Seattle: Day 19 "Birthday"

Today is my birthday. To me, turning 25 was bittersweet. It was nice to be a year older and surrounded by friends, but it was bitter to think about where I am in life. I need a good job. I need to get my life in order.

I had dinner with a lot of friends and then we went to Alki beach. And it made me realize what is really important in life.

I feel confident about life and where I am going. And the cake was good, too.

Seattle: Day 18 "Hanging with the Asplunds"

A lot of nothing took place today. The most exciting thing that happened was the trip to the Asplunds. We watched "Arrested Development" and ate homemade pizza. Her family is a lot of fun. They remind me a lot of a family that I used to spend a lot of time with except friendlier.

It was relaxing.

Seattle: Day 17 "Took it easy"

Not a lot to write about today, so here is a simple list of what I did:

1.) Watched two Harry Potter movies.

2.) Did my laundry.

3.) Went to Idylwood park with Rachel and her friends.

4.) Went to Rachel's home to watch 30 Rock with some of her other friends.

That is all. I had a lot of fun.

Seattle: Day 16 "Bainbridge Vacation"

My adventure began at a bus station. It is amazing that $2.50 can get you into Seattle in 35 minutes. I arrived at the Westlake center, which was booming with people who have somewhere to be. I fit right in.

I passed through the flying fish of Pike's Place as I rushed down to the ferry station. I prefer traveling alone because it feels more adventurous.

The ferry ride was breezy. Children were scurrying around pretending to be pirates while their parents watched Seattle disappear. When we arrived on Bainbridge island, the ferry felt more like a bus at the station. Everyone migrated off the ferry to the taxis and minivans waiting for them. Julie picked me up there.

Bainbridge is beautiful. The beaches are rocky, but that makes them different. Families were playing on the tree trunks that rest on the coast line.

It was quiet.

Julie and the rest of the Rencher family were accommodating. Julie and her siblings joked over taco salads while their mother listened in tolerance. They were wonderful people. They live in a small town called Poulsbo, which is Dutch for something I'm sure.

We kayaked in Liberty Bay after dinner. I saw some amazing sights while on the water. We skimmed over a school of jellyfish as they puffed through the water. Some seals looked at us curiously as they passed by our boats. I never imagined I would kayak with jellyfish and seals.

Eventually, I said goodbye to my friend Julie and boarded a ferry back to Seattle with about 30 other people. I recalled all of my many blessings in life while watching Seattle grow on the horizon.

Quite an amazing trip.

Seattle: Day 15 "Non-alcoholic hangover"

I didn't think someone could be hung over from non-alcoholic sparkling cider. My head hurt when I woke up this morning. The family dog was sleeping on my back, which startled me awake.

Staying up until 4 am loses its edge after the "5 hour energy" wears off. I was a zombie throughout church, which I unfortunately can vaguely recall.

I went with Jessica and her family to University of Washington, which only made me sad about my school. Such a beautiful campus.

These are all the words you are getting out of me.

Seattle: Day 14 "The Groundbreaking"

Today marked the end of a chapter in my life. I spent it in the midst of caring friends and bottles of Martinelli's non-alcoholic sparkling cider. Despite my socially induced anesthesia, it was a rough day.

It is difficult to think that the person you spent two and a half years with got married by the end of your morning shower. It is even more difficult to save face in front of people who do not entirely understand.

We spent our day at the carnival in front of the Pacific Science Museum in Seattle. While riding teacups and merry-go-rounds, I would occasionally drift into thoughts of her standing in a receiving line giving hugs to people she rarely associates with.

I imagined what the punch was like at her reception while purchasing the night's first bottle of Martinelli's. I am sure everything was decadent considering how bourgeois her family is.

After the "5 hour energy" wore off, the second bottle of Martinelli's finally elicited an emotional response from me at 3 am. Tsige was their to receive the hateful rants and declarations of independence.

However, a hopeful future lies in friends, family, health and wealth.

It is time to rebuild, and today was the groundbreaking.

Seattle: Day 13 "Quirky Folks"

I did some chores around the LeFevre home today. They are giving me a place to stay, so it is the least I could do.

Later that night I decided to go on a single's ward camping trip.

After the second "Twilight" conversation ended I realized that I had made a mistake in coming. The single's ward here is one that Mormon filmmakers would like to exploit for their plots. It is loaded with quirky folks mixed with a handful of moderately sane people. It is a ward you cannot help but adore.

That night I learned a few names, some "Star Wars" facts and that a majority of the camp was on "Team Edward". I went to be early.