Super

I went to Vancouver with Collin, Hunter and Debbie a few weeks ago. It was a quick trip. I'm super glad we took the time to drive down Chuckanut Drive. I've been wanting to do so for about a year but have either not had the time or the road was closed. I can certainly understand why it ranks fairly high on the "Best Drives in the US" lists. We stopped at a couple of scenic overlooks as well as a few slow car turn outs so the poor people stuck behind me could get on with their day. It's gorgeous. I highly recommend it.

During one of our stops Hunter climbed up on a rock and asked me to take his foto.

I ♥

Along with the super cool cassette tape bag, I got these AWESOME I ♥ stickers. They were so much fun, I didn't want to split them up. So I put them all on my laptop.

They are getting a lot of attention at work. Anytime I'm taking notes in a meeting I can see the other attendees trying to read the stickers and not laugh. The overwhelming favorite seems to be "I ♥ walking fast to look busy." My favorite, however, is "I ♥ being right" because truer words have never been stickered on a laptop. I also enjoy I ♥ Henry in Accounting...because it's a pop culture reference to a TV show...and I ♥ me a good pop culture reference.

Thanks for all of the fun Dee Dee! (and the super cute daisies are courtesy of Debbie - Thanks Deb!)

Fuegos Artificiales

Had a great view for the fireworks over Lake Union this year.

What is it about fireworks that leave you with such a sense of awe?

And remind you of your childhood?

And what is with people that decide to commute to work on a unicycle?

Super cool bags

A few weeks ago I was given two super cool bags. One is made of recycled juice boxes and the other looks like a big ol' cassette tape.

I love gifts and even more, I love useful super cool gifts. Thanks!

Seen at the Beach

When we were at the beach in Seattle a few weeks ago we walked by what appeared to be a dead man lying next to the pathway. Everyone that walked by was startled at first and then laughed...because what do you do? I kinda wanted to go over and poke at him to make sure he was alive, but then I noticed his chest moving and since he was breathing, I left him alone. He's like a human Garfield. The sun came up in Seattle and he just fell asleep.

Cascade Gardens

Were you aware that there is a proper beach in Seattle?

In Seattle. Not in West Seattle (Alki Beach) but...in the big city of Seattle. Well...Ballard, really. But Seattle nonetheless. Yeah, me neither.

It's really called Golden Gardens Park...but my brain remembers the name of the place as the same as a Chinese food restaurant, and apparently in my head all Chinese food restaurants are called Cascade Gardens.

Good Fortune

Have you been to Teriyaki Time? They've got some yummy chicken that sometimes just hits the spot. And last week they had some topical fortune cookies as well.

Get your Census form filled out. If we've learned anything from NBC's hour long Ancestry.com commercial "Who Do You Think You Are?" it's that Census records are key for finding our ancestors (and Ancestry.com is apparently the only place to find those Census records). And if you're freaked out by revealing all that personal information (name, age, address, race...though if your ethnicity is Hispanic, I have no idea what your race is, cause Hispanic isn't a race choice), just think about all of the information that's already available about you through public records.

My credit card company once verified my identity by asking me to name the sibling that lived at 645 El Blanco in Boise. "How did they know that?" I asked. "Public record," was the only response they gave.

White and Nerdy

The other day I was watching a Ziggy Marley concert on TV. Thanks to my high school Religion teacher, I'm a fan of the Marleys. Damien Marley was in concert the night I was in Vancouver, but having had to return to Seattle I was not able to attend the concert. But I've had reggae on the brain ever since. Found Ziggy on On Demand, pushed play and set about doing dishes and laundry to the soundtrack of "but the load gonna come tumblin' down...".

I happened to glance at the TV and saw some dorky white dude totally jamming to the music and laughed thinking: Gosh he looks like a major dork. Then it hit me...I'm white, I'm a dork and I'm totally jamming to the music. What is it about reggae music that makes us all think we're from Kingston?

"They see me strollin', they laughin' and rollin' their eyes 'cause I'm so white and nerdy."

Seen at the Olympics 14

The Olympic Flame & Cauldron

It was so cool they had to open an observation area so that the clamoring tourists could get a better view of it.

Seen at the Olympics 13

Even lines for Japadogs

The only line for non-Olympic related things was for the Japadog...

...at 2 different locations even.

What is a Japadog? According to their website there are a few different versions:

One is Bratwurst with Edamame, Wasabi and dried seaweed. Having to ride a train for 4 hours home, I decided against something that may or may not make me sick. Next time I'm in Vancouver, I'm going to give Japadogs a try.

Seen at the Olympics 12

Lines, lines, everywhere lines.

This one is to see the Cauldron from above.

Who has 8 hours to stand in line for a zipline ride? I mean, seriously?

Though, truth be told, it did look like great fun.

Seen at the Olympics 11

HUGE Vinyl Signs...

...on the sides of buildings. Most of them were advertisements. This was one of the only cool ones. (And totally trumps "Seen at the Olympics 5.")

I"m not sure if this is vinyl or not, but it's pretty nifty as well.

Seen at the Olympics 10

The Infamous RED MITTENS

All of the Canadians had them (having purchased them around Christmas time). We lowly tourists had to wait in line for 3 hours just to enter the section of the store that may or may not have the red mittens in in stock.

Seen at the Olympics 9

Great Architecture.

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The ceiling at the Vancouver train station.

Seen at the Olympics 8

I'm Batman!

Seen at the Olympics 7

This Billboard.

Saw this a few times - totally cracked me up!

Seen at the Olympics 6

Random Guy Riding a Unicycle in His Underwear

Yet another slightly creepy street performer. At least his socks match - kind of.

Seen at the Olympics 5

Canadian Flags hanging from ALL buildings.

Sometimes multiple flags. This one was a bit crude with the flag tied/stapled to an old 2 x 4. Mighty resourceful, those Canucks.

Seen at the Olympics 4

Shiny Silver Elvis

Street performers were around every corner. And some of them were a bit creepy.

Seen at the Olympics 3

Kid drawn lantern with Strong Bad on it.

The non-kid drawn lanterns made reference to these things being called luminaries. But they aren't. They are lanterns. Whatever the Canadians choose to call them, I hope the kid that drew Strong Bad on it knows just how cool a kid they are.

These are luminaries:

Seen at the Olympics 2

Crazy Canadians watching Hockey in the pouring rain.

More Crazy Canadians...this time watching the Canada vs. Russia Men's Hockey game outside in the pouring rain.. It started with a couple of hundred people and by the time I left there were SO MANY people watching the game that I couldn't get out of the amphitheater area to go catch the train back to Seattle. I felt like Inigo Montoya with the "Excuse me. Pardon me, it's important." and wished for Fezzik with his: "Everybody move!"

If I hadn't learned already by spending 2 days with Jon and his constantly looking for Hockey highlights: Canadians sure like their Hockey. Pouring rain, I tell you, POURING.

Seen at the Olympics 1

Crazy Canada Hats!

Not only the crazy Canada hats, but crazy Canadians with their faces painted and with flags tied around their necks or wearing the flags as jackets.

I don't remember this much USA stuff at the Salt Lake Olympics. But I could be wrong.

By the way: Hooray Canada! So excited you did so well.