It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Needed something Christmas around - it felt like something was missing. Now if only I could figure out the gifts that should sit under there...

(I apologize that the picture is not great - it was a debate to use the flash and not see the lights or not use the flash and have the shadow. I wanted to show off the lights as I was incredibly anal getting those on right. Though, special note should be made that Andrew helped put up some ornaments!)

Happy Halloween!

Okay, I'm a bad kitty-mommy trying to dress up the kitty. He doesn't seem to mind it too much, but unfortunately runs away every time a trick-or-treater comes by. For $3, it was worth the two hours.

Also, a picture of the pumpkin that I carved and received several compliments on:

Now to go party with some friends and to try to win the costume contest dressing up as a muppeter and taking Nick along with me :)

Fun with Photoshop!

Guess that maybe I should explain myself...

Andrew and I were at Lowes looking for some window privacy film thing to put up on the window in our bathroom that is right there by the showerhead. Well, we walked down the aisle with the signs and I thought how funny it would be to have a restroom sign on our bathroom door that indicated cats welcomed too since Sir Thomas' litterbox is housed in the bathroom. So, on an hour lunch break and Photoshop at work and little knowledge of Photoshop, behold, the bathroom sign!

One year later...

So, I've been in NJ for a year now. Starting to feel more comfortable with the area, but still really missing Seattle. Sure, there's NYC an hour+ NJTranist ride north, but it's too much city for me - too much congestion, too much car honking, too many different smells (each changing with the next block), but at least it's a place to go catch a show on Broadway or something to go do and then appreciate being in a small town on the weekend.

Speaking of Broadway, to celebrate the survival of the first year, Andrew and I went to go see Avenue Q (it's leaving Broadway after their last show next weekend and I thought that it would be fun to see). Hilarious show - definitely "muppets" for grown-ups as it is the story of a recent college-grad trying to find his purpose in life after earning his useless BA in English. Scarred from some scenes as "muppet" childhood innocence was lost, but absolutely hilarious - great songs, ripped-off-of-Sesame Street idea, funny story, funny lines. Definitely go see it if a traveling group comes near you.

It was nice - finally got to see a show on Broadway (though the theater was not exactly ON Broadway) and in it, got to see Times Square (lots of people, may be agoraphobic now...), and get ripped off for NY food that Andrew has cooked better on his grill. I think I have fully experience NYC now.

So, to sum up the year, I figured I should do a recap:
* moved to Princeton
* found job at PU, hoping to find a different one, maybe even go back to school for a career change (thinking about graphic design)
* experienced single digit temperatures
* learned what humidity is
* seen DC (National Mall, White House, Lincoln Memorial, Kennedy Center for the Arts)
* been to NY (Yankees game, Blue Man Group, 5th Ave, FAO Schwartz, Central Park, outside of ANHM (still have yet and want to go in), Financial District, Ground Zero, Spirit Cruise/Statue of Liberty, Avenue Q on Broadway, Times Square) - before I swear off NY forever, let me know what else I need to do/see...
* Drove up to Boston, saw Mariner's play at Fenway (and they won)
* short trip into Philly for Improv show (need to do the full historic tour yet)
* adopted Sir Thomas von Fussybutt, Duke of Butler (also known as TomKitty)
* building new friendships through Christian Fellowship (InterVarsity) and starting to connect with a church (just learned how to make peach jam with a friend today!)
* still have to finish the quilt that was started upon initial few months here at Princeton (job got in the way)

In all, it's been a rollercoaster year, dealing with the transition of a new coast, new people, less family, a failing economy and a less-than-ideal job, but hopefully I'm through the worst of it and things will be better moving forward.

However, I still want to be back in Seattle.

Summer in NJ

Simply - it sucks and I have had enough. At least I get a reprive starting Thursday when I'm in the Bay Area to see my big sis (weather.com claims 70's!) Compare that to the recent 91 degrees, but feels like 95 with 81% humidity... last week we topped with "feels like 104" with an extreme heat advisory.

Yes, summer finally hit about a month ago (the summer had been rather wet for the beginning of it - of course I don't mind, but the cat does with the thunderstorms ever looming). I finally know what humidity is. I have also learned that my body does not like being in constant a/c or running in and out of it - hopefully it will be used to constant a/c come next summer. Since summer hit, I've had an ugly cough. However, since the summer workshop, I've felt cruddy, and starting over the weekend, my left sinus has decided to hate me - sinus infection anyone? God bless the makers of Sudafed (with the good stuff - pseudoephedrine)! Even if I'm doped up on Sudafed, my left sinus will still decide to rebell if I remain in a/c... so, which comfort to choose - no sinus pressure or no sweating in the heat?

Maybe something is just trying to tell me to move back to Seattle... but in the mean time - pseudoephedrine!

I am alive...

... though almost barely.

Been consumed with work as last week was our Summer Workshop in New York City, which also means that I have earned comp-time up to wazzu (no, not talking about that other school, just a phrase). Took Monday and Tuesday off, been in the office Wednesday through today, though might leave early as now that even though I slept all last weekend to recouperate from the adventure, my body has decided to have cold-like symptoms. Not good considering that I'm in San Fran to see my sis and celebrate her marraige with Marc this time next week.

Things learned:
* I'm not being fairly compensated for the time I'm working, but then again not like I was really working all that much during the week - just sitting at the reception desk "on call" - but I still claim that to be time that I was working. I would rather get the OT pay than more days off considering that I get 24 days of paid time off for the year and what are the chances that I will use the 16 that have to be used or lost? I guess a longer vacation will be taken in Seattle at Christmas time.
* Can't VPN everywhere
* Ground Zero still has an impact to a person who experienced 9/11 on the West Coast
* New York is an impressive city, but not a city for me. I like Seattle better... but I'm biased.

Wish I had more insightful things to say... this blog seems to be dwindling. Though considering I set this up to share my chronicals of moving cross-country, it has fulfilled it's duty.

I kick [his] ass!

Just finished a riviting game of Scrabble with the boy - him: 198, me: 261

Wanted to post a picture of the board, but just as I was going to take the picture, Andrew spooked Thomas and caused Thomas to jump up and run over the board... and Thomas was being so good while we were playing avoiding the board. I guess the loser just didn't want photo evidence of the butt-kicking :D

Best words played: Vivace, Toured, Roux, and I know there were several others... if anything I got the luck of the draw with the high-point letters, and amazingly, I used them all (though the letter "Q" came to late for Andrew - all the "U"s were used)!

:D