Raincharm’s Weblog

I did not fail my exam yesterday. Nor did I pass with flying colors. It probably would have gone a bit better if the day did not start with the realization that the mapping program I use everyday and for creating maps for documents several times a week is changing. Ostensibly an improvement,  and it is faster, it does not have the same functionality. After a major panic attack,  followed by looking for the back doors for work arounds, they tell me I am a super-user and will have access to a different program with total functionality. 

They could have started with that statement and saved a headful of grey hairs. [And a much better attitude throughout the day. ] 

Play – Carl and I are going to a play tonight. We are going to make our ticketed show. We are not going to forget it due to more exciting things or be too sick to go. (Carl is recovering from a cold, but has cough drops. ) 

Crowded coffee parking lot this morning. 

Coffee is from Mercury Coffee,  next to Super Supplements (it’s my only supplement), and my coffee is from the pot at home. 

I remember when I graduated from MSU. I was so happy I would not have to take any more tests.

That ignored the EIT and PE exams, grad school, driver’s eye tests, etc. It also ignored those pesky work evaluations. 

I have one of those today. The 6-month variety. Normally I take the Inquisitor’s approach and, “Judge Thyself .” This time I have been too busy and am just going in with a hopefully open mind.

Today’s moment of eagle. Through the raindrops. 

I had a few visitors outside my window at work today. My first sighting of this year’s young ones. [Not a good shot]

It was a distraction. 

Carl has his own young wildlife at work. 

And at play.
This is the section where we normally sit. I skipped today. Blue Jay home game more or less. 

But this week, Rey takes the cake. Or the picture from his car at his work parking lot. 

As in the rain.

I almost said winter’s back, but it is about 10 degrees warmer. 50s instead of 40s.

The light sitter is one of the resident bald eagles. The closer attempt at a picture was obscured by wet window and a windshield wiper. This view is crossing Lake Washington via the 520 bridge. 

Carl is still under the weather. We made it to Safeco Field yesterday, but left before the game started. The Mariners won with a walkoff home run in the 9th inning. It was Mike Zunino’s second home run of the game. In the other game Carl missed Zunino almost hit one out of the stadium. 

Coincidence?

We may or may not be at the game tonight, depending on how Carl feels. Our neighbor is going with a friends family and Carl was hoping to be there as a guide of sorts. Last night he stayed just long enough to meet another friends friend and introduce them to our seatmate. Carl is in demand.

That said we are planning to skip Friday and Sunday games because the Blue Jay fans can be quite obnoxious  (and drunk). Carl has plans for Saturday’s game, but I am going to skip the entire weekend. 

Enough about baseball. Time for work. 

I am proud to say I am the parent of a 30-year old!

I can’t believe Rey is 30! [That means I am at least 30 years older than when I was a young brand-new parent.]

He sure was tiny.

A few more, just for good measure. First (grade), one of Ashlan’s favorites.

We had instructed him to show his teeth when he smiled.

By middle school it was a little more natural. (Note the braid. It lasted until high school graduation. 29-inches long)

Happy Birthday Rey – and remember as long as you stay in the United States time zones, your birthday will always be today.

We are back. Have been for a few days.  The final picture from Colorado is our view from our seats.

The assumption that seats would line up with windows was obviously misplaced. And with all of the variations in plane seating it should not be surprising. 

We flew Frontier. Home of cheap air fare, but pay for everything else, except your personal items under your seat. Even water. It just takes more planning,  but it did feel a bit like a cattle-car. 

We took transit back to our house. On light rail we literally bumped into a couple from Australia when the train started with a lurch. Later we were able to direct them to the correct stop to exit the train for their hotel. I really think Sound Transit could do a much better job of providing a map of the stop locations in the downtown area. I found one in the back of a full ST schedule with all of their bus and heavy rail routes. This might sound comprehensive,  but it’s not. They don’t have the local bus routes from Metro or the other county bus lines. 

Back to work for both of us, and directly into a long Mariner’s home stand. My first game back will be tonight. At work one of my associates gifted me with a bunch of mini origami stars. I think they are lovely.

We’re hanging out at the Denver airport  (DEN not DIA). We arrived several hours before our flight so we could share a shuttle and an extra hour with Rey.

He gets to take 3 flights to our one, I’m not sure who actually arrives home first.

We did get to see the mountains,  but did not get into them.

This is going to be one of those weeks when you really don’t know what day of the week it is, or even what month.  And the Mariners start an eleven game homestand tomorrow. 

More days with Bob and others. This time with Ashlan. She made it to the fun Fort about 2:30 am. This was a good result because she made the last shuttle of the “day” from the Denver airport,  despite slow deplaning, non-walking escalator riders, and long-distance tram riding. 

Sibling rivalry 

Breakfast with Steve was a hit. Baked pancakes,  hmmmm.

More families 

Having spent almost 48 hours at altitude, Ashlan left at midnight. 

This morning the remaining three headed to the big city to watch the gazillion dollar soccer game. It determines the last team that gets to move up to the Premiere League,  which includes a significant income boost for the team. 

We found a congenial bunch at the Three Lions bar about 8 am. Coffee, a little bar food and even a beer eventually. (Huddersfield Town was the winner.)

From there we made our way to Coors Field. We basked in the sun, got rained on and are now baking again. Top of the 9th, and I am not at all sure the Mariners will be able to maintain their one run lead.

Paratroopers to start the game. 

Met with a friend from the 5 years in Colorado. 

Tribute to a longtime Mariner worker.

Our view.

And the Mariners… WIN

Back to the fun Fort. 

This morning Carl and Rey got up early to meet with Steve and get a car. They succeeded and we now have wheels, but did not put them to use.

Lunch with Bob, and then the boys played some soccer,  Eric volleyball -basketball on the hotel sport court. Then back to hang out with Bob. 

The pre-dinner entertainment was a three-piece band. Jazz and some favorites,  including a polka. Enjoyable and a prelude to very tasty prime rib. As we were getting up to leave it became apparent that a woman at the adjacent table was in distress. One of the workers stepped in and tried to do the Heimlich maneuver. After 3 tries she said she needed somebody stronger. I actually started to move but looked at Carl,  obviously the strongest amoung us. He stepped in and three yanks later the offending prime rib bit was on the plate. 

Rey said she was turning purple. All I did was move a cup of coffee out of the way. I am very proud,  and glad Carl  was able to step in.

Here are the three generations.

A few days ago we left sea level for something around mile high. We spent yesterday reconnecting with Rey and Bob. Always good to hear what everybody’s up to. Pictures at some future point,  when I have taken some worth sharing. 

Carl and Rey let me sleep in a bit this morning while they went about borrowing a car and finding out what Steve, Carl’s brother, is not doing. Running a business and caring for family seems to be more than a full time gig. 

The weather is so-so. Not too cold, with rain here and there. And of course it is nice in Seattle while we are gone. We could be missing summer. 

I only hope it’s reasonable on Monday,  our day in Denver. I don’t mind the rain,  but no rain would keep things a bit more predictable. 

Okay,  here’s one picture I took yesterday. 

Two, because he’s a sweetie.