Today people seem so friendly! I took a 2.5 mile walk near the water and people looked up from their bbq’s and waved. One fellow joked, “I’ll catch up to you in a little while!” Indicating that he would join me on what he perceived to be my running regiment. I got honked and waved at while walking near the water. The air is mild, smelling strongly of damp sun and passing thunderstorms. After a huge cherry bomb went off in front of our house 1/2 hour ago I brought Hobbes in. She is sleeping on my chair. This morning, Hobbes loudly protested when Josh moved her over. “Sorry Hobbes,” he said “No Bed For Old cats” a direct rip-off from No Country For Old Men.

Thursday night we went out on a date. We headed to Pioneer Square and hit up a few happy hours. We sat on stools and received poor service, $1 mini pizzas, and an excellent dry martini. Tipsily, we visited the former snowboard connection turned skate shop. I found a disturbing hoodie which I became obsessed with:

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Later, we went to the best Art Walk I’ve ever attended in my life. Now I know why Pioneer Square is known for its galleries and artist lofts. An acquaintance invited me to his gallery space in the fabulous 619 Western Ave. It houses more than one hundred artists work from studios all in one six story building. I learned that it is one of the largest artist studio enclaves on the west coast and has been a workspace for artists since 1979. Upon my friend’s recommendation we rode the elevator to the sixth floor and then made the slow descent down. The building is ancient, raw, and slanted at a steep angle at the top floor; I experienced something like vertigo when exiting the old fashion elevator. Studios were laid wide and open for our inspection. Snacks and wine sat on homemade tables on every floor. The walls were cement and chipped, but the art hung firmly like faithful flags, the landscape gritty and punctuated with beauty. A little dog roamed freely on one of the floors, wagging his tail in and out of each studio space. The work was priced decently and varied. We saw graffiti art, portraits, sculpture, goth photography, nudes. We entered one studio and the very generous Dr. Johnny greeted us by giving away free art–’9 by ‘11 portraits sketched in charcoal. He had large murals covering his ceiling, the walls, and even the floor. “You should always leave an art walk with some art,” he advised. “I have so much of it I never sell so I thought I would just give it away.” A poorly shot picture in the middle of it all:

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This morning I called my sister up and told her to request the first Thursday of August off. “We have to go,” I told her. “You have no choice.”