Goodbye Forever 2020!!

Yes, finally done with this long and strange, and also often saddening year.

But, I learned a lot through this time dealing with a pandemic, a huge turning point in social unrest, and appreciating a lot that I should have really done more before this year. And also, a lot of fun things shared with friends (mostly online). Here is a mix of mostly all the favorite things I enjoyed in 2020..

Favorite full movie released in 2020 – Soul
Favorite TV show through 2020 – 60 Minutes
Favorite new streaming TV series released in 2020 – Queen’s Gambit
Favorite continued streaming TV series in 2020 – The Mandalorian
Favorite podcast through 2020 – Junk Food Dinner
Favorite short audio stories and narratives – NPR’s This American Life
Favorite Youtube channel of 2020 – KanaChanTV
Favorite printed book of 2020 – Invisible Men, the Trailblazing Black Artists of Comic Books by Ken Quatro
Favorite graphic novel of 2020 – Under Earth by Chris Gooch
Favorite comic series of 2020 – Excellence by Brandon Thomas and Khary Randolph
Favorite new video game of 2020 – Hades (developed and published by Supergiant Games)
Favorite older and most played game of 2020 – Final Fantasy XV
Favorite “wrestling” match of 2020 – Boneyard Match, Undertaker and AJ Styles – WrestleMania
Favorite wrestling match of 2020 – Sasha Banks vs. Bayley – WWE Hell in a Cell 2020
Favorite sports team of 2020 – Seattle Seahawks
Favorite junk food of 2020 – Pizza Mart (local Seattle chain and bar) slices
Favorite dessert of 2020 – salted Caramel Cluster SO Delicious Dairy Free Cashew Ice Cream
Favorite food habit – vegan meat alternatives for mostly red meat dishes
Favorite Hike of 2020 – Mount Rainer, Sunrise Point
Favorite playlist trend – relaxing chill beats compilations and mixes
Favorite collectible thing I bought – The Ultimate Gremlin Flasher figure from NECA Toys (pictured above)
Favorite thing I did a lot on my own but will share later – writing, lots of writing!

I have much more to to say and share for the coming year. But now, I must join friends online for the final hours of 2020. Stay safe and look forward to 2021!!

Orion T

The Silent Seasonal Lights of Seattle 2020

Rain has fallen heavy tonight upon the Emerald City as the global pandemic courses through. The streets have are almost empty as the night sky takes over and most shopping and restaurant spots normally open, are now closed. There is peace, in between much of our troubled days.

The holiday lights for this time will not dim, as they brighten up this dark year with Christmas-time cheer. Traditions continue, helping those still out or perhaps needing a nice walk (but still stay safe, please), that not all is lost for 2020. Beautiful, colorful, LEDS everywhere!!!

But it’s also cold and wet now. I would not advise going out around here now, unless you really have to or maybe living a lonely life in a dark, small downtown apartment during a pandemic is clawing at your mental health. Then, a good walk through pretty lights can be pleasant, even in Seattle’s coldest, wettest hours.

Here are some of my choice phonecam captures of the Pike Place Market and Westlake area, taken recently. Live vicariously through them, hopefully in a safe and seasonal cheered environment…

– Orion T

Back to the Kubota Japanese Garden

2020 isn’t over yet as we we have one last month, and a stressful for many holiday season to go.

Meanwhile, I have the perfect place to wind down for those in the Seattle area, to decompress outside and away, socially distant and pandemic-mindful. That is the Kubota Garden park in the Rainer Beach area.

The Kubota Garden is one of the few curated Japanese gardens, with much greenery and sights reminiscent of the timeless natural scenic beauty of Japan. It’s free to enter, but with current pandemic restrictions (no big gatherings!).

I’ve written more about this place before, of which you can read here.

But for now, here are some pictures I took from a recent visit. For location and more information, click here.