A Daring Adventure

Seattle: Don't Tick off the Coast Guard - those Dudes'll MESS YOU UP

Yesterday we left the safety of the land beneath our feet and we boarded a Ferry to take us away from downtown Seattle to nearby Bainbridge Island.


Bye bye, downtown Seattle.  We're ferrying away from you:

While we were chugging away from Seattle on the ferry, I finally got a picture of one of the Seattle area seagulls.  I swear, they're the size of a large housepet or small child.  Do these things even have any natural predators nearby?  Talk about a HUGE population of seagulls.

And while I didn't get a chance to photograph this seagull next to anything else so that you can compare its size, you can see that it's almost as tall as the office building next to it!!  (Okay, kidding.  But they ARE really big!)

As we were chugging away from dry land, we also saw this huge... Navy ship thing.  (James could tell me what it was, exactly, but he's in training right now.)  Destroyer? 


The more interesting part of the picture, however, is the little floating red thing in front of the big Navy ship:






See the red floating thing?  It's a Coast Guard vessel.  It's guarding the big Navy ship.


Here's a (little) better picture of it:


 


American dudes with guns. 


There were two of those red floating Coast Guard vessels, and as we watched, some idiot in a joyride boat got too close to the big Navy (Destroyer?) ship.  The red Coast Guard vessels went TEARING toward the joyriding boat and totally stopped it in its tracks and made it turn around. 


Did I ever tell you about the summer that my insanely awesome husband sailed this thing across the Atlantic Ocean:





I kid you not.  There's no end to the things my guy has done.  Skills, people.  The man has skills.


Thus, we were both amused to watch the two small, red Coast Guard boats full of dudes carrying guns intercept the idiots in the joyriding boat who got too close to the Navy ship.  Um, DUH.


And I'll tell you this:  that joyriding boat wasn't the only one taking their lives into their hands.  So were these next people.  I have no CLUE what they were doing, but it sure didn't look too safe:

Being dragged behind some sort of boat, I guess, with only that balloon thingee keeping you alive.  Whatever!  People are NUTS.

But the people who live on Bainbridge Island aren't nuts.  They know a nice place to live when they see it:

And this is where they all store their beautiful sailboats:

Interestingly enough, as we were walking around, we overheard some (American!) locals carrying on a conversation about how stupid America is and how stupid Americans are.  And I'm sure there are some stupid Americans somewhere, but golly gee darn, people... if you're living on Bainbridge Island, you can AFFORD to stand around and criticize (while rubbing down your gorgeous sailboat).  Most of the rest of the world is off trying to make enough money to feed itself and its family that day. 

Speaking of a Bainbridge Island sailboat... they're quite lovely:

We walked around picturesque Bainbridge Island with its organic food shops, its Montessori and Waldorf schools, its private buy-in family medical practice, its huge floral baskets hanging off of every street lamp...

...and then we took the ferry back to Seattle.


It's very pretty at night time:

And then, this afternoon, the Blue Angels were part of a downtown air show... and my hotel room is close enough to the venue that I saw them flying by!


Here they are, flying in formation through downtown Seattle today...

Now, how cool is THAT?

Maybe someday, that'll be my son...

Seattle: Controlled by a Slick Propaganda Machine?

Well, it's Day 3 here in Seattle.  The sun is shining so brightly that - I swear to you - it hurts my eyes.  And I'm from Texas/Florida.


Which leads me to say this:  Are you kidding me??


We've been here three days now and each and every day the sun is out and shining insanely brightly.  No fog; no rain; nothing overcast.  Just sun, sun, sun.

And as James and I walk around this insanely beautiful city, the only thing we can surmise is that Seattle is run by an AMAZING propaganda machine.  Seriously... they're brilliant!! 


They want people to visit... but not move here.  So they circulate rumors of horrible weather (rain! fog! dreariness!) but are careful to tell prospective tourists that, "Well, maybe you'll get lucky and have some sun when you get here."  BRILLIANT. 


Then you, the tourist, get here... and it's GORGEOUS!  And there are posters everywhere downtown welcoming you and thanking you for spending a whole boatload of money here (true story).  But you dare not ever move here, for all you are told is how the weather is actually always rainy/foggy/dreary and you, the lucky tourist, have managed to visit during the entire year's ONLY nice few days.  And you can go home now, thankyouforvisitingbuhbye. 


I'm onto you, Seattle.


Anyway, before I move on to the pictures of gorgeous, sunny Seattle from yesterday, I have some non-Seattle things to say first:


1.)  The summer State Department (James' job) bidlist is out!  And this cycle's summer bidders are, understandably, going berserk with joy.  But tucked inside that bidlist is the funniest thing ever.  Because James' position in Chengdu is listed (for when James LEAVES, which is THREE YEARS FROM NOW), and James' name and email address are listed as the position's "Incumbent."  (Translation:  James is listed on the bidlist as the guy who is doing the job right now and as the guy you can email your questions about the position/city to.)  ROTFL!!


Who wants to bet how many prospective folks thinking of bidding for the next shift (after James leaves) in Chengdu email James and ask normal questions like.... How's Chengdu? .... How's the job? .... Do you like living there?  


To which, I suppose, James would answer... Never been there, so dunno... Not doing it, so dunno... Haven't been there, so dunno.  Not very helpful, sure- but what else is there to say?


2.)  I've been forced, through using my million-year-old laptop (not a Mac) and only some basic photo software (not Aperture), to work with the pictures I've taken here as .jpg images instead of RAW.  And can I just say that I miss working in RAW so much that I can't even stand it?  So all you photo types out there, I just wanted to tell you in case it's helpful - if you've ever considered shooting in RAW and using a software program that has a RAW converter (like Aperture... but I know there are tons and tons of others) please feel free to go for it!  Going from shooting RAW back to .jpg makes me want to claw my eyes out.  Seriously.


3.)  Has anyone else thought about how absurd the State language labels really are?  I mean, seriously, we were talking with one of James' co-workers yesterday and it came up that James has to learn Mandarin.  Well, Mandarin is a "super hard" language, right?  But, somehow, even the "hard" and "super hard" designations seem so... random.  Who decides what's "hard" and "super hard?"  And, on top of that, there really should be more dividers, don't you think?  But what would we call them?  Would there be "hard," "super hard," and then "super DUPER hard?"  Can you even imagine?

Hard

Super Hard

Super Duper Hard

REALLY Super Duper Hard


This conversation struck me as so funny I just totally laughed out loud. 


Anyway...


We went to see the Space Needle yesterday.  Because you can't come to Seattle and not see the Space Needle.  I think the tourist police would arrest you or something. 


 


We went up in the Space Needle and, of course, the 360 degree views of Seattle were absolutely breathtaking:



















Nearby the Space Needle... within just a few minute stroll... there's a huge fountain.


Its spray jets come and go in an unpredictable pattern, and to the tune of relaxing music.


There were some little girls (from Taiwan) playing in the fountain.  I just thought the whole thing was enchanting:

The little girls played and they danced:





Totally. Adorable.


And, of course, I can't go ANYWHERE in Seattle without taking pictures of the gorgeous flowers.  The gorgeous flowers are everywhere:









When we headed back to our hotel room, it was almost sunset:






Which is, of course, one of the best times of day to take some kinds of photos, since the lighting is so warm, beautiful, colorful... and forgiving. 

 

Seattle is AMAZING. Please Don't Ever Make Me Leave.

Before I discuss the amazing fabulousness that is Seattle, Washington, I have to say that I am puzzled about one thing: 

Is it just me, or did anyone else catch on to the fact that the only specific rebuttal of my statements regarding how wonderful Donna's children were (the story Donna told - but that I had left out - about how the older children valiantly rescued their youngest sibling from wandering into an empty elevator... which could have left her stranded all alone in it!) only served to prove my initial point regarding their wonderfulness? 


I mean, seriously... a condensed version of Donna's rebuttal could read thus:  "My children are NOT wonderful!  Well, okay, it's true that, while you were there, they even all banded together to rescue their little sister from an incredibly dangerous situation..."

But I will not continue further, because I am wholly delighted that Donna accepted the personal accolades I had previously piled at her feet (comments section).  To me, that is more that I could have ever hoped for!  I am quite certain that the entire matter can now be laid to rest.  :)

~  ~  ~

SEATTLE

James and I landed in Seattle, Washington (where James has a training class this week) and wandered out to the airport parking garage where we were trying to find a taxi to take us to our hotel.


Sitting in among the taxis was a LIMO.  James kind of smirked a little bit.  I refused to even look at any of the transportation vendors, for they all had decided that I was the one to whom they were selling.  They called to me...tried to get my attention... waved toward their vehicles... and I freaked out and turned away, staring at the ground, knowing that my husband could deal with this much better than I could.


The next thing I know, James is telling me to follow him, so I pick up my purse and do just that.

The man had discovered that all the vehicles that had lined up charged the same price, so he had chosen the LIMO.  Which, on one hand, who WOULDN'T choose the limo, right?   I mean, come ON, right?  If they're all the same price, you go for the best car.  Anyone could rationally think that one out.

But you have to understand - I have literally never, EVER been in a limo.  Not for our Homecoming or Prom in high school - James drove us in the truck his family owned - and not for our insanely low-budget wedding (the whole entire wedding, including my dress, the cake, the flowers cost all of about $800).  NEVER.


Well, my limo time had come.  But I couldn't help initially freaking out!

Me:

I am NOT getting into that limo!!  That's a LIMO!!!  I'm NOT RIDING IN A LIMO!!!!



James:

(Stood there, with the limo door open for me.)

(Then climbed into the limo and waited for me to get in, too.)

(Because he knew that, if he got into the limo, I eventually had to, also.)

(All the while, the limo driver was standing aside to help me climb in.  Peer pressure.  Great.)



Me:

FINE!!!  But I'm taking a picture first!!

And I did:






Look at that happy man.  Little stinker!


During the ride downtown, while looking around and seeing MOUNTAINS (MOUNTAINS!!!  This Texas and Florida girl could almost die of joy!), I got another picture of him.  Ah, the luxury! 

Yesterday, we walked down to the famous Pike's Place Market.  On the way, we encountered some folks playing chess outdoors with HUGE chess pieces! 

We thought about how much Matthew, our chess whiz, would have loved to have been there:

Pike's Place Market is the most wonderful place EVER.  There you are, in downtown Seattle, with office buildings surrounding you... and tucked away, near the water, is the hugest fruit/veggie/seafood market I've ever seen!

Don't even get me STARTED on the seafood around here.  TO DIE FOR. 


Hey, Mrs. & Mrs. Sushi Coma (Life After Jerusalem).  Just you WAIT 'til you get to the Pacific Northwest this summer.  Y'all think you like sushi?  You ain't seen NOTHIN' yet. 

The Pacific Northwest is a seafood lover's paradise. 

Lobster the size of small countries:

Truly amazing seafood!

We went to the stall of the famous Fish Throwers.  These guys don't just sell fish, they're fun to watch.  They toss fish to each other and banter with their audience.  You know what?  Good for them.  They were facing bankruptcy in the 1980's and so they decided to change their business to be entertaining and to draw a crowd.  It TOTALLY worked.  Their stall was packed!

At Pike's Place Market, there are tons of floral vendors, also. 



Gorgeous, GORGEOUS flowers:

For amazing prices!!


The bunches I've shown, above, were only TEN DOLLARS EACH!  The bunches below were only FIVE!

Oh yes, I am wholly and completely in love with Seattle.  So is James. 

(Not that we're going to go and bid for it or anything.  It's expensive as all get out here!  And don't think that my having now ridden in a limo will change my frugal ways!  This zebra will never change her stripes...)

(p.s.~  Please excuse the lower technical quality of the pictures you'll be getting from our trip to Seattle.  There are hardware and software differences from my usual setup, and these differences result in a lower picture quality.  But I'm thinking:  it's better to post not-so-great pictures than it is to not post pictures at all.  So crappy pictures it is.)