Still doesn’t feel much like Christmas. Oh well. I am now trying to fix that by finally breaking out the Christmas Jazz station on Pandora. Normally I would have started listening to that weeks ago. What it does feel like is that soon I will not have to work for a good 10 days…soon the day’s light will start increasing (that wasn’t that bad actually)…soon I will see my family…soon it will be 2012 and time to make new goals and resolutions for the new year. But in the meantime I will leave you with what the 12 days of Christmas brought to me:
Tuesday, December 13th: A FREE private tasting at the new and tasty Pecado Bueno fresh Mexican restaurant a hop, skip and a jump across Aurora on Fremont Ave. Complete with outdoor fireplace and salsa bar, this place is great. The event was hosted by Google Places, who I think is trying to compete with Yelp and they just kept delivering different dishes to our tables to try. I sampled (from favorite to least favorite) shredded achiote chicken enchiladas with tomatillo sauce, crispy cod soft tacos, chicken quesadillas, ceviche, nachos, chimichanga dog. I also signed a waiver to try their dangerous hot hot sauce. I felt the burn but it wasn’t THAT hot. They served it with an eye dropper though. The best part of this restaurant are the $3 small but strong margaritas.
Wednesday, December 14th: Shopping in the festive Pacific Place with fake snow coming from the ceiling, Santa greeting the shoppers, and Christmas music everywhere.
Thursday, December 15th: Drinks with Amy and Bryan at The Sitting Room in her future neighborhood, Queen Anne, after touring her hopefully new apartment. Great place to chat and sip two carafe away.
Friday, December 16th: Holiday “thank you”
lunch conspired by my supervisor, Keith, at the Library Bistro in the lobby area of the Alexis Hotel where I stayed my very first night in Seattle. Tasty Dungeness crab hoagie with avocado and arugula. After work I went to work for the ol’ Q Cafe but unfortunately events delayed the band from arriving and the show was cancelled.
Saturday, December 17th: A short bike ride in the 50 degree and sunny weather. A holiday party with Bryan and Amy all the way out in Kirkland at Mark, Jeff, and Luis (Bryan’s coworkers whom we went to Crystal with) house. Of course it was an ugly Christmas sweater party. I hate having to travel over to the Eastside (especially when it means you don’t get back to Seattle until 3am) but the party was fun. Good thing I was not the driver!
Sunday, December 18th: Tried out a small but very cool church at the top of Queen Anne with Bryan and then had a long brunch at Citizens Cafe of prosciutto and goat cheese crepes. I then helped pick out gifts for his mom and sister at Nordstrom downtown, wrapped them, booked a trip to Oregon, bought tickets to Fitz and the Tantrums and then made a wonderful salad of apples, pears, aged Gouda and pecans to take over to “The Last Supper” we coined our last SNF. Fabulous gumbo, homemade sweet potato rolls brought by another coworker, our highly complemented salad, and mac and cheese brought together 14 people (new high). We both concur that we love this group and don’t foresee the dinners or congregating to stop in the least just because the football season is nearly over. But I might have to start hosting amidst Amy’s move.
Monday, December 19th: Work = blah. Shopping at Pike’s = crazy. Weather = still amazingly warm.
Tuesday, December 20th: Reading in front of the fire was lazy and glorious.
Wednesday, December 21st: Jazz concert at Pacific Place. Then a real fire, cocoa and peppermint schnapps and National Lampoons watching (had to introduce Bryan to both can you believe it?) and dinner for a good early Christmas treat.
Thursday, December 22nd: Party day at work. Spiked egg nog, hot toddies, putt putt golf, and a Christmas movie planned for the day. After work gospel choir music at Pacific Place and most likely packing.
Friday, December 23rd: Leaving for Michigan with a flight time of 8:30am PST, meaning departing my house around 6am PST, and arriving in Detroit at 6:30pm EST. Well, there goes that day.
Saturday, December 24th: Yeah!!!! It’s Christmas Eve!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
Chelsea
Evolving in the Emerald City 