National Walking Day

Always the first Wednesday in April, National Walking Day was created in 2007 by the American Heart Association. The goal is 30 minutes a day for better health, which doesn't sound like much. 

The average American walks about 3,000 steps a day. Europeans walk far more, and in Japan they average 7,000 steps a day. People who live in dense urban areas tend to walk more simply because there's more places to walk to. In the suburbs, every errand requires a car. 

I'm off to the Cafe this morning and will walk home at noon, unless it's pouring rain then John picks me up. 

I sense that volunteers don't stick around long in the Cafe. The work is physically too hard for most seniors, and to be perfectly honest, not especially gratifying when you get ordered around like a waitress at Dennys.

Well, this isn't my forever job. I've enjoyed learning how commercial kitchens work, and now that I have a routine going, it isn't quite as tiring. Although I'm on my feet for 3 hours.

Most of the Wednesday regulars are nice, others not so much. I see many seniors (actually, most) in poor health or troubled with big problems they are happy to share, so I shouldn't judge. But so much for those old school manners you would expect from this demographic.

We got an estimate for new cedar fencing yesterday. Pricey, but not quite as expensive as we expected, and it should make a big difference. Instead of same old mossy lattice, we're going with a top design like this.

April clean-up

 

I had three yards of landscape bark brought in and the guys did a good job spreading it around. The days of doing these heavy jobs by myself are over and good riddance to that.

The tomato pots ready to plant but it's still too cold, even on the sunny side of the house where they thrive. The April sun looks bright but the air is straight down from Alaska. It's going to rain right through the weekend, which is always kind of a bummer when Easter morning dawns wet and grey. Hopefully the forecast is wrong. 

Oh yes. They pressure-washed all the black mold and moss off the concrete walkways.

A big improvement. I'm embarrassed to show you the "before" picture. This morning we're getting a quote on new cedar fencing all along the front of the house. Take a deep breath. 

That's about all the news fit to print. A few more postcards from paradise trickling in.

Our wokeful city

 

The Seattle Audubon Society recently changed its name to "Bird Connect," the only chapter in the country to do so. Why? Despite his legacy as an artist and great naturalist, Audubon was a slave owner and openly racist.

Here's another wokeful example. Each concert at Benaroya Hall now starts with this solemn announcement over the PA system: The Seattle Symphony recognizes that we gather on indigenous land, the traditional territory of Coast Salish peoples, specifically the Duwamish Tribe.   

Then we settle into the program, yesterday "Carmina Burana," by Carl Orff. Written in 1936, this is one of the most famous choral works, right up there with "The Messiah." The 60 minute work is beloved by symphony and ballet audiences for its simple repeated melodies and loud pounding rhythms.

Few people know or perhaps care that "Carmina" was originally used as Nazi political propaganda. In the 1940's, the Nazis performed the piece to rile up crowds at rallies. (Similar to Trump playing loud Rolling Stone music at his rallies, much to Mick Jagger's chagrin.)

It still works. The crowd at Benaroya gave the performance a long and rousing standing O. You could feel the physical excitement in the hall. A visceral piece of music if there ever was one.

OK. If they eliminated all politically incorrect music from the classical repertoire, there wouldn't be much left.  Anti-Semitic Wagner, for example, was Hitler's favorite composer. Wagner was informally banned in Israel for years, although even that's changing now with the younger generation.

I don't have any problem separating the artist from their works, although here in Seattle, it seemed ironic the program didn't mention this interesting historical fact about "Carmina Burana." 

The program described the wheel of fortune with boys and girls frolicking in springtime, but this a dark piece with some bad baggage. Frankly, it gives me the creeps.

Switching gears, how does French Polynesia sound to you this morning? This record cold west coast spring seems endless.    

Happy day

 

Some lavish fish tacos last night at Seattle Fish Company, a seafood market nearby at the West Seattle Junction. Along with the fresh seafood counter, they run a casual grill restaurant with friendly service. John really liked the clam chowder and we shared a bowl of steamed mussels and clams. 

A nice feast topped off with an Opera Cake from the Metropolitan Market. I don't have a sweet tooth, but that combination of almond and chocolate ganache is luscious. 

We finished the day with the old Elvis movie "Viva Las Vegas" which John found on blu-ray. The best part of the movie (other than Ann Margaret dancing all over town in her underwear) are the scenes of the old Las Vegas strip and casinos.

And thanks everyone for your kind calls and messages. And I loved hearing the twin's sweet little voices. 

It wasn't exactly warm, but not as cold as usual at the coffee house ukulele jam. Everyone had a good time as spring oh-so-slowly arrives and we look forward to the months of playing outdoors without many layers of clothing.

Instead of the standard "Happy Birthday to You" they played the old Beatles Birthday Song. Can you imagine that crazy thing transcribed for the ukulele? Hopefully John Lennon is smiling down from somewhere, because we sure love to butcher his songs!

So pretty

 

Nova crocheted these coasters for my birthday. Making rounds is tricky because you have to increase stitches, and she does everything without a pattern. Maybe the secret is, no one ever told her crocheting is hard. She loves arts and crafts and has a natural talent-- you should see her drawings. 

Anyway, after a 8+ hour flight, they landed safely in French Polynesia last night. After resting up at a hotel, the plan is to pick up the rental cars and then take the ferry to Moorea. I'll share any pictures that come in from Paradise. 

That's Maya and family friend admiring the pretty Dreamliner at SeaTac yesterday.

Bon Voyage

 

They're off to Tahiti this morning. I'm off to work at the Cafe. Just saying.