Merry Merry Quite Contrary...

Today was another magical Kim day. Things that happened seemed like they just happened for me. And by things I mean snowflakes. Wet, slushy ones. They stuck together well indeed on our taught green lawns of Seattle. Thick mosses were cold and icy and white tipped. It was even quite festive to see crystalline holly berries huddling together under flakes of frozen rain. And to be honest, I needed that special feeling of a White Christmas just for this day.

Last night I wandered through the Medrona (read: affluent Lake Washington overlooks and million dollar homes) neighborhood just up the hill from me and piped holiday tunes through my iPod earplugs. A short while later I was whipping up sugar cookies in perfect assembly line style while swooning over you-know-who in It's A Wonderful Life in all his handsome greyscale glory. It was an excellent diversion from missing my friends and family back home. I felt for a moment like I was surrounded by a manifestation of my old holiday spirit back in Minnesota. It was sweet and happy. It was sigh worthy at moments - perhaps fueled by the Pinot Noir bought in conjuncion with three curry kissed somosas at a deli that happened to still be open after dark on Christmas eve. They were so filling I could only eat two.

This morning I woke up feeling no change. Sensing no spirit. No unhappiness or self pity underneath the empty, but just like any other Tuesday. The general consensus seems to be many of us felt this way today. Whether I was two hours away or not, no matter, my brothers, my friends, many of us were flying solo today. And when the temperatures here obliged, I was able to feel like we were sharing not only a quiet day called Christmas, but the same environment too.

Ok ok ok, so the actual accumulation was insanely imbalanced. I see that. And at this point I would like to mention that I am in no way equating my 1/4" of white stuff with that 10x as high back in the area codes that own 612, 651 and 952. I understand my delight is answered louder with groans and complaint, car accidents, and fishtailing back home. But oh golly, how much I was taken away with glee when I saw it come my way for just a few hours. The clouds connected us today. It made me yearn for another walk through the sidewalks of Seattle.



And as the trees dumped thawing clumps of water into that annoying space between your neck and your sweater neckline, I realized how much I simultaneously needed the snow to feel at home now, but hated the cold. It was a good match. Firm and fair in its moral to me on this day celebrating Christ's birth. The sound of slushy puddles taught me well today. A story well worth remembering and living through. An experience worth adding to a life lived. And exactly why I needed to move in the first place. Even through the pain and countless people missed, this is what widdling out a new chapter is about. Next year I can't wait to see what happens. Another miracle I'm sure.

Wishing you small miracles that seem custom tailored...

Love love love, (and ho ho ho)

K.

Oh and....

Someone buy me this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Road-Bicycle-with-Campy-Restored_W0QQitemZ120197203336QQihZ002QQcategoryZ98084QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting

$800 by December 22nd. You know you want to.

Or I'll take waterproof bike tights too. Whatever.

Wishing you wishes and Christmas Lists...


Love love love,

K.

Lazybus..

One of my reasons for moving was to up my 365 type status of cycling. While I rode all last winter, I didn't particularly look forward to winter riding. But it seems the rain here in Seattle is just as dampening to my spirits... pun intended.

Today, yesterday, and come to think of it.... Monday too, I caught and transferred my way to work over an hour each way via the bus. It's been slick or windy or cold and annoying and I'm not in the mood to ride 8 miles each way with hills in between me and my workplace. It all gets me wondering: Would I be riding more in Minneapolis right now? Would I have invested in a better winter bike and gear and actually enjoyed it with motivation to go meet people? It's hard to say isn't it? You never do know what your alter ego could be up to in "what if" land. So I'm going to just stick with that, overall it's nicer to bike here in the winter. Even if I do take week long breaks from the Torpado. I made a promise to myself to actually do a recreational ride tomorrow. We'll see how that pans out.

I made a whole list of what my bus ride is like today. I was dressed in a spylike trench coat and scribbling my thoughts onto my Moleskin notebook with attention to detail. But unfortunately after my lunch, and a phone call, I ran out of time. I'll have to continue another evening with a play by play of the Seattle Transit Magic. You won't want to miss it. Exciting stuff I'll have you know.

For tonight, I'll just wish a happy week of Christmas lights, snow, hot cocoa and sugar cookie cutouts to those who are "christmas people" like me. I can't do any of that really this year. It seems strange to not have a tree for the first time in years. To not have a holiday party or meet the girls to check out the Macy's Display in downtown Minneapolis. But I can envision it. All of it. It makes me happy to pretend and remember. I think of all of you and probably don't blog because I miss it all so dearly and dreadfully. Down to the last slushy street corner and the sound of Nokians on the icy driveways. You are my Christmas, Minneapolis and in between. Have a very merry Wednesday! Don't start getting tired of it yet. Soak it up for me.

Wishing you appreciated holiday cheer...

Love love love,

K.

Pros... Cons....

These last... what... 16 or 17 days have been busy. I've moved to my permanent abode - cleaned and satisfied my animalistic cravings to nest up the place within my first two days. In between working shifts at the restaurant and sitting on my butt watching the rain pour from every direction, I've been meaning to update the blog. Heck. Everything is worthy of a post. My whole world is new. My city is big and full of details to record over the Internet. My energy and drive to do so however, seems at a record low. Time spent actually chatting with those I care for and miss intensely overshadows me trying to capture a coffee shop (the one I'm in is close to my work and lovely and I frequent it a lot) or a walk around my neighborhood.

I miss people more than I miss blogging. So I think the latter loses out. But I am resolved to make sure that doesn't keep being overshadowed by Google Chat or readings of Bike Love and wistful sighs. This incubation has to end sometime. Right? I can't hole up on the couch all the time. History shows I eventually stop drinking hot cocoa (now coffee) and venture to explore my city and make real true friends. It took a good month or so when I was 19 and moved to Minneapolis. My brother was probably excited when I wasn't perpetually inside his then basement apartment. Kid sis must have been annoying.

So then. With many subjects to cover where to start? How to tie that neat little bow around it all? Thanks to Wendy Waitress' suggestion, I'll just run down a comparison of my two cities. Today marks the month long anniversary since I moved here. Seems as good a time as any. Here we go:

The Most Obvious: Weather

Seattle: Today is dry and 46 degrees F.
Seattle: It just rained for 3 days straight - hard. It was a near record rainfall.
Minneapolis: It's snowy and way colder and a pain to ride around in sometimes.

Rideability

Minneapolis: The streets are flat and way better maintained. By comparison way less potholes, strange bumps and glass/objects in the road. Also, actual stop signs in residential streets so I can expect a car to be either going through or slowing.
Seattle: Here you just have to make sure you look more aggressively to see if cars are coming. However, cars are way more cautious at red lights and pedestrians rarely jay-walk. True. There are, however, massive hills that make riding feel like more of a chore than ever before.

City Pretty/Gritty

Minneapolis: White snow before it melts makes everything pristine and pretty. Even after it's been mucked up, it makes the cars quieter and life more insulated sounding.
Seattle: With no snow coming, fallen leaves are left to rot and decay all over. They are washed to bottoms of hills and sit there brown and squishy to walk over.
Seattle: It's still green and grass and moss grows out of every crevice: stone retaining walls, sidewalks. Tree's bark glows lime green with minute patches of moss on them.
Seattle: When the clouds clear - you see the ocean. And the mountains.
Seattle: The industrial loading docks are fascinating.
Minneapolis: The quaintness of downtown all done up for Christmas is something to be sure to catch.
Minneapolis: The walks around uptown/Wedge/Caffetto and the Lakes in the dead of winter.
Seattle: The buses are cheaper.
Minneapolis: The bus system is easier with less rules and longer transfers.

Wishes and Dreaming:

Seattle: More dogs. Cute ones. Many of them Sweatered.
Minneapolis: More Brownstone buildings to add romance to the city.
Minneapolis: Small, independent and cheap places I know I like to go to to shop.
Seattle: 8.8% Sales Tax.
Minneapolis: No Tax on groceries or clothes.
Seattle: Sunsets.
Minneapolis: More houses decorated for Christmas.
Minneapolis: Savers.
Seattle: Nutcracker statues scattered around downtown with various decorations. I guess all the big cities are doing this.
Minneapolis: Macy's 8th Floor Show.
Seattle: Cupcake Royale.

Friends:

Minneapolis: Wins.

I'm sure there's more. I'll post a new quicker version on each month anniversary. Be especially looking out for February when I go back to the motherland to race/sit out the Stuporbowl.

Special love to Pops for helping me get settled last week. And to all you who put up with me taking 80% of your workdays to talk to me, or say up 2 hours later to talk to me. You have made all the difference. I'm enjoying this journey and full of complete and utter cluelessness on how it will all turn out. So far things have been flowing my way. I'll take you along with me... promise.

Another post Friday. Guaranteed or your money back.

Wishing you nothing but Pros wherever you are...


Love love love,

K.