Washington Wine Country: Better than the $5.00 price tag would lead you to believe

"I want to live where soul meets body/ and let the sun wrap its arms around me/ and bathe my skin in water cool and cleansing/ and feel what it's like to be new"



Just as a heads up, my camera is working again...so be prepared for a photosplosion.

For those of you not meticulously charting the unseasonably cold weather patterns of the Northwest this month (I know your obsessive tendencies, Eva), it's been pretty frakkin cold. And depressing.

A rare moment of sunshine on the Seattle waterfront:



So this weekend, the b/f surprised me with a trip to sunny Yakima in central Washington, which is about 2-3 hours from Seattle and one of Washington's agricultural centers. I was initially prepared to look a gift horse in the mouth, as it were, due to the high probability of a vacation interfering with obsessively watching the World Cup, but once the key enabler in my life conceded that yes, we could spend as much time as I wanted in bars watching matches (including pre- and post-coverage), I was ready for sun and soccer and spirits. You know that scene in Pulp Fiction where John Travolta stabs Uma Thurman in the heart with a shot of adrenaline? This weekend was pretty much my boyfriend stabbing me in the heart...with a shot of Vitamin D! (This is what love looks like.)

The weekend turned out to be quite beautiful. My mood changed immediately upon crossing the mountains and entering the sunny foothills of the Cascades:



After driving in on Friday night and checking into the Cedar Inn & Suites (be sure to check out the prime stock images of tablecloths, grapes and wine of indeterminate quality in the photo gallery), we got some great Mexican food (apparently you can find awesome Mexican food in a town full of migrant workers -- who knew?).

Eating on a patio...unheard of in cold, rainy Seattle throughout the preceding month:



After watching the US national team get spanked by Ghana (like I said...no aggression in the first half), we drowned our deflated patriotism in lovely domestic wines. This vineyard had an excellent Malbec (I'm a total snob for most things Argentine).









We had a wine and fresh cherry picnic outside on the gorgeous grounds, where we met some ducks and a dog that Kevin was totally convinced was in love with him...until he ran out of food.





At the next winery, we may or may not have purchased a case of wine. Don't judge me.

Here's a picture of the Enabler-in-Chief carrying off the weekend's trophy of imbibery. And looking both ways to cross the street. Wouldn't want anyone running over the wine.


Sunday was equally fantastic. We went back to the Mexican restaurant and drank fresh fruit margaritas while watching the Argentina v. Mexico game on Univision with the entire Mexican waitstaff and a more than slightly hammered English dude pissed off about his country's loss to Germany that morning. Considering the limey was probably still carrying a grudge over the Falklands War, I was definitely the only one cheering for Argentina, but tried not to gloat too much when Mexico went down like a sorority girl at a Cinco de Mayo party.

On the way home, we stopped at this place that had captured my eye on our first drive up to Seattle in January. In the winter, the giant sign said "FRUIT ANTIQUES". I guess in the summer, the FRUIT becomes a better selling point.











Yes, we did buy three kinds of honey. In case you want any for your tea.


"No thanks, Turkish. I'm sweet enough."

Product placement of the day: ROGUE SPRUCE GIN You'll love it, or you'll give me whatever you don't finish.

And with that, I'm just about done. We're making, or should I say "Grill Master K" is making, buffalo burgers and a refreshing spruce gin & tonic for dinner. All in all, it's been a good week.

Call me Messi.

"...y los libres del mundo responden: 'Al gran pueblo argentino, ¡Salud!'"


I may or may not have an obsessive personality. My obsessive tendencies reach their zenith every four years during month-long festivities of the World Cup (ever heard of it?). Blessedly, I've secured employment at an institution which seems to specialize in enabling me. Maybe it's that half the office personnel are of Mexican descent, but our office keeps "World Cup hours", which basically means that during any Mexico game (or really, most games that affect Mexico's future opponents...so all of them) the office empties and we regroup at the Irish pub downstairs to get our soccer on. My boss and I are huge Argentina fans (the only two in the office), so we've also been boycotting work during any AFA appearances. Side note: Maradona gets just about as much camera time as the entire opposing team combined. And who knew that a diet that consists exclusively of cocaine and hookers could make you so rotund? I kid, but I freaking love that crazy, hairy little gnome.

Soccer fever: a contagion my immune system seems incapable of suppressing. Again, my co-workers are fanning the flare-ups. The second question the head man at the office asked me on my first day (after "So you're the new girl?") was "You play soccer, right?" Five minutes later, I had joined an adult co-ed rec soccer team. Tonight was the first game, and I played about half the game, subbing in and out. Had a few good touches and passes. So yeah, I'm pretty much the next Lionel Messi. If you're unaware of his holiness, here's a picture of him being the best player in the world. Watch out, y'all. (People here actually make fun of me for saying y'all...and really, that just makes me use it with greater frequency. And sometimes I just throw it in at the end of sentences for fun: "Printer needs more ink, y'all.") I'm calling it: Argentina as World Cup 2010 champs! If the Saints could win it all (and still Who Dat, y'all, btw), my boys in blue can totally make it all the way. I'm also rooting for the US to advance (I'm no terrorist) but I'd like to see a little more aggression at the beginning of their matches before I'm wowed into total fandom.

Even though it's been like 6 years since I last messed around with a soccer ball, I had a blast playing tonight. It's cool to just get out of the apartment on work nights. And kick things. Oh, and I love the name of the team: "Chupa Cabrones". For those of you who speak Spanish, ::snicker snicker::. For those of you who don't, far be it from me to corrupt anyone.

Welcome to the Great White North(west)

"...and yes there are things that I'm still so afraid of, but my courage is roaring like the sound of the sun"

So it finally happened. Mr. Bullington, my high school history teacher, warned me that I would eventually become what I hated. I think he was referring to corporate capitalism, but he clearly didn't take into account my general hatred of blogs, blogging, bloggers and other displays of obvious self-importance. While this loathing has not completely evaporated (stay tuned for what I envision to be a bi-weekly post called "I Hate Your Blog"), luckily for me, the advent of Twitter has knocked blogging off my "untouchables" list. So here we go.

As many of you know, I recently moved to Seattle from my wonderful home in New Orleans, Louisiana. I already miss the casual familiarity of my last name's prevalence. Also: I miss sunshine. Apparently, it's been the rainiest, coldest June on record for the last 30 years. This morning, the morning of the summer solstice, it was 50 degrees and drizzling. So yes, that is taking some getting used to.

Other preliminary observations on Seattle:
-There are a LOT of white people up here. And I don't just mean people of Caucasian persuasion, but more the type of people from Stuff White People Like (see the link to the left if you've been living under a rock and haven't heard of this great blog). Also, like any "real" city, there are a TON of hipsters. Check the other sidebar link for great examples of this phenomenon.
-People here say "beg" instead of "bag". It freaks me out.
-Not only do they call it "pop" instead of "coke", they actually don't really sell Coke in that many places. Pepsi dominates.
-Backpacks: not only for the insecure teenager with facial acne. Also a staple of business men and women with or without acne.
-The public transit system rocks. I get on a bus a block from our apartment and get off 10 minutes later 2 blocks from my office. Buses have their own tunnels and completely bypass rush hour traffic. The next time someone tells you liberals can't run anything well, tell them to screw off and cite my very scientific opinion on the matter of Seattle public transit.

I started a great job at an immigration law firm in downtown Seattle. I have crazy real responsibilities, which was shocking and awesome after spending two years proofreading property descriptions and sending out billing letters. I really, really love my job so far, but the downside is it has severely cut into my workplace gchat, texting and personal phone calls. Meh. So, sorry if I've been MIA lately. This blog is my attempt to keep everyone posted on what's going on in my life lately without having the same conversation a million times. I hope you all enjoy, comment, and call me anyway to remind me that I'm not alone up here. Love you all.

A-Bear

P.S. This is the best movie review I've ever read. Someone please tell me why this franchise hasn't died yet?