working title

Philadelphia, the one that got away.

2009-12-14T10:40:00.000-08:00

After graduation from Rutgers I found myself faced with the “what to do with your life” quandary. There was never really any question in my mind regarding relocation, however, I really didn’t know where to go. Through word of mouth, some online research, and of course a tight budget I had narrowed it down to three choices. Seattle, San Diego, and Philadelphia. My very first job interview was with Sam Adams to manage the Eastern PA accounts and marketing. Through a series of phone interviews and phone tag it appeared that I was a little late to dinner and they had already settled on another candidate. I quickly made the decision to eliminate Philly from the list, as I knew deep down staying on the East Coast was probably not for me. While I’d never take back the decision to move to Seattle, in fact I’d probably say it was probably the best decision I have ever made, I might now say that Philadelphia was the one the got away.

This past weekend I had the opportunity to attend a UGC conference at the Wharton School between fantastic meals around Philadelphia. While I’ve had my fair share of cheese steaks through college, I never spent much time in the city of Brotherly Love beyond South St. This weekend I was able to remind myself what the Liberty Bell looks like, hit Elfreth’s Alley, and most impressively traverse the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The beautiful architecture, friendly folks, great art and amazing food will definitely keep me coming back in the years to come.

Upon walking into the Cai Guo-Qiang exhibit, the 99 Boats installation hanging from the ceiling brought a giant smile to my face. If you haven’t heard of Cai Guo-Qiang and his gunpowder art, I highly recommend you look it up. First, a drawing is outlined in gun powder on Japanese paper and then ignited to create an organic “painting”. These pieces are massive and magnificent. After taking in the all the modern art the main collection had to offer we cross the street to the annex to check out the Marcel Wanders Daydreams exhibition. This multi-media exhibition was also awe inspiring. From furniture, to video, lighting and directional audio the sensory experience was a great snapshot into the career of this prolific designer.

The remainder of the trip included some incredible fresh and local food and oodles of whiskey. Must eats include Farmacia, Monks, Village Whiskey, Tinto, and White Dog. Great drinks can be found at Franklin Mortgage Co (just don’t get caught taking pictures in this faux speakeasy), Monks (over 200 Belgian ales), Farmacia (breakfast martinis!!), and Bob and Barbara’s ( $3 special = PBR + a shot of Beam + live Jazz).

Pictures to come soon 

**Special thanks to my great friends from college whom helped us navigate the city and spent several nights grabbing beers and catching up. Andy M., John, Andy L., and Nancy + Jeff it was great to see you – let’s try to do it more often than every few years! Jym, welcome to the East Coast, Seattle misses you!

Apparently, I'm a street walker?

2009-10-02T11:32:00.000-07:00

I'm currently on a business trip for my HTC client in Washington DC. This is my first time to DC and its been great to have the opportunity to check out our nation's capitol in between work sessions. The White House is much smaller than I anticipated and the reflection pool on the mall was absolutely disgusting with algae, however Lincoln lived up to his reputation, as did the Washington Monument. I love the brownstone architecture and stone buildings - it is truly spectacular here, with the exception of the transportation.

Anyone from Seattle can attest that we have just about the worst taxi + public transportation infrastructure around. In a major city like DC, I would expect an easy time hailing a cab. Not so much.

Yesterday I spent about 15 minutes waving and jumping for cabs, only to be turned down every time. After calling a local friend I find out they may be Virginia cabs and can't pick me up in DC. Fair enough, this makes rational sense. Finally, after scoping plates, I snag my self a certified DC taxi.

Today, in celebration of a successful HTC event, I decide to treat myself to a manicure. I cab it to another part of town and get just about the best manicure ever at BluSpa. Now comes the challenging part of my day...hailing a cab.

If I've learned anything, I've learned standing on a corner and waving isn't going to get one very far in this city. I see there is a line of cabs waiting outside the Westin. I walk up to the first in line to ask if he cab take me or at least if he can explain to me how their system "works". He vehemently waves me away mubling something to the effect of "no" and "go away". Realizing that the doorman of the Westin is probably my best bet, I walk up and ask for some assistance. I figure perhaps there is protocol and they have to hail it for me.

He whistles to the cab that I had attempted to speak with, first in line of three cabs total. The first one waves and yells "no way" and takes off. The 2nd one takes off speeding shaking his head. The third one pulls up and points at a woman who is just walking out of the hotel in a and says "I take HER!".

Like an sensible and fair person, the woman says "No, she was first". Meanwhile I'm standing there confused and mutter something like "What is going ON?" The doorman says "Who was first"? I say nothing, she says "She was". He tells me to get in the cab, it's mine.

Now completely just for reference, I'm wearing my "business clothes" from the morning's event. Hounds tooth tights, a jumper to the knee, nice heels, and a rain jacket. Perfectly respectable outfit in my humble opinion.

I get in the cab and the driver says "No I don't take you. You are a street walker. I don’t take you". Thinking this could easily be resolved with a little explanation I say, "No, I just asked them to help me get a taxi. Could you please take me to the Renaissance hotel". Silly me. He then says "No! You’re a street walker I don't take you!", but starts to roll forward. Confused, I say "So you are going to take me?" and he barks "NO". Now insulted and annoyed I smartly say back, "So you don't want to make money?" he says "NO! Get out!".

I get out. The doorman is like "wtf is going on" and yells at the cab driver. Meanwhile the woman is looking at me confused with a look on her face as if to say "Clearly there is something wrong with you". By this point I'm angry and shaking - I drank way too much coffee this morning and am no longer used to this rough angry east coast way of life.

At this point, for really no good reason considering I did heed his wishes and got out of the cab, the driver starts yelling all types of expletives at me and the doorman about my "street walker" status. Exasperated, I instinctively yell back "All I need is a cab to the renaissance hotel!" (I supposed taking a cab from one hotel to another could be considered to be characteristic of a streetwalker? That's really as close a parallel as I can draw.)

Out of no where, a female cab driver pulls up and hops out of her car and starts yelling at both of them that she'll take me and they're all idiots. The initial driver takes the other woman continuing to curse me loudly under his breath. My female driver then pulls up next to him at the first light specifically to yell more at him regarding how much of an idiot he is.

Finally back at my hotel, I still don't quite understand why this caused such an issue considering I have asked doormen in Seattle to help me get cabs plenty of times without conflict. I can say one thing, I'm happy I only need to take one more taxi out of here!

Italy Eats!

2009-05-22T17:53:00.000-07:00

Mmmmm....Finally, the Italian food post!

Featured here in my super sloppy composition are my favorite Italian dishes in no particular order.

First an excellent simple pesto dish, featured next to the best damn clam and mussel dish I have ever had the pleasure of tasting, both from Vernazza. Next is my personal rendition of two types of bruschetta made to delight my good friends at GE Florence.

In the second row, are more delightful seafood dishes. The baby squids from Venice - delectably seasoned and prepared in a simple butter sauce. Delightful mussels tossed in an ink pasta in Monterosso, and my introduction to anchovies (also Monterosso).

Row three features hand crafted ham from the St Giuliani winery and family farm. Spaghetti in a pomodoro caper sauce, Venice. Third image, meats from the Innocenti winery and farm.

And finally, the Veal/asparagus ala Garga(our favorite restaurant in Florence) mustard cream sauce. My (now) world famous Carbonara, and the only desert really worth mentioning ... of course another gift from Garga!

Ballard Eye Candy

2009-05-15T19:56:00.000-07:00

Windows mobile may be just about worthless, but my Diamond takes great photos :)

Buhl-lard

2009-05-13T09:36:00.000-07:00

Cotton candy melt-a-ways line the streets
with gingerbread icing and unleashed dogs in the yard.
Roosters crow, chickens lay eggs,
the gentle laughter of children clamors.

Blued haired neighbors tend gardens
while young fathers with pompadours wax their fantasies.
Saltwater air fills my lungs walking through childhood memories
transplanted and tied with a neat little bow.

I am home.

Moustake May

2009-05-11T10:43:00.001-07:00

I've come home to Moustache May at HADW. Please someone step up to the plate and explain this phenomenon to me!!! There is nothing attractive about the moustache. I have yet to come across a lady whom loves it, and yet the men won't stop.

The rules are as follows:

May 1st (this Friday), start out clean shaven. Photos will be taken.

May 29th (four weeks from this Friday), display your moustache proudly and a loose/soon to be determined voting system will cast light on a winner.

What qualifies one as the winner? The man whom is the creepiest? The best 70s porn star look a like?

Dear God, please help us Ladies make it through this May.

Italy Week One

2009-05-08T05:59:00.000-07:00

The past week has been spectacular. Benjamin arrived Sunday afternoon and we headed straight to the Ufizzi Gallery. We allowed ourselves to then get tangled up in Florence, checking out the bridge and other side of the river. From there, the whirl wind started.

First off to Cinque Terre. Initially the plan was to train, check in, and then hike. I packed with a 300 yard walk in mind. Benjamin had other plans and convinced me that hiking in through all 5 towns would mean we’ve truly earned our destination. I had been suffering from a mosquito attack (seriously about 15 bites on my face alone) and a very strangely swollen gland under my chin so was a bit wary about the trek. Lucky for me I had proactively packed antibiotics “just in case” and was able to fight this off. No swine flu here :)

We hopped off the train in Riomaggiore and stopped in for the absolute best salami sandwich I have ever had in my life. From there the hike began. I promised I would carry my bag as far as humanly possible – did I mention, it was practically bigger than me? I was secretly elated to find out that one of the paths was closed and we would have to hop a train. From there Benjamin began to carry my bag. I have to admit, I never would have made it without him.

We stopped off in Vernazza for some lunch and to fill our wine void. While we sat portside and joked with our waiter about his best friend Rick Steves, a storm rolled in and saved Ben’s shoulders from the final 2 hours of scaling mountains. Finally, arriving in the old town of Monterosso, we settled into our room for some R+R and showers.

Cinque Terre was beautiful. Probably my favorite part of the trip so far. We hiked to the cemetery in the ruins atop Monterosso, were fascinated with the Oratory of the Dead (Benjamin’s favorite site to date), and grabbed a few bottles of wine to drink from our water front room while watching it storm that evening. A good rest and several plates of anchovies later, we were Florence bound and thinking about Gondola’s and sinking cities. Off to Venice in the am.

Venice was certainly an interesting city. While a necessity to see, I can’t really say it is in my top three. Don’t get me wrong - the canals, winding streets, and Byzantine arches are captivating. Our hotel was the charming Doge Palace of Andrea Gritti, touted as one of the top hotels in Venice and a 5 star Starwood. I’d give it about 3.5 stars and would have to admit was amazing to stay in such a rich historical monument. Definitely the best bed in Italy.

On our first evening in Venice, we ducked out of the rain and into a random restaurant we came across in a winding back alley. Benjamin and I would definitely agree that the baby squids we shared here were among the best dishes consumed in Italy. On recommendation of my friend Kim, first thing in the morning we hit up the Secret Itineraries Doge Palace tour. Our tour guide was awesome! We heard an invigorated tale of Cassanova’s imprisonment and late night escape. Following this we shared a Macchiato and wine at Florian’s in his honor. Lucky for us, the torrential rain we arrived to had died down this second day and allowed us to explore the Grand Canal aboard an antique water taxi.

Finally, back to Florence again. My cousin’s co-worker Dave convinced us to stay one additional day and hit up some wine tastings in Montilcino. By far worth it – thanks Dave! Jane, Colleen, Dave, Benjamin, and myself filed into a breadbox sized Fiat and hit the country. Between google maps and a selectively drawn map with no street names we managed to wind through the hills and enjoy two excellent wineries.

The first on the tour was for sure my favorite. We devoured prosciutto, salami, olive oil, and fresh baked bread – all from the land. The winemaker sat with us and shared the farm’s history and a small glimpse into what this life entails. Several glasses of wine later we found ourselves discussing the cultural and linguistic differences of animal sounds, trading one after the other. Our take away – Dogs in the US “Ruff, ruff, ruff” and dogs in Italy “bahow, bahow, bahow”. Other hightlights from this 6 hour roadtrip include – a “Joni Mitchell” sing-a-long, missing the hook, and driving through Siena.

So now here I am on the train, headed to Rome with Jane and Benjamin sleeping to my right. While I sit here and just can’t help but wonder – are they going to come around? And man I really wish I bought a magnet.

Second time's a charm

2009-04-25T14:47:00.000-07:00

I am two and a half days deep in Italy and every moment just gets better!

I finally made it out to see the David this afternoon - absolutely stunning with his eerie confident stare. This was my second attempt, after I found myself lost yesterday for nearly four hours in an unmapped section of town. Luckily, I am resourceful and was able to follow a girl with a suitcase to the train station, from which I was felt my way home. However, I don't take complete responsibility for this mishap - Florence is a bit of an urban planning nightmare.

Today we started our day with tasty traditional pizza. Mine prosciutto and Colleen's salami. From their we walked around town, checked out some shops (I picked up a pair of sweet leather sandals), and hit up a local grocery for some fixings for dinner.

While Colleen napped I shaved cheese, cut pancetta, and prepped the bruschetta. Colleen's co-worker Dave joined us for dinner with some excellent wine and thanked me for "earning my keep". The result was a lovely fresh pasta Carbonara with two types of bruschetta - original tomato, and pesto prosciutto. Now after a brief nap of my own, Colleen and Dave have headed out to pick me up some tasty gelato while I write this post and sip some Grappa.

We've decided to call it an early night and take 'er easy on our livers. Tomorrow Benjamin arrives, and after touring the Ufizzi, we will paint the town red at Colleen's favorite restaurant!

ps. Debbie - the internet in Italy is 100% worse than the internet in India. We're dealing with 1995 dial up speeds and I can't even upload photos!

Welcome to Florence

2009-04-24T01:48:00.000-07:00

Upon my arrival my cousin Colleen welcomes me with properly decanted wine (anything short of this is unacceptable in her opinion) in her cozy and rather large apartment. We catch up, I shower, and then we are off in search of ingredients for dinner.

Walking the streets of Florence is truly amazing. In some ways it reminds me of the Gothic district of Barcelona, but it's far more quaint providing a feeling of authenticity that is unmatched. I trail behind Colleen attempting to take it all in, simultaneously hopping from stone to stone to avoid submerging my flip-flopped feet in deep puddles. It's raining.

We arrive back at the apartment and I am put straight to work. Colleen's co-workers are coming over for dinner and I'm the Chef. We start off with my favorite old standby - Buffalo Mozz + Parma Prosciutto. Colleen begins the chocolate pudding pie while I attempt to figure out how exactly we are to cook all this food with very limited utensils.

Our pasta dish calls for fresh local pasta, tossed in a cognac cream sauce with citrus zests and mint leaves topped off with Parmesan cheese and truffle oil. Truely delightful. Our second course is a thinly pounded veal served also in a cream sauce topped with avocado. This was a particularly fun dish to prepare because we had the excitement of lighting cognac on fire.

Full bellies and four bottles of wine later, we were dipping biscotti in desert wine, enjoying some lemoncello and preparing for a night on the town. I have to admit, I thought my friends in Seattle drank hard. However, in Florence we drink harder. We start off at the bar with several rounds of shots - whiskey and mysterious mixed "house" shots. I wove the white flag, switched to beer, and made it home to crash. It had been at least 28 hours since I last slept by the time my head hit the pillow.

Refreshed thanks to fizzy water and advil, I am now off to the corner cafe for some fresh squeezed OJ, a baguette, and then the David. Florence is spectacular!

9 days and counting!

2009-04-13T12:23:00.000-07:00

It’s been a hectic few weeks between tight turns, extracurricular responsibilities, and planning. While there are still miles to go, I’m actually starting to feel things wrap up at HADW and ready to take Italy by storm.

Over the course of the last few weeks I have put out some asks for recommendations and things to note while on the road. Cities on the docket include Florence (4.5 days), Cinque Terra (2 days), Venice (2 days), and Rome (5 days). We are lucky to be staying with my cousin Colleen in Florence and have booked a hotel in both CT + Venice and a rental apartment in Trastevere, Rome. As we wrap up our final stages of planning, I thought I would reiterate the ask for anyone whom may have a last minute suggestion.

To date we have booked or planned on the following in no particular order:

FLORENCE: Uffizi Gallery, Duomo, the David, Renaissance Walk, Bargello.

CINQUE TERRA: Vernazza, hiking b/w towns.

VENICE: St. Marks, Doge Tour, Rialto Market, Peggy Guggenheim Collection.

ROME: Borghese, Spanish Steps, Coliseum, Pantheon, Vatican, Pilgrims Rome (churches of San Giovanni, Santa Maria Maggiore, and San Clemente), the Catacombs, Orto Botanico, Trastevere flea market, and the Jewish Ghetto Walk.

Specifically I am looking for any suggestions for restaurants, general travel tips, or must see attractions that are off the beaten path in the 4 cities we will be hitting. Thanks a ton to those whom have already contributed, look for updates and pictures in 9 days.

Grazie!

Will = Way

2009-03-21T15:21:00.000-07:00

In making my quiche this afternoon, I toss the bacon in the pan and begin pulling out the other ingredients to prep. I realize that - oops, my pie crust is frozen. I make a poor attempt to defrost it via microwave. I have never been successful at MV defrost with any type of frozen food in my life, and this is no exception. Result, a pie of mush. Realizing I have flour, butter, and am moderately capable, I decide to make crust from scratch.

Contrary to popular belief, I am extremely impulsive and most always shoot from the hip. The situation I now found myself in is a great example of these
characteristics. I don't have food processor or rolling pin - both crucial tools for pie crust. I clearly haven't thought this through.

I begin to improvise with my multi-purpose immersion blender. Its really not quite big enough but I force it and am cross my fingers this will work out. And the rolling pin? Well I've decided that an empty bottle of Estella from Barcelona will have to suffice.

Long story and more humorous moments that had me laughing out loud alone in my kitchen short, the quiche went into the oven and appears to be A. OK.

Carfree is no longer carefree

2009-02-24T18:24:00.000-08:00

When I decided to relocate in 2003 I was looking for a city that was affordable, clean, near water, and easily traversed via public transportation. Now I'm not trying to make the claim that all of my wishes were realized, as I see areas for improvement in every category, however what I found in Seattle was sufficient. Convinced I could be carefree and carless, I gave away the Olds and boarded a plane.

The Metro transit system definitely leaves quite a bit to be desired. It's routes are slow, schedules inconsistent, and buses often dirty - but one thing it has always been is affordable. Every year we come one vote closer to making incremental improvements and I have had high hopes to perpetuate my carfree, environmentally friendly lifestyle for years to come.

In the fall we saw fare hikes from $1.50 to $1.75 and last month $1.75 to $2.00. This evening I boarded the bus to see this sign posted regarding the distribution of the new $2.50 passes. Apparently, the fares are still moving upward - a full 66% increase from rates 6 short months ago.

I do the math in my head and realize I am now paying just about the same as someone with a decent "A to B" vehicle between my membership with Zipcar, cab fare, and bus fare. Falling just shy of $400/mo.

Zipcar spend roughly $125/mo
Cab spend roughly $175/mo
New bus fare spend $90/mo

This made me wonder is it really worth the hassle to be carless, after all I do have a free parking space? Between the fees and the logistics carfree is certainly no longer carefree.

Foodie fiesta

2009-02-23T05:58:00.000-08:00

Pictured here I am at my favorite restaurant in Barcelona - Can Solé. Corey and I had found this gem upon recommendation of Erica. We first visited on Valentine's Day, having just made it 5 minutes before the kitchen was scheduled to close. We quickly gave the menu a once over while being firmly pressured to make a decision by the wait staff. We knew we would order the salt cod fritters but really hadn't had enough time to study the menu and make a proper decision. Corey asked if I would enjoy the Lobster Stew, which was the only thing on the menu that had jumped out at me immediately and was the perfect choice. We ordered our stew and cod fritters and when asked if that was it, I quickly threw out sautéed baby squid'. I was glad to hear Corey was not opposed to the squid, as I knew that I had recently dined with someone that was not a fan and couldn't recall whom.

I must say said sauteed squid was the most exquisite thing I have ever eaten - or at least eaten in Spain. While the salt cod fritters were good, they were a bit over cooked that night and I imagine they were probably better when Erica visited. We decided at this first meal that we must come back.

Several days later, after having had the disappointment of learning the cable car was closed, we cabbed it straight away to Can Solé. We again ordered our baby squid, along with a side salad and two rice dishes. Corey the Paella, and my self the Black Rice with Squid Ink. Both absolutely delicious.

Below you will see photos of the various dishes consumed throughout Spain and England. I’d take the time to describe the story behind each, but I'll be more considerate of your time. Only a few of you want to read pages upon pages about food.

Enjoy and envy.

Homeward bound

2009-02-21T23:41:00.000-08:00

Ah, to be homeward bound. There really couldn't be something more comforting right now. Don't get me wrong, I have had a fantastic trip filled with adventure, wonder, family bonding and have loved every minute of it. It is just time to see my own bed, grab a double tall vanilla breve, and get my dance on.

Currently, I am sitting in Heathrow airport waiting for my gate to be announced. I suppose they will have their last chance to take a gander at my passport at the gate? I find it strange that I haven't even seen customs in Heathrow at all. On my way in I flew in from Ireland and walked straight off the plane into a black cab (perhaps it was a "local" gate?). On my way out, security was super lax and I wasn't even IDed me as I passed through the security check point! From what I've heard from my Uncle Tim, they always check/stamp his passport and even have made him go through an additional shoe check. Perhaps he appears to be a shady character in the eyes of the Brits?

I have 20 minutes until my boarding time and should really check again on the gate. None of the flights out of this terminal have gate numbers until the last possible moment. I'm convinced they are really trying to force me to by that Ferragamo handbag I can't afford.

Stay tuned for my food tour post coming soon :)

What a trip it's been

2009-02-20T02:00:00.000-08:00

Good Morning from Gerrads Cross! I have finally arrived in the UK and have managed to get about 8 hours of sleep. Still not fully recovered, but definitely feeling well enough to type, I can now recount the past 36 hours for you.

Corey and I hit the town with the Alex + Johnny our last night for a wonderful port-side dinner. With Corey's flight within two short hours from walking in the door, we decided room service Estrella was the way to go rather than sleep. This may have been my first mistake.

I return to my room to converse with those on the West Coast via the web and pack it up for the UK. Before I know it, it is time to for me to check out - the start of a very difficult day of travel.

At reception, I learn my lovely bank has yet again shut me down. Now at this point not having had sleep and probably having had too many beers, I could have handled this situation with more grace. The one thing that does help me put things in perspective is the woman checking out next to me has had her passport and cards stolen and is really up a creek.

After a lot of back and forth, the hotel staff resolves that I must secure a card from someone else to take care of this bill and will not be able to leave otherwise. Thankfully, I am able to obtian assistance from a Seattle friend immediately. Our hotel bill is just over $4,000, so it is more than generous to cover this on my behalf. Yes, I owe big time upon my return!

The rest of the travel story is your typical international fare. I struggle through it - migraine, hangover, sleep deprivation and all. Dublin is probably my least favorite airport I have ever been to. It's very dirty, they require you to leave and re-enter rather than transfer within a terminal, people are extremely rude, and they don't have any working power outlets. I have to admit, even being 50% Irish, I am not very interested in returning to Dublin after this experience.

Finally, I arrive to Heathrow and grab a taxi home to Gerrads Cross. I spend a few hours hanging with the fam attempting to get little Sean to eat his hamburger (probably a more challenging task than getting my hotel paid for) and eventually hit the hay.

I am now about to pull it together and head into town. I have to say one thing - there is a reason kids backpack Europe in college. I am too old for this and am exhausted!

Last Night!

2009-02-18T11:24:00.001-08:00

It is officially our last night in BCN :( I am headed to meet up with the "boys" to celebrate our successes. Everyone has been super nice and great to work with. I'll miss Johnny's humor + BBC shows for sure. I will not miss early mornings and language barriers. Sounds like we may have the opportunity to work with Alex again, which would be rad.

This city was truly great and I can't wait to come back. I have definitely learned a few things about international travel and feel I finally have the city straight. I'm excited about London this weekend and further down the line Italy.

It seems I may be forced to take another trip this summer or fall - perhaps I will meet my airtime goal yet!

EPIC evening

2009-02-17T15:32:00.000-08:00

A co-worker hooked us up with a friend also attending MWC. We planned a dinner and thought it would be a fun night out and great to hang out with a MWC veteran and fellow American. NSM IMHO.

The guy treated me like I didn't exist. Not sure if he was a sexist pig or just looked me up and down and made a judgment for no good reason. Within 5 minutes I was ready to walk right out that door but of course, could not. We start conversation. He talks all about how great he is, his employment history. Woo Hoo! Then asks Corey what he does. Ignores me. I sat there in silence sucking down wine counting the minutes. I then realized Corey could probably use some conversation assistance. This guy was so full of himself, the only thing to talk about was him. I started quizzing him like I was Barbara Walters. Each and every answer was directed straight to Corey. Honestly, I didn't exist in his eyes and man do I wish I could have just made that a reality.

After suffering through what felt like 500 months - we left on a wild goose chase for a 'Supermarcat'. Another humorous story better told in person than on the blog but trust me - this was directly correlated to this selfish sexist man and no I was not buying cigarettes.

'Supermarcat' accomplished about 45 minutes later, we are headed to a bar. Bar? What bar? Are there bars in Barcelona? Absinthe? We are desperately seeking Absinthe bar. I blue dot it. I'm standing on the freakin' blue dot - NO BAR. We call Frickelton in Seattle while Corey is googling on his iSnail. This place straight up no existy. We then go to Barconlonetta on a wild goose chase for yet another Absinthe bar. NO BAR EXISTY. We head to the 2 bars we know in BCNetta. NOT OPEN.

There is a really big common thread through this entire city. Nothing is ever open.

So now almost 2.5 hours later, we give up come back to the hotel and guess what??? BAR IS CLOSED. As we walk to the room I see a bottle on a room service tray. I think it is alcohol. I honest to god almost steal it. It's vinegar. Wouldn't that have been delightful????

At the moment we are simultaneously computing and I am sucking down Estrella like there is no tomorrow. Which there may not be because I have only slept a total of 3 hours in the last 42 - it is highly possible I don't wake up.

Ah BARCELONA. How I love your days, sites, and architecture, how I abhor your closed bars, closed restaurants, closed stores, and non-existent addresses.

Who needs sleek modern design?

2009-02-17T03:21:00.000-08:00

Notes on napping + charging mobile devices

2009-02-17T01:05:00.000-08:00

First off, napping is generally not a good fit for me because generally I don't wake back up and sleep straight through to the next day. Yesterday would have been no exception except I receive a wake up text from Corey,just short of 11PM. We had both overslept by 4 hours and now were cutting it close to last call for food.

We hustled over to our new favorite spot and found a place open until 11:30PM. Close call! It was definitely not the best food I've had in my life but sustenance none the less. After dinner we hit up a small bar called Sidecar that had decent and somewhat recent music. After a few Estrella we went back to our hotel to get some sleep for our next early morning. Corey was successful, I was not so lucky.

I had a few things working against me. My lovely nap had me vibrantly awake and my devices were in desperate need of a charge - meaning I had to sleep with the lights on. I know this sounds silly and wrong but it's true. The way the power operates in the room is by the room keycard which slides into a slot in the wall. There are then two light switches - one by the door and one by the bed. These switches control all power to the room (including the fridge). This means that if you want to charge a phone or laptop, the lights MUST stay on. All the lights. The closet, the bed stand, the ceiling, the entryway.

So here I am restless from my nap and now blinded by a 4 light fixtures which I cannot control. A big thank you to those of you whom on the West Coast whom kept me company via IM! Finally around 6:30AM I had sufficient charge and was able to go to sleep. The issue here is I am scheduled to wake at 6:45AM. So I swapped my alarm to 7:15AM and prayed I wouldn't sleep through.

At 7:45AM my phone is blaring obnoxiously in my ear and I feel as though I might die. It's Corey asking if I am ready for breakfast. Breakfast? I couldn't even comprehend where I was. So I jump up, hop in the shower, and have that shaky rush one gets when late for an important meeting or flight. Corey is kind enough to force me to sit down for breakfast and covers off on our bases with Johnny Hot having him fill in and start up the app.

Now after two piles of prosciutto, 1 kiwi, a few pineapple slices, and delightful ride on the shuttle bus I am feeling moderately better and am back at my post in the Hut.

Mobile World Congress

2009-02-16T01:36:00.000-08:00

Things are going quite well here at the Mobile World Congress! We have gotten our installation up and rockin'. From my station inside the hut I can hear people giggling and taking photos. All seems to be a success. The show itself if pretty cool. Corey and I have been walking around checking out devices, technology, and making new friends.

We've been really lucky to work with some cool people from FITCH Live UK + Shooting Partners UK (LED solution). Poor Johnny Hot (yes, his real name) has to hole up in this hut for 15 hours a day for 5 days straight. We are hanging with him in between networking to help him pass the time. Right now the boys are watching The Family Guy while I blog.

Ted was nice enough to hook us up with some locals and other mobile folks whom are here for the conference. We have begun to fill our calendars with dinners and events with others here in Barcelona.

Super fun conference + experience over all!

US > EU >UK

2009-02-15T15:14:00.000-08:00

This is what happens when 3 countries do business.

Truly Exhausted

2009-02-15T14:57:00.000-08:00

I know I promised photos, so here are a few. I am truly too tired to write a full post. The images should really speak for themselves anyway.

I am struggling to keep my eyes open right now, and this is the second time today I have attempted this battle! I am going to have to give in as I have a 5am start tomorrow.

Please enjoy the photos!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2009-02-15T03:05:00.000-08:00

Hello all.

Too many photos to sort through right now but expect a good post later this evening. Corey and I are about to head over for phase 2 of the install, however, I thought I would leave you with a photo from our romantical V-Day meal.

If you ever make it to Barcelona, go to Can Sole in Barcelonetta and get the sauteed squid. This may be the best thing I have ever eaten in my life. Honestly, we have already discussed going back for more!

Hugs + Kisses from Spain!

ps. Yes, that is Lobster Stew we are eating.... YUM.

Monetizing Obama

2009-02-14T01:23:00.001-08:00

Corey and I hit the town last night for some dinner and a first look at Barcelona night life. Dinner was excellent, although that deserves it's own post and photos which I will have to add later when I have more time.

To touch briefly on the nightlife, it is interesting. We headed to the Gothic Quarter from dinner and assumed we'd stumble into a string of good bars. That didn't exactly happen and next time I will definitely map a few places out first. What we did find were extremely crowded streets, people selling beer everywhere, and "kids" with full bottles of liquor drinking opening in the parks - even sometimes out of actual glasses. Now let's keep in mind it was early for Spain, probably 11PM or so - so the night had probably not yet begun for most.

Finally, we broke down and pulled out the Blue Dot. Where is the closest bar in proximity? Answer: Obama. We of course laughed, not believing there was actually a bar named Obama, but sure enough there it was across the street. This bar was interesting, certainly a collection of folks and I would say probably a good deal of British. We had several "house shots" - apple vodka - and gin/vodka tonics. We asked the bar tender about the name of the bar, coincidence and good timing with the name? After all the seats looked fairly distressed, the bar certainly appeared to have been there forever. Nope. They just opened two months ago, went to great effort to make it look old and yes they are 100% capitalizing on the popularity of our 44th president.

A good time was certainly had and we eventually headed home around 3am. My only complaint, the indoor smoking. My clothes smell like an ashtray :(

Amsterdam

2009-02-13T01:43:00.000-08:00

We have been in Amsterdam since 7am. We have consumed several high alcohol content beers - again, what does one do in an airport?

Here is a lovely photo of our faves.

Ciao Seattle

2009-02-13T01:40:00.001-08:00

I began my morning packing, confused and unable to process exactly what was happening. Where exactly was I going?! The disbelief that after all these years I finally have an opportunity to go overseas had still not yet turned into anticipation or excitement. In fact over the past few days, when people asked how excited I was or what I was looking forward to seeing I couldn’t even come up with an honest answer because I have been living in a complete state of disbelief and have been utterly distracted. In preparation for my flight, I gobbled down half of a vicodin left over from my surgery after realizing the sleeping pills I was counting on for the flight had been lost. I was then out the door in a hurry to pick up Corey in Queen Anne.

We arrived at the airport by 9:30 and had zero trouble getting through security. We did what any one would do to kill the time at 10am, had several bloody marys. Moderately buzzed and decently full of terrible airport food, we boarded our plane after successfully switching seats to allow us to sit together. Lucky us, we ended up in the row just behind first class, meaning a great deal of leg room and no reclined chairs in our faces.

Without even leaving the ground the mixture of vodka and vicodin had me in a zen sleep. Next thing I know I awoke to a pasta meal (actually NOT terrible) and the realization we were only as far as Calgary. It’s amazing how long a 9 hour flight really is. It doesn’t sound that terrible – after all I sit at my desk for 9 hours a day – but after hours of sleep, I awake again still only over Iceland with 3 hours to go!

Right in front of me sits a screen with constant statistic updates in just about every language spoken within relative distance to Amsterdam. After studying the map and attempting to “name that language”, I come to the realization how close Iceland is to the British Isles. Of course I’m familiar with basic geography and know where Iceland is but seeing Reykjavik and Edinberg so close on the zoomed in map was still somewhat surprising. I suppose this realization in combination of trying to keep my mind on track prompted me to begin my first few entries.

Now only two short hours from Amsterdam, I will sign off and figure out what I am going to do about my wallet and passport that are currently placed suitable for a purse snatching.

Hello

2009-02-13T01:38:00.000-08:00

Hello friends + fam in the USA! I know better than to make promises of keeping a regular blog from my futile attempts in the past. Saying so would be making a false promise, definitely not sustainable for my impulsive and a day day personality. However, what I can do is maintain a blog for a short period of time to share my travel experiences and aid in keeping track of the details which I too often forget. Who knows though, I may contribute to this blog more than I anticipate, after all my goal is to log more airtime in my 29th year than in the previous 28 combined.

Summer Love

2007-07-18T20:03:00.000-07:00

While on my winter trip to San Francisco, I stopped in a small trendy toy store looking for something fitting for my girls at HADW. I stumbled upon these snazzy little eggs that contain seeds for various herbs, flowers, and even a cactus. Upon return to Seattle we quickly cracked open the tops and planted the little buggers in our cubes. Sadly the office was too chilly and the Seattle sun was still hiding in the rain clouds. The first batch did not sprout.

Lucky for us the boxes contained a second batch of seeds. Not ready to give up I watered these seeds for weeks. Nothing. Thinking I may have been hallucinating, I noticed a little sprout. Before we knew it we had plants! Cute little eggs quickly turned into over-grown eggs and they needed to be replanted. After only two short weeks in their new pots, they were out growing their britches once again. Now, they've found a new home on my SW facing balcony.

I never thought I would have a green thumb or would grow so emotionally attached to a plant. These babies are truly my summer love. I thought I would share some photos of the process and how they've grown up.

Currently I have - Basil, Mint, Wild Strawberry, Thyme, and Rosemary. (not all pictured)

Lazy Blogger

2007-07-18T19:58:00.000-07:00

Well my sincerest apologies for the lag in posts. I supposed I really don't have anyone to apologize to considering I haven't shared my blog with anyone to date.

I have every intention to begin paying closer attention to my blog. Expect several design/layout revisions, as I decide on a look that matches my voice. One day, I might even name the damn thing :)

Summer Pong

2007-05-30T14:13:00.000-07:00

Fellow HADWite Javas had us over for some munchies, brew, and pong on this sweet table in SLU. Joseph invested in a hollow extra light paddle and is working daily to craft the spin + speed of his shots. Unfortunately, we have been informed that this is private property and will be unable to return for a rematch. None the less, a good time was had by all.

New Blog

2007-05-21T22:24:00.000-07:00

i've decided to begin working on a new blog. my previous blog acted more as a virtual hard drive to hold documents i feared would be lost to by a defunct sony viao. 2 defunct sony viaos and a fabulous iBook later - i still have the docs :)

hopefully, i will be able to keep this up and share thoughts and links others find interesting and relevant.