The Big move.

By now, mostly everyone knows the news of late in my world.
I am moving to Washington, DC.
It's not earth-shattering, but to some it was quite surprising. If you are an avid reader of this blog (when I actually keep up with it...) many, many, many of my posts over the last two years have touted the wonderousness of my beloved Seattle.
It's true. I love it here.
The Pacific Nowthwest has such an awesome vibe. Recently it was named as one of America's coolest cities with the hipster crowd. I agree. But I am not a hipster. Though I can appreciate their quirk.
But more than being filled with the "coolest" people in America (because let's be honest, I really only know a handful of people here...really.) The Pacific Northwest (PNW for those in the know) is filled with some of the most beautiful scenary I have ever seen in my life. Between the mountains, the greenery and the water, you cannot ask for much else. I will forever be in awe of the mountains. My midwest heart still finds them wonderous. And again, how a 14,000 ft mountain can just appear as if out of nowhere will forever baffle and delight me. The proximity to so much water does bring my inner-fishy significant joy and comfort. Add in the fishing boats and the character that seems to ooze out of every neighborhood and you have a rather lovable place. At least for a wanna-be cool kid like me. ;) But as a wise person once said, You can love a place with your whole being and still be totally fine living someplace else. I agree! Seattle and the rest of the PNW (Junea, AK included) will forever take up space in my heart as part of the great loves of my life. It will always be a part of me and will remain one of the best decisions of my life to live here.

But it's time for a new opportunity. This great change came about somewhat surprisingly (even to me), but it makes sense. It feels right. And I am excited.
Yes, I will absolutely miss the friends, the sceneray, the temperate weather, and the comforts of a not-so-challenging job. Absolutely. And if I said I wouldn't miss that stuff, you might as well call me Pinoccio. But what lies ahead is great.
Being in the nation's capitol. Cool. Free museums. History. And on and on.
Add in the closeness of favorites.
And then the proximity to my family.
Plus, the challenges of a new-ish job.
It's good. Really good.
The next few weeks will be crazy. For real crazy. Packing. Spending time in my favorite places, absorbing as much of the PNW as I can before I move away. Packing. Busy with friends, soaking up as much of them as I can before I am on the whole opposite coast. Moving. Putting the pieces in place for the folks who are taking on my current work projects so they have an easy job ahead of them. Completing my program at the UW. Finding a place to live. Learning a new city. Determining which neighborhood will suit me best and easily compare to my beloved Fremont. (Though where else in the world do you have a Troll for a neighbor?!)
It's the quirk that makes Seattle special. It's te quirk that makes it cool.
It's the quirk that I will miss the most.
But I suspect that the Nation's Capitol will have it's own quirkiness to love.
And I am 100% sure that I will fall in love with it there, too.
One never knows when roots will plant firmly into the ground, but for a few years (at least) I think this is a great adevnture!
So, cheers to the old. And cheers to the new.
Here's to happiness all around!

Happy heart

Today is February 1.

The first of the month, you pay your bills, including rent. And while I wrote out the rent check (the only actual check I ever have to write), I realized this is the 24th month I have written a rent check out to my landlord.

I have lived here for two years. Officially.

It's awesome and crazy.

It's still exciting and just lovely.

And home.

**Photo taken at Kerry Park on 1/1/12.
This was my "missing view". The songbird took me here when I first came to visit her 7 years ago and I have never found it. 1- I didn't know the name and 2- I couldn't have told you the neighborhood. So excited to have found it again!

Sneaky Pete!

My Seattle 3-Day event occured last weekend. Overall it was a good event. There were a few things that could have gone better (always). 1- the weather could have better (less rain) and the sprinklers could have stayed off. But as I said, overall it was good.

When creating the route, there were a few moments of "angels singing" as I discovered Mt Rainier in the distance. It was the pefect background to an already great route. But, as anyone here knows, Mt. Rainier is (what I term) a saucy bitch that appears when it feels like it. Not when you want to see it. And this week was no exeption. The mountain appeared Mon- Fri and was spectatcular! Of course.

Even though it was hiding through most of the event, I LOVE that mountain. It still takes my breath away whenever it seems to pop out as if out of nowhere! How a 14,000 ft. mountain can appear as if out of nowhere is still a delightful mystery to me.

City Love- part 2

I had to venture into downtown Seattle today to pick up some permits for my upcoming event. A trip that can be both a joy and a pain.
Per usual, today it was both.
I drove around the same block 6 times while trying to find the building I was going to and then trying to find parking in the same area. The ladies waiting at the bus stop waved at me the 3rd, 4th, and 5th times I circled. By the 6th, I felt like I should say stop and say hello. Perhaps make some new friends! But I found the spot and got down to business.
After I picked stuff up, I headed for home. Due to a wrong turn (whoops! sometimes I am still "new"), I ended up driving near the Pike's Place Market. And there was parking right near the entrance. Soooo, of course I stopped! (How could I not? It was as though it was meant to be.)
I popped into the market and partook in all of the loveliness that Seattle has to offer---

$5 boquets of flowers, fresh local strawberries and of course, a Starbucks iced passion tea (my latest addiction!).
Best detour ever!

And yet one more reason why I love where I live.
I mean, where else could I pick up that kind of loveliness for less than $20?

It's official.

Birds actually hate me.

Seriously.

I know they do.

I know it deep down in my being. No one esle has weird bird encounters, but I do frequently.

And this weekend it was proven once again.

I enjoyed the gorgeous sunny Seattle weekend by going to the beach yesterday. I was settled in a nice spot, enjoying the sun, sounds of the surf, and people watching. And then it happened.

A bird pooped on me!

I yelled (maybe swore a little) and went directly into the frigid waters of the Puget Sound. (Seriously, I think it's colder than Lake Superior).

Once I warmed back up and discussed the incident with the entire group of people hanging out near me (with laughter and some disgust from all of us!), I enjoyed a little more time in the sun and then went home.

I had such an enjoyable time at the beach that I decided to head back again today. Again, delightful and ended with a great trip one of the local markets.

And then I returned home.

To find a dead bird.

On my back porch.

Are you effing kidding me?! GROSS!

Seriously. Birds hate me.

And they are not making me a very big fan with these antics.