Raincharm’s Weblog

First of all – I blame the coffee. Unusual for a Seattleite, but I had coffee too far into the day yesterday, so I stayed up late, so I got up late. But I do not shut off my alarm on the weekend. [too worried I won’t remember to turn it back on] I just listen to the radio on those Saturday and Sunday afternoons, or turn it off. The radio is tuned to the local NPR station.

This morning as I sort of woke up, they were talking about the UP! (Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I really forget it is not a common acronym when you get far away from Michigan.) Even wanting to listen did not completely wake me up, and they would go to the news or other bits occasionally. So when I finally woke up for real, I went to the computer and spent the better part of an hour listening to all of the segments. It is focused on the Marquette area folks.

For those that loved the movie Fargo for the accents, check these out, you won’t be disappointed, and they are real.

One of the segments is on pasties and specifically on the Lawry Pasties.
Quick story. In about 1980 I had a used 1976 Mustang that I drove from Colorado to the cabin (in the UP) for a summer vacation. Somewhere in Nebraska (I think) I got some bad gas. On the trip out in various backwaters we had the fuel filter and fuel pump changed out (2 different stops). Going up a hill the car would lose power and sputter. This seemed to do the trick. That is until the trip home started. As soon as we were on a hill of any kind it would start to lose power again. I pulled over to a corner store in Ishpeming, and the kind kid (with the strongest accent I have ever heard) told me there was a Ford dealership in Marquette. Glancing at the Colorado plate he then told me where Marquette was located. The Marquette dealership was kind enough to squeeze us in to their schedule, that is after a drive around the city in which a butterfly kamakazied on my arm out the window, and the car finally lost power for the mechanic.

So – my friend and I are waiting in the dealer’s showroom, and decided to have lunch. As luck would have it, my father had purchased pasties from Marie’s (I think) in the Soo the day before, heated them up in the morning and wrapped them in newspaper to keep them warm for our trip. When we unwrapped them and the smell filled the room, several workers popped out of their offices and asked if we had bought them at Laurie’s. (My mind spelling, which I now realize would be Lawry’s.)

For the autophiles, the problem was finally located in the gas filter directly at the fuel tank, which they replaced. No further problems with loss of power until we almost ran out of gas in South Dakota. Their work had apparently knocked the gas gauge a bit out of whack, so it did not appear at E when in fact it was. Just a short run down the exit ramp after push starting the car with my friend in the driver’s seat, and coasting into the gas station.

I have  been rather lazy with posting lately, so will try to summarize the last few days.

Wednesday-Thursday: Don’t really remember too much unique about these days. Work, drive, eat, talk. Did do some additional work in the backyard. Two trees came down last year. Now 90% of the grass has been taken up. (It wasn’t really grass, it was a mixture of moss, weeds and a smattering of grass.) What we (good friend Doug mostly) have discovered, is that the roots of the large tree now gone are very, very close to the surface. To reinvigorate the soil with amendments and roto tilling really requires getting these roots out. They are also big. They have been exposed, but getting them out is a different matter entirely. I may call the tree guy to see if his stump grinder can take care of them as well. I would like to get the new lawn installed before the winter rains hit. The edge planting areas can wait, but a winter to establish roots would be good. My good growing friend at work says at this point in the season we should be thinking sod not seed. It will soon be too cold for the seed to really take and we would just have to repeat in the spring.

Friday: Blood sucking – twice. Two studies, completely separate. They both want blood draws, and I did schedule them sort of back to back to minimize time away from work. The first is for the long term aging/memory study that I have been in for 10 years roughly. I give blood fairly regularly and go to the North Seattle center or a church near work. This study draw was at the downtown Puget Sound Blood Center. Even though it was only a small draw they said I could have coffee, drinks, snacks afterwards (they had asked me to not eat or drink other than water before the draw). Since I had more than an hour before my next appointment, I went to their sitting area. They have a machine that grinds and brews Starbucks coffee by the cup. It was excellent. I may have to change my donation site.
The second draw was for a new study – for the H1N1 vaccine. If I pass this initial screening I will be given the vaccine, or rather one of 5 levels of the vaccine. I will find out on Monday probably.
Took a walk in the evening to the Wallingford Wurst festival. Carl enjoyed a white wurst with sauerkraut. We had sausage at work earlier, so I just enjoyed the crowd and ambiance. This festival is a fundraiser for a local catholic school. One of Carl’s kids is going to preschool there this year. It is a favorite of mine, not only for the food but for the truly local draw and effort.

Today: Planning to take a walk. To another annual local food event, the St. Demetrios Greek Festival. This is a longer walk, and we usually drive. But it is sunny today and a long walk will be a good way to balance the food intake. Walk is done, about 5.5 miles total, modest length. [But the last mile is all uphill, so tired legs at the end.] Midpoint food report. Gyros (mmmm), Spanakopita (spinach & cheese in phillo pastry), Tiropita (feta cheese baked in phillo pastry, Loukoumathes (fried pastry with honey & cinnamon)[Carl called these Elephant ba**s, instead of Elephant Ears], and Greek coffee.

Oh – Rey, hope you are feeling better.
Ashlan – hope school is going well. And here is a comic you should really enjoy given this summer (look for 9/26/09 if it comes up with a different date)

I don’t know how far away from technical summer it has to be to be an Indian Summer, but today would certainly qualify. I, the cold one, took a walk after getting home late from work, stopped for dinner at a Mexican restaurant (Taco’s Guayamos I think), and walked home – in a short sleeved shirt and shorts. Half of the walk was after the sun had set. And without real benefit of hot flashes I only had one flash of, “it’s getting colder”.

Extreme hecticness as work, muscles still recovering from soccer sunday, time for bed.

Summer is not over yet, so we got another summery day today.
Had a soccer game at 9:15 this AM, and it was sunny throughout. No need to worry about long pants and sweatshirts.
Then on to the Mariners/Yankees game. Sunny there too, after the sun got high enough to get over the building shield. About the first inning. Luckily I still had my blanket in my backpack to help me through to the sun.

Last night – Yankees win – wearing bluejeans, t-shirt, fleece jacket, rain jacket, hat and blanket.
This afternoon – Mariners WIN! – wearing shorts, t-shirt and hat. Blanket went bye-bye as soon as the shadow left.

TIRED! All this being outdoors is great, but I seem to get more tired. (Of course it could be 90 minutes of soccer with no substitutions. After a summer of lots of walking but really no running.)

The last few posts have been about doing nice things, for others.
I was picturing in my mind the small things we do for one or a few others.
Last night Ichiro made 28,935 people happy in a matter of a few seconds.
Walk off home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth.
First pitch – GONE. [capital letters because there was no doubt about it from the moment it left the bat.]

Probably not all 28, 935 people were happy. Some had left already, so we don’t know.
And the Yankees always draw a few fans that are draped in their regalia. (front runners)
But the cheer was louder than any cheer from earlier in the game.

And the Tennessee Smokies won their game too, in the bottom of the ninth, to stay alive in their Championship Series.
Rey’s boss had said they can lose money in post-season games due to lower attendance. School has started, a little cooler, tourists have gone home. They are helping their cause with today’s game by showing the Tennessee football game against Florida on their big-screen before the game. Good idea!

Time to work on some “home arithmetic”. That’s what my Dad always called it. I have been remiss since coming back from vacation, so this could take a little longer than usual to gather and balance.

To explain the previous post a bit more.

One of the things they tell you at the end of the Breast Cancer 3-Day walk is that you will experience a let down. A day or two later you will probably feel depressed.

I think I agree. This year I noticed it in myself, in hindsight of course. I blew up at everybody at once after arriving at the cabin. It was over a matter of garbage sorting, a subject dear to my heart. (No – really – it is.) At least I didn’t take the time to focus on one or two unlucky souls, I gave it to everyone. They could then bond over the figuring out what just flew at them.

After Seattle’s event I was just generally grumpy and sullen for a few days. I hope those around me get over it. I have.

I think the reason for the downward trend is the incredible level of support that is provided on the 3-Day. There is a real, common, important goal and a group focus. The petty items that pick at you day in and day out seem to disappear. Then it is back to reality. As they always say in the closing, “No one is going to cheer for you when you cross the street Monday morning.”

For me, the nice thing about being an eternal optimist is that it is hard to stay down for long.

Today is a good day to do something nice for somebody else.
Anything.
It doesn’t have to be big or expensive (although it could be).
It should come from the heart – meaning you mean it, that it is heartfelt or sincere.
Think about the nice words that you throw out everyday as a habit.
Then act accordingly.

Don’t ask why I am suggesting this. It has not been some sort of epiphany, and I am sure not everybody has been happy with what I have told them today. But I have tried to be reasonable when delivering my thoughts, and where we can be flexible to help somebody out – we have been flexible.

Smile if you can, and have a great day! 
Your local optimist.

I know, it was never really gone.
Carl & Ashlan went to many games while we were on vacation.
I even went to three minor league games while visiting Rey.

But the last two evenings were spent in Safeco. And it felt like we were back together.
Yesterday we got to visit with my Bro-in-Law Mark. It helped make the loss bearable.
And there was a home run by Griffey just over our right shoulders.

Today Carl & I sat near 1st base, again low down.
Fun and good for a different viewpoint.
And we got to watch a home fun (first home run for Carp) land just about where Griffey’s did the night before.
Our friend Mark almost got the ball. The guys that did got a signed bat, 4 hats and 4 jerseys I think.

And one thing we saw better from 1st base was the big screen.
Ashlan – there is no yellow, only Orange – which was the winner.
Just thought you should know.

Oh – and the Mariners won tonight.
Carl get’s to go tomorrow with 2 adult friends and 3 small friends.
I, of course, will be working.

Some say it is football season,  but no – it is still baseball season!
[And soccer season too]

There have been more than a few times today when I suddenly felt that if I had a comfy spot to lay down, I would fall asleep. (Of course the first time was just after I had got myself up out of a comfy spot to get dressed.) And since I have plans to hang with a brother-in-law tomorrow night at a ballgame and want to have some energy, it is time to find that comfy spot again.

Actually I assumed there are 2600 tired people.

Thursday I got up at some really early hour to take a friend to the airport.
Friday I got up at 3 to get to the 3-Day to start work at 4 AM, last bit of work at 9 PM  – shower around 9:30 PM, bed in tent followed.
Saturday I got up at 3:30 to get to work on the 3-Day at 4 AM – finished work at 10:30 PM – no shower, bed in tent followed.
Sunday I got up at 3:30 to get to work on the 3-Day at 4 AM – finished work around noon. Walkers finished between noon and 3:30. Closing ceremony at 4:30. Dinner out (Halibut cakes – ummmmmmmmm).

Time for a shower and bed (almost 8 PM).

Funniest bit that shows how tired I was this morning.
Packed up my stuff and put it on the gear truck around 5 AM.
Carl to pick it up at closing, goes to the Y truck (I was tent site Y72).
Can’t find it and calls me, worried.
Then I remember the gear truck person asking me if I was H or I.
I said, “H” and gave them my bag.
None of us looked at the tag that said Y72.
Luckily I actually remembered that brief exchange when Carl called.
H was my row of tents during the Michigan 3-Day Walk about 1 month ago.

Well, I thought it was funny, but then I am sleep deprived.