Issaquah

On Saturday we arrived in Issaquah, our residence of the next several weeks. We were greeted by, of course, rain, and then all of a sudden it was snowing! This evoked a highly acidic gastro-esophageal reaction on my part, which then in turn led me to ask every person I encountered whether snow at the end of March is commonplace. Not so. It would seem that Washington rolled out the "white" carpet just for us! Mathias was unnaturally excited about the snow and announced in church on Sunday that we "looooooooove the weather here." I would have refuted this blatant disregard for the truth, but my jaws were clenched in a sort of chattering frozen vise.
Blizzards aside, this place if gorgeous! We really love Issaquah and so far have not gotten lost, contrary to what some of you lurkers have predicted in my near future (Johanna). I am currently fighting the battle of no GPS, but when Mathias sees a new gizmo in his future, there's no stopping him! I foresee losing that battle. . . .
Naturally I didn't pack the cable for the camera (but I did pack my Tivo!) so I can't show you all the beautiful pictures I've taken, but I promise I'll do that soon. Bis dann!

Up, Up and Away!

So it's official! We're moving to Seattle! After several suspense-filled (for me!) interviews with Amazon (my cyberhome away from home), Mathias got offered a job! We love it here in the Bay Area soooooo much, but after a lot of thought, discussions, and prayer we felt like this is the best step for our family. We are sad to go and also excited for our adventures in the Pacific Northwest!

Last weekend we went up to Seattle to visit friends and scope out the city. We had a great time. First, on the way to the Space Needle, Mathias drove over a bump whilst I was munching on a Ritz cracker. Now I have a gaping wound in my tongue (seriously-- complete with profuse bleeding). Then, after dinner at J's (who is scary similar to her sister Z, with the extra bonus of being a Wiiiiiiiiii fan!), Lucy couldn't get the car door open and finally pulled so hard it knocked her in the face. Mathias, as usual, came away from the weekend sans injury.
Meanwhile, we really did have a dandy time. And, for all of you stinkers and your predictions of constant rain, the sun came out several times! For more than just a few minutes, too! And we took pictures to prove it:

As you can clearly see that is the Space Needle and beautiful blue sky in the background! And, following up on a previous post about my friends who don't believe in bike helmets, I came across this science exhibit at the Pacific Science Center:

If you can't read the text, here it is: Look at the difference between the thickness of your skull and the thickness of the helmet. Which is thicker, the helmet or the skull?
Now to my dear dear friends who don't wear helmets and are nervously reading this post knowing exactly who they are: I know that you think your skulls are thick enough, but no matter what kind of blockhead you are, you still need a helmet!
And that's all, folks!

Finally, back to my old self!

374 words

Speed test

Finally I am back to my speedy ways! Gina, you can practice all you want, but it'll be a looooong time before you beat that, baby!

Getting Better

80 words

Speed test

Okay, so I can't stop doing this speedy test. Somebody please help me!

Slowing in my old age, but still respectable!

77 words

Speedtest

The Goose

So today is a stressful day. Many things are going on right now and so I have all sorts of tension and anxiety, so much so that I actually forced Z to rub my poor aching shoulders at the park yesterday (by the way, Z, you must finish what you started!). Anyhow, while meandering aimlessly through my cyberworld just now, I came across this picture of my little girl. It cheered me up so much that I thought I should post it. I don't see that it is possible to remain grouchy when there is such a beautiful munchkin right here in my own home! Thank you Lucy!

SUPER Jen the Mighty!

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeet! Today, for the first time ever, I beat Super Mario Bros 3! Yes, I know it's about twenty years late, but thank goodness for my Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!

Rock on!

GRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!

If you have spoken with me in the last few days you are most likely aware of my newest rant (and if you are not aware, how come you don't listen when I'm talking to you?!?!). I've been doing my taxes and there is a new section for California Use Tax. This lame, smelly law states that if I buy something from an out of state retailer (like Amazon, my favorite cyberhome away from home), and said retailer does not charge me sales tax (again, like my beautiful, wonderful Amazon), then I am obliged to pay a tax for USING the purchased items in smelly, stinky California. Of all of the crooked, stinky laws!

So now I stand at a moral crossroads. Reporting out of state purchases is on the honor system. So do I:

a. Support a ridiculous law and report my purchases
b. Silently protest these outrageous tax laws by remaining silent about my purchases
c. Relocate to New Zealand and start a mini-horse farm

Please vote for one of the above. Whoever guesses correctly what I did (I just now, in this last minute, sent in my taxes) can pay my $200 use tax. Sigh.

Yes We Can

I Can Still Feel My Severed Limb

I have no phone. After days of worsening static, the line is totally gone. This is insanely depressing, and if F & Z were able to contact me they would be telling me that this is why I need a cell phone.

Argh. If you are in my neighborhood, stop by and you will see me steal longing glances (through the shower of tears) at my beloved telephone.