Splash!

Today the big event was a visit to the splash pad at Kirkland Urban. I'm not positive that splash pads were a thing when I was a kid. I think you either went to the pool or set up some sprinkler type thing in your own yard. Must. Be. Nice.

Snappy Times

It's funny but for some reason Ballard's breweries are just a very pleasant place to hang out with your child. I know that there's something to this phenomenon because there are always a bunch of other kids there too. I guess it's kind of like having a picnic. You get to enjoy the weather and hang out for extended periods of time in a way that's difficult to do elsewhere. I get the impression that this annoys the childless but.. that may make the experience even more rewarding. 

Stoup Brewing was lively.

There was some good music playing and Ernie was really grooving.

I taught him to dance and sometimes that involved some snapping. Well now when Ernie is having an especially good time he'll hold his hand up like this. He doesn't know how to snap but it's the thought that counts.

I apparently needed a little face tune up.

Reuben's Brews happened as well.

I stayed out a bit later with Zoe and we hit some arcade bars. The Ice Box Arcade is housed in the former Allied Ice building.

Add-A-Ball is one of my favorite places in Seattle. It's fun, weird, and full of antique junk. Just like me.

Ball Washin'

I got a free copy of Endless Destinies: The Clockwork City for play testing for the my friend British Mike. Since I had already played the game at length I gifted it to Sumit. I did need him to make sure I got my credit in the game book though. Sure enough!

One of Lydia's very best Facebook marketplace secondhand toy finds was a giant bag full of plastic balls. I think she paid $5. Ern helped us wash them all on the porch.

We shared some pizza for dinner.

Daryll Hall & Elvis Costello

Today's notable occurrence was heading to Remlinger Farms out in Carnation, WA to see a show. This is a pretty new venue and I think as a result they've been giving out a lot of free promotional tickets. I like free stuff very much. The acts today were pretty exciting too: Daryll Hall (of Hall and Oates) & Elvis Costello.

Remlinger was so chill that we just sauntered up to the fence and stood right next to the guy while he played. It was really cool.

Costco Encounter

The three of us were shopping at Costco for large packages of stuff we don't need when a man wearing a surgical mask riding an electric shopping scooter cart thing passed by. He put it in reverse and stopped near us and said something like "let me ask you a question". This rarely leads to a pleasant conversation in my experience but I decided to give him a few seconds for his elevator pitch. He said "the VA told me I'm dying" and said something like "I'm using the time I have left to make children happier". He pulled out a think manilla envelope like what you'd wrap a bribe in. Sadly he did not have a stack of cash for us. He then asked what sorts of animals Ernie likes. We listed a few and when we got to "ducks" the guy pulled out a thick stack of photos and shuffled through to the duck section. We picked one and gave it to Ernie. Ernie likes pictures and so was impressed. I was glad that he handled it gently... it would have been mortifying for him to take a big slobbery bite out of it while the poor man watched. He then said goodbye and motored away. I gave everyone a big hug as I was reminded of my own mortality. I also felt guilty that I had no words for this nice man when he told us he was dying. It's not a conversation I have a lot of practice with and the moment was gone too quickly for me to formulate anything. I hope that man enjoys the rest of the time he has left. Really I can think of a lot worse ways to spend my twilight than zooming around Costco eating free samples and entertaining children. I guess it's not really that much different than what I do now.

Ern woke up in the middle of the night and did some screeching for someone to come comfort him. He was standing up but as soon as he saw me enter his room he laid down on his tummy so that I could pat his back and he went back to sleep. I think his new daycare has trained him to do this but it seems to work out for everyone so I'm down with it.