Erincita

Typically Wonderful
Sunday, September 11, 2005

In accordance with summertime officially ending with the holiday, Seattle is back to it's gloomy self. Fall sets in with a sense of authority, and summer's resistance has proved to offer little more than an hour of sunshine intense enough to warrant a shadow over the past few days. I enjoyed the sun while it was here but I don't miss it all. Not yet anyway. This weather is part of my identity--and that's not to say I'm depressed, though we all have bouts of melancholy (it's perfectly healthy and makes for great writing, I've discovered). Rather than being depressed, there's a sense of pride in being a true Seattlite. This weather doesn't phase me, and I'm not sure if I even believe in SAD (seasonal affective disorder), though far be it from me to judge others. A college friend moved to Arizona the minute she graduated and claims to be a much happier person (Remember Linda? She lives minutes away from you!). There were some days when she couldn't even get out of bed. I, on the other hand, had my windshield wipers on full speed and was smiling like an idiot on my way to work. I still can't explain it. I will admit that I prefer extremes--thunderstorms as opposed to drizzle, for example. Our new roommate Heather exclaimed a few days ago that she couldn't believe what people had said about Seattle--that it rained 9 months out of the year. She had only been in Seattle a few days, which happened to be quite lovely days. I explained that, in actuality, Seattle has a marine climate, I didn't bother explaining that "marine climate" is just a fancy way of saying that it's either raining, about the rain, or just finished raining. My favorite postcard portraying the Seattle norm is one that fades from white to black. A silohuette of the Space Needle is in the center and the seasons summer, fall, spring and winter are printed on the four margins of the card. If I was forced to complain about the weather here, I would admit that the wind can get to me. It's the one element you cannot seem to escape and it turns basic cold weather into bitterly cold weather. I'm not bothered by it nearly as much as I used to be, but back in college I depended on the bus to go everywhere and I remember doing jumping jacks at the bus stop just to keep the blood flowing. "Back in college". Was it really 4 years ago? Wow.

I have a feeling our new roommate will be quite entertaining as we get to know her. I'm on a mission to turn her into a Seattle lover, and my first suggestion was to recommend Starbucks as a part-time job. After learning that both Alissa and I used to work there, and that Kate makes mochas almost every morning, her response was, "Wow. You guys really like your coffee." Absolutely! I've actually run into a few gliches lately, because I've been leaving for work before Kate could make me a mocha. I've had to use her coffee ground for espresso in the my coffee maker and that coffee may as well be motor oil considering the color. The consistency is still bearable but I may go out for some hazelnut flavored Millstone coffee, though I've heard that Millstone is even more expensive than Starbucks. Who would have guessed that my mother has expensive taste? Now I guess I get to blame somebody. I think I still have a pound or two left from my Starbucks stash to use if I get desparate, I just don't want to dig out my coffee grinder out of storage...I wonder if Heather's ever seen one of those.

I had another great night out on the town with Megan on Friday. We both make an effort to get together once in awhile and it means alot to me since we enjoy the same things--crepes, for example. A few weeks ago we decided to keep our schedules on September 9th and took the time to check out a place we hadn't tried before. I suggested Pasta Fresca, a charming Italian eatery that Dana enjoyed with me on one of her rare visits this side of the pond (Lake Washington, that is). We had no menus and suddenly we were served with an appetizer. "What's this?", I asked inquisitively. "Surprise number one!", replied the waiter with a smile. It took awhile for Dana and I to catch on. The restaurant has one set menu every day and, unless you have a specific allergy, the menu is your meal. Dana will agree that each dish was delicious and without fanfare, because the food spoke for itself. I wouldn't have guessed that some of the dishes were Italian, and I was glad to have the menu chosen for me because I wouldn't have chosen the courses on my own...but I digress... Megan opted for a place I must have passed by dozens of times but never notices called the Crepe Cafe, near the University Distict. Unbelievable!! If only the blog were a food critic's column. For the few who read this and actually live in the area, I cannot remember the last place I enjoyed so much! Well, there was Yanni's in Greenwood (Greek food is my favorite ethnic food), but the service left much to be desired. The Crepe Cafe was worth every penny and the waitress deserves a raise, whatever she's being paid now. Megan and I had a cute little table near a wine display (unfortunately no one asks for ID anymore). There was music from the 20's in the background at just the right volume to keep the ambience intimate and easy and we were given plenty of time to order, with complimentary crepe chips to start. We each ordered a glass of wine: Megan had a red zinfandel and I ordered something spectacular with a name I couldn't remember if my life depended on it. All I can say is that it was red and probably a dessert wine. What can I say? I'm very foo-foo when it comes to alcohol. We each ordered a crepe to share. For dinner Megan chose a crepe with peaches, goat cheese and asparagus with balsamic vinagrette. Sounds a bit strange but it was spectacular. For dessert, I ordered Crepe Suzette which, in the spirit of Amelie, is a traditional French crepe with an orange and Grand Marnier sauce. Add a little whipped cream and some chamomile tea, not to mention lovely company, and it was like a slice of heaven.

I'm going out of order now, but I'll rewind a day to Thursday and one of my other favorite people Cynthia. I picked her up from work and took her to my house for dinner. Among my newest favorite recipes in Indian Barbeque Chicken (check out allrecipes.com), which I'm guessing is chicken marsala from scratch. Just try it, everyone loves it. Cynthia when through a big show a la What About Bob to show me how much she liked it and then she, Kate, the kids and I walked to the Baskin Robbins. Cynthia may as well have been drunk as we did interpretive dance all the way home. I love my days off.

12:33 PM |

Labor Day Blues
Sunday, September 04, 2005

Hello all. Happy Labor Day Weekend. I will be working all weekend, including the holiday, but I will be compensated for it. Yay said bank! I still haven't thought of a nickname for it (and you all haven't been much help), but I think it's a good policy to keep certain information out of these posts. I'm learning alot, having a reasonably good experience (though work is work--there's a reason we get paid for it), and enjoying several luxuries that weren't available at my last job. We still have free coffee and tea, but after Starbucks I must say that I've been spoiled. HOWEVER, I am loving this "surfer bum" schedule of 10am to 6:45pm because the whole family is up before I leave for work and most mornings Kate makes me a custom mocha on her barista machine that she received for Christmas. She and Marc made an agreement that, if she was going to spend money on espresso and syrups to make the drinks, then she should be offering to make drinks for everybody. It's true that I pay a flat amount each month for food, but I love the fact that I don't even have to make a mocha myself. She even goes through the trouble to buy soy milk for me and Marc. I sometimes make eggs and pancakes in the mornings, so it all evens out. It really is like a family. Lovely. On Friday we finally had a new girl sign a lease for the vacant room. Her name is Heather, from Louisiana. She left for Seattle before the hurricane and though her town wasn't affected too badly, several of the refugees have been sent there. Now all three renters are officially tall. Kate says that Alissa and Heather are taller than normal, but that I'm taller than most tall people. So basically I'm a freak. Yay me. Anyway, I was talking about the luxuries of this job. I think that the top benefits (besides, well, benefits) are knowing my schedule 6 months in advance, always having the same hours and the same days off, and a guaranteed 40 hours a week. I guess you could consider that grown-up job. I still don't know if I'm really good at it. The guage will be to see whether I'm eligible for a transfer or a promotion after 6 months. If not, I will start looking for something else. I'm forever searching for my niche, convinced that it's out there somewhere.

3:57 PM |