Easy Thursday

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More family time, doesn't get better than that. 

Premium Repast

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Casie and John took us to one of their favorite places to east, Candard. They had their version of "hot chicken" so of course I had to try it. It wasn't hot chicken, but it was damn good. In fact everything there was excellent, really a great meal.

Focused

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We were told Bridger tends to get a little obsessed with things. At one point she must have thought there was a critter in the fire pit because she stayed like this for quite a while. 

Lunch Break

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John popped down for some lunch with the fam. 

A Paws

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John had to work (from home) today, so we chilled with Casie. Did a little shopping. Had a generally nice time, and of course, as much Bridger as possible.

Bright Coincidence

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sandy's favorite flower is the black-eyed Susan, she even had a pin of one on the lapel of her jacket. As we were walking her back to her car we noticed there was a small field of them growing in one of the parking lot planters. Just a nice touch.

Sandy Dinner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We went out and met Sandy, John's mom, for a nice dinner and conversation. 

Bridge Time

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We got home and rested before dinner, which meant I got my turn at some Bridger time. 

Portland View

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm not quite sure what was going on with this snap of us outside Powell's, since we all seem to be looking in different directions. But we all look pretty happy about it, so it must have been something good. 

Mecca

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After our stroll they took us to Powell's Books. The worlds largest independent bookstore. Wow, do they know us. This place was awesome, two stories of books and coffee. We could have spent hours in there. If we had a Powell's near us we'd go broke and have to have a second house just to store good, old fashioned paper books. 

Not So Weird

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the first full day of our visit to Casie and John they took us to downtown Portland, where we walked around a bit. Contrary to made up controversy by certain right wing morons, it's a safe, clean, very pretty area.

GMB

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bridger and her gramma, sharing a cuddle. 

Hello Bridger

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mari had been here before, but for me it was time to finally meet Bridger in person! 

Hulden Home

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After a fairly long drive we made it to Casie and John's house, and their tranquil back yard. 

Mountain Time

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We eventually took a long walk through the area they live, stopping at this point to get a nice view of Mount Rainier. The time went too quickly before we had to head to our next phase, Oregon! 

Deck Talk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After coffee and hanging out we went back to Jenni and Steve's house and sat on their deck under the tall trees. The weather was nice and it was good to just relax and have a nice, long conversation with people we don't get to talk to that often. And of course Tuppence too.

Taylor Made

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today was all about hanging out with Jenni and Steve after the whirlwind of Rowan's events. We started out meeting them at their favorite, pup friendly coffee place, Taylor Ray's. 

Onward and Upward

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A nice picture of me and Rowan after the ceremony. 

The Graduate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And here Rowan is, getting his diploma! 

Grad Group Rowan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The graduates still gathered, focused in on where Rowan was standing. 

Grad Group

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The entire graduating class of 2025. 

Harebrained Speaker

   

Then the ceremony began with a few speeches from the teachers and a commencement address from Mitch Gitelman, co-founder of gaming company Harebrained Schemes. I actually knew who he was, as I've enjoyed several of their games based in the Shadowrun world. He gave a good talk, being honest about the state of the gaming business and how to keep their passion while still paying their bills.

School Scroll

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As we waited for the ceremony to begin they had a repeating video playing that went through each student and gave a couple examples of things they had worked on. 

Grad Center

 

 

The graduation program's center page that listed the different areas of specialization and who was in them. Rowan was in the school of Game Design and Production.

Grad Cover

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The graduation program's front cover. 

The Theater Of Getting A Diploma

 

 

After lunch we walked to the venue, an old theater they were using. Neat, retro place.

Cheap And Cheerful

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We came downtown early so we could wander around a bit and get some lunch. Near the graduation venue was this old fashioned burger joint called Dick's. It still holds true that random hole-in-the-walls can be the real gems. Great burgers and inexpensive for the location. We went back for another one! 

Small Needle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's been quite a while since we've been back to Seattle. We remember when the Space Needle really stood out on the skyline, now it's a footnote off to the left. 

Graduation Day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here we are, up bright and early, ready to head into Seattle and attend Rowan's college graduation. 

Grad Gathering

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We helped set up for the party, and then had an interesting afternoon hanging out Rowan and the people at the party before heading back to the hotel. 

Eagles Real And Carved

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the deck overlooking the lake is this carved eagle and just as we walked up we got a surprise treat, a huge eagle drifted by right in front of us. Looking up the color pattern it was a juvenile bald eagle which means it was somewhere between 1 and 3 years old.

Lodge Lake

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today's event was the party for Rowan's graduation, held at the communal lodge they have access to. It's right next to this beautiful lake, so not a bad place to have a hang. 

Tup The Pup

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our first real day of the visit. We started out at Jenni and Steve's tiny home and got to meet Tuppence in person! Such a sweet, love sponge of a dog. 

Seven Star Steed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our rental car for the week, a Subaru Outback. 

Sky Mount

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I wish I had leveled out the camera a bit more, but we got this amazing view of Mount Rainier on the way into the Seattle airport.

Correction

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ignore the previous post because the food in first class is next level. This was really good. And look, real glasses! We're getting all bougie up in here. 

Suspect Food Labeling

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So that's why the food is always bad on these things. 

Plane View

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our airplane just pulled up, soon whisking us away to SeaTac. 

Grad Vacation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We're on our way to the Pacific Northwest! First stop is Washington to see my sister and attend Rowan's college graduation. Here's a shot of Nashville airport just past security.

One

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Matthew came down and did a great job painting the fence as always. 

Melville Meal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's hard to get in sometimes because it's so popular, but Moby Dicky's has become one of our favorite places to eat. 

Donation Bins Are Full

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've enjoyed the Two Point games over the years. Wry British humor narrated management sims. The first was a university, the second was a hospital, and this latest one had you building and running a wacky museum. I enjoyed the third one most of all and played it for quite a while. Can't wait to see what they do for their fourth outing.

Double Exposure

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Uncle Mick and Alexa enjoyed their stay so much they added another day to the visit. So we got to hang with them a little more and I got to get this great picture of them with Dad. 

Virginian Visit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Uncle Mick and Alexa swung by on a leg of their current road trip. Always nice to see them! 

Cracker Crew

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And so another week of Mackenzie visiting has come to an end. Here we are at the Cracker Barrel just outside Chattanooga. It's about half way between us an Atlanta so the spot we typically meet at.

Three G

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mackenzie, Mari, and Dad. Three generations of Greers (regardless of last name.) And of course Gigi too. 

Banding Together

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fully mended and back at work today. Of course when work is over, we have a certain guest who loves every kind of board game imaginable.  

Alive

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Better than yesterday but still very tired. Slept most of the day but managed to play a couple of games with the fam. 

Bad

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have food poisoning, about the worst case ever. Mari and Mackenzie have been taking good care of me and brought me Ellie to help.

Pirate Holiday

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mackenzie is visiting for the week and Mari has an eye infection so Lonnie got her some eye patches to see if they might help. Here we are modeling them.