back from the Carbon River

Well, Arlen warned me that Volunteer Vacations would really take it out of me, and he was right. I really wanted some quiet time after I got back. But now there stretches before me a lonely expanse of time with no colorful meals or old growth forests or stories in the party tent, and I am sad. I've got my climbing gear out in hopes that I'll get to tag along with someone, and I am working on logistics for a solo kayak around Vashon and Blake. I'm getting ready to send out a bunch of fun mail, I am applying to jobs and waiting to hear back from NOLS. And all the time, I am wishing I was not here in this house, and that I had more friends in the area to rescue me. Sometimes, self-rescue is hard work.

beyond the summer

Outdoor Environmental Education:

Boojum Institute

Ashokan Center

High Trails

Green River Preserve

Sailing:

World Ocean School

Sea Semester

Salish Sea Expeditions

and of course, NOLS:

National Outdoor Leadership School

Some recent photos

I've been meaning to do better with the photo-taking. Some small upheavals lately, so didn't do as well as I hoped...no pictures of bleached teak decks for instance. Trying to work up some enthusiasm for this awesome summer job that's coming up. Things I don't like: feeling trapped, and running away. Hoping for a little sun to lift my spirits here in Seattle.

Plaques from the Sculpture Park

Heron, adventures in Adobe Illustrator

Got to ac-cen-tu-ate the positive

So I'm still working on the robbinswold logo. Unlike many art projects, my first draft really was a first draft, and I've been working on redrawing it to be more balanced and pleasing and awesome. I have some high hopes for tomorrow, when I will get to use the studio of a real graphic designer, who has already given me one tip (full moon, not a crescent moon) that really ties everything together.

I've been listening to the How Stuff Works podcast, eating creme brulee'd cheesecake, and resigning myself to the fact that my jeans are uncomfortably tight and I should stop trying.

A couple of the places that have fall job opportunities:

http://www.worldoceanschool.org/

http://www.thehightrailsway.com/PositionOverview.html

http://salish.org/GetInvolved/progemploymentopportunities

http://www.nwresd.k12.or.us/instrserv/noss/employment.html

I guess that working at an environmental education center for a while would really show me once and for all how well I like teaching kids...

What's coming up

Hello. I'm sitting in Seatac Airport right now. They've added free wifi since last summer, and it has inspired me to post to the blog. I know it's been a long time. Headed to the midwest to visit family. I have cheese and crackers and dried mango to eat, and a trashy magazine to read, and two heavy carry on bags.

Made some citrus cornmeal cake last night, based on a recipe from Simply Recipes--it's one of my favorite food blogs, I feel like her recipes are really well written. Most of the cake is going to some family friends, but I made a couple mini-fish-shaped cakes to taste and they were good--sweet and light with lots of green zest.

Working on finding more seasonal work for when summer is over. There are a few different directions I could go in, and I am starting also to look into more schooling. I would really like to be in a place where I could have my own little home, and decorate it, and arrange the kitchen to my tastes, but Most Likely, I will be in a situations that involves a tent, yurt, cabin, or bunk.

I still need to mail out some of my Chile gifts--to Montana and Boston. And I have a couple of weeks this summer that are just calling out for adventures to be planned.

more from Suzy's corner

Thinking of: boat names.
Capability
Directrix
Hemerine
Tornatil
Nepenthene
Tantivy
Aquaintance

Making: jewelry for gifts.

Coveting: Alba Organics facial moisturizer.

Saving up for: Osprey Kestrel 68 backpack OR Gregory Z65 Backpack.

Considering: Permaculture, Ethnobotany, Experiential Education.

Planning: a party menu.
http://www.mybakingaddiction.com/key-lime-pie-bars/
http://eyecandy.nanakaze.net/?p=535

Spending: too much time on eBay.

Ricon de Suzy

Tuesday morning, here. Spending some time waiting for the weekly meeting to end. I am not invited to this meeting. Supposed to be boxing up and cleaning out the food closet today. Leaving soon. Hope everything will work out. Hope everything will fit in my bags. I'd like to do something fun this weekend. Things are going to get busy and complicated soon, so I should be glad of this period of calm, but I don't like waiting. I like doing.

Rations Room and a Weekend Shot

North American Summer

So I'm going to be an assistant crew leader this summer, working for the Washington Trails Association. I'll be all over the state this summer, from Mt. Rainier, to the Wenatchee Nat'l Forest, to the Hood Canal area. Going to lead some adult and some youth crew, which will be a nice mix, I think. 

I'll have four weeks off this summer, so that should allow me some time for personal hiking trips, visiting friends on their sailboat, and hopefully volunteering for camp for a week. And I have almost everything that I need, besides a couple of pairs of gloves, and (hopefully) a new backpacking backpack. My current one just isn't suitable for heavy duty trail work, though it's comfortable enough carrying lighter loads. So if you would like to sign up to go on one of my volunteer vacations, I can tell you which ones I'm leading. Most are full, but the standby list does sometimes work. 

I've also got to motivate myself with this whole stick-shift manual transmission issue. 

Evolution

It's almost time for a new t-shirt to be designed. At least that's the tradition...

Wedding Party 3

Wedding Party 2

Wedding Party 1

Street Scenes in Patagonia

For Sale in Coyhaique

Patagonia Pictures 3

Patagonia Pictures 2

Patagonia Pictures 1