So, it’s official: passenger service is coming to Paine Field

I came across this at the Seattle Times: “Alaska Airlines will start passenger flights from Everett’s Paine Field

This has been hinted at for years, and then boldly stated (“Paine Field wins FAA’s approval for commercial airline flights” from 2012 and “Snohomish County OKs plan for commercial passenger terminal at Paine Field” more recently, in 2015)…at least that this was a plan. But, aside from Mukilteo’s battles, we seem to be moving this way. It’s definitely happening, and there’s a timeline: flights starting fall of 2018. The likelihood that this will be stopped is quite small (though Mukilteo hasn’t fully given up the fight yet), though I’m hardly an attorney. Delayed: sure. Stopped: hard to picture that happening.

Anyway, I see this as a mixed thing. I’d much rather travel out of Paine Field than driving down to Seatac. I’ve sworn on a few occasions that the next time I fly, I’ll travel out of Bellingham. But I haven’t yet. So, convenience is nice. And bringing in air service opens up events and conventions to the county, through Everett and Lynnwood. It also opens up the south Snohomish County region to businesses that depend on access to airports. At least a little.

I expect that service will start small and light, slowly expanding their operations. I believe the negotiations that have established a 22 flight max and the near normal business hours as sincere, but there will be pressure to increase capacity…and probably as soon as flights start. Especially since Seatac seems to be pretty near capacity and demand is still increasing.

This will bring more traffic to the area. And then there’s the aircraft noise. I’m glad Mukilteo is working with the entities at play to mitigate as much as we can. However, it will come. It will come. I’m also glad that we’re looking at significant infrastructure upgrades to the area (check out the Harbour Reach Corridor Project, for one).

It is interesting that this is just two weeks after a plane crash in the neighborhood. From a PR perspective, it’s a good thing this media cycle played out as it did. Well, for the proponents of this it is.

I’ve always tried to focus on the practical, the effective. It looks like we need to adapt to the new reality. As I see Snohomish County growing more urbanized over the next few years. This is the reality I’m referring to. My little piece of suburbia is moving away from a semi-rural feel to a far more urban structure. And this will fuel it.

And now this weekend is done 

​Spent the evening with my folks celebrating Mothers Day. I love that I’m physically close to them, so can keep an emotional closeness. Though, at times, it’s surreal to be back in Lynnwood, within sight of the home I grew up in.

Many, many memories can and went. Stories told with my son, developing the generational connections. So much of my life took place right here, within a short drive of my folks’ home. So many transformative memories flowed through my mind today.

Most of the day I slept. Fighting some kind of virus, wakefulness was elusive.

Yesterday we went to the Reptile Expo at the Monroe Fairgrounds. Then down to the old Woodway highschool for the Edmonds Heights production of Addams Family. The reptile expo was cool, opening my eyes more to herpetological fans, and what they see in their fine scaled friends. And I thought the kids were wonderful.

Now I’m on my couch listening to St. Mark’s compline service on KING FM. So many rich memories here. I was a member at the cathedral for many years. I’ve so many memories of the halls there. And many evenings, sitting in the darkened gnave. Surrounded by this microcosm of Seattle. Wealthy socialites, broke college students, street kids, the roughest-edged folks, all crammed into the cathedral every Sunday evening.

The tranquility I’ve felt there has rarely been equalled. Someday I need to take my son down and introduce him to this ancient worship style. It holds deep meaning​for me.

Lynnwood Albertsons, Safeway and Change 

Swung by the Lynnwood Albertsons this evening. Needed some staples. Well, the store renovation is solidly underway. Tiles are ripped up and shelves are getting shuffled around. The layout is different enough to make getting around the store challenging. No work yet on anything structural, so I expect more changes. I’m looking forward to the store being brought into more contemporary styling. 

Now, I’ve been told it will be rebranded as a Safeway. And I actually don’t care that much. Not sure the decision process on that, but I wasn’t part if it. There’ll be an updated store very close to home. That’s what matters to me, in the end. 

I must admit that there not being an Albertsons in this door does tickle something. There’s always been one here. ALWAYS! I have no memory of anything else. That will probably hit me at some point. 

But not now. 

Lake Stevens and the Future of Snohomish County 

Spent the day running errands. One of them had me at the City of Lake Stevens’ planning offices as two manufactured “portables” were delivered. Quite the tight squeeze along the tree lined street. But the drivers were skilled and nothing was injured save a few stray leaves. 

This got us talking about change, growth and the area. Our region’s density has changed dramatically. I remember coming out to Lake​ Stevens, way out in the country. Waaayyy out there. It seemed quite the excursion to go up and enjoy pizza at Up The Creek (the business is gone, but the building remains). That was something I always looked forward to, and something I remember years later. 

As the region grew, as decent paying jobs were getting created by the dozen, people started flowing into the region. Housing prices climb through Seattle. And affordability pushed outwards. Add the addition of the Everett Navy HomePort, which brought additional bodies to Snohomish County. Lake Stevens amenities make it a charming and desirable place to live. All of that pushed people out there. Adding traffic, the need for stores and transit. 

I expect the demand for homes there to grow boldly over the next few years. Prices in Seattle and Bellevue are extreme, livability collapsing. Snohomish county offers great living with ease of access to Seattle, which will get better as light rail builds out. 

Of course, I’m biased: I’ve lived in the region most of my life. And I don’t intend to live anywhere else. 

This is an exciting time for the region. I’m pleased to be part of it all. 

Oh, the rollercoaster of weight

Though I’ve been working the past few years on getting my weight down, and been rather successful at it, I’ve been fluctuating between 190 and 200. I hit 190 and, boing, bounce up to 199.

I know it’s diet. And getting back on food tracking via the Fitbit app always helps.

I find the psychology of it all puzzling. This weird up and down thing, where at 190, my attention to details completely fails, and I just eat without thought or care.

And now I’m back on the rollercoaster.

Feels like Sisyphus. And then this ended up in my inbox.

Unrelated, perhaps, but appropriate in a way.

What about you? Any challenges with weight (whether losing or gaining)? Or are you a fitness god?

Leave a comment and let me know!

An abandoned car at Snohomish County Park (Perrinville)

This beat up hulk of a car has been abandoned off Olympic View Drive at Snohomish County Park. I’m unsure how they decided this was a good idea. But I wish to expound on the likely outcomes of this decision. 

  1. The car has been ticketed 
  2. The city will track them down, and that will be paid. 
  3. The car will be towed
  4. The owners will get that bill…and the storage costs. 
  5. That, too, will be paid. By force if necessary. Civil judgements carry some weight and the possibility of wage garnishment. 

What could’ve been dealt with at a relatively low cost (wrecking yard…they had no problem towing it) or even free (all those vehicle donation programs) is going to end up costing a huge amount more. 

Short sided decision which will have long term negative repercussions. 

Sigh 

Lesser Seattle and Other Thoughts

I grew up reading Emmett Watson (a key part of Seattle’s literary history), and decided to revisit some of his writings. Currently, I’m working my way through Emmett Watson: “My Life In Print” (affiliate link). This book has a whole section about his, somewhat tongue-in-cheek writings about a somewhat fictional organization: the Society for Lesser Seattle.

The ideology of this came as a counter to the relentless boosterism for growing Seattle. If you loved the city, imagine how annoying it would be to continue to hear how to “fix” what you cherish.

Now, to be fair, the global city that Seattle is today resulted from that boosterism. But there were elements of that growth mindset that were truly mindless. Growth for growth’s sake is not wise or healthy, in my view.

Change is a part of life. It’s crucial to evolve. However, I find deep value in spending time assessing:

  • Who you are
  • Who you want to become
  • Then evaluate the opportunities which present themselves

All three are important. I can’t imagine anything more sad than “evolving” into someone you hate.

The same is true for cities, and any type of community.

“Know thyself”, a line I’ve heard bantered forth occasionally, seems apt here.

With communities, a challenge: dealing with divergent answers of those questions. Democracy can get ugly at times.

Let’s explore all of this, shall we?

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What a lovely day, thunderstorms and all 

Today’s weather was certainly quirky. Earlier in the afternoon, it was nice enough in Marysville to get a 20 minute walk in. 

Not too much later the thunderstorm rolled through. My son and I planned to hit the gym, but the weather knocked the power out there. So, we went out for a little ride. 

Now, it had cleared up as we were gearing up. But it started to pour as we headed out. We opted to keep going. It was my son’s first real rain ride. 

I’ve become a fair weathered cyclist over the years. So it was nice to get out and get wet on the road. I love riding so, and need to get back in the saddle more. 

I want to push my fitness higher again. Not get my fitness back. Rather, adapt and create a new life, with a solid center of fitness. 

Besides riding, I want to get into kayaking. I’ve a fair amount of experience…and I want more. 

Also, during the winter I want to get deeper into cross-country skiing. That’s one I really miss. 

Congrats to the good folks at Canlis on it’s James Beard Award

This is fun news for Seattle foodies: Canlis Takes Home Its First James Beard Award. (Seattle Met Magazine)

I’ve not dined at good ol’ Canlis. Mainly, I’m a northend guy, and making my way down there is a bit challenging. And then there’s the price tag…
Anyway, all the best to good folks at Canlis!