wanna.

I want to post so bad! I want to put more pics of the new condo..which I effin love. BUT I'm so tired. And its such a mess. The move was a success. I'm in. And its so fantastic. Come and visit, please.

Post soon.

Moving.

Well its official. I close on my condo THIS Friday. Yep. Packing. Boxes. Moving.

Here are some pictures from my actual space. I had my walk-through yesterday so the tape marks things they need to touch up before I move in. Will post more once I'm settled and unpacked.



View from kitchen

Bamboo floors. Little deck.



Happy!

Oktoberfest

Fremont (Seattle neighborhood) hosts Oktoberfest each fall. Beer. A 5K race. Leaves. Lisa, Bess and I decided to participate in the run. It doesn't even start until 9:30am. At that point you know you're running in something where the beer at the end is more important than the race itself. Awesome. No beer for us though. I followed it up with a trip to the Ballard (another neighborhood) farmer's market with Bess. Guess I'm a geezer or something. Wink.

booked.

Thailand for Christmas. Three weeks! Tim, Steve, Demitri and myself. I do arrive three days before they do..and they leave three days before me = slightly scary. But SO exciting. Trip planning is in full swing and we may try and pop over to Laos also. I'll post an itinerary when I know more. For now, just happy the tickets are booked and in my hot little hands.

Crisp.

Its been crisp lately. Fall is definitely here. I absolutely love Fall. I love a MN Fall more than anything but Seattle does the trick too. Its amazing how fast you can go from August and its happy bright sunshine to September's more stale sun and dark blue skies. Cozy. Crockpot out. Used for making appropriate "nesting" chili.

For me, Fall is such a mixture. It represents change in more ways than just the season or the leaves. Fall marks anticipation: for school to start, for the volleyball season to start, in going off to college, pulling out my coats, leaving the whimsy of summer and beginning to take everything just a bit more seriously. Fall also seems to be a really reflective time for me. I think through past significant moments in my life and recall them in such detail. I go for long runs - knowing soon I won't be able to with winter's scarce sunlight - and exchange my headphones for contemplative strides over leafy sidewalks. January marks the new year, but for some reason Fall always seems like the start. Fall arrives and I look back on all that has happened since last Fall and the Fall before that one and I can't believe I'm here. In this spot. Living this life.

MINI gets ready for winter.

She's been happily modified to carry items that otherwise wouldn't fit inside. Skis and snowboards.

(Thanks for all your assembly and attachment help, Josh!)

Cole & Weber {end of} summer party

Pre-party at the office.
Drinking on a bus.
Drinking and gambling on a boat.
At the very end, Kevin put all his chips in and sure enough, an ace turned up. Blackjack. The crowd roared. Good times.

Papa Franzen's big day

Happy Birthday, DAD! Wish I was there to give you a real hug in person.

Mom talked about you while chatting with my friends here in Seattle. She was expressing the delight she's always had in your ability to fix ANYTHING. How you two always had to visit national parks. Your photography. Moving to the farm. It was fun to see you in a different way than just Dad.

Thanks for all your support and love...and debates and disagreements on politics. [wink] Love you. Have a happy day!

Andrea Margaret Franzen

me. i'm back. as of yesterday. it feels really good, but its also very sad. a gigantic chapter in my life has closed. hard to believe. peace.


"In order to accept change and the suffering it brings, we need to find meaning in it"
--Mary Norton Gordon


"Wouldn't it be nice if our lives were like VCRS and we could 'fast forward' through the crummy times?"
--Charles Schulz, Peanuts.

fragile.

I didn't realize how fragile I still am. Yep, pretty fragile.

I would say my glass is nearly full all the time and I thrive on being happy and bright and living life to its fullest. Despite having been through some intense hardships in the last year or so I've done a good job of looking forward, being positive and keeping a smile on my face.

I learned something this weekend that made me sad. It went straight to my soul and my heart just closed. I think it closes pretty easily these days. I hope someday it can stay open even when it wants to close so badly and protect itself. I fear being fragile forever. Only time will tell.

new pod.

Well I've officially gone off the deep end and purchased another condo..in SEATTLE! Yep, I pulled the trigger and my offer was accepted on Tuesday. Psyched = me. I will have my own, little space. I can curl up in it and smile because it is mine.

It was between the Decatur building on First Hill - designed by the same architect who built the space needle - and a mid-century modern building on Capitol Hill biult in 1963. I went with Capitol Hill. Bamboo floors vs. carpet. Bamboo please.

Already purchased items for the space include two Eames Rockers. White.

Images from the listing/model. Kitchen. Living area. View from rooftop deck.

photo fun

glowing needle


trumpet-like flowers


gal in the car next to me who agreed to a photoshoot


sharp plant


overhead plant


ummm..wow.

debbie's visit.

I love my mother. She is so fun, easy-going, ..a "free spirit" she likes to call herself. Often times I call her Debbie because though she is and will always be my mother, she is also "Debbie" which I like to think is her character name. Suits her perfectly as the quirky, happy, little self who will talk to and hug anyone, leaves the cupboard doors open, and doesn't always hear you. Debbie. We had so much fun! It was great to have a family member in town to show them my life. My mom met my friends and co-workers. She spent time in all the different neighborhoods and drove around looking at condos and furniture with me. Real life stuff + some touristy stuff. I miss her a little today as my apartment is back to my single self. I wish she was still here to make me another smoothie.

Wine + friends Bess and Wendy


Pedicures



Mom under the cars at the Seattle Art Museum


Madame K's for pizza. Feather boas provided.



Golden Gardens' sunset over the Olympic Mountains


Dirty mom-and-daughter pedicured feet from the beach