Christmas, 2012

I love Christmas. I really do. I love celebrating the birth of Christ. I do take the time each Christmas morning to give thanks for that. 

And then I love the thrill of giving and receiving gifts. It's just a lot of fun to watch someone open a present you picked out just for them. It's also a whole heckuva lotta fun opening presents you've been given. 

I had a fine time this Christmas. Here's the Christmas tree after Santa had visited. We knew Santa had been there because he ate his cookies and drank his milk....AND....he left a note for Anthony.

What Holiday would be complete without some Seagrove taking pictures of EVERYTHING!! 

(Man, I wish we'd had these digital cameras when I was younger!!)

We were just getting started opening the presents.

Bonnie's mother and her sister and her sister's boyfriend came over to spend Christmas morning with Tom and Bonnie. Here's Tom getting pictures of them while I was getting a picture of Batman.

Tom and Bonnie opening the gift from Lucinda, Bonnie's Mom.

"I'll help!!"

There were a lot of gifts to get through.

You can see there were a lot of presents.

Here's some of the stuff I got. 

And some more. I was really treated well this Christmas. I got a new camera; a new flash; a opportunity for some fine dining at several Seattle restaurants; a couple of cards for the MOVIES; some rocks for my DC; a gift box of summer sausage and cheese and a great Christmas PJ Shirt.

Thanks, kids!!

 Guess who's going to get him some corned beef and sauerkraut and make himself some Ruebens!?! And that's just the start!!

So,

Who has two thumbs AND a Panini Sandwich Maker!?! 

This guy!!

And I got a recipe book called, "Everything Panini" to go along with my Panini Sandwich Maker. 

Hooah!!

After the fun here's what we did. Me? I was rooting for a showing of "Christmas Story Part II" 

Tom playing with his toys....

And Anthony playing with his.

It was a great Christmas. Totally fun!! 

Christmas Eve, 2012

I was able to celebrate Christmas Eve with Tom and Bonnie.

It started the way all Christmas Eves should start...opening up the Christmas PJs. This year it was Jeff's turn to outfit the crowd and he had a novel idea. Christmas PJ T-Shirts....with your name on it.

Here's Anthony getting practice for Christmas morning by tearing into his PJs.

Here's the shirt...each one has our name on it just below Santa's hat.

Next came putting the Angel on top of the tree. When my kids were little, each one got to (at least once) be the one who put the Angel on top of the Christmas Tree. Always after I told them the fascinating story about how Mom and I got the Angel.

With no competition, Anthony got to put the Angel on his family's tree.

Here she is. Looks good, doesn't she!?!

The Happy PJ Family!!

Here's the tree BEFORE Santa came.

We ended the evening looking at pictures from last Christmas. 

Thanks for the PJ Shirts, Jeff!! What a great idea!!

Lunch at Louie's

On the road again. This time to Louie's out in Ballard. 

It was Mike's turn to pick and he is prone to making me drive looooong distances. He lives up North of Seattle and so, here I go again...

On the road again with all the familiar sights. 

Traffic, overcast skies....

And then, finally, Louie's....

Not much to look at from the outside. Seriously, it's nothing to look at from the outside. Right out the front door is the parking lot. Literally.

And the neighborhood it is in is pretty blah, too. I walked around a bit before lunch and there just wasn't much to look at. Well, almost nothing...

Cuz, right around the corner was this sight....

I mean, seriously, I've never seen a sight like this except when I was overseas. I mean, there's the Bardahl Building and, BOOM!! there's the Bardahl sign. 

Add the damn Bardahl!!

Don't make me come over there!!!

It wasn't all bleak or industrial. 

There was a store called, "ReStore", which recycles, well, everything. They had doorknobs, doors, sinks, A SODA FOUNTAIN about 15 feet long, old lampshades and so on.

Out front they had this small tribute to a gentler, less complicated life.

Inside the restaurant it was definitely Old School. Mike said it's just like it was back in the 60s.

It had that old building smell....comfortable and very much at ease.

The decor was low key, muted. Very dignified.

and topical.

So, we've toured the restaurant and been hyper-critical about everything....

now let's get to the food.

We both started with the soup. Typical soup. This isn't a complaint, just an observation. I think Chinese soups  are really blah. Mildly seasoned hot water.

OK, let's get to the nitty-gritty. The good stuff.

I had the Sweet and Sour Pork with Fried Rice and Chowmien.

It was GUH-OOOD!!

And there was enough to fill ya up. 

Mike got himself some kind of chicken. Lemon or almond or General Lee, something like that.

I was pleasantly surprised. It was tasty.

Let's head home and, once again, you find beauty in the most unusual places.

I ran across this mural painted on the wall of an overpass on 50th Street. Just pleasant things that you bump into unexpectedly.

Ah, now my stomach's full. I've had some good conversation and, I must point out, without any political shots taken. I have to admit that I am usually the one doing the shooting cuz Mike is a unrepentant liberal left-wing looney. You know, Peace, Love and Sunshine. 

Bah!! Humbug!!

Ah, Seattle.

Cloudy skies....every day.

Look!! Can you see it!! The Space Needle!! Hooah!!

Have I mentioned how much I *L*O*V*E* the Garmin!?!

This little bugger takes me everywhere I want to go. Sometimes it gets a little confusing but I really do rely on it.

Love it!!

And, another look at the Emerald City.

Look!! The sun does shine every once in a while.

A little.

Good food and good company. A great day.

Next month I'm thinking....Ribs.

Christmas Dinner at the Outback

Eatin' at the Outback - December 11, 2012

Last Christmas, that is, Christmas, 2011, Matt and Michelle gave me several gift cards for dinner at The Outback. I got out there for the first time around May and I finally used up all the gift cards today. Hey, it only took a year. 

It's another typical Washington kind of a day. Can you guess what's happening, weather-wise?

I don't know if it's the rain, the restaurant or the time of day, but it wasn't overly busy there in The Outback, Mate.

Now this here is something new. 

I thought I'd have to do it but my bubbly, sparkly and perky waitress took my order on this thing. First time I've ever seen one of these things....what next!?! 

Indoor plumbing!?!

One of the things I REALLY like about The Outback....is the tasty bread with plenty of butter. 

I was so eager to get to the bread that I didn't remember to take the picture until, well, you can see....

I got myself a 6oz sirloin, cooked classic style with some Aussie Fries and some really bad tasting rice. 

That's what I get for trying to eat a little bit healthy.

The fries and the steak were good. Rice....not so good.

Whoop!! 

There it is!! 

Finally, I was able to use M&Ms Christmas gift. Very thoughtful and very much appreciated. Thank you!!

Then it was the drive home. On a lovely day in Seattle.

Thanks, Matt and Michelle!! I enjoyed myself!!

Seattle Fish Company

Tuesday Lunch - Nov. 27, '12

Mike's been gone for a while to his place in Palm Springs. He returned recently and we got together this last Tuesday for lunch. I picked the Seattle Fish Company out in West Seattle. 

But before I got there I ran across this Church. The Skate Church!! If only Matt had found this Church before he moved all the way to the East Coast. I mean, c'mon, a Church for Skaters!!

Let's get going and see what they have at the Seattle Fish Company.

It's an unpretentious restaurant and fish market. Not fancy...

But they have a good menu. I've been in the mood for some seafood lately.

It's a friendly looking place, not long on decor.

Pretty much all the floor space is used for selling.

The staff was very friendly. I told them I was taking pictures for my blog and they were happy to oblige. It was early, around Noon, and they were still putting out their fresh fish.

But I had a choice to make. What to get....

I know I have pedestrian tastes but they suit me. I went for the True Cod Fish & Chips. As did Mike. I chose the restaurant so it was Mike's turn to pay. Next month he'll pick and I'll pay.

What would a seafood restaurant be without lemons? I don't know? Tell me, what would it be like?

We didn't buy any fish other than our lunches but the store kept busy while we were there.

Remember, I said it was unpretentious. Just the basics without a fancy wrapper.

The decorations were simple but effective. Look!! There's West Seattle.

 We didn't have long to wait. Within a couple of minutes, our lunches were served. Since Mike and I got the same dish, there wasn't any need to get a picture of his. The fish was tasty, the fries crisp and the slaw was tasty. All in all a good meal.

We had a good meal and even got to enjoy some beautiful artwork. Well, Mike thought it was.

When we left we walked by a gift shop and went inside for a peek. Can you tell what time of the year it is?

 During our walk, we passed a bank with this mural painted on its side. You find beauty in the most unlikely of places.

Walking through the neighborhood, we passed this old brick apartment building. If I could afford it, I'd like to live in one of these old buildings.

The neighborhood had some old homes. These were pretty classy.

Seattle neighborhoods with plenty of local shops.

Crossing over the Sound heading home.

Gotta love the Autumn colors.

On the road home.

Another good meal and some great sights. Life is good.