Category: about Seattle

We went ring shopping midday and returned to Seattle for a Snappy Dragon dinner with Anne and Brian. They currently live in Greece and are visiting through Monday. A & B, and half of our party of 15, headed to Kona Kitchen for postprandial karaoke. I should’ve taken pictures, but alas, I was busy talking and talking and talking some more.

It started snowing on our way there! We arrived too early, so I phoned a friend (motomotoyama, ha!). She kindly retrieved the karaoke MC from home (yes, she knows him) and brought him so we wouldn’t have to head onto another venue (and so he wouldn’t have to take a bus). She saved the day! I even brought out Britney for the occasion. It’d been years. Our group dominated the lineup as snow kept many home, but feedback indicates a winning night — there will be an encore someday. 🙂

In doing her kind deed for the day, motomotoyama was delayed for Derby Prom 2008: The Skates of Wrath. As karaoke wound down, we headed into the blizzard to catch the final hours at the Irish Emigrant.

I can’t wait to visit Anne and Brian in Athens.

Today, my group had its annual White Elephant. Last year, I won a thumbs-up statue from sprizee’s Dude. This year, I grabbed a gift referencing Festivus, opened the gift and within 2 seconds realized where I’d seen it. After the shortened 4th of July excursion to the Olympic Peninsula, our friend Beth (and former coworker) gave sprizee’s Dude a Damn Seagulls cap. I was happy to pass on a Cigarette-Dispensing Donkey. Good times.

In researching the earlier statue, I found this re-enactment of last year’s statue.

Traca threw another dinner party. We gathered at Kris’s place in Leschi with its amazing view of Lake Washington. Soon, Kris will be hitting the reset switch with a spontaneous road-trip of undetermined length. Traca and Kris wanted one final dinner party before she leaves her current home for good.

The Menu, driven partially by Kris’s past as a trained sushi chef:
japanese eggplant with ponzu & tempura bits
pecan salmon steaks, ohitashi (blanched spinach towers)
pork tenderloin medallions with mandarin ginger reduction
burnt asparagus with lemon & kosher salt
tiger eye (tuna & tobiko lightly fried)
stuffed figs dipped in chocolate served with cheese & fruit

Much to my dismay, the lighting was not hospitable for point-and-shoot cameras. There were some fancier photographers there so I figured I’d just direct those for further pictures elsewhere. Plus, it allowed me to better stay focused on the food and socializing. Traca’s coverage is here. And over at Wright Eat’s blog, they’ve covered it, too.

Today was a big deadline day. Fortunately it went well and we were done early enough that I could attend Jonas’s birthday dinner. J turned 9 today so the whole gang went to Luisa’s in Ballard to celebrate.

Motomotoyama taught Jonas (her nephew) her characteristic fish-face photo pose. I’d say he’s mastering his own rendition quite well.

What I learned today: the post office will deliver holiday stamps direct to your home. I learned this after visiting the post office (batch 1 prepped!) but I’m hoping this knowledge’ll be handy for others in this hectic season. 🙂

This is on my way back home from the Wedgwood USPS.

One house in our neighborhood regularly decorates — this is a scene in their yard. Also, not pictured here: bowling balls in planters, snowpeople families, and an angelic chorus.

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This afternoon, we discussed Shopgirl, by Steve Martin. Loved the book, hated the movie.

Tonight, I went with Carey to a private shopping evening at downtown Nordstrom. I stopped her on the way back to her place near Pike Place Market, to get my snap of the day. Great night, excellent conversation with Carey, her brother from Dallas and his wife (newly married!).

Tonight, I met up with motomotoyama, C&I, and Jonas to see a community band play a tree-lighting in northeast Seattle. (A friend of ours plays the flute.) Afterward, Mr. T joined us at Luisa’s in Ballard for impromptu carnita night. We then proceeded to C&I’s to wind down and catch up.

Check out that GIANT lightswitch.

I’m readjusting to Seattle again.

I craved sushi all morning, but time crunch meant I should head over to Blue C for takeout. Not ideal, but felt like it’d be the same cost as picking up a pacifier at the PCC deli. On my way out, I noticed this, then noticed Ian’s truck (with his “Toucan Do It!” sticker — the name of his boat, too) stopped behind a 31 metro bus. I rapped on his side window and we lunched in front of the PCC. My attempt at time-saving didn’t pan out, but that’s not more important than dining with friends!

A quick note to say: more coming soon. During my first trip greater than a week since I started this, the photo diary took an unplanned break. Without strategy, I did nothing. I am back with exciting news to report and drafted entries to publish within the next 24 hours.

Hold, please. 😉

This morning was focused on packing up, heading out to our mid-afternoon flight. BOO. In this scene, we’re waiting for the doors to close.

When we got to the airport, we discovered Hawaiian Airlines had reassigned our seats and we had to run directly to the gate to get new seats. We spent the entire time until the final boarding call standing in line as the person running the show was a can short of a six-pack. She also kept calling different people up for reassignment, in front of us, ignoring those patiently in line while I worried we were going to be bumped. LAME. I couldn’t recharge any electronics (wow, Apple products seemed especially bad at holding a charge in the humidity) nor did I have time to buy water at a gift shop past Security Theatre. LAME.

I was thankful when a couple in front of us grew impatient and took off. We were given their re-coordinated assignments and could sit together even if I did end up in the middle seat. Still missed my water. On flights, it’s essential — I really hate bothering anyone to bring more. The electronics, not so necessary, as I could go analog and read The Man Who Ate Everything by Jeffery Steingarten for most of the 5 hour flight back.

Yay for non-stop to the tropics, though.

For our final full day, we stayed at our resort. We passed plans for the Road to Hana to enjoy more relaxation. Hana: next time?

We spent most of the day lounging — at breakfast, we had company.

Tonight, we went to Lahaina for fabulous dinner at the Lahaina Grill. I tried their Maui Onion and Sesame Crusted Seared Ahi with vanilla bean jasmine rice and apple cider-soy vinaigrette. I will be thinking about it for months to come. Their Cake Walk — Kona lobster crab cake, sweet Louisiana rock shrimp cake and seared ahi cake — was amazing, too.

This morning, we went to Kapalua Beach to brunch at Gazebo on the beach. Afterward, we headed north for a Sunday drive.

We saw Olivine Pools after stopping out the Nakalele Blowhole, in Northwest Maui.

For dinner, we went back towards Kapalua for Sansei Sushi.

Today we actually ventured out twice. Once for grocery-store provisions and lunch at Aloha Mixed Grill, and then later for dinner in downtown Lahaina at Cilantro. Our mixed-plate lunch was meh (brown gravy saved the day), but dinner was fantastic and crazy inexpensive for Lahaina. For days after, we talked about heading back for more Mother Clucker Flautas takeout with roasted jalapeno and honey sauce.

This is before dinner, from our balcony. Sunset conditions were perfect.

Our plan for our week was to do as little as possible. Today perfectly met its purpose — we left our resort once to walk to a bookstore for laziness provisions. We even had all meals on-site, and lunch was brought directly to our lounging area. We were closest to Black Rock during our stay, so we had a front row seat to watch the nightly diver after he lit all the torches in his ceremony.

I spent most of the day staring at the sky.

For Thanksgiving, we traveled to Maui. We arrived mid-day and went for dinner in Lahaina. After the sun set, we returned to Ka’anapali Beach for a walk.

While we watched the waves roll in, Mr. T asked, “Will you marry me?”

Yes!

For the Baron, my running shoes = the slightest chance for a walk.

Sometimes I put them on while doing chores around the house, just to see his Noble Highness get all worked up at the possibilities. Here, he’s pretending he wasn’t stretching and yawning and looking coy in anticipation 30 seconds ago. He also fronts like he wasn’t jumping into the air whenever I made the slightest move towards the front door. No sirree.

Only his lightly furrowed brow gives it away.

We went to see Twilight. I enjoyed it, I think this is the way to go with the WHOLE franchise.

Twice today, I’ve wondered why so little negative reaction to Christmas gearing up? I shouldn’t question it. Same for my mood towards the Fall arrival — I wondered, have I gone native? Turns out, local weather smarty says we’re having October weather now and it’s making for a spectacular Fall. I like this easing into Winter bit, combined with my morning light-box devotion. HUGE relief.

I ran my farthest since the marathon today — 4.6 miles. Good for my lazybones. Followed it up with Mr. T making a delicious dinner, then card shopping, then whipping up a batch of Sweet Potato Crack. Next I’ll watch my long-reserved Valley of the Dolls. Storing up my energy for Twilight viewing tomorrow.