2022.6.9. All Tharp by PNB

6/9, Thursday. I arrived at 7:30pm. After checking vaccine card and buying a ticket, I was let in, but told to sit at any empty seat in the back so not to disturb others. At the first intermission, I found that my seat was taken. So I went back to where I was sitting.

All Tharp celebrates Twyla Tharp. The 3 acts all choregraphed by Tharp, all quite different. The 1st act, Brief Flings, is pieces of solo, dual, triple, quad, and group in different color pallet of clothing (in Scottish theme clothing, but not Scottish music). Checker pattern used on pants look too much like pajama to me. More traditional. The 2nd act, Sweet Fields, is accompanied by voice only (a proper choir). I was on orchestra level, so couldn't see any singers. I like the 3rd act, Waiting at the station, with a nice stage set and everyday clothing.

It's a nice change of what I do. Haven't seen a dance performance for ages.

2022.6.7. Tiger by bus

6/7. Sunny. Took 2 days off for an overnight trip. However, I hurt my back on Saturday so canceled my RSVP. I made a rental car reservation, but I had to cancel, because I lost my driver's license at ACT theatre on Sunday. Still I didn't want to stay home on a sunny day. Took a bus to Issaquah to hike Tiger. V. joined me. Not sure where to park, we agreed to meet at Highpoint TH (large parking lot) at 10:20.

Took West Tigar 3 trail, cut off to Cable Line trail (steeper) to Tigar 3, and then continue to Tigar 2, and last Tiger 1. V is much faster than me going up. We stopped on each summit to take photos. Clear cut on the top looks ugly, but it cleared the view. On a clear day like today, Olympics and the Sound to the west, Rainier to the south, Baker to the north. On Tiger 1, you see Glacier Peak, and more peaks to the east. It's the highest. Just don't look down: what a carnage! I hope in 20 years, the dead branches will rot or be burned, and grass will claim the summit. I originally planned to go to Poo Poo Point for view, but decided to skip it, now we have better views here.

Back the same way, but didn't use Cable Line to go down. Back at TH shortly after 2pm, so he can go to a movie with wife ~3pm. I continued to Round Lake (ugly, but I saw a bear 2 years ago nearby under the power lines.), on the way, visited the rusty bus again. Then the Traditional Plateau trial to East Sunset Way TH. There's a small parking lot which belongs to the city, would be a better meeting spot. From Highpoint TH, it's about 7 miles and 2900'. For me an extra ~300', but ~4 more miles (to/from bus stop). I think I'll do this as an after work hike, or sunset hike (need to look at bus schedule).

I watched a recorded training video on Youtube, and found it reasonable. So gave it a try this time. I have been hiking all wrong.

• train at least 40 minutes each time (twice a week is recommended) when fasting (so your body will get used to switch to digest fat), and do not refuel until the end (so your body will NOT be habituated to wait for the quick energy boost).
• go slow and do not rest. Slow enough that you can continue without stopping. Carry an occasional conversation, able to breath through your nose is a good indication of not going too fast. This way, your body won't be habituated for a rest whenever tired.
• you should be able to recover in a day.

I didn't stop until on Tiger 3 (at some point, maybe 10 minute before the summit, I felt the need for sugar. But I didn't refuel, as long as I wasn't trying to go fast, I was able to continue), and didn't eat until we were on Tiger 1. From the Highpoint TH parking to Tiger 3 is 1 hour. Good training. Apart from Tigar, it's difficult to find a longer than 40 minute up-slope in town.

On the way back, stopped at Uwajimaya, picked up some pink strawberries. They are a disappointment. Tasted the same as regular red ones.

2022.6.5-6. PhotoFest at Glazer's

Annual Photo Fest at Glazer's. I only went to one lecture at noon on Sunday. Creating Natural Looking Light w Sandra Coan. I really liked it. She also let you try her setup using your own camera or hers. Very easy going. Will definitely try to attend more lectures next June.

Her ideas for achieving consistent feel of natural light (for portraits): use strobe light (lower power), light meter, large modifier close to the subject (example, she uses 7' umbrella with diffuser.

2022.6.4. Teneriffe by bus

Trail Head Direct bus resumes this year on weekends from Memorial Day weekend till Sept 11th. Mt Teneriffe (via the waterfall) is my default training hike when the bus is available. Took the first bus out (7:45am by the SPL central library). With the gas price surging, more people are taking the bus. By the time the bus arrived (of coures it was late), there were only 2 seats available. I took the last seat. The I-5 south ramp was closed, apparently no one knew about it. Everyone on the bus helped the driver reroute. One last hiker got on at Eastgate highway pass.

The waterfall was in full force. One small section before had a lot of water on trail. After the waterfall, a lot less people. I was passed by 6 people who were so fast, and they disappeared in minutes. The last 2-300' had snow. I need snow to refill my water bottle. From the waterfall to the summit took me 1.5 hours, 10 minute faster than last June. Early lunch break on the top (11:18-38). A bit cloudy, so the view is so so. But it is nice to see Dixie which I explorered last summer.

Took the same way down. Like the last time, I lost the trail in the snow for a bit. I used microspikes on the way down for a bit. I was aiming for the first return bus at 2:05pm at Mt. Si's TH (because of an event at 3pm). Met L. from my Ruby hike a month ago. He came on bus too. I went down fast, and slipped once in the snow (no harm), once below the waterfall, wedged between 2 trees (otherise would fall further). Twisted some muscle. Took a few minutes to stand straight. The "Teneriffe Falls Connector" trail is as faint as I remembered. Once on the proper trail, it was easy going for my now-stiff lower-back.

Back at the trailhead at 2:04. There's a big sign "board the bus here". I hesitated a bit, but decided to walk to the road side bus stop where I took the bus last year. That's a good decision. However, either I missed the bus, or it never came. My phone has signal, so canceled my 3pm ticket. I waited till 2:55. Good that I brought a book (in fact 2 books, one to return, but the library's book drop is closed when the library is close: isn't this ridiculous?). A South African girl came to ask if I had a power bank. No. Then she asked me if I used Instagram? No. I asked her if she can give me a phone# to call. Don't remember. I started a new browser window, and gave her my phone. She complained that she would not hike again, and messaged her friends on Instagram to pick her up. She's an exchange student in Vegas (what school is in Vegas?), here for a vacation. The bus was half full. Picked up a few more at Little Si's TH. Back in town by 4pm.

2022.6.2. Bruce - the musical

6/2, Thursday. A preview of the musical Bruce at Seattle Rep. Adapted from the book The Jaws Log by Carl Gottlieb, who was rewriting the screenplay at the request of his friend, the 26 year-old little know director Steven Spielberg. It's a journey of perseverance of the creation of the movie Jaw. Quite gripping and entertaining. It shows you how a group of friends can do when standing with each other.

I really like the stage design, simple and clever: a 3x3 grid hinting people from mulitple locations, and then the grid moves out, revealing the seaside town (all by projection).
I also like the use of spotlight to stylize monologue, while others fade (added slow motion).
Music by Richard Oberacker. Book & Lyrics by Robert Taylor and Richard Oberacker. I only like a few songs. I wish I could hear clearly all the lyrics. Those I could decypher are very funny. Why musicals don't use super-titles? I didn't get any words in this song by the Ausie couple.

Tonight is the first performance, a preview. The show was stopped once. I didn't see any flaws. Maybe some mechanical gadget stopped working for awhile. It was resumed in about 5 minutes.

A rather large ensemble in this small-ish theatre.