We were late getting out the blog last week because of having too much to do. Such social butterflies we are. As I write today (April 10) we’re finishing up (I hope) the last of the evaluations of the research proposals from Canada. Tonight we will share in a birthday celebration – John made apple-blueberry “crisp”. The rest of today will be planning, cleaning, packing, organizing, associated with my leaving Tuesday morning for Seattle for 3 days.
Monday, same ‘ole, nothing new, except my INR-blood test for Coumadin was too high, so I have to leave off my Coumadin for two days and come back for a blood draw test (Protime) this Friday. Too much wine, we think. So, for me, the Seattle meeting will be an alcohol free zone. Receptions, no to free drinks, Seattle rain – may get ‘cabin fever’ in the hotel room.
Tuesday, drove to Bellevue and met up with a former student where I left my car at his house. He picked me up and drove me to my hotel. I got there just after my “roommates” arrived. Neither of us had eaten since breakfast and it was after lunch, so we went for a late one in the hotel. It was expensive, but it was great. Buffalo wings, Fruit, Cheese and Crackers, Mussels. The 3 of us shared appetizers, and there was more than enough. Then off to the convention center. It’s only 2 block south (flat) and two blocks east (uphill). I was lugging my computer (in a carrier) with other stuff, and my friend actually took the carrier from me on the hill and kept me from having to pull anything up the hill but my own weight. I was grateful. We attended their session on Distance Learning and it was a panel discussion with audience participation, so I participated too. It was one of the best such sessions I have been to at an AAG meeting. We were all tired, so we returned to the hotel, walking, and downhill – can you imagine a world where all walks are downhill. That would work for me. We intended to go back for the reception but it wasn’t till 8:00 p.m. and we decided it would put us back too late and we should just go to bed early. Our meal late afternoon was still with us.
Wednesday, I was scheduled to go to some papers given by students or colleagues from my past. I did not participate in any field trips this time. The first one was given by my biogeographer friend from Wisconsin with her student. It was great seeing her again after many years, and nice meeting him. We got to meet the next day for coffee cake (banana nut and chocolate chip chocolate) and coffee at Tully’s (nope I didn’t go to Starbuck’s). We had a fancy carbonated lemon drink, and I poured the remainder in my Country Time lemonade.
From their paper, I rushed to a great presentation by a guy from the US Bureau of the Census on “The Role of Geography in Census 2010 and the Census Bureau.” I talked with him the next day and learned that a friend I was in grad school with in the ‘60s was at the conference. Our paths never crossed, sadly. Happily, I met for lunch with a former student who is on the job market again, and her parents gave her a registration to this AAG meeting. Also, I visited poster sessions and supported several colleagues and some students of the past.
Wednesday afternoon I returned to the hotel for a little rest, but didn’t get much, before having to trek 2.5 blocks from the hotel to the bus tunnel to make my way to a dinner in Chinatown. From the transit station I had to walk two long blocks uphill and slowly I made my way, finding the restaurant. All my friends beat me there for our 6:30 time. There were 6 of us, 5 of us from the Association of WA Geographers, and a guest from Michigan who was an advisor of one of the guys who now teaches at a community college in WA. The guest is an authority on Chinese history and geography and culture, and he speaks several dialects of Chinese. He conversed with the waitresses and I’m sure we were treated differently from the normal “tourist.” We ended up seated at a very large circular table with a lazy Susan in the center, from which we shared food. The fare included: Deep-fried squid, very large Prawns, with the head and tail on. It was like eating lobster. Rice and bok choy with garlic (I cannot eat dark green veggies on Coumadin), Chicken Chow Mein with crunchy noodles; a large head on and tail Talapia, very very tasty and baked in a great “sauce;”Barbequed or baked Tofu squares. I didn’t expect to like them but I tried and they were tasty. Tea and ice water. I couldn’t partake of alcohol, but others did. We had a lot to eat and a good conversation. Thankfully, one of the fellows gave me a ride back.
Thursday, rushed to a presentation by another Michigan friend who talked on an interesting group studying the Pacific Northwest, called Sightline Institute, and then from there to another presentation by a mutual friend from Wisconsin. My WS friend and I left for the fast visit at Tully’s (mentioned above). I bid adieus to her, her student and friend, as they went for a tour of the Space Needle . . .
On this link, click the second card on the left (black circle; 360o view); then click on Webcam; then on the ‘move arrows’. Having been there, done that, but not bought the t-shirt — Instead, I went to an Indigenous Peoples, Tribal Schools, etc. panel discussion involving my CWU grad student from Montana; she is of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe.
http://www.cheyennenation.com/
Thence, on to more poster sessions and stopping in the hallway to visit with friends from around the U.S.. Having been geographers for over 45 years, we know a lot of teachers and workers in the computer industry and the book industry. I spent a lot of time in the Exhibit Hall checking out resources and meeting more friends from my past. Thursday afternoon after I got back to the hotel, I was soaking wet. Even with my rain jacket and umbrella the 4-block walk in the pouring rain and blowing wind did its job.
http://www.beautifulseattle.com/clisea.htm
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/picturethis/2014789308_pt_stormy_seattle.html
The last link above is supposed to have photos from Wednesday (13th) but if they change to something else, you may have to search – or just see what’s there.
I rested and warmed up and dried out and worked on a little email before my roommates returned. We were going to go to a reception but it was not till 8:00 p.m. They had had a large Thai lunch, but I had not. So two of us went down to the bar for happy hour (and treats). I had a coke and a couple of Buffalo wings and some pita bread with a liverwurst type spread and cheese. Good thing, because when we got to the reception there was NO food. Just drink. We had a free ticket for a drink, so I got another Coke. Again visited many people and then took a taxi back to the hotel.
Friday, Long day — My student (now GIS Analyst at the City of Mercer Island – use Google Earth to find, turn photos on, and have a look) was the one at whose house I left my car (saving $20/day parking), and he picked me up and drove me the 25 minutes to downtown letting me off at my hotel door. This morning he came back and picked me up at 10:10, and we drove back to his house to pick up my car and transfer my luggage, and drive to Issaquah for a neat lunch of sandwich and soup. We both had the same, a steak and cheese Panini sandwich (made with two slices of Italian bread, stuffed with steak and (Swiss or mozzarella) cheese, red sweet onions, maybe some basil, brushed with olive oil and pressed between the hot plates of a Panini grill. Dang it was good. It was probably 7″ long (half sandwich, or maybe 6″), and with a bowl (not a cup) of New England clam chowder, and an apple. He also had a large coke. The total bill was $18.xx (something less than 19). Cost of eating in the Seattle area is pretty high, so this seemed reasonable. I did have a ½ sandwich at Subway 2 days before, and it cost me as much as a full one in Ellensburg.
I left there about 12:15 and drove over Snoqualmie Pass in a raging rain storm (better than last night’s snow) to Cle Elum to my doctor’s office for my blood draw on the way home (INR was back within good range, at 1.7, down from 3.7 on Monday), filled John’s car with $50.01 of gas at Thorp, and it is 10 cents less / gallon than in Ellensburg, went to a Bingo game at the AAC, won a candle (whoopee). It cost me $5.00, and I only won one game. The woman sitting next to me won two games, and the woman (her sister) on the other side won 5 or 6 games. I told her she needed to go buy a lotto ticket. There were two others in the room who won multiple games, and only two of us who won just one game. Then a bunch who won nothing. They did provide a great Ice Cream Sundae, choice of sherbet or Neapolitan ice cream, with 4 toppings, plus whipped cream. Yum. All was with coffee. I made my coffee a latte with adding some of the sundae to it.
. . . and I finally got home at 5:15. We are debating about what to have for dinner, and it is almost 8:00 p.m. I guess we will have Nachos. I don’t need much, but need something.
Late afternoon almost 6:00 p.m. Friday, we had a UPS delivery of berry plants (Jewel & Quinault Strawberries and Illini Hardy Blackberries). We also got some Asparagus plants (a year old in pots for a good deal yesterday in Ellensburg. So, he will now be busy this weekend planting. It’s beautiful and sunny, but VERY windy, so John has curtailed his outdoor activities – only so much wind can one take. He usually stays out if the wind is under 30 mph, but today the average went to 35 with a gust or two peaking at 47. He took a break at lunch and we drove to town to meet another former student who I missed at the AAG meeting. He was calling the ‘Nancy” pre-loaded number in his cell phone number, but unfortunately it was his Aunt Nancy back East. So, John and I drove to town and met him and his fiancée for a piece of pizza and soft drink. We had a nice, but short, visit because they still had a 2 hour drive to Seattle and a ferry ride before getting home. They were on their way back from a trip to the Dry Falls area and the Grand Coulee Dam,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Coulee
John’s grape pruning work was on a sand deposit between Moses Coulee and Lynch Coulee . . . (he learned this week that coulee is French for ravine) . . .
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses_Coulee
http://www.dogcaught.com/2011/01/28/flying-down-lynch-coulee/
. . . and like the second of these links shows — the vine-pruners saw Boeing 737s (covered in green protective plastic) passing down Lynch Coulee many of the days. The BNSF tracks are along the south edge of the vines. The view in the link is about 1.6 miles up-slope from the vineyard and looking west across Lynch Coulee. (John says he will explain pruning in next week’s update if I don’t ramble on too long.)
Ouch! This has been a long entry, so . . .
Here’s hoping you all have another good week and we send our best regards to all our faithful readers.
Nancy and John in Ellensburg, WA