Ole Jim

A couple of things got me thinking this afternoon. First, we had a little rain. This rain feels like the harbinger of the Fall. Just something about it hinting that we better get used to it. Because it's been dry all week I've been taking the motorcycle to work and haven't been using my truck. Well, I tried to start the truck and the battery is dead! Guess it's because I only drive it 5 or 6 miles at a time and never got it on the highway to charge the battery. Guess that means I really don't drive that much eh? So I'm applying the trickle charger to it for a few hours and I'll see if that cures it.

While I was out there playing with electricity in the rain a fire truck pulled up to the house kitty corner me. Then an ambulance came, and they all rolled out an older gentleman (Jim I think I recall is his name) in a wheelchair and off they went. From what I heard ole Jim had some disorientation and standing issues so they're going to check him out. The point here is every time I see something like this I count my blessings, I ponder how in just a few decades I'll be ole Jim. Heck, he and I have about the house in fact. Wonder what ole Jim would say about me and all that I have. Hope ole Jim is ok.

Maybe I should stop playing with electricity in the rain if I want to be an ole Creighton some day.

Fish Stories #2

Thanks to Chris and Stacey for coming up with the great idea to do breakfast last Sunday at the Hi Life. It's much nicer than Denny's indeed - them Brucias are a classy bunch. They also had the bright idea to head over to the Ballard Locks, where we saw the massive ship the Coastal Navigator squeezing back into Lake Union returning from it's Alaska trip (real time track it on it's next trip back to Alaska, on Friday the 31st here). I love that Seattle is a working port and tourists and commerce exist side by side.

This time of year however the stars of the locks were the salmon that were passing through, swimming up the fish ladder (OF DEATH!) to go lay their eggs and die. If you can get over what a bummer that is, it's an impressive site. Oh, and by bummer I mean what a waste of good sushi. It's a great view of the fish, from inside the locks, watching the fish jump each section on their way upstream. There's even a fish shooter for later in the season when the smolt (young fish) encounter the locks on their way back out to sea and need some help getting around the locks. Basically the fish/smolt shooter spits the juvenile fish from one side of the lock to the other. No pics of that, but everything else was really interesting and a great way to spend the morning.

Fish Stories #1

I've just woken up from dozing on the couch thanks to a huge bowl of pasta I had for dinner. So, I'll make this entry short before I fall back asleep. Lindsay and I had some seriously good sushi the other night, at Mashiko's here in West Seattle. Both times we've been we're blown away by the quality of the food. The tuna and salmon niagiri melt in your mouth. Anyways, here's a quick pic that I got off before the "soy sauce" incident and before we both gobbled it up. If you're over in our neck of the woods remind us and we'll take you out there. Plus it's across from Petco so you can pick up dog food!

Get Them Maps!

Mr Bush, please help. This child was left behind.

Swissy Sighting

On Friday I decided to take the road less traveled and took a different bus route home. I also decided to get off the bus a early and walk home through a park that I don't get the chance to see that often. I had picked up a Quiznos sandwich to munch on, and This American Life was just starting on the local NPR station I was listening to, so life was good. So as I get on my way into the park around the corner on the trail trots a Greater Swiss Mountain dog! They're super rare and I was very close to getting one before I found Murphy; I even had to drive to another city to see one at a breeder last time I went looking for one. Turns out this one is from that same breeder I visited, possibly it was even the actual dog I looked at there. So I said hello, scratched his butt a little, and after a few minutes chatting with the owner and marveling at this beautiful dog I was back on my way, sandwich in hand NPR in ears and enjoying the park. A nice way to end the work week indeed.

Travelin' Man

Ground hog day, again. I was in San Jose, specifically Silicon Valley, yesterday and today for work. Kind of weird because just last week I stayed in in San Jose, specifically Silicon Valley, for meetings as well. I stayed at the same hotel, had the same schedule, even the same rental car. The first company I saw was only a half mile down the street from the one I saw today and I even ate at the same restaurant (Macaroni Grill) too. The only difference was the last trip I got to stay in a nicer wing of the hotel (the Beverly Heritage - pics here, along with all the goodies I was able to scrounge up for free from the "premier wing" lounge to snack on in my room.) so I got the royal treatment, meaning free Danish and coffee. As outwardly bland as it may seem the valley is opportunity, everywhere you turn there's a company that's creating popular culture. SanDisk memory, Apple iPods, Cisco routers, it's all there. I wonder if it's like being in Detroit with Henry Ford forging a new world in the early 1900s? I'm thankful that I can travel and see this kind of thing, it's like looking behind the curtain of the internet.

Art Tubes

Unfortunately I didn't see it in person, but the Susan Robb sculptural installation piece seen here on display in Seattle's Volunteer Park is really something cool. Totally refreshing, and a perfect piece for a Seattle summer.

Old Time Religon

Out of nowhere football has shown up on TV. This is great news, both Lindsay and I are fans, being from Texas, but where'd the summer go? This weekend was particularly football like as rain set in and the temps were in the 60s making it feel a lot like Fall. We snuggled on the couch and watched the Seahawks get routed by the Packers in preseason hoping this wasn't indicative of the year for the 'hawks. This year, just like every year I swear to myself I'll learn more about the game. There's so much that I don't know. So many times I'm wondering what the heck just happened there? Regardless, I'm ready for some Madden "Bam! Knocked his hat off!" commentary. Let's get this season going. Oh, let it be known my teams this year are (in no order): Seattle, Chicago and Dallas. Go Cowbearhawks!

All hail cool hand Landry.

Happy Birthday Lindsay!

In an effort to stay adventurous we took Friday off to celebrate Lindsay's birthday with a whale watching trip to the San Jaun islands, Friday Harbor, via seaplane. Being dropped into such a small out of the way place was relaxing and made for an enjoyable day trip. Even the whales cooperated and we got to see one of the most amazing wild animals anywhere. Settle in, there are quite a few pics, hopefully you'll enjoy the trip as much as we did.

Mug Shot

Gotta love this pic of my dog Murphy. I'm on the floor shooting up at him after a long play session. Looks pretty tired eh? I've included another one, more glamor shot like to keep up his playboy image for the ladies.

Beery Good Pub

Congratulate us, we've found our neighborhood bar. We'd driven past it quite a few times, but because it's oddly attached to another (homeless/pulltab/senior citizen) bar we never really noticed it. A few weeks ago we stopped by what we thought was the nasty bar, in shameful desperation for a nightcap, only to stumble across an obscured door. With a few back steps and an audible "Wa?" we stuck our head in a completely different bar. Comfort and soul are what's great about this new bar, the gnarled, dark, hand carved, arched wood bar from the early 1900s perches over the bar keep awaiting each order. Low lights and couches with odd books are tossed around creating comfortable nooks and crannies. Locals, some with their dogs, bring in food, read thick novels at the bar, or like us quiz each other with Trivial Pursuit while downing huge glasses of ultra micro beers (pic of round 2 attached). The bar is defined by it's huge selection of locally brewed beers, at least 15 on tap. Rare beers brewed in back yards/garages, made by people that drink specific beers in specific glasses. We're ignorant to the these sophisticated ways and try our luck with a new brew each time, and enjoy it each time. We'll be careful as not to become snobby beer people, and just enjoy Bar X as an institution of higher learning and our extended living room. If you're around, consider yourself invited and indoctrinated.

Watch This

Call me a canary in a fashion coal mine, but I'm not wearing watches anymore. This from a guy that loves watches. Seeing as men can't wear jewelry that much, exceptions granted to (the old chain wearing) Mr. T and used car salesmen, not wearing watches limits what a guy can use to express himself. Maybe there are other options and I'm not down with them yet, the Croc clogs are in full bloom around here in the Pacific NW, and guys are confidently wearing all the colors of the rainbow in those. Really the point is that I'm so utilitarian that I don't like to wear a watch because my phone, computer, even truck and motorcycle all have clocks looking right back at me and I'm never more than a few feet/inches from any of them. All that being said, I still like watches as sculptural objects and there's a few (pictured) on Amazon that I really want, so maybe there is still a place for wrist watches as object of art. Time will tell.

Weekend Hike

We're right smack in one of the most beautiful places in the US, so Lindsay and I took action and when a spare bit of time showed up we sprinted out into the woods for a day hike of Tipsoo Lake. I had just discovered this area on my motorcycle trip with JP a few months ago and swore I'd come back and check it out...so I'm back. I won't try and capture the trip with my anemic narrative, but instead toss a few of the pics I took out here into the blogasphere and hope you get the idea that it was beautiful, powerful and yet communal (lots of people out on the trail) all at once. BTW, the whole time on the trail I was thinking about how much my Dad would enjoy this. Enjoy the pics Dad.

Chinese Are Ripe

There was a Chinese guy in the top of my neighbor's tree the other day. Hello there.

Vespa!

Going thought some older pics I found some from the Vespa club rally that was here in Seattle a few weeks ago. Now, I'm not really a Vespa guy, but I do consider them a part of the 2 wheel family, and the machine itself is quite the specimen of design. So, here are a few (old by now) pics that sorta communicate their style, or at least as I see it.

Elbows Deep in German Dirt

Not much gives me as much pleasure as getting all kinds of dirty with an engine. I don't claim to actually know what I'm doing, but in the same way a toddler can occupy his mind for hours with keys, I can occupy myself with basic engine tinkering. Last night, I was able to break out the tools and break down the bike, pretty much to it's frame, and get it's Spring cleaning done. Lindsay snapped this pic of me - note how content I look - putting back the oil tank. There's still some cleaning left to do, and I need to reinstall the new windshield, but after that it's ready to go. Sadly, I have no plans for what I'm going to do with myself when the rains come. So sad.

Yuck Mouth

Take the kids in the other room, it's gonna get ugly. The pic is of Balut, something I actually ate in the Philippines, but that's not the point. I'm wondering, with all the ethnic groups in Seattle, in the neighborhood near me, White Center, where can I get some wacky food? I'm up to try worms, crickets, maybe even a grub. Just wondering what experiences are around. Can I get this stuff over the internet? Wondering if anyone knows where to get the funky foods.

Play Ball! Suite!

The weather has been particularly good here in the last few days, and our luck has been as well. Last week I had accepted an invitation, along with a few other people from work, to go to a Mariners game with a large Electronics vendor after work, watch the game, and chat about their products. At the last second I got word from a fellow cube dweller that there was an extra ticket to the game. Luckily I was able to snap it up and take the charming and beautiful Lindsay along. As expected it was a wonderful time as the vendor had purchased a private suite at the ballpark, complete with fully stocked open bar, all kinds of food, programs and everything. Unfortunately we had to leave a early to make it home to let the dog out, but all-in-all it was another nice time at the ballpark here in Seattle, made especially good because Loo was there too.

I'm ruined now that I've done a game in a suite. Free beer and food from comfy padded chairs is the way to go!