AndyO Blog

On Wednesday we had a parade in downtown Seattle to celebrate the Super Bowl 48 Champion Seahawks.

Now, we've had some big events in Seattle, like the parade for the Supersonics in 1979, as well as the usual concerts and presidential rallies. But nothing has ever approached this order of magnitude. This was one of those astronauts-driving-down-Canyon-of-Heroes-in-New-York-City parades! In the end, more than 700,000 fans converged on downtown Seattle to pay tribute to the Hawks.

I wasn't one of those fans, as I needed to go to work (plus I'm not that big on crowds anyway). But my wife Brenda, whose office was only a block or so away from the parade route, braved the freezing temperatures to witness the insanity first-hand -- sending me occasional photos and messages. She said it was so crowded that it was nearly impossible to get close to the parade route. In the photo below, you can see parade route at the traffic light in the distance (circled with an arrow):

She was able to get closer, but the parade still hadn't started.

Eventually she went back to her office, where she could see some of the parade between buildings. In the photo below, you can see one of the amphibious Ducks carrying Seahawks (red circle). You can also see the people standing on rooftops.

Brenda said a lot of parents had brought their kids to the parade -- but many of them seemed unprepared for the frigid weather and mayhem. We had actually wrestled with the decision about whether to pull one or both of our boys out of school for the event, but there were a few reasons why we didn't.

First, according to the school district, kids wouldn't be excused from being absent. Here's part of the email we received on Feb 3 (highlighting added):

Seattle Public Schools will not close or dismiss school early because of the Seahawks parade on Wednesday. Parents who wish to take their students out of school can, but per state regulation, it will be treated as an unexcused absence. While we support the team, academics must come first and it's important not to lose a day in the classroom.

The other reason was my older son told us he couldn't miss a rehearsal for an upcoming concert.

But that didn't stop a lot of other kids. According to the a Seattle Times report, 27 percent of the school district's 51,000 students were reported absent (as well as 565 [19%] of the 3,000 teachers!). Maybe it had something to do with the Mayor and others asking for a little leniency. After all, this was practically a city holiday.

Or maybe it had something to do with Seattle schools clarifying their policies:

UPDATE: Under state regulation, Principals have the discretion to decide if students who miss school tomorrow for the parade will be considered unexcused or excused.

Around 3:00 p.m., I started looking at some of the parade coverage online -- and I couldn't believe what I saw (from the Seattle Seahawks Twitter feed):

It looks like some kind of football fan zombie movie!

Later the Seahawks posted a gallery of 150 photos. Check out this one of Marshawn Lynch (Beast Mode) riding on the front of the Duck, handing out Skittles:

Here's another one that shows the size of the crowd:

Regardless of how you feel about sports and their overall importance, you have to admire the way the Seahawks brought the community together during the 2013 season. And while a Super Bowl championship is an astounding feat, I'm left wondering if bringing those 700,000-plus people out of their homes, workplaces, and schools for the biggest party of the year is another equally-impressive accomplishment. 

I also wanted to give props to the biggest Seahawk Fan I know, my brother-in-law Brian Suiter. Brian is the kind of fan who watches the Hawks every season, whether they're winning or not. He's the kind of fan you buy a Seahawks toaster as gift (that burns the Seahawk logo into the bread!). It was Brian who first told me that the Seahawks had a chance of going all the way. He told me to watch them on an upcoming Monday Night Football game, and I did (the December 2 game against the New Orleans Saints). What I saw in that game -- especially in Russell Wilson's quarterbacking performance -- reminded me of something that bordered on sport and art, skill and creativity. So thanks, Brian, for being there for the team -- and also helping me jump on the bandwagon when it was time. You are the original 12th Man!

Finally, congratulations to the Seahawks team, the fans, and everyone who made this season (and celebration) possible.

As always, Twitter was a great place to get updates. Here are a few of my favorite tweets from Wednesday -- virtual postcards of the parade and celebration:

Labels: Around Puget Sound, Events, Seahawks, Seattle

It was a bright Easter Sunday, and I was sitting across from author Kevin J. Anderson at Elliott Bay Brewing Company in Burien, Washington. We were eating burgers, drinking beer, and talking about the world.

Kevin was in town on a book tour for his latest novel, Hellhole Awakening, which he'd co-written with Brian Herbert. We'd actually met for the first time on Friday at the book signing, which was held (of all places) in a church. (Kevin made the observation that we were in a church on Good Friday talking about a novel called Hellhole.)

After the signing, Kevin had stayed over the weekend as a speaker for Norwescon, the largest Northwest Sci-Fi convention. Since I knew he was in Seattle for a few days, I'd invited him to lunch.

As we drove to lunch (before I got us lost -- another story), Kevin talked about how he'd just finished a panel discussion called "Reasons to Leave Your Cave." He explained how writers, typically more comfortable with solitude, needed to push themselves to get out and meet people. Going out on a book tour, like he was for Hellhole Awakening, was how you connected with your audience and created awareness for your books. (Even for a New York Times bestselling author like Kevin.)

As a writer and introvert, I knew what Kevin was talking about. I had to push myself out of my cave on a daily basis. Our lunch was a great example.

The Paths of Two Rush Fans

Though we were meeting in person for the first time, I'd known Kevin's writing for many years. He first came to my attention with a spooky short story he wrote with Neil Peart (the drummer for Rush) called "Drumbeats" (part of the short story collection Shock Rock II). That story, about a drummer touring Africa by bicycle who finds a very unique drum, had always stayed with me. The writing was cinematic, and like a lot of great stories it got better with each reading.

A few years later, I saw Kevin's books show up in Neil Peart's Bubba's Book Club reviews, including Issue 3 (Scattered Suns (The Saga of Seven Suns, Book 4) and Issue 9 (Metal Swarm (The Saga of Seven Suns - Book 6). Here's an excerpt of what Neil wrote about Kevin in Issue 3 (from 2005):

Full Disclosure: Kevin J. Anderson has been a friend of mine for about 20 years, and I have recently written an introduction for a forthcoming book of his stories [Landscapes]. A few years back we even collaborated on a short story called "Drumbeats" -- though Kevin did all the work; I just supplied some African background and French dialogue.

Having stated that, I truly believe Kevin is a great writer. ...

Kevin Anderson sent me his first published novel, Resurrection Inc., in the late '80s, and I was extremely impressed -- it was so original, so imaginative, so profound, and at the same time so true to life.

Around the time I read "Drumbeats," I'd actually been trying my hand at creative writing (screenplays, short stories, novels). But after years of rejection letters, I found another path as a technical writer at Microsoft in 1996, where I've been ever since.

Being around all those technical people at Microsoft helped sharpen my technical skills. But it was other writers there, namely my friends Cheryl Lowry and Charlie Montgomery, who helped demystify the web publishing process. And so my Neil Peart fansite launched in 2004.

At first, it was a one-way platform where I shared my appreciation of Neil's work (for example: Best Beats). Then people started sending me email, telling me how they appreciated the site. (Some thought I actually worked for Neil.)

What had started out as was a virtual thank you card to Neil Peart and Rush had actually been a beacon to other Rush webmasters, fans, musicians, and (of course) drummers. And like my lunch with Kevin, I would sometimes meet some of these people in person.

In many ways, this website helped get me out of my cave and into the real world.

Clockwork Angels

Early in 2012, Kevin announced that he was working on a novelization of Rush's forthcoming album, Clockwork Angels. For Rush fans, this novel would turn out to be an unexpected gift -- a bonus companion volume to one of Rush's best albums in their long career.  

For this reader (or listener, since I actually listened to the audiobook version read by Neil Peart), I was struck again by Kevin's visual prose. Here's a great passage:

The clanging bell and hiss of steam grew louder as he raced to the tracks. Upon landing on the glowing rails, the train transformed into a narrow stampede of mammoths, a long line of heavy cargo boxes and passenger gondolas lit with phosphorescent running lights, balanced by graceful balloon sacks. A geyser of exhaust bubbled out of the lead engine like the breath of a sleeping white dragon. Steel wheels rolled along the metal lines, and the engines huffed. 

(The Rush fan will notice how Kevin sneaks in a Rush reference from the song "Countdown." I loved finding those "Easter Eggs" throughout Clockwork Angels: The Novel.)

During our lunch (and at his booksigning), it was clear that Kevin was a big Rush fan. Like many of us, Rush inspires Kevin. As he wrote in the press release for Clockwork Angels: The Novel, "You can find Rush references sprinkled through many of my Dune novels, the Saga of Seven Suns, my Terra Incognita trilogy. Probably more than even I can identify, because the music is so intertwined in my imagination."

Which is what made this a dream project for him.

As he told me over lunch, he and Neil had wanted to collaborate on a larger project for years, but the right idea and timing hadn't come together. Then during a lunch that Kevin and his wife Rebecca had with Neil in Santa Monica, Neil was talking excitedly about a new album he was working, Clockwork Angels. He said excitedly, "Someday there'll be a Broadway Musical, and a Novel -- even Ice Follies!"

Rebecca said, "Novel? Who's going to write the novel?"

Neil answered: "Well, Kevin is of course!"

Back at our lunch, I told Kevin that I really enjoyed how he'd expanded the story from the lyrics. He told me that Neil had actually worked out many of the details behind the lyrics himself. When Neil was between Red Rocks shows on the "Time Machine Tour, he and Kevin brainstormed much of the story during a hike up Mt. Evans (one of Colorado's 14,000 foot peaks). Then it was up to Kevin to write. He said he wrote the book very fast, but that's how he always writes. (This is a writer who releases multiple books a year, after all.)

During the writing process, there was a feedback loop between Kevin, Neil, and artist Hugh Syme, as they traded work back and forth. The result, if you haven't seen it, is a beautiful, full-color book that spent two weeks on the New York Times Best Sellers list.

Since I'm a big Rush fan, I ended up buying the Gold Edition (#274), which included a framed original manuscript page and Hugh Syme lithograph (all signed). Kevin told me when they put these on sale, the demand for the Gold and Silver editions was so high it brought down the Rush server!

Lost in the Burien Triangle 

On the drive back from Burien to Kevin's hotel in Sea-Tac, I got us lost for the second time that day (yes, a second time). As we got back on course (thanks to Kevin's iPhone), Kevin looked out the window at the massive apparition rising to the south and asked if it was Mt. Rainier. I said it was.

I knew Kevin was an avid climber (having scaled all 54 of the 14,000 foot "Fourteeners" in Colorado). I asked if he'd ever climbed Rainier. He said he wanted to, but never had. He talked about how it's much easier to climb to 14,000 feet when you start from 5,000 feet (instead of from sea level, like Rainier).

I pulled up to the Doubletree hotel, and we shook hands. Then Kevin was off to work on his latest book, and I was off to my Mom's 70th birthday party at another restaurant. As I drove on, I started beating myself up for getting lost. Kevin was totally easygoing about it, but it was embarrassing for me. In the end, I had to concede that driving around Burien was like driving in a foreign city (especially when your phone navigation fails).

As I approached the exit for I-5 North, I saw a message on one of the traffic signs: "5-MILE BACKUP. EXPECT DELAYS!" I decided to drive home the long way, on I-405 around Lake Washington, and then across the 520 floating bridge.

It would take longer, but at least I knew where I was going.

-------------------

To commemorate my adventures with Kevin, I hereby name this area of Seattle The Burien Triangle. Consider yourself warned...

Read more about Kevin J. Anderson at his website, Wordfire.com.

Read about how Resurrection, Inc., was inspired by Rush's "Grace Under Pressure.

Listen to Kevin J. Anderson talk about Clockwork Angels.

Labels: Books, influences and inspirations, Seattle

The 520 floating bridge was rocking tonight with all the wind and waves. And paying $3.50 before the "ride" made me feel like I was part of some kind of highway theme park.

Labels: 520 bridge, Seattle

When tolling started on the 520 bridge on Thursday, December 29, 60% fewer cars crossed the bridge than on a normal day. It was clear that many people were diverting to avoid the tolls. Everyone knew the real test would start today, January 3, when most people were returning to work from the holiday vacations.

I took the bridge around 8:00 a.m. this morning, Eastbound, and it was one of the best commutes in a long time. I came back to Seattle around 6:00 p.m, and again I experienced no delays -- until I got to I-5.

In all, it took 20 minutes to drive 15 miles this morning using 520. (Average time in the past was around 30 minutes.)

In the evening, it took around 30 minutes to drive home -- mostly because I-5 was backed up. (Average time in the past was around 45 minutes.)

According to the WSDOT site, things went pretty well on 520:

SR 520

• Westbound SR 520 from Bellevue to Seattle was 5-7 minutes faster. Traffic volumes dropped by 45 percent from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. Typical travel times are 15-20 minutes. Volumes edged up a bit in the 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. hour after a disabled semi-truck blocked one lane on westbound I-90 on Mercer Island and pushed drivers to SR 520.
• Eastbound SR 520 from Seattle to Bellevue was 5-7 minutes faster. Traffic volumes dropped by 35 percent. Typical travel times are 12 -20 minutes.

The same wasn't true for I-90, the bridge that doesn't have a toll:

I-90

• Drivers used I-90 as an alternative to SR 520. Westbound I-90 traffic increased 25 percent until the disabled semi-truck blocked one lane on Mercer Island. During the incident, traffic dropped 8 percent below average. Travel times increased by 15 minutes during the incident.
• Eastbound I-90 traffic increased by 20 percent and travel times averaged 4 minutes longer. Typical travel times are 10-16 minutes.

I've heard a lot of talk about this new toll -- mostly negative. But it sure was nice to have a smooth, fast commute for once. I'll be curious to see if this continues.

Labels: 520 bridge, Seattle

I'm a bit of a salsa connoisseur. When I go out to a Mexican restaurant (Rosita's is my favorite in Seattle), it's usually the salsa that brings me back (I actually love Azteca salsa, too). But I also like my salsa at home, and since I'm not very good at making it I have to buy it. So, I'm always looking for something new.

Recently, while shopping at Whole Foods in Seattle, I picked up a small tub of Seattle-made Salsa de Rosa. Let's just say this is some of the best salsa I've picked up in a store.

Why is this stuff so good? First, it's all natural--and you can taste it. It's like someone made fresh salsa in my kitchen. It's a chunkier, finely-diced salsa that delivers its tangy flavor with bits of tomatoes, onion, garlic, cilantro, tomatillo and jalapeno. I've tried Salsa de Rosa on eggs, chips, and even a little on a hamburger, and it made everything taste better.

It's true that Salsa de Rosa costs a little more, but I think it's worth it. Here's what the folks at Salsa de Rosa had to say about why you should pay more:

Well, to modify a line from one of our favorite movies, "Tommy Boy", I guess we could "crap in a cup and slap a $2.99 label on it, but then you'd be paying $2.99 for a cup of crap wouldn't you?"

Why don't you spend the few extra cents and get a GREAT quality product like ours? It's worth it.

Besides, many of our competitors actually sell their salsa in 14oz sizes; whereas we use a 16oz in stores. Make sure you check the "cost per ounce" to get an accurate "apples to apples" comparison. You may be pleasantly surprised with the results!

If you like salsa, do yourself a favor and pick up a tub or two--and be sure to put it in the fridge right away, as there are no preservatives.You can even order it over the Internet.

According to the the frequently asked questions section of the Salsa de Rosa website, you can get their salsa in over 60 stores, including Safeway, QFC, and the aforementioned Whole Foods.

I've only tried the Mild Salsa, but I'm planning on trying some of the other varieties. I'm not sure I'm ready for Extreme Heat ("El Bombero"):

If you like to really feel the heat, then Extreme Heat is for you! Not only do we add a significant amount of jalapeno but we don't spare the habanero, either. It's what I like to call "a giant step in front of our Hot". We don't call it (el bombero) "the fireman" for nothing.

Let me know if you've tried Salsa de Rosa -- or if you have any others you'd like to recommend.

Labels: Food, Seattle

I recently updated my list of best breakfast restaurants in Seattle. Let me know if you have any favorite breakfast spots I should check out.

List of Best Breakfast Restaurants in Seattle

Labels: Commentary, Food, Seattle, Washington State

I recently updated my list of best movie theaters in Washington State. Let me know if you have any favorite theaters I should check out.

List of Best Theaters in Washington State

Labels: Around Puget Sound, Commentary, Film, Seattle, Washington State