top of page
Thanks for visiting merleandmark.com, the worlds most up to date source on info relating to Merle and Mark!
(and thanks for checking us out!!!)
Zimmer/Biomet Anterior Approach Hip Course, Seattle, WA, 7/19/2024...and I stayed a little longer to visit.
I traveled from Albany to Seattle Thursday 7/18, which happened to be when there was a Microsoft issue caused by the cybersecurity company Crowdstrike that had global effects, paralyzing airlines, retail, banks, and law enforcement. The events likely happened while I was in the air on the way to Seattle, the result of which was that the hotel had no computer to access their room inventory. For me, it took over 1.5 hrs to get a room at the hotel and when they eventually did give me a room key (the first one), there was already a person sleeping in that room! I tiptoed out without waking the sleeping bear, and eventually got into a room that was actually empty!! Woo hoo!!
Other than that, the hip course was great.
Friday afternoon, after the course, I met up with my friend and childhood neighbor Pam whom I've known for my whole life. I took a water taxi from downtown Seattle to West Seattle, we got to talk and talk, and then walked along the West Seattle shoreline and talked more. Check the view of the downtown Seattle behind us.
I stayed at Pam's place. Next day, as we're having breakfast on her deck that looks into her lovely backyard, I try to figure out the timer on the camera. Hmmmm.
Got it! :)
We are here in Pam's backyard, where her property backs up to a green space that will never be developed, providing access to nature in an urban area. Pam lives upstairs and there's a roommate downstairs.
Here's a better view of the back of her house.
After that, and getting stung by a welcoming Seattle bee, we biked up along the same place where we had walked, although went much farther. Here's another view with the city in the background, as we realized that the place I chose for the picture was also right in front of a bee's nest in the ground. Yikes!!
We also saw what Pam noted is a rare event there:
seeing a bald eagle just standing on the beach among passers by, checking out the scene..
We stopped at the Alki Beach art festival, and looked at the offerings of the locals. Though Merle wasn't with us, we did learn that a Merle is a type of blackbird. Live and learn.
After our bike ride, and then a visit to a cool record store and café (Easy Street Records) and a chance to meet Pam's ex (Linda), we were able to get together with a med school classmate of mine, Diana Kraemer (neurosurgeon) and husband Paul (ENT) for delish salmon at Ivar's Salmon House on Lake Union in Seattle
(what...was I going to order the burger???)
Diana and Paul actually arrived at the restaurant...in a boat! After dinner, they took us for a ride around Lake Union.
Pam, Diana, and Paul pointed out all the sights along with an apparent new fad: people would rent a floating hot tub to cruise around the lake. Whood a thunk.
View of downtown Seattle from the boat.
I was actually fortunate to make it back Sunday 7/21, as with the residuals of the Microsoft and Crowdstrike computer issues, there were still lines in the airport blocks long of folks just trying to get anywhere, and even the overhead marquis reflected the overall mood.
Now, back to another week.
Thanks to Zimmer/Biomet, Pam, Diana, and Paul, and thanks for looking!
bottom of page