Telus

TELUS is a festival that takes place in Whistler towards the end of April as a last hurrah for the ski and snowboard season. Lots of vendors, bands, crowds, big air competitions, and tons of fun. I went for the first time last year, and was lucky enough to be invited by Matt and Jenny this year to stay with them (have I mentioned I love friends with timeshares?). The weather was amazing the first two days, but then got pretty cloudy for the rest of the trip. That didn't stop us, we still had a blast. The lodging was great, too. From past experience, Matt and Jenny told us not to get our hopes up, and that we'd probably be in a run down condo. To our surprise we pulled up to the Westin and had two adjoining rooms making it a big suite. We got to use all of the amenities of the hotel, plus we were just right around the corner from Longhorns and the gondolas. So awesome!

Day 1:

Clint and I woke up early Saturday morning and headed to Kirkland to meet at Matt and Jenny's house. We loaded up the car, and the 4 of us headed out for the long drive. (**you'll notice I had fun with my Instagram app for the photos in this post**)

ski rack through the sunroof

We pulled into Whistler village and headed to the hotel to get checked in. Immediately after we bee-lined it to Longhorns for some long awaited Canadian beer. The weather was amazing, and so many people out and about. We ended up having to wait in line at Longhorns for quite a while for a table to open up. Being the first bar off the slopes, it gets pretty popular in the afternoon. We were also able to meet up with Matt and Gemma at this point as they had gotten in earlier to be able to ski that day.

anxiously waiting in line

We finally got in, ordered some pitchers and food, and soaked in the warm sun with the beautiful snowy mountain backdrop. Heaven.

thumbs up to Whistler

Gemma, me, and Jenny

Hagerman with his Mexican Bulldog

Clint and the Matts

After Longhorns we headed back to the room for some hot tubbing and relaxing. We then got ready for the night and headed out into the village. We stopped at Earl's for dinner (delicious), then tried Buffalo Bills. The line ended up being kinda long, and we didn't realize till it was our turn to head in that cover was $20! Instead of paying for access to the sweaty crowded dance floor, we decided to turn back and head to Amsterdam Pub. No line, no cover, good music, and they had Fragglerock playing on the TVs. We found a table and ordered some drinks...which later turned into quite the issue. Turns out the bartender was drunk and had stopped pouring drinks even though the waitresses were putting in orders. We even overheard the bartender telling people how drunk she was, oh boy. Empty glasses and pitchers were piling up on the bar, but drunko wasn't doing anything about it. After waiting 20 min for our next pitcher, we asked the waitress to speak to the manager. Oh, that would be the drunk bartender one and the same! The waitresses had told us they all signed waivers saying they wouldn't go behind the bar or pour drinks, so we were stuck. We tried to leave without paying our tab since we were so upset, but got stopped by the bouncer. We paid for the one pitcher we were served, but said I would put a nasty review up on Yelp. That'll show em!

After Amsterdam Pub, we called it a night. We headed to bed to rest up for skiing the next day.

Day 2:
Sunday morning, bright and early, we all got up and were ready to hit the slopes. I decided to take a lesson after my experience with trying to keep up with everyone last year (see also: petrified, scarred for life, stress induced nightmares). The lesson was awesome, and I feel so much more comfortable on the mountain now. There were only three of us who are all at the same level with one instructor. Since we had all skied before, our instructor helped us with our technique and having more control with our turns. I got some great tips, and had a good time.

waiting at the bottom to be placed into a lesson

stopping for lunch at mid station on Whistler

We all met up at the hotel room after, and once again hit the hot tub. For dinner we decided to venture out to the Brewhouse for another delicious meal. We had a fun time eating, laughing (I don't even know what sparked some of our dinner table conversations), and even taking shots of Goldschlager, yikes. After dinner it was back to the room for more shenanigans, then calling it a night.

Day 3:
Lazy. That about sums up Monday. We slept in a bit while Matt and Gemma packed up to head home. We all headed to brunch at the crepe place before they left. After eating we came back to the room and lounged around. The weather was dreary, so that definitely contributed to the laziness. Matt and Jenny decided to ski in the afternoon, so Clint and I stayed back and wandered the village for a bit. We also stopped at Avalanche Pizza for a slice, nom, before going back to the room to meet up.

necessary Olympic Rings pic

We headed back to Longhorns that night to grab something to eat and then stay for a performance by DJ Mark Farina. I'm not the biggest fan of house music, but it was cool to watch for a bit. Plus there was a group of drunk teenagers sitting next to us which gave us plenty of entertainment. One in particular, who we dubbed "Beibs" because of his looks, rocked the dance floor with his signature moves all night. Jenny and I ended up getting tired of the scene and told the boys we were headed back to the room. You know, to give the guys their guy time...or really just to go back and go to sleep. The guys had fun without us, and even headed back to Buffalo Bills where there wasn't a cover for a Monday night before heading back to join us.

Day 4:

We had tentatively planned to ski this day and head home right after, but the weather deterred our plans once again. Instead, we took our time packing up, and went to the Brasserie for brunch. We did some shopping afterwards as we made our way back to the hotel, then we hit the road to head back to America. The ride home was long and rainy. Special thanks to Matt for driving while I napped it up in the back seat. The boys made a special pit stop for Jenny and I at the Lululemon outlet on the way home, so nice of them! I found a couple pairs of yoga pants on sale that I'm pretty excited about. Then it was back home to unpack (ha, like I ever unpack right after a trip) and back to the real world.

Thanks, Matt and Jenny, for hosting a great trip!

Sold!

It's official, I'm a first time homeowner! As we were driving home from Whistler yesterday (more on that later, but first things first...) I got word that the recording numbers came through making it a done deal. How exciting?! A little later today, with keys in hand, I'll go step into my new townhouse in West Seattle, and it will all be mine.

I can't believe how quickly this went, and with no major setbacks. A special thank you to my friend Henry for being the best real estate agent ever, and to Duane for doing an awesome job as my lender (he even made a special trip to be at the signing to make sure I understood everything)...these guys are good!

I'll be sure to post pictures soon. Now time to move!

Sold...to me!

Lazy (Easter) Sunday

This year, I didn't do much to celebrate Easter. I had talked to my mom, and neither of us were really set on cooking Easter dinner or making too much out of the holiday, so Clint and I had a lazy day at home. We started off by getting donuts from Top Pot, then back to the couch to watch some of the Masters (congrats Bubba!). Clint ended up having to go to Bellevue for a business meeting, so I spent the afternoon getting my apartment packed up...okay, I only packed 3 boxes, but at least it was a start.

Once Clint got back home, we headed outside to enjoy the abnormal, but beautiful Seattle weather. We walked up to our favorite pho restaurant on Broadway and had probably the most untraditional Easter dinner there is. Surprisingly, the place was packed, so I guess I wasn't the only lousy woman not preparing a home cooked meal.

at least our bubble tea has Easter spirit

We finished the holiday by stopping at Redbox on the walk home and rented Hugo. It was a cute movie, and a perfect end to our relaxing day.

Easter Bunny visiting Capitol Hill

Skagit Valley Tulips

This Saturday, after the kitties left for their new home, Clint and I left for Mt. Vernon (holler Jenni) to check out the Tulip Festival. It had been a long time since I had been out to see it, and Clint had never been. It was something I wanted to do this year, but with April being such a busy month (Whistler this weekend, moving the next, then Rachel and Peter's wedding!) we decided that if we were gonna do it, Saturday was our only chance.

Saturday was a gorgeous day! The sun was out, but it was still freezing. It made the drive out there pleasant, but walking through the fields was a little chilly. It was funny to see how people dress when the sun comes out. I saw one girl in a sun dress and heels (not sure why you'd where heels while tromping through the dirt) covered in goose bumps. That's Seattle for ya.

As we first arrived, we started to see the yellow patches of the daffodils. We found a good spot to pull over, and headed out into the fields. The colors were so pretty, and the sunny day made it that much more beautiful. We took some photos, then decided to head over to Tulip Town.

driving up to the fields

 

We got to Tulip Town, paid the $5 admission, and soon realized that it's still a little early for tulips. There were really only a few rows in bloom. It was definitely not the endless sea of colorful fields I was expecting. That's okay though, it was still a fun day, and we got to have yummy pulled pork sandwiches for lunch from the hot food stand.

Welcome to Tulip Town!

pitiful showing

perfect windy day for kites

On our way out, Clint bought me a bouquet of tulips to take home. So sweet of him. Pretty exciting to finally be able to have flowers or plants in the house without the kitties eating them!

uneaten flowers

Farewell Furry Friends

Some of you may know that I have been searching for a new home for my two sweet little kitty boos. They really are terrific cats, but with my schedule I don't get to spend much time with them, so they don't get the attention they deserve. I'm pretty much the opposite of a homebody. I get stir crazy after staying in too long. In fact, I don't think I've ever stayed home for 24 hours straight. Okay, that might be a stretch, but definitely not for 48. The cats do pretty well on their own and can entertain themselves and each other, but I think they would be happiest with someone who is home often to care for them.

With the move coming up, I also realized I wouldn't have anyone to watch my cats if I were to leave on vacation or even just a weekend trip. My neighbor Anne has been a big help with that, as well as my mom who drives by my apartment on her way to and from work, so it has been easy. With all this in mind, I actively started looking for a new home for them.

The hard part was knowing that not just any home would do. I wouldn't feel right giving them to just anyone. I researched some places, like Purrfect Pals, that will take cats in and guarantee that they will find a home for them. This didn't sit well with me. Who knows how long that would take, and I can just imagine what the shelter looks like that they hold them in while they wait to be adopted. I also wanted to be certain that they were not split up. They are brother and sister, best friends, and don't know what life is like without the other. So, I crossed that off as an option.

I decided to make a flier and post it at my local vet who was also nice enough to email it to some other vets around the city so they could post it as well. I also had my friend Ko print it out and post a few at the Boeing factory in Everett where he works. Lastly, I posted an ad on the Boeing classifieds. As time passed I was getting anxious. The move was getting closer and I had zero leads.

Then, last Wednesday evening, my prayers were answered and Lindsay called. She had seen the flier Ko had posted and was instantly drawn to them. She tore down all the fliers she could find so that no one else would see them and call before her. She sounded a little younger on the phone, and said that she worked the early shift at the factory and was home early in the afternoon. Since she lives alone, she had been looking to get a pet so she could have a companion. We emailed back and forth that night answering her questions and sending her more photos, and she made plans to come meet them on Saturday. She sounded so sweet, asking me to please not let anyone take them before she had a chance to meet them.

Saturday came and Lindsay showed up with her mom. My mom had also come over to see the cats again in case Lindsay decided to take them home with her. So there we were, four cat ladies chattin it up in my apartment. Boy cat was on his best behavior and extremely charming. He greeted them at the door, stood on his hind legs to be picked up, sat on the couch to be pet, chewed on Lindsay's hair, and showed off how he plays with his toys. Girl cat knew something was up. She sat under the dining room table watching everything. Lindsay was in love, and so excited to have me let her take them home. I handed over every cat related thing in my apartment...litter box, food dishes, toys, scratching post, and even a carrier my mom had bought (as a parting gift, ha). I gave the kitties one last snuggle, and off they went to their new home in Everett.

I was definitely sad to see them go, they have been such good pets for the past 4+ years, but I couldn't be happier with the home I found for them. I know Lindsay will be a perfect crazy cat lady and give those kitties tons of love. She even sent me a text thanking me for the best gift ever, how sweet is that?! I told her to keep me posted on how they settle in, and I've already gotten word that they are doing great. So good to hear!

Here are a few photos to reminisce on my own crazy cat lady years...

self imposed time out

Superman stretch

cat nap

will miss waking up to this...

helping me with some emails

cat box

Desert 100

The Desert 100 is a big time motorcycle race for endurocross riders. It's basically a smaller version of the Baja 1000, if you happen to know what that is. It takes place over in Eastern Washington in a little podunk town called Odessa. It's out in the desert, and you basically ride (with 1,000+ other riders) two 50 mile laps...hence the name, Desert 100. It's a weekend long event with a poker run, pee wee race for the kiddos, and awards on Saturday, then the main event on Sunday morning. People come from all over the place and set up the RV's and take over the town. It really is a fun time, and a good excuse to get muddy, drink beer during the day, and pretend you're white trash.

This past weekend was my third time out to watch the race (I missed out last year). My cousin Jami and I both had obligations on Saturday in Seattle (see previous post on the oh-so-fun Chi Omega brunch), so we decided to drive over together that afternoon. Jami picked me up, we made a pit stop in Cle Elum for her to grab a change of clothes, then headed to Moses Lake. Clint and his buddies stay there in the fine Ameristay Hotel establishment every year. It's a 45 min drive to Odessa, but you're able to come back to an actual hotel room after riding all day Saturday to get out of the dust cloud, take a dip in the hot tub, and shower in a full size bathtub as opposed to an RV closet. Jami and I were able to get a room next to the boys (crazy that they had vacancy on short notice), and we headed out to dinner.

The next morning we got up bright and early and headed over to Odessa. We parked with a couple more of Clint's friends who were actually staying at the race in a trailer, and the guys got ready to head out to the starting line. Now, the start of this race is pretty crazy. All the racers ride their motorcycles out the start line and line up their bikes next to each other and stretch out across the desert. Once your bike is positioned, you stand about 10 feet behind it. Here everyone waits for the cannon to sound and you sprint up to your bike, hop on, start er up, and get er done. It looks like mayhem. You're so close to all the other riders, and if someone were to go down in front of you, there isn't much time to maneuver around them. I found this video on youtube of someone who had a helmet cam. It's kinda long, but you get the gist of it. I have a hard time not getting anxious just watching this, so I can't imagine actually living it.

the guys chatting while busy body Clint works away

Matt getting his bike ready

Pepper keeping a lookout

me being a happy helper...yes it's 9am

all ready to go

off to the start

The start for the spectators is a little different. They have a couple big gravel piles that people climb to get a better view. From here you can barely see the tiny bikes starting to line the hillside. You then see the cannon smoke rise, and start to see the tiny riders race down the hill towards you. Most years it's incredibly dusty and hard to see. It had been raining for the past couple days this year, so visibility was better (even though the mud made it difficult to ride in). It's crazy to watch a thousand bikes race down the hill toward you, all funneling into a narrow passage way they call the "hole shot" to start the race. What's even crazier is how fast the top 3 riders come blazing through there. Again, I found a video on youtube that someone recorded from up top of the gravel pile. The one I took was incredibly shaky, so I'll let you watch this one instead.

yeah, stay off

RV city

bikes all lined up

As a spectator, there's nothing else to see after the start until the guys come around after the first lap to the pit stops. Jami's brother in law who was racing took a fall right after the start. She headed out with him and her in-laws to the hospital to get him checked out and make sure everything was okay. Fortunately it was, but definitely a scary time for her family. This also meant I didn't get to spend as much time with her that day, which was a bummer. I'm happy we got to ride over together though. She cracks me up, and we laughed (at ourselves) the whole way.

Fortunately, a couple of Clint's friends didn't do the big ride, so I was able to warm up in the trailer as we waited for the guys to finish the first lap. We headed over to the pits a little early to wait for them. This is a fun thing to watch too. The really fast guys have their own crews who get them in and out of the pits in about 30 seconds. As we're waiting, Clint's friend Matt shows up first and decides to stop at 50 and not finish out the full 100. Seeing him come in first had me worried. Clint is usually faster than Matt and should have been to the pit stop by then. I started to think either something went wrong, or he cut to the finish line early and also decided to only do 50 miles. I headed back to the trailer with everyone to see if he was there, but didn't find him. We headed back to the pits only to find out that we had missed him! There were a few guys watching where we were standing that helped him refuel his bike and hand him a Powerade. I felt so guilty! The one job I had, and I failed. I even had his set of clean goggles around my wrist, so he had to do the second lap with the mud covered ones, whoops.

After missing him in the pits, I knew I had to at least get a photo of him coming in to the finish. This is something I had failed to do the prior two times I was there, so maybe I could redeem myself. I got there earlier than I would expect him and waited it out. I even bought him a bottled water to make it even more thoughtful of a gesture. The bikes were lining up as they clocked each person in, and then came Clint. He was happy to see the water (and me probably) since he didn't take any along for the ride. I also made sure to get about 10 pictures of him getting his time clocked, coming over the finish, and getting his t shirt.

finishers lining up to clock in their times

you made it!

crossing the finish

thumbs up to 100 miles

Turns out Clint took a fall towards the beginning which slowed him down quite a bit. It's hard to get back up and headed the right direction when hundreds of bikers are comin at you. At the half way point he decided that he wanted to finish it out, and had a much better time on his second lap. I'm happy he was able to finish the whole thing with no major setbacks and no injuries. We headed back to the trailer so Clint could eat, change, and get the bikes locked and loaded to head out. After a long day, we were ready to get out of there and get home. Great job Clint!

packin up

a little dirty after the ride

Matt's muddy helmet cam

Desert Warrior Clint