Thursday, July 31st
Another month gone and we have returned from the Pacific Northwest to the humid sump of Alabama. The last week up north went well. We went up into the San Juan Islands and did some orca watching. The killer whales obliged. All three resident pods were holding a hoedown off of English Camp on San Juan Island - orcas for days. Also seals, dolphins, eagles and the occasional drunk boater - indigenous fauna all.
We also had the opportunity to go to a dress rehearsal of Seattle Opera's opener, 'Aida' courtesy of some friends with the opera company. It really has become a first class company over the last thirty years. We enjoyed it very much. It was my first time in McCaw hall, the new opera house - fairly comfortable as such venues go.
We saw 'The Dark Knight' in IMAX. Very intelligent for a comic book film. Lots of interesting psychological underpinnings. Heath Ledger was quite good as the Joker and it's too bad he won't be around for any further installments. More and more films are likely to be made that way in an attempt to lure us out of our domestic cocoons. Tommy and I have been out to the movies more in the last month than in the past year. DVD is just too easy.
The cats are glad we are back. Spent today playing catchup at work and will be back on ususal schedule as of Monday.
Tuesday, July 22nd - Seattle, Washington
Two weeks into our Seattle sojourn. The nieces are in summer mode which means lots of dunking themselves in water. Swim lessons at the pool, swimming in the lake and splashing in my parents hot tub on the back deck. Bella is very into drawing and Iris is showing a flair for the dramatic, culminating in the after dinner play 'Disturbing the inner peace of the chipmunks' the other evening.
Tommy and I have been food shopping and wine tasting. Went to the bite of Seattle event, various restaurants and a couple of wineries. Caught up with some old friends of one sort or another and we're probably starting to wear a bit thin on the family. One more week and I hope no one gets on each others nerves too much. Tonight, big celebration. My brother and sister-in-laws big 40 party. The whole gang should be there and then some.
Saw 'Mama Mia' a couple of days ago. I thoroughly enjoyed it. No, Pierce Brosnan can't sing, but it really doesn't matter as its about people breaking out of their molds to enjoy life. Something I could use a bit more of from time to time. We're supposed to go see 'The Dark Knight' in IMAX before the week is out. Maybe Thursday or Friday.
Sunday, July 13th - Seattle, Washington
Tommy and I are ensconced with the family in Seattle for a couple of weeks. It's been a lazy few days so far, only marred by my picking up some horrible viral something on the plane and being febrile and achy for a day or two. It's winding down now and I should be back to my usual self by the end of the day. I truly hate what air travel in this country has become. Way too many people packed on the plane, no personal space, all the amenities more or less gone or requiring an extra fee. And the airlines wonder why they're going broke.
The family are all well. The nieces are now 5 and 9 and turning into delightful young people. All of the niece and nephew dogs are between 12 and 15 and sweet, but arthritic and rather slow. I expect a die-off in the next year or so. Mom and Dad continue to putter around and do their usual thing. I think they're a bit at loose ends not having dozens of projects going at once but they don't seem to be overly bored.
The weather has been marvelously cooperative. Low 80s with no humidity. A reminder of why Seattle can be paradise when it decides to be so. We're off today to a play and then to a barbeque at the home of old friends. Should be fun.
I am not missing work.
