Savoring Seattle

We went crazy and decided to drive 7 hours to Seattle only to spend a day and half there. It was worth to see old friends, eat at all our favorite places (which I have been sadly craving since I got pregnant), and it gave Dale and I a chance to talk about baby stuff the whole way there (and back...hehe).

I was beginning to miss Seattle, constantly questioning whether our decision to move was the right one. Missoula is great, we are more relaxed and happy, but living in Montana means adjusting to a Montana salary. Dale is working two jobs and he still doesn't come close to what he made in Seattle. Alas, things are cheaper, gas, milk, bread and the 20% off groceries we have plus no sales tax means our small dollar stretches far.

In any case, we were missing Seattle. I missed my friends and the late night social hour at the many watering holes nearby. I missed the food and the ability to get food any time of night, seriously, 4am pizza is the best! I missed the fact the city is always moving and there is always something to do. I missed lots of things. Seriously, 5 minutes after arriving we remembered why we moved away. The traffic, the people, and the rain.

It rained the whole time we were there. No surprise. I realized that I was in denial living in Seattle trying to convince myself that I actually prefer rain. After three months of waking up to glorious sunshine (even when its 20 degrees) has changed that. We brought our dog who turned into a mud monster with all the puddles and dirt filled parks. Dale complained the whole time that he was ruining his pants which were about 1/2 inch too long and got soaked to his knees. We were both complaining because our beautiful movie star Montana hair became flat and damp within seconds of hitting the rainy city.

The rain must have an effect on people because everywhere we went people were making rude comments, sticking to their reserved cliquish nature, and driving like assholes. I remember Seattle people being so friendly--then again, the only friends I made were through work or school, generally safe places to meet people without getting your head chewed off.

In Missoula, it takes 10 minutes to drive anywhere, whether you are going across town during rush hour or not. In Seattle, I drove 4 miles to return our modem to Comcast and it took 45 minutes. I spent the day shuttling people to and fro and realized that I spent 4 hour driving back and forth....about 30 minutes each way. I very much enjoy living in a city where parking is free and ample, drivers are relaxed, and traffic just doesn't exist.

Those rude people was referring to, put them behind the wheel and you have a nightmare. I almost broke down because I was turning left and pulled partly through the intersection only to have two cars run the light and pedestrians cross the street. I had no choice but to sit in the intersection and wait. In the meantime some guy was sitting in his car pointing at me, honking, and finally drove by and told me to get a license.

Nonetheless, Seattle was not all bad. I enjoyed shopping at Whole Foods and Trader Joes. I got pho at my favorite Vietnamese restaurant and ended my meal with delicious bubble tea. We had breakfast at Peso's, an awesome southwestern style breakfast joint that specializes in biscuits in gravy complete with habanero sausage gravy. The Puget Sound was beautiful, the water cool and refreshing and lets face it even those raindrops were relief to my sunburned face.

Seattle was great. I will always miss it when I am not there and hate it when I am there.

Dale and I arrived in Missoula relieved to see the sunny open skies and traffic free roads. Driving through Missoula that night brought a sigh of relief when I crossed the railroad tracks to see the sunset on my right and historic downtown on my left. We made the right choice and I think we will become Montana's biggest fans.

Veterinarians, Birthdays, and my disillusionment with Seattle

On Friday, Dale called me worried that Sasha was sick. Now, Sasha vomits frequently mostly because he loves to eat anything that crosses his path....he is the world's biggest garbage cat. Anyways, I was thinking that maybe he just ate some garbage or maybe had a little cold, nothing too major. When I got home Sasha refused to move. His usually energetic and happy personality was clouded by obvious severe discomfort.

We took him to the vet and as it turns out he has what is really similar to kidney stones, caused most likely by the difference in water, change of diet, and stress from moving. Sasha had to be catheterized and hospitalized over night.

Dale and I hardly slept through the night. We were mostly amused by the thought of Sasha, attached to a catheter, waking in the middle of the night to find a toilet to use (he is toilet trained!). After we paid the $268 vet bill on Saturday, we were able to take him home.

Sasha now has better health care than Dale and me. He is currently drinking distilled water and eating specially formulated food that is grain-free. In addition, he is on prednisone and antibiotics and gets to use a litterbox so we can monitor his urination. Sasha previously behaved like no other cat, he has always been more human than cat. Now, I think it is safe to assume that he thinks he is human. Especially now that he thinks he belongs in our bed under the covers like a real human being.

Today is my birthday. I never enjoyed celebrating New Years, because my birthday always seemed to feel like New Years; New year, another year older, make promises I know I cant keep. I have always struggled with becoming an adult. I know compared to most of my friends and relatives I am more responsible and mature...more adult. However, inside I never feel a day over 16 and struggle to see myself as an adult.

I guess that is the beauty of turning 23. For the past year I have felt 24 and have even on some occasions told others that I WAS 24. Today, I recognize that I am 23. Not only am I 23, but I also am finally beginning to see my life in terms of adulthood. I am married, live in a house with a spare bedroom, go to work everyday at 7:30, come home to make dinner, complete domestic chores, and go to bed. I know many of you may think I am crazy--that this is no life to be envious of.

What about the bars? Parties? Dates? Men? I have really never been one in favor of all those adventures rather preferring a quiet night at home cuddled up with someone warm. So today, on my 23 birthday, my gift to myself is the reconciliation of my internal struggle of trying to be an adult and actually feeling like one.

Dale had a job interview yesterday. It went very well. The restaurant is a very quaint breakfast and lunch place and serves Cafe Vita coffee (Seattle coffee shop). One of the servers questioned Dale's relocation from Seattle..."why would you want to move here???"

I have been disillusioned with Seattle. Five years ago I wanted nothing more than to walk to bust city streets with a cup of Jo in my hand and my cell phone in the other. After four years of trying to live a life that I really was not made for I became depressed feeling like the cloud cover in Seattle existed over my brain as well. Dale and I have had many long talks about this. Ultimately, we are simple folks in need of simple lifestyles. That is why we moved to Missoula--to enjoy the beauty of solitude, the freedom of space, and the opportunity to grow gardens, hike, and become self-sufficient.

Having only been in Missoula for three weeks, we feel as though we have settled into a life style worth living. In Seattle we went out to bars and dinner 4-5 nights a week. We have gone out to dinner ONCE in our three weeks in Missoula. Some of the luxuries, like 24-hour grocery stores, late night diners, and bars within walking distance are just not available. We dont miss it. Instead, we go to the brewery to fill up our growler (which is both environmentally friendly and cost-effective), make dinner most nights, sometimes even our own bread, and cuddle up to watch movies on our GIANT HD Projector. Jealous? We are too.