Seattle! Again.

Last week found me in Seattle for work. Yippee. What was more yippee about it was that Ian came along. Yippee [squared].

He even took me to the airport at the crack of dawn...not even dawn. We left the house at 4 am. There's something wrong with arriving by plane to a place about the same time you'd just be waking up. Luckily, my room at the W was ready (and I'm now gold status...woohoo), so I was able to check in, hop on my conference call, and order up some coffee.

Walked to a newer Microsoft office that afternoon for a meeting. It was my first time there, and albeit cold, a nice mile-long stroll. Scenery was nothing to complain about.

The other cool thing about the office was my first exposure to green flushing. Not only were the handles of les toilettes covered in a green anti-bacterial plastic, but they were accompanied by a sign that read "flush up for #1, and down for #2." All having to do with water conservation of course, but I wonder if we could start a new movement? A code for having to go #2 could be: "Yeah, I have to go down, but I'll be ready to go in a minute." It sounds nicer than just about any other euphimism for having to make a #2.

Anyway, Ian got in that night and we splurged at a former McKinney client, Capital Grille. Splurged meaning, dinner cost more money than Ian's plane ticket to Seattle.

I was looking like the cartoon character from the Puff's commercials at that point. Feeling sick with a sinus infection--it was a rough night. The next morning, Carrie (my boss) and I were both referred to Life Shield at Whole Foods. Who knew the power of mushrooms? We've been using it, and I think it works splendidly. The girl said that anytime she feels sickness coming on, just a few sprays in her throat and she recovers beautifully!

Ian and I hung with Paul and Carrie over the weekend. The main highlight for me---well, there's a few. But Saturday night, we made a late dinner--we had gone to Pike Place and bought Dungeness crab, filets, and wine. Anyway, delicious delicious dinner at their place. Another highlight would be the crazy gorgeous snow--large flakes the size of baseballs Sunday morning. I miss snow.

Ian and I flew home amidst many hours of delays, and had about an hour before James arrived with puppy Eleanor in tow. Nice! Good surprise that Ian's coz needed a change of scenery from LA to work on his exceptionally smart and adorable children's book. We love having him. Here's a shot of Ian at the grocery store, toting the attention-hogging Eleanor in his cart....

All photos courtesy of my Windows Mobile device. Oh yes, the lack of camera is growing more and more apparent.....

Food Photoblog

So, I told you about the Goode family culinary adventures of late, and we finally uploaded pictures from our camera (here's the sad side story about that--Ian uploaded the pictures Friday night so he could take the camera snowboarding in Tahoe yesterday--then he lost the camera somewhere in the powder--poor guy).

Sorry for not including any pictures in the past few posts (bo-rrrring), but that's what takes the most time.  I guess no pictures is better than no post. 

Culinary Adventure One: Valentine's Day--lamb chops with mustard mint sauce, thyme and leek couscous, and roasted asparagus.  Complete with pre-dinner Maker's Marks (yes, heart shaped ice cubes--it was Valentine's Day, after all), and finishing off with a giant cupcake.

Adventure 2: Asparagus Risotto with Seared Sea Scallops

Adventure 3: Homemade French Onion Soup

A Milk Moment

I can't imagine that there is a city that can incite more inspiration, more passion to fight for a cause, or more community, then San Francisco.

Around the time of the election, it came from all sides--protests, marches, propaganda covering every imaginable ounce of space, people, and things.  Ian and I were overwhelmed in a sea of strong opinions.  But it's obviously quieted down considerably.

A couple of weeks ago, Ian and I went to see Milk.  At the Castro Theatre, no less, which was the primary location of the movie.  It was inspiring and incredible, and difficult to believe that there was such intolerance a short time ago.  Much of San Francisco is the same, and perhaps that made it all the more hard-hitting.

Tonight, just at my stop, the F train was about to hit some rocky terrain.  Marches used to be common back in the fall, but now?  It was a surprise.

Proposition 8 is the modern-day Prop 6 from the movie Milk.  If you've seen the movie, then you might have recognized the scene I just saw....Market Street, thousands of people, signs....ready to march.  They were assembling, they were demanding equality, and the police were organizing.

Of course when I mention the police, the portrayal in Milk has long since been abandoned, and I do admire their tolerance in this city--of all the craziness in the streets, all that could be a mob or out of hand, but somehow never makes it that far.  The police are forgiving here, and understand what makes the city hum.

If anything, SF is the city of love love love.  And the protesting is out of love or for the encouragement of love.  Or the right to love.

Oh the rants when I get home.  How much has changed since the times of Harvey Milk, and how little.  

I've never been politically prepossessed, but if any city could change me, if any cause could move me, it exists here.

Some thoughts

I really like riding the F train.  All the trains are different, and they come from all over: Louisville, Milan, Birmingham.  I've come to know a lot of the interiors by their exteriors, but I'm still surprised sometimes.  It seems like some are in circulation more at different times.  I'll have to take pictures of them for you sometime.

The trains from Milan are the prettiest inside (but the least fun to ride in).  They have glass pendant lighting, and wood benches alongside the car.  It has a back door for emergencies only, but people never read that sign and panic when the back door doesn't open: ("Back door, Driver!  BACK DOOR!").  I like to hang out back there so I can tell them to use the middle door.

My favorite trains inside are the ones that feel like a school bus, but have the single seats in the front.  I like those trains because they have the most room, but (as with all F trains), there's a big risk to sitting towards the front--and that's because the front tends to be the smelliest.

One other thing that makes the F different is the amount of homeless, and incredibly smelly, people that get on.  They must have a lot of business up and down Market street, and I never see this many homeless people get on the buses, or on the Muni underground.  Or BART, for that matter. I've had to consciously hold my breath on the F before so I wouldn't be sick.  It smelled that bad.

The F definitely has the most characters.  I can't help but think sometimes of the USA Network's tagline: Characters Welcome.  I feel like that's on the front of every F train.

The last distinction about the F is the conversations going on.  Between strangers (sometimes 3-4 get involved), between people who get to know each other because they ride so often, and my favorite: between the driver and either other passengers, or sometimes other Muni drivers.

I like to eavesdrop on these conversations, because I feel like I get to know how to drive these crazy contraptions (you have to sometimes hit it hard, then let the air out slowly, slowly to stop efficiently).  Or sometimes I just like to see glimpses of humanity--mainly the good, but sometimes some badness seeps through the interactions.

I also think the drivers are typically very friendly--they've waited for me sometimes when I'm across the street, but trying to get to them.  I like how everyone thanks the drivers when they get out.  It's quite the community.  Drivers often know names of their passengers (even, and maybe especially, the homeless).  

I have come to recognize the drivers.  There's this one guy, and I've been noticing that lately he's been unhappy with work.  He used to be extremely friendly and laid back, but the past few times I've ridden with him, he's been snappy to passengers, impatient, and seems frustrated.  I feel bad for him, and sometimes want to tell him I've noticed.

Enough about the F.  My other topic for today: weather.

It's rainy season here in SF.  Rain and rain for days straight.  What's interesting about this rainy spell is that sometimes there are periods of brilliant sunshine in the midst of the rain.  Or, it will pour, the sun will take over and beat down, and the sky will go dark again and resume pouring.  It's been quite beautiful, but I'll be happy when the rain stops.

At least Spare the Air is over (you're not allowed to burn fires on certain days to improve air quality)--because Ian and I are getting ready to make some French Onion Soup, and with that goes a glass of red and a roaring fire.  Thanks, Alton Brown, for the recipe. I even went out and got some new oven safe bowls from Williams Sonoma for the occasion.

It's one of our nights in Culinary Travel.  I know we haven't written in awhile, but we've made some rules about eating out.  One is that we can only eat out for dinner once a week (unless there are extenuating circumstances--like friends or visitors).  We've been cooking instead--lamb chops, cous cous, seared scallops, roasted asparagus risotto.  Yes, be impressed.  We are.

Was this a random post or what?  I walk around writing blog posts in my head all the time, but never actually update the blog.  I'm kind of tired of apologizing for it.  I've thought about canceling the blog (because I hate having it over my head), but that's just silly.  I'll write when I can.  No apologies.

Snowy Seattle

Snowy Seattle sounds better than Sleeting Seattle, or Rainy Seattle.

But it's all of those things. Rather, it snowed while I slept last night, but today was sleety rainy.


I walked 15 minutes from the hotel to work this morning, and....freeeeezingness (note the snow-covered Qwest field building...ah yes...Qwest). But kind of a brisk change from San Francisco. All I imagined was that I wished on the other end of my walk was a fireplace and a big glass of wine. Not simply a laptop, cellphone, and a gray view from the office window.


Debaucles yesterday with the flight. Wish I could write at the time how ridiculous flying and airports can be, and all the crazy characters you meet along the way. But then after the fact, I am tired of thinking about these people and the silly situations you find yourself in, so I can't expend much energy reviewing all the details of what happened. Just know it was silly, and my co-worker Bill said that if he went through what I did, he would have walked into the meeting and punched someone in the face. :)


Carrie (my boss) and I had a big step in our relationship last night, when I met her family for the first time. Her best friend, dad, step-mom, and of course her hubby and brother who I already know. Big, big step. I think it went well.


At the hotel, my points are finally taking effect....I'm getting the gold star treatment. On the highest floor, got some VIP pass (+1!) to an event there tonight, when a co-worker staying in the same hotel did not get one. Yesssss...I'm feeling special. I'm supposed to have dinner with some co-workers tonight , but in my heart I just want to go back to the hotel, order in, and put in the dvd I brought, watching a movie in my super comfy hotel bed.


OK, that's it for now.

January is running faster than we are.

January is almost over.  Ridiculous.  It's been (so far) a loooong month.  Good, but tiring.

I went last weekend to Cincinnati to visit my friend Kimberly, her husband Christopher, and to meet their little Owen for the first time.

Wow.  Cold!  Leaving 70 degree weather, I donned the fluffiest coat possible and embarked on the cross country journey.

It was a wonderful, relaxing weekend.  Kimberly and I drove down to Lexington, KY (where we went to college) and drove around a bit, had a pint at the old hangout, etc.  Things sure have changed...

This week at work=SUPER busy.  Lots of meetings, my boss flew down from Seattle, taking clients out every night.  Whew.  I'm pooped.  Then Ian and I went to the Castro Thursday night to see Better Off Dead (the director and Monique was there after for an interview).  Good times.  Truly SF.

Just really trying to recoup this weekend from my overboard of being social.  Tomorrow I leave bright and early for Seattle for the week.  Yowsers.  It continues.

Highlights so far this month: 

1. Training at work.  I know.  That sounds weird.  One training I had to speak in front of a crowd / make a pitch while being recorded, then accept feedback and watch my DVD with the instructor.  Painful as that is, it's a great way to better yourself.  She gave loads of communication tips, and I found it really useful...if only I can stop saying "...right?", "um," and stop fidgeting with my hands.

The other training was a personality test--I'm a green / blue.  Our team took a personality profile, and then combined it to learn about each other and the most effective ways of communication.  Also really interesting, and good self-discovery there.

2. Seeing Kim.  Yay.  Chris and Owen, too.  :)  

3. Carrie (my boss) being here.  Good times, although we created a lot of extra work for ourselves.

4. Coming home to Ian.  yay.

Because Ian will likely not post anytime soon, I'll say for him that he went snowboarding in Tahoe, and is running a half-marathon next Sunday.  Good for him!

OK, that's enough.  Not too excited, but again.  I'm down right tired.  And I have to pack for my trip tomorrow.  At this point it's not a sprint, it's a marathon.  I'm conserving energy.

Ah, the New Year!

I've never been a big New Year's fan.  It's what you might call Amateur Night.  Amateur Night for the hundreds of people who don't usually go out, drink, go to parties--it means that a small, local bar you might like to frequent is suddenly 10-deep at the bar, AND you had to pay a cover.

No thank you.  It's all we can do to stay up until midnight.  Next year, Ian and I vow to celebrate the East Coast's new year's (so we can stay up until 9 pm, then call it a night).  Amen.

We have a couple of loose new year's resolutions this year, and I haven't written any resolutions since I was in middle school.  I might have to dig them up, but I remember them to be something like:

1.  Dress cooler.

2.  Be cooler.

3.  Exercise more.

4.  Follow a beauty regiment.

What does that all mean at the age of 12?  Who knows?  But I used to write them.

This year, Ian and I want to stick to our date nights...to put more effort into planning a special evening discovering our city and spending time with each other.  We also want to dedicate a night a week to bettering ourselves: by reading, learning something new, etc.  Just away from the TV.  I personally want to devote more time to keeping connected with my very dear friends from far away.  With each move, I develop a larger circle of people I love, and I am horrible at maintaining those relationships regularly (or at least once in a while reminding them that I care).  So...there you have it.  A loose promise to each other.  And my last loose resolution is to keep in mind some very wise words my Deedahn imparted over Christmas---he really is a role model.  He was talking about our hometown--a small town--and said he couldn't understand why someone didn't want to have anything at all to do with the town.  Because "there were very decent people living there."  And those are words I want to remember more often.  To stop being a tad judgmental, and remember that most people are decent and that they're people.

OK, enough for that.

This past week was a dream.  After spending excellent quality time with all the fam and some friends, it was incredible to just hang out with Ian for a week.  Although we were both "working" at times this week, we were both really slow.  It was almost like we had the whole week to just get things done.  It was great.

We went to see a double feature at the Castro Theatre Saturday--a tribute to Henry Mancini.  It was Breakfast at Tiffany's and A Shot in the Dark.  A great way to spend an afternoon.  We had brunch some days, went shopping, spent a lot of time playing our instruments (Ian bought me an electric piano for new year's, and I have been practicing everyday---kicking my 13-year old self in the piano practicing butt)...and Ian's gotten back into playing guitar.  I know, I know...we're a regular Partridge Family.

So today was back at work, but we did both get to see our good friend Wendy, who was in SF for a day (for work).  

You can tell the holidays are done.  As I walked the 2 1/2 blocks home from the F train tonight, I passed 7 Christmas trees on the sidewalk, awaiting pick-up tomorrow morning.  How sad.  One had a Mountain Dew bottle in it, one still had tinsel.  Ours was sadly not among the sidewalk trees--it had moved up a block on Saturday when we set it out (for the people in the "home" to enjoy, undoubtedly), and today has disappeared.  Hopefully it's happy wherever it is....

And now bye bye to the holidays until next year....*sigh*