Been a while, eh Ducks? Things have been… well, rather strange in McTartletland this past while. Good strange. Eerily good strange. So reasonably good I’m kind of just waiting for the other shoe to fall – and it’ll be a steel toed Doc Marten boot and it’ll land on my head. (Have I mentioned how pessimists are usually pleasantly surprised?)

Item #1: Where the McTartlet has a pretty good time on holiday.

Near the end of August, I took off to Vegas for a couple of days and made a new friend.

I went back via my sister’s at Salt Lake for Scooter’s baptism and to commune with the lads. (Left to right: Scooter, Bink, me and the McHaggis is in my lap.)

It was a week away from work, and was positively therapeutic. Highly recommended.

Item #2: Where the McTartlet organizes a better-than-decent day out.

“What’s Cooking in Wallingford” was the 14th – it’s like a scaled-down ‘Bite of Seattle’ event in my neighborhood. I decided I’d invite a bunch of web buddies to join me, so Zut!, Monty, Jan, Keith, Zeke and I headed out to munch our way down 45th. I’d met Jan and Monty before, albeit briefly, but I wasn’t sure how it’d go, and I worried about everyone having fun (as any hostess does). My worries were completely unfounded and it appears everyone enjoyed themselves. Much chow and many laughs were had – and I heartily endorse the Jitterbug Café’s mashed sweet potatoes.

Item #3: Where the McTartlet does the Puyallup – and buys FURNITURE!

Ah yes, the Western Washington State Fair, also known as ‘The Puyallup’. I took t’Auld Man and the Mom to the Fair, where they ogled the gadgets and cooed over the livestock, respectively. There was a scorching deal on a very nice kitchen table and 6 chairs at the Oak Barn’s booth in the ‘Modern Living’ hall. The chairs were comfy, the table was sturdy (and had 2 self-storing leaves – swoon!) and the Oak Barn was eating the sales tax.

OK – side note here. How unbelievable is it that I’m actually buying furniture? And, like, being enthused about it? Have I become an adult and not noticed?

Anyway, it ended up to be the most expensive “impulse buy” I’ve ever done, but it’ll be worth it. Of course, it’s too big for the dining nook at my place, but I’ve negotiated a corner of the garage at the Homestead for storing it until I’m somewhere I can use it. Which segues rather well into item 4.

Item #4: Where the McTartlet begins to investigate the merest possibility of buying a condo.

Yes, you read that right. T’Auld Man has always completely gutted the Sunday paper. If it’s printed, he’ll read it. Which includes every single circular, which means the Real Estate pages. And darned if he didn’t find a condo/townhouse in my price range… in a nice area… with some pretty nice amenities. And since I’m single, a first-time homebuyer, have an income under their magic number and work at the U, it’s possible I’ll qualify for all sorts of down payment and purchase assistance from different places.

Adulthood and responsibility looms large on the horizon, folks. And, as much as it gives me the creeping terrors to think about it, it might be time to join up.