Raincharm’s Weblog

This is Seattle.

See the Space Needle. That’s how you can tell.

Or the low hanging grey skies.

Tis the season for SAD lights and rain coats. Starting tomorrow we will be leaving work in the dark. For the next several months. Still more than a month away from the shortest day of the year, the need for headlights has been in effect for some time. Sunset tonight is at 5:48 PM. Tomorrow it will be at 4:47 PM.

I have been enjoying the colorful cranes. My favorite last week had purple, green and yellow sections. Blue is the most popular color. And many of the buildings with colorful lighting are going all blue this weekend in honor of Paul Allen. He’s had a huge impact on this area, and blue (Seahawk Blue) was his favorite color.

Speaking of colorful, Carl put together this colorful lunch.

I had in mind to take a walk, even in the rain. After a trip to play Costco bumper carts I am nice and snug, and not sure I want to venture out again.

Carl was the main man yesterday. He did some decorating on the front porch.

The pumpkin barely made it through the evening without collapsing into itself.

Then he decorated himself.

Mr. Rainbow, including his superhero cape, “rainbow power, infused with tylenol. ”

When picking up Dean from preschool, Carl explained the genesis of the cape to another parent/caregiver, and Pooh’s handiness with a needle. At first they were a bit horrified, but then saw the humor.

Mr. Rainbow is also his attempt to share my last name, or at least get close. Rainbow, rain stripe, something with rain. And thankfully the rain held off until after the neighborhood kids made their rounds.

There were the normal few shy kids, those that fully understood the concept of candy, and at least one who was totally engaged with our 25+ year old ghost who howls when you clap your hands, or close the door hard, or drive a big truck down the street.

And the leftover snickers and reese’s peanut butter cups will be heading to the work candy bowl.

The day after.

Carl said he was slug-like until later in the day.

I was alternately focused and scattered. This was my desk at the end of the work day. I had hoped it would all be back in its file, but no. It is now tomorrow’s morning chore.

Spaghetti and meatballs, salad, french bread and Tillamook ice cream sandwiches for dessert.

I will call this game, the game of the cat.

What happened to the food that was here?

My bag

Boston 5 over Dodgers 1. Boston is the World Series champion in 5 games.

The best part of the final game was the final out. Machado, the villain of the series, struck out swinging, down to one knee.

It has been a long season, but it’s time for the off season. (Otherwise known as the Holiday season.)

Picture from Jae C. Hong/Associated Press

Full house tonight. The game only went half as long as yesterday’s game. At least half the number of innings. The game today was 3 hours 57 minutes, a bit more than half of yesterday’s 7 hours and 20 minutes. The Red Sox won tonight. I think the Dodger relievers were tired. All 6 of them pitched yesterday too.

The food was great tonight. Brisket, cole slaw and roasted vegetables with a pumpkin pie chaser.

Tomorrow could be the last game.

Between game 2 and 3, there was work. And some movies. Taking advantage of the baseball pause, I watched the end of Dracula with Bela Lugosi, followed by The Mummy with Boris Karloff, and finally Snow White: A Tale of Terror with Sigourney Weaver. I had not seen any of these and they were my style of horror film. Not dependent on over-the-top blood and gore.

Game 3 saw a slightly smaller gathering. Food included a stir fry with sausage and shrimp. In case you don’t know, the game went a bit long.

Jim departed after 13 or 14 innings, so he could work on food for Game 4. Doug texted at some point to find out how the Dodgers scored their second run in the 13th, because he had fallen asleep after returning home from watching the earlier innings in a bar. I went to bed in the 15th. (I was essentially sleeping in a chair, and it was well past 11 PM.) Carl and Kevin lasted all 18 innings. The losing pitcher threw 97 pitches, and won’t be starting today’s game.

The article was on the back page of the sports section. I suppose that was easier for the editors to manage. Looking forward to see how the teams perform tonight.

The day started early.

And is ending later.

In between there was work, tests, lab reports and the weekly prescription dose tweaks.

Followed by some baseball. Chili and salad for dinner. Good food and a reasonably good game as well.

The house entertainment was provided by Violet. She brings toys to her human to play.

Back to work.

And then baseball. A house fluctuating between 6 and 8 friends watching slightly tape-delayed.

Carl spent some time decorating the house.

Tools of the baseball trade and the skeletons are playing catch. Okay, so only one is really visible.

Our personal bookstore display.

And of course, food. Deep dish pizza, salad and a few more bits and pieces. Followed by a birthday cream puff to share.

And game 1 goes to Boston.

Our time in Colorado is drawing to a close. We did score 35 extra minutes with a flight delay. This morning we were able to get some breakfast and see Bob one more time before boarding the shuttle bus for DIA (now DEN).

Having Carl fly first class means we checked our bags. He could have left me for the premium security line, but the security location we chose, bridge security, had basically no line at all. And we made some money.

These coins were left in the tray for putting shoes, computers and loose change through security.

We thought we saw a toonie, but no luck. I think we have about $0.77 in Hungarian Forints (a 200 forint and a 20 forint coin), and another $0.77 in a 5 Kuna from Croatia. A toonie is currently worth about $1.56 US, so our 3 coins are worth almost the same. (But not as easy to use.)

The dry brown of Colorado fall.

We replaced the dry brown with the damp grey of fog. The reason for the flight delay and the cooler feel of temperatures that were really not that different.

Home again and ready for bed.

The brunch bunch. Yes, there was bacon.

We had one errand today, to return a car. And we needed to work off brunch. Put it all together and we ended up with a one-way delivery followed by a 3 mile walk back. It was a lovely day, but the altitude gave the walk a longer feel.

So we met for a light dinner.

Oh, and also a celebration.

Birthday buddy 1 – Bob

Birthday buddy 2 – Jay

Birthday pie – yes, that’s a 91

I also got coffee in bed. A foodelish sort of day.