In riding a horse we borrow freedom. ~Helen Thomson

This is officially my first post from Seattle! My mom was awesome and drove up with me last week and helped me settle in. She spent the week with me job hunting, doing chores, and preparing my apartment. I took her to the airport yesterday, so today I was completely on my own.

Let me tell you, freedom is the best feeling! I love this. I love having my own apartment. Just me. Alone. With Molly. It's spectacular. I posted a few pics of what I see when I stand on my deck. Yes, my own personal deck. I have patio chairs and everything. I love doing housekeeping chores. By myself, I went to the hardware store to buy fencing and a plumbing cap. And then fixed stuff. I re-caulked my bathtub! How amazing is that? I found multiple locations by address alone. I drove all over town(s) with no help and didn't once get lost. I feel so accomplished right now! And I got so much done. My apartment is clean, I'm unpacked, and I'm already cruising through my long to-do list.

I'm so loving Seattle. I was worried that maybe I'd just built it all up in my mind - this magical place of my childhood that's not actually as great as the fantasy I've put on a pedestal. But it is! It's green and beautiful and drizzly and sunny all at the same time, and I couldn't be happier about it. I took Molly to Edmonds today (found it by myself, oh yeah) and we got our first taste of the beach for the year. I've got seaweed on my shoes, sand on my pants, salt in my hair, and wet dog smell in my car, and it's amazing. It was just so gorgeous. And it's warm here, which is a welcome change. I haven't worn a coat in a week.

I'm still searching for a job, but I have more hope. I have a few interviews lined up for this week and a woman who wants me to nanny. Now I think the question is not if I will have a job, but what job. I've applied for some awesome jobs and internships that would be preferable, but I won't hear about them for awhile. Should I accept offers now or hold out for better ones that might not come? It's a tricky situation.

In the meantime, I'm doing everything I want to. There's no one to tell me no. If I want to drive to Pike Place for the day and buy myself flowers, then I can. I might tomorrow, actually. ;) If I want to spend the day strolling through Marymoor, why I shall! If I want to sit in bed and eat ice cream, I probably won't because it's a waste of my time, but I totally could. I'm so proud of myself that I'm actually doing amazing things and using my time well. I had a full day. I could have not, but I filled it. And I'm pleased. :)

I've got all these plans, Seattle, and I'm so excited. The summer is here, and I'm ready. Bring it on.