I walked into the only coffee shop in this run-down town in a desperate search for an internet connection. I wasn't expecting much; the town is a fishing and logging community - not the type of people I would expect to frequent a coffee shop. My initial reaction was surprise. It looked like a coffee shop I would have found anywhere else. The lighting seemed dim to me, but leather sofas, small tables and chairs, a fireplace all set up just as I would expect in any coffee shop. I ordered a drink and sat down.
Then, I started looking around. First, at the little table placard they gave me to find me when my drink was ready. It had a verse from Psalms 23. Then, at a sign hanging from the ceiling amidst a bunch of stars which said something about God in the heavens. Then, at a sing hanging over the door leading to the connecting business - a Christian bookstore. Or, at the big basket of bibles near the door.
Hmmm, very interesting. Not quite like any other coffee shop I had ever been to. I pulled out my laptop and connected to the internet. If nothing else, I was successfully connected to the internet. I started checking my email and catching up on all the news I had missed over the last week.
The lady brought my drink over and I started sipping it and observing the other patrons. I started hearing bits of their conversations and noticing what they were doing. They were holding bible studies, reading the bible, and discussing God's involvement in their daily lives. I can't say that I have ever been to a coffee shop quite like this one.
I went back to reading the news and catching up with my email. I was writing one to my friend when I noticed that a guy in a wheelchair had rolled up to my table. I looked up when he cleared his throat.
"I'm sorry. I don't mean to be a bug," he says " but I noticed that you are wearing red to white to green."
I looked down at my shirt and, sure enough, I have on my Rainbow Brite sweatshirt, complete with rainbows up and down the sleeves and on my chest. Not quite red to white to green, but close. I looked back at the guy, wondering where this was going.
"The bible says that red to white to green are the colors of the devil, and you're going to hell" he continues.
Surely, he must be joking. Is this really happening? Am I being told that I'm going to hell in the middle of a coffee shop by some random stranger in a wheelchair because I'm wearing rainbows? Surely, this isn't happening.
I looked around and noticed a girl about my age sitting across the coffee shop, laughing. I looked at her, looked back at the guy, and started laughing myself. I couldn't help it. I couldn't believe that I had been told that I was going to hell from a random stranger in a wheelchair because I was wearing a Rainbow Brite sweatshirt.
My laughing didn't helped the situation. He continued to reiterate his belief that I was going to hell because the bible said that red to white to green were the colors of the devil and I was wearing those colors. I refocused my attention on my computer, laughing the whole time, until the guy wheeled himself away.
After that, I quickly finished up my email and headed out, thinking that I desperately needed to find another coffee shop. No such luck, as this appears to be the only one in town. I guess I'll be frequenting the Christian coffee shop for my internet fix.
4.23.2007
4.21.2007
Contrasts and Transitions
The past couple of weeks have been filled with some amazing contrasts and crazy changes. I've been from Seattle to Hawaii briefly back to Seattle and on to Oregon. From cool and drizzly to warm and sunny to cool and alternating between pouring rain and brilliant sunshine. From downtown city living to tourist trap to an isolated small town. From acute care hospital to much needed time off to a skilled nursing facility.
The transition has not gone quite as smoothly as I would have hoped. My company put me in a hotel that said it was pet friendly. The hotel's definition of pet friendly meant that the pets needed to be supervised at all times while in the room. That's a tad bit difficult to do when you are expected to work full time. After a tense couple of days, I've landed in a house out in the country. I commonly tell people that I live in the sticks and I'm not joking. (I'll try to tell stories as I go. That has proven to be a challenge as I have no internet access and my phone is on roaming and frequently drops calls.)
The house is entertaining. The inside has been remodeled and looks and smells new. There's no central heat or air conditioning. It's heated by an electric fireplace and a space heater. There's two bedrooms on the main floor and a "loft" according to the landlord who told me about the place as I picked up the keys. The "loft" is the attic and you need to pull the string to pull down the stairs to get up there. The kitchen is wonderful (but has no dishwasher or garbage disposal which the lease says that it has) and I spend most of my time there. The dishes leave something to be desired as they are all teddy bears. There's just not something right about eating your morning bowl of cereal and finding a teddy bear at the bottom of the bowl. Last, but not least, I have a new collection of pets. There's a horse in the backyard, a couple of roosters to wake me every morning, and even a peacock. Yes, there's a peacock who frequently visits.
With that said, the Oregon Coast is gorgeous. I've been there a couple of weeks now, and I am still amazed at how gorgeous it is. It doesn't matter if it's gray, cold, rainy, and windy or warm and brilliantly sunny, it's still just beautiful.
Cape Arago on a cold, cloudy, and windy day. My first outing to the coast after moving there, and I was absolutely amazed. The sounds, smells, sights...Amazing, but in a completely different way from Hawai'i.
Taken on the same day, looking down the coast line from up on a cliff.
The lighthouse a little further down the coast and taken on a beautiful, sunny day.
Photo shot looking at Shore Acres, a state park on the coast. This is the lookout point at Shore Acres, which is apparently quite notorious as the place to watch storms come ashore. I can only imagine, as this picture was shot on a gorgeous day and just look at the spray from the wave.
Hope you enjoyed the pictures. Let me know what you think, and I'll post more stories as I can. Smile.
The transition has not gone quite as smoothly as I would have hoped. My company put me in a hotel that said it was pet friendly. The hotel's definition of pet friendly meant that the pets needed to be supervised at all times while in the room. That's a tad bit difficult to do when you are expected to work full time. After a tense couple of days, I've landed in a house out in the country. I commonly tell people that I live in the sticks and I'm not joking. (I'll try to tell stories as I go. That has proven to be a challenge as I have no internet access and my phone is on roaming and frequently drops calls.)
The house is entertaining. The inside has been remodeled and looks and smells new. There's no central heat or air conditioning. It's heated by an electric fireplace and a space heater. There's two bedrooms on the main floor and a "loft" according to the landlord who told me about the place as I picked up the keys. The "loft" is the attic and you need to pull the string to pull down the stairs to get up there. The kitchen is wonderful (but has no dishwasher or garbage disposal which the lease says that it has) and I spend most of my time there. The dishes leave something to be desired as they are all teddy bears. There's just not something right about eating your morning bowl of cereal and finding a teddy bear at the bottom of the bowl. Last, but not least, I have a new collection of pets. There's a horse in the backyard, a couple of roosters to wake me every morning, and even a peacock. Yes, there's a peacock who frequently visits.
With that said, the Oregon Coast is gorgeous. I've been there a couple of weeks now, and I am still amazed at how gorgeous it is. It doesn't matter if it's gray, cold, rainy, and windy or warm and brilliantly sunny, it's still just beautiful.
Cape Arago on a cold, cloudy, and windy day. My first outing to the coast after moving there, and I was absolutely amazed. The sounds, smells, sights...Amazing, but in a completely different way from Hawai'i.
Taken on the same day, looking down the coast line from up on a cliff.
The lighthouse a little further down the coast and taken on a beautiful, sunny day.
Photo shot looking at Shore Acres, a state park on the coast. This is the lookout point at Shore Acres, which is apparently quite notorious as the place to watch storms come ashore. I can only imagine, as this picture was shot on a gorgeous day and just look at the spray from the wave.
Hope you enjoyed the pictures. Let me know what you think, and I'll post more stories as I can. Smile.
4.08.2007
Sweet Relaxation
Back from a much needed and wonderful trip to Hawai'i. And, per multiple requests, photos to share with you all...
Taken from the balcony of the room. A wonderful view. (Sorry, guys, I can't figure out how to rotate it, and I'm too tired and frustrated to mess with it right now.)
The sunsets were spectacular.
The ocean views entrancing. This one is taken from the Olivine Pools, which are behind me, as I'm looking out over the ocean and watching the surf beat against the lava rocks below me. Jeff, you would love the rocks on this island.
The Nakalele Blowhole on the way up...
And, crashing back down... (Sorry again for the unrotated pictures. I'll figure it out one of these days.)
One of the whales that was soooo cool to watch. Seen from the room, this whale was smacking his tail against the water. Repeatedly. I still haven't a clue as to what the whale was up to, but so amazing to watch.
These were the whales we saw on the return trip from snorkeling at Molokini. As explained by the captain, this is a competition pod, a bunch of males duking it out for the attention of the female. There were 4 or 5 whales altogether at this sighting, and I think you can see 3 in this picture fairly clearly.
Annie, this sign is for you. Taken at the top of 10,000 foot high Haleakala, I found it amusing.
The view from the summit of Haleakala. I was amazed. I don't know how else to describe it, but find that description completely lacking. This is looking down at Kihei and the ocean and over the clouds we climbed through on the way up the mountain.
And, last but not least, the view from up above Honolua Bay, and one of the snorkeling spots. A gorgeous view.
I'm not missing too many pictures, but there are a few missing. I didn't get any of the turtles or of any of the fish from the snorkeling trips. Next time, I'll definitely get an underwater camera. I had no idea what to expect.
I hope you enjoy the pictures. Let me know what you guys think.
Smile and enjoy.
Taken from the balcony of the room. A wonderful view. (Sorry, guys, I can't figure out how to rotate it, and I'm too tired and frustrated to mess with it right now.)
The sunsets were spectacular.
The ocean views entrancing. This one is taken from the Olivine Pools, which are behind me, as I'm looking out over the ocean and watching the surf beat against the lava rocks below me. Jeff, you would love the rocks on this island.
The Nakalele Blowhole on the way up...
And, crashing back down... (Sorry again for the unrotated pictures. I'll figure it out one of these days.)
One of the whales that was soooo cool to watch. Seen from the room, this whale was smacking his tail against the water. Repeatedly. I still haven't a clue as to what the whale was up to, but so amazing to watch.
These were the whales we saw on the return trip from snorkeling at Molokini. As explained by the captain, this is a competition pod, a bunch of males duking it out for the attention of the female. There were 4 or 5 whales altogether at this sighting, and I think you can see 3 in this picture fairly clearly.
Annie, this sign is for you. Taken at the top of 10,000 foot high Haleakala, I found it amusing.
The view from the summit of Haleakala. I was amazed. I don't know how else to describe it, but find that description completely lacking. This is looking down at Kihei and the ocean and over the clouds we climbed through on the way up the mountain.
And, last but not least, the view from up above Honolua Bay, and one of the snorkeling spots. A gorgeous view.
I'm not missing too many pictures, but there are a few missing. I didn't get any of the turtles or of any of the fish from the snorkeling trips. Next time, I'll definitely get an underwater camera. I had no idea what to expect.
I hope you enjoy the pictures. Let me know what you guys think.
Smile and enjoy.
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