Earthquake

We just experienced an earthquake. 

The 5.8 rumbler centered in Chino Hills. 

The shaking was felt as far south as San Diego.

Reports state Las Vegas felt it too.

I didn't think it was too significant (my cat slept through it), but Long Beach wasn't the epicenter. People in Chino Hills are reporting damage to items that fell from shelves.  

One newscaster on ABC has deemed it "the big one" we've been waiting for.

I thought there would be more drama. 

Update:

Originally the earthquake was reported at 5.6 then raised to 5.8. Now the players running the show have settled with 5.4.

Seattle/Portland Part Due

The Dish and I boarded a JetBlue plane around 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 30. Now, I know a dollar isn't that much money, but when I use a dollar to purchase headphones for a plane ride I'm expecting them to work. One side was broken and so I left the other ear to wonder.

During the flight I watched a lot of Anthony Bourdain on the Travel Channel. I also watched a bit of a kids show called "Yo Gabba Gabba" on Nick Jr. Jeff Harmon designed some post cards of photographs Ben Clark shot of the characters and that's why I tuned in. When I began watching, the characters were dancing around and I couldn't help to think how high the creators must have been while they brainstormed the idea. Then children started freakishly dancing around and that's when I realized I was a grown person watching kids dance while other grown persons could see. I didn't want to explain myself so I switched it back to Bourdain.

I woke up feeling a little gassy too, so the overall experience of flying to Seattle was a little less than magical.

We arrived at Sea/Tac around 9:30 a.m. and retrieved our rental car. Man, they really hooked us up. We were given a two-door asshole painted red-ish. The Mitsubishi Eclipse, what a vehicle.

My first question was, "How are we going to fit people like Jeff in here?"

We drove to Dean and Melissa's house with no problems. Dean greeted us as we walked up. His beard parted in the middle of his chin and flowed back behind each shoulder while he marched forward. He looked like a captain. I thought he ordered me to swab the deck, but it turned out he just said hi.

We settled in, did the house tour thing and then we were off to Maggie Bluffs.

Melissa had to work so she wasn't present.

I tried the Alaskan Cod fish & chips and a teeny weenie mimosa. The patio seating provided a great view of the Seattle skyline. After feeding our faces and imbibing alcohol we saw the check; turns out our teeny weenie mimosas had the price of something much bigger, like two gallons of gasoline. Then the waitress told us we made her day interesting by ordering so many. I thought that odd so I looked around and realized we were the only ones drinking them. Actually, we may have been the only ones drinking.

Next we were off for a hike in Discovery Park. Dean knew exactly where to go and he showed us some beautiful terrain. We ended up on the shore of the Puget Sound. Tricia was first, but soon Dean and I followed by undressing our feet and walking in the cold water. We hiked up the shore to a lighthouse and then started our way back toward the car. Giant green trees

surrounded us and the sound of wildlife seeped into our ears...then a million or so stairs invaded our path and each little bastard laughed as we climbed. I clutched my thighs and hoped they would make it to the top. Things returned to beautiful when my breathing fell silent.

Like children with an ice cream after playing hard in the heat, we sat on the back porch of Kings Hardware in Ballard drinking ice-cold beer. Built To Spill played on the jukebox and I enjoyed my Skull Creek pint.

The conversation was mellow, but the heat was foul and unforgiving. I remember looking at a tag stating ¡¡HateCity!! on one of the tables and I thought of the conversation we had about people in Seattle behaving meaner than the people in Los Angeles. I can say strangers definitely didn't care to converse, or even say hi for that matter.

I also tried a Manny's pint and Tricia really enjoyed the Blanche De Bruxelles.

We planned to BBQ that first night so after Kings Hardware we decided to hit up the nearest QVC for shrimp, scallops, asparagus, corn, bread, cheese and wine. I remember being tired by the time we arrived back at the house. Melissa came home from work and we all shot the shit and drank. The BBQ turned out pretty good and I believe we were all enjoying ourselves. Hanging out with those two again brought a smile to my face.

Toward the end of the first evening the happy turned sad, at least for me. I may have over indulged all day long. I was fat and drunk. Here's the excerpt from my notes:

I'm feeling beat.
I can't go anymore.
I almost threw up.
I would have lost all that good food.
It passed.
I said goodnight.

Hopefully the night treats me well.

I don't want to cuddle with their toilet.

I immediately fell asleep and woke the next morning energized and inspired. The famous Northwest weather returned; clouds impeded the sky.

Dean, Tricia and I walked down the street to a little breakfast spot called Katina's. Before we decided, Dean had searched for reviews and found some stating that the food was good but the atmosphere was something less than comfortable. A Greek family owns the joint and some people have experienced their family feuds while trying to eat.

When we arrived a man was conversing with an older lady while another older lady was messing around in the kitchen area. The atmosphere was pleasant. Who ever wrote the reviews had no idea what they were talking about. I ordered a Greek sausage and egg dish with some coffee. The food was great, but very heavy.

Then it happened. First we heard the man on the phone slowly getting louder as he argued with someone on the other end. He hung up abruptly and things returned to mellow. But right

before we left he and the lady in the kitchen started arguing. Ah...OK so it's true. Well, they are a Greek family and I don't think it's fair for an American to judge another culture. I took it as part of the experience.

After breakfast we were off cruising through the city. We stopped off at the Ballard Locks, Golden Gardens, Green Lake and finally Magnuson Park, which is where we started the hunt for the Sound Garden.

The Sound Garden experience is really funny now. I guess it was funny then too, but I think Dean felt bad for taking us there without having been there first. We were all under the impression that what we were looking for was some magnificent area packed full with art installations and a garden that, if we used our imaginations, would provide sounds from a pod of whales interacting close by.

Instead we found out it would take four attempts to discover the area, but only after accidently passing it on the third attempt. We did find a man in an old lady's wig carrying a camera and wearing knee pads (one had "Go" marked on the front) who seemed to be lost and confused too. We all found the Garden together and we all experienced disappointment. Later I found out most of the structures were broken, so the reason we didn't hear any majestic sounds made sense.

That evening, when Melissa arrived back home, we all left for Alki Beach to eat chowder at Duke's Chowder House and enjoy some family time with Julie, Clark and Kari. Dean and Melissa hit it off with them immediately and even discussed possible camping adventures. At the end of dinner, Tricia's aunt Julie and her boyfriend Clark surprised us all by paying for our food and drinks.

I tried the lobster chowder and damn did it go well with Jameson whiskey.

Afterword, we returned back to the house and I ate a healthy slice of red velvet cake. Soon after I passed out.

The next morning Dean, Tricia and I walked to the Blue Heron for coffee and food. I inhaled a crossant stuffed with bacon and cheese. Everyone enjoyed their breakfast then we started our walk toward Fisherman's Terminal.

We investigated the area and found out a ship from the Deadliest Catch TV show was docked there for people who gave a shit and desired to take a tour. The best part of the Terminal was a little bitter sweet. It's a monument dedicated to all the fisherman who have perished at sea.

That concluded our time at the Fuller's house. Tricia and I were off again, but this time to spend a few nights with El Jefe and Natalie in Portland, Or.

We said our goodbyes to Dean and Melissa, but we knew we were going to see them again for the fourth of July so the hugs and hand shakes didn't last too long.

Seattle/Portland Part Uno

Here's a quick post summing up our trip to Seattle and Portland.

Trees were everywhere.

I will post a more detailed account soon.

Look at all the trees.