The Adventures of Gina: September 2008

Westport

I just returned back from a much needed mini-vacation to the coast. Doug and I headed to Westport, Washington which is a small fishing town about 2 1/2 hours from Seattle. It was a very relaxing weekend; we walked the beach, saw Washington’s tallest lighthouse, played frisbee, watched the locals trying to catch “the big one,” went swimming (in an indoor pool, not in the freezing ocean!) and even did a little wine tasting. Although Westport is know mainly for it fishing, it has become the Washington surfing mecca. Doug had grand visions of catching a set this morning, but opted out. It would have been entertaining to watch him attempt to surf after a 20 year hiatus!

Burn after Reading

Last night, we went to the new Coen brother’s movie, Burn after Reading and I loved it! It is about an ousted CIA official’s memoir accidentally falling in the hands of two unscrupulous gym employees who attempt to sell it. If you are a fan of both black comedies and the Coen brother’s…you will love it as well.
Oh and Brad Pitt was absolutely hilarious…..CHAD…what a perfect name for him in that movie!

Yearbook Yourself

After laughing my ass off at Jill and Sara's yearbook photos, I thought I would see what I looked like.

Here I am in 1952:

1958:

1968:

1976:

1980:

1994:

The Women

I went to the movie "The Women" the weekend and did not like it. It was long and trying way to hard to be like Sex and the City, but it wasn't...not even close. I love Meg Ryan; she always plays this cute spunky character. She played the same person in this movie, but I just didn't buy her friendship with the other 3 characters. No need to go to theater, or even rent it for that matter!

Here is the synopsis:
The story centers on a group of gossipy, high-society women who spend their days at the beauty salon and haunting fashion shows. The sweet, happily-wedded Mary Haines finds her marriage in trouble when shop girl Crystal Allen gets her hooks into Mary's man. Naturally, this situation becomes the hot talk amongst Mary's catty friends, especially the scandalmonger Sylvia Fowler, who has little room to talk - she finds herself on a train to Reno and headed for divorce right after Mary.

The Big Move

After about 15 trips back and forth between my new place and old place on Thursday, Friday and Saturday along with a couple trips to Ikea and Target, I am pretty much moved in! The process all started on Thursday evening when I received keys and officially became the owner of my very first home. I think I stated up until 2 am trying to organize my kitchen…who knew it would take so long to determine the best location for Tupperware!
I took Friday off of work so I could continue the move. I hit a wall around 4:00 and decided to call it day. Saturday morning, Leif, Doug, my boss, Kent, and his son, Max, had agreed to help move all of my big stuff…couch, bed, buffet, etc. I am very grateful for all their help! Thanks again, boys!!
On Saturday night, I had my first guests. My friends Melissa and Francis came to christen in my new place with some wine and cheese.
Everything had gone pretty smooth throughout the entire move, that is until Sunday. I woke in the morning and decided to clean my old apartment and meet Doug there so we could load up my entertainment center and deliver it to his house. I had borrowed Doug’s truck in order to could go to Ikea and buy a dining table and bookcase. After about 3 hours of driving and shopping, we met back and my place and unloaded and put together my new purchases. We first opened the dinning room table box…and it was the wrong wood…my heart dropped. Without skipping a beat, Doug states, “well, do you want to go exchange it now.” I was like…give me 10 minutes to sulk in my misery. I cannot believe I just did that. I don’t typically make stupid mistakes like that!! (do I???) So, I left Doug to build a bookcase and I made 45 minute drive back to Ikea. One would think the drama would end there, but not today. I get back to Ikea and return the table and as I reach in my purse for my wallet and it’s missing. Again, my heart sinks and I start to retrace my steps…Ikea, truck, home, truck, Ikea…it had to be in one of those places , right?!?!? Trying to keep calm and collected with the friendly Ikea lady, I ask her to check lost and found to see if a black wallet had been turned in early in the day. I also called Doug and to see if my wallet was left at home. As I am explaining to him the situation, his phone dies before he can tell me anything. So I fly through Ikea, purchase the dining table, again, checked and double checked to verify it was the right wood, and hit the road back to Mountlake Terrace. As I am driving home I am trying to recall what I all had in my wallet…credit card, debit card, driver’s license, insurance cards, and some other miscellaneous items that should be a huge deal to replace. What felt like an eternity drive home, I arrive to find Doug, relaxing on the couch, eating some cheese, watching Saving Private Ryan, and my wallet. Thank goodness!!!
I know, long story to tell you I am a space cadet!

I still have one box to unpack and many pictures to hang, but I guess that will be this weekend’s projects. Here are some photos of my new condo.

Dave Matthews

I just woke up from a three hour nap that I took as soon as I walk in the door this afternoon (well, technically I had to take a hot shower first!) Doug and I went to the Gorge in eastern Washington to see the one and only Dave Matthews. The venue was phenomenal. For those of you who have not been there before, the Gorge is an outdoor amphitheater resting on the banks of the Columbia River. The views were stunning. The concert itself was great; Dave definitely knows how to put on a good show! Towards the end of the 3 ½ hour performance, there was a beautiful tribute to the band’s late saxophone player, LeRoi Moore.
We decided to camp at the gorge, along with thousands of other Dave Matthew’s fans. I am not sure if I actually slept; our neighbors at the camp ground continued to celebrate Dave until the wee hours!
Here are some photos from the weekend.