Wednesday, April 9, 2025
Quick Roku vs Ubuntu Rygel DLNA Note
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
National Pancake Day - March 4, 2025
(from the Has It Really Been Five Years? department)
Hey - long time no pancake. How've you been? I think it's time for a stack of pancakes!
This time - we learned from the past. Dana, Rose & I headed down to our local IHOP at about 5:00 PM. We were able to be seated immediately. After looking at the menu, we ordered our free pancakes, and I got a burger - with hash browns:
For more information - check out IHOP's website here: National Pancake Day 2025 - Enjoy Free Pancakes at IHOP®
Cheers,
Paul
Friday, February 7, 2025
Kooza!!!
(from the I Can't Believe They Can Do That! department)
Hi everyone,
We went to the latest Cirque Du Soleil travelling production last night - Kooza. It was in a big tent at Marymoor Park in Redmond. Really well done.
I'll leave the description of the show to other bloggers, but it's kind of a modernization of traditional circuses. There's a ringleader, clowns, acrobats, etc. They're not exactly the same as a Ringling Bros. show - but the roles are there, just done in a Cirque Du Soleil way.
A note about the aerial work. Some of it is incredible. There's a section they do with a spinning structure that defies belief. The tightrope walking is pretty amazing too. But - seriously - all of the performers were outstanding. Hard to pick the best, really.
The music was really good too - really tight band playing live. The current touring group features a drummer named Eden Bahar, who holds the Guinness World Record for "Most drumstick spins in one minute (one hand)". He set the record of 149 on 13-Sept-2018. They gave him a solo spot in the show - he really shined, without being overbearing.
Finally - we did manage to get a picture at the event:
You'll notice I'm wearing my down jacket. I had on a blue-green t-shirt that matched the backdrop. I kept disappearing in the photos. Luckily - I had a zip-up down jacket - or you would have seen a much different photo!
They also gave us the raw image:
All in all - it was a magical night. We had a lot of fun!
Cheers,
Paul
Sunday, December 8, 2024
Merry Christmas from Santa and Rose (part 18)
(from the I Don't Think Rocky Had This Many Sequels department)
Well - we did it! It was a mad whirlwind getting to the Santa photos today - we were booked in the last available slot. But - we did it!!
Without further ado - Santa Photo 2024®!!
Cheers,
Paul
Friday, September 27, 2024
Haiku Writing - Moon Viewing 2024
(from the Just Splish! department)
Hi everyone,
This year, Rose & I attended the Seattle Japanese Garden Moon Viewing on Thursday, Sept. 12th, 2024, at the Washington Park Arboretum in Seattle.
The event was a little more low-key than in previous years. Also - the tea ceremony was only available for Friday's event, so this was even more low-key. Still - it was nice to get out of the house, stroll around the grounds - and watch the moon go behind the trees the minute we got there! (At least there was a moon visible this year - previous years have been pretty cloudy!!)
(Original announcement here: https://www.seattlejapanesegarden.org/events-calendar/2024/9/12/moon-viewing)
About the only event carried over from last year was the Haiku Contest. Rose wrote one haiku - I managed to get two completed. My second Haiku got an honorable mention!
Here's the Haiku:
Rose:
Paul:
Paul (honorable mention winner!):
(You might notice that the haikus don't necessarily follow the traditional 5-7-5 syllable pattern. Modern haiku are less formal.)
Full contest results are here: https://www.seattlejapanesegarden.org/moon-viewing-2024-haiku-0912
Rose & I had a great time. Looking forward to the viewing next year!
Cheers,
Paul
Sunday, December 17, 2023
Merry Christmas from Santa and Rose (part 17)
(from the Yup - That's Rose!!! department)
Hi everyone,
The streak continues - 17 years!!
So - I present to you - the Santa photo...
Happy Holidays and Season's Greetings from the Pietromonaco family (Dana, Rose & I).
Cheers,
Paul
Friday, September 1, 2023
Haiku Writing - Moon Viewing 2023
(from the Splish, Splish, Splish! department)
Hi everyone,
Dana, Rose & I attended the Seattle Japanese Garden Moon Viewing on Friday, Sept. 1st, 2023, at the Washington Park Arboretum in Seattle.
This is a nice evening event where you can stroll around the Japanese Garden, see luminaria and lanterns, hear traditional Japanese music played on flute and Koto, and attend a real Japanese tea ceremony.
(More info here: https://www.seattlejapanesegarden.org/events-calendar/2023/9/1/moon-viewing)
This year, all three of us participated in the tea ceremony. Simply amazing! Then - we got to make a wish and launch a small boat with a candle. (Well - a battery powered candle - no fires for us!)
Because of the length of the tea ceremony, Dana & Rose missed the Haiku Contest this year. I barely made it in time - I only had five minutes to create a Haiku masterpiece! Needless to say - that didn't happen - but I did get an honorable mention!! (1 of 12 they handed out this year.)
Here's the haiku I wrote:
Paul:
Paul