get in the zone.

A story:

A few days back my car read as "my parents car" in case they actually read this  died. The soul of the car sputtered in resignation and forfeited on the journey through life. It left me without vehicle for a space of time, but fortunately kind people take pity on those that are truly pitiful. Finally, after reaching a point of frustration due to my lack of mobility and post-pep talk from my dad, I obtained the necessary aid to remove the battery from my car. After assuring me that we didn't have to put the heart of my car into a cooler and jump on a helicopter in order to make it to the nearby hospital where Dr. McDreamy was waiting to transplant the organ into a needy patient whoa. what tanget did i just go on? we lugged that battery to the nearest Autozone. And then we lugged it to the second nearest Autozone because the first was useless to us.

I flexed my impressive muscles as I lifted the part onto the counter for the man to inspect oh wait. the guy i was with actually carried that unbelievably heavy cube for me. also, i do mean that he was to inspect my muscles, yes. and told the man, with a level of authority and pride previously unbeknownst to my being, why I was there and what I needed. The conversation went as follows:

"I bring you the heart of my car, which is in need of repair. My vehicle is of the Nissan make and the Versa model with a manual transmission. I trust you to find the absolutely best. Go forth and do not disappoint me." 

"oh. hey there. this is my battery and it stopped working so what do i do now? also do you have sink i could wash my hands in? and perhaps some lavender smelling lotion because i have some dirt on my pinky finger."

"Ah, as I examine the fine specimen before me I can see that the vehicle, and the vehicle's owner, are of the highest caliber. We are honored by their presence and will do everything within our power to supply such a noble pair with our most valiant battery replacements. In fact, we shall give it to you for free, in payment for your wonder. You do a service to the world for simply breathing and driving."

"HA! Look at that cute little battery. We for sure don't have anything that size. I'll probably mount that thing on a wall somehwere. Hahahaha what a joke. Oh, and that will be $130."

Moral of the story? Sneaky lives.

Second moral of all this? I always have more pictures.

Biking The Carriage Roads

Acadia National Park

The Beehive Hike

This was the first vacation since I was 18 that my sandals didn't join me.

RIP Merrels.

 

peace and cookie dough

i want a lifetime supply

rrw

maine monday

Remember that one time my family went to Glacier National Park and I posted photos from it for the next year? No? Ok, well here's one to remind you of that phase of my life. you're welcome.

Oh Glacier, your hold is still so strong.

Also, bangs. sheesh.

Anyway, I give the example of Glacier because I feel like a similar occurrence is about to...occur. I went on vacation and, true to character, took more photos than I know what to do with. But because I'm also a crazy I've formed an emotional attachment to each one of them and can't imagine not posting them all. don't worry. i won't post them all. probably. I think I have a problem with believing that inanimate objects have personalities and feelings and brains. This tendency is usually only present in young children, but here I am, at 22 years, almost crying at the thought of parting with the vehicle known as Sneaky Jason Bourne. ok. he does have a personality and is my best friend and oh my gosh i need help because my best friend has tires instead of legs.

Each day in Maine was full of beautiful things i mean, we were there so....hehheh. meh.  Here's our Monday in Portland and Acadia National Park.

Portland Head Light

Cape Elizabeth

Portland's Downtown District

 Sand Beach

Acadia National Park

 Jordan's Pond

Acadia National Park

Cadillac Mountain, Acadia National Park

More to come because biking, selfies, pop overs, hiking, and sea kayaking. But for now there's a basket full of laundry that feels bad because I haven't given it any attention in days.

peace and anthropomorphizing 

rrw

weiler filled weekend.

If you have stopped by with expectations of eloquence and wit, then please, for my sake and yours, remove your eyes from the words that will soon follow, for I have nothing of that sort to say. No, today I am simply going to make broad generalizations about people I don't know at all and perhaps offend a few, but only if I'm lucky. You see, I just returned from a glorious weekend spent in southern Utah with my family, and while in transit I made a few observations. One, that the area of Floy, Utah is literally empty. I do not know why that exit exists and yes I just googled it to find out more and the first link that popped up was "No Town Utah: Floy."

Appropriate, for there is no town there.

Two, the seat in my car is lopsided and it is entirely my fault. Because I drive a manual, I find myself leaning to the right as I rest my hand on the gear shift. Years of this habit has caused the seat to anticipate my preferred reclining angle. It is bothersome and I must fix it and aren't you glad you know this now?

And third, drivers. You notice a lot of drivers when you're driving. And a few kinds stood out to me. So now I have to comment on them.


Tailgaters
Perhaps the closest thing to my arch nemesis, the tailgater has a way of getting to my nerves more efficiently than any known person, place, or thing on this planet. When the speed limit drops from 80 to 40 and I am the only thing keeping you from getting pulled over by that cop who was just waiting for someone like you to come speeding through here, you better have the decency to back off a little. The closer you get, the closer I get...to slamming on my breaks and giving you the opportunity to buy me a new car. Fortunately for you I don't want to have a broken body, so I resist.

Campers
They are endless and eternal in their parade of mobile homes and not once do you ever see the same brand twice. I swear, how are camper companies even making money? They sell one vehicle each. One. And yet there are incalculable amounts of them on the road to Moab. And yet not as many as there are on the road to Yellowstone. I don't really have much against these guys unless I'm stuck behind one. Heck, the Weilers did a cross country road trip in a Cruise America, which we look back on fondly and with laughter. But let it be known that I will not own one of these unless it is brown, has antlers on the front, and is called "The Moving Moose."

Pass Lane Incompetents 
Oh the glories of that additional lane, when one can be free of the barriers damming their swift travel. Each and every one is a 5 mile stretch of miracle. And then...you get the one. That one person who just doesn't understand how crucial this time is and who just won't. go. faster. Finally they see that the passing lane is about to end and they make their move, but you are stuck behind the 15 passenger van, wondering how the driver even sees through the back because it's completely covered in stickers of stick people playing baseball and dancing. And you wonder that until the next passing lane.

Granolas
Perhaps my favorite people to see on the road, the granolas cruise along in their subarus or VW vans with their beards, dreadlocks, and bandannas flying in the wind of their opened windows. But even better, their cars are completely packed. Old coolers, dented kayaks, worn camping gear, dirt covered bikes and carefully placed climbing ropes ornament their rather rusty car from the inside out. You look at them and know that they are either on the way to their happiest place, or that they just accomplished a lot of good over the weekend. And you feel slightly jealous of their lifestyle.


Contrary to everything previous written, I did more than just drive and judge people this weekend. Surprising, I know. The entire family united for hiking, joking, watching Cast Away, eating stir fry and pizza, biking, and conference viewing. Arches and Canyonlands are National Parks that must be visited, and visit we did.

I succeeded at waking the baby up in the middle of the night, but failed at bringing a camera that had a charged battery. So that's typical. But hey, phones.

Fourth couple of the family.

Mesa Arch.

 Island in the Sky.

Love the views.

And the heights.

Cooper's head is a rainbow.

These are my favorite people and I'm glad I get to spend so much time with them, even if they tell me I have man shoulders. I miss them. So I guess I'll just go see them again next weekend. 

Ok, sounds good.

peace and pickles.

there's just something about a pickle....

#insidejoke #borntobeweiler #hashtag

rrw

budapest, hungary

Dear Budapest,

Hi. Remember me? I was a member of that giant tour group of Ukrainians that recently visited your beautiful buildings and bridges and baths. No, I didn't actually go to the baths due to my lack of swimming suit, but you still did not disappoint. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's start at the beginning.

Our relationship started off a little rough, didn't it? I have to say that the guards on the boarder between Ukraine and Hungary weren't the most pleasant people I've met. But then again, it was 3 in the morning, I had been on a cramped and sweltering hot bus for the last 17 hours, and then forced to stand in the freezing cold for another half hour. At that point I probably would have looked at the Easter Bunny and seen an unpleasant rodent carrying diseases and hatred to the world. So I bet the guards were actually quite nice.

After the adventure in "U-Hungary" (which we dubbed the border as) I found myself wandering with friends around your old and magnificent buildings, parks, monuments, and streets, taking pictures of everything and trying to figure out which of the five currencies in my wallet would help me buy a ring from the huger-than-huge flea market.

Maybe you could teach America a few tips on how to throw a real yard sale? Because we're obviously not doing it right.

"This is the best! I'm in Budapest!"

 #whatsinyourwallet

#mastercardgotnothin

 i mean...it WAS selfie-sunday

There must have been something magical in your air, because for spending a day, evening, and night on a bus, we didn't look as terrible as I expected. But I might have had my expectations lower than low when it came to my appearance...

But when I ended the morning sitting on the lap of a creepy looking statue in order to make a wish, I felt that you had done right by me...

...and then you up and outdid yourself with that dang Fisherman's Castle! The view of The Parliament Building, the bridges, and the river was outstanding. The castle itself was beautiful as well. So now I'm trying to figure out what that fisherman must have caught in order to have such a place constructed. I mean, like, I'll take up fishing if that's what it takes.

I mean I even did a back bend pose in your honor.

That never happens.

Really.

So hey Budapest. Let's be friends. I'll come see you again and I'll bring my suit. Then it'll be a real party.

peace and castles

rrw