Dept. of leave-taking

[kaffy_r]

 Scattered Thoughts on Seattle

We're all packed and ready to head home to Chicago; it's been a surprisingly good visit, but I know the two of us are looking forward to sleeping in our own bed, and I suspect Andy and Emily will be happy to get their bedroom back. 

(I said surprisingly good, by the way, because I hadn't expected to be able to do so much, in such a relaxed way, in so short a time.)

The environment in Seattle reminds me a lot of Nova Scotia, except that there are mountains and tall hills instead of short rocky hills, and redwood type conifers instead of scrubby spruce. Seattle and it's surrounding suburbs remind me architecturally and atmospherically of a mix between Halifax, N.S., and Minneapolis; a lot of art, tiny hip neighborhooods cheek by jowl with cruddy neighbor hoods. I'd love to see what the zoning rules and patterns. Are in the city, but that's just the policy wonk in me. 

My birthday went beautifully; I was coddled to within an inch of my life, and ate some of the best sushi I've had in ages. I took more pictures and may post two or three of them when I get home. For now, I'm just enjoying some quiet time with Andy.

Comments

[ex_inklessej388]

I am really glad that you've enjoyed the Pacific Northwest-- or from our perspective in the Great White North, the Pacific Southwest :-)

I have often found the west coast to be very similar to that of North Ontario. Only in Ontario instead of having mountains, oceans and forests with giant tress you have rocky hills, lots of lakes and giant forests with lots of trees (all ones you can reasonably wrap your own arms around, which can't be said about some of our forests on the WC).

[kaffy_r]

We did enjoy the the area, and were lucky enough to see Mount Rainier on our final day, as we were heading to the airport. It had been wreathed in clouds before that.

Your description of Northern Ontario also sounds like Nova Scotia. I initially wondered if these places are alike because they were all part of the Canadian Shield, but I Googled, and most of Nova Scotia seems to have a different geology.

[ex_inklessej388]

The geologists like to give the places fancy names but at the end of the day, snow, ice, rocks and water that what's you get with Canada.

[kaffy_r]

snow, ice, rocks and water that what's you get with Canada.

Heh - yup.

[maruad]

Sounds wonderful.

Speaking of sounding wonderful, check out this story.

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-friday-edition-1.4824064/notorious-chicago-towing-pirates-that-inspired-folk-song-shut-down-1.4824068

I am sorry if you can't open the attachment in the USA. The title sorta says it all. Then again, maybe this isn't news to you.

[bibliofile]

Geez, our local radio station changed their schedule & I missed that AIH! (I saw an article on the NPR news app, though. I cackled. Those fuckers towed my car illlegally off the street. When the cops told me where my car was, they admitted that there was nothing I could do except pay the fuckers.)

[kaffy_r]

That's what happened to me, although I was towed out of my condominium building's parking lot, of all places. As I told maruad, my joy was tempered by the fact that a judge is allowing them to operate while they are appealing the ICC verdict, but it still makes me smile.

[kaffy_r]

It was glorious news to us when we heard about it, although that joy was later tempered when a judge allowed them to operate whilst appealing the decision. I've been towed by the pirates, and even though our condominium parking lot is guarded by Lincoln (we have a contract with them), I'd gladly see them go down in flames.

[promethia_tenk]

It sounds like a great birthday. Many happy returns of the day!

I visited Seattle ages ago, but I remember loving it.

[kaffy_r]

Thanks for the birthday wishes!

Our kids have fallen in love with Seattle; Andy is still a little croggled at how much smaller the city center is than Chicago's, and how easy it is to get where one wants to go. He's not a fan of their driving habits, though. Heh.

[bibliofile]

Sounds like a most excellent birthday & trip!

Yes, elements of Nova Scotia + the Twin Cities, only a lot bigger. Plus, the techies are a noticeable portion of the upper-middle class. (Mind, I've spent one weekend in Nova Scotia, but the terrain & clime are very similar -- which isn't terribly surprising, I suppose, being that far north and next to an ocean).

[kaffy_r]

There are indeed a lot of techie things about Seattle. Andy and Emily live in Edmonds, which I think is very close to techie central.

Where in Nova Scotia did you spend that weekend? Halifax, I'm guessing?

[bibliofile]

We flew in & out of Halifax, but I went to Lunenburg with a friend. She was checking out/being checked out for voyaging with the Barque Picton Castle. Lunenberg's the ship's home base. (And yes, she went around the world on the ship; it was very, very cool.)

[kaffy_r]

Lunenburg is beautiful, and it sounds as if she had an amazing experience.

[liadt]

Happy belated birthday! I'm glad you had a good one:)

[kaffy_r]

It was definitely a good one; thanks!