Tuesday, December 31, 2019

12-31-19


My 2019 focus word was NOURISH.

Successes through the year: Met savings goal, and transitioned to Minto for financial tracking, allowing for more visibility and less friction.  Invested in two more Longview duplexes, putting our Seattle investment angst on hold.  I can’t say I didn’t buy any clothes in 2019, but I would call it pretty close to a freeze.  Supported Mom in a move, another contemplated move, and life in general. 

2019 Progress on 5 year goals written in 2017:  Not bogged down with commitments, life  is a good mix of being at home and out in the world.  Continued focus on spending for experiences rather than stuff, as our huge food, entertaining, and entertainment budgets can attest.

Areas where I fell short:  No trip to Chicago.  Didn’t do a good job of taking vacation or managing work stress.  Didn’t invest enough energy in my faith or my LinkedIn account.  And no progress on wellness or weight loss.  Grateful to be healthier here in Seattle, but not very comfortable in my skin.

So long to 2019 and this decade!

Monday, December 30, 2019

12-30-19

Back to work today, but already gearing up for New Years.  The Space Needle is counting down too...

Sunday, December 29, 2019

12-29-19

So many Seahawks fans!  We walked down to Pioneer Square before the big game to be part of the festivities.  It's all fun and games until you turn around and try to fight the throng to get back home.

Saturday, December 28, 2019

12-28-19

We intentionally went to a new eatery today.  Walk by this literal hole in the wall Mexican place at the market almost every day, we got take out.  It was pretty good!

Friday, December 27, 2019

12-27-19

Love all the lights downtown!  Warm white, cool white, bright white...

Thursday, December 26, 2019

12-26-19

Go Huskies!  Diana made us all purple and gold scarves for Christmas.

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

12-25-19

Merry Christmas!  Xander is upright after the flu took him down, Nathaniel joined us after work, the gang is all here in Enumclaw!

Tuesday, December 24, 2019

12-24-19

The stockings are hung... at our rented farm.  It's very festive and roomy, a fun home for two days.

Monday, December 23, 2019

12-23-19

My last day at home until Christmas takes over.  I took a bus to Sand Point again and we watched the Argosy Christmas cruise concert from the land.

Sunday, December 22, 2019

12-22-19

Recently learned the significance of this statue at Victor Steinbrueck Park.  Each leaf represents a homeless person who has passed away.  The leafs get mounted around town.

Saturday, December 21, 2019

12-21-19

Let Christmas begin!  We gathered at the Cove today for lunch, laughs, and gifts.  Little Stephen brought extra merriment.

Friday, December 20, 2019

12-20-19

Packed up the work computer and walked to the market in the rain to buy a Christmas bouquet.  Celebrating really being on vacation for awhile now!

Thursday, December 19, 2019

12-19-19

We've had some dark and stormy nights with plenty of rainfall as Christmas approaches...

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

12-17-19

Xander's visiting, we landed inside the Spheres.  Xander thought they needed to add animals.

Monday, December 16, 2019

12-16-19

Mom delivered her painting of Xander to him this evening.  He requested a large painting for his bedroom with a white tiger.  It is very zen and very fun.

Sunday, December 15, 2019

12-15-19

Back to Cafe Nordo for a fun Christmas play.


Corgi themed evening with dog bone napkins and waiters with dog ears, Butch Alice in drag, an Agatha Christie-type whodunit

Menu: 
Nordo's Christmas Classic the Baby Cheesus Bread Loaf with Antipasti Rosemary Wreath
New Zealand Cheddar Soup
Cornish Chicken Curry Pastywith Cranberry Chutney served with Minted Mushy Marrowfat Peas
Spotted Dick (traditional steamed pudding with currants, apricots, and white grapes) served with Maple Canadian Whiskey Crème Anglaise

Saturday, December 14, 2019

12-14-19

Today we heard the Beaconettes sign in Columbia City.  What a treat!  They are Figgy Pudding singers with over the top costumes and lyrics.  Loved it!

Friday, December 13, 2019

12-13-19

It was a clear night, so we used our voucher to tour the Christmas lights.  Candycane lane, Olympic manor, Pioneer Square...

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

12-11-19

Bruce's white elephant gift, with a little wrapping pazazz...

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

12-10-19

Candy canes on the ferris wheel!

Monday, December 9, 2019

12-09-19

Metro and Snowball hanging out.  We joke that Snowball just has too much energy for Metro.

Sunday, December 8, 2019

12-08-19

Bruce is up to his antics again.  He got a Christmas portrait to be his white elephant gift at work...

Saturday, December 7, 2019

12-07-19

Our rooftop lounge at Viktoria is very festive this year!  Coffee, must get coffee...

Friday, December 6, 2019

12-06-19

Christmas party for Finance tonight.  We had a brewery, a food truck, a magician, and plenty of people.

Thursday, December 5, 2019

12-05-19

This night had 3 events competing for our attendance, but we already had tickets to the Argosy Christmas Ship voyage.  We both really enjoyed it, I was so thankful that it was warm enough to hang out on the deck.

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

12-04-19

We headed to Kane Hall tonight to watch some old KIRO videos, including some ads.  Popcorn provided!

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

12-03-19

Working on co-worker gifts.  They are a bit bulky, so I will need to take 2-3 to work each day until all 12 are there to deliver next week.  Some things just turn out better on Pinterest than in real life, but I try!

Monday, December 2, 2019

12-02-19

No line to look at the gingerbread houses at the Sheraton?  Score!

Sunday, December 1, 2019

12-01-19

December 1st, the tree is up, let the Christmas season officially begin!

Saturday, November 30, 2019

11-30-19

Anthropology might be my new favorite store, it has a ton of things right up my alley.  We didn't do a ton of shopping in Portland, but enough to enjoy some tax free benefits.

Friday, November 29, 2019

11-29-19

Hello Portland!  Enjoying a night in a different city with different tree lighting ceremonies and different coffee shops.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

11-28-19

Happy Thanksgiving!  Aunt Liz always plans fun activities for the afternoon, do duckies!

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

11-27-19

I do a lot less baking in the apartment, but made two raspberry coffee cakes - a test run and a hostess gift.  Do eggs really need to acclimate the room temp if the recipe says so?

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

11-26-19

Mom and I headed back to campus today to sit in on a few more lectures.  Feels fun to be part of the hustle and bustle.

Monday, November 25, 2019

11-25-19

My low stress Christmas planner says to wrap gifts as they arrive.  Got the wrapping supplies out of storage, so can do.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

11-24-19

Quiet Sunday mroning on the roof with coffee and the morning paper.  Bliss.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

11-23-19

We took a double decker bus to U district today; this was our view from the upper level.

Friday, November 22, 2019

11-22-19

Hi Viktoria!  Love this place.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

11-21-19

Emily helps us pick out a book for our last book club meeting at Barnes & Noble in early January.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

11-20-19

Every morning I walk by Paper Hammer, a paper store with fun window displays.  I saw something I liked in the window and saw that they don't close until 6pm, so visited for the first time this evening.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

11-19-19

We are still just in awe of our city and our view, especially on clear days.

Monday, November 18, 2019

11-18-19

Just as construction was winding down and opening up my commute flexibility, the block just south of us closed the sidewalk.  I can relate to this sad face, because I now have very few places I can walk that first and last block of my commute for awhile.

Sunday, November 17, 2019

11-17-19

Sunday morning paper reading on the roof, yes please!

Saturday, November 16, 2019

11-16-19

Tonight a play at the little theater at Green Lake.  Culture, laughs, and some thought provoking topics.

Friday, November 15, 2019

11-15-19

More purple.  And we were off to UW tongiht for a lecture about Rome.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

11-14-19

Book club with Anastasia tonight.  Dark winter nights are the perfect time to read.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

11-13-19

Got to work before 6am today.

Me: Leigh, I was waving at you outside the building this morning.  You looked everywhere but at me!
Leigh: I was watching a guy on a one board pulling two suitcases along
Me:  Oh, yeah, I followed him for awhile!

You never know what you'll see downtown.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

11-12-19

Hi Metro!  Purple & gray, the colors of home...

Sunday, November 10, 2019

11-10-19

And today is the day!  We started with early morning pre-March to the March festivities in Occidental Park, then we watched the game in the Viktoria media room with Anastasia & Jacob.

So many people!

Saturday, November 9, 2019

11-09-19

The MSL Cup game is tomorrow.  Scarves Up Seattle!