I am the winner!

Last year at Burning Man, I felt so disheartened when my bike that I had won at Uwajimaya was stolen. But i took comfort in knowing that karma would pay me back in some way. I can count the amount of times I have won a contest anytime in my life on one hand. I MEAN, BEFORE THE Uwajimaya bike, the last thing I can remember winning was a coloring contest for a bagel company in the 1st grade. Back then, I got a year full of free bagels.

Today I was getting my hair did and my stylist came up to greet me with a big basket with a gigantic bow on it. My first thought was befuddlement. Did she miss my birthday? Was she late to our appointment? All kinds of things crossed my mind. In actuality, I had won a contest that she had entered all of her clients in to win a swank dinner at the top of the Hilton, free services, products, yada yada. My literal response was "no shit?" Ah, the glory. I must bask in it. It sorta made my day.



While I was studying for my final, I ran across this cooky lady who was walking around with her bird on a harness. When I saw her I thought, I need to carry my camera with me at all times so that I can capture all the wiggedy whack stuff I see on the daily. This is one of those things.



Ah, I also got a chance to visit Helle this weekend. Har. Har. It is a running joke with my friends. Are you going to Helle? How long will you be in Helle? Can I come visit you in Helle? The answer is yes, I am going to Helle and it is hot, hot, hot! They just built out the 2nd treatment room and an apothecary and I am about to wet my pants I am so excited to have this side gig. Stay tuned. I gots to pass all my finals and shit before I actually am official.

All things pink

I noticed this sunny Wednesday morning that the cherry blossom tree in my front yard* is about to start blooming. That, my friends, is VERY exciting.

* This is NOT a picture of my front yard.

Theo Chocolates

There comes a day when you've been living in the same city for a while that you feel like you've done and seen all the city has to offer. While a couple friends were visiting from Boston over the weekend, I was overjoyed to turn over a new rock: Theo chocolates. Yes, I had seen it on the shelves of fancy grocery stores and I had tried the 3400 Phinney chocolate bars but good heavens to betsy...I had never blessed my mouth with the supreme goodness of their truffles. Eric was in town sampling lines to carry at Whole Foods back in New England and took the factory tour and came home with quite the sampler tray. My very favorite was the PB&J chocolate. Literally, imagine a little tiny sandwich. The bread is made up of heavenly dark chocolate. The inside is a delicious combination of fruity jelly and peanut butter. Hard to fathom that a little choclate runs more than $2 a piece, but it is totally worth it. Might I also suggest the 12-piece box set:

12 Piece Collection Box: 12 confections, includes packaged box, $24.00
This collection offers our full original line, full of unique and fresh flavors. Flavors: burnt sugar, lemon, pb&j, fig fennel, mint, Ivory Coast, ginger, coffee, Earl Grey, vanilla, scotch, peanut butter.

My personal faves were the burnt sugar, scotch and of course pb&j.

Who wants to take a tour of the factory with me? And then gorge ourselves with ridiculously scrumptious cocoa divinities?

52 Nights Unplugged

My friend Ariel was catching me up to speed on her new project this morning and I haven't stopped thinking about it since. It involves taking one night a week off from all things that involve a screen. Can you use your oven? Yes. Can you power text while attending an avant garde dance performance? No. These are simple rules. So, I think for a while I might try it. Here's what Ariel has to say about the project:

Yesterday I attended this workshop that was all about finding a balance between technology and soul. For me, that means dealing with my tendency to overuse the internet for all things. Don’t get me wrong: I love the web. It’s given me more amazing things than I could count (quick tally: jobs, friends near and far, book deal, etc) but it’s also taken its toll.

I went into the workshop yesterday saying I’d like to be “More present in the present.” This isn’t just an internet addiction thing. It’s an ADD, monkey-brain, cultural thing too — but the internet sure doesn’t help.

The workshop was definitely more about discussion/exploration than take-away items, but we spent the last hour discussing ways to deal with the frustrations we have with the web, and then making decisions about sustainable ways we could make change.

So, here’s mine: one night a week, I am going to completely unplug from anything with a screen. This means no internet, no sidekick, no watching dvds. I plan to focus instead on the other things I like doing like writing letters, crafting, organizing, dancing, going for walks, cooking and making tea, writing in my paper journal. I might also try picking up some new things to like such as watercolors, scrapbooking, mail art, dance classes, attending lit readings, etc. Regardless, one night a week I’m going to unplug.

Me being me, though … I have to document it. I figure it’s a good way to keep myself on task. Plus, maybe some of my fellow geek/addicts would like to join in? I think I’m going to pick Wednesday night to take off, and then Thursday I’ll share what I did.

Who’s with me?

I am, Ariel! You are genius.
See Ariel talk about all of this and more on the TODAY show, February 20th!

Love Child

This is my dear friend Jania's most recent ultrasound photos. It blows me away the amount of change that can happen in a person's life in such a short period of time. Right now, I feel like a proud Grandparent or something. Baby in the belly. I love it.

Apes and Androids

I must share this video with everyone I know. And then they should do the same. It's THAT good.

Check out this video: Radio



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Missed Connections

No, this is not the funnest part of craigslist. This is an account of my weekend. Friday was a good day and was marked early on by herraduras, Mexican cheesecake for Estrella's birthday and a slammin' workday. What got me through that workday were daydreams of fresh powder, cozy times in the Mt. Baker lodge, and generally an easy-going weekend holiday. First I stopped at Sno Con on Alaskan to pick up some last minute gear. Turns out they don't rent gear anymore there. So, I fought Obama rally traffic across town and stopped by Whole Paycheck to get some champagne and goodies for the Fauxes' cabin. I parked about a block away. I walked akwardly with a full bag of wine and beer back to my car. Before I went into shop I thought to myself, yah, I'll keep it simple and just take my wallet instead of my big ass purse and I'll stick it in my pocket. It's small. It'll fit. So. I did. Bad decision #1. So I happily jot along my way to the OTHER Sno Con behind REI. I get out of my car and reach sheepishly down towards my pocket. Hmmmmm, no sign of smallish wallet. Stay calm. I retraced my steps back to where I parked in South Lake Union praying that it would lying there in the rain looking sad and lonely on the street where my car once was. No such luck. Frantically, I approached about every business around the area inquiring about my MIA wallet. Recognition: my wallet is dead to me. Must move on. I called US Bank and reported my card as lost. Lightbulb moment: I remembered that my bank had sent me an extra card that I never activated and I left it in the console of my car. Miracle #1: My bank was able to activate that card and I was back in business. I got to Sno Con in the nick of time, rented Carey's boots, got a free stomp pad (which Morgan told me I don't need) and I was makin' tracks. Oh, just past Mt. Vernon I became privy to the knowledge that the Mt. Baker Highway was closed at milepost 35. I was suspect, but I thought to myself that there was a chance that it would re-open in time for our morning descent. First night at the Faux cabin was low key and most filled with chit chat. Except for I decided to guzzle a bottle of wine and then harassed Carey and Brianna into going into the hot tub. Of course Carey was the first one naked and we peeled back the cover to hot tub and it was steaming and looked really enticing. Carey dipped her foot in the water and promptly removed it as the "hot" tub was more of a "tepid" tub. We resolved to go to bed and get up in the morning and hope the Mt. was open. No dice. But Saturday was still uber fun. Shug wore this shirt covered with penises and ladies playing with them. I couldn't take my eyes away. The Bollens and Morgan came up. Morgan is missing his front teeth and has blue hair. We went into town to take in all of the forlorn skiers and snowboarders drowning their sorrows at Grahams. We almost got into fisticuffs over table placement. Actually, we didn't even come close but people were bickering at eachother all around us. It was quite comical. Now that I think about it, all I really did was eat and drink and be merry on Saturday. Not bad. I procrastinated going home. I didn't leave until 12am and drove all the way back to Seattle, bleary-eyed and running through content for my exam that I had at 9AM sharp on Sunday. Got to bed at 3:30AM. Got up at 7:30AM. Went to school. Miracle #2: I killed my final. My instructor told me that my body wrap was beautiful. I wanted to go home and curl up with my dog and sleep endlessly. But I didn't. After school I went to meet up with all the lady estheticians of Helle. I am actually doing this. I got my business license. I start taking clients in May. I crashed hard on Sunday night. And that brings me to Monday. Whoo. Game on.

Piscina Azul

As we were walking along Alki this morning, both Tara and I were immensely freaked out by the the strange color of the sound that was filled with whitecaps. It was this gorgeous shade of prussian blue that I have never seen before. And then we watched it change to an entirely different shade of navy right before our eyes as we were walking into the freezing, freezing cold wind. This adventure was short lived due to our teeth-chattering, but it felt good to be slapped in the face by Old Man Winter this morning.

We booked out stay at New York New York in Vegas for TMac's 30th. Hells yes! March Madness here we come.

I am weak

Yes, yes! I have indeed created a blog. I said that I wouldn't. I have vocally objected to them. I will try it on for size though...see if it suits me.

I think it is a little sad that I haven't kept a journal consistently since I was 13. This will be interesting...