Day 225

Had breakfast at Waffles and More with everyone. It was pretty good. Afterwards Auntie had an official quiz from the audio guide and Brad and Grandpa won (makes sense since, as drivers, they are not allowed to sleep on the drive). Grandma, Roy, and Olivia left (semi-huffily, one day early).

Auntie and I went to do laundry. We lost 3 socks but got yummy frozen yogurt. Then we looked around for the movie theater and found Shopko. It was exciting because they had Santos, small plastic saints in eggs from the quarter machines (now fifty cents, thanks inflation). I got a pope and monk. Go team pope!

Watched Pitch Black and finished I Capture the Castle.

Day 224

Melanie's Birthday

Spent most of the day traveling. Traveled to Hells Gate State Park in Lewiston. Very pretty ride along side the river, tracing the Lewis and Clark Expedition's trail. Auntie set up us with a nice audio guide to central Idaho. Mostly I slept though it.

Read some I Capture the Castle and played boardgames.

Day 223

Drove out to Gem Mountain to pan for sapphires. It was really fun. With Sturgis being so close there were quite a few bikers and I of course got to chatting with a couple. They told me about where all the good rock hunts are.

I found a good number of sapphires including a rare red sapphire and a somewhat sizable cuttable flawless sapphire.

Afterwards we loaded up and headed to Phillipsburg to have lunch at an old fashioned soda fountain where I tried a cherry phosphate, which was sour and delicious, and a so-so pasty.

We took a stroll around town and I bought some candy at the Candy Palace. Grandma bought some antiques. Then we got some ice cream. I got “Moose Moss” which was mint with a fudge ribbon and mint chocolate cups. Phillipsburg was adorable. If I had to live in BFE nowhere that would be a nice little place.

Played some games and read more I Capture the Castle.

Day 222

Woke up early and drove out to Bannack State Park to hunt for quartz crystals at Crystal Park.

The ride was gorgeous but it was ridiculously hot. Crystal Park was really odd with numerous holes of varying sizes all around. I mostly worked in a large hole in the shade with Auntie. After a while she got up to run to the restroom. As I dug I felt someone sneak up behind me ruu their fingers up my back as though it was an enormous spider. Knowing it was Sean I refused to turn around. Then the skittering sensation traveled up my back and off of my tank top and onto my bare flesh. Suddenly I realized that Sean's hands are bigger and don't have tiny claws. I reared up in fright and a squirrel (chipmunk??) came running off of my back and off into the brush. I am now convinced that I have hantavirus. Or maybe monkeypox, only time will tell. Or perhaps I have Squirrel Back. Ok, fine. I made that one up.

Started I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith. Absolutely charming.

Day 221

Spent most of the day driving into Montana from BC. The border guards took my grandma's prized houseplant. (teehee) The scenery was gorgeous. I forgot how beautiful parts of Montana are.

Finished What is the What.

Day 220

Woke up early and headed out to Rock Candy Mountain for a Rock Candy Safari. I made the error of riding out on the cliff side path with my grandfather who has ADD and basically almost got us all killed. Her ran off the road twice. My life, short and mostly filled with cake flashed before my eyes.

We took a fairly lengthy path up to the mine and it was pretty exhausting. While there I dug for Fluorite, Barite, and more. I got some very lovely samples, some for display and some for jewelry making.

Afterwards Auntie and I dropped everyone off and headed to the laundry. We did some laundry and snuck over to get homemade ice cream across the street. I had coffee flavor and it was good.

Read more What is the What. Played some boardgames.

Day 219

Got up early and snuck down to Winthrop for breakfast with my Uncle and Grandpa. Delicious. Picked up fresh baked cinnamon rolls for the others.

Loaded up the car and traveled to Republic to dig for nifty fossils. It was very hot, but we all found at least one good fossil. I found two different kinds of leaves.

Set out for Grand Forks, BC. At the border the guards seized from my grandparents:

Tomatoes

Lettuce

Peaches

1 50 pound (?) bag of dog food

2 garbage bags of dog food

Some beef.

I know I shouldn’t laugh, but my grandmother’s righteous indignation= hilarious.

Set up camp and headed to the hotel to enjoy their “world famous borscht”. I have no idea why this was famous. Perhaps famous for being bland. I also had some so-so perogies.

Started What is the What by Dave Eggers which is very very good.

Day 218

My face hurts.

Got up early and picked up McDonald’s breakfast for the fam. Loaded up the RV and headed out. Met up with Grandparents and cousins (who were 2- TWO- hours late, who does that?) in Marysville and I switched RVs to ride up the dusty trail to Pearrgyn Lake which is essentially in ass-nowhere central Washington. Along the way we stopped in a few scenic locals and hiked around.

After dinner and cake (Lemon Cake!) at the lake Grandma, Auntie, Olivia, and I traveled back into the little tourist town of Winthrop to do a little sight-seeing and shopping.

Day 217

Went to work. It sucked and my face hurt.

Ran errands, including comic shopping and completion of packing.

Watched some TV.

Day 216

Woke up at 5:30 to get ready for 7 am root canal. Thought there would be traffic so I left an hour to get there but it took about 15 minutes, so I sat at Starbucks and read National Geographic. Had a root canal… for THREE HOURS. Apparently my tooth roots grow sort of together at the end, like a “Y” and that is a problem.

Took a bunch of ibuprofen and watched trash tv in my nest while tearing recipes out of back issues of Bon Appétit and Gourmet. Read comics and napped. Read Bigfoot; I Not Dead.

Beau dropped by to see Jim.

Had DQ with Jim, then watched the new Batman animation movie thing. Very good. Then watched Wanna Bet (shrug), Wipeout, and I Survived a Japanese Gameshow.

Felt sorry for me. Read comics, fell asleep.

My face hurts. Today sucks.

Day 215

Had combo birthday lunch with Lynn at Chantrelle’s.

Ran to Walgreen’s and the bank. Came home and made dinner and hideously burned my hand. Laid down in bed with ice-back, took ibuprofen for the headache I’d had all damn day and promptly feel asleep. It was 7 pm.

Woke up at 11 and brushed my teeth and turned out the light.

Day 214

Fed the dog and hustled down to Chris’ place. Picked up Jen and her friend Steve and went to the Microsoft Company Picnic. It was really fun. We ate lots of good food and enjoyed watching the many many children going nuts for pony rides and giant inflatable toys. Steve taught a little boy to golf (adorable) and Jen had an epic squirt gun battle while the boys played volley ball. We also played bingo and Jen won, then I won too.

It was a really nice picnic.

After that I went to my uncle’s for FSD- Birthday edition. Had chicken parm and salmon and of course a DQ cake. (yay!) Then we opened presents and I got really neat kitchen utensils from my auntie and uncle and the neatest mouse from my cousins.

The girls went home and then we watched Persepolis. It was pretty good.

Returned home and puttered then watched Venture Bros. and Best Week Ever.

Very good day. Except I got sunburned. Which did not hurt, but is irritating.

Day 213

Cleaned up my dogsitting house and took the dog on a pretty good walk. Returned to my place to do laundry and start packing. Visited with the roommate.

Returned to the dogsitting house and had one last lengthy walk with Theo. Then I had to meet Angie to swap out some dogsitting keys, and so we met at DQ. I invited Paul to join since he loves DQ. He and I had treats then fed my other dogsitting dog. Afterwards we ran up to Everett Mall to visit with George and watch Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog (which was stunning). Had a quick bite then I ran to the airport to fetch Lynn. I pulled up just has she got outside, which was quite lucky as traffic was a mess.

Dropped Lynn off at her place, returned to dogsitting house and read some NG.

Day 212

Fed and walked the dog, then headed home to prepare for The Dark Knight’s 12 am IMAX showing. Drove down to Seattle Center with Paul, George, Mel and Jim. Found great parking and arrived at the line to find that Jim and Jason were first in line. Hung out for a while and got great seats. The IMAX experience was great, but I couldn’t help but feel that it detracted from the movie. Which was also long. But I liked it.

Read and crashed out near to 4 am.

Day 211

Addy had an appointment at my office this morning and met me at the door with presents.

I got presents periodically throughout the day, which greatly improved work. I got some fantastic books and a Big Beef action figure.

Had lunch at the good Greek place with my boss.

After work I fed and walked the dog and tended to the plants.

Then I met with Jim, Steve, Kim, Dan, Katie, Czar, Ron, Czabrina, Addy, Jeannine, Mike and Andy at Grinders. Afterwards we retired to Scott’s for cocktails. Steve got me a cookie cutter in the shape of the classic Starship Enterprise.

We finished up pretty early so my roommate and I caught Best Week Ever and Venture Bros before I returned to the dogsitting house.

I spoke with Brad, Mom, Grandma and Grandpa, Monica, and Mebbie.

Today was a magnificent day.

Day 210

After work, fed and walked the dog.

Had my first water aerobics class with Sheena. She brought her friend Jill who was really cool. I really enjoyed the class and our instructors were adorable high school students. Could not stop laughing.

Went home and showered and watched TV with the roommate.

Today was a very satisfying day.

Day 209

Spent the majority of the day shopping at various random stores. Jim was successful in his shopping as was I.

I bought:

Tuxedo style Kangaroos for $20 bucks.

Green Lodis Bubble Clutch for half price.

Bright orange wool coat for $34. (Which is much nicer than the orange pea coat I had been contemplating at the thrift store for nearly the same price.)

Deep turquoise shirt.

Then we met up with Joe and Suze (now officially nick-named- with a Z!) at the Emerald Queen Casino to try out for (them, not me. I’m a wuss.) Wheel of Fortune. Don’t think that they made it, but there is still a chance. Had a tasty dinner at Harmon’s (?) local pub.

Called my mother and had painful convo.

Read comics.

Day 208

Extreme gastrointestinal distress all morning and got NOTHING accomplished at work.

Felt somewhat better in the afternoon and met with Monica and her florist to discuss wedding arrangements.

Ran to the store for Pepto and was perversely tempted by a TJ’s Vegetarian pizza. Downed the whole pizza. (Not as impressive as it sounds.)

Watched reruns of ST:TNG on TV while napping periodically and feeling sorry for myself.

Day 207

Met up with Grandma and Brad at his place. Had an awkward family meeting.

Went down to Shoreline for Great Great Uncle Dewey’s 80^th Birthday. It was good.

Brad and I then watched Theremin (so-so, but interesting biography of the inventor of the electronic instrument) and The Air I Breathe (great film in 4 vignettes, very effecting).

At some point during the few hours I was away from the house, one of the kitties I’m sitting scratched the hell out of the recliner in the family room. This is very annoying as they had full bowls of food and water and a clean litter box. (Note: this is why I do not own cats. Also no butt cheeks. Gross.)

Also there was a spider inside the dishwasher. Spider INSIDE THE DISHWASHER. This phenomenon of spiders in household appliances is very upsetting.

Read more comics.

Day 206

Had breakfast with Jim at Voula’s. Helped Paul finish his walls. His parents, Jason, Jim, and Brad all showed up and pitched in.

Had dinner with Paul then caught Hellboy 2 with a bunch of Comic Stop folks. Diane and Kevin serendipitously showed up too. Hellboy was great!

Read more comics.

Day 205

Fed and walked the dog, met with George and Jim at our place and fetched 2.0. Met Elwood at Serious Pie, but walked down to an Italian place instead.

Watched the Sub-Pop Comedy show. There were several comedians there, but Patton Oswalt was far and away the funniest. Eugene Mirman was also there and very funny (especially extemporaneously) but most of his material I had heard before.

Read comics.

Day 204

Took the dog on a long long walk. He was feeling overly energetic and sniffing every little thing and dragging me all over.

Went down to Rialto in Fremont for Czabrina/Czarina’s birthday dinner. Had a very nice time. Czabrina gave me an early gift of lovely ear rings and I Captured the Castle, which I have been meaning to read for some time.

Read a few more comics.

Talked to Steve.

Day 203

Ran to my place to do some tidying. Visited with the roomy.

Walked the dog and watered then headed over to my uncles house for pasta and weird autobiographical art house films about crazy people.

Read some more random comics.

Day 202

Walked the dog. Came home and made biscuits and chicken fried steak for dinner. Watched a bunch of TV with the roommate. (Venture Bros, Best Week Ever, Wipeout, Robot Chicken, and I Survived a Japanese Game Show.) The roommate bought and installed a ridiculous fancy microwave. Robots will take over the Earth, it is certain.

My vegetables are all sprouting and I’m pleased as punch. Soon there will be all manner of delicious things to eat. Yay!

Day 201

Walked the dog. Ran to Ballard with Steve to check out Sweet Posie’s famous red velvet cupcakes, but they were closed. So we hoofed it over to Cupcake Royale instead.

Picked up chow on the way and headed home to BBQ. Delicious. It was nice to see Addy.

Returned to Theo's and read some comics from my Bermuda Triangle style pile.

Day 200

Woke up in extreme arm pain. Dog walking was a bit uncomfortable.

Had breakfast at Julia’s in Cap Hill with Josh and then dropped in at the aquarium to see the remodel. (Very pretty but not very useful/interesting.) Had some time on our hands still so we headed up to SAM to check out the Impressionists collection. Pretty good. I’m not much of a Monet fan, but they had some good stuff (including Degas, one of my favorites.)

Had ice cream.

Watered the plants and walked the dog.

Went home and watched the first disk of the BBC mini-series, Ultraviolet with Jim. I really like it and think it probably could have gone beyond a mini-series. (Although the end may not allow for that I suppose.)

Day 199

Picked up Sean and helped Paul and his parents paint his condo. My arms are quite tired.

Had dinner at Samurai Noodles with Kim and then went to the M’s game (against Detroit). Beard Papa’s is opening a location at Uwajimaya and had cream puffs for sale at the stadium.

Recap of game:
Ate cream puff.
Ate second cream puff.
Losing kind of badly thus falling asleep.
Had Dr. Pepper.
Scored a home run.
Kim caught a ball.
Garlic fries.
Scored another home run for the win.

Today was a satisfying day.

Day 198

Caught Hancock with Jim, Deuce, and Paul. Hancock was fine.

Had lunch at Qdoba. Then Deuce and I saw Wanted as well. Very good movie.

Frosted my cake and scurried up to George’s for a BBQ. Had a nice time.

Day 197

Made a cake for the BBQ on the 4^th. Watched TV with Jim. Wipeout may be the best show in the history of TV.

Had dinner at Dan & Katie’s. It was great to visit with them again.

Today was a good day.

Day 196

Left work early on account of my face hurting. Jim and I loitered at The Stop then had dinner with 2.0 at Red Robbin.

Finished The Nocturnals. Beautiful art, but it was very hard to follow. Read a few more comics.

Day 195

Had partial root canal. Took pain killers. Had left overs.

Steve visited and killed spiders.

Puked.

Finished Th1rte3n, which was pretty good.

Read more about it on my less boring blog.

Today = Not good.