Raincharm’s Weblog

We seem to be settling into a pattern where the weekends are rainy and the weekdays may be sunny. This morning for example. 

Note the sun on the vegetation. The mountain is not out, so who knows what the afternoon will bring. 

I got flowers yesterday. From a work mate, not Carl. 

Speaking of work, which I do frequently, I did manage to pull off a scheduling miracle yesterday. By the normal rules I should have turned in my agenda item on Monday. I did turn in two on time, but not the most important piece. I finally got the final bit of information yesterday, rushed to get a memo completed, went over it with my boss and then pleaded for the Monday meeting late agenda addition. The alternative was the following Monday and missing the Mariner home opener or three weeks later, a schedule destroyer.

Just noticed the background is shaded. Interesting. 

And I woke up this morning thinking about work.  Not about my scheduling victory, but about two customers that appear to be illegally connected to our water system. One says he is using rainwater, not a midnight connection to the main so he can live in a house that doesn’t have occupancy yet.  Or the guy connected to his neighbors house with a hose. We found him because her meter showed use of 142 gallons per minute for 5 straight days. We think he’s recharging his well. The concern is cross connection, his neighbors bill will be a bit higher than normal. 

Powering up for a busy day  (coffee)

Feels like siesta time. 

Nothing is lonelier than a boarding ramp without a plane. 

Okay. That was now 4 days ago. I am back hard at work and it has been constant. I am thinking I may be back to treading water after this weekend. 

Carpooler is here and I’m driving. 

The following was related out loud from the Sunday New York Times. And I may have messed with the words a bit. But it included loud laughter, so I feel it should be shared.

“If you could tell the president to read one book, what would it be?” “That would depend on who was reading it to him.”

Closer to home. 

“That’s the Sports Section dear.” “I would not be interested. “

Yesterday was my visiting day. First up were two very old friends. And I don’t mean age old, I mean having known them for a very long time. We’ll, however you want to interpret the words, essentially since kindergarten. 

It had been several years since the three of us were together. We went to a diner for breakfast and stayed until almost lunch. Ah, the memories. I will be more diligent about reconvening on those occasions when I get to the area. 

From breakfast there was a brief stop at home and then off to lunch with my sister and “cuzzints”. At a brewery. With good beer and sandwiches and conversation. 

All in all a very good day, topped off by a sweet potato-ginger dish and shrimp for dinner. 

As short vacations go, this has been very satisfying. Three books read and  time with family and friends. 

It is raining now, getting me ready for the return to Seattle, and thwarting my plan to walk to a bookstore. I am not afraid of walking in the rain, but I don’t want to deal with wet shoes on the plane. [I managed to pack my boots into the suitcase.]

I saw this in a work journal, and here it is, almost in my parents back yard. Too bad you can’t see the fish, as they are swimming below the tree line. 

“I do worry about our country with that idiot in charge.”

I  believe I like these morning announcements more than reading the news myself. 

Today turned into a beautiful day. Up to the 70s. The afternoon call for a walk was heeded. Through the neighborhood. Instead of Seattle staircases the goal was dead-end cul-de-sacs. Just keep turning left and follow the curb line. 

A lovely neighborhood filled with houses that have more bathrooms than I would care to clean. 

There’s always the more mundane as well. I did take a picture of the Traverse City fire hydrant, just because. 

Then back home where I sat on the back deck and enjoyed the scenery. Trees getting ready for Spring. 

“Trump is such a damned asshole.”

I believe those were the first words my mother said to me this morning. And I really did not have a comeback. 

We ended the day on a more positive note with some fennel enhanced Creme Brule. This was after the gnocchi, fennel salad, pork something appetizer and a very nice bottle of white wine from the Rhone Valley. 

The dinner was the second celebrating Mom’s birthday, and I am fine with that. I did not take a picture of the dinner repast, so you will have to make do with lunch. 

That’s fresh cut pineapple in the green bowl. 

It was another sunny cold day, so I took a walk around the block. I did not take a picture of the Traverse City fire hydrant, even though we don’t have that variety where I work. I did catch these mini-irises blooming along the path. 

And the indoor tulips that are just opening. 

It is forecast to be warmer tomorrow. Perhaps I will take a longer walk. 

A day of celebration today. 

A leg of lamb, nice chocolate and mincemeat pie highlighted the culinary delights. (And the yellow pepper soup leftovers.) I recall fitting 50 candles on a cake several years ago, but nobody tried for 88 candles on the pie. We had to make do with a fire in the fireplace. 

It was a beautiful day, but a bit chilly by Seattle standards. A nice day for spending time with family. And reading. And just a wee bit of work.

Now that I am thinking about it, I wonder if Mom would have liked a piano themed cake decorated with the 88 keys. It would be a challenge. 

It is 7:03 am. Not too early by my standards but it has been different than normal. 

I drove to the airport instead of work. “Don’t get on to 520!,” Carl said. 520 is one of two bridges that head east instead of south. The difference with this trip is that I am the one flying. Alone. Not unheard-of, but it has been a while. 

It is an hour until take off, and I have stood in lines for baggage check, security, water, and coffee. One person exclaimed at the length of the Starbucks line. What did they expect? It’s morning in Seattle. 

Three gates so far. I had not checked before security, so I asked a desk person, who told me N4. Settled in at N4, when I got an email from Alaska directing me to N7. And then the overhead voice directing me to N6.

None of this was bad. Steps from each other. When Carl went to Phoenix recently they had to change concourses. 

And it is raining, again. I am not sure what to expect from the weather in A2. It is spring, so wait 5 minutes. My weather checks have shown an expected range from 18 to 60 degrees. I wore my boots. 

I originally bought these for our trip to the winter Olympics. Never put them on because the temperature approached 70 degrees. 

Time to board. 

Do you know what that means?

THE SUN IS SHINING!

It is Sunday after all.

So like most Seattlites weary of the rain, we ventured out and about. 

The bluest skies you’ve ever seen are in Seattle. 

Any body of water, and some normally dry spaces are filled and overflowing. 

It’s about 50 degrees, but it feels so nice to have the sun on my back. 

Yesterday it rained buckets. I took advantage and spent some quality uninterrupted time at work. I felt good about my accomplishments, which made the evening even better.

We went out to dinner at the Athina Grill, one of our favorite Seattle Center area restaurants. Then it was on to the Cornish Playhouse for a show by the Seattle Womens Chorus. It was a socially inspiring and well sung show. Just what I needed to pull me out of my Trump malaise. 

The encore was a version of I Am Woman, with pussy hats adorning most heads. It was wonderful. 

Don’t worry, in a few weeks we will be enjoying the Seattle Men’s Chorus.