JV's 2013 (Posted in early 2015! ;P)

NOTE: I wrote this one year ago and never posted it. I figured why not share it with the universe. :)

Hello, bloggers! I've missed you!

In April 2014, it'll be two years since moving back to America. We've made some great friends and met some incredible people! Seattle feels like home, and we continue to explore this fine city. 

I'm starting to feel like myself again; however, I also know when to save my energy when I encounter insincerity. I love zoning out into my own world of images, books, music, private uncouth tweets, extraneous information, which I haven't had much time to do in 2013, but I'm catching up. 

I got back in touch with my adventurous spirit and couldn't believe how dead I felt inside with two jobs and school. Sometimes, I try so hard to complete too many tasks and be too many things, I usually say "no" when I've stretched myself too far. That's why I disappear sometimes. These photos may lead you to believe that I'm a person who likes to socialize constantly. Yes and no? I like to observe/snap everything happening around me. 

"I can just hold up my lens, and then I disappear." - DRM

Here are some of my favorite 2013 moments in the form of sentences and lists:

January

We welcomed New Year's 2013 in Capitol Hill singing karaoke and dancing at Mel and James' place. We made our farewell to the King Tut exhibit where I befriended dozens of good-spirited souls. I've got nothing but a whole lot of well wishing for these big hearts! I watched Aaron J Shay play an amazing mashup of the Sex Pistols meets Israel "Iz" Kaʻanoʻi Kamakawiwoʻole (yes, I Google'd that) at the final party. Chris and I celebrated our second-year anniversary.

There were beautiful walks around Green Lake. Mitzie and Jack visited us Vegas transplants! We started planning their move here ;) The Hart of Dixie obsession began. Let's talk about Team Zeorge vs. Team Zade!!! I converted LSL! I started watching Girls. It reminded me of when I lived in Brooklyn with Jenn and Nicole (just as lost but not as messy). Turns out Hannah and Adam live on the same street I lived on in Brooklyn! I got a new job back in the communications field again!

February

Chris and I went to the EMP. We started a band called Headaches named after Jeff's band called Headaches in New Zealand. LOL! I had major hair envy at the Worn to Be Wild exhibit. :) We absorbed the city on date days. I juggled a full-time job, part-time job, attending part-time school and kept it together while lost in seclusion. Two hours of free time felt like an eternity. Chris had Cupcake Royale for his birthday!

March

Our new office moved downtown near the world famous market!

This awesome couple aka. Mike and Kel came to visit us, and we had many discussions about culture shock and reverse culture shock. So many puns and corny jokes! They held Madagascar cockroaches at the PSC :) We celebrated Lady C's birthday dancing to Cut Copy and STRFKR. I had to work on a class project with my classmates a.) the hilarious unintentionally funny class clown b.) the charismatic story-teller and listener. Consummate professionals. I wondered how I got so lucky.

April

Spring came along. We went to Vegas and ate at a neon Denny's just because! Back in Seattle, I FINALLY saw the gum wall and went to my first Mariners game! Chris in Philly sent me an awesome mixed CD (I hate myself and owe him one bigtime)! We've carried on this tradition for about 13 years now. We watched Chuck Ragan, Tim McIlrath, and Rocky Votolato play in the Revival Tour. Man punks! Sandy took me to her favorite place ever - the Suzzallo Library's reading room. We introduced Rakesh to the boot at Von Trapp's and Gas Works Park.

May

Colleen and Aaron hosted an amazing Cinco de Mayo party with delicious food. All the gamers gathered for P's birthday playing video games at Gameworks. Chris introduced me to Seattle's best milkshake at Luna Park in West Seattle. Cameron took us to our first Sounders game! We ate vegan Philly cheesesteaks at the Folk Life music festival and fell in love with a local jazz band. I joined a great womens organization.

June

LSL and I went to see Foals and Surfer Blood in the U-District. (HAHA before the show we were told that we looked very young for our age and "good job" taking care of ourselves! Oh, hilarious backhanded compliments!) We went brewery hopping with Jon Losey in Fremont. Team Rumbold celebrated after completing our school practicum for a client.


I showed my family around Seattle, and we wore matching Superman shirts. HAHAHA! We saw Camera Obscura play a dreamy set. We celebrated Cameron's birthday, wearing pink, singing oldies songs in the bottom of the Cider bar.

July

Fourth of July celebrations were held at Mel and James' treehouse home with the beautiful PacNW scenery. It looked like we were in the mountains, but we were in Eastlake! Lim visited us, and we decided to go to Portland (a decision made the night before) I am all about spontaneity. I attended my first Mozcon and saw some of the most incredible speakers! It shifted my purpose. I officially met Jesse Pino! We farewell'd Bauhaus coffee shop with Craig and Stephania, Kangaroo'd and Kiwi'd with Colleen and Aaron, played board games with Justin and Liz. :) Met the great Xander at soul night and became a trio with Sonya appreciating good design and all things Eames and mid-century design.

August

August quieted down. (Oh, I needed it!) Jen and Cami visted one last time before moving to LA, and we played skeeball in Belltown! We celebrated James' birthday in Fremont and Ballard. We watched Waxwing and hung out at LTD.

September

My favorite music fest Bumbershoot took place just down the street! I saw Tegan and Sarah, Fun., Mates of State, Bob Mould, Tamaryn, Ra Ra Riot, Death Cab, and Matt & Kim! We met Felipe for the first time (through Maggles) and life is even more hilarious now. A couple of walks around Discovery Park, dancing at Juawana's birthday party. I went to Philadelphia and hung out with Kay Marie! And NYC with A2! Ahh, it was so fun. I can talk about ANYTHING with these ladies!


I consumed and absorbed all of the East Coast energy. I went a little crazy fan girling it at the Saves The Day show in New Jersey. Thanks to being so silly I made a new friend. I felt 17 again, and it was awesome talking about those memories and favorite bands with those at the show. :) We got lost on the way home with three dead cellphones with a million White Castles (but no Neil Patrick Harris) everywhere we went. HAHAHA! There's never a dull moment with A2.

October

I felt really energized after my trip to New York and then it disappeared into this weird energy of the so-called "Seattle Freeze" which I think psyches EVERYBODY out. PSSSTT. More hang outs at LTD. I saw La Luz, an all-female garage band, at the Crocodile. I got bronchitis and watched the World Series (beards, beards, beards) at home. We dressed up like X-men for Halloween. I think Chris nailed it. I received knowing nods from other students of Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. :)

November

November! So great! I went back to Vegas to spend time with family as an early birthday treat. I also reunited with my old collegiate cheer team from ten years ago! Coach is on the left, don't they all look amazing? I had quality time with Crassy and Figga. Back in Seattle, I saw Death Cab acoustic and Nada Surf performed the full Let Go album. It was incredible.

I celebrated my birthday with all my Seattle buddies. Jerrad (who I haven't seen in five years) surprised me and showed up! On the same note, we saw an amazing set from Polar Bear Club. :) Lim visited and Craig introduced us to the great Tofu Factory! Two Thanksgivings with the LQA crew and Mel/James' at the Treehouse. We visited Woodinville for the first time ever with drinks at Red Hook Brewery and wine tastings at Januik.

December

Marty came to town and gave us passes to see Lorde, Foals, The Head and the Heart, Phoenix, Arctic Monkeys, and Vampire Weekend (wasn't a fan of Alt-J), but wow, what an amazing lineup! With the winter chill, we listened to punk music outdoors for Mel's birthday. "This is what Iceland punks must feel like." :) Chris' company holiday party was held in the 10 Things I Hate About You mansion (his company founders' home).

I introduced my coffee-addicted hubs to Storyville. I went home for Christmas and wasted a whole bunch of time being sad over a toxic situation that is behind me now. Being home with family, friends, catching up with Crassy and Jermee was exactly what I needed. Jon Ciso showed me around the Channel 8 studios, and I was reminded of why Vegas was so magical. The people! I went to a party with lots of old friends and faces. Yes, the Killers were there (I'm still excited about that).

My brother and I drove to Los Angeles and hung out there for a total of six hours. We drove straight back. It was so worth it! New Year's Eve we attended a party at the Treehouse and made it back to LQA just in time for more partying (mostly me munching on chip and dip) at Holly's. She made us fancy classic cocktails. Everything she does is filled with love. Too bad the fog rolled in and Seattle's needle disappeared. The fireworks were smokey red but still pretty!

2013 Favorite Instagram Accounts

amodernghost
annahoosh
parisinfourmonths

Songs Heavily in Rotation

French Films "This Dead Town"
Yuck "Lose My Breath"
Polar Bear Club "Pawner"
La Sera "Break My Heart"

Looking Forward To...

The year 2014 is going to be pretty incredible. Rich and Kay Marie are getting married in July. A2 and Dom are getting married in November! (I went to both weddings in 2014 and it was a total dream.)

xo
jv