Photodocumentation

These pictures are from my friend's cell phone. I'm hoping that we can soon get even better pictures from our new friends but so far it's a no go. So, here's what we've got.

Sea Lion on a Buoy

 Harbor seals (we were actually much closer than all of these pictures lead you to believe)

The Coast from the water

 Sea caves that we almost went inside.

Eclipse (might just look like the sun in this picture).

Whales!

Went whale watching in a tiny boat.
It was awesome.
Watched a mama and a baby Grey Whale spraying simultaneously.
Looked at the Oregon Coast from the ocean.
Saw the solar eclipse from the sea.
Spotted an endangered Steller Sea Lion and some bespeckled harbor seals.
Rode in a car with a friend.

Forgot my camera.

Still, I made friends with one of the ladies who went awatching with us and she may send me some pictures. Stay tuned for updates.

Love,
Rachel

Sleeping In

Spring is certainly in the air and what makes me feel like summertime is on the way more than being lazy and sleeping in? I can't think of anything. Today I woke to a face full of sunshine which really got me out of bed in a good mood. I might start sleeping with my blinds up all of the time so that I can enjoy that morning sunshine as much as possible.

This evening, if it doesn't start raining as forcasted, I'm going to go get some tennis in with my buddy Marika. I'm pretty excited about it.

I hope you all are enjoying your springtimes as much as I'm enjoying mine.

All the Best

End of training

Today was my last day of training as a server for Slappy Cakes. I even took the two last tables under my own name (got my own first bad tip too). I'm pretty excited because I'm working 5 days next week and two of them are serving shifts. That seems like it's going to be a pretty good deal for me. I'm certainly looking forward to it.

From training I went straight to the Restore and then did a bit of a bike ride for cross training. Tonight, I'm getting together with my friend Marika and, possibly, her boyfriend, Mathew. We're going to eat some dinner and then go out to get some cheap brews. It should be pretty good.

Things that I am thankful for as of late are having friends to hang out with, good weather, and plenty of work. It's been a pretty good week (I know it's only Tuesday but I have tomorrow and Thursday off this week so it's the end of my work week).

Hope you all are having a swell time from wherever you might be reading this.

No Jacket, Short Sleeves

I'm sitting outside in the sun talking to a friend via gchat. I'm not wearing a jacket, I'm wearing a lightweight short sleeve shirt. And I am happy. Did you know that all it takes to make me happy is sunshine? I'm tying to move south after this :).

It doesn't hurt that I trained to serve today so I'm getting ready to start making some money. But, I think most of what's doing it is that I'm sitting in the sun.

Other things I'm looking forward to are: My afternoon bike ride for cross training, A visit in the near future from my brother and his wife, cheap drinks tonight with my friend Marika.

Tomorrow is another day of training and then I've got a day off before the weekend starts on Friday morning with work. It's nice to have a five day work week too.

In general this day is just something I'm enjoying. If I had to summarize this post. It would go like this

Things that I'm happy about right now:

1: sunshine

2: no jacket, no hat, no gloves

3: future visits

4: friend time

5: prospective money

6: internet conversations with friends

7: five day work week

8: the warmth on the back of my neck which comes from sunshine.

I got off of work early and the sun is shining

So my friend Marika taught me how to cross stitch the other day and I finally made my work friend, Candi, a valentine like I'd wanted to since valentine's day. This took hours and hours. I knew cross stitching was time consuming but I had no idea how bad it was until I made this little guy. Still, I'm proud and that's why I am posting it up here for you guys to check out.

Other than that. Another of my work buddies got promoted to be a manager and they're in need of a new bus person for Fridays. So, I'm going to be that person. That is great news because the bus man typically gets tipped out a fair share. I'm excited about making myself some real money soon.

In non profit based news, I'm going to start volunteering at the Habitat for Humanity Restore in a couple of weeks. I'm pretty excited about that. The Restore is a sculptor's muse. It is filled with awesome, cheap things that you can make stuff with. I'm hoping that it will inspire me to make some artwork. I'm thinking that it will. Especially, if I have a little extra money from my Fridays to buy supplies. It is also a great cause and resource for the community so I'm overall, very excited to bring my skills to help them there.

Look at this orange. I got this orange at work. It perfectly embodies my day. It's so beautiful. Today is a good day. Hope you're having a good one too.

With sunshine comes sunsets!

Today it was sunny! Oh, the wonders that a sunny day can do for you when everything's been gray for so long. Also! tomorrow I have work and sunshine means it will probably be busy and I'll get to stay for longer and thus get paid more. Get Money!!

Besides that, today I saw a sunset! It was spectacular. Not only do I not usually get to see the sun on a normal day but because of this I never get to see a sunset! I had forgotten how wonderful the sun moving over the horizon (or I think it would actually be the earth spinning so that it looks like the sun is moving over the horizon) could be.

So, in an act of humble gratitude I would like to issue the following statement:

Dear Sunshine,

I missed you more than words can explain. Thank you for coming back to me.

Please do not leave me for so long again. Being without you is being without a life force. Even if I can be emotionally strong, my body betrays me. My serotonin levels dip and I sink into a sleepy and unproductive state.

Now that you are back I am revived. I will remain faithful to you both out of principle as well as need. Please do the same for me.

Yours truly,

Rachel Ogburn

Rainbows, Reservoirs and Wrought Iron Fences.

There's a man in camouflage pants sitting in an old lady chair in the entrance way of the lobby and as I sit at my tiny, Nickelodeon green slimed computer there are two others at the table with me, also, on their respective computers.

A Bostonian boy in the corner on a the couch relentlessly questions a French hiker and this is what I am a part of as I finish my night at the hostel. The day has been at some points long and at some points very short.

I spent a painful hour and a half being turned down by restaurant after restaurant at the street on which I've been wanting to work but then I went on a beautiful bike ride and remembered how nice the city can be when the sun comes out.

I ended up at a park known as Mt. Tabor Park and saw a beautiful view, a reservoir, and a rainbow. That was all very scenic. I also came "home" to a very talent filled open mic night and a surprise skype call from the very best of boys, Zachary Ward.

In short, the day ended well although I think that little, if any, footing was gained on the job front.

The Empire Builder

Cliff in the Columbia river

Mount Hood

Sunrise on the last morning

The Columbia river

Mountains in Montana

The sun on the mountains

Mid America

Wolf Point train station

Note from my train neighbor

Milwaukee

Milwaukee

North Dakota maybe

Middle of the United States

.