I second what Lindsay says about attempting to ship something.
Lindsay
Very important updates:
1. There is officially an Aeropostale in Redmond Town Center! Yay for that.
2. Bolt was fantastic!
Also, I hope you don't mind that I am going to save birthday celebrations for when you get back. Rather than attempting to ship you something and then hoping it gets there within like 15 days. But I am not forgetting!
Lindsay
Yay cool countdowns!
My new room counselor's name is Riley. She is not a dramagirl thus far. She actually seems very sweet and nice. And "Mellow" which was the word-of-the-day yesterday. She is a Junior at Redmond. But now that she's arrived, all the kids are catching on that Wanita's not here anymore.
If I haven't told you already, we are thinking of redoing the jungle and turning it into the North Pole starting the day after Thanksgiving. Which will be fun. If you have any tips they would be greatly appreciated. We also moved the tables around and it works much better because the kids don't run into each other.
As for the kids themselves, Connor and Oren both got haircuts that are possibly the most amazing things of my life. Quinn is developing a habit of picking up the very small kids and tossing them around for fun. Think pumpkin or log-throwing. And there's more, but I'm realizing I should probly be getting ready for work. Tell me if you have specific kid inquiries.
Sue
I think these message board comments are getting carried away! and you all should be very happy to live in Seattle where you have beautiful natural landmarks like Mt Rainier and the Olympics and the San Juans Islands and so on. That is much more interesting than corn fields!
Mom
Hooray to Kevin for the cool Beth countdown! Now I just need to figure out how to have it on my desktop so I can see it every time I go to the computer. Thank you for that though, I really like it. Although it still sounds like too many days til she comes home....
And to Lindsay....BRILLIANT suggestion to relocate an existing Pantheon from an already historical city. I am glad you approve of the ride. I don't know if I like the "three rides all tangled around each other" concept for fear that it will end up looking like another Experience Music Project building disaster. I do agree that Renton would be an appropriate disposal site for the Space Needle. They need a little culture in Renton I think.
Kevin
So I was having one of those sudden missing Beth attacks that I'm sure we all have from time to time. But when I called you/she didn't answer. Then I realized I could make this instead!
Also, on the Picasso debate, I could copy his artwork pretty much exactly when I was 6 years old. And by the time I was 10 years old, I understood his concept enough to create a painting the same way he would. Which shows how much talent that took. That being said, I never would have thought it up myself. So I spose you have to give him credit for his mind being twisted enough.
Lindsay
I understood that your family couldn't understand French, also.
Agreed on Pantheon vs. Space Needle. I think to solve the problem of looking old, we should just relocate a pantheon from an old historical city who doesn't need it anymore because of abundance of old historical things. Even if we had to do it piece by piece. And THEN we could renovate and include a ride, which I approve of. Or perhaps like three rides all tangled around each other. And then the Space Needle could go to Renton or somewhere that needs it.
Karen H
Christmas markets at Vienna & Prague! Yea! I am just catching up... Have fun in Berlin! I can't wait to see what you bring home in your suitcase!
By all means, ship the books!
Mom
Nice try Beth but for the record your family may understant more French than you give us credit for! At least enough for me to get a very vague and general idea of what you were talking about to Maggie! All I really understood was that you were writing to her in French because you thought it would be more difficult for your family to understand, and then something about a little problem of UW needing a student number for you to get housing or something. But Sarah will be home after school and will clear up the rest of it for me I am sure!
I have a proposal for fixing the Seattle skyscape AND adding architectural interest at the same time. Especially now that we have the clock tower issue resolved by conveniently remembering that we already have one. I think they should knock down the Space Needle (which is very tacky and a tourist trap, although I do admit t is a FUN tourist trap, but only if you eat there).......and replace it with.......a Pantheon!!!! Think about it...it is brilliant. Not too tall, so it would meet the newly imposed height restrictions, and full of architectural interest. Okay maybe we would just have to fake the "make it look old" part so that we could say it is "historical" but it seems like lots of cities have Pantheons....I thought Rome was the only one , but Athens has the Pantheon which is practically the same thing, and then Beth just saw one a few weeks ago in wherever it was that she saw one! So I think I have come up with the pefect solution. I really want to put a RIDE in my Pantheon, a la Disneyland,(a water ride, in a little boat...) but I realize some people may object to that addition, so that is not required.....
I don't get the whole Picasso thing either. I would like to know who gets to be the judge to decree whose art is good and whose isn't. Give me Monet any day.....
Bob
OK Lindsay, sorry I misunderstood. It is true that there are plenty of recognizable places; they just need to be more attractive.
So I got in trouble this morning when Samantha read my comment because I said the books "I" got you instead of the books "we" got you. And hopefully you got this, but obviously the books were from both of us, it just so happens that I was the one who went to Borders and picked them out and I was proud of myself for finding those particular books and so was interested to hear if they were any good.
I hope Berlin is great! I would say that you need to make sure to have some German beer, but it sounds like you've had plenty of beer already. Is it all weird French beers and stuff or is a lot of it the same? And not just for beer, but for everything -- do most people use Crest toothpaste or some French brand, etc.?? And are there Targets on every corner?! That would be exciting. I know they are a French company.
It would definitely be fun to go to a soccer game for the experience, but I hate watching soccer because there is so little scoring and it can be a bit boring. Sounds like good people-watching for sure though.
Lindsay
I wasn't saying there are just beautiful landmarks pell-mell all over Seattle. I meant, there are plenty of centrally located visible tall buildings (landmarks) that could be used to navigate, like Beth's clock tower. I agree that they should be more beautiful and interesting. But they are there nonetheless.
However, now that I've considered Beth's pictures and things, I've been seeing Redmond in a different light. And besides that everything looks slightly computery, it's not so bad. There are some nice buildings. And even Town Center from the street (Not freeway) view has some pretty brick details. I've decided that the major problem is that gas stations aren't subtle enough, and that banks aren't pretty anymore. Also, it could do with some more ambient/dramatic night-lighting (Like on the inside of Town Center), rather than having so much bright-blue-white glare on everything. And that one shopping center across from Jamba, and the other one with Value Village, could be updated.
Upon further consideration, we DO in fact have a clock tower. It's on Leary Way. It's just all the other buildings and trees around it are taller now. Beth, maybe you could campaign for a clock-tower extension.