09/21/2010

Seattle pictures, check 'em out!

Click here!

09/15/2010

This job makes me feel like Peter Gibbons, minus an aching desire to crush the copy machine. I pretty much spend my work days performing robotic tasks and cringing every time my coworker answers the phone in her Mr. Mackey voice. My manager though, she sends my fists into a clench. She's a micromanaging, all-up-in-your-business fiend who has mastered the hover technique better than a sea gull (tell me how you really feel, right?). I love/hate her and I can't stand the feelings of paradox. It sends me into a frenzy. Honestly, my manager is really nice, just a little always hangin' around for my taste. My last day is tomorrow and then it's back into the wash bin of unemployment. I am going to miss texting/griping with my coworker, Lauren, and then heading off for cheap drinks at happy hour and Lebanese after work. But, I'm pretty excited to start something new.

And I know, wine, cheese and violins. I love them all!

Now, on to the happy, happy times that is Seattle.

I left Seattle on Sunday kicking and screaming. Ben has the bruises to prove it! From now on he will pack a bike helmet and hockey gear on all future vacations. Seattle was amazing! And plagued with steep inclines and stairs, which as shocking. I wasn't expecting Dallas flats, but I wasn't expecting San Francisco tumbles either. Aside from the work-out inducing, take-my-breath-away hills, Seattle was incredible. Actually, including the hills, Seattle was incredible!

We stayed in an apartment in Capitol Hill that had a breakfast nook and was a short walk to coffee shops/restaurants and was basically a Hawthorne Street duplicate. Ben was a little trooper and was up and dressed before eleven! I almost wish I had time stamped my pictures as proof for all the skeptics. We ate brunch at the Coastal Kitchen, which on the weekends has a 45 minute line that competes with Gravy. Lady luck was with our tummies, because we walked straight in the door and to a booth. I was in hashbrown heaven for the entirety of our meal.

We grabbed a bus to the Sci-fi/Experimental Music Project Museum. Ben spent an hour in the music museum lusting after guitars and talking about grunge while I lusted after first edition P.K. Dick and H.G. Wells novels. Also, the entire time I was there I couldn’t get Mr. Tony Daniels, my sci-fi professor in college…whom I found dull, out of my head. I kept expecting to see Metaplanetary: A Novel of Interplanetary Civil War in one of the glass cases. Unfortunately (fortunately?), he has not yet made it the sci-fi hall of fame.

Pike Place Market was packed and filled with jewelry booths, flower stands and fish mongers. It’s three stories, and on floor number two is the most amazing comic book/Spencers conglomeration. Also joining the ranks on floor 2, is the book store narrator who yells non sequiturs at his customers and talks like he’s hyped up on a pound of espresso beans. It is in that store that I bought my only souvenir from Seattle (besides the added pounds), a Jane Austen portrait bookmark.

Since markets aren’t Ben’s thing, he got to pick the next activity--- the arcades. Ben and I spent an hour and a half playing pinball, skee ball, and air hockey. We spent $13.00 and left with a mini-deck of cards, a glitter bouncy ball and some green play dough.

Ben booked reservations at Seattle’s second best rated “romantic restaurant.” One of its walls is home to the “Gum Wall” which I find horribly ironic. Romantic with a tinge of gross-factor! The food was delicious. Ben was brilliant and got a fish deluxe plate, ie Katie proof. I had the penne special and later experienced wicked indigestion. Apparently when you shovel an appetizer, wine, and your whole meal down your throat like a piggie, you get stomach aches. In hind sight, totally worth it!

The next morning we made our way to this pizza shop around the corner--- home to the most mouth-watering pizza. I dare say, better than Dominos! I know, Bonbon/Popeye, you guys must be in shock right now. But I assure you, I have never had this pizza’s equivalent.

My number one, must-do in Seattle, top-of-my-list, will digress into toddler mode if we don’t do it, was ride a ferry boat. And luckily, for my lungs and pride, Ben took me on a ferry ride to Bainbridge Island over the Puget Sound. We met Allen, the super geeky marine lawyer, who talked about Evil Dead and Neil Gaimon to us while we sipped on beer. Inspired by ferry boats, we have decided to save up for an Alaskan cruise. We want to eat like kings on a cruise ship and look at glaciers. Bainbridge was this charming island city on the Kitsap Peninsula that had yarn stores, book shops and icecream! Oh my, oh my, oh my I scream, you scream, we're all screaming for this icecream. No joke, best.icecream.ever.

Dane and I are checking out a house tonight. Keep your fingers crossed this house is a keeper! Oh yeah, and pictures from Seattle to come.

09/01/2010

I've been obsessed with lists today. My grocery list is charmingly essential. My wish list is excessive and borderline superfluous and titled 'Gimmie, Gimmie!' and mostly features books/graphic novels and end tables (yes, run on sentence).

Last Thursday, Ben, Elisa and I went to Billy Rays for pinball and cheap beer. Medieval Madness kept sucking my ball and taking my quarters. I gave up and played trivia. Trivia highlighted our stupidity and we made out with honorable mention...aka, last place. My contributions: Au, Dolly Parton, Jupiter, and Tropic of Cancer. We played four rounds. Team player, yeah!

I gave Ben these options for tonight:
Dinner by Katie- Salisbury Steak, Pancakes & Breakfast Sausage, Homemade mac & cheese, Panko Crusted Chicken Nuggets
Dinner by Frozen- CPK pizza, Bertolli Chicken Parm in a bag
Dinner by Eating Out- Chipotle


Ben chose Chipotle and I'm totally blaming it on our Ricotta Gnocchi failure last week. Also, I keep thinking about Alana's homemade gnocchi and pining. In any case, our "gnocchi" never thoroughly cooked and pretty much turned into warm ricotta fritters. Also, the entire time we were making our dinner Ben made up the "Gnocchi Man" song:

Gnocchi man,
Oh gnocchi man,
Making gnocchi with his gnocchi hands,
Doing whatever a gnocchi man can dooooo

Adorable, right? Also, are you guys a little done with reading the word 'gnocchi?'


Well, I'm not! We paired our ricotta gnocchi with Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. Our Star Wars indulgence was inspired by: http://weburbanist.com/2010/08/26/how-graffiti-can-be-even-cooler-just-add-star-wars/

Elisa had an intense weekend, see: South American love boy, which called for Sunday brunch and mimosas. Oh men, always complicating things! After getting tired of paying absurd prices for orange juice and cheap champagne, we went to Freddies and picked up our own Mimosa making ingredients. The rest of the afternoon was spent watching Project Runway, petting our kitties and sipping delicious alcoholic beverages.

And now, a glimpse of what's to come.
Ben & Katie in the Emerald City- Second week of September. Another list of the day: What To Do In Seattle?

1) Ferry Boat
2) Sci-Fi Museum
3) Gum Wall
4) Fremont Troll
5) Pike Place
6) Ilbistro Romantic Date Night
7) Art Walk
8) Bridge of Glass

Any suggestions?