Sitting here on the couch with my computer and a cup of tea and Nala just popped up to say hello. There is a small sheet of paper sitting beside me and she chooses that exact spot to lay on. If it wasn't the paper, it would be a magazine, a folder, and anything else that looks appeasing to her. Cats are so funny and I often find myself looking at Nala and thinking that I would like to spend a day in her world. Maybe the idea of sleeping 14 hours for a day and having my wants and needs met with a simple meow (or squak) in Nala's case just sounds really appealing right now as I head into a busy week with an alarm that will go off before daylight sets in.
It was quite a dreary Sunday here and in a quest to procrastinate doing some paperwork, I did something unthinkable- I took out a recipe book! I sat and looked up something new to try when that never ending question of "What are we going to have for dinner" arises. I made an actual grocery list (more often than not I walk through the grocery store picking up the same things out of habit) and stocked the fridge so we're good until Wednesday. I will admit to having a small feeling of peace to start off the week. This dinner thing really stresses me out!
It's been pretty quiet on our end. We went bowling Friday night with some people that I work with. I can't remember the last time I went bowling but I know that Joe and I have never bowled together. The first game my goal was just to get a score higher than my age- I was that bad! After some gently coaching from the music teacher I was well on my way to hitting above 100 the next 2 games. It was a good thing I started to do better as I was just about to add bowling to the list of "things I'm not good at right away so therefore I will not do." So far this list consists of skiing, golf, and running more than two miles before keeling over. Guess bowling is safe for now.
Last night Joe and I went out for Susi in the International District. We had forgotten that the soccer team was also playing last night so finding parking was next to impossible! We worked up an appetite driving up and down the streets and craning our necks to see if we could fit our little Mazda in any of the tight little spaces. 20 minutes later we were successful and well on our way to having a wonderful meal. We made it home in time to see the Sounders win before watching "Back to the Future." Yes I am a product of the 80's and I've never seen Back to the Future. What makes it worse is that I bought Joe the trilogy for Christmas 3 years ago and there it sits on our shelf. Needless to say I enjoyed it and may at some point may sit down again for the sequel. I added to my list of "classics" by also viewing Casablanca after waking early on Saturday thanks to Joe's countless attempts at using the snooze button. Gotta say I was a bit disappointed. I found that when they said the famous "Here's looking at you kid" it was very anti-climatic. But then again what do I know?

Another fall weekend gone by.....Scary to think that November is just around the corner. I've loved hearing about the experiences in State College with all the snow on homecoming. This will certainly be a homecoming talked about for years to come! Congrats to those who experienced (and survived) it!
We got our rain back here this week. All those months without it and it's now back with a vengeance! The poor kids at school on Friday had no where to hide from the rain at recess and they came back into school looking like little drowned children! Unlike most other schools that have an awning and therefore safety from the rain, my elementary school does not. Wonder what the architects were thinking?
The rain also carried us into Saturday and I somehow got the idea that if I'm going to be stuck inside all day then I should bake something. Yes I know- a crazy thought for me to have but I have this recipe for chocolate chip pumpkin bread that I just had to try. Of course the only thing that I can find in the baking isle of the grocery store is the "just add water cookie mix" so it took some time for me to sort through the flour, spices, and different colored brown sugar. Really what is the difference between light and dark brown sugar? Once home I had to "set up shop" in the kitchen. This includes positioning my laptop at just the right distance so as to not spill anything on it during my baking endeavors as I catch up on my TV shows. It's a perfect way to keep the boredom at bay and my attention to the task at hand. One cup of flour, then look up to see who is dating whom on Gossip Girl. Add the sugar and see the ending of Private Practice. It's my answer to tolerating time spent in the kitchen :-) And by the way my bread came out edible and even a little bit tasty!
Joe was off today and the sun decided to come out so we walked downtown to do a little shopping. Of course our first stop was REI outdoors store and somehow I came away with something to put on my Christmas list. How does Joe have a way of doing that? It's only October and we started our Christmas shopping without meaning to. It was kind of nice to just wander and find things.
We had dinner with Charlie tonight at a bar that serves a special pumpkin beer that Joe really wanted to try. Somehow our last 2 Sunday nights have included Joe's search for the best bratwurst and pumpkin beer. I think after tonight he found the place for both.
And on one final note~ Joe and I will be making it back to Susquehanna right after Christmas! Thank you Mom and Dad for taking care of this for us! We're definitely looking forward to the trip!

Another beautiful fall week gone by. Mt. Rainier is now showing snow on its' peak. A sure sign that colder weather and winter are on the horizon somewhere. Hope it stays at bay for a while longer. This week seemed to fly by (as did the weekend!). With both Joe and I arriving home around the same time at night we are constantly struggling with the question of "What's for dinner?" The nuisance of this is one that I can't shake. I am not creative (nor do I care to be) and hate to have to find an answer to this question. One day this past week Joe decided to take it upon himself to answer this question early in the day. He was eager to show me his find at the store- a $4 frozen lasagna and cream of broccoli soup. My first thought is that these two things do NOT go together. My second thought is that I can't stomach the ricotta cheese/meat/noodle/sauce combo when it is homemade. How am I supposed to even attempt a bite into something that was once frozen. I didn't even try to pretend that I could. I praised Joe for taking the initiative and then stated my case for my aversion to all things containing ricotta cheese (apologies to my Italian heritage). Needless to say that Joe quickly realized that error in his food combination as I feasted on my meatless chicken patty. A new week is starting with the "What's for dinner" conversation to start once again.
By Friday I was ready for some rest and miraculously Joe had a Friday night off. This is a very big rarity for us. We got together with another couple for Thai food. Three and a half hours later we left enjoying good company, good food, and an incredibly high bar bill....ooops!
On Saturday I decided to venture down to Pike Place Market. One of my favorite things of the fall season are Honeycrisp apples so I decided to support the local produce by splurging on them as they are quite expensive. I kept with my "fall" theme indulging in homemade Autumn Harvest Orzo pasta and pumpkin pie tea. Since the summer has now become a distant memory it is so much easier navigating through the market and I left happy with my purchases. En route home I came across the "Jesus Saves" protesters (a common sore sight in the shopping area). As I waited for the light to change I couldn't help but notice a pamphlet in the hands of the girl wearing her Christ is Risen sweatshirt. It read "What to Do to go to ____" with flames all around it.) I'm pretty sure I could fill in the last word. Way to kill my "fall high." Continuing on my walk home I found a new crepe place (that now I can't wait to try) housed right next to a gay bar. Now normally I don't take a second look at places like this but the sign hanging above the door caught my eye. It read "This is a gay bar." "We welcome you if you are not a homophobe, bigot, and the list went on. I really wanted to take a picture of this but decided that it would be inappropriate. After all I have to play the "local" card and look unfazed by such a posting. This is the only place in the entire city I have come across with a sign such as this. Usually we just guess that every other bar in the Capital Hill area is a gay bar.
Today I further indulged my interest in old movies by watching "Singing In the Rain" with Charlie. How have I gone 28 years and never seen this movie???? Mom and Dad- how could you let this happen???? Besides forming a crush on Gene Kelly within the first 30 minutes I was amazed at the quality of a film for that time period. And the tap dancing was amazing! Afterwards we googled Gene Kelly and found that he was born in Pittsburgh. Who knew? I will soon be further indulging my new found love with the viewing of "American in Paris." I feel like I'm learning so much and am gaining further appreciation for another era.
Our day ended with Joe and I sitting in a pub in Ballard while Joe indulged in his Octoberfest guilty pleasure-bratwurst. We discovered this place last October and Joe has not forgotten. After 3 bratwurst combined with German beer, Joe was in a happy food coma and is still talking about how good it was. I was playing the supportive wife/compromise card as my love of bratwurst is right up there with ricotta cheese. Could someone please pass the meatless/tasteless soy patty?

It Finally Feels Like Fall......

It finally feels like fall here in Seattle. I was afraid with our lack of rain that we might not get to enjoy watching the leaves change color. As I went out for a walk today it was obvious that this would not be the case. With the sun out, the crisp air, and the color of the leaves, I was reminded why fall really is my favorite season.
Joe's parents were here until Thursday. Unfortunately the week was filled with chilly temperatures and a little rain. Joe had taken a few days off and was able to entertain by visiting the Market, going over to Alki Beach, and visiting Fremont neighborhood. We spent Tuesday and Wednesday night have dinner with Charlie- one night at his and one night at ours. Joe and his Dad played chef in our tiny kitchen and cooked up a really good chicken recipe on Wednesday night.
I struggled to get through the week at work. I don't know if it was the lack of sleep from the weekend before or the first round of flu germs circulating in my buildings but I have not felt like myself at all. I refuse to give into sickness so early in the school year so I've been a hermit most of the weekend- getting lots of sleep and vitamin C and catching up on all my TV shows from the week. Hopefully it was enough to propel me into the first full week of October as I've got lots to do this month. I hesitate to turn my planner each week as I'm fearful of looking too far ahead.
I think I need to find something fun to do to have something to look forward to.....Maybe a trip to Vancouver?