Bucket List Update and Revision

My new change of location midsummer prompted a few additions to the summer bucket list.

1. Read Les Miserables.
2. Get tan(ish).
3. Learn a new song on the piano.
4. Find cheap flights to Denver for Mark's wedding (fingers crossed).
5. Write something every day.
6. Explore the lighthouse at Discovery Park.
7. Go to Elliott Bay Bookstore (and don't spend more than $30).
8. Find the Sleepless in Seattle house.
9. Listen to the singing monks.
10. Become the alpha-male of the dogs I nanny.
11. Swim in Green Lake.
12. Go to the Jimmy Eat World concert.
13. Go to the Death Cab concert.
14. Visit the awesome cemetery on Capitol Hill.
15. Read a Russian (with emotional clearance from Melis and/or C).
16. Start (and finish) Jesus the Christ.
17. Make tortillas.
18. Watch The Breakfast Club.
19. Paint.
20. Go on a trip. (Canada? Spokane?)
21. Dance on the roof.
22. Attend a reading (or three).
23. Go boating.
24. See the PUPPIES.
25. Show Jess an episode of AR with STEVE HOLT.
26. Go to the temple with the boy.
27. Fish. (Thomas?)
28. Wash the car regularly.
29. Visit the Seattle Art Museum.
30. Go to an outdoor movie.
31. Ride a ferryboat.
32. Go to a Mariners game.
33. Hit the Ballard Seafoodfest.
34. Visit Chihuly Garden and Glass.
35. Ride the ferris wheel.
36. Go to the Marathon memorial in Copley Square.
37. Swim at Walden Pond.
38. Visit the JFK Museum.
39. Buy an air conditioner.
40. Attend a concert at the Hatch Shell.
41. Go to a Red Sox game.
42. Hit up Boston Magazine's Ice Cream Spectacular list.

The Ballet. Also, Dan.

Last night after eating massive amounts of teriyaki while watching this week's episode of The Mindy Project (Have you watched it yet? "Danny, will you make a pact?" I died.), I got all dressed up in a fancy fluffy dress (thanks, Megan!) and went to the Pacific Northwest Ballet's Nutcracker.

It was magical.

Elise, me, Amy

Several years ago, Maurice Sendak partnered with the PNB manager to design the sets and costumes. I loved reading about that in the program, because the sets just felt like Maurice Sendak. And it's really such a great story for him to be a part of. All about the ease of children to slip in and out of fantasy.

Easy to see him in the set, isn't it?

The sets were fabulous, the costumes were beautiful (I must, must get a tulle skirt that flies up when you twirl), and the music in the second act had me grinning the entire time. It was a wonderful night.




In other news, today my dear friend Dan turns 28. (So old.) If we still lived in the same state, we would celebrate with cake waffles again. As it is, I'm eating french toast tonight. I'll think of you and your birthday and how I'm so glad we became friends during that perfect Boston summer.

It was magical too.

Moved In (Finally)

After three months of living in this house, I finally have all my pictures hung on the walls in my room. You'd think I'd be more on top of that. I wasn't in Boston either. But now I can finally supply the photos that were requested (sorry it took so long, AM).

A Green Christmas

It's been seven years since I lived in the Pacific Northwest during the winter, and I have to say, as much as I hate the snow it's a little weird to be coming into December without it. 

Pro/Con List

Moving to Seattle Cons:

• Public transportation in a widespread city takes forfreakingever to get anywhere. 
• Pacific time zone does not allow you to call friends in Boston and/or DC when you get out of class at 9 p.m.
• Job hunting sucks.

Moving to Seattle Pros:

• It has rained once in the past month, and the weather is quite pleasant for someone who's lived in New England for two years (roommates are wimps) (also, Boston is quite rainy currently = irony).
• There are so many more trees.
• Mexican food is available and actually tastes like Mexican food should taste.
• Rent is half as much each month.
• Unemployment allows for babysitting cousins once a week.
• Printmaking class. Best idea ever. (Granted, this also would have happened in Boston. But the tuition would probably have been three times as much.)
• Going home for Conference weekend costs $25 instead of $400. Tualatin, here I come.

Grey's Anatomy is rubbing off on me...

I am leaving this wonderful (albeit, humid and muggy) city

Image source.

and moving to this wonderful (rainy and overcast) city

Image source.

I will find Patrick Dempsey and his fabulous hair in a bar across the street from my new job, and we will fall in love. (That part is a lie. I hate Patrick Dempsey in Grey's. Plus I don't yet have a new job. Two lies.)


But it is happening, sans McDreamy. In three weeks. We have officially started counting down . . .