Seattle Rock Orchestra

The show on Tuesday was amazing. I will just post this review by the stranger (complete with youtube videos!!).


There is also a video of our one and only rehearsal.

Also, there is a video that a guest in attendance posted on youtube, that isn't very good, but here it is.

You can only see me a little bit in the rehearsal video, and not at all in the other ones (Mom). It isn't worth explaining where I am.


Anyways it was so much fun. I had ten friends show up! 2 were surprise friends:
Nolan, Daniel, Nathan, Annie, Lindsey, Tim, Ashley, Nik, Adam and Rachel (the surprise guests! - they were the ones whose wedding I went to this summer).

:)

Sugar Pie

Halloween was a good time. I went to Value Village (which is the equivalent of Goodwill) ON halloween for my costume (what was I thinking?). I had decided to be a pumpkin, and I was looking for orange pants to go with my orange shirt. Instead, I found an amazing orange dress for 4.99. We have a lot of scrap fabric in the house, so I stitched a carved face on it. I cut up an old tank top with green straps and wrapped them around my hair for vines.

We went to a friends house. John Schueller, one of the managers at the store, and his wife had an adorable party. She spent a lot of time and energy decorating and it looked great. The only down side is the fact that they just moved into their new house. Their house is in Greenwood, which is further North than Nolan's place of work. We didn't plan for the last bus home (which was stupid of us), so were calling cab companies that weren't answering. It was not only Halloween, but Halloween on a Saturday night. In Seatttle. Needless to say we waited a while to get home.

1. A punkin

2. Angela, Devin, Amber (Rambo, Sausagefest, Garden Gnome)

3. John as a Jockey!

4. Nolan (a non Halloween enthusiast) and Amber

Also, I just got an email from Scott (the guy organizing the Seattle Rock Orchestra) saying that the show on the 17th is already sold out! Ahhh!

A niche is the way in which an organism occupies space.

I am crazy! So busy! So tired! Mackenzie will be here tomorrow.

Sometimes my perfectionism drives me crazy. You know I wouldn't have it any other way, though.

Kathy, Mom, Papa, and Mrs. Rausch - I owe all of you phone calls.

Next week. Here is my schedule next week:
M 4pm - 12a
T 1pm - 9pm
W 6am - 2pm
Th 5am - 1pm
F X
Sa X
Su 4pm - 12am

Thursday night I have rehearsal 7.30pm - 10pm.

Friday I have a dentist appointment at 10 am.
A doctor appointment at 2 pm (with a naturopathic doctor covered by my insurance - I am so excited).
And my first Thalia Symphony concert at 7 or 8.

Saturday is Halloween and I have no idea what I am doing. Thats not completely true. Remember the blog that won that Jansport party? Those same people are throwing a Halloween block type party that I might go to. Its ten bucks. I dunno, we'll see.

I'm giving violin lessons.

I am also finally finding my niche here. It feels really good.

Afterall

I love when small world scenarios happen. You should probably know that about me in general. Coincidences and things that make you say "What a small world" are my favorite things ever.

So Seattle Rock Orchestra performance. The guy who is getting the musicians (who I played for) - Scott - sent out an email last night with more information in it and stuff. It also had a link to the facebook event for it (this is different from the other facebook link that I put up). And there are 50 confirmed guests for it and I was looking at the guest list. I assumed that a lot of these people, like me, are musicians. There are going to be 50 - 60 people in the performance.

Facebook has this really amazing feature that tells you how many friends you have in common with people. (Remember that customer friend that I made and we randomly have 2 friends in common?). Well most people I didn't have any in common with, but then I did with a several people. I assumed these in common friends to be 1. Scott or 2. Jackie (That is Nolan's old coworker that referred me to audition)

So I start clicking around to see in common friends with these random guests. And I have two mini "what a small world!" experiences and a third bigger one.

The first one, I click on this girl who is friends with our friend Chris. We met Chris through friends in Portland, but he is from Tempe, weird.

The second one I have three friends in common with: Scott, Jackie, and John Schueller. John is one of my managers at Trader Joes/the only manager that is my friend and who I hang out with outside of work.

The third one I only have one friend in common with. I click on it and it is Taeler Good. Nolan's cousin in Southern California. Man, I love that.

This isn't incredibly applicable to this, but I was talking about funny friend-in-common coincidences with someone before and they explained something really simple and neat to me, that I have adopted as a theory as well. If you are a good person that likes to have good people around you, you will find your way to others like you. This happens to mean having a lot of friend-in-common coincidences no matter how many people are in this world.

I am in the phase of being sick where there is rumbly mucous in my chest. This means that I am coughing a lot but nothing is really coming up. So I have to take a lot of melatonin if I expect to sleep at all. It's fine, only because when this is over, it will be over. I was coughing up blood a couple days ago, but that is over.

Buhlud!

Set.

So I am finally going to have a set ish schedule. This has been in effect for two weeks. However, my manager put in everything so that it is one day off from what it should be.

Starting Monday October 26 my hours will look like this:
Sunday 4pm - 12am
Monday 2pm - 10pm
Tuesday 12pm - 8pm
Wednesday 6am - 2pm
Thursday 4am - 12am
Friday X
Saturday X

This is the complete opposite of Nolan's schedule:
Sunday X
Monday X
Tuesday 2pm - 5pm (This shift is at the Bikery)
Wednesday 1pm - 10pm
Thursday 1pm - 10 pm
Friday 2pm - 10pm
Saturday 8am - 10pm

Nolan also has ENG101/M-F/9am - 10am.

I am excited to have a set schedule. I also am bummed at how different our schedules are. But I had to have Thursday night for orchestra and set something up so that I could start training. Well, I didn't have to, but they expect you to initiate everything, so I did. And this schedule shadows the full timer that I will be training with.

So that is that. Mackenzie is actually coming here. Like, she actually bought a ticket. She is coming for the weekend of October 23 - 25. I am super stoked. I just hope that I am completely over this sickness and that she doesn't get sick or anything.

In Black

Hello hello hello!

Ok So we had a hard rive failure (annoying) and had to get another one. 200 dollars later, we have a computer back (with no preexisting information). We now know that we should back our information up. Sigh. Oh well, nothing can be done about it now.

I have felt intimidated by the task of posting a blog because I haven't updated in so long, I don't know where to begin.

I'll just go with the current events.

So, yesterday I woke up feeling horrible. It was totally out of the blue, too. I didn't even feel any symptoms at all and then BAM, everything was there at once: fever, headache, disgusting cough, and an outrageous sore throat. Thursday/Friday is my weekend, so it kind of worked out being able to take it easy. I didn't go to orchestra last night because I felt so crappy.

I feel better today (the fever/headache combo is gone) but I still have my other symptoms. Blech, I hate this feeling. About a week ago I scheduled a secret audition that I didn't tell anyone about. Thats not completely true. I accidentally told Dana. But I didn't even tell Nolan. I just didn't want to deal with everyone asking me if I was nervous, wishing me luck (I know I'm ridiculous), and me just getting extra hyped up about it. Plus then everyone wants to know how it went blah blah. Anyhow, today I tried out for the Seattle Rock Orchestra (SRO). They are only a year old, but have done some pretty rad stuff already:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/seattlerockorchestra?ref=ts
http://www.myspace.com/seattlerockorchestra

And I made it.

So thats cool. They are going to do all of Arcade Fire's Neon Bible. This happens to be an album that I was obsessed with at one point in my life (maybe 2 years ago?). The audition was for a specific performace that they are giong to be doing in November. Its not a contiuous weekly rehearsal type of thing like Thalia is. So its not conflicting at all.

I currently have beet soup simmering on the stove. I can't WAIT to eat it, ugh.

That's all I have in me for now.

Broke.n

Hard drive failure with our laptop! I'm at the library. I'll be back within the week, hopefully!

Music and sanity

I wake up today and stumble to turn on the radio, just like every morning. I hear reggae playing. Instead of turning it, because i don't really care for it, I leave it. I have in past weeks trained myself to be happy when I hear reggae. When the Positive Vibrations show is on it means that its Saturday. I work every Saturday. But it is also the one day I look forward going to work. All of my favorite people close. So if you think of me between 4pm and midnight tonight, I will probably be giggling, just like I do every Saturday night.

I haven't been cooking lately, and it has been a bummer. Something I have been doing, however. Is eating a lot of Italian Tomato Soup. Sounds good, right? It's heated up plain spaghetti sauce dressed up with fake sausage, oregano, and parmeasan. I definitely eat wheat, but I try to avoid putting the bad kind sin my body. So, who needs pasta when you can have Italian Tomato Soup?

Orchestra! So, apparently I put a lot more pressure on myself than was necessary (what else is new - I'm a Virgo - I can't help it). Because the conductor (Dr. Hanson) asked me what section I wanted to be in. Hah. So I am going to start in second violin for a two concerts, and then switch if I want to. I think that will be good because I have to get used to reading music in general again. We sight read all of the pieces the first night and, WOW. I am horrible at sight reading. I have been so out of practice from not reading music. But I have been practicing A LOT, so I am confident it will return with time. Thanks to everyone who sent encouraging text messages and emails the day of! That was really sweet.

So, orchestra was Thursday. Friday (yesterday) I practiced with a quartet for the first time. I like it because it will be something fun that doesn't require a lot of my attention. And also because the other violinist has a power trip problem and isn't as good as me, so that kind of feels good too. I don't like it because I am the most talented in the group. I would prefer to be on the other side of that - the least talented in the group only because I know what a hard worker I am, and I can count on myself to do the work, but not other people. Anyways, I'll stop being snobby and end with, I am ultimately quite excited to be in both of these musical groups. It feels so right doing this again.

I rode my bike to Caitlin's (the cellist) place with my violin on my back. She lives on the other side of the hill, so its not too far, but a lot of uphill. Man, I need to find a way to comfortably carry that on my back. I hate relying on public transportation, and I love riding my bike. We have a friend up here who is really into leather work, and they are going to help me make a sweet strap system.

Our house should really be named The Hostel. I am trying to think how far back we have had guests without a break, and I can't. Right now Drew and his friend are here from Portland til Tuesday. A couple days ago Jessica Gantos (she lives in a suburb outside of Portland but is from Temecula I think) was here. Mikey tried to stay here last minute (he lives in Portland) but we said no. It was when Jessica was here. Also, in the past ten days Kendall (leather friend) has stayed here three different nights. Oh and last night Nolan's coworker Andy stayed here.

As long as I can have the bedroom, I will stay sane.

Less Stress

Some bullet points, none having to do with the other:

I was pretty high strung this morning about the audition tonight, but I have mellowed out considerably in the past hour and a half or so. Needless to say Nolan is amazing.

I changed/am still changing my part over to the other side and am learning how crazy hair follicles are.

I am finally practicing with a quartet tomorrow for the first time.

I think I am almost back to where I was talent-wise on violin. Sometimes it feels like I am better than where I was at 5 years ago.

I have been asking people that seem funny and nice to be my friend. Needless to say, I have made a lot of friends lately. When did that become something that wasn't cool? I would be thrilled if someone asked me to be their friend.

My schedule for practicing is 15-20 minutes every hour, at the change of the hour. and then 40 to 45 minutes of whatever I want to do. I feel very prepared, I just don't want to have any excuses as to why I didn't make it, or didn't do well in the audition. Excuses are annoying.

I sent out 5 packages two days ago. To family. Let me know when you get it (you should have it today or tomorrow).

I am interested in eating an enormous vegetarian greasy meal today. Maybe I will go to Hillside Quickie on one of my breaks. Maybe I can drag Daniel along.

Cool. Time to practice.

Stress, weird.

So my audition for the Thalia Symphony is on Thursday night. And basically I am writing to say that I am definitely not blogging until that is over.

I am stressed out for this audition. I feel super confident about my piece and then I played for Nolan and totally clammed up. I don't understand myself. So I am forcing myself to play in front of all of my housemates. A lot. Until they ask me to stop. I don't know how else to fix it.

I am stressed out and it reminds me of being in school. Deadlines.

Aye!

My girls

So since I became obsessed with the Miike Snow song I posted last week, I have been kind of crazed. I am making the perfect Amy Cotlow mix CD. This is my compilation:

Ok, nevermind. Apparently I can't copy and paste into blogger. Lame. I don't have an order yet, but once I do, I will post it.

On Thursday, Daniel and I went to a Seahawks preseason game v. the Raiders. Here's the story behind us being into football...

So last year when Nolan, Aaron and I lived in Portland together, Daniel came down once a month on average, and we went to Seattle about the same. Once when Daniel came down (a sunny September weekend) Nolan was working and Aaron had scouted out a San Diego Chargers bar in Portland: Claudia's. Daniel and I tagged along because we didn't really have that much going on. It was a beautiful sight. Daniel and I were completely clueless. Strangers high fiving, bumping chests, buying each other drinks, and yelling at a television screen.

Daniel and I decided that this was something we definitely wanted to be in on. So we went online and looked at all the NFL teams. We didn't know about AFC and NFC, but that didn't matter. We each picked ten teams based on team colors, mascot, location - you know - things that matter. And whatever avereaged out to be the highest on both of our lists (if anything) would be our team. Well Minnesota Vikings was 4 on his list, and 2 on mine. We were told that we had to have both an AFC and an NFC team, Vikings are top, Buffalo Bills are second.

It didn't take much convincing to get Nolan in on it, too. So the three of us have been Vikings fans for one year.

Anyhow, I have grown up going to Arizona Cardinals games. I don't remember them fondly, but my dad tells me that I loved it. However, Daniel has never been to a football game. Ever! One of our managers moved to Olympia and was selling his preseason tickets to work folk, and we bought the one against the Raiders. Oh, we also have teams that we hate. These include: the Browns, Raiders, Texans, and the Cowboys.

I took pictures to document Daniel's First Football Game extravaganza. About 30 of them of of us just taking pictures of our faces. Thats fine, I'll still include them.

1. Garden cucumber and tomato (finally!!) and onion for our tailgate dogs.

2. Since we don't have a car, and live 20 blocks up the Jackson from the stadium, we just biked there, and "tail gated here". I also call this, the loneliest corner in Seattle.

3. We brought beer but didn't think about cups or public drinking. They were giving out free AMP energy drinks, so we drank that and poured beer into it. Ridiculous.

4. Dogz n Beerz

5. Game!

6. The stadium ran out of ketchup, good thing we had mustard in out backpacks!

7. AmyandDanielfunohwow!

8. Stadium ish shot.

Anyways, sorry the captions are way down here.

My new obsession is Animal Collective "My Girls"

I spent 200 dollars on online clothes shopping today. For my birthday. Well, I got 175 dollars and family birthday money, so it was basically that.

Oh yeah, my birthday is Tuesday! I have the day off and have no idea what I am going to do. I want to play outside, but I think it is fall now. Which means rain. Which means probably no parks. Or maybe I can have a rainy picnic. That would be amazing, actually.

I accidentally lost weight. I am going to guess 8 or 9 pounds.

Overrrr.

Since 3:25AM

I cannot stop listening to this song: Miike Snow - Animal

Aaron Winder and Landon Mitchell are in town for Katie Costello's birthday. Happy 26th birthday, Katie!

Man, I am getting all sorts of nostalgia though listening to music I have memories attached to.

The theme: I am so happy to live in Seattle.

I only slept 2.5 hours last night and I am sleepy/wide awake/empty stomach/caffeinated. Eeesh.

Aaron wanted to go to a Mariners game today, which is random and a great idea. It is already a perfect ball game day today.

This is boring, but I am obsessed with that song right now.

Own House, Please.

I want to buy a house so bad, it drives me crazy. I was just about to let my fingers fly into a rant of babbles, but I just stopped myself. Here are some bullet points:

Rent is theft. Seriously. I am literally throwing 375 dollars of my hard earned money into thin air every single month. I am rewarding my landlord for owning property. I love our place, but seriously? Its so stupid.

I am almost positive that homes here will always be expensive. But right now, they aren't that bad. Compared to what is happening in the Inland Empire in CA and in parts of AZ, they are ridiculous. But still. What a great time to buy a home.

Landscape. I go in spurts of passion and apathy. I LOVE my garden so much. It is so discouraging, too. I would love to go out there and put a lot of sweat into it and make is more appealing to the eye and landscape the food I am growing. But the output of energy required to take on such a task is not worth the gain.

Nolan and I have recently hit a really healthy breaking point for how we live in the space that we have. I always have the motivation and ideas to get things done as far as cleaning and decorating. We have always clashed in ideas and motivation, to say the least. It made for a really frusterating living space. At this house he told me to run with it and do whatever I wanted and that he trusted me to take into account what he likes and dislikes, and this is the first time our room has been put together in a way that we both LOVE. That being said, I want to run hog wild and decorate a house. That I own. And make it a comfortable Amy and Nolan welcoming space. Alas, putting money and that kind of effort into a rental is stupid, especially when there are housemates involved. Its not just mine and Nolan's place.

Which leads me to a tangent I don't know if I have touched on yet:
I am so excited for the day to come when Nolan and I have our own place, even if it is an apartment. It will be a completely new change for us. We have never lived in a sitation where it was just the two of us, unless we have been travelling (which doesnt count at all). While living with people does have its advantages, I just really really am looking forward to that change.

That is all:)

Photo update

1. Nolan's 22nd Birthday Barbeque! Thats Ben (my coworker) and his girlfriend Jessica.
2. Vegetarian dog delight.
3. Oops! Cream cheese, tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, celery salt, and pickled radish. My God.
4. Katy (our new friend via Christophe) made Nolan a Birthday Comic.
5. At Twilight Exit, which is in Central District, and the bar closest to us, they have a photo booth. This is Katy, Christophe, and myself looking at the pictures we took.
6. Little Nolan and Amy at Twilight.
Last night, Nolan and I realized that we had the night to ourselves! Josh was at work and Daniel was going out to Sushi and we both had the night off. What are the chances? We decided to get dressed up (which basically means we look like everyone else around here always looks) and go out and not worry about the price of anything. If anyone knows us, they will know how incredibly difficult it is for us to not worry about that. It was fun. We went to see Tigerbeat, a Seattle DJ at Havana, a club that we would neeeeeeeeeever go to. But it was fun :)
7. Handsome Nolan
8. Handsome Amy (yeah, I bought that style of dress...)

The Sun goes into Virgo...

So Trader Joes has a weird system of management that I haven't fully grasped yet. Those people in Hawaiian print shirts are known as full-timers. Every store has a Captian (store manager) and a First Mate (assistant manager). Everyone eles in Hawaiian shirts are essentially just managers but there are I think three categories. The lowest is Novitiate, the middle is Specialist, and I don't remember the other(s). I think the only thing it affects is your pay, because I don't see a difference in responsiblity. Everyone else (even though they may work 40 hours a week) is considered a part timer. Anyways, at my store, there are 9 people in Hawaiian shirts (1 of those is a Captain and 1 a 1st Mate and 7 managers) and 64 part timers. Full timers make A LOT of money. Especially as you go up the scale. Seriously, don't be a doctor, be the Captain of a Trader Joes, you will be making just as much. I am a part timer.

Two days ago, one of my managers made a comment that was both informal but serious. It went something like "Have you ever thought about training for full time?" I kind of danced around the comment because it was such an informal setting, I didn't know how serious to take it.

A couple hours later he took me off my register and we went outside and he further elaborated on that and heaped a lot of praise on me and told me that I would be great for it. I told him that it was something that I had given thought to before, but that I wanted to think about it and talk with Nolan before I gave any answer. So Nolan and I went home and chatted about how exciting it would be, because I would eventually be making bank. And I already knew we would conclude that I should do it. I have really great rapport with this manager, so I didn't want to get overly excited about it. So, yesterday I asked another manager who I knew would be very blunt with me. And he told me that I would be great too and that I should talk to our Captian.

Wow wow wow wow! A customer that also geeks out on astrology told me that the Sun goes into Virgo today (I am a Virgo) and things would be going well for me. Crazy.

We'll see what happens!

My own horn

Hey remember when I used to be good at violin?

And then I didn't play for a really long time.

And then I started playing again.

And practicing the right way - for the first time ever?

Yeah, I'm really good at violin.

How did I forget?

I love my life.

Things omitted

So I don't know why I haven't posted these things going on in my life, I forgot:

Two days ago I was sitting in the living room drinking coffee. It was 9.30 am. A car pulls up in front of our house with two people in it. The driver gets out and starts walking up our driveway. So I immediately stand up to see what she is doing. She walks INTO my garden. Then, she rips off a tomato branch with about 3-4 green tomatoes on it. I go outside and say "excuse me, can I help you?" and she ignores me and runs back to her car and drives away.

I was/am livid.

So that happened.

Yesterday was Nolan and my 3 year anniversary. We didn't do anything for it, but isn't it the coolest:)

The screen on my phone died/broke/something on Sunday. I don't know. I have a new phone that should be here either today or tomorrow. I can only make and receive phone calls (but I can't see who is calling). Also, Nolan lost his phone 2 weeks ago. So we have been pretty ridiculous as far as being in touch with people. His phone should also be here today or tomorrow.

Nolan's birthday is on TUESDAY! He doesn't really know what he wants to do, maybe a BBQ/potluck/something like that. But we both want to keep it pretty low key this year.

I made carrot/zucchini cakes today. I made way too much and decided that one cake will be for Christophe's Birthday :)

domestix

Today I am going to be domestic in the cooking arena. Yesterday, I don't know what I was thinking, I harvested way too much food to deal with at once. SO many carrots, turnip greens, broccoli leaves, chard, beets, zucchini.

I'm going to blanche the beets.
I'm going to make carrot zucchini cake/bread (I found a REALLY easy recipe) and it seemed to get really positive feedback. Its weird that there is mayo in it, but it kind of makes sense....and we have it in the house.
I also found a recipe for spicy carrot soup that totally reminds me of cauliflower soup that my mom makes.
I'm going to make a pot of greens.
And sometime when I don't work til midnight, I am going to make fried zucchini.

We went to Portland Sunday and came back Monday. We drove down with Katie. I haven't been to Portland since I moved (january 4). That means that I haven't seen anyone since then. It was so good to go. And so good to see everyone. The reason we went down there is because Nolan (I think Nolan deleted his music myspace - so that is a link to the Windfall Family), Lee and Katie all played a show together at the Alberta Street Pub.

Anyways, I work 4 - midnights everyday through Saturday, and on Sunday Christophe gets in. I have Sun - Tues off and he leaves Wed.

<3

Chestra

I am writing this blog in between practicing my violin. The reason I have to take breaks is because I haven't played consistently in a very long time and my muscles in my hand (mostly my left hand) get sore quite easily.

I have been looking to get plugged in up here and just make my own friends (again, not through my housemates or through work). It gets very tiring, and for me, I just need to have other outlets. About a week ago, something dawned on me - to look for community orchestras in Seattle. There was the one in Tempe that I was in (in which, I had an incredibly uncomfortable interaction with the PVHS band director, so I quickly stopped attending after the first concert).

It turns out there are A TON of community orchestras out here. I was looking through all of them and narrowed it down to four and emailed Mrs. Rausch (my violin teacher from Phoenix)their websites and asked her what she thought. And the one that she ended up recommending to me was the one that I was leaning towards: Thalia Symphony. I have been in contact with the conductor, and as of a few days ago, I have decided to join them. They practice Thursdays for 2.5 hours and have about 5 concerts (maybe 6) a year. And I am so excited. I feel like it is going to be a good match and I really hope that I end up being right. They practice in Queen Anne at Seattle Pacific University and about half of the members are either students or alumni, and the rest are not.

So, my psuedo audition is September 17. I seriously decided just in time. I have been practicing a lot and it feels good. I really want this to work out.

Foster Family Visit, 2009

So much to update!

The Fosters came into town! They got in Tuesday evening. Tuesday was the third day of Hell in Seattle, if you didn't know. It began on Sunday and lasted until Thursday night. I think it got up to 104. Which is literally the hottest it has been in Seattle's recorded history, awesome.

We were sweaty and obviously without AC so we went to Madison Beach. I don't know whose picture that is, but it is decent. There were SO many people there. Paige, Rob and I went swimming and jumped off the floating high dive. It was fun! Then we all went to one of Nolan and my spots, Cafe Flora for dinner.

Wednesday, we had pancakes for breakfast and went to Zoka to see Josh make coffee art. Then dropped Nolan off at work, and went to Gas Works park! I fashioned a cup out of an old water bottle and a box cutter and we picked blackberries which we put on ice cream later that night! We regrouped at home and then headed out to Alki Beach in West Seattle, which is my new obsession. It is amazing. We grilled graden zucchini and ate together when Nolan was off of work.

Thursday we went to Lake Sammamish to escape the heat again. When we came back, we went to Broadway and the girls went shopping while we got pho. Then we completed the night with a game of Apples to Apples! What a fun and jam packed visit!

Also, since Thursday, the Blue Angels have been practicing. That means that we have seen them practice from our front porch Thursday and Friday for Sea Fair. Today there was a parade on 23rd (the closest main street that runs parallel to us) and we didn't even know! We found out because I was gardening in the front and there was so much traffic on our street, so I asked what was going on. And there you have it.

Garden:

I made carrot juice today.
I planted more beets, spinach, rosemary and collards.
WE HAVE CUCUMBERS NOW! I am ecstatic.
Yesterday I stir fried broccoli leaves and ate them over rice, mmmm.
I also made a big pot of greens (swiss chard, mustard, turnip greens).
I found a peanut plant growing in the front that some either secretly planted or, someone threw a peanut in out yard, love it.
I thinned the pinto beans (from 9 to 4 plants) and it has shown me (within a day) how thankful they are for it. I also thinned the zucchini plants some more.
We have one head of broccoli growing.
Lots of tomatoes, however they're all green.
I've consumed 2 beets, and they're amazing.

Nolan is going to San Fran tonight (well, he'll be in Portland tonight, and San Francisco tomorrow). I am going to Alki Beach again on Monday, and this time riding there, so looking forward to it.

Zucchini

So this morning I pulled one of two beets that grew from when I planted them in May (we have a whole crew of them now...I replanted). And i boiled it for about 90 seconds and then put the pot, water, and beet in the fridge. I am sure that is an actual cooking technique that has a name, but I feel like I might have made it up. Anyways, about 20 minutes later I sliced it up and it was the perfect amount of cookedness. I dipped it in bleu cheese dressing and it was damn tasty.

I talked to Papa on the phone today and we talked a lot about gardening. And I told him that our zucchini were enormous, and he warned me not to let them get too big because they get bitter. So I got nervous and harvested the biggest one. Turns out they haven't hit their threshold yet because it tastes amazing.

Two people (one from work, and the other Nolan) told me about people slicing zucchinis longways and scrapping them and stuffing it and cooking it open faced. So I did that. Portobella mushroom, zucchini guts, onion, garlic, spaghetti sauce, butter, oregano and parmesan. (I would nix the butter next time, and add bread crumbs and mozzarella). I baked it at 350 for about 35 minutes.

zummer

So, I made my first new friend in Seattle, one that I don't work with, that isn't through mutual friends, who doesn't want to date me. I am excited. He is a Trader Joe's customer, and we have always had a friendly customer service relationship, whatever. We were talking about not spending money and he asked if I wanted to play badminton in Ballard sometime. We also discovered that we live 2 blocks from each other (he is as 22nd and Union), and I was getting off work the time he came into the store. So we walked back to (by the way, his name is Lang) the house and he saw my garden and he has a garden too! So we were geeking out on growing food and it was a really nice time.

We exchanged numbers, he left, and later on that night we ended up making plans to play tennis the next day (this was Friday). So we played, and we were evenly matched and just, again, had a really nice time playing/talking.

When I got home I looked him up on facebook of course, because he has a really unique first and last name, I figured there could only be one. And there was! And facebook told me that we had two friends in common. What! How strange. I figured it was employees from Trader Joe's or something, but it wasn't. It was Amanda and Paul.

So, Amanda and Paul. They are a couple that live in Ballard, but they are from Michigan. I know them through my friend Emily. Emily is also from Michigan and is best friends with Amanda. I went to ASU with Emily and met her in my Trees and Shrubs of Arizona class senior year (a class of 11 people). And she is the only friend that I made in college that I still talk to/hang out with (she lives at the Grand Canyon now).

Lang became friends with Amanda and Paul through a mutual friend, and now dates Amanda's rommate.

THIS WORLD IS SO SMALL. I love when that happens. Anyways, new friends, love it.



Nolan and I went to Spokane with Katie yesterday and did a turn around trip. Ugh, it was so long. We left Seattle at 7 am and got back home at 2.30 am. About 9.5 - 10 hours spent driving. I am an incredibly nervous passenger. I wish I wasn't. I think its so stupid that I am but, I can't help it, you know I can't. On the way home....night driving on the I-90, which is so poorly lit I was freaking out. I drove for an hour and a half of it, and I was giving myself an anxiety attack.

The wedding was OK, the parts that I was exposed to were dramatic, but whatever. The best part was being with the Foster Family! I haven't seen them in over a year! They are leaving Tuesday morning/afternoon from Spokane (Rob did the wedding) to stay with us for 3 nights. My free time has mostly been spent preparing for this. Not in a bad or stressful way, I just love to host and want everyone to be comfortable.

I am exhausted.

Work sched:
M: 4p - 12
T: 7a - 3p
W: X
Th: X
F: 4p - 12
Sa: 4p - 12
Su: 4p - 12

I don't really remember my weekend shifts, but I think thats what it is.

Good night.

Ramblezzzz (sleeping ramblings)

Work schedule for this week:
M: X
T: 4 - 12
W: 1 - 9
Th: 1 - 9
F: 4 - 12
Sa: X
Su: 4 - 12

Saturday is the Regules (I am almost positive that is mispelled) wedding. Nolan and I are riding out with Katie to Liberty Lake, WA....wherever that is (apparently its about 4 hours away).

A boy from work that I am extremely fond of never hangs out outside of work. It is his birthday today and he kind of wound up psuedo not really inviting himself over for a low key BBQ (something that we do here every once in a while with people from work anyways), and I am obviously ecstatic about it. I made a cookie pizza this morning because we had almost all of the ingredients for it to be baked, and because I am a really good host. If I wasn't super budget girl right now, I'd totally do more....but since I am, it is cookie pizza and garden food. Excited.

There are so many things coming up in the next several weeks:
Saturday, July 25 Regules Wedding
Tuesday, July 28 - 31 Foster Family visit
Saturday, August 8 Adam (work friend) and Rachel get married
Sunday, August 9 Nolan, Katie (and probably not me) go to Portland to see Lee play
Tuesday, August 4 - 11 Allison and Lauren visit (Daniel's SC friends)
Sunday, August 16 - 19 Christophe visit

Christophe's birthday is the 16th. Nolan's birthday is the 18th. I feel like August thru October are consistently busy months for us. Strange. Maybe because it is, as Nolan puts it, birthday season.

Last night we watched an incredibly depressing movie, American Me. Watch it, it is so good and based on a true story.

Mmmm I think that is all

Starbucks

Starbucks is seriously such a sad company to me. You can so obviously see it flailing to keep afloat. I think in AZ or living anywhere else but the Northwest it isn't as easy to see that. I was so embarassed to work there both in far SE Portland and especially in Seattle. I was so glad to be done with that compnay. I actually haven't stepped foot inside Starbucks since my last day there. The last store that I worked at, I hated more than any store I've worked at before. It was slow and they closed it a couple months after I left. Strangely one of the things they talked about was reopening in a smaller location on 15th (the strip where it is located), or closing it all together. When I was there, I was really pushing for a closing all together so I could get transferred somewhere else.

Well, they ended up closing with the intent to re-open it in the same location. Confusing, because rent at that location is extremely high, it is such a large space for how little of business it did. But that location is going to be turned into the first Starbucks coffee shop and bar. Sigh. That is all I can say. Apparently part of the re-opening means that they are taking their name off of everything. Which I think is hilarious.

Good luck to you Starbucks, or Not Starbucks....

Jansport Block Party

HA!

Tim's group totally won. They have an amazing idea for the block party (warning, language!).

That is their actual blog, Cap to the Hill (as in, Capitol Hill). The entry from today, July 16, is the one describing their idea.

I am really excited. They don't have a set date yet, but Tim said middle of August. Also, Christophe is going to be in town August 16 - 19. So I am hoping that this happens while he is in town. Its funny because last year Christophe was in Portland for his Birthday (Oh, his birthday is August 16) when we lived there. And it will be the same for this year too!


The saddest thing happened today. I pulled up a bunch of beautiful turnips. Not sad. However, upon closer examination while I was rinsing them, most of them had scars on them. It was not from splitting, which would have been OK.

They were embedded with maggots.

I was/am/will be mortified. I should have pulled them 2 - 3 weeks ago. The combination of heat and time allowed for this to happen. So depressing. Turns out letting them grow longer to yield a bigger crop was not a good thing. Sigh.

I am reading Growing Vegetables West of the Cascades by Steve Solomon. Its great because its written incredibly specific to our region. And I am learning so much. His book is really easy to read, he is a clever lad.

"Cos breaking up is hard to do..."

Sometimes I sing that song but I make it "cos waking up is hard to do". It makes for a less grumpy wake up.

This morning Nolan gently woke me up with the most delicious smelling cup of coffee on the window sill behind me. It was not hard to wake up to that this morning :)

Today is Wednesday. Nolan is getting his fingerprints done in Renton this morning (for work) and then he works 1 - 10. I was supposed to have today off, but my bud Tim and I switched so that today I work 3 - 11 and I will now have tomorrow off. He's entering some Jansport contest, and something about 10,000 dollars, throwing a block party, and video taping stuff before. I don't really know. But his group if a finalist so they are meeting with Jansport today and I am working.

I (and when I say I, I really mean I am getting an enormous amount of help from Josh and Nolan) am building a fixed gear bicycle. I am very excited.

2008

So when I had a car, I listened to the radio a lot. I still listen to the radio a lot. But the difference is that when I had a car I didn't live in Seattle. The means that I listened to a lot of really horrible music. Mainly, Top 40 music. I kind of put in in the category of the stuff you are confused about whether or not you are ok with letting your kids listen to. Not that its really bad, its just not good.

In Seattle, we have KEXP. This is hands down the best radio station I have come across.

But back to the bad radio stations. I actually like listening to that stuff. It gets old, really fast. But a lot of it has incredibly catchy music and lyrics that are....blah - whatever. But DJ Earworm did a mashup of the Top 25 hits according to Billboard. Always having that music going on (driving) you start to attach memories or people to those songs, without even realizing it. This results in me having a flood of emotions listening to it. Haha, I love it its so good, and it dorkily gives me the chills everytime.

Garden, Planning

So, I love gardening. Duh.

For those who don't know, I am obsessed with planning and scheduling. These traits have led me to entertain the idea of 1) Being and academic advisor 2) Becoming some sort of executive assistant (I don't really like the term assistant, it seems like it leads someone to think that there isn't a lot of work involved), 3) Being a financial planner/advisor, 4) The list goes on...

Basically I just get really obsessed with both of these things.

If someone knows of one, please please let me know...but I have not been able to find an organizer/planner for gardening. It completely baffles me. Things that I find relevant to garden planning are different swatches of flowers and shrubs that you can match to create something nice to look at. I have tried numerous searches online with different words, but I can't find anything. It frusterates me because I am almost positive that I read in a random garden blog about a garden planner that someone was obsessed with.

Then I thought that maybe it was Steve Solomon's Growing Vegetables West of the Cascades book that I read it in. Nope.

I have only checked one bookstore. But I feel like if it were in a bookstore, it would be easy to find online.

Anyways, I think that such a thing HAS to exist. I need to own it. And if I can't own it, I need to make one. There is just far far far too much that goes into gardening to just keep it in your head and know what to do on what day. Maybe not if you do not have a job (my dream - to be a stay at home gardener). However, working 40 hours and trying to balance that with growing a very basic and amateur vegetable garden is so hard. It drives me crazy. There is so much I want to do.

Anyhow, maybe thats my calling, eh?

Boring

This morning Nolan and I went running all over downtown to get him his WA license. We officially are both Washington residents.

It is crazy to think that we have lived in the Northwest for a year now. In the words of Tony Toni Tone, "It feels good". I really feel at home here, and can't imagine myself living anywhere else (I know, I know, I say that now....)

I don't really have anything insightful to post about. Or any interesting updates. I am just posting to let everyone know I am alive I guess. :)

Fourth of Juuuuuuuuuuly

So this past week has been busy. Nolan went to the Medford area (Southern Oregon) to see a Wilco show with Katie Costello, and they stayed two nights in Portland before. And then Katie, Nolan, Aaron Winder and Rick Delucco all went down there. They had a blast.



Rick rode back up with Katie and Nolan on Wednesday. On Thursday, Mikey Griffith decided last minute to drive up from Portland and stay two nights. Mikey and Rick left this morning. Yesterday I played tour guide (which I actually love doing because I love showing off the city that I live in). We went to Gas Works Park (PS that link is to a wikipedia article and they have an amazing picture on there). There were so many boats out on Lake Union. It was incredible. Unfortunately, during this touristy day I had no camera on me.



It gets better...



We went to the market, and the boys were mesmerized by the fish market. And then sat out on the grass on the North side for a bit.

I met a boy in Tempe, AZ that I worked at Starbucks with - Randy. He is going to ASU (and graduates this December). But he goes to school for Tourism and Recreation, and he is from Seattle! So he spends all of winter and summer breaks here. He also has one of the most amazing hook ups: he works at the space needle. That being said, he has offered many times to take me and guests up there for free. He is so knowledgeable about the city, has been on two travel shows (as the elevator host on the needle) and I have never met anyone who is always excited to talk about Seattle. Always. Anyways, he is perfect for the job.

I texted him last minute and asked him if he was working and he called me and arranged a meeting point on his lunch to take me (and 4 others) to the top. It is normally 16 dollars each to go up. What a guy. We had a great time up there, it was July 3 so it was SUPER busy.

Needless to say we had a great time while Ricky and Mikey were in town.

4th of July Nolan worked his 14 hour shift (as he does every Saturday). Daniel and some work friends and I BBQ hopped for a bit. I wound up at Ally's apartment rooftop. Ally is the best friend of my work buddy Tim. I have hung out with her a few times, and I know that she has A LOT of friends. Every week or two (since summer has started) I (and anyone else in this city whose number she has) will get a text saying there is a BBQ on her rooftop, and to bring food and beer. I have never attended one of these until Saturday, mostly because she has an amazing view for fireworks. Well it turns out that everyone was thinking the same thing. There were hundereds of people swarming on the roof. And two DJs (that nobody had hired?) that just showed up. One of them was Tiger Beat, someone I hvae never heard of but everyone was freaking out that he was there. We didn't stay for long because that place was literally insane. Kind of anxiety inducing.

Anyhow, I have been meaning to post this for a while!

My schedule this week is:
M x
T x
W 4 - 12
Th 3 - 11
F 4 - 12
Sa 4 - 12
Su 4 - 12

Next week is:
M 4 - 12
T 4 - 12
W X
Th 4 - 12
F 4 - 12
Sa 4 - 12
Su X

Yesterday I met up with Nolan and our friend Brandon at Pho Than Brothers to get the best Pho in Seattle. They are a chain here, and randomly the one that I always go to (on Broadway) is the main picture on the website. It was at Nolan's suggestion that we go there (which he never suggests - its always me!) so I was excited to go. Unfortunately, he wated to go there because he is not feeling well :( poor little guy.

Afterwards we walked around town. We went to the library, and then downtown to Elliott Bay Books and it was our first visit there. It is amazing! It definitely is not nearly as large as Powell's, but it is big and my new favorite bookstore. So rustic and charming. We got a copy of Lonely Planet's Vietnam. Yes, that is our next destination. The saving 20 percent from each paycheck that we are doing is so we can go on the trip. We are also going to go to Thailand, which I am personally ecstatic about.

However, this is the first trip that we have had to pay rent while we are gone (the past two trips we have been in between moves - kind of stressful now that I think about it). So we have to save a while so we can pay rent. It is amazing though how fast you can save so much money when you aren't being careless about it. I love it.

I think thats all for now! <3

There aren't really any pictures worth posting from yesterday's BBQ, but I took pickled radish pictures because I am obsessed.

Lawn Eater

Right now I have radishes being pickled in the fridge. And turnip greens simmering on the stove. Both are from the yard. I love my life.

I don't think I've mentioned yet that I'm super budgeting. And also saving. And also not using my credit card. Needless to say its a lot harder that I thought, but I have been doing really well and I have a lot of motivation.

I don't know if talking about my finances is inappropriate or not, so if you are uncomfortable with those sorts of things, you have been warned...

I have decided that I hate my student loans with a passion.
I just decided to up my monthly payment for them to 333.33 a month.
20% of each paycheck is going towards savings for our next trip.
60 a month goes towards my credit card payment.
Bills (phone, internet, electric, water/garbage).
375 rent.
Which gives me 65 dollars a week to feed myself/entertain/shop/whatever a week. I took out that amount in cash and have it on me and am not using my cards.

This is a lot harder than I thought it would be. Apparently it is a lot more expensive to feed yourself than I thought, even if it is just groceries. So to make sure that I learn about how and where I spend my money I have been incredibly stingy this week (as in, only spending money on grocery shopping). I will see if I have any money left over and adjust accordingly. It is stressing me out in a good way:)

I am really really glad that I happend to budget how I have right when we can eat a lot of garden food. For example, the other day I made a spinach salad with dinner. I am going to a BBQ today and we are supposed to bring something, so I am bringing pickled radishes. My lunch right now is delicious turnip greens steamed in vegetable broth. Thank god for our garden.

Day off!

Today is one of the random days off. It is normally random day off plus Friday. But since Nolan's schedule changed, I was able to kind of change my availability. Apparently there is a huge demand for Sundays and Fridays at work, and I wanted to always have Sundays off and work Fridays (as part of my new availability). That way, I could hang out with Nolan at least one day, aaaaaaaaand accomodate football season. It turns out that the schedule maker (Bob) said that the best he could do was alternate with those days off. Thats fine with me. Also, I decided to post my weekly work schedule on here. I have talked to several family members who say that they don't know if they should call me or not because they don't know if I'm working. So now, no more excuses!

Thursday, June 25 1p - 9p
Friday, June 26 X
Saturday, June 27 4p - 12a
Sunday, June 28 4p - 12a

Monday, June 29 4p - 12a
Tuesday, June 30 X (I am currently trying to switch this off day to a different one)
Wednesday, July 1 4p - 12a
Thursday, July 2 1p - 9p
Friday, July 3 X
Saturday, July 4 12p - 7p (we close at 5 on the 4th, how amazing is that?)
Sunday, July 5 4p - 12a

I started writing this blog three hours ago and left it open and did stuff and thangs. We pulled out 6 of many radishes and they are literally the size of beets. They have all of these gnarly beautiful roots too. YUM. I transplanted some things and I'm pretty dirty right now.

Mackenzie got home last night, and I texted her circa 2am as I was going to bed and welcomed her home, and she texted me back asking why I was up so late, and so I immediately called her. We talked for like 45 minutes and it was spontaneous and lovely.

A day with Kate

Katie Costello is one of the girls I lived with when we first moved to Seattle two years ago. She and I hit it off before we even met in real life. It's probably because we are both Virgos. No but really, we are a lot a like. And also very different. She makes incredible music. That is a link to her myspace music page. So you can listen while you continue to read :)






Today I hung out/(am still hanging out) with her. We went to breakfast at arguably the best breakfast place on the hill. Glo's is becoming our new spot (on an irregular basis). Afterwards, since we both have today off, we decided to extend our time together but didn't know what to do. So we did something practical and went grocery shopping. Then we came back to my house and played computers and budgeting, since we are both starting to budget. Its kind of exciting, is that weird?







Then we played garden, and I pulled up the first harvest! I only pulled one radish, since when you pull them up they are gone and I dont want them to be gone yet. They are ENORMOUS and bulging out of the soil now. The one I pulled wasn't as big (but still a good size) but I pulled it because it was splitting. Katie took pictures with her phone:








We deicded that we were hungry again at 7ish. Since we are on a budget, we couldn't go out and get food. Instead, we went to Grocery Outlet. To load up on grocery junk food at extremely low prices. I bought a frozen pizza, a box of microwavable popcorn, two Butterfinger Buzz bars, and two cans of pop. Awesome, I know. I was originally going to buy one Butterfinger (or so I thought) but then Katie screechingly warned me against what I was about to do. I had had the Buzz bar in my hand and was informed that it is equal to one energy drink. Energy drinks are disgusting. So I bought two buzz bars instead. You never know, right? :)




We came home and made pizza and Katie made guacamole and we ate it with chips and drank sody pops. Its been a semi-gluttonous day for me. Im ok with it.

Achey Muscles

There hasn't been a point since I lived here when I haven't been sore. I am so much more active here than I have been living anywhere else. First of all this city is built on hills. I have my feet and my bicycle to take me to places (I rarely ride the bus). Second of all, leaving our house requires going up a hill, theres no escaping it. I work at Trader Joes where we move around a lot, and lift a lot of things. I don't feel like I look any different, but I just feel the strongest I've been in my adult life. It feels good to be sore. Mmmm.

Madelyn Elizabeth Delster was born yesterday. She is beautiful:

Mike and Emily, I am so happy for you both. Congratulations!

Tonight my friend Kristie,

who works in the wine department at the store, is starting her second job as a bartender. The Lookout has its grand opening tonight. Tim and I and some other people from the store are going to go. It willl be fun. (Also, remember when I captured Danae's essence in that awesome picture of her? Well, this is me capturing Kristie's essence.)

Bainbridge Trip

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13.

Our trip to Bainbridge was really nice. We had a few hiccups there, however.On Wednesday night, we changed my tire tube because it was flat.

1. Thursday morning, we had a really fun bike ride down to the ferry terminal downtown.

2. We got coffee last minute and found the way to the ferry entrance.

3. Seattle being perfect from any angle.

4. We were so excited and acting like such goofballs on the way there!

5. I got a flat and had to take a cab back into town on Bainbridge. And since we couldn't fit both bikes in the taxi, Nolan sunned and read.

6. It ended up taking a lot longer to get there than we planned (due to my flat) and we were pretty burnt out by the time we'd gotten there. We made pasta, lounged in the jacuzzi, and played my new favorite game, Scribbage.

The next day we woke up, ate oatmeal and went to the vineyard that was less than a mile away from our cabin. Bainbridge Island Vineyard and Winery was so charming. It was our first winery experience and such a good one.

Afterwards, we rode back to the cabin, packed some snacks and rode to Faye Bainbridge State Park, which is an amazing beach where you can camp and enjoy the best things in life.

7. HUGE driftwood at the beach!

8. Playing with critters

9. Acting a goof

10. Water was squirting out from the sand! Nolan had to investigate.

11 & 12. I love the Northwest. And Nolan.

13. After the beach, we came back home and Nolan made Nolan's Famous Rice and Beans meal for us. Also, Trader Joe's got my favorite wine back in (after having sold out of it) Chariot Gypsy, so we brought some of that, too. Also, its 5.99.

The next day we headed out around 10.45 and guess whhaaaaaaaaaaat! I got another flat before we got to the main road. Just my luck. So, I took another cab to the ferry terminal while Nolan rode. Once we got back to Seattle, I took the bus home and Nolan rode. Sad.

Josh is in a group called the Bicycle Belles which is a dancing bicycle group. Its pretty rad. Last night they organized a huge ride/party/dance that went from downtown to Georgetown. There were about a hundered people on the ride, it was a really good time. We rode to three different stops, where they would do a dance at each one. There was also a grill on bycicle wheels and they were making veggie dogs (for free/donation!). Incredible.

Thats all for now. I have to go to work now. Sad face.

Oh! Also, I need to take updated picture of the garden, because I was looking at the old pictures and everything is SO MUCH BIGGER now! I'm obsessed. And we have tomato flowers! And I planted peanuts a couple weeks ago that are sprouting! And a bunch of other cool stuff.

1st Anniversary!

Wow, it has almost been one year since we got married! So much has happened in the last year, its crazy to think about.

Tomorrow we are going to Bainbridge Island and staying in a cabin for 3 days/2 nights. We decided that we wanted to go somewhere that wasn't going to be too expensive, and where we wouldn't need a car. So we are going to ride our bikes to the ferry terminal tomorrow (which is downtown) and take a 35 minute ferry! I am very excited. I am going to pick up some groceries for us this afternoon and see if we can avoid going to the grocery store there. However, our cabin is 5 miles from the ferry terminal and 3 miles from a grocery store, and we have to carry everything on our backs. We will probably wind up having to go to the store. Our cabin can be found at that link. If you sort by price and it should be the fifth one down, its called Cabin Fever. Its gonna be soooo fun! Eeeee!

Oh! Also, Mackenzie went to New Zealand to studay abroad for a month. She's gone May 22 - June 22. She sent us a card before she left that says on the envelope "Do not open until June 14". So sweet. I am excited to open it. Also, yesterday we got something from Grandma Lori: a card and a 25 dollar check for our first anniversary. So adorable.

So you won't hear from me until Saturday night/Sunday morning.

G'morning, amy

Sorry there have been a lack of posts. I was literally obsessed with the garden for a while, and just really busy in general.

I've been running the past couple of days and really love it.However, I've had really terrible shoes to do it in. Ted, a friend from work and I have been talking about running together lately and I told him that the shoes I was running in were terrible. He told me to go to the Seattle Running Company which I've seen a bunch (its right on the hill). And I always wrote it off as being expensive and ridiculous. He just got his shoes there, and (the link directs you right to what I'm talking about). They video tape your bare feet running on a treadmill for 10 seconds and tell you what problem you have (if you have one). And I do. I'm really flat footed and run on the insides of my feet (especially my right foot) it was so interesting to watch, the guy was so helpful in answering my questions. So he recommended 3 shoes for me to try and videoed me running in the shoe. And the one I ended up choosing (because it felt the best) was the one that most visibly corrected my goof leg. Crazy. It was expensive. Well, for me. Anna would tell me that getting a perfect fitting pair has no cost :) so I feel good about it.

I'm trying to force my body into somewhat of a daily routine lately, which I enjoy. Its hard working so late and not having school or some other task to get me up early. But it includes waking up around 9 with our laptop acting as my coffee for about 30 minutes. It also seems that listening to Boyz II Men and other 90s hip hop has been included in my routine, because I have been aaaaaaall about that being brought in my life. Then I go outside and water/weed/look at plants/plant seeds/move transplants till around noonish. I meticulously wash my hands after gardening because, after hearing a story from my friend (about her childhood), I am freaked out on high of getting pinworms. Mostly little kids get it but you get it from playing in the dirt. Anyways, hand washing is a funny part of my routine.

Run! Running after gardening. I am definitely not saying that I go on a huge run. Because I don't. 20 minutes maybe. I want to work up to longer times, but its so hard where we live because every direction you are going to be running up or down (and then subsequently up again) a hill. Its nutty. I love it though.

Then 4 days a week I work 4-midnight (the fifth I normally work 1-9, which is nice). I want to start going to bed by one instead of like 3.30. Its ok every once in a while but I just hate sleeping in.

So, there are the boring details of my life :)

Seedlings

This first set is the front garden, the massive one.

1. Garden from front porch
2. North side of the garden
3. Cantaloupe seedlings (that have taken so long to come up!)
4. Tomato plants that our landlord brought over (south side)
5. Cilantro seedlings (south side)
6. North side
7. Spinach seedlings! (I thought it was grass at first, but waited and looked it up online!) (north side)
8. Radish seedlings! They were the first to come up and are doing really well (south end of north side)
9. Bad picture, but definitely carrot seedlings (north end of south side)
10. Beet seedlings! (north side)
11. Dill seedlings (south side)
12. View facing north
13. View facing south




This set is from the planter box that we brought up from Portland. I planted these before the front garden.
1. Whole box
2. Whole box
3. Broccoli seedlings! (north side)
4. Zucchini seedling - I am obsessed with these fat leaves. (south side)
5. Turnip seedlings! I got lazy and just threw a lot of seeds into each spot, and I definitely didn't plan any spacing and this is what I got. I transplanted some, which are still alive but they didnt like it, and are a lot smaller than these ones now. So I am just going to let them compete, I think.



These are inspired by my new book! I am going to be buying a lot of fruit to eat, and saving their seeds, crowns, eyes, etc to plant. So far I have cut up two mealy organic Fuji apples (one of which already had seeds sprouted inside!) and removed the seeds. The rectangular tray (which is a plastic cherry tomato tray) has the sprouted ones. The soup can has the ones not yet sprouted. Tha avocado in the water trick that everyone knows (I have to buy tooth picks) and old garlic that I have to do something with.

I AM SO EXCITED.

Also, I went to Lowe's again today? I can't help it. Daniel paid me to get a Ziptruck so he can get a mattress (finally!) and i used the remainder of the reserved hour to get a thing to wind up the hose, peat moss (I'll explain later!), rocks (I know, weird), and more soil.

I have to go to worrrrrrrk!

Blogout.