jazepants

All moved out

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 07:05:05 GMT

Moved out of our house today.

Feel a little nostalgic and sad at the moment. Mike and I moved into the Queen Anne House just before we got married (four and a half years ago), and have had a lot of memorable moments there.

All I can say right now is that Steve and Erin are amazing! They are giving us their guest room for the next few months (about three, hopefully not too much longer, we're just finishing saving a down payment).

In such bleak times, I feel blessed to be surrounded with amazingly generous and loving friends.

Have I mentioned lately that I am busy?

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 19:39:15 GMT

I am suddenly overwhelmed by all the things I have to get done. I am taking 14 (in the old Web Design program at Seattle Central Community College), working 4 shifts a week at the Steelhead Diner, TAing for typography (that's "TA" as in teacher's assistant, get your mind out of the gutter), moving, and saving to buy a house. Oh, and the house I am currently living in is all torn up, and getting a quick face lift before it goes on the market. So busy, so broke.

Moving

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 18:10:37 GMT

After going to an open house with my folks yesterday, Mike and I realized that our house will sell faster if we move out and my folks hire someone to stage it. So that means bumping the moving date up to the weekend after next. In some ways this decision is a relief. I was not looking forward to keeping the house immaculately clean, and having real estate agents tromping in and out with potential buyers day and night. Being in school and working is hard enough. But this also means we are moving the weekend after this one! Yikes.

My house is very torn apart right now

Sun, 08 Feb 2009 19:00:11 GMT

But the upside is that we have started packing and taking stuff to Goodwill.

Yesterday we went and got ourselves a storage unit at the old Public Storage, a mile from our house. We got a screaming deal because it was a "funny" unit, number 666 (I guess that's not a selling point for most people). That's right we have the devils storage unit, all 150 square feet of it. Rock!

Stories from the road part two

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 01:15:42 GMT

At our first music festival of the vacation, Get Loaded in the Park, we were lucky enough to see Iggy Pop! There were lot's of other bands I can't remember because I was busy indulging in my new favorite hobby...no drinking has always been my favorite hobby sillies, I mean my new one; taking pictures of funny looking strangers.

Kids that were very obviously very high on e.

The pirate look is huge in London, but I think he's alone with the drawn on eyebrows and mustache.

She's just super cute.

Interesting veils.

I have hope for future generations.

Oh and I suppose these girls look pretty silly too!

Luggage Ferry

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 16:59:51 GMT

In other news the luggage ferry visited our house in the middle of the night and returned our lost bags.

Yay!

Installment One of Short Stories From the Road

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 16:57:52 GMT

I love the Irish, never have I met a friendlier, cheerier or drunker lot of folks.

This story takes place in the food court at our hotel, Monday morning after the Electric Picnic.

After a hard weekend of drinking, dancing and generally abusing my body, but having the time of my life, I get up to make my way to the Airport. Having only slept four hours the night before I was understandably confused, standing in the food court at out Hotel, staring into the drink refrigerator trying to decide what sort of liquid would best cure what ails me. A lovely Irish employee made the most cheerful conversation...

"You've been at the Electric Picnic all weekend then have ya?"
"Yes."
"How are you this morning?"
"Fine."
"No your not, your a wreck!" (said in the most cheerful way possible)

And how could I argue?

Back in Seattle

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 20:59:26 GMT

Landed late last night after a whole heck of a lot of traveling. Our airport experience was less pleasant than usual since we were all sick, and they lost both Mike's and my luggage, but all I can think is that I want to go back to happy rock tour land.

Check out a picture of Steve as a genuine rock star!

More details after more napping...

Ireland?!

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:31:37 GMT

The rock tour has officially kicked off! Hopped on the bus around 11pm last night. After some drinking and a little sleeping I woke at 8 am to tour manager Barry informing us that we had to disembark for the ferry ride. Oh so tired, but two hours later we were somewhere in Ireland, and back to sleep on the bus. Woke up in a small town in northern Ireland called Dundac.

So feeling like a rock star after stumbling out of the bus and asking the first person we saw where we were and where to find food.

The Petroles are playing again tonight, then back onto the tour bus and off to the electric picnic!

Yay!

In London

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 21:17:12 GMT

... and having the time of my life. Off to hop on the tour bus now!

today's a haiku day

Wed, 01 Nov 2006 20:14:07 GMT

The smell of her fur
salt, earth, grains, sun warmed naps
my Kaylee dog

First Swim of the Season

Fri, 19 May 2006 17:18:08 GMT

I took my first swim in Lake Washington yesterday. I love the fact that you can actually swim in the lakes, right here in the middle of the fabulous city we call home. I managed to get out of work yesterday, and spend the whole day outside, sunning, swimming, and barbequing.

Lazy Day

Sun, 15 Jan 2006 10:32:17 GMT

Let me tell you something... you know you had good night out on the town with the girls, when it still hurts two days later. Yes, yesterday I woke with one of those hangovers; the kind that make you swear up and down that you will never touch another drop of alcohol.

We'll see how long that lasts.

Today on the other hand, while still groggy, I had the most lovely lazy-day. I'm re-reading the Chronicles of Narnia, and I finished the the third book in the series today. They are such sweet, wholesome and imaginative stories, they really bring back my childhood. Then I watched the Brothers Grim (not the best movie), and played some video games.

Currently reading:
The Horse and His Boy
By C. S. Lewis

I heart roller skaters

Sun, 16 Oct 2005 14:13:45 GMT

Rat City Rollergirls...oh how my heart beats for thee.

We just got back from the championship bout and if you don't like sports you have never seen girls in rollerscates with pretty red ruffled panties hip checking the opposing teams players into the front row of the audience. Sometimes events are too perfect to put into words.

Happy Birthday Smalls

Tue, 12 Jul 2005 04:16:44 GMT

Back from a ten day vacation in New York City, and an upstate wedding, I went straight into party planning mode. Perhaps I needed an outlet for some of the unused energy and creativity that I usually funnel into everything Burning Man, so this year I decided that Mike needed a right and proper birthday celebration.

And what says party more than a theme and some costumes? We had him a little afternoon Shag Luau this Saturday, complete with rented tables and chairs covered in cream linens (well plastic linens, but you could only tell up close), realistic looking seven foot tall palm trees, glowing paper lanterns hanging from the overhead trees, six foot tall by three foot wide plywood tikis, a couple bowls of planters punch, and a Hawaiian style spread. Did I mention the costumes? Everyone came as their favorite Shag character, so lots of sixties cocktail lounge wear, and fez's.

It was a blast! The weather even pulled itself out of the grey and gloom for the day, and shone it's lovely son on us.

So lets all wish Mike a round of Happy Birthdays (officially tomorrow, July 12th)!

Busy, busy, busy

Fri, 20 May 2005 20:12:05 GMT

It's been an action packed week here at the Fears-Eckakis residence.

As you all know Mike had his MC debut this weekend performing with the Girl Trouble Burlesque, and it went swimmingly, love you honey! All the girls did fantastically for that matter.

Monday brought excitement for me when I was pulled over in the midst of running a million errands, and heading to a less than exciting employee meeting (on my day off). Surprise, your tabs expired last month, you've won a $100 dollar ticket, but don't worry if you get your tabs in the next few days you have the opportunity to go to court and have it reduced. Oh, and as an added bonus you don't have your current insurance card in the car, never mind that you have a stack of expired ones dating back several years, and are obviously the insurance card carrying type, no you've won another trip to the courthouse to the tune of $600. Where did the back up insurance card that you usually carry in your wallet, just in case, get off to? Hmmm, must have eloped with the debit card I recently misplaced, at any rate its missing in action, making everything just a little more fun. DING, DING, DING!!!! You're the grand prize winner today.

So it's off to the DOL to renew my tabs after my meeting, and guesss what, I need and emissions test before I can renew my tabs, but no way I can make it before closing time. I guess tomorrow holds another fun filled day.

On the busy note I started a Macromedia Flash class this week, which I am very excited about. It's a fun new skill, and one more thing I can tack on my resume. Let me see, there's also been work, an eye doctor appointment, swing class, and we are going out of town again this weekend.

By the way Mike and I are LOVING our Swing class, and kicking ass at it. Fun, fun! We only have one class left. We are very excited about hitting up Savoy Swings hosted dance on the Bamboo Floor, Saturday night at Folklife. Any other Seattleites interested?

New fancy computer

Mon, 09 May 2005 20:45:16 GMT

I just got my new fancy G5 last week, and I have barely been able to tear myself away from it since then.

It is so fast!

This coupled with the fact that I have been called off of the only two shifts that I have been scheduled for since my computer came in, has amounted to a week of sitting here in this computer chair, surrounded by a halo of Kaylee's dog toys, dropped in attempt to get me to play, and a messy, messy kitchen littered with frozen food containers and empty chip bags (there might also be a few wine bottles). You might think that I would have accomplished something productive in this time, like transferring my files from my old computer to my new computer, or completing one of the design projects that I have been working on, or reorganizing all the things that were taken off of my desk to make room for the new computer.

Nope.

I've just been goofing off.

Wed, 27 Apr 2005 18:13:37 GMT

I copied this from firecathie. This quiz made me feel like a bit of a musical elitist; half of the musical movements I adore were not represented. But I suppose a lot of the bands I adore don't fit neatly into categories that can be easily quantified for quizzing purposes.

Your Taste in Music:

90's Alternative: High Influence

Punk: High Influence

Dance: Medium Influence

Ska: Medium Influence

80's Alternative: Low Influence

90's Pop: Low Influence

90's Rock: Low Influence

Adult Alternative: Low Influence

Alternative Rock: Low Influence

Old School Hip Hop: Low Influence

How's Your Taste in Music?

Great ways to goof off

Mon, 18 Apr 2005 19:17:18 GMT

Where did the weekend go, evil, evil new addiction. I speak of none other than World of Warcraft. It's so fun, but jeez it'll eat up your day, and night, and suddenly it's 4:30 in the morning, and you had better get some sleep before those damned birds start chirping all too happily about the impending return of daylight. I think maybe I need to take a few days off.

I'm also onto a new cartoon kick. I just discovered two new fantastic shows, for those of you with Tivo (or OnDemand), remotes at the ready. The first is Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends, from Craig McCracken (creator of the Power Puff Girls). It's well written, full of cute and entertaining imaginary friends, and has a really neat style of animation.

The other show I have recently discovered is The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, which is light-heartedly morbid, and very clever. Love it!

On a slightly more productive front, I have an interview tomorrow at Restaurant Zoe in Belltown. I am very excited, Zoe's has been getting all kinds of aclaim recently, and their menu sounds delicious. One of the hostess' from the Triple Door just started there, and I have the inside scoop that the servers at Zoe's are making the big bucks. Speaking of which, she makes almost $100 a night in tips just hostessing. That's all I want; to make the big dollarie-doos, is it so much to ask?

No 5 Spot

Tue, 12 Apr 2005 17:45:17 GMT

Ah well, back to the job hunt. After two rounds of interviews the 5 Spot and I have hit a dead end. Two out of the three nights that they are hiring for, I am not available. Wednesday nights I will be taking Swing Classes, and Sunday nights, well, Sunday is for Mike and I. I would have had the job otherwise. Curses, the only two days that I am not able to work.

It's all right though, I think they are just a little more casual than what I wanted. There was a little voice in the back of my head that was questioning weather or not it would really be the right move for me. Oh well, back to the grind stone.

Be vewy, vewy quiet; we'rwe hunting jobs

Mon, 11 Apr 2005 03:46:43 GMT

I had a job interview at the 5 Spot up here on Queen Anne Hill today, and it went really well. They do a three part interview, one with each manager, and I have the second of two tomorrow. There is a very good chance I might end up working there. It is a cool place, for those of you that have not dined there, they have themes (American Cuisine from varying locales) that change every three months. It is more casual than what I have been doing lately, but it sounds like a fun place to work. And the employees do all of the art work on the walls, cool huh? And it's so close to my house.

Time to make with the art

Fri, 08 Apr 2005 21:54:02 GMT

So I applied for a design internship with Goodwill a while back, and they liked my portfolio and asked me to do a sample project for them, along with their other applicants. I had a little technical difficulty with old versions of graphics software, and I ended up buying new software to solve the problem, so my project was turned in a day or two late. I got this reply:

"Thank you, we'll be in touch."

Almost two months went by and I didn't hear bupkiss (which I thought was very unprofessional considering the time and effort I had put into it). Then about a week ago I get a phone call saying that they had selected someone for the internship, but they had another project that I would be perfect for. So I am designing a newsletter for a huge fundraiser that Goodwill holds annually. It's actually more appropriate for my strengths, and involves less of a time commitment. It's flattering that they got back to me.

On top of that I just finished designing the Girl Trouble logo, and I am currently designing a logo, business cards, and website for my Parents pet project; importing religious paraphernalia from India, Nepal and other countries they travel in. I am also working on a watercolor that I might be getting paid for if all goes my way. As yet another side project I'm working on a portfolio sight for myself .

I feel like I am literally bursting with creative and artistic energy right now. Maybe its that the days are getting longer, or that I don't feel burned out from working crazy doubles all the time, or that I just needed a little break after all those years of schooling, but I am ready to create.

Last day at the WG

Thu, 07 Apr 2005 03:31:24 GMT

I had my last day at the Wild Ginger yesterday and I am really excited to eliminate an experience that I find unpleasant from my life. Life is too short, why waste my time doing things that feel like nails on a chalkboard.

Afterwards I went out for drinks at the Alibi Room with coworkers, and got a little tipsy. I came home, got a little more tipsy, and cooked artichokes with a butter mushroom dipping sauce. It might be the booze talking, but I think I hit a gold mine with the butter mushroom dipping sauce.

Mike and I also finally signed up for beginning swing classes last night with Savoy Swing Club. Classes start Wednessday April 27th for any of you who haven't jumped on the swing band wagon yet.

All in all it was a fantastic day.

I paid my penance by going job hunting today.

Bye bye WIld Ginger

Mon, 04 Apr 2005 18:00:11 GMT

So I put in my notice at the Wild Ginger and tomorrow is my last day. I was actually very dramatic and put in my notice at both the Wild Ginger and the Triple Door in one fell swoop. Enough of this crap, I'm outa here. I just had one of those days that was completely fucked and pushed me over the previously impending edge.

My GM was however very sweet and wanted to make sure that I wan't just reacting to one bad day. He also did his best to talk me into staying on a couple nights a week at the Triple Door, and then my floor manager at the Triple Door did the same. They used the sweet, sweet flattery and told me that I can pick whatever days I want to work and I can just stay on one or two nights a week until things pick up. Pretty much they said I can have whatever I want from them. Sweet.

So there I stand. Looking for a new restaurant job, but some of the urgency has been removed. Working on lots of design projects right now. A newsletter for Goodwill, a volunteer project but it'll look great on my resume. Also just finished the Girl Trouble Burlesque logo, and I am working on another project doing a pen and watercolor drawing that I might even get paid for. I also just finished my web design class and I am in the process of slapping together a portfolio site. Its just a matter or time now before the big bucks start rolling in.

It always rains in Seattle?

Sun, 20 Feb 2005 02:02:40 GMT

I had a great day today. It was a beautiful sunny day and Mike and I took the Kaylee dog for a nice long walk along the Alki waterfront. Alki is so unlike any other part of Seattle, its bazaar. And today there were, ofcourse, hundreds of walkers, skateboarders, bicyclists, and rollerbladers. We had to keep the Kaylee dog on a short leash, as much as the idea of letting her bring down a few rollerbladers gave me a chuckle.

Mike and I also filed our taxes this week, jointly I might add, which is all very exciting. We can't wait till we get our return, this year we are getting back the big bucks! For those of you who have not filed yet, you can file your federal income taxes, for free, using turbotax online. The catch is that you have to pay to file state returns, but HA HA, we Washingtonians do not pay state income taxes!