This was a short but stressful week at work, with Monday off for the Labor Day holiday and Friday off for a short anniversary vacation. Happily, the long weekend more than made up for the stress of the short work week! After much debate, Andy and I decided to spend the weekend at my parents cabin near Snoqualmie Pass. This was definitely a good choice, even if it was made mostly because we’d recently purchased a new mattress, and the old one had been siting in our living room until we could take it up to the cabin to swap it out for one of the horrendously uncomfortable ones there. Since it’s such a short drive, we decided to bring our cat with us, and it didn’t take long for him to get settled in. When I mentioned our plan to my dad, he was dubious, and bringing our cat did turn out to be a bit of a mistake, but only because now I’ll feel terrible any time we go to the cabin without bringing him along!
Read moreLife: Week 35
This was a tough week. Monday was a stressful scramble to get ahead at work, and the remainder of my week was spent in California for work. While I did manage to squeeze in a quick (and much needed!) visit with my sister-in-law while I was in the Bay Area, for the most part my trip was a series of busy days fill with client meeting followed by many late nights trying to stay on top of my regular day-to-day work. On two of the three nights of my time in California, I didn’t mange to tear myself away from my laptop until at least 8 PM, and by the time I boarded my flight home Friday at 8 PM, I felt a bit like I was drowning in work I’d need to catch up on come Tuesday morning (since Monday was a holiday). Happily, over the course of the weekend, I was able to forget work. Before I’d left for California, I’d hoped Andy and I would spend the long weekend backpacking, but after my exhausting travel I knew I needed a restful weekend at home. I’m still hoping to get out for one last backpacking trip before winter descends on the Cascades though!
Read moreLife: Week 34
Reaching the tail end of summer, things at work are beginning to get busier, an ominous sign for the busy season to come after Labor Day. Thankfully, the tail end of summer also meant the oppressive smoke that's plagued Puget Sound over the past weeks has finally begun to lift, and I took full advantage of the improved air quality with several walks around Redmond. This time of year, the Powerline Trail smells so strongly of ripe blackberries, you almost get a sugar rush from the air. Among the more exciting developments at home this week, Andy finally completed our new queen size bed frame, so we have a new bed! So far I've slept terribly on it, but I'm hoping I just need some time for the memory foam to break in. Andy absolutely loves the new mattress, so I'd feel terrible if we had to swap it out for something more expensive on my account.
Read moreLife: Week 33
After weeks of hot weather, and many fires burning in Eastern Washington and British Columbia, this week, Puget Sound was beset by smoke. The week started off ominously with our flight home being delayed because smoke at SeaTac Airport was reducing the number of planes that could safely land, and throughout the week, the smoke thickened. By Thursday, it was bad enough to give me a cough and burning eyes after only a short walk to get the mail. Thankfully, Friday morning, we woke to clear skies apparently just in time for the August Alpine Trails Book Club backpacking trip.
Read moreLife: Week 32
Since my sister in law and her family moved to California shortly after my oldest niece was born, I've missed many birthdays, both my niece's and nephew's. I know that soon they'll both be too old to have any interest in having their boring old aunt crash their birthday party, so I've talked about making a birthday trip for years. This year, with no major plans late in the summer, Andy and I were finally able to make it down to California to attend our niece's 5th birthday party. As a happily childless adult, a 5th birthday party was an overwhelming occasion, although my sister-in-law's genius plan to rent a bounce house for the party kept most of the craziness contained. Happily, our visit was long enough that we also had time to just enjoy relaxing with family. As always, the trip made me dream of the future, when their family will be back in Washington and we can spend time together whenever we want!
Read more