To Be Surprised: "I'm headed out west with my headphones on"

Hoooo whirlwind weekend! Kicked it all off with Ed's birthday on Friday, the big 3-0. Cannot believe it... (Often I think about how in a few short months I will be 27, the same age my mom was when she had me - startling, to be sure) I jumped out of bed to get to work on my birthday morning surprise:

Breakfast pizza!!!! I knew when I found it here and here, that I just had to save the recipe for Ed's big day. He's pretty much in love with any kind of pizza so this was a winner. (Side note: Remember what I posted before about my horrific plating/making food look appetizing skills? Compare my photo to the photos of the other lovely pictures and it becomes all too clear exactly what I was talking about) Ed said he was ready to go back to bed after eating it :) Ed had to work most of the day, but around 3pm we took off for Yosemite.

It wasn't a short drive, but it sure was easy. We narrowly avoided rush hour, insert applicable Californians reference from SNL about driving in these parts, and made pretty good time.

Dad and Debbie knew this amazing hotel right on the river so we stayed there the first night. Grilled burgers and had celebratory cheesecake and champagne for Ed. Eating outside by the river was refreshing, even though four raccoons tried to come join the party, eventually herding us inside. Of course, as soon as we left they rolled around on the ground trying to be cute to get us to feed them. Little did they know we were all immune to this behavior because as we've learned from cats, they're reeeeal cute until they're jumping from the highest shelf right onto your face at 3am.

Saturday was our main event day, waking up early and heading straight into the park. Our first stop was the Tunnel View which was just stunning. It looks nothing like it does later in the day when the sun is full on and it's bright and too much in my opinion. In the morning, the sun comes through in shafts and falls on the cliffsides selectively, while the valley floor is still hazy and shadowed. The first thing I said was that it looked exactly like a Bob Ross painting. Ok maybe some of grander artist... damn, this is where that Art History class from UMCP would come in handy if I wasn't actively blocking out my UMCP memories at all times... shucks.

Next we headed over to Bridal Veil Falls... not much for falls, but just the size of everything is so unreal. Who needs waterfalls when you have massive towers of rock surrounding you completely. You feel like an ant! And for those of us with a touch of fear of heights, you feel pretty dizzy most of the time too.

Post falls, we made our way over to our big hike for the day, the trail up to Vernal Falls/Nevada Falls. Saw a really cool rock that had just cleaved right off... Side story, when I was a kid I used to have a recurring dream about a kindergarten class that was out at recess and there was a rock that looked like this one below - enormous - and that at one point a kid would hit it with a paper airplane. It would then come to life and slowly roll forward and crush all the children. I had that dream so many times... not sure I wanna know what it means!

The hike up was steep, but beautiful and shaded so even though you're working for it, it just feels so good to be out in the thick of it. We discussed bear safety - outrun at least one person in your group. Women's rights. Different kinds of hiking types - the slower 'pack mule' and the quick paced 'gazelle.'

Then the hike sort of... changed. What was once a path through the woods turned a lot steeper, rockier and steppier...

We could see Vernal Falls ahead! But we could also see our doom one foot directly to our left. Dad started freezing up pretty quick, announcing to everyone repeatedly that this was VERY UNLIKABLE for him. My dad is not a fan of heights. :)

I myself started to freeze up at this picture above. I may not have a fear quite like my dads, but when I start thinking about it, I do not trust myself to be graceful and avoid accidentally tripping over the edge. Didn't help that we saw one dude taking a picture with his girlfriend and he literally stumbled in the direction of the edge saved by his girlfriend grabbing his shirt. So needless to say when we saw what the stairs looked like ahead, Dad and I said, yeah I think we're good here. Can you see where they lead? It's really difficult to see, but there are steps that continue past where the railing ends against the cliffside leading all the way up to:

Vernal Falls! The path would've taken us up the right hand side and up the the top of the falls. There's a railing up there on the right but it's too hard to make out.

Very slowly and with great care, we made it back down those steps. Many a person older than me offered me a hand as I slide down the steps on my butt and all fours. :) The rest of the hike back down was actually incredibly painful, whatever injury I had with my knee from moving back in August was re-aggravated by the steps and the steep descent. (I'm still laid up with an ace bandage, ice and Advil). Verdict: Still so worth it.

We walked around to see Ahwahnee Hotel, which was stunning. Then for our picnic lunch we went out into this picturesque field. Surrounded by all the mountains and with the wind blowing through all the golden grass... I said I felt like I was Maximus in Gladiator!

This one above is hands down my favorite picture of the field. It's like a painting!

On Dad and Debbie's way out we stopped by this lookout, which I thought was perfect. It included all the things I love best about nature, the water, the green, the blue sky, the mountains and the fields... just all rolled up into one little place of perfection.

After Dad and Debbie headed out, we took their advice and drove up to Glacier Point. It was so worth it. Some of the scariest roads we've EVER been on. Sheer drop offs and teeny tiny roads that Dad agreed, are only appealing to drive on when you're in a SmartCar or a Mini.