Every year they come and do fancy flying on Saturday and Sunday over Lake Washington as part of SeaFair. It’s very exciting, I’m sure. The thing is, before they do two days of shows they have to do two days of practice. And Lake Washington is right next to Seattle. So Thursday and Friday and Saturday and Sunday we have these fighter planes buzzing the city for hours on end. It’s rather loud.
And we have these bridges that cross the lake, one of which they close while the fancy planes are doing the fancy flying, because people would presumably drive into each other while they were watching the planes instead of the road. Which just screws traffic blue. Of course, in all the heavy traffic that comes from the bridge being closed people are watching the planes anyway, which doesn’t help.
Now, I’m a little extra touchy about this because it’s my birthday this weekend. And it’s always nice when your birthday comes on the weekend. Except that when my birthday comes on the weekend I know that if I plan anything outdoors during the day there will be these fighter planes screaming around for several hours which will be no fun at all.
I can understand people being excited about seeing the Blue Angels, their show is really very impressive. But do we have to do it every freaking year? Four days of screwed up traffic, very loud noises, fights about whether it’s patriotic or silly? Did I mention I get migraines, and that it’s my birthday?
They had an airshow about 5 miles from my house earlier this summer. 2 things:
-They complete underestimated how many people would show up. The thing was over sold and 1/2 the ticket holders couldn’t even get in. Traffic was backed up for miles onto the interstate.
-Idiot Bruce_Daddy would run outside everytime he heard the aforementioned Zoooooooooom! knowing full well that the damn planes would be well out of sight by the time I heard them but did it anyway. Over and over and over. . .
Sorry about your weekend. I’m probably not helping.
That is why I avoid Seattle. Traffic sucks up there on a GOOD day. I stay down here in Puyallup.
Maybe you could do something OUT of town for your birthday? Take a nice trip to the Olympic Penninsula, or head on up to Mt. Rainier?
Or, if eatin’ out is your thing, there is a kick-ass restaurant down here (well in Parkland, actually) called “From the Bayou”. The food is absolutely incredible, and the atmosphere is great too. You’ll need reservations though; the place is ALWAYS packed.
Actually, I’ll probably be working, since I’m too busy pitting the planes today to finish the manuscript that needs to be finished by the time my boss gets back from vacation on Monday.
But, Saturday night we’ll probably head over to my favorite restaurant in Seattle: Two Dagos from Texas
Oooh, Two Dagos! After five or six visits I finally stepped up to the plate and ordered the Basil Chicken there – it’s the hottest thing on the menu. Very tasty, and actually less painful than the smaller-pepper-rating blackened catfish I’ve had there.
Still, nothing beats the Thai Pasta.
Oh, and zooooom is right. God I hate the Blue Angels, at least when they’re flying over my head.
We had the Blue Angels around here a few weeks ago. I love loud plane noises, but I’m thinking I’m in the minority.
The bridge you speak of may be closed because of safety concerns with the planes, not the cars. I know when they perform here, everyone living within a mile (or something like that) of the airport is required to go live somewhere else for the weekend in case the planes crash. Since there are people literally living next door to the airport property, this creates a bit of a hassle for them, I’m sure.
I feel for you, herownself, I really do. But can I invite you up to my home in La Conner, which happens to be on the flight path for the frickin’ Navy’s fricking Prowlers, which have the Blue Angels beat for annoying zoominess and seem to prefer the hours after dark, which oddly enough, coincide with those hours in which I like to do a lot of my sleeping.
Wow, I haven’t been to Two Dagos in probably 5 years. Do they still serve those amazing garlic-laden cheese enchiladas that tide you over for, like, weeks?
I’m full just thinking about it. Must go again soon.
Oh, wait…this thread is about the Blue Angels. They were buzzing around today when I was at work. It was fun when they were drowning out the big boss during a dull meeting, but mostly I resent having war machinery swooping so close.
I know what you mean. I’ve been working at UMSL this summer and the first time I saw five jets take off at once, screaming towards Illinois, I assumed we’d gone to war - “The bombing will commence in fifteen minutes.” :eek: I’ve gotten used to it now.
You’re welcome to all those loud plane noises. Right now I’m working in the mental health group at the Seattle VA (I do research - they don’t let me near the real people) and it’s not a very happy thing for some of our folks.
But, I can’t wait for dinner tomorrow. Sadly, my prediction about needing to work all weekend is looking to be coming true, so I won’t make it out of town at all. But I am looking forward to a delicious Cajun Filet Oscar for my birthday dinner. I love the Thai Pasta, and the Basil Chicken - which is truly spicy food. And I had the enchiladas last time I was there. But a nice piece of filet mignon blackened in cajun spices, covered with Dungeness crab, asparagus, and dripping with bearnaise sauce is calling my name!
The Air Force flying team, the Thunderbirds, has, in their HQ at Nellis AFB right outside Las Vegas, NV, a special room decorated and dedicated to the honor of the Blue Angels!
For some reason, the door to this room is marked so that only “men” can enter. I have not figured this out yet
