MatterPics

We took a day trip down to Mt. Rainier National Park today, a little over an hour away. Unfortunately it was cloudy down by the mountain, but it was still nice to get out of the city for a few hours.

Heading toward downtown:

Leaving the city:

Seattle finally has some semblance of modern mass transportation:

Passing near the adoption agency where I got Joe Jetta:

Farther south, somewhere near Puyallup:

Really in the middle of nowhere ... getting close to the park:

Yes, that blue sign says "Volcano Evacuation Route":

Entering Wilkeson, the last town before entering the park:

The long and winding road:

Too cloudy to see the mountain:

The Carbon River flowing from the Carbon Glacier - the water is kinda milky-white from the mineral content:

On this side of the sign, you're in Mt. Rainier National Park ...

... and on this side, Mt. Baker - Snoqualmie National Forest.

The road was closed and we couldn't go up as far as we wanted, but we took a short hike through the rain forest:

There's Scott - he really is standing on a path:

Hiking up the mountain:

Hiking down the mountain:

Crossing that bridge when we come to it:

On our way out:

There's a steep drop-off to the right - and one lane of the road had, well - dropped off:

Looking down at the valley:

NOW the sun comes out:

Back in Seattle - for those of you who really believe it always rains here:

Downtown:

We won't talk about the other road we took in the mountains to see a pretty lake. Let's just say that I think it is completely idiotic to have a gravel road hugging the side of a mountain with no guard rail. Since my hands were sweaty and I'm pretty sure my heart stopped a few times, I wimped out with no shame. I'm like that.

Hope you enjoyed our little trip!

August 12 of 12

Read it here. Do it next month if you haven't before. I know who you are.

I present ... Tropical 12 of 12. Ummm ... Seattle style. How 'bout "Flora and Fauna"?

Schotzie the Preening Wonder Bird.

Cool things Scott inherited (yes, that's a carved ivory tusk)

More CoolThings Scott Inherited (also carved ivory):

Pineapple on top of the fridge:

Tiki Bob clock from Hawaii:

Hunter the Wonder Cat - grrr:

Very fragrant white lilies on the balcony:

Banana tree in the back yard:

Stargazer lilies - one of the best fragrances in the world:

Bougainvilla:

Kali the Wonder Puppy:

Boo Boo the Indian ringneck parakeet:

Happy Tropical 12 of 12!!!!

But Who May Abide?

I've posted Matt Alber before. Here's another video, just to remind you who he is:

But did you know he can also sing contralto (well, I guess technically countertenor)? Watch this:

Cool, huh?

Goodbye, John Hughes.

His movies were usually set near Chicago, mostly in places that I recognized since they were very close to where I grew up.

This tribute rocks.

Bad Blogger.

My name is Matt, and I'm a bad blogger.



One thing I know about myself beyond a doubt, is that when things get rough, I collapse in on myself. Kind of a mental and emotional fetal position. I ignore the fact that the world exists until the clouds all blow over and there is some semblance of a livable reality out there.



If anyone sees one, please forward it my way.



No, life isn't over as I know it. But things are scary, and agonizing, and ... well, making me stay in a fetal position.



(Oh, I threw my back out last week, which makes this even more pronounced).



Please don't be offended by my disappearance. I need to be inside myself for a bit.



Here's a pretty picture for now: