Years ago i worked in the UW’s Registration Office.  Every spring, i’d get parents who’d ask, toward the end of the conversation, “And are the cherry blossoms out yet??”  Every spring!  Over and over, the same question!!  I didn’t work anywhere near where the cherry blossoms are on campus so i had no idea.  Moreover, who cares if there are cherry trees blooming on campus??  I love blooming trees, don’t get me wrong, but come on.

Then i switched jobs to an office that was closer to the Quad, which is where the much-heard-about cherry blossoms are.  The 1st spring that i worked there i decided to randomly walk thru’ the Quad on my way home, just because it was one of the 1st nice days that year — a sunny day, warm enough to not need a coat.

I walked across Red Square.  Past Suzzallo Library, past Kane Hall.  Toward the steps up to the Quad….

And BAM!!

I came to a dead standstill for a few seconds.  Then i started walking around, near-breathless.  Getting giddier and giddier.  Getting practically tipsy.

These pictures are crap — tho’ today was sunny the lighting in the Quad was horrible, and i was just using my phone anyway.  But, y’know?  I really don’t know how to convey to you just what an amazing experience it is to stand there in the middle of the Quad surrounded by trees that are just bursting all over with light-pink flowers.  It’s like you’re walking amongst clouds.  You’re practically floating.  And the scent!  It takes you a moment at 1st to realize that the air is different, and then you slowly realize you’re smelling millions of tiny blossoms.

It is sublime.  It’s transcendent.  It leaves me buoyant.

If you are ever in Seattle in early spring, you must — MUST — visit the UW campus to see the cherry blossoms in the Quad.  Bring a blanket and a picnic (but no sake — it’s a state school, so campus is dry).  Make an afternoon of it.

This is what my neighborhood looks like when the sun is out.  I-5 bridge over the Ship Canal.

Thanks, Magus! Pretty much the best used bookstore outside of Powell’s.  Now i just need the 1st 3.

If you know where to look in the U-District, you’ll find this flippin’ sweet octopus.

I have, much to Andy’s discomfiture, itchy feet.  I was not, at all, ever expecting we’d still be living in Seattle 10+ years after signing that 1st lease.  I thought maybe 5 years tops.  Occasionally we talk about possibly moving somewhere else — talk about where we’d be able to find jobs, where we might be happy, where we could find a decent saké bar.

But then we have a saturday of running errands, and i come home and think to myself, “Why the fuck would i ever want to move from this neighborhood??”  Because while i may not love Seattle, i adore the University District.

Today’s errands!   (My veg*n friends will want to scroll past University Seafood & Poultry wherein i talk about non-food.)

U-District Farmers’s Market

All i got here today was raw milk for making yogurt.  I’d been hoping the mushroom vendor would be there, because i want Andy to make that oyster mushroom foil pack thing again.  I also should have picked up a jar of honey, but i’d forgotten my jar to return.  Next week.

Scarecrow Video

Picked up “Princess Nine” so i could make an icon for littlebutfierce.

Seattle Public Library (University branch)

Andy had a hold to pick up.

Hardwick’s Hardware

This place is amazing, and is a rare, rare thing — a truly independent hardware store.  Still owned by the family that opened it.  Sells both new and used stuff.  Has a great side room full of furniture (all our bookcases came from here).  Today we picked up a new shovel and poker for our fireplace and a wee tiny funnel for my flasks.

University Seafood & Poultry

Again, a truly independent store run by the same family that opened it years ago.  Andy wanted to pick up some seafood for his cook-stravaganza this weekend: ahi tuna, crabmeat, and prawns.  He also got a bottle of red wine and 1 lemon.

This place has great seafood, but they also kind of specialize in rare meats.  Things i noticed on the list while Andy was placing his order: wild boar, venison, python.  Also, place your order now for your holiday turducken!

Woori Market

As we were leaving University Seafood & Poultry, i started going over the order of operations for the afternoon’s cooking.  When i got to, “And i’ll start some rice….”, Andy interrupted with, “Shit!  We’re out of sushi rice.”  “Oh,” i said casually, “Then i guess we’ll just go to Woori next.”

God/dess bless the person who put this Korean market just around the corner from us.  Today we picked up sushi rice, gyoza wrappers, tofu, scallions, and 2 kinds of saké.

Here’s a map!

All these errands took a little less than 2 hours total and most of them involved visiting independent businesses — Woori’s the only place we visited that’s part of a franchise.

If you scroll out a bit on this Google map, you can see how close together everything is.

View U-District errands, 2012/1/14 in a larger map.

And then we came home and i said to Andy, “Remind me of this the next time i talk about wanting to move.”

Just stepping into the reading room in UW’s Suzzallo Library makes me feel about 50% more capable.

I love that it’s quiet, that it’s lined by books, that everyone else is focused and working (or at least faking it well).  I got a lot done today.  I’ll have to remember this as a great — free! no need to buy a coffee / hot chocolate / tea — place to get some solid writing (or, as in today’s case, editing and proofreading) accomplished.