Independence Day

12+ hours on a boat in Lake Union for 4th of July=

Matt...just one of the girls. Please note the Sally Jessy Raphael look he seems to be going for.



Red, White, Rainier & Blue

Landed this flip GLASSES INTACT

The half shirt?

As I was gathering my things to exit the boat after a long, hard day of fun in the sun I believe I was saying to myself something along the lines of..."ANOTHER fun 4th on the water! What a GREAT day! I LOVE my city! I LOVE my friends! How LUCKY am I?! I'm HUNGRY. Do I have any saltwater taffy left??"

AND THEN I DID A FACE PLANT INTO THE DOCK.

My chin gushed blood. I woke up with a bruise the size of a cantaloupe on my thigh. My jaw is so sore I can't eat without ibuprofen.

So when you see the scar on my chin and ask, "How'd 'ya get that?"

I'll reply "It's the souvenir I got 4th of July '09...now THAT was an amazing day."

I Love Muppets

Last night I paid $15 to go back in time...to my childhood.

Currently on exhibit in Seattle at the EMP is Jim Henson's Fantastic World, a traveling exhibit put on by SITES.

I realize this dates me horribly (I totally don't get kids cartoons and entertainment these days--how old does that make ME sound???), but my sister and I were OBSESSED with The Muppet Show and waited so patiently every week to see it when we were little. We'd plop down 12" in front of the tv...and would belt out the theme song.

Also a fave of ours in attendance at the exhibit was Fraggle Rock. SO clever. For kids like us who didn't have cable in the 80's it was DEVASTATING. We'd beeline for HBO whenever at our cousins house hoping it was on like it was the ultimate forbidden fruit or something.

The exhibit was wonderfully nostalgic and a happy tribute to the genius imagination of Jim Henson.

Only disappointments: I was told Miss Piggy charged "too high a fee" to attend. And the absence of my very favorite characters Statler & Waldorf was a bummer.

Jim Henson's Fantastic World will be on display through August 16th.

Kids putting on their own rock band puppet show

Fraggle Rock

Statler & Waldorf

My Kind of Neighborhood

San Diego's East Village has been sprouting new and interesting eateries like mad in the last 12 months.

My fave of the crop: Neighborhood.


A neighborhood pub for the casual connoisseur...it really is a watering hole for the locals (just far enough off 5th avenue to weed out most of the tourists who wouldn't appreciate this place anyways). Last week I veered away from my usual burger and beet salad...and both Chris and I decided to do an everything-but-burger-sampling.
First: Chorizo corn dogs. Holy hell were they amazing. Corn dogs are really a guilty pleasure of mine anyway...and these "fancy" ones made me feel a little less guilty for loving them so much.
Next: sweet potato fries! The vinegar-y dipping sauce and cheese flecked fries made a winning combo.
Then: Jalapeno mac n cheese. Chris ordered this...but I think I ate most of it. We almost had a little scuffle over my "sharing" this dish with him. It would have been worth the fight.
Lastly: Grilled cheese with tomato. Very good. Not great. But very good.
Not leastly: The beer! Picked up two new faves: Craftsman Brewing Company's Heavenly Hefe from Pasadena. Hints of banana and clove. Delicious. I'm scared to mention it tastes a little like a banana Laffy Taffy for fear that you won't believe me that it's good. But it is. And it does. And Hitachino Nest White Ale. Japan. Amazing.

Beer & Baseball

This weekend was a good one. The only reason why I was ready for it to end was that I didn't think my stomach could handle another day of marathon eating-til-discomfort. The kind of eating that baseball games definitely require.
Being in Los Angeles and watching the Mariners beat the pants off the Dodgers: AMAZING. Seeing Griffey hit his 620th career homer...well that wasn't bad either.

Would you believe it if I told you that the lovely lady to my left downed three Dodger dogs at this game??? Now THAT is a real W-O-M-A-N, woman.Tom, Chris & Sarah. Taken right after we had the classic East coast/West coast debate of Twizzlers vs. Red Vines. I am VERY passionate about my Red Vines.

Zovo Lingerie Sidewalk Sale!!

What I wouldn't give to be in Seattle right now so that I could make my way over to one of my favorite events of the year...the Zovo sidewalk sale. Alas, I'll be going through the picked over panties when I finally get into town (but I will absolutely be there nonetheless).

There's nothing like getting a $110 bra for $43...*sigh*

The sale starts: TOMORROW MORNING, 9:30am (goes through Sunday close).

Location: U-Village, tent between Pasta & Co. and the relocated Starbucks.

GO! GO! GO!

Where the Wild Things Are

EVERYONE has heard of the San Diego Zoo, right? It is the most amazing zoo in existence after all. I say this as someone who lived steps from Balboa Park, and could hear the lions roar at night if I kept my windows open. I frequented the zoo at least weekly on my walks through the park, to see the animals and marvel at the cleanliness of the place (I have a thing for bewilderingly clean public parks and recreational facilities).

What many people haven't heard of though is the San Diego Wild Animal Park just 25 minutes to the north of the zoo in Escondido. It is equally as amazing, and equally as bewilderingly clean...with a few added bonuses. Some of my favorite things about the park:

1. It's HUGE! The landscape is beautiful and expansive. The large magnitude of people couldn't possibly phase even the most crowd-phobic person.
2. The number activities seem endless. This isn't JUST a look at animals kind of place. "Fly" over the park from a ridge top cable, have a "roar & snore sleepover" in a canvas tent within the park grounds, horseback riding or a caravan safari. I'm sure there are things I'm leaving out, too.
3. Did I mention it's clean?
4. The food is actually good. Not just hot dogs and popcorn here, not in Southern California! You'll be pleasantly surprised.
5. This is an alcohol friendly park. Explore with beer in hand. That sounds great for an adults only trip. Sounds possibly better if you're with children (Forgive me if this sounds irresponsible. I don't have kids).
6. Visit the baby elephant (born in March!). I love baby elephants. Hands down the most adorable and by far my favorite. I could have watched the baby and his big sister play all day...while drinking a beer and sitting on my clean bench with the clean restroom nearby.

This place is on my must see list for anyone visiting! Below are a few pics from my recent visit:

Bad Blogger

Yes, Yes, Yes. I know, I know, I know. Blah, Blah, Blah.

It's been forever.

What can I say? Summer has a way of inspiring me!