Real hiking! On Saturday, "the interns" had an outing to the beautiful Mount Rainier! After extensive research (read: 20 minutes of intense google searching), we made our way to the mountain. We went all the way to the top, only to find the most recommended trail was covered in snow. Even in our limited gear of tennis shoes, shorts, and 5 pb&j sandwiches between the three of us, we held our egos high and started the climb. After a grueling 8 minutes of vertical climbing on the crisp white snow, my badass roommate and I both threw a bit of a tantrum and threatened to march back down to the bottom. Intern #3 continued the hike to the top solo. 

After 5 minutes of talking about how much the snow sucked and this was a bad idea, my badass roommate and I tried to climb once more, making it to the top where Intern #3 was enjoying the view. Truly, it was beautiful up there. However, I wouldn't say it was worth the wet shoes. After snapping a few pictures, we started back down the hill. It should be stated: I was the only one that didn't fall. Intern #3 would say he fell on purpose, but that's a lie. Don't believe a word he says.

After purchasing a fresh pair of socks, we made our way down the mountain to a less snowy location. We asked the nice man in the visitors center to point us in the direction of a hike worthy of the title "nice, afternoon stroll type hike". He raved about a 5 mile loop that was perfect for our needs, walked us out the door to the visitors center and pointed us in the right direction. Part of me wondered if he was hoping for an invitation to come along.

I'm not sure I would call the hike he recommended a nice afternoon stroll, being that we ended up climbing 1300 feet in the first two miles, then enjoyed a moderate climb for mile three, then saw a direct drop for the last two miles that resulted in running down the path hurting far less than walking it. But, it was fun to say we did it. and the view was AMAZING! The second to last picture in the stream of pictures at the top of this post shows the ridge we climbed. We had the perfect view of Mount Rainier and were surrounded by forest almost the whole time. Such a great hike.

Anyway, that was our Saturday! We left the park, ate at a cool little family owned restaurant in a train car, then went back to the manor to shower. We did leave the manor once more that night in search of milkshakes. A worthy and successful mission.

Sunday was full of sleeping, House, and laundry. And more sleeping.

My office is severely lacking in drink option. You could say it's nice of them to offer any drinks in the first place, but then I'd respond by asking if there are any drink options worth having if diet coke is not present? My friends, family, and an assortment of waitresses could pay witness to the fact that when I go out to eat, my first question is "do you offer Pepsi or coke products here?"  If Pepsi reigns triumph, I let out a sigh (made of equal parts disappointment and anger), and ask for water. If coke is the available product (as always should be), I ask for a diet, treating it as a trophy I have won by simply choosing an establishment with a fine taste for fizzy beverages. 

Anyway, the fridge here is full of coke. Sugar loaded cokes. Where's the diet?!

No where. Not offered. So, yesterday I gave reg coke a try. Never again. 

After the coke, my day pretty much ran through it's normal routine. Intern outing to the park, where we found a lovely beach and then took a windy path that took us far, far away from the car. My roommate was a badass and climbed a tree over a ledge for the perfect picture. I took selfies while intern #3 talked to his mama on the phone. I found the perfect tree with the perfect lighting for a somewhat depressing picture. And we had a face off with a raccoon. I'm convinced this fella had more raccoon thugs just waiting to attack us from the bushes as back up, but we escaped the scene before the troops could act. 

Great Wednesday. Missed my middle school ladies, though. Xoxo

I watched another movie today. Wait, sorry, I meant wept through. I wept through a movie today. I wept through a movie sitting next to a very nice stranger who I could tell was also trying to hold back tears. He was more successful than I. Unfortunately, this nice man-stranger got to experience my ugly cry as the roomie and I experienced "the fault in our stars". Erin and I found ourselves the cheapest theater in the area and purchased our tickets to see this movie, fully expecting a bonding experience of sorts, I mean roommates that cry together become lifelong bestfriends, right? And although it worked (we're on a new level in our friendship for sure), I feel like I experienced that same bonding with mr. beard next to me. I mean, who sits RIGHT NEXT TO someone at the theater? Bizarre-o. 

Anyway, FANTASTIC movie!! I read the book than watched the movie and the director/actors/literallyeverythingelse gave full justice to the authors original intent. I'm in awe. Not sad, just moving. The tears were a more instinctual reaction to another human being crying than my own sorrow. Don't get me wrong, it's a pretty sad movie since death is involved. But it's also brilliant and revolutionary and inspiring and just beautiful. Read the book. Then see it. 

And another tip - watch this before you watch Divergent. If it's too late for you, just prepare yourself for the siblings from Divergent to fall in love. Weird how casting worked out like that.