shiny shiny shiny

okay, i know it has been said by me numerous times already, but i have to repeat it again here - this place is like living in a fucking postcard! the shine is definitely still on, and i am lurrrrving it in seattle. EEE!

having always been the type of person to hang around the downtown area of a city, it's completely refreshing to see so many people walking around downtown at all sorts of hours. even on the weekends! just to see so many people walking all the time makes for a great atmosphere, and it encourages us to walk more ourselves. the area of town where we're living has so many things accessible by foot that we've been able to hoof it for most all of our everyday items and activities. derek feels somewhat urban or cosmopolitan being in the thick of things. there is the big hill issue, and my ability to find the most punishing of routes from time to time; every way to the house is uphill from just about anywhere else. but you know what? i can always catch the bus if i'm wimpy or tired or maybe just cold. (we'll get to that one in a second) that's right! there's a real bus system here! riding the transit is on my list of things to conquer this month as i'm exploring our new home.

the cooking is even continuing! i made an awesome fresh tomato sauce, and derek put together this meal of cherryand pepper pork loins with cayenne caulifower topped in this sauce that was all creamy cheesy cheesy creamy. nummy nums. the food situation has improved a thousand percent since the move.

on the weather - can we all say "jacket weather" together now? autumn is my favorite season and i thought i'd be stuck in los crapeles, thus having to miss out on the wonders of color and beauty. not so, peeps. it's that postcard thing again. beautiful, scenic, coniferous: wish you were here! there's a flurry of jaunty scarves and caps on people everywhere you look, and the colors from those move past the falling leaves and changing skies to make this one truly awesome mosaic. most days during my lunch break i sit on a bench outside and just watch all the people go by while i marvel at the newness of this place. that is, i marvel while i try to stay away from the nearby fancy cupcake store.

today it occurred to me that i can walk to the market from work, so i got fresh fruit when i was at lunch. then i took a stroll past a few bakery stall and sniffed like a cocaine addict on my way around the corner. while managing to find the uphill route back to work (of course) i could hear the bzzz, bzzz, business of everything going on. it made me feel... damnit, i haven't quite got the word for it just yet. could the word be giddy? am i serene?

what the fuck is happening to me?!? i guess one could say that it feels like coming back to life.

i believe that last week i described it as being allowed to breathe again after your brother holds your down on the ground and farts directly in your face. not that they would ever traumatize me like that when i was little. like just a little bitty kid. nahhhhh. if they did, i'm pleased to have such a vivid experience to look back upon so that i can accurately describe my time in suckifornia to an extent where other people can understand it with such clarity. pffft.

in honor of my epiphanetic (that's not a new word - i made it up a long time ago) state of mind, i've decided that i'm not going to hold my breath and wait for the bad things to come. fuck that "other shoe" syndrome i usually get when something is going well. i'm hoping to keep the shine on for as long as i can.

p.s. it seems like the cats love it here too! no more hiding under the bed and pouting for this nutty trio. they're in full on cuddle mode again. meow.