Rain, Life and Moving Forward

It is raining outside and it sounds wonderful. I am glad to see it return but what a difference from last night. I took a friend visiting from California to Salty's on Alkai and we had a lovely dinner. Tonight diner's there do not see this in any way!



Carl was up and he has been a true joy to have helping out and today he got a bit of a break as I puttered and napped. He is visiting EMP and the Seattle Library. Tomorrow he heads home and I am going to try a bit of office work. We shall see. Sometimes I do push, but at the same time I grow tired of just laying around. Thus, I push forward. Hope things are good enough for me to get down to the beach for the weekend to rest and unplug. We shall see. Just thought I should share. But I have to say, it was hard to hear about Billie dying as we target towards Christmas. Cheers!

Today is 100 Days To Christmas...

And on a sad note the voice of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer died.

A Christmas classic has been silenced.

Billie Mae Richards, the Canadian radio actress who provided the male voice for plucky Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, died Friday at her home near Toronto. She was 88.

"Kids won't believe it when my grandchildren tell them that their grandmother is really Rudolph," Richards said in a 2005 interview with Filmfax magazine. She was credited as "Billy Richards" to mask the fact that she was a woman.

"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," based on the eponymous 1949 song, premiered in 1964 and CBS airs it to this day around the holidays.

"What better legacy can you leave than a show that everybody loves?" Richards told NPR in 2004.

Carl at dinner

We totally enjoyed dinner at Salty's on Alki. Cold Prawns with 3 sauces and then on to salads as we enjoyed cocktails. Dinner was beef and seafood...oh my! We were so full we passed on dessert. Lovely place to take an out-of-towner!

I do enjoy entertaining friends and family can you tell?

Carl Arrives & Studies Plus Gets To Go To Airport Again!

Yes, study and wine always a good combination. So we go to get ready for dinner only to find he has picked the wrong piece of luggage and thus had to schlep the luggage back to airport on the 14th to get his and turn in his so Mitch can get his bag finally. I knock on wood as this has never happened to me. Granted in 2004 Air France had to deliver my bag to hotel as they did not transfer in time. He has been enjoying the city and is amazed at how close stuff is and that the car is not king. Oh he needs to see Bellevue!

Fare, Ferry & Faeries!

Sunday breakfast was spent with Rob & Jodie at Patty's Eggnest, a favorite and I took my camera to take a few pictures of the great food. I had the chicken fried steak while Jodie opted for a more traditional breakfast and Rob followed suit and we all shared an order of Swedish pancakes. Well, below is the one and only photo from the event. Yes, it was a good breakfast.!
What can I say, I did not have enough coffee before we got going. I shall do better next time. May have the camera, but I need to remember to use it and thus, as I sat and read over on Magnolia after breakfast to stay out of Moonsong's way, as he cleans the apartment. It is a thing of beauty to arrive home to a clean space. So while sitting there I decided to grab a picture of the ferries going by. OK, so I got one of them. Not great, but there it is. Taken through the sun roof of the new car!

After the nap I was up and putting chairs in place as Tyler & Randy, Moonsong plus Keith and Michael arrived to play Catan. In a STUNNING chance at the last minute I snatched victory from Moonsong just as he was about to declare victory. Sweet justice after the infamous American Ridge game. Oh the burden to play at such a festive level.

Afterwards, the boys headed to Chinese and I was off to an intimate festive dinner party that was quite tasty but my God, like a bottle of wine person. The blackberry tart had to be a stunning finale! Thanks to all for making it a great day.

Ya, you betcha!

Today was one of those magical days that pops up and you realize oh how fun this could be and in the end it was all that and a bag of chips. A statement made by a 20-something I met today and actually used that phrase! Anywho, I am getting ahead of myself. Awoke and off to Glo's I went for breakfast with Mick. We do this every Saturday, but today we went early as in 7:15ish to get in before they were packed and as we left people were beginning to be waiting outside for a table. Ah, the joys of getting up early.

Back at the apartment, I got the purple chair packed up in the car and it was off to Markie's place to deliver it and then back to my place to collect the two packages and two chairs from the office for Catan tomorrow. Yes folks, I FINALLY have my passport! Only took since February.

Then called Sean to see if he would like to meet up at the ferry dock and head to Bainbridge Island. He is a guy who I have been emailing and chatting with for a time and is an interesting man to be sure. He has a head on his shoulders and knows the area plus he is mature. Refreshing for a 20-something...yes, the one mentioned at the opening. Well, he missed my ferry and so was on the next and we connected at the ferry terminal and off we went exploring the island and it was a tad scary in Winslow, a town within an inch of over-pimping itself to be too cute. Oh wait, I saw a lot of the faux architecture, it has sold its' soul.

Decided to venture on to Poulsbo. Let's just call it a taste of Norway right here in the great northwest. Where do you start? The cobblestone streets or festive banners and planter boxes?
The themed architecture that says we are so the Leavenworth of the western side of the Cascades! For those not in the know, Leavenworth is a little town that decided to shed its' humble beginnings as a lumber town and now is a complete faux Bavarian town that even includes "lighting" its' Christmas tree 9 times every December to accommodate the crowds. Heck, there were moments when I felt if I rolled down the windows I was going to hear "It's a Small World" playing through the streets.
But wait folks, it is also home to Viking Fest in May which includes rides, pancake breakfast, Miss Viking Fest and so much more. You so know I will have to go next year and do a full report. Here is a picture from this year's promotion.Now if you think that is weird, fear not, this was a teaser on http://www.msnbc.com/ "Foxconn founder Terry Gou might be regarded as a Henry Ford if only a dozen of his workers hadn't killed themselves." And that is just weird.

Well, to finish off the day, I swung by Jimmy's and got my wine and tasted some and then headed home after a quick stop at Ezell's for Fried Chicken Livers, Fried Okra and Potato Salad. Can you just say YUM! And to bed all too soon.

What More Needs To Be Said?

I raise a toast to all for making it to the weekend. This weekend is all about relaxing and doing a few chores out of the way, but first up is my Friday night tradition of Gwen Ifill to just make the click to weekend mode. Oh and the cool weather has me in full smile. Cheers to all.