Sleepless in Seattle!

...well, not really! Our weekend was so jam-packed that I slept just fine at night. Colleagues from work and myself (20 of us total) ventured out to Seattle for a little, weekend getaway of fun. We traveled in style from the airport to our hotel with limo service. I could really get use to that!

Then we grabbed a little bite to eat at the Cheesecake Factory before doing some of the "touristy stuff". Our first stop was the Space Needle. What a great view!






We lucked out and even though it was a little rainy and dismal, the sun did shine now and then and we caught two rainbows over the Space Needle. Pretty cool!

Saturday morning we ventured out to the Farmer's Market. Our first stop, and the reason we decided on Seattle in the first place was because of the Pike Place Fish Co. If you've never been there, it's quite the experience - even if you don't enjoy fish [like me]. The fish market actually became well known after adopting a philosophy of four, main principles, taught to the workers from a motivational speaker. Basically, he told them that even though their job might seem very routine and maybe uneventful, that they needed to realize what an important job they had. The motivational speaker shared with them that they needed adopt the following rules at work:

1. "Be there!" - for every customer and for each other - that when they came to work they couldn't be worried about outside stuff and what they were going to do after work...that they needed to be attentive and receptive to their patrons.
2. "Play!" - and they do! They have cool, little chants; they throw fish to customers; they crack jokes and more! They enjoy what they do.
3. "Choose your attitude!" - they needed to understand that different customers visit this huge, tourist attraction (i.e. the market) every day...the same questions were bound to get asked again and again; they were certain to have to repeat themselves a gazillion times in a day, but, how they responded to it was what counted.
4. "Make their day!" - each day their goal was to make each other and their customers' day, and this they DO as well!

These same, four goals have been adopted by our school, and we share them with our students as well. Of course, they've been altered a bit, but it really does work. You can find more information about the "Fish Philosophy" by going to http://www.charthouse.com/content.aspx?name=home2

The market offered a little of everything - flowers (at unbelievable prices! I was bummed that I didn't live closer to buy them up by the bunches!!!), canned goods, fruits and veggies, art, clothing, and more! [above, Tami and I]

The view of downtown Seattle from the ferry. We took a little afternoon jaunt over to Bainbridge Island. [below, Dana and me]

It was cool to walk around the island and check out the neat, little shops. It was beautiful and scenic, of course, as well.

Saturday evening we enjoyed dinner on the Spirit of Washington - a train. A good time was had by all! [above - Jody, me, Cindy, and Dana]

[the whole gang!!!!]