Official Transitioner http://blog.ellenchisa.com Anything you can do, I can do Meta. Sat, 28 Aug 2010 18:05:52 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Carless in Seattle http://blog.ellenchisa.com/?p=978 http://blog.ellenchisa.com/?p=978#comments Sat, 28 Aug 2010 18:04:51 +0000 Ellen http://blog.ellenchisa.com/?p=978 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.

]]> http://blog.ellenchisa.com/?feed=rss2&p=978 0 Things I do in Seattle http://blog.ellenchisa.com/?p=967 http://blog.ellenchisa.com/?p=967#comments Sat, 28 Aug 2010 17:29:54 +0000 Ellen http://blog.ellenchisa.com/?p=967 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!

]]> http://blog.ellenchisa.com/?feed=rss2&p=967 0 Challenges you don’t face in college http://blog.ellenchisa.com/?p=964 http://blog.ellenchisa.com/?p=964#comments Wed, 25 Aug 2010 02:43:02 +0000 Ellen http://blog.ellenchisa.com/?p=964 

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

Wish I would’ve had time to take DED…

]]> http://blog.ellenchisa.com/?feed=rss2&p=964 2 Parents! http://blog.ellenchisa.com/?p=958 http://blog.ellenchisa.com/?p=958#comments Sat, 21 Aug 2010 17:48:23 +0000 Ellen http://blog.ellenchisa.com/?p=958 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 :)

]]> http://blog.ellenchisa.com/?feed=rss2&p=958 0 New Office http://blog.ellenchisa.com/?p=943 http://blog.ellenchisa.com/?p=943#comments Mon, 09 Aug 2010 16:52:07 +0000 Ellen http://blog.ellenchisa.com/?p=943

I know I’ve been terrible and haven’t blogged about moving to Seattle, my apartment, my office, or anything even. I’ll be better.

Anyway, here are photos of my new office. This is so exciting. Almost as exciting as the free coffee and bagels downstairs this morning.

I have a plaque on my door with my name! This defines grown-up.

I have TWO whiteboards.

I have a bookcase with books!

]]> http://blog.ellenchisa.com/?feed=rss2&p=943 4 2% http://blog.ellenchisa.com/?p=941 http://blog.ellenchisa.com/?p=941#comments Mon, 26 Jul 2010 02:34:59 +0000 Ellen http://blog.ellenchisa.com/?p=941 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)
]]> http://blog.ellenchisa.com/?feed=rss2&p=941 0 Packing List: SF Weekend http://blog.ellenchisa.com/?p=936 http://blog.ellenchisa.com/?p=936#comments Mon, 19 Jul 2010 03:56:06 +0000 Ellen http://blog.ellenchisa.com/?p=936 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
]]> http://blog.ellenchisa.com/?feed=rss2&p=936 0 Offensively inoffensive vs. Inoffensively Offensive http://blog.ellenchisa.com/?p=933 http://blog.ellenchisa.com/?p=933#comments Fri, 16 Jul 2010 03:01:11 +0000 Ellen http://blog.ellenchisa.com/?p=933

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.

]]> http://blog.ellenchisa.com/?feed=rss2&p=933 0 Twitter Percursor? AIM Away Messages http://blog.ellenchisa.com/?p=930 http://blog.ellenchisa.com/?p=930#comments Thu, 15 Jul 2010 05:27:46 +0000 Ellen http://blog.ellenchisa.com/?p=930 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…

]]> http://blog.ellenchisa.com/?feed=rss2&p=930 0 Moving http://blog.ellenchisa.com/?p=920 http://blog.ellenchisa.com/?p=920#comments Wed, 14 Jul 2010 05:31:01 +0000 Ellen http://blog.ellenchisa.com/?p=920

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…)

]]> http://blog.ellenchisa.com/?feed=rss2&p=920 0