Greetings from the Puget Sound ~ End of Summer 2010

found on Grand Ave overlooking the harbor

my favorite Mexican restaurant

I can't get enough pictures of this guy

The rubber hit the road this past week as I abruptly discovered my job search was going to be no cinch in Seattle as well.  Can't really say how I came to realize it, but realize it I did!  I called a Japanese recruiter I had met earlier in the week and asked that she expand my search to encompass all of America, not just the Pacific Northwest.  I looked a my savings and experienced severe sphincter contractions! My breathing became shallow, etc., etc. ~ well you get the picture.  I continued to explore, but less so and closer to home.

the city is putting these away after a melodious summer ~ they were found on many corners

So, I will drift from that subject and into my explorations. Most of it was in and around the harbor.  I took pains to discover what the rest of Seattle area thinks of Everett and discovered it's regarded as somewhat sleepy, not like the up and coming little cities such as Bothell, Kirkland and Bellevue.  Cities supported by great brands such as Microsoft, Amazon, REI, Expedia, etc.

Friday night Paula, one of the girls in the rooming house, and I took in the state fair east in Monroe.  It was nice again to get away from the sea and towards the nearby mountains - though Monroe isn't quite that far.  We had a great evening which included seeing Clydesdales, monster trucks, fireworks, eating elephant ears, a roller coaster ride, and geting pulled over by the sheriff for a bonehead move I made exiting the fairgrounds (no ticket).  Paula is one of the many booted from a nice middle class job and into a place where she must write erotic short stories, finish her third novel, and take in the odd therapeutic massage job.  Don't ask me, I just write them as I hear them.

Asian Fusion restaurant

Jimmy

Speaking of massage, I was waiting on dinner at my favorite traveling Mexican restaurant the other evening when a self-proclaimed 'dancer' began to chat me up while she waited for her meal.  She was about 21 y/o (yes Ian's age, but much more entrepreneurial), thin, long-limbed, and quite talkative.   Half Italian and by all appearances 100% up to her work I was intrigued.  I have often thought I was better suited to the pay-as-you (yes, Craig, while not a novel idea it is certainly a good one!) go plan of marriage.  Anyway, she did earn a place in my contact list if nothing else.

I can get enough to eat for $2 at the Mexican catering truck and a massive meal for $5 w/o tip.  You gotta love it.

Yesterday morning I took a hike from my house over to Forest Park in Everett.  At 197 acres of old growth forest it's Everett's oldest park.  The hike was almost 'technical' once I got deep into the forest as the pathways were almost vertical at some points.  I emphatically felt away from it all. There is a pool, water playground, animal farm, and picnicking in other areas of the park.

California Walrus

Last night I took a free city-sponsored, hour long evening boat cruise of the harbor starting at 7:00pm.  I can't tell you how much fun I had! I saw so much wildlife and was calmed by the action of the boat on the water.  Just a wonderful experience.

friend in Kirkland

English Bull Terrier

As Paula and I were leaving the front door for brunch in Kirkland this morning we watched as a huge truck-based ambulance rammed a woman in an older model Ford Explorer at an intersection.  The sight and sounds were quite primal as her SUV was spun around like a toy. The ambulance had no siren, only lights and these were the only two vehicles on the road.  I am not sure how she was but they took her to the hospital.  Neither of us could tell who had the light as the event itself was so distracting.


I am waiting on a call from a manager at Olan Mills on a job taking pictures at churches in a quad-state area for their directories.  My sister, Megan, had a somewhat similar occupation many years ago and, in fact, the out growth of that was her own business photographing schools and organizations for years in the state of Florida.  She got my sister Melissa a job their and a short while later Melissa picked up two hitchhikers who were going to an event marking the end of the world (this was the early 70's).  So, Melissa ripped up the white sheets from the motel she was staying at, fashioned some form of dress, stole the company car and began to drive her new friends to the end of the world event somewhere out west.  Story has it that when she was caught up with and thrown in jail she didn't have anything to deal with her period and ended up with a red sheet (and face one would hope). So much for family stories... .


So, it's Sunday afternoon, I am in the library and got a call from cousin Krista inviting me to visit with she and Henry and Nan down in Portland next weekend. Sounds like fun, I look forward to getting back down that way!

the kids are alright

I paid my rent for another month (hard to believe it's only 18 days since I got here!) and I will put the hustle down again as I follow-up on opportunities: I took a job application from local O'Reilleys Auto Parts store (they're hiring), I'll follow-up with the photography job, I'll give my resume to a girl I met in a coffee kiosk to give to her manufacturer's rep father, and I' hustle further on a list of Boeing suppliers which Gary Konop gave me over lunch at a Asian Fusion restaurant in downtown Seattle yesterday.


love & affection!


Chris