eilonwy

My sister and her fiance drove me out to Point Reyes for a day at the beach with cliff walking, bird and sea lion watching. I didn’t climb the steps down to the lighthouse, but admired it from above and enjoyed the amazing ocean views, geology and flora. Worth checking out!

I stayed with an awesome CouchSurfing host who showed me around town, drove me out to views of Mt. Shasta and took me to a sweat lodge at Steward Mineral Springs. It was a gorgeous place, a great experience and was all around worth doing!

I had plans for attending the International Trademark Association’s annual meeting in Berlin this year. It’s pretty much career-essential, since it’s the best (and for me only) way to meet your foreign associates. I was cut due to budget constraints, so auf wiedersehen Berlin.

Go for the view, but don’t skip dinner. The pork loin and veg was very good. I tiptoed across the glass window, but really enjoyed the couple taking pictures of their oblivious toddler out on the glass.

I’m just back from a week in Toronto for a conference. The weather was mild and it only rained the last day. I did a fair amount of sight seeing, though I missed getting out into the neighborhoods. It reminded me a lot of Seattle, the harbourfront, the tower, the university. I enjoyed the textile museum and my meeting at the Irish Embassy. I had two fantastic lunches at La Fenice and the Kit Kat Club (King street, I think) and a nice dinner at Canoe. If you enjoy city life, it’s a good trip.

I’ll be in Toronto for the International Trademark Association annual meeting this Saturday. Yeah! It will actually be my first time in Canada even though I live pretty close (Seattle). I’ve got my passport ready and I’m headed for a swanky dinner in the CN tower.

For fifty bucks I got an annual membership with five guest passes included. (At twelve dollars per adult ticket I think that’s totally worth it.) That means I can see the otters whenever I want and treat friends who are visiting. Bring your tolerance for loud children and don’t miss the sea horses!

My family moved to Vashon when I was in the second grade. It takes forebearance to actually live there. Everyone is in everyone else’s business. There were about 100 people in my high school graduating class. I recommend the Strawberry Festival in July, community events at the Blue Heron, KVI beach in any weather, walking or biking around and any weekend there’s an studio, garden, art or pottery tour. (Visitors comment on the hippies and hippy-wannabes, but also be prepared for an oddly high ratio of lawyers!)

I joined the landscaping committee at the Elektra and want to make the back hillside gorgeous in a naturalized northwesty way. Swanson’s has beautiful new greenhouses and plants to covet as far as the eye can see. I could only afford a couple of azaleas out of pocket today, but if I get a serious budget look out! Don’t miss the koi pond in the cafe.

Do airports count?