Weekend Wanderings

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

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!

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!

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: