Those Red Boots

Yes, I've been scarce on the blog...it's been a busy stretch.

A few weeks back Scotty and I took a little Sunday trip to Snoqualmie to hike at the falls.  It was something of a pilgrimage since we were both big Twin Peaks fans back in the day.  The view of the falls (from the right angle) still looks like it did in the show, and every time I would look at it I heard the eerie music... A few pics, which aren't of the highest quality because of course I forgot to take my camera:

 

 

There are a lot of things I dislike about my commute.  But a few weeks ago I saw a bald eagle as I made my way along Lake Washington Blvd and that was pretty cool.

See that speck in the tree? Zoomed in a bit:

It's going to be a really busy week with little time to blog, so I'm redirecting you to Cookie Monster as a stand in since his words not only express my inner pain but also make me laugh until I just about wet my pants.

April is shaping up quite well - first Paris and now some of my favorite people come to spend the weekend with us - FABULOUS!  Kemp and Robyn brought their Super Baby, Gavin, to see us last weekend and we still have that happy glow from getting to tool around Seattle, enjoy the sun, and play Wii with them. We hope they'll brighten many more weekends in our future.  A few highlights from the weekend (more pictures in the Shueys Visit album).

 

Gavin explores the house:

One our way to the Woodland Park Zoo (since the weather was GORGEOUS)

Looking at the Tiger and giving mom hugs

Watching Dad dance ...Gavin's turn!

The Wii was mesmerizing... But not as fun as the swing!  Underdog! Underdog!

Last week I went to Paris for a few days for work.  Because the thought of going to Paris for just two days made me sad I took Monday off and spent some time hanging out in the city of lights and doing my own thing.  "Just one day?" you ask.  Yes, I thought of taking a few days, but to be honest, with the dollar:euro exchange rate the way it is I'll be paying off that one personal day in Paris for several months.  So yes, just one day. 

 

In that one day I had some great times and took some cool pics.  When I arrived around noon it was raining, which I think of as Paris's way of easing my transition from Seattle.  I wandered down the Champs Elysees to the Tuileries in a very Seattle-esque "mist", stopping to shop at Zara to outlast a big cloudburst.  Paris in the rain:

 

On the way I passed this cool building with a cool gate...and dead tree that makes it look very ominous under a gray sky:

 

At the Tuileries I saw some really cool and huge Monet works in L'Orangerie:

 

 

I kept walking through the gardens to the Louvre, and found a few interesting pieces of art that I either never noticed before or that were newly installed since my last visit.

  I love this spider sculpture...such a cool contrast to the Louvre behind it:

 

I kept walking, crossed the Seine, along the water and into the Saint Germain area.

 

I love seeing the cafes in Sant Germain that hosted so many great literary types a century ago...don't know why that's always a favorite thing of mine to do in Paris, but it just feels like such a cool opportunity to soak up some important social history.  Much more fun for me than visiting battle sites or other "big history" sites.

 

My destination in Saint Germain was a dinner spot recommended to me called La Cignale Rue Recamier...they serve a wide variety of savory and sweet souffles which sounded like a terrific dinner option.  It was.  It was nice to find a place that didn't feel touristy as well, I felt very much like I was among locals, which was great until I had the urge to take a picture of my Grand Marnier dessert souffle and was embarrassed to be the tourist myself.  I furtively took a photo which means it turned out quite fuzzy:

 

Notice the bottle of Grand Marnier in the background...they brough that with the souffle so I could pour it over top.  Wow.  Very yummy.

 

The next day, after a jog in Parc Monceau and before starting my work meetings I got a chance to go up to Montmartre. I'd been there that last time I came to Paris, but didn't get a chance to visit the Lapin Agile...another of those literary/artistic hangouts that I'd read about before and wanted to see.  This part of Montmartre was really cute, and even though the Lapin Agile wasn't open I was able to take a few pics and to have lunch a block away at a similar spot.

Lapin Agile: I had lunch:Paris's only vineyard:  

 

The next day, after my meetings ended I was able to get to Le Marais for dinner, just to experience another part of the city.  I had wanted to go to a museum there, but meetings ran late so I saw the Place de Vosge, had some dinner, and headed back to the hotel to pack and get home.

 

So it was a quick but fun trip, and I have Bill and his great suggestions about where to go and what to do (and eat) for the fun part.  More pictures in the Paris in the Springtime album.

My sisters were in town last weekend, it's the second year in a row they've come to stay with us for Easter weekend, which makes it a time honored tradition. Our cousin Sarah came across town for a little sleepover on Saturday night (just like last year) which put my husband in the house with four Jones girls.  He's still recovering. 

 

Last year was all about watching the Flavor of Love Season 1 marathon and eating huge quantities of sugar in various forms.  This year was about rollerderby.  We took a trip to the first bout of the Rat City Rollergirls' 2008 season, selected our favorite teams and girls, had some yummy mac and cheese and burgers served from Skillet the restaurant on wheels...and had a very good time.  Is there any better way to celebrate our lord than with rollerderby?  I didn't think so.

 

Pics are in the Easter 2008 album, with a few teasers here:

 

On our way to the Rollergirls we stopped off to see the cherry blossoms in bloom on campus.  Badass, eh?

 

 

Waiting in line at the bout:

 

We picked our favorite teams at the merchandise booth before the bout even started...based on who had the best gear.  Shannon and I were more skilled at picking winners, though Kaitie and Sarah had more spirit.

 

Can't wait until next year. =)

Oh Messenger Today page you make me such an educated and worldly person!  If it weren't for you I would never have known that San Diego hosts an ugliest dog contest.  And now I'm thinking that I'd better get myself down to Del Mar for next year's contest because the dogs I saw on the video clip have NOTHING on my family's pug, Tank.  If he can make it another year (he's getting on in years) we might just have to take him on the road.  See for yourself: