Mount Si Hike

It is sad that I grew up in the Snoqualmie Valley and have never done this hike before (it is also pretty sad about how long it has been since I posted, but we don't need to get into that and other than Katelyn, I doubt anyone is too worried about it). Given my crazy dog and her need to be the only dog in the area, we elected to take the road less traveled and took the less used route (Don't forget your Discover Pass).

http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/mount-si-via-mount-teneriffe-road-trail

We (Me, Dan, Matt (Dan's friend from college who has been visiting us for a bit) and Gabby) ended up hiking higher and more distance than this, our route ended up being about 12 miles round trip per my fitbit  and we didn't even get to an "end" and could have kept going.  If you want an easier hike in the same area try Little Si.

Recommendations for this trip:
- Pack more snacks than some trail mix and shotbloks, this is probably a given for the experienced hiker, but I always tend to try to pack light because I hate carrying a lot of stuff.
- Layer up if you are going to go any time soon, I saw people in coats and bundled up pretty good and the at the top there was a guy in shorts and that was about it. I was pretty cold to start, warmed up pretty good through the hike and then started to get a lil chilly as we made our way back down.

All and all, we were hurting a bit the next couple days and maybe that wasn't a great get back into hiking trip, but we made it and are all ready to go on another hike or perhaps some snow shoeing with my lil sister after Super Bowl weekend.

GO SEAHAWKS!!!

Here are some pictures from the hike sorry for some Instagram duplicates.

You can kind of see Rainier if you look closely. My sister was snow shoeing over there the same day...I am pretty sure if you look closely you can see her. :)

Hopefully there will be many more hikes and posts. I am excited that Katelyn is moving back to Washington so we can go on a bunch of hikes this summer.

Anti-Seattle Freeze Movement...

So sorry blogging world, I left you. It has been a crazy, fun summer and I just can't bring myself to sit in front of my computer. I want to be out with my pup and enjoying the AMAZING summer that we have been enjoying in Seattle.

So...I started this post a bit ago and so much has happened since then but this was the start of it all  

I read this article about how Seattle is not that friendly or open city. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle_Freeze

We keep to ourselves and although are polite, we don't openingly welcome new people into our lives. There are many theories on why. My thought has always been that other people are busy and why would they want me to interrupt their day. I always used to get annoyed when one of my friends (not from Seattle) would go strike up conversations with strangers. Don't bug them...they are enjoying their day. Little did I realize that most of the world does this and Seattle is known for being unfriendly. I decided that I was not going to be a part of this. I was going to be friendly and open. I was going to invite strangers put to meet people and not be a part of this Seattle stereotype. 

I have always (well, at least as an adult) been the type of person to love to bring people together. I love taking groups of people that don't normally mingle and bring them together. I can't wait to someday get married primarily because the idea of having everyone that I love in one place for a party just sounds fabulous to me (I am sure the husband, love, and of course the dress will all be great too). 

So, first victim...I mean...new friend (perhaps more...but that is another post). On a May Saturday, I was chilling in my apartment waiting for some carpet cleaners who were late, I walk down to my managers office to figure out what was going on and there he was. He was looking for an apartment and had just moved from Virginia Beach (I pretend to know where that is...I hope I am right in my assumption that it was in Virginia). I say hi and take a deep breath and invite him and his friend out to a birthday party and then explain my 'mission'. I am sure he thinks I am crazy, but I am trying and don't care. We exchange numbers and he is stored as "Dan from the Lobby."  I go about my way and am happy with my attempt and if it does or doesn't work, I did what I set out to do. 

He doesn't end up coming to that particular party...he had tickets to see Jason Aldean (a reasonable excuse to a country girl like myself). He did however come out to another one and met some people. 

I have continued to be more open...asking confused people with maps on the street if they want help and inviting new people in the area to come out and meet some of my friends in hopes of making more connections. I feel good about it and it has definitely opened my life up a bit. I recommend that others do the same, it has done nothing but good things for me. 

Sorry for my blogging absence. I will do better...

a little too long between posts...

I was reading my last post and I can't believe how long it has been since I wrote in this thing...I guess that is further sign that I have been working too much and living life when I can.

I survived yet another busy season and it was a difficult one, between the economy and the limited staff it was pretty intense and we had a lot going on.

Well, a few weeks ago I made a leap into a new life and out of a plane for that matter. After careful consideration, I have decided to leave the fabulous life of public accounting to the private side. What does this mean? Lots of things and in all honesty, I have serious mixed feelings about it and am scared shitless. I think it is the best for me and something that I need to do, but it is scary to be leaving everything that I have built at Moss.

I am going to miss everyone here so much, but sometimes you have to realize when you need to move on and find something that you love in life outside of work. I am excited about perhaps having better work-life balance. There are quite a few things that I have missed while in public accounting and I am hoping that spreading out my work load through the year will result in better balance (the extra money won't hurt either).

I will be working in downtown Seattle and for anyone that knows me, they will know that I have been wanting to do this for a LONG time. Hoping to find a way to move down there in the fall and rent my place out. Luckily the bus route is convinent and it will give me some time to blog, read my kindle and all of the books that I have purchased on that thing.

The thing I think I am going to love most is getting into a routine with work, life, schedule, gabby, excercise, it is going to be nice to be predictable for a change. To be able to go to the gym in the morning before work and know that I take the same bus to work and can leave at the same time each day.

Here is to the next chapter in my life...I am excited to see what it holds for me. :)

~Rachel