Clapton, Clapton, Clapton!!!!!

"Clapton is God." And we just got tickets today to go see a musical god on February 26th!! Eric Clapton is playing the arena 5 blocks from our house. After finding out that tickets were $68, and not the $155 a ticket we had read earlier. We jumped at the opportunity. Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!
Right now is the music lull. Ugh. And it has been killing us a bit; live music is what resets Mike and my stress levels to peaceful serenity. Every year November, December, and the first weeks of January are always stressful months for me, partially because of the holidays, but mainly because it is the winter lull between jam band tours and there isn't really anything going on. End of January all life resets to bliss, and the Clapton tickets offer a much needed hope for the coming of music season.
Live music a lot of times dictates my life, how I will spend money, where we will be, etc. It is a serene place, the stage front. It is what I would call my "Neverland". I feel like my sense of reality leaves me, and my brain wanders about, and I'm just happy. I lose myself in the sound, and all life drips away and I'm just bliss when I'm at a show. Mike also shares this love with me, one of the reasons we are together. We will eat the same thing for dinner every night if it means we can get to a show. Oh live music, how we love you. So, I will keep pushing away and getting everything off my list done because come January 21st, moe. signifies the end of the music dry spell and life will be crazy and musical till this time again next year.
What's you bliss, your serene place, what calms your soul and brings you back to peace?

NW Coast Weather

This week has been an odd mix of emotions. While worrying about our families safety in a Wisconsin blizzard, Mike and I have been relishing the past week of mid-50s weather. I worried a bit about the rain and gloomy skies as Mike and I first started our lives here, but quickly grew to love the hanging mist in the air. The reputation Seattle weather gets is fair, considering most of it's true. However, there is always a another side to look at.

Myth: It rains constantly in Seattle.
Truth: Yes, it precipitates a lot, but it rarely downpours constantly. Most often we get a hanging, dewey, mist which is refreshing and reviving. Mike and I really enjoy the rain, especially walking in it. It is a little bit miserable if you aren't properly dressed, but that is only a raincoat and galoshes away.

Myth: The sun never shines.
Truth: Except for a few months in the summer, it really doesn't come out too much. But Seattlites get "sun guilt", when the sun is out EVERYONE is out in it. So even though it doesn't last, just when you can't look at another cloud, they will part and it will be the most beautiful vision of sun with dissipating clouds. And then just as your starting to lose the special-ness to being in the sun it disappears again.

Myth: It's always gray.
Truth: It is gray. A lot. But, oh man, there is an upside to the gray. It is green, Green, GREEN! The grass, the moss, the leaves, everything turns vibrant green in the fall, spring, and winter (everything is brown in the summer). Roses bloom through the winter. It takes some trees 3 months to lose all their leaves. Pretty autumn colors last for nearly 2 months. Despite the gray clouds, they are never one consistent color of gray, they at least have texture. Even though the sun may not be shining, for a nature lover like me, the colors around me are more worth while anyway. Plus, the clouds hold the warmth in. Our winter highs are at the upper 50s and lows just above freezing. On the rare occasions it does get into the 20s, we get snow (see previous post about our first Seattle snowfall). The snow lasts about 2-3days, then returns to the green backdrop.

I guess you could say I am growing like a weed here in Seattle. The weather suites my temperament, which even to me was a bit of a surprise. The summers are a bit of teasers, as they never really get hot. But, we've only just learned we don't actually like summer weather. Do we sound like we were meant to live here. Loving life in Seattle.

Seattle life thus far...

A photo slide show of our first year and a half in seattle.  Those you unfamiliar with smilebox; you can save the whole slide show or individual pictures to your computer should you see something you like.  Enjoy!  Love, Kyra and Mike

Make your own photo slideshow

5 Year Anniversary

Today is my 5 years of sobriety; all this week I have been meditating on what this means to me.  One thought runs through my head constantly, how lucky I am.  To have quit drinking alcohol 6 months before my 21st birthday, took courage, strength, and determination.  I consider myself lucky to have realized how something so simple as alcohol could bring such emptiness.  At such a young age I realized I rather live the rest of my life without it, and haven't looked back since.
Because I quit drinking I was able to...  See the "me" I wanted to be and make it a reality, live in New Zealand, have a career I love and care for deeply as a nanny, meet Mike, help others in their lives with words of wisdom learned from my journey, have confidence to venture outside my comfort zones, and most importantly live happy, healthy, and empowered.
Thank you to all who have helped me get to this point and support my choices in life.   I am lucky; to be surrounded by good people, to have found happiness within, to be thriving with life.  I challenge you to conquer your chaos.  

Living Guardian Angel

Here's to those friends who there when you need them.  Who say what you need to hear, not what you want to hear.  Against all odds of life (distance, different paths, chaos of the day to day, etc.) you still manage to stay current with one another.  What I learned thus far in my 25 years of life, is the quality of your living is greatly improved by the relationships you surround yourself with.  There is something to be honored about the outside perspective; a perspective only achieved by someone other than you and usually comes with great advice and insight.  Cherish the relationships we have that define and challenge our character, push us to better beings, and offer a smile and a laugh in a time of low spirit.  I strive to be this kind of friend with all those who seek me out and even some who don't.  Love makes the world go round.

First Seattle Snow Storm!

Mike and I experienced our first Seattle snow storm this week; on Monday it snowed 2 inches.  For Seattle, which is all hills, the snow was rather devastating for its non-snow raised residents.  In the picture we are standing at the base of Queen Anne Hill (by our apartment), and Queen Anne Drive was one of the many roads that we closed due to slippery conditions.
What we experienced: 1) Seattle snow drivers are extremely polite. 2) I GET SNOW DAYS!  I felt like a little kid all over again, and spent to whole day outside. 3) 2 inches of snow isn't a lot however with almost no plows or salting trucks everything, except main roads, still 2 days later still are covered in compacted snow turned to ice.  We live on main roads, and can walk to everywhere important in our lives without much hassle.
We are enjoying a festive Thanksgiving week, and thoroughly enjoying the snow while it lasts.  We will probably be back to the mid-40s again by the end of the week and back to our rain.  But, it will be fun while it lasts.

First Post!

After disconnecting from all social networking sites I felt I have lost touch with many people I care about and want to keep relevant in my life.  Although I am tired of the trivial info you find on Facebook and the like, I do find sense in keep those you love "in the loop" and up to date.  So, I've taken on blogging.  This will be my first attempt at the age old internet practice; my attempt to stay in touch with those outside my immediate environment.  Please read, comment, laugh, love, and enjoy the beauty of life well lived.  If you've found your way here it means we should keep in touch, so don't hesitate to send an e-mail our way (k.werk@hotmail.com).
Lovelove,
Kyra and Mike