Can't See This From The Highway

But you can from the window of Amtrak starting north of Seattle all the way to Bellingham.

Candidly Cryptic

I spent last weekend with someone I like and haven't seen since the year I made a big change. We started at 2,000 then went to 8,000. Forty five minutes north we gazed upon an awe-inspiring sweeping vista that may one day be a lake. I rediscovered with joy a state I had previously accepted with resignation.

That's not all I have to say.

The Crab Pot

A few months ago Faauu suggested that dinner one night this summer at The Crab Pot would be fun. With summer rapidly dwindling (and taking its 90+ degree days with it, thank God), off we went. We as in me, Christy and Faauu. Have you noticed you tend to hear the same names over and over in this blog? Coming attraction: More names.

The Crab Pot, as one may or may not discern from this blurry, taken-without-a-flash evening photo, is on the downtown Seattle waterfront
alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236124758104762354" />.
Do you enjoy having creepy crustaceans dumped on your table? If so, you'll love The Crab Pot!

Crab legs, when consumed with multiple glasses of wine, have been known to cause temporary dementia.


Ok, yes, this is what I had. I picture the waiter saying to the chef "Some lady just ordered the Sesame Chicken Salad. At The Crab Pot " The chef makes a disgusted guffawing sound- perhaps "Pffffffttttt", rolls his eyes and mutters a sarcastic "Ooooooh k." Then he dumps a soup ladle full of dressing into a bowl, throws in some lettuce and chicken, tosses in the requisite sesame seeds (after possibly wiping his nose) and sends the waiter off to deliver the concoction to the stupid-enough-to-order-a-salad-in-one-of-the-most-seafoody-restaurants-on-the-planet victim. I know it doesn't look that bad in the photo, but it wasn't good. Honestly.
Why, you ask was my king crab, shrimp, and mussels experience limited to pounding the hell (sheesh, I had no idea it was so hard) out of a crab leg that I didn't even consume? Because, seafood gives me primal dread. Imagine how you would feel if a waiter upended a giant bowl of snakes and rats on your table. I'm not quite that grossed out by seafood, by close...
It was, however, a very fun evening. It felt great to sit outside and to talk about the things women like to talk about (mostly sex). We went to the Emerald Queen casino afterwards for about an hour, where I did some serious high stakes gambling- starting with $20, winning my way up to $32, then cashing out at $19.76.

By the way, there is a cute picture of Christy, Faauu and I at The Crab Pot. I came close to posting it here, but decided that my outside arm looked too fat and too white (I know...) I am, however, getting closer to posting pictures of myself again. I've lost 12 pounds and have a sassy new hair color- kind of a strawberry blonde but more vibrant. I've done exceptionally well at work this week, prompting one of my more intuitive coworkers to half joke that it's because of my new hair. I think that may well be true.

Have a Rainbow Day (But only if you want to)

I Do ??

One of my students (in a grateful tone of voice) said to me today "Wendy, you have the patience of a saint."

A number of other students have given me similar feedback.

It's a huge compliment for me, because I am not naturally patient. I'm glad my professionalism and compassion allow me to appear as though I am.

Farmers Market

Who's That Beautiful Dog?

Entrance to my Apartment Building

Moon and Mountain

4th of July

Happy 30th of June. I saw fireworks all week from my living room window, compliments of Cheney Stadium who ended each evening's baseball game with them.

Lots of boats on Commencement Bay on the 4th.

As in any city, there is no parking anywhere near a major 4th of July event. Since I live only 2 miles from the Ruston Way waterfront, I walked there and back. I had a fair amount of people around me on the way there (pictured, on McCarver St.), and a huge, interesting mix of people on the way back (interesting as in nice young families with babies in strollers and drunken troglodytes whose vocabulary consisted of approximately three words, two of which were fuck and fuckin') Christy and I met up at the waterfront then walked to The Ram to join her friends who had procured a table on the patio. There was a good band playing before the fireworks started. The fireworks included some beautiful, glittery effects, but it was one of the shortest fireworks shows I've ever seen. The whole thing lasted about eight minutes at the most.

This is a firework with a lamp in the way. I prefer to think of it as an interesting idea for a street lamp. A whole city block with color pulsing firework-like lamps could produce a Fremont Street Experience-like effect. I'm not going to hold my breath for it to happen in Tacoma.

No, It's Not a Beauuuuutiful Day

It's 92 degrees. Ugh.

While I'm irritable from the heat, I'd also like to complain about people who demand that I "Make it a great day!" If you'd like to wish me well with the well-worn 'Have a nice day' (which I've always thought should be condensed to the acronym HAND) that's fine. But do not Tony Robbins me and mandate my attitude.

Some people's demands are downright unrealistic. A woman once told me to "Have a rainbow day!" How does one do that? March in a gay pride parade? I mumbled "Thanks, you too" to which she self-righteously replied "I WILL". Ok then. May she and Roy G. Biv live happily ever after.

Not That You Asked...

I've been a lazy blogger lately, so I feel compelled to offer up something.
How about something you don't care about? Ok, fine then.

Five All-Time Favorite Songs (in no particular order):

1. The Crystal Ship (The Doors)

2. Love Reign O'er Me (The Who)

3. Conquistador (Procol Harum)

4. Paint it Black (Rolling Stones)

5. Layla (Eric Clapton- Ok, technically Derek and the Dominoes)

But it's a Night View

When will I stop with the photos of my view? Not anytime soon. The windows in my apartment have been a portal into a new world for me. The highlight of my day is what I have come to think of as 'The Show'. The sky goes from powder blue to cobalt to indigo and a thousand amber lights come on. It's gorgeous.


In my last post I wondered if 26 year old Tony could name all of The Beatles. Not only could he do so, he knew that it was Eric Clapton on guitar on 'While my Guitar Gently Weeps'. Going for the genius round question, I asked him who the song 'Layla' was about. Without hesitation he correctly answered Patti Boyd, George Harrison's girlfriend. Amazing.

I did my little Vashon Island ferry ride again today. It's less than 20 minutes each way, but it feels great to be out on the water.

John, Paul, Ringo, and...Tom

My friendships at work are based not on age, but on synastry. The two people I happen to mesh with best are 25 and 35. Sometimes I forget just how young the 25 year old really is; at other times it is profoundly apparent.

Today I asked him how many of the Beatles he could name. "Um...John?" Veerrry good I sarcastically replied. Ok, now what was his last name? "Um...Lennon?" Wow, amazing. Ok, name another. "Uh, I think there was one named Paul, and another named...Tom?"

My response to that was something to the effect of Ohmygodforgetit! accompanied by a dismissive hand wave.

It's fun to share music from the 60s and 70s with people in their 20s. One day at work Tony, who is 26 and has a recording studio in his home,and I went into the computer lab and pulled up Youtube. I introduced him to the glam rock bands of the early 70s: The New York Dolls, Sweet, Sparks, and T Rex among others. I loved his observations. Why had I never realized how much Russell Mael of Sparks looked like "That guy in The Doors"? Tony genuinely liked a few of the bands and made notes in his Blackberry. Tomorrow I'll have to ask him if he can name all four of the Beatles.

Tacoma Museum of Glass

After 14 months in Tacoma, I've finally been to the Glass Museum. And after 14 months of mostly-horrible dates, I had a 2nd date today with someone I think I like. More on that later. For now, some quick snaps of the Bridge of Glass:


It was a gorgous day today- sunny, but not obnoxiously so. About 70 degrees. We've been having mostly 50s and rainy, so it was a nice change. My date and I (ok, he has a name- it's Dave) spent a lot of time walking and sitting by the waterfront behind the musuem. We also sat in the 'Hot Shop' theater and watched glass workers take molten orbs out of hell-like furnaces, trim them with scissors (who knew?) and do more firey things to them until they became graceful works of art. All of this took place to loud music ranging from Wagnerian-type opera to Stevie Nicks. More than a little surreal.

Too Tired to Think of a Title

Who wants to see random photos? You do, you do! The first one was taken in Bellingham (Bellingham Bay with the San Juan Islands in the background).

My apartment needs a few finishing touches. Here's a partial view of the living room:

I know you're probably getting sick of views from my apartment, but I'm not. Isn't it amazing that the building in the foreground is a high school in Tacoma, Washington? I think this picture looks like it could have been taken in a European capital.

As far as what's going on in my life, work has been...odd. Our corporate culture is becoming frightningly aggressive. We WILL have fun! We WILL have fun in the way we are told to have fun! We WILL be happy! We WILL be the most powerful enrollment entity the universe has ever known! No wonder I'm tired. What I'm not sure how to explain is why I'm having food cravings that border on the surreal. I mean, what non-pregnant woman (or any human on the planet for that matter) craves things like grapefruit sections with hot fudge? Two or three times a day at work, I'll walk into the aisle and announce my latest craving: I want...watermelon with Bacos. In a parfait glass, I want sauerkraut, no, I want a Whopper. Wait, I've got it, a Whopper with sauerkraut. I want the grapefruit and hot fudge I mentioned earlier to be on a base of pound cake. No, wait, pound cake that's been soaked in Frangelica! I hardly know what Frangelica is. I think I had it once, in 1993 or something. Where am I coming up with these things?

So Adorable

American Idol Finale

Have I mentioned that I now live in the world's coolest apartment? Every time I look out the windows I'm amazed that this place is mine. My friends' reaction tonight confirmed that yes, it really is all that. I hosted a small American Idol finale party tonight. I've had two glasses of wine, which is a night of heavy drinking for me, so I'm aware I'm being even less linear than usual. Anyway, check out my mountain and the ship barging (wha ha) into my bedroom.



Tonight there were a lot of good laughs, and shrieking when David Cook won. We were sure it was going to be David Archuletta. This is the first year I've been pleasantly surprised by who won. In attendance tonight were Christy, Faauu, Robert, and Faauu's boyfriend Gerard who sat at my desk and taught an online class while the rest of us were acting like happy idiots.



So, you're wondering, how is the Atkins diet going? That's a rhetorical and mean-spirited question. And you didn't even ask it. Of course it's not going. How can anyone over the age of 20 possibly survive on it. The one sacrifice I've made is I've stopped eating bread. And I've lost...I don't know. 15 ounces or something. This really is going to be a tough journey, but I'll make it somehow. In the meantime, I've got a great new goal: I'm going to start drinking more wine. What do you think?

More Views

This is what I look out on from my desk. Double click on the photo and you'll be able to see Stadium High School, mountains, and other cool stuff.

This is the view from the other set of windows in the living room.

When you walk to the end of my street, this is what you see.

At Your Own Risk

"Atkins??! Noooo. You don't want to do that. Just go on the Brittney diet!"

These words of wisdom are dispensed to me from the Penelope's coffee shop girls, one of whom - a sweet 23 year old artist- has a swingy chalk-white ponytail. Feigning interest, I ask for an explanation of the Brittney diet. "Half!" I'm told. "Just eat half of whatever you want!"

Next she'll tell me to try 100-calorie packs of Oreos.

I want to tell you this seriously: Do not ever give me a 100-calorie pack of Oreos. Giving me a 100-calorie pack of Oreos is like giving a lion a meatball. It's just not enough and you could encounter a dangerous reaction.

Do not give me little feather-weight packets of anything unless you plan on giving me six or seven. Granted, if you give me multiples I will proceed to do what I did with my one-week supply of daily, Barbie-sized, Jenny Craig chocolate bars: I will eat them all within 10 minutes. Actually, probably more like 5. The Jenny Craig incident happened well over 10 years ago, but I assure you I have not changed.

What it comes down to is I am not capable of moderation when it comes to anything involving sugar and / or flour. Yeah, I know, you are and that's great, but sugar and flour are my heroin. You don't tell someone to just cut back on their heroin usage.

Yes, I know the Atkins diet has risks. Yes, I know many gain all the weight back after they stop. Yes, I know it's gross to live on animal carcasses and celery, but going low carb is the only way I've ever lost weight.

So if Wendy's (ugh, I'm referring to myself in the 3rd person) Incredible Weight Loss Journey is ever going to start in earnest low carb it will have to be.

Let's just hope I don't eat seven bunless cheeseburgers.

Views from New Apartment

Light

Winery Tour

Faauu, Christy and I went on a day tour of two wineries and Snoqualamie Falls. First Stop was Silver Lake winery, where the event host was not pleased to see our group of 17 people ("I have a huge group coming but, um, ok, well hold on..."). Ten minute wait followed by a rather rushed tasting of four wines. My favorite was the raspberry wine (ok, I don't have a sophisticated palette. I'm nice to dogs and needy people. Leave me alone). They had many flavors of fruit wines. I say how wonderful.

It was the first warm day of the season, so the Chateau St. Michelle tasting was conducted outside. To be honest, I don't remember the wines that well but the setting was gorgeous. After the tasting, we sat under a tree and just relaxed and talked, which was of course lovely.

I have no idea what Faauu and Christy are doing, but when I saw them like that I told them to hold the pose. Why am I not in any of the photos? Because I'm unhappy with my weight, that's why. I'm contemplating doing posting a photo every week so all of you can watch my amazing weight loss journey (I'm aiming for 35 pounds), but first I want to be sure there will be an amazing weight loss journey.

Snoqualamie Falls was waterfall-y as waterfalls tend to be.It was hard to get the full experience by competing for space against the railing. There is a lodge just above the falls, visible in the photo above. If the falls can be heard with the windows open at night, I'd like to stay there sometime.

Comfortably Dumb

The Pantages Theatre is three blocks from where I work and seven blocks from where I live (well, ten blocks now that I've moved). When I saw that The Pink Floyd Experience was coming, I knew I had to check it out. So check it out I did.

What I sought was a conditioned response. I listened to Dark Side of the Moon hundreds of times in college dorm rooms, and probably saw the midnight movie of The Wall eight or nine times. Needless to say, few (if any) of those times involved keen mental acuity. Those experiences were soft, mystical and dreamy and I figured the music was so imprinted to that state of consciousness that just hearing it again would reprise it.

Nope.

At one point I was so bored, I entertained myself by coming up with scathing review headlines (Comfortably Dumb being my obvious favorite, with Shine On You Crazy Cubic Zirconia in 2nd place). I worried about things I'd forgotten to do at work that day. I rolled my eyes at the poorly executed "If you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding!" Damn. Couldn't they have gotten that right? I love that line. I've been known to walk by someone's desk and say that line just because I feel like it.

One segment, an unexpected one, was brilliant. It was a tribute to Syd Barrett. I didn't recognize the song, but it was gorgeous and the accompanying visual effects were water color-y and sublime. If the whole show had been like that I would have been in heaven. Unfortunately the lighting was garish and overdone, consisting too often of shining woken-from-a-nightmare glaring blue light into the audience, producing a "Stop it, dammit!" reaction (perhaps the less high strung perceived it differently).

Take a second and try to picture the audience. If you are picturing 60 year old men in tie dye t-shirts and long gray ponytails you've pretty much got it right. You can't go back again, but perhaps they never left. I have in no uncertain terms moved on from who I was 30 years ago. I've had to. I hate to say it, but The Pink Floyd Experience underscored for me the fact that I am so centered in the harsh reality of the real world that I can rarely, if ever, relax. I miss the times when I could not only relax but float to the edge of a world so vast, so beautiful, and so mysterious that just a glimpse was an enormous priviledge.

Busy

When I have time to catch up, I'll post pictures from the winery / Snoqualamie Falls day trip I took with Christy and Faauu two weeks ago. I'll also post pictures of the new apartment. Maybe I'll even write something.

New Apartment

I'm moving in April 25th. The building is 4 blocks from my current one. My new building has better views, a dishwasher (a year with no dishwasher was more than enough), and a nicer caliber of residents. I'd taken to calling my current building "Crack Whore Gardens". It was time to move.

Downtown Tacoma Waterscape

This waterscape takes up the majority of the block of the Commerce Street Transit Center. It's water, it flows; needless to say I love it. I'm happy to announce that I am no longer in need of transit centers since I have bought a new car (ok, a new old car). It's a shiny champagne-gold Saturn, very pretty, and in good shape mechanically.

Smoke and Mirrors