Raincharm’s Weblog

Too tired to write much now.
I will try to add more tomorrow.

Suffice it to say the Fan of the Year was well received.
We had a blast, and more than one person asked to have their picture taken with our star.

I have been trying to focus on a few bigger projects at work.
But then I get distracted by trees falling hither and yon.

Yes, we are decimating a part of the lovely woods next to our office.
Growing area needs more bits and pieces than our current site can hold.
We are putting in a fueling station for emergencies, and will use it regularly, and an area to dump soupy dirt where the soup will be treated before flowing into the storm system.

My office has a somewhat front and center view to the trees coming down, except for the small stand that will remain – that is right outside my window. We actually still retain about 3-4 acres of trees.

And there was the first set of loggers that dropped a tree in the wrong direction, landing on the fence, missing the one car left and hitting no people. (This may be a repeat of a story.) The replacement loggers are a much more efficient bunch. I know because the building shakes several times a day as the big pines come down.

There have been a lot of sports going on across the nation.
Of course football seems to be garnering the most press. Unless you’re Jeter.

But we have our own minor celebrity moment coming up.
Fan of the Year.
Which apparently comes with a big screen story (they wanted to know how to spell your name, Ashlan). We did try to supply them with a few pictures,

10 years old – Kingdome

and they got the dates of all of the home runs Carl has gathered over the years.
And today we found out that we have 8 seats in the Commissioner’s Box and they are making a uniform (Jersey) for Carl. He is leaning towards 14 for the number. It is 2014, he wears 14 on his Silver Foxes team, and it was his favorite player’s number growing  up (Pete Rose).

Our only worry now is that Carl will still be under the weather on Friday.
He came down with a nasty cold, and spent most of today resting at home.
He has been trying to breathe the steam from boiling water with tree tea oil, and it seems to be helping.

Today there are a lot of sports going on, and yet we are not going to a game.

The day started with a little bit of bursting. Those 15 minute workouts that are all the rage.
If I can get myself oriented in the correct direction in the morning – I will try to fit one in.

Try.

This morning I did manage by getting up to watch soccer (Premiere League) and then taking advantage of the half-time break.

Coffee followed, along with the second half. (Of the game)

Eventually we managed some broccoli and juice and decided it was too nice not to walk.
While mobilizing the phone rang – it was the Seattle Mariners calling for Carl.
Apparently he has been elected the Mariner Fan of the Year for 2014.

A 3-Fez Day

We do not know who the nominating party was, but he has made it to many, many games (including 4 Mariner games on the road). And his distinctive headwear has provided fodder for Mariner announcers and cameramen. (Or is it camera-people, or just cameras. The one nearest us is unmanned, unpersoned, remotely operated.)

So on that note we headed out.
Earlier that morning Rey (in Tennessee) told us that there was a Husky Football game in Seattle. Both Carl & I were sure there was not because neither of us had noticed the orange traffic warning signs. But as usual, Rey was correct.

We decided to walk into the football storm just to see the throngs. (That is a storm of people, buses, bicycles and a few cars. Not to be confused with a real storm, like the one that delayed the Michigan game.)

It was an amazing spectacle. Purple as far as the eye could see. Rows of buses, and most on foot.
And of course those that come by boat.

The line of boats in the background are moored for the game.

We finally left campus and struck out into northeast Seattle neighborhoods.
A goal had materialized in the form of a grocery store where a friend works.
Plus, we needed a little nourishment.

As we were approaching the grocery store, we found another location for a little rest.

Our friend Ronnie

This was not a stop for fries, but at a house that supports families who’s kids are undergoing medical treatment at the nearby Children’s hospital. Finally the last half block to the Metropolitan Market.
Two bananas and a drink later, we set out in search of an establishment serving breakfast.
The first (up a hill that was higher than we wanted to walk up) was on to lunch and dinner, but I made the decision to keep going because they were vacuuming, and I hate the sound of a vacuum.
Next was a place that only served breakfast, but only until 3 PM, and it was now after 4.
Another restaurant materialized, only to have closed at 3 PM as well.

Carl then determined he would make us breakfast, and all we needed was cheese and bacon.
Whole Foods beckoned as it was on the way. Bacon and cheddar were soon in hand, or rather in bag. (This is Seattle, and if you don’t bring your own bag, you have to pay a nickel. We did – in part because we have run out of paper bags. A few years ago that would have been unthinkable, but now we try to use less paper and more cloth. And I really don’t miss those piles of plastic bags!

Finally ready to head home, we stopped at Starbucks.
Carl took this opportunity to get a coffee. I started checking scores for all of those sporting events we were not attending this weekend. Mariners losing 4-0. Huskies losing 14-0. Sounders losing 1-0. University of Michigan losing 26-10 and “delayed”. Almost all of these scores changed, but it was a much better day to take a walk than be a spectator.

But come Friday – we will be in the middle of the action with the Mariners.
I doubt they show the “first pitch” on broadcasts, but imagine it in your mind. With a fez.