We were late getting out the blog last week because of having too much to do.\u00a0 Such social butterflies we are.\u00a0 As I write today (April 10) we\u2019re finishing up (I hope) the last of the evaluations of the research proposals from Canada.\u00a0 Tonight we will share in a birthday celebration \u2013 John made apple-blueberry \u201ccrisp\u201d. The rest of today will be planning, cleaning, packing, organizing, associated with my leaving Tuesday morning for Seattle for 3 days.<\/p>\n
Monday, same \u2018ole, 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.\u00a0 Too much wine, we think. So, for me, the Seattle meeting will be an alcohol free zone.\u00a0 Receptions, no to free drinks, Seattle rain \u2013 may get \u2018cabin fever\u2019 in the hotel room.<\/p>\n
Tuesday, drove to Bellevue and met up with a former student where I left my car at his house.\u00a0 He picked me up and drove me to my hotel.\u00a0 I got there just after my \u201croommates\u201d arrived.\u00a0 Neither of us had eaten since breakfast and it was after lunch, so we went for a late one in the hotel.\u00a0 It was expensive, but it was great.\u00a0 Buffalo wings, Fruit, Cheese and Crackers, Mussels.\u00a0 The 3 of us shared appetizers, and there was more than enough.\u00a0 Then off to the convention center.\u00a0 It\u2019s only 2 block south (flat) and two blocks east (uphill).\u00a0 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.\u00a0 I was grateful.\u00a0 We attended their session on Distance Learning and it was a panel discussion with audience participation, so I participated too.\u00a0 It was one of the best such sessions I have been to at an AAG meeting.\u00a0 We were all tired, so we returned to the hotel, walking, and downhill \u2013 can you imagine a world where all walks are downhill.\u00a0 That would work for me.\u00a0 We intended to go back for the reception but it wasn\u2019t till 8:00 p.m. and we decided it would put us back too late and we should just go to bed early.\u00a0 Our meal late afternoon was still with us.<\/p>\n
Wednesday, I was scheduled to go to some papers given by students or colleagues from my past.\u00a0 I did not participate in any field trips this time.\u00a0 The first one was given by my biogeographer friend from Wisconsin with her student.\u00a0 It was great seeing her again after many years, and nice meeting him.\u00a0 We got to meet the next day for coffee cake (banana nut and chocolate chip chocolate) and coffee at Tully\u2019s (nope I didn\u2019t go to Starbuck\u2019s).\u00a0 We had a fancy carbonated lemon drink, and I poured the remainder in my Country Time lemonade.<\/p>\n
From their paper, I rushed to a great presentation by a guy from the US Bureau of the Census on \u201cThe Role of Geography in Census 2010 and the Census Bureau.\u201d\u00a0 I talked with him the next day and learned that a friend I was in grad school with in the \u201860s was at the conference.\u00a0 Our paths never crossed, sadly. \u00a0Happily, 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.\u00a0 Also, I visited poster sessions and supported several colleagues and some students of the past.<\/p>\n
Wednesday afternoon I returned to the hotel for a little rest, but didn\u2019t 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.\u00a0 From the transit station I had to walk two long blocks uphill and slowly I made my way, finding the restaurant.\u00a0 All my friends beat me there for our 6:30 time.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 The guest is an authority on Chinese history and geography and culture, and he speaks several dialects of Chinese.\u00a0 He conversed with the waitresses and I\u2019m sure we were treated differently from the normal \u201ctourist.\u201d\u00a0 We ended up seated at a very large circular table with a lazy Susan in the center, from which we shared food.\u00a0 The fare included:\u00a0 Deep-fried squid, very large Prawns, with the head and tail on.\u00a0 It was like eating lobster.\u00a0 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 \u201csauce;\u201dBarbequed or baked Tofu squares.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t expect to like them but I tried and they were tasty. Tea and ice water.\u00a0 I couldn\u2019t partake of alcohol, but others did. \u00a0We had a lot to eat and a good conversation.\u00a0 Thankfully, one of the fellows gave me a ride back.<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0 My WS friend and I left for the fast visit at Tully\u2019s (mentioned above).\u00a0\u00a0 I bid adieus to her, her student and friend, as they went for a tour of the Space Needle . . .<\/p>\n
http:\/\/spaceneedle.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n On this link, click the second card on the left (black circle; 360o<\/sup> view); then click on Webcam; then on the \u2018move arrows\u2019. Having been there, done that, but not bought the t-shirt — Instead, I went to an Indigenous Peoples, Tribal Schools, etc. <\/em> panel discussion involving my CWU grad student from Montana; she is of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe.<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.cheyennenation.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n Thence, on to more poster sessions and stopping in the hallway to visit with friends from around the U.S..\u00a0 Having been geographers for over 45 years, we know a lot of teachers and workers in the computer industry and the book industry.\u00a0 I spent a lot of time in the Exhibit Hall checking out resources and meeting more friends from my past.\u00a0 Thursday afternoon after I got back to the hotel, I was soaking wet.\u00a0 Even with my rain jacket and umbrella the 4-block walk in the pouring rain and blowing wind did its job.<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.beautifulseattle.com\/clisea.htm<\/a><\/p>\n http:\/\/seattletimes.nwsource.com\/html\/picturethis\/2014789308_pt_stormy_seattle.html<\/a><\/p>\n The last link above is supposed to have photos from Wednesday (13th<\/sup>) but if they change to something else, you may have to search \u2013 or just see what\u2019s there.<\/p>\n I rested and warmed up and dried out and worked on a little email before my roommates returned.\u00a0 We were going to go to a reception but it was not till 8:00 p.m.\u00a0 They had had a large Thai lunch, but I had not.\u00a0 So two of us went down to the bar for happy hour (and treats).\u00a0 I had a coke and a couple of Buffalo wings and some pita bread with a liverwurst type spread and cheese.\u00a0 Good thing, because when we got to the reception there was NO food.\u00a0 Just drink.\u00a0 We had a free ticket for a drink, so I got another Coke.\u00a0 Again visited many people and then took a taxi back to the hotel.<\/p>\n Friday, Long day \u00a0— My student (now GIS Analyst at the City of Mercer Island \u2013 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.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 We both had the same, a\u00a0 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.\u00a0 Dang it was good.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 He also had a large coke.\u00a0 The total bill was $18.xx (something less than 19).\u00a0 Cost of eating in the Seattle area is pretty high, so this seemed reasonable.\u00a0 I did have a \u00bd sandwich at Subway 2 days before, and it cost me as much as a full one in Ellensburg.<\/p>\n 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).\u00a0 It cost me $5.00, and I only won one game.\u00a0 The woman sitting next to me won two games, and the woman (her sister) on the other side won 5 or 6 games.\u00a0 I told her she needed to go buy a lotto ticket.\u00a0 There were two others in the room who won multiple games, and only two of us who won just one game.\u00a0 Then a bunch who won nothing.\u00a0 They did provide a great Ice Cream Sundae, choice of sherbet or Neapolitan ice cream, with 4 toppings, plus whipped cream.\u00a0 Yum.\u00a0 All was with coffee.\u00a0 I made my coffee a latte with adding some of the sundae to it.<\/p>\n . . . and I finally got home at 5:15.\u00a0 We are debating about what to have for dinner, and it is almost 8:00 p.m.\u00a0 I guess we will have Nachos.\u00a0 I don’t need much, but need something.<\/p>\n Late afternoon almost 6:00 p.m. Friday, we had a UPS delivery of berry plants (Jewel & Quinault Strawberries and Illini Hardy Blackberries).\u00a0 We also got some Asparagus plants (a year old in pots for a good deal yesterday in Ellensburg. \u00a0So, he will now be busy this weekend planting.\u00a0 It\u2019s beautiful and sunny, but VERY windy, so John has curtailed his outdoor activities \u2013 only so much wind can one take. \u00a0He 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. \u00a0He took a break at lunch and we drove to town to meet another former student who I missed at the AAG meeting.\u00a0 He was calling the \u2018Nancy\u201d pre-loaded number in his cell phone number, but unfortunately it was his Aunt Nancy back East.\u00a0 So, John and I drove to town and met him and his fianc\u00e9e for a piece of pizza and soft drink.\u00a0 We had a nice, but short, visit because they still had a 2 hour drive to Seattle and a ferry ride before getting home.\u00a0 They were on their way back from a trip to the Dry Falls area and the Grand Coulee Dam,<\/p>\n http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Grand_Coulee<\/a><\/p>\n John\u2019s grape pruning work was on a sand deposit between Moses Coulee and Lynch Coulee . . . (he learned this week that coulee is French for ravine) . . .<\/p>\n http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Moses_Coulee<\/a><\/p>\n http:\/\/www.dogcaught.com\/2011\/01\/28\/flying-down-lynch-coulee\/<\/a><\/p>\n . . . and like the second of these links shows\u00a0 — the vine-pruners saw Boeing 737s (covered in green protective plastic) passing down Lynch Coulee many of the days.\u00a0 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\u2019s update if I don\u2019t ramble on too long.)<\/p>\n Ouch! This has been a long entry, so . . .<\/p>\n Here\u2019s hoping you all have another good week and we send our best regards to all our faithful readers.<\/p>\n Nancy and John in Ellensburg, WA<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" We were late getting out the blog last week because of having too much to do.\u00a0 Such social butterflies we are.\u00a0 As I write today (April 10) we\u2019re finishing up (I hope) the last of the evaluations of the research proposals from Canada.\u00a0 Tonight we will share in a birthday celebration \u2013 John made apple-blueberry … Continue reading “SATURDAY — Seattle, rain, Friends, food”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-764","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-random-issues"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p72iNf-ck","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/rocknponderosa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/764","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/rocknponderosa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/rocknponderosa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rocknponderosa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rocknponderosa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=764"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/rocknponderosa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/764\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":766,"href":"http:\/\/rocknponderosa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/764\/revisions\/766"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/rocknponderosa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=764"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rocknponderosa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=764"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rocknponderosa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=764"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}