Checking in

I was watching the evening news and heard them report a day between 1/21 and 1/25 as the most depressing day of the year (man, the year just started and they've declared the sadest day already??!?).....looks like it "...factors in the weather, consumer debt from holiday spending and failed New Year's resolutions...". For me, the whole month of January has simply been one busy month at work. The weekends have been mainly rest and errands, but I did get a chance this past weekend to join a Skagit valley eagle watch activity in Rockport, WA. I had my camera gear with me, but was handed a paddle as I boarded the raft...and even though I had a lot of opportunities to pause and take out my camera (the river was just a class I), I just didn't have the motivation to do so...and so if I wasn't paddling I was just enjoying the view. It wasn't peak season so we only saw 13 eagles during the two hour trip (in peak season, the guides say you could spot a hundred easily). The offsite part of my January schedule is finally over and so I get to come regularly in the office again...hopefully get a good routine going and pace for a few more breaks.

Home for the Holidays 2009

Seattle snow was nowhere in sight in December 2009 so flying home was no problem. I came home a few days earlier this year and that gave me enough time to meet with a lot of friends before Chirstmas Day. Mom and Dad were going to Las Vegas for Christmas and so we all kinda found ourselves tagging along for a couple of days. Nothing new to report about Vegas except that they now have dancers (at night) on the casino floor...certainly a ploy to lure men in the casino (yes, i think it worked :) ). Vegas was not spared by the economic slowdown and this was clearly demonstrated by how a number of casinos who used to feature only upscale restaurants now have small food courts.

2010 has come somewhat quietly...which I personally think is pleasant. But it also comes on the heels of how times are still tough and there is still a lot of caution and sadness in the air.

My time home this year felt like a long time and I actually was able to take a lot of idle time to help my brother and brother-in-law move appliances, play a 1st-gen xbox (its still good, man ;) ), stare at planes in the sky during the day, stare at blinking towers at night.