the great anniversary getaway!

we're finally back from our adventurous getaway to the san francisco bay.  there were some amazing experiences and also some really tough challenges.  but it's the hard times that teach you just how strong you are, and which make the good times shine even more brightly. so all in all, it was a pretty fantastic trip!

{sweet city fun!}

highlights

* being back home in our favorite city in the world.

* amazing indian, thai, brunch, & ethiopian food at some of our favorite restaurants {mmm!}.

* hiking in the thick fog surrounded by coyotes and herds of elk {it was so magical!}.
* learning whole heaps about ourselves, life, and relationships.

* seeing some of our favorite people from our past.

* attending our friends' beautiful wedding.
* hearing the elk calls.

{hiking to the end of the world... or at least the country.}

{deep in the fog, we couldn't see. but often we would hear an elk call. as the fog broke just slightly, we would see the dark outline of a great beast with large antlers keeping watch. magical indeed!}

{the elk in a clearing outside the fog.}

things i learned

* short trips back home means you won't get to see nearly as many loved ones as you'd like to, 

so make sure you enjoy every second with the few people you do get to see.

* wine can be a suitable backup plan for self-medicating terrible ocd triggered panic attacks. 

* always take your car repair manual, plus extra money in the budget for car repairs. 

* and on a related note, miracles are totally real, particularly ones wherein you have to spend a whole afternoon replacing two car tires, but you don't mind because your life was spared and it could have been much worse.

* red bull + a very long playlist of 80's favorites is the best recipe for driving back to LA at 3 am.
* we'll definitely be moving back to san francisco one day, it's just a matter of time.

* love is a crazy, mysterious, wonderful, and powerful force.

{brunch time!}

as usual, it felt like way too short of a trip, but it was great all the same.  we spent almost 2 days in the city, running errands and seeing friends, followed by several days at a cabin up in the woods of pt. reyes national park.  we enjoyed long evenings by the fire and roamed the edge of the country, above the crashing ocean waves.

we both miss san francisco so much and it's pretty clear we'll end up there again.  but for now we're trying to enjoy what LA has to offer and be content with our mini getaways back home from time to time.