Oh, Canada

Oh, Canada, our home and native land. True patriot love in all the sons command. Don't worry, after spending the weekend in Vancouver, I'm not going crazy Canadian on you. I did, however, make Mike listen to the national anthem as we waited in line at the border to cross customs. (Thank you, 'Eh Plus Tour' Mix!). The city of Vancouver, despite the rain on Saturday, has a great character to it. I want to spend some more time there... and take the train. We boarded the Amtrak train Saturday a.m. but only made it 15 miles because there was a mudslide just north that made the track 'impassable' or something like that! That was a first for sure! I admit, I borrowed this pic from my collection from a few weeks ago. It was taken at the border, though, and it is so fitting for this blog entry!
Are you so pumped that they highlight the ARCH on the 'Welcome to America' sign?!? Way to represent STL!

Vancouver from Stanley Park. The architecture in this city really focuses on glass and interesting dimensions. None of the buildings are just a straight up rectangle. It's pretty, rain or shine.

Totem pole at Stanley Park.

On the west side of the city is Stanley park.. sort of like Forest Park but a bit more safe I think. (I hope). There is a sea wall around the perimeter that runs about 5.5 miles. Sunday was such a beautiful day that Mike and I walked the whole thing. Here's a pic from the seawall. I love the Pine of the upper NW.

Grouse Mountain.. you very well may hear more about this in the 2010 Winter Olympics!

Black Horse in a Cherry Tree

On the UW campus, there's a row full of Cherry trees. Apparently way back in the day when Japan was gifting them to the US, these trees stopped in Washington because they weren't anticipated to survive all of the way to DC. Well, they have certainly flourished, and 2 weeks out of the year they are in full bloom! Please enjoy these pics....... Blossoms
(there's really no black horse)

the whole courtyard...
Oh, and correction on the previous blog... backwards thrust doesn't help the plane land, but rather slow down... =)

Salty St. Patty's

It's been a fabulous weekend, and it's only half over! Mike's parents (Dave and Becky) are in town, and we are tearing up Seattle... despite the incessant rain. We started off the day at the Museum of Flight. (Mike and his dad are both aerospace engineers). I am such a dork that I had a great time listening to my boyfriend recite Newton's laws and tell me all about how an airplane lands by 'reversing the thrust' or something like that. Every action has an = and opposite reaction..... kudos to you if you remembered that from high school!

Later, in true tourist style (just the way I like it!), we headed down to the Market for some great foods and fun! Pike Street Intersection
Mike and Me at the Fish Co

Fish mongrel meets Dave and Becky

Mike, Heather, Becky, Dave
Pike Place Market

YUM! After the Market we made out way to West Seattle where we had a scrumptious dinner at Saltys http://www.saltys.com/seattle/. The restaurant sits right on Elliot Bay; we watched the sun set against the reflection of the buildings in the skyline of Seattle. Good food, Good company, Good wine, Good life!

Guys, Dolls, and Green Wigs

Happy Sunday! This will be a 2 weekend review all in one! Hope this finds you all doing wonderfully! Last weekend I had the HUGE blessing of being able to go home to see Steven (note previous blog entry) perform as Nathan Detroit in the Marquette High School rendition of Guys and Dolls. He was fabulous; nailed the accent and forgot not one word. He did 'rock the boat' a bit though... if you don't get that, perhaps you aren't a huge dork like me who also did this play in high school. I ,however, unlike my awesome bro, came nowhere close to a lead role! I am so proud to know him! It's like 'Nathan, I know him! ' Yeah Marquette High!
His head shot. Please don't mind the glare... on my pic or his glasses! I should keep this, it could be worth a lot of money some day!

This weekend was full of Seattle exploring that I could totally see and appreciate! I went to the eye doc this weekend (which hasn't happened in about 3 years!). Let's just say the prescription change has aided my vision very well! We found the 'Best (Zagat rated) Burgers in Seattle' which I ran off this morning in the 23rd St. Patrick's Day Dash. 15,000 Seattlites gowned up in rain gear and green wigs to get this week started of right! Mike and I were like drowned rats at the end of the 3.5 mile run from Seattle Center (space needle), down the Viaduct (along Puget Sound), and to Safeco field (where the Mariners play). It was still great fun though!

Just an example of some of the Green... some people didn't even have to put wigs on, their hair was already green. It is the west coast you know..