Color Blind

Our Lyrical Dance Class

Heather & Joshua in their blindfolds Joshua

Joshua practicing his spin

Joshua got a cramp while practicing

Joshua

Heather & Joshua

Joshua looking handsome

Sam & Heather

Maria, Lauren, Laura,Sam, & Heather

Lauren, Laura, & Sam

Lauren, Laura, Sam, Heather & Joshua

Ballerinas waiting to go out on stage

These little cuties pretty much just jumped up and down

in their pretty pink dresses.

These acrobatic girls where the class right before us

so we got to see them practice every week. They

were so much fun to watch!

Joshua and I started taking a lyrical class back in February. Our class started working on a routine in March that we would be preforming the end of May. Our dance was called Color Blind. We got to create our own costumes as long as they were black and white and then we tied colored scarves on our heads like blind folds. Most of the performance was done blind folded. Miss Lovetta was an amazing teacher. Young and spunky, she is a incredible dancer and choreographer! She did such a wonderful job. I will never forget my first class. Joshua, Jon Ellis and I decided to try it out. I thought I was going to die half way through. Jon and I barely made it through the warm up. Joshua told me not to worry about being to old to start learning a dance like Lyrical. He was sure that it would be a bunch of mom's and every one would be a beginner. Not so much... There were two moms a bunch of high schoolers and a twelve year old that had been dancing for at least a year or more. A few weeks later I was attempting to do pk and coupe` turns. Having never done any ballet or jazz dancing when I was little this was a language my body had never encountered, and it was obvious. It was an hour of humiliation every week. I am glad I did it. I am also glad I am done. Our class was from 8 to 9 which is right in the middle of my Monday. It really killed my Saturday (Monday for the rest of you) I would like to take more classes but I wish there were adult classes during the day not at night. On performance day we had to be in Everett at 9 am (that is early when you don't get off work till 2:30 am) to practice our final bow that we didn't even stay for, and then we waited another few hours to do a quick run through on the stage. The studio is much smaller than the stage so every thing had to be phrased out again. I am working on getting a video of the performance. Coming Soon! All in all the dance went pretty good! People loved it. Every one we passed on our way out stopped us to tell us that our dance was their favorite. They probably say that to every one but it's still nice to hear.

Mukilteo Beach

Manny Hanging out in the car.

We are excited to go to the beach! I love my little Manny. My dog is CUTE!

The kites were flying in the sunshine.

Heather and Manny checking out the beach.

I put Manny in the this hole and fully expected him to

jump out but he just hung out.

We love the wind...

I know I am just on top of a stump but I felt like

I was on top of the world.

Heather happy...

We are in love.

Joshua in the clouds...

The sky was so amazing!

Even Manny thinks the sky is awesome.

Say cheese Manny!

Heather and Joshua enjoying a beer at

Diamond Knot Brewery.

Diamond Knot

Joshua, Manny and I went to Mukilteo Beach for some wind and a beer at Diamond Knot Brewery. It was a beautiful sunny day. I was so happy to be in the sunshine with my dog and my husband. The sky was so amazing. I love clouds! I think they are such an amazing creation. They are always changing, so there is something new to look at every time. After spending about an hour or so on the beach walking around exploring the shore, we headed to Diamond Knot Brewery for a beer. Diamond Knot is a Brewery in Mukilteo. We sell their IPA at the Oxford. I am not much of a beer drinker, but I am working on it. Joshua has always wanted me to like beer. He used to make me try his beer when ever he had one. I like the IPA in small doses, but the hef is my favorite. It has a undertone of banana and cloves. Joshua really likes the Industrial IPA. It has a crazy alcohol content of 8.1% or something! From 3:30 to 5:30 it's happy hour. A pint of beer is 3 bucks. We enjoyed a couple beers, and then it was off to our bible study at our pastors house. I loved to day!

The Snohomish bikes of the non show....

Just a few of the bikes that came out to ride

on a Beautiful Sunny Sunday.

Randi and Heather happy to be working together. Heather and Randi dancing on first street with Lyle

playing the banjo and Troy playing the spoons!

The Snohomish cops making asses of themselves. Randi and Heather getting their biker on.

Al, Wade and Capt. Ron in front of the Oxford watching all the cops freak out.

For thirteen years, First street has hosted the Annual Snohomish Antique and Classic Bike Show. Last year, I walked in to work from Second street and started setting up the bar at 9 am. I didn't leave until about 8 pm. Even though I was only working the bar, I never once stopped opening beer bottles and ringing people up. It was a constant crowd of people. I kept opening beer and they kept handing me money. The faster I opened, the more money I got! I had a blast! It was an amazing event. The organizers, Rod and Michelle, are a married couple that frequent the Oxford. Last year the police security cost the event $5,000. This year, however, the chief of police and city counsel decided that they needed to jack up the price to $30,000. The event couldn't afford this kind of cost, so the bike show was canceled and moved to Sultan to take place in July. First street, along with many organisations like the boys and girls club, are devastated by the loss of business and funding that would have come from such an event. There has never been any kind of incident during a Bike Show to warrant this kind of hefty fee or security. On May 17th, about a thousand bikers rode into Snohomish. And why wouldn't they? It was beautiful out. First street is a popular stop for weekend warriors and motorcycle clubs to stop and have a bite to eat and a beer before they head on home. A Snohomish motorcycle cop cruised down First street, took one look around, and frantically called for back up. Soon we had Mill Creek cops, Lake Stevens cops, Snohimish county Sheriff and even a SWAT team to keep the menace of society bikers from raping and pillaging. All the businesses on First street are struggling right now. Shops restaurants and bars are closing down left and right. It is such sad situation for Snohomish. The bike show is like having a second Christmas season. One shop owner said that she had more trouble with people during the Easter Parade this year than she ever has during the bike show. Here is a link to the Heralds write up when the event was canceled.

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090219/NEWS01/902199988&news01ad=1

The next link is the write up after last Sunday. It really makes Snohomish police look ridiculously stupid and prejudice. If you knew these people that were "standing on the side walks" you would be rolling your eyes with me. One part of the article said that the Chief of police was concerned for the safety of parents walking their children down the street. Those big bad mean scary bikers who eat children for breakfast and make grandmas faint on the street have children of their own, run huge corporations, pay taxes, bake cookies for their grandchildren and go to church. I seriously cannot believe how prejudice and ignorant people can be. The comments after the article are the best. It will be quite interesting to see what happens come re-election time. Somehow I don't think we will be seeing our Chief of police serve another term.

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090519/NEWS01/705199868/0/SPORTS02

The show must go on

Joshua and Andrea workin' it out...

So Joshua has started working at the Oxford. His first night of training was last Thursday. Andrea spent some time with him down stairs and then turned him loose with me up stairs. I had him take a few tables and make a few drinks. He did a fantastic job! Joshua has a lot of knowledge about different alcohols and is great with people. He is very calm and assertive by nature. He can be firm and good natured at the same time. Several of our regulars were very pleased to see him behind the bar. I think he will be great addition to the Oxford staff.

Andrea mentioned that last Wednesday she and Renee had gone out on the dance floor with tongs, a whisk and a bowl. They put on a little show during Bubbles and Fog (aka Chris and Lyle a married couple that provides our Wednesday night music). Now this sort of thing occurs in the kitchen all the time among the cooks. A band will start playing a great song and before you know it the cooks are doing a full on Broadway show in the kitchen using all kinds of props! Every once in a while a customer will notice and get way more than five dollars worth of entertainment. This little performance was so good that Lyle asked Andrea and Renee to show up at Mardini's (a bar up the street from the Oxford) for their Thursday show, but alas Renee was no where around Thursday night. I suggested that Joshua take her place. After all the show must go on! Andrea decided that this would be Joshua's initiation. Next thing I know she is parading Joshua up the street with bowl and whisk in hand. Andrea and Joshua came back from their fifteen minuets of fame with stars in their eyes... or maybe it was tears from laughing so hard. Every one loved the performance. They were even asked for an encore! She was very impressed by Joshua's willingness to preform and the quality at which he whisked. What can I say... My husband is amazing!

Thursday night snooze jam

The Oxford Saloon

Caught sleeping on the job...

So I went to work yesterday, and it was one of those Typical Washington rainy cold gloomy days with a couple beautiful sun breaks here and there. I ran outside to catch one before it was gone. Andrea (the owner), Renee (our kitchen manager) and I sat on a little bench together and soaked up the few minuets of sunshine while exchanging a few funny stories. The sun went away and we all went back inside. Typically when I get to the Oxford at 5 there is not a whole lot going on. I get a few tables here and there and then around 7:30 or 8 the flood gates open and I am slammed from 8 till midnight. Renee was working a double and took a break to have a cup of tea and read her book while it was slow. I was waiting for some food to come up in the window when I heard a snore. I turned to my left to find Renee sleeping. I covered my mouth with my hand to keep from laughing out loud. I wouldn't want to wake her with out getting a picture first! Pretty soon a small crowd had gathered around our little sleeping beauty. Andrea thought it would be nice to put a glass of wine on her table. She woke up and instantly realized the situation. She asked what time it was and Andrea told her midnight. She didn't believe it for a second. She said, "I can see day light out side guys."I love Thursday nights. Not just because I get to find Renee sleeping, but because I really love my job. My customers, coworkers, great music... It's such a great place. Thursdays we have an open blues jam. Lots of really great local artists come out and jam together. They are incredibly talented and so generous... Truly a pleasure to serve. I have been at the Oxford for about a year and a half and I feel so fortunate to be having this experience. First street is full of community. Everyone knows everyone. While Snohomish is growing, first street still has that small town feel.

Cinco de Mayo

Heather in her sombrero getting her independence on!

My sweet Casadores cowboy hat! Thank you Randi! Joshua & Heather so spicy hot!

Heather, Chris & Randi

We met up with friends at La Pamera tonight to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. It is really just a excuse to eat delicious Mexican food and drink Tequila. We did more drinking than eating which is probably why I got a nice buzz on pretty much instantly. I called Randi and was happy to find out she was working close by and could meet us for a drink. As soon as I walked in to the bar I noticed every one wearing these Casadores cowboy hat's. I thought to my self, self I need one of those hats. It was about then that I choked on a chip and my friend Chris and I went up to the bar to get a glass of water so I didn't die. The bartender poured me a glass of water and handed it to me with a dirty look. I didn't really think much of it. Maybe he was just having a bad day? We went back to our table and quickly ordered Margaritas from our server. Later I asked our server how to get one of those cowboy hats. He told me to ask one of the bartenders. So I went up to the bar and asked if he had any left and he proceeded to tell me that he was out and why would he give a f bomb about what I wanted when all I ordered from him was water! I walked away kind of in shock. What a jerk! I really wanted to go back up to the bar and tell him just how big of a jerk he was. Seriously he had a great opportunity to make a ton of money tonight. All he had to do was take care of his people. I ran into a few of my customers from the Oxford. They were regulars at La Pamera and she told me that they were treated poorly too. I don't care how busy you are you don't bite the hand that feeds you. It's stupid. This guy was obviously not good with big crowds. He would pace back and forth behind the bar but did nothing. He looked busy but really he wasn't doing any thing. Later when Randi got there we went to the burrito bar and there were two cooks wearing these particular hats. They were really sweet and gave us their hats. Randi pretty much puts out this special vibe that makes boys take off their hats and give them to her. I don't know how she does it but I like it.