Cold trail to Mirror Lake lead here

S & B followed some major hiking site's directions attempting to locate the trailhead to Mirror Lake. After
looping back around several new vacation development cul-de-sacs just north of Snoqualmie ski resort trying to locate Forest Road 9070 it was determined that another road less traveled must be our route, the road to Cold Creek Trail. Enroute we passed several signs that said no entrance sewage spray, or something like that, but finally we reached the near empty trailhead, all smelled fine, and so we headed to the little Twin Lakes. Happily, although it rained the entire way there and B in a state of denial refused to bring rain gear, no rain was had on the hike.

Now the reward, another ice cream themed recommendation, sherried pineapples ablaze on top o' vanilla ice cream. We'll let you pyros figure out fun on this one.

P.S. Rumor has it you can pick blueberries off of I-90 exit 31. Send some this way, k?

B's first board!

Ummm pink. Let's just say it was on sale.

Swimming Hole

Last night it was 100 degrees in the game room, and in Grom'gol. Never before had S & B been the same temperature as their toons in Stranglethorn's oppressive jungle heat as they slay the raptors, red, green and 1 blue. Neruda can sweat for me, I'll take 70 again please.

When it's hot there's only one thought, dunk me in cool water please. Upon realizing that S&B have only been swimming ever 3 times in the city in a ton of years of combined residency status, it became obvious the issue here. Lack of a good swimming hole. Not talking swimming pools, which probably don't count, but try us. This is about the old swimming hole like in a Room with a View minus Mr. Beebe. Where in the hell are the good Seattle swimming holes? All this water, there must be at least a dozen killer spots. Ok...not where you drive to Magnuson and jump in the water with a dozen toddlers. We're talking about pull over to the side of the road, park illegally and jump. Call 1-800-DunkMe or either of S & B cell phones w/an answer and the winner receives a tremendously phat grand prize.

Where not to swim, Montlake Cut, kinda goose pooey, and Arboretum (no longer allowed) and kinda marshy. Got any better than that?

After realizing that heat like yesterday over extended periods, could induce the Do the Right Thing, summer mayhem for people who live in the urban environment other quandaries came to mind . Like killer awesomenesses and creation, inextricably linked to sacrifice or not? Does it just seem that way. High time for some night swimming.

Sweet Summer treats for when it's 100 degrees & rising

Peaches and Cherries
Pit 20 cherries, and slice two peaches.
Stew in a cup of water on medium high w/1/4 cup of sugar until it's gooey and not too runny.
Add a little bit of corn starch (1/4 tsp).

This is the coolest smelling thing on a hot summer day & it's so amazing on top of your belgian waffle OR even better cherry vanilla ice cream. Yum yum yum.

So you're already hopped up on too much sugar? Try this awesome Feist on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZZ1Gd5qjc4

Rock on overheated people!

Magnuson to Hook n Back

Woo-hoo! Finally, after 4 years of planning and bailing, did the ride from Magnuson to Red Hook n back on the Burke Gilman. It was actually close to easy. Going was 1.75 hours and the return trip in 1.25 hour with lunch, some beers and the wind against us. People who have considered and not done, don't fear. People who have not planned, just do it suckas! It's a gorgeous mellow ride. You'll love love love it.

Arriving at the beginning of our journey we parked on 65th by the trail. While S was enjoying a clove and B was finishing a mezzo some swamp donkey who weighed in at 75 lbs was raking the dirt and rocks on the front of her newly built home. She stopped raking long enough to inform us that we couldn't loiter in her neighborhood. Crazy Hagnuson hooker. What lesson did we take here - obviously it's not worth it to be that damned skinny. Not enough carbs to power the brain and you turn into a bitter old skin bag that still thinks you're cute raking rocks and dirt on a rock wall. Sorry...just finished reading Choke by Palahniuk.

An even more relevant lesson, bike shorts, while hideous on all, so good for your junk. Do remember those words when you too ride Magnuson to Red Hook. Are you down?

Transformers! See it!! It's a tad long, prepare for that, enjoy. The tranformation scenes were great. I wish humans weren't equally the heros, but see it people.

Oh yeah, a certain somebody we all adore, a star in fact, gave us some big cool news today. Another freakin fine day to wind up our urban holiday from work.

July 5th the day after Smorgasbord of Goodness

Yesterday was some spectacular off the hook urban holiday post 4th funness. Boo-yah!

Ingredient 1: 1-7 hours of wow depending on the S&B team member. Some quality arena pwnage, and the update that Rosebud is out of commission because somebody's mom received, yes, powerleveling, for her birthday, and no, not from Team S&B, but a twin sister who will remain nameless. Ramondo will soon be level 70, but will she have the chops? Meanwhile a certain hunter was spotted in noob territory PVP getting noobs to attack his strangely boarish low-level pet.

Ingredient 2: One crazy freakin bike ride there and back again. Why does Seattle have to have so gall darn many freakin hills? After heading up N on 15th, decided to cut down 125th in Lake City to hit the Burke Gilman. Couldn't find the sucker til a hippy helped w/directions around 95th. Passed the UW and circled back to head up by Cowan and Candy Cane Lane hood. Pit stop at Whole Foods, for cat food, prosecco and OJ, and a homeless person apparantly was sleeping in the cubby by the bike locker where I was locking up at the top of the garage. Ahh..the humane corporation that is Whole Foods one thinks, as less than two feet away from me, two of the employees, when it's pointed out by another customer come out, remark, "It stinks," and yell in the 3 by 4 hole, "Come out now, or we're locking you in." It was 85 degrees at 3 pm. Potential for greater stench abounds. Enjoying a piece of chocolate, I ponder why there isn't a foundation that provides delicious chocolate truffles daily to the homeless. Then pondering the outrage it might produce as people, homeless and homed alike debate why there is a foundation that distributes non-essentials when other things are more essential. Anyhow, wouldn't it be nice, if one was homeless and wanted a chocolate bonbon, they had a place to go and get a daily allowance?

Ingredient 3: Gorging and celebrating at the Bamboo Garden in honor of Mr. Johnson's 30th! Our new dish was the Pearly Pond, a suprising creamy gravy dish. Who knew! Mocken Donuts aka Puffs in two varieties were our undisputed fave as always!

Ingredient 4 & 5: First venture to Smith.
Mr. Watson and Mr. Fox were in the house along with both members of S&B. The kitchen had closed, and our kitchen lovlies including Ms. Balk and Kitchen J and Gorddog were out o' the house and the back of the house, which left us to run amuck on our own, which of course we did, ever so mildly w/only 12 beers among us. That was followed by a marathon BSG Season 1 disk 2 watching while S pulled his famous trick of "play all" select at 1:30 am, which of course means we can stop the disk and watched the entire thing. And it was stellar.

Gotta go. There are noobs to slay.

4th of July at the Patterson's Kicks Azz Again!

Eastlake Washington on the roof of a houseboat watching things exploded and helicopters swoop by with an enormous flag. Yeah, a lot untapped editorial potential here, but keep it as a moment of viceral enjoyment, and it doesn't get much better than this for 4th of July festivities. Thanks to the Johnsons for inviting us to the Pattersons for another year of fun-filled spectacularities.