It's freezing today. The windows at the library are open, and my feet are really cold. I am about to head back and have some hot chocolate, but first I want to let you know what I am up to up here.
I just applied for an Editing certification program through the UW. Wish me luck. Hopefully I'll get in. Just don't show them the last blog I posted. It was full of errors that I was too busy to check!
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
The Long Way Home
First off, I just want to apologize for not being able to make it to the party at Chukkie’s house on Sunday. I had been really looking forward to seeing and hanging out with everyone, and I know that Rachel had really wanted me to be there. I even included the festivities in my daily planner, along with my many other plans, but all of my plans changed about a billion times because I didn’t have my car with me in PA last week!
Aside from driving into town with Caitlin and Stefan on Saturday the 14th and spending Sunday the 15th at the lake, I did not have any concrete plans at the beginning of my short break. I did some fun things like pick blueberries with my mom in Sequim, and go to the library, and make a delicious recipe for Turkey Chili that I found in a magazine. I did some important things like give blood at the blood drive and mow the lawn. However, I was trying to schedule the 2 things that I wanted to do the most into the last part of my PA stay, and that was when things went awry.
So, when I didn’t have my car with me my first 2 years at the UW, I would take the bus to the ferry and get picked up by a friend on the other side if I wanted to go home. Since I’ve had my car in Seattle for the past year, I’ve enjoyed the sweet freedom of being able to chauffer myself around. Ah….blissful! When Caitlin asked if I wanted to drive to Sequim with her, I was excited! Since money is tight, I wouldn’t have to pay for gas for the ferry expenses. I had planned to take the bus or get a ride to the ferry the following weekend, after which I would hop a city bus and ride it home to my apartment. After mentioning this to Caitlin, she offered to pick me up on the other side so that I wouldn’t have to lug my stuff onto the city bus. She just made me promise that I would tell her when I was coming home a day in advance.
Well, I wanted to cram two important things into my stay in PA. First, I wanted to get together with my friend Katrin. We’ve known each other for years, having danced together for a long time. She goes to college in southern Oregon and we don’t see each other very often. Whenever both of us are in town, we make it a point to hang out. Usually, we get coffee together (like last Christmastime), but we’ve been trying to work out a time that we can go hiking because we both love being outdoors.
Second, my mom and I wanted to go to Silverdale with my grandma Lemon. My mom wanted to go on Friday, but my grandma was on a camping trip down the Oregon coast, and we weren’t sure when she was going to be back. So, I called her cell phone and we made arrangements to head to Silverdale on Friday, and Katrin and I decided to hike up to Mount Angeles on Saturday.
On Thursday, my grandma Lemon got home and called us, asking if we could go to Silverdale on Saturday because she had forgotten that she had an appointment on Friday. So, I had to reschedule with Katrin for Friday instead. The news predicted that the weather was supposed to get colder on Friday and be the coldest on Saturday, so we decided to postpone the hiking excursion yet again and meet up for coffee. Although coffee was fun as usual, the weather was not nearly as bad as was predicted, and it would have been a perfectly fine time for hiking. My mom ended up going to my dad’s office Christmas party on Friday night, and we got ready to go Silverdale in the morning.
I called Caitlin and told her that I would be coming home on Saturday evening because my grandma was going to drop me off at the ferry. Caitlin and her boyfriend had called it quits the previous Monday and she and our friend David were planning on visiting his grandma on Vashon Island…and staying on Saturday night. So, I told her not to worry and I would just catch a city bus home. I wasn’t worried about my bags. My family is planning on having a garage sale in September, and I brought home a suitcase with a bunch of things for the sale. Since I wouldn’t be returning with them, I figured I wouldn’t need my suitcase at all. However, I had to pack my books into it because Rachel made me an amazing glass art piece for my graduation present that I wrapped in my clothes to keep it from breaking. I ended up carrying a bunch of really heavy and cumbersome stuff. Then, there were the purchases that I made in Silverdale. I ended up having too much stuff to carry with me onto the ferry and on a city bus. So, I called my dad and asked him to make a reservation for me on Olympic Buslines to take me to the ferry on Sunday, and I asked Caitlin if she could pick me up in Edmonds the next morning. Caitlin didn’t think that she would be back from Vashon in time, so she offered to drive all the way to Port Angeles to pick me up, which she did!
She ended up getting to PA at about 4:30, but said that the traffic and ferry lines were really backed up, so my parents and I took her up to Hurricane Ridge were we saw the cutest little fawn and some blue grouse and other deer. We left for Seattle at about 6:30 or 7:00, hoping that would give us time to bypass the insane ferry traffic. However, when we drove through the sign in Discovery Bay, it said that the Kingston-Edmonds had a 3-hour wait with a tally! We decided to drive around the canal, which was actually a lot of fun because it gave us time to talk and it is such a beautiful drive. We admired to beautiful sunset and the moon (which almost full) shining on the very calm water. It was about 11:00 or 11:30 by the time we got home!
Phew! I hope that everyone else had a good time at Chukkie’s though and I’ll will do my best to join you all next time!
Aside from driving into town with Caitlin and Stefan on Saturday the 14th and spending Sunday the 15th at the lake, I did not have any concrete plans at the beginning of my short break. I did some fun things like pick blueberries with my mom in Sequim, and go to the library, and make a delicious recipe for Turkey Chili that I found in a magazine. I did some important things like give blood at the blood drive and mow the lawn. However, I was trying to schedule the 2 things that I wanted to do the most into the last part of my PA stay, and that was when things went awry.
So, when I didn’t have my car with me my first 2 years at the UW, I would take the bus to the ferry and get picked up by a friend on the other side if I wanted to go home. Since I’ve had my car in Seattle for the past year, I’ve enjoyed the sweet freedom of being able to chauffer myself around. Ah….blissful! When Caitlin asked if I wanted to drive to Sequim with her, I was excited! Since money is tight, I wouldn’t have to pay for gas for the ferry expenses. I had planned to take the bus or get a ride to the ferry the following weekend, after which I would hop a city bus and ride it home to my apartment. After mentioning this to Caitlin, she offered to pick me up on the other side so that I wouldn’t have to lug my stuff onto the city bus. She just made me promise that I would tell her when I was coming home a day in advance.
Well, I wanted to cram two important things into my stay in PA. First, I wanted to get together with my friend Katrin. We’ve known each other for years, having danced together for a long time. She goes to college in southern Oregon and we don’t see each other very often. Whenever both of us are in town, we make it a point to hang out. Usually, we get coffee together (like last Christmastime), but we’ve been trying to work out a time that we can go hiking because we both love being outdoors.
Second, my mom and I wanted to go to Silverdale with my grandma Lemon. My mom wanted to go on Friday, but my grandma was on a camping trip down the Oregon coast, and we weren’t sure when she was going to be back. So, I called her cell phone and we made arrangements to head to Silverdale on Friday, and Katrin and I decided to hike up to Mount Angeles on Saturday.
On Thursday, my grandma Lemon got home and called us, asking if we could go to Silverdale on Saturday because she had forgotten that she had an appointment on Friday. So, I had to reschedule with Katrin for Friday instead. The news predicted that the weather was supposed to get colder on Friday and be the coldest on Saturday, so we decided to postpone the hiking excursion yet again and meet up for coffee. Although coffee was fun as usual, the weather was not nearly as bad as was predicted, and it would have been a perfectly fine time for hiking. My mom ended up going to my dad’s office Christmas party on Friday night, and we got ready to go Silverdale in the morning.
I called Caitlin and told her that I would be coming home on Saturday evening because my grandma was going to drop me off at the ferry. Caitlin and her boyfriend had called it quits the previous Monday and she and our friend David were planning on visiting his grandma on Vashon Island…and staying on Saturday night. So, I told her not to worry and I would just catch a city bus home. I wasn’t worried about my bags. My family is planning on having a garage sale in September, and I brought home a suitcase with a bunch of things for the sale. Since I wouldn’t be returning with them, I figured I wouldn’t need my suitcase at all. However, I had to pack my books into it because Rachel made me an amazing glass art piece for my graduation present that I wrapped in my clothes to keep it from breaking. I ended up carrying a bunch of really heavy and cumbersome stuff. Then, there were the purchases that I made in Silverdale. I ended up having too much stuff to carry with me onto the ferry and on a city bus. So, I called my dad and asked him to make a reservation for me on Olympic Buslines to take me to the ferry on Sunday, and I asked Caitlin if she could pick me up in Edmonds the next morning. Caitlin didn’t think that she would be back from Vashon in time, so she offered to drive all the way to Port Angeles to pick me up, which she did!
She ended up getting to PA at about 4:30, but said that the traffic and ferry lines were really backed up, so my parents and I took her up to Hurricane Ridge were we saw the cutest little fawn and some blue grouse and other deer. We left for Seattle at about 6:30 or 7:00, hoping that would give us time to bypass the insane ferry traffic. However, when we drove through the sign in Discovery Bay, it said that the Kingston-Edmonds had a 3-hour wait with a tally! We decided to drive around the canal, which was actually a lot of fun because it gave us time to talk and it is such a beautiful drive. We admired to beautiful sunset and the moon (which almost full) shining on the very calm water. It was about 11:00 or 11:30 by the time we got home!
Phew! I hope that everyone else had a good time at Chukkie’s though and I’ll will do my best to join you all next time!
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
PA Weekend
I've been in Port Angeles since late Saturday night and I'll be here until next Saturday or Sunday. I came with my friends Caitlin and Stefan because they were photographing that wedding at Purple Haze Lavender Farm in Sequim. Now, I didn't attend the wedding, but getting prepared for it turned out to be quite the ordeal.
It all started with a bunch of photography equipment. Caitlin had to get up super early to take her mom to the airport on Saturday morning, otherwise we would have left on Friday. We decided the night before that she would come and get me at 11:00. However, one of her best friends was moving to California, and leaving on Saturday to drive the 18 hours to get there. So, she visited with Kayla first. She got to my place by about 12:00 or 12:30. The traffic was so bad (STOPPED) all the way into Seattle, that she got off of the freeway early and had to search around for a way to get to me. We got all of my stuff into her car and headed for the photography rental place near the Seattle Center. Remember, it was a HOT day. The place felt nice walking in because of the AC, and when Caitlin gave the emaciated looking guy at the front desk her information, he had her equipment all ready and waiting. Then he told her that she had to supply a credit card to hold the equipment. She asked the man to check his E-mail, because the groom had scanned his credit card and driver's license and sent them to the shop. He printed them off and proceeded to tell her that the card was declined. This sent Caitlin into a bit of a panic and we spent the next hour and a half making calls. First, she called the bride, who was in line for the ferry and had been for awhile. The bride couldn't get ahold of the groom. Or her dad. Or the groom's dad. Or anyone...and neither could Caitlin. Apparently they didn't think that the shop would RUN the card! Why would they ask for a credit card if they weren't going to make sure you could pay for the equipment? The charge is just to hold the equipment, and is erased when the equipment is returned, and then the rental fee is paid. Apparently, the groom didn't have a credit limit high enough, or didn't have enough available. The sum was $3,500! The man renting out the equipment didn't seem to be capable of emoting, and was completely apathetic. He didn't say anything at all as Caitlin called everyone she knew, hoping that they either had a credit card or the appropriate camera. Finally, we asked my dear mother as a last resort and she agreed to send us the copies to rent the equipment. It was so wonderful of her and really saved the day! However, she was at the lake and we had to wait for another 30-40 minutes before she could get home to the computer. So, we went to get a drink at a really cool place, called the Little Red Bistro, nearby. I think we're going to go back there for dinner sometime. My mom E-mailed her info to Caitlin, who forwarded it using her phone that was about to die. Luckily, we got it all straightened out...and that got us to Port Angeles at about 10:00 that night.
We spent the night at my parents' house and then they went to Sequim that morning. We were going to go out to breakfast, but then Caitlin realized that they didn't bring Stefan's memory chips with them. They left about an hour early and drove to Costco to buy some before they had to be at the wedding location at 10:30. I went with my family to the lake (it was the hottest day of the year!) and had fun there with them and some friends. Everybody and their dog was out at the lake that day!
I've just been hanging out, getting some things done around here. Today, my mom and I picked a bunch of blueberries in Sequim. It was really nice, and delicious! I also just finished reading a book recommended by Boompie and then my mom. It's called The Art of Racing in the Rain. It's one of the best books I've ever read. I highly recommend it!
It all started with a bunch of photography equipment. Caitlin had to get up super early to take her mom to the airport on Saturday morning, otherwise we would have left on Friday. We decided the night before that she would come and get me at 11:00. However, one of her best friends was moving to California, and leaving on Saturday to drive the 18 hours to get there. So, she visited with Kayla first. She got to my place by about 12:00 or 12:30. The traffic was so bad (STOPPED) all the way into Seattle, that she got off of the freeway early and had to search around for a way to get to me. We got all of my stuff into her car and headed for the photography rental place near the Seattle Center. Remember, it was a HOT day. The place felt nice walking in because of the AC, and when Caitlin gave the emaciated looking guy at the front desk her information, he had her equipment all ready and waiting. Then he told her that she had to supply a credit card to hold the equipment. She asked the man to check his E-mail, because the groom had scanned his credit card and driver's license and sent them to the shop. He printed them off and proceeded to tell her that the card was declined. This sent Caitlin into a bit of a panic and we spent the next hour and a half making calls. First, she called the bride, who was in line for the ferry and had been for awhile. The bride couldn't get ahold of the groom. Or her dad. Or the groom's dad. Or anyone...and neither could Caitlin. Apparently they didn't think that the shop would RUN the card! Why would they ask for a credit card if they weren't going to make sure you could pay for the equipment? The charge is just to hold the equipment, and is erased when the equipment is returned, and then the rental fee is paid. Apparently, the groom didn't have a credit limit high enough, or didn't have enough available. The sum was $3,500! The man renting out the equipment didn't seem to be capable of emoting, and was completely apathetic. He didn't say anything at all as Caitlin called everyone she knew, hoping that they either had a credit card or the appropriate camera. Finally, we asked my dear mother as a last resort and she agreed to send us the copies to rent the equipment. It was so wonderful of her and really saved the day! However, she was at the lake and we had to wait for another 30-40 minutes before she could get home to the computer. So, we went to get a drink at a really cool place, called the Little Red Bistro, nearby. I think we're going to go back there for dinner sometime. My mom E-mailed her info to Caitlin, who forwarded it using her phone that was about to die. Luckily, we got it all straightened out...and that got us to Port Angeles at about 10:00 that night.
We spent the night at my parents' house and then they went to Sequim that morning. We were going to go out to breakfast, but then Caitlin realized that they didn't bring Stefan's memory chips with them. They left about an hour early and drove to Costco to buy some before they had to be at the wedding location at 10:30. I went with my family to the lake (it was the hottest day of the year!) and had fun there with them and some friends. Everybody and their dog was out at the lake that day!
I've just been hanging out, getting some things done around here. Today, my mom and I picked a bunch of blueberries in Sequim. It was really nice, and delicious! I also just finished reading a book recommended by Boompie and then my mom. It's called The Art of Racing in the Rain. It's one of the best books I've ever read. I highly recommend it!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Gone Bananas
I haven't gone nuts or anything (or bananas, or any kind of food that's associated with being mentally unstable). This just seemed like the appropriate title for today's post.
I have been going through all of the magazine articles and pictures that I keep (quite a lot of work, actually) and I found this recipe for banana cupcakes, which I decided to make right away since I had all the ingredients, minus the buttermilk, and some old-looking bananas. They're pretty good, but I quickly realized that I am going to have to eat the majority of them by myself! Maybe I'll take them home with me this weekend...
I've just remembered one of my favorite websites, Engrish.com because I came across some old pictures that I saved from it. These are my favorites, taken by world travelers and posted on the site. Enjoy!
I have been going through all of the magazine articles and pictures that I keep (quite a lot of work, actually) and I found this recipe for banana cupcakes, which I decided to make right away since I had all the ingredients, minus the buttermilk, and some old-looking bananas. They're pretty good, but I quickly realized that I am going to have to eat the majority of them by myself! Maybe I'll take them home with me this weekend...
I've just remembered one of my favorite websites, Engrish.com because I came across some old pictures that I saved from it. These are my favorites, taken by world travelers and posted on the site. Enjoy!
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
After the Long Weekend
It's been a couple days since I blogged because I was gone most of the weekend. I tried to blog yesterday, but the internet at the library is sooooo slow sometimes! Anyways, I had a really fun weekend.
One of my best friends from college, Caitlin, wanted to get together on Friday because we hadn't seen each other in awhile. We are really similar and I love spending time with her, but she has a new job that really drains her, and she still lives with her parents in Mill Creek, so we don't get to see each other as often as we used to. We were planning on getting together for dinner at her house (her parents love me, and they are a ton of fun, so I always like having dinner at her house) and then meeting up with our friend Jason and then heading to Seattle to meet up with another friend David. Well, Caitlin was really upset because one of her best friends is moving away and her boyfriend had not been in touch for awhile (his grandmother passed away), but we remedied the bad mood. After dinner, we met up with Jason, but David was picking a friend up from the hospital and couldn't make it. We ended up driving back to Seattle to get some over-night stuff for me (I hadn't planned on staying over) and then back to Mill Creek where we were tired and went to bed by 11:00. Fun stuff :-)
On Saturday, Caitlin and I went to Ikea because I have been looking for a small and inexpensive couch bed. Oh my gosh! I had never been to Ikea before and it was just about the coolest place ever! I ended up getting a little pull-out couch bed. It needed a pillow, so I ended up getting a little pillow hippo that was on sale. His name is Sean. Caitlin got two little mice to put on her computer at work, Tox and Efficus. We checked out and Caitlin brought her car in to load the couch. It was about 3 millimeters too tall to fit in her trunk. Seriously. We ended up taking all of the parts out of the box and loading them in separately. One of the employees took the empty box. I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to do that, but I think he saw us taking forever to get it loaded and felt sorry for us! On the way back to her house, we stopped at the video store and rented Harry Potter 5 and 6. We planned on watching both that night, but her dad wanted me to see History of the World Part 1 which is a Mel Brooks spoof that he always quotes. It was hilarious, kind of like Monty Python. We only made it through HP 5 and went to bed.
The next day, I helped Caitlin buy a bookshelf and completely rearrange her room. This took pretty much all day, but it was a lot of fun, especially because we have similar taste in books and both LOVE them. We are planning on joining a bookclub sometime soon. If anyone knows of any in the area, let us know! We watched HP 6 that night, and then I headed home.
On Monday, Caitlin and I met out friend Stefan in the Bank of America parking lot in Mill Creek at about 2:00. Caitlin's boyfriend is a professional photographer and she has lots of experience helping him. She is also really interested in photography. At a family party last summer, she took a bunch of really beautiful pictures. A friend who works with her sister showed them to a couple who are getting married and they wanted her to photograph their wedding. The couple is from Seattle, but they are getting married at the Purple Haze Lavender Farm in Sequim. We drove all of the way to Sequim to meet with the couple and the planner and talk pictures. The area is so beautiful and perfect for a wedding! I wasn't sure if we would have time to head into Port Angeles, so I didn't mention that I would be in town. As it happens, we got home late as it is, so it's probably just as well.
The wedding is this coming up weekend, and Caitlin and Stefan are planning on staying with me at the lake for the night on Saturday, but I will be hanging around in PA for a bit afterwards. I hope the weather is really nice!
One of my best friends from college, Caitlin, wanted to get together on Friday because we hadn't seen each other in awhile. We are really similar and I love spending time with her, but she has a new job that really drains her, and she still lives with her parents in Mill Creek, so we don't get to see each other as often as we used to. We were planning on getting together for dinner at her house (her parents love me, and they are a ton of fun, so I always like having dinner at her house) and then meeting up with our friend Jason and then heading to Seattle to meet up with another friend David. Well, Caitlin was really upset because one of her best friends is moving away and her boyfriend had not been in touch for awhile (his grandmother passed away), but we remedied the bad mood. After dinner, we met up with Jason, but David was picking a friend up from the hospital and couldn't make it. We ended up driving back to Seattle to get some over-night stuff for me (I hadn't planned on staying over) and then back to Mill Creek where we were tired and went to bed by 11:00. Fun stuff :-)
On Saturday, Caitlin and I went to Ikea because I have been looking for a small and inexpensive couch bed. Oh my gosh! I had never been to Ikea before and it was just about the coolest place ever! I ended up getting a little pull-out couch bed. It needed a pillow, so I ended up getting a little pillow hippo that was on sale. His name is Sean. Caitlin got two little mice to put on her computer at work, Tox and Efficus. We checked out and Caitlin brought her car in to load the couch. It was about 3 millimeters too tall to fit in her trunk. Seriously. We ended up taking all of the parts out of the box and loading them in separately. One of the employees took the empty box. I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to do that, but I think he saw us taking forever to get it loaded and felt sorry for us! On the way back to her house, we stopped at the video store and rented Harry Potter 5 and 6. We planned on watching both that night, but her dad wanted me to see History of the World Part 1 which is a Mel Brooks spoof that he always quotes. It was hilarious, kind of like Monty Python. We only made it through HP 5 and went to bed.
The next day, I helped Caitlin buy a bookshelf and completely rearrange her room. This took pretty much all day, but it was a lot of fun, especially because we have similar taste in books and both LOVE them. We are planning on joining a bookclub sometime soon. If anyone knows of any in the area, let us know! We watched HP 6 that night, and then I headed home.
On Monday, Caitlin and I met out friend Stefan in the Bank of America parking lot in Mill Creek at about 2:00. Caitlin's boyfriend is a professional photographer and she has lots of experience helping him. She is also really interested in photography. At a family party last summer, she took a bunch of really beautiful pictures. A friend who works with her sister showed them to a couple who are getting married and they wanted her to photograph their wedding. The couple is from Seattle, but they are getting married at the Purple Haze Lavender Farm in Sequim. We drove all of the way to Sequim to meet with the couple and the planner and talk pictures. The area is so beautiful and perfect for a wedding! I wasn't sure if we would have time to head into Port Angeles, so I didn't mention that I would be in town. As it happens, we got home late as it is, so it's probably just as well.
The wedding is this coming up weekend, and Caitlin and Stefan are planning on staying with me at the lake for the night on Saturday, but I will be hanging around in PA for a bit afterwards. I hope the weather is really nice!
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Would You Be My Neighbor?
As I posted in my previous blog, my apartment complex is pretty quiet. I am generally kind of a quiet person, but I am also really people-oriented, and I don't actually LIKE to be a quiet person. Go figure. A year or two ago, I read an article in a Psychology Today magazine about personality types. Under a section about "Misunderstood Personalities", there was something listed called a "shy extrovert". It totally described me; I was surprised! It said that I am interested in people and love being very social, but that I am shy and quiet around new people and thus sometimes give a different first impression than my acutal personality would suggest. Yep, so me! So, I try to keep that in mind while settling into my new place. I haven't been able to meet too many people in my building so far, but I don't think that's necessarily my fault. My landlord made sure to point out before I moved in "You don't have to go out of your way to make friends with the people here. You'll see them around and get to know them eventually"...or something like that. Awesome. Let me introduce you to some of my neighbors:
Duane "The Landlord":: Duane has been living on the property for something like 11 years. So, the people in charge made him the apartment manager and resident handyman and landlord. When you have a problem, you head to Apartment 9...like when I couldn't figure out how to turn on the community washing machine. Part of the reason that I chose this particular apartment was the fact that I liked Duane. Deshawn and I looked at another apartment in Ballard, but the landlord was...kind of...vapid. He may have suffered from Bell's Palsy in a previous life that makes it difficult for him to form facial expressions, but he seemed kind of bored and nervous the entire time. Not for me. I was relieved when I went to look at the Sand Point apartments, because Duane was very friendly and thorough, showing me all of the rooms available and making me feel comfortable and welcome. Aside from that, I also really liked the apartments, and I got to choose one with a lot of windows, and without anyone living underneath. Perfect for me! Now, he is also a well-meaning landlord. He excitedly went through the entire apartment with me, marking down spots that needed fixing. He was all amped up to fix the caulking in the bathroom, paint the walls, fix one of the kitchen cupboards, etc, etc, etc. and all in the 5 or 6 days until I would start moving my stuff in. Needless to say he didn't get to any of those things, or hang the second towel rack he promised, or add another set of closet doors, or change the locks on my door. I am perfectly happy, I wasn't expecting he'd be able to get to those things anyways. I'm also grateful that he bends the rules on some things. Like not charging a million dollars to get into your apartment if you lock yourself out. I haven't done that, but just in case...
Joe: Just Joe. He's my neighbor on the end of the upstairs row of apartment. He is very, very friendly. When Deshawn and I were moving some stuff in, he poked his head out of the door and introduced himself and told me that if I needed anything, that I could just ask him, which was nice. He's the only neighbor who's introduced himself to me, and I've only seen him two or three times.
Old Mr. Smarmy Pants: This guy lives next door to Joe. Luckily there is that empty room next to me. I've smiled at him, but he just looks old and cranky and never says a thing.
Bigfoot: I call him this not because he's gigantic and hairy (he's actually scrawny and I doubt he's got the testosterone to grow a beard), but because of a conversation I overheard him having on the phone. He had just gotten back from a camping trip or something with his dad in which they went out searched for Bigfoot. He was talking on the phone like he seriously thought he was going to find him. I don't remember the actual words (I don't really like evesdropping), but he was listing off all of these facts and ideas about what Bigfoot would do and where he would be. It was really interesting. I'm not sure if he lives in the apartments or if he just visits his girlfriend there...or he might live with his girlfriend, I dunno. He does tend to like to have conversations right outside of my window.
Vroom VroomA nod to Ellery, maybe? This girl gets her nickname because she pays extra to keep her dandelion-yellow sports car parked in the back, partially underneath my apartment. I think she thinks that the car is a person. She is constantly washing it and proudly parading it around the back lot. I think she and Bigfoot might have a thing going on, but I'm not really sure. The car is pretty ridiculous, but I guess there are worse things to be obsessed with.
Girl with a LOT of Emotional Baggage: There is a hedge in the back lot that separates my apartments from a group of condos. While I don't know any of the people that actually live there, I can hear them all the time. There is this one girl who like to have heated arguments, mostly about men, so that the rest of the complex, and possibly the neighbors down the street and up the hill, can hear. She whines to someone, who is obediently quiet, about "he did this" and "he did that". Lady, if you're having so much trouble, get rid of the bastard, ok? Your neighbors will thank you, and you'd probably feel loads better.
The Petting Zoo: One of the things that I love about these apartments are that they are cat friendly. No dogs, but cats are allowed, and most of my neighbors have one...or two. The condos allow dogs, and there are two (probably small) dogs that yap at each other constantly, but the cats in my apartment complex are so cute! Right across from me, the people own two white cats that sit on little perches in the front window. The people right below me have an orange cat that I'm fairly certain is named Holly. At least once a day someone calls out "Holly, here kitty kitty kitty! Come have dinner!" My favorites, though, are my landlords two cats, Squeak and Boo. Squeak is white and grayish, and is really outgoing. Whenever the landlord is outside around the complex, Squeak is allowed out and he follows him everywhere. When I was looking at the apartment, he followed us from room to room, nuzzling up against eveything and licking my calves like a popsicle. When we closed the door on him, he whined and cried until I went outside to keep him company. Boo is this adorable black cat who is very shy and likes to stay in #9. The other day, however, my landlord was doing some work in the empty apartment next door and Boo was hanging around outside. Big Kitty step for him!
Speaking of cats, I had the pleasure of meeting Chukkie, Al, and Nate's two new kittens recently. I went to the Boss house for dinner, and as always had a swell time. Natasha doesn't like her new siblings very much, and made herself scarce, but I had so much fun playing with them! They are soooo cute! Arturo is a few weeks older than his sister and is black and white, and Saci (I don't know how they are spelling the nickname, her full name is Sacajawea) was so tiny and cute! I have some pictures, which will definately make this post more interesting. Although it appears that Arturo has magical levitation skills, and the neck vertebrae of an owl, he is actually hunting flies on the open window screen. Hope I didn't disenchant anyone!
P.S. How do you post captions under or over the pictures? That would be so much cooler!
Duane "The Landlord":: Duane has been living on the property for something like 11 years. So, the people in charge made him the apartment manager and resident handyman and landlord. When you have a problem, you head to Apartment 9...like when I couldn't figure out how to turn on the community washing machine. Part of the reason that I chose this particular apartment was the fact that I liked Duane. Deshawn and I looked at another apartment in Ballard, but the landlord was...kind of...vapid. He may have suffered from Bell's Palsy in a previous life that makes it difficult for him to form facial expressions, but he seemed kind of bored and nervous the entire time. Not for me. I was relieved when I went to look at the Sand Point apartments, because Duane was very friendly and thorough, showing me all of the rooms available and making me feel comfortable and welcome. Aside from that, I also really liked the apartments, and I got to choose one with a lot of windows, and without anyone living underneath. Perfect for me! Now, he is also a well-meaning landlord. He excitedly went through the entire apartment with me, marking down spots that needed fixing. He was all amped up to fix the caulking in the bathroom, paint the walls, fix one of the kitchen cupboards, etc, etc, etc. and all in the 5 or 6 days until I would start moving my stuff in. Needless to say he didn't get to any of those things, or hang the second towel rack he promised, or add another set of closet doors, or change the locks on my door. I am perfectly happy, I wasn't expecting he'd be able to get to those things anyways. I'm also grateful that he bends the rules on some things. Like not charging a million dollars to get into your apartment if you lock yourself out. I haven't done that, but just in case...
Joe: Just Joe. He's my neighbor on the end of the upstairs row of apartment. He is very, very friendly. When Deshawn and I were moving some stuff in, he poked his head out of the door and introduced himself and told me that if I needed anything, that I could just ask him, which was nice. He's the only neighbor who's introduced himself to me, and I've only seen him two or three times.
Old Mr. Smarmy Pants: This guy lives next door to Joe. Luckily there is that empty room next to me. I've smiled at him, but he just looks old and cranky and never says a thing.
Bigfoot: I call him this not because he's gigantic and hairy (he's actually scrawny and I doubt he's got the testosterone to grow a beard), but because of a conversation I overheard him having on the phone. He had just gotten back from a camping trip or something with his dad in which they went out searched for Bigfoot. He was talking on the phone like he seriously thought he was going to find him. I don't remember the actual words (I don't really like evesdropping), but he was listing off all of these facts and ideas about what Bigfoot would do and where he would be. It was really interesting. I'm not sure if he lives in the apartments or if he just visits his girlfriend there...or he might live with his girlfriend, I dunno. He does tend to like to have conversations right outside of my window.
Vroom VroomA nod to Ellery, maybe? This girl gets her nickname because she pays extra to keep her dandelion-yellow sports car parked in the back, partially underneath my apartment. I think she thinks that the car is a person. She is constantly washing it and proudly parading it around the back lot. I think she and Bigfoot might have a thing going on, but I'm not really sure. The car is pretty ridiculous, but I guess there are worse things to be obsessed with.
Girl with a LOT of Emotional Baggage: There is a hedge in the back lot that separates my apartments from a group of condos. While I don't know any of the people that actually live there, I can hear them all the time. There is this one girl who like to have heated arguments, mostly about men, so that the rest of the complex, and possibly the neighbors down the street and up the hill, can hear. She whines to someone, who is obediently quiet, about "he did this" and "he did that". Lady, if you're having so much trouble, get rid of the bastard, ok? Your neighbors will thank you, and you'd probably feel loads better.
The Petting Zoo: One of the things that I love about these apartments are that they are cat friendly. No dogs, but cats are allowed, and most of my neighbors have one...or two. The condos allow dogs, and there are two (probably small) dogs that yap at each other constantly, but the cats in my apartment complex are so cute! Right across from me, the people own two white cats that sit on little perches in the front window. The people right below me have an orange cat that I'm fairly certain is named Holly. At least once a day someone calls out "Holly, here kitty kitty kitty! Come have dinner!" My favorites, though, are my landlords two cats, Squeak and Boo. Squeak is white and grayish, and is really outgoing. Whenever the landlord is outside around the complex, Squeak is allowed out and he follows him everywhere. When I was looking at the apartment, he followed us from room to room, nuzzling up against eveything and licking my calves like a popsicle. When we closed the door on him, he whined and cried until I went outside to keep him company. Boo is this adorable black cat who is very shy and likes to stay in #9. The other day, however, my landlord was doing some work in the empty apartment next door and Boo was hanging around outside. Big Kitty step for him!
Speaking of cats, I had the pleasure of meeting Chukkie, Al, and Nate's two new kittens recently. I went to the Boss house for dinner, and as always had a swell time. Natasha doesn't like her new siblings very much, and made herself scarce, but I had so much fun playing with them! They are soooo cute! Arturo is a few weeks older than his sister and is black and white, and Saci (I don't know how they are spelling the nickname, her full name is Sacajawea) was so tiny and cute! I have some pictures, which will definately make this post more interesting. Although it appears that Arturo has magical levitation skills, and the neck vertebrae of an owl, he is actually hunting flies on the open window screen. Hope I didn't disenchant anyone!
P.S. How do you post captions under or over the pictures? That would be so much cooler!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Whose Line is it Anyway?
I was reading last night and came across an excellent question. "What's the best pick-up line you've ever gotten?" I mean, what qualifies as a good pickup line? Did it work? In that case, I'd suggest something along the lines of "Hi". That usually works...
This made me think about some of the incredible pickup lines I've gotten within the last couple of years. Some of them are a series of 2 or 3 lines in a short conversation, but they still count. Here they are, and in no particular order! The Top 3 Winners:
Outside of the former Rite Aid on University Ave, near the bus stop where the weirdest people for miles around are likely to congregate:
Guy: Hey beautiful, how are you?
Me: (As I continue on my way) Fine.
Guy: Where are you from?
Me: (Over my shoulder as I continue to walk away) Here.
Guy: Oh. Me? I'm from Jamaica. Why don't you try Ja-Makin' out with me?
As I was walking along the Ave, going to class one afternoon
Guy: Hey! You're gorgeous.
Me: Thank you. Keep Walking
Guy: You wanna talk about it?
On the streets of Manhattan with my family when I was 18. Just to set the stage, this man approached me on the street right in front of my dad, who thought the whole thing was funny. We were absolutely exhausted from traveling all day and arriving in the middle of a huge thunderstorm. I certainly didn't feel very cute! Oh, and the guy was drunk.
Guy: Hey sweetheart, where are you from?
Here, I paused and looked at my dad, hoping the man would take the hint and just walk away, but he stopped and waited for me to say something.
Me: Seattle.
Guy: Seattle? Never heard of it!
I decided to walk away this time. My dad did great impressions of the guy for the rest of the day.
All pretty silly, right? Do guys think these things really work?
When I was in high school, some of my friends were downtown and were approached by a group of guys.
Guy (who ended up being named Shaavik): Did it hurt?
Athena: What?
Shaavik: When you fell from Heaven?
This sounds lame, but seeing as how Shaavik was young and at least mildly attractive, Athena thought it was funny and felt a little intrigued. It broke the ice, but it wasn't like they fell in love or anything!
So, what are some of your favorites pick-up lines? Or, pick-up situations?
This made me think about some of the incredible pickup lines I've gotten within the last couple of years. Some of them are a series of 2 or 3 lines in a short conversation, but they still count. Here they are, and in no particular order! The Top 3 Winners:
Outside of the former Rite Aid on University Ave, near the bus stop where the weirdest people for miles around are likely to congregate:
Guy: Hey beautiful, how are you?
Me: (As I continue on my way) Fine.
Guy: Where are you from?
Me: (Over my shoulder as I continue to walk away) Here.
Guy: Oh. Me? I'm from Jamaica. Why don't you try Ja-Makin' out with me?
As I was walking along the Ave, going to class one afternoon
Guy: Hey! You're gorgeous.
Me: Thank you. Keep Walking
Guy: You wanna talk about it?
On the streets of Manhattan with my family when I was 18. Just to set the stage, this man approached me on the street right in front of my dad, who thought the whole thing was funny. We were absolutely exhausted from traveling all day and arriving in the middle of a huge thunderstorm. I certainly didn't feel very cute! Oh, and the guy was drunk.
Guy: Hey sweetheart, where are you from?
Here, I paused and looked at my dad, hoping the man would take the hint and just walk away, but he stopped and waited for me to say something.
Me: Seattle.
Guy: Seattle? Never heard of it!
I decided to walk away this time. My dad did great impressions of the guy for the rest of the day.
All pretty silly, right? Do guys think these things really work?
When I was in high school, some of my friends were downtown and were approached by a group of guys.
Guy (who ended up being named Shaavik): Did it hurt?
Athena: What?
Shaavik: When you fell from Heaven?
This sounds lame, but seeing as how Shaavik was young and at least mildly attractive, Athena thought it was funny and felt a little intrigued. It broke the ice, but it wasn't like they fell in love or anything!
So, what are some of your favorites pick-up lines? Or, pick-up situations?
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