Random Stuff from All Over

Yes, I know I have been slacking on the blogging. I've been trying to make up for it by Twittering like a mad woman...but I know it's not the same.

In an effort to catch all y'all up quickly, a random smattering of my recent highlight activities:

• Boating on Lake Washington - Considering how long I have lived in Seattle, I had never gone boating on either Lake Union or Lake Washington. I drive across Lake Washington every morning and night on my way to Bellevue, always jealous of those boating people mocking me as I sit in gridlock. Well, we can now check off Lake Washington thanks to Cheech's man friend and his fast boat. It was a glorious and happily unexpected way to end a Monday and I have now decided a boyfriend with a boat is the only way to go.
• Summer Solstice - one of my favorite holidays in Seattle - was spent at the Center of the Universe (please set your watch back 5 minutes) in Fremont. Nekkid bikers kicked off the parade as they always do and creativity on the body pant was high this year. The parade itself was better than last year and the festivities lasted well into the evening. Highlights included actually getting a table at Tacos Jomama's (even if Cheech forgot to order my tacos), buckets and buckets of ice cold beer, making lots of new random friends, meeting a girl who didn't realize that putting ice down cleavage is NOT funny, a man I had just met (named Jeff) trusting me with his credit card, and losing Kelly in the woods only to find her again 10 minutes later.
• Spontaneous Camping - I called Brea on Friday night at about 5.30 to see if she was up for some spontaneous Happy Hour (the sun was out, the wine was calling) only to discover she was on her way out of town to camp at Lake Kachess in Snoqualmie Pass. "Why don't you join us? It's only an hour away." she asked. "Hmm...ok!" I replied. Fast forward an hour when I am $150 poorer but cruising out I-90 with a newly purchased sleeping bag, sleeping pad and camping pillow. The location was gorgeous, the company entertaining (to say the least), and I was home in time the next day for a shower and lunch date. That's my kind of camping!

Am off to Paris tomorrow for work for 9 days...I will (hopefully) catch you up on the rest from the other side of the world...

G'Bye Billy Boy

In honor of Mr. Gates last day, I offer you the following Friday clip of the week:

What I Learned This Weekend

Well, actually, you can see it all here but I'll give you a hint:

...it involved nekkid bikers, robots, zombies, belly dancers, a giant doobie and a ham sandwich!

What I Learned this Weekend

• A Mariner's game is always a good time. Even when they are having an uber crappy season, even when they don't win. Give me good weather, a ballpark and Safeco field and good times are guaranteed.
• You can get good parking around Safeco for $7 for a Mariners game. You can get a beer inside the game for $7. The parking may be the last reasonably priced thing in Seattle.
• My dad watches a lot of sports, but only the "majors" or the "finals" are important to him. Needless to say, he was happy as a clam to watch the US Open and the Basketball while I carried on doing what I needed to get done.
• I can procrastinate on things I actually WANT to do as well as I procrastinate on things I don't want to do. Go figure.
• I really really really want a dog. I may even settle for a small one if that's all I can have in my space.
• I really really really want my own space. I may even settle for a small one if that's all I can afford.
• There's plenty of crazy in Seattle...and it can be found walking around Green Lake, talking to trees and squirrels and helping set up tents.

Friday's Clip of the Week

Just a friendly commiserating reminder that somedays you're the hamster, somedays you're the wheel...

Happy Friday everyone!

Reader's Poll:

I fell asleep last night at 8 pm while watching Hope Floats on AMC.

I can't decide what is the saddest part of that sentence: 8 pm? Hope Floats? AMC?

Please vote.

Things To Do in Maui

After a lovely week spent doing little more than was absolutely necessary in sunny warm wonderful Maui, I find myself back at my desk, staring out at 55 degrees, gray, cloudy, rainy weather and wondering where this thing called "summer" is hiding.

At least I have a tan to remind me of better times.

So how did I fill my time in the Maui you ask? Well, I'll tell you:

• I watched the sunrise over Haleakala crater and then biked (and by 'biked' I mean coasted) down 28 miles with gorgeous views of Maui all the way. We stopped for breakfast at Ku'la Lodge. I highly recommend!
• I went snorkeling at Molokini, swam with turtles, and sailed in the tradewinds. (Awesome. Awesome and Awesome)
• I ziplined my way over ravines, rainforests, and waterfalls at Ka'anapali. Even though there was no Pinzgauer, there was Ollie the wonder pup to make up for it.
• I laid for hours and hours next to the ocean side pool topping up my tan and watching palm trees, waves, and surfers. My biggest concern for the week was the internal debate I faced when I got too hot and wondered if I could hold out on jumping in the pool until I finished my chapter.
• Speaking of chapters, I read three books: Kitchen Confidential (thumbs up), Jitterbug Perfume (not so much), and When We Were Orphans (quick and ok).
• I saw 2 dear friends tie the knot at Olawalu plantation while the sunset behind them and then did the Electric Slide on a dance floor under paper lanterns and a sky full of stars.
• I bonded with 3 of the sweetest babies I've ever met and took great joy in making all of them smile.
• I watched dry lightning on the horizon across the sea at night while sipping white wine and counting shooting stars.

Needless to say, the chilling Seattle greeting of winter weather in June is a hard reality pill to swallow. Remind me again why everyone doesn't live in Hawaii?

Photos soon.

Gone to the Beach

You can find me here if needed...and yes, my tan is looking great.

Updates are in Twitter for those that are interested ---------------->