Tagged

I woke up this morning and discovered that my retaining wall was 'tagged'. Technically, it's on my neighbor's "side", but it's our wall and therefore our problem.

Avid Reader, here's the deal. I could be pissed about the whole thing. I could be frustrated that I tried scrubbing it off and wasted a free evening (I have other projects!). No, I've taken the following approach:

When I start a gang -- let's call it the Todd Moore Club -- the first rule of Todd Moore Club is that any thug with poor handwriting is banished from all marketing initiatives and the art supplies stash. Period.

If this here were the Todd Moore Club, someone would be SO fired.

Great Day in Duvall!

I had the opportuntiy to spend this past sunny Sunday with my dear friends of the 80s, 90s through today on a Great Day in Duvall! Erin "Ed" Wirtz hauled her rig to Seattle for her annual weekend with Meagan. This year, I got to take part as we brunched at the Duvall Grill, checked out the local charming book shoppe (Duvall Books), shopped at Ed's "Business in a Box" (Ed's Handmade), and caught up. I hadn't seen Erin in ~four years and it's always grand to hang out with Meagan.

Sadly, Ed had to leave us to see another friend and trek back to PDX, but I hung around, watched hummingbirds and got some great color just enjoying time with my dear friend in the quiet of her Duvall backyard sanctuary. I also got to bring home some garden treasures, including a chocolate cherry tomato, golden beet, and choke cherry jam. Brilliant.

Oh, how I wish every day was a sunny Sunday in Duvall!

Man Night!

I got to enjoy ManNight with Jace Paulson this past week. Jesse & Steph took Steph's family to the Mariners v. Yankees game, so I got to spend the evening with Jace -- a long time coming!

I enjoyed watching Copper & Jace bond, teaching Jace the true nuances of quarterbacking ("set... down... hut!") with his Oregon State football (though I channeled my best Jake Locker), reading book after book after book, and the adventures of feeding a 21-month old! Our next ManNight can't come soon enough! Thanks for a great time, JaceMan!

Vashon Island

As part of the 'Matt's Back' Weekend Festivities, Copper and I hit the Fauntleroy Ferry in West Seattle and spent the day on Vashon Island at Claire's family's beach house (Claire being Matt's wife). Wonderfully rain-free, the day was a hoot altogether and we BBQ'd with a number of folks all excited to have the Hebener-Allens back on Seattle soil.

I joined the beautiful Pidduck family for the morning commute to the island, then joined a long and wonderful day right on Colvos Passage. Copper took to the rocky tide flats immediately and tried to make off with all kinds of rocks, sticks, seaweed, crab shells, crab legs, crab pincers... you name it. As the tides came in, we were relegated to land, but she was more than entertained by (and entertaining to!) the five (5) toddlers who couldn't get enough of her... and who helped in her training by teaching her "DOWN!".

Lawn darts, canoes, cold beer, friends new and old -- it was a great way to get out of the city yet again, to enjoy the beautiful Northwest, and to reconnect with Matt Allen and his family in a much more intimate setting than the 40,000+ allowed the guys to do the night before.

And of course, Copper was OUT before I could even close her crate in the back of the car. I love busy days (& a pack of kids!)!

Like Times Gone By

With Matt Allen in town from Austin, Texas, he, Charles, Tim and I relived our summers of old by heading to the Mariners game. We likely saw no more than 6-9 outs throughout the game, but it was a doozie nonetheless!

We started early at the Pyramid Ale House, made our way to Marv's Famous Hot Dog stand for footlong cream cheese dogs, picked up some peanuts on the way in, and quickly made our way to the center field bar. After man-style adventures in the Clock Pitch booth (Tim won by throwing 57MPH; Matty got 2nd with 52 (and bit it in the process!); I was third with 51. Charles? Let's just say Charles threw strikes had a great time!).

It's radical how much our lives have changed since we started doing Guy Night Mariners nights more than 5 years ago. Yet how little has changed relative to the amount of fun we have together and the willingness to keep our friendships in tact. Matt captured the evening well: "There is no where else I'd rather be."

Thanks Gents.

Copper Watches 'Where's Your Chicken?!'

For those of you who can't get enough of this puppy (who, me?!), I had her on my lap and played the previously posted 'Where's Your Chicken?!' video. For your viewing pleasure, click here.

Where's Your Chicken?!