Well, it’s finally here! Seattle has come out of the transportation Stone Age and we shall have a light rail system.
http://www.soundtransit.org/x11071.xml
Huge online dust-up
So my online hobby (virtual air traffic controlling — see www.seaartcc.net) just today had major kerfluffle…basically the entire staff of my center quit and accusations are flying everywhere. It’s quite fun drama to be an observer after being on the staff previously. It’s one of the most beaurocratic orgs I’ve worked with. Well, I guess our goal is to emulate air traffic control as in the FAA. In this regard I think we have it nailed 🙂
Rousing Easter domino throw-down
Gameplay here is starting to get brutal..my dad just lost the lead by one point. Next year I think I’ll stream the action live.
Claire is here!
Claire is here!
We’re having a great time!
It
That is all…
Ugly vacant lot
Ugly vacant lot
My work view of the moment (and I was testing the upload capability on my phone — it works!)
Southern Hospitality
While in Atlanta I was able to spend time with my fine looking Southern cuzins Beth & Michelle! We had a great time and they took me to areas of Atlanta I would not otherwise have seen or known about:
Having a “FO” (Frosted Orange) and peach pie at Varisty, a drive-in dive and Atlanta tradition.
Had lunch here — was in the little “alternative” district of Atlanta (Little Five Points? — I forget already — They had good beer, though!). Was totally fun.
Welcome to Atlanta, now let me tell you a story…
I like to compare Belligerent Urban Miscreants (B.U.M.s) in different cities, as there is a distinct difference and local flavor in each municipality’s B.U.M. membership.
Atlanta B.U.M.s are not as absolutely direct as in Boston, ala “Welcome to Boston, care for some crack?”
In Atlanta apparently there is a law that you can not directly ask for anything (as in solicitation of money). So the B.U.M.s have gotten pretty crafty down here out of necessity. They’ve become the “helping tour guide.” They strike up the conversation and then ask you if you need directions and point out new bars and city hot spots. They’re pretty clever and engaging. Then they hit you up for a “contribution” for their services.
I never give money to any particular B.U.M. member, but I actually had to break down and do it here in Atlanta after I saw the same guy twice. Last night he gave me some “advice” on a local pub….and I’ll be damned if it actually wasn’t good advice and the pub was really cool. So I gave him a couple dollars when I saw him today; he was appreciative and I felt pretty OK too.
Today I’m touring Atlanta city including The Georgia Aquarium (apparently the largest in the World…who knew!) and CNN. Then just wandering around, seeing what’s up.
Fort Myers and a blast of children
Today I drove down to Fort Myers to see my good friends Scott & Paige, whom I’ve known since college, and their adorable kids Pierce (2) & Sloane (6 mo?). Most of you know I hate kids, so this may come as a surprise, but they really are cute. Pierce is talking up a storm and Sloane is the biggest, cutest smiley-girl you’ve ever seen — always a smile (Except when I took away the Tupperware of goldfish crackers from her after she started sucking on it — Ooooh, boy, did I hear protest about that!!)
The Paces are now putting the kids to bed, and I’m downstairs in the kitchen listening to the baby monitors down here — it’s really cute. I found myself singing along “abcdefg, hijklmnop, qrs, tuv, w, x, y and z…”
I’m down here thru Sunday and then I’m off to Atlanta!
Hopefully pictures to come — Pierce looks just like a little Scott!
More sunsets; plus video!
Another pretty sunset, this time you can also watch the video as the sun drops down below the water and gets applause from the people in the bar below.