2012 - May "The day McGuane hired a plane"
Turning 50 is momentous for some people. Ominous for others. Kind of astounding for me. But for Mike it was not only momentous but an excellent excuse to throw a fabulous party. The only problem for me was that the party was at the opposite corner of the US. You just can't travel any further and remain in the contiguous US. Would we let that stop us? Hell no! And ... as long as we were traveling all the way out there, we figured to make it a 3 day weekend and cram in as much fun as possible.
Hence the early morning flight one Friday in May of 2012. Arriving in Seattle after a small layover in LAX (Virgin), we rented our car and headed to our Priceline grab hotel. The Renaisance - very nice, great location and a helluva deal at $100/nite. We meandered around Pike Place Market ... returned to the hotel to gussy up and then had a truly fabulous meal at the truly fabulous Space Needle. It is their 50th anniversary year and they take their 50th just as seriously as Mike does. Tony ordered this sampler thing with six different entres from famous chefs. It was amazing. I ordered a gihyooogic fish that I couldn't finish. It was a Rock fish I think... the whole thing, head and tail hanging off each end of the plate like a cartoon. I did my best by it, it was very good. Desert was a smoking bowl of ice cream. Don't believe it was smoking? Ask Tony to show you the video.
Our reservation was at 9p, so it was late by the time we headed back down the glass elevator giddy with good food and drink. Really late if you think about it in Florida time. Home to our hotel bed relishing the idea of sleeping in. We knew in our heart of hearts that we wouldn't - because it is, after all, three hours earlier in Seattle. So our body-clocks had us up at 6a. But even sleeping until 6a is 9a at home ... so it qualifies!
We popped back down to the waterfront, this time staying dockside rather than up the hill to Pike Place Market. We meant to head up to the market but Mike called and it was time to head to the boat. Tony sailed the boat with Mike while I went back to the room and actually did some work. You know me. Then I went and picked him up and we had lunch at the marina. Back to the hotel to rest and refresh and then get gussied up again for the PARTY! It was at a beach-house restaurant. At the dock were Mike's boat and, of course, the SEAPLANE! Hence the title on the invitation - "The day McGuane hired a plane". I didn't know before but have now heard the story of how his father threw a party once and rented a whole train. His party invitations said 'The day McGuane hired a train' so I guess it has now become something of a family tradition.
Tony and I rode the first sea plane ride. This was a dream come true for me and I loved it. We almost got to ride a second time, but at the last minute a couple arrived late and we jumped back off to give them our seats. We had, after all, already been. And we secretly knew we would get to go again... They gave us a little seaplane pin. I'm never taking it off. No, really, I don't remember what I pinned it to so I guess it's staying there!
I saw a few people I knew - introduced myself to the rest of Mike's family and generally had a nice time at the party. Next morning Tony and I dragged our tired bodies and aching heads out of the hotel, stuffed our bags into the rental car and walked down to the pier to catch the 7a ferry to Victoria, BC. That was a pleasant sojourn. Then we had the middle of the day - just a few hours - to wander about the city of Victoria. We took a hop-on/hop-off buss, as is our wont. We saw some playful seals, had some fabulous coffee, bought some incredible chocolates. Lunch was just a quick sandwich, but it was still fun. We found a street market which was fun. We've gotten very good at looking but not buying, though. Then it was off to the sea plane port! Yes, another seaplane ride. This one a bit longer. That is so fun! The plane stays really low over the water the whole time... its awesome. Landing and taking off are both a thrill. What a fabulous day! It was kind of a long walk back to the hotel from the seaplane port in Seattle, but we had just enough time to walk there, pick up the car and our bags and head over to the airport for our overnight flight home.
I will never forget that it was just as we were boarding to come home that I found out that my cousin Beverly had died suddenly. This news really deflated me and I'm still having trouble believing it. Still, I wanted to get on here and document our trip - and it was a fun trip, right up until that moment. We got home Monday morning and took a nap before we both had to get to work.
Mike's doing it again in 10 years. We'll plan on being there!
Hence the early morning flight one Friday in May of 2012. Arriving in Seattle after a small layover in LAX (Virgin), we rented our car and headed to our Priceline grab hotel. The Renaisance - very nice, great location and a helluva deal at $100/nite. We meandered around Pike Place Market ... returned to the hotel to gussy up and then had a truly fabulous meal at the truly fabulous Space Needle. It is their 50th anniversary year and they take their 50th just as seriously as Mike does. Tony ordered this sampler thing with six different entres from famous chefs. It was amazing. I ordered a gihyooogic fish that I couldn't finish. It was a Rock fish I think... the whole thing, head and tail hanging off each end of the plate like a cartoon. I did my best by it, it was very good. Desert was a smoking bowl of ice cream. Don't believe it was smoking? Ask Tony to show you the video.
Our reservation was at 9p, so it was late by the time we headed back down the glass elevator giddy with good food and drink. Really late if you think about it in Florida time. Home to our hotel bed relishing the idea of sleeping in. We knew in our heart of hearts that we wouldn't - because it is, after all, three hours earlier in Seattle. So our body-clocks had us up at 6a. But even sleeping until 6a is 9a at home ... so it qualifies!
We popped back down to the waterfront, this time staying dockside rather than up the hill to Pike Place Market. We meant to head up to the market but Mike called and it was time to head to the boat. Tony sailed the boat with Mike while I went back to the room and actually did some work. You know me. Then I went and picked him up and we had lunch at the marina. Back to the hotel to rest and refresh and then get gussied up again for the PARTY! It was at a beach-house restaurant. At the dock were Mike's boat and, of course, the SEAPLANE! Hence the title on the invitation - "The day McGuane hired a plane". I didn't know before but have now heard the story of how his father threw a party once and rented a whole train. His party invitations said 'The day McGuane hired a train' so I guess it has now become something of a family tradition.
Tony and I rode the first sea plane ride. This was a dream come true for me and I loved it. We almost got to ride a second time, but at the last minute a couple arrived late and we jumped back off to give them our seats. We had, after all, already been. And we secretly knew we would get to go again... They gave us a little seaplane pin. I'm never taking it off. No, really, I don't remember what I pinned it to so I guess it's staying there!
I saw a few people I knew - introduced myself to the rest of Mike's family and generally had a nice time at the party. Next morning Tony and I dragged our tired bodies and aching heads out of the hotel, stuffed our bags into the rental car and walked down to the pier to catch the 7a ferry to Victoria, BC. That was a pleasant sojourn. Then we had the middle of the day - just a few hours - to wander about the city of Victoria. We took a hop-on/hop-off buss, as is our wont. We saw some playful seals, had some fabulous coffee, bought some incredible chocolates. Lunch was just a quick sandwich, but it was still fun. We found a street market which was fun. We've gotten very good at looking but not buying, though. Then it was off to the sea plane port! Yes, another seaplane ride. This one a bit longer. That is so fun! The plane stays really low over the water the whole time... its awesome. Landing and taking off are both a thrill. What a fabulous day! It was kind of a long walk back to the hotel from the seaplane port in Seattle, but we had just enough time to walk there, pick up the car and our bags and head over to the airport for our overnight flight home.
I will never forget that it was just as we were boarding to come home that I found out that my cousin Beverly had died suddenly. This news really deflated me and I'm still having trouble believing it. Still, I wanted to get on here and document our trip - and it was a fun trip, right up until that moment. We got home Monday morning and took a nap before we both had to get to work.
Mike's doing it again in 10 years. We'll plan on being there!
