The Last Breakfast (*sob!*)

To commemorate my last day in Washington, Sarah and I had a big breakfast send off at the "Log Cabin" restaurant. It was so great to catch up a little more, and eat the most important meal of the day with her...for the last time...for a loooong time.... waaaaahh!

In any case, we did have a few pictures of this event so here they are for you!

I'd tell you about the rest of the day but basically it was a lot of sitting on a plane, so not much news there.

Here sits Sarah Su with one of her two favorite beverages...hot chocolate (the second, in case you are dying to know, is chocolate milk)

Here's my breakfast. It was very yummy and also huge...there was no way I could finish it all!

Goodbye, Sarah Su! It's been great visiting with you...and it's your turn next!!

A Day of Memorial

I'm not quite sure how one goes about celebrating Memorial Day. To me, Memorial Day is like a prequel to the 4th of July. It seems to me that almost everything is the same, except the lack of fireworks on Memorial Day...and I'm quite sure that they DO have them at Disneyland. Am I right? There's really no theme for this holiday except for the flag, and while I honor the brave men and women in uniform, I'm at a loss of how to properly go "all out" on this one. If Memorial Day was St. Patrick's Day, though, they would REALLY know I support them. And that's something, I suppose...

Sarah and I spent Memorial Day with her family at a picnic. It was a GORGEOUS day...and even better, I wasn't at work. (That's really the point, isn't it?)

Sarah took a lot of pictures of which I was promised copies...they are yet to come, so you will have to make do with the scant number that I took. Which was...one.

After the festivities, we went back to the house and I FORCED her to watch West Wing, Season 1, episodes 1-2. The reason such "torture" had to take place is because she was continually saying that the show was boring. Anyone who has every watched it or been a part of the phenomena knows that it is anything but boring. Thus, the record had to be set straight :)

This is me learning/playing hand and foot. Don't tell anyone what I have, k?

Sunnnndayyyy, Sundaaaayyyy!

Sunday in Washington brought an earlier wake up time...and with the time difference of 1 hour, I got the short end of that stick. I joined Sarah and her family at her Dad's church and was even able to meet her small group of girls that she meets with weekly for the high school ministry.

I was duly impressed with her capable questioning skills and even managed to answer a few of the questions myself. Hey, I know most of YOU question me every day! :)

The highlight of the day was going to CHINESE food! Most of my friends in Colorado do not enjoy this particular type of food, which makes me sad because I JUST discovered it when I was in college. So, when Sarah asked me what I wanted to do while I was out there, this was at the top of my list. Now, just as a disclaimer, I do not pretend to love authentic chinese chinese food. I'm more about the American chinese food...let's be honest about it. Pick up Stix, Panda, Pei Wei, PF Chang's...this is my comfort zone. :)

We went with Charissa and her friend Em - friends of Sarah and acquaintances of mine from Master's.

I wasn't in a picture snapping mood today (unfortunately). Although I'm sure it would have been delicately understated to run around church snapping candids and such, I was afraid that it would make me seem less spiritual. Therefore, you are having to pay...

Here is the lone obligatory pictures we took that day...for your viewing pleasure.

I Heart Seattle

After trying to recover from my 2:30 AM landing in Seattle, Sarah and I headed to downtown Seattle with what might be called a um...leisurely...pace. We got up, got ready, ate breakfast, Sarah cut my hair, we gabbed about whatever, and then stopped at Starbucks before heading downtown.

The plan was to have lunch on the water, walk around, take lots of pictures, hit Pikes Place and possibly do a tour of downtown Seattle on the "Duck" ride (it's a vehicle that can traverse land AND sea).

Well, we were able to accomplish 3 of the 5...by the time we finished lunch, it was nigh unto 4:45 PM...and everything (unbeknownst to us) closed at 5 PM. Sure, it didn't really meet ALL of our expectations, but we had fun living it up. I couldn't imagine walking any longer anyway, since I was about to DIE of tiredness...so instead, we hit Pirates of the Carribean III on the way home. Now, to each his own, but it was SUPER long with things I have no hope of understanding. And I'M a COLLEGE graduate. :)

The public bathrooms on the street! Be careful....if you take too long, the doors will open on you.

Um, this means that I had the zoom on...but I thought this was a funny one :)

And....SCENE (on day one).

A Tale of Two Travels

Happy Memorial Weekend! I bet you are all excited to have Monday off of work and enjoy some much needed pre-summer vacation time. I myself decided to visit my bestest friend in the whole world, Sarah in Washington. This is the first time since I lived with my parents that I am actually traveling cross country to see people that I'm not related to. It's kind of weird, but totally exciting too.

I have been traveling by flight since I can remember. I actually can't remember the first time I was on a plane...it's just a normal method of travel to me. I am in awe of those people (like my co-worker, Liana) that have never even stepped foot on a plane. How do you people get AROUND? Seriously. In my years of travel I have picked up a few tips which I am about to share with you (my adoring public) at no cost. And in this one-time limited offer, I will also throw in a set of steak knives* (who would want steak knives THROWN in? Sounds dangerous...)

1. Always travel with multiple entertainment options. Back in the day, I would take at least 3 books (which always made for nice LIGHT carry-ons), some sort of journal or cards or something and a portable CD player.

Nowadays, I am eternally thankful for my portable DVD player that was given to me as a Christmas gift. Now, if I am traveling during the Christmas season, I will also pack some nice yarn, and a crochet hook or two. I'm extremely lucky that I am still able to carry those items on. I'm just praying that the airlines don't catch on. C'mon, crochet hooks? I could do some real damage and poke someone's eyes out! It's still amazing to me that my lip gloss is a questionable item and I can carry my crochet hook on board with ease. Go figure!

2. Always look innocent and nonchalant in line for security. Let's face it, security has toughened up! I don't know why I look like the terrorist type, but apparently I do because almost every time I travel I am pegged for the whole puff puff system. This is not a secret society, but a machine that you stand in. It is not a time machine like I originally thought. Instead, you stand in the middle of the little booth and then allow the device to pepper you with puffs of air. It never fails that I flinch my face off, but inevitably I am declared able to board my flight. I guess that's the point...

3. Don't waste your time worrying about who will be sitting next to you on the imminent flight. Some of the people in the "holding pen" are not even going to be on your flight. It's just a waste of a lot of time and energy. Trust me on this one...

4. If you flight is delayed and you have to visit with the desk-ensconced airline agents, be pleasant. It's not their fault that you want to shoot your brains out and devise a teleporting device to scale the distances in a single bound...it's most likely the pilots. Feel free to clobber THEM, but plan on spending some time in jail.

5. Always drink plenty of water and take a water bottle and a snack with you on the plane. You never know if your flight will be the one sitting on the tarmac and making the nightly news with Tom Brokaw.

That's all I have for now - but I reserve the right to update the list at any time!

So, my day began a bit rockily...I know you all are tracking my health since my earlier post. And really, who wouldn't want to? I'm thrilling. Despite my use of Zicam, Airborne and lots of liquids, I woke up feeling worse than the last few days. You know what might help that out? Traveling across the states. Yes, I really think this is what will get me back on my feet. Okay, so if the Airborne bottle says to take one before going on planes when you are perfectly healthy, then I should take what? Two? Three? Ah, people and their germs. I am now the person that people are hoping will not be the person next to them on the plane. "Aw, folks! It's just a little cold (sneeze)...I'm a fun person, really (cough)!"

Well, Seattle or bust. My flight was just delayed for the third time. No, the 7:40 PM departure was just a pipe dream. I'm lucky if I make the current 11:30 PM take off. I did confirm that I have a seat on the plane, though...so I guess that's something. I'm rotating through my entertainment options and bringing you all a much-to-detailed post. You all probably didn't even make it this far did you?

More blogging and pictures of the trip to come. I can see that you are all waiting with bated breath.

*I was just kidding about the steak knives. Money doesn't grow on trees, now, does it?

It's that time of year....

So, my roommate came down with sick-like symptoms a few days ago and my an office mate of mine was out for a day and half with the same thing. Last night, I started to get a sore throat and my co-worker Paul came in not feeling well today and last night.

I am BOUND and determined to ward this bug off, though, because I'm leaving on Friday for WA to visit my friend Sarah. I must have maximum party energy!

Therefore, I have already drank my weight in liquids today (including a "C-Boost" smoothie from Bolthouse Farms), have fastidiously washed and sanitized my hands and am ready to take on this illness wave with a vengence.

Cross your fingers and PRAY!

Gilmore Girls and Various Sundry Items

It is the end of the Gilmore Girl era. I've laughed, cried and sat in astonishment with every bend and turn of these 7 seasons. And, while I think it is the time for this good thing to come to an end (it just isn't the same without Amy Sherman-Palladino at the helm), it still is hard to think that Rory and Lorelai are out of my life forever. The series finale wasn't all that I had hoped for (what's with the Logan abruptness?), but it was still good to celebrate with the Star's Hollow folk one last time. Luke and Lorelai are finally together (though without the pizazz I would have liked), Rory is off to pursue her dream sans Logan and Lane is in the dubious throes of Zack and motherhood (what happened to rock and roll?). Goodbye, friends!

Speaking of the screen...what is with the Shrek madness? I really don't get it...someone clue me in. Other than the marketing strategy (The wait is "ogre"?? That's AWESOME), I'm in the dark here.

In other breaking news, Herbie is growing fast. My sources tell me that sweet peas are a vine...hence the growing apparatus that you see here.

My roommate and I went to DSW last night (my favorite shoe store in the whole world) and I ended up with a brand new pair of tennis shoes! They were a great price, fit my feet like they were created to be there and THEY ARE PINK!

Have I ever mentioned to you that I love Real Simple magazine? Because, I do. I really do. Generally, my magazine reading method is much akin to my museum perusal method...see the picture/artifact and move on. Why stop to read every placard? I saw, I went, I moved on. Real Simple is the only magazine that I actually read cover to cover. It's like a pretty version of consumer reports, cooking magazine and decorating/style/organizing magazine all in one! My friend Renae got me a subscription for my birthday, for which I am very thankful. Thanks, Renae! :)

One, Two, Tree...

So, lately I've been really noticing trees. All types, but especially the pretty ones.

How do you know which ones are the pretty ones? Well, to some degree I think that depends on who you are and what you find beautiful. I, for one, would be happy to have a "Charlie Brown" scraggly Christmas tree each year to save it from a lonely Christmas in the Home Depot parking lot. However, my entire family doesn't seem to side with me on that...go figure!

In any case, given my inordinate amount of love for the color pink, this tree caught my eye a few weeks ago and I solemnly and resolutely marched out of my car and down the street to capture it on film...or whatever it is that digital cameras use nowadays. :) Here it is for your viewing pleasure. Also, it makes a good computer backdrop. (I'm just saying...)

More updates on Herbie in a few days...he's growing like a weed! Or really, he's growing like a flower...

Am I getting obsessed with all things foliage? Kind of seems like it from my last few posts, but rest assured that I am still the same girl from previous posts. Just a bit more nature-oriented :)

What a Difference a Week Makes!

Well, for your second installment of the Sweet Pea Chronicles, allow me to introduce Herbie's first little sprout! I was so excited to see it growing. I'm telling you, my voice has MAGICAL powers. :)

This happened early in the week. You have to look really hard, but it is there!

As the week went on, I couldn't believe the progress of little Herbie! Check it out!

Sweet Pea Chronicles - Week 1

I have embarked on an incredible journey that I want to share with all of you. A little background, if you please...

I come from a family of black thumbs. This is not a racial comment...I'm just saying that my mom (self-admittedly) did not passed down the gene that would allow me to grow things with sucess. However, I've decided that with little education, some determination and some love and nurturing (to me, this means naming the plant and trying not to drown him with my zealous watering habits) I will try again and hopefully triumph over the plant world. To those of you that don't know, the plant world is what got edited out of Lord of the Rings.

Here is Herbet (herbie, if you will) in the beginning stages. The seed packet says it's going to take practically eons to grow into actual sweet pea flowers, but I WILL NOT BE DAUNTED! I WILL PRESS ON! (or something slightly less dramatic :))

Just in case you have also been afflicted by an "other-than-green" thumb disorder, here are some helpful tips that my roommate/friend Anne has shared with me. She's my hero, because she's actually grown things before. These are the tips that I've learned so far:

1. Stop watering once the water comes into the plate underneath the planter

2. Water when the soil 1" down is no longer wet from the previous water

3. Follow the directions and actually give the plant the specified light that they need.

4. Talk to him every day and encourage him to come up faster than the packet claims (this one I added in, in case you hadn't noticed)

The end of volume/week one of the sweet pea chronicles.

p.s. A big hoot and holla' to my friend/roommate Anne who said one night (and I quote), "Hey, Amy...why don't you put this on your blog?"