Category: Seattle and Beyond

Human remains found at Picnic Point

Carl Setzer

This is an alarming thing to read:Sheriff’s office investigating human remains found at Picnic Point. At this point, there’s so very little to go with. All we really know is that it looks like the body had been there some time. Was it something nefarious, or a sad accident? No way to even guess. 

Do we need to worry about a psychopath wandering about? Any of that kind of thing? Though our fears drive us towards reaction. Yet we need to wait. One of the great challenges of 21st century life: patience. We’ve become terribly used to instant responses.  A whole day?: Painful!

I’m sure the examiner will get us information quickly. Then we’ll have know how to react and move forward.

So, deeply sad stuff. I want to know more. Actually, as far a this sort of thing, I’ll say need.. 

I’ii update as this story as things progress. Until then, be safe Lynnwood, Edmonds Mountlake Terrace friends. 

Be safe. .

The Seattle Connection Of Poet Gary Snyder

Carl Setzer

Perhaps you’re familiar with Gary Snyder. Most famous for his affiliation with Beat poets like Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg, he work is really it’s own beast. One of my favorite writers, I read his work quite regularly. He’s quite influential on me.

I find the way he combines such things as zen, Chinese literature and nature poetry with geomorphology and geology simply fascinating. And his eye keeps looking at the west coast, with him spending a great deal of time in the Pacific Northwest.

His seminal work, Mountains and Rivers Without End covers a great deal of ground topic-wise. There are several poems with Pacific Northwest themes, but one strikes me most: “Night Highway 99“. (The link will take you to the Google Books edition of book.)

I remember when I first really read the title. “Really” meaning “attentive, aware, awake (in a zen-sort-of-way). The connection was instant. Growing up in Lynnwood just a few blocks from Highway 99, it’s very easy to envision the places he writes about. Also, with my journeys around the region, most of the towns he mentions I know. At least driving by, and many of them have memories of my footsteps upon the ground.

Definitely give Mr. Snyder a read. The rewards; magnificent!

Seattle's Aurora Bridge at night
Seattle’s Aurora Bridge at night

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I just saw Wonder Woman this evening! Spoiler free, don’t worry

Carl Setzer
Wonder Woman Poster

After a burst of luck, and some fairly mad scrambling, we were able to get down to Seattle’s Cinerama for a preview of Wonder Woman.

I’ve been excited for this one for months. And, let me say, it’s well-crafted. Full disclosure: I’m generally a super-positive guy and tend not to hate anything. Just variations of enjoyment. Now there are some bad films out there…but, back on point: Wonder Woman is not one of them!

Cinematically, it’s very much in the same vein as we’ve seen in other Zack Snyder films. (I don’t want diminish Patty Jenkins‘ work on this film. I’m sure if I knew her work better, I’d recognize her hand in this as well.) I love their use of color, and Zack and Co used many creative angles and clever edits to add dramatic flair. For me, that was wonderful. And, from what I’ve been reading, everyone else feels the same.

 

Being able to see it in Paul Allen’s cinematic digital playground, Cinerama, was an additional joy. I’ve been there many, many times over the years. It was where I saw Star Wars in it’s first run. Back then, it was only playing at the Cinerama. Making the trek in from Lynnwood was an effort, though different than nowadays. No issues, really, with parking or traffic back in the 70s. Mostly downtown was seedy and worn, and generally not considered to be the best place for children. Anyway, my first viewing of Star Wars was a transformative moment in my life. Seeing the Star Destroyer bear down on the Tantive IV, and the feels that flowed through me, changed me forever. They forever dominated my way. So, this theater has a warm spot in my hear. I adore the Cinerama!

There was a time that it’s future was far from certain. I’m glad Mr. Allen made something fantastic and unique. If I were a billionaire, I think I’d be more in Paul’s vein than Bill Gates. Nothing against Mr. Gates, but my interests are broad and wide. More akin to Paul’s.

So, the important part: go see this movie! I give it two thumbs up!

Memorial Day, 2017

Carl Setzer

An amazing weekend. First, perfect weather. Which seems to turn off tomorrow. Giving a more divine feeling to the holiday weekend. Also, though we had plenty of activity, we were able to get quite a bit done around the house. 

Saturday and Sunday were filled with concert preparation and performance in my church, Trinity Lutheran Church by the Snohomish County Youth Chorus. Not only was my son singing, but I ran a PowerPoint and helped with sound. 

We did manage to squeeze in a trip to the Edmonds Farmers Market, and a couple of walks in. Met my Fit bit step goals every day. 

Today was mostly home centric. Finished cleaning out the garage, more cleaning around the house, that sort of thing. Then we wandered down around Edmonds beaches, enjoying the low tide. It never ceases to delight me how opened up the beach becomes. We can walk around the jetty, and under the ferry dock. 

Watching these clams (I presume) feeding through their siphons delighted me. 

Journeying up the hill to Revelations Froyo is a must on warm-to-hot days in Edmonds. Other days, too, but it’s especially welcome in the heat. 

Then we ended with the first salmon of the year. Just splendid! 

I hope your Memorial Day was reflective and refreshing. Of course, tomorrow we’re back into it. 

With the Summer Weather, Please Watch For Motorcycles

Carl Setzer

A few days ago, while driving down Everett’s Broadway, I saw a car on the side with a large dent. With it, a motorcycle, parts scattered, and, fortunately, the driver standing beside. 

So, my friends, please be cautious, check blind spots and all that. Motorcycles are out, and forget how to share the roads during winter’s dank darkness. 

Memorial Day Weekend + Great Weather = Traffic

Carl Setzer

This morning I heard a brief blurb about this weekend’s traffic. It’s going to be lovely, and there are some great events like Folklife going on (besides Folklife, my favorite so far is Tankfest in Everett at Paine Field.

Everyone will be on the roads!

Expect horrible traffic throughout the Puget Sound region, and plan extra time to get to whatever adventure you’ll be taking.

Looking for something to do (besides one the two above)? Here’s a few lists of events and activities out there.

Just a small sampling of all that’s going on around here. There’s also all the mountains, beaches, parks…outside stuff!

No reason to be on the couch this upcoming long weekend!

 

Aviation Film Festival: We Should Have One In The Seattle Area

Carl Setzer

My son discovered this film festival hosted by the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum

Smithsonian Air and Space Museum Film Festival

Now I’m wondering, with such amazing institutions like Boeing, the Museum of Flight, the Future of Flight and the Museum of History and Industry, why we don’t have a similar film festival here in Seattle. I really think we’d get great traction on something like this.

What do you think? Would you go?

Let me know!

 

The Story Of A Neighborhood Eyesore

Carl Setzer

A few blocks from my house in Lynnwood there’s this beat up home that screams bank-owned to me. The front window is broken out, there are two abandoned vehicles in the front yard with their windows broken out. However, this is a decent neighborhood, close to Daleway and Lynndale parks. The main drawback to the house: it sits on a busy street. Outside of the recession, though, this is quite an unusual state for houses around here.

The homeowner on this one, Marcos Santiago, struggled quite bit. Per county records, the house was in danger of foreclosure, but, if you review the court records, it looks like he managed to negotiate a loan modification back in 2010/2011. Now, though, they received a notice of trustees sale back on November 4 of 2013, which hasn’t been released.

Sadly, Mr. Santiago passed away just a few weeks later on November 20, 2013. The closeness of his death to the foreclosure made me wonder if his death was a suicide, but I don’t see any information supporting that. And I’m not feeling curious enough to pay for a copy of the death certificate.

Another tidbit about this home: Marcos’ son, Marcos Jr., a level three sex offender, actually had a community meeting to address concerns about him living at this home. Shortly after the meeting, he ended up in trouble with the law again. Clearly, a troubled young man. I’m not sure what happened to him after this. He didn’t appear in the sex offender database.

But back to house. It’s again in distress, with a sheriffs levy filled at the end of 2016. US Bank is the entity acting here. I wonder if this will come on the market as an REO (stands for Real Estate Owned, the accounting description for an asset owned by a bank). It was sold with a conventional loan, I don’t expect it to come on the market as a government held one, either. It could sell on the courthouse steps, too. Hard to gauge at this point.

I know how slow these processes can take. As the property is vacant, I expect the heirs don’t feel any great motivation to engage with the process. If so, it’ll be protracted. But, someday, it will be sold and someone else will take this home’s story and make it there own. I hope it will be a happier one.

Seattle’s narrow comfort band

Carl Setzer

It’s pretty funny. Seattleites have a very narrow band of comfort, temperature-wise. Looks like the range is about 65 to 72. Today hit about 75 in places, with complaints about the heat ensuing. 80 brings about fears of heat stroke, and 85 is the realm of demons. 

For me, I’m delighting that I’m finally able to wear shorts and flip-flops. And, well, that my taekwondo school is air -conditioned. Yeah, I’m not immune to Seattle’s proclivities. 

Yesterday we went to Everett’s Farmers Market. I’m quite fond of it, especially with the “new” location. It didn’t move far, if you don’t know where it moved to. 

My first love is the Edmonds market. It’s great to have s Saturday and a Sunday choice, though. 

This weekend had perfect market weather, though above the temperature band. I heard many complaints about the heat. 

For though of us adapted to Western Washington, decent weather brings us outside. Even amidst our complaints and discomfort. Between the markets and getting my Fitbit steps in, I got my outside time in. 

For that I’m grateful. And glad. I do adore this region.