Keris Stainton's Blog, page 65

Seattle : 28 August 2001

Got the bus up to the university and picked up our plane tickets without any problems at all, thank god. On the way back, D went to the Experience Music Project (which he's been all excited about) and I went to the library – to read the one issue of O magazine that I missed – and then to the Art Museum. 

The Experience Music Project from the Space Needle

Got back to the hotel and then when D got back – having had a fabulous time – we went to Godfather Pizza then took a bottle of wine back to the room. 

Outside the Art Museum

Seattle : 27 August 2001

Went to a coffee shop for a surf (and a coffee) and then to the aquarium – it was great, especially the otters. From there we had fish tacos for lunch (so inappropriate it made us laugh) and then went to the Imax. Watched the eruption of Mt St Helens movie and then World's Greatest Places, neither of them were than good. 

We then did the harbour cruise, which was really nice and then back to Fado (the Irish pub) for dinner. Great day. 

Reading: Expecting Adam by Martha Beck

View from our hotel fire escape

So I don't forget…

When Harry and Joe get back from their grandparents' house, they're always pleased to see us, but a couple of days ago, for the first time, Joe climbed up on the sofa next to me, put his arm around my neck and said, "Mish you, Mama."

Meep.

While I'm here, I'll also record the fact that he calls the washing machine the "wash-shish-shish-shish-sh-sheen."

Happened so fast…

So yesterday I'd arranged to meet my friend Zoe in Manchester, but I got there early because I wanted to do some work on the new book. So after I'd pootled here and there, procrastinating, I went to Waterstone's to procrastinate some more knuckle down and look what I found:

Actually that's not entirely true. I actually found Della in the US Imports section (!) and then moved her to her correct position (after I'd moved the Jenny Valentine book, inexplicably shelved between 'Stainton' and 'Steinbeck'). But then I realised I'd never actually seen my two books in a book shop, side by side, face out and so I did a bit more rearranging (don't worry, I put it all back once I'd taken the photo) (apart from the Jenny Valentine book).

It was a funny feeling seeing them both there. I found myself thinking "Two books! TWO BOOKS!" because even though I know I've had two books published (I'm not a complete idiot) (even though I just typed 'I'm not a completely idiot') I hadn't really stopped to think about it.

Because – and Zoe and I ended up talking about this later – it all seemed to happen so fast and every step of the way I've been focussed on the next thing, rather than stopping to think about where I am right now.

But then when I got home, I said, "Look! Something exciting!" and showed David and Harry the photo. David said, "Great. Where was that?" Harry said, "Yeah. Two books. I KNOW!"

The other fab thing in that branch of Waterstone's was this (click to embiggen):

There's my book and there's lovely Tom Clempson's book! Jessie and Jack, sitting in a tree dumpbin, K.I.S.S.I.N.G. (Probably.)

(And I LITERALLY only just noticed that my book is next to Candace Bushnell's two Sex and the City YA books. Wow.)

Seattle : 26 August 2001

Went to a bagel place for coffee and a cookie and to get bagels for lunch then we got the bus to the zoo. 

The animals are set up in huge habitats – so huge it's sometimes hard to see them – and it was lovely. We watched the brown bears outside for a while then from the inside through the glass which overlooked their pool. One of the bears jumped in the pool and swam right up to the glass – it was fantastic. Then he sat in the water for a while, scratching his back on a rock. 

Goats. And me, easily impressed.

We came home then went to Wendy's for tea. Walking home, we found a little park on top of the freeway and watched the sunset, while a busker played the saxophone. Beautiful. 

Seattle : 25 August 2001

Spent the day just wandering around.

Went to the library and Starbucks (of course) then Pioneer Square before dinner in an Irish pub where a glass of wine cost $6.75 and I almost cried. Nice day though. 

Olympia to Seattle : 24 August 2001

Into Seattle today and we both liked it straight away. Had a bit of a palaver getting into the hotel (with nowhere to  park the car) then finding Alamo to return the car. I was really, weirdly, sad to leave it. It sort of felt like home. 

Went for lunch then got the monorail to the Space Needle, which was fabulous – David was a bit freaked out because we could feel it moving. Seattle looks beautiful – a bit like San Francisco, but with sun. 

Walked back to downtown and along the promenade. Went through the fish market and back to the hotel. It's very basic, but cheap. Went to see Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back and then to a McD's that had a fish tank with what looked like a cross between a fish and a snail in it. Very weird. 

 

What's your favourite musical?

I think it was my nan who introduced me to musicals. Or Aunty Barb. Or both. I only really know that I was a bit obsessed with them, watching Calamity Jane and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers in particular over and over and over again.

I've just watched Calamity Jane for the first time in years after author Harriet Evans mentioned on Twitter that she was going to watch it and, when I said I really must buy the DVD, replied that she had two and she'd send me one. (Really, Twitter is ace and authors are LOVELY.)

Joe's in bed so I just made Harry watch it with me. He lasted out quite well – right up to the kissing scene, at which point he said, emphatically, "Skip. Past. This." – and I cried both at The Black Hills of Dakota (which reminds me of my parents and I used to sing it to Harry as a baby) and Secret Love (which I also used to sing to Harry, but mainly just because it's gorgeous).

I now have a hankering to watch Seven Brides. Or Singin' in the Rain. Or South Pacific or Guys & Dolls, neither of which I've seen all the way through and both of which my mum loved. Or maybe I should just watch anything I can find with Howard Keel in (hubba).

So I thought I'd ask… what's your favourite musical?

(And if you don't like musicals, keep it to yourself, eh? Don't make me come round and shoot a glass out of your hand!)

Portland to Centralia : 22 August 2001

Drove in torrential rain to a small town called Centralia. Stayed in a Travelodge on the side of a lake, which was lovely except for the rain. 

Got microwave beers* and Buds and watched TV.** 

* think this should probably be "meals" :/

** I remember we watched what I think was an interview with Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes that ended with Afroman's Because I Got High, which hadn't yet been released. I said it would be number one and I'd put a bet on when we got home. I didn't, of course. And it was. (I did the same after seeing Ghost – planned to bet that Unchained Melody would go to number one. I didn't. It did. Pah.)

Seaside to Portland : 21 August 2001

Pouring down when we woke up this morning, but the motel had muffins and jam so that was a bonus. 

Drove all the way to Portland then had a nightmare finding our way around. Eventually checked into a really shit motel because at least we could see it and how to get into the car park!

Walked to downtown and old town. Nice, but not really sure why everyone raves about it.  Had a drink in an Irish pub, McDs for tea and then back to the motel. We know how to live, me and D!