Back to work...

Well, the snow sure did happen. It was all I hoped it would be (minus the quick melt)- enough to make everything pretty and magical, but not so much that it got old (as far as I was concerned anyway...I know some people were getting tired of it, but c'mon- it was only a couple of days- though if you are/were without power, I get that...one day of that is more than enough...)

- Some snow highs and lows. *High- as previously mentioned (many times), the jeep is a champ in the snow. Sometimes she can be tough on a regular basis with her occasional stalling, but I just get so proud of her in the snow. *High- we had a late start at work one day, and when B and  got into the office, we were nearly the only ones. We were sure to send emails out so people would know what dedicated employees we are. Then we had Thursday off...that was a major high.
*High- having time in the mornings to make delicious breakfasts. Yum. *High- finally giving the nee Phinney Market restaurant a try (I NEEDED coffee). *High- bringing a football along for a walk to meet a pal and playing catch along the way. A walk with a ball always feels more productive and fun than just a regular walk. *High- not feeling bad about lounging on the couch in sweats for the better part of the day, catching up on old shows, checking out new shows...all while watching delightful little flakes make their way to the ground. *Low- having to go into work at regular time on Friday...the roads were not cleared yet...a late start would have been very appropriate. Boo. *Low- the jeep was broken into late Thursday night. My doors were unlocked, so nothing was broken, and they only took some CD's (which is a bummer, but not devastating)...but they went through everything, so there is paper and whatnot everywhere. Mostly I just feel sad for the jeep...I feel like it was violated...and after being such a sport in the snow.


- Brian and I decided to make the trek downtown Thursday afternoon to see Beauty and the Beast in theaters (we planned to go to Northgate, but couldn't think of a route that didn't involve having to drive down a hill). Beauty and the Beast is my FAVORITE movie...not just fav Disney movie...favorite movie. I had to see it while it was back in theaters...despite it being in 3-D (ugh). It makes me mad that Disney is bringing back the old movies in 3-D...not just because it gives me a headache, but because I think every kid should have a chance to see these classic movies in the theater, but with the addition of 3-D, they are so expensive. It would cost a family of four $60, not including any popcorn or treats. That's crazy. But...I still went...because I just love that movie.

- Ever since I moved out of my old apartment, I haven't been able to keep up with any of my TV shows (other than HIMYM)...which, honestly, is probably a good thing....but I do miss having cable and especially DVR. Anyway...since Brian received a couple of video games for Christmas, I've decided to catch myself up on Parenthood on my computer. I LOVE this show! I remembered liking it, though I was thinking it was more a nostalgia thing since the show has actors from several of my old favorite shows (Lauren Graham from Gilmore Girls, Michael B Jordan from Friday Night Lights, etc)...but as I've been catching up on this season, I think it is actually a great show...I regularly find myself laughing out loud or tearing up a bit...great characters and a realistic family storyline (it isn't overly dramatic). I'm almost all caught up, which is disappointing...I'll have to wait in real time for the new episodes soon.

- I recently joined Pinterest (if you don't know, it's a website that allows you to 'pin' different websites or ideas onto different boards that you create- I have a board for recipes, craft ideas, home decorating, trips, etc- and then you follow other's boards to get ideas to pin on your own), and even more recently have actually started using some of the things I've pinned. I've made a couple of recipes. Last weekend I made breakfast for a few people at Brian's...this Martha Stewart recipe turned out better than I anticipated. I figured it would be tasty, but it was actually pretty delicious, and totally easy. Lots of variations to it also.

- Wednesday I decided to pull out the ol crock pot and another Pinterest recipe (since we had the day off...and it was snowing...crock pot is the obvious choice). Another success. I made a chicken taco chili...again, totally easy. I've never done pulled chicken before, and was a little nervous about it...but after sitting in the crockpot for 8 hours, the chicken just FELL apart...so easy. I did use the modifications the blogger used in the link above. We made some cornbread muffins from a mix from Trader Joe's. Maybe one of these days I'll attempt a craft project from my Pinterest board...maybe.

- Awards season has begun...People's Choice (which is a silly one) and Golden Globes have happened. Looking forward to the next couple of months and having to watch all of the movies/actors nominated. Going off of the Golden Globes nominations for Best Picture, I have seen The Help, Hugo, Ides of March Moneyball, 50/50, The Artist, and Midnight In Paris...still need to see My Week With Marilyn, Bridesmaids, War Horse, and The Descendants (featuring George Clooney in Tommy Bahama gear...keep an eye out for the marlin). Probably my personal favorite of those was Midnight In Paris....but not necessarily for best picture.


And that's all for this week- hope you are warm and with power!

Snowpocolypse!

Ohhh, I feel like this week has been incredibly long. Possibly because it is the first full week of work I’ve had in a few weeks…don’t know, but I am TIRED and very much looking forward to the weekend. Not only to sleep, but also because of the possibility of…SNOWPOCOLYPSE. We’ll see….

      1. Okay, seriously…Seattle is THE most gorgeous city…I won’t say in the world, but certainly in the US. I am not going to add the disclaimer that ‘I might be biased’…because whether I am or not, the statement is still true. We have had the most amazing sunrises the last few days…I mean, the mountains are crystal clear- and completely surround the city…whichever direction you look, there are snowy and jagged STUNNING mountains. And then you add the vibrant oranges and purples from the sun…and it just demands that you pause in your rush to get to work and appreciate it. Pic on the left was taken right outside my house…those trees are the border of the Zoo. And then the other pic is one that has been floating around. 

      2. Ohhh, last week we had a Feng Shui master come in to our office (this is something that has been happening since the beginning of TB), and since I am covering facilities for the time being, I got to be a part of it. Meaning, I followed him around to the various offices and took notes about what changes needed to be made. Then, since I was new to the Feng Shui experience, he did my ‘reading’…using my birth date, year, and time…fascinating. Apparently I am VERY lucky…born the year of the dog and the day of the rabbit (those two get along very well), he assured me that I will be very happy my WHOLE life, into old age. Which, I mean really- minus the old age part, I already knew. Being happy doesn’t mean bad things don’t happen, it just means you handle those things in a certain way. He did say that this next year will be fine…nothing special, but then the four years following will be VERY good years, particularly 2016. So, you know, that’s always good to hear. He also told me to avoid oily foods, to which I made an incredibly oily soup for dinner that night and got a terrible stomachache. Great. 

    
     3. Tuesday evening I had basketball practice (still, completely LOVING coaching this group/age) and Brian was planning to cut Doug (the Christmas tree) up and clean up around his house. Pretty low key evening. We were trying to find something to watch…and decided on…Never Say Never- the Justin Bieber movie. Yep. And it was good. I like that kid. He is actually talented and he seems to have a good sense of humor…I’m sure he has his teenage boy moments, and his heartthrob star moments…but for the most part, he seems like a nice kid that works hard. I hope he gets out of the pop scene eventually…I think he is capable of some cool stuff. Purple is his color....

4.      Meanwhile, while we were enjoying some Baby, Baby, Baby whoa…we were missing the January Round. We weren’t planning to go, but it was still there in the back of my mind, as it always is when I don’t go (what if I’m missing some great local musician that I don’t know about…like a Bryan John Appleby)…Brian’s roommate went. AND, he came home with one of the paintings! I have always wanted to buy one of the paintings that is created right there and then auctioned off, but I’ve never really looked into it…never had any idea how much they go for, etc. So first off, I thought it was cool that he went and bought one…and then I saw who the artist was…Henry! Who has murals all over Ballard and Wallingford. I LOVE Henry. I want to have a Henry mural painted in a kids room. SOOO bummed to have missed him. BUT, Jared bought one, which is pretty exciting. 

5.      Wednesday night was the first movie night of 2012…and it was a hit. The theme was Summer Blockbuster, and we had popcorn and classic movie candy (hot tamales, junior mints, whoppers, milk duds, licorice, etc) and watched Super 8! Love that movie. There are definitely things about it that I thought could have been done different (I just didn’t like the ‘monster’…it needed to be something that was easier to have compassion for), but it was cast so well…those kids are each so perfect for their roles. So fun. And as always, love having people over and chatting and laughing.

There you go. Here’s hoping for some epic snow this weekend into next week…or really, any snow at all, it doesn’t need to be epic. But my jeep would love something epic.

2012...here we go...

Happy 2012! I started my 2011 blog saying I was going to switch formats to This I Believe’s…and then I just stopped writing because it was intimidating. When I finally did get back into writing, it was rarely an actual Five, and rarely on Friday. So…for 2012…no rules for the blog. Maybe a Five pointer, maybe on Friday, maybe about things I believe…who knows.

In the meantime…

1. New Year’s Eve was great…B and I made the loooong drive down to Olympia, almost Shelton, to my Uncle Roy and Aunt Debby’s house. They are the family party house…they host parties all year long, and I always want to go, but having that hour and a half drive each way is rough. I’m glad we decided to go though…all of my mom’s siblings were there (which always makes for a lot of noise, if nothing else…no, no…I REALLY like them all, so much fun!), most of my cousins, and then the occasional neighbor or random. We ate, drank, played cards (shanghai rummy is a tradition, but I think we may have overdone it this year…), and then ate more. Last year I was able to ring the new year in with some of my best friends at a wedding, and this year with my family…I have always liked the idea that how you spend your New Year’s is reflective on the rest of your year…I’d say friends and family is a good way to go. 

      2. January 4^th was my two-year anniversary with Tommy Bahama. That’s pretty exciting…certainly my longest ‘real’ job. Still happy to be here, still enjoying the people in my department, and this year has definitely provided lots of opportunity to learn with my added facilities role. I continue to think about going back to school for a Masters in Teaching…or maybe Nursing…and then I think, well…maybe I should get my HR certification, because this Human Resources stuff isn’t so bad…just always keeping the door open for whatever comes along my way. 

      3. 4^th/5^th grade basketball season started on Tuesday for the Boys and Girls Club. I had my first practice, and oh my…the difference between the 2^nd/3^rd and 4^th/5^th is NIGHT and DAY! I was surprised when we had our coaches meeting and I learned that the 4^th/5^th graders play with all the normal rules of basketball…they shoot free throws, there are 3 pointers, over and back, traveling, double dribbles, 10 ft hoop, etc. I figured there would obviously be an improvement between the two age groups…but whoa. These girls on my new team (we get to be the Storm this season…woohoo!) listened, paid attention, did what I asked (which included running waaaay more than my other girls ever did, and pushups, and defensive slides, etc). In our very first practice we could play shooting games (I could never play games with the younger girls because they could barely get the ball to the hoop), we played a rebounding game, they tried to beat me when we ran lines, etc. They worked HARD, and they didn’t complain. I’m really excited for this season…I think there will actually be some coaching involved! Plus, I have an assistant coach…another gal that just wanted to get involved and doesn’t have kids on a team…so that will be really fun…have some help and get to bounce ideas off each other. REALLY looking forward to this season.  
   
           4. Brian and I went to the Cinerama last night to see the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I didn’t see the Swedish version, but have read the book, so I knew the story and knew what to expect…but ish, that is a tough movie. It’s just so disturbing. I waited to see the American version, thinking it would be a little bit milder, but it was still pretty graphic…I’m surprised it could be rated R. Good movie…definitely an interesting story line, and even though the movie is two and a half hours, you are never checking your watch…the music is great and very much adds to the suspense. But you leave the theater feeling upset and disturbed. Good movie…pretty sure I will never watch it again.

      5. While the movie was tough, the previews before the movie were aaaawwesoooome! First up, the Hunger Games. Looks so good…I can’t wait! And it is only a couple of months away. I was nervous about them doing it well, but the preview got my hopes up! Next, the upcoming Batman movie. I’m not as excited as Brian for this one, just because I’m not as into the action movies…but the Dark Knight was great (I need to work on using other words than great…I always read other words…amazing, fantastic, phenomenal…and think it sounds like trying to use something other than great…sometimes things are just great…better than good or fine…but stellar is over the top)….anyway…preview shows promise (how about that one?). And the final preview was…The Hobbit. Soooo excited for this one, even in 3-D (or especially in 3-D? Since they used new 3-D technology…). Brian bought the Lord of the Rings trilogy on Blue Ray, and we have been moving through those (not that I haven’t seen them all a few times), and one of our friends does a New Year’s Day viewing of all three movies right in a row (we only stayed for a couple of hours)…so the story and those characters and that world is all very fresh. But I haven’t ever read the Hobbit…so I just started last night…exciting!

Have a super amazing, fantastically epic week. Or just a great one.