{"id":1220,"date":"2013-06-01T12:18:33","date_gmt":"2013-06-01T17:18:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.maryjoandwill.com\/?p=1220"},"modified":"2013-06-01T12:29:42","modified_gmt":"2013-06-01T17:29:42","slug":"special-guest-post-seattle-visit-day-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.maryjoandwill.com\/?p=1220","title":{"rendered":"Special Guest Post \u2013 Seattle Visit Day 2 – Part 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

SATURDAY AFTERNOON<\/span><\/p>\n

**NOTE OF CLARIFICATION:<\/p>\n

When we were riding the duck boats around Union Lake, we saw a lot of seaplanes taking off and landing on the lake.\u00a0 I wondered if there was any air traffic control with those planes.\u00a0 Like what was to prevent them from landing and running right into a duck boat\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.particularly, MY duck boat?\u00a0 We wondered if that was some kind of tourist attraction whereby tourists got to go up in the seaplane and ride around the city.\u00a0 Later we confirmed, most definitely confirmed that NO, the seaplanes are not a tourist attraction.\u00a0\u00a0 They are for private use only.\u00a0\u00a0 No tourist is going to get up in one of those planes and then parachute themselves out into Union Lake so there is no point to begging your wife, daughter, and son-in-law to share that experience with you because it ain\u2019t goin\u2019 a happen!<\/p>\n

Saturday Afternoon Activities<\/span><\/p>\n

There it was!\u00a0 That\u2019s right!\u00a0 The Northwest Folklife Festival!\u00a0 Who knew [that was going on]!<\/p>\n

\"01\"<\/a><\/p>\n

(There are a couple of kids and a dog.)<\/p>\n

Now, I cannot tell you what the Folklife Festival was all about, who was putting it on, etc.\u00a0 It looked as if all the Monstanto protest marchers were centered there though.\u00a0\u00a0 It was hundreds of people milling around, like the state fair, and it was free.\u00a0 There were lots of these kids trying to make a few extra bucks.<\/p>\n

\"02\"<\/a><\/p>\n

We headed for the vendor tents but never made it.\u00a0 We decided we were hungry so went into the Armory where they had food.\u00a0 We got Subway sandwiches and sat down at a table.\u00a0 They had various performances out on the gym floor.\u00a0 Now people, I am a patient person.\u00a0 I sat quietly at my table, so as to not embarrass the rest of my party, and watched the African\/Conga dancing.\u00a0 I sat quietly at my table through the Swedish round dancing.\u00a0 But when the Sliders took the floor\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026well, that was enough for me.\u00a0 Embarrassment or not, I was there!<\/p>\n

\"03\"<\/a><\/p>\n

We did some line dancing and electric sliding.\u00a0 I wasn\u2019t very good at it, but I was better than that lady in the hat.\u00a0 She thought it was some kind of yoga or ballet moves.\u00a0 And then it was on to the next thing!<\/p>\n

\"04\"<\/a><\/p>\n

(There\u2019s another kid, but for Goodness sake, don\u2019t take kids in here.)<\/p>\n

Now, bear with me on this event.\u00a0 I insisted that we visit the Chihaly Glass exhibit building.\u00a0 Mr. Chihaly and his helpers blew all this glass stuff.\u00a0 I took a hundred pictures for my sister-in-law, Della, the artist.<\/p>\n

We have the Sealife Room:<\/p>\n

\"05\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"06\"<\/a> See all the shells and starfish on that thing?\u00a0 It\u2019s all glass.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the Chandelier Room:<\/p>\n

\"07\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The Mille Fiori Room:<\/p>\n

\"08\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The Persian Ceiling:<\/p>\n

\"09\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Going out to the gardens:<\/p>\n

\"10\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The \u00a0gardens:<\/p>\n

\"11\"<\/a><\/p>\n

And here\u2019s how the exhibits went over:<\/p>\n

\"12\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Not only were members of my own group leaning against the wall looking really bored, but that perfect stranger on the bench is bored too!\u00a0 We spent some time in the gift shop where I looked at a nice serving bowl.\u00a0 It was $4200 so I passed on it.<\/p>\n

Surprisingly, when I mentioned Chihuly to Trish, she said, \u201cOH, DALE CHILHULY IS MY FAVORITE!\u201d\u00a0 Seems she had gone to one of his glass exhibits in Mpls. a few years ago and actually bought his DVD on how he made all the pieces.\u00a0 But if you aren\u2019t Della and you aren\u2019t Trish, then I suggest you skip this Seattle attraction.<\/p>\n

Ever wonder where Will got his dislike of high places?\u00a0 It was only by hiding against the back wall of the elevator, Will\u2019s hat over my face and the grace of God, that I was able to make it up to the observation deck of the Space Needle. It only took 40 seconds to ride up to the top so that was not too bad.\u00a0 As usual, Eldon and Joni immediately headed outside to hang over the railing.\u00a0 I\u2019m convinced they do that just to show off in front of me and Will, like the time they climbed out on the roof of that thing in New Ulm and stood there in the gale force wind.\u00a0 Anyway, Will and I, standing a safe distance from the glass windows, made our way around the circle seeing the sites.\u00a0 Will said the Needle is and always has been privately owned and operated.\u00a0 The City of Seattle declined to buy it after the World\u2019s Fair.\u00a0 I kept looking for a poster on a wall noting the last maintenance\/servicing date; it\u2019s so easy to put those things off.<\/p>\n

[These pictures were actually taken by the two hanging over the railing.\u00a0 Will and I know it is quite unsafe to take pictures when in high places.]<\/p>\n

\"13\"<\/a> \"14\"<\/a> \"16\"<\/a> \"15\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Just as it was time to leave, knowing this might well be my only opportunity ever, I called upon every ounce of determination and grit within me.\u00a0 I went out the door, pressed my back against the wall, slide around the corner and sat down on a bench.\u00a0 In case you do not recognize it, this is the look of paralyzing terror!<\/p>\n

\"17\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The kids tried to be reassuring saying that, if I should fall over the edge, there is another ledge 5-6\u2019 below that might catch me.\u00a0 I was really glad I found the courage to go out there and we got a picture of the occasion.<\/p>\n

Now here\u2019s the good part.\u00a0 Will made reservations for us to have dinner (more commonly known as supper) in the Space Needle restaurant.\u00a0 You need reservations because they are full all the time.\u00a0 Our time was 5:15pm and they allotted 2 hours for us to be at our table.\u00a0 They tell you that -2 hours.\u00a0 It was just a beautiful clear afternoon.\u00a0 Joni and I had salmon and the boys had beef de jur with garlic mashed potatoes and a wonderful salad.\u00a0 I know that because I ate lots of Eldon\u2019s salad.\u00a0 The food was very good.\u00a0 A girl came along to take a complimentary picture.\u00a0 Boy, was her timing spot on.\u00a0 What do we see out the window?\u00a0 To the left of center.\u00a0 You can almost see the crane in the hole. So this was another once in a lifetime event \u2013dinner at the top of the Space Needle!<\/p>\n

\"18\"<\/a><\/p>\n

After a wonderful day of site-seeing and with our tummies full, we headed for home.\u00a0 As we exited the Space Needle, I heard a band.\u00a0 Were the Folklife people having a parade?\u00a0 I hurried over, followed enthusiastically by the rest of my group, to where I heard the music coming from.****\u00a0 At first it sounded like big band music, but then again it sounded like jazz.\u00a0 It was just a loud collection of pleasing sounds.\u00a0 One might call it\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..well, chaotic noise.\u00a0 Yes, let\u2019s call it chaotic noise.\u00a0 Coincidentally, that\u2019s what the group called themselves too.\u00a0 Chaotic Noise.<\/p>\n

\"19\"<\/a><\/p>\n

One guy, the leader, had horns on like a MN Vikings fan.\u00a0 The group was a combination of young and old people in constant motion.\u00a0 That may have been our Betsy on the baritone sax with red hair, tattoos, and fingerless leather gloves.\u00a0 Joni and I moved right up to the front where we could see and enjoy the experience.\u00a0 When I looked behind me, the same two who were holding up the wall at the Chihuly Garden and Glass, were standing way in the back rolling their eyes.\u00a0 We\u2019ve got to give those two some Art Appreciation lessons! \u00a0Let\u2019s see if our tech guy can get this little video embedded in here so you can give a listen too.\u00a0 *Editor’s Note – Psssh, really?<\/em><\/p>\n

<iframe src=”https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/Qb4qq7FGQe8?rel=0″ height=”450″ width=”600″ allowfullscreen=”” frameborder=”0″><\/iframe><\/p>\n

*Editor’s note – Wait, wait, I got this…<\/em><\/p>\n