Me and the Giant Picnic

The weekend got off to a busy start, Todd was 'working' out of the office on Friday, so we took the convertible to the University District to eat at Pita Pit. MMmmmm... I hadn't tasted their pita deliciousness since i was back in college a couple years ago, and it was well worth the drive.

I went for a 5 mile run Saturday morning, knowing that I was going to be attending the largest picnic known to mankind*. We drove to the Microsoft campus and got on the charter bus headed for the company picnic (this was just 1 of about 45 buses they were shuttling around throughout the day), which was located out east about 20 miles at Mountain Meadows Farm near the base of Mount Si.

[*that is not a factual statement, but if it's not the largest, i'm pretty sure it's one of the top 5 largest]



I have no way to accurately describe the scene, but imagine a town of about 10,000 people having a carnival where everything is free (and this was just 1 of the 3 possible days of attendance). Food, games, massages, casino, music, more food, beer & wine, clowns, puzzles (it IS Microsoft, afterall).
Here are a few pics of the day:

Hanging out with some Microsoft friends...



There were games for all ages...






The food tents stretched on and on...


Mmmmm...i heart gyros..



It was a fun couple of hours, then we caught a bus back to campus, and went out in Bellevue with our friends Ryan and Aubrey to see HAIRSPRAY and then enjoyed some sushi and dessert to cap off the evening.

Sunday was much more relaxing, but the week ahead looks busy. Tonight is trivia night at Celtic Bayou, Tuesday i have another interview and a bbq with a small church group in the evening, and Thursday is our weekly dinner with Ryan and Aubrey. We're on a new quest to try out a different restaurant every week. This means no room for me to slack off in my exercising :)

A New Look

i figure since i moved to a new city, i would give my blog a new simpler look.

yesterday i hopped on the bus in Redmond and headed to Seattle to meet Todd, since he was working at a coffee shop in Capitol Hill instead of his office. we figured it would be a nice little 'date' night since it was a beautiful sunny evening.

He even suggested we go get some sushi (well, ME get some sushi, since he's not fond of seafood). We walked around by the waterfront and headed back through downtown when we passed by the Cheesecake Factory. If you know Todd, you know that nobody loves their cheesecake like he does, so being the awesome girlfriend that i am, i suggested we eat there instead of getting sushi. Quite the sacrifice for me, since this town is full of unique eateries.

still, i need to find someone for sushi dates. i could make that part of my next mission:
• Find me a great sushi place to replace my love for Kona Grill in KC.

but for now, i need to get out and soak up the sunshine. it makes it awfully easy to run when this is your playground

I DID IT!

No, sadly, i did not find a job. 

But just as exciting to me....i ran up the entire Inglewood Hill smack dab in the middle of my 5 miler. Without stopping. 

Ever since i gave myself the challenge to run the entire hill, i was just anxious to get it done with.  No matter how hard my heart was beating. No matter how dead tired my quads were.  No matter how bad i wanted to stop and log roll all the way down.

I kept on pushing myself, and a 600 ft elevation rise and over 1/2 mile later, i jumped around like an energy sapped Rocky when i reached the top. It was a successful start to the week.

I had an interview at a marketing firm yesterday that i really enjoyed, but i'm thinking that i don't have quite enough experience as they would prefer. And today I have an interview for a contract job that i already know is not something i would enjoy.

So, i keep on looking.  The gorgeous weather makes me want to play outside instead of job searching. 

Blogless in Seattle

I was out running this morning and figured it's long past time that i get around to posting a blog.  Obviously it's been too long when i have trouble remembering my password to log on here.  But i can't go much longer without blogging, b/c i have people out there who are trying to track my every move, and it's hard for them to do that when i don't give them any indication of what i'm up to. 

So since i arrived out here about 2 1/2 weeks ago, here's a recap:

1. I am still jobless.  You know, being unemployed is fun for awhile, until you stop getting paychecks and have to dig into your savings.  I've had a few interviews, and have more lined up for this next week, so at least i'm being proactive and not just waiting for someone to come offer me a job (which would be awesome if things worked that way).

2.  While being jobless and pinching pennies has its disadvantages, it leaves a wide open slot for doing whatever i what, whenever it want.  Namely, going for runs whenever i so desire, instead of waking up at dawn to do so.

3.  On a related note...i heart Washington.  For many reasons.  But mostly because i can go run at high noon and not die from heat and humidity after 1/2 mile.  The weather is just great, and despite their record high temps last week (lower 90s....pish posh), it's not an unbearable heat like back in Kansas. 

4.  On the downside, it's a bit hillier here than in kansas.  You may think- 'Duh, captain obvious', but kansas is much hillier than people give it credit for.  But i'm talking 12% grade, 3/4 mile long hills here. Last week i gave myself the challenge of running up Inglewood Hill.  I started up it after running 3 miles, and had to catch my breath half way up. What was i thinking???  Not one to give up, i've made it my new goal to run up the entire hill without stopping for a breather.

Inglewood Hill link (use Internet Explorer or Firefox)

5.  Oh yeah, i did not end up doing the Seafair Half Marathon like i had planned to.  Mostly because, i didn't feel like ponying up the $75 entrance fee when i'm jobless, but also because i hadn't been able to get any good longer distance runs in over 10 miles.  I thought about doing the 5K, but that also had an entrance fee, and honestly....my ego told me that a 5K would be too easy.  That's the problem with being a long distance runner.  You convince yourself that you're too good for the shorter distances.  It's dumb, i know, and i need to get that idea out of my head.  So i'm keeping my eyes open for some 5Ks and 10Ks coming up this summer but looking ahead to November for the Seattle Marathon. 

Ok, well all that recapping made me hungry. We're heading downtown to Bite of Seattle, where a plethora of food and wine awaits. 

what a long strange trip it's been...

2,000 miles, 9 states, and a bazillion tanks of gas later....we made it to Seattle.



i'll post more later, but just for those keeping tabs on me, i have safely arrived in the northwest. and it is hot here.