This Trip in Photos

The Famous Pike's Place Fish Market

I can't say fish is my favorite food of all time. But when a 10-pound mackerel flies above your head and into the able hands of an employee in waders, it's at least got to make the top 5.

Seattle is home to Pike's Place Market, a fun fishery where the employees perform a skillful game of catch every time someone buys seafood. It is a must-see in the city, and Gail and I got a chance to see the action firsthand (see video).

Let the Rhythm Take You Over, Bailamos

There's an old, standard Enrique Iglesias song I love that goes something like this: "Bailamos, let the rhythm take you over bailamos, te quiero, hasta morir." Essentially: "Let's dance, let the rhythm take you over, let's dance, I want you until I die."

Certain parts of that song don't directly reflect Gail and my feelings toward The Dance or the gentlemen who dance with us. The first part, however, does.

Seizing at the opportunity to hang out with Justin, who usually knows what he's doing when it comes to salsa, we spent our Thursday in Seattle dancing until our feet ached. The event wasn't without its snags -- one of Gail's partners smelled so bad she had to excuse herself from the floor. One of my partners was a bit borracho and had the embarassing habit of whistling really loud whenever I did a turn.

Overall, though, it was muy divertido and we're getting a little better each time we go out. The video of Gail in action is proof.

The Space Needle and other Seattle Sites

Our Missions Conference adventure commenced with a way-too-early flight from LAX and the shuttle services of Claire and Cheryl. When we finally got to Seattle, we realized -- WOW. It's COLD up here!

The cold, however, hasn't kept us from heating things up in the city of Microsoft, the Space Needle, and grunge music. With our amicable tour guide Justin (Gail's friend since freshman year and a Biola alum), we've checked out some fabulous lookout spots -- such as this spot in Queen Anne's next to the Space Needle, where there were some very excitable tourists (pictured below) attempting to pull a Mary-Poppinsesque stunt in the windy conditions.

The city is full of quaint Victorian neighborhoods and lots of money, so there are some beautiful houses out here. Justin took us on a roundabout drive circling Lake Washington, showed us more of downtown than we can keep track of, and related innumerable facts about the city's infrastructure. We're nominating him for city council in 2010, or at least the convention and visitor's bureau.

The picture below is us enjoying brunch at a cheery breakfast place that served delicious omelets with enough peppers and onions to make us wish -- for the rest of the day -- that we had some gum. It was fabulous.

More pictures and video of our day is to come as Gail and I explore the town

Better Together

Five reasons we're better together:
1. I need Gail to remind me when the light's turned from red to green.
2. Gail needs me to help locate misplaced cell phones.
3. It takes two to mess with the radio dial in my car enough that the volume actually goes down.
4. Work is not work when Gail's with me -- whether that be Chimes or an urban planning conference.
5. No social situation is ever awkward when we're both there.

Pictured: Gail and I at Chimes hangout night, Gondola Pizza, La Mirada, Calif.