What an evening!

Ahhh, I had the most magical evening last night. One of our friends hosted a Creative Lounge at her house...the invite said:  

It will be an evening of lounging around with inspiring people and eating treats. If you have something creative you're working on, (a short story, a photo journal, a blog entry, a painting, sewing project, a monologue, a song etc) please bring it to share. Works in progress are perfect. At the very least bring an open mind and an illuminated heart! 

What a brave event to create...it could go wrong in so many ways (although I suppose with your friends, it will always be alright)...but it was truly amazing, and beautiful, and inspiring, and really just so full of magic. 

First, Bridget set the perfect scene in their backyard...she strung up curtains to create a little flowery stage, she spread a blanket out on the ground filled with art supplies and magazines for collaging. There were delightful treats from Trader Joes set out on pretty little plates. And then, the people...the yard was filled with the kind of people that you are comfortable with the first time you meet them...they are interested in you and love any imperfection you might reveal...they ask questions and smile and laugh. As the sun went down and the yard started to darken, Beau and Jamie pulled out twinkly lights and strung them around the yard...the lights playing off of the people and the colors all around...swoon! And then the performances...there were poems read, short plays performed, a Platter family music wonder, people were painting and coloring and cutting up books. 

And Brian performed a song he wrote. I didn't even know he was planning to play anything, let alone that he had written something. He slipped his guitar in the car while I was at my house. I am still amazed at how brave he was to get up and sing his own song. He announced that he had recently purchased one of Bridget's paintings (our host) and had used the painting for inspiration...what an incredible gift to share! And I loved the song...everyone loved the song. I know it sounds corny, but I'm just so proud of him. Here is the painting and the song. 

The only reminders that the evening wasn't a dream are the large mosquito bites I'm covered in...oh how those bugs like me. 

I can't WAIT for the next one. But before then, I'll need to find SOMETHING I can contribute. I would say my greatest gift to art is my appreciation of it...although I would actually say my appreciation is maybe less of the actual art, more of the people that created it. The stories behind it, the need to get it out, and the courage to share it. Big time appreciator.

And speaking of appreciating...I need to get outside into the glorious sunshine! More later...more exciting things to blog!

Flowers

Well, Brian is gone for the week at summer camp, so I may get some extra blogging in this week. Besides having a little extra time on my hands (I do have a huge list of to-dos, as well as having filled my week with friend dates, so really, not that much extra time), this past week has been a week full of thinking- a little less sleep than I would like, but some good quality thinking, which might make for some extra posts. Sometimes those kinds of weeks are great and sometimes they are tough. I think I used to have the deep thinking times a lot more often. Silence and wandering can cause deep thinking. 

Anyway…sorry for that to sound a little dramatic. It’s not…I’m happy- very happy -a little stressed as previously mentioned- but overall, jeez louise, so freaking blessed and great. 

I only mention all of that because I would imagine that my upcoming blog posts might be a little all over the place. 

Which brings me to my blog point- Flowers. I just started my new book club book today. We are reading The Language of Flowers. My book club is actually my mom’s book club, and I haven’t been able to make it for the last few months, which SUPER bums me out…I love the group, and while I always read the book, it never bothers me that we spend about 5% of the time talking about the book…more just a catch up on everyone’s lives-they are a cool group of gals. But we have been reading a lot of depressing books, it seems like. Which is probably a common thing for book clubs…when you are choosing one book to read and discuss for the month, you want it to be something deep…but it just seems like we have had some especially tough books lately. And I don’t really want to deal with it, to be honest….I wish we hadn’t already done Tina Fey’s book, because that would be exactly what I would need. 

Rambling, so much rambling…ANYWAY…the current book that I just started today, I am LOVING. It has some tougher stuff in it, but is written in a way that moves on from those things, doesn't linger or focus…the main character in the book has had this hard life and she isn’t particularly pleasant, but she gets relief from flowers and their meanings. 

I love flowers. LOVE. I am not a girly girl. I’m not overly romantic. Bows and pink and giggling aren’t things I need in life. But for some reason there is something about flowers. And I don’t garden. I’ve liked the idea and have made an effort to grow things- they always die…so I know nothing about flowers. But it seems like they are one of those things in life that God created just for the sake of beauty. Just to cheer us up and make us feel good. And the idea that different flowers MEAN different things (in this book club book) is both interesting, and so very sweet. 

That's all I wanted to write about...flowers. 

I'm still here....

Oh my word, we are already through the first week of July! I am SO excited about the weather forecast for the next week, because prior to yesterday I had already convinced myself that I was looking forward to the apple spice and pumpkins of the Fall. But that’s right- it is only the beginning of summer.

 

Per usual, when I go a long period of time without blogging, I have attempted a few different versions, but never quite finish, and here I am with a month and a half to catch up on!

 

I’ve been fairly stressed out lately (as stressed as I get anyway…I have really made an effort over the past few years to mellow out in the stress department) and my body has definitely let me know that I need to CHILL. I have had a few canker sores, a sty in my eye, stomachaches, and lots of poor nights of sleeping. I’m hoping that getting back into a regular running routine will help calm me down, and maybe some vitamin D will make a difference? I wish I was still doing yoga…that was always really helpful. Whatever it is, I need to calm down…stress is not healthy.

 

Speaking of getting back into a running routine, I have officially started my training for the Leavenworth half marathon in October! I started a couple weeks earlier than the 12 week program for a couple of reasons- mostly just because I am not in my usual running shape, so I need some time to get back into a comfortable place…I’m starting at 2 miles. Which is a little bit upsetting to me…ever since I started running, 3 miles has always been my comfortable starting place- I could always run Greenlake, no matter how bad I had been about running…but at this point, even Greenlake is TOUGH for me. And then the other reason is that last time I trained for my half, I got pretty bad shin splints after one of the longer runs and had to sit out for about a week and a half…so I just want to make sure I give myself plenty of time. I am so excited to have a reason to train...get some discipline back. I’m doing the race with my aunt and possibly my mom (same crew as the Disney half marathon).

 

I’ve decided to pursue the idea of nursing school. Which basically means I am filling myself with the info regarding the different programs in the area- I know there are about 3-5 pre-req classes I need to take (depending on the program), and so have applied for financial aid, and applied to the various community colleges in the area, and am planning to get going on pre-reqs this Fall. I am SO looking forward to school. And science classes in particular. Obviously I have anxiety about it all (one of those stressors in my life)…student loans, time, studying- I haven’t been in school in almost 8 years- will I be good at it? I’m guessing my brain functions different than it used to when school was a regular thing. And nursing programs are SUPER competitive to get into…will I even get into a program after spending money on the pre-req classes? And then those crazy future worries…will I enjoy nursing, will I be good at it, is this just me in a rut…etc. Thank God for prayer.

 

In other news, the Mariners are still terrible. Brian is funny with M’s…he gets so upset about the way they play, but then can’t wait to get to the next game. He has been to almost half of all their home games so far this season…I haven’t been to that many, but close. They are frustrating to watch…the offense is just terrible. They can’t score a run for anything. There is the big debate about the left center wall at Safeco and how we are a tough home run hitting park…that may be true, but it shouldn’t affect base hits. Other teams are still hitting at our park. But interestingly enough, our offense isn’t nearly as bad on the road…in fact we are pretty okay on the road. But our pitching staff doesn’t do as well on the road…such an unfortunate thing. Anyway…we are still going to a ton of games…for example, this past week, we went to the games on Saturday, Monday, and Wednesday.

 

Similarly (though certainly not as bad), the Sounders are going through a bit of a rough patch as well. They haven’t won an MLS game since May! They haven’t lost all of those games, but there have been an awful lot of ties, which is so laaaaame. They have still been winning the US Open Cup games…just on a bad streak in the MLS.

 

In sad news, one of my favorite actors died...ol Andy Griffith. AKA...Matlock. One of my all time favorite shows (I have a season on DVD...and when I was in school I used to set my alarm in the summertime to get up to watch it at 9:05am)....I just always felt a little better about the world knowing that Matlock was out there...and then he died this week. One positive thing that I discovered is that Brian and Andy share a birthday (along with my cousin Tanner), and so I feel like a little bit of Matlock must live inside Brian. Phew. 

Okay, more to catch up on later...maybe another post this weekend. But I must get out and get my run in for the day.

Disney World Birthday Trip...

It's about time for the Disney blog report, ay? I mean, I mentioned it enough times leading up to the trip. The trip was so great...all the things a Disney trip should be...leaving you exhausted when you return home and have to go back to work. Sorry for no pictures in this post...my mom took a ton of pictures, but I haven't actually seen any of them yet!

The trip got off to a little bit of a rough start. We were scheduled to take the red eye out Friday evening. Brian and I were flying stand by, but we weren't too concerned about the flight going out. There were still something like 20 seats available the day before. And then 10 seats available the day of (and I guess the airlines figure something like 4% of the plane travelers don't show up)...so we were feeling okay about it. Well, since we aren't airline employees, we kept getting moved down the stand by list...we were the last two on the list (number 11 and 12)...feeling a tad nervous, but still not really thinking we wouldn't make it. We didn't make it. We were the only two that didn't...everyone else on the stand by list got on the flight. So...at this point, the airline rebooked us onto the 8am flight the next day...which was actually overbooked- not looking good that we would make it. Meanwhile my mom and Ron were on the flight (they actually bought their tickets)...my mom sobbing that my trip was ruined...the poor man sitting next to her on that flight.

We had to make our way back through the airport, heads hung, without our luggage (on its way to Orlando)onto the train back into Seattle. I have to say, I was suuuuper proud of us...we handled it like champs. Made a plan for the next day, revised the trip itinerary a little bit, and just rolled with it. Brian's dad woke up bright and early to get us to the airport by 6am Saturday morning. We didn't have a lot of hope for getting on the flight...with 10 minutes before take off there were still two people that hadn't arrived...so we made it on. I had never been more excited to get on a plane...we were high-fiving people, and we even ended up getting to sit together right up near the front. Couldn't have been a better situation...

We made it to Orlando, hopped on the Magical Express (the bus that picks you up at the airport and takes you right to your Disney resort), and met my parents- who spent the day at one of the parks, exhausted from their red eye flight. Our luggage was already waiting for us in the room...we quickly changed and headed out to Hollywood Studios for dinner at the 50's Prime Time Cafe (eat all your vegetables and keep your elbows off the table!), and my favorite nighttime show- Fantasmic. Brian said he likes the Fantasmic at Disneyland better...at the Studios, they have a whole arena area with benches and seating set up...it is a space used only for the Fantasmic show...he likes how you have to sit on the ground at Disneyland...that you were able to go over to Tom Sawyer's Island earlier that day...that it all feels more authentic at Disneyland. I agree with that...but I do appreciate not having to sit on the ground an hour ahead of time waiting for the show!

Next day was Magic Kingdom. Nice and early...there really is no sleeping in at Disney...the early morning is the best time to be there! We did all the classic rides...sadly, Big Thunder Mountain was down for refurbishment...luckily I did know that ahead of time, otherwise that could have been more disappointing than the missed flight! We took the ferry boat over to the Grand Floridian for dinner at Narcoossees. SUCH a delicious meal- we did the Disney Dining Plan, so pretty much all of our meals were paid for ahead of time, which was awesome and meant that we didn't have to look at prices on the menus! And then my mom and Ron surprised me for my birthday with a fireworks cruise...which meant we went out on our own little boat (with a driver, who was a college program kid in his last week) on the lagoon next to Magic Kingdom and watch the fireworks, with the music piped in and everything. It was such a cool experience, and so cool that my parents found something new that we hadn't done before! My parents went back to the hotel after the fireworks cruise, but Brian and I headed back to the park to close it down...we hadn't made it on to Peter Pan earlier in the day, and you can't miss Peter Pan!

Next day was EPCOT...the Flower and Garden Show was going on while we were there, so there tons of lovely flower displays and trees trimmed and colored to look like characters. After having such a late night at Magic Kingdom and the heat, we really weren't feeling the drink around the world showcase...we still stopped in each country of course...and did the ride (Mexico and Norway), and took pictures with the various hats of each country...but we pretty much downed water. We had dinner reservations at Rose & Crown (in the UK) because that is the only restaurant on the water. We were able to sit and enjoy our desserts while we watched Illuminations (the EPCOT night time show).

We finally got to sleep in a bit on Tuesday (my actual birthday!) because that was our water park day. We went to Typhoon Lagoon...did the slides- Crush N Gusher, Gang Plank Falls, Mayday Falls, we snorkeled in ice cold water with the sharks, we rode the waves in the giant wave pool (I actually just run from those waves...no riding for me- they are terrifying!), lounged in the lazy river...super fun day. Then we went back to the hotel to change for dinner at the Pointe Orlando Tommy Bahama. My long time Disney friend Michael joined us for dinner at Tommy. The whole meal was such a treat...the Tommy Bahama restaurant experience is always amazing. We had about two too many desserts though!

When we returned to the hotel that night, we had a surprise in our room- my good pal Jessica (my roommate in Chicago) had left Brian and I a park hopper each! We had purchased park passes that only let us visit one park a day, so we had to make sure we got everything done in the one day...that's a lot of pressure, so this park hopper was such a cool surprise and allowed us to go back to parks we had been to but missed seeing certain things.

Wednesday was Animal Kingdom day. Ron wasn't feeling awesome, so he stayed at the hotel for the morning. We did the safari and saw all kinds of animals...all of the regulars- the giraffes and elephants and okapi (only relative of the giraffe)- we also saw rhinos, hippos, a cheetah, and two lions- that were standing and walking around...and looking hungry. Every time I have ever seen the lions, they are always lazy sleepers. I was waiting for them to attack our jeep at any moment, which really added a whole new level of thrill to the safari. Woot! And Expedition Everest! Such a fun roller coaster...LOVE that one. My mom went back to the hotel to meet up with Ron, and Brian and I meandered around the park a bit longer, exploring. Since we had the park hopper, we went back to EPCOT...to see a few things we had missed previously- Club Cool...with the different sodas from around the world, and to ride Spaceship Earth (the giant ball that is the symbol of EPCOT). We met back up with my mom and Ron there, and then headed to Magic Kingdom to take in the firework show from inside the park. They are doing this cool thing prior to the actual fireworks, where they laser pictures of guests- that were taken THAT day in the park- up onto the castle...pretty cool.

And then, somehow, we were at our last day. We were planning to spend most of the day at Hollywood Studios, but then realized we hadn't been to Downtown Disney at all, and hadn't done any souvenir shopping. So we hustled to the park when it opened (of course), rode a few things...we really missed out on so much at this park, unfortunately. We had lunch at the Sci-Fi Diner (like a drive in theater- sitting in cars watching old sci fi movies...really cute), and then booked it to Downtown Disney. We split up to get the shopping we each needed completed, grabbed a few sandwiches for the plane, and then back to our hotel to catch the Magical Express back to the airport.

Sigh....it is always so hard to leave Disney. It has gotten better...I mean, I know now that there will be another Disney trip at some point (when I was younger, I very nearly cried every time we had to leave because I never knew when we would go back)....

Once again we were flying stand by, and this flight was fully booked. I wasn't as concerned about making this flight though...I mean, another day in Disney...not such a bad thing. BUT, we were the only ones on the stand by list, and sure enough, two people didn't show up, so we made the flight and made our way back to Seattle. The nice thing was we flew back on a Thursday night and had taken Friday off of work, so we had a few days to decompress and unpack and such. I don't think I've ever had a vacation with extra days at home before having to go back to work. I always make the trip last as long as possible....but it sure was nice to have those few breather days in between.

Sorry, that was waaaay too long. But that was the trip. Brian gave me a little 'you know we can't really do Disney World every year' talk...but by the time we were leaving he was thinking that maybe we should go to Disneyland for one of the Not-So-Scary Halloween parties, or sometime around Christmas. Ha...although we have already been planning a couple of trips to take this next year, so I think Disney MIGHT have to wait.

Catching up...plus Disney in 19 days!

Well, I’ve had a series of blog posts written and ready to post, but I think they were getting a little long, so I’m going to shorten them up to one five pointer post….

1.      Two weekends ago we went to the Ian McFeron Band show at The Triple Door. Brian had a Sounders game to go to, so he met up with me and a couple of my friends at the show later. I have seen Ian and the band play…gosh, I don’t know…SO many times…and as noted many times in this blog, TTD is my favorite place to see pretty much any show, but particularly Ian…plus, the food is delicious. And it was just such a fantastic night! It had definitely been too long since the last time I had seen them play…but this show had to be at the top of my list, if not my favorite. Great setlist, good mix of new songs and old favs, the energy on stage was so fun (Ian kicked his guitar stand over! He said later that he tripped, but I’m pretty sure he gave it a big old kick). I’m looking forward to hearing more of the new music…and just really felt excited about the band and where they are headed. NOT TO MENTION…they really are some of the best people I know. It just makes you happy when those kinds of people do well, you know.

2.      My jeep was broken into again. I first realized because the door was locked. I don’t lock the doors of my jeep…the key doesn’t work to unlock them. Then I sat in my seat and my feet barely touched the pedals…it had been moved back. And then finally, whoever it was had torn the middle console open…it was previously locked and impossible to get into (my key didn’t work for it either). As far as I know, there was nothing in it…certainly nothing I have added in the past 10 years anyway…I hope there was a family of spiders that jumped out at the thief though. I’m sure they got nothing of value…as the jeep was broken into over the winter, and I have added nothing new…perhaps some granola bars. It’s just annoying and makes me feel weird…that there is a person standing just outside my house that breaks into cars. Ish.

3.      I went to a mer-themed bridal shower last weekend- mer as in mermaid, ocean, sand, shells…it was put together so well! The decorations were fantastic…from the food-including a sand castle shaped cake, to the photo ‘booth’ that had shell crowns and other props, to the yummy seafoam punch and beautiful champagne/jello beverage. The champagne and jello drink was probably my favorite…it looked so pretty…the blue jello floated on the top, while champagne bubbles seeped around it…plus, it was champagne and jello…yum. (stole this pic from a blog) Very much looking forward to this wedding at the end of the month! 

4.      Oh my gosh, my Disney World birthday trip is happening! And it is happening in 19 days! I am so flipping excited. I can’t wait to step outside of the airport and smell that Orlando air…it really feels like a second home and makes me feel 19 (that’s how old I was when I lived there on my internship). It blows my mind that my internship was almost 11 years ago. I met some of my favorite people and friends on that internship. Sighh…yes, I can’t wait to smell the Orlando air. 

5.      Speaking of the birthday trip and how 11 years have gone by, etc…I am turning 30 this year-next month actually. That is pretty crazy. I don’t feel 30 (whatever that means, it isn’t like 30 is even old)…but all the same, I don’t feel 30. I feel 24 maybe…like I’m still figuring things out and excited about whatever might be next. It has been a relief to me, as I’ve gotten older, to realize that grownups don’t have it all figured out either. I remember when I was about 6 years old and would be hanging out with my mom’s cheer team (they were in junior high) and thinking they knew everything. And when I was 8, and learning how to dribble the basketball between my legs from my step-dad’s high school team, and thinking they knew EVERYTHING. And then, when I started college and I made friends with people who were done with college- wow, they must know everything now. And as I reached each of those ages that I had been looking up to, I realized I still didn’t know everything. What a relief. Anyway…where I am going with all of this rambling, is that I haven’t been too concerned with the big birthday coming up. Feeling pretty fine about it…I love birthdays. Then I started having bad dreams. Dreams that were clearly driven by anxiety over the birthday. BUT, they have mostly stopped since the birthday trip to Disney World has become more of a reality (money paid, reservations made- rather than just talking about it)…I think it makes me feel better to know that I am celebrating this birthday in my favorite kid place.

6.      A bonus point…this weekend was gorgeous! It amazes me how pretty this place is when the sun is out! We definitely took advantage of the weather. First, I got a last minute ticket from my pal Catie for the Counting Crows show (which has nothing to do with good weather, but is an exciting treat all the same)…they played Anna Begins, which just made my night! Then Saturday, I went hiking with Willow…we did Rattlesnake Ridge, which wasn’t as hard as I was expecting…pretty short…but really pretty at the top. We had lunch at the enemy bar/restaurant- El Chupacabra…I continue thinking I like this place, despite the fact that they are so unbelievably rude there EVERY time. And usually the food is good, but this time, my burrito was cold, so I’m officially done with them. 

7.      I decided the Zoo needed its own point… On Sunday Brian and I went to the Zoo first thing in the morning. It was a little chilly still, but a good day for the zoo. I have to say- Zoos are a little sad. The gorillas are particularly sad. You can tell they know what’s going on, and you can tell they aren’t particularly amused…especially when they take a seat and keep their backs to the crowd. There was one that settled right up to the window, in a thinking man position, and watched as a lady pulled random items out of her purse. Every new item she pulled out, he tapped the window, like he wanted something else. Also…there was a peacock just hanging out on one of the pathways. This was one of the first animals we encountered…and thought it was so amazing. I mean, that bird is beautiful. But it turns out, this particular bird is QUITE the ham. He kept putting his tail down and then, dramatically, splaying them out and posing for the crowd. He loved it. We ran into him a couple times and he was still just a-posing away. The bears were probably my highlight…I don’t think I’ve ever seen active bears at the zoo before…seems like they are always just sleeping. These two bears were wrestling with each other in the water…so you could only see their two GIGANTIC heads, with their massive teeth out, and their huge claws tearing at each other…oh my. Bears are frightening!!

Okay, okay…I’ll end there…I have more to write about…Mariners games, book club (anyone have a funny book they would like to recommend for my next book club? I can’t take another super-downer), etc…but despite the shortening of previously composed blogs, this has become incredibly long. Have a great week!!

Amazing Race!

Gum wall

My legs are SO. SORE. Particularly my calves, shins, and feet. Brian, my friends Willow and Rachel, and I did an Amazing Race Seattle competition on Sunday. When I got up and dressed on Sunday morning, I was imagining more of the obstacle/task parts of the show Amazing Race…which prompted me to put on jeans, a sweatshirt, 
and a pair of TOMS. You know, rather than running shorts, a sports bra, and tennis shoes…which turns out, would have been much more appropriate. Because we RAN all over Seattle…for just about 3 hours.

Ivar's on Pier

The event started up on Capitol Hill at Cal Anderson Park…the way the game worked is we were given our first clue, which prompted the team to find a specific location- once there, you take a picture of your team (to prove you are all there), email it in to ‘headquarters’, and then they email you back your next clue…which sends you off to a new location. The only rules were that your team had to stay together (3 of the 4 team members needed to be in the picture), and no wheels, other than a bus were allowed (no car, bike, rollerskates). As I said, we started at Cal Anderson Park…first clue sent us down to the gum wall in Pike Place Market. Most of the 

teams headed to a bus stop to wait for a bus…we decided to get a jump on everyone and just run there…no waiting for bus stops, and separating ourselves from the other teams. It worked…we were ahead of most teams…but almost 2 miles later, we were a little exhausted…with 8 more stops to go! The next clue took us to the Space Needle, and then to the Ivars on Pier 54. We still weren’t interested in waiting on a bus…we’re still running/walking/running. We knew there was one team ahead of us the whole time…this group of guys in Sounders jerseys…they were always on their way to the next clue just when we reached the current clue. And then there were two other teams right around us…one stop they’d be behind us, one stop in front of us…just depended on the route taken. After Ivars, we headed to Safeco field, 

Bruce Lee's gravesite

and then to Uwajimaya, then to Pioneer Square (all to specific spots at each of these locations), then to the big public library, and then we had to get to the cemetery where Bruce Lee is buried. At this point, we had been run/walk/running for somewhere between 7-8 miles (we mapped it when we got home)…we were all dying…felt that our knees were going to fall off, ankles doubled in size, joints not working as they are supposed to (somehow we just kept getting the energy to run a little bit longer…we would see a team following us and that competitiveness would kick in and make us move a little faster), and the cemetery was 2 miles away…so we hopped a bus. This particular bus was already driving right next to us when we realized we needed to catch it about a block and a half ahead…so somehow we dug down deep and SPRINTED UP HILL to get on this bus….and we made it. We were still in the front pack of teams…and then, we decided to get cute. The other front teams made a run for the front gate…we decided to try and find an alternate entrance…turns out- there isn’t an alternate entrance…and that’s when we fell behind. We missed the next bus that the other teams got on, putting us over 20 minutes behind. But at that point, we were so tired, we were okay with just sitting down and waiting. And that’s the story of Amazing Race Seattle. Very fun…so sore.

a quick check in...

Okay, I am very happy living in Seattle. The weather typically doesn’t bother me. I think the grey, rainy days help you to appreciate the times when the sun does shine (or when the snow does fall, for that matter). But I could really use a couple of sunny days to help me remember that I don’t mind this drear. I’m feeling pretty over it at the moment…I am motivated to run, I REALLY am, but not in this awful rain…I’ve even convinced myself that it will be fun to run in the rain…like being a kid and dodging puddles and not worrying about getting soaked…but then when the time comes to actually do it…ugh, it’s pouring and wretched and I’m not doing it. ->I started writing that yesterday, and then it ended up being a lovely evening last night, complete with a run and a very pink sunset. Just when I was starting to feel depressed, I got a little of what I needed to keep me going. And then it snowed this morning. 

Speaking of this morning...guess what I didn't do? The St Paddy's Day Dash. Ohhh, so lame. It's such a fun run to do...and I don't know if you remember my run last year? I ran the whole second half of the race with Detlef Schrempf...what a highlight! I knew it was coming up, and I knew it was this weekend...but somehow I never put together that this weekend was so soon. So I missed it. I'm sure Det was disappointed. 

Speaking of not realizing this weekend was St Patrick's Day...I'm currently wearing a purple sweater. WHAT? I love color themed holidays. Ugh. Luckily, I grabbed my Sounders scarf on the way out the door, since tonight is the season opener! I don't get to go to tonight's game (split my season ticket, so I only have half the games...and tonight isn't one...wah wah wah)...BUT, I do get to hang out with my pal, Olga, that I haven't seen in far too long. We need to watch Breaking Dawn...

This past week wasn't too busy...though it seemed full due to the number of games that needed to be watched each evening. 

On Tuesday we went to a RadioLab listening get-together. I love listening to podcasts at work while I file, but hadn't listened to any of the Radiolab podcasts yet, so was excited to hear one. We listened to one about Choice...which was super interesting and entertaining...definitely went home and downloaded a few other episodes for file room listening. It was also fun to listen to the podcast with a few other people- we were able to talk about it together after, which I don't think I've ever been able to do. I liked that...plus, whenever you get together with a group, there is usually food involved...and I'm always a fan of that.

Wednesday was the second game in the CONCACAF aggregate...ish. Not good, not good. We won the first match 2-1, and well, did not win the second. So we were knocked out...super bummer. And it was a pretty ugly game...hopefully they have been able to let that game go in getting prepped for tonight's season opener. (did I mention I'm bummed to not be going to the game?!)

One more week until the Hunger Games movie comes out! 

And I bought some Snoqualmie Falls pancake mix...and it is bomb. 

Okay...that's all for now. I know I had other things to write...but I need to pay attention to these basketball games! Bummed Gonzaga is out...