Ellie in North Ballard, splashing around, pointing out the butterflies.
A double-dose of The Stranger
I normally just skim our alt-weekly The Stranger, but this week provided two must-read articles: one person’s perspective on the economic slowdown, called United States of Anxiety, and a book review of Steven Seagal’s filmography and discography, relived in order of release.
Humanity is not dead in “Wall-E,” but it is in peril. The world’s population cruises the heavens ceaselessly on a mammoth luxury spaceship that it boarded in the early 22nd century after the planet became uninhabitable. For government, there is a global corporation called Buy N Large, which keeps the public wired to umpteenth-generation iPods and addicted to a diet of supersized liquefied fast food and instantly obsolete products. The people are too bloated to walk — they float around on motorized Barcaloungers — but they are happy shoppers. A billboard on the moon heralds a Buy N Large outlet mall “coming soon,” not far from that spot where back in the day of “Hello, Dolly!” idealistic Americans once placed a flag.
from the Frank Rich column, “Wall-E for President“
The Lemonade Stand in the New Economy
My next door neighbor’s daughter and her friend opened a lemonade stand this week. I admired their entrepreneureal spirit and bought a glass each for Ellie and I… what I didn’t expect is shown below. I can’t wait to show this to my accountant at the end of the year!
Kennedy’s first birthday party
Ivan and Mary… Married!
I’ve known Ivan longer than I’ve known anyone in Seattle, so when I received the evite for a combination moving day/marriage ceremony, I was more-than-excited, and brought my daughter Ellie with me to help celebrate. Photo galleries from the wedding are posted here and here, with some snapshots I’ve snagged of interest below. For their honeymoon, Ivan and Mary are headed off on a two-month bike journey from Seattle to Norfolk, VA! A safe journey and congratulations!
Near the water at Shilshole, Green Lake
Pictures of Ellie and Zera at Shilshole, diggin’ it — and from the wading pool at Greenlake.
