There are few things in the world that make me as happy as visitors, especially really old friends whom I love bunches and bunches.  And bunches.  So when Elizabeth emailed me last week saying her husband had a job interview in Tacoma and she was going to be tagging along, I immediately made plans to hang out.  Well, first I squealed and clapped (yes, I’m part seal), and then started making plans.

Elizabeth and John arrived yesterday afternoon.  As a bonus, Shaina (Elizabeth’s childhood friend and my birthday twin), drove down from Vancouver with her brand-new fiance, Kevin.  It was like getting a two-for-one coupon for chocolate or something.

As usual, I had spent hours thinking of ways to entertain everybody and had made absolutely no actual decisions.  Thankfully, Shaina had told them about the Experience Music Project.  John and Elizabeth are both music nerds (back in California, John was in a punk band and played at their wedding reception last year), so the decision was made.  (I LOVE visitors who come armed with interests.)

We found street parking (VERY valuable anywhere near Seattle Center) and wandered around.  We were able to point out all the major attractions, like the Space Needle, the Key Arena and the giant fountain where crazy Seattlites let their children play in whenever the temperature is above freezing.

This time though, besides the normal teenage skateboarders and precious toddlers risking pneumonia, there was also this chick:

Evidently, she was in the middle of her very own photo shoot.  And she was workin’ it.

Keep in mind, we may be in the middle of a “warm spell” up here, but for Seattle in January, that means it’s about 55 degrees outside.

Mike was obviously more than a little amused by the show.  The rest of us..  well, I think our faces say it best.

Yeah.

We finally made it to the EMP.

Bad news: It was 4:15 and the place was closing at 5:00- not nearly enough time to make it worth the cost of admission.

Good news: The staff took pity on us and let us check out some of the exhibits for free.  Score!

(Yeah, I look cross-eyed in this picture, but Elizabeth looks cute, so what the hell.)

Once we got kicked out of the museum, we headed to Green Leaf for some pho and further catching up.  I ADORE Elizabeth and John and was super happy to see them again- keep your fingers crossed that the interview goes well and they end up in Tacoma.  It’s not quite as good as them being our neighbors or anything, but it would be really nice to have some old friends near by.  (Actually, the idea of Elizabeth living 40 miles away from me in a slightly more industrial and smelly town will be extra comforting, considering that pretty much describes exactly how it was back in high school, when she made the commute to Orange County every day from Chino Hills.)