Call me Captain

Yes, I have been tagged. It's a lot of pressure this tagging business. After all I don't have two different feet, I'm not a talented writer and I don't even have old pictures of me to show everyone how cool I once was. But rules are rules and speaking of which:

Here are the rules: Post these rules of "tag" at the beginning of your blog. List 6 facts or habits about yourself. At the end of the post, you must tag 6 people and post their names. Go to their blog and leave them a comment letting them know they have been tagged and to read your blog for more details.

1. Scott and I dated for a total of 11 days before getting engaged. But we always have to emphasis that we new each other since we were 15 so that makes it ok. Don't tell our kids.

2. I was a little princess when I was young. For example, I was the arm-wrestling champion of my elementary school. Sure didn't wear makeup until high school. Was mistaken for a boy on a regular basis until, oh, about 8th grade! In fact, my own cousin thought I was a boy. Took a knife (not a little pocket knife mind you, but a bone-handled hunting knife) to Church when I was 10. Starting around 5 or 6 years old I insisted people call me Captain John Guarder Baser.

3. Now that you know of my "Captain John Years" it will come as no surprise to you that I never held hands or kissed or had a boy friend until Scott and I started dating two and 1/2 years ago. Fortunately for me, Scott finds my fondness for building fires, hardware stores, tools, knives and wearing no makeup endearing.

4. Fact #2 is a result of my Mom who was a tom-boy herself when she was growing up on The Farm in Idaho. This next bit about myself is from my St. Louis-born father. I've seen over 70 live plays. My parents are quite the odd couple, in a lot of ways.

5. I get so excited when I'm cleaning and I find a spot that has been missed and the dirtier it is the better. I report these findings to a politely interested Scott when he comes home in the evening. Sometimes, ok all of the time, I will show him the newly cleaned spot. Some of my more exciting finds have been vents, under the oven knobs and the lintel behind the door (where the hinges are).

6. I aspire to be Italian as anyone who has been to our house would know. I've spent many dollars to go there (4 times in all) and can't wait to go back. My devotion to all things Italian even goes as far as my having tributes to the flag in our kitchen, a framed business card of a gelateria in Florence, and a total of 25 Italy-related photographs on display in our apartment. It's really out of control. In fact only yesterday I had my new Visiting Teachers over and when one of them happened to mention that all her family comes from Italy. I think I actually leaned forward in my seat as I asked her where in Italy exactly and how long ago they immigrated. Sad isn't it?

Well that's me in a nutshell. Now I'm supposed to tag six more people but I don't know that many bloggers and some of them have already been tagged so I'll just tag a couple: Mindy and Suzanne.

P.S. Did everyone enjoy my Christmas spirit?

Let the Christmas Season Begin!

Scott recently put up a posting on my family's website about our tendency to let our Christmas Spirit get out of control. I don't know what he's talking about. For example, my dear sister Mindy sent this homemade outfit to us last week; she's like that. Despite it's overpowering cuteness I waited until after Thanksgiving (2 whole days) to put it on Eve. If that's not restraint I don't know what is.
Here's Scott's posting if your interested:
1. Do you have any lingering attachments to Tier 2 holidays (e.g. Thanksgiving, Halloween, Labor Day, your birthday, anniversaries, etc.) that you would be unwilling to sacrifice in order to "feel the spirit of Christmas" more fully throughout the year?
2. Do you have an aversion to being shaken awake at 3 am because "Oh no, we only have 128 more days to get ready!!!"
3. Name all three tenors and their country of origin.
4. Do you have faith that St. Nicholas is indeed the Father of Christmas?
5. What significant event occurs on December 6th each year?
6. Are you willing to cry like a baby in front of the entire extended family when they ask you, under the influence of candlelight and one too many glasses of sparkling cider, to share your gratitude for KLynn-1?
7a. Have you ever woken up to find your sneakers hidden in the toilet-2?
7b. Want to spend Easter with us?

1- Whoever lights the candle then has to listen as everyone else eulogizes them. KLynn is my mom by the way.
2- In our house the Easter Bunny puts candy in our shoes and then hides them (in the toilet for example). No link for this one.

A Good One of All of Us

Thanksgiving Weekend

Much to our surprise and relief, our first Thanksgiving dinner turned out quite well. My brother Rob and his girlfriend came up and we all had such a good time cooking, eating, going for a walk, exploring Pike's Place and playing Settlers (Scott is the current Lord of Catan). As for me, the best part was having my husband home for 4 straight days.

Independents vs. Chains

Scott and I have had a partiality towards independent shops and restaurants for some time now. The reasons for this are one, we like the environment of independents and find that it makes the whole experience substantially more enjoyable . Two, oftentimes the quality is superior, especially in service. And finally, we like supporting the little guy to be quite honest. Now that I've told you all this I must confess that money is still a deciding factor and that we make monthly trips to the local Targhetto for some things. However I am becoming more and more determined to buy less in order to be able to afford supporting the few independents still left. Well, that's my soapbox. I know that it is a personal choice as to where one spends one's money so don't feel like you will hurt my feelings if you disagree. Here are a few of our favorite independents: Farmer's Market, Elliott Bay Book Company, Belltown Pizza, Cookin' at Madison Park, Bottega Italiana, My Coffee House, and if we're in Utah, Mazza or Las Tarascas.

Rainbow Fishing

Eve and I were on a nice walk down by Lake Washington where I was taking some pictures (see photo of the week). As we were walking along the beach we passed a man with a fishing pole who brightly said "beautiful day isn't it!?" "Um, yeah" I responded. It was actually quite gloomy and shortly thereafter started to rain. Anyway, the man went out on the dock and started fishing so I thought I would snap some photos. After a couple of shots he saw me and I asked if it was alright. He said it was but to wait. At this point he took off his orange puffy vest to reveal a much worn rainbow colored vest - 1. You've got to love Seattle.

1 - the rainbow is a self-adopted symbol of the gay community. There is "Double Rainbow" ice cream at our local grocery store with a subtitle of "San Fransisco's Official Ice Cream."

Nice Ducks

One day last week Eve and I were walking through the Arboretum when we decided that it was time for Eve to have her first experience of feeding ducks. All we had was Cheerios but the ducks were all over it. So I plopped Eve down in the mud and started throwing Cheerios at her while holding my camera ready. Poor Eve.

Eve Shares with the Ducks

The ducks ate all my Cheerios

In the Arboretum

Grandma, Rebekah & Eve

Ode to my Mother

Last week my Mom was here visiting and I was reminded yet again of what great parents I have. Scott and I were determined to make this trip as pleasant and comfortable for my Mother as possible. We tried to be prepared by having an air mattress all ready to go and some of my Mom's preferred snacks. Feeble efforts compared to what she ended up doing for us. I don't think I've ever met such a giving person in my life. She insisted on spoiling us even though she was our guest. For example, on Thursday she stayed home with Eve and had some store-bought soup while Scott and I were able do go out for dinner. You must realize that this was the first time we've ever left Eve so needless to say she wasn't her usual happy self.

The highlights of the week were simple enough but being with my Mom made them so much fun! In chronological order, we sat on a bench on the beach of Lake Washington and watched the ducks, explored Elliott Bay Book Co., took a ferry to Bainbridge Island and had the best hot cider ever, went Pike's Place Market, got lost in the shopping district, took a long walk through the Arboretum and finished off the trip with the most delicious pumpkin crepe! Thank you Mom for a wonderful week!