The Woodmark Hotel On Lake Washington Kirkland

... a way. That is to say, I learned the language of Chicago--the street names and L stops and current events and popular places and important people. And now, just like my French, I am slowly losing my effortless fluency and vocabulary. Oh I'll always be able to go back and visit either place--Chicago or the French Riviera--and enjoy myself and the relative familiarity of it all...it just won't ever be the same. Fortunately there's something about living in a place ...

... country." The whirl and swirl and twirl?! Enough said. Really, ultimately, thanks to my friend Lisa for her casual remark about meeting up in Bombay. So out of left field it had to be considered! I look forward to sharing my travels with you. If I can find the internet cafe. If I can figure out where I've been and where I am. Remember everyone, especially you introverts, if I can do this, for sure you can, too. Whirl and swirl and twirl, that is!

So, we got up pretty early to get our day started, taking the 72 downtown. Pretty nice ride through the U District, getting off at Westlake and on our way to get some morning Starbucks. Made our way over to the Seattle Center, walking of course, that's the only way us New Yorkers know how to do it right? Our main goal of the day was to conquer the Seattle Center. Down to ...

... I struggled through regardless, helped in part by my new mp3 player which I'd bought to replace my faithful minidisc player (a few years after the rest of the world, admittedly). I also happened to be sat next to a lovely old lady from Portland, although I was a bit taken aback by her over-the-top reaction to the photos I'd taken as we flew over Greenland...I thought that she was being sarcastic for a split ...

... heart surgery!!!  The Ductus valve (something all babies are born with that closes in the first few days of life) has closed without affecting the size of the aorta. There was concern that it would, and then required surgery. BUT it has closed and the aorta is within normal range! This is such a weight lifted!!! That beautiful little baby has taken a giant step forward. Where your love and prayers are needed now are for baby KB's lungs. The arteries are a bit stiff and ...

We went to Seattle first, to see my cousins and stayed there for a week. We went to a lake near my cousinīs house and it was beautiful, but it was very cold, we were used to the warmer weather.Then, we went to an "airplane museum". We saw that plane that travels as fast as the sound, it was pretty cool. We went to the beach, I just couldnīt belive that THAT was the beach, it is so different from ...

I used to love factory tours solely for the free samples. After concentrating in industrial organization and spending the past 3 years studying the role of innovation in manufacturing, I appreciate these stops on a new level. A few days ago I stopped at the Tillamook Cheese Factory on the Oregon Coast. They have used the same recipe for cheddar cheese for over a century. However a tour of the factory shows how much cheese production has ...

... clever kids and we regress about 30 years playing all sorts of games with them including hide and seek, and trains (Jackson's current favourite). We think that they've inherited Nathan and Heather's musical talent since they have a such a great time singing along when I make up some songs on the guitar. Anna also gets to see downtown Seattle for the first time, and Pike Place markets reminds us ...

... me long to get ready in the morning! I've got my sleeping bag drawn all around my head so that only a small part of my face is visible. Got to keep that heat in. We did get to eat at our favorite Indian restaurant, Shamiana's, tonight. 01/31/07 I actually did warm up while I sleeping and actually had to open up my sleeping bag at some point in the night to let in a little of the cold air. So, it wasn't that bad a night. It kind of reminded me of a backpacking trip.

"There's Nemo!" Kayla shrieked, and pulled to go in that direction. "OK" I said to myself, "It's time for me to start thinking like a three-year-old." My grandma-thought would have me start at the front door and take it stop to stop, keeping in sight the benches for occasional resting, and the restroom door. Conservation of energy is the marker of a good day! A three-year-old approaches life differently. Is it exciting? Is it beautiful? Do it ...