Well I cannot really comment on Seattle, I didn't really spend the week trying to explore it, it was just sort of in the background of our visit with my new fam.

So now I just can't wait to get all the fam together in one room! who knows when or if that will happen, but I'll look forward to it anyway.

On the flight TO Seattle I really kicked ass, I was the picture of the perfect flyer-- cool, calm, collected. Dressed in clothing comfortable for napping, yet still flattering to the figure. Loaded with various types of reading material, including games and puzzles to work on. Outfitted with an iPod newly loaded with airplane-appropriate relaxing music.

The take off, entire flight, and landing, were so smooth (like butta) that you could have performed surgery during the trip. We lucked out and had an empty seat next to us, on an otherwise fully-packed flight. Two funny movies were shown, and we were laughing and lounging the whole way out to Seattle.

Then last night, we flew back. The plan was packed, no empty seat anywhere. We were in the second to last row-- meaning more bumps. The ENTIRE FLIGHT was turbulent, and even I, well-prepared-flyer that i was, could not remain calm through hours of bumpy flying. The movie shown was some piece of crap with Martin Lawrence about a junior high basketball team. Jesus. It was slightly more entertaining when we listened to the spanish translation.

The food served resembled a white castle burger. --which is the LAST THING you want people eating on a packed, bumpy, hot flight. Oh-- AND to top it off, we had not one, but TWO babies immediately behind us. The kid behind me just entertained himself by kicking the back of my chair for four hours. The baby behind Danny just screamed and shat throughout the flight.

But finally, at 11:45pm EST, we could see Manhattan through the windows as we came in for landing. That destination makes it all worth it.

It's my fourth day in Seattle, so I figure I should write something down. The first thing I noticed was the pigeons here, they are GINORMOUS. Their bodies are perfectly round like feather covered globes with pigeon heads. Clearly they are well-fed.

So I finally met my future new family members. I wish I could post photos, but that will have to wait until I am back in New York with all my wires and cables.

First I met the bro-- a spitting image of Danny, and so welcoming. And he's the same age as Boney so it's like they were fraternal twins. Jake appears to have an obsession with Ice Cream that blinds him to all else at times. Last night it was freezing out but we drove around on endless loops, and he never lost faith that we'd find an ice cream shop.

Then I met the mom-- she's a doll. It was sweet as pie to see her happiness overflow when she was reunited with her sons for this trip. Unfortunately she said that a psychic told her that Danny is going to get cold feet before his wedding. Uhm. Hello!?!?!

So. For a couple of years it seemed like the family just kept shrinking, due to natural but sad losses. But this past year the family has been growing in size, expanding like my belly after a pint of B&J. Very cool and quite satisfying.

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