Category Archives: Seattle, Washington

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EMP And SFM

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There are too many things that we’ve done that I keep forgetting to tell you about. My little sportsac has a little notepad for me to remind myself of these things when they happen. I wonder where it is…I should really start using it.
When DW was in town we headed off to the EMP and SFM. For the price of one admission, you get into the Experience Music Project and the Science Fiction Museum. Everyone in Seattle had told us that EMP was a waste, so we had skipped it so far. We were going to check out the Sci Fi stuff. Which is something I initially had zero interest in doing, to be honest. And then, going through the Museum was neat. Paul Allen owns half of it as his personal collection, so we know who the real cool kids are, but that’s fine. When you can’t fit Space Invaders costumes in YOUR home anymore, I think you should build a museum.

I learned a lot, which led to me reading my first real science fiction novel. I was amazed to learn about the social commentary and expression the media provides. Very interesting. Makes me happy I branched out.

As for the EMP, well, there was a lot of Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana, Heart (did you know that one?), Pearl Jam, Disney stuff. I was really excited to see the original sheet of lyrics to Burden in my Hand. That’s Soundgarden. We did mess around in the sound lab and watch people fake perform on the real stage. If there weren’t so many kids, I would have done it.

experience music project
www.flickr.com

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Independence Day Revelry

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The 4th of July here was undoubtedly the best weather we’ve seen in Seattle to date. It was pretty, clear, and the warmest day yet, high 80s. The night before we’d purchased a full days worth of roof food. We went for a walk in the morning. Around noon we headed up to grill our turkey burgers, expecting a full roof of people intent on remaining in the sun until 10pm. There were maybe 5 people. We brought up chairs with which to steal the best spot, and cooked and ate. I got some great sun hours. We visited with friends and shared beers and stories. Good times.

Running up and down for refills and breaks from the heat got harder and harder as the day went on, and numerous people I’ve never seen, don’t think actually lived here, and can’t determine where they all could have parked started to show up. In addition, South Lake Union got busier and busier too, filling up with boats. We could also just barely make out the people filling up Gas Works Park across the water, which you can see getting packed in the photos across the water.

Burnt and burnt out, MK and I took a breather around 6 and checked out some tv and some snooze time. Revived and hungry again, we managed just barely to find room on the grill for some chicken and eat on our laps. Somebody paid a DJ to show up, and fill the air with house music, which would have been fun if he were not terrible. It was novel, at least.

And then, the fireworks. You can also see in the photos the Space Needle. On the left is Puget Sound, where the first set of fireworks began. Then a helicopter circled Lake Union with a giant American Flag, and the main fireworks display there began.

Here are the pictures.

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Mount Rainier

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There are a few things that I know about Mt Rainier: that it is high, near me, and pretty. So when we got up at 6 am last Monday, put five random layers in the car, some Cliff bars, and water, I didn’t know what to expect.

It takes a little over two hours to get out there. These two hours are hilarious, especially pre-4th, as you are driving through a giant trailer park Indian Reservation that is selling more fireworks than Washington DC sets off. Those little stands are everywhere. Here’s a group of them:

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Then you’re in the national park, and if you’re super cool, the first thing you see is this guy:

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That’s right, within minutes. Animals. Wild life. Sweeet. The best part about Mt Rainier, as far as I could tell, is there sure is a lot of it that you can drive up. We were representing the east side. The base camp of our hike, Sunrise, was about 6000 elevation. That’s getting close to halfway already. We hiked backwards from everyone else to be super cool, and made good time as far as I was concerned, never having hiked a mountain before. Sure, the cripple and elderly were lapping us on the trails, but you just do your personal best, that’s what it’s all about.

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Can you see that line in the middle of this picture here? That’s where we walked.

*dusts dirt of shoulders*

Seriously though, we also got to see a marmot, and a ton of chipmunks. And an unidentified bird.

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The whole animals thing thrilled me, what did not was the steep sided cliffs with narrow snowy passages. Death March. But I made it here to type about it. It was actually hilarious the adrenaline I felt accomplishing relatively little, but we did get as high as you can without a Sherpa…

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Lakes Washington And Union; Hooters And Horns

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We rented a boat yesterday to check out some of the fair waterways we now find ourselves surrounded by. Not sure what the real temperature ever is around here, I had shorts, tanks, sweats, and a rain coat, just in case. Luckily, it was fairly warm. The views of Mt. Rainier and Seattle from Lake Washington are spectacular. We gawked at most of the houses, this one had a ROCK CLIMBING wall, can you believe that?

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The only thing stranger than any body of water I’ve ever been on is the constant landing and taking off of seaplanes. You never can tell where they’re headed until they’re NEAR you. Yikes.

After a power workout we headed back out to South Lake Union. On Tuesdays they have sailing races that you can watch. It was amazing to see how many sail boats were out there.

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After watching for a while, we headed out to Lock Spot Cafe to see if any one famous from the Deadliest Catch was going to show up for the finale…and passed by a Hooters. With Longhorn signs all over. Upon further inquiry, we learned it’s Texas Exes central during football season. More importantly, they kick off the season by SHIPPING UP BBQ and throwing a big party.
Only 72 days, 23 hours, 43 minutes to go…

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First Time For Everything

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Oh, what a night. Here are the highlights.

Friday night, CD picked me up straight off the ferry and we made our way over to the Old Pequliar. I have to say, I have been to more pubs in this city than any, ever. There are so many. There’s one guy coming to visit me that is going to be very, very happy to hear that. Anyway, there were a ton of people there. And a cowboy. The cowboy wasn’t with us, but he (besides his pants) was cute. So us girls, we talked about him. A lot. Since I’m the married one, it fell upon my shoulders to go hand him a phone number of one of the other girls. He wasn’t very cowboy, he was from CA. After living in TX, I think somehow that’s the only place they really come from. That about rapped that up for me.

Anyway, we proceed to play darts, my team winning 3 of 4 games. When the party dies down a little, we relocate to Belltown, a bar called the Black Bottle. I don’t know why these things don’t happen when MK’s here, but CD was hit on big time. Or something.

By a drag queen.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that…

Right. I have to cross watching that off my “I never” list.

If that wasn’t odd enough, there was also my first conversation with a real live LA hipster, Indian. Between the sentences “You shut up” and “Don’t go there” he talked about the weather. Yikes. There might have been a couple “No you didn’t”s, I didn’t know people still said that.

CD also had the fortune of meeting a couple whose main features were “he drives a Porsche” “this is our first date” “no, we’re married” and “this time I don’t think he’s going to hit me”. Where do these people come from?

CD also got to learn my special secret after a night out drinking, when we returned to my place, and I made spaghetti.

drag queen
www.imageshack.us

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Pho Bac

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There’s been some drama with me trying to eat at Pho Bac, since every time I’ve gone, it’s never been open. Granted maybe I shouldn’t go super late, or super super late, or on Monday. Everything around here seems to be closed on Mondays, I should know better. MK hates Pho, and so I was looking forward to taking RD, but that didn’t work out (super late). Today, the MIL left town via bus, and it just so happens Pho Bac is located, one block away from me, in the Greyhound Bus Terminal. I can’t explain that one for you…

Anyway, I took some spring rolls and pho to go, and am still living in bliss, with a giant tummy full of warm yummy noodle soup. It IS the best in Seattle, and I am one happy camper. Worth the wait.

pho
www.ayunaka.air-nifty.com

The place was completely full, every table and a line for to go pickup as well, and since MK is out of town for the weekend, if you can’t find me, this might be where I am!

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Black Is The New Black

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Fine, fine. I admit, finally that my wardrobe here in Seattle is a little drab. I’ve had to bring most of my fall and winter attire, in muted autumn hues, since it’s not 100 degrees and I can’t walk around in my half nekkid Austin summer type apparel. Also, my shopping here has been all about black, white, and black and white. AC let me know I needed to spice it up, but I didn’t see much while everyone was in town.

We ventured out rather successfully yesterday, where I scored some corals and yellows. Yay. I also found two perfect totes, as I have learned that big actual purses attract shady people, yet small bags do not hold books, mp3 players, sweaters, and whatever you buy at the Market on the way home. So, spring pastels just in time for summer. I’m always a step behind!

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Taller Than The Space Needle, And Cheaper

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Um, why doesn’t everyone just do this? No, believe it or not, I’m not talking about my roof, although I think that is just as good as the Space Needle…

I wish I had known about it when everyone else was here too…

The Columbia Center is the tallest building in Seattle, 12th in the US. FYI, it was 5$. The Space Needle is 16$. Seriously. The view was incredible.

Also of note, they contend there are more lawyers in this building than in the whole of Japan. It’s just what I heard.


www.officespace.com

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The First Floor Is Below You

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Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour is mostly worthless. No, wait, I got a 2$ beer out of the deal. And well, we were in places you can’t get to without the wristband. And I learned a little history. I guess it was fine…
DID YOU KNOW that UPS started as laudanum drug runners for prostitutes? Me neither. Juicy.

Basically, Seattle – the original downtown, Pioneer Square – burnt down in 1889 or something (wiki it). They were in a hurry to rebuild, because at high tide they were getting wet. They wanted to raise the ground, but it was taking too long. People rebuilt their buildings, then along comes the city and raises the streets. Really. You had to use LADDERS to get from the street to the store front. It was muddy and yucky and unsafe and lots of drunk guys died falling off the street. Really. Finally they filled in the sidewalks, and made the second floor the first. THEREFORE there’s stuff underground. Still with me?

We took the 90 minute tour yesterday and had a great guide. He made it fun, and told the stories in order to help you imagine you were looking at amazing things. Unfortunately, after the ensuing Klondike Gold Rush and WWII plundering, you’re left looking at very little. I respect that they kept things the way they were, but wouldn’t mind a little help; pictures or drawings or little recreations to help me visualize what on earth that could have been like.

There was an old toilet:

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There, I just saved you 20$. You’re not going to make me go again, are you???