As I floated on Cloud Nueve and scoured through Rick Steves' recommendations on Portugal, the realities of my job pulled me back to the sad world of responsibility. I grudgingly cancelled my trip for the sake of doing "the right thing" for my team (I was transitioning roles at the time). Although disappointed by our foiled plans, I was happy that Drew still planned to make the trip without me.
A few days before Drew was scheduled to fly out, I got a call from a hoarse, half-conscious Drew, who said he pushed out his medical boards and cancelled his Euro-trip so he could have the optimal amount of study time. "Nerd Alert," I thought, as I simultaneously consoled him and cheered him on for making the "right" decision. ("Right decisions" bite, by the way.)
This story could go on forever the way I'm writing, so I'll fast forward to the part where I convince Drew to visit me in Seattle for a week in lieu of the standard, hackneyed (and fabulous!) Euro-trip that everyone (but us) seems to take.
Here's the story in pics:
Drew arrived late Tuesday afternoon armed with sweets, as he is the sweet tooth king / culinary extraordinaire.
Me and my dirty mind thought one thing when I saw the white frosted cupcakes with circle candies in the middle... GOOGLY EYES!!
Drew arrived late Tuesday afternoon armed with sweets, as he is the sweet tooth king / culinary extraordinaire.
Me and my dirty mind thought one thing when I saw the white frosted cupcakes with circle candies in the middle... GOOGLY EYES!!
Chris, Drew and I hit up the Driftwood Bar (one of my fave drinking / reading spots). Not your typical bar, the Driftwood is a great place to read OR play Scrabble!
One day, Drew picked me up from work, only to deliver news that he bought me a pet! Ecstatic, I rushed into my apartment waiting to find a furry little thing or at least a slippery little thing with gills. Instead, I found THIS in my bathtub.
I named him Dinner. :)
Since Europe didn't work out, we thought we'd at least venture out to the San Juan Islands to somewhat satisfy our thirst for exploration.
We "raced" unaware kayakers and high-fived each other as we passed EVERYONE, though no one was really racing with us. We slalomed through tangles of dense seaweed (the looong, green kind with bulbs), shifting our weight this way and that to maneuver through the mess. One close-call capsize later, we threw out our slalom idea and went back to "racing" 60-year-old birdwatchers.
All in all, a fun week with my friend Drew. Forget Paris, we'll always have the San Juan Islands!!!
[I swear some of these aren't words.]
[View from the ferry.]
Finally on the San Juan Islands we jumped in a kayak, ready to see some Orca whales up close and personal!
During our day-long kayaking trip, punctuated by only a few fleeting moments of bald eagle and seal sightings (THOUGH NO ORCA WHALES), Drew and I found interesting ways to entertain ourselves.
