KEXP Barbecue

Yesterday, we went to the KEXP barbecue, in the south of Lake Union area. It ran from 2:30 to 9:00, so it was roughly 6 1/2 hours of beer drinking and photo shooting for me. Leilani was there for the music. So I got there early, scoped out a piece of ground to call home, and proceeded.

The set list included The Blakes(above), The Cave Singers, Pela, the Blue Scholars, and Cloud Cult. Of all, I think I was most impressed with the Cave Singers.

On Friday night, I bussed up to Everett and met Leilani to spend time with Susan, Eric, and Brandon. They were in town for a wedding, and if I was to have a chance to see them, this was my only window. They were skating at the Everett Arena, so I joined them. First time ice skating for me, probably since childhood. A little wobbly for the first 10 minutes or so, but then it came back pretty quickly. Kim and Jessica (just in from South Carolina), were there as well.

Today, we had breakfast at Cyclops, and I've just been sorting through my hundred or so new photos. Good thing to do on a rainy August Sunday.

The Snapper!

So, Leilani was away at radio class tonight. After making some Cajun shrimp, I hit the pavement with my new camera and tried to give myself a bit of practice. I'm happy with the photos it takes... very clear and colorful.

Once I got to the top of the hill, I took the typical aerials of Seattle from the park at the top of the hill, but then wandered down to the end and took this one of the grain silos and the Puget Sound at Sunset:

Birthdays and Bakings

Well, tomorrow marks the big 3-9 for Leilani! That means mine is not far behind. We both have just one year left of our 30s to enjoy. And what a decade it was! I found a career that I can live with during this decade. I became a homeowner during this decade. I developed a LTR, and it looks as though it's truly for the long haul. Now there are two major passages to make it through, and it's all looking like they might happen before my 30s are complete.

So, this weekend has been spent running around at the bequest of my better half. She had a full agenda set up for yesterday. I think we accomplished 2 thirds of it. We saw Ocean's 13, went for noodles in the International District, drove up to Totem Lake, and went to Trader Joe's and Taco Bell.

I was hoping to be able to stay close to home today, baking and birthday-prepping. Cake's in the oven, but now it's looking like my presence may be requested at a family photo shoot in Everett. The dreaded "8'oclock on a Sunday" hour will get here before I know it.

Lastly, the new camera arrived last week! Haven't had much of a chance to play around with it yet. May get that opportunity this afternoon in Everett. It's definitely not the type of thing I can have around my neck and be ready for that magic shot at a moment's notice. It's a bit bulky, and will probably require my going out with that specific purpose in mind.

Happy birthday Leilani! Love you lots!

El Positivo

You didn't hear it from me, but a certain test came in positive today. The posts in the months to come will be highly influenced by this, if this is indeed the case.

A picture I took this morning on the way to work. Can't really tell, but the girl walking is dreadlocked and I've seen her around. Very cool look... should be recommended to Pike and Pine, the blog about Seattle street fashion. In the background is the world renown Nitelite tavern. Many a crazy night came out of that place!

Amateur Photographer

Money has been burning a hole in my pocket these days. I'm normally in an extreme state of frugality. I mentioned my worry at being in debt on a credit card to my friend Mike a few weeks ago. He asked how much I owed, and I told him it was in the 1000$ range. He laughed and told me he's in the hole for a figure in the 10-15,000 range. I probably worry too much, but I've never owed the big banks much money, and I like to keep it that way.

So, that said, I've had the interest in picking up photography as a hobby recently. My supervisor has really gotten into it, and I must admit he's piqued my interest. I spontaneously shelled out over 6 bills for the Canon Bandit yesterday. I was starting to have second thoughts, but then I realized that I don't often buy nice-to-haves for myself, and I'm not getting any younger. So there you have it. I'll be recording my progress from time to time here. Hopefully something nice will come of it.

In the meantime, I've been taking lots of random pictures with my point-and-shoot. Yesterday, I got some around Belltown. I took this one facing South on 2nd avenue, and decided to compare it with the one shot in 1918, from the same angle (mine was on Battery, the other was on Lenora).

I like seeing how the city has changed, but even more fascinating is seeing the pieces that haven't changed that much. For instance, look at the Moore Hotel sitting right at the horizon line. Virtually the same after all this time.

So, here's to hoping that this new toy doesn't collect dust!

Bellingham, WA

On a whim, we decided to go for a drive up to Bellingham WA yesterday. Our plan was to spend some time at the farmers' market, go to the Museum of Radio and Electricity, walk through the Whatcom Falls park, head on over to the Fairhaven district, and back to Bellingham for dinner. We did all of the above with the possibility entertained for spending the night there, but that didn't pan out.

Bellingham is a nice town. I often think I might have liked to go to school at WWU. I was surprised at how quiet the downtown area is. I'm sure things clear out once the Spring semester has ended, but I guess I was expecting a little more activity. At one point, I was considering the possibility of relocating to Bellingham. Leilani wouldn't have bought into that plan, but it was an idea. I like how laid back it is up there, but I think for what the price of a home is, mixed with what I'd be giving up leaving the Seattle area, it would probably end up being a raw deal.

None the less, we had a nice day there yesterday, outside of Leilani finding a plastic sticker in her Thai meal.

Still Into Music...

Okay, I'm going to be 40 in a year, 2 months, and some spare change. I have a secret. I won't even let my girlfriend in on this one, especially when she plans on attending the Cure concert on a weeknight. Yes folks... I still like music. I like discovering new music. I like being one of a handful of people "cool" enough to know about and like some obscure band. I like walking down crowded 3rd avenue on my way home each day from work, with my headphones on and deluding myself into believing that I'm actually some sort of hipster... even with my tie and graying hair and middle-age gut. Somehow none of that matters.

Recently I dumped Rhapsody for Yahoo! music, and I've never been happier. Rhapsody is so damn buggy that I began wondering what I was paying for. Now there's no question. Songs download seamlessly to my Zen, I still have all my favorite selections, it's great! Passes the day at work in a wonderful way.

So what am I listening to these days? Well, here's the list:

1. The High Water Marks - "Songs About the Ocean"
2. The Arm - "The Arm"
3. The Ponys - "Turn the Lights Out"
4. Downpilot - "Leaving Not Arriving"
5. Sufjan Stevens - "Seven Swans"
6. Radio 4 - "Enemies Like This"
7. A Band of Bees - "Free the Bees"
8. The Marked Men - "Fix My Brain"
9. Peter Bjorn and John - "Writer's Block"
10. The Ponys - "Turn the Lights Out"
11. The Prids - "Until the World is Beautiful"
12. Blond Redhead - "23"
13. Brakes - "Beatific Visions"
14. Dirty on Purpose - "Hallelujiah Sirens" (5 out of 5 stars!)
15. Kings of Leaon - "Because of the Times"
16. Laura Veirs - "Saltbreakers"
17. Midlake - "Balloon Maker"
18. Nick Drake - "Pink Moon"
19. Nada Surf - "Blizzard of '77"

And yesterday I pulled out my Neutral Milk Hotel cds after not listening to them for over a year and realized that they're pure genius.

Yeah, I'm a dork.

P.S. been a while since I've posted. will try to do better.