Ahoy There Matey!

While I'm off on this weekend's adventure up in Canada, I thought I'd leave you a post of last weekend's adventure on the high seas known as Elliot Bay (per L's request!).




















When I moved to Seattle - 7 years, 8 months, and 15 days ago - I had this plan. I was going to meet a boy (a cute one of course) who just happened to have a boat, and he would take me sailing.




















Well... that never happened. Instead, I met a friend, who had a friend, who had a membership to the sailing club and took me sailing.
















Although it was hard to call it sailing, as there was hardly any wind.















But just sitting in a boat on the water was wonderfully relaxing... until a cargo ship and tug boat were headed straight toward us! Oh no!

But we survived. And I'd go out again in a heartbeat!

The best kinds of weekends are those where you get in bed on Sunday with aching legs.

I’m starting this post with really no thought of where it will go, which should be interesting.

I bought snowshoes this weekend. Yes, in April. They were a good deal. And I promptly used them on a hike yesterday. The best part of the hike was working up enough of a sweat to feel completely justified in refueling with a beer, pulled pork sandwich, and sweet potato fries.

I’m back on the workout train. I did some sort of physical activity resulting in an increased heart rate 6 out of 7 days last week. I ran, did circuit training/toning, rode my bike, and hiked. I feel strong (or at least stronger) again. Biking to school was easier this morning, compared to last week.

I also feel so hungry! In the 4 hours I have been awake, I’ve eaten a heaping bowl of steel cut oatmeal with dried cranberries and cinnamon, a kashi granola bar, hummus and a whole wheat pita, and apple sauce. All I can think of right now is chocolate. And the PB&J I am about to eat.

Right now, life is full of countdowns:
10 days till I leave for Vancouver (BC).
17 days till I leave for the Upper Peninsula (MI).
24 days till Max and Laura come back to Seattle for a visit.
32 days till the first camping trip of 2009.
65 days till my 3-week vacation to New England and Scandinavia begins.

And finally, I found out that I passed my qualifying exam today. It was a “VERY strong performance” according to the department head. Anyone up for beers tonight to celebrate?

How I Run: Goals and Motivations

My goal this month is to run 30 miles. Its been my goal for the past 2 months now. Third time's a charm?

It is not impossible. I've run upwards of 60 miles in a month (make that consecutive months, plural). But I haven't run more than 30 miles since last June - where 13.1 miles of that was a race.

I just need a bit of motivation.

Which currently is this:

Yeah, I am suppossed to climb this bad boy (with ski on my back!) in just about 3 weeks. Should be entertaining. I'll keep you posted.


Photo source

The Library

One of my most favorite things about Seattle is the library. Who needs to buy books when you can read them for free!

I mostly frequent my neighborhood branch, but wandering around downtown with my dad (who was in town for work), we stopped in the main branch. Even if it wasn't filled with books, the building is absolutely amazing!

From the outside.



And from the inside.

Amazon-tastic Fresh!

One of the many reasons I don't like to cook is that I HATE grocery shopping. And it is hard to cook without having groceries in the house. I mean, here I am on spring break - still sick - with all the time in the world, and the thought of going to the grocery store gives me the willys!

Enter Amaz0nFresh.

After a little comparison shopping, I determined that the prices were comparable to where I usually shop. And the $5 delivery fee (free if you spend $75, or with an amazon prime account) was well worth avoid the time and agony saved.

Shopping from bed last night. If you order by midnight, they will have your order on the doorstep by 6am! Don't worry, they won't ring your doorbell!

There it is, waiting on the front steps!

Cold/frozen food comes in an insulated bag with cold packs inside. And they pick up the bins/bags the next time they deliver.

Food! Yum!

Unfortunetly you have to live in certain Seattle neighborhoods (zip codes) for delivery. They are expanding, but until then, you can live vicariously through my Amaz0nFresh experiences...

The Visitor

I've live in Seattle almost 8 years. My first year in Seattle, my mom visited 4 times. Several friends flew across the country early on. But I haven't had a visitor since my mom was last here (for her 7th or 8th time) in April 2007. So when L decided to extend her business trip and stay in Seattle for the weekend, I was excited.


She did a good job recapping the weekend (and her whole week in the Pacific NW), but I thought I'd add in some additional pictures (some hers and some mine).

Compare and Contrast

Camping Last Weekend, Deception Pass:

Camping This Weekend, Washington Coast:

Enchanted Indeed

I spent this past weekend in quite possibly one of the most beautiful places in Washington. The Ench@ntments in the Alpine Lakes region of the central Cascades. Despite mosquitos, crazy winds, and stalking mountain goats (waiting to lick up your pee - yuck!), 6 of us had an amazing time in the great outdoors. 20 miles in 3 days, including climbing up the crazy steep pass in the first picture, makes for tired, blistered feet and hungry hikers - and an incredible feeling of satisfaction.

(Despite all the self-pity, I do realize that life could be worse... I could live in Iowa. Just kidding, well sort of. But I do feel grateful to live in such an amazing place.)

Becoming a Crazy Cat Lady (and Other Notables)

My little vacay at Laura and Max’s is going faaaabulous. I love living alone again, even if it is only for a week. The cats and I are getting along well. I’m not much of a pet person, killer allergies will do that, but these cats certainly entertain me. I have even started talking to them, mainly because I feel guilty for leaving for 12 hours at a time and not petting them nearly enough as their parents would. This morning they were even kind enough to let me sleep until my alarm went off – a miracle.

**********

I’ve ridden my bike into school everyday this week. 11 miles roundtrip. The majority of the ride is on a flat, (relatively) newly paved bike trail so I could certainly be a leisurely bike ride and a chance to get in touch with nature. But instead my competitive nature takes control and I time myself, attempting to best my previous time – arriving at my destination a sweaty, out of breath mess. Add to that my first run (also a victim of my stopwatch) since the race today, and my legs are mighty tired. Really, I think I might need to start attending stopwatch (and mapmyrun.com) addiction meetings.

**********

I somehow managed to convince myself that just because it is summer vacation (and slaving away until 8pm in the office every night just screams vacation doesn’t it?!?) I should be wearing shorts. Ummm, yeah it is 54 degrees out as we speak, but don’t mind me wandering around in flops, shorts, and like a billion layers on top (to make up for all the heat I am losing from down below). The 4th (the real start of a Seattle summer) could not get here soon enough!

**********

Shoe shopping at endless.com = amazing. I ordered a darling new pair of Havaianas flops yesterday afternoon and they are already waiting on my doorstep today. Free overnight shipping: best.idea.ever. I’ll be wearing them tomorrow (with my shorts).

**********

Grades were posted today. I got a 4.0. Go me.

**********

First camping trip of 2008 planned for this weekend. Enough said.

The Scene

The Scene: Alki Beach on one of the first sunny days in weeks, with smooth pavement, a gentle grade, and not too many people, surprising given the weather.

A girl tentatively sets her rarely used longboard on the path. She looks at her companion (someone she likes to impress and someone who is often impressed by her gutsy attitude), and gives a weak smile.

She’s off, slowly at first but then gaining both speed and confidence. Her companion is jogging beside her, impressed with the way she can turn on command and still hold a conversation despite her intense concentration.

But then she hits a bump and it looks like road rash is in her future. As her companion reaches to catch her, the board flies across the path and the grass patch separating it from the road. Once the girl lands on two feet, her companion’s attention turns to that of the board which has entered the road. He races after it, not bothering to take note of the large truck barreling in his direction. Brakes squeal and he jumps back up on the curb. The truck comes to a stop before it hits him or the board.

The girl’s heart stops beating for a split second.
The companion safely recovers the board.
The driver lifts a single finger.

The girl gets back on the board and the evening continues with no further mishaps.




Ummm, yeah… I almost killed Boston this weekend. But I guess you could say I had fun doing it.

Life is busy. But good.

I see the light at the end of the tunnel. I will defend my thesis before I leave for NYC (June 26th). Halleluiah! 2 years of grad school down, 4 to go – oh joy!

I’m meeting Boston’s mom this week. I’m surprising calm about it. And really excited, especially because she is really excited to meet me. Boston might be the most nervous about the whole impending encounter.

Trivia with Boston and Max is really fun, even though we suck at it. But we make up for our trivia suckiness by being really enthusiastic about the questions we can answer - high-fives all around. And by drinking lots of beer. I woke up with an itty bitty hangover this morning – oops!

It is supposed to be 80 degrees by the end of the week. I think I’m going skiing Sunday. Is that not wack or what?

Life is busy. But good.

Tulip Roadtrip

Too lazy for a real post...

The Deceptions of Craigs.list

Lan was one of the first friends I made in college. We bonded over marathon gossip sessions over dinner in the dining hall and late night study sessions. We haven't been as close are we would have liked in the years since college, but that is all about to change because she is moving to Seattle next month!!

Her and her husband were in town this past weekend, looking for houses. They had pretty much settled on one, when another which seemed to be to good to be true* popped up. It was large (important when moving from a large house with lots of furniture), had hardwoods (important when you have a dog), was convenient to both her and her husband's new jobs, and had AMAZING views of the bay from above Alki. From the pictures on the ad and the pictures the landlord sent, it looked like a gem!

Until I drove over last night to check it out. So I'll give them one thing, the views were AMAZING:


A huge deck spread across the entire back of the house and looked over the bay and the city. But that was about all it had to offer. Besides...

Textured pink wallpaper in all 3 bedrooms:

And even in the bathroom. Which also comes with pink carpeting. Ooh, think of all the germy things hiding out in that carpet. Oh joy:

Love the wood paneling and sark green shag carpet in the office! (Sorry for the blurry shot):

I didn't take a picture of the red-carpeted stairs, the miniscule closets, or the jug of carlo rossi in the fridge, but I think you get the picture!

Needless to say, despite the views, Lan and her hubby will not be moving into this charming home. But have no fear, instead they will be moving 6 blocks from me!!! How fun!

*Lesson learned: When something seems to good to be true, it probably is!

Playin' Hooky

Yesterday I played hooky and went to Mt. Rainier. The mountain was hiding in the clouds and there was snow everywhere, but a little roadtrip was just what the doctor ordered!