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Sunday, September 19, 2010

RH2

Question: How do you feed 4 grown men 8 days before the 9/15 deadline?
Answer:  6 doughnuts, a jumbo bag of Starbursts, a jumbo bag of Red Vines,  and a jumbo box of Mike and Ikes. 
That’s how.

But first, let's rewind:

When I first began my unplanned career in public accounting I got into the doors via RAH, the husband of LJBH (mentor, friend, baker extraordinaire, mother of 2 of the cutes kids you’ll ever meet.) I spent my undergraduate career sitting in front of LJBH as her assistant.  On my first day at the Firm, imagine my surprise when my desk was directly in front of the one and only RAH. The ironic coincidence was too funny.  I spent a few months sitting in front of RAH while he spent most of the time mocking how I spelled my name.  He then moved into his fancy-pants office but would still grace me with his presence if only to light my democratic loving heart on fire spouting his republican propaganda. Oh the debates we would have. 

Fast forward four years, I visited RAH at his new offices for RH2, a new Certified Public Accounting firm in Kirkland, Washington. They have launched their new practice from humble beginnings and  when I walked into the office I thought for sure I stepped into the Season 3 Finale of Mad Men.  With 2 desks,  a couple laps tops and a desktop printer, a duo of powerhouse accounts were managing to process and file tax returns, carrying on business as usual.  Fast forward a few weeks, I visited them again to check on progress (and to hopefully lend a helping hand) and sure enough they are churning away.  Now a team of 4 accountants, an office manger and a business support professional, while small in numbers they are mighty in strength.  What once has that of a makeshift office space was coming together resembling that of  a real office space.  

I sat with them for a few minutes while we stuffed envelops, "processed" tax returns and chatted about the business.  Felt like old times (except the fact I really have no idea how to process a tax return despite my 4 years at the firm...oops).

Their success is inevitable as their hard work, dedication and vast knowledge certainly cannot fail them.  Fueled by doughnuts, processed sugar and the well wishes of friends, family and colleagues, there isn't a better group of professionals more deserving and more likely to succeed than this group.   

So RAH, this is for you, all the best wishes for success.  

PS. Can you still help me file my return?  And by help,  I mean do that magic that you do and tell me where to sign?   Cool, thanks. 

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Best

This has been my week (so far):

Sunday: Up at 7:00 AM
Monday: At work at 8:15 AM
Tuesday: At work at 7:30 AM
Wednesday: Need to be at work by 6:45 am for a 7:00 am call with London offices.

Are you noticing a trend here? I am and I'm not liking where it's headed.

However, after a day of meetings (7 hours of them) I was stoked when I returned to my desk to find my first package sitting on my chair. It looked like this:


I laughed out loud like a crazy person.
It was the best.

Monday, September 13, 2010

Tastes Like...Not Chicken

One last thing:


This is us with our Deep Fried Rocky Mountain Oyster.  




As I took at bite, KC says, "Hmmmm, taste like testicle," and immediately out of my mouth in came. 


I'm just going to leave you with that.... 




Sunday, September 12, 2010

Save a Horse.

I'm a country girl at heart.  Sure the pencil skirts, stiletto heals, manicured nails, corporate job, suburb living parade I call my life is full fledged and alive and well. But in my fantasy land I love the romanticism that is the old west country living (obviously with all the amenities of the 21st century).  My dream life involves acreage of land with a few meadows of wildflowers, a nice sized garden, running down to the country store, tossing back drinks at the local watering hole, front porch sittin', lemonade drinking, cuddling up with a cowboy and dancing the two step.  Hard to believe maybe, but pretty true.

So when BB suggested we hit up the rodeo at the Puyallup Fair for a little rodeo action, I was all in. Don't have to ask me twice so spend the evening with cowboys, dancing and eating fair food. Decked out in our cowgirl gear we hit the fair early to take in the sights, sounds and smells (all for better or worse...).

This is what it looked like:

We.are.cute!

Obviously made a b-line for this place the minute it was spotted.


Maybe I had 3.  

Totally naturally delicious.

Well, now that's just crazy stupid.


Cowgirl up!

After a block of curly fries the size of my head, an elephant ear, a corn dog, scones, a few adult beverages and all the live stock we could handle, we were ready for the rodeo action. And it did not disappoint.

Get a load of this:

Bareback.

Steer wrestling.

BULL riding.  Like a real BULL.

The Scenery:

 
Maybe this is mildly objectifying, but, number 18...wow.  Just wow.

Asleep at the Wheel

That's Angela, dancing in the dirt, with a cowboy. Nbd.

The hat makes you legit.



Say, "High-five!"

Same time, same place next year ladies....COWGIRL UP! 

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

An Evening To Remember

You only turn 28 once (how is this possible that I’m 28?), so I thought we’d do it up right.  LL, and her magic domestic powers that she beholds, pulled out all the stops to make this a birthday I won’t soon forget.  With the help of a small army she transformed her dining room to a romantic, intimate atmosphere that embodied class and style.  Candle light, formal dinner settings, cocktail dresses, suits and ties, the night was fit for royalty, or at least movie stars. 

The setting:
The chandelier is handmade. The chair sashes are home sewn.

The centerpieces are handmade.

The napkins are folded by hand.

Can we talk about the Fran's Chocolates?  I about died when I saw these. Each table setting was set with a box of salted (grey or smoked) chocolate (milk or dark) thins.  The best chocolates on God’s green earth are made right here in Seattle and were at my dinner party.  At the head table was a box of salted caramels that I covet (I’m going to be repenting later for how much I covet them).  The last box I had lasted almost 2 months because I had to hide them from myself.  They were each as delicious as the first.  I often think the if Fran’s chocolates were a part of my final meal, I’d be that much closer to heaven.  Ok, I’ll stop.

You can imagine my surprise when I walked in.

Unbelieveable, really, I couldn’t believe it.

Shock and awe.

The chefs slaved away in the kitchen (in cocktail dresses no less) cooking a feast for the senses.







On the menu:

Mixed greens salad with Gorgonzola, almonds and vinaigrette. 
EntrĂ©e: Baked chicken, roasted vegetables and potatoes.  It was like heaven on a plate.
Dessert:  Orange Pumpkin Cake from Simply Desserts.  It will blow your mind.




While we feast on dinner we laughed and chatted.  And then laughed some more.  Until Susan started to cry. And then I started to cry.  I laughed so much my face still hurts.  Something about hot gluing shorts, pig costumes and pacifiers, childhood movies (Wild Hearts Can’t be Broken, Newsies, Cutting Edge, anyone?)







Then it was time for cake!










Oh c'mon! I have the lung capacity of a fruit fly.




I'm not even joking when I say this cake will blow your mind.  


But of course, the highlight of the evening was spending time with the greatest friends anyone could ever hope for.  

Resident photographer and fellow Newsies expert.

This fine young lady took the train up from Portland for the special occasion.  What a gem.

The hostess with the mostess.  If there was a word beyond mostess, she would be that. 

Acqua Di Gio and dimples. How can I resist?  Turns out, I can’t.

Stace and I: The triathletes

Susan and I:  It’s never a party until she laughs until she cries. I think it happened a couple times this night.

How do I have such a good looking group of friends?!

As my 27th year came to a close, and we kicked off my 28th year with class and style, I took a moment and thought something along these lines: I have never felt more overwhelmed by the kindness, generosity, thoughtfulness and service of others.  Throughout the day I roller coastered between uncontrollable anxious excitement to inundating teary sadness (why? I don’t know, it’s the crazy in me).  To see my friends together laughing, sharing stories, enjoying good food, and dancing filled my heart beyond a capacity I thought it capable of. 

I will never be able to sufficiently thank all those involved in the planning, crafting, cooking, decorating, clean up, entertainment, djing, etc. But please know, your time and energy did not go unnoticed and was not in vain. I love you all for it. My only hope is that one day I can be as good of a friend to you all as you are to me. 

Thank you to all for the many birthday wishes, lovely gifts, cards, text, messages, ecards, phone calls, gchats.  It is an honor and a privilege to be considered a friend of yours. 

27 was real good to me, 28 will be even better, I can feel it!

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Congrats

After 6 years of listening to his moaning and groaning, he’s finally published. On the cover of Nature no less. Effing over-achiever.

I don’t speak science but I’m going to trust that it’s legit.

Congrats dude. You’ve earned it. If I were there I'd give you a high-five.

Now just graduate already.