Sat - December 25, 2004

Photographs...of the Christmas Lights sort 


Photographs this time include a few shots taken from the International District/Chinatown where Leif, Adam and I traipsed around on Christmas Eve day - it was very foggy but it was still fun and we had a good meal at a Vietnamese deli up the hill on Jackson Street. There are also more photographs from West Seattle including the winner of the "best house" category for the peninsula - can't vouch for the rest of the city. And, photographs of our tree in the new downstairs alcove - a perfect place. Plus a few of Christmas morning with the family (well, the two offspring anyway). 

Posted at 12:35 AM     Read More  

Sun - December 19, 2004

Photographs - West Seattle and Downtown Christmas lights 


This is a collection of photos illustrating houses in West Seattle (including our own) and some of the downtown streets all decked out in Christmas lights. I spent a few nights walking around West Seattle between Gatewood Hill and Morgan Junction capturing some of the more colorful decorations. I was downtown last Wednesday (12/15/04) and on the way home, about 10:00 pm, captured some lights along Pine Street and 4th and 1st Avenues.

There are scant captions to accompany the images since it would be mostly irrelevant as to whose house or which office or store building was being lit. It's mostly the bright lights and the dark skies which I was trying to capture. Downtown seems as bedecked as it was last year. However, the neighborhood - at least here in this section of West Seattle, seems less lit than it was this time last year. Not sure the reason and this is not an empirical observation but simply a "feeling" based on walking around a lot last Christmas time and walking around a lot so far this Christmas season.

The economy still hasn't rebounded fully here in Seattle and perhaps the reduction in houses lit with Christmas lights is a reflection of hard times for some folks. If so, that's a real pity because these same folks probably have the lights but just don't feel like putting them up. The lights are certainly a welcome change from the early darkness here in the Northwest woods. We've been getting more fog this December than I remember last year, which is always a treat for me, what with the really neat things fog does with lights and the fog-horns blaring away from the Fauntleroy Ferry Dock area and very often from far away in the Sound. In fact, last night the fog rolled in so quickly that it nearly covered our ridge completely - and by that I mean we couldn't see fifty feet away. And, just as mysteriously, it cleared up remarkably fast about three hours later. Something, no doubt, about the dew point and the prevailing winds and airborne moisture. Love it, though. Herewith a series of images: 

Posted at 11:17 AM     Read More  

Tue - December 14, 2004

Ballard Art Walk and artists... 


This is a salute to my youngest son (in the preface) and a recounting of a recent adventure he and I had in Ballard during their monthly "Second Saturday" art walk. Ballard is an exciting art venue, perhaps as much so as Pioneer Square and we talked with a number of artists during our trek through one of Ballard's art spaces - Building C on Leary Way at 14th Avenue NW. 

Posted at 09:51 PM     Read More  

Mon - December 13, 2004

Photographs - Ballard Art Walk 


Photographs of the Palm Room at 5336 Ballard Avenue. Originally, I had intended on shooting more galleries on Ballard Ave. and Market Street during this month's Second Saturday Art Walk, but got quite hung up with Jeff Mihalyo's work at the Palm Room and then headed over to Building C Studios at 14th Avenue NW and NW Leary Way to check out more artists in their working studios. While at Building C, I got hung up talking to a bunch of the artists about what they were doing and where they were coming from and completely forgot that I had my Canon in my pocket. Next Second Saturday I'll get some more pictures of the studios and other artists' work. This time it'll just be Jeff Mihalyo's work and scenes from the Palm Room. For a link directly to Jeff's paintings, use <http://www.mihalyo.com/painting/2004/2004.html > and then click on different years or use the popout menu to see his drawings, photography, and other projects. 

Posted at 04:23 PM     Read More  

Mon - December 6, 2004

Long time no speak 


It's been a slow week, this first week of December. It's been slow because the weather hasn't been altogether conducive for anything except chores. I've had a few hankerings to get outside, maybe take the ferry to Vashon Island and then the bus to the other end and another ferry to Tacoma and explore the Point Defiance Zoo and downtown Tacoma, what with it's new light rail down the main drag and about three new museums, one devoted to just glass art. But, I'd like to take images and so have been waiting for the right day for that jaunt. In the meantime I've been doing the typical homeowner and parent kinds of things. 

Posted at 09:41 PM     Read More  

Photographs... 


Just a few images to post this time. It's been dreary, by that I mean rain and/or mist with low-hanging and thick gray clouds blocking all but a neutral gray light. Good I suppose for black and white photographs, perhaps I should try that approach. Anyway, the first two images are a sequence I shot for Christmas presents for Leif and Adam's grandmothers (both grandfathers are dead). The other two are silly but what the heck. 

Posted at 06:37 PM     Read More  

Tue - November 30, 2004

Two down, two to go... 


A recounting of Thanksgiving and the day after. This year, because Leif was coming home for Thanksgiving, we delayed having our feast until Friday, so our Thanksgiving was the Last Friday in November. We also continued a tradition which began with our first Thanksgiving here in Seattle, that of inviting international exchange or foreign student friends of Adam to share the meal and company with us. We also, because we were having our Thanksgiving on Friday rather than Thursday, observed BuyNothingDay. In retrospect, I think we've always observed BuyNothingDay even when we didn't realize the Friday after Thanksgiving (called Black Friday by the evil merchants) was this alternative-culture, underground day. Does seem fitting that I would be part of an underground culture even if I was unaware of it, though. On the other hand, we did an amazing four-hour tour de force among most of the local outfitting shops here in Seattle on Saturday. But we WERE buying local goods so that isn't the same as besieging Wal-Mart.  

Posted at 07:49 PM     Read More  

Mon - November 22, 2004

Roosevelt Way, Movies and new posting methodology 


With this entry I'm changing the layout slightly and posting short paragraphic descriptions of the actual entries. You can click the "read more" link to get the whole enchalada. This entry recounts a five-mile hike Adam and I took this past Saturday from the Lake Union-Portage Bay area up Roosevelt Way through the University District, through Roosevelt neighborhood, and finally winding up in the Maple Leaf area before we dashed to the transit stop at Northgate Mall and meandered back home via Ballard and a few treats. This entry also contains reviews of "Team America - World Police," "The Incredibles," and "A Very Long Engagement." 

Posted at 06:11 PM     Read More  

Photographs: Downtown, Roosevelt Way 


Photographs illustrating a recent trip downtown and the four-mile walk north along Roosevelt Way. There are 43 total photographs, including two really odd images of a wedding invitation sent me by Cingular Wireless, and one map. Images all have captions defining what the image shows and where it was taken. As has been the case for the past half-a-year, all images have ALT tags. As has also been the case for the entire life of the journal, all images are copyright using a Creative Commons license - so if there's one you want to use, go ahead. 

Posted at 02:28 PM     Read More  

Sat - November 13, 2004

Struggle for Common Sense...conversation 


A recounting of a Tuesday evening event I attended on Capitol Hill - the Conversation. This is an art-oriented discussion between invited guests and an audience, held in a round-table forum-like environment where the guests give opening thoughts and then invite a "conversation." Also, new photos of Fall in West Seattle (actually, Fall in my yard - how's that!) and a few night shots taken Tuesday evening while I traipsed up to and later down from Capitol HIll.  

Posted at 10:13 PM     Read More  

Sun - November 7, 2004

Artwalk, 1st Thursday at Pioneer Square 


Okay, folks, it's time to put the post-election blues (or reds) behind you, put your funk on hold for now. Life goes on and it's a wonderful life, for sure. To prove that I spent Thursday and Friday engaged in three separate, but, as it turns out, completely interrelated and connected diversions. On Thursday evening I went to my first "First Thursday Art Walk" event in Pioneer Square. This entry is the Thursday post-election diversion. 

Posted at 10:15 AM     Read More  

Chocolate, Central District and Capitol Hill 


On Friday I headed out to find the Dilettante Chocolate seconds store and explore more of Central District and Capitol Hill. This was the end of the week daytime activity to return to the normalcy of Seattle's Fall doldrums. Apparently there is about 30 percent of the Puget Sound population who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder - the Winter blues. One of the most effective and proven countermeasures is to get outside - in whatever sunshine there is - and to exercise. I'd add to that list, chocolate. 

Posted at 10:14 AM     Read More  

An Evening with Ursula K. Le Guin 


An evening with Ursula K. Le Guin, science fiction, fantasy and reality essay author and a wonderful person and wise raconteur of the human condition. This was the end-of-the-week nighttime activity and it did a great deal to restore the faith in about sixty people who showed up at Elliott Bay Book Company's downstairs author stage.  

Posted at 10:08 AM     Read More  

Wed - November 3, 2004

Red States, Blue States, Thoughts One and Two 


This is an essay on the results and impact of the November 2nd elections. I don't normally posit my political beliefs in this journal, believing, as I do, that political beliefs, like religious beliefs and sexual preference, are best left for one-on-one discussions. However, since I am a student of sociology, of anthropology, of history, and of demographics and psychology, I have some thoughts relevant to those fields with respect to this election and the division of the country into a Red State and Blue State nation. We are divided, yes. We always have been. There were the English-born and the Scots-born and the Irish-born and the German-born and so on. Those divisions have somewhat gone away with time. We have new divisions. When one adds new components to a stew, those new components don't always mix well at first. Time is required to make a really good stew. The same is true of our nation. Right now we're in a period where time is a component of evolution. Read my thoughts on these matters and comment - or, not. As usual, I've put a lot of thought into these words and believe this discourse will stand on its own merit. There's also some new shots around Seattle, now that I'm back in town and out exploring again. Gives me a great excuse to get away from any outside influences and focus on what's immediately in front of me.  

Posted at 11:25 PM     Read More  

Sun - October 31, 2004

Halloween 


This is the last entry for the month of October, in this I ponder a few things including the issues of citizenship and tolerance and religion. For those who have forgotten or never knew, Halloween has its roots in the Celtic practice of celebrating the end of the harvest season and a concurrent belief that on Halloween the spirits of those who have departed mix freely with those who are still around. Not necessarily a "pagan" belief and certainly not one which goes against any ancient grain. Personally, I think Halloween is my second favorite holiday celebration - after Christmas. Mostly because it's an opportunity to dress the house up, give freely to strangers and friends, and celebrate the act and art of "being human." There's photos reflective of Halloween, the last of the reunion trip photos - this time the Canadian Rockies, and a few left-over photos from late Summer here in Seattle - photos I had taken immediately before heading for the Carolina coast and immediately after returning but which I've only recently gotten around to processing. There's one final exhortation - VOTE.  

Posted at 08:15 PM     Read More  

Sat - October 23, 2004

Canadian City images, Seattle Bus Adventure and Dark Dreams 


This is the last of the Canadian Cities images - Saskatoon and Edmonton. Comments on Seattle buses which reiterates the need for rapid transportation in this large and spread-out city - spread out not by design but by geography. And some comments on the state of individual freedoms here in the land of the free as expressed by some really dark dreams I've been having lately.

In an unusual twist on journal style, most of the images are presented first then the words and finally some local, Seattle-area, photos. 

Posted at 12:28 AM     Read More  

Sun - October 17, 2004

Cities 


This is an essay on cities. There are uploads of images from Winnipeg and a few local shots of a baseball game and an interesting street post in the U-District. The essay is 5,817 words, so you're forewarned. It is an - essay - a subject-driven exposition usually shorter than a treatise. A treatise implies more form and method than an essay, but may fall short of the fullness and completeness of a systematic exposition. Don't believe it for a minute. I cover a lot of ground and explain where I'm coming from and make some observations, which to me, are self-evident - and may be to you as well. Feel free to comment on these thoughts either on the comment forms here or directly to me.
 

Posted at 04:12 PM     Read More  

Thu - October 14, 2004

Busy week pursuing good things 


Recap of this week's activities - mostly featuring me as citizen activist and ghost writer. Lots of things coming up and I'm gearing myself for the Fall season here - lots of dark days and lots of anticipated moisture. At the tail end are more catch-up images form the North American reunion trip. Also, if you haven't been to the mutlimedia site, you might check it out periodically <http://homepage.mac.com/credmond/multimedia.html> as I've been and will continue to upload some fairly hefty products. Apple recently upgraded all of us and I've got a gigabyte of online storage available now. That means that some of my more ambitious products (such as VR scenes and better-quality movies) now will fit. The downside is some of these things are in the dozen-to-score megabyte category and practically demand broadband or almost inordinate patience if you don't have broadband. I've uploaded a huge file, 40 megabytes, which is a 12-VR embedded scene - which means you can jump around inside of the embedded 12 VRs - basically taking a tour around the Elliott Bay area of Seattle - home of some of the best view points in town. Yes, it takes a while to load, but check it out if you have broadband, use this link or the multimedia link above - Seattle Scene. 

Posted at 01:09 PM     Read More  

Sun - October 10, 2004

Wrightsville Beach and family observations 


Continuing with the photo essay from the latest North American road trip, this entry features Wrightsville Beach, NC for photos and several local (Seattle) shots which caught my fancy. The essay explores notions of familial relationships, some notions on mortality and its relationship to heritage, and a general essay on the beach - any beach, really.  

Posted at 01:29 AM     Read More  

Wed - October 6, 2004

And, now for something completely different 


This entry and a number of subsequent ones will consist of sets or series of photo entries. This one will recapitulate Louisville, Kentucky, and a few scenes within drive-shot of Louisville. Yes, I know, you've already seen Louisville, but these are mostly panoramas (made from VRs which I shot) and give a different perspective. I apologize in advance for the limitations of today's screen technology - a panorama should be enjoyed either as a really long and sufficiently high image or as a VR where one can turn around within the scene. The limitations of even today's large screens make the vertical component of panoramas somewhat challenging - which is to say they are not very tall in order to fit within a reasonable amount of horizontal screen real estate.

That being said, they still present a wrap-around view of a place. 

Posted at 10:17 PM     Read More  

Fri - October 1, 2004

Friday, the 13th Month 


It's Friday, October 1, 2004. I moved to this town and this house on September 1, 2003, thirteen months ago. Our addition was finished on July 29, 2004 and I've been using my studio now for two months. I should have some observations about Seattle, the Northwest, and Puget Sound. I do. This entry is comprised of things I've learned, things I like, things I have observed which could be better, and, folded in with these, some observations about the East and Washington, DC, in many ways, a different country I left behind. 

Posted at 10:11 AM     Read More  

Sat - September 25, 2004

17 years ago 


This entry starts out with a brief synopsis of my current volunteer efforts and thoughts on transportation issues affecting me and other Seattle residents. It then jumps back 17 years (almost exactly) to a point in time when I was high above the Amazon Jungle and observed something which at that time had not been observed by very many humans - I know because I could find no one at that time who could explain what I saw. In the interim between then and now the phenomenon I witnessed has been all the rage in atmospheric and geophysics circles. New photos at the end are merely the usual stunning sunsets which, now that I'm home again, I can continue to capture - plus an observation about my old house in the District. Many new movies on multimedia page, also. 

Posted at 08:46 PM     Read More  

Thu - September 23, 2004

Part 3B - Thunder Bay west to Puget Sound and home 


Danger, Will Robinson, danger...
Okay, family, friends, fans and constructive critics...
I win. This journal entry is in excess of 9,000 words. But, it covers 2,100 of some of the most interesting miles in North America - that's slightly more than four words a mile - and I talk more than that. I've put subheads into appropriate places so you can jump to particular sections of the journey home if you like.

Nota Bene: Check out the multimedia page for several new T&M flicks, most notably a catch-up which I promised for quite some time now -- the 2004 Fremont Solstice Parade and the 2004 Gay Pride Parade and the all-new Across Wyoming - a T&M flick with appropriate soundtrack by Anton Dvorak - of the diagonal, across-state, trek I made through Wyoming, starting at the northwest corner in Yellowstone National Park and ending at the southeast corner in the Medicine Bow Range mountains. This flick shows off a side of Wyoming which many don't know exists - the beautiful forested mountains and open plains of a state most think of as an open-pit mine.  

Posted at 02:25 AM     Read More  

Mon - September 20, 2004

An intermezzo between Parts 3A and 3B 


Breaking with tradition (though one must wonder how much tradition a one-year-old electronic journal REALLY has?), this entry consists entirely of images - both presented here and from the past. Part 3B, recounting the trip back West from Thunder Bay to Seattle, will follow this entry. Following that will be more image-only entries covering lots of North American vistas, towns and a number of additional Time&Motion flicks (Herky-Jerky™ movies).  

Posted at 01:23 PM     Read More  

Wed - September 15, 2004

Part Three (A) 


Part One recounted getting from Seattle to North Carolina; Part Two recounted the week at the beach and a bit of background about my family; Part Three tells the tale of getting from North Carolina to Seattle - except that this is only Part Three A, which tells the tale of getting from North Caroline to Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Nota Bene: There's a newer and larger "Across Wyoming" movie now on the multimedia page <http://homepage.mac.com/credmond/multimedia.html>, also accessible directly via <http://homepage.mac.com/credmond/AcrossWyoming.html>. 

Posted at 03:43 PM     Read More  

Sat - September 11, 2004

Part Two of the Reunion Trip - the family, beach and beachtowns 


Part One recounted the journey East through the Wind River Range, the Mississippi flood plain, the spin-out in West Virginia and the Hurricane. Part Two recounts the beach time, Wrightsville Beach, my family - the Culbreth Clan, and our hopes and aspirations about the reunion. Part Three will tell the tale of getting back West and Part Four will me my views after living in Seattle, the Puget Sound region, the Northwest, for a year. 

Posted at 12:06 AM     Read More  

Tue - September 7, 2004

The Family Reunion Trip - Part One 


Being gone for three weeks and returning to Seattle with about a thousand things to do has caused me to break with the usual style of this journal. Instead of thousands of words and dozens and dozens of photos detailing the 22 days' adventure, I'll break the trip into four parts and post images from the various parts even later. This post is both a recapitulation of getting from Seattle to North Carolina and a series of short essays on what I found on this trip across America. Parts Two, Three and Four will follow fairly soon (define fairly? define soon?). 

Posted at 12:32 PM     Read More  

Thu - August 5, 2004

On the road again 


This will be the last post for a few weeks, at least until I return from North Carolina and yet another pair of transcontinental jaunts across North America. No images this time - just words and a few thoughts on a few matters - political and personal. See y'all in September. 

Posted at 08:58 PM     Read More  

Wed - July 28, 2004

One "Chock-full-o-things-to-do" week 


The last couple of days have been uncommonly busy with street fairs, open-air concerts, bike rides and the finishing touches getting done on the house - things like the railings and handrail. Photos illustrate the various fairs and other comings-and-goings. 

Posted at 02:24 PM     Read More  

Wed - July 21, 2004

It's Summer, for Pete's Sake 


Short ramble on neighborhood blackberry patches, jam-making, real-estate prices in formerly affordable West Seattle, and the intriguing depths of Seattle's newest residential area - Belltown; plus an assortment of photos from The Bite of Seattle (food festival at Seattle Center), the Belltown scene, and yet another Olympic Sunset from the roof deck. 

Posted at 11:38 AM     Read More  

Sun - July 18, 2004

I'm so confused, worst case of ADD ever 


Too many distractions in the new space and lots of busy things to do, inside, outside, now and in the future. On the other hand, my studio is set up and functional - even if I've not got the time now to engage in any activities within it. More photos of the city, the new space, and a few odd shots of some night lights. 

Posted at 12:08 PM     Read More  

Sat - July 10, 2004

Almost there; Horseshoes, you say? 


Recap on July Fourth fireworks that we saw; thoughts on street fairs; more comments on house and usual odd-mixture of photos including new interior views and random scenes from West Seattle Street Fair. 

Posted at 04:28 PM     Read More  

Sun - July 4, 2004

Chaos, Crikey! 


House gets closer to being finished, but glitches occur; Gay Pride events and Parade delight (some photos, more later); My wife breaks her arm while on a farm visit to Illinois and returns instead of having great driving trip; In short, what was to have been a leisurely week of biking and walking about has turned into a week of chaos management. Photos include some shots from Gay Pride, exteriors of house, some interiors, obligatory sunset and since it's July 4th, obligatory political image. 

Posted at 04:08 PM     Read More  

Thu - June 24, 2004

Fremont Fair, More Photos, Live Music Reviews 


I attended both days of the Fremont Fair. It met all expectations - from freaky outfits, clever and diabolical floats, truly outlandish attendees, live music and great food. Took way too many photos of the couple of days. Went for another modest 14-mile bike ride and captured a few additional panoramas from that trip. Review of the Fremont Fair, the new Seattle Art Museum exhibition and more follow; pictures include Fremont Fair, Alki views taken during bike ride, and Lake Union on second fair day plus an experimental trip through the fair (filmstrip style)... 

Posted at 11:45 AM     Read More  

Tue - June 15, 2004

House Renovations, Final SIFF Reviews, Photos 


Update on the last of the Seattle International Film Festival movies which I saw (missed one through internal error - brain stuck on wrong idea), an abstract of comparisons to home remodeling based on conversations and tour of house with nearby "lot" farmer couple, update on house work and - as usual - endless stream of photos capturing whatever struck my fancy. 

Posted at 10:25 PM     Read More  

Mon - June 7, 2004

SIFF Reviews, Owl Bus, City Scapes... 


This is another in a series of interim updates, this one seven thousand words' worth with the usual "Bunch-O" pictures. I've been hither and thither of late, at the Seattle International Film Fest venues to catch those flicks which piqued my interest, been scouring late night Capitol Hill as part of the SIFF traipsing (think Adams-Morgan/Dupont - 19th Street-U Street-18th Street), was out for yet another long bike run and got my first chance to see the locks here, and been watching and kibitzing with Rick, Todd and the painter brothers as they've continued their housework. 

Posted at 09:58 AM     Read More  

Wed - June 2, 2004

Memorial Day, Folklife Festival, and more... 


Long rant (three-thousand words) plus reviews of acts seen at Northwest Folklife Festival and some comparisons to the one held for five years longer on the National Mall in DC - the Smithsonian National Folklife Festival. Many pictures including several sequences and pans which attempt to capture the amazing flavor and creativity and unbridled exhibitionism which - apparently - IS the Northwest Folklife Festival. 

Posted at 05:39 PM     Read More  

Wed - May 26, 2004

Movies, Music, and More 


Quick review of new house space - air and light abound. Longer thread on the music documentary "Dig," with history, impressions and comments. Lots of night shots of the city as I trekked into Capitol Hill last Saturday night to catch the Seattle International Film Festival showing of "Dig" and brought my camera. Presently it's raining and expected to do so for the forseeable future - good for the ground and plants, bad for the work crew. 

Posted at 01:32 PM     Read More  

Sat - May 22, 2004

Busy Week, Dust Storm Subsides...finally 


More of a catch-up posting than anything specific, although I did discover a neat Port of Seattle park, took lots of pictures, and have started a new feature which I call "Overheard." 

Posted at 06:37 PM     Read More  

Sun - May 16, 2004

Ides of May 


Lengthy treatise about the state of construction affairs; a brief excursion into Queen Anne to catch a movie and a short review of "Super Size Me." Lots of photos at the end illustrating a variety of views of town including a photo essay on the setting sun reflected along 4th Avenue buildings. 

Posted at 03:24 PM     Read More  

Tue - May 11, 2004

Almost Too Much... 


Lots of confusion with dining area and kitchen and stairway being made into an integrated area of the house - sheetrockers and carpenters vying for the same space. Unbelievable decibel levels too. Spent the weekend in a fast roundtrip to Bozeman and back to retrieve Adam from school for the summer. Great drive through the Rockies, as usual, and spent an evening and morning in Bozeman along Main Street taking pictures. Lots of images of that below in the form of triptychs taken along Main Street at night and in the day. There are also a few shots from upstairs of a great sunset at the end of last week. 

Posted at 10:44 AM     Read More  

Tue - May 4, 2004

Merry Month of May 


Housework this week included installing almost all the second floor windows; tower aerie windows will be next. New bike now has everything necessary to replicate the now long-gone Marin San Rafael of several thousand-mile DC fame. A few interesting photos of a quick trip to REI on Monday to get missing bike accessories and some photos of how cool the house looks with windows - just wait till the siding is installed and the whole thing painted.  

Posted at 08:18 PM     Read More  

Fri - April 30, 2004

Really Hot Friday 


Photo excursion downtown is one entry ago - in case you missed the Pioneer Square, downtown street/skyscraper images, jump to bottom and check out Thrice Thwarted - or in case you're a Monorail fan and want a report on Monday's open hearing at City Council - same jump. This is just a short end-of-week report mostly to show off my new bike and all the housework. I've moved a chair upstairs - the WiFi works perfectly in my new multimedia studio so I may not have to buy another Airport Extreme - need to do more testing but the signal strength upstairs was actually better than downstairs. Read on - a relatively short report with relatively perfunctory images - again - showing off house addition work and new bike and a few upstairs windowscapes of what will be my new view realm.

On a totally technical point, I've now linked my blog to a comments and trackback server. The continual evolution of journaling.... 

Posted at 08:31 PM     Read More  

Wed - April 28, 2004

Thrice Thwarted 


Set out Monday to accomplish three tasks: Get to the top of Smith Tower; See the Christian Marclay exhibit another time; Make my comments at the City Council hearing on the Monorail project's alignment recommendations. I was thwarted in two of them (which was really three thwarts) but successful with the one which mattered the most - the one which has community rather than just personal interest - the Monorail. But, despite being unable to accomplish my personal tasks, I was able to capture an illuminating slice of urban life with my camera - tons of images at the bottom. Many in the form of montages since I seem unable to pare either word or image. 

Posted at 03:46 PM     Read More  

Mon - April 26, 2004

Last, Great, Sunday in April 


This was the last Sunday in April, 2004, and it was a Great Sunday. The sky was blue, no clouds, the weather was warm with a slight breeze from the north. It was the perfect day to go trolling about the Woodland Park Zoo - along with hundreds of other folks, at least half of them small-fry. 

Posted at 12:29 AM     Read More  

Fri - April 23, 2004

Thoughts on: City, People, House, Monorail 


A rambling jaunt through a field of words and phrases touching on life in the city and evolution of places, an observation about kinds of dwellings and who inhabits them, more images on the house construction activity, a Monorail station design meeting and what it portends. And, lots of images, some on house, some on Monorail Alaska Junction station, some just because. 

Posted at 04:05 PM     Read More  

Mon - April 19, 2004

On being a public project... 


Some observations on living in a construction zone and being on a busy corner, where nearly everyone seems to have a question, comment or wants to engage in a conversation. 

Posted at 11:35 AM     Read More  

Fri - April 16, 2004

Hot Sunday, Jackson Street, International District 


Parts I and II covered portions of this past Sunday's exploration from the Rainier Valley up and across Beacon Hill over the 12th Avenue Bridge to Jackson Street. This last installment covers the remaining distance of that trek. In all, I walked a little over five miles and, for all practical purposes, followed a major portion of Sound Transit's Central Link light rail line through Beacon Hill and the Rainier Valley. 

Posted at 03:26 PM     Read More  

Wed - April 14, 2004

Hot Sunday, Beacon Hill, Jefferson Park & 12th Avenue Bridge 


Part II
Sunday was such a great day, temperatures climbing to the low 80's, clear skies, distant views. Ordinarily I would set out to explore a particular locale or neighborhood but because of the great weather I set out to traipse through three distinct areas of the city. The previous entry detailed my explorations along Rainier Avenue and my observations of the Rainier Valley area and the Columbia City urban village. That entry leaves off with me climbing up Alaska Street from the Rainier Valley up to the top of Beacon Hill. For Part I, scroll to bottom and click on "Hot Sunday, Rainier Valley and Columbia City." 

Posted at 06:27 PM     Read More  

Tue - April 13, 2004

Hot Sunday, Rainier Valley & Columbia City  


This is Part I of a three-part report on Easter Sunday's excursion to the Rainier Valley, Columbia City, Beacon Hill and International Districts. Because of the number of observations (it was a really GREAT day to be outside) and the number of images taken making one journal entry into three parts made sense. On with Part I... 

Posted at 06:58 PM     Read More  

Fri - April 9, 2004

Lickety Split and other fast moves.. 


This is another in my every-so-often really long, rambling, episodic, journal entries. It covers the last two days events but catches me in an exceptionally charged and wired mood. Topics are South Seattle Community College, food, gardens, house construction, general thoughts about the Puget Sound region and a puzzling observation about using the car. There are more than the usual number of photos as well. 

Posted at 10:58 AM     Read More  

Wed - April 7, 2004

Another day, Another $$$ 


Somewhat philosophical ramblings induced by hanging around the house for the past two days waiting to hear word about Katherine's iMac. Time led to talks with neighbors and walks about the neighborhood which led to digitally-induced image madness. Lots of photos below, some of the last few day's progress on house and some just showing off the colors of Spring. 

Posted at 11:32 PM     Read More  

Tue - April 6, 2004

Monday, ah Monday, Monday... 


"Monday, Monday, so good to me
Monday Mornin', it was all I hoped it would be..."
-The Mamas and Papas, 1966. 

Posted at 10:53 AM     Read More  

Sat - April 3, 2004

Forecast: Clear skies, local dust storms. 


Great weekend with respect to weather but, alas, I was stuck indoors for most of it preparing for the coming week's worth of construction. This week sees the demolition of our living room wall and a bunch of other things including plumbing the upstairs. Three weeks out of the expected eight to twelve are behind us on the construction schedule. More and more of the neighborhood seems to be dropping by as well which means I'm meeting more and more of my fellow West Seattleites. So far, everyone seems interested and complimentary.  

Posted at 11:03 PM     Read More  

Thu - April 1, 2004

Stunning Progress on House 


Todd Schulte and crew continue to amaze with the quality of their work and the rapidity with which they are assembling this new second floor and tower addition. In only two days the entire second floor has taken shape. 

Posted at 07:52 PM     Read More  

Tue - March 30, 2004

Onward, Ho! 


Monday, like Sunday, was a picture-perfect, T-shirt and shorts day so I took another long walk along the Sound. Behind my back and reasonably on schedule, the house workers continued their construction. Tuesday (today) was less perfect so I headed downtown to a Monorail rally and a few other things (read on). Photos of these activities are at the end.  

Posted at 10:25 PM     Read More  

Mon - March 29, 2004

Sunny Sunday, More House Work 


Sunday was one of those days which happen now and then - totally out of character for the prevailing season but also totally wonderful. Sunny, bright, clear, strong breeze from the southwest, and lots of birds and people out enjoying it all. The house work continues - we're now at the "Oh my God," phase, where one wonders if things can go any faster and can we withstand any more hammering and removal of existing walls. Well, yes, we have to - but still. 

Posted at 04:48 PM     Read More  

Fri - March 26, 2004

Back Home to Much Turmoil 


Now firmly resettled in Seattle after a week's absence. All the image data (all 3 gigabytes worth) has been processed. All the trip journal entries have been posted. Now time to re-focus myself on the continuing discovery of Seattle - on the one hand, and the continuing saga of living in a house under construction - on the other hand.  

Posted at 04:01 PM     Read More  

Wed - March 24, 2004

Final Legs, Dash to Seattle 


Friday and Saturday were spent avoiding the weather and getting back to Seattle via Astoria. Because the weather had turned "south" on us and because I couldn't convince Gary that the gray, stormy stuff he was seeing was worthy in its own right, we bailed from the itinerary at Astoria and headed for the freeway to get to Seattle, avoiding what was surely a continuation of the coastal weather we'd been experiencing since we crossed the Oregon border. This report covers the leg up the Oregon Coast to Astoria and thence along the Columbia to Portland and via Interstate 5 to Seattle. Last of the series of San Francisco-Pacific Coast Highway road trip reports. In the meantime, house construction has begun in earnest with the second floor taking shape. 

Posted at 09:55 AM     Read More  

Sat - March 20, 2004

Humboldt County, the Redwoods 


Today is the much-anticipated journey through Redwood forest. We've had a restful night and planned a glorious day of hiking and exploring the primordial forests where these 300-foot giants still grow. They are native to the coastal, barely-inland, river valleys of way-northern California and way-southern Oregon. To see them in person is to recreate the age of dinosaurs. 

Posted at 11:11 PM     Read More  

Thu - March 18, 2004

Finally, the Pacific Coast Highway and California 1 


Well, Photoshop World continued but the three of us, me, Gary and Chris, set out Wednesday morning to explore the California Coast and begin our Pacific Coast Highway journey back to Seattle. The day was kind to us and stayed blue-sky and sunny for most of the hours ahead. But, it started in the dark, pre-dawn, hours and would be a very long and tiring day even though it would also be filled with stunning imagery. This is the saga of three humans and a beautiful but rugged coast. 

Posted at 11:55 PM     Read More  

Tue - March 16, 2004

More PS World, introspection on VRs, North Beach, Embarcadero, and Amoeba 


A longish (even by my standards) journal entry recalling the days' activities at Photoshop World, a noontime trek through the Financial District and west through the near North Beach neighborhood and thence on to Jackson Square and the Embarcadero and a later, afternoon, trek back to Haight-Ashbury and Amoeba Records. Lots of panoramas with four linked to their VRs. Also, for anyone interested in receiving the email version of this, minus the photos, email me requesting addition to the list. 

Posted at 11:14 PM     Read More  

Sun - March 14, 2004

Photoshop World and more San Francisco Treks 


Monday was the opening salvo for Photoshop World so that is reported on here as well as a Sunday night excursion into the Haight-Ashbury district and a brief trek downtown over the Photoshop World mid-day break and an afternoon excursion to Fishermans Wharf and Ghirardelli Square. As usual, lots of photos - squeezed panoramas - of the day's explorations. 

Posted at 09:11 PM     Read More  

Fri - March 12, 2004

San Francisco Sunday 


Sunday was the first full day in San Francisco and we had a few hours before the Photoshop class we'd signed up for (extra) began so out we went to explore Chinatown, Russian Hill, and get a Muni pass to make the getting-around easier. 

Posted at 08:29 PM     Read More  

Thu - March 11, 2004

Getting to San Francisco & Photoshop World 


Thirteen days ago I set out for a road trip to San Francisco, Photoshop World, meeting up with two others in SF for a 3-day cruise back to Seattle via California Highway 1 and the Pacific Coast Highway, with excursions into the Redwood State Parks of Humboldt County, California. This entry logs only the first leg of the adventure. Each log entry for the next few days will detail elements of the trip - and each will have photos appropriate for that segment, either in the city or on the road. It was a great adventure, I took nearly three gigabytes of photos and am working through making them into VRs now. 

Posted at 01:07 PM     Read More  

Fri - February 27, 2004

End of the Month 


Ah, yet another month rolls by and soon it will be the Vernal Equinox and yet another season will enter. Couple of notes to post regarding upcoming activities and then I'm off for a week in San Francisco and back along the winding roads which constitute the Pacific Coast Highway. 

Posted at 05:56 PM     Read More  

Wed - February 25, 2004

Low pressure threatens sun... 


Almost sounds like a headline out of CNN or maybe the local newspaper, doesn't it? We had a glorious weekend, the sun was shining, the temperatures were - depending on where in town you were - from the low sixties to the high sixties. Weekend jaunts and house addition update plus a few new pictures from the weekend and a couple of new loops on the multimedia page <http://homepage.mac.com/credmond/multimedia.html>. 

Posted at 12:45 AM     Read More  

Sun - February 22, 2004

Discovery Park and Magnolia 


Hiked through Discovery Park and then trekked through the Puget Sound-side cliffs of Magnolia, a rather tony and tidy neighborhood on yet another jutting peninsula. Lots of images from the day, Discovery Park, Magnolia, views of the city and Elliott Bay from Magnolia Bridge, and some smooth-gliding ducks caught in the golden reflections of a setting sun. 

Posted at 01:23 AM     Read More  

Thu - February 19, 2004

Crocuses, irises, and other harbingers 


Spring-like conditions today drew us outside and to the Sound for a wonderful afternoon filled with blossoms and new growth everywhere. Also, in my continuous striving for honesty and accuracy, I'd like to correct an error posted in the entry titled "1471 miles in 48 hours." In that entry I mentioned that I'd crossed the Clark Fork River near Missoula, Montana a number of times and that the river eventually merged with the Snake and finally the Columbia. I've been corrected and verified that isn't quite the case. The Clark Fork meanders northwards toward Idaho, where it goes through the Pend Oreille Lake which then becomes the Pend Oreille River which then flows into the Columbia - just north of Idaho in British Columbia. Wow, even the rivers out here are contorted. 

Posted at 12:50 AM     Read More  

Mon - February 16, 2004

True odds and ends 


It's President's Day which means another weekend day for most of us. Quicklink for anyone interested - new omnibus multimedia page for my current projects: <http://homepage.mac.com/credmond/multimedia.html>. 

Posted at 09:58 PM     Read More  

Sat - February 14, 2004

Saint Valentine. Who was he really? 


A Valentine's Day greeting, brief remarks on a Friday the Thirteenth foray downtown. Here's lookin' at you, kid 

Posted at 05:02 PM     Read More  

Thu - February 12, 2004

Wild Wednesday 


Now, get a cup of coffee or tea, a Coke or a Pepsi, or a beer or drink, this is another l-o-n-g one. 

Posted at 11:46 PM     Read More  

Tue - February 10, 2004

Seattle Music Scene 


This is a review of the various music stores I've found in the city's neighborhoods as well as some "art" I've found in the store windows of a series of storefronts along Stone Way. 

Posted at 05:33 PM     Read More  

Sat - February 7, 2004

Asian Art followed by more Capitol Hill treks 


I was thwarted Tuesday because of the Asian Art Museum's winter hours, but Wednesday turned out to be another partially sunny and mild day. Our architect dropped by in the morning to re-measure the setback dimensions after our project review with the city's planning department. She brought the street and curb dimension maps from public works and, using them as baseline guides, we measured from center of street, from outside of curb, from inside of curb, from sidewalk street-side, and from sidewalk house-side. As it turns out, our initial measurements, done now nearly four months ago, were pretty darned accurate. In fact, they were dead-on. As I mentioned, I didn't think the street had changed but this was a confirmation the planning folks had requested, so we did it. She also verified the height limitations against the city's topographic data for my house, and, the two-foot-and-one-inch height below the limit of the structure was, is and will be legal. 

Posted at 06:21 PM     Read More  

Tue - February 3, 2004

2-3-4 


How often in one's lifetime does one get to use a really nifty date line? There are all the palindromes - 1/1/1 and the rest for the month, 2/1/2 and the rest for that month, and so on - there's lots palindromes in the early part of a century. But how many ascending date sets are there? Not that many really, and they come only once a year and last only 12 years. We all missed 1/2/3 January 2nd a year ago. Today is 2/3/4. Next year will have 3/4/5 and on through 11/12/13 and that's it until the next century. So, in some ways, today is one of those special days - and since this is one of those special February's, it's actually a double-special day. So, to everyone, hope you all had a wonderful and inspiring or fruitful double-special day!!

(NOTE: This was originally sent via email on 2/3/4 and its posting here was delayed by the large number of photographs which needed processing. Those photographs are below and number 31 - perhaps the largest photo upload yet. Not sure, I go on these photo binges sometimes.) 

Posted at 04:23 PM     Read More  

Sun - February 1, 2004

Superbowl Sunday 


Five months now living in the Northwest. One interesting sidenote of living this close to Microsoft World Headquarters is no one has any problem spelling my last name out here. Back East it was as often "Redman" as it was "Redmond." When I'm asked how to spell my last name, I just say "the same as the town." Don't even need to mention the word Microsoft. I guess you'd call that a "plus." 

Posted at 04:33 PM     Read More  

Thu - January 29, 2004

Even when nothing's happening, something's happening! 


Ah, the doldrums - oops! That's the band of winds which don't blow nearer the equator from the Tropic lines where the trade winds do blow. Well, Seattle is definitely NOT in the doldrums. Winds last night were a consistent 25 mph (or roughly 20 knots, I prefer my winds in knots for some, probably romantic, reason). We've had this low pressure system hanging tough off the coast for the past several days. It's the usual stuff, consistent wind, pressure center not moving, orographic effects from the mountains and the open sea of the Sound to the west and the mountains to the east. Result? No one can predict anything. The National Weather Service two days ago provided three separate scenarios for the, then, next three days: It would stay gray with no rain; it would alternate between clouds and sun with chance of showers; it would be cloudy and rain. Now what kind of predictive capability is that? 

Posted at 03:54 AM     Read More  

Sun - January 25, 2004

It's almost February, Winter won't quit 


I look at the weather map on television and see the rest of the country once again in a deep freeze with snow heading for my old haunting grounds, or is that hunting grounds? And, once again the temperate Northwest is getting its own spell of the chilly North Wind. Temperatures have dropped about 10 to 15 degrees on average in the past few days and are now hovering in the mid-thirties to very, very low forties, and, Seattle forecasters are getting "excited" by saying that snow word again.

As I've walked around the neighborhood in the past few weeks since our own big ice and snow storm, I've noticed two things: the soggy mess the yards are in because of the melted ice, snow and recent rains; and, all the wood chips and sawdust on the streets from the tree company trucks which have been through town grinding and mulching all the fallen branches from all the trees which lost some, lots, or all of themselves to the storm. Some houses I've passed by have had the characteristic "crunch" dent in one or more of their roof lines. There's one big Black Walnut tree which, if it fell, would fall directly on our house and I've done some research so am no longer worried. Black Walnuts have deep and broad roots and branches which can withstand 50 to 60 mile-an-hour gales as well as thousands of pounds of ice and snow. But, it does produce some of the ugliest and most messy fruit of any tree I've ever been in the shadow of. 

Posted at 09:33 PM     Read More  

Thu - January 22, 2004

January blues, grays, and reds 


It's two-thirds' the way through January and although the Winter here in Seattle is certainly the nicest winter I've suffered through except one, it's still what most folks might call "unpleasant" weather. The skies have been pretty much gray and sultry. Even on those days when we get sunshine it's usually either really early for a few hours from dawn through mid-morning or it's really late and only an hour or so of the setting sun is visible, not much, really, to brighten the area. That one winter, by the way, was spent partially in Puerto Rico - man, oh, man what nice beaches, towns, and people they have. Not to mention the food and drink. 

Posted at 11:01 PM     Read More  

Sat - January 17, 2004

1471 miles in 48 hours: Ice, Fog, and an Eagle 


Long, long road trip to Bozeman and back with ice, rain, sleet, and fog, fog and more fog, punctuated by an amazing appearance of a bald eagle surrounded by a coven of crows high in the mountain passes of Idaho. 

Posted at 01:17 PM     Read More  

Thu - January 15, 2004

Back to rain... 


Snow gone from the Northwest while Boston gets deep freeze treatment. Ah, the joys of mid-forties to low-fifties weather. 

Posted at 04:51 PM     Read More  

Thu - January 8, 2004

New Year Produces Massive Snow Events, and lots of other items 


Wow, what a year it's been so far. Leif is safe and sound back at his home in DC; Adam is still safe here in Seattle but come next week I'll be driving him back to Bozeman for the Winter-Spring semester at Montana State and - for the first time in my driving career - am faced with the prospect of having to buy chains. Here on Gatewood Hill we've had a week of pretty exciting stuff - some of which, by the way, that I thought I had left back East. I'll warn everyone now, this is a long post even by my long-post standards. It's 5,600 words, which is eleven pages in MS Word-speak. It also contains more than the usual number of images - some from both snowstorms and the leftovers from the Christmas holidays. 

Posted at 02:33 PM     Read More  

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