Amy J. and the Blustery Day

Okay, so all of my blogs are apparently going to be about the weather. Because I'm 147 years old.

But this was crazy! Thursday we had a storm. A real one, not like the "snow storm" from a couple weeks ago. We're talking sideways rain, flash flooding, 70m.p.h. wind gusts and power outages a-go-go. Neighbors of mine three doors down had a GIGANTIC tent that was about 20'x8'x9' that was bolted into wooden planks which were buried in the ground. Because the ground was so wet, the wind lifted it up like a sail and it flew up over their garage and rolled down to my house and landed just behind my car and my neighbor's car.

Our power went out at about 11:30 that night and didn't get restored until yesterday (Saturday) at about 11 a.m. It was kind of cool driving around West Seattle Friday night looking for a place to eat. I don't know my neighborhood totally yet, and while I don't recommend touring around in the dark, I found a couple alternate routes to one of the really great shopping streets here.

Other than the big windstorm, I've been getting ready for my trip back to Minneapolis. I'm really, really looking forward to coming home and seeing everyone. Especially all my nieces and nephews. Photos are nice, but it's better when you get to squeeze the real things. Did a bunch of shopping yesterday and today and have all in all really enjoyed the holiday season here in my new city. Even the Space Needle and the Pacific Science Center get in the spirit. (Qwest Field has red and green lights on it too, but who cares about football?)



I got a tree, too!



We had our company Christmas party last week. It was at a cool little place called Chop Suey and the band Ghostland Observatory played. Open bar, ad people and great music. All ingredients for trouble. Here are some of the tamer photos of my co-workers and I.

Aaron, the lead singer of Ghostland Observatory. He totally rocked, but man, were those pants tight. Yikes.



Me and pals from work Kevin (blondie) and Rod. Rod's been great about showing me around West Seattle and introduced me to my new favorite bar, West 5.



My pal Amanda, after winning third place in our Interactive department's karaoke contest. We recorded them singing and then did animated videos of them all. Then people in the agency voted and we gave away cash prizes. She won $8.



Our director of HR. No, I'm not kidding.



Dominic (left) and Randall. Sometimes we wonder how they get dressed and find their ways to work in the morning, but we love them anyway.



Chris Stone making me laugh because apparently we both thought the after-party was a good idea.



My "concierge" Jamie. She's the girl who's told me where to find everything like THE BEST pedicure place (one block from work...15 bucks, too). Jamie got second place and $30 in the karaoke contest.



Have the happiest of holidays, or this girl's gonna come looking for you.