*Power*

I'm sure I'm setting myself up for argumentative debate on this topic I'm about to discuss...and I welcome it! Ideas surrounding the idea of 'power' have been a repetitive contemplation for me the past week, a combination of books that subtly or overtly address the topic to real world experience (mine and others). Being an astute observer of psychology in action, I found myself re-examining this idea of 'power' that I previously perceived in a different way. I think this is why I never get bored with psychology; just when I think I've got something figured out, I tilt an idea around to a different angle and am left with yet another Rubik's Cube of both curiosity and bewilderment.

Is power a skewed and illusory perception of control and sense of self (or any particular entity, ie a country, idea, belief, culture, freedom,etc.)? Is there such thing as empowerment? What about control? How much do we really have of this idea of 'power' and 'control?' Does one's spiritual/religious (or lack thereof) mindset also influence how much power and control one wields?

I find myself fluctuating between feeling we actively choose what we empower and/or dis-empower within ourselves and our lives....to also feeling that there is no such thing as power. Where does illusion end and reality begin?

On the subject of power.....I'm currently reading a few interesting books that address the concept of 'power,' in two different ways. "The 48 Laws of Power" by Robert Greene overtly addresses the many psychological components and types of power, using 'successful' and 'unsuccessful' historical examples to enforce his key theories. I use the words 'successful' and 'unsuccessful' a bit loosely here because there are times when the examples utilized seem subjective and arbitrary, even questionably lacking honorable character. Then again, that would be assuming 'power' has a strictly negative or positive connotation. What perplexes and confounds me is the more middle/gray areas on the negative/positive continuum though, things that don't make it easy to distinguish whether something of 'power' is purely 'good' or undeniably 'bad.' Especially when it seems easily applicable to one's personal experiences in life. In theory, things are always simpler. But we don't live day to day strictly on theories.

Another book I'm reading takes a more subtle approach in examining issues with 'power.' It wasn't written with that intent, but I can extrapolate an underlying theme of power from it nonetheless.

"Beautiful Boy," a memoir about drug addiction written by an addict's father explores the overall spectrum of addiction, including the father's questioning of whether there was something he himself did that somehow influenced his son down the road of drugs. As the novel progresses (I'm on page 116 so far), it is increasingly clear that the father has no control or power over the events that unfold with his son. For the first time, I think I got an inkling of that sense of vulnerability a parent feels about wanting their child to be safe and healthy. I know I can't totally know what it feels like since I'm not a parent myself, but oddly I could sense it from the author's words. It made me wonder what I would (or even could, if at all) do if I were a parent who found out my child were somehow in danger.

I talked about this with my mom yesterday, as she (interestingly) is also reading a book that talks about 'power.' I asked her if she ever worried about Alex or I becoming drug addicts (a hypothetical example) or anything else very serious/scary happening throughout our childhoods. My mom shared with me that she never really felt she was cut out to be a parent and felt guilty from mistakes she made as a parent, but at the same time her philosophy is that realistically, we're not always going to be happy and problem-free in life. Sometimes it will be great, and sometimes it will be hard. Seems like a simple and practical outlook, but yet lost on so many 'helicopter' parents who desperately hover over their children to protect them from every conceivable thing. Again, it all goes back to power.

Do we have power and control only when we acknowledge to ourselves that it is just a matter of perception and the ability to 'let go' of it at any moment? I'm beginning to think so, and I bet you would agree with examples of your own. Think about all the times you have tried so hard to control and make something happen (or the flip side, avoid something from happening). Usually, the more you focus on it, the more futile it seems. But when you relax or stop obsessing about it, the desire for power and control diminishes. Such a hard thing to do. Why?

Because the stakes seem to be so high. But without risk and trust in the best possible outcome, there's also no sense of the EMpowerment in hindsight. Confused? Ok, here's a perfect example I was discussing with my mom yesterday in regard to my relationship to 'power.'

Living in the big city of Chicago for several years has molded me into a very independent and self-sufficient person. I was in for a shock when I got to Seattle and found myself feeling a lack of power in regard to traveling. I suddenly felt stuck, lost, and confused every time I ventured onto the Seattle Metro. I went from feeling a sense of power and independence from 'the known' of Chicago to a sense of inferiority and dependence on others here in Seattle. I don't do well with relying on other people to help me. I have no idea why, perhaps I feel I am inferior if I can't be self-sufficient. In any case, I have had to persevere despite my feeling this way and constantly depend/trust perfect strangers to help guide me to my destination. Sometimes I have felt a minor sense of empowerment (when I was able to avoid fearful thoughts of getting lost) and other times I had mini meltdowns of frustration and agitation (I let it consume me). My perception dictates the outcome.

Risk and trust. Reality and illusion. Power is everything and nothing at all.

Beautiful sad plots

I watched the movie "Atonement" tonight. A devastating tragic story with music and stunning visual effects to make it all the more powerful. I wondered if it would be boring, but I wasn't bored at all. I felt lost in the world of the characters, something I very rarely can do except when reading a novel.

Speaking of, I am also reading a great albeit sad memoir right now by Abigail Thomas called "A Three Dog Life." I stumbled across it at the Friday Harbor/San Juan Islands bookstore last weekend on one of the display tables. I like memoirs and I like dogs. Sold.

I have an attraction to sad plots. I think it's because there's so much more raw emotion to take in from a sad story than a plain and simple happy one. Stories that make me think and feel are better than cookie cutter Hollywood beginnings and endings.

Sunny in Seattle

I know, I know...so much for originality with the title, but it's true. People that don't live in Seattle are under the impression it rains ALL the time here, but yesterday and today have been absolutely beautiful. Especially today. I saw the mountains (like, REALLY saw them..clearly in all its magnificently vast glory) off in the horizon. My mom was right when she told me recently that you just can't stop staring at them (when you can see them on non-cloudy days)!

I had another interview yesterday, which went well for the most part. I didn't like the fact that the lady told me the location of the job isn't in the greatest part of West Seattle (gang activity apparently), but my mom works close to the same area and tells me it's not that bad. I was moderately reassured. The only thing I'm not reassured about is the salary aspect. I have always been pretty uncomfortable bringing up the financial factor with potential (and even past) employers. If you're too eager, you come across as greedy and selfish. If you passively take whatever's dished out to you without any kind of strategic and assertive negotiation, then well...you're a pushover. I don't want to be either one, but I don't want to be broke, bitter, or be perceived as an asshole either. What to do, what to do? I guess I can take a job that may not pay as great and continue to look for something that pays more. I don't know.

My journey to yesterday's interview took me through the University District of U.W. What a lovely, scenic area. And quiet too. I found myself getting excited and pondering to myself whether I should look for a job and place to live in that area. I remember a friend of mine telling me it's a cheaper area to live as well. Hmmm.

I just feel like I'm going through my days here with blinders on, an unusual feeling indeed. I don't always like it, but I'm trying to be patient and trust that things will fall into place soon enough.

On a cheerier note, it's incredibly wonderful not to have to wake up at 4am anymore. :)

PS...I didn't take the above picture of Mt. Rainier or the other mountain whose name I'm blanking on...but just wanted to give you a hint of what I'm seeing here (and the picture doesn't even do the real thing justice!)!

More on Washington....

(Map of Capitol Hill area...some of it anyway)

Hmmm, where to start? I've been incredibly busy since I got to Washington, which is somewhat good and somewhat stressful too. I feel bad because I haven't had much time to touch base with friends lately. And when I finally do have downtime, it seems to late to call my friends who are in a time zone two hours ahead of me. But I digress. I'm sure things will become more settled and less busy once I become acclimated to my surroundings and have a steady routine with a job,etc.

Yesterday was alot of fun. My mom, stepdad and I headed up towards northern WA to meet up with my cousin, his wife, and their son for a little day trip adventure further north. It took about an hour and a half to get there. We took a ferry ride to a place called Friday Harbor/San Juan Islands, which isn't too far from the Canadian border if I'm not mistaken. Oh, and when we drove through the toll to get tickets, I seemed to be mistaken for a 19 year old because when my cousin went to pay for our tickets (I was riding with them in their car at that point), the lady said something about two youth tickets. Ah, even at 30. Not sure whether looking 19 should be a compliment or not, but it made me laugh.

Once we got off the ferry, we went in this cool lavendar store, where I bought lavendar lip balm and lavendar pepper. I didn't know you could make dishes with lavendar in it, but I guess it's technically an herb/flower? I thought I'd be adventurous and give it a try. Maybe it will make for a tastier salad or soup! Apparently they have a lavendar field on the island where they make all their lavendar products for the store. I was hit with the strong smell of lavendar when I walked in the store. My cousin's wife Juliana and I loved it, though my cousin Ladd wasn't so much of a fan of it. hahaha.

Although it became rainy shortly after we arrived on the island (and many stores weren't open on Sunday, go figure!), we still had fun walking around looking in a few of the shops. I sampled a bit of Riesling, but restrained myself from buying a bottle. I REALLY wanted this black short sleeved shirt with 3 sequined wine glasses on the front that read underneath "Group Therapy," but I wasn't willing to pay $25 for it. Still, I thought it was funny...especially if I (because I'm a therapist) were to wear it. :)

I bought yet another book that I stumbled across at a bookstore. I have no idea when I'll find time to read all the books from my latest impulse purchases, but something to look forward to eventually I suppose.

Today was another adventure into the unknown of downtown Seattle. I found myself feeling more nervous about finding my way there than I was about the interview itself! I was glad I left when I did because it took me awhile to get there. Seattle's roads and transportation systems are different; I'm still observing and learning alot, today only being the second time I've been on the buses around here. I find myself comparing and contrasting (as I think I mentioned already in my second to last blog entry) how Seattle's buses are to what I was used to in Chicago. In this aspect, I miss Chicago. Maybe it's a case of 'the grass is greener on the other side' (because I knew where I was going in Chicago), but I also think Chicago's directions and streets were easier to figure out. Around here, it feels a little more vague. I'm just glad I was able to find a Metro Trip Planner online this morning, which is like the equivalent of Chicago's CTA trip planner. You type in your starting and ending address, hit 'enter' and it gives you a travel itinerary of how to get where you want to go. I felt a little more at ease with the knowledge of what buses to take, but anxious once on the bus. I notice they don't tend to announce or post each bus stop like they almost always do in Chicago, so if you're new you really have no clue where the hell you're going! Fortunately, I'm not afraid to approach people and ask, ask, ask away! While sitting next to this woman on the bus to downtown this morning, I asked her where the Westlake Center stop was at under the tunnel. She happened to be getting off at the same stop and was very kind to walk with me and point me in the general direction once we got off the bus. We also chatted a bit about the economy and how more people are taking the bus now that gas prices are increasing. I quickly got turned around once I started walking down 4th Ave for half a block. I retrace my steps, whereupon I must have had that "I think I'm getting lost" look because one of the helpful city guys in neon yellow and black approached me and pointed me in the right direction....diagnolly across in front of the Rite-Aid on Pike Street to catch the #10 bus to 15th Ave and Pine Street. Funny enough, I felt like I had stepped into an alternate universe of Chicago #2. Why? While I waited for the bus, it was really windy like Chicago and there was a crazy guy mumbling obscenities to himself, something that included 'heroin addict' in the phrase. The irony made me chuckle a bit. Once I finally got to my destination, I went into a co-op hipster/alternative-ish looking grocery store in the Capitol Hill area to ask for directions to Olive Street. The people were real nice; I discovered it was right around the corner. It was only a little after 1:00 and my interview wasn't until 2:00. I decided to grab a sandwich and coffee from their deli and coffee area. The weather has been great all day. I actually felt silly for carrying around an umbrella all day because I never had to use it: sunshine! But if I didn't have it, sure enough it probably would have rained....

The interview went ok. The man and woman who interviewed me were easygoing, non-intimidating. Most of the questions were easy to answer, though some of the questions were annoying simply because they were of the essay variety. I don't mind answering essays in writing, but I'm answering orally in an interview isn't my forte. I'm the kind of person who needs to think about something before I answer right away, in order to articulate in the best way. But I still think I did well. I honestly was put off by the fact that the guy never told me anything about the salary, neither while I talked with him briefly on the phone (I asked and he gave a vague generalization, "DOQ") nor after the interview. I honestly walked out of the place feeling indifferent about a job with them, which is fine because I ended up getting 3 more phone calls about potential interviews today. Two are for Child and Family Therapist positions and another one is with the same place I interviewed with today, but a Community Support Position.

After the interview, I wandered/walked down the Capitol Hill area on Pine Street. Lots of stores, coffee shops, and tattoo spots. I stumbled upon an Old Navy and needing new clothes, I went in to look for some pants. Bargains indeed! I got two pairs of pants, a long sleeve button down shirt (for work), and I found a purse that was originally $14.99 marked down to....$1.94! On my way out, as I approached the end of the sidewalk before crossing the street, I gaze to my left and see two youngsters (probably in their teens to early 20s) holding a cardboard sign saying "Need beer. Happy St. Paddy's Day." Made me laugh. I turned around to look at them again and see some guy hand them a slice of pizza from his pizza box instead. At the next corner, I spot a young pregnant woman (early 20's?) sitting on the ground against a building holding a sign that says "Homeless and Pregnant. I appreciate any help. God bless." I immediately think of Dan Savage. I wonder to myself if this is the 'gutter punk' mom whom he and his boyfriend adopted their son in the book "The Kid" I read months ago. You never know.....

It's after 4:00 by this time. I decide to head home. Fortunately, the bus route home was alot more direct and stressfree.

All in a day's 'work.'

Teriyaki and Starbucks

Teriyaki and Starbucks.

Having been in Seattle for almost 48 hours now, I have thus far observed these two things to be the popular staple food and drink items for Seattle area residents...not together of course, though I suppose one could have a tall nonfat vanilla latte with a teriyaki dish....

Starbucks is an obvious given, as everyone knows Seattle is where the Starbucks phenomenon began back in the 90's. The obsession with teriyaki around here, however, escapes me. I have been told there is a significant Asian population in the Seattle area, but think of how many different kinds of Asian food there is out there. You've got Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese (or pronounced "pho" I believe, which my mom tells me is also quite popular in Seattle), Indian, Korean, etc. So why teriyaki of all things?

I decided to do a little online investigation of sorts, my curiosity picqued as to why there is just as many teriyaki restaurants on every corner as there are Starbucks in Seattle. I found this article (http://www.seattleweekly.com/2007-08-15/food/how-teriyaki-became-seattle-s-own-fast-food-phenomenon.php) that basically justified teriyaki as a 'mutt' Asian food: "teriyaki's pedigree can be best described as a mutt of Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and European cuisines. And its origins are far more recent—and intensely local."

Wondering what all the hype was about (prior to reading aforementioned article), I decided to try a salmon teriyaki dish for lunch today. Seeing as I love salmon and I am a big fan of other Asian foods (particularly Thai food), I was optimistic I would enjoy a tasty lunch.....

But not so much. As I poured the 3 tiny condiment sized 'cups' of teriyaki sauce onto my white rice and salmon, I found myself disappointed by the overly trendy mainstream meal amongst Seattleites. First of all, it seemed like a very boring meal. White rice, salmon, sauce. No spices, veggies, or even a fortune cookie to make it interesting. Second, the sauce was too sweet for my palate. I found myself feeling nauseous and unable to finish the rice. The salmon was ok...sans sauce. I know I should give it another chance, but first impressions are vital...especially to a foodie like me. Besides, I don't like fast food much either (a double negative for me regarding the teriyaki factor).

I don't think my anti-teriyaki attitude will bode too well with loyal Seattle residents. Teriyaki to Seattle is akin to what BBQ is to Texas. You're abnormal if you don't partake or give in to a regional sense of culinary conformity. But hey, at least I tried, right? I have never been much of a fan of 'mutts' anyway.

I think I'll stick to my favorite 'purebred' Asian food: Thai. Ditto for Starbucks. Funny enough, I haven't even had a Starbucks coffee in Seattle yet. But give me another 48 hours.

From Chicago to Seattle (2400 miles)

Finally, I'm back with the blogs. I've missed writing the past week as I journeyed across the midwest to the Pacific Northwest. It's been interesting to say the least.....

Rewind to last Thursday, March 6, 2008.....

"Gotta finish packing, just a few boxes short of completing the endless task," I think to myself. I'll have a few more boxes tomorrow that I'll pick up from work, so I decide to clean my apartment from top to bottom (for the most part....minus mopping the floors...the only thing I didn't do before I moved out....too time consuming and I still wasn't feeling well from my 2-3 weeks long sinus infection/allergies). I clean, clean, clean for a few hours. A new voicemail pops up on my phone. I listen to it. Carla is crying, telling me she just found out her dad had a heart attack the day before and she's supposed to be flying in to O'Hare the following day (Friday night). Concerned, I call her back to see if both she and her dad are ok. I'm also apprehensive she won't be able to make it to Chicago with all that's happened, though I'd understand if she changed her mind. But I'm wrong. Despite the emotional news, she is just that phenomenal of a friend to not only be there to trek across America with me on my move, but also be there for her dad as quickly as she can get back (she flew back to Texas this morning)!

Friday, March 7, 2008

The alarm goes off at 4am. My last day of waking up this early, a routine I've endured the past 2 years and 8 months. I'll miss the quiet morning hours and the discipline it gave me, but I surely will NOT miss the wakeup time....somewhat akin to a military wakeup drill, minus the physically demanding aspect of their job. I head to work, feeling still somewhat surreal about it being my last day seeing all my clients, my coworkers, and PDS in general. I say goodbye to my clients, who are surprisingly supportive and excited for me. Who knew they cared?! Wow. After closing time, I'm wrapping up a phone call with my former supervisor Gail to touch base on my upcoming moving plans and I see Helen's face pop out from the corner of my office door (my friend who is a counselor at the PDS clinic downtown). Excited to see her, I get off the phone and get up from my chair to give her a hug. We chat for a few minutes and as we make our way to the front of the clinic, I see Mexican food sprawled out on the desk. My going away party! A card rests beside the food. Helen sets down a cookie cake that says "We love you Katie" along with a bottle of Jose Cuervo ready made Margarita. We both laugh at the inside joke of my reputation for margarita drinking, as well as the irony of the gesture (we are substance abuse counselors, after all). Ah, I'm gonna miss my quirky colleagues.....

I take a cab home with my prizes and a few much needed boxes for packing. I run a few errands and later head to O'Hare to pick up Carla. It's been a few years since I've seen her and when I do, comfort and the powerful love of our friendship washes over me, as she is like family to me. How many people can we rely on to be there for us when we need them most? Not many, at least in my experience. Hence my gratitude and overwhelming appreciation to see her in front of me! It takes us awhile to head back into the city via the Blue and Red line trains. I can't say I'll miss the slow CTA, especially the Blue line, but I digress.....

With the infamous wind whipping across our skin and hunger urging us on, we venture in the snow flurries in search of a late dinner in my neighborhood...my very last dining experience in my Lakeview neighborhood. Seeing as it was around 11:30pm, not much was open. Matisse bar and grill on Clark and Diversey it is! We crash for the night in my barren, disheveled apartment, falling asleep to "13 going on 30" on Carla's mini dvd player....the first of many movies to be watched on that great piece of technology to pass the time over the next several days.

Saturday, March 8, 2008

Penske truck pickup time: 11: 00 am. I haven't driven a vehicle in 6 years. Understandably, I have some reservations about hopping behind the wheel. I ask Carla if she minds driving until we get out of Chicago. She doesn't mind. I'm relieved. Temporary nervousness averted. This is soon replaced by a new, though shortlived anxiety. As we load up the majority of my stuff, we notice a car parked directly in front of us. I can't believe we didn't pull up about a foot further, as now I worry we will technically be in a tow zone after my city moving sign expires after 6pm. I even call the city to ask them if a cop will tow the Penske truck for being slightly out of the tow zone compliance. The guy I talk to on the phone is being somewhat of an asshole, but answers my question to the best of his ability. In other words: "it depends on the cop." Gee, thanks for your help. I talk to my dad (who is a cop in Florida) who reassures me that a cop would have to be REALLY anal/an asshole to tow me for something so insignificant. I'm making Carla a little nutty with my control freakish tendencies by this point, so I promise to stop dwelling/talking about it and hope for the best. The worst that could happen is I get ticketed for $50, no towing.

After the truck is loaded up minus what we can't pack until the following morning, we head to Chinatown so Carla can get some pictures for her middle school students (Carla teaches general and special education). Haul ass back to my apartment to shower/get ready and meet up with my friends Rajiv and Eddie for 'the last supper' at Peppitone's in their Edgewater neighborhood. I introduce my Texas college friend to my loyal Chicago friends. It's great to hang out with friends from my past and present under the same roof, same table. Everyone gets along fabulously, no surprise to me. Great food, great conversation and a few drinks later, we cab it back to my place and crash on the mattress on my floor. We lose an hour with the time change, but it's ok.

Sunday, March 9, 2008: Moving/leaving Chicago day!

We finally drive out of Chicago around noon I think. Carla is the first one to drive, of course. I snap a few last pictures of Chicago out the window as we drive past downtown on Lake Shore Drive. Still feels surreal. I don't think I'll truly feel like I've left Chicago for another month or so...or whenever I get a new job and apartment. Until then, it just feels like I'm on some strange roller coaster ride of a vacation!

We drive through the boring state of Iowa. What a snoozer. Thank goodness we had time passing reinforcements to get us through the monotony of that state! We listen to music, listen to audio books, talk, watch movies on the dvd player (well, Carla just listens as she drives....don't need any accidents veering off the road!) as we make our way to Omaha, Nebraska, a pit stop to see my friend Tracy and her husband Justin (who are also moving to Seattle in May!) for the night. I couldn't believe how excited Tracy was to see me as we pulled up to the house around 8 or 9pm. I love my friends. :) After hanging out and talking for awhile (I had not seen her in 4 years!), we crashed. I slept like a rock. For some reason, I always sleep amazingly well when I crash at their place, which is telling since I don't always sleep well when I'm not in my own bed.

Monday, March 10, 2008
I awoke in the morning to happily discover Tracy and Justin had called in with their jobs in order to play hookey with Carla and I for breakfast at the Village Inn before we continued on our long journey west on I-80. I still haven't driven by this point. Carla tells me she wants to drive through the whole state of Nebraska, a personal goal of hers to 'finish' the state. I oblige. The nervousness starts mounting as the next projected state approaches for me to take over the driving reins: Wyoming. I feel like a born again virgin driver. What if I don't remember how to drive? What if I forget something? What if I run into something? Ok, calm down Katie. I reassure myself that I can do this. In fact, I've done it before, only alot more arduously in a 30' Penske truck from Reno, NV to KY 7 years ago. My confidence boosts a little more with that reminder to self...minus the fact that on top of my not driving for so long....I'm also driving in the dark, a double whammie. Carla realizes later on and feels bad. I tell her it's ok, I can 'suck it up' (one of her signature phrases!). And I do just fine. I drive through the whole state of Wyoming that night, though it's sad we missed seeing such a beautiful state full of mountains everywhere in daylight hours. Oh well. We pull into a Motel Six in Ogden, Utah around 2 or 3am (Mountain time). Sleep for 5-6 hours and we're off again.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008
As I step outside after the motel checkout, I see the view of mountains off to the distant horizon and it's breathtaking.

11:30 am. I'm back behind the wheel for another 6 hours, driving through yet another boring state during the day (we seemed to hit all the pretty states at night/in the dark, typical.): Idaho. During rush hour time, I drove through a slower construction area in Boise, Idaho. I was goin the speed limit, but apparently that's frowned upon in Boise. Speed demons galore, including a biker who had the audacity to flip me off as he passed around me. I returned the gesture. I hope he got a speeding ticket!

Around 5:30pm Idaho time (Mountain time still?), we stop for food. We haven't eaten all day. We're famished, but we don't want crappy fast food either. Denny's it shall be (sadly, it was the best of all culinary options off the interstate. Carla discovered a separate "sports" (I use this word loosely, but hey they had a few tvs and an actual bar in there!) bar area/room inside the Denny's. Who knew! Our dining experience just got a tad more interesting. Or perhaps it was a beer for each of us that did it. Cheers to beer at Denny's! Carla's turn to drive.

On to Oregon next, which turned out to be another visually stunning state. Fortunately, we were able to snap some pictures before it became completely dark. I started to feel crappy and tired though (still recovering from my relentless respiratory illness, which is fine for the most part but I think I pulled muscles in my chest from coughing so much the past few weeks because it hurts to cough and sometimes just to breathe). Carla trekked through Oregon and into Washington with me either cranky or sleeping in the passenger seat 3/4 of the way. We finally pulled up into my mom's driveway in SeaTac (a town within the Seattle area, near the airport...literally like 5 to 8 minutes away from the Seattle airport!) around 2 or 3 in the morning, which brings us to:

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Carla was a real trooper the whole week. Needless to say, I thanked her for her wonderful efforts on numerous occasions before she left, a true friend.

Around noon to 1:00pm we decide to go for a walk, which turns into a spontaneous adventure to explore downtown Seattle. Even though I was tired and felt like being lazy, I also wanted to hang out and do something fun with Carla before she had to fly back to Texas the next day. She had never been to Seattle before; we had to seize the opportunity. We found a #194 bus to take us downtown and were able to catch it right away. It was so bizarre to get on public transportation in a city other than Chicago. I found myself internally comparing and contrasting certain things about Seattle to my city experiences living in Chicago the past six years, namely public transportation and the overall environment of the downtown area.

As we sat in the back of the bus, Carla and I noticed two big men and a big woman sitting together in front of us. The guy directly in front of me had a 2 tear drop tattoo under his left eye and kept passing around a paper bagged bottle of an alcoholic substance to his companions. I had to chuckle to myself. In that regard, I felt as if I never left Chicago. Towards the end of our ride, they actually started chatting with us. Carla asked them where they would go if they had one day in Seattle, what to see, eat,etc. The tear drop tattoo guy suggested one of his favorite places, a teriyaki restaurant. He also told us about cool clubs to check out, though clearly his observational skills failed to recognize we weren't exactly donning nightclub attire (we were wearing our mutual college/SWT sweatshirts and jeans). Again, I was amused at the odd randomness and simultaneously comforted by the similarity of personality to midwestern Chicago quirkiness. But more on that later....

I must say, one thing that has definitely stuck out in my mind is how CLEAN it is here in Seattle. Wow! After living in Chicago with its constant stale smell of urine and homelessness in the air, Seattle's clean streets and sidewalks are an extremely refreshing change of pace. The roads are smooth too, no potholes in the roads or construction signs to be seen like in Chicago. No need for 3 to 4 layers of clothes to protect oneself from harsh, frigid wintery conditions. No one asking you for spare change every five minutes, though I did notice a fair share of homeless people yesterday. But even THEY were fairly clean. Simply amazing. Reminds me of a funny store to share in a little while too. I'll come back to the homeless in a minute.

Carla and I walked around for 3 to 4 hours in the downtown area yesterday. We decided to buy a few disposable cameras since we left our digital cameras at home, unprepared for our impromptu excursion. Pioneers Square, the waterfront, Pike Street/Pike Market, Belltown (aka the ghetto fabulous area, which was still pretty normal and clean for the ghetto area of downtown!) and the space needle. We hit all the spots in a speedy Cliff Notes kinda way, the most one can see in a short period of time. Miraculously, the weather continued to agree with us as it had the whole week of traveling: clear skies and average temps. It didn't rain at all! We took pictures and enjoyed a scenic walk.

Story time! As we made our way to the space needle (near the slightly 'ghetto' Belltown street blocks), an older homeless man held up a newspaper or something like that. Carla was walking ahead of me, talking to someone on her cell phone for a moment. I think she thought he wanted money from her or that he wanted her to buy a paper from him because she looked at him and politely said "No thank you." He retorted back in a slightly irate tone of voice, setting her straight. "Lady, I'm trying to tell you not to get run over and you tell me 'no thank you?!'" Apparently, he was looking out for her pedestrian safety....even though there were NO cars around that warranted the left field comment. Gotta love the mentally ill homeless people to keep the city experience interesting. Carla's response? She turned around, looked at me and said "Don't piss off the homeless around here Kate!"

We also saw a sign by the piers/waterfront area that said "Drugfree zone." Carla asks me if there's a zone nearby that isn't drugfree. I took a picture of that amusing sign. hehehe.

After dinner and beer at a bar and grill known to supposedly be the oldest restaurant in Seattle (the name escapes me), it's time to head back. The problem? The bus route we took turned out to stop running after 7pm. It was 7:20pm. Great. So much for round the clock public transportation like I was accustomed to in Chicago.....

We ask a few locals, who point us in the right direction. Luckily, we're able to find a #194 bus route a few blocks down (on 2nd street) from our original travel route. We talked to a few guys in their yellow and black city uniforms, bicyclists whose job I'm guessing is to help make downtown Seattle a more user friendly city. They were very friendly and helpful. We got on the bus and it was smooth sailing from there, an eventful day.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Carla left around 6am this morning to fly back to Texas. I'll miss her, but am thankful for her being a part of my cross country moving experience. My body still hasn't quite adjusted to Pacific time (2 hours behind Chicago time), but I know I'll adjust eventually. I woke up today to the quiet and relaxing sound of slight rain coming down. Welcome to Seattle! Now if I can just land the new job and apartment, I'll be on my way in bright lights, big city #2. I like the feeling of anticipation of the unknown that is slightly out of my reach....

Chapters

There are some chapters that will always be with me. Chapters full of people and places that I wish to never forget, the proverbial top corner of a particular page folded or flagged to refer to again with nostalgia and joy in future time.....like old friends who will always love you unconditionally. Then there are chapters I would like to erase from memory, maybe cognizant of the lessons it taught me while the chapter was being written, but looking back just wasn't salvagable because it was a chapter that didn't belong in the book in the first place. Chapters I'm excited to jump forward to, but they haven't even been written yet...a work in progress. Fun chapters that combine the old with the new, strange and beautiful nonetheless. But the best chapters are the ones I am living right now, creating as I go along.