Party Crasher

The first house party I go to in Seattle makes it into The Stranger.
(My co-worker Chris (a fellow teacher, not duck captain) was the third roommate, on the right in the picture, but he got cut off in the online version. He was also wearing a "Just Married-- NOT" sailor hat.)

Anyway, I'm moving on Friday. Just across the city, though. At the end of May, I'll have been in Seattle for four months, which will be the longest period of time I have been anywhere since leaving Philly last year. Anyway, I'm hoping to get internet at this new place, so hopefully I'll have a real update soon for y'all (if anyone's still reading), like how my first day of duck tours goes this weekend and if the UW IM bio grad student softball team that I'm playing on as "Kristy Brady" makes it to the championship (which I won't be able to play in because they actually check IDs in the finals and apparently I look nothing like the actual Kristy Brady).

Sorry

I've been a delinquent blogger. I apologize to you loyal blog checkers. I would write a post now to make up for the last few weeks, but I'm going to go play softball now for the Barking Spiders, an intramural team at the UW made up of mainly biology grad students and other random people, like their roommates (one of these random roommates is this guy I work with), and now, apparently, me. It's co-ed and they needed an extra female tonight since they have to have 5 on the field at all times or else. So I'm going to stand in outfield and hope they don't hit it to me since I have a badly sprained (if not broken) pinky finger on my throwing hand, but if my job is just to stand on the field and be a girl, I should be able to manage that, right? Haha. But that reminds me, I do have a classic women's restroom story from last weekend that I will share next time I have time.

Three Books

I've read recently that you should read if you get the chance.

• Activism, Inc. by Dana Fisher

• The Boy Who Fell Out of the Sky by Ken Dornstein

• The Sex Lives of Cannibals by J. Maarten Troost

ROADTRIP

it's friday. it's sunny & 70 degrees. i'm wearing shorts & flip flops
and in a few minutes i'll be on the road. driving down the 101.

well, I5 first, but by tonight we'll be on the Oregon coast. with a campfire.

Roommate Résumé

Objective: Quality roommate with over 25 years of experience seeks semi-normal, quasi-affordable, cat-free living situation with minimal sketchiness

Shared Living Experience

Boarder¸ Mr. Chase’s House, Seattle, WA February 2007—hopefully very soon

· Arrived with box of Krispy Kreme donuts for new housemates

· Created sense of community by attempting to organize keg party one week after moving in

· Designed and implemented signage program that increased recycling by 150%

· Spearheaded unprecedented refrigerator and cabinet cleaning effort that increased storage space by 250%

Housemate, 2209 Washington, Olympia, WA October 2006—January 2007

· Cleaned bathtub daily

· Did dishes

· Took bus to Bed Bath & Beyond to replace glasses broken

Houseguest, 2519 Firland Street, Tumwater, WA September 2006

· Folded up pullout couch daily to minimize impact of long-term house stay

· Bought hosts Season One of The Office and colander to reduce burns when cooking pasta while stoned

Roommate, The Deckhouse, Philly, PA April 2005—May 2006

· Spent two hours sticking hand in dirty bathroom nasty sink pipes to retrieve heirloom diamond earring that roommate dropped down drain

· Killed spiders both real and imaginary

Suitemate, Brown University, Providence, RI September 2001—May 2004

· Made suitemates name collages that substantially brightened concrete hallway

· Facilitated regular social events including Chocolate Nights and ill-fated surprise sleepovers

· Submitted to requests to reduce volume when playing Tina Turner CD on repeat

Roommate, The Awkwardness That Was Poland 224, Providence, RI September 2000—May 2001

· Shared a single dorm room with two socially challenged freshmen

· Remained calm when returned from weekend trip to find roommates had completely rearranged furniture

Roommate of Pamela Kiely, Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA Womb—April 2005

· Didn’t kill each other

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE

Twin, various locations 8 minutes after birth—present

· Developed ability to share everything including a birthday

WHAT’S MINE IS YOURS

George Foreman grill

A Wok

Brita pitcher

Bike pump

Taboo

Snoopy soap dish

Complete box of 64 Crayola crayons

Four jars of assorted nut butters (peanut, cashew, almond)