Friday Five

It is a new year, we couldn't stop it from coming, time marches on, blah blah blah... but to be honest with you, I could not wait to move on from 2011. Ready for bigger and better things in '012!  To kick off this year, and to kick off the "Friday Five" i thought it would be appropriate to give out the well kept, most guarded secrets for living your best in 2012....

at least, that was the plan....

I started out strong, sat down at my desk and wrote out the 'secrets to life' that my parents and grandparents and even my great grandparents have been spouting off since before I was born.  Don't get me wrong, it is all truly wonderful advice!  The stuff of legends and it has been time tested so I know it works....

That was not the problem, I got my top five down on paper in ten minutes (my college professors must be so proud).

Then I moved over to the computer to put my (borrowed) thoughts on here for all to see, and I discovered that I had another decision to make.

How do I present this all important list to the masses?  How do I convey the heartfelt meaning behind my words? How do I impress the importance of what we need to do to live a better and more fullfilling life?AHHHHH! Overwhelming, I know...

I could:
1. Write a numbered list.  So straightforward, so easily read.  It labels each idea as to its level of importance, and ranks them accordingly.  It is the most readible of lists, there is no confusion involved.  I mean, the word  "FIVE" in the title of this post seems to point to the fact that there will be five items and they will be numbered. Yet, numbering is slightly boring and predictable.  So writing a numbered list was out.

• A bullet list on the other hand is a fine option.  It is elegant.  It sets the ideas apart from the margin of the page.  The list looks important and impressive.  However, it also reminded me of every single resume that I have written in the past fifteen years and upon second glance is much too formal of a style for the wisdom I hope to convey. Scratch bullets off the list as well.

 (A fine third option was to punctuate my words with pictures illustrating the meaning behind the idea)
Ex: Stop, slow down and enjoy your life...(OK, that wasn't one of my top five, but look how nicely it goes with the picture!)

Fourthly, I harkend back to my classroom days, sitting in accounting (bored) thinking that the only interesting piece of information in my textbook was the colorful Pie Chart!  I could get my information across in a vibrant manner and assign the level of importance to each idea based on the size of the slice of Pie!  But, alas, the Pie Chart is not an easy graphic to design and began to take up too much of my time, so was quickly discarded.

Finally, after exhausting all my other options, my fifth and final  idea struck me....an alphabetical list! I could define each idea with one word and place them alphabetically into the blog.  The result might look much like a dictionary but has readability and interest.

Idea five: verb/action- go play outside, also, to exist out of doors
 
Whew, that was exhausting getting to this point, I had to run through FIVE ideas in order to decide how best to present the Friday FIVE...

anybody catching on yet...
I certainly hope so, because if you didn't catch on to my little ruse you are going to be very confused by the fact that this is me signing off!
Have a wonderful Friday everyone.

Lake Quinault Lodge: The Rest Comes Easy

Truer words may have never been spoken.

Earlier this week my husband, Sal, and I took a quick overnight getaway to the Lake Quinault Lodge in the Olympic National Forest. We wanted to kick our new year off with some time alone, and, well, my Groupon that I purchased for our anniversary last April (and never used) was about to expire. Have you ever been? If not you must go; it's absolutely astounding! I still can't believe such a beautiful location is right here in our own backyard; we should be so proud that a piece of the Olympic National Forest resides in Grays Harbor County.

My husband and I had a wonderful time exploring the Lodge, the Lake and the Forest in the wet rainy weather that we all know to expect during this time of year. The Lodge itself is worth time out of your planned schedule to explore- built in 1926, it is full of architectural and historical touches. Old photographs line the halls, the ceiling beams are painted with native detailing and the cozy main lobby beckons for you to relax in a plush leather couch by the fire. The hotel rooms in the main lodge are quaint and modest. There are also 8 rooms in the Boat house, and then another 36 in the Lakeside complex, which is newer.

The Lobby



Our Room - Main Lodge

Oh No Technology?!
The most astounding thing about the Lodge is that there are no telephones in the rooms, almost no rooms with televisions, and very little cell service. In short, technology quickly becomes an afterthought. It took me all the way through lunch trying to get Facebook to load on my phone before I gave in and tossed it into my purse. After a short bout of cellphone-withdrawals, I acclimated. Without our typical technological crutches my husband and I were forced to- gasp- talk to each other, socialize with one another and entertain each other!

After spending time exploring the Lodge, we found the game room and played a few games of pool (2-him, 1-me); we skipped the ping pong and video games, but they are all a part of the game room as well. We also opted out of the pool & sauna, although both looked very enticing. The part of our stay I enjoyed the most was our after-dinner time in the lobby. The lobby was packed! Guests occupied every couch and conversed, relaxed, played games. It was a warm and welcoming scene even though none of us knew each other. Sal and I sat down at an oversized chess board and, after he gave me a quick chess tutorial, we set into a rousing game of chess (he kicked my butt). After that intense game needed our alone time, and he settled in with a book while I contributed to a community puzzle that was laid out on a nearby table.

Getting Out
Even though it was raining, Sal and I ventured out on the trails (the short ones) to get our outdoor fix. There seems to be an infinite amount of choices for every degree of hiker & time frame. We explored the shore trail behind the Lodge and also ventured out to the Worlds Largest Sitka Spruce (did you know this was in Grays Harbor?!). There are multiple trail guides available for the Olympic National Forest and the Lake Quinault area at the Park Ranger Station located next to the Lodge. There's nothing like getting outside in this area. Even in the rain, it is such a peaceful feeling to walk along the quiet lakeshore and clear your head or have a quiet conversation.

My favorite part of getting outside is the potential for seeing wildlife. While we were really hoping to see elk (and it is very common), we didn't get as lucky. However, we did see two different eagles. I can never get over how big they are! I was so giddy over spotting the second one, that I leaped out of the car and into the rain trying to snap a good picture. Ultimately I'm no photographer, but you can see the Eagles below:

Eat Well
The resort is under contract to Aramark, which is a national food service company that runs stadium concessions, cafeterias and hospitality food venues. As such, I didn't expect the onsite restaurant, The Roosevelt Room, to serve anything spectacular. I was pleasantly surprised! The breakfast and lunch menus are full of simple but tasty classics with a PNW twist- omelets or pancakes for breakfast and sandwiches or salads for lunch. But the dinner menu is diverse and slightly larger. I had sesame-crusted Ahi Tuna and Sal had Buffalo Meatloaf. Both were delectable. There is a serious lack of food venues in this area, so this is nearly your only choice except The Salmon House, which posts daily if they are going to be open for Dinner only. I'd show you a picture of our food...but I was never patient enough to take one!

Overall, the brief experience my husband and I had at Lake Quinault Lodge was serene. The calming ambiance of a quiet Lodge on a peaceful lake is refreshing and rejuvenating. I found myself feeling settled and stress free looking out on the lake while I sipped my Chamomile tea. If I had more time I would have spent it there, and I intend to make a return visit (maybe during summer next time). If you would like to explore the Lake Quinault area for a day trip or an overnight stay, visit the website for more information: www.olympicnationalparks.com.

Hey There, Harborite - Britta Folden

Name/Age: Britta Folden - 27

Where do you live: Aberdeen, I've been told it's the "Weatherwax neighborhood"

Profession/Day job: Quilter by day, Blogger by Night, soon to be Retail store owner

Loyal to: Bobcats... I still know the fight song

Best Harbor Moment: I went to the Green Lantern in Copalis Beach one cold night last year and played Steve Winwood on the juke box. The regulars were not pleased.

Favorite Coffee Stand: I prefer indoor coffee shops where I can sit and read a book, Tully's is usually a good pick

Favorite Local Business: I love hanging out at Rosevear's and shopping at the B Street Thrift Store

Grunge, Metal or Country: Well, I love flannel so I suppose Grunge... but really I listen to folk, soul or electronic music.

Beach, Forest or River: I love the north beaches, where the forest comes right up to the coast. It all seems so grand.

Favorite outdoor adventure or day trip: I feel like there is a lot to explore here and I've barely scratched the surface! With that said, I love going to Westport to watch the surfers, check out the boats and eat some tasty seafood at the Half Moon Bay restaurant... and maybe stop at the Westport Winery on the way back for some wine.

Best way to stay dry on rainy days: I say, suck it up and go outside anyway. No hoods. No umbrella. Unless it's cold - then I'm inside the house by the fire

Define the Harbor in one word: Gritty

If you could change one thing about the area, what would it be: I want to see more people attending events and asking for more! I also would love to see a bigger live music scene - particularly from PNW artists

Grays Harbor's best kept secret: I'm a big fan of design and architecture and there are some really beautiful buildings in Aberdeen and Hoquiam that most people don't seem to notice. They might be run down, but the details are amazing. I spend most sleepless nights dreaming about what they used to look like back in the day.

Great Music for a Great Cause

Benefit show for Tabitha Kowal, Saturday, January 7th at the Moose Lodge in Montesano. Music by Humptulips. 9pm-1am. There will be auctions and other ways for people to donate. Sounds like there's going to be a HUGE turnout!

Donations for the family may also be made at any Anchor Bank location.

Music Monday: Better Days are ahead

Ready for the New Year! I know that I am, ready for everything it has in store and ready for the better days!

Music Monday: REM- It's the end of the world as we know it

I feel fine. So long 2011! Bring on 2012!

Music Monday: Childish Gambino - Outside

For all of you hip hop fans out there (are you out there?), this is for you. If you don't like swears, this isn't the song for you. However, if you love the show Community, you may recognize this voice.