Just an Update

This past month has been exciting. Kelly Deans, my sister-in-law, is moving in with the rest of the family. Meaning, our already packed/chaotic house will basically be a Nut-House. But Kelly is more like a friend, and considering the relationship she has with her actual sister, thats pretty much a good thing, lol. So I will have a girlfriend on hand at all times, lol. Wednesday is the day... woot woot.

In Anacortes News: tomorrow is the official Tulip Festival Parade in downtowsn Mt Vernon and my very own Will Deans will be IN IT! He is dressing up as the mascot for US Bank and will ride on a float and dance inappropriately, I'm sure, pelvic thrusting the old ladies who are waving flags and wearing visors. I am NOT looking forward to tomorrow because not only will I be missing the parade, it is also the Anacortes Wine Festival which is basically a drunk-fest. Or Maybe I'm bitter that the weather is supposed to be awesome and I will be dealing with drunkies wishing I was one of them. Either way, I may have to break open a bottle of bubbly before noon just to give the illusion of a celebration, even though I will be forced to stay indoors and sell more alcohol to the already severely intoxicated.

It has been a busy past couple of weeks for Will and I... mostly due to the fact that Will becomes my indentured servant when I volunteer to throw a party... Kim turned 30 last week and I planned the most awesome party... it drove Will insane. He was forced into manual labor while I tied ribbons onto goodie bags and shopped for decorations. He threatens to divorce me if I plan another party. Ever. But all my weekends were spent obsessing over party-planning that I feel like I've had no days off. Not to mention that I had to work on my days off this week just to cover the craziness of  the shop. So this weekend is going to be spent doing things for me... and most likely drinking at the Brown with Kelly.... maybe some karaoke on wednesday ;) Tootles.

The Year That Went

The title of my blog is suddenly meaningless and a little bit condescending. It's a constant reminder that we failed. It's not as if I am blindsided by this reality, I mean, we had a rough start. One year just wasn't going to be enough time and I realized that pretty soon after we moved here. I just wish we could be done with this part of our lives.

Life in Washington goes into hibernation mode during the winter months. Everything slows down and people wait inside their homes until the Farmers Market comes back to town and whale watching season starts up again. In case I haven't been clear about Anacortes, there isn't much shopping and dining, clubs, bars, concerts, festivals, or any kind of gatherings targeted towards young people that exist within our town. In fact, Will and I have to drive about an hour and a half to get to a "real" city. You know, a place with a Trader Joes, and a decent mall and a Chipotle. During the summer, we did a lot of hiking and camping and BBQ-ing and drinking, all of which were relatively solitary activities but at least the sunshine and exercise kept us from feeling as isolated as we were. Now that the sun has been gone for about 6 months now, it is painfully apparent that there is no where to go and nothing to do. Since the day we moved here, people assured us that the weather "Isn't that bad" and the "The summers are spectacular!" But seriously, the weather is REALLY bad. Not because it's particularly cold or even rainy, but it never changes. Its always, partly cloudy, 45 degrees and windy. Even in the summer, the weather was pretty much the same. Sure, we had a week or 2 of sunshine and warmth, but that was it. So I'm hibernating. Watching the wind rip out trees and the rain create lakes in our backyard.

I think the real reason I am so mopey lately is because we've instituted a sticked budget plan to get us back to Southern California by September. I know how important is is for us to stay on track but its really hard. I like shopping. I like eating out and I like getting away from Anacortes.

I am, however, really optimistic about moving in with Kelly Suk this September. Even though we have a long ways to go before we'll be ready to move, It seems close enough for me to start looking for houses and planning  future remodels for my fictitious house. And that is the most exciting part about moving in with Kelly: We can afford to rent a big house. No more sharing walls and laundry rooms and no more carpets stained with bong water. I know that I have been bitching about how much I hate having roommates but Kelly is more like... I dunno, an extension of me. We've known each other for so long now that we instinctively... blend? I mean, we're completely different people who have totally different lives, but at the same time, when our two lives interact, they do so flawlessly. I am not worried about how living together will affect our friendship nor am I worried about how it will affect my marriage. Since Will and I are totally in sync and move together like a school of fish, Kelly fits in just the same. So I've started fantasizing about hardwood floors and a big back yard and a guest room and Thanksmas 2011.

We're looking to move to south Los Angeles or Long Beach because we still need to be close enough to Orange County so Kelly can get to school and work. But we all agreed that we've out grown the OC for the time being and we need to start the next chapter of out lives in a new city. Regardless of where we end up, though, I know that I will be infinitely more happy than I am in Anacortes.

A New Chapter

2011... that looks preposterous in writing. What is even more unbelievable is that it has been nearly a year since we moved here. Almost at the 365 day mark. Insanity. It doesn't even feel like a year has passed. It went so quietly, sneaking around on pointed toes, trying to avoid eye contact as if it were embarrassed. And now we are fully engulfed by yet another year that promises to be equally chaotic. Im not complaining, though. Now that we're down to the wire in our "365 days" I feel incredibly motivated to shape up and get things done. I also feel like we're finally in a good place financially. Before, we were still trying to sort things out and whatever and now it all seems to make sense. I am so determined to make it back for all the fun that 2011 has in store. Even though no matter where you live, life seems to find a way to disappoint you.

I keep in contact with my former life as best I can, trying to live vicariously though the people with whom I associated myself with most. And no matter how much fun they seem to be having in Facebook photos, there is always that underlying drama that never fully settles and constantly ruins your good time. Come to think of it, Will and I look pretty darn happy in all our Washington pics, even if we are lonely. Maybe the key to having a good time is looking good and smiling wide for photos because when all is said and done, photos are all you have left. Maybe if we stop trying so hard to make a memory, we wont be disappointed when the moment passes and you start feeling like a cheap date. Just look at those pretty pictures and remember it being glorious. 

So, the point I was trying to get at is New Years Eve- its never ever super-awesome-good-happy-fun-time. EVER. I spent the majority of the day wishing I was in LA with all my friends instead of making last minuet dinner reservations at a local hotel. It turns out, though, I probably had a better time then my friends in Cali. Mostly because, even if you are spending New Years Eve with people you love, you always tend to have the crazy high expectations, and you always have conflicting interests and you always end up a little bummed out. I had zero expectations. Therefore I pretty much enjoyed myself. And we took some pretty cute pics and I will look back and see smiles and butterflies and sunshine ;)

Now, New years day was a great day for me. i woke up at ten, slightly hungover, had some coffee and then went on a hike with Will and Penny in Washington Park. Gorgeous hike. Its shady and quiet and crisp. All was well until we were 1/4 of the way in and I realized there is virtually no sunlight the entire way... The trees are too tall... It was 27 degrees in the forrest. My nose started running like crazy and my ears pounded and my fingers were numb. Though we tried to keep up a brisk pace, my ears were so freaking cold, it made it impossible to warm up. My only saving grace was the North Bluff lookout that gets full sun a looks out over the channel and harbor. It was brilliantly sunny and a pod of porpoises were playing in the channel below... also, 2 GIANT bald eagles were perched in the trees about a hundred yards below. They may have been the biggest I've seen yet. We took a long nap after our hike and woke up just in time to see Mt Baker blazing as the sun set behind it. It was a brilliant shade of pink. I took it as a good omen for the coming year.

Now, I am on the last leg of my 4 day weekend. We just got back from Trader Joe's in Bellingham and Will is about to make BLT's for his family. I am not going to lie, the pancetta smells amazing in the frying pan. I may have to steal a bite while no one is looking ;) I am looking forward to seeing everyone in 2011... Home seems so much closer now. 

Pie and Happiness.

Will and I rarely have days off together anymore. It sucks. I spend my days off, lonely and introverted and he spends his time off visiting me at work - Which is great but... I still have to work. Yesterday was Veterans Day so naturally the banks are closed (they close for everything) and I already had the day off. Yippee! to celebrate, Will and I spent the whole day galavanting around Old Town Bellingham. It was super cold, cloudy and completely picturesque. Just the perfect day for strolling around in maroon colored tights and flirty dress. But it eventually started to rain so we raced back to our little island where it was surprisingly sunny... well, cloudy/sunny. See I hate it when the sun comes out and spoils my good rainy day and I hate it when clouds spoil all the sunshine. In my opinion, there are only 2 types of good weather: All rain or all sun. None of this "partly cloudy" crap. It is always "partly cloudy" here.

But since the temperature has definitely dropped, I have definitely been craving comfort foods. Anything with a pastry crust or with a rich creamy broth, or anything covered in cheese. Last night we made another veggie pot pie (this time with peas and corn and extra butter) and simmered cider on the burner, and today I made a caramel apple pie which is currently cooling on the stove. I am a little bitter that I have to wait for Will to get off work before I can eat it, though. But I am going to try and be considerate that he had to work all day. Also, I really don't like the idea of eating a huge piece of pie by myself... I equate it to alcoholics who drink alone.
I've been wearing big sweaters and socks all week yet I refuse to close the windows. There is something about the crisp fall air that makes my skin prickle and my lungs feel infinite. And I love the romanticism it encourages. Big cups of steaming coffee clutched between your hands and cuddling under huge blankets and giant scarves and mittens. Pie, whipped cream, fall leaves- all things that are made more vibrant by the freezing air. For now anyway. I am sure that in a few months I will be sick to death of the cold. I check the weather down in Costa Mesa almost every other day and am amazed that it's so warm still. It's hard for me to imagine anywhere being 80 degrees when the high here is 48. I do miss the sunshine, tho. Whoever decided that Florida is the "Sunshine State" is crazy. Florida is the sticky, muggy, old people state. California is the epitome of sunniness.
Well I am off to pick up my hubby from work and then I am going to race back home to eat my pie. I will let you know how it is.

October Update

The holidays are literally haunting me. I can see them looming closer and closer with their menacing stare and impending destruction. Ugh. Now, I love the holidays. Usually. It's just that this year I wont be able to host my own festive parties, decorate my own tree or make Martha Stewart-ey crafts for my house. And I'll be missing Thanksmas... my favorite of holidays. However, Will and I  started brewing our holiday beer which we  appropriately named "Hoppy Holidays". We ordered cute labels for them too and we can't wait for it to be done!

Well, I guess I just have to work super hard to get my own place by next holiday season. On another note, Will and I just got back from Oahu on Saturday. It was amazing to get away from the cold and escape into a warm, tropical paradise. Hawaii is great for kayaking, snorkeling, hiking and sun bathing- all things I can never find time fore here in Washington. Sometimes I get really overwhelmed when I'm there. Like I'm wasting time lying in the sun all day... which is great- but there is so many exclusive things to do that you miss out on if your a bum on the beach. Luau's can be lame but a few years ago Will and I went to the Fia Fia luau at Ko 'Olina and it was rad. Guys jumping from the tops of palm trees and catching flaming torches mid air, comedy, drinks, pure entertainment. I love Hawaii. I don't know that I can see myself living there unless I lived at a 5 star resort but I still love it. I love waking up super early because of the time difference an watching the sun creep over the mountains, staring at the at the glassy pools and waving palm trees as I walk down to the steam room to swear out all the alcohol I drank the night before. I love how my hair gets all salty and wavy and shiny. I love the way my skin gets all dewy and glows. I love that I wear a bikini instead of underwear and I love that its acceptable to drink a beer at 10am because "its like, 1pm in LA right now."

 

Sadly, all those things I love are now over and I am back in Anacortes with more rain and cold than I know what to do with. It's October. Like clockwork, the freezing air crept in and took up residence. Blech. Today I am going to look at a cabin on the water just a few miles away. I know It's not realistic to rent a house right now, but I saw the add in a local newspaper and I cant help but dream. Plus the rent is only like 875 a month so I gotta check it out. Just for fun.

So here is what is going on the next few months with us:

Will starts school in January for his Masters in Accounting. We are really excited about this. He plans on taking courses at Cal State Dominguez Hills Online because we are technically still Cali residents and there are no good online programs up here. Anyway, it should take him about a year to finish but the beauty of the program is that we can move wherever we want and the school moves with us.

We are flying down to LA in January for Dan and Lauren's wedding for a whole week! I am super excited. Their wedding is on the 29th of January and mine and Will's anniversary is on the 24th.So we will be in town to see all my favorite OC peeps soon soon soon!!

This weekend is Halloween. This makes me sad. I keep thinking of the parties we used to throw with all our best friends... the talk of the town kind of stuff. This year I will be working and the going to bed early. But it makes me all the more motivated for next year!! We will make it out of the storm!! We will!! 

Penelope Sophia

Washington has taken us for yet another wild ride... a short while after we moved to town, my best friend from my childhood, Brittany, and her husband, Shaun Wagoner moved to Bellingham which is about 20 miles north of Anacortes. They, moved here, away from all their friends and family to start a new life apart from California. Just like us. But life never goes the way we plan. Brittany found out she was pregnant, then went into premature labor and gave birth to a 1 and a half pound baby. Baby Penelope is now fighting for her life at the Seattle Children's Hospital. It makes all my issues seem mediocre.I may hate where I live, but Penelope Sophia Wagoner would love the chance to be alive, anywhere in the world. So please pray or the Wagoners little girl. Recently, she underwent surgery for a torn intestine and may possibly be at risk for another tear. Pray for baby Penelope and read the Wagoners blog here and enter "penelopesophiawagoner" to see how they are doing. They need all the love they can get :)

Biker Mania!!

I just experienced my first Oyster Run. Over these past months I've realized that Anacortes likes to have a lot of "Festivals". I use quotations because most of the events are laaammmee. Like super lame. For example: Anacortes Festival of the Arts was basically a few mediocre, overpriced artists selling pieces they created in 1992 and local volunteer organizations selling overcooked burgers. Shipwrecked Days was supposed to be a "super awesome giant garage sale" but in reality it was people trying to sell their JUNK. Which people DO do at garage sales but, 'cmon, a semi-functional espresso machine from 1980 for only 50 dollars? Seriously? Then, there's The Waterfront Festival, some weird Pirate convention and a Croatian Festival (uhm, excuse me Anacortes, but putting the word "festival" at the end of everything doesnt make it "festive) . So all this talk about Oyster Run never really had an impact on me... until Saturday morning when all the bikes started pouring into town. I watched bike after hog after trike cruise by in countless numbers. Convoys of them! Bikers decked out in leather and tattoo's with crazy custom bikes.

(above)They don't call it Oyster Run for nothin'. Oysters Rockafeller is the way to go for all you novice oyster eaters.

As far as the eye could see...

Sunday, on which Compass was closed (thank the Lord), over 30 thousand (yes, thousand) bikers found their way into town. And all up and down Commercial Ave. there were tents selling leather jackets, giant skull rings, custom saddle bags and even a tent with a tattoo artist ready to go!!

check out this bling, yo! Im thinking about upgrading our wedding rings to one of these bad boys.

Just one of the many custom bikes. I like to refer this one as: My Little Indian Pony.

And here we have some crazy stunt guys. (And take a gander at the awesome, leather pony cuff sported by the blond in front)

Good fair food and crazy biker people. My only regret was dressing too conservatively. While I consider myself to be stylish by Vogue's standards, the biker community seems to favor high-healed boots, short leather skirts and leopard print faux fur. Today, I sported none of these items. I felt like a little girl in my tights and pointy toed flats. Mer. However,I made it better by consuming a couple of beers and head-banging to a mediocre cover band. That and, I'm not gonna lie, I took a substantial bite of a stellar looking hotdog. It was exhilarating and well worth the 3 hour stomachache that followed. At one point while the band was playing their rendition of a Jethro Tull song, a drunk biker stumbled on stage and demanded a mic. He then began to wail on his harmonica in a totally awesome, semi-cohesive solo. When he finished, I cheered as if I were one of them. I may have even gotten a little teary eyed. So to sum it up, Oyster Run might be the only thing that Anacortes does right. In other words: Take note from the biker peeps and get more awesome. Stat.