a great weekend and a new chapter

For the 4th of July weekend, Andy and I packed up our sweet ride and headed down to the Oregon Coast. We camped three nights in Cannon Beach. We were sure to include some of our favorite things in our little excursion: coffee, vino, hotdogs, a small town parade, a long run, a romantic fire on the beach, volleyball, and lots and lots of sun.

When we got home on Monday, we had quite an itch. A house-buyin itch. So, we did some fancy prioritizing, picked out a nice place for a good price, squeezed our eyes tight, and jumped. We made an offer and the offer has been accepted, as of an hour ago.

We learned two important things about us: we are great campers, and can make grown-up decisions, I think.

SASQUATCH

Andy and I packed up our tent, sleeping bags, sweet shades, and beer and headed to the middle of Washington, to the dry, desolate, insanely expansive Columbia River Basin. It was here that we met up with 25,000 other amped concert go-ers. I'm talking about the Sasquatch Festival at the Gorge Ampitheater in the good old town of George, Washington (yep. like the president).

I was pretty pumped to show off one of our states most beautiful venues to Andy--who's been bouncing off the walls for months totally stoked about this HUGE event (literally 15 of his most favorite bands all played at this festival). It was everything we thought it would be. We spent three days listening to more bands than we could count completely. Rocking. Out. I can successfully say that I have learned about lots of cool bands I didn't know about, about the art of hippy dancing, and the craziness that arises when you mix TONS of people, a beautiful place, and LOUD MUSIC. Our favorites included Bon Iver, Fleet Floxes, Santigold, Gogul Bordello (crazy gipsy punk), Mos Def, Animal Collective, M Ward, and the Avett Brothers.

As usual, a great time with great friends, from Pullman and Bellingham. We came home late last night groggy and tanned. Count us in again, for Sasquatch 2010!!!

drum roll, please...

I'm pleased to announce two new additions to our life...

Number One:

Miss Amelia Sue Lane

Number Two:

2009 Honda Fit

...that we can sleep in...

A little epiphany

Andy and me on a hike last weekend in Bellingham, WA

Andy and I have challenged ourselves with yet another bright idea: live for today. Let go. Walk out our apartment door saying, "let's go have some fun!" (that one is a little more practiced by yours truly).

It is finally the first time in our lives that we have quit worrying about the next job, the next degree, the next move, or the next big decision to make. We both have great jobs. Fulfilling jobs. Jobs that produce real, tangible rewards. We have healthy bodies and a fridge full of vegetables and venison. We have a church that makes us work hard to think and love. We have a cozy little apartment that allows us to host a little dinner or leave for a weekend adventure.

In lieu of all this great stuff, we have felt quite a rush. Not like busy, busy, hurry, hurry kind of rush. It's more like the kind of rush you get when you finish a long, hard run and you finally descend into your parking lot and begin to flop your legs into a relaxing walk. It's a mental kind of rush that makes you feel like all of your hard work is kind of starting pay off and you can just slow down and enjoy all that you've worked so hard to get.

This relaxation and talk of "letting go" is a tad easier as I sit here in my jammies, during my spring break, with a giant pot of coffee, on a warm, rainy spring morning. Life is so sweet :0)

(....There are times, however, when "letting go" doesn't seem appropriate. Para example: during an intense tennis match. Let's just say, letting go is not quite at the top of my list...Great game, El and Chris!)

Spreadin the Love

What a night in Seattle! Tim, Sabrina, Andy and I painted the town red, thanks to a love-packed agenda provided by the Hetlands. The eve began with dinner at Barrio, a candle-lit sexy Spanish restaurant that features Seattle's best gourmet tacos. These tastey treats paired perfectly with specialty made fresh rose-bud and strawberry Sangria. I completely understand if a little drool just found it's way to your keyboard.

Next, we walked to a cute cafe that brewed their own fresh roasted coffee. It hit the spot and got us jived up for our next event: a romantic stroll at Kerry Park-where Seattle lit up the sky at one of the best views of city. Now that I know where this really cool spot is, I look forward to taking you there-all Washingtonians should take a gander at this locale. Incredible.

Last (and a little fuzzier in my mind...) we kicked back at Ozzie's on Queen Anne. We Karaoked (sp?) to our little hearts content. Andy, of course, stole the stage with his smooth voice and ca-razy moves. Sabrina also won the hearts of many-a-bar folk when she got down and dirty performing "Shoop".

I don't know if it's the gourmet food, the city lights, or the cheap beer--but nights like that make me think that me and my someone special got some kinda thang. I sure lucked out with this one. Whatta man whatta man whatta man whatta mighty good man.

dance fusion

Meg and I've always enjoyed dancing. Last weekend we met a girl named Jane (friend of a friend, great name too, isn't it?). Jane's a nursing student at UW, a doula on the side, and someone who enjoys salsa dancing. She invited us to the come dancing with her at a club called the Century Ballroom in the heart of Capitol Hill, here in Seattle.

We met up around 8, prefunked for a spell, then drove to the Ballroom, which is situated on 11th St, I think, on the second story of an old building with high ceilings, antiquated staircases, and crown molding. We paid a cover then entered the dim, sweaty ballroom, which was lit by red lights. Every Saturday night at the CB includes a brief introductory lesson on the rudiments of salsa, lasting about 15 - 20 minutes. During the lesson, you learn a handful of basic steps, a few twists, and a few turns. Then the music starts blarring and the floor fills up with all sorts of people, young and old.

The scene, dim, red, sweaty, sensual, loud, and pulsating with the rhythms of Buena Vista Social Club, was also non-threatening. It was easy to meet people and to dance with strangers - young and old, talented and not so talented - because everyone was there, or seemed to be there, primarily to enjoy the dance itself, the experience of salsa.

All in all, Meg and I learned that Salsa is a highly sensual, graceful thing, a real picante art form, one that represents a sort of fusion between two bodies. That's what the best dancers seemed to do, achieve a sprezzetura of rhythmic oneness.

We blundered our way through the first hour but became more and more comfortable with some of the steps and turns as the night worn on. We also watched other people and tried to remember the things we learned dancing with others. We stayed for about three hours and towards the end started getting the hang of things. Meg really brought the sauce; I was proud of her and loved being with her in such a chaotic, exciting place as the Century Ballroom.

Anyways, we plan on heading back to Capitol Hill. Might even become a ritual. It sounds cheasy but we netflixed an intro to salsa disc and are thinking about doing a little practicing at home in the evenings. Our recommendation - find a place to salsa!

"a-giddy-up" -Cosmo Kramer (Sienfeld)

It didn't take long for Andy and me to sink back into our regimented routine of life after all of the Christmas hubbub (that's right. hubbub) was over. I was kind of sad that the long mornings and late nights came to an end. I even complained about how dull things seem after all the traveling and fun things we got to do during the winter break.

Yesterday, Andy and I woke up, ate a huge breakfast and ran 8 miles together. We met our good friends, Tim and Sabrina, in Seattle for a great night of church, authentic Neopolitan pizza (with only the freshest ingredients shipped straight from Italy-wink, wink, T and S), and great conversation over coffee and dessert.

The whole day was a fun and exciting gift--just like Christmas. What a selfish, forgetful, lame-o idea to think that life is dull or that I don't have enough. If I can wake up with my great hubby and get out of a warm bed, it's Christmas. If me, my family or friends aren't sick, poor, or dying today, it's Christmas. I guess it really is a spirit that doesn't end January 1st. Everyday is Christmas.