In a couple days, the year of 2010 will pass away. Like the years before it, the year was full of highs and lows. But this year is as unique as the 365 days within it.
Perhaps it's a natural to look back upon the twelve months at the close of the calendar year. I tend to think people are of a balanced nature -- most of us like to have closure with each new beginning. To look back when moving forward, and finish a chapter before starting a new one.
So as many are probably this time of the year, here is a recap of the key moments of my life in the year Twenty-Ten.
January
OK, it technically was the end of December 2009, but I thought I'd start the list off with Tucker. Never before have I had the sole responsibility of taking care of something so dependent on me. Having Tuck has been a blessing this past year... to watch him grow physically and mentally, to see him adapt Beth and I as part of his "pack", to experience the joy of him excitedly greeting us at the door, jumping on our laps while watching TV, or snuggling up next to our legs when he's tired. Sure, there have been frustrating times -- digging at walls and his stubborn independence, but it's just part of loving him for who he is. Now I know many of you are probably thinking that I'm putting too much into this dog, this animal. But he's the closest thing I've ever had to having a child, and it's been an eye (and heart) opening experience.
February
Normally, this month is filled with celebration, but this year, intertwined with Beth and my birthdays and Valentine celebrations, was the grief of Beth's dad passing away. In some ways, it doesn't feel like Len's been gone that long. But over these last few weeks, in the midst of Thanksgiving and Christmas, he was missed immensely. There are times that I look over at Beth, and I can read in her eyes the sadness of wishing her dad was still here. And all I can do is give her hug. So Len, if you're reading this, know that you're missed.
The other event that happened in February was the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, BC. We had the opportunity to go experience the Olympics in person. And although we were only there for a day, it was a great day. In addition to walking through Olympic fever in downtown Vancouver, we were able to watch of of the most exciting sports -- short track speed skating. We saw the craziness of expanding and collapsing laps of the relays, the speed and courage of the athletes, and even the miracle 7th medal that Apollo Ohno won.
March
This month signified the end of my sabbatical.... I returned back to work. My new gig has me working at Microsoft, but as a vendor rather than an employee. It's been an interesting nine months so far. Not only did I have to shake off the rust of not working for 7 months, but there was much to learn. Only now am I feeling like I've come up to speed. There have been unexpected challenges, but the guys I work with are hard working and dedicated to what they do, and we've been able to accomplish some great things.
July
Beth and I took a couple extended weekend trips this month -- the first was to Steamboat Springs, CO. It was an action packed time filled with alpine slides, horseback riding, mountain biking, a rodeo, parade, great food, and even better friends. But even with all the activities, it helped recharge the batteries.
Shortly after CO, we then headed down to the Bay Area for Chan family reunion. Although another long weekend, Beth got to meet my dad's side of the family, we were able to explore a bit of San Fran and Pacifica, we ate some great food, and of course the family was even better... All in all, very successful family reunion.
Sept-December
This past fall was mainly focused on work... for one of our clients, we have what we've come to call "the reboot". I'll spare the details, but our team was shuffled a bit, and we were able to refocus our efforts to deliver some big deliverables in small time frames.
October
I did take another long weekend to meet up with my cousin for a mini-photo road trip... I've detailed the misadventures previously, so all I'll add is to say that although things didn't go as planned, it makes for great stories after the fact.
December
And here we are. Back where we started. This month has been relatively quiet -- I took a trip up to Whistler to break in the new skis and enjoy time with friends. The weekend was filled with snow, Yahtzee!, friends getting engaged, and hot tubs. All this ruccous was followed by a peaceful Christmas spent with B & her mom.
So there you have it -- the highlight reel of my past year. The have certainly been other things that I've experienced over the course of 2010, but these were the biggest things. And now we're on the cusp of a new year again. What's to come? Who knows? But it's sure to go by swiftly, as the years seem to do nowadays. My hope is that this finds you with new blessings each day, and that by this time next year, you'll be able to look back upon your best year yet. To all of you, I wish the happiest of new years!
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Friday, November 5, 2010
Days 3 & 4 in a Long Weekend
Day 3 & 4's Itinerary:
The Plan:
Day 3
1) Visit the truck wash and resolve the billing issue (Completed. See my previous post.)
2) Drive to Mesa Verde National Park
3) Shoot all day
4) Return to the hotel in Farmington
Day 4
1) Drive back to Albuquerque
2) Have lunch
3) Airport, fly home to Seattle
Although the latter half of our photography weekend lacked the adventure to of the first two days, I thoroughly enjoyed it more. Perhaps it was putting Chaco Canyon behind us, or maybe because the sun came out, but I think the main reason was that I really liked Mesa Verde National Park.
We crossed into Southern Colorado early Saturday morning... The weather didn't look promising -- thick rain clouds poured out on us, and hindered our ability to take in the scenic surroundings as we drove through Colorado. And although by the time we reached the entrance to Mesa Verde, the rain had stopped it was instead replaced by a thick shroud of fog. The windy mountain road often disappeared fifteen feet in front of us... Fortunately, we followed the steady pace of a semi-truck, its brake lights providing early warning to any tight turns or obstacles that may have been in the roadway. (I wish I had a picture to show you, but since I was driving, my hands were locked in "2" and "10" position on the steering wheel.)
In spite of the weather, both Norman and I were in good spirits. We saw the fog as an opportunity to capture some unique photographs. Neither of us had every seen an image of the cliff dwellings cloaked in fog, and with Halloween the following weekend, the idea seemed fitting for the season. But just as we discussed it, we suddenly emerged out of the cloud into the clear valley below. The thought of foggy cliff ruins disappated as quickly as the fog itself.
Due to the timing of our trip, we were not able to see many of the sites around the park since many had closed for the season the weekend before. But we had enough to see to keep us occupied for the day anyway. The three main locations we visited were located on the "Chapin Mesa"- the "Spruce Tree House",(ruins), "Cliff Palace" (ruins), and the "Mesa Top Loop" (driving loop).
The cliff dwellings were built in Mesa Verde roughly the same time as Chaco Canyon (800AD - 1100 AD)...
There are also numerous thoughts of why the natives built their dwellings in the cliffs in the first place. A few possibilities reasons are protection from the weather (it's cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter), protection from foes (most likely a neighboring tribe rather than anybody else), and closer to water sources. It is also unknown why the inhabitants left the cliffs after 3 centuries, but there are multiple theories. Some same it was due to the lack of food, or perhaps epic draughts. Regardless, all that are left now are the stone and mortar they spent lifetimes to build.
The Plan:
Day 3
1) Visit the truck wash and resolve the billing issue (Completed. See my previous post.)
2) Drive to Mesa Verde National Park
3) Shoot all day
4) Return to the hotel in Farmington
Day 4
1) Drive back to Albuquerque
2) Have lunch
3) Airport, fly home to Seattle
Although the latter half of our photography weekend lacked the adventure to of the first two days, I thoroughly enjoyed it more. Perhaps it was putting Chaco Canyon behind us, or maybe because the sun came out, but I think the main reason was that I really liked Mesa Verde National Park.
We crossed into Southern Colorado early Saturday morning... The weather didn't look promising -- thick rain clouds poured out on us, and hindered our ability to take in the scenic surroundings as we drove through Colorado. And although by the time we reached the entrance to Mesa Verde, the rain had stopped it was instead replaced by a thick shroud of fog. The windy mountain road often disappeared fifteen feet in front of us... Fortunately, we followed the steady pace of a semi-truck, its brake lights providing early warning to any tight turns or obstacles that may have been in the roadway. (I wish I had a picture to show you, but since I was driving, my hands were locked in "2" and "10" position on the steering wheel.)
In spite of the weather, both Norman and I were in good spirits. We saw the fog as an opportunity to capture some unique photographs. Neither of us had every seen an image of the cliff dwellings cloaked in fog, and with Halloween the following weekend, the idea seemed fitting for the season. But just as we discussed it, we suddenly emerged out of the cloud into the clear valley below. The thought of foggy cliff ruins disappated as quickly as the fog itself.
Due to the timing of our trip, we were not able to see many of the sites around the park since many had closed for the season the weekend before. But we had enough to see to keep us occupied for the day anyway. The three main locations we visited were located on the "Chapin Mesa"- the "Spruce Tree House",(ruins), "Cliff Palace" (ruins), and the "Mesa Top Loop" (driving loop).
The cliff dwellings were built in Mesa Verde roughly the same time as Chaco Canyon (800AD - 1100 AD)...
There are also numerous thoughts of why the natives built their dwellings in the cliffs in the first place. A few possibilities reasons are protection from the weather (it's cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter), protection from foes (most likely a neighboring tribe rather than anybody else), and closer to water sources. It is also unknown why the inhabitants left the cliffs after 3 centuries, but there are multiple theories. Some same it was due to the lack of food, or perhaps epic draughts. Regardless, all that are left now are the stone and mortar they spent lifetimes to build.
I'll let the pictures do most of the talking for me, but one thing I did want to share is the "kiva". To the untrained eye, a kiva is simply a hole in the ground. But it meant so much more to the people who live in these dwellings. The kiva was communial place where people could come together. They would dig large pits into the ground, 8-10 feet deep. Then they would cover the roof with tree trunks and thick limbs. To complete the roof, they would cover it with earth, leaving only a small hole to use as the entrance and chimney.
 |
| In... |
 |
| Out... |
 |
| Look for ladders, and you'll find kivas. |
 |
| An uncovered kiva |
So there you go... a synaposis of our weekend in the desert plateaus of the Southwest. To spare you from the boredom, the return home was uneventful, with only a flight delay to report. In hindsight, it was a trip filled with lessons, stories, and history. I am sure as time passes, I'll look upon this trip with more fondness, and be reminded of the adventures that Norman and I endured.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Day 2 in a Long Weekend
By this time, we had already decided to change our plans, and head north toward Mesa Verde that night instead of camping. So as the sun began to dip behind the canyon walls, we made our way back down into the valley and back to the car. Personally, I'm glad that we took that final hike. I left Chaco with a better impression of the place, and a better outlook on the weekend.
It was really too bad that outlook didn't stick around for long.
Although it hadn't rained nearly as much as Thursday, the roads out of Chaco were just as slick as going in... Although we managed to stay out of the ditch this time (and what had been a raging current was nothing more than a quick stream), Chaco still managed to get its last laugh. We had discovered that morning that the car was very shaky. Vibrations were rampant when we crossed the 40 mph threshold. We thought and hoped that it was unbalanced wheels due to the caked mud on the wheels, but feared the worst. Once we drove through 20 miles back to the highway, we stopped to and tried to chisel off what we could with our fingers and sticks, but to no avail. So we drove north to Farmington in pouring rain, the car vibrating like a Sharper Image back massager.
 |
| The mud on the tires from the trip in... |
There's a town just east of Farmington called Bloomfield. We arrived in Bloomfield around 8:30pm. The car was still shaking, so Norman had the great idea of finding a car wash to see if we could rinse the mud off. And wouldn't you know it? There was a truck wash with self-serve pressure washing. We were in luck! We pulled in and popped $1.50 in quarters and started going to town on the wheels. Unfortunately, time ran out before we could finish, and with no more quarters, we used my debit card to finish the job. You would not believe how much mud was on that car... Anyway, about $3.50 later, our job was finished. Triumphantly, we cheered our good fortune of a self-service truck wash, and went to the card reader to stop the transaction (it charged by the second). THUMP! (Know what that is? It's the other shoe dropping.) Guess what? The stop button didn't work. Press as we may, with fingers, coins, keys, it was to no avail. The timer and charges kept ticking away. Tick, tick, tick... there's 5 cents... tick, tick, tick, another 10... there was no stopping it. What was a $3.50 transaction grew to $5, $10, $15... And since it was after hours, there was nobody to terminate it. And since I used my local credit union's debit card, it was also after hours, so I couldn't terminate the fee from my side either. Defeated, we realized that there was nothing we could do that night, and headed to our hotel in Farmington. (By the way, the pressure washing did the trick. The SUV was much better after its expensive shower.)
The next morning, Norman and I decided to head back to the truck wash and try to solve the problem with the cashier. I braced myself for battle. I envisioned arguing with some stubborn teenager who wouldn't see that a $350 charge for a SUV was unreasonable. I actually got a little nervous for my debate. But I was ready to kick some butt, and reclaim the money owed to me.
We pulled up to the truck wash and walked into the office. Instead of some punk kid manning the register like I envisioned, we were greeted by a curley, white haired grandma. I was caught off guard, but I gathered my wits, and explained our situation, ready to do battle. But as you would expect a curley, white haired grandma to respond, she sweetly said that the machine automatically cuts off at $25 (we had left after we crossed the $20 mark). $25! That was nothing! So I politely declined, thanked her, and we left, feeling a bit relieved and a little sheepish (well, me anyway).
Things I learned or were reminded of through this fiasco.
1) If your credit card continues to charge, there's usually a termination amount. Or you can slide your card again to end the transaction.
2) Unless you're crossing a real river, most likely you'll be fine.
3) Go with the flow (no pun intended). After all, you're on vacation.
4) Mud in Chaco Canyon is like concrete when it dries.No wonder the Chacoans used it as mortar.
5) Curley, white haired grandma types are awesome.
So there you have it, the second day of our long weekend.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Day 1 of a Long Weekend
My cousin is a Material Sciences graduate student. Usually, he's hard at work (or research) in one of the basement labs (seriously) at the University of Michigan. But every once in a while, they let him out to go to a conference. It is for this reason that he and I spent four days last week in New Mexico and Colorado.
Norman's five day conference is this week in Santa Fe, NM. Because he's smart, he got the great idea of extending his time in the Southwest a few days, and invited me to come along for a long photography weekend . Since I've had the travel itch for the past few months, I gave him the thumbs up and we quickly planned out our short and busy itinerary. Little did we know what was in store for us.
DAY ONE
What actually happened:
Since we weren't planning on staying in that position all night, I decide to try to drive out. No good. Every time the front tires moved up the ditch wall, they'd come sliding back down. The only option that remained for us was to drive down the channel like the Duke boys of Hazzard county and hope we'd be able to get out. (I really wish we had gotten a few pictures of this, but at the time we both were preoccupied.) Finally, after what seemed like a mile, but was probably a couple hundred feet, I was able to gun the car enough to squirt out of the situation.
The rest of the evening was uneventful. As you can tell, nothing really went according to plan that day... we arrived at the campsite too late to capture sunset, which wouldn't have mattered since the storm clouds were out anyway. We weren't able to shoot star trails (once again due to the clouds), and the weather was fickle enough for us to decide to lay down the seats in the SUV, and forgo the tent. All in all, long and exciting first day to our long weekend.
Norman's five day conference is this week in Santa Fe, NM. Because he's smart, he got the great idea of extending his time in the Southwest a few days, and invited me to come along for a long photography weekend . Since I've had the travel itch for the past few months, I gave him the thumbs up and we quickly planned out our short and busy itinerary. Little did we know what was in store for us.
DAY ONE
The Plan:
1. Fly into Albuquerque (which I still have problems spelling) on Thursday, early afternoon.
2. Drive up to Chaco Canyon, NM in time for the golden hour before the sunset.3. Camp and try out some night shoot (star trails, light painting, etc).
Due to a delay in my flight and at the car rental place, plus a quick (and delicious) early dinner at a New Mexican restaurant, we didn't get on the road until 4pm or so. By then the storm clouds has darkened, and the rains came. By the time we turned off the highway onto the 16 miles of unpaved Country Road 7900, it was dark. And muddy. We actually had planned for this, and rented a SUV thinking it would help with the terrain. Yeah, not so much.
After driving 13 miles of our 16 mile road, we came across was the gushing flow of flood water over the road.... Preceding the torrent was not one, but two signs stating "Do Not Cross Road When Any Water Is Present". As you can probably guess, we weren't exactly prepared to ford a river in a rental Chevy. (Get it? Ford, Chevy... Sorry bad joke.) So there we are, stopped in the dark, blocked by a river of flood water. Since both of us are city slickers, we decided to wait for the water to recede a bit (it had stopped raining for some time by then). To pass the time, out came the cameras.
We messed around for a while, most of which was spent experimenting with nightime photography and throwing rocks into the middle of the overflow, trying to guage the water's depth. After multiple bad exposures, a few kerplunks!, and an hour going by, I decided it was time to brave the obstacle since the water looked to have receded quite bit. And what an anti-climatic crossing it was. We drove straight through, with no problems whatsoever. (Now that I think of it, the SUV was a Chevy Traverse. Fitting.) Although that was the ideal outcome, I've experienced more drama from driving over SR520 in sunshine.
That wasn't it though. The peak of adventure came shortly thereafter. As I mentioned earlier, the road was muddy. Muddy and rutted in many places, and MUD-DEE in others. It is the latter where we began to experience the "SUV slip and slide". At this point, I'm driving about 5 miles an hour, sliding every direction. The car's tires had caked on 3 inches of mud, negating any tread that was on the tire. So here we are, controlled sliding down the road. It was progress though, until the fateful moment when the Chevy's backend slid a bit too close to the ditch... the next thing we knew was the car was resting at a 45 degree angle in the ditch. The right tires in the bottom, the left tires on the trough wall. At this point, I'm thanking God that there's no damage to the car and also wondering why we didn't get the optional insurance at the rental counter in case things got worse.
Since we weren't planning on staying in that position all night, I decide to try to drive out. No good. Every time the front tires moved up the ditch wall, they'd come sliding back down. The only option that remained for us was to drive down the channel like the Duke boys of Hazzard county and hope we'd be able to get out. (I really wish we had gotten a few pictures of this, but at the time we both were preoccupied.) Finally, after what seemed like a mile, but was probably a couple hundred feet, I was able to gun the car enough to squirt out of the situation.
The rest of the evening was uneventful. As you can tell, nothing really went according to plan that day... we arrived at the campsite too late to capture sunset, which wouldn't have mattered since the storm clouds were out anyway. We weren't able to shoot star trails (once again due to the clouds), and the weather was fickle enough for us to decide to lay down the seats in the SUV, and forgo the tent. All in all, long and exciting first day to our long weekend.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
The Lesser Known Pike Place Market
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
America's Birthday. Yee Haw!
Here is a recipe for you. Take equal parts Rocky Mountains, horseback riding, mountain biking, golf, and blend with extra doses of friends, food, and sunshine. What you get is a fantastic way to spend the Fourth of July. B & I were fortunate to stay with friends in Steamboat Springs, CO for the past five days. We arrived in Steamboat on July 2nd... It's a hub of activities, whether in the winter or the summer, and the nine of us took advantage of all the opportunities to play as much as we soaked in the vitamin D into our pale West Coast skin. The beauty of our surroundings, the afternoon thunderclouds and windstorms, and the joking and laughter of good friends are terrific ways to rejuvenate. But this isn't unique to Steamboat, and not the topic I'll writing about today. What I will be sharing is how this small ski town provided the perfect example of the topic of what the quintessential Independence Day experience could be.
Steamboat isn't very large, but like many other Smalltown, USA's, they host a parade on the Fourth to celebrate. Everybody shows up to mainstreet to watch. We were no different-- there we were, sitting on the sidewalk, watching the cowboys show off their horses, waving at the folks sitting on top a truck bed, or lauging at the people crossing the street, oblivious to the horse manure they were stepping in. The firemen came by, asking us to fill their boots for charity. The local sheriff and his competitor were out, campaigning to stay/become the next chief law enforcer. Being a small parade, there were no big floats, and no big egos. It was perfect.
After getting our fill of the parade, a few of us decided to got the Alpine slide, and sled down the mountain in a cheap, plastic sled... I know this isn't your typical 4th of July activity, but I have a video I wanted to share regardless (I'll post it here soon). Plus, from our vantage point on the crest of the hill, we had a great angle to see the Air Force jets do their flyover. That's patriotic, right?
Fast forward a few hours... we've returned back to the house for lunch. By this time the storm clouds are starting to form, but we will not be deterred. We have a rodeo to go to. So we grab our rain jackets and cross our fingers, hoping that the weather is all bark and no bite. We head back to town, and settle into the uncoverd grandstands, and the next thing you know, we're cheering for the gentlemen crazy/ballsy/cowboy enough to ride a bucking stallion bareback for 8 seconds. Or wrestle a calf to the ground. Or for the poor calf who was stampeded by a gaggle of children (ages 6-12 only mind you), trying to grab the ribbon around its tail. And we would have stayed for the remaining events had Mama Nature not decided to throw a hissy fit. Sure, we are from Seattle and could sit in the rain. But then the wind came. And the rain became cold, soaked jeans. So, we made an executive decision to "cowboy down", and head home to the inviting warmth of a fireplace and traditional 7/4 fare over a barbeque grill- hot dots, burgers, and ice cream.
Lastly, what would Independence Day be without explosions? Let me tell you, Steamboat Springs throws a mean fireworks show (Thanks to you, Gordon family, whoever you are, for sponsoring.) From atop a neighboring hill, we parked our cars and tuned our radio to the local country station to listen to the music montage accompaning the visual display of colored phosphorous and gun powder.
Yes, indeed this was Fourth of July to remember. A parade, rodeo, grilled food, and fireworks. Every part of this day felt like a Norman Rockwell painting. And it was all authentic. No pretenses, no gimmicks, just a small town, local folk and tourists alike, celebrating the 234th year anniversary of a bunch of old, rich, white guys signing a handwritten document elegantly telling the Brits to "Suck it Trebek". It was a grand ol' day to wave our grand ol' flag, and I for one was proud (and appreciative) to be an American.
(A personal shout out to the Burns, the Boyles, Clarks, and Lt. Corey. Of all the great things this weekend, you guys were the best of all. Thanks! -- S&B)
Steamboat isn't very large, but like many other Smalltown, USA's, they host a parade on the Fourth to celebrate. Everybody shows up to mainstreet to watch. We were no different-- there we were, sitting on the sidewalk, watching the cowboys show off their horses, waving at the folks sitting on top a truck bed, or lauging at the people crossing the street, oblivious to the horse manure they were stepping in. The firemen came by, asking us to fill their boots for charity. The local sheriff and his competitor were out, campaigning to stay/become the next chief law enforcer. Being a small parade, there were no big floats, and no big egos. It was perfect.
After getting our fill of the parade, a few of us decided to got the Alpine slide, and sled down the mountain in a cheap, plastic sled... I know this isn't your typical 4th of July activity, but I have a video I wanted to share regardless (I'll post it here soon). Plus, from our vantage point on the crest of the hill, we had a great angle to see the Air Force jets do their flyover. That's patriotic, right?
Fast forward a few hours... we've returned back to the house for lunch. By this time the storm clouds are starting to form, but we will not be deterred. We have a rodeo to go to. So we grab our rain jackets and cross our fingers, hoping that the weather is all bark and no bite. We head back to town, and settle into the uncoverd grandstands, and the next thing you know, we're cheering for the gentlemen crazy/ballsy/cowboy enough to ride a bucking stallion bareback for 8 seconds. Or wrestle a calf to the ground. Or for the poor calf who was stampeded by a gaggle of children (ages 6-12 only mind you), trying to grab the ribbon around its tail. And we would have stayed for the remaining events had Mama Nature not decided to throw a hissy fit. Sure, we are from Seattle and could sit in the rain. But then the wind came. And the rain became cold, soaked jeans. So, we made an executive decision to "cowboy down", and head home to the inviting warmth of a fireplace and traditional 7/4 fare over a barbeque grill- hot dots, burgers, and ice cream.
Lastly, what would Independence Day be without explosions? Let me tell you, Steamboat Springs throws a mean fireworks show (Thanks to you, Gordon family, whoever you are, for sponsoring.) From atop a neighboring hill, we parked our cars and tuned our radio to the local country station to listen to the music montage accompaning the visual display of colored phosphorous and gun powder.
Yes, indeed this was Fourth of July to remember. A parade, rodeo, grilled food, and fireworks. Every part of this day felt like a Norman Rockwell painting. And it was all authentic. No pretenses, no gimmicks, just a small town, local folk and tourists alike, celebrating the 234th year anniversary of a bunch of old, rich, white guys signing a handwritten document elegantly telling the Brits to "Suck it Trebek". It was a grand ol' day to wave our grand ol' flag, and I for one was proud (and appreciative) to be an American.
(A personal shout out to the Burns, the Boyles, Clarks, and Lt. Corey. Of all the great things this weekend, you guys were the best of all. Thanks! -- S&B)
Monday, May 31, 2010
Five Faves
May 31st. Already. Wow. Where does the time go? In a blink of an eye, I've got from New Years and unemployed to a day off from work on Memorial Day. I feel a touch of Rip Van Winkle-ness in my life, especially when it comes to this site. But hey, I'm here now, right?
For me, life has settled into a routine revolving around Tucker, work, and my DVR. It's a bit sad to say that out loud. And even sadder is that I'm pulling B down with me. But it's so hard not too, especially when I'm working with a client, or when my dog is scratching at the door (and walls), or when the Seattle skies are constantly grey and Top Chef is on. So goes my life.
The one thing that B & I have continued on a constant basis is to explore the local restaurants in Seattle, in search for our next favorite dining joint. So for today's post, I thought I would do a top 5 of my favorite food related places in the area.
#5. BLUE SAUCER - This lil' coffee shop on Roosevelt resides in the lil' neighborhood of Maple Leaf. The ML is often overshadowed by it's bigger and more boisterous brothers - Green Lake and Northgate. But there is a great community here, and the Blue Saucer is in the thick of it. The Blue Saucer not only serves up a great cup of Stumptown, but they bring in local pastries for great bakeries around the area (Macrina, Essential to name a couple). But what puts it over the top is how they try to keep things fresh, whether by bringing in an ice cream truck (Parfait), having coffee tastings, or have a community garage sale. So grab a latte, plop down on the bench seat, and groove to the Beatles. (I'm actually sitting at the Saucer right now, typing this entry.)
#4. MOLLY MOON'S- Speaking of ice cream, B & I are addicted to Molly Moon's. Located in Wallingford and Capital Hill, this place makes fantastic ice cream, of both traditional (chocolate, strawberry, vanilla) and contemporary flavors (meyer lemon, coconut curry, maple bacon). Rain or shine, it doesn't matter- you mention MM's, we'll be game. Even if we just had a nine course dinner. Besides, with the line commonly out the door and down the block, we'll have plenty of time to digest.
#3. BALLARD FARMERS MARKET- We don't frequent this market on a weekly basis, but maybe a monthly basis? I haven't been to a ton of farmer markets in Seattle, but enough to know that it's the largest and most food related one around. Great people, the freshest of food, and pretty easy to navigate. Oh, and of course, lots of samples to try. As an added bonus, a bunch of great restaurants and stores border the edges of the market, so it makes for a window (and stall) shopping mecca.
#2. TILTH- Yum. Yum. Yum. Yum. Yum. No matter what you order, this is what will come out of your mouth after every bite. Don't let the portion size fool you. You will leave Maria Hine's haven of scrumptious entrees with a smile on your face and warmth in your belly. Tilth is what I envision heaven's food to be like. The freshest ingredients, prepared in ways that can only make you crave it even more. Yum.
#1. DELANCEY- My favorite pizza. Period. Like Tilth, this place has gotten a lot of press over the past few years. And it's well deserved. I have to admit, I have a little food crush on Molly. I originally learned of her through her food blog, Orangette. But since then, I've gotten a little food crush on her husband Brandon too. Not only did he build his restaurant by hand, he has developed one of the best pizza crusts ever. It sets the stage, the foundation, for the delectable ingredients they choose to top the dish. If I could, and if B would let me, I would eat here every week. I like it that much.
So there you have it. Five of my favorite food places in Seattle. Believe me, there are a lot more places. But I'll just have to save those for a future post. And I promise that the next post won't be two months from now. :-)
For me, life has settled into a routine revolving around Tucker, work, and my DVR. It's a bit sad to say that out loud. And even sadder is that I'm pulling B down with me. But it's so hard not too, especially when I'm working with a client, or when my dog is scratching at the door (and walls), or when the Seattle skies are constantly grey and Top Chef is on. So goes my life.
The one thing that B & I have continued on a constant basis is to explore the local restaurants in Seattle, in search for our next favorite dining joint. So for today's post, I thought I would do a top 5 of my favorite food related places in the area.
#5. BLUE SAUCER - This lil' coffee shop on Roosevelt resides in the lil' neighborhood of Maple Leaf. The ML is often overshadowed by it's bigger and more boisterous brothers - Green Lake and Northgate. But there is a great community here, and the Blue Saucer is in the thick of it. The Blue Saucer not only serves up a great cup of Stumptown, but they bring in local pastries for great bakeries around the area (Macrina, Essential to name a couple). But what puts it over the top is how they try to keep things fresh, whether by bringing in an ice cream truck (Parfait), having coffee tastings, or have a community garage sale. So grab a latte, plop down on the bench seat, and groove to the Beatles. (I'm actually sitting at the Saucer right now, typing this entry.)
#4. MOLLY MOON'S- Speaking of ice cream, B & I are addicted to Molly Moon's. Located in Wallingford and Capital Hill, this place makes fantastic ice cream, of both traditional (chocolate, strawberry, vanilla) and contemporary flavors (meyer lemon, coconut curry, maple bacon). Rain or shine, it doesn't matter- you mention MM's, we'll be game. Even if we just had a nine course dinner. Besides, with the line commonly out the door and down the block, we'll have plenty of time to digest.
#3. BALLARD FARMERS MARKET- We don't frequent this market on a weekly basis, but maybe a monthly basis? I haven't been to a ton of farmer markets in Seattle, but enough to know that it's the largest and most food related one around. Great people, the freshest of food, and pretty easy to navigate. Oh, and of course, lots of samples to try. As an added bonus, a bunch of great restaurants and stores border the edges of the market, so it makes for a window (and stall) shopping mecca.
#2. TILTH- Yum. Yum. Yum. Yum. Yum. No matter what you order, this is what will come out of your mouth after every bite. Don't let the portion size fool you. You will leave Maria Hine's haven of scrumptious entrees with a smile on your face and warmth in your belly. Tilth is what I envision heaven's food to be like. The freshest ingredients, prepared in ways that can only make you crave it even more. Yum.
#1. DELANCEY- My favorite pizza. Period. Like Tilth, this place has gotten a lot of press over the past few years. And it's well deserved. I have to admit, I have a little food crush on Molly. I originally learned of her through her food blog, Orangette. But since then, I've gotten a little food crush on her husband Brandon too. Not only did he build his restaurant by hand, he has developed one of the best pizza crusts ever. It sets the stage, the foundation, for the delectable ingredients they choose to top the dish. If I could, and if B would let me, I would eat here every week. I like it that much.
So there you have it. Five of my favorite food places in Seattle. Believe me, there are a lot more places. But I'll just have to save those for a future post. And I promise that the next post won't be two months from now. :-)
Monday, March 8, 2010
Len
Logging into this site, I realized that it's been six weeks since I last posted something here. For me, blogging usually is a very fickle thing. There are times that I have much to write about (especially when I travel), and other times when life is ordinary and I have nothing to share (nor the motivation). In this case however, the reason for my absence has been because life has taken a sad turn over the past few months, only concluded early last week.
On Monday, we had a memorial service for Leonard "Len" Olsen, my girlfriend's father. After being diagnosed with brain cancer in October, he battled it until his death a month ago today (Feb. 8th). During this time, through the surgeries, chemo, and radiation, I never once heard him complain. Obviously, there were times of sadness, but we all grieved together. And for us, the friends and family, we still had time to say our goodbyes to our good friend/husband/father/grandfather before he passed.
It was about four years ago when I met this man who was quiet in nature and big of heart. From the first time that we met, he welcomed me with a firm handshake and and twinkle in his eye. Although soft-spoken, Len had a gift of befriending people, as was evident by his high number of friends at church, the mall, or Lions Club. He loved to joke with people, often with a tease and a smile. Even until the end, when he was bed-ridden and weak, we were able to laugh with him, seeing the corners of his mouth pull into a faint grin and the familiar twinkle would reappear.
One of the things I had been most impressed with over the past few months has been how blessed Len and Pat (his wife) are with relationships in their lives. Never before have I seen so many caring friends and family stop by to say hello, drop off a meal, or to chat. While staying at the hospital, I swear there were days that I believe Len to be more exhausted from playing "host" than from the illness. If there is one thing that this entire experience has taught me, it is that you can never have too many friends.
Another example of his ability to make friends is a story that I recently heard. Len was a proud mall walker, having daily walked at Everett Mall with his good friends Dick and John for almost 13 years. In that time, the group grew from the three men to nearly 20 people of various ages. So when Len started staying at the hospital, we'd hear from Dick that not only were the other fellow mall walkers asking about him, but so were the security guards, infomation desk gals, and the delivery guys.
I guess the last thing I have to say is that I've been proud to stand with the Olsen family during this entire ordeal. It was an honor for me to be able to laugh, grieve, help, and pray with this family. For that, I certainly am thankful.
On Monday, we had a memorial service for Leonard "Len" Olsen, my girlfriend's father. After being diagnosed with brain cancer in October, he battled it until his death a month ago today (Feb. 8th). During this time, through the surgeries, chemo, and radiation, I never once heard him complain. Obviously, there were times of sadness, but we all grieved together. And for us, the friends and family, we still had time to say our goodbyes to our good friend/husband/father/grandfather before he passed.
It was about four years ago when I met this man who was quiet in nature and big of heart. From the first time that we met, he welcomed me with a firm handshake and and twinkle in his eye. Although soft-spoken, Len had a gift of befriending people, as was evident by his high number of friends at church, the mall, or Lions Club. He loved to joke with people, often with a tease and a smile. Even until the end, when he was bed-ridden and weak, we were able to laugh with him, seeing the corners of his mouth pull into a faint grin and the familiar twinkle would reappear.
One of the things I had been most impressed with over the past few months has been how blessed Len and Pat (his wife) are with relationships in their lives. Never before have I seen so many caring friends and family stop by to say hello, drop off a meal, or to chat. While staying at the hospital, I swear there were days that I believe Len to be more exhausted from playing "host" than from the illness. If there is one thing that this entire experience has taught me, it is that you can never have too many friends.
Another example of his ability to make friends is a story that I recently heard. Len was a proud mall walker, having daily walked at Everett Mall with his good friends Dick and John for almost 13 years. In that time, the group grew from the three men to nearly 20 people of various ages. So when Len started staying at the hospital, we'd hear from Dick that not only were the other fellow mall walkers asking about him, but so were the security guards, infomation desk gals, and the delivery guys.
I guess the last thing I have to say is that I've been proud to stand with the Olsen family during this entire ordeal. It was an honor for me to be able to laugh, grieve, help, and pray with this family. For that, I certainly am thankful.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Of Omelette Pans and Savory Goodness
I'll be honest... With all the travel, holidays, Tucker, and remodeling at my house right now, I haven't been in the mood to cook. But since I haven't posted food related entry for a while, I thought I would try to conjure up something to write about.
For those of you who may have been visiting this site for a while, you know I love to cook. Along with that, I love the gear that goes with cooking. And in my mind, one of the essential things to own is a great, nonstick omelette pan. I've have mine for over six years now, and the nonstick finish is, well, finished. No longer does it release my eggs with a graceful flick of the wrists. Now, it needs to be scraped off with that of a spatula and chisel.
But do not fret, for I have a solution! It is -- a new omelette pan! I know, I know, a bit anti-climatic. But the reason I bring this up is because I have actually had it's replacement sitting in my attic, waiting for this very moment. And the reason it was sitting in the attic was because when I purchased my original pans, Calphalon was phasing out my line of pots and pans. This allowed me to purchase a couple replacement pans at super cheap prices, knowing full well that the nonstick finish wouldn't last forever. And so it hasn't. And so, I have a new pan that's been waiting to take its place. (So here's my tip- if you like nonstick cookware, keep your eye out for bargain sales. You may not need the replacement at that time, but you can literally save hundreds of dollars if you buy it on sale/clearance.)
For those of you who may have been visiting this site for a while, you know I love to cook. Along with that, I love the gear that goes with cooking. And in my mind, one of the essential things to own is a great, nonstick omelette pan. I've have mine for over six years now, and the nonstick finish is, well, finished. No longer does it release my eggs with a graceful flick of the wrists. Now, it needs to be scraped off with that of a spatula and chisel.
But do not fret, for I have a solution! It is -- a new omelette pan! I know, I know, a bit anti-climatic. But the reason I bring this up is because I have actually had it's replacement sitting in my attic, waiting for this very moment. And the reason it was sitting in the attic was because when I purchased my original pans, Calphalon was phasing out my line of pots and pans. This allowed me to purchase a couple replacement pans at super cheap prices, knowing full well that the nonstick finish wouldn't last forever. And so it hasn't. And so, I have a new pan that's been waiting to take its place. (So here's my tip- if you like nonstick cookware, keep your eye out for bargain sales. You may not need the replacement at that time, but you can literally save hundreds of dollars if you buy it on sale/clearance.)
So to initiate my new replacement pan, I decided to make one of my favorite comfort foods. Mind you, this is a VERY basic dish.But I don't think that's a bad thing. I believe everybody has their super-easy, make in 10 seconds, comfort dish. It's along the lines of cinnamon/sugar toast, bowls of cereal, or crackers and cheese. For me, it's sunny-side up eggs on white rice with soy sauce.
Now, before you judge me, hear me out. The combination of the three ingredients in this dish come together to make what I consider an Asian simplified version of Italian carbonara. See, first you place the egg on the rice, and drizzle a bit of soy on top. They you break the yolks and mix it into the hot rice. As the yolk coats the rice, the heat from the rice cooks it into a savory goodness. As you eat it, it warms your body and fills your belly.
So now that you know one of my go-to quick fixes, tell me what you like to whip up and eat when you're having that certain craving.
Friday, January 15, 2010
A Big List
This will probably be my last post (I think) about Antarctica... and it's more for the gear heads out there.
Since I went to Buenos Aires first, I thought I would have to pack for summer and winter. In hindsight, I could have simply packed for winter and brought one pair of shorts and been fine. But regardless, here's what I brought. Also, remember that I tend to overpack, so I will try to highlight the neccessities.
Things I used:
CLOTHES:
Regular Attire
• Tshirts
• underwear, socks
• 2 pairs of jeans (only needed one)
• 3 pairs of shorts (only needed one)
• board shorts
• zip off legs pants
• Merrells Ventilator Shoes
Snow Attire
• 2 sets of Patagonia Capilene polypro top and bottoms
• Mountain Hardwear Windstopper Fleece (thick)
• North Face Windstopper Pullover (thin)
• Arc'teryx Gore-tex hard shell
• North Face Gore-tex ski pants
• North Face windblock pants
• Swix Wool Hat
• 4 pairs ski socks, 2 pair sock liners (I wore the 1 pair sock liners and 2 pairs of ski socks for excursions.)
• OR Vert gloves (awesome for photography)
• OR Gore-tex Ascent gloves (only used once, but if it had rained more I would have used them more)
• Mountain Hardwear puffy jacket (compacts into a very small stuff sack, great for being on the outside upper decks of the ship)
• Seirus Neofleece Comfort Masque (great for the cold wind)
TECH and CAMERA
• Lenovo Thinkpad T400s laptop
• 2 Western Digital 500GB external hard drives
• Microsoft Wireless USB Mouse (nice for photo editing)
• LowePro camera bag (placed inside backpack for water protection)
• Nikon D300s DSLR (primary)
• Nikon D50 DSLR (backup- didn't use it, but would still bring it next time)
• Canon SD900 point and shoot camera
• Nikkor 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED
• Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR
• Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G DX
• Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D DX
• Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6
• Nikon Speedlight SB-600 flash
• Induro Adventure Series AB0 tripod
• Kata camera rain cover
• Circular polarizers
• lens brush
• camera/laptop battery chargers
MISCELLANIOUS
• PASSPORT
• Rupert the Gnome
• toiletries
• Polarized Smith Diablo sunglasses
• contacts
• glasses
• Bible
• chapstick
• eye mask (for sleeping)
• Dry Bag (for inside backpack- not sure if needed, but a cheap insurance policy to protect my camera gear)
• large ziploc bags
• backpack (would bring smaller one next time)
• seasickness patch (prescription)
• power plug adapter (not a convertor)
• footbeds/insoles (recommended! from an old pair of running shoes for rubber boots)
DIDN'T USE/NEED
• water bottle (bottled water was available everywhere in BA, and the ship had it readily available)
• 2 books (too much other stuff to do)
• fleece neck gaiter
• black leather shoes (Buenos Aires is pretty casual)
• dress shirts
• tshirts (brought too many)
• sunscreen (bought some there, didn't use)
• flip flops
• laundry detergent
• hand/foot warmers (I didn't need these, but I know people who used them)
• mini-power strip
• earplugs
• binoculars
• DVD movies/shows
• camera grey card
• neutral density filters (torn on this... didn't use it, but not very heavy, would consider bringing again)
Since I went to Buenos Aires first, I thought I would have to pack for summer and winter. In hindsight, I could have simply packed for winter and brought one pair of shorts and been fine. But regardless, here's what I brought. Also, remember that I tend to overpack, so I will try to highlight the neccessities.
Things I used:
CLOTHES:
Regular Attire
• Tshirts
• underwear, socks
• 2 pairs of jeans (only needed one)
• 3 pairs of shorts (only needed one)
• board shorts
• zip off legs pants
• Merrells Ventilator Shoes
Snow Attire
• 2 sets of Patagonia Capilene polypro top and bottoms
• Mountain Hardwear Windstopper Fleece (thick)
• North Face Windstopper Pullover (thin)
• Arc'teryx Gore-tex hard shell
• North Face Gore-tex ski pants
• North Face windblock pants
• Swix Wool Hat
• 4 pairs ski socks, 2 pair sock liners (I wore the 1 pair sock liners and 2 pairs of ski socks for excursions.)
• OR Vert gloves (awesome for photography)
• OR Gore-tex Ascent gloves (only used once, but if it had rained more I would have used them more)
• Mountain Hardwear puffy jacket (compacts into a very small stuff sack, great for being on the outside upper decks of the ship)
• Seirus Neofleece Comfort Masque (great for the cold wind)
TECH and CAMERA
• Lenovo Thinkpad T400s laptop
• 2 Western Digital 500GB external hard drives
• Microsoft Wireless USB Mouse (nice for photo editing)
• LowePro camera bag (placed inside backpack for water protection)
• Nikon D300s DSLR (primary)
• Nikon D50 DSLR (backup- didn't use it, but would still bring it next time)
• Canon SD900 point and shoot camera
• Nikkor 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED
• Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR
• Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G DX
• Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D DX
• Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6
• Nikon Speedlight SB-600 flash
• Induro Adventure Series AB0 tripod
• Kata camera rain cover
• Circular polarizers
• lens brush
• camera/laptop battery chargers
MISCELLANIOUS
• PASSPORT
• Rupert the Gnome
• toiletries
• Polarized Smith Diablo sunglasses
• contacts
• glasses
• Bible
• chapstick
• eye mask (for sleeping)
• Dry Bag (for inside backpack- not sure if needed, but a cheap insurance policy to protect my camera gear)
• large ziploc bags
• backpack (would bring smaller one next time)
• seasickness patch (prescription)
• power plug adapter (not a convertor)
• footbeds/insoles (recommended! from an old pair of running shoes for rubber boots)
DIDN'T USE/NEED
• water bottle (bottled water was available everywhere in BA, and the ship had it readily available)
• 2 books (too much other stuff to do)
• fleece neck gaiter
• black leather shoes (Buenos Aires is pretty casual)
• dress shirts
• tshirts (brought too many)
• sunscreen (bought some there, didn't use)
• flip flops
• laundry detergent
• hand/foot warmers (I didn't need these, but I know people who used them)
• mini-power strip
• earplugs
• binoculars
• DVD movies/shows
• camera grey card
• neutral density filters (torn on this... didn't use it, but not very heavy, would consider bringing again)
Friday, January 8, 2010
Puppy Parenting
Although it still weirds me out a little when people refer to me as Tucker's "daddy", I've now been a puppy parent for almost three weeks. Having never had a dog before, it's been (continues to be) an experience. I anticipated a lot of work in raising the little guy, but I still underestimated it. And from what I've gathered, he's a well behaved puppy. But a puppy nonetheless. Which is a good thing about 90% of the time.
Some random things I've been experiencing so far.
1. My sleep schedule is completely screwed up (early to bed, early to rise makes Spencer a sleepier person than he already is).
2. I really do feel like a parent. Putting him to bed is like putting a child to bed. He can be dead tired, but as soon as it's time to sleep, he gets uber hyper and wants to play. It's hilarious and exhausting at the same time. For example, as soon as his four little paws touch my comforter (yes, he sleeps on my bed. Please don't judge me.), he starts digging. I don't exactly know why, but he'll have a burst of intense digging, with intervals of rest, then he'll start again. This is usually coupled with the laps around the tv room and my bedroom.
3. I think of myself as a person with a lot of patience. But there are definitely times where those limits are pushed. It's humbling. And makes me hope that this will simply make me even more patient when I have kids some day.
4. I'm a sucker for puppy eyes. Sometimes I look into the dark pools of melancholy when he's sitting there, and it breaks my heart. For example, right after he's played with his siblings (a friend of mine has his older sister and litter brother) and they have gone home, he looks for them. You can tell he misses them. Reading his eyes kill me everytime.
5. I love the way he sleeps. I don't care if you're not a dog person. Watching him sleep (and dream sometimes) and seeing how cute he is... as my brother says "you just want to eat him up!". (Hopefully he doesn't mean figuratively. Of course, we are Chinese. I kid, I kid.)
6. I have become that guy. That guy who not only picks up the poo, but carries it for another mile. At least I've been trying to fight becoming the guy who only talks about one thing: his dog/child/car/job/etc.
7. It's been fun watching him grow up. This past week he started responding to his name. Plus he's gotten to know B and I. He now comes over and sits at our feet, or rests his head on our leg, just so he can be petted or held. It's very enduring (he's actually came over as I was typing this and laid down).
8. After reading the previous 7 items, he's made me sappier too I think.
So that's where I am with the puppy raising. Overall, Tucker's been a blast. And for the times he's not, I've been trying to remind myself to enjoy his time as a puppy, and that all this work is to make him an awesome adult dog later...
Some random things I've been experiencing so far.
1. My sleep schedule is completely screwed up (early to bed, early to rise makes Spencer a sleepier person than he already is).
2. I really do feel like a parent. Putting him to bed is like putting a child to bed. He can be dead tired, but as soon as it's time to sleep, he gets uber hyper and wants to play. It's hilarious and exhausting at the same time. For example, as soon as his four little paws touch my comforter (yes, he sleeps on my bed. Please don't judge me.), he starts digging. I don't exactly know why, but he'll have a burst of intense digging, with intervals of rest, then he'll start again. This is usually coupled with the laps around the tv room and my bedroom.
3. I think of myself as a person with a lot of patience. But there are definitely times where those limits are pushed. It's humbling. And makes me hope that this will simply make me even more patient when I have kids some day.
4. I'm a sucker for puppy eyes. Sometimes I look into the dark pools of melancholy when he's sitting there, and it breaks my heart. For example, right after he's played with his siblings (a friend of mine has his older sister and litter brother) and they have gone home, he looks for them. You can tell he misses them. Reading his eyes kill me everytime.
5. I love the way he sleeps. I don't care if you're not a dog person. Watching him sleep (and dream sometimes) and seeing how cute he is... as my brother says "you just want to eat him up!". (Hopefully he doesn't mean figuratively. Of course, we are Chinese. I kid, I kid.)
6. I have become that guy. That guy who not only picks up the poo, but carries it for another mile. At least I've been trying to fight becoming the guy who only talks about one thing: his dog/child/car/job/etc.
7. It's been fun watching him grow up. This past week he started responding to his name. Plus he's gotten to know B and I. He now comes over and sits at our feet, or rests his head on our leg, just so he can be petted or held. It's very enduring (he's actually came over as I was typing this and laid down).
8. After reading the previous 7 items, he's made me sappier too I think.
So that's where I am with the puppy raising. Overall, Tucker's been a blast. And for the times he's not, I've been trying to remind myself to enjoy his time as a puppy, and that all this work is to make him an awesome adult dog later...
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Lessons Learned
Since I've been back for a couple weeks now, I thought I would share some tips I've learned on this trip... For those of you who may stumble upon this blog because you're interested in going to Antarctica, feel free to drop me a line. I'd love to share more info with you.
All right, here we go.
1. I am an over-packer. This isn't a new lesson, but I still make the mistake every time. For this specific trip, I fooled myself because I thought I had to pack for hot and cold climates since I was heading to Buenos Aires first. In reality, if I had packed 1 pair of shorts, 4 tshirts, and my cold weather gear, I would have been fine. People on the ship don't care if you wear the same thing everyday. Just make sure to shower.
2. Be prepared to get wet. Since it's summer down in Antarctica, it may not get cold enough to snow. Plus, when riding in the zodiacs, you can get wet from spray as well.
3. In concert with #2, bring gear to protect your camera from the wet. I used a Kata Rain Cover when taking pictures. Although there are a few little nuisances, overall it worked pretty well in the rainy whether. For the budget minded, here is a simple substitute I learned on the ship- for DSLRs, it can be as simple as poking two holes in the bottom of a ziploc bag, running your camera strap through the holes, and placing the camera inside. Then when you need to take a picture, simply "unzip" the bag so your lens has an opening to take the picture.
4. Some people used thicker ski gloves, but I found thin but warm ones made photography much easier. I used these OR Vert gloves and they rocked.
5. If you're going on a cruise, try to socialize with your fellow passengers of all ages, backgrounds, and demographics. I know that's hard for introverts, but it's much more fun when you know the people you're with. Plus, it'll help pass the time on the Drake faster.
6. Try to do something different. Go camping. Go kayaking. Do the Plunge. It'll make for a cool story later, and make your life much richer now.
7. I know I mentioned that I tend to overpack, but one thing I am glad I brought was my computer and assorted gear. I was able to organize and edit my pictures during my free time, as well as type up my blog entries. In addition, I brought 2 external hard drives so I could back up my photos.
8. If you have a video feature on your camera, use it. I find myself looking at the few videos I took during the trip, and wish I had more. As a bonus: if you have a tripod, use it for the video. Mine look like I was still on the Drake Passage even though I was on solid ground.
9. I love photography. But at some point(s) during the trip, take a moment to look around without looking through your camera's viewfinder/LCD display. Savor that moment. Remember the crispness of the air, the size of the glacier, the humor of watching the penguins, and the beauty that surrounds you. This is why you came to Antarctica.
All right, here we go.
1. I am an over-packer. This isn't a new lesson, but I still make the mistake every time. For this specific trip, I fooled myself because I thought I had to pack for hot and cold climates since I was heading to Buenos Aires first. In reality, if I had packed 1 pair of shorts, 4 tshirts, and my cold weather gear, I would have been fine. People on the ship don't care if you wear the same thing everyday. Just make sure to shower.
2. Be prepared to get wet. Since it's summer down in Antarctica, it may not get cold enough to snow. Plus, when riding in the zodiacs, you can get wet from spray as well.
3. In concert with #2, bring gear to protect your camera from the wet. I used a Kata Rain Cover when taking pictures. Although there are a few little nuisances, overall it worked pretty well in the rainy whether. For the budget minded, here is a simple substitute I learned on the ship- for DSLRs, it can be as simple as poking two holes in the bottom of a ziploc bag, running your camera strap through the holes, and placing the camera inside. Then when you need to take a picture, simply "unzip" the bag so your lens has an opening to take the picture.
4. Some people used thicker ski gloves, but I found thin but warm ones made photography much easier. I used these OR Vert gloves and they rocked.
5. If you're going on a cruise, try to socialize with your fellow passengers of all ages, backgrounds, and demographics. I know that's hard for introverts, but it's much more fun when you know the people you're with. Plus, it'll help pass the time on the Drake faster.
6. Try to do something different. Go camping. Go kayaking. Do the Plunge. It'll make for a cool story later, and make your life much richer now.
7. I know I mentioned that I tend to overpack, but one thing I am glad I brought was my computer and assorted gear. I was able to organize and edit my pictures during my free time, as well as type up my blog entries. In addition, I brought 2 external hard drives so I could back up my photos.
8. If you have a video feature on your camera, use it. I find myself looking at the few videos I took during the trip, and wish I had more. As a bonus: if you have a tripod, use it for the video. Mine look like I was still on the Drake Passage even though I was on solid ground.
9. I love photography. But at some point(s) during the trip, take a moment to look around without looking through your camera's viewfinder/LCD display. Savor that moment. Remember the crispness of the air, the size of the glacier, the humor of watching the penguins, and the beauty that surrounds you. This is why you came to Antarctica.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Unneccessary Stress, Excessive Sweating, and Answered Prayers
Sometime during this trip, Naomi, Carol, Greg and I traded travel horror stories. When my turn came, I realized that I didn't have any horrific stories to share. But of course, as luck would have it, I was just a little early. My story materialized when it came time for me to come home to Seattle. But instead of using my regular paragraph style narrative, I thought I would use a different approach to share what has become my travel horror story. And like all good stories, there is a happy ending. So here it goes.
AR= Argentina Time, E/PST= Eastern/Pacific Standard Time. AR is 5 hours ahead of PST.
5:45 AM AR: Wake Up on the Orlova
8:00 AM AR: Disembark the ship to head to the airport. Quark was unable to confirm my ticket over the phone, so I need to do it in person. Also, apparently I am listed on the 11:20 AM flight, not my purchased 2:05 PM flight.
8:45 AM AR: Get to the airport and wait in line for the ticket counter. Once at the counter, I received good and bad news. The good: I am checked in for my original 2:05 PM flight. The bad: Not only is my luggage overweight (aka pay a fine), but I need to check my backpack as well. Note my backpack contains fragile, non-checkable items, such as my laptop. To "remedy" this, the ticket counter guy gives me a plastic bag, and tells me to put my breakable items in it to carry on the plane. The now empty backpack is then checked. To recap: checked 2 overweight bags and 1 empty backpack. Carrying on- 1 camera bag and 1 plastic bag of computer gear and fragile gifts. Questions arise: 1) How come none of this was a problem coming down to Ushuaia? 2) Why couldn't I keep my backpack if they are going to give me a plastic bag to carry on anyway?
9:30 AM AR: I've paid my overweight luggage fine and my airport exit tax. I head back to Ushuaia to kill some time, get a tshirt, and meet friends for lunch before coming back to the airport.
2:05 PM AR: Depart Ushuaia as scheduled. BTW, it was a pain in the neck carrying that plastic bag all over town.
6:00 PM AR: I arrive at Buenos Aires International Airport and pick up my luggage. I proceed to the international terminal to check in at the United ticket counter for my 10:00 PM AR international flight. My scheduled trip home has a layover in Dulles (Washington DC), then catching a connecting flight to Seattle.
6:30 PM AR: After waiting in line, I finally reach the United ticket counter and am told my BA to Dulles flight is delayed 4 hours because a winter storm has hit the Eastern seaboard of the US. DC is snowed in. This is when my travels really get interesting.
6:33 PM AR: The following conversation (summarized) ensues:
The United Guy (UG): Uh oh. You'll miss your connecting flight in DC to Seattle. And since you have an award (frequent flyer miles) ticket, I can't assign you to a different airline to fly home.
ME: Ok, I can handle that. I'll catch the next United flight on standby.
UG: No, you can't fly standby. The flights are full for the next two days. I can only book you to DC, where you will need to purchase a ticket home to Seattle.
ME: Excuse me? First off, why can't I fly standby?
UG: The flights are full.
ME: Um, okaaay. So I need to purchase a ticket to Seattle? United can't find another way to get me home?
UG: That is correct.
ME: So let me get this straight. You are saying that I need to purchase a last minute (literally) ticket to Seattle 4 days before Christmas?
UG: Yes.
ME: (thinking to myself)WTF?!?
6:45-8:00 PM AR: I leave "helpful" UG and find an internet cafe. I attempt to purchase a ticket home from DC to Seattle (a steal at $680 US for a last minute biz class ticket). I click the on "Purchase Ticket" button. Error. $#&%!
8:10 PM AR: I go back to UG and have him book me to DC. I figured I could speak the language in DC and there are many more domestic flights options Stateside.
8:45 PM AR: I'm checked in, go through security, and settle into waiting for another 3-4 hours before boarding.
1:15 AM AR: I'm at the gate, and after mulling it over, decide to approach the United gate lady. The following conversation (summarized) ensues:
ME: Hi, I'm trying to get home to Seattle. I'm missing my connecting flight in DC due to the delay. Is there anything you can do to help me?
United Lady (UL):Well, the flights to Seattle are full until Christmas, but I can put you on standby for the 1:30pm EST flight.
ME: Really? Thank you! (thinking to myself)I'd like to smack United Guy aside the head. HARD.
11:00 AM EST: Touchdown in Dulles. Run to catch a shuttle to another terminal for immigration and customs. Time until Seattle flight boards- 1.5 hours.
11:30 AM EST: Through Immigration and Customs. Pick up luggage, running to the United Ticket counter to check my luggage for the standby flight. Starting to perspire a little bit. Time left to board- 1 hour.
11:45 AM EST: Arrive at the ticket counter, and am told that I am in the wrong line to check baggage. Plus, I only have 5 minutes left before they can't accept luggage anymore. I look over at the other line, and it would be a 30 minute wait. Sonuvabeech.
11:47 AM EST: My lowest yet proudest moment happens. I ask everybody in the other line if I can cut to the front. In a show of great grace and Christmas spirit, nobody objects. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!
12:00 PM EST: Bags are checked. Running to security with my backpack and camera bag.
12:15 PM EST: Finally through security. Running to the shuttle to go to the another terminal. Again. Oh, I'm starting to sweat now. Time left to board- 15 minutes.
12:25 PM EST: Aboard the shuttle in between terminals when it stops for what seems like a decade to let a plane by. Time left- 5 minutes.
12:35 PM EST: Arrive at the gate, sweating profusely (which is pretty rare for me). Looking at the reader board, I am the third name on the standby list out of 15 or so people. I approach the counter, winded and sweaty, and give the gal my name. She then says the sweetest words I have heard in 48 hours. "Don't worry honey. You've got a seat on the flight." HALLELUJAH!
4:30 PM PST Loading the car with my luggage. I'm finally home. (A long, grateful sigh ensues.)
So there you have it. My travel horror story, with a happy Christmas ending. And after 37+ hours of traveling, I was home with my fanastic and much missed girlfriend, my brother visiting from Miami, and my new puppy Tucker. What a way to wrap up my Big 5Six trip.
AR= Argentina Time, E/PST= Eastern/Pacific Standard Time. AR is 5 hours ahead of PST.
5:45 AM AR: Wake Up on the Orlova
8:00 AM AR: Disembark the ship to head to the airport. Quark was unable to confirm my ticket over the phone, so I need to do it in person. Also, apparently I am listed on the 11:20 AM flight, not my purchased 2:05 PM flight.
8:45 AM AR: Get to the airport and wait in line for the ticket counter. Once at the counter, I received good and bad news. The good: I am checked in for my original 2:05 PM flight. The bad: Not only is my luggage overweight (aka pay a fine), but I need to check my backpack as well. Note my backpack contains fragile, non-checkable items, such as my laptop. To "remedy" this, the ticket counter guy gives me a plastic bag, and tells me to put my breakable items in it to carry on the plane. The now empty backpack is then checked. To recap: checked 2 overweight bags and 1 empty backpack. Carrying on- 1 camera bag and 1 plastic bag of computer gear and fragile gifts. Questions arise: 1) How come none of this was a problem coming down to Ushuaia? 2) Why couldn't I keep my backpack if they are going to give me a plastic bag to carry on anyway?
9:30 AM AR: I've paid my overweight luggage fine and my airport exit tax. I head back to Ushuaia to kill some time, get a tshirt, and meet friends for lunch before coming back to the airport.
2:05 PM AR: Depart Ushuaia as scheduled. BTW, it was a pain in the neck carrying that plastic bag all over town.
6:00 PM AR: I arrive at Buenos Aires International Airport and pick up my luggage. I proceed to the international terminal to check in at the United ticket counter for my 10:00 PM AR international flight. My scheduled trip home has a layover in Dulles (Washington DC), then catching a connecting flight to Seattle.
6:30 PM AR: After waiting in line, I finally reach the United ticket counter and am told my BA to Dulles flight is delayed 4 hours because a winter storm has hit the Eastern seaboard of the US. DC is snowed in. This is when my travels really get interesting.
6:33 PM AR: The following conversation (summarized) ensues:
The United Guy (UG): Uh oh. You'll miss your connecting flight in DC to Seattle. And since you have an award (frequent flyer miles) ticket, I can't assign you to a different airline to fly home.
ME: Ok, I can handle that. I'll catch the next United flight on standby.
UG: No, you can't fly standby. The flights are full for the next two days. I can only book you to DC, where you will need to purchase a ticket home to Seattle.
ME: Excuse me? First off, why can't I fly standby?
UG: The flights are full.
ME: Um, okaaay. So I need to purchase a ticket to Seattle? United can't find another way to get me home?
UG: That is correct.
ME: So let me get this straight. You are saying that I need to purchase a last minute (literally) ticket to Seattle 4 days before Christmas?
UG: Yes.
ME: (thinking to myself)
6:45-8:00 PM AR: I leave "helpful" UG and find an internet cafe. I attempt to purchase a ticket home from DC to Seattle (a steal at $680 US for a last minute biz class ticket). I click the on "Purchase Ticket" button. Error. $#&%!
8:10 PM AR: I go back to UG and have him book me to DC. I figured I could speak the language in DC and there are many more domestic flights options Stateside.
8:45 PM AR: I'm checked in, go through security, and settle into waiting for another 3-4 hours before boarding.
1:15 AM AR: I'm at the gate, and after mulling it over, decide to approach the United gate lady. The following conversation (summarized) ensues:
ME: Hi, I'm trying to get home to Seattle. I'm missing my connecting flight in DC due to the delay. Is there anything you can do to help me?
United Lady (UL):
ME: Really? Thank you! (thinking to myself)
11:00 AM EST: Touchdown in Dulles. Run to catch a shuttle to another terminal for immigration and customs. Time until Seattle flight boards- 1.5 hours.
11:30 AM EST: Through Immigration and Customs. Pick up luggage, running to the United Ticket counter to check my luggage for the standby flight. Starting to perspire a little bit. Time left to board- 1 hour.
11:45 AM EST: Arrive at the ticket counter, and am told that I am in the wrong line to check baggage. Plus, I only have 5 minutes left before they can't accept luggage anymore. I look over at the other line, and it would be a 30 minute wait. Sonuvabeech.
11:47 AM EST: My lowest yet proudest moment happens. I ask everybody in the other line if I can cut to the front. In a show of great grace and Christmas spirit, nobody objects. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!
12:00 PM EST: Bags are checked. Running to security with my backpack and camera bag.
12:15 PM EST: Finally through security. Running to the shuttle to go to the another terminal. Again. Oh, I'm starting to sweat now. Time left to board- 15 minutes.
12:25 PM EST: Aboard the shuttle in between terminals when it stops for what seems like a decade to let a plane by. Time left- 5 minutes.
12:35 PM EST: Arrive at the gate, sweating profusely (which is pretty rare for me). Looking at the reader board, I am the third name on the standby list out of 15 or so people. I approach the counter, winded and sweaty, and give the gal my name. She then says the sweetest words I have heard in 48 hours. "Don't worry honey. You've got a seat on the flight." HALLELUJAH!
4:30 PM PST Loading the car with my luggage. I'm finally home. (A long, grateful sigh ensues.)
So there you have it. My travel horror story, with a happy Christmas ending. And after 37+ hours of traveling, I was home with my fanastic and much missed girlfriend, my brother visiting from Miami, and my new puppy Tucker. What a way to wrap up my Big 5Six trip.
Friday, January 1, 2010
Cruising Back to the North
These last two days, we've been heading north in the Drake Passage. The days are slow, and spent with chatting with new friends made on the voyage, eating the fine meals prepared by the kitchen staff, and going to the outside decks to see the waves crash and watch the various birds glids in the tailwinds of the ship. The Drake Passage has a reputation for being one of the harshest sailing conditions in the world (Have I already said that? It sounds familiar.). But apparently, our ship lucked out. According to the expedition team, we had better than average conditions while at sea. (Although Ronaldo my roommate may disagree. Once again he was bedridden these past two days of the Drake.)
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Tonight is the final night of our cruise. Tomorrow, us passengers will dock in Ushuaia, and scatter to the various countries and cities that we are from. So as a treat, a member of the expedition team collected pictures of the trip from whichever passengers wanted to submit them. He collected these pics (and some videos) and compiled them into slideshow. There were some amazing photographers on our trip, as was evident by the fantastic pictures. And the best thing of all is that we each recieved a copy to keep as a souvenior. I'm already looking forward to watching it again.
To pass the time again, I decided to go around and take some pictures around the ship... some random sites aboard the Orlova.
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Also, last night a few Russian members of the crew performed a celebratory event for us. There was dancing, homemade bread, and one giant leap by a certain Zodiac driver. I missed the historical reason for the dancing, but tradition is tradition I suppose.
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Tonight is the final night of our cruise. Tomorrow, us passengers will dock in Ushuaia, and scatter to the various countries and cities that we are from. So as a treat, a member of the expedition team collected pictures of the trip from whichever passengers wanted to submit them. He collected these pics (and some videos) and compiled them into slideshow. There were some amazing photographers on our trip, as was evident by the fantastic pictures. And the best thing of all is that we each recieved a copy to keep as a souvenior. I'm already looking forward to watching it again.
Happy New Year!
I hope that today marks the beginning of the best year of your life yet... May 2010 be filled with blessings, laughter, family, friends, and large bowls of delicious ice cream/gelato/helado.
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