It is raining – hard, and the wind is expected to pick up through the evening.
I plan to snuggle into a blanket, and maybe watch a little TV, or maybe even a movie.
Last night I was snuggled into a blanket doing a crossword and the phone rang.
It was for me, but just my carpooler and Carl could readily translate.
He accused me of not getting out of my Snuggie.
We don’t really have a Snuggie, but for cold folks like me, it doesn’t look as ridiculous as people make it out to be.
The last few days were absolutely fantastic.
7 of my wonderful second family came down to help me celebrate my 20th birthday properly – Stephi, Kailey, Ali, Scott, Lisi, Yeolee and Jason.
We came down on wednesday afternoon after a tiring day full of packing and moving. In my car, Ali managed to have a gargantuan nosebleed after he held his breath going through a tunnel. His nose literally started gushing blood and it took it about half an hour to fully stop. 20 of those minutes were spent at a gas station about 10 minutes from the border, and we were lucky that it finally fully stopped about a minute before we had to talk to the border guard.
That night managed to be a little less eventful, as we just ate some delicious fast food only found in Seattle (courtesy of the awe-inspiring Dick’s Drive In) and all piled onto the couch/floor of the living room to watch a movie (Stomp the Yard – also awe-inspiring, but for different reasons …).
The next day we began by heading to U-Village, because Stephi wanted to stop by Anthropologie to do some shopping, and after that we headed over to Broadway for about an hour, spending most of our time in a goofy thrift store trying on ridiculous clothing. We then headed to Ezells for the best fried chicken in Seattle, managing to get there right as my old high school (which is right across the street) was getting out for the day. After eating we headed downtown, and from there walked to Pike Place Market and lazed in the sun at the park right next to it for a few hours reading The Stranger and enjoying the fantastic view of the water. Then we headed home for a second before walking to a park near the house to throw a baseball around, enjoy the last rays of sunlight, and play on the swingset. After that came indian food at Taste of India and then an early night. Little did I know the prodding for an early night was only for the purpose of sneaking up to my room to scare me at midnight. It didn’t work, but we staged a photoshoot as though it did.
The next day was a little less crazed, including a trip to the zoo and ice cream by greenlake, and then batting practice followed by the Mariner game (which was absolutely fantastic!!!!). We managed to get 4 of my friends baseballs at batting practice, and to almost get hit by two balls that were hit out. After the game we headed to Gasworks park for the most awesome view of the Seattle skyline at night, but at around 11:45 the cops came by to tell us that the park was closed and we headed home to get some sleep so that we could get up as early as possible for the drive up to Vancouver.
It was a long couple of days, but I’m sad that it’s over, and I miss my little Vancouver family. Now I guess I’ve gotta get back to the real world and find a job…
Well, hopefully I’ll get some pictures that mom can put up, but for now I will just leave you with a completely unrelated picture that I think is absolutely wonderful. I call it “High Five Failure”
Ashlan
Thanks to my savior for the lending of the car. Returning the car was one of today’s chores goals.
The others were Ashlan returning several friends to Canada. Ashlan then returning to the US. The one friend that stayed behind from the returning to find her way downtown and hopefully back again, all while having english as not a first language (Korean=first). Getting a ticket for Monday’s Mariners game to a card store friend that has been supplying Carl’s habit for many years and is getting ready to close up shop. Getting Carl to the Mariner’s game in time for batting practice. Getting Ashlan to the Mariner’s game in time for the game.
Notice that many of these have destinations with implied travel involved.
So add to the list an 8 mile walk, bus rides, 2 lanes of I-5 closed in close proximity to our house, and it’s Opening Day of Boating Season which means they close exits and cross streets on one of the few other bridges across water in close proximity to our house.
We have traveled much, without going very far, and are weary for our efforts.
Many sights have been seen including an unsecured load flying out of a pickup (luckily the next vehicle took sane evasive action and actually picked up the offending load to return it to the driver of the pickup), speed humps, and a wedding in progress. We saw a lot more, but I am weary and the day is not done yet. Laundry from the onslaught of visitors has begun and must continue to be attacked. And now it is raining – harder than it has for much of the day.
Ashlan
Well, it has happened.
We have no more teenagers in the house.
At 10:04 PM today the blessed event occurred.
We were thinking/hoping that the Mariners would break the tie and win the game over the Oakland A’s.
It was the bottom of the 9th, game tied at 7-7. Mariners have the bases loaded with 2 out. It is 9:58. Jose Lopez steps up to the plate. 9:59 Ball 1, 10:00 Ball 2, 10:01 Strike 1 (looking), 10:02 Strike 2 (looking), 10:02 fouls one off, 10:02 fouls another one off, much walking around the mound, 10:03 foul ball 3,4,5, 10:04 foul ball, it just continues. Finally after 14 pitches at 10:08 Lopez hits a single and the MARINERS WIN!
Carl & I were sitting in our right-field seats with our friend Mark. Ashlan and 8 friends (1 from UBC but a Seattlite, and the other 7 UBC houseguests) were sitting in left field. Earlier in the game we delivered cupcakes to celebrate the event, and gave Ashlan a card with instructions to open it at 10:04. She said that she would, even if it meant opening the card as she was driving home. I was sooooo hoping the game would end right at 10:04. Saw her open the card. (Foul Ball) [The card was not really anything too special, but Ashlan thought it was going to say “Mariners Win”. It did have a few baseballs, but I was not confident enough to make that prediction.]
It was a very satisfying win, and a great last at bat. Ashlan said it was better to win the battle with a single than to time it perfectly with a walk off walk.
So – after a whole 15-20 minutes at home, Ashlan and her buddies are back out for their last night in Seattle. Looking at the nighttime skyline. They spent a good part of the day in the zoo looking at creatures, including a siamang that was checking out some ducks in his/her enclosure. Apparently 2 males were fighting over a female and trying to get with said female. The Siamang was really interested and kept following them around.
We love her and are happy that she had a good birthday with friends.
OK, yesterday was rather .. different.
Started out like most days, when I think I know what I want to work on.
Of course it rarely goes that way, but I actually did get 1 item on my work to do list out to press, and started on the second (oink, oink, oink).
Then the rest of the world intruded.
No car, 1 carpooler home sick (thank you for staying home), 2nd carpooler leaving at 2 (his normal schedule), bus possible and new bus pass may actually have money loaded, 8 people arriving in 2 shifts to spend the next 3 days in our humble abode. We don’t know who exactly is in the first shift, or exactly when they will arrive (predicted before 5 PM), with Ashlan leading the 2nd shift predicted around 7-8 PM. Carl has two young-uns at the house so somebody is home when 1st shift arrives. Said two young-uns like to get out things with lots of little pieces and are not always diligent about picking up all said little pieces. Food, towels, sheets, food, sleeping bags, food, pillows, food all need to be brought out or bought.
A shining knightprincess appears on the horizon. As I was describing my own personal travel dilemmas to a co-worker she mentioned that if I were to drive her and family to the airport in the afternoon I could have her car through Saturday. WOW. Quite an offer. The only drawback was that work item number 2 was destined to suffer due to lack of being in the office while driving said co-worker and family to the airport. Still, it seemed like the best overall solution as it would make me less dependent on the illnesses and schedules of others in this short period of many guests and too many pigs.
(Our County now has a few probably cases and due to one they closed an elementary school for a week – one Rey attended for 4 years. Guess I know what I am going to really get into today.)
This is the decision I face almost every evening.
Lately homework has been winning, and some of it is definitely homeplay. Maybe I should call it Not Work Work to be clear (“NWW”).
As usual yesterday I brought home Work. (That is Work Work (“WW”))
It is WW I really need to attend to. One deadline at noon today, and I could go short or long with it. Since I did not get it done last night it will most likely be done short, with long to follow as an add on presentation.
The long part of this report is all about the flu. When the avian flu was all the talk we started putting together a Health Advisory Plan Annex. It was not 100% complete, although many pieces were brought together that form the base. Then the birds flew further away and other seemingly more urgent plan updates arrived, implement NIMS, ICS, train everyone on that … there are only so many hours in the day and that is only the emergency focus of the jobs. It was also before I got an assistant to help out with putting together these things that I get close to completion, but not quite there.
So, home with WW, but NWW beckons as well. A walk? It is training, so good to go. Before the rains really hit a jaunt around the lake. Then the real NWW comes home to roost. Nine people are anticipated to arrive at the house sometime later today. They are expected to stay through the weekend, so time to shove the detritus of daily life to the sides, and much of it to the basement. Pay a few bills, answer a few e-mails, try to get the new bus pass in order since it is likely the car will continue to be commandeered for the next days.
Now WW must be attended to. Finish the short, get the long under control and cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough, don’t go to work if you are sick, and wash your hands so the long part is not really needed after all!
I had an opportunity this weekend to catch up with an old friend. Actually more my mother’s friend, but I consider her a friend as well. She and my mother and a few others went to college and then off on a Europe adventure together. This shows you what bonds can be formed as I think they graduated a few decades ago. (Hmmm – I graduated a few decades ago, so let’s say several decades ago.)
She lives in the same city as me, and I should visit more often. I always enjoy seeing her and it always feels a bit like going home. That said her homes never looked the same as my parents house, but once inside it just has that feel of home. The furniture is not exact, but close (50’s style). The manners and the whole sense of place, I always feel at home. Perhaps that is just the sign of a wonderful, welcoming host.
I should pay attention and learn – I would want people to feel that way in our house. My mother once commented on a gathering they had been to, that the host and hostess were so first-rate that you never felt like they were working at hosting. Something to strive for.
Next gathering coming up? Thursday when Ashlan and 8 of her closest classmates descend for a few days. My hosting functions have so far just been focused on bedding and what sort of food to lay in. Then I was planning to just get out of the way.
Where does the time go.
Ok – I basically missed Saturday, so Sunday has been an interesting mix of thinking it was still Saturday, but with Sunday schedules as well. I tried to tell Ashlan about the U-District Farmers Market (Saturday) while she was mentioning not needing to feed meters (Sunday).
Soccer Sunday was just that, in the glorious sunshine. We had substitutes – 3 of them, so for me it was much more relaxed. Ashlan and Stephi got to play their share, but I think the demands of finals week have left them a little more tired than they might have been otherwise. But that did not stop them from jetting out for ice cream and renting movies. (Ghost Town & Saved)
I actually remembered at basically the last moment that Ashlan is here today and gone tomorrow, with the car.
So – need to figure out how to get to work, basically for the entire week. I think I am going to buy my carpooler a tank of gas and see how far that gets me. I also need to stock up on bus schedules. I’ve only known this for a couple of weeks, and yet it is only on Sunday evening that I actually move to take care of things.
It’s off to the north I go.
And back down south again.
With a full car and two year 2 students that I guest are now year 3.
After saying how early they were going to bed – they are off to a movie.
Oh to be young, and relieved for a day of school or work.
Had a brief conversation with the boy today.
Today was COTTON CANDY making day.
The ball club is having some sort of big kids day this weekend and they need to lay in 500 bags of cotton candy. They accomplished 300 bags today. Rey & one of his buddies were the primary spinners, with others bagging. Apparently at some point the wind picked up and Rey was covered with cotton candy.
He also said that in addition to Merle Haggard and the Dukes of Hazard folks, they now are booking Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson and John Meloncamp as well as Trace Atkins. Unconfirmed, but sounds like quite a line-up.
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