Eccentric Snob

I am a fallen woman. I've teetered on the edge for years and have finally fallen to the eccentric side of human existence.

I spent my lunch hour viewing the Space Needle's elevator go up and down. In my twenty minute lunch it made the sixty story round trip three times. Every time it went up, five minutes later it came back down. It was either face the window and watch the elevator or turn around and watch some Jerry Springer type show on the HUGE TV set that dominates the break room that I haven't figured out yet how to turn off. And if it is off when I go into the lunch room, someone trails in behind me and bleeps, I mean blips it on. Elevator viewing is a fine alternative.

Or watching leaves fall. Seventeen observable leaves fell during one elevator round trip. Fall is still whispering around here. No huge splash of color or inundation of leaves. They are still gently falling. Sporadically falling. Countable falling.

I arrived at book club early last night and as I was sitting in Third Place Book Store's food court eating my stuffed baked potato, after I had perused the children's section for a book that doesn't seem to exist any more -- I saw two people worth watching.

The first: An older women, gray hair, stooped shoulders, cane, couldn't even guess her age, came in with a younger woman, thirtyish or so. The younger woman waited very patiently as the older women walked around every kiosk and counter and wall and along the window ledge and read every flier posted. Maybe two or three hundred fliers for everything from learn French to Jan Brett coming to performances at various venues. How odd, I thought.

I figure there is a story there that I will forever not know.

The second:

A women came in -- and sat down.
She got up to get some napkins and silverware -- and sat down
She opened and started reading a newspaper.
She left and made a food order and came back -- and sat down.
She left and returned with a food order -- and sat down.
She got up to get some condiments and returned -- and sat down.
She ate her food order.
She bussed her table -- and sat down.
She left to get a drink order, came back -- and sat down.

All the time, during all of her dining, reading, busing activities she never took off her purse/tote bag that was hanging on her arm. How odd, I thought.

I figured there is a story there that I might know.

Up on reflection, I couldn't decided if it was equally eccentric for me to be aware of and watching their eccentric activities. Which behavior was the eccentric one?

I figure there is a story there that I will forever not know.

And no one thinks I'm funny.

A lady at work told me she was working an a special project so I popped off "Well, project away" and she backed up three feet and went around me. I was terribly amused by my pun.


When Cathy, Jean and I were visiting Forks I wanted to carry a sign around that said I'm not a fan of Twilight, I just brought some one else. I'm innocent. It isn't me.

What a snob.

I accused, tried and condemned myself in about thirteen minutes. People still visit 221 Baker Steet. They follow Mark Twain down the mighty Mississippi. I was thrilled when I was in Northern California in John Steinbeck territory. They still visit Graceland. One of the rescued minors gets to go to Graceland. Who am I to say my taste is superior to someone elses. I haven't earned the right yet to dictate my taste to the world.

Jean said, "Well, I don't care what they think." I thought that is the more honest approach. Not caring and being a snob are definitely two different cows to milk. And I thought, well being aware of the problem is most of the cure, so I'm cured, I told myself, of being a snob.

Then I had a customer who was Mrs. Aas. That ugly snob part of me reared it's ugly head again. Well, I might be fat, old, poor, crooked, with bad eyesight and bad hearing but at least I don't have to go through life with the name of Aas.

Arrogant sonsabitch.

So the current task is to raise my eccentric level and lower my snob level until I'm perfectly balanced, well kind of balanced, well approaching balance, well maybe have balance in sight off on the distant horizon somewhere out there...


No one was passionate about our book club book Brooklyn. We loved the beginning as the young immigrant girl arrived in America and made a place for herself, economically, romantically, spiritually, but thought it had a wimpy ending. We spent the evening talking passionately about other things.

Three books up for perusal that sound good;
The Empire of the Summer Moon, about Quanah Parker, I forget the author, recommended to me, in part, because of the Oklahoma connection by Kathleen.
Earth Abides, a more positive post apocalyptic tale by George Stewart recommended by Sandy.
Cutting For Stone, by Abraham Verghese has rave reviews from Mary's literate sister, however a colleague at work gave the book to me with the note, "Suzanne quit it. Cat quit it. Can Jan handle it. Please do not return this book. I will die a happy girl if I never lay eyes on it again."

Next book club book: Waiting for Snow in Havana, by Carlos Eire.

Movie recommendation AFTER you see Social Network -- Catfish -- according to Eleanor it is the "what social networking has wrought" movie.

Snob: origin unknown, first used in 1781.

Birthday Gal

Brittany is eighteen today. Being eighteen is one of the delights of the known universe. It's a great age Brittany, bound to bring some great changes.

Here is wishing you all that's well, good, charming, fun, exciting, and if you get new tires, practical.

I'm full of advice for the turn, the changes, but I'll keep it to myself and not lecture you. You are wise beyond your years. Smart beyond your age. Cute beyond your genes. I think you are ready for the next chapter of your life.

Go gettum girl and enjoy the year.

The Visit

The visitors came and days, miles, meals later the only thing I bought with my money was a cup of coffee at The Gathering Grounds in Forks Washington.

Thank you Cathy for the sweet treats/treatment.

I've napped, rested, slept, reclined and watched my two new movies, The Secret Book of Kells and The Good Woman. Both watchable.

Ian took care of all the extra blankets, sheets, pillows and beds. I paid the bills, started the laundry, ate some of the left overs yesterday and the remainder today. The companies gone, I guess the trip is over and I don't have to dust again any time soon.

Driving around the county side with Jean and Cathy, I saw people doing what I do. Working, driving, eating, viewing, traveling, seeing what there is to see, what there is to do, and going to the places to go to. People being people. It's amazing how similar people are. Cars are cars, bridges are bridges, and views are views. It's amazing how different people are, Jean and Cathy even held it together when the man in the high heel shoes walked into the restaurant.

Cathy loved the Columbia River ferry boat crossing, the Astoria Bridge and the Northhead Lighthouse. They both loved all the little eateries Lynn and I have spent years finding. I want to remind you all, Lynn and I ate a lot of bad food finding those places.

All in all Cathy had a little driving, a little viewing, a little shopping, a little eating, a little buzz, a little tragedy and a little tranquility.

Final quote of the trip from the movie The Merry Gentleman: It would be a wonderful world if we were always at our best."

Thanks for the memories.

Fall Fog Travelers

The travelers came in the fog and are leaving in the fog. I couldn't see the school last Thursday when they were arriving and I can barely see it this morning as the girls are leaving. But leaving they are, the planes, trains, automobiles, ferry boat and Jan's chase car trip is coming to an end.

The foodie trip continued out in Forks where we ate at Sully's Cafe. Cathy had a Bella Burger and a Twilight Punch -- of course. I think Cathy got her fill of Twilight; we saw the Cullen house, The Swan's home, Dr Cullen's parking spot at the hospital, and saw Bella's trucks, the one from the book and the one used for the movie. Ask Cathy she will tell you, and show you, her photo shoot.

Tuesday we drove to Monroe to my favorite Indian restaurant, The Clay Oven, so Cathy could try creamed spinach among other things. As luck would have it that restaurant was closed only on Tuesdays and only temporary, so we went to my second choice, The Masala. Alas there was no creamed spinach, but both Jean and Cathy enjoyed the tandoori chicken, the pekoras, the naan bread, plus numerous other tasty tidbits.

Next I took them to The Top Pot donut shop in the University of Washington bookstore. Jean had read about them or saw them on some food network show. They didn't disappoint. Cathy also discovered if she bought an insulated cup she would get a free drink, so three free drinks later she had enough insulated cups for the friends in OKC she wanted to take one back to. I received the peach free drink, Jean received the blackberry free drink and Cathy drank the frappachino toffee caramel chocolate what ever drink.

Today it's the Ballard Pancake House for a German apple pancake before they are dropped off at SeaTac and they wing their way home. Just a bit quicker than they chugged-a-chugged their way here. Cathy found a new quote: It's a small world unless you have to walk home. Love it!

We finished up the movie portion of the travel, foodie, coastal, purple house, excellent excursion, drive down the Columbia River trip with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Cuckoo, Bella, and Akeela and the Bee. Cathy said she loved them. Two of them made her cry. Aunt Jan's weird movies passed the watchable test.

Life isn't always a miracle...

...but we had one with Jean.

After she took a tumble onto the dining room floor off the rolling computer chair she is un-hurt, un-bruised, un-sore, un-broke, and ready to roll on down life's highway.

I Forgot

I forgot to mention after Ivar's Sunday morning brunch and before the movie Undertaking Betty we went to Trader Joe's for Cathy a shopping experience. Of course we mostly got coffee, shampoo, candy and treats for Ian.

I forgot to mention that today we are off to Port Angeles to The Chestnut Cottage and Giant Apricot Scones and then on to Forks of vampire fame and who knows what foodie.

I forgot to mention a Great Big Thank You to Brittany for being my "ride" to the lake. Thank you Brittany, I can't wait.

And I didn't forget to mention, because I didn't know it yet that after watching Undertaking Betty, we watched The Merry Gentleman.

Jean said Undertaking Betty was very entertaining, funny, and full of surprises.

Cathy said The Merry Gentleman, "Well, I did like it, but I'm trying to think of the right words. It wasn't what I expected, it was about a gentleman not so merry. Jean wanted a happy- ever-after-ending and didn't get it.

Sitting Pretty

Here we are sitting pretty in Seattle while Jerry is having a birthday in Edmond. He is sitting pretty, leaning back in his comfortable chair, aging.

How old are you Jerry?

Here is wishing you birthday fun, excitement, and food.

FOOD! Speaking of food Jean and Cathy and Jan have had a foodie foodie foodie weekend deluxe. The list is pretty impressive. Of course Jean and Cathy's food experience started on the train from Chicago -- Cathy won a bottle of wine at the wine and cheese tasting. Then when they were picked up at the King Street Station Thursday morning we went to Spuds -- of course.

Thursday evening, after we picked up Connor at daycare, after we had been entertained by Connor's fascination with Jean's phone and Cathy's camera, after Roger had arrived home, we went to Mongo's -- of course. After the chef came out and asked us how everything was, he brought Connor a Halloween concoction of white chocolate pumpkin filled with chocalate mousse and topped with real whipped cream. The chef was kind enough to bring it to Connor but he brought five spoons. Bless him. Connor kept his eye on the concoction as it traveled around the table to come back for him to scoop another bite. Roger decided it might have been the most sugar Connor had ever had at one sitting.

Friday morning -- H Mart and Papa Beard's cream puffs and Kobe beef Japanese hot dogs for breakfast before we started our trek to the Columbia River. Oh, we stopped for Cathy to get a latte.

Next was Olympia and Casa Mia's for some really good Italian.
When we arrived in Astoria, after the drive down the Columbia River, after the river ferry crossing, after Cathy discovered the colony of sea lions, after we were too pooped to go on, after we were ensconced at the hotel overlooking the colony of sea lions we discovered The Ship Inn for some really good sea food.

Next morn on our way North up the coast of Washington I introduced them to my favorite beignets stop at The 42nd Street Cafe in Seaview, late lunch at Bennett's and spiced apple cranberry cider in Greyland, finishing up the day with a sweet Starbuck's drink before we hit the I-5 corridor and the last of the drive home.

This morning we went to Ivar's Salmon House on Lake Union for the breakfast buffet where we celebrated Jerry's birthday and toasted him with mimosas, mimosas, and mimosas. Happy best of birthdays Jerry and remember life can be a mimosa experience surrounded by family, friends, and food.

Two parting thoughts:

Don't always believe what you think, seen on sign driving through Wallingford.
Friends always welcome, relatives by appointment only, seen at Bennett's.

Ooops gotta go, starting the Undertaking Betty movie, don't want to miss that.