BlooSpaceMonkey

My company (http://www.atg.com) is hiring for a myriad of positions in the downtown Seattle area. If you (or someone you know) might be interested contact me!
Business Solutions Engineer - eStara Recommendations
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Software Architect - eStara Recommendations

So, my last kitty sitter, Kitty Star has decided to downsize and after 3+ years of service I am now on the lookout for a new one. I'd like an outfit that will reliably come into my home once a day for an hour. I'm used to paying a $30 per day fee and would really like for it to be not more than that. Anyone have any suggestions?

Not the software kind but the go in your house kind. Anyone have any suggestions on window company type peoples? (Or buyer beware info would be appreciated too.) I want to have a few (6) of the single pane super old painted shut yucky windows in my home replaced. Yep,yep,yep.

I finished yay! I got a patch that looks kind of like the one of the right to prove it too! Yep,yep,yep. So now for the recap:

::Saturday::
We got started a bit later than I originally had wanted, but it proved to be a fine thing. We left the house about 5:30 or so and made our way to the UW making a pitstop at Performance bicycle for a spare tube, this came in very handy a short time later. We dropped our bags off on the truck and cruised across the starting line at 6:08 am. The morning was overcast and so was the majority of the day, with an occaisional sun break.

In our starting line heat there was some crazy kid on a frankensteined adult sized big wheels. Kudos to him if he finished. We saw him on Saturday but not at all on Sunday. Anyways, about 10 miles into the race near seward park Josh got a flat. Thank goodness we had stopped for a spare tube. Yep,yep,yep.

After that it was smooth sailing all day. The temperature was a perfect 60 degrees or so. So, not too hot, not too cold, but just right! The first 25 miles were city riding through Seattle, but it was excellent due to the lack of traffic due to the early am hours, the number of riders dominating the road, and the fact that there were police at most major intersections directing traffic so we really didn't need to stop at all. The next 25 were on smaller roads out to spanaway. And "the hill" which is dreaded really isn't that bad....not if you are use to climbing Fremont Ave everyday at least. When we stopped for lunch in Spanaway I ran into an old co-worker from Performant, Lauren. It was great to run into her. Who'd imagine out of 9,000 on the road that I'd know at least on of them?

And the final 50 miles were on country lanes and a most excellent bicycle trail. All in all a great ride. We got to centralia around 2:45 and had a much needed shower, beer (we met the most interesting man in the beer garden....bio-tech guy totally into alternative energy and electric cars....hippies are good sometimes :) ), and dinner before we crashed out early around 9pm. Riding makes you tired. Yep,yep,yep.

::Sunday::
We finally got up at 5:15 am. I say finally, because a very rude man near us was having overly loud phone conversations starting at 4:30 am. How rude. He could have at least tried to be a little quieter for all the other campers still trying to sleep. We packed up and were rolling by 6:15 am. I thought today was going to be painful, but it wasn't that bad as soon as we were warmed up and spinning it was all good. I think that and the fact that my ass was actually numb helped alot. *ouch*

Anyways, today was definitely going to be sunny although in the morning it was chilly. Yay! We had a lovely ride today through lovely rolling country side until we got to the WA/OR border (The first 55 or so miles). That is where the bad happened. Which was hot hot heat + nasty shoulderside riding on a very busy highway. Yuck! Anyways we crossed the finish line at 3pm and had a much needed shower. Whoever invented portable shower trucks is awesome! And today it was actually advantageous to be a lady...no lines for the showers....although the mens line was a different story. Then we retreated to the beer garden for some beer before we hit up the bus back to Seattle.

When we got back to Seattle @9pm they were unloading the truck our bikes were on. So, we decided to try and get some food before the 10pm witching hour. No luck. The place we tried to go to wouldn't seat us. This is one of my major peeves about Seattle restuarants. I mean if your sign says 10pm then seat until 10pm. If you only seat until 9:30 then say 9:30. It isn't that hard to set the customer expectation correctly. </rant>

The worst part of today was riding our bikes back home from the UW....I was sore, sore, sore and so wished I didn't have to get back on the bike. And guess what? I think I'm taking a few days break from the whole bike commuting thing. But, I can't believe I did it!!! Awesome. It was so much fun I'd do it again, and again. Not too shabby for my first and second century. Yep,yep,yep.

In retribution for making Josh climb/snowboard Mt Adams a few weeks back Josh has convinced me that I will be spending my time in the saddle this weekend...doing a two day Seattle to Portland Road Ride (that's 200 and some odd miles folks! *gulp*).

I got all the gear and rented a road bike....no knobby tires for me! Nope.

I'm a bit scared I won't finish. But I guess we'll have to wait and see. Yep,yep,yep.

*bounce*

So, the other night we went out to dinner with our business associate Ellen F. Ellen is great whenever she does some work for IOA part of her contract includes some fancy-schmancy dinner event. This time it was:



I have been wanting to check this place out for forever. And thanks to Ellen I finally got my chance. Yay!

The interior was sophisticated and subduded. We all had the 5 course vegetarian menu degustation. It was scrumdidliumptious. We also had the wine pairing which was very nice. I like wine pairings they are fun,fun,fun!...although their pours were very soft. A no-no in my yummy wine book. The food was tasty but not over the top. The service was top-notch too. However, our waiter did have this annoying french accent thing going on....which he would sometime slip out of :)~ .Dumb.

Towards the end of the meal the chef came out and talked to us. That was a first. And well the company...it was to die for.

*zoom*

Today we got an early start, like 6am. Gotta love time changes and the body.

Well all I have to say is that Athens is truly an intriguing city. There is so much history here. It is gorgeous. Today we visited the acropolis, the ancient agora, the temple of olympian zeus and the changing of the guard.

It was all so amazing. I am so lucky to see and experience it all!

The sky was doing this crazy stuff when were visiting the acropolis. It made for some great photos!

We also wandered the streets and I was able to find some sunglasses. It was hard though. Those totally too big for anyone's face sunglasses are all the rage here and they look totally stoopid on someone with short short hair. Gah!

It is so warm here.....like vegas only a bit more humid. It is hard on a seattle grrl. Fortunately for the moment sunscreen is winning and I am not yet burnt to a crispy crisp.

An unexpected surprise today was wild turtles. Who would have thought turtles in the desert but if you spy closely enough the parks are full of them. I love turtles!

I think we are going to try and go to one of the outdoor beach clubs for some dancing action tonight and then tommorrow we board the boat! Yay! I can't wait. We set sail Sunday! Arggh! You be my pirate matey!

Unfortunatley I've exhausted my flickr upload quota so until my upgrade processes there won't be any new photos. Hopefully on a few days!

Well, I best be going. Gotta experience this city while I'm here.

*zoom*

What a long and uneventful flight. Well, I did lose a few minor articles a jacket and a pair of sunglasses. But, life will go on. I guess that is what 24 hours without sleep will do to you. Yep,yep,yep. Anyways we had a fine first day in Athens although we spent most of it catnapping. In the evening we walked about the plaka and enjoyed some of the sites by night and walked around the acropolis.

We then had a lovely dinner at Eden Vegetarian Restaurant, the only veggie restaurant in all of Athens. I had a greek salad and a lovely vegetarian mousaka. Yum!

Afterward we retired to the hotel bar. What a rough life and what a horrid view :)

I have to admit that at first I was a bit apprehensive. No one seemed to know what was going on. What was going to happen? When? Where? Would it even happen?

Not only did I have a bachelorette party, it was the most awesomest bachelorette party ever!! It all started in the morning when Charles & Calandra surprised me in Seattle! And boy oh boy was I surprised! I had no idea they were coming.

So, we proceeded to catch up, get brunch @ the 14 Carrot and then headed home to drink mimosas and lounge in the hottub. Oh, what a day. It really is a rough life :)

Then the festivities began. We had a yummy dinner @ Cafe Flora and proceeded to Barca. Where we were kidnapped by pirates! Yes you heard it right....pirates! The SeaFair pirates no less. DD rocks! No bachelorette party is complete without pirates! Argghh! Much drinking and perma grinning ensued! I couldn't have imagined a better way to celebrate my last days as an unattached lady. Yep,yep,yep.

*bounce*

And so the great marriage oddessey begins. Josh & I will spend the next 3 weeks floating around the greek isles and saying our vows until death do us part. Yep,yep,yep. I am so excited! I just finished up the last of the packing and I am ready to go. Greece here I come! Watch this space for the wacky shennanigans that are sure to ensue.

But for now it is off to bed and then 14 grueling hours flying through the air, faster than a speeding bullet of course. I just can't believe that we are almost there!

Okay, I finally after many long years of refusing to join in the LiveJournal party, have given in and now I have arrived. So, here I am. Well mostly I'm hoping to share the J+A greek wedding festivities. Which starts in 1 week...eeEEE! But after that who knows what kind of craziness this monkey will get up to!

*bounce*