Mabuhay!

It was quite uplifting to open the Seattle Public Library's website and be greeted with "Mabuhay!". I visited the library recently and really liked the unconventional...how do you describe it....contemporary design? Lots of space in all of the building's ten floors. I had my computer with me so my objective was to find an isolated place with a table (and an electrical outlet). The lady at the information desk recommended either the 5th or 10th floor. Top floor sounds good....so that's where I ended up going.

Libraries are great and every time I get to visit one I get real excited. The last time I had this excitement was my visit to the Chicago Public Library, whose music rooms was really impressive!

I plan to come back again to explore some more....but let me tell you this place is an excellent break from the ordinary if you ever wanted to leave the confines of your office.

A prison cell to myself

After a few months of sharing an office, I finally got myself one :). Its funny how I sat there and realized that its been more than ten years since I last had an office...and even that last time was when I worked as a department chair at the university (and later shared the office with another chair)...so if I were to count anything I've experienced from the industry alone...well, this would be my first :).

Hey, its gotta happen sometime, right?

Waterfront near UW

No, that's not the Liberty bell :). It's the 1890 Seattle Fire Department Bell that's right outside of the Maritime Museum at UW.

There was still sunlight, so I decided to go out for a walk and that's how I ended up at this place.

Walking further, I visited the waterfront and watched the traffic of boats of all sizes headed to and from Lake Washington (it was a busy as a city main street).

I just kept on going and enjoyed my walk. I think if I ever had the chance to go back in time and go to college again, I'd consider the UW. There are just so many places nearby for long walks, or where you can setup camp and read or something.

More pix....

Seward Park and the Ballard Locks

On the way to Seward Park, I discovered that a long stretch of Lake Washington blvd was closed to traffic on weekends so I had to take the detour...but eventually found a place to park near the park. It's a great place and I only wish I had my bike with me. I was at the southern tip of Lake Washington (where I took this photo).

After I finished my yoga and meditation session (kidding), I drove towards Ballard, stopped at Sunset Park (still early in the afternoon so no pix...sorry), then went to the Ballard Locks (or Hiram Chi-something locks...forgot the name :) ) . I initially thought the locks were some type of dock for boats. The locks actually function as a doorway to another dimension......kidding!....its actually a dam with a doorway on the side for boats....they go through the keyhole, so to speak....and thus why they call it the locks (I know, I know!....just laugh, ok?).

Anyway, to make a long story short, Lake Washington is higher than the Puget Sound, so the boats have to get in this compartment where they equalize the water levels (either they fill or drain water) , and then they pass through....see the pix below :).

(watch the mast of the sail boat as it goes down)

Sat Morning 051306

Ah yes, there's nothing like waking up on a Saturday morning and not knowing what to do :).
Living in a studio, you have such an easy view of everything...I look up...and there's the ceiling fan...kinda reminds me of Martin Sheen in Apocalypse Now. Do you remember that scene in the beginning of the movie? He was drunk in bed and just watching the ceiling fan as post-traumatic stress syndrome kicked in. Some MP's eventually come in with an officer and they throw him in the shower to wake him up.....aaaaaaaaaaaaa!....always have that scene in my head of Martin Sheen screaming as the cold water hit him .......I do same thing everytime I rip a bandaid off a wound :).

Anyway, continuing on my Saturday morning.....I look to my right...and there's the kitchen... there is no pot on the stove, but I can imagine it there, boiling....and then a scream from Anne Archer and Michael Douglas running upstairs to find Glen Close about to stab her.....and he runs to save her....aaaaaaa!

My, my I've been screaming inside my head all morning :) . Time to think good thoughts for a change.......hmmm.... ..hmmmm......hmmm...well, nothing's coming to mind, sorry.

I do remember cooking chicken stock on that stove a couple of weeks back and the smoke triggered the fire alarm. I was in a panic inside my head, but outside I was just moving on normal speed. I calmly opened the window, walked towards the room to find out which smoke alarm was pissed, and then leapt once to switch it off. I then slowly walked over to the door, where the switch to the fan was...weird how calm my body was when my mind was frantic.

Not much left....so, hell, why not turn the camera to myself and...well, there's the radiator! :)


Anyway, I did make the most out of this sunny weekend...next entries to follow...