Cross Country Trip....The Sequel

Greetings from western Pennsylvania! We survived our cross country trip and are now settling in to the east coast once again. Our travels offered us some beautiful sights along with long empty roads with no end in sight, multiple dinners at Denny's restaurant (we were that desperate!), and sightings of license plates from 40 different states. After 11 states, 3,000 miles 6 days, and 4 time zones we were glad to have a home cooked meal and sleep in non-hotel beds. We began our trip through Washington into eastern Oregon and then into Idaho. With the exception of our new found knowledge of what "Oreida potatoes" really means (the plant sits on the the border of Oregon and Idaho- who knew?) there is absolutely NOTHING to see until we hit Boise. Luckily Sara and I had the Glee soundtrack volumes 1-3 to pass the time. Our 2nd day found us through the rest of Idaho and into Utah. Southern Utah is absolutely beautiful and I felt as though I was getting a glimpse at what the Grand Canyon looks like with all the different rock formations making up the landscape. We pulled over multiple times just to take pictures. We stopped to see the Great Salt Lake and take in its not so wonderful smell- Yuck! We made our way on day #2 to Selina, Utah. It's a VERY small town that you come upon while seeing signs that read "last stop for 100 miles." That sign alone told us that are driving that day was coming to an end. On day #3 we drove to Arches National Park in Utah. Some amazing rock formations placed over miles and miles of desert land. It was a tough drive from Utah into Colorado as we hit some really heavy rain that made driving really difficult. We bypassed all the ski resort areas (Vail has some beautiful lodging!) before settling in Silverthorne. After such stressful driving, a glass of wine and use of the hotel hot tub was in order! The next day we woke up to clear skies and great views of the Colorado mountains. Day #4 was by far the longest day ever! 12 hours of driving over 650 miles. It was the day we tackled the entire state of Kansas. It certainly is flat with lots of open fields. Laura and I entertained ourselves by playing the alphabet game (trying to find something that began with each letter of the alphabet- we got stuck on "Y") and reading the random billboards advertising the "World's Largest Prairie Dog" and The Oz Museum complete with a picture of the Tin Man. I give the state credit for trying their hand at tourism. Day #5 took us through Missouri right into St. Louis. The girls and I had wanted to go to the top of the Arch but had to settle for outside pictures and a trip to the gift shop as the tour was sold out when we got there. It was 105 degrees in St. Louis that day- you sweat pretty much as soon as you got out of the car. We got to hear a little bit of the music from a riverboat and take in the view of the muddy waters of the Mississippi. Needless to say I don't think I need to go back to St. Louis any time soon. We made it as far as Indianapolis that day. Our final day driving was only 7 hours which felt like nothing compared to the days prior. I've never felt so happy to see the sign "Welcome to Ohio" knowing that "Welcome to Pennsylvania" would be greeting us soon after. We got to Beaver Falls by 4 on Thursday. Nala was a trooper the entire time despite the long bouts of time spent in her carrier and the extreme heat. I am now the proud owner of a cat who has been to 17 states! :-)
The past few days we have been trying to settle in. It's been a challenge trying to introduce the two cats. For the most part we have been rotating them through different parts of the house and introducing them in limited time intervals. Tonight we have let them roam more freely. They have been doing quite a bit of staring at each other, Nala growls, and Binx will then meow. Only once has there been a chase which left Nala hiding in the box spring of our bed. I feel like the overprotection Mom stressed out about whether or not their child can be nice and/or friends with another child (or in this case a cat). Hoping for the day when they can be civil with one another.
Mom and Dad arrive tomorrow for a visit! Looking forward to spending some time with them while also mentally preparing for my new job. I have to go in to the hospital for some drug and health testing this week and then begin orientation on the 16th. We are also awaiting the arrival of the POD with all of our belongings. Still not quite sure what to do with everything- unload, put in storage, etc.
This is going to be my last post for a while....I'm not sure if I'll resume here, start a new blog since the title is no longer relevant, or take a hiatus from writing. I've enjoyed being able to share our experiences over the last two years. It's been a great way for me to feel a connection to everyone that was so far away. We'll see if and when my new experiences make it to the world wide web or if I'll just save them for face to face chats as I hope to see you all in person very soon!
Thanks for taking the journey with us to the west coast and back again.....It's been quite a ride!

My last post from Seattle

Our 2 year adventure has come to an end and it is now time to say goodbye to the west coast. Thank you Seattle for your beautiful surroundings, wonderful people, delicious food, and interesting sense of fashion. You have been a wonderful home and a great place for new experiences. Joe and I will definitely look back on our time out here as an experience that we will never forget. (In my head I'm already planning a trip to come visit as we have had lots of offers of where we can stay:-) This city has taught us that a day that starts out bleary could turn into a beautiful day, to never look twice at a man dressed as a woman, a woman dressed as a man, or either gender dressed in a variety of costumes or sporting an interesting hair color, and to love the great outdoors and to take advantage of all that nature has to offer. I don't think Seattle was able to teach me patience when sitting in traffic but it has taught me to offer every pedestrian the right of way and to smile and nod when I pass someone on the street. I think Joe and I both learned how to enjoy this time with each other while also discovering more about ourselves as individuals and what we have to look forward to with our move back across the country.
With the help of some strong women (Thank you Rachel, Sara, and Sydney!) our belongings that have inhabited our 800 square foot apartment are now packed into a 16 ft by 8 ft POD ready to make the trip to Pennsylvania. Our trip begins on Saturday with arrival expected in Pittsburgh the following Friday. Fingers crossed for safe and enjoyable travels. I'll post again once we're settled and begin phase number 2 on the east coast.
After 100 posts.........It's time to say goodbye to the east coast girl trying west coast living and hello to the east coast girl whose coming home!

Living Amongst Moving Clutter

Oh how I wish there was such a thing as a packing fairy! Maybe she could come and make sense of our "moving clutter" as we now begin our moving countdown- 6 days! We have packed boxes up to the ceiling, empty boxes ready to be filled, and packing tape, scissors, and markers have spread themselves across our small living space. It's always amazing to me when preparing for a move (something I've done on average every 2 years since 2003) how much stuff one (and two) people can accumulate! I have found that I have less sentimental value towards things that I may have to carry down stairs, into an elevator, and then arranging in a moving vehicle of choice. Don't get me wrong- I've still held on to those personal items that have been with me through the years but do I really need the 6 towel sets for the kitchen, the books I know I will never read again, or the pair of jeans that have been with me since college and I just can't seem to part with? The answer is No!
We've had to jump through hurdles to get a permit to park a POD on the street in front of our apartment. From applying for a permit, for waiting for permission, to paying a hefty fee (Yikes!), to renting No Parking signs, the amount of time and energy waiting for the city of Seattle to in a sense give us permission to move has been exhausting! I've been so frazzled with our long (and neverending) list of things to do that it is affecting my sleep. A few nights ago I was wide awake for a few hours pacing in our living room. I was treated to a beautiful view of Mt. Rainier at 4:30 in the morning.
Nala has been trying her best to cope with the chaos. And when I say "cope" I mean that she goes and sleeps in the bathroom sink or jumps in our suitcase or boxes as we're trying to pack them. As I watched her sleep so peacefully in the sink I couldn't help but wonder if the same technique could work for humans? Of course that would mean taking a nap in the bathtub but if that could give me a few moments of piece of mind I might be willing to give it a try!
In addition to packing, we also have Joe's sister Sara and her friend Rachel visiting us for the week. Luckily they can look past our chaos. Yesterday we visited the Farmer's Market in the neighborhood of Ballard. Right now it is ranked the 3rd largest Farmer's Market in the country and it certainly didn't disappoint! So many wonderful (and local) fruits and vegetables and flowers and jewelry. I felt a little wave of sadness as we got to the end- we've become so accustomed to farmer's markets all over the area. I also felt a little sad as we walked around Capital Hill and took in the view of the Space Needle from the "Black Hole Sun" in Volunteer Park. Sites and sounds and smells that have become so second nature that I don't even pay attention anymore. Well I am certainly paying attention this week! Trying to put into long term memory all that we love about Seattle.
Lots more packing to get done, goodbyes to be said, and our trip route to plan out. We are thinking of driving back on a different route than the one we did two years ago. This one would take us through Oregon, Nevade, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. We were joking about how many other people can say that their cat has been through 17 states? If only Nala knew!

Moving To A New Zip Code

This east coast girl trying west coast living will soon find herself back on the east coast- Pittsburgh to be exact. Joe and I started having discussions about the possibility of moving back to PA back in the Spring. Of course I had to make a "plan" of our time line, where to look for jobs, and how the summer was going to pan out for us. So far nothing has been going as planned and those of you that know me know that I don't handle "nonplans" very well. I had hoped to have a job by the end of the school year so that I could say my goodbyes in person to the school staff and my kids. Although I had an initial phone interview with Children's Hospital right before Memorial Day weekend, I didn't hear back from them for three weeks. Fast forward to the last week of school and I get an e-mail asking if I'd be available for a teleconference interview. I wasn't sure what teleconference was going to entail at first but after another week and a half I found out that I would be interviewing with the head of the department and another Speech Therapist via Skype. How technology advanced we have come to be able to interview across the country using the computer and a webcam. I will admit to going into frantic study mode and had flashbacks of grad school sitting in a coffee shop with my books. There are a few areas that I'm out of touch with after working in the school setting for 5 years and was fearful that I would be bombarded with questions regarding these less familiar topics. During my study time I came across the name of the person who was interviewing me quoted in one of the books. He's done a lot of research in the field and has published articles regarding his areas of interest. The intimidation factor went way up for me at this point!
I felt really good after the interview- they were both so nice and I felt very at ease despite the distance and technology between us. That afternoon I was contact by human resources to let me know that I was their top candidate and would now begin the phase of background and reference checking. This was done through private agencies and I was told to expect it to at least take 6 days. Adding in the 4th of July weekend, 6 days had turned into 8. By this point I'm stressed and wondering what the outcome will be. We gave up our apartment since our lease is up at the end of the month, but we still weren't sure if we were moving cross country or just down the street. Throughout the waiting period I did lots of list making, pacing, climbing a mountain (7 miles up windy and rocky switch backs can do a lot to take your mind off of things), freaking out, and buying shoes. Yes I couldn't help myself when I went to buy bubble wrap at Target and a big SALE sign in the window of DSW caught my eye. I went in just to "look" but fell in love with a pair of sandals. I decided to buy them as a celebratory "yay I got the job" a few days premature. And if I didn't get the job I was going to use them as a "feel better" present to myself. I'm glad they were able to fall into their first purpose.
The long awaited phone call and offer came on Friday. Yay! I've been feeling such a mix of emotions- nerves on starting a new job, excitement, and some sadness for leaving the city that we have fallen in love with. We have no regrets from the past two years and have gained some wonderful friends and new experiences to add to our list of adventures and memories. But we are at the point (well I'm at the point and Joe is getting there :-) where we want to feel a bit more settled and know that we will be staying in one place longer than the date signed on a lease. We weren't ready to make this commitment two years ago but time and maturity and desire for new things were a driving force in our decision. Of course the proximity to family and friends and familiar surroundings are huge icings on the cake and we couldn't be happier with our decision. Thank you all for taking this journey with us over the past two years and for being my weekly "audience" following this blog. I'll continue with a few more entries of our moving experiences but then may take a little writing hiatus- I haven't quite decided yet what to do.
In the mean time, we are surrounded by boxes, packing tape, and bubble wrap with our possessions spread out in our 800 square foot apartment waiting to find their way into boxes. Poor Nala isn't quite sure what to make of everything but has found comfort in the open boxes as resting places for her afternoon and evening naps. We will have the company from two years ago as Joe's sisters once again are joining us on our trip. We are leaving Seattle on July 31st and are giving ourselves about a week to make it across the country. We will be covering a lot of the same territory as before and feel less inclined to stop and see the sights. I start my new job on August 16th. Changes are ahead once again.......Western Pennsylvania here we come. Time to bring out the black and gold!

Survival of the hottest

Oh the heat- how you are my enemy! It's been a HOT week out here and it's been a struggle to find the coolest areas to pass the time. I've found myself venturing to the grocery store and the mall just to take advantage of the air conditioning as these are some of the few selected places with air. On Thursday we actually had a blackout and lost power for a while. I'm wondering if too many fans trying to go at the same time could have been the culprit? Poor Nala has also been struggling to stay cool- lounging in the sinks and on the tile floor. She has been looking at me with a look that says "please make it cooler." Or maybe that is just my interpretation of the look on her cute little face.
Thursday was Joe's birthday. We spent the afternoon at Madison Park Beach along Lake Washington. The sun was out in full force and it seemed that many people had the same idea that we had as the place was really crowded. We made it about 5 minutes in the sun before we braved the chilly temperatures of the water just to cool off. We then spent the rest of the time laying out in the shade and it was quite comfortable. Later we enjoyed a delicious sushi dinner with Charlie (his birthday too) down in the International District.
Saturday night I was fortunate enough to get an invite to another Seattle Living Room Show-live music in someone's living room. The band that I saw was called the Sweet Remains and I have been playing them on my IPod for about a year so I was so excited to finally see them live. They are able to create this amazing 3 part harmony that I could listen to for hours. For two hours I forgot about the heat and just listened to the music. Such a great night!
We escaped from the city on Sunday to visit Mt. Rainier. We went to a different lookout point from where we visited last year. The sun came out on our drive and by the time we parked the car we were surrounded by lots of people, sun, and snowy white. We attempted to hike up part of the glacier in the snow. It was like 2 steps up and 1/2 a step sliding back. We got to take in some amazing views while walking in the sun with our short sleeved shirts. I was really entertained watching all the different groups of people from the prepared (hiking boots, treking poles, hiking pants) to the unprepared- (designer purses, heeled boots, puma sneakers). Let's just say there was lots of slipping and sliding as attempts were made to go up and down the mountain. It was such a great feeling standing in the middle of the mountain in the snow, breathing in the fresh air and taking in the view.

Holiday Weekend

Hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday weekend! The tourists are in full force here in Seattle. I got first glimpse of them coming off the huge cruise boat docked on the Puget Sound below the Pike's Place Market on Saturday. I've lived here long enough to know where and what to avoid with the crowds. The Market area being #1. Saturday was a beautiful day with sunshine in the afternoon. I decided to venture to one of the attractions I haven't visited yet. It's somewhat off the beaten path and wasn't too crowded. Olympic Sculpture Park sits in the neighborhood of Belltown just north of the main downtown area. It's a beautiful green area with an interesting looking sculpture and views of the Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. People were out and about enjoying picnic lunches and taking in the beautiful views. I couldn't help but feel a sense of serenity breathing in the fresh air and looking out over the water.
Unfortunately the sunny weather did not follow us into the 4th. Sunday was very overcast and brought rain in the afternoon. I didn't let that deter me from my initial plans. A friend of a friend rented a boat to take out on Lake Union for the afternoon. We enjoyed snacks and drinks while enjoying the views of the skyline, the Space Needle, Gas Works Park, the boat house from "Sleepless in Seattle," and the bridges lifting for the much bigger boats to go underneath. Gas Works Park is the central area where people camp out for the big fireworks display later in the evening. Close to 50,000 people congregated there by nightfall. They bring in a big blow up of the Statue of Liberty that sits on the focal point in the middle of the hill of the park. Later at night we went over to Charlie's condo to watch the fireworks. The fireworks display was a group effort this year. The cost for the show is about 500,000 dollars and WAMU bank used to be the sponsor before they went under last year. The businesses of the Seattle came together to raise the money and the show didn't disappoint. It also didn't hurt that we were standing on the roof of an 18 story highrise to take in the view.
Today is another day of dreary but perfect for snuggling on the couch with hot chocolate and my favorite girlie movies. Hot chocolate in July. Is summer ever going to officially make its presence in Seattle??????

1/2 Marathon Conquered!

It's been 17 weeks since I started training for the Rock and Roll 1/2 Marathon and yesterday marked the culmination of the miles I covered, the pain I endured (my poor knees are not very happy with me) and the satisfaction of knowing that I did something that I didn't think I could do. A big shout out to my Trainer Lauren for making me a schedule to follow and for being a good resource for the questions I had along the way as well as my cheerleader from afar.
There were 25,000 people that were signed up for the race and although that number is huge, I wasn't sure what to expect. I started my morning early (4:45 the alarm went off) and needless to say I didn't get much sleep as I was filled with nerves the night before. They were running shuttles (school buses) from downtown so Joe dropped me off down there around 5:30. At first I got in what seemed like the line but as more time went on and more people showed up, it just became chaos with thousands of people trying to get on the buses to get down to the start line. I can navigate large crowds with the best of them and managed to grab a seat pretty easily. It was about a 20 minute drive south of the city down to where the starting area was was. When we arrived all I saw were lines of port-a-potties. My fear of public toilets (and toilets that don't flush) was heightened upon arrival with a gross smell to accompany it. I forgot to mention that the projected forecast for the day was 70 and sunny but at 6 am it was quite cold. My legs were a nice shade of purple and I couldn't help but shiver in my running shorts and tank. After I dropped off my bag at the check-point I went to find my corral number. There were corrals numbered 1-39. When I initially signed up for the race one of the questions they ask is what your projected finish time is going to be. I had no idea so I said 3 hours and 30 minutes. That put me to start out in the "slow pack" at the back of the race in corral #36. The race started at 7 with corral #1. At that time I was in-line for the bathroom which took about 45 minutes. By then I joined my "pack" and started the race at 8am. They stagger start the corrals every 3 minutes so it took a while to go from #1-#36. We started out pretty close together and I was amongst a lot of walkers so it took a while for me to find my pace. There was a huge blown up guitar player over the initial path of the race with the first band playing. We ran on closed off streets, neighborhood streets, along Lake Washington, through a tunnel, and back on closed streets as we made our way to the finish line in front of Quest field downtown. Along the route, bands were playing on small stages, tables were set up with volunteers handing out water and sports drinks, high school cheerleading groups positioned themselves to give a boost, and locals sat in their yards to cheer us on. It was a good route for a beginner like me as there were few hills which was really nice. When I got to mile 7 I started to feel some pain in my knees and feet. Luckily I had these amazing jelly beans (sold at running stores) that I ate which gave me a good burst of energy for the final 4 miles. I had my best time the last four mile leg so I'd like to think the jelly beans along with pure determination to get to the finish line had something to do with it. When we got onto the downtown streets for the last mile and a half, there were people lining the streets cheering everyone on. I crossed the finish line about 10:20 and as soon as I stopped running I was very aware of the hurt in my legs. I felt really good breathing wise and was happy to cross the finish line without stopping anywhere along the way. The finish line area was a sea of runners and friends and family coming to congratulate them. Joe and Sydney were there to meet me. It felt the longest day and it wasn't even noon! We had plans to stay for the concert afterwards but the US soccer game took precedent. We walked to a nearby bar for some post-race lunch and the game. My post-race meal was french toast and let me tell you food never tasted so good! The atmosphere in the bar was fun as everyone was really into the game and more and more fellow racers stumbled in as time went on. After the game, we made our way back home (at this point my legs were so stiff I was walking a little funny) and I was so happy to have a hot shower! After a nap and some down time, we toasted the day with friends and champagne. I feel a good sense of accomplishment and am happy to check off something from my bucket list. I plan on letting my body rest for a bit but may find myself back in my running shoes for pure pleasure (and probably less distance!) :-)

It's been an interesting 72 hours. Last week I was looking forward to the end of school and wondering how I was going to spend my first few days of vacation. Little did I know I would spend day #2 of vacation sitting in the hospital. Joe ended up having his appendix taken out Friday morning after a middle of the night trip to the ER. He started Thursday night with his stomach not feeling right. At 4 am the pain had gotten much worse and by 4:30 we were sitting in the ER waiting for him to be seen. At first they weren't sure if it was a kidney stone or his appendix but after having a CAT scan done his appendix were found to be the source of his pain. After time spent hanging out in an ER room (and getting to see the US soccer game) he was given a room and a surgery time for 10:30 am. By 11:20 the surgeon came out to tell me that all went well and even had pictures (which Joe is thrilled about!) of what his appendix looked like and then how they looked post surgery. The whole time we were at the hospital I was amazed by all the uses of technology. The whole staff was wonderful and we felt in good hands. Joe was home by 7 that night. Being up at 4 truly made it feel like the longest day ever and we were both happy when our heads hit the pillow that night.
Unfortunately Friday was our only day of sunshine and this weekend has been pretty crummy. Perfect for Joe's recovery but I'm starting to feel like I have cabin fever. We had all intentions of watching for the second year in a row the Summer Solstice parade and the naked bicyclers yesterday. Instead our day was spent dozing off in front of movies on the couch. I guess some would consider that good bonding time :-)
Today I had plans to run the "Furry 5k" to support the Seattle animal shelters. They anticipated a total of $150,000 raised so I would consider that a success. All of the commercials with the sad looking animals and Sarah McLachlen singing in the background have really gotten to me. So much so that I either have to leave the room or turn the channel when it comes on. I thought this was a good opportunity to get my run in for the weekend while doing something for the animals at the same time. This was my first official race and just a little warm up for next weekend. It was an interesting mix of runners and their dogs (and those of us without). The dogs were all quite the troopers. Of course it started to rain before we started the race so it was very wet running to say the least. As we started there was lots of barking going on with the dogs talking to one another and it took a few minutes for all of us to find running space on the trail between the dogs and their leashes. I was able to run the 3 miles in under 30 minutes so I was happy about that. Soaken wet but content that my run was done before 11 am, I spent the rest of the afternoon in company with Lifetime movies. It was the perfect way to spend a rainy Sunday. Hopefully waking up to some sunshine tomorrow......

A day and a half.......the amount of time left in the school year and subsequently the amount of time until I begin summer break. I feel so spoiled by the school calendar! It's been a week of wrap-ups with therapy sessions, paperwork, and end of the year parties. I'm also wrapping up my running schedule with now less than 2 weeks left until the big race! Luckily it was a beautiful weekend. Mother Nature must have been hearing my pleas for sunshine after all. What's even better than sun? Sun + the beach. Yes the beach! Not exactly the kind you can swim in but water and sand none the less! I went with my friend Sydney to an area new to us called Golden Garden State Park. It sits north of Seattle and is known for the interesting sea creatures that you can find in the tide pools. Unfortunately we made it later in the afternoon when the tides were too high but we did get to experience the smell of the salty sea air and take in the large crowd that had gathered about. I don't think there was a patch of sand left to sit on there were so many people! We walked around a bit to get our bearings and then wandered next door to the marina where all the sailboats are parked. I can't tell you how many times I say out loud that I wish I knew someone with a boat. On sunny days it seems it's the place to be out on the water. We finished our Saturday at a restaurant on Lake Washington with a window view of Mt. Rainier. Very picturesque!
Sunday was my big running day...12 miles. Let's just say my knees and quad muscles haven't been the same since! I ran a trail that curves along the canal north of Seattle and ends at Golden Gardens. The beach twice in two days! Things were going pretty well until my path just suddenly ended (I thought it went all the way). Luckily I was able to figure out where to head from our drive the day before. On my travels I stopped to be a tourist at the Ballard Locks. This area is known to be quite the attraction as it's the meeting point for the Puget Sound (salt water) and the bay (fresh water). Unfortunately there weren't any boats to watch make the switch but it was interesting to see the different water levels. I then continued north on my journey until I hit the smell of salt air. When I arrived at Golden Gardens there was a much smaller crowd since it was earlier in the day. I decided to take a few minutes to enjoy the air and the view with a popsicle. I find that the sugar helps with my running.:-) All in all my journey was 2 hours and 30 minutes and by the end my feet were telling me they were done. This morning I was reminded again of my activities yesterday as it hurt to walk down stairs and raise my knees. I hope my body can hold up for two more weeks......

Rain Rain Go Away

Rain Rain Go Away please go bother another city for a few days......My sentiments towards the pitter patter of rain drops that I can hear hitting the windows. It continues to be wet here although we were given a reprieve yesterday with a little sunshine and warm temperatures. It was perfect timing for my 10 mile run that I was scheduled for. Joe has been battling a cold and after our busy weekend last weekend, this weekend was very low key in comparison. I'm on my countdown of 8 more days of the school year left. I have many of progress reports for IEP's to write before then but it's nice to have a glimpse of the finish line in the horizon. I find it very comforting to have an open stretch of unplanned time between the 16th of June and the end of August. Love the school year calendar!
I'm in my last 3 weeks of training before my half marathon. Crazy that 14 weeks have gone by. I think my body is starting to feel the stress a bit as I have pain in my feet and knees but at the same time I am proud of my body for enduring the stress and allowing me to push the limits beyond what I thought I was capable of. This past week I've looked forward to my runs as I've needed the opportunity to clear my head. It has become a comfort to take time to focus on breathing in my nose and out mouth, listening to my footsteps as they hit the pavement, and pushing aside the stress that I'm feeling from life. I feel in good company with the rest of the runners in the Seattle (there are many!) and even got a high five from a fellow jogger as we passed each other on the street. I hope to incorporate running a little bit more into my life even after I'm done training.
For now, it's full speed ahead with the last full week of school. Some end of the school celebrations to look forward to towards the end of the week and hopefully sunshine too. Mother Nature are you listening??????

San Francisco!

Joe and I got back today from a wonderful long weekend spent in San Francisco. We were first time visitors to the city and quickly came to love all that we saw. It probably also helped that we had sunshine everyday with comfortable temperatures. We stayed with Joe's friends in Oakland and covered a lot of ground in just 3 days while getting quite familiar with the city's public transportation system. I think my biggest surprise was how expansive San Francisco is! It definitely takes time to get from one end of the city to the other and there is no way you can do it on foot. On Friday we took the BART (their subway system) to an area near the financial district that sits right on the bay. Our first attraction to visit was the Ferry Building. It is now remodeled to include lots of specialty shops for food and gifts. Lots of people grabbing lunch and eating by the water. This area was once the only port into the city before the bridges were built. From there we hopped on a trolley (very cliche of us I know :-) to the very touristy area of Fisherman's Wharf. Lots of seafood restaurants, shops, and street performers. Right in that area is a section dedicated to the sea lions. There were over 100 just lounging about on the docks sunning themselves and talking talking to each other. It was really cool to see so many in their natural habitat. We made our way to Ghirardelli Square and the delicious chocolate (loved the free sample! :-) and then we walked the hilly streets to Coit Tower. We took an elevator to the top and got some great views of the city in all directions. First day was about 10 hours with most of it spent in the sun and on foot. Sleep found us easily that night before taking on the second day of playing tourist. Saturday morning we were given the pleasure of tasting the city's best scones (according to Matt) and getting a glimpse of the amazing Farmer's Market that Matt and Brianna get to visit every Saturday. The choice of fresh produce paired with the very inexpensive prices made me very envious. We get them to some degree here in Seattle but not quite as impressive. From there it was time spent on the BART and city bus to land at the Legion of Honor art museum which sits on top of hill with again wonderful views. It is also a popular spot for wedding party pictures as we saw 4 different parties getting their picture taken. The museum's building is quite impressive and the art is very old. From 1500-19th century with an introduction to some 20th century artists. I got my Monet fix before leaving and was having flashbacks of art classes with the different artists name I saw in print. From the museum we accidentally stumbled upon a path to a cliff walk along the Pacific Ocean. It was an accidental surprise that was quite stunning. A combination of art and walking found us ravenous and we were fortunate to stumble upon a well known diner that sits on the edge of a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The food was good and the window seat was nothing to complain about. From there we made our way to Golden Gate Park where we found groups of people enjoying BBQ's, archery, and of course more wedding photography. We stumbled upon Ocean Beach which is at the far end of the park and I definitely felt the need to put my feet on the sand. An interesting (and jam packed) bus ride dropped us off in the neighborhood of Haight Ashbury which was the mecca for all things hippie back in the day. The streets are filled with vintage stores, cafes, bars, and of course lots of tie dye. Some great houses fall at the end of the block with the home of Janis Joplin falling in the mix. The house today is a beautiful purple but I was told that when she was living there her quarters weren't quite so impressive. The bus ride home took us past the "Three Sisters"- a famous set of row homes right by a park. For those of you familiar with my favorite show from growing up "Full House"- I think this set of row homes can be found in the closing credits.
Sunday found us in the car heading to Berkeley's campus. A beautiful college campus with a great college feel on the surrounding streets. We had lunch in the park and then wandered the streets checking out the houses and their interesting architecture. From there we ventured on a very windy road to Muir National Park to see the Redwood trees. Lots of people had the same idea as the place was packed and it was a hike from the car to the entrance once we were able to park. After time spent in the city it was nice to spend some time in nature with some beautiful surroundings. We ended the day driving across the Golden Gate Bridge and enduring lots of traffic. I guess no city is immune to it.
Although our search for "Danny Tanner" came up short, our time spent exploring the city was well worth the travels. It would definitely be a city Joe and I would consider living in if it wasn't for the state turmoil, the expensive prices, and the fact that it really doesn't lessen the gap of 3,000 miles from the east and west coast.

Giving Back

Saturday was a day of giving back to the city of Seattle. I teamed up with an organization called "Seattle Works" for their big volunteer day. It's an organization for 20 and 30 somethings that's geared toward volunteering around Seattle. Yesterday was their big fundraising day which took in about $75,000 dollars! We were on different teams with different jobs throughout the city for the first 3 hours followed by a big after party in Seattle Center by the Space Needle with everyone. My team was given the task of pulling weeds in the natural habitat areas at Green Lake Park just north of the city. There were about 20 of us on site and after very vague directions and our choice of gardening tools we got to work. More often than not we found ourselves asking is this a good plant or a bad plant? There was a very helpful woman that would help us with this decision but if she was busy elsewhere we took to the plant with our "hackers" (I'm sure there is a more technical term for this gardening tool). After almost 2 1/2 hours of hacking and picking and piling and dumping we had had our fill. We definitely left the area looking more "polished" than when we arrived so I'm assuming it was a job well done. :-) In a way I found it very therapeutic to "zone out" in nature while doing my task.
Today Joe and I visited the Seattle Art Museum for the first time. They were showcasing an exhibit on Kurt Cobain and although I have no interest in his music, he is a legacy of Seattle and it was interesting to see the different artists take on his rise and fall. Paired with the Kurt Cobain display was one of Andy Warhol. We got our Seattle and Pittsburgh all rolled into one. :-)
Walking downtown today and watching the people walking about was a good reminder that summer is just around the corner. You can feel the influx of people down around the Pike Place Market.
Looking forward to the week ahead as we are spending the long weekend in San Franciso. California here we come! (another state to check off my list:-)

Gotta Keep Running

Oh my throbbing feet! I sit here this evening with my feet up trying to give some much needed air to a very ugly blister on the bottom of my foot. How did it get there you ask? It started last weekend with a 9.5 mile run. My running schedule continues to increase in mileage and I think I found my (and my feet) breaking point! I had my mapped out route along Lake Union and winding through the different neighborhoods an around mile 8 I started to feel pain in my feet and my toes. My poor toes have never felt this way and I really thought they were going to turn blue! I was very quick to remove my shoes after my run (I did make it through the whole thing!) and although there was no blue coloring I did have a nice blister under the arch of my foot. After a little TLC complete with ice cubes and cold water (thank you trainer Lauren!) my feet were back in working order for the week.
Another long run came yesterday- this one 11 miles. I never thought I'd be running in the double digits! Amazing what a little determination can do! The sunshine was out in full force and I chose a run along Lake Washington. My route took me by some VERY expensive houses with beautiful views, parks with BBQ's and picnic spots, and right along the water where I was so close I could touch the water with my fingers. I was in good company once again with other runners and cyclists. My route took me all the way down to the tip of land known as Seward Park. Joe and I had driven down once before and walked around the park so I knew what I was heading to. By the time I got there I was around mile 7. Sailboats were out, families were enjoying the sunshine and so I couldn't just bring myself to turn around continue back. Instead I spotted a little white ice cream truck advertising shaved ice. At this point I'm hot and thirsty and some sugar and ice certainly sounded good so I gave myself a "pass" for a little break. I enjoyed my shaved ice and took in the scenery before continuing home. Right around mile 8 or 9 again I started to get the pain at the bottom of my feet and in my toes. Maybe it's their way of telling me enough is enough but I still had a few miles to go. After almost 3 hours on foot (I had about a mile walk back to my car after the 11 mile run) I was glad to let me feet breathe. In place of my recovering blister was an even bigger and uglier one than before along with a blister on my heel and 2 on my toes. I have to think that people who run have ugly feet right up there with dancers. I am now on a mission to find a fix for my throbbing feet. First up- some specialty socks that soak up sweat and allow some breathing. We'll see how this goes.....
Along with my runs and enjoying the sunshine, I've also been able to experience two more music venues in the city and some very talented musicians. Besides the beautiful scenery and the eclectic style of Seattlites, the music scene has to be on my list of best things about this city. In a weeks time I've seen acoustic, southern rock, and a Napolean Dynamite look alike that could hit notes that most females can only try to reach. The creativity and talent out there is amazing!
Joe and I ended out weekend at the Japanese Gardens for a little stroll through the world of colorful flowers and Bonsai trees. There was a feeling of serenity in the garden with all of nature around. Wish I carry that feeling outside of the garden wall and into everyday life.

A Hard Goodbye...

Most (if not all) of you know by now that this was a tough week for the Tingley family as we had to say goodbye to Grandma. I've spent this past week both emotionally and physically exhausted as I am filled with memories of Grandma. It was Grandma who first got me interested in drawing as we used to sit at the living room table with a huge Holly Hobby book in front of us. After we colored in the picture we used to fill in the empty space around it with our own drawings of suns and flowers, and houses with chimneys and smoke coming out of them. In the summer Grandma played baseball with us in her backyard using this red fat plastic bat that would send the ball flying. In the winter Grandma helped us to make igloos and dig out and opening so that we could crawl inside. I have a picture in my mind of Grandma killing a snake with a hoe as Lauren stood by and watched while Regan and I raced inside the house. I remember walking downtown and going to the drug store and buying candy for a nickel and sleepovers on Saturday nights watching the Golden Girls and Carol Burnett- the 3 of us crammed into Grandma's bed. There were countless times as I got older sitting at Grandma's kitchen table drinking coffee or hot chocolate and just talking. I do believe there was even a time when I was younger that I told Grandma that I wanted to drink coffee just like her so that I wouldn't get too tall. And of course there were the family gatherings at Thanksgiving; all of us sitting down along the long table with Grandma's jello and whip cream right in front of the grandkids. Each night when I close my eyes, these thoughts are what fill my head before I can finally find sleep. I'm grateful for the almost 29 years I had with Grandma and I will forever remember the love she had for all of us.

As I sit here and type tonight I can barely breathe through my nose and haven't tasted anything in 48 hours. Maybe I have my kiddos to thank or maybe it was just my time to get a spring time cold. Needless to say, much of my weekend was spent on the couch watching reruns of bad reality television. The sun did make an appearance and stuffed nose or not, I still had a training schedule to stick to. Yesterday I went for a walk and ended up wandering the downtown stores. How nice to combine exercise with one of my favorite past times. En route to downtown I stopped at the bank. I had to catch myself from staring at the customer in front of me. He (or she depending on how you look at it) was dressed in a short trench coat, a really bad wig, and knee high patent leather boots. He/She whipped out a large stack of bills and asked in a very feminine voice how to make the bills smaller. At this point I'm wondering if I'm in the presence of a transvestite hooker and it only got worse as I waited behind her(him?) and noticed that she(he?) was in a desperate need of a good leg shaving. Gross! The rest of my afternoon allowed me to bear witness to protests, a group of teenagers wearing Elmo birthday hats on the corner by Macy's and the filming of a movie. I don't think this movie is something that will hit theaters but there was a small crew and video cameras. For a moment I thought maybe I was bearing witness to the Japanese film that is being shot here which follows the story of the rise of Japanese immigrants and their subsequent fall out of Seattle. I then realized that my where abouts didn't really provide any good backdrop to history with the Lesbian bar on the corner and the homeless guy selling newspapers across the street. Instead I probably just saw students filming something for class. Again the thoughts in my head were creating much more entertaining stories than the reality of what I was seeing.
Despite my stuffiness I got my 3 mile run in today followed by more bad television. It seemed for every hour that I was up and functioning, I needed another hour on the couch. Thank goodness I wasn't scheduled for a long run this weekend as I probably would have keeled over somewhere. Hoping this cold leaves me quickly..............

Well the good news is that I'm able to sit here and type so I must have survived my 8 mile run today :-) It was a beautiful day here and I was in good company with many bikers and joggers this morning as I began my run. I chose a portion of a trail and I've seen signs for time and again but never really knew what it was. The beautiful thing about trails is that are mostly flat and something that I can handle. I started out along the water at Lake Union and wove around the outskirts of the University of Washington and then back behind a neighborhood I never knew existed but was quite pretty. With the sunshine and fresh air as my motivators (that and the little voice in my head that would not allow me to stop) I finished 8 miles in just under an hour and a half. I felt great afterwards and might just have learned what it means to get a "running high." Of course my toes hurt, I gained a blister, and there was some pain in one leg but other than that it was a triumphant experience! I must admit that this part of my weekly schedule came after my "easy walk" on Fridays as my trainer (Lauren) calls. Just to be funny I sometimes will send her "Dear Trainer" e-mails about something I did or failed to do. My e-mail to her on Friday went something like this...."Dear Trainer- Does it count as an easy walk if I'm wandering around Capitol Hill trying to find a bar with an open seat to enjoy a glass of wine and a few bites of dessert? Her response included the words "drop and give me twenty for the dessert." She's a tough one but keeps me on track!
We continued the nice weather day with brunch at a cafe that sits back in one of the neighborhoods. It's ranked as one of the top 10 brunch places and is known for its scones and cinnamon buns as well as its ambiance. It is a converted old Victorian home complete with the old fashion claw foot tub in the bathroom. We've found that with the good places you always have to wait; filling your mind (and stomachs) of the anticipation of what's to come. This place did not disappoint! I had probably the best raspberry scone I've ever tasted. A nice reward after my run. Our day continued with a walk through the Fremont market and sitting on the bank of the canal watching the boats go by.
I've been doing pretty good with trying new recipes throughout the week but I was defeated by a mango this past Thursday which left me a bit derailed off course. I was trying a recipe for Mango salsa and bought the mango on Sunday thinking that 4 days would be plenty of time to ripen. As I went to cut into the mango I wondered if there was a pit, or seeds, or something else hard that kept my knife from cutting through. The middle still remains a mystery to me as I never did get to the inside. The outside was soft enough to cut (and I use this term loosely as it was more like rip apart) the exterior. The recipe called for me to "dice" the mango. What does dice really mean? Dice or chop, to me they mean to cut without taking off your finger. I'm sure chefs everywhere would be insulted by my statement but at the end of the day there is the trusty food processor to refer to in your time of need.

Thank you Amanda for pointing out my 3 week absence. :-) After my trip out east and then settling in last week I completely forgot to update last night. Luckily I'm now back on track. I really enjoyed my Spring Break visiting with friends, getting my baby fix, and of course seeing so much of my family. Miss you guys! With the exception of the unexpected snowstorm I drove through (is Mother Nature trying to tell me something?) it was a wonderful trip. As I waited at Newark Airport for my return flight I sat looking out the window staring at the New York City skyline and felt nostalgic for Broadway musicals and roasted peanuts from the street vendor. I made friends with the girl sitting next to me who is from Washington and just spent her first time in NYC on a solo trip. I was eager to hear what she did and so she got out her map and took me through her week. I gave her credit for spending the whole week alone in New York. After my celebrity sighting in Chicago (Rick Fox from the Lakers) I was hoping to double my luck and spot someone in Newark. No such luck.
My week brought routine again (and some pretty bad jet lag on Monday). We had an unexpected weather surprise on Thursday- a hail storm like I have never seen! It just kept coming. The preschoolers were in awe and thought it was snow. It's neat to see young minds discovering things for the first time. Luckily the sun made a grand appearance this weekend. I got a nice run in along Green Lake Sunday morning before Joe and I wandered downtown. Of course the nice weather brings out the Seattle spring/summer fashion. There really is nothing like it.
Trying to get through the busy week and prepare for my 8 mile run on the weekend.....the longest so far. Hope I can make it

Joe and I got to have a "date day" on Saturday and we made the best of it with the beautiful sunshine. It's very rare for Joe to have a Saturday off so we decided to do something that we haven't done yet while living here. We went kayaking out on the lake. We boarded our kayaks down on the water near the University of Washington and had our choice of going north to Lake Union or east to Lake Washington. We chose east not knowing that all of the big boats on the water would be headed in the same direction. These kayaks took some getting used to as they were touring kayaks. I knew that they looked different as they were longer than the ones I'm used to. When I got in and had my foot pedals adjusted I thought I was good to go but as we got going I kept bumping into Joe and I didn't know why. He then instructed me to push on the pedals to change direction. And here I thought they were just foot rests! We headed in our intended direction and it was easy going for a while. That was until we hit the area that narrowed like a canal. Trying to make our way down the same path as the big boats proved to be challenging. The waves definitely proved to be an obstacle and left me feeling frustrated and wet. I should mention here that when I got dressed in the morning I was trying to put together something that was light weight but would keep me warm from the wind on the water. Why I thought a denim jacket fit the bill is beyond me. My sleeves were soaking wet and heavy with the first boat that went by. I learned my lesson in kayaking attire.
We continued our day with lunch near campus and then reading in the park. We did all we could to get our vitamin D.
Today brought rain and then sunshine and then rain again. Unfortunately I had to get in a 5 mile run in the very unpredictable day. I've been using a website where people have mapped their running routes and it has been helpful for me to get an idea of mileage. I was familiar with most of the area that I was going to run and knew that I would encounter a "few" hills. Well a "few" turned out to be an understatement. This was a route for the advanced runner which I am far from. My route went along Lake Washington and into a neighborhood with some really nice and very expensive houses. If it wasn't for my huffing and puffing maybe I could have enjoyed the scenery a bit. An hour and a half later I was left with aching legs and 2 battle scars in the form of blisters on the bottom and top of my feet. I've spent the rest of the afternoon moving in slow motion.

A Week of Firsts

This was a week of firsts for me in two ways......On Thursday night I went to my first "Living Room Concert Series." It was through a friend of a friend that I came to understand what this was. A few years ago a group here in Seattle decided to open up their living rooms to Singer/Songwriters. I guess it's gathered quite the following and I had the opportunity to listen to some truly talented musicians in the comfort of someone's living room. It was great to be so "up close and personal" with these musicians; hearing their stories and finding where the inspiration of each song came from. I again received an affirmation on why I develop crushes on guys and their guitars. (Insert eye roll from Joe here :-)
Saturday night brought a new first for both Joe and I. We went to our first "Female Impersonator" (aka Drag Show). There is this place called Julia's on Broadway and we have probably walked by it at least a dozen times and have always said how fun it would be to see their show. Last night we gathered with another couple to witness first hand the marvel of guys in drag. This show was a tribute to the diva's in the music industry. From Madonna to Beyonce to Britney Spears to Liza Minnelli, all of these artists were represented in true artistic form. From the makeup to the costumes to the backup dancers, we heard a medley of their music with the dancing and performances onstage. Joe was lucky enough to have an aisle seat and this allowed him to have Liza Minnelli to sit on his lap and another "woman" to stroke his chin and ruffle his hair. Needless to say we were left with a lot of laughs but also a lot of questions. These men looked truly feminine with nothing to show for their male physique. How do they do that? We were left asking ourselves this very questions as we left the show last night.
I like to try these new things. The drag show topic has always been accompanied by "Only in Seattle......" would we see men dressed as Whitney Houston looking better than half of the women walking down the street. Another piece of authenticity and another reason why we love this city.

Elvis In Seattle

We saw Elvis this weekend. Bet that sentence catches your attention. :-) I guess what I should have said is that we saw Elvis impersonators running down the street- followed by mimes, cowboys, and a group dressed up in capes. The nice weather on Saturday brought everyone out; and I mean everyone. Joe's friend Matt and his wife Brianna were visiting this weekend as they had a wedding to attend here in Seattle and stayed with us. Yesterday was so nice that we went out for a walk earlier in the day and found ourselves sitting outside a coffee shop enjoying the sunshine. That was when Elvis crossed our path. At first we just laughed as we have seen just about everything on Capitol Hill. It was when the mimes ran by afterwards that we figured out that there was a scavenger hunt going on and we helped out just a little bit as the groups were having difficulty finding a little cafe around the corner. I happen to love the crepes there and were happy to point them in the right direction.
I also completed my first week of training. Thanks to Lauren, the schedule was very doable. After Tuesdays' run I definitely felt it in my legs. By Friday I was ready for my "easy walk" (as described on my schedule). I was down in Tacoma for the day attending a workshop on Stuttering and knew that I might not make it back in time for daylight. I improvised by walking around the mall in heels for 45 minutes. That's gotta count for something right? I think my trainer mentioned that I get extra point for the heels. :-) And I happened to pick up a cute skirt on my walk so I consider that multi-tasking at its best. :-)

Sitting here on the eve of March first wondering where the last 2 months have gone? I think that time moves faster the older that we get. When we're younger it's always about looking ahead to being old enough to do the next thing whether it be riding your bike with friends in the neighborhood, driving out of town for the first time, and going away to college. My 18 year old self was always looking ahead to the next thing that I had placed on my "list of things to do before I'm 30." I never made a hard copy of this but was always cognisent of what I had planned next. I've been able to check a number of things off, have added new things along the way, and did things that my 18 year old self had never thought of. My type A personality and my incessant need for plans, lists, and post-it notes have gotten me far (along with a VERY supportive family system) and in many ways I feel content with my accomplishments thus far as I look ahead to the magic number of 30. (Yes I know I still have to hit #29, but really at this point it may as well be 30 as that is all I can think about). I do wish that my 18 year old self (yes there is a part of her that I still carry with me) could be accepting of not doing EVERYTHING on her list by the time she is 30. That might give the almost 29 year old version of myself a better piece of mind. I'm finding that my thoughts and feelings float from those of my 18 year old self, through my twenties, up until present time and wonder how the decade has gone by. I find myself nostalgic for the college years and the time in my 20's where I was still trying to figure life out-post student. The 18 year old me thought that she would feel adult and grown-up with all the answers by the time she was 30. The 28 year old me would like to tell miss 18 year old how naieve she is. As I spend the next 2 months hitting the breaks on time and turning 29 and then spending the next year in denial that yes I will turn that magic number 30, I hope to work on acceptance of the here and now and the understanding that lists should be made in pencil with opportunities to erase and spaces to add on to. I've added something to one of my empty spaces- I'm going to be running my first half marathon at the end of June. Yes I know that I am not the runner in the family, and although I do enjoy physical activity, running is not my strong suit. Thanks to my wonderful sister, she not only gave me the idea to run but also created a personal training schedule for me. Starting tomorrow for 17 weeks I will be working on bettering the almost 29 year old version of myself physically and mentally and hopefully giving myself piece of mind for the final year before reaching that magic number.

Spring time in February

It feels like Spring! Oh wait. It's only February. It can't be Spring-yet. Maybe someone should tell all the Cherry Blossom trees that have bloomed this week. Walking down the street and inhaling their smell reminds me of....well.....Spring. It's a wonderful time to be in Seattle and the sunshine has been a great mood booster for an otherwise dreary month. I was very much looking forward to a low-key weekend and I was provided just that. Yesterday morning I woke up early to blue skies. I met Sydney for a 6 mile walk around Lake Union. The trail is very "urban" but the views of the water and mountains are amazing! I kept saying that the Olympic mountains look like a fake back drop on a very clear day. On foot we walked across bridges, along the water, through the parks, and into boathouse neighborhoods, all the while chatting and taking in the sunshine. Completing the loop was a nice accomplishment before noon. By this time we had really worked up an appetite and decided to explore something off of our "food bucket list." Our list usually consists of places we've read about in magazines, seen or heard mentioned on the Food Network, or in my case just walk by and like the way it looks. (This drives Joe nuts.) Our destination on Saturday was a sandwich place once mentioned on the Food Network. It wasn't just any sandwich place but one with a Caribbean theme. As we drove by, there was no sign indicating it was the right place but the line of people curving down the sidewalk was a good give a way. This place is pretty much the size of a large shed. There are 4 small tables, one menu hanging above the counter, and many curious passerbys wondering what the long line is for. After getting our treats to go, we found a nearby bench and quickly dug into our sandwiches. They were of course delicious and drew the attention of a couple of people who stopped to ask us about them. I spent the rest of the day in rest and relaxation mode with a few hours of work thrown in. Joe came home from work later that night and we decided to visit one of the nearby bars for a drink. This bar in particular draws our patronage; not just for the cheap drinks but also for the ambiance. Sitting at the candlelit table by the window, I couldn't help but feel like I could have been in someones' basement. To the right of us were couches, in the corner there was a set of cozy chairs with someone strewn over the side playing Tetrus on Nintendo, and in the other corner a shelf with a stack of games. It was relatively quiet while we were there and we wondered why more college students weren't around as it's right near Seattle University's Campus. About an hour after we arrived we got our answer. The college students didnt' show up until well after ten. Obviously we were too early arriving at 9:15. As soon as the place filled up I looked at Joe as if we got our cue to leave. Sitting there amongst the students with their backpacks and student ID's around their necks, I suddenly felt very old. The party was just getting started for them and I was ready for my pj's and a good book. How did this happen?????
We woke up to sunshine again this morning and I was inspired after finishing the book Julie and Julia to have something for breakfast outside my norm of cereal. No I didn't find a recipe where I couldn't pronounce the title or had to use a pound of butter in something (the running theme of the book). My fear of butter will keep me far far away from "Mastering the Art of French Cooking." Instead I found a great recipe for french toast in Fitness magazine and to my delight it was easy and error free. After receiving compliments from my husband for my kitchen endeavors, we headed out to wander the streets and take in as much Vitamin D as could. We found ourselves at a park people watching and enjoying the fresh air. One thing that I love (and find very amusing) is that the first glimpse of nice weather brings out the shorts, T-shirts, and flip flops. I even saw a girl sunning herself in a bathing suit. Now it was nice but not THAT warm. Never a dull day with fashion in Seattle.

Rain rain go way....Seattle has had too much as it's been 4 days. We are in a wet spell out here. Normally it wouldn't bother me so much except that it's been a long weekend for me and Joe's parents are visiting. What to do when it's raining outside? -Head to the movies. I was excited to have some female companionship to indulge in my love of chick flicks. Colleen and I went to see "Valentine's Day" while Joe and his Dad watched John Travolta shoot at anything in sight. I LOVED Valentine's Day and think it will definitely have to find a place on my shelf of "girlie movies" when it comes out on DVD. On Saturday we headed east to Ellensburg. It's a small town about 2 hours east of Seattle. It's a little embarrassing to say that we went to Ellensburg because Joe heard about a cowboy festival and wanted to check it out. Ellensburg is also the home to Central University- one of Washington's state schools. Upon arriving we parked the car and walked around what was considered the "historic district." Let's just say that it didn't take long. We found lunch at a cute little cafe but I had soon decided that if I were a high school senior and my parents had brought me to look at the University I would have had them take me home pretty quickly. But that's just me. :-) We found the cowboy festival pretty easily and walked through in about 15 minutes. I could have walked away with pink and purple cowboy boots with Eor on the front and back. I wonder if the kids at school would think I was cool if I wore those? It was back in the car again with the destination of Charlie's cabin which sits in between Seattle and Ellensburg. This was the first time that Joe's Dad has seen the place. We had a nice dinner and passed the time playing Scrabble and watching episodes on HGTV. After we all went to the bed the rain started coming down in full force and could be heard hitting the roof. Between hearing that and also the rustling of a plastic bag that I swore was a mouse trying to get at my granola bar in my purse, I awoke feeling a little groggy. Did I mention that I made Joe go through my purse before I would touch it to make sure that a mouse didn't jump out?
We came back into the city and got ourselves ready to head down to the market. We had a little reprieve from the rain this afternoon and were able to enjoy the walk through the Market rain free. Anyone who has been to the Market knows that many of the vendors have beautiful fresh flower bouquets for pretty cheap. Today was the first day that they were selling beautiful bouquets of dried flowers. We have to be careful with flowers because Nala sees them as instant toys and wants to chew them as soon as we walk in the door. I decided to take the chance with the dried flowers since they have a longer shelf life and put them on the tallest shelf we have. She took an interest when I was trying to get them into a vase but has ignored them since. I however am admiring them in all their blue and purple glory. We did get stuck in a downpour while visiting the local chocolate store-gotta have the candy on Valentine's Day but made it back to our parked car with getting just a little damp. We capped off the day with dinner in the International District- nothing says "I love you" like Chinese food and came back to watch some of the Olympics. How do the knees on the skiers survive with all of those moguls? Pretty cool to watch though. Tomorrow is my last day off....not sure what the plans for the day are but we are going to Alki Beach for dinner and to maybe watch the sunset if the rain stays away....with the weather forecast I'm not counting on that last part.

Hiking Mt. Si

Not to rub it in the faces of those suffering from the big snow storm but we've been having temperatures right along in the mid 50's and even some sunshine! With such nice weather, Joe and I decided to venture into the outdoors. We hiked to the top of Mt. Si on Saturday. This mountain is part of the Cascades and starts at 1300 ft. in elevation and climbs to just under 4,000 ft. Here's a link to some more info: http://www.mountsi.com/
It was 8 miles round trip and took about 5 hours. The nice weather brought lots of people out so we never felt alone. I wasn't sure what to expect in terms of temperature so I wanted to be prepared. I put on the layers, added my "special" hiking boot socks and the boots, and topped my outfit off with my new hiking backpack. Joe was laughing at me as I applied a "light" face of makeup before leaving and I told him I wanted to look "awake" for all the passerbys. (of course I got an eye roll here :-) It took us about 30 minutes to get to the summit of the mountain and the parking lot was packed! Soon into our journey I began to shed my layers as it was quite warm. One of the things I love about hiking out here is that everyone is so friendly; giving hellos and smiles as you pass them on the trail. I guess the fresh air and the feeling of being in touch with nature can't help but make a person feel more friendly. I realized soon into our hike that my hiking "outfit" was lacking in some accessories. Many people were carrying trekking poles, gators (these look like black sleeves that go on the bottom of the pant leg so that pebbles don't get into your boots), and a dog. Personally I feel like trekking poles are just an extra thing to carry but the I understood why people were carrying them when we got to the top of the mountain. The trail is marked every half mile and we took pictures with smiling faces at mile 1.5. I kept telling Joe that I needed the picture in front of the 4.0. The incline between miles 3 and 4 were tough and if I did have my picture taken within that time frame I'm not sure it would have been with a smiling face. When we got to what I thought was the top, there were beautiful views of the snow covered mountains and a very large pile of rocks behind us. What I didn't know was that we had to climb those piles of rocks to continue our journey to the top. Okay-no big deal, I can handle that. We get over the rocks to find our feet in slushy snow and high winds. Now I see where the trekking poles would come in handy. We continue to hike up in search of the 4.0 and the trail starts to narrow. Not only does it narrow but it suddenly stops in front of a vertical wall of rocks about 200 ft. in height. As I stood and watched guys going up I felt the beginning of a panic attack and tears. I told Joe I didn't think I could do it. Amongst the guys a female appeared and she started to tackle the wall like it was no big deal. I thought if she could do it then I could do. With some gentle coaching from Joe and focus only on the next rock that I could put my foot into (and not the drop behind me), we made our way to the very top. We could see the mountains and off to the distant right the skyline of Seattle. It was so small it looked like it could fit in the palm of our hand. I looked to the left and right and the first words out of my mouth was that I was ticked that there wasn't a sign with the 4.0 mile marker. After all that work! The wind was whipping and although the view was beautiful, I was more focused on how we were going to get down. We did a lot of sitting, legs out to next rock, sitting, legs out and repeat. I felt like I was holding my breath the whole time and was very grateful when my feet were back on the ground. I felt triumphant at accomplishing something I feared but I also just wanted to get the heck out of the blustering wind and snow. I did have gloves in my "survival" backpack but I didn't trust them to grip the rock in our descent down so I could barely feel my fingertips when all was said and done. After our climatic climb to the top, we started heading down. Going down is almost harder as there is a lot of pressure in the knees and your toes are constantly hitting the front of your boots. By the time we made it to the final mile, I wasn't sure my legs would make it. They did and we were both very happy to see the parking lot full of cars in sight. The day ended with a hot shower and a good meal. I slept for 12 hours and woke up to pain in every muscle in my body. I have a feeling I may not be able to take the stairs for the next couple of days. Was it worth it? I think the experience and the pictures give that answer a definite yes!

Sorry for the day late entry. I got carried away with my favorite awards show last night (the Grammy's) and trying to juggle cleaning and paperwork while giving my attention to the TV, I missed sitting down and writing. As I type this evening I'm enjoying the smell of cinnamon and the sounds of water boiling. I'm making my first attempt at soup. Thanks to Lauren I have an easy butternut squash soup recipe that I hope I like. Not much of a vegetable fan but I figure worst case scenario I can douse it will as much cinnamon as I want to make it taste good.
And while I'm on the subject of food, I should mention that Joe and I finally got to indulge in true Pacific Northwest seafood on Friday night. We went to this place called the "Crab Pot" right down on the pier by the Sound. It has been featured on the Food Network (although we didn't know that until after the fact). After walking in and being seated at our table we knew that it would be an interesting dining experience. After placing our order we were given "hammers," small forks, and bibs. Not long after our food arrived in a big metal bowl. The contents were dumped out in front of us ( a combination of shrimp, crab legs, mussels, clams, salmon, and halibut- a true seafood delight!) It takes a certain amount of skill to smash the crab legs to gain access to the largest pieces of meet. And when you're done with the shell, you toss it back into the bowl. I had some feelings of guilt as I looked at the shrimp before me- their little beady eyes looking so grim. And did I mention I also had to de-leg them in order to eat them? With each bite I mentioned to Joe how guilty I felt about eating them. After all, I was just watching them swim in the aquarium back in June. I really should be a vegetarian except that there are very few vegetables that I will eat. And with the word "few" I'm being generous to myself. I still have flashbacks of Mom putting 5 of any vegetable (lima beans were the worst!) on my plate and telling me that I had to eat them before leaving the table. This was occurring well into my teenage years. I still can't think about the green globs without having my stomach turn.
And as update, just finished the butternut squash soup and sadly I am not a fan. There is not enough cinnamon (or sugar for that matter- yes I added that too!) to make this soup taste good to me. (Sorry Laur). Attempting to eat the soup was the least of my worries. I had a little mishap with my food processor and ended up with squash mush on the wall, the refrigerator, and myself. I think I'm going to be finding orange for days. Needless to say my attempts at making soup have failed and the end result- a smoothie for dinner. Maybe I should just stick to chicken noodle.....from the can.

A Little Bit Broadway

I got to add to my Broadway musical list with a viewing of Xanadu this week. I didn't know much about the show when I proposed the idea to Joe but I have yet to see a musical that I didn't like so I figured it was a safe bet. It turned out to be quite enjoyable. Very tongue and cheek and a little cheesy but in a good way. The story takes place in 1980 and is based on mythology. Zeus and his muses are in charge of inspiring humans. Plug in a love story, some music, and roller skates and a story is born! We were lucky in that we got to sit on stage for the show. I guess some shows have on stage seating and this is one of them. I didn't even know what I was signing up for when I got the tickets but it was quite the experience. It was neat to be so up close and personal with the actors and the set. We got to take part in the finale with glowsticks which was fun.
It was a week of firsts for me as I tried "hot yoga." It's quite the trend out here. An hour and a half of posing in a room that is 95 degrees. I have not been a fan of yoga in the past but this was different. I don't think I have ever sweat so much in my life! It was a good sweat and I was so focused on the poses and breathing that my mind got to venture elsewhere for a little bit. I might just go back for another sweat fest later this week.
And on another note, my cooking ambitions were much milder this week and I think I made peace with Rachel Ray after successfully making one of her recipes by myself. We'll see if this trend can continue......

Nothing But A Wet Pant Leg

Since we've moved here I've been asked "Is it really true about all the rain that Seattle gets?" My response has always included a "no" with a more drawn out response to describe the weather that we get here. If you were to ask me that same question this past week I would have given you a very unenthusiastic yes! I think out of the past 2 weeks we have had at least 8 days of rain- 5 of which came in a row Monday-Friday of this past week. As I walked from my car to the school building Friday morning all I could think about was how tired I was to have spent the past week having a constant wet pant leg. There are no umbrellas, rain coats, or other weather paraphanalia that can keep them dry-leading to my subsequent complaints. I take that back-there is something that can keep them dry- those really ugly rain boots that feel like they are made of some sort of rubber and have a funky smell and squeak once they come in contact with rain. I couldn't bear to put my poor feet through such ugliness. I guess wet pant legs it is then.
Joe and I decided today that if the weather was going to be gray and dreary then we should plan for an indoor activity to entertain us. What did we come up with? A beer tour and tasting of the 9th largest brewery in the country. I'm not even a beer fan but enjoy learning about new things and a few sips of some pretty good tasting beer definitely made this dreary day a little bit better. For $1 we got to try 5 different 4 oz beers at the Redhook Brewery. I had just two before I cut myself off as the beer was going straight to my head. I finally learned what "IPA" stands for, the definition of "hoppy" beer and that at one time Washington was the state with the highest beer consumption per capita. And here we thought it was all about the coffee! Annheiser Bush is a large distributor for this brewery so it can be found on the east coast if anyone is looking to try something new. We had a pretty entertaining tour guide who you can tell enjoys her job (and her alcohol :-)
I'm fortunate enough that my district observes Martin Luther King Day so I get to start my week off how I would prefer-with Monday off! I plan to once again pour through our cook books in hopes of finding new recipes for the week with ingredients that I can pronounce and directions to follow that don't cause me more stress than my day job. Nicole vs. Cooking Round 2. Winner announced next weekend.

To Cook Or Not To Cook......

One of my goals for 2010 was to expand upon my 3 staple recipes that I've come to know (and cook often) and go outside my comfort zone and try and to find some peace in the kitchen. One week into 2010 and I already feel defeated. Last Sunday Joe and I sat down with our new cookbooks to find some new recipes for the week. Once the recipes were chosen, off to the grocery store we went together (such a bonding experience :-) When Monday rolled around I felt good knowing that at the end of the day I would not have to face the question of "What's for dinner" as we already had the answer. I had found what I thought to be this easy pasta dish from Rachel Ray- she makes it look to so easy on TV right? How hard could it be? Well it turned out to be hard enough that I had to call Joe in for backup at one point as I didn't have enough hands to control all my burners. Lesson #1 of the week- Pasta does not equal a "simple" dinner. Round two came Tuesday night. I found what sounded like a great tasting Chicken Kung Pao recipe in one of my magazines. This was the second night in a row where I had all the burners covered but felt much more in control of the situation. That was until I added corn starch to my simmering sauce and instead of a thickening effect to the mixture, I was just left with chunks. Lesson #2- one must add a little water to corn starch before adding it to mixture. The second attempt was a success and the results were quite tasty. Round three just put things over the edge Wednesday night. Another Rachel Ray recipe- Asian inspired chicken burgers with a side of pasta. I was on the phone when Joe started reading over the recipe-that was when the moaning started and the question of "Did you even read this recipe?" I responded with a "sort off" as the picture looked good. As he got the ingredients out, he asked where the tomatoes were-I told him I'm not really a fan of green tomatoes and decided not to buy them. Next question came about where was this certain spice- Tamarin or something to that affect??? I told him since I couldn't pronounce that I didn't look for it-oops. Operation dinner #3 got underway and was only successful with Joe and I both cooking together. He commented on how it was as nice thing for us to do together (in our very tiny kitchen) and soon we were in the cooking groove only to be interrupted by little disagreements as to what "chopped ginger" really means- I still say it should have gone in the food processor as I was choking on chunks throughout the meal. By 8 o'clock that night we were finally able to sit down to dinner with what looked like a hurricane that had come through our kitchen. Lesson #3- Read the entire recipe over first and don't just get enticed by the pictures! Exhausted and defeated we're back on quick dinners this week that take little preparation or thought and have ingredients that we can pronounce. I need a week to get over my frustration with Rachel Ray and her smile in the kitchen and hope to get back on the cooking wagon again soon.

Settled In For 2010

After 12 hours of flights and airports, Joe and I made it back to Seattle and into our apartment with 45 minutes to spare before the new year. Due to the lovely snow that fell Wednesday night our travels were slightly disrupted but still tolerable for the holiday season. We had lots of entertainment on our flight from DC as we were seated about 4 rows up from the bathroom. About 2 hours into the flight the lines started forming and it was a great way to people watch. There were about 4 infant/toddlers on the plane and we watched as their moms carried them to the bathroom to change their diapers (and one diaper that we could smell from our seats!) and listened to their acapella cries as one started and another followed suit. At one time Joe and I just looked at each other and I knew that I was going to continue to lose the baby battle without saying a word.
After picking up our luggage, we tried out the new Light Rail train that now runs from the airport to downtown. The ride itself is easy and efficient but getting to the station was quite a long walk when you're pulling a 50.5 lb suitcase (I was over the limit (again!) but they still let me slide without paying an extra fee). We had about 8 stops before we got off and got to witness the drunk guy stumble on and stink up my breathing space and the group of teenagers in their puffy coats and gloves all prepared to stand at the Space Needle for the fireworks. There was also the group of 20 something girls done up and obviously heading to the bars. And there Joe and I sat- our clothes wrinkled, my makeup smudged with hair in a pony tail, waiting to get home and greet our cat. We really enjoyed our time with family and friends. It was a great way to wrap up 2009 and give me a boost for 2010.
We didn't plan too well for our arrival home and had absolutely no food in the house but we did have a very vocal greeting from Nala. She's quite the talker after she has been left alone for a few days-this trip was no exception. After watching the ball drop we headed to bed hungry and exhausted.
The past few days I've been able to get back on west coast time but unfortunately Joe has not had the same luxary as he got right back into work Friday night and has been going since. I've been enjoying my last few days of "freedom" and crossing off those last few things on my "to do" list. For now I'm just going to take a deep breath and see what 2010 brings. Happy New Year!