For Nathan's friend Shaugn's birthday celebration we went out in Seattle last night. I guess I should say "our" friend because I think we're reaching that point...I go back and forth, feeling like I want to make my own friends and let Nathan do his own thing but then at the time I do really do love his friends and wouldn't mind them being my own. Nathan wants nothing more than for his friends to be mine which is a whole new thing for me...in the past my life and my boyfriend's life have been two seperate entities. I was never a huge fan but just kind of accepted that's how it'd be. I think that pretty much made up a good portion of my dating days so I'm just now getting used to this...and I like it.
Anyway, going out was fun, it was a good group of people and a good night. I'm learning to be a part of the city life. On Friday Nathan worked all day so I decided to go shopping. His apartment is right downtown so it makes more sense to walk to the mall than drive (and I still haven't learned to drive a stick...which his car is). Walking around downtown Bellevue sent me in and out of my comfort zone. Sometimes I feel like I could easily fit into the big city and sometimes I'm wandering around wishing for mountains and small towns. It'll just take time to get used to and I know I will forever be a Montana girl at heart. I'm just fine with that.
We were supposed to go on a cruise in September this year but decided to save our money and go later. Now we're 3 months from my spring break and I'm itching to plan a trip. It's hard though because we really should save extra money for moving expenses in June. And I would really like to upgrade our furniture at that point so it requires a little more cash on top of the cost of first month's rent, a deposit and a pet deposit. BUT I want so badly to go to Mexico with Nathan and just have a wonderful vacation in a sunny place, just the two of us. I also think my spring break would be the perfect time considering I'll be nearly finished with school, probably burnt out and, really it's my last spring break before I enter the working world. My hope is that we will vow to always take a spring break whether we're in school or not, whether or kids are or not...whatever, I just think that vacation is extremely important. But if that doesn't happen, this truly is the last big break.
So we'll see. We were thinking about using tax refund money so we'll see what we have. I had to have work done on my car again and my dad insisted on paying for it and letting me pay him back on my own time. I'd like to just pay him back completely as soon as possible so that money should probably go to that too. I hate being responsible!
I never wrote about Christmas...it was great, so much fun to have Nathan there and to spend time with our families. It was definitely a white Christmas and we got some skiing in, made lefse, ate lots of good food, relaxed and just had a really good time with everyone. I wish it could be Christmas forever!
04 January, 2009
01 January, 2009
happy new year!
Nathan and I failed New Year's. We went to dinner at the Tap House which was awesome. We took our time and had drinks at the bar (I had a key lime pie martini...complete with graham cracker crust: one of my favorite drinks!), ordered an appetizer, had bread and then finally our entrees. It was really good food and a fun atmosphere. We had a big comfy booth to just the two of us and we enjoyed ourselves for sure.
When we headed home we stopped to get champagne and dessert to be consumed in the new year...That's where we failed. We started watching movies on t.v. and realized we were both extremely tired. We'd both started the morning early and never took naps. Big mistake. By 11:00pm we were asleep and slept straight through 2009. We knew that going home would put us to sleep so that was our own choice. Truthfully I don't mind, the most important part was I ended last year and began this year with my best friend and love. Next year we will plan better and make it all night!
I've been looking around at apartments in downtown Bellevue whenever we're out. I go online and look at pictures and prices and add them to our list of possibilities. Things get pretty expensive here so I have to remind myself we shouldn't completely overindulge...BUT we definitely could get a cool funky place downtown and be happy with it. It's kind of nice to have 5 months to look because it gives us time to find what we truly want. I'm so excited for that 5 months to pass quickly!
I think life is going to drastically change when Nathan and I can finally live in the same city. Especially the same home! I'm excited for graduation to get here but I am kind of nervous about starting a new job. I love where I work right now and I'm coming to the sad realization that I have to leave...and might not find a place this good. I'm holding out hope though. Maybe if I start looking early enough for that too I can be a littler pickier and find the best fit.
When we headed home we stopped to get champagne and dessert to be consumed in the new year...That's where we failed. We started watching movies on t.v. and realized we were both extremely tired. We'd both started the morning early and never took naps. Big mistake. By 11:00pm we were asleep and slept straight through 2009. We knew that going home would put us to sleep so that was our own choice. Truthfully I don't mind, the most important part was I ended last year and began this year with my best friend and love. Next year we will plan better and make it all night!
I've been looking around at apartments in downtown Bellevue whenever we're out. I go online and look at pictures and prices and add them to our list of possibilities. Things get pretty expensive here so I have to remind myself we shouldn't completely overindulge...BUT we definitely could get a cool funky place downtown and be happy with it. It's kind of nice to have 5 months to look because it gives us time to find what we truly want. I'm so excited for that 5 months to pass quickly!
I think life is going to drastically change when Nathan and I can finally live in the same city. Especially the same home! I'm excited for graduation to get here but I am kind of nervous about starting a new job. I love where I work right now and I'm coming to the sad realization that I have to leave...and might not find a place this good. I'm holding out hope though. Maybe if I start looking early enough for that too I can be a littler pickier and find the best fit.
31 December, 2008
delay
My plane to Seattle for New Year's is delayed 71 minutes. This is the second delay and hopefully the last. Truthfully I've got all night so it doesn't really matter when I get there but the sooner I see Nathan the better. I got extremely used to having him around for two weeks straight and being apart after that is no fun.
I took Scrappy to be boarded today while I'm gone over New Year's. He was all excited because he knew we were going somewhere. But I don't think he knew I was leaving him there for 5 days. He is a good dog and loves new things and new people so I know he will be absolutely fine. But I did cry. I think the man who was checking us in knew that I was getting emotional so he made it really quick and took him without giving me a chance to break down. I walked quickly out the door and tears began to stream down my face. I don't know why I was so torn up about it, he's a DOG. But he really has become my baby...my little shadow. And I hate leaving him. I paid extra for him to get two individualized walks a day and to get all groomed and pretty before I pick him up.
The people were really nice so I know it'll be good. I'm trying not to think about it because I just get a big pit in my stomach of guilt. We just don't know many people here who can have dogs at their houses and in fact, no one is in town anyway since it's Christmas break still...
I think we've decided to get a fairly inexpensive dinner (not The Melting Pot's $78/person like we were considering before) tonight and then just watch movies at home with a little champagne to kick off the new year. Then we'll use the money we saved to get massages on Friday...Woot! Nathan will be working most of Friday so I plan to do some New Year shopping and just relax before I start back up with my last two quarters of school. Yay!
I took Scrappy to be boarded today while I'm gone over New Year's. He was all excited because he knew we were going somewhere. But I don't think he knew I was leaving him there for 5 days. He is a good dog and loves new things and new people so I know he will be absolutely fine. But I did cry. I think the man who was checking us in knew that I was getting emotional so he made it really quick and took him without giving me a chance to break down. I walked quickly out the door and tears began to stream down my face. I don't know why I was so torn up about it, he's a DOG. But he really has become my baby...my little shadow. And I hate leaving him. I paid extra for him to get two individualized walks a day and to get all groomed and pretty before I pick him up.
The people were really nice so I know it'll be good. I'm trying not to think about it because I just get a big pit in my stomach of guilt. We just don't know many people here who can have dogs at their houses and in fact, no one is in town anyway since it's Christmas break still...
I think we've decided to get a fairly inexpensive dinner (not The Melting Pot's $78/person like we were considering before) tonight and then just watch movies at home with a little champagne to kick off the new year. Then we'll use the money we saved to get massages on Friday...Woot! Nathan will be working most of Friday so I plan to do some New Year shopping and just relax before I start back up with my last two quarters of school. Yay!
18 December, 2008
winter wonderland
Well...definitely a snow day here! If you're watching the news you'll see Spokane is setting records with 17 inches of snow in 24 hours. I'd guess we're near 20-25 now. My office is closed, actually nearly every place in Spokane is closed. They said on the news today that the highway patrol does not want to see any cars on the highway.
My dad called this morning and said some chains for my car were on hold for me at Les Schwab, his treat. That was very nice as we were just talking about how we'd better buy some since we're planning to trek home to Montana tomorrow. Nathan and I tag-team shoveled the driveway (we only have one shovel) and managed to get out and to Les Schwab. Our street hasn't been plowed for a while so we were pretty lucky to make it out and around without getting stuck. I did learn from last year's winter in Spokane that I must always carry a shovel around with me as Spokane does not do a very good job prevent people from getting stuck. All I can say is thank God for four wheel drive and an SUV. I'd be in big trouble if I drove a little car!
Nathan got a company-wide e-mail today saying that as per the inclement weather policy at Expedia, all employees are advised to work from home today, due to the 2-6 INCHES of snow Seattle is expecting...I just had to laugh. Poor Seattle needs to learn to work through the snow...we have 2 FEET here! I'm thinking when I move to Seattle I may find myself the only one at work on "snow days" as I will be confused as to why no one else is "braving" the roads...Silly Seattlites.
I wish I could take some pictures but I left my camera at my parents house over Thanksgiving.
We're supposed to have our work Christmas party tomorrow afternoon but I'm worrying it may be cancelled. If it is we'll try to get a head start on the drive home...although right now they aren't really letting anyone cross the state lines so who knows. We may have a little adventure ahead of us! We are bringing all of our ski stuff home so we are guaranteed to have a car full of warm clothes!
My dad called this morning and said some chains for my car were on hold for me at Les Schwab, his treat. That was very nice as we were just talking about how we'd better buy some since we're planning to trek home to Montana tomorrow. Nathan and I tag-team shoveled the driveway (we only have one shovel) and managed to get out and to Les Schwab. Our street hasn't been plowed for a while so we were pretty lucky to make it out and around without getting stuck. I did learn from last year's winter in Spokane that I must always carry a shovel around with me as Spokane does not do a very good job prevent people from getting stuck. All I can say is thank God for four wheel drive and an SUV. I'd be in big trouble if I drove a little car!
Nathan got a company-wide e-mail today saying that as per the inclement weather policy at Expedia, all employees are advised to work from home today, due to the 2-6 INCHES of snow Seattle is expecting...I just had to laugh. Poor Seattle needs to learn to work through the snow...we have 2 FEET here! I'm thinking when I move to Seattle I may find myself the only one at work on "snow days" as I will be confused as to why no one else is "braving" the roads...Silly Seattlites.
I wish I could take some pictures but I left my camera at my parents house over Thanksgiving.
We're supposed to have our work Christmas party tomorrow afternoon but I'm worrying it may be cancelled. If it is we'll try to get a head start on the drive home...although right now they aren't really letting anyone cross the state lines so who knows. We may have a little adventure ahead of us! We are bringing all of our ski stuff home so we are guaranteed to have a car full of warm clothes!
01 December, 2008
the case of the vanishing garbage can
The town we live in gets very windy at random times of the day. Our's is a new development so there are no mature trees, just little ones held up by posts in everyone's front yard. In this town we all buy our own little garbage cans and the garbage man picks them up one by one and dumps them into his truck. Where I come from the can is huge, provided by the county and the truck has prongs on it to hoist it into the back...all without the garbage man ever getting out. But here it's different.
So anyway, I purchased a nice can from WalMart when we moved here and watched the process play itself out. All went well until our empty garbage can started blowing away as the wind picked up. Since the garbage man comes in the morning and we don't get home until evening, the can sits empty on the street for quite a few hours, just waiting for the wind to blow it away. I have spent many Monday nights searching for it and hauling it back home.
About 2 months ago though it blew away and never came back. I drove around looking for our missing can and never found it. So, we began with a new one and looked down the street every garbage day, wondering if someone had found our can and made it their own.
This morning I started hauling our new can out for garbage day. Halfway down the driveway I noticed a can already on the curb, right in our spot. It was our old can! Lid and all! I ran up to it, took off the lid and found it was full. Strange. I looked around to see if maybe the neighbors had maybe gotten the same one and accidently put it in our spot...Nope, definitely our's.
I decided not to put our other can out because I'd end up paying double for 2 cans. It's not a big charge but our other one was barely full so I opted to wait.
But now I'm curious what happened. I think it's someone else's garbage...If our's was in there for 2 months I would have probably fallen over from the smell and this one wasn't too bad. I only remember seeing Arrowhead brand water bottles in the can...I don't buy them but maybe my roommate does. I would have to rifle through it to see if it was actually our garbage. I think it's someone else's but I don't know why they put it on our curb...maybe so they could have free garbage pick up this week? Who knows?
Of course my roommate believes it's our garbage and someone stole it and went through it all. I just can't live my life in that sort of fear so I've completely ruled that out as even a small possiblity...But she seems convinced. If it could be the case, which it's not, at least I shred my mail.
So anyway, I purchased a nice can from WalMart when we moved here and watched the process play itself out. All went well until our empty garbage can started blowing away as the wind picked up. Since the garbage man comes in the morning and we don't get home until evening, the can sits empty on the street for quite a few hours, just waiting for the wind to blow it away. I have spent many Monday nights searching for it and hauling it back home.
About 2 months ago though it blew away and never came back. I drove around looking for our missing can and never found it. So, we began with a new one and looked down the street every garbage day, wondering if someone had found our can and made it their own.
This morning I started hauling our new can out for garbage day. Halfway down the driveway I noticed a can already on the curb, right in our spot. It was our old can! Lid and all! I ran up to it, took off the lid and found it was full. Strange. I looked around to see if maybe the neighbors had maybe gotten the same one and accidently put it in our spot...Nope, definitely our's.
I decided not to put our other can out because I'd end up paying double for 2 cans. It's not a big charge but our other one was barely full so I opted to wait.
But now I'm curious what happened. I think it's someone else's garbage...If our's was in there for 2 months I would have probably fallen over from the smell and this one wasn't too bad. I only remember seeing Arrowhead brand water bottles in the can...I don't buy them but maybe my roommate does. I would have to rifle through it to see if it was actually our garbage. I think it's someone else's but I don't know why they put it on our curb...maybe so they could have free garbage pick up this week? Who knows?
Of course my roommate believes it's our garbage and someone stole it and went through it all. I just can't live my life in that sort of fear so I've completely ruled that out as even a small possiblity...But she seems convinced. If it could be the case, which it's not, at least I shred my mail.
19 November, 2008
decision made
This morning I scraped my windows in barefeet. It was an interesting sensation running back inside and being unable to feel anything below my ankles. I'm not sure I could complete this task in Montana but I was proud of myself for stupidly doing it in Washington.
Yesterday it seems to have been nearly officially decided that I will be moving to the west side of Washington after graduation. Right now it's a lot safer for us to be somewhere with a little more security than up and moving to a state where we know no one (California), don't have jobs, don't have a ton saved up...So it'll be Washington. I know Nathan really wanted to live in San Diego and he had me pretty sold on the idea. But he is the one who said he thought Washington would be better and I am proud of him for making a very hard but responsible decision.
I could have gone either way so I was waiting for him to wear the pants in this decision.
And now...I am thinking extremely seriously about buying a home after graduation instead of throwing away an estimated $1500 on rent each month. I'm hoping because we're exploring this idea now it could be fairly feasible for the near future. We shall see.
In an attempt to save money I am getting my hair cut and highlighted at the beauty school today. I will sign my life away to new students who may or may not leave me with a purple pixie cut.
Yesterday it seems to have been nearly officially decided that I will be moving to the west side of Washington after graduation. Right now it's a lot safer for us to be somewhere with a little more security than up and moving to a state where we know no one (California), don't have jobs, don't have a ton saved up...So it'll be Washington. I know Nathan really wanted to live in San Diego and he had me pretty sold on the idea. But he is the one who said he thought Washington would be better and I am proud of him for making a very hard but responsible decision.
I could have gone either way so I was waiting for him to wear the pants in this decision.
And now...I am thinking extremely seriously about buying a home after graduation instead of throwing away an estimated $1500 on rent each month. I'm hoping because we're exploring this idea now it could be fairly feasible for the near future. We shall see.
In an attempt to save money I am getting my hair cut and highlighted at the beauty school today. I will sign my life away to new students who may or may not leave me with a purple pixie cut.
17 November, 2008
frozen
Recently I came to the realization that nothing in the freezer belongs to me. Well, except one container of ice cream and one frozen pizza. Other than that it is all my roommate's. This bothers me for two reasons: 1) There is no room for my stuff even if I wanted anything...which is an issue I'm sure could be worked out if said space was actually needed. 2) I have no food on days like today when it's already late and I just want something easy. Or even hard, whatever, just some FOOD. I am craving corn right now...and have none. Stir fry...not going happen. Chicken or some other sort of MEAT? Nothing. How did I let this happen? I'll tell you: graduate school. I don't have time for food. I have time for sandwiches or soups that can be quickly tossed into my backpack for later. I have time for a bowl of ice cream simply because I'm exhausted at the end of the day and it's all I'm craving. Oy.
I would go to the grocery store right now and stock up simply because I don't want to find myself empty-handed the next time I reach into the freezer...But I'm not going to. Class got cancelled tonight and for once I just want to enjoy this thing called "free time" at home.
I want to make a bunch of good stuff and freeze it. Then it can be easily accessed for a 30 minute or less meal. I like those meals. I can't even tell you how badly I want the next 6 months 3 weeks and 6 days to pass so my life can finally fit into the semi-normal category.
My dog smells like dirt but there is something completely endearing to me about this smell. It makes him seem ten times cuter all of a sudden. I don't know why. Lately I've found myself loving him more than I thought possible. We might have to board him for a few days around New Year's and I actually got a little verklempt when I started thinking about leaving my baby there...when did I become this type of pet owner? I didn't love him like this when I went to clean up my car yesterday and could not even begin to get all of his stupid white hair out of there...And his nose smudges all over the window and his slobber on the dashboard. Why do I love him so much?
I would go to the grocery store right now and stock up simply because I don't want to find myself empty-handed the next time I reach into the freezer...But I'm not going to. Class got cancelled tonight and for once I just want to enjoy this thing called "free time" at home.
I want to make a bunch of good stuff and freeze it. Then it can be easily accessed for a 30 minute or less meal. I like those meals. I can't even tell you how badly I want the next 6 months 3 weeks and 6 days to pass so my life can finally fit into the semi-normal category.
My dog smells like dirt but there is something completely endearing to me about this smell. It makes him seem ten times cuter all of a sudden. I don't know why. Lately I've found myself loving him more than I thought possible. We might have to board him for a few days around New Year's and I actually got a little verklempt when I started thinking about leaving my baby there...when did I become this type of pet owner? I didn't love him like this when I went to clean up my car yesterday and could not even begin to get all of his stupid white hair out of there...And his nose smudges all over the window and his slobber on the dashboard. Why do I love him so much?
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