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