Love Happens

Normally, I wouldn't comment on a movie, but I will on this one because it was in SEATTLE!!!! As far as romantic movies go, I give it a 5/10. I didn't really buy the characters or a lot of the plot line. BUT, the shots of the city were so gorgeous.

I mean seriously now, how can you not fall in love at first sight with Seattle? It’s a city on the water. Go in farther and it’s a city of artwork. Did you know that Seattle has to devote 1% of its budget every year to public art? Many fiscal conservatives, like me, would think this is a waste. It’s not. It’s essential. It only adds to the splendor of Seattle. I'm biased though.

The movie got horrible reviews, but that's because they weren't written by Seattleites. Many of us would appreciate the many nods to Seattle. Yes, there's the obligatory shot of Pike Place Market and the Space Needle. But there was more. Emphasis on the ferry pier. A shout out to Mt. Rainier. A cameo by the Fremont Troll. Even Bruce Lee's tombstone made an appearance. I loved it all.

And yes, I'll admit it: I teared up a little when they showed the city. It’s one of my great loves.

A couple of side notes: No, you can't climb stairs up the Space Needle. I don't think they even exist! Also, a taxi would not drop you off at Pike Place in order for you to get to your hotel. And never, ever release a tropic bird into the chilly coniferous woods of the Pacific Northwest. It cannot adapt. It’s not a seagull.

Good movie though. It showed that we are a people of good music, beautiful surroundings, and comfy, fall clothing.

2 years down

As promised, here is my post about what it was like and is like to move to PA.

First of all, let me just tell you how fast the last 2 years have gone. Probably not for my parents, but looking back it has flown for me. I made the decision to move to Pennsylvania late in 2006, which was less than a year after K and I started officially dating. He and I go way back, almost 10 years now, but we stopped talking for a bit and started up again 2/06. After several agonizing good-byes in multiple airports, I had had enough. With my job being so flexible, I decided to go ahead and give the East Coast a shot. So, on Sept. 18th, we loaded up my little Hyundai Elantra, and drove across the country.

It took us about a week, and it could have taken less, but we visited family on the way. On the first day, we drove from Seattle to Bozeman, MT. It was September and we got caught in a blizzard. We stayed in a dinky Best Western, arrived very late, and awoke to the mountains the next morning. We had no idea how beautiful the place was.

Next we drove from Bozeman through Yellowstone, finally arriving in Jackson Hole, WY. This is now one of my most favorite places on earth. Seriously, there's something about Jackson Hole that just makes me feel alive. That's really cliché, huh? Well, make fun of me, and continue to do so, because we're totally honeymooning there someday!!!

Yellowstone was beautiful, but we much preferred the nearby Teton Mountain range.

We woke up early to a chilly 40 degree morning, and drove through the most boring part of our country (the rest of WY), and ended up in CO with my aunt and uncle. The next day we drove to Nebraska to visit my other aunt. The next two days we drove through Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana, finally Ohio and Pennsylvania. There's nothing to share about those states because you can only say so many things about corn.

It was a blur of a trip for me. I already missed home and I was so scared of how I would adapt. And yet, it was smooth sailing on that trip relationship-wise. He drove, I slept, and we supported each other.

I'm not going to go into great detail about the last two years, except to say this: I'm glad I took this chance. I'm glad that I took a chance on a boy from the East Coast, ten years ago, 2 years ago, and today. I'm glad that I took a chance and went for what I wanted in my life. I'm glad that I had the confidence in myself to take that chance. Fear holds us back and makes us regret life. 2 years ago, I turned my back on fear and got into that car, and I'm so grateful for what came after.

Crazy life

I have neglected my little blog this week.  Life is pretty busy right now. I'm going back to school to get a higher nursing degree, still working, and trying to keep a puppy-ruled house in order. 

Getting into this nursing program was unbelieveable.  Actually saying yes, I'll get a higher degree is unbelieveable as well. Do I want to continue in such a crazy field? I'm over worked, underpaid, hurting,  punched and kicked at, constantly watching my back, and going home every night worrying about what I missed or did wrong that day. And yet, I keep coming back. I keep making connections with people. And I keep wanting to go a little further. 

So, yes, I am nuts for going in deeper, but that's how we nurses are. 

My Weekend

Ah, to be away from it all, spending your time lounging, laughing, and drinking. This was my weekend with K's cousins. The good ones. Not the douchey ones.

We went to Pittsburgh this weekend to visit his family, and of course, go to the Steeler game. If you didn't know, which I don't know how you can't, the Steeler's won the Super Bowl last year. If you didn't know that, then you definitely don't know they have won 6 of these, which is more than any other team. So, that's pretty darn impressive. We went and we enjoyed. And they won, thank God, because if they didn't, there would be less enjoyment, and at the same time, more drinking.

I'm not a big drinker. I don't like the taste. Most of the time, it gives me a headache. I don't think there's anything wrong with it, as long as you're safe and plan ahead. There is something wonderful about having drinks with people who you love, who make you laugh hysterically, and who allow you to let your guard down and not care how you look. That's what this weekend, and every weekend with K's cousins, is about. So, this is my shout out to them for being so darn wonderful.

I took over 300 pictures on this trip. It was pretty darn impressive. I don't have any downloaded now, of course, but expect some in the next post.

I'd like to end this post by saying that yes, I am now a Steeler's fan. I am a Steeler's fan because this team is about Pittsburgh, and Pittsburgh is about loyalty and knowing where you came from. There's nothing better than that.

The weather seems to change every 3 months

We are now approaching my favorite season: fall.  As a born and raised Washingtonian, I very much like my crisp weather. Especially after a sweltering East Coast summer.

Fall is so wonderful because it has such great textures and tastes. Warm, wooly sweaters and spicy drinks make fall the best season, hands down.  And its also a great excuse to make soup.

Its an exciting time of the year for an aspiring chef (did you know that about me? Yeah, aspiring self-taught chef), because its harvest time and its comfortable enough to cook indoors and out.  My boyfriend gave me a bright red, shiny grill for my birthday last year, and it hasn't gotten enough use. Probably because its so humid and grilling requires a shower afterwards.  So, now I have lots of produce because of the time of year and its cool enough to grill. How messed up am I?  I wait for it to cool to grill....

I just love what this time of the year brings.  I think its more inspiring than New Years.  You have a new school year, which doesn't really apply to me, but you still get that feeling.  You have a bounty of good food.  Everyone's back from vacation, so you are entitled to have more at home parties.  You get to cover up a little bit, which is always more comfortable.  And all of the college kids have gone back to school, so going out is much more enjoyable!!!

Fall, I really love you that much. 

The title of this post is kind of an inside joke.  We were watching the horrible Harrisburg news the other day and that's what the weather guy said.  And I said, "Yeah, they're called seasons. There are 4 of them."

On a side note, I'm approaching my 2nd year anniversary of my move from Washington. Its bittersweet.  I'll post more when that day approaches (9/18).  In the meantime, I'm going to go enjoy this beautiful weather!!

Pull up a chair

So this is my about me post for the week or so.  I was thinking the other day how weird it is to describe your hobbies at this age. When you're little, or hell even in high school, its easy to answer this question. Kids have hobbies: they're learning how to play instruments and like collecting junk and stuff.  As adults, you're more limited in a way.  Especially when you're 24 and you're trying to establish a savings account.  So what are my hobbies? Or, a better question, what do I really like to do but don't do very often because I work a lot and have to pay bills?  Very good question.

1) Camping.  I like to camp because its gives me an opportunity to get out of the hustle and bustle of apartment life. I also like camping because food never tastes as good as when its made over a fire.  The air is fresh. It can be romantic.  In my opinion, you sleep better because you follow the sun and you wake up to the outdoors.  You get to build a big fire and poke it.
Why I don't go camping very often: My boyfriend hates it.  Pennsylvania is either very hot and sticky, or snowing. There are lots of ticks here.

2) Hiking.  This is the best way to exercise. There's a clear start point and you are rewarded at the end.  You hike and hike, then end up with a beautiful view somewhere (otherwise, what's the point of the trail), and then after you eat your lunch with that view, you get to go DOWN hill, which isn't so bad. 
Why I don't go hiking very often: See above. Oh, and there are no mountains here, duh. Shut up you PAers who are reading this, they're hills. HILLS!

3) Tennis.  Tennis is the 2nd best way to exercise.  Its a game of short sprints and uses practically every muscle you have. And more.  In tennis, you have many opportunities to make unbelievable shots, and sometimes, sometimes when the stars align, you can aim straight for you opponent and knock them right in the torso.  So satisfying.
Why I don't play tennis very often: I don't really know.  There's no excuse.

4) Photography.  This is something I picked up a couple of years ago.  I decided one day that I wanted to try it, and the photos weren't half bad.  I mostly take pictures of nature, because its just so beautiful.  My photography usually comes in spurts. I'll take about 100 if its a big event, or I'll take 5 if I have some new flowers in my garden. This is a hobby I do the most consistently.  Here's a picture from July, when I last took my camera out:

The Space Needle is so photogenic

5)  I also like to play the piano, but don't own one right now because of space. We tried to get one off of craigslist, but this old lady didn't understand the concept of how to haggle.

6) Cooking, music, road trips, writing, having themed parties, and dancing.  More to come.