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August 20 Having Fun with Writer Plug-InsOnce I get started posting I guess I work up some momentum! I published my last post using Live Writer and then spent some time playing with Writer a bit. I found a fun plug in that can display my photos in a cool way…here’s a sample.
Polaroid – totally retro! This is my little sis Jadyn at the Microsoft Company Picnic. There were acres of fun games and activities…and her favorite part of the day was getting totally soaked at the water spigot. At the CabinThe sampling of pics I uploaded earlier this week just wasn’t enough - I couldn’t help going back to the cabin photos and posting a few more of those. I guess this makes it obvious where I would rather be right now… Views from the dock (the rebuilt and newly fabulous dock, by the way – great construction job Dad!)…
And the all-important pre-dinner cocktail hour on the deck:
We had a new addition to the cabin crew this summer…my super cute, super sweet new second cousin: August 18 Tom Petty rocks!But I don't have any pictures of it. Because I seem to have lost the cable to charge my camera...so even when I remember to bring it on one of our fun, photo-worthy summer advertures it's worthless. Luckily I have been a very bad blogger for months, so even though I don't have photos of the Tom Petty concert, our elegant (not) motel in Ellensburg (Tom Petty + rodeo = little vacancy in the area), or our lovely hike on Sunday morning I do have photos of other things we've done this summer. For example:
A panoramic photo I took from our dock at the cabin. I realized before I went up to the cabin for the 4th that the only photos I have of it are in paper form...so they must be pretty old. The camera must have still had some charge in it (leftover from Norway I guess) and I got a few good pics of the lake to update my collection of "photos I gaze at while stuck indoors working".
When mom and dad came for a visit in mid July we headed to North Bend for breakfast at the famous Twin Peaks cafe ("great cuppa joe") and a hike (to work off the huge plates of food!). Here's dad admiring the view from the top. And all three of us celebrating a successful climb:
And finally, a few weeks ago I took Jadyn camping and we took a little hike along the river. It took all her willpower not knock over that stack of rocks..but I just couldn't bear to watch someone's hard work go to waste, so I begged for her leave it alone...
So yes, I have had a very photo-worthy summer. Though you wouldn't know it from my inability to blog about it. July 05 Our trip to NorwayI just uploaded the pictures from our trip to Norway in a photo album titled Norway. Take a look! Thanks again to Liv and Runar for hosting us and inviting us to their wonderful wedding - we had such a great time! May 25 Beware of BobYes, 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:
April 26 My commuteApril 21 In the words of Cookie MonsterIt'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 15 The Oregon Shueys come to WashingtonApril 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
The Wii was mesmerizing... April 10 I love Paris in the springtimeLast 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:
By the time I came out of L'Orangerie the rain had stopped, the sun had come out...and I was officially on Paris time and weather...totally acclimatized. Paris in the sun: 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 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:
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. March 27 Easter weekend with the Jones girls - the tradition continuesMy 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. =) March 11 The ugliest dogOh 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:
February 27 Got that R&RSince Chris insisted...I took a lttle R&R time and went to San Diego for the weekend to visit my BFF Stacey. She just moved there a few months ago, but in true Stacey fashion she already knows all the great places to eat. =) We had a very relaxing foodie weekend looking for the best fish tacos (definitely South Beach, not Brigantine...you can argue all you want, the winner is clear) and sampling a lot of other yummy San Diego spots. I brought some tangerines back from the farmer's market and they're SOOO sweet, I'm loving them, it's a little taste of San Diego in rainy Seattle.
The farmer's market:
(I love a pile of artichokes - makes me think of Italy!)
We worked so hard to find a great brunch and peruse the famer's market that we just had to go get pedicures. I fell asleep in the massage chair.
Went for a walk on Monday morning that included a little suspension bridge across the canyon near Stacey's house:
I love how a single palm tree can immediately make me feel like I'm on vacation - even if I's seeing it in some non-tropical place like a greenhouse or a zoo. My favorite of the weekend:
February 21 I'm tired...no more of thisIf you've monitored the list of my upcoming fitness classes on this space you'll see that I've been teaching a lot this week. To be exact, I've taught 5 classes in 3 days. Why? Because an instructor needed subs and I'm considering buying a Zune and am definitely going to San Diego this weekend...so some extra cash sounded just fine. Now that every muscle in my body aches I'm thinking that this wasn't the best idea I've ever had. February 18 RagingOnce a year I feel compelled to prove that if I wanted to rage until the wee hours of the morning on a Saturday night then I could. Saturday night Chris planned a pub crawl on Phinney Ridge and it seemed like a good chance to prove myself since making it to the end of the pub crawl had a reward even better than bragging rights...pancakes. And being a lady...I do love pancakes (right James?). That inspiration carried me through until 2:30 when I was well rewarded with some yummy pancakes from Beth's Cafe PLUS a 12 egg omelet (shared by the table of four). The famous omelet with a collection of items strategically placed to help you understand its scale:
Yes - I'm a rock star! And the best part of having proven myself for this year...now I can sit at home and watch Law and Order in my pajamas for another year of Saturday nights without feeling lame.
January 28 Lost the sun, got some snowSadly, last week's sun is gone this morning, replaced with a light blanket of snow to make the commute interesting. Luckily I came in early enough to avoid the crazy drivers this morning. This evening will probably be another story though...
The same view of campus that I captured in glorious sun last week:
January 23 And it just keeps coming!Another clear sunny day. This time, the view driving in:
My phone camera tends to make things look very small and un-magestic...that's actually the view of Mount Rainier from the 520 bridge. January 22 More beautiful SeattleThe last two days have been incredible weather-wise. Not a cloud in the sky which means glorious sun and clear views of the mountains. It also means that I just can't bear to sit in my windowless office, especially when one of our common areas has this view:
So the "common area" is now my new office. I not only get sun and views...but many nice visitors. =) January 15 Beautiful SeattleI know I've said it before...when the sun comes out in this city there's no city as beautiful. Sunday was one of those days, even more sweet because it's still winter, and I happened to be driving to West Seattle at sunset. I had my camera because I was going to see a new baby (so cute!) so I took a few panoramic stitch photos of gorgeous Seattle.
And this one from Alki beach:
If you look close here you can see the Olympics: December 28 Two halves don't make a wholeOn our way up to Whistler for Christmas Scotty and I spent a few hours checking out Vancouver. Of course we planned our time using the 1000 Places to See book and it did steer us to two interesting sites. Unfortunately each site only counts as half of a 1000 thing...so neither of us was able to actually check anything off after seeing the Museum of Archeology and Granville Island. We'll be back Vancouver...
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