Let's see...

This week wasn't nearly as exciting as last week. I was a little under the weather all week and bailed on my planned group camping excursion this weekend. After notifying my ride, he informed me that he was bailing too so I guess it all works out in the end. I am taking a time out and resting for a bit. It is glorious! Didn't get to sleep in too much yesterday as the Rock & Roll marathon was up and running (hehe) very early. One of the live bands was right outside my apartment along the course. (They had a band every mile of the course.) I looked for a friend but didn't see her. It was a long shot anyway as I have no idea what kind of times she runs. I was watching the 3:45 to 4:00 marathoners and I think that might be a bit faster than her. I made the mistake of going downtown to visit a shop near the stadiums. The whole area was cordoned off and the store was completely inaccessible if you weren't a runner. So I took a nice, long walk by the waterfront and enjoyed the sunshine.

Discovered a nice wine shop and an amazing butcher shop on Queen Anne. Will have to try to get mom and dad up there to drool. After picking up a bottle that the wine shop was tasting that day and some choice cuts from the butcher next door it was off to a "work party" where the host was the only one that really did any yard work. I was an invite of an invite so basically I was just there for the food. I kept the dog and the token guest child entertained for a bit and grazed the nummy treats being prepared. I love people that love good food! They introduced me to a new beverage which is now my new, favorite summer drink - Pimm's cup. Very refreshing and delicious. And you serve it with a generous slice of cucumber which is nice to crunch on after soaking. :) The weather was so great yesterday; it was nice to enjoy the sunshine on a generous porch with a light (and sometimes not so light) breeze.

My big plan for the day is to head to the dog park with Althea's owner and play for a bit with her. Should be a wet, dirty, grand ol' time. Planning for the Ozette trip a bit too. Will try to remember to call the rangers this week to see about reservations. Might need a few things from REI as well. Think I will have to get the stabilizer thingy for my kayak. Apparently Ozette is the third largest lake in Washington and it is common for it to get 1 -2 foot waves. Without a stabilizer bar thingy that will make paddling difficult.

I love following the tweets of my European bound friend the last couple of weeks. So wish I could be off gallivanting around as well! Maybe next year...

Phew! Busy week.


Althea had a trial sleepover Sunday night. She whined. I laid awake. The morning walk went well and she was a cute little velcro dog most of the morning. There was only one incident when Sugar basically was taunting her and Althea went for it. There was a hit, a swat and a bark and then it was all over. I let Althea know that it was not acceptable to lunge for the kitty and she left Sugar alone the rest of the morning. I think it will work out well once the kinks get worked out between them.

Had a lovely Farmer's Market vegetable dinner Monday. Fresh corn is a wonderful thing! I meant to dehydrate some chicken for a backpacking meal but ended up eating it with an unexpected guest. Caught up in conversation and another evening gone. :)


Tuesday, I rested. It was awesome. I think I slept ten hours or something crazy.

Wednesday was sooooo much fun! Went to a Sounders game. I bought a scarf (the original, way cooler design) and it came in time to wear proudly. :) We didn't win (boo) but it was exciting and such a great time. Our team was far superior but just couldn't get it together to do more than tie. We had great seats for free (favor from a friend of a friend) and now I need to find more season ticket holders to befriend. It was fabulous!

Thursday was travel day after work. Drove up to the San Juans for a kayak/camping trip. Didn't get up there until almost 11. Sleepy. Crazy expensive ferry ride. Will have to be a passenger next time or take my bike.







There was a marvelous sunset though. Makes me want to live up there and see it every summer night...














The kayak trip was great. :D Really difficult in the morning. We went for about 2-1/2 hours south against the current and the wind. We didn't make it very far so we turned around for lunch and made the same distance north in fifteen minutes. Our guides were guessing 2-4 foot swells with a 2-3 knot current. It was hard enough that they approved our version of 7 foot swells and a 6 knot current. We didn't see any whales but we were up close and personal with an elephant seal named Hannah on shore and a harbor seal out in the water. Lots of bald eagles too. I want to sign up for a three day trip! We were so exhausted afterwards that we didn't even make it back to the tent for a nap. We slept for about an hour on the lawn at the launch site. Then we dragged ourselves back to the tent and slept some more. The second night was peaceful with no rain and we came home the next day. Mom and I gorged ourselves with Friday Harbor farmer's market pastries on the ferry ride back for "lunch". Delightful way to end a weekend getaway.

Now I'm home and it's Father's Day. Will be meeting up with dad for tapas in a bit, num num! Time to do laundry and get all the campfire smell out of my stuff!

I'M GETTING A DOG!!!!

Actually, I'll be pet sitting for a year but that is basically the same thing. :) My neighbor is going to Korea for a year and needed someone to help look after his puppy, Althea. She's a great dog and while it will take some getting used to for Sugar I think it will work out great! Excellent practice for me if I get on the Vizsla puppy wait list for next March. I'M SO EXCITED!

In other news...
Went kayaking last week with work peoples and had a nice time but my arms were so sore the next day I was seriously concerned for my whale watching via kayak trip this week! I took out the inflatable again on Saturday and tired out in about the same time. We'll see how the trip goes.

Going to the closing of SIFF tonight. Should be interesting as I've never participated in anything like it. Will update later on that.

On the pet front again, will be cat sitting for my lucky friend that is spending the next three weeks in Europe {envy}. Splitting "making a lap" duties with two other folks so I'm only up for this week. I hope I can get him to fetch for me like he does his owner. :D

Weather has been gorgeous lately! Clouds today but I hope the nice weather sticks around for a bit longer. We've had such a wretched winter and wet spring it was fabulous to have the warm break.

Off to run errands!

A little late.

Last week was sticky hot for Seattle. I think we may have reached 90. That is just so wrong for this area. I got a migraine from missing so much sleep because my apartment (and the outside air) never really cooled down.

Wednesday and Thursday I went to art walks. I borrowed my apartment manager's min-pin for a walk to the first one not really thinking through that I couldn't go inside most of the participating shops with a dog. It was a lovely evening for a walk so I didn't mind. Thursday's art walk was amazing. A friend had invited me as she was showing some of her pieces and I thought it would have been a small boutique type setting. Instead, there was an entire building that leases its spaces out to artists and the first Thursday of every month they open it up to the public with most items for sale. There was quite the variety of mixed media. Mostly oils and sketches but also a lot of photography and a few sculptures/installations. There were people selling dresses and shoes for suggested donations of $10 and $5, respectively. It looked like a feeding frenzy. There were quite a few pieces of art and some jewelry that I would have liked to have taken home but most everything was too rich for my blood. So I've decided to try to go back every month or so and get my art fix that way.

Friday was a super fabulous dinner! Five courses with five wine pairings from a Woodinville winery, Facelli I believe. A culinary school (Art Institute of Seattle, Portfolio) put it on and in addition to being muy tasty it was really cheap (for a five course meal). $60 tax and tip included. What a steal! They do this every quarter and I think that sounds like a nice treat. They have weekly dinners as well (1, 2 or 3 courses). The view from the restaurant is outstanding as well. From Rainier to the Olympics, gorgeous! I stuffed myself stupid and it was awesome. I still have the cheese course at home in the fridge because I couldn't finish. :)

Saturday I went and saw The Hangover. I believe it has the same director as Old School and it was very funny. Some scenes depicted things that were just wrong but it was hilarious overall. What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas they say.

Sunday was quite the adventure. After completing obligatory housekeeping duties I went on a hike with a friend. They had a book, something like "60 hikes within 60 miles of Seattle" and so we went to check out Squak Mountain. It is quite possibly the worst signed trail area I have ever encountered. I am so thankful my friend insisted on taking the book because we really would have had to call Search & Rescue at some point. It stated that there were many intersections and to stick to the main trail to avoid confusion. The problem was that at least half of the intersections looked like main trails, and 99% of the intersections were unmarked. The book wasn't very specific and our ~6 mile hike turned into almost seven hours of aimless wandering. Well, we had an aim but it was crazy! We gave up trying to find the right trail and just looked for signs of civilization. Eventually we found a horse ranch and followed the back roads to a main road. Thankfully we picked the correct direction on the main road and made it back to the car before dark. Bad pedestrian road too. Two lanes, no shoulder, 45 mph. The only injury aside from sore muscles is a half dollar sized blister on my right heel. Ouch. Thank goodness for the multi-pack of band-aids I bought Saturday; I'm going to need them.

Today our work department is going out kayaking for a bonding experience. Yay we get to leave early! I didn't realize that so I will have to decide to get wet in jeans or try to run home and change before then. Should be fun either way!