ALICE IN WONDERLAND - THE MOVIE

Last night, Pattie took me out to see Alice in Wonderland at the IMAX theater at the Pacific Science Center.  The 8 p.m. showing was a sell-out and rightly so.  This was a wonderfully entertaining movie and it is my early pick for "favorite movie of 2010."  I love it, completely!  The 3D effects really made this movie great and I'm now convinced that 3D is here to stay.

The big IMAX screen is hard to beat.  Excellent sound, picture, and steep stadium seating.  With Roti Indian Restaurant nearby, this is a theater that we should be visiting more often, and will.  It is always fun to visit the Seattle Center and Lower Queen Anne.

5 stars!  One of the best movies I've ever seen!

THE OSCAR AWARDS

Last night, Pattie and I returned to Seattle to spend the evening with two of our dearest friends who are also very committed film fans.  This would be the first time that I have watched the Oscars in years, if not ever.

I enjoyed the broadcast, largely because hostess, Bonnie, was able to fast forward through the commercials.  I don't think I could have seen it any other way.  This was the second night in a row that I had seen television.  The Oscar Awards were good, but they came in second to Hockey Night In Canada, which I had enjoyed in our hotel room the night before.

I see a lot of film and based on last nights results, I have a lot to learn.  Sandra Bullock, best actress in a leading role?  That was a gagger, but I have to admit that I didn't see the movie.  The previews had been enough to know that Blindside wasn't a movie for me.  The clips that were shown at the Oscar's didn't convince me any differently.

Jeff Bridges, best actor in a leading role?  That performance I did see.  Give my vote to Colin Firth - Jeff Bridges isn't even close.  There was nothing interesting about Jeff Bridges character, the script, or for that matter, the movie.

Last but not least, let me weigh in on The Hurt Locker.  Along with Crazy Heart, I rated The Hurt Locker three stars out of five.  It didn't work for me.  In The Hurt Locker, I didn't believe the story.  It seemed over-the-top, Clint Eastwood-like, over sensationalized.  I'll concede to best direction, but best picture?  I was glad when it was over.

If there is one thing I've learned over my years of being an avid film goer, it is that I am clearly not of main stream tastes.  Mostly, Pattie and I sit in empty theaters enjoying films that few people have heard of.  At the movies, we may be alone, but we are not lonely.  I'll opt for a sub-titles and a better story anytime.

As a note:  My two favorite films of 2009 even surprised me.  Both mainstream, and both sci-fi, my picks are Star Trek and District 9.

A MORNING IN PORT ANGELES, WASHINGTON

Port Angeles is impressive.  A beach walkway that goes on for 13 miles, a public art program which has placed dozens of sculptures throughout the downtown, many restaurants, and scenic views.  Ferries take passengers to Victoria, just 90 minutes away.  I also liked the way industry is part of the urban landscape, both paper milling and maritime.

I can't wait for Pattie and I to return here with our bikes.  Two nights at the Red Lion, a day of riding the coastal bike trail, and a day excursion to Victoria, this will be a trip to really look forward to!

While we were in Port Angeles on Sunday, we visited the Port Angeles Fine Art Center and Art Outside, which is the surrounding sculpture garden.  Here one walks through the woods and finds sculpture tucked into the landscape in every direction.  This is an excellent sculpture park!  Both Pattie and I really enjoyed our time here.  I left inspired and committed to submitting an application to have one of my totems included in their collection.

Washington State has other towns that draw the tourists, but they don't have anything on Port Angeles.  I have put this city at the top of my overnight excursion list.  Nearby and not, Port Angeles has the big water to it's front and the Olympic Mountains to it's rear.  Port Angeles is really an amazing and interesting town.  I'm really glad to have added it to my regional travel repertoire.

RIALTO BEACH - OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK

After our morning hike on the Bogachiel River Trial, we drove to La Push and the ocean.  The weather was perfect, mid 50's and sunny.

La Push was fine, but we were really wowed by Rialto Beach.  Nearby is the Mora Campgrounds, which would serve as a very adequate base for some fine beach hiking.

Once, many years ago, I hiked this beach.  That was very early in my Washington life and  it's amazing that I haven't been back until now.  This beach is wonderful and I really look forward to returning and spending a day on a long walk here.

The tide is an issue as is the weather.  I would only leave knowing that the tide would be out for the day and you might as well as for sun, too.  I'm not likely to get back to the Pacific Coast in the next few months, and I'll leave it to the tourists in the summer, but for a nice day in September, this could be just the destination for a full day hike.   Note:  Don't forget to lodge at the Olympic Suites in Forks - it's an excellent place to stay.

HIKING THE BOGACHIEL RIVER TRAIL

Just a few minutes south of Forks is Bogachiel State Park.  Instead of turning right into the park, a left will turn you inland and in a few miles you will reach the trail head for the Bogachiel River Trail.

On Saturday, Pattie and I spent a wonderful morning on this trail.  We started early, walked for about three miles, lounged and ate along side of the river, and then returned the three miles back to the car.  On this trail one can walk for miles and next time we will go a little further.  It is a wonderful trail, well maintained, easy to walk, and beautiful.  How often do you find yourself hiking in a world-class rain forest?

This was one of the most enjoyable hikes I have ever had, and we had the trail completely to ourselves.  I write about it here as my reminder to hurry back.  This is an outing I would gladly repeat.

SEATTLE TO RUBY BEACH - 163 MILES

Life is a full-time job and sometimes, out of the blue, you realize you have a neglected need.  That happened to me on Wednesday, last week, when I realized that Pattie and I had not been to the ocean for over two years.  I needed an ocean fix!  When I checked the forecast and saw that the weekend weather would be mid 50's and sunny, I started planning a trip.

We departed on Friday at noon after enjoying a leisurely breakfast at our favorite morning restaurant, Cafe Press and provisioning at Trader Joe's.  Seattle to Edmonds just took a few minutes and there we caught the ferry to Kingston, on the Kitsap Peninsula.  A few minutes further along (and just 50 miles on the odometer) we were passing through Port Gamble and on our way to Hwy 101 and the Olympic Peninsula. The weather was great and there was no traffic!

I had booked us two nights at the Olympic Suites in Forks.  The complex and our room was awesome.  We had a king size suite (room 206) that was quiet, comfortable, and huge.  Also, only $150 for two nights!!!  (For the next two nights, we were very happy here.)

After a short check-in, and with an hour to go until sunset, we headed south to Ruby Beach in the Olympic National Park.  We had this wonderful beach virtually to ourselves as there were only two other couples present.

  Arriving to the smell of the sea and to feel the ocean breeze was really wonderful. We felt like we were days away from our life in Seattle and Vashon Island instead of just five hours.  If we had turned around and headed back to town at this point it would have been worth the trip, but we still had two great days coming our way.

ZAKIR HUSSAIN & THE MASTERS OF PERCUSSION IN SEATTLE

Thank you, Zakir Hussain.  That was one great performance that you offered us last night at the Moore Theater.

It's hard to believe that you are 58 years old, so youthful in appearance, but your talent certainly does reflect 45 years of playing.  You were brilliant!!

This was just the kind of concert that I like, traditional and performed by the best musicians in the world.  They did not mention that they had CD's to sell, nor was there a banner promoting a sponsor.  It was pure, wonderful, music!

The Moore Theater is a great place to see a show such as this, and the Seattle Theater Group does a great job bringing unique and wonderful performers to Seattle.  The Moore is small and unglamorous, and has been home to some of the best performances that I've seen in twenty years on the Seattle beat.  Without the Moore and the STG, this city would only entertain a handful of "blockbuster" type acts, which I'm very rarely interested in, nor willing to pay for.

Once a year, or so, we get a world-class musician like Zakir Hussain come through town.  His performance had been on my calendar for about six months and I had an inkling that it would be the highlight of my theater season.  Last night, he proved that to be true.  This was the best performance that I've seen for some time (with the exception of The Russian Symphony Orchestra, which I raved about recently.)  What's next, I don't know, but I'll guess that I find plenty to be excited about at this years Moisture Festival, which is just days away.  The Moisture Festival may not be in Mr. Hussain's league, but good fun and certainly entertainment which I classify and honor as "folk."

AN ENNEAGRAM WORKSHOP

On Sunday, Pattie hosted a workshop at our home which was on the very interesting subject of the Enneagram.   The enneagram is a unique personality system that provides a powerful lens for cultivating self-awareness and self-management.  This system reveals that there are 9 core personality types and each is organized around a very different focus of attention and energy.

Our teacher was Ms. Donna Frindt, who is a certified teacher of the enneagram.  She was trained by two of the modern authorities on the enneagram, Helen Palmer and Dr. David Daniels.  Our group consisted of ten people, all interested in personal growth and self-awareness, but none, other than Pattie and myself, with much knowledge of this particular system.

For over three hours, Donna introduced us to the system, the 9 personality types, and the reasons why this is useful information.  Donna's presentation was excellent.  She delivered the information in an articulate and easy to understand language, and had all of us deeply engaged in discovering our own type and equally interested in the remaining eight types.  The afternoon was a huge success, everyone thrilled with Donna, her information and it's prospects for improving each of our lives.  Without question, we will be following up with a more detailed workshop, soon.

For Pattie and I, the enneagram is one of our primary self-management tools.  We've both read extensively on the topic and it's practical usefulness has been apparent to us for several years.  Along with Treasure Mapping and the practice of writing the Morning Pages (Julia Cameron's, The Artist's Way), the Enneagram is a core part of my awareness practice.

Certainly, I would encourage anyone to explore it's potential, but on the other hand, I'm beginning to learn that encouraging others to do anything which would lead to personal growth is an exercise in futility.  Those that want to live with ease and prosperity are already doing so.  Everyone picks there own comfort level, no matter how uncomfortable.  For those daring enough to improve their situation, the enneagram is an excellent tool for self-knowledge and an improvement in quality of life.

ANOTHER TOTEM INSTALLED ON VASHON ISLAND

Yesterday, I installed a totem in a garden on Vashon Island.  The owner of this commissioned piece provided me with objects to include and gave me an idea of concepts that she wanted the totem to convey.  In this case, the beach, the medicine wheel, and goddess mythology.  I topped the totem with birds, which the owner loves, but cannot feed because of her bird-hunting cat.

The totem is in the garden and positioned where it can be seen from the kitchen window and sink, and from the room she sits in in the morning.  In the garden, it can be appreciated from many angles, sometimes with this cherry tree in the background or with a magnificent sweep of Puget Sound.

This is my second totem installation in two days so I'm pretty proud of myself.  I sure like being in art mode and continue to have plenty of work waiting for me in the studio.  Here's hoping the success can last!

A SUCCESSFUL ART DELIVERY

Yesterday, I delivered Totem #2 to Arrowhead Gardens in West Seattle.  There's nothing quite like delivering a finished piece of art (and getting paid for it!)

This totem is a partner to the totem photoed below, which is Totem #1.  My photo is not great, but that's an owl on the top (a Jim Beam decanter, which I found in an antique mall.) In total, there will be five totems in this grouping.  These two sculptures are positioned outside of the main entrance and greet every visitor.

As I was arriving yesterday, a lady asked me what was on top of my car.  When I told her it was a match to the totem a few feet away, she went on and on about how much she enjoyed seeing that piece every day.  That is just the kind of affirmation and response that I'm hoping for.  

I'll be delivering the third totem in three weeks and have more to say on this project then.  That will be the first time I see Totem #2 upright and in position.