Hello all!

Since my last update, all has been going pretty well.

I'm still working at Nintendo as a bilingual product tester.  I did almost lose my job, however, when I said out loud how much I hate the game I was testing while the developer of the game was walking by.  I did say it in French, so he didn't hear it, but someone else did.  I was accused of intentionally directing the comment toward him and was asked to leave an hour early. Fortunately, I was able to convince them it was all a huge misunderstanding (which it was) and I was invited to return to work the next day. Still, I pretty much bawled my eyes out the whole way home and was steps away from flying back to PA.

Lesson learned: Be careful what you say.

Work is still great. Well, not great, as I don't particularly enjoy videogames.  But I do enjoy the pay that I bring home.  I am saving for a place closer to town.  Specifically, in the University District, so I can be around people my age, of diverse lifestyles, and intellectual inclinations. Plus, I'm hoping to go gain residency as soon as I live near enough to a DMV and apply for gradschool next fall.

In the meantime, I'm still out here in the forest.  Aunt Lynn has been just wonderful on the weekends, since I'm miles away from anything fun or the few friends I've made at work.  She took me to Edmonds beach last weekend.  Salt and pepper sand, bright blue sky, Puget Sound, mountains, trees.  I took the ferry across the sound just for fun to Kingston and walked around there, had a beer, took some photos. 

Yesterday, the Fourth, she took me to Snoqualmie Falls park, where we did some hiking down the side of a mountain to see the waterfall there, which was at a heavy volume of water due to the thick snow this past winter.  It was gorgeous. After that, we went to cousin David's new apartment in Redmond (which is between Woodinville, where Lynn lives, and Seattle proper) where we sat on boxes and enjoyed a fine barbecue.  Tom was there helping to install a dishwasher, along with some of David and his fiancee's, Kinsey, friends.

We went down to Pier 70 in the city to watch the fireworks on the Sound.  It was very cool, very invitation-only.  Live music, a free drink (plus a second purchased by yours truly), some dancing (which is so hard to do in flip-flops).  During the fireworks, David, I and some others gave the crowd a chorus of the National Anthem and America, America (or whatever the one is called that starts with "Oh, purple mountains majesty")... We were missing some of the words, but it's ok; we were being patriotic. And nothing says patriotism more than beer and fireworks.

So that's that. I'm very close to finding a place to live. That is my main goal right now. I hope it will work out (though Aunt Georgette just said to me on the phone now--the family is together today for Brian's high school graduation party---that it will DEFINITELY work out... I appreciate the optimism!)

Love you all and catch up soon,

Stefan

Bonjour!

Another week away from home and life has been rather calm.  Stefanie flew back to Virginia today, which was very sad, because now I'm back to being without friends... but I guess that's my own damn fault for moving across the country!

This week her and I took a trip to the Red Hook Brewery.  We sat and had a beer and a half, then took the free tour.  We got to have samples of five different beers (my favorite is ESB) and keep the sampling glass!! The tour was great, the food was great.  I was totally buzzed.  She totally stole a regular sized glass from our table (we decided it would be better to eat something before we--I--drove back to town). She even got a hug from the tour guide when she tipped him!  Later that night, I got to walk around Fremont, which is the strangest part of town yet with its authentic Lenin statue, and the carving of a giant troll under the bridge (I'm still trying to recall in which film I've seen it...)

The next day, we went to the Asian Art Museum, which is on Capitol Hill next to Volunteer Park (named so--and this is just opinion--because it's frequented by creepy gay men looking to "lend a hand.") Anyway, the Buddhist exhibit was quite interesting.  I'm drawn to images of spirituality, and Buddhism, though varying slightly depending where on the Asian continent one is, is a very attractive philosophy.  However, I don't buy into dogmas, but I do do adopt various principles from various systems of belief.  Look into: Jainism, Buddhism, Hinduism.  Also: Theosophy, Kant.

Moving on... Afterwards, her sister Carrie took us into West Seattle, where we strolled the shop-lined California Avenue while waiting for her dog, Murray, who was being groomed.  Browsed some antique stores, giggled at the oddly dressed.  I got a sandwich at this killer bread place, accompanied by an individual serving of Simply Lemon. It was good. Then they drove me home.

Next day I went back into town and Stef and I walked/caught the bus to Greenlake, where we jogged the three miles around it. I've been into jogging lately.  I usually go for two miles, but I found that three was just as easily done.  Then we went back to her sister's, showered, got some Starbucks, made dinner, had some wine.  Apparently, it only takes me two glasses to get buzzed (I believe I have my dad's tolerance for substances), and we laughed the night away watching Lewis Black on Comedy Central.  Also, if you are into stand-up, check out Louis CK on Youtube.com.  Hilarious.  Especially the skit about masturbation.

I spent the night there and today we woke up, got some Starbucks, some Russian guy showed up to repaint the house (her sister is moving to Georgia), then we went downtown so that Stef could get a haircut.  Seven Salon is the nicest I've been in.  They offered her a latte, studied her facial structure, and gave her a great cut (for only 70 bucks including tip!).  Meanwhile, I was sitting nearby keeping an eye on the stylist's scissors (as per Stef), in second-day clothes and really bad bedhead.  I call it... sleepy chic.

Life here in Woodinville is quiet.  Beautiful scenery.  Plenty of trails for me to jog, clear my head, healthify.  Aunt Lynn just finished the school year (she's gone dancing right now--second night in a row!).  She was tutoring several kids a night.  I've mowed the backyard (at her request) and cleaned the house (at mine) and I keep my things out of the way... of all her stuff!

Forgot to mention... My first weekend, Tom came to get me on the motorcycle, took me to his pad in Issaquah.  Quite a fun ride.  Anyway, he made some dinner.  Grilled some salmon on his fancy Japanese-style smoking grill, we had some Red Hooks (ESB, my favorite type), he pointed out some things to do in the vast northwest nature.  Talked a bit about life, family, job opportunities. It was good to see someone of the same blood, I was feeling stressed out by the move and the unfamiliarity of everything. 

Coming up: I start work at Nintendo this Monday!  It isn't my dreamjob... actually, it's probably the dreamjob of every other guy but myself, but I accept the irony.  You can read about it in the following email I've sent to my dad, wishing him a happy father's day.  I thought it was amusing, so I figured I'd share it.  Love you all!!!
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Hello!

Hope all is well. I am writing to you from Seattle (specifically Woodinville, which is a pain-in-the-arse 30-50 minute hike from the city) and all goes well so far.

The flight went smoothly; connected in Houston and got into Seattle airport around midnight Pacific time.  Only half an hour behind schedule.  And, fortunately, amongst the ten kids on board, only one very young child cried for only five minutes.  Cousin David picked me up and graciously asked and answered questions for the duration of the ride, giving me a brief overview of how the city is set-up and a re-cap on how he is doing (very well, due to be married in August; congrats!)

Got to Aunt Lynn's place (out here in the boonies) and he showed me around the house before he left to return to his place around the corner to sleep.  I unpacked and followed suit.  This morning I awoke and took a jog to the main road, which is exactly one mile from Lynn's place; so two miles, total, with the way back--plus one killer hill.  After eating and showering, I decided it was time to go to town.  I half-ran, half-fast-walked back down to the main road because I was afraid I was going to miss the bus; and it only comes past the development once an hour, so I was NOT trying to miss it.  It was ok, though, I actually ended up waiting a few minutes before it came by.

To get from here to Seattle, I take the 251 ($1.50) for 5-10 minutes until the Transit Center in Redmond, which is the closest suburb-city.  From there, I get on the 545 ($2.50 / 2.00 with my pass from the first bus) and ride for another 20-30 minutes.  As an experienced traveler, I have the patience for all of this.  I got off at the freeway station next to the University District and walked inward, past the U.Wash. stadium (Huskies! Grrr).  I had called Stef on my way in and she came driving up eventually and I hopped in (she's new to city-driving, so there were several turn-arounds involved throughout the day).

We first made our way to eat; it was well into the lunch hour and we were both hungry.  PCC, an organic market her sister recommended, provided us with a great meal from their deli where they had an assortment of dishes and sandwiches (I had the turkey/havart and a caprese salad, she got some seasoned tofu and a corn-bean salad, not sure what it was called).  We sat outside and talked and caught-up and laughed and reveled in our location and eco-friendly dining.  After that, we drove a few blocks away and spent a while perusing Barnes & Noble.  She needed a GRE study book and something useful on learning Hungarian (no luck for this one, though I can see why) and I browsed some SAT books, just for fun, reminiscing on standardized tests--and how horrible they are.  After that we checked some poetry titles, but our true fun was had between the Christian and Self-help sections: Philosophy! We must have sat on the floor an hour discussing all sorts of intelligent ideas that escape all understanding before we decided to head out to another book store (but not before Stef picked out a moleskine journal... but after we took several out of their plastic protective wrapping in order to judge the paper density and whether or not we liked which way it opened... yes, we are huge nerds).

We left B&N and spent a few minutes (unintentionally) cruising the university campus.  It is quite beautiful.  Let me just describe how beautiful the whole damn state is: green and trees as far as the eye can see, frequent large bodies of water, and the snowy dome of Mt. Rineer looming a little blurred in the distance.  People on bikes, on foot, in cars in traffic and NOT beeping impatiently.  It's a sight for the eyes.  Anyway, we finally found our way and eventually arrived at HalfPrice books, where we oggled the same sections, but enjoyed much better discounted prices.  I bought three books and it only cost me 8 dollars! AND the cashier, upon seeing my license while I was removing the cash from my wallet, asked me from what part of PA I hail from, because, she said, she was from there, too: "Quakertown," I said. "And you?"  "Quakertown; wow, I'm actually from Green Lane."  I was blown away! We both laughed in amazement and exchanged a few more words before I said, "It's Seattle, city of dreams, I tell ya."  After Stef and I left, I decided to take the encounter as a good omen.  And I hope that my time here is full of more pleasant surprises.

Anyhow, that was the extent of my day.  I had to catch the bus back to Redmond because the last bus from there to Lynn's left at 7:09.  So early, and very disappointing, but it's only fuel for me to establish a job in the city and find someone who needs a classy roommate to pay a rent between 300 and 500 dollars a month. God, I hope that is soon.  As beautiful as it is out here, and as much as I greatly appreciate Lynn's graciously letting me occupy the house, I want to get into the city so that I can connect. Live! Love! Learn!

All happens in due time, and if you're patient and kind, what happens just may be good.  But I don't confess to being naive.  It may be tough finding opportunity, but I will try my best.

So my dinner of a chimichanga and an eggroll is in the oven and probably quite done.  Here is where I leave you for now, and much love to you all!

Stefan

Hey again!

Wanted to post the poem from the card Aunt Wendy gave me on Sunday; it was a very good choice.

"If" by Rudyard Kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you an trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting, too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good nor talk too wise;
If you can dream adn not make dreams your master;
If you can think and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster,
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build'em up with worn-out tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings,
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lost and start again at your beginnings,
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the will which says to them: "Hold on!"
If you can talke with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings-nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And-which is more-you'll be a Man, my son!

Flying out Thursday! Wishing you all well!

Stefan