I heart Washington

I just had the most delicious Bloody Mary for lunch. Well, with lunch, really. I mean, I didn’t just plop down at a bar and order up a round of drinks as a meal. That would be cool but also a bit sad.

Since Rachel can now legally drink, we thought it only fitting that we order some adult beverages with our food. Though by the time the food arrived at the table, we’d pretty much cranked through our drinks. I would’ve ordered another round except of course I’m driving, and I’ve heard that alcohol and vehicles just do NOT mix well. Not sure if that’s just one of those internet rumors or not. I’ll Snope it later on.

Our day was pretty damn productive, as we nailed down the hall rental for the celebrity dinner, got on the wrong road during a scenic “tour” of Fall City and ended up halfway out of the valley before finding a spot to turn around, had an incredible lunch at the newly-remodeled Fall City Roadhouse (more on this in a moment), cruised the filming sites to make sure they hadn’t floated away in the recent winter floods, and made fun of James while overlooking Snoqualmie Valley from the picnic grounds overlook.

The Roadhouse…whoa. First off, they did one hell of a job remodeling it. The place is gorgeous, the food is incredible, and I rather like the people we found there. We got to chat it up with Chef Cameon, who is not only awesome, but is also practically a DEAD RINGER for my cousin Nissa. Srsly, they could be sisters. I couldn’t stop looking at her because the resemblance was so uncanny, it gave me goosebumps. We also met this adorable waitress (I think she was a waitress…she was there on her day off by accident, and decided to pick up some lunch while she was there) who almost had a seizure when she found out why we were in town. There is nothing more awesome than meeting up with a fellow fan in a random place. And yes, I realize that it’s not too far fetched that TP fans would encounter one another at a former filming location that currently bears the name of the location it doubled for…but the new owners didn’t even know of the building’s history before they named it, and the waitress didn’t know there was a festival, and I just call that plain serendipitous.

I have to just say…the time we spent at the new event hall prior to lunch…checking the place out while the gentlemen in charge walked other people around as well…pure comedy gold. While we tried to get measurements and take pictures, Rachel and I were treated to the most charming (NOT) children on the planet, who were allowed to roam all over the place while their parents counted plates, chairs, and silverware in anticipation of their upcoming wedding reception. There was a grandmother involved as well, though she spent the bulk of her time inspecting the wood paneling with an obvious look of disdain plastered across her face. So while they all had their jolly little meeting, Rach and I watched the kids slowly dismantle half the building. It was clear that they were not in their right minds, and they worked quickly to confirm this for us ten times over with their shenanigans. After the small one banged on the antique piano for the umpteenth time, the mother finally stopped dry-humping the linens long enough to tell him “Now is not the time to make music.” Wha-? Honestly, they’re going to need to keep those kids in a cage during the wedding and reception if they don’t want things ruined. I could definitely see that small one setting himself or the grandmother on fire. And the tall one looked like the kind who would end up with his hand stuck in the toilet. On the plus side, at least their event is AFTER ours, so we’re safe from any bad juju they may spread.

The weather here is fabulous, all sunny and crisp and cold. I have been loving it like you wouldn’t believe. The rental car I got is too much fun to drive, and if I had more time I would cruise all the fuck over the place. But tonight we’re meeting up with Rob, Deanne, and Dan at our usual haunt, the North Bend Bar & Grill. Drinks, dinner, and debauchery or whatever else tickles our fancy. So Rach and I are hotel-room-bound for now, since any mischief we could go out and get ourselves into would probably require more than the hour we have until the meetup. Damn.

I’m not sure how sober I’ll be tonight when we get back. Rachel brought Apple Wine. This can only end badly. For sure.