If you're familiar with the north end area of Seattle, then you can probably picture the park and ride behind the Northgate Target/Best Buy complex. It's been there for years, and became less and less used over the past 15 ever since the new park and ride went in on the south end of Northgate mall. Well, right where the Target park and ride is is where my grandfather was raised in a place called "Hubbard Homestead". This is where his father was also raised, and so on...long before any freeway existed and "Target" was something you shot your slingshot at as the hot entertainment of the day. Damn, we all have ADD now...
Anyways, when my grandpa met my grandmother and had my mom and aunts they picked the house up (literally on the back of a big ass truck) and moved it a mile away to where they still reside. Years later, the park and ride was poured in the mid-70's. Fast forward to little over a year ago when my aunt Shaun caught word that the city of Seattle was planning on putting a public park in that very spot that my family had called home for so many years and generations before. Knowing the significance of the area to my grandpa, she got in touch with the city and luckily was greeted with open arms as people in charge began to realize gramps one of the few people still around that knew what the land looked like under the asphalt. My Grandpa lobbied heavily that they open up the creek residing below that he and his siblings had enjoyed for so many years, and that's exactly what they're going to do. A month ago we caught word of the news of a ground breaking ceremony, and soon after that it would be named after our family. It was really cool. My grandpa was in his glory, visually proud, and it was great day. The mayor (Greg Nickels) spoke (I met him, nice guy), and gramps got to give a speech. I sat there for a moment amazed at the series of events that had led to this day and wondered if in his wildest dreams as a little guy if he ever could imagined it. I'm sure not. Very random and very fulfilling I can imagine for a man in his golden years. Magic stuff.
Speaking of magic stuff, the Pearl Jam concert was just what my cilia needed; something worth it in spades to remind them that their life is short but justified. Not much to say other that the whole night ruled. Reuben got to catch his first PJ show, we worked the free food and VIP angle to the extreme, and wish my other gift-giver Jim could have seen it too. Didn't get pulled out of the crowd to do a song again...damn. Next time! ;)
Other highlight of the week was delving mouth first into more Seattle street food. Not my usual fare of picking half-eaten Good N' Plentys off the street mind you, but more finally getting my maw on a pulled pork sandwich from MAXIMUS in downtown Seattle. In my next life, my first high school car will look like this. Could be possible now, maybe I'm just thinking too small. Yeah, that's a big ass pig car. Amazing looking up close and rivaling the sweet Tamarind soaked and cilantro topped pulled pork sandwich. Throw in a crispy and hot side of mixed thinly-sliced beets/green beans and IT'S ON. Cheap at $6.45 a sandwich, but make sure you spring the extra buck for a topping of Beecher's cheese. Nomnomnomnomnomnom...suddenly tonight's frozen burrito is looking sorry.
Lastly, this weekend is the final comic-con for KIRBY KRACKLE in Long Beach, CA. It'll be a great end to a 7 convention year as the band is being flown down so we can rock the HERO INITIATIVE charity benefit on Saturday night. Family is coming in from Hawaii and L.A. for the show so that will be really nice. This time we've got new T-Shirts, buttons and we'll be handing out 1000 download cards for "Going Home", the single we recorded as an exclusive for the organizers last month. Disturbed by the picture below? Good, the ladies in "Uterus Parade" would be happy. It made my mom really proud, and Jim's was astounded by his newly developed art skills as described. It's also my first time performing in California in 7 years so maybe that one drunk guy who kept yelling at me to "Shut Da Hell Up!" in Oakland will be there. Dreams can come true, you know...
They can,
KS
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2 comments:
I really think you could use that last picture as marketing material, or even an album cover. :)
Wow, that metal pig truck really gives our LA food trucks a run for their money! yum!
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