Day 6: 20 Favorite Things About Seattle

The rain.

I love the diversity of people.

Evergreen. It's green all the time. There aren't many leaves that fall, or generally lacking plants; it's green all the time everywhere.

A plethora of restaurants. Trying new food is one of my favorite things to do, so the amount of options that are available please me.

It's its own intellectual hub. Boeing, Microsoft, Amazon, etc. It has one of the highest populations of college grads, and is the city with the most bookstores in the U.S.

Different towns within a close proximity. It's easy to find a place to be. Whether you're looking for somewhere specific or just looking for a general place, you'll be able to find it within a half an hour. (Most likely.)

I love being in West Seattle.

Going Downtown.

Thrifting in Fremont.

Going to the U-District.

The people are friendly, or at least pretend to be most of the time,

All of the coffee shops.

Eco-friendly, environmentally conscious society, where recycling is common and compost is
'all the rage"

Being surrounded by bodies of water.

The nature. You can go to a national park, there are tons of mountains, and the greenery is beautiful. Having the accessibility to go and hike or go camping is great for the possibilities of adventures.

Eclectic neighborhoods.

Architecturally diverse. I'm not sure why (in the historical context) but every building/house/structure is totally different than the next. You can take a walk in any area and admire all of the different buildings.

The music scene. So much music comes out of Seattle, and a lot of it is relatively unknown. It's a haven for artists and musicians alike where they can cultivate their passion of the arts.

Everything is modern and vintage simultaneously. Like the facades of buildings have a cool glass element with traditional brick, or wood paneling with slate. What people wear, might it be an old suit tailored to a new fit, or a combination of the old and new. The juxtaposition of contemporary culture finds a perfect mix into all of the other eras in the Seattle area.

Abnormality is normality.

Day 5: An elaboration on Day 4.

So a few things have already gone awry with my series of posts (like this is supposed to be day six, and this post isn't even a list of 20 things) but I'll make up for it soon. This past weekend was, to put it lightly, awful, so time was scarce.

Anyways, it seemed like a few people were curious about some of the things I've done so let me explain them.

#11 - Swam across the Puget Sound. In my local area, there is a well known family in which all of their children were swimmers at my high school (before I attended.) Well, one of the sons died in a car crash so one of his friends set up a memorial foundation in which every summer he would organize a 2.3 mile swim across part of the Puget Sound. All of the funds raised go towards swim lesson programs in our community. Not only was it my only open water swimming experience and I was freaking out the entire time, but I somehow managed to be one of the all-time fastest finishers.

#16 - Basic cooking skills. By this I am not implying that all I can do is boil water and toast bread. I mean that I most technical skills needed for cooking almost whatever I want. I really enjoy trying new recipes, and following someone else’s instruction is sometimes easier than just guessing. Although experiments occasionally lead to delicious things...

#17 - Designed and produced clothes for my high school swim team. My senior year of high school I was a captain for our swim team. Overall I extremely disliked it because the coach was passive aggressive, condescending, and doesn't even know how to swim, while none of the other captains did anything (they literally did nothing.) BUT one of the duties I took on was team gear. So I had the freedom to design the sweatshirts, sweatpants, tee shirts, etc. that the entire team was to order. I learned how to correspond with a manufacturer and eventually my graphic designs were being worn by the entire team. It was pretty cool.

#19 - Getting my eyebrow pierced. It was one of those arbitrary spur-of-the-moment things. One of my close friends had mentioned that I could probably pull off an eyebrow piercing. So in a state of spontaneity, (it was April 1st mind you) I asked my parents if I could go get my eyebrow pierced. They thought I was joking and agreed to it. So i drove off to the mall and met my friend there, and I got my eyebrow pierced. I only had it in for about a month and a half, because I took it out for prom and it sealed over when I tried to put it back in. It was cool while it lasted, but it also made my eye twitch a lot because I could see it out of the corner of my eye and my body assumed there was something in it. Since then I have thought about other piercings, but I don't think my face is one for putting holes into. I've been thinking about small gages (like really small) but all of my East coast friends said that they'd disown me.



This is the only picture where you can actually tell there is actually a piercing, so
just accept what it is.

Day 4: 20 Things I'm Happy I Did

The lovely Nicola suggested that I write a list of things that I am happy that I have done, so it made me think a bit about all the different things I've done, especially the ones I'm really glad about. Since I've had a really stressful weekend it was nice to force myself (that sounds awful, but it's true) to think about all the things that have made me happy. I would elaborate on this list, but time is short and it has not been an easy feat to come up with all of these things for these lists.

If you're curious about any of these, just ask!

1. Went to school at RPI
2. Started club swimming
3. Was a swim coach
4. Started blogging
5. Participated in the International Baccalaureate program at my school
6. Learned to play the saxophone
7. Read a lot of books as a kid
8. Went on a road trip last spring break
9. Decided to go to training trip in Puerto Rico last year
10. Getting into style/fashion
11. Swam across the Puget sound
12. Wrote a song with Honora
13. Performed in a school musical orchestra
14. Met Amy (as a child)
15. Wrote my extended essay on De Stijl
16. Learned basic cooking and baking skills
17. Designed and produced the clothing for my high school swim team my senior year
18. Volunteered to speak on behalf of keeping Evergreen pool open.
19. Got my eyebrow pierced.
20. Went into architecture school.

Day 3: 20 Favorite/Least Favorite things about going to school across the country

I believe it was Maggie who asked for me to answer this one. I placed 10 of my favorite things about going to school in New York down (in no particular order) followed by 10 thing's I dislike about going to school in New York. Some are more college related and others are more actually focusing on being on the opposite side of the country from home.

Favorite

1. I get to experience the East Coast.

2 .I get to tell people I go to school in New York I have friends from all over this (East) side of the country now. Even if they think that New York City is the same thing as the state of New York.

3. The leaves here change color and fall off, and in the spring there are ones that bloom. That doesn't happen with pine trees.

4. It's like I'm actually independent. Obviously I'm not completely independent as I still go home to my parents for holidays and the summer, and I still rely on them for some monetary needs, but that is besides the point.

5. The states are all really close. Like we had a swim meet in Rhode Island and we stayed in a hotel in Massachusetts. At that point in time, I had not been to either state.

6. I get to experience new places and people.

7. East Coast Prep style. Boat shoes are the best now that I've been introduced to their potential, but I have fun mixing the east coast prep style with my west coast eclecticism.

8. The weather can actually be predicted.

9.  I have friends from all over this (East) side of the country now.

10. The old/antique feel of the buildings.

Least Favorite

11. The fact that a lot of buildings are in fact, old. And thus, falling apart.

12. Not culturally diverse. I miss the diversity of Seattle and all the acceptance of differences that have produced a functioning society.

13. Conservatives. Don't even get me started.

14. The humidity. It is so gross.

15. I can't go home for breaks.

16. I don't have a car. Which I wish I had because a) I like to cook and I don't have an easy way to get to the store b) I like to go and do things (which sounds super broad, but I'm just trying to say that I am unable to leave this town independently) c) I have to rely on others for rides and d) I miss blasting music and singing in my car.

17. The plane rides. Are. So. Long.

18. The 3 hour time difference from the West coast. I have trouble communicating with my friends and family since I'll be up way before they are, or be asleep before they are.

19. My "accent." Apparently I say the words 'bag," "leg," and other words with "a's" and "e's" in the middle. I draw the vowel out and it turns into more of an "aye" sound. Didn't realize that before coming here.

20. Storage/transportation of stuff. It's difficult to continue to transport all of my belongings from place to place ever time I move locations. Especially since I have SO MUCH STUFF.

Are any of you experiencing being far away from home?

Day 2: 20 Favoirte Places To Be/Go

 Location #11 (source)

Location #15 (source)

Location #2 (source)

For day two, here is a list of my favorite places to be/go. I can't remember if this was one of the many suggestions provided to me, but regardless I enjoyed writing this. I was overwhelmed with a sense of nostalgia at each location, remembering all of the great times spent and how happy I can be with something as each to change as location. Some of these are general places (3,5,9, 13, etc.) and some are specific locations that I just love going to, or being a part of.

So in no particular order....

1. Fauntleroy - The quaint cottages on the waterfront and the eclectic neighborhood shops would be somewhere I could never get tired of.

2. Endolyne Joes - My favorite restaurant. The fact that they change the interior decoration theme and menu to match every three months makes it a new experience each time I visit. (And as a tradition, I take one of my closest friends, Kerina, there from breakfast every year, for the past 3 years.)

3. In the heart of a big city - Feeling the pulsation of life, the greatness of the world, and the smallness of me. The diversity of people, stores, architecture, restaurants. It puts things into perspective, and gives you one of your own.

4. Pike Place market - A smorgasbord of fresh produce, handmade goods, and embodies the daily whimsy of Seattle.

5. A coffee shop - To smell the coffee roasting, enjoying the fact that there will be no interruptions. A place to reflect the weight of the world, and letting it melt off of your shoulders.

6. Antique/thrift shops - You never know the stuff you can find, unless you look. It's like a mini-adventure every time you enter.

7. At my grandma and grandpa's house in Arizona

8. West Seattle - Similar to other locations in the greater Seattle area, there is great food, great little shops, and generally a fun place to be.

9. Bookstores - Who doesn't like being in bookstores

10. Mike and Ben's Apartment - This is the apartment of some teammates on the swim team, and I'm literally welcome to go over whenever I want. Like, if they had a 4th key they'd probably give it to me. Anyways, it's a place I can go to get away from... lots of things. Also, I steal their kitchen space to cook/bake when I go over there.

11. Portland, OR - Literally the most casual location ever. Also, amazing food, and everyone has a tattoo. No jokes.

12. Washington, D.C. -  The amount of history in this city is amazing. Since there are restrictions on building heights in parts of the city it's not an overwhelming location, and full of things to do/see. I went during spring break last year and would love to go back.

13. Libraries - A quiet place surrounded by nothing but books. The best.

14. Ponce, Puerto Rico - I went here on a swim team training trip last fall, and not only is it beautiful and there are sandy beaches and warm ocean water, but culturally it's interesting as well.

15. Faneuil Hall, Boston - Well Boston is fantastic anyways with it's juxtaposition of history and contemporary culture, but specifically Faneuil Hall is a cool center hub that is almost like a giant mall with food, shopping and a  historical context.

16. Wherever I call a place "my room" - Whether it's my home or dorm, the feeling of going to your own private space is a comforting one, especially after a long day of dealing with people. Yeah, people.

17. Dreams Resort (Cancun, Mexico) - I went here on vacation with my family like 5 years ago, but I loved the beaches and all the amazing food and activities available (although it's totally a tourist location in which the city revolves around incoming visitors, and thrives on the wealthy who visit)

18. Anywhere on a beach/near an ocean really.

19. Restaurants that I've never been to - I like going to new restaurants, trying new foods, embracing a different atmosphere and looking at how a place decides to decorate. This usually applies solely to reputable places that wont give me food poisoning....

20. Home.

Have you been to any of these places? Do you like them as much as I do?

Day 1: 20 Favorite Smells

Today is the eleventh of October, and in twenty days it will be the thirty first of October. That day not only marks Halloween (yay!) but also my the day in which I turn twenty. Thus, I shall now begin

20 LISTS OF 20 THINGS FOR EACH DAY LEADING UP TO DILLONS 20TH BIRTHDAY.

For day 1 I completed a suggestion from Amy, wanting me to list 20 of my favorite smells.
I used to have a better sense of smell than I do now, and I fear that I may end up like my mom who has lost her sense of smell for the most part. It amazes me how many different scents are produced in the world, and here are just some of my favorites.

1. Rain - I'm such a Seatllite, but I love the smell of rain, especially just as it's starting up.

2. Coffee - I think I like the smell more than the taste a lot of the time.

3. Peppermint - Especially around the holidays, but whenever I catch a whiff of peppermint, the immediacy of its scent overwhelms me, in the most refreshing of ways.

4. Rosemary - Find a rosemary bush. Rub a sprig in between your fingers. Smell. That's all I have to say.

5. Basil - See number 5.

6. Old Spice - Like the deodorant and body wash for men. I like the way it smells.

7. Pine tree - Real pine scent from a real tree, none of that fake stuff you hang on your rear view mirror.

8. Laser cut MDF - Not many people can relate to the love of this smell, but those who do know what I'm talking about will agree with me.

9. Smoke from birthday candles - I don't like smoke, no. But there is something about these candles, not even regular candles, that I just really like getting the slightest smell of.

10. Leather 

11. Lemon zest - And most citrus smells actually. One of those odd sort of sweet-and-sour-confuse-you-senses smells.

12. New book - No explanation necessary.

13. Shaving cream -  I don't particularly like it in my nose, but for some odd reason I like the smell of it.

14. Vanilla - It's comforting and nostalgic to smell vanilla.

15. Baked goods, in the process of being baked

16. Raw fish - This is probably the only really weird one, but I really like the smell of fresh, raw fish. Like the salty, fishy smell, not like how cat food smells or something like that.

17. Chai tea - Just one of those things that smells magical, like you could smell it and it would grant you three wishes. Magical.

18. Marinara sauce

19. Balsamic vinegar

20. Crisp, clean air - Especially after being in a musky room, with no air circulating and you step outside and the wind blows directly into your face and right as you inhale your lungs are filled with this delightfully crisp air.

What are some of yours?

A little bit of NYC lovin'

 

A few weeks ago, I realized I had a three day weekend (school off on Monday for Columbus Day, which I never celebrated at home...) and knew what I wanted to do. I wanted to go to New York City.

 

I've been meaning, well more like lusting, to go ever since coming to the East Coast. So I contacted Natalie, who is only going to school an hour away from me, and Anastasia, who lives in the city and started planning. I needed this to happen. I needed an adventure, and I definitely got one. 

 

 

It was just an awesome day. Hanging out with Natalie, and meeting Anastasia who is, quite frankly, awesome. She took us all around, even though it was raining all day, to fancy doughnut shops, all throughout the subway, to central park and time square. To SoHo, and thus Uniqlo (where I could hardly contain my giddy). To a cafe called cafe cafe cafe cafe, and around to dinner at a wonderful Italian restaurant. And she baked us pumpkin cupcakes.

It was just an awesome day.