two months

It has been two months since my last post. I apologize! Things have slowed down a bit but are getting ready to change soon. I only have five working days left on my current assignment, then I'm headed back home on the 8th. I can't believe my time in Bellevue is almost over, yet at the same time it seems like I've been here for a while. Hopefully I can get some pictures posted once I get home for good, or at least home for a while. I'll be working a some per diem at Kadlec over the next month and plan to start my next assignment the second week of January. During the in-between I'm just going to take it easy, possibly start a few craft project for my soon-to-be niece or nephew and do a few house projects my mom not so discretely mentions now and again.

I was able to come home for Thanksgiving this year. The pass was clear and I managed to bring a car load of stuff home. It's amazing how things accumulate! I think every time I came home over the summer, or when my parents came to visit, I added things to my apartment: a bike, a down comforter, my sewing machine, a suitcase full of movies. Mind you I only have a two-door Scion hatchback to fit it in. I'm fairly certain I should be able to fit the rest of my "stuff" on the next and final Seattle area to home trip.

Thanksgiving was a bit different though. Every year since I was one we have had Thanksgiving with the Hawks. Both their extended family and our extended family live the in the mid-west. Now that all the kids are older it's harder to get together and this year we weren't able to make it happen. To top it off, my sister was in Alaska. So it was just my parents and I, and a 12 pound turkey. The leftovers were great though...and fewer people to share them with! Hopefully next year we can get together again.

Happy belated Thanksgiving to everyone!

So Spicy!

The last few weekends have been pretty full, and I love it! I've been able to check several things off my Seattle to-do-list too!


At the beginning of August I took a ferry up to Victoria with a few friends including two from PT school. It was a great time and we coined a new phrase "Cheeseknuckles"...you know the time when you can't quite get the stuff at the bottom of the queso jar and you get the cheese not on your fingers, but your knuckles!





Then went on a Mt. Rainier hike, it was a beautiful day. Even ate some lunch in the back of the Prius!




Debbie, one of my PT school buddies parted the Seattle scene in style. She headed back to the midwest so we had a going away party for her.




I got to see my first Seahawks game! My good friend Allison has season tickets and had an extra to spare, it was a great game!




Then I headed to the Gorge for the second year in a row to see DMB...that's Dave Matthews Band for those of you who aren't in the cool crowd (just kidding). It was pouring down rain when we got there but then the clouds parted and we were able to see an amazing double rainbow. The concert, like last year, went on for about 3 hours...Dave puts on a good show. We had so much fun...and our drink/meal of choice was Hornitos and a hot link = "so spicy"!





I'm headed home this weekend for a baby shower and working the next (I just extended my contract until December)! Busy, busy, busy! :)

A taste of my day

Today, I got stuck in an elevator, for an hour. The end

Holy Hottness!

It is BLISTERING! Literally, get me a humidifier and I could do Hot Yoga in my apartment! Today it was 104 degrees on my way home from work, and I have no air conditioning in my apartment! I have not one, but TWO fans in my room with an ice bucket and it is still not cooling down. I went to the grocery store to get some milk at 9:00 this evening and on my way back a sign said 96degrees. This is crazy!










Besides it being miserably hot this week, 2 weekends ago I went to the Bite of Seattle with my friend Allison. I even got an elephant ear, although I was a bit disappointed by the lack of crispiness on the outside it was still tasty. They are definitely better at the fair. I also got to substitute on her flag football team on Sunday...some of the girls are crazy, a little too serious for my liking.






























Last weekend I got to go to a Mariners game with Allison and her parents, they have season tickets for the weekend games! Unfortunately they lost horribly, still fun nonetheless! Then Sunday I went on my first Seattle-area hike on Rattlesnake Ledge. It was 2miles up and 2miles back, moderate difficulty and a great view. Luckily we went in the morning and missed the worst of the heat, but it was a still a bit warm. The view was well worth it!

I'm headed to Canada this weekend with a few friends, should be a good time. I will try to post pictures when I get back!

~Kristie :)

Update

It's been about 2 months since my last post, even though I promised I would keep them more regular. The thing about it is I rarely take pictures and when I do I take forever to download them. While I hope that my life would be interesting, the truth is that people generally don't want to read all the mushy stuff, they want the picture. Isn't the saying "a picture's worth a thousand words"? Well either way, I did finally download some pictures. So starting from even before the traveling business here is what I have been up to




I went to Vegas in February for a Physical Therapy convention...I especially liked the sequined fanny pack, it beats my Patagonia pack any day!


Then in March I went to visit my family in Missouri...

I went to a my first horse show with my Aunt Linda, this was her friend Charity.


Me and my grandma like go go antique shopping, she got me started on an awesome tin lunchpail collection


A few cows from my grandparents farm


A trip to the farm may not be complete without a post-antique shopping stop in Jamesport for some chicken fried steak!



In April my mom and I took a trip to Seattle for my birthday. The guy at check-in asked what we were visiting Seattle for and I told him it was my birthday weekend. When we got back from some Pike Street shopping these were in the room along with some sparkling water! Yummm!





In late June I went to the Fremont Summer Solstice Festival. It's open to the community and anyone can sign up to be in the parade. Definitely some interesting people. I have to say I wasn't too sad I missed the beginning of the parade where I heard there were about 500 naked/painted bicycle riders!


For the fourth of July I got to go out on a boat on Lake Washington with my friend Katie and her friends!

The blow up island


Me and Katie. Me rockin' the one-piece!


Great view of the fireworks, minus the sail pole (mast?...I don't know my sailboat anatomy)


My good friend Katie had a day-long layover in Seattle so I got to spend the day with her. It was so fun to catch up! Us at Greenlake right before the crazy man selling Spanish lessons wanted his picture with us. If Katie sends her pictures to me I will try to post "the" picture. If not feel free to email the man at dopincha@yahoo.com, like doberman pincer...dopincha!




Us hanging out by the Fremont troll, on our Fremont tour...notice the Beetle in his hand!


Events with no pictures (yet at least) include: Eric's Epic 30th birthday bash hosted by my friend Brianna, the Seattle Rock'N'Roll half marathon which I finished in better time than expected considering what little training I did, and my good friend Rose's bridal shower which I hosted a great game of dress the bride!

Much to my sisters dismay I have yet to take pictures of my current apartment, but I will try to take them soon. I work this Saturday since I went home last weekend for my Monday dentist appointment (cavity free by the way, thank you very much), but will hopefully have time to take some pics on Sunday once I pick up my apartment a little. Once again, I hope to not lapse so long until my next post!

~Kristie :)

Internet FINALLY

It amazes me how reliant I am on technology. I was suppose to have my internet installed last Friday, but had a brain fart and forgot to leave my deposit check on the table. Nonetheless, I rescheduled the appointment for today and, hooray for me, when I arrived home after work this evening my technology driven life was restored! I went for a run, came back and what do you know, I couldn't find my phone. It took me about a half hour of searching and a few helpful phone calls from my sister and friend Debbie, but I found that too. I haven't taken any new pictures of my apartment but I will try to post some soon!

Things have gotten off to a great start here in Bellevue. I'm getting to know the area a little more every day and thanks to my GPS system I have learned that nearly everything I need is within just a few miles, including Chipotle! I live right behind the Bellevue Botanical Gardens which I hear are stunning in July. The gardens also connect to the "Lake to Lake trail", but I have yet to figure out the trail system. Google search here I come! Work is good and the days fly by. I've even managed to see a few of my friends in the area, including a few from PT school who are also here on travel assignments! Now that I'm fairly settled into my apartment, thanks to Goodwill and Craigslist (would you believe I bought a 20" flat panel TV for only 14.99?), I'm looking forward to having people over, something I haven't done in quite a while!

Your new eastside of the westside friend!

Kristie :)

New Chapter

So today was a first. I turned in my first resignation letter. As of April 24th I will no longer be a full time PT employed at Kadlec. Instead, I will become a traveling PT! I'm full of excitement and nervousness as I embark on this new journey of the unknown, but I have hope that I have made the right decision and it will be a positive experience. I plan to renew my blogging posts, or I guess begin, on a regular basis. I hope this serves as an outlet for my friends and family to stay up to date on my adventures and to share in my experiences! Feel free to keep me accountable if I begin to lag behind!

To a new chapter!

~Kristie :)