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!

12-30-19

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

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.

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!

12-27-19

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

12-26-19

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

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!

12-24-19

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

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.

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.

12-21-19

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

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!

12-19-19

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

12-17-19

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

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.

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

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!

12-13-19

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

12-11-19

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

12-10-19

Candy canes on the ferris wheel!

12-09-19

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

12-08-19

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

12-07-19

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

12-06-19

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

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.

12-04-19

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

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!

12-02-19

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

12-01-19

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

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.

11-29-19

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

11-28-19

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

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?

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.

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.

11-24-19

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

11-23-19

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

11-22-19

Hi Viktoria!  Love this place.

11-21-19

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

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.

11-19-19

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

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.

11-17-19

Sunday morning paper reading on the roof, yes please!

11-16-19

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

11-15-19

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

11-14-19

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

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.

11-12-19

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

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!

11-09-19

The MSL Cup game is tomorrow.  Scarves Up Seattle!