Harvey Adventures Mini: The Dead End

Near where Tobi and I live is "The Dead End". It's an area of overgrown park/woodlands at the end of Third Avenue and continues down and east to the North Creek Park Boardwalk. It's a beautiful area, and is a nice little scenic route between our two houses.

Our area of the world is full of marshes, which can have everything from Beavers to Snakes to Blue herons. Our Boardwalk has been around since we were about eight and is a wonderful area for getting in touch with nature. Of course, it's not exactly for the faint of heart. Slightly dilapidated, there are patches where, in the rainy months (or, essentially, all year), the water will periodically and startlingly cascade over the edge of the boardwalk, sending walkers fleeing to the raised edges, and the occasional snake will poke his head through the slates like a tiny green periscope.

Tobi and Harvey venture into the woods.

Don't go into the light!



The woods themselves are a wonderful, storybook-like tangle off uneven, overgrown paths and greenery. It all completes back at 3rd Ave., where a broken, old, disused street, slowly being overgrown with blackberry bushes and ferns, connects back to the main road. It's one of the best walks in the world and I hope it never gets developed. 



Tobi walks into a lit fairy-ring.





Harvey at the Movies: Cowboys V.S. Aliens

When I was a kid, my family wasn't the most affluent, nor was it very good at dealing with outings, as us kids outweighed the parents two-to-three, and we knew it. Moreover, my father, never a big fan of movies often left that ratio down to a perilous three-to-one at the theater. So it makes sense that throughout my entire childhood my family only went to the movies once a year. Even when my mom's weird taste in films forced us to waste that one movie on bizarre epics about old men going cross-country on riding lawn-mowers, or what-ever-the-hell "Mars Attack" was about; going to the movies was always an adventure, no matter what we were seeing. So we thought it appropriate that Harvey get to experience one of our most exciting childhood adventures; the movies.

Ok, ok, so the movies may not really sound all that exciting. But we're talking Cowboys and Aliens, the twin dreams of a pair of nerd-geek buddies like Tobi and I.

Now, as explained in the opening post, Tobi and I are pretty nerdly, and moreover, we love costuming, so what better way to truly experience an event like "Cowboys and Aliens" then with a set of nifty costumes. From the moment we saw the first preview, and set about giggling over the prospect of a "Cowboys and Aliens" film, featuring a cantankerous Harrison Ford as even more cantankerous Colonel Dolarhyde. So, costumes were quickly put into the works. Firstly though, it seemed like it was time we got Harvey a real carrying pack.

Harvey wasn't sure if he liked carrying pack but we assured him he was manly enough to work polka-dot lederhosen. (more about this on my sewing blog)

 Then it was our turn to get costumed!

Tobi was an alien and I was a cowboy. As a last minute addendum we reverted back to elementary school and made ourselves a pair of Gauntlet Weapons out of tin cans and random knick-knacks from around my sewing shop. Granted, they looked nothing like the Gauntlet Weapons in the movie, but they were still totally awesome.

Chase and Kylara joined in for all the excitement.

They had to scramble for costumes, forgive them for not being as epic as us, they're still young.

Even Harvey got all dressed up in a little Sheriff vest over his spiffy new polka-dot lederhosen.

Then at 11:30 it was off to Regal Cinemas Alderwood Movie Theater! Excitement! Adventure! Midnight showings!

Now, perhaps the best moment of the night. Chase, Kylara and I hopped out of the car while Tobi went to go park. Behind us were a group of several teenage guys (the usually annoying breed), and they got in line behind us. I payed for tickets to a pretty unimpressed ticket-taker, and then stood off to the side to await the appearance of my Alien friend. One of the guys stopped in line and stared at me for a moment. I awaited the usually boring, crude or crass comment that usually pops out of teen boy's mouths.

"Wow." he nodded. "Those are the best costumes for "Bridesmaids" ever."
I awarded him 54 win points.

Then we got into the theater and managed to be one of the first people in, snagging up the good seats, right in front of the aisle, where you can put your feet up on the railing. I also secured a large bag of popcorn for my consuming purposes. Tobi and I also engaged in "Pew-pewing" all the passersby. Alas, only one, rather cute guy, played dead.

Pew Pew!

 The Movie was great. Pure nerdy entertainment. Was it the most brilliant and movie film of the summer? No. But it was just a lot of fun, and not just because we were on an epic Harvey Adventure. You really can't do wrong with Harrison Ford in a Fedora fighting off aliens



Wait a gosh-darn minute here...something seems wrong about that sentence....

Not only was the movie just purely fun, but it also featured some pretty good eye candy. Between grumpy old Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig in slightly tight pants there's not much you can do to screw up.

Harvey gets himself some big guns.

Throw down in the movie theater!

Leaving the theater. I think the Theater should've contracted us for advertisement purposes.

Harvey Adventures at last!: Seaside

After a four hour car ride, Harvey was ready and eager to start his first officially documented adventure iiiiiiiiiin:

That's right folks! The ever-exciting and eternally touristy Seaside Oregon! This was not only a first for Harvey, but for Wicket as well. Wicket is the odd little collection of fluff and fuzz on the left end of the sign,  a two-year-old Yorkie/Shih Tzu puppy, and Harvey's travel sidekick for at least this expedition. Seaside Oregon is a relaxing, inexpensive, family fun, beach side vacation spot.



Seaside, famous for being the end of Lewis and Clark's transcontinental journey, is mainly a great tourist area with a main street bustling with arcades, kite flyers, and lots and lots of salt-water taffy. Most importantly thought, it's got an awesome beach.  

 In just a matter of minutes Harvey and I, (and Wicket) were off to the beach!

Harvey took in the warm and tasty breezes, while Wicket scurried about, confused by the sand and sea. In time Wicket grew accustomed to the beach enough to take care of 'his business' there, getting into the water, however, was another matter. Wicket could not get far enough from the ocean, but Harvey got a good snicker or two out of watching Wicket flee in immediate and absolute terror from every teensy weensy lil'wave.



Harvey and I take in the sick view from way up on the swings, while you, the reader and viewer get to enjoy these footsie shots of Harvey and I, all the while almost missing the awesome ocean view, thanks to the fabulously short photographer Cassi (my older but smaller sister).



Harvey and I enjoying a delightful round of bumper cars. (Harvey personally selected the stylish lighting-banana yellow car).

I regret to inform fans of H.A. that, charming as Harvey may appear, he throws all rules of gentlemanly conduct aside when it comes to

Bumper Cars. As you can see I was....more than a leeeeettle hesitant letting a Rabbit drive, but after Harvey made my grandmother spin-out more than a few times I feel it's safe to say my hesitation was well founded.

Mostly Hats! :Hat Shop is one of my all-time-favorite places. Ever since my first time picking out my own souvenir in Seaside, when I stumbled into "Mostly Hats: Hat Shop" I knew from that day on that I would always get my souvenirs there! Since "Mostly Hats" is a Seaside landmark in my book,  Harvey had to come, and while he was certainly disappointed in the lack of fine top hats, Harvey found he had a little viking in him that he fully embraced.

(Since that fateful day Harvey has not gone a day without subtlety dropping the hint that he wouldn't mind a viking helmet someday)

 The whole lot of us,my Grandma, Cassi, my Mom, Harvey, and Myself decided to go for a lovely sight seeing mini-adventure! We went to Wheel Fun Rentals, where we rented a small small electric golf cart, (as my Grandma called it). We weaved in and out of little suburban back roads to see the fun variety of houses, a result of my mother watching too much HGtv. Harvey found his way to the front again, after bumper cars with Harvey my grandma seemed surprisingly calm. I, however, was not, but fortunately my mother made Harvey sat in the back with my sister and me.

 Since we were touring through the increasingly rough backstreets of Seaside Oregon Harvey and I knew we needed to represent so we tossed up a waffle-sign, establishing ourselves as 'street' enough.

This is the gate to one of the most amazing yards I've ever seen. When we stopped our small electric golf cart to get a better look Harvey seemed almost at home there, but claims never to have been there before. On another note I spotted a wrench, two watering cans, a wheel, a bell two candles, a bird, a basket, head of a shovel, a little shovel, several handles, a big scarf wearing rabbit, annnd some other stuff.

Here we are at the Lewis and Clark turn around in Seaside Oregon. It is a tradition in my family when leaving to go around the turn around on our way out. We never usually take pictures by/with Lewis and Clark because we've been so many times, but since it was Harvey's first trip we had to. Harvey fit in so naturally and stoically with the old boys he inspired the rest of us, (even Wicket).



Harvey looking over Cassi walking Wicket one last time before we all loaded up in the car for the four hour drive back. 

Welcome to the Adventure!

2011 is the year of the Rabbit. People born under this sign are said to be talented, virtuous, lucky and have a good head for business; and despite the motto "I relax", they also are some of the most ambitious people around. So it seemed appropriate that our little pet project be born under such a symbol. Hopefully it will continue for a long, adventurous, lucky lifetime.

About The Authors

Hannah Easterson and Tobi Boggio met in 1996, at Oak Heights Elementary School in Mrs. Bailey's  Kindergarten class, and, despite a rocky start, have been close friends ever since. Despite not attending the same classroom, or even school, since fifth grade, they have spent most of their time dreaming up schemes, hobbies and plans, one of which is the blog that you currently are enjoying (we hope).

Hannah Easterson is an IB graduate, viking, science fair dork, and all around nerd. She is currently studying for a degree in Theatrical design and Film at the University of Washington. She is also currently working towards starting a small Internet film company and also writes, sews, costumes and acts. She also finds it extremely weird to write about herself in third person and does not particularly enjoy it. Her favorite hobbies are the nerdiest; going to Sci-fi conventions, collecting memorabilia and debating the finer points of Star Trek are among her favorites.

Tobi Boggio is a actor, passionate Italian hand-talker, artist and all around geek. She is currently studying to be an elementary school teacher, which has been her lifelong ambition for as long as Hannah can remember. Tobi also enjoys the geekier side of life and frequently attends Anime and Sci-fi conventions, sews costumes, draws webcomics and imagines life as a Gorn from Star Trek.

About Harvey

Harvey started his life, (well, as far as we know it), in a bin at Value Village. He was picked up as a sacrifice to the needs of a cosplay, as pelts and faux fur are so much cheaper in the form of stuffed animal remains (as horrible as that sounds). However after some cuddling by Tobi's mom, and intervention on the part of Tobi, Harvey's life was spared and his adventures began.

Harvey's adventures actually started five years ago at Shoreline Relay for Life where he stood in as a mascot for Gabbert Architect's five man "Rabbits on Roofs" team. An instant hit, he return for another two years where he acquired a bit of history, including the signature of World Record Holder Laura D'Asaro after he watched her break the record for the World's Fastest Mile Crawled; raising over 13,000 dollars in the process. She signed his left ear.

Harvey is a chill , laid back kind of guy. All around nice, adventurous, ambitious and certainly lucky.

About the Adventure

The Adventure was first conceived when Hannah and Tobi climbed Big 4 Mountain in Washington State, once again reasserting that they want to do this sort of thing more often. Not only is Hiking great exercise, but it's also amazingly fun, and a great way to hang out in lives where time can often be consumed by other projects. When Tobi mentioned Harvey over a picnic, the idea was born.

Anytime Hannah, Tobi, or anyone travels, Harvey will get to travel with them. The Goal? Take Harvey around the world (or at the very least, around). Let's see how many places we can get this rabbit to go.

If you ever feel like contributing, feel free to do so. Hannah and Tobi would like to see this little project do some good, primarily for the organization from which Harvey was born. Whatever proceeds might come from this blog (however tiny), we'd like to send them towards the American Cancer Society which strives to prevent cancer, save lives, and diminish suffering; and is a worthy cause that all of us behind the blog support.

Lets go Adventure!

Relay for Life 2008. 24 hours of walking later.