Playing tourist

We spent all day yesterday wandering around Seattle's downtown and market area, of course, culminating in a few hours of Pike Place Market. It was fun to get out and people watch, and to see what kind of craft is out there. Most of the big spaces that are used in Pike's Place are actual businesses, but the further down you go you can find some people that are selling their art and trying to make a few more bucks outside of their jobs (assuming they have one). I really wanted to bring our nice camera for this trip, but it was not in the working state of being when we were leaving, so it was left at home. We do have a digital camera, and it takes some decent pictures, but it would have been nice to have some of these pictures on film.

Outside of the wedding, we wanted to just get a vacation in. All of our trips that we have when we leave the state are to travel home. As nice as it is to see our families a few times a year, it would be fun to do this in different cities. Traveling to places like Baltimore, Chicago, D.C., Boston, etc. just to see them have always sounded like a blast, but then you run into the issue of cost.
Anyway, here's a few pictures from our trip yesterday.

Flight karma

All of our flights left on time and landed early! How awesome is that? It is from our previous flights where we have been delayed and missed connecting flights, or in A's case, had a flight completely canceled only to have to leave the next day.

I don't know if that is one hundred percent how it works, but that is what we are going with. For the longest time, we had great flight karma and never had anything delayed more than twenty minutes or so. Then last February, we missed our connecting flight out of Chicago because our plane needed to be de-iced and we had to wait in line for the crew to do such. When it finally came our turn, they had some issues with the hoses they were using. In the end, we caught a flight into Kansas City and drove down to Wichita.

Hopefully, when we go to leave in about nine days, our flight karma will still be good enough to get us home on time.

I had a hipster moment....

This morning, while listening to the radio play on the overhead at work, Weezer's 'Beverly Hills' came on. I had a hipster moment and regretted it the moment it entered my mind. That thought was, 'I remember when the Blue Album came out and we listened to it before they became as popular as they are now.' I felt like this mainly because it was on cassette, so I felt a little old at the time as well. Douchey, but old.

I just thought I would share this moment in an effort to prevent everyone from having these inadvertent hipster moments. Please, please, please, never utter the words 'I listened to this band before they became popular.' If a favorite band of yours goes mainstream, there are two options. One, find a new favorite band. Two, deal with it. Don't bring up the fact that you were one of the few hundred that bought the first album. No one will believe you. I had this experience with The Killers, kind of. I feel that when I bought their first album, it was right before they became a household name. Their music really hasn't changed, they have just become popular. I have dealt with it. Granted, I only have two of their albums, but that is because I didn't like the third and fourth albums. I just didn't enjoy the songs. Am I one of their self proclaimed 'biggest fans'? No. Do I own all their work? No. Have I ever seen them in concert? No. I just enjoyed their music. Does that give me the right to say that if you like them now, you aren't hip? Hell no. In fact, if I ever say that to anyone, I may slap myself.

I have a few bands that I really enjoy right now that I don't think are too popular, but they are good enough to become household names. In fact, they are on that cusp. I hope they make it bigger than they are right now and they continue to make the great music they have made. I would hate for bands to change their sound because they want to make more money, but that is what the industry is all about.

Why Johnny did the right thing

Johnny Damon just recently declined to be traded away from the Detroit Tigers to the Boston Red Sox after he was placed on waivers by Detroit earlier this week. Being a Tigers fan, I couldn't have been happier. Baseball players around the league need to take note as to why he did so, and it isn't like the Tigers have a huge contract with him. He only signed a one year deal last year. Boston is trying to make a late season push into the playoffs, which is why they went after him.

This is the best situation for all of baseball because Damon wants to stay in Detroit to be a mentor to the younger players, and Detroit has a ton of them. How could people not like that? He was contacted by several Red Sox players about coming back to Boston, players he won a World Series with, players he knows and know well. He was also approached by some of the younger Tigers players about staying on and helping them grow into the big league.

In the end, he chose Detroit because he says he loves the city and the organization, but more than that, I think he loves to be that veteran player that each and every teammate can come up to and ask for baseball advice from. He is what people refer to as a great 'clubhouse guy'. The person that can say the right things at the right times to ignite that spark that younger teams need throughout the grueling haul of a one hundred ans sixty two game season.

Float trippin'

We took a trip to Missouri this past weekend for a float trip with some friends. We have found the perfect weekend to do so. It's this past weekend. Why? Because the frat boys and sorority girls are all back in school! The camp ground was fairly empty, but there were still quite a bit of people there. We aren't ones to be loud and rambunctious like the majority of the people that go there, so this time it was great.

The weather on the other hand, kind of sucks. It wasn't the fact that it was hot and sunny, it was because of the heat the weeks before. It led to lower water. Instead of float for eight miles, we on;y went four and a half. It wasn't all bad though. Only having to travel half the distance means there is more time to stop and hang out with friends. The heat was a bit of a problem. It led to uncomfortable sleeping. Who wants to sleep in a hot tent with no breeze? No one, unless they are insane. So that is the only low point of the trip. The hot weather during the evening.

All in all, a nice trip that helped to determine the next time we go there, it'll be when college is in session.

*sixth post in the one hundred degree posts*

August beer

I am proud of myself for going eighteen days into the month before buying my beer of the month. I don't know if it is something to be really proud, going eighteen days into a month before buying beer, but I'll take it. Now, because I have made it through the majority of the month, I went with just a twelve pack. It's Labatt Blue. It's cans so I can take them to the pool and enjoy them because we are not suppose to have glass there.

Anniversary date

Earlier this year, A and I celebrated our three year wedding anniversary! We didn't do much because we both were feeling a little under the weather. Plus, we agreed not to go crazy with the presents. However, I wanted to spoil her with a surprise gift and we finally got around to using it. They were concert tickets to Norah Jones. I'm glad that I bought them when I did because the concert sold out.

So we went out to dinner and spoiled ourselves with appetizers, a full meal, and dessert at Bella Luna cafe. For those who live in or around Wichita, if you haven't been there, go there for a dinner or lunch, it is fantastic! Right after dinner, we headed down for the concert. It was laid back, not too loud (I feel to old writing that), and it was two and a half hours long. Granted, the first half hour was an opening act and a twenty five minute (or so) intermission was thrown in there too, so the main act was an hour and a half long.

I knew a little of Jones' music, other than her popular songs from seven or eight years ago. Her new music was wonderful, it was heavy and jazz oriented. If you were in a night club, this is the kind of music you would have been hearing, but the building would have been filled with smoke. Different kinds of smoke. Oh, you know what kind of smoke I'm talking about.

Anyway, it was an enjoyable night that was laid back and everything that people should look for in an anniversary celebration.

Why I hate the internet right now

In the past month or so at work people have been either calling into the store or asking us at the store for a certain product because 'they saw we sold it on the internet'. Or, 'I was researching this product on the internet and it said that you sold it.'

Listen, it's not that I really hate the internet, the collective 'they' just need to put on whatever websites these people are looking at that each store carries different items. I have no problem helping these people out when they come into the store, I just hate when they keep saying 'the internet said you carry it'. Even if we don't have it in the store, these people just don't get it. The internet is full of lies people. If you don't believe me, go ask Al Gore, he'll tell you all about it. He did invent it you know.

*fifth post of the one hundred degree plus posts*

Catching up

While I have been dealing with this little cold, I have trying to catch up on sleep. That is the best way I have found to deal with being sick, other than taking medicine. Here's the problem, I've been doing stuff other than work. Of course that happens. When I don't get sick I can come home and nap and have relaxing evenings. Oh no, not when I'm sick. Plans come out of the wood work for socializing and outings while I'm sick.

Wednesday afternoon we went out to the movies and then met up with some friends for dinner. Thursday I went to work and did get in a twenty minute nap before going out for a work related outing. Friday, I worked and when I got home went to get measured for my tux for my brother's wedding and returned some clothes. After that, we went to a friend's house for dinner.

It's exhausting doing these little things when you are sick, even if it is just a cold. I wish I were still in elementary school so I could have my mom call and tell them I would not be there for a few days. All I want to do is sleep this off, but I want and need to get paid, so I go to work.

*Fourth post of the one hundred degree plus posts*

Suddenly sick

I don't know how and I don't know why, but I suddenly got a little sick last night. Just a minor cold type situation. How the hell does someone get something like a cold when it is one hundred degrees outside? Isn't this a sickness that you get when it's the winter time or while the spring time rains come?

Fuckin' A. I'm sleeping this off.

*post three of the one hundred degree post

Behind already

In an attempt to continue to write, I am making myself write each day the temperature reaches one hundred degrees or above. It happened yesterday, but I didn't write anything. It's because I'm lazy. I think I've touched on this before, but there are times that I struggle to find something to write about. This is what happens when you get into a little bit of a rut and don't have anything happening right now.

It is a calm before the storm though. This weekend I have to work and if I can get through that, I'll be set because the following weekend, we are taking a float trip (our first for the year) to Missouri with some friends. Then comes the vacation. Seattle for eleven days. I cannot wait. It has been six months since our last vacation (home) and I am really looking forward to some more time away from Kansas.

*Post two of the one hundred degree posts (follow these posts by clicking the tag 'heat')

Still too hot

It has been too hot to do anything, and it is annoying. We grilled out tonight for dinner and I sat out to watch the steaks. It was insufferable. It's fine to be out in the heat for a little bit, but even in the shade it isn't worth it. Time slows while sitting out there and losing weight while waiting for dinner to cook. Sure, I can go back inside, but who wants to be inside while your food cooks outside? It just smells so great.

The only nice thing about not being is that it gives me time to do other things. Such as write. I thought about this last night. I should write each day the temperature rises above one hundred degrees. I'll start doing that. Granted, I can't go back in time and write for the dozen days or so that we have had one hundred plus days of heat, but I'll start now.

*Number one of the one hundred plus postings

Powerless words

It seems to me that phrases such as 'thank you' and 'you're welcome' have loss their meaning in society. Not to say that people are no longer grateful for the little things, they just take it for granted. I came to this conclusion last week while out and about with some friends.

We were sitting next to a group of people at a bar and every time the waitress brought their drinks, they didn't bother to acknowledge the job that she was doing. They continued on with their drinking and talking. It may not seem like much, but I know that if I were in the restaurant business, I would feel appreciated even if it were something as small as a 'thank you' from some drunk person you may never see again.

I make it a point to thank a waiter, waitress, or bartender. I know that it is their job to serve me, but I want to thank them for doing their job. Sometimes, their jobs look like the hardest jobs in the world. Dealing with drunk and belligerent people make their lives stressful. It may be a small gesture, saying thank you, but I like to think that it lets them know I appreciate their work and I hope that they know that.

Plus, it could lead to better service if they know I say thank you. At least that is what I'm going with.

Oh this heat

The past month has been unbearably hot. I know there has been at least one day that a temperature set a new record. Last week it got up to 107, that was the record. And that was just the temperature, that didn't include humidity or the heat index. Two days after that, it hit 109. 109! I hate it. Now that the pool has been fixed, it is too hot to go enjoy it. Part of going to the pool is to enjoy lying around and socializing. Yeah, you can sit in the pool the entire time, but you gotta get some sun and dry out.

I can't say it's too bad, this weekend it is suppose to cool down. Down to the high nineties. Thankfully. When it gets as hot as it has been, you don't ever want to do anything. The summer really has passed us by because all we did was sit around and tried to keep cool. After coming into the air conditioned apartment, who the hell would want to go back out to the heat?

We did plan out a float trip for the third week of August. The culmination of the summer. One last try to enjoy the outdoors and water. Even if it rains the entire weekend, I will enjoy it. At least I will try to.

Along with the writing

I swear, this is the last post about my camping. No more writing though, this is all about pictures.
Just a few of the over one hundred I took.

A chair, a beer, and a tent. Is there any other need?
The mess kit from my youth that still works.

A quick stop along the trail to take in the watery scenery.



As always, a sunset.