Kitzman Family Snow Day!

Seattle gets hit with a snowstorm once a year, and even if they're not big storms, they bring the city to its knees because there are like, two snow plows. And no one knows how to navigate Seattle's steep hills in the snow. And many people do not even own shovels. So when the snow gets packed down and the temperatures drop, it's a snowpocalypse.

Well yesterday was such a day, and I might've scoffed at Dave when he pre-emptively checked for school closures in the morning, but the joke was on me when I tried to get a bus home at 4pm. Ever the weather optimist, I thought the snow wouldn't stick and I was playing it safe by leaving the office early. I heard a fellow public transporter mention that he'd been waiting for the #5 for an hour (not my bus but generally a good bet), so I hopped on a local bus a few minutes later. This one takes a roundabout route on an average day, and I figured it'd take a while, but all buses would. After inching through a few intersections, we waited in gridlock a mile from downtown for two hours. Two painful hours. I tried to pretend I was on an airplane, to just sit back and enjoy my book. But after an hour and a half I said 'Cuss this' and got off and walked.

It was frig.id. And my phone was on the verge of dying, so I walked into the nearest establishment (Jillian's) and asked Dave to pack up the baby and pick me up. Now I know why I never go to Jillian's. For one, they have a dish called Chicken Fettucheesy. For two, they have waiters who neglect your freezing ass unless you are wearing a Seahawks jersey. My hero Dave arrived with the girl, in my warm chariot and we were home in 7 minutes (3 hours after I left work). Curse you, Seattle Metro!!

Dave's school was cancelled today, and I decided to work from home. In between naps, we bundled Edie in her new snowsuit and braved the cold but beautiful day. Dave took a snooze, I actually got some work done, and we made grilled cheese and tomato soup for lunch. I think Edie was wondering, "Hey, why are we all together? I'm supposed to be at day care". But she was happy and so were we.

For dinner, Dave made "Indian Spiced Kale & Chickpeas" with pork chops, a recipe from our CSA, and it was awesome. We finished it off with some hot cider and rum. Snow days are good as long as you don't have to be anywhere.

Eatin' good in the neighborhood

So last week I wasn't lying- we did go out to celebrate my newfound initials. Edie and I walk a lot, and we keep passing this little place called Eva in an micro-neighborhood called Tangletown. I've been there once before, a few years ago, but I didn't really remember the food and wanted to check it out with Dave.

We went for the 'early bird special', meaning the prices are the same but hardly anyone is eating dinner yet, so we picked our own seating. I've been hearing about their lamb burger which is on their bar menu, and thought that was a good antidote to a cold and rainy Seattle evening. The menu recommended some sort of red wine so I ordered that too. Dave got a manhattan, and the $30 three course dinner. What high rollers we are!

So my lamb burger arrived with juices flowing on a ciabatta roll, surrounded by a green salad. I cut it in half ('cause that's what ladies do), and took a big ol' bite. Let me just say this burger was off. the. chain. Best lamb burger ever, complemented with caramelized onions and blue cheese mayonnaise. And I don't even like mayonnaise. Dave ordered a chicken thigh with sweet potato mash and creamed collard greens. He licked his plate clean, too.

Yesterday Edie and I were kickin' it, and while she napped, I decided to find a recipe for parsnips, which arrived in last week's CSA. It's a root vegetable that looks like a squat albino carrot, and beyond that, I couldn't tell you much about this homely guy. I searched on epicurious.com and found a cream of parsnip soup recipe that boasted to be low fat, easy, and delicious.

'Easy' on epicurious is a relative word. To me, 'easy' means making a box of risotto, chopping up some grilled chicken sausages, and throwing in a handful of broccoli for a one-pot meal. This required slicing and dicing of shallots and onions, reducing white wine, simmering for 45 minutes, and it ultimately involved an immersion blender. But I didn't have anywhere to be, so I could deal. And Edie is now sitting in her Bumbo so she's my little sous chef.

This parsnip soup was, thankfully, really good. Because there was a lot of it. When Dave came home I told him he had to eat it. He made some turkey sandwiches and dipped it in the soup. He was into it. I had a mug full as an appetizer, since I was going out to dinner with some girlfriends.

My friends and I met at a pizza place called Delancey. Apparently it's all the rage, but I guess I'm out of the loop, since I'd never heard of it. It's possible to find good pizza in Seattle, but it doesn't come cheap and you gotta do a little searching. This place is part-owned by a former Brooklynite, and true to form, it's some authentic New York-style pizza. We ordered the Jersey salad followed by a crimini pie and a sausage pie. They each rocked my world. We were discussing meeting up next month for dinner again, and I was like 'Hey, have you ever heard of this place called Eva?". He he. Gotta get my hands on that lamb burger again.

Hot damn and hallelujah!

I haven't been writing about my efforts to study for the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) exam, in the event that I failed. But, I took the test today and I passed! I passed. I'm so happy to be done with the studying. Ask me anything about the 2000 U.S. Census, I crammed it all in my brain last night.
I started studying when Edie was 3 weeks old, and would sneak in some reading or online course participation while she was asleep. Now I can go back to watching old episodes of 30 Rock while she naps without the guilt. Or maybe I'll find some recipes for the new and unusual veggies that keep appearing in our fridge. Or perhaps I'll read my New York magazine, which brother-in-law Jeff bought me for my birthday. That subscription comes once a week; keeping up on my New York-centric happenings is a part-time job. So many other fun things to do!

Some friends and family wrote me to say good luck today, and I'm just so relieved to tell people that I PASSED instead of ::shuffle shuffle:: failed. What does it even mean that I'm AICP? I'm a certified planner. It looks good on a resume, and perhaps will give clients or future employers a bit more confidence in my abilities since I don't have a planning education. The exam covers a very broad range of topics, so candidates have to overstudy in the event of getting one or two questions on a certain subject.

Over the past three months, I had to learn a lot of random info, but I also got more familiar with the role that planners have or should have in society. Honestly, I'm happy to be a planner. I think I picked a good career. Professionally, we're responsible for protecting the environment, mobilizing citizens, revitalizing under-utilized community assets, and fosteing economic development (among other things). Did I just get a little teary-eyed?
I think we'll have to raise a glass tonight. Not sure where we'll go but I definitely feel the need to celebrate!

Workin' 9 to 5

I'm back on the work trolley and all's well so far. There were no major meltdowns or stressors, and work is pretty mellow right now. On the first day, I woke up to torrential downpours, and since we walk to Edie's daycare I was slightly put off by the weather. But no worries, while on maternity leave I bought a sweet Patagonia jacket that laughs in the face of rain. And Edie has a big ol' canopy on her stroller.
I got up and got ready, then woke her up for 'school'. Once dressed in her cutest first-day-of-school outfit, she immediately had a panty blow-out. I changed her and did all the other necessary baby stuff and we got on the road. Over the past few weeks, Dave and I have been visiting the daycare with Edie so we could all to get used to it. The caregivers seem to know what they're doing (I mean, they're professional baby people) and Edie is so young that she doesn't seem to care one way or another about being there.
Marianna, the self-proclaimed Grandma of the establishment, welcomed Edie with open arms and I felt that she was in good hands. I got a bit choked up leaving her but had to catch my bus, so off I went without tears.

When I picked her up that afternoon, the ladies said she was great, but how do I put her to sleep? I was thinking 'I thought you might be able to tell me, he he'. She was plum tuckered though, because as soon as I got her outside she was snoozin' away in her stroller. That night she slept like a little log- she must've been so worn out from taking in all the new things to do and see and smell, and all the new babies to meet. The next day when I picked her up, she was babbling a lot. I think she heard all the other babies chatting and wanted to get in on the conversation.
Last night after two half-days of work I was so beat! I went to bed at 8:30, true fact. I hope I can swing three full days starting next week. It feels good to be back in the real world. Although today I met a mom with a three-week old at the coffee shop and thought, wow Edie was three weeks old just a minute ago!