Dust Bowl

I'd always thought Kansas/Missouri was part of the Dust Bowl. Turns out that West Kansas is, but East Kansas and Missouri are very much NOT dust bowl-y.

The biggest surprise I had when I arrived was exactly how GREEN it all is.

Not dusty at all.

These are all in Northwestern Missouri, Adam-ondi-Ahman to be precise. I walked around here for several hours. I had the place mostly to myself. I ran into three other people on my way out. It is basically the middle of nowhere. I didn't hear any traffic, there was virtually no cell signal. There were birds singing and crickets flying. I imagine things pick up during the week what with tours and the farming (most of the land is a working farm). But last week, it was pretty peaceful. I enjoyed it very much.

Hope I Don't Get Chased Today

Since I am now permitted to wear arch-friendly footwear, I no longer wear the stabilizing running shoes around the house (or with any outfit that doesn't involve jeans). I purchased these arch-friendly flip-flops (for more than I care to admit). Unless I'm in bed or in the shower, these are on my feet. The other morning I was getting ready for work and went to the front room to gather my bags and then to the hall to put on my Danskos only to completely forget to put on my Danskos. I left the house like this.

I made it down the hall and the stairs and all the way to my car before I realized that I was going to work in flip-flops and socks. Thank goodness I didn't make it all the way to work like that, though it would have been hilarious, quite frankly. Since then, I've made it down the hall twice prior to realizing I was more of a fashion don't that day than normal.

I think that when you get dressed in the morning,

sometimes you're really making a decision about your

behavior for the day. Like if you put on flip-flops,

you're saying: "Hope I don't get chased today.

Be nice to people in sneakers."

- Demetri Martin

Welcome

I've had this welcome mat for years. I thought it was absolutely hilarious. An unwelcoming welcome mat. But most people took it very literally: that I wanted them to go away. I hung on to the mat through various negative comments, disapproving looks from neighbors and an attempted mat-napping (I found it a few doors down the hall in my building). However, after what must be close to 8 years, the mat needed to retire.

It's been replaced with this flowery IKEA special. Which is nice enough. It serves its purpose of removing dirt from the bottom of my shoes before I enter the apartment, but it lacks the humor of my previous mat. One thing I've learned through my search for a replacement welcome mat: the world is LOUSY with cutesy welcome mats.

Outside the VA in Boise

Come to the sunset tree!

The day is past and gone;

The woodman’s axe lies free,

And the reaper’s work is done.

Tyrolese Evening Song

Felicia Dorothea (Browne) Hemans (1793–1835)

Bazkaria

Lynda and I had lunch on the patio of the Basque Market. It was delicious. I highly recommend it. The potato salad tasted like Spain, as did the aioli on the turkey sandwich. The Pamplona chorizo sandwich reminded me of the MANY grilled cheese and Pamplona chorizo sandwiches I had for lunch in Spain. Ah...memories...

Also, I like these photos. What I really like about them is the sandwich through the bottle of water.

To Market

Spring is my favorite time at Pike Place Market. The air is crisp but the sun is out (sometimes). Everyone seems cheerful - both patrons and employees.

And TULIPS! There are tulips EVERYWHERE!

I've been down to the Market a couple of times during my lunch hour or while running errands for work and purchased a bunch of tulips for my desk at work. What is it about tulips? They make everyone smile.

I like pizza. I LIKE it!

I blame Italy.

Since I've been back, I've had an awful lot of pizza. A friend from Boise was up visiting and we went to Serious Pie where the girl behind us got proposed to. It was adorable. We got pizza with truffle oil and mushrooms.

And another with potatoes and rosemary. They were both delicious. Though the potato one was the tastiest.

Then another friend decided we should try Mod Pizza in Bellevue. Best. Idea. Ever! It was super yummy and I've been back twice.

I took this photo for Debbie. It is one of the dessert options at Mod Pizza. There was a time that a Ding Dong tower would have been all she ever wanted in the world. My how things change. :)

Still, no pizza is better than Flying Pie Pizza in Boise.

Hooray for Admin's Day!

It was Admin's Day last week, and I was terribly spoiled.

From gorgeous flowers

to hand-written notes of appreciation

to super cool frames and yummy lotion and gift cards a-go-go. Many of those cards will disappear on the trip home for Dad's surgery - Katherine says I seem to enjoy sharing the wealth, which is a fair assesment.

I really enjoy my job and will be sad when it goes away. I am very blessed to work with such great people and that they are so appreciative all the time (not just on Admin's Day and not with gift cards) is one of the many reasons I enjoy working there. I hear sincere "Thank You"s more often at work than I do anywhere else.

Interestingly enough, the day after Admin's Day was one of my lowest points ever at my job. I cried. At work. Grown woman. Crying at work. It was mortifying. The last few months have sure been quite taxing...

Here's hoping that the low point last week is not repeated anytime soon!