Denim wars

I need new jeans - badly. I've worn the wash out of my Lucky jeans, and the Kenneth Cole and Ben Sherman jeans that I found at Goodwill (what a steal!) last year have seen better days, too. I've been on the hunt for some new jeans off and on for the last couple months, which you think would be an easy thing. I wear 32x32, and that's a fairly common, always-in-stock size.

BUT DAMN YOU, HIPSTERS.

I cannot find a 32x32 pair of jeans that fits over my calves. I have muscular soccer legs and a matching backside. Ladies, you're welcome.

Why are all the men's jeans designed to fit like women's jeans these days? Now I know why Scott wears cargo pants all the time. And if he wears jeans, they're Carhartts.

Before a grad school meeting yesterday, Amanda and I found time to shop in the U-district. We went to Urban Outfitters, where I tried on some 33x32 Levi jeans. This is the all-American demin, right? I gave myself the extra inch in the waist just to make sure I wasn't kidding myself.

I couldn't get the jeans over my butt. Could-not-get-them-over-my-ba-donk-a-donk.

So, you can imagine me wrestling with my own feet in that small cubicle of a dressing room trying to get the jeans off. Outside, Amanda flipped through a pop-culture book wondering if I was in a UFC fight or trying on a pair of jeans.

I raised the ante to 34x32 jeans at the next stop, Buffalo Exchange. Still no luck. I could get the jeans on, but the waist was WAY too big. I pulled the jeans away from me by the button. There was so much room I could see my knees.

These, too, shall not pass.

I remember back in like 1999 when you bought jeans because of the wash, not the fit, because EVERY pair of jeans fit right because the only fit was baggy. R.I.P. gangsta rap.

So now that I've tried the stylish places, what am I left with? The Old Navy's, American Eagle's and GAP's of every American Mall? I'd rather not mimic the back-to-school styles of every other junior high student.

I can't give up this fight, this war, to find jeans, because I need them like Britney Spears needs autotune... I just don't want my jeans to fit like Britney's.

I'll take recommendations for affordable, relaxed fitting men's jeans in the comments. Now, on a related note, here's the most underrated Genuwine song ever. This one's dedicated to The Wives, who heard me sing this at random too many times in the old apartment. Enjoy.

Foto Friday: Artherhults + Paolo

From left to right: Amanda's sister-in-law Amber, brother Ty, niece Abby, nephew Mason, Amanda herself, Paolo himself, Paolo's food baby

Online videos are food for the soul

These kid videos are my absolute fave. Too good not to share. Sometimes Amanda and I plug the laptop into the TV just to watch them on the big screen.

Texts from Courtney

Courtney: "Who are the Sounders playing this weekend? I am behind them at the airport." Paolo: "Uh... Not sure..."

Courtney: "It's either the team or a bunch of gorgeous male models wearing Sounders gear."

rapid cash management

This is from the same woman who serviced Jessica Biel on a flight to Vancouver yesterday.

Courtney: "She is very pretty and VERY skinny. Like crazy small."

The life of a flight attendant... I mean safety professional.

Paolo and Amanda do the American Alps

Last weekend, Amanda and I took advantage of nearly-free room and board in Mazama, Wash. Amanda's bosses won the two-night accommodations in an auction more than a year ago and gave us the gift certificate to try, thinking it might be expired. Thankfully, Mazama Country Inn still accepted it! We left Friday and traveled north on I-5 to Burlington and then east another 120 miles on Hwy 20 through the gorgeous North Cascades. The brochure says they're the "American Alps."

We unpacked, ate a tasty dinner at the Inn and crashed after the long, five-hour drive. (Amanda worked that morning, too.) We woke up refreshed on Saturday and went exploring.

The entrance:

The Inn:

The room was actually quite spacious. (Not pictured: Loft bed and bathroom).

The Mazama General Store:

Happy:

The nearby barn, where folks were preparing for a wedding:

We drove east to Winthrop to tour the cute, small town. We decided to crash a wedding there.

We only stayed for the ceremony because we had to get to the Lost River Winery tasting room before it closed.

This is a terribly Photoshopped image, but you get the idea.

I wish I could say this next image was Photoshopped, but it's not. That really happened.

Amanda did some candid modeling while we were in town.

We had drinks at the Old Schoolhouse Brewery. Drinking at school is cool!

After a couple drinks, Amanda likes to try and summon Captain Planet with her ring.

We took Chris Brown's advice and went up to Sun Mountain Lodge to see the views and filthy rich people.

Did I mention the people who stay here are filthy rich? Check out the parking lot.

The Lodge reminded me of that Aspen hotel where Harry and Lloyd stay in Dumb and Dumber. We scoped out the lavish hotel wine cellar and played some ping-pong in the game room. Speaking of, there were game heads all over the place.

We hit the road home on Sunday morning. The value of our gift certificate for Mazama Country Inn was $310. We had put a couple meals and bottle of wine on the room tab, so I figured I'd shell out a few extra dollars. Our grand total was $311.35. We only spent $1.35!  I gave the hotel owner $2 and told her to keep the change.

I'd HIGHLY recommend Mazama Country Inn if you make the trip. It's off the beaten path but close to Winthrop. The food in the restaurant is fantastic and the rooms are spacious and clean.

We got an early start out on Sunday to make sure we got home at a decent hour. Amanda missed Fabrizio that much.

We wanted to stop by Lake Diablo on the way back because the color of the water is unreal.

See what I mean?

Twas a great weekend getaway.