London and Paris Adventures

As promised, this is a slide show I put together with pictures from our September trip.

It runs about 7 minutes. The great memories are often the best part of the trip.  Enjoy!

Count your blessings

Mexico Beach, Florida

If you really think economy is more important than environment, 

try holding your breath while you count your money.

Dr. Guy McPhearson

Unfortunately, we've become almost immune to the parade of natural disasters on the evening news, but the ferocity and speed of this storm set it apart from the usual lumbering hurricanes.  Hard to comprehend solid houses not just wrecked, but completely obliterated from the face of the earth, people's possessions scattered to the winds. Just imagine returning home and finding nothing but bare ground?  It sure puts those run-of-the-mill complaints (like light bulbs) into perspective.  The climate scientists say we can expect more of this, with poor Florida ground zero. 

It was a rough week on Wall Street, too. And speaking of counting, many of us have a little less to count in our 401-K's.  That didn't stop me from splurging on a bag of frozen sea scallops at Costco-- the giant, delicious kind. Of course they'll be doled out over several meals.

I told John he would get "three or four" tonight, depending on the size and how extravagant I feel after the stock market closes. Ha! Scallops are easy to cook and you can do all kinds of creative things. But I like them simply pan-seared with a bit of butter/wine reduction sauce. With some saffron rice, maybe.

Speaking of weird (but wonderful) weather, it looks like our nice stretch continues for a least another week. We go to the Symphony on Sunday, but no other plans for the weekend.  I need to stop messing around with horse friends and tackle my moldering garden before it starts raining again.

Have a good one. See you Monday.

Fog

That's an old picture of John on a foggy beach somewhere.

We call this month "Fogtober" in Seattle because when it isn't raining, the mornings are likely to be foggy. Visibility is about nil right now, but by noon it should be another spectacular fall day. After I get the morning chores done, I'm planning to drive out to North Bend and see my friend Dolly and her horses. 

I've been so busy lately, but I can hardly say doing what?  October is a foggy month in other ways, as the body and brain adjust to cold temperatures and less light. At least that's my excuse.

The holidays are "just around the corner," but c'mon! I was at Costco yesterday and it seemed like half the warehouse was Christmas. I'm sorry, there is something creepy about side-to-side Halloween and Christmas decorations.

Anyway, not much news this morning from the blessedly quiet Northwest.
Have a good day wherever you are.

Waffle House Index

I'm looking forward to the next week of perfect fall weather in Seattle-- bright sunny skies and high temperatures in the 60's to really show off the turning leaves. But I feel a little guilty, as yet another dreadful hurricane hits the south. This one seemed to come out of nowhere.

A few years ago, we went to a lovely October beach wedding in Destin, Florida, on the panhandle, close to ground zero for this storm. I'd never been in that part of Florida, and was amazed at the solid wall of fancy new houses and condominiums just a few steps from the surf.  They say Hurricane Michael is the strongest storm to hit that area in a century, and you can bet there weren't any McMansions there 100 years ago.

On the boring drive back to the airport in Pensacola (the Panhandle is not particularly scenic, to put it mildly) we passed the time by counting Waffle Houses. The familiar yellow sign popped up every few miles.  If you're not familiar with Waffle House, it's a southern breakfast chain opened 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We have nothing even remotely like that in the Northwest, unfortunately. You are out of luck here if you want cup of coffee and a simple cooked breakfast at 3 am.

Anyway, Waffle House restaurants are known for staying open in storms so FEMA coined the term "Waffle House Index" to measure the effect of a natural disaster on an area. If a Waffle House shuts down or limits its menu after such hazards, federal officials conclude the community took a major hit.

Not a good sign: a Panama City beach Waffle House just pulled out the storm shutters and locked the doors.

Let there be light

Did you catch the depressing report on climate change in the news cycle yesterday? We only have a few years left to avoid "disastrous levels of global warming."  To do that, the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says, would require "rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society."

Some of those changes include: Less travel and more use of ride-sharing and hybrid vehicles. Consuming 30% less animal products would help, since livestock is responsible for almost 15% of greenhouse gases. Finally a shift to more sustainable behavior in our buildings. The poorest half of the world’s population - 3.5 billion people - is responsible for just 10 percent of carbon emissions, despite being the most threatened by the catastrophic storms and severe weather shocks linked to climate change.

Americans are spoiled, and here's an example. There are millions of people who would be grateful for one electric light, but I still miss all those flattering, soft, old-fashioned incandescent light bulbs we used to take for granted. Our house is pretty much switched over to energy efficient bulbs so we've done our small part, but it's been a painful process.

John has the thankless job of keeping the place stocked in light bulbs. For such a small house, we use an astonishing variety of different bulbs. I would have replaced the precious old ones as they slowly burned out, but he's a cold turkey kind of guy, and switched everything in one weekend.  Leading to pitiful cries of "What HAPPENED to my lights in here?"

The packaging for energy efficient bulbs tout the "natural bright light." It's a lie. The "warm light" ones have a greenish or yellowish cast. I'm getting used to looking slightly jaundiced now in the bathroom. But those were even worse in the kitchen, making it look like an aquarium, so we switched out "warm" with "bright white." More of a bus station kind of harsh light that casts shadows, especially when it is dark outside, as it is for most of the winter here. Yes, I am spoiled.

Seattle City Light sends a shaming report along with the monthly bill that compares your usage to your neighbors. I guess a better report card will be some consolation. 

Happy Birthday, Maya

October 2012

Where has the time gone?
Six years old today.

March 2013

June 2014

August 2015

May 2016

January 2017

February 2018

June 2018

 September 2018