Raincharm’s Weblog

I mostly worked this weekend. Next week is a short week, and there are too many meetings to meet my next deadline. And so it goes. Although some was of the creative sort. How to make a presentation about technical information interesting enough so nobody falls asleep.

We did get out for a walk on Saturday. Through the farmer’s market for squash, squash, and garlic. Then on to the Burke Museum to check out the progress on the Tufts-Love T-Rex skull exposure. (They reported they even found some of the tiny inner ear bones.)

Right side

Left side

Close up right side

Left side lower jaw (moved away from the skull)

We dawdled among the football game crowd heading across campus, and finally headed home by way of Trader Joe’s. (Beans, ground turkey, peppers and pears)

Only Carl managed 10,000 steps on Sunday. But I did start our experiment in growing garlic.

We also got our soccer fix, watching several International games broadcast in Spanish. I’m surprised at the amount I understand, although I am sure I miss more than I get, and the nuances.

Carl did more grocery shopping, trying to find bits and pieces for Thanksgiving. He did not find a standalone turkey breast. But he did find a sort of half turkey thing. We’ll see what it really is on Thursday.

Everyone fights their own battles. Two videos showed up in my inbox this morning, and made me think.

Some are rather like Don Quixote, tilting at windmills. Or large trees.

Others impact the very lives of many. The second was showing several strike teams from local fire departments deploying to the California wildfires. It will take them 2 days just to get there, and then they will stay for 1 or 2 weeks.

I remember many years ago following a wind storm, I saw a line of power company trucks from British Columbia arriving. We had been without power at work for 5 days. I was ready to get out and cheer for them.

I joked about taking a picture of the computer for this blog, because I spent a lot of time pecking away at editing chapter 8 today. It needed to be done.

We did take a break to walk to the grocery store and back. Lamb burgers for dinner, along with roasted vegetables. I truly appreciate Carl’s cooking, particularly when my focus is elsewhere.

Carl has noticed a crow activity this year. They put potential food, like acorns, in the road, and then wait for cars to drive through and crack the nuts open. We walked by a murder (of crows) harvesting the street next to the grocery store.

It was not really warm, but it was sunny. Time for a walk.

During the first mile I concentrated on finding the sunny side of the street. After some discussion we settled on Gas Works Park as our destination.

The quick route suggests 2 miles. Our route was not direct, closer to 2.5 or 3 miles one way.

Looking east, to the I-5 Ship Canal Bridge. See the vehicles on top.

Looking west to the Aurora Bridge

Gas Works

Tall gas giants

Short gassy giants

House boat village.

Origami cranes at the peace Park

An enjoyable way to spend some time outside. Definitely better than weeding.

The potential for a rainy day is diminished but not erased.

The photo above was taken crossing the 520 bridge this morning. The westbound lanes of the bridge are going to be closed over the weekend so they can replace lightbulbs. Almost 2000 bulbs if I recall correctly. There is a walking path on the bridge, along the westbound lanes. I am plotting a walk, if the weather holds. Keeping the cars that much further away will enhance the experience I think.

Yes, I need to weed. But I would rather walk.

And now a view of the clouds approaching the ground, actually the water.

Just a few notes.

This is our current batch of items for the food bank. Not much to eat unless you’re a baby. What do others give?

It’s blood draw day. I never asked Carl if the phlebotomist was dressed as a vampire last week.

Slight kerfuffle at work yesterday. A contractor on a job unknown to my office, without calling for locates (call before you dig). He either hit or removed the dirt providing the stability for the main. The result was about 500,000 gallons of drinking water suddenly changing into surface water. Our first clue was from customers calling with low pressure or no water at all. When it had been found and isolated, the number of impacted customers was reduced to 5. They all had service by the end of the day, but the problem is not really fixed. The final fix is still to be identified. I wonder whether we will charge the contractor for the lost water?

If you haven’t already, do it now.

Tomorrow will be too late.

I was energized this morning on the drive in when the a progressive, independent radio station I tend to listen to, http://www.kexp.org, played He Got Game, by Public Enemy. Not that I listen to alot of Public Enemy, but it was just right for me this morning. You can stream KEXP on your computer, including listening to past sessions. If you don’t like what you hear, wait for the next show.

Despite the less than ideal conditions and looming darkness, we set out on a walk. Organic chicken deal at PCC and a hankering for delicatta squash set the far point for a there and back jaunt.

Carl paid for and I carried our groceries on the trek home. We spotted our neighbor dining out at a second floor restaurant. (We actually spotted her dog first, tethered outside the door.)

The Sunlight Cafe has moved a block west, leaving this picture. Reminiscent of a certain painting.

As we neared home Carl suggested some pesto naan would go well with the chicken. So he headed home to cook while I stopped into Taste of India to get the naan. Busy, busy establishment. And there, at a table next to the cash register were our across the street neighbors! Good thing too, as Carl had all the money. I was able to borrow a ten spot.

These dealings confused the maitre d. Was I eating in or carrying out? Did they need another chair? I was saved some embarrassment, got a complimentary Chai tea as I waited, and they got paid back by Carl, just after our order was up. (I texted him the dilemma. )

I do enjoy our current set of neighbors!

This morning was relatively dry, and a bit sunny, so we set out on an early walk. Up to Maple Leaf

and stopped by Safeway on our way home. Lettuce and fruit to haul for the last mile.

And ran into yet another set of neighbors walking their dog Milo. This reminded me of The Phantom Tollbooth, a favorite book when I was younger. But I think Milo was the boy, and the dog was Tock.

Finally home after ~4 miles, I used the last of my morning energy to pull all of the hoses under the house, and pick the last of the tomatoes. They are not ripe, we’ll have to see how the second crop turns out. Oh, and a zucchini that was hiding. I’m not sure whether it is edible.

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.