SHOUT OUT!

I just wanted to give a shout out to my boy Wilson. He is five today! Happy Birthday garbage head.

Supercross and Safeco

This weekend was pretty exciting. Raul's best friend from high school, Jed, came to visit with his girlfriend Kirsten...my new favorite buddy:). Jed drives a semi for some of the super cross riders and travels with them all over the country. Lucky for us they were in Seattle for weekend and we got to go watch them race. I will have to say I really enjoyed it. It was in Quest Field where the Seahawks play, which is a pretty nice stadium btw. It was also pretty fun People watching. Seattle was full of Moto heads, monster energy drinks and boobs.

On Sunday, we all headed to Safeco field for a Mariner's game. Raul got us pretty sweet seats. We were about ten rows up from right field where we saw cute little Ichiro. It was also exciting to see Griffey. Raul is so happy he is back. I was just excited to watch some baseball in Safeco....I was a first timer.

We spent a lot of time down town and the weather has been fantastic.....sunny in Seattle. Wait that doesn't sound right.....but it is!!!!! We had some great Tai food and lots of fish'n chips. It was a great weekend and I was happy to have Raul home instead of at a track meet....but now it is back to the grind.

The Missing Muffin Pan

For the past three weeks I have been obsessed with baking. I have been perfecting the muffin. I have made three batches now and pretty much have been responsible for their disappearance. Raul helps out once in a while. Since I am going to work early mornings, I wanted to make whole wheat (healthy) muffins to take with me as a snack. Well last night while Raul was making tacos, I wanted to make another batch of MUFFINS!!! I had everything set to jet, cranberries were in, eggs were beaten and the oven was warmin'. Then....No Muffin Pan. I searched high and low...asked Raul if he was hiding it, looked in drawers, under beds, outside in the back yard while avoiding doggie poops and NO MUFFIN PAN. On the second batch attempt a few days prior to the missing muffing pan, Wilson (my garbage salvaged eat anything he can puppy) got his mits on the muffin pan and I found it under the table. Well last night I just had a feeling that he was responsible for the missing MUFFIN PAN. After I hunted for the pan, I watched the office and pouted about this horrible situation....I was so so so so sad.

Then right before we went to bed, we looked one more time and I poked my head under the micro stand....guess what was there.....MUFFIN PAN!!!! Thanks Wilson for the scavenger muffin pan hunt. All is right with the world.

Life Update...BIG ONE

Some of my friends say that I always act like everything is perfect and my blog has this "Life is Grand, with no issues" feel. Well, things in Seattle have been tough but I wake up each morning with a positive attitude and I am always hopeful of good things happening (which they do).
I have been job hunting for the past six months, not counting the earlier months in California. It has been so so so frustrating. I have such a great education and in a perfect world I would have a job no problem but our nation is struggling therefore jobs are scarce and it is an employers market.
So big big BIG news!!! I am going back to school. It has been something that I have had in the back of my mind ever since I graduated with my Masters. I am going to apply for the Nursing program at SCC in the Spring. I have to take a few classes in order to meet the prerequisites needed. I know that five years down the road I will be so glad that I made this decision. It will be tough and challenging but I can do it! My best friend Katie is going to Med school at UA and my other good gal is going to school in Chile. If they can do it so can I.
I am excited but realistic of the challenges and financial issues to come.
Raul is really supportive and positive about this. I couldn't have asked for a better person to have in my life. The dogs are unaware of the decision right now. We haven't had a talk yet but it will come. So there you have it! My secret is out of the bag :).

Have a HAPPY EASTER.

Ten Grands

Last night, I was invited to go to a benefit concert for The Snowman Foundation. It was called Ten Grands, who's main performer was Michaeal Kaeshammer (A friend of Kate's Dad). It featured ten grand pianos all playing together. It was such an amazing performance. I was invited by Kate and Will Conwell (my good buddies in Seattle...yes I finally have friends). We went out to dinner at the Metropolitan Grill (really nice, FYI) and met another couple Brian and Lyrica, who are expecting their first baby..a little girl. The concert was full of classical, rag-time, contemporary and some jazz. I love going to live performances. They had kids do a couple solos also. I can not believe how talented these children are. The foundation's focus is putting the music arts in the school systems by providing scholarships and opportunities for young artists to pursue their dreams. There was a young boy who was blind who played a great version of "When the Saints go Marching In" and after his performance he was so happy to hear all of the applause. It brought tears to my eyes. So not only was it a spectacular performance but it was for a wonderful cause.

After the concert we went to a place called the Melting Pot where you order fondue. It was so so so good. Definitely not good for the waist line but what a treat. Seattle is pretty sweet when it wants to be. I had a great night and then woke up to SUNSHINE!!!

Flowers and Cougars

This weekend was full of ups and downs. It started out really sad. We were unable to make it to my good friend Amelia's wedding. I was pretty devistated and my bag is still packed in the bedroom. Anyway, the show must go on right. Raul was home and free for the first time since we moved here and it was nice to have him here to do stuff like planting flowers. We got up early, had breakfast at a new place, The Sunflour, and headed to HOME DEPOT (Raul's favorite store). We went crazy on flowers for the front yard and Raul picked out a climer for the back yard.

Later that afternoon, we went to Cougar Mountain for a nice hike with the dogs. The key thing about Cougar Mountain is that it is one of the largest wild animal lands....wild? wild cougars?....yes! I was so scared and we only hiked in about 3 miles or so but I started to think that things were watching me in the woods and Wilson started growling at stuff...which sometimes is nothing maybe a tree. None the less, we had a great time. I was happy to get out of the house and see a bit of Washington.

Visiting Seattle

Since I last posted, lots and lots of things have happened. We have had 3 sets of visitors which makes me really happy. It has snowed, rained and the flowers have begun to bloom outside our window. Spring is slowly shining through.

Four weekends ago, Katie from Long Beach came to visit. We had a good time. She is like the wise elder sister that I never had. Her advice is always sincere and to the point. We did the usual “Visiting Seattle” stuff. We went to Ivar’s for Happy Hour and had a beautiful view of down town, we went to a UW basketball game, toured the campus, went to an indoor meet at the Dempsey and toured the University Ave.

The following weekend, Raul’s parents came into town. Again, we watched a meet and I cooked for everybody (which I love doing). Tim and I got up one morning and went for a 3 mile run. I was so impressed, he was making me tired. I think the run inspired Tim to buy some new shoes. I always think that is a great way to treat your self to staying healthy. Good investment. Mary’s best friend Debbie Palazolo and sister also came up for the meet. Carla (the BF sis) lives on Fox Island (40 min away from our casa). We drove over there one morning. It was so pretty. They have a cute little house and a smart car that I got to ride in. I want one. It was fun to do the whole family thing.

Last weekend, Christina and Sara came up. They both had business/work stuff to take care of but they stayed with us. We were pretty busy, the first day Tina was in town we had to build a fence….another story that I wont get into right now. But when we were in Home Depot (Raul’s fav. Sotre) to get our supplies, I slipped and fell….Hard! It was really embarrassing. Don’t make jump-stop turns in Ug boots. We went and watched another track meet (Last Chance meet) where we met up with my old track coach and a few athletes. We all went out to dinner at the Crab Pot. OMG, the food was awesome. It was fun, downtown, by the water. The next day, Christina, Sara and I explored the same downtown at Pike Place Market, went in to the very first Starbucks, ate at Athenian Inn, and took lots of fun pictures.

It was a great month of family and friends which makes me so happy. Thanks guys for visiting!