Smurfy in Seattle

Boy, did I pick the right time to come to Seattle. Fall is in full swing here, and many of the trees are alight with translucent jewel-toned leaves. After the sun sets, the air is crisp and cool, though days are still warm and sunny. Not a raindrop to be found! I cannot complain, especially since I forgot to bring my raincoat.

Last night we ate dinner at Ivar's, on the water just between Lake Washington and Lake Union. My colleagues report that the salmon was excellent. I ordered the scallops instead. They were a little bit overcooked for my taste, but decent. Ivar's has solid food, but is really just a tourist boondoggle. There must have been 40 blue hairs, fresh off the cruise ship, sitting at a multitude of tables adjacent to our not-so-petite group of 20. Needless to say, there are not a plethora of dining options when you are a group of 20.

There was also an Oktoberfest in Fremont yesterday. Aside from beer-a-plenty, there were kiddie rides, booths pedalling various wares and great live music. I was on a jog, and thus was ill-equipped to partake of the offerings, but boy was I wishing I had brought my wallet and my beer stein (and perhaps a few of my closest beer-loving buddies.)

Seattle doesn't seem to have changed too much since I lived here seven years ago. The (infrequently) beautiful weather, eclectic shops, trendy restaurants, and abundant activities make me very envious that I don't live here anymore. Those are the things that are making me want to go to monster.com and see what kinds of jobs are available here right now. But then I remember the traffic, the ridiculous housing costs, the way that everything feels so crowded and packed together, and the infiltration of a more snobby, competitive mentality among the locals (and by that I mean those who were transplants not so long ago). Seattle is beautiful, but for those of us who have grown to love the wide open spaces of the wild west, it may not be the perfect fit.