Better than a Field Trip - Marine Biology

The beach was full, absolutely full of starfish.  They were all lazing around in the sun, turning pink, waiting for the tide to come back in.  I didn't have any starfish sun screen on me.  They should have brought their own if they are going to laze about on the beach. 

I really had to watch my step.  The Sand Dollars were thick as thieves.  I have never been in the presence of so many sand dollars.  Still alive.  Living, moving purple disks, with wiggly anemone bodies.  The sand dollar beds are just below the surface of the sand.  In the first photo, just above the shadow of my personal photographer is a sand dollar bed.  I don't know if it's possible to zoom in.  If so, there are dark cresents just peeking above the sand.  Those are the edges of sand dollars.  They are at least three deep in these beds.

 I don't think I will ever feel bad about picking up sand dollars again.  They live in great harem's on top of each other, thousands thick.

Sun burnt starfish

How to dig clams for those that don't know any better

It started one February

 A friend of mine took me to the ocean up here in the great NorthWet in the middle of February one weekend.  We went on an adventure to dig for Razor Clams which are indigenous to the area.  I am smiling in the picture because I have several (as in many) layers of clothing on under the raincoat.  (Side note: the person that figured out neoprene waders has a special place in my heart.) 
 Actually, I'm smiling because this is all so new to me.  I'm smiling because I love adventure.  I'm smiling while I wait for the surf to recede so I can see if the clam is still there under my gun.  I'm smiling because my friend was laughing with me while we waited for the water to flow back out to the ocean.

I don't eat clams.  I don't like them.  One is allowed to dig 15 clams per person per day.  We dug clams for two days and came home with 60 cleaned, washed clams ready to clook up.  While I don't eat these things I sure had a great time digging.  This makes no sense to me now, in retrospect.  It was cold.  It was cold and windy.  It was cold and windy and usually dark.  It was cold and windy and dark and I didn't know any better that I can wait for summer when it is warm and windy and light.  Oh, it was cold and windy and dark and raining SIDEWAYS.  You can't see that in the picture, but I wasn't sure if I was being sand blasted or power washed.

It was just such a thrill to actually pull one of these clams up out of the sand, and it was so relatively easy and often, that both days when we reached limit I was willing to help out fellow clammers. (Like they needed it, doh)

Of course after a healthy morning outside in the surf digging clams one does well to find a cheap breakfast at the local casino and a couple Bloody Mary's to ward off any colds from being power washed by the sideways rain.  It wasn't until later that we started cleaning the clams.

 It takes several steps to get razor clams ready to eat.

 Ya gotta open 'em up and cut them along the outer edge.  And then cut again along the inner edge.  Then you get to cut away the gills.  Then rinse.  Cut out the digger and rinse that in another bucket while you cut away the gungula.  (I think that's how you spell that highly technical term referring to the intestines(?) of the clam.)  Rinse again.

And rinse and rinse and rinse.  And when you get home it is imperative that you make baked clams for the girl you take to the ocean to dig clams, even if she doesn't like clams.  And it's kind of interesting that she eats 'em because you made them.  Even more interesting is she says she'd eat 'em again too if you wanted.  They weren't so bad.

Reprise:  Several weekends later (months?) she is stealing the manila clams the two of you dug up on a north shore out of your bowl to eat them before you do.

Marathon Madness #12

Really it is madness. I am not alone with the aches a pains that have surfaced since I've started running with the team. I know this because the newsletter had a lovely piece about how to go about taking an ice bath.

This is the stuff we get in our weekly "pep" talk online...

Here’s the deal: during those long training sessions you’re asking a lot from all the muscles in your legs. It’s true that direct icing in certain areas is beneficial, but full immersion has a much deeper and longer lasting effect. When you’re in the ice bath, the cold restricts the blood vessels and in turn reduces the swelling. It’s like a massage from the inside. Once you’re out of the bath and your muscles begin to warm up, the blood delivers fresh oxygen to your muscles aiding in a faster recovery.

The following steps can make the experience one that is less traumatic. First, don’t try to face down a bath full of ice water; it will make it nearly impossible for you to get in the tub. Next, prepare yourself. Leave your workout clothes on and get yourself a nice warm jacket and hat, a cup of something warm (like hot chocolate) to drink, and your favorite reading material. Then, get in without any water and then start filling the tub with cold water and gradually pour the ice (2-3 bags) over your legs. The level of the water should cover your legs and come up to your hips. Stay in the tub for 10-15 minutes. Afterwards make sure you let all your friends know how tough you have become.

Lucky for you your coaches have made this a much more sociable event. Most of the remaining Saturday practices are at locations where we can hop in the water after training. Don’t forget your towel and sandals!!

Your Coaches,

I am astounded at how this is definitely a social event. I am amazed that I run longer when I have someone to pace with. So, yup...here I am standing in the frigid waters of the Northwest...all I can say is, I'm not alone.
But I am waving!

Really it is madness.

Tradition

I know it's supposed to be Monday with all the requisite whining about work and traffic and such. Sorry to disappoint you. I'm feeling pretty refreshed these days, today included. I am still internet access-less at home. I will have this rectified by Thursday or Friday at the latest. At that point I can again add photos to my posting. These "No photo" entries drive me a little nuts. I love the visuals.

This may be slowing me down...or (almost better) it is giving me time to read. I've been reading things like books and newspapers and I've even been doing these amazing feats sitting in a living room comfy chair in the afternoon; as opposed to propped up in bed half an hour before lights out. I got a batch of cookies made yesterday morning - and promptly left them all with my friends and family up in the mountains. They are very very lucky, and now I have to bake a whole new batch for me. (oh yeah, oh darn)

It's a good thing I'm running these days. I say that for all the cookies I've been ingesting. Running has been good. We ran as a team on Saturday - as scheduled. The slow team (over twelve minutes for a mile - that's me) is scheduled to run 160 minutes. I admit it. I cheated. I ran (or walked really really fast, by my standards) for 120 minutes. I'll get the other 40 minutes on there soon.

I found it synchronistic that last year on Easter Saturday (my first year in Seattle) I visited West Seattle and Alki Beach for the first time. It was during that visit that I found rosemary and sage are used as ornamental bushes - and how cool is that! This year on East Saturday, as scheduled, I ran from Lincoln Park north to Alki Beach, and the rosemary and sage are just every where. Without trying it appears Alki has become my personal Easter Saturday tradition. I can live with this. I'd be happy to live with this. Traditions.

Touristy Times

Hanging out at Edmonds Beach in northern King County this last Friday I watched the ferry going in and out of the area. The dock was out of site from where I was. Today I drove back over, made a concerted effort to see the dock. This is the ferry returning from Kingston on the other side of Puget Sound. Far more interesting in person, I assure you.

Edmonds is a bike ride away from where I live. It's the next suburb over. I've been driving around lately checking out my neighborhood and then going a little further each time. I've driven through downtown Edmonds now three times in the last several weeks. It was time to get out of the car and check it out. Today I played tourist. (I still have nine months of my "Year of the Tourist" left) Basically, Edmonds is in bloom. I just wish it photographed as beautiful as it looked.
Now that I think on it Lavender Festivals are going on all over the area. Between the rosemary shrubs and the lavender baking in the sun all day, this place smells great.

As I walked through a kitchen gadgets shop (always worth going into) I found myself laughing out loud. I may have a terrible sarcastic streak in me, because I am still laughing. The kitchen towel had the cutest circa 1960's Woman's Day woman on it and it read, "Why do I have to get married? I didn't do anything wrong."

I still think it's funny.

Nood Racing, Live entertainment and Friend Speak

The view this morning from the beach and the marina was spectacular.  Shilshore Marina, Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains in one breathtaking blink of an eye.  The boats are patiently waiting for the Nood Regatta sponsored by Sperry that will continue this afternoon.  Below is the official's boat - in the harber still, bouys attached.  Parking was tight but available.  I didn't stick around long enough to see any events.  I burnt my skin pretty good yesterday at Richmond Beach; I gave it a rest today.  

As I walked along the marina this morning, I saw my boat.  Okay, so it's not mine yet.  But, if I were to buy a boat, this wooden one is it.  This was the prettiest boat in the harbor.  I lived on a 37" cutter rig back in my college days - teak deck plates, brass portholes, perfect galley for two and a v-berth that was heaven.  I would do it again.  It's just not in my pocketbook right now.In the meantime...I would love to be gushing on about the excellent tunes last night coming out of the Cascade Jazz Trio at the SouldFood Bookstore....But, I'm still trying to figure out how to spell that horn player's name.  Damn!  She was good.  Oh hell, the trio was good, damned good...but I'm holding out till I get my facts straight.  I will tell you all about Brian, Court and John (what a hoppin' bunch) once I figure out who that horn player was.

I didn't make it to meditations this morning as I had planned.  I did them instead on the scrabble rocks harborside.  The shore I was beachcombing last weekend is well underwater this morning.  Itty bitty fish are jumping from the water in silver flashes; it is strange and quiet entertainment.

I've come to realize I can't do it all. 

 There's not enough time to play volleyball on the beach, re-learn sailing, hike and bike and camp the great mountain trails everywhere, write incredible descriptive prose that put photos to shame, attend classes (for anything), garden, read and travel (literally) the world.  No wonder I'm such a great observer.  There's so many amazing things to observe, and not enough time to do them all.

It's been a full and wonderful weekend.  All I need is to go out my door and my day is full.

I did come across a book title that caught my attention for a friend, Tim.  Sometimes it's not what's in the book, the title says it all.  Tim, this book was titled,  Get Out of Your Head & Into Your Life.  I know you've started, I'm just saying...open your door; when you come back in please blog us all & let us know what you saw.  Many, many months ago you posted a photo of your local McD's at night.  I know why you chose that McD's.  I don't remember what you wrote about it, Tim.  I just remember reading your point of view and understanding this AS your point of view.  In any case,  I saw the book and thought of you.  Take that anyway you want, and I hope you are doing well.

For Cara, and to clear up any misconceptions...The art at the UW Hospital...I don't work there.  I merely visted the site for work.  The art was quite a sight, for which I wanted to cite them.  Do you see? (giggling)

Live entertainment is the way to go.  As for last night and the Cascade Jazz Trio - if you are looking for lounge lizard jazz you came to the wrong place.    Pretty hoppin' stuff.  I was impressed.  They'll be in Kent next month.  Info to follow...eventually and with permission.