Flight over via Amsterdam
Flying all fancy like in business class and using those fancy lounges at airports is quite illuminating. Talk about privilege galore - nothing but upper middle class or above white dudes who are not very nice. Studying the isms at an airport would be an awesome PhD disseration. If only I could get funding to pursue it... For instance, "Instead of fowl for your appetizer, we have duck. Our apologies for the inconvenience," said one of the flight attendant. See what I am talking about? This girl would much rather eat french fries. But KLM has the best juice, specifically their OJ! I had at least 10 servings of it in damn champagne glasses. I could not get enough of it! And they have these delightful little waffle chips. They would be amazing with ice cream!
Seattle
I realized the Pike Place Market is just as good as nearly any souq, bazaar, or market I have been to on my adventures around the globe. Many people seem to have an urge to travel across the seas to experience such a thing when we got probably one of the best in the world right in our backyard!
Good to be back in the Northwest. Loved seeing friends...and I got a good fix of much needed love, support and laughs! Ate a lot of Dick's - one or two cheeseburgers (depended on how hungry I was) and a milkshake (would rotate between the three flavors). Walked a lot...and I loved feeling the fresh cool air. Rode the bus a lot (as well as chased after it when I was running late, but I always seemed to catch it). Got a good helping of Mexican food (Agua Verde, La Carta De Oaxaca, Cocina Esperanza...). Shopped at Value Village (I would shop there even if I was a billionaire). It was all good!
The NASPA conference was excellent. Received some much needed professional development and subsequently some good intellectual stimulation. I went to many great sessions and our presentation on our sustainability efforts, even though I was a bit frustrated with our preparation process, went quite well. My favorite session was actually the opening event with Dr. Bernice Berry. Lessons pulled from her amazing talk:
1. Find your purpose and live it. It is your calling.
2. The answers lie in our stories.
3. Laugh. And express gratitude.
4. Ubuntu - "I am because we are."
5. To receive love, you gotta give.
The last photo of me wearing glasses! I am smooshing the Space Needle! My note to all folks looking for a great photo of Seattle: Go to Kerry Park on Queen Anne Hill. It offers amazing views of the city.
Here is my Syracuse buddy Idriss making fun of me with some stupid glasses he sported for nearly two days.
I think God is sending me a sign. I always seemed to notice the British Air flight coming or going over Seattle during the six years I lived there. And I noticed it nearly daily on this trip! See photo as evidence. And THEN when I was in the Sheraton for various meetings for NASPA, I ran into the crew on three separate occasions! It is a sign, but I cannot figure out what it is supposed to mean. And, look, blue sky in Seattle!
Lasik was TRIPPY. It did not hurt (except my pocketbook...), but since I have a serious thing about shit (sorry...) near my eyes (and thus why I never wore contacts or you never see me with lots of eyeliner), it was at times an agonizing experience for me with all the poking, prodding, drops... And the actual procedure had me thinking I was a patient in a messed up alien experiment. But I am now so glad I did it because I can see perfectly!
The Syracuse versus Connecticut game was EPIC. My dad and I watched it in our hotel room in Seattle after my surgery (yep, I could see...but I was sporting the sexiest googles ever). Six overtimes and SU pulled it off! But I hated seeing the frequent replay of Devendorf's amazing shot at the end of the original game that ended up not counting. Felt like ESPN was rubbing it in that, while amazing, it was no good. But they battled it out until the end and came out on top. And now it is time for March Madness! Too bad I will be limited to recaps from the web. Errr...
Sedro-Woolley
Home! Spent time with mis padres, but most of my time was spent watching TV with Ruby and Otis (their two dogs) since my folks were busy with work. I also took care of stuff, particularly concerning my finances, I cannot do in Qatar. I also went through all my shit (sorry...) in storage. I cannot wait to get all that stuff out of there and actually use it in a place of my own. This girl has an urge to put down some roots. I am tired of being a nomad. However, I could never live in Woolley. Within a matter of days, I was bored out of my mind. I love my folks, but I cannot live in the exburbs again. But it was still really nice to just do absolutely nothing since I am constantly working in Doha.
The trek back to Doha via Amsterdam
The trip back was more of the same, but I had a longer layover in Amsterdam and thus I went into the city for a few hours. I heart Amsterdam. But before my field trip to Amsterdam, I watched the movie Twlight to try figure out what all the dang fuss is about. It was watchable, but nothing great (and frankly the lead actress annoyed the crap out of me). But what I could not get past was the portrayal of Forks, WA (where the story is set) as a diverse community when in reality it is a very homogeneous place. Do not believe me? Check out the most recent census (it is pretty bad). ANYWAY, the Netherlands might be utopia for me - bikes, trains, wind turbines, cool architecture with lots of light and plants (regardless if the structure is old or new), excellent food... It is just so darn efficient and frankly I feel like it simply has its shit (sorry...) together. If I was into urban planning, I would study there. But I am not. But what I do have is an amazing sense of direction. Seriously. I had no map and just went off my memory/what I felt was right and found everything perfectly (the little place with mad good poffertjes, the bike store with cool bike toys, the flower market...)! I am like a human version of Tom Tom or Garmin! And it was so great to watch Amsterdam wake up on such a beautiful day! However, since I have been to Amsterdam before, I did not take many pictures, but here are a couple:
Nice shoes, my friend. Why do guys think white shoes, especially with SWEATPANTS, look good? You could be the hottest dude on the planet, but you will ruin it for me with white shoes.
Darth Vader and Batman about to battle it out. The nerd in me found this absolutely amazing. This is exactly why I love Amsterdam.
I dedicate this photo to Michelle in memory of our exploits on bikes (as well as our feet) around the Netherlands in July 2007. Those were the days...
The end.
I think God is sending me a sign. I always seemed to notice the British Air flight coming or going over Seattle during the six years I lived there. And I noticed it nearly daily on this trip! See photo as evidence. And THEN when I was in the Sheraton for various meetings for NASPA, I ran into the crew on three separate occasions! It is a sign, but I cannot figure out what it is supposed to mean. And, look, blue sky in Seattle!
Nice shoes, my friend. Why do guys think white shoes, especially with SWEATPANTS, look good? You could be the hottest dude on the planet, but you will ruin it for me with white shoes.
I dedicate this photo to Michelle in memory of our exploits on bikes (as well as our feet) around the Netherlands in July 2007. Those were the days... 
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