Space Needle

Science and technology multiply around us. To an increasing extent they dictate the languages in which we speak and think. Either we use those languages, or we remain mute.
-- J. G. Ballard

Thursday, September 23, 1999
One year ago: A Day at Home
Two years ago: Internal Tools

In honor of our new staff member at work, we all went to lunch at the Space Needle today! I've been to the top of this Seattle landmark before (it's usually not worth what you have to pay -- cold and windy!) but I'd never eaten in the restaurant. We all rode in Kat's van, which was convenient and more group solidarity-making.

It was a strange sensation, eating in a rotating restaurant. The main floor moves slowly, while the external window walls and the restaurant core remain stationary. I think it would take some getting used to for the staff -- your customers could rotate right out of your sight!

While we feasted on salmon, Dungeness crab, and prime rib, we bombarded Arthur (the new guy) with information on the various landmarks we could see. Even though it was cloudy and raining, we had a good view of the city around us -- Queen Anne, Elliot Bay, downtown and Capitol Hill. I could point to where my building is, even though I couldn't quite make it out. I'm sure Arthur was overwhelmed with all we were telling him to look at, but perhaps he absorbed some Seattle atmosphere.

The food was good, even though we were so high up. You know that theory about altitude making the food bad? That's why airplane food is the worst. Airport food suffers by association with heights. This might be why astronauts have to squeeze mysterious pastes out of tubes!

The Space Needle website has a good section on views and photographs, with a virtual observation deck! Check it out!

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As we were driving back to the office, Chip remarked that the non-perfect weather proved that Seattle people aren't lying to keep others away, when we talk about long stretches of clouds and damp during the non-summer months. If people visit when it's nice, they don't believe what we say about the winter. If they visit during the winter, they can't understand why anyone would live here at all!

Because it had been so nice for so long, the rain today screwed up traffic to the nth degree! So after examining the Seattle traffic map, I decided to stay in Bellevue and go see a movie in the early part of the evening. The Galleria, a few blocks away, was still showing The Thomas Crowne Affair, which I hadn't seen yet, so that was my choice. First I had an inexpensive, healthy dinner. How did I find such a thing? I realized the other day that I like the black beans and rice from Taco Del Mar, so that's what I bought.

The movie was fun! In fact, it exceeded my expectations. The gorgeous settings, cool gadgetry, and surprisingly erotic sex scenes wer lots of fun! The violence and gore was at a low level. The mysterious young super-model-type associated with Crowne (Esther Cañadas is the actress) was the creepiest thing in the movie; I shuddered whenever I saw her. What has she done to her face?? The ending caper did surprise me; I hadn't figured it out ahead of time.

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I came home and went to bed early. Jack called just as I was dozing off -- he'll be switching daughters with his ex-wife at a shopping mall just south of Seattle tomorrow evening, so I don't have to drive to Bellingham after all! He'll come here with younger daughter H---- (his older daughter is back living with him after being on the run so many times this year) and we'll take off early Saturday morning for a drive through the north Cascades. Fun!