Circus Contraption

At some point during our first month in Seattle we went to The Empty Space theater in Fremont (now closed, unfortunately) to see a play called "Frakenocchio." Lovely Tim Burton like puppets, a twisted circus sideshow plot and a live band called Circus Contraption.

Since then we've gone to see several shows and performances with Circus Contraption. And they've all been lots of fun. They've ranged from seeing them busk in the market, to performing as a band at the Croc, to circus tent themed plays. Last years Halloween party at the Showbox was just about as much fun as I can imagine a Halloween party could be, I mean it ended with a reenactment of the zombie dance from Thriller after all. What could top that?

Anyway, I was pleased to get tickets for their "Show to end All Shows" for our last weekend in Seattle. It seems appropriate. And since we've currently have no distractions whatsoever and very little furniture in the apartment, it was a well needed distraction.

Messing Around

Taking some time away from packing to mess around with the blog. Too much packing becomes too much packing after a week of it. So I mess.

We are near done I think, the major thing remaining being the kitchen stuff. We still have a few items to sell on craigslist & I have to figure out laundry. I suppose I'll clean what I've got, pack it and start living out of a suitcase soon. I have 4 days. Chuck is leaving the day before with the car so that he'll get there the same day I do...with a lot of dedicated effort put into driving. And I get to take the cat. (No one got the better end of that arrangement!)

So today we took a trip for a bit downtown to go up on the observation level of the Smith Tower.
I've wanted to do that for a while, it was nice. Cheaper than the space needle, and you get to see all 35 floors as you pass them due to old fashion elevator construction. I got a little dizzy.

Otherwise It's going. I feel satisfied that I've eliminated a lot of extraneous stuff at this end, but I think unpacking I'll decide to get rid of more. I intended to go through everything to make sure we weren't taking a thing that wasn't essential and/or extremely sentimental, but at some point it's too exhausting...and then it all just goes into a box. But in addition to the trouble of moving stuff, it's also such an effort to find a good space for it. Though we are talking of renting one of the storage lockers in our building I think it's probably a good idea to eliminate what I can.

And so this all sounds exhausting and it is, but I am also thinking happy thoughts about Chicago. My parents are there now looking for a place and last I heard it sounded like they were having good luck. I already have tickets for us to go to the Pitchfork Music Festival, we'll be living comfortably close to Grant Park, which has many free concerts and events. Not to mention all the new restaurants and shops to check out. And when we get there there will be fireworks. Well, I suppose that's actually cause there's a national holiday....but the timing is appreciated.

Cat+Plane=Stress Update

So the vet gave us a list of sedatives to try on the cat ranging from lavender oil to Dramamine and a prescription sedative. Dramamine being on the low end of the spectrum (but not quite as low as the lavender) we tried that last night. First of all, despite our cat being one of the best pill swallowers I've ever seen, I am not very good at giving a cat a pill by myself. Secondly you have to quarter the pill. So, like aspirin, it tastes really nasty once it gets broken up. So between those two things it must have been pretty unlike anything Lucy's experienced before. So she produced the gooeyest, nastiest drool I've ever experienced in an attempt to expel the gross pills. And it dangled from her face...and she ran all over the apartment. For some reason I really have a problem with drool as well, it makes me sick. Fortunately this time Chuck was here to take care of it (though I don't think he was aware of my problem with drool and was reluctant to be the one to take care of it) but I'll have to get a lot better at giving a cat a pill in the next few days....or else I'll have a lot of mess to deal with very early in the morning before my plane takes off.....

ugh.

So many things

Last day of work was today, to be followed by a week of move-prep. The big move for me happens July 1st. Cat + Plane = stress, as anyone who has talked to me in the past three months is aware. (and for cat fans that's been the topic for the past year or more) Chuck will leave with the stuff (kept to a minimum with the help of Craigslist and an invite to crash a friend's yard sale tomorrow) the day before. But the last day of work was today. I believe I got a little weepy and had to leave without tracking down everyone in the office to say goodbye lest they make me cry. I promised to stop back for a visit during my move prep-week. And I will try to bring cookies. It's been a rough few months at that office with several departures, illnesses, a broken hand, and death in someone's family (to name a few issues)....cookies are well deserved.

I did get to leave early though, and enjoyed my last meal at the pike place market with the boyfriend. Sisters "nasruddin" sandwich. Eggplant, olive tapenade, hummus and wonderful bread. All happens to be vegan too. I left vowing to recreate it myself in Chicago, though I'm sure it won't be the same. I followed it with very non-vegan gelato...because, well, my last indulgence as a person that works next to pike place market.

We followed that with a fact-finding mission to Ikea. It would be senseless to buy anything now, but it was an excellent distraction from my weepiness regarding leaving a pretty awesome work environment. I'm not sure what facts we found. Though they do have a sale, and I found out at least one item I believe will be quite handy in the new space is involved, and this sale will continue until just after the move. Some items I think we determined we are less interesting in than we though, and others seemed as useful and inexpensive as expected. Ikeas of Chicago (they have two) we will see at least one of you soon!

Meanwhile, Chuck and I are both ebaying some stuff (I had a Collectible Barbie phase, I admit, it's well past time to let that go!) craigslisting, and using that yard sale for whatever is left. Hopefully before to long the only thing left will be my furniture piece, a few knicknacks, a rug, and our clothing and books. Our second move across a good chunk of the country contrasts with the first, this time is all about less...

Oh, additionally, I don't know if I've posted about it here, but my Mom & Dad are also moving to Chicago. When we went for our apartment hunting trip a few weeks ago, we saw my Mother briefly before her interview downtown that Friday. Last Friday we heard she got the job. My Mom & Dad are sorting all out, a first big move for them, and will be moving to Chicago shortly after Chuck & I get there, within a month. This maybe a little cheesy, but the John Lennon quote (I was raised with great appreciation for the Beatles) "life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans" has been one that I've always been struck by. Right now that has more meaning than ever and it's all working out very well...with or without a plan.

Polyvore for my Apartment

Just playing around here. First time I'm really excited about this polyvore thing most people use for clothing is after realizing it might be handy for furniture. This plus drawing up the apartment in CAD could keep me entertained for weeks...or longer.

View from window in Queen Anne, Seattle

View from window in Queen Anne, Seattle
Originally uploaded by 2:19

Chuck figured out how to do time lapse video this week, and this is the result. I love the way the people move in time lapse, and that he managed to capture several dog walkers and someone dropping off the mail. I'm not sure exactly how it works, though it involves his camera and a scientific calculator. (That's why he was asking if I still had the cord for mine earlier this week. I'm sure I lost that way back in high school.) Anyway, it's neat, and I', sure he'll be doing this pretty early on at our new place in Chicago.

101 Hearts

This morning I checked my hearts before work and I was up to 100 finally! Yay! I was so excited I wanted to post right away, but it was the last thing I did before I needed to leave, so I didn't really have time. So now that I do have time I'm up to 101, even better!

So I am offering 10% off any item for anyone that reads this post! When you check out, mention this post (just tell me congrats on 101 hearts) in your "message to seller." Then wait until I issue you a revised invoice with the discount before you pay!

I made the FRONT PAGE!!!

FRONT PAGE!!!
Originally uploaded by emmakat79

This is a first! Funny, as I glanced through the first row of items I thought, "oh, rain clouds. I like that theme. I even have something in my shop that fits that theme. too bad I'm not in this one" then I scanned the second row..."holy crap, I made the front page!" How Cool!
Update: ah, well, it changed pretty quickly. But now my item has been seen more and has 10 hearts! neat!

Chicago is

Bean View
Originally uploaded by emmakat79

It didn't really seem like the move was happening until we went there last week. It was exhausting, we spent most of our time looking at apartments. Well, and rested by watching too much TLC and enjoying a king size sleep number bed. I'm not really sure what my sleep number is after all of that. I did learn that I am now apparently terrified of thunder after 4 years without it here in the Pacific Northwest. It woke me up (which is not easy) and made me switch places with Chuck to be away from the window and hide my head. Kind of pathetic.

Anyway, we're pretty excited about the new apartment and the new city. After months of thinking this is all happening so soon, the first few days after week got back it didn't seem like it was going to happen soon enough. Now I'm not sure what I think. I guess finally it's just happening. Though the few moments we did get a chance to take in the city were amazing. Vegan Milkshakes and the Chicago Blues Festival. And so much more to explore!

Away

This week I'm off to look for an apartment in Chicago! I will be back next week.

Population One

Every time I log on to etsy (which is often) these days I've been considering buying this wristlet from population one:

So today when I happened on her booth at the Fremont Market I made the quickest decision to purchase something I've made in a very long time. It's even cuter in person & I happened to be wearing a shirt that matched it perfectly! It's very nicely made and I've already transfered my stuff to it.

I loved this so much the first time I saw it on etsy there are only two reasons I hadn't already purchased it. One that I was hoping to come across a booth somewhere in seattle and the other that I was afraid I might have to buy everything that matched it in a treasury I made a few weeks ago. Uh-oh. Lately I've been in the mood to shop. I don't know maybe it's cause there seem to be a lot sales (post-memorial day?) something is telling me I should be shopping? Or it could be that silly economic stimulus package. Or the fact that we're about to move and have been spending a lot of time thinking about what we will have to get rid of, what we should get rid of and what we will have to replace. Regardless...I can't seem to get shopping off my mind. So, expect more posts like this one. (but not this week, we're off to search for apartments in Chicago on Tuesday - Saturday!)