Returned late last night from six full days in San Fran (you have to drop the ‘cisco part, or you have tourist written all over you…duh). What a fantastic, full week…here is a recap via highs and lows…
HIGH: Seeing Jessica and Luke…I have missed them o-so much…so much fun to visit and have adventures with friends in a new city…thanks for the invite and organizing!!
High: A gorgeous day for a baseball game at one of the nicest parks in baseball…immediately upon arrival to the city (I guess not immediately- we did drop our stuff off), we went to a Giants game- it was a 12:30 afternoon game, hence our 6am flight out of Seattle…the things we do for a baseball game, right. The stadium overlooks the water, and the view actually makes it tough to watch the game. It was windy, and certainly not warm, but the sun was out and the water was sparkling.
Low: That feeling you get once the travel adrenaline has run out and your body remembers it woke up at 3:45am. Oh, and the walk back from the game to the apartment under an overpass…a long walk without any pretty sights. A nap was very much needed.
High: Finding a Banksy in Chinatown. There is street art ALL over the city, and we figured there must be a Banksy somewhere…looked it up and discovered there was record of a few sprinkled around…on our first day of city adventuring (we walked from our place through downtown, Chinatown, North Beach, to Fisherman’s Wharf in the first part of the day), we found one in Chinatown. Of all the locations we went to, this was the only one that still existed (as far as we could tell anyway…maybe others were hidden from our sight). The discovery was exciting, as both Brian and I separately discovered the street art thing (my first intro to it was in Paris on an Urban Art tour through a meetup group I was in…was so interesting to me). As a side note- check out Exit Through the Gift Shop to get an idea of street art and Banksy in particular.
Low: Finding that the others on our list had been painted over…bummer.
High: Tartine in the Mission. A super yummy bakery recommended by a pal. I enjoyed some kind of blueberry almond tart thing and Brian had a piece of lemon meringue pie…both were amazing…I really would have liked to try everything in the case, as well as sat and had a sandwich with a coffee and people watch…had every intention of returning for more, but never was able. Boo…probably need to make a special trip out to West Seattle for a Bakery Nouveau delight very soon.
Low/High: Sea Lions at Fisherman’s Wharf…both hilarious and disgusting. The smell was not delightful, but the playing and barking were.
Moving on to the festival:
Lows:
- Waaaay overcrowded…it definitely felt like they oversold the festival. There were 3 main stages and it always felt like every stage was beyond its max.
- Weather on the first day was fuuuh-reezing. I knew it wasn’t going to be warm, and was prepared with a few layers, but that first day was borderline miserable with the cold dampness.
- The stages were set up too low. I don’t know what height a normal stage is set up at- how high above the crowd it is, how much the landscape makes a difference, or how much variance there is in a festival setting versus a regular show, etc…but this isn’t the first year of the festival- they aren’t rookies figuring stuff out. Only one of the three main stages was set at a height where the crowd could see anything, viewing from beyond the first small section. The actual main stage, where the headliners played, was not the one good stage. It was tough to see anything.
- The food…this was also a food festival, and the food booths were comprised of local restaurants and cafes…I had read some descriptions ahead of time and was suuuper excited for some good eats…and it was just eh. On the second day we actually stopped at Safeway on our way to the festival to grab sandwiches there. There were a couple of exceptions (to be found in the ‘highs’ area).
- Muni (the bus) rides home after the shows with a bajillion other people…hot and cramped.
- Thinking I was going to die from being squished near the front, for Arcade Fire- people just seem to forget there are other people.
Highs:
- Well, obviously being AT a music festival…definite high (speaking of festival highs, insert joke about the illegal substances being smoked everywhere…I would say especially the day that Phish played, but really, it was all three days).
- The weather on day 2 and 3 was amazing…chilly in the morning and colder at night, but the daytime was warm without ever getting uncomfortably hot.
- The park was SUCH a beautiful setting for the shows. It was at Golden Gate Park, which is GIGANTIC, and each stage area was surrounded by trees…it was really pretty.
- Catching Rhett Miller performing solo in a little tent that I didn’t even know existed…he is so dreamy.
- Music highlights included: Macklemore and Ryan Lewis (way to represent Seattle- such a fun show and pretty full considering it was the first show of the day), OK GO (lots of fun), Black Keys, Mavis Staples (couldn’t make it to church on Sunday, but who needs it when Mavis is singing…and a guest appearance by Win from Arcade Fire on a song), Josh Ritter, John Fogerty (just no end to the hits!), Decemberists (oh the dramatics…and little Sara Watkins from Nickel Creek!), Muse (pretty epic as the headliner the second night…), and Arcade Fire (minus the near death part at the beginning, they put on quite a show…it’s so great to see a band that genuinely seems like they are having fun up there and bring so much energy to this job they do night after night)….
- The Barbary tent…I think this space was missed by most…included random variety act-type entertainment…we made it for several different comedians.
- Sports tent…you don’t find that at most arts festivals…there were tvs with all the different games on, then air hockey, pop a shot, and other games. They also brought in the World Series trophy for pictures a few different times. We definitely found ourselves there a few times, to catch up on scores, warm up, and play some games in the downtime.
- On the third day, we realized the Food Truck Forest was probably the best place to get GOOD food…since the food truck is their THING (whereas the restaurants were cooking out of a booth…not their usual thing)…had a fried chicken sandwich with jalepeno slaw that was bomb. Also the Epic Cookies were pretty delicious. And the mini cupcakes- probably the best deal…$1 per cupcake…probably 9 different flavors. My fav was the blueberries and cream.
And our last day in Ess Eff- our flight took off at 8pm last night, so we had most of the day.
High: Renting bikes to ride across the Golden Gate Bridge- sooo exciting!
Low: Riding bikes in HILLY S.F…ohhh, there was definitely some walking the bike up the hills, and some soreness to follow.
High: Coming home. I loved the trip- really, the highs soooo, soooo outweighed any kind of low…but I love that I was excited to get home. That I have adventures and people here to look forward to pretty much every day (some might say overscheduled…), and a job that I don’t dread returning from vacation to…I’m a pretty lucky gal!
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Friday, August 5, 2011
Happy Friday- 8/5
Another busy week- I actually can’t believe it is already Friday. Just a quick follow up- Sonics night at the Mariner game was awesome. The actual game was not so awesome…but Sonics night WAS.
1. Seafair is upon us…which is a busy time around Seattle…lots of different events- parades, fun runs, the hydroplane races, pirates, etc….but nothing says Seafair to me more than the Blue Angels. As a kid, I remember hearing those thundering engines in the sky and SPRINTING out to the deck at my dad’s house, completely overjoyed to watch the Blue Angels practice. Every year it was a shock to me when it was happening-being that I was a kid and didn’t realize this happened the same time every year, or really what time of year it was. I also didn’t realize that the Blue Angels weren’t just our own special Seattle gift. Literally, it was college when I found out they fly in cities all over. Anyway…I bring this up because the Blue Angels came into our office this week! True, it was mostly the maintenance crew, which doesn’t sound quite as exciting…BUT, there were a couple pilots, AND even if it was only the maintenance crew, it was still thrilling! They were like celebrities…we were all gathered around them in awe in the lobby. They were o-so nice and humored us with answers to all of our silly questions.
2. Well, the Bahama Bombers kickball season came to an end Tuesday night. We had a playoff game against a team we had already beat in the regular season- we were feeling good, confident…we had magic marker and glitter signs made and hung on our dugout, we had a cheering section (my mom came out to the game!), a full team of players…all was looking promising. We scored 5 runs in our first inning…how could we lose? But we did. Final score was 12-10…and I’m not one to place blame on the ump usually…but as Brian said in a ‘pep talk’ in the 5th inning…’clearly we are playing the Seahawks Super Bowl game here’…there were some bad calls made that changed not just the momentum of the game, but were game changers. It took away some of the fun of playing. We made some mistakes, for sure…but we were a better team and should have won the game. Boo. Oh well, it’s just kickball, right.
3. Yesterday half of my work day was spent in a First Aid/CPR class…which I was PUMPED to be able to take. I’m a bit of a worrier, in general…I’m not a pessimist by any means, but I do expect that accidents will happen at some point- I definitely prefer to feel like I am prepared for unexpected situations. The last time I took CPR was 8th grade health, and it seems that there have been some changes since then…such as using an AED (automated external defibrillator), which we got to practice with on dummies! It is also just reassuring to get re-trained in the proper ways to handle certain situations…like choking. That was always one of those babysitting anxiety things for me…with as much babysitting as I did, I was sure that at some point I would have to do the Heimlich (haven’t yet…) Also learning the differences between adult, child, and infant CPR and choking procedures. I babysat a little girl for a while that had an extreme dairy allergy…I knew where the epi pens were, and I had read the directions several times…but it still always made me nervous that I would have to use one and not know if I was doing it right. Our trainer had actual training epi pens…the real thing without a needle…so we could see what it feels like and do the actual steps. Cool.
4. Another treat from yesterday (CPR being the first treat), was heading down to the Snoqualmie Casino for an outdoor show with the Beach Boys! Awesome! It was for Brian’s dad’s birthday…so the four of us spent the evening out in the sunshine, listening, singing and dancing to those loveable Beach Boys. Brian’s dad has seen them play several different times, so he gave us the 411 about the current band before we got there. Apparently there is only one original member of the Boys still in the band- Mike Love (plus the ‘6th Beach Boy’- Bruce Johnston). Mike Love is the one that I think of when I think of the Beach Boys because of his/their appearances on Full House. We were really hoping Jesse and the Rippers would be opening the show…no such luck, though there was a John Stamos reference- which was good enough for me. The combination of great people watching, familiar songs, beautiful evening, and of course, lovely company made for such a fun night!
5. Forgot to mention earlier in the post about last weekend’s show…we went to the CD release party for Bryan John Appleby out at the Columbia City Theatre. Really like the new album…definitely recommend checking it out, and recommend going to a show…he is great. He is playing at the Tractor on August 19th- if you can, go see him. Also, tonight after work is a free show at the Mural in the Seattle Center with the Maldives, Hey Marseilles (haven’t seen them play in so, so long- very excited!) and the Black Whales. Should be a fun evening- hoping the sun manages to break through the morning clouds!
All for now…have a great weekend!
1. Seafair is upon us…which is a busy time around Seattle…lots of different events- parades, fun runs, the hydroplane races, pirates, etc….but nothing says Seafair to me more than the Blue Angels. As a kid, I remember hearing those thundering engines in the sky and SPRINTING out to the deck at my dad’s house, completely overjoyed to watch the Blue Angels practice. Every year it was a shock to me when it was happening-being that I was a kid and didn’t realize this happened the same time every year, or really what time of year it was. I also didn’t realize that the Blue Angels weren’t just our own special Seattle gift. Literally, it was college when I found out they fly in cities all over. Anyway…I bring this up because the Blue Angels came into our office this week! True, it was mostly the maintenance crew, which doesn’t sound quite as exciting…BUT, there were a couple pilots, AND even if it was only the maintenance crew, it was still thrilling! They were like celebrities…we were all gathered around them in awe in the lobby. They were o-so nice and humored us with answers to all of our silly questions.
2. Well, the Bahama Bombers kickball season came to an end Tuesday night. We had a playoff game against a team we had already beat in the regular season- we were feeling good, confident…we had magic marker and glitter signs made and hung on our dugout, we had a cheering section (my mom came out to the game!), a full team of players…all was looking promising. We scored 5 runs in our first inning…how could we lose? But we did. Final score was 12-10…and I’m not one to place blame on the ump usually…but as Brian said in a ‘pep talk’ in the 5th inning…’clearly we are playing the Seahawks Super Bowl game here’…there were some bad calls made that changed not just the momentum of the game, but were game changers. It took away some of the fun of playing. We made some mistakes, for sure…but we were a better team and should have won the game. Boo. Oh well, it’s just kickball, right.
3. Yesterday half of my work day was spent in a First Aid/CPR class…which I was PUMPED to be able to take. I’m a bit of a worrier, in general…I’m not a pessimist by any means, but I do expect that accidents will happen at some point- I definitely prefer to feel like I am prepared for unexpected situations. The last time I took CPR was 8th grade health, and it seems that there have been some changes since then…such as using an AED (automated external defibrillator), which we got to practice with on dummies! It is also just reassuring to get re-trained in the proper ways to handle certain situations…like choking. That was always one of those babysitting anxiety things for me…with as much babysitting as I did, I was sure that at some point I would have to do the Heimlich (haven’t yet…) Also learning the differences between adult, child, and infant CPR and choking procedures. I babysat a little girl for a while that had an extreme dairy allergy…I knew where the epi pens were, and I had read the directions several times…but it still always made me nervous that I would have to use one and not know if I was doing it right. Our trainer had actual training epi pens…the real thing without a needle…so we could see what it feels like and do the actual steps. Cool.
4. Another treat from yesterday (CPR being the first treat), was heading down to the Snoqualmie Casino for an outdoor show with the Beach Boys! Awesome! It was for Brian’s dad’s birthday…so the four of us spent the evening out in the sunshine, listening, singing and dancing to those loveable Beach Boys. Brian’s dad has seen them play several different times, so he gave us the 411 about the current band before we got there. Apparently there is only one original member of the Boys still in the band- Mike Love (plus the ‘6th Beach Boy’- Bruce Johnston). Mike Love is the one that I think of when I think of the Beach Boys because of his/their appearances on Full House. We were really hoping Jesse and the Rippers would be opening the show…no such luck, though there was a John Stamos reference- which was good enough for me. The combination of great people watching, familiar songs, beautiful evening, and of course, lovely company made for such a fun night!
5. Forgot to mention earlier in the post about last weekend’s show…we went to the CD release party for Bryan John Appleby out at the Columbia City Theatre. Really like the new album…definitely recommend checking it out, and recommend going to a show…he is great. He is playing at the Tractor on August 19th- if you can, go see him. Also, tonight after work is a free show at the Mural in the Seattle Center with the Maldives, Hey Marseilles (haven’t seen them play in so, so long- very excited!) and the Black Whales. Should be a fun evening- hoping the sun manages to break through the morning clouds!
All for now…have a great weekend!
Friday, July 29, 2011
what a week...
Oh my, it has been a busy, busy week….and yet, somehow has just dragged onnnnnn…but, Friday has arrived….
1. Sunday afternoon Brian and I drove down to Troutdale, Oregon, to the Edgefield- one of the many wonderful McMenamins properties. I had noticed they had an outdoor amphitheater on previous visits, but hadn’t ever been to a show there (Ian played in the winery when I went down there last year). After checking out their lineup, I realized I should probably just move down there for the summer, because I’d be thrilled to see just about every show they had booked! We were already planning to see Fleet Foxes at their next Seattle show, but decided to hit this one instead. If you haven’t ever been to Edgefield, I’d totally recommend it- show or no show. They have a winery, a brewery, and a distillery…something like 5 different bars on site, that are all super cute (the bar in my parents backyard is themed after one of them). They also have a movie theater onsite, a spa with a salt water soaking pool…and the hotel itself is charming and quirky. I really love it. Anyway…saw the Fleet Foxes…which was so, so good. They always just SOUND so good. The weather was amazing, we made friends with some people on the grass that shared their blanket with us, ate pizza, drank McMenamins beer, the opener (Alela Diane) was great....It really couldn’t have been any better at all.
2. Early Monday morning, I woke up to the LOUDEST, so completely frightening noise there at Edgefield. The idea of a bomb actually crossed my mind, though I thought it more likely a plane crash, since there is an airport right there. I mean, it was so loud, and went on for a good little while. I went out to the window, and caught an actual bolt of lightning…not just the sky lighting up like the lightning we usually get in the PNW, but an actual bolt. So apparently the loud noise was just thunder. There were a few more rounds of it- but nothing like that first one. Then it downpoured for a few minutes…it was a legitimate mid-summer thunderstorm. Which was super cool, because we just don’t get those very often. And then it stopped- the sun came out, and you’d never know it had happened.
3. Wednesday was movie night…movie of the week was Free Willy. I saw this at the theater when I was…what- 8 years old?…I adopted a whale after seeing it, because they had that number at the end of the credits to call and adopt. I mean, how could you resist after sitting through that Michael Jackson song, watching the whales frolic in the ocean?? (I recently found the adoption certificate for my whale- part of the J-pod- when I was cleaning out my storage unit). We like to provide some kind of themed snack to go with the movie…but are also working on sticking to a budget, so we opted out of going all out for this particular night…we had some Swedish fish on the table for snacking, and then took a break halfway through for some Ben and Jerry’s Phish Food ice cream. Mmmmm.
4. Thursday night was the Bahama Bombers last regular season kickball game. We weren’t feeling especially confident going into the game, as we were playing the undefeated first place team in our league, and we were missing some players, and were coming off a 20-1 loss the week before (ouch, that one hurt)…but we were going to give it our all and play our best. Actually ended up being a super fun game! We had probably our best defensive games of the year (held the undefeated team to 5 runs!)…unfortunately our kicking skills didn’t match our defense, and they shut us out. But…I think we left feeling a lot more confident going in to playoffs- seeing how well we could play out in the field. Playoffs start next week…not sure the schedule yet…should be fun!
5. So…lots of fun stuff this week…but TONIGHT…tonight is the highlight of the week…it is Sonics appreciation night at the Mariner’s game. Yes! Check out the lineup of players that are going to be there: Downtown Freddie Brown, Michael Cage, Tom Chambers, Dale Ellis, Hersey Hawkins, George Karl, Shawn Kemp, Gary Payton, Detlef Schrempf (who I ran the St Paddy’s Day dash with…no big deal), Jack Sikma, Slick Watts, Lenny Wilkens, and more! Luckily, I recently pulled out all my old Sonics gear while I was clearing out the storage unit…so I have jerseys, t-shirts, fleeces, and sweatbands galore! I considered bringing along the BBQ set or lunch box that we had as a giveaway at some point…but thought that might be a hindrance to my wild yelling and cheering. Needless to say, I’m pumped, and I miss the Sonics.
Hope you have a great weekend!
1. Sunday afternoon Brian and I drove down to Troutdale, Oregon, to the Edgefield- one of the many wonderful McMenamins properties. I had noticed they had an outdoor amphitheater on previous visits, but hadn’t ever been to a show there (Ian played in the winery when I went down there last year). After checking out their lineup, I realized I should probably just move down there for the summer, because I’d be thrilled to see just about every show they had booked! We were already planning to see Fleet Foxes at their next Seattle show, but decided to hit this one instead. If you haven’t ever been to Edgefield, I’d totally recommend it- show or no show. They have a winery, a brewery, and a distillery…something like 5 different bars on site, that are all super cute (the bar in my parents backyard is themed after one of them). They also have a movie theater onsite, a spa with a salt water soaking pool…and the hotel itself is charming and quirky. I really love it. Anyway…saw the Fleet Foxes…which was so, so good. They always just SOUND so good. The weather was amazing, we made friends with some people on the grass that shared their blanket with us, ate pizza, drank McMenamins beer, the opener (Alela Diane) was great....It really couldn’t have been any better at all.
2. Early Monday morning, I woke up to the LOUDEST, so completely frightening noise there at Edgefield. The idea of a bomb actually crossed my mind, though I thought it more likely a plane crash, since there is an airport right there. I mean, it was so loud, and went on for a good little while. I went out to the window, and caught an actual bolt of lightning…not just the sky lighting up like the lightning we usually get in the PNW, but an actual bolt. So apparently the loud noise was just thunder. There were a few more rounds of it- but nothing like that first one. Then it downpoured for a few minutes…it was a legitimate mid-summer thunderstorm. Which was super cool, because we just don’t get those very often. And then it stopped- the sun came out, and you’d never know it had happened.
3. Wednesday was movie night…movie of the week was Free Willy. I saw this at the theater when I was…what- 8 years old?…I adopted a whale after seeing it, because they had that number at the end of the credits to call and adopt. I mean, how could you resist after sitting through that Michael Jackson song, watching the whales frolic in the ocean?? (I recently found the adoption certificate for my whale- part of the J-pod- when I was cleaning out my storage unit). We like to provide some kind of themed snack to go with the movie…but are also working on sticking to a budget, so we opted out of going all out for this particular night…we had some Swedish fish on the table for snacking, and then took a break halfway through for some Ben and Jerry’s Phish Food ice cream. Mmmmm.
4. Thursday night was the Bahama Bombers last regular season kickball game. We weren’t feeling especially confident going into the game, as we were playing the undefeated first place team in our league, and we were missing some players, and were coming off a 20-1 loss the week before (ouch, that one hurt)…but we were going to give it our all and play our best. Actually ended up being a super fun game! We had probably our best defensive games of the year (held the undefeated team to 5 runs!)…unfortunately our kicking skills didn’t match our defense, and they shut us out. But…I think we left feeling a lot more confident going in to playoffs- seeing how well we could play out in the field. Playoffs start next week…not sure the schedule yet…should be fun!
5. So…lots of fun stuff this week…but TONIGHT…tonight is the highlight of the week…it is Sonics appreciation night at the Mariner’s game. Yes! Check out the lineup of players that are going to be there: Downtown Freddie Brown, Michael Cage, Tom Chambers, Dale Ellis, Hersey Hawkins, George Karl, Shawn Kemp, Gary Payton, Detlef Schrempf (who I ran the St Paddy’s Day dash with…no big deal), Jack Sikma, Slick Watts, Lenny Wilkens, and more! Luckily, I recently pulled out all my old Sonics gear while I was clearing out the storage unit…so I have jerseys, t-shirts, fleeces, and sweatbands galore! I considered bringing along the BBQ set or lunch box that we had as a giveaway at some point…but thought that might be a hindrance to my wild yelling and cheering. Needless to say, I’m pumped, and I miss the Sonics.
Hope you have a great weekend!
Monday, July 18, 2011
Wait, it isn't Friday....
I’m back…it’s time for a blog entry. Every morning I ease my way into the workday by glancing through various blogs for a few minutes (just a few!). And then remind myself that I need to get my own blog written. This happens every single day. And yet, I just can’t seem to get one posted. Here you go, finally.
1. I have given up on Summer for the year. It’s okay, I’m not upset about it. I generally take the optimistic approach to most things, but I’ve concluded that when it comes to sunshine (or snow, for that matter) in Seattle, it is better not to expect or hope for it, and be pleasantly surprised when it makes an appearance. Like today, for example. I am (still) without internet at home…and currently without the aid of a smart phone…so I looked out the window this morning to decide what to wear…the sky was grey, there was some fog, the ground was still wet from the rain yesterday…so I layered up with a long sleeve shirt. And what do you know…bright blue skies, 75 degrees. What a lovely surprise! I don’t expect the same tomorrow…but I will check the weather before I go home today, so I can dress appropriately.
2. The Bahama Bombers kickball season is in full swing. We are over halfway through the season, and playoffs are looming. We are currently holding our best record in Bombers history at 2-2. It’s exciting…but oh, the pressure. No. Not really at all…it has been a super fun season. We have a bunch of new players on the team this year, which has caused a lot less stress come game day when people start canceling- we always have a full roster. And we also have the opportunity to move people around in different positions and try different kicking strategies.
3. Try to contain your excitement with my next bit of news…there is now a Potbelly’s IN Seattle! Whaaaa? I know, it’s a dream come true. Potbelly’s (just in case you aren’t familiar) is a sandwich place from Chicago. They are ALL over Chicago, and was the first place I had lunch when I moved there (right before heading to Wrigley for my first Cubs game). It is tough to describe the delight of Potbelly’s…they are a much better Quiznos- toasted sammys. While the sandwiches are great, the true gems are the cookies. They are certainly at homemade cookie level, and possibly on the upper end of all homemade cookies. The next time you are downtown, give it a try. Looks like they are also planning to open one in Bellevue soon. http://www.potbelly.com/home/
4. I have been to a couple of movies lately…seriously, I love going to movies…it never gets old. Doesn’t even really matter what movie (I get disappointed with bad movies because of the price of the ticket…but still enjoy being there)- it really is the experience….the smell of popcorn, snacks-sneaking ice cream in is the best, finding the center seat, your shoes getting stuck to the sticky floor (I don’t actually love that part),etc…love going to a movie. There are certainly better theaters, which I have only started realizing and appreciating due to Brian’s theater needs. We went and saw Super 8 at the Science Center Imax…which was absolutely the best place to see it. Such a nostalgic, fun film…fantastic casting! Saw the final Harry Potter this weekend at the Cinerama…which is for sure the go-to theater for big releases…PLUS, the snacks are super cheap! Was very happy with the final HP…sad that it is over, though I definitely didn’t feel the same mourning as when I finished the last book. That really was the ‘ending’ for me….the movies were fun to watch, but were never UNBELIEVABLE. But I definitely left the theater satisfied. Also recently saw Midnight in Paris. Which was not at all what I expected. I hadn’t seen any previews and didn’t know what it was supposed to be about…I just knew it was a Woody Allen film, so would probably have some weird sexual elements to the story, that it had an interesting mix of actors, and that it was in Paris…and really, I don’t care how cheesy it could have been, I would have seen it just for scenes of Paris. But it turned out to be a great movie! Really fun concept…a few things could have been done better (I think), but overall, REALLY liked and recommend it.
5. I’m sure after my last few posts you have imagined me kicking back in my new apartment, all put together and organized by this point (I mean, I have lived there for 2.5 months now)….BUT, no. Still boxes. Don’t get me wrong…there has been a significant amount of time and work put into it…there is just SO MUCH STUFF. But, this is the week…it will be 92.7% complete after this week. I have gotten to the point where I am tired of going through boxes, so it is much easier to just get rid of stuff. There will be several trips to the Goodwill in the next couple of days. I can’t wait to be done. Can’t wait for the area between the kitchen and my bedroom (also known as the living room) to not be an obstacle course- this is the week.
There you have it. Enjoy the sunshine.
1. I have given up on Summer for the year. It’s okay, I’m not upset about it. I generally take the optimistic approach to most things, but I’ve concluded that when it comes to sunshine (or snow, for that matter) in Seattle, it is better not to expect or hope for it, and be pleasantly surprised when it makes an appearance. Like today, for example. I am (still) without internet at home…and currently without the aid of a smart phone…so I looked out the window this morning to decide what to wear…the sky was grey, there was some fog, the ground was still wet from the rain yesterday…so I layered up with a long sleeve shirt. And what do you know…bright blue skies, 75 degrees. What a lovely surprise! I don’t expect the same tomorrow…but I will check the weather before I go home today, so I can dress appropriately.
2. The Bahama Bombers kickball season is in full swing. We are over halfway through the season, and playoffs are looming. We are currently holding our best record in Bombers history at 2-2. It’s exciting…but oh, the pressure. No. Not really at all…it has been a super fun season. We have a bunch of new players on the team this year, which has caused a lot less stress come game day when people start canceling- we always have a full roster. And we also have the opportunity to move people around in different positions and try different kicking strategies.
3. Try to contain your excitement with my next bit of news…there is now a Potbelly’s IN Seattle! Whaaaa? I know, it’s a dream come true. Potbelly’s (just in case you aren’t familiar) is a sandwich place from Chicago. They are ALL over Chicago, and was the first place I had lunch when I moved there (right before heading to Wrigley for my first Cubs game). It is tough to describe the delight of Potbelly’s…they are a much better Quiznos- toasted sammys. While the sandwiches are great, the true gems are the cookies. They are certainly at homemade cookie level, and possibly on the upper end of all homemade cookies. The next time you are downtown, give it a try. Looks like they are also planning to open one in Bellevue soon. http://www.potbelly.com/home/
4. I have been to a couple of movies lately…seriously, I love going to movies…it never gets old. Doesn’t even really matter what movie (I get disappointed with bad movies because of the price of the ticket…but still enjoy being there)- it really is the experience….the smell of popcorn, snacks-sneaking ice cream in is the best, finding the center seat, your shoes getting stuck to the sticky floor (I don’t actually love that part),etc…love going to a movie. There are certainly better theaters, which I have only started realizing and appreciating due to Brian’s theater needs. We went and saw Super 8 at the Science Center Imax…which was absolutely the best place to see it. Such a nostalgic, fun film…fantastic casting! Saw the final Harry Potter this weekend at the Cinerama…which is for sure the go-to theater for big releases…PLUS, the snacks are super cheap! Was very happy with the final HP…sad that it is over, though I definitely didn’t feel the same mourning as when I finished the last book. That really was the ‘ending’ for me….the movies were fun to watch, but were never UNBELIEVABLE. But I definitely left the theater satisfied. Also recently saw Midnight in Paris. Which was not at all what I expected. I hadn’t seen any previews and didn’t know what it was supposed to be about…I just knew it was a Woody Allen film, so would probably have some weird sexual elements to the story, that it had an interesting mix of actors, and that it was in Paris…and really, I don’t care how cheesy it could have been, I would have seen it just for scenes of Paris. But it turned out to be a great movie! Really fun concept…a few things could have been done better (I think), but overall, REALLY liked and recommend it.
5. I’m sure after my last few posts you have imagined me kicking back in my new apartment, all put together and organized by this point (I mean, I have lived there for 2.5 months now)….BUT, no. Still boxes. Don’t get me wrong…there has been a significant amount of time and work put into it…there is just SO MUCH STUFF. But, this is the week…it will be 92.7% complete after this week. I have gotten to the point where I am tired of going through boxes, so it is much easier to just get rid of stuff. There will be several trips to the Goodwill in the next couple of days. I can’t wait to be done. Can’t wait for the area between the kitchen and my bedroom (also known as the living room) to not be an obstacle course- this is the week.
There you have it. Enjoy the sunshine.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Friday, the 13th!
I mean, seriously people…3 weeks in a row…I am on a roll. What is it- 28 days for something to become a habit?…either that means one more week of blogging and I’m back in it, or another half a year (since the blog is only one day a week)…here’s the five:
1. Will moving never end? Jeez Louise. I know that in the past I have kept my belongings to a minimum so I could pretty much pack up and leave in about 2 hours, and I have worked at making Seattle my home, thus adding more stuff…but I don’t remember moving being so unbelievably long and miserable. I have bruises all over my arms and legs from carrying boxes…I’m sure my muscle mass has tripled (I know, that sounds super intimidating), and I still have a ton left to do. I haven’t even STARTED unpacking at the new place…I actually think I will enjoy that. I am pretty well covered as far as the necessities at this point…I got a nice set of pots and pans for my birthday as well as some gift cards to help with the other purchases. There have been several trips to Target, a couple to Ikea, and then the random items given to me by friends and family. BUT, everything has to be out of the old place by Saturday…so while I’m not looking forward to finishing, it is nice to have an end in sight.
2. This past weekend, on top of clearing out the storage unit (thanks so much for your help mom!!), was Mother’s Day and my birthday. The last time these two VERY special days landed on the same date, the fam thought it would be hilarious to go to brunch at the BLT (oh, you aren’t familiar with the BLT? It’s the ever-classy Bonney Lake Tavern…as my mom says “but Eryn, they have a champagne fountain”). For whatever reason, I didn’t find it as amusing as everyone else, and it has been a joke ever since. There were many threats of that happening again this year. To ensure this didn’t happen, I suggested to Ron we create a surprise brunch at home. He came back and suggested it be a Disney World themed brunch…and we went from there. Ron put together a beautiful omelette bar…with every possible ingredient you could think of…from any of the many character breakfasts around the park. I made some Tonga Toast- the fried, banana-stuffed, cinnamon and sugar rolled french toast goodness from the Polynesian resort…there was a Toy Story table cloth and my Mickey Mouse plate set. She was surprised and it was yummy…I did feel bad though that she thought we just hadn’t made any plans, and she was frantically trying to make reservations up until that morning.
3. This Tuesday was the second Tuesday of the month, which meant it was time for The Round. I hadn’t been in a couple of months, and was excited…this was a particularly good one…Moondoggies, Campfire OK, and a new discovery- Kaylee Cole. I don’t usually love girl voices, but she was incredible. Definitely a highlight. The slam poets always blow me away…there are certainly those that are better than others…but even the ones that I don’t necessarily enjoy, amaze me. Their word choices and imagery is always so powerful. A lot of times I don’t like the rhythm or movements they perform with, because it often seems…um, generic? Not quite the word I want, but so many of them talk with the exact same rhythm, which takes away from the power of what they are saying. Every once in awhile though, you get those ones where they pause in just the right moments, making you lean forward in anticipation. Regardless of the actual performance, the fact that they (especially the high school kids!) can get up in front of a room of friends and strangers and share their thoughts is really amazing to me.
4. Wednesday night Death Cab for Cutie put on a last minute show at the Showbox Sodo…they announced the show on Tuesday morning, and the show went on sale THAT morning and sold out pretty quickly. Brian happened to catch the news early on and somehow managed to get tickets, so we went. It was their first show in almost 2 years, and it seemed like they were having fun playing together, making little mistakes and laughing. I don’t love the Showbox Sodo, but still- was a cool, small venue to see the band (since their next local show is headlining Sasquatch at the Gorge!). I’ll be honest, I’m not a huge fan (I don’t dislike…just wouldn’t ever pick them to listen to)…I’ve tried really hard to like them- I feel like I should. But I don’t. I felt a little bit guilty about being at the show, since so many big time fans weren’t able to get tickets…sorry guys. It was great.
5. Finally, a sunny day today. I really, REALLY wish it would stick around. I know it will cloud up this weekend, and the ten-day forecast is currently full of gray clouds and raindrops…but today, there is sunshine. It’s amazing what a difference that makes to everyone’s mood. Please stick around, Sun…please? Have a super weekend!
1. Will moving never end? Jeez Louise. I know that in the past I have kept my belongings to a minimum so I could pretty much pack up and leave in about 2 hours, and I have worked at making Seattle my home, thus adding more stuff…but I don’t remember moving being so unbelievably long and miserable. I have bruises all over my arms and legs from carrying boxes…I’m sure my muscle mass has tripled (I know, that sounds super intimidating), and I still have a ton left to do. I haven’t even STARTED unpacking at the new place…I actually think I will enjoy that. I am pretty well covered as far as the necessities at this point…I got a nice set of pots and pans for my birthday as well as some gift cards to help with the other purchases. There have been several trips to Target, a couple to Ikea, and then the random items given to me by friends and family. BUT, everything has to be out of the old place by Saturday…so while I’m not looking forward to finishing, it is nice to have an end in sight.
2. This past weekend, on top of clearing out the storage unit (thanks so much for your help mom!!), was Mother’s Day and my birthday. The last time these two VERY special days landed on the same date, the fam thought it would be hilarious to go to brunch at the BLT (oh, you aren’t familiar with the BLT? It’s the ever-classy Bonney Lake Tavern…as my mom says “but Eryn, they have a champagne fountain”). For whatever reason, I didn’t find it as amusing as everyone else, and it has been a joke ever since. There were many threats of that happening again this year. To ensure this didn’t happen, I suggested to Ron we create a surprise brunch at home. He came back and suggested it be a Disney World themed brunch…and we went from there. Ron put together a beautiful omelette bar…with every possible ingredient you could think of…from any of the many character breakfasts around the park. I made some Tonga Toast- the fried, banana-stuffed, cinnamon and sugar rolled french toast goodness from the Polynesian resort…there was a Toy Story table cloth and my Mickey Mouse plate set. She was surprised and it was yummy…I did feel bad though that she thought we just hadn’t made any plans, and she was frantically trying to make reservations up until that morning.
3. This Tuesday was the second Tuesday of the month, which meant it was time for The Round. I hadn’t been in a couple of months, and was excited…this was a particularly good one…Moondoggies, Campfire OK, and a new discovery- Kaylee Cole. I don’t usually love girl voices, but she was incredible. Definitely a highlight. The slam poets always blow me away…there are certainly those that are better than others…but even the ones that I don’t necessarily enjoy, amaze me. Their word choices and imagery is always so powerful. A lot of times I don’t like the rhythm or movements they perform with, because it often seems…um, generic? Not quite the word I want, but so many of them talk with the exact same rhythm, which takes away from the power of what they are saying. Every once in awhile though, you get those ones where they pause in just the right moments, making you lean forward in anticipation. Regardless of the actual performance, the fact that they (especially the high school kids!) can get up in front of a room of friends and strangers and share their thoughts is really amazing to me.
4. Wednesday night Death Cab for Cutie put on a last minute show at the Showbox Sodo…they announced the show on Tuesday morning, and the show went on sale THAT morning and sold out pretty quickly. Brian happened to catch the news early on and somehow managed to get tickets, so we went. It was their first show in almost 2 years, and it seemed like they were having fun playing together, making little mistakes and laughing. I don’t love the Showbox Sodo, but still- was a cool, small venue to see the band (since their next local show is headlining Sasquatch at the Gorge!). I’ll be honest, I’m not a huge fan (I don’t dislike…just wouldn’t ever pick them to listen to)…I’ve tried really hard to like them- I feel like I should. But I don’t. I felt a little bit guilty about being at the show, since so many big time fans weren’t able to get tickets…sorry guys. It was great.
5. Finally, a sunny day today. I really, REALLY wish it would stick around. I know it will cloud up this weekend, and the ten-day forecast is currently full of gray clouds and raindrops…but today, there is sunshine. It’s amazing what a difference that makes to everyone’s mood. Please stick around, Sun…please? Have a super weekend!
Friday, May 6, 2011
Friday- woot, woot!
Hey! Finally…a week that flew by (it’s been awhile since I’ve had a quick week, I guess)…here are the five:
1. Last weekend my mom and I drove over to Kittitas to visit my aunt, uncle, and cousins…I make the trip over every couple of months, but this visit was a special one…it was prom for the two older boys…and more specifically, SENIOR prom for Zach. Oh my gosh…I can’t believe Zach is graduating from high school. I have so many memories of that kid growing up… I fully remember my first actual conversation with him- when he was first putting together sentences…he is still the only kid, with all the babysitting I’ve done, that I have ever had to call poison control for… I remember when he learned how to use scissors at school and cut holes in his shirt and told his mom he ran into a tree branch…I mean, how is he possibly a graduating? Anyway…this wasn’t supposed to be an “I’m so old” point…just that the boys were very handsome in their tuxes and their dates were lovely…and it was fun to be there and take so many pictures! when I go home this weekend, I'll try to remember to post some pics!
2. Well, I started the moving process on Sunday, from my old apartment to the new…I have not been super productive. Sunday my dad and brother came up with a couch and chair, and helped me move my bedroom furniture…and that is about as far as I’ve gotten all week. I finally brought the shower curtain over last night…I’m pretty much still living out of an overnight bag. There will be some serious progress made this weekend though. My mom and I are going to spend some time sorting through my storage unit, and I will get all the STUFF to the new place. Organizing the stuff is going to take some time though. I have been staying at the new place all week, but it definitely doesn’t feel homey yet…it was super cool this morning, when I was walking out front, getting ready to head to work, there were lots of animal sounds coming from the zoo! Exciting…they were all getting up and saying good morning!
3. I went to a super great show on Tuesday- finally saw the Fleet Foxes…I feel like I bought the tickets to the show YEARS ago. I haven’t ever seen them, but do really like them…and it was really just so good! They are such a tight sounding band…it never sounds like individuals, but like they just pushed play somewhere and one sound comes out. There was a ton of time spent on tuning guitars, which was only slightly annoying (I mean, they literally could have played at least 3-4 more songs in the time that was spent tuning), but I suppose that is why the songs sound so amazing, right? Can’t complain too much. It was also very cool to see them at the Moore…pretty small venue.
4. Yesterday was the first Thursday of the month, which means free museum days, so Brian and I decided to be super classy and cultured and went to the Seattle Art Museum. They just opened a new exhibit of Nick Cave (not the musician)…Meet me at the Center of the Earth. He created these ‘sound suits’, which are these costumes put together with re-used…stuff. There were suits made from doilies, buttons, sweaters, etc…they were all super colorful and whimsical. They also had a big parade out front of the museum, where people came dressed up in their own ‘sound suits’, and walked together, lead by a marching band, along 1st avenue. It was quite a sight!!
5. Well, I am currently waiting for my lunch to get delivered and I am starving…all I can think about at the moment is my Red Mill chicken verde burger…ohhh, is it going to be delicious. AND, as if Red Mill on a work day isn’t exciting enough, we get to have treats today for my birthday! Yes! Okay, it should be here at any second…good bye for now!
1. Last weekend my mom and I drove over to Kittitas to visit my aunt, uncle, and cousins…I make the trip over every couple of months, but this visit was a special one…it was prom for the two older boys…and more specifically, SENIOR prom for Zach. Oh my gosh…I can’t believe Zach is graduating from high school. I have so many memories of that kid growing up… I fully remember my first actual conversation with him- when he was first putting together sentences…he is still the only kid, with all the babysitting I’ve done, that I have ever had to call poison control for… I remember when he learned how to use scissors at school and cut holes in his shirt and told his mom he ran into a tree branch…I mean, how is he possibly a graduating? Anyway…this wasn’t supposed to be an “I’m so old” point…just that the boys were very handsome in their tuxes and their dates were lovely…and it was fun to be there and take so many pictures! when I go home this weekend, I'll try to remember to post some pics!
2. Well, I started the moving process on Sunday, from my old apartment to the new…I have not been super productive. Sunday my dad and brother came up with a couch and chair, and helped me move my bedroom furniture…and that is about as far as I’ve gotten all week. I finally brought the shower curtain over last night…I’m pretty much still living out of an overnight bag. There will be some serious progress made this weekend though. My mom and I are going to spend some time sorting through my storage unit, and I will get all the STUFF to the new place. Organizing the stuff is going to take some time though. I have been staying at the new place all week, but it definitely doesn’t feel homey yet…it was super cool this morning, when I was walking out front, getting ready to head to work, there were lots of animal sounds coming from the zoo! Exciting…they were all getting up and saying good morning!
3. I went to a super great show on Tuesday- finally saw the Fleet Foxes…I feel like I bought the tickets to the show YEARS ago. I haven’t ever seen them, but do really like them…and it was really just so good! They are such a tight sounding band…it never sounds like individuals, but like they just pushed play somewhere and one sound comes out. There was a ton of time spent on tuning guitars, which was only slightly annoying (I mean, they literally could have played at least 3-4 more songs in the time that was spent tuning), but I suppose that is why the songs sound so amazing, right? Can’t complain too much. It was also very cool to see them at the Moore…pretty small venue.
4. Yesterday was the first Thursday of the month, which means free museum days, so Brian and I decided to be super classy and cultured and went to the Seattle Art Museum. They just opened a new exhibit of Nick Cave (not the musician)…Meet me at the Center of the Earth. He created these ‘sound suits’, which are these costumes put together with re-used…stuff. There were suits made from doilies, buttons, sweaters, etc…they were all super colorful and whimsical. They also had a big parade out front of the museum, where people came dressed up in their own ‘sound suits’, and walked together, lead by a marching band, along 1st avenue. It was quite a sight!!
5. Well, I am currently waiting for my lunch to get delivered and I am starving…all I can think about at the moment is my Red Mill chicken verde burger…ohhh, is it going to be delicious. AND, as if Red Mill on a work day isn’t exciting enough, we get to have treats today for my birthday! Yes! Okay, it should be here at any second…good bye for now!
Friday, April 29, 2011
April 29th!
Hey! I’m back and, being that I have attempted to write this particular blog entry (the return entry from the long hiatus) tens of times, I’m just going to get right to it.
1. I’m moving! No, no…I’m not moving away again…I’m actually quite content here in Seattle. But I’m moving to a new apartment. I have been in my same apartment in Fremont for, ummm, maybe 3+ years, with my same lovely roommate…and it has been great. But, recently I’ve just been feeling like it’s about that time to get my own space…make myself invest in some furniture and house stuff. I’m feeling a little anxious about the decision- I think mostly just because it all happened SO fast. I was just casually looking around at different sites, trying to get an idea of what kind of place I could afford. I had a couple of priorities-location and washer/dryer in unit…and then ideally a HOUSE versus apt. One day I came across a place that had all of those requirements, so I decided to take a look. I decided what the heck, filled out an application…and then the next day got the call that it was mine if I wanted it, but he had other people waiting so needed to know that day if I was interested…pressure! So, that’s the story…I get the keys on May 1st and will begin the moving process. As I mentioned previously, I don’t have much of anything to fill the place…currently I have a bed, bookshelf, couch, chair, dishes, toaster, blender, food processor….and that is just about it. So if anyone is planning to get rid of anything…please feel free to pass it along to me!
2. More excitement…I just returned (okay, a couple weeks ago) from a long weekend trip to Disneyland. It had been a couple of years since I was last there, and a few more years before that since my last proper Disney trip. It was so great! Disney highlights included-making faces for the picture in Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters, having a sore arm from intense games of Toy Story Mania, fighting through crowds to get a blue section fastpass for the new night time show at California Adventure, World of Color (which was a cool show, but not as great Fantasmic), a delightful question and answer session with Crush (from Finding Nemo) in Turtle Talk that included some priceless comments from multiple kiddos, and a 16+ hour day that started with a magic morning entry (1 hr before the park opens) at Disneyland, over to California Adventure for the entire day (and a visit from Amy who recently made the move to LA…so fun to see her!), with a return to Disneyland to close that park down…it was pretty impressive really. In addition to the Disney fun, we also went to a taping of Conan, which was super cool (and Rory Gilmore was one of the guests!), went to a Dodgers game (loved that the stadium was up on a hill and completely let you forget you were in Los Angeles), and visited Laguna Beach and Newport Beach Tommy Bahama restaurants…so yummy! Such a stellar trip!
3. With Amazon making the move to our South Lake Union area, there has been several new restaurants popping in…which has been great (always nice to have new lunch and happy hour options close by)…Tom Douglas has taken over…in the past few months he has opened 5 new spots- he opened a second Serious Pie (fancy pizza), with a Dahlia Bakery below it (the biscuit and jam in the morning is unbelievable!), with a wine shop next door (I haven’t taken advantage of the occasional complimentary tastings NEARLY enough). More recently he opened Cuoco (hand made pasta), which we had an HR lunch at and it was AMAZING…sigh when I think of the gnocchi I ate. Finally made it to the Bravehorse Tavern last night, which was SO COOL. It’s pretty good size and was completely packed by 5:05pm. There is shuffleboard, lots of types of beer, and big pretzels with dipping sauces that included peanut butter/bacon, sour cream/onion, and pimento cheese. Bomb. I haven’t had the opportunity to try his new Dumpling place yet- TingMomo.
4. One of the reasons I was hoping to find a house rather than apartment building to move into, is because I really like the idea of growing vegetables and herbs in the yard. I’m not sure why I like the idea…I tried growing corn when I was younger and it did not turn out well, I think my mom might have tried tomatoes once, and I don’t remember that being successful, I’ve never done any flower planting…I think we grew radishes at my dad’s house when we were little…but who wants to eat a bunch of radishes? But anyway…I still really like the idea of it…so I’m going to give it a try. I have a bit of room in my backyard to work with….and I’d like to find a few things that won’t discourage me…because realistically, I don’t think I’m going to end up spending a ton of time on this stuff. Any suggestions of easy veggies or herbs? I’ll probs do some tomato plants…I think beans would be fun, but I’m not sure how difficult those might be. I like the idea of carrots…pulling things out of the ground- that sounds fun. The only herbs that I regularly use in cooking is rosemary- which I can probably grow, basil- I have tried a basil plant before but I have found I don’t use enough of it and the plant goes to waste…that’s about it. I like dill…I wonder if that would be doable…hmm. Anyway…suggestions?
5. And finally, how could I possibly make a post today- Friday April 29th, without mentioning the royal wedding? I mean, that is all that’s being talked about…just about every computer screen I walk by at work has random pictures from the big event. But, I think that’s about all I have to say….I just don’t care. It’s a ridiculously expensive wedding.
And there you go…five for this Friday. A quick Happy 30th Birthday to my big sis, Danielle!
Hope you all have a super weekend, with perhaps some sunshine? Fingers crossed, right?! Sorry about the rambling and maybe not as interesting writing…I haven’t been doing much of it lately and it might take some time to get my writing voice back…
1. I’m moving! No, no…I’m not moving away again…I’m actually quite content here in Seattle. But I’m moving to a new apartment. I have been in my same apartment in Fremont for, ummm, maybe 3+ years, with my same lovely roommate…and it has been great. But, recently I’ve just been feeling like it’s about that time to get my own space…make myself invest in some furniture and house stuff. I’m feeling a little anxious about the decision- I think mostly just because it all happened SO fast. I was just casually looking around at different sites, trying to get an idea of what kind of place I could afford. I had a couple of priorities-location and washer/dryer in unit…and then ideally a HOUSE versus apt. One day I came across a place that had all of those requirements, so I decided to take a look. I decided what the heck, filled out an application…and then the next day got the call that it was mine if I wanted it, but he had other people waiting so needed to know that day if I was interested…pressure! So, that’s the story…I get the keys on May 1st and will begin the moving process. As I mentioned previously, I don’t have much of anything to fill the place…currently I have a bed, bookshelf, couch, chair, dishes, toaster, blender, food processor….and that is just about it. So if anyone is planning to get rid of anything…please feel free to pass it along to me!
2. More excitement…I just returned (okay, a couple weeks ago) from a long weekend trip to Disneyland. It had been a couple of years since I was last there, and a few more years before that since my last proper Disney trip. It was so great! Disney highlights included-making faces for the picture in Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters, having a sore arm from intense games of Toy Story Mania, fighting through crowds to get a blue section fastpass for the new night time show at California Adventure, World of Color (which was a cool show, but not as great Fantasmic), a delightful question and answer session with Crush (from Finding Nemo) in Turtle Talk that included some priceless comments from multiple kiddos, and a 16+ hour day that started with a magic morning entry (1 hr before the park opens) at Disneyland, over to California Adventure for the entire day (and a visit from Amy who recently made the move to LA…so fun to see her!), with a return to Disneyland to close that park down…it was pretty impressive really. In addition to the Disney fun, we also went to a taping of Conan, which was super cool (and Rory Gilmore was one of the guests!), went to a Dodgers game (loved that the stadium was up on a hill and completely let you forget you were in Los Angeles), and visited Laguna Beach and Newport Beach Tommy Bahama restaurants…so yummy! Such a stellar trip!
3. With Amazon making the move to our South Lake Union area, there has been several new restaurants popping in…which has been great (always nice to have new lunch and happy hour options close by)…Tom Douglas has taken over…in the past few months he has opened 5 new spots- he opened a second Serious Pie (fancy pizza), with a Dahlia Bakery below it (the biscuit and jam in the morning is unbelievable!), with a wine shop next door (I haven’t taken advantage of the occasional complimentary tastings NEARLY enough). More recently he opened Cuoco (hand made pasta), which we had an HR lunch at and it was AMAZING…sigh when I think of the gnocchi I ate. Finally made it to the Bravehorse Tavern last night, which was SO COOL. It’s pretty good size and was completely packed by 5:05pm. There is shuffleboard, lots of types of beer, and big pretzels with dipping sauces that included peanut butter/bacon, sour cream/onion, and pimento cheese. Bomb. I haven’t had the opportunity to try his new Dumpling place yet- TingMomo.
4. One of the reasons I was hoping to find a house rather than apartment building to move into, is because I really like the idea of growing vegetables and herbs in the yard. I’m not sure why I like the idea…I tried growing corn when I was younger and it did not turn out well, I think my mom might have tried tomatoes once, and I don’t remember that being successful, I’ve never done any flower planting…I think we grew radishes at my dad’s house when we were little…but who wants to eat a bunch of radishes? But anyway…I still really like the idea of it…so I’m going to give it a try. I have a bit of room in my backyard to work with….and I’d like to find a few things that won’t discourage me…because realistically, I don’t think I’m going to end up spending a ton of time on this stuff. Any suggestions of easy veggies or herbs? I’ll probs do some tomato plants…I think beans would be fun, but I’m not sure how difficult those might be. I like the idea of carrots…pulling things out of the ground- that sounds fun. The only herbs that I regularly use in cooking is rosemary- which I can probably grow, basil- I have tried a basil plant before but I have found I don’t use enough of it and the plant goes to waste…that’s about it. I like dill…I wonder if that would be doable…hmm. Anyway…suggestions?
5. And finally, how could I possibly make a post today- Friday April 29th, without mentioning the royal wedding? I mean, that is all that’s being talked about…just about every computer screen I walk by at work has random pictures from the big event. But, I think that’s about all I have to say….I just don’t care. It’s a ridiculously expensive wedding.
And there you go…five for this Friday. A quick Happy 30th Birthday to my big sis, Danielle!
Hope you all have a super weekend, with perhaps some sunshine? Fingers crossed, right?! Sorry about the rambling and maybe not as interesting writing…I haven’t been doing much of it lately and it might take some time to get my writing voice back…
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