This and That

On my way to Seattle, I met my family in Leavenworth...Kevin had to work so it was a solo trip...

Here is some of the shots I took on the trip...

Enjoy.

Mystery Hot Wheels

Life is like a Mystery Hot Wheel: You never know what you're going to get.

I started collecting these shortly after Kelcy's last visit. We open them together. I get all the duplicates that she doesn't have. If we have triplicates or more, well they go to Christopher or Ayson or a ton of other kids we know.

Kelcy and I had several talks about Hot Wheels while I was with her in Leavenworth. I kept telling her that she never has to give them up. That they are for adults too. That as long as she has a playful heart, she's a hot wheels kid.

It was a very difficult lesson for me to teach her.

Really.

Grandpa helps Kelcy with homework. She's in a private school. She already knows more than I do.

Swedish pancakes. Via a Norwegian Sis...

When the going gets tough...the tough go hot tubbing...

Stevens Pass, Washington. Normally by this time of year the majority of the snow is gone. Not this year. In fact, it's still snowing on the passes. And down here. Although it isn't sticking at my elevation, the right cold front comes in from the gulf of Alaska and who knows...

Kelcy and I talked about snow and I tried to distract her that we'd left her mommie back in Leavenworth. She has this electric game called V Smile. Eventually I just turned off the radio and listened to her play all these educational games. It was a very peaceful trip into Seattle.

Just before leaving Leavenworth I bought Kelcy a special friend. A soft little fawn, so that she would not freak out having to say goodbye to her mother.

I also got a bulldog for Kevin when Stacy and I went to IKEA.

Both Kelcy and Kevin have been seen lately sleeping while cuddling their stuffed animals. Loving them like they mean it.

A Tailgate Party at the Claim Jumper

So Stacy, Tami, and I hung out with Frank-who if he looks familiar, and you live in
Canada and/or Mexico, you've seen his mug advertising various clubs in both countries. He's also been a regular up here and was the first friend who saw my new place back before it was finished...

Frank showed us his modeling gig shots and I have to say it was a bit unsettling. Some of the shots didn't compute because he's a genuinely nice guy and to see some of the overtly masculine shots he's taken caused me to do a doubletake.

I think we are looking at the next Marlboro Man.

The shots were taken by Dave Jackson, who has become quite the photographer over the last several years.

Frank shows us his portfolio...He's an international superstar now. I can say I knew him back when we were frantically chasing Jeanette's dog Sabaka who escaped from us. I can say I knew him back when the threat of death by Lesbian Dog Owner actually carried some weight.

Not a good picture of me...but oh well. Here we are l to r, Timbo, Tami, Stacy and Frank. Frank and I share the same last name but we aren't related. At least that's what we tell people.

Feeding them big ones that didn't get away at the Springbrook Trout Farm

Stacy, Kelcy, Tami, and I spent the morning at the Springbrook Trout Farm, near Kent, Washington. Tami used to run the place and spent many years raising trout, improving stream habitat and teaching urban folks how to fish.

Sadly the farm is now closed and in a year or two most of what you see in the following photos will be gone. The owner is going to raze the place and construct an adult living facility.

The ashes of the founders of the trout farm reside in this tower, so that they might always watch over these old growth cedars, trout ponds, and the creek.

Gnome. Falling on Cedar.