Raincharm’s Weblog

Three day weekend with summer like weather. What’s a person to do? Walk, of course.

After spending the morning on errands, we set out with a plan to explore the wetlands next to the UW sports facilities.  Our trip started with a two-block walk to a bus stop.

Once at the UW stadium area, we scoped out the tailgating for the game later that evening. It was fairly quiet, but hours til kickoff. Don’t want to peak too early.  Veering west, we got away from the cars and next to the water.

Onto trails with occasional water views. Lots of waterfowl and very pleasant surroundings. Except it was HOT.

So are nettles and blackberry thorns!

As we departed the wetlands I was really feeling the heat and needed water. I wasn’t too concerned as the Center for Urban Horticulture loomed ahead. Just our luck, it was reserved for a wedding, and no, they had no water to spare.

A kind Samaritan who was parking only 5 hours before the start of the Huskies season-opening football game shared a sip from their water bottle. (Who starts a football game at 8 PM? Especially when the west-coast fans who may still be up to watch are blocked by a Comcast vs Big Ten Network fued.) That sip was enough to get us to a Burgermaster and a Vitamin Water XXX. I don’t really know what I expected, but it was too sweet for a repeat try. It did get us a good-sized cup that we filled with tap water several times and took with us as we trekked onwards.

Next stop was a brewery where a food truck serving, “the best egg sandwiches,” was supposed to be, serving. However, it turns out they were the morning truck, and the taco truck was just getting set up. Since we were there, Carl had a beer. And then we had some tacos, and another beer.

We finally decided it was time for the uphill hike home. (Transit opportunities did exist, but with two transfers.) So we set off.

Did I mention it was uphill? This stretch is steep enough that they put ridges in the sidewalk. All total, about 13,000 steps and temperatures in the 80s.

Sunday, we learned our lesson and left in the morning while it was still in the 60s. Our walk was also on generally level terrain. Around Green Lake and into a few neighborhoods. And, continuing the prior days’ example, we stopped at a neighborhood joint for sustenance. Coffee instead of beer and scrambles instead of tacos.

I don’t know that I have ever been able to capture a spider web so perfectly.

Arriving home, 10,000 steps later, next to our front door. Temperature around 75. Home, sweet home.

Monday, technically part of the holiday weekend, our walk only garnered somewhere over 5,000 steps. And no food, except what we picked up at the grocery store.

Back to work tomorrow, but a nice weekend.

WALKS BETWEEN THE RAINDROPS

It has been fairly dry over the last several weeks. I know because watering the tomato plants is one of the almost daily chores. The raspberries and strawberries are done for the year.

Last night, we had planned to go to Movies at the Tower in the Seattle Maple Leaf neighborhood. The tower is a water tower, and this is either the 2nd or 3rd highest spot in Seattle. Hence the water tower.

The site also houses a 60 million gallon underground reservoir. But the movies take place in the lower portion of the park where the little league fields are located.

Maple Leaf Park is probably 1.5 miles from our house. A good walk, although it is an uphill incline the entire way. It is also on the bus line if we are tired.

The movie last night was Barbie, scheduled to start at dusk. Our plan was to walk up, enjoy the show, and bus home.

When the time to leave arrived, we bailed. Tired, plus the potential of rain later.

As it turns out, we made a good decision.  The Facebook group for Movies at the Tower posted this morning that they weren’t able to finish the movie.

This was not a typical Seattle rain storm. It had thunder, lightning, and drenching rain. The light show went on for several hours.

Today dawned damp, but sunny.

Eventually, we got out for a walk. Down to Lake Union. Really, the waterway between Lake Union and the Montlake Cut.

And then the long incline home. It was good to get out and about. Once home it was trash and recycle duty.

And then, the wind picked up and the rain came down. For a few minutes. Much more Seattle.

We are in our 3rd day away from Seattle. Fort Collins, Colorado this time. Here for our sister-in-law’s memorial.

Our contribution was getting things ready, set up, and teardown. That and, of course, commiserating with others, at least those we knew. It’s been 40 years since we lived here, and Jeanne was involved with a lot of people we never knew. What was fun was meeting and hearing friends from her high school days.

It was good to reconnect and spend some time with Carl’s brother (Jeanne’s husband) and his significant others. I think we will be back in a year to visit again. Hopefully, it will be driving instead of flying next time.

I do now remember how nice it was to live at altitude and visit sea level. Visiting altitude from sea level has meant early bedtimes. And just as we are starting to feel normal, it’s time to return to sea level.

Our house has vinyl siding. It’s relatively hideous, but replacement would be hideously expensive. As far as we can surmise from various projects, it covers asbestos laden shingles, which, in turn, cover cedar siding. Bits and pieces of these layers were uncovered on the back of the house during the 2016 kitchen remodel. As owner, I was in charge of asbestos removal and abatement.

The north side siding never sees the sun. 20 years of not cleaning the siding, especially in the areas behind bushes, allowed a certain level of dirt, grime, and moss to grow.

Today was the day the cleaning was initiated. A simple mixture of castile soap and water, sponges, and some elbow grease. There is still some staining, but the improvement was quite visible.

Maybe a light bleach for the staining.

What I didn’t look at was the higher elevations … If it requires ladder work it will be Jay’s Cleaning Service.

I was reading after I got into bed last night. Bedtime is the only regular reading time in my life right now. Sometimes, it only lasts for a few minutes, and other times, it can go for more than an hour. And then there are the nights when I could just keep on reading well past the time when I can get a reasonable number of hours of sleep. Carl will often chide me for staying up to late. Guaranteeing a tired tomorrow.

The latter is usually near the end of a book. Last night, I almost succumbed to that temptation. I am reading The Wager. The story starts with a group of characters all together, and near the conclusion, a small number are coming back together after having splintered into three groups during the course of the story. Who’s tale will be accepted is the crux of the ending.

But I decided to hold off on finishing the book. Probably only until tonight.

As I was getting ready to turn off the light I glanced past the foot of the bed …

On my way to the Mariners game. It was pouring. To the point I took the bus for part of the 1/4 mile walk to the light rail station. I was still wet when I finally sat down on the train.

It was just raining during the walk from the train to the station. I had my rain jacket on, so was able to go down to the drier jacket underneath for the game. The stadium roof was closed. But my pants were damp. All the way through the game, and still when we got home.

The good part was that the Mariners won, again, sweeping the Angels. And now our family can return to our regular schedule.

Our yard in the wet spring. Weeds, moss, mushrooms, and a little grass.

Mariners to start, but not until 4:15. We made it through 6 innings before it was time to depart for game 2, Ballard FC.

The morning was spent doing the family arithmetic  and playing a few games on my phone. Lunch and then launch for the light rail.

Mariners vs. The Angels. A good crowd. It started with the roof open, but it closed around the 3rd. I’m not sure if it rained or not, but there were definitely clouds.

When the game started, we thought we might be able to watch most of the game, but the Angels pitchers insisted on throwing lots of pitches, and the game was meandering through the afternoon.  Not that we’re complaining, the Ms scored one early, and then JP Crawford hit a grand slam.  With a 5-0 lead, we left feeling that the game was safe. While walking to the light rail we heard the crowd roar as the Ms scored again.

Light rail to the monorail to the Seattle Center for game 2. Time enough to get some yummy steamed Nepalese chicken dumplings before the game started.

I was expecting it tight game as Ballard FC’s opponent, West Seattle, was also undefeated. It did start out with intense action back and forth, but was 3-0 in Ballard’s favor at halftime. After they improved to 4-0 in the second half we decided we could leave to get home a bit earlier.

Back to the monorail. Fun time as Carl explained to a family that they could ask the driver if the 6-year old or so could honk the horn. And they did.

On to the light rail, which was pretty crowded. Mostly young Ms fans. I guess it was a Saturday night, and they didn’t just go home after the game ended.

And the walk home.

Ready for bed.

I see strawberries that are surprisingly all over the place.

And that I really need to weed.

I have done my good deed for the day, and it’s not even 8:30.

Working from home today, and I have a peek-a-boo view through the bushes to the sidewalk. I noticed a young girl in a tutu on our parking strip. She was looking at the street, and I didn’t see an adult, but kids often run ahead. She continued down the sidewalk, and I asked Carl to look for an adult.

Carl stepped outside and did not see an adult. She was headed toward the busy road end of our block. Carl was barefoot, but I had slippers on, so I took off down the block. Thank goodness she just stopped at the end of the block and didn’t try to cross the street.

When I reached her I told her my name and asked hers. Her mother was taking her brother to his school and then would meet her? She said she was 6, and she didn’t live on our block. Another woman who was walking up the street did stop and listened to our conversation. Brooke was underdressed for our 50-degree weather, and I think it was clear this was not a normal situation.

I asked her where she was supposed to meet her Mom. When she pointed back down the block, I suggested we go there, and she took off at a 6-year old run. I followed at a 60+-year old jog. Carl appeared in sandals as we passed our house, and I asked him to get a phone. We stopped at the corner of the block, and I was trying to figure out the next move.

Brooke indicated the next two turns to the “meeting place,” which I suspect is her house. Carl arrived with the phone and put his vest over Brooke’s shoulders. She didn’t know her mother’s phone number, and I was trying to figure out whether to follow her lead further or call 911 or both.

And then her rather distraught mother pulled up. She didn’t yell but told her she shouldn’t leave the house, thanked us, and we all went home. Brooke did say it was her mother, so we didn’t hand her off to a stranger.

And now I am stuck trying to concentrate on work again.

Starting up slow again.

At the Mariner game. Hat of the day for Will Stacey. He’s our kids age, played baseball with both of them. Was killed by an IED in Afghanistan several years ago now. The R is for RUG little league.

The interesting thing happening at the ballpark today, besides the game, is there is a problem with some of the power in the stadium. Only the timers and the big screen are working. Nothing else. It is actually quite pleasant, with hardly any extra noises during the inning.

We are playing the hated Astros and currently leading 3-2, but they have a man on 2nd and 3rd with 2 outs in the 5th.

All for now.