Discovering Dargatz #154- As Close to a Golfer As I Ever Wanted to Be

Golf bores me. . .and I am not easily bored. However, playing mini golf was something I did growing up. A lot. Many summer evenings were spent at a variety of local putt putt ranges. Many colorfully dimpled balls charged through green carpeting, roared through plastered characters, caromed off of rocks, and took occasional dips in chlorine-coated waters on their way to the elusive hole. All for the purpose of beating my fellow golfers and being king of the clubs until the next round. I may incriminate myself, but not every golf club made it back to the clubhouse in one piece due to what I'll call equipment malfunction. These summer rounds were important practice for the Wisconsin Dells Invitational, a mini golf marathon held annually in the Wisconsin's famous tourist trap. Before adulthood and the responsibilities that came with it took over, I along with three other gentlemen took three late summer days and headed to central Wisconsin for a weekend of feasting on food, imbibing, and releasing pent-up frustrations on a tour of the Dells' mini golf paradises. With a seemingly continual flow of money and insults, golf took over. For that weekend and that weekend alone, golf was everything.

Memorable Seattle Museums

Overplanning can be a vacation killer. While a loose structure is beneficial, trying to plan it all to a tee destroys the discovery and adds stress and anxiety.

When we had a day of freedom in the beautiful city of Seattle, we opted for letting the adventure find us rather than go searching for it through planning. We certainly found adventure and more when we visited the EMP Museum and the Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum.  The EMP had many very intriguing and attractive displays and collections, many near and dear to my adolescence. The Chihuly Garden and Glass was an unexpected surprise. Not being the most avid art museum attendee, this one may have tweaked a new desire to visit more.

Rather then try to describe it all and destroy your discovery, enjoy the photographs and let the adventure find you.

The Experience Music Project, or EMP Museum

Fantasy Exhibit

Fantasy isn't my expertise, but I love The Princess Bride

My name is Inigo Montoya You killed my father. Prepare to die.

Video Game Exhibit

Guitar Exhibit

Jimi Hendrix Exhibit

Nirvana Exhibit

Horror Film Exhibit

Science Fiction Exhibit

I can;t believe I missed out ;)

Seahawks Exhibit

I plead the 5th.

The Chihuly Garden & Glass Museum

Moving on from the Mountains. . .

Ever heard of the Dargatz Dichotomy? Well, here it is. I absolutely love exploring the serenity of nature. I also crave for the hustle and bustle of downtown adventures. These two might seem like polar opposites and in some ways they are, but they also have a great deal in common. They both offer an array of amazing experiences. So down from the mountains we go, all the way to the Emerald City. (Those interested in reading up on our outdoor adventures, please check out http://talesfttrails.blogspot.com/)

We weren't in Kansas anymore, but Seattle. When I HEAR Seattle, I used to think of rain, the Space Needle, and Starbucks. I still sorta do, but now I can think of even more. Defining Seattle as rainy is a bit misnomer as a few people whom lived there made sure to mention it the 55th rainiest city in the United States, but probably in the top ten of cloud cover. The Space Needle was there but a bit off of the more impressive skyscrapers. Starbucks were everywhere. Literally. Even the first Starbucks was here. Luckily, I am not a coffee drinker because the line was absolutely ridiculous. What people will do for a hot cup of java!

After dropping off the rental car and getting checked in at the hotel, night had fallen. There was still time to explore so off to Pike Place Market we went. Was it a tourist trap? Yes. Was it a Seattle staple? Yes. Was it open? Nope. At least most of it. Nonetheless, walking through the market still aroused sights, smells, and sounds that intrigued us and encouraged a return trip during daylight hours.

After taking in one of the still open eating establishments, it was back to the hotel to gear up for a day of tantalizing tourism.

First stop, a return trip the market. After filling up on an absolutely delightful pastry from one of the many bakeries lining the streets near the market, we took in the market in its glory. Flowers, fruit, and fish. Trinkets galore. The market didn't drain my wallet, but it was a bit of sensory overload. We needed a break. A walk down the pier gave us needed relief.

The Seattle Aquarium was mediocre at best. I may be an aquarium snob as I have been fortunate enough to visit a variety of aquariums throughout the country. There were some cute otters, combined outdoor/indoor avian exhibits, and a giant pumpkin carving artist, but the overall experience was OK, less than OK when you factor in the price of admission.

I am a glutton for history. I just can't get enough, so when my wife offered a boat tour of the harbor, I knew I would learn some interesting historical information. Game on!

Seattle (small building just to the left of the front of the ship is Smith Tower)

The views of the skyline were gorgeous, despite the overcast skies. The facts were fast and furious. Here's what I remember. :)

•  The first Seattle skyscraper was the Smith Tower
• On the 35th floor is a lucky chair for single ladies. Sit in that chair and marriage isn't far away.
• The Maximum depth of Puget Sound is 600 feet. The Space Needles is 605 feet tall, meaning just the tiptop of the needle would be able the waterline.

One of many container ships

• Because of weather and planting factors, a Native American chief on the opposite side of Puget Sound gave the incoming settlers the idea of moving across the water into what is now called Seattle. That chief's name was "Americanized" to Chief Seattle.
• 28,000 rubber duckies once spilled into Puget Sound. Rather than clean them up, scientists convinced authorities to let them stay, creating the biggest known experiment for studying waves and currents. Rubber duckies from this spill were found all over the world.
• Container ships are scattered throughout the harbor carrying freight containers from all over the world. Over 10 million of these containers are dropped each year, though this only accounts for 0.001% of all containers transported throughout the year.

After getting back on land, we walked the Seattle waterfront and toured the Olympic Statue Park. We got caught by quite possibly the slowest train ever, though we were able to walk above it while the cars kept lining up and waiting, waiting, waiting.

Metal tree

Though we had a full day of experiences, our Emerald City adventures were just beginning. . .

It All Takes Time

I've been told I am high energy. I am not sure that is entirely true. I am busy.  .in a good way and being busy really has eliminated that "down time" many so desperately seek. I've been so accustomed to being busy, it's almost as if I have developed adult ADHD. . .checking my phone in a sick sort of ritual and moving on to one activity after another.

Like I said, it's a good busy, but it has changed my life.

I spent the last few days at a children's book writing retreat. I felt uncomfortable at first, not because of my surroundings or company, but because I have put my writing on the backburner as other interests have "taken over." I'm not complaining by any means. The beginning of the school year is always a huge time commitment. This year, the time crunch has been on steroids as I am creating and coordinating a forest kindergarten program. I absolutely love it, but it takes time.

Then there's the volunteering. Maybe I am a sucker. maybe I'm overly ambitious. But with my Ice Age Trail hiking volunteering somewhat slowing down with the seasonal changes and my Special Olympics basketball season not tipping off until December, I felt a volunteer void and reached out to a local nature center to start training to be a volunteer naturalist. There are benefits besides just filling in that need to volunteer. I can use my experiences and training in my tyke hike program and forest kindergarten, so to me it is a natural fit. However, it is also takes time.

Let's not forget about the writing and the reading. My literacy time hasn't really been cut. It has probably actually increased over the past few months. It is just that now, I don't read or write for pleasure like I had or like I should. I do it for my job. For my professional growth. I do sneak in an occasional blog entry at either DADventures or Tales From the Trails, but I can barely remember the last time I looked at one of my many picture book manuscripts. I need to, though as I mentioned earlier, that takes time.

Of course, I can't forget my familial responsibilities. Being a father is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I have a lovely wife whose work schedule makes optimal family time tricky. I am the guardian to my sister. Each of these responsibilities has wonderful blessings, but as with everything else, they take time.

As I look back on my writing conference experience, I know that if I really want to take my writing to the next level (or any level really), I need to make it more of a priority. 10 minutes a day? 15? 30? That is to be determined, but that is where I need to start. I always spout to my students that "it's not always about getting it right, but doing it right."  I need to practice what I preach when it comes to my own work.

Many great writing colleagues and professionals provided oodles of great advice and ideas these lest few days. It'd be a shame to ignore them. So off I go, rejuvenated as an artist and working on my writing. Time to be a brave and tenacious writer and see where it takes me. :)