Raincharm’s Weblog

No it has not been foggy here. It has been raining and then damp.
Tomorrow they are predicting snow. Just a little bit.
It is not supposed to be like all of the big blizzards we have managed to avoid so far this year.

The FOG I refer to is from work.
Shorthand for Fats, Oils and Grease.
The bane of sewer systems everywhere.

I knew that our area was starting a campaign against FOG this year.
Apparently this is a world wide thing. Who knew.
Enjoy this little ditty from the London sewers.

We don’t have any sewers large enough to stand up in.
Slide through on a skateboard maybe, but only before they are put into use.

We all got up this morning, and two of us set off to work.
Not too bad. Pretty quiet, and not too many customer calls.
Still too much of the sweet stuff around however.

A new owner/idea took over a long-time pizza restaurant in our neighborhood.
They advertised real deep dish Chicago style pizza, and put $10 off coupons on doors around the block.
So we decided to give it a try.
Carl & Rey went down to check out the new digs, place our order, and walk home.
But while they were enjoying a brew, waiting for the pie to cook, the cooks decided to play frisbee with the pie, and somebody didn’t make the play. So they said they would deliver a new pie instead. When it arrived, it had slid a bit in the box. It was an interesting feat to get pieces out of the box. Tasty, a bit spicy, and really filling. I was full after one piece. I am not from Chicago, so I don’t know if this is the norm.

Now we only allowed pizza for dinner because everybody had a ham allotment for lunch.

Split pea soup on the horizon. This is one of the best parts of having a ham.

Little kids will be in tomorrow, so we are starting to clean up the house a bit as well.

I realize this is just odds and ends. That just about describes the entire day.

Christmas day is winding down. And so are we.
Except Ashlan, who has new wind and is raring to go.
So she and Rey are going to see the latest Harry Potter movie, again.
It is a second viewing for both, although they saw it separately the first time.

Our day was a good one.
It started at the very reasonable hour of 8:30. Except that for Rey it was more like 11:30, and he was a bit hungry.
We had sticky buns from the Larson Brothers Bakery in Ballard. Excellent, and sticky indeed.

Finally settled around the Christmas tree and enjoyed opening presents (thank you all that shared with us).
The girl got into scaring her mother by slamming down chocolate oranges on the table when I was not ready.

Checked the weather and there appeared to be a few hour break when showers were less likely so three of us (Ashlan, Rey & Jay) set out on foot for a walk. Jay underestimated the distance. What was advertised as a 5 mile walk was actually more like 9 miles in the end. It could have been a bit shorter, but Ashlan opted for length over hills. Jay actually stopped at 8 miles when Carl came by with a nutrition break.

Then came a break before the dinner fixing was underway. Ashlan was going to help with the pomegranate seeding for Pooh’s salad, but decided to nap instead. Carl gallantly stepped into her shoes. A relatively easy meal, especially when compared with Thanksgiving. Salad, potatoes (mashed), ham and rolls. Ashlan woke up to eat.

And now with the table cleared, the kids are off to the movies, and Carl & I are left to enjoy the memories of another day with the family together. It really is nice to have them all together. I like just listening to them chat.

Tomorrow’s plans – Kringle, Picasso and brunch/lunch.

The previously promised Christmas Tree photo.

Christmas Tree - lights on

2010 Christmas Tree

And – REY made it home. 3 hours earlier than expected.
That darned hyphenated name confused the automated ticket kiosk at the airport, and he had to go to the desk to get his boarding pass. They showed him an earlier connecting flight out of Atlanta, so he got here in time for dinner (with friends). And this is the day before they are expecting 300 cancelled flights in Atlanta – whew!

Carl & I drove through the driving rain coming home from our friends house tonight. Our normal route took us past Candy Cane Lane – a street of houses that have been fully decorated, every Christmas for 50 years. We weren’t really thinking, but we only had to wait in a line that was 1 block long to get past the entrance (1 way through). In the other direction the line extended for probably 10 blocks (to Brooklyn for anyone that knows the area). We called back to Ashlan and Rey and warned them to take a different route, unless they wanted to go to Candy Cane Lane. (They were still partying the night away.

Happy Christmas by the time anybody reads this.

1. My governmental body bosses approved my BIG BIG PROJECT today!
    Now it can be disseminated for all others to take a whack at it.
     I am PUMPED.

2. I gave blood this morning. Sat next to a woman at the cookie table and talked about salt and sweet mixtures. This, just the day after Ashlan explained her love of salted chocolates. And the woman was from Michigan – just outside of Detroit. Small world. I am TIRED.

3. We went to the Men’s Chorus Glee concert tonight.
They sang many fabulous songs. One particular favorite was a rendition of the Twelve Days of Christmas, as performed by Straight No Chaser. I had heard this tune while driving up to Canada yesterday, and wanted to tell folks about it – but could not figure out how to explain it. I am HAPPY.

4. While waiting in the parking lot line to get out, we could see a person on a half level below us pressing his key fob, and the car on the half level above us blinking its lights. It was amusing. [This parking lot was designed by a three-year old with a blender and clay. I just can’t imagine somebody putting it together with the ups, downs, curves, short car-doorways, and multiple entry/exits – only one of which was open to exit from.] I am LAUGHING.

So today is the trip up to pick up the girl.
The post title refers to the fact that Vancouver always seems to get just a bit more than Seattle.
This refers to rain, snow, people in general, people at UBC (compare to UW), highly rated amateur athletic events (Olympics), and Hockey (Canucks vs Thunderbirds).

Now Seattle does have them beat in other athletic categories – like Baseball, Football, Basketball and Soccer (well they do have a MSL team starting up next year).

Yesterday we finished most of the shopping necessary and most of the mailing necessary. I spoke to Pooh and saw a post by Jane – and they both had miraculous post office experiences for the weekend before Christmas. Good parking – in limited situations, and very few folks to mingle with in line. We had reasonable experiences. Parked in the second lot and waited for about 20 folks to move along. Not too bad, and since we went together we had a chance to chat.

The tree is in its stand. Today it will be decorated (I hope). Pictures later if we succeed.

I hope you are all having a good time ramping up for the holidays.

I know I am.
This weekend I am not going to work!
And I get to go pick up my darling daughter.
What more could I ask for?

I know – weather that is clear enough to make you want to be outdoors.
It does not have to be warm, just not pouring.
And that may happen. We will have to see.

In other news – wait, there is no other news.
No wait, I am sure there is, I just can’t think of it right now.

Happy weekend.

It is December, but we decided to pretend it was a reasonable fall day, and headed off on foot to the ballpark.

Our destination was Safeco Field, roughly 6-1/2 miles.
It was dry when we started, and raining when we reached the stadium.
Of course, that could happen any day or any month of the year in Seattle.

We got in line with several others.
The occasion was Dave Niehaus’ memorial service.
The outside temperature was probably in the 40’s.
The roof was closed so it was dry, but there was not a dry eye during parts of the event.
Professional speakers were stopped by their emotions.
But there were many funny stories as well, and in the end we were glad we attended.

But after being outside since leaving the house at 9:30 and the end of the service around 2:30, we were – chilled …… to the bone. We went out for a hot bite to eat, and to toss around some of our own memories.

Once home, I realized that my body is still cold. In fact, Carl was still cold – which just about never happens. He has his jacket and hat on, an hour after getting home.

In other baseball news I stumbled upon the Tennessee Smokies website. They have some videos to help their fans through the winter. I was checking them out – and low and behold – a Rey sighting.

We love sighting Rey, and when we can’t have him in person, it is good to catch sight of him in any way we can.

No words of wisdom.
That’s because I have been trying to help usher the financial chapter to the Water Comprehensive Plan into an updated version.
For me it has been like listening to fingernails on a chalkboard for 3 straight days.

Now if all of the financial heads had a vision and agreed on what was to be shown I could bear this because there was a conclusion in sight.
However, we have new eyes on a process not fully understood and a number cruncher writer that has done this many times, and a number cruncher who has questions, requests, but at the end of the day really seems to grasp the bigger picture.

And I am trying to ask them to give each other the words to bring this to a conclusion.
By noon today.

Needless to say, it has been difficult to get just about anything else done.
And what is worse, I have been driving these others hard to get it done – and I feel badly that I can’t step in and just pick up more of the number work.

Now, we did get out to see a school performance on Wednesday night.
And tonight we have tickets to see Cris Williamson (and the Seattle Women’s Chorus) perform.

And most of this has been in the pouring rain (just to make the driving and communte times better).

On a more positive note – this is a picture of survival.

Wind Storm Aftermath

Donating to One Sight

 One of the kids Carl used to take care of asked people to do something for somebody else, and then provided a bunch of ideas. It made me think of all of the old glasses lying around that do not help me see any more. So off to the mall and the Sunglasses Hut. 4 Pairs donated. No pain, and somebody’s gain.