Yes, I'm still alive!

So I know its been like 2 (maybe 3)weeks since my last blog post...here's a quick overview of the those exciting 13 days as well as what lies ahead:

1. We used all the gift cards from the wedding to buy all the stuff from our Target, Crate and Barrel, and Macy's registries. So thanks to everyone who gave us gift cards or cash!
   
2. We cooked a beer can chicken for Diane, Grandma Audrey and Grandpa Bill, and Uncle Dean! It was a lot of fun to show off our apt and my guitar hero skills (Bill still doesn't get how it works or comprehend that I can actually cook, and clean)
3. We cooked beer can chicken again, this time for Jonah Nelson (groomsman) and his wonderful fiance Mindy, and fifth wheel Dan Rosales (also groomsman). We had to prepare a lot more food for this meal than for #2, so we did a little Caprese salad for appetizers, and then for the main meal, risotto, corn, bbq veggies, Christy's famous melon-ball salad, and the chicken. Don't forget about the brownies and homemade vanilla ice cream for dessert! We had a lot of fun with them.
4. We met our vertical neighbor, who just happens to be from UPS, just graduated, played football, and played offensive line (tackle)! How crazy is that?! His name is Curtis and we had fun reminising about the astro turf at Sparks Stadium and how it caused him to tear his ACL and ruin his season, which really sucks (just ask the kitty cat). Now we know what that noise is from upstairs (usually a reaction to a video game causing him to throw downa remote or his feet...hmm, sounds very familiar...)
5. We watched the USC-OSU football game with the Aronson's. Kyle cooked up a great flank steak and peanut butter/chocolate rice Krispy treats, and we played a great card game called Racko (and yes, I won!). Next time, I'm teaching them Idiot.
6. I had a conference for work in Portland from Sunday til Wednesday. Not really worth writting too much about, but I got lot of SWAG and got to go to a winery called Willamette Valley Vineyards and hear Linda Hornbuckle sing some sweet jazz.
7. On Wednesday evening around 6, I got dropped off in Tacoma, where Christy picked me up. We attended our first GOLD (Graduates Of the Last Decade) committee meeting at Jacob and Elisabeth Pynn Himmelman's beautiful house just off in 6th Ave. It was such a great house and fun to be involved in PLU stuff once again. Good to meet a fellow EMAL from '01 name Chris Averso (something like that) (he played with Benji).
8. We bought the Office Season 4, which we are watching and should finish before the new season starts on Thursday, which I have been looking forward to for so long! They have a all of episodes online for free, so knock yourself out. For those of you not familiar with the Office, first of all you haven't lived yet, and second of all, here's a little taste of what you've been missing out on



9. We went to the DOL and waited for an hour and half to change Christy's name and address. I changed my address too...good times.
   
10. We went to my first "has-been" EMAL game against Cal-Lu, which we lost unfortunately but it was fun to watch all those guys get to play with each other. Its a load of fun, but I don't miss it because I'm happy where I'm at. We dragged Caroline and her roomie Tiffany along, so Christy talked with them while I cheered on the Lutes and made sure they didn't clap at the wrong times. BTW, the finally got field turf at Sparks Field...so the knee mutilator is no more (a year too late for Curtis). Quick shout out to Prosser alum Kellen Moore who led the Boise St. Broncos to a big victory over the Oregon Ducks! I wonder who Kevin Lusk was cheering for)
    
11. FOOD: We made homemade lasagna on Friday night with our sweet and heavy new Mario Batali pan. It didn't turn out as good as others I have made, but it was fun. Tonight we made Chicken curry with potatoes, carrots, onions and peas and it turned out really good! We're making a pot roast in the crock pot sometime this week. New to me but a classic at the Olsen home.
12. We watched the Inconvenient Truth, which we both really liked because it clearly shows how we are slowly (well not as slow now) but surely killing our planet. Its sad to think about the irreversible changes that have already happened, like lakes completely drying up. Even if you don't believe in global warming (like the genious Republican VP candidate), its worth watching just so that we are aware of that viewpoint. We watched Sicko a few weeks ago for the same reason, and learned a few things. Even if it is very slanted, it makes you a more informed person and forces you to fact check if you really care. Please feel free to comment on your opinions
13. We watched the Seahawks win today (finally) as we cleaned up the apt. Thank god we only have 850 sq. ft, because we have a hard enough time staying on top of things as it is. We took a nice brisk walk around Green Lake and it was beautiful out.
14. SPORE! I got the latest iteration of the Sims series and it is sweet! You start as a single cell organism and evolve your way to space travel and intergalactic domination. While I don't agree with the philosphy behind it, its been 5 years in the making and is a lot of fun to play. Check out the trailer:

So, that pretty much sums up the past 2 weeks. I probably left a few things out, but I've gotta finish so we can watch more of the Office. Christy says hi everyone and we're looking forward to a fun weekend ahead with my parents and Christy's dad Rich (I guess I get to call him my FIL now). So long and farwell, from Bad Ischal to the Tithables, from the Village to Palo Alto, from Sunset Dr. to Tingelstad Hall..."I'm living the Dulce de Leche!" -Micheal Scott (in the deleted scenes from season 4)
Carlo!