More Tulip Pics

Skagit Valley Tulip Festival

We spent yesterday with Marshall and Joan at the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. We've been wanting to go since we moved here but just haven't had a chance until now. I'm glad we went for various reasons. 1) We had a great time. 2) We saw some beautiful scenery 3) We had a terrible week and this helped us take our minds off of losing Mickey.
I'm so glad that Marshall drove because I would have lost my mind in the traffic. It was terrible. Once we got up there, we stopped at 2 tulip fields and Roozengaard. The fields were beautiful. Roozengaard was beautiful too but overcrowded. That's where all the tourists were. AHHHH! I hate crowds!
After our flower-ful day, we grabbed dinner at Olive Garden in Everett. Between us, we took care of the bill with gift cards. Nice! After that, Sarah and I came home and crashed.
I took a few pictures but the one of us was taken by Marshall. It's a keeper.

Booklist

Cirque du Freak by Darren Shan
A young man attends a freak show, becomes entangled with a vampire, and his life is changed forever.
I had been hearing about this book on and off for a few years. Recently I discovered that it was being made into a movie so I thought that merited me checking it out. My first impression of the story is that it's dark...very dark. Considering that this is a YA novel I am on the line on whether I think it's too dark or not. I certainly couldn't have handled this material when I was 10. Perhaps today's kids are a bit more jaded. (That was supposed to sound sarcastic) The story is not particularly deep nor well-written. It was a FAST read and I am a slow reader. It does keep you interested but I found myself skimming alot. Since there's no flair to the writing I didn't feel as though I was missing anything. I got the basic story and a basic story is all there is. I'm not sure if I'll continue with this series. I suppose it will depend on how desperate for something to read I get.

ABC

A - Age: 47
B - Bed size: King
C - Chore you hate: Making the bed
D - Dog's name: No dog
E - Essential start your day item: Zyrtec, Ameprozole & Neti Pot
F - Favorite color: Black
G - Gold or Silver: Silver
H - Height: 6'2"
I - Instruments you play: djembe, trumpet (long time ago)
J - Job title: Facilities Manager, Artist
K - Kid(s): None
L - Living arrangements: Apartment
M - Mom's name: Joyce
N - Nicknames: Nunya
O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: None
P - Pet Peeves: Stupid people, busy people, stupid, busy people
Q - Quote from a movie/tv show: "Your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries."
R - Right or left handed: Right
S - Siblings: 1 younger sister
T - Time you wake up: I get up at 6:45 am
U - Underwear: Yes
V - Vegetables you dislike: Brussel sprouts, radishes, beets...shall I keep going?
W - Ways you run late: I'm usually very puntual
X - X-rays you've had: Head, chest, etc.
Y - Yummy food you make: I'm not much of a cook
Z - Zoo favorite: Grizzly bears

Booklist

Destroyermen: Into the Storm by Taylor Anderson
Pressed into service when World War II breaks out in the Pacific, the USS Walker—a Great-War vintage “four-stacker” destroyer—finds itself in full retreat from pursuit by Japanese battleships. Its captain, Lieutenant Commander Matthew Patrick Reddy, knows that he and his crew are in dire straits. In desperation, he heads Walker into a squall, hoping it will give them cover—and emerges somewhere else. Familiar landmarks appear, but the water teems with monstrous, vicious fish. And there appear to be dinosaurs grazing on the plains of Bali. Gradually Matt and his crew must accept the fact that they are in an alternate world—and they are not alone. Humans have not evolved, but two other species have. And they are at war. With its steam power and weaponry, Walker’s very existence could alter the balance of power. And for Matt and his crew, who have the means to turn a primitive war into a genocidal Armageddon, one thing becomes clear. They must decide whose side they’re on. Because whoever they choose to side with is the winner.
I'd never heard of this book when I grabbed it off the library shelf. I'm glad I did. It was a fun read. It's reminiscent of the works of S. M. Stirling but I find Anderson's writing to be more accessible and easy to read. (I love Stirling's work as well but his writing is very dense) This book had likable characters and adventure aplenty. To be honest, the battle scenes got a bit tedious but I don't like to read battle scenes too much. You could just say, "They had a battle and won it" and I'd be happy. I'm more about character development, great dialogue and a good story. This one had enough of all that to keep me interested and to possibly keep reading the series.

Our Mickey

Our Mickey is gone. We had to have him put to sleep today. He's been on chemo for Inflammatory Bowel Disease for 2 years. He's done really well up until this past weekend. The treatment simply stopped working. We started to see him going downhill pretty fast so, hard as it was, we had to do something. It's been very, very hard and we are hurting terribly.
Mickey was so full of personality. He was a scrappy kitty, a fighter. But he was also a lover. He loved on us bigtime. He especially loved his mama, Sarah. Many was the time he would sit on the couch next to her and gaze adoringly at her with a little drool gathering at his mouth. He really did! There are so many great memories of Mickey...too many to recount here. Suffice it to say, we are really going to miss him and the next who-knows-how-many days are going to be rough.
We've lost 3 kittys in 4 years. First, we lost Trinity, my black kitty. Then last year we lost Max. Sarah got Mickey and Max together 16 years ago. Now they are all gone. No more cats for the Gordon's...at least not anytime too soon. We get too attached. It's just too hard to lose them.
It's going to sound really corny but I hope there is a special heaven for kitties somewhere and that Trinity, Max and Mickey are neck deep in catnip.
We love you and miss you, Mickey. We're not sure how we're going to live without you.

More Utterly Useless Info

1. First thing you wash in the shower?
I let the hot water beat against my sinuses.

2. What color is your favorite hoodie?
Grey, just like Seattle.

3. Would you kiss the last person you kissed again?
Of course! Yes, it's my wife, you sicko!

4. Do you plan outfits?
Since my amazing makeover, yes I do!

5. How are you feeling RIGHT now?
I have a cat making biscuits in my lap. How do you think I feel?

6. What's the closest thing to you that's red?
My neck. Ha!

7. Tell me about the last dream you remember having?
It was too awful to repeat.

8. Did you meet anybody new today?
No, but I did talk to my friend Ted at the Green Bean. Hadn't seen him in a while.

9. What are you craving right now?
To sit down at my art table and be brilliant.

10. Do you floss?
No, but I brush very, very well. My dentist said so.

11. What comes to mind when I say cabbage?
Beano.

12. Are you emotional?
No. Sniff.

13. Have you ever counted to 1,000?
Why?

14. Do you bite into your ice cream or just lick it?
Lick it. Lick it good.

15. Do you like your hair?
It's a'ight. I need a haircut right now.

16. Do you like yourself?
Sometimes.

17. Would you go out to eat with George W. Bush?
If he pays, sure.

18. What are you listening to right now?
The traffic outside my studio window.

19. Are your parents strict?
I dunno. They were when I was a kid.

20. Would you go sky diving?
Not just no but hell no!

21. Do you like cottage cheese?
Not just no but...well, you get the picture.

22. Have you ever met a celebrity?
Count Basie, Grant Goodeve, and tons of Christian celebs...if that counts.

23. Do you rent movies often?
Netflix.

24. Is there anything sparkly in the room you're in?
My wife has some sparkly paint.

25. How many countries have you visited?
US & Canada.

26. Have you made a prank phone call?
When I was a kid. Prince Albert in a can, is your fridge running, that sort of thing.

27. Ever been on a train?
Yep. The best was the one in Alaska.

28. Brown or white eggs?
Either. I'm not a racist.

29. Do you have a cell-phone?
No.

30. Do you use chap stick?
When my lips are chapped. Duh.

31. Do you own a gun?
Absolutely not.

32. Can you use chop sticks?
For painting, yes. For eating, no.

33. Who are you going to be with tonight?
My wife and cat.

34. Are you too forgiving?
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha...er...oh...you were being serious?

35. Ever been in love?
Yessir, that's my baby.

36. What is your best friend(s) doing tomorrow?
Working.

37. Ever have cream puffs?
Only to demonstrate how I am a zit (ala John Belushi in Animal House).

38. Last time you cried?
When they shot Old Yeller.

39. What was the last question you asked?
Why am I doing this stupid thing?

40. Favorite time of the year?
In Seattle, everything the sun shines.

41. Do you have any tattoos?
Do you mean skin art or midget butlers?

42. Are you sarcastic?
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha...er...oh...you were being serious?

43. Have you ever seen The Butterfly Effect?
What kind of dumb question is this?

44. Ever walked into a wall?
Yes, but I said excuse me.

45. Favorite color?
Black.

46. Have you ever slapped someone?
Yes, in a stage production.

47. Is your hair curly?
No.

48. What was the last CD you bought?
A couple of Lost Dogs discs at Goodwill.

49. Do looks matter?
If I say they do, does that make me shallow?

50. Could you ever forgive a cheater?
Depends.

51. Is your phone bill sky high?
No.

52. Do you like your life right now?
Mostly, yes.

53. Do you sleep with the TV on?
Never.

54. Can you handle the truth?
About what?

55. Do you have good vision?
Artistic vision, yes, but my eyeballs, not so much.

56. Do you hate or dislike more than 3 people?
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha...er...oh...you were being serious?

57. How often do you talk on the phone?
As little as possible.

58. The last person you held hands with?
My wife.

59. What are you wearing?
Clothes.

60.What is your favorite animal?
My cat Mickey.

61. Where was your default picture taken?
What?

62. Can you hula hoop?
Never mastered it.

63. Do you have a job?
Yes I do.

64. What was the most recent thing you bought?
Dinner at Stellar Pizza.

65. Have you ever crawled through a window?
No. She came in thru the bathroom window though. Does that count?

Booklist

Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne
I'll skip the synopsis because, hopefully, everybody knows the story. I decided to read it because the theatre I work for is doing the play very soon. I also figured it was high time I read it since it's probably something I should have read as a kid. I enjoyed the book but found the beginning slow. After they got thru Asia the story picked up and clipped along until the end. I can't wait to see how our theatre stages this play with only 5 actors and a sparce stage. I know they can do it I just can't wait to see how it's done.

The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street by Mark Kneece and Rich Ellis
Picked this up on a lark. Turns out the Savannah College of Art and Design has been turning some of Rod Serling's Twilight Zone episodes into graphic novels. I've never seen this particular episode so I can't compare the TV version to the comic. I wasn't particularly impressed with the art but the story was typical 1950's paranoia sci-fi to the letter. I'll have to see if I can find the episode so I can watch it.

24Seven by various writers and artists
24seven features a who's who of today's best writers and artists from comics, film and animation, telling tales of robots in the city that never sleeps. In the vein of Flight, these stories run a cross-genre gamut, from robot zombies to a prison break to a bizarre feud between a Siamese DJ team. 24seven has romance, action, horror... everything you want, all told by a cross-section of the most diverse writers and artists you'll find on the printed page.
Another library spur-of-the-moment pick. In many cases the art is amazing which is what got my attention in the first place. As is the case with many compilations, some stories were good and some were not. In this books case, most were just weird. But, like I said, I enjoyed the art.

So Sorry, No Bloggy

I haven't been blogging much lately. Sorry about that. I can think of 2 things that may be responsible for that: 1) Most of the stuff I want to talk about is negative and I get tired of bitching on here. 2) I've been busy/productive. I've really been cranking out the art lately which is good. I feel like I've been doing some pretty good work lately. At least I've kept up the momentum.
Tonight, after work, I am going down to the Georgetown Art Attack. Truth be told, I'd rather stay home but I made a contact at the art show the other night that I need to follow up on...and...I am an artist. I really should get out and see the amazing art we have in Seattle. Most artwalks are on a school night after a long day at work and most times I just don't feel like getting out again. But, that's an excuse and I really should try to see more. I know it will challenge and inspire me to do better in my own artistic endeavors. Oh, it doesn't help that it's raining most of the time too.
So, here's a short entry for now. Perhaps I'll find the time to rant and rave about some things in the near future. Until then, why not check out my art blog which I update at least once a week.
Later.

Booklist

Harley Quinn: Preludes and Knock-Knock Jokes by Karl Kesel, Terry & Rachel Dodson
It's a love story gone horribly, horribly wrong as the Joker's partner in crime takes the spotlight in this lushly illustrated hardcover volume featuring art by Terry Dodson and Rachel Dodson (WONDER WOMAN). There's never a dull moment as Harley bounces from botched schemes to close encounters with Gotham City's kingpins of crime, all the while making wisecracks and acting in the spirit of inspired lunacy.
Grabbed this one on a whim at the library. It had it's moments. The story is so-so. The art is fantastic.
The White Mountains, The City of Gold and Lead & The Pool of Fire by John Christopher
Long ago the Tripods, gigantic three-legged machines, descended upon Earth and took control. They used "Caps," administered ceremoniously near each child's 14th birthday, to control humans' brains and keep them docile. Now there is pleasant life in villages, little technology, and no war--but there is no freedom either. In this powerful and suspenseful series, 13-year-old Will Parker and his friends deal with hunger, humanity, envy, and pride as they struggle to find out all they can about the Tripods and overthrow their rule.*
I had been hearing about the Tripods trilogy for a long while and decided it was high time I tried it. I was lured into reading it thinking it had something to do with H. G. Wells War of the Worlds. It does not other than the author drew inspiration for the alien's transports from it. At first I was disappointed but soon found myself enjoying the story nonetheless. I found the first book to be the least enjoyable due to a lack of dialogue and character development. The second and third books remedied this to a point but the stories do clip along at a good pace. If the characters are walking from here to there, the author tells you this and nothing more. No lengthy passages describing the grass or butterflies or sky. Down to business...wham, bam, thank you maam. I enjoyed the second book the most. In it, we finally meet the aliens and find out about them and their plans. It's very imaginative. I understand that Alex Proyas (The Crow, I, Robot) might take these on as a future film project. Could be good.

*Source

Places I've Lived: The Present

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Here's where we reside now. We are in the second floor corner apartment. That's our red jeep parked on the side. Sarah rented a one bedroom apartment here when she first moved to Seatle. After we got married we moved across the hall into a 2 bedroom. We are right across the street from Greenwood Elementary School, 2 blocks from a library, 3 blocks from our vet, 5 blocks from a grocery and department store, and 7 blocks from work. We love being able to walk to alot of places. Our neighborhood (Greenwood/Phinney) has quite a diverse range of restaurants and shops. When we were snowed/iced in on Christmas Eve we just walked the neighborhood, shopped and got some fabulous hot chocolate at Chocolati. It was fun.
We like it here. We have a decent sized apartment at a reasonable (for Seattle) price. We can't afford a house in Seattle. We're not sure who can. Foreclosures are rampant and yet condos are being built by the dozens and then sitting empty. Seattle has its positive and negative points but we feel like it's where we need to be right now. We miss southern food, friends and hospitality but this has been a great place for me to begin my art career anew. It's a given that there aren't too many places Sarah can get a full-time job as a costume designer. And the weather in the spring, summer and fall...fantastic! Winter sucks but the rest of the year makes up for it.
So, Seattle is home for now. Who knows what the future holds. If we up and move...well...that just means I can do another "Places I've Lived" entry.