King Street train station and Qwest Field
Train station from the inside
Pike's Place Market, famous for its thrown salmon
Fruits and veggies for sale in Pike's
This used to be called Bank of America Tower but I guess they didn't charge me enough in fees as now it is called Columbia CenterWell, I have managed to escape the Texas heat and return to the solace of the Northwest. I flew to Seattle Wednesday, got to spend a bit of time with my second cousin Barbara and her husband Dale. They dropped me in downtown Seattle for to catch the Amtrak to Bellingham but I was 3 hours early, so I killed those hours in downtown Seattle.
I can remember when I first moved to Malaysia how hard it was for me to be in a big city. Now I just love the way the city pulses with life and energy. For most people, their goal is a little place on two acres outside the town but I think a downtown condo is more my choice these days. Ditch the car, walk to the art museum and the grocery store. That is the life!
Today I did two dives with Washington Divers here in Bellingham. We went to the Keystone Ferry Terminal a popular local shore dive (you dive next to the ferry terminal not actually in the terminal). It is amazing how much different diving is here than in tropical waters. You have to wear tons of neoprene and then because of the neoprene lots of weight. These two dives were the last two I needed to finish up my Divemaster course. Now I can make money diving! Hoping to get my Instructor certification next.
Tomorrow about 11 of us are headed for Sun Lakes in Eastern Washington for 4 days of camping. When I get back I'm then headed out with my friend Dave for an overnight backpacking trip. Looking forward to all those hours in nature.
I'll get some pictures up from all these adventures but I didn't bring my laptop so I don't want to download the pics onto a friend's computer. But I promise pictures in the future. See you in a week.
A few months ago I went and took my camera and macro lens to a state park near Bellingham. I just love shooting with a macro lens, probably more than any other lens. Here are a few of the better shots from the afternoon. 
My brother thinks you can track a person's age by when they thought Saturday Night Live stopped being funny. It hold pretty true.
However, I would like to posit another idea. I was driving the other day in my parent's car, which has XM radio. They have a channel for just 90's music. As I listened, I thought, "Wow, this is really good music, way better than today's music." Then I froze. Yikes...is that a sign I'm getting old?
I mean, the 90's had the advent of grunge rock, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Weezer, Bush, Stone Temple Pilots. It had New Kids on the Block, Mariah Carey, Madonna, and a host of others. Rap was still young and not vile. MTV actually had some music videos. VH1 had pop up videos. Wayne was in his world and all was right in heaven.
I'm not old, right? Tell me I'm just correct and not getting set in my ways. Ahhh, those dang kids and their new-fangled strawberries and music ring tone. Why I remember when you used to call...
Oak Alley Plantation
Houmas House Plantation
Houmas House
Ohhhh and artsy shot
Street performersWell, I have been to see three summer movies this year. Here is my review...albeit quick takes.
Hancock: Yawn. Not good at all. If you are on a transpacific flight and it is on, watch it. Otherwise, don't pay to see it.
Dark Knight: Good but overhyped. I liked Batman Begins better. My pet peeve: why does Christian Bale have his stupid Batman voice? It sounds so stupid...like he is trying to act scary.
Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. Not very good. They replace Rachel Weiss with Maria Bello. Bello is not even close to the actor Weiss is. Brendan Fraser and Bello have zero chemistry. It was good to see Datuk Michelle Yeoh (from Malaysia) but there is not much good about this movie.
Lastly, a musing about Colin Farrell. Why is he popular? Miami Vice and Alexander were horrid movies. I caught part of SWAT the other day and that was bad. How has he become a big actor? Are looks really that important?
