Seattle is gone cuz I ate it.

I took off to Seattle last weekend with the BBQ Lord for a little relaxin’ before his life gets super hectic (he’s opening a restaurant this month…) and pretty much all we did was eat and drink.  So it was a tremendously successful trip.

One noticeable thing about my relaxation abilities; I have basically no anxiety now, I am stress-free a lot of the time and I am enjoying it a lot.  Really a lot.  When I go away or make a plan wherein the purpose is to actually relax, it seems like a bit of a silly mission, but what I found is that rather than it taking a huge amount of time to just decompress and leave the office and whatever else behind, I was able to slip into it much more quickly.  I still need relaxation, but it’s a hell of a lot closer than it used to be.  Does that make sense?

So, I documented the weekend.  The BBQ Lord indulged my need to record our antics, but I had to promise not to publish him or the name of the restaurant we went to for breakfast on Sunday (we don’t want it to get to popular), so if you are dying to know, give me your email and I will consider sharing it.

We arrived in Seattle around 4pm and headed to the Pike Street Fish Fry (photos were posted on Facebook) for an afternoon snack. Then we hit QFC:

My big purchase at QFC - favourite wine and the yummiest cider EVAR (Crispin)

This is only HALF of the massive beer aisle. The BBQ Lord is a cicerone, so we spent a lot of time here.

Oh, AMERICA. This is not food. It may be cheap and easy, but it is not real food. Stop. Please.

After that, we found our hotel (thanks for the deal, Sarah!) – it was lovely.  We camped out there for several hours and watched food porn on the food network…we debated dinner plans and researched all sorts of places before deciding we were still too full of fish n’ chips and that we would venture out around 11 or so.  We made our way to Dick’s.  Ahhh.  Dick’s.

Me, outside Dick's. Note the pouring rain...this was an adventure (I had dove into my wine and so we walked)

The *cheap* menu. We got 3 burgers, 2 milkshakes and fries for $14. Right on budget!

If you have ever watched Louis CK with me and seen his bit about a "bag o' dicks" I am here to tell you this is what it looks like. Not baguettes in a bag, not chicken parts, but a paper bag full of burgers.

Ok, seriously. CHERRY BLOSSOMS. Seattle has spring, and I am jealous.

Lobster and asparagus omelette at Secret Breakfast Place. Other diners thought I was having a seizure I was making so much noise about this.

Biscuit. Gravy. Heart attack of yum.

The BBQ Lord's Breakfast Burrito. Also crazy delicious.

After some walking about the Market and so on, we landed at Top Pot Doughnuts. The. Best.

Mmmmmm. A dozen (less a couple) for the road...

Double fisted!

Aaaand that was all my belleh could handle.  I cannot tell you enough about my growing love of Top Pot.  Tim Horton’s is nothing to me now (except the occasional coffee)(I have become a doughnut snob).

We had ambitiously planned to hit Serious Pie before leaving town, but just couldn’t do it.  Must leave something for next time…

My buddy was very happy to have me home at the end of the day:

It was a relaxing culinary success.

Meme — can’t help it

I found this awhile, and I am SO not in the mood to do any thinking of my own, so here we go:

1. My uncle once: wanted to open a business called IHB Installments.  The IHB stood for “I Hang Blinds”  I thought he was meant for bigger things than that even though I think I was about 12 at the time.  I have always been a coach.

2. Never in my life: have I eaten a Pop Tart

3.When I was five: I had a mushroom haircut

4.High School was:  overrated

5.I will never forget: the fall of 2002

6.I once met: Paul Janz (I’m not surprised you’ve never heard of him).  I squealed like he was Brad Pitt.

7. There’s this girl I know who: just joined a burlesque group. I can’t wait to see her perform.

8. Once, at a bar: I deep-throated a beer bottle to impress a boy.  It may have worked.

9. By noon, I’m usually: already finished 3 meals

10. Last night: I went to yoga then came home.  It was super exciting.

11. If only I had: 3 more basset hounds

12. Next time I go to church: I will light a candle or two.

13.Terry Schiavo: is someone I don’t know

14.What worries me most: is losing either of my parents

15.When I turn my head left, I see: an empty Poang chair (IKEA)

16.When I turn my head right, I see: sleeping, snoring basset hound on the end of the sofa

17.You know I’m lying when: I seem to choke on my own saliva.  It’s quite fetching.

18.What I miss most about the eighties: BIG HAIR

19.If I was a character in Shakespeare, I’d be: the lead.

20.By this time next year: I will be pregnant

21.A better name for me would be: ??(fill in the blank, but be nice.)

22.I have a hard time understanding: what people are thinking when they drive in this city.

23. If I ever go back to school, I’ll: marry my coaching with Human Resources

24.You know I like you if: I get cheeky with you

25. If I ever won an award, the first person I’d thank would be: my husband.

26.Darwin, Mozart, Slim Pickens & Geraldine Ferraro: would make interesting dinner guests

27.Take my advice, never: stop being grateful

28.My ideal breakfast is: eggs benny, extra hollandaise

29.A song I love, but do not own is: Pachelbel Canon

30.If you visit my hometown, I suggest: a hike up the mountain

31.Tulips, character flaws, microchips, & track stars: Spring!, the best parts of us, freaky, fast!

32. Why won’t people: stop realize there is more out there for them

33.If you spend the night at my house: I’ll feed you food, Brian will feed you martinis

34. I’d stop my wedding for: a visit from Bon Jovi

35. The world could do without: selfishness

36. I’d rather lick the belly of a cockroach than: listen to the dog drink water

37. My favorite blonde is: my niece

38: Paper clips are more useful than: our cat

39. If I do anything well, it’s: plan

40.And by the way: I’m not here to be quiet.

Quarter Pounder VS Leftovers

I made chicken for dinner the other night, it was marinated with balsamic salad dressing and was actually quite nice.  I have been forced to eat so much flippin’ chicken in the past 10 years, that I tend to loathe it if it isn’t moist and yummy, so I was happy to discover this chicken was both after grilling on the ol’ George Foreman.  I cooked an additional piece for my lunch yesterday, so when I went home from work early to lie comatose in my flannel sheets (cuaght the Man Cold and ran a fever) I didin’t get a chance to eat it.

So I’m at work today, and it’s a no-brainer that I would eat the leftovers, right?  Right?  No.  I instead had an epic battle of wills with the sick, comfort-seeking me that desperately wants a #2 meal at McGross-ald’s instead.  Perfectly good chicken vs greasy delightfulness.  Staying in my office and having a chance to post vs going out in the rain to fetch by heart-attack in a bag.  Hm.

I am happy to say that the chicken won, for now.  The chicken is still juicy and great, and the brocoli I threw in with it is also good.  I feel mostly satisfied with my meal. 

But the day isn’t over yet…