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Public transit is like a roll of the dice. You never know if you’re going to come up with  an experience that leaves you regretting getting on the bus and being stuck in small quarters with your fellow man, or if you’ll leave the bus wishing your ride had been longer so you can continue the conversation you were having.

Last night I felt like I had rolled the dice and came up sixes. First there was the conversation at the bus stop, at 45th and 15th ave NW. Since the Nicklesville Camp has moved to the UCUCC Lot, the bus stop is right in front of it. I had an older lady waiting with me and she asked me if i knew anything about the encampment. We talked a little about it and it came out that I was Christian and had spent a short time homeless. This turned into a very surreal conversation about Christianity, having ones own path and not trying to recruit people to our denomination. She was sweet, and was interested in my ideals on everything. Rangning from what it was like to be homeless  14 years ago in Chicago, to what my thoughts were on euthenasia and abortion. She was a nice older lady, Catholic in belief and our brief conversation seemed to energize her. Stepping on the bus, I was glad for the warmth and the natural end to our conversation. She’d given me a lot to think about.

As the bus rounded greenlake a couple got on bearing a large pan, clearly come from a potluck sort of thing. I smiled and asked if they had brought enough for everyone. They said sure but i had to provide my own fork. We laughed and I went back to my knitting. The woman of the couple then began asking me about my knitting. She bemoaned the lack of knitting resources that she had  and I jumped at the chance to help her. I explained about Pac Fab (and my fabulous girlfriend who works there. ), and told her of the new Non-profit yarn shop (A New Yarn) and of Fiber Gallery’s Clinic night.  “Do you know of a stitch and bitch?” Sort of , but not one I go to. I gave her a business card of a friend, with information of a meetup group and my email written on the back. I waved cheerily as I got off the bus, inviting Kristin to contact me if she had any questions.

Continuing my walk home, I was glad for my little sojurn on the bus, and the chance to connect with people.

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OFFS Meter.

Have you heard of my OFFS meter? OFFS = Oh For Fuck Sake. Many little things can set it off. Snowpocolypse this year is one of those things. It’s not like I don’t like snow, I just believe it should be enjoyed at the right time and place. Take a day go to Ranier, bring hot cocoa, a camp stove to warm up some soup for lunch and bundle up. Finish the night at home with a pot of chili or a fondue night and wine to warm you up. Enjoy the snow in its best form, for sledding and snowshoeing and  snowball fights and forts.
In or urban environment it’s just a pain in the ass,  Though I’ll admit its  pretty.

Todays OFFS Meter moment? Schools are on a 2 hour late start. No we didnt get any more snow last night, and yes there has been over 24 hours to prepare for this. Luckily Patrick can take Miss Bit to school so I can head off to work at my regular time.

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Despite what you might think reading the above, I’m  happy. In fact, as I’ve been amused at my friends doing the 8 day Happy Meme I was considering sharing with you what makes me happy over the next 8 days.

I can’t.

You see, my default setting is happy. I look at my life, my house, my job and think “Life is Good.” (or LIFE IS GOOD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Little things make me happy: I have a great cup of coffee this morning. <—– Makes me happy.
Medium things make me happy: I have plans for Christmas dinner that are coming together beautifully. <—-Makes me happy!
Big things make me happy: i’ll be celebrating my 7th anniversary with Aron in January. <—– Makes me happy!

See. If I lsted out all the little things that made me happy, you would think I’m a goof. Even if it was just for 8 days.  So I’lll pass on the meme for now, and revel in my goofy happy state.

I’m not particularly graceful. I have broken bones on my right arm 3 times. Once while simply running down the street. Once during a party game at Mickey D’s.I broke it twice during the same summer.

When my youth group went skiing, it was verboten for me to go. The year my best friend Flynn was moving and the ski trip was his last event? Yeah I got to go, under firm orders not to ski. My mom told me I had to wait until I was 18 and responsible for my own medical bills.

So you can understand why I am apprehensive about about doing a low ropes course today.

From Blog Photos

It’s a team building exercise for a temporary team that dissolves today. Merely created for the class. I’m not sure the point of uniting a temporary team like that.  We watched “Game Set Murder” , an episode of Psych,  last night because the episode was interspersed with  scenes of Gus at a company event similar to what I’m doing. So now I’m expecting an exchange like this.

Person A: I tried a new trust exercise  today, where I hold a rubberband stretched at my partners eye and say “Do you trust me ? Do you trust me?”

Person B: Yeah? How did that go.

Person A: I wish my grip was better, on the other hand the cornea is a resilient thing.

Indeed.  Aron’s asked me not to break my neck, and I’ve geared myself up  with my Doc Martens. (My ankle has been bugging me lately, I’m really prone to twisting it.) I’m also wearing layers and praying that it won’t be raining in the middle of nowhere er Monroe .

I took miss bit to school this morning (one of the chores i do during the life of leisure) Mid walk we were joined by a classmate and a little before nine i dropped the two of them off at school. Then it was off to Fremont. I’m meeting Aron for Lunch at Skillet Street Food, and decided to start my day down in Greenwood anyway. I wandered over to the bus stop and waited. checking the bus time via my nifty sms checker, i saw that i had about 10 minutes. So I decided to walk to the next bus stop. Then the bus stop after that.

Can you see where this is going?

It’s mostly downhill and only took me a little over 30 minutes to walk from 80th and Greenwood to Phinney and 36th.  It was a leisurely  though the 15% grade downhill was sure something even if it was downhill. I like being able to look at the  houses in the area and the different yards. i even found what i would consider my dream yard. Mostly concrete sculpture with lots of greenery in  pots all around.   i’m a  no grass person.  It’s also neat what you see when you look up into the trees

Welcome to Greenwood, a neighborhood north of the downtown core of Seattle. i live near 85th and Greenwood Ave, and have to admit that I feel a fair amount of possessive ownership of this neighborhood. it’s my stomping grounds.

it’s come to my attention that not everyone knows the area, and to be honest, i dont know everything about the area. So I decided i’d start at 85th and Greenwood ave, and explore the different shops so you know whats here for when you come visit. You are coming to visit right?

So Hi! Let’s get started on our tour.

I started today literally at the corner of 85th and Greenwood Ave and looked around at the businesses.

The four corners are thus :
Northwest : Greenwood Academy of Hair
Northeast : Washington Mutual Bank
Southeast: Sweet on You Gelato (no website)
Southwest :Antika’s Antiques (no website)

Greenwood Academy of Hair Yelp Reviews
Greenwood Academy of Hair is hair salon and cosmetology school. They are recently under new ownership and some small changes in decor and products used have happened. I’ve been going there for years and aside for a bum cut or two due to my wishy washyness , I’ve never had a problem. In fact when I turned the magical 30 , my girlfriend and I went there and availed ourselves of their spa treatments, each getting a facial, mudwrap and a waxing. We were truly pampered.

Washington Mutual
Washington Mutual is a bank. And as a nonmember of this bank, there is really little they can do for me. That said, my boyfriend banks there and has not run into any problems. They have an ATM, which does charge a small fee for usage.

Sweet on You Yelp Reviews
Sweet on you is a new gelato place, that just opened a few weeks ago. I get the feeling that they are still working out the kinks. They always seem to be out of what i’m looking for and they still dont take credit cards. (not a requirement mind you, but they keep claiming it will be soon.) I like the Gelato though, and will be stopping by occasionally to indulge.

Antika Yelp Reviews

Antika is a delightful Antique store. They are mainly furniture and  small decorative items.. They usually have vintage barware and a vintage bar in the window. As with all antique stores, they can be a little spendy, but the quality is fantastic. I’m always amazed by the nifty kitchen cabinets, the unique tables, and the ornate curios they have.  They are always friendly when I come even, even though I’ve never bought anything.

So thats the start. Lets see what else we can find for next time.

Coffee was served at 8. Aron and I got up and ajourned to the parlor for coffee then returned to our room where I did some last minute study for my sociology test before breakfast. At 9 we joined the other guests for breakfast, then I returned to our room to take my Test**. Aron sat out on the balcony for a relaxing smoke while he waited for me.

From there it was back around the Inner Harbor to the Visitor’s Center, where I asked for assistance on getting to the Buchart Gardens by Bus. The ladies at the Visitor’s Center warned us that it was nearly an hour trip, but I decided that it was better to only spend $2 on the bus and enjoy the hour driving through parts of Victoria off the beaten path, instead of spending $15 each on a charter bus that would lump us in with other Tourists. I hate being lumped in with other tourists. Let me also mention that it was an overcast drizzly day. Perfectly chosen for the gardens, as it would keep most tourists away, and let us have a little more elbow room as we wandered around.

I’ll be honest, I wasnt sure about the gardens overall. I mean $25 each to wander around a garden? It seemed a bit much. But I’d found a lunch deal where we got admission and a 2 course lunch for $40 each. Much more reasonable in my opinion. The lunch turned out to be fabulous. (full report on Fat and Crafty soon, promise!) the gardens though were mind blowing. I think the best way to share is through photos, and here are a few of my favorites.

Beautiful huh? After the gardens we had quite the harrowing bus ride back to the Inner Harbor, Aron and I both getting bus sick, with the bus driver nearly hitting a car. (We were sure we were going to hit it) We wandered around a bit more, then settled in for an early evening.

**You see, this was the one big downside to taking distance classes this quarter and going on vacation. My sociology class has tests that are available for 1 day and one day only from 6am-11pm. Test number two landed smack dab in the middle of our vacation

 
Photos by Sue Cline and Crazebabe21

Where I want to go
The delightfull Miss Sunnie is off on vacation this week. It’s a one week vacation to Mexico via New Orleans on a Cruise ship. How cool is that?
First off, she gets to go to New Orleans, one of those places high on my to visit list. It was supposed to be the site of my honeymoon when I first got married but life got in the way. I’m a fan of historical tourism, and New Orleans is steeped in history. And I’m embarrassed to admit, I at one point was a huge Anne Rice fan.

 Secondly, I’ve begun to come around on the idea of a cruise.  I like the idea of being able to   lounge around, relax read my books, work on my craft projects and eat delectable morsels. This may sound like vacationing in a buffet, because to be honest, it’s not about the activities.  Not that the activities she is doing sound bad perse, after all who could disagree with a full day cooking class in Cozumel.  On the other hand  the idea of just having nothing to do but relax sounds divine. 

I’ve looked into cruises lately as well as other vacations.  What leaps out to me is either a cruise to nowhere, where you board, go out to see for a night then come home, or an Alaskan cruise.  A cruise to nowhere would give me the chance to sample what a cruise is like  without a huge commitment, and would allow me a small getaway.

Photos by Jimg944

 Alaskan cruises appeal to me based on the scenery  and the difference in climate. I’m not much of a fun in the sun kind of girl, preferring bookstores to beaches and  catching a sunburn at the drop of a hat.  It’s also very convenient that  these ships leave from Seattle typically.  I’ve always just been afraid that I’ll feel out of place with typical cruise takers. After all I dont fit in well with the soccer mom or octogenarian set.

Vacations now

That said, I have a few vacations in the hopper right now. At the end of April I’d planned to return to Chicago with Aron, but instead of visiting the old home front I decided to take him to Victoria. So far we can still travel without a passport, and we’ve never been there. I have a fabulous Bed and Breakfast  picked out . (Claw foot tub yum!) We’re  planning on going to the Royal British Columbia  Museum , we’re talking about going to the Hatley Castle and hoping to do High Tea.

We’re also returning  to Eugene to visit the Black Sheep Gathering. Aron’s got an event with some friends down there, and I’ll take the chance to do the BSG and visit the Saturday Market
I loved it last year  and look forward to going again

I’m also planning on a solo trip,  something similar to my trip to Port Townsend a few years ago. A chance to write and knit and talk to myself. For this trip it has to be accessible solo, no car  no ride needed. Since the Seattle to Port Townsend Foot Ferry was temporary then,  and  has not yet been reestablished , Port Townsend is  not an option. I’d head up to the San Juans particularly Orcas, but the cost is daunting.  Public transit on the island isnt as nice as i might like and my destination isnt on the normal taxi route.   Instead I think I’m going the head up to Bellingham at some point this summer.  I’ll find a nice bed and breakfast, plan for time at my favorite yarn shop,  and spend lots of time just recharging. 

Last but not least, Washington has just gotten an Indoor Water park/Lodge It might be fun to take the girls for a weekend.

I figure life is pretty good when you get to plan vacations.

When assessing a new place to live one of the first things I do is try to figure out how the bus system works. As a non driver, knowing how I’d be able to navigate is very important.

The second thing that is important is getting out on the street and looking around. For us this was hitting the Saturday Market.

In Seattle we have Farmers Markets and we have the Fremont Sunday Market. The Eugene Saturday market was something competely different. Three box large, one block dedicated to fresh vegetables like a farmers market, two blocks full of crafts and art all for sale.

There was even a gigantic fish in attendance this week.

There was also a whole section set aside with fair foods. Whats that like?
Yum

Yum. I started with a Taco salad, and then moved on to a handmade tamle and dessert.

We then wandered over to a coffee shop and settled in knitting as we were waited to regroup with A.

With its busability, flat streets and hippie culture, Eugene is a place I could live. In the end the decision will rest on where I go to school.

We headed out for Eugene Or at 5am on the 22nd . The reasons for the trip were a stop in Corvallis for a college visit, and some time with friends in Eugene.

I’ve not been south of Portland since I moved up to Seattle,  so this was a treat for me. First stop was in Woodland Washington for a Mcdonalds breakfast. While I’m not normally a fan, it is one of the two things we eat on roadtrips to signal the specialness of the event. (The other being DairyQueen, we had that on the way back)

After a brief stop at the not-in-laws  we then moved on to  Corvalli for my meeting at OSU. Then I got picked back up afterwards and we retired to the exotic Best Western Green Tree .

I’d picked the GreenTree in randomly using Kayak to find something midrange with a pool. This fit the bill, and in the end I would reccomend this hotel. Spacious, nice continental breakfast of juice, coffee, pastry, cerals, free wifi, fridge and coffeemaker in room and a balcony to boot.  Down the road is a second Best Western, the New Orleans. The only reason it was a little more tempting was they have an *indoor* pool.

Funny story, the two Best Westerns are literally 3 doors apart. I asked why two hotels so close. Turns out they are owned by the same family. One hotel was undergoing Best Western accreditation as the other was getting built, they just didnt communicate within the family well enough.

Dinner was at High Street A McMenamins brew pub. There menu  revolves around burgers and beer, and the service was typical Seattle brewpub. It was a comfortable place though and the burer and beer were good. Its one of those places I hope to revisit.

Breakfast the next morning was the Keystone, a diner that looked like it stepped out of a Moosewood cookbook. All healthy and wholegrainy, and a whole lot of vegan/vegetarian options.

L and I then headed out to the Black Sheep Gathering (follow the link for the trip report) and then followed it up with a visit to the Saturday Market.

After that we regrouped with A and made the long trip home. I missed meeting Danae  and going to  Glory Bee . There is always next time.

The doorbell rang at 8:30 in the morning, at least I was dressed and half caffinated,  and nearly ready to go.
“Hold on Melissa , I’m almost ready. ” I grabbed my pcc bag, my camera,  and glugged down the last of my coffee.  Out the door we went, leaving my copy of the passport behind.
Dangit!

Friday Saturday and Sunday were the Destination: Yarn! Local Yarn Shop Tour here in Seattle.  20 shops banded together, created cute little passports and inspired nice ladies, young and old to drive around like lunatics for these free patterns and the chance to win $400 in free yarn.

i began my journey on Friday with 2 stops alone. First was Weaving works in the University District. Then on the way home i decided i would bike by the Fiber Gallery and see what their one skein pattern was.

Saturday morning began the real  tour. Melissa and I had decided we would not be stupid and attempt all 20 stores. The gas and hassle involved, particularly when you only have one driver, for the “chance” to win $400 didnt make sense. (Had the stores banded together and had a prize for those who had hit all 20 I might have been more willing. Perhaps a special bonus pattern or something.

We first stopped at Red Twig for Eggs Benedict  and hot strong coffee. Edmonds was also our first yarn stop of the morning.

Spin a Yarn is a shop I’ve been to many times and the service has always been a little weird.. She’s moved to a new location  an old house and its very quaint.

Stop number 2 was Bellingham, JanJ NeedleArt

Set in a stripmall, it is jammed full of yarn and needlework supplies.

They had a cute pup named Saucy, he was about 8 and looked like a sausage.

I’ll be honest, they were a little eccentric and we were glad to make our escape.
(ok crazy was the term we came up with but yeah)

NW Handspun was GREAT! Friendly shop, great location, and a fantastic array of yarn and weaveables.

The owner was cute and funny, as i took pictures from the landing above she said “Is that lightening? in the store” Nope just me with the camera.

Our lunch stop was a place in Bow Washington,  It was an old barn/ country store/ restaruant that had the best beef barley soup i’ve  ever had. We picked up apple Empanadas and then headed to our last yarn shop.

No pictures of Anacross, but I swear they had the biggest selection. Big Big overstuffed yarn cubbies where balls of muppet yarn came cascading down on me. Again, no purchase from me, but I’ll be back.

We finished our day in Washington Park, overlooking  the islands and the water, and just contemplating what a great day we had.

Life is good.

Today Melissa, Phinnia and I wandered down to the Seattle Yarn and Fiber Expo. While the show was a little smaller this year then previous years it was still a lot of fun. I got to meet Megan of NotMartha fame. i was seduced by yarns from Angora Valley, and drooled over drop spindles from Crown Mountain farms.

The item that had me drooling was an old time sock machine. The folks from Angora Valley had a number of socks knit using their machine and not only were they pretty, but they were functional! As much as i like knitting socks they always seem a bit too loose and just not very sturdy. They examples the Angora Valley folks had done with their lace wing yarn were very sturdy and just very cool. The average machine sells for $1975. Not something I’ll be getting into any time soon.

All in all I picked up a little inspiration, a little bit of yarn that was gifted to me, and a desire to pick up spinning and  do some needle felting.  I still need to have a naked needle party and share out some of my yarn, I also need to  get a new weighted hem for the ISM/USM  and I need to try more advanced patterns.

Oh and next year? I’ll set aside some money for the classes at the expo, they seem to be the real draw.