Star Trekkin'.

I have been a casual fan of Star Trek since I caught a few moments of the Next Generation back in the day. Never one to go overboard into fanaticism (with most things), I've maintained that casual interest. Admittedly, one reason for the interest remaining casual has been a decided lack of interest from those around me in the subject matter.

Still, I've kept up as able, following the series, and its eventual retirement from television. I may not have watched, might not be completely up to date, but I am not Star Trek illiterate. I managed to see Star Trek Generations back in the day, and my interest was piqued with Deep Space Nine and Enterprise.

With the new movie, I was curious. My usual phobias about Hollywood crept up though too. The big budget, the hype, the attempt to reboot the series, I was a bit skeptical. Then it got some positive buzz and was released to solid reviews. My friends started talking about it, including some who can be very picky about movies. So my attitude started changing on the movie.

In addition, I started spending some time with a guy that happened to be a huge Star Trek fan. I got to see some of Enterprise and talk with him about the new movie. I got to dip my toe into the Trek universe a little more, and I found it to my liking. So, when seeing the the new movie came up in casual conversation, I was ready and willing to go.

So, on Saturday, June 13, I finally saw the damned movie. We went to Cinerama in downtown Seattle. It was an early show, 9am, thanks to a film festival, but we managed to drag ourselves out of bed and to the theater on time. There wasn't that many people thankfully, and I was able to focus on the movie.

I loved it. That's the easy answer. I did go in with somewhat low expectations, but still seeing how the story unfolded, I was completely hooked. The soundtrack complimented the movie perfectly, blending well with what was happening during the film. The visual effects didn't distract either, which has been a huge complaint of mine with recent films.

I could go on, but, yeah, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I have been hoping to see it again, but time and money as been an issue. Going to an early show, the movie was cheap, and spending over ten bucks on a second viewing is harder to justify. Hopefully it'll work out, but if not, there's always the DVD.

I also got to see Star Trek: First Contact later that Saturday. Aside from some horrible dialogue, I was glad to add it to my list of viewed movies. As time moves forward, I am hoping to chip away at the large library of Star Trek episodes and movies still waiting for my eyes.

Vancouver on a Saturday.

SeaBus Leaving Vancouver, originally uploaded by rat79.

One day, action-packed. Kind of, sort of, maybe. As mentioned previously, I sold my car in March, and have been enjoying the car-free lifestyle. It has meant a smaller circle of habitation, but I have adapted and adjusted as needed.

Recently, I have had the chance to get out a bit more. I've been fortunate to trek out to Mt. Rainier National Forest, I have been braving the wilds of the Seattle area bus system and the limited commuter rail as well. I have found ways around my car-less state, one that I consider more a blessing than a curse.

Saturday, I was able to go up to Vancouver, BC. Starting at Lynn Canyon, our journey took us on a nice long (time-wise, not distance-wise) across a suspension bridge, up several flights of wooden stairs, by a lake, and near some falls. After a stop for lunch, and siphon coffee (drool), we left the car in North Vancouver and utilized the SeaBus to get into Vancouver proper.

Highlights included riding the AquaBus, Granville Island, a walk along the waterfront, walking through downtown, dinner on Davie Street, Gastown, and a beautiful rainbow. Leaving Vancouver, as pictured, via the SeaBus, ended the journey. The ride back was easier thanks to a quick border crossing, and I was back in Seattle by one in the morning.

It was a great journey though, made better by being able to share it. This last month or so has been an interesting turn in my social life, and as a result I have been able to enjoy myself a bit more.

It's Complicated.

Hey,
As some (most) of my readers know, I've spent since Saturday in a very sick state. While recovering, the short tale is I still am on a mainly liquid diet. Which means fluctuating energy levels and moods, hunger, crankiness, and pain. I've not been a very pleasant rat this week. Coupled with some pressing work issues and the lack of available sick time (thank you, surgeries!), I've been soldiering through, working as able.
That said, the little "We've Stepped Out" sign is officially up for this blog. I hope to start in with updates again next week, but it might in reality be another week before it happens. Just letting you know.

June 13: Seven From the Maze.

June 7: warm, secure. pack, lunch, camera. tunnel, bus, spit? why? transfer, Auburn. car, talk. forest, Mt. Rainier. rock beds, groves, Silver Falls. back, Queen of the Desert. home, part, catch up.

June 8: photos, chat, done. recharged. office, plot out. develop, email, feeds. full week, chat, coordinate. bus, cool studio. email, IM, phone. tofu, sauce, rice. Muppets from Space, tears. usual, good night.

June 9: alarm, yes, awake, in an hour. putter, ready. API, mySQL, 8.3, testing. work, ick, not well. home, pjs. vit c + Shock Treatment = rest. tea, chat, sleep, phone, restful.

June 10: alive, alert. shave, tea. walk, music. work-work. API? hmm. worse? better. bus, 15th, meet. Broadway, toys. plan, Teapot? eat, couch, pussy willows. hold, drift, part? kitty, go. warmth, sleep.

June 11: one eye open. morning. out door, bus. read, downtown. stats, email, bullet point. numbers, virtualization. new guy, lunch, meeting. layout, deadline. check-in, candor, coffee. proof, tapes, home. writing, chatting.

June 12: work, geo-target, suppress, send. next week? plan, one down, extra to do. validate? bumber, refer, ugh. home, feeling? eh. run down? maybe. dinner, relax, rest. out, overnight, sleep? awake.

June 13: Matrix, drift. Star Trek = AWESOME. again! I wish. errands, rest. brunch, homemade. Star Trek: First Contact. home? rest. Volunteer? sure. chat, hang. home, fever, sore. Nyquil, delivered. sleep achieved.

June 11: The Thursday Four Hundred.

So, slowly, this blog seems to be turning into a melting pot of late-night ramblings, weekly recaps, random photos, and bleeding hearts. I guess that's what a blog is though, right? So, I thought I would add to the fun, and introduce the Thursday Four Hundred. What is that, you ask? A simple - ha - four hundred word story, posted on... I think you can guess. Anyway, here's the inaugural one.

His foot forced the pedal, willing the weakened four-cylinder engine beyond its limit. The car groaned and crept forward, the top of the hill within reach. Together, through the driver's determination and the car's dwindling horsepower, the car heaved forward and over the hill's crest.

Before him laid a vast expanse of roadway, a maze of alleys, a intertwined network of intersections, dead-ends, and one-way pathways, their destinations unknown. The old japoly had made it 1754 miles, mainly through a combination of duct tape, numerous quarts of oil, and the kindness of strangers. Now, his destination in reach, it coasted slowly downhill, gasping for its last breath.

Where to start? The memories had faded, the march of progress remapping the city's familiarity. The old haunts gone, the new development omnipresent. Little snippets remained, a sign post here, a tree over there, but everything slightly askew. Everything a little too polished, a little too... different.

His hands guided the weathered steering wheel, his mind taking over where his senses failed. Pausing at an unfamiliar yield sign, the right blinker's chime the only thing familiar to his weary body, he made the obligatory glance either direction. A block later, he slid the car toward the curb, the carvings on a aged tree trunk marking his stop.

The engine stalled before he could shift into park. The car's will, unlike the driver's, had been broken. It's get up and go had officially gotten up and went. The door creaked three-quarters of the way, jamming at its usual spot. He eased out and stepped up onto the curb.

There, faint under years of grime, graffiti, and neglect, tucked into the base of the tree was the familiar glint. The edge of worn metal box blending into the tree's roots, nearly invisible to the passersby. He kneeled down and worked the box up out of the earth. The moist soil gave, yielding its bounty to his worn hands. Upon retrieving the box, he collapsed upon the freshly turned soil, leaning against the tree.

He worked the edges of the box, its clasp long rusted. Fishing his keys from his pocket, he worked the edge of one into the box's crease. Slowly it creaked open, a cautionary creak escaping its innards. Inside, a yellowed scrap of paper. Scrawled in lazy, looping letters, the black ink still strong. Its message? "Tag, you're it."