"That's not true."

This is hilarious...

What's Goin' On?

If you're looking for something new to check out I recommend you take a look at What's Goin' On? Only three posts in and I love this blog. Keep up the good work!

Performance Breakdown

I've started the packing process. It's going better than I anticipated. I've got about 15 boxes done so far and am almost 100% out of the basement (just a couple boxes left). I'm very happy that Mickey came by and picked up the leather chair and drafting table. He also took a bunch of stuff that needed to go to Goodwill that Benson said he was going to donate to a woman's shelter which pleased me as well. Unfortunately I haven't started the kitchen, which I anticipate will be the most beastly. It usually is. But I still have 12 days and I think that should be enough time. My big plan for this week is to finish up the cats room, the bar and begin on the kitchen. I feel like there are a lot of things that I can pack without impacting my ability to cook food. I also think that the roommates are planning to begin the move this week so that should help me to get a better idea of what there is to do once things start getting out the door. I figure if I'm able to stay on course this might just be the easiest move I've ever made. It certainly would be if I could just do it like this...



My ficus is dying again. This plant hates me I think. It's recovery was coming along nicely and now half of it is dying again. I think that I'm just going to have to cut off half of it and hope that solves the problem. Everyone has been telling me to just throw it away, but I can't bring myself to do it...

Went to Ray's OMGWTFBBQ yesterday and OMG WTF was right. It was a great time. His place is amazing. The grass, oh the grass. I could have spent the rest of my life lying in that luscious greenery. There was also an appearance by a couple of American Lady Boy's, I won't say who but I will say they were there...

Saturday might just have been the laziest day that I've had in a long time. I didn't wake up until 2pm and even then I just played video games and watched the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy. It was exactly what I needed...

The Hawks dominated their season opener!!!! It's nice to see the team playing well again. The first quarter was nonsense but once they got through it they really stepped up their game and got the job done. Carlson is a savage and just might be what the team needed to get themselves back into playoff contention. It's a little early to make any solid predictions but I have a very good feeling that we'll be flying high in the NFC West this season...

I can't wait for Embryonic!!!

Are you serious!?

Rep Wilson...ohhhhh where do I begin. How about with Carol Fowler via CNN ...

"Never has any member of Congress shown such disrespect for the president during a speech," Fowler wrote. "One would think that as a member of the military, Joe Wilson would have more respect and patriotism than he displayed tonight. When Congressman Wilson insulted President Obama, he also insulted the American public. Joe Wilson is a poor example of a statesman and an American. He owes an apology to the president and the American people."

Here's something the man himself had to say via Fox News...

"This evening I let my emotions get the best of me when listening to the president's remarks regarding the coverage of illegal immigrants in the health care bill," Wilson said in a written statement. "While I disagree with the president's statement, my comments were inappropriate and regrettable. I extend sincere apologies to the president for this lack of civility."

Okay one more from bloomberg...

\"House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, a Maryland Democrat, said he’s attended some 40 presidential speeches during his 28 years in the chamber and Wilson’s conduct was unprecedented.

“I’ve never heard a member discredit the House, demean the House in that manner,” Hoyer said.\'


Now I understand that people have differences but this was completely out of line. Even in my own debates I don't allow this kind of nonsense. It degrades him, the State of South Carolina, the US House of Representatives, and the President of the United States, not to mention every American citizen.

And to Rep. Wilson I say: I hope that during your next chance for re-election the people remember the great deal of disrespect that you brought about our whole country. We're better than that and you should know it.

And if we're not than I guess America is really dead...




UPDATE: Now this is nonsense. Just recently Rep. Wilson posted this on his Twitter account "Finishing up a video to post on our web site responding to the liberal attacks. Stay tuned." Is he serious!? Does this really have anything to do with partisanship. He disrespected the President. Everyone in America should be offended, liberal and conservative alike.

Let them know you realize

An old friend of mine just told me that her father passed away last night. My heart felt condolences go out to her and her family. Just always try to remember the good times and he'll always live on in your memories.

Holidays, Crunch Time and a Vision of Things to Come?

Holidays are never long enough. Just as I was getting comfortable in my escape I have to come back. I'd love nothing more than to be back on Case Inlet drinking a bloody mary, watching a storm come barreling in, while I steam up some fresh clams for a nice pasta medley. And the fire, oh the fire. With flames rising five feet into the air causing every raindrop to evaporate as soon as it touches down. I'll be back there soon enough...

Now that I'm back in Seattle it's crunch time. I have a lot of things to get worked out before the end of the month. Packing and cleaning and packing and cleaning and vomiting uncontrolably because the whole process makes me sick. I'm starting to think that I may need to have a yard sale to help get rid of stuff. Either that or I'll just become one of those obsessive compulsive craigslister's who spends every waking moment posting ads. Hopefully I'll be able to downsize my life though and once it's all said and done I'll be the happiest boy in all the land. Hopefully...


I don't think that I shared with you all the dream that I had last week. It all began in Bothel, well it might of been Mill Creek but somewhere over there. I don't remember what I was doing there but it was nothing of great importance. Suddenly there was a flash and everything went white.
As my vision returned I came to notice that my surroundings had changed. There were huddles of people around me all looking around in confusion. There were two buildings that were probably once homes, but had be left to rot long ago. We were all in the middle of what appeared to be a large forest. There was no food or water and everyone was starting to panic.
A good friend of mine, PMR, was there and he rallied a couple of other guys to go off in search of food with him. I was with the remaining people and hysteria was very much a reality. The few children there were huddled beneath a group of crying women, none of them the parents. A group of men were discussing how best to defend our position from whatever inhabited the surrounding foliage. No one was looking for water.
I stepped up and attempted to organize an effort to find water. After reassuring everyone that we were going to be fine I separated them all into small groups to search the immediate area in hopes of finding a river or lake.
As they departed I kept two of the groups behind to help set up a camp of sorts. We were able to find two large econoline vans that had the keys in the ignition. After moving them to a clearing on the south side of the houses we then decided to investigate inside.
I was with a woman who started asking me a lot of questions. Finally I couldn't take anymore and asked her why she thought that I knew more than any one else. She paused for a long time and then told me that before she ended up here she was in southern California and that a bright flash occurred and suddenly she was there with the rest of us. I knew that I had moved through time/space but for some reason I never thought that everyone else had as well. She forced me to swear that I wouldn't tell anyone where she was from, which I did, but was never sure as to why.
Around this time the first group of people came back from searching for water. They had found a small spring about 400 yards away and one of the men, I assume he was an engineer, began drafting a plan for an aqueduct. They were also able to acquire a variety of tools they found in the woods, a couple of hatchets, a sledge hammer, etc., and began getting to work on building the water system and starting a fire. This was the first time that I really looked around at what was around us.
I could see a body of water to the west and two large hills, one north and one south. On the southern hill there was a building and upon further study I determined it was the Pacific Medical Center. Mirrored on the opposite hill was another building that I then deduced to be Harbor View Hospital. We were in Seattle! but there were no other signs of civilization. No sky scrappers. No roads. Nothing but forest.
I was in a trance trying to process it all when an old friend from high school showed up and told me that she had to get to her studio on Lucile if she was going to be able to help us. I asked where on Lucile and she simply replied, "there's only one place on Lucile. None of this is like you remember it." I gave her keys to one of the vans and sent her off with a couple of men armed with a hatchet.
PMR returned from his expedition dragging behind him a good sized black bear while the men who accompanied him had another tied up on a stick they had resting on their shoulders. Many of the people immediately became horrified that we would eat bear. The screams of horror echoed between the hills. In order to subdue the situation I had the men but the bears into the other van. I then went out to address the concern about eating bear.
On my way I started to tell PMR about the women transported from So Cal, but when I was just about to tell him, she spontaneously appeared before me and said, "I really hope you weren't about to tell him anything about me, for your sake." I quickly back tracked and explained I was trying to get an idea of where he came from and that it had nothing to do with her.
I reached the crowd to find half of the people were more than willing to consume the ursine meat. However everyone else was very much against it and demanded an alternative. I suggested that they break into groups and start scavenging the area. One group to go up the hills looking for berries and other fruits. One group to go towards the water in hopes of fishing or finding shellfish along the shore. As they disembarked I began to work on the bears.
We started by removing the seats from the van. This was the most vivid memory I have. The seats were four deep in the van and held in place by elaborate clamps that required two people in order to unlatch them. It took us a very long time to remove all the seats and place them in a semi circle behind the van.
I then moved the bears into the middle of the van and position myself above the larger of the two. A man handed me a knife and as I was about to slice into the flesh behind the neck in order to begin skinning the animal I awoke. I had no idea where I was. I laid in my bed for 5 minutes before I realized that I was back at home. I spend the rest of the day wish I was back in the dream...

The Flooding of King County

So if any of you have been following King County lately you probably noticed there's been a lot of talk about floods. Mynorthwest.com is running an article today about how the county is so concerned about flooding they're actually moving the elections office after not even being there for two years. I think it's time that we all get VERY concerned.

I'm starting to think that they're not disclosing everything they know. Floods happen in the Puget Sound area pretty much every year, so why now are they so concerned about it? Howard Hansen Dam.

In a great piece by the Seattle PI last week they stated the impact could include "The cities of Auburn, Kent and Tukwila could be anywhere from four to 10 feet underwater if storms are severe."

We are facing what could be a major deluge and I don't think that the county is doing enough to inform the public about the potential dangers. Yes they're trying to get the word out through "Preparedness Meetings" But this isn't enough. So to everyone out there if you have friends or family living in valleys of south King County I strongly urge you to make sure they are aware of what this coming flood season could mean for them.

There are many things that can be done to help minimize the devastation. First and foremost, if flood becomes imminent EVACUATE!!! Don't be the ones who get caught on the roof of your house because you didn't think it was going to be as bad as they say. It will be that bad. Just try to think about going to a swimming pool and imagine what it's like treading in 10 foot deep water.

Secondly make sure that you have a plan before it happens. Work it out with friends or family so that you'll have a safe place to stay away from the flood waters. By setting something up before hand you can cut down on the number of people who are going to be flocking to local shelters. And lets be honest, wouldn't you rather crash on your parents floor than deal with the insanity that is emergency shelters?

The last thing that I'm going to encourage everyone to do is contact your elected officials. Let them know that you're aware of the danger facing the region and that it is unacceptable to wait around for it to happen. This is a potential tragedy that can be PREVENTED! If the county can't fix the problem than the state and federal government needs to step up and protect the people. Below is a list of contact information for people that are in a position to stop this from happening:


Jay Inslee, US Representative 1st Dist
Rick Larsen, US Representative 2nd Dist
Brian Baird, US Representative 3rd Dist
Doc Hastings, US Representative 4th Dist
Cathy McMorris, US Representative 5th Dist
Norm Dicks, US Representative 6th Dist
Jim McDermott, US Representative 7th Dist
Dave Richert, US Representative 8th Dist
Adam Smith, US Representatative 9th Dist

***If you don't live in King County please still contact your representative. This is going to affect all of Washington state not just King County.***

Patty Murray, US Senator
Maria Cantwell, US Senator

Christine Gregoire, Washington State Govenor

Barack Obama, President

If any of you are interested in sending in a letter but aren't sure what to say contact me and I'll put together a sample letter.

If only it really existed

The decision's been made

I just found out that I got the apartment that I applied for in Ballard. Thank the Maker! No more hunting. Now I just have to start writing checks. So as of the end of this month I will be living on lovely 24th Ave NW. I'll keep you all posted as to how it all progresses and when I'll be having the first gathering. We're also going to be having a "Last Call" down at Lucile's before the end of the month, more info on that to come too.

Indecision

I am horribly indecisive right now. This whole moving thing is making me crazy. I want to find a place that I can settle in for a long while so I don't have to do it again. That leads to all kinds of questions.

My first thought was to move to Ballard. It's a great neighborhood with pretty much anything I could need nearby, except work. A good number of my friends live out there and it would be nice to be closer but I'm starting to question it. It'd be a little far for my family and being as I've never lived there personally I'm not sure if it's right for me. I've spent a fair amount of time there and enjoy it but living there is very different than visiting.

I have another friend who would love to have me rent the bottom unit in his house. The house seems great, actually better than great. However I'm not a huge fan of the neighborhood. It's really close to work, but I don't think thats a big enough issue to sell me on the idea.

I've thought about Belltown and the more I think about it the more I like the idea. But I also get the feeling that the area would grate on me over time and I'd end up hating it and then end up moving sooner than I'd like to.

More and more of late I've been thinking about my first love in Seattle, West Seattle. It's a little remote but still has good bus access. The biggest down side would be living at the whim of the bridge again. However I did it for many years and it never got too bad.

I just hate this process, as I've said many times now. The one thing that I want more than anything is a place where I get to see the water again. Even if it's just during my commute. I've missed it more than anything else. Maybe that's why West Seattle always seemed to be my place in the city, its surrounded by water. And maybe I'm just thinking of it nostalgically, like one remembers a first love, and would only find going back that everything I loved about it has changed. But how could this ever change...