Hey ya'll! So it's been awhile since I've had the time to sit down and do all this right. I seem to have waited a little too long lol. I've got sooo many pictures to share I have a feeling this is only part one. I even put up two albums to avoid this but eh, on with the good stuff! I had a wonderful 30th birthday and almost two weeks at home between assignments. My actual birthday was pretty mellow and just chillin with my bro and my sis to be. He took me out to this really awesome steak place where I had scallops wrapped in bacon, fillet mignon also wrapped in bacon with a twice backed potato that had bacon bits. It was bacontastic! I had a wonderful stout from my hometown Deschutes brewery which was really kewl and got them extra awesome points. After which I promptly went into a food coma. Then I drove up to see the folks for a few days and drop off gifts for christmas and birthdays and lots of hugs. I went through all the old family albums and dug up these gems. Yay for camera photo copying = )
yup I started that early hahahahaa
In Alaska with the little bro!
I never had a chance, addicted to gaming at an early age ; )
like at all! lol = )
fishin with dad
OJ's favorite backyard hide out
Damn you 80's!!!
Definitely one of my favorite pics of me and my brothers.
Mom was a bit under the weather so dad and I went out hikin at our favorite haunt. My dad also showed me this really kewl Eagle's nest where he'd discovered a nesting pair. I only saw the one and I have word the mom is sitting on eggs now. We then went to Bass Pro Shop headquarters. A.K.A redneck central, if you're not wearing camo, rubber boots, or a mullet you stick out like a sore thumb. It was a blast! They've always got lots of kewl taxidermy to check out as well as some living critters. It's always fun to see the animals they've preserved but also a little sad. Some of them don't roam the earth anymore and others aren't far behind em. They had two massive alligator gar that where about as long as I am tall. They also have the NRA gun museum. Holy hell was it ever bad ass! They had two of Anne Oakley's shot guns, a shot gun Napoleon (yeah that Napoleon) gave to one of his generals, as well as one of the Duke of Buckingham's. The gun I wanted to fire the most, the elephant gun with the super round. Why? Because it would kick like nothing else...ever lol. Anything that can make a 50 cal cry and run home to mama is absurdly unnecessary, so naturally you just want to shoot something with it and see just how much it'll annihilate your target. They didn't allow pictures in there but there was a ton of really awesome guns all the way on from the revolution and a few from before. They had an archery museum too that was kinda neat. Mom was feelin better later so we all went to watch the Desolation of Smaug! Yay giant dragon. Boo turning one book into three parts and adding random stupid shit not in the book for filler! An elf with a crush on a dwarf?....REALLY!? After the movie we went to my favorite restaurant Texas Roadhouse! I figured if we went early we'd miss the rush, but apparently due to rain half of Springfield thought the same! It's always packed when I try to go for any meal but lunch. Worth the wait though, they rock and I had my favorite meal and left with all my arms and legs attached. Steak is easy no need to get fancy. I also had lots of sweet tea, I miss that stuff. Then went home to pass out in a food coma. Then my Aunt and two of my cousins dropped in with Ice cream cake! It was really good to see them. Here's my pictures from all that.
how many deer do you see?
the Eagles nest, that's a ton of sticks!
unfortunately it wasn't particularly clear but it's not every day you get to see a bald eagle = )
a red winged black bird
a flock of canadian geese
oh shit = X
vultures!
aaand everywhere bed head! Time to scram! ><
These are all live = )
These two looked mean, even with a good camera it doesn't do em justice.
These two are awesome but also a bit hrmmm, especially the lion. Habitat loss is the bigger issue than the rest of it but it's hard to imagine a world without lions and tigers. Not to mention the disappearance of several elephant and rhino species = \
Lion! Raaaaaawwwr!
Woody, this guy vibrated the entire tree! There was a sound tremble at each peck that traveled all the way down the trunk, you cold feel it. It was really kewl.
Taxidermy is super awesome, I just hope it's not the only record of these animals to exist down the road.
It's always awesome seein the folks. I was blessed with two fantastical parents. They go at it now and again and I'm so glad to be out and well away from the house but I was very blessed and grateful to have them both. One of my favorite things about them is how oblivious they are to things. Before I went to Korea I drove back to Springfield in a huge loop from GA to TX (where I picked them up) to MO (where I dropped them off) and back to GA with a pit stop in Nashville cause I'd never been. It was awesome! Best bit though, I stuck around for a few days and went to church and their bible study. Afterwards they where talking to another couple about drivin back from TX and asked if they 69 (as in use highway 69) which they said oh yeah and I barely kept a straight face. <3 my folks they rock! No gems quite like that this time but I did very much enjoy their company and the solitude of the road up and back. It's interesting how much the ratio of regular music stations to christian music stations fluctuates. I'm pretty easy when it comes to genres but I do have my limits of country and christian. Though I did have a very good laugh when I heard some Niki Minaj style christian rap. It was well, just wow.
Returning to TX my brother hit his 32nd and we continued our birthday bashing with a very good visit to our favorite park in Fort Worth. Then we checked out an antique mall place just behind near where we parked cause...well I ain't really sure. I got the caterwauling monstrosikitty cause I couldn't help myself, and we went for some awesome sushi. Then we scouted the strip club and much fun was had by all. I've thoroughly enjoyed most strip clubs I've been to, but they where always waaay better when you had a gf with ya. My older bro's fiance is a bad ass chick, she was AF EOD (Exoplosive Ordinance Disposal) and is kewl as all hell. I love her to death and I'm quite proud to have assisted my bro in movin in with her. The two of us aren't terribly traditional but I'm not blind, paper is rather poor validation to me. If it doesn't come from your heart all the words in the world are shit. I will be very happy for them when they marry but it's a foregone conclusion to me. In the AF, EOD and Fire are both red headed step children of the Civil Engineering Squadron. Not exactly sure why but we are, and are jobs are awesome! We do really kewl shit and providing power and plumbing and fixing doors/garages/walls just doesn't quite compare. So there's a little (to a lot) of hate from the squadron's Operations guys. I don't entirely blame them but nothin really flies without any of us. Any who, not her first rodeo, it was lots of fun. So I caved to draggin the little bro out there for his bachelor party. Which we started at medieval times and had a great time. Or at least it seemed. It'll work itself out but it's a serious pain in my ass atm! ><
the bearded bash begins!
I swear folks in the south name their businesses sooo terribly! To include Kum-n-go which is all over Missouri and Oklahoma (it's a gas station/convenience store). Soo out of the loop! You'd think they'd have a young person screening stuff that they don't understand but no...
My very awesome cousin and her favorite new t-shirt. She's going to break hearts in college this year <3
I'd never noticed previously that the sign asks please no: athletice activities?! WTF?!!!
Ha! Suck on that! <3 my older bro, he was the other youngin in most of the younger me throwbacks = )
The fraidy cat of the house Freya. 'Give me food human...meawww?' She's a real sweet heart once she warms up to ya...and you feed her = \ lol
Our adopted sister and her new puppy, she's a real sweet heart as well and made me a super death birthday chocolate pie I couldn't tackle alone. I have my limits = P
Due to an issue with my older bro's storage unit opening on it's own, the storm trooper outing day got nixed. At least for now, I'll just have to do it here solo. To whatever comic con'esque event I can find! But on the up side while sorting through unneaded boxes I discovered a box of treasure! It contained several of my best creations from high school among other things. I made a separate album to cut down on picture spam lol. So the storm trooper bit will still happen! It's so funny how you find stuff you where hoping to see in the last place you expected to see it! Two of my most treasured survived the trip up here with me. If I can find a wheel on base I will throw again!
After the fantastical night out we proceeded to sleep in very very late, I was hung over enough I wanted water but didn't want to leave bed. I thought severely about low crawling to the kitchen but couldn't escape my sheets til waaaay past noon. We then did St. Paddy's day and went country dancin at cowboys arlington. It's not a trip to TX unless you go country dancin! Only music more foot stompin'est is Irish! I had a great time. One of my bro's old dancin gals showed up as well as some other friends so we had a decent rotation of gals to dance with! The adopted sis always comes out when I'm in town and she spoils me terribly. She's extremely short, which throws me off anytime I'm dancin with taller gals and trying to spin them around. Not a terrible adjustment but it catches me off guard the first time or two. Best thing about two step, you can easily throw in any swing or latin moves you know. Especially for the spins. So the more rust you knock off the better everything flows. Makes me wish I'd been out dancin more every time. The last day was a get together with more aunts, uncles, and cousins. As well as church with the bro. I was a little surprised they'd found a smaller more traditional church. I love singing the old hymns, granted I only make a very joyful noise but it's something I enjoy when I have the opportunity.
The next afternoon it was a fond farewell and off to new things and new places! I had half a day in Seattle with low expectations despite it being officially St. Paddy's day. Turns out I needn't have worried. After stashing my bags at the very awesome Seatac USO and grabbing a bite I hopped on the light rail into town for an easy $5.50 round trip! I swung through Pikes place, which I'd never been to before despite living so close (I'm a Vancouver WA native, which is basicly Portland OR ><). Saw the original starbucks! But passed on a hot chocolate for Guiness! I lucked out and discovered a Kell's Irish festival with live music! Score! Had me a few drinks and a...corn beef quesadilla? It was good and as Irish as I could find lol. I then poked around and found a band setting up and settled in for fun. It was great and I danced myself into a sweat. A really awesome Canadian gal that could easily have been Swedish took a liking to me so my evening was spent in very fun company. Despite the douchey guy that 'danced' (I use this term extremely loosely) with their heavier friend. He got very drunk and out of control and I was very tempted to let the bouncer drag his ass away when he tossed his white undershirt. The gals where all having fun so I stepped in and got his drunk ass back in his shirt before said bouncer took care of em. I then got him water from a dirty used cup, I hope he got herpes! Then the music breaked, I saw the gals off with a fond farewell. Took a few evening shots with my camera and headed back to the airport. Between the very little sleep I got and flying in to Seattle and out I shot some really kewl sky sailin pictures. There really isn't anything like sailing through the clouds to places. While I hate flying west cause the day literally continues for more than 24 hrs, there's nothin quite like chasing the sun into tomorrow.
The beautiful puget sound! WA may rain...a crap load but for being cloudy all the time it's also sunny at the same time. Which makes for gorgeous cloud breaks such as this!
Post Alley after dark.
The one the only the original Starbucks! It's an odd piece of home that has been pretty much everywhere I have...despite the fact I don't drink coffee, except that one time...with pepper! lol = )
Mountains in the mists! I saved this one for all ya'll that made it to the end! <3
That was a crap ton of photos! That took forever to load and load up right >< lol Now the shout outs for the lovely ladies I follow! I may have been away but I've still be keeping tabs best I possibly can! So here's some really awesome stuff to check out if you haven't and again cause it's just that freakin kewl if you have! So without further ado:
The lovely hopeful @maggielanne 's amazing first set Lovely Day is out! Has been literally just after my last epic big post! I very much considered just editing it in but no it deserves dibs! She's a wonderful sweet heart with lots of gorgeous pics. You won't be disappointed = )
The Super Sexy @arroia has another set for us as well. The Yearning Anachronaut ! I liked all her sets so don't squelch on checking them all or you'll be the one missing out ; )
Another hopeful @staysick_ 's first set is out Jungle Tales! It even inspired some fan art! Show her some love = )
One of my favorites @ecco sang us another song! With her rendition of 'Quiet' she's as beautiful as her voice <3
@alteredangel dropped a mini set showing off her sexy new green hair worth the peak!
My favorite GA peach @flowerbomb continues to share some super kewl shots from my old haunt South Korea with her Beau, check out her stuff it's all fun! This is why I follow her = )
The great apple pirate @pomorum has commandeered anotherrr mini set for us on the most auspicious of holidaaaays! As well as a new video and other kewlness!
The very beautiful @maud has some fantastic pin-ups for us! Pinned! You won't regret visiting, I never do = )
The exquisite @marceline 's set Last Goodbye is still in MR, lets push this where it belongs on the FP! ; )
Yet another hopeful @omerta_ has been bitten by the vlog bug! Check it out!
Give in already @gemmaedwardsuk and do your own, you know you waaant to00! = ) Mark your calenders for June it'll be amazing, new hopeful sets shot by this very talented lady among all kinds of other crazy awesomeness will be happening! (I keep hearing the tune of June from the lovelies I follow!)
The uber hot @riae did a very kewl 7 years SG recap blog full of goodness! Don't miss it!
Last but not least our good buddy @almost_missed who spreads good cheer far and near is in the dumps = (...so lets show him some love and raise his good spirits! = )
Yay done at last, thanks again for all the warm wishes on my safe travels and time off. I've had more than my share of the luck of the Irish in both, so thank you.
~Pyrdaemon out!
