I've lived here 18 months now and I've only really seen the area surrounding Seattle. I've driven around a little bit to Portland, and the Olympics and such but I haven't really explored the state that much. In order to remedy the situation I decided to drive around choose your own adventure style. That involved sending some text messages of 1,2, or 3 and 1 or 2. It worked pretty well and I saw of the state I haven't seen before. Decision one was North, South, or East... Vancouver, Portland, or Eastern Washington. I ended up going East and a few different people contributed to the route shown below.
View Larger Map
It was a lot of driving but I understand a little bit about Central Washington that I didn't understand before. I forgot to bring a camera but coming into Yakima is great with two huge mountains just hanging out in the background. The fact the area is basically a desert is hard to appreciate when compared to the other side of the Cascades. The most interesting thing I picked up was the enormous area on the map fenced off and listed as US department of Energy. I grew up next to missile silo's and military installations of various sorts but this was a new one. A little research on Wikipedia tells me it is the Hanford Site. I would call this one of the great unknowns that you don't learn unless you drive around a little bit. The Hanford Site was part of the Manhattan project and created most of the Plutonium and enriched Uranium for the Nuclear tests and later the nuclear fuel for most the of the weapons in the US arsenal. They give 48 tours a year and I'd be really interested to see what it looks like. It is also one the of the largest contamination sites in the US.
It's crazy to think they used to perform nuclear tests only 50-70 miles away from Vegas back in the 50's. I wonder what is happening now that in 20 years will be a known carcinogen or known as being extremely unhealthy/dangerous... I'm voting Red Bull and/or energy drinks in general.
Rachel voted for 201 stories. I'm going to tell the very first 201 story.
It was June of '99 and school was just over and we were allowed to move into our off campus apartment. That apartment was 6 guys living together - Mike, Jay, Alex, Andy, John, and me. That first weekend we decided to throw a party to celebrate the escape from the tyranny of the dorms. Hall Monitors and RA's be damned for their rules. After a fair amount of haggling and negotiating we managed to secure a 1/4 of Busch Light and we threw our first party. There are tons of details that are blending together but we ended up with orange construction barrels, people on the roof out of 3 story building, loud music, a water ballon launcher, and general shenanigans. Believe it or not but Milwaukee's finest ended up at our apartment after a while asking lots of questions. So the very first weekend we lived in our place the cops showed up and I had my name on file with MPD. No tickets were issued and no one got in trouble but we had to take the construction barrels back to where they came from. That was the first of many parties at 201 and they memories go on from there.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Winter Blows
It was only this weekend it was 90 and humid and now it's 65 and rainy. I really try not to bitch about the weather out here too much because it's normally pretty awesome in the summer but this was a rough transition. It's supposed to be nice again this weekend so no worries but it really feels like winter today.
CBC showed the 200 meter dash live this morning and it won't be on NBC for another several hours of tape delay here on the West Coast. NBC seriously blows - do they not understand they could show stuff more than once. I learned that Olympic level table tennis players make a concoction of glue and chemicals to apply to the paddle called speed glue. Not a big deal except for the fact the stuff is so toxic smelling that a guy went into a coma for 6 DAYS after getting a strong whiff. This article does a far better job of explaining it than I could.
Canadian TV does have hilarious commercials because it's unintentional comedy. The long A's and commercials for Tim Horton's, Bell Canada, but my personal favorite is the submit your own hockey night in Canada theme contests. The long A made me think of the Fonzie statue the was put up in Milwaukee. It generated a parade and a front page article and picture you have to wonder what Milwaukee wants to be known for.
Drew - it's called bags because cornhole sounds stupid. You throw bags.
CBC showed the 200 meter dash live this morning and it won't be on NBC for another several hours of tape delay here on the West Coast. NBC seriously blows - do they not understand they could show stuff more than once. I learned that Olympic level table tennis players make a concoction of glue and chemicals to apply to the paddle called speed glue. Not a big deal except for the fact the stuff is so toxic smelling that a guy went into a coma for 6 DAYS after getting a strong whiff. This article does a far better job of explaining it than I could.
Canadian TV does have hilarious commercials because it's unintentional comedy. The long A's and commercials for Tim Horton's, Bell Canada, but my personal favorite is the submit your own hockey night in Canada theme contests. The long A made me think of the Fonzie statue the was put up in Milwaukee. It generated a parade and a front page article and picture you have to wonder what Milwaukee wants to be known for.
Drew - it's called bags because cornhole sounds stupid. You throw bags.
Monday, August 18, 2008
CBC is better than NBC
CBC stands for Canadian Broadcast Centre, note the Canadian spelling, and their coverage of the Olympics is much better than NBC's. They show sports live far more than NBC and if they're tape delayed from China they aren't delaying the West Coast feed like NBC. Nothing like checking the news and finding out Olympic results 2-3 hours before it's on American TV. The Canadians are really excited with their Silver Medal winner in the Triathlon which I probably won't ever see on NBC... wait I think Michael Phelps mom has something insightful to say. Nope, I was wrong, great job NBC. CBC is great because they ask mean questions like "how does it feel to be 4th when you were a gold medal favorite?" There interviews are borderline mean it's very funny. The Olympics are impacting my sleep because something is on basically 24 hours a day and especially with the CBC coverage. Why isn't handball big in the US? Who knew Umbro was the official provider of Table Tennis attire? Why are the Chinese playing American 80's music? I just heard Glenn Frey singing The Heat is On I love Beverly Hills Cop and all but do we really need it during Beach Volleyball and Diving? Well maybe we do.
Some friends from college were here last weekend and I showed them around a little bit on their vacation. I hope Jon sends me some of the pictures he took because there must be close to 700 of them. As a professional photographer and Art teacher he probably took some pretty good ones. A few more friends are coming over Labor Day so I've been getting a pretty good idea of what is worth seeing in Seattle and there's a lot of things.
My mini golf league just finished up, Drinks on the Links, and that led into Kickball so I played kickball for the first time probably two years yesterday. It's pretty similar to Milwaukee kickball - I guess it's most likely similar to kickball played in middle schools around the country.
Chipotle, oh how I love thee. In Milwaukee there was a Chipotle on my way home from work that I frequented a couple times a month. The nearest one in Seattle is a good ten minute drive away so I don't go there all that often but when I do it's amazing! Barbacoa with black beans, salsa, and cheese. Mmmmmmmm! More Chipotles!
Per Jay's request I've changed the title to Beutler In Seattle as I have lived here for almost a year and half now. That seems like a long time but time flies I guess. After this long a Roundy's I was in a different department and my old boss was demoted. This place is so much better it's hard to explain.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention the largest "protestival" in the world taking place about 1/2 mile from place over the weekend. I blogged about Hempfest last year around the same time. It was just as crazy this year as last year except it was close to 90 degrees and hippy's don't do heat well. Stinky... I hope the leftover stoners don't pull my fire alarm again this year. Jerks.
A few weeks ago I heard the George Harrison song My Sweet Lord listen to it and be annoyed that you can't get it out of your head. I don't know if the Hindu Chants or what but maybe something else will occupy my limited song brain.
Rachel, feel free to write the first 201 revisited post.
Some friends from college were here last weekend and I showed them around a little bit on their vacation. I hope Jon sends me some of the pictures he took because there must be close to 700 of them. As a professional photographer and Art teacher he probably took some pretty good ones. A few more friends are coming over Labor Day so I've been getting a pretty good idea of what is worth seeing in Seattle and there's a lot of things.
My mini golf league just finished up, Drinks on the Links, and that led into Kickball so I played kickball for the first time probably two years yesterday. It's pretty similar to Milwaukee kickball - I guess it's most likely similar to kickball played in middle schools around the country.
Chipotle, oh how I love thee. In Milwaukee there was a Chipotle on my way home from work that I frequented a couple times a month. The nearest one in Seattle is a good ten minute drive away so I don't go there all that often but when I do it's amazing! Barbacoa with black beans, salsa, and cheese. Mmmmmmmm! More Chipotles!
Per Jay's request I've changed the title to Beutler In Seattle as I have lived here for almost a year and half now. That seems like a long time but time flies I guess. After this long a Roundy's I was in a different department and my old boss was demoted. This place is so much better it's hard to explain.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention the largest "protestival" in the world taking place about 1/2 mile from place over the weekend. I blogged about Hempfest last year around the same time. It was just as crazy this year as last year except it was close to 90 degrees and hippy's don't do heat well. Stinky... I hope the leftover stoners don't pull my fire alarm again this year. Jerks.
A few weeks ago I heard the George Harrison song My Sweet Lord listen to it and be annoyed that you can't get it out of your head. I don't know if the Hindu Chants or what but maybe something else will occupy my limited song brain.
Rachel, feel free to write the first 201 revisited post.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
The best donuts are free
I found $25 laying in the street and I used my new found wealth to buy a paper and some donuts at Top Pot. On top of normally being excellent glazed deliciousness when they are on somebody else's dime they taste even better.
Saw Step Brothers over the weekend and it was pretty blah. There are some really funny parts and some not so funny parts but I'm thinking I might be worn out on Will Ferrell. He is going to have to start doing something else because this mildly annoying character he seems to play in every movie isn't doing it for me anymore. It was better than Semi-Pro to be sure but that's not saying much.
People coming in a few weeks should be exciting.
Drew - I've been mildly hooked before myself.
Saw Step Brothers over the weekend and it was pretty blah. There are some really funny parts and some not so funny parts but I'm thinking I might be worn out on Will Ferrell. He is going to have to start doing something else because this mildly annoying character he seems to play in every movie isn't doing it for me anymore. It was better than Semi-Pro to be sure but that's not saying much.
People coming in a few weeks should be exciting.
Drew - I've been mildly hooked before myself.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Oh Man
In my mail tonight was an primary election flyer containing profiles for all the people running for office. Normally I skim through these and would never post about politics because I assume people couldn't give a crap about my political leanings of beliefs. In good faith I MUST pass along this nugget of joy.
I live in WA Congressional District 7, currently Jim McDermott is the man representing the district. Jim is a professional politician and chair several committees and sub committees. Jim = Boring. He has several challengers.
Steve Beren is a real challenger. Real Challenger = boring.
Donovan Rivers looks like a real challenger. = boring.
Al Schaefer looks to correct injustice. His is moderately funny but doesn't have a website for me to link to. = Funny
Mark A. Goldman Wants to "...defend the moon and stars, the air we breath, the oceans and the rivers, the plants, and all living things upon this our Mother Earth...". His website is here this guy deserves a wow. I would draw attention to this commentary - Sudoku as a Model for Finding Freedom, Peace and Happiness. Don't actually click but there are ton more out there than this. This is only the second coolest person running for Representative in my area...
The final guy is way out there in more ways that one - Goodspaceguy Nelson is running for Congress in my area. Mr. Goodspaceguy Nelson refers to himself in the 3rd person, his family is "The life of Spaceship Earth" - that's right he lives on Spaceship Earth. His significant career experience is ".... wants to advance rejuvenation and medical technology and wants tall buildings and more movies to be made in Washington State. This guy deserves a WOW!!!!
His websites are
Colonize Orbital Space and
Our Spaceship Earth in case the titles of his blogs didn't clue you in his major plank is colonizing orbital space.
I can only hope Mr. Goodspaceguy Nelson somehow makes it though the primary because it would be hilarious to get more campaign literature from him. I might be the only one who finds this funny but it was cracking me up.
Jay came through - Spook is actually Peter Skardoff. Scared - off = Spook, get it.
The only time Kathy Pryo made the POS voting list is when she used a digital phone to disrupt a party at 201. She could call us faster than we could hang up the phone it was insane (like Kathy) and I think we resolved it by unplugging the phone. It was the Halloween party as my POS notes indicate and if I remember she just got done stealing a chair from my roommate. She was a pyro, a thief, and relatively crazy.
I live in WA Congressional District 7, currently Jim McDermott is the man representing the district. Jim is a professional politician and chair several committees and sub committees. Jim = Boring. He has several challengers.
Steve Beren is a real challenger. Real Challenger = boring.
Donovan Rivers looks like a real challenger. = boring.
Al Schaefer looks to correct injustice. His is moderately funny but doesn't have a website for me to link to. = Funny
Mark A. Goldman Wants to "...defend the moon and stars, the air we breath, the oceans and the rivers, the plants, and all living things upon this our Mother Earth...". His website is here this guy deserves a wow. I would draw attention to this commentary - Sudoku as a Model for Finding Freedom, Peace and Happiness. Don't actually click but there are ton more out there than this. This is only the second coolest person running for Representative in my area...
The final guy is way out there in more ways that one - Goodspaceguy Nelson is running for Congress in my area. Mr. Goodspaceguy Nelson refers to himself in the 3rd person, his family is "The life of Spaceship Earth" - that's right he lives on Spaceship Earth. His significant career experience is ".... wants to advance rejuvenation and medical technology and wants tall buildings and more movies to be made in Washington State. This guy deserves a WOW!!!!
His websites are
Colonize Orbital Space and
Our Spaceship Earth in case the titles of his blogs didn't clue you in his major plank is colonizing orbital space.
I can only hope Mr. Goodspaceguy Nelson somehow makes it though the primary because it would be hilarious to get more campaign literature from him. I might be the only one who finds this funny but it was cracking me up.
Jay came through - Spook is actually Peter Skardoff. Scared - off = Spook, get it.
The only time Kathy Pryo made the POS voting list is when she used a digital phone to disrupt a party at 201. She could call us faster than we could hang up the phone it was insane (like Kathy) and I think we resolved it by unplugging the phone. It was the Halloween party as my POS notes indicate and if I remember she just got done stealing a chair from my roommate. She was a pyro, a thief, and relatively crazy.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Untitled
I got a request from a college buddy to post some random stuff from college. I started posting the POS voting results a while ago but never finished the entire chart, rather than restart the process I've decided to post the entire 7 weeks worth of voting in their entirety. These were the halcyon days of college before we had to start worrying about jobs and the future.
I don't exactly what a few of the people on here could possibly have done to make the list. The Chris Howser, Eamon Cunningham, Nikki Fields, Kathy Pyro, Jana Janakowski, and Spook (anybody know what his real name is anymore?) were particularly amusing to me. I know what a few of the people did but the back stories would be hilarious.
The name of Eamon gives rise to the memory of a great line - taken from somewhere else I'm sure - "there isn't going to be a fight - I'm just going to beat the hell out of him". Attributed to Adam, however nothing ever came of it except a great amount of laughter.
Pat M. has suggested that I have a series of "guest" bloggers who would their favorite story of 201. I'm intrigued by that idea but I would need final approval of those posts as some stuff might need to be edited or fact checked. Pat is an instigator so his work would need to be validated.
Pat is most notable for his role in the "egg fight", "the battle of Renee St", and others.
I don't exactly what a few of the people on here could possibly have done to make the list. The Chris Howser, Eamon Cunningham, Nikki Fields, Kathy Pyro, Jana Janakowski, and Spook (anybody know what his real name is anymore?) were particularly amusing to me. I know what a few of the people did but the back stories would be hilarious.
The name of Eamon gives rise to the memory of a great line - taken from somewhere else I'm sure - "there isn't going to be a fight - I'm just going to beat the hell out of him". Attributed to Adam, however nothing ever came of it except a great amount of laughter.
Pat M. has suggested that I have a series of "guest" bloggers who would their favorite story of 201. I'm intrigued by that idea but I would need final approval of those posts as some stuff might need to be edited or fact checked. Pat is an instigator so his work would need to be validated.
Pat is most notable for his role in the "egg fight", "the battle of Renee St", and others.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Recap and photo's
It's been a long time since I've posted because it's been a busy few weeks. I think my parents and Aunt Cindy arrived a day or two after the last post and since then I've been on the move. I took a couple of days off and showed them around Seattle and the surrounding mountains. The 4th happened while they were here and I live really close to one of the big fireworks shows in Seattle. Having a rooftop deck came in handy when there were thousands of cars and people trying to move around. Location - location - location.
My parents left on a Tuesday and I left on a work trip to the East Coast. The work trip bookended a visit to my friend Kelly in Philadelphia. We worked together years ago at Beechwood Sales & Service, back when Anheuser Busch was an American Company, and we've stayed friends ever since. Now we live on opposite ends of the country and it was a great time.
I'm tired and there are lots of photo's today so it's a slideshow for me.
Here is the link to Pass the Pigs
Kelly also has parlayed working for a beer wholesaler in to working for a microbrewery by the name of Victory Brewing and they have a lot of good beers and I tried a lot of them. I would list all of the various different beers I enjoyed on my trip but my mother already thinks I'm an alcoholic... I'm not...
I got home last week and spent a few days getting back in the swing of things. In the last 6 weeks I've been away from my desk for over 3 of them. Some of those were work related absences but it's still time away from the desk. I'm actually excited to be at my desk for the next few weeks and get caught up and maybe even ahead but I won't hold my breath on getting ahead.
A few months ago I was in the wedding of my friends David and Emily. "Little E" was kind enough to send me a few photo's for posting here on the blog. After weeding my way through 900+ photo's I picked a few I liked out and put them on a slideshow. Trying to format a photo heavy blog is a huge pain and I just wasn't up the the challenge tonight.
Good times were had by all. David + Emily and Jay + Mary will be coming out here over Labor Day so I expect some shenanigans will ensue.
Saw The Dark Knight over the weekend and it is worth seeing on a big screen so I would recommend paying matinée prices to check it out if you like that kind of movie.
More entries to follow.
My parents left on a Tuesday and I left on a work trip to the East Coast. The work trip bookended a visit to my friend Kelly in Philadelphia. We worked together years ago at Beechwood Sales & Service, back when Anheuser Busch was an American Company, and we've stayed friends ever since. Now we live on opposite ends of the country and it was a great time.
I'm tired and there are lots of photo's today so it's a slideshow for me.
Here is the link to Pass the Pigs
Kelly also has parlayed working for a beer wholesaler in to working for a microbrewery by the name of Victory Brewing and they have a lot of good beers and I tried a lot of them. I would list all of the various different beers I enjoyed on my trip but my mother already thinks I'm an alcoholic... I'm not...
I got home last week and spent a few days getting back in the swing of things. In the last 6 weeks I've been away from my desk for over 3 of them. Some of those were work related absences but it's still time away from the desk. I'm actually excited to be at my desk for the next few weeks and get caught up and maybe even ahead but I won't hold my breath on getting ahead.
A few months ago I was in the wedding of my friends David and Emily. "Little E" was kind enough to send me a few photo's for posting here on the blog. After weeding my way through 900+ photo's I picked a few I liked out and put them on a slideshow. Trying to format a photo heavy blog is a huge pain and I just wasn't up the the challenge tonight.
Good times were had by all. David + Emily and Jay + Mary will be coming out here over Labor Day so I expect some shenanigans will ensue.
Saw The Dark Knight over the weekend and it is worth seeing on a big screen so I would recommend paying matinée prices to check it out if you like that kind of movie.
More entries to follow.
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