Happy New Year!

I'm celebrating on Central Standard Time with my parents, the movie District 9, and a whole lotta home-broiled steak. I'm thankful for people who love me, yoga on demand, and digestive systems that work. I'm excited to start my job on Monday and hope that 2010 is a year marked with happiness, fulfillment, authenticity, and love.

Cheers for a prosperous year to you and yours!

Hello, Goodbye, and Thanks to Jesus Price.

Since October, I've been spending my Tuesday mornings with members of the (unofficial) funemployment breakfast club at the Hi Life in Ballard for their $5 Not-So-Early-Bird meals. After (officially) getting a job in December, I dined with them one last time before leaving for the holidays in Green Bay. The breakfast burrito was my staple with an occasional order of biscuits and gravy, but this time, I decided to step out of my comfort zone with the goat cheese scramble and boy, was I pleased with my toast, which was in the shape of a heart (when altered). It practically said, "Good bye, Kelly. We'll miss you here in unemploymentland."

See what I'm saying? You can bet I will miss those Tuesdays. Tear. (But I surely won't miss the financial distress that comes with those unemployment breakfasts. I can guarantee I won't be crying that hard...)

A few days later, I packed my bag for an epic "vacation" in Wisconsin for Christmas. Two weeks of family time, snow-filled streets, frosted cookies and peanut butter balls, loud seasonal music, the occasional gift of a wintry mix, down-filled jackets with mittens, hugs and kisses, coffee with high school friends, and relieving old memories (and triggers). Y'all will be impressed to know that I packed ONLY carry-ons for my trip. Take a look at my master packing:


That's it, folks! That. Is. It. Hell, I even impress myself! And take a gander at the inside, too...


I am unbelievable. Even color-coded. I fit 3 pairs of pants, 2 skirts, 4 tank tops, 3 sweaters, 3 long sleeve shirts, 2 dresses, 6 short sleeve shirts, 3 pairs of shoes (including knee high boots), a straightener, 2 belts, 15 pairs of underwear, 5 pairs of socks, 3 bras, and one lone pair of tights inside that suitcase. If you weren't impressed before, you MUST be now! And let me tell you, rolling is the way to go. Trust me.

Upon arriving in GB, I spent a weekend holed-up with my family before decorating cookies with my adorable young cousins before the big event (Christmas). In particular, my favorite moment of this week came when my little cousin Colin sang "Go Tell It on the Mountain." Did you know it's where Jesus Price was born?

Neither did I.

All I Want For Christmas...

...is a job! Except that I already got one. (!!!!!!)

Here's the rest of the list:

IPod and speakers
Yoga mat
Boyfriend watch
Live with Intention datebook
Boots
Perfume
- Ralph by Ralph Lauren
- Christiane Celle Tangerine
- India Hicks Island Nights
Anything from Sephora
Facial/haircut/massage
Yoga class pass
ITunes gift cards
A tropical vacation
New clothes
New jewelry
New nail polish
A long and happy life

Oh, and...

Shakira's body.

The Doormat Says It All

Stay tuned for my infamous Christmas list.

Not Thawed

Being that it's sunny outside, I just went to spray some Rain-X on my windshield for the, you know, rainy Seattle winters. Except for the fact that the liquid Rain-X froze before I could wipe it in. And it's only 32 degrees!

Aie.

Why Don't YOU Go First?

This past weekend was one of firsts and I would like to share the events in a photo essay:

Saturday included my first time at a Washington Husky football game. Ever. It was delightfully cold ("This is what REAL football is like, Jason - so cold you can see your breath, but you can't feel your toes") and many people opted out of the game for that reason (pansies), but Jason and I enjoyed the 42-10 victory right there at the scene. It was really fun! The first shot is from the walk to our seats and from this view, you can see the entire field and get an idea of the shape of the stadium. It sits right on Lake Washington (behind the scoreboard in the picture), so many people will dock their large boats and take a dinghy to the game. I like this photo because the people in the front look like cardboard cutouts.

The next picture is of the north side of the venue. We sat way up in the far right part of the stands. And we STILL had a great view!

Here you can see a close up of the view from the stands. Beautiful, right?

The sunset (at 4pm)...

The marching band in formation...

On Sunday afternoon, Jason and I had an afternoon holiday tea service at the Fairmont Hotel with his family for a little birthday celebration. Afterward, we took our own walking tour of the downtown public library, which just went through a massive $165 million renovation in 2004. It's architecture is gorgeous and it's really modern. Amazing! Then, we went to Purple Cafe and Wine Bar for some appetizers and wine before attending the evening show of "White Christmas" at the 5th Avenue Theater in downtown Seattle. The live performance was great and it's also my favorite Christmas movie! Seeing the show again reminded me of the first time I saw it in 2006 during Thanksgiving weekend. I was by myself and sitting much farther away and after the show, it was snowing outside! So magical. Here are some pictures of holiday tea:

Yummy, yummy scones, cookies, finger sandwiches, pastries, and chocolates.

Great weekend!

A Day for the Fallen

Today, there was a memorial for 4 fallen police officers who were killed 9 days ago while starting their Sunday morning shift at a coffee shop. A man, who was released from prison only one week before, entered the cafe (located in Lakewood, Washington) and shot each officer in cold blood. They've been calling it an ambush. The murderer got away, but was finally shot and killed 2 days later during a routine check of a stolen car. The police force and other governmental agencies in the area have been on high alert ever since the attack and thousands of people in the community have come out to support the process. The sheer number of officers and participants who attended the memorial has been incredible to watch (it's being broadcast on all major stations). Men and women in uniform traveled across the country from Canada, New York, Illinois, Montana, Arkansas, Massachusetts (etc), people and children missed work and school to come to Tacoma to pay their respects to the fallen officers. The news just reported that the 23,000 seats in the venue was not enough to hold all of the law officers and community members who wanted to express their grief and show their support. Apparently, the processional was 10 miles long with police cars and fire trucks. The 4 officers left behind 9 kids, 3 spouses, and many friends and family. Completely and utterly tragic. This is coming less than a month after another Seattle police officer was killed in an intentional ambush on the night of Halloween. A few local restaurants (Papa John's and Ivar's Seafood) are donating 100% of their proceeds from today and, in some cases, tomorrow to the Lakewood Police Independent Guild Charity Fund to go towards the families of the fallen officers.

Rest in Peace, officers. Thank you for your service.

Seattle Sun: A Conundrum

It's a sunny and beautiful (albeit cold) start to December as I sit here writing this at my kitchen table with the sun streaming through the window and onto my face. It's quite remarkable how much the climate can affect one's mood. The crisp, cool weather reminds me of Wisconsin winters and I instantly want to bundle up before going outside. It also makes me miss traveling. Snow in Chicago. Balminess in Sacramento. Frozen rain in New Jersey. Sometimes, I wish I was enjoying a morning breakfast at the Holiday Inn West in Portland, Maine instead of getting up at 10am and wondering what to do with my day. Unscheduled time is my worst enemy, I swear. Some people may relish in it, but it only makes me overwhelmed to think of all the possibilities the day could hold. Inevitably, I sit on the computer or in bed for much too long before ambling around the kitchen to make myself a half-ass brunch. I may be a bit more tired, but on the days I am fully booked, I am way more productive!

I guess I've learned a lot about myself in the last six months of job searching. I've discovered that I am a true commitment-phobe in every sense of the word and that a large part of my self-esteem depends on my connection to a purpose or a goal or a schedule or a path or a plan. I've found that depression can be situational and that I am susceptible to crying on a daily basis if my mood calls for it. Unemployment has also taught me that I do well spending little money. I've made only a bit of money last for quite a long time. (Thanks Mom, you've taught me well.)

I'm off for a walk around the neighborhood and then a much-needed visit to Starbucks for a peppermint mocha and a session of reflective journaling.

Cheers!

You Know It's December When...

....You've been hearing Christmas music in random places for about two months now.

....You've been invited to attend holiday tea at the Fairmont Hotel and view a live showing of White Christmas in a week's time.

....You're fighting the urge to buy everything in sight.

....You realize that living in Seattle does not provide you with your snow fix during the winter.

....You desperately want a peppermint hot chocolate every single day without exception.

....You have finished celebrating the end of the J-A-S-O-November months. (See below.)

....You find that the sun is consistently on a 45-degree angle from 8am (sunrise) to 4pm (sunset).

And finally....Jason wakes up in the morning and immediately pulls on his ugly Christmas sweater after declaring, "It's December!"

In other news, Jason turned 26 yesterday. It was the end of the

July - August - September - October - November

months or the *JASON* months which culminates in his birthday on November 30. Apparently, it's 152 days devoted to celebrating Jason. (And you thought I was crazy with my observance of the entire month of April for my birthday? Oh no. I've found someone a bit wackier.) For his big day, I gave Jason three envelopes with planned events for morning, afternoon, and evening. Here is a photo essay on our day:

In the morning, we went to the Future of Flight tour at Boeing. It was amazing! Unfortunately, they don't allow cameras on the tour, so I can't provide any documentation, but I CAN tell you that it was 90 minutes of interesting facts and features. We even got a tour of select parts of the largest building in the world which is where planes are assembled in the Boeing Everett Factory.

SO cool.

In the afternoon, we went to the Tulalip Casino in Marysville, Washington. We didn't spend any money gambling (self-restraint at its best, I suppose), but we walked around and had a nice lunch and discussed the reasons why casinos smell so bad. Afterward, we drove home and I frosted the cake I baked that morning. (Yellow butter cake with chocolate fudge frosting.)

The candles LOOK really cute, but they weren't very practical. They melted quicker than I could SAY "Happy Birthday" much less SING it, so they were good and done by the time my song was finished. By the end of the burn, I had "Nappy Something" instead. See for yourself:


And then, I found myself cleaning up candle poop before we could even eat the cake...


And finally, in the evening, I took Jason to Jillian's in Seattle which boasts $5 all-you-can-play arcade games on Monday nights. It was a little divey and a little dingy, but it certainly was A LOT of fun. We played Pop-A-Shot (I beat the self-proclaimed "basketball expert" in over HALF of the games), soccer goal kicking, water skiing, off-road jeep driving, on-road Hummer driving, Nascar racing, gun shooting, and Harley cruising. We even played Atari and Pac-Man! SO FUN. Jason won all the racing games, but I crushed him at basketball and Pac-Man. He dominated air hockey after telling me that he played in a friend's basement all through high school. In short, Jillian's was a great choice for a cheap night of fun.

Happy Birthday Honey! And Happy December to everyone else! :)

Yes We Can?

There can be a fine line between hopefulness and hopelessness. In terms of spelling, it's a mere four letter difference. In terms of unemployment, the distance between these two emotions is still quite small. In fact, sometimes it's virtually undetectable. Only if you understand each of your minute, complex, indescribable feelings does it even begin to be possible to calculate the distinction between hope and despair. The slightest change in event or sleep or email or television show can turn what used to be undeniable HOPE into dusty, ashy HOPELESSNESS in just seconds.

This does not help my emotional torment and restlessness ONE BIT.

Boot Envy

I have a disease. I can't stop looking at boots. It's a real sickness.

Oh pretty please, can I invite new boots into my life?

Life is a Journey...REALLY?

Seattle is covered in an ethereal glow today. Almost like it is somehow dripping in a honey-colored, fog-like glimmer. With my sunglasses on, it looks as if it has a pinkish hue. Perhaps I'm seeing the world through rose-colored glasses? Perhaps my "luck" has changed? Perhaps I've turned a corner in my situation?

I also found 16 cents on the road today during my walk. While 16 cents doesn't make up for the $45 that was stolen, I see this as a sign that my Midas qualities are back. Before long, everything I do will turn into something wonderful. Like old times.

I'm sure there are lessons abound during this period of my life, but I can't deny that a part of me (or MANY parts of me) are struggling and sad and angry and uncontrollable. I suppose it's just a part of the process and I'm learning to trust that process however weird and disjointed and impractical and misleading it may seem. So often, I see life as a destination (I know, I know, it's supposed to be a JOURNEY) and most of my issues stem from my rigid views on "getting things done" and "planning for the future" when really, I should be (I WANT to be) enjoying the moment. Ah, well. We all have room for improvement, right? And if this stage in my life has taught me ANYTHING, it has definitely taught me that I have a lot of growing to do.

The more I know, the more I don't know, right? The more I do, the more I have to do. The more I see, the more I want to see. The trick is being at peace with it all...

Bad Luck.

Well, tonight's trampoline aerobics class ("AIRobics") at Sky High Sports in Bellevue was overshadowed by the realization that someone stole two credit cards and $45 cash from my wallet. The worst part? I can't figure out when. That is the most frustrating thing about it.

ARGH!!!!! I'm so mad at the universe right now.

My Heart Goes BOOM BOOM POW

It's a blustery day and I'm in love with so many things:

Fall colors
HRC bumper stickers
Neck ties
Vancouver, British Columbia
Phone chargers
Instant coffee
Craig's List
Trick-or-treating
Rain boots

Oh, and the U2 concert was pretty rockin'.

Say Wha?

"I filled it REALLY high so that when I finish, I have EXTRA chocolate milk."

Jason just poured chocolate milk on his Apple Jacks cereal. I told him it was a bad idea, but he was pretty determined. And nobody stops Jason when he's determined.

He never ceases to amaze me (or make me laugh).

Warm and Fuzzy.

You know, I just got a happy feeling and I thought I'd blog about it considering that most of my posts in the past few months have been a testimony to the roller coaster ride of my unemployment. Right here and right now, I am feeling supported and loved. I have people looking out for me! I have friends concerned about my employment status and my well-being. I have a family that only wants the best for me.

It's a good day. The sidewalk says so.

I'm Gonna Have A Really Clean House When I Grow Up

And that's the truth.

My roommate ate all of my candy. So even though it's late and I've applied for 6 jobs tonight (it's Sunday, mind you) and I realllllllllly want Milk Duds, there is no way I'm going to be able to eat them because they are gone. Finished. Deceased. Digested.


And I spilled water alllllllll over the kitchen tonight.

It's been dandy!

I am ready for....SOMETHING. But apparently, the universe would rather that I rot in my old apartment with no money, no friends, and no motivation. I suppose this means I need to learn...SOMETHING. As my friend Annie B would say, "Gah." Or "Gah!"

That's exactly how I feel.

OH, and STOP PITYING ME! I don't have a goddamned job and suddenly, it's like everyone has a carte blanche to feel sorry for me, here. I don't want your stinkin' sorrow. I don't want you to say in your little fairy voice, "Oh Kelly, it will get better....I promise!!" And then all the butterflies and puppies and rainbows came out to play and EVERYTHING was better.

THE END.

NO! I just want a little acknowledgment that times are shitty and this sucks and I'm doing stuff and that's it. I just want a back rub and someone to sit with me while I endure the "bad economy." Wanna know how many times I've heard that for the reason I don't have a job? Enough times that I'd have 12 MILLION jobs for each uttering of the phrase.

Don't test me. I'm not in the mood.

Funny You Should Joke About Toilet Water...

I got up early on Sunday morning to walk Greenlake with a friend of mine. Jason and I had tickets to the Seahawks game, so I figured I'd be back in time for a fast shower and we could be ready to go pretty quickly thereafter. After a lovely trot around the lake, I was refreshed and renewed for the day. I arrived at my apartment, opened the door, and immediately heard "KELLY? KELLY?" in a muffled voice coming from the bathroom. I put my stuff down on the table and made my way to the noises. As I opened the door, I could barely hold back a laugh as I realized that Jason, completely in the nude, was standing over the toilet and gripping onto something in the tank while dirty toilet water covered the floor of the bathroom.

"I've been standing here for 15 minutes," he cried. I was practically hysterical...but I was smart enough not to let it show. He was pretty traumatized. I let the tank fill back up (he was holding onto the tube which fills the toilet tank, scared to let it go in fear that it would continue to flood the bathroom) and took all of the towels off of their respective racks to sop up the floor. It took 7 towels to wipe up the mess as well as 3 hand towels, some random paper towels, and the bathroom rugs to boot.

Luckily, my roommate was doing her laundry later in the day.

Green Bay!

For those of you who don't know, Jason and I decided to road trip across the northern United States to a little place in the middle of my heart called Green Bay, Wisconsin. I came up with the idea while talking to my mom on Labor Day and I approached Jason about it shortly thereafter. We pondered it for about a week and came to a decision about two weeks ago - let's just do it! Unemployment can't afford us a lot, but it can afford us the time to take a long trip...and DRIVE at that! So, after a lot of planning, a little agony when I realized that I would miss a friend in town, and a weekend visit from two of my cousins, we made the trek across Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

It was an interesting trip...we stopped in Spokane at my pseudo-sister's apartment, I got sick and lost my voice for half the drive, we couldn't find a hotel in Bismarck, so we stayed in Jamestown, North Dakota, and I successfully locked the keys in my car during a gas stop in Billings, Montana. Phew! But, we got here. We made it.

Success!

The Last Two Weeks in Pictures

Grateful Bread (our favorite neighborhood coffee shop) is a weekly occurrence and that's where I found this plant pot. It's true: only love can conquer hate. I think understanding can conquer hate, too, but only when it comes from a place of genuineness. Needless to say, I was inspired and I thought I'd take a few pictures. I'm pretty liberal with my photo-taking, if you haven't noticed.

This one was taken from Lake Washington where we were watching the sunset from the boat of Jason's cousin. I love how the mountains are framed by the sun. I feel like it really shows how amazing the summer weather has been in Seattle. And, lucky for me, plenty of those hot days have been spent on a boat or in the water!

Last Friday, Jason and I went out to dinner with a mutual friend who was in town from Michigan on business. We partook in happy hour at the Tin Table in Capitol Hill and a few bottles of wine later, stumbled (literally) upon a random dodge ball game taking place in the tennis courts at Seattle Central Community College. There were a couple hundred people milling around the facility while about 75 men played a hardcore game. It was crazy! Take a look:

Here's a nice shot of Jason attempting to get someone out of the game. (I don't remember if he was successful, I was too busy taking pictures.)

It was a great atmosphere for young people (most ranging from 12 to 25) and a lot of people stood around to watch the game. I was surprised that the activities didn't get more violent due to the high level of skill and intensity, but the guy who told us about the game (he was like our own little PR man) said it was a "friendly-aggressive" environment. A policemen even drove up to watch the lively festivities!

On Saturday morning, I picked up my old roommate, Bonnie, and we drove down to Burien to help our other past roommate, Adrian, and her parents bottle wine. Adrian's dad makes his own wine and we've helped with other tasks (picking the grapes, for example), so we thought we'd assist in the bottling process. It was really interesting. See for yourself...

This was the top from the camping pot that was used to shrink the paper seal onto the wine bottle. I liked the way it looked on camera:


Here are some of the bottles we used:


Adrian's dad built most of his equipment for bottling the wine. Here is the contraption we used to filter the wine from the large jugs into each bottle:


This is the finished product, aren't they pretty? Steve (Adrian's dad) even water colored the labels of Mount Rainier!


And here is the wine cellar that Steve built to house and age the wine:


Our hands after the bottling process:


On Sunday afternoon, I had friends over for a pool party and dinner. We splashed around for a few hours and then feasted on delightful homemade dishes like black bean burgers:


And pasta salad with chevre and grape tomatos tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette:


And (my favorite) peaches with mint, basil, and chevre tossed in balsamic vinegar and oil:

Yum! Happy September to all!

Seething in Seattle

Over 50. That's how many jobs I have applied for in the last month. That's how many times I've filled in my name, my address, my educational history, my professional experience. That's how many times I've received either no response or just plain no.

I'm starting to get dazed by this process. I'm starting to feel hopeless and unmotivated and rejected and worthless. I'm starting to feel like a zombie by day's end: A computer-staring, money-hoarding, good-for-nothing zombie.

And you know what really gets me in this whole process? It's not the endless and mindless routine of applying or writing cover letters or sending in resumes. It's not the long days of nothingness. It's when I apply for a position that gets me really excited, I wait for a few weeks, I follow up, I hold out hope, and I still don't get a response. BUT THEN, during my daily internet career search, I come across the SAME JOB and it's STILL AVAILABLE. Even after 6 weeks sometimes. Don't think I haven't applied twice: I have. What are these people looking for?! I am talented, bright, enthusiastic, smart, witty, hardworking, and positive. I have two degrees, I have moved across the damn country, I have traveled extensively. I am a well-rounded, quality candidate...how am I falling through the cracks?!

I don't understand it.

ARGH!!

The Lazy Days of Summer

Despite all seemingly negative thoughts about unemployment, it definitely has its perks. For instance, Jason and I always seem to have time to do fun things if not daily, then at least a few times per week. We have become the masters of finding free activities in Seattle due to our limited budgets and I think we've succeeded pretty well in this endeavor. See for yourself:

1. Ten days ago, we walked around Pioneer Square for their monthly Art Walk. Dozens of art studios in downtown Seattle stay open until 9pm to celebrate the opening of new exhibits with wine and hors d'oeuvres. It's splendid! We happened to stumble upon a chalk display as a neutral medium (meaning no one has any more experience in sidewalk chalk than anyone else since it's not offered as a course of study) drawn by the students of the Art Institute in Seattle. We even voted on our favorite.


2. This wasn't free, but it nearly was! My girlfriend Brianna came to visit for a few days and we took her to an amazing concert at the Crocodile Cafe for $13! Parachute and The Script played an incredible show. Really, it was one of the best concerts I've EVER been to. SO GOOD. I didn't get many good pictures, but here is one of The Script's lead singer, Danny O'Donoghue, singing his brains out. The venue was small enough so you didn't feel like you were listening to the music without being able to see the band, the crowd was totally into it (myself included), and the actual tunes were stuff of dreams; the entire show was unspeakably good.


3. Thanks to Jason's parents, we went to the Yankees/Mariner's game at no charge on Thursday night. It was rainy outside, but since we're in Seattle, they've got it covered...literally. Jason invited some friends and the four of us had a grand ole time drinking beer and booing the Yankees 12-1 win over the M's. I don't care much about baseball (plus, I'm a Twins fan myself), but games are always a good time.


4. On Sunday night, we made our way over to Golden Gardens beach in Ballard. It's right on the Puget Sound along with the Shilshole Marina and Beach Club, and various restaurants including Little Coney (my guess is that it's supposed to be a version of a Coney Island eatery on the West Coast) where we got sandwiches, corn dogs, and ice cream. We also got to see the sunset (see below) which was super pretty! Following our recent park theme, we also went over to Discovery Park in Magnolia on Monday night to hike and walk along the beach. I had never been there and neither had Jason, and we found it to be quite delightful for a good workout; I think we walked close to four miles without even realizing it.


5. Yesterday, we drove over to Snoqualmie Falls and on our way, stopped at Triple X Root Beer which is a hole-in-the-wall, grease-gut-inducing fast food restaurant to get burgers and homemade root beer. Imagine our surprise when the cheeseburger came out and it was as big as Jason's head! (Luckily, we only ordered one of those.) This place has been around for years and claims it is one of the last original fast food restaurants, which, by the looks of it, may very well be true. It's a dive, but it was yummy! (I only had a stomach ache for a mere few hours after our lunch.)


6. Then, we continued onward to Snoqualmie Falls which is right before the Cascade Mountain range and Stevens Pass. It's this beautiful 268-foot waterfall that crashes into a perfectly clear pool of water and flows into a river (Snoqualmie River?), I think. It is freaking gorgeous. There's an upscale resort called Salish Lodge and Spa which overlooks the falls and there are multiple hiking trails, one which took us down to the bottom boardwalk of the park where we climbed over the railing and walked right up to the water. Many people were down there; some were swimming, some were sunning, one person was even kayaking up to the base of the waterfall. It was such a fun day and all for free! :)


(The first shot is from the top observation deck, the second is from the bottom lookout point.)


Afterwards, upon driving back to Seattle, we got a call from Jason's cousin and proceeded to spend the rest of the evening on their boat for to socialize, swim, drink a few beers, and catch the sunset. Today, we're doing the same thing!

Cheers to funemployment! :)

Extremes

It has just become clear to me that I function on extremes most of the time. For example: I go through long periods of no book reading, and then, suddenly, out of nowhere, I have this urge to read - any and all books I can get my hands on. And then I have to read all day and all night just to quench this undeniably strong thirst to read and understand and KNOW WHAT HAPPENS. It's quite ridiculous, really. (Perhaps some of my drama comes from the fact that I just finished reading the third book in the Twilight series.)

Or another example is my cleanliness. As most of you know, I'm wickedly clean. Borderline obsessive-compulsive with my straight lines and spotless surfaces. But every once and a while (during times that virtually no one has seen...) I am out of control with my mess - clothes everywhere, papers scattered, drawers open, bed unmade. Sometimes I can be disgustingly dirty, too, you know.

And right now, I find I'm dealing with the worst extreme of them all: My hysteric craziness versus my bleary-eyed laziness. I have nothing to do these days but all the things I want to do! (This may seem weird, but hear me out.) I have (literally) lists upon lists (I'm sure none of you doubt this) of stuff I wanna get done. I have piles and piles of papers that are just DYING to be sorted. I have binders and binders of old materials that are begging to be burned! I have emails abound that are waiting to be answered. And what do I do? I sit here on facebook and waste my life away. I blog, I primp, I talk on the phone, and I read the next Twilight book (if I can get my hands on that sucker). I DO NOT workout. I DO NOT cross items off my (near eternal) lists. I DO NOT get work done that has been waiting for me since high school ended.

It's almost as if I like not finishing these blasted lists. Do I?

Oh man. I'm super masochistic. I always have something to do because I always leave something to do. It's a sick and vicious cycle. Where is my therapist when I need her the most?

Flowers!

Since I'm home all the time these days, I bought myself some flowers at the market last night:




Aren't they pretty? The lilies smell so good! It's like a little spot of beauty in my bland apartment. (Okay, my apartment is not BLAND exactly...I have yellow and blue walls...but when I'm in this kitchen for 16 hours per day working on the internet, it's nice to have the fragrance of fresh flowers surrounding me...)

As far as the job search goes: Today, it doesn't. I've gotta take a break from the computer every few days, so Jason and I (oh, screw the "JH," I'm sick of it) are going to a free museum this afternoon. Then, we're hitting up the Pioneer Square Art Walk before going to "Superbad" (outdoor movie) at the Red Hook Brewery tonight.

In other news, I am getting so furry it's really quite irritating. I just told Jason a few days ago that the first thing I'm going to do when I get a job is immediately call to make appointments for a haircut, a brow wax, and a facial. My personal hygiene has really taken a unnecessary hit. (So I guess, at some point, I'll have to work to live, too, Andra. Otherwise, I'll be hairy forever!)

Cheers to August!

A Conundrum

Unemployment is an interesting thing. People who are employed seem to think that being unemployed is a real treat - who wouldn't want a day in the sun with a book and a margarita? Meanwhile, people who are unemployed yearn for the salary and regular schedule that come with having a job. Both are wholly overrated if you ask me. As an non-working person, I have all the time in the world to shop and eat and lounge and buy, but no money with which to do it. In addition, my motivation is waning. You can bet that I was sure I'd be in the best shape of my life with all this free time I have, but it's hard to get up and run when you could sleep until 10am instead. All I have waiting for me is an entire day of job searching on the internet!

I don't mean to sound like I'm jaded. I'm not. But I've certainly had A LOT of time to think about my life, my prospects, my desires. And I think that having a daily purpose is a strong human need. We NEED to feel like we fill a niche in this world, we NEED to know we are making a difference, we NEED to believe we are promoting our values. We NEED to have goals and plans and connections and conversations. It all leads to satisfaction. It all gives meaning to our existence.

SO, if I can preach for just one second: Be happy that you have a job. Even if you wish you were working elsewhere, at least you have a purpose. But perhaps you could try to find something you LOVE. It really makes life worth it.

Funemployment

Most times, I love my life. And sometimes, I wish I had another one. Though it has been a really great summer, filled with concerts, friends, romance, sunshine, boating, and delicious food, I'm about ready to get a job. I'm ready for a purpose to my days. But here's the thing: I want something to which I can really devote myself. I want to LOVE my job, I want to be excited to go to work in the morning, I want to make more friends in Seattle. I want to be passionate about my position in life. Not to mention, I want money. This bullshit of not being able to buy what I want is getting PRETTY old. Might I add that I'm definitely due for a closet overhaul. Some of those clothes have been with me since the 8th grade.

I'm working on it. I'm applying like crazy, I'm getting my life "in order" (whatever that means), and I'm trying to enjoy my time off because I know I will probably look back on this fondly. But hopefully, in a few months, I'll be busier and more excited to look forward instead of back.

A Letter to My Blog

To my dear, sweet blog:

I promise I haven't abandoned you, darling. I've just been away for a while.

Where have I been, you ask? Oh, I've been in France and Switzerland, Seattle and Los Angeles, near and far. I've been with friends and family, acquaintances and lovers, people who make me forget time ever existed. And my travels are not finished, fair blog. Oh no. I am departing for Tuscon as early as tomorrow and I won't be back in your arms until Monday's evening. And a week from Saturday, I will flee to Eastern Washington to listen to the music of old at an outdoor festival where I will camp underneath the stars. And finally, my beloved, I will leave you once more to pay visit to a special friend in Sacramento where we will laugh and lament, reminisce and embrace, but it is only you that I think about in this moment.

It's not without regret that I must bid you farewell, my sweet. But I pledge you all the pictures in the world upon my return. You have my word, oh cherished blog. You have my solemn word.

Signing off with much sincerity and love,

Kelly Anne

Summa, Summa, Summa-time...

I love this time of the year in the Midwest. It's clean, fresh, breezy, warm, and it brings back so many good memories. Like when things weren't so complicated (read: before one needed to work to have money to pay for stuff) and I would spend summers waking up early to practice dance for five hours in the sweltering humidity or barely working at the newly-opened gas station down the road and eating my daily Wendy's Big Bacon Classic with a cup of free French Vanilla "cappuccino" or taking walks with my mom right before dusk when the heat had dissipated and the mosquitoes were ready to bite or laying outside in the backyard on my cat blanket with headphones on and one book, one magazine, one writing utensil, one pad of paper, and new CD...just in case I got bored. Ahhh. Those were all wonderful moments while they lasted.

Seattle just isn't the same. I need the pain and relief of humidity!

A New Low

I exercised in a business park today. At least it had a lake!

I'm in Fishkill, New York tonight. We just drove from Bristol, Connecticut which is the home of ESPN. Interesting, right?

I had a great, GREAT weekend in Boston. I love that city! Before driving to the home of the Red Sox, I ended my week in Portland, Maine. On my way down, I decided to take a little detour and stop in the posh Kennebunks (on the coast of Maine) for a few hours. What a beautiful place! I went to Old Orchard Beach and walked near the Atlantic...


...I got caught in a crazy thunderstorm and got ice cream...


...I made my way to Kennebunkport and did a little shopping...


...and took some pictures of the beautiful seaside town...


I couldn't decide on what kind of (homemade!) ice cream to get, so I got the "sampler" (oh man) with these flavors: Almond Joy, Mocha Chip, Peanut Butter, and Mint Chocolate Chip. I wasn't disappointed!

And in Boston, we went to a great pub called Christopher's in Porter Square on Friday night and then on Saturday, we hit the Boston Harbor Hotel for afternoon tea, the Boston Commons, Faneuil Market, the North End (where Little Italy resides), Newbury Street shopping, and strode along the Charles river. We grabbed a drink at the oldest tavern in the USA (Bell in Hand since 1795), we dined at the infamous Mike's Diner by Boston University Medical Center, we had a little snack (and pink sangria!) on the outdoor patio at Joe's on Newbury.

Overall, the weekend was wonderful and I totally want to move to Boston!

Schnectady, New York

A few fun facts about me right now:

1) I just ate at Chez Daisie Creperie in preparation for my trip to France. Yum!

2) I'm in a ramshackle, depressed city where bizarre behavior seems to be frequent. I think I've seen at least 15 people limp across the (near barren) streets of downtown. One guy tried to cross and literally just stood right in the middle of the right lane while I was trying to drive by. He was on his cell phone (not to be bothered by the 10 cars moving in the road ahead of him) and he was really indecisive when choosing what to do: Move back to the curb or cross? Move back to the curb or cross? MAKE A DAMN DECISION! I'M DRIVING AND I'M IMPATIENT AND I WILL NOT HESITATE TO RUN YOU OVER! I don't really like it here.

3) I really hate it when people rummage through my stuff on the job.

4) I'm drinking flavorless chai tea at this very moment. It's disappointing.

5) Our Holiday Inn sells pints of Ben & Jerry's ice cream. I've been dreaming about them since last time I was here in March. So, last night, I traveled down to the front desk and its adjacent "Sweet Shop" to buy some. I couldn't decide which flavor to purchase (Half Baked or Phish Food?!?) and I happened to ask a young lady who was microwaving a frozen dinner to help me with my decision. I must have appeared to be seriously contemplating getting both flavors because with a quick glance at my stomach, she said, "Are you pregnant or something?"

Uh. No.

Familiar Faces

A few weeks ago, an old friend of mine from Green Bay was out in the Seattle area with her father to visit some family. We made plans to meet up and hang out for the day which proved to be a really great time. When I dropped her off at the end of the night, her dad jumped out of the car, gave me a big hug, and said, "Well, it must be nice to see a familiar face out here in Seattle!"

I thought about this for a long time on my ride back up to the city. What does the word "familiar" mean to me? What did it mean in the past? Who or what actually constitutes as "familiar" anymore? How long do I have to know someone for them to be considered "familiar" to me?

In all honesty, Seattle is familiar to me. It has become familiar to me over time. Seattle is my home. A place I have all to myself - where I endured miserable days, never-ending papers, lots of tears, various roommates, significant life moments, late-night movies, beautifully delicious dinners, memorable birthday parties, deep conversations, and plenty of drinks. People in Seattle are my friends, friends who make this place unforgettable. And I supposed that I'm learning more and more as time passes that it's not necessarily the places you go, it's the people you meet that make those places special. I've enjoyed cities mostly because of the friends who've made those places warm and inviting for me. I'm often asked where are my most favorite places to go in the United States. Well, that's easy. I love going to visit family and friends.

What Paul may not have realized when he mentioned "familiar faces" is that the term is entirely relative. My most familiar face in Cherry Hill, New Jersey is the banquet server at the Mansion on Main. My most familiar face in Oak Lawn, Illinois is Ashley at the front desk of the Hilton off Cicero. My most familiar face in Sacramento is my best friend in the whole wide world for ever and ever times one million for life. My most familiar faces in Milwaukee are my brother and his fiancee. My most familiar faces in Green Bay are my incredibly supportive parents. And my most familiar face in Seattle (among many) is that of JH.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

Don't be fooled, I'm a narcissist at my very core, especially today! And today's no ordinary day.

Have you ever thought of that? Have you ever thought: Today, no one can know just by looking at me that it's my birthday. It's just another day for them. Another ordinary day. What if I treated EVERY DAY like my birthday? Well, I'd be up at 5am, blowing out my hair and primping at an early hour. I'd probably feel like a million bucks because that's how I feel today. But no one would be wishing me a happy birthday or singing to me or giving me presents. That would be sad. You know, I have this thought every year (the "I should treat every day like it's my birthday" thought) and I last for about 2 days. Then, it's the same old story.

Anyhow. There are two reasons why today is not ordinary.

For one: I'm in Podunk, Idaho (Boise actually) and it's a balmy, breezy 80 degrees outside. Absolutely gorgeous. It's practically summer!

For two: Duh. Today's my birthday! I'm 26! (Holy shit, time flies. I still feel like I'm 16 sometimes.) It's my most favorite day of the year! I get to be completely egocentric, boastful, narcissistic, whiny, neurotic, vain and everyone has to love me. Well, or everyone just DOES love me. It's my birthday! I mean, I usually DON'T embody those characteristics on a regular basis (Okay, so I'm a little bit neurotic at times), but today, if I want, I get to be them.

BUT, do you wanna know why I love my birthday THE MOST?

I feel unequivocally loved.

Not only am I basking in the warmth of the (summer?) sun, I'm also basking in the love of my family and friends. It's the best!

So...thank you Mom, for enduring a difficult labor and delivering me safe and sound into this strange world (not without a little amniotic fluid in my lungs, but still). Thank you Dad for contributing your genes and your parenting skills (which have improved markedly over my 26 years, might I add). Thank you Brother for annoying the hell out of me while simultaneously making me laugh (pants over knees, anyone?). Thank you to my other family members for being wonderful and crazy (it takes a village, doesn't it?). Thank you to my dear friends across the country for still being my friends despite being across the country.

Man, I'm a lucky girl. (A birthday girl!)

It's Almost My Birthday!

TWO MORE DAYS!

Can you even believe I'm almost going to be 26?!?!

I love my birthday so much.

Who Invented Bread?

This is an example of one of the questions during our many conversations this past weekend.

JH: "Have you ever looked at power lines and wondered - Who made them? Where do they go?"

Kelly Anne: "No, I've actually never wondered that. But now that you mention it, power lines are weird."

JH: "Yeah, I know. This is the kind of shit that runs through my mind on a daily basis. Everything is so complicated!"

Kelly Anne: "I know the feeling."

JH: "I don't know anything about the world."

There you have it: Deep Thoughts, by JH and Kelly Anne.

Now you know why I love this man.

Spring Break!

It's finally here. And I'm feeling the edges of a sickness closing in on me.

NO!

JH and I have planned a "romantic getaway" on one of the islands in the Puget Sound, not even 30 minutes by ferry from Seattle. This place is super bomb - a private, secluded cabin with a small kitchenette, a loft sleeping area (vaulted ceilings and all!), and a private hot tub outside.

This shit is gonna be glorious.

I can't wait to relax, watch movies (there are so many I want to see!), take hikes, have picnics, talk for hours (we always have to cut our conversations short), and soak up some sun (it's gonna be 70 degrees on Monday)!

In other news, I just finished my resume and cover letter for a job I'm mucho interested in. For the very first time, I am so proud of these babies. They looks damn good and they've got the credentials to prove it. (Haha. Pun intended.) I also finally feel like I have the credentials for a stellar job, too.

It feels really, really good.

Don't Lose Hope!

Never give up! Never say die! Never surrender!

These are the various forms my motto will take during this job search, I've decided.

Right now, I'm pushing to get my resume done despite the fact that all I want to do is eat goulash and surf the internet. A blog post is my happy medium between the two.

A "fun" fact: This morning's USA Today poll says that 29% of readers classify the economy with the song "Livin' on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi.

It's Official!

We're going to Europe! Finally! After almost 10 years of "preliminary planning," we're off. Leaving on Tuesday, May 26 and returning on Friday, June 12. Phew. Finally.

YES!

Also, I'm happy to report that I am 46 states deep in my trek across the US of A. I finally got Delaware last Tuesday when I had a gorgeous dinner in downtown Wilmington. It was fabulous!

In Honor of Today

TODAY (March 22, 2009) marks one month until my 26th birthday. In honor of this day, I would like to post a list of what I want for my special day. This is so exciting!

Tarte Cheek Stain in Natural Beauty or Blissful

Leather Bomber Jacket
Leather Bomber Jacket

IPod and speakers

Boots
Boots
Boots
Boots

Yoga mat

Rainboots
Rainboots
Rainboots
Rainboots
Rainboots

Ralph Lauren Blue perfume
Chanel Chance perfume

Boyfriend watch
Boyfriend watch
Boyfriend watch

A trip to Olympus Spa

Spa treatments
Spa treatments
Spa treatments

Microsoft Office for Macs

Fine print: All links are merely ideas of stated items. There is no guarantee that Kelly will actually like what you get. It would be advised to include receipt and abandon your pride.

Question of the Day

If you could be any flavor of Poptart, which one would you choose and why?

I would most definitely choose to be the s'mores flavor and those of you who know me know why. I fricking love s'mores. I think they are the best edible invention since brownies. I have even perfected making them in the microwave. That's how much I love them.

Speaking of food (and aren't I always speaking of food?), I had an amazingly extravagant dinner last night in Portland, Maine. I intended on going out to eat lobster, but stumbled (via Yelp) instead upon a quaint little restaurant called 555. Little did I know when I arrived (but soon discovered), this place has been notoriously featured in such publications as Travel & Leisure and Wine Spectator. And, damn Gina, it was gooooooood.

Let's start off with the fact that the atmosphere was totally inviting, even to a solo diner like myself. The lighting was dim and accented with candles, the conversation and music was appropriately loud enough, and each table was adorned with fresh flowers (I checked). The service was impeccable. New silverware after every course. Water always replenished. Every time I rose to use the restroom, I came back to find my napkin folded neatly between my fork and my knife. I felt extremely important.

And the food. Oh the food! I began with a glass of Monte Volpe Primo Rosso which is a red blend from Mendocino County, California. Deliciously robust with a fruity, sweet finish. After ordering the "seasonal tasting menu" from my adorable server, I was given a small spoonful of spicy chicken salad with tortilla chips and a grilled caper. (All of this cuisine was superb, so I'm going to spare you the "YUMMY" or "INCREDIBLE" after every course. Just know it was all delectable and heavenly.) My second course was bits of their in-house made foccaccia bread with a lemon chive butter. The bread was moist with just enough sponge and the butter was out-of-this-world. I could have eaten that all night! Third, I received a chipotle-spiked sweet potato soup with firehouse pork and lime sour cream drizzle. Again, this dish was interesting and elaborate, with a good kick and a lot of flavor.

Next came my salad: A beauty of shaved hazelnuts, great hills blue cheese, and a smear of cherry preserves over a bed of chicory and butter lettuces. This was my least favorite of the evening because it was too salty for my palate. It didn't have the sweet taste that could have come from a few dried cranberries or small slices of apple. Still, it was aestically appealing and the lettuce was soft without being limp, yet crisp.

The main course came soon after (at long last!) and I was most excited about this: Their signature dish, the truffled macaroni and cheese with hand-rolled torchio pasta, artisinal cheese sauce, and shaved black summer truffles combined with the most luscious, savory, melt-in-my-mouth amazing butter-poached Maine lobster I've ever had. It was beautifully presented in a small, square-shaped dish with a little lid that sat looking on. The pasta was perfectly cooked, softened just right, and if the cheese sauce was designer, this would have been Dior. The chunks of lobster were ginormous and filling and scrumptious! I can definitely understand why this is their trademark. It is unparalleled in terms of gourmet cuisine.

For dessert, I first had a cheese plate which featured an aged (creamy) sharp cheddar with apple pear compote, spiced nuts, and house-made crostinis. The combination of these ingredients was quite good and I felt like I was in France while eating them. Then, I was delighted to receive my "coffee and donuts" in the form of glazed, holed donuts with chocolate chip coffee ice cream and a rich chocolate dipping sauce (in the cutest little cup I've ever seen). The ice cream was the creamiest, smoothest I've ever tasted - I could have bathed in that shit!

Finally, as a last little treat with the bill, I was given a house-made Oreo cookie which was a sweet and delicious ending to a glorious night. Oh so good!

The dinner was a total of two and a half hours of mind-blowing cuisine. I spent a total of $90 on all eight courses and (OH) was it worth it. Every penny was mouth-watering and divine! Highly recommended for the high rollers!

On a completely separate note, I have discovered that one of my favorite things to do is eat ice cream while watching America's Next Top Model. How ironic. (I love that show. JH says it should be called "America's Next Mediocre Model" due to the fact that no one of substance has ever emerged from Tyra's little reality baby. I agree. But I still love it.) Eating the one of the most fattening foods during this neurotic television show is my way of saying "Eff you!" to the ridiculous restrictions of the modeling and entertainment worlds. And even if no one can see me or witness me pigging out (and "boycotting" in my own way), I still stand (lie) strong: Ice cream is good for you and everyone should be eating it!

Hello Mr. Prince?

If you could be invisible for one day, where would you go and what would you do?

I've Got Beef

And I've gotta get it out.

What is all the fuss about Dunkin' Donuts coffee? It is such bad coffee, I can't even tell you. Bleck! All the buzz about it "being so good" is such bullshit and I can't possibly keep silent about it any longer.

I'm in New England and I'm watching people come in with their DD coffee in hand and I'm thinking...do you even KNOW where that shit came from? It's MACHINE COFFEE, people. They don't even have REAL baristas who make REAL espresso...cashiers just push a little button and a disgusting pre-made concoction pours out and people call it good. It's practically from a gas station and it tastes that way, too. Ew! How could you possibly think that's palatable?

OMG. Does this make me a Seattle coffee snob?

Aie!

Minter: My Dream

I love the name Minter. In fact, I want to change my last name to Minter. Somehow, it just sounds so refreshing: Kelly Anne Minter. Kelly Minter. It's like the combination of "Mint" and "Winter" - so lovely!

I had a crazy travel day on Sunday, but it was all worth it for living in the lap of luxury as I did. (As I always am. Duh.) JH and I woke at 4am to drive to the airport for my 6am flight. (Urgh, I know.) Since we stayed out until 2am the night prior (with Mary Kay Letourneau and her former student/ husband, Vili as our deejay) for a birthday party, I was especially struggling. When I arrived at the airport, I couldn't access my flight information and a service agent had to help me check in. She handed me my boarding pass to get from Seattle to Chicago, but told me that I had to get my other boarding pass from Chicago to Richmond (Virginia) at the gate. Apparently, there was a plane change for my second flight and the seats would be distributed shortly. So I schlepped all of my stuff through security to my gate and asked the attendant for some help. He wasn't able to access the flight either, so he told me I was to get my boarding pass in Chicago. (Sigh.) I wasn't frustrated, just confused.

I "slept" on the flight to Chicago, though with an aisle seat and a flight attendant whose butt was too big (thus it bumped my head every time she walked by) for her job, my "sleep" was spotty at best. We arrived late and as I made my way to the Richmond gate, I saw we were to depart 15 minutes later than scheduled (due to last minute equipment change) and there was quite a long line in front of the empty service desk. I decided to wait for a while since I figured it didn't matter much as I had a confirmed seat on the plane.

As I discovered an hour later, it DID matter much because after standing in line for 20 minutes, I was informed that there were no more seats. Not only did they change planes, but they also downsized which meant that about 8 of us were left at the airport as our flight departed for Virginia. I was one of the few who just rolled with the punches and didn't make a huge fuss about it (as you can imagine, some others were P.I.S.S.E.D. since we were never informed of this problem until about 10 minutes before the plane pulled back from the jet bridge) which worked out in my favor. Here's what happened: As they were trying to accommodate me, I mentioned I could fly to a nearby airport and change my car reservation to drive to Richmond. So as they were booking me on a 4pm flight to Washington Dulles (just out of DC), the gate agent not only gave me a seat on business class (which, as you'll see, was better than any first class I've ever had), but I also scored a free roundtrip ticket to anywhere United flies! Not too shabby for a 6am flight day.

And business class was A-MA-ZING. I'm telling you - the best I've ever had. We flew to Dulles on one of those newfangled planes that have first class "pods" (with full on beds and personal televisions) and business class seats (with reclining chairs and duel televisions). I enjoyed a cheese and fruit plate (plus free bloody mary) with my British seatmate who was all business and no fun, especially when he was eying me as I played with my electric seat-moving devices and television remote control. (What? I had to use everything before deplaning!) Needless to say, I enjoyed that flight immensely.

To make matters even better, when I got to Dulles, I found a luxury rental car to drive...thank you for heated leather seats, electric controls, and a stellar moon roof. Bomb diggity - I'm living the life!

Powerful Stuff.

My horoscope for this week:

"One often meets one's destiny on the road taken to avoid it," says a French proverb. Sometimes, in fact, you can't even get properly aligned with your highest potential unless you try to escape it. Only by seeking an alternate route are you led into the circumstances that ultimately activate the fullness of your gifts. These mysteries will soon have personal meaning for you, Taurus. Upcoming plot twists will lead you to where you didn't even know you needed to go.

Pretty crazy, right? I love it and I can't wait to go to uncharted territory.

I Have a Serious Problem.

I've become attached to my pens. I have a favorite and then *BOOM* I can't ever let it go. And what's worse is that I actually lament, I actually grieve if I happen to lose my "pen of the moment." This problem is almost as bad as my addiction to my cell phone. Right now, my favorite pen is a black fine-tipped Pro-Fit Papermate. Gosh, she's a beauty. I love her.

Just yesterday, I ate at a great riverside restaurant in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania called Duke's Bar and Grille. I ate the tuscan grilled cheese with the tomato florentine soup (super yummy) while I pondered life. One of my wonderments: Why do people live where they live? I mean, I GET that deciding on a life location may be a no-brainer for some people and they make a choice based on their family, their job, or their spouse. But I still wonder about it all because there are SO MANY different places to be. Different cities in which to live. In particular, I was looking (staring) at two beautiful women who were eating at the same restaurant and I was wondering why they live in Harrisburg. Of all places in the world, why there? It's not my intention to bash Harrisburg (hey, it's right next to Hershey!) or Pennsylvania (one of the most beautiful landscapes of any state I've visited), I'm just saying - WHY HERE? Why not Newburgh, New York? Or Roswell, New Mexico? Or Pasadena, California? Or Omaha, Nebraska? Or Victoria, British Columbia? Or Lausanne, Switzerland? Or Moscow? Or Tokyo? Or New Zealand? Why Harrisburg? Often times, I wish I could live this life 5 more times, just to squeeze all of the possibilities out of it. What if I'm interested in 20 different jobs and I want to pursue all of them? What if I am interested in 20 different men and I want to pursue all of them? What if part of me wants children and part of me doesn't? Shouldn't I have multiple different, separate lives with relatively similar circumstances during which I can explore all of my options? I think that would be brilliant. The wave of the future! The next big thing!

In other news, I have discovered which is my favorite kind of M&M. Are you ready? It's for sure the almond one. That IS the best. Far superior to the others. (Even the original.) It's been a candy-coated week for me: I have been to Hershey, Pennsylvania 3 times in the last week. Three times! Once because I had time to spare and wanted to see the candy kiss light posts, once because my colleague had read Milton Hershey's biography and wanted to see his endowed school, and once because we didn't get a chance to go on the chocolate tour, so we had to go back. It was all worth it! I love candy. We were even privileged enough to smell the peanut butter blowing from the Reese's factory as we drove into town. Yum!

Tonight, I'm flying from Philadelphia (I'm actually across the border in Cherry Hill, New Jersey) to Seattle and tomorrow, I'm working in Seattle with one of my favorite colleagues. Then, it's a relaxing weekend at home where I'll do a few errands before flying out to Richmond, Virginia on Sunday morning. I'm literally spending all of my March on the east coast save one weekend when I'll be in Green Bay.

Oh, and before I go, I must tell you all about my experience in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania at Looper's with their one million martinis! So, I DID decide to stop by the restaurant before driving to State College and I was pleased when I walked inside to find not only a pleasant atmosphere, but also an extremely attractive black man who was ready to take my martini order. (The reason I mention his race is because he was wearing a shirt that said "Chocolate is the new green" and by golly, he was right and he was HOT. Some mighty fine chocolate for sure. I would take a bit out of him and I wouldn't be sorry!) When he handed me the list of martinis, I was certain I was going to pass out just by proximity. And that list. Phew! That list is not for the faint of heart. (No pun intended.) For someone as indecisive as myself, it was mighty helpful to have a knowledgeable (and luscious) bartender waiting to be of assistance.

I waffled between the "Pineapple Upside Down," the "Thigh High Holster," and the "Happy Freakin' Birthday" for a while (great names, right?), but ultimately, I settled on "Happy Hollyday" with Mr. Hottie Bartender's help. From what I can recall, this martini was shaken (not stirred) with an appealing mix of raspberry schnapps, raspberry liquor, cranberry juice, and pomegranate juice. When I took my first sip, I was delightfully surprised by it's flavor: it ran down smooth with a taste of old-fashioned raspberry soda pop and it was full of texture. Frothy. Creamy. Fruity. Refreshing. Delicious.

It set me back a healthy $10 (I can't say I wasn't surprised!) plus tip, but it was well worth the eye candy, the time to think, the scrumptiousness, and the experience!

Make Bethlehem Glitter, Please Don't Litter

Well, then good thing I'm not going to trash talk Bethlehem. And for a town of "nearly 72,000 people in eastern Pennsylvania," (according to their official website) they have some dang good restaurants here! 

Now, I don't know what I've been doing on this blog for the past 18 months, but it's all going to change based on the vision I had today. I'm telling you: For my love of good eating, great food, and fabulous restaurants, why in Mary and Joseph's sake (I AM in Bethlehem...) have I not been focusing my writing towards all things edible in our world? I've turned over a new leaf and it starts today. (Disclaimer: Petty life happenings will still be included.) 

Bethlehem is a quaint town nestled between the rolling hills of eastern Pennsylvania. You might think, upon arrival, that you have already been to many places like this before, but you'd be wrong. In reality, you have stumbled upon a gem of a city. A little diamond in the rough, if you will. Home to the historical and once-world-famous Bethlehem Steel Factory as well as both Lehigh and Moravian Universities, this place was once the treasure-trove of Pennsylvania...I think.

Last night, when "yelping" (you do realize this is a verb of the internet era?) local restaurants, I found a trendy place in the old downtown area called Bethlehem Brew Works. Let me tell you folks, I was not disappointed in my first course which consisted of spinach salad with candied walnuts, dried cranberries, and green apples finished with a cinnamon vinaigrette and topped with crumbled blue cheese. Nor was I unhappy with my pancetta macaroni and cheese entree which featured a creamy blend of asiago, fontina, and white cheddar cheeses pancetta bacon and fussily pasta sprinkled with buttered bread crumbs and served with plum tomatoes stewed in their flagship ESB and Italian spices. Don't take it from me, look at their menu! I completed my meal with a cold glass of their Steelgaarden Wit beer (brewed in-house) which was smooth, light, and crisp...the perfect compliment to my hearty spinach and pasta. 

This morning, I headed over to Vegan Treats to try out what some of the locals say are the best cakes and brownies (vegan or not vegan) in all of Pennsylvania. Of course, I had to be in on this dirty little secret, too, so I ordered way too much stuff (duh) including a raspberry crumble bar, a peanut butter mousse brownie, and a chocolate mint cookie...and I "desserted" my way right through lunch. I discovered that, yes it's true, YOU CAN'T EVEN TELL YOU'RE EATING VEGAN. Which is kind of the point, right? At least to my lactose-intolerant friend it is. 

In just a few minutes, if I'm feeling up to it, I'm going to head down to Loopers Grille and Bar to sample one of their 400+ martinis. And there's even a little chocolate shop right down the street (though I've already had plenty of chocolate today). After that, I'm stopping in Hershey (do you see a theme?) before driving on to State College tonight. 

XO.

A Little Gem in Newark

Actually, I'm in Fairfield, New Jersey and the Best Western here has an AMAZING continental breakfast. Made-to-order omelets, meats, cheeses, breads, bagels, cinnamon rolls, sweet muffins, english muffins, assorted pastries, doughnuts, fruit (peaches, apples, oranges, melon), 5 different kinds of cereal (I had Cocoa Puffs this morning), hard-boiled eggs, yogurt, french toast, coffee, juice, oatmeal and all the fixin's (chocolate chips, walnuts, raisins, craisins) - is your mind boggled yet? Mine is. Per usual, I stowed away some stuff in my purse for later. Even though I have leftovers from last night. This is the same place I had dinner yesterday and it's BOMB. Love it.

I'm a little "off" today. Feeling bristled, on edge, restless - and the worst part is that I can't quite place my feelings, I just know that I'm not getting exactly what I need out of life right at this moment. And I vacillate from feeling extremely fulfilled to feeling heartily discontent. Obviously, it's my own issue because I've definitely felt this before in other times of my life. But as my feelings become more complex, my ability to explain them becomes increasingly impossible. And then (the worst happens) I retreat into myself because I feel misunderstood and I want others to read my mind. This lack of communication produces an even stronger desire to withdraw because it becomes part of a vicious cycle:

Provoking event(s)
↓
Indescribable feelings
↓
Inability to verbalize or explain emotions
↓
Feeling misunderstood and unsupported
↓
Triggers fear and automatic detachment from relationships
↓
Desire to remain disengaged from others
↓
Feeling misunderstood and unsupported
↓
Triggers fear and automatic detachment from relationships...

And suddenly, I'm completely closing myself off from people who really care. And then I get way too intellectual about my mood in an effort to be accurate (and because I'm crazy). Case-in-point: See above. (Sigh.) It's not your problem, it's mine. It's just really important to me that people understand me as I understand me. Which is virtually impossible anyways! Ergh. Perhaps that is the best way to characterize my feelings right now. Ergh. I wish I could enter my current emotions into a multiple-choice machine and it would print out a little description of my mood, then tell me what to do about it. If only.

Lesson of the day: Feelings don't always need to be explained.

I don't LIKE my lesson! Can I have a do-over?

Lesson of the day: Feelings sometimes suck. (They're unreliable and irresponsible and hard to pin down! Damn them!)