weekupdatearoonie

It's been a week since I've updated. I worked during the week, and listened to podcasts. Now that we are doing solo work again, I've been on the podcast train. Choo choo. Read books in the tub, chilled. Nothing much. Then I had a four day weekend and I went to Seattle for a date weekend. I am testing out the different ways to park for free. This time I tested the "park at Karen's and walk to the ferry" way. Not a bad walk, but till a ~25 minute walk. Still, good to have my car in a place it'll be looked after. Bremerton ferry is a bit inconvenient. Less crossings than the Bainbridge, but I am able to walk to and from my car which I can't do in Bainbridge.

I arrived Friday night. I walked to Westlake, bought some sweets at Daiso. They didn't have calligraphy pens. Then got the link to Capitol Hill and got to John's place before he did. When he got back, we got some burrito and tacos and ate that and drank cider while watching Psycho. Great movie! I've never seen it before. Then it was bed time. In the morning we walked and got doughnuts and ate them with coffee. Mighty O doughnuts specifically. Poppyseed, raspberry, and french toast. All cut in half and shared. Yum. Then a second course of toast on top of fried egg with a perfect runny yolk. Then it was footyball time. I enjoy the camaraderie and the chanting and the "you're picking up my tab" of it all. And we listened to a table of jerks hit on ladies waaaaaaay out of their league.

And I got some bad news, but I won't and can't go into that now. For my own emotional health.

Once the Wolverines won, we swung by FedEx to pick up a package (a nice shirt for John). Then back to his place. I curled up on the couch to watch Futurama with my boyfriend. We had dumpling for dinner and watched The Neon Demon. Nice throughline with Psycho. John went to a circus workout and I stuck around at his place and drew comic and ate his yogurt and bread. When he came back, we went to the farmer's market and got fruits and veggies and quality bacon. Omelette and toast and bacon and Futurama. Then I got on the 5:35 ferry back to Bremerton. Rob picked me up at the ferry, which was nice of him.

Monday I just stayed in bed for a good long while. Chatted with Celia in the evening. Today I went to work and it was a finishing up after deepcleaning day. Turned a room, did the floors, made cookies, helped with deep clean.

Right now I'm at Karen's, She made dinner and I got to cuddle with Lily. I'm off work for the rest of the week, and maybe some more.

eggs, bacon, toast, and cartoons

 Looks like every five days is the norm now. I don't think I will keep this as a daily blog, I just am not invested in it like I used to be. But I will try to keep it at multiple times a week because I like having the record available. Soo... Thursday! I worked. Did a good job at it. Things are slowing down, so there are fewer rooms to turn every day, though there has been plenty of people coming in and out.

Friday was date day!

 And the weather made it so I wore layers instead of a cute dress. I parked in Bainbridge Island and Christa gave me a lift to the ferry. Hurray, no paying for parking!

I walked across and looked at the Kanken backpacks. Totes are nice but I kinda want a good backpack for overnight trips now that I'm going overnight in Seattle with more regularity. But the cheapest Kanken is just a bit too expensive and seems just a bit small. It's cute though. I know investing is good sense, because a cheap bag is a bag that'll fall apart and have to be bought again and at that point you've spent more than one good bag. But I still want to look around. I put the call out on Facebook and got some suggestions. The Poler looks nice! Actually, I think I'll....whooo I went onto Zappos and they had the bag that I wanted for twelve bucks less than the store's site AND since it's Zapoos, it's free shipping. Score! Cute blue simple backpack, here I come. Or rather, come to me.

And I just paid my PUD, even though it's not due till the 10th. I have the money now so might as well. Now I don't have to think about it for a whole month! I've been slowly getting ahead. I have KCU ping me when my balance is under a certain amount and I haven't had a ping in a while, so that feels good.

Oh so yeah, I looked at backpacks in downtown Seattle and didn't get any. At Nordstrom Rack there were some super cute Betsey Johnson sunglasses marked way down. Just my style: round, a bit too big, shiny, make me look like a cartoon character. And NR has a makeup section and man if only I could justify getting more lipstick because it was marked waaay down. Tho I got a better tinted moisturizer (also discounted, holla) because the one I've been using just...it applies weird and clogs my skin. Anyhoo, happy to have a better one! That cost the same because of mark down! Whooo!

Then, because I'm the type of lazy that hates figuring out how the bus works, I walked to Capitol Hill. And hung out in Cal Anderson park. I read, I relaxed, I looked cool in my new sunglasses, I watched people play Pokemon Go. Lots of players. Lots of people wandering in circles and going to the same spot over and over. I even chatted with one person for a bit. How nice!

Then John came home and I went over to his place (he lives two blocks from the park). We had dinner in and in the morning he made omelettes, bacon, and toast. And tea. And we watched Futurama, then he put on his Michigan State garb, because he is a sports goober for his school's team, and I put on that blue and yellow striped dress I just got at Goodwill because it matches the team colors of the Wolverines, and we went to a Michigan sports bar (apparently that's a thing???) to see them play. I was curious to see the fight song in action, and I like John's company, and he bought me fries, so I can sit and watch Football. He explained the rules and now it makes so much more sense. Still not into it, but it was pretty great to be in a crowded bar and to have everyone sing in unison when they scored, and to have two people with cowbells, and there was a dog named Louie that was very sweet. Not a bad time at all. Afterwards we got a photobooth photo strip. Yay for momentos! I like photobooths. And we played some skeeball. I was very bad at it.

Then it was ferry back home time. Goodbyes were said, and off I went. Christa picked me up, and Bodi was once again squealing because he was so happy to see me. I swung by Central Market on the way home, and got home at a not unreasonable hour.

 Then it was back to work on Sunday! Breakfast, a few room turns, a fluff. We are back off tag teaming, now that it's a bit slower. I did a bit more food shopping. Still forgot to get raisin bran.

Work again today, because that's how work works. A turn, a fluff, the powder room, and the cobwebs complete with many spiders I had to evict. Eeek.

Then back home, a nap, watched part of the debate and felt my brain liquify.

I got miso soup packets and I made udon noodles with that and an egg and some tapatio and damn I'm really getting a hang of these noodles!!

lunch date

Yikes, five days no posting??

Saturday and Sunday were pretty chill. I just hung out at home and relaxed and caught up on sleep and laundry. Ma and Pa came over and we picked apples and had tea and chats. Monday was a shorter day at work. Got things done, did fruit prep, rotated the mattress on a deep clean. Later in the day, I went to Seabeck for the night. Ma, Pa and I watched Eddie the Eagle and ate pizza. Eddie the Eagle was cute and fun. Very heartwarming.

Tuesday was great fun! Dad made hashbrowns and eggs for breakfast and tasty coffee, and we all piled in to the Prius to head to SeaTac. I had the thought that maybe since SeaTac is near where John works, that we could grab lunch if timing worked out and it did! So after the parentals were sent off, I went to the Panera in Renton and had lunch with my boyfriend. How nice!

Then I drove to Bremerton and hung out with Karen and Lily. We had good long conversations, and I read King Baby by Kate Beaton to Lily. Nice to hang with my pal, even though now she's an old married lady.

From there I went to see Tickled at the Dragonfly Theater. It's a documentary about someone looking into this Extreme Tickling Competition, and it escalates into this really bizarre story of evil people with money and the lives they destroy. It's just...really something else.

Swapped cars in Seabeck, went back to Pulali, worked today.

Little short shift with a few fluffs and a turn. Then Christa and Bodi were in town, so we met up downtown to hang out! I gave Bodi lots of pets and we sat out in the sun and caught up. Then I got a hot dog.

Half napped at home, then drew a comic. Just got my schedule, weekend after this one I have four days off in a row, I should do something fun. Then it's a bunch of rando days on and off.

catch up

I am so behind on this blog! I am so behind in many things! On Friday, Ma and Pa came over and we dug out the ground and put in two beams between which is now a new gate! It looks so great, but it was a lot of work to get the auger to go, and to haul the rocks and dirt out, and get the cement in. We swam after and that was nice, and had coconut curry chicken which was excellent. Celia brought roast squash and we watched telly. I Spy was on and it was dumb.

And I feel like I have yet to really recoup from that, and I won't have a real chance till September. I have FOUR DAYS OFF in a row, but I am so behind on planning. I haven't found (or made) the time to sit and really sketch the plans out. I come back from work tired, and the past few days I've been working at cleaning house. Got through a bunch of towels and sheets today, and some spider extraction. And books were put away. I feel like I'll be doing tidying forever, but little steps make a big difference.

The date on Saturday ended up being fun, but the ding dong TOOK THE WRONG FERRY! He wasn't paying enough attention to the specifics of which ferry I said to take and when I arrived to pick him up and had to call to find him, yeah....but he got on a bus and we crossed paths in Poulsbo and the theater allowed late admittance so that was great. Once we were seated my agitation subsided. John took my irking well and didn't try to diffuse me when I said it would last until we were at the play (which it did). Anyhoo, Little Mermaid was fun! I feel the best male singer was the seagull.

It was hot but we got shade. We snacked on chips and celery and drank plenty of water. Afterwards we went to Bremerton and had a few beers at Der Blokken brewery. I ordered the Oh Cana-Dog, which is a hot dog with gravy, fries, and cheese. Yum! His was a hot dog with caramelized onions (an order that was sans cream cheese). They tried to give me the no cream cheese order, cuz girls don't order gravy on things.
I returned him to the ferry, then went to Seabeck and gave back the cooler I loaned mom and dad. Chatted. Went back to Pulali.

Sunday was another full day! Did rooms and breakfast and at the end of my shift I put on the heels for the wedding in order to break them in. And I wore those heels from 2pm till 9pmish when I got home! I wore them down the steps to downtown, wore them to the pizza place, wore them to the driftwood seating to eat my slice of pizza, wore them to Better Living Through Coffee where I sat and had a coffee and slice of apple pie and drew comics and sketched. There was a guy who came in with a parrot on his shoulder. This band of youngins with string instruments played and they were awesome.

Then I wore my heels to The Rose Theater where I saw Hunt for the Wilderpeople, which was a fantastic movie. Hilarious, heartfelt, well made, well acted, just all around great. More movies like that one please!

And trotted up the stairs in my heels. They only hurt after I had sat in the coffee shop for a while and got back on my feet, but not for long. I was kinda sad to take them off.

So that brings us to Monday! Boss was gone so Teddi was doing ALL the breakfast, with me there to help. T works so hard like damn. And breakfast went off without a problem. We got to turning rooms and boss came back and was happy we hadn't burned the place down. That was a very long day and I was exhausted and so ready to sleep.

Tuesday! Toooday! A relatively easy day, up till the end. Turned, fluffed, laundry. Then a couple came up for an impromptu check in and boss was gone so I did it! Got their credit card and all that. And when boss checked over my work, the only thing was I sent a thank you email instead of the invoice. Oops well that is easily correctable. Go me! Customer service is the weakpoint of my training. I don't handle that end enough.

And at home I napped, then got to cleaning, then the internet was back so I wasted time there.

I can't wait for September 10th, because then all my immediate obligations and stuff will be over.

grand days out

Oh! So much to catch up on.

So I had a lovely weekend in Seattle. I headed out at around 3ish, which gave me ample time to breakfast and doze. I parked in a garage in Capitol Hill which was surprisingly affordable for 24 hours. Only had a little bit of traffic at the usual Tacoma intersection. I'd rather drive to the ferry, park there, and walk across. But I was going to Averie's party after so I drove around. But first a date with John. I like him. He's into watches, movies, travel, circus acrobatics. And he makes a damn good cocktail. We went to see a movie from SIFF's Noir festival: The Seventh Victim. It's odd to watch older movies because they have such a different language for how editing and stories play out. It was good though. Surprisingly dark.

And in the morning (I stayed over, oooohhhh!) (and it was so hard to sleep because cities are so loud and light!!) we got breakfast sammies at the farmer's market. John got a flat of various berries and some farm fresh eggs.

These crust punks were throwing glass bottles at a cement seating area, and they shattered and like...how much of an asshole do you have to be to think that is okay? And the type of people who throw full whole bottles of alcohol aren't the types you want to confront, they might punch you in the throat. Uhg.

John and I parted ways at 1. I met up with Mariel and her boyfriend Sanouk at Starbucks. We had a quick coffee and catch up and chat. Mariel looks so great! We're both wishy washy on attending our HS reunion.

After I walked down to Top Pot and got a raspberry thumbprint and powdered doughnut. I listened to two Amazon or Microsoft engineers ramble about very typical engineer things. Once I was sugared up on doughnut, I returned to my car and headed off to the beach. Parking was a nightmare and I got a spot way down south from the beach, then spent half an hour wandering up and down trying to find Averie and her shindig. Eventually ran into Muchim who was able to direct me to Averie! But at that point in the day it was time for me to head home. Hung out for a little bit though, and gave some hugs.

There was some construction I got stuck in for a little bit, but afterwards it wasn't such a bad drive. I didn't bother with the ferry. I'd rather spend more time in my car and save the money. I got some food stuffs at Central Market on the way back. I'm such a sucker for musubi.

Got back at 9. Drew. Got to bed at midnight.

Restless night sleep because I thought I hadn't paid my electric bill. I was in that weird half sleep state where you can't just pull yourself out to check you did pay it (I did).

We did seven turns at work, and it went pretty quick. The tag teaming + 1 on laundry and beds makes for fast turn around. I did cookies and folded laundry too. At home I took a nap and a dip in the canal. Now I'm tired again.

I so very narrowly avoided a massive sunburn. I got pink but no hurt.

autobiographical

Oops! Four days behind! How did I get so behind? Besides being tired and having company and being tired again. So Friday? Was that where I left off? Okay! I slept in and did the Chicken Tikka Masala prep in the evening (had to marinate it). And cleaned house. John the acrobat engineer is/did visit! How great to have someone drive all the way over here!

On Saturday I got the CTM cooking and I chopped through my fingernail trying to hack the onion. Now I have to be careful to not snag the nail on anything, less it rip half off. Bluh.

John arrived at around 6 having missed a ferry. He missed the good swimming window, but I did have enough time to have everything tidy and vacuumed and suitable instead of being a cobwebby. House is shaping up! I've been so busy that I've lost the cleaning momentum. I picked up a fifth weekly shift at work too, so I'll only be more busy! Hurray! Though with a schedule already all over the place with few back to back days off, one extra day doesn't seem like it'd be so noticeable.

Plus more money will be nice. I'll maybe start actually getting ahead. Problem with crock pot cooking instead of PB&J: twice as many ingredients to buy.

But I do like having a bunch of lunches prepped and ready to go in the fridge. Just grab and go!

Where was I? Oh! John! Nice guy. We walked in the woods and I showed off how nice and quiet it is. I introduced him to a cocktail from my college days (Giamatti 23, which is Dr Pepper and two buck chuck CabSauv. It's better than you'd think but ... yeah) and he actually drank it. Courageous fella. We watched this movie that is a new plot edited together from hundreds of other movies. Interesting project and really well done because all the sight lines and stuff match up. Super not legal because of all the editing of, ya know, copyrighten movies. But neat!

And John stayed over, ooohhh, I know I know.

John spun one of my plates on his finger and I think he thought I'd freak out from fear of breaking my precious china...but I have so many plates and they are worn and probably not a complete set. And he was spinning it with enough confidence that I knew he wasn't gambling. Hehe. He departed at noon to actually catch a ferry on time (young padawan, he'll learn).

The rest of Sunday was spent chilling and prepping comic panels and lunches and going to bed early because I'm back to work!

Today is Trillian's birthday! Not mine, other Trillian's!

I was on laundry duty and I got many beds done and many sheets washed and towels washed and folded. Not all of them though. There were about... six rooms that had the laundry pulled? But nice to not be scrubbing. Lunch was tasty and bountiful because it was a bigger portion than my sammiches usually are. The windows were open and a sea breeze was wafting in. That was nice.

I picked up Lucy Knisley's new comic Something New after work, so I'm stoked to read that. It's an autobiographical comic about her planning her wedding. Her last one was about food, and I got it signed and she drew my favorite food in it: fish & chips! And Trillian has perogi! I think perogi. How Trillian of us to have the same signed book.

And my Birchbox arrived and it has the Hoola bronzer which is $$$ but I got the sample which is more than enough for me to use (it's an ample sample) and I got a nice lip gloss and shampoo and makeup setting spray that has spf in it. And a perfume sample that's nice and floral. Good selection!

Now that I have a PO Box, I'm wondering if Amazon Prime would be worth it so that I don't have to make Silverdale/Poulsbo/Sequim errands for the odd thing I need that I can't buy in Port Townsend. Like that ink pad. I could have just ordered it and not made the way out there drive just to buy ONE thing. Or printer ink or... well I can't think of anything more so that's probably a sign I DON'T need Prime just yet. But I'll make note of all the times I have to go out of my way to get stuff. I do try to stack trips. Thursday stacked a few things.

need a second weekend for my way too long weekend

So behind! I had two very busy days and at the end of either of them I didn't want to sum up I just wanted to go to sleep so here we go!

Saturday

• Got up early and packed up things for parents, things for the final bee class, things for Dungeons and Dragons. Lots of things.
• Hustled over to Seabeck
• Stopped by bank on the way and took out money
• Gave money to Mom & Dad paying off a couple loans, whoo go me!
• I also gave them chocolate and lapsang souchoung, which they liked
• Got my bee hat and hustled back to Silverdale!
• Final bee class was a bit cold so the bees were not able to be opened till the very end, still we saw a dead hive and the frames of foundation and it was pretty cool. One hive was able to be opened and with my veil I was able to get really close to the hive and bees. I saw a little baby one wriggle free from its comb! So cute!
• Ran a Target errand and then just went back to Seabeck
• Had noodles in the sun and talked with Ma & Pa some more, then took off for Port Townsend
• DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS WAS INTENSE! And so much fun.
• My character died but was resurrected. A ton of us died, but many were fine to reroll characters. There were a few people missing and it was more manageable, though it might have been an easier final fight if we had more help. Still, it was epic. I drew and we stayed till it was done so I got home at 2ish.

Sunday

• Date day!
• Got up early but not horribly early and felt pretty fine all day but the cold brew Storyville iced latte I had at 1pm helped a bunch
• Got to the Bainbridge terminal and parked no problem and got on the ferry with plenty of time to spare
• Arrived and got coffee and met John (who I met at Hateful Eight, he sat next to me and shared from his flask) up near Pike's Place Market. He bought some tea and we got salmon sandwiches and ate them in the viewing area and we chatted
• TURNS OUT HE IS AN ACROBAT like wow that's so cool!
• We went to see this circus and acrobat variety show that he knew (and acrobats with) some of the people in. It was really cool! There was a unicycle act with the gals and at one point one was on one of their shoulders, and that person was on the third's shoulders and they UNICYCLED LIKE THAT!!! And some other stunts that were just, wow.
• Hula hoopers, this guy doing cool lasso tricks, people that hang from bars and do intense things, contortionists, a dance troop that wasn't so great, kid circus people. Just lots of, oh a wire act where she did splits ON THE WIRE! Yeah, lots of cool stuff. A really great demonstration and variety. John explained the two ways to hang from the top of your feet on a bar. Neither sounded fun.
• Afterwards we had a nice little drink and got to know each other. We talked Ada Lovelace, clock making, type in comics, silly putty, making things. Just a wide variety of topics. He's a cool dude and he dropped me off at the ferry so I didn't have to track down a bus. Hope I can see him again soon but he has weekends and I anticipate not having weekends SOOO. We shall see. But yeah, a really nice date.
• Got the ferry back, swung by Central Market, got home right at midnight which isn't bad at all.

Monday

• Woke up then lay in bed for a few hours
• Scrubbed the upstairs and downstairs showers, toilets, and floors
• Also did the upstairs sink
• Scrubbed all the downstairs linoleum
• Swept out the dog room
• Accumulated and then took the trash to the dump
• Recycling too
• Basically upped the clean level though there's still so much clutter
• I'm hellbent on getting this house to next level nice
• I need some boxes to put out of date books in so that I can clear up some more space
• Food, internet, drew comic, relaxed, listened to a bunch of podcasts
• Five day weekend is OVER now to work for three days, have two days, work two, three days off, work three...
• Kinda want to go to Seattle next weekend too hmm

and so it goes

Monday:

Switched over to sleeping in the big bed again, as the small one was proving difficult to get properly comfy in. I stayed in my PJs all day, did a bunch of laundry, and switched into different PJs in the evening. Got some work at home done. Watched TV.

Tuesday:

Another big bed day, but I put on proper clothes today, only half way out of pajamas. If I'm not leaving the house, why bother? Ma & Pa, bring back the mouse zapper. I thawed out a baggie, well I'm thawing out, of shrimp to make with that alfredo sauce. I put garlic in the other sauce for pasta today. It was good. My internet was very spotty so it was hard to get work done.

I did do a bit of fan art for the youtube show Things I Bought at Sheetz, and I posed it on the closed group for fans of the show and right now it has 65 likes and the creators of the show commented. The little bit of recognition really cheered me up.

A bit bummed out right now. I ended things with Aaron. Not going to go into it here, it's just a thing that happened.

hetch ee double hockey stick ee arrrr

Saturday:

I was browsing through my old blog posts and I used to write such long entries all the time, but I was also doing so much day to day. Going to this class, then lunch, then another class, then hanging out and doing this and that, or going to First Thursday and seeing all this art. I've been out of college for four years now! Wow!

So today was a really fun great day! Saturday that is. I got to sleep in a little bit, then I had some scrambled eggs with chopped up bacon and cinnamon toast. Put on my stripey tights, my pineapple dress, my black hoodie, my leather jacket, my black Palladiums (though thinking about it, my orange high top Palladiums could have been a great way to bring the colors of my dress out, hmmm next ensemble!), and did shimmery eyemakeup with brows and no winged eyeliner. Just a nice look for being out on the town and hanging and being recognizable. I like to dress worthy of being illustrated, if I'm going to be fancy. Can only wear a tee and jeans to so many functions.

I was originally going to take the Bremerton ferry, but reviewed the Bainbridge times and that was equally as good. On the way there I swung by a coffee drive through and got a coffee to break a $20, not knowing that the parking lot at Bainbridge Island has gone automated. When did we stop having to shove dollars into a numbered slot in a metal thingy to pay for parking? Do we still have to in some places? I finished my smoothie (raspberry) and got a coffee at the ferry dock and finished the coffee by the end of the ferry crossing and felt right on the verge of having had too much coffee. I did a drawing on the ferry ride over, but the drawing was a birthday card for Chris (into which I included a shark sticker because that is how I roll).

Arrived to a gray Seattle day, but no rain! And I was glad it was a bit chilly because it it was hot while I suffered up the hill to Capitol Hill area, ohhh that would have sucked. I strode up Marion in full awesome force. Peed in the bathroom at Seattle Library because that coffee went through me like a champ. Nice library. And continued up the blocks. My fitness app actually was like "wow you did some good exercise today!"

The venue wasn't open (The Eclectic Theater) so I met Chris at Stumptown and we hung out on a bench in a park and chatted podcasts, coffee, life stuff. Hungry, we went down the street a bit to Pike Street Fish Fry and both got the battered cod and chips. Scrumptious. Can't beat a good fish n chip. Catching up with Chris is always great. No matter how long its been, we are always able to talk. It's a really good friendship to have. Had a couple beers at Saint John's Bar & Eatery, which featured a bulls head that was shaped out of Rainier cans. Nifty. I was never one to know all the different places to hang. I've always relied on other people's suggestions. I guess in Santa Cruz I knew maybe, like, one place? I know theaters. If there's a theater near by, I know it. That is what I seek out.

With still time to kill, we got shmancy cocktails at Cafe Pettirosso. When am I ever having a fancy cocktail? Almost never. Treat yo self!

Then, finally, venue time! I saw Emily Heller inside the venue and made eye contact but was far too shy to say anything at that moment. Still, how cool! And she, like my Wentworth Miller sighting almost a decade ago, looks exactly the same in person.

The venue was small. Seating for 20ish people. A guy was solving a Rubik's Cube and I complimented him on his nice cube choice (solid colors, no sticker). Nice friendly crowd. Brett Hamil opened. Funny guy. I liked his jokes about forgetting you ate beets the night before. Elicia Sanchez was next and was hilaaarious! Great stage presence and jokes and rhythm with the crowd. I don't think I've ever seen stand up like this. I saw an open mic in Santa Cruz, but that was a series of 2 minute sets. Very different. I liked this size because everyone was there to have fun and were supportive. I don't know if I'd enjoy being in an audience where someone antagonized the performer. I'm here to have fun and enjoy myself, and fighting against the person trying to make that happen seems...weird?

Anyway, Emily Heller was aweeesome! I love her Baby Geniuses podcast that she does with Lisa Hanawalt (hence why I lugged myself all the way out to Seattle for this show). How do I review comedy? She had good jokes. Relevant, relateable, well transitioning jokes. I dug her. And I talked to her a little bit after the show and bought a poster and she signed it and she recognized me from this Instagram post I made earlier in the day about boating to see the show, so THAT was cool! I had a nice moment (I felt) of banter with Mr. Hamil. "Where did you come from?" "Brinnon." "Where's that?" "Near Quilcene." "Where's that?" "Near Chimacum." Heh heh heh. Small towns.

Absolutely wonderful note to end on. Chris hooked me up with the proper bus to take downtown (the 12) and I caught the 9:55 back to Bainbridge Island. It's probably been three years since I last saw Chris. We should hang more. I should go to Seattle more. It's not a bad city. It just takes time and effort and timing and money to get there. But parking in Bainbridge ain't bad.

I didn't drive all the way back to Pulali. I stopped in Suquamish and stayed over at Aaron's. Not too far out of the way. Banjo is a sweet cuddly doggy, but is prone to chewing noisily on a bone in the middle of the night.

Sunday:

Aaron and I got brunch at The Oak Table Cafe in Kingston. I had the eggs casey (and our server was named Casey) which is chopped bacon in eggs on a croissant, drizzled with mushroom sauce. But the side of pancakes was overkill, but Aaron is a good guy and helped finish those off. Well sated, I took a nap while watching Anthony Bourdain on Netflix...still at Aaron's. So polite of me to just hang out with someone and spend the time napping. Hahah. Then I read a bit about geology from Aaron's illustrated copy of A Short History of Nearly Everything. Learned stuff about the weirdo English dudes who started that whole geology as thing stuff. Then I returned to Pulali.

Did laundry, got shows queued up, Interneted, watched Mad Men and was like "well, that show is gone now." A very good full fun weekend. I love getting out of the house, and really need to do it more often. I just can't think of things to do besides watching movies (in terms of activities that get me out of the house. I also scanned my sketchbook.

steak and potatoes

Saturday:

Did a bit of work, then drove over to Suquamish to hang with Aaron, hurray! Today was April 25th, which according to Miss Congeniality is the perfect date. Dinner was rib eye steak and potatoes grilled outdoors, with a salad for greenery. Very delicious, and well cooked. Afterwards we watched Death at a Funeral and Banjo cuddled with me like a good doggy. I didn't stay over, so naturally I returned home and slept way, way in.

Sunday:

I was so perfectly warm and content. Morning is nice. There is so little noise.

I did some more work from home work and did some laundry and had a long breakfast and listened to podcasts. Not all in that order. Now I'm just going to finish this episode of Mad Men and tuck into bed because it's a work on site day tomorrow!

cavorting and cashing out

Enjoying a nice Ballast Point Sculpin IPA as I take a break from packing. I am absolutely overpacking, but I want to look my best and I'm not sure what functions to pack for. Shirts, dresses, tights...etc.

And I have laundry drying so I have to fold that.

I ran errands today, whoo! I went to the library and dropped off books and picked up The Martian and Horologicon, I went into Silverdale and swung by Kohl's and picked up a few specific brand beauty brushes and there was a cute purse that won me over. White, turquoise, and tan. I needed a nice smallish purse. I'm pretty stoked on it. Nice to have something a bit less cumbersome than the striped tote I've been lugging about.

There was a perusal of the registry at Macy's, but only the toaster remained unbought so I opted out. I did get some Lenox travel mugs. Give one to Ma as a present. Made a Bevmo trip. Then went to Bremerton and picked up the contents of my comic box (Southern Cross, Help Us Great Warrior, Lumberjanes). Then into Port Orchard to get the matching Tiger's Eye stud. Now my earrings match!

I cruised back to Silverdale and made a Target run for hair ties and candy, then went to Silver City Brewery to meet Aaron for dinner. Originally we were going to meet at Hakata, but that place is closed on Sunday and Monday. I had the chai cider which was DELICIOUS and mahi mahi tacos. Aaron had a different fish dish and the porter. We chatted long and it was very nice. I like him.

Got back. Started laundry. Started packing. Makeup took some packing up. Bringing a lot with me, but I want to have all my tools at my disposal.

Full busy day. All I gotta do is roll out of bed, pack my car, and head to Seabeck. Then it's days in the van. Then the wedding!

exclusivity

Saturday:

Spent the day with Aaron, with whom I am now exclusive. Not officially boyfriend-meet-the-family-and-friends but hey, it's something! And he's cute and I like him a whole bunch. Anyway, spent the day with him. We got lunch at Hare & Hounds/Hound & Hares in Poulsbo. Split onion rings and fish and chips and had a pint each. Then we walked around downtown and checked out the book shops. I turned my back on him for a second, and in that second he found a hydraulic handbook. Ha!

I also presented him with some chives for his garden, which he was very appreciative of. I didn't stay over.

Sunday:

Woke up before 9 and went back to sleep. Eventually rolled out of bed at noon. Had a scramble, and later some cast iron cooked green beans and the barley wine ale that was 10.5% abv and was a bit intense. Also had a fire going and sat in front of it and read, and chatted with Celia for a bit. Nice mellow Sunday. Now I'm watching Mad Men!

Another week begins.

weather dregs

Saturday:

Slept in all nice and cozy. Had a scramble, set up my sewing machine and made a few of my tees fit better. In the late afternoon, I headed over to Suquamish for dinner with Aaron. We walked Banjo, then sloppy joes were made. Poor Aaron has been working on site on Vashon. 60 hour weeks, and he has a few more left. Hours every day commuting. So that's why he hasn't been mentioned that often in my blog.

Didn't stay over. Returned home and slept in way too long.

Sunday:

Slept in way too long, and had odd dreams. Then I snacked and had coffee and worked on work from home stuff. It was a damp day. Perfect for working from home. I researched, I uploaded, I researched.

Tomorrow I'm still from home, then I go on site on Tuesday! Leaving the house! Hurray!

everyone says I should read Bryson, well fine I will!!

Saturday:

Ohhh had a really lovely day in Port Townsend with Aaron. He drove and parked at my place, and I drove us in to Port Townsend (I have that Discover Pass for parks adventures). First up, we got brunch at the Blue Moose Cafe down near the docks. No waiting to be seated, which was awesome. I ordered the eggs benedict, as per usual, and he biscuits and gravy and hash. I ate with my fingers and made a very sloppy mess of it, but that's how I roll and he didn't seem embarrassed to be in public with me afterwards, so that's a good sign!

It was a perfect day for being outside. That perfect, crisp clear weather with blue skies and a few clouds far in the distance. Absolutely wonderful weather. We walked around the docks a bit and looked at boats, then I drove up to Fort Worden and we walked out on the dock there and along the beach and up to the lower bunkers, which were awesome as always. I like how there's just a couple "warning hazardous area" signs, and that's that. No need to go overboard, just warn people and if they hurt themselves on the old cement structures then it is their fault!

We hiked up to the upper bunkers too, and basked in the sun for a while. Aaron had never been to Port Townsend before, so wanted to show him the major hits first. Food, check, boats, check, bunkers, check, Elevated Ice Cream? Oh you betcha check! I got the dutch malt, which was like a whopper in ice cream form, and he had the mexican chocolate.

AND! I saw Jaden! Who I haven't seen in years. She didn't remember me, but of course I knew her as a baby and a toddler, and she is a tween now. I sorta get that whole thing where older family people remember you, but you don't remember them. I said a quick hello and returned to ordering ice cream.

We walked up and down the main street in old town, and went into bookstores (I got a Bill Bryson book FINALLY and rebought Stiff, Aaron bought a different Bryson book) and toy stores (I bought a couple Playmobil blind bags). All in all, a wonderful day. And the weather maintained throughout.

As he had left Banjo at home, Aaron departed shortly after getting back to the house.

I watched my stories and went to bed.

Sunday:

Slept in! That was awesome. Then I washed my car, because it needed it, and found out I do get a few channels on the TV, and tuned it to ABC for the Oscars. Man, so much Oscars! Hours of red carpet, hours of the show, and Neil Patrick Harris was a bit of an ass. I'm happy for the winners, surprised at the best actor and actress wins, but generally it was a good year...though really not diverse at all.

Anna Kendrick should host next year.

Celia came over for the Oscars too, and brought Mac n Cheese and popcorn. Nice to chastise with someone else.

I really want to see Mr. Turner now.

Here are some photos:

gal and val

Ahhh! I meant to blog before I left on Saturday, but I forgot. So here is a three day post!

Friday!

Did some work, then met Karen in Bremerton to celebrate Galentine's Day. Mom, you didn't tell me that you ran into Karen on the Ferry! Or rather as of this blog entry, you haven't texted to tell me you say Karen.

First I swung by Comics Keep in Bremerton to procure the first issue of Help Us! Great Warrior, by Madeleine Flores and colored by Trillian Gunn. Gotta support cool people making comics! And I also got the first volume of Sex Criminals (not exactly what it sounds like) and some Lumberjanes issues. And I started up my box again (I had a comic subscription box here before I left Washington for Portland, pre-blog era) to make sure I got more HU!GW and Lumberjanes, and whatever else I want on order. Dana, the shop owner, remembered me. How nice!

Then I met Karen for sushi and chat. I adore her, she's so great. Her company is always wonderful, and having a friend who has seen you go through stuff, and you've seen them grow. Such a good thing.

Together we saw Inherent Vice...and I kinda wished we'd seen Jupiter Ascending instead. IV was just... unneeded. The filming was good, the shots were excellent, casting on point and all that but the plot was unintelligible! Like it would just go on and on and on and we were both looking at each other going "this is really weird, what is happening I'm so lost..." yeah. Nice to look at but uhhhg nah.

We parted ways and I went to Trader Joe's and got food and I noticed my tire was looking a little low, so I topped it off before heading back home.

Saturday!

I made an appointment at Walmart to get my tire fixed (it was leaking, but not at an undriveable rate). Did some laundry. Got all gussied up and left with plenty of daylight to see Aaron for Valentine's Day. Daylight so that we could walk Banjo. And it's nice to spend time with a fella that you like. We walked Banjo down to the beach and the tide was low and clams were spurting water.

On the return, we made a calzone for dinner! It was mozzarella and goat cheese and prosciutto. I picked up the supplies at TJ's based on a recipe I found. Can't let Aaron do all the cooking, though he is very good at it. It was a tasty meal, but could have used some more flair. We watched a movie and I stayed over.

Breakfast was a drive up to Kingston, too long a wait at the brunch place, and a short walk to the crepe place and then crepes! We (sans Banjo) walked down to the dock and looked at the boats.

I left relatively early to make my appointment at Walmart. Got my tire fixed no problem. Picked up some discounted candy and went home. OH! I also got some fudge in Kingston.

I managed to catch Darrah during her visit with Celia. She and Jill hosted me over in Massachusetts way back when. After a property walk around, we got into the fudge and chatted. Now Darrah is flying back to Boston and I'm up late after doing some work and I'm tired so time to hit the hay!

One more flat tire, and the hazard insurance has fully paid for itself ($10/tire for four tires and three repairs).

ditched again

Saturday:

Slept in, and then when I finally rolled out of bed, I put on my rain jacket and went to observe the ditches. I scraped the ground so the flow was better, and pulled a few twigs out. When I came home from the day's fun, I noticed Celia had dug out the ditches nice and proper, so I've got to give her a good thank you for that! The rain has been ferocious and constant.

I went over to Suquamish to see Aaron. Not just dinner on my way home from work. And you know what he surprised me with? Cheerwine!! You can buy it at Bevmo apparently. What a guy! And he made an awesome shepard's pie. I helped chop the yams and rosemary. I had two massive servings, and then we watched Horns which wasn't all that great. I didn't stay over. Not a bad drive back through Port...Port...Gamble? What a weird town. Looks like a model town, not a real place anyone would live.

Sunday:

Slept in. Itemized what I need to do tomorrow (call Straight Talk to get replacement voucher for busted phone, health insurance, job stuff) and looked at a day full of nothing and decided to see Jupiter Ascending and hang a bit with Marcus after.

So here's the thing about Jupiter Ascending: it's goddamn amazing. It's the movie every tween girl wrote. It's full of characters from every young gal's imagination. The men of interest in the movie lack the male power fantasy dynamic that is present in pretty much every other movie. Jupiter's costumes and makeup are perfection. It's so much damn fun and it made me yearn for a youth full of imagination and that lack of hindrance that comes with experience. I loved it. And the movie will flop. It's not what most people want to see, or expect to see, or like seeing. As fun as it is, it just isn't a movie that will speak to the masses, and unfortunately by masses I mean the guys who pay time and time again to see stuff. Argh.

Yeah.

I met Marcus at Shari's. I had pie, he had cocoa, and we talked Jupiter Ascending (I explained why it's so great) and television and other movies. We have very differing opinions and interests so it generally makes for good conversation (i.e. the trend of high waisted pants in the fashion design of the movie Her). It is so easy for me to spend the whole day at home, so I gotta take the initiative to get out more often.

And I put $8 of gas in my car, which actually was more than 2 gallons. Gas is going up, but it's still way cheap.

The Countdown to The Countdown

December 31st:

Last day of work of the year 2014. Oh where I was at the start of this year. A different state. A different climate. A different job.

At work I did some research and updating of the shop. For the next two weeks I will be working from home so we took the time to come up with tasks for me to do that would be equal to 60 hours of work. I should think of some errands to run, like getting a Washington driver's license and a PO Box and other stuff. Going on the Elendil? It was a shorter work day.

I met Karen at Cups for a little New Years rendezvous. She gifted me an Ivar's Cookbook!!!! Now I can make fish and chips the good proper delicious way. Such a great gift! I presented Karen with some vintage Junko Koshino scarfs (I wonder where I got those, hmmm). We got doughnuts and a restaurant let us huddle in their seating waiting area for warmth while we chatted and caught up. She has some vacation that overlaps with my work from home time, so hopefully she'll come hang and we'll chat and be good ol' gal pals like the good ol' days.

From Poulsbo I went to Suquamish and met Aaron for New Year's festivities. Festivities being dressing nice and staying in and drinking some Lagavulin and making homemade spaghetti sauce to go over pasta and watching some tv and ringing in the new years with kisses from Banjo the dog.

January 1st:

I stayed over in Suquamish. I bought a Viking Doughnut at Stuy's so that was split for breakfast. Aaron made coffee and we watched the Bad Blood episode of The X Files because that is the best episode of anything ever. I departed around noonish. Oh! And there was cheesecake, the rest of which was gifted to me. Back at home I ate about a third of the cheesecake while soaking in a hot bath whilst reading Bobcat and Other Stories. A great start to the year. I loafed around the house by myself. Ate popcorn for dinner. Washed dishes.

Got some stuff to do tomorrow, hopefully it won't be too harrowing and number focused. Then it is the weekend! Already!

My birthday is in 20 days, Eeek!

happy birthday Celia!

Ahk! I'm three days behind again. Sorry.

Monday: I worked on site. Helped pack up things at work, and edit things, and get stuff online. Then I went to the stores and sorted and tidied it up. Then I went back up to Suquamish to see Aaron. We ordered a pizza and drank a couple beers and watched Galaxy Quest. How perfect is that? Pretty darn good in my book. I got home late and slept in later than anticipated.

I worked from home on Tuesday. Edited things on the site mostly.

Wednesday I worked on site. I made a few signs, edited things, The weather has been staying nice and mild. Not much rain, no freezes. I wore my Italian leather heel boots, black pants, gray long sleeve tee, black hoodie, and blood orange pleather jacket, with shell bracelet. I looked so badass.

After tidying up the stores, I returned to the Island and met Aaron at the Winslow Ale House. I was there are 6 and people were not due to arrive till 7, and he works down the street, so time for a quick pint. Hee hee hee. Anyway, he didn't meet any of the family. Celia arrived for her birthday hugs and I gave her these earrings I got at work that were perfect for her. There was live music, and at around 7:30, Brynne and Averie and Sally and err.... I forget the fourth person's name... arrived. Everyone is looking so good and fly this season! I had a salad and bread dinner, and this ice cream dish.

A nice night indeed. Can't believe Celia is the age that she is, as she looks great! A lady never narcs on someone elses age. I'm not working on site again till Tuesday, but I got hella errands to run.

And by hella errands I mean watching Force Majure.

light red/blood orange

Saturday:

After sleeping in, I had an oatmeal and coffee breakfast and set up my tree. I did use the little onzen tub as per Dad's suggestion. With a brick, it gave my Christmas tree enough weight. I found a string of lights, but it's weird because half the strand blinks on and off, and the other doesn't! I added some bead strands, and ornaments. It'll be an ongoing decoration process. The tree is flat on one side, so it fits perfectly against the side of my couch end table. I moved the green chair over so it's now a second fireplace chair. It's a bit of a squeeze to get by the stripey chair, but it's all good.

Aaron came over for the day. We ate pasta, drank beer, sat by the fire, played Scattergories, and hiked on the property. Lovely time.

Sunday:

Slept in. It's very nice how the climate has warmed up a bit. I can tolerate 40 degrees, but 30? Bah! I need to make an eggs run.

I headed in to Quilcene with Celia and we browsed one of the antique's market. I found a blood orange pleather jacket that was quite fashionable. Very cute! She found an English garden shovel priced way below what it was worth (five bucks). Huzzah!

Back at home, I cleared out the spice shelf of all 20th century spices and made room for my Aero Press. I dumped the expired spices in my compost. I watched some telly. Ate some pasta. Listened to podcasts. Added decorations to tree. It's all good. Working from home tomorrow. Have some things to sort out.

tree thievery

Thursday:

It has finally thawed out a bit! The rain came and the snow is melted! It's less icy everywhere and that is grand. Worked on site and mostly photographed items. Did a lot of lighting riggings, and it's getting better session by session. I photographed a lot of jewelry.

And after work I met Aaron in Poulsbo for Pho! And we had pho and chatted till the restaurant closed. So that was nice. Got home at 10ish, but I wasn't working on site the next day so it's all good.

Friday:

Slept all the way in. Rolled out of bed, washed my dishes, made coffee, snacked. Mom and Dad arrived at around 1ish. First we set about getting the paddleboat off the seawall. Took some bailing of rainwater out of it, and then some muscle to tilt and drain the interior. It needs some patches lest it sink when we first take it out on the water. Hauled it up and trucked it up near the snipe, and I draped my tarp over it. The tarp that was under my tent on all those camping trips across the country. The dirt and dust of the country!

Then we got out rain gear and saws and got into the truck and off we went to Duckabush Road to bag ourselves a Christmas Tree. We got a permit to allow us to chop one down. We went far up this narrow road which climbed around the mountain. A forest service road that my parents were surprised at how well it was maintained. They found a good tree once we got to a fork in the road. I also stole a tree for my out decoration purposes. We threw them in the truck and secured them under a net and headed back down the hill to Brinnon. We grabbed an early dinner at Half Way House. Dad and I had the 2 for 1 steak special, mom the oysters. Mine was delicious and we all split a banana creme pie!

Mmmm. Food.

My Twin Peaks and Cornetto Trilogy sweatshirt and shirt arrived too! Well it arrived at my parent's house, they just had to deliver the packages to me.

I helped Dad chop down a stray driftwood log, lest it break apart the seawall in a bad storm. I returned Catan and Carcassone to Ma & Pa. They didn't stay the night. I did some of my work from home stuff. Now to sleep.