Bumbershoot 2008

Mike and I went to Bumbershoot yesterday. We saw half of Neko Case's show. Huge lines to get in and get our evening main stage show tickets didn't let us get there on time. She sounded really good. We like her. After Neko we walked around, ate a lot of expensive fair type food, and listened to some not so interesting bands. Then we went to Band of Horses. They put on an awesome show and sounded great! They're my favorite band so I had a huge smile on my face the whole time. The headliner on the main stage was Beck. I was not as impressed with him, but it could be because I don't know many of his songs. He opened with "Loser", one I actually do know, and we left after about 5 songs.

Steve and Nollie hung out together all day. I think they went hiking. She was pretty tired when we got home.

Seriously?

I'm so ticked at people. A partial copy of "Midnight Sun" has been leaked and she's put the book on hold indefinitely. I don't think I'm going to read it even though she has posted it on her website. Grrrrr.

vampires

I just finished reading "Breaking Dawn", the last book in the Twilight Saga. I'm sad that I don't have anymore stories about my beloved vampires to read, but "Twilight" will be hitting the big screen on November 21! I've also read that Stephenie Meyer is rewriting the first book from Edward's perspective - can't wait! I guess I will just have to keep dreaming about vampires until "Midnight Sun" comes out!

quick trip to Wisconsin

I had to go back to WI to testify in Madison on Thursday for one of my old cases. I changed my return flight home so I could stay for the weekend (at least I got a free trip home out of this whole mess). I got a lot of essential Wisconsin visits in during my short stay:
1. Milio's #6 with avo (liking avocados is a new thing for me since moving to Seattle)
2. sat outside on the Capital steps during my lunch break from court
3. fried cheese curds and beer at the Paradise after testifying (I'm disappointed that the ranch is no longer served in squeeze bottles)
4. met Lydia for the first time!







5. Noodles
6. University Bookstore
7. dinner at El Dorado with Ed, Kate, Jeff, Danna, & Michael
8. dessert and drinks at Sucre and Opus
9. Babcock ice cream at the Union
10. The Great Dane

This trip has also introduced me to my newest obsession: the Twilight Saga. I finished Twilight and New Moon while in WI and started Eclipse on the flight home. Is it weird that I wish that Mike and I were vampires?

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Now that you're retired I hope the boat sees action on more than just your birthday.

Look Steve. I used you're and your correctly this time.

P.S. Nollie says to fart off.

Deer Sarah

What

the

hell?

You just took off for Wisconsin like you don't even kare about me.

How could you leave me alone with Mike. He just worked on his stoopid ramp for like 3 hours last night, and I had to sit outside the whole time. I ran around in circles like mad woman for a while, but he didn't notice. It was cold and raining the whole time, and I got very wet and stinky. Then he drove me to Fred Meyer to buy pizza and beer while I sat in the kar. Whatever. I slept on your pillow and rubbed my stank all over it. I suppose you'll just febreeze your pillow like you febreezed my head after I rolled around in whatever that was a couple years ago. Yeah, I still remember that. If you ever decide to come back and I'm not here, check the animal shelter.

Nolly

P.S. Tell the grammar police to fart off.

Ask and You Shall Receive,

Part II.



Your welcome.

Though your platform has changed I believe you still have support. This e-mail was obtained by the Seattle PI.

Dear son,

I am so proud to hear that you are running for President.
Maybe you can fill me in on your platform and experience.

Sincerely,

Is an ass-clown's Father

Ask and You Shall Receive,

Steve.



P.S. Mom, Steve started it.

Olympics and Knitting

That is what I did all weekend. I started this scarf type thing on Saturday and finished it on Sunday. It has some cashmere in it so it's super soft. And so far the Olympics are not disappointing me at all. Did you all see the men's 4X100 free relay last night? Crazy!

Stitch N' Pitch

Last night was Stitch N' Pitch night at Safeco Field. All the knitters and crocheters of Seattle were out for the big event. We hit up Pyramid before the game to have dinner and a few beers. Then we went across the street to Safeco (early enough to get the night's promotional Stitch N' Pitch t-shirt). We all wore our own matching shirts, which were a huge hit. At least 20 people asked us where we got them and a few people took our pictures. Every yarn store in the greater Seattle area had a booth set up where you could buy yarn. Ladies (including us) were going nuts! The Mariners won the game 2-1 with a walk-off home run by Raul Ibanez. It was a pretty good game - even I was cheering for the Mariners. The highlight of the night was us on the jumbotron! Lisa and I missed it, but Brianne and Jen saw it. Apparently we were on it during the 9th inning when we were all dancing. Not much stitching or hooking happened last night (what with all the beer and chatting and dancing) but it was a blast! We can't wait for next year!

Suck It, Ed.

A friendly graphical smackdown from work.

futbol

Tonight I had a soccer game. I'm a sub on my friend Claire's team. We won 4-1. This was the third game I played with them and I'm finally getting back into the swing of things. Notice I'm still rockin' my boots from senior year of high school. Though I have splurged and purchased some new shin guards. Just imagine the stank that came off of 10 year old shin guards. Not pleasant.

project mini ramp

all 4 sections framed and ready for surfacing


it pretty much takes up the whole garage


Steve came over tonight to check it out

construction has begun

Mini ramp construction began yesterday with the first of 4 sections. If only I could get as motivated on Project Kitchen 2008 as Mike is on Project Mini Ramp. The only thing I have done so far for the kitchen (besides ripping down the wainscoting) was buy paint.


This shot is the reason why I wanted a fish eye. How cute is that?
Note the dead grass. That is just proof that it doesn't rain in Seattle during the summer. Besides, it's not very ecological to water your lawn.

Washboarding

Last Sunday Sarah, Matt, Claire, and myself went out on the boat formerly known as Red Reign. The boat formerly known as Red Reign is about the same color as one '84 Impala in its latter years but lacks a 5L V8 and a squirrel in the back window. So plans to buy materials for the mini-ramp were put on hold, and we skipped the Joy Wants Eternity show (my favorite band but they're playing again Friday) to go wakeboarding for the first time in Washington and the first time in about 5 years.

We launched at the Sunnyside Avenue N Boat Ramp east of Gas Works Park in Wallingford on Lake Union (holy hyperlinks). Then we motored our way out to Lake Washington at 7 knots (because that's the speed limit) through the cut. Then we went all the way up to Kenmore in search of good water, but it was hot and busy and a choppy mess most of the afternoon.


Opting not to waste perfect drinking weather, Sarah forgoes wakeboarding for Jolly Roger.


Here's a shot of the skipper of the mighty formerly known as Red Reign. If this isn't embarrassing, I don't know what is. Sorry, Claire.


Washington state law requires you to have an orange flag raised above your boat whenever anyone from your vessel is in the water. While Claire did not go wakeboarding I think her arms were probably more tired than mine. Which also explains why there are no pictures of any actual "wakeboarding" in this post.

Wakeboarding on Lake Washington is a little different than what I'm used to. There are numerous distractions including...


Float planes...


Hawks and bald eagles...


And Mt. Rainier. It was pretty sweet to cut in towards the wake, see this view, and then tweak a boned out back-side shifty indy grab (no picture but seriously I did it).


The mighty formerly known as Red Reign and her stout crew just before sunset.

Christmas in July!

Look what I found at the Ballard Market last night. I just about pooped my pants!


Seriously, it was really hot here yesterday. I went shopping at U Village where the line for the new iPhone was ridiculous. Mike stayed home and worked on his plans for the mini ramp. We rode our bikes to Jolly Roger Taproom to meet Matt and Claire for dinner. We went back to our house to have a boot since we ditched out on meeting up with them Friday night at Prost. Don't worry, the boot was not filled with Jolly Roger - we drank a growler of Flagship Red on nitro from the Taproom instead.


an engineer at work (on mini ramp plans)






Claire and Matt booting it up!

Look what came in the mail today!

What's in the box?


Yum!


cutest doggie treat ever made

Nollie says "Thank you Grandma and Grandpa Swenson!"

Nollie's Birthday BBQ

Yesterday was Nollie's 4th birthday. We celebrated by throwing a BBQ in her honor. She got some gifts, licked a baby's head, ate some Frosty Paws, and wrestled with her friend Madison. The boot was filled and passed around twice. Mike has a hangover today. All in all I think it was a good party.


New eggs!


Oscar with the blanket I knitted for him

Aunt Sarah & Uncle Mike

Lydia Jo was born June 20th at 4:42 PM central. She weighed 3 lb 15 oz and measured 16 in long. All reports indicate Lydia and Amy are both doing well. Mike and I wish we could have been there to meet our niece on her birthday, but we will be back in Wisconsin for a visit soon.


Lydia Jo


with mom & dad

Holy Hipper

No, not hipster. Hipper.

The Lower Woodland Skatepark officially opened a couple weeks ago. Mayor Nickels was there.


Mayor Nickels appears at the Lower Woodland Skatepark before heading to court.

There were also grown men jumping over garbage cans.


Don't know who this guy is. Let's just call him better than me.

After the grand opening gala, I took my crack at the park that Sunday. It's a lot of fun. The bowl is steep and fast. Every transition goes to vert no matter how short it is, and it's a lot different than the Ballard Bowl. I managed to do some backside grinds in both sections of the shallow end and in the deep end, so I was happy. The street skating was fun too, but I was a bit rusty having not done that in about a year and a half.

Then I decided to skate last Friday morning before work. That's when I received the hipper while skating the pool. I thought I was doing well, then I came through the shallow end, body extended while on the tile, hit the coping with both trucks, and fell five feet down and about 10 mph or so into the bottom of the adjacent transition. Hurt enough to make me think I could have broken my hip, but really I knew it was just a sweet bruise. So I walked around for a while. Then cruised around a bit on my board. Finally, decided to drop back into the pool for a mellow run. All was going well until I made a lazy bail and clocked my left ankle bone with my deck for a nice bone bruise, on the same side as the hipper. Sweet. No more skating until Wednesday or so. I'd show you a picture of the bruise, but it has yet to make it to the surface. The entire bruise is about the size of my hand, like if I were to put my hand inside my hip.

In other news the moustache marathon is going on day 23 and still kickin' ass. My friend from work is doing an Ironman this weekend, though. So that's my next moustache related goal (140.6 days).