Deciduous Hot Mess

More windstorm damage. On the sidewalk outside of my building. I picked some acorns. 

Crazy Windstorm Debris

On the roof outside of my window is a wooden thing that says "Professional Aerospace Union" on it. Wonder where it came from!

Hazards

Much to his dismay, Rocco sometimes can't go out for a walk because it is too windy. Today the winds are gusting to 45 MPH. He would just get blown up into a tree! I've already picked up a planter that fell down from someone's balcony up the street. I also found a random Frisbee and a hat. People should really check the weather more often. 

Caramel Craze

At Whole Foods this afternoon there was a guy with samples of these local caramels (made in Ballard) that are delicious:

Gluten-free!!

I need someone to come over and take them away from me.

Snoqualmie and North Bend

Snoqualmie Falls:

Snoqualmie: 

In North Bend now. Just had a delicious BLT with fried pickles at North Bend Bar & Grill:

There is a big mountain right here and I think it might be Mt Si?

Not the greatest photo, but here is the Twin Peaks diner:

Ride the Ducks

I just did the most touristic thing one can do in Seattle: ride the ducks. I learned a lot like how the EMP museum is supposed to resemble a smashed guitar when viewed from above. And the difference between a house boat and floating house. Because of the wildfires, the views were pretty hazy. But it was fun floating out alongside paddle boarders and boaters in Lake Union. Our tour guide was super funny and energetic, which added a lot to the whole experience. 

On Lake Union with a smokey Seattle downtown

Gas Works Park

The Marina

Sitting inside the duck boat/bus

Wildfires

The wildfires are indeed making the air smell great because of eastern winds. I can't believe how many are burning right now. Check out this screen shot of a map:

Little Flea

Good night, little flea

Problems

So apparently Apple discontinued making the classic "wheel" iPods that hold a million songs. Now the biggest iPods are bells-and-whistles iPhone "lite" devices that are all about being able to video chat and play games. They do not hold a ton of songs. I want my music on a music-focused device. Battery technology and memory restrictions make it impractical to use my iPhone as a music-listening device. So yeah. Problems. Too many Garth albums, not enough room. 

Smoke

It smells like burning wood outside, but I can't quite tell if it is the wildfires or the serious pie pizza oven. Smells good. Like cedar.

The Twitter Machine is Broken

Rocco's First Ride

Rocco rode the Seattle bus for the first time. At first, he was shaking and scared. Then he started to feel a little better when he climbed up on my lap and could look out of the windows. 

The Viaduct

The Alaskan Way Viaduct. This unstable double-decker highway will definitely come crashing down in around 30 seconds or so into a 6.something or higher magnitude earthquake.

If you want to see a video of a simulation of this happening, check this out:

http://youtu.be/hos_uIKwC-c

Bopping Around Magnolia

Such a nice neighborhood. It's very quiet with fresh air and good views.

Seattle Aquarium

Cool snail shell!

snoozy River Otter (above)

Swimming River Otter

Floating River Otter

Fur "Seal" (actually is a Sea Lion)

Floppy Fur Seal

Fur Seal saying hello

Harbor Seal named "Barney" 

Just kidding!

Eggs

Paleo day 3. Eggs are a big staple of a Paleo diet. 

I'm pretty sure I had a dream about bread last night. Woke up craving a pulled pork sandwich. 

Vanuatu

I want to go to Vanuatu. Since I'm an American and never had geography class, I just now discovered its existence by noticing it on my earthquake app map.

It's near the Solomon Islands, which is on my radar because there are strong magnitude 6 earthquakes there pretty much every week.

Doesn't it look beautiful? It's like where all those island screen savers are photographed.

Look at this guy!

Paleo Day 2

Poached chicken in wine and herbs with asparagus and sweet potato

Football is Back!

Go Seahawks!!!!

🍺🌊🏈🇺🇸

Paleo

Trying the "paleo" diet. I love gluten and dairy so it is going to be very difficult. Seriously, I could eat ice cream for breakfast and a whole baguette for lunch. Definitely going to have a cheat day once a week!

Deep Thought

I can't fall asleep because I don't want tomorrow to come?

Insomnia

It's 2:34am. The seagulls are squawking. Do seagulls fly in the dark?

Earthquake Preoccupations

Had a little exchange with the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network on what I should do if I'm home and a Cascadia earthquake strikes:

Earthquake Swarm in NV

I have been checking the My Earthquake app several times a day since I got it and I noticed that nearly every day there are small (Up to 4.XX magnitude) quakes in northwest Nevada by Gerlach.

I tapped into the Google to find that geologists are giving this some attention and that there are other people that find this activity unusual because it is a swarm that has been ongoing since summer 2014.

Some scientists think it may be connected to building pressure in the locked Cascadia subduction zone. It is just a theory and hopefully we will find out more as time goes by and geologists study the area. Seems that scientists can't quite rule out volcanic activity as the cause versus tectonic activity. 

Here is the link to my source if you want to read more:

http://volcanoscience.blogspot.com/2014/08/curious-quake-swarm-in-nw-nevada.html?m=1

Happy Happy Hour

Seattle happy hour is the best... Seriously, it's everywhere.

Right now:

Fennel sausage pizza $6

At Serious Pie

Overheard on the Street

"I'm allergic to hills and sun."

--little kid, walking up a hill in the sun

3.0 at 3:00

There was just a magnitude 3.0 earthquake near Cle Elum, WA!

True Love

These are amazing with goat cheese. 

I'm Not the Only One

I'm not the only one who digs these carrot tangerine ice pops 

Fox Foot

Sea Fair

Is Sea Fair the equivalent of a Fleet Week? I keep seeing sailors and the seagulls are out of control.

Update: The seagulls might be freaking out because of the blue angels and other loud planes flying through their territory.