Realizing the potential of technology
gazing to the west
with the sun descending low
as the air's cooling
Looking to the west as I walk through this park. Sunlight drifts through the trees. Summer in the north bringing a steep angle to the light. Richly beautiful. To me, at least.
within coffee shops
respites from the coldest rain
such sanctuary
I took this photo at Everett’s Narrative Coffee. The ambiance delights me. With its brick walls, I return to many cold, wet days from when I lived downtown Seattle. Books, pastries, coffee; the elements of classic elegance.
Just a little editing in Photoshop to capture the mood. A little blur for a vignette, a bit of color balancing, et viola!
This bee was energetic little lady was hard to capture, as she kept bouncing from flower to flower. I am rather proud of this humble shot with my Samsung S9.
as my footsteps fade
drifting into memories
sunlight on raindrops
sunlight on meadows
flowers bouncing in a breeze
some favorite things
I’ve been exhausted the past few days as I’ve recovered from my second dose of the covid vaccine. But I’m feeling pretty darn good today.
after the rainfall
clouds parting for the sunlight
jewels left on the leaves
wind blows through these trees
memories awakening
tranquility’s song
I’ve always loved the sound of the wind in the trees. In western Washington, it’s a common sound, speaking to me of home.
In the early 2000s (2004-2009, to be specific) I worked at Starbucks, first in Global Communications then on the Corporate Social Responsibility team. I loved my time there and is the one place I would return in a hearbeat.
We former Partners (as Starbucks employees are referred) have an alumni group, the Green Apron Network. It’s a great group of folks whose presence I greatly enjoy and am privileged to be part of. One of the great figures of Starbucks’ corporate history is a man by the name of Major Cohen. If there is anyone who knows coffee better, I am unaware of them. Recently retired, Major has written a book, “Coffee For Dummies“. Though I haven’t read it yet (I have a copy on its way), I know Major well enough to highly recommend it. A few of my friends have already read it, and recommend it. I’ll write more about the book once I have read it.
So, check it out! There’s a Kindle version, so you can start reading it right now. If you read it, leave me a comment and let me know what you think.
the daffodil’s gaze
loving glance in the spring sun
a gentle breeze blows
My son and a number of my friends have asked what I think about all these people moving out of cities. Well, a Twitter friend, Bernie, posted this to his blog today: Iowa shows why the move from big cities may be only temporary. I agree with his assessment: cities offer more than affordability. I lived for the better part of 10 years in downtown Seattle and loved it. Arts and culture are a part of my soul. Having galleries, coffee shops, restaurants a short walk away delighted me deeply. One my favorite times in my life.
Anyway, Bernie references an article that looks at Iowan politics that might impeded this desire to attract the coastal urban dwellers to the mid-west*: Wood: About that public narrative we’re crafting to attract out-of-state people to move to Des Moines. Summation: the state’s anti-progressive agenda will impede growth. It’s an interesting point of view. For me, personally, politics might be a part, but, ultimately, the whole urban west coast thing is who I am. Even if they had the fastest internet on earth, I doubt I’d be heading east in a U-Haul.
*As a life-long west-coaster, I have long loved calling the middle part of the US the middle-east.Â