The center of attention of this years San Diego Comic Con’s massive Exhbit Hall, literally at it’s center, at the Lego Booth. The Lego company always deliver’s impressive setups at it’s booth, with a different theme dispay every year. This year, somw lego artists outdid all previous years with a miniature abridged scale of the entire SDCC Exhibit Hall, and some panels, and the outside entrance, and so much more with more than 200,000 bricks.
Truly amazing, and here are some shots of the it’s massive display.
The San Diego Comic Con Exhibit Hall floor is the center of arguably the largest pop-culture gathering in the world. It is immersion. It’s main showroom interior is huge, with over half a million square feet, testing the limit of how many thousands it can hold throughout its four days. To walk from one end to the other is a slow walk through crowds, interecting lines for experiences and exclusives, and many, many distractions. During the event, I foretell others I need at least 20 minutes minimum to walk through area A to area H.
Through it all is beautiful madness with its many merchants, studios, publishers, creators, and much more, all sharing attention. Here are a few snapshots with matching notes…
That last picture hides something wonderous, of which I will share next.
I have recovered from my annual trip to the San Diego Comic-Con, going on 31 years.
What remains are wonderful memories. The moments are mostly with friends, exploring the exhibit floor, interacting and listening to the great creative talent, checking out performances with music, art, dance, comedy, and much more. I have many pictures, some with notes of which i finally organized.
I took time to ponder this moshing of letters in the back of an abandoned supermarket, during the recent Punk Rock Flea Market in the heart of Seattle.
Yet, I am sad to see more empty buildings in the Emerald City we call Seattle. I worry aboutf their use and eventually de-use, as many are torn down and replaced with sky high overly modernized apartments catered to high earners of the snobbish variety.
Then, I cheer up to see many of their shells painted upon to display a vibrant image not everyone will understand, but anyone can appreciate.
Each great used canvas becomes a reminder of what helped build this great city, and we should also be preserving: our past rich with creative visual talent who dared to take the more difficult path daring what they love, loving what they do, in those buildings built to better welcome them from kinder decades… Kenneth Callihan, Guy Anderson, Veronica Sauer, Ryan “Henry” Ward, Mark Tobey, and many more.
The art upon these old mostly abandoned buildings I find beautiful, where I am fortunate to see the parts of Seattle I want to keep seeing, from those who don’t this for money, those I hope many are paid well, do they can keep making this city beautiful, where it needs it most.
…
The picture above is in the Belltown district of Seattle. The art is recent, though I could not identify the artist. But I do now the significance of Zanada, Years ago, Zanadu was a mighty comic book store I would often visit. I do miss it, along with many other stores around here.
The year began here with heavy smoke caught in the dense fog. The Space Needle within 15 seconds of the new year dissapeared. But that didnt stop the fireworks from making a colorful spectacle…
Thick fog drifted through Seattle yesterday, adding chill density to the end of Fall. The holiday night lights are not denied, as their colorful luminosity is enhanced. The fog is unusually dense for the early evening. The streets are a quiet and spooky. The ground seems a bit slippery, dampened by the heavy mist.
I walk slowly, not so much to be careful, but to admire this moody, beautiful atmosphere.
Since I stood by among cheering folk and enjoyed a good parade. Not just any parade, but the annual (33rd!) Fremont Solstice Parade, here in north Seattle.
To those not familiar with this local tradition, the Fremont Solstice Parade is celebration of raw art and talent, produce by the Fremont Arts Council. The floats and costumes are all home-made, of the highest creative spririt and imagination. No corporations or logos, as funding is propelled by the locals. Spectators join in cheers as positive messages of love, peace, laughter, inspiration, expression, culture are welcome through the streets of Fremont.
It’s all vibrant, beautiful to witness. Here’s some pictures, sharing in my joy…
Here’s a moment after a lengthy hike in Canada, coming back to central Vancouver, looking to the sky on a short ferry ride.
The time was near the end of last year and has been on my phone for a bit. I apologize for not sharing sooner, as time moves faster with more else is happening in 2023. But looking back on my phone to delete pictures, I narrow what I should have been sharing here on my sadly neglected blog of lately.
And then, I see this moment. What a site, coming back from North Vancouver to the Central Area to have dinner with an old friend. The sun is setting and the air is cold. I look to my destination, to the sky in awe. There is a perfect split in wait, the day letting the night cover itself like a blanket. The sun would peek in and out, very playful in this golden hour.
This is just another amazing moment to be shared, as it’s never too late to enjoy a saved beautiful moment.
Sorry, I am not truly punctual with this timing. 2022 was a helluva year for me, and some of that is seeping through this fresh 2023 year.
But not alone lately, as my great time felt plentiful yet mixed with others in a flurry of cheers and goofy moments, close around and through social networks. These times are worthwhile, but time management with what’s left to me is difficult.
2023 will be an interesting year for me. A new job starts soon, with a company I worked through the Fall, doing a mix of project management, coding, design, and admin assist duties. Exciting stuff, especially for a management team that truly listens, appreciates practical thinking, and utilizes my best skills while keeping my brain challenged. Unfortunately, not much I can share here. But the work brings back my skills and love for Javascript coding and the use of Adobe InDesign. Much of that will carry into some personal projects that I will delve more into soon.
That ties into a huge side endeavor I’ve been sporadically building, simply titled Stranger Worlds. This is set on a long road with ambitious goals, sharing a love for (and promoting) indie creativity in genre art and literature. I will share more when details, planning, and funding are a bit more solid. I will occasionally do more as Traveling Orion, as I still have exciting adventures and much to tell. And, I do have some exciting adventures to share!
But for now, I am typing with oily fingers while eating the greasiest pizza ever, in the midst of a layover at the San Francisco airport. My laptop has some strange lag issues. Every sentence is a bit sluggish. But, this is my only chance for a while to reach out, before I return to Seattle. Then, I must catch up and move forward with 2023!
I am very excited and will share more soon. In the meantime, I hope 2023 will be a great and exciting year for you too.
You will always find me in the past. I can be created in the present, but the future will never taint me. What am I?
History
And, where am I?
Everywhere
That’s where one may find bits and pieces of the past, with stories we leave behind wherever in whatever. But my favorite found is in the dirt and rocks, because they reveal much in story. Sometimes in plain sight on site, uncovered and waiting to be be seen.
That all brings me back to one my favorite places visited multiple times through my summer adventures in San Diego of southern California, just south of the Ocean Beach Pier. There is this rough, rocky area stretching far among the tide pools, not easily accessible. Just walk south of the long pier during the low tide, over what initial may look like a closed off area, and watch your step. Then tread across some much more stable ground, but still be careful…
Then comes my favorite parts, the stories the ground tell there. There are markings etched in the sandstone that tell partly of memories and sentiments. They tell of marriage proposals, memorials to lost loved ones, bindings of friendships, and many other moments that may be insignificant to many, but important enough to leave carved for the many to still notice. Also, there are curious bits of man-made remains of what I guess belong to aged structures, parts of things, many curiosities that bring about imagination. There’s definitely deep history there.
Then, there is nature itself, shaped and defiant to the high cliffs and made-made sea walls. The ever-crashing ocean waves reshaping the land slowly, choosing what to preserve and taken away. Look closer, and you will observe tiny little crabs in the little pools and crevices, sharing in their own little stories of preservation and striving in crazy times of changing climates.
These markings and shapings are all wonderful little story fragments, that I left behind but keep treasured together.
“All in all, it was a never-to-be-forgotten summer — one of those summers which come seldom into any life, but leave a rich heritage of beautiful memories in their going — one of those summers which, in a fortunate combination of delightful weather, delightful friends and delightful doing, come as near to perfection as anything can come in this world.” – L.M. Montgomery
What a pleasant quote from the famed author of Anne of Green Gables! Though, I am often a bit more of a Fall or Spring favored person, as I love those variances in weather and the changes they bring, Yet, I feel a special, unforgettable summer that works best with all it brings with the awesome raised warm of the Pacific Northwest. a break for many, a time to spend with friends and family on big adventures can be delightful and near perfection.
That being said, I am enjoying this summer of 2022 so far, despite the worries of the world. I have pulled myself further from the claws of the social media beasts, to long escapes to waterfronts and large parks. My times are private, almost selfish as I enjoy my along time in self-reflections, figuring that’s next for the months of ahead. And soon, I shall take a much needed travel trip, to make all this even better.
I hope you are enjoying this summer as well.
– Orion T
The picture was taken by me a few days ago from Gasworks Park, a wonderful little spot on the north side of Lake Union in the Seattle city. The slight combined with the warm ready made that time, near perfect.
I think fast junky food is evidence of dark magic in our modern time, summoning consumables that represents everything that is good and terrible of our human guilty pleasures. We think it out of the thin air of the most basic of thoughts to what we or others can put together using the alchemy of dead animals, vegetables, wheat, fire, grease, and whatever consumable liquids or powders of taste additives. It’s weird as such sudden existence of convenience is often irresistible. The smell of a good burger, a deep dish pizza, garlic fries can enchant a hungry soul. We forget how bad and how processed it is, and seek its bliss just when suddenly in our presence. Sometimes, the more the more quantity, the more flavor, the more we should resist. Then may come regret, but there is that moment with the actual consumption right before that means more, is happiness. This strange process, is wonderful.
– Orion T
Picture was taken a couple weeks ago at the Washington Summer Con, in the townsy town of Puyallup, Washington. A lot of people cosplayed for the event. I took less pictures and focused more on treasure hunting. But love this little surreal moment, as I was also hungry for fast food.
I have to enjoy these fresh blossoms while they last…
And, the best place for the grandest trees in Seattle, are foremost at the Quad in the University of Washington. Here, a grand gathering of cheery cherry trees stand tall in top bloom through this week. Nearly every year, I take time out to enjoy the awesome view. But this year, it seem many were present to share in their glory.
Sadly, a recent weather report concluded to zero chance of lowland Seattle, for the coming days, and likely the rest of this month. The weather will warm up instead.
Which is too bad for those who don’t get enough snow in their life, but enjoy what it brings. Meanwhile, I do love those pics of the northeast U.S snowfall. And then I remember, that I have pics to look back on, with many I have yet to publish on travelingorion.com.
Last year here in Seattle, we received much low-land snow where in Seattle. I posted some pictures here, and here. But, I held back on many pictures of handmade snowpeople, with an intention to feature in a separate post. But sadly, the plan was set aside in favor of editing and producing a video. I was hoping to revive the theme with the recent snowfall, but didn’t quite find any more snowpersons, and also was a bit too busy to seek any out. So, I remembered last year’s adventures, and now would like to share these special pics.
What a nice bunch! Someday, I will build one of my own. That’s on my bucket list now.
I love a good bookstore, especially with a staircase that leads to room with more books.
One favorite staircase is from Ophelia Books in the Fremont neighborhood in Seattle, located one block north of the Fremont Bridge. It’s got a nice collection of used books at very decent prices.
But the coolest aside from the books, is that awesome staircase noticeable at entrance. It’s a narrow spiral, and important that you watch your step going down. Take it downstairs, then browse their science fiction, mystery, lots of non-fiction books of many subjects.
I was there recently, filling in time before a meeting. I found some good books on journalism history, and The Dictionary of Science Fiction Places. I would take the past and future with me, back up the spiral staircase. I will travel this way again.
And now I ask. Do you have any favorite used book stores with cool book cases? Or just favorite book stores? Please share with me in the comments!
Here’s a special theme for this post…walking together in the snow. Trailing through a beautiful place where snow cover is an amazing, poetic experience meant to be shared.
So, I hereby mix up today’s pictures recently taken by me, with a poem (Velvet Shoes) by Elinor Wylie, an American poet and novelist of the early 1900s. She lived an interesting yet shortened life of 43 years; married three times, wrote five novels and multiple poems. This poem is timeless, and perfect for a snow walk through the woods.
I will share more details on the pics, at the end.
…
Velvet Shoes
“Let us walk in the white snow In a soundless space; With footsteps quiet and slow, At a tranquil pace, Under veils of white lace.
I shall go shod in silk, And you in wool, White as white cow’s milk, More beautiful Than the breast of a gull.“
“We shall walk through the still town In a windless peace; We shall step upon white down, Upon silver fleece, Upon softer than these.
We shall walk in velvet shoes: Wherever we go Silence will fall like dews On white silence below. We shall walk in the snow.“
…
The candid pictures were taken at Ravenna Park, a beautiful little ravine forest in north Seattle. The park is a 1/2 mile stretch where you can spend a day not admiring it enough. I can never visit there enough and will take any excuse to trail again. The recent snow here was amazing, and a lot of fun for photography. The first shot was taken above the Ravenna Bridge. The others are of the main path through the park. have more pictures, which I will share soon. These three pics with the theme of others walking though, just deserved its own special post.
It was just a weird, bothering time around the Sun. Early on, the January 6th attack on the Capitol felt very surreal. The pandemic still lingers on, ending with the rise of the Omicron variant. Anti-vaxxing movements have become mainstream. Supply chains involving mass cargo on boats have slowed down drastically. There’s still some computer chip shortage. Workplaces are in need of new workers, but a lot not wanting to return to a being underpaid and treated poorly (I am among them). Seattle received some record heat weather at around 108 degrees Fahrenheit, while having two crazy snowfalls in opposite winter seasons. Lots of brutal weather around the world, probably from climate change. Crypto currency is a super crazy thing people are into now. NFTs are huge, and the less you know about them, the better…unless you are super into them. Inflation is wacky. There is so much that we could have done without, but made the year interesting.
I’ve also been very busy with a lot of personal baggage while dealing with a mid-life crisis. There’s a lot of ups and downs, but I do my best to keep going and always find new things to smile about. Sometimes, that’s with friends new and old, in person or online. There’s a lot of mental health concerns among us. But, there’s good stuff. I have new, bigger apartment. I cook a lot more. I have an exciting project that I have been spending a lot of time on, and will hopefully reveal with satisfiable progress in the coming months ahead.
I also adopted Smokey, a 3 yr old rescue cat from Seattle Humane animal shelter.
How cute is Smokey? She demands a lot of attention sometimes, usually when I am on my computer. I have much to write on the challenges of cat ownership, which I will eventually share.
Here are some other fun things and notes that I loved about 2021:
Favorite full movie released in 2021 – The Suicide Squad, directed by James Gunn
Favorite animated movie released in 2021 – Klaus (on Netflix)
Favorite documentary released in 2021 – Life in Color with David Attenborough
Favorite standalone streaming TV series released in 2021 – WandaVision (on Disney+)
Favorite continuous or new streaming TV series in 2021 – Chucky (The TV series)
Best satire of 2021 – Don’t Look Up (movie on Netflix)
Best dumb pop culture trend of 2021 – Squid Game
Favorite short audio stories and narratives – NPR’s This American Life
Favorite YouTube channel of 2021 – Casually Comics, a look at comics past and present, with very fun commentary
Best music album of 2021 – Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders & The London Symphony Orchestra – Promises
Favorite movie soundtrack vocal of 2021 – Billie Eilish – No Time To Die (For the James Bond: No Time to Die)
Favorite fiction book I read in 2021 – Crossings by Alex Landragin (came in 2019, but I really liked it)
Favorite non-fiction book I read in 2021 – Black Journalists, White Media by Pamela Newkirk (2020 released)
Favorite graphic novel of 2021 – The Body Factory by Heloise Chochois
Favorite comic book series of 2021 – Stray Dogs by Tony Fleecs and Trish Forstner
Favorite video game I played in 2021 – Yakuza: Like a Dragon
Favorite wrestling match of 2021 – Bryan Danielson vs Kenny Omega- AEW Buy In Event
Favorite hike of 2021 – Rattlesnake Lake Trail during the summer
Favorite city I never been to before in 2021 – Bellingham, Washington
Favorite local development in 2021 – The expansion of the Light Rail in Seattle to the Northgate area
Favorite park of 2021 – Ravenna Park
Favorite new food snack discovery of 2021 – Japanese import KitKats bars in obscure flavors
There’s more I likely missed. Yet, I think the above sums up my year well. Now, I must join friends online for the final hours of 2021. Stay safe and look forward to 2022!!
Snoqualmie Pass did not disappoint with snow over the recent Christmas weekend.
This popular Washington State mountainous area was a treat to help make up for a very quiet and otherwise dulled outlook to this holiday season peak. A spontaneous adventure was due, traveling with an old friend who worked in the area. With no New Years plans, ruined by the rising Omicron, I needed this. I never been to the Snoqualmie Pass, therefore it interests me, especially with its famed winter snowfall.
Snoqualmie Pass is a mountain passage in the Cascade Range deep in the Snoqualmie Forest, west of the Snoqualmie Valley, with an elevation of 2,726 ft (831 m). The area is named after the local indigenous Native American tribe, part of the Coast Salish peoples of the Pacific Northwest. Snoqualmie Pass was well-known and utilized by indigenous natives long before U.S settlers set foot in the early 19th century. Over time, the area was planned for a large railroad line expansion, then eventually abandoned.
The Interstate 90 is now the main highway in and out of the area, and 54 miles east of Seattle. The famed Pacific Crest Trail also crosses through the area, a long hiking route that stresses far to the south through California, almost to the Mexico border. The Snoqualmie Pass remains small, but very significant in the Pacific Northwest with a very small population, 311 according to the 2010 U.S. census. The main draw for tourists is now the cluster of four ski areas with resorts stationed throughout: Alpental, Summit West, Summit Central, and Summit East.
After a serene and slow morning drive (about an hour and a half from Seattle), I set foot on some deep and plentiful snow. There was little purpose after, other than to escape the stressful city and explore the snowy landscapes a little, work on a writing project while my driver friend does some skiing. I did some observations of skiing sport and local activity, thinking of future plans to return and gain more from the area. Someday, I would like to partake in the sport of skiing and also do some snowshoe hiking.
Here are some pics, with notes!
This snow is deep and high there, so watch your step! Roughly 3 inches of snow were added overnight. By Monday, 44 inches fell, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation,
The lifts at the Summit at Snoqualmie, early in the morning during a light snowpour. Activity greatly rose around the noontime, for where I was inside sipping on local beer and working on a project.
The view from outside the window. Many large icicles to accompany the weather high of 30 degrees, low of 21 degrees.Skiing looks difficult, challenging, yet fun. My friend gave me some pointers to think about, regarding balance and momentum. I will eventually buy some good snowshoes, find some safe hiking terrains, and have some awesome winter wonderland hikes.No sun in sight that day. The snow coming down was constant, yet not too enduring.The roads are maintained very well here, but still must be careful and slow when driving through.That’s me, Traveling Orion!
Well, that’s all for now. But, I will definitely return to the Snoqualmie Pass, hopefully with ski gear!
I hope you (yes, you!) had a wonderful, warm, and safe Christmas weekend.
I did, though I would have preferred a more traditional day with many friends and family. The pandemic and rising Omicron variant have put a severe damper on that prospect. Still, thanks to the wonders of modern technology with the video conferencing and cellphones, had a lot of heartwarming talks and goofy discussions of the Matrix Resurrections movie (mini-review at the end).
Through the day of Christmas Eve, I went on a small road trip to the Snoqualmie Pass in the mid Washington State mountain region. The snowpack did not disappoint, with about 11 inches fallen in that last 72 hours. I have never been there before, as I wanted at least one small adventure for this Holiday season. So I enjoyed my time, and will write more on it soon.
On Christmas, I spent much of the day alone in my apartment with my cat, Smokey, who was extra cuddly that day. Some friends online could not visit their families that day, citing a lack of vaccination at the dinner tables. So for much of the day, we spent smiling, chatting, updated on our lives though our webcams and microphones. With that exchanging fun video bits from YouTube, and played some Jackbox.tv games online (Quiplash, Drawful 2).
And, I got to share this hilarious comedy sketch from the BBC of a Nativity production gone horribly wrong. Lots of fun, and very clever near the end.
And then the next day, we got Snowpacalypse in Seattle 2, Holiday Boogaloo!!! Lots of snowfall happened overnight and through the day. Of course, I took a long walk. This time, to somewhere different and visual stunning. I have many pictures, of which I will sort out later and share soon. The location, I will keep hidden for now.
Here are some snow pics in the meantime, from Seattle downtown and somewhere in the north of Seattle.
That’s all for now. Stay warm, safe, and cheerful out there!
– Orion T
Bonus movie review: Matrix Resurrections is a reminder that truly creative work owes us nothing, leaving more room for appreciation to be given. I had a lot more typed about that, but then it ‘s more than what I wrote above. Maybe, I will share more on this later. It’s still a great movie for it’s meta-humor, original themes reexplored, and multi-layered relationships. But, the viewer needs to free their mind of what to expect or want, and what may not be given.
“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.”
Albert Camus – French philosopher, author, journalist, 1957 Nobel Prize winner.
You may notice these “flowers” with their varied sizes and colors, falling to the ground now, especially if you live to the far north in areas of high tree density. This is the best time to look down, admire the scatters, see massive landscapes covered. Some remain on their branches, each telling their own story, waiting for the cycle to end, so others may eventually begin.
Here are some pictures of some select leaves in various states, ready to move on as this season brings beautiful change.
Nature often plays with our imagination, leading our wandering minds to double take and circle around, checking to both look closer at details an observe the widest landscape. We notice the natural developments of trees, bushes, rocks presenting the beauty of patience, giving a long story to how its ecosystem builds itself, coexists until practical use comes to an end, then very slowly comes apart.
And even them remains stories in the shapes of old, long after life, passing on its place for some new telling. So goes forth, what you make of the enduring remains, leading to new inspirations. And like much of what I have written on this twisted resilience, is not exactly clear yet.
– Orion T
The above pictures are from a recent hike at Whatcom Falls Park, near Bellingham, Washington. Highly recommended for casual hikers and satisfyingly short-term wanderlust.
108 F degrees happened in Seattle today, breaking an all-time record for hottest day in this city. Portland also broke its all-time heat record at 115 F degrees. This heat wave in the Pacific Northwest is excessive!
Yet, I kept myself cool for most of the day. I went out for a few errands around noon, finding that lemonade was a sold-out commodity in the downtown area. No lemonade seen on any shelves of some local stores I checked, nor at any Starbucks or popular eating areas (or, so I was told by a few local venders). I was craving lemonade, and settled on just making my own later.
For the rest of the day, I stayed indoors blocking out the sunlight through all my windows, and keep my oscillating fan on setting 3 and very loud. I devoured four popsicles.
I hope everyone else stuck with this weather made it through, maybe found a fun way to keep cool. I think today is the height of the rough weather, and hope we can back to usual unpredictable mix of clouds and sun at 70-85 F soon.
– Orion T
The above is picture is of Westlake Avenue, through the top of an clear sippy cup of iced water.
HAPPY MOTHER’s DAY to all the mommy figures who share their heart, spend time, help us along, be a lasting positive influence! Thank you, for we would be lost without you all!
There’s a saying I’ve heard in this Emerald City of the Pacific Northwest…
If you like the weather, wait five minutes. Or, If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes.
But, that’s not an exclusive saying to the city of Seattle. It’s said of many cities where shifting, unpredictable weather happens. The earliest version of that saying was quoted by famed writer Samuel Clemens, aka Mark Twain. His exact quote was said to be, “If you don’t like the weather in New England, just wait a few minutes.” The context and where he quoted this remains unknown to the Internet. But who cares, it’s timeless to our hours of environmental unpredictability, where it can be the only notable occurance of an otherwise mundane day.
Still, there is something timeless about the joy of unpredictable weather. Constant weather patterns can be boring. TV morning news would be less exciting without our weather reports. Less banter, less small talk for sure. For me, I enjoy the opportunities of photography and inspiration that sudden weather changes bring..
Especially in Seattle.
Orion T
Pictures above are from the newish patio deck area of the upper, main floor of the Pike Place Market. It’s a good place to chill, with less people and more space than other parts of this popular tourist destination.
Continued from my previous post, but before those pics were taken, are more (below) from another long walk.
This walk happened late night last Friday close to midnight with a couple friends, as the snow fell heavy upon the Seattle city. The streets were peaceful, quiet, and relaxing for my boots to stroll about. Locations were mostly the Downtown area around the Pike Place Market, the waterfront, and Space Needle.
Here are the pics of my long, roughly two-hour night experience…
TRAVELING ORION 