Aloha from Maui!

After my Seattle painting gig was up, I decided to catch a last minute flight to the Valley Isle for a short 10 day stay.

Besides checking in on business and a little beach time...

I fit in a round of golf with Brother Brad, baby Drake and Father-in-Law Alvin.

After losing a half-dozen balls, I decided the day would be a lot more pleasant if I didn't keep score...F O U R !

Wheels up! Mystery Destination Coming Soon.

Leavin home, out on the road
Ive been down before
Ridin along in this big ol jet plane
Ive been thinkin about my home
But my love light seems so far away
And I feel like its all been done
Somebodys tryin to make me stay
You know Ive got to be movin on

Oh, oh big ol jet airliner
Dont carry me too far away
Oh, oh big ol jet airliner
Cause its here that Ive got to stay

Goodbye to all my friends at home
Goodbye to people Ive trusted
Ive got to go out and make my way
I might get rich you know I might get busted
But my heart keeps calling me backwards
As I get on the 707
Ridin high I got tears in my eyes
You know you got to go through hell
Before you get to heaven

The Fremont Market - The Center of the Universe

Seattle's neighborhoods are famous and regarded for their own unique character, but their weekend and farmer's markets certainly add to their charm and urban vibe.

Sunday morning I awoke and decided to stroll through the Fremont Market - the neighborhood in which I am currently staying and use to call home about a decade ago. The neighborhood has changed a lot over the past 10 years from bohemian artists to urban yuppies, but at least the sites, sounds, colors and funky junk of the market has stayed mostly true to form.

Sculpture in Seattle

Last night I had the privilege of attending my good friend's gallery opening. John Leglar, a Dubuque native, put his sculpture on display for all to see and buy. John's creates great stone sculpture and he's an impressive guy because he stays true to his calling. it's not easy being an artist, but people like John are a great reminder that it's okay to follow one's bliss. If you would like to learn more about John's artwork - email me and i'll put you in contact.

John's sculptures are inspired by nature, sea life and chemistry.

I told him to borrow the glasses and look a bit more artsy and less earthy.

No Coffee...

Well, after much contemplation I have decided not to pursue the coffee shop. It had many positive possibilities, but in the end I decided now was not the time to pursue a business such as this. Between the condo on Maui and the house in Iowa - a coffee shop in Seattle may have spread me a bit too thin. So it's back to the drawing board.

Seattle = Coffee

Seattle has become synonymous with a particular corporate coffee company, but it's also filled with local shops and roasters all over town.

Last night I stumbled upon this ad and needless to say - it caught my attention.

"I have a coffee shop on the burke gillman trail. I just bought it and I am unable to run the shop due to unforeseen circustances. I would like someone to take over the shop for $5,000. That is just enough to cover the supplies. the lease is $415 a month which includes everything w s g & wifi. The shop has tons of potential if someone put the work in. If your interested contact me"

So I went and looked at it this afternoon - it's great! And I have the first option to buy it. So, I am now seriously exploring the possibility of owning my own coffee shop in Seattle. I need/want to look into a few more important details, but right now I am thinking I may do it. Here are a couple of photos of the place. It is small, but located on a heavily travelled bike path and, like the ad says, it does have a lot of potential. I may add some Hawaiian shaved ice to the summer menu.

It's currently called the Trailside Cafe, but I am thinking of naming it "Comet Coffee" after my favorite Washington, D.C. coffee house. I use to joke with my friend Sid that I was going to move to Seattle and open my own Comet someday. I've also thought of calling it - "The Broken Spoke"...or "Eh Brah Cafe"

If you owned a coffee shop on a bike path in Seattle, what would you name it?

Now accepting submission. Stay tuned for updates on this latest business venture.

Lost in Seattle

Hey there - thanks for stopping by. I'm sorry for not posting as much since my arrival in Seattle. If you've ever experienced a summer in Seattle, you know how perfect the weather can be with blue skies and temperatures much more tolerable than most of the rest of the country. I've been doing my best to enjoy all of it.

I've also decided to pick-up some extra work while I'm in town. So, I've taken a job as a painter. Last week I did an interior and this week I am doing an exterior. I'm not going to be making a career out of it, but I have been enjoying the work. It's certainly a lot different than the political campaign I was engaged in earlier this year. No phone, compute or office - just me and my paint brush.

A bird's eye view of Seattle. I'll be posting more photos soon.

View of the ship canal, Gasworks park and Lake Union from Queen Ann Hill