Be still my heart

I have fallen in love... no not with a guy... but with Seattle!  It was rainy and even still I think I absolutely love this city!  It has the amenities of a large city but miniature almost.  It is like if you took Manhattan, cleaned it up, and then made it about 1/8th-ish the size.  They have the new center which has the large beautiful buildings as well as the old Seattle that has the old timey architectural buildings.  I think part of the reason I love this place so much besides the fish tossers that did some special throws for me when they heard I was from the east coast, and the cheese shop in the marketplace, is I just had one of the most memorable dishes in a very long time.  I am assuming this comes as no surprise but I am turning into a bit of a foodie.  Not a snobby eww I can’t eat that kind of foodie but an oh my god that looks amazing I need to try it kinda foodie.  I was contemplating between a Creole place I saw in old Seattle and Brooklyn seafood that the bro in law recommended.  Now I think I saw most of the city with constant walking for about 2 hours so I think I was looking more for a steakhousy/seafoody meal so I went to Brooklyn Seafood.  

     One of the best decisions I have made in a long time.  I didn’t want a huge meal so I opted for some appetizers instead prawns, dungeness crab salad (thankfully just the salad with a huge handful of the pulled plain crab on top, and scallops with foie gras.  The waiter was great and tiered my order perfectly.  The salad came and it was great prawns awesome but then the dish that sputtered my heart to life and put the others to shame was the scallop with foie gras.  It had this amazing carrot vanilla puree and these caramelized figs.  Oh my lord my soul melted into a puddle of happy and everything was right with the world.  It was all perfectly cooked and somehow everything went together perfectly.  I was a happy girl, sitting in my seat and perfectly content with everything right at that second!  It was one of those dishes I know I will remember, I think the last time I ate a dish like that, that made my soul happy was the stew fish and rice in Curacao from the little road stand.  I wish I had some more time to enjoy the city a little more but I definitely recommend a visit here.  Now it is off to bed for me cause I have a flight across the country back home tomorrow!

I have a problem...

... with people who treat physically disabled kids like they are mentally disabled.  Maybe it is just because I abhor it so much that I am attune to seeing it happen.  I was in an airport gift shop when I encountered said ridiculousness, there was a little girl that was deaf.   Now being deaf just means she can't hear, not that she can't compute.  For all we know this is the next Einstein that you are treating like an invalid.  
     Scene: I was in line to buy magnets for the people I work with, and no worries I totally bought one that was a Jackalope for myself!  And there was a little girl in the shop signing furiously to her dad about something or the other a kid would want (at the time I like to thing it was a Jackalope magnet).  You can totally tell that she was all about arguing for what she wanted out of life right that sec, as any child would be while traveling, cause lets be honest the airport is one place that can make you want to buy ridiculous things that you will never need or use.  While we are standing there, you can tell the dad is getting aggravated as any parent would with a child who is asking for something ridiculous such as a 4 foot tall teddy bear.  I get to talking with the guy as his daughter is now arguing with the mom hoping her cause will be heard.  I am asking general questions as I would anyone else I tend to envelop in conversation.  
     As we are standing there talking about how they are traveling to his brothers house for Christmas some idiot lady starts talking to the mom.  All seems innocent right... yeah no, the dummy leans down and starts talking to the little girl, fine no big deal, umm mind you this girl is 7 going on 8, as she told me later and it is obvious she is of an age in which she attends school, and this lady starts asking in a loud condescending voice... "doooo... youuuu... goooo... toooooo.. schooooool?!  Yooooou... knooooow... thaaaaat... bulllildinnnng... where... yooooou... learnnnnnn.. thinnnnnnngs?!?!".  Umm hey bitch this kid knows what an effing school is.  To top it off I find out later the girl is in the advanced class at school but doesn’t want to skip grades just yet as she likes being with her friends (good for her!).  It also turns out that she can read lips just fine, and really is quick as a whip.  Unfortunately people like the dummy in the gift shop happen ALL the time, I find out after some translating through the parents.  I also find out her name is Holly, she loves bunnies, ponies and the color green (just like me!) is trying to convince her parents she needs a kitten cause her fish need friends and hopes to be a vet when she grows up, well that is if being a princess doesn’t work out for her :) She is not a fan of long flights and cant wait to see her uncles dog and all other types of fun things a chlid can talk about.  Honestly talking to this little girl was prob the best conversation I had up to that point of my trip, and has also solidified my want to learn signing!

Denvah!

So seeing as how the holidays are coming up I have been pretty busy figuring out what I will be doing.  As of now I am not sure what to make and bake but I know it will be at my house so I have to get my shit together and figure it out asap!  However unfortunately I loose most of this week because I am traveling for work.  I am in Denver right now and I must say the mountains are beautiful in the distance.  One thing I have noticed from the ride from the airport to the hotel and from the hotel to work is that people in Denver love Red Lobster.  I have never seen so many in one area!  I mean don't get me wrong I love Cheddar biscuit as much as anyone else, its just that the actual food there as tasty as it is, just overall makes me super sick... oh well I guess that is the price you pay for unlimited buckets of shrimp drenched in butter.  I just was thinking I would see more steak houses of something I just wasn't expecting the worlds capital of Red Lobster to be here in Denver.
     What am I doing in Denver you ask... well I am overseeing taste testing interviews as a favor for another office of ours.  I will say this that for someone who loves to people watch, this is an awesome gig.  I sit in an observation room and watch the people in the survey try the product and then take the survey.  It is funny what people do when they think no one is watching.  Seeing as how I am behind a mirror so that the people don't see me they are always fixing there hair, cleaning their teeth or in general there is always some mannerism.  I also find it funny and mildly annoying that since I am the client in this situation they are doting over me.  I just asked nonchalantly if they had any ice no big deal if they didn't, they said they didn't but can go get some for me.  Now I thought it was silly to have someone go out to get me ice just cause I wanted my water a bit cooler so I said no worries I was fine and didn't need it.  Not 7 min later some guy comes running into my super secret room with a cup full of ice and apologies that it took so long.  This is where I get a bit annoyed because this poor guy was told to get me ice and get me ice NOW even after I said I didn't care, just makes me wonder about how their other clients react to illicit such a gut response.  Now truthfully I like having the good things in life such as taking a car service instead of a taxi if I can, having nice things, if it is reasonable flying first class.  But them sending this poor guy out to just get me ice... well that is just plain silly.  And now I am a bit chilly but I don't want to say anything in fear that they will go hunt a large game animal and make me a fur coat, or fashion a bonfire for me to stay warm by, so I will tough it out for now.  Well I am sure I will have more fun and festiveness to discuss later as I am taking Alaska Airlines and heading off to Seattle (apparently most airlines dont do frequent flights from Denver to Seattle)... Airports make for fun times! ha ha ha 

Elbows and heads DO NOT MIX!

Now my question is, why do people feel so effing entitled?  this comes from the train, where else would this come from!?  A while back, sitting on the PATH, bright eyed, bushy tailed and ready to start an awesomely fun filled day of work... in translation I am cranky tired and was ready to junk punch someone since I am just not in any mood to be up and at em just yet.  To add to my stellar mood, the guy on the train sitting next to me cant seem to sit without his legs spread so far apart that it is the most ridiculous man stance I have ever seen.  After somehow finagling a seat on the coveted end of the set of seats right across from the door, I put my headphones in and get right to resting my eyes. 

     The train hasn't even started to move and bam, right in the side of my head, elbow, let me clarify... ELBOW TO MY HEAD.  Now mind you I wasn't all leaned over to the side, my head was straight back in a strain sleeping conducive position and his elbow has just tried to give me a concussion.  So slightly stunned and kinda starting to get a headache, this d-bag just gives me a look of 'excuse me I am trying to read my Wall Street Journal' (BTW if the wall street journal is supposed to be all manly to read, then why is it on pink paper?!).  Now me being who I am, decide the most opportune response to this is 'oh I'm sorry did my head just get in the way of your effing elbow?!'.  Also the phrases douchebag, and asshat, may or may not have been said to him, however in this situation it was very fitting.  Needless to say he got knocked off his high horse, especially when some guy standing next to him laughed, applauded me and called him an a-hole.  Granted this isnt nice, I know this, it is just in my nature to be slightly hotheaded and things just slip out, I mean really who expects me to say "Thanks kind sir for elbowing me in the head, it was a great way to start my day!"  Saying this would just mean I am not being true to myself and we all know no one approves of that! ha ha ha