Sayonara Seattle

A few weeks ago, my good friend Eunice was sweet enough to come on one last day trip to Seattle with me, even though it was Superbowl Sunday! We hit all my favourite spots, ate way too much good food and had a really nice time. It was the best Seattle send-off I could've had.

I've definitely caught Mike's flu, so I want to go to bed, but I've been meaning to write this post for so long! I think I'll just post some pics and a few lines, and come back to fill it in later. Enjoy!

Our first stop was the Fremont Troll.

 We also walked around Seattle Center and gawked at the Space Needle, Experience Music Project, Pacific Science Center, other buildings and public art.

 Then of course is the infamous 'Gum Wall' in Post Alley under the Pike Place Market.

We stood outside and smelled the delicious coffee at the very first Starbucks... but the line was too long to go in,

After an unbelievable dinner at Poppy (see menu below), we stopped behind a giant church in Capital Hill overlooking downtown Seattle, and Eunice snapped this pic.

More to come later, when I'm feeling better!

Snow Barf

Can you have a hangover from a hangover? Had a few drinks (ok, maybe more than a few) with friends on Sunday night in celebration of my move, Tara's birthday, and in general, the fact we didn't have to work in the morning.Woke up yesterday with a watermelon instead of a head, and this morning I feel relatively rotten. I will endeavor not to give credence to the suggestion I might have caught Mike's flu, except to say that if I have, the blame for any calamity that may befall me in the days to come rests squarely on his shoulders. Ok, not really. Just wanted to see if I could pass the buck.

Today's 3-day weather forecast calls for snow just about everywhere between here & Salt Lake City. My recent conversation with myself/cats:

 "Holy cow! There's going to be snow! Oh barf. Well, maybe I could delay a day? No? Still going to snow? Another day? Still snowing? What the hell?"

I don't know why I was so bloody surprised. There is clearly some sort of disconnect between reality and my perception of reality. My activities over the last 24 hrs included:

• Putting snow tires on my car.
• Getting blankets ready of the trip.
• Setting aside gloves & hats & scarves.
• Digging out my coffee thermos.
• Saying "Wow! Looks like snow" enough times to be obnoxious.

And still, I can say part of me is genuinely surprised it's going to have the gall to snow on the first day of my trip! Snow in Washington is the worst because they all turn in to a bunch of panicky morons. Should be fun!!

Ok, enough avoidance. Today is errands, laundry & packing day 1.

Goodbyes

I stood at the ferry terminal temporarily overwhelmed by my surroundings. The sound of the water trickling down a rock face in small impromptu waterfalls, the smell of the sea air mixed with cedar and salal, the sight of the morning sun shining off the snow capped mountains surrounding me on all sides, even the taste of the coffee I was cradling. All of it wrapped around me demanding to be acknowledged, cherished and committed to memory.

Later, on the ferry, I saw a pod of orcas swimming below me. They seemed to sing 'life is fleeting; love, learn, experience. You'll come home one day.'