HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

December 25, 2011

This was our first Christmas on our own. The first time we haven't gone back to NC at some point to celebrate the Holiday.

I loved hanging Christmas icicle lights and a large lit snowflake on the house this year since that kind of thing actually happens in this part of the country, unlike Charleston, SC.

Our freshly cut Christmas tree fully decorated. We have garland on all the ledges going up the stairwell.

 

Thanks for all the Christmas Cards!

Stockings hung by the fireplace with care. I'm so glad to have real mantle this year!

Navity.

We woke up at 5am Christmas morning so we could Skype my family at the Shugart’s household and open gifts together. They put us up on their big screen TV to make it feel more like we were really there. It was great!

Chance loves her gift from Uncle Pat, Aunt Chrissi and cousins Liam and Ryan. It’s called Hide-A-Squirrel. It’s a stuffed log that has 3 squeaky squirrels hidden inside.

She was so into getting those squirrels she chased it down under the chair!

Squirrel!

Chance’s bounty.

We had a great Christmas. Snowshoes and poles for both Joe and Jackie. A new 36 liter daypack for Jackie. Waterproof brown Keen boots for Jackie. A Professional Kitchen Ninja blender for Joe. A new puffy black down jacket for winter for Jackie. A new printer for Joe. A warm wool skirt, pants, tights and sweater for Jackie. A book on campgrounds in Washington for Joe. Spandex running pants for Jackie. Kitchen Confidential book by Anthony Bourdain for Joe. A puffy green vest for Jackie. Hiking shirts for Joe. A few small kitchen items for Joe. A new external hard drive. We are extremely blessed!

My new Christmas tradition was to make my annual homemade frosted sugar cookies on Christmas Day. It was a great way to make the day a little bit more Christmasy since I didn't have family around.

What's in your wallet

What’s in your wallet?  Most people have credit cards, debit cards and reward cards from various shops and merchants.  There are different ways to obtain each card.  Some of them require a simple application, some require a membership due and some require your loyalty. 

I have a Platinum Medallion Card from Delta Airline.  Membership to the Medallion Program is free; however, the Platinum status requires 75,000 miles on Delta flights.  To acquire this many miles, I’ve travelled 10 trips from Charleston to Columbus, 3 trips from Charleston to Seattle, 3 trips from Seattle to Amsterdam, 1 trip from Seattle to Dallas and 1 trip from Seattle to Green Bay.   There were times I had to intentionally take a longer route just to get more miles.  I have spent countless hours at the airport and on the airplane waiting to get to my next destination.  I’ve worked hard for my Platinum Medallion Card.

For my loyalty and effort, Delta provides me with special treatments.  For example, I get 2 free checked bag, free upgrades to first class and priority check-in at the security line.  My personal favorite is priority boarding.  This allows me to board before the “commoners”, which means I’m in my seat with my carry-on bag stowed when the other passengers are fighting for the remaining overhead space.
God is offering a free membership to the Kingdom of Heaven.  It doesn’t require any applications or membership fees or church attendance.  No age requirement.  No education requirement.  The only requirement is that you MUST ask for it.  For your loyalty and effort, God offers the Gift of the Holy Spirit, the Gift of Eternal Life and the Gift of Salvation.  This offer doesn’t expire.  You don’t have to ask between 8-5.   You don’t need to call a 1-800 number.  When you’re ready, He’s ready.

Green Lake

December 17, 2011

It was nice out today so we went to Mandarin Chef for lunch in U District. It is known for it's hand-shaved noodles & homemade dumplings which is why Joe has been dying to try here. We were surprised at the amount of American Chinese on the menu but it was still good.

Afterwards we went for a walk with Chance around Green Lake. It has an extremely popular paved 2.8 mile path around the lake. It's one of the best areas to workout in Seattle.

After that we grabbed a beer at Naked City Brewery. it was a great way to enjoy a rain-free weekend day.

GGLO HOLIDAY PARTY

Friday, December 2, 2011

My office holiday party was this Friday night. It wasn’t until 7:30pm so I had Joe meet me for drinks and appetizers beforehand at Knee High Stocking Co. It is a modern day speakeasy. How it works is you text there number for a reservations and you hear back whether you’re in or not. We were a little late with traffic and parking on Capitol Hill, but still made it in the bar. You ring the doorbell and they check to make sure you are on the list.

A group of 4 had arrived just before us hoping to ring the doorbell and make it in, but no such luck for them. We told the hostess our name and we were escorted into the small bar. It was very intimate. Good start to a fun evening.

The Halloween party & many happy hours with co-workers has made it clear that GGLO likes to work hard and play hard. The Holiday Party is yet another testament to that. It was a ‘Call To The Wild’ theme. The venue was Fred Wildlife Refuge in Capitol Hill. It is a privately-run, collaborative 5,200 sf art center built in 1962. We were encouraged to wear ‘fur’ and animal prints. There was a photobooth set up with wildlife. I never knew how much people liked having photos taken of themselves.

There were bison burgers and cream tart things. A signature drink. Lemon drop shots for the ice sculpture moose luge.

Me & Joe. Do you see me or do I blend in too well?

Joe’s turn for a shot from the moose luge.

Joe getting into the fur theme.

The party photos.

Joe refers to this principal now as Fred Flintstone.

DevCo, my project team.

GGLO sure knows how to party!

More photobooth moments.

Two of the falls of the evening. I believe there were at least 3. Someone even had to have an MRI after this party!