Since I moved here, I've been very lucky to make several good friends. It can be hard to make connections in a totally new place, so those relationships I've made, I hold dear. It may sound a little unusual, but one of these happens to have been with a ferret.

Kuma was the first ferret I ever met in my life. He wasn't my ferret, but I enjoyed pretending he was, and his owner was very generous and indulgent in allowing me to do so. I had a cat growing up, but she was a difficult creature who, though furry, was definitely NOT cuddly or loving, so it was hard to enjoy and bond with her.

Kuma, for whatever reason, took to me. This is the first time in my life when an animal I saw regularly, chose to bond with me. I was really quite unprepared for how amazing that feeling is. I also learned by caring for him that I was actually capable of looking after an animal. Let alone one I'd never had before. Until meeting Kuma, I don't think I ever thought that I was an animal lover, or that I could even imagine owning one as a pet. He gave me the confidence that I would be an excellent pet owner, something I had never experienced.

During the past two weeks, Kuma, who was getting old for a ferret, was rapidly declining and ultimately had to be put to sleep. I mention him in my blog not to be sappy, but because this blog is about my experiences in my (still relatively new) home and for the past year, he made a significant contribution. If I wind up getting a pet in the near future, it will have been completely his doing. I'm gonna miss him terribly.

Several weeks ago, I learned about an opportunity through the American Heart Association, to volunteer at Qwest Stadium as a program seller. I signed up for this purely because for two seasons now, I've been completely unable to get tickets to Seahawks games. At least this way, I would be IN the stadium. Maybe at some point I'd be able to sneak in to catch a few minutes here and there of the game. Baby steps, as they say. But then, a few days before the game, I find out that in addition to selling programs, I was going to be performing in the half time show. As in on the field. With thousands of people watching. Here is the story of my experience as a program seller/Motown dancer at Qwest last night:

Before the gates were opened to the public, there was a rehearsal for the half time show, during which we learned our entry cue and how complicated the dance was. What made it even more complicated was, the Seagals (cheerleaders for the Seahawks) weren't doing the dance we were supposed to be doing. And trust me, even though I'm a straight girl, it is very hard not to stare at these girls. Your instinct is to imitate them. I even found myself pretending that I had pompoms.

Volunteers were assigned to carts throughout the stadium. Mine was on the upper most level and included two beauty queens. Mrs. Washington and Ms. Washington Plus America. Complete with tiara and sash. I'm quite flattered that I qualified to be with such attractive company. I don't know if you've ever had the experience of selling programs, but it is amazing how naturally it comes to you when you put on an apron and wave a program over your head. I experimented with exactly how I would yell, "programs!" Sometimes it was "PROgrams!" Then it was "Proooooograms." The lesson I learned was that it doesn't matter how you yell, where you stand or if the program proceeds are for charity, if people want a program, they buy one. Although, the irony of standing in front of the garlic fries stand selling programs benefiting the American Heart Association was not lost on me.

As for being in the half time show, I never knew that was on my "list" but I can now enthusiastically check that one off. It was absolutely fantastic. They parade you into the tunnel that the players run out of (while thanking you for not smoking - again, did they not see the organization we were supporting?) and bring you out onto the field before the half is actually over. So we got to watch exactly one minute of the game while ON THE FIELD. I had my camera, but learned quickly that we were not supposed to take pictures - so I had to be sneaky. The Seagals were directly in front of me most of the time, so I have mostly pictures of them. Lucky for me, they are nice to look at.





Rushing out onto the field to dance was so exhilarating. It was pretty cold, but I really didn't notice, I was Motowning so much. And then I saw the Seahawk.




It was over so quickly, and totally ridiculous, but it ranks up there as one of the coolest things i've ever done.

While in Vegas, I took a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon. I had never been to the Canyon before. This was hands down one of the most incredible things i've ever done. The pilot took us over the Strip, into the Canyon and then landed so we could have a champagne lunch. In a tent, in 110 degree weather.

I really didn't expect Vegas to be such a photogenic place, but I had a lot of fun shooting up and down the Strip. The animals mentioned in a previous post were sure fire winners:




Even during the day, the casinos are pretty cool:





The inside of the casinos are over the top as well. Ever take a gondola through a mall? There are even fountains of chocolate. Check out the fancy desserts as well:

On my flight to Vegas, I had great weather and a window seat. Finally remembered to bring my camera onboard with me:

Vegas, baby. VEGAS.

That is where I was this weekend. Maiden voyage. It is a completely overwhelming place. Crazy hot, crazy expensive and crazy fun. And I didn't even gamble. For those who have not been, believe me when I say, there are plenty of things to do there that don't involve die, cards or chips. Observations made by a Vegas rookie:

1. I had been warned by those who have been, that the Strip is absolutely enormous. The reason for that is quite simply because the casinos are so ridiculously huge. It is possible to walk into a hotel/casino and not only become totally lost, but find you way out and have no idea where you are on the Strip. In my own hotel, I knew of only one way to get to my room. Coming from any other entrance, I'm pretty sure I would have wandered around for hours. The size of the casinos also makes the length of the Strip an elusion. You think you are super close to another casino, because well, the sign for it is *right there,* when really, if you are lucky, you are looking at at least a 15 minute walk between each casino. Add more minutes if you are in heels.

2. You can drink booze everywhere in Vegas... in the street, between casinos, in the malls... you name it. It really threw me when I saw a construction worker buy a corona from a street vendor during his lunch break. Hope he wasn't operating a crane later...

3. Several casinos have some sort of animal mascot. Lions, tigers, dolphins (oh my). And you can find these animals IN the casinos themselves. MGM, for example, has a lion enclosure inside the casino. Needless to say, I was kind of surprised that I had a chance to practice some wildlife photography while in Vegas. And If a casino doesn't have a mascot you can visit, it certainly has something else that is equally cool, like an "inclinator." The Luxor's building is a pyramid, so their elevators go diagnally. This is a little trippy when you do it the first time. Probably even more so after a few drinks...

4. Overheard while walking on the strip at 10:30am: "I need to eat something before I get wasted." Good call. Might I suggest one of the many brunch buffets along the Strip? Where you can eat nearly everything from sushi to grits? On the same plate? While playing slots? Next to Tibetan monks?

5. I've never seen so many ATMs and restrooms under one roof in my life. Mind you, the roofs in question are extremely LARGE, but still. It is kind of like Starbuckses on every corner in Seattle.

6. I can still hear slot machines.

Last week at sailing, I started to get seriously involved in the actual sailing of the ship. Naively, while doing so, I thought I'd still be able to sneak in taking a picture of the sunset. I promptly got yelled at for doing so.

This week, there were precisely three people who were manning the boat. Including me. Which meant I was actually getting some exercise and that there was absolutely NO photo taking. I was even warned by the captain to this effect before we shoved off. Fine. I'll just wait until we get back to the dock.

Last night, I ran my first "pub night" for the hiking group I belong to. Well, I don't technically, "belong" to it... to do that, I'd have to pay rather pricey dues. Instead, I've surreptitiously become a part of the club's "under 40" group. Through this sect, I've met most of the people I hang out with in Seattle. I've been participating in their events since the second week I was in Seattle, and I finally felt confident enough to volunteer to run the monthly pub night.

Forgive me, for I'm about to gush.

My choice of pub was a complete shot in the dark. I had only driven past the place several times and thought it might be a winner, but really had no idea. I showed up at the appointed start time, set out my pink ski helmet (the way the group could recognize me) and waited. Having been to pub nights before, I expected maybe 10 people at best. We ultimately had about 20. Including one of the club board members, which almost never happens. People came purely because they knew me. The group was still going strong at 10pm (over 3 hours after we started). The location was a total success and people told me so. Other things overheard:

"Larissa knows everybody in Seattle. She's like the glue."
"Larissa is always organizing the coolest things, it is good to know her."

I know that I post a lot about how beautiful it is here, and how that is a major reason for my moving to this city. But being able to organize a social event for strangers (more or less) who got along great, stayed long into the evening and for some reason now think that I'm a person they need to know... that is another example of why I love it here. There is no way I could ever have even attempted something like that in NYC.

As people left the pub, they rubbed my helmet for good luck. It was too funny.

Sunsets are starting to get good again. Here's one from my hill:



These are all from either the yacht club from where I sail or from my boat. Keep a look out for Rainier in the distance. Yeah, I live a good life.

Thanks to a quiz night with my opera club, I am now the very proud owner of a Wagner action figure. I know you are all insanely jealous. I won it knowing what acapella meant. If you look up Wagner on Wikipedia, you will see how much of a likeness there is!! I hear that action figures are more valuable in their original packaging, so I'm thinking about never taking it out. Although I'm dying to see how well he can move his baton around.

So the Mariners still suck this season. No matter, I still like going to the games. And the stadium. It is so pretty.

The Blue Angels were in town recently. They provided me my first ever air show. And my inner redneck loved it. And not just because it was free. These hotshots are completely insane. If you ever have a chance to check them out, it is completely worth it. The fly bys, inverted dives.. there were several times when it looked like they were definitely going to hit each other.

The weather for the past several days has been spectacular. I have recently purchased a new fancy schmancy lens for my camera and decided to take it for a spin at the Seattle Center - this is where the Space Needle is, as well as the Pacific Science Center and the famous EMP museum - a building that was architected by Gehry. I had fun shooting it:






In NYC, kids play in fire hydrants. In Seattle, kids have this to play in on a rare hot day:



This fountain is fantastic. It changes how and where it shoots water, its movement is set to music, occasionally takes a rest just long enough to lure kids closer before spouting water again... it even gives off "smoke" sometimes:



It really looked like so much fun. If i had not been carrying around a super expensive lens, i would have been right in the middle of it, giggling like a schoolgirl.