Merry Christmas!

Happy holidays and Merry Christmas! May you be richly blessed this holiday season, and may all of your Christmases be white. :-)

To help you get in the mood, I thought that I would include a link to a stand-out online version of White Christmas. It's worth it, I promise.

Alternatively, here's a grainy version of White Christmas to watch right here. :-)


Merry Christmas to one and all!

Surviving the Seattle Storms

Okay, so it's true, the storm in Seattle was pretty epic. I stand corrected. We were without power from midnight Friday (12/15) to 2 AM Sunday (12/17), it was very cold (40 degrees in my living room Saturday night, brrr), but I feel very fortunate. I don't know of many people who had trees land on their houses, and thankfully I don't know of anyone who was hurt. While plenty of people are still without power, and it was scary listening to the winds and cracking trees outside, I'm very much counting my blessings.

To everyone who survived the storms, I'm glad that you are safe and sound. To those who lost parts of their homes and more, my thoughts and prayers are with you.

Seattle Sunshine... err, Rain

So for the past few days, we've had some stormy weather in Seattle. To listen to or read the news reports, we're having wind storms and rains of epic proportions. While I wouldn't go that far, I will say that our building was rocking and rolling all day yesterday in the winds... I think I was starting to get sea sick! :-|

Alas, that's not the point of my post. I have discovered a new dimension in my people watching: umbrella watching. Yep, I have a new appreciation for umbrellas and all of the cool bumbershoots that are on the market. My current favorite is the super-over sized golf umbrella. I keep thinking that I should get one for myself (after all, not only does it keep you dry, but it could keep three of your friends dry too), but then I realize that the practicality of carrying it around when you're not using it (say, while you're on the bus), is not so great.

Understand, however, that my new appreciation for umbrellas goes against my Seattle grain. We used to joke that you could pick the tourists out in Seattle because they were the ones using the umbrellas. However, I'd have to say that I've turned over a new leaf... or I'm now a tourist... because I appreciate the good old fashioned bumbershoot given the "epic" weather that we're having.

Here's to staying dry! :-)

Get Ready To Dance!

Alright, so we've chosen our DJ, and I'm really excited about it. He's a really cool guy, and I think that he'll definitely get our wedding party going. Can't wait to test out my dancin' shoes!

Wedding Update :-)

So, we've been busy with wedding planning, and have made great progress. We've got a wedding location, a pastor, bridal party, reception site, wedding dress, wedding Web site, gift registries started, and photographers.

Now it's time to find a baker, a DJ, and a florist. Have any ideas for us? Do tell... I love referrals! :-)

Out of town friends and family: if you haven't done so already, be sure to book your hotel rooms early. This is going to be one great wedding! (If I do say so myself...)

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Hello everyone,
Just a note to say Happy Thanksgiving. I'm so thankful for all of the wonderful people in my life -- I can't say thank you enough for all of the ways that you help me throughout the year.

Are you looking for something to be thankful for this holiday season? Here is a helpful how to primer on being thankful.

Best wishes everyone -- enjoy your turkey today!

Bad News Beaver Lovers

I'm sad to report that my friend, Buddy Beaver, has passed away today. I have been looking for him every morning since I saw him waddling across the street two weeks ago. Today, I'm sad to report that he has passed away on the side of Lake Washington Blvd. May Buddy rest in peace. (And may the car that hit him not have too much damage, he was a big dude...)

All Saints Day Treat

Happy All Saints Day!

As a little treat this morning, I had the pleasure of stopping traffic outside of my condominium complex for a super-cute beaver. Yes, that's right, a beaver. I sat for a minute or two as he slowly waddled across the street from the wetlands to our grounds with a big ol' stick in his mouth. I wonder if he's starting to make a dam near our drainage ditches. Hopefully I'll see him again and I can ask him for more details (name, where he lives, etc.). :-) We'll see. It was a nice treat to see him waddling along at 6:45 in the morning (a freezing morning at that). Go nature!

Happy Halloween! (And Happy Anniversary!)

Today is a great day. Not only is is Halloween (so we get to see a whole bunch of ghosts and goblins running around), but today is the one-year anniversary of Lennie & I dating. Yep, that's right: one year ago today, we had our first date at Red Robin. That was a really good day. No, that was a really great day.

So, Lennie, Happy Anniversary. I love you!

Spread Thin?

Seems that I've been suffering from "Can't Say No To Anything And Now Have An Over Stuffed Schedule" Syndrome. The result: I'm exhausted, I don't know which way is up, and I just want to go home and do some laundry (the laundry basket is just about at DEF-CON Two status). If someone out there has invented a time machine, or other mechanism to make the day a whole heck of a lot longer, I'm all ears! :-)