Official Transitioner

For the first time in my driving history, I am carless ¹.

When I left Michigan, I gave Grover, my trusty Hyundai Sonata (blue) to my brother. His lease was expiring and I fully intended to get a new green, manual-transmission Hyundai Sonata, and name it Oscar.

First my rational for not getting a car was “I’m going to start work first.” Then, “I’m going to find an apartment first.” Then, “I’m going to wait until my parents come to help.” By that point, I was five weeks into my Seattle career.  Since I was already five weeks in, and I’m only here for two years, I was basically already 5% through my Seattle life. If I made it 5% of the time without a car, could I make it the whole time?

Then, I realized this was even easier if I joined ZipCar.

But, there are a few times one might want a car, but here there seem to be solutions around them:

1. Commuting- Microsoft runs “Connector” shuttles that conveniently drive you to and from work. If you miss those, the public 545 bus does the same thing.  The only problem is when I don’t leave work until late, and then keep procrastinating going home. Since I have an office this isn’t actually a big deal.
2. Going to the East Side on weekends- I would never do this. I like hanging out in the city better. Invalid scenario. (Ok, and if I really had to, there are buses).
3. Driving within Seattle- the buses are awesome. I don’t have to worry about parking. It’s great.
4. Shopping- Zipcar!
5. Trips- Luckily, my friends have cars. If we want to go anywhere far away we can. Like how we’re going to Ikea later!!!!!

So,  procrastination has resulted in a situation I never thought would happen.  Sometimes I miss driving because I like the act of driving, but I haven’t actually needed a car for transportation.

¹ Well, that isn’t strictly true. My first semester at Olin College I was carless. The first two months I was too excited about being at Olin to want to go anywhere. After that it was approximately like torture. My very friendly parents delivered my car shortly thereafter. Anyway, since then, I’ve always had my trusty car.

Apparently involve eating. When I went through my phone to see what photos I’d taken this week…

Tuesday: Spam with Chen

Wednesday: Fish and Stirfry with Jaclyn

Thursday: Arrived too early. Had chips in hallway.

Sushi lunch for Charlton's last day...

Icing a not-to-be-named friend

Donuts with Alyshia at Top Pot donuts!



There are no convenient times when one can meet with pacific time, Finland, and India.

Wish I would’ve had time to take DED…

Again.. lack of updates. Since the last, both Kyle and my parents have visited.

We achieved my mom's lifelong dream of going to the fish locks.

I attempted to photograph the Seattle skyline from a moving car.

Holy crap Giant Octopus! Best part of the aquarium.

More updates tomorrow when my parents leave

As a friend pointed out – Each week I spend at work is 1% of the time I’ll be there (2 years = 104 weeks… + there’s some vacation involved). So I’m now 2% of the way through.

• I’m ramping up on my project.
• I like my team.
• I’m excited for the potential it has.
• I figured out the commute.
• I haven’t been bored.
• Lots of people are visting me in August! (Kyle, parents, Alyshia)

I kind of want to keep this packing list thing going, so:

• Jeans
• White dress
• Two tank tops
• Pajamas
• Two sweaters
• Toiletries
• Work Laptop
• Purse contents
• Two books
• Misc Electronics

Things I did:

• Ate falafel
• Went to the East Bay
• Went to the South Bay
• Hung out in parks… lots and lots of parks.
• Ate sushi

Offensively inoffensive- to be so bland that one is offensive, simply for being impossible to dislike.

Inoffensively Offensive- so offensive that one is ridiculous, and thus not offensive at all.

- from a conversation with Roland, Nik, and Jaime earlier.

AIM away messages were the pre-cursor to microblogging. You got a few lines to say whatever you wanted… and it contains much of the same content:

• Status updates
• Song Lyrics
• Messages for individuals (kate! when you get online, call me!)
• Annoying rants (ughhhh worst day ever, taking a nap)
• Useful Links

Thus far, I haven’t come up with much difference, other than that you can save old tweets.. and I personally saved all my AIM messages to view later…

All of these are obsolete: Glasses, Old License, Old House Keys

My normally not-grandmotherly grandma packed me snacks for the plane. She looks adorable

Pirate Cupcake Supplies. For the next Pirate Party?

To new friends. And fruity drinks.

I knew I'd like Seattle. I feel the exact same way.

(More photos coming… including the view from the plane landing, and whatever I take of around here…)