On Losing the Sonics

One of the more challenging but honest-to-God rewarding parts that I've experienced in my relationship and marriage is developing an appreciation for what the other person is deeply interested and involved in. This is not easy for me. I am admittedly tunnel vision, and tend to be fairly selfish. But over the past few years, I've come to a fairly significant new understanding of sports --- primarily, basketball.

In the past two years, I've even actually, for the first time in my life, enjoyed myself at basketball games. We've gone to a handful of Sonics games together, and I've been standing and cheering at close games, and Brian has tried to impart his encyclopedic knowledge of every player across the NBA. I fade in and out, and in all honesty, most of the time I really don't know what is going on. I couldn't point out a foul if my life depended on it. But that's not even the point. I have seen what an impact something as "silly" as an NBA team can have on the lives of people. I used to think sports was just (oh, I hate to admit this in a public forum) a silly meathead Sunday afternoon activity, but I have come to realize -- only through marriage and a lifetime commitment -- that I was wrong. Sports is ultimately very central to the lives of many people -- and like music, or jewelry making, or a dog, they can be very life/soul enriching.

I went to dinner last night to celebrate my good friend Amber's wedding coming up this weekend, and five of us girlfriends from freshmen year of college were sitting around drinking wine, having a gaggingly airbrushed moment of reminiscing. And I'm fairly sure that I interrupted the scene, when, just hours after the Mayor Nickels' sellout announcement, I found my blood rising as I explained to them my feelings on the subject. They looked at me like I was batshit crazy... like I was a Brian trapped in Krista's body...a terribly frightening thought.

I'm not even sure what to be more mad about. The fact that we just personally lived through a dime store crime novel with a heavy handed punch line that money is the only thing that talks? Or by the fact that our governor wouldn't even glance at perfectly viable attempt to keep our team here, making her, by all accounts, a lazy bitch? Or by the fact that if I have a little boy someday, he'll be jipped out of sharing a special experience (many, really) with his dad because of arrogance, deceit, and greed. I don't know who to hate more... Howard Schultz, Clay Bennett, or David Stern. They are all ill-intentioned creepsters who should all be worrying about burning in hell...or at least about reincarnating as blind cave salamanders.

And Mayor Nickels? He is a buffoon - a total dumb dumb. I can't even wrap my head around the logic to agree to this settlement. The economic impact alone of not having an NBA team will undoubtedly wipe out whatever minuscule profit he thought his city was making in this 45 million dollar deal. I highly doubt our city will see an NBA team again, at least anytime soon. But at least we have the Fun Forest, Celine Dion, and a bloated, couperose-inflicted city leader in which to rest our city's economic hopes!

If this announcement would have been made two years ago, I would have watched my soon-to-be-fiance's face drop -- I would have seen the disappointment on his face as he wonders what he will replace this interest in his life with, and I wouldn't have even understood it for two seconds. But today, after a wild ride of engagement and almost a year of marriage, I feel his disappointment and anger. It'll still be easier for me (than him) to chalk this one up to another adventure in post-nuptial life, but at least I now have a glimpse into the magnitude of some fans' emotions, and of this city's latest historical event.

Week o' hell

It's been an extremely difficult week. An eye-opening week. A week where I think I truly realized the utter shittyness of human nature and of corporate America. A week that makes me want to isolate myself and my family, and seek protection. FAMILY COMPOUND. We'll grow our own vegetables and knit our own clothing and sing songs to each other for entertainment. Hippy lifestyle - I FINALLY GET IT! Goodbye career aspirations, HELLLOOOO spiritual awakening.

There's nothing like a week that just stares you in the face and says "You thought you were cynical before, well try this!" And then kicks you in the face.

For those of you who know what I'm talking about, all of your warm wishes, thoughts, prayers, and offers to buy iPhones are very much appreciated. This week has made me realize how lucky I am to have the people that I have in my life. And my family rules. They are amazing, supportive, and strong.

I'm out. Until next time....

Late fall

Late fall is such a busy time of year. The holidays contribute, of course. And it just seems like even though everyone is ramping up to the holidays, work etc. just seems to escalate because everyone wants to get everything done before Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Our -- or at least MY -- hectic schedule can really be contributed to a few different things. 1.) Brian's 30th birthday (Thursday!), 2.) An important biz meeting on Friday, and 3.) Our impending move.

The following picture sort of encapsulates my busy life right now:




That photo might just represent the REAL (non blog) post nuptial life....at least home-life. I feel like I have no time to keep up my home! I thought that once I worked for myself, that I'd have this lazy schedule where I could vacuum and organize all day. Perhaps if my priorities were different, I could do that. But I seem to fill my entire day from the moment I get up to the moment I go to bed, with entrepreneurial adventures.

Even though our house is out of order (ehem, disgustingly dirty), I have a good feeling that things will start to flourish soon. And even if they don't... WOW, I've learned a ton over the past 5 months. More than I've learned in the last 5 years of my 9-5 jobs, I would venture to say. But I still have so much to learn. I am busy setting up meetings with biz people who are smarter than I am, and I can't wait to glean tidbits of their invaluable information.

Also, our move is coming up very quickly. One month from yesterday, in fact. My head is full of move-related thoughts. Like, I have to get my drapes dry cleaned! And, my goodness I don't want to spend actual dollars on something like cardboard boxes. Or, how ridiculous is our furniture going to look in this new house? I am mostly just super super excited. I can't believe this is happening. I can't believe I will have an actual, real office. I can't wait to have the luxury of a dishwasher. I can't wait!

Goodbye bums, hello gorgeous!

This morning gave me another reason to be really excited that we'll probably be buying a home and moving within the next few months.

I went to my car this morning to take Brian to work, and found out that some creep had broken into my car! I know most urban individuals have probably had this experience many times before, but this was my first. I can't tell if anything has been stolen, so that's a good sign. I didn't have anything of value in there, besides my toolbox full of jewelry tools and supplies, which thankfully was left behind.

This, combined with the dumpster fire fiasco, combined with the fact that my neighbor woke up a few weeks ago to a bum in his living room going through his stuff, makes me REALLY HAPPY to be moving the hell away from this house. It's been a great place for the last few years and I'm sure I'll shed a tear as I pack up, but Kinnear Park seems to be going downhill. From sketchy to even more sketchy.

Speaking of sketchy, the house search has been just that. It's amazing what one can't buy with a lot of money (a.k.a. a huge loan) in Seattle. We've seen it all, but I thought I'd share a few photos of some of my favorite features, while traipsing through people's homes.


Shuffleboard linoleum:




Charming yard accoutrements:




Historic radios:




Inviting showers:




Outdoor fireplaces (I liked this, actually):




And, last but not least, rustic watering holes!:

It's gone too far

I apologize for any of my crafty readers who may be frenziedly sewing tiny vehicles out of scraps of vintage fabric, but come on, this is one of the grossest displays of guerilla marketing that I've ever seen.

I can just imagine the brainstorm session.


Ok, what IS the personality of the Scion?

Independent, young, 20-something. Girl or guy. Creative. Shops at boutiques. Uses Etsy. Doesn't like to feel marketed to.

Okay, GREAT! Go team! So, how can reach them them?

Oooh oohh! I have an idea! Let's create a crafting challenge! Crafting types will have the opportunity to win a free car by creating a creative replica of their car! We can have boutique owners all across the country be the judges!

Yeah! Yeah! We can all it "Craft My Ride."




WHAT!?!?? I think I just barfed a little.