He's crossed over!

Now I know my family has been converted. Small flakes of white death have been falling from the sky this morning. F1 walked into my room a few minutes ago, stared out the window and started chirping. The chirp progress to full on 'must kill whatever predator is lurking on my turf' complete with puffed out tail. Wondering what the hell had caused his spazz attack, I hauled my butt out of my nice cozy bed to peer out through the partially open mini-blinds. There's nothing out in the yard. I turned and looked, F1 is still going apeshit, but refusing to come any closer to the window. I searched the yard again, looking for whatever could be so offensive. Plenty of plant matter, but no animal. And then it dawned on me. I think he's chirping at the snow. That's right, my Wisconsin born one time stray kitty is freaking out over some flurries. Maybe all that snowpocalypse coverage finally got to him. I opened the blinds the rest of the way, and now F1 is nowhere to be found. Coincidence? I have to admit, I find the white crap as offensive as he does, especially after yesterday. It was freezing by my new wussy standards, but so sunny I could forgive the cold. The mountains where out on both sides, which never fails to get a smile out of me.

Presenting exhibit A:



Excuse the crappy quality, as that was taken with my phone, but I think you get the gist. That view is 2 blocks behind my house, where the street dead-ends at the top of the hill. I hope I never get to the point where the mountains become boring. I hope 20 years from now they still make me smile as much as they do right now.

Now it's time to get my ass OFF of said nice warm bed and at least attempt to be productive for a few hours before work. I spend so much time online while I'm at work, you would think it would be the last things I would waste time on before work. Sadly, this isn't the case. I may need an intervention.

Is it the weekend yet?

What a day

I'm beyond excited that Inauguration Day is finally here. Our new president has some monumental tasks ahead of him, but if we can just continue the spirit that seems to have surrounded us all lately, that spirit of working together, I can only imagine the possibilities.

Happy dance!

The sun is out for the second day in a row. To say I'm thrilled is the understatement of the weeks-old year. I've got a planned class at my gym in an hour, but after that the great outdoors will be all mine. Even if it's something as simple as sitting outside with my coffee later, this girl is longing for some topical vitamin d. The big glowing orb poked it's face out after my morning run yesterday, of course, but even the little bit I managed to steal after buying my new phone was sweet. Watching the sunset over the Olympics on my way to dinner with friends was this close to perfect. After all the gray, you really learn to appreciate whatever daylight you can steal.

F1 and F2 don't seem much fazed by this lack of light. They're both curled up at the foot of my bed, already staking their claim on my brand new comforter. They're both facing the same direction, oddly enough. They're warm, well fed, and hopefully happy. Kind of like I am on this cold and clear Sunday morning.

In other non-solar news....my beloved little pink phone is no more. It met it's unfortunate end in my gym bag Thursday morning when it went for a swim in 2 inches of stupid leaking water bottle liquid. Amazingly, after I let it dry out for 24 hours it would turn on and somewhat function, but I knew it was just a matter of time before the water bubble forming a halo around Rachel Maddow's face corroded the rest of the screen. So yesterday I nipped the inevitable in the bud and bought myself a new toy. I have a blackberry curve in 'sunset', oddly fitting for this girl, I think. So far, I like it a lot, but we'll see if it stands the test of time. Hopefully I can keep from dropping this one as much as the razr tended to bounce. The only thing I don't like about it? It's not pink!

So off I go, to savor my first cup of coffee and then get my butt kicked by the crazy russian trainer at my gym. Is it weird that I'm sort of looking forward to the impending ass whooping?

Enjoy your Sunday!

Footnotes

"Really need to get the car looked at....the oil change is way over due. And those brakes...I mean really. Do you REALLY want to keep worrying about it all the time? No. But the money. Money, always a problem whether you have it or you don't. Make a few phone calls on Monday to get some estimates, it might be cheaper than you think. Ok. And don't put off the phone anymore either. You just got luck this morning that it turned back on at all. Don't forget to ask K about her class. More plane crash coverage today I'll bet. Amazing. Still can't believe everyone walked away ok. Nice to have a flaming newsgasm over something good for once. Newsgasm. Ha. Love that word. Wonder if there's a chance RM would ever use it on her show. That would totally rock my world. Yeah, easy customer, I know. Ok, he's cute. The dog is a little ridiculous. Bet he's taken. I can't imagine any single guy getting a poodle like that for himself. Time to take the gloves off. Hmmm...maybe not, now my fingers are too damn cold. How is it possible that it still smells like summer down here? Oh my god, is that a seal? Or a sea otter?? Definitely one of the two, but I can never remember which is which. Oh wow, that's so cool...."

Just a smattering of the ridiculousness that runs through my head when I'm pounding the pavement. So far, I have 25 miles logged since January 1. We'll see how long I can keep this up! Though so far, the coolest thing I think I've seen has to be that sea otter I saw swimming at Alki beach Thursday morning. Way cool.

A pacific northwest gal?

Though perhaps with just that one word in the title I've blown my cover...do people in the PNW even say gal? I know when I said that in New England people looked at me funny. I'm not sure I've heard it used much outside of the midwest, come to think of it. But as usual, I digress.

How long do you suppose it takes before you become part of a place, and that place becomes part of you? My Wisconsin roots were born and raised, and will always be there no matter where I live. Part of that is reflected by the pink Green Bay Packers hat that's currently adorning my curly-head. And try as I might, the accent just won't go away either. (I'm the go-to Sarah Palin impersonator in my office for that very reason!) While two years in Rhode Island didn't leave me with any obvious baggage, I did absorb a love of seafood, good coffee, the ocean, and ADVENTURE while I was there.

So what leads me to believe I may be transforming to a PNW-er? Well, what I was wearing when I went to get coffee this morning, of course. It's January, 40 and overcast, and I went out in capri-length baggy yoga pants, a hoodie, the previously mention hat.....and flip flops. FLIP FLOPS! In JANUARY! The pants are also about as close to shorts as I get these days, and the combination at this time of year boggles my mind, to be honest. In my old stomping grounds of Provy it's 25. In my hometown, it's a whopping 6 degrees. Yes, I do mean farenheight. YIPES!

I stood at the top of the steps that lead down to my backyard, coffee in hand, surveying my domain. Grass. Misty rain. Green mysterious somethings poking through the earth in one of the flowerbeds. A deep breath of rain-washed-crisp-cool air. I saw all this, and it was good.

But seriously...shorts in January? In PUBLIC?? That's how I know I'm converting.

That, and my need for multiple grande americanos to get through the day. Naturally!


And in other news....I'm going to get my running shoes today! I'm so excited!

Have a great weekend!

New year, new start?

So far, I have to say that my short list of resolutions is off on the right foot, so to speak. I promised myself that I was going to make a real effort to improve on my fitness levels this year. I've been a "runner" on and off for years, but gave up again last May. I needed new shoes and couldn't afford them at the time. Months rolled by, and before I realized it summer had turned to winter and my year-old crusty asics are still mocking me from the corner. Replace me... they keep whispering. You know you can do better than me... And when footwear speaks to you, you really should listen. After months of moving and flying home expenses, some much appreciated Christmas money will be joining me on a spending spree at Jock and Jill Sports this weekend. Sweet new running shoes...oh yes, you will be mine. As I discovered on New Year's Day, my running skillllz are basically starting from scratch. I went out in the old shoes, even though they make my knees hurt, and cracked out 2.7 miles in the mist. I did a 'run for three, walk for 1' and it worked out pretty well, actually. Just the fact that I went out a DID IT...hangover and all, made me pretty happy. And I remembered why I liked running in the first place.

Sunday I tried a new class at my gym, and 2 days later I'm still feeling the effect of it in the muscles of my upper back. This pleases me for some reason. The physical benefits are nice, yes, but again that "hey I said I was going to do this and I did" feeling almost outweighs that.

This morning I'm torn over where to head. I'd like to go out for another 'run', but I don't want to push it too much on bad shoes and end up hurting before I get my new toys this weekend. I could go to the gym and ride the bike, but that just doesn't sound as appealing. Decisions decisions.

Either way, I know I'm doing something good for myself. I can't change my ridiculously sluggish thyroid that makes it hard to keep from gaining weight. I can't change that my job keeps me sitting at my desk for most of my 8 hour day. But I can change how physical I choose to be in my downtime.

Off I go!

A 2008 Meme

From Blindedbylaughter over at LJ!

1) Where​ did you begin​ 2008?​
At the Black and White Ball at McFadden's in Providence, then on to our favorite greasy spoon diner around the corner from Elysia's.

2) What was your statu​s by Valen​tine'​​s Day?
I was single and working on the Big Move 2.0

3) Were you in schoo​l anyti​me this year?​​
No

4) How did you earn your money​?​
Working at WPRI in Providence, and now my new employer which I adore

5) Did you have to go to the hospi​tal?​​
No, but I did go to urgent care twice. That was the first time in years.

6) Did you have any encou​nters​ with the polic​e?​​
Other than exchanging pleasantries outside of Uptown, I don't think so

7) Would​ you re-​liv​e 2008 over and over again​?​​
No. It wasn't a bad year, but there is so much more to explore!

​8) What did you purch​ase that was over $​​1000?​
The courier that moved my stuff.

9) Did you know anyon​e who got marri​ed?​​
A few people, yes.

10) Did you know anybo​dy who passe​d away?​​
I'm not sure.

11) Did you know anyon​e who had a baby?​​
My good friend Megan. Nathan is adorable!

13) What conce​rts/​​shows​ did you go to?
Bon Iver, Mike McCready somewhere downtown, Capitol Hill block party, Fleet Foxes, something at Skylark.

14) Are you regis​tered​ to vote?​​
Yes, and vote I did!

15) Do you still​ have the same job as you did in 2007?​​
Nope! :)

16)​​Has anyon​e betra​yed you in 2008?​​
Not really.

17) Where​ do you live now?
West Seattle, WA.

18) Descr​ibe your birth​day?​​
Dinner and drinks the night before, a midnight walk on the beach with the new boy, then dinner and drinks with friends on my actual birthday. It was nice, to say the least.

19) What'​​s one thing​ you thoug​ht you'​​d never​ do but did in 2008?​​
moved to Seattle.

20) What has been your favor​ite momen​t?​
Too many to count, really!

21) What'​​s somet​hing you learn​ed about​ yours​elf?​​
That I can find ways to make just about anything happen.

22) Any new addit​ions to your famil​y?​​
One of my cousins has a new baby....and my sister's boyfriend is an addition to the family in a lot of ways too.

23) What was your best month​?​​
I think August was pretty great.

24) Were you in a relat​ionsh​ip this year?​​
Yes. It didn't work out, but we're still good friends.

25) What music​ will you remem​ber 2008 by?
Anything by Bon Iver and Fleet Foxes.

26) Who has been your best drink​ing buddy​/​​buddi​es?​​
My sister and Kerry.

27) New frien​d?​
Yes! I've made quite a few, actually.

28) Favor​ite Night​ out?
My sister's graduation in Vancouver.

29) Would​ you say you'​​ve chang​ed since​ the begin​ning of this year?​​
Quite a bit, actually. I've realised that relationships are not as evil as I once thought.

30) Name one lifes​tyle chang​e you made this year
I've quit smoking almost completely.

31) Do you think​ 2009 will be bette​r or worse​?​​
I'm hoping it's better, and I'm already putting things in place to make it happen.