brew ha ha!

Oktoberfest, Part Two (zwei)!

Day 2 of the Fremont Oktoberfest was slightly more family-(and figure-!) friendly. It was the Brew Ha-Ha! 5k fun run. And who can show up to a German-themed run without proper attire? 99% of the participants, as it turns out. The other 1%? That would be Cousin and me. 

After committing to do the run on Saturday evening, we each went to our respective sewing machines to whip up an original costume. Cousin's involved a Value-Village tutu, a green felt skirt to go over the top, a quaint peasant top, and a brown and green dirndl. I dug through Sissy's fabric stash and fashioned some lederhosen out of some brown canvas and big ol' gold buttons. Ya, I know, they're traditionally men's wear, but I made them more lady-friendly with a generous helping of pink ric-rac. If we had planned ahead, we could have gone to mydirndl.com for all of our German wardrobe needs. 

Anyway, we got all gussied up early Sunday morning and headed down to Fremont. It wasn't until we were walking toward the registration booth that I started to realize: No one else was dressed up. No, no. There were hundreds of young athletes there, all in their hardest-core running gear. To any outsider, it would have looked like the starting line for the New York marathon. Except for us. We certainly got some funny looks. What, like they'd never seen two girls running a three-mile race in argyle knee socks? Pfft. 

The race itself was uneventful. It maybe wasn't the fastest I'd ever run, but dang. I looked good. Too bad they only gave out trophies to people who "Finished First." 

and even more culture

Ahh, Fremont Oktoberfest. A Seattle institution since 1997, and voted one of USA Today's Top Ten Oktoberfests In The World! (There were a lop of caps in that sentence. So you know it's good.)

Cousin and I braved the possibility of rain on Saturday evening for the opportunity to listen to some live music, sample some local beers, people-watch some unique individuals, appreciate fine German culture, and apparently (though no one warned me of this in advance), run into ex-boyfriends. 

So, here's the scoop: You show up, pay $20, get a miniature plastic mug (stein) and some tokens, and are let loose among hundreds of other young Seattleites who love them some beers (biers). You can purchase some sausages (wurst) or Ye Olde Kettle Korn and listen to traditional German musicians like Justin Timberlake and Chingy. 

There are around four different tents with beers you can sample. Make sure you also bring your patience, because the lines can get a little longish, and since the mugs are so mini, you're better off getting straight back in line as soon as you get your pour. (But that's how I usually roll anyway!) 

Please allow me to digress for a moment to coin a new term:

thirstynoyed |thur.sti.noid| adj.  the feeling of irritation caused by extreme thirst 

      (see also)

hangry |hain.gree| adj. the feeling of irritation caused by extreme hunger

     (see also)

hypothermad |hi.poh.thur.mad| adj. feeling of irritation caused by extreme cold

Thank you. More on Day 2 of the Oktoberfest experience later. 

a dose of culture

Fact: On the 2nd Thursday of every month, West Seattle has an art walk. (Check out their blog here!) Businesses feature local artists and stay open late so people, such as Yours Truly (as depicted below), can stroll around and get a glimpse of the art scene of the moment. 

For reasons that would require a whole different blog entry, I went last week for the first time. It was a lovely evening, and my companion and I took a nice long walk down California and did some browsing. I've been to art walks in other neighborhoods, like Ballard and Greenwood, but this one was exceptionally cool. The art was amazing, and all the people were so friendly! Plus some places had snacks and wine laid out, equally as artfully as the pieces on display. (As I've said before, I'd eat a piece of bark smothered in pond scum if it was presented in an appealing manner!)

Featured in my own sad attempt at artwork today is a clipping from a postcard I picked up along the way. The art was by Diane Culhane and was some of the coolest I saw. 

Good job, West Seattle. It was well worth the drive from Seattle Proper. (Note to self: next Second Thursday, go with a companion who doesn't give me The Tights.)

adventures in public transport

Have you ridden the Metro lately? I'm a big fan. For only a measly $1.50, you get whisked away to any location you might desire without having to worry about sitting in traffic, dealing with road rage, or parking fees!

I hopped on the 16 (my favorite route!) last Friday to head downtown for a haircut. For maybe the first time ever, I felt like I knew what I was doing as I slid my fare into the coin machine, asked for a transfer, and took a seat. And, unlike the last time I rode, I didn't trip while going up the steps! So cool. So collected. So urban.

The trip there was uneventful; lots of young working-folk with their iPods and No Eye Contact. The ride home however, which took place at around 1:00, had a slightly different feel. 

I just barely missed one bus, so I had a good twenty minute wait at the busstop on 3rd and Bell. Cue Old Lady with Walker and Cigarette Addiction, who sidled up beside me. I took the opportunity to casually step away and brush up on all the downtown routes, courtesy of the large Metro Kiosk nearby. Excellent. Board the bus (finally) and remember to Pay As You Leave. Sit down next to nice young woman reading the Bible and decide to forego the iPod and just people watch. There were several tourists aboard, asking other patrons and the driver about where they should get off. Only once did the bus actually stop at a random street corner to let said tourists dismount, as they were headed in the complete wrong direction. A nice young woman, clearly a Seattleite, was helpful in figuring that out.

A few minutes into the ride, my phone rang, and feeling like a jerk, I answered it. While I gabbed with Sissy, a fight ensued between the afore-mentioned nice young woman and her riding partner, an older woman in a wheelchair. Think mud-slinging, obscenity-laced argument. Some key phrases: "ya bleepin freeloader!" and "yer makin a fool outta yerself!" Anyway, the rest of the bus fell into an uncomfortable silence.

As soon as I ended my phone conversation, I got a tap-tap on the shoulder from a dear older man sitting across the aisle. "Shouldn't the driver ask them to get off?" he wanted my opinion. Since the ladies were in clear earshot, I felt awkward answering, so I gave a vague nod. He proceeded to entertain me for the next 15 minutes with PG jokes ("What kind of lights were on Noah's Ark? FLOOD lights!"), his philosophy on life ("People should just take life one day at a time and not freak out over little things), and some classroom suggestions for me when he found out I was a teacher (Leaf rubbings for fall! Who knew?!). Oh yeah, and he gave me his copy of the Seattle Times so I could brush up on my current events. 

So, for you newbies, here are some tips for riding public transit:

1. Know where the route is going BEFORE you board.

2. Watch your step while you board.

3. Never EVER forego the iPod.

On the upside, you will most likely dismount feeling like the most normal person in the world!