Raincharm’s Weblog

Is the best word for the show we saw tonight.

The Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular, with the Rockettes.

With 3-D.
The second night in a row we were wearing 3-D glasses. Yesterday was the Hobbit #3.
This is day 3 in NYC. Or is it 4?
We arrived here after a15-hr train ride from Michigan. Which started at 3 am. So we were a bit disoriented, and slept in the next morning.
The next day we did venture to the transit museum. It was underground in an old subway station. One of the interesting parts was the old advertisements on the old subway cars.

And of course there was Christmas

Our tree.

A slightly larger tree

In addition to the being with our family, we had a Sherlock Holmes marathon. This actually lasted two days.
Going back a few days earlier, we were in Michigan. We got to see more family.
Mom, Dad and Jane, the entire Courtois-Finlayson family (thanks Liz) highlighted the Michigan visit.

Sorry that this is a bit disjointed, but it is after midnight on a phone. So happy holidays.

We are at McCaw Hall waiting for the balcony to open. We are in the front row, if you count backwards. This is the last year of the Nutcracker with the Maurice Sendak costumes and sets. After 31 years. We have been to the show 3 or 4 times before, but it has been about 15 years since the last time.

Dozens of little girls in their finery, and we in ours.

Two lovers of cheese

We also accomplished a major goal today by hanging a picture. Six in fact. It has only been a year.

Grocery shopping, but no madding crowds. And it rained hard this morning, so I don’t know how attendance was at the Macy’s parade downtown.
We are at the Seattle Center, and checked out the Armory decorations, and the fountain. Maybe the Space Needle if they are still open.

Carl pulled his version of “Let’s Play Two” on me today.
My plan was to walk from our house to Sand Point, probably 3.5 – 4 miles, walk the 3 mile Pancreatic Cancer Walk, and then find a bus back to our neighborhood.

Purple Folks

Carl first searched a bit for a ride back up the hill, but since all of the cars were full, decided we should walk back instead. Normally a 3-4 mile walk is not such a big thing. But today it was adding up. The walk to Sand Point has a lot of verticality – both up and down. The 3 mile PAC walk was flat, but more like a mall trudge. The walk back from Sand Point has even more verticality than the walk over, because we start at lake level and go back up to the house. The most direct route crosses three major ridges – so you go way up, and then back down, and then up and then – well you get the idea.

We did route ourselves past some prior Carl nanny sites,

Cute house for cute kids – now growing up in Colorado

and a glacial erratic that was allowed to stay when the neighborhood emerged. I am not sure if a rather large rock in the front yard is a selling point or not.

Erratic rock – Carl for scale

The weather cooperated, and only rained a bit toward the end – holding the heavy showers until we were safely watching the Seahawks on TV. This will be followed soon by the Sounders.

Oh – and then there was the, “things that go bump in the night,” situation last night.
We were both asleep or almost asleep when a large “bump” woke us.

Carl searched through his upstairs area and I made a brief foray downstairs, but we did not find anything out of place. Then in the morning, with the benefit of light, Carl’s Fan murder weapon trophy was found on the floor. This is a rather heavy piece of leaded glass.

Trophy

The trophy is in two pieces now – as the ball separated from the base. Neither the ball or the base appear to be damaged. But there is a dent in the floor.  The piece had been sitting in its box, vertical, but not teetering on an edge. Maybe there was an earthquake somewhere, or a poltergeist hanging around.

We did give out candy on Halloween. And there were more than one or two kids.
For the first time in many years we had enough kids to worry about running out of supplies.

Happy Birthday Bob!

There are three generations in this picture.

Three Generations

Ignore the one on the left for the moment, he will get his due later.

Doris and Rey and Bob share an interesting math situation this year.
The elders were born in ’27 and are now (finally for Bob) 87.
The younger was born in ’87 and is now 27.

I do realize that we are well into October, and that hardly seems possible.
I am supposed to be blogging about our summer vacation, but that may have to wait for our winter vacation.

Of course there are a few more pictures to provide from Carl’s day in the sun (or under the stars).

The gang + Rick Waits (Pitching Coach – who willingly joined our crew for a moment, and then again later)

Before the game (see the previous post – from September), we were allowed to hang out around the home plate area. They even let us into the dugout briefly. Rick Waits happened by while we were down there. Carl has bent his ear spoken with him throughout the year, and he came down to join us for a picture.

The first pitch – nicely framed with the big board in the background. (By a real photographer.)

The First Fan’s First Pitch (actually second first pitch)

And finally, the “catcher”, the pitcher, and the coach.

Taijuan Walker, Carl, and Lloyd McLendon

It was a great time.
I am sorry I don’t have more pictures from the game, but this was one time when it was fun to just enjoy the moment.

I intend to enjoy today (or is it tomorrow) – well pretend it is the 21st – as well, and celebrate growing old with Bob (the elder).
Although I guess I am really growing old with the middle generation, Carl (the younger by a bit).
I have planned a day full of meetings! (Really, from 8:30 to 4:30, with a short break for lunch)
And then the same gang (minus Dennis who is in Portland) plan to convene at our house for baseball and barbecue (in honor of Kansas City).

Too tired to write much now.
I will try to add more tomorrow.

Suffice it to say the Fan of the Year was well received.
We had a blast, and more than one person asked to have their picture taken with our star.

I have been trying to focus on a few bigger projects at work.
But then I get distracted by trees falling hither and yon.

Yes, we are decimating a part of the lovely woods next to our office.
Growing area needs more bits and pieces than our current site can hold.
We are putting in a fueling station for emergencies, and will use it regularly, and an area to dump soupy dirt where the soup will be treated before flowing into the storm system.

My office has a somewhat front and center view to the trees coming down, except for the small stand that will remain – that is right outside my window. We actually still retain about 3-4 acres of trees.

And there was the first set of loggers that dropped a tree in the wrong direction, landing on the fence, missing the one car left and hitting no people. (This may be a repeat of a story.) The replacement loggers are a much more efficient bunch. I know because the building shakes several times a day as the big pines come down.

There have been a lot of sports going on across the nation.
Of course football seems to be garnering the most press. Unless you’re Jeter.

But we have our own minor celebrity moment coming up.
Fan of the Year.
Which apparently comes with a big screen story (they wanted to know how to spell your name, Ashlan). We did try to supply them with a few pictures,

10 years old – Kingdome

and they got the dates of all of the home runs Carl has gathered over the years.
And today we found out that we have 8 seats in the Commissioner’s Box and they are making a uniform (Jersey) for Carl. He is leaning towards 14 for the number. It is 2014, he wears 14 on his Silver Foxes team, and it was his favorite player’s number growing  up (Pete Rose).

Our only worry now is that Carl will still be under the weather on Friday.
He came down with a nasty cold, and spent most of today resting at home.
He has been trying to breathe the steam from boiling water with tree tea oil, and it seems to be helping.

Today there are a lot of sports going on, and yet we are not going to a game.

The day started with a little bit of bursting. Those 15 minute workouts that are all the rage.
If I can get myself oriented in the correct direction in the morning – I will try to fit one in.

Try.

This morning I did manage by getting up to watch soccer (Premiere League) and then taking advantage of the half-time break.

Coffee followed, along with the second half. (Of the game)

Eventually we managed some broccoli and juice and decided it was too nice not to walk.
While mobilizing the phone rang – it was the Seattle Mariners calling for Carl.
Apparently he has been elected the Mariner Fan of the Year for 2014.

A 3-Fez Day

We do not know who the nominating party was, but he has made it to many, many games (including 4 Mariner games on the road). And his distinctive headwear has provided fodder for Mariner announcers and cameramen. (Or is it camera-people, or just cameras. The one nearest us is unmanned, unpersoned, remotely operated.)

So on that note we headed out.
Earlier that morning Rey (in Tennessee) told us that there was a Husky Football game in Seattle. Both Carl & I were sure there was not because neither of us had noticed the orange traffic warning signs. But as usual, Rey was correct.

We decided to walk into the football storm just to see the throngs. (That is a storm of people, buses, bicycles and a few cars. Not to be confused with a real storm, like the one that delayed the Michigan game.)

It was an amazing spectacle. Purple as far as the eye could see. Rows of buses, and most on foot.
And of course those that come by boat.

The line of boats in the background are moored for the game.

We finally left campus and struck out into northeast Seattle neighborhoods.
A goal had materialized in the form of a grocery store where a friend works.
Plus, we needed a little nourishment.

As we were approaching the grocery store, we found another location for a little rest.

Our friend Ronnie

This was not a stop for fries, but at a house that supports families who’s kids are undergoing medical treatment at the nearby Children’s hospital. Finally the last half block to the Metropolitan Market.
Two bananas and a drink later, we set out in search of an establishment serving breakfast.
The first (up a hill that was higher than we wanted to walk up) was on to lunch and dinner, but I made the decision to keep going because they were vacuuming, and I hate the sound of a vacuum.
Next was a place that only served breakfast, but only until 3 PM, and it was now after 4.
Another restaurant materialized, only to have closed at 3 PM as well.

Carl then determined he would make us breakfast, and all we needed was cheese and bacon.
Whole Foods beckoned as it was on the way. Bacon and cheddar were soon in hand, or rather in bag. (This is Seattle, and if you don’t bring your own bag, you have to pay a nickel. We did – in part because we have run out of paper bags. A few years ago that would have been unthinkable, but now we try to use less paper and more cloth. And I really don’t miss those piles of plastic bags!

Finally ready to head home, we stopped at Starbucks.
Carl took this opportunity to get a coffee. I started checking scores for all of those sporting events we were not attending this weekend. Mariners losing 4-0. Huskies losing 14-0. Sounders losing 1-0. University of Michigan losing 26-10 and “delayed”. Almost all of these scores changed, but it was a much better day to take a walk than be a spectator.

But come Friday – we will be in the middle of the action with the Mariners.
I doubt they show the “first pitch” on broadcasts, but imagine it in your mind. With a fez.

So I was going to write a story about my summer vacation. But it got late, and there are some more interesting items to mention.

1. We are now the proud parents of a college student.
Rey had his first class today. His second class is not for another 5 days.
I guess this is what you call a slow start.

College boy (note he is reading a book)

2. Tomorrow my mother is getting the cast off of her arm.
Broken elbow be gone. Healed elbow – show yourself.
You can see the green monster in the picture below.

My father has been a real trouper through this ordeal.
While Mom had to deal with the pain and suffering, Dad has to pick up the slack – and then some.
He was chief cook and bottle-washer, and now took on more because a one-armed person just can’t do as much when they are used to having two arms.

Beer on the beach – pre Thud Club

Now a funny story about the picture.
[This is a third party story, as I was busy getting beer and was not present for the show.]
Mom and Dad are each enjoying a beer.
[There was a lot of beer available due to a wedding a few cabins down.]
You may note that the chair has a slight tilt.

What you can’t see are the 4-6 people sitting on the beach several yards from the parent’s shady perch.
Apparently Dad was reaching down to either put down or pick up Mom’s beer.
As he shifted his weight, the chair started to list further.

Jane (daughter #3) exclaimed, “Look, Harry is going to fall!”
And it was a very slow list to the point of no return, so almost everybody present had the time to turn and watch the fall to its horizontal state.

And lots of laughing ensued.
And the tale was told and retold through the evening and subsequent days.
It will probably become lore.

I do know that nobody was hurt.
I don’t know if any beer was spilled.

Happy Birthday to Doris!
I won’t say how old she is, unless you are into math problems.

She is the same age as the last two digits of the year Rey was born.
Rey is now 27 years old.

Carl & Rey arrived fairly recently on a trip that the two of them started in Colorado.
I am not sure exactly how they managed to get this group picture – but it is a nice one.

Carl, Doris, Rey & Bob

So – Happy Birthday Doris.
And in your honor, we are having a beach day. Really the second in a row.
Tomorrow I may blog about the first – which turned into one of those days where just a lot happened.

What every 86 year old should be doing a few days before their birthday

Leak & Squirrel Repairs

Finally, almost time for fruit in the front yard

Blueberries in the Making

After 11 games in 10 days – the boys are here (and the girl, but she was not on the beach at this time)

Beached Baseball Boys

Finally, a calm, almost warm end to a day (and we almost reach 70 degrees inside the cabin)

Obligatory Sunset Shot