Cheap Thrills

For my birthday, I wanted to learn to surf. It is on the bucket list, and I have been planning to learn to surf on the Oregon Coast on my birthday since last year on my birthday. Time was scheduled off from work as soon as the new year rolled in. Picturing myself on  the surf board riding the waves has been getting me through many a day at my desk. What could be more glorious and satisfying than riding the perfect wave on my birthday.

Throughout my life I’ve been conducting a random survey with most people I meet; at their slightest mentioned of Hawaii, California, Mai Tais or the ocean I prod if they have ever been surfing. Although, I’ve done my best to hide my Iowa naivety, when people mention the ocean I morph into the land locked kid who dreamed of the seaside. However, often despite my efforts to project on them what fun I think they must have had, people tell me how hard surfing is. “It is fun, but only once you do it for a while.” In fact although I hated to admit it to myself, when interrogated, most people admit to how miserable it was for them.

Over the years, I’ve all but erased such warnings from my memory, and all I could think of was how sweet it would be to hang ten. Ready to surf, I looked up the cost of a lesson two weeks before my trip. 100 dollars. 100 more dollars if I didn’t want to make Alex watch me learn to surf. Of course I should have expected this cost, and of course I should have started saving last year on my birthday, but that’s just not the kind of gal I am.

Also, because I did not plan more than a few weeks in advance, all of the camp sites were booked on Friday. We had to cut our beach trip short by one day, and would only be able to spend 1 day at the beach.

In my previous life, most likely I would have stubbornly stuck to my plan. I would have been miserable because I didn’t allow myself enough time to be happy. I would have expected way too much of myself and of Alex. After remembering  many a botched, not so well laid out, stressful plans I had stubbornly proceeded with regardless of reason, I decided that instead of surfing, I could choose the quintessential surfer lifestyle, and enjoy a laid back day at the beach. I decided to let the waves crash in, and had a laid back cheap beach birthday.

Lessons learned while relaxing  and marveling at the ocean:

• A friend’s cast off trashy paperback novel about love, sex, and betrayal can be as  wonderful as a 25 dollar hardback hand selected from 1000’s of titles
• Hot dogs cooked on a fire sometimes taste better than a white table cloth 100 dollar birthday meal
• Body surfing with my best friend and life love is exhilarating for no charge
• In the coming years, I will plan to spend many more days at the ocean (further in advance)
• Embracing the go with the flow surfer attitude makes me happier
• Stole this from my co-worker “ I don’t care who you are, or what you do in life; when you stare at the ocean, you cannot tell me you are not moved and that just for that moment that your life is not better”

I’m ready to embrace the good stuff and get rid of the supposed to’s, the because I told myself I would, and I had to’s. Excited to make this year the most authentic and present year of my life. Ready to search for the things that cost less and satisfy more.

Suggestions? Would love to hear what that means to you! Surfs up.

Poppies and Dahlias

Yesterday while catching up on my annual birthday month zodiac research, I discovered that the Leo power flowers are poppies and dahlias. Of course.

Ever since I first spied both of these flowers I’ve been mesmerized by their peculiar beauty, and drawn to them in a weird way as if they were a form of soul mate that I would like to share my life with. Sort of like how you feel about your favorite songs and books. Like they know you or represent you; they mean something to you on some weird emotional level.

This little poppy coaster was purchased months ago for 50 cents at an estate sale, and it has been something I’ve enjoyed waking up to for no good reason ever since.

Disclosure: Yes I am a little freaky mystical sometimes, one friend describes talking about stuff like this as coming out of the purple closet. I do know how absurd things like this seem, and I really have no science to back me up, but when I experience strong emotions to things for no reason it feels like it means something. Who knows what, but something.

I didn’t grow up with poppies or dahlias in fact I didn’t even know that either existed until my early twenties.The first time I laid eyes on a poppy, their papery whimsical petals and wiry stems which seemed to defy gravity by supporting their big orange heads amazed me. They have fascinated me ever since.

Over the weekend (Before reading about the Leo power flowers) on my normal thrifting rounds, I picked up this blue poppy table cloth, at “The Will” for 3 dollars and 99 cents, and although I have never seen a blue poppy, a quick search on Google revealed that they do exist in the Himalayan mountains. I shall dream to spy a real blue poppy in person someday. The table cloth will suffice till then.  It’s simply lovely, and I can’t wait to have it as a guest to a backyard picnic.

The first time I saw a dahlia was when my friend Robin brought me one at a dinner party 5 years ago. The flower’s complicated simplicity was contradictory and intriguing. It was like it was almost a rose, but was so much more complex yet more simple at the same time. I know that’s a ridiculous juxtaposition, but its what the dahlia is, complicated simplicity. Intricate close up and simple from afar. But beautiful from everywhere.

This one dollar dahlia (Isn’t it wonderful how a few simple stems can be even more beautiful that an elaborate expensive bouquet) too was purchased prior to reading about the Leo flowers.

Coincidence? Ok, probably, but it did freak me out a little. (In a good way) But mostly it made me excited for my birthday month and the stars aligning to Leo for their brief yearly stint. I’m excited to revel in the Leo days of summer. Looking forward to a great 28th year of life, and a wonderful August.

Hope you all enjoy my favorite month of the year, the dog days of summer, and this time in Leo. Time to roar. (In a nice way)

Country Roads and Camping

This weekend we headed out for a bit of solitude up in the Cascades. Typically the sounds of the city don’t bother me too much, in fact I mostly enjoy the excitement they seem to represent.

But last week I started to itch. Which manifested in a strong urge to kick a bus that honked too loudly(not that hard, but still), and the thought that maybe I should hurl an egg at the dumb motorcyclists who vroom their engines while passing by my house. Why do they have to do that?  We don’t think they are cooler or tougher, and in the words of Stephanie Tanner (yes Stefanie Tanner) “How Rude!”

About every six months country road fever sets in. Making me want to drive down windy country roads with a bit of good music, windows rolled down, and arm out the window making wave motions. (A trick I learned from my high school boyfriend driving down Highway 69 in his red Cavalier convertible. If you stick your arm out the window while driving at a mild pace of 55 or so and make the motion of a wave/snake with your arm slowly you feel as if you are actually flying. It feels so free to be on a country road with a good tune, sunshine, and your arm “flying” out the window.)

28 dollars in camp ground fees, a tank of gas, and a bag of marshmallows/ dark chocolate bars and voila peace, quiet, and freedom the perfect two day summer vacation.  Picture taken at the top of a hike ending with an amazing Alpine Lake. Swimming was cold, yes, but certainly was wonderful.

We found a few deals along Highway 2 as well.  Although small town thrifting was not quite to my taste, (i.e. 1990’s flower shams and faux country home sweet home coat racks) as Seattle, I still found a few fun items.

Above is a photo book of Seattle from the mid nineteen-eighties. Looking through it, I fell back in love with my city and no longer was fighting urges to kick busses and egg Harley’s.

Normally I don’t buy things for the unborn children I may have in 4 or 5 years, but I totally loved these books when I was little, and have a feeling my brother, who’s five years older, is going to become a dad before I become a mom, and inherit all things saved for grandkids.

He also had a great affinity for these little books. Although there is a story that’s been circulating at family holidays for most of his life about him telling a stranger he looked just like Mr. Grumpy which he doesn’t seem to appreciate, I know he will snap them up once a little one arrives.

Finally I found my very own cow creamers at a decent price, FREE! The nice older lady hosting the sale insisted that I take them at no cost, as she just wanted to get rid of things and it was the end of her day, and at eleven dollars Alex and I had the made the highest amount of purchases she’d had all day with our other loot.

Initially I only wanted the lovely cow but the nice woman insisted I take the bull as well, and I am glad she did as they do make a handsome couple.

 

After mowing his mom’s lawn upon our return Sunday night, Alex brought me a gorgeous rose from his mom’s Garden. It looked just beautiful in the 16 cent glass jar I leave on my window sill for cups of midnight water.

Great cheap summer weekend. Life does not get better! How are you all enjoying your summer days and nights? What are your favorite free/ cheap summer past times?

Enjoy and drink in these juicy bits of summer!