books and bottle openers

On Tuesday, two of my colleagues and I conducted a workshop at a nearby Navy base. This base is on it's own island and it is a mecca for wildlife. No development, tons of evergreens and miles of pristine shoreline. Eight bald eagles nests! Deer running wild! Seals frolicking! It's probably what the Olympic Peninsula looked like 50 years ago. Anyway, long story short it was a beautiful day and we all know those are numbered. None of us felt like going back to the office after we ate lunch and Dutch apple pie with our clients at a greasy spoon. So we picked up a sixer and hung out on the island next to our lovely Navy base. We managed to make our way back to the evening ferry, where I read my book. Quite the Navy day. I filed the hours as 'reconnaisance'.

have you seen the remote?

I have long been proud to say "I'm not really into TV". I'm sure it's obnoxious, as most people are into TV, if not supremely into it. Somehow my disinterest in TV was a badge of honor. It's the direct result of some seriously strict TV privileges as a kid. (I remember my Dad let me and my sis watch Wonder Years while my mom was at Central Connecticut, getting her Masters degree at night. She came home, and guns were blazing because we were in front of the boob tube on a school night. That was the end of my knowledge of Kevin Arnold's antics).

Fast forward about 18 years (which you can actually do on TVs now!) This summer we bought a flat screen after the old hunka mysterious broke. Dave gave me a few remote control tutorials, and I now have total management over some gooood TV watchin'. I'm down with our On Demand service. It's totally efficient. Current obsessions include Top Chef (go Jennifer!), Project Runway (go Carol Hannah!), and Mad Men (go Joanie!). Oh yes, and the MTV opus, Sixteen and Pregnant.

I think Dave is startin to sweat now that he's got competition for the idiot box. When his softball team decided not to play this season I was actually bummed because it meant I did not have remote control autonomy Friday nights. What am I becoming?

keeping the wheels on

Summer is slowly slipping away, which opens new opportunities (doing more artwork, cooking big meals that require a stove) and closes the door on other delights (the sun, long days, aggressive use of our beloved grill). Today it's so beautiful outside and I want to do something but don't know what. Maybe I'll ride the ol' bike.


I've been riding lately after a month-long haitus. Dave outfitted my bike with a pannier (modern day saddle bag) and a headlight, plus I got a super cute helmet. Nothing gets a girl in gear like... new gear. I also had my final Crossfit personal training sesh today. My trainer pumped up my ego by asking if I was a rock climber or gymnast, because I have a strong upper body and I "move well". But then he made me do wall-ball jumps, and said "A-ha! I found something you aren't good at!". At which point I spit on the ground, stormed out in a rage and pedaled home. Or something like that.

Last week my whole family was gathered at the cabin in CT for Labor Day festivities. I totally felt left out and wanted to be there to meet my cousin's new baby (the first of our generation). When I talked to my sis this week, I lamented the fact that while I can make it to Christmas and weddings on the East Coast, I miss all the smaller and impromptu gatherings. She reminded me to enjoy the friends and family I have here, because once we're gone, we'll be missing THEM. So I'm focusing on enjoying my Northwest peeps! My sister, she's so smart.

40 hours a week plus bennies

Not sure if you've heard but there's a recession going on? Uh yeah, I guess it's pretty substantial. Sounds like we hit bottom and are swimming back up to the surface with a weight around our collective ankles. Fortunately, I work for a small consulting firm- 15 people, half of whom are partners- and they haven't had to lay off anyone. However, our workload is definitely light and I have clocked some serious hours dicking around with design stuff. Tasks include but are not limited to updating our company's website, developing promotional material, and volunteering for the Washington Chapter of the American Planning Association. Turns out if you help lay out the organization's monthly newsletter, you are automatically inducted into the Communications Committee. Excuse me while I add that to my resume...

It's been really fun, because my bosses basically say, "Can you make us an ad?" or "Can you make some posters for an interview?". The only real limitations are the page size, otherwise I have free reign (well at least 'till I turn it in for their review, at which point they edit). Unfortunately there's no client to bill, so I wonder how long my whimsical design days will last...Anyway, I think it's cool that there is a place for a designer, for creativity, in the urban planning world, and that I sort of found that out by accident.

I always wonder if I want to go to Planning Grad School. I can argue both ways- on one hand, I'd pay to get a degree to do EXACTLY what I do now. On the other hand, I could fill in some professional and academic blanks and generally be more marketable. A friend gave me great advice: Don't enroll in a grad program unless you are absolutely convinced you should be there. Otherwise you'll be writing term papers at 2am questioning what the hell you're doing.

Obviously, my love affair is with design. Every month I tear into my HOW magazine, but do I devour my PLANNING mag with the same gusto? No way. I often contemplate working 4 days at my real job and doing my artwork on the 5th day. My bosses are flexible, schedule-wise, and our home office is really coming together (we got shelves! glorious shelves!). For some reason the two sides of my coin are advanced degree in Planning or ramp up the art business on the side. At the moment, I veer towards my own art projects. I even opened a "business" bank account and am paying someone to re-do my portfolio website. Maybe the dream isn't such a reach...?

In other news, here's my new favorite neighborhood bar, the Dray. It's where I hang when I'm not working.

foot loose and fancy free

Dave's side of the room is getting out of control. The laundry and sports equipment seem like a fungus that just keeps growing. And I don't mean to toot my own horn but...I think some of my best comedic material takes shape as I'm waking up. The other morning, Dave was complaining about having no socks, and I said "Look on Clothes Mountain". Then I couldn't help but sing "She'll be comin 'round Clothes Mountain when she comes, yee-HAW! She'll be coming round Clothes Mountain..." Then Dave chimed in with "She'll be ridin six white horses...". Oh man, married life is the BEST.

This past week, my friend and I went for a beer after work. A woman at his Pea Patch told him the secret to happy marriage, gleaned from the best wedding toasts she'd heard. Well, two tips: Check in with each other five minutes every day, no matter what. 5 minutes of face time, turn off your t.v. (and your kids if you have 'em).
Her other tip is plan regular mystery dates. I like those ideas, and decided to put the mystery date in motion last night.

I took Dave to this diner clicked up a notch in Columbia City, on the south end of town. We venture to those parts about twice a year, and it's amazing, because it felt like we were in a completely different city. South Seattle is similar to what Green Point, Brooklyn was 10 years ago. Still marginally affordable, a couple yoga studios and good coffee shops mixed into some seedy spots, and on the verge of blowing up. Columbia City is really cute and just got outfitted with Seattle's new Light Rail. Goodbye affordable prices and diversity!


My initial plans for mystery date night included two tickets to Inglourious Basterds (I love me some Tarantino and Brad Pitt), but after a delicious dinner and one way-too-big brownie sundae, were fading into a food coma and fast. We rolled across the street to a little bar where Dave's friend Dalilah met up with us and told some really funny stories with lots of hand gestures.

The mystery date was a success and I'm looking forward to making it a regular part of our good times.

pump you up

Apparently it is impossible for me to not make plans. I was happily enjoying my down time, then by some improbable slip, I asked some friends to go lawn bowling, made an appointment with a trainer at Crossfit, and agreed to trek down to Tacoma to visit Dave's uncle. Before I knew it, my date book was full.

Then felt constricted. I bailed on lawn bowling, and turns out Dave never called his uncle to arrange plans. But I am still going to Crossfit today. I've been interested in their military-like exercises that focus on whole body coordination and strength (think climbing ropes for time and deadlifting your body weight). I don't know if I'll pursue it, since I already pay for and enjoy my gym, but I think four years of curiousity warrants a visit to the ol' body shop. I will say I am unabashedly proud of my muscles in this photo from our honeymoon. Huzzah!


Also, I'm thinking about taking a letterpress class at an art school conveniently located between work and home. I've been meaning to check out letterpress for a long time. It is all the rage these days in crafty wedding-invitation circles, but the technique has been around since the mid 15th-century. Here's a letterpress card from Ilee Papergoods, one of my faves, out of Seattle.


I'm definitely digging the post-wedding brain space and time...lots more room to dream about my next projects. We'll see which ones I pursue...

sitting in the time-out chair

For Dave's birthday I drew a cartoon of "Dave's Summer Day". I sort of envy his default mode: relaxation. My default mode? Hyperactivity. He really does enjoy his summers off, and seems to effortlessly fill his days without a tinge of boredom. I asked him what he'd draw for "Shawna's Day Off" and he, accurately outlined it: Wake up at 7, go for a run, come home and make faces at Dave for still being in bed, eat nuts and berries for breakfast, do a sixteen errands. True. I'm so lame!!

So this morning, I uncharacteristically stayed in my PJs, drank coffee in the barcalounger, and watched Saved by the Bell. Just like Saturday mornings of my youth! (minus the coffee). It was an inconvenience when I had to get ready for an 11 am hair appointment. I think I did a good job of relaxing this morning.

I also flipped through our many wedding pics, which we received from our lovely photographer Adam Smith this week. We love them! Check out the web gallery here.

Here's my mom helping me put on the Leonard family cameo. I love this necklace. Each bride wears it for the wedding day, then passes it on to the next bride. It was the "something borrowed" part of my outfit.

Here's where we relaxed a little during the "staged photo" portion of the evening. This was before the ceremony, so anxiety was running high.

And nothing takes the edge of that anxiety like a little champagne! We had great summery weather and great light for the photos.

Time to knock 'em dead. I'm whispering to my dad to hide from the audience, because they could sneak a peek over the banister.

Dave's parents, Art and Cookie, enjoying the ceremony.


Ah, I could relax and look at these photos for a while...