friendsfriends

saying goodbye to a friend we haven't metsaying goodbye to a friend we haven't met

Posted Thu, 10/08/2009 - 9:38am by anne

For many years our family has supported a young Ugandan through World Vision. We were recently notified that World Vision is ending its program relationship with Daniel’s village. It was a hard message because through the years we’ve been sending letter, cards, and little finger puppets we bought or made for him. We’ve watched him grow from a little boy to a handsome young man. I wish we could have actually met him in person.

As we write our farewell to him, we promise to continue to pray for him – to live up to his biblical namesake. May he always be safe, love the Lord, and dare to be a Daniel.

- - Anne

star trek grows upstar trek grows up

Posted Mon, 05/18/2009 - 8:29pm by dave

After 40 years of in various forms (from go-go skirted crewmen, guys in big rubber alien suits, and snow cone space monsters that ate star ships) Star Trek has grown up. I viewed the new movie at an IMAX-branded digital theater. I’m not going to give away any of the story, but I will say that the movie is a rollercoaster ride suitable for anyone over the age of 13. Find the best theater you can to view the film – it makes a difference.

While the J.J. Abrams lens flares were over-the-top (and someone should have been watching the focus more closely), overall the film has a solid story and is well played. While there were plenty of tidbits for Star Trek fans to love, the film plays well for non-fans as well. This is a film not suitable for children (due to violence and language); it should play well for teens and adults.

As side note concerning the IMAX-branded digital theaters: these are not the same as the standard IMAX theaters – the screen is smaller and the projection is not via film, but a digital display via a high resolution DLP projector. Some bloggers have complained that these theaters are “not real IMAX,” and therefore not worth the surcharge associated with the facility. I agree, it’s not “real” IMAX – but the $3 surcharge was well worth it: the image was vivid, clear, with no jitters, no film junk, and no splices. The audio was enveloping and wide range. I felt it was definitely worth the extra $3 to me.

Go see Star Trek – it’s a great ride.
 

honestly, we do more than just eat!honestly, we do more than just eat!

Posted Tue, 12/30/2008 - 10:10pm by dave

If you only know about our life from this blog, you must wonder if we do anything except eat... yes, this is another blog entry about food. Tonight we piled into two cars and made our way to a seafood restaurant in Seattle: Ivar's Salmon House. In this photo you can see myself, daughter Jessica, friend Elena (from Moldova), Anne, Kenny, and his friend Aurora. 

Ivar Haglund is a legendary Seattle figure who opened a string of seafood restaurants in the Seattle area. They each have a different theme; the Salmon House is constructed with a strong influence of the "long house" style of Northwest native americans. You can see the native american influence throughout the facility in its design and artwork. Here is a photo of us with the large totem in the lobby of the restaurant. The food tonight was tasty, although the Mixed Grill Trio (which Aurora and I both ordered) arrived a bit cold. The staff made it up to use with some tasty deserts.

Elena has been subjected to many different kinds of food during her visit with us, and she's tried everything! We've had American hamburgers, Mexican food, Italian food, Chinese food, and now Northwest salmon. We still have a few more places to stop (a teriyaki restaurant and a Mongolian restaurant) before we're done. In addition to eating, she's also had chances to visit our church, do some shopping, visit Pike Place Market, and the Seattle Aquarium. Still on the list of tourist stops: the Seattle Space Needle.

 

good friends and good foodgood friends and good food

Posted Fri, 11/07/2008 - 11:15am by dave

Last night we had the opportunity to spend a few hours with friends at Emory's on Silver Lake. Not only was it great to spend time with friends, but the food and the service were outstanding.

Emory's is located on the south east side of Everett, along the Bothell-Everett highway. Given their name, you might expect that the restaurant is on the shores of Silver Lake - and you'd be right! We weren't able to drink in the wonderful view for very long, since our dinner started at dusk, but we've noted in previous visits that it was nice.

The service was excellent. Our server knew the menu, the bar, was prompt, and very curteous. While I was enjoying a Manny's Pale Ale, he brought a sample of Blue Moon (a Belguim-style white beer) for me to try.

The food was varied and wonderful. I had their Kobe Steak, drizzled in a plum-raisin sauce. Anne enjoyed trout. It was yummy, although expect to spend $20+ for an entre.

Want to try Emory's and save a little money? Be sure to visit their website to print a $25 coupon. The coupon is good for "off hours" dinning, which includes Sunday through Thursday after 4:00 pm and Friday and Saturday after 8:00 pm.

We'll be back...

it's that mooving time of yearit's that mooving time of year

Posted Mon, 08/25/2008 - 11:07pm by dave
At the end of each summer we make a trip to the Evergreen State Fair, in Monroe. This year we plan on attending twice. Today we took time to visit with our friends Don and Linda. Next week we'll spend a day at the fair with Kenny and Aurora. I've posted a bunch of pictures in the gallery from today's visit for our friends who are far away.

let it snow? UPDATEDlet it snow? UPDATED

Posted Fri, 04/18/2008 - 7:27pm by dave
April 18 2008 Snowdave with motorcycle on ferryWait... isn't it the last-half of April? Honestly, the latest snow ever recorded for this area? I just took the picture on the left from our home office window. Good grief! What's a motorcycle nut supposed to do to get a warm Spring day!
Fair Spring ! whose simplest promise more delights Than all their largest wealth, and thro' the heart Each joy and new-born hope With softest influence breathes.
an excerpt from "Ode to Spring" by Anna Laetitia Aikin - 1773

blast from the pastblast from the past

Posted Wed, 03/12/2008 - 5:33pm by dave
An old friend and I connected this week for lunch. Rick Grimm and I met over ten years ago when volunteering for various Promise Keepers events in the Seattle area. We worked in technical support roles - usually involving computers! It turned out that Rick and I were both Microsoft employees and attended the same church! We lost touch when our family moved to Florida; it was great to reconnect with Rick today!

they're here...they're here...

Posted Fri, 03/07/2008 - 2:04pm by dave
Several months ago I noticed a new "coming soon" sign up the street from our offices... a sign that was very familiar to me and the crowd from Port St. Lucie. The store opened last week and I've managed to pervert invite several members of my team here. Good basic sandwiches - no salads, no soups, no toasting - just a good sandwich. Jimmy John's is in the neighborhood...

A Fair Day for a Day at the FairA Fair Day for a Day at the Fair

Posted Mon, 09/03/2007 - 8:46pm by dave
This weekend we made our annual pilgrimage to the Evergreen State Fair, in Monroe. Monroe is a small town, about 30 miles northwest of Seattle; their primary claims to fame are the fair and a state penitentiary (located next to the local middle school). While another local fair is larger, we enjoy the "old fair" atmosphere at the Evergreen – it’s easy to find animals, 4-H exhibits, and fun food.

who is that strange manwho is that strange man

Posted Mon, 08/27/2007 - 9:15pm by dave
I was visiting the home website for the organization that hosted our recent Overseas Schools Homecoming and found other pictures from the event. These were photos taken by someone who didn't attend my school (Tehran American School) and was obviously taking photos of everyone. Imagine my surprise to discover a photo of myself, dancing who two ladies! As awkward as I look in the photo, Jessica (my daughter) has decided that I wasn't really dancing... she thinks we were performing some kind of group game of Charades...
Syndicate content