spring sunshine

It's good luck to start a blog post with a picture of a black cat.

Thursday and Friday we took advantage of the sunshine and tried to stay outside as long as we could.

After running some errands Thursday morning, we went into the city to hang out with our friend Aaron.  We met at his apartment and rode the MUNI to the East Bay.

At first we were laughing and enjoying the ride and our personal space, but we accrued more people as we went through each stop, and ended up loosing sight of Ashley through people's armpits and backpacks.

We got off and walked around for a little, then hopped on another form of public transit full of people.

We wandered around with no set plans, just enjoying the area and the chilly blue sky.

Aaron pointed out that we were close to Coit Tower, which is an observation tower on a hill in the city. We decided to go check it out.  Someone suggested we take these stairs that wound around houses and apartments on the hill to get to the tower.  It was faster than walking on the sidewalks, they assured us.

 There were so many stairs we couldn't even count. Every time we thought we were close, the walkway would turn and we'd see 5 more steep flights of stairs.

We made it, and the view just from the base of the tower was beautiful.

But we knew we had to go to the top.

$7 and a wait in line for a rickety elevator led to a great view..

East Bay, Bay Bridge, Oakland

West side, Lombard Street, Golden Gate Bridge

S'my penny^^

isherman's Wharf, San Francisco Marina Park, Alcatraz

After taking in the view, we walked down more steps, a crazy steep hill, and into Little Italy.

We got dinner and drinks at The Stinking Rose, a place known for it's tastefully excessive use of garlic.

After a great meal we got back on the MUNI for almost an hour and rode toward Aaron's apt.  Ashley and I got off early for a round of drinks at a local bar, then left the city for the night.

Friday we went for a little hike around the Golden Gate.

I don't know what this place is, but it was cool.

We were watching the Easter episode of Unwrapped the other day when they mentioned a great place for Easter petit fours, Divine Delights. They described the process of making and hand decorating these tastey treats, then mentioned at the end that it was based in Northern California.  We googled the company only to find it is based right off of the 101 in Petaluma, which we pass every time we drive to work. 

Needless to say we placed an order and picked up the Easter set for our dinner tomorrow.  We may have also gotten a little foretaste for night shift last night... 

Tomorrow will be yet another holiday spent away from home.  Today I realized that this year I have missed every major holiday; Thanksgiving, Christmas, now Easter.  Luckily I had the New Year with my fam. I will miss most of our Spring birthdays, but have plans to celebrate my sister Erin's in DC in May. Then after this assignment in June I will go home for a big party to honor my grandparent's 60th wedding anniversary.  I'll stay through July 4th for a family vacation, and then after that my future is yet again unknown. 

Although I'll be missing out on another family gathering and feast, I am glad to celebrate Easter.  It's the basis of my faith and my salvation. No matter where I've gone or will go, whether alone, with family or friends, my faith is always there. God is always with me. That's the one thing that does not change based on location, situation, or feelings. That's what keeps me from panicking when I think about the fact that I don't know where I'll be next. That's what keeps me from feeling lonely when I am alone. Easter honors what Christ did to secure my eternal future, and gives me no fear of death. That is a cause for celebration!

Happy Easter!!