Reporting Live From The Field

From what I can remember, this should be my first entry from out of town. WAY out of town, actually, as I'm in Renton, an industrial suburb of Seattle. I didn't know my hotel would have a public-access Internet station (although getting time on it has been nearly as difficult as getting to downtown Orlando without hitting road construction).

Saturday was our flight out. On our last trip we were running late, and nearly missed our flight. I overcompensated this year. We got to the airport 2-1/2 hours before our flight. While they tell you to check in 2 hours before a flight now, what they don't tell you is that they won't let you through security UNTIL 2 hours before, and, if you do curbside check-in like we did, that there won't be anyone at the gate to give you a boarding pass until 45 minutes before.

Dan regrets requesting the "vegetarian" meal option. He thought "fruit plate" while they thought "some sort of shredded potato-and-carrot patty." His "lunch snack" was a noodle dish that was more my speed than his. Otherwise, the flight out was uneventful — and long. (about 5 hours Orlando to LAX, an hour on the ground, then another 3 to Seattle).

No sooner had we landed, gotten our car, and checked into the hotel, than we realized we were very hungry. While it was only 4p here, that means 7p back home. Let the dining begin! We drove to Ivar's Salmon House, and I had perhaps the largest slab of Copper River King Salmon I have ever seen. It was nearly twice the size of my hand, laid flat, and cut about 1/3 inch thick. It was also perhaps some of the tastiest salmon I've ever had. On the way back to the hotel, we stopped by IKEA for a quick browse. I had forgotten how much more daylight there is here as we approach summer. We got back to the hotel after 8, the sun didn't go down before I fell asleep, and it was up again before I got up the next morning.

Sunday, we hit the City. A browse through Pike Place Market, coffee at the first Starbucks, a pass through the Nordstrom Rack (their outlet division), and monorail to Seattle Center, home (over the weekend) to the Northwest Folklife Festival, an eclectic mix of music, food, and crafts.

Yesterday, we drove up to Mt. Rainier. While the peak remained hidden behind low clouds all day, we had a fantastic drive up to the 5400 foot level, where the snowpack was still at roughly 10 feet, and the temperature hovered in the low 40's. Pictures will be forthcoming once I get home, including the deer that wasn't too concerned about my proximity.

We still have today and tomorrow before returning Thursday. It was nice to realize I was here more than a full day before anything work-related crossed my mind, and that thought was duly dispatched to the depths from whence it came. While the temperatures and weather haven't been what I might have hoped for (mid 60's, showers followed by rain), it hasn't in any way dampened (sorry, couldn't resist) my spirits. This was exactly the vacation I needed.