hitherto

Moving...

2010-03-22T12:57:00.001-07:00

I'm trying something new.

From this point on, new posts will be made here:
http://subpardiscourse.wordpress.com/

Saturday

2010-03-21T21:04:00.000-07:00

All wheels, all day.

We two-wheeled it through Snohomish County. Below is Index, WA. This area is one of my favorite day rides from Seattle. Just before we stopped for these photos, I was reminiscing on the early Seattle days --all of my travel was on the Metro bus and I hadn't seen any of this. I'm so grateful to get out of the city on the bikes and really be able to experience the magnificence of it all.

And then there was skate. We met some friends out at the Lynnwood Roll-a-way. I'm pretty sure most bikers finish their days on skates.

The birthday

2010-03-13T21:05:00.001-08:00

I spent last weekend in Baltimore celebrating my mom's 60th.
We threw a killer party.

The band

2010-03-13T20:54:00.000-08:00

Half of Churchburner at the Autopsy Room earlier this month.
When this recording is ready, the new tracks will go up on myspace.

I just like this.

2010-03-08T16:56:00.001-08:00

Conquered

2010-02-11T16:33:00.000-08:00

I'm a little late with this update, but I wanted to document a success from this past weekend. It was in the mid-50's and sunny in Seattle last Saturday, so we headed east on the bikes with some friends. Apparently it was just the right time to overcome it, and we were out there anyway, so we revisited "THAT" road. It was on that road that THIS happened.

Jarrod was definitely ready to put it behind him, but I can still hear that crash and I can still feel the adrenaline and I wasn't sure I was up for it. But we went back there again, with Josh and his girl behind me and Jarrod behind them. It was easier than I thought it would be to turn onto that road, ride it slowly all the way through. It was mind over matter, and I had the option to make it a big deal or not. I chose not, until we were finished, and could celebrate everybody making it through that hairpin just fine. And we all did, and it's officially behind us now.

* no, this isn't the actual road, it 's just playing"THAT" road in today's production.

Love and Stars

2010-02-09T21:19:00.000-08:00

From Rob Brezny's Free Will Astrology this week:

"Just because somebody doesn't always love you the way
you wish they would, doesn't mean they don't love you
the best they can and with all they have."

This is from the Leo horoscope, but whatever. Wishing you all lots of love this VD.

Blog sponge

2010-02-05T12:55:00.000-08:00

That's what I am. That's how I feel when all I do is consume other people's blogs and put nothing out of my own. That's what my last few weeks have looked like. I'm happy to see that Rachel's blogging again, and I've found inspiration by poking around some of the blogs that she likes. One person on her blog list does "5 Senses Friday", which is her way of reflecting on her week via each sense. I love this, and as much as I wish I could commit to putting out the kind of stuff I love to read, I really haven't had the motivation to do it.

But, what I can and will do here is join "5 Senses Friday". And with that, here is my week:

Taste
I did more cooking this week than I have in a while. I made stuffed peppers on Tuesday, which is one of Jarrod's favorites. I reminisced on "porcupines", which are the meatballs my mom made with the leftover beef/rice filling that doesn't fit into your peppers.

Hear
Dark, ethereal music, unintelligible lyrics, textures, emotional= the songs on my "soothe" playlist, which has been my standby. Cocteau Twins, Dead Can Dance, Alaska in Winter, "Hell's Gates" by The New Law..

See
I might be stretching this one, but I finally bought my ticket to Baltimore to celebrate my mom's 60th birthday with her. Haven't seen her yet, but am very much looking forward to this trip (in early March).

Feel
Electric blanket. Bed. Fluffy Pearl. I've been pretty low-energy lately, and am especially content when tucked into a pre-heated bed with Pearl laying beside me with her head on my leg.

Smell
It's been unseasonably warm in Seattle and our plants are blooming. There are some short bushes in front of the Public Health Sciences building at my work that smell divine. They've deceived me into thinking spring is around the corner. Whatever. I'm holding on to that feeling, even if it is a big, fat lie.

Evocation of Butterflies--Odilon Redon

2010-01-13T16:08:00.000-08:00

Butterflies

2010-01-11T09:11:00.000-08:00

Pacific

2010-01-03T20:01:00.000-08:00

Thursday afternoon, feeling restless in the face of the new decade, I decided that we should get to the ocean for the first few days of 2010. It would be my first trip to the Oregon coast. I found the Tradewinds Motel in Seaside, OR, on VRBO, booked the next two nights, and we headed out early on New Years Day. Our room was a little studio with a bed, bath, "fireplace", microwave and mini-fridge. But most importantly, it was beachfront, and we had a view of the waves crashing just 50 feet beyond our window.

Tradewinds Motel--our room was the top left window, room 206

The weather was stormy, which only added to the huge amount of energy at the coast. We packed all of our raingear and spent large parts of our days dressed like Gorton's fishermen, walking the beach. The winds were high and sand flew past us. Seafoam rolled like tumbleweeds in the wind.

Happiness, Seaside, OR

Jarrod taking photos of Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach, OR

Astoria, OR

Proof that it did get sunny...for a minute.

Wish?

Merry Christmas, 2009.

Opening, 2010.

Happy New Year to you all. I wish you much happiness in 2010.

Christmas 2009

2009-12-25T10:13:00.000-08:00

Some snapshots from our Christmas, featuring Jarrod's new headlamp, Pearl's Christmas "outfit" and new toy, and my attempt at making candy cane cookies.

Great Holiday Drinks

2009-12-23T12:30:00.001-08:00

I came across these recipes in Sunset magazine this morning while waiting for my re-check at Bastyr. So many of them look delicious--I thought I'd share:

Great Holiday Drinks

On my list to try (in this order):

Merry Cranberry Margarita

Pear Sidecar

Cranberry and Spice Tea "Toddies"

The solution we've been waiting for

2009-12-23T12:15:00.001-08:00

Remember way back when I was interested in cooking and needed a place to collect online recipes? I have found that place. Seems it was under my nose all along.

My long-standing favorite recipe website is allrecipes.com. I have a "recipe box" on that site that I can flag recipes straight into. What I didn't know is that you can also link to any other recipe on the web, or manually enter your own recipe from the same page. I've been adding recipes from Food Network.com and others just by using "weblink" and entering the url from another site. Brilliant. This is exactly what I've been looking for. As usual, I just wasn't utilizing what I had to its full capability.

Hope this helps those of you who were wondering the same.

Now--does anyone have a killer macaroni and cheese recipe to share with me? I want breadcrumb topping, and no roux. I have no ~~time~~ talent for roux. Send in time for Christmas Eve dinner? Please and thank you.

Blog? What?

2009-12-13T18:24:00.000-08:00

Sorry guys. Blog?

I have three excuses. Want to hear them?

Still no Martha. I continue in my uninspired cooking.
The weather. Also uninspired. No sweet action shots of anything particularly fun. Seattle has literally been frozen for over a week now, but no snow, darnit.
My job. Don't tell, but I often did my updates from work, when I had a chance to take a break or lunch. Haven't had that lately. Too busy.

I spent Friday and Saturday of this weekend down with a migraine. Been getting too many of those again lately, so I went to Bastyr last week for their naturopathic take on things. I left with mega-doses of B vitamins, fish oil, and calcium & magnesium. I have strict orders to take those for the next two weeks and see if I notice a difference. We'll see.

Hope you all are doing well and that the amount of holiday cheer pulsing through your veins is steadily increasing...

Girls night in

2009-11-23T21:15:00.000-08:00

Saturday was girls night, hosted by Deanne and Dip at their new house in Kirkland. Below are the best shots of baby Owen, our delicious potluck dinner, and Tubby the cat.

Jocelyn, Deanne, Owen, Jeannette, and Zeina.

Jocelyn and baby Owen

TUBS says "Look at the size of my cat hands!"

Weekend recipe idea

2009-11-19T09:46:00.000-08:00

This sounds like an awesome recipe for this weekend:

Chicken and Dumplings

Only thing I'm not certain about is seasoning the dumplings with dill. Does that sound good/ right to you guys?

Guess what I ate?

2009-11-17T08:45:00.000-08:00

Here's a little ditty about my latest culinary adventure/ new dish of the week. Keep in mind that I am not, I repeat not, a seafood eater. I want to like a nice piece of flaky, tender fish. I'm still working on it.

(to the tune of Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl")

I ate a fish and I liked it
the taste of true cod fillet
I ate a fish just to try it
Didn't love it, but I didn't mind it
It felt so wrong
It felt so right
feel really brave for eating that last night
I made a fish, overcooked it.
I tried it.

End of the week update

2009-11-13T11:20:00.001-08:00

A quick update on what's up with the Seattle Blaesings:

I cooked, but not much. Martha still hasn't sent me her stupid magazine, so I haven't been proactive about seeking out new recipes. I did make a pot of chili though, and it was delicious and easy. I also found this new website thanks to Kelli's blog: A Year of Slow Cooking. I love pretty much everything about slow cooking, so will be checking that out.

We had Veterans day off from work this week, and Jarrod and I both got to enjoy a leisurely Wednesday. I got a haircut and did a little shopping while he played a new video game. We took the Explorer in for an estimate on some brake work we need done. That was super ugly. We're giving each other new rotors for Christmas this year. Fa la la la la...Last

night was a Churchburner show--one of the rare, weekday sightings of the 'burners. We played "The Morgue" in Georgetown, a DIY punk venue that took me back a few years. What it lacked in amenities and say, indoor heat, it made up for in character and spirit...and aroma. But I digress. It was a good show.

Tonight I'm going to see the Pixies with my friend Jocelyn while Jarrod and his bro's have a skate jam. So excited--the Pixies are among my top 5 bands of all time, haven't toured since 2005, and I've never seen them live. Can't wait!

That's pretty much the news from here, except....Last but not least, I want to send a birthday shout-out to our nephew, Drew, who turns 4 tomorrow. Go, Drew, go! Hope you enjoy the toy we sent you! Uncle Jarrod had lots of fun shopping for you!

Right place, right time.

2009-11-06T09:31:00.000-08:00

6:30 am.
Dark drive to yoga class, rain, momentarily disappointed I didn't get the same spectacular sunrise, Rainier silhouette I got on Wednesday on that I-5 overpass on Yesler offers one of the best views of a vibrant a.m. sky in the right conditions.

But last night's storm had more in store, just after 7, sun salutation, down dog, thunderclap and lightening flashes in the skylights, rain pounding the metal roof.

The room was warm, dimly lit, votives flickering. She turned the music down so we could just hear the rain.

It was perfect.

Aaron, remember your Alki-high from the other week? Your blog got me thinking about how long it's been since my last one, and I got it this morning.

I think I'm on the right track.

Every. Muscle. Hurts.

2009-11-03T10:58:00.000-08:00

Yoga day 1: Just. This.

2009-11-02T12:28:00.000-08:00

Today was is day 1 of my new commute/yoga routine. The yoga was as wonderful as I hoped it would be--such a great way to start the day. And I can't say enough amazing things about the Samarya Center. There is yoga closer to my house, but this is worth traveling to the Central District for. I bought a monthly pass--good for unlimited classes within a one month period and plan to go Mon, Wed, Fri mornings. Get my physical and spiritual on, all before 8am. Hoping this is the beginning of something beautiful.

I need to move

2009-10-30T12:10:00.000-07:00

You might gather from my lack of writing about running that I'm not doing it much anymore. And you would be correct. The energy and passion that I had for running last spring have declined steadily since that time. Don't get me wrong--it was fun doing all of those events this summer (and even better having friends to do it with), but I can't say that running itself ever became that much fun. I do still do it--on the treadmill, on days that I can get my lazy ass to the gym. They've become few and far between.

But, I really need to be moving more. So--my new idea--and this is a big change...

For a one month trial period, I'm going to drive the car to work instead of riding Harley Marie. This is because I'm going to go to 7am yoga classes, up to 3 times a week. On non-yoga days, I'll still try to get to that dang treadmill. Cardio is important!

Not only is this a major change in routine, it's going to be a significant expense as well. I park Harley Marie for free in the garage at work--but with the car I'll have to pay. But if I'm honest, with the weather changing and the dark and wet, I'm more tentative this year on my bike then I've ever been. So, for my one month trial, I'll see what it's like to be a car commuter, as well as reaping the benefits of lots of yoga.

I'm hoping for the best all around and will keep you posted.

It's not my fault,

2009-10-30T09:01:00.001-07:00

it's Martha's.
She suspended my subscription of that Everyday Food magazine that was my sole inspiration for my cooking project. I'm not real sure what's going on with this--it seems their billing system is kinda screwed up. In the meantime, I'm not making anything too fancy.

However,
the last recipe I made of hers was for meatballs. Simple! I like meatballs. Don't ever make them, but like them! So I grabbed a big 'ol value pack of ground beef and make all of it into balls. Cooked a few the night I made them and froze the rest. They were a delicious addition to our spaghetti, and the frozen ones are at the ready...whenever!

Monthly update--October

2009-10-22T13:48:00.000-07:00

I guess I've slowed down a bit with the blog, huh? Well, I've got a minute this afternoon, so I thought I'd check in with updates that are completely unrelated to food.

I'll give you the bad news first. Jarrod's grandpa, at 93 years old, isn't doing so well. He hasn't been feeling good for some time, and was diagnosed last week with advanced prostate cancer. He's fighting the fight, but it's horrible to be so far away when we know he needs extra support and care right now. He's been living alone since his wife passed about 6 years ago, and has tried to remain independent and in his own apartment ever since. He's having a hard time now taking care of himself and his home. The good news, which is *Breaking News*, since I just got off the phone with him, is that in a dramatic change of heart, he now sounds optimistic about moving into a care facility and taking some help. It would be a huge relief to know that he's got people looking after him, since most of his family is speckled around the country.

In more local news, Jarrod and I are both celebrating work-related achievements. Jarrod will be honored at a luncheon tomorrow for 10 years of service at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, and I had my annual review last week got a promotion. I am thrilled to have been promoted from Executive Assistant (a title I was never happy with) to Administrative Coordinator. If you're interested in what I administer, it's here. That link at the bottom of the webpage, about "Contact an Administrator", that's me, too. :)

Harley Marie just got her 10,000 mile service and is doing well. Last week I outfitted her with a battery harness so that I can run a heated jacket this winter. Imagine a jacket made out of an electric blanket--including a heated collar that zips all the way up. That's what I'll be rocking. I know, it's downright posh!!

Turns out I've got shit for segues today, and that's about all the updates I have. But wait--I was about to spell that "segways", so I looked it up and learned that only that wheeled, nerd transporter vehicle is spelled that way. I guess I've never written "segue" before, because the spelling of it is blowing my mind right now!

Damn. I gotta go!!

No go on the risotto

2009-10-21T11:48:00.001-07:00

Also known as WHITE FOOD 2, JENNY 0

Last night I made risotto with leeks, bacon, peas, and Parmesan. Forgive me for not being able to find the recipe online right now to link to, but you're probably not going to want it anyway. But then, just because a recipe flops at my house doesn't mean it's not good, right?

Anyway, what I made last night wasn't so good. Jarrod told me that he wanted to add brown sugar and butter and pretend that it was oatmeal.

To be honest, I thought the first few very hot bites weren't bad, but as it cooled, my enthusiasm for this dish waned as well. I think that maybe where I went wrong was by using that "pre-cooked bacon", which is less mess to prepare, but also less flavor when used as an ingredient. Also, maybe we both find risotto to be more "goopy" than creamy. Even if it was delicious and flavorful, the consistency is reminiscent of oatmeal, I guess.

So--my progress so far with this "new recipe/ joy of cooking" project isn't so good. I think it's just been renamed "The Ploy of Cooking". I've actually been making more like 1 new recipe every 2 weeks, and so far both have bombed. Jarrod will be making us chicken quesadillas tonight as a respite from my creations. Anybody have any delicious recipes they want to share? Now would be a good time.

Please and thank you,
J.

ps--I plan to make caramel apples this weekend, though, and am pretty excited about that!

More bungee

2009-10-12T21:12:00.001-07:00

This is the bridge and platform for jumping from.

This is the view from the platform. That's a train trestle across the way.

This is Juan, Denise, and I, after we all had jumped.

And this is me freaking out just after my jump.
I couldn't have changed that expression if I wanted to.

Still holding out for one last "Bungee" post, when I get the video of it from Denise.

Bungee!

2009-10-12T09:30:00.001-07:00

There are more photos and hopefully a video to follow, but for now, there's this:

Nanaimo was such a beautiful place, and the entire trip was great. I underestimated what it would take to jump off of that bridge. Most terrifying thing I've ever done.

Mobile Chowdown

2009-10-07T16:24:00.000-07:00

We don't really do street food in Seattle, but mobile food is another story. Food here seems to get instantly better (er, trendier?) if it's on wheels, I want to find out why. This weekend, it's pretty much all coming to me. Anyone care to join me?

From Seattleist.com:

Dishin' is typically about a single dish, but this week we give you a heads-up about an upcoming confluence of dishes.

If you live in Queen Anne or Magnolia, or can come to the area, you'll be eating good in the neighborhood at this Saturday's Mobile Chowdown. Some of Seattle's most popular food carts will caravan their way to an empty lot at 1616 West Bertona in Interbay. Currently scheduled to participate:

El Camion

Donte's Inferno Dogs

Gert's BBQ

Kaosamai Thai

Marination Mobile

Maximus Minimus

Parfait

Skillet

The grub gathering goes from 11am until 3pm.

Harley Marie goes to the doctor

2009-10-04T21:29:00.001-07:00

We returned from last weekend's ride with Harley Marie leaking oil from her rocker box cover. Figured I could pay someone $100+ an hour to fix it, or try to fix it myself (under the watchful eye of Harley fanatic, Tim.) Bought a service manual and some new gaskets, put 'em in. So far so good.

Tonight's dinner is brought to you by....

2009-09-28T09:08:00.000-07:00

the color WHITE!

Yes, I'm just getting around to posting last week's "new creation of the week." Honestly, it was a total bust. The recipe looked delicious, and I was anxious to serve Jarrod up some cauliflower (something I never really ate that much of), but this one bombed, and it's totally my fault.

I started this recipe for Pasta with Cauliflower, Parsley, and Breadcrumbs with an ominous feeling. It was after band practice--already 8pm by the time I got the cauliflower in the oven, the pasta water on. I wasn't motivated at all to cook, and Jarrod suggested that I skip the breadcrumbs because--who cares? (I cared, but not enough to make them anyway.) So the cauliflower, onion, and garlic go into the oven to roast, and the cavatappi (spiraly) noodles get to boiling. Our dinner was completely white, save the pink of the red onion. And 20ish minutes later all of the white stuff comes out of the oven and into the white noodles and is topped with some white parmesan. I didn't put parsley in, either. Visualize, if you will.

And it tasted just how it looked.

I'm not done with this recipe, though. I'm quite sure that had I made the recipe as written, it would have been a lot better. More flavor, more texture, some COLOR. This one will stay in my "to try" pile, because I half-assed it last week, and that's not Martha's fault.

White food re-do. Coming soon, to a table near you.

Vocabulary

2009-09-24T16:25:00.001-07:00

New word, added to lexicon by one JSM, 9/24/09.

Retreatments [ree-treet-mints]
-noun
1. the blending of a retreat (getaway) and spa treatments.

I can't decide between spending that weekend at Doe Bay Resort or having that spa day I've been fantasizing about. What I need are "retreatments".

Beautiful Bavarian Weekend

2009-09-20T20:05:00.001-07:00

Yesterday morning we packed up the car and headed to Leavenworth, WA. Our friends Bo and Simone were tying the knot, and we joined them for a romantic weekend out of town. We'd been going back and forth about whether this would be a motorcycle trip, but it was a rainy morning, and we had to carry dress clothes and cameras, so Mother Nature essentially made that decision for us. We followed highway 2 over Stevens Pass--the rain, the just-starting-to-turn leaves, the crisp air, made for the quintessential fall drive into the mountains. We were just a few miles from our destination when the sky cleared and gave way to a beautiful day. For those of you who haven't been there, Leavenworth is our "kitschy Bavarian town" in the middle of a pacific northwest mountain pass. Stop here for Christmas stores all year round, Nutcrackers, and schnitzel.

Our hotel, the Pension Anna, was quaint:

The wedding was beautiful, the day was gorgeous, and the local Riesling delicious. We had a fantastic getaway, celebrating love and commitment with friends and taking a little quality time to reflect on those things ourselves.

Congratulations and best wishes to Bo and Simone.

Orchid

2009-09-17T21:21:00.001-07:00

This beauty is an anniversary gift from Jarrod.

Four years ago today

2009-09-17T16:44:00.000-07:00

Cassoulet, you say?

2009-09-15T08:07:00.000-07:00

Cassoulet–noun
a white-bean stew of French origin, often containing pork, mutton, garlic sausage, and preserved goose or duck.

Huh. Who knew?

But there was a recipe for one in Runner's World, of all places, and when I needed to pull out some dinner last night, this is what happened. It is cleverly called "Cassoulet with Lots of Vegetables."

So I simmered up some onion, garlic, celery, carrot, chicken sausage*, white beans, diced tomatoes (w/juice), zucchini, and a splash of chicken stock. I seasoned it with s&p, red pepper flakes, and some italian seasoning, and we ate it with warm, crusty bread. Yum and easy. (And easily modified for our veg friends, too!)

* I'm giving myself bonus points for cooking with a totally new (to me) ingredient :)

So there we go. I conquered my new recipe of the week on Monday. The food was good, easy to prepare, and can be modified a million different ways. I'd say this fits my criteria for a new heavy rotation meal.

________________

Now I have to find a way to start organizing the keepers. I have online recipe collections in at least 3 different places--need to consolidate and organize in a way that I can basically pick things out of a hat when I need them. I'm not in love with Delicious.com, which was my first idea. Now I'm almost thinking hard copies of the best of the best--but that seems so 2000 and late. Ideas?

Cat video

2009-09-14T16:12:00.000-07:00

Please check out Maru in this cat video:

If your attention span is only 15 seconds long, make sure that you watch 1:39-1:51. That's my favorite part.

If you want more Maru videos, and I know you do, his You Tube channel is here.

Far from Foodie

2009-09-11T10:27:00.000-07:00

I've got a problem. My skills in the kitchen are really lacking.

I've been to my go-to meals too many times, and all of my weeknight meals are really...tired. I want to eat good dinners. I want to feed my husband good dinners. I just want them to either materialize in my kitchen all Star Trek-like, or I want to be able to prepare them with roughly 5 minutes and 5 dollars. I realize that neither is going to happen. I'm going to have to motivate. I'm going to have to get inspired.

See, I've never been inspired. As a single gal, I ate whatever was available and within arms reach, often microwave popcorn or take and bake pizza. And then there was the famed "Mexican squish" (can of beans, salsa, cheese, and whatever in the house was minutely "mexi".) But these staples of yesteryear are not in any way aligned with how we should be eating--not to mention that my husband would sooner chomp pack of Neccos for dinner than eat Mexican Squish.

So.

Rather than renew my lapsed subscriptons to In-Style magazine or Seattle Metropolitan, I've up and subscribed to *cough* Martha Stewart's Everyday Food instead.

The short-term goal is to prepare one new recipe each week.
The long-term goal is to actually enjoy doing it.

Now it's been blogged, so I'm committed. I saw Julie and Julia last weekend, and that may be what prompted some of this. (BTW, the book was way better than the movie. What is up with Amy Adams? I am not a fan.) Anyway, starting next week I embark on "Project Martha" or "Mealtime with Martha" or "Cooking Dinner and Liking It"...anybody have a clever name for my new endeavor? If so, please leave it in a comment.

But more importantly, if you have a philosophy about cooking or something that motivates you to cook, please share that. It's clear that I'm going to have to convince myself I want to do this on a deep, psychological level.

Thanks in advance,
J.

Long weekend update

2009-09-08T12:54:00.000-07:00

And you thought you had a long weekend? Today was my first day back to work since last Wednesday, when I started coming down with a cold. I stayed out of work thursday and friday with a really awesome cold+ migraine combo that finally subsided Saturday afternoon. Not the best way to kick off a holiday weekend, but I sure am all caught up on the last season of Project Runway and Real Housewives of Atlanta. Envy me.

And now for the weather.
The weather dictated a lot of our weekend activities. Seattle was rainy, grey, and cool all weekend. For Jarrod, this was a signal to get his skates out, which he did on Saturday night. He rolled ovals with the boys while I helped warm Rachel and Aaron's new apartment by playing board games and eating snacks.

Sunday I cooked up a big pot of chili and we invited some friends over. After chili-fest, we divided into girls/boys--the boys played Xbox, the girls went to see Julie and Julia. I'd really wanted to see it, and found it pretty "meh." Meryl Streep was entertaining as always. Amy Adams was kind of a stale cracker. But the book was good, so at least there's that.

And then Monday (because there was a third day!), I baked banana bread and Rachel and Aaron came over to watch movies. The whole weekend felt kind of lazy and wonderful.

Thankful to have spent a very long weekend in the company of good people and eating good food while our city got a much needed shower...after shower...after shower. Hopefully we're in for a few more sunny weeks of fall before the grey sets in. I love this time of year.

Bend '09 part 1

2009-09-01T20:23:00.000-07:00

This here is the Swayze Express. It might not be his permanent name, but it's what we're calling him for now. It's what he went by when we started out for Bend a couple of weeks ago. He's Jarrod's new 2009 HD Street Glide, all packed up for a road trip!

Some highlights of our week included:

A trip to Crater Lake

Swimming in the Deschutes

Jarrod's birthday dinner

A sunset air show/ car show

And some beautiful rides

More to come in part 2.

Visit from the patriarch

2009-08-27T19:32:00.000-07:00

Jarrod's dad recently made the trip out to visit the West Coast Blaesings and meet new baby Luke.

Blaesing Boys.
Apparently the only way to get Blaesing girls is to marry 'em in.

Jill and Luke

We hiked. This shot was from Discovery Park,
though we spent an afternoon on Tiger Mountain, too.

West Seattle, following a nice dinner.

It was a great visit, and great having Eric out to stay with us for a few days. We're looking forward to taking him and Judy up on their invitation out to Wilmington next year.

Worst blogger ever!

2009-08-26T21:56:00.000-07:00

I've been remiss. I know. Here's a teaser for some of the stuff I need to chronicle:

Jarrod's dad's visit earlier this month
John B's birthday cruise
introduction of the "Swayze Express"
and Bend Motorcycle Trip '09, from which we have just returned

Lots of photos were uploaded tonight, and I promise to address each of the above in more detail (and w/photos) tout de suite. Nose to the blogstone--I promise.

In the meantime, here's a cute photo of Pearl.

Doe Bay Resort and Retreat (Orcas Island)

2009-08-12T11:01:00.000-07:00

I would love to spend a few days here doing yoga and contemplating life. And it's only a short ferry ride away!

If I'm honest,

2009-08-10T15:03:00.000-07:00

I'm not feeling very bloggy.

We had a great visit with Jarrod's dad last week, and there was a fantastic birthday celebration for one of my oldest and dearest friends, John B, last weekend. I'll get some photos up as soon as I'm feeling bloggier.

For Jarrod

2009-08-03T14:02:00.000-07:00

And...

2009-07-31T16:58:00.000-07:00

TOTALED!

Sad for Frank, good for us. We are officially moving on now.

upcomings and goings on

2009-07-31T15:48:00.000-07:00

This week we have been entirely consumed with battling our motorcycle insurance company. They were still convinced they could fix Frank for 9 grand. We were sure they were misinformed. We spent a week trying to determine the disconnect here. I think we're close to ending all of this though, as a major discovery (on our part) revealed that their estimate was based on parts and labor for a Harley Sportster and not at all a 2000 Gilroy Indian, for which parts are no longer being manufactured. As of this very moment, we're supposed to hear back from Misinformed Adjuster in the next 49 minutes with the word that they've decided it's a total loss. I'm not holding my breath.

In other news, Jarrod gets his stitches out tomorrow! We're headed back to the Overlake Hospital ER early in the morning to get him taken care of, just before we pick Jarrod's dad up at SeaTac. He had planned a west coast visit months ago and is coming to hang out with all of the Blaesing boys--including new baby Luke! (And I guess the women, too.) :)

Looking forward to spending time and sipping glasses of wine with him.

We're smokin'!

2009-07-29T14:47:00.000-07:00

This, in a city where nobody has air conditioning, is pretty damn hot.

Not totaled?

2009-07-29T08:14:00.001-07:00

Really? And the uphill battle begins...

The good news is that they valued his bike so highly. The bad news is that they think they can fix it. Of course, that news is only bad until they realize they're wrong.

Healing, moving on

2009-07-27T13:11:00.000-07:00

I haven't been sure how to follow my last post. I was waiting on some sort of resolution. It seems that we will be resolved only when we hear back from the insurance company and know the fate of Indian Frank. It should be any time now. Jarrod's going to go off if it's not.

Meanwhile, his bruises and gashes have been healing. His stitches look good, and I know in his mind he's ready to move on. He's been looking at new bikes for several days now, and he went back to work today. Stitches come out Saturday.
__

Yesterday was the Swedish Summer Run 5k. I intended to do 10k, but haven't been running much and have lost some momentum. But Rachel and I, in bursts of excitement and optimism, have been contemplating ramping things up. We'll see...

It wasn't his time.

2009-07-20T20:19:00.000-07:00

Ding Dang!

2009-07-17T16:25:00.000-07:00

Now if only I could get out of work early to go jump in Lake Washington!

Baby photo of the day

2009-07-16T11:35:00.001-07:00

This is Astrid again, Josh and Randi's daughter.
You might remember her wearing a napkin hat at a Mexican restaurant while they were visiting Seattle.

More Banff for your buck

2009-07-16T10:11:00.001-07:00

So, if we did a round trip to Banff, it could look like this, which according to google maps is approximately a 24-hour/1350 mile trip via the route marked. This would be a major trip, indeed! We'd need at least a week to do it, including extra time in Banff and Vancouver just for fun. But how cool would it be!!??

With a very conservative driving schedule, it could go like this:

Day 1: Seattle to Spokane (281 mi)
Day 2: Spokane to Banff (361 mi)
Day 3: explore Banff
Day 4: explore Jasper Nat'l Park (N. of Banff, off this map)
Day 5: Banff to Kamloops (308 mi)
Day 6: Kamloops to Vancouver, via Whistler! (308 mi)
Day 7: Vancouver to Seattle (226 mi)

There! I've got it all worked out!

This is actually a way bigger trip than I thought it was. But maybe it's time for a big trip. I should probably see if Jarrod has any interest in this!

Summer 0'10? Banff!

2009-07-15T12:21:00.000-07:00

When I worked at CCS, they had a shitty little "exercise room" (closet) that had a treadmill in it. I used to go in there at lunch sometimes to get a work out in. The walls were dingy, there were no windows, and there was approx 2 feet on either side of the treadmill--that was the whole room. What it did have was a poster of a scene like this from Banff National Park (Alberta, Canada) on the wall that I used to stare at and pretend I was there.

So here I officially declare that I would love to take a road trip to Banff on the motorcycles next summer and am now compelled to look into the logistics of this.

**Above map is included to show relation of Banff to Seattle, not how one would travel there via motorcycle. All freeways? Hmph. And certainly not back the same way, either.

Weekend update

2009-07-14T09:59:00.000-07:00

There are the weekend updates that I have to do on Sunday night because they are just so exciting, and then there are the ones that wait until Tuesday because they're really not that...action packed. This is one of those.

It's like this:
I spent lots of last week and this weekend cleaning house and de-cluttering. I sent bags and bags of "treats" to my friends at Value Village for resale. So really it was a very philanthropic weekend for me--I was helping the blind and partially-sighted with the resale of my crap. But seriously, this kind of project is as transformative for me mentally as it is for our physical space, so I had a good weekend. I hit the bedroom especially hard, clearing out the clutter, trying to create some sanctuary. I purchased a new Martha Stewart Collection bed in a bag that was on mega-clearance at macys.com.

Jarrod spent most of his weekend in the driveway, communing with Indian Frank. With his new bike, he has received a host of new challenges and tests of his mechanical abilities. Whereas Hellbeast, being a Honda, was primarily self-sufficient, Frank seems to be requiring an excess of maintenance up front. In his defense, however, he hadn't been ridden a whole lot before Jarrod bought him, and so it's taking a toll on him coming up to speed as Jarrod's commuter bike. My man isn't exactly gentle with his bikes. So in the meantime, they're both learning a lot: Frank, how to perform for Jarrod, and Jarrod, how to wrench.

The only other exciting event of the weekend was Ty's birthday BBQ, which took place on Saturday afternoon and was a great time. The menu featured bacon-wrapped hot dogs, delicious fruit salad, and two kinds of cake! We also got to meet Ty and Katie's new puppy, Moose, who is part Jack Russel and part Idon'tknowwhat, but totally, totally cute.

A New Blaesing!

2009-07-09T08:31:00.000-07:00

Jason and Jill's second son arrived yesterday, Luke Henry Blaesing.

More cute photos at the BlaesFam blog. Congrats, you guys!

July 4th Weekend Update

2009-07-05T20:18:00.001-07:00

I wish every weekend could be a 3-day weekend.

Thursday night we celebrated Pat's birthday with steak tartare in West Seattle. (No, I didn't eat it, and neither did Jarrod. On a different day I might have tried it, but couldn't stomach it that night.)

Friday, I spent the day on the beach at Golden Gardens with my friend Mendy while Jarrod did some wrenching on Indian Frank. I finally got some of the lazy beach time I'd been craving, as well as a great little sunburn on my thighs, which hadn't seen daylight in probably 2 years.

Friday night was double date night with Aaron and Rachel, at which time they were formally introduced to Frank. We enjoyed Thai food and an evening chatting on the patio by candlelight. There were many laughs, and Rachel and I are contemplating some potentially big running plans which could be announced by the end of next week. Love those two.

We spent all day on Saturday BBQ'ing at Ray and Karen's new place in West Seattle. We rode the motorcycles out there, enjoying a windy respite from our 80+ degree weather. The Odell men grilled up lots of food, Harper blew bubbles for us and played in her inflatable pool. Such a beauty!

It's a stumpy squirt gun.

After the BBQ, we walked to the Ballard Bridge to watch the fireworks without having to tangle with the crowds. This was the spectacular sunset from underneath the bridge.

Hope you all had a happy and fun July 4 as well!

Review: Skinny Down-Home Chicken Pot Pie

2009-07-02T08:51:00.000-07:00

The guts were good, but the phyllo crust wasn't nearly as good as it sounded. We ended up scraping it off, actually. I'd make the chicken part again but maybe with biscuits or crescent rolls. Of course, there goes the "skinny" part.

Next recipe experiment: Slow Cooker Pulled Pork, which sounds easy and delicious. Just the way I like 'em. Perfect for July 4 weekend.

And after that will be an attempt at pizza on the grill, as demonstrated by my mom and Fred while we were in Baltimore. I have no recipe for this--just going to wing it. I'll let you know...

And with all of this talk of food, I'm pleased to report that I'm signed up for the Swedish (Medical Center) SummerRun 10k at the end of July!

Herb harvest

2009-07-01T09:39:00.000-07:00

I used fresh herbs on the carrots and potatoes I roasted last night. I'm love this herb garden thing!

Got plans to use more tonight in the "Skinny Down-Home Chicken Pot Pie" I'm making, from Lifetime's show "Cook Yourself Thin". I love this show--they do a great job of revamping recipes to cut calories from people's favorite meals, which also happen to be lots of my favorite meals! I highly recommend it. You can even watch full episodes online.

Weekend Update: Shore Run and herb garden

2009-06-28T20:32:00.000-07:00

Today was a very full day. First thing this morning was the Shore Run 5k, which I did with my friend Jocelyn. Neither of us expected to have a great run this morning, but we did, and have challenged ourselves to be ready for a 10k for July's run--the Swedish Summer Run. Rachel, you in?

Jarrod and I spent the afternoon today walking the trails and the beach at Discovery Park. Beachcombing was fun, but the highlight was running into mama raccoon and her two babies, pictured below. You have to look hard to see baby #2, but he's to the right of baby #1, peering through the tall grass.

After the park, we came home and I planted some herbs outside. I'm now growing rosemary, basil, italian parsley, and thyme. I have one little spot left in one of my planters, and might go back and get come chives. As a bonus, our neighbor's mint has grown through the fence that divides our properties, so we've got mint, too!

Overall, this was a fun and productive weekend. We spent yesterday out riding motorcycles and having lunch with our friend Josh. And yesterday evening, Hellbeast was officially "adopted" by his new owner, who has renamed ~~him~~ her Fiona. Good that he's got a new family, bad that he's going to have gender issues.

Rock and Roll!

2009-06-27T12:02:00.000-07:00

Today I'm thinking about my friends who are running the inaugural Seattle Rock and Roll Marathon. It's a gorgeous day, and I'm envious for two reasons:

Seriously, it could not be more perfect outside for this event, which features local bands and cheerleaders every mile! Sounds fun! Sounds like a marvelous sense of accomplishment to finish a marathon-- half or full!
They must enjoy running more than I do, because I've slacked off something fierce.

Tomorrow my friend Jocelyn and I are running the Shore Run 5k, which is a benefit for immunotherapy research my workplace. I had planned to make this one my first 10k, but I'm just not in shape to do it. The cold I'm getting over, combined with the minimal running I've done in June is keeping me at 5k.

Regardless, I'm still on track with my larger goal, having run a 5k every month now since March. The plan is to continue through November, hopefully increasing my distance if I can recommit to running.

I mean when I recommit, right?

Dressed

2009-06-26T07:27:00.001-07:00

I have to post this just because none of you has ever seen him dressed like this. I love it!!

For Fred,

2009-06-25T19:38:00.001-07:00

...who ordered chicken skewers while we were at fancy crab lunch, and was presented with this monstrosity.

Baltimore photos 2

2009-06-24T21:16:00.001-07:00

Baltimore photos 1

2009-06-23T21:12:00.001-07:00

Max and Kristi

Scott and Katie

Back from Baltimore

2009-06-23T15:39:00.001-07:00

We have colds. We got rained on. But we had a fantastic visit with my family, and the wedding was fun and beautiful. Congratulations and best wishes to Max and Kristi. I finally got to meet my brother's girlfriend, and she is tops. I'm really happy for him and hope things continue to go well for the two of them. Jarrod took some amazing photos that capture all of this--coming soon.

Headed East!

2009-06-15T12:44:00.000-07:00

Jarrod and I are headed to Baltimore tomorrow for my cousin's wedding. Not sure how much internetting I'll have the opportunity to do while we're gone, but at the very least I'll regale you with stories early next week.

TTYL,
J.

Meet Indian Frank

2009-06-14T08:17:00.000-07:00

Yes, Hellbeast will be moving on to make way for his older brother, Indian Frank, who we picked up yesterday from Anacortes. He's a beautiful ride and in immaculate condition. He's a 2000 "Gilroy Indian" (from Gilroy, CA), with fewer miles on him than Harley Marie. He came with beautiful fringed leather bags, an "extra" set of pipes, windshield, and more. Jarrod has already removed the bags to show off more of the fender. We'll be spending all of today in and out of the driveway, I'm sure.

And more kids!

2009-06-11T09:55:00.001-07:00

Two important bits of news re: the kids today:

Congratulations to Deanne and Dip, who welcomed baby Owen this morning!
Have you seen how cute my nephew is? Jason posted video of him in his school play on the BlaesFam Blog. I've re-posted one of them below. (Drew is the monkey hat in the middle!)

We'll be hearing more from Jason and Jill in the next couple of weeks, when nephew #2 is due!

Meet Astrid!

2009-06-09T19:20:00.000-07:00

Long-time friends Josh and Randi are in town visiting from Norway. This is their beautiful daughter, Astrid, wearing a napkin hat at the Mexican restaurant. You can take the baby out of Scandanavia...

Erin visit part III--tattoo!

2009-06-06T20:20:00.000-07:00

To acknowledge the personal significance of the time she lived in Seattle, Erin tattooed our state tree, the Western Hemlock, on her ankle.

Duck friend

2009-06-03T20:34:00.000-07:00

This guy was swimming in the fountain at my workplace the other day! I think he thought he was at the spa.

Erin visit Part II. We ate.

2009-06-03T20:03:00.000-07:00

And then there are Seattle restaurants and Northwest delicacies. Without being too deliberate, we basically scheduled consuming something delicious for each day of Erin's visit.

Highlights included sushi, pho (pho-toed below), brunch at the Hi-Spot, and Serious Pie. You know you're on vacation when you're having mimosas at brunch on a weekday. It was luxurious and awesome.

Too much pho:

Part I. We hiked--Deception Pass

2009-06-02T19:46:00.001-07:00

It's one of our favorite places in WA. It's a place we love to take people if they've never been there, just because we find it so spectacularly beautiful. All out of town friends/ relatives/ guests are subject to the Blaesing Tour of Deception Pass. Erin was no exception. On this day, we were also fortunate to have Josh visiting from Norway!

Jarrod and I, plus Josh, Matt, and Erin all trekked around the park.

Tell me that's not impressive.

We checked out the alien tidepool creatures--one of my new favorite things!

We enjoyed beautiful weather.

Always a fantastic day trip.

A really great week ended like this:

2009-05-31T20:09:00.000-07:00

It was the third 5k of the season for Rachel and I, and we had a great time. Our husbands rode their bikes from our house in Magnolia out to Alki to meet us and cheer us on--everyone got a great workout this morning. Next up, 10k. Ready or not, here we come.

In other news, I was fortunate enough to have my great friend Erin in Seattle for the last *entire week*, which made for more quality time than I've gotten to spend with her in the last seven years, probably. She came out for a combined visit/ work conference and her entire visit was an absolute joy. We ate, drank, hiked, walked, got tattooed, watched chick flicks, and gabbed incessantly. I've got photos (and she's got more photos, which I'm waiting on copies of) and I'll post highlights over the next few days.

Busy doing stuff

2009-05-27T21:58:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry, friends. It's not that I quit blogging, it's that my BFF is in town for a week and we've been living it up. There are stories...there are photos...I just haven't gotten to blogging them. I promise to deliver a full recap shortly. xo, J.

Kitten Vid

2009-05-21T09:40:00.001-07:00

And speaking of kittens, Pearl has a new role in our household as of last night. She's our official "St. Purrnard" who brings us treats on the couch while we watch TV. We send her to fetch us things like Klondike bars in the barrel around her neck**.

(** This happens entirely in our imaginations.)

Back on track

2009-05-18T11:05:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday was the Beat the Bridge run, which I let come and go without participating. This one was on my to-do list, but I decided to bail on it because Rachel had other stuff going on and I didn't care to fight the traffic, people, etc. by myself. I'm a little bit disappointed that I made that choice since it was a beautiful morning, and friends who did the 4-mile walk had a great time. However--I do maintain that fighting crowds isn't my thing and Jarrod and I had a nice day on our photo-walk.

So to regroup and re-state some goals, here's what's coming up:

May 31: West Seattle 5k
June 28: Shore Run 10k *gulp*
July 26: Swedish Summer Run 10k
August: TBD
September: TBD
October: TBD
November 29: Seattle Half Marathon. A friend from college says she's coming out to do this with me. If she's serious, I'm serious.

Looking forward to upcoming runs with Rachel, Jocelyn, and anyone else who is on board!

Weekend update

2009-05-18T10:44:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful weekend in Seattle. Temperatures were in the 70's, (and possibly 80's yesterday) and it was sunny and gorgeous for all of these fun things:

* Deanne and Dip's baby shower--a great group of their family and friends celebrating the upcoming arrival of baby D-lite. (Sat)

* Bonfire at Golden Gardens with Jarrod's work peeps. (Sat evening)

* Pizza and movie night--quiet night at home, just Jarrod and I. Watched "Yes Man" with Jim Carrey--the feel good movie of the...weekend. (Sat night)

* Long, sunny walk/ photo expedition through Volunteer Park and the Arboretum. (Sunday)

* BBQ with Pat and Shalla (Sunday night)

Photos to follow...

Shacking up

2009-05-15T05:53:00.000-07:00

It's not that I'm not keeping an eye out. I've got saved searches and email updates on Redfin and Windermere, as well from That Realtor who was interested in working with us until she realized we were dead serious about "how much house we could afford", and how little would be in it for her.

It's amazing what $250k will buy you in different parts of the country right now. In Seattle, you get a shack. (I'm serious, click on it.)

Churchburner

2009-05-14T11:49:00.001-07:00

Here's what's going on lately.

Maybe not the best video for showcasing the guys, but this is one of the songs I like best. And the audio sample at the beginning--that's me. That's my job.

Thanks to whoever shot this video!

Remembering Grievous

2009-05-14T11:38:00.000-07:00

This was circa 2005, I think...

Last weekend in photos

2009-05-13T19:06:00.000-07:00

I'll mostly let them speak for themselves...

We rode our bikes to the beach--it was beautiful, but still windy and cold.

I love these shells.

And then we went to see our friends, Vulgarizer, play a show in Ballard. It was Mother's Day, and fitting that the singer should reenact a birth on stage with a bunch of dudes. Here they are poised to "deliver" the "baby". (It's best that you don't ask.)

My life is nothing if not paradoxical.

Where's my goddamn...

2009-05-13T12:45:00.000-07:00

Weekend Update?

The fact that people are asking reflects that there are people who still read this blog-tastrophy, which makes me happy.

I know that it's Wednesday. I've been remiss.
How 'bout I get it all packaged up for you tonight?

Check back tomorrow for tales of (urban) bicycle rides to the beach and bbq's--with photos!

Man, I live in a beautiful city.

Happy Birthday, Harley Marie

2009-05-06T19:43:00.001-07:00

To my motorcycle, on her 2nd birthday...

Dear Harley Marie,

I'm reminded it's your birthday because that tree next door is shitting cherry blossom petals all over our driveway again. It's just like that first day we brought you home and took your photo in the pink "confetti" that tree seemed to be erupting just for you. I remember it set off your black cherry paint just so.

Congratulations on being another year older and 8,000 miles further down the road of life. It's been an amazing couple of years. First, I'd like to start with a bit of gratitude for the fact that neither of us has killed or seriously injured the other. I was so nervous those first few months that you came into my life--you were so new, so fragile, so beautiful--and I was so inexperienced. I was afraid so afraid I'd drop you. Wait, I did drop you. But you were amazingly resilient and understanding of the fact that it was an accident, and I really was trying my hardest to do right by you. I still do, everyday.

You have truly brought me outside of my comfort zone and opened up a whole new world to me-- one that includes appreciation for things people in cars can't know: subtle temperature changes while riding through shadows or valleys in the summer, the most intimate smells of my city (and state, and beyond), the pleasure in sitting at a red light at a sunny intersection on a cold day. I could go on...

But for now, I'd just like to say happy second birthday and thanks for being the best bike a girl (of my size and stature) could ask for. I'm sorry I couldn't afford a real gift for you this year, but hopefully by your third birthday I'll have saved up enough for those Vance and Hines Short Shots you've been asking for. I think they'll look really hot on you.

Love,
your mom

Sort of dormant

2009-05-06T09:00:00.001-07:00

Dear blog and friends,

I'm sorry to have neglected you these last several days, but I've been in a bit of a funk. You know when you're feeling crabby and also lazy and you combine the two--that makes CRAZY. That's where I've been. I felt crabby and didn't want to run or exercise, so I didn't do anything. I slept through my morning workout times and sat on the couch in the afternoons, blaming my inertia on the weather. Seattle, why can't you be sunny and warm? I'd be a much healthier person in so many ways!!

But enough is enough, and Jarrod and I both know that I'd hit the pinnacle of my moodiness last night, so I went out this morning to blow out the cobwebs from my lungs and kneecaps.

It's finally light enough at 5:30 am to run outside. That is something I am thankful for. Despite the fact that it was raining, I took off down 23rd headed for the Ballard Bridge. Turns out the rain is also something I am thankful for. The air was amazingly fresh; the neighborhood flowers amazingly fragrant; the raindrops steady enough to be refreshing, yet not too penetrating. But then there was the #18 bus that passed me while I ran across the bridge and sprayed up the roadside puddles--I got kind of soaked, but that was cool, too.

I'm feeling much better overall now, and can finally relay some of what the JLB's have been up to recently:

* Motorcycling, meals, and movies with friends Katy and Ty
* Clothes shopping for Jarrod--trying to find his "big and tall but really just tall" self some work clothes. To the men out there, do not take your 36-inch-or-less inseam for granted. Trust me.
* Spending some quality time with Josh, who starts his radiation treatments this week.
* Birthday BBQ for our friend JJ.

That's my story for the last several days. I'll try to stay on top of my mental and physical health so that I can relay all of this in a more timely manner next time. :)

This about sums it up.

2009-05-01T14:22:00.001-07:00

Slow week

2009-04-30T12:54:00.000-07:00

It's been a slow week over here at JSM. There's just not much going on.

Here's my favorite YouTube video:

New tagline

2009-04-27T13:21:00.000-07:00

I get email updates from the Seattle Public Library about new books in genres that I am interested in. Because their whole name doesn't fit in that field in my inbox, the updates appear to be from "The Seattle Public Libra". I think that's funny. I'm a Libra. So that's my new tagline. Ha.

Tom Wales Memorial 5k

2009-04-26T11:29:00.000-07:00

Was a great success! Rachel and I started out freezing our butts off waiting for the run to begin, but by the time we got underway, the clouds were giving way to a beautiful day. Seward Park was a beautiful location, and it was fantastic to see Aaron (Rachel's husband) cheering us through the finish line. We ran the thing in 32 minutes, which is a great pace for both of us. Then we went to brunch at Cafe Flora to refuel and revel in our accomplishment--2nd organized run, hopefully the beginning of many to come.

Slim's Last Chance

2009-04-24T11:44:00.000-07:00

Last night, Churchburner played a rare, weeknight show at Slim's Last Chance in Georgetown. It was an awesome venue and a great show, and I can't wait to go back and eat their chili and jalapeno mac'n'cheese sometime. I took some photos and hopefully have some cool ones to upload this weekend. But in the meantime, if you're local, go check out Slim's!

Achievement Unlocked--Lake Union Loop

2009-04-22T10:12:00.000-07:00

One of the runs I've been wanting to do is the 6-mile loop around Lake Union. I felt like I definitely wanted to do this with a partner, though, since I'd never taken the route before and also the distance would be the longest I've gone....ever. Yesterday was the most gorgeous spring day yet in Seattle, sunny and 75, and my friend John and I hit the trail right after work.

Since we work right on Lake Union, we left from there and ran the lake counter-clockwise. We had a great time running and talking and enjoying our beautiful city (he did most of the talking since I had to concentrate on not dying.) We'd made it 2/3 of the way around before I really starting getting worn out, but we persevered and finally completed the whole 6 miles.

While I can't say that I want to run it again today, or even this week, I was happy to have achieved another goal and will totally do this again.

Coming up this weekend is the 5k at Seward Park!

Sign of the times

2009-04-21T09:27:00.000-07:00

Maybe it's been there a while, I don't know, but Hallmark.com has a whole section of "Loss of Job" ecards.

Yes, I'm still struggling with the layoffs here. Especially as my boss cleans out her office and gives out her forwarding address.

Meanwhile, the work continues to flow in my direction...the questions I can't answer...

But for more outstanding ecards, I invite you here, for sentiments like this:

Running errands

2009-04-17T11:17:00.000-07:00

(An update on running.)

Last night I wanted a workout, but also had to get to the library to pick up some books. So, I strapped on my backpack and ran to the library, checked my books out, and walked back home. (The books were heavy, ok?). Apparently, running can be functional besides just being something to do for exercise. I kind of felt like Forrest Gump, but whatever.

So, some upcoming goals, in the form of organized runs:

Next week is a 5k at Seward Park that Rachel and I are signed up for. I've been running enough lately that I feel ok going into this, but I haven't gone any further than 5k in a long time now.

Next month is the Beat the Bridge run. Haven't signed up yet, but am contemplating upping my distance to 8k. Seems manageable.

And the month after that is the Shore Run, which is actually a benefit for cancer research sponsored by my workplace, so I'm planning on signing up for that one as well. There's a 5k and a 10k, and I'm tempted to go for the 10k just to push myself, but I fear that I'd lose my running buddy if I did. I'm pretty sure that she's not interested in going that far. Honestly, I'm not sure I am either, but I kind of want to try. We'll see. I guess it will be important to see what the 8k does to me.

Overall, I have to say that the most enjoyable thing about running for me so far is the way I feel after I do it. I love the feeling of walking on "Bambi legs" after I've exhausted my quads, and I love getting all of that fresh air into my lungs. Looking back, though, I can easily cover more distance now than I could 6 months ago, so if 5k feels like my max now, maybe 10k will feel better in 6 months? Maybe. Or maybe not. I totally reserve the right to limit my mileage at a place that running still feels good. That is the point of all this, right?

Off to email running buddy to see how much of this I can talk her into...

Layoffs

2009-04-15T15:41:00.000-07:00

Ugh. What a horrible day. Three percent of our workforce was let go today, including one of three people I consider my boss(es.) Her departure is a huge loss for the Center and for me, personally. My job will be impacted quite a bit because of this, and it has already been phrased to me as an opportunity to step up. It's hard to see opportunity today beyond the loss of this woman who has been mentoring me for over a year now. She's the one who inspired me to start running.

Weekend meh

2009-04-13T11:36:00.001-07:00

*warning, snooze alert*

My friends, there is not much of a weekend update to give. We had a very low-key, chill weekend, waiting out another downpour of rain in hopes of fairer weather.

Friday night we took a family friend to dinner who was visiting from Baltimore. We went to the Pink Door, which I'd never been to before, and we had a really nice meal. We played nighttime tour guide for a bit after that, highlighted by a baby seal sighting in West Seattle and a late dessert in Ballard.

Saturday we slept extra late and then lazed about most of the afternoon as well. Saturday night was Shalla's birthday party, so we joined her and her posse for some drinks--again, in Ballard.

Sunday, we did not go to Ballard. Instead, I watched "Milk", which I'd Netflixed, and Jarrod made a flyer for the upcoming benefit show for Jamie. Jamie has Lyme disease, and a ton of medical expenses, so Jarrod got some bands together to put on a benefit for her. The rest of the day was errands and grocery shopping. You know, the really awesome stuff that's fun to blog about.

Still, I thought I'd at least check in with something. It's mundane. It's what we do here.

Iced

2009-04-08T16:17:00.001-07:00

Is it me, or do those peeps look genuinely concerned for their homie?

Outtake from Bike Blowout Weekend

2009-04-08T15:05:00.000-07:00

If you happened to watch the video of my novice log bashing skills, and if you happened to enjoy it with the sound on, this one might amuse you even further.

This is for you, mother.

Fantasy Job

2009-04-07T16:25:00.001-07:00

If I could do any job I wanted and didn't have to worry about paying bills with my income, I would have a shaved ice stand on the beach. On rainy days, I'd close it down and take studio portrait photos of baby animals.

What would you do? Leave your answer in a comment.