Raincharm’s Weblog

In which we venture out into the crowds.

We actually ventured on foot.
The day started a bit slowly, and then picked up steam.
There were two specific locations that were on our list today, and they were only about 1 block apart.
So we headed downtown. Probably 4.5 miles to reach the first location.

Potbelly Sandwich Shop.
[Ashlan misses her work, or rather her daily food ration. She did note the one difference between the Seattle store and the New York stores is the addition of a “Compost” selection to the “Trash” and “Recycle” choices.]
Then it was off to Aldos. I have never heard of this store, but apparently many have.
Unfortunately, the boots Ashlan was intent on buying were not in stock in Seattle.
The closest pair was in Salt Lake City.
So she will wait until returning to NYC to claim a pair. (Black or Brown – the tension mounts.)

Ashlan & Jay chose to bus home, while Carl and Rey decided they would walk some more.
However, after an additional 3-3/4 miles, they called for a ride.
It could have been either Carl’s knees or the rain that convinced them of this move.
I will admit that their additional mileage included some rather steep hills (Queen Anne),
so I picked them up at the Fremont Troll, which was bustling with people.

All home for now, and figuring out what to do with the ham for this evening.

Tonight will also include working on the Christmas Card (for those that are wondering where they are).
We had to wait for the kids to get home together to get a picture.
And for the few that got cabin plates – here are the before and after shots.

Christmas day is well near the end.
It has been a good day all-in-all.

We started by sleeping in. At least by Christmas morning standards.
I am sure everyone has an extremely early rising story associated with young children.
I remember Pooh & I getting up, dressed, and then waking up Mom and Dad, at about 4:30 AM.
We were sent back to bed. For the years after that I think we were given a 7 AM time for getting up.
I believe we had a similar occurrence in our house, although I have a hard time remembering the details.

Breakfast included the cream cheese twist Ashlan & I retrieved from Larson Bakery yesterday.
And coffee.

Then it was to the tree and presents.
I believe everyone was well satisfied. A short fashion show for a few of the items.

Next up was making the pumpkin pie.
It all started out so innocently. Mixing the pumpkin filling, rolling out the dough, and laying the crust in the pie plate. Pouring the filling into the crust. Looking at it closely and thinking, “Something is not right.”
Checking out the recipe, I realized the milk had not been added.
We attempted to put the filling back into the bowl, but this meant sacrificing the crust.
And finding a store that was open to get the milk. (Yeah – found one.)
But then there was not time to finish the pie before we went out to see a movie.

Movie = Tin Tin.
It was a worthy movie. I’ll give it 4 stars.
The kids read the Tin Tin books when they were young, and felt the movie stayed pretty true to the book.

Home again, and this time finished the pie adventure.
This was quickly followed by dinner preparations.

Christmas pales by comparison to Thanksgiving preparations at our house.
Ham instead of Turkey, and many fewer side dishes. But food is not the main point.

So we are into the evening. And the pie.
Time is winding down, and we are happily discussing the days events.

tomorrow? Probably heading downtown for boxing day.
If we are successful we will post a picture or two.

For Christmas of course.
But that does not mean we did not have things to do, and easily find ways to fill our time.

Carl & Rey delivered some packages, and did most of the final food shopping.
Ashlan & Jay walked over to Larson Brothers Bakery to get some rolls and goodies for breakfast. About 8-9 miles on a beautiful day.

We then all saw parts of the Seahawks losing to some other team. (They could have won, but …) Laundry, showers, and now we are off to visit with some friends.

So I will leave you with this. Totally non-Christmas. See any resemblance?

Ball Boys

Some things have not changed.
They “fight” for the place in front of the heater vent, and call me the Keeper of the Ice Cave.
[What is funny, is that I think my mother keeps their house really cold.]

They also complain about having their picture taken.

But they don’t have the focus to keep paying attention to me.

I think the shopping has been completed, so we can all relax and spend some time together now. Weather permitting we may try and walk for some Christmas treats (Larson Bros. Bakery)

Christmas Tree 2011

Carl worked Monday-Wednesday, with a smidgen on Thursday.
Jay worked all week, but short days for the last few.

Today’s highlight was buying the Christmas ham.
Honeybaked Ham that is.

In our fair metropolitan area that means going to the Bellevue store, figuring out how to get into a parking spot while surrounded by many other cars and people intent on the same task. The store is in a small storefront surrounded by very expensive car dealers, a ski tune-up store, and something else. There is a US Bank close by, with a tow truck at the ready.

The line was not too long today, probably 40 minutes in all.
But it will be worth it. Met a nice woman from New York City (originally – been here for 25 years). The line is always a good place to make at least one acquaintance. I should have been keeping track over all these years. It might make a good story if they were all pieced together.

Taste of India for dinner.
Only 9 o’clock and both kids are out.
I think this has more to do with Eastern time zone than our running them ragged.

And the holiday isn’t really here yet.
But we have done a few distinctly holiday events.

• Wrapping presents
• Sending packages
• 1st visit to Candy Cane Lane (in the car, with the slow procession)
• Watched Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol
• Put up the tree (lights only at this point)

We also spent the last few days hanging out with Eugene friends.
This got us out to the Space Needle, EMP (Experience Music Project), Archie McPhees, and general hanging about.

There is still house stuff to get done before the kids arrive home.
Ashlan sent a few shots of Christmas in NYC.

Rey called from Michigan where he is hanging with family following a wedding of friends.

In a few days they will all be home, and things will get even wilder, or maybe quieter.

I don’t have much interesting to say, but yesterday had a great sunrise.
I was not driving, so I was able to take a few pictures.
There was also a great sunset, but I missed the picture from the office, and by the time I was on the road, the sun was long since down.

Rey was telling me of rain in Tennessee, and I commented on how dry we were – just a lot of fog.
Of course, Rey had to point out the oxymoron that I was for making that statement with a straight face.
This winter (December) has been amazingly dry.
As in, not raining.

Without the clouds that hold the rain our short days have not seemed quite as short as normal. Most years by now it is dark on arrival and work and dark when leaving, and frequently dark much of the day. I have to admit, I am OK with this pattern.

I did drive today, but no great sunrise, so I was not tempted to find the phone for a picture.

(Until 8 or so)
After that it was pedal to the metal.
That is to say we started working, and kept at it.

The busy time actually started the night before.
We got together with a few friends and walked around Green Lake.
This was the special night where they (volunteers) put luminaires around the entire lake.
They were expecting 10,000 folks. (So I hear.)
There were many, many folks. The not raining always helps, and it was a fairly dry night.

Then it was out to dinner at a sort-of new restaurant. (The Olympic)
I had never been to the restaurant, even though it is just a few blocks away.
In fact, it had to be rebuilt after a fire.
As it turns out, I had been to its sister restaurant (The Olympic II)several times, most frequently as part of pizza parties at the end of soccer seasons.
I had a lamb shank with delectable potatoes, lemon chicken soup and a salad. Carl had greek lasagna (with spinach), there were a few pizzas and another lasagna to round out the repast.
This ended with our friends presenting Carl with an unexpected “gift”. Payment for the daycare he had provided earlier. He knew about the delayed payment, but we had both forgotten about it. A nice surprise.

So after getting out of the warmth of bed, Carl buckled down to complete the final for his computer class. I am not sure he is literate (computer), but he has come an amazing way from the start of the semester.

I buckled down to the task of wrapping presents, especially those that must head east.

Finally it was time.
Time to face – THE MALL.
And we were off. (In the car for the first time this weekend)

We went late afternoon on a Sunday, so we hoped that most shoppers would be tired out from the weekend, and kids would be demanding dinner. The mall was not empty, but it was not over-crowded either. We traipsed from end-to-end on our journey, and in the end found what we had gone for.

Then it was home to drop our prizes, and off to the Green Lake School Christmas Tree lot.
We had about 45 minutes to spare before their posted closing time.
We did OK. Not quite a Charlie Brown tree. And a wreath to boot.
There have been years when we picked from the last 6 trees on the lot. In fact, they were not on the “lot” anymore, but propped against the fence for anyone to take. Carl, however, went inside the school and made a donation to the PTA.

The tree has been installed in the stand, but I think that is as far as it will get tonight. (Water has been added.)

So all in all it has been a busy, but basically productive day.
That said, there were so many things on my weekend to-do list that did not get touched.

As I was driving home tonight I had some time to observe my surroundings.
I left late enough that traffic was light.
It was also late enough that I had to scrape ice off of the windshield to drive.

They have put in several informational signs along the freeway.
Tonight’s offering was, “DUI Patrols Tonight.”
As I was driving under the sign a State Police car passed by.
About a minute later I caught up to the State Police, with a paying customer on the side of the road.

Continuing along the freeway I came to the I-90 floating bridge.
As I was heading west on the bridge, a parade of Christmas Ships was heading east.
My first sighting of the season.
I would have taken a picture, but my phone was stowed, and it would have been illegal to find it and use it – and there were those extra patrols around.

When I got home I found that Carl has started the decorating in earnest.

Mantle - 2011

Today started with no telephones!
After determining the phone issues were handled by others, I settled in to work uninterupted, at least not by folks from outside of the office.

Phone outages are actually pretty serious, and at least we did not have any emergencies. Reception managed to get calls forwarded to a cell phone. Of course that meant, “I will take a message, and we will call back when we can.” The phones were fixed mid- afternoon, and life resumed.

In addition, our primary Xmas treat provider brought in thee platters of goodies. I managed to avoid them all day. Here is a picture of one of his creations. It is not reallya good example, as most of his treats are home-made, not home-put-together.

Chocolate laden sleighs

Work is over for the day.
Not too bad as workdays go.
Of course, most of what I worked on was not on my radar when I arrived at work. But a bit was. Plus there were a few letters that I had been sorely remiss in getting out the door, that went out today.

Question: why do I blog about work so much?
Answer: because I have no life.
Wait, strike that. Carl probably thinks we do.
Perhaps it is because I have been blogging on the drive home from work, and it is still front and center of my mind.
(Also the reason for limited formatting and pictures.)
((And for the occasional Jerome.))