Madness Factor

Okay, yes. It’s been ages. But I’ve had a lot going on, ya know? First there was the move 3000 miles across the country. Then there was that month in our grotty flip house (yes, that’s flip, not flop, though there were times I couldn’t be sure), where we slept on an airbed just inches above manky old carpet, which, incidentally, covered the floors throughout the entire house, including the kitchen and bathrooms. And finally, there was the subsequent move into our 200 year-old farmhouse, which we saw for the very first time the day we closed on it. Since we arrived in Vermont, I’ve been working, too. So I’ve been kinda busy.

But I’ll start at the beginning…or at least where I left off. I never delivered the Things I’ll Miss About Seattle and Things I Won’t Miss About Seattle posts, so I’ll start there. Well, I’ll start with Things I Will Miss…or Do Miss. Whatever. Editor’s note: I began writing this list before I left, so I’ve edited the future tense out of the older parts (but I’ve left in edit marks so you can see what’s been changed). And please be aware, this list is far from being comprehensive.

So here goes…
Things I Will Miss About Seattle

• Our Friends: The wonderful friendships we’ve established, of course, are were what will make made leaving hard. But now our Seattle-area friends have a reason to visit Vermont, and we have ample reasons to return to Seattle to visit.
• View of the Olympics: The view from the end of my street is was breathtaking.
• Bald Eagles: Almost every day on my way to work (before my leave of absence), I would see the same bald eagle perched in one of the trees along Bothell Way. I’m pretty sure I won’t be seeing any of those in Vermont.
• Our Vet: I used to work for our vet, so I know knew exactly what goes went on behind the scenes. That’s why I feel felt very confident about bringing all four of our animals there. Plus, Dr. Mortimer simply rocks. (Ed. note: No need to change tense there, ’cause he continues to rock.) I really hope I can find a vet as caring and compassionate as he is.
• Abundance of Writing Work: Go to http://seattle.craigslist.org on any given weekday, and there are a healthy number of writing opportunities listed… Not to mention the many gigs available through the myriad contract agencies around here there. It’s been was comforting to know that these jobs are were out there should if things ever go went awry. In contrast are the http://burlington.craigslist.org listings, which are usually spam or unpaid “opportunities.” While I have work lined up am working at the moment, it’s kind of scary to think about what could happen should that work dry up. Then again, it might be just the incentive I need to become my own boss.

Written after arrival:

• Accessibility to the Arts: Many, many cool acts/shows/exhibits came to Seattle, and I certainly didn’t go see enough of them while there. There are definitely great arts events in Vermont, too, but what you don’t get here is the sheer variety or selection (or sometimes caliber) of offerings.
• The Coffee (duh): Now that I’ve actually arrived in Vermont, I can say with certainty that Seattle does indeed offer more places to get good coffee. You can get good coffee here, but it’s definitely more elusive.
• Mulleady’s and the 74th Street Ale House: (Disclaimer: I once had a share in Mulleady’s, being married to the former owner and all.) Burlington has some great places to eat, but I’ve had trouble locating any spots quite like the 74th and Mulleady’s, with just the right combination of pub atmosphere and fantastic, affordable grub.
• Cellular Coverage: I can’t get a cell phone signal in my house. And it’s not like we’re in the middle of nowhere. In fact, we’re on the edge of a little village area, where we have–gasp–cable and municipal water! Apparently reception is spotty throughout this area, despite it being along a major thoroughfare (Rte 15 in Chittenden County). Even more frustrating, if I just step a few feet away from my house, I’ll get a bar or two on my phone. WTF, Verizon? Can you hear me now?

And here’s one I wasn’t expecting to add:

• The IPA: I used to think nothing could beat the Vermont area’s microbrews, but now I’m not so sure. I’ve had one hell of a time trying to find an IPA that even comes close to Diamond Knot or Hale’s Mongoose. Harpoon is okay, but still lacks that incredible bite I love so much.