2011 has flown by in a blur.  An absolute blur.

January brought about a birthday visit from my awesome friend, Becky.  She flew in from San Diego and we spent some time drinking at the Nine Pound Hammer, the Alibi Room and a few places on Capital Hill.  I also started a new per diem job at a hospital in Seattle. Not that it lasted past February.  The 18 miles I drove from door to door were insane -- took me over an hour on a good night!

Christy and I flew to Cabo for a friend's 40th birthday.  I became really good friends with Pam -- an awesome nurse who worked the same hospital I did in California.  Although I had a good time in Cabo, I definitely would not go back again.  Some other resort location in Mexico, sure, just not Cabo.  The all-inclusive place we stayed at was fantastic.  The food, the drinks, the pools and the company.  

My parents also flew up for a visit.  My mom was elated -- she hadn't been to the Seattle area in decades.  We drove by the old house where she lived in her early teens.  We also took my parents to the Space Needle, Pike's Place Market and Kerry Park.  All the good places to check out when visiting Seattle.




February brought the start of a second per diem job at a local hospital.  And the demise of the first per diem job.  The commute was awful!  17 miles = 1.25 hours of driving?  I don't think so.  I was still traveling back and forth to California for work at Summit.  And the end of February, I managed to twist my right knee while taking my seat on a Southwest flight to Oakland.  It was seriously tweaked but I flew out anyway.  Although I wasn't able to work, I did go out to dinner and quasi-dancing for Hilary's birthday.  There was a lot of wincing, limping and ibuprofen involved. 

March.  The ides of March.  Got in to see a ortho PA.  Prescription-strength aleve and physical therapy were ordered for my knee subluxation. To this very day, my knee is still being a little bitch.  Damn bones!  I also flew down to Anaheim at the end of the month for my friend Jayden's 7th birthday.  I had a fun time but it was hell on my knee.  I managed to get photos with Princess Jasmine and Ariel (the version with legs instead of fins). 

April.  We decided to take a trip to Mt. Rainier National Forest and spend the night near the park's entrance.  It was the first warm day of the year and the snow was melting big time.  In fact, there were numerous avalanche warning signs throughout the park as we drove.  Mt. Rainier was utterly gorgeous.  I had no idea that it's covered in glaciers.  We also visited the Bavarian town of Leavenworth.  Several people at work mentioned the charming down and all I could think of was Leavenworth, home of the prison.  Apparently that's in Kansas.  Washington's Leavenworth is filled with beer, brats and Bavarian everything.  We got amped for the trip we'd be taking later in the year to Germany.


May.  The Cassie and Derek visited for her birthday.  That was good times.  There was an evening of gin and Jim.  I managed to balance my gin and tonic on my chest and manged to take a sip without spilling any of it.  We all had lots of laughs.  Good times, good times.  Prior to their arrival, I flew to Orlando and visited with my Port Orange family.  I had such a good time.  We swam in the pool, watched movies, chatted and I even drove south and was able to meet up with my dear friend, Bishcuit.

Debbie and I went to Booth's Bowry straight away for some of their famous, tasty French onion soup.  I just wish they still gave the little kids safety scissors to shear the the clingy cheese.  Oh well.  Still damn tasty!

Beth (aka Bishcuit) and I had quite the adventure at the La Quinta Inn in Fort Pierce.  As a result, I can no longer drink any fruit-flavored vodka nor any lemonade type of vodka nor can I stay in a La Quinta (that's personal choice, not because I've been banned) nor will I eat again at a Sonics and I effing loathe lovebugs.  But it was wonderful seeing Beth again.


At the end of May, I drove down to California to work a few days and then Christy flew in and we spent fantastic hours at several of our friends' BBQs.

June began with a roadtrip back to Washington.  I drove to Arnold, kidnapped a willing Rosa and started the drive north.  We managed to discover a treasure along I-5.  Liquor Expo.  Sounds like a convention but in reality it's a warehouse filled with alcoholic goodies.  And at excellent prices.  We encountered snow as we drove over the state line into Oregon.  What the hell?  Didn't the weather gods get the memo that it's June?  We stopped at the Voodoo Doughnut in Eugene where Rosa got the namesake doughnut.  I stuck with the chocolate crueller.  Rosa spent a few days hanging out with us before taking the train to Sacramento.  A few days after Rosa left, Christy's friend Kellie Ann made a surprise visit to us.  Okay, I knew about it but it was a surprise for my girl.  The two of them had a day of movies and there was a huge hunk of Claim Jumper's chocolate cake that disappeared during one of the movies. 

Christy and I hopped in the car and drove east for the 4th of July weekend.  We stayed in Omak and Winthrop, visiting our burner friend, Fuli Culi.  Eastern Washington's weather is much more like that of California.  It was delightfully warm -- we even went swimming one afternoon in the hotel pool.  I was attacked by mosquitos but it was well worth the time I spent with Fuli.  July was also the last time I worked in California.  After 5+ years, I resigned.  The commute was a little too extreme. 

At the end of July to the first few days of August, we hosted our friends from that little island in the East Bay.  We were tourists extraordinaire.  We hit Leavenworth, the Space Needle, the EMP, Gas Works Park, Seattle Center, Kerry Park and even a Ride the Ducks tour. 





August saw us enjoying the warmer Seattle weather as well as the company of another friend.  Amy and her friend showed up for a long weekend in the city.  Christy and I were busy prepping for our trip to Germany in September.  That kept me pretty occupied.  Well, that and work.

Oktoberfest time had finally arrived.  In early September, we flew to Miami to meet up with Bishcuit before all three of us flew into Frankfurt.  We proceeded to spent almost two weeks visiting Germany and Switzerland.  We went to the Bad Durkheim wine festival as well as Oktoberfest.  My liver recovered from Bad D just in time to enjoy a few liters of beer in Munich.  By the end of the first day of Oktoberfest, I was sober and enjoying taking photos of the people who were obviously not.

A week after we got back to the States, our friend Dawn arrived.  We had such a lovely time.  Dawn and I enjoyed a deep-friend Snickers at the Unicorn Bar after lunching at the Honey Hole.  Yummers -- they have the best sandwiches!

Now it's October.  My sister Hilary was already come and gone for a visit.  We did the usual touristy things as well as shopped at some nifty consignment and thrift stores.  We also went to a hockey game in Everett.  Our local team lost but it was an exciting match and there were enough fights to satisfy both of us.  In a few days, my youngest sister will be visiting.  In November, another pair of friends will pay us a visit.  Good times are in store.  It seems as though this year has passed by in the blink of an eye but maybe I just needed to take the time and look back at all I did this year.