Ever wanted a cake that looked like your wedding certificate, lots of Pepsi cans, a Reebok shoe, or a suitcase?

Talk to the Russians. They have it down.

I got a cut today and highlights. New photos soon (I hope).

I don’t think I can make it look this good again, darn hairstylists….

One of these things is not like the other. I think that a few of these items were related to the headache that led me to sleep from 3:30 p.m. Friday until 7 this morning, but that’s another story. Perhaps it was MSG, the WASL, terrorism tension, or dehydration from soccer. All I know is that it’s the weekend, WASL is over, my headache is gone, and so are my leftovers. And co-rec soccer with Aaron’s company is fun and fast-paced, though tiring. I am sore from playing, but I like being able to break a sweat again! The last organized activity I was in was hip hop dance in January.

So let me back up. I proctored the Math and Science WASL this week from Tuesday to Friday. Monday a search was out on a student who was reported to have a gun. Tuesday morning we had an emergency meeting about it. All week we had new information surrounding the VA Tech shooting and copycat attacks throughout the nation. Thursday we had another emergency meeting with news of a possible bomb threat on a Seattle secondary school, but we were to play it cool and read a vague letter to our class explaining safety measures. News of the threat spread quickly to students and grew out of proportion, making 5th period difficult to control and making Friday’s attendance quite low for the WASL and downright sparse for 6th period.

So…headache indeed. I slept it away and now I am as good as new, although sleepy again (15 minutes shy of midnight!).

Jesse’s Birthday Party 029, uploaded by amybaeder.

I put some photos up on Flickr from Jesse’s birthday party. Dawn took most of them (thanks, Dawn!), including one awesome photo of Elaine’s piroshkies. Highlights of the evening: Lukas winning Settlers, Jesse’s awesome borscht, my new set of old-skool primers from Daniel, Jesse’s Walden-photo book from Justin (as in Thoreau’s Walden Pond), getting to see friends (of course), checking out a REALLY old Seventeen magazine of Elaine’s, and drinking Justin’s (now Jesse’s) Intelligentsia Black Cat coffee (french-pressed).

…for chocolate.

It all started last Saturday night. Justin and I went to Victrola Coffee for some, well, coffee. However, I had more in mind. Like the Theo chocolate they USED to carry. I can’t believe they stopped stocking it, and I definitely couldn’t get some of their delicious chocolate off of my mind. They have flavors like coconut curry, bread and chocolate, nib brittle, vanilla, and a variety of dark chocolates–not flavors you can get in most places.

The good news is, they are based in Seattle. I thought about ordering online, but with Justin’s latest book order having been stolen, I thought about visiting the factory store. It’s a small building with tours, samples, and a small retail space, but before I go too much into the building, I have to talk about getting there.

I had planned to get there at about 4:30 (30 minutes before it closed) after washing the car. However, with 4 cars in front of me at the car wash and a considerable distance to the location (what I thought was 44th and Phinney), I didn’t get to park until about that time. However, after looking lost and asking the coffee shop down the street where the store was, I found out that it was on 34th instead. I had already parked and walked a couple of blocks.The store closed at 5. I was supposed to pick up Justin at 5 in the U District. I decided to book it down the hill.

The blisters on my feet after walking for 10 or 15 minutes began to throb once I set foot in the store (with 2 minutes to spare). I sampled a few chocolate pieces, glanced around, and, feeling rushed, chose to take home a box with Pearl Jasmine, Burnt Sugar, Scotch, and Ginger-flavored chocolates. If I could do it over again, I would have gotten mint, fig fennel, vanilla, and ivory coast (or perhaps peanut butter or earl grey?). I also got the tried-and-true nib brittle and bread-and-chocolate bars. As I was checking out, I noticed a warm feeling on my heels. I took a peek and my heels were bleeding! Not wanting to keep them open any longer, I limped out of the door and stared at the road ahead of me. I came more than 10 blocks down a hill. It was after 5 and I was late in picking up Justin. I had to trek up the hill quickly with my new-found chocolates (oh, joy!) and my feet on fire.

Next time, I will either order online or park near the building. My feet shall never bleed for chocolate again!

So I was on the Discovery Health National Body Challenge website today, tracking my exercise for the last week. Apparently, one can exercise in church as a valid fitness activity. I’ll have to bring my stopwatch and sweatpants next time. Click the photo for a larger view.

Also listed as a form of exercise is “Bathing: Self-care.” As my husband stated, with no pun intended, I’m sure, “that’s really reaching for exercise.”

Easter 2007_Vancouver Trip 268, uploaded by amybaeder.

I love this photo. I love old buildings. So there.

muskrat photo, uploaded by amybaeder.

..I found an early 1900s book on practical muskrat raising at the awesomely disorganized MacLeod’s bookstore next to our hotel. In one of the high piles of dusty books lay this gem. I was going to go for more impractical muskrat raising, but this book saved the day! Hooray!

Easter 2007_Vancouver Trip 505, uploaded by amybaeder.

Reminiscent of the Swinging Bridge I knew so well, the Capilano bridge sways high above the rushing river below it. Visit my other flickr pages for a better idea of its “majesty.”

Easter 2007_Vancouver Trip 509, uploaded by amybaeder.

On Wednesday, we ventured north of town to the Capilano Suspension Bridge. It’s kind of a temperate rain forest tourist trap, but we had fun. In this photo, we’re on the walkways/bridges in the forest canopy. Sadly, this is the only photo of us together on our trip, mostly because I am too chicken to ask someone else to take our picture. I must say it was refreshing to be in the woods again, even if it was on built paths. I could have gone for more trails–maybe 2 or 3 more miles worth.