Got married this weekend. Going to review photos tomorrow. Filed the certificate and retrieved a few copies from the county auditor today.
Working in Seattle. Temps are cooling quickly up here. Sorry if you live in California.
The wedding was held in Tacoma, at Point Defiance-- a wonderful place to start a new life, now that I think of it. Many of Beth's friends came, pieces of families came together, and lots of people had a few too many merlots.
Going this weekend to Wisconsin to revisit some folks and give others a chance to come see us. Plenty of joy is just around the corner!
Life is good.
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Catch up
Just spent some time at home, in San Francisco, at home, and in San Francisco again. On my way to Los Angeles. Hope to get some time to see people. Going to work tomorrow morning, hope to get an early flight home, and spend some time in Sunny Seattle! Well, my birthday is also coming up this weekend... kind of a non-event with all else that's going on for me. One week till I'm married... things are coming together for that, to. Beth and I wrote the ceremony, and outlined things... dance music and dinner music is being dropped on my good friend, Elena, since Beth and I don't have the time, energy, or taste to do this alone.
Looking forward to seeing plenty of folks there. Most of my friends had other obligations, even my brother is testing the waters to make sure he can come, and there is no sign of anyone from California... time, money, the usual... we'll remember who goes to who's weddings, come funeral time, some folks won't be getting very nice floral arrangements...
Weddings are every bit as expensive as people say. Even on a decidedly thrifty plan the total cleared 10,000 early, and crept upward from there.
I had a beehive taking shape on the front porch. I found a spray nozzle attachment for the hose, and took about three rounds of drenching before all the larvae fell to the ground, the shell stripped clear. I feel a little bad about causing harm, but it's nice not to be a nest for insects...
Looking forward to seeing plenty of folks there. Most of my friends had other obligations, even my brother is testing the waters to make sure he can come, and there is no sign of anyone from California... time, money, the usual... we'll remember who goes to who's weddings, come funeral time, some folks won't be getting very nice floral arrangements...
Weddings are every bit as expensive as people say. Even on a decidedly thrifty plan the total cleared 10,000 early, and crept upward from there.
I had a beehive taking shape on the front porch. I found a spray nozzle attachment for the hose, and took about three rounds of drenching before all the larvae fell to the ground, the shell stripped clear. I feel a little bad about causing harm, but it's nice not to be a nest for insects...
Monday, July 03, 2006
4th of July weekend
I got a four day weekend. It was very fun to be driving home last night and realize that sunday had become a kind of friday. I go to San Francisco again Wednesday morning for three days, but I have a bit of local work leading into the wedding, and a week of local work following it. I don't worry about making mileage, that's tending to be a given.
Things are going well for me, I took a final in my programming course yesterday, I got an A, with a 97.5 overall grade. It was easy, basic high school math, and simple control structures. With built in function reference in the software, as long as you know what you're trying to do, it is merely a question of being able to read, and write, and think. I never thought I was short in those.
Trying to get music organised for the wedding reception. It turns out I don't have nearly as broad, or narrowly focused, perhaps, a music collection as I had hoped. There may be some cash plopped out to iTunes yet.
Got the banquet license. Had to promise not to serve minors. Not to drastic a concern. Also, the one sticking point is that all alchohol has to be bought in the state of washington, with valid taxes paid... given that a large wine purchase almost merits a trip to our tax free southern neighbour, I found this a little disappointing.
You may fire when ready, Gridley.
Things are going well for me, I took a final in my programming course yesterday, I got an A, with a 97.5 overall grade. It was easy, basic high school math, and simple control structures. With built in function reference in the software, as long as you know what you're trying to do, it is merely a question of being able to read, and write, and think. I never thought I was short in those.
Trying to get music organised for the wedding reception. It turns out I don't have nearly as broad, or narrowly focused, perhaps, a music collection as I had hoped. There may be some cash plopped out to iTunes yet.
Got the banquet license. Had to promise not to serve minors. Not to drastic a concern. Also, the one sticking point is that all alchohol has to be bought in the state of washington, with valid taxes paid... given that a large wine purchase almost merits a trip to our tax free southern neighbour, I found this a little disappointing.
You may fire when ready, Gridley.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
San Francisco
Ah, the city by the cloud. Been in San Francisco since Tuesday night, worked at a law office yesterday, had chinese, went to grab a drink at a bar on Haight and Ashbury, where there is a GAP on the corner. Lots of hippie bumper stickers, and bongs... not much else. It's a largely tourist destination, it seems...
But how bad can it be. Chris tried to order a coke, but they don't sell coke, since it doesn't grow in california, they did have some home brew root beer.
Traffic is better here than normal. Or maybe it's just that I haven't had to go to San Jose.
But how bad can it be. Chris tried to order a coke, but they don't sell coke, since it doesn't grow in california, they did have some home brew root beer.
Traffic is better here than normal. Or maybe it's just that I haven't had to go to San Jose.
Sunday, June 11, 2006
R and R
Had a spare day from vacation today. Mowed the lawn. Raked.
Found our roses growing fine, had our doubts to begin with (instructions say prune--anything above a few inches died horribly!).
Doing laundry. Dishes to do, and watching Hannah and her Sisters. "I've got a tumor in my head the size of a basketball." Gotta give it to Woody Allen to write think good healthsome thoughts.
Great sunny day, light breeze, fine to see some downtime.
Found our roses growing fine, had our doubts to begin with (instructions say prune--anything above a few inches died horribly!).
Doing laundry. Dishes to do, and watching Hannah and her Sisters. "I've got a tumor in my head the size of a basketball." Gotta give it to Woody Allen to write think good healthsome thoughts.
Great sunny day, light breeze, fine to see some downtime.
Banff, Alberta
Just returned from Canada last night. Spent four nights in Banff and one night in Jasper, AB.
Our campsite in Banff was very good, there was a huge woodpile, and you just drove up and took what you wanted. I was slightly reminded of the piles of old shoes found outside the 'showers' in Nazi concentration camps, but that's not a pleasant idea.
We had very few neighbors, were only about a mile or two outside the town of Banff, and had plenty of opportunities for hiking and sightseeing. After a few days, we were pretty hiked out, and we went into Calgary for a day to do our laundry, eat well, and see the Calgary Zoo.
Banff town looks a little like Vail or Aspen. Lots of shoppes, restaurants (even Earls), hotels, and museums. Jasper is smaller and flat. Jasper sits on CN tracks (with Via service), and Banff is on CP tracks.
Our campsite in Banff was very good, there was a huge woodpile, and you just drove up and took what you wanted. I was slightly reminded of the piles of old shoes found outside the 'showers' in Nazi concentration camps, but that's not a pleasant idea.
We had very few neighbors, were only about a mile or two outside the town of Banff, and had plenty of opportunities for hiking and sightseeing. After a few days, we were pretty hiked out, and we went into Calgary for a day to do our laundry, eat well, and see the Calgary Zoo.
Banff town looks a little like Vail or Aspen. Lots of shoppes, restaurants (even Earls), hotels, and museums. Jasper is smaller and flat. Jasper sits on CN tracks (with Via service), and Banff is on CP tracks.
Monday, June 05, 2006
Camping in Canada
Spent all weekend in BC camping. Lac Le Jeune Provincial Park is located between Meritt and Kamloops in the inland interior, right off highway 5. The drive was scenic, we crossed at Abbotsford/Sumas and drove right on in.
Some notes regarding LLJ.
1. BYOB. BC liquor sales are all handled through government owned liquor sales. We arrived late on Saturday night, and it was closed. We tried back Sunday, and the site in Kamloops was not open on Sunday. This should not be a problem, since the new Signature store near Save-on-Foods in Kamloops has bank hours on Sunday, but it did not open until the day we left.
2. No showers. There is a faucet and toilets (flushing) throughout the campsite, but if you want a shower, you had better bring a camper or plan ahead.
3. Colder than we anticipated. Beth's sleeping bag is rated to 40F, mine to 30F, but we both found sleeping pants off very challenging. Thankfully there are plenty of oppurtunities to buy warmer clothes in nearby Kamloops.
4. Firewood must be purchased from the gate guard/park operator. It is $5 for a nights worth.
5. Mountain pine beetles are decimating this area of BC. Many well treed areas have been thinned-- severely-- to prevent the spread of this dangerous pest. Our campsite looked like loggers had just come through.
6. Wild roses and strawberries abound, as well as pine and birch trees. The lake is home to several ducks, and there are plenty of ponds in the area around the lake. However, there are also a lot of mosquitoes. Bring bug spray, and buy a paper to start your fire.
7. Apart from birds, very little wildlife was present. We did see some salmon in a creek over by the resort (private property). They are tenacious swimmers. They sure look like they don't belong in streams that size!
8. The trails around the park have minimal signage, are hard to follow, the first indication of length is after one mile, and jut in and out of private property. At two times you are to follow streets. Also, some of the ponds that drain into the lake do so over the trail. Some interesting adventures followed with us either finding ways through the woods to dry land or over fallen logs across 8 feet of water and mud. Bring good boots.
Some notes regarding LLJ.
1. BYOB. BC liquor sales are all handled through government owned liquor sales. We arrived late on Saturday night, and it was closed. We tried back Sunday, and the site in Kamloops was not open on Sunday. This should not be a problem, since the new Signature store near Save-on-Foods in Kamloops has bank hours on Sunday, but it did not open until the day we left.
2. No showers. There is a faucet and toilets (flushing) throughout the campsite, but if you want a shower, you had better bring a camper or plan ahead.
3. Colder than we anticipated. Beth's sleeping bag is rated to 40F, mine to 30F, but we both found sleeping pants off very challenging. Thankfully there are plenty of oppurtunities to buy warmer clothes in nearby Kamloops.
4. Firewood must be purchased from the gate guard/park operator. It is $5 for a nights worth.
5. Mountain pine beetles are decimating this area of BC. Many well treed areas have been thinned-- severely-- to prevent the spread of this dangerous pest. Our campsite looked like loggers had just come through.
6. Wild roses and strawberries abound, as well as pine and birch trees. The lake is home to several ducks, and there are plenty of ponds in the area around the lake. However, there are also a lot of mosquitoes. Bring bug spray, and buy a paper to start your fire.
7. Apart from birds, very little wildlife was present. We did see some salmon in a creek over by the resort (private property). They are tenacious swimmers. They sure look like they don't belong in streams that size!
8. The trails around the park have minimal signage, are hard to follow, the first indication of length is after one mile, and jut in and out of private property. At two times you are to follow streets. Also, some of the ponds that drain into the lake do so over the trail. Some interesting adventures followed with us either finding ways through the woods to dry land or over fallen logs across 8 feet of water and mud. Bring good boots.
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