Sunday, March 28, 2010

This has been a really lovely weekend.  It's almost difficult to narrow it down to just one thing to be thankful for.

Here it is, but allow me a moment to explain.

I really enjoy grilling.  The best meals I've ever made have definitely found their humble beginnings on a grill.  There's just something about cooking food outside that makes it taste better to me.  What's even better, is I love that a last minute, we'll-just-throw-something-together for dinner on the grill turns into this.

Yum...a million times, yum.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

I lead a blessed life.

In my world, spending Saturday reading on the beach and playing cribbage with my boyfriend is commonplace.

Yeah.

I don't even have to make this stuff up...even the book is getting really good.

Friday, March 26, 2010

There aren't words for how much I've been dreading this day.  As a part of my job, eventually, I have to take the CHA exam.  CHA stands for Certified Hotel Administrator.  Let me just say this: I hate standardized exams.  I despise the fact that someone is going to tell me that I do or don't know my job because of how I answer question on a test.  I think there is a lot more to it than that.  Besides, I have never "tested" well.
Because of my knee-jerk reaction to this whole process, I've procrastinated taking this thing far too long.  I finally got it scheduled, but then realized that I was going to have to take it smack in the middle of some really busy times for me professionally.  Ugh.
Oh well.
I'm not gonna lie, I didn't study.  That probably wasn't the best decision I've ever made, but I figured, if I didn't pass, I could always take it again.  Whatever.

So, I took this thing on Friday.  And I actually passed.  I am so flipping thankful, I don't even know what to say.

The End.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

I'm using this day to gratuitously post a picture I took earlier this month when I was putzing around downtown Seattle with my friend, Sarah.  This is a picture of Gum Wall down by Pike Place.

Ok, so why am I posting this today?  What does this have to do with being thankful for anything?  I realized today that I've become pretty aggressive about my laid-back-ed-ness.   I went to a restaurant in LA that was so overwhelmingly pretentious that it was laughable.  I did a good keeping my thoughts to myself, but holy cow.  Apparently, I don't deal well with that type of attitude anymore.

I'm sure that type of attitude exists in Seattle.  I just don't experience it.  The Seattle I experience is actually known for things like "Gum Wall" - it may not be art to everyone, but it's there, and it's constantly changing, and I've never been there when there hasn't been at least one other person photographing it.

Take that, LA.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

So, this whole project is just to remind me to think about the little things.  It's working.  You know, I actually lived in LA, but never once made it to Hollywood to look at the stars.  Go figure.

I'm pretty sure all of my colleagues thought I was just "star struck" or something, but I thought it was really neat-o.

Monday, March 22, 2010

Today, I am thankful for the delivery of a nasty little meal that I did not order.  This type of thing happens to me.  A lot.

Without this type of mishap, though, sometimes I wonder if I would ever be able to understand what good service can really be.  Although the folks I dealt with at this particular establishment didn't exactly seize the opportunity to exemplify extraordinary service recovery, the entire experience gave me the chance to stretch my metaphoric legs of patience and realize how wonderful it is that things like this don't really phase me anymore.

(I can't say the same for the ridiculous girl in the hotel bar later that evening, but I'm going to attribute that to low blood sugar brought on by not eating dinner)

Anyhow, for now, I'm thankful for giant service blunders and the opportunities they provide.

(By the way, just because you have a nice camera with you, doesn't necessarily make it easy or even remotely inconspicuous to try to take a nice picture.  I'm just saying.)

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Setting up tents in the living room preparing for backpacking season.

Need I say more?

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Today, the sun came out.  The patio was reclaimed for spring, and we celebrated with our much-anticipated morning coffee outside.  This is what I've been waiting for all winter long.  Thankful is an understatement.

The sun didn't end there, neither did the day, so neither will my pictures.
My apartment is just a few blocks from Seattle City Center.  Although at times it can be very touristy, in the off-season on sunny days it is a veritable playground for locals.  Brian and I took a mid-afternoon walk to that area.

I love the way this city responds to the sun.  People come out in droves to revel in the warmth and excitement of being able to be outside.  There's a different level of appreciation here...I can see it in the faces.  Everywhere I look, there is someone with their eyes closed, face lifted to the sun, simply experiencing and breathing in the moment.  I never knew other people did things like that, too.

And then there are the colors, and the everyday art, and the sculpture that I always forget to notice.

And that, in a nutshell, is what I'm thankful for today.

Friday, March 19, 2010

I don't really want to talk about this day.  It wasn't what I hoped it could have been.  I have a hard time now thinking that days are "bad".  So many people I know are actually experiencing "bad" days.  Perspective sometimes really sucks.

That being said, at the end of the day, there is always something to be thankful for. 

And I'm smiling now.

Mom, don't think less of me. (They didn't all come from tonight)

Thursday, March 18, 2010

It's been a long week that was preceded by a long week and that one was preceded by a long week, too.

This one is a little different, though.  Tonight, Brian and I ended the day at one of our favorite places.

They may not always know our name.
They may not always be glad we came.

But Norm's has something very few places have.  They have dogs.  And wonderful bar burgers.  And local microbrews on tap.  And trivia that's way too loud on Thursdays.

And sometimes there is nothing more in the world that's worth being thankful for more than that.

It wasn't exactly the picture I wanted, but I have over 300 more days of this project.  I think we'll be back.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

I may not be posting pictures everyday, but I'm taking my responsibility very seriously.  My day on Wednesday involved about 5 hours of driving.  That's the job.  I got up very early Wednesday morning specifically so that I could watch the sunrise over the mountains.  It was phenomenal.  I couldn't even document it with pictures. I'm just not that good.

That being said, on the way home, I grabbed this shot.  I have a feeling this is going to be a theme this year, but you know what I'm thankful for?  That this is my commute.  I get to experience this as a part of my job.  Even if I have days where everything else about my job sucks, it's hard to to have issues with this.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Yes, today I am thankful for my Blackberry.  After almost 3 months of nonstop issues with my phone, it was finally replaced.  I've officially gone 9 hours without dropping a call.
Last night, without any phone at all, I felt completely isolated from the world.  I don't think I ever fully realized how how that thing is like an extra limb.  I was having phantom Blackberry pains.

I was so thankful to have it back today, that I spent an inordinate amount of time calling and texting way too many people, but maybe then again, that's something to be thankful for, too.

Monday, March 15, 2010

I never thought I would say this, but I have become addicted to flipcharts.  They have become one of the guilty pleasures of my job.  I especially love the giant post-it and Mr. Sketch scented marker combo.  I know, it's sick, but I tell myself that it's endearing.

Sometimes, I think I missed my calling as a grade school teacher...

Sunday, March 14, 2010

I've spent a lot of time just relaxing around my apartment this weekend.  It's amazing how calming music is.  I firmly believe that I am a better person because of music.

Of course, I don't really know how to photograph "music", so I'm taking a picture of Brian's guitar.  I think it gets the point across.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Yup, that's a dying bloom on the tree that stands guard over my patio at home.  You know what dying blossoms mean?  This phase of allergy season is almost at an end.

Of course, it also hails Spring and Summer, and that is a very, very good thing.  I'd say that's plenty of reason to be thankful.

Friday, March 12, 2010

On Friday, all I could think was how thankful I was for these little red pills.  

Without Sudafed, I'm not sure how well I would be making it through this allergy season.  

Thursday, March 11, 2010

When you travel for a living, some times, the best sight at the end of a long Thursday is the door leading home. I couldn't be more thankful for my front door...

That being said, it's dang hard to photograph.  There are a lot of colors in my hallway and not a lot of balanced light.

A Brief Intro

So, at my mother's encouraging, I'm going to start keeping a blog. I thought about posting all of these pictures on Facebook, but that venue almost forces people to look at what I'm doing.  I don't have a problem sharing, I just don't want to force anyone to follow me.  It's not like I'm actually any good at this whole photography thing; I just really enjoy it.  This will also give the few people I know that are into photography a chance to help me out :)

Anyhow, here goes.  I started taking a picture a day a couple of days ago, so there are going to be a few on here today.