Working on the Checklist

Another week gone in our last few weeks in Washington, a blur. It's been a little hectic (at least in my head). Fortunately, we've had a nicely balanced mix of work and leisure. We are crossing tasks off the list (it's posted on our fridge) but getting out and enjoying our final time here. What did we do this last week?

On Friday, we wanted to use up our City Passes, so we went to the Museum of Flight. We stayed a long time and tried to learn a lot about planes and space travel. I'd be hard pressed to remember anything technical, but it was very interesting.

Here is Nathan in a Blackbird spyplane, the fastest plane evah. He knew this before we got there. He was really excited.

I'm sitting in a plane too! It was very cramped in there. I'm too claustrophobic to be in the air force, sorry.

They have an outdoor park/airplane parking lot for famous jetliners. We got to walk through the original Air Force One! It had arrows to where JFK's stuff had been ("cupholder," "JFK's pipe holder"). I took Nathan's picture outside. It was a very lovely day.

In our last few weeks in Seattle, we found a really good diner. It is Randy's, next to the Museum of Flight. It is pink and orange and has airplane stuff all over. I think the Boeing employees must be regulars. The food was just alright. It was awesome.

On Sunday, I went to work and then visited Naomi on Capital Hill. We sat outside and had pizza (by the slice) and took Paddington to the dog park. We hung out with a dude and his pug. She sat in my lap for a long time. (!!!)

On Monday we planned, packed, put our stuff up on craigslist, and I made dinner. (Thanks for the shrimp, Melinda!) It turned out pretty darn good. Our apartment, however, still smells like shrimp.

I can't even remember what day it was we ran errands and ate at Gilbert's. Was it Monday? Anyways, we love Gilbert's. Nathan had a turkey sandwich with some kind of Russian dressing.
I had a tomato-mozzarella open-faced sandwich with capers. It's a favorite. (We've been going out to eat a lot ((too much?)) because there are so many food establishments we'll miss....I'm trying not to lament restaurants because I think we'll have equally good/better food options in Boston.)

...And then:
-Tuesday: I worked. We packed. We dealt with craigslist ads. We showed the van. Sold stuff. Oof.
-Wednesday: We scrubbed the van. We showed the van to 4 people. We called/emailed back and forth all day. It was very tiring. By the evening, I was frazzled. Then we went out to Trivia Night with friends (Nathan could finally come along!) and I felt a lot better. Love Trivia Night.
-Thursday: I went to work and Nathan handled more van inquiry. Agreed on a buyer. We packed. We sold stuff. We bought space bags for packing, and Nathan got new sneakers! Cute.
-Friday: We picked up the title from the post office. Van buyer came over. Van buyer took Nathan with him on expedition to the Licensing office. I bussed into Seattle for sushi lunch with a friend, came home. Nathan and I walked to bank with van monies. Friday night we bussed into Seattle for friend's birthday celebration at bbq and blues club. Good time! We bussed home. We were tired.
-Saturday: We just woke up. I will go to work this afternoon.

...stop. breathe. clear the mind. sip some coffee. take in some sun.

Did I tell you it's been busy?
Yes, but we've been getting a lot done and feeling better about our to-do list. Our accounts here are almost all taken care of, a good portion of our stuff is packed, a good portion is sold/selling. Friends and work are aware of our departure. Social plans are being made, hugs goodbye are in order. This checklist is getting smaller.

The big ones left over:
-nail down a summer apartment.
-buy plane tickets.

These we will do, dare I say, TODAY!

***
Thanks for bearing with me. Did you have a nice week? I hope you did.
We love you.

Happy Mother's Day!

We love you, mamas!
And to all the mamas out there--you do good work. Have a wonderful day!

xo

The News

That's right! Most everyone knows, but we're making it blog official. Nathan has accepted a fantastic position as a software developer in Boston, so away we go again!

Washington has been very good to us, and there will be aspects and people we'll miss. We are excited and working out all the details of the big move. It's hard for me to think about much else--it seems like there's so much to do. More details to come!

Graduation Weekend

Just a little recap....
Nathan graduated Saturday!!!!
Congratulations, Nathan. :)

This boy worked hard, so this past weekend we celebrated a lot. Melinda and Todd, Shelene and Christopher, and Jim and Lesta were all here to see him walk across the stage. Everyone arrived Thursday afternoon, and the rest of the weekend was spent sightseeing, eating, traveling around in one big van, and marveling that those 4 years are finally over.

The ceremony was held at Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue. It was a chilly, partly sunny weekend.

It was so nice of Jim and Lesta to fly out to be part of the celebration!

On Friday we went to the Seattle Aquarium. Nathan and I had never been there, and it was a lot of fun.

We ate lunch at the aquarium before a visit to Pike Place Market and an Argosy harbor tour. A full day!

After dinner and a little celebration with cake after the graduation, we headed into Seattle for a night view from the Space Needle.

Sunday we loaded up the van and went to the Woodland Park Zoo. Here is a Komodo Dragon, one of Nathan's favorites. :)

Who knows if Christopher will remember his first big vacation to Seattle, but I'm glad he was here and will be part of our memories of the big weekend. At least he will have his own photos to document the experience. He is patiently waiting to get a photo of a komodo dragon statue.

After the zoo, we had lunch at BluWater in the Green Lake neighborhood, which has become a Rowland clan favorite over several visits. A quick stop at the Kerry Park overlook provided another photo opp. A view of that boy and city we love!

It was a packed weekend, all a bit of a blur now. So far I think Nathan is enjoying his freedom, and I hope it is all sinking in. We're so proud of him!

Thank you to everyone for the warm wishes and congratulations. Family, thanks for being here to spend time with us and support Nathan on his big day. We hope you had a great time! We sure did. :) xoxo

The Winner, The Prize

The secret prize of my first Spring Giveaway went to my friend Paul in Ohio! He received it a few days ago and said he was pretty delighted. It was difficult to decide what to make for Paul. If the winner was a girl, I would have made something pretty and floral like, but Paul was one of three guy friends to enter. Knowing he shares my appreciation for the feline personality, I decided on a Cat Adventure flip book! I used vellum to draw each frame of action, then scanned it and colored it in photoshop. The result was two little books, the first being the cat leaping into the air, and in the second the cat lands on a table. It was tough and turned out a little rough, but it was fun. I think I will try to animate it next!

What a week

What a life.
Is it nearly Thursday already as I write this? Goodbye, week. I am working the next 3 days, midshifts, which I generally like, but they also eat at the day. I've been losing track of time. It seems to have slipped through my fingers as I was preoccupied with thoughts of time...that's the dangerous irony.

So much happening right now...well, for Nathan. I am restless, yet tired, as I think of him powering through these last several days. I suppose this feeling is empathy and also dependence. What I'll try to extract is a reminder, to pave a path alongside his as he works so hard to make his way. I remember those final weeks finishing projects, working around the clock, and reaching a threshold of exhaustion. Nathan came home with a sniffle, and I panicked a little....No, not now! One more week! But a cold waits for no one and no finals. Soup making goes on my schedule tomorrow.

What else is new? My friend got the apartment she wants, and it's been fun to help her in the rehoming process. On Monday 4 of us ladies piled in the van and went to Home Depot--hilarity and confusion, let me tell ya. And then painting. Lots of painting, and boy, does it make a difference. I need to remember color in my life (note to self). Otherwise, I finally finished my giveaway project and got it into the mail...a consuming project I hadn't quite anticipated. I hope the recipient is pleased. These activities have replaced laundry and cooking square meals lately, so that needs to be reintroduced asap. For our health and our wallets. I'll give it a few more days before sharing my project...ok, fine, here's a teaser photo, but don't ask me what it is! I'm not telling yet.



So, finally, here are a couple new pics from our beautiful Sunday afternoon. N and I haven't been able to spend much time together in the recent chaos, but a perfect Northwest day beckoned us to the dog park. And to Spud's for the best fish and chips...I had to get a photo to promote this meal to legendary status.

So what's new with you?

Thanks for reading through my ramblings...please keep us in your hearts the next couple weeks. xo

Surprises for Spring

Hello, all. Here we are in the 3rd week of April, and Spring has me a bit restless. I am trying to keep my thoughts and hands busy to distract myself from other nervous thoughts, mostly about the future.

This weekend I accompanied a friend in her apartment shopping on Capitol Hill, which was good fun. I hadn't been to that part of the city in quite some time, and the sunshine made it such a cheery day. Plus, I love looking at new places and scheming design ideas in my head. Now that it's warming up I feel like getting out and exploring again. Perhaps busy feet will keep my nerves at bay.

Yesterday, my day off, I stayed in and made some happy Springtime crafts. I decided to package them up and send them to someone. This particular package is going to someone special. I left a comment on Facebook that I was sending out a package to someone, and then, something funny happened.....people got really excited about the possibility of getting a package! I felt bad because I knew who was getting this one, but I decided it would be fun to surprise someone else with a package too! So, I posted this little announcement on Facebook:

photo by pewari naan

Happy Spring, Friends!

Every year when Spring rolls in, as Winter sputters out yet two months too long, I think....this must be my very favorite season. (Whence Summer and Fall come around, I think I say the same...Nonetheless!--) The world feels fresh, sometimes new, and despite whatever else is going on, there's something hopeful in the air. There's energy.

So what am I getting at? I want to share that happy Spring energy with you! Here's the deal:

Callie's Great Spring Giveaway

In the comments below this note, say hello and leave your mailing address.* I will use a random number generator to select one person to receive a special surprise package! Please reply soon as I will only take comments up to Friday at 12:01am PST. I will finish the project and send it out next Monday, April 19th (or Tuesday, if I'm lazy). My only request is that you be willing to take a photo of You+Surprise to share, aka, the Results Photo.

What will you get? I'll be honest--it will probably be something simple, lightweight, and likely homemade, because "{my} money don't grow on trees," and that's just how I roll. It may be somewhat generic, or it could be more personal. The fun is in the surprise! :)

*If you are uncomfortable leaving your address in the comments, leave a comment (so you'll have a number) and private message me your address.

***

Isn't that fun??

I'm really excited and hope I get lots of comments to make it more exciting for everyone. Facebook is a funny thing though...200 people you haven't spoken to in ages will add you, say nothing, and then totally ignore you from thereon. I'm hoping this will bring some of them out of the woodwork, and if not...maybe I'll delete them. ;) Just Kidding!

Happy Tuesday!