One Year

Today marks one year at LivingSocial.  Similar to my one month anniversary, I received a new badge – this time for one year - via email with a note basically saying ‘congratulations, thanks for contributing to the company success, we’re looking forward to more years ahead’.  Also in the email was a link to order my very own LivingSocial backpack.  They’re way better than a clip art badge, impressively fancy, and somewhat like a right of passage within the company.  Plus it’s free swag so naturally I’m pretty excited about it :)  I’m always surprised by how quickly time passes and feel incredibly blessed to still be enjoying my work, as well as the people with whom I spend 40-50 hours a week.

   Since I’m talking about work, here’s a quick update.  To better leverage internal resources, the LivingSocial Operations team did some restructuring last month.  I was asked to join the newly formed “Entertainment Team” based on my previous employment background and current performance.  My work is essentially the same except now it’s for the fun Adventure deals and newly created Live Events we run on the site, instead of regionally based dentist office or beauty salon deals.  I’m really excited about the transition into a new challenge and opportunity, which probably adds to the reason why I still enjoy the job.  Also work related yet on a completely different note, today our LivingSocial softball team brought home its first league championship (for softball, we already have one for soccer)!  Needless to say, work is going well.

   The one year marker of my move to Seattle passed while cruising home from Alaska, which gave me plenty of time for reflection.  When I think back over the last 12 months it’s difficult to be anything but thankful.  A few days ago I reread my first journal entry after relocating up north.  It ended with this thought:

The most amazing part of those words is that they’re all still true.  I feel the same overwhelming gratitude on day 366 in Seattle as I did on day 1.  While that thankfulness might not have been present everyday due to moments of feeling lonely, frustrated, disconnected, etc., the contentment that comes from a grateful heart has been the dominate theme through my year.  Despite my past 12 months of smooth sailing, not everyone around me has had the same experience.  As a result, I’m also highly aware that the tides will inevitably change at some point.  I simply hope and pray that when I do encounter rougher waters my attitude would still be one of gratitude for the abundant blessings that fill everyday. 

Alaska

Cruises spoil you for everyday life.  I don’t ever have set meal times where someone puts my napkin on my lap and brings fancy 5-course meals.  Or someone who makes my bed and leaves wash cloth animals to greet me on my return home.  Or the option of constant entertainment and/or constant relaxation, depending on what my heart desires at that specific time of day.  That’s not “real” life.  That is however, life on a cruise and I really enjoyed it.  In fact, after the first two days my sisters and I decided that cruises are like summer camps for adults.  Evidence for our conclusion includes a set schedule for the week with each new week being almost the same as the one before it, activities galore, the aforementioned assigned meal times, being encouraged (and in some cases forced) to meet new friends because you’re all living the same experience, excellent people watching, afternoon free time, staff members that are all ridiculously cheerful despite being over worked and under paid, less than comfortable beds, and an escape from real life that is in most cases overpriced.  Yet just like teenage summer camp, the cost is small compared to the benefit of the experience.
   This was my first cruise (not counting the family Caribbean cruise when I was two) and I have to admit I’m a newly converted, big fan.  With the exception of feeling overstuffed 90% of the time, I thoroughly enjoyed every element of my week at adult summer camp.  Our sea-filled adventure brought us to Alaska.  Wow it is beautiful…and large.  If you ever want to feel incredibly small, take a cruise to Alaska – it will give great perspective.  The journey brought us to three Alaskan towns – Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan – as well as Tracy Arm Fjord which looks remarkably similar to Yosemite, with the addition of massive glaciers and mysterious icebergs.  It was actually pretty amazing a huge ship could navigate such a narrow water way in the midst of so many invisible chunks of ice below the surface.  Ketchikan was easily my favorite port, such a quintessentially cute fishing town, it was hard not to like it.  Other highlights include Carlos and Paula – our waiter/ waitress duo for dinners (we liked them so much one of the days we rearranged plans in order to make our normal dinner time), walking laps around the deck while at sea, naps in the sun, learning about the engineering, navigation, and culinary operations of the ship, movies under the stars (or in our case, under the afternoon sun), and watching at least one episode of Downton Abbey season 2 all piled into Mom & Dad’s room each night.  Being together is the highlight of all the highlights.  I’m blessed and so thankful to be apart of a family that enjoys spending time together.  Getting to do that on a cruise made it all the more exciting and memorable.

Zoo

Until a few days ago I hadn't been to a legitimate zoo in quite some time.  Probably because I'm not really a zoo person.  Learning about and getting to see exotic or endangered animals semi-up close and personal is great.  That part I enjoy.  It's the other visitors and fanatical/ border line obsessed  zoo keepers/ workers that keep me away.  Zoos feel a little bit like Disneyland to me...a lot of little kids and nerdy park staff.  However, since the Woodland Park Zoo is less than 10 minutes from where I live and actually a pretty reputable tourist spot well loved by locals too, it made my Seattle-do list.  I have to admit I was pretty impressed - great park layout and attention to detail, all the animals you'd hope and expect to see at the zoo, and highly informational.  My nerdyness was brought out by the knowledgeable guide who lead us around the park so maybe I just needed to visit the right zoo to really appreciate the experience.  

Olympics

I love the Olympics!! And what better way to start off a world wide competition than with my previously mentioned favorite Mexican food.  Go Team USA!!

Tuesday

Last Tuesday I ventured up to Roche Harbor for a friends wedding.  One of many harbors on the San Juan Islands, Roche is tucked away on the most western tip.  Getting there takes 3 hours, including a scenic ferry ride.  Everything about the area, and Roche Harbor specifically, is perfectly picturesque.  Although if I was a local, I'd definitely own a float plane and know how to fly it.  I think I'd feel a little trapped by the journey of getting there.  Regardless, for a two-day mid-week escape it was an ideal adventure.  Here's a few postcards that don't do it justice so I recommend making the trek in person.

Photo from the ferry

Road that leads to the Harbor, a.k.a resort

Focal point of the town

The Harbor at sunset

The beautiful bride

Canada in the distance

Mexican

Here in the Pacific Northwest, good Mexican food is rare.  Which is unfortunate because it happens to be my favorite genre of food.  I learned this the hard way after trying a local spot thinking the reviews on Yelp had to contain at least a little truth.  The real truth is that generally speaking, folks from Washington don't know what good Mexican food tastes like.  So of course they'd think the second rate stand in is great.  I was disappointed.  And not to be dramatic, but do remember thinking "I guess I'd just go without until my next trip home to CA".  That was until my roommate and I discovered a hole in the wall gem.  Actually, it's on wheels so I don't know if it technically qualifies as "hole in the wall", but you know what I mean.  El Camion, which means 'the truck', is aptly named as it's your classic taco truck (permanently) situated in the Home Depot parking lot a few miles north.  I don't usually go for spicy options or pork as my first choice, but their spicy pork burrito is pretty dynamite.  Fish tacos are a close second.  As one would expect from this type of dining experience, their seating is outdoor and not the best so we usually take our bags of deliciousness to go in search of an ambiance to more fitting for our flavorful meal.

Soccer

As you know from my previous post, Monday nights I play on a co-ed soccer team with my colleagues from LivingSocial.  Last Monday was the end of our second season (they are quarterly) and after 10 hard fought games, we came out as the Champions of our division.  Winning is much more fun than losing, which is what happened most of our first season.  Yay for improvement, exercise and being number one!