Road Trip!

We began our Portland road trip just after 10am, we had big plans to grab a pastry at Café Besalu, get on the road and be there by 2:00pm. I'm sure you guessed by the way I started this post that things did not go as planned. We got to Café Besalu only to find a huge line out the door. We waited for about 1/2 hour, moved 2 feet and decided it wasn't worth it. We had places to be! So we got back in the car without breakfast and drove, drove, drove. Things were going great (except my stomach was a little hungry), no traffic even as we entered Tacoma and minimal through Olympia. Just out of Olympia there was major traffic, road construction everywhere and bumper to bumper stop and go. It was AWFUL! Dan road raged, and I was starving. To solve both our problems, we stopped off in Centrailia to eat and deciding we didn't want to eat in chain-fast-food-hell, we chose to eat at Country Cousins. The place was packed so they accommodated us in the lounge. We sat down at a table, Dan up against the wall, me in the chair, I look up and I see this just above Dan's left shoulder.



Basically my jaw hit the table, as soon as I recovered I pointed it out to Dan and we had a pretty good laugh. The food was marginal at best and the decor...



Well, you get the idea.

So, finally back in the car, more traffic, more road raging. We finally got to our Hotel. We checked in at the Heathman dumped our bags off, got directions and headed out to see Linda and her band (Mollybolt) perform. We got there just in time I could hear Linda's voice carrying across the street as we approached. It was great! She did such an awesome job and has a great voice. Check her out.




We spent the rest of our visit shopping and eating. Oh did we eat! We at at a great place called Clyde Common in the Ace Hotel. Thanks to Noelle who gave glowing reports based on our friend Steve's recommendation. Here is our meal.



Yummy focaccia bread with olive oil, salt and pepper.



Dan enjoying lavender lemonade.




Starters. I enjoyed the arugula salad with crushed olives, cheese and croutons. Dan had a roasted beet salad with potatoes, carrots, beans and other yummy stuff.




Main course. I enjoyed lamb shoulder (my first) with a corona bean puré. Dan had lamb tagliatelle. Both dishes were really good. My only gripe was there was too much fat on my lamb. Not being a lamb connoisseur I'm not sure if that was typical or not.



Waiting for dessert...




Dan had a crazy roasted tomato caramel tart with pine nuts. It sounded so gross to me, but I did try it and it wasn't half bad. Dan loved it. I had a blueberry lemon white chocolate trifle with lemon buttermilk sorbet and a shortbread cookie. I didn't even miss that there wasn't any real chocolate in it!

We loved the place, all farm fresh and local produce.



They even can their own food. It was great.

Sunday we had an excellent brunch with Linda at Meriwether's Restaurant. The food was really good, service however was super slow. But it gave us a lot of good time to catch up with Linda. When we were done Dan and I went to Powell's books and Jone's cupcake. The books were way better than the cupcakes, Dan of course picked up some good culinary references. I look forward to whatever it is he cooks out of them!

The New Signature Club

We started going to our new gym, the LA Fitness Signature Club. This is a closer location to our house. The new gym is super nice and much larger with more state of the art equipment than our old location. We were hoping to get away from some of the Aurora crazies that we saw at each visit. Low and behold, our first day to the new facility yielded "the gym going serial killer," as well! I was hoping that we'd get away from this profusely sweating freak show who likes to show off his man boobs and ripped, tethered clothing. Oh well, the gym is an interesting place to people watch.

I Am A Spoken Word Artist!

We were watching television Sunday evening and came across a new term, which had us both laughing hysterically on the couch. She was a performing artist that had a secondary title of “Spoken Word Artist.” She convulsed around the stage and shrieked all sorts of nonsense that no one could really understand. She vacillated between super loud spouts, followed by quiet random mumblings! What the hell? She get’s paid for this? I AM A SPOKEN WORD ARTIST as of today! Going forward, when anyone has a conversation with me and wants my dramatic response, expect to be billed for the time [rendered services] I spent talking with you. Any questions? Good! I didn't think so.

Gym Going Serial Killer

Holly and I have clearly decided that a “serial killer in the making” works out at the LA Fitness that we go to. I’ve taken up to calling him “Disgusting Sweaty Biker.” Additionally, this fine fellow human wears this torn, nappy, faded gray tank top with all the arm holes torn clear down to the waist, and the neck hole is also torn clear down to the navel to show off his sweaty man boobs! Why wear that? Go shirtless, or wear a real shirt! He’s basically naked from the waist up, and has what looks like a NAPPY piece of material chewed up by a lawn mower, draped across him as a substitute for a shirt. I don’t get it! He has this really unnerving look about him as well. We need to stalk and see what kind of car he drives. For all I know, there could be a giant black hefty brand garbage sack in his trunk with body parts, hair, fingernails and other weird things collected in it. Or at least that is what I believe he has in his car, based on some recent episodes of CSI that we have seen. I can’t wait for the new LA Fitness to open in Ballard. That location will be much closer to our house and hopefully less weird since it’s off the Aurora corridor. I’m sure the new locale will have its fair share of freaks as well.

Loving the SLUT

Today I took the formerly known SLUT (South Lake Union Trolley), now known as the SLUSC (South Lake Union Street Car), today from Dan's office to the downtown shopping area. It was so easy, clean, fast and crazy people free. I then walked across the street to the metro bus tunnel which was a polar opposite experience. It is also clean and nice in the tunnel, but the bus experience itself is never crazy people free. I sat down on the bus and happened to notice out of the corner of my eye a guy talking to himself. He must have noticed my sidewards glance as he then proceeded to wave at me for the next two stops until I got off. Why do I attract all the crazy people on the bus?

Turkey MURDER!

While driving into work this morning, Holly and I were surprised with protesting on the Dravus Street bridge over 15th Ave NW north and south bound lanes. I love our politically charged neighborhood's of Ballard, Magnolia and Interbay. All sorts of women and kids were gathered with ginormous white signs. I'm sure some men were present, but I didn't see any. In huge red letters, the signs draped over the bridges so all car traffic travelling north and south could read stated..."Thanksgiving is a Turkey MURDER!" I was laughing so hard I couldn't get my camera phone out in enough time to document the venue.

Is 33 The New Age Of Geriatrics?

I tried turning a few teenagers on the bus commute home yesterday evening to salt, with my horrible stares that I can be pretty famous for over the top of my glasses. Since when did 33 become "old?" These kids got on the bus and they all wanted to sit by each other so they could smoke pot, sacrifice an animal or devil worship, or engage in something seriously unproductive I decided. Not that I am judging, but I highly doubt they were going to study and do book reports at the Ballard library, or go volunteer at the Ballard Senior Center.

Three of the kids sat down on a bench in front of me. One kid, with slimy gross hair blurted out..."I don't want to sit by the old guy with the Safeway bag." At first I thought, "what old guy?" Then I realized he was talking about ME? I had a few things in a Safeway reusable tote that I have been using to transport to and from work [mainly the Orange recovery doughnut], but it was concealed by my umbrella, it was NOT visible to anyone! Internally, I immediately got defensive and thought, "What the Hell, I AM NOT OLD!" I guess on the flip side, when I was a teenager in high school, I thought my oldest siblings with young kids were ancient. So it's all a disproportionate teenage perspective. I got over my 15 second complex rather quickly.

Fun At Work

I usually just roll my eyes at the antics at work, but this one was kind of funny. I'm not sure what this poor guy did to deserve this treatment, maybe it's because he's the intern who knows. I'm just glad he sits behind me so I won't miss his reaction when he gets back from vacation.





My favorite is the kleenex box.

Presents from "The Girl's" Dog...!

I posted what I thought was a very "passive/aggressive" note yesterday for the neighbor concerning her dogs dog poop that she is not cleaning off our side yard. The note was put up with a nail for added dramatic effect. The note ended up being more aggressive in nature and extremely stern. I am sure she could tell we were NOT happy! Beep even used the small shovel to scoop the poop up and flick it back into "The Girl's" front entry. We both were TICKED! One good thing out of this though...is that the fire hazard holiday wreath from last year is FINALLY removed from her front door. I'm sure her mother came over to remove it during the weekly home cleaning she does for her daughter. When did it become "OK" to have your pet poop all over someone else's yard and think it's completely no big deal to just leave it. I don't need anymore presents from pets. The neighbor's cat Blue brings rats and birds and stuff. I don't need more. Share with other people! I don't want your pet's philanthropy.

Going Overboard With Green

The "Development" division of the company I work for has way to many people in it’s department that do not have enough work to keep them busy I've decided, and others have decided today. Some "chick" [that no one in marketing or media relations likes], has taken it upon herself to be the "South Lake Union 5th Floor Garbage Nazi" and make sure nothing goes in the trash can than can be recycled. She has roamed the floor today on two occasions with items in an upside down garbage can lid going from office to office, and cube to cube inquiring with everyone, if we were the person that threw the items away without thinking. Almost with the passion as if the culprit had tossed a newborn child or puppy into the garbage can. I’ve now stereotyped most of the women in Development [THAT side of the floor] as follows:

1) They were all anorexic cheerleaders in high school and binged drank all the time.

2) In college they were in sororities and failed at any real job, nor did they ever acquire any decent grade. This point was communicated by my colleague next door, after she was bugged too.

3) When it came time for a “career” they decided upon glorified party planning, since they never finished college.

Our Department HATES HER...!

Maître Professeur

So, we are in week "trois" of our "huit" week course of french language instruction, gearing up for our trip to France. We are taking the course through North Seattle Community College. Our "instructeur" is very interesting. Given that this is a two hour class with no break, if she would not tell us all her stories and constant digression about nothing in particular...we could probably learn this in 60 minutes versus 120 minutes. I was SERIOUSLY bugged last night!

And WHAT was with those dreadful shoes? I wish I would have had our camera...YIKES!

Sélectionner une vignette:



Can't wait to be in Monaco and stroll around the famed Monte Carlo Casino. And chill out in a cafe overlooking the French Rivera.

Christmas In June

When is it "Politically Correct," to tell your neighbor to take down the Christmas wreath on her front entrance? I mean come on! It's practically half way, actually it IS half way with today being 6/25 to the next Christmas season. The girl that lives behind us, from here on out referred to as "The Child," has a super tough life I guess.

The Child wanted a Lexus, so Mommy bought her a Lexus. The Child wanted her own house, so Mommy bought her her own Condo to live in with her questionable boyfriend after they graduated from High School. The Child is having a difficult time concentrating in cosmetology school, so Mommy took her to Europe for 12 weeks earlier this year, so she could take a quarter off from learning about make up at Gene Juarez academy. Maybe I should call "Mommy Dearest" and have her come over and take down the charred Christmas wreath on her front entrance?! Apparently The Child is incapable of doing so herself, it might require effort. IHP!

For those of you that do not know my terminology yet, IHP = I Hate People!

First, Last & Only

Okay, here are the pics from the Solstice Parade. We sat in the sun for a good 4 hours and I came back with a major sun burn which was by far the best part of the parade...aside from the company of course.






[Comment Inserted by Bop: Where is the photograph of the Teenage Zombies on a 30-45 day brain eating hiatus?]




[Comment Inserted by Bop: I want one of these ginormous Orange balls for Christmas this year. Hint, Hint Beep.]

Fremont Solstice

The Fremont Solstice parade was Super Fun! More on this later. My favorite was the crazy old man, well into his 80's, with left over hippy long hair, and twirling his scarves of many colors, completely naked of course.

I HATE Black Crows...!

Look at the "Super-Fun" present I got stepping out of my car this morning, arriving at work. Let’s just say...a lot of choice words spewed forth out of my mouth and I WAS NOT HAPPY...!



It got all over my dress shirt, slacks and brief case. I had to jet home, change clothing, rinse the bird poop off, and then take an unexpected new load of clothing to the dry cleaner. This is why I hate nature! UGH!

Batter Up!

We had the fun opportunity to step out of our comfort zones a little bit and go to a baseball game last night. It was Mariners vs Red Sox and the score was...who cares! We went with our friends who we'll call Josie and Stereotype who had 2 extra (free) tickets. Of course we had to feed our faces, since that's what you do at a baseball game, and as usual with such a "gourmet" meal, we all felt sick afterwards. I will admit though, the fries were pretty good.




We had fun recognizing our dissimilarities to those around us. One person in-particular caught my attention a person I spent almost the whole time trying to get a good shot of. Check out the putz.



When that got boring I attempting to make my own film. I deleted it once and had to re-create it...don't judge too harshly, I'm still trying to perfect it.



All in all, we had a great time and it was fun to do something different.

Help Save The Crustaceans!

So I practically got accosted out the door of my office building today. I always laugh, because apparently my forehead states "Tell Me All," to every single human on the face of the planet that walks by me. When really it is just my insincere customer service smile I give to everyone. Anyways, this silly lady approached me and asked me if I wanted to donate to "Help Save The Crustaceans!" I said No. She did not take "No" for an answer. She proceeded to tell me that Lobsters, Crabs, Shrimp and other crustaceans have rights. And as a patron of Seattle, I need to make sure I am aware of ALL animal rights, warm and cold blooded alike. I was laughing so hard it just pissed her off even more. I did not make a philanthropic donation to save the crustaceans of the world today. Instead, I got a series of glaring daggers stabbed into my back by some woman who has a interesting job, that I'm sure is completely hard to make a living at to survive. Only in Seattle will I be asked to "Save The Crustaceans." Funny!

Prayer By Mail "Personal Faith Prayer Rug!"

We got a letter in the mail yesterday from Jesus Christ. I'm trying to determine how we got on "His" mailing list, since we both have opted out of junk mail and other hard copy marketing offers via the United States Postal Service. With this new "Prayer by Letters" prayer rug, we can send in our request to have new cars granted, money & lottery winnings, health, a "closer hand hold walk with Jesus," and a myriad of other things sent our way...! We even had our personal prophesies mailed to us in this collection of materials. Needless to say, my whole office has been laughing hysterically over this letter from Jesus. None of them received one? Beep and I must be extra special? I put my new prayer rug on my office floor and got A LOT of comments today. I think I'm comfortable with the faith I already have. Why didn't I do direct mail prayer rug marketing when I was a missionary. Sheesh!

Sunny Seattle, Part Two

And...to top of the beautiful day we had on Saturday, we ran into the "Bus Dude," Beep sees from time to time that has "Farah Fawcett Crown-of-Glory Mullet" hair...! Beep and I, along with two friends went out for dinner in Ballard Saturday evening at India Bistro. There he was...with his effervescent flowing locks at the bus stop on Market Street! We comment EVERY TIME we see him, and I'm still soooooooo TICKED I did not have our digital camera with us that night to document the luv-er-ly hairstyle. Stay tuned for a future post with his "man locks" documented in the photo background...

Sunny Seattle

Well as usual Bop beats me to the post, but I've got pictures! We had a great time with our friend relaxing and enjoying the sun. Totally reminding us why we love Seattle! We have some other friends who live here but are from L.A. who I'm sure were absolutely thrilled with Saturday's wonderful weather. Maybe they'll change their minds and stay in Seattle after all! Anyway, I loved the sculpture park for two reasons. One, its a beautifully designed public space with amazing views around every corner. And two they had a really cool exhibit by Geoff McFetridge. I had never heard of him before but I guess he is big in the design community. Anyway, I found it really intriguing to see the larger than life graphic posters displayed as an oversized bulletin board with huge push pins. If you're in Seattle I highly recommend taking a look at this small exhibit before you stroll through the sculpture park.




The park is also excellent for people watching. We saw this woman walking her many dogs, all wearing little outfits! Some were even pushed in a little baby carrier. It was hilarious!




It was a beautiful day in Seattle!