Design Oriented: 2012

Friday, November 16, 2012

Reliving Summer

batch! - Jul. 16

Looks Like I Won - Jul. 17

Vintage Chic - Jul. 18

SLO Sunset - Jul. 18

Hiking Big Sur - Jul. 21

Big Sur Sunset - Jul. 21

Canopy - Jul. 22

Sleeping Kitty - Jul. 25

Messy Mac and Cheese - Jul. 26

2012 Olympics - Jul. 27

Instant Chocolate Milk - Jul. 28

Peak after Peak - Jul. 29

View from Cerro San Luis - Jul. 29

Cookie ala Molly - Jul. 30

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Whew! This past week has been crazy! After looking for work for two months, it was becoming difficult to stay positive. I know that two months is not long at all to be out of work right now, but it really didn't agree with me. I felt so purposeless and I hated not having something directing my time.

Extreme Fire Pit - Jul. 4

The 4th - Jul. 4

Fireworks Over the Ocean - Jul. 4

Then last week I found out that I got a part-time job at UC Berkeley and they needed me to start right away! So four days later I packed a bag, said my goodbyes, and drove up to The Bay to stay with a friend, look for a place to live, and start a new chapter.

Toes - Jul. 6

Goldman's Morgenstern - Jul. 6

The next year (possibly few years) is going to be tough as I will be back in a long distance relationship, something that I thought I would never have to do again. Alas, things don't always work out the way you plan, but I think this is really going to be a great opportunity (still trying to stay positive).

Vino - Jul. 7

Tasting - Jul. 7

Lazing Around - Jul. 11

Hopefully, in a month or two these guys will be able to join me. I miss them so already!

Cheese Lashes - Jul. 11

Face - Jul. 12

ACB Dip - Jul. 13

Dusk - Jul. 13

Sunrise Hike - Jul. 14

But most especially this one!

Shell Ridge Hike - Jul. 15

The Hitching Post - Jul. 15

Friday, October 5, 2012

Camp Seabeck

Seattle Summer Begins - Jun. 24

Let me tell you a little about the family vacation we have taken every year since I was about four. Now I know family camp doesn't have quite the same appeal as say...Hawaii or...Italy. But the fact that I still want to go back even though fewer of my friends are there year after year says something. For me, summer started every year by getting on a boat and taking a trip across the Sound.

Seabeck Rooster Plus Some - Jun. 25

Seabeck is tiny little town on Hood Canal. Where there was once a mill town there is now a conference center. Across the highway is a general store, coffee shop, pizza place, souvenir shop, and the water.

Light One Candle - Jun. 26

Our camp occupies the conference center for five days at the end of June every year. The weather isn't always perfect, but it usually is. An average day at camp will start at 6:30 or 7am with Polar Bearing, Yoga, or some other early morning activity of your choice. Breakfast at 8 might not get everyone out of bed, but then the kids go off to their "classes" and parents get some free time to listen to a guest speaker, catch up on sports ladders, or dive into a summer read.

Bridge to Yesterday - Jun. 27

We gather back in the dining hall for lunch at noon. Meals are family style by the way, and the conference center is fully staffed with servers so there's no need for guests to cook or even bus tables. After meals, the camp is led is song by some wonderful and shameless musicians.

National Bird - Jun. 27

There are various activities and crafts offered in the afternoons; everything from volleyball tournaments, swimming in the lagoon, and hiking through the woods to classes for guitar, cribbage, and knitting.

Seabeck Sky - Jun. 27

Dinner at 6 and then some programmed event followed by dessert, such as group dancing lessons followed by root beer floats. The last night we are served grilled salmon on the beach and then gather in the Meeting House for talent night. After everyone has wowed the crowd and the sky begins to grow dark, the high school students lead the younger kids who dare to leave their parents behind on a Scary Walk through the woods.

Mock-Up - Jun. 28

A few of the activities that I haven't yet mentioned: tennis, fishing, kid's parade, porch rocking, camp fire, game nights, the list goes on and on. A typical day for me ends after midnight, but the great thing about camp is that you can do as much or as little as you want. As a kid, I would often get to camp and then not see my parents until it was time to leave (well not quite, but you get the idea). I was busy riding my bike from one end of camp to the other, looking for my next cribbage opponent or out in a row boat. There was always someone nearby to keep an out, so my parents never had to worry. Family takes on a new meaning at camp and there's more than enough love to go around.

http://www.campseabeck.org

Sunday, September 30, 2012

One Bag

Funneling Flame - Jun. 11

An amazing woman I know named Molly came up with a great idea. During a mission trip to San Francisco, she met this group of Christians who had decided to live more simply by giving up half of their possessions. She was inspired to do the same. She began going through her things and filled up eight garbage bags with things she didn't need or use. She challenged her friends to fill up just one bag and to join her in donating to charity.

Contribution - Jun. 12

Pictured above is my contribution to the movement. I donated it to a garage sale raising money for EoE (more on that later).

Breakfast Meeting - Jun. 13

Her Favorite Spot - Jun. 14

I'm not sure how successful she was. As far as movements go, I don't think hers has taken root. Being in a consumerist culture, it is very difficult to get people to give up possessions and convince them to accumulate less. But imagine how our lives would be if we weren't so focused on material objects.

Lone Sunflower - Jun. 15

I Do Love Lilies - Jun. 17

Neighbors - Jun. 18

Mini Glass - Jun. 19

Cloud Splatter - Jun. 20

I myself have difficulty parting with certain things. I set aside lots of things for craft projects that I may never get to. That being said, I get immense pleasure from going through my stuff and getting rid of things. I get so distracted by the piles of stuff that build up around me and I can't wait to move so that I have an excuse to purge myself of a lot of my possessions.

50 Years - Jun. 21

Strategizing - Jun. 22

So now, I pass on the challenge to whom ever may read this. One bag of stuff. More if you get on a roll. Donate to a charity of your choice. If you want to read about Molly's original challenge, check out her blog post here.