Category: dreaming out loud

dreaming out loud, Seasons

What if…

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I have this fantasy about melting snow: Imagine you have some snow on the ground. Seattle snow. Midwestern snow would be too deep. Now imagine that it all melts, all at once. Instantly. Like someone used the Clapper and instead of turning on a light, all the snow was immediately liquid. Now imagine the split second when the water is all standing where the snow had been, all still and quiet, like the water’s a little surprised to be Not Snow. Then, it all suddenly rushes away. It’s somewhere between that Parting of the Red Sea scene in The Ten …

Caitlyn, current events, dreaming out loud

We took the train to Portland last weekend, the first Amtrak train trip for both Caitlyn and myself (Ian’s done most of the West Coast by train). I’ve taken trains in Europe, but this was the first non-light-rail train trip in the States for me. And I might just be a train convert. Significantly less stress than flying since there were no airport security tactics and more comfortable than driving. Caitlyn got to play with other kids on the trip down and entertain someone else’s grandmother on the trip home – all while not being strapped into her car seat. …

dreaming out loud

I am pleased to announce that I have finally completed our Germany Journal. While I doubt that anyone was still holding their breath waiting for the conclusion, it does feel nice to have be able to say that it’s all finished. Now that’s checked off the to-do list, whatever will I do with myself? Oh, yes, there it is: “Write best-selling novel”.

current events, dreaming out loud

Bumper sticker of the day: I live in my own world. They know me there. Caitlyn and I went down to Southcenter today, mostly for something to do. I never thought I’d be so appreciative of free balloons. The mall is doing this major upgrade, and the food court is completely shut down. There are snacks available, and lots of chocolate, but no sandwiches or pizza that I could find. So we had our peanut butter and jelly sandwich squares in the car. And that gave me lots of time to think about parking lots. It’s probably not in the …

current events, dreaming out loud

A Frenchman is making “green walls“. Which are exactly what they sound like. Rather than a wall being made of wood or concrete, he’s making them out of living plants. Well, the wood and concrete are still there, you just can’t see them any more because the wall is entirely covered with plants. Think dense jungle on the side of your office building. Or in the lobby. Check out his site, Vertical Garden, because the pictures are cool and the final products are currently stumping my powers of description. These walls are probably too “designer” for practical, wide-spread application. Watering …

dreaming out loud, parenting

Caitlyn seems to have discovered buttons, the kind you push and get some sort of response from. She has a small collection of such toys, from a dancing bear with excerpts of five classical works to a key chain with sounds for a doorbell, a car horn, and a UFO launching (although it’s just as common for her to hold the keys to her ear and say “Ahlo?”). Thinking that maybe more buttons might be interesting, we went looking for our ideal buttoned toy. Only to find that it apparently doesn’t exist. There are lots of toys with buttons and …