Weekend in Seattle

Two weeks ago I got the chance to visit the Seattle Art Museum, known as SAM. Previously I talked about my upcoming trip in this post, "Daft Punk Vrs. Michael Jackson? Six Minutes of Joy!"

The museum was wonderful. In addition to the overwhelming amount of Picasso artwork, there were pieces by Jackson Pollock, Andy Warhol and Jeff Koons. All artists that I enjoy, and am slowly gaining appreciation for. Koons is one that puzzles me. His artwork covers such varied subjects and is done in such different styles that I can can like and respect some of his pieces and be disgusted by others.

Tulips by Jeff Koons

In addition to wonderful, SAM was overwhelming and exhausting.  I was asleep by early in the evening back at the very comfortable hotel bed.  I am one of those strange people that enjoy everything about hotels, even the beds.

But I didn't just go to Seattle and view only art.  I also got to wander around the town, something I have not done for twelve years.  Pikes Place Market is just as much fun as I remember, even without lots of fish flying through the air.  One of the major fish throwing booths was closed for renovations, or something silly like that.

After wandering around back and forth we finally found Pikes Place Public Market.  Joy!  Notice how it's a beautiful day for being January and Seattle.  No rain makes it a nice day at that time of year.

The smell of fresh seafood filled the air.  For me the smell of the sea and fresh ocean fish is a shocking, but refreshing smell.  I envision smelling salts smelling the same.

In addition to the seafood there are lines of fresh produce.  It's so...refreshing!

Kumquats.  $5.95 a pound.  They also make for a lovely picture.

This woman makes and sells instruments.  My Father recently found a flute that she purchased from her about fourteen years ago.  She is playing an Ocarina, an instrument from the Legend of Zelda.

Stunning buildings.  I could just wander downtown Seattle for days and be happy taking pictures of buildings.

And finally, a stunning picture of the waterfront and downtown, taken from the top of the Space Needle.  It was my first time up, and it was very nice.  But I'm glad someone else paid for me to go to the top, the experience does not seem worth the $18 price tag.

It was a great weekend vacation, and I would love to do it again sometime, with more than a day to explore downtown Seattle.

Daft Punk Vrs. Michael Jackson? Six Minutes of Joy!

I'm comfortably under the covers of my girlfriend's bed, finding new ways to put off writing while she readies a playlist for an upcoming trip.  Her actions are generating wonderful quotes and rocking tunes as she discovers strange song titles and my subsequent reactions to the titles.  Such as the title of this posting.  Song Title: Daft Punk Vrs. Michael Jackson.  My Reaction: Six Minutes of Joy!

We played a few minutes of it.  It was, well, not six minutes of joy.  But hopefully what she is putting together for the trip will produce joy across all the tracks.  This Friday we are travelling to Seattle to spend two nights and view the Seattle Art Museum display of Picasso artwork.

The display has more than 150 pieces of his work, so if I spend a minute looking at each piece, it will take two and a half hours to view them all.  I have a feeling I will be mentally tired by the end.  Art is somehow draining, both to make and to view.

Thinking of art, Amanda has to paint a four by six foot painting by the end of the term for one of her classes.  I look forward to the result, which is a little less than three months away.  As for myself, I am taking it easy and only taking one class.  Financial Accounting.  Which may or may not be fun.  I have yet to open up the textbook, which worries me as it is the second day of the term.  But there is a very valid reason for it!  I am trying to find out from the professor if I can use the old edition, instead of the new 2010 version.  It's a matter of paying $60 or $160.  A large difference, that this poor college student can't really afford.

But I am working hard to get any money that I can.  School and work are back in full swing, with me finding myself in a new position and working 34 hours a week.  It's keeping me busy, and only modestly stressed.  But I can always find ways of relaxing.  Such as going to see Tron in 3D.  Which I have done.  For now, I am off to find another way to relax even more.  Perhaps through a nap, since I am comfortable under some blankets.