So I had this idea...

...about 3 weeks ago, that I was going to do this daily writing project called "Net 30." It would have tracked our last 30 days in Bellingham prior to our move east, and I thought that it would maybe motivate me to wring every last drop of goodness out of this area before we go. I was pretty excited about it.

Now, 17 days later, the idea was a bit of a wash. Most of the days have been filled with packing, trying to unload stuff on Craigslist, and trying to piece together our oh-so-near future in Pasco. While selling an old Erasure video at our local music store for fifty cents may have excited me, the actual documentation of that story here would have been, hmmm, less than engaging.

But I'm gonna give it another go...for the last week. Yes we don't move for another two weeks, but I better rest up this next week in preparation for 7-day Bellingham fest that will ensue.

Why take advantage of today if you can squeeze a nap in and give it a go tomorrow?

Consider yourself teased.

Times I Wish...

...I had a shirt on that said "My humor falls to the sarcastic side," take one:

Neighbor: So, our block party is going to be August 1st.
Me: That's cool. I'll have to double-check, but I think our church is hosting a block party the same day.
Neighbor: Oh, well....ours is going to be better! (chuckles)
Me: (smiling) Yes, but will yours have Jesus in attendance?
Neighbor: ...

This awkward moment was brought to you by the "maybe Nicole shouldn't make any jokes until people know her fairly well" campaign. I think the best way to make new friends is to definitely talk like I truly believe I will be having a hula-hoop off with the dear Lord in our church parking lot.

The Modern Day Cover Letter

Zeke's Portable Toilets
326 York Street
Bellingham, Washington

To Whom it May Concern:

I am applying for the receptionist position I discovered upon calling your office this afternoon. While I should probably offer that my life's dream has been to work in close proximity to portable sewage boxes, let's just be honest. You're the last company listed in my phone book that I haven't yet applied to..

So let's get to the meat of it; what makes me an attractive candidate for this position? I need a paycheck. This can also be read as "loyal" or "a woman with long-term plans to work her way up in the company." I like scrapbook stores and occasional consignment store shopping sprees, so my desperation for steady money means bending to you every whim. As far as skills, I can read, write, and speak English. I'm able to breathe in and out, generally without having to remind myself, and I'm able to use a computer, at least to the extent that I know how to find help on the internet, or send facebook messages to my smart friends and family members. I'm also post-it friendly, so receiving and relaying messages shouldn't be a problem (maybe I could even relay them to you via facebook).

I'd greatly appreciate an opportunity to meet with you to discuss my resume, but we both know that won't happen. Somewhere in the midst of carrying the 400 applications you've received for this position from one desk to another, mine will slip out, miraculously show up in your trash bin in a wad, or I'll get the automated message that, despite the fact the job description listed "human with conversational knowledge of life outside the cave" as the only requirement, I don't qualify. Either way I've fulfilled my unemployment requirements, and will happily grunt and drag my club behind me all the way to the bank.

Halfheartedly,
Nicole Ebert

Well, um, hello.
This is awkward.
It has been awhile. I'm so sorry that I've been distracted by facebook and it's evil talons of status updates and PathWord games. I hope you can forgive me.
Please?
What if I promise to drone on about something completely irrelevant, right now?
Thank you for your kindness.

I was at Costco today, about 20 minutes before they opened, just sitting in my car. There were already quite a few cars in the parking lot. About 10 minutes prior to show time at least 30 people lined up at the liftgate with carts in hand. Is Meatloaf signing autographs today? Are they afraid that Costco is going to run out of the five-pound box of Special K cereal? The store deals in massive amounts of everything. I guarantee you won't have problems finding that two-story container of taco seasoning if you don't make it in until 10:30.

In other news, I never thought I would say this, but I'm glad the American Idol finale is two hours tonight. My poor, sad husband was home sick today. In attempts to be a good wife, I brought him food, let him snore the roof of our house when he fell asleep and, finally, gave him full control of the television. ALL. DAY. We went from golf, to baseball, to horse racing, to ping-pong. TO PING-PONG! American Idol means two hours free of incessant, mundane commentary or non-stop yelling about nothing in particular.

Wait....

Tulip Festival!!

Though it was the one day this week that the sun didn't find its way out, we braved the weather for the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, and I think it was worth it...

Our Big Kid Date

Last night we went downtown to Mount Baker Theatre to see Ain't Misbehavin' with American Idol's own Ruben Studdard. It was pretty fun. The theatre was pretty neat. It was first built to show silent movies, and now it catches some one-night-only performances of touring Broadway shows. We're going to see the Drowsy Chaperone next month. Before the play we went to our local Cliff House and, I've gotta say, it was a pretty swell night.

In the Midst of Greatness

We were waiting for Derrel's golf clubs at SeaTac Airport when we saw the following:

I thought it was an oversized flag, and Derrel thought it was vaulting poles. Well, he was right. We overheard some airport folks talking and it turns out their vaulting poles for the Olympics. I took a quick look at the baggage tag: L.L. Kelvin. A Google search of his name takes you to a UK shopping website. He may be a "Did you mean to type L.L. Cool J?" now, but look out for him during the next Summer Games!