Best autumn fashion tip ever

Overheard in the ladies room yesterday.

"Infinity scarves are the best because you never have to worry about the ends trailing on the bathroom floor or going in the toilet."

I feel certain there is a sad story implied there, perhaps more than one.

In other news, I am now a freak on the bus a couple times a week. Someone sat next to me and when I woke up shortly before my stop he'd moved. Did I snore? Fart in my sleep? Lay on his shoulder? I may never know but if I keep it up I will be sure to have a seat to myself, w00t!

Yeah, baby, yeah!

This is the center of the building at the U where I spend a lot of time. 

and this is the Suzzallo Library.

I've been digging just walking around campus but meeting some of my cohort and faculty that we will be learning from has been AWESOME. Classes don't begin officially until Wednesday but I've already been down there several times, for varying orientations and such. Despite my typical disdain for orientation type events I've actually been... enjoying it.
 I have to say though, I am not looking forward to the early days and the bus riding.
Ah well, one step at a time, eh?

Happy Anniversary to us!

23 years I've been married as of Sunday last, which is amazing and perhaps even miraculous.
We left Thing One home to care for animals, ditched Thing Two with his best buddy, and headed north on our motorcycles. It was a great ride.

When we got to the Canadian border we requested a stamp in our passports. Usually I just carry my passport card but we wanted to get more ink in our booklets so we bought them along. The border guard humored us and we proceeded into the wilds of the far north.

The hotel we stayed in had the rooms arranged around a center atrium where the pool and hot tub area was decorated in a tropical motif. Our room, on the second floor, had a balcony overlooking the atrium and screened a bit by palm trees and such. It was kinda fun. The restaurant in the hotel actually looked pretty good but we had a full list of dining spots to try. I've been eating very clean lately and losing weight as a result. I decided to try and make good choices on this trip but consider this a good time for some judicious indulgences.

For dinner we had steak and crab-stuffed prawns with grilled broccolini and red bell peppers and garlic mashed potatoes. I decided to skip the potatoes and have dessert instead. We split an apple/cranberry crisp topped with dulce de leche and a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream accompanied by some really good coffee. It was delightful.

For our anniversary breakfast we headed to Big Feast Bistro and Catering. They try to source their menu items from within 100 miles and use local organics. I had locally-caught crab (Vancouver Aquarium approved, no less) and free run eggs Benedict with avocado on sourdough. Mr. Logo had french toast with apple and bacon. It was all quite heavenly.

We visited some local sights and parks and generally relaxed and enjoyed ourselves. It was a very good anniversary.

This week I am headed to UW for some orientation and classes start next week, wheeee!

9/11

9/11 Memorial

Because it's important to remember.

And while we are at it, let's not forget these losses either.

Sometimes (very rarely) waiting is lovely

Thing One, in what can only be assumed was a seizure-induced lack of good judgment, erred in such a manner that he has been banned from using our vehicles. In light of this, he sometimes asks for rides.
Yesterday afternoon I agreed to convey him to a locale of his choosing (picnic to meet his girlfriend) on the condition that we take my motorcycle. The end of the riding season is looming and it was a gorgeous day. He agreed to these terms and we set off.

We headed north and after I dropped him at his picnic I had time to kill before I was due to return so I continued north along some lovely back roads and made my way to a used book store I know and love.

This is a really great way to kill some time. However, after browsing for a while I decided I needed caffeine so I headed down the road and  found a new (to me) caffe stop. I got myself a doppio caffe and a glass of water then settled into that big comfy chair right there. 

Right over that chair is a skylight which provided great light for reading and in fact, the whole set-up was generally perfect for reading. Even the music was great (alt standards and favorites) and the time flew by. When it was time to go get the kid, I was actually a bit disappointed that I had to leave. 

I retrieved my Thing and headed home in the gorgeous sunshine. What a lovely afternoon.

The dog days are o-over

Week one with both my Things at high school is coming to a close.
It's been a good start, I think.

This week, as I've done most of this summer I went to water aerobics 3 times and did yoga too.
I've tried two different yoga places and found I vastly prefer one over the other. I tried Tai Chi as well. I only did one class of that and may have to go back when the instructor returns from vacation later this month.
I am typically, far and away, the youngest person in these classes, which is actually a lot of fun. Chatting in the hot tub after water aerobics has laso been a lot of fun. I love Northwest senior citizens. They were all discussing their Kindles, ipads, and Nooks and the best places to find downloads.

That is my pool, well, it is the one I use. 

According to Goodreads.com I read over 20 books this summer. Between one thing and another, I'm feeling like it was a good summer! 

I have one more week of the kids going off to school and staying home before I have to start attending orientation meeting, etc. and I plan to live it up!

Wow, it's so quiet

Today, for the first time ever in the whole of my life...
my children are doing school, doing it elsewhere, and I have the house to myself.

Thing Two is a freshman this year and Thing One is a senior. I am looking forward to the report on how the first day went and I am squeezing every bit of enjoyment possible out of my time here because grad school starts for me before too long. I think I may enjoy this new stage of life.