Seattle-ites is crazy

Dear Blog,
People continuously crack me up. Like, everyone ALWAYS has a comment about everything. For example, for the past year or so when Aaron and I would tell our friends that we were moving to Seattle after asking why and not really getting the "because we want to" answer we gave every time they would immediately say "You know it rains a lot there." If I had a nickel for every time someone said that to both of us, I'd at least have a couple bucks by now. Enough to buy an Icee and maybe one for Aaron too! Alright, so fast forward to July when both of us are out here and we start getting to know people and we tell them we just moved here from North Carolina and after they ask us why and not really getting our answer of "because we wanted to" the first thing they say is "Well...get ready for the rain."

A couple of Icee's later, I'm talking to a woman I'm interviewing for our store and she just moved back here from California and she's warning me about the rain and the winter. And you know, at this point I'm just tired of people warning me like every single day about this damn rain. So, in a moment of boldness and stankness I look at her and say "If it's that terrible, why did you move back here from balmy California?" I was expecting something like her parents live here, California's too expensive, her boo is here...some sort of factor that forced her to move back to rainy Seattle against her will. I was not expecting the following answer;

"Because I missed our rainy winter."

WHAT?!? You missed it? And you're sitting here rubbing elbows with every other Seattle-ite here in Starbucks about these awful, rainy winters and you came back because you missed it?

Seattle-ites is crazy.

xoxo,
Alison

100th POST!!

Dear Blog,

It's like every time I make a concerted effort to blog more often, I let myself down. But, I have a reason for it! At least I have good excuses right? I'm working! A lot! Like, all the time! And, the more confusing part of it, I actually don't mind. Those of you who know me well know that I like my free time...but I like to be getting paid for my free time. For the past 3 1/2 years I've managed to wrangle myself a job with flexible schedules so I can get home to watch Ellen in the afternoon or take an early afternoon walk with Leigh and Miles. Those days are no longer. But, I really, really, REALLY don't mind. So, this is what it's like to like your job? Mind blowing.

Anywhoodles, let me catch you up on the past two weeks of my life. To escape the hustle and bustle of Seattle life Aaron and I went camping in the Cascades! (I think that's the mountain range...I'm not sure though. Geography was never my strong suit) And I know some of you are all, "Alison, you like camping? That's so....unlike you." Well, let me clear that little myth up. I love camping! You see, somewhere along the line someone told me that I had flair for style and that is when my passion for fashion arose and I decided that everyday I needed to look good. And let's be honest, it's fun looking good. And let's be honest again, it takes a lot of time and effort to look good. Reputations are tough man. So when I go camping I'm basically bumming in my sweatpants and 10 year old Patagonia jacket alllllll weekend long and it feels soooo gooood. Plus, since I have on elastic pants that means I can eat all the s'mores and hot dogs I want. A win for everyone involved as far as I'm concerned. So, Aaron and I just sat around the campfire all weekend and talked and talked and ate and ate and it was great.

So camping was fun. The end. This past weekend I experienced something that I can't even explain. Landmark. All of the managers and assistant managers have to go so I experience it this past weekend. It's a three day long conference of sorts starting early in the morning and ending at 10 pm!!!! It goes all day long and basically we talk for three days how our pasts do NOT shape our futures and every moment is what we make of it. Okay, I get it. But three days??? Dang Gina. That's a long time. So here's an example of what I learned at Landmark:
At my previous, previous job I had a one on one with my sales manager every Monday and it sucked so bad because my manager made me feel like shit. I came to dread these meetings and Mondays in general. Fast forward to present day. I have a one on one with my manager every Tuesday. I still have a dread for these meetings because my old one on ones used to suck so bad. This is where Landmark comes in. Just because my old meetings used to suck doesn't meet my new meetings will suck. The end.

Or it could be my present day manager isn't retarded. Now, that I think of it, that has to be it. My old sales manager used to have poop for brains.

The end.
P.S. My flip flop got too close to the fire and it died. I buried it by the campsite. May it rest in peace.

P.P.S Dylan is Kelly's baby daddy on the new 90210!!!!



xoxo,
Alison

Chhh-Chhh

Dear Blog,

I know that everyone knows the opening bars to the theme song of the history making Beverly Hills 90210 and the "chhh-chhh" at the end. That was always my favorite part, especially when Steve and Brandon did the fist bump to show the world that they were tight bros man. Let's talk about how that was my most favorite show ever. I think I was about 10 when the show first aired and I didn't stop watching until I was a freshman at Furman and they were airing the season finale. For my own enjoyment I'm going to share my favorite memory of growing up 90210. I refer to it as 90210-gate. Here's the scene.

It's 1994 and I'm 13 years old. My parents are in a Bible study with about 5 of their couple friends who all have children under the age of 5. At the tender of age of 13 I was everyone's babysitter of choice and I got paid "big" bucks to babysit all of the children of my parents God fearing friends. One problem-o, Bible study night was on Wednesday!!! The same night as 90210!! What's a girl to do? I thought I had it all figured out. We'll start out the evening with kids playing and watching Barney and then as soon as 8:00 hits, the channel is changing to Fox for some Brenda and Brandon time. Well, that plan worked out very well for about the first month and then one of the parents had to GO AND RUIN MY PERFECTLY THOUGHT OUT PLAN AND WALK IN ON A SCENE WHERE DYLAN AND KELLY ARE GETTING IT ON. That was the end of 90210 during the Bible study babysitting night. Not only was this woman adamant that I not watch 90210 while babysitting kids, but she lectured me and my parents about ME watching 90210. She even managed to squeak out a tear or two; "Your DAUGHTER is watching this trash on tv, do you know what she's being exposed to?" It was from that moment on that I began to dislike everyone whose name is Mitzi. I mean, what kind of name is Mitzi?? Whatevs. My parents trusted my judgement that I wasn't going to go out and hook up with random surfers driving Porche's while I was 13 years old. Duh. And look at where I am now? IN YOUR FACE MITZI!

I'm still a little bitter about 90210-gate. Anywhoodle, all of this leads up to the fact that tonight they are premiering 90210 2.0. It's like 90210 The New Class. I'm watching it right now and it's not bad. They've incorporated some of the old characters back into the show like Brenda and Kelly and we'll see who else will come back. I'm sure if the show gains popularity they'll all come back because let's be honest...what else are they doing? They can't all be on Dancing with the Stars.

P.S. I was TOTALLY going to marry Dylan when I was 13.




xoxo,
Alison

Ohhhhh Seattle

Dear Blog,

I stand corrected. Seattle is NOT the rainiest city in America. After my dad read my last post he promptly busted out the almanac and looked up the rainiest city in America. Seattle wasn't in the top 20. I believe the rainiest city is somewhere in Alabama, I think it's Mobile. While I was talking to my dad I had to explain it's not the same kind of gully washers that we would experience in Charlotte and Columbia, but more like a spitting rain that lasts for about half an hour and only seems to happen when I hop on the Vespa to come home.

I felt the need to clarify to all you readers that Seattle really is beautiful and the days when the sun is shining and there is a view of the water, the views are breathtaking. So, for this next post I decided I would list out all of the things I like and dislike about my new home.

LIKES
1. The views! It's so beautiful sometimes that I can't believe I live here. I do like the weather. The mornings are brisk and I need a jacket to walk Bella and the afternoons usually dont get out of the 70's, sometimes 60's.

2. lululemon! I love my job. I think that has made a huge difference in the move out here. I have a lot to do and I genuinely like all of the people that I work with.

3. Activities. Aaron and I have been leading a much more active lifestyle since coming out here. I've been doing bootcamps and Aaron has been rocking the volleyball tourneys! I'll include some pictures later.

4. Possibilities. I know that one sounds dumb, but I honestly feel like I can do anything after packing up all belongings and trekking across the country. I know no one thought we would actually move but we set our mind to it and we did it! I think that means we can do anything :)

DISLIKES

1. Our stupid pot head, chain cigarette smoking, dumbass, next door neighbor. Whenever we open our window to let the air in, we have to hear his dumbass talking about all the stupid things that potheads talk about. And also smell all of the fumes that he puts off. Sick.

2. Hippies. There are a lot of weirdos out here that think it's a good idea to be vegan. Whatevs.

3. Being so far away from my peeps. I didn't think it would be as big of a deal to 3000 miles away from my friends as it is. I have to literally plan times to call my family and friends. Three hours time difference is definitely harder than I thought it would be. I'm also missing out on my best friends babies growing up :( At least they have blogs that I can follow.

Even though I've never claimed to be a huge fan of the South, there are things that I miss about it. I can't exactly articulate it but I'm sure all you Southerners know what I'm talking about. There's just a different way of living down there that no other part of the country can replicate.

Anywhoodle, here are some pics of a bootcamp that I did last week! Please laugh as I find it hysterical.








xoxo,
Alison

All I wanna do is a vroom, vroom, vroom and a zoom zoom!

Dear Blog,

So, I'm wondering if people just equate me and Vespas. Because I received this in the mail yesterday.




It was from my sweet Momma who said it reminded her of me and all of my new adventures! I realize I should have used the flash when taking the picture but I was too lazy to take another one and then upload it again, so sorry kids. It's funny that she sent me this yesterday because this is the first week that I've been brave enough to take ole Birdie out on the Seattle roads. Now, if you'll remember, I am directionally challenged. Like, I don't even know if that describes it. The only way I can get from place is to place is sheer memorization. So, my first day of riding the Vespa to work I made Aaron drive in front of me so I could memorize how to get to work. Even though he had been driving me everyday prior to this adventure by myself, I wasn't confident in my abilities to get there and on top of that, I have OCD regarding being to places on time so I couldn't handle the thought of being lost and being late to work. Whoa. Man overboard. So, I get to work and it's all good. I clip my helmet on Vespa and go in to work my 8 hours. I have mild anxiety about getting back home by myself but little did I know that would be the least of my worries. When I get off work I go outside and come to find that my helmet is not full of water because at some point in the day it rained and my helmet acted as a rain gauge. Which leads to me to...

Lessons in Vespa riding #1: Do not leave helmet clipped on Vespa outside in the rainiest city in America. DUH.

I did the only thing I could think of to do. I turned it upside down, poured the rain water out and stuck it on my head. Wet. I didn't even really think about getting lost on the way home because I was thinking of the rain trickling out of my helmet and onto my neck and back on my commute home.

Maybe it was a blessing in disguise!

xoxo,
Alison

Made my day

Dear Blog,

A friend of mine sent me this link as it is the cover of the latest skirt! magazine and said it reminded her of me. It totally made me smile and reminded me that I have the best friends even if they are 3,000 miles away.
Thanks Nini!

I'm working on putting her website up here but I forgot how to add links and I'm pressed for time right now! It will be up later!

xoxo,
alison

Teach me!!!

Dear Blog,

I've often said that I should teach a class on how to interview. It's a skill. There are things to do and things not to do, things to say and things not to say. Whenever I'm applying to jobs I know as soon as I get the interview that I'm golden, I've just got it down. Don't know why but I can market myself like a champ. Now, what I canNOT do is shine in a group environment. This is where I need the teaching. I'm sure we've all been there. You have to go to a corporate dinner and the president of the company is there, or some bigwig that everyone is trying to impress and so you're on your best behavior right? Well, for me, I'm always on my best behavior but I'm really not going above and beyond to impress the big wig because I'm not going to be fake and sometimes that is a skill I wish I had. You have no idea. I can't be that person that hangs on to their every word or laughs at their jokes. I'm sure that sometimes I've come across as a bored, self righteous beeotch but really in my brain I'm dissecting the persons behavior who is engaging the big wig and wondering if that is a learned skill and if so, can I learn? Because surely that person will be remembered and I will be remembered as the girl who was clearly more interested in her sushi order that contrived conversation. Thoughts?

Anywhoodle, Aaron and Bella came to visit me in Vancouver for my last weekend here. This is my 4th week in Vancouver!! Crazy how time goes by. We had a grand time, ate a lot of food, did a lot of walking, went to some parks, had fun with my crazy roomie Christie. Oh, we took Bella to the Pacific Ocean!! We took some great pics.





Anyway, wish all of you were here!

xoxo,
Alison