The perfect wave!

Maholla peeps,

I recently bought Alex a little gift for all his help assisting me in getting my new job/moving, etc. A few weeks ago we went to his friends house for dinner, and they had shown us their new 'Indo-Board" - a balance board which helps you train up for surfing/skiing. Basically, you place this wooden slab on a round cylinder and balance away. This had 'Alex' written all over it- I had to get it.

We've had it for a couple weeks now, and after falling off a TON at the beginning, but I have to admit I've gotten quite good. Alex was good from the start =).

Yesterday after work I went home, Alex was out at a school function, and I decided to do a little work out on the Indo Board. I was able to do squats, curls, ab bends- all while balancing!!! I rule. Seriously, if you had seen me when it first came you would allow this shameless bragging, because I fell off more times then I can count! Hopefully next time we head to the coast for some surfing I'll be doing tricks =)

Here are some pics of me and Alex on the Indo at my old (tears) house.

I'm a genius in the kitchen, GENIUS!

Last night I COOKED DINNER! Sad that it's so shocking - but truth be told I eat Pho probably 3 times a week . . . . me = lazy. Not last night though- instead I ventured into the unknown (to me) world of Vietnamese cooking. Bored at work, I was browsing Food&Wine and came across a recipe for lemongrass chicken. I LOVE lemongrass chicken, but have always ordered it and never cooked it. Turns out, lemongrass is a stalk of . . .. well, just a stalk that you peel and dice. I added that to a stir fry of peanut oil, chicken, garlic, onion, red peppers, green beans, and then simmered with a little chicken broth, fish sauce, and a couple of spices that I got mixed up and added the wrong amounts (turned out not to matter)- and let me tell you, it was FAB!!! Served over rice, totally would make it again. I am so proud of my skills (I know, its just a stir fry- but it's a VIETNAMESE stir fry!!!)

This is just a warm up for when Alex's kitchen is finished being remodeled . . . then nothing can stop me, I am a culinary genius!

Cringe Worthy . . . in a good way

My cousin's friend, Sarah Brown, just wrote and published a book titled "Cringe". It is a compilation of old diary and journal entries that were written when she was a tween- hence the Cringe title-with personal commentary written from her current 31 year old perspective.

GREAT idea for a book, I am totally going to amazon.com it. I can't imagine what I would have written at the age of 13, oh the drama of teen-hood.

Sarah Brown, the author, is an incredibly humorous, NYC based, blogger who was picked up due to the heavy traffic her blog received (see Michelle, it could happen to you!) She also hosts an open mic night in NYC where people can come read excerpts from their own childhood diaries.

Being behind the times, I just discovered Sarah's blog today, and have spend the better half of my working morning reading the archives and stifling my laughter so neighboring cubes can't hear me.

Here is one of my favorite entries:

Like the gaping maw of gray forever

Few things are sadder than the sight of a thin gold anklet trapped beneath a suntan-colored nylon. And not sad like watching The English Patient on a couch next to a fire while it snows sad, sad like it’s cold but also humid and your mom didn’t wake you up in time to wash your hair and you’re waiting for your grandma in her empty beauty shop on the other side of town and there’s no magazines on the table and you have a hangnail you’ve picked at til it’s bleeding and even though you have the day off of school, it doesn’t matter because no boy will ever like you.

SO FUNNY! Check it out if you want a good laugh.

Moving Day!

After a fun night shaking the urban spoon, I packed up my stuff and started the big move. It actually wasn't that bad, Saturday was mostly spent dumping my stuff off at Alex's, Sunday was organization day. Still a little chaotic, but overall it was only mildly painful. That being said . . . we have yet to move any significant furniture- the bed and bookcase still await-YIKES!

Shake, Rattle and Roll!

Tonight we make history! Jody and Michelle have planned a little 'leaving Cap Hill' party for me tonight, sending me off in style as I look forward to my new home with Alex in Greenwood.

No party is complete without a theme, and I have a feeling this will prove to be one of the best. Michelle and Jody decided to utilize the great iphone urban spoon feature. How it works: you essentially have urbanspoon.com on your iphone, but instead of searching the website for restaurants and happy hours per usual, it is instead loaded into a slot machine. You are able to pick the price range, type of food, and location on the slot machine, and then you SHAKE the iphone (literally shake it) and it picks a place for you to go to, meeting your set criteria, at random.

Tonight- we go where the iphone tells us to go.

Can't wait- TGIF!!

Patty Cake

We had cake in the office for the third time this week . . . . and yes, it's only Wednesday. AHHHHHHHHHHHHH. This job will be the death of me. I know I sound like the Grinch, but what is with all the celebrations? Birthdays, weddings, co-workers leaving, promotions . . . . you name it, we will eat cake.
I MUST GO RUNNING!

I vant to suck your blood- wha ha ha ha

Although I have never attended a meeting, I consider myself a part of a book club led by my cousin Carly. Each month they choose a book, all of which I have read despite never making it to the discussion, and almost all I have enjoyed. The themes of the book rotate, and they try to switch back and forth between a 'thinking book' and a 'light read'. This month was a light read and the book that was chosen was Twilight. Yes, this is a book marketed at teenage girls. Yes, it is a vampire romance. And yes, I LOVED IT!! It's kinda like Harry Potter with more mushy love- and blood sucking. I stayed up late last night finishing it, and am planning on walking to the bookstore after work to buy the second book in the series. I will be attending my first book club discussion later this month so I can gush about Bella (human) and Edward (her vampire love). Apparently there is a movie being made staring Cedric Diggory (real name?) from Harry Potter set to come out at Thanksgiving.

In a twist of fate, the Puget Sound Blood Center was holding a blood drive at my work today. With Edward and his blood sucking in my immediate thoughts, I had to pump a quart out in his honor. Maybe he would come and make me immortal . . . . .

Drive on in

Happy Monday everyone! What a great weekend I had. Camping out at Murph's prop was fab. We arrived Friday evening, sat around the fire and made foil dinners and hung out. The next morning we awoke to sunny skies, and set out on a 6 hour canoe adventure. It was hot hot hot out, so the water was the place to be. Scorched from the sun, we arrived back at Murph's and after a quick dinner of fire-roasted sausages, we decided to head into Belfair and check out the drive-in movie theater.

I have never been to a drive-in before, so it was a true 'experience'. We were a tad late arriving, so parking was quite stressful due to the fact that they made us TURN OUR LIGHTS OUT!! Anton was able to find a spot, but we soon annoyed everyone around us as we tried to figure out how to turn our interior lights out. Rather then get in a fight with a meth-head (and there were many), we just sat outside the car and tried to listen to neighboring radios. Needless to say the first movie was a bit strained. At intermission (it was a double feature), Jody figure the light situation out, and we were able to sit in the back of the car with the door open- sound on! All in all it was a good experience- if I ever do decide to take in another drive-movie I will be sure to arrive ON TIME =)

Flicker the light of the campfire . . .

Maholla peeps-

A gang of us are heading to the Key Peninsula tonight for some weekend Camping! Murph has so kindly offered to let us use his property down on the water. With record high temperatures predicted, we will be swimming and boating to our hearts delight!

I might even get to stop off and see 'Jake's Dream' in person (not to mention all my friends at Camp Gallagher!).

I am extra excited to be back in my old Key Peninsula stomping grounds- it's been over a year since I was able to visit. After having spent a huge portion of my summers down there, it is always so wonderful when I get a chance to go back. PLUS- due to the heat wave, we can go NIGHT SWIMMING and hopefully see some phosphorus! I also am excited to show Alex where I used to hangout. It's really a part of my life that I can't explain to people, so showing it off in person will help. I guess that's why they call the CYO a 'cult'- you don't get it unless your in it!

Jody and I went shopping last night at Costco and gathered all the essentials for a great weekend. The cars will be packed and ready to leave at 5!!! Can't wait!

Hope everyone stays cool this weekend!
My advice- popsicles, popsicles, popsicles!

strawberry and peach sangria

How good does this look . . . .

I day dream of sipping this cool drink on my roof . . . sunny and warm 85 degree day . . . . alas.

Mix white wine, Essensia, strawberries, peach liqueur, peaches, orange slices, lemon slices,and strawberry syrup in large pitcher, smashing citrus slices slightly.Let stand at room temperature at least 2 hours or chill up to 4 hours. Serve sangria over ice.

Jake's Dream

This past spring/summer, the CYO summer camp where I worked for so many wonderful summers had a fund raising campaign to buy two new sailboats. My generous grandfather donated some money, and ended up with the honor of naming one of the boats. He chose 'Jake's Dream' for my cousin, who loved CYO summer camping and adventures of all kinds! Dave Wellings was nice enough to forward me this lovely picture of the boat. To me, Gallagher is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been, and it means so much that 'Jake's Dream' can live on there.

Maholla peeps,

Happy Tuesday! I am posting early today- trying to squeeze it in before the work load rains down. Last night Alex took me to dinner at one of my favorite Capital Hill spots, Via Tribunali. Their pizza is amazing- closest I've found to the real Italian deal. Thin crust, fresh toppings- YUM YUM YUM!


After dinner we went back to catch some Olympic swimming- is anyone else totally obsessed with the USA swim team??? SO AMAZING! Look out - my patriotism just may be back . . . U-S-A U-S-A! Never fear- I still love Barack!

OK OK - I'm Back!

Maholla peeps-

Sorry for the delay in writing- my life has been CRAZY!! Let see- since my last post I got a new job (main reason for the lack of blogging), I got into a car accident (no one was hurt, not my fault), my sister got married (and I was a bridesmaid), and I partied for a week with a bunch of insane Irish- twas BRILL ANT!!

Here is a photo timeline of my time away from the blog =)

Francie's Wedding Shower- hosted by Laurie Padden and Carly Nelson
The rehearsal dinner- including a sing-song and a bust by the Kenmore Police!

The WEDDING!! Reception followed on the Skansonia.


Impromptu party with those crazy Irish! Thanking Jody for the party favors- they made it!



I will be back later in the week- I PROMISE! Keep it real.