Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy

We took a short overnight trip to downtown Seattle this past weekend. Jennifer had President's Day off from school so we put together a last minute sojourn. One of my little joys in life is trip research and after a day of hotel shopping, we ended up at the Hotel Andra. It was a very pleasant stay. For a decently reasonable rate, we got a suite with a bedroom separated from the living room. We had a small view of the Olympic Mountains out over Elliott Bay. One of the things I love about Seattle is all of the "boutique" hotels. It's a lot like New York City because there a 10-15 hotels that aren't part of a national chain but are 4 star. I have a friend that works for another hotel company with 2 buildings in downtown and when I mentioned where we were staying he said it was one of Seattle's best kept secrets.

We took the girls to Pike Place Market on Sunday. It was crazy nuts with people. The long weekend had brought a lot of people downtown. Both Ellie and Campbell enjoyed the people watching opportunities. We got to watch the guys as Grunden's Fish Market throw the various items around as people bought fresh fish for meals. It was so busy that we really didn't get to take our time and enjoy all of the artisan crafts that are on display. Jennifer and Ellie had stopped for some ice cream and I got a chance to talk to a local artist that was selling his paintings. He was snapping photos and I asked about his camera. Two minutes later and we were both trying to decipher Campbell's comments on passersby.

We've been down to Pike Place Market before but never seen the original Starbucks location. Apparently, this is some kind of Mecca for coffee fanatics. There were dozens of people taking pictures of the outside. The store is set in a normal city block of other locales and kind of nondescript except for the different style Starbucks Coffee Goddess signs. I thought it was funny to see all the tourists snapping away on their cameras to show the folks back in Omaha. We had planned on visiting the Aquarium but the line was out the door and down past Waterfront Park. We passed and decided to come back on Monday.

Ellie was pretty psyched about seeing the otters, seals, octopus and fish. We had to temper her desires on Sunday due to the crowds. On Monday morning, she was chattering about seeing the fish. The Seattle Aquarium recently went through a major renovation and it was all for the better. It's in a prime spot located on one of the piers along Alaskan Way right at the waterfront. The last time we were there was in May and the construction was still ongoing. They are about 95% done with the current expansion and the change is welcome. Seeing the changes has made me think a day trip or three by myself with the girls is warranted during the remaining rainy season this year. I've been happy taking the girls to the Point Defiance Zoo every 7-10 days but I think a week day trip to Pike Place is in order very soon. The awesome variety of crafts, produce plus odds and ends would make for a very fun day for the Funky Bunch. Ellie is getting old enough that she enjoys the freedom of walking. But if she gets tired, I can always plop her into the double stroller in front where she can be on point. From experience, she likes to ride a little but walk a lot. And she's very aware of her surroundings. Everything is fair game. :).


Campbell would run wild if we let her. She's about twice the handful that Ellie was but also a sweetheart. She wants to sit in your lap one second and then run loose like a banshee the next. At the Aquarium, she was quite happy to ride around in luxury. Even though Monday's crowd was smaller than the line we saw the day before, it was still quite busy. It amazes me how many people are oblivious to others as they mall walk around public places. It's the people with strollers and small children that bewilder me the most They should know better how to maneuver in crowds. And there are always the families with 30 kids. They run crazy making the rest of us play dodge ball trying to avoid tiny feet and bodies.

We were rewarded with spectacular weather on both Sunday and Monday. Temperatures were in the upper 40's with crystal clear blue skies and very little rain. It was a wonderful late Winter/early Spring day. I know the girls enjoyed the sunshine. I was busy trying to snap pictures and all the light played havoc on my adjustments. It was a glorious problem to have. We definitely will plan for some more time downtown during Jennifer's next break. Just not on a holiday weekend. Too many people, too much traffic and not enough time. Like I said earlier, the girls and I have got to get downtown more often. Good time.

A moment of sanguine solitude

We're finally getting a few days here and there without too much rain. Today, there was just a hint of drizzle around noon. But we caught some cloud breaks and had some sunshine in the afternoon.

The girls and I headed down to the McChord P/X to buy Ellie some new shoes. She's growing and growing and growing and... I like the McChord P/X because it's newer than the one at Ft. Lewis and never as busy. We can't go to the P/X without Ellie begging for pizza so I just go ahead and plan for lunch to be at Anthony's. For those not familiar with P/X eating, Anthony's is ubiquitous to Army and Air Force food courts. It's not terrible and the kiddos like it so I don't argue.

On the way home, we stopped at a playground and the girls go to run around, go crazy and enjoy some time outside without being soggy when done. Ellie is getting big enough that no ladder, set of stairs or other obstacle will keep her off a play set. Campbell THINKS she's big enough to do everything big sister can do. The kid is fearless.

Jennifer has been busy with mid-terms and has been studying up a storm. As usual, she's worried about how she'll do. And as usual, she'll do fine. I'll never understand how someone so smart has so much self-doubt. Heck, I hardly managed to stay in college my first two years and I didn't sweat it half as much as she does. And she's the one who graduated from UT with honors. I think my diploma says "Barely Graduated" on it somewhere.

Tonight, I took advantage of the lack of rain, grabbed a book and a cigar, then retreated to the back porch. A starry night greeted me and and a friendly moon shone just over the roofline. Some times, just 30 minutes of privacy can renew and rejuvenate.