Raincharm’s Weblog

It has been 50 years since To Kill a Mockingbird hit the silver screen. And a few more years since it was originally written by Harper Lee in 1960.

The book won the Pulitzer Prize. It provided a name for a friend’s dog (Scout). (This was a compliment). I don’t know anybody or anything named Atticus.

Neither myself nor Carl went to the movie the year it appeared.
In fact it would be several years later before either of us saw the movie.
I have no recollection of where or when I saw it, but I have seen it a half-dozen or so times by now.

And we plan to go see it tonight – in a theater.
I believe that will be a first for both of us.

I don’t think we will be walking, too late and a bit cold. But maybe.

Frosty morning. (Notice the edging.)

This was from a few days ago.
I was trying to get a picture of the sunrise while on my way to work (not driving).

Mt. Rainier over Lake Washington

It wasn’t what I usually get, so I thought I would share it.
On the off-chance I already posted this – oh well.

It kind of matches some of my mornings, a bit fuzzy.

That is partially true. Fuzzy until I am up.

I am a morning person generally.
I do my best thought work in the morning.
If I could only get to bed earlier I would probably get more done overall.

My carpooler just called to say he was on the way, so this will be abbreviated.

And we got a bill, finally, from the hospital for Carl’s overnight stay.
It was, well, interesting.
The total was $57772. The Plan allowed $1760. They covered $1760.
We had already paid the Group Health $10 Co-pay.
They want us to only pay for the flu-shot = $32.

If we got the flu-shot at Group Health, it would have been $10.
Not that I am complaining – I am not.

But it brings to light what could have been if we did not have good health insurance.
All for now.

That it is raining, is not a complaint.
It goes with the territory.
It can also be helpful when you have to do work – because you are not  longing to be outside.

Sunday was not a day of rest for us, except for the sleeping in part.
Then it was off to work, for almost a full day.

Today was also a work day. Our office was at about 50%.
If we work, we can save the day for a future day off – during the calendar year.

I do plan to take advantage of that – in the future.
For right now there are just too many irons in the work fire.

And at our Board meeting tomorrow I get to get a piece of paper telling me I have worked there for 25 years.
I wish I had thought enough to find a picture from my first year, and the one from now.
But we did not have badges back then, and especially not badges that open doors.
My how times have changed.
I do know that when I started we were just getting to 5000 water customers.
Now we have well over 16,000.

Even more telling – when I started I could drive without stopping (after I had turned out of my neighborhood) until I reached work. Every intersection I went through had a “free” right turn (Yield).

Quick – what color is a Yield sign?

Now, I think it would be about 10 traffic signals. That assumes I take SR 520, which is now a toll road.
So more frequently I take I-90, which results in 5 additional miles and about 11 traffic signals.

This is the only job my kids have ever known me to hold.
I was laid off from my previous job while on maternity leave with Rey.
He was 5 months old when I managed to land this gig.
I needed the work, or I might not have taken a job 25 miles away.

All in all, it was a good decision.

– And a yield sign is not Yellow.
It is Red with a white interior.

This is actually an age thing. It used to be yellow.

So – of course we went for a walk. Brisk – in the 30’s when we started.
We left the house just after 9 AM, and returned a bit after 4 PM.

1st stop was a mile-one half or so later at a 9 year old’s soccer game. They prevailed 3-1.
This was the last game of their season, but the City Tournament is in the offing.

The City Tournament is the best soccer deal around.
When our kids were young the team fee was about $30, and you were guaranteed at least 2 games.
Double elimination, with all of the teams from the City thrown into one pot (within your age category).
The tournament runs from November through almost Christmas. It is usually lined up with the school system’s winter vacation.

In Seattle this means many games played in the rain, possibly snow, probably wind.
Definitely a tournament to test a parent’s mettle.
And sometimes the players as well. We have many memories of kids that were chilled to the bone after both victories and defeats.

After we gave Eve’s team (the Pumas) our full 60 (minutes) we set off toward the Seattle Asian Art Museum.
About a 5.5 mile walk.
We passed many nicely decorated yards.

Flying Pigs

And stopped to get a coffee along the way. This shop had a lot of eclectic art. This piece was Pooh & Mark all rolled into one.

Quiet on the road with sound-muffling yarn

The Museum is located in Volunteer Park on Capital Hill.
Volunteer Park is a big park. We came across a pond with signs saying, “Do not feed.”
We could not figure out what we were not feeding at first.

They are all in the tree. All 70 (or so).

Maybe easier to see here.

It looked like they were sleeping. None of them moved while we were there.

The featured exhibit is called Many Arrows from Rama’s Bow, Paintings of the Ramayana. [Carl wants me to let you know that we then went to the Ramada to celebrate Ramadan with Ramen.]

Sorry, no pictures from the exhibit. I did not check to see whether pictures were allowed, and had turned off my phone to preserve power. We checked out a bit more of the outside art.

Looking East at a Black Sun near high noon

Looking west

Looking west toward the Space Needle, always in view

And we found Mr. Seward guarding the Conservatory. The crow decided to leave his perch just as I clicked.

It was folly for the crow to try to use Mr. Seward as a perch.

Walking was not the only way to get to SAAM. But would you tether your steed to a museum camel?

Art as a bike rack

We stopped at Le Fournil french bakery on the walk home. Almond and cheese croissants, and free coffee!
This wonderful bit allowed us to get up to Trader Joes (cheese and crackers), and finally home.

11 miles in all. More than we planned, but this was more of a – let’s go there, instead of a route with some interesting stops along the way. And we took a few wrong turns that added a bit of mileage, and one really steep hill.

Oh – and Ashlan has all utilities back now, and may get rent abatement (refund?!?) for the days when they were missing one of the main utilities – like power, heat, hot water.

Ch, ch, ch, ch, ch, ch, ch, ch….

The sound of cold and frost. First windshield scrape of the year.
And no carpool today, so it was all me.

Work – enough said.

A sample conversation with my counterpart this evening.

Jay, says something with a double entendre, followed by “Wink.”

Carl, “What?”

Jay, “Wink”

Carl, “Oink?”

Jay, “No, W-I-N-K”

Carl, “Oh, I thought you said Oink, but with an accent.”

Jay, “I did. A french accent, wink.”

This was followed by hysterical laughter, ending in tears.

I think this means that the stress level needed a bit of a release.

3 episodes of Downton Abbey (Season 2) got us to the point where enough votes had been counted.

Breathe.

Almost ready to really let it out.
Not all races are done.
Not all races that are done went the way I would have hoped.

But the BIG ONE did, and it looks like my local favorites are heading the direction I want as well.
The morning may tell more, or even a few more days.

Watched both the presidential concession and acceptance speeches.

I must say I thought President Obama’s speech was awesome.
Perhaps it was that my brain was getting oxygen for the first time in a while.

R-74 is my next hope. It is currently ahead, but it has not been called a victory yet.

Even though we do not get to go to the polls, I find myself energized this morning.
There are races I feel deeply about, and others, not so much. I even found myself thinking, if this one wins – I could take a loss in that one.
In our state, I think the one I care most about is approving gay marriage. 

We had a door hanger placed on our house between 6:20 and 6:45 AM.
It shows how committed many folks are to their cause, and trying to make sure very body votes.

I am very proud of the folks I know that have been out canvassing these last several weeks. In particular, kudos to my sister Anne – who always sets a good example. And to our friend Ann in Colorado, who has been going out daily in that swing state, and will continue through today.
(Maybe it is something in the name.)

 In many areas, on certain topics, every vote really does count.
In 2004 our Governor’s race was decided by 133 votes.

The Governor’s seat is again up for election, with the incumbent retiring, and too close to call. We are assuming a recount will be required once again.

 If you have not – please get out and vote.

 Partly because we do not expect all of the important races to be decided tonight, we are going for a dvd marathon.

Season 2 of Downton Abbey is our first choice, assuming it is available at the video store. (Mind you, this will probably slop over into the weekend, but we plan to get through at least a few episodes.)

And say goodbye to all of those ads!

This was an e-mail from NYC received Sunday 11/4/2012 in the AM – from Ashlan.
In her own words. (For those challenged by textese, b/c = because)

I’m home with power now but still no heat/hot water/internet so my phone remains my only form of communication. The trains started running to union square yesterday as well so getting home from uptown is much more pleasant. No more insanely crowded buses with a huge backpack woohoo!
I managed to work 35 hours this week (thanks in large part to an 11 hour shift I worked yesterday 😛
so not too shabby.

For the forseeable future I will be working at 24th and park.
I’ve never been there before but I have worked with Brian the GM and he’s a pretty cool guy so I’m happy. There was talk of me going to 30 Rock so I’m very thankful that didn’t end up happening.
I’m going to brunch with some friends this morning b/c frisbee was cancelled b/c the park is still not open. Can’t wait for life to be fully normal again but for now I’m gonna enjoy the eggs benedict. 🙂

And a few of her pictures from the Stone and Broad store to boot.

The Stone & Broad web-page on 11-4-2012

Looking at the pictures it appears that the water did not get to the upper part of the wall.
But perhaps that is partly due to the wall/floor separation that allowed an alternate to rising higher.
Water is a powerful beast.

A window blown in.

The wall disconnected from the floor, allowing water to drain down to the business below.

The dining room.

The heavy line equipment, flipped.

In the end – her life is moving forward, with many inconveniences, but not bad compared to what many others have gone through. If you have not already, and have the resources, consider a donation to the Red Cross.

That is how Ashlan has described her situation for the last week.

I don’t have her pictures yet, so you will have to use your imagination. For the last two days (Wednesday and Thursday) she worked at the Potbelly 44th St. Store.

It is helpful to understand the 34th St demarcation in NYC the past week. North of 34 th there is power,
and subway service (at least the last few days). South, not so much. In fact, not at all.

Ashlan lives at 14th, adjacent to the exploding transformers that were a frequent news clip a few days ago.  Her store is in the financial district, north of Battery Park.  Her apartment complex was at least partially surrounded by flood waters. Her store was flooded.

Ashlan’s first impression of the store on Wednesday, from the sidewalk, was 100% trashed. Yesterday she got an up close and personal view and verified her initial assessment.

She and her GM spent six hours cleaning out the walk-in cooler and freezer. Just to get in they had to take off a board from the doorway. Then to get to the back of the store they had to climb over furniture and whatever else had ended up in their way.

The flooding had been bad enough that the cooler had moved. The walls were bowed. A hole to the business beneath the store had opened and allowed their flooding to drain down.

Their task included inventory of the spoiled food, and then bagging it for  disposal with a folklore of bleach. (The bleach is intended to discourage dumpster divers.) All of this work required several trips back and forth over the store debris.

Oh, and no water service or power. They were able to use a nearby porta-potty for a construction project. Hazard pay?

When I spoke with her she was on her way to or from her apartment. She had at least one more night at a friend’s apartment, a different friend this time. On a bus line, north of the 34th line of power.

Prognosis – power back sometime this weekend. Sleeping in her bed by Monday. Work? A bit less clear. Hopefully she will get enough hours somewhere. They are estimating 4-6 weeks to get her store back into service.

As for us? Same as usual. Sounders are in the playoffs.

Yesterday we spent a few hours in the rain watching a 0-0 first leg of a two-leg game against Real Salt Lake. Their goalie had an outstanding game. Hopefully the Sounders will prevail in SLC.

I am trying out a new WordPress app to post from my phone. Work bound in the shotgun position.

No report from NYC yesterday, so no new news.

Beautiful sunrise this morning. That means two things. 1. It is not raining, and not even cloudy. 2. We are bordering on being late for work.