KermitFan's "Pad"

The Best Kind of Day

2011-12-04T21:04:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I got to experience one of my favorite activities. As I look back on it, it was my idea of the perfect day! First, two of my best friends and I made our annual trek to the spa. Over the years, we've figured out that our holidays are better spent together at the spa rather than spending hours shopping for gifts for one another at the mall. It has become one of the absolute highlights of my year. As with a few years past, we gathered at the Oasis Salon and Spa in Woodinville for facials and massages. It was completely relaxing and absolutely what I needed. After spending the morning in the spa, we enjoyed lunch together complete with conversation and laughter. I still have a smile on my face from spending time with great friends -- this is definitely my favorite activity all year!

After completing some Christmas shopping on my own (what was I thinking -- going to 'big box stores' on a Saturday in December!?!), I returned home and got to spend the evening with my husband. We ran some errands before venturing to the theater to see The Muppets on the big screen. It's been quite some time since we went to a movie theater, so this was quite the treat. The movie had us laughing and giggling the whole time, and we both thoroughly enjoyed it.

Any mention of the Muppets takes me back to my childhood, when I used to watch the Muppet Show with my father every week; I'd anticipate the next show with great excitement. Kermit and his friends always made me laugh, and I continue to be a fan to this day.

Spas. Movies. Good times with great friends. An evening with my husband. These are the ingredients to the best kind of day in my book! :)

Things to be Thankful For

2011-11-23T20:39:00.000-08:00

Another Thanksgiving is upon us, and I am reminded once again of the many blessings in my life. From feeling the first stirrings of our impending arrival to spending precious moments with my family, I am very thankful for the abundance in my life.

The weather has turned blustery, wet, and cold around here. Fall (and soon Winter) has arrived here in the great Northwest. For the past few mornings, I have found myself waking up to the pitter-patter of rain and a feeling of continued amazement at the world around me. God's creation is so intricately woven, and we are all threads in the fabric of the world. I am ever reminded of what a wonderful world we live in, and I am grateful.

For all of the friends, family, and others who have blessed my life this year, thank you. I am thankful for each of you and hope that this Thanksgiving you are surrounded by love and laughter.

Happy Thanksgiving!

This is Not an April Fool's Joke

2011-11-14T20:41:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted here for a while, and I suppose that I should bring y'all up-to-date about the happenings in the KermitFan household. But first, a video that makes me smile:

This commercial came along a few weeks ago, and made me smile because I could be the woman in this video since I haven't been shouting from the rooftops our latest news. Nonetheless, I'm pleased to report that I am 20 weeks pregnant. At halfway through the pregnancy, (our 'official' due date is April 1st) so far I have been healthy and happy.

We went to the doctor's office today to have our "big" ultrasound. It was an incredible experience! Although we didn't get to see the face, he was kind enough to "moon" us and both the ultrasound technician and the doctor said that without a doubt we are having a baby boy.

Tonight, I get to go to sleep with the sound of our baby's heartbeat thumping through my memories and visions of our ultrasound rolling through my brain. I'm looking forward to meeting our new addition, and until then I will get to dream about all of the adventures that we'll be embarking on in the coming months.

Happy Birthday Lennie!

2011-09-08T12:22:00.000-07:00

Today is my favorite guy's birthday. Today marks the day that he decided to grace the world with his marvelous presence.

Happy birthday, Lennie. I'm so glad to have you in my life!

Dear Jessica...

2011-08-29T12:38:00.001-07:00

Dear Jessica in South Carolina,
Please, please, please learn your e-mail address. It turns out that your e-mail address is not the same as mine. Yet, you seem to insist on continuing to give out my e-mail address as your address at every turn. Over the last 6+ months, I have consistently turned down birthday parties for your son's friends, declined to participate in your neighborhood's yard sale, and I really, really don't want to work as a classroom volunteer. In fact, I would like to say thank you for having my e-mail address published in your school's phone book as yours. It was delightful deleting 45 e-mails (do people really need to reply all?!) the other day.

Jessica, if you should choose to not learn your e-mail address, I will be forced to continue to reply to these e-mails stating that you did not receive the message, I will continue declining party invitations, and I will also continue deleting any accounts that you create (you didn't actually want to get a job from that job site, did you?). How you succeed at continually opening accounts with the wrong address (where you have to double enter your e-mail address) is beyond me....

Please Jessica, learn your e-mail address and stop giving mine out.

Sincerely,

Kermit Fan

Happy 4th Anniversary!

2011-07-14T09:32:00.000-07:00

Today marks the 4th anniversary of our marriage. It has been an exciting journey, and I am beyond grateful for having Lennie in my life. What a joy to share my life with such a loving, talented, caring man!

I can't wait to see what adventures lie ahead for us, and I'm so glad that I get to go through my life journey with Lennie by my side.

I love you Lennie!

New Orleans Adventures

2011-06-19T13:40:00.000-07:00

Work called me to New Orleans, LA recently, and since it's not often (read: ever) that I get to fly to Louisiana, Lennie and I jumped at the opportunity to take a long weekend and explore a new area. Although it was a long journey to get there (thanks to a 5 hour delay in Denver), I arrived to sticky, humid weather in New Orleans at 3:30 Friday morning. Tired and ready to be done with my 24 hour day (which was not enhanced by my harrowing cab ride!), I checked into the Hotel Intercontinental in downtown New Orleans. Once again, I got a great deal on a very nice hotel room from Hotwire.com. Even though the bed was super comfortable, sleep came slowly and I finally drifted off around 5 in the morning. Lennie was traveling on mileage, and arrived around 10 on Friday morning.

After sleeping off our jet lag, we strolled down to the waterfront for our first true taste of New Orleans. We enjoyed our first deep fried meal of the long weekend, complete with a delectable shrimp po' boy and the largest salad that I have seen in quite some time. After exploring a little more, we decided to enjoy the rooftop pool at the hotel. (It turns out that Seattleites like ourselves don't really do well with the heat and humidity!)

On Friday night, we decided to walk the few blocks over to Bourbon Street for dinner and some jazz. Thank goodness that we stopped and talked with the concierge before we went over there -- he gave us some sage advice as well as forewarned us that this was not an experience for everyone. Boy, was he right! After enjoying another great meal on the edges of Bourbon Street, we toured the Friday night scene in the heart of Bourbon Street and the French Quarter. I suspect that anyone who walked past us could quickly see the wonder in our eyes, for the few blocks that we walked were completely In-describable; it was definitely not in our comfort zone. Fortunately, our concierge pal told us to check out Irvin Mayfield's Jazz Playhouse at the Royal Sonesta Hotel. Not only did we get a front row seat for some great jazz, it was the laid back atmosphere that we were looking for!

Saturday was a super tourist day for us; we took a 3+ hour city tour, where we we got to see the French Quarter, the 9th Ward, the Garden District, and more. I always like taking a city tour because it gives a great overview of the city -- helping you hit the highlights and identify areas where you'd like to explore even more. Part of the city tour took us through the 9th Ward, which was one of the areas hit hardest by hurricane Katrina. It's hard to believe that that was almost ten years ago now... the devastation left behind by the storm is still very evident, and it broke my heart to see neighborhoods torn apart. Living so far away from New Orleans, it's easy to forget the impact of Hurricane Katrina; however, it is clear to me that we all need to remember that they are still living in the aftermath of the horrific storm, and we should lend a helping hand whenever we can.

Above ground graves at a city cemetery.

Beignets at Cafe du Monde. (Warning: a very messy food!)

On Sunday, we had the opportunity to take a swamp tour. I never would have thought that I'd say that a swamp was beautiful, but this was definitely a highlight of our trip. The greenery was breathtaking, and getting out of the city was exactly what we needed. Lennie and I definitely enjoyed every minute of this tour, and I would highly recommend that you go on one if you ever get the opportunity to do so!

Sitting in the swamp... the green at the bottom of the picture is actually small plants in the water.

Baiting the alligators to get them closer to the boat. (Yikes!)

Monday brought the reality that Lennie was leaving the fair city of New Orleans, and I had to prepare to work at the trade show. We had a relaxing morning and got to enjoy lunch together before Lennie boarded the bus to the airport and I began setting up for the show.

I'm very grateful that we got to spend the weekend together in New Orleans, and I definitely think that it's a city that everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime; it's quite the experience! Check out some of our photos from the weekend here.

Memorial Day Memories

2011-05-31T20:28:00.000-07:00

This year, for Memorial Day, we had the good fortune to spend time in downtown Portland, OR with some great friends. After scoring a good deal on a hotel room at the Westin Portland, plans were set in motion to drive down to Oregon and explore for the weekend. Lennie and I took a leisurely Saturday drive, enjoying the I-5 scenery and a relatively sunny day. It felt very freeing to get out of town, even if it was only a few hours down the road.

Once we got to the hotel, we parked the car and didn't get back in until we made our way home two days later. It was great to walk around the city to see the sights! A few of the highlights include:

World's Smallest Park (Mill Ends Park)
Forest Park (one of the country's largest urban parks)
The Pearl District
Visiting the Rose Festival City Fair

Here's some of my favorite photos from the weekend:

World's Smallest Park -- Lennie's shoe is almost the whole length! :-)

Vietnam Memorial in Forest Park

Me being silly with the statue in Pioneer Square, Portland OR

We thoroughly enjoyed spending time in Portland with our friends, and look forward to visiting the city again soon!

Circle of Life?

2011-05-08T22:07:00.000-07:00

Two days before my family arrived in town this week, our tulips were blooming nicely and the yard looked fantastic. Then, Lennie and I drove home from work one evening and as we pulled into the driveway Lennie asked: "Did you trim the tulips yesterday?" To which I replied, "No, why do you ask?" Upon further inspection, we discovered that quite a few of our prized tulips had been sheered off by some animal... we even found two hoof prints in the soil.

Today, as we were working around the garage, the suspected tulip bandit wandered into our neighbor's yard and meandered down the street while we looked on:

As I told Lennie: our yard has been contributing to the circle of life, feeding a nice young deer. How nice of us, I suppose...

Happy 70th Birthday Dad!

2011-05-07T08:00:00.000-07:00

Today, my father celebrates his 70th birthday. Friends and family will gather to celebrate this wonderful man's life and to wish him well for many years to come. I'm excited to spend time with everyone, and proud to have you as my father.

Happy 70th birthday dad!

(And to my nephew Andrew: happy birthday to you too!) :-)

One Amazing Woman

2011-04-04T21:34:00.000-07:00

Recently, I had the opportunity to go through some old letters and photos from my family. While I was reading through World War II era letters between my grandmother and my great grandmother, I began to fully understand and appreciate what an amazing woman my grandmother was. She was strong, an adventurer, and a trailblazer for her time.

When she was alive, I didn't realize what my grandmother had gone through -- raising two fine boys as a widower/single mother in the 40's and 50's. Grandma Margaret traveled around the US at a time that it wasn't convenient to 'hop on a plane' for a weekend trip to the other coast; she adventured to life in New York, North Carolina, and Minneapolis.

She struggled, and yet she succeeded. I just wish that I had understood how amazing she was while she was still around. Instead, I will have to be content with sitting back and appreciating my family history, and the contribution that my grandmother made to our family. Thank you for who you are and all that you did, Grandma!

Logging Off

2011-03-06T19:48:00.000-08:00

Over the past few weeks, I've felt compelled to log off of the computer... For days and even two weeks at a time, I have not been logging in to Facebook, nor have I been checking my 'personal' e-mail incessantly after work or on weekends. And I've got to tell you: it feels great.

I'm no longer spending hours at a time playing mindless games or obsessing over what people had for lunch or how they feel about politics. Instead, I've been logging off and actually spending face-to-face time with people, or spending time writing letters and making telephone calls. My husband and I have had some great conversations, as we've been spending time with one another instead of near each other.

Perhaps we don't all need to be as connected as we think. When I do log in to Facebook and other online resources, I realize that I haven't really been missing anything. I feel free!

My cell phone, my only phone that is, does only a few things: text messages and telephone calls. We recently went to our cell phone provider to see about upgrading me, but when I realized that the 'free' phone was going to cost us almost $400 in additional fees over the life of the contract, I decided to stick with my current phone. I don't need to be online all the time, nor do I need to be that accessible to e-mail and other communication channels.

And that, my friends, is why I'm logging off more and more often. I am recommitting myself to reaching out to friends and family the 'old fashioned' way -- through classic letter writing and good old fashioned one-on-one time. So far, it feels great!

Another Year Older

2011-02-21T17:26:00.000-08:00

I have just marked another birthday, and as my family and I celebrated this weekend, I began to reflect back on how much has happened in the last year. We closed the sale on my condo last year on my birthday. Since then, it has been a whirlwind of moving into temporary quarters, buying a house, and moving again. We cleaned out storage boxes, gave things away, and added new things to our home. We turned our house into a home, planting trees, changing decor, and generally settling in to our new surroundings.

On the job front, my company was acquired over the summer, and I integrated into a team of great professionals. It was a great change for me, and I can't wait to see what else lies ahead for our company. It seems that much of the year was filled with change, but at the same time everything is still the same; I love spending time with my friends and family, and we still live in a beautiful area. Life is good.

Over my birthday weekend, I got to spend time with my parents and with Lennie. We were blessed with sunny weather (a rarity for Seattle in February). We got to take in the sights, enjoy a few great meals together, and generally enjoy one another's company. It was truly a great weekend with my family, and I can't wait to see what the year ahead brings!

The Lottery & Dreams

2011-01-20T21:48:00.000-08:00

I'm not really a gambling woman, I don't enjoy trips to the casino, and I don't regularly purchase lottery tickets. It seems that I work hard enough for my money that I feel kind of connected to it and want to be wise with my cash. Recently, however, the Mega Millions jackpot hit $330 million, so I parted with some of my cash. I'm sorry to say that I didn't win anything with my ticket, but I feel like my money was well spent...

For a few dollars, I was able to dream about what I would do with the winnings: pay off the house, donate money to charities, travel, dream. One little lottery ticket (and one large jackpot) led me into multiple conversations with friends and family about what we would do if we were suddenly wealthy. Virtually everyone that I spoke with said that they would squirrel money away in a savings or other accounts, and splurge on travel or other luxuries.

In the few days between purchasing my ticket and the lottery drawing, I allowed my mind to wander... It was great! As we drove down the road, I would ask Lennie "what if we..." and I would spin stories and ideas about how we would help others or enjoy the bounty of lottery winnings. My random numbers may not have been drawn, but I certainly enjoyed thinking about what I would do with the winnings!

Garages

2010-10-12T19:07:00.000-07:00

Since we've moved to our house in late April, I've been observing our new neighborhood and the surrounding area from a different point of view. Garages have definitely caught my attention, especially since we now have a two-car garage of our own. One of the things that strikes me is how different every one's garage is, and how you use your garage says a lot about what is important to your lifestyle.

For example, one of our neighbors has a two car garage, with one half of the garage dedicated to being used as a home gym, complete with a heavy bag and mats to stretch out on. The other half is used to park their sporty car. I'm definitely envious of their dedication to their health and fitness!

Others in the neighborhood have their garages packed to the gills with boxes and other flotsam and jetsam from their lives. So much so that over 75% of our neighbors can't (or don't?) park their cars in their garages. This leads me to wonder: what is it about our society that tells us that we need "more, more, more" ... so much more that we fill our garages with boxes and other items so full that we can't put our cars in the garage?

For our garage, we're trying to strike a healthy balance -- parking both vehicles inside as well as storing seasonal items like our camping gear or our Christmas decorations. What does our garage say about our lives? Well, I'd say that it says that we've moved in, but there are still a few boxes left to find a home... until then, they're stacked neatly in our garage. It also says that we're working on being good gardeners, starting with the basics and working our way up... slowly! :-)

What does your garage say about you?

August to Autumn

2010-10-10T19:06:00.000-07:00

Phew! We've been busy here enjoying the last of the cool summer and watching the leaves turn shades of orange and yellow during the fall. I've been meaning to post for some time, but it seems that I've been neglecting this little piece of Cyberspace...

In mid-August, we had the opportunity to take a few days off and camp at Deception Pass State Park on Whidbey Island. It was such a treat to enjoy the last of the summer heat (it was actually warm during our trip, which was a rare occurrence this past summer!) with friends. While we were up on Whidbey Island, Lennie and I took a quick trip into Oak Harbor to visit with our friends Beth and Tim. It was so nice to reconnect with them and to hang out with their family for a day. They even got to bring their kids out to our campsite to make their first s'mores. Too fun! I always enjoy spending time with friends, and this quick trip was definitely what the doctor ordered. (Although, I don't think that the doctor ordered the colds that Lennie and I came home with, but that's another story...)

Over Labor Day weekend, I tried my hand at canning homemade applesauce, as well as drying the first set of apples. Yum! We also got to attend a great friend's wedding, where the blue skies made an appearance for just enough time for an outdoor affair. It was definitely a night to remember, and I'm grateful that we got to attend the event.

September has brought sunny days and crisp air as well as the beginning of Husky football season. I love the opportunity to sit in the stands and experience the energy of Husky stadium. While our team may not always pull out the win, it's certainly fun to be amongst the crowd cheering the team on to victory. I do have to say, though, that the USC win was a little too stressful for my blood -- taking it down to the last two seconds definitely brought my blood pressure up!

We're excited to be back on our "regular" schedule, with life in full swing and a fun chill in the air. Our neighbors have already decorated their houses for Halloween, complete with lights. I'm excited to see what the rest of October brings, including trick-or-treaters! Happy October everyone! :-)

Happy Birthday, Babe!

2010-09-08T09:24:00.000-07:00

Today's is Lennie's birthday. I am so grateful to have Lennie in my life, and can't wait to see what the next year brings!

Happy birthday Lennie!

Sunny Summer Days

2010-08-08T10:46:00.000-07:00

We've been doing our best to keep ourselves busy this summer. A few weeks back, we took in a concert in the park, courtesy of the Duvall Cultural Commission. (Who knew that our little burg had a culture commission!) It was quite fun to enjoy a picnic dinner while listening to Celtic music by the river. We'll definitely put this activity on the "to do" list again. Later that week, we also had the opportunity to enjoy a movie in the park with Crystal and Jonathan. Outdoor movies are one of our favorite summertime activities... not only is the price right, but it's a great way to spend a cool summer night.

This past week, I took a business trip to Phoenix, AZ. Of course, I was down there during the hottest time of year, with highs hovering around 110 degrees. I was blown away by the Phoenix natives... as I was sweating away in my shorts or breezy summer dresses, the locals were walking around in jeans and long sleeved t-shirts. In my book, if it's over 70 degrees, long sleeve t-shirts should stay in the closet! :-) Nonetheless, it was fun to zip around Phoenix and to meet my new work team. Can't wait to get back later this year (maybe then I'll appreciate the sun and heat!).

I returned home to a weekend filled with Seattle rain. However, I can't say that I'm very upset by the rain... it's a nice change of pace, really. (And I don't have to pay to water my lawn this weekend -- bonus!) Yesterday, I got to have lunch and get pedicures with two of my favorite women. Today, we get to celebrate the marriage of Dwight and Melissa. It's always fun to spend time with good friends!

Strawberries, Wine, and Mortorbikes

2010-07-18T21:39:00.000-07:00

We've been blessed with incredible summer weather here in the Seattle area lately -- not too hot and not too cold -- so Lennie and I are trying to make the most of it. On Saturday, Lennie enjoyed the Bite of Seattle with a friend, while I tried my hand at making homemade strawberry jam. It appears to have come out well (at least it set up nicely), but we haven't had the opportunity to crack open one of the jars to try it out yet... stay tuned!

We went out for our "anniversary dinner" on Saturday night. The dinner was okay, but not "out of the park," which was a little disappointing for this particular restaurant. After dinner, we walked down to the Kirkland waterfront, where we browsed the booths for the "Kirkland Uncorked" festival and strolled on the dock for the "boat show." It was nice to watch the sunset and do a little people watching. :-)

Sunday took us to church, then we took my parents to the XXX Rootbeer Drive-in in Issaquah for a motorbike rally. There were some amazing bikes there -- from custom choppers to Harleys and more. I never knew that there were so many different flavors of motorbikes! It almost inspired me to become a motorcycle rider, but I'm not sure that we're really ready for that lifestyle... What fun to be able to walk around and take in the sights though!

So how about you, great Internet world, how was your weekend?

Happy 3rd Anniversary!

2010-07-14T08:09:00.000-07:00

Today marks our third wedding anniversary. I'm proud to have Lennie as my husband, and I look forward to spending many, many more years together filled with laughter and love.

I love you babe!

Cirque du Soleil and New Furniture

2010-06-15T20:51:00.000-07:00

Last weekend was another whirlwind! We spent Saturday morning at an estate sale, where we scored a great black leather recliner for an absolute steal, and my mother purchased a beautiful -- but heavy -- dining set. And there were a lot of stairs between the street and our new furniture.

While I enjoyed lunch with friends from college, Lennie and my mother began scheming on how they were going to get the furniture out of the house and back to the Eastside. It was great to see my friends from Whitworth; great conversation and some good laughs. As I was leaving, I learned that my family had rented a truck, and I headed to meet them back at the estate sale. After a lot of heavy lifting by many, and a few close calls on the stairs, the furniture was safely secured within the truck and making it's way to my parent's house. The table looks great in my parent's dining room, and I find the new recliner to be quite comfy.

On Sunday, we took advantage of the elusive Spring sunshine and got some work done in the yard. Sunday afternoon brought us back to my parents, were we enjoyed an early dinner before taking in the Cirque du Soleil show "Kooza." The show is being held under a big top style tent at Marymoor Park in Redmond. Much like the show "Ka" that we took in last month while in Las Vegas, the show was amazing. I was surprised that our back row seats still had a great view, and that the theater felt intimate, even though it was me and 2,499 of my favorite Seattleites! If you get a chance to see the show "Kooza," I say go for it -- it's definitely a great show!

Weekend Wanderings

2010-06-07T21:12:00.000-07:00

We've been enjoying our new house, and feel like we're finally settled in. Over Memorial Day weekend, we got most of our pictures hung on the walls, just in time to share meals with good friends and family. It was great fun to have people over to our place -- and actually have enough room to host them for a meal! :-)

This past weekend, we took advantage of the Saturday sunshine and did some work around the yard. Saturday afternoon, we meandered down to "Duvall Days" to take in the street fair and enjoy a late lunch. While at the street fair, we stopped by the Lake Washington Technical College campus, where I received a free mini-facial and learned that I can make spa appointments on a budget... I will definitely be back there! After walking around for a while, we stopped in to the Duvall Grill for lunch. The food was amazing, and the waitstaff was outstanding. I have never enjoyed such a fresh salad, and Lennie ranked the bacon & blue burger amongst his top 10 burgers. We will definitely be back there -- and if you're ever in Duvall, I recommend that you drop by for a great meal!

Sunday brought grey skies and rain, which we escaped by going to a friend's dance recital. It was interesting seeing all of the kids dancing... made me wish that I had a little more rhythm, and a lot more coordination. Guess those tap and ballet lessons that I took when I was in kindergarten only go so far though... heh.

Weekend Yard Makeover

2010-05-17T19:48:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, Lennie and I decided to makeover the front section of our yard, removing the four overgrown heather plants/bushes and planting hydrangea and lavender along our walkway.

The original plantings -- lots of heather (and a few weeds).

I hadn't realized how large the heather plants actually were... it took both of us digging and hauling in order to get the plants out. We gave three of them to my parents for their yard, and the three plants took up over half of the back of Lennie's truck!

Post-heather removal, just before we attacked the underlying clay with a rototiller.

Once we removed the plantings, we realized that everything underneath was hard clay, which required us to pick away at it with our new shovel, and then borrow my parent's rototiller to break up the dirt.

The tilling worked like a charm, and we were able to plant three new hydrangea plants as well as two lavender. Both plants have meaning for us, as I've always wanted a hydrangea plant (and it was one of the main flowers of our wedding). In addition, the lavender plants were purchased by Lennie this year during his annual Mother's Day tradition with his sister. I can't wait to see what it will look like in bloom, and am glad that we have something to remind us of family and great memories.

Final work product -- hydrangea and lavender all planted!

Want to see more photos? Click here.

Congratulations Melissa & Dwight!

2010-05-09T21:30:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, we had the privilege of attending Dwight & Melissa's wedding in Las Vegas. It was quite the trip, and we enjoyed seeing the sights and sharing time with friends. Here are some photo highlights:

Lennie, Susahn, Travis and I got to take in the Cirque du Soleil show "Ka" as well as the lights and sights at the Freemont Street Experience.

We also got to try some deep fried Oreos -- yum!

Saturday was filled with wedding activities:

Getting ready...

Taking in the sunset at Maggiano's Little Italy.

Thank you Melissa & Dwight, for letting us share in your special day!

We've Moved!

2010-04-30T20:27:00.000-07:00

Wow, what a whirlwind... but we did it -- we've moved! Thanks to all of those who came to help us move in to our new house, we couldn't have done it without all of you, that's for sure!

Our new house is quite roomy (although as we moved, we realized how much stuff we have), with four bedrooms and 2.75 bathrooms. It already feels like home, and has become our refuge in a few short days. Located in Duvall, Washington, we're a "little bit" out of town, but our new commute features great views and little or no freeway driving. If you're ever in Duvall, give us a call!

Recorded!

2010-04-14T22:21:00.000-07:00

Today, according to our great county, we are officially homeowners. The sale of our house recorded at the county this afternoon, and in three short days, we'll get to take posession. Yahooo!

Signing and Signs

2010-04-08T19:34:00.000-07:00

Wow, has it really been that long since I've posted here? Hmmm... sorry about that blogosphere! Since my last post, I've had some family visit us, helped organize a lovely bridal shower, and worked quite a bit.

It seems that we have kept ourselves busy since selling the condo in February, and I am delighted to report that we are days away from closing on our first home together. We could not be more excited about the house, and can't seem to wipe the grins off of our faces as we talk about it. Here's a few photos of us signing the papers yesterday and of us putting up the sold sign on our new home:

Signing our lives away, err... the loan and closing documents.

Putting up the "sold" sign.

Our (soon to be) new house!

View more photos of the house. Or, if you're looking for something to do in the Seattle area on the weekend of April 24th, give me a call -- we can always use help moving! :-)

Sold! Closed! Happy Birthday to ME!

2010-02-19T16:50:00.000-08:00

Wow, what a ride. For those of you following along with this blog, you may remember that we put our condo up for sale on February 1st. Well, as of today it is sold and closed. Done deal. Finito. On the books; recorded with the county and all that jazz. Happy birthday to me! :-)

Nobody prepared me for what an emotional ride this would be, but I'm very happy to have this leg completed. Lessons learned:

If you're selling your home, you should definitely have a real estate agent show it. No homeowner should have to endure hearing people's commentary on the small nit-picky points that they don't like about your home.

It's not personal, it's business -- but sometimes it's still frustrating and hard to take yourself out of the equation.

If you're going to call the power company to cancel your account, be sure you write the number down correctly... there's a big difference between 1-888... and 1-800... trust me on this one!

There were a few other lessons learned, but for now, I'll leave it at that... and you'll definitely want to trust me on that last point!

Closing today was quite the birthday gift, that's for sure. Over the past three years, great things have happened on my birthday, and I sure hope the trend continues -- here's to another great year!

Just Listed!

2010-02-01T17:57:00.001-08:00

Are you in the market for a great 2 bedroom, 1 3/4 bathroom condo in Bellevue Washington? Well, we've got one on the market, and maybe it'll be the right place for you! Check out the listing online, then contact your favorite real estate agent to take a tour. :-)

Catching Up & Transitions

2010-01-24T17:18:00.001-08:00

Wow, where has the time gone? The holidays have come and gone, and January is almost over. It has been a very busy time for us -- full of transitions and activity.

My last post focused on my grandmother's 90th birthday. Lennie and I had the opportunity to travel back to Minneapolis to help celebrate her birthday and to reconnect with family. The party was a great success, and we were treated to sunny but cold winter days (a high of 19!?) while touring around the Twin Cities. Photos from the party and our weekend are available here.

Upon returning home, we were thrown into the holiday season, complete with my brother's family in town for two weeks. It was fun to have kids around for the Christmas season, and we filled our after-work time with trips to the Bellevue Botanical Gardens and other area Christmas events. My oldest nephew had a hockey tournament that started immediately after Christmas, so we trekked up to Mountlake Terrace quite a few times to take in some of his games. It was busy, but we really enjoyed having the family in town. View photos from the holidays.

Ch-Ch-Changes
Amidst all of the holiday cheer, Lennie and I also began packing up our condo. For quite some time now, we have felt that condo living is no longer appropriate for our life stage. The opportunity came up to stay elsewhere while we had a our condo updated/repaired, and we jumped on it. (Note to self: don't try to pack up and move during the holidays; both items are stressful enough on their own!) Needless to say, we moved out on January 2nd and have been living out of boxes for the last few weeks (which partially explains why photos haven't been posted and I've been delinquent in posting here). As we've transitioned out of the condo, we donated many items and began "organizing" all of the 'stuff' that we have accumulated. To say that it's been overwhelming would be an understatement!

I tried to get a few "before" photos for our condo, but our contractor was on the ball and got started just before these photos were taken. Either way, you get the idea... I'm happy to say that we're nearing the finish line for the condo update project, and I snapped these photos yesterday. We could not be happier with the work that our contractor did.

So, for our next trick we'll be putting the condo up on the market within the next week or so. If you know of anyone who wants to purchase a great two bedroom, one and 3/4 bathroom condo in Bellevue, let me know. It's a great location, we're just ready to live in a house instead of a condo. :-)

Happy Birthday Grandma Mary!

2009-12-11T08:00:00.000-08:00

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.

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!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-25T19:31:00.000-08:00

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!

How Un-Seattle of Me!

2009-10-26T20:12:00.000-07:00

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! :-)

Fall

2009-10-11T12:57:00.000-07:00

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! :-)

Yay For College Football Season!

2009-09-07T18:17:00.000-07:00

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! :-)

Summer Vacation

2009-08-30T20:26:00.000-07:00

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.

zzzzzz....

2009-08-16T21:28:00.000-07:00

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! ;-)

Some Like It Hot

2009-07-28T22:13:00.000-07:00

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.
Five 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!

Weekend Wanderings

2009-07-21T19:57:00.000-07:00

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:

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.

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:

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:

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:

(Yes, that's a submarine... cool, huh?)

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.

Two Years!

2009-07-15T19:40:00.000-07:00

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!

One Wedding and a Funeral

2009-06-28T16:57:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-28T11:21:00.000-07:00

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!

Swept Into Spring

2009-06-18T22:10:00.000-07:00

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! :-)

Memorial Day Weekend 2009

2009-05-26T19:47:00.000-07:00

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!

Yawn.

2009-05-19T21:38:00.000-07:00

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!

It's Time For Good News!

2009-04-23T17:53:00.001-07:00

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! :-)

Sunshine, Sunshine!

2009-04-21T20:02:00.000-07:00

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?

Easter and the End of Lent

2009-04-12T14:34:00.000-07:00

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!

Banking & Customer Service

2009-04-05T19:32:00.000-07:00

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!

Getting in Shape

2009-03-28T09:39:00.000-07:00

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! :-)

Save the Drama for your Mama

2009-03-14T18:44:00.000-07:00

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?

Where the Pets Go?!

2009-03-05T20:53:00.000-08:00

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!

Busy, Busy, Busy

2009-02-23T21:41:00.000-08:00

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!

Back to Life, Back to Reality

2009-02-12T18:34:00.000-08:00

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.

25 Really Random Things About Me

2009-02-02T20:30:00.000-08:00

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! :-)

Sklar Brothers & Superbowl

2009-01-30T17:34:00.001-08:00

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

McDonalds Dollar Menu Presents

Sklar Brothers - Onside Kicks - The Big Game

Lather, Rinse, Repeat

2009-01-29T18:35:00.000-08:00

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.

Improving Home Improvement

2009-01-22T18:09:00.000-08:00

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.

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

2009-01-13T17:35:00.000-08:00

[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! :-(

Happiness New Year 2009

2009-01-01T10:45:00.000-08:00

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?

Merry (Belated) Christmas! Ho, ho, ho!

2008-12-29T19:15:00.000-08:00

We're in the middle of the holiday season, winding down the year and finishing off the holidays simultaneously. I had five glorious days off from work, and I have to admit that today I had a little trouble shifting my brain back into gear at work. (Don't worry, I did succeed in getting some work done today!) After being snowed in for two weeks, I finally got to take my vehicle out for a spin today. I felt like it was a late Christmas present, really. I think that I was beginning to take freedom for granted, but being snowed in really put it in perspective. There's something to be said for not having to rely on other people to do simple things like run to the store at any time, that's for sure. My driving was mostly uneventful today, although I do think that my car may have laughed at me when I tried to pull into a parking spot that had a little (I mean a little) patch of snow in it. Thus proving, once again, that my car has little tolerance for snow, to say the least.

Our "white Christmas" was nice, as the snow cleared up just enough for us to get together with family and to attend our favorite church service. Good times. Lennie and I also enjoyed some after Christmas shopping on the 26^th. Now, normally, I'm not the type to be beating down the doors of the stores for sales, but for some reason, I agreed to dental appointments at 8 a.m. on Friday morning. A waste of a good sleep-in opportunity, but also a chance to enjoy some after Christmas sales. We had a good chuckle over being out and about in the nearly deserted stores on Friday morning, but we also enjoyed spending some of our gift cards and perusing the aisles for some good deals. (Just ask my mom about her new "lawn ornaments," they were on sale!)

Merry belated Christmas. I hope that all of you had the opportunity to enjoy time with friends and family, and that you also got to stop and ponder the true "reason for the season." I know that I feel truly blessed this year.

I Guess I'm Still a Kid at Heart!

2008-12-22T18:00:00.000-08:00

So, we still have snow. Lots. of. snow. So, I made the best of it. :-)

Lennie and I went out for a walk last night (we didn't get far, can't get down our driveway safely on foot), and I couldn't resist making a snow angel. Too fun!

View more photos of the Seattle snow.

Snow Days in Seattle

2008-12-20T16:03:00.000-08:00

So, it's been snowing here on and off for the past three days or so, which is completely abnormal for the Seattle area. Usually, we get a quarter inch of snow and it's gone within 24 hours. Not this time. We've had a major arctic blast, which brought 3+ inches of snow to our house, and has left me homebound for the past three days. After working from home on Thursday and Friday, I did manage to get out of the house today to get my hair done. It was a simple pleasure to just get out and see other people, let alone be on the streets. Since my car is less-than-snow ready, my father came over and rescued me. (Lennie had to go to work at the crack of early this morning, so he couldn't get me out of the house...)

Thanks to my dad, I got to see the roads first hand, and it wasn't as bad as I expected (the news always makes it sound worse than it really is, doesn't it!?), but I was really glad I wasn't the one driving, to say the least.

Alas, we have another weather front coming in right now (the snow is already starting to fall), and I'm ready for another few days snowed in the condo... brace yourselves, Seattle... it's going to be a cold one out there!

Christmas Question

2008-12-13T15:24:00.001-08:00

I've been pondering this question over the past few holidays, and I'm going to go public with it, hoping that you can help me solve the puzzle. Here it is:

If Christmas is about the birth of Jesus, then why don't more churches put up displays of the nativity scene on their lawns and in the sanctuary buildings instead of putting up Christmas trees?

I'm not even sure that there is a nativity scene set at our church, but I know that there are multiple Christmas trees. This kind of bothers me, really, and I wish that there were more places that were willing to display a nativity scene during the Christmas season.

Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas trees, and I am sitting with our tree twinkling in the corner as I type this. But, our nativity scene is also just a few feet away. Because really, Jesus is what the Christmas holiday is all about.

Holiday Happenings

2008-11-30T19:12:00.000-08:00

For the long Thanksgiving weekend, Lennie and I were fortunate enough to join some friends at a cabin in the mountains for some much needed rest, relaxation, and fun. We completely disconnected from the world -- after logging off of the computer at work on Wednesday afternoon, I stayed away from computers for over five days. Our cell service was spotty, so we were really cut off from the world. I loved it, as it's not often that I'm not a slave to my cell phone or the computer.

We joined our friends and their family on Wednesday evening after a pleasant drive over Snoqualmie Pass. The night was punctuated by the kids making pies in the kitchen while the rest of us lounged and chatted. Thursday brought a bevy of people (over 20 people joined us throughout the day), cooking, and walking by the lake. It was wonderful and overwhelming all at the same time. The family welcomed us in with open arms, and it was fun to learn more about one another.

I attempted to teach the girls how to knit, which they seemed to enjoy. Hopefully they're on their way to successful knit scarves -- we'll see!

Friday brought drizzle and clouds, so we made our way in to Suncadia Lodge to try to take the kids ice skating. Unfortunately, we got to the rink too late, so we explored town for a little bit, and we ran into an old friend at a local coffee shop. I had the opportunity to catch up with her after not seeing her for over a year. What a fun surprise!

On Saturday, Lennie was fortunate enough to go out quading with our friends. He came back a little sweaty, but with a huge smile on his face. I suspect that it was the highlight of his weekend, but haven't confirmed it. After a great pasta dinner, we packed up the cars and went back to Suncadia for a night of ice skating. The trees were adorned with festive lights and Christmas music hummed in the background. It was warm out, even when we weren't standing by the fire, which made for a great evening out.

We packed up and traveled home on today, stopping at the outlet mall on the way home to score a few new items.

For me, the best part of every Thanksgiving weekend is putting up the decorations. So, despite our miserable colds and fatigue, we put up the tree. It's twinkling in the corner as I type this, and I can't help but smile as I look around the house at the different decorations. We've got snowmen by the front door, stockings are hung by the chimney with care, and I'm ready to greet the holiday season.

So there you are, you're now up with the holiday happenings around our home. I hope that you all had a great Thanksgiving holiday weekend too, and that this message finds all of you healthy and happy.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-26T17:10:00.000-08:00

I'll be unplugging myself from the computer for the next few days, but before I shut down, I thought that I would send one last message:

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope that you are surrounded by friends and family over the next few days, and that your time together is filled with laughter and fun.

Thankfulness

2008-11-25T18:08:00.000-08:00

This is the time of year where we sit back and reflect on life, and ponder the things that we are thankful. So, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I thought that I would reflect on what I am thankful about this year.

Friends and family come to mind immediately, and I am truly grateful for the people that I have surrounding me. My husband is one of the greatest guys in the world (I may be a little biased on that assesment), and I love that he always has the power to make me smile, calm me down, and make my heart flutter, no matter what is swirling around me.

My parents really kick butt (if you know them, you'd likely agree whole heartedly with me on that one), and I couldn't ask for better people to have raised and molded me into what I am today.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: my friends rock. It's great to know that there is a long list of people that I can lean on in times of need, but that I can also sit and enjoy the sunnier side of life too. How can you complain about life when you're surrounded by cool people? I'm thankful that I've got a great group surrounding me.

Faith. I am fortunate that I live in a place that allows me to freely practice my faith, and that I can voice my opinion without major backlash. Without the foundation of faith, I don't think that I would be the person that I am today. I'm truly blessed to have God in my life. Also, I go to an awesome church with a community that is feeding and challenging me. I am constantly thankful for the power of community.

In a time of financial recession, I'm grateful to have a job that pays me fairly and that challenges me every day. I love that I'm in a position where I'm not bored with what I do, and I want to go to work almost every day. With so many layoffs and other uncertainties around me, I'm very thankful that I'm gainfully employed and doing a job that I enjoy.

Redemption. I'm thankful that the Husky football season is almost over, and that next year is a new, fresh start. (I had to get one last note in about Husky football, don't you think?!)

Beauty. We live in a beautiful place, surrounded by snow-kissed mountains, water, and wildlife that constantly takes my breath away. There have been so many times where I have turned a corner when driving somewhere, and I'm just taken aback by the beauty of the place that I live.

I've got a lot to be thankful for, that's for sure. I'm thankful for all of you, readers and friends, too. Hopefully, wherever you are, and whatever your doing this year, you're taking some time to ponder what you're thankful for too.

Not Amused

2008-11-22T15:41:00.001-08:00

I have just spent the afternoon watching the heartbreaking 101^st Apple Cup game, where cross-state rivals University of Washington played Washington State University. For most of the game, we were in the lead. And then, well, we 'Couged it.' Seriously Couged it, actually, and at the end of a double-overtime match-up, we lost by a field goal.

To my Husky footbal players, I say this: I am not amused. Really not amused. This was the one game that you needed to win, and you didn't come through. I'm disappointed, but I am confident that there's always next year, right? Right.

There may be one game left in the season, but I give up. I'm not going to sit on the edge of my seat hoping that it'll go better. Rather, I'm going to hold on to the hope of next year, and be grateful for a perfectly bad season. I'm a Husky fan, I should be used to this by now, I think.

I'm still not amused though!

Yay!

2008-11-17T19:15:00.000-08:00

It's the best time of year: Dreyer's Apple Pie ice cream is back. I have searched high and low (literally) for weeks for this wonderful delight, and today, I finally found it. One lonely carton of Apple Pie ice cream awaited me in the Safeway frozen foods section, and now it sits in my freezer. I have been anticipating the first bite all afternoon... yum!

Welcome back Dreyer's Apple Pie ice cream, oh how I've missed you! :-)

Did You Crawl Into My Brain?

2008-11-16T18:00:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to reconnect with some friends over a great dinner. It was well worth missing the (terrible) Husky game to share laughter and smiles with friends.

Part of the conversation turned to the abundance that we enjoy in America, which can be found in our grocery stores and warehouse stores. I think that sometimes we forget how much we have here in the U.S., but when people come here, it can be overwhelming. Our abundance was a small but powerful topic of the dinner conversation.

Fast forward to the sermon today, where our pastor gave a short illustration, quoting comedian Yakov Smirnoff about the overwhelming number of choices at the supermarket. Oh pastor, how were you able to crawl into my brain, or my life for that matter, and address this topic so appropriately? I'm one of 2,000+ parishioners on Sunday, and yet you knew to mention that story in your sermon. Amazing. I am constantly blown away by how appropriate each week's sermon is, it's like someone has crawled into my brain and picked out exactly what I needed to hear.

I'm grateful, that's for sure, for timely messages, and for being able to stich together seemingly different experiences into this quilt of life. Can't wait to see what comes together this week!

Sad News Week

2008-11-13T21:24:00.000-08:00

It's been quite the week, as it seems that our family has gotten a fair amount of sad news lately. One of the good things to come out of it, though, is that it has brought out the true value of family for me. I've always been blessed with a great family, full of love, compassion, and support. In fact, I couldn't ask for a better family, you just can't top them in my book.

Today, we attended the funeral mass and celebration of life for a family member who died suddenly a week ago. It was an amazing experience, grieving for a loved one while remembering all of the great things that came from his life and what a blessing it was to know him. We didn't get to spend a lot of time with him, but the one thing that will always be burned into my memory is his wonderful smile. I was impressed by his family (and our extended family), so gracious at such a tender time, and so full of love for the people around them. What a blessing to know such people.

While we did receive a fair amount of sad news this week, one of the things that I will always remember is the power of community and the power of family. If you haven't done so recently, I highly recommend telling the people around you how much you love them and take a moment to reflect on the wonderful people that are surrounding you. I know that I love my family, and am certainly grateful to have them in my life!

Relaxing Weekend

2008-11-02T17:17:00.000-08:00

Halloween marked the anniversary of our first date, so on Friday night, Lennie and I trekked to Red Robin for our traditional Halloween date night and some people watching. We enjoyed some great food and conversation, and then went over to our friends house to help with trick-or-treaters and a party for ~20 junior high schoolers. It was a lot of fun to see all of the kids dressed up, and to help out with the party games. Definitely better than sitting at home without trick-or-treaters, that's for sure!

On Saturday, we relaxed at my parent's house before coming home to watch part of the UW game (kind of glad that I took a nap instead of watching the game!) and attend our neighbor's pirate-themed party. People went all-out on their pirate costumes, and it was cool to meet some new people while also connecting with other friends after a few months. Our neighbor decorated his condo -- going all out with wall coverings, cannon balls (okay, balloons) on the deck, and a plank completed the motif. Most amazing was his jack-o-lantern with a ship carved in it. I wish I had gotten a photo of it -- the attention to detail was fabulous.

Today, we went to church and listened to a great sermon and then had the opportunity to reconnect with our friend Kevin, who was in town for the weekend. Had a great lunch with fun conversation, and then came home to relax.

Friends. Laughter. Fun. That's what I call a great weekend! :-)

Flexing My Freedom Muscle

2008-10-28T18:18:00.001-07:00

Today, I did my duty. I took a few minutes out of my mildly busy life and made a difference. I made my voice heard.

Have you flexed your freedom muscle yet? I'd encourage everyone to get out and vote -- every vote counts, really.

Political Candidates, Husky Football, Lunch

2008-10-26T17:50:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of going to another Husky football game yesterday. It was a beautiful fall day here in Seattle, a little cold, but blue skies, sunshine, and changing leaves surrounded us. We enjoyed an afternoon tailgating and laughing with friends before making our way into the stadium. Outside of our gate, Washington's current governor, Christine Gregoire (also a UW graduate, holds the same degree as me, actually), was shaking hands and working the crowd. I had the opportunity to greet her and shake her hand before entering the staduim and watching the Huskies get their pride handed to them by Notre Dame. Ugh, if only we weren't currently in pursuit of the perfectly bad season this year! (Seriously, could we just win one game this year?!)

This afternoon, Lennie and I ran errends and then enjoyed lunch at Bahama Breeze in Tukwila. As we were finishing up our meal, the waiter pointed to a table across the section and said "Do you know Dino Rossi, you know, the guy who's running for governor? Well, there he is!" Yep, we had lunch in the presence of Dino Rossi, the challenger in the 2008 Washington gubernatorial race. So, I guess you could say that I watched the Husky game yesterday with Gregoire, and had lunch with Rossi today. How political of me! :-) Heh heh.

Top Ten Days

2008-10-25T11:12:00.000-07:00

There are days in your life that you care to never repeat. Some days are really great, full of fun, laughter, and memories, and I love to repeat those memories and experiences over and over again. Other days, like yesterday, I'd care not to repeat, as it was filled with stress, anxiety, and a little bit of uncertainty. None of the experiences were unsurmountable, and everyone has their health, etc. However, I just wouldn't care to repeat the day. I won't go into the details of what transpired yesterday, but I will tell you that the uncertain financial times ripping across the country have hit close to home.

One of the things that I learned very quickly yesterday was the power of friendship and family. I'm very grateful to have such a wonderful network of supportive people in our lives, and I will be forever indebted to each and every one of you for your support and insights. "This too shall pass" and it has been made immensely easier because of the people in our lives. Thank you.

Ten Seconds to the Click

2008-10-17T18:59:00.000-07:00

Tonight, I discovered the quickest way to get a phone solicitor off of the phone. Seems that I had the opportunity to field a call from a nice call center man soliciting funds for a charity that I had vaguely heard of. I patiently listened to his spiel, and when he said "can I send you a package with a receipt for the IRS, a thank you letter, and an envelope to return your donation?"

I promptly replied, "Oh, I can't donate right now, I just got laidoff." He replied "Oh, that's too bad." and then I heard a click. End of phone conversation. Yep, within ten seconds of me saying I was laidoff (don't worry readers, I wasn't actually laidoff), he had hung up on me.

Meanwhile, at the dinner table, Lennie almost broke his neck as he snapped his head to look at me dropping this alleged "bomb" to a complete stranger before I told him... it was comical, really. After I reassured him that I wasn't laidoff, we had a good laugh about it.

Good times, good times.

It's All About the Network, Baby!

2008-10-13T19:55:00.000-07:00

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about the economy (as many people have) and how to weather the proverbial storm of the stock market and everything else. Networking has constantly been on my mind lately. The value of "paying it forward" within your network cannot be underestimated, really.

One of the things that I've learned over my career (and my life, really) is that working your network of friends, family, and contacts is one of the most important things that you can do. Even if you only have a few friends, you're connected to a powerful force that can help you get jobs, save money on projects, or simply get a great person to do a project for you. It's amazing, really, what a good word can do for you.

I like working my network, and I like giving great referrals. It's a pleasure to connect my friends and family with people that I know and trust. So, if you need a great mechanic in the Bellevue area, I know one. Want to plan a wedding or a party with a spunky lady? Yep, I know a great wedding planner (she didn't do my wedding, but I would have used her if I had known her then!). Want an energetic event planner who will watch all of the details? I know one of those too!

Or perhaps you need to outsource a writing project. Let me tell you, my friend and colleague will write butt-kicking copy for you any day of the week. You gotta check him out... he's never written bad copy for me, seriously.

In down economic times, it's more important than ever that we work our networks and help people out. Most the links that I provided above were not solicited, I just want to make sure that you know that I will send out referrals within my network any time... what can you do to help people out too? How can you get people in your network connected today?

Wanted: Recipe for Fried Green Tomatoes

2008-10-05T15:45:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago, we finally got a "bumper crop" of tomoatoes, filling one medium sized bowl to the brim. Yum!

Today, Lennie and I decided to harvest all of our tomatoes and put the condo garden to rest for the year. Two large black garbage bags later, we cleared out all of the tomato plants and took all of the tomatoes off of the vine... a lot of tomatoes, that is. We now have two grocery bags full of red and green tomatoes to enjoy. I'm hopeful that the green ones will ripen on our counter. In the meantime, we may need a recipe for fried green tomatoes -- anyone have a good one out there?! :-)

Published Author

2008-10-01T18:22:00.000-07:00

I'm pleased to report that I just received my copy of Telecom Reseller, and I am now a published author. The article that I penned on the value of purchasing software products that are certified for your network hardware. If you happen to come across a copy of the latest edition, check me out just above the fold on section B. :-)

Goldilocks or the Princess & the Pea?

2008-09-30T17:42:00.000-07:00

When Lennie met me, I was sleeping with no less than 6+ pillows on my bed. Needless to say, with such a tall husband, 6 pillows was not going to work in our queen sized bed after we got married. So, I compromised with two pillows a piece. One king sized pillow, and one standard for each of us. It was quite the change, but it hasn't been "just right," as Goldilocks would say.

Much like the Princess and the Pea, I could never really get comfortable. Then, this weekend, we bought new king sized pillows. I am now in Heaven, and haven't slept so well in a long time. I don't think that I'll require six pillows again in the near future, as I've learned that two king sized pillows is just right for me. :-)

It's like Goldilocks met the Princess and the Pea -- and Princess Goldilocks got two king sized pillows to help give her a good night sleep. Heh heh.

Silly Huskies!

2008-09-28T15:56:00.000-07:00

I shouldn't be surprised that we lost the game last night. I'm a little sad, but have decided that perhaps we're going for the perfect season; a perfectly bad season, that is... Unfortunately, our star quarterback, Jake Locker, broke his right thumb during the game last night, which may be a season-ending injury for him. I hope that it's not, and that he heals quickly.

Seattle Times writer Steve Kelley may have put it best:

Another Washington football season is doomed. Another year with Locker will end without a bowl trip.

And even before the leaves have turned, this season feels as broken as Locker's thumb.

I'm still a Husky fan, but I'm a realist too: I'll cheer (loudly) for every completed pass, every play that's well executed, but my hopes aren't high, and all that I can ask for is that we act as the "spoilers" in the Apple Cup this year against our cross-state rivals. If we can win that game, it'll be an okay season after all...

Future Careers

2008-09-16T18:28:00.000-07:00

So, for years I've been making a little bit of a list of future careers that I would like to have. I kind of joke about it, but I'm also sometimes a little serious. I thought that I would share my list of potentially cool jobs -- maybe it'll inspire you, or maybe you have an "in" so that I can pursue trying the job out. Here goes:

Food critic

Professional blog writer

Travel writer (after all, I like writing, and I love traveling the world!)

Safeco Field scoreboard operator and graphics designer

Small business owner in a small(ish) town

Movie critic

Camp director

Large event planner -- like a convention or a really cool swanky party

Furniture tester

Zamboni driver (okay, well maybe not as a career, but I want to at least do a lap around the rink!)

Cruise director

Novel writer (who actually sells some books!)

Spa owner (so I can get a facial any time, right?)

Bed and breakfast owner -- no, lodge owner in some cute town or something

Tour director for a rock band

Short-term mission worker

Web site designer

Welder (afterall, you get to make cool stuff with fire!)

Something in the medical industry

Greeter at Wal-Mart (I'm saving this one for when I'm retirement age.)

What would be on your "ultimate jobs" list? Are you living the dream right now? What would you do differently?

Vashon Island for the Weekend

2008-09-15T17:46:00.000-07:00

Had beautiful weather on Vashon Island, WA this weekend, and thought that I would share some favorite photos. :-) So, here goes:
Me holding up Mt. Rainier.

Our cottage, "The Lady Bug," at the Swallow's Nest Cottages on Vashon Island.

Congratulations to Crystal and Jonathan -- and best wishes in the years to come!

On Sunday, we had the pleasure of enjoying the afternoon on the shores of Lake Washington with some dear friends. Here is my favorite photo from that excursion:

Labor Day Weekend 2008: Favorite Photos

2008-09-04T20:59:00.000-07:00

Just uploaded photos from our Labor Day weekend getaway with friends. Thought that I would share a few favorites:

More photos can be viewed on Flickr.

Labor Day Weekend & Disappointed Dawg Fans

2008-09-02T19:44:00.001-07:00

For Labor Day Weekend, we had the opportunity to hang out with some great friends at their cabin on Lake Kachess in Eastern Washington. We had a fabulous time relaxing and trading laughs. We also had the opportunity to go out quading -- what a rush! As we rode amongst the trees and traveled up the mountain, we got to take in great views while the wind whipped past our helmets. After a while, we stopped near a clearing where our friend demonstrated some of his firearm skills. I'm not one for guns, so this wasn't an activity that I participated in, but everyone seemed to enjoy some attempts at target practice.

Saturday night brought some yummy chili (which was a welcome dinner choice after being out on the trails all day) and a very disappointing UW football game against University of Oregon. True to form, the Huskies had a great second quarter and a crappy rest of the game. I think that I may agree with Mr. Brewer of the Seattle Times, who says that Ty's days may be numbered at the U. That makes me really sad on the one hand, but on the other hand, we can't go through many more "rebuilding eras" like we have been for the last few years. Fasten your seatbelts, Dawg fans, it's going to be a long year. Despite the loss, I still enjoyed time watching the game with friends -- even though a few of them fell asleep due to lack of excitment during the game.

Sunday brought sunshine and a trip to Roslyn, WA for lunch. It's kind of refreshing to go to a town that is so quaint... and that has very few stoplights. :-) Too fun. We went on a night quading ride -- although I don't think that we intended to be out that late, it was fun to ride through all of the mud puddles in the darkness. At one point, I slowed down so that I could be sure to hit every mud puddle at optimum speed -- fast! It's not often that adults get to play in the mud, so I did my best to make the most of it. Good times!

On another note -- we just harvested our first tomatoes. (It's been a weird growing season this year, not sure what to do with it...) The tomatoes were between baseball and softball sized... amazing!

Weekend Wanderings

2008-08-24T20:48:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Lennie and I enjoyed our annual trek to the Evergreen State Fair in Monroe, WA. The fair in Monroe is one of the only fairs that I will attend each year, as I really have an aversion to crowds of people. This fairis small enough and spread out enough that I don't get too rattled, and I can let my hair down and enjoy myself.

The fair has a great feel about it -- I get a sense of community, and I really enjoy seeing all of the hard work that youngsters from around the state put into their crafts and other projects. I'm pretty much a city-slicker, so to put me smack in the middle of a fair where knowing what a grange is, and scooping poop isn't out of the ordinary, is pretty much a cool experience for me.

Speaking of being a non-country-music-listening-city slicker, our only super-awkward moment of the fair came as we were enjoying our fair food dinner near one of the free performance stages. There was a very nice local country band playing on the stage (one song was even performed with the lead singer on horseback...). During one of their songs, a bagpiper began playing "Amazing Grace," which apparently is the very well-known signal that you should stop what you are doing, stand up, and take your hat off like you're saluting the flag or something. With everyone standing around us, Lennie and I traded super-awkward glances and shrugs with each other and sat quietly. Like I said, very, very awkward.

Lennie and I also attended the Figure-8 races at the race track on the fairgrounds. There's something to be said for being track side, watching cars whiz past one another, smelling the motor oil, and watching the tire treads being left on the track. Good times, good times. That's not to say that I am going to become a NASCAR fan in the near future, but I do enjoy a good auto race every once in a while. (Although, I do have to say that the demolition derby last year was very memorable, and I can't wait to go back some time!)

Today, we went to church in the morning, and I have to admit that I didn't exactly leave the house with a happy heart about it... I would have rather slept in, but I'm glad that we went. We got to hear a good sermon, and we reconnected with friends in the morning sunshine. Like I said though, I could have used some more sleep too... can't win on that one, I guess.

This afternoon, I had the pleasure of attending my sister-in-law's bridal shower while Lennie went to a movie. We drove home in a downpour, and were grateful to spend a nice quiet evening at home watching a video after a busy, yet fun, weekend.

Social Media & Status Updates

2008-08-19T18:48:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite features of social media is the "status update" -- you know the one liners that you put in Gmail, Facebook, MSN Messenger, Skype, etc. It gives me a quick glimpse into my friends' lives, and lets me know how they are doing. Some of the one liners, like "Almost 5 PM!" or "It's Friday!" motivate me and also let me know that friends are doing well. Other times, the messages let me know that perhaps my friends need a kind word, when they post things like "Argh!" or "Is it 5 yet?"

Sometimes, the messages make me smile, sometimes they make me frown. Ultimately, I'm glad that I get a glimpse of my friends' lives each day. So, what's my current status update? "Smiling." :-)

Shoot!

2008-08-09T21:17:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity to play paintball with some of my co-workers today. It was a great way to get to know my colleagues better, as well as to get some great physical activity in. I'd never been paintballing before, so I was unsure of what I was in for. Turns out, it was a lot of fun. I think that I would even be willing to go back and play the games again. My favorite "field" was the "Urban" field, where they had buildings and cars set-up for you to fire from. I'm not the best paintballer out there, but it certainly was fun to shoot the paintball guns, and getting hit didn't hurt as much as I thought it would. I do have two small marks from being hit by paintballs, but nothing to complain about. I suspect that I'll sleep really well tonight, and that there may be a little muscle soreness involved in my day tomorrow, but it was well worth it!

Congratulations Susahn & Travis!

2008-08-04T20:15:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of participating in the wedding of Susahn and Travis. It was quite the honor to be a member of the bridal party, and to witness their marriage.

I've known Susahn since we went to junior high school together. She was always the "cool" one, sporting the black leather jacket, and giving off an air of intelligence and aloofness all at the same time. We didn't really become great friends until we were thrown into Chemistry II (with a crazy teacher, nonetheless) in high school. That's also where I met Melissa, and we forged a relationship that has lasted many, many years. These are the only two people that I speak to consistently from high school, and I don't know what I would do without them in my life. We've experienced many firsts together, from first loves, 1st apartments, riding the bus together to UW, to first heartbreaks, first failures to first jobs and true love. I've been so blessed to have these two in my life, and I can't wait to see where our journeys take us next!

Here are a few of my favorite photos from the weekend of wedding fun:

It's a Jungle Out There!

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

It's been a while since I have posted an update on the condo garden, and I'm pleased to report that our deck is starting to feel very jungle-like. We've got our first tomatoes on the vine (green and growing), and everything is filling in nicely. We're looking forward to a great bounty of tomatoes in a few weeks!

Selling the Car

2008-07-24T22:13:00.001-07:00

So, we've decided that it's time to part ways with my vehicle... seems that we have the opportunity to take over a car that Lennie actually fits in, so we're going to take the plunge. Know anyone who wants a great car in the Seattle area? Let me know. Here's the nitty-gritty details:

1990 Acura Legend Coupe
Sporty commuter vehicle in good condition.

Price $2,200 (obo)
Mileage 155,000
Year 1990
Make Acura
Model Legend
Body Style Coupe
Transmission Automatic
Drive Front-wheel drive
Engine V6
Exterior Color Beige/champagne
Interior Color Beige
VIN Provided Upon Request

Features/Options:
- Air conditioning
- AM/FM stereo
- Single CD player
- Multi CD player
- Cruise control
- Power steering
- Power windows
- Power door locks
- Power seats
- Leather seats
- Moon roof
- Anti-lock brakes (ABS)

Other Special Features:
- Driver-side airbag

Well maintained and economical -- perfect for commuters or young drivers. "Sport" gears for highway driving, moonroof to enjoy sunny Seattle days. Comfortable leather bucket seats will make long drives a treat.

Roomy trunk is perfect for shopping sprees at Costco or for storing your sports gear after a big game.

After-market Kenwood CD system includes single CD player with removable face and a remote control up front, 6-disc changer in trunk. Instruction manuals included for your convenience.

Check out photos and my snazzy ad on Craigslist.

Moonlight Movies

2008-07-20T10:34:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things about summer is the return of the free outdoor movie season. Last night, Lennie and I went to the "Moonlight Movies" series at Liberty Park in Renton to enjoy the sunset and then watch the "Bucket List." It's really nice to see the community come together to enjoy each other's company and to share a few laughs over a good movie in the great outdoors.

There's a lot of great movies being played around Puget Sound this summer -- maybe we'll see you there!

One Year!

2008-07-14T18:30:00.000-07:00

Today is our one year anniversary. (In fact, at 6:30 p.m., it'll be truly one whole year.) It's hard to believe that it's been a whole year since we "tied the knot." On the one hand, it seems like a long time ago because of all of the things that we've done together in the last 12 months. On the other hand, I still remember the wedding like it was yesterday. And I wouldn't change a thing about our adventure together.

I can't wait to see what the coming years bring. I love you, Lennie. Happy anniversary!

Hanging in Hood Canal

2008-07-13T21:45:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, Lennie and I had the pleasure of taking a weekend "first anniversary getaway" in Brinnon, WA, on the shores of Hood Canal. We fell in love with the area immediately, and found ourselves losing track of time as we took in the canopy of green trees, clear water, and blue skies. We couldn't have asked for a better getaway, really. Our home away from home for the weekend was a quaint A-frame cabin that overlooked Hood Canal. There was a fully-stocked kitchen (actually, BEYOND fully stocked!), living room, bedroom, sleeping loft, bathroom, and super-spacious deck where we enjoyed all of our meals. Check out the cabin on VRBO.com... I highly recommend it, and can't wait to go back!

From hanging out in the hammock to lounging on the beach, we simply relaxed and enjoyed time together. The water was perfect for sea kayaking (which we truly loved), and we saw all kinds of wildlife, including sea otters, eagles, jellyfish, jumping fish, and oysters on the beach. If you haven't been to Brinnon, you need to go at least once in your life. Not much in the way of shopping, but it's rich in nature and relaxation.

Enjoy more photos from our weekend getaway.

Seattle Summer

2008-07-08T19:30:00.000-07:00

If there's one thing to know about Seattle, it's that summer can seem like it's fleeting, and when the sun is shining, you get your butt outside to enjoy it. The sun's been shining here a lot lately, and I have to say, I'm truly loving the warmth and brightness in the skies.

It's summer in Seattle -- don't blink, or you might miss it! :-)

Happy Birthday, America!

2008-07-05T20:17:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, the 4th of July, we had the opportunity to hang out with my parents and some family friends to celebrate the 4th. We're not big on making plans for Independence Day, especially since the weather here in Seattle can be very questionable. Nevertheless, it was a pleasant day, and we had the opportunity to laugh and exchange stories with friends. After dinner, as we watched the sunset over Puget Sound and the Kitsap Peninsula, we were treated to a 180 degree view of fireworks displays, both public and private.

Oh, and a first for me: we all sang "Happy Birthday" to America. It's amazing what you'll do for friends and family...

Loungin' in Leavenworth

2008-06-30T21:48:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, Lennie and I had the opportunity to get some great rest and relaxation time in Leavenworth, Washington. It was exactly what the doctor ordered! We trekked over to this Bavarian village to celebrate the wedding of our friends, Glover and Josie. The weather was a temperate 95 degrees, the skies were blue, and there wasn't a cloud in sight. On Friday night, we arrived around 6:30, checked into our hotel after getting a little lost (in a town with three stoplights, go figure!), and then we went to King Ludwig's restaurant for the "welcome dinner." After a nice stroll through town after dinner (and some Cold Stone ice cream, yum!), we retired poolside at our hotel.

Seems that Lennie's brand-new swim trunks should have gotten a little more scrutiny from us before we purchased them... the had no drawstring and were a little (or a lot) too big. He made it work on Friday night, but not without some "close calls." Needless to say, we purchased him a new pair of swim trunks on Saturday in town! It was kind of funny, now that we reflect back on it. :-)

Saturday brought a lazy schedule -- breakfast at the hotel, lounging by the pool, lunch in town, and strolling through town again. Around 3 or so, we left the hamlet of Leavenworth for the small town of Plain, WA for the wedding (at Mountain Springs Lodge). Plain brings back fond memories of one or two trips to a friend's cabin with some great friends, so it was nice to be back in this small town. The wedding on Saturday afternoon was hot but wonderful, and we had a great time dancing the night away.

On Sunday, we had another lazy morning, with breakfast and then one last walk through the Bavarian village before we got on the road.

There's something really wonderful about going for a long drive on roads that are marked at 70 MPH. I enjoyed driving home, admiring the beautiful area that we live in; lush green hillsides (still kissed on the top with snow), placid lakes, and the breeze swaying the trees. [Sigh.] We live in the best state ever!

Oh, here are some photos of our weekend -- enjoy!

Funky Pet Peeves

2008-06-24T18:23:00.000-07:00

Over the past few months, I have become keenly aware of some of my quirky pet peeves. (Are all pet peeves somewhat quirky?!) It's made me think, sometimes it's made me angry, sometimes it's really made me step back and try to adjust my frame of mind. I sometimes wonder if all of my pet peeves are "normal," or if some could be classified as kind of weird. Here, help me classify them, won't you?

Gum. I have a total neuroses about gum. I hate it. Really, really, absoultely despise gum. I don't like hearing it being chewed (especially when someone is looking over my shoulder), I don't like hearing it being snapped, popped, or blown into bubbles. And I really hate seeing it outside of someone's mouth in a chewed fashion. In fact, when people pull out their gum at a dining table and stick it on the side of their plate or wrap it in their paper napkins, it's everything I can do to not throw up then and there. I'd classify this as a "weird" pet peeve. How about you?

Timeliness. I have a real thing about being on time, and it's a pet peeve of mine when I am late for an appointment or a meeting. I also feel really slighted when people are late for meetings that they have set with me. If someone says that they are going to be somewhere at a certain time, then I think that it's up to them to go above and beyond to meet that commitment. And if you're going to be more than 10 or 15 minutes late, then I think that it's common courtesy to call and let the person know. I feel like I'm being disrespected (and my time is being under valued) if you don't call to tell me that you're running late or not going to make it. On the flip side, I take it really personally that I'm running late, and work very hard to give people the simple courtesy of being on time or communicating with them. Normal pet peeve? Yes, that's how I would classify it. What do you think?

Toilet seats. I think that we need to all come to an agreement across the nation -- either we need to all put the toilet seats down, or all put 'em up. And we all need to agree on it. This should not be a "men vs. women" thing, rather, we should all be consistent on how we treat the seat in shared bathrooms. Classify this one as a "normal" pet peeve. I think it's an age-old argument, in fact.

Proper English. First and foremost, I'm not perfect on this topic. However, I feel like the advent of "spell check" has made our society lazier and perhaps a little less intelligent than earlier generations. The word "ain't" is never proper English, in my book at least. "Are system" is not down, "our system" is down. The bride did not walk down "the isle," the bride walked down "the aisle." Simple spelling mistakes that I've seen in the past that wouldn't be picked up by a spell check application. I guess that I wish that people would take a moment to step back and read their work -- your words, and what you type, are how people see you in this virtual world. I'm not even sure where to classify this pet peeve...

I think that the reason that these pet peeves have made me step back and examine myself is that I find that I am projecting my pet peeves on others -- and on how I see the world. Perhaps I need to reframe my impressions of others and cut people a little more slack. Who knows?

What do you think? Do you have little pet peeves that get the hairs standing up on the back of your neck? I would love to hear about them!

Child of the 80's

2008-06-16T19:05:00.000-07:00

I admit it: I'm a child of the 80s. It seems that lately people have been noticing that I use words from the 80s and 90s vernacular. You know the words: yo, dude, awesome. Some have ribbed me for it, but I have to say, I own it: I'm a child of the 80s, and I'm okay with it.

Home On The Range

2008-06-09T19:27:00.000-07:00

Yesterday afternoon, Lennie, my Mom, and I went to the driving range to hit some golf balls. It felt really good to be out in the sunshine (what little we've had of it in Seattle lateley!) and to dust off my golf clubs. This was Lennie's first "formal" visit to the driving range, which was fun. I gave him the lowdown on the proper grip for the golf club, and then I left the real teaching to my Mom (resident golf pro, really). It was cool to watch the two of them go through the proper stance and swing, and even better when Lennie's shots were sailing 125 yards straight down the range -- imagine how great he will be when we get him some clubs that fit his height and get him hitting with the drivers!