February

February has definitely not been my most consistent post card month.  Actually, it’s been my least.  Sorry to anyone who stopped by looking for a post and left the page wondering if I’m alive.  I am.  And I have no great excuse to offer for my absence except that after almost six months of living in WA I have established a routine and it’s not all that exciting.  This translates into moments that don’t seem all that noteworthy and results in a month of silence from me.  However, that is about to change.  I’m here now to fill you in on some of the events that have occupied my everyday routine over the last month.

Not my picture, but it is the field we play on

Since most people would probably consider Monday the first day of the week, I’ll start there.  Monday night is soccer night.  The city of Seattle has a few different recreational soccer leagues varying in skill level and the one I’m in happens to be co-ed.  It also happens to be outside, in the winter months of the Pacific Northwest, on a regulation size field for the full 90 minutes, with legs and lungs that haven’t been in soccer shape since high school, whether rain or shine.  And let’s be honest, shine is rare these days so it’s mostly rain.  I hope I’m painting a picture that creates images of icicles and pain because it really does feel like that some nights.  Easing off the dramatics a bit, the team is made up of a bunch of my co-workers and kindly sponsored by LivingSocial (which is nice because the leagues up here are expensive!).  For the most part everyone on the team has played at some level with a few of them having played much more competitively in college.  As a whole we’re a pretty good, but our record doesn't exactly reflect that.  It's a building year :).  My favorite part is getting to “play” with people I would otherwise only know in a work setting.  The common ground and shared experience of a well fought game in freezing rain is great for bonding. 

Also great for bonding is eating.  Every once in a while a group of us from the office will venture up to Pike’s Place Market for lunch.  There are tons of food options for whatever you might be craving (except for Mexican food which I can’t seem to find anywhere!).  On one of our recent trips a few co-workers and I found an amazing bakery that sells some of the largest pastries I have ever seen.  We had to purchase one each because we thought no one would believe us if we didn’t.  The $3.75 was well worth it and we have proof! 

Not taken from Gas Works Park
But I did tell you Rainer is one of my favorites

Not that you wouldn't believe me, but if you didn't I also have proof that there are days of blue skies here.  Right in the middle of February there was a gloriously clear weekend.  I felt compelled to be outside.  My morning errands resulted in an early afternoon adventure where I stumbled upon Gas Works Park on the north end of Lake Union.  Fittingly named, it’s the former home of Seattle Gas Light Company and according to Wikipedia “contains remnants of the sole remaining coal gasification plant in the US”.  Despite all the complex machines now out of commission still occupying a portion of the park, I only took a picture of the view looking towards downtown.  The machines are interesting, but this was more captivating so you’ll have to keep checking back for a post card of the Plant.

Since I’m someone who tends to save the best for last, I also spent more time than usual with my sisters in February.  It was fabulous.  Shelly & Matt moved into a beautiful home in a military community near Ft. Lewis at the beginning of the month and Lindsay was in town to share in the festivities (a.k.a work).  The way I look at it, if you have to be doing the non glamorous labor of cleaning, boxing, loading, just to unload, un-box, and clean some more, you might as well get to do it with your sisters.  A few weekends later Shelly and I explored a new hiking trail that dumps you right onto WA version of a beach.  Pretty, but definitely leaves something to be desired.  Like sand. And sun.  I love that living here allows for weekends together.  

That about sums it up.  I'm going to commit to at least four postcards in March so anyone still reading this, feel free to hold me accountable.