Seventy-Five...the magic number

On Wednesday, the forecast said "a high of 68 degrees and sunny" for Seattle. So, I immediately started planning for Saturday, excited enough that a little pee almost came out.

This morning, Ashley, Melissa and I headed for Alki Bakery for the AH-mazing cinnamon rolls and breakfast croissant sandwiches. After breakfast, we took a long walk down Alki Beach. I was wearing a t-shirt and light jacket.

The warm weather brought out a fascinating sense of community. People came out of the woodwork...and dogs. It reminded me of my first three weeks in Seattle last September. Everyone was giddy and joyful, smiling & laughing with strangers while their dogs sniffed each other. The dogs were also giddy and joyful.

They say (whoever "they" is) that Seattleites prefer having dogs to children, and today it was evident this is true. There were definitely kids, but way more dogs. Every family with kids had at least one dog, but every family with a dog did not have kids. We met a basset hound named Henrietta whose ears dragged the ground. When we stopped petting her, she started howling so loud people down Alki could hear her. Poor Henrietta.

I spent the afternoon tooling around downtown with Josephine. By this time, I was just wearing a t-shirt...I mean, pants too, but no light jacket. The thermometer on a bank read 75 degrees. Mecca. Pike Place was packed out. More dogs. People settling in droves outside the Starbucks stores that can be found with every 30 second walk with, not coffees or lattes, but frappucinos.

We ended the day at Greenlake. People were playing soccer, volleyball, basketball, and football. Men with no shirts on (but thankfully, shorts). Women in bikini tops and shorts. Again, more dogs than children. I rolled my pants' legs up (oh-so-sexy) and we laid out on the grassy lawn with Baskin-Robbins ice cream cones.

Seventy-five degrees.

Happy Hours

Despite the fact that Ashley is one of my closest friends here in Seattle, I somehow had no pictures of her. So when she invited me to happy hour at The Pink Door, I brought my camera along. If you visit Seattle or live here and haven't been, you should stop by. It's got a great atmosphere, quality food (and tiramisu, I can attest to!), and live music. Plus, there's a swing in the main dining room, should you choose to take a break from your company.

Me & Ash

Ash's "Angelica's Kiss"

My "Pear Bellini"

Our entertainment

Following The Pink Door, I walked down First Avenue to Belltown Pizza to join Gina, Aaron, Melissa, Thomas, and Patrick for happy hour #2. Actually, it was the weekly Tuesday special of a bucket of beers & large pizza for $25. Not a bad deal, although I'm not a beer drinker. I let my pear bellini suffice and enjoyed the company (okay, and a slice of pineapple & red onion pizza).

Aaron, Gina, Me

"Texas tea"

Wait, Texas tea is supposed to be oil, right? Anyway, so Patrick found this boot-shaped Texas mug and gave it to Gina. She couldn't resist drinking from it immediately.

Melissa and Thomas

The Return

It's true. After 8 months in Seattle, I am returning to Denton, Texas, from whence I came. I had a whirlwind interview for a position at the University of North Texas (yep, same university too) while I was there last week (they squeezed me in, how nice) and got a call on Friday that I have been offered the position of Academic Advisor II in the College of Education.

Having searched for a job quite high and low here and come up short following several interviews (my last was the impressive and rare phone call rejection..."You were a close second...you really impressed everyone...the tipping point was that the person selected had more direct admissions experience..."), I must follow the job offer.

I have mixed feelings about leaving. Seattle has been interesting. There have been high moments and low moments. I have had many, many learning experiences. I'm glad I came.

I'm also glad to return to Texas. So, in the words of my friend Melissa, "I'm taking my ball, and I'm going home."

Texas Delights

Landing in Dallas, where it was 70 degrees on the nose and not a cloud in the sky

Arriving at Uyen's, leaving my stuff in the hall, and walking directly to the backyard where I lay on the patio for the next 2 hours

A little girl in the backyard across yelling, "Mama! Someone's dead over there!" after watching me laying there, not moving, for 2 hours

Having a sunburned face and tummy at the end of said 2 hours (having been in TX for only 4 hours at that point)

Having all my girls come over the first night, talking for hours

A cake by Cookie w/mmm-mmm penuche icing

Being in a place where no one thinks I have an accent

Napping with Grandma

A smertz from Grandma

Sleeping with Tony & Bella (Uyen's wienie dogs)

Girl talk...and talk...and talk...and...

Morning Starbucks with Marce

Mr. Chopsticks with Sara

Seeing Cookie's engagement ring, not in a facebook picture, but in person

Leaving my wretched cell charger and having to buy a new one in CC

Kitchen time with the O'Callaghan's

Renting "The Great Outdoors"

Meeting Christine's beau, Carl

A whole day of Amy

Strealy burgers

Stephen's hug

Laughing til I cried (and snorted!) at stories we've told thousands of times

Watching SNL in the Strealy's family room

My Favorite Muffin with Katy & Esther

6-packin' with the O'Cs and Cameron

Hanging out with college kids in a not professional setting

La Playa--enchiladas or quesadillas...or both?

Dinners with Daddy

Seeing Daddy retire after 39 years with the PO

Breakfast w/Royce & Cynthia, a super fun duo

Hearing country music in every store/restaurant

Pat Green and Tejano on the radio

Making Katy drive-thru Chick-fil-a with me b/c I HAD to have it before leaving TX

Thinking "Chrissy who?" because I forgot I actually know Chris from CC, not Seattle

Waving goodbye to the Espina clan as Chrissy & I boarded for Seattle