I know you have been waiting on the edge of your seat to find out if the squirrel was waiting for me when I got home…she was not. Not yet anyway. I’m sure she is plotting away in some nearby tree, watching and keeping track of my schedule. Yikes.
- We had movie night last week and watched one of my favs…Adventures in Babysitting. I couldn’t believe how many of the people at movie night hadn’t ever seen it…I mean, it’s a classic…that was one that I watched over and over again as a kid. It has been my only Thor reference until the movie came out this year. We served babysitting classics…mac and cheese and chocolate milk.
- This past weekend was the Seattle Public Library book sale…which I always put on my calendar as soon as the dates are announced…I get so excited for it. The sale is held at Magnussen Park in one of the giant warehouses…and contains boxes and boxes and tables and tables, and rooms and rooms of books. Thousands…maybe a million (I have no idea…they seem to go on forever)…and hardbacks are all $2, regular books $1. One dollar for books! Most of my literary collection (other than the Bobbsey Twins, Trixie Belden, Nancy Drew series that my mom saved for me) has come from the library book sale. I was a little pickier this year, and only spent about $40. I did almost complete my collection of A Series of Unfortunate Events. I think I still need one or two more.
- My mom and I bought a 90-minute bartending class on Groupon together and used it this weekend. the class was held at Wine World, just off the 45th St exit. I’ve driven past Wine World many times and don’t know how I haven’t stopped in…it’s huge…an entire WORLD of wine. And to be fair, wine accessories. Anyway…the class was taught by a guy with a heavy French accent that gave most of his attention to my mom. Granted, she was quite the participator…answering his questions and coming up with her own…it was pretty funny to watch. Also funny to watch (I’m sure) was me knocking my glass and shaker over multiple times, making a huge mess all over our work space. Luckily it was just water that we practiced with. We made one real drink…which I think came out pretty well…the key is good produce. Looking forward to doing some more experimenting over the holidays.
- I’ve seen a few movies lately…saw the PJ20 movie at the Cinerama last week. It’s a Pearl Jam documentary, written and directed by Cameron Crowe. It was great…I would definitely recommend seeing it. I think the greatest part was the audience though…we did go to the 10:30pm showing the night it was released, so the theater was full of people that LIVE for Pearl Jam. There was a lot of clapping, yelling, etc…very fun. I have seen Pearl Jam live twice, I think, and definitely didn’t know a whole lot about them, so the movie was pretty interesting. Also saw a documentary about a Formula One racecar driver- Senna. Considering I have next to no interest in race car driving, and all of the footage was from the 80’s and 90’s, I was surprised that I stayed interested throughout the whole thing. It was playing at The Crest…for $3…so you really can’t beat that. Also saw Moneyball…the new Brad Pitt movie. Brian was pretty pumped for it-it is one of his favorite books…we had a nice little double date with his parents. It’s a true story about the Oakland A’s using baseball statistics to manage the team…good stuff.
Last M's game of the season (for us) tonight...
I think that’s all for now…have a great week!
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Squirrel Attack!
I was very nearly attacked by a squirrel this morning, and I don’t feel safe returning home tonight. More on that later….
- I went to the downtown Sumner Wine Walk on Saturday with my mom and one of her wine bar friends. It is $20…you get a little souvenir wine glass and six tasting tickets (we bought extras, because there were about 12 tastings). A bunch of the cute little shops along Main St have tastings, ‘appetizers’, along with City of Sumner trivia questions (rhubarb pie capital of the world…who knew). I know there are lots of sweet little ‘main streets’ around, but if you do happen to be in Sumner for some reason, it really is a cute area with lots of darling little shops (if you are in the market for holiday decorations…woo-eee…shop to your hearts content).
- Monday night I planned to drop Brian off at his kickball game and then go for a much needed run (I am SO out of running shape…ish)…but the team was short on people at the start of the game, so I was recruited to fill in until other members showed up. I like playing kickball, but this team makes me a little nervous- for two reasons. First, they are good. They win games by high scores. They throw the ball really hard at the basemen (basepeople). Second, the last time I filled in for them, I had about the worst game ever and I am pretty sure they never wanted me to play again. Anyway…all was fine…I played a few innings- no big mistakes, but boy was I sore the next two days from sprinting to first base. Yikes, yet another reason I need to get back to running.
- Went to the Mariners game on Tuesday against the Yankees. It was a nice night for a game, not because it was warm and sunny, but because it was cooler, and the sky was dark, and it just felt crisp and Fall-y….but still without rain. Also cool thing about the game- Mariano Rivera got his 600th career save (aka, the M’s lost), putting him one save away from the record set by Trevor Hoffman. It was disappointing that there wasn’t any acknowledgment of the accomplishment at the game, but his teammates all went out to the mound and congratulated him, which was cool.
- Last night was Potluck…which really is something I look forward to every other week (not that I only look forward to it biweekly- it only happens biweekly). A few things I look forward to- I like having an excuse to make something…it usually ends up being a dessert, and it is fun to search for something new to try, that will actually get eaten and not leave me to eat an entire pie by myself.
There is usually some kind of game involved (last night we played A-Z which was SO fun, and I have already done a search for it to buy it myself). And, I really, truly enjoy the people involved. Anyway…the point of this point, was to display our Potluck contribution from last night. The theme was cheeseburgers. We brought dessert. How cute are these?! Nilla wafers, grasshopper cookies, green food coloring on coconut, frosting, etc…
And finally…back to the squirrel.
As I was walking down the pathway from my house to the street, I noticed a squirrel a little ways ahead in the middle of the path. I slowed down a bit, to give it time to scamper away. It didn’t scamper. Then a little baby squirrel came hopping over to where I was standing. I backed up a little, and it moved forward…right onto my feet. I backed up, it hopped back on…apparently really wanting to sit on my feet. Sooo, I ran. To the backyard, and the baby ran behind the fence. I peeked around the corner of the house, waiting for the big squirrel (clearly mom), still standing in the middle of the path- in an attack pounce position at this point (she may have snarled with fierce teeth displayed)- to go away (all the while I am getting later and later for work). Finally, after a few moments, she ran in the same direction as her baby, behind the fence. I decided to make a run for it…as I passed the end of the fence, I looked back…and there was the mom squirrel- WAITING FOR ME AT THE EDGE OF THE FENCE. I was paralyzed with fear for a brief moment, and then continued the sprint to the safety of the street…it was terrifying. I’m a little bit nervous about what traps that mom squirrel might be plotting for my return home after work. I am pretty sure the baby squirrel had me mistaken for a Disney Princess, and was hoping I would sing it a song if it sat on my feet.
That's all.
- I went to the downtown Sumner Wine Walk on Saturday with my mom and one of her wine bar friends. It is $20…you get a little souvenir wine glass and six tasting tickets (we bought extras, because there were about 12 tastings). A bunch of the cute little shops along Main St have tastings, ‘appetizers’, along with City of Sumner trivia questions (rhubarb pie capital of the world…who knew). I know there are lots of sweet little ‘main streets’ around, but if you do happen to be in Sumner for some reason, it really is a cute area with lots of darling little shops (if you are in the market for holiday decorations…woo-eee…shop to your hearts content).
- Monday night I planned to drop Brian off at his kickball game and then go for a much needed run (I am SO out of running shape…ish)…but the team was short on people at the start of the game, so I was recruited to fill in until other members showed up. I like playing kickball, but this team makes me a little nervous- for two reasons. First, they are good. They win games by high scores. They throw the ball really hard at the basemen (basepeople). Second, the last time I filled in for them, I had about the worst game ever and I am pretty sure they never wanted me to play again. Anyway…all was fine…I played a few innings- no big mistakes, but boy was I sore the next two days from sprinting to first base. Yikes, yet another reason I need to get back to running.
- Went to the Mariners game on Tuesday against the Yankees. It was a nice night for a game, not because it was warm and sunny, but because it was cooler, and the sky was dark, and it just felt crisp and Fall-y….but still without rain. Also cool thing about the game- Mariano Rivera got his 600th career save (aka, the M’s lost), putting him one save away from the record set by Trevor Hoffman. It was disappointing that there wasn’t any acknowledgment of the accomplishment at the game, but his teammates all went out to the mound and congratulated him, which was cool.
- Last night was Potluck…which really is something I look forward to every other week (not that I only look forward to it biweekly- it only happens biweekly). A few things I look forward to- I like having an excuse to make something…it usually ends up being a dessert, and it is fun to search for something new to try, that will actually get eaten and not leave me to eat an entire pie by myself.
There is usually some kind of game involved (last night we played A-Z which was SO fun, and I have already done a search for it to buy it myself). And, I really, truly enjoy the people involved. Anyway…the point of this point, was to display our Potluck contribution from last night. The theme was cheeseburgers. We brought dessert. How cute are these?! Nilla wafers, grasshopper cookies, green food coloring on coconut, frosting, etc…
And finally…back to the squirrel.
As I was walking down the pathway from my house to the street, I noticed a squirrel a little ways ahead in the middle of the path. I slowed down a bit, to give it time to scamper away. It didn’t scamper. Then a little baby squirrel came hopping over to where I was standing. I backed up a little, and it moved forward…right onto my feet. I backed up, it hopped back on…apparently really wanting to sit on my feet. Sooo, I ran. To the backyard, and the baby ran behind the fence. I peeked around the corner of the house, waiting for the big squirrel (clearly mom), still standing in the middle of the path- in an attack pounce position at this point (she may have snarled with fierce teeth displayed)- to go away (all the while I am getting later and later for work). Finally, after a few moments, she ran in the same direction as her baby, behind the fence. I decided to make a run for it…as I passed the end of the fence, I looked back…and there was the mom squirrel- WAITING FOR ME AT THE EDGE OF THE FENCE. I was paralyzed with fear for a brief moment, and then continued the sprint to the safety of the street…it was terrifying. I’m a little bit nervous about what traps that mom squirrel might be plotting for my return home after work. I am pretty sure the baby squirrel had me mistaken for a Disney Princess, and was hoping I would sing it a song if it sat on my feet.
That's all.
Friday, September 9, 2011
It looks like summer is planning to stick around a bit longer. It definitely took some time to get here, but I think we have actually had a pretty decent summer…which I hope means we will have a decent winter. I’d really like to get some snow this year. But that’s getting a little ahead of things…
Had such a fun time at rodeo this year. It had been several years since I attended, and as always, it reminded me of what amazing friends my mom has. This group of people (who we have been hanging out with since I was 5 or 6), despite all the random life happenings and changes, still manage to make each other a priority and keep traditions going. I know everyone wishes they saw each other more often, but every time we are able to get together, it’s as if no time has passed and friendships are still strong. Those are special kinds of friendships. One of my favorite Dinner Club memories…I was 12, I think…we were going into our first Christmas after my mom’s divorce…and the group surprised us with fun little gifts on our front porch for the 12 Days of Christmas. Each morning when we woke up there was a new little package outside…I don’t remember what the presents were (I do remember the 8th day…the ‘maids a-milking’ day, there were eight different flavors of school lunch sized milks…yum!), but I do remember being overwhelmed with the thoughtfulness of the group. I always hoped and prayed that when I grew up I would have friends like them. The cool thing is that as I’ve grown up (though I still insist on staying in the kids gift exchange!), they have become my friends too.
In other news…
- I have started volunteering! It shouldn’t be as big of a deal as it is…I should have already been volunteering. But I wasn’t, and now I am, and I am so excited about it. I am volunteering with 826 Seattle, which is a non-profit writing center for students 6-18, that helps develop their creative writing skills. It is also a tutoring center- all subjects, not just writing. They do tutoring, in-school projects, field trips, weekend workshops, etc. And just really FUN activities to get kids excited about writing. Starting in October, I will be volunteering with a field trip…I’ll be doing the Geoduck field trip, which is for grades 1-3…they are tasked, by a ‘grouchy publisher’, to write an original, interesting story as a group…or there will be trouble! The group develops characters and the story line together, and then each kid is able to independently write their own ending. Each kid gets to take home a bound and ‘published’ copy of their very own story. So cool. Also so cool, is the storefront of 826…it is a Space Travel Supply Company with lots of fun merchandise. Check it out: http://www.826seattle.org/
- I finally started using Spotify…a little bit. Have heard lots of great things, decided I needed some tunes at work while I was alphabetizing…but then once I had it up, I had the hardest time thinking of anything I wanted to listen to! I also haven’t had any time to play around with it and create playlists or anything, since I have only used it at work, and am, of course, working hard! So this is still a discovery in process.
-Saw the movie Crazy Stupid Love this week. I almost completely really liked it. Cast is Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore, and Emma Stone. The movie felt very genuine. There were some pretty sad parts, that were lightened up a bit with comedy…but not in a silly or stupid way, or a way that took away from the seriousness of the material…which I think is pretty realistic. There was one story line in the movie that I didn’t like at all…it was completely unnecessary to the story and took away from the rest of it. But other than that, I really enjoyed this movie!
-Also recently finished the book One Day (there is a movie out right now with Anne Hathaway)…I haven’t seen the movie, but I HATED the book. That’s a strong word. There really wasn’t anything I enjoyed about the book. The characters weren't likeable (Emma- the Anne Hatheway character- is likeable for parts of the story). The ending was awful. I wish I could give it away so I could talk about how awful the ending was. I should have stopped reading it early on, but I just kept thinking that something redeeming HAD to happen. But no.
That’s all for now…have a super weekend!
Had such a fun time at rodeo this year. It had been several years since I attended, and as always, it reminded me of what amazing friends my mom has. This group of people (who we have been hanging out with since I was 5 or 6), despite all the random life happenings and changes, still manage to make each other a priority and keep traditions going. I know everyone wishes they saw each other more often, but every time we are able to get together, it’s as if no time has passed and friendships are still strong. Those are special kinds of friendships. One of my favorite Dinner Club memories…I was 12, I think…we were going into our first Christmas after my mom’s divorce…and the group surprised us with fun little gifts on our front porch for the 12 Days of Christmas. Each morning when we woke up there was a new little package outside…I don’t remember what the presents were (I do remember the 8th day…the ‘maids a-milking’ day, there were eight different flavors of school lunch sized milks…yum!), but I do remember being overwhelmed with the thoughtfulness of the group. I always hoped and prayed that when I grew up I would have friends like them. The cool thing is that as I’ve grown up (though I still insist on staying in the kids gift exchange!), they have become my friends too.
In other news…
- I have started volunteering! It shouldn’t be as big of a deal as it is…I should have already been volunteering. But I wasn’t, and now I am, and I am so excited about it. I am volunteering with 826 Seattle, which is a non-profit writing center for students 6-18, that helps develop their creative writing skills. It is also a tutoring center- all subjects, not just writing. They do tutoring, in-school projects, field trips, weekend workshops, etc. And just really FUN activities to get kids excited about writing. Starting in October, I will be volunteering with a field trip…I’ll be doing the Geoduck field trip, which is for grades 1-3…they are tasked, by a ‘grouchy publisher’, to write an original, interesting story as a group…or there will be trouble! The group develops characters and the story line together, and then each kid is able to independently write their own ending. Each kid gets to take home a bound and ‘published’ copy of their very own story. So cool. Also so cool, is the storefront of 826…it is a Space Travel Supply Company with lots of fun merchandise. Check it out: http://www.826seattle.org/
- I finally started using Spotify…a little bit. Have heard lots of great things, decided I needed some tunes at work while I was alphabetizing…but then once I had it up, I had the hardest time thinking of anything I wanted to listen to! I also haven’t had any time to play around with it and create playlists or anything, since I have only used it at work, and am, of course, working hard! So this is still a discovery in process.
-Saw the movie Crazy Stupid Love this week. I almost completely really liked it. Cast is Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore, and Emma Stone. The movie felt very genuine. There were some pretty sad parts, that were lightened up a bit with comedy…but not in a silly or stupid way, or a way that took away from the seriousness of the material…which I think is pretty realistic. There was one story line in the movie that I didn’t like at all…it was completely unnecessary to the story and took away from the rest of it. But other than that, I really enjoyed this movie!
-Also recently finished the book One Day (there is a movie out right now with Anne Hathaway)…I haven’t seen the movie, but I HATED the book. That’s a strong word. There really wasn’t anything I enjoyed about the book. The characters weren't likeable (Emma- the Anne Hatheway character- is likeable for parts of the story). The ending was awful. I wish I could give it away so I could talk about how awful the ending was. I should have stopped reading it early on, but I just kept thinking that something redeeming HAD to happen. But no.
That’s all for now…have a super weekend!
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