Sleepful in Seattle

For the weekend, I hopped on the Alaska Airlines Boeing plane on Friday and then scurried off to Seattle. My friend David that I met last year when I had an extra Padres ticket, now lives there, and is in charge of the food service throughout the entire baseball stadium. So he set me up with free tickets, free food, and a behind the scenes tour of Safeco Field.

I was so excited. Even when I booked the flight in March, I was damn thrilled. Time just passes by so quickly. Sure, I miss my ex a little, he deployed May 4 on the USS Dubuque to WesPac again, but I loved getting to know a city.

David gave me the grand tour, starting Friday night. I got to walk in the back hallways and check his office out and meet his boss, Scott, and some other people he worked with. He's authoritative and direct, and also likes his job, doing hospitality and getting things done.

Unfortunately, Porkchop had to be put to sleep a couple days before I arrived, and I was so sad, not to meet him in person. He was Dave's companion for 16 years and the joy of his life.

I spent most of my time this weekend either at the stadium or at Pike's Place Market. Did some shopping and browsing, and just loved the downtime. I also got to run some, and Dave ran with me around Green Lake Park. That was awesome! So beautiful there, I could run for miles, and I did.

Dave has XM radio, and he had it on an 80's/90's station for most of the time we were driving. I got to sing a little with Chicago, and listened to songs I hadn't heard in years. He was a great host and let me stay at his place for free. We ate at Five Points Cafe near the Space Needle. I didn't mind that he was at work; simple things fascinate me, like watching him work.

There is so much that goes on behind the scenes. Little dramas here and there. It was great to see Dave get excited about being interviewed on the post-game show; which got postponed until next week.

Heard a Van Halen song that is spinning in my head..."And then you sense a change, nothing feels the same," From Love Walks In, the album "Best of Both Worlds" (2004):

And then you sense a change
Nothing feels the same
All your dreams are strange
Love comes walkin' in
Some kind of alien
Waits for the opening
And simply pulls a string

I bought Dave a Thank You gift, the book "Harry the Dirty Dog", and wrote on a Monet postcard (the sun in the background and two beings on a boat on a tan lake).

I will never forget this weekend. I'm so glad to have been gone.