Category: Meditations

Human remains found at Picnic Point

Carl Setzer

This is an alarming thing to read:Sheriff’s office investigating human remains found at Picnic Point. At this point, there’s so very little to go with. All we really know is that it looks like the body had been there some time. Was it something nefarious, or a sad accident? No way to even guess. 

Do we need to worry about a psychopath wandering about? Any of that kind of thing? Though our fears drive us towards reaction. Yet we need to wait. One of the great challenges of 21st century life: patience. We’ve become terribly used to instant responses.  A whole day?: Painful!

I’m sure the examiner will get us information quickly. Then we’ll have know how to react and move forward.

So, deeply sad stuff. I want to know more. Actually, as far a this sort of thing, I’ll say need.. 

I’ii update as this story as things progress. Until then, be safe Lynnwood, Edmonds Mountlake Terrace friends. 

Be safe. .

Ah, the world’s gone completely mad

Carl Setzer

​Reading about United’s PR debacle, and their CEO’s ratcheting up the tone deaf response, gets wearying after a bit.The tweet storm right now is simply horrendous. I’m glad I’m not with any element of their OR right now. Truly a Maalox moment. 

But that’s all in Twitter. It’s just ugly right now. No one knows how to argue with dignity and grace. 

Blindness to basic compassion and common decency. Rage filled vitriol, invective and brutality…The internet is loaded with the worst humanity has to offer. 

I’m not sure of the way forward right now. United, I’m sure, is hoping this news cycle will be short, and memories shorter. Air travel as a whole has become an enterprise featuring dominatrix/management. Whip me, beat me, make me sit coach cross country. The

I wonder if we can move our society towards decency, respect and compassion. Note: I’m not saying “again”. I’m under no delusion that we ever were. Seems we have been better once upon a time. The

But maybe, maybe we can move towards a place where we value each other more than for a cheap shot, the few dollars we can eek out of them, if we can get any at all. 

I hold out hope…most of the time. 

A rainy day quote for this Saturday 

Carl Setzer

This quote’s been on a card adhered to my refrigerator for quite some time. The photo is one I took today, capturing today’s perpetual rain. With a little post-production embellishment. 

Life is not about how you survive the storm; it’s about how you dance in the rain.

It would be easy to let the dreariness deep into your marrow, poisoning your soul. I find my solace outside, in the wind, rain and cold. With filtered sunlight upon my skin, I persist in motion. That drives the depressive beast to silence. At least temporarily. 

Reflecting on old travel dreams 

Carl Setzer2 Comments

​

Dreams 

Ages ago

To drive a van 

Laden with camera gear 

Photographing delights 

What captured my eye 

Once I dreamt of driving across the country in a VW van. That iterated many times. Shifting to a drive from Alaska to South America, terminating at Cape Horn. It changed from VW to Chevy, thinking that Chevy parts would be easier to find. Then to motorcycles, perhaps BMWs, again thinking parts. Ensure styled motorcycles should endure the treacherous roads better. 

Sometimes it was a solo ride; others, a team effort worthy of a Long Way Round. I saw logistics and geopolitical issues with southern Mexico, El Salvador, Colombia, amongst others. 

The vision never fully gelled. It was hard to get past the fears. 

Now I simply think about travelling the US. Van, cameras, website…who needs anything else? 

A Few Random Thoughts On This Saturday

Carl Setzer

I’m exploring what content I’m going to work on over the next “little bit”. My brainstorming brought up some random things.

  • I was watching a few squirrels in my backyard and thought “the history of the eastern grey squirrel mirrors the history of human migration in the American west”. Though very academic sounding, the more I think about it, the more I think it’s something to explore further. Yeah, my nerdiness is showing.
  • Lynnwood, the town I’ve spent most of my life living in, solidly reflects the post-war expansion and growth of the suburb.
  • This small town of my youth has grown so very much. Strange to see all these cranes.
  • Spent the morning listening to a local band, the Ginger Ups. I really love the music. Go lend them your ears! You’ll be glad you did. And you can see them live. The next show, per their website, is at Edmonds’ Hazel Miller Plaza this coming Thursday at 5:00 pm. Street level at Old Milltown.
  • I need to get a new phone soon. My S5, with KitKat, is so clunky and aggravating. I was thinking of digging around online to find a good deal. But I probably will end up at the Alderwood Mall ATT store. Soon. Today? Looking at the Samsung S7. Now, which one? Oh, choices! Not sure I’ll pay extra for the S7 Active. However, there’s something comforting about not needing to worry about using your phone in the rain when you live around Seattle.
  • I’ve been thinking about this story from the Seattle Times earlier this month: “Seattle home too dangerous to enter sells for $427,000 after ‘insane’ bidding war“. I want to flesh things out further. This really is an anomaly, an outlier. It does capture some truths about the current Seattle real estate market, but not all of it. Homes are consistently selling above asking price, but we’re looking at 102% (ish). Not 200%! Anyway, another opportunity to nerd out and dive deeper. My plan is to do that later today. I want to build a vlog post about it (see below.
  • Succumbing to pressure from several sources, I’ve started vlogging. My YouTube channel is over here. It’s actually a lot of fun, but I’m really just getting started. Give me ideas!
  • I’m hoping to head over to the Lynnwood Bowl & Skate’s 60th Anniversary shindig later today. This institution formed a core part of my childhood and youth. Will be nice to celebrate it’s history and continued place in South Snohomish County culture.

So, there’s today’s musings. I have some stuff to get done today.

An Edmonds Haiku

Carl Setzer

image

Along the water
Clarity flowing inwards
A day in Edmonds

I love the tranquil feeling of walking along the Edmonds shoreline. One of my favorite places on earth. Memories; of my my grandparents, my mom, my wife and now watching my son grow up. All these upon the sandy shores near the ferry. Part of what makes the place home.