Seattle, WA- July 2008

It took Brian & I almost a full 20 minutes to chew all this gum and stick to this building in Post Alley, Downtown.

(Left) How bout a little "Monkfish" from Pike's Place Market?

(Below) Imelda's groping this poor little starfish at the Seattle Aquarium.

You "otter" love these two little fellas.
Taking a little cruise on a ferry.
Sarah, Krainer, Imelda & I took a day trip up to Mt. Rainier.

This is in front of "Fryingpan Creek"

Lodge on Mt. Ranier, home of the "30 minute turkey sandwich!" The service was a little sloooooowwwww...
Mt. Ranier- Elevation 14,611 feet
Krainer assures me we're on the right course, "now that Starbucks should be right over here..."

Krainer's pants are "vertically challenged." (click on the picture to bring it up to full view)

We've climbed 500 ft so far and I haven't seen one Starbucks yet!

Beauty eh?! (There's a mountain in the background too)
Can't wait to see how badly the Mariners get blown out today!
A view of downtown from a neighborhood in the Queen Anne district.
This is the "troll" that resides under the freeway at the top of Troll Street.
Day trip to Snoqualmie Falls provides some nice scenery! The hike began at the top by the lodge...

ran along the river...
and through Lothlorien woods, home of the elves.
Qwest field, home of the Seahawks, with a view of Safeco Field (Mariners) just behind it...
This shot was taken from the Smith Tower, the 2nd tallest building in Seattle, falling a bit short of that needle like structure at the end of the street there...

A sunset view from our dinner table is well worth the exorbitant prices.

Wine country, the Mount Ste. Michelle winery just outside Seattle.
No visit is complete without a trip to the tasting room!
Time for a little canoe trip in the Puget Sound! (Sarah's not so sure...)
"I like the nightlife... I like to boogie"
Our plane ride home takes up past the beautiful Mt. Ranier volcano (dormant) one last time. That's the top sticking out through the cloud cover; how gorgeous!

Grand Canyon- May 2008

A few of my regular group of friends from Harrahs went to the Grand Canyon with Imelda & I in late May. Very beautiful, warm afternoons, chilly nights. We camped in tents and found geese and mule deer grazing in our campsite every morning. My buddies actually tried to hoof it all the way to bottom of the canyon to the Colorado River, but only made it half way and turned back, disregarding the multiple warnings telling you not to try to make it all the way in one day... These pictures don't do it justice, you'll have to hike it with us next time!