Costco's Samples

Here in WA, booze is now sold in stores. It was very exciting except for people like my mom and aunt Sue and anyone else who grew up in CA, who all just said "well it's about time." So anyway now the booze is in stores and it's glorious (although the other day I had to go to an actual liquor store to find something because the regular store doesn't have it).

So I was at Costco the other day and I realized how Costco could make sample day even better: booze samples. And before you say "But Heather, the logistics of that would be a nightmare!" I figured them all out:

1. The samples would only be in one area and you have to show your ID to get in (kinda like a beer garden)
2. When you go past the magical 21 rope, you get a punch card with two punches on it
3. You go in and sample two things and get your card punched.
4. Leave area and continue shopping

See? All worked out. And the benefit for Costco is the same as the benefit for all their other samples: impulse buys. I would totally impulse buy booze over frozen burritos any day.

And besides, everyone needs a drink by the time they get halfway through Costco on a busy Sunday after church anyway.

A Relaxing Weekend

Jeff just finished working on a big project. In our deadline driven industry, the last three weeks of a project means basically living at the office. So to relax and take a break, Jeff and I went on an "unplugged relaxation trip." It was really fun and low key.

We didn't go very far - just over the state line to Coeur d'Alene, but it was really nice. Jeff picked out a bed and breakfast to stay at called Abbotswood House which is run by a nice British lady. The house is basically a house built around a pool (she said it was designed by some rich CdA guy back in the 70s). We stayed in the Poldark Room. But the best part was her delicious breakfasts. The first morning she made apple pancakes and the second morning she made some sort of baked-bananas-granola thing that was to die for.

We spent the day doing really low key things. We went to the shooting range, which I've never been to before and it was really intense, but fun - and now I can say I've shot a machine gun. And then we went bowling at the CdA bowling alley for about three hours. That bowling alley was designed during the "hang out at the bowling alley and smoke a cigarette/step down into the bowling alley area" days (as opposed to the one our league is at which was built 15 years ago, so is very bright and open), but I actually really liked the atmosphere. The Dude would definitely approve (warning: language in the link). After that we went to the CdA Resort and had dinner at Beverly's, which is the fanciest restaurant in the place. We toured the wine cellar they have and then ate a yummy meal (the appetizer was the best part, which we came to the conclusion is usually the case in most restaurants). The restaurant is located on the seventh floor, so the view was spectacular and we got to watch the sun go down over the water.

We however remained very true to the unplugged nature of the trip and have no photographic evidence of the trip. We have decided though that we need to go on one of these trips every so often just to get away and not stare at a computer screen for a day or so.

Jeff's Dreams

Jeff has legendary dreams. So legendary for their craziness that his roommates in college would write them down. So it's always a good way to start the day by asking Jeff what he dreamed about. The other day was pretty good.

Me: What did you dream about?
Jeff: I dreamed I was doing heart surgery and i opened up the person *points to right side of chest*
Me: um...your heart is on the other side
Jeff: well it wasn't in this person
Me: ok...
Jeff: anyway, so i opened the guy up and to take his heart out I had to disconnect it like a motherboard
Me: like with the tiny wires and such?
Jeff: yes. It was really easy