Bus Sagas - Getting to work can be rough

This is now my 3rd full week of riding the bus to work, and nothing yet has surprised me. I've noticed a real lack of chivalry with men - men do not give up their seat to women anymore. I guess that ended with feminism, which really chaps my hide! I've also had the same African Muslim woman twice now try to shove past me in the aisle as we approach the Montlake stop in the evening - we get off at the same stop! I've told her twice now to wait her turn.

But this morning's ride is the craziest yet - we got into an accident coming down 23rd from Cap Hill! I was in the front, so really felt the crunch of us hitting a white sedan that pulled out in front of our bus (we had a green light by the way). We all sat there a bit stunned for about 30 secs, then piled off onto the sidewalk to await another bus to pick us all up.

I gotta wonder what tonight's ride home will bring....

Weekend Wrap-up

This past weekend was kind of busy for me. Friday night started out with The Sopranos - I rented the last 1/2 of the last season and was determined to get thru all 9 episodes this weekend. Sure enough, there is an indentation on our couch to prove it! HA

Saturday I met Naarah, Aydan and Lori at THIS PLACE for a holiday brunch. Very yummy, esp the mimosa's. I continued Saturday evening to enjoy some red wine and more Sopranos.

Sunday I collected some moving boxes from Jennifer, and got some more packing done on the apartment. Rob's been sick since Thursday w/ a bad cold/flu, so I also spent time this weekend tending to him as well. Sunday evening I headed over to Bellevue to see Rob's parents for dinner and Christmas cheer. Overall, a good weekend.... but now I have a case of the "Monday's" - feeling tired and unmotivated. Sigh.

Aerosoles - is this brand ok? Comments?

So, I happened by the downtown Aerosoles store on my way to the bustop yesterday. Now that I'm taking the bus on a daily basis, and doing a lot more walking than usual, my feet have really been killing me. I especially love to wear stylish high heels, but it's not working for me all the time now. I found THESE, tried them on, and thought they were kind of cute w/ jeans. I like the wedge heel, kind of sporty. The best part is the comfort! But then I got home and the peanut gallery confirmed my thoughts that maybe these are a bit "old fashioned" in a "grandma who is 75" kind of way. I still wore them to work today, and kind of think they are ok.
So, anyone else out there have some thoughts on Aerosoles? Yeah or Nay? I never thought I would be in the market for "comfy shoes".....I definitely won't go the Birkenstock route though! HA

December 7, 1941 - A Day that will live in Infamy

Please remember our fellow Americans who lost their lives today, 66 years ago. Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

Wednesday 520 Commute from the bowels of Hell

Well, it's now Thursday and I really thought I could let my crap commute yesterday go - just wash off me like rain. Nope, I'm still fuming so going to blog to get it out of my system.

Now that I have a free FlexPass from work, I am no longer driving. So far it's been so wonderful - the time on my commute home has been cut down by about 30 minutes. Not so though for last night. I got on the 545 Express @ 5:15pm with pie in the sky hopes of being home by 6pm. Normally we would cruise past all the stop and go traffic in the HOV lane, but Oh No.... it was not to be. Someone had to get in an accident on 405 north, which backed up everyone else for miles in all directions. Awesome! Although accidents happen all the time around here, I was particulary distressed last night, as my cell phone was about dead and I need to talk to Rob (who is in Louisiana at the moment) re: his big interview today. Had to get home to get that phone charged, and then of course also let the dog out who had been inside now for almost 12 hours. Arrrghhhh.... After sitting in stop and go for about 45 mins, we FINALLY made it the HOV lane and left all the cars in the dust. Relief washed over my body, as now I would be home maybe by 6:30pm. But, the best was yet to come!!! This commute was not over by a long shot.

I get off the 545 at Montlake and have to walk up a little hill. Of course in the dark and in the misty rain, I stepped in sloppy mud w/ my left boot. LOVELY! Ok fine, I can wash it off. Now I'm walking on the sidewalk above 520 to go catch the 43, when a car ploughed thru a puddle splashing dirty water onto my right leg. Woa Nelly - now ML is tried, super late, no cell phone juice, muddy and wet!! And then to just top it all off, the 43 was MIA - I think we waited 15 minutes for it.

I flew into my front door just in time to plug in my phone and call Rob in Louisiana. Whew.... I need a beer or something...

Marylyn is Technologically Advanced

The latest skill I've added to my arsenal is being able to scan a document on the copy machine, then email it to myself. Whoo Hoo!

Kickin' it C-town style Thanksgiving Weekend

I ventured down I-5 this past Friday to my hometown for a little weekend w/ family and friends. The restaurant my brother manages just opened another place right next door called 101. It's more of a bar/lounge feel, with an ice bar. A very cool feature to keep your cocktails nice and chilly!

Me and my brother Joe

My mom and I Grapefruit cosmo on the ice bar

Last of the condo pics

Kitchen - limestone tile floor View to the west of Puget Sound

more West Seattle Condo Pics

Nice granite counters in kitchen Another view of the kitchen Stainless applicances View down hallway from living room Nice scroll feature under the bar area

More West Seattle Condo pics

View of teeny bedroom. Good light from window
bedroom closet - will need to be customized to have storage space View from my deck looking west. Hoping to put a bird feeder in the tree. View of kitchen from living room Windows facing northwest in living room

West Seattle Condo

Bathroom vanity area
Bathroom - nice glass shower doors and limestone floor Entry area, again with limestone tiles. W/D will go in front hall closet. Also will customize to maximize the storage Nice recessed lighting in kitchen/living area Another bedroom photo. There is also a nice deck, which I didn't take a pic of.

Fall Pics....

Hey All, been meaning to blog this past month, but my computer at home is about dead - long story. Here are some pics I took in mid-October of the fall colors. One is of my apt bldg on Cap Hill. I love this one and framed it.

Current News Topics

Saudi Arabia sucks.

Thank GOD I live in America. Let's send in the snipers.

Hmmmm... Rudy gets a caffeine fix in Kirkland.

I really hope Dog The Bounty Hunter is after this piece of shit.

AMAZING commentary by Chuck Norris on our long standing conflict with Islam - 200 yrs in this county. I've been harping on this to my family for a while now. A must read.

Above all, this truth still stands, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord" (Psalm 33:12).

More Oktoberfest Pics!

family Oktoberfest - Vancouver

This past weekend I was down in Vancouver for our family Oktoberfest, held at our home & garden center, Shorty's (here's an article featuring my father, Brian.)

The band from Germany that plays at the Mt. Angel Oktoberfest (in Oregon) also played at this one, as they are family friends who stay at my father's house while in the U.S. About 300 people came. My entire family was there, including my parents from Corvallis. It was soooo much fun! My sister Briana, brother Colin, Me, my mom (Vickie) Me and my dad (Jerry) Me, my mother (Julee), brother Colin, step-dad Dale, brother Kevin Me and my two mother's Me and my father (Brian)

September Beach Trip

As I continue to enjoy my 100 day break from Microsoft, I ventured out of town again. This time down to the Long Beach Pennisula where my BF Jenny lives with her family. Another close friend of ours from college, Christina, lives near Astoria with her family. So we all hooked up for the weekend. A 3rd friend of ours who we haven't seen in like 8 years came out from Portland, so that was soooo great to all re-unite and catch up on our lives. Pics below...

Cool New Artist - Sean Kingston

When I was staying at my brother's in Oregon, I discovered Sean Kingston. Very cool. Not sure how new he is, but he's new to me. He samples alot of 80's music, with a kind of reggae beat. Reggae is normally the music that I absolutely DO NOT like the most, but Sean Kingston is really good! I finally got around tonight to getting some of his songs on my MP3 player. I highly recommend "I Can Feel It" which samples Phil Collins' "into the air tonight". Such a killer song...

Oregon vacation - Part II... more Pics

Here I am with my Mom and Dad on the Newport BayfrontOn Thursday, Aug 30th, it was opening day of the OSU football season!! GO BEAVS!!! Our stadium kicks ass!! Our team kicks ass! This was a night game and my dad and I arrived early to take it all in! We were up against Utah, a supposedly very good team. We looked bad against them in the 1st quarter, but then it was all OSU after that. We took out two of their best players - some good offensive guy got a broken leg, and their quarterback broke his shoulder. They were beat down!!

Below is the largest jumotron re-play screen on the west coast! I think even in the Pac-10! GO BEAVS!!

Here is the team warming up o the field in the sun Check out the eastern side of our stadium - Reser Stadium (formally Parker Stadium, which I still call it sometimes). This is the side with the suites and Club section.

My vacation in Oregon....from my current vacation from work....

Hey all! This past week I was in Oregon from Monday - Friday visiting my family and some old friends. Friday - Saturday I was in Vancouver with my father's side of the family working at our Garden & Home center. Here are some pics from the week:

Me and my mom at Big River on the patio

My brother, Joe, the manager of Big River

Getting drinks with old childhood friends - rooftop desk of The Dream. I've known both of these people since we were all 4 yrs old!

Aug 29th - My mom's 62nd birthday! Our family went to the cost for the afternoon. Here they are walking along the bayfront of Newport, OR. Seals like to lounge on the docks at Port One Newport in the Bayfront. They were really funny. We spent about 20 mins watching them.

Random Topics

Click on this link... I'm confused. Is it possible to over-develop your arms? Why does Carrot-Top appear to have black eye liner on at all times? Please vote on the staus of his pants..... Pesonally, I am voting for Manpri's.

The Two Corey's - is anyone watching this?

Like I have said a million times before..... Islam sucks.

Going away drinks with my Microsoft co-workers

Thanks Jeslyn for taking this pic!!