Pacific Northwest

Well hey there! I am being super cool and writing this in a different time zone than usual. Yup, that's right; I am in the Pacific Time Zone. Sorry Eastern, but I'll be back before you know it. The first night and day always throws me off a bit but it is completely worth it to be back in Seattle! I've been here almost a week but only have two more nights here. Don't you worry guys, I've been on top of my research and TA duties. I have received numerous emails at 4a my time (I think some people forgot I wasn't in NC...) and I'm sure they get real confused when I send them emails at 2a their time! Although I had research and TA stuff to do, I can guarantee that I was doing it in a way cooler place than you. I have pictures for proof.

Nothing like a welcome to Seattle like seeing Mt. Rainier from the plane. This is why I always have the window seat.

So on Monday, I said goodbye to Raleigh, exercised in the Detroit airport, meandered through SeaTac, hopped on the Link, chatted with a brilliant 4 year old, saw the beautiful Mt. Rainier, met up with Aaron, and climbed at Seattle Bouldering Project before falling asleep at a reasonable hour. When Aaron was at work on Tuesday, I hung out at Denny Park editing my research papers and practicing my field day speech. Aaron and I went out for lunch at a delicious Indian buffet close by Amazon (wish I remembered the name!!) Then I continued to look at my papers and hunted down thesis reference articles. After work, we had more yummay food at another place that I can't remember the name. Man, you would think that by now I would write them down so I could go there again in the future! Hurricane Cafe!! *I only know that because Aaron just told me*  Then we went to SBP for yoga, which completely kicked my butt. This was not the kind of yoga I am used to doing. This was like "I-will-get-you-into-great-shape-while-sweating-your-hiney-off-and-by-the-way-do-this-crazy-arm-balance-pose-that-only-this-one-chick-and-Aaron-can-do-but-it's-okay-if-you-can't-because-you're-still-trying-to-figure-out-what-is-happening."

Doing research by the Sound beats any day of research at any other time.

Then Wednesday arrived. I walked Aaron to work and then grabbed my laptop to go do research in a way cooler place than Raleigh. I ordered a dark chocolate mocha and headed to the library. This is a sick looking library (and it's pretty sustainable too!!) Anyways, I got a little lost in this library, wandered around downtown a little more, and then found my way down to The Sound. I found a nice table and went to work. I arranged more tours at potential places to work, found tons of information about cool places to work in downtown Seattle, and enjoyed my day. After lunch, I went to Seattle Center and read my book until Aaron was done with work. Just so you know, they have singing flowers at the Seattle Center. They are big metal sculptures that look like flowers, have solar panels on top to generate energy which is used to power little speakers of music. At Seattle Center, I was reading my book pretty much right under the Space Needle. Oh, that was just to prove my day was better than the vast majority of graduate students. After dinner at a romantic little Italian place called 'La Fontana Siciliana', Aaron and I went to Gas Works Park for sunset. There is some old rusted structures (from a mill or something?) on the east side of the park. The south side of the park overlooked Lake Union and had a spectacular view of downtown Seattle. We also had a great view of Queen Anne and Capitol Hill areas of Seattle. I can't imagine a better way to spend a Wednesday evening than that :)

Panorama of the view from Gas Works Park. Perfect weather. Perfect view. Perfect night.

Thursday, oh Thursday. You did not go as well as I would have hoped. My interviews did not go so well. This was because the vineyards weren't actually vineyards. They were wineries and tasting cellars named after the vineyards that grew the vines in Southeastern Washington about 3 hours away from Seattle. What makes you think I'm going to drive 6+ hours a day for a stinking job?! OH HELL NO! One lady was very rude and snooty. But the other people I interviewed with were super sweet and extremely helpful. One guy gave me three websites that posted vineyard jobs on the daily. He also brought up a map of Washington and showed me where things were located, which ones were my best options, and other places to contact. I did get some good photos and found a bunch of places to taste wine. Jeez guys! It's not like I'm a Wine-o or anything...    Immediately after Aaron got back from work, we left for Rattlesnake Ledge. On the drive there we had a great view of Mt. Rainier! We had a 2 mile 1100 ft vertical gain hike to get to the ledge. Holy moly was it beautiful. Don't believe me? Here are the pictures to prove it. (I was going to post them anyways).

View from Rattlesnake Ledge.

Just some beautiful mountains. Why don't I live here?

Rattlesnake Lake :) 

Love. Love. Love. Love.

Some grapes growing at Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery. 

Well... I don't want to spoil y'all too much so I'll stop here for now! Don't worry, I have so much to say about my weekend. Let's just say my weekend was better than yours. Now, Aaron and I are going to practice our presentations to each other and then curl up and watch some Netflix before crashing not under the stars. Sleep tight!