Critical Mass

It's a New Year! 2010

2010-01-01T12:20:00.000-08:00

Resolutions for 2009

1. Successfully plan a wedding- DONE! Vegas was stressful but fun.

2. Complete my part of the Hood to Coast- FAIL: Once again my health stood in my way of doing this. : (

3. Take Lily on her first camping trip- DONE! We had so much fun in Yosemite.

4. Find a new and better paying job- FAIL: I’ve decided to stay at my job so I can work on some other things. HOWEVER-I am getting a raise which I requested.

5. Go on a one month sugar fast- DONE! It’s so hard when you are addicted but once again I was able to stay the course.

6. Do more charity work- IN THE WORKS: I have applied for a position with and will be working for Red Cross this coming year.

7. Begin writing- FAIL: It’s all in my mind but when I try to force it onto paper it dies in transit.

8. Do something I’ve never done before once a month- DONE! I made a supreme effort in this area and managed to have a good time.

9. Get a complete makeover- FAIL: It’s too expensive although my look for the wedding was a pretty good try.

10. Be happy- IN THE WORKS: As always it’s my work in progress.
　
　
　

Resolutions for 2010

1. Complete at least 31 hours of school- This will put me at the halfway mark for finishing my degree.

2. Run the Iron Girl 5k- I am already signed up so running or not I will be attending the event!

3. Travel to three different places that I have never been- Vegas is already on the list but can I find time to go to two others?

4. Work on establishing my charity idea- Handmade Hugs

5. Lose at least half of the weight I need to get rid of- It’s a dream I could actually achieve if I had any self-discipline.

6. Take care of my skin issues once and for all- I will figure out a way to save the money to get my skin treated. It’s stupid that I’ve waited this long.

7. Learn a new skill- I’m thinking of taking an crafting class of some sort or maybe learn how to make sushi.

8. Begin learning French- If I’m ever going to go to Paris I must learn some of the language. Right?

9. Go on a cruise- It’s my pie-in-the-sky dream this year (and always). I’m sure it won’t happen but it’s nice to dream.

10. Be happy- It’s the meaning of life and I intend to find it.
　

2009-12-31T23:59:00.000-08:00

Man oh man oh man......New Year's Eve! I spent the night out on the town with Rachel. Scott is in LA for the Rose Bowl. We went to dinner with a couple of old friends from TWU. Then we headed to the bar in Ballard. We got front row seats at the bar and started the drinking. The music was a blast. The crowd was crazy. The night was fun. Counting down to midnight.....and then we ran for the door. It took us about 10 minutes to hunt down a cab. We raced back across the bridge but too late. Stuck in the Space Needle traffic forever. I ended up sharing my cab with 6 drunk kids from UW. We played an electronic "Password" game while we waited in traffic. I got home at 1:30am. After texting everyone and dressing the cat up I went to bed. Happy New Year!

2009-12-24T23:59:00.000-08:00

Christmas morning started early with the customary barking of Owen. After breakfast we sat around opening gifts. Sue cooked all morning. Katie knitted. Scott and I loafed.

In the afternoon, Gammie and Joe came over for dinner. We ate prime rib and yorkshire pudding. We had a nice quiet dinner. Then, more presents and fancy cake that Sue had made.

We left as the sun began to set. It was time to get back to Seattle so I could work in the morning!

Merry Christmas everyone!

2009-12-23T22:40:00.000-08:00

It's a quick Christmas this year. I have to work the day after so we are doing it all in less than two days.

Today was our celebration with Ralph, Karen and Zach. We went over to their house to open presents. Afterward we drove to Karen's Mom's house to join them in their dinner and celebration.

2009-12-01T21:00:00.000-08:00

I got Kerwin a new hat.

This is the only sign that Christmas is near. We've decided not to decorate this year. Since I am working 60 hour weeks the entire month of December. And, Kerwin seemed to hate the tree last year. It's simpler and requires a lot less work.

I think I will miss it a bit. However, there is always next year to put up a tree...

2009-11-28T22:27:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving was crazy! It was the first time my family met Scott's. It was also the first time Gammie had been out of the hospital since her stroke three years ago. And, it was the first time Scott's Dad and family came over to hang out with us! It was pretty special.

We had a great time. There was lots of food. There were lots of laughs. Lily learned how to knit. Mom enjoyed herself. Gammie played with Owen. Everyone was happy.

I couldn't have asked for more.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-21T17:00:00.000-08:00

I've just come back from my first ever board meeting. I've joined the Advisory Board for SIFF. I'm pretty excited about it.

I'm also glad I went because on my way there I stumbled across a live etsy.com sale. While there I found great vintage jewelry to go with my wedding dress. Yay!

2009-11-15T22:31:00.000-08:00

I'm knitting squares for charity! I've even got a local yarn store taking donations in to help me out. I'm super excited about this project!!

2009-11-12T22:18:00.000-08:00

Erin came to Seattle for a visit during her break off from Yellowstone. We had a great time gossiping, eating lots of really bad food and of course taking a ton of pictures. We are pretty much a two person show where ever we go.

2009-11-02T22:13:00.000-08:00

Bought my dress today...Well, sort of....Actually, Karen sort of took me to Norstrom and bought it for me! She's so nice!! I was pretty happy because it's way prettier than anything I could have afforded. I can't wait to wear it.

2009-11-01T22:30:00.000-08:00

I've decided to return to school for a new degree. In about two years I will have a BS in Business Admin. After that...maybe a Masters or maybe a real career. Who knows? All I know is I have to do something to get where I want to be and this seemed like a smart move.

Happy Halloween

2009-10-31T23:59:00.000-07:00

We decided to take it easy tonight. We went and saw Zombieland (a must see) and had a drink at the bar across the street. It was a pretty nice evening.

I also finished scarf #2!

2009-10-10T23:45:00.000-07:00

I finished my first scarf today! I'm already working on two others as X-mas gifts!!

Happy 31st to Scott

2009-10-05T21:54:00.000-07:00

As a special birthday suprise I took Scott on an adventure. We got up early to drive down to the ferry.

BUT-We stopped off for pancakes before which was a great way to start our day.

The ferry ride was peaceful.

As we drove along Whidby Island (singing the music from Wicked) Scott still had no idea what was in store for him.

When we arrived in Port Townsend we were both in for a surprise. There was a "Kinetic Sculpture Race" happening! We raced down to the water to watch them lauch their "art" in an effort to navigate the water course. It was amazing. Now Scott wants to do the race!

After we had our fill of the silly fun and some 50's cafe food we walked back to our B&B. I had reserved a room right on the beach for us!

We walked along the shore, picked at shells and seaweed and relaxed in the peaceful sounds of the water.

Later, we walked to the dock and ate at a cute little cafe that served fancy fish and drinks.

Our room was so perfect with it's water view and fireplace. We slept with the window open (even though it was very cold out) so we could here the water.
In the morning Scott woke up early to have a birthday morning run. Then we ate breakfast in the dining room as we looked out at the water. A small pod of seals swam by.

In the afternoon we packed up to head for home. I drove up the coast and took Scott for another adventure. We stopped off at Ft. Casey so we could climb on the old coastal fort walls.

Then we headed up to Deception Pass. We wondered around by the water and at the bridge for a bit before heading back to Seattle.

One last stop at Claim Jumper's topped off Scott's birthday with a huge dinner, football game on tv and a giant slice of cake.

Happy 31st to Scott! May you have many adventures this coming year.

2009-09-30T23:59:00.000-07:00

For my birthday Scott bought me a gift certificate for two tickets to any show. I chose Wicked. Tonight was the show and I was not disappointed! I had a great belated birthday (and so did Scott). Our seats were on the floor front and center. The sets were amazing. The costumes were dazzeling. The acting was fantastic. I am in love with a great show (and the guy who took me to see it).

2009-09-24T20:55:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling pretty good about my basic knitting skills. Now if I could only figure out how to read patterns I would be in a much better position. I also found a new knitting site today: http://www.ravelry.com

2009-09-13T23:57:00.000-07:00

We mailed off our wedding contract today! Now we have to get married no matter what. :) I can't wait for Vegas next year! I also can't wait to see my friends and family. I really hope people come!!

I am an Iron Girl!

2009-09-12T15:00:00.000-07:00

I completed the Iron Girl 5k!! I made pretty good time too (45.3 minutes =little less than15 minute miles). Next year I want to try to run if not all at least half. For now I am just happy that I did this well.

2009-08-31T22:00:00.000-07:00

Today was the last session of my knitting class. I learned a lot over the month.

I am ready to start making stuff!

2009-08-30T19:58:00.000-07:00

I spent Friday evening on a train to Portland. The train was packed (sold out) and I had to sit next to a guy who got trashed on the 3 1/2hour trip and tried to hit on me. It was great.

After my train arrived I met Sue and we drove out to see the runners. Zach ran by us while we cheered him on.

That's why I was there...the Hood to Coast.

Scott, Zach, Karen, Ralph and Will along with a cast of others ran from Mount Hood to Seaside!

On Saturday I drove out to Seaside to meet up with them at the finish line. They ran it in 30 hours 30 minutes!!!!

Observation #623

2009-08-26T14:25:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I feel like there is so much going on that I am pulled in a hundred different directions. And I start to think that if one more thing happens I might come apart like they do in Star Trek when they "beam" places.

It won't be painful or ghastly. Maybe a brilliant burst of light. Or a barely audible pop. Or perhaps just a slow disintegration into the individual particles that make up the thing I have come to think of as me.

Vacation Spectacular 2009!

2009-07-20T19:02:00.000-07:00

07/10- Our Vacation is finally here!

We started off right...by sleeping in. The we drove to Portland to have lunch with Sue and Owen. We got stuck in terrible traffic. We decided to split our drive up so it won't be as stressful. We were so happy to discover a Sonic on our way we turned around and made a detour! Despite the setbacks we still made it to our first hotel by sunset.

It was nice to get a good sleep in a quiet place. (It's so noisy in the city.)

07/11- Our drive to Sacramento was about five hours. The only events were that we had not one but two meals at the Black Bear diner and my camera died. So..I bought a new one. It wasn't a terrible thing since I had been thinking of getting one anyway.

We got to Sac around 7 and had dinner with Mom and Lily.

2009-07-20T18:52:00.000-07:00

07/12- Most of our day was spent visiting. We also went to see my Grandmother for a bit. Scott went for a run in the California heat. Lily showed off her video gaming skills. I helped Mom figure out her new computer.

It was a quiet day but nice to have before the flurry of stuff we were about to do.

2009-07-20T18:46:00.000-07:00

07/13- We had a busy day ahead of us. We stuffed ourselves in the car and got to driving.
We wanted to visit a few of our old haunts before we got to the park. A short stop in Angels Camp and then we were in our old stomping grounds....Sonora.

We ate breakfast at our favorite dive and met with some old friends. Lily and I walked the main street and dropped in some of my favorite shops.

We had a great morning of remembering the good old days. But we couldn't stay forever. By noon we were on the road again and heading to the gate of Yosemite.

Since our campgrounds were just inside the gate we didn't have far to go. Setting up camp went fast and Lily was having so much fun. She was excited to help out and even put up her own tent.

2009-07-20T18:37:00.000-07:00

Once we got camp set up we got back in the car and drove down the road.

The Merced Grove is not very big but still impressive. We hiked down into the forest and played among the redwoods for a while.

2009-07-20T18:32:00.000-07:00

Back at camp Scott taught Lily how to make a fire. After they got it going they cooked dinner.

Later we roasted marshmallows and told stories. Lily saw the stars clearly and made s'mores for the first time.

It was a good first night of camping.

2009-07-20T18:25:00.000-07:00

07/14- Waking up in the early morning light the heat inside the tent was almost unbearable. By breakfast I knew I was not well but hoped that once I ate and got out on the trail I would feel better.

We made our way down to the valley floor and parked at the store. Then we rode the shuttle so we wouldn't have to fight traffic to get to our trail.

The Vernal Falls trail is the most popular in the park. There were hundreds of people coming and going. As we started up the sun was high and already too hot to stand.

Less than a mile in I began to get dizzy and had to sit down. The longer we walked the worse it got. I couldn't take more than a few steps without needing to sit. It was obvious that I was sick and not going to make it to the top.

I walked on and agreed to wait for Scott and Lily at the halfway point by the river bridge. They went on leaving me to sit by the water.

I ate lunch in the shade and read a book. At one point I felt something touch my leg. I looked down and saw that a ground squirrel had crawled into my lap.

When they returned we made our way down the trail slowly. The rest had helped but not healed whatever was making me feel so terrible.

2009-07-20T18:14:00.000-07:00

We took the bus back to our car and headed for the showers. After a long, cold shower and some less than great touristy food Lily asked to see more of the valley. The rest of the day we spent driving around looking at the mountains and waterfalls.

Just before we left we made one last stop at Yosemite Falls. There we encountered a bear just off the trail. Lily got so excited she jumped up and down. This made the bear take a long look to see if it might like to eat her. However, since Scott and I were there too it decided she wouldn't be worth the trouble.

As the sunset we made our way back to the campsite. We roasted hot dogs and stared into the fire. Lily was sad it was our last night to camp.

We were all exhausted and went to bed early.

2009-07-20T18:02:00.000-07:00

07/15- Since I was still not feeling well we decided to skip the hike we had intended to do. Scott and Lily woke up early and drove to another campground to have coffee with a ranger and listen to him talk about the park. I stayed in camp and packed up the site.

We left Yosemite via the Tioga Pass. It was a beautiful drive through green fields and snow caped mountains.

On the other side we dropped down into East California. And, the temperature rose to over 100 degrees.

Our only destination for the day was Mono Lake so we took it slow.

Mono Lake was like being on another planet. The tufas rose from the lake like mountains, castles and anthills. The wide blue skies and shear mountains made for a stunning backdrop.

We walked for a short while among these strange formations and then headed for Bishop.

2009-07-20T17:49:00.000-07:00

After we checked in to our fancy hotel (a 2 bedroom suite) we went in search of food and (air-conditioned) fun. We found the best BBQ ever (outside of Texas, that is) and a tiny bowling alley just behind our hotel.

That night I slept like I haven't in a few years. It was quiet. We had air-conditioning. And I had my very own full sized bed. It was heaven.

2009-07-20T17:44:00.000-07:00

07/16- Waking up was a drag. Once I forced myself out of bed we went and had a great breakfast at the largest bakery I have ever seen we drove off to the heart of the White Mountains.

After a long drive up steep, curvy, dangerous (sometimes barely big enough for one car at a time) roads we arrived at our destination....

The Bristlecone Pine Forest.

This is the home of the oldest living things on Earth. Some of these trees are more than 4,000 years old! We hiked for several hours looking at the trees and down into Death Valley. Lily was in awe of the trees and how barren the surrounding land was.

After our hike we made our way back to Sacramento. We only took one little detour just so we could say we went to Nevada. (see below) We made it back just after midnight tired but happy.

We had a blast but were glad to be back.

2009-07-20T17:31:00.000-07:00

07/17- After sleeping in we got ourselves ready and headed down to the local movie theater. The place was only about half full which was fine with me. We watched Harry Potter. Lily loved it and we thought it was pretty good too. We spent the rest of the day relaxing. Our vacation was creeping toward an end.

07/18- We woke up early and packed the car. Mom and Lily help us get things back in place. They waved to us as we back out of the driveway. I was sad all the way to Oregon.

Later that night we checked into a little hotel on the edge of Scott's old college campus. We had dinner at the Olive Garden and Scott relived memories from his college days.

07/19- We slept in and then had pancakes at "The Original Pancake House" down the street from our room. The rest of the day we spent in the car. Traffic sucked and our five hour drive turned into more of seven. We rolled into Seattle at sunset.

After unloading the car we went to pick up our fuzzie baby. Kerwin was happy to see us and purred the whole way home.

As night settled into our apartment we looked at pictures from the last few days and laughed about things that had happened. Our vacation was officially over and already becoming a memory.

2009-07-20T17:19:00.000-07:00

Vacations are nice but never seem to be long enough. I was sad to go home.

It was a great vacation and I know we'll never forget all the fun we had.

One last party before we say goodbye...

2009-07-04T23:59:00.000-07:00

Sadly, this will be our last Forth of July party at David and Camilla's place. :(

While they are moving on we are staying here........However...........

That didn't dampen our spirits. We had a great afternoon eating burgers and watching the boats sail The Sound. The sunset was spectacular and the fireworks were worth the wait.

It was a nice way to say goodbye.

Happy Fourth!

A Nice Sunny Seattle Day!

2009-06-27T17:01:00.000-07:00

We decided to check out Alki Beach today. It was a perfect day to be outside. We ate fish and chips at the dock. We watched seagulls fight for fries. Scott skipped stones and I looked for shells. After a few hours in the sun we had cold coffee and fresh strawberry shortcake. What a great way to spend a sunny day.

June...So far...

2009-06-12T21:43:00.000-07:00

We are at the end of the second week of June and I don't have much to report.

June (so far) has been a month of doctor's appointments (9 sicne the 1st and it's only the 12th), "hot" weather (all of 85 degrees but hot to the Seattlites) and another show opening (The Tempest runs this whole month).

I've been so busy working and making it to my doctors that I had almost forgot that I'm nearing the time of our real vacation!

In less than a month we will be in California with Mom and Lily! I'm so excited!!

First Trip of 09

2009-05-25T21:25:00.000-07:00

It's been 6 months since I last left Seattle. A trip was long overdue. Not that I don't love Seattle but 6 months is a long time for me and I needed a change in scenery. So, we went to Portland for a visit.

Our first night there Sue BBQed half a cow for us. Owen helped, of course.
I also received a lovely birthday gift (art supplies) and we had a great dinner.

The next morning we woke up to barking and breakfast.
It was a nice, sunny weekend and we decided to enjoy it to the fullest...By hiking Beacon Rock and hanging out in The Gorge!

After our hike we headed back to town to eat at Tad's. Scott was dying to have a big bowl of chicken and dumplings.
Later in the evening we met up with Joe, Will and Zach to have desert and shoot the breeze a while.

The following morning we got up to once again start the day off right...more food. Then we went downtown to browse at Powell's and have fancy cake at Papa Haydn's with Shawn. On our way out of town we went to experience IKEA for the first time with Sue as our guide.

It was nothing fancy but it was our little vacation.

And the most important thing was...We had a good time. :)

Don't You Forget About Me

2009-05-22T23:59:00.000-07:00

What's better than going to the prom?
Going to the 80's Prom!

We had a blast dancing to 80's hits (all covered by the great Dudley Manlove Quartet).

It was totally worth getting dressed up for. (Plus I looked goooood!) :)

Happy Birthday to meeeeeee!

2009-05-11T23:59:00.000-07:00

So-I am another year older now. Not that it really changes much but just the same ....it's happened.

This year it was decided that we would go out to this great Hawaiian place downtown to celebrate another year of life down the drain....errr, I mean passing by in bliss.

Anyway- Rachel and I went and had our nails done and then caught the bus downtown. We met up with Scott, Justin and Sam (plus a few others).

I really like the place we went because they have great food, an outstanding Happy Hour and BLUE DRINKS! The blue drinks were the highlight of the night and MANY were drank by the time we left.

Needless to say, I had a great time!

After food and drinks we decided that it was time for....More drinks (and some karaoke)!

We spent the rest of the night singing, dancing and and being merry.

It was a the best birthday I have had in a long time.

James Thomas Aug 1914-May 2009

2009-05-10T10:47:00.000-07:00

You've earned the time off...Rest in Peace, Papa.

A day in the life of...

2009-04-19T20:33:00.000-07:00

Every day here is like a mini-adventure. You never know who or what you’ll see. There are the characters that are always around. There are the cameos that flit in and out of your daily episodes. Sometimes there are big surprises. Sometimes the whole day goes by with no surprises at all. Nevertheless, you don’t worry because tomorrow the adventure begins again.

Today was nothing out of the ordinary for me. I slept in, had a late breakfast and played on the internet. Later in the afternoon I got ready to start my mini-adventure for the day. This included riding the bus downtown to shop for a book, eating lunch at the mall and then catching the monorail for a ride to work. Sounds a tad boring. It wasn’t…

The following is just a sample of the weirdness I encountered on my adventure in the city today:

1. A guy walked past me at the bus stop with a roll of toilet paper in one hand and a large can of beer in the other.

2. I watched a group of young finches gathered around a dying elder. They seemed to be mourning it’s passing (either that or waiting to eat it).

3. The air smelled distinctly of BBQ. I guess it’s because today was the first day to be above 65 degrees in almost 6 months. However, I still found it a tad odd and very delightful at the same time.

4. I saw a large piece of graffiti that simply said “Carry on my wayward son”. What a strange thing to spray paint on the side of a bank.

5. There was an amazing street performer downtown. He was dressed in green from head to toe and playing the violin. His selection when I walked by was “Hey There Delilah” which I found to be strange and beautiful coming from a violin.

6. The guy working the counter at the crepe place was trying to tempt people away from the healthy smoothie place across the aisle from him. He was hanging over the counter waving samples of some sort of chocolate & strawberry concoction.

7. A guy actually smiled and held the door for me! This is highly unusual since they typically just let it snap back in my face.

So, for those of you whom have lived in the city for a long time these sort of things may seem completely normal. I, on the other hand, still find this place strange and exciting. I’m sure I will grow accustom to it eventually.

That will be a sad day.

Then there will be no more mini-adventures to be had.

Mom and Lily 04.09

2009-04-11T20:00:00.000-07:00

My mom and Lily came for a visit. It’s been over a year since we last saw each other!

2009-04-11T19:59:00.000-07:00

Day 1: I picked them up at Sea-Tac in the morning. After a quick trip back home we drove down to the Seattle Center. After leaving the car behind we jumped on the monorail and rode downtown. They were in awe of the city.

We walked down to Pike’s Market. Lily really liked the flying fish and all the crafts available at the market. My mom loved the flowers and seeing the first Starbucks! I took them to have the best gelato in town. Lily had never had gelato before and fell in love.

In the evening we drove to Lynnwood to visit Scott at his office. We had a great dinner at Claim Jumper’s and then made the long drive back.

It was a pretty busy first day!

Day 2: Scott had the day off to spend with us. We had doughnuts and coffee at Top Pot. Lily had a hard time picking one from all the different flavors.

After breakfast, we drove down to the pier. We spent the afternoon walking through the aquarium. We had a pretty good time despite the crowds.

That evening Scott introduced Lily to the Lord of the Rings movies. She LOVED it!

2009-04-11T19:57:00.000-07:00

Day 3: We took them out for brunch at the Space Needle. It was delicious! After we ate we spent time up on the observation deck. It was cold and windy but worth it for the view.

Later we went to “Ride the Ducks”. This is a half land, half water tour of Seattle. It was fun and almost worth the price.

2009-04-11T19:55:00.000-07:00

Day 4: We had planned on going to the beach for the day. Unfortunately, the weather was very uncooperative. We ended up spending the day watching the extended versions of the LOTRs part 2 and 3. Lily really wanted to see how the story turned out.

Day 5: I had breakfast with them in the morning while we talked about what they had seen. It was sad to drive them back to the airport. Only this time I know I’ll see them much sooner. Goodbye...for now.

Happy April Fools Day!

2009-04-01T21:14:00.000-07:00

The only trick played on me today was the suprise snow storm this morning!

March GBU

2009-03-20T19:50:00.000-07:00

This Month (so far):

Good-
1. Mystery shopped three different food places. (Free Meals!)
2. Went to the ballet for the first time.
3. Survived Opening Night.

Bad-
1. Completed a month long sugar fast. (Lost no weight)
2. Watched two terrible movies back-to-back.
3. Applied for and got rejected from a half dozen jobs.

Ugly-
1. Strep Throat!

Proud

2009-03-04T20:29:00.000-08:00

Something rather odd happened to me tonight. Someone told me that they were very proud of me.

I know you are probably wondering why that is an occasion to blog. It’s a rare thing for me. That’s why.

My life thus far has been a series of failures with a few successes peppered throughout.

Good grades, good behavior and academic achievements were expected of me and no reason to offer praise. On the other hand failure was not an option and was punished most often by offering words of disappointment.

I can think back to only a few times when genuine praise was offered. I mean the kind given by someone who was not socially obligated to do so. Not that hollow kind of victory won by receiving the praise of those who offer it out like beads at Mardi Gras. I mean the heartfelt, real praise of someone who has seen your struggle and appreciates your achievement.

This has been a source of great frustration throughout my life…working hard, gaining that long sought after success and then not receiving recognition for it.

I know that it is said that hard work is it’s own reward. In some ways it has been. In others…well, sometimes I just want a pat on the back and someone to tell me I've done a good job. Is that too much to ask for?

Maybe it is but to me it's important.

Tonight was a special moment for me. Someone told me they were proud of me and they meant it.

Mostly, I'm here to write it down for my future self to read. That way when I do something worth while in the future I can look back and know that my hard work does mean something.

It makes me proud of myself for making others proud.

Happy Valentine's Day

2009-02-14T23:55:00.000-08:00

We were fancy and went out for Valentine's Day this year. We went to the Triple Door for dinner and a live show!

We drank wine, ate incredible food and watched a great Sinatra impersonator with a fantastic swing band.

We had a great night.

Snip, snip

2009-02-12T22:34:00.000-08:00

I got a haircut today. It was the first time in over a year and boy did I need it! I went to the hair school downtown. The girl that did it was really nervous but very sweet.

It's a great cut and it looks really nice. The sad thing is I have no hair fixing ability so once the hair stylists work wears off it'll look like crap again. At least it will be pretty for Valentine's Day.

Strange Fact About Me

2009-02-11T19:17:00.000-08:00

FACT-I like when people smell like random, totally unexpected things.

For example: Today I sat behind a man on the bus that smelled like Fruit Loops. That made me smile a little inside.

Checking in

2009-02-09T02:10:00.000-08:00

So many things are going on right now I feel a tad......... stretched. It's hard to explain here but I will say that the biggest things right now are:

1. I'm looking for a new job (I need more money and to find something else)
2. I'm thinking of returning to school
3. I'm not sleeping well and haven't been for a while (like since we moved here last March)
4. ...ect...

Out with the old and in with the new and improved!

2009-01-20T20:00:00.000-08:00

Today is a day I will always remember.

I woke up at 7:30am and hauled my butt to the sofa. I watched as the crowds gathered, important people readied their notes and armored cars rolled down the streets of Washington DC.

I cheered when our new First Lady and kids appeared. I laughed when the old president waved happily to booing crowds. I cried when our new president swore the oath.

It was one of the greatest days in the history of this young country.

I am once again proud to be an American.

2009-01-16T21:27:00.000-08:00

Like real city dwellers we grabbed a taxi and went down to Pike Place. Scott had a table reserved for us at one of the little bistro's down there. Great food, lots of booze and rose petals on the table...A very good time was had.

6 WHOLE LOOOOONG YEARS!

2009-01-16T11:09:00.000-08:00

Today Scott and I celebrate our 6 year anniversary!

This 6th year was quite a ride. We got engaged, moved to Seattle, Scott got a new job...ect.....

It's been great. I can't wait to see what year 7 has in store for us.

2008 Reading List

2009-01-02T21:08:00.000-08:00

I forgot to post my reading list from 2008!

1. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (3 stars)
2. The Stand (4 stars)
3. Life of Pi (2 stars)
4. Finn (3 stars)
5. Edenborn (3 stars)
6. Soon I will Be Invinsible (3 stars)
7. The House on Mango Street (1 star)
8. Fever (3 stars)
9. Ya-Ya Sisterhood (0 stars) This was the only book I couldn't bring myself to finish this year
10. Heart Shaped Box (3 stars)
11. Cheaper by the Dozen (2 stars)
12. Plainsong (3 stars)
13. The Princess Diaries (3 stars)
14. Daughter of the Red Deer (3 stars)
15. The Member of the Wedding (2 stars)
16. We Thought You Would Be Prettier (3 stars)
17. The Postman (4 stars)*
18. To Say Nothing of the Dog (4 stars)*
19. Fellowship of the Ring (4 stars)
20. The Two Towers (4 stars)
21. The Return of the King (4 stars)
22. I Am Legend (4 stars)
23. Digital Fortress (2 stars)
24. A Dirty Job (4 stars)
25. Casino Royal (2 stars)
26. Geek Love (2 stars)
27. Son of a Witch (3 stars)
28. Size 14 Is Not Fat Either (3stars)
29. Expendable (4 stars)
30. Island of Dr. Moreau (3 stars)
31. The Poseidon Adventure (3 stars)
32. The Ruins (2 stars)
33. Sunday at Tiffany's (2 stars)
34. Millennium (2 stars)
35. Autobiography of a Fat Bride (3 stars)
36. P.S. I Love You (4 stars)
37. The Marriage of Sticks (3 stars)
38. I, Robot (3 stars)
39. Good In Bed (4 stars)
40. The Red Tent (4 stars)*
41. Girl, Interrupted (3 stars)
42. The Birth of Venus (4 stars)
43. The Mist (4 stars)
44. Special Topics in Calamity Physics (2 stars)
45. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (4 stars)

*=These may be bumped to 5 stars because I liked them so much. By far the best reads of 2008!

Goodbye 2008, Hello 2009

2009-01-01T00:00:00.000-08:00

How Did I Do On My 2007 Resolutions?

1. Get serious about living healthy- I’ve made some big steps toward this goal this year. I’ve joined a weight loss program and the gym down the street. I sometimes walk to work and around town instead of driving. I watch what I eat (most days). While I can’t call it completed I’ve made a good start towards living healthier.

2. Finish a half marathon- I didn’t make it. I was not healthy enough. However, I’ll be working on this next year to prepare for the hood to Coast.

3. Pay off my extra bills- This is a work in progress although I did get rid of a few bills for good this year I also added a few on.

4. Go Camping/Hiking- I did both! Scott and I camped this fall and I did a good amount of hiking around in Yellowstone

5. Take some classes- I began the year by taking a African Drum Class. I ended the year by beginning my Non Profit Management courses at UW!

6. Donate more to charity-I donated (with the help of friends and family) more than $500 to charity this year. I was a volunteer helper for the Seattle International Film Festival and volunteer ushered the whole season at the Paramount! I’ve also signed up to begin the volunteer program at PAWS cat shelter (which was delayed because of the snow).

7. Improve my space-We moved to Seattle and that was a huge improvement in space! I’m so glad we moved here and I hope we stay in this town for a long time.

8. Meet new people-I suck at this. While I have deepened my work relationships and created more friends that way I’ve not branched out. I need to come up with better networking and social skills for this coming year.

9. Go on a cruise-Still nothing yet but it’s nice to dream.

10. Be happy- I’m working on it…always.

Resolutions for 2009

1. Successfully plan a wedding- We have a new idea that is bigger and better (and cheaper) than before. We WILL have a wedding planned and in progress by the end of this year.

2. Complete my part of the Hood to Coast-This is so important to not only me but Scott. I want to do something that is healthy and positive and I can’t think of a better way than this.

3. Take Lily on her first camping trip-It’s going to be great!

4. Find a new and better paying job-With the economy the way it is I know this will be a challenge. I really want to advance my career experience and it’s time to move on.

5. Go on a one month sugar fast-It’s going to be tough but I think I need a sugar detox.

6. Do more charity work-I want to raise more money and do more charitable activities this year. Maybe I’ll start of with a charity 5k and then who knows what?

7. Begin writing-I want to start putting all those pages of notes and ideas into some sort of order for the book I’ve been writing in my head for the last few years.

8. Do something I’ve never done before once a month-I want to try something new and exciting. I need to give myself something to look forward to and this is the perfect way.

9. Get a complete makeover-This is my far-fetched-but-it’s-fun-to-dream goal this year. I need a new haircut, make up look, better clothes…ect…. I need it all. I wish I could be on one of those shows where they just do a complete overhaul!

10. Be happy- It’s my work in progress.

Happy New Year!

2008-12-30T23:30:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas Movie

2008-12-24T21:08:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas from me to you!

2008-12-23T22:54:00.000-08:00

My exciting Christmas Eve video.

2008-12-23T20:52:00.000-08:00

More Christmas Eve Fun!

Snow: Part 3.1

2008-12-21T20:23:00.000-08:00

So the thing that was so rare here in Seattle is quickly becoming commonplace. It has been snowing almost non-stop for nearly 24 hours! And, it's showing no signs of stopping.

Seattle is pretty much closed down and people are out in the streets sledding, skiing and making snowmen. It's crazy winter fun on every corner.

Snow in Seattle...Again! Part 3

2008-12-21T15:20:00.000-08:00

Snow in Seattle! Part 2

2008-12-18T12:24:00.000-08:00

Once again it is snowing like crazy here in Seattle!

It's been coming down for hours and it looks like it won't be stopping any time soon.

Scott and I (and most of the rest of Seattle) are home from work.

However, we were happy to find out that Top Pot Doughnuts was open so we won't starve.

Snow in Seattle...Again!

2008-12-18T11:49:00.000-08:00

Snow in Seattle!

2008-12-13T23:59:00.000-08:00

It rarely happens here but it happened tonight....Snow! And lots of it!

Scott and I ran outside and played for about 2 minutes before the cold drove us inside again. :)

After the cat attack

2008-12-11T22:16:00.000-08:00

Here it is folks....Our beautiful Christmas tree...umm...bush with all our pretty packages underneath....umm...beside it.

Makes Charlie Brown's tree look spectacular by comparison, doesn't it?

December so far...

2008-12-08T21:01:00.000-08:00

This month has started off pretty crazy. Highlights from the last 8 days:

1. Put up the Christmas tree in just under an hour

2. Kerwin peed on the Christmas tree

3. Wrote my final paper for the Fall semester

4. Took Scott to see Seven Brides For Seven Brothers on stage (it was amazing!)

5. Scott went to L.A.

6. Saw Slumdog Millionaire (so good!)

7. Kerwin knocked over and broke the Chistmas tree at 2 in the morning

8. Spent just under an hour cleaning up the broken Christmas tree

9. Attended to my last class for the semester

10. Did the grocery shopping and cleaned the whole house

11. Finished my Christmas shopping

12. Got lost on my way to pick up Scott at the airport

13. Made dinner from scratch

14. Blogged

Gobble, gobble, gobble...stuffed, stuffed, stuffed

2008-11-30T23:47:00.000-08:00

We spent Thanksgiving Day at Gammie and Joe's in Redmond.

The feast was more than plenty and the dog was more than cute.

2008-11-30T23:38:00.000-08:00

Friday we were all very lazy. We had way too much turkey!

2008-11-30T23:35:00.000-08:00

On Saturday we went over to the Father Pesz house to hang out with Zach. The boys wanted to watch football, Simon wanted to sleep and Erin and I did not want to participate in either activity. We decided to make ourselves drinks and watch Party of Five. Everyone was happy and it was a very good day.

The Ducks won and we found out that Baily has a drinking problem.

When Scott and I left we said goodbye to Erin. She won't be back until the spring and that makes us a little sad.

2008-11-30T23:24:00.000-08:00

It was a pretty good Thanksgiving...I can't wait until next year...

I miss the turkey and stuffing already!

2008-11-17T14:34:00.000-08:00

It's official...We have a Hood to Coast team and I am on it! Now I need to get up and get moving. I've got a lot of training to do.

(Check out the map!)

08bama!

2008-11-05T09:01:00.000-08:00

I still can't believe it! I thought for sure it was all a dream until I found this on my doorstep. It's not only real but because of me and all of my friends who got out and made their voice heard. Thank you!

Election Day 2008

2008-11-04T23:04:00.000-08:00

I started the day off right...I voted! That's right I am one of the few who went to the polls today to place my paper ballot into the big black Scantron box thing. Afterwards I bought a bagel and went to work. Then I spent the entire day in agony wondering if my vote would count.

As soon as the clock hit 6pm I ran to the bar down the street along with Erin (who's back from Yellowstone for a short time), Rachel, Sam, Scott, David and Suze. We had a blast cheering every time Obama won a state and booing when McCain won (the few that he did). After lot of cheering and alcohol we got the news that we wanted............

Our votes did matter...OBAMA WON!

YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN!

Random thought for the day

2008-11-02T16:15:00.000-08:00

With Thanksgiving just around the corner I've been thinking more and more about one of my silly goals in life...

I wish with all my heart that I could make a big, homecooked Thanksgiving dinner for my family. I know that this is shockingly old fashioned of me and that I don't really have family to do this for but I've always been in love with this Norman Rockwell painting. I want to stuff the turkey, bake the pies and gather around the table to laugh, talk and say what I'm most thankful for.

Maybe I'll get my wish someday but the way things are going...well, who knows. For now I guess I can just go on dreaming my dream.

Attack of the Cupcakes!

2008-10-31T18:30:00.000-07:00

I have wanted to make cupcakes for I don't know how long. So, I decided for this Halloween I would make enought to feed a small army (aka. the starving artists that I work with). I went to the store, bought all of the things required for such a task and headed home to make a mess.

I ended up making more than 100 mini cupcakes. (I only made it to work with about 80 of them because Scott stole a few and also conned me with is whining when I wouldn't give him any.) I am also proud to say I made my own buttercream frosting to top them off with. It was a lot of fun and a tad harder than I had expected it to be.

Now I can't wait for the next reason to make more....Wait....Do you really need a reason to make and eat cupcakes?

2008-10-29T21:26:00.000-07:00

I have been so busy this October! It looks like November is going to be crazy too.

At least I'm not bored....Right?

Farewell to Cookies

2008-10-20T17:26:00.000-07:00

As some of you may already know.... After 92 years Mother's Cookies has shut down! It's a sad, sad day for those of us who grew up on these things. It's like another little piece of childhood dying. I'll be eating a few bags (for old times sake) before they disappear. Get yours now before they are gone....forever.

Catching up on my blogging

2008-10-13T15:19:00.000-07:00

I received a request to update my blog so here it is....3 months worth of updates all at once. Enjoy! :)

The BIG 3-0

2008-10-05T15:09:00.000-07:00

Today is Scott's birthday. I surprised him with brunch at Chandler's Crabhouse. David and Camilla came out to celebrate with us. We ate great crab omelettes, mimosas and freshly baked apple fritters. The chef made him a little chocolate mousse too! I also gave him front row tickets for Seven Brides for Seven Brothers which made him verrrry happy.

2008-10-05T15:03:00.000-07:00

Happy 30th Scott!

Baby Owen

2008-09-27T14:59:00.000-07:00

Sue got a new puppy! His name is Owen and he is so cute. He loves eating apples and tearing up magazines. Check him out:

Table for 2

2008-09-21T14:47:00.000-07:00

We "built" a table! Now we have a place to sit and eat. Yay!

Sad day

2008-09-20T22:30:00.000-07:00

We've had to cancel the wedding. We can't afford it. We'll have one someday but who knows when.

Go Ducks!

2008-09-13T20:55:00.000-07:00

Will and Zach came up to watch the Ducks play football. Scott's been looking forward to this for weeks. I was just glad to have a reason to eat cheese puffs.

2008-08-30T17:45:00.000-07:00

Katie and John are in town all the way from Alaska! We had a great couple of days hanging out. We ate a lot and went to The Gorge. Good times with the Pez family!

A day in this life...

2008-08-24T14:14:00.000-07:00

Things are pretty good right now. Scott loves his new job. Kerwin no longer has fleas. My work is moving along like clockwork. I do hope something exciting happens soon.

Camping Trip!

2008-08-17T14:02:00.000-07:00

Since we've moved to Washington things have been so topsy-turvy (with my health and Scott's job) that we've not been able to go camping. It's been something we've talked about often but just never was able to do. So, now that things are much more settled we decided that it was time.

I went online and reserved us a campsite for three days! We have no idea where Middle Forks is but we are on our way there...

2008-08-17T13:57:00.000-07:00

We arrived at our site just as the sun was setting. It was a warm evening but we just had to have a campfire. Scott really wanted smores (which I think may be the only reason he likes camping so much). We set up camp, made a fancy campfire and sat around late into the night watching the flames dance and the stars sparkle.

2008-08-17T13:54:00.000-07:00

Camping breakfast is always my favorite. There is something about sleeping in the woods and waking up to sunlight streaming into the tent that always makes me super hungry. The fresh air makes everything taste better.

2008-08-17T13:50:00.000-07:00

By mid-morning the temperature had climbed to above 90. We would have to pick the hottest weekend of the year to go camping.

We wanted to go hiking anyway so we started down the trail just outside our campsite.

2008-08-17T13:40:00.000-07:00

After hiking for a couple of hours the heat was unbearable. We made for the river to cool off. It was amazingly cold and felt wonderful.

2008-08-17T13:37:00.000-07:00

The sun began to set so we went back to camp. After cleaning up and cooling off from the heat of the day we started cooking dinner. Just after the sun set David and Camilla came out to camp with us at our site. We spent the night eating, drinking, making smores and tending the fire. Scott enjoyed burning a copy of the paper containing his final article.

After we went to bed a lightning storm started up. It never rained but it sure sounded like it might at any moment. The cool wind was a welcome thing after roasting for so long.

2008-08-17T13:30:00.000-07:00

The next morning we got up early and had breakfast. After packing up we took one more walk down to the river. The day was already staring to heat up so we jumped in the airconditioned car and made for home. (We HAD to make one stop on the way home for Starbucks...It's an addiction...It's sad, I know.)

I must say that overall it was a pretty good three days in the woods.

08.08.08

2008-08-08T20:08:00.000-07:00

Happy 08.08.08! Here's a picture of Seattle from my neck of the woods around sunset today.

My Big Fat Yellowstone Aventure-Day 5:

2008-07-21T20:10:00.000-07:00

-I drove home in 12 hours.

-I thought about all the fun I had with Erin (and friends) at Yellowstone for about 11 1/2 hours.

-The other 1/2 I thought about my Sonic burger, tots and cherry limeade that I had when I stopped there again on the way home.

My Big Fat Yellowstone Aventure-Day 4:

2008-07-20T19:37:00.000-07:00

-After sleeping in we decided to take a stroll around the boardwalk that surrounds the are around Old Faithful.

-We got to the Grand Geyser just as it started to go off. (Very lucky since this geyser goes off every 7-15 hours!!!!)

-I couldn't believe how high water can shoot straight out of the ground.

-We laughed (inside our heads) at the folks who were late and ran up just as the last drop fell to the ground.

2008-07-20T19:30:00.000-07:00

-We left the flat ground and headed for the hills.

-At the top is the Solitary Geyser...A sad little thing.

-I was impressed by the view from the Observatory.

-I discovered that I really appreciate the fact that we don't have mosquitoes in Seattle.

-The thought "Another geyser? Yawn." never crossed my mind.

2008-07-20T18:25:00.000-07:00

-After lunch we drove down to the South Gate.

-Our stop at Moose Falls gave us a chance to cool our feet and take some fun pictures.

-It was fun to be so close to the bottom of a fall.

-It was peaceful and I was glad for the shade.