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

An Event-Filled Week

Ferry leaving Seattle

Hello Friends ~

This week seems to have lasted an eternity with much happening on both the job front and travel!

Locks in Seattle

Salmon making their way up the 'steps' alongside the locks

an example of Everett whimsy

I spent some time in Seattle last weekend with Gary Konop, a friend who transplanted here from Japan about four years ago.  Gary worked in many places in Japan (in economic development) for the State of Michigan, the U.S. Commerce Department, and finally Boeing - in government relations with the Japanese government.  We got together both Saturday and Sunday for meals and sightseeing near his home near the sound. Traffic was more than I bargained for getting there and back - it's going to take some getting used to.  This should be made easier with a 60 mph speed limit on the expressways, where people abide by it for the most part. Very different from Detroit.  Somewhat calming, actually!

All day Monday was spent in the library where I finished my resume and got it out to a couple of potential jobs.

Colombia River Maritime Museum

Tuesday saw me on the highway at 5:00am driving down to the northern Oregon coast where I went to visit Craig and Terry Nern at their home on the coast.  Once I got off the interstate and made my way west to US101 the complexion of the vistas changed completely. Old growth forests gave way to wide rivers, which eventually gave way to the wide expanse of the Pacific. I stopped at the Colombia River Maritime Museum (www.crmm.org) in Astoria, OR, where I quickly became engrossed in the local history as it pertains to fishing and lumbering - and grew to understand and deeply respect the Colombia River and surroundings.  This museum is done incredibly well as museums go!

Examples of canned salmon labels

My visit with Craig and Terry was fantastic. Craig and I spent more time together than we have since knowing each other in East Lansing during the "turbulent sixties".  Our contribution to those times probably amounted to the effect of the "screams of ten thousand butterflies" but we lived them and here to bear witness.

Craig and Terry Nern

View out from the Nern's kitchen

We spent the better part of almost three days hiking, visiting with their friends, restauranting and a bicycle ride.  Interspersed between we caught up, and discussed the near-future.  The air is so dense there, the surrounding forests and ocean so primordial, that one is transported to an earlier era in America ~ if not an earlier era in mankind.  I am grateful for the opportunity to be introduced to this unique place by two very special people humbly respecting their surroundings.

Craig and Terry live below near the ocean

an alive sea creature - not edible

Thursday morning I made my way back to Everett.  I took the opportunity to travel some 'blue highways' through Oregon (pronounced "Or-gun") on my way east to Interstate 5 North.  It was much like Kentucky's back woods except with pristine, serpentine two-lanes.  The biggest surprise was amount of logging still taking place.  Take note in the pictures.

note the interior was once painted entirely in white

this activity was abundant in the areas I passed through

the Cascades about an hour east of Everett

Friday morning I visited two training centers at Boeing where I was told (off the record) that hiring at my age - despite doing well in a training community college-run program, would be very unlikely!  Somewhat disappointed, but appreciative of the candor (so I didn't waste $4,000 of my own money on the program) I have set my sights elsewhere.  Tomorrow (Monday) I meet with a recruiter in Seattle to discuss a job selling N.A. produce (vegetables) to Asian countries and later in the week I hope to schedule some more interviews.  Again, I have been spending a lot of time in the library working on posting my resume in various job sites.  USAJOBS is an interesting site.  Tons of fascinating jobs there - our tax dollars at work.

note the illumination provided by the cop spotlight!

About 7:00pm last night I took a wistful look east at the Cascades.  It was a clear evening and they were beckoning.  An hour and-a-half later the Blue Owl was climbing a two-track fire trail in the dark.  I didn't return home until about mid-night and the clear night with its clear air and the clear sound of a clear mountain stream cleared out my brain in a way its not been cleared in years!  How sweet.


Ciao ~ 


Chris

Everett

these planes pick up complete assemblies for the planes being manufactured

I used to have a great-uncle Everett.  Married my great-aunt Lydia and raised my two cousins in Gladwin, MI, were great-aunt Lydia taught grade school.  My cousin used to ride his Ford tractor to school.  How fun.

less than 1/2 mile from Boeing plant

It's past noon on Saturday and I am sitting in the Everett Public Library (got my card yesterday) a quarter mile from the bay, overlooking the Naval Station Everett which is (itself) located on the northeast side of Puget Sound. It's home port for a US Navy Carrier Strike Group consisting of two destroyers, one nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and a Coast Guard buoy tender - all of which I can see from here!  There are about 350 sailors and civilians assigned to the station.

one of my new roommates

Toured the Boeing Plant Friday morning and thoroughly enjoyed it! The building is eleven stories high and can house Disneyland and still have twelve acres remaining! Everyone appeared so casual (as everyone in the Seattle area does).  It really appears to be a well-run facility.  It's like a new auto plant slowed down 9/10ths and inflated by a factor of 500.  The museum was less interesting though Mr. Boeing's life story is as impressive as any of the 'self-made' men of his time.

room 202

my house

As I said, I got a room.  Since then I have looked at a few others and determined that this is my best bet for the interim.  I am meeting more of my roommates as the days progress.  Most are working.  One is quite the alcoholic. Hey, there's room for everybody on the bus, right? Yesterday, I took a bicycle ride down by the docks (and Naval yard) and had a great time mingling with people and watching the sun set.  It really is quite an expereince.  The breeze coming off of the Pacific is soo soothing.  What an apt name for this ocean.

Integrety Motor Yachts Austrailia

this is real activity here

I have been completely redoing my resume replete with fancy, if not fanciful, descriptions of past experiences and expertise.  I have been exercising with very long bicycle rides and light weight lifting.  Yesterday, I got a flat tire on the way home from the docks and rode home on the flat.  It was like a run-flat.  It didn't destroy the tire, nor the rim at all.  I had to be careful though not to run over any bumps.

the bay

I couldn't understand what they were looking at...

So, this evening I am meeting a friend for dinner at Chinook's at Salmon Bay.  It is "a casual, high-energy seafood restaurant located in Seattle's Fishermen's Terminal".  I am looking forward, it'll be my first taste of seafood here!

then I saw this fascinating critter (not otter!)

hungry, indeed!!

Next week I will be going further down the coast to visit friends in Manzanita, OR, where they have recently built a home on the coast after moving out from Boise, ID.  Haven't lost sight of the end goal though which is to get a job!  I'll write again soon.

Cheers,

Chris

a very nice day ~ Good Nite!