Friday, December 11, 2009

Happy Birthday Grandma Mary!

Today, my family and I will celebrate my grandmother's 90th birthday, which is quite the milestone in my book. Grandma Mary has led an incredible life, and has raised six wonderful children, including my mother.

Grandma Mary, posted by KermitFan on Flickr

My grandmother once told me that she was going to live long enough to be on Willard Scott's 100th birthday tributes on the Today show. Grandma -- I'm totally holding you to that promise, and can't wait to celebrate more birthdays with you!

Happy birthday Grandma Mary!

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving!

Another holiday season is upon us, and I'm still in denial about the end of summer, let alone Thanksgiving and the beginning of the cold, rainy weather. Amazing how time flies, huh?

Early this morning, we got some sad news on Lennie's side of the family. As we mourn the loss of a loved one, I am reminded of how fortunate we are to have so many loving people surrounding us. We are truly thankful for each person in our lives, and hope that everyone is showered with love and laughter this holiday season. Be sure to hug your loved ones when you see them, and remind each person in your life how much they mean to you. I know that I will be.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Monday, October 26, 2009

How Un-Seattle of Me!

Fall is in full swing here in the Seattle area. Orange leaves are swirling in the wind, trees are getting thinner by the day. The colors have left me continually in awe of the beauty of our area.

The grey skies have been a little depressing lately, but I think that I'm starting to get used to it. What I'm not ready for, however, is the downpour and constant drizzle. It's not cold out, so I can't justify my heavy jacket yet, which means that the umbrella seems more appropriate. Usually, it's the tourists and non-natives who are using umbrellas around here. However, I've come to rely upon my umbrella... How un-Seattle of me.

Hey, at least I'm dry with my umbrella! :-)

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Fall

Fall has most definitely arrived! I am sitting here snuggled under my blanket, and there is a chill in the air. The condo is filled with the smell of cinnamon and apples, and the sun is shining. I do enjoy fall days like this!

I had the pleasure of going to the UW football game last night, where the air was crisp and cold, and the crowd was abuzz. Being a football fan sure is stressful; the night was full of ups and downs as our team was in the lead, then really wasn't, and then pulled the game out in the last few minutes of the game. We were heading out of the game with a few minutes left... I stopped in the restroom on the way out, and the team decided to kick it into gear right then and score not one, but two touchdowns in the span of just two football minutes! Exciting stuff. It sure is nice to have a team that is putting it's heart into the game this year; very refreshing to go to games where the team is actually showing up to play. I'm loving it... although I may have to start seeing a cardiologist -- the ups and downs are a lot to take! :-)

Monday, September 07, 2009

Yay For College Football Season!

This weekend marked the beginning of another college football season. The 7:30 p.m. game was a little bit of a stretch for me (I prefer earlier games), but we "tailgated" before the game at the bar of a local restaurant and then took the bus across the lake to Husky Stadium. There is nothing like the energy of the stadium on game day, and Saturday was no exception. The air was buzzing as we walked into the stadium and you could feel that change was afoot. A new season, a new coach, and a new opportunity to prove that our team was a worthy opponent.

Don't get me wrong, I didn't have high expectations. I'm a Husky fan, after all. However, it was refreshing to see that our team came with something to prove, and we were in it to win it. We didn't win the game, but we hung in there until the bitter end, and all of us left with our heads held high, and with great hope for the season. Yep, it's a new year, and I'm excited to get back into the swing of Saturday football games at Husky Stadium.

Go Huskies! :-)

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Summer Vacation

I'm sitting here in denial that our week-long vacation is coming to an end. Lennie and I had the good fortune to spend 7 days in a small cottage in the town of Birch Bay, Washington. Birch Bay is less than 10 minutes from the US / Canadian border, and is a sleepy beach community. Our cottage was cozy (read: tiny), but priced right for a week of rest and relaxation. Every night, we were treated to beautiful sunsets, and every day the sun shone down upon us. When the tide went out in the bay, we were able to walk the beach and explore small tide pools (not to mention take lots of photos!). It was wonderful... no, amazing.

I hadn't taken more than a full day off since the beginning of the year, so a week away from work was heavenly. To be able to slow down and have no agenda or plans was quite the treat. I finished three books -- the second and third books in the Twilight series and the Julie & Julia book -- and started a fourth book while on vacation. What fun to sit in the sun, overlooking the bay, and take in a good book! I also got to work on a knitting project that I hadn't visited in over three years, which was challenging but fun.

My parents came up for two nights, and happened into a great location less than a block from our humble cottage. It was a great place for them to stay, and thoroughly convenient for all of us. On Wednesday, we drove up to British Columbia, where we walked Crescent Beach in Surrey, and enjoyed a rooftop lunch in White Rock. Good times.

While the bed left something to be desired (and knots in our backs), the cottage and the vacation was just what Lennie and I needed to recharge.

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Sunday, August 16, 2009

zzzzzz....

We've been busy this summer, enjoying time outside and with friends and family. Over the past two weeks we got to spend some time with my brother and his family, we got to go to see Harry Potter in IMAX (I highly recommend it in IMAX!), and oh yeah: we bought a new (used) car. Very exciting stuff.

It dawned on me late this weekend that I'm really tired and in need of a vacation. The best news though: vacation is on the horizon. Like the light at the end of the tunnel, vacation is a comin'. (Could I get any more trite phrases in that last section!?) I'm looking forward to spending some time with my wonderful hubby, and vacation can't come fast enough for me. My vacation clock is officially ticking! ;-)

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Some Like It Hot

We've had some epic weather over the past few weeks, but the last few days have been in the 90s. As I was driving home today, the car reported that it was 99 degrees outside. This is unheard of in Seattle -- we're the capital of rainy and/or mild weather.
King5.com Five Day Forecast July 28, 2009Five day forecast courtesy of King5.com.

I'm not going to complain though... it's not often that we see so much sunshine and heat, and it's not like it's going to stay that long (I think). Although, tomorrow is reported to be epic -- hitting triple digits for only the second time in history. Hold on to your hats Seattleites! It's going to be a scorcher!

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Weekend Wanderings

We've been quite busy lately, so I haven't had the chance to post updates about our weekend wanderings. Here's an overview or recap of sorts:

July 4th Weekend
Both Lennie and I had Friday off, and we had a lazy day at home before visiting with my parents. On Saturday, we went with my parents to a friend's house to enjoy some great food, laughter, and fireworks from afar. On Sunday, Lennie and I ventured in to Seattle Center, where we visited the Jim Henson exhibit at the EMP. It was a fun exhibit, although smaller than I expected. I learned a lot about Jim Henson, and enjoyed a glimpse into his creative process. Here's a few photos from around Seattle Center:
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Salish Lodge
The following weekend, Lennie and I were fortunate enough to stay the night at Salish Lodge overlooking Snoqualmie Falls. We celebrated our second anniversary during this getaway, and had a wonderful time. The room was very comfortable and the atmosphere was very relaxing. After massages at the spa, we had dinner in the "casual" restaurant overlooking the Falls. We were fortunate enough to get a window table during sunset. Here's some photos of the sunset and our time at the Salish Lodge.
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On the way home, we went wherever the road led us, which was kind of a fun adventure. We ended up at a truck stop outside of North Bend for lunch. It was at this truck stop that we learned that the "fancy restaurants" put silverware on the tables with the napkins before patrons arrive. Who knew. It was fun to take in the people at the restaurant, and we left with full bellies and smiles on our faces.

Lavender Festival in Sequim, WA
Last weekend, we joined our good friends on a camping trip in Port Angeles, WA. It was wonderful to unplug from the world and unwind amongst nature. The only incident of the camping trip was when I nearly lost Lennie while waiting in line for the ferry. Lesson learned: even though the sign says that there's a two hour wait for the ferry, that does not mean that your car won't be rolling down the road for the next 1+ miles before the ferry dock... oh, and the sidewalk does end somewhere in there... and if you're going to get out of the car, you should take your cell phone with you so that your wife can locate you later instead of calling the seat next to her... Yikes. There's more to the story, but in the end, Lennie and I were reunited and we lived to laugh about it, eventually.

On Saturday, we went to the Lavender Festival in Sequim, WA. I've wanted to go to the festival for a few years now, and am glad that we made it out this year. The street fair was packed with vendors selling every lavender product imaginable (and even some that you wouldn't think of!). There was a stage with bands playing that kept the energy up, and the food smelled wonderful. After taking in the street fair, we boarded one of the buses to the lavender fields. It was amazing to see all of the lavender in bloom! I could have taken it all in for days, I think... it was a long day, full of viewing farms and sunshine, and I came back to camp with a wonderful sunburn. Here are some of my favorite photos from the Lavender Festival:
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On Sunday, we struck camp and headed out to the Dungeness Spit just outside of Sequim. The beach was beautiful, and the water looked more like it was somewhere tropical rather than in Washington state. I have a few favorite photos from this side trip as well:
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After enjoying the Dungeness Spit, we started the trek back home. Our drive took us back over the Hood Canal Bridge and into Kingston to catch the ferry. As we were making our way back, we were stopped unexpectedly on the bridge to let some shipping traffic through. So, we got to stand in the middle of the bridge taking photos of the traffic. Here ar e a few favorite photos from the trip home:
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(Yes, that's a submarine... cool, huh?)
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Phew! That's a lot to take in! :-) No wonder I'm a little tired right now... Nonetheless, we're having an unprescedented summer here in Seattle, and we're enjoying every minute of it. I hope that this message finds all of you well, and soaking in some summer sunshine as well.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Two Years!




Yesterday, we celebrated our two year anniversary. In keeping with "tradition," we enjoyed dinner at Palomino in Bellevue and then watched the video of our wedding at home. What a great way to mark our anniversary; I think that I pick up on something new from the words exchanged and the songs that were sung every time I watch the video.

I can't believe how quickly time has flown by... It's been a great ride, and I'm so excited to see what comes next!


Sunday, June 28, 2009

One Wedding and a Funeral

It has been quite the weekend for us; Lennie and I are taking a day at home to clean-up and relax, as we haven't really been home very much lately.

Yesterday, we attended the funeral of a long-time family friend. It was a very nice service that was more of a celebration of life and remembrance of the happy times. I definitely appreciated the stories and sense of personalization throughout the service. The references to a winning Husky season helped too -- hopefully our prayers were heard all around. Our friend Judy will be missed, and we are so grateful that she was able to touch so many lives.

Last night, Lennie and I trekked up to Stanwood, WA to attend our dear friend's wedding. It was a very nice garden wedding, complete with blue skies and laughter with friends. Here are some photos:



We're very excited for Chris and Mindy -- congratulations and best wishes to both of you! :-)

Condo Garden 2009

Summer is in full swing, and our condo garden seems to be blooming nicely. As I mentioned previously, we are growing two types of basil, lettuce, and tomatoes in the garden this year, along with quite a few flower pots. Here's some photos of where we started, taken March 29th of this year:



Progress and added veggies in May 2009:




June 4, 2009:



June 15, 2009:
Time for some salad, I think! :-)



Anyone need some fresh home-grown basil? We seem to hava a lot here... :-)

Happy summer!

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Swept Into Spring

Wow, where has the time gone? We've been having an unusual stretch of sunny weather here in Seattle, which has meant that we've all been in go-go-go mode. With weather in the upper 80s, we take full advantage of the sunshine and warmth while we can, I think. Nonetheless, we've been swept into Spring with the Summer-like weather and blogging has not happened like I really want it to.

Lennie and I got to take in our first Seattle Sounders FC game last night, which was quite the experience. We were five rows from the field, and definitely swept up in the action. The crowd was full of energy, and it was fun to simply sit back and take it all in... even if we didn't always know/understand what was going on on the pitch. I enjoyed it, but don't know that I'll be the first in line for tickets and writing chants... maybe once I understand the game a little bit more!

Work has kept both Lennie and I busy, which has been nice. When we're not at work, we've been tending to the condo garden, which is blooming nicely, but requires a lot of water in the warm weather. Last I heard, we've gone 27 days without rain, so there's been a lot of watering going on! On the upside, our hard work is paying off in that we have enough lettuce now for a modest salad, and we're up to our ears in basil. I'm loving it!

Last weekend, we got to go to the annual :20 Funny Festival that is organized by 103.7 The Mountain. We had great seats on the balcony, dead center. It was fabulous! I laughed and giggled my way through the whole event, and am glad that Lennie and I have made this event an annual tradition.

A few other observations from the last few weeks:
  • Family is important. Don't forget to tell your family how much you love them, and appreciate the time that you get to spend with them.

  • Friends make life a whole lot better. Spend time with them: laughing, connecting, and make each other's lives better as much as you can.

  • The driving range can make you feel like a golf pro, and will help bring your golfing mojo back. It's worth the trip to swing through a bucket of balls, I promise!

  • If you're in a car alone, that does not mean that other people can't see you. Seriously, I can see you in the car behind me...

  • Air conditioning can be somewhat rare in Seattle, but when you need it, you need it!

  • We live in one of the most beautiful places possible. Sunshine, mountains, water, we have it all in Seattle. I'm so grateful for that!

  • I have one of the greatest husbands ever. Seriously, he kicks butt.


I hope that the end of Spring and beginning of Summer finds you all doing well. Bring on more summer sunshine! :-)

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Memorial Day Weekend 2009

What a great weekend -- I was somewhat reluctant to get back to work today, perhaps that's because it was so dang early in the morning compared to my sleep-ins all weekend! :-)

On Friday night, Lennie and I had a "date night," where we went to dinner and then saw Angels and Demons on the big screen. It was a great movie; I had read the book a year or so back, so I knew about the plot line, but I had forgotten the finer details, so I was on the edge of my seat for much of the movie.

Saturday brought some much needed sleep, and then we ventured out to find a new computer (which I am using now, yay!). Later in the afternoon/evening we went out to the Northwest Folklife Festival at Seattle Center where we met Lennie's sister. I'm not big on crowds (that's an understatement...), but I had never been to the festival and some of my friends were participating in the events, so we wanted to support them. The crowds weren't too bad, but there was certainly quite a lot of people watching to take in! I did get to visit my friend's booth -- On Focus Photo -- and got to take in some of her great photography while catching up with her. We also ran in to some great friends and saw the booth for Rwanda Basket Company. I love their baskets; definitely give 'em a gander. Our friend plays in a great band, the Panda Conspiracy, and we got to listen to them play on the mural stage. Definitely worth the trip to Seattle Center and the Folk Life Festival.

Sunday brought more sleep (yay!), and then we went and spent some time with my family, hitting the golf links and enjoying dinner. Monday brought more of the same for Lennie, and I took in the sunshine with my mom by the pool. After golf, we hosted some friends for a barbeque at my parent's house -- what a great way to end a long weekend! :-)

How was your Memorial Day weekend? Did you get to relax and take some time to yourself? I hope so!

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Yawn.

For over two weeks now, I've had photos on my camera of the 2009 condo garden. They're still on the camera. I keep thinking "I'll get those posted in a little bit..." and a little bit has turned into quite some time. If the photos weren't trapped on my camera, you'd see the beautiful lavender, pansies, mini-roses, tomatoes, two kinds of basil, lettuce, and fuchsias. I'm quite proud of my handiwork, I must confess. Alas, the photos will be coming soon... I promise!

Lately, I've been pretty tired. Not sure why but I'll be humming along just fine and then out of nowhere I'm exhausted. Completely exhausted. Hopefully I can get to the bottom of the exhaustion problem, but until then please excuse me if I decline plans or simply don't respond to calls or e-mails after 8 p.m. -- I'm probably tired again. :-(

We're experiencing a downpour with thunder and lightning right now, not a regular Spring sight in these parts. I'm hopeful though, that the rains will feed my plants and help my garden grow. I'll keep you posted!

Thursday, April 23, 2009

It's Time For Good News!

This week, I've really been struggling with the news. It's been bright and sunny outside, so the Seattle area has generally had a sunny disposition, but you wouldn't know it by looking at the local news outlets.

Generally, I watch King 5's news broadcast during the last 15 minutes or so before I leave for work in the morning so that I can be up-to-date on current events and also am aware of the current traffic situation. Then, at lunch, I will peruse our local newspaper's Web site, www.seattletimes.com.

But this week, it's been really bleak on the news front. I opened up the newspaper the other day and tried to find a positive headline to read. Instead, I was greeted by headlines about multiple dead bodies, starving children, financial issues, and all things depressing. I decided to dial down my news habits, but still seem to be presented with bad news as I'm going through my day. When I watched the morning news, I was hoping for some softer stories about school children doing good or maybe even a "Gardening with Ciscoe" segment next to the weather and traffic. Instead I was greeted with stories on suicides and roadside bombings. Ugh!

So, I'm starting to seek out the good news. There's got to be good things happening in the world, and I'm ready to hear about them. Let's put the smiles on our faces and start to look for the good side of life... consider it a challenge from me. What's your good news? Share it here, I'm ready to smile and cheer for everyone! :-)

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Sunshine, Sunshine!

The sun has been shining in the Seattle area for a consecutive days now, and I have to say that I have been quite distracted by it. With the temperatures hitting almost 70, I'm definitely not complaining! I've gotten out a few times to enjoy the sun, including a great two hour walk to start of my weekend and to return the smile to my face. There is nothing better than taking in nature and reconnecting with a great friend!

I've also had my nose buried in a few books lately. In the past two weeks, I have finished "The Appeal" by John Grisham (I give it three and a half out of five stars) and "Handle with Care" by Jodi Piccoult (I give that one four out of five stars). Ms. Piccoult's book was definitely a page-turner, and it held my attention... but I was quite disappointed by the ending. (That's all I'm going to say, as I don't want to ruin the book for you.) I guess it just didn't deliver the punch that the rest of the book had for me. Oh well, at least I got to enjoy the journey through the pages.

Not much else to report here, just enjoying the sunshine and getting into the rhythm of life. How are y'all doing?

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Easter and the End of Lent

This year I decided that rather than give up something for Lent, I would try to pick up some good habits instead. So, for Lent, I "gave up" being ill in an effort to get healthy. (You may remember that for a few months leading up to Lent, we had something similar to the plague in our household...) So, we started going to the gym regularly, and I got back to walking and enjoying the outdoors. It has felt really good to be in the habit of going to the gym, and I've definitely started to enjoy my time on the elyptical machine. Some say that it takes 3 weeks to make a habit, and I'm really hopeful that this is now a habit of mine that's going to stick around.

For Lent, and actually for 2009, I also decided to pursue happiness. So, every day I tried to find something joyful or happy to reflect on. Sometimes it was the sunrise or a view on the way to work, other times it was seeing a geat quality in someone that I came in contact with. So far, I'd have to say that I have really enjoyed looking for happiness in everything I do. I highly recommend it, in fact! :-)

I hope you all had a great Easter. Here's to continued health and happiness throughout the year!

Sunday, April 05, 2009

Banking & Customer Service

On Friday, I decided to stop at Starbucks for a morning mocha before work. As I sat at the drive through, I handed my debit card to the barista (as I have done many times before), and awaited my coffee and my receipt. Instead, I was embarassingly informed that my card was declined four times. Yep, declined. I was incedulous, to say the least, because I had just been paid, and there was well more than the $5 required in my account. After paying for my purchase with a different card, I hurried to the office and called the bank.

Once I finally got through to Bank of America's customer service line, I was informed that my card was turned off because I was part of a "mass compromise," and a letter would be mailed to me; my new card, it seems, was mailed to my original bank branch without my knowledge, and had been sitting there for the better part of two weeks. Nice. The nice customer service lady informed me that the police had simply called and provided the bank with accounts that may have been stolen and needed to be turned off. This would have been all fine and dandy if they had informed me that they were turning my card off. Instead, the letter telling me that the card was beind deactivated was attached to the new cards; the same cards that were mailed without my knowledge to the bank branch. UGH.

To make matters worse, they cut off my hubby's card too -- his new cards should be at our house sometime soon, we think, but the customer service people don't seem to know, nor are they willing to give us more information. Nice...

Lesson learned: the key to good customer service is to communicate with the customer. Let them know what is going on with their account before it is rudely cut off... or before it sends your customers in a panic thinking that their accounts have been drained. Yep, simple communication would have made me a much happier customer!

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Getting in Shape

Over the past few weeks, I've been trying to get back to the gym and get in better shape. So far, so good... I've gotten in to the gym three to four days a week, and have found that if I can simply get my car into the garage at the gym, I'm home free -- getting there is half the battle, I guess. Anyhow, my body has been responding to the trips to the gym, mostly in a good way, but I'm also pretty sore. Isn't it funny how making your body better through working out involves some pain? Ugh, when do the sore muscles stop?

My company moved offices yesterday, which meant carrying a lot of boxes and heavy items up and down two flights of stairs. We made great progress, but in the middle of the day, my body said to me: "Why didn't you call in sick today? That would have been way more fun!" Alas, I made it through, and I get to set-up my new desk with a view of 405 Monday morning. Fun!

So, I'm ready to start the weekend after moving the office... perhaps one or two trips to the gym and some quality time with my hubby... who knows what the weekend brings! :-)

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Save the Drama for your Mama

This week, I've found myself saying "save the drama for your mama" more than I would like. It's not that I'm having a dramatic week (far from it), it's just that it seems that there are a few parts of my life that seem to be overly dramatic, and I'm kind of tired of the drama and energy that goes into it. So, I say: save the drama for your mama.

In other news, our association has decided that grills with "open flames" are too dangerous and must be removed from all of our units "or else." Thus, we have to get rid of our propane BBQ grill. It kind of makes me angry that I'm being denied the right to go out onto my porch to grill up some salmon and or make a great burger. I guess that's the price that you pay for living in a condo complex...

I'm ready, though, to think about moving to a place where we don't share walls with our neighbors, and where I'm allowed to have a simple barbeque grill. Needless to say: anyone need a BBQ?

Thursday, March 05, 2009

Where the Pets Go?!

I am the proud owner of two fantail goldfish. They're pretty low maintenance, nice to look at, and sometimes entertaining. I recently cleaned out the fish tank and discovered that I was in need of some supplies to keep the tank in tip-top condition. So, I ventured to the nearest chain pet supply store at the mall to grab a few items. As I was standing in the back of the store looking at the different options on the shelf, I noticed something moving by my foot. Not just any something... oh no, it was a big fat roach skittering across the floor, coming out from it's hiding place right underneath the shelf I was looking at. To say that I was grossed out would be a little bit of an understatement. My first instinct was to stomp on it and then run away completely grossed out.

But then, I had one little thought: "Is it really okay to kill an animal (okay, a roach) in a pet store, or is there something a little wrong about that?" Needless to say, I let the little critter live.

A little disconcerting, though was the response that I got from the completely appethetic worker at the check-out stand. I walked up quite calmly and stated that perhaps they should consider cleaning the fish section of the store, as there was a little roach friend who was making his home there. The checker looked at me blankly and said, "Uh, okay... did you find everything today?" Yeah... and then some!

Perhaps it's time for me to start shopping at the non-chain pet store down the street... at least I haven't encountered any roaches there yet!

Monday, February 23, 2009

Busy, Busy, Busy

It's been pretty busy around our house lately. Last week, I turned another year older. Lennie organized a fun night out with friends to celebrate, and I enjoyed spending time with everyone. Man, I have a great husband, and I'm so grateful for all of the work that he did (and does)! Every year, I go through a funny phase just before my birthday... I get in a little bit of a funk, and am just not really sure how put my feelings together. It's not that I don't like getting older, or fear grey hairs or something, I just get funny. As soon as my birthday is here, life is good again. Weird.

This past weekend, I threw a baby shower for a good friend. Thanks to my long-time and great friend for some great ideas, the party was a success. (I'm not really that crafty, so her ideas came in really handy!) We decorated onesies for the baby, had a cupcake decorating contest, and generally had a great afternoon. It's always fun when you get a great group of ladies together! :-)

OH! And I finally downloaded the photos from my camera... so you can now see the shower evolution online. It's coming together nicely, and I'm looking forward to getting the last "odds and ends" completed in our bathrooms soon!

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Back to Life, Back to Reality

After starting the third round of prescriptions, I am finally starting to feel better. For those of you keeping track, our household has been dealing with colds and sinus-y stuff for 90 days now. Ugh, to say the least.

Since we're starting to feel better, Lennie and I decided to get our butts back into the gym last night. While I had my moments of thinking "just kill me now!!", I did make it through the whole workout, and felt better afterwards. In fact, I felt so much better, I dragged us back to the gym tonight. Fortunately, today the workout felt a little better, and I'm sitting here smelling funky but happy that we're getting back to regularly scheduled programming.

Monday, February 02, 2009

25 Really Random Things About Me

I was "tagged" on Facebook with providing 25 random things about me, and I thought that it would be fun to share them here too. So, here goes:

1. I once had a dead mouse fall out of a heating duct in my car and hit my leg while I was driving down a street in Spokane. I was horrified, to say the least.

2. When I order at Starbucks, it's a grande non-fat raspberry mocha, extra stirred. Which really means: "please actually put the spoon in my drink and mix it together so that I don't miss out on any of that chocolate-y goodness at the bottom of the cup."

3. Dark chocolate is my favorite of the chocolate food group. Extra bonus if it's dark chocolate with raspberry.

4. I lived across the street from my elementary school, which meant that I was really envious of my friends who got to ride the bus.

5. I am terrified of rodents of all kinds. If I even think that there is a rodent within my vicinity, my skin crawls and I can't sleep or think of anything else... see #1 above.

6. I've always lived in Washington state.

7. Ever since Target came to our area, I've lived within 5 miles of a Target store.

8. I once believed that I would meet my future husband at Target, because you can get anything there.

9. I met my wonderful husband in a corn maze. Our first date was on Halloween.

10. I believe that things happen and people come into your life for a reason, season, or a lifetime.

11. I hated tomatoes until about 6 years ago. Now I can't get enough of them.

12. I own two fantail goldfish. They don't have names because I never really got around to naming them. It's been two years now...

13. I've never owned a brand new car, nor have I ever had a car payment.

14. Kenya, Denmark, France, England, Ireland, Greece, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Fiji, the Bahamas, Canada, and the Virgin Islands have all been international travel destinations for me.

15. Reality television is a less-than-secret fascination for me. Real Housewives, Top Chef, Celebrity Rehab, Amazing Race, I'll find a way to catch up on almost all of them.

16. My hair hasn't been it's "natural color" without help since I was 16 or so.

17. Just thinking about my hubby makes me smile.

18. I have friends that go "way back" to elementary school; and I have some of the greatest friends.

19. I'm in denial about the fact that I have been out of high school for almost 14 years.

20. I believe that I have just entered the best years of my life.

21. There are not many things that I could ask for to make my life any "better." I have it all: a great husband, fabulous friends, a kick-butt family, health, home, laughter, and love. Everything else is just icing on the cake.

22. If I could move anywhere and be a beach bum, I would move to Cabo San Lucas, Baja, Mexico.

23. "Say Anything" is one of my all-time favorite movies.

24. "If I had a $1,000,000" by the Barenaked Ladies is one of my favorite songs.

25. Harry Connick Jr. is my "other boyfriend" -- I love his music, love his movies, and think that he's hot. Harry, if you're reading this: call me! :-)

Friday, January 30, 2009

Sklar Brothers & Superbowl

If there were ever two people that would make Lennie and I laugh every time, it's the Sklar Brothers. So, when I came across the following videos from Comedy Central and McDonald's, I couldn't resist sharing:
Halftime Show Commentary / Predictions



Game Commentary

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Lather, Rinse, Repeat

Life has been going at a pretty steady pace here... not much to report really. We're still battling the epic colds that have been going around (a gazillion weeks and counting now), but I suspect that we're on the way to healthier days. The shower project is almost done, and it feels good to make progress on the condo.

I'm so happy that it's Thursday today, as it's been a long week, full of ups and downs, and a little "lather, rinse, repeat." All good stuff.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Improving Home Improvement

Over the past two weeks, we have been somewhat uprooted, as Lennie and I (well, really Lennie mostly) took on the task of redoing both of our bathrooms. At the time that we started the project, it seemed like a good idea to do both at the same time, since my parents were out of town and we could stay at their house while we had no showers. In true optimist style, I thought that we'd have the project done in a few days, just under a week tops. Boy, did I overestimate our skills! :-) Actually, I underestimated the amount of time it would take for things to dry and for us to wedge home improvement into our busy work schedules. Minor miscalculation, to say the least.

So, we were displaced out of our home for over a week and a half (thanks Mom and Dad for putting up with us!), and I was eager to get us back in the condo. On Tuesday evening, we were able to return to our mostly completed house -- despite the dust. As I said before, Lennie did most of the work, and I'm really proud of him. I did, however, learn the finer points of mudding and taping drywall, and I did a pretty good job if I do say so myself! We've still got another coat of mud to put onto the drywall, and we do need to install shower doors, but we're back at home and loving it.

I've been taking photos of the whole process, so I'll be sure to post them when the drywall is complete, the paint is dry, and the shower doors are installed. Until then, I'm grateful to be home in my own bed and enjoying the condo again.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Tired, Sick, Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired.

[rant] It seems that Lennie and I have been battling colds or sinus stuff since before Thanksgiving. While the past two weeks haven't had me feeling completely knocked down, but I certainly haven't felt 100%, and it has made me really tired and frustrated by sinus headaches and pressure. Ugh. We finally went back in to the doctor yesterday, and got prescriptions that are supposed to do the trick... alas, so far not so good for me. Today has found be excessively tired, and battling hot and cold flashes. I thought that the drugs were supposed to make me feel better, not worse! Ay yay yay. Perhaps a long nap will do the trick this evening? [/rant]

I hope that everyone out there hasn't been bogged down by the cold and flu bug this season -- seems like a lot of us are struggling with a bug that simply won't let go! :-(

Thursday, January 01, 2009

Happiness New Year 2009

Happy New Year! May you be blessed with happiness, health, love, and adventure in the upcoming year.

Space Needle fireworks, January 1, 2007. Photo by me. :)


One of the blogs that I read regularly challenged readers to define 2009 with one word instead of creating new year's resolutions. I have chosen the word happiness. In 2009, I will strive to bring happiness to those around me, to find happiness in everything that I do (to always look for the silver lining in the least), I will seek happiness, and I will find happiness in everything I do, not matter how big or small.

So, what's your word? What will define you in 2009? What can you do to make it happen?