Raincharm’s Weblog

The All Star game was not a home run derby, only 2. The American League won, for those who are counting. We watched the game with several friends and several hundred acquaintances at Safeco Field TMobile Park.

They provided food, games, games of chance and general frivolity.

Tonight’s social activity was watching ET accompanied by the Seattle Symphony.

It’s a good movie and a great orchestra. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Carl made a pre-show meal of chicken/avacado/cheese/tomato and lettuce wraps. He wrapped these in aluminum foil and popped them into my backpack. We ate them in the grand lobby, and they were yummy.

Our busy week continues tomorrow with a visit to our friendly financial advisor, who can advise us on how many more decades of work are in our future.

Rey and Becca

One year ago. Such a lovely day!

Pretty tame.Walked to the light rail in the morning. It was really quiet. Almost too quiet.Down to TMobile Park. More people, but still quiet. We spent the pre-game on the 3rd deck patio, eating our lunch and hanging out.Game time at our seats. Not a subdued crowd, but tempered. We stayed until the 8th, and decided we had enough sun for the day.Back home we quietly dismantled the screen. Except for the part where a vertical piece decided to become horizontal earlier than we anticipated. And stowed it in the garage.Evening brought out the noise. Not much at first, but then the basic sort of safe and sanes started exploding. These were soon overtaken by the big city display at Lake Union. The high displays can be seen from our bathroom and closet windows. But the real experience is the concussions that reach our house, a few miles from the show.And then there was the auxiliary experience, mostly booming shells rather than sparkles, at 5:15 AM this morning! After the third, I gave up trying to sleep and got up and went to work.Work was quiet.I am on the bus. I just realized how much building is underway when I wasn’t exactly sure where we were. Thought I had missed my stop for a moment. So it is the 5th.Happy 39th anniversary to Pooh and Mark.And happy 34th with Carl.How could I not stay married to this guy!

Yes – Rain

We managed to dodge drops throughout the weekend, so I am not complaining. Really.

On the other hand, something hosed traffic coming home today. Maybe it’s because I left a little earlier than usual, or maybe it was the rain, or maybe all of those vacationers that avoided the commute for the first few days – after school finally let out – returned. Whatever it was, it is potentially making me late for the ballgame. I have ditched the car, repacked the backpack, walked, bused (1 s or 2?), and am now on the train. I may yet make the first pitch.

Go Mariners!

We shall see. I don’t expect a win, but would appreciate a game with some good, or at least interesting, plays.

Last year there were two big wishes. 1) to go home, and 2) to be able to climb the stairs to the bedroom. Actually there were a few more, make the Mariners game (where 20 friends were gathered in a suite), and make the backyard film festival (we actually did make it for a few moments, but I wouldn’t say we really saw anything).

This year the wishes were a lot more mundane. Figuring out where to take him to dinner.

We went to a neighborhood restaurant, new to us. Kittitas. A Thai restaurant.

Number 38. I can’t remember what it was called

Fresh rolls with fried tofu and vermicelli noodles

Chicken sauted in a black bean sauce.

It was good food, and I think we’ll be back.

A beautiful night for a walk, and now to hang at home for the rest of the evening.

Happy day.

The weekend was way too short.

I need another day or two. On the other hand, I probably did more than on a usual weekend.

Saturday was the annual Backyard Baseball Film Festival. This meant folks for the weekend, four at our house this year. Food preparation, although nothing intricate. In the end, the most intricate part of the food was fitting it all onto the patio table. Sheeting the screen using the ever helpful binder clips. Chair setup and ice for the cold drinks.

The show was great. Although the screen location was changed from south to west at the last moment. The setting sun needed to be behind the screen. Luckily it was sturdy enough to pick up and move.

We left it in the east until we got home on Sunday and it had tipped back against a neighbor’s ornamental tree.

Dennis Nyback, film curator and archivist

Sunday we were treated to a pancake breakfast by a few of our guests. This fueled the clean up, sorting of the trash/recycling/compost, and returning chairs to their respective homes.

What remains is to dismantle the screen into a size that will fit into the garage.

Carl also had a game on Sunday evening. The field looked like a kid’s sandlot field. The umpire had to call a dead ball for a ball lost in the clover at the backstop.

The field was in the flight path for Sea-Tac airport

We got home after 8, had dinner and generally collapsed.

And, should I forget- it’s been one year since we were let out of the hospital and got to celebrate what was left of Carl’s birthday at home. One more trip around the sun!