It's Halloween

We sat down tonight as a family and carved pumpkins, and I must say that Cicely's pumpkin carving skills are much better than mine.  Even though my family wasn't big on Halloween.  My mom especially disliked it, I can remember carving pumpkins with my Dad and then my Mom taking the seeds and roasting them.  This is a fond memory, much better than the year my Mom shuffled us all into to basement and turned out all the lights and we watched television in the dark, as to avoid trick or treaters.  Tonight a photo of our pumpkins, guess which one is Cicelys.   

Fade Into Memory

Well today was likely my last trip to Wenatchee.  I may past through the place from time to time on my way somewhere else, but today was the last time I specifically went to Wenatchee as a destination. Of course I could be wrong and this would all be premature, but I'll take my chances.  I on my way out of town today, I stopped at Dusty's one last time and then went to the Save On and photographed their sign.  I have noticed that sign for countless years and have wanted to photograph it for at least the last ten.  Every trip in Wenatchee, especially in years past when I didn't go as often, I wondered if the sign would still be there.  Now that will be a curiosity that will slowly return, if and when I make my way through town again.  Funny though, as I drove out of town this last time and started west along US 2, I strangely didn't feel anything, instead I enjoyed the brilliant yellows and reds of the leaves in the sunlight of late autumn.

12 Miles in Bathtub

On this date back in 1954, Roy Bergo set sail for Alaska in a bathtub.  Not that it was absurd enough that he set sail in a bathtub, he did so in late October.  One almost can assume that Roy was a bit crazy.  But really Roy was just living his dream and since he was unemployed, he had little better to do.  Sadly Roy made it as far as Whidbey Island before the motor on his bathtub gave out.   So tonight a landlocked bathtub.

These Eyes

After my father passed, I was contacted about cornea donation.  I agreed it, seemed rather conforting that he was going to give the gift of sight to somebody, so they could look upon their loved their loved ones with kindness and love.  Just like my father did when he looked at his wife, kids, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

So It Is That Time

You know with the changing of the leaves and dampening of the weather comes election season, being an odd year election you might think not much is going on.  Well you could be right or you could be wrong.  There is I-1183, which would allow liquor to be sold at Costco and various gas stations and mini marts.  I've been to California and I have purchased gin at the Albertson's, novel and fun.  I don't really care if I can do that in North Bend or any place else in this state.  It's probably not a good thing to sell 150 proof rum at gas stations, really I don't much care if we can or cannot do it.  I have a few concerns, privatization would take away deceit state jobs for people that probably would otherwise have a hard time getting a deceit state job.  The greatest concern though is the $22 million that Costco has spent to buy a law that would be advantageous to Costco.  The initiative process should not be used for corporations to buy advantageous laws.  Just like last year, this legislation should have been taken care of by our elected representatives in Olympia not tossed to Costco's lawyers to create an initiative for the benefit of Costco.     

This is Me and This is My Van

My van and I spent many a dark summer night traversing ribbons of blacktop.  Just me and the 18 wheelers, ending streams of them pushing into the blackness.  I would fly past them on my downward ride from the hilltops, only to be passed by them trudging up the next hill. Stooped over the wheel, listening to cassette tapes or AM radio bouncing from St. Louis or Memphis, TN.  My was I poor in those days.  Oh was I happy.

More Adventures With Great Fires

Today is the anniversary of the 3rd fire that burned Aberdeen, back in 1903.  One may ask why bother rebuilding the first two times, let alone a third.  A pile of dead Christmas Trees and rotten Jack-O-Lanterns are less depressing than the town of Aberdeen.  As far back as I can remember Aberdeen was gray and shuttered.  Maybe it's the weather or economy or maybe an Indian curse, Aberdeen is just a depressing place.  

A Bad Day for King Harold, A Great Day For Waterville

Two great events happened on this date, some 843 years apart, old King Harold lost England and his life at the Battle of Hastings and the Waterville Railway was started.  Whereas historians will wax on and on about the Battle of Hastings and all the what ifs and its significance to the western world, for the folks of Waterville, the Battle of Hastings was ancient history and wouldn't have seemed all that important.  The railroad on the other hand, important to Waterville, not so much to historians.  For Waterville, it meant that their wheat could get to the Great Northern branch line in Douglas and they could travel to Wenatchee and the other great cities along the Great Northern.  Even historians would agree that this would be significant for a town prior to the automotive age.

Dan

I Hear The Train A Coming

I'd title this, I Shot a Man In Reno, but Bukowski already has used it.  Back shortly before the death of my Mother, I was driving to the Thriftway late one evening, probably to get some beer or ice cream and I heard Johnny Cash's Folsom Prison Blues on the radio.  It was as if I had never listened to the lyric, and suddenly it was new and it wasn't a lament of a man who shot another man in Reno.  It was transcendent, Folsom Prison was whatever trapped us, in my case, my dying mother.  And the railroad train was freedom, relief and deliverance from our Folsom Prison.  Within days of this epiphany my mother died.  Once my mother died I had time to grieve and I was able to be freed from that prison, and over the course of a few months I was able to let that lonesome whistle blow my blues away.
With the passing of my father, I have been struck by a couple things, first how much older I am this time and second, that this time I am, at least for the time being, stuck in the first verse of the song specifically, "I'm stuck in Folsom Prison and time keeps draggin' on."   Good news is that I am just two verses and a guitar solo from let that lonesome whistle blow my blues away.

Just a Picture I Like

Tonight nothing very important, just a picture I like.  I took this photo last November on an unusual 70 degree day, it snowed 3 weeks later.  Anyway I enjoy this photo because of the sunburst.  Somebody I know, suggested that it appears like a divine light.  I like that idea.
Enjoy
Dan

Reminder

Recently Quin decided a career as a baseball player would not be as cool as a career as a cop.  I don't think I can agree with that, the kid can think what he wants, I am okay with that.  So anyway now that he wants to be a cop, it was decided that he should be a cop for Halloween.  Today we got the costume in the mail and it reminded me of another cop.
Dan

Pass That Shuttlecock

Tonight a found photo, ladies playing badminton.  Now I have had a bit of time to reflect and try to make sense of what has happened recently, but I am not really ready to deep dive into it for the blogging world to mull over.  Instead as I was looking through some documents in my office, I saw this photo, and being in a reflective mood, I thought by back to my badminton for credit days in college.  You see a friend wanted me to take badminton with her, since it sounded like fun and she needed the P.E. credit.  I didn't need the P.E. credit, but it sounded amusing.  Until I found out it was at 9 AM, I preferred classes that started at 10 AM or better yet 11 AM.  I remember staggering into the gym twice a week, mostly smelling of beer and gin and then playing badminton against the two most unskilled humans in Ellensburg, an eighteen year old Asian kid and a Mexican lady in her mid forties.  They would pass that shuttlecock over the net and I would slap it back in their faces, literally.  I was, and in fact still am a bit embarrassed by this, I spend most of the hour winching and saying, "Oops, I am sorry," or "I hope that didn't hurt too much." 

Close To Home

One of the better things about living where I do, is Rattlesnake Lake and the Cedar River Watershed.  Back on this date in 2001, the Interpretive Center for the Watershed opened its doors, along the shores of Rattlesnake Lake.  The center allows for access via it's programs to the watershed and the Cedar Falls town site.  The center itself is a series of very cool buildings that also have a hippie drum circle built right in.  It's far out.

A Great Big Jigsaw Puzzle

My Dad passed away this afternoon.  It wasn't unexpected, though it was a surprise.  I am a bit numb and too close to it, to really deep dive into what happened or to think through my feelings, etc.  I can reflect on the intelligent design of events.  A week ago Monday, I sprained my ankle badly, the injury caused me to miss a play at the Seattle Children's Theater today.  So I was at home when the phone call came and I was not with my wife and kid when I heard the news, nor did I need to drag them to the hospital.  They had a great time, which makes me happy.  I love you Dad, you'll be missed.