Sunday

Sunday sucks. Unless it doesn't. This one--today--is shaping up pretty well. We turned the grocery chore into a fun trip for Zoë and me, then met with Hilary, Dan, and Felix at the Mt. Baker playground. The playground became packed, so we walked down the hill to the beach and sat for a while in the sun while Felix and Zoë wandered near the water. I've never really spent much time on this beach. When the weather is beach-warm this place is packed, and we usually seek a little more space and quiet, either at the adjacent Coleman Beach or under a big, shady tree at Seward Park. But today was just almost warm, so we had the place to ourselves.

Felix and Zoë contemplate a swim

It got close to lunch-and-nap time (for everyone--maybe Sunday doesn't suck), so we walked back up the hill and headed home. Three-quarters of the humans are now up from nap and contemplating next moves. I'll take Zoë for a run past the same places we spent the morning and Brooke will take Elliott and Yagi out for a long walk, IF Elliott ever wakes up from her nap.

It is sunny and 64 degrees out.

I used to fear Sunday. The last day of the weekend. School tomorrow. I was almost never prepared for Monday, academically or emotionally. Now I quite enjoy most things about Sunday, except the endlessly-expanding white board task list dogging me. If anything on the list of chores can me made fun (like the grocery this morning with Zoë), it goes a long way to keeping my mood happy.

I've also been experimenting with a new method of checking off tasks from the white board: I erase them. You'd think a chore undone would lead to an adverse consequence. Well, no. I haven't noticed a problem yet. I'll report again later on this experiment in doing less.

Well, Elliott may be stirring now. Yes, she is. Mewling, even, so here I go, back to the day.

And my white board is mostly blank.

One of us forgot his house key

We may be stuck outside in the rain, but I can still post. If only someone with a key knew...

Look, no biting!

Well, not for the moment, at least. But watch out.

I didn't have time to go for my camera before this moment disappeared, so I settled for this with my phone.

It'll haunt you, too

Probably Free to a Good Home

Probably free to a good home
(20th & College on Beacon Hill)

Paternity leave, Day number I'm not sure anymore. It's not such a lovely day today as it was the last two (70s-80s, sunny, mountains out...), but still the outside was inviting, so after two cups of strong drip coffee I strapped Elliott to my chest, put a leash on Yagi, and headed out for a walk around Beacon Hill. Our destination was, bien sur, Galaxie, but the route was to be improvised. I've not yet walked through that neighborhood, and was quite pleased with the sights. There are great views of the mountains and across the valley to the Mount Baker neighborhood. The housing in dense and old, mostly. Lots of old craftsman homes from the 1920s, many are well-maintained, but there are a few that need some love. There are also a bunch that qualify as tear-downs.

We wound our way up the hill, following interesting sights and quiet streets on our way to the coffee shop. I spoke with my mom for a while while we walked, and she told me of her afternoon yesterday with Zoë, who is visiting St. Louis with Brooke this week.

Galaxie was packed. I hooked up Yagi out back next to a woman eating her breakfast. He begged until she gave him a piece of sausage. I got coffee--it takes me two at home plus a double-shot latte to get to "normal" these days--and talked with Woody a little about the benefit they're having tonight--wheelchairs for someplace in South America. Galaxie would be a great place for a party (and has a liquor license, which helps), but I'm not looking for a place to host anything these days.

Coffee was to go today, and we set out down the hill by a new route, admiring the sights and looking for the worst houses on great blocks, a buying strategy I'm obsessed with lately, though it will be another fifteen months or so before we're looking for anything. And who knows where we'll be looking?

It rained lightly as we neared the bottom of Beacon and entered the roaring Rainier Valley. It felt nice, the rain, and I let the drops fall on Elliott's head so she could appreciate them too.

We were out about an hour and a half, home just in time to feed Elliott and beat the heavier rain. Now all the critters are asleep but me. I would be too if I were smart, but I'm glad I stole a few minutes to write about our morning.

I love spring in Seattle

Snapped with my low-res phone and posted on the spot (this text added later) on a long walk through Madrona, along Lake Washington Blvd, and into the steep trails of Frink Park, then home via the ridge along 31st near our old home on Norman Street.