Oh, That's Why We Always Start in Fremont

Day 142 - February 25, 2011

Pie happened again.  I'll stop eating it when it stops being so good.  Around the corner is a very sleazy looking Russian dumpling place that shares the lobby with a tattoo parlor.   Dumplings were ok, but I think I would have been happier if I'd stuck with the pies.  I haven't tried the Mac and Cheese Pie yet, but I hear it's amazing.

In an effort to try out some new establishments, we tried Wallingford for a change.  This abandoned warehouse is the Iron Bull.  The picture was taken at 11:30 on a Friday.  We couldn't decide if this was awesome or lame.  Awesome because we got full run of the shuffleboard table and quick service. Lame because we felt lonely.

Maybe Nick didn't feel so lonely.

We ended the night at the Grizzled Wizard.  I liked it because they served Black Raven and had a free arcade machine.  They were also playing a ridiculous blacksploitation horror film without the sound.  Also, there was nobody here as well.  I don't know if these places are always this dead or if it's just the nuclear winter we've been having.  The lonliness made it tough for Whitney to enjoy his Super Pac-Man, which he should be loving right now.  Look at the size of Pac-Man!!

Foursquare: Where The Digital World Meets The Real World

Day 141 - February 24, 2011

This is my Foursquare To-Do List.  It's a map of all the places that I want to go in the city.  In LA, it was very easy for me to justify wanting to visit a particular restaurant or tourist attraction because I was on vacation.  But at home in Seattle, without the vacation excuse, it's difficult to say to myself, "I've always wanted to do karaoke at the Mandarin Gate, and it's Tuesday, who wants to duet on "Time of My Life?"

Foursquare provides extra motivation for me to do all the things that I want to do anyway.  Some places, I only want to visit to get a badge (like the Seattle Aquarium for the NASA badge.  Don't ask what NASA has to do with the fish!).  It will also stretch me, literally, because I want the "Downward Facing Dog" badge which requires me to check in 8x at a yoga studio.  I've also put some locations on the back burner.  The Olympic Sculpture Park sounds like fun though I don't want to visit during a blizzard.  But now it gets a convenient icon on my map, and will one day be checked off.

The Foursquare To-Do list changes my mindset about these outings.  Rather than each activity being an indulgence, they turn into little quests.  The reward being more adventure and fun pictures.

And badges.  I F#%@ing love badges.

And just to feel like I did something non-digital today, these soccer scarves were finally displayed as the border in the living room.  But I when I finished, I did not get a badge.  Sigh.

Snow Day?

Day 140 - February 23, 2011

We had a snow day for reasons passing understanding.  Justin suggested hiking to our local watering hole for happy hour brews.  Wild Rover now serves Black Raven (proudly brewed on Willows Road).  I've been meaning to get to their tasting room for months now and this is the next best thing.  This was a mighty tasty beer.

Way to represent, Black Raven Brewing Company!!!

I also wanted to mention that while I was in LA, I was totally crushing it on the Foursquare tip.  Eight new badges in five days.

Fly away, haters.

The Case of the Phantom Note

Day 139 - February 22, 2011

This note was found on my desk 10 minutes before the bus left for our match.  No one knows how it got on my desk.  No one knows why it was written.  And no one is sure why whoever wrote it decided to write it, because the note is untrue.  A call to Kamiakin confirmed that the note was erroneous.

See?  The note was a lie.  We have no leads.  Call Colombo, Banacek, Rockford, Jessica Fletcher, Shawn and Gus, Ghostwriter and Scooby Doo.  We need to get to the bottom of this.

LA - Downtown

Day 138 - February 21, 2011

LA - Echo and Griffith Parks

Day 137 - February 20, 2011

LA - Hollywood

Day 136 - February 19, 2011

LA - Venice and Santa Monica

Day 135 - February 18, 2011

LA - Disneyland

Day 134 - February 17, 2011

"Make No Mistake. Moving Is Living."

Day 133 - February 16, 2011

"The Slower We Move, The Faster We Die."

I can't walk into an airport without thinking of "Up in the Air".  I used to fly all the time in college.  There's something relaxing about the solitude in a public place.  You can be alone, but surrounded by people going through the same experience.  Commiserate with a stranger about how slow the security line is moving.  Share the wonder of the view under your wing.   And you go through the airport with such a sense of purpose.  There is a definite goal and it is always achieved.  You always eventually get where you want to go.  I never have a big time crunch in an airport, so it's a very tranquil experience for me to watch people rushing around while I have an hour to sit and relax or catch up on my reading.

And, upon landing, In-N-Out Burger.

Win!

JAMBOREE!!!

Day 132 - February 15, 2011

I was put in charge of hosting 15 Regional Volleyball teams today.  With schedules color coded for coaches, three volunteers to run each court, and two giant posters showing all 12 rotations, we rocked this thing.

Even though things were running smoothly, I had trouble relaxing.  Too many people and too much activity for me to really feel at ease.

My teams were awesome.  We have the best cheers in the league.  We're the most spirited by far and we always go for three hits (like you're supposed to.)

Welcome To Our New Robot Overlords.

Day 131 - February 14, 2011

I watched this with my Dad and my Brother.  We were completely captivated.  This thing is amazing.  Did Jeopardy turn into a button pushing contest?  Totally.  Is the technology behind Watson mind-blowing?  Absolutely.

 Sure this turned into a three night infomercial for IBM, but they are doing something groundbreaking.  We should all be paying attention to this stuff.

The Grammy's Validate My Musical Choices

Day 131 - February 13, 2011

Bruno Mars is talented.  That "Grenade" song is just so dumb.  Until he slowed it down to a 50's Doowop style and completely knocked it out of the park.  Immediately after that, he runs to the drums and starts hammering out Janelle Monet's "Cold War".  And I officially became a fan.  I still don't listen to any of his music.  But the fact that he makes it, I respect that.

Mumford and Sons - My friends have been on them for months.  Easy to love.  Their songs are so timeless and profound.  Plus, I've just read "East of Eden" so, "Timshel" gets extra points.

Cee Lo - Peacock and Puppets.  He's so likeable and the rest of the album is pretty good too.  So why are we getting so caught up on the "F#@% You" song?  Oh, cause it's a J-A-M.  Right.

Teachers Aren't Supposed To Work On Saturday!!!

Day 130 - February 12, 2011

National Boards take time.  Lots of time.  Copious amount of time.

I'm like a dolphin jumping through hoops.  But I don't even know where the hoops are.  Or what they look like.

This is ridiculous.

In Search of Pie...

Day 129 - February 11, 2011

Great Night in Fremont.  We tried "Pie" a new walk up counter that serves desert and meat pies.  Delicious.  We also spent some time at George and Dragon, which would be a great place to watch a Newcastle game.  Good work, Fremont

WALKERED!!! DIESELED!!! ... BREWSTERED?!?

Day 128 - February 10, 2011

My Brother has decided that we are watching all the "Fast and Furious" movies.  This is so we can steep ourselves in the deep mythology of the franchise before we see "Fast 5".  Originally, I hated this idea.  I think these movies are stupid.  I don't really care about cars and everyone in this movie is horrible.

But a strange thing happened as we were watching it.  I got into it.  Mostly because he got into it.  Memories started rushing back to me and I started to recall some of the dialogue:

"You almost had me?  You never had me!!  You never had your car!!"

"I live my life a quarter mile at a time."

There were explosions.  And ridiculous plot holes.  Once I started thinking about the movie as a really lame version of "Point Break", I started to have a good time.  And I think we're watching "2 Fast 2 Furious" next week.

The title of this post comes from whenever Paul Walker said a tough guy catchphrase that he couldn't really pull off, we'd shout "WALKERED!!"

Vin Diesel - Great actor?  Or the Greatest actor?

Watch Out For Flying Balls: Week 3

Day 127 - February 9, 2011

We are the top row of circles.  They were the bottom.  Our roster is on the left.  Theirs is on the right.  We took it to the Dodgefathers on every level except one: Uniforms.  Their shirts were dope.  They were individualized with names on the back and everything.  One was just called "The Norwegian".

Also, I played crazy good this week.  Somebody mentioned I was bringing the heat more than usual.  I did take a power nap before the game, just like LeBron.  That's probably where the similarities end.

3-0


"The name on the front of the jersey is more important than the name on the back."

Chaos or Volleyball?

Day 126 - February 8, 2011

This being my first volleyball match, I asked "What do I have to do to get ready?"  I was told, "Just set the nets up and you'll be fine."  As soon as the other coach arrives, she asks 

"Do you have girls to call lines?"  

I had no clue what she was talking about.  

"Well, do you have a scorekeeper?"

No.

"You have a referee, right?"

I was unaware that we needed one.

Off to a great start!

We're doing this for every kid? On every match?

Day 125- February 7, 2011

Volleyball kids get candy and positive affirmations on match day.  I did not know this.  So the extra hour and a half we spent printing, folding, addressing, and taping candy into these notes was not unappreciated, just surprising.

Baseball players didn't expect things like this.

Badges?!?! I Don't Need No Stinkin'... Wait, Yes I Do!

Day 124 - February 6, 2011

Irish Breakfast at Paddy Coyne's.  

Searching Crossroads for math supplies.  

And watching the Super Bowl (she messed up the National Anthem, right?)

I love earning Foursquare badges.  It's like a little surprise party every time I go somewhere new.

Free Educator Weekend at Seattle Center

Day 123 - February 5, 2011

Harry Potter Exhibit - I pulled a Mandrake and scored in Quidditch with a Quaffle.  The most impressive part of the exhibit was the Sorting Hat.  I almost shoved a little five-year old flat on her butt so I could volunteer.  That probably would have put me in Slytherin.

IMAX Hubble 3D - Amazing.  This made me feel like a little kid again.  I totally want to be an astronaut when I grow up.  Do they need someone who's 5'5" and can't smell?

Battlestar Galactica - It's pretty tough to talk about this without geeking out.  They had two Colonial Raptors, The Arrow of Apollow, The Book of Pythia, and a Cylon Raider!!

Huh?  When you read that last sentence, all you saw was "Geek, Dweeb, Nerd, Spazz"?  Just know that eveyone who has watched this show, frakking loves it.

Oh, Frak is the curse word of the future.  It's like our F-word.  Only better.

Lamb and Turkey. One You Eat. The Other EATS YOU!!!

Day 122 - February 4, 2011

Lunchbox Laboratory opened in Nick's building in South Lake Union.  And it's also his birthday.  Seems like a natural fit.  The menu has been streamlined for the opening but we've been promised that the giant chalkboard will be operating soon.  I was disappointed they didn't have the Dork (Duck and Pork) but the Lamb was excellent.

  Oh, and Tessa is not pouting.  She's making a kissy face.

Nick wanted to watch ridiculous movies for his birthday.  This is "Thankskilling".  A cursed, wise-cracking turkey reanimates after a dog pees on his grave.  After being dormant for 505 years (which would set the movie in 2125) the turkey begins to wreak havoc by... dressing up in a disguise to have tea with the local sheriff, who's also in a turkey disguise.  The killer turkey had sex with a few people (what?) before he killed them and met his demise in a dumpster of toxic waste and fireworks.

It doesn't take much to get a movie on Netflix these days.

Offensive Linemen, Midfielders, and... Relief Pitchers?

Day 121 - February 3, 2011

Fun Fact: Volleyball has plays.  I was unaware that Volleyball even had positions.  So I'm slowly trying to learn this diagram that shows different rotations.  As it's gradually making sense, I start to wonder how this could have ever been confusing.  Obviously you'd want your Setter ready to sprint in "Stack Left" because she needs to get to the right by the net.  And "Rightside Double Trackster" is all about getting in good defensive position right away.

The funny part about all this is that Regionals doesn't use anything like this.  We just rotate six kids through all the different positions.  It works for us.  I don't know why Varsity makes the game so complicated.

Watch Out For Flying Balls (That's What She Said?)

Day 120 - February 2, 2011

Over The Limit - Quest for the Championship: Week 2

Team Concur was exactly like playing the crew from Dunder Mifflin.  It was very clear that their boss had set this up as some kind of team building event.  He (Michael Scott) was trying to be very positive and upbeat while everyone else was dripping with disdain and apathy.  They even had one player who was overly concerned with the rules and made a comment or two about moose (obviously Dwight).  Another quick note for you guys - we usually don't take a five minute pep talk between each game.  OTL came to play dodgeball, not huddle awkwardly while our boss critiques our TPS report.

2-0
"Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose!!!"

Can't Hear You Over The Sound Of The Clippers.

Day 119 - February 1, 2011

Rudy's in Bellevue.  I usually go to a chain like Supercuts or Great Clips.  But I was planning to go to Cupcake Royale anyway, so I was going to try Rudy's.  I like that they have a Pac-Man machine.  And I like that my haircutter (Ashley?) was talkative and personable.  But I think the garage decor swallows up the sound and when that is paid so while she was telling me a story about her new landlord and something about pet fees, I only heard about every 3rd word.  Not wanting to be a bad listener, I tried to smile and nod best I could.  But I was unable to be very sympathetic to her plight only knowing one-third of the story.

It's not quite as bad as when my dentist wants to start a conversation, but it's pretty close.