(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.
