Seattle: Day 15 "Non-alcoholic hangover"

I didn't think someone could be hung over from non-alcoholic sparkling cider. My head hurt when I woke up this morning. The family dog was sleeping on my back, which startled me awake.

Staying up until 4 am loses its edge after the "5 hour energy" wears off. I was a zombie throughout church, which I unfortunately can vaguely recall.

I went with Jessica and her family to University of Washington, which only made me sad about my school. Such a beautiful campus.

These are all the words you are getting out of me.

Seattle: Day 14 "The Groundbreaking"

Today marked the end of a chapter in my life. I spent it in the midst of caring friends and bottles of Martinelli's non-alcoholic sparkling cider. Despite my socially induced anesthesia, it was a rough day.

It is difficult to think that the person you spent two and a half years with got married by the end of your morning shower. It is even more difficult to save face in front of people who do not entirely understand.

We spent our day at the carnival in front of the Pacific Science Museum in Seattle. While riding teacups and merry-go-rounds, I would occasionally drift into thoughts of her standing in a receiving line giving hugs to people she rarely associates with.

I imagined what the punch was like at her reception while purchasing the night's first bottle of Martinelli's. I am sure everything was decadent considering how bourgeois her family is.

After the "5 hour energy" wore off, the second bottle of Martinelli's finally elicited an emotional response from me at 3 am. Tsige was their to receive the hateful rants and declarations of independence.

However, a hopeful future lies in friends, family, health and wealth.

It is time to rebuild, and today was the groundbreaking.

Seattle: Day 13 "Quirky Folks"

I did some chores around the LeFevre home today. They are giving me a place to stay, so it is the least I could do.

Later that night I decided to go on a single's ward camping trip.

After the second "Twilight" conversation ended I realized that I had made a mistake in coming. The single's ward here is one that Mormon filmmakers would like to exploit for their plots. It is loaded with quirky folks mixed with a handful of moderately sane people. It is a ward you cannot help but adore.

That night I learned a few names, some "Star Wars" facts and that a majority of the camp was on "Team Edward". I went to be early.

Seattle: Day 12 "Creation day"

Art museums are recharging stations for creativity.

We went to the Seattle Art Museum today. It inspired me to go beyond the thoughtless work that I have a habit of creating.

I was able to see work from Pollock, Warhol and many more. As I admired the work that many seem to simply overlook, I felt a strong impression that I was capable of creating just like the artists I was admiring.

I felt the worth of human creation.

There was a meteor shower later that night. My day filled with creations by masterful hands was ended by viewing the greatest work of all.

There is an art museum all around. Thanks be to God for that.

Seattle: Day 11 "Petty Theft"

I went to lunch with some missionaries this afternoon. Tsige called me 15 minutes before her appointment with them. Luckily, I was already strutting around my room in my new skinny jeans.

We ate Red Robin. Tsige kept requesting more fries for me so she could eat them. Technically, that is petty theft. I'm sure she was aware.

Later, we went to half-priced books and shopped for books no one has heard of. I think we secretly competed to see whose book was more obscure.

Later that night I went to dinner with Stephanie and Marni. I met them at a dance party. Nothing makes you look more legit than going to dinner with two beautiful women at the same time.

The End.

Seattle: Day 10 "Sushi and Shopping"

I bought skinny jeans. If you do not like that, then the punk side of me says, "I don't care." I bought them while at the mall with Tsige. On the way back, Tsige put us on the wrong freeway. Here was the dialogue:

Joey: "Tsige, is that Seattle?"

Tsige: "Errr....Ummmm..."

J: "Well, there is the space needle right there."

T: "Darn, I thought you wouldn't notice."

J: "What?!"

After we went through traffic hell, we went to a sushi bar.

All food should be presented conveyor style. Notice the period at the end of that sentence.

Seattle: Day 9 "An Ethiopian Tour Guide"

My tour guide for the day was the lovely Tsige. She was pretty inexpensive. All I had to do was pay her bus fare and she was set.

We went to the Seattle library, which was one of the coolest places to house books I had ever seen. Locals busied themselves with study and Facebook updates while the tourists took photos of them as though they were part of an exhibit. The sea of computers dominated the third floor with the sound of keyboard clicks crashing against the shore of the metallic walls.

We also saw the Seattle Art Museum sculpture garden. Big Brother scolded children over a loudspeaker when they touched the artwork. We were not excluded.

I ran into a person who tried to sign me up for a children's charity organization. She asked me to join after pitching for five minutes. I thanked her, but told her I already contribute through another organization and I would have to give her's more thought.

"What would you possibly be thinking about? I told you everything," she said.

At that point I realized that she was pushing a sale, rather than a cause. I was disappointed. Her insistance made her intentions clear.

We later had Thai food, which was rather spicy. My nose ran as I took my stomach lashings like a man. Tsige was fine.

It was a productive day.