Seahawkin

After taking a trip up to the space needle Mo and I headed to one of the grungiest bars I've ever been to The 5 Point. Now with me still in my 'respect others' T-shirt we walk through the door only to find a eight construction workers sitting at the bar. I swear (at least in my mind) the music came to a screeching halt and beer was being spilled in mid drink when we walked through the saloon doors. It was so quiet you could hear a church mouse fart. I told Mo just to head to the bar and no funny business about my shirt. Eventually the victrola started up again and the normal din of conversation and music drowned out the thought of a total beat down.

Later we decided to get gussied up and head to a bar called the Red Door. Think Granfalloon but darker and hip. Brian met up with us and after talking a bit and watching all of the "meat" walk by, I finally asked the waitress where all of the black people were. She informed us they were in South Seattle or closer to Tacoma. Disappointed we left and went to a different bar. The highlight came when we went to a bar called Brouwer's Cafe. With over 100 beers and some great Belgian brews I fell in love instantly. There were a couple of lesbians that didn't appreciate me snapping pictures like a regular Jimmy Olsen, but I didn't care because I was on vacation.

When the night was said and done Mo and I took a cab back downtown and ended up back at the 5 Point aka "the saloon" where the music stopped. But this time the atmosphere had changed. Filled with musicians and artist types we ordered food. Hands down one of the best club sandwiches to date.

The last day was filled with cheese from the Seattle Cheese festival. Great Pinot Gouda, Blue cheese, and more goat cheese than I ever wanted to eat. We then decided to go to Georgetown which is in South Seattle. I guess the waitress wasn't lying because as soon as we get there we run across a Black motorcycle club. It was crazy. Like 20-30 Harley's lined up with all of these Black men and women dressed in black and orange. It was way boss. We then hit up this record store playing old soul classics. Very cool. We then decided to have a drink at Jules Maes Saloon; one of the oldest bars in Seattle. We met up with some transplants and had a pleasant time talking with the bartenders, one of which - I had to tell her, was the most captivating woman I had seen since I'd arrived in town. Classy.


The night was a party at Brian E.'s place. Mo and I met his roomates and hung out by the fire. I of course got a little tipsy and said somethings that I shouldn't have but hey, I'm was on vacation.

Here are the last two sets of pics. 1 and 2 . Enjoy.

Seattle Supersonic

I had a camera by my side this time and I did see the world with both my eyes, but I will still lose my way with words....

Last Wednesday night marked the beginning of a 4 day vacation, one filled with gastronomical delights and cool merriment in the very green upper-Midwest. I decided to begin my vacation at The Brick with a big greasy cheeseburger. This gave me the inspiration to document everything I ate with a picture. Given there is nothing but good food in Seattle I thought this would be a great experiment. Unfortunately not all of the food was captured and not everything was great.

I had a pleasant surprise before I even set foot on the plane. An old friend and her husband were on my flight so I was able to sit with them and catch up. The first thing I notice about Seattle is everything is GREEN! I mean really green. Even the buses are green, which is what I took to get to the U-district and have my first pint. Wearing my Boulevard schwagg I was instantly noticed by the bartender who promptly asked me if I brought any (beer) with me and why it wasn't up here in the Northwest. Taking my pint and watching the local (underage) students drink Mojitos, I felt a little at home. Brian E. showed up and we drank a little and then took to the streets for some mean healthy eats and some sight seeing.

We headed to Gorditas and ate some of the best Mexican ever. I mean they are so health conscious I asked for Queso and they all looked at me like I farted in the joint. So I stuck my tail between my legs and ate my fish tacos (sans cheese). We then beat it up to Capitol Hill where B's friends, Andreas and roommate, lived. It was this phat top floor pad with one of the best views of downtown. After witnessing some of Seattle's finest and knocking back a few more beers on the roof as the sun set, we jetted to a few bars. Linda's was our first stop, just past the Honey Hole (which I hear has some of the best eats). We had a couple of beers and made friends with the locals and bartenders. Mo met up with us there and sat outside on this chilly night and caught up for a bit. Brian and his buddies left and Mo & I were left to entertain the ladies and we somehow got convinced to head to the gay bar across the street. I wearing my 'respect others' shirt and Mo as my "partner" proceed to get hit on and watch people of all genders making out with each other. We cut short our stay and given I was still on KC time decided to head back to the crib. After a run in with a Muslim transvestite and a burger joint called Dick's, I was happy to be sleeping finally on Mo's couch...by myself!

The next morning I woke up and headed down to one of the best French organic bakeries I've ever been too. One quiche down followed by a cappuccino, Mo and I headed over to the Public Market for some sight seeing. We walked through and saw the first Starbucks (They aren't quite to the level of evil empire Walmart so I feel like I can celebrate them to an extent). I saw the fish market where they toss the fish and talk in unison. It was pretty cool to see a 30lbs salmon being caught. We then took the hike over to the Space Needle and rode it to the top. Talk about an impressive view. Not only was the 360 view cool they also had inter actives inside where you could zoom in real-time on the surrounding neighborhoods. They also had displays talking about the funky and eclectic parts of the city. Definitely worth the money to visit.

I'll have to do this in chapters, but here are some pics to keep you busy until next time.

It's like... you know.... Noah's Ark

I just got done with a heated game of foosball (insert picture here). I went toe to toe with an admitted non-lover of the game but he beat me 2 out of 3. This is impressive to me since I own the table but apparently that doesn't mean a goddamn thing (insert Gantsy's "hee hee"). Foosball allows me to do several things. 1. Focus on something other than my job, my house, or the next big thing. 2. Get that competitive spirit out. 3. Continue to drink beer.

Enough about that. My friend K.P. and I went out for Seis de Mayo. Since I went to a wedding during Cinco de Mayo I didn't get to celebrate properly. K.P. got locked out of her house and after several confessions and lots of hunger we decided fish tacos and margarita's was in order. So we head to Baja 600 and well into our second marg. K.P. comes up with the best two quotes I've heard in a while. "You know, I'm kinda like ditch weed-full of seeds and always wet." She was talking about ideas and how we just came out of the rain. "That why I have a tatoo of a crooked little heart." Other obscure reference I can't remember but it induced laughter just the same. Needless to say we had a great afternoon talking and having a great time.

I woke up this morning and realized a couple of things. I like waking up sober. Despite all my worst efforts, it has it's merit. Everyone has a choice how they want to live their life. Now the first doesn't necessarily corralate to the second and I don't like eating peas and jelly sandwiches, but what I mean is you can live and do the things you want to do and it doesn't have to be Jan 1 or July 4th or your birthday. It just takes today. Change comes at you everyday in the form of acceptance, denial, anger, stubberness, and love. How will you change? Maybe all the April rain in May has got me all Norah Jones-ish but it still holds true.

I'm back. Not really...

Ok this is my feeble attempt to get back in the swing of things and actually post a blog. I stopped writing a while back. I even stopped reading my friend's blogs. Why? Because everything changed. What was the first change you might ask? Well the Deloitte Kids moved on and away. Good luck to Nat and her new beau. Melissa? Gone too. The saddest is Mohammed. He's in Seattle now. Then our other glue to the fabric came undone. Carolyn moved to Phoenix to be with her Justin. And of course Bhutan Clan man himself, Ted, moved on to D.C. And so went to the wayside our 1 year of St. Elmo's Fire. Single people meeting and greeting for a moment only to be shifted to other parts of the beach through the tides of change. Sad? A little. Expected? Of course.

Now those of us that are still in KC are still making it happen, just at a different pace and the get togethers are just as boisterous and meaningful.

As for me, well I try to do what everyone in my position would try to do. Stay happy and moving forward. Tonight is one night I actually stayed home and didn't drink (yet) and am trying to accomplish something. Who knows what just yet. I still enjoy my job and am learning lots as I get some small victories, while examining the big picture.

Two weeks from today I go on my trip to Seattle. This will be the first trip where I haven't been attached to anyone. I'm looking forward to seeing Brian E. and Mo G. Actually before that I'll be headed to Nashville TN. Music City. Uh huh that's right. More Honky Tonk bars than KC has fountains. We (the Centurions) were told NOT to wear our cowboy hats because we would stand out as tourists. Like we won't by walking in large groups in business casual dress looking an pointing and wearing OneKC buttons. Funny.

Well I'd apologize for not keeping up with the blog thing but it's just a testament to who I am. Just checkin in....