Life Expected

Sometimes your day is boring and dull, sometimes, it's just fully unexciting.  And then, there are those days when it is great.  But there are those OTHER times where your day, your night, your weekend are amazing.

I had that recently.  I was bored with life.  It was dissatisfying, I was unhappy....depressed.  And then on Thursday night I had dinner with my friend.  A friend who you wouldn't ever give up on, no matter what happened.  A friend who reminds you that it takes work to be a friend and to keep a friend.  Man, was dinner with my wife on Thursday awesome.  And then, I got to repeat it all again on Friday.

Friday...Lynsey and I met up at a wine bar in Post Alley, we were flying solo because of sick or boyfriend sick friends...never mind that, we were together.  Chatting, drinking wine flights, having chocolate and a grand ole time.  One more drink we decided, at a fantastic bar called White Horse... and that one more drink kicked our lil' asses right into the Post... where we bemused, befuddled and bewildered all those Nebraskan boys.  There was nothing but giggles and kisses on our end.

And you could have said my good day ended then...with me waking up the next morning 45 min AFTER my flight had departed. But somehow, it didn't.  The fun times were still rolling along... right with Oregon State beating Louisville (and of course, I think of Elizabethtown every time I say that word, because there are SO many versions of it).  After a little Qdoba with the fam, I headed back north, listening to my book on tape the whole time.... at Gervais I stopped to change into my "going out" attire... skinny cargoes and a hot top... the heels would join my feet later.

Saturday night in Portland was great... it was different from Seattle... not quite as busy and hot to trot, but great all the same. And with Jodie and her friends, we inevitably ended up at Kells, just like any great night would.  Kells provided cigar bars, Celtic bands and Guinness.  Along with drunk couples, sweaty girls and dancing the Irish gig.  Me and my 9" heels finally joined in and had a fantastic time dancing the gig joined with 10 other drunk, happy, pretend-Irishmen.

The night ended, and we all went our separate ways... no one too drunk, but no one too sober either.  I parked, found my bed and slept happily until 5:30am...when Meredith (my car) decided to let me know someone was touching her (you know, in that way in the courts when they give the doll to the child and ask "where did the bad man touch you" kinda way).  I heard her, looked out the window, hoped it wasn't... and then heard her again - they were towing cars on the street I'd parked.  Meredith was being violated, and she was letting the world know.  On went the shorts and shirt, and out the door I went.  Jiggles had nothing on me.  I found the man hurting Mer and begged him to let me park her elsewhere... this man happened to be a friend from college... irony at 530 was more than I could deal w/...especially as the hot mess I had to be...

So Mer and I drove around, and finally found a space in the visitors lot far away...woke up to cheers from the "Race for the Cure" supporters...once showered and coherent, breakfast was had.  Now you have to understand that Portland, Oregon has THE BEST breakfast places in the world.  This morning the Veritable Quandary was chosen... and 7 of us gathered around the round table of King Arthur,  I mean King Veritable, and had our various French Toast brioche, eggs benedict (with or without crab), or corned beef hash... along with VQ-8, Espresso or Champagne cocktails....and an incredibly healthy dose of laughter.  Honestly, I haven't had that great a time laughing and communing with friends since God knows when.  The day was capped off with a tour of the Saturday Market (including hilarious boxers and insanely intelligent art).

My weekend ended with a bang...I finished my Stephen King novel on the drive home.  I mean...and really, that story ended with a bang of a finish.  All I know is that fantastic weekends are still possible and I want more of them.  I had drinks with Sofia tonight.....and then realized that the night was young enough to still have drinks with Lynsey.  If that's not a great way to end a Monday, I don't know what is.

All I can say is that if my life may be boring and dull sometimes, it more than makes up for it when it is exhilarating and fantastical.  I wouldn't trade it for the world, I just have to think that my poor future kids will get tired of hearing, "I remember when"...:)

Paris - the arrival (part 1)

Well, it has been a crazy past month, but I'm starting to get the picture that my life is always like this.  And it seems that the crazier it gets, the more stories I have to tell, and yet, the less I make it to a computer.  So maybe a quick catch-up? (and I'm seeming to get internet from someone at my apartment, so hopefully the blogging bug will hit me more at home, and less in the car on the ride home)

Just over a month ago, I took a leap and left my job.  Now don't get too worried (because some people did give me that look when I said I quit my job), I already had another one lined up.  And so far, yeah, it has been a fantastic move.

My final 2 weeks at Alaska were literally a whirlwind!  I interviewed on Wednesday, heard back that day that they liked me, got my offer, gave my acceptance and my resignation on Thursday - and left for Paris on Friday!

Paris was awesome - 4 days all to myself.  Getting on the flight was hairier than a French armpit, but I made it.  I watched enough movies both on the flight there and the flight back to practically make the ticket a moot point.  I think I got 4 in both ways? (yeah, that is what I said)  I beat that on the flight to Germany - 5.  Either way, the screaming baby did not help me sleep and the ear plugs did no good.  I landed safely in Paris (and let me say, I really think Lufthansa is the best international airline... Air France well, it was so-so.  I felt like I was just in their way... no chocolate or refills.  I had to get them on my own!  Sock-footed and climbing over someone both ways).

I got off the plane and got my stamp to say I officially was in Paris.  Wow, bouncing off the walls!  I found the RER, bought tickets and was off to my little hotel (seriously, little).

I even successfully avoided the beggars looking to "help" tourists.  How traveled am I?  And when I got off the RER and exited the station, who should meet me, but Ms. Notre Dame herself.  Wowza! Nothing beats that.  Off I set, in what I thought was the right direction, but probably 10 blocks later, I stopped, asked for directions and was forced to walk the other way.

Sweaty, hungry and sleepy, I arrived at my hotel and promptly took a nap.  Yes, I know, 4 days and I sleep?!  But I needed it.  When I awoke, well, the heavens could smell me, so I set off on my next adventure - the shower.  Wow... if I wasn't in the shower, I would have say it would have been the funniest thing you've ever seen.  It was smaller than most motor home's showers, and the plastic curtain was made to fit a full-size tub.  The water... wouldn't stay the correct temperature and I left the door open so the breeze combined with heat emanating from the sometimes scalding water forced the curtain to stick to me.  There was no place to put shampoo, conditioner, or soap near you, so you had to bend down - with shower curtain sticking.  Umm, wonder if they ever clean those?  And don't forget that the water has suddenly gone freezing cold so you must get it off as quickly as possible...ok, well, I finally finished.  And thankfully stepped out of that death trap.


On to drying my hair... with a hair dryer that resembled a mini-vacuum cleaner.  If my hair wasn't so short, it would have taken a year to dry.  Plus, the nozzle got too hot to hold, so finishing the job was difficult. ;-).

Finally dressed and ready to go, I headed out.  First stop, food.  I think I passed 5 cafes before I was finally like, damn it, sit down!  So I breezed into the next one, and the waiter promptly gave me a bathroom token and pointed.  Perplexed, I started to head in that direction, only to stop, turn back and have him point me downstairs.  Geez... lucky for the lady in the bathroom without the token, I didn't have to go.  Up the stairs I went again, and told the guy (in pointing motions) I wanted a seat.  Light bulb! Oh, stupid American, just sit anywhere (no, he didn't say that but I'm sure he thought it).  My ability to order food was just about as pathetic.  The menu was in French (duh) and so I opted for the easy option - I'll have the special (that way, I could point).  Note to self - never ask for the special when you have no idea what it is.  It was a strange fish mashed potato with a slice of something the size of a sardine on top.  And when in Rome... I ate it all.  Cutting the fish thing into 3 pieces, the first bite awful, the second bite caused and intense gag, and the third bite - well, I'm surprised I didn't throw up in that cafe right there!  It was one of the worst meals I've eaten, so much for French food.

What will happen next?  Will I lose my lunch and wish I'd saved that bathroom token?  Will I retreat to my room for a nap?  Do I even survive!?!

Just hang loose,

Just have fun,

Sitting on the beach

Lying in the sun.

Don't try to fight it cause it ain't no use!

Cause when you're in Kauai

You just hang loose!

Ok, so that probably means nothing to anyone other than me or my family, but that's what I was thinking the plane ride over.  Since the last time I was there was Christmas in... the 90s with all the Ditgen's.  And my lovely aunt and uncle taught us lil' girls this song.  And finally, almost 20 years later, I was headed there again.  This time alone, for a much shorter time and thankfully without 11 inches of rain.

Friday afternoon I was like a kid waiting to go to Disneyland.  I was ready for some sunshine and time away from work and normal life.  I'd been convinced to rent a car (definitely recommended) and was loaned a guidebook that lead me to the beach you see above.  A complimentary mai-tai, and I was good to go!

I arrived late Friday night...after getting my car and directions to my hotel, off I went...to the wrong hotel.  I pulled up thinking, wow, this place actually looks pretty nice.  And after a bit of a wait in line to check in, I get to the desk agent who promptly tells me that my hotel is another 8 miles down the road... fantastic!  Ha, I finally get to my hotel (its around 8:40 by now), and felt like I'd walked into a completely different world... the Aston Kauai is not what you'd call "luxury", but it was clean and it would do.

I opted for the cheaper garden view, and noted a lovely patch of automobiles out my window.  Huh, didn't know they were in season!  But I was top floor and there were vaulted ceilings, so it redeemed itself slightly.  Well, by the time I got changed and adjusted it was after 9.  I guess Cinderella's coach turns into a pumpkin here at 9 and not 12.  No food was served in the bar, and not much was open close by.  My waiter kindly offered me a salad and I had a gin & tonic (very tropical, I know).

Saturday morning, I found a great cafe on my way to the Waimea Canyon and had a fantastic pancake at the Tip Top cafe.  I left there (after being the lonely single person at a 4-top table) and drove out to the canyon.  

It was a pretty great morning for it, slightly overcast, just warm enough.  And the canyon was beautiful (but a little much when you only have a day in Kauai).  I drove around, flipping through radio stations, trying not to bottom out my little Nissan Versa in the myriad of potholes, enjoying getting out at the few checkpoints and running into uber friendly Hawaiians (well, really just one lady).

And of course, since food is the most important part of a vacation, I HAD to get me some Shave Ice!  After many insights into the "best spot", I took the Kauai guidebook's advice and headed to Jo-Jo's.  What I ordered was a tad odd... not a big fan of chewy cubes or long stringy coconut pieces, but overall, it hit the spot.

On I drove, having to make a stop back at the hotel to grab the right credit card, more cash, and hopefully my camera (which again, I forgot, thus, all the pictures you see were taken by my iPhone, good thing it takes decent shots, right?).

All I wanted was a beach... so I drove north to get to one... I wasn't super thrilled with what I picked, but there was sand and water... so I stayed for awhile and then moved on to find the perfect, secluded beach (the pic at the top). MUCH better! And despite the steep trail, I made it down and back up injury free :)

And doesn't it always stand to reason that the moment you determine you're gonna just lay there on your hotel towel (yes, I snuck it out :) hehe) and you decide you don't want lines on your back... that someone decides to come talk to you?!  So there you  lay, top untied, and you know it won't be easy to retie it with someone watching, so instead, you lay there face-down hoping that you don't accidentally raise up too much and praying that the conversation with this nice gentleman does not last forever. Well, that is exactly what happened to me... but I DID glean great information - George Clooney was currently filming on the island... mmm :)  How else can a tropical island get any better?  Put 2 of former world's sexiest men alive on it (Johnny Depp was filming there as well)!  Sadly, I did not run into anyone famous.

After sun bathing (and of course, you know that as soon as the dude walked away, I retied my top, I was not getting myself into THAT predicament again!), I went to my car to perform a quick change and headed to the Princeville Hotel.  

I walked in, still trying to shake the last remnants of sand onto their super polished floor, and found a comfy chair to watch the sun slowly descend while sipping on a fantastic pineapple mojito. And I left just in time to see the sun set outside. 

At this point, I'm at a cross-roads.  I want to go see Hanalei, but its getting late, I need both dinner and gas (I'd wanted Costco gas, but well, people on the North Shore don't seem to venture south much and didn't know how late Costco was open...grrr).  After some indecision, I decided to head back south - I was NOT going to miss having dinner 2 nights in a row, and it was 7 by the time I was leaving... yikes, I was going to be pushing it - AGAIN!  I stopped at "home" to change, and oh yeah, my phone ran out of juice on my way back - awesome!  So I let it charge for a whole 10 min before heading out the door to head to Duke's (what I had read was a good place for food).  And after some circling around trying to figure out how to get there - the map and the iPhone were not super helpful since it was IN the hotel (the parking attendant was not helpful either).  I was stressing a little getting there, it was getting closer to 9 when food seemed to magically disappear.

Sigh, I found it... and a seat at the bar between a couple dudes (imagine that). And I also found out where all the people around Kauai hide!  I was beginning to think no one was even UP past 9!  Of course, it turned into a later night than I wanted, but I had a great time.

The flight out the next day worked as well (even down to the part where I was given the window seat, and not the middle seat between 2 large people... sitting next to them ok, between, well, I'm not Wan, I don't like that "cozy" feeling).  I wished I'd stayed 1 more day, and that I'd just laid on the beach all day Saturday, but there's always next time right?  (plus, you get strange looks from people when you tell them you're just there for the day ;-))

Aloha!

Edward or Jacob?

To begin with, I apologize for neglecting my blog.  Work has become... nothing short of a pain, and staying around late to write a blog hasn't been top on my priority list (plus, the locations I've been working at blocked my blog... as something like "obscene/tasteless" ;-)).

And now, I've got something on my mind, and a little down time, so I guess I'll share.  Plus, writing helps me process things (that and getting sufficient sleep).  One way or another, people are going to be unhappy with my decision, but I gotta be me, right?  I mean, if I'm not happy, I am definitely a pain in the ass to be around.

You're probably thinking, what the pho are you talking about Natalie?  Get to it!  Ok ok, so I've been debating my living situation.  Portland is calling, and my heart flutters at the thought of it.  But I've started to put down roots in Seattle, I have a great friend base and great coworkers, I like my living situation (ummm I love living downtown in the heart of all the action), and I haven't yet been pulled over for having Oregon plates, yet.

The best way I can describe my feelings, and thus the impossibly difficult decision, is to compare them to Twilight.  I know, I'm a total Vamp dork, but analogies help my lil' logical mind wrap my head around the situation.

On one hand there's Portland - which is totally my Edward.  Edward has my heart.  I feel like I was ripped from his hands (not by choice but by circumstances "out" of my control), and when I'm around my family there or things are bad here, I think of him.  And trust me, this is often.  The pain has subsided (or at least been masked a little), and I don't cry every time I leave Portland, but still, I could if I let myself.  And the other week, as I was sitting with my girlfriends at the Tegan & Sara concert, I felt truly at home and peaceful, I knew I belonged to Edward.  Like we were meant for each other.  Edward definitely makes me grow up a little, I feel like I will be settled with him.  But am I ready to be settled?!?

And then there's Seattle - definitely Jacob :).  Irresistible.  Hard to turn down.  Heated and dangerous (see the numerous girls night picts from fb).  But on days like today, he's just a total brat (namely because of the j-o-b).  Jacob's the fun one.  The one I go out with late at night to tear up the town.  The one who's encouraged me to get out, make friends, move on from Edward.  He's been great.  I've grown to love him.  But I think he knows, he'll always play 2nd fiddle to Edward.

So, where does that leave me?  I don't want to give Jacob up, but I desperately want to be with Edward.  Can I have both?  And if I have a baby, will Jacob fall for her?;-)  Is it just cuz I've been in a place for 2 years and I'm antsy?  Sigh, if only I knew the answer...I know, that's part of the journey and just a part of life.  I'm kinda waiting for it to hit me across the head (and no wife, just cuz you hit me, does not mean I'll choose Jacob).  

What it really comes down to is time. I'm not in a rush, and Portland won't be falling into the ocean like California will, so I should be good.  At least, I hope Rocky's song isn't true... I guess that's what I've been thinking lately.  I'll keep you posted.  ~NattyJo

How to Meet Guys: 101

A few months back, finding myself newly single and pondering the age old question - how does one go about meeting men?  Of course, all taken friends have their suggestions, and some happen to be internet dating.  And while I have no qualms against it, I'm not ready to admit defeat just yet. I'd like to think I still have it in me to find a guy in person....  So my options are limited, I haven't found a church I like, work - well, let's just say: "don't sh*t where you eat" should be followed, and the hobbies I like... not so sure I WANT to meet a guy who knits, scrapbooks, or is in love with Edward Cullen...;-).

Little did I know that by posing this question to the universe, that the universe would respond back with a smack-in-the-face of "this is how b*tch".  Ok, well maybe it wasn't that forceful, but definitely, don't ask if you don't want an answer.

Now, I believe that things happen for a reason and I'm always open to meeting people and up for something new (obviously, or how else would I have met the lovely Mr. Dempsey!?, trust me, you meet no one in your hotel room, unless you're into the housekeeping ladies, which I, am not, instead you meet them in your hotel gym ;-P).  Ok, let me put a caveat to that "open to meeting people" - I don't do blind dates/ set-ups.  I am not up for these, no matter "how amazingly awesome" he is.  If I must meet him, at least attempt the "nonchalant meeting", please, save me from the insanity of blind dates!  (unless of course I get to have those little bubbles coming out with my thoughts!)

In the past 6 months, I have met guys in some normal and some of the most unconventional ways (which is which, well, I'll let you be the judge :) - like the taxi driver who gave me his personal number after dropping me off one night - umm creepy, he knows where I live and has me trapped in his sticky cab!).  But thinking back, compared to other times in my life, the recent meetings aren't any more unusual than normal for me (such as rock climbing with Cheri, meeting a couple guys, and going to the Shanghai Tunnel (skipping in our gym clothes) for some stout and mac'n'cheese after...)

Case in point, I've both flirted with and gotten phone numbers while driving... though I think we only talked on the phone that once, I still remember him trying to communicate his number to me w/ his hands... only to realize that he kept leaving out the area code - which wasn't 503 as expected, but 360, dude, those 3 numbers are important!  While most times, flirting with the guy (or sometimes just the car itself, haha), I've at least gotten a wave of acknowledgement and a coy smile :-).

There's the "standard" bar scene - which obviously hasn't lead to anything permanent, but has yielded some friends (namely those residing in Sin City).  I did find the "you look bored" line amusing, especially when he asked if I was going to end up blogging about him, sorry dude, this is all ya get.  I mean, what kind of people hang out in bars, seriously?;-)

I also enjoy meeting bartenders mostly cuz they can't get away from me;-) haha, j/k.  But no, not really, I like that they have to talk to me...

Probably, the most amusing recently was the guy from the shuttle bus - ha! Just admitting that "out loud" makes me laugh.  I mean, who seriously gives their number to a guy from a shuttle bus?  Apparently "this girl" (points to self with thumbs).  Even worse, after he'd taken my number (and I'd driven away), apparently it didn't save and he had to ask the MasterPark for my name (shame on you MasterPark for giving it out!) and he then proceeded to find me on LinkedIn.  Gotta give the guy props for the follow-through (unlike the waiter at a restaurant who memorized my name from the receipt and looked me up on MySpace - claiming it was unusual so it was easy to remember... ask me for my number next time, stalker...).

There are the few guys I've met at concerts, which seems like a good place - instant common interest!  But my luck there runs thin (anyone remember Texty!?), not to mention the guy I met at the Rocky Votolato concert the other night - this dude's friend's decided it would be amusing to pretend he was someone famous.  Gotta admit, his one friend was fairly annoying about the whole thing...seriously, they went as far as to have people come up and take pics with him... I guess it takes all types, right? (so if you ever meet a guy by the name of Ian, he isn't, nor has he ever been famous... don't let him or his bored friends mess with you)

Who knows, I keep hoping my braveness (also interchangeable for stupidity) will lead me to the man of my "dreams", and if worst-comes-to-worst at least more amusing adventures :)!!