holy shit.

Although there is much to be caught up on, I am skipping ahead and will let Pete fill in sometime soon. I am doing this because I have Urgent News. Last night, Pete's and my first night in Seattle, Washington, was the night of my surprise birthday present that's been kept a secret from me (I love surprises). After Pete picked up some super delicious Ethiopian food for dinner, we sipped some whiskey and headed to the Paramount downtown. We pulled up to the brightly-lit theater and there on the marquee read:

Paramount Presents:
The Black Keys
October 2nd, 8pm.

AAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

Somehow I managed not to squeal in the cab (it probably would have scared the cab driver. If you've heard me squeal, you understand) when I saw the sign. We walked in, my head woozy from such happiness and excitement. Pete was telling me we needed to scurry inside; the first act was also going to be something amazing. We got to our section, popped our heads out of the walkway and there on the stage was Nicole Atkins.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

The show was incredible. Both Nicole and the Black Keys played the most face-melting shows and it was so hard for me to not start crying then and there when I saw what Pete's surprise had been all this time. It was, hands down, the best non-birthday birthday I've ever had. Needless to say, I am all the more in love with my travel mate.