Went To Seattle Yesterday

Yesterday, I drove to downtown Seattle with my husband for a passenger. Doug wanted to do genealogical research on the 9th floor of Seattle's Central Library (on 4th and Madison streets) while I had plans for scouting out Pioneer Square. Below I offer photos of this part of the city, with modern evidence of old Seattle (also known as Seattle Underground).

Here I am raising a "Starbucks" cup ... Click your mug to mine and let's go on this little trip together!

Here in Pioneer Square (among many other wooden totems) is this Goddess statue. May all of Earth be nourished by her bounty.

Amazingly, Pioneer Square seemed ridiculously abandoned on this Saturday, January 30th, 2010.
I felt drawn to photograph the uniquely shaped benches along 1st Avenue, below.

Inside the metro tunnel, in Pioneer Square.
What is it about ivy covering old brick buildings that makes the whole world seem more alive?
As the day progresses into early afternoon, more pedestrians hit the streets. I really enjoyed the many times that complete strangers walked up to talk to me. I have always loved Seattle for many reasons -- but people who hang out on the streets are one big reason.
The famous Chief Seattle statue in Pioneer Square (on First Avenue).
Here's evidence of how the City of Seattle raised its streets after the great fire that destroyed 30 blocks in 1889. See how the new elevated sidewalks block most of the old Seattle windows (which are now underground).
Brightly marked steps leading the way in to the commercially available "Seattle Underground" (via tours that begin up the road at Doc Maynard's, 601 1st Avenue).
Another nearby business covered its stairway with grating material.
Here's yet another stairwell into the underground. In other areas there is absolutely no public access made available to the City in ruins (much of the underground is barricaded and condemned).
Another way that private business owners addressed the "window below ground" situation when Seattle raised her streets was to simply start the sidewalk a couple of feet from the window.
Stairs into "Grand Central" which is FREE to the public.
Inside Grand Central ... many archways from historical Seattle have been maintained in their original good repair.

Inside Grand Central (in Seattle's underground) many shops like this one now utilize the space. The entrance is located at 214 1st Ave.
Here's a book bindery below ground at Grand Central, Seattle.
This decorative restaurant is located uphill from Pioneer Park. If I remember correctly, it was located on the 1400 block of 5th Avenue.
Even the alleys in Seattle set a certain mood. (Gotta love these old brick buildings).
Just think of all the toys a kid could send flying from these fire escapes!
This was probably my favorite alley shot.
Generic photo of buildings. Notice the sky cables that make it possible for Seattle's trolley system to work.
Looking downhill toward the bay.
Pioneer Square buildings ...
This shot was taken down at Pike Place.
4th Avenue, just one block south of the Seattle Central Library.
Another peek toward the waterfront.

Taken from Pioneer Square, you can see Qwest Field there yonder (to the right of the clock tower).
The artwork around Seattle is quite numerous and impressive.
This "walrus building" is next to the lot where I parked my pickup.
Near Pioneer Square, in Skid Row, here's a lesser known area of Seattle's Underground. Bet no public tours ever made their way down here!

Central Library (Downtown Seattle:

Here's my Doug as we rode the insane-inducing neon-green elevator (it definitely looks more green in person). I'm glad to say Doug survived the elevator mostly mentally unscathed.

Happy "Søndag" (That's "Sunday" in Norwegian)

I'm excited. I joined a new Pagan women's group in Tacoma (can never have enough friends who share the same interests).

What's more, I participated in an awesome Ouija board experience the other day with a couple other women. We kept having Faeries and Garden Gnomes come through the board who spoke of spreading love, planting Hawthorn trees and the like. All three of us really liked the idea of planting more Hawthorn so while I already have such a tree in my yard, I'm trying to figure out what other variety of that incredibly beautiful tree I'm going to plant ... another pink blooming variety or the Washington Hawthorn (which has white blooms) called Crataegus phaenopyrum.

Incensed With Fox Television -- Yellowbellied SLOTHS

UNfrigging believalbe. Fox television just broadcast MY SON's face, a US Air Force veteran, on the news while their yellow-bellied journalists talked about "charity scams." My son's video CLEARLY calls for donations through legitimate UNITED NATIONS efforts - the World Food Program! What is WRONG with FOX -- that lackadaisical, lazy, unprofessional news station? How DARE them slander my son or ANY caring American like that! Here's the FOX video (featuring MY son) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAs_DVV9Gmg Here's my son's actual video where he clearly asks people to donate through reputable channels. He's a caring, loving and respectable American. He just came home serving 3 years in the US Air Force/Korea last year. THIS is how FOX TV treats our veterans??? SHAME ON YOU FOX NETWORK!

Doing Research. Finding AWESOME Information

I have been feeling intuitively that the famous Seattle Underground tour covers only a very small part of what's left of the old labyrinth system of underground city sidewalks from previous centuries. I'm writing about such in my novel but it's very difficult to find verifiable information (beyond what I can see in my head and feel in my gut).

Meanwhile, I found a most entertaining post on this topic, written by a very talented writer. I hope you take time to read it (if you're interested in homeless, and the idea they've made a home out of the rain by living underground, as I "get" they really do).

Here's that fascinating account: http://explorations.undercity.org/2008/04/seattle-searching-for-underground.html

SunTiger's Chickens - very short videos (:30 seconds)

First video is "Athena" a chicken I named because of the friendliest factor ... then she grew waddles and proved she's a rooster. Arrrrrrgh!

Next video is just the typical morning feeding frenzy.

And here's my favorite moment every single morning: the mass exodus from the roosting area (where the chicks are kept out of the cold) to their daylight pen.

Here's a very fun joke going around on Facebook right now:

Dont you find it Funny that after Monday(M) and Tuesday(T), the rest of the week says WTF?

Happy Day of Perihelion

"Perihelion" happens Sunday, Jan 3, 2010.

That means Earth will be in its orbital point closest to our Sun, tomorrow. It may not feel like it to those of us shivering from WINTER weather (LOL) but that's due to the Earth's tilt. Astronomers insist this close proximity to our brightest star is scientifically verifiable!

For more details see: http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2010/01/02/perihelion/

Happy New Year!

Here I am (on the left) with my lover/husband Doug. We're both wearing the hats I made for bringing in the Year of the Tiger - 2010!

At the party, when we realized our store-bought noise makers were not LOUD enough ... we did the old fashioned thing and pulled out the pots and pans!
What a bunch of crazy percussionists!

Mary ~ so much fun, I never grow tired of looking at her!
Kiss at midnight! {Smooch}
Precious darling Ila ... youngest bell-ringer calling in the New Year from one door while the oldest bell ringer called in the New Year from the other entrance.
Gotta love the occasional orb that shows up in our photos ... :-D
Nobody is more fun at a party than these two (below).
Doug just HAPPENED to be the eldest person at the party so he was the second bell ringer! (Opposite Ila, the youngest bell ringer).

How awesome that we had a full moon on New Year's Eve and that it was a BLUE MOON (same night as a lunar eclipse).