Day: October 29, 2003

Fall

Ross Mayfield nails how I feel about autumn in Seattle, describing the effect of being in northern latitudes after the equinox:

In Estonia, where I lived once, its compounded by the fact that coming winter solstice the sun barely skirts the horizon and its basically dark except mid-day. A strange and wonderful cycle ensues. From summer solstice, the party of the year, on to Christmas people get a little depressed. From Christmas to party time moods heighten.

I miss the amazing glowing late afternoon light that used to come in early October afternoons in Charlottesville and Boston. The hardest thing about working right now is getting in with the light, and leaving after it’s dark. Plus the fact that there’s no late afternoon light most days.

For all that, I’m feeling pretty good compared to last year. Amazing what a change of job does. Not to mention good music.

Dining out, carryout

George has had some bad luck with Indian dining. I have higher hopes for the Italian place we’ll be visiting with them on Friday in North Beach (details afterwards; I don’t know ’em).

Meanwhile, we’re discovering the joys of cheap Asian food. Our latest foray was a Vietnamese place in the local shopping center that provided take-out pho for two for less than $15. Although we had figured out how to cook an inexpensive rice noodle and beef dish—a kind of faux pho, as it were—the real thing was impressively rich in flavor…and much quicker than making it ourselves.

I also enjoyed the return of Samuel Smith’s Winter Warmer, which got here early this year. As always, spicy, malty, and full flavored. I’ll try to do a fuller tasting when I don’t have taste buds slightly numbed by pho.