I just wanted to do an update because I haven't blogged in a while.  I have a lot to tell from the last week, which will not all be in this post.

Matt!  You let the cat out of the bag.  Heh. 

Yes, I am in Seattle. 

Whilst in Spokane, at, of course, a coffee shop, I realized that as far as my plans had strayed from their origins (going south from Missoula to Walla Walla was the original plan), it was no longer much of a stretch to head to Seattle.  I've been wanting to check out Seattle for about three years now, and when I figured out it would only add about 2 days riding time, I became very excited, but simulatneously felt on edge, and like a total pig for trying to cram so much into this trip.  Then I realized that's exactly what I should be doing, and "the 80-year-old man" philosophy was right there to help me out. 

If I haven't already explained "the 80-year-old man" thing, it's simple: when I'm on the fence about doing something (especially something kind of "big"), I think "What would the 80-year-old version of me, while reflecting back on his earlier life, do if he could go back in time and do things over again?" It is a very useful tool for making decisions, and one which, unfortunately, I don't use anywhere near often enough. 

But, in this case, I did, and the 80-year-old man was very clear in his answer.  So here I am in Seattle.  In retrospect, I'm not even sure why I had hesitation - I mean, who cares about two days when for about three years Seattle has been at the top of my must-see list?  Thank you 80-year-old Bill - please speak up more often, and stop embarassing your children with your comments to the waitresses when you go out to dinner (I expect to be an unapologetic dirty old man someday).

Back to Seattle.  My cousin Lisa and her husband Grant are graciously hosting me, and I couldn't ask for more.  I'm staying in "the shed" - (hilariously understated nickname) which is a five-or-so-car garage they converted into a guest house.  Lisa is a very talented architect, and designed the entire thing.  She also designed half of their house, which is like, ridiculously cool.  Anyway, "the shed" is nicer than most apartments I've had - it has it's own bathroom, kitchen area with a microwave, high-speed internet connection, and futon/bed.  They're feeding me quite well too I might add.  And I was also able to catch up with my cousin Megan, which was cool, and her boyfriend and I had a good long talk about Tom Waits, which was a treat.  He wants to start a donut and whiskey shop called "9th and Hennepin" which is a reference to a Waits song by the same name, where Waits describes a shop that has "donuts with names that sound like prostitues."  Opening a shop that pays homage to that song is a brilliant idea in my opinion.   

So right now, I'm, of course, in a coffee shop in Seattle.  No, not Starbucks.  A place called Cherry Street Coffee, which is pretty cool and playing good music, and has kind of punkish female baristas.

But, because I like doing stupid things like eating at mall food court Chinese restaurants, visiting tourist haunted houses in Niagara Falls, and, well, going to Wall Drug, I did in fact go to a Starbucks yesterday.  I haven't been to a Starbucks in Pittsburgh in about three years, but I couldn't resist the tongue-in-cheek thrill of going to a Starbucks in Seattle, since this city is of course the home of said evil coffee empire.

However, the joke was on me when I found out I could not get online without paying for it - meaning in addition to my coffee purchase.  Yes, paying customers don't get free wi-fi in Starbucks.  Are you frickin' kidding me?  Starbucks, you need to get a life.  That is exactly the kind of cockiness that, over time, brings down giants yourself. 

But, I could see the Space Needle from my table, so that took my little stereotype quintessential Seattle/Starbucks experience to it's logical conclusion (did I mention I was using Microsoft Windows on my laptop btw?), and since Starbucks was kind of ripping me off with the wi-fi thing on top of it all, it was, in a way, perfect.

That said, I won't be going back to a Starbucks, possibly, ever.  Certainly not on this trip.

I'm also not going to spend every moment of my Seattle time in a coffee shop.  I think I may actually go up in the Space Needle - just, like, because.  Why not?

I just found out Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are playing in San Francisco about three days after I was planning to leave, and the 80-year-old man is poking at me with his cane again.  I'm trying to ignore him, but it's not working.  It's three days that I'd have to extend my trip (which is still within the date by which I originally planned to return to Pittsburgh), and Nick Cave will almost definitely not be coming to Pittsburgh anytime soon.  Ahem.  I have to check things out further ("further" works this time, right Matt?), and let them stew, but I think I know which way I'm leaning.

And, um, I sort of figured out where Tom Waits goes for coffee in his home town.  No, I'm not joking. 

Mannnn...let me just say...if I would get to meet Tom Waits, in a coffee shop no less, I think my life would pretty much be complete.  Like, I think I'd probably be ok with being run over by a truck as I walk out the door of that coffee shop.  I've already figured out that if I go there (it's exactly on the way to San Francisco from Portland - Santa Rosa right off of Route 101) and see him, I would very calmly and respectfully thank him for making the music he makes, and leave things at that.  And if he would seem like he wants to talk more after that, then I would, and if not, I would log onto this here website and lay down fire about how I just met Tom Waits.  I really doubt I'll be so lucky, but, I am going to stop there, if for no other reason, to get coffee at Tom Wait's coffee shop.  The 80-year-old man is nodding strongly in approval.

Seattle is cool, and whereas I thought it was a flat city, it actually has hills - something important for a city I might hypothetically want to live in - for biking purposes.  In fact, half of the city is built on a hill that is nearly identical to the one I ride hill-repeats on in Oakland (in Pittsburgh for those of you not from the Burgh).  Hmmm.  Very interesting indeed.  And it never snows here, so even though it rains (only as much as it does in Pgh), I could bike all year round.  And the summers are dry isntead of humid, and all the seasons are more mild.  And a lot of good bands stop here on their tours.  And skiing is only 40 minutes away.  And the job market is better.  And it's the city that popularized the modern-day coffee house.  And Portland is just a day's drive away.  And...well, just thinking, that's all. 

Alright, I need to eat lunch.  I have other things to report from the trip, for sure, but I'll have to get to them later, maybe this afternoon or in Portland - where' I'll be in 3 days, at which time I will officially complete this journey by dipping my wheel in the Pacific Ocean at Cannon Beach, which my friend Scott, who lives in Portland, says is one of his favorite places in the world.  I'm sure I won't be disappointed. 

I'm in love with life right now. 

Thanks for reading.