rockaway beach

One of my favorite family vacation spots is the Oregon Coast.  Several years ago my aunt and uncle bought into a house on Rockaway Beach.  Since that time we have travelled up there almost every 2-3 years.  I love it there.  It is full of comfort and family memories.  Oh and it is beautiful!!  It is the perfect combination of country, mountains and ocean.  The smell of farms, pine trees and salty sea air are all within 15 minutes of each other.  Ahhhh!!!

This year most of my family made it up to Oregon.  My little brother and his family were waiting for the arrival of the newest family member (you can check him out here, can't wait to meet him!).  We were sad they couldn't make it but happy for the new arrival.

Here are some highlights from the trip...

*801 Pacific Ave*

*Twin Rocks - Rockaway Landmark*

*Scooping up tiny fishies*

*Checking out mussel covered driftwood washed ashore at low tide*

*Writing "Drew Barrymore" in the sand to keep Dustin down at the beach.  

Note his beloved Whip It held tightly in his hand.  

It went EVERYWHERE with him.*

*Oregon Coast necessities:  swim suit, sun glasses, hoodie, cute niece....

and Diet Coke w/a fresh lime*

*Dustin:  Get the sand OFF my feet and out of my shoes!

Me:  Really Dust?  You are still on the sand...but okay...*

*Almost all the Johnsons*

*Don't you all do cartwheels at the beach?*

*Me and my other two cute nieces, miss them*

*And that is all folks!*

sun love

On Friday my roommate and I were laying out in the backyard (this is where I study, really).  A helicopter began circling our neighborhood.  After the 3rd time I wondered what the problem was and watched it circle a 4th time.  I looked at my roommate, shrugged my shoulders and went back to reading.  After the 5th or 6th circling a loud speaker sounded with this message, "...male suspect, 45 years old, no shirt, long hair seen in this area..."  We looked at each other, ran inside and locked the doors.  I checked online and turned the TV on for news of a fugitive on the run.  Nothing.  So what did we do?  Headed back outside to get some more sun.  10 minutes later the helicopter circled again and gave the same message.  This time I was on the phone so I had to go inside to hear.  While inside I noticed police cars patrolling our neighborhood.  Then came the debate: continue laying out in the glorious sun, risking a fugitive jumping the fence to get us OR coming inside where we were sure to avoid the fugitive.  

Solution:  grab some mace for each of us and continue basking in the sun.  Priorities and necessities.

my people

**WARNING: Sappy post ahead.  Stop reading now if sappiness makes you want to vomit.**

Ever stop to notice how the friends you make in adulthood are the friends you have for life?  Growing up we become friends with people because of proximity, school class, church, etc.  While we of course have similar interests with these young friends, the friends we have in adulthood we have chosen.  These friendships have lasted through ups and downs of life, disagreements with each other, and distance.  I dare say that for the single adult, these friendships become even more important.  Friends become family.

2-3 weeks ago I found myself thinking of my friends.  Those I left behind in Utah and those I've made in San Diego.  These are what I like to call "my people."  As I was driving between clients and thinking of my people, my eyes would well up with tears of happiness and gratitude for having such great people in my life.  Then I would laugh at myself for being so mushy.  A few days later, through an unfortunate diagnosis of a dear friend, these feelings were magnified 100 times.

Here is a look at some of my people who have been on my mind recently:

Slideshow generated with Smilebox

mon pere

A few things that remind me of mon pere:

baseball fields

ice cream

finding sand dollars while walking on the beach

paper routes

coconut (ha ha!)

barbeque grills

lionel richie (can you guess why??)

tools

Happy Father's Day to the one I compare all others too!

See you in 6 days for a walk on the beach at low tide.

xoxo

little red

*Pre-ride*

My goal for 2010 was to complete a century bike ride. CHECK!

The first weekend of June I drove, yes, DROVE to Utah to ride in the Little Red Riding Hood century up in Cache Valley. I signed up with two friends but they both had to pull out at the last minute due to a family event and injury. Lucky for me one of my old San Diego roommates, who now lives in Park City, was up for the challenge. I also met up with an old boss from Intermountain Healthcare who I adore and who rides it every year. It took 8 hours (that includes lunch and breaks!) which was a long time of looking at dairy farms. It was a beautiful day! I can say that running a marathon is harder than riding 100 miles. Though my knees may disagree.

I drove all the way back to San Diego the day after the race. Quick trip but worth it for checking off my big goal for the year.

*100 miles - done!*

Next year Ironman 70.3 in Kona???? Any takers?????

dawn squared

In May I had another special visitor. Oy, did I say May? I meant April. Time flies, really it must because I swear she was just here. This little lady and I share the same middle name. I am pretty certain that means we will be friends F-O-R-E-V-E-R. Love having my friends come visit. Some of you should try it sometime. Highlights of Dawn #1's visit include breakfast at Cody's in La Jolla (highly recommend this), shopping, and riding around Coronado on a beautiful day (and napping on the Marriott Resort lawn). Thanks for coming to visit little lady!

La Jolla Cove - smokin' shades!

San Diego skyline (part of it anyway...) from Coronado

momma

I bought you a card months ago (really!) but it won't be in the mail until tomorrow. Good thing you are several hundred miles from home. I hope you were taken care of on your day. So, so, SO happy to say that you are the PERFECT mom for ME! I don't think anyone else could have done the momma job I needed. I love when my friends first meet you and tell me I'm just like you. Especially when you are acting a little silly :)

XOXOXO

See you Saturday.