When I talk to people in other parts of the country I regularly make a point to mention it's raining in Seattle, even when it's not, just to perpetuate the stereotype.

Entertain me

I asked to be entertained. I was sent a number of links. This is by far the best one. Plant on plant action. Tree porn. Yes, I said tree porn. Oh it's so good.

If it weren't for magnets none of us would be here.

I'm going to get a dog. It's decided. I got the go ahead from the roommates and now all I have to do is find one. Leaning towards a lab mix of some sort. Maybe pit or husky mix. I don't want a little yapper that's for sure. I'll be sure to keep you all posted as things progress...

My body is still a little sore. I spent the weekend helping people move. I've had numerous people tell me that I'm crazy for committing to help on back to back days. I guess the way I see it is that it's a small price to pay for having the great people in my life that I do...

I'm doing the MS Walk again this year. If you're feeling generous you should sponsor me. It's a good cause...

Sorry, no pictures this time around...

Now I think I'll leave you with an excerpt of a thing I'm working on. As with a good number of my "projects" Some of what you read actually happened, most it didn't. I'm not sure if this will ever be finished, but it is what it is:

“I can’t believe that this is where you grew up,” John said. “I mean, nothing against you, but other than the neighborhood this is a great place.”

And it really was. Once we reached the porch it’s full beauty came into view. The house sat atop a 200 foot cliff that looked out onto Puget Sound and Vashon Island. On clear days you could see the Olympic Mountains in all their glory rising above the water on the horizon. I didn’t think much about it, but upon seeing it again I realized how much I missed it.

“How’d your folks afford a place like this anyways?”

“They bought it a long time ago, when things cost less. What exactly are we working on?”

“Oh that wall back down the driveway. We’ve just got to fill in a couple parts. Shouldn’t take us long at all if you want to walk around for a bit first.”

“Yeah I would like that actually.”

“Alright, I’m going to gather up some tools.”

John wandered down to the old shed on the south side of the property. The door never locked so the only thing we ever used it for was storing rusty old tools, they hadn’t changed that policy. Back in middle school some friends and I were trying to clean it up and came across a couple bottles of wine. My parents never drank so it was a complete mystery as to where they came from. We couldn’t find a cork screw and had to get creative opening the bottles. Once we’d worked it enough to just push the cork through we drank all night long out in a corner of the yard. My dad never said anything about it, but I think he knew.

I walked over and sat down next to a fig tree. I always thought it was the best view on the property. A couple of Madrone trees had grown tall enough to block a portion of the view. I thought about going to cut them down. I thought about cutting down the fig tree. I thought about burning the house to the ground. I thought about a lot of things, but before I could do any of them I was interrupted.

“Sean? Sean is that you?”
                I’d recognize that voice anywhere.

“Mrs. Bloomer, how are you?”

“Oh Sean, I can’t believe it’s you. It’s been so long.”

“It has been. I’m a little surprised that you still live here.”

“Well I wasn’t about to be chased out of my home by a few no-good-ians.”

“I’m glad to hear you haven’t changed your stubborn ways.”

We both smiled from opposite side of the fence.

“What brings you out here, Sean?”

“Well actually I’m here to do some work. My buddy’s brother just bought the place.”

“That’s so good to hear. It’s pained me to see this house fall into the state that it has. You used to take such better care of it. Would you like to come over for some coffee, maybe a cookie?”

When I was still in elementary school I’d go to Mrs. Bloomer’s house every day after class for a cookie. She lived alone and didn’t seem to have much in the way of family, but she always had an excess of baked goods around the house so the neighborhood kids gravitated to her house like bears to honey.

“That’d be nice, give me just a second I’ll be right around.”

I walked down the driveway and told John I’d be right back. He was listening to some music through headphones and I wasn’t sure if he understood what I said, but waved me along either way.

Mrs Bloomer’s was the last house on the dead end. There were large evergreen trees that concealed the entire building except a quaint garage. There was a short chain link fence that did little more than keep her dachshunds from running free.

It wasn’t till I reached the kitchen that I realized she already had company and it stopped me dead in my tracks. It was the old woman from the bowling alley.

“Sean, this is my friend Eleanor.”

“It’s a pleasure meeting you again, Sean.”

The look on my face must have expressed my total confusion. Mrs Bloomer moved closer to me, “Is everything alright Sean?”

Eleanor stood up and said, “Oh I’m sure he’s fine Florence, just a bit surprised to find me here.”

 “Oh, you already know each other?” Mrs Bloomer said with excitement.

Finally composing myself enough to speak I said, “I guess you could say that.”

“Well, here dear, have a seat. The coffee is almost ready. So how is it that you two met?”

I looked at Eleanor and immediately could hear her voice in my head, “Don’t involve her with our problems.”

Startled I shifted uncomfortably in my seat and she began again, “Tell her that we met bowling. She doesn’t need to worry herself with our situation.”

Not knowing what else to do I said aloud, “Actually I met, was it Eleanor here, bowling a short while ago. We shared a drink before I met with some friends. How do you know each other?”

Eleanor invaded my mind once again, “Good. I won’t explain this all now, but I will in time.”

Then she spoke for us all to hear, “Oh Florence and I have been friends for a very long time. I actually remember coming to visit her back when you were young.”

Mrs. Bloomer sat a plate of cookies on the table and said, “Always looking for cookies. I guess some things don’t ever change.”

I smiled, “I guess not.”

We made small talk for a little while about where I was living and what I was doing. She briefly asked about my family, but respected my position when I didn’t want to get into that. After about 20 minutes I decided that I needed to get to work.

“It was a pleasure seeing you again Mrs Bloomer. And you as well Eleanor.”

“Oh I’m just tickled to get to see you all grown up.” Mrs Bloomer said while giving me a hug.

“Likewise Sean, I’m sure that we’ll be seeing each older again.” She said before returning to her form of silent communication, “Very soon.”

“Yes, well I really do need to get back to work. I’ll stop by again if I’m in the neighborhood.”

"It might be impractical to seek out a new romance"

"We won't know the actual if we never take the chance"

New TVOTR video. Can't wait for this album. If only it were a week earlier, however I'm willing to accept a late birthday present as long as it's TVOTR

It's better than bad, it's good!

I spent some quality time moving a couple cords of wood this weekend. Today I was reminded of this Ren and Stimpy sketch. I have to say, it's not as fun as they made it out to be.

Requiem for a Coffee Mug

It's finally happened. I knew this day would come, but naively hoped it never would. My coffee mug is broken. You remember the one. It was perfect in every way. I'm really distraught about this right now. It's like I lost a friend. For years it's been a permanent fixture in my life. I can say with certainty I've never put my lips on anything as many times as I had with that coffee mug. I don't know what to do with myself now. I'm currently drinking out of a ceramic mug with my companies logo and every drink is like a dagger in my heart. The worst part is that no matter how hard I look I doubt I'll ever find another as good as what I had. I have to end this before I start crying. I just need to try to remember the good times.

A ceremony will be held by the tracks this evening at 5:30. Feel free to come by and pay your respects. The service won't be long since I have a previously scheduled engagement with Girl Talk. 

At least people like this have a support group

Cottage Trust

Okay there's been a lot of uproar recently about some comments that I made. The statements that I'm speaking of appeared on Twitter and Facebook around 1pm this afternoon and went as follows: "I find it hard to trust anyone who doesn't like cottage cheese". Now I don't deny what I've said, which is why I've chosen to repeat it here. However I'm noticing a number of people took this statement to mean I don't trust anyone who doesn't like cottage cheese and this couldn't be further from the truth. While a persons dislike of cottage cheese causes suspicion in my mind it doesn't cloud my vision to the point of blind hatred and mistrust. I understand that my words were chosen poorly and for that I apologize. I didn't mean to offend anyone with my careless internet musings. I will do my best in the future to ensure that all types of cheese lovers are trusted equally. However, with that being said, I'd like to make one thing clear, if you don't like cheese (any kind of cheese), I don't trust you at all.


I hope that this clears up any confusion and I trust that you'll make the right decision this November.