One of my goals this year is to run a half marathon.  To help with that, I signed up for the St Patty's Dash (as you know).  I ran it and loved it.  And then didn't run again.  Seriously.  I'm not sure I've run once since then.  Partly because I was busy, partly because I got injured in a soccer game, and partly, because I really like eating cookies instead.

But two things are motivating me right now to get off this couch and go for a run. One is the amazing posts by Kaylee and Anthea this week.  The other, is that I still don't know where that stupid spider is in my car and I HAVE to drive it this afternoon.  Yes, I have successfully not driven my car once since Monday.  I'm thinking I am going to run to the grocery store this morning and buy myself a can of spider killer spray - whoever left that comment suggestion, thank you.  However, it will only have a couple hours to do its job, so say a quick prayer for me.  Should a spider crawl out onto my leg while I'm driving - I really don't know I could keep it together.  It would most likely be dangerous, or fatal.  For both him and I.

So here's to running, again.

And honestly, what better time to run than on a beautiful spring morning!  My heart could use it anyways (right, Kristin?).

Meghan Landies - finish your homework already!!!!! 

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How freak'n stink'n cute.  Right?  

(Blame it on Pinterest.)

This is a beautiful Friday.

Despite the fact that I'm pretty stink'n low on sleep, and feeling not quite at par.... I'm kind of in love with this day.  First thing this morning, one of the girls needed some samples delivered to a client in Pioneer Square, and I volunteered to run it.  Especially since it's right by Kristin and mines Vita.  I was lost inside the beauty of that area - I love it, I always do.  Kristin teases me for how much I love "Occidental" (even just the name!).  I love the people there too though.  I love the architecture.  I love that it is old Seattle.  Everything today was just beautiful about it, I couldn't stop taking photos of the arches, alleys and all the people wandering the streets that wander themselves. Last time I was down there, I broke out in tears of happiness and I assumed it had to do with the experience I'd just had of touring one of the buildings there with my boss.  It felt like one of those moments where I genuinely loved my work.  I loved that I was somehow part of restoring a building that's been part of Seattle for decades and decades.  A building that knew so many stories, so much sadness, and so much prosperity.

But today, I nearly began to cry again, on that same street I lost it all before.  And I'm wondering if it's something more.... if there is something in those blocks that is reaching a lot more in my heart.  It's no coincidence that the street I've cried on both times, is one street over from Union Station Park where Friday after Friday we'd feed the homeless that slept on the lawn, and listen to their stories about family and travels.

I know my parents cringe - but I think I need to spend more time over there again.  I was walking the old brick streets in pondering how wild it is that a place can be so lovely and so loveless at the same time.  That people, like those streets can be covered with lines and cracks and dirt - so lovely, and so loveless.  Wandering statues so ready to come alive if you'll just stop, or smile. 

A good concert always reminds me of the same fact... 

Sometimes you just have to
write the hell out of it. 

Out of a heartache.  Out of happiness.  Out of the world inside your head.  Rid it of the tortures and the tears that you can't remove from the world we all share.  That's the best chance we have of writing something strong enough and real enough to reach back in and invade others' secret worlds.  It's what's still true.

My new strategy for finding music:   Check out all the bands on the lineup for Music Festivals. 

Maybe not genius, but it seems pretty brilliant to me at the moment. 

Sasquatch seems to have a few things to show me.  How many of those names I've heard, and not checked out, I cannot tell you, but there is a lot!   Not to mention a few more that I do know, and love. 

Sitting next to a drummer/ architect is pretty entertaining at moments.  Thankfully, he doesn't sit there all day drumming his pen or tapping his finger (probably because he usually has a mouse in his hand), but every so often something happens.  Today, I looked over as I heard this odd half sliding half creaking noise, over and over and over.  He smiles and says, "That's cool," only pulling his eyes away at the last second from the glass sample panels he's repeatedly sliding over one another. There's already a little laughter in his eyes by the time they meet mine.

This, and the questions about last night's concert are what sparked this post... with a serious of festival talk in the middle. 

For my red bearded friends. 

And perhaps any other friends who have been considering following in the facial hair frenzy. 

Please be advised.  This is not a choice to be made lightly.  At some point it stops becoming just "not shaving" and begins requiring certain responsibilities.  I know.  I checked.  Online. 

Yes, I did in fact just type in a google search for "beard grooming." 

(If you missed it, that first line is a link - click on it.)

Saw this, this morning on Southern Nomad.
And I do hope exactly that, for all of us.

"You know Spiders are the number one fear. Second is public speaking.  Third, death... I speak publicly for fun, and I'm not afraid of spiders. Except poisonous ones. I mean, the rest are harmless."

"They are ugly, hairy little things that scurry around on all those legs - and you never know where they are!"

"Yeah, but I'm ugly and hairy."

The danger a person can be to themselves when they love to win a debate.  Oh Brade - you may be hairy, but you are far too handsome to be a spider.   [Did she just call him handsome, on her blog? Oh my...] 

Banana on the way to the bus.  Oatmeal at work.  An hour later - hungry again.  I'm going to go ahead and blame my recent non-stop eating on the spring.  Really.  Is it just me?  I'm constantly hungry.  Apple now and lunch in an hour.  I know by summer I often start losing this ravenous appetite, but geez, in the meantime.... this is rough.  Anyone else? 

How do you transplant your thoughts, memories, feelings into the mind and soul of another?   Do you ask a question? 

Do you just hold them close? Hope they catch a breath.  Tell them a story?  Show them a picture?  How to say what's worth telling.  How to tell it's told.

Tonight.  :)

 

This one's been a long time coming.

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Second degree burns on the finger tips... not fun :(

This is how I've spent the past hour.

I got a nice email.

But, I didn't get the apartment.  :(

A spider made me late. 

Seriously though.  As I unlocked my driver's door I saw something scurry across the seat and then what I can only imagine was under it.  I opened the door and looked frantically for it, to no avail.  At that, I shut the door. Locked it.  And walked to the bus stop.  It may have taken an extra 10 minutes, but I was not going to be carpooling with that critter to work. There is one thing worse than having to kill a spider - not killing a spider.  It's alive.  It's in my car.  It might be get'n cosy under my driver's seat.  I have no intention of driving my car this week now.  If you'd like to see me, you will have to come visit me - and maybe find and slay that hairy long-legged thing. 

This is the one downfall to Spring. 
So is allergies.  (I just sneezed.)


[Random fact about my office:  Everyone says "bless you."  If you sneeze, at least one person will say it.  If you sneeze again, another or the same will say it.  And again, and again, and again.  So far, I've only reached four consecutive sneezes, but I get the feeling their "blessing" knows no bounds.  And I like that.  Even though I usually laugh after the second or third.]

Monday.  

Highlights:  + Lunch with my favorite manager ever, Aaron.  Catching up on jobs, lives, babies, wives (just one), coffee, laughter, stalking and the adventure that is life.   + Coffee with Megs.  Yep, right there in the work day.  It was nice. 

It happened. 

Spring... and I think it's time to travel East a little ways.  

This girl's heart loves to be fed, and it feasts on big skies.

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It appears this is the new pattern - I ignore you all weekend, and then try desperately to catch up and convey the beauty that was there.  And rarely have I had the chance to upload any of the pictures by Monday morning.  Another pattern seems to be me realizing on Sunday night that the weekend is already over and wishing desperately I had just one more day! Or two. 

This weekend I applied for an apartment.  There are plenty of other bidders and seeing as I have no renting history (except my dad) to list.... :/  I'm not sure I'll get it.  But I'm keeping my fingers crossed.  It's a beautiful little studio in North Queen Anne with a private back patio and yard space, french doors, wood floors and a big kitchen.  I could have an herb garden! And sit out in a private quiet little yard in the evenings with friends still!  I'd be a short walk from Fremont, and a short bus ride to Meg's place.  It would be lovely.  I've refreshed my email about every 15 minutes ALL weekend.  It happens to the best of us.

In other news - I got the slightest bit of a tan, and I'm a happy girl for that.  I had time with family, friends, the beach, and my favorite Canadian, and I'm a VERY happy girl for that! I had some of the best steak I've had in a long time, some delicious red wine, and the first long evening on the patio with my family to celebrate my Dad's 64th birthday! (Dad requested we listen to the Beatles "When I'm Sixty-Four"  - who knew he'd been waiting all his life to do that.)

The whole weekend started wonderfully, I ran off early to see the apartment, ended up filling out the application at Milsteid, the sun shining and friends chatting, drinks at John's, and then Esther and I hurried off to see Levi Weaver in a Seattle Living Room Concert.  This of course entailed a number of adventures I won't relay here.  And ended the next morning over tea with one of the best fellow rabbit trail chasers I know.

Saturday John managed to take Kristin on his maiden-passenger-motorcycle-voyage.  And he didn't kill her.  Which is good news.  Because it's hard to stay friends with someone who maims or mukduks your sister.  Am I right?  The whole day was filled with wonderfulness. 

And yes, birds fluttered and butterflies stretched their wings for the first time, hummingbirds sipped sweet water from the fountain of youth and we all rose and danced in the fields of flowers..... Yes... this is me realizing just how terrible I am beginning to sound.  I am sorry guys.  There was sunshine, yet again.  I was out of the confides of an office.  

I even put on my swimsuit for the first time this year!  The sun kissed my face - and even bit a few people.  I'm on a slight Vitamin D high.  And most of you already think I'm the inspiration for "Katie" in Horton Hears a Who, so..... butterflies, butterflies, butterflies. There ya have it - the weekend.
Beaches, friends, family, bikinis (under lots of clothes lol), wine, steak, salads, coffee, coffee, live music, tea, friends, friends, and friends.  It was grand!  And I'll add pictures later.  But for the meantime, just picture everything in pastels and soft lighting.  ;)

Confession:  I love

this song.


love. 


:/

This is a soccer team

of sorts.

 

Meet the Blueberries.

Can't wait for tonight.

PC: Mallory MacDonald : photographer by day, and defender by Wednesday night.

Scouted out goal #3 of 25, yesterday.  After a quick stop at the post office, I couldn't resist the camera shop across the street.  I wandered in, in my hoody, XL thermal shirt, puffy vest, black leggings and white tennis shoes (I hope you can picture how awesome that attire was), my hair in the messiest of messy braids.  In short, I was looking my best.  Thankfully, it's me, about three 50+ year old men, and one 20-something year old gay man (with an accent and tan I can't be sure are real), who frequent the Kenmore camera shop on late afternoon weekdays. 

After asking for some recommendations from a few photographers I know, defining my intentions for the camera, and doing a little research... yesterday I decided which one I want.  And I'm going with Nikon. :)  If any of you photographers out there have a reason why me and this camera should not be joined in holy photography, please speak now or forever hold your peace.

Anyone ever been to Restaurant Zoe on Capitol Hill? (My bet is on an Unger or Kate & Tom.) 
I definitely want to check it out. 

In other news, my boss is taking some clients out for lunch on Capitol Hill and asked for some recommendations - any suggestions my well-dined friends?  :)  My immediate suggestions are mostly closed for lunch.

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 ⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. 

Philippians 4:4-9

(one of my all time favorites - will never get old)

I just rediscovered Josh Garrels Love & War & The Sea Between in my iTunes library.  Look it up - it will change your day.  Suddenly I wouldn't want anything but these cloudy skies.  

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Henrietta is in and out of that nest so much right now!  Plus - the cinematography crew rigged a much better angle for your viewing pleasure.   Check it out! 

[put a [Fremont] bird on it] 

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Dinner at Arabica Lounge last Thursday night was a well-rounded culinary treat. Loved the entire experience: colors, flavors and community. Thank you Southern Nomad for introducing me.  

Esther and I shared the lime vinaigrette and coriander salad (you see in the bottom corner of the menu) and the most delicious homemade pasta.  For dessert she ordered the rice pudding (which was so picturesque it took her 5 minutes to even take a bite of - no lie), and I finished my meal with a pepper and lime, cardamom and chocolate cake.  Esther may have to correct me on some of these details, or supplement, because I largely let her take hold of the ordering, it being one of her favorite Capitol Hill retreats.  


Though the food was beautiful and delicious, it was the atmosphere tailored by the artisan who owns and runs the store.  It was the bikes that strolled in with their owners, the hugs issued at the door, meals shared at the large wooden table, the community that was evidently central to the business that captured my attention as it had captured Esther's appreciation.  Let us taste authenticity - let us feast on beauty and community - and as artists we will come alive.  And we'll come back again, and again. 

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You want to see how beautiful the past few weeks have been?

Erik's Birthday weekend... 

Meg's Hole in One! (I love that smile!)

Behaving like the mature adults we are...

EASTER WEEKEND

I do a lot of this.... 

Mom's new game board in the back yard. ;) 

He's part of the family - and you know how he loves to get dressed up for holidays!

THURSDAY 

Grass in the city!? I laid in it... Esther found me lost in my own world. 

Door.  Need I comment? 

Esther introduced me to one of the loveliest places on Capitol Hill... and its owner. 

Esther getting really uncomfortable and embarrassed... turns out I'm really good at doing that to her. 

Esther past embarrassed - me highly entertained and enjoying it. 

 FRIDAY
Meeting one of my dad's oldest friends for the first time was an incredible experience.  Hearing new stories about old times from a man who met my father in the service, and spent hours and hours with my parents as newly weds.  I laughed and laughed.  I walked away loving who my parents are even more.  And so grateful to have been able to meet a man who is my father's friend.  A man who knew my father in ways I never will - in times I never could. 

 SATURDAY
Saturday was full of a number of firsts, plus cookies and laughter and hours of great conversation - my first time to the symphony, on a moped, to gasworks, hanging out with someone who built their own computer... inside an original nintendo.  I walked away newly aware of how kind, caring and generous a person can be when they actually seek to follow Christ and love people. 

I told you I do this a lot.  Most great weekends begin like this. 

"It's an entire computer inside! I built it. The power switch even works."

 SUNDAY 
I enjoyed breakfast on Capitol Hill at one of my favorite places, and a field trip to the Seattle Asian Art Museum with a good friend before some quiet time alone reading in the sunshine in one of my favorite places in the world.  How the grass that grows at my alma mater feeds my heart and tickles my toes and fancy, I can't really tell you.  But it does.

Sunday just grew greater and greater, but to document such things would violate certain bilaws.  I will say I attended probably the best male-hosted dinner party I have ever witnessed.  The company was glorious - the conversation, creative.  The food and drinks delicious and ambitious.