4-Day Weekend @ Rainier

Ani and I took a day off on Thursday (7/2) to get a head start at Mount Rainier National Park. We arrived the park Thursday at noon, pitched tent at Cougar Rock Campground, and had some lunch then took off for our first hike (of the year?) to Charter Fall/ Madcap Fall/ Narada Fall (3-mile portion of the 93-mile Wonderland Trail). The trail was mostly nice and mellow, completely dry. The first 2 falls were very much hidden though so we missed them the first time around; not all that impressive anyways. The Narada fall was awesome and totally worth the hike (although many would just drive to it). After returning to the campsite, we drove to Paradise for some more visitor’s information and back into Ashford for some last minute grocery/ ice.

Day 2 we went to Paradise for the hike up to Panorama point. 90% of the trail was snow covered. There were lots and lots of visitors at the beginning of the trail. The steep ascend drive lots of them off the remainder of the trail. We just took our time slowly going up while enjoying the view, reapplying sunscreen every hour. Took 4 hours to complete the 4-mile round trip. The view was very nice and the snow cold breeze under the hot hot sun was pretty pleasant as well. We were going to do the Nisqually Vista as a nice after-stroll as the ranger suggested, but was unable to locate the trail beyond its trail head. So we went back for some camp fire and nice dinner and called it a day.

Day 3 we mostly chilled and relaxed (true purpose of vacation) in the Longmire area of the park. Longmire hikes are mostly very easy and accessible from spring to fall. We started with Kautz Creek, a 1.2-mile in-and-out trail. 0.5 – 1 mile into the trail, our bear bells alerted a couple of deers on the trail and we also noticed and stopped. After a few minutes of staring and no signs of the deers retreating from the trail, we decided to turn around. Then we moved onto Trail of the Shadows, which is a very nicely groomed interpretive trail with history of the Longmire family business. 0.5 mile into the 0.7 mile trail, we discovered one end of the Rampart Ridge loop trail and decided to take the detour. The trail has lots of steep ascend and switchbacks. Neither of us brought our day pack for the interpretive trail, but Ani has a bottle of water that lasted us for the 1.75 mile up to the viewpoint and back. After the unexpected (thus hard) hike, we retreated to ice cream and soda treat and lounged outside the Longmire inn with a view of the Rainier mountain for the rest of the day

After 3 days without a shower, we decided to give it a major rub down at the campground and I even managed to wash my hair. It felt gooood

Day 4 we got up in the morning and drove home. Got home at noon and immediately jump in for a real shower. Clean clean clean The rest of the day was spent unpacking and re-adjusting to civilization.

Check out my pictures here:

MtRainier4thJuly09

Free Wifi in Seattle

Found a site with list of free wifi spots, the information is a little hard to navigate and digest, but nonetheless would come handy when I first move to the new apartment and have no internet access, no entertainment and no company.

Narrowed down to a list that would be relevant for the Eastlake/ U-district/ Wallingford area. Problem is, most places are coffee shops, which means a) need to buy something every visit, b) closes relatively early in the evening (before 10pm). Not having internet at home also means I would need to bring home my laptop to get internet access for entertainment, which also mean limited access.

Eastlake
le fournil bakery – 3230 Eastlake Ave E suite B – 206.328.6523
Louisa’s Cafe – 2379 Eastlake Ave E
U-District
Cafe Allegro at the College Inn – free with purchase – 4002 University Way NE – (206) 634-2310
Cafe Allegro – free with purchase – 4214 University Way NE – (206) 633-3030
Oasis – 4508 University Way – 206-547-9967
Pochi Tea Station – 5014 University Way NE
Quality Food Center – 2746 NE 45th St
Shinka Tea Co. – Gourmet boba tea, espresso & traditional tea service – 4727 University Way NE – 206.522.8424
Tully’s Coffee
University Bookstore Cafe – 4326 University Way NE
Wallingford
Elysian- Tangletown – 2106 N 55th (southeast of Greenlake)
Seattle Public Library Wallingford Branch – 1501 N. 45th St. – 206-684-4088
Zoka Coffee Roasters & Tea Co. – 2200 N. 56th (Wallingford) – 545-4277

additional slightly out of range locations
Ravenna Third Place Books – 20th and 65th
Zoka University – 2901 NE Blakeley Street – 206 527-0990

O So Pretty — Blik

Just as I was wondering about how I can decorate my new rental apartment uniquely without anything drastic or expensive, I read about Blik in the April 2009 Cosmopolitan.

They have lots of beautiful and cute graphics. I especially like the elephant and giraffe stuff, but it would probably be too cute for my apartment. There are also nice floral patterns, which might make the apartment look too girlie…

Anyways, definitely worth taking a look!

Graphics/ photos referenced from www.whatisblik.com

In Response to Dooce…

Got the questions from Heather Armstrong @ dooce.com. Looks like a fun exercise. So here are my answers.

1. What are your middle names?

He doesn’t have a middle name, and my middle name is really my Chinese name.

2. How long have you been together?
We’ve been dating for 514 days (or 1 year 4 months and 25 days) according to my day counter app on Google.

3. How long did you know each other before you started dating?

We first met on the Badminton court in college. We were both avid players for over 10 years and enjoy pick-up games. For 2 years we didn’t really talk, we just see each other on the court and play our games (I believe we’ve even partnered in double games, but we are both experienced enough to know where the other person is and no talking is needed). We graduated 2 years later and ran into each other in the bus close to where we worked; we exchange contacts and agreed to lunch. The rest is history.

4. Who asked whom out?

I think technically neither of us did. It was mutual understanding and affection. I might have pushed a little harder to stay together when he was freaking out about the idea of us dating.

5. How old are each of you?

We are 2 years apart.

6. Whose siblings do you see the most?

I’ve met his brother twice, he has met my sister way more. The first time I introduced them we weren’t dating yet, and then it was my big birthday dinner, and another birthday dinner, and my big Chinese New Year feast at home. There’re probably some more outings here and there with my friends when they were both present. I like to make sure my sister likes him and accepts him, or at least they could relatively comfortably be in the same room. Same with my friends and our mutual friends; I have not yet met ‘his friends’.

7. Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple?

Can’t quite think of ‘hardest’ on top of my head, but one of the tougher scenarios is when he loses his cool. Both of us know and well understood that I’m quite a short circuit and I could blow up really quickly, and for a really short time. Usually he would just keep quiet and let that moment go, then I’d come back to my normal self and apologize, and cuddle to make things better. Otherwise, it’d just be a vicious spiral downwards. We’d get mad at each other for the other person being mad for no apparent reason, etc. But we’d eventually hug and make good.

8. Did you go to the same school?

We both graduated from UW. He graduated with EE master and I graduated with Business and Econ bachelors.

9. Are you from the same home town?

No. Vastly different background. He’s from Kollam, Kerala, India; I’m from Hong Kong. I still haven’t been to India and have very little concept of how big/ crowded of a town he’s from. I most often hear people comparing Hong Kong to NYC, whereas Kerala, as far as pictures go, looks like a beautiful tropical forest. The truth seems to be closer to some sort of a dense city though.

10. Who is smarter?

Depends on subject matter. I’m the planner/ control-freak so I’m really good in making sure everything is done on time and proper. Otherwise, he’s pretty smart too.

11. Who is the most sensitive?

Me… very self-conscious and needs constant reassurance/ recognition as I achieve perfection.

12. Where do you eat out most as a couple?

I’d say either my favorite hole-in-the-wall sushi place Musashi or the taco truck around the corner from his house Rancho Bravo Taco.

13. Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?

San Francisco…

14. Who has the craziest exes?

Don’t think either of us has any really. If one day I became an ex of his, I would be it.

15. Who has the worst temper?

Me again. I lose it when things are not perfect that way I want it (surely there’s a range of emotions, starts from sulking to snapping off for 1 second to completely pissed off for a day).

16. Who does the cooking?

He’s the head chef; I’d help if I really need to. I don’t like to cook because I don’t have any creative ideas (in general and cooking in particular). My top of mind recipe is top ramen + fishballs, or any instant dinner like frozen pizza, canned soups, toasts, or chips.

17. Who is the neat-freak?

I just know how things need to be kept in order to avoid situations where one is likely to lose or forget about things, as well as maximizing sense of space in a small room with lots of piles.

18. Who is more stubborn?

hmm I haven’t thought about that for a while. I think we’re both stubborn up to a certain level, but not too bad really. We’ve grown up. lol

19. Who hogs the bed?

That’s up for debate.

20. Who wakes up earlier?

Me, and I stay up later too. He’s the ‘weaker sex’ (just kidding)

21. Where was your first date?

Neither of us grew up with the concept of ‘dating’ so there wasn’t really a first date, future dates unlikely either.

22. Who is more jealous?

lol ask him.

23. How long did it take to get serious?

I have always been serious. Then again, if we define serious as “planning to get married” that takes thing to a whole new level that neither of us can be sure. After all, it’s India vs. China.

24. Who eats more?

If the question is ‘who CAN eat more’ the answer would be him; after all he’s 0.7lb/ inch heavier. Otherwise, it depends on the day.

25. Who does the laundry?

We do our own. He’s the one who has piles all around the room though.

26. Who’s better with the computer?

He is.

27. Who drives when you are together?

So far, mostly me, mostly because my car is older and I have more confidence driving in the States (he’s used to driving in India where there are no lanes nor traffic rules). So when we go to Snoqualmie we’ll take focus when we’re traveling between our own place and / or other errands, he’d drive. Otherwise he prefers to drive when he’s comfortable enough.

I love him for making me a better person.

How to Raise Company Internal Awareness of a Sales Contest with Little Budget?

We are running a sales contest in March to drive to our revenue goal. We want to do something to keep every one aware and top-of-mind about the contest.

We currently have plan on using the company’s plotter to make a big wall decoration with the stack rank report of best performers. We also plan on doing a kick-off breakfast when the contest launches. We will also hand out basic details of the contest for each rep, and send out weekly ‘highlight’ update email to the teams for recognition and awareness.

We have a $400 budget for the breakfast (for 35) and everything else. What additional awareness raising tactics can we use?