Rafts and Harems

Alert Sea Lions
Originally uploaded by blue.shark

I found this pic my brother took and it sparked a train of thoughts in my mind. I think all of us surround ourselves with a group of people and even if we see them all day everyday or once a month, they are our group. In the case of sea lions, they are our raft apparently. I almost choked when I first researched what a group of sea lions is called. Silly me thought they were seals and a group of seals is called a harem...

Im almost sure my little raft would not be pleased to be called my harem. Soooo thanks Bro for taking this awesome picture of sea lions and not seals. My friends appreciate you.

Now on to my thoughts on my raft. Sometimes I find myself counting down to the weekend so I can find some reasons to bug them or for us to do something. Last weekend, after the Razorback game, we sat and watched tv together. It was brilliant. We didnt do anything really special for hours but just spend time together. I adore my raft. I just love them and the people they introduce me to. I am so thankful of my raft,  Cupcake ninjas and all. Honestly I would be ok if they were my harem. Either way, I have a good group around me. I am lucky.

So who comprises your raft? What is it that makes you tether them to you?

Coffee

Santa Cruz Sunset 2
Originally uploaded by blue.shark

I remember the summer after high school I worked on a forest fire that painted the sky and the mountains into colors I had never seen before. Ash rained across the valley I called home. There were so many parts of that summer that significantly affected my life. When I look back on it, I have to laugh. It was a summer full of youth. How I wish I could go back and do it again with what I know about life now. To this day, those adventures are some of my favorite memories ever.

So that summer, we worked that fire that blazed through the mountains in our backyard. We were firefighters. In my mind, we were adults. I started drinking coffee regularly up there. Part of it was the long hours that led to a massive lack of sleep. The other part was that I feel in love with the taste. When it has just enough creme to melt the bitterness and just enough sugar to make you smile its absolutely divine. Now, I do not drink so much coffee. But when I do, its the same every time.

I met a man that summer. This name was Gareth and he was tall. He had a bunch of sisters and he was the youngest. I remember him being silly and making me laugh the entire day. I was instantly smitten and his eyes were the color of my coffee. It amazes me how some people stick to a little spot in your memory long after you ever expect them to. He is still there and though I will probably never see him again, he will remain there in my memory and every time I choose to drink coffee, I remember his eyes.

P.S. The photo above is from my brother. He is an amazing photographer and with his permission, I plan to share some more of his pictures with you while I blog. Maybe they will be related to whatever I am talking about, but knowing me and my epic randomness, dont count on it! :)