This week was Christina's birthday, so we put together a little party. The grandparents sent lots of gifts, and we got her a birthday eclair (don't ask) and celebrated in style. We went out to eat, and then the next day we took a walk on Soos Creek trail. It's a bit nippy out - in fact, it's snowing this morning - but we had a great time.

 

Then it was off to Seattle and Pioneer Square, taking the bus into the city. Pioneer Square is the older part of Seattle with some amazing architecture and history. We spent a little time in our favorite place - the Elliot Bay Bookstore. What an incredible place. There are several brick-lined rooms, gottos, stairwells and other places just crammed with books. Of course we loaded up, even though we have more to read than we'll ever get finished.

 

I can't wait to get to work to take a break!

I think I'm a weather magnet. When I lived in Florida, one year we had four hurricanes. The first one was supposed to hit near Tampa, where I lived, so we drove over to a friend's house in Cocoa Beach. The hurricane turned and went to Cocoa Beach. The next one hit hear us. The one after that was headed for Pensacola, and I was in Atlanta for a meeting. That hurricane hit Florida and then travelled on to...Atlanta. The last one hit near us as well. My boss at the time threatened to send me away for hurricane season the next year.

 

I recently moved to Seattle - Florida didn't have a storm hit all season, and Seattle is flooded, and so far we have the wettest month on record. I feel like Jonah.

 

Anyway, all that moisture in the air turns to snow in the higher elevations, so we went up to Crystal Moutain Ski Resort today. We saw lots of Elk that have travelled down from the mountains to find plants to eat. We don't ski - at least on solid water - so we just played around in the snow. Christina absolutely loved it, so we're going to try skiing next.

On the 11th day of the 11th month at 1100 hours in 1918, an Armistice was signed that ended World War I. One year later Americans celebrated Veteran's day, and in the years and wars to follow American cities around the country continued to celebrate the men and women who served in the armed forces, during war and peace.

 

Today we stopped by the Tohoma National Cemetary where Washington holds one of the few ceremonies still honoring this day. My wife and I both served in the Air Force, and we understand the sacrifice that those who serve give each day of their lives. They are away from home, away from family, away from their country and an easier life. In some cases they make the ultimate sacrifice.

 

It's a shame to see how few understand what this day means. Auburn, a town near here, still holds one of the largest parades in the country. On the news this evening, I saw the parade that moved through New York city today, as many of the shoppers complained about the traffic tie-ups it caused. I was angered and saddened, until I saw a brigade that had just returned from Iraq walking in the parade. As they passed by a group of veterans from Korea and Vietnam standing on the sidewalks, the older veterans yelled "thank you." The Iraq veterans yelled back, "No - thank you."

 

And that sums it up. Whatever we think about politics or policies, whatever we think about motives or positions, let us never forget to thank those who serve our country. They do not serve blindly, or out of a misplaced sense of nationalism. They are not ignorant. They have made a conscious decision to sacrifice for you and me. For that, join with me and say "thank you."

Seattle is in the grip of typical fall weather this week - soaking rain and gusting winds. We thought we might be able to pop up to Crystal Mountain for a little snow hiking, but it is wet and slushy, so we have to wait a week or two for that.

 

Instead we went up to the University of Washington, a little north of the city of Seattle, where the school has the Burke Museum of history and Culture.  It's a really interesting place with two main exhibits - a "history of Washington" and a cultural section. They also had a special set of displays this week, on vanishing kingdoms, specifically Tibet.

 

In front of the museum as we walked in were two totem poles. These poles are erected by the tribes here in the Northwest, and signify important events. One of these commemorated the change of a king to a new one. The older king's name meant "He whose voice must be obeyed" and his wife's name meant "One whose voice is like clanging copper". I'll bet that was really fun house in the evenings.

 

Inside they had two Tibetans that were serving tea and telling stories. Tibetan tea has both salt and butter in it, which gives it a taste like a light mushroom soup. The reason is that a girl in a royal family wanted to marry a boy in the village. Her mother objected, and had the young boy killed. When they burned his body at the funeral the girl covered herself in butter and jumped in the fire. They were buried together, and where they were buried became salty ground. The salt and butter in the tea remind the people of the happiness and tradgedy in a boy and girl's life.

 

The history part of the museum was very well done, leading you from prehistoric times to the local native tribes. It flowed well and had sections where you can interact with the exhibits.

 

Downstairs in the museum is my favorite part. It has exhibits from the major cultures here in the Pacific Northwest, from China and Japan to Mongolia and the native tribes in Hawaii. They have lots of exhibits and sounds and movies with the people from those areas telling stories about when they moved here. We had a great time.

 

After the museum we drove over to Christina's favorite restaurant.  It's called SushiLand, where the dishes snake through the restaraunt on a long belt, and you pick off what you want. She ate seven plates of sushi!