It been warmer these last few days and I've had cabin fever.

Ordered 2 cubic yards of mulch yesterday and borrowed a neighbors wheel barrel and had it all done before Brad got home.

Today fertilized the yard while Brad put on new address numbers on our mailbox and started prepping the lawnmower so maybe I can mow sometime this coming week.

Scheduled an estimate for a new furnace and air conditioner.

Also gonna look into scheduling a power washer to come by to clean off the house, and ask them about taking down the shutters for me so I can repaint them a glossy chocolate brown, I think it would make the house look better.

Snacking on fig goat cheese, brie, sourdough baguette, fuji apple and sesame melba toasts while we put stuff together for pico de gallo, guacamole, and make a mess of nachos for the OSU basketball game.

Came home Monday night from Seattle.
Really had a good time there.
Went out with work people, drank, met over 6 feet of fabulousness named Jolanta.
At least we traded numbers and she might come to Chicago with her mother, and wants me to come back to Seattle and go boating.
It's nice to be back home in my own bed, but I miss Seattle already.

Brad just left from visiting me in Seattle.
He came late Weds for a few days.

Thurs & Fri while I was in Red Hat class he did some sightseeing on his own.
Thursday after class he picked me up and we went to the Waterfront area and had fish and chips at Ivar's. Walked around, got some coffee.

Fri he picked me up early from Red Hat and we went to Pike Place Market to walk around, it had warmed up was really nice out.
Just walked around slowly watching people, looking at all the booths. Stopped in Piroshky Piroshky. Brad had a Smoked Salmon Pate piroshky and I had some of a Cheddar cheese and green onion one. Then walked to another russian booth and split an order of peirogies.

Went back to the room, rested up, cleaned up and went out for a late night Fatburger, Hadnt had that for a few years since we went to Las Vegas. and instead of getting fries there we headed to Capital Hill and went to Frites a belgian place that serves fresh hand cut fries with about 15 different sauces.


Saturday we went to Mighty O's for breakfast (doughnuts) and then next door to Zoka's for coffee in Greenlake. Went to Archie McPhee Liked the store a lot but didn't buy anything, I need some animal masks, like a rabbit or a panda, and they had some, but they were fuzzy masks, and I want some generic hard plastic or maybe I'd consider rubber, but probably not.

Went to Alki Crab & Fish for lunch, got fish & chips. Watched a seagull with a stump leg while we ate. It was raining kinda heave so we went driving around the Ballard/Scandinavian area. After the rain lightened up we went downtown to walk and shop. Walked thru Macy's then out to the street going in and out of places. There was one of those guys with the free hugs sign, the first one I've seen! No one was hugging him so I was really excited to hug him. Brad wouldn't let go of my side and told me not to cause he looked creepy. He really didn't look creepy but I think that just what you would think of a guy standing by himself giving out free hugs. He gave a really good hug too! What can I say...I LIKE HUGS!
Then there was a group hold signs saying stuff about pot is for smoking and not wearing, and about wanting pot. They were funny.

Dropped the car back off at the hotel and walked over to the Space Needle. Didn't go up cause it cost $15 a person and after working in the Sears Tower and being up there and John Hancock...I just dont get the big deal. There are plenty of beautiful views all over Seattle. So we rode the monorail instead. I got on and was all settled in like I was going from downtown to O'Hare on the El...or so I thought. First stop everyone gets up including Brad, why are we getting off here? He said "that was it" I got off kinda confused, 1 mile, from Space Needle to a Nordstrom.... that was it! Got a coffee and then headed back to the Space Needle and then the hotel. Napped, showered, checked into work and then went out for a late night dinner at Agua Verde Paddle Club and Cafe Really good tacos.

Today I dropped him off at the airport, he will pick Mitch up on his way home. On the way to the airport we went back to Pike Place Market and split a grilled cheese from Beecher's Handmade Cheese and then split an apple piroshky.

This week still in Seattle and another class.

Was gonna see about going out with Lele last night, but she was too tired from her night before.
Went to Havana, a place she mentioned but I think it was way too early, the place was empty. So I walked around the corner, had a drink at Comet Tavern and flipped through The Stranger for some ideas. Read about a hip hop show at Chop Suey, headed there. The main act was Clipse, liked the opening groups as well. Place was packed, had other people to buy my over-priced drinks. Drank and danced, had a really good time.
I like wandering around and just finding things to do like that.

In Seattle since Sunday, first day of class today.
Class is alright, some stuff i just don't do that often...and other stuff wanted to go over more anyway.
I like traveling, driving around, new places, watching people.

Had dinner last night and tonight with a work mate that I really enjoy.

Last night we ate at Jamjuree Thai Cuisine. I had chicken pad thai, and it might the best I have ever had. Very spicy and very flavorful. He really liked the place too, we were just driving in the area, liked the area, found a parking spot and just walked around a few blocks till we decided on that place.

Went to a local grocery after, to get a few things for my room.

Tonight we went to Marrakesh Moroccan Restaurant
Each meal comes with:
A bowl of hariri - The national soup, featuring lentils, chickpeas and onion in an aromatic, lightly peppered, tomatoey broth highlighted by ginger and paprika.
Salads Marrakesh - A spicy eggplant/carrot puree ladled in the center of an ornate serving dish, ringed by a mix of chopped tomato, celery and cucumber.
B'stilla Royale - Layers of flaky phyllo dough encase a filling of shredded chicken, egg and almond. Atop this sweet/savory delight lays a heavy dusting of powdered sugar, accented by ground cinnamon.

We split:
Lamb M'Rouzia --- With onions, raisins, and honey sauce.
Couscous T'Faya --- Steamed semolina grains topped with onions, raisins, chickpeas in ginger sauce.

Was gonna go swimming tonight but its closed for remodeling.

Now tired/spent bedtime....
Goodnight!

Had a neighborhood dinner party last night. Lots of cleaning and cooking.
Went well for our first dinner party like that.
They stayed until 11ish, started cleaning up and then dove into Daylight Savings Time testing for work.

Still up since some of our boxes were PST, and 2 boxes needed fixing.
Finishing this up, not sure if I'll go to bed or not, cause I leave in about 2 hours for the airport to go to Seattle for almost 2 weeks for training, so I'd only sleep for an hour anyway.

In between testing worked on cleaning up the kitchen, ran dishwasher a few times for different loads.