Mount Rainier

An unexpected and unwelcome development, but beginning this year Mount Rainier is going to require timed entry reservations in order to enter.  And not just one reservation, but two different ones for the two main parts of the park.  This doesn't come as a total shock - after all Mount Rainier had started to become increasingly busy, and I knew that some other national parks had also started to require reservations.  But still very disappointing - because although I haven't been there for a few years, when I do go it is generally at very short notice when I know the weather is going to be good or when the wildflower blooms are peaking.  It's going to take a bit more planning next time.  Or I just try to arrive at the park when a reservation is not required (before 7 am - unlikely - or after 3 pm) - though I imagine the timing of when the park gets horrendously busy will just shift to after 3 pm. 

TV Theme Tunes #66

I always welcome requests and recommendations for theme tunes, and this was one.  An 80's kids TV show whose name seems familiar, but which otherwise I don't remember and don't remember ever watching.  Even though it was on for 8 years and 90+ episodes.  The theme doesn't even seem that familiar to me.  But apparently my cousin does remember it, and clearly with some fondness if he suggested it.  Enjoy!

Dad's Army

It was sad to hear that Ian Lavender passed away over the weekend.  He was the last surviving main cast member of Dad's Army.  I thought Frank Williams was still alive - who played the reverend - but a quick check on Wikipedia revealed that he died a few years ago.  A fun fact that I discovered while googling Dad's Army - and something I didn't know - is that Arnold Ridley (who played Private Godfrey)'s great-niece is Daisy Ridley (who played Rey in Star Wars).  Second fun fact - an American remake, called The Rear Guard, had a pilot produced and broadcast, but nothing more.  

Lumen Field

The 2026 World Cup may be ages away, but they've already announced the schedule.  And Seattle is going to host 6 games - 4 group games, a round of 32 game and a round of 16 game.  I've already registered my interest on the FIFA website about getting tickets - but I have no idea if and when they go on sale, and whether they will go on sale when we even know who will be playing.  We do know that one of the group games will involve the USMNT, so I won't even try to get tickets for that one as they'll be in high demand.  But I'm thinking I would like to watch a group game and a knockout game.  I really have no idea how easy it will be to get tickets, but I will try.  Though I suspect this particular World Cup could be something for a drag, what with it featuring so many nations (48) and games (104).  I think my chances of watching England play in Seattle are probably quite low.  

People Suck

As I was heading out today, I noticed that the sign with my house number on was missing from the bottom of my driveway.  Strange, I thought to myself, where would it had gone?  Would someone had taken it?  Why?  What are the chances that someone who has the same house number as me would take this crappy sign?  That seems unlikely.  So when I got back, I had to take a closer look.  It's possible the sign had fallen down into the weeds - after all it wasn't secured in the ground, and I had it just propped up against a tree.  But nope, no sign of it.  But then I recalled the van that had been stuck in the ditch earlier in the week.  Surely not, they wouldn't have taken it.  So I had a quick walk up the road to where the van had been stuck, and predictably yep there was the missing sign.  Face down in the mud.  Where the stuck driver had clearly taken it from the end of my driveway and placed it in front of his tire in an attempt to gain traction.  And left it there in the ditch.  Covered in mud, and probably having been driven over.  The cheek of it.  As you can imagine, less than pleased about this.  Wish I had seen this at the time, and I would definitely have said something - and demanded some compensation.  My landlord went to help the driver, so surprised he didn't see or do anything about it either.  I think I might ask my landlord to get a new sign that can actually be anchored to the ground.    

Reflection

Sometimes you get those days where average weather still somehow creates unexpectedly photogenic conditions.  Such was the case earlier this week when I went for a lunchtime walk from the office, and was struck at how an ordinary view of Lake Union was enhanced immeasurably by the light and reflection of that particular moment's specific cloud formation.  Nice.

Diet and Exercise

Health-wise, it was a pretty dreadful January.  Not eating well, not exercising much.  No excuses.  Well I could make excuses, but I'm not going to.  So it is something I am going to make a distinct effort to improve this month.  And indeed every month going forward.  I was doing a good job after my health scare last year, but I've become complacent.  I can't let that happen and I can't get into bad habits again.  It's not going to be easy.