Text 1643, 86 rader
Skriven 2008-02-01 09:57:54 av hap newsom (1:124/311)
     Kommentar till en text av MICHAEL LOO
Ärende: RE: visiting Tacoma 784
===============================
Hey Michael!

-> 
-> Hap was there to meet me - as there had been snow in Tacoma
-> with more forecast, he'd taken the bus up; a quick consultation,
-> and we decided, as Annie had had school cancelled, not to go to
-> Seattle but to take the 574 bus to Tacoma to have lunch with her:
-> met her at Freighthouse Square, and after another consultation
-> we decided that it would be fun to go out and look at the
-> stormy weather over the water, so we ended up at the Ram,
-> which is known for its big tasty burgers. They ordered
-> various kinds of big burger, which looked good, but insofar
-> as we were looking at the bay, I figured I'd have cod and
-> chips, substituting Ram chips (house-made crisps) for the
-> regular. The chips were fried dry and hard crunchy; the fish,
-> beer battered, had soaked up a bit of grease and definitely
-> was not the healthiest of choices. A pale ale went nicely.
-> 
As you know, the Ram is Anne's most favorite waterfront
place to eat (grin) and the burgers there are certainly not 
bad even if they are overpriced a bit. You pay to sit near 
the seagulls and seals (grin). If you had been able to stay 
a  bit longer we'd (you and I at least) would have made a few
other choices! 

-> Then back to the house for a visit with Jones and Scuppers
-> and a bit of a bull session and a listen to KING, the
-> local Classical station, during which I heard a piece that
-> I definitely want to perform - a Schubert Polonaise for
-> violin and orchestra. Hap told me a heartwarming story
-> about how the old lady who owned the station had stuck with
-> it even when Classical meant losing money, with the eventual
-> result that the station has just about got a lock on the
-> market, thanks to a loyal listenership.
-> 
-> Hap got some salmon candy (sweet and smoke cured fish)
-> from Metropolitan Market, which we snacked on. Also pulled
-> out a bottle of Point Reyes Cabernet 97, which had been
-> gotten on a visit to Amanda down in California. A most
-> interesting wine, the tannins having been mellowed by
-> age but the grapy quality (which I don't care for) of
-> some midrange wines quite prominent. There was a powerful
-> floral aspect as well - Annie was the first to mention it
-> and pronounced it rose, whereupon I suggested perhaps
-> camellia, but rose won the day). In addition there were
-> the usual fruit suspects - I detected blackberries and
-> plums, while Hap held out for plums and blackberries. We
-> agreed on an artificial cherry finish (Hap said Luden's
-> cough drops), which Anne likened to plastic - you can see
-> this, as plastic solvent (and various kinds of glue) do
-> remind one of artificial cherry. The finish was long and
-> smooth, with just a bit of tannin surfacing now and then.
-> 
I had another glass of it last night, from the fridge so it was 
very chilled. Brought out the grapeiness and the plastic was 
more pronounced as well...but still a nice wine! 

-> After a good visit, Hap took me to the bus stop, and I
-> headed back to the airport. Got there really early, as the
-> snow had held off, and the bus zipped right along. I took
-> advantage of the "restricted" security line and had time
-> for a snack at Anthony's: a plate of oysters and a 
-> Leavenworth Pilsener. The oysters were half Snow Creek and
-> half Bay Point (?) Sweets; I couldn't tell the difference
-> aside from some of them being tiny and round and some of
-> them being smallish and oblong. They were all fresh, very
-> briny, not exceptionally marine, but thankfully they didn't
-> taste of cucumbers the way so many Pacific oysters do. After
-> downing this almost noncaloric meal, I decided I was still
-> peckish and asked the waiter which of the appetizers I
-> could get in twenty minutes: he sort of rolled his eyes,
-> gestured at the rather laid-back and rather underage kitchen
-> staff, and said essentially, no way Jose. So I nursed my
-> beer and eventually moseyed to gate A2, where there were
-> about 3 other people.
-> 
The snow held off, but the temps plummeted to the low 
20's for the next few days and it made for dicey driving 
all week long! We enjoyed seeing your however briefly and 
next time hope you can stay a bit longer! In any case 
thanks for thinking of us!

chat with you soon
hap 
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