Life In The Pacific Northwest
I find it hard to imagine anyone driving in Seattle who hasn’t experienced this. And, I must confess, I’ve suffered from this syndrome.
This is courtesy of the great parody, Portlandia, which exquisitely captures NW culture.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-baV-xULLk?list=PLojjDpU2hfbl2O152r83d4ifEMuVOlBY4&w=560&h=315]
My past few weekends have been quite busy…full of the good living that makes me love this region. Memorial Day weekend I was able to spend with good friends on the beach a few miles north of my house, and then spent a day at Folklife, one of my favorite Seattle festivals. Though the weather was a bit drippy, I enjoyed the music and other artists while we wandered the Seattle Center Campus. Then we wandered over to the Pacific Science Center, always a favorite for us. Lunch in the Armory, my son enjoying Kabab and my wife and I grubbing on burgers from Skillet’s counter.
This past weekend we spent part of Saturday meandering the Edmonds Spring/Garden Market, ending the day with froyo at Revelations. Yesterday, spent most of my morning and early afternoon at Trinity Lutheran Church for our annual meeting, followed by a run down in Edmonds.
For me, at least, all recipes for perfect weekends.
You’ll find a few photos below for your enjoyment!
Cheers, all.
Scenes From Folklife 2013
A Day At Mission Beach, On The Tulalip Reservation
Two events yesterday drove home a key piece of Seattle culture. One: guy with Illinois plates driving maniacally through my line of cars, with extreme frustration clearly displayed. Two: freeway backup due to a car fire.
Item one demonstrated the laid back style of Seattle driving. No sense of hurry, nor urgency. This is visible at any stop sign, where we have the old Mac & Tosh routine. “No, after you. No, no…after you.” We often deal with paralysis by politeness. Polite-alysis?
With item two, we have the Seattle ogle. Now, this fire was dramatic: Corvette’s front end was gone, foam everywhere. But the firetrucks were long gone. Yet, traffic crawls by so we can all get a good look. Amen continues even after we’re well past. Craning their necks to keep it in view. Causes tons of accidents, all on its own. Funny, I guess.
Ok, I like lingonberries fine, but maybe not that much. Swedish pancakes are lovely, though.
Anyway, growing up Lutheran, I’ve had a great deal of interaction with Nordic culture. Whether the glorious delights of desserts (yummy lefse), or the abomination that is lutefisk, Â I’ve seen a great deal. Â Therefore, I, with a deep whole-heartedness, recommend you experience a Nordic heritage event.
Below are two Seattle area ones. I won’t be able to make either this year, but several friends attend them.
Syttende Mai, May 17, Seattle; and Poulsbo Viking Fest, May 17-19
The headline is what started it: “Faces Of Sodo:…” (Puget Sound Biz Journal). I started with reading that’d as “Sodor”, then my brain ran with it. Perhaps Sodor is that area south of Modor where the baseball and football stadiums area? Because Sauron likes himself some ballgames to unwind after a busy day of global conquest.
It was funny in my mind. I guess you had to be there.
Just stumbled across this via the Billings Gazette, of all things. They have a great overview of the place so no need for me to recreate their work. Give them a peek.
This, definitely, must be on my 2013 tour list. I guess the biggest question is whether I’ll force my family to come along. Since it’s really not geek centric, perhaps they’ll enjoy it, too.
Perhaps..
More details are on their site:Â www.livingcomputermuseum.org/
Anybody going to the April 11 Geekwire Meetup and Radio Show? Trying to decide if I want to go. Inspire me.
I hail from Lynnwood, part of Snohomish county, just north of Seattle. My life has been dominated by news, etc, focused on the city ~20 miles to the south. I knew the mayor of Seattle before I knew that Lynnwood had a mayor. Living in the shadow of such a large city has made me wonder how to break free.
Washington is a large state, but you’d think it entailed one city: Seattle. Yet we’re so much more. Bellevue is just across a floating bridge, and quite a different place. Then there’s Spokane, or Yakima, or Walla-Walla, or Everett or Bellingham, or….
These differences are significant. Politically, socially, culturally, even ecologically; each region is different, and dramatically so. The main differentiator, in Washington, seems to be east/west of the Cascade mountain range. Climate-wise, west-side has the rainy disposition that Seattle is famous form. Yet, on the east-side, we have desert; some of the driest places in the country. Economically the east is predominately agrarian. West is subdivided by Seattle’s influence. The Puget Sound basin is mainly industrial and post-industrial urban work. The rest seems a balance of extraction (timber, mainly) and fishing.
My goal is to expand on the stereotype of this region. Show how diverse we are as a state in all manner. I’m glad to have you join my journey.