Habits Die Hard

I am currently at school, attempting to learn CSS (coding for web design) and we are moving onto JavaScript (personally, before I was ready to move on). For some people CSS is a simple process. I am having the hardest time with it, and want to give up. However, I haven't felt this stupid since I was thrown into Geometry back in high school.

Suddenly my habit of not wanting to feel stupid is kicking in. Think of me however you want, but I don't often feel stupid trying to learn something. CSS has gotten that hold of me, that makes me want to spend every waking moment figuring it out until it clicks. I haven't played a video game for more 10 minutes in over 3 weeks, and that says a lot. I think my problem is html is hardwired into my brain, and CSS extends OFF it, not on it. So I am having to leave behind some stuff I learned from html, and it's not easy to do.

So, if anyone out there has pointers for me... I would really appreciate it!

The Holiday Streak

Well, it's nearly time to put our thoughts together and come up with solutions to all the problems of holidays. The warm-up holiday, Halloween - This is where we put our creative mind and apply our craft as well as possible. If we fail, it's ok, we can try again next year. Then comes Thanksgiving - This is where we have to spend as much social time with friends and family (some times with wonderful arguments about why mom is cooking everything again this year). If we fail here, usually all is forgiven when everyone starts eating. Then the true test, Christmas (or what ever gift giving holiday you follow) - This is the true test, was my gift thoughtful enough? Was my gift something the person needed? Is the person going to even appreciate that I got them something? This is crunch time, mess up here and you will not be forgiven... ever!

Luckily, we get to relax with one last holiday, for some this is the time to get drunk. For me and Natalie, this is the time to play board games with friends and watch the fireworks on tv... I don't like large crowds, but we'll see what we do this year. Hopefully, this is the holiday that everything is forgiven. New Years - We go back to our creative side, and everything is forgiven if it sucks... especially if you get that kiss at midnight!

Everyone, enjoy the holidays! Be with your friends and family, and just have a good time!

Yes, we really did move to Seattle.

It is again a slow night at work, and I have some free time. So I thought I would (sneakily) write another update for all of our dearly devoted readers. (Mom, have we lost you yet?)

Looking back over recent posts, I realized I've sorta left out something pretty major: my thoughts about Seattle! So here it goes. And because my overly-analytical brain categorizes things obsessively, I'm going to give it all to you in lists.

Things I like:

SEATTLE BUS DRIVERS: Your handful of change is 40 cents short of the full fare? Don't even worry about it. Your transfer expired two hours ago? That's okay, hop on board. You need to be let off halfway between this stop and the next? Alright, just be quick about it. I have had good luck with public transit workers in every city (once a whole bus full of people in Philly told the driver she could take a minor detour so that Rob and I wouldn't have to walk as far with our arms full of small furniture items!), and Seattle is definitely up to par. Plus, the buses are spacious and CLEAN. And, so far, I've met some pretty neat folks at bus stops. So public transit = awesomeness.

WATER: Despite its life-threatening potential I mentioned in my last post. So. pretty. It's impressive even on cloudy days, but OH! when the sun is out! If I walk down 1st Avenue, every intersection opens up to a full view of the gorgeous Elliott Bay. And driving on one of the freeways (can't remember which one.... it has a 9 in it), you go over this gorgeous bridge that's about 100 feet above Lake Union, and you have an incredible view of the lake, with all of the Seattle cityscape arrayed perfectly behind it. Amazing.

COMMUNITIES! Okay. I'm sorta in love with community. But here in Seattle, some neighborhoods really have a strong sense of being a community, and I love that. We were in Wallingford on my birthday, and stopped at a little knick-knack store. We ended up buying a little thing, and when the guy handed us our receipt, he said, "And remember, this receipt will get you discounts at other local places, including 10% off gelato from next door." A) Mmm... gelato. B) How cool is that? A bunch of locally-owned small stores get together and agree to give discounts to people who shop at all of them. Very cool.

Things I don''t like:

DEMOGRAPHICS: There are altogether too many white people in Seattle. Now don't get me wrong - it's not like I have a problem with white people. I just like to see other kinds of people every once in a while. I feel kinda guilty moving here. I'm driving up the numbers. Eesh.

CORPORATE TAKEOVER: Seattle is the birthplace of Starbucks. And Nordstroms. And Microsoft. And Amazon.com. And Boeing. And a million other humongous nation-wide corporations. Bleh. The downtown, which is architecturally stunning, and very vibrant, loses a few points for being absolutely overflowing with Corporate America-ness.

IMAGE OBSESSION: I think that, politically, I probably agree with the vast majority of Seattleites (sp?). It's a pretty liberal town, the city recycles and composts, lots of people use public transit. That's cool. But man, people are obsessed with image here. Not that everyone is trying to look like Brangelina, but I feel like a lot of people jump on board with stuff because it's trendy. Por ejemplo, there's a lot more gelato than ice cream, because gelato is more "progressive" (an actual quote from my coworker who was trying to explain the disparity). I feel like everyone is trying too hard. It's a city full of posers.

Things I want to see more of:

NEIGHBORHOODS: Especially Fremont, West Seattle, the International District, and Ballard. We've finally hired a couple more people at work, so hopefully I'll be able to have more than one day off pretty soon. I look forward to wandering around.

RESTAURANTS: There are so many food locales calling out to me! Again, having more time is the key.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS: I haven't been on a real hike in years, and there are a ton of great ones right outside the city. I might put it off until the sun comes out next summer, but someday, I really hope to enjoy the nearby wilderness.

Anyway, was this post long enough to make up for neglecting all of you for so long? Thanks for still coming around on occasion!

To Infinity and Beyond!

I'm finishing up my second week of classes and here is what I have to look forward to for the next 10 weeks:

General Science - Obviously, general science knowledge.
Writing for Interactive Media - Still trying to figure out this one. Something about redesigning websites or User Interfaces (even in real world applications - train station signs and such).
Advanced Electronic Print Production - Learning more techniques about printing from a computer.
Illustration - Yet another drawing class. (Not interested in this one, they want us to use different mediums - ink, bleach, etc.)
Advanced Web - CSS here I come! (partially touching Javascript)

All this is making me cut my hours back at work, which means I have more time to write on the blog again! YEAH!!! Maybe now I can figure out a little more about the city I live in. I wish my wife didn't have to work so much though, maybe some day.

P.S. I still need some ideas on how to celebrate my 100th post! HELP! It's coming up so soon!

Whaddya talkin' about?

Apparently Seattle is supposed to be very rainy and gloomy. This dissuades many people from moving here. But guess what, people. IT'S A LIE!!! They're trying to keep you all out. We've been here for 3 1/2 months now, and have probably only seen 7-10 days of any rain at all. The summer was beautiful and oh so sunny(I enjoyed looking at the sunlight playing on the cement wall of the parking garage across the street from the front desk I stand at all day). The fall has been gorgeous and crispy (obviously impossible if this place were as wet as it's supposed to be). And the water is breathtaking (and also possibly life-threatening when I'm riding my bike, as I find it very difficult to remove my gaze from the bright, bright blue reflection of it on sunny days).

And yes, my life is so unexciting that I have to blog about the weather. :)

You may consider this my trying to move on from Philly post, because I'm desperately avoiding of thinking about what Clark Park looks like right about now.

One Month Later...

Well, I am sorry I haven't updated... hopefully things will be slowing down for me at work soon. I told my boss I could only work 20-25 hours (as close to 20 as possible) now that school is starting, so naturally he scheduled me 28 this week. Things have been way too busy for me, and I haven't enjoyed my time here in Seattle... working 6 days a week will do that. I was very close to quiting my job already, I've only been there for 2 months now... again, working 12 days off in a row will do that to you. I would say in 19 days I had 2 days off, but not to worry I had 2 days off in a row on Saturday (to celebrate my wife's birthday) and Sunday (as per my religious beliefs). Monday started and I was excited to be getting ready for school.

Tuesday was a full day for me, I went started with Science at 8am, and finished with some class called "Writing for Interactive Media" (whatever that means) and then headed into work until 10p. I was very worn out to say the least by the end of all that. Hopefully I won't be expected to close every Tuesday, but given that my boss has lacks prior planning I will probably have no life on Tuesdays. Wait a second! Or on Thursdays, as he has me working an 8 hour shift before my night class starts. (Blurg!).

So far this has been a good week though. My wife loved my present to her on Saturday, Row 27 aisle seat to see Regina Spektor. And I started class, I have been so bored since I stopped going. There was a lot of preparation that we had to do in order to get me into classes this fall, but it is so worth it. I write this post while I am waiting for my next class to begin (3 of 5). My teacher looks like Jim Halpert, if you don't know who that is, you are missing out on one of the best comedy shows (Don't worry Zack, I said one of... 30 Rock is still on top of that list of comedy shows).

That's all I have to say for now, I hope not to take as long to share information with everyone, just know it has hurt me as much as it has hurt you! Also, I am coming up on 100 posts and wanted to see if the interweb has any ideas for the post to celebrate. New site, 100 favorite (blank), Shortest post ever, give me your ideas interwebs!

I HAVE THE CUTEST NIECE IN THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE

Exhibit A: She can give herself haircuts. :)