Candles are a foods group

Mark and I think it's funny that not only does Safeway sell candles with the image of Jesus or Mary on them, but they are sold in the Hispanic foods section. Last time I checked, candles were not food. I'd like to see an edible candle though. Burn the majority and eat the rest! It sounds anti-wasteful.

Opening day

As it is opening day for our beloved Seattle Mariners and the long-awaited homecoming of star Ken Griffey Jr., I only thought it befitting to mourn the loss of a luxury stolen by the economy. Everyone's trimming the fat, and my company is no different. This year, we bid goodbye to our company season tickets. How I will miss thee, club level. Your seats are superior to the left and center field bleachers, and I enjoyed receiving menus when we arrived. Not that we ever ordered anything. But we could have! And I can't forget the parking pass provided with the tickets. We could forgo the walk from Pioneer Square for an evening!

But fear not, Mariners. We'll still be there in full support, but probably in the $7 center field seats. Hey, we've got to trim the fat too! At least we're still showing up. You guys better do the same. We have a deal.

Sick Times At Seymour High

I think we all can agree that head colds are a miserable annoyance that most everyone must endure. You do your sick time, probably around seven to 10 days for the virus to run its course, and then you’re back to a healthy streak again. But those seven to 10 sick days bring out the dramatic side in you, a side that says that this is certainly the sickest you’ve been in months, and it feels like you’ll never be healthy again. In fact, you don’t even remember what it felt like to be healthy! Your nose is red from the constant Kleenexes, and your swollen sinuses are pushing the tears out of your eyes. All you want to do is lay on the couch with a blanket and a TV show on DVD (and a brandy doesn’t hurt either). Of course, immobility seems to make the sinus pressure worse, but just the thought of taking a walk exhausts you.

I hate to be dramatic (well, who am I kidding? I love it!), but today is one of those days. Only I’m not at home on my couch. But I plan on being there soon.

A night to ourselves

So active!

I don’t mention work much on my blog but in case you were wondering, I’m in marketing at a corporate real estate firm in south Seattle. I’ve learned more about lease negotiations and industrial building specifications than I’d ever cared to know. But that isn’t my point. I’ve been here over a year now, and I’m continually impressed by my co-workers’ athleticism and desire to stay active through their 40s and 50s. One of them used to play on the professional golf circuit and another played professional hockey in America and Europe; both still play their respective games, as well as compete in a slew of other activities like the Mountains to Sound relay or local triathlons. Our office hosts a few marathon runners and I hope to join their ranks in June when I participate in the Rock ‘N Roll marathon here in Seattle (although I’m only doing the half-marathon… so I’m that much closer to joining the ranks). Another co-worker is a dancer: ballroom, swing and salsa. She’s out at dances or lessons four to five nights a week. Most of the guys in the office are also involved in coaching: basketball, hockey, soccer, baseball… you name it! I’ve been informed about the game of squash and how it is superior to racquetball, and even shown videos of professional players.

I hope that when I’m in my 40s and 50s, I’m half as active as these guys.

Sounders still undefeated

Today Mark and I drove to the George and the Dragon an hour early in order to secure prime spots for the Sounders FC's match against Toronto. It felt a little weird to order beer at noon; I don't think our bodies were ready for alcohol that early. Especially since we had eaten oatmeal half an hour before we arrived. We've been at the G&D for all three games of the season, but there was definitely a difference in today's game. Today marked the Sounders' first away game, so all the season ticket holders had come to the G&D to watch the match since they couldn't go to Qwest Field. You could tell who they were by their green scarves and their initiative to lead chants! It was quite exciting and made for a festive atmosphere, especially when the Sounders claimed a 2-0 victory. Seattle still holds undefeated bragging rights and every game has been a shutout. It's fun to actually support a winning Seattle team. The Seahawks continue to struggle, the Mariners lack pitchers, and Oklahoma claimed the Sonics. Beyond them we only have college sports, and I'm not prepared to throw my fan weight behind a bunch of 20-year-olds.

April Fools ideas?

I know it's a little late to be planning pranks for today, but Wired has some great ideas for your inner nerd.