Gah

The last few days have been rough; my computer has been on the fritz and I've discovered a reliance on it I never knew I had.
It all started a few nights ago when in the middle of this, computer demons shut down my internet and held it hostage. They claimed unless I bought their virus protection, ranging in price from expensive to very expensive, I would never see my newest blog obsession again. Needless to say I was distraught.

After racking my brain for a solution besides Best Buy, who last time I entered their doors with a computer problem suggested I "just buy a new one", I made my way to the local University to see if I could wrangle help out of a bored, easily flirted with 19 year old computer science student.





Determined not to lie if asked outright, I was in the clear up until almost the very end when the faculty manager asked me to enter my university ID number to log onto the internet. Positive I was sunk I began to imagaine myself being, if not physically escorted, shamed out of the building. In an effort to distract him I turned bright red and stuttering out stories to prove how terrible my memory is; at one point I even restarted the computer in hopes of buying myself more time. Smooth criminal, I am not.
In the end my endeavor worked. However by the time my three hours(!!) of watching a computer run diagnostic tests was over I had convinced myself I had a massive crush on all three of the oh so helpful computer boys and felt I desperately a drink from the stress. Such is the price I pay for free computer help...

I heart books

If you’d asked me in elementary school what my favorite subject was my answer would have been S.S.R (that’s silent sustained reading for those of you who didn’t grow up in my time or area) and today my answer would still be the same. I’m a pretty big book nerd in general. I have dreams of someday working in book publishing, like to spend my free time cruising through bookstores and often pepper my speech with phrases like, “that’s like in this one book I’m reading…” So imagine my excitement with this week, and with Seattle in general, as it gives me the chance for two (TWO!) dorky book events. The first was a grown up round of S.S.R at the Sorrento Hotel bar in Capital Hill and the next is today at the Edible Book Festival. Sorrentino offered me the chance to drink wine and read in an organized, silent environment and today lets me eat cake representing book titles. I think I might be in heaven...


image from allposters

A 21 cupcake salute…

Did you know April 4th is the day:

• The U.S flag was designed? (1818)
• Blues singer Muddy Waters was born? (1915)
• Author Maya Angelou was born? (1928)
• NATO was created? (1949)
• Martin Luther King Jr. was killed? (1968)

It’s also the day my favorite older brother was born! (okay so he’s my only brother, older or otherwise). In celebration of the day I made these Guinness cupcakes topped with Bailey’s frosting. The frosting was a little too sweet for my liking, but I’ve taken to eating the left over cupcakes plain and they’re pretty incredible without anything on top.



Contrary to this post title Phil’s a few years past his 21 run, which is weird since I still remember well his sixteenth birthday. I’m not sure what his twenty seventh year holds for him but I found some pretty great examples (minus Jimi’s) of what others have done while twenty seven:
• Charles Schulz first debuted Peanuts.
• Marilyn Monroe married Joe DiMaggio
• Jack London wrote The Call of the Wild
• Jimi Hendrix died from an overdose
• Che Guevara met Fidel Castro
• George Washington married Martha

Happy Birthday!

p.s- I know this is a day late, I’ve been feeling a bit under the weather and wasn’t up to posting yesterday. sorry.

Reason 456 Why I Love Seattle

Time: last night, around 11:00 p.m.
Scene: A Citizen Cope concert at The Showbox at the Market.

Girl 1 stands next to girl 2 and waves her hands in the air like she just doesn’t care. Boy 1 (actually only boy in story) turns and begins mocking the dance moves of girl 1.

Girl 1 and girl 2 begin loudly expressing their dismay at boy’s mocking imitation.

Girl 2: oh you have some GREAT moves!

Girl 1 (yells): She was being facetious; do you know what that means?

Boy 1 mocks girl 1 longer then whips around: Oh no the hot girls (points with exaggeration at the girls 1 and 2) don’t like me! Ha! The hot girls: I was being facetious!!

Girl 1 in aside to girl 2: well at least in that context he did use facetious correctly…

Dammit Seattle you’ve ruined me! My book nerd/ word obsessed little heart will never be happy anywhere else now I know there’s a city where people use SAT words to drunkenly insult each other. Buy me a working umbrella, it looks like I'm here for the long haul.

Hunting for Puddles

Today Seattle has been doing its best to prove that in spite of this past week’s weather it still deserves its rainy city moniker. The gray skies have put me in a sleepy, lazy state and instead of cleaning out my car or going to yoga I’ve spent the afternoon curled up on the couch with coffee and a new book.
I’ve also been dreaming of rain boots. Since I never think of them until too late (when I wake up needing them) I’m trying to be proactive for what is supposed to be a wet week and find a cute pair. I haven’t gotten much further than Target, but I’m already in love. If I have to live in a perpetually soggy state then I’m doing it in a pair of these:



photo from Refinery29

Big Wheels Keep on Turnin'...

This is my newest instrument of torture. After a run last week made my left knee swell to porportions never before seen on a left knee or any knee for that matter, I've taken to bike riding for some much needed knee rest. The only problems so far: I'm afraid of hills, my quads have not worked this hard since I trained for a half marathon and I have what looks like a small six year old's bike complete with sweet purple and teal colors. So far my solutions are these: I'm working on getting more comfortable going downhill (though I still squeeze the brakes like my life depends on it), I'm working on toning up my quads and I am just accepting the fact I look like I stole a little kids bike (I figure the helmet takes away any dignity I once had anyway).
Today I am proud to announce big news on the bike riding front: I passed my first fellow rider. Granted he was slowing down to answer his cell phone (how this works I doubt I'll ever know) but still, I'm taking it for the victory it was. With my confidence boosted I'm now on to bigger and better things with my eye on someday completing this or this and, as a shout out to my days in Colorado, this

Of course before I complete any of these I should probably start here to look for a bike that doesn't look like I should have an angry first grader chasing after me...

See you in the bike lane!

Why'd you break it down when I'm not in the mood?

The inspiration for my blog name came one night after repeatedly watching the Scissor Sister’s “I don’t feel like dancin” video on youtube. I’m not really sure why; I don’t have any close affinity for this song though it is one that regularly squeezes its way into my subconscious while I’m sleeping, leaving me to wake up and sing it All. Day. Long.
Today though for some reason I’m in a bit of a funk and so it describes my current mood. I feel like a petulant three year old sitting in the corner with my arms crossed, a scowl on my face loudly declaring: “I DON’T feel like dancin’!” (Apparently I’m a three year old in the habit of dropping my G’s.) It’s not a fun place to be on a sunny St. Patty’s day and I’m doing my best to improve my outlook. So far I’ve been listening to Scissor Sister’s on repeat, have made plans to drink wine and eat cookies after work and am staring at this incredible Helen Levitt photo. Things are starting to look up as I write this so I think the next time that old Joanna (whatever that is) plays, I’ll be ready.