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.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
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:)
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:)
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
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...)
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...)
Saturday, August 22, 2009
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!
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!
Saturday, August 15, 2009
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.
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.
Friday, August 14, 2009
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 :)
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 :)
Thursday, August 13, 2009
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
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
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
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.
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.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
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.
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.
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