Gas Works Park
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| Rain |
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| This is why the trees are always green |
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| Moss on the roof (it grows everywhere) and hail on the roof from the wild thunderstorm |
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Images from the Western Frontier
Seattle: Home?
Definitely not yet.
I've read some odd things about this place. It was one of the last places colonized by Americans in the whole country. No one really got here until the mid-1800s because of all those mountains in the way. In 1851 a couple of guys from New York came out here intending to make it the hip new American city, even dubbing it "New York Pretty Soon." That didn't pan out, and the people of Seattle were kind of upset about it. They then went the way of all previously established areas of civilization and wiped out the Native American population, then attempted to eradicate all the Chinese and Japanese. Everyone feels bad about that now, of course.
Fast forward to the 1950s and '60s: newspaper columns feature headlines like "Have a nice day -- somewhere else!" and "Our suicide rate is one of the highest in the nation. But we can be No. 1!"
Even today, Seattle is most famous for rain and grunge rock, neither particularly happy things. Today Toby remarked that everyone here looks like somebody's wayward cousin, and a few days ago he voiced the opinion that most people look like they could survive just fine if you dropped them in the middle of a forest with no campsite within 10 miles. He has a point. In terms of appearance, a lot of folks out here give the impression of self-reliance, affinity with nature, and aversion to all things mainstream. Obviously Toby loves it. However, he also said later that he believes the two of us belong here.
Wait. The two of us? Meaning not just him, but me too? Where do I fit into this picture?! Wayward, grunge, and outdoorsy are all adjectives that do not describe me. My favorite places in the world are drenched with sun. As far as I was concerned, L.A. was perfection. Year-round dry heat and sun every day. It also had my two other favorite things, crazy awesome food and dancing. A typical good day in L.A. for me would probably go something like this: awaken to a room already brimming with sunshine, shower, cursory towel wipe down and leave the rest to air dry. Listen to the latin music streaming from my neighbors three houses down. Lunch of kimchee tacos from the Korean BBQ/Mexican food truck. Dance practice with the ballroom team. Dinner from the Indian restaurant down the block. Get all dressed up and go salsa dancing until 2AM, then get some late night Chinese or Mexican. I feel like I'd have to undergo some serious changes to actually belong here. I don't know if Toby is hopeful or delusional, but I think it's a stretch to make that statement this early in the game.
I've read some odd things about this place. It was one of the last places colonized by Americans in the whole country. No one really got here until the mid-1800s because of all those mountains in the way. In 1851 a couple of guys from New York came out here intending to make it the hip new American city, even dubbing it "New York Pretty Soon." That didn't pan out, and the people of Seattle were kind of upset about it. They then went the way of all previously established areas of civilization and wiped out the Native American population, then attempted to eradicate all the Chinese and Japanese. Everyone feels bad about that now, of course.
Fast forward to the 1950s and '60s: newspaper columns feature headlines like "Have a nice day -- somewhere else!" and "Our suicide rate is one of the highest in the nation. But we can be No. 1!"
Even today, Seattle is most famous for rain and grunge rock, neither particularly happy things. Today Toby remarked that everyone here looks like somebody's wayward cousin, and a few days ago he voiced the opinion that most people look like they could survive just fine if you dropped them in the middle of a forest with no campsite within 10 miles. He has a point. In terms of appearance, a lot of folks out here give the impression of self-reliance, affinity with nature, and aversion to all things mainstream. Obviously Toby loves it. However, he also said later that he believes the two of us belong here.
Wait. The two of us? Meaning not just him, but me too? Where do I fit into this picture?! Wayward, grunge, and outdoorsy are all adjectives that do not describe me. My favorite places in the world are drenched with sun. As far as I was concerned, L.A. was perfection. Year-round dry heat and sun every day. It also had my two other favorite things, crazy awesome food and dancing. A typical good day in L.A. for me would probably go something like this: awaken to a room already brimming with sunshine, shower, cursory towel wipe down and leave the rest to air dry. Listen to the latin music streaming from my neighbors three houses down. Lunch of kimchee tacos from the Korean BBQ/Mexican food truck. Dance practice with the ballroom team. Dinner from the Indian restaurant down the block. Get all dressed up and go salsa dancing until 2AM, then get some late night Chinese or Mexican. I feel like I'd have to undergo some serious changes to actually belong here. I don't know if Toby is hopeful or delusional, but I think it's a stretch to make that statement this early in the game.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
New Life, post #1
First week in Seattle + First week living with Toby. It's been pretty good!
These things also coincided with the first week of Lent (I'm giving up food with additives) and some of the worst period cramps I have ever experienced. Given that, things could have gone a whole lot worse. But so far the people of Seattle have been warm and welcoming and I am truly enjoying transforming our new apartment into a home.
About Seattle: yes, it does rain a far amount, and yes I've had some good coffee. The rain has been mostly misty, though, and I've decided that it will never factor into my plans for the day. If I need groceries, I'm still going out. Toby and I even went to Gas Works Park in the rain. It was great.
My days have mainly consisted of unpacking boxes, trips to department stores, moving furniture, and lots of cleaning. Now that the space is livable, I've turned my attentions to making it beautiful. The desk I have claimed as the home for my computer needs to be painted, several tables need to be refinished, and I really want to start a garden. The first two plans are totally within my skill set, since I spent last summer fixing up a whole house, but the garden bit is new to me. My family never kept plants, so I don't know anything about making herbs or flowers grow. I hope I don't kill anything, but that does seem inevitable. I've decided that the first flowers I attempt will be geraniums hanging from the railing on the porch (to make my home more Spanish) and the first herbs will probably be rosemary and cilantro (because they're delicious).
I'm hoping to use this blog as a place for reflection in the upcoming weeks. It will be a place to jot down revelations about living with another person, triumphs in new adventures, and random musings.
These things also coincided with the first week of Lent (I'm giving up food with additives) and some of the worst period cramps I have ever experienced. Given that, things could have gone a whole lot worse. But so far the people of Seattle have been warm and welcoming and I am truly enjoying transforming our new apartment into a home.
About Seattle: yes, it does rain a far amount, and yes I've had some good coffee. The rain has been mostly misty, though, and I've decided that it will never factor into my plans for the day. If I need groceries, I'm still going out. Toby and I even went to Gas Works Park in the rain. It was great.
My days have mainly consisted of unpacking boxes, trips to department stores, moving furniture, and lots of cleaning. Now that the space is livable, I've turned my attentions to making it beautiful. The desk I have claimed as the home for my computer needs to be painted, several tables need to be refinished, and I really want to start a garden. The first two plans are totally within my skill set, since I spent last summer fixing up a whole house, but the garden bit is new to me. My family never kept plants, so I don't know anything about making herbs or flowers grow. I hope I don't kill anything, but that does seem inevitable. I've decided that the first flowers I attempt will be geraniums hanging from the railing on the porch (to make my home more Spanish) and the first herbs will probably be rosemary and cilantro (because they're delicious).
I'm hoping to use this blog as a place for reflection in the upcoming weeks. It will be a place to jot down revelations about living with another person, triumphs in new adventures, and random musings.
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