Curiosly Strong!

Today Bartells (the best drug store ever!) was having a sale on Altoids. I like to keep a box of mints at my desk so I decided to get some. They were out the kind I normally get (wintergreen or peppermint) so I though I'd try these instead:

Have you ever eaten a Spearmint altoid? I hadn't until today - boy are they zingy!

 I am still trying to figure out if I like them or not... maybe if I eat a few more it will help me make up my mind :)

"You sound chipper today"

I like to go out during my lunch breaks. Where I go normally depends on what the weather is like:

If it's nice, I read outside, walk up town to the shopping district, visit Pike Place Market, see if I can find any good DVDs to check out at the library, or just wander around to get some exercise.

If the weather is foul, I don't like to go far but still want a change of scenery, so on these days I venture across the street to one of the adjacent buildings. The 1001 Fourth Avenue Plaza has good lighting, nice flower displays, an ATM for my bank and a mini post office. The Fourth and Madison Building lobby has little tables to eat lunch at, really comfy armchairs and a player piano.

Today was nice so I decided to walk around a little and do some shopping. I normally grab a bunch of stuff to take to the dressing room, including things I have no intention of buying, because I like to try stuff on. For fun, I tried on a shirt that was very un-mel-ish (meaning it had some ruffles). To my surprise, I actually kind of liked it, so I bought it! I figure I can always return it if I change my mind.

After that, I stopped at my new favorite place - a snack stand at the corner of 3rd and Pike. I bought the $1.50 popcorn/drink combo. Who doesn't love popcorn for lunch? When I paid the vendor he said, "You sound chipper today." And I was like, "I guess I am - it's just a good day." 

Why is it a good day? There are several reasons, but here are a few:

1. It's not raining right now
2. I had a wonderful, relaxing weekend
3. My ironing pile relatively small
4. My fridge and pantry are fully stocked
5. Dave and I went to bed early last night
6. I was productive at work this morning
7. All the leaves changing color are beautiful
8. I am healthy (knock on wood)
9. I know what I am making for dinner tonight, tomorrow, and the next day
10. I am loved and in love!

Have a great day everyone!!

It's wiiiindy today!!

Today I had plans to run errands during my lunch break. As soon as I stepped outside, I changed my mind and came right back in. Wow! It was raining, windy and all around not good weather for someone wearing a skirt and a jacket without a hood. Instead I found a comfortable chair in the lobby of my building and sat down to read - a good way to spend an hour :)

The National Weather Service has actually issued a "wind advisory" for our area that will remain in effect until this evening. This just means the trees will loose their leaves today (and cover our driveway in pine needles), a few branches may come down, and there is a slight chance that the power might go out.

I LOVE power outages! I missed more days of school growing up to power outages than to snow - it was great! Today however, I would like the power to remain ON, or our crock pot dinner could be very interesting...

Sardines

I take the bus to and from work each day, and for the most part, using public transportation has been a good exerperience. I can read, sleep, do KenKen puzzles (10x more fun than sudokus!), snack or pretty much whatever I want while commuting.

On the way home, however, the buses are usually more crowded, and I don't always get the best seat. Definitely not this bad--phew!--but often standing room only.

{Image from easytravelreport.com}

Last week I boarded at my stop to go home and started moving to the back in hopes of finding an empty seat. It was my lucky day - there was one spot left on a 4-seat bench! The bench went like this: backpack, man, empty spot, divider, woman, woman.

I asked the man, "Do you mind if I sit here?"

The man just looked at me. He didn't say yes, but he didn't say no either, so I took that as a green light to sit down. It was going to be pretty tight though, since the man had his backpack on the seat next to him. I'm small, but not 8 inches small, so I asked him if he would mind putting his bag on his lap so there would be more room.

To this he said, "No."

I was kind of stunned. Most people I've encountered on the bus are acutally very polite and are willing to give up their seat entirely, let alone move a bag.

I said, "Okay......" and just stood there for a few seconds. Then I decided I could either squish in next to him in the tiny seat, which would be uncomfortable - or stay standing, which would also be uncomfortable.

I choose to sit, and the man and I rode smashed together all the way until my stop. Very awkward, but I pretended like I didn't care. I took out my book, started reading and smiled all the way home :)

Smile at the Rain

If today was a sign of things to come, then Seattle has officially begun it's rainy season. I guess it's time adjust my attitude towards precipitation or it's going to be a long winter. 

Horrified

Yesterday I walked up town to go shopping during my lunch break. I started browsing through the racks when, to my HORROR, I realized that Christmas music was playing over the speakers.

First was a rendition of "Jingle Bells," which was followed by "Santa Claus is Coming to Town." I ran out of the store when "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" started to play. Sheesh! It was only the first day of October. Halloween is a month away, and Thanksgiving is not for eight weeks! I really feel for the employees that have to listen to these these songs for the next 85 days...

Changing Seasons

Despite the fact that school started four weeks ago...

Despite the fact that it's dark when I wake up and still dark when I leave for work...

Despite the fact that I've been wearing a fleece coat in the morning and can see my breath while I wait at the bus stop...

It hasn't felt like fall yet! This September has been beautiful, and it's been easy to delude myself into thinking it's still summer. Dave has continued to ride the wave runner down at the lake, each day I bask in the sun with a book during my lunch break, and last week we ate Sunday dinner out on the balcony. The days have been sunny, warm and for the most part, rain-free. 

Recently, however, I have been confronted by signs of fall that are impossible to ignore:

1. Overnight, pumpkin displays invaded every space of sidewalk in front of the grocery store
2. When I ran errands on Saturday morning, everywhere I turned there were boys and girls in soccer uniforms
3. When I went down the escalator into the bus tunnel yesterday there was a pile of leaves at the bottom. Tracked in by people or blown in by the wind, I guess leaves rode down the escalator all day and then were deposited at the bottom right where you step off. By the time I went down at 5pm the pile was pretty big!
4. My brother's birthday is today, which means that tomorrow is OCTOBER. Wow! What happened to September?? Happy Birthday Derek!!
5. Finally--the most shocking of all--Dave, a lover of AC and the champion of shorts and flip-flops, wore shoes and a coat to work this morning

WELCOME FALL!!