Being Tourists in Seattle

The weather was nice-ish with clear air the first day when we went to the library, with the sun playing peek-a-boo with the clouds. The next day, Saturday, the weather was dripping wet all day. We ended up deciding to stay home (except I ran off to pick up groceries in the late afternoon). Our big activity for the day was taking a long soak in the hot tub. It was really sweet~~ dark and raining on us, but we were warm and happy in the water.

Bandit

Cleo

Today, however, as I was enjoying my morning coffee and working on job applications but before we'd had breakfast, the sun came out again. We drove over to Volunteer Park, and the visibility was not that great, but the sun was mostly out. We walked around the park, went up the water tower and strolled through the conservatory (100 year anniversary this year!). Afterwards we went to the nearby cemetery. Karjam had us stop the truck several times so he could take video from a good vantage point as we returned home. Hungry for lunch we almost went to a restaurant, but ended up just buying a couple random things in a Vietnamese grocery and returning home.

Karjam looking at old Seattle houses

In the evening we went to the Compline chanting at Saint Mark's Cathedral. I took these snapshots after most people had left. After Compline there was an organist. Karjam was very impressed at the quality of the music, the difficulty of the singing. I was impressed at how many people, esp. how many young people were there. 

The Seattle Central Library

My friend Rebecca and her husband Michael decided to go away for a sweet little vacation and their regular cat/housesitter wasn't available. Yay for me that the timing almost perfectly matches Karjam's days off here at the end of the year. Although we'll miss dad and Irene's New Year's Eve party on Lopez, I'm just so happy to get out of our usual routine!

Rebecca and Michael's cats, Bandit and Cleo, are indoor but social and semi-social housecats. They appreciate a good pat and are used to being talked to-- and they're totally gorgeous examples of regal cat-hood. We arrived on the evening of the 27th to get oriented before Rebecca and Michael left, although when we arrived I wasn't feeling well and K had to get most of the instructions by himself.

For our budget Seattle experience on the first day (the 28th) we headed to the Seattle Central Library. All photos below are from the Push Button Dummy Camera, I don't even have the cord for my good camera with me.

Waiting for the Bus

The library is an architectural landmark and prize of the city, plus, of course, full of great book collections. Rem Koolhaas and Joshua Prince-Ramus were the architects. Karjam doesn't care much about the names of architects, but he loves taking photos of and checking out cool buildings. We started at the tenth floor (where the best views are) and proceeded down through each floor to the street level. It was really impressive- lots of good spots for reading, desks to sit and compute at, all very inviting. Plus cool views, a feeling of space, and the fun floor where everything is painted red/hot pink.

Elevator

Escalator

My Favorite Sci-Fi Author

Outside while I was framing an ultra-wide shot on my good camera I got a sudden surprise. Amanda Hardeman, a good friend from my undergraduate at COA and former roommate back when I lived in Seattle in the early 90s, approached us. She looked exactly the same, although she pointed out some lines, they only accentuated how much time she spends laughing and smiling. I figure I was meant to see her, running into her on the street like that!

Cool Tree

K and I walked to the International District (lots more photos and building ogling on the way). We went to Uwajimaya where I ate lunch, then we looked elsewhere for a restaurant for Karjam that would have real Chinese style beef-noodle soup. But (and I told him this could happen) he got a bowl of noodle soup so disappointing that when we returned to Uwajimaya he had an entire other meal, there. We bought several items to prepare while we're in Seattle, and plan to go back with the truck on our way out of town to really stock up.

Back at the house we relaxed and did some computer work before I made a dinner that K was much in favor of-- perhaps principally because I had brought his favorite condiment from home.