The Great Seattle Snowstorm/Ice-storm of 2012

It has been awhile since I have blogged. The main reason being a lack of interesting things going on in my day to day life. Roger and I are on different work schedules right now and we have unfortunately drifted into a ships in the night existence.  He works days and I work nights with different days off, so that means that we don't get out and do anything together. You tend to fall into the day-to-day rut of your routine existence. It happens to us all every now and again. So how do you make time for that quality companionship, a blizzard and ice storm!

It started out nicely enough, fluffy snowflakes falling through the pines. Starting to coat the branches. A pretty winter wonderland worthy of a Currier and Ives print.

Then it kept snowing. The roads iced up and we were stuck at home. No problem, quality time!! We lit a fire and got ready for a nice cuddly snowcation.

Charlie loved it, we took him for a walk in the snow and he met some friends out playing in it too.

Then it snowed some more!!!

And some more.......

At this point, walking the dog was not so much fun.

But we are still having fun at this point. Can't go to work, so we're gonna watch some movies and snuggle and watch it snow. Great couple of days. Then the Ice Storm hit.  I have never experienced the dreaded ice storm before and do not want to again. A freezing rain fell as the temperature plummeted over night and left us with a half inch if ice coating the six or so inches of snow that we had already. Everything became encased in ice.

The weight of the ice and the existing snow in the trees caused the branches to start breaking off, even entire trees came crashing down and what that means is .......no power!  The lines came down beneath the trees. So we had no power for some time and again had to huddle in front of the fire place wrapped in blankets to keep warm.  Thank goodness we truly enjoy spending time together, snowed in with no electricity, heat or hot food for a couple of days. No showers either, phew. So we read alot. Talked. Played Scrabble on my Kindle Fire. And tried to keep each other warm while convincing Charlie that he really didn't need to go out to pee.  That was tricky on the very slick and icy road. In the silence all you could hear was the wind and the loud cracking of the tree limbs. Very scary sound.

A huge branch broke off of this tree in our backyard.

This one fell and blocked the street and was drug to the side.

  So we ended up trapped in the house from Tuesday night until Saturday morning, a great little vacation. And that quality alone time I was wishing for with my dear husband. This week we are back to work and normal life, the sun is actually shining and all is right with the world again. But I actually will miss the dinners of cold cereal by candle light evenings that we shared during the Great Seattle Ice Storm of 2012.

As Winter Creeps In.......

December 22nd brought us the Winter Solstice and the shortest day of the year. The official start of winter. I am not thrilled by the thought of the coldest and wettest months that lie ahead, but am heartened by the fact that the days will start getting longer from here on out! And truth be told, we have been having a rather pleasant winter. Many more bright sunny days than is the norm for the Pacific Northwest.

Although we have had some really cold sub freezing days and nights, they have been relatively dry.  Somehow the clear and crisp winter air is much clearer on a sunny day than the hazy days of summer, making for a spectacular view. But all of that is about to change! We are waiting for our first snow of the season this weekend. It is all the buzz and everyone is talking about it. I would say that 90% of those folks are excited about it. Unfortunately, Roger and I are not among them. I love the beauty of the snow out the window blanketing the pine trees, however the reality of the cold that comes with it while trudging along walking Charlie is not quite so romantic. Charlie however, loves to romp in the snow and it appears that there is alot more sniffing to be done.  As well as a bunch of Pee-Mail to catch up on. I call it doggy Facebook along our street. If you have visited us, you can understand our transportation dilemma on an icy day.  We live on a little dead-end lane that runs down the hillside, so if the roads are icy, nobody gets out of the street. We were iced in last November, the week leading up to Thanksgiving and watched several people give it a try. One brave soul (spelled i-d-i-o-t) in a big 4-wheel drive truck tried to make the top and slid sideways down the neighbors driveway. He was stuck there for a couple of days.




The snowy sky is forming and you can smell the changes in the air!


So, I am planning on a grocery run in the morning so that we can snuggle in for a few days and watch it snow. Hooray for 3 day weekends!!!! 
As long as we don't lose power, it will be cozy and romantic....
hot cocoa by the fire and movies and football.......

until Charlie needs to poop!

Christmas in B-Town

It's a holly jolly Christmas!! Christmas in B-Town is a very old fashioned and romantic place to be. It has all of the old world charm of a Norman Rockwell painting.  Although we have no snow this year and the weather is relatively pleasant. Meaning it is above freezing and pretty much dry!  It still has the "Christmas Feeling" around town.  I think that this is because of the small town feeling that Burien has.  The quaint main street that traverses Olde Burien and the small businesses that comprise our business district.  They are all dressed up for the holidays:

The window display at Poggi Bonsi the greatest kitchen store ever!

Burien Books- Some of us still like the smell of ink and paper and the feel of a real book in your hands.

So, I did my "Shop Local" business today in Olde Burien. Shopped at Poggi Bonsi, a truly gourmet store with products from around the world. Harold and Marge,Clothing, Accessories & Gifts



A hip boutique destination for Guys, Gals and Youngsters alike.

Also Poggi Bonsi!

And as you stroll around town, it really gives you a way back when Christmas feeling.  And the people are in that spirit as well. Merry Christmas shouts a passer by.  The shopkeepers as well, wish you a happy holiday and you have not purchased anything from them. It's a very neighborly way of life here in B-Town.
It reminds me of the old movies that I so love on TMC.  Complete strangers wishing you well, for no reason at all. Thats Burien and why we love it so much!  Only 10 miles from downtown Seattle and a million miles away.  I keep waiting for Jimmy Stewart to run by saying "Merry Christmas Tin Room, Merry Christmas SkinPerfect, Merry Christmas Key Bank!"  This is the time of year that living in a small town makes the most sense. And speaking of the greatest movie of all time...... the Tin Theater is playing it right now.
The Tin Theater:

Enjoy 2nd-run movies at The Tin Theater, classics and foreign films and offering your favorite beverage while sitting in a intimate 48-seat theater.
The theater lobby is open and features another
bar and wine shop, The Tin Cellars, which is open
Tuesday through Saturday 11am to 5pm.
Thats right!! A bar at the Theater!!! And if you speak to the bartender beforehand, Jeremy will bring you a refill to your seat! Just tip him very well!!!!

Thats Right, on the big screen!



IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE!!!!!!

My children will tell you of the torture of sitting through the mandatory screening of this movie throughout their entire childhood.  There would be signals at the dinner table, Mom is making us watch "The Movie" tonight.  Gee Mom, I have homework I have to do, a Scout meeting, Water Polo practice, Diarrhea, narcolepsy, anything they could think of to not have to watch this 20 hour long old black and white movie starring nobody they had ever heard of.  It became a joke in our family, stay away...THE MOVIE is on tonight! Thank goodness the movie came out on DVD. Now I can pop it in when everyone is at home! 

They think the coast is clear and all of a sudden-it's on!

Then they grew up. Alex joined the Marines. And his first Christmas away they had a showing on base of "THE MOVIE"

He cried like a baby and called to say that he wished he was with his family watching the movie with us. Even though he was in a very different place, watching It's a Wonderful Life made him feel closer to us. And made him feel connected to the family even though he was miles away.

Peter went away to school.  Similar situation to his brother, loved watching "THE MOVIE" at Christmastime. Made him feel connected to us at the holidays.

So Last Christmas, I bought them a copy of the movie and sent it to them. We all watched it at the same time while talking on the phone. Me in B-Town, Alex in Arizona and Peter in North Carolina.  It is one of the closest family experiences we have ever had. And they no longer dread the time they are forced to watch "THE MOVIE", it is a time to cherish the experience of holidays past and future. A time of shared tradition. Special time we spent together.

So I now look forward to terrorizing my future grandchildren with "THE MOVIE"

"We're going to Grandmas kids. Is she going to make us watch that old movie Dad? Gee, I hope so son."

So if you have a tradition at the holidays that the younger generation is trying to shrug off.......

DON"T LET THEM!!!!!!

They are the ones that will be on the losing end of that proposition and will lament it in the future.

And if you are a young person that feels that your old fashioned parents are forcing you to partake in some antiquated Christmas tradition, hang onto that, someday you will be trying to relive that quaint tradition and recreating that for your own family!

The ties that bind are no stronger than Holiday ties and traditions!

I will lasso you the moon!

Happy Holidays from me... Denise in B-Town and my family......

Roger, Alex, Peter and Charlie

http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/prvF5MsHgtex70ZG





Jami Luvfest, Pittsburgh Part 2

I left off in my last post with day 2 in Pittsburgh and our travels as tourists around the city as we waited to surprise Jami at her annual fundraiser for the Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, Jami Luvfest.  Each year Jami uses her birthday celebration to honor our mother, Billie Marlowe doing what Billie did best-feed people.

Jami Luvfest Facebook Page

Five years ago the Marlowe family was irrevocably altered. Suddenly, we were adult orphans clinging to each other in our shared grief. This past weekend, we honored our mother and celebrated the best she gave: Me, Wally, Betsy, Connie, Jami... and all the "children" she adopted along the way. You are still missed Billie, but the tears aren't quite as bitter.

The event was held at a very cool venue, 720 Music, Clothing and Cafe in the Lawrenceville area of Pittsburgh, They offer a carefully curated mix of vinyl/cd's, indie clothing designers, off beat magazines and books and great tasting coffee, tea and treats. If you are in the area, stop by and say hi to Nate and listen to some very cool tunes.  

But back to Luvfest and the surprise!  We had arranged with Betsy and Wally that we would cab up to Lawrenceville and hide out in a pub a few doors down from the party until the right moment to make our appearance. We got the signal and made our way in the door as MC Marcel was introducing and thanking folks that were involved in the event. And as he was talking about special guests from afar, Jami turned around and spotted us. I think the photo describes the moment better than words can.

And yes, I am crying and Jami is crying and Betsy in the background is crying.  That didn't last too long though because it was a party after all! And it was a great party!! Lots of entertainment including the most awesome Kristen Ross, a performance artist and belly dancer in the Pittsburgh area.

A duet to "I Can't Dance" with Kristen and my brother Marcel....

A great band later in the evening, and most importantly, plenty of generous people donating to the Pittsburgh food bank!

A very successful evening raising a bunch of money to feed the hungry. Local food banks do so much for our communities and the folks that rely on them to survive. For 1 in six Americans hunger is a reality.Many people believe that the problems associated with hunger are confined to small pockets of society, certain areas of the country, or certain neighborhoods, but the reality is much different.


Right now, millions of Americans are struggling with hunger. These are often hard-working adults, children and seniors who simply cannot make ends meet and are forced to go without food for several meals, or even days.

One of the most common misconceptions is the assumption that if someone is hungry, that means they do not have a job and are living on the streets. What most people don’t understand is that anyone can experience hunger. It is a silent epidemic that affects 49 million Americans.


According to the US Census Bureau, in 2010, 21 million people lived in working-poor families. This translates into nearly 9.6 percent of all American families living below 100 percent of poverty have at least one family member working . In fact, 36 percent of client households served by the Feeding America network have one or more adults working.

The hidden nature of hunger and poverty makes us less aware of its prevalence in the suburbs, but hunger does exist in the suburbs and it is growing.


The growth in poverty and hunger in the suburbs is caused by the lure of job growth, the revitalization of central cities making city life too expensive for many poor people, and the creation of cheaper housing in "inner ring" suburbs, as middle class people move further out.

The problem of childhood hunger is not simply a moral issue. Child hunger hampers a young person's ability to learn and becomes more likely to suffer from poverty as an adult. Scientific evidence suggests that hungry children are less likely to become productive citizens

So become involved with your local food bank, their buying power allows a $1.00 donation provides from 5 to 15 pounds of food. So donate or volunteer at your local food bank. A great source of information is
Feeding America . A one stop informational and organizational page that will give you the facts on hunger in America and how you can help. With a network of 200 member food banks across the country, Feeding America supplies more the 3 billion pounds of food and grocery products annually. One $25.00 donation to Feeding America will provide 200 meals. 

So as you plan your holiday feasts this season, think of those in need and make a donation. Your turkey dinner will taste that much better!

Have Yinz Ever Been Dahntahn or the Sahside? Adventures in Pittsburgh, Part 1

If the title has you confused, you are not from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Southwestern Pa has a language all its own. Over this past week Roger and I traveled to the "Burgh to surprise my youngest sister Jami for her birthday. Each year she forgoes the traditional birthday celebration and instead holds a public party for the benefit of the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank to honor our late mother, Billie Marlowe.

More on the party later and the great venue in Part 2

We arrived a day early, so my other sister Betsy, picked us up at the airport and arranged for our lodging..... second tent from the left!

Just kidding, we actually stayed at the Wyndham Grand Hotel right on the point where the Three Rivers merge.  Right next to Point State Park and across the river from Heinz Field, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The downtown area of Pittsburgh is a great walking city. And we really explored it. The first evening we met up with
Marcel Lamont Walker and Wayne Wise.  Marcel was the originator of the surprise idea and a very close friend to Jami. Both talented Artists and Authors. We had met in San Diego a couple of years ago when they traveled west for the San Diego Comicon. Jami called me and said that a couple of her friends were coming out to San Diego and she asked us to put them up for the week. We were assured that they were only slightly weird and not serial killers. Since they were not wearing StarTrek uniforms and speaking in Klingon when we picked them up at the airport, we decided to go ahead and let them stay. We had a great time with them and have been great friends ever since. As you may recall, I mentioned Wayne in my last blog and his novel, Scratch.



M.L.Walker and Wayne Wise

We spent a great evening having dinner at NOLA Pittsburgh with the guys and Betsy, a New Orleans stlye creole restaurant in Market Square, then headed back to the hotel to hide out for a day. We subsequently found out that Jami was right across the Square having dinner with a friend at the same time, could have blown the whole surprise!



View from the hotel room of the river and thats PNC Park on the left.

 After a restful nights sleep, we set off to discover Pittsburgh. Betsy was busily making all of the great food that we would indulge in at the Luvfest that evening and helping Jami set up the venue, so Roger and I set off on foot for the day of playing tourist.  First on the list of priorities, a true Pittsburgh experience...Primanti Brothers Sandwiches.  If you have never had a Pittsburgh style sandwich, they put the whole meal on the bread. Meat, fries and coleslaw all in one sandwich. And Primanti's is the originator of this phenomena! A Pittsburgh institution since 1933.

With a belly full of this huge sandwich, it was time to hit the streets. We wandered out of Market Square to find that Pittsburgh was having a Veterans Day Parade.  I could see the barricades a block or so away, past a giant Macy's store and we headed in that direction. What a great parade, plenty of marching bands and all of the different veterans groups represented.

After the parade, we walked around downtown a little. The architecture of the old buildings and churches was amazing. Something you don't see on the west coast.

I just love the old stone churches, they have great character and there is just a more awe inspiring feeling that you get from them. We made our way through the city until we hit the river. The Mighty Monongahela! So it was turn back to the hotel, or keep going and cross the bridge. We opted to cross over to the southside where all of the great nightspots are at Station Square. Of course as we appraoched the river, it started to snow. And the wind was whipping. At this point it seemed wise to duck into a handy tavern to warm up with a toddy.  A little fortitude to cross on the open bridge. e made our way across and found a Ducky Tour booth and decided that was a great way to see the highlight of the city without wearing out the rest of our shoe leather. And it was a great choice, the tour covered some of the history of the city, as well as the sports venues and a float down the river, Although a bit chilly, still better than covering it on foot!

Station Square across the river

Downtown from the river

Heinz Field home of the Steelers

All in all a great tour. Lasting about 90 minutes, we concluded back at Station Square right in front of the Hard Rock Cafe. Time for another hot toddy!

After some fortification from an Isish Coffee, it was time to head back across the bridge and to the hotel to get ready for Jami Luvfest in Lawrenceville. Part 2 of the blog will be a recounting of that marvelous event and the actual surprise. Stay tuned!

The rains are back, boo hoo.

It seems that the all too brief Seattle summer of 2011 is officially over. The rain has been pouring down for the last two days and the temperature has taken a dip. The autumn season is underway and the leaves will soon be changing. This weekend brought the Fall Carnival to B-Town and Oktoberfest is right around the corner which includes the B-Town Brat Trot, a charity 5k race benefitting the Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence, Safe Kids King County and Mary Bridge Childrens Hospital.




Our favorite eatery The Tin Room Bar puts this on each year and it's a blast. There will be a German Oompah band, beer and brats. The yodeling dominatrix will be there. Everything a great Oktoberfest needs. So there that to look forward to in the coming days. I will give you a full report.  But in the meantime it's chilly, rainy and windy. So I have made the first fire of the season and curled up with a good book. I am going to use my blog this week to give a shameless plug to my good friend Wayne Wise, the author of my current read, Scratch.

Wayne Wise is a writer, artist, seeker, shaman and magician, or at least claims to be in casual conversation. He has a BA in History and an MA in Clinical Psychology and in his life has worked as a counselor, an administrative assistant for a state legislator, an inter-office mail courier, a freelance comic book inker, and a department store Santa. He wrote music and comics-based articles for several local news mags and a couple of national magazines. In 1993 he and his business partner/collaborator Fred Wheaton self-published the comic book "Grey Legacy". In 2010 he wrote and drew a follow-up called "Grey Legacy Tales". Raised in rural southwestern Pennsylvania he is currently employed by the Eisner Award-nominated comic book store Phantom of the Attic in Pittsburgh and recently taught a course in Comics and Pop Culture as a guest lecturer at Chatham University. You can read his Blog at www.wayne-wise.com.










I am really enjoying the book and highly recommend it to you. A horror/fantasy  fiction that is entertaining and well written. If you are a Stephen King or Dean Koontz fan you will like Scratch.  Great charactor development that plays on our most primal fears. I also have to disclose that the illustrations are done by my brother, Marcel Lamont Walker. The story is:



Like all small rural towns, Canaan, West Virginia has its secrets: lies, infidelities, and even murder are kept hidden in the minds of the residents there. But there is one secret they will go to any lengths to protect.


A little girl named Gabrielle, believed to be an angel, has been kept chained in the church basement for over a century now, prisoner of an ancient pact. Unaging and unearthly beautiful, Gabrielle has the power to heal.


A madman pursues outsiders Adam and Holly Mansfield to Canaan, intent on kidnapping their daughter. Once there they discover there is one other secret in Canaan.


Chained deep in the heart of the mountain is another being, a demon called Scratch. If Gabrielle is freed, Scratch will be as well, and his vengeance and evil will consume the town.

A great read.