Heat Wave!

Maholla peeps-

Well, it was a SCORCHER this weekend! With temperatures in the low 90's, Alex and my decision to head to the coast proved to me a good one. We rolled into Westport Friday night around 9, and after setting up our campsite, we made a fire and opened a nice bottle of wine, SO CLASSY! Seriously, wine with dinner in the woods, I am such a grown up!

After the coals built up I taught Alex the art of foil dinner making, and we cooked ourselves up some yummy dinner. I haven't had a foil dinner in a couple years, so even though I burnt my Bisquick a little, it didn't matter. I could eat foil dinners every night, they are just SO GOOD. In a couple weekends we are heading to Mt. Rainier to camp and hike with Char and William, and I plan on showing William the foil dinner so he can take it back to Ireland and teach his fellow country men! INTERNATIONAL GLORY!

The next morning we arose fairly early (sunshine in the eyes) and loaded up the car. After a breakfast at the local surf restaurant we headed out to the beach to try out luck on the water.

The waves were actually pretty crappy, crashing in on themselves, smallish, inconsistent, but we still had fun trying. I got up on my first wave so I was pleased. The water was extra cold due to the recent snow melt, so we ended up sunbathing for a portion of the day to warm up.


We headed back to Seattle around 2pm, and met up with Alex's friends for a King Salmon BBQ. This was, hands down, the best salmon I have EVER had!!! Alex's friend Grady had caught it himself a couple weeks back and had it frozen, and it was amazing. Apparently when they catch King Salmon, in order to sell them for top dollar they MASSAGE the salmon to get all the blood/guts out. Kinda like KOBE beef style. Anyway, whatever they did it was tasty.

I am loving this hot weather- bring it on!

Surf Camping

Alex and I are off to Westport for and night of surfing, camping, followed by more surfing in the morning! With weather predicted in the mid 80's, we can't stay away. I think I will make foil dinners . . . . oooohhh yum. And maybe banana boats.

Have a good weekend everyone, enjoy the sunshine! Hang Loose!

Bloody Hell

So I am at the office sitting with my head resting on my fist, and SOMEHOW my head slips off my hands, and SOMEHOW my finger shoots up my nose and JAMS into my nostril. SOMEHOW. How? I do not know. I now sit at my desk with a bloody nose that won't quit and a headache. Welcome to Thursday morning. My poor nose. I really need more coffee in the morning. BOO URNS!

Rat Update

So- since you are all wondering- here is the rat update. Since the exterminator came and sealed the outside of the house, there has not been a rat siting inside. Alex and I cleaned out the entire upstairs- set about 15 traps (no lie)- but have NOT caught a rat. I did, however, accidentally set off a trap by trying to drop a piece of pancake on it (thinking the rat would like pancakes), and let me tell you, when that trap went off I screamed bloody murder. SO SCARY. I am just glad my finger was not too close.

So, there are two possibilities. Either the rat went outside after his tail got caught, and now can't get back in. OR, the rat is a scaredy rat and is still in the walls, but knows there are traps all around so isn't showing his face. Alex can not seal up the inside hole in case the rat is in the walls because he doesn't want it to die in there and smell. ALAS- we play the waiting game. I think we are going to wait until mid week, and if there is still no rat caught, we are going to seal up the inside hole. DARN NAB RAT.

NAKED BIKERS!!

Last Saturday I joined in the solstice celebration by attending Fremont's annual Solstice parade. Although Alex and I arrived too late for the swarm of naked bikers (the best part) we still saw plenty of nakedness throughout the duration of the parade. I have to say, the naked bikers were a little lazy this year. I saw a bunch of people who weren't even painted, they were just walking around nude . . . . oh Solstice.

This is hands down my favorite parade of the year. No cars, no politicians, just dancers and floats and bands. Everything you go to a parade to see with none of the fillers. After the parade ended we headed up the street to Philly's new pad where she and her roommates were hosting a BBQ. We took part in the beirut tournament that was being held, but lost in the first round =( Oh well.

Happy Solstice everyone, here's to late sunsets and long nights!

Impromtu BBQ

Maholla peeps-

Friday afternoon I had to hop to a few Ballard and Fremont bars to take pictures for work, so Alex met me at my office and we hit up happy hour at the BalMar. Right when I was finishing up the bar photo shoot, Carla sent me a text inviting us over to Kostas for an impromptu BBQ.

Kostas and Carla made yummy steak fajitas, homemade pico de gallo and guacamole. We always eat so well when at Kostas! Sometimes the best hangouts are the spontaneous ones, everyone was in a good mood, the sun was out, and we had the whole weekend ahead of us. I love that relaxed summer mood that hits people on sunny days.

After some encouraging, Ryan decided to climb the tree in Kostas front yard. Have you ever climbed up something high, got to the top, and realized that you had NO IDEA how you were gonna get down? Well, now so has Ryan. I took a video of him jumping, but like an idiot I had my camera turned hotdog style so you would have to turn your head to watch . . . .its just not worth it. BUT- if you were there, you would have laughed. Trust me.

Great summer night! Cheers Carla and Kostas!

Greenwood Ratscrew

Maholla peeps-

So listen to this. Two nights ago, Alex woke up around 3am, and feeling thirsty went to the kitchen to get a glass of water. Much to his dismay, a RAT ran across the floor in front of him and bolted behind the refrigerator. After about an hour of trying to get the rat out by poking various broom sticks/tape measures/toilet plungers behind the fridge, he set a few traps and went back to bed.

The following day, the rat had still not taken the bait of peanut butter and bacon, so Alex, unable to live in a rat house any longer, called an exterminator. Now, I have to say we both thought the exterminator would arrive, go in to the house, and come out with the rat in a trap or something . . . well, it doesn't quite work that way. He is not a rat catching wizard, but rather a rat catching helper. After walking around the house and sealing up any holes with netting and foam, the exterminator set a few more traps, and then basically told us that we had to wait for the rat to get hungry enough to take the bait since right now it is probably living IN THE WALLS! YUCK! There is a hole in Alex's upstairs that the exterminator found where the rat has been getting out of the walls and into the house. So, now that his outside entry is sealed, its only a matter of time before it has to come out of the walls, step on a trap, die and end our rat misery. We can not close the inside hole in fear that the rat will die in the walls and smell. This all happens yesterday.

Alex packs a bag and comes to stay with me for the night since there is nothing he can do but wait out the rat, and he might as well sleep in a rodent free home for a night. Around 10:30 last night Alex realizes that he forgot to take his garbage out, and since we had a party last weekend he really can't miss trash day this week. Being the nice girlfriend I am I agree to accompany him back to his rat house to take out the garbage, and we figure, might as well check the traps while we are there.

We enter the house, I stay in the living room, perched on the couch while Alex checks the traps in the kitchen. No rat. Next he heads upstairs . . . . "interesting" he says. I yell up for him to explain- you do NOT want to hear "interesting" from a person checking a rat trap. No sign of a rat, but one of the traps had gone off and was flipped upside down. We suppose it could have just gone off on its own . . . but then, and here is where the fun begins, we see BLOOD on the carpet downstairs. Not a lot, but about a quarter size spot of blood on the floor. The mystery is, there appears to be no other blood anywhere in the house. So a trap goes off upstairs, and then blood on the carpet downstairs, but still no rat.

I have to admit, at this point I start to get into the 'rat race'. I take a tissue and set it over the blood, step on it, and make sure its wet (such a detective!). Alas, it is fresh blood. Then Alex, using his headlamp, discovers a drop of blood on the stairs. Aha! We are getting closer . . . . actually, that's it. That's all we find. We search the house up and down for a bleeding rat but find nothing. After much discussion, we decide that the rat must have got his tail trapped, hence no trail of blood along the floor like you would see if his paw got caught. He got his tail trapped, freaked out, bolted down the stairs and sat with his bleeding tail on the carpet, before returning upstairs and back down his hole. We covered the upstairs with more traps and returned to my house defeated once again by this darn rat.

Alex will check again today after work, hopefully this thing is stupid enough to get himself tapped again, this time for good! Alex thinks he should get a CAT to catch it, or set a snake loose in the walls . . . . . neither of which I will let happen. YUCK! Cross your fingers, I will keep you posted!

Happy wife . . . happy life!

Maholla peeps-

This past Saturday Carly and I hosted an engagement party for Max and Anne. We lucked out and had wonderful weather, sunny and warm. Alex graciously let us host the party at his house (like he had a choice :). Do to some last minute weeding the yard looked wonderful!

Lots of Max and Anne's friends were able to attend, so that was really nice. They were all lovely and lively and had great stories. We also had some out of town guests in Aunt Char and Grandma Martha- great effort on their part to come down.

Alex barbecued some delicious salmon, and Carly made two fabulous salads- a pasta & co. salad and a green cesar. My parents brought homemade rhubarb cobbler and ice cream, so we were all well fed. Yum yum!

I was a little irritated because a bunch of my friends told me they would stop by- and didn't even text me to say they weren't coming!! RUDE! You know who you are . . . . :)

Luckily Michelle was able to swing by, and it was great to see her. She got to have a long convo with gma . . . . . oh lord.

What a fabulous party. It was wonderful to sit on the back deck, glass of wine, party lights lit, warm from the sun, and talk with fabulous people.

The BIG 6-0!!!

Happy Birthday Dad!
In keeping with the birthday theme- I wanted to wish my father a happy 60th birthday! Can't wait to celebrate over dinner!

Happy Birthday Tori!!!

Yesterday Tori FINALLY turned 21! HOORAY FOR TORI! WOOT!
I feel she's been 21 for ages . . .

I was sick yesterday (boo) for her first birthday bash up on capital hill, but hopefully I can meet up on Friday and see her in action- I can't miss Tori on her 21st! I tried to kidnap Sawyer and wrap him up for you but he stunned me with his wet jeans and got away :( Thought that counts though, right? Cheers!

Mighty Mighty Leaf

Maholla peeps-Sometime last year, my sister Margaret introduced me to Mighty Leaf Tea. As an avid coffee drinker, I always enjoyed sipping tea as a conversational beverage, but never really took it that seriously as an everyday drink. Mighty Leaf Tea has changed that. What sets this tea apart is its brewing process. Unlike your everyday, store tea bag, Mighty Leaf Tea comes in silk tea pouches that allow for the utmost brewing flavors. As I sit at my desk, staring at the June rain (don't get me started on this 'summer' weather), it keeps me warm and toasty and smiling. I am on my third brew of the day!

Yes We Can

Barack Obama clinched the Democratic Presidential Nomination this past Tuesday night, ending a historic battle with Hilary Clinton. Although his triumph seemed inevitable these last few weeks, I still was amazed when I heard his speech following Tuesday's primaries. I was driving in home after pilates, when I tuned to NPR in time to catch the last half of his speech. As I sat in the driveway, not willing to turn it off an go in, I thought to myself "this is a truly historic moment, and I am witnessing it". It is rare when you realize that the moment you are living in real time, will someday be a chapter in a text book.

It's funny, I remember having a conversation with my co-worker Pete about a year ago where we discussed whether this country was truly ready to stand behind a black candidate. It makes me happy and proud to know that we are. I was lucky enough to see Barack speak when he came to Seattle, and all I can say is "YES WE CAN!"

Go Dog Go!

This weekend I will be dog sitting for my favorite pooch Oggy. Max and Anne are going out of town for a wedding, and asked me to take care of their baby for a few days. Anyone up for a trip to the dog park? Here's a great pic of me and Og on New Years!

"Outside of a dog, a book is probably man's best friend;
inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." -- Groucho Marx

Girls Night Out!

Maholla peeps!

Friday night was a true girls night out. Carla, Jody, Michelle and I met up for pedicures on 15th after work. In preparation for our night's events, we all chose a fun shade of red (matchy matchy).

After our foot rubs, we headed back to Michelle's for a glass of champagne and berries before heading down to the SEX AND THE CITY MOVIE!!! We were one of many groups of girls dressed up, heels on, running into the theater, leaping rows of seats (Michelle) in order to see our favorite four New Yorkers on the big screen.

The movie did not disappoint. If you were a fan of the TV show, you will love it. The movie follows Carrie as she plans her wedding to Big, and everything that goes along with that. She is of course accompanied by her lovely girl friends, whose lives are a plethora of ups and downs as well. It was so wonderful to see all four of them back together. Especially in Mexico =).