Seattle, CatchCon, and All Kinds of Shenanigans...How Appropriate! Part 6, THE END!

Trav, Carrie, Trav (who I will just call Arket to kill the confusion that would ensue,) and I on the ferry to Alki Beach.

The final day in Seattle was pretty much as awesome as it could be. It was just good times with good friends.

Since all of the official shenanigans were over, we spent the last day just hanging out and having good times. We hit the Crab Pot for a lunch of fish and chips and of course, hilarity ensued.




Mystic in a Travis Sandwich...not a regular menu item at the Crab Pot.


Mystic had to leave right after lunch, so we tried to pack as much fun into that meal as possible. We ate, we drank, we goofed around with the waiter.



What is up with your hair Arket?

Now...as you can see from this picture...Carrie is extremely pale. I am also quite pale. We spent a great deal of time adjusting the umbrella at the table to keep any ray of sun from settling on us...much to the amusement of our pigmented friends. I was also freezing that 75 degree day...Arket took my hand to warm me up, gasped when he felt how cold I was and with fear in his eyes said "...are...are you a vampire?" (It add up y'all!) This was the birth of the VwV "Vampire Lunch Club." I would totally explain that here, but then the true depths of my (and my friend's) nerdom would be known...and maybe even the internets isn't ready for that.



Trav...sampling the brew.



Arket endorsing his choice of soda. You can see where it sits as the centerpiece of that "Equal flower" on the table...we amused ourselves pretty easily that day. There was also some great debate over whether the fish we were eating was cod or halibut...it was white, it was fried, it was good. I was happy.

After lunch, we had to bid Mystic goodbye...which was sad, but we had such a good time and more on the horizon.



After lunch, Trav, Carrie, Arket and I hopped the ferry to Alki beach...Carrie was pretty excited...



Arket, acting all nonchalant and breezy, but he was totally excited too.



It was a gorgeous Seattle day. I've never actually been to Seattle when it's been truly rainy. About a 15 minute sprinkle is all I've ever seen. Arket tells me the city does this to trick the tourists...and make some of them move there...then it mocks them with a continual downpour. lol!


I can't figure out if that's terror or the sun in his eyes, but I'm apparently pretty happy about whatever's going on...



Trav and Carrie were enjoying the weather too. It was such a great day. It was just fantastic being on the water and heading out for fun times.


Goodbye city!


We ended up going kayaking. It was a perfect day for it. We surfed the wake of various ships passing by and paddled all over. At one point, we decided that it'd be a great idea to kayak through the Ballard Locks, but, about halfway there, Trav realized that the last ferry back to town left in about 1/2 an hour and we'd have to really push it just to make it back to catch it. So, we turned back, paddled hard and got back to the ferry just as it was ready to leave. It was a close call, but a great time. I wish we had some pics from the kayaking, but my last attempt at kayak photography ended with a burial at sea for my little Kodak. So I didn't risk it this time.



Trav hardly ever takes a pic where he isn't being goofy...so naturally, I thought 'make an idiotic face.' Of course, he's being all nice and sweet and I look like an idiot with a facial twitch.

After a great day on the lake, we headed up to the Suquamish casino to meet up with Arket's Captain, Sten, and a friend of his who was having a birthday...a rockaroke birthday. Now, I've done karaoke before, but nothing that involved a live band! Sten's friend decided to sing "American Woman" for his birthday festivities and Sten told Travis "make this epic" or something to that extent...so dancing was about about to be involved. Trav, Carrie, Arket, and myself all headed to the dance floor and as soon as the main beat started, Arket runs, leaps into the air and lands on his knees skidding across the floor. He then bolts to his feet, turns, and points at me. It pretty much set the tone for the evening. At that point I joined him and we pretty much owned it. lol! Trav and Carrie were dancing too...I think..but I was totally involved in shenanigans Arket and I were creating.

...I really am obscenely pale.

After that, Travis and I took to the floor for a little boot scootin' to Achy Breaky Heart. I proved to him that while I greatly enjoy it, I am a horrible dancer when it comes to 'steps.' I seriously need to just 'freestyle' you know, so no one can be like 'you messed that up...you messed that up a lot!' Still, it was great fun. (I think I spin in the wrong direction every time. haha! )

pure magic.

We all put our names on the list to sing, but time was running out, so to close the place down as properly as it could be, they called Arket to the stage. Now, I could sit around and attempt to describe this epic portrayal of one man's tribute to boo-tays of unusual size, but thankfully, I got it on video so you can see it fo' yo'self! You've made Sir-Mix-A-Lot proud my friend.

I don't really remember why we decided to do a pic of Arket pretend kind of strangling me, but it was his idea and I rolled with it. ...retards.

Anyway, after his truly majestic performance, we headed back to the hotel where we sat around the lobby and chatted for a while before ending the good times. It was a great night, a great trip, and I can't wait till I'm out Seattle ways again. I miss all of my West Coasties. (and everyone else that was a West Coastie, if only for the weekend!)

Seattle, CatchCon, and All Kinds of Shenanigans...How Appropriate! Part 5

The end of the Convention included a rescue demonstration by the USCG.

The chopper was close enough that we could all feel the spray from the water.

The swimmer jumped into the water to retrieve the proxy survivor.

Here is some video of the demo...be amazed by horrific videography! *Note to self, don't turn the camera vertically. Still, it's pretty amazing to see this up close...I'm just glad it was only a demo. You could feel the spray from the water and the sound...just wow.

At the end of the rescue, the clouds parted slightly and a shaft of sunlight descended on the chopper as it flew off...something about that just seemed appropriate. Thanks to the Coast Guard for an awesome demo and for all they do for those in peril on the sea.

There has been a lot going on and I've been slow in posting...next post will be the last Seattle post then onto the insanity that has been life on the home front.

Seattle, CatchCon, and All Kinds of Shenanigans..How Appropriate! Part 4

Michelle, Sally, Me, Carrie, Lynn, Mystic, Lenny, and Rebecca on deck.

Saturday was CatchCon. I didn't really know what to expect...but I didn't really care, all I was looking for was good times with friends. Anything else was just a bonus.

The Northwestern and Wizard stayed where we left them.

Me and Mike Fourtner...who, hilariously, was like "Oh, I know your group! I keep up with things!"

Bettina sporting her "Dutch Harbor Gear" hat that she won in a verizon texting contest. She had the fastest thumbs in the west that day. (I too scored a hat, though my means were more like "can I have a hat?")

(Sorry for the craptastic quality of this picture.) Velvet brought her own hat. Thanks to it, she ended up on a lot of Discovery videos. lol!


Apparently, at some point, I was on the Northwestern...also apparently, at some point, I became a giant. The guys were nice...Matt shot me with a marshmallow gun that Anne had given him...little did he know, there was more than one gun. hehehe.

Becks, Carrie, Sally, Myself, and Michelle showing the NW our best sides.
I've always liked that painting in the galley...and you can see on the table, there, the marshmallow gun in question (which I shall refer to as 'the revenge-er' lol!). The bag? Well, that's full of ammo...delicious, delicious ammo.

Mystic and Lynn showing off in red...Wizard red!

Travis...he likes to talk...a lot. LOL! Good thing he's fun to listen to. Seriously, he was great at working the deck, telling all about various Bering Sea shenanigans, and what have you.

*Translation*: "Hey you hillbillies, be careful on the boats, OK? If you catch your toe and break your fool neck, don't come to sue us!"Carrie, Russ, and myself. It was nice to finally meet him.


There were various games going on...this one was obviously, "crab sort." Had I known the winner received and XBox, I would have tried a little harder!


Jeff Conroy about to introduce the Captains for the synposium .


Andy, John , and Phil listening to Jeff.


Phil and Sig during the question and answer portion.


Keith and Andy chattin' it up .At some point, Lynn, saw either my or Bettina's hat. With childlike wonder he exclaimed "I...I want a hat!" Mystic, having adopted him (see earlier post) took the boy to the texting table where he was given his coveted hat! In Mystic's words "You're on the show baby, I think we can get you a hat." -best.

Next post, there were some survival suit drills and an awesome coast guard demo that I can't wait to share!

Seattle, CatchCon, and All Kinds of Shenanigans...How Appropriate! Part 3

Thanks to Mystic for this pic since I didn't get one with my cam. (Official pic of the Wizard Mixer)

I've gotten slightly behind in my posting. Surgery (my dad's), going out of town again (me), more work than I can shake a stick at, and a busted knee (sadly, me again) have slowed me down a little...but more on all that later!

We now return to your regularly scheduled shenanigans already in progress.

Capt. Keith and his lovely wife Florence were heading up the shindig.

Monte was in a great mood and ready to party!

Trav was also there in typical fashion. (Every once in a while you can actually catch him not being goofy in a picture...this was not one of those whiles.)

Lynn, bless your heart, you're probably tired of us calling you adorable, but you are. So there.

Lenny was having a great time and it was a pleasure to get to know him.

Moi was there too, hanging out and having a great time! Here he is with Carrie.

What do you do at a Wizard mixer? You mix with the Wizard crew of course! Lynn, the lovely Mystic, and Trav are hanging out and having a good time. They all called each other before hand to make sure they wore matching attire. ;)

Lenny's having a great time chatting with Rebecca.

Trav and Monte get goofy with the always effervescent Lucy!

Keith making some announcements and introductions, everyone was absolutely cracking up. It was quite a nite of stories, laughter, and future events.

Me with Florence. She's just an incredible person and so sweet!

Trav gets down to the business of giving the people what they want. haha! All of the boys signed autographs and posters for all who wanted them.

Becky, Helen, and Storm chatting it up.

Mystic decided that she was going to claim Lynn and adopt him. lol!

Carrie, Trav, and Sally explain the night through interpretive dance!

Velvet, Lenny, Karen, and Monte enjoying a chat and a drink.

And thus, the Wizard Mixer ended. It was a great time. Everyone really appreciated all the trouble and expense that went into it to pull it off. The Hyatt was lovely and everyone was spectacular. Later that night, several of us took out to the town to see what late night Seattle had to offer. The answer is lots. haah! OK, next time, Catchcon!