June Update

Here's a quick run-down on what I did the month of June.

*Started a rad new volunteer opportunity with a fledgling community garden, part of which involved attending a fascinating class on pest control hosted by Seattle Tilth.

*Saw three movies thanks to SIFF. I also saw Bridesmaids, which was funny, touching, and really awkward.

*Showed a coworker from Philadelphia the sights on what was the most gorgeous day of the year thus far. We went up in Smith Tower:

Took a ferry to Bainbridge:

Went to the sculpture park where we saw this incredible nurse log at the "vivarium":

And finished the day with a driving tour of Capitol hill, Madrona, Leschi, and Columbia city, ending at the taco stand.

*Saw my friend John from college who I hadn't seen in years and who visited on a whirlwind weekend, and finally met his delightful girlfriend Lauren.

*Enjoyed a Gaia skin care party crafted by my talented aunt Karen (I'm totally obsessed with the toner) and hosted by my always-accommodating mom.

*Worked several days in K and M's garden. The back yard is shaping up nicely, with some much appreciated plant donations from my mom's always gorgeous garden and some fabulous raised beds built by M into an otherwise unruly and slanted piece of the back yard.

*Met K's dad and stepmom for the first time in the many years I've known her and had a delicious and inspired dinner party with them and some other friends of ours.

*Got four amazing free tickets and took my parents and Russ to the Phillies-at-Mariners game on Father's day. It was the first time I'd ever seen a winning game!

*Hosted Katharine overnight and took her to the new Rn 74 for happy hour and my favorite, Local 360, for dinner, where we ate a variety of random meats and a gourmet s'more. Later we drove to West Seattle where we took this skyline glamour shot:

*Went to a Solstice barbecue at Golden Gardens, which was a combined birthday party for my friend David, where I made the best s'more ever. If you're keeping track, that's s'mores two nights in a row. Heaven.

(If you look closely you can see there is a windsurfer under the sun.)

(The chocolate is a melted Reese's peanut butter cup!)

*Attended several Gay Pride events, the most noteworthy of which was Prom Rugby in which men played in prom dresses and women played in tuxedo-esque garb. It was a fundraiser with various levels of donations and rewards; for $25 you could get two players to change clothes and teams, which Morgan and I got behind.

*Went to the Gay Pride fair on Broadway with Robyn and some of her friends on Saturday, and then the parade downtown on Sunday with Toddler J on my back and his mom and another friend as enthusiastic attendees. That parade is LONG! We lucked out on the weather and had a great time.

*Made serious progress on my first major sewing project - a wrap dress - with lots of help from Morgan and Casey. Here is the top half before I sewed it to the bottom. It's made from two different colored bedsheets, is too big, and has weird front pleats, but I love it anyway and hope it's wearable after some alterations and a dye job. No matter what it's been a really valuable learning experience.

And that's June, more or less! This afternoon it's off to the Olympic Peninsula to go camping for a long weekend. Although it is the rain forest, we're hopeful it doesn't rain on us the entire time.

Happy 4th of July!

Note: The Philadelphia blog is 100% written and the photos are picked and re-sized, but I'm a dolt and left them on a jump drive... which I left at home. Will post next week.