tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72237118323616910802024-03-19T03:09:54.770-07:00E is RandomThoughts from my head. Imperfect. Entertaining. Real. Random. Amusing.Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837578624551672560noreply@blogger.comBlogger1043125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7223711832361691080.post-37846017563291814372015-04-29T22:13:00.002-07:002015-04-29T22:13:42.806-07:00What I've been readingAlmost a year ago (although it was only a few posts ago because I'm so good at this blogging thing) I shared a stack of books I had to read.<br />
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I had managed to get out of the habit of reading and missed it, so I bought a few books that looked fun and pulled the ones off my shelf I hadn't read yet for inspiration.<br />
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The good news: I've read plenty.<br />
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The bad news: I haven't made that much progress on my stack of books.<br />
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See, I have a Kindle Fire and discovered the Overdrive app. It let's me check out books from my public library without ever leaving my house (or couch).<br />
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And I've taken advantage of it.<br />
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I think I speak for all of us when I say none of us have time for me to go through every single book I picked up in the past year. But I did want to highlight some of my favorites.<br />
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Take a look at my picks and let me know if you think I've left any must-read books out. I'm always looking for a good book to add to my never-ending list.<br />
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<b><i>The Glassblower</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>Synopsis: In the village of Lauscha in Germany, things have been done the same way for centuries. The men blow the glass and the women decorate and pack it. But when Joost Steinmann passes away unexpectedly, his three daughters must learn to fend for themselves. While feisty Johanna takes a practical approach to looking for work, Ruth follows her heart, aiming to catch the eye of a handsome young villager. But it is dreamy, quiet Marie who has always been the most captivated by the magic of the craft of glassblowing. As the spirited sisters work together to forge a brighter future for themselves, they learn not only how to thrive in a man’s world, but how to remain true to themselves in the process.<br />
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What I thought: My immediate reaction to this book was "you go girls." I'm all for strong female characters -- a theme you'll see in a few of these books. And I was really drawn into the world of this village and into the art of glassblowing. This book is actually part of a trilogy, but so far I've only read this one.<br />
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<b><i>The Paper Magician</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>Synopsis: Ceony Twill arrives at the cottage of Magician Emery Thane with a broken heart. Having graduated at the top of her class from the Tagis Praff School for the Magically Inclined, Ceony is assigned an apprenticeship in paper magic despite her dreams of bespelling metal. And once she’s bonded to paper, that will be her only magic…forever.<br />
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Yet the spells Ceony learns under the strange yet kind Thane turn out to be more marvelous than she could have ever imagined. But as she discovers these wonders, Ceony also learns of the extraordinary dangers of forbidden magic. An Excisioner—a practitioner of dark, flesh magic—invades the cottage and rips Thane’s heart from his chest. To save her teacher’s life, Ceony must face the evil magician and embark on an unbelievable adventure that will take her into the chambers of Thane’s still-beating heart—and reveal the very soul of the man.<br />
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What I thought: I got this book as part of the Kindle First program, which allows you to "buy" one new book at month for free. If you have a Kindle and haven't signed up -- you should.<br />
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As for the book, I really enjoyed the two main characters. Ceony and Thane were how I imagine magicians, quirky and a little bit off-beat. Plus it was fun to see their connection develop. The book kept me totally engaged to the end. And I ended up pre-ordering the second book in the series (because what young adult novels come as stand alones anymore). The second book was okay, but this first one is the real star.<br />
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<b><i>The Night Circus</i></b><br />
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Synopsis: The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called <i>Le Cirque des Rêves</i>, and it is only open at night.<br />
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But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway: a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this game in which only one can be left standing. Despite the high stakes, Celia and Marco soon tumble headfirst into love, setting off a domino effect of dangerous consequences, and leaving the lives of everyone, from the performers to the patrons, hanging in the balance.<br />
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What I thought: I ended up loving this book, though it took me a little bit to get into to. The world within the pages was truly magical and there was a sweetness to the story that was unexpected, but that really drew me in. Now if only this circus were real and I could visit it.<br />
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<b><i>Me Before You</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>Synopsis: Louisa Clark is an ordinary girl living an exceedingly ordinary life—steady boyfriend, close family—who has barely been farther afield than their tiny village. She takes a badly needed job working for Will Traynor, who is wheelchair bound after an accident. Will has always lived a huge life—big deals, extreme sports, worldwide travel—and now he’s pretty sure he cannot live the way he is.<br />
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Will is acerbic, moody, bossy—but Lou refuses to treat him with kid gloves, and soon his happiness means more to her than she expected. When she learns that Will has shocking plans of his own, she sets out to show him that life is still worth living.<br />
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<i>Me Before You</i> is a heartbreakingly romantic novel that asks, <i>What do you do when making the person you love happy also means breaking your own heart?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>What I thought: This book got me in the heart. This is probably the only one I'm sharing here that's likely to make you cry. But it was also so good, even with all the feelings. I liked Louisa and what she brought out in Will, and I liked that this book didn't shy away with the nitty gritty of a tough, real life situation.<br />
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<b><i>Where'd You Go Bernadette</i></b><br />
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Synopsis: Bernadette Fox is notorious. To her Microsoft-guru husband, she's a fearlessly opinionated partner; to fellow private-school mothers in Seattle, she's a disgrace; to design mavens, she's a revolutionary architect, and to 15-year-old Bee, she is a best friend and, simply, Mom.<br />
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Then Bernadette disappears. It began when Bee aced her report card and claimed her promised reward: a family trip to Antarctica. But Bernadette's intensifying allergy to Seattle--and people in general--has made her so agoraphobic that a virtual assistant in India now runs her most basic errands. To find her mother, Bee compiles email messages, official documents, secret correspondence.<br />
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What I thought: The humor in this book was right up my alley. I liked the uniqueness of the characters and the relationship between Bee and Bernadette. Plus, it's pretty fun to read a book set where you live.<br />
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<b><i>The Boys in the Boat</i></b><br />
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Synopsis: It was an unlikely quest from the start. With a team composed of the sons of loggers, shipyard workers, and farmers, the University of Washington’s eight-oar crew team was never expected to defeat the elite teams of the East Coast and Great Britain, yet they did, going on to shock the world by defeating the German team rowing for Adolf Hitler. The emotional heart of the tale lies with Joe Rantz, a teenager without family or prospects, who rows not only to regain his shattered self-regard but also to find a real place for himself in the world. Drawing on the boys’ own journals and vivid memories of a once-in-a-lifetime shared dream, Brown has created an unforgettable portrait of an era, a celebration of a remarkable achievement, and a chronicle of one extraordinary young man’s personal quest.<br />
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What I thought: Hands down my favorite book of the year. I'm actually to own in paperback. It was so well written. The story was so engaging. I'm a bit of a WWII fiction junkie, love the Olympics, and it was about the major university here in Seattle. So I guess I had every reason to love it. I do think that even if you're not a sports fan, this is a story that is really enjoyable.Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837578624551672560noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7223711832361691080.post-36642712288503842962015-03-01T19:14:00.000-08:002015-03-01T19:14:02.067-08:00Cabin in the woods<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last fall my mom and aunt purchased a little cabin up in the mountains. It's a couple miles away and nothing fancy, but a nice place to get away.<br />
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It doesn't have electricity, but is on a septic system and has propane powered appliances.<br />
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Just a couple hours out of the city, I'm already dreaming of summer (and winter and fall and spring) getaway weekends.<br />
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With no cell phone signals, surrounded by forests and on the banks of a river, it's the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life for a little unplugged R&R.<br />
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And I can't wait for some hiking adventures (like <a href="http://www.nps.gov/noca/planyourvisit/hidden-lake-trail.htm">this</a> or <a href="http://www.nps.gov/noca/planyourvisit/monogram-lake-trail.htm">this</a>).<br />
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Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837578624551672560noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7223711832361691080.post-17080083988234732482015-02-19T22:00:00.002-08:002015-02-19T22:00:22.962-08:00The unexpected expected<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I had other posts planned for this space that I hadn't gotten around to writing yet, but life got turned upside down this past weekend.<br />
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My Grampie (ok, I shared him with a few other people) died on Saturday.<br />
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It wasn't completely unexpected -- he wasn't a spring chicken (at 91!) and suffered from dementia -- but it hit me harder than I thought it would.<br />
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Grampie had been in a nursing facility for almost three years when he moved in with my parents around Thanksgiving.<br />
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And for almost three months, he got to be home.<br />
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Then early in the morning on Saturday, with some of his family gathered around him, he took his last breath.<br />
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It's been a sad few days, but we've also spent some good time together as a family, laughing, crying, and reminiscing over some of our favorite Grampie memories.<br />
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I've written before on the blog about <a href="http://eisrandom.blogspot.com/2013/02/grampie-aka-doc-rock.html">how I wanted to remember</a> this giant of a man.<br />
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Today mostly I wanted to say how lucky I am to have been loved by a grandfather who took such delight in his grandchildren.Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837578624551672560noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7223711832361691080.post-36616885735323686382015-02-10T21:32:00.001-08:002015-02-19T22:00:42.129-08:00Catching up<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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Hi all! I'm alive!<br />
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I've been thinking about this space a lot and am more than a little sad that I got out of the habit of posting here. In part because I miss you all but also because I miss having my life documented. </div>
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So why not start now?!</div>
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The end of 2014 and the first part of 2015 have been crazy -- so crazy that I'm about 100 blog posts behind. Because I have been reading, just not commenting. (Loser, I know.)</div>
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While I get this space back up and running (and organize my thoughts), I thought I'd do a "currently" post to catch you up on life at the moment. </div>
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So here's what I'm currently:</div>
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Reading: I actually just finished The Zookeeper's Wife and am probably starting Miss Peregrine's School for Peculiar Children next. A friend suggested a movie themes book club, so we've selected the books that will become movies that we each want to read and then we'll go together to see them in theaters. I'm excited!</div>
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Watching: I finally caught up on Downton! A friend and I meet every week for dinner and the latest episode but I was out of town a few weeks in a row. It was so fun to catch up on all the family and servant drama. </div>
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I also finished Parenthood and was really happy with the season finale. Did you watch? What did you think?</div>
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Making: Homemade bread. I'm actually waiting for it to finish baking so I can go to bed. So excited to enjoy this for breakfast tomorrow!</div>
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Looking forward to: a news trivia night tomorrow. I'm no trivia geek but this one is right up my alley and with a fun group of people. Plus, it's hosted by Ken Jennings. So excited!</div>
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Listening to: I've become anti-music in the car and have been listening mostly to podcast -- The Moment with Brian Koppelman is a fave -- but I just started the audiobook Wallflower at the Orgy about Nora Ephron. Any audiobook or podcast recommendations? Send 'em my way!</div>
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Wishing: That the Seahawks had won. Yeah, I know that is so a week and a half ago, but it's still sad. I was actually in Phoenix at the stadium for work (more on that later) and it is still shocking to me to think of how the game ended. </div>
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Ready for: my four day weekend. Is tomorrow really only Wednesday? <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I'm headed up to meet my parents at my mom and aunt's new cabin. It's a little basic but cozy and I'm excited for lots of mountain adventures in our future. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">That's it for me! What's new currently for you?</span></div>
Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837578624551672560noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7223711832361691080.post-41423838678082702502014-07-06T13:22:00.001-07:002014-07-06T13:22:57.284-07:00Summer reading listFirst of all, hi. Life has a way of taking over sometimes -- funny how that happens. <div><br></div><div>I didn't mean to disappear from blogging for months. A few days turned into a week, etc., and then I felt like I should have some big reappearance post. </div><div><br></div><div>Instead, I'm skipping that. Too much pressure. I'd much rather just start blogging again. </div><div><br></div><div>Today, a visit to a book store netted me three brand new books. I start browsing and it's hard for me to say no.</div><div><br></div><div>But I also knew I had one or two books at home I'd been meaning to read. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzeoKND5fwAbVFd2WnyN1XF4lwKeiXSgjI2zn_vRAx1AtWEOTiy5Hp5KI06z4ZsQJrwMdJJ-0OH7iyG4GU-B_gNwVFQG0HFxKjXMC9UEVk5HzVGLHzVgjsrK_1cHMuUhKOAWU7oBqpZU/s640/blogger-image--1034415294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzeoKND5fwAbVFd2WnyN1XF4lwKeiXSgjI2zn_vRAx1AtWEOTiy5Hp5KI06z4ZsQJrwMdJJ-0OH7iyG4GU-B_gNwVFQG0HFxKjXMC9UEVk5HzVGLHzVgjsrK_1cHMuUhKOAWU7oBqpZU/s640/blogger-image--1034415294.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>*Ahem*</div><div><br></div><div>Make that 19.</div><div><br></div><div>So I've officially banned myself from buying new books. </div><div><br></div><div>Really, I blame my Kindle. It's too darn easy to pick new books to read without leaving my bed. </div><div><br></div><div>No longer. </div><div><br></div><div>Instead it's time to get serious about this stack. </div>Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837578624551672560noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7223711832361691080.post-16496022658881817772014-03-27T19:56:00.002-07:002014-03-27T19:56:55.160-07:00A reminder to be thankfulI'm drained -- physically and emotionally. It's been a hard few weeks in our area -- news you may have heard about where you are. A news helicopter crashed a week then a pretty major landslide. Added to that I've taken on some freelance work (which I'm enjoying, but is one more thing to manage).<br />
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After the Seahawks season followed by Olympic coverage (and only a couple extra days off to recover a little), I could not be looking forward to this weekend more.<br />
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And while I may share more about life recently in the coming days/weeks/whenever I actually get to it, for now I wanted to focus on the positive -- on the things I am so thankful for amid all the tragedy we've been covering.<br />
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(As an aside, while it's been a tough few weeks for me, I know there are others personally impacted and suffering in ways I can't even imagine. And I've been humbled to help tell some of their stories.)<br />
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Things I am oh-so thankful for:<br />
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- Air popped popcorn: I know this seems silly, but a couple weeks ago I impulsively bought an air popper at Fred Meyer (a trip that accidentally resulted in three new kitchen appliances -- a story for another day). It may be the best purchase I've made in months. I've definitely indulged in a bowl or to for dinner recently.<br />
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- My amazing coworkers. People have stepped up, worked longer hours, taken on extra responsibilities without complaint and done such great work. Additionally, our parent company (which only acquired our group of TV stations a few months ago) has sent in reinforces. We couldn't have done it alone.<br />
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- Time with friends and family. Not only did I get to spend a few days last week up at my parents relaxing and enjoying puppy snuggles, but I've also had a few fun get togethers with friends, including one who visited from the other side of the country.<br />
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- A new vacuum that didn't cost a thing. My old vacuum was a Craigslist purchase my dad tracked down. It was starting to smell like the motor was burning out. While I (a.k.a. my dad) had started looking for something better, a friend of my dad's gave me one he was selling in a garage sale. So wonderful.<br />
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- Amazon Prime. Another silly one, but so helpful. My new vacuum needed bags and while it took two tries to buy the right ones, coming home today to vacuum bags and getting a chance to actually clean my carpets made me ridiculously happy (my 16-year-old self would just be shaking her head).<br />
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What have you been thankful recently?Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837578624551672560noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7223711832361691080.post-85105352072739014082014-03-05T20:26:00.001-08:002014-03-05T20:26:21.237-08:001 down, 39 to goDon't look now, but two days in a row. (What you don't see is me giving myself a premature pat on the back.)<br />
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<i>Just kidding. Sorta.</i><br />
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With today being Ash Wednesday, I thought I'd share my plans for Lent.<br />
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I know this isn't a place I usually get very personal, but every once in a while I go there. This is one of those times.<br />
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Duh, duh, duh.<br />
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<i>Sorry, it felt climatic.</i><br />
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*refocusing*<br />
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I don't always observe Lent, at least not in terms of giving something up.<br />
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But this year I feel different about it. First, of all, I've let my faith take a bit of a back to life in the past year.<br />
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And secondly -- let's be honest -- I spend <b>way too much </b>time on my phone. Especially in the evenings if I'm home alone.<br />
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So I've decided I want to make better use of my time. My hope: to put down my phone in the evenings (unless it's to communicate with someone) and to spend time doing other things, including a quiet time to read my Bible.<br />
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And hopefully, by the end of 40 days, I won't find myself reaching for the phone every chance I get.<br />
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Night one hasn't been the smoothest. But I have caught up on blog reading and commenting a little, written this and am off for a little quiet time.<br />
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And hopefully it will only get better.<br />
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<i>Do you observe Lent? Any plans to this year?</i>Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837578624551672560noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7223711832361691080.post-20752987747033048162014-03-04T20:39:00.002-08:002014-03-04T20:39:57.005-08:00I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm aliveWell, my radio silence lasted a little longer than planned.<br />
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Once my month (or so) of craziness at work ended with the close of the Olympics, I devoted my free time to catching up with people I hadn't seen in too long. I also took a fun getaway with some friends and took care of some necessary life tasks (doctors, taxes, cleaning and all that fun stuff).<br />
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But I'm back now with more plans to blog. And while things have been radio silence from my end, I have been keeping up with your blogs, even though I haven't done much commenting.<br />
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I can't wait to actually get back to interacting with all of you though. I don't really enjoy being passive in the blogging community.<br />
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I had hoped for more than an obligatory "hoped you didn't forget about me" post tonight, but I had an appointment at the eye doctor this evening and my dilated eyes are making it a little uncomfortable to stare at my computer screen.<br />
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In the meantime, here's a pretty picture (from yesterday, because today was just rainy and gray).<br />
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<br />Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837578624551672560noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7223711832361691080.post-14853394087152318542014-01-31T16:23:00.001-08:002014-01-31T16:23:19.682-08:00Thankful For: Episode 2As expected, life has been crazy. Having OUR team in the Super Bowl is sooo exciting, but also so exhausting. <div><br></div><div>However, I wanted to pop in and share a few things I'm thankful for in the midst of all this craziness. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3r_tPQKtS-Csl0Q6N-hgE4veQZXDtgKQHtVI8W8tORxndydnZcVc1HjDrtyTryv1n1nqPNCMfzvek5qYQWYAdzHlOs3vvLzkGvrH06zV0ur-j_J-V2dkBaantKBDwjMRhzp8wRyJBkw/s640/blogger-image--1602033072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3r_tPQKtS-Csl0Q6N-hgE4veQZXDtgKQHtVI8W8tORxndydnZcVc1HjDrtyTryv1n1nqPNCMfzvek5qYQWYAdzHlOs3vvLzkGvrH06zV0ur-j_J-V2dkBaantKBDwjMRhzp8wRyJBkw/s640/blogger-image--1602033072.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>1. Awesome, supportive, funny, hard-working coworkers. I know they have my back just as much as I have theirs. </div><div><br></div><div>2. Girls nights. A friend and I get together every week to watch Downton Abbey and have food/drinks together. I love having an excuse to meet up each week. </div><div><br></div><div>3. Veronica Mars. I am so invested in this show. I started it last week and am already 2/3 of the way through season 2. </div><div><br></div><div>4. Blackout curtains. With my crazy work schedule those babies are going to ensure that I get some sleep over the next few weeks. </div><div><br></div><div>5. A couple fun trips in the works for this year. I had to request all my PTO for the year earlier this months so I'm already planning some fun stuff. Austin (for a conference), California for fun and and a couple weekend trips closer by. Sooo excited. </div><div><br></div><div>6. Family time. A couple weekends ago my sister came up for her birthday weekend, my dad is down this afternoon, and we have a big family get together in February. Love it. </div><div><br></div><div>7. My Roku. Totally surface-y, I know, but I love being to stream almost anything to my big screen TV. Amazon Prime, Netflix, Hulu and more. </div><div><br></div><div>8. Sleep. When I'm not getting enough, I'm extra thankful for what I do get. </div><div><br></div><div>What are you thankful for?</div>Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837578624551672560noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7223711832361691080.post-41712245291661578682014-01-23T10:00:00.000-08:002014-01-23T10:00:05.047-08:00I'll soon disappearConfession time.<br />
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Last week (or was it the week before?) I talked about wanted to blog more and get things together.<br />
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But actually I am about to go underground here in blogland.<br />
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The next four (five?) weeks will be crazy for work. Extra hours. Weird hours.<br />
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First there's the Super Bowl. (Seattle Seahawks, what what!) Then the Olympics kick off, which I'll be covering in real time -- and Russia is 12 hours ahead.<br />
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I'm going to try to blog during and get a few things prepped. I also will be reading blogs and hopefully commenting some, but I can't promise anything.<br />
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Today and tomorrow I work at 11:30 a.m., but after that I won't be in to work later than 5:30 a.m. And I'll be working most weekends.<br />
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You'll see me some in the next week or so. But after that, I'm just trying to stay sane.Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837578624551672560noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7223711832361691080.post-2764428094248127772014-01-22T23:40:00.002-08:002014-01-22T23:40:42.330-08:00Thanksgiving Recap Part IIBetter late than never, right?<br />
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I thought I'd follow up my first post (a while ago) about Thanksgiving, with a second post. Because I have more pictures.<br />
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Day 2 was for adventures and lots more eating. It's just the way we travel.<br />
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While my brother slept, the rest of the family headed out for coffee and to explore around Union Square, where Macy's was all decked out and getting ready to light the tree.<br />
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Then we met up with my cousin, aunt and her boyfriend to head out for dim sum. We ordered A LOT of food. And ate almost all of it.<br />
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The we headed down to the water. We could saw the sea lions, saw the views and soaked up the sun.<br />
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Then we moved on to chocolate. Because dim sum wasn't enough.<br />
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Later that evening my sister, brother, cousin and I headed out for a late night snack.<br />
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And then we wandered around town. And saw all the decorations.<br />
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It was the perfect kind of vacation day.<br />
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(Sorry I don't have more details. This is what happens when you wait almost two months to blog about it.)Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837578624551672560noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7223711832361691080.post-20787213247296916862014-01-10T16:00:00.000-08:002014-01-10T16:00:05.355-08:0010 Things for Friday<br />
Every Friday, my blog friend Krysten shares 10 things that make her happy. This year, I'm trying to get in the practice of gratitude, so I thought I'd share 10 things I'm thankful for each Friday.<div>
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Plus, I'm also really thankful for Friday each week and I like a good play on words.</div>
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Feel free to grab the picture and join in, or share some of the things you are thankful for in the comments.</div>
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10 things I'm thankful for this week:</div>
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1. Skyping with my sister</div>
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2. Girls nights</div>
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3. Lazy evenings at home</div>
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4. Feeling totally supported by my supervisor at work</div>
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5. People who make me laugh</div>
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6. Egg nog lattes</div>
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7. Being forced to think bigger and challenge myself</div>
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8. Fun projects for the new year</div>
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9. Planning ahead to vacations</div>
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10. Having a working computer (after a short breakdown)</div>
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What are you thankful for?</div>
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Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837578624551672560noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7223711832361691080.post-30245184668076779502014-01-09T21:01:00.001-08:002014-01-09T21:01:55.966-08:00Awkward and Awesome: First edition of 2014Happy Thursday, which is almost over or is over for most of you, which makes it Friday. So that's good news.<br />
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I still have two more work days left, but since one of them involves NFL playoffs, I'm pretty okay with that.<br />
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I thought I'd stop in and share some of my recent awkward and awesome moments. Enjoy!<br />
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Awkward:<br />
- My ability to forget someone's name seconds after they tell me.<br />
- Putting away Christmas stuff. I barely decorated -- in fact I got have more decor from post-Christmas sales than up around the house. Cleaning up should be easy, but I haven't done a thing.<br />
- My ability to waste half of an evening and have nothing to show for it.<br />
- This weather most of the country is dealing with. I'm feeling incredibly thankful for our 40 degrees F. Sorry to anyone suffering! Ugh.<br />
- Trying to play Heads Up with my sister via Skype. We got addicted to the iPhone app game over Christmas break, but it was pretty hard to pull off video messaging. At least it made us laugh.<br />
- My condo complex is pretty quiet but every once in a while it sounds my upstairs neighbors starts stomping around. It's weird.<br />
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Awesome:<br />
- I've been reading books! This sounds silly, but there was a period this past year that I hardly read anything. And it's been so nice to read some good stuff. (Maybe if I get it together, I'll even share a few.)<br />
- Gift cards. I had one left over from my birthday this summer, so I got to pick something up today for only $15 (out of my pocket). After the Christmas season and feeling like I shouldn't be spending money it was a really nice treat.<br />
- Making a big credit card payment. I'm a pretty good saver generally, but moving/fixing up a new place/Christmas added up to a higher balance than I'm comfortable with. But I paid a good chunk off and should have it paid off in the next month or so.<br />
- New challenges and focus for the new year. I don't have a long list of New Year's Resolutions, but there are things afoot that will help me grow in the coming months.<br />
- Sister time! My sister was just here at Christmas but she found a cheap ticket to come back over her birthday weekend. I'm so excited for some good hangout time.<br />
- NFL playoffs...I'll be at the game again this Saturday, but this time in the press box.<br />
- Finally joining a gym. I went for my first run yesterday in months and months and almost made it three miles. I was pretty stoked.<br />
- Pie. I've been firmly on the cake team, but then I took a pie class in November and am having fun trying out different recipes. So far I've made banana cream and blueberry. What are you favorites?Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837578624551672560noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7223711832361691080.post-10852319709092278062014-01-07T16:15:00.000-08:002014-01-07T16:15:00.124-08:00Thanksgiving in San Francisco (Part I)Yes, this trip happened a month and a half ago. But I still want to share it.<br />
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I mentioned this way back in November, but since my sister moved to the Bay Area in August, we decided to spend Thanksgiving down there with her.<br />
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I hadn't been in the city since an 8th grade science trip, but remembered loving it, so I was ready to head back down.<br />
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As with any trip involving (some) members of my family, much of our planning centered around food. I actually flew in on Thanksgiving. I was supposed to get in mid-morning, but my flight was delayed three or four hours (it's a bit of a blur now) because a luggage cart ran into it (seriously).<br />
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When I finally made it down, my sister and dad picked me up from the airport where I was greeted with sunny California weather. It wasn't so bad.<br />
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We headed over the bay bridge (I flew in to Oakland) to my cousin's apartment in the city for a joint Thanksgiving meal. My cousin, aunt and her boyfriend joined our family of five for a nontraditional meal of shepherd's pie.<br />
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Thanks to my delay and our general lateness in preparing the meal, we ate around 8pm, which left me tired, but overall it was a fun afternoon and evening.<br />
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Days 2 and 3 coming soon (or eventually).Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837578624551672560noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7223711832361691080.post-9548181060934623142014-01-06T14:00:00.000-08:002014-01-06T14:00:02.109-08:00Influenster Violet Vox Box<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQu4Merg9HiHphyphenhyphenHOS9e6ERrP55WqTAvZcNn_bGdjimjcJEwgvA62ws25gj8ODkBBqT6VcBHwO1e53SobPvIvj9QpN1OUugnTHQPXk0OdgsI2D_D8P0YZ2gkDOIycY8PvlNWu3atlmHE/s1600/IMG_4389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQu4Merg9HiHphyphenhyphenHOS9e6ERrP55WqTAvZcNn_bGdjimjcJEwgvA62ws25gj8ODkBBqT6VcBHwO1e53SobPvIvj9QpN1OUugnTHQPXk0OdgsI2D_D8P0YZ2gkDOIycY8PvlNWu3atlmHE/s320/IMG_4389.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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As a member of Influenster, I occasionally get the chance to try out new things. This month I was sent the Violet Vox Box to try out a few products.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimkByuf8eABnpHvIJueVSq4FW-bMVMTtV_YIag0WZawqAWLYtwqvKyoYKGjCKhV0gSn14R5wtBD5Cz-zKGQJDRjshZjEgUVuOOYbgcZmEGTCmNXJ61-s7eNpqSWJO7g6CISOBJfc2v4Ls/s1600/IMG_4392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimkByuf8eABnpHvIJueVSq4FW-bMVMTtV_YIag0WZawqAWLYtwqvKyoYKGjCKhV0gSn14R5wtBD5Cz-zKGQJDRjshZjEgUVuOOYbgcZmEGTCmNXJ61-s7eNpqSWJO7g6CISOBJfc2v4Ls/s320/IMG_4392.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
The first thing I tried out was the SoyJoy bar. I was not a huge fan. The texture was a little weird and it wasn't very flavorful. Just keeping it real here.<br />
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Next I went for straight for Sally Hansen New Triple Shine in Dive In. I'm a nail polish addict and this color was right up my alley. It took about three layers to get full coverage and I, of course, didn't let it dry all the way and smudged one nail, but overall I really liked it. And it held up well, lasting about five days without chips.<br />
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Next up is the Montagne Jeunnesse Dead Sea Mud Spa mask. I don't do a lot of "spa" type stuff at home, not because I don't enjoy it but because I don't think of it. So I pretty excited to be sent this. The scent was great and it felt really soothing on. Plus, it was easy to apply -- just unfold and press to your face. I don't know if I noticed a huge difference in my skin, but it sure felt good.</div>
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To finish out the box, here is a picture of everything that arrived. I'll review the last few items below -- I didn't get individual pictures of each.</div>
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Not Your Mother's Clean Freak dry shampoo is in the green bottle above. I haven't used it a ton, but so far I like it. It helps freshen my hair and doesn't leave a ton of visible residue behind.<br />
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The Goody headband looked great, I loved the fabric and that it was reversible, but it almost immediately slid off my head. Granted, I had my hair pulled back, but that is when I'm mostly to wear a head band. This is a pretty regular problem for me -- anyone have tips?<br />
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<i>I was not compensated for this post, but I was sent these products to review.</i>Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837578624551672560noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7223711832361691080.post-75941483239776621662014-01-05T21:05:00.000-08:002014-01-05T21:05:00.043-08:00December vacationI don't know when it became a conscious decision to take a break from blogging. It started with the usual of a few days passing with no post. Suddenly I was over a week and thought that maybe I should just enjoy the break, especially once I actually got to my vacation from work.<br />
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This past year, this first year of working full time has made blogging hard. Not because I don't have ideas or a desire, but because I spend a lot of time staring at a computer already. Because I find myself busy many evenings. And because there are so many other things I should be getting done.<br />
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But this isn't to say I'm ready to leave blogging behind. Having my own little corner on the internet, a place to put down my thoughts and experiences, is something I value greatly.<br />
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So I definitely want it to continue. I also really want to give this space a bit of a face lift. But that isn't happening in the near future (though the planning may begin).<br />
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I'm not promising to post every day, but I do promise to keep posting.<br />
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(And if I'm lucky, I'll get drafts that were started and never finished up eventually.)<br />
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How do you fit blogging into your schedule?Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837578624551672560noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7223711832361691080.post-3377949177926396022013-12-30T21:49:00.000-08:002013-12-30T21:49:15.375-08:00How is 2013 almost over?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hey friends! <div>
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Sorry I disappeared. I decided to give myself a little break. And it was wonderful. I have lots of saved up ideas for blog posts, but for I'll save those for later.</div>
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Instead, I thought I'd take a look back on the past year and wish you all a happy new one.</div>
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My 2013 (which seriously flew by) --></div>
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<b>January</b>: I went to a <a href="http://eisrandom.blogspot.com/2013/01/seahawks-season-finale.html">Seahawks game</a>, celebrated a <a href="http://eisrandom.blogspot.com/2013/01/all-fun-one-weekend-could-hold.html">friend's engagement</a>, and started a contract <a href="http://eisrandom.blogspot.com/2013/01/working-and-hunting-no-guns-needed.html">position at the TV station</a>.</div>
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<b>February</b>: I <a href="http://eisrandom.blogspot.com/2013/02/a-wagon-ride-and-lots-of-family-time.html">visited family</a> in Eastern Washington, <a href="http://eisrandom.blogspot.com/2013/02/where-did-time-go.html">moved again</a>, and celebrated <a href="http://eisrandom.blogspot.com/2013/02/grampie-aka-doc-rock.html">my grandfather</a>.</div>
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<b>March</b>: Apparently March was boring apparently -- I admitted my <a href="http://eisrandom.blogspot.com/2013/03/julep-and-nail-polish-obsession.html">nail polish obsession</a> and <a href="http://eisrandom.blogspot.com/2013/03/this-monday-sun-run.html">went for a run</a> (which is pretty remarkable).</div>
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<b>April</b>: I enjoyed a <a href="http://eisrandom.blogspot.com/2013/04/easter-weekend-and-other-meandering.html">weekend at my parent's</a> and <a href="http://eisrandom.blogspot.com/2013/04/breaking-silence-for-big-big-news.html">accepted a full time, permanent position</a> at the TV station!!</div>
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<b>May</b>: Spent a summer-like <a href="http://eisrandom.blogspot.com/2013/05/summers-here-for-weekend.html">weekend in Portland</a> and went on a little <a href="http://eisrandom.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-goods-product-reviews.html">Ulta shopping spree</a>.</div>
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<b>June</b>: Had an offer on a condo <a href="http://eisrandom.blogspot.com/2013/06/a-little-bit-down.html">fall through</a>, walked in graduation, barely blogged (this ends up being a trend)</div>
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<b>July</b>: I <a href="http://eisrandom.blogspot.com/2013/07/awkward-and-awesome-birthday-edition.html">bought a condo (!!!) and celebrated my birthday</a>.</div>
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<b>August</b>: Shared one of my <a href="http://eisrandom.blogspot.com/2013/08/hot-cakes-worth-waiting-in-line-for.html">favorite places for sweets</a> in Seattle, went to a <a href="http://eisrandom.blogspot.com/2013/08/a-night-with-sounders.html">Sounders match</a>, and showed off bits of <a href="http://eisrandom.blogspot.com/2013/08/condo-progress-things-slowly-shaping-up.html">my condo</a>.</div>
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<b>September</b>: Celebrated a friend's wedding in Tennessee, started working on the sidelines at Seahawks games, and bought a plane ticket to see my sis at Thanksgiving (<a href="http://eisrandom.blogspot.com/2013/09/life-lately-back-from-blogging-abyss.html">all in one post</a>).</div>
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<b>October</b>: Took a <a href="http://eisrandom.blogspot.com/2013/10/back-from-vacay.html">whole week off from work</a> and got <a href="http://eisrandom.blogspot.com/2013/10/my-new-do.html">my hair cut</a> (it was sooo needed).</div>
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<b>November</b>: Celebrated Thanksgiving and shared some <a href="http://eisrandom.blogspot.com/2013/11/feeling-thankful.html">things I'm thankful for</a>. Recapped my Oct. vacation (<a href="http://eisrandom.blogspot.com/2013/11/vacation-recap-stadium-tour.html">Part I</a> and <a href="http://eisrandom.blogspot.com/2013/11/vacation-recap-ii-playing-cowgirl.html">Part II</a>).</div>
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<b>December</b>: Shared a billion photos from a <a href="http://eisrandom.blogspot.com/2013/12/chihuly-in-photos.html">visit to Chihuly</a>, enjoyed a ton of time with family and friends, and had a great Christmas (more on that soon, I think).</div>
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What were some of the highlights of your year? Are you happy to see 2013 end or wish it would last longer?</div>
Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837578624551672560noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7223711832361691080.post-50702151623338257762013-12-04T17:54:00.002-08:002013-12-30T21:52:01.203-08:00Chihuly in photos<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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<i>Warning: major photo dump coming</i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7NBfvdH2oQa1b7ehxtEGsqgVeV3wsNaN7thHBT1H1XBkFUhLwDplXJ65t7jf1BsIIoUBfM5kOlvW86u9-J5DX6sSw79ytwiyZg-YsgAdC9laymFqdF6VAK1dXqN_c1zMHdu36TWTdPQ/s640/blogger-image-854490649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7NBfvdH2oQa1b7ehxtEGsqgVeV3wsNaN7thHBT1H1XBkFUhLwDplXJ65t7jf1BsIIoUBfM5kOlvW86u9-J5DX6sSw79ytwiyZg-YsgAdC9laymFqdF6VAK1dXqN_c1zMHdu36TWTdPQ/s400/blogger-image-854490649.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to visit the Chihuly Glass Musuem for an event. Located right next to the Space Needle, it had been on my list of places to visit in town.<br />
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The event was fine -- good wine, great friends, but not enough good. The exhibits were definitely the highlight. I'd say the m<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">useum is worth the price of admission. </span></div>
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(<i>I attended the event for free but was not compensated for this post. In fact, they don't even know I wrote it. All opinions/pictures are my own. )</i></div>
Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837578624551672560noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7223711832361691080.post-55669940871042591052013-12-02T20:13:00.001-08:002013-12-02T20:15:03.206-08:00Post-holiday recovery mode<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
Thanks to Twitter I know pretty much everyone felt about Monday the way I did: it was painful to go back to work.<br />
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My morning was made even worse by my starting time: 5:30 a.m.<br />
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Plus sides of working that early: really quick commute, getting of at 2pm. I'm sure there are more, but as a non-morning person that's what I came up with.<br />
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My break from reality was great. The fam and I went down to the Bay Area to visit my sister. I have plenty to share: good food, pictures of our adventures, and more. But I have to get organized before that can happen.<br />
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Plus, I'm really distracted by the Seahawks game tonight. Hard not to feel good about our team right now. Even with some injury/suspension issues, we are dominating so far tonight.<br />
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#GoHawks<br />
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I'm taking tonight and tomorrow to gear up for what will undoubtably be a crazy November, full of parties, work, events, gift shopping and very little time to recover.<br />
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So tonight is for laundry.<br />
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How was your holiday? Are you fully in the holiday spirit?<br />
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<i>P.S. Want a holiday card? <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?usp=drive_web&formkey=dFMzTkE4VTVNVjZOXy1QclR3QVJLM1E6MA#gid=0">Fill in or update your contact info here and I'll make sure to mail one to you!</a></i>Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837578624551672560noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7223711832361691080.post-49176264156338139312013-12-01T17:16:00.000-08:002013-12-01T17:16:12.704-08:00Time to get ready for Christmas?!Can you believe Christmas is just over 3 weeks away? This late Thanksgiving is throwing me off.<br />
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I'm hoping to send out Christmas cards this year. I meant to last year (even asked for addresses), but never got around to it. I blame the stress of finishing grad school, job hunting, etc.<br />
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But this year I definitely want to get them in the mail. Interested in getting a card? <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?usp=drive_web&formkey=dFMzTkE4VTVNVjZOXy1QclR3QVJLM1E6MA#gid=0">Fill in or update your info here</a>.<br />
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The short time left before Christmas also has me thinking about presents (in no small part because of the never-ending ads). I've found presents for a few of my favorite people, but I am still on the hunt for a number of them.<br />
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I also want to put together a few gifts I'd love to open Christmas morning.<br />
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<a href="http://www.polyvore.com/christmas_list_for_home/set?.embedder=1998857&.svc=copypaste&id=105788956" target="_blank"><img alt="Christmas list: for the home" border="0" height="272" src="http://cfc.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/.sig/raQHFyA0RlzScYOcppqN3w/cid/105788956/id/pDgelOVa4xG0BilUDXURzQ/size/c400x272.jpg" title="Christmas list: for the home" width="400" /></a></div>
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<small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/christmas_list_for_home/set?.embedder=1998857&.svc=copypaste&id=105788956" target="_blank">For the home</a> </small></div>
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<a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=1998857&.svc=copypaste&id=97272750" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img height="50" hspace="4" src="http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/97272750.jpg" title="Egyptian cotton bed linen" vspace="4" width="50" /></a><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=1998857&.svc=copypaste&id=97033535" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img height="50" hspace="4" src="http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/97033535.jpg" title="White bed linen" vspace="4" width="50" /></a><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=1998857&.svc=copypaste&id=86300224" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img height="50" hspace="4" src="http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/86300224.jpg" title="Crock-Pot SCCPVL605-S 6qt Cook and Carry Oval Smart-Pot Slow Cooker,..." vspace="4" width="50" /></a><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=1998857&.svc=copypaste&id=97636868" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img height="50" hspace="4" src="http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/97636868.jpg" title="Old Dutch 16-Ounce Solid Copper Moscow Mule Mug, Set of 4 : Amazon.com..." vspace="4" width="50" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.polyvore.com/christmas_list_to_wear/set?.embedder=1998857&.svc=copypaste&id=105790461" target="_blank"><img alt="Christmas list: to wear" border="0" height="326" src="http://cfc.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/.sig/BeGvYrNSJ02cgtEiEZrmQ/cid/105790461/id/nDsXlOda4xGTFsjd6xSULw/size/c400x326.jpg" title="Christmas list: to wear" width="400" /></a></div>
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<small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/christmas_list_to_wear/set?.embedder=1998857&.svc=copypaste&id=105790461" target="_blank">To wear</a> </small></div>
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<a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=1998857&.svc=copypaste&id=88937328" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img height="50" hspace="4" src="http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/88937328.jpg" title="Zara blue jacket" vspace="4" width="50" /></a><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=1998857&.svc=copypaste&id=93961449" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img height="50" hspace="4" src="http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/93961449.jpg" title="Forever 21 black jeans" vspace="4" width="50" /></a><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=1998857&.svc=copypaste&id=98256790" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img height="50" hspace="4" src="http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/98256790.jpg" title="Seychelles leather boots" vspace="4" width="50" /></a><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=1998857&.svc=copypaste&id=97899155" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img height="50" hspace="4" src="http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/97899155.jpg" title="Seychelles black pumps" vspace="4" width="50" /></a><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=1998857&.svc=copypaste&id=96727456" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img height="50" hspace="4" src="http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/96727456.jpg" title="Infinity scarf" vspace="4" width="50" /></a></div>
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<br />
To be honest, I'm much more excited about the home goods than the clothes. Home ownership does that I guess. Plus, I've been lusting over copper mugs forever and now I have a little bar space.<br />
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What is on your wish list this year? And make sure to let me know if you want a card!<br />
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Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837578624551672560noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7223711832361691080.post-51078931570401411652013-11-28T07:20:00.001-08:002013-11-28T07:20:11.044-08:00Giving thanks<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirpkzeO4fm-i53Ct-i4_UDdNbBwPWqIBVqhc0YvLwrk6bi0U5nKMfSDOqfVWWInEPCsMSHD9tHYovFrIxUahOsuzxKhMdnRzJhAcjnjQxVdef6cs3-ZITw-7dxQmC1BhIwZnpt6jB2oLE/s640/blogger-image--1023405961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirpkzeO4fm-i53Ct-i4_UDdNbBwPWqIBVqhc0YvLwrk6bi0U5nKMfSDOqfVWWInEPCsMSHD9tHYovFrIxUahOsuzxKhMdnRzJhAcjnjQxVdef6cs3-ZITw-7dxQmC1BhIwZnpt6jB2oLE/s640/blogger-image--1023405961.jpg"></a></div>Happy turkey day from Kincade and I. May you have loved ones to celebrate with, delicious food to eat and plenty to be thankful for!</div>Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837578624551672560noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7223711832361691080.post-8911212949136111612013-11-25T06:00:00.000-08:002013-11-25T06:00:01.896-08:00I'm someone's sunshine & so are you!I was super excited to get an email and tweet from Sarah at <a href="http://sarahandstewart.blogspot.com/">Life as Always</a> letting me know she had given me an award.<br />
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I don't remember how Sarah and I found each other in the blog world, but it's been a blast to get to know her virtually. She and her husband are expecting their first little one and I'm super excited for them!<br />
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Back to the award...this award is recognizes bloggers who brighten your day.<br />
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<b><u>The rules:</u></b><br />
<em>1. Include the award logo in your post. <b>(check)</b></em><br />
<em>2. Link to the person (<a href="http://sarahandstewart.blogspot.com/">Sarah</a>) who nominated you. </em><em><b>(check)</b></em><br />
<em>3. Answer 10 questions about yourself. </em><em><b>(see below)</b></em><br />
<em>4. Nominate 10 bloggers to receive the award. Link the nominees to your post and notify them! </em><em><b>(see below)</b></em><br />
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<b>1. What's the nicest thing someone else has done for you?</b><br />
I've been lucky to have some pretty amazing people in my life so it's hard to choose one thing. But I'll go old school for this. When I was in middle school I had four teeth pulled plus some other dental work done all at once. It was pretty brutal. My brother (younger) knew I wasn't feeling well and used his savings to buy a moving for me to watch. So thoughtful!<br />
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<b>2. What is one thing you always wanted as a kid, but never got?</b><br />
This list could be long. Isn't part of being a kid is having unrealistic dreams? Here are a few things I always hoped for: a horse, to play in the NBA (ha!), and siblings that didn't drive me nuts (just kidding, we love each other now).<br />
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<b>3. What is your most impressive skill?</b><br />
I'm pretty good at mental math. My sister likes to take me shopping so I can calculate sale prices. <br />
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For my most impressive skill, though, I would probably say my ability to adapt. I consider myself pretty good at being put into a new situation/meeting new people/etc. and being easy-going enough to make it work. It's only later I that I let people know how stubborn I am.<br />
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<b>4. What would you refuse to do for one million dollars?</b><br />
Kill or physically hurt someone. Commit a felony. I'm sure there's more, but I won't know for sure until someone asks for real. $1 million is a lot of money (especially for someone with student loans and a mortgage).<br />
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<b>5. If you were home on a rainy Sunday afternoon, what movie would you like to watch on TV?</b><br />
When Harry Met Sally is definitely a go to movie for me. I also really like the Oceans (11, 12, 13).<br />
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<b>6. If fat, calories, cholesterol, etc. were not an issue, what two foods would you feast on?</b><br />
Chocolate peanut butter ice cream. Queso dip and chips. Those were the first two that popped into my head, so I'll go with them.<br />
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<b>7. Who is the most famous person you have ever met?</b><br />
I didn't actually meet him, but I sat just a few chairs away from Ashton Kutcher once. Does that count?<br />
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<b>8. What is the greatest pain you have ever suffered?</b><br />
Major migraines. I've been lucky enough to be pretty healthy, but I do get migraines somewhat regularly. Every once in a while I'll get one bad enough that I throw up, which is pretty much the worst feeling ever.<br />
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9. If you could be a member of any TV-sitcom family, which would it be?<br />
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<b>10. How do you like to relax?</b><br />
Catching up on TV shows, baking/cooking, catching up on blogs, spending a lot of the time on the couch watching sports, being outside in the sunshine (when it shows up).<br />
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<b><u>My nominations and questions:</u></b><br />
I read a lot of great blogs, so it's hard to narrow it down to a list of those that always make me smile. If you're here reading this, consider yourself nominated. Answer the questions in a post (if you're looking for content) or in the comments below. I just find it really fun to get to know each of more!<br />
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(P.S. Sorry I'm not sorry for taking the easy way out.)<br />
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My questions:<br />
<i>1. What's one nickname you've had that you have hated and who gave it to you?</i><br />
<i>2. Who is one person you've tried to model yourself after?</i><br />
<i>3. How do you recharge?</i><br />
<i>4. What is your favorite holiday and why?</i><br />
<i>5. Where is one place you've always dreamed of vacationing?</i><br />
<i>6. If had to be one a reality TV show, but could choose, which one would you be on?</i><br />
<i>7. What is one dessert you can never say "no" to?</i><br />
<i>8. If you could spend time with any living person for the day, who would it be?</i><br />
<i>9. Is there a commercial that can make you tear up? What one?</i><br />
<i>10. What is your go-to karaoke song?</i>Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837578624551672560noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7223711832361691080.post-23525262345625743042013-11-13T20:48:00.000-08:002013-11-13T20:48:05.824-08:00Feeling ThankfulI have a couple blog posts in draft stages. I had hoped to get one done today, but it's taking a little longer than planned. Instead I thought I'd take some time to talk just a few things I have to be thankful for.<br />
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It's cliche I know -- talking gratitude in November -- but I don't think that makes it a bad thing. It's just a practice that I should happen all 12 months.<br />
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Regardless, I'm jumping on the November "thankfulness" bandwagon.<br />
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Here are a few things I especially appreciate in my life.<br />
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1. My family and friends. I could easily fill up this list with just the people who mean the most to me. I feel very grateful to have an amazing support network here in Seattle and just a phone call away. I wouldn't be where I am or the person I am without these people in my life.<br />
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2. A job that challenges me. Not only do I work with some great people, I have a job that is a little different every day and one that forces me to work hard, be creative and thorough.<br />
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3. My health and health insurance. I am a fairly healthy person (though I need to be more active -- especially with a full time desk job now). That's not something I want to take for granted.<br />
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4. My own condo. It's hard to believe a year ago I was a grad school student/nomad and now I'm pretty much settled. And owning my condo is amazing blessing, even on days (like today) when I have to make a big mortgage payment.<br />
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5. Living in a city I enjoy and enjoying the city I live in. I know that sentence sounds redundant, but I really am thankful to ended up in a place I like. I didn't necessarily plan to stay in Seattle and except for occasional visits, didn't know the city well, so it's been fun to get to explore and like what I've seen/done. Plus, really, it's beautiful here.<br />
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6. Travel adventures. I really enjoy traveling and I've been lucky enough to get to have the resources and opportunities to do it quite a bit. The chance to explore new places, try new cuisines, and see new sights is not something I take lightly.<br />
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7. Technology. Sure, there are downsides -- like my complete addiction to playing Solataire on my phone and obsessively check Twitter. But it's pretty cool too. I am much better connected to people around the country (and world) because of all the ways to stay in touch, whether it's sending an email, Skyping, or following a blog, all from thousands of miles away.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0JF24PPm-5QvpCwiVd807xUQQOFyVztbtNo4V0u5bX9KVrh-hk4GlsH9f0TB5h-HGH1znTLU2eKvdUA0UIKoNmHvVfdkapjUXV60VYgVTxYAUi7I3qhx-5zrI7ouNs3BQR-6AZK3-gIA/s1600/mom-and-me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0JF24PPm-5QvpCwiVd807xUQQOFyVztbtNo4V0u5bX9KVrh-hk4GlsH9f0TB5h-HGH1znTLU2eKvdUA0UIKoNmHvVfdkapjUXV60VYgVTxYAUi7I3qhx-5zrI7ouNs3BQR-6AZK3-gIA/s320/mom-and-me.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
8. An education. Having grown up in a family where getting a college degree was expected, it is sometimes easy to forget what a privilege getting a higher education is for most people. The opportunities I have to learn, to network, even to travel, because of school are priceless. My job even came directly from an internship while in school.<br />
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9. A sense of humor. Daily I am thankful for my ability to laugh at the ridiculous. It's a skill my parents taught me and it often keeps me from total frustration.<br />
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What's on your thankful list?Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837578624551672560noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7223711832361691080.post-5328784755990561302013-11-06T11:00:00.000-08:002013-11-06T11:00:01.632-08:00Vacation Recap II: Playing cowgirlThe visit to Pullman was actually (mostly) to outside of town where my aunt and uncle live. My uncle (and cousin) is farmer and rancher.<br />
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While these days you can just barely get a cell signal at their house, I've always relished the freedom of escaping to their house and the farm. Away from the connectedness and everyday distractions of life.<br />
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Plus, the area is beautiful. Full of rolling hills, river canyons, and gravel roads. I've always enjoyed helping out when I'm around, so I was pretty excited when my uncle asked me and his daughters if we could help him Saturday.<br />
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We went down to their property on the river and helped him treat cows (just-weaned heifers, to be exact). I hadn't come prepared with my boots and had to borrow a few things from my cousin. But overall it worked out.<br />
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A cow loaded in the chute. </div>
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Giving a vaccine for respiratory ailments.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT5t0JXTe0d9KDcCiGJ-_YzzyLBD0PkEipiwY7axqcqjl_CStV8EUbHPuKCja8Qi9g40w-OHfCyUZgy3d21iJwcR4SmvNTuolPf9PcUN9TehrRqC1I49MQkT7T8I4BMM2yPcbT9hp-Mto/s1600/Playing+cowgirl07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT5t0JXTe0d9KDcCiGJ-_YzzyLBD0PkEipiwY7axqcqjl_CStV8EUbHPuKCja8Qi9g40w-OHfCyUZgy3d21iJwcR4SmvNTuolPf9PcUN9TehrRqC1I49MQkT7T8I4BMM2yPcbT9hp-Mto/s320/Playing+cowgirl07.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Horse selfie! Gus didn't really understand. </div>
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Have any questions? Ask away.</div>
Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837578624551672560noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7223711832361691080.post-13775224702678852762013-11-05T10:00:00.000-08:002013-11-05T10:00:00.713-08:00Vacation recap: stadium tourI took a whole week off in October. I didn't have anything major planned, but I hadn't had a real break from work and I didn't want to lose my vacation at the end of the year.<br />
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For the second half of the week, my mom and I headed over to Eastern Washington to visit family. Both my parents grew up in Pullman and I went to undergrad at WSU (with a handful of cousins), so it's always great to get back. The whole weekend was fun, but there were a couple highlights.<br />
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Thursday, I got to catch up with someone I worked with in the athletic department when I was in school. He gave me the lowdown on everything going on there and set me up so I could tour the new stadium facilities with my cousins the next day.<br />
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When I was in school, I spent every football Saturday in the press box. The space was old, involved climbing rickety ladders, and luxury/club suites were pretty much unheard of. A few years ago, that all changed.<br />
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Now there a huge multi-story struction that sits behind the south sideline. It has club seats, luxury boxes, and multiple elevators...which is way more fancy than anything that existed before. WSU's stadium isn't the biggest (not by a long shot), but the athletic department has really invested to improving facilities.<br />
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Here's a look at our tour:<br />
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Club level seats</div>
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The new football ops building, under construction.</div>
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Club-level concourse.</div>
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Cool mural.</div>
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Leather embroidered seats -- like you do.</div>
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The AD's box: </div>
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My favorite part all the Cougar helmets from over the years.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYqf0ombVlLhop3mnZmXn0NNhcEaM54D76NB1iWV6EsZiqIaVJfctxkW_OVpf48X1Ql-dftl_6GjD9P1z3Q7Ga2hy-g8QrHmQfVqDovBdjPMfboXx3Y23Q2AXvkPu4EFibWBDEAHb8Njo/s1600/Martin-Stadium1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYqf0ombVlLhop3mnZmXn0NNhcEaM54D76NB1iWV6EsZiqIaVJfctxkW_OVpf48X1Ql-dftl_6GjD9P1z3Q7Ga2hy-g8QrHmQfVqDovBdjPMfboXx3Y23Q2AXvkPu4EFibWBDEAHb8Njo/s320/Martin-Stadium1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The president's suite. It seats 77 and has a pretty nice view of the 50 yard line.</div>
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Another cool feature, all the windows can actually slide open from the bottom. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimx-8pzGQkl_k-Q7jJaQ_JA9iIf0HA1N2caEDMuAPbaijioF_UiqqnXfUi7TAREUtjWNgENwkSiTM2vDoivuJoMjSqJdFXvoClRG2unsZjYHJejZMHGzqt0NGmS9X0RBCCv69TO-LZp8Y/s1600/Martin+Stadium11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimx-8pzGQkl_k-Q7jJaQ_JA9iIf0HA1N2caEDMuAPbaijioF_UiqqnXfUi7TAREUtjWNgENwkSiTM2vDoivuJoMjSqJdFXvoClRG2unsZjYHJejZMHGzqt0NGmS9X0RBCCv69TO-LZp8Y/s320/Martin+Stadium11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The press box included an open air section that has gorgeous views of campus. </div>
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Helped by fall colors. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWjQBf2SbnSyiuGpfV-nXDBCarSEEYLpbxR976Rp-oBA2vd-ccEm-XeWOXtbZw27pI_wtrUdJ29WTaDa6uxYafsMysINrj9py46LqJGByY4NtGOP7xVtr2DHAB6qqVW-7osr6Uah9uaHk/s1600/Martin-Stadium2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWjQBf2SbnSyiuGpfV-nXDBCarSEEYLpbxR976Rp-oBA2vd-ccEm-XeWOXtbZw27pI_wtrUdJ29WTaDa6uxYafsMysINrj9py46LqJGByY4NtGOP7xVtr2DHAB6qqVW-7osr6Uah9uaHk/s320/Martin-Stadium2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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A panorama from inside the press box.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMK-VQfKDTwwvEvoZLyvrc5eHFHb0u3iKTdTs2p4_dU6QRdq_dulgwtN_2idCsVJgMbwzrxgOM76Imo5rC9yqHrPHuv0ABWoTqlIR-A_Ur7asxF3S7B2Tl50mk_Rrx49BGIAnG1gmiITw/s1600/Martin+Stadium12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMK-VQfKDTwwvEvoZLyvrc5eHFHb0u3iKTdTs2p4_dU6QRdq_dulgwtN_2idCsVJgMbwzrxgOM76Imo5rC9yqHrPHuv0ABWoTqlIR-A_Ur7asxF3S7B2Tl50mk_Rrx49BGIAnG1gmiITw/s320/Martin+Stadium12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Another view of the main luxury stretch on the left </div>
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and the new football ops building at the end. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaVRwV_3eavJj2S_ELdhbAnTNfaVISRzQFDgjbgq24uhrVSk3GEfCx78T4Nqag8jqiNGg_3J2u62BDNTdQSMIbCI-8HoVV0Byir20HYJrspVu4Wz5PkHdG-mu9X6IqJT85ojQvIxa7SU8/s1600/Martin-Stadium3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaVRwV_3eavJj2S_ELdhbAnTNfaVISRzQFDgjbgq24uhrVSk3GEfCx78T4Nqag8jqiNGg_3J2u62BDNTdQSMIbCI-8HoVV0Byir20HYJrspVu4Wz5PkHdG-mu9X6IqJT85ojQvIxa7SU8/s320/Martin-Stadium3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Go Cougs!</div>
Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05837578624551672560noreply@blogger.com4