A few final thoughts before leaving

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After a few exhausting days of selling, partying and tearful goodbyes we are down to only two hours left in the comforts of Seattle. I need to start by giving a shot out to all of our amazing friends, for celebrating with us at Stellar Pizza and the Cyclops Saturday night. I've had many wonderful memories at both of these locations and now they will be even that much more special. Cassie and I celebrated many wonderful valentines day dinners eating pizza at Stellar over the years. Then, to finish up all the amazing beers we have drank in Seattle at the bar where it all started 6 years ago, was awesome. There are many wonderful and a few not so wonderful memories that we have had at this place. 

One major surprise was this amazing book presented to us from all of our friends. Easily 30+ pages of photos, comments and old memories. Every page will be cherished. Thank you all for making Seattle so amazing that we could even have all these memories to enjoy. I've always said the hardest thing for us to leave will be our friends and this book just confirmed that fact.

Photos from this night can be found in the photos section.

Fro Yo!

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More friends, more food, and plenty of smiles. I love how we are all cheesing in these photos. This is what happens when you put 4 friends in a room who have a sweet tooth.

This round we got to hang with our good buddy Henry. We've been friends ever since I walked up to his desk at Cisco and introduced myself to the new guy. I'm not sure what really brought us together. Maybe it was the food blogs we would share, or possibly our love for Nikon cameras. Whatever it was I'm happy we've been able to go camping, get drunk and celebrate my biggest day together in Mexico. 

On the far right we have my personal side kick Joe, damn is this dude the most positive guy I've ever met. You can't get this guy down. Which I have to say is awesome. I love to be around people who just see the bright side of everything. But whatever you do, be carful of his rants... It might be a long long night. 

It's a ZOO out there, keep family close by

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While Cassie and I have been super busy with packing, planning and selling our stuff. We had to find a way to see our favorite Seattle family one more time before we left. The Osburn family has always opened their homes and hearts to us as long as we have known them.

I first met Chaun, Theresa, and their kids while working with the both of them in Tucson, AZ. Two years later they ventured off to the pacific northwest, six months after Cassie and I followed. Ever since then they have graciously invited us over for holidays, dinner parties, and birthdays. 

The first Easter we were here, Cassie and I were at home with nothing to do. We got a call from Chaun to invite us to his parent's house to celebrate the holiday with them. We hopped in the car and drove over. His parents have been a second set of parents to us here in Seattle. We will miss them just as much! 

It's going to be sad to not have them around for a quick lunch downtown, or drinks on the hill. But one thing is for sure: I know they are friends for life, and I'm happy that we got to become such great friends over the years. Even if Chaun didn't ask me to be in his wedding party.   :P 

A tour around Seattle

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I was so happy to get a message a few weeks ago while on Facebook, my good buddy Jason from high school and his girlfriend Carrie were planning to make it up to Seattle to see us before we ventured off on our trip. This was a nice surprise and something we had been lightly talking about for years. Jason had only been to Seattle once before while playing with his band Lion Fever at Chop Suey some time ago. This would be the first time that he got to explore the city in a bit more depth. 

Cassie and I started off showing them the standard Seattle must sites while exploring a bit more of the hidden gems. No trip to Seattle could ever be complete without a sandwich at Paseos or drinking a beer at Lindas could it? We also toured the downtown library and stoped in to see Kurt Cobain's house after a beautiful hike up to Little Si.

While their trip was extremly short, only a few days. I'm pretty sure we wore him and his girlfriend out with all the walking we did around the city. I even think they might have liked what they saw, it's not as big as LA but I personally think we got that city beat.