Seattle

We, my husband Mick and I, had a GREAT time visiting my sister in Seattle, Washington.

She tried too hard to entertain us with seeing the sights, although I kept telling her we came to see HER. I took photos, but my camera is not the type I needed to capture the breathtaking scenery.

I did see things that I had never seen before. I did not know that Seattle (and the little towns surrounding it) was covered with Christmas trees!! I loved that the mountains (the Cascades, the Olympics, Mt. Ranier...) surrounded the area and I could enjoy them without having to go ON them (although, my husband and sister kept teasing me that we would). I loved that the mountains had snow on top. I have only seen that in pictures and tv.

I saw the Puget Sound, beautiful.

The park at the Puget Sound (forgot the name, sorry) many people chillin' out, picnics, kids playing, and, yes, tightrope walking practice!!

I also saw the Space Needle (was not as impressed with that as I thought I would be).

We went to Pikes Market...we paid $21 to PARK, walk and then NOT be impressed at all. Tried to get a photo of the salmon being tossed, but not quick enough. It was not that amazing, a man, a fish, a toss. I paid too much to see that. I liked the shops near the piers much better. Ye Olde Curiosity Shop was TOO cool. I also like the pirate shop next to it. Among many things at the curio shop were these shrunken heads...sort of reminded me of my classroom, they look about that bored....(did I say that out loud???)

Of course we had to visit Microsoft! Alas, Mr. Gates did not come out and give me any money or a computer... My daughters are HUGE Twilight fans. The second movie, New Moon was being filmed in Vancouver while we were in Washington. I took this picture purely to torture my daughters. I also had to tell them I was only a couple of hours away from Forks, Washington. : )
This is a sign outside some little bar in downtown Seattle. I took this only because it was interesting.Interestingly, they have some risque coffee "shops"! Some advertised "Sexy baristas" and others "Hot coffee, hot girls"....that was new! There was also a Starbucks on every corner (literally) and various and sundry other coffee shops (that varied from the sexy baristas to very quaint and nice local shops) I am in coffee withdrawal!! (yes...that says the baristas are in lingerie and that word IS PASTIES not pasteries!!)
Another oddity was the tattoo ambulance! I guess in Seattle there are emergency tattoo situations! LOL!! Not sure why it is called "ENEMY"... (actually, we also saw a pizza delivery ambulance! No coffee ambulance...curious!!) OH, that reminds me, the only siren I remember was downtown Seattle when a ship load of PIRATES sailed down the middle of the street with a siren going (it was some special pirate day apparently! HOW FUNNY!! I didn't get a picture because it was so unexpected!)

The very best part though was long, nostalgic conversations with my sister.

When we got home on Thursday we suffered a bit of jet lag, but still got up on Friday and drove 5 hours to Florida to see my daughter. Later!

My Daddy

God, how I miss you.

Franny and Zooey

I just finished reading this novel by J.D. Salinger for the second time. The first time I was about 13 or 14 I guess. I remember how much I loved the book. On the second reading I now wonder why I loved it so much. Not that it is a bad book, it isn't, I love it now, but as an adult I wonder why my child self loved it. I was very "political" and seeking religion as well. I thought of myself as a savvy kid. I was, in fact, very naive about the meanness in life, but marveled at the workings of life. I wanted to be in the middle of action. I was too young, so I read about it. So, for a few years this book would come across my mind and I would think I should reread it since it obviously had a memorable effect on me. I was almost disturbed that it did on my second reading.
Anyway, more on that later.
Sleepy now and kind of hyped up about my trip to Seattle coming up.