Misty September Morn

It's one of those signs that you are truly going native. The morning comes, in late August or early September, when there is a mist hanging in the air. It's cool, overcast, and the summer is really gone. And you don't mind at all. You may, surprisingly to some, gather up your little ones and take a nice urban walk through rain and errant cyclists.

I got the kids bundled up in rain slickers, and we went for a nice walk in the rain. We walked along the canal in Fremont, one of my favorite places in Seattle. I love the strange sight of boats sailing past, the cool dinosaurs made of ivy that Arkaedi is speeding past in the photo. I don't like the odd and disturbing signs of alcoholism, such as discarded malt liquor/caffeine energy drink cans(wow, thank you marketing department; amped up drunks, we really needed those!)(I was being sarcastic, marketing department. Please stop making horrible crap.) and trash. But overall, it's a pleasant little walk.

I've come to terms with aspects of Seattle I dislike, such as the small town mentality jammed into large city culture, and the odd hipster mythos. The weather, one thing outsiders expect to hate, I love. I went through a period of dislike, sure, but I am anxious for winter and the cool rains. I am looking forward to the ever present mist. (For one, it provides endless opportunities for 13th Warrior references. Which only I appreciate. But continue to make.)

I'm ready for more fun. I have child sized rain gear, I have extra clothes and snacks. I have my trusty fleece, and I am totally willing and able to run to REI and get more. I am ready to accept you, rainy season.

Really, Really Hot. Seriously.

So, I worked all day taking care of children at a campus that was, literally, as hot as a thousand suns all rolled into one and placed in a Frydaddy and deep fried then shoved into a bottle of tabasco then fed to me. Absolutely literally.

It was hot. The thermometers on campus got to 103, apparently. That is hot. Normally shy Bastyr girls were wearing nothing but pasties made of ice and a few sprigs of parsley. Which was fun, sort of, until you realize that most of them are insane and would scream at you for nothing. And when you realize that it's 103, and you don't want anyone near you in the first place.

We survived today, though. I actually think we may go to the zoo tomorrow, which shows either my commitment to the kids' fun or my lack of sense. I have plenty of both. Good luck to me! And my poor kids!

Our House Is Soggy

We got a ton of water flowing, uninvited, into our bedroom. All of the things got moved away, into the living room. Or den, if you are into that kind of labeling. The kids and J are sleeping in the living room now, and I am in the office surrounded by stuff that belongs in the bedroom. It's fun, oddly, but irritating. Fun is often irritating to me.

It's our first experience of a flooded room in Seattle. It happens, and sometimes it's even dangerous. We were nowhere near that kind of excitement. We simply got a really wet carpet and moved our stuff. No big deal, really. It even inspired me to do another round of cleaning and donating. When stuff you didn't even know you had gets wet, it feels a little silly to have it. I'm ready to simplify.

These kinds of disruptions to our routine can be good for me. I'm not a terribly motivated person, and I get into my little routines quickly, and stay in them until a crisis, or a child, shakes me up. This has some advantages, certainly. But there are downsides too. Strange events like this remind me to stay prepared, because you really don't know what the day will bring.

So, hopefully all will dry out and be well tomorrow. We have powerful heaters and fans working for us, so there is cause for optimism. I spent the day not really worried about where to live, so that was a plus. I spent the day feeling like no matter where I live, I'll be okay. There will be daily work, a little rest, rare crises. It will be stuff that happens, no matter what. That's a good take home from any day.

A Taste Of Spring

"I like my sun friend," Viri said. He was into the nice weather today. It was nice, too. The temperature climbed into the 50s, the sun was out, mostly. We went off to Woodland Park for a good time in the revamped playground.

They keep changing these play areas. Now, they've gotten rid of all the sand, and replaced it with cedar chips. I'm not sure why. Some kids eat sand, maybe? Animals use it for toilets? Those animals, they ruin everything. My kids don't mind, either way. Arkaedi Sue can toddle through anything. Actually, she is getting to be tough to handle at the park; she climbs like a spider monkey. I had to grab her today when she climbed a ladder, and by the time I got to her she was at eye level. Viri was always a little more cautious. She doesn't care. She'll scale a giant structure then sing a song about it.

That song'll be BA BA BA, and it'll be screamed.

We had a nice day today. Everyone was in a good mood, because of the weather and the gradual recovery from our illness. Nobody feels a hundred percent, but we're all doing okay, which is better than the past week. Viri was running and jumping and swinging like his normal self.

Arkaedi is difficult to handle at the daycare, now, too. She's started this game where she slaps me, then kisses me. Now, I'm not a total stranger to this from women, as anyone who knew me in college can attest. In fact, I frequently didn't get to the kiss, and just made do with the slap. But coming from Pretty, it's a bit disconcerting. She finds it hilarious, though, so it's hard for me to argue. I've already learned that there is nothing I can deny this girl. I'm going to be in trouble. Viri is my son, and the eldest; I can shoulder him with burdens and expectations. But my little girl? The baby and the only daughter? We're both just lucky she has J. Today she had a little baby huddle to discuss her options. She decided they were best served by smacking me and then kissing me, then asking for food.

Her signs now include 'more' and 'finished,' though she rarely uses finished. She can pack away the food. She is truly my daughter. Today she ate a ton of food then sang along to my new bluegrass/country mix. She is into exactly the music I like. (Viri: "Can we listen to Ali Ali [Pakistani Sufi music] please, Papa?" You're... different, son.)

On an unrelated note, today is the square root of the year! 3/3/9! I absolutely love stuff like that.

I Challenge Spring To Arrive!

Of the strange and nerdy things I enjoy, weather is probably the one I least like to talk about. I'll go on about MST3K or Star Trek, and motorcycles can last me a weekend. But weather? It's an old man hobby. And, I'm ready to be an old man, I guess. I do have three weather apps for my itouch, which is three more than any man under seventy should have. There is nothing to be done about it, I'm a strange guy.

Seattle gives you plenty of opportunities to have fun with weather. It's a crazy town. Today it is almost fifty, but the wind chill brings it down to under forty. So it seems nice, until you get out in the wind. The best way to enjoy today is inside, with a big window. Contrary to the stereotype, it's often sunny here. It just comes in the form of sun breaks, and it often comes in the afternoon. The fog burns off, and the evening clouds haven't rolled in yet. You need to plan for the sun in Seattle. And when it does come out, the people come out. It's like some religious event, everyone smiles and prays to the sun. Like the Mayans, with less human sacrifice. (Some, of course. A sensible amount.) The seasonal events definitely get a good turnout. Early spring will bring the cherry blossoms, which always gets the Northwesterners out in droves.

I'm really excited about the spring. I have a billion little day trips planned, to the mountains and the sea. I really learned to appreciate where I live when I started going to the ocean and mountains more often. The springtime is perfect, too, with nicer weather but a pleasant chill in the air. You still get fog, which I love. I'm hoping to get some good trips to the North Cascades National Park. It should be pretty accessible in April, though I don't know if I'll make it during the spring break. At the end of March here in Washington it's still pretty cold; I'll have to wait for the early summer.

Viri is getting old enough to hike and camp with me. The spring should give us some opportunities to day hike around the Cascades. I can practice boring him with geology and weather! I'm well on my way to being the perfect fifties father. I just need to wear a sweater all of the time and smoke a pipe.