The CA

Plans for the road trip are finally becoming a bit more defined (about time on our part- less than a week away!)

Friday- leave work & crash with a friend in Vancouver, WA
Saturday- Scoot down to Etna, CA for some quality time with my aunt & uncle
Sunday- ANNIVERSARY! Enjoy more time with a & u then book it down south
Monday- head to LA for a taping of the Chelsea Lately. Spend the night with a fraternity buddy in Hollywood
Tuesday- one more day in LA & time to make The Price is Right! in some wedding t-shirts. drive to Anaheim
Wednesday - Disneyland! another night in Anaheim
Thursday- Carlsbad/San Diego to enjoy some more fabulous fam & hopefully the Zoo
Friday- more time with family & a cooking class. Thanks Connie & Ron!
Saturday & Sunday- Epic Drive home

Time for greatness to ensue....

Terror!....in Europe?

Moving abroad is reaching the terrifying point as we are now homeless, items are scattered throughout my parents house, and we have numerous events looming. Surprise Birthday, Sounders, Wing Dome, Road trip to CA, First Thursday, Halloween, dentist,  on top of finishing packing for the trip and getting visa documents in order. Shnike there is a lot to do.

Luckily, actual fear doesn't usually come into play. As Americans, we often disregard the general dangers that besiege us everyday. Driving a car, high crime, and the Northwest's charming infestation of serial killers. We gladly trade those real threats for the safety of Europe.

Parents fears of us being in such a big city were quickly dismissed upon landing in Berlin. Besides the generally harmless street punks, Berlin is an extremely safe city and it feels like it. Until....

"U.S. warns citizens of terror threat in Europe"

say what? Apparently there is something to be worried about in Europe right now. Though not targeted at Americans, and not just in Berlin, the current threat is a tad intimidating. "The travel alert is one level lower than a travel warning..." Here's hoping for a little more kumbaya in the future.

For more on the madness:

• http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/travel-warning-threatens-europes-economic-recovery/19658560/ 

• http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/8039736/US-issues-warning-against-travel-in-Europe.html

Berlin Blogs

So we think we have a handle on the city. But I have a feeling it won't be long till it surprises us, thrills us, and freaks us out again.
To fill my every pressing need for research & more info- I have started to explore the blog front. And already I have stumbled onto one that reminds us exactly why we are going back:

• Table Tennis (seriously it's great there)
• Crazy People 
• Possibility of starting a band (ahhhh! possibilities)
• Bizarre & avant garde everyday dress (from the blog "fashion smashion")
• Amazing, Cheap Food
• Bars and Bars and Bars
• Hilarious use of English
• ART
• almost even better TRANSPORTATION
• Glorious Flea markets that stretch for kilometers (is that the right one?)
• and of course, the oft miss, beloved, beautiful Doener

Check out the blog that inspired such rhapsody: http://blogsberlin.wordpress.com/

Recent Developments

The high cost of transportation etc in Iceland has forced us to decide on renting a car. So excited!

6:45am Arrive in Iceland
AUTO!- pick up our tiny car
Blue Lagoon Hotel
Tourista & grocery shop in Reykjavik
...and then LAGOON BABY!








Before that trip however, we have some US road trippin' to do. California looms ahead as we plan for Disneyland, family, and some road rage- er, I mean fun.

wika wika TUESDAY

Ok Go setting it off right:

Oktoberfest!

On our last stint in Europe we managed to make Oktoberfest twice. Congrats to us (although there is nothing to be too proud of considering our Oktoberfest tips).

East Side I Spy

Another glorious weekend on the east side of the state brought these sights to our eyes:

• Bluetooth Count : III (low!)
• KISS's "Lick it up!"
• Many ddrunk people in public. During the day. Like 10am
•  Facedown scarecrow in the grocery store. What?

• 
  

• One Racist Rant about "brown people"
• A woman buying 3 mammoth containers of peanuts with a check
•  Car featuring Jesus fish, and picture of Bush "Miss me yet?"

• Tumbleweed Count: III (again, surprisingly small)
• 2 Antique Airstream tailors over the pass
•  Baby Doll facedown in Wallmart
  (2nd doll taking a faceplant...odd)

• 3 speed traps
• Glorious Hops
  

Anniversary of 9/11

Another year goes by....

NPR, as usual, puts out a new story that hits the mark.

  

Cleaning Up Sept. 11 Ashes

Beard

I never thought I would like some beard, but those things are downright hispter nowadays. (That's why you are rockin one, right Ian?) Seeing how the fabulous Dave Ball has always rocked the facial hair, I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

Herr Baechler found this lovely blog dedicated completely to hair of the face. 

http://www.imadeyouabeard.com/

Enjoy:

Offbeat Seattle Attraction: Dick's

Mind out of the gutter! This is Seattle's (or at least my) favorite fast food chain. It is the oldest, continuously operating fast food restaurant. They give out scholarships to their full-time workers, are deeply rooted in the community, and serve delicious fries, sundaes shakes, and burgers (my favs in that order).

In short - we're fans. It is a must go anytime we're home. Thus, two days into our visit Stateside, there we were again.

Things to know

• All Dick's burgers are made with 100% REAL beef, delivered fresh and never frozen
  Our locally made buns are delivered fresh each day
• Cash only (ATMs usually on-site)
• Menus here: http://www.ddir.com/menu. Sundaes are better than shakes, especially chocolate ice cream & blackberry syrup. Get fries! Extra sauce like tartar are .25
• Open 7 Days a week; 10:30 - 2:00
• Though prices are reasonable now, when Dick's opened in 1954 Burger's were .19, fries were .11, and Shakes were .21. That makes a meal for about .50! Though no longer that cheap, it is exceedingly affordable.
  

Dicks's

Queen Anne (500 Queen Anne Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98109; (206) 285-5155) - Clearly the nicest with indoor, Seattle themes seating
Capitol Hill (115 Broadway Ave. East , Seattle, WA 98102; (206) 323-1300) - Best for late night munchies in the party kiez
Wallingford (111 N.E. 45th St., Seattle, WA 98105; (206) 632-5125) - The oldest location and closest to University of Washington
Lake City (12325 30th Ave North East, Seattle, WA 98125; (206) 363-7777)
Holman Road (9208 Holman Road NW, Seattle, WA 98117; (206) 783-5233)

Edmonds (21910 HWY 99, Edmonds, WA 98026; (425) 775-4243) - Opened by popular vote in Northern suburb of  Edmonds in 2011.

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More Seattle?

Missing Seattle
I'm Going to Miss this Place...
Seattle Brewery Tour - Love from Afar
Offbeat Seattle Attraction: Alki Beach

Offbeat Seattle Attraction: Archie McPhee
Offbeat Washington: Spokane
Pics of Seattle Loving