so far this week i have been a two time winner. and its only wednesday.
the first time was at precisely 9am saturday, when i intuitively awoke from slumber just in time to try my luck at securing, at a special price for only 50 lucky am ex cardmembers over the period of about 30 seconds, perhaps the most famous lounge chair in design history. ahhhh…the eames lounge chair.
for those of you who don’t already know, the eames lounge chair is my single most favorite piece of furniture/art ever designed. move over, francis francis x-1 designed by italian architect luca trazzi….i’m sorry to say that, in 17 to 20 business days, you will have to relinquish your position as my top possession.
the second time the stars aligned for me was when i had enough idle time on my hands to sign up for the coldplay fan email list, only to discover that they were soon coming to seattle and offering a lottery for a small number of subscribers to purchase tickets before they go on sale. score! august 16th, its me, rob, chris martin & the gang, hanging out at some indian reservation. perhaps there will be a peace pipe involved.
so far no luck in winning anything that i don’t actually have to pay for. but as i’ve already mentioned, its only wednesday, the week is young and i am feeling lucky.
yesterday i went on a two hour hike through beautiful discovery park. this city really has perfected the whole park thing.
the highlight of my venture was happening upon south beach, a pristine place surrounded by cliffs and rocks and shells and sand and all things that make the beach the best place in the world, and none of the things that don’t. like pasty, obnoxious beachgoers who pollute the scenery with their speedos, cigarette butts and squeaky styrofoam coolers packed with pepsi and bud.
i sat upon a huge hunk of driftwood and took it all in, with my new metallic green ipod mini channeling rufus wainwright directly into my ear canals. after sitting there for a few minutes, it hit me that i was missing something monumental. even rufus cannot compete with the sound of “the beach”. especially one devoid of humans. i took out the tiny headphones and took in the best sound known to man. what is it about the combination of seagulls dropping clams against the rocks, rippling waves and gentle wind? its the sound of peace and serenity and all the stuff we are really supposed to be pursing. and none of the stuff we aren’t.
for those who have been interested enough to ask, as well as the surprising number of those who have not, living in seattle is kind of like living in a foreign country.
a country where i do not speak the native tongue of gortex.
a beautiful land that perplexes the hell out of me, and constantly leaves me wondering why i let months and months pass without securing a map of its infinitely numbered streets.
a place where there is so much to do, that even someone who is not easily overwhelmed can become so just by picking up the summer addition of seattle magazine, with its list of 200 things every seattlite must experience this summer.
a land where the natives are very friendly but with a closer look, keep you at arms length. very polite but equally distant.
a place that has a reputation for cutting down the expectations of newcomers with a few unreturned emails and air invitations.
a place of contradictions, where foodies can embrace the blessed pacific northwest cuisine but are forced to settle for devastatingly mediocre sushi.
a place which will soak you with a downpour and bathe you in brilliant sunshine four times in as many minutes.
an odd land which i am not yet sure is friend or foe. or just a place to pass some time.
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