Seattle Day 4

I've had a few days to adjust here and some of the formalities have come down at work. One of the guys here, Adam offered to take me for a beer sometime and I told him I am DOWN.

I also met some of the other volunteers. There's a much more part time intern from Japan? by the name of Yuko, she doesn't speak english all that well but I sense she has a pretty good sense of humor. I am mostly in charge of finding things for her to do when she is in once a week. I am up to the task.

I have also met a young woman by the name of Marcy, we had very little conversation but she seems nice and says she volunteers here for the discounts on the classes, meaning we possibly have similar interests (as I should expect from all volunteers at a Film Forum) and could be best pals.

There is also a dude by the name of Willy James, at least I was told, he and I have had extensive conversation but I have yet to have the audacity to be like, "yo WILLY J!" because I think the name Willy James sounds preposterous. He and I could be good buds however and I enjoy his company when he is around.
I have also met

At work here I have been ripping files from DVD, converting them to DV files, putting them together as a continuous stream in Final Cut Pro, sending them to compressor where I convert them to a DVD compatible file, and then burning them to DVD. Needless to say it takes a loooong time and doesn't require much of me but to click a few buttons and wait. I may begin what may be a faster process of ripping from DVD, converting to DV (possibly direct to the DVD compatible file if I can) then directly to DVD studio pro where I will arrange them as a sequence of movies that play continuously, skipping the step of aligning them in final cut and reconverting them. I hope this works because it will cut my time in half

As for out of work adventures there has been a few.

I got a parking ticket. I was pretty sure the meter said don't worry about it after 6 and it was 6:10 at the time. However, parking tickets here are an astronomical $40 and I will not be doing that again.

I went out to a place called Buckley's in Belltown which is the local Big 10/Iowa bar here to watch the Hawks kick some ass in the Orange Bowl. I arrived alone and struggled up front to order a beer, then picked my spot in a corner awkwardly to watch the game. Not a good time from the get go, but it got better. A young woman by the name of Sam greeted me by basically calling me out on my lame being aloneness and I chatted with her and another lame being aloner by the name of Michael. They were great company throughout the game, we proceeded to get a little tipsy and watch the game in a great environment surrounded by hawk alum and a beer band that played the fight song every time it was deserved. There are videos up on my youtube site (youtube.com/kapatachowa) if you want to check them out. Michael took off and it was left to Sam and I to play trivia BUT WAIT, who is this across the bar. Could it be? IT IS, the sole contact I had coming out here was a friend of my brother's named Jon who tried to help me find a place to live. I said hi, we chatted, he was drunker than I. He derided me for not taking the place he suggested as I would be living with some Sig Eps (woulda been nice) then he called my brother, who was also drunk and they chatted. Also there was one of my brother's friend's Mike, also drunk. Cool guys though, maybe we'll all get drunk sometime in the future. I walked Sam to her busstop, trying to seem as little like a creepy stranger as I could and we parted ways. I walked around for awhile in the city, lights on, nothing open, under the shadow of the Space Needle (what the hell is that thing for?) and then drove home. All in All, damn good night. Life refresshing.

On the interactions with the housemates front, I've been making tiny progress. I purchased a 6 pack at a local brewery to try it out (the Elysian) and let my basement housemates know they were welcome to it if they so choose. The 28 year old Sheet music purchases (while packing his lunch for the next day in a middle school style insulated lunch container) informed me he wasn't much of a beer drinker, preferring wine. I try my best daily and nightly not to judge him to harshly, he's just a gentle spirit. Either that or a huge pussy. The other roommate looked scared that I was talking to him. I hope my roomates don't read this as I am currently probably judging them too harshly and am actually sure they are kind individuals.

I joined a Gym. That's nice. It is small but has all that I need. The guy who signed me up was real casual about it, almost criminally so. I think he's up to something.

ON THE FOOD FRONT:
I have been trying coffees, foods and beers/liquors out here. Here's the updates
Went to a place called Pike St. Fish'n'Chips, got a Cod Sandwich with Slaw and Fries. PHENOMENAL.
Went back there today for $2 Fish Tacos: PHENOMENALLER

Also ate at a local chain -Dick's Burger place. Pretty good. 2.50 burgers. only takes cash. Nothing amazing.

BEER: I tried the ESB from the Elysian Brewery right by my work. At first you're like DAMN this is good, then it gets almost too much. Sweet/syrupy I can't imagine drinking more than one. I also tried the Olympia Hefe-Weizen while getting Fish&Chips. That kind of sucked.

ALSO I have declared my quest to find an awesome local Whisky. My number one prospect is something called Dry Fly, supposedly they serve it at a bar a block away so step one is -try it there. Wish me luck.

DEEP THOUGHTS
-is that guy limping or is he drunk?
-People are generally nice, people aren't as much compatible as nice people just get along with other nice people
- I really hate this whole thing of everyone being suspicious of one another EX. I walked that girl to the bus stop and was so worried she thought I was going to rape her OR I was walking in downtown Seattle and this other girl was walking alone and sped up so I wouldn't be right by her
-I dislike when people have to establish their "higher" status over you EX. dude exclaiming "are you even old enough to drink?" at the bar DOUCHE
-Alterna-kids who think they are clever/smart/idunno EX. the gym I am working out at is on the second floor and has large glass windows by the treadmills. Dumbass alterna-skater thinks it is funny to stare directly at me, making eye contact, for long periods of time and then laugh to his girlfriend. What the hell man?

Complaints about Seattle
-parking is satanic


WHELP I think that covers it folks. I'll get back to you when I've got more to tell.