alma

I just finished a book called The History of Love. It featured an eccentric and impulsive little girl, who was quite likable. My favorite thing she thought was this, when with a boy she liked.

"An average of seventy-four species become extinct every day, which was one good reason but not the only one to hold someones hand."

Athens.

warning: following subject matter may be too beautiful for those with heart problems

I was awoken a few mornings ago by a pink glow coming in the window, as I never draw my shades at night hoping to enjoy the palatial lake view even in my slumber. It was 7:00am and normally not much can get me out of bed in a hurry. I did a sleepy double take before leaping off the end of the big bed and tumbling over to the window. The most wonderful sunrise I have ever seen was in the process of turning from a reddish orange to pink. From Kirkland to Renton, the sky was ablaze! I starting taking photos interspersed with wow!s and geez!es. What a great show. As the colors faded back to an ordinary blue I got back into bed and slept for another hour and a half.






Today I went up to get a closer view of the pass and snowshoe with some friends. It was lovely, lovely, lovely. I ran around, tried to sled on my bum and had grilled cheese and tomato soup from a thermos. I think I want some snowshoes. Next time I am taking my snow saucer. There were so many kids on sleds and dogs playing in the snow. I went up with Whitney, Nathan, Liz, Chris and Emily. Between that and snowboarding lessons starting next week, I may spend every day until work starts up with my new love, snowy mountains.

Maybe winter in Seattle isn't so terrible after all.

this is the end, my only friend, the end

They tell you not to take your first job offer, but I have done it anyway for the second time. I am no longer a free-flying, dreaming, blissful, drifter on funemployment. Well, not after the 26th of January anyway. I am the newest support staff member of Hough Beck and Baird. I negotiated, deliberated and ended up not being able to think of a reason not to take this offer. HBB is a 10 person firm doing a big variety of public and commercial work. I think it will be a good place. I think I will be busy, valued and learn a lot.

I had a difficult time picking up that phone and making the acceptance call. Commitment is more difficult the less you already have of it. It came down to me remembering something my brother said about marriage. That you could go on asking 'what if', forever. At some point you just make a decision to love a person, and do it. I wonder about those other firms. If their offers in January would have been better. No matter now, I am moving forward with the best I have. I have made a decision to be at HBB and will be there. At least for a few years. This is less serious than marriage. Thankfully.














Things will never be as easy as they were, right then, in Vietnam.

storm!

The state of emergency placed on my home can now be lifted. The situation has stabilized and I have returned from my refugee status. This photo is of what I have been seeing a lot of lately.

The night of the big wind storm '06, Claire and I had just returned from an evening of tooling around Fremont and being caught in the strongest rain shower I have ever seen. The streets were flooded, ravenous, class V rivers and sheets of water were blowing parallel to the sky. We parked the car and screamed with delight as we leapt across multiple bodies of water and got half soaked before we fell into the door of Cafe Ladro. We couldn't believe our eyes and stuck our faces up against the glass windows to watch the spectacle. We gasped and gaped and looked around the cafe for some wild-weather camaraderie. The shop was full of people, working away on their laptops. No one even looked up. You would have thought it was a perfect summer day the way people were non-responsive. Even the Barista looked uninterested and failed to comment on what was surely the most interesting thing of the day, happening at that very moment. Claire and I decided these people were obviously stiff or had lost their imaginations. The only response was a group Ctrl-S when the lights flickered.

After we returned home the wind was already blowing hard and shaking the house. We stayed up and sat in the massage chairs in my room, watching the tree tops blow. After a couple hours of sleep I was jolted awake in my bed as the house swayed under the pressure of gusts of wind. I got up and looked out the window to see the trees bending over and shingles flying off of roofs like confetti. I jumped back in bed and covered my head, trying to fall back asleep. I peeked out and stared over my covers at Bellevue, while the bed shook. The electricity surged and the clock radio turned itself on. Before I could get over to turn it off, everything went black. I looked out and saw the whole of the Eastside, black. I got so scared as the winds grew worse, that I ran to Claire's bedroom and jumped in bed with her. I thought maybe the roof would come clear off. We were both awake for the next 4 hours hearing trees fall, garbage cans fly and our window screens popping off. I wasn't sure we would make it through the night.

We did. The wind stopped and before it did I got so tired even the shaking house couldn't keep me awake. The last three days have been spent seeking out fallen trees, smashed cars, and general disaster, while calling around to evaluate electricity status. Claire and I both awoke with frozen brains the second morning, so we abandon ship and stayed at her parents' place. The electricity was finally restored after 72 hours, and we returned. It was all very exciting. Between the snow and the wind, I expect a small migration of those less tolerant from the city. Only the strong survive.

winter

This past weekend I traveled to Yakima in my own car. Over the pass and through the plains with 4 doors, 3 wipers, 2 side mirrors, and 1 functioning heater. Luxury. I visited Kristen, DJ and Melissa and we all went cross-country skiing. The mountains looked and felt great under the weight of snow and cold. Skiing was fun in spite of my ungraceful movements and lack of experience. Check out the road that my car navigated like it was dry asphalt!

My car needs a name. I can't find anything that fits, so feel free to offer suggestions under the comments. It's blue. A Loyale. Tough yet comfy. 4WD. Refined yet ugly and old...

Catering continues to surprise me. I had a house party last night in Medina. I forgot how rich people can be. So wealthy. The home looked like a catalog and a pristine BMW sat in the garage. The guests were fancy and snooty. Even the 10 year old girl who was helping the hostess bragged about her dress purchased in NYC and smiled at me in a way that I swear was condescending. All the women greeted each other by complimenting how one another looked. It was a real eye roller. It is tempting to covet seeing how pleasant the house looked, how yummy the expensive food was and how couture the shoes looked. Being rich would be easier. But if it meant being shallow and devoid of character, then I'll leave it. I think I prefer people with a little scruff and edge lining their depth. And that isn't even considering the 1/3 of the world living on less than $2 a day.

Today's trip photo is from San Pedro de Atacama in Chile. This is the main plaza in this artsy desert town on the border with Bolivia. We sat and ate ice cream and watched the kids play soccer.

urban family thanksgiving

Last weekend was a smashing success. Many members of my urban family came over and we shared a most delicious meal. A few girls came over Friday night and we celebrated nothing at all with wine and a fire. Saturday, we visited the Urban Craft Uprising fair and celebrated Amanda's baby to be. Saturday evening, we all steamed, whisked, blended and baked one of my best thanksgiving meals yet. My turkey was nothing short of delicious, I am proud to report. Everything was so good and we had much to be thankful for. I'm so glad there are still enough of us around to make this event happen.