The moon is half full tonight, I guess that is a good sign since I didn't see it as half empty.

An old friend from my junior high and teenage years came to Astoria Oregon recently while he had a leave from the army for 3 days. He flew down to Portland on a Friday and left early Monday morning. While he was here I made sure to take him to some amazing views down the North West Coast. I brought along two of my best new girlfriends, because what guy doesn't want to be surrounded by pretty ladies all day. Up above is a picture of a cliff off the edge of a lighthouse in Illwaco Washington, about a half hour drive from Astoria and up the coast a bit on a peninsula. We couldn't have picked a better spot to plop our bottoms down for a rest. Too bad the stairway to the top of the lighthouse was closed but we got some great photos regardless.

 I edited the color a bit but I love the way this one turned out!

Long time best friend Derek, with a little too much sun in his eyes.

We also took a drive down south about 15 miles from Astoria to Fort Clatsop which is right on the coast of Oregon. First stop was the Jetty which is an amazing spot to post up during our wild, hurricane like storms. Kids don't try this at home ;) But storms have a way of making me feel alive. The same feeling you get when you ride a horse as fast as it can go or when you fall in love. The day we went however was one of our rare, but beautfiul days. The sun was shining and it was about 70 to 75 degrees out, perfect if you ask us coasties but everyone else, Derek included thinks that weather is a little chilly.

After the jetty we headed along through Fort Clatsop to the Battery Russell which is old bunkers. Quite fascinating to wander through and imagine what the soldiers were doing in those places.

 
Our adventure carried us farther to the Peter Ire'dale which is a old rusted ship wreck on the beach! Pretty amazing to get up close when the tide is out, however we weren't that fortunate and Derek wasn't interested getting his toes wet in the freezing temperatures of the North West Pacific coast!

While he was in town I also had a chance to take him to a huge column at the very tip top of our hilltop town in Astoria. The column has a carving of the story of Lewis and Clark and how they came to settle here on this land wrapping around the entire thing and it is one of my absolute favorite views in all the area. You'll see what I mean.....

Over all a good 3 day trip, don't ya think??

WRITING

 Today my Sagittarius horoscope read, "It's better to flatter with your words and keep looking for the muse that is completely, utterly your own." It got me thinking, where is that damned muse, when is she going to rain down and sprinkle some of that magic writing fairy dust on me. It is all I want to do yet when I have all the time in the world I never seem to pick up a pen and actually begin. So instead I'm filling my time with things to do hoping that something will come along that will make me write, someone will come along that will need to be written about.

Then it hit me, what the horoscope was really trying to say.....It was saying to keep on writing about anything and everything and eventually the muse will find you in your writing. So that is what I'm here to do, and hopefully continuously, none of that every couple week nonsense. Now if only I can FORCE myself to pick up a notebook and just go and go until I fall asleep on top of the papers. Today technically started one hour and thirty-one minutes ago so tonight right now should be covered by this horoscope also. Its funny me making my day like my horoscope verses reading my horoscope at the end of the day to see if it made itself like me. Well I'm off to pick up a pen, wish me luck fellow writers and readers. Who knows, maybe someone like you will end up in one of my stories one day.

"Soul Wanderer"

My brain thought is slow.
I wander with no where to go.
I look but there's nothing to see.
I search but I can not find me.
I scream but there's no one around.
I'm stuck in my head without even a sound.
So I'll go where the winding road goes.
Follow the wind where it blows.
Come to terms with the seeds I have sewn.
Remember the ways I have grown.
Keep loving the ones I can not forget.
Tilt my head up.
Stay Strong.
Always look back but never regret.