Author: Carl Setzer

Journeying between Astoria and Portland, listening to jazz 

Carl Setzer

Listening to jazz, remembering a house between Astoria and Portland. A turn of the century home, from the early 1900s. The owners were playing jazz from the 50s: bebop, cool jazz man! This place sticks in my memory. It was dark, evening, and our journey was taking us to Portland. But that was later. At this moment we sat there, talking, listening, and drinking coffee. None of had lots of money, but there was enough. Humble, and beautiful. 

I’ve lost all connection to that place. My travelling companion lost his battle with cancer over a decade ago. I don’t remember which of the small towns it was. They all blur into each other. 

Perhaps it’s better that way. Blended together, my connection spreads all along the river. Any of the towns could be “it”.Perhaps they all area. 

Reflections On Seth Godin

Carl Setzer

Seth Godin always makes me think. His writing brings me to the proverbial 30,000 foot level, where I can see clearly. His post today “Never smooth enough–a modern addiction” came with this great line:

“Accept the lack of perfect. Better to make something important instead.”

It’s so easy for me to get caught up in the lack of perfect, the gaps, the holes in the plans, and in all the things I don’t have to “pull this off”.

Just move, just start: it’s what matters. Everything else will come together.

Rain, Rain, Go Away? Yeah, Right

Carl Setzer

Weather 1-29-18

I was thinking it would be great to fit in a walk today, but I spent lunch with a good friend and now the weather has turned to murk. Fortunately, I was planning on spending the evening doing taekwondo, so I’ll get some exercise to burn off the Bob’s Chuckwagon burger dip.

As could hear the rain rattling our skylights, I opted to check the weather. The graphic above reminded me of my childhood, where I thought that a “50% chance of rain” meant it would going to rain 50% of the day. Ah, growing up in Seattle!

Fortunately, it hasn’t rained 100% of today. At moments it sure feels like it, though.

I guess it’s time to plan for a full week of rain, though. I’ll be spending time at the gym, I guess, besides in the dojang. Wet, wet, wet…

 

A Monday Poem

Carl Setzer

Here is Seattle
The rain falls in January
Vigorously at times
Mostly, though,
A sorrowful mist
Seeping into your bones
Bringing an ache
Moving from your marrow
Into your heart
As we await the return
Of sunlight and life

Some thoughts on 2018: Exploring Photography Deeper

Carl Setzer

I’ve been exploring what I want to focus on this year. I’m strongly drawn, to bettering my skills in photography.

Now, my father has always been an avid photographer, so it’s always been part of my awareness. Going further, I fell in love with photography back in elementary school. In Junior High, I started taking classes, and became one of the nerds walking the halls with a camera shooting candids for the yearbook.  And I carried on with that all the way through highschool. It was one of my career ambitions as I pondered post-highschool life.

As life progressed, though, I slipped away. I did take my camera with me on a few trips. Looking back, without any plans to publish my work, the effort seemed empty. I went from my binders of photos and the occasional album, to boxes of prints, then complete neglect: rarely shooting anything. I devalued my work. Slowly, through moves and such, my collection simply vanished. Fortunately, I still have all my old gear.

Looking back deeper: I hate that I ever entertained those thoughts, the hateful ramblings of self-doubt and internal cruelty . Now, I wish I had albums with the places I visited. Note to myself: I always regret when I give in to my self-destructive mindset. Don’t do it!

Over the past few years, my family encouraged me to re-engage. It’s been deeply enriching, though I see plenty of room for growth.

So, here I find myself: 2018 and wanting to reboot this part of my life. I’m not too sure of everything I want to try to do regarding photography yet. Clearly, though, the main thing is to take more photos. And I want to upgrade my digital gear. My main camera is an Olympus E-PL1. Non-DSLR, no viewfinder, shooting through an LCD. It’s a nice little camera, but I want to move more into a prosumer DSLR. Thinking Canon so that my son and I can share gear. I’m going to explore some classes, whether college ones or local workshops, well, I don’t know. I think the discipline of a recurring class would be good for keeping my momentum. Perhaps joining up, or starting, a photography group. Definitely will look into hitting up some local photography events.

If you have suggestions, please leave a comment. I really would value direction. 

It’s a world and community I miss. And it’s a great way to get out and explore the community.

Here’s a sampling of what I’ve created over the past year from my Flickr account.

January 2018 Highlights

Sunlight Rising Skyward 

Carl Setzer

As sunlight climbs through the trees
Silently caressing my home
Shadows upon my window’s shades
Transform like living Rorschachs
Into distinct leaves, memories
Of the moment that’s fading

The Gym Right After New Year’s

Carl Setzer

I pulled into the parking lot of the Lynnwood Rec Center this evening. The was a dearth of parking. As I usually, deliberately, time my workouts to avoid the open swim times, I was quite surprised to see a full lot. Then it hit me: New Year’s resolutions. And it was tempting to add a sniff of arrogant disdain. “Well, I’ll still be coming here in the spring”. And then there’s the new “loud grunter dude”. It’s quite the spectacle. 

And I felt ashamed as soon as I recognized it. Sure, getting on the machines was challenging. Not too much so, though. Parking did annoy me. But, really, is that worth allowing even the most cursory glance of my mind’s eye? No. All these new people, well, I guess I allowed them to impact my sense of ownership. And there’s that pathetic notion of “I’ve been coming here a long time. Clearly I’m more committed than you”, or some other elitist nonsense.  

So, let me shift my attitude and welcome all you new fitness buffs. I hope you exceed your goals. 

City of Lynnwood Project Open House Next Thursday

Carl Setzer

These may not be the most exciting events, but they’re pretty important opportunities to understand city construction projects and know (in advance) how they’ll impact you.

 

Lynnwood Washington

PROJECT OPEN HOUSE NOTICE

2018 Paving Program – Chip Seal

Thursday, January 18, 2018

 5:30 pm  – 7:30 pm

Lynnwood City Hall, Council Chambers

19100 44th Ave W. Lynnwood WA

Project Information

Starting April 2018, the City of Lynnwood will be doing paving work to preserve streets throughout the city.  Chip sealing is a key part of the City’s preservation program to maximize the life of our roads. It is used in cities and counties across the country as a cost-effective method of pavement preservation. New technology and better mix designs have improved chip sealing products, minimizing its impacts and maximizing its effectiveness. The treatment extends the life of each road by seven to ten years and provides a new sealed surface, at a fraction of the cost of an asphalt overlay.

overlay map 2018

For more information contact Project Manager, Ngan Ha Yang 425-670-5209 or 
e-mail NYang@LynnwoodWA.gov or visit the project website.

Follow us on Twitter @LynnwoodStreets.

The meeting site is accessible to persons with disabilities. Individuals requiring reasonable accommodations may request written materials in alternate formats, sign language interpreters, physical accessibility accommodations, or other reasonable accommodations by contacting Project Manager Ngan Ha Yang at (425) 670-5209 or by e-mail at NYang@LynnwoodWA.gov by January 16, 2018. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may contact the event sponsor through the Washington Relay Service at 7-1-1.

Now There’s Tickets for the E-DUI (hands-free cell phone)Law

Carl Setzer

The six month grace period is over. Now offenders are looking at a $136 fine. The second offence is $234.

So, hands-free, or have your phone in some kind of holder (like one of these things) so you can operate it with one finger.

https://youtu.be/ikjrALr-KFU 

Thinking about 2017 and moving forward 

Carl Setzer

It’s been a mixed year for me. I started a new job, one that pushed me far outside my comfort zone. As a rather cautious soul, that’s been quite challenging at times to deal with. The frustration of too much to do with constrained tome. 

Another frustrating element for me: learning new stuff. It’s one thing to expand my knowledge, quite another to learn a new role, where a company depends upon my effectiveness. It’s a rather terrifying sensation. 

More positively, I’ve grown as a martial artist, and my family has done some great stuff. I’ve deepened friendships I valued, and grown to new ones. I’ve also spent the past few weeks studying myself, seeking to deepen my understanding of what brings me joy, what brings me success. 

There’s great emotional risk in doing such. What if those ideas I’ve invested so much energy in turn out to be bad fits? Of course, my internal counterpoint needs to be “why would I want  to invest time, emotion and energy into something that robs joy and beauty from my life?

So, exploring, growing, developing: that’s my theme right now. What about you?