Hits So Close to Home...

I Drank That

Public warning. Coffee from McDonalds is lame. While I was waiting for some new tires to be put on Lindsay's car I grabbed a cup of this stuff from across the street. Ugh. Not good. Put your curiosity to rest, I took the bullet for you.

Hockey Talk

I met Lindsay at the arena today, and got a backstage tour of the goings on there. They crew was just finishing the hockey ice and hadn't installed the goals yet, so I tried one of them out. They call me "the wall". Yes, that's a squeegee "the wall" is using.

Deep Snow (Prior Week)

White Christmas Snow/Rain

We're still melting out from under the snow, but today, Christmas day, we got a little light snow mixed with rain. I took a little video of the front and back yard so you can see what we have left and our white Christmas.

Finally, Melt.

Guess what this is a picture of? Melt. Snow melt actually. It's 36 degree now. A little more snow last night has turned to rain and it looks like we're starting to melt out from under our foot of snow.

Here We Go Again, More Snow

It's like living in Minnesota around here lately. After a day where it stayed around 25 degrees, it's snowing again. I cleaned all the snow off my truck yesterday, but there's already another 2 inches on it from tonight's new snow (took this pic at 5:30). You know what the worst part is? I got cabin fever today and cleaned the house! Oh no! It's that bad!

Coffee and Cards

Lindsay did all the hard work addressing and organizing the Christmas cards last night (I dozed on the couch), so this morning I put stamps on, and wrote a few notes in the remaining few, while I had coffee. In other words, the cards are on the way!

Mo' Snow

10:35AM: Well, we got socked in with more snow. It's really amazing to watch, as it covers everything. We're almost up to 6 inches and it's still snowing hard. I'll just be posting pictures here as I take them, and maybe when it's all done put them in one album.

Snowed In

We spent the day, on foot, running errands around the Junction because all the streets around us here on Genesee Hill were ice and snow (West Seattle Blog covers the snow issues nicely if you want more info). Not just a little, but 3 inches of snow and black ice on the roads so our cars (and especially my motorcycle) weren't going anywhere today. We made the best of it and had a good time strolling around our local shops. We shopped, ate out, made hot chocolate, and are getting ready to sit around the fire now. Took this pick of the house, looking very home like, from the back of the backyard and thought it was nice. I just gotta say, see how nice the pergola is keeping the snow off the back door? Love it. Holiday greetings to all. Update: Added a few more, of Loo and Isis watching Murphy in the front yard, and me refilling the birdfeeder.

Snow Dog!

It snowed last night! Murphy's super excited about it and has been eating big mouthfuls of snow as he runs along kicking up powder. I got him to stand still for this glamour shot for just a sec. More snow pics to come.

The House Lights are Up

Get it? It's a lighting joke, for roadie types. The house lights are up. Ok, not that funny. Anyways, a bit of dry weather this weekend allowed me to climb on top of the house and plug in a few strings of lights. Got inspired and put a star on the top of the house too. However, now that I look at it I agree with what Lindsay's mom observantly and humerously said - it' looks like we're Jewish. Blue and white, with a star on top. That's pretty Jewish. We also got the Christmas tree today, so as soon as we get the lights and ornaments we'll get some pics up. Happy holidays to everyone!

Blog

Seal (Or Sea Lion?) Sadness

Fair warning, this is sad stuff. Walking on Alki beach this evening we noticed this sad sight. A large sea lion (not seal as I originally thought), very dead, skull partially exposed, on the beach, just past the tide line, and the really sad part that white blob to the right is a pup, still alive just laying there blinking and breathing. If that doesn't bum you out nothing will. I'll find some happy news to post soon. BTW, there's security tape around them both, and the seal sitters are there watching over the pair.

Early Morning Reds and Oranges

Lindsay went to Cali a few days ago, for work, and as I came back from taking her to the airport I was fortunate to catch the sunrise over the Junction.

My Times Square Obama Pics

Rain Drop Blade

Rain drops on a plant, on our deck. I'm fascinated by the blue gray colors.

Times Square NY Celebration for Obama

Just back from a few days in NYC, on business, and what a trip it was. I was lucky enough to be there over the election, when Obama was elected and as soon as I realized that he was able to be called the winner I jumped in a cab and headed to Times Square. I was stunned at what I saw. It was a sea of people, each and every one smiling. It was black and white, young and old all cheering chanting. Metro buses rolled by and drivers opened their doors and pumped their fist in joy, honking and flashing brights, cabbies and cab passengers cheering from their cars, young black men, young white men ran into traffic and gave high fives to every car. It was amazing to see us there. Not them, just us all together. There was no threats, no tough guys, no attitudes, no sad, nothing negative at all, just optimism polluting everyone to the point that we all crushed in close and watched his victory speech on any one of the many huge Times Square screens. All around you could hear people repeating, reading out loud, the words of his speech as they were subtitled on the screens. Whispers out of everyone's mouth totaled to all of times square chanting his words. It was cathartic, a release for the last 8 years of confusion and distrust. I stayed there, moving from corner to corner, until 2:30AM enjoying the moment, and only leaving as I needed to get sleep. NYC was out in full effect, and I was privy to a wave of optimism rolling across America. Pics to come later, the video below was not shot by me, but is near exactly what I saw.

Fresh As the Amazon

We got more groceries delivered by Amazon.com/fresh, this week.

Fall Leaf

This little Maple leaf is sticking up on it's branch, hanging on in the wind, in our back yard. It's from a sad little tree that I bought at Home Depot for $6. Hang on little buddy, Spring will be your time to shine.

Grin and Bear It

I'm half way though the personal training sessions that Lindsay got me for my birthday. They're going great, but they kick my ass. I feel like this polar bear. It's good to go to someone that'll make you do exercises that you wouldn't normally do, but I'm finding it hard to work in what I know works for me, on my off days. Once the sessions are over I'll take what I've learned and mix it into my normal routine. It's been a good experience overall, and I'd recommend personal training to anyone now. It was a good birthday gift from Loo, for sure.

Seattle, Sunny Side Up

Just before I left for work this morning, I snapped this pic of the sun.

But I Did Stay at Holiday Inn Express Last Night

Speed Vest for Cyclists

A Few Good Photos

You Eat What You Touch

Hockey Night in Seattle

Loo, with her new powers and influence (working at the Kent Events Center) got us some tickets to see the Seattle Thunderbirds play hockey at the Key Arena last night. It was a suite game. No really, she got us tickets in a suite with some of the other people from her work. Not only are they nice people, good to know she'll be working with a nice bunch, but the game itself was great. Double overtime with a shoot-out win by Seattle. Frankly, I don't know jack about hockey, but I read as much as I could in Wikipedia before we went as not to have to ask too many (dumb) questions (e.g. "What quater is it?"). Turns out that watching hockey on TV isn't nearly as good as it is live. It's easier to track the puck and watch the plays develop, the sounds of the skates, and of slapshots being fired off, are much better in person. Then again, most sporting events are better in a suite, but this one was exceptionally good. Hockey, you're on the good list now. I think I understand you.

Pergola, More Than a Funny Word

I finished up the backdoor pergola today. There are a few more toe nails that I need to put in the beams, but because I was working in the rain and (strong) wind today I wasn't enthusiastic about getting the pneumatic framing nailer out or the tall ladder, but I did get the majority of it put together and affixed to the house. Like everything it was a good learning experience, and I enjoyed an excuse to build something. Next step, and the real reason for it's existence, is to fit the top beams with 2 sheets of clear Plexiglas to keep the rain off the back door walkway during the winter. Where does one buy Plexiglas sheets? Might also get some vines growing on it too, but that's still undecided. PS: You can get a good look at the fence gate in the second shot. I made it look like another panel as not to be disruptive to the eye. That's my Dad's influence showing. I can't wait to get some back door landscaping done, but that might have to wait.

American Haka

This reminds me that America is still what I think it should be, somewhere. Aside from the inept and wrongly elected President, greedy wall street and a propensity to put troops in the wrong place (Darfur anyone?) our population of immigrants is our keystone, our investment in the future. That and it reminds me that Texas rocks.

Most Importantly...

...Loo has a new job! A really cool one too. I'm proud of her, as usual. Check out her blog here to read all about it.

Flowers, For You

For your enjoyment, a few snapshots I took while spending the afternoon at Volunteer Park, with Mom and Lindsay, over my Birthday last weekend.

Heat Flash. Getting Old, Or New Heater?

So one more thing that we did recently? We bought that thing, above. We got a new gas heater for the house. The old one was suitable for the Smithsonian, as it was from what our home inspector said, 'just after the war'. That's WWII people. That's an old heater. We'd have kept it longer, but last year we limped it along after a a ton of blow outs, some learn as you go repair work and the realization that it was probably only 50 or 60% efficient. So we dropped the cash and got a new one. The new one is literally about 1/4 of the size of the old one. Heck we even ran a line for a soon to be installed gas stove while the plumbers were here, so we're ready for the cold and wet winter, and ready for kitchen appliance updates soon too. Here's the old beast:

Back! From the Fair

It feels like forever, from the last time I blogged. I was 34 years old the last time I did, now I'm 35. That's a long time! Well, actually, my birthday came and went and busy has been the name of the game. Between Mom visiting, checking in with friends, and working on the usual house projects, I neglected the blog. Over the next few days I'll be posting a pic here and there to pay it back, in spades hopefully. Today's update...Cara & Brent (plus their awesome kids) took Lindsay and I to the Puyallup Fair. It was the first time I'd ever been, oddly. Loved it. Too much fun, too much to see, too much food. With all that food - you can watch me grow (round in the middle). This poor guy won't be round in the middle too much longer. How depressing would it be to have your butcher cuts drawn on your side?

What's That Buzzing Sound?

How neat is this? It's a hornet's nest in a tree just a few houses down from us.

Saturday Recap: Been There Did That.

What didn't we do on Saturday? After a night out on Friday, dinner at a local Mexican restaurant, we walked all the way up California Ave to Blackbird for drinks, discovering a few new places along the way we'd like to check out soon. Waking early on Saturday we headed to Alki beach to explore the low tide and marine layer fog before everyone else was awake. Our local West Seattle blog published a few of my pics (the ones here) that I sent in of the beautiful sea scape that morning in fact. The low tide made for some interesting views, especially the guy watching the ferry in ankle deep water 30 yards from shore. We grabbed some breakfast at one of our favorite beach front spots across the street, at Alki Cafe (where both of our moms have eaten with us) and watched a BBQ contest set up on the seawall and headed out for some errands. First to Home Depot to get a new bathroom cabinet, and then off to see good friend, and soccer master, Paul coach his Tacoma Blue Huskies soccer team at a nearby park. A late lunch at home, watching the last part of the Notre Dame vs Michigan football game, and then back to the action. I used the late afternoon sun to finish up most of the rock wall extension to the back gate with a concrete pour and some simple mason work (all the rock touching the gate is new, extended about 3 feet from the existing wall) and topped off the day trimming a bunch of low limbs out of a back yard tree. Lindsay made me my favorite pasta dinner...and like a wild man I fell asleep watching Saturday Night Live. Whew. Lots done. Sunday plans...nothing!