I'm In A Mood For You

World Tour: Part 2, Days 10 + 11

Hello!

A few of you have asked why I haven't ventured in here as often as usual lately, and let's just say it's not for a lack of things to share. More like, where would I even begin?

But we'll get to that another time.



For now let's just talk about Seattle. She was the last leg in The World Tour Sequel, and she sent us out with a bang. It's crucial to note that I took your advice, booking us at that waterfront Marriott you mentioned and hitting up all of the markets, including the less known Fremont one which we are sooooooooo glad you commented about because it's the place we found handmade jewelry and colorful kitschy tins and old crumbly books and really sweet big metal sculptural looking things that I was trying to bargain for before figuring out that they were antique bed pans.

So. I'd say the trip was a win. MUCHO KUDOS TO YOU.



It was a rare treat to see so many unisex underweight pasty people in skinny jeans, all with Justin Bieber hair and text messaging habits, and we absolutely ate. it. up. I was expecting a dirty, rockabilly slash flannel thing (I graduated high school IN THE NINETIES yo), but vibe was healthy, young, and by all means hip.

Also, it was raining Democrats.

Basically, it was nothing like Florida at. all.

But! My faaavorite part (besides the waitress who carded me and didn't believe I'd just turned thirty two ohyesshedid), was that there was good beer (Alaskan Ale!), fresh salmon, green this and organic that choices choices choices and I could actually order off of a menu without pulling my usual Sally Albright.













We love you, Seattle!!!



World Tour: Part 2, Day 8
World Tour: Part 2, Day 7
World Tour, Part 2, Day 6
World Tour: Part 2, Days 4 + 5
World Tour: Part 2, Day 3
World Tour: Part 2, Day 2
World Tour: Part 2, Day 1
World Tour: Part 1

Walking Through Fire

Hello everyone. This week I've been living inside of a campfire.



Minus the s'mores, plus a ginormous helping of ash and smoke. And smoke. And more smoke.

Do you remember what our view usually looks like?

It's below on the left. The ones on the right are what it looked like yesterday, after the Georgia and Florida fires threw up in our backyard and then swallowed the skyline.




Since the world was ending, I decided it was the perfect day to go for a long walk.

With company.



They wanted to know who was smoking all of the reefer.

Hospital: Part 5,768,345,001

Thank you all for your comments and words of encouragement concerning my little Zoe bug. After a Friday night in the hospital and an emergency appointment with a neurologist (God bless him for opening his office to us on a Saturday!) we are back home and slowly improving. And starting to sleep. A little.

Anyway, here's us this morning.



I remember when I was young and in architecture school and could stay awake in my studio for fourteen days at a time without looking like a train had run over my head.

But, then, I also used to brush my hair more than once a week, too...

Nurturing

This is Zoe a few minutes ago, on her first day out of the hospital, her third day of recovery.



I know that most of you understand the dread that comes along when a pet falls ill, but if you don't, then go into your bathroom and stuff the tub down your throat. Then try to swallow. Slowly. It feels kind of like that.

She's having an adverse reaction to a pill that was prescribed to her routinely, with no disclosures of the company having never tested it on Italian Greyhounds at. all.

She's not walking and has no bladder control.

I haven't slept in two days.

World Tour: Part 2, Day 9

I loved Vancouver. I did not expect it's vibe at all, a mix of dirty urban and sleek orb-ish glass towers, which makes it feel a little Oak Park, a little Barcelona slash South Beach, and a whole lotta Return Of The Jedi.

It was raining when we disembarked there, or maybe it just overcast? I'm not sure. What I do remember, was that it was early, and I was too disoriented to find my camera.

This was the only photo I took of Vancouver.



Sperry's are wonderful.

Rental cars are not.



World Tour: Part 2, Day 8
World Tour: Part 2, Day 7
World Tour, Part 2, Day 6
World Tour: Part 2, Days 4 + 5
World Tour: Part 2, Day 3
World Tour: Part 2, Day 2
World Tour: Part 2, Day 1
World Tour: Part 1

World Tour: Part 2, Day 8

The eighth day of our trip will be remembered as one of my most uncomfortable sexual encounters as a married woman, and I am so. not. being. dramatic. when I write that.

Thank you to the cruise staff for hanging this in juuust the right spot, at an angle that makes it practically unnoticeable unless you're on top of the bed, in a compromised position, and hopped up on Dramamine.



I spotted it and yelped, and then my reflexes kicked in I somehow felt it appropriate to stop, drop, and roll.

There were injuries.

It's reckless, planting a voodoo bath towel thing like that. It had eyes like the Mona Lisa.

World Tour, Part 2, Day 7
World Tour, Part 2, Day 6
World Tour: Part 2, Days 4 + 5
World Tour: Part 2, Day 3
World Tour: Part 2, Day 2
World Tour: Part 2, Day 1
World Tour: Part 1

Flying Cars + Falling Ceilings

First, in case you haven't figured it out, we've actually been back from the west coast for weeks, and I've been writing the World Tour posts in retrospect... I will get around to wrapping up the second part, and eventually I'll probably finish the first, maaaybe even before we head out for the THIRD LEG in July, because. eff. yeah. there's more.

I know.

I can't help myself.

Anyway, before I go back to posting about the trip(s), I thought I might include a few random things from lately...

1. Andrew and I went for a run in the pouring rain on Friday afternoon, and as we were sprinting over Main Street Bridge (a huge steel bridge that passes over Saint John's River) I happened to look over my left shoulder just in time to see a Lincoln Navigator going airborne. Directly toward us. I body checked a Andrew and a total stranger (!) hard enough to let them know to GET OUT OF THE WAY! The Lincoln ended up landing on two cars going the opposite direction, missing us by yards. It was one of the scariest things I've ever seen. When we got home I took this photo to remind myself of how good I have it. You know, with Andrew alive.



2. We signed a start date extension with our tenants for the place we're living in now. It pushes the move out until August. (We've found lots of houses, but none of them are The One. Still looking.) We also signed a lease with new tenants for The University Townhouse. I'm hopeful everyone else will renew this season.

3. Came home to a message from a tenant in South Florida that said, "Hi Kelly, the ceiling is caving in. Please call." THE CEILING IS FALLING. Just the sort of thing I have nightmares about. Turns out a main plumbing line was kaput and the entire thing had to be replaced. Along with the ceiling. Along with my sanity.

4. Collided into a ginormous sea turtle while running one evening on the beach. Never gets old.

5. We had our second year anniversary. It was disgustingly amazing. Maybe I'll tell you about it sometime.