Greetings from the Seattle Public Library 2008

It has been since October 2006 since I've been here and it is still exhilarating to visit this library. As I did last time, I walked the twenty blocks from the hotel to the library. And as I did last time, I arrived an hour prior to the library's opening. So to kill time, I went to Starbucks a block away, ordered a grande caramel machiatto, and read the newspaper and made a few phone calls.
The trip up here in the Great Northwest is going well. I'm not going to deliver a chronology of events as I did with my audio posts in 2006. Instead, here are some highlights.

• Fort Worden, WA is a marvelous facility to host a family reunion. Our family was about 65 people strong and we were housed in the former military housing that runs along south of the compound. Fort Worden is close to the Admiralty Inlet which leads to the Puget Sound area (I think). The bay is on the east side of the compound and if you get up early enough you get a spectacular view of the sunrise. To the north lies The Strait of Juan de Fuca which is about a 15 minute hike away. The view from the lookout point to the north gives you the southern part of the San Juan Islands.
• The family reunion itself went well. Organized in a different fashion, we stayed here for five days and four nights which meant more time to visit, go hiking, visit tourist destinations, etc. Past family reunions were held during the weekend with three days and two nights. So this year's reunion obviously gave us more ample time.
• After the family reunion, I drove back to Seattle with my cousin and his wife where we were treated to dinner and a Mariners-Tampa Rays game last night. I enjoyed the game at Safeco Field although the Mariners lost. I regaled my two cousins with the tale of when I last attended a Mariners game in Seattle's Kingdome in 1990. At that game a brawl broke out.
• Today, I'm wandering about Seattle and trying to do everything that is free. I guess this includes stopping here at the library and visiting Pike Place. I may try to stop by the Seattle Aquarium if time allows. My uncle may be in town later tonight and may want to treat me and his sons to dinner. We'll have to wait and see.

Anyhow, that's my story here and I'm sticking to it. I did take some pictures with my digital camera and some of the pics may make their way to this blog.

I resume work next Tuesday in Kansas City.