The Sun Hurts!

My sun-loving friends don't understand me when I say this, but I'm physically in pain when I sit out in the sun for too long. And by too long, I mean just a few minutes.

I tried it again this morning, when I walked up the hill to my new favorite coffee shop, Irwins. They have great weathered Adirondack chairs outside - the left arm held my iced coffee and on the right one sat my toasted everything bagel with herbed cream cheese and fresh tomatoes (yum!!). I put on my sun hat and let my pasty white arms and legs soak up some solar juice.

Ouch!! After about 10 minutes, I had to cover my legs with a sweatshirt. I felt like needles were poking my skin - and not the teensy needles used by acupuncturists. Knitting needles, is more like it!

I have a feeling it is going to be a beautiful summer in Seattle with clear skies and temperatures regularly reaching the 80's. I'm kind of glad I'll be staying in my new basement apartment, under the earth - close to where the mole people live.

Mole people - please allow me to join your ranks.

More On My New Neighborhood

Wallingford is the land of middle-aged ladies, taking walks, wearing backpacks and hats! I fit right in! I passed 2 of us. I walked up to 45th again and down to Stone Way. Archie MacPhee is moving to the corner of 45th and Stone, where the liquor store used to be. I got a new eye pillow in the Wallingford Center (mine has lost almost all of its tiny buckwheat seeds). On the way back, I saw two sweet Australian shepherds and cried out with glee "look at the sweet puppies!". I was "busted" as their owner looked up from her chair. But, she told the dogs to run down the steps and say hello! And one of them carried a ball in his mouth. We played fetch. The other one wanted her 'tocks' scratched. Fun loving! And the owner was another nice middle-aged lady. This area is lousey with us! My walk was made complete when I had some serious lovin' with a sweet orange tabby with a little pink nose.

Hooray!

Gettin' Comfy In My New Place!

I love my new apartment.

Sure, it smells like gas right now, since the gas water heater is leaking (and the landlord is going to replace it), but it is in a neighborhood that I love and has a real, honest-to-goodness kitchen. After using a cutting board for a counter for the past two years, I don't know what to do with all the space! And so many cabinets and kitchen drawers! I finally have places to put stuff!

I have an actual living room/office and am soon getting a love seat. My good friend, Angela, gave me a TV with a DVD player that somebody just left, in her building. I have free basic cable TV AND cable internet! My bedroom is calm and soothing and has a good-sized closet. My bathroom doesn't have a tub but has a double-sized shower. And, the place is pretty!

And, best of all, I have my OWN washer and dryer!! And, the water heater is only used by me. Plus, the washer and dryer is in a storage room where I can put more stuff!

I walk outside and I see a glorious view of the city. I'm just a block away from the Burke-Gillman Trail and 2 and 1/2 blocks from Lake Union, the urban lake. I am within walking distance to a really cool coffee shop/cafe/bakery.

I love Wallingford and am thrilled to live here!