Let’s Go To Seattle….

The second week of June we went to Seattle/Tacoma and various points in between and all over.

But before I left I ran the 10 miler at Chester Woods. Yep. I decided to run 10 miles two weeks after the Med City and a week before the Rock n Roll in Seattle. Because I’m so awesome, that’s why.

It was really a perfect day for a race through the woods, and I took 10 minutes off my time and felt great. Yay.

Ugh-I actually feel good but I guess the picture doesn’t quite reflect that…..

Then, three days later we were off to Seattle for a fun filled week.

The original plan was to take Grampa to the coast for a few days. That changed because he got sick in April and wasn’t really up for big travel. Although actually he probably was. Still, just in case we cancelled that trip and we ended up staying at Debbie’s house on Hartstine.

  

I went to Portland on Wednesday with sisters and Grampa. While I was gone Dave stayed back on the island and went kayaking and walking. He saw whales, otters, and all manner of wild life.  (I saw some whales briefly but was unable to get a picture)

He was so lucky.

We had a little visit to the Riverside Graveyard and visited with Mother’s people….

Then out to lunch at Beaches in Vancouver…

It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed it a lot.

Thursday we got up early and walked

We went back to Tacoma and took Grampa to the doctor. He had a good check up. Before we left Shelton, though, we did stop at Fancy Image, my fave yarn store, to get a swap gift and look at the lovely dyed yarn colors. We  got some delicious coffee in Shelton too. We also stopped at Nordstrom in Tacoma cause I had a gift card AND a note. I had bought some pants there last trip and then brought them all the way back to get hemmed up. I am still kind of trying to make sense of that

And on Friday it was up to Seattle to get our packets for Rock n Roll, then to Pike Place to look around and pick up a little present for Laura (who again watched the cats—thank you Laura!). It was crowded as usual for the summer rush. We walked up through town and on the way back I found a yarn store! Who knew? We got back and checked into the DoubleTree Hilton by the airport. Note to self-staying by the airport is so much easier when traveling.

We then left to go to a company party at Cheney Stadium—the Honkers game. It’s 24 miles and 27 minutes to get there. It took us over an hour. What I was thinking when we took off on a Friday afternoon to drive to Tacoma I’m not sure. It must have been exhaustion starting to set in because apparently I had lost my mind thinking that was going to be a smooth trip down the 5.  Fortunately, it was one of the best company parties ever. Free beer and food—can’t go wrong. There was even some cake involved. There couldn’t be a better party. We left early and decided to go to the hotel bar and enjoy a last beer before the race. We were pleasantly surprised to find out  that there was a very large Dr. Who convention happening. Very. Large. With costumes. Anglicon. Wow. I wanted to take lots of pictures but wasn’t sure if it would be rude to start snapping random shots of complete strangers in Dr. Who garb.

Saturday we had a big day at the Rock n Roll. We had VIP tickets and I will never go back to just hanging with the crowd beforehand. We had our own delicious food, tents, heaters, portapotties, unlimited beer and champagne. It was great. Before and After the race.

Our food tents

Our views

This is where the band played.

  

And this is some of what we saw while we were running and walking.

Halfway selfie--

Seattle Skyline

  

Safeco and Century Link Fields

Beautiful sunny day—perfect for our race. We finished in 3 hours even. Dave ran over half the race. I was very impressed. My sister and Tom were there too and they finished after us. It was really enjoyable.

We met up with Dave’s son Justin and his now fiance Katie for lunch at the Space Needle.

I love the Space Needle. Over priced but I’m such a tourist I don’t even care.

Sunday was Justin’s graduation from the Information School at UW. He got a Master of Library and Information Science.

Let’s drive to Seattle shall we??

Yes, that’s miles of cars.

We got there though because we did the “leave two hours early” rule.

Justin graduated and won a prize from the faculty too. So that was nice.

We went out to Anthony’s in Ballard for dinner which was sooo good. We stopped in the bar first. Cause why not?

And after all was said and done, on Monday we packed up and came back home.

And although it was a fun trip, it was busy and  stressful so this past week I have been just trying to mentally catch up.

I think I am almost there.

This helped--

  My swap package arrived with good presents for me. Yay.

And I walked Abby so that was good too.

Abby staring, not walking.

Getting ready to go back to Seattle in July and run Ragnar (and work a little too). It should be an easier trip I think, even though there’s a 36 or so hour race involved.

I’m actually pretty hyped for that.

Hopefully I’ll be able to stop and smell the flowers--

Or collapse into them. Keep moving….

 

We are family…..

I was out to dinner at Laura’s house last week. (Saw Mr Mix and was again introduced and explained my husband lived with Laura for a while, but we’re all good with it…..)

It was a great evening—food was great, company exquisite.

The best thought of the night, however, was when Laura was saying how she had to clean up because we were coming for dinner and Nancy told her “No worries, we’re all family, aren’t we?” To which we all had to agree.

So here, finally, after how many dinners, is my family (and my kind of sister wife, in a totally non creepy, strictly platonic way)

 

Selfies Gone Wrong

Not lots going on. I’ve actually been home for the month and working and just passing the time.

I am working hard on my Paradise In Bloom and am working on another quilt for the shop AND participating in a Ravelry swap so I have to get busy for that.

We are leaving for Seattle on the 9th and yay for Laura who will be overseeing the cats. And the bird.

Blane and Melanie were down over the 3 day weekend and not one picture. I can put in an old one from last March--  That’s a rerun.

Blane got a promotion at work and Melanie is doing so well in school-she’s like phi theta kappa! They are both doing super great. Not sure they love Grand Forks but Grand Forks has been pretty good to them. They are off to Florida for Melanie to go to a convention or something in June.

Cody has rented an apt in Carlsbad-

and should be there in another month or so. I made sure there’s room for his mother. Can’t wait to visit.

I ran the Med City 1/2 Marathon. It was a great race. It’s too bad I can’t run all races and feel good. But this one worked out well. Finished in 2:04 so I like that.

At the start. Dave can really take a bad picture of me. I mean, not that I take great pictures but Dave has a knack for a bad one like no other.

It started raining about mile 10ish so when I finished the steady rain had started. Which was too bad because the after party was all sorts of awesome. There was a band—Pop Rocks—and they were pretty good. I love a good dance band. And, bestly, there was free beer. Dave got an unlimited beer wrist band for 10 bucks—TEN. BUCKS. Only in the midwest.

So we partook in the festivities.

I run for beer

Sadly, the rain kept falling and I was getting cold so we left. I am hoping that next year it’s cool but sunny so the race is nice and the after party lasts longer and attendance is better.

I took a couple pics of my house for a coworker the other day--

Where I live. I put mulch down though so the beds look better AND with all the rain it’s looking pretty green.

See? Not much happening. Dinner next week with the girls so maybe, just maybe, I’ll get a good picture. Had a wine evening with Cathy which was awesome and am planning the Ragnar in July with Tiff.

The funniest thing that happened though, was the selfie Dave and I attempted at the race--

I said-Dave, let’s get a selfie

Dave said—Oh, ok.

Then this happened.

Me-…the hell?

Dave-My head is huuuge.

Me—Did I just photoshop you-that doesn’t even look real.

Dave-I don’t even know how I can physically hold that up it’s so unnaturally large.

Then I couldn’t even stop laughing but I decided we had to correct that right now.

Normal heads but painful laughter.

This is what amuses us.