Sleepless in Seattle

We started off this morning going to the big REI flagship store where I spent my annual dividend towards a replacement backpack for the one I had to toss in the trash at the Boise State football game. Love love love REI - almost as much as LL Bean (I'm an East coast boy at heart). I have to say, in some ways the big REI store is more impressive than the LL Bean store in Freeport, Maine. I'll be visiting that as well in a few weeks!

Goldfish took a picture of this Orthodox Church on our drive over to the company Seattle office.

We dropped by the company Seattle Office to say hello to coworkers we interact with daily but hardly ever see - great to see Karen, Kevin, Josh and Cindy! I had visited before but this was Goldfish's first visit to the mothership . . . . .
Goldfish standing by the rental - we learned a long time ago that when you don't need a rear seat, the little cars are always more fun. This little red rocket had a sport mode and red-lined at 7K. I think the 140 mph speedometer was a tad optimistic however . . . . . perfect for tooling around Seattle.

We spent the rest of the afternoon at Pike Place Market. To islanders like us, the most amazing sights were not the seafood - it was the produce!! So fresh and cheap . . . Sis, I found the special almonds for you, I'll get them in the mail!

We spent the evening walking around, enjoying the sights and winding up at the Space Needle where we rode to the top and had a bite at the cafe.

Stained glass walrus at the Seattle Center.

Goldfish having a chai tea at the Space Needle observation deck. The balls that look like fireworks over the city are Christmas lights hung around the observation deck.

I love this view of the underside of the Needle - the tree branches make it look like a full moon - Goldfish's idea for the photo, she both smart and pretty . . . . .

Anyways, we've got to get up early in the morning for a flight to Washington DC. Goldfish is already sleeping like a good girl, trying to kick a really bad chest cold. Most of tomorrow we'll be in the air and getting settled into the DC apartment - cheers!