Magical Weekend Indeed...

complete with surprises! As I sit here Sunday morning and enjoy KPLU on the FM-dial which is the local public radio station, I am quite pleased with the opportunity to have been able to relax this weekend. A long time coming to be sure. It has been a push, push, push couple of months and the plate is still full. Granted, being home a full week is a joy, but I do yearn to be home a bit more and after NYC this week I will be able to be home for the balance of the year.

So Wednesday past had me running to and from Sea-Tac airport picking up various members arriving from Phoenix, Minneapolis, Dallas and Houston. They all got in but boy that last run to the airport at 9pm was a killer. Traffic was horrible and I was all to happy to be home in my apt. by 10pm. The weekend had officially had begun. And of course one of the elevators in the building gets broken right off the bat as the office is closed for two days, but in a way it is a good thing, it makes everyone slow down. Actually met a couple of the neighbors while waiting for the elevator. Go figure.

Thanksgiving was a joy to be sure as I got up and puttered about and made my way north to Ballard (a neighborhood here in Seattle) to enjoy watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade with Rob and Jodie. What fun we had and the Bloody Mary's were quite enjoyable and oh my the bacon was awesome. They get it from a butcher up north of Seattle. I believe it is called D&D. How original to be sure. Add some farm fresh eggs and a so-so lemon-lavender coffee cake (which was more like a pound cake) and there you have it, a fine breakfast as the parade made it's way down Central Park West on the new parade route complete with a brand new Santa float (although the reindeer looked like the old ones!). During the parade the kitchen was seeing a flurry of activity as Rob and Jodie worked away to assemble a marvelous feast to be sure. Thankfully I was allowed to contribute not only by bringing a pumpkin cheesecake which was passable at best, but to assist in dicing potatoes and sweet potatoes for two different dishes. In the end the turkey was so moist and tender and who could not love her chestnut dressing? The mashed potatoes turned out fluffy and oh so tasty and the sweet potatoes were served with a mixture of butter, brown sugar, paprika and nutmeg = yum! Add homemade bread and green beans and a fabulous mushroom gravy plus 3 kinds of cranberry sauce and well, it was a feast. Oh and who could forget the salad that went untouched by many, sorry Sharron, but who would after having shrimp sit out for two hours. Why didn't she say something? Oh well, that is not the last we get to hear about Sharron. OH NO!

So Sharron decides I am the target for the day. She tosses out comments and pokes me throughout the meal and in general is really starting to bother me, but I am trying to be a nice guy. After the meal we move to the living area and before I know what is happening she is sitting on my knee. Now mind you, I have not asked her to, I do not wish her to be there, but I am also not going to make a scene as I am a guest. She seems to be getting a bit miffed as I show little to no interest in her and why should I, she is on husband #3 and announces during the day that he may soon be an ex as well. He son showed for a bit of the afternoon but was soon gone to be with friends and who could blame him. Well, just when you think she is getting up to move away she turns and leans into me and says something like "Oh come on, you know you could have fun." while planting her breasts in my face. Yes, OH MY GOD! I was blown away. So, I got up stating I needed to use the bathroom and proceeded to wash my face and looked in the mirror and said, "you can run or go back for another round!"

I opted for the former and as I walked out of the bathroom I just continued walking down the stairs and out the door. I called Jodie and let her know I was leaving and why and she totally understood. I got home and relaxed and felt bad about leaving without saying good-bye to Lynne, Rob and all the guests, but I also knew I did not want to explode on this of all days when it is about friends and having a good time. Later Rob shared that Russ had the comment of the evening "Whether gay or straight, you can run them off Sharron." And oh how true that was.

I awoke the next morning at 2:30am in a panic that final payment had not been done on the Whistler trip, like I could do anything, but it was not until hours later that I got to have it confirmed that everything was fine and move on with the day.

Friday was all about packing up Thanksgiving and getting the initial wave of Christmas decorating done. It was step by step taking it easy and yet moving forward to get the apt. flipped from one holiday to the next. Many of you know I love the holidays and enjoy decorating. Well, this year I am quite pleased in that it is Sunday, the 29th and only have to finish trimming the tree! That will be done either later this day or when I get back from NYC. One nice thing that did happen was that in talking to Jodie on Friday morning we decided to meet up for drinks and leftovers that night. Glad we did as we got to have some laughs and Rob shared Russ' comment and a few others plus we talked about all sorts of different things and got to collect the lovely gift bag that they had made. Each guest got a wonderful melange of treats.

Saturday was another day of relaxing. How lucky I am to be sure. Breakfast with Mick at the Shanty was a joy and I enjoyed biscuits & gravy for the first time in many moons. It was pretty slow in the Shanty, but soon we were on our way. Did a couple of errands and back at the house in time to get the rest of the decorating done and prep for today's guests. Also, on the menu were several wonderful conversations with friends and getting the simpler birthday celebration nailed down to be able to enjoy it. Yes, initially I had a rather grand plan in place, but now I get to actually enjoy the weekend and not be running around like my head is cut off. What a joy that will be. To think that in 10 days I will be 50. OH MY!!

Last night watched 4 different Christmas movies and yes, the happy cry came out in full force. Full confession, 3 of the movies were "The Santa Clause" series with Tim Allen and I did fast forward a time or three. But still enjoyed all the good parts and "Jack Frost" was the 4th movie. Sleep was good and this morning has been one of Jazz, reading and watching the people do the Seattle Marathon! Oh my what a sight. So now with breakfast behind me of cereal and banana plus coffee, it is time to finish laundry and get ready for Catan. This is my 3rd time playing and one has to ponder, is it even possible that I could go for a trifecta of winning? Actually, the funny part is that I just love letting go for a few hours and forgetting everything and just enjoying the company of good friends and laughter. That makes for a great afternoon. OK, so the Chinese food afterwards is pretty good too! So for now, I wish you all a happy Sunday and look forward to checking in again soon. Cheers!

It's Been Awhile

Thanksgiving greetings to all,

The past few weeks have been a bit consuming. When I last posted I was in the middle of getting telephone service converted in all the offices. Well, it was not easy and had more than a few moments, but as of this past Friday all the offices are converted except Vancouver, BC and that will follow. Now it is clean up time getting all the special features in place and moving forward. When all this began I did not know what a channel bank was or a cut sheet and so many more things. No matter what I still miss the good old days of when you made one call and poof it was done. I was sharing with a new hire how when I started with Events & Adventures back in 1998, we did not have a website. Oh how communications has changed and don't get me started on cell phones.

Another big change in my life is how I get groceries. Now I use AmazonFresh. It is a great service. Well, about a week ago I placed an order. It was to be delivered between 3-4pm. OK, so they call and due to a power outage at their main office in Bellevue everything was running behind. Cool, good communication and that was fine. Arrived about an hour late. There was a little box inside and it contained a cup and coupon, good on my next order for a fresh produce bag on them. WOW! Well, it just seemed a bit much for a simple power outage. And I was right...here is the email I got:

Greetings from AmazonFresh,

This weekend we included a freebie in your order that might have been a surprise
to you. It was a surprise to us too. We thought we'd take a moment
to acknowledge the Big Radish Welcome Pack you received--our goof--and to let
you know that we've sweetened the surprise even more. Along with the
free mug and coupon, we've granted you Big Radish status, which gives you FREE
Delivery from now through December 31st, 2009. Enjoy!

Oh, but wait, it gets better. The next day I get a message from AmazonFresh stating that they were sorry for the delay on Saturday, the 14th and that they were issuing a credit of $5.00 for the delay in service. Too mucking futch! So there you go and I just had to share. I like the service and yet I still do buy my meat products and produce for the most part in person.

So I am writing this posting in my hotel room in Dallas, Texas. Have been here since last Tuesday when I left a very soggy Seattle and arrived into the metroplex to low 70's and delays at every turn. The luggage carousel got a piece stuck and I was totally amazed at how many people showed up to fix it and when I looked down was pleased to see that my baggage was circling. Grabbed it since we had been waiting over 40 minutes and headed for the renatl car center bus on the lower level. Schlepping is part of the game at DFW airport. Got outside and there was a line of at least 50 people waiting. The one bus left and another arrived about 5 minutes later only to have room for 8 people...had to beg the driver to call for another bus sooner than waiting a full 10 minutes. Amazingly, he did! It came and we all piled on and several people thanked me. Arrived at the center and waited in line. Had a prepaid reservation at Avis. Told that not only did they not have the car I paid for but the lady actually wanted to downgrade me - I had never seen that in my life! Click and save this picture Chris in a Ford Focus! NOT!!! So I ask to speak to her supervisor and was actually quite calm. In the end I was offered a Camero, a Corvette, a Van or a brand new F-150 pickup. Yup, Chris went COWBOY! YEEEEHAAAAAW. It had 8.1 miles on it when I got in and it is a beautiful sapphire blue and boy do I feel butch driving it. Would NEVER rent again as it has horrible turning radius and is so BIG. But it is only for two more days and then done and done.

Did take time this day to go out for a drive to get Sunday supper. OH MY GOODNESS! Went out during the Dallas Cowboy's football game and it was just a tad after noon and the streets were deserted. It was weird. But I got it and came back and enjoyed chicken fried chicken livers with corn and green beans and got a side of fried okra. Yummy. Read and watch the balance of the game to be able to give my sister, an avid Cowboy's fan, the score update as she did not get to see the game up in Portland. The Cowboy's squeaked out a win at the last minute but they were pretty sad and for the first time in 107 games went scoreless in the first half in back to back games. They are up against Oakland on Thanksgiving. Yeah, that was the butch from the pickup overflowing to football watching. Oh my, get me out of here before it consumes me!

Speaking of hotels, let's talk about what happened here yesterday. Arrive home in the afternoon after working a half day with my new hire in Dallas. All the elevators in the hotel were out of order and the internet was down. WTF? They claimed it was due to the storm on Thursday. And this is Saturday when this all happens. NOT! Something is fishy and boy was I pissed off. Not at the front desk staff as I told Erika on the phone, but at the situation. Mind you, there are no rooms on the main floor so everyone had to schlep their stuff up the stairs and people had luggage and there were people in wheelchairs. Messy situation. Thankfully, everything is back on track.

That cannot be said for my friend Michael on the coast of southwest Washington. The 5th storm in a row hit them this morning and he was awakened to a tree falling in his backyard. It was about 40' high and came down with only branches landing on his deck. Another top of a tree came down and he has one leaning bad in the front that may need to be pulled on down. Everything is growing in sand and when it gets saturated, not good! What made it different was that the severe storms usually come from the south and this one came in from the south. They are powerless and the main highway is shut down as well. It will be interesting to see how things are tomorrow. We were able to chat a bit this morning, but nothing since.

Head home Tuesday as I mentioned and then Wednesday I will spend running to and from the airport helping get members from out of town to the hotel and then get a bit of work in and head for home. Looking forward to Thanksgiving as I am spending it with Rob and Jodie at their place and will be taking a lemon-lavender coffeecake as they are allowing me to come up early and watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade as it follows a new parade route this year and enjoy Bloody Mary's to kick off the day. Later several others will join in and I am contributing a pumpkin cheesecake with gingered cranberries.

Then I will be getting ready to head for New York City the following week with a group from December 1-6. Once home, I am home for the rest of the year. Canceled the trip to Disney World, just tired of traveling and if I go I want to be able to enjoy and not just be vegging all week. My 50th birthday celebration is also been trimmed way back so that I can actually enjoy the people who are coming together. It will be simpler and more enjoyable in the end. Maybe I am getting a bit smarter as I get a little older.

And on that note I am going to close as my bowl of chili and sandwich will be here in a moment for dinner. Will be checking in again real soon, likel not wait as long as last time.

Cheers, Chris

Monday Grab Bag

Hello there,

Well, survived the weekend. It has been just a tad insane these past few weeks as I have been working overtime to get the new phone service working in each office. Three down, one just about done and up to 4 to go. We shall see, it might just be three more. I might have a nervous breakdown before this is all done. Mind you, for those that know me well, I am not at all electronic minded and actually events are my thing. Well, Mark, my boss, decided that if there was anyone who could get it done it would be me. What I think it means is that I will keep calling people until it is finally fixed. Granted, it takes a while, but it does get there.

We are suppose to save a lot of money on long distance and in the end I hope we do, but in order to make that happen, boy it has cost to do all the conversion. Remember the good old days when you picked up a phone and called "the phone company" and asked for a new phone or a line to be installed. Oh how easy it was back then. Now you have a long distance provider and an equipment vendor and then there is the IT person and you have to manage services, blah, blah, blah. As Sandy mentioned this weekend I believe it was Sandy - "oh for the days when you called to get the time announced and thought that was something else!"

Ya-Ya Weekend was a blast. OK, so first there was the nasty and oh do I mean NASTY drive down. Mind you, it is just over 80 miles and should take about an hour and half to get there. Well, due to an accident and the weather let's talk 4.5 hours and that was even following Markie's suggestion of getting out of town by 2pm! I was seething by then and poor Jodie calls to see where I am. Not a good call to be sure. I hang up and then a few minutes later Michael calls and I answer "WHAT!" And hello to you to Mr. Schilling! Well, by the time I get there and settled in, I am calming down and after a drink and everyone has a few laughs at my expense, including moi, we finally make our way downstairs to enjoy dinner.

Let me take a moment and remind you we were at The Olympic Club & Hotel in Centralia. The Club has been around since the early 1900's and the hotel was built as a railroad hotel. No phones, radio, tv and you share bathrooms (European style). There are 27 rooms and I was in #26. A lovely king bed and looked out on the street. The furnishing were reproductions of sorts and overall a nice place...until the movies began. I was right over the theater and oh the speakers BOOMED! The room would vibrate and it was rather entertaining. For the most part I missed a lot of the noise...but did get to enjoy the 2nd matinee on Saturday and the 2nd feature that night. But it was all over by 9:30pm or so. The stairs were mighty steep and it was amazing to take in all the artwork.

So we headed down and they put together a nice table for us and we had a marvelous dinner. Two orders of onion rings and a goat cheese torta kicked off the meal and While most enjoyed burgers, I opted for the blackened steak salad (with blue cheese, cucumber, red bell pepper, grape tomatoes and cider-blue cheese dressing). It was mighty good. Got a cup of soup that had to be one of the worst I have had in years. Should have known, you just can't make some things into soup and this was Chicken Cordon Bleu and it was so salty I nearly died.

Well, after dinner, we made out way through the original pool hall and back upstairs. Jodie and Rob hosted everyone the first night and then yours truly did duties on Saturday. Saturday morning arrived and we enjoyed a good breakfast (and a certain someone enjoyed two breakfast, no not me!) and in fact I was quite pleased as I kept to my oatmeal and fruit. OK, so lunch went down the drain with the "Firm Burger" which has pepperoni and Swiss. Nope, not going to try that one again. I am such a weakling for their fries! ARGH.

We inducted Jodie as our newest Ya-Ya after some work getting the bottle of Tequila opened. But she now has her crown and we know her secrets and she has been given her rightful name. I don't know if you are suppose to know but let me share our Ya-Ya's with you...there is Flyingdog and Foulmouth plus Butterfly squared and Oysterboy and don't forget Jelly Queen and of course Swandafag. This may be the one and only time we have ever typed all the names and oh I hope they are right as I love them all dearly. Then it was time for dinner. Does it sound like all we did was eat? Well, it played a major roll, but there was shopping, reading, taking in a movie and a whole lot of laughing to be sure.

Todd was our server and we let it be known we were in no hurry and he was so nice. Well, two and a half hours later we finally finished up and several of the gang headed off to dream land whether by choice or not while the few who survived had many more laughs and it was a grand chance to catch up. Sunday saw Sandy up way early as her clock in her room had not been turned back and so she was so ready before the rest of us and all too soon after a farewell breakfast and hugs...we were on the road.

So let's talk about that drive home...we are talking CRAZY drivers for the Seahawk's game. They are just insane. I was just hoping to get home in one piece. I did, but boy was I glad to be home and hiding by 11am. Moonsong had been in yesterday morning to clean. He is FABULOUS! I am so lucky to have him here every other Sunday morning. He likes to arrive around 8:30 and by the time I got home he was gone. He is good. Several weeks ago he left a present of some autumn leaves and then he cleaned before Halloween and added some bones to the look. I since added three white miniature pumpkins and it is quite festive. Of course, it will soon be going away to make way for THE CHRISTMAS INSTALLATION! Yes, I install Christmas. I love the holiday and it is what it is, get over it.

So Sunday had the Seahawk's come from behind and crush the Lions, like that was going to be hard as they are the worst team in the NFL. But boy, it was scary in the 1st quarter. What the? Like reading that you would think I am some sort of football guy = NOT! It is just that in living 3 blocks from Qwest Field, where the hawks play, I hear the cannons going off to signal the game is starting and then again IF they win. Well, they won and BOOM!

So there you go...I am off to Phoenix, AZ on Wednesday and back Friday, a very quick trip and then it is on to Dallas and Houston the following week. But I shall be home for Thanksgiving and I get to enjoy that with Rob and Jodie. And then comes the countdown to 50. Oh my!

Cheers!

Ya-Ya Getaway

Hello to all,

Well I am going to be on my way down to lovely Centralia in a few minutes. Due to the scared rituals that we do there is a chance I will not be able to get to a computer until Sunday. If not, enjoy...otherwise see you again soon.

Cheers!

This & That

Folks, I got this in the email today and I about died! Why do I not know this guy who decided to drop nearly $50,000.00 for dinner and drinks for himself and 5 guests. Some uber rich Russian from what I understand. Alas, I do enjoy a cold vodka on the rocks from time to time, but this is crazy!

So speaking of dinners, I never got around to telling you about the balance of our dinner at Brooklyn a couple of weeks ago. The first part of the meal went as planned kicking off with three half dozen oysters ( Dabob Bay from North Puget Sound, WA plus Virginica from the Puget Sound region in WA & my personal favorite - Kumamoto's out of Humboldt Bay, CA ) so we could each enjoy two of each...then we shared Day Boat Scallop with Foie Gras - Served with a vanilla bean-scented carrot puree and mascarpone-filled mission figs, finished with a port wine demi-glace. Magical.

Curt decided to go for the Country Salad - Gathered field greens, bibb lettuce, Bosc pears, Honeycrisp apples,and strawberries with candied walnuts and goat cheese, tossed with a wild raspberry vinaigrette. Markie and I went for the Caprese Salad - Purple Cherokee tomatoes, mozzarella cheese and organic basil,finished with cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil and 12 year aged balsamic vinegar.

Up next, main course and Curt decided to try The Carpetbagger. Also known as heart attack on a plate: A fresh oyster folded into a filet mignon and wrapped in apple smoked bacon. Served with gorgonzola potatoes, wilted basil and spinach with pear tomatoes.Finished with a cascade huckleberry demi-glace. Markie went with Bouillabaisse made with fresh fish, prawns, penn cove mussels, thorndyke bay clams, house made chorizo, roasted corn, spinach and air-dried tomatoes with crab risotto in a fennel-saffron tomato nage. While the venison and duck did tempt me I opted for Carlton Farms Pork Chop that was pan-seared with a porcini mushroom crust. Served with braised pork belly bacon, gorgonzola scalloped potatoes, apple butter-braised cabbage with ham hock. Finished with an apple cider vinegar reduction. We were in heaven plus Curt had brought two lovely bottle of wine so who could ask for more...

WE DID! Their Key Lime Pie is to die for and truly the Brooklyn’s salute to this Florida classic. A delightful disc of heaven to be enjoyed and was enjoyed by the table as Markie decided to cap off his meal with a Port sampler. Four one ounce select samples of premium port. It was a meal not soon to be forgotten and I hopped a cab home while the boys stayed a while and then Markie drove them back to his place and Curt made his way back to Olympia the following morning.

Now jumping topics a whole lot...but really not, I am going to take a moment and try and answer a question I was asked by a blog follower. I made reference in my last post that I am a Radical Faerie, but I also often state I am just not that radical. Well, here is the whole thing in a nutshell. We're decentralized, and nobody's in charge -- so every faerie who you ask will give a slightly different definition of "Radical Faerie." Generally, we tend to be gay men who look for a spiritual dimension to our sexuality; many of us are healers of one kind or another. Our shared values include feminism, respect for the Earth, and individual responsibility rather than hierarchy. Many of us are Pagan (nature-based religion) and thus the seasons are honored by many. Our defining events are Faerie Gatherings, where we'll get together for an extended retreat, usually in the woods, separated from the outside world. A lot of that time is spent in "heart circles," where we open up emotionally. I got involved years ago by going to a circle and then began going to Breitenbush Hot Springs for gatherings in the winter and summer. Some of my closest and dearest friends have been met via the gatherings and many of you have heard of Uncle Markie, Riversong, Wonderful, fado, and so many more! They are my brothers of choice and spirit. We laugh and cry and have many good times together. It was two of them recently who picked up that I was VERY STRESSED when no one else really did. They "have my back" in a way and it is just another part of who I am.

So now gearing up for our Ya-Ya weekend in Centralia this weekend and oh what fun it will be to see them all. We are inducting a new Ya-Ya and so Saturday night will be a hoot. We are all staying at the Olmypic Club in Centralia. From Mcmenamin's website:

THE OLYMPIC HOTEL & THEATER

Relax in style amid the legends

In central Washington State, The Olympic Club Hotel's legend looms large. Here you'll find an historic building -- filled with warm woods and period details -- steeped in colorful tales of countless gamblers' jackpots, revenuer raids, dark secrets deeply buried, and a famous bandit's bravado. The Olympic Club has been a point of power, intrigue and contention since opening in 1908. Its name evokes heroic gods of ancient Herculean characters, the exploits of whom are now the stuff of modern legend.

Remarkably, the Olympic remains virtually unchanged from the time of its opulent remodel in 1913. Still much in evidence is the building's blend of sophisticated finery and earthy extravagance. Its magnificent mahogany bar and leaded-glass canopies are as impressive as the colossal Round Oak wood stove, elegant women's bathroom and mammoth porcelain urinals, (hey, they spared no expense in those bygone days!).

The hotel's 27 intimate, European-style rooms feature vintage furnishings, comfy chenille-covered beds and conveniently located common bathrooms. You may hear the lonely, soulful sound of the trains from your room as they roll through Centralia -- but if you'd prefer not to, earplugs are provided. Each room here is named for the colorful and worthy cast of characters who have left their mark on this place -- the internationally notorious "gentleman train robber" Roy Gardner who was captured at the hotel back in 1921; Gertrude Howell, the hotel's first female proprietor who also identified Gardner; and Jack Sciutto, the Oly Club's original proprietor who was crowned "King of Bootleggers."

As refined as the Olympic Club Hotel may have been portrayed, especially in its early years, the place has always possessed an element of the Old West with stories of train robbers and ladies of the evening who took up residency on the second floor. Known as a true "gentleman's resort" the opulent furnishings of mahogany paneling, Tiffany-style lights, ceramic-tiled floors and Belgian crystal lured a good many of the area's loggers, miners and railroad workers through the doors.

McMenamins has expanded upon the Olympic Club's traditional definition of a workingman's resort by welcoming the whole family to enjoy lodging, meals, movies, art, history, sport and special events. Throughout the Olympic Club historic photographs and extensive original artwork chronicle the building's intriguing history.

We could go on but its so much more fun to experience this place for yourself! Located halfway between Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon, the Oly Club is a convenient destination for business travelers and fun seekers alike. I'll be sure to give you as much of an update as allowed by law afterwards, but it will be fun!

So enjoy the day and I'll keep on sharing from time to time if you like reading about what is going on...Cheers!

Falling back into the future

I decided to kick off this posting with a favorite picture of mine taken some years ago in Denver when a group of radical faeries (of which I am on and thus have the name Snowbear) gathered for a heart circle and in so doing made this wonderful mandala of many seeds and flowers and rocks plus candles. It was all assembled on this huge flat boulder and was a delight to see come to life in only minutes really. Oh what creative energy there was that night. My work is on the far right where the work dropped down to a lower level and I work hard to make it all look right. Another reason I so love the arrival of this time of year with all the colors nature has to offer. Enjoy and now it is time to get along with the posting and do take time to let me know if you are enjoying it...

Boy the nights are arriving early now that we turned the clocks back last night...yes, I know it was this morning at 2AM, but I did it last night before turning in for the night. Who knew I had 9 clocks to deal with, but thankful that 2 adjusted automatically. This was a weekend that allowed me to reconnect with my living space. Yeah, it sounds weird, but all too true. Have been traveling way too much these past several months and more trips are in the making, but to have a weekend where I got to really do things in every room and sort things out and change over including:

laundry sheets and towels

flip Halloween to Thanksgiving in decor

restock the frig with breakfast stuff and salad makings

write notes and vote

take time to read and catch up on New Yorkers

These simple chores really allowed me to feel like I live here again and having all my clothes on hangers again and not folded ready to go into a suitcase. It really does get old after a while to be sure. So the weekend also allowed for some socializing that was long overdue. Mick and I had our usual breakfast at The Shanty Cafe. If you are ever in Seattle and want a good solid breakfast without all the fluff and hype, this is the place to go. Amy is great and the coffee is good. Mick's usual is a Western Omelet with an English Muffin and Hash Browns with a side of Hollandaise Sauce. Yes, he takes the English Muffin and puts it under the omelet and then puts the Hollandaise over the top. Oh my. But then am I any better? Sometimes. But not yesterday. I ordered my "usual" and it is scary when Amy can write it all out without asking a single question. It is a waffle combo (waffle with scrambled eggs and 4 strips of bacon) and a side of country gravy. So, then when it arrives, I build my breakfast by placing the 4 strips on the waffle and then the eggs and pour the gravy on top...but wait, there's more! I take the syrup and drip a fine line around the perimeter of the waffle for that sweet and savory flavor. And of course since it was Halloween, we ordered one pancake - why? They were pumpkin/pecan. I had a couple of bites, but the waffle had done me in so I let Mick enjoy the rest. Yes, we groaned. By the way, when I am being good I order the regular which is 4 strips of bacon with scrambled and sub hash browns and toast for cottage cheese and tomato. Love that too! But I was feeling like I wanted to be wallowing in comfort yesterday, so go figure.

After that it was off to get gas in the car and home to do chores. So I need to share about Friday night. Got home and was puttering about and decided to order in pasta for the night. Had not use Amante's in a while and so called them and ordered a Fettuccini Carbonara which you get to pick soup or salad and I like their soup and it was cold and rainy. Also ordered a Pepperoni Oven Grinder to have for lunch on Saturday. So they tell me it will be 45 minutes. No worries. And badda-bing it is delivered 30 minutes later at 7:25pm. Cool.

Paid and tipped the driver and go to enjoy and what is this? No soup? Yes, no soup. Bummed, I decide that while I don't expect a special delivery, at least make them aware of it as I had not tried them in a while since they had messed up that last time. Called and let Demitre know what had happened. Found out he was manager or something. Cool. He wants to make it good so sending out with next order. No problem. An hour passes and I am so done with dinner I call to let them know to just let it go. Bummed, but hey, there you go. Now they are all sorry, sorry we want to give you 20% off next order, we are going to make this right...ok whatever. Catch you later, bye-bye.

Fast forward to 10:25pm and my phone rings...it is the front door. I KID YOU NOT! Yup, the driver showing up to deliver soup THREE hours late. And he is like "what the problem?" as I stand there fricking sleepy eyed and going "What the F*$K?" So enjoyed soup with the sandwich on Saturday - and it was good! Too mucking futch for me!

Now, take that and let's fast forward to this day and what an amazing day it was. Glorious and sunny, just crisp and beautiful. Boy, how I love this time of year. Cool nights and great sleep and then the sun is low in the horizon...so I host four friends who show me how to play Catan. It is an amazing game. If you have not heard of it, you need to. It is all about collecting resource cards and building things. There are online versions and the board game versions. We did the board game and it was a blast. A game lasts about 3-4 hours. http://www.catan.com/ will give you more information. The goal is to get to 13 points first and well, call it beginner's luck = I won! It was just too much fun and I can see playing again. I also have to say I enjoy Risk and Monopoly, but this is a great game.

Afterwards, we headed over to my favorite Chinese restaurant in Seattle. It is called Shanghai Garden and who knew they have a sister restaurant out in Issaquah of all places. For those outside of Seattle, Issaquah is a town east of here and is considered a bedroom community. Anyway, I had called yesterday and we got to enjoy Peking Duck. It was to honor David and Moonsong's 30th anniversary kick off celebration. What fun and we all agreed it had to be some of the best food in a long time.

Peking Duck - from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

Peking Duck, or Peking Roast Duck is a famous duck dish from Beijing that has been prepared since the imperial era, and is now considered one of China's national foods.
The dish is prized for the thin, crispy skin, with authentic versions of the dish serving mostly the skin and little meat, sliced in front of the diners by the cook. Ducks bred specially for the dish are slaughtered after 65 days and seasoned before being roasted in a closed or hung oven. The meat is often eaten with pancakes, spring onions and hoisin sauce or sweet bean sauce. The two most notable restaurants in Beijing which serve this delicacy are Quanjude and Bianyifang, two centuries-old establishments which have become household names.

It is a dish I can see having again and it was a joy to share it with friends. We also enjoyed chicken with ginger and garlic, Mongolian beef, dry-sauteed green beans, Shanghai dumplings that they make right there plus pork fried rice. Oh my we had fun plus we had enjoyed appetizers at the apt of a sampling of sushi and shashimi during the game so it was an international meal of enjoyment for all. Even introduced an unsweetened green tea to Tyler
who loved it! What fun to get people to try new things.

And so I look forward to reconnecting to more people in the future and in so doing taking time to look back at all the fun I have been able to have. Hope the week ahead is a good one and that Tuesday sees elections turn out for a positive future for all! Cheers!