City Livin'

SOMETHING'S FISHY: On the agenda this afternoon: Using the vouchers for free admission for the kids to the Seattle Aquarium that we got a couple months back as part of Starbucks' "We Love Seattle" promo.

We headed down to the waterfront a little after noon. There was a light drizzle, which made it really easy to tell the Seattle and surrounding area visitors from the out of town tourists. The out of towners were wearing heavy coats and hang dog expressions. I think a lot of them think the sun we had this weekend is normal, which it is most absolutely not.

There was quite a line to get into the museum. While we were waiting in it, Christian gave an extra voucher we had to a family in front of us. Boy were they happy - it saved them $12. That's right, it's $12 for a kid to get into the aquarium. Yikes. And the adult admission? It's NINETEEN damn dollars apiece. Good gravy. Certainly not something we'll be doing very often (like, until next year, if Starbucks has another promo and/or when the aquarium is a Groupon deal or some such thing). And let me tell you, we were packed in like sardines in the aquarium. So. Many. People, and about every other one seemed to be pushing a *&%^$ stroller the size of a Volkswagen. At times it was impossible to even move just because of the mass of humanity. But enough complaining.

We did manage to see some sea creatures. The starfish are always a favorite ... ... especially because the kids get to touch them (with a gentle, one fingered poke). We checked out the circular-shaped jellyfish tank. It reminds me of the portal in Stargate for some reason.CJ was attacked by an octopus ... ...they rode an orca ...... and Annabelle measured up to a sixgill shark! In their second building we saw some harbor seals. They have the sweetest faces.And we spied some sleeping sea otters.There were things to see outside the aquarium, too, of course. For starters - the orb is back! In fact, it probably never left. ... A few days ago, I reported that we saw it floating out in the bay instead of docked. At that time, we presumed that it was on its way home, wherever that may be. Instead, now we think maybe they were just testing something and then hauled it back into port.
We also got to see the tremendous amount of progress that has been done on the John T. Williams memorial totem pole. It was at Seattle Center, but now the project has been moved to the waterfront, just north of the aquarium. Two of Williams' brothers were there, one older, one younger. The younger one spoke to us for a bit, telling us how they're trying to make a positive out of a negative (their brother being gunned down while minding his own business, crossing the street, by a Seattle police officer). The totem pole is gorgeous. I wish I'd thought to ask the man where it will be installed.

WEEKEND REWIND: We had lots of fun in the sun this weekend. On Saturday, we went to Seattle Center, where the kids enjoyed splashing around in the fountains.

We also popped into Experience Music Project, checked out the displays, including the always jaw dropping instrument sculpture. We also saw the Avatar exhibit ...

... as well as the Battlestar Galactica exhibit.

Definitely an awesome trip to EMP!

On Sunday, we spent an hour or so at Golden Gardens, a park about 10 minutes to our north, where a neighbor was having a party. It was hot-hot-hot, and the water was oh-so-blue.RAIN IN SEATTLE! FILM AT 11: I kid you not, the LEAD story on tonight's news was that it rained today. Oh, and there was thunder and lighting, too!

I will admit, I said to Christian this morning 'round 7:30 a.m., "That was the LOUDEST thunder I've ever heard in my life." And a few minutes later, Rick texted me and said the same thing.

SAY WHAT?: "I'm going to live with you forever," CJ announced around 7:30 this morning. Given that, I was surprised a bit later when he told me that he has decided on a career path that involves being "Santa's Apprentice." I told him if that was going to be the case, he'd have to move to the North Pole. He seemed OK with that, saying, "I'll remember to take a coat."