This was a week... Let's go in order:
Monday: I had school. Shmeh. After, we went to the Magic Man/Smallpools concert. I've really wanted to see Magic Man again since I first saw them and listened to their music. Ugh, they were so good. I don't know, I just really like their music and them as people. Afterwards, I bought their album on vinyl and had the drummer Joey and the lead singer Alex sign it. I got a picture with him again, ugh, he's perfect. (Click here for proof)
Tuesday: Work. Then errands. Then Bastille concert. It was at Key Arena so it was huge and there were plenty of children and people who didn't understand, but it was really good. I actually really like them and their music and Dan was just such a nice guy. Good times all around. Actually, a really good way to finish out concerts for the year (more on that in the future)
Wednesday: Woke up at 5 in the morning. We left from Jaime's school in Lacey. The total drive time was about 8 hours. From Lacey, through Oregon, to Northern California. The drive actually wasn't that bad, we stopped once for gas and to get food at Safeway. We got to where we needed to be an hour early, so we hung out at an empty elementary school, swinging on their swings and such. Then, when it was time, we drove over to this farm and we went horseback riding through the Redwood Forest. It was really awkward at first because we were definitely the only ones who have done it in a while since, you know, it's November (it wasn't even that cold though, like high 50s low 60s). But we did it, it was really nice, my horse knew what he was doing so that was cool. Except for when he started to run a little bit. Then we drove to the hotel, got food at a Mexican restaurant, walked through a gigantic sand dune in the dark, and then got back to the hotel and slept (worst hotel of the trip).
Thursday: Woke up at 6. This drive was about 6 hours. We drove from Arcata, California, to Lake Tahoe. We drove through the mountains for forever (ugh it was so windy) and the we stopped to get food (we stopped at a Carl's Jr. because it was Thanksgiving so nothing was open) then drove through open fields. We got to Squaw Valley at about 2 and went up to the lift to the top of the mountain (kind of). (Lift ticket: $27). Then, we Ice Skated (Ice Skating: $12) at the top of the mountain, it was actually really really cool. One of my favorite moments. It was an outdoor ice rink, on top of the mountain where the 1960 Olympics were held. It was a nice day (kind of cold) with the sun out and the lake visible in the distance. After that, we went over (still on top the mountain) and ate a fancy Thanksgiving Buffet Dinner (Dinner: $45). Easily the most expensive day. It was super expensive and there was tons of boug white people, but it was cool. I piled on the food because I had to make it worth it. We were so hungry that when we were in line, I only had green beans and mashed potatoes on my plate so I was eating the potatoes with the green beans. People were looking at us funny. We then drove to the hotel, stopped on the way there to look at the stars. Best star view of the trip. Then, we got to the THIRTY DOLLAR HOTEL. It was actually pretty decent for only $30. Better than the first night. Sleep. I should also mention that we went to bed at like 9. This is consistent throughout the trip.
Friday: Woke up at 6. I started to drive. We had an 8 hourer ahead of us. We crossed into Nevada. It hit. We pulled over. I died. I spent the rest of the drive through Nevada completely sick. We stopped at like 4 different places. It was actually kind of terrible. Apart from that though, it was really cool and interesting. It was semi flat, semi mountainous. It was blue skies and low 60s and just dirt and tumble weed for miles. I hated it. I hated how isolated it felt. I felt like I was being suffocated by nothingness. But I also thought it was really interesting. I liked visiting, I could NEVER live in a place like that. We got to Salt Lake City at like 5 (we lost an hour going through time zones). It felt really weird going to a city that seemed like it was in the middle of nowhere. It didn't feel right. We went to a mall. Mormons everywhere. We walked around near the main Mormon temple thing. It was cool, but there were so many people. We then went to Olive Garden. We went to the hotel, sleep (at like 9 again).
Saturday: Woke up at 6. I drove first. Total, we probably drove like 6 hours. We first went to Promontory Point in Utah, where the first transcontinental railroad was finished. I mean, aesthetically, it wasn't all that interesting. It was just fields and hills with a railroad in the middle, but thinking about what happened there, and the work that it took to get there, it was really cool. The visitor center place did a good job of acknowledging the immigrants who worked on the railroad (kind of), but what I had a problem with was the fact that they made a whole big deal about it when it happened, that they finished it, and the white people who were in charge probably took all the credit for it, when there were so many immigrants who worked so hard on it. Anyway, after that, we went to this hot spring. It was basically a pool, but filled with hot spring water. It was salty and warm and great. It was like 40 degrees out. There were a lot of people there, a lot of Mormons, but it was really nice. It felt really good, except for getting out of the water. Then, we drove through Idaho. We stopped at a waterfall. Then, we made it to Boise, ate a potato ice cream (not even kidding), went to a Christmas tree festival (it was a really nice and cute community event. I liked it.) ate, went to another fancy mall, ate fro yo, went to the hotel, and sleep.
Sunday: Woke up at 6. Had an 8 hour drive ahead of us. I drove for 6 of it. Driving through Idaho and Oregon the temperature fluctuated between 5 and 25. There was a good couple hours in Oregon where the ground was covered in ice and there was snow all around. It was kind of terrifying because, you know, death. They had laid out a bunch of gravel to help with traction and stuff, but still. It was cool though, just scary. We then got back into Washington and drove through the part of the state that I never see. You see, Washington is essentially two states. The western half (divided by a mountain range that is on the west side as well) that is what you think of when you think Washington, lots of green trees, lots of rain, Seattle, city, forest, woo. Then, the eastern half, which is nothing. It is dull colored, not many trees, hills, lots and lots of nothing. I didn't like it. If this trip taught me anything, it was that of the 6 states we drove through, there is only one (maybe 2 but defs not Northern California) state that I could live in and that's where I am right now. I can't stand the openness, the nothingness. While I like being alone, I like being alone with others around. I felt too cut off from the world. I felt like I could disappear and no one would even notice. I felt wrong. Anyway, after that, we passed through the pass, went to another waterfall, went to Costco, went to Chipotle, and here we are.
I love seeing new things. I want to see every state at some point in my life. I think this trip specifically helped me to figure out what I like. It made me realize how much I really like Seattle. I don't know where I'm going to end up next year or in the future, but it's nice to start checking place off the list of everywhere.
Why This Week Was Awesome: ROAD Trip
Times Eaten at Chipotle: 15
Books Read: 13
Airplanes Ridden: 18
Concerts Attended: 22
Airplanes Ridden: 18
Concerts Attended: 22
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