Kittehs got to play in the snow!

OK. Kitties have had their playtime, we have had our Texas Style Chili and Cornbread (that will be published soon on the cooking blog).
They had a great time. Cats and snow, leashes...it never seems to amaze me when people see them and go 'Is that a cat on a leash?'. Um. No, this is a super ferret. An odd dog. A rather large bunny that was bred with a carnivorous squirrel. IT is a CAT. On a leash.
Anyways, Max was sitting out on Shannon's lap.

Please can we go out and play?


Why not? I get the feeling that they decided, at first, to stick together. There were some pretty decent Flurries going on.


Then Max decided to make a bed. He is such a fluff. So Maine Coon.


While Tippy wondered where my feet had gone.


Max finally decided to explore and got to meet a neighbor (who HAD to stop...not only CATS on LEASHES...but in the SNOW!).


Tippy figured out how easy it was to walk through the snow.


And Max decided to show me some love...


It got a bit windier but Max here is a great protector. See Tippy behind him? She was not even the slightest bit concerned but liked him being a wall. He, of course, was loving it. Look at his face, what a smile. I love how the wind ripples his fur.


So, bit of playtime and they told us when to go home (the park is across the streeet and they tell us when by heading home!). So we went home, and Tippy washed off the snow.


Max didn't care. He's a boy. No offense, guys, but he really does not care. He knows the carpet will dry!

Snow! December 18th, 2008 Seattle

It snowed. I know, this is Seattle so one would EXPECT it to snow. Not in town, rarely do we get snow that sticks. It snowed a few days ago but that was mostly a tease, a bit stayed but not a flake downtown. That is the norm; step outside the city limits and you get SNOW.

So I decided, hey, I live on Capitol Hill. I can get downtown and get to work. So I did. The first thing that should have warned me was seeing a bus that is NEVER on Broadway...on Broadway. A #4. For those that live here, you know how odd that had to be. But I brushed it off like the snow piling up an my shoulders and went anyway.

One person showed up and I hope she left soon after me. One of the guys said he was going to bike in. All the power to you, Ken, you might be the only bastard who can get out of town later. It will ice, that is why I decided it was time to trek home before I had to walk. I could, but really REALLY did not want to walk up that icy hill.

Here is the scene as I was going in (why did I not get off then and backtrack? Who knows, but the pictures were MORE than worth it and I did get caught up on my emails and whatnot!).

2 Buses Jack Knifed on Pine, the articulated buses tend to do this rather well.

Edit: 2011. This picture has been picked up and used all over the place. I know of only 3 times, cuz they paid me. (shame on you AP for NOT paying me)
Anyways, I was talking to a driver one night and told him about this pic. He had seen it. He schooled me, and it makes sense of this pic. They do that to just get back to base instead of leaving the bus on the side of the rod, by bending it they might not slide too far and just get down the hill to the straightaway to base. Cool, eh? And since then I have been on a bus that had to do that, driver announced 'OK folks, last ride down this hill! It's been pleasant but once I have dropped you off, I am GOING HOME!'.


I got downtown regardless, we just cruised by them and continued along.

Once downtown it was a wonderland. Something I have not seen since being here. Snow...everywhere. There were people playing, sliding, tossing snowballs. But quiet in a way that I have never heard downtown being. This is right after I got off my bus, there is a patio that is always crowded at lunch. None of these places are open but to feed us deskjockeys. I bet it won't be crowded today!



Here is a shot down the hill at 3rd Avenue and Marion. This is normally a treacherous hill...dry. Not a day I want to try to walk it. Maybe sled it ;)



So, standing in front of the Dexter Horton on 3rd Avenue, where I work, is the News Box. Check the headlines, that is too funny!


OK, so I am here, I made it in. I go up and find the one, lonely person who made it. We chatted for a bit and I get on the email and slam through it. I go look out the bike guys window and see this, this is a top view of the bus/lightrail tunnel where they are still working on it. I am sure a lot of people wonder what is behind that fence as they walk by or down to the tunnel. Well, at this time, it is covered in snow :D


I look out the other window, towards the Port Cranes. Almost a whiteout, glad I am not working out there today!


That is when the other office mate and I got to talking and we both knew we are caught up on what needs to be done NOW. So I left, hoping her room mate would finish what they had to do so she could get home sometime tonight! I walked a bit and when my feet got cold I waited for a bus. On the way to the stop I chose I did not see any go by. That's not good. They were all going the wrong way! At least for ME. This is 3rd Ave and Union/University.


I gave up and walked the few extra blocks, hoping to find at least one bus that would make it up the hill. This is Pike between 3rd and 4th Avenue. Looks promising, eh? It gets better worse.

A bus finally shows up, a 43 on a 49 route. Good for me but not for a lot, turns out 23rd Avenue is shut down entirely. So we get going...


Stop, back up a bit...let the chains grip, hold your breath...inch up the hill.


Quite often they will bring out the diesels for this weather. They did yesterday as it was suppose to do this yesterday, but it did nothing. It was kind of warm, I think it got to about 40 so no snow. I guess they decided it was worth the risk and our treehugging community put back the trollies. Electric. Good call, but not in ice and snow! We got to our turn and the bus driver hollers out to us all 'I should have called in sick! What would they do? Come and get me?? hold on, if we get around this turn we might just make it!'.


And we make it! just one more hill to go!


If we had been on an articulated we would not have made it, there were a couple of times we slid and I know an articulated would have Jack Knifed (as per above edit: more than likely we would have just been too heavy and slid backwards till we went in the Sound). Thank the Gods for the short bus, haha. (and I left that line because I like it.)


So, finally on Broadway. Even if we got stuck now I could walk in relative comfort. There is an upgrade to the hill but not like the one we just climbed in that magic bus.
Thanks, Driver, for not giving up!


Welcome to Capitol Hill. Right on the edge of town proper and my favorite type of diverse neighborhood. And it doesn't snow here EITHER. Yeah. anyways, here are some random shots.

I got a nice shot standing in the center of the road. Not like there was much traffic.


Trust me, there is a cross street here. This is Broadway and Harrison Avenue.


Hey! Some traffic! Covered in snow...


Here is our corner, the Broadway Grill is right there, under the snow...


So...I turn the corner. WHERE IS THE ROAD??? Good thing I know it is there.


Two blocks off of Broadway and I am home...another lack of a road. This is the type of time where is is really good to be a pedestrian :D


Have to share a close up of this tree here.


So, here we are, home. A shot of the snow off the balcony, looks like I made it just in time!


As I type it is coming down harder so now I have to bid Adieu and we are going to leash up the cats and take them to the park. I will definitely post after we get back in!