Now this is a treat! Today’s Google Doodle brings me back to one of the best parts of my childhood: Mister Rogers. His message of kindness is one we so are lacking right now.
It was, and still is, a privilege to be his neighbor.
Author: Carl Setzer
Sunday in Seattle
If you love poetry, this is a fun, free opportunity in Downtown Seattle.
5:00 P.M. Bell!
Yeah, I feel this way a lot lately.
The 2018 Skagit Valley Tulip Festival Is In Full Bloom
The festival started back in March, but there are events going all through April. This is an iconic event in the greater Seattle area. As such, traffic can be a bit of a monster. Just plan to be stuck in traffic, and your life will be better. If you want to avoid crowds go mid-week. It helps a lot. However, for the next few weeks, many school districts will be on spring break, so it won’t be perfect. But far fewer cars.
I’ve biked the fields before, which is great especially when the weather’s nice (don’t bank on that during spring in Seattle). A great bit of advice is to park at a park-and-ride and bike from there. I’ve parked at Washington Elementary School, but I don’t know if that’s sanctioned, so I risked tickets or towing.
Getting hungry? In Mount Vernon one of my favorite places to eat is the Calico Cupboard. It’s a favorite for most everyone who knows anything about the region. So, budget plenty of time. At last check, they didn’t take reservations. It’s first come, first serve. It’s worth the wait, but, especially if you have younger kids, you’ll want to strategize that. Or you could head to the one in La Conner, which isn’t that far.
If you’re thinking of a treat, and you’re not too frozen from the tulip fields, check out the Big Scoop Ice Cream shop. A regional classic place and just a lot of fun.
If you want something warm and caffeinated, Mount Vernon does have it’s share of Starbucks, but you should check out Woods Coffee, though it’s pretty small. There’s also Ristretto Coffee Lounge which has been on my list of places to try.
The Washington State Department of Transportation has pulled together some great tips. Definitely take a few minutes and review these. It’ll eliminate a ton of aggravation. And don’t forget to check out the interactive map before you go. It’s quite well done.
May your tulip excursion be delightful!
A few thoughts on cycling around Seattle
Was just reading through a bunch of articles about cycling, all centered in the Pacific NorthWest. Urban cycling, bicycle touring, city planning, healthy living and how cycling fits into a sustainable culture; filling my brain with ideas. A big thing: I need to get out and ride more. Of course, it’s been been quite chilly here around Puget Sound. And such things challenge my desire to ride.
I’ve become much more of a fair weathered cyclist. At one point, the notion of being such horrified me. I was committed to riding, bike commuting, cycling as urban transport. A few accidents with cars (with broken bones and other fun) and myriad close calls, my tolerance for urban riding waned. Plus, moving back home to Seattle’s suburbs threw me deep into car culture. Riding became a weekend hobby. I hate this.
The desire to return to deep immersion into bike culture hits me regularly. It rebounds off of the suburban car culture, but bounces back. The overcommitted life, which is only manageable with a car, my 20 mile commute, the geographic spread of suburban life all factor in.
I’m also weary of the challenge of getting exercise. I need to block time to get to the gym, versus just walking/riding all the time. There’s a community around cycling that’s pretty amazing. So many benefits to the cycle-centric life, and I miss them.
This February Morn
The morning’s still dark
A fan’s hum: reverberates
The thrumming vibrates my ears
I pull my blankets up my chin
They morning cold: unpleasant
Reminding me I’m alive
Alaska Airlines to begin flights to 8 West Coast cities from Everett’s Paine Field this fall | The Seattle Times
I expect this is the start of significant changes in Snohomish county. Prixinuty to an airport makes Everett and the rest of the county that much more attractive for companies. Or so goes the theory.
The county has been working to mitigate the traffic impacts. Hopefully that will be effective.
What do you think?
We’re Looking For A Home Detailer
Here’s the job description below. We’re a dynamic and fun team looking to make something really great in the local construction market.
Residential Home Detailer Wanted for Growing Construction Company (Snohomish County)
Compensation: Depending on Abilities
Employment type: Full Time
This person will report to our construction manager
We are looking for a highly motivated, energetic, enthusiastic, and hard-working person to help us maintain our jobsites throughout Snohomish County.
Responsibilities include but not limited to:
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- Walkthrough prep for new homeowners
- Complete punch lists
- Follow-up on warranty items
- Landscaping
- Fencing
- Pick-up work
Requirements:
- Ability to learn quickly
- Transportation
- Great “can-do” attitude
- Able to follow instruction and meet goals and deadlines
- Well rounded skill level
- Minor Carpentry skills from millwork to framing
- Ability to do drywall repairs, patches, texture & paint
- Some knowledge of landscaping
- Familiar with construction projects
If you’re interested, please reach out to me directly. We’ll then ask you to email a cover letter explaining your potential qualifications for this job, along with your resume.
Thank you for your interest!
What the Pho?
Over the past several days, I’ve had pho at least thrice. Now, there aren’t as many pho places around here, yet, as there are teriyaki. But they’re making inroads. I can name 5 restaurants within a very short distance, and with great ease. Teriyaki, which should be the official foods of Seattle. It was a running joke, for awhile, that there was a stip mall, somewhere in Seattle, that didn’t have a teriyaki shop. Somewhere… So, as a comparison, I can think of 13 teriyaki shops in the same geographic area.
For me, these foods, Vietnamese soup and Japanese chicken, were my comfort foods. When I’m sick, nothing nagging me feel better than pho ga, or chicken soup. With a fan of Siracha, and a dollop of hoison. Perfect! And if I’m stressed, or feeling sad, mad or bad, teriyaki picks up my mood.
Now, there are variations. For teriyaki, I like it crisp, charred, solidly grilled. Others I know, prefer it cooked more gently. With pho, there’s pressed chicken vs shredded, with my preference being shredded.
A few of the foods that make the Puget Sound basin a unique place culturally. So, Bon Appetite!
I’m Back!
Hey everyone,
Well, I’m coming back to this site. For the past little while, I’ve been writing at this self-hosted site: www.NotJustSeattle.com. As I’m getting out of the web-hosting business, I’m planning to bring everything back here. Additionally, I love the WordPress community that this site has.
I”ll be bring everything from that site over here over the next few weeks. I’m proud of all that work, and want it to remain vibrant and active.
If you haven’t been keeping up with me at one of my other sites, I’m now working for a construction company. It’s a dramatic shift from my work with C&K Real Estate, and, both exciting and intimidating as heck. I’ll write more about that soon.
Please connect with me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. It’s fantastic to hear from everyone! I’m looking forward to growing things here.
Not Just Seattle on Word Press 