happy bikes.

I spent last weekend in Portland, OR visiting Bbo and her boyfriend, Will. They moved from Seattle to Portland last winter and I've missed having them here a lot. We had so much fun just chatting, going out to dinner, laughing, and catching up on our lives. Love them!

I know biking is big in Portland and I was curious about the possibility of finding a vintage cruiser bike to bring home on the train. After some craigslist shopping and finally landing at a swap meet (The Recylclery), I found my new ride. The bike thing is contagious in Portland. Everywhere you look bikers are happily commuting. Its almost like not having a bike is as close to not having a car while living in the suburbs. Not an option. I started looking up some statistics and found that Grist ranks Portland the #2 green city in the world (behind Reykjavik, Iceland) and yet again bikes are mentioned:“The City of Roses’ approach to urban planning and outdoor spaces has often earned it a spot…It also runs a comprehensive system of light rail, buses, and bike lanes to help keep cars off the roads…and more than 74 miles of hiking, running, and biking trails.”



Seems like I found the perfect souvenirs from my Portland visit = biking patches and a shiny new Schwinn.

Squamish, B.C.

I spent time last weekend up in Squamish, B.C. with Bess, Josh and friends. The possibilities for outdoor fun are endless there including climbing, mountain biking, kayaking, hiking, skiing, and...horseshoes. We did more relaxing than anything but managed to sneak in some tennis [which I'm becoming obsessed with]. It was so nice to get out of the city and breath::Make a great dinner::Sit around a fire::Enjoy cheap beer and good conversation.

Tim.

Growing up I always knew I'd be "friends for life" with my girlfriends. This is still true even with one of them in Hong Kong, the other in Chicago and myself in Seattle. Then I went to college and met another bunch amazing women and as we approach the ten-year mark to the fall season we all first met, I'm certain we too are "friends for life". Over the last six years since graduation and entering into the world of offices, paychecks and no more summers off, I've met some of the most lovely people. I had never expected to add co-workers to my list of "FFL", and yet, a handful of them are my very best friends. One of them noted he doesn't have a single mention or picture on my blog. So here goes, Tim. My relationship with Mr. Tim all started with an invitation to "cook" him hamburger helper at my apt. You see, Tim is a restaurant connoisseur and is well-connected in the Minneapolis restaurant scene. He loved my hamburger helper though, and over four years later we are insanely close (and I don't make HH anymore). For a duo with a fifteen year age difference, we both act like we're about 6 when we're together. Lots of crude comments and stupid humor and he is quite possibly the funniest person I've ever met. Spending time with Tim is like an addiction. You simply cannot get enough. Tim has also been an incredible sounding board for just about every major decision in my life: to buy a condo, which condo to buy, which couch to buy, which renovations to make, moving to Seattle, new job, newer job, relationships, on and on and on. When stewing over just about anything he is usually the first phone number I dial and he's always insightful and gives great advice. He's smart, fancy, fun, well-read, a good listener, a good conversationalist and he has a toilet that washes your private parts. All who meet him love him. Me included. I've also come to meet and spend holidays with his sister, Sue, and her family who live here in Seattle. Tim will be out here visiting early next month. I can't wait.

-Doodle

Sunday sun.

After an entire "Andrea" weekend - which usually consists of cleaning, projects, going to movies, shopping, reading, working out and other much-needed antisocial behavior - I decided to head out and meet up with a group of friends at Alki beach Sunday afternoon. The weather was beautiful. Bocce. Seafood dinner at Dukes. Its finally starting to feel like summer in Seattle.





(For all you Bennies, that's Wendy R in the picture below. She lives in Seattle now!)

tennis lessons

The first lesson. It was tougher than I'd expected! I wasn't as good as I'd hoped to be...especially because of the ping pong skillz. BUT, it was only the first of ten lessons. I did learn how to use a Continental grip!

Whoops! I shot Bess with the zoom on.. She looks like a real tennis pro though!

new. great. friends. +

Recent trip. Good times. Great people. Life is good.

Circa 1995.

My high school friend, Brian ("Swanny"), passed away last week. My prom date actually. Brian was a pretty fantastic friend to me. I'm sure there are countless people who could say the same. He was absolutely genuine in every way. He never hesitated to tell you his true opinion. He was there for me whenever I needed him. In fact, one of the last conversations I had with Brian was while he was in the hospital and I told him of an unfortunate, recent event in my life. The first thing out of his mouth was, "Andrea, why didn't you call me? You know you can always call me."

We had remained close over the years getting together for dinners and catching up usually over a drink. I'll never forget watching his softball games and heading to the Choo Choo afterward to celebrate with Jimmy, the bartender..who also loved Brian. Sunsets restaurant in Wayzata. Bonfires out at Tom and Debbie's. Champs, Kirins, Bennigan's. The chipmonk story. Any story for that matter. Disagreeing on politics and gun control issues. Hearing Brian's laugh. Giving advice on girls. Receiving advice on practically anything. And all in all, just having a good time and enjoying each others' company. Swanny led a life he should be proud of and I'm so glad I knew him.

I'll miss you, Brian.