Vegas Baby!

So I blinked, and I've been here for 2 days already! I cant imagine what its like to live here!

Although I was sad to leave Seattle, Peggy, and all her friends, I was excited to see Alyssa and K.K.'s new place in Vegas. As soon as i got there, I met KK's dad (Uncle Keven) and as soon as I dropped my baggs off, we went to go gambling. It was hilarious. We spent a good 4 hours playing pai gao, (a new fav game). We were supposed to go home early so we could go up the mountain in the morning, but that diddnt happen. Uncle Keven told us some pretty awesome stories and made the night memorable.

I woke up in a daze. Alyssa saved me and took me to a solid west coast coffee shop where i got myself an awesome bagel sandwich. After that and a black coffee, I was good to go. I had to get goin', cause in less than 2 hours, i was to meet up with Kari, an old friend who was driving down from Cali to party with me for a night.

Kari booked us a night at Planet holllywood hotel and casino. Man, I'll tell you what, that place is AWESOME. The entire wall of the facade is covered with a digital light show and giant video screens. It remeinded me of one of those future cities in Blade Runner.

All I'm allowed to say about the events that occurred from this point forward, is that we had an awesome time. Everything we did was legal, safe, and for the most part G-rated disney stuff. it's just that snow white never got so trashed off of long island iced teas and pitron that she...well..heh. I've leave it at that.

I CAN say, that Kari and i had some real quality time all night, chatting about all the stuff we used to back in the 8th grade, just modified for adulthood. Somewhere between the bar and buffet I realized that my friend Kari had grown into something else. She was happier, or no maybe brighter, but in a subtle way. Between swallows of egg drop soup she illuminated: 'I've lost my cynicism.' She was right. We debated all night, over things like falling in love, the congestion of boomers in the job market, and the critical differences between hope and faith, but not ONCE did Kari disagree with my ideas or ideals about the issues with a negative retort...she just came up with a better one. Even though life has changed us both, when we parted ways I felt like we were in the eighth grade again, saying 'laters' after pigging out on curly fries at Arby's windward mall. She's classic like that. It's just that we do buffets now.

Sorry bout the lack of pics. forgot my cam at home. :P

O Canada

Everyone here smokes pot. Everyone. I think Peggy and I give eachother that look every time a bearded man walks by us, because the musky scent is so damned distinct. We got here on fri, and we spent last night walking the city blocks around our hotel, and grabbing a few drinks at a nearby bar. We wanted to get in bed by 12 so we could have a full day to explore Vancouver, then party at night.

I have to say, I am JUST as blown away by this city as I was with Seattle. The people here are metropolitan, friendly, and there is so much to do and see. We were a little bogged down by the rain, and it does not look like it will be letting up anytime soon. Even so, we are had a great time exploring the city today.

We started at a craperie down the block, where the food was so so. Call me a snob, but I get really pissed when i taste the tell-tale signs of a dirty coffee pot (the burned charred flavor) when its illy coffee being served.

After breakfast we made our way to the gay district on Davies street, to find the club the waitress recommended to us last night. Seemed like a cool little area, and it looks like tonight's exploits will be fun!

We zig-zagged our way a ritzy area called Yaletown, where Peggy noticed the rent for a 2 bedroom was upwards of 32,000 a month. In Yaletown, like Seattle, single rich people have dogs instead of kids. There pedestrian traffic was full of snobby-ass dogs leading their 'masters' around.

After resting for coffee, we continued our trek to chinatown, where we took in the sights and sounds of some of the seediest street-folk ive seen. A wrong turn down Hastings street kept peggy tight to my arm (more my pulling than hers) and my hand stuffed into my pocket clutching my money clip like a vulture to a rat carcass. We had lunch at a dim-sum joint (still not better than Happy Day on Waialae) andPeggy ordered for us so she could practice the chinese she's been learning in Seattle. After picking up some sho-pao (haole-manapua) for Peggy's roomates (and for our dinner) from a place called New Town Bakery (very good stuff) we headed home to the Pacific Palisades Hotel.

I went down to the pool and steamroom, while peggy started a romantic comedy marathon. We both took naps to power-up for tonight's shenanigans.

Turkey Day

For Thanksgiving, Peggy and I woke up in downtown, (we crashed in a hotel the night before since we were wasted) and we decided to hit up the aquarium.  Well, it was one of the only places that was open on Thanksgiving, and it fir perfectly into the schedule.  We went back to Peggy's afterward and I baked an apple pie to take over to Peggy's friends house.  Her family was kind enough to invite us into their home and we had a GREAT feast.  At the time of this writing (FRI) i am VERY behind on time and blogs (we are driving up to Vancouver fer the weekend) so I'm just going to say that I'm soo thankful for all the good things I've seen so far on this trip, and let the pics say the rest.

Music and Beer

I started Wed. with the Seattle Experience Music Project.  I have to say, a pretty mean museum.   Aside from all the guitars, historical exhibits, and conceptual pieces, there is a huge floor that was dedicated to interactives.  Drums, keyboards, guitars, and basses to play, and if you wanted, an opportunity to create a fake band and play in front of the other guests.  For the 1st time on the trip, I felt a little lonely.  It would be awesome to have a family to bring to a place like this.  Or a group of buds to  see the city with.  That aside, EMP was def worth it, even for a single nomad.

I was running late, so I had to rush through the Pacific Science Center, but was able to slow down a bit for the butterfly zoo.  A billion butterflies all over the place made  me feel like a kid again, until some high school bullies walked by and started mocking the experience.  Man, if they only knew how bad they'd need things like this when you are 30 something.  Oh well, it was off to dinner with Peggy and her roommate's crew back at the house.

After dinner, Peggy and I whisked ourselves outta the house and partied downtown in pioneer square, and then up on capitol hill.  I'll just let you see the pictures from here on out.

PICTURES HAVE BEEN UPDATED

GO back and see pikes, a crazy bridge, and me shooting a gun.

I never thought it would be this way

Tuesday began with an exploration of downtown bellvue.  Ill tell you what: I am a huge fan of the architecture here in washingtom.  Everything is beutiful.  Nothing is created without considerationn to form, no how simple the utility.  I spent most of the morning in a mall called bellvue square, that connects 3 buldings across three blocks together via skywalk.  There was a Lego store there.  A LEGO store.  After i changed my shorts, I managed to find a sweet little nook of a coffee shop called Specialty's Cafe & Bakery.  There I had one of the best omlette sandwiches EVER, and the thing rang in at a mere 3.99.  Eat that Rachel Ray.  Or dont eat that, you're getting chubz.  

Speaking of which, so am I.  Everything I plan is around meals, like a friggin jawaiian song.  I zipped off from bellvue  square to meet peggy for  lunch on mercer Island.  I got to see where she works, and where she gchats from.  It was pretty cool.  She took me to a pizza place on the island that had the best dough, and was topped with sausage, mozz, parmesean, spinach, and riccotta cheese.  It was amazing.  

Everything up until this point in the day, no matter how awesome, is just foreplay for what happens next. 

After lunch, i went off on a long freeway journey (by hawaii standards) to visit My Aunty Rexine and Uncle Bill in Gig Harbor.  When I got there my Uncle was entertaining a guest, an Indian fellow who I later learned is the Cosmo Kramer of his world.  Kramer (I'm such a shmuk with names) was showing us You Tube Videos of his mom belly dancing in Indian films from the ol days.  As beautiful as it was, the akwardness of it all began to simmer.  My uncle suggested we go shoot pistols at the shooting range, and without thought, perhaps to escape, I said 'yes.'   

You, and everyone who knows me knows that I'm not that type of guy.  The type of guy who goes to the shooting range with his Uncle.  I suddenly realized the brevity of the situation.  Like something out of a Paul Thomas Anderson film, Uncle Bill, Cosmo, and I walked into a shooting gallery together, ready to start some trouble.  Part of me was very excited to shoot a gun for the 1st time.  Part of me was afraid this would all turn out messy, ending with a hole in my shoulder and no health insurance.  It didn't stop me from pulling that trigger.

I wont try to explan what the hell happened to me in there, but for as long as I could still smell gunpowder on my sleeves there was a big FAT grin plastered onto my face.  Thank you again Uncle Bill.  That was quite possibly the most exciting thing I've ever done.  

2 hours later, I'm feeling like me again, no longer considering buying a bumper sticker that reads: 'Obama, leave my guns alone!'  A tasty Alaskan cod stuffed with prawns can do that to you.  Somthing about good food always brings me back to ME.  I think there is a pattern here. Over a delicious seafood dinner, my Aunty Rexine and I talked about my future, the challenges of today's workforce, and the importance of loving what you do.  It was inspiring and comforting to hear about her experiences.  She drew advice from a hollistic perspective, and it was just what I needed. 

The drive back to Bellvue gave me time to be thankful for such a great family.  My Aunt and Uncle really made this trip special for me.

I ended the day with Peggy and a couple of Pabst Blue Ribbons (no miller lite!) and we talked candidly about life, friends, careers and love.  The place was a VERY well designed bar/lounge called ama ama in west seattle.  It was empty so our laughter rang out above the music.  I didn't shut up until they played 'Where is My Mind' by the Pixies.  Talk about a sweet-topper.

Paroshki Time

So i spent the 1st full day here in seattle walking the streets of downtown.  I have to say that this is one F'ing beautiful city.  The highlight of it all, was finding a real-deal paroshki place.  The name of the joint is PAROSHKI PAROSHKI, and as soon as i saw that sign i instictivley began to chant the name over and over while pumping my shoulders.  I took my place in line (everyone with the chanting and the shoulders) and patiently waited my turn.  Would I get the sausage and tomato?, the egg, spinach, and cheese?  In the end it was the classic beef and onion.  Lemme tell ya, the napple aint got nuthing on this flake.  On the flakability chart (10 being god's dandruff and 1 being a wet frosted flake) this bad boy scores a 8.5.  Its implied that I aspire to one day taste gods dandruff.

And on that note, enjoy all the following pics below from my tour of Pike's:

Thanks Mo

I really appreciate what you do for me.  Without getting all mushy and shit, I just wanted to show the world what unemployment looks like when you have a good friend to share it with.