I've already begun. Yup, I'm that crazy/organized.

And on another note, I will be awake and in line at Target on Friday "morning." (I use quotation marks because the sun will not be up yet, but it will be the next day) A neighbor friend and I go every year--so supersech never has to go with me again, because I know he wasn't fond of it.

I completely forgot about going to Montinore. It's one of our favorites and I forget...

We went there Sunday between SakeOne and Aramenta. We got 4 bottles of wine there and a bottle of their Pinot Noir Chocolate sauce.

We came back with a total of 7 bottles of wine and one mini-bottle of coconut lemongrass sake.

This past weekend was the annual outing to the Willamette Valley Wine Country with my parents. We had a great time. We headed out after school on Friday and got to Portland just about 9pm. We all fell in to bed and went to sleep.

Saturday morning, after a very busy breakfast at the Embassy Suites (that's where we stayed this time), we went over to Washington Square Mall. supersech bought me my belated anniversary gift. My wedding band has been through a lot--sizing and then breaking. (but getting fixed) I knew it had to get sized again when I had to use soap and water every time to take it off, but I was afraid to--it would have been so weak. :( I told a jeweler what I had to do and they said to stop doing that and wear it around my neck. Eek! So, we started looking for a new ring for me. I found the one on that trip in July, but still wanted to look around and make sure. Yup, that's the one and we bought it tax free. :D Today, I will take it to the jewelers here and get it sized to fit my ring finger. After some more shopping, we finally headed out to the wineries. Our wineries that day were ArbroBrook, Solena (a newly built winery which was just gorgeous!) and Tyrus Evans. Between Solena and Tyrus Evans, we stop for a late lunch/early dinner at Cielo Blue. A delicious Italian restaurant. Yum! We only bought two bottles that day. (My parents were a different matter though...)

Sunday we met up with some of my parent's friends who were coming back from Cannon Beach and went to Sake One (a yummy sakery). They teased us with their sparkling plum sake--it was on tap and not bottled...yet. We all wanted to buy a case of it, but it'll have to wait until next year. *sigh* After that, we headed over to Aramenta. After the tasting, we sat outside (no rain!) and ate some lunch. Salami, smoke salmon spread, crab-artichoke dip, crackers, pretzels and a sesame honey-mustard dip. It was great! Our friends said good-bye at that point and we headed to WillaKenzie--just before closing time. We got our annual Christmas pictures taken there and then headed to Argyle--just before closing. :)

For dinner, we met up with Uncle T, Aunt K and their kids, L and P at the Olive Garden. Good times! Afterwards, we headed back to the hotel for some pre-packing and Sunday night TV watching. Then...sleep. ZZzzzzzz....

Monday morning, we finished packing, did a little bit more shopping (birthday and Christmas!) and headed home. We pulled in to my parent's house at 3:30pm. Unpack the car, re-pack my car and we headed for our home. We had a great time and always enjoy it down there, but I'm so glad to be home.

Saturday was the SATs again.  Everything that could go wrong, did.  Coffee pot exploded, a glass jar was broken and the restrooms were locked.  (Supervisor didn't receive correct key from secretary)  So, they had to use the staff bathrooms.  I know there are only 2 stalls in the women's bathroom--our normal 5-minute breaks turned in to 15 minutes.  Joy!

On the way home, checked phone to find voicemail from picookie .  "My brother got 4 tickets to the Seahawk's game tomorrow and I'm calling people I think would be interested.  Wanna go?"  I could not call him back fast enough.  He answered and I said, "Yes, yes,yes, yes, yes...am I too late?"  Nope, I'm the winner!  Sweet!!!!!  So, Sunday morning, left the house to meet picookie at his house, drove to Tukwila to meet up with his sister and brother, (T and R respectively), took the light rail down to Qwest Field and had a great time.  The first quarter sucked lemons, but then they finally got the hang of the game again and came back to win it 32 to 20.  (They were playing the Detroit Lions)  This was my first Seahawks game...ever!  And it was great.  :D  And because our defense intercepted the ball and ran it back for a touchdown, all of the ticket holders get a free hair cut from Great Clips.  (Any scoring by the defense would do that...also, if there are at least 3 false starts on the opponents, the tickets holders could go to QFC and get a free Jones Soda.  There were two in the first quarter--and none after that.  oh well.)

Fun fact: since 2005, Qwest field has seen 91 false starts (by the opponents)  That's the most in all the football stadiums.  Second place goes to the Metrodome in Minnapolis--they have 76!

For the past 8 (maybe more, maybe less) years, I've known that I need to lose weight.  I was very skinny as a kid growing up, but now I am at least 20 pounds overweight.  That needs to change.  I've been going to GenCon for a couple years now--and I am by no means a "something"--but I really noticed my weight this year.  I would like to lose at least 10 pounds by next GenCon.  I know what I need to do--eat better and EXERCISE!  But can I get off my lazy bum and work on it?  Right now I feel that answer is yes...maybe.  :P  Will I want to in a week?  A month?  I hope so.  I just have to do it!

Before dinner last night, supersech  made the suggestion of driving home at night--missing the traffic and sun in the process.  Hmmm...can't really argue with that kind of logic.  I know would not have slept well in the heat.  We broke the news to Aunt and Uncle and started re-packing things up.  We ate dinner first--BBQed flank steak, mayo-less potato salad and salad.  Perfect!  Left Portland just after 10pm and got home just before 2am--with a stop in Centralia for gas.  Was able to sleep with a fan blowing on me. 

Loved my vacation, but am very happy to be home.

Now, I can turn my focus to GenCon.  :D

After breakfast at the hotel--strawberry pancakes, scrambled eggs, peppered bacon and toast from homemade bread-- we took the complimentary van into town for some roaming.  We walked around for a few hours.  Didn't buy much.  I called the hotel to ask them to send the van and while it was coming, we went and bought kindling, marshmallows, Hershey bars, an extendable fork and some matches.  Mmmm!  s'mores!

We took some cheese, smoked salmon, and wine and had a lunch on the beach.  Best. lunch. ever!  Back at the room, we took a nap and then headed to Mo's for dinner (popcorn scallops!) and then a walk back on the beach.  We made back in time for nightcap again (irish cream for me and port for supersech) and we watched the first episode of 'True Blood.'  We're intrigued and can't wait to watch more.

This morning, after breakfast of biscuits and gravy (YUM!), eggs, fruit, ham and more toast, we packed up the car and headed out.  Made a quick stop in Seaside (Hello!?  outlet malls!) and then headed east to Portland.  Helped some more of the Oregon economy and am now back at Uncle T's and Aunt K's house...melting.

We head home tomorrow.  Probably pretty early as the adults will have to work.  That's fine with us--try to avoid the traffic and heat.

After breakfast at Uncle T's house (pancakes, eggs and fresh strawberries) we headed west to the Tillamook Cheese Factory.  Saw big blocks of cheese getting cut into smaller blocks of cheese.  Heh.  Stood in a  long line to get an ice cream cone (I know, I can buy it at the store, but I was there!)  After getting said ice cream cones, we went downstairs to get some cheese--extra sharp smoked cheddar and garlic white cheddar.  Couldn't pass either up!  After we were done there, we head north to Cannon Beach and The Stephanie Inn.

Checked in, dropped our stuff off at the room, went to the library for wine tasting, took a walk on the beach and then headed to dinner.  Butter lettuce salad with a raspberry vinaigrette (that if they bottled, I would drink it!!), wild mushroom soup, brown sugar roasted pork loin rack with au gratin yams, caramalized shallots and proscuitto wrapped green beans (supersech had the wild ivory salmon with roasted squash, fennel and pinot noir beurre rouge) and dessert was raspberry panna cotta with a lemon cokie, white chocolate and almonds.  OMG!  We were done in time to make it to the last minute of "nightcap service."  We each got a snifter of irish cream and headed back to the room.  There were 11 mini-bonfires on the beach.  We're planning that for tonight.  :)  Mmmm...s'mores! 

More tomorrow.  :)

Thank goodness for wireless interwebs.  :)

Friday morning I taught my first class for the foreign exchange students from France and Spain.  I was nervous, but I think it went well.  I've already gotten a "Katie Rocks," so I must have done some things right.  ;)

supersech  picked me up from the school, had some lunch and then hit the road.  Sadly, it took us almost 3 hours to get to Centralia from Redmond.  Traffic sucked big time.  Just as it would open up a bit--and we'd think, "YAY!  It's over!"--it'd slow down again.  We hated to stop at Centralia, but we desperately needed a stretch break.  We made it to Portland by 6:30pm.  (1.5 hours after Centralia, for those wanting to keep track)

We went out to dinner with Uncle T and cousins, L and P.  Mmmmmm...Cheesecake Factory.  There were some new "small plate and snack" items on the menu.  Fried Zucchini w/ranch, crispy artichoke hearts w/lemon-garlic aioli (YUM!!!), wild mushroom crostini and bacon wrapped dates.  (We're Towers...we always get something with bacon.  Gotta make Granny-Bacon proud.  :) )  I'd never had a bacon wrapped date before.  I thought they were ok.  I'm not going to go out of my way to eat more dates, but I'd eat another.  Cousin P took one just to eat the bacon.  Sneaky!  He was going to take the last one--for the bacon--but we said, it's all or none.  So, he tried the one date he had by itself.  He thought it was okay enough to take the last one--but eat ehe bacon first again.  I told him, "it's better with the bacon and date together."  So, he tried it.  I think he liked it.  :)  For dinner,I had the pasta bolognese and brought half of it back for lunch today.  Then shared a slice of chocolate Oreo mudlside cheesecake with supersech .  Mmmmmm!

Today, we're off to Tillamook, OR to tour the Tillamook factory, buy some cheese and taste some yummy ice cream.  Then...on too Cannon Beach!  :D

I started by making a daily list of goals to get done--a list of house chores, if you will.  I kept it short, but busy enough that it wouldn't take me 10 minutes.  After I finished something, I crossed it off the list.  What a good feeling that was.  I crossed out everything.  Woo-hoo!  I did the same thing for Sunday.  Again, success! 

After cleaning a bunch on Saturday, supersech  and I watched 'Jumper' and some Doctor Who.  (still on season 3 for those that care...)

After cleaning on Sunday, I went to a friend's house for some good, ol' DnD.  Although it looked a bit grim for me at one point (12 HP left out of 122!) we killed the bad guys.  Huzzah!  For dinner we had turkey, mashed potatos, asparagus, corn, stuffing, rolls...your basic traditional Thanksgiving meal--but in April.  :)  It was DEE-LISH!  I made a spice cake with chocolate frosting for dessert.  Again with the yum, but couldn't finish my piece--too full from dinner.  Oh well. I have the other half of the cake downstairs waiting to be devoured.  :P

My wonderful husband conspired with friends to throw me a surprise birthday celebration. 

We were already going to picookie 's and visionsister 's house for some DnD.  When we go to the house, I opened the door and heard, "Surprise!  Happy Birthday!!"  Boy, was I surprised!  I wasn't even expecting it--which I guess is the whole point of a surprise.  :)  There were cake, presents and a pink "Birthday Princess" tiara.  I felt very warm and fuzzy and loved inside.  Thank you all!!

On a different, but just as cool note, supersech and I went and saw "Monsters vs. Aliens in 3D" on Friday.  Awesome!  I highly recommend seeing it in the theater.  Splurge and see it in 3D.  :D

Yes.  I've met James Marsters (Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Warwick Davis (Willow and Harry Potter fame), Rupert (from Survivor), Mark Sheppard (Firefly and Battlestar Gallactica), and Jamie Bamber (from Battlestar Gallactica).  They were all guests at a gaming convention I attend almost every year.  (Though, they weren't all there at the same time.)

I've met Elina from America's Next Top Model--she was working at the restaurant I went to.

I've seen Jason Meznick--the most recent Bachelor (all before the sh*t hit the fan)--at a winery.

And I've know Kyle Cease, a very funny comedian.  We went to high school together and we keep in touch.

Comment to this post and I will give you 5 subjects/things I associate with you. Then post this in your LJ and elaborate on the subjects given. Questions courtesy of masqlab .

Shopping:  I actually had a feeling she would ask about this one.  I love to shop.  I really don't care what it's for--clothes for me, for friends, at the hardware store, grocery, etc...I'm sure there's something out there I'd hate, but I haven't found it yet.  (or I can't recall what it is at this early hour.)  I don't buy as much as I used to--which is good.

Teaching: Looking back, I have always loved school.  I always looked forward to summer vacation, but about two weeks in, even I was thinking, "when does school start?"  Side Note: when my brother and I would play the game of "Life," I always wanted to be a lawyer--they made the most money.  So, that's what I wanted to be when I grew up.  Then I got to fifth grade and had one of the best teachers ever.  Mrs Porter.  She was so cool.  I wanted to be just like her.  I even got the "Most Like Miss Porter" award at the end of the year.  :)  I immediately changed to wanting to be a teacher--and it never wavered.  I am good with kids.  School is like another home to me.  I feel comfortable there.

Mashed potatoes: They're just good, mmm-kay?  Salt and soaked in butter--no gravy! (except in the school lunch of turkey gravy.  Yum!)  Do I really need to eat as much as I do?  No.  And I'm trying to change that.

Bothell HS:  Go Cougs!  Go Blue!  I was really only there for the band.  :P  I feel I had a good high school experience.  There were things I hated, but it was good overall.  Would I want to do it over again?  Only parts of it--the band trips were great fun.  I'd also like to see some of my friends more than I do now.  (We're all spread out across the country)

The Simpsons: They make me laugh and feel smarter.  Ha!  (Just kidding about the feeling smarter.)  I am amazed at all the voices that Hank Azaria and Harry Shearer can do.  I've watched them since they were on the Tracy Ullman Show back in the 80s.  Between skits, this animated cartoon would come on and it wasn't the same as all the other animated cartoons I watched.  It showed real life--well, more real life than Bugs Bunny or Muppet Babies.  And now it's in it's 20th season and has just been signed on for two more.

Had a nice, low-key Oscar party last night.  The ballot race was quite heated though--the lead kept changing every few awards given out.  It ended with Nub and J tying for first place with 12 correct answers.  Good thing they're dating and don't mind sharing the prize.  ;)  And a few people had 10 correct answers.  Very close!

I'm going to add my own categories next year.  Want to help make them up?  The sillier, the better...

Bret is cuter...but Jemaine is cuter.  Depends on who is on the screen, I guess.  If they both are...then lucky me.  :)

I had made it my New Years Resolution to exercise more--at least three days a week.  (If I fit in more, bonus for me!)  It wasn't happening. I would workout, but it was sporadic.  I wasn't sure what would have motivated me to workout more--joining a gym?  Just the fact of losing some weight and fitting into the clothes I don't fit in to anymore.  Hmmm...

Cut to last week--found out No Doubt has reunited and will be touring the summer.  (dates to be announced later)  Paramore would be touring with them.  I love them both.  I asked supersech  if we could try to get tickets.  He proposed that if I worked out a set number of days before they come to town, we would go.  THAT did it.  I have worked out Saturday (while supersech  was finishing up at the SATs) and today.  That may not seem like a routine yet, but for me, that's good.  :)

Today was WiiFit day.  I ran the "long lap" and ened up unlocking the "free run."  The "free run" can be 10, 20 or 30 minutes long.  AND, you can turn the channel to a TV show--the Wii-mote will keep you posted on how you're doing.  For a TV-watcher like me, this is great.  I ran for 10 minutes while watching a TV show, hardly noticing the 10 minutes flying by.  Then I did some step-aerobics.  :D

And I know it.

Today, I met a friend from high school for lunch.  After we ordered, I noticed one of the servers looked familiar.  I looked at her name tag and freaked out.  It was Elina from cycle 11 of America's Next Top Model.  I told my friend who it was and continued to freak out.  She said, "Go over and say hi."  I knew that if I didn't right then, I would lose my nerve.  So, I walked over and asked if she was on ANTM.  She smiled and said, "Yes."  I said, "You were my favorite.  I wanted you to win.  I was most disappointed when you were voted off."  She said thank you, asked my name and shook my hand.  She was very nice about it all. 

At the beginning of last year, an LJ friend was going to try to watch 100 new movies.  (I think it was brannonb ...)  I thought it was a neat idea, so I started my own list.  My criteria: Only new movies--seen in the theater or rented.  If it's a TV show, I only count the first season. (I've seen it before if it's the second season, right...?)

1.  

I didn't make it to 100, but DANG!  I saw a lot of movies last year.  :)  And I've already started the list for 2009.

A baggage handlers strike in Paris, France made my flight canceled.  I had already spent 10 days in Paris, spent mostly all of my money and was ready to go home.  (this was through my high school, so was with many of my friends)  Put up in hotel and new flights booked.  Was supposed to go through Detroit.  Now through London/Gatwick through Minneapolis, to Seattle.  This was better for me!  I called mom, she called family in Minneapolis and they met me at customs.  I felt I was home before anyone else was.  :)  But it still sucked not to be home the day you're supposed to be. 

Good luck to all my friends and family traveling!

I feel a little better today.  I still want the snow to go away and I still want out of the house (more than just a walk), but I'm better.