edit: written on 8/10

The adventure never ends.

It's true, the adventure is really never over.

I'm back to housesitting adventures right now, and this particular stint has involved a wild animal entering the house, prickly pear spines being spilled on the floor, a water pipe leak beneath the floorboards, and a massive, massive thunderstorm.

As well as margaritas.

But, even moreso, I still have two more airplane-inclusive adventures ahead of me before school begins in three weeks, as well as at least one road trip.

I can't believe it! I've already

• Gone to Georgia, Pinetop, Oakland, and Portland
• Met my penpal, Oakland/San Francisco strangers, and a handful of sweet people in Portland
• Seen The Mountain Goats, mewithoutYou, Blitzen Trapper and S. Carey

And now, I have a trip to Washington DC in a week (yeah, I just had my ticket booked TODAY), a turnaround trip to Tucson to see Iron and Wine (Sam Beam is my 2nd favorite singer in the whole wide world) and then a trip to Pennsylvania right when school starts (cue wedding bells!)

Rumor has it, I'll be returning to Portland before 2014 comes to a close as well, not to mention a handful of trips to the AZ/Mexico border for some reporting.

Portland

Have you read part one yet? I was in Oakland before Portland!

Little 35mm love from Oakland.

Hello, blogosphere.

I’ve been without internet ever since I got back from Portland. My roommate cancelled it because she’s been housesitting (as have I) and she didn’t really see a need to pay for it if she (we) wasn’t around.

I'm not upset that the internet is gone, I'm just upset that she didn't ask me.

So I’ve been typing this on Word for the past three weeks and have now uploaded it so you fine folks can read about my time in Portland.

I'm a big fan of Portlandia, but moreso, I'm a fan of Portland.

A place with towering historic buildings, few vacant lots, plenty of public parks and a city-wide free restroom program? Sign me up.

But really. Portland feels like home (and by home, I mean downtown Phoenix) to me. The only differences are

1.     Portland has a lot of apartment building infill

2.     A lot of people smoke in Portland

3.     Bikers actually wear helmets in Portland

So, basically, Phoenix, but filled with more...er, free spirited individuals. That is me trying to avoid the h-word. Here's the lowdown on my time spent there.

Amtrak

I took a train from Oakland (well, Emeryville) to Portland. It was my first Amtrak experience, sans-Surfliner when I was a wee kiddo. My mom was super nervous about the whole ordeal.

"I want you to keep your wallet on you at all times."

"Are you sure you don't want to fly? What about homeless people."

"If you can upgrade, do it."

Ah, mom.

The train ride was inspiring. The Coastal Starlight left the Emeryville station at 11 pm, which left me chugging along through the north Bay Area at night, with yellow industrial lights shining through my window seat and Explosions in the Sky streaming through my earbuds.

Geri

I'd like to describe it as romantic.

At least until I had someone sit down next to me. The moment disappeared when I realized I had to sleep in a chair all night, which was uncomfortable to say the least.

On the bright side, Geri, the lady I sat next to on the 17 hour ride, was incredibly nice. We spent time talking about how it takes a very particular type of person to be a nurse, how weird it is to be an only child, and I concluded my little photographic adventure with her.

Portland, NW

If you don’t know, Portland is divided into quadrants. There is NW, SW, NE and SE, which makes navigating really easy once you understand it.

I was able to do a good bit of exploring in Portland. Unlike Oakland/Berkeley/San Francisco, I had a tour guide.

I spent the entire week I was in Portland with Rhea, my mentor and former youth pastor. She and her husband moved up there a little over a year ago because they wanted to start a family.

Rose Garden + Rhea

Now, she is pregnant, and she and Brandon are living in a one bedroom, one bathroom apartment with a dog and a cat (which is actually the spawn of Satan, and I generally like cats).

The apartment was our home base when we were running around eating ice cream at Salt and Straw, walking to or from McMennimans, hiking up to and around Washington City Park and whatever other crazy adventures we embarked upon.

Speakeasy hidden here.

I also had the chance to see my friend Sydney in Portland. She moved there (from Phoenix) the exact same time I was coming to visit, so we went out one evening, found a speakeasy (ok, hidden underground bar) and ate pizza, drank beer and listened to live music. It was really disorienting seeing her in Portland, since the entire time I’ve known her we’d both been in Phoenix.

Portland, SW

blueberry+bourbon+basil

My favorite part of SW is the combination of doughnuts for grownups from Blue Star, and really good coffee from Heart. Rhea, Brandon and I spent a lot of time walking around the day we went to find out whether Rhea’s baby was a boy or girl. And later, we went to a park and had a gender reveal party (which was actually in NW but whatever, I’m grouping it here with the day of doughnuts and good coffee.)

Portland SW also includes (I think) the Saturday market. I remember going with Whittley and Becca two summers ago, but I liked it more with Rhea. We took time wandering through stalls, but also didn't take forever. We also split an elephant ear and I didn’t vomit (which happened last time I ate one of those.)

Portland, NE

I wasn't surprised when I found out Rhea was involved in two different churches. One of the two, Door of Hope, is fairly popular and just relocated to NE. We spent a good bit of time with people there, beginning with Church in the Park on Wednesday night. It was really encouraging to see a bunch of people--families, children, teens, older adults--gather in a public park with food and picnic blankets to worship God and listen to a pastor. 

The other really nifty thing that happened in NE was a $3 Blitzen Trapper show. If you aren't familiar with their music, Blitzen Trapper is a modern folk-rock-country band from Portland. They are fairly popular, and a $3 show was a big deal. We saw them on a whim my first night in town, and it was a great pacesetter for the rest of my time in Portland.

Portland, SE

We ventured to the Hawthorne District my final day. We tried the night before, and arrived after most everything was closed. It had been a long (and really hot) day, and it took a lot of energy to leave the apartment.

But the drive across the Willammette was all worth it for the sticker I bought at Powell's Hawthorne. I'd been on a mission to find one of those little Oregon outline stickers with the green heart in it, and I finally found one.

We also stopped inside the Hawthorne Goodwill. It was by far the fanciest Goodwill I have ever been to. Usually I enjoy thrift shops because it is so difficult to find good things (read: deliciously out-of-style but still in style things), but this Goodwill was teeming with upscale resale. It was thoroughly amazing.

--

To be honest, I can’t believe I’ve been back for three weeks now. I’ve been back for longer than I’d been gone!

Coming back to Phoenix was weird. It seemed like nothing had changed in the good ol’ PHX, but a lot changed within myself while I was away. I realized that I want to be a border reporter (think: Arizona/Mexico, Dominican Republic/Haiti, Cuba/America, etc). I also realized that I enjoy spending time by myself, especially in a new atmosphere. I have a tendency to accept places as they are, and not wish for them to be any different. I also really like traveling alone.

I actually already have plans to go back to Portland in October. One of my best friends (Brenna, she was in Colorado on my birthday last year) is moving to Portland, and I’m joining the caravan of people moving her up there.

Oakland/Berkeley/San Francisco

I've been asked before "How do you travel so much? It seems like as soon as you're back from one trip, you're planning another one."

The answer is prioritization.

Traveling and exploring are high on my priority list, right up there next to breathing, eating and loving people.

That's how I ended up in the Bay Area.

I had a few very important things before I began planning this trip

Marcos, whose extra bed I slept on.

1. A jar of money
2. An offer from a friend (to sleep on his floor "If you ever make it out to the bay area")
3. A desire to travel to the northwest

and, well, the rest is history.

I found myself at the Oakland Airport one morning at the end of June, and spent the following days exploring the Bay Area.


Oakland

I think, for the most part, Oakland has a bad rap. It's really not as terrifying as everyone thinks it is. I mean, we did accidentally drive through east Oakland on the way from the airport to the house, but we survived. It was fine.

My favorite part of Oakland was the people. It was my home base for the five (six?) days I stayed there. Much of what I did in the Bay Area, I did alone, but I got to spend a few evenings with Marcos, Adam, Jess and Chris and they were spectacular. These times were spent outside, with fire and pipe tobacco and craft beers, which, in my opinion, is the best way to spend time with people. Not to mention Jess picked me up from the airport when I arrived and took me to the train station when I left.

Adam, Chris, Jess. Sweet people.

The walkability (which I also found in Berkeley) of Oakland was pretty sweet, too. It was an easy jaunt from the house to Telegraph, where I was shown a really cool store (East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse) that sells pretty much any and every odd, end or craft supply you will ever want or need. I bought a box of old photographs, a Beanie Baby trading card (Nannook is my homie) as well as an ancient DC Talk and more recent Jack Jonhnson CD. The grand total was less than $2. Easily the coolest store I have ever seen.

Other things I enjoyed about Oakland:

• Hidden alleys with coffee shops and succulents (I'm looking at you, Temescal Alley)
• Organic ice cream in flavors like geranium, allspice and rooibos (Tara's is taaaasty)
• AC Transit! I got to use a public transit bus system for the third time in my life

Berkeley

The Berk was cool. I had a really difficult time not calling it "Beserkeley" in keeping with The Princess Diaries. The first day I ventured into Berkeley, I took AC Transit from Oakland (read: North Oakland) and underestimated how long it would take to get to my stop. Once at my stop, I didn't know how to request for the bus to stop. So I ended up waiting two more stops and then had to walk half a mile or so to the UC Berkeley Art Museum.

The museum architecture is stellar.

No matter, though! I got to wade through crowds of (what were presumably) incoming freshmen and prospective students walking around with their parents! I laughed inwardly at the young'uns who have no idea what college is about to be, and pushed on toward the museum.

Once I arrived, I sat, wrote, read a book outside, sketched and then finally went inside.

Nothing about this trip was rushed, which I enjoyed. I got to sit and do whatever the heck I wanted.

Inside, there were a few really sweet gallery exhibits. Long story short, one was about color (intriguing. Very intriguing. Made my eyes happy) and the other was by a Texan artist named Forrest Bess. His art was very surreal, his story was very...strange. Look him up.

My second jaunt into Berkeley was a little more well organized. One of Marcos' co-workers drove us in so we could get lunch before he had to go in to work, and we hit up a delicious Mexican restaurant. It definitely wasn't street food, it was heavy-cheesy-bean-and-corn Mexican food, but man. I had the chilaquiles and they were good. Afterwards, we went to Savers and I got two shirts that walked out of the '80s or early, early '90s. They look really good on me (IMHO), but I still have to cut the shoulder pads out. My mom is going to hate them.

Post-Savers, we walked the mile-or-so to Artís Coffee, which is in the swanky part of Berkeley. (Right? Who knew Berkeley had a swanky side? It's like Scottsdale, but really close to water!) Marcos went to work behind the bar (he does coffee things. I think it's cool.) and I went to virtual work behind my laptop for a few hours for my internship. After that, I tackled the AC Transit system and took a bus home.

San Francisco

I didn't know it when I booked my ticket to go to the Bay Area, but I was visiting during Pride. Which was cool and all, but I don't. like. crowds.

That made enjoying San Francisco a little difficult.

I like the acoustics of stations.

Taking the BART from Oakland to San Francisco was also a little difficult. I overshot the BART station by a few blocks (which is a lot on foot) because Google Maps told me to turn left on 39th street, when in reality it was 40th street. Whatever, Google Maps. Whatever.

When I finally got into the city, I got to do a few cool things. I visited Four Barrel Coffee and had the La Cabaña pourover (the slow bar barista couldn't talk about anything else--I guess that's called passion?) and sat and wrote, read, and shot photos for a while. I actually had someone approach me and ask if she could take my photo because "Photographers rarely have their photo taken."

I was pretty stoked about that. Of course I said yes.

Afterwards, I stopped by a little empanada shop I passed on my way to Four Barrel and ate (an empanada, duh) and watched the World Cup. Because why not. It was delicious, too.

That same day, I went down to the Embarcadero and saw the piers. I read somewhere online (Yelp, maybe) that Pier 14 was a beautiful place to see the city from. While I found Pier 13 and Pier 15, I didn't exactly find Pier 14. I did find the Exploritorium and a really sweet view from where Pier 14 should be, though, so I'm calling it good. Ultimately, I would have liked to see the view at night, but I didn't really like the walk from the BART station to the house, so I tried to keep my exploring to daylight hours.

Cue that Journey song. Lights.

My second trip into San Francisco was on very short notice. It was Sunday, when Pride was in full swing, but I had two really sweet (free) tickets to see La Traviata at the San Francisco Opera (thank you, Alex, you're amazing). The catch was that I wouldn't know if I had the tickets until one hour before the show started. Adam (Marcos' friend) and I, clothed in more fabric than the majority of San Francisco (Pride dresses you down. We were dressed up.), braved the massive crowds and made it to the opera in time to be seated during the first intermission. That's right, it took us an hour and a half (give or take a little while) to get from Oakland to the opera.

The opera itself was rather wonderful, and I'm happy to say I've now witnessed San Francisco Pride. But I honestly never want to witness it again.

The best part of that second trip into San Fran was probably taking the BART back into Oakland and getting dinner with Alex and Adam. We ate some sort of amazing ethnic food. I'm not sure what it was but I've never been so excited to eat with my hands before in my life.

I want to eat this again.

I know, I probably don't sound too enthusiastic about San Francisco. I'll give the city another shot. Next time I visit, it will NOT be during Pride. I will also have a bike with me, and a better idea of how to ride the BART. Let's just say these two days in the city were a trial run. There will be another trip there.

Other Cool Things

I spent a lot of my time writing and reading. A LOT. It was really nice to kick back and be introspective for a while. I finished reading Prodigal God by Timothy Keller and started reading A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers. When I started reading it, I had no idea AHWOSG was set in the areas I was exploring, so it added an ethereal sense to the novel. It was like I was able to understand the setting in the novel in a brand-new way. Rather than imagining the mountains north of Berkeley, I was able to picture them as they were.

I walked. A lot. I have been walking a lot in Portland, too. I really enjoy walking as a means of transportation, and truly wish I could walk more in Phoenix, but it's just too dang hot outside.

I also did a nifty little photojournalism project. I shot a photo of everyone I met on my way to/in/leaving the Bay Area. Adventuring on my own made me more susceptible (disregard any negative connotations that word may have, I was perfectly safe the whole time) to talking to strangers, and I actually did stop and talk to quite a few. At the end of our conversation (starting with the man at Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport [which I am never flying out of, ever again]) I requested to take a photo of everyone I spoke to. And so I did. I'm really excited to get that roll of film developed. Update: Photos available here!

In summary, I really enjoyed the Bay Area portion of my trip because it was a little difficult and a little lonely. As an extrovert who is also an only child, I really enjoy actively being around people, but I also really like doing things on my own, by myself, for myself, and that's pretty much what this portion of the trip was all about. It was great!

And now... I am in Portland, enjoying my time here.

Click here to read about Portland. 

Pre-Adventure Butterflies

My fast-approaching trip is a far, far cry from the road trip I had originally planned.

Basically the only two similarities are Oakland and Portland, and who I am staying with in each place.

I'm no longer driving.

I'm not going with anyone.

I'm not staying for two and three days in each place.

I'll be in Oakland/Berkeley/San Francisco for a week, and Portland for slightly less than a week (pesky train ride takes a full day, darn [just kidding, I really love trains.])

What hasn't changed about my plan (at least since late-April, early-May) is the individual aspect.

Allow me to explain.

Whenever I go on trips with my parents (bless their souls for paying) I do whatever they  want. I sit around and read. I participate in board games. I drive and drive and drive and eat and sit and drive and sit some more.

I essentially provide them with my utterly enthralling presence.

But this trip, this trip is mine. I planned it, I have prepared to do what I want to do. Spend time how I want to spend time (at least in Oakland, where I was/am prepared to do everything, alone) taking a lot of photographs, eating food, looking at public art, reading outdoors, exploring abandoned buildings (Treasure Island, anyone?), playing in parks and just enjoying life in a city other than Phoenix.

I'm hoping to spend some time with Marcos, my friend (who I'm staying with), but if that doesn't work out (his car is in the shop and he recently shattered his wrist), cést la vie. L-I-F-E-G-O-E-S-O-N. And I'll be fine by myself.

House sitting: The ultimate staycation.

I just started an internship, and it takes up 25 hours a week, which is literally more hours than I have ever worked in a week in my life.

Don't judge me.

That being said, my hectic (though enjoyable) internship schedule has been leaving me savoring my free time more than I ever have before.

And this weekend, I hit the gold mine of free time. I house sat.

Nothing but me, a pile of books (that grew after a trip to the new location of Changing Hands, the Arizona equivalent of Powell's), my laptop, stuff to bake a pie, and a HUGE dog.
I'm labeling this as a staycation, and used it as a time to catch up on what I'm reading right now, and a general excuse to take a nap every afternoon.
And it's good.
Not to mention how amazing it is I was paid to eat someone else's food (just not the last of anything) sleep in someone else's guest room (I made the bed before I left) and to play catch with someone else's dog (only before he ate--not after). And eat freshly laid eggs, because chickens.
This is a glimpse into what adulthood will probably be like. Not just being in a house filled with two bookcases of poetry, but also only having free time on weekends.
mm.
I bite my tongue.
More and more I realized I'm probably not going to have the 5-day-a-week, 8 to 5 job. I'm probably going to end up doing something far more interactive, far more intense. Who knows what that will be, but hey. I'm all open.
Until then, I'm enjoying every little staycation bit I can get.

Things I learned in Georgia

This was my first experience in the south. Having now spent four full days here, I have learned a bit.

1) For starters, every stereotype I had seemed to be true before I even left Phoenix. The flight attendants, with their sugar sweet accents and lighthearted jokes, apologized for our flight's delays and made everyone feel very much at home.

2) Atlanta is cool! With local restaurants, ice cream shops, and street art, my time spent in the fourth ward area made me feel like I was at home on Roosevelt Row. However, Atlanta is flanked by suburbs and they are historic, but not necessarily "cool."

3) F I N A L L Y, I met my pen pal in real life. Her name is Hannah, and I met her on tumblr a few years back when I searched the "CIY Move" hash tag (MOVE is a youth conference) and began following one of her friends and then her. We started writing letters this past summer. She is a lovely lady, and we were both too shocked to really speak when we met each other. Like, really, we were too amazed that we were standing in one another's presence to say much of anything. B U T now we know one another is not some sort of internet psychopath, and I'm hoping to see her come to AZ sometime.

4) Food. Food is good. Really, all my dad and I did was eat good food this trip. Eat good food and drink coffee and read books. Which is exactly what I really don't like doing on vacation, but Roswell, Alpharetta and Cummings don't offer much in the way of interesting attractions, and the "ghetto" of Atlanta (what I would call the artists' district) wasn't necessarily appealing to my dad. I digress. The food was great. Coffee, pie, shrimp 'n grits, waffles (yes, Waffle House is better in the south), pulled pork, collared greens, Cuban sandwiches, the list goes on. Food is good, and I am going on a run ASAP.

5) My hair likes humidity.

6) A true rest-vacation means you don't adjust your sleep schedule to the local time. Hello, waking up at 11am and going to bed at 2am.

All in all, Georgia was nice. The wedding we came for was nice. Daddy-daughter time was nice. But it's good to be back in Phoenix, and I'm über ready to do my PNW trip my way.

Long time, no post!

Hey kiddos!
I bet you've been wondering where I've been.
Well, I've been to Austin.
I started planning my summer road trip.
I made a vlog about backpacking.
I went on a kickass backpacking trip with some of my favorite guys.

And to top that all off, I made a swanky blog for my online media class.

So, that's where I've been. Around, and very very busy.

Now that class (along with all my others) is over, and I'm gearing up for summer with the hopes of doing some really sweet trips.

• I'm going to Georgia sometime soon for a wedding, and I'll be meeting up with my pen pal while I'm there!
• I'm not going to make an all-American road trip, but I'm at least going to find a way to get to the Pacific Northwest.
• I'm hoping to spend a week at Ben's cabin in Pinetop.
• My mom wants to go on adventures. But who knows where that'll go.

So, hang tight, and get ready for my summer adventures!

A Web Adventure

Hey there! Long time no post.
This semester I'm taking an online media class at ASU, and I'm required to create a blog for it. And, because I love adventures, I'm making an adventure blog.
So, I'll be linking to those posts for the next few months.
Let me tell you--you'll want to read them.
There's gonna be a trip to Austin, a few adventure playlists, and a whole lot of other stuff. Maybe some interviews. Some video edits. Etcetera.
For now, here's the "About Me" post I had to make.