A View From the Top

There may not be many perks about working for a non-profit.  We don't get bonus' and pay raises are more Enigmas of the Mystical (HIMYM reference for those not in the know).  But my non-profit has one giant thing going for it.

Location!  Location!  Location!

Sure Belltown in Seattle is more than a little sketchy.  And sure I never thought I'd witness so many drug deals or see vomit walking from my car to the office on an almost daily basis.  But I also  never thought I'd get to work within a ten minute walk from both Pike's Place Market and the Seattle Space Needle -- not to mention an equally quick jaunt to the FLAGSHIP NORDSTROM!

What's more than our pretty sweet location is the fact that if you just hop on the elevator and ride it to the 9th floor there's a rooftop deck waiting for you.  A deck made for midday naps, after hour picnics, and "working lunches".  A deck replete with postcard worthy views and a garden lovingly maintained by residents of the senior apartments also housed in the building.  Even in the bleak midwinter, when naps and eating are best done indoors, the roof can be a wonderful place to go and briefly escape -- a place to catch your breath when your cubicle grows suffocating.  

This morning, during one such escape, I snapped a few photos from this beloved spot...

On days that the Olympics are visible across the Puget Sound I cannot ask for anything more.  Those mountains are an instant dose of happiness even on the dreariest of Pacific Northwest winter days.

For more Seattle pictures (and WAY more laughs) I highly encourage you to read My Hometown Is Better Than Yours.  While Seattle is not my home town I definitely appreciate the sentiment and humor of the post.  A friend of mine showed it to me and I have sent it on at least 10 times over to be enjoyed by others. 

Happy Wednesday, January 11, 2012!

P.S. This post inspired me to listen to an oldie but a goodie...

Some Thoughts on this Tuesday

1.  Why is it, after 15 years of doing it, that I cannot master the art of shaving my legs without causing blood to flow forth?

2.  I think my closet is finally, really, truly organized... like in a way that it won't be a raging disaster again in 2 days.

3.  Everything tastes better out of a goblet.  I knew this already but sometimes the reality hits me like a ton of bricks and at those moments I am so pleased to have an estate sale collection of them.

Happiest of Tuesdays to one and to all! 

Day Tripping to Mt. Rainier : Random Photo Diary

 

A week after the tragedy at Mt. Rainier a group of friends and I decided to head to the park the first day it reopened to show our support and enjoy the breathtaking natural wonder that is Mt. Rainier National Park. It was a day of firsts for me. My first time to Mt. Rainier, my first time seeing a fox (oh-em-gee talk about scruffy and beautiful!), and my first time seeing a glacier! Naturally the only way to end a great day like that is stopping in the middle of nowhere for some nachos, beers, and karaoke.

I'm undergoing a massive New Year cleaning and so did not have much time to put these pictures up.  It wasn't quite the visually coherent story I was hoping for.  Better luck next time!

Happy Monday!  One day closer to another 3 day weekend!

Pows and Wows

During our senior year of college my 4 roommates and myself had a semi regular ritual of doing "Pows and Wows". This is where you go around in a circle and say something not so great going on in your life, those are your "pows", followed by something that's pretty dandy, also known as your "wow". In my warm, fuzzy, and metaphorically photoshopped memories I recall it being a tradition that all parties reveled in. When I am more honest with myself I can recall that it was typically me who said "Hey guys time for Pows and Wows" and then it was also typically me who sulked after people said "Ugh. Not right now Amanda."

Regardless of how it all actually played out, whenever I think of my time at that house with those ladies "Pows and Wows" always come to mind. 


Today, maybe it's because one aforementioned roommate, Kassy, is coming up for a visit next week, I feel inspired to do some solo"Pows and Wows".  Heeeere we go...

Pows:

1. The writing class I had signed up for and was SO looking forward to taking was canceled due to low enrollment.  Boo hiss.
2. I promised my roomie I'd clean this afternoon.  UGH.  Ugh.  ugh.

Wows(sers!):

1. My new iPhone case (for m'new iPhone) came yesterday!
2. I can enroll in a different writing class that happens to be centered around This American Life... not too shabs.  
3. I promised my roomie I'd clean this afternoon.  Yay tidy and aesthetically pleasing living environment!
4. Dinner here with her this evening... perhaps as another 922 E. Sinto alumna she too will want to participate in a round of "Pows and Wows". Alexis if you're reading this, that's a less than subtle hint :). 
5. Traipsing around Mt. Rainier tomorrow in snowshoes. 
6. Clearly my "wows" outnumber my "pows".

Happy weekend to everyone!  I hope that despite whatever "pows" you've got going on you have plenty of "wows" to make up for it!

Scruff Thursday : The Inauguration

After some thought I decided I needed to start at least one weekly themed posting.  Some bloggers have "Music Monday" or "End of Week Instagram Roundups".  Those are nice and all but I wanted to do something near and dear to me.  What is something that I would not get tired of blogging about one day a week, week after week.  Let's be honest, the answer came pretty quickly: Scruffy men and scruffy animals.  So with no further ado allow me to introduce to you the first winner of the weekly "Scruff Thursday" awards!

You saw her featured not too long ago here and here but her animal scruff deserves further representation on this here blog.  I am here to formally recognizing Miss Millie for exceptional skills at cuddliness and fuzziness.  Thank you Mille for all you bring to the "World of Scruff".

Hope your Thursdays are scruff-tastic!

New MONTH Resolutions...

Last year I decided to give New Years Resolutions a spin.  That was my first  time messing with those tricky little devils and I was comically unsuccessful at both "saving money" and "learning to play the banjo".  I ended the year adding those unmet goals to the "Great Failures of 2011" list I seem to have started in my head.

A big part of me would like to resolve to not resolve to do anything this year; however, I can recognize a need for increased discipline in my life... 

A few months ago, when I finally recovered from the mononucleosis that had me out of commission for months, I kept telling myself I would get back to my pre-mono running routine.  This has yet to come to fruition and my emotional and physical wellbeing have suffered as a result.  But over-arching year long goals are not the way to go for me.  I've decided to make monthly resolutions instead.  I am hoping that by doing this I can focus on promoting positive habit making and instil some order into my naturally chaotic personality.

This month I think I am appropriately ambitious without going overboard. 
Here's what I've got in mind:
1) Run at least 3 days a week
2) Days I don't run will still have exercise in them
3) Bring my own lunch to work EVERY DAY (oh how I will miss my falafel salads from across the street!)
4) Make my bed everyday. (I have a BEAUTIFUL bedscape.  It's a shame to keep it in shambles.  A shambled shame I tell you!)

If I keep up with my New Month Resolutions I will eat nutritious lunches, be excited to get into my beautifully styled bed and thus sleep more???, and be that much closer to being in marathon shape again!  Wish me luck!

{with Lizzy and Alison after finishing the SF Marathon in 2010}

{Cheryl and me after the Disney World Marathon almost a year ago - yeah I was a little tired at the finish}

NYE Photo Diary

New Years Celebrations succeeded in the "being fun" department.  The night ended with me falling asleep sitting straight up on a couch that didn't belong to me with my head propped up on my hand and my right leg crossed over my left.  I woke up 6 hours later still in this position but with feet swollen to the size of small watermelons.  This was nothing that couldn't be cured with a quick stop at Portage Bay, followed by a day of sweat pants and some serious quality time with Netflix instant watch.

Here are the pictures of the NYE that made January 1st's lethargy worth it...