Tag: Seattle

Zines!

Carl Setzer
person holding white printer paper

I really enjoyed Zines back in the 90s (their heyday). If your first thought is “what’s a Zine?”, check out this article.

My blogging colleague Bernie has started creating them again (inspired by Austin Kleon’s reboot of the genre). Take a look at Bernie’s blog post.

I had friends who invested a lot of time and effort into Zines. Sadly, I’ve lost touch with all of them. I do wonder what happened to them. It was all part of my life in downtown Seattle in the 90s. An amazing time, culturally. It was challenging in a good many ways, too. That Seattle is pretty much gone, though. Pretty much all the grittier apartments, for instance, are now condos occupied by wealthy tech workers. It’s a fascinating exploration of the City’s evolution.

Anyway, did you ever create zines? Care to share?

An evening haiku

Carl Setzer 
streetlight’s reflection
ripples across the puddles
windchime’s gently tones

Daily haiku: February 9, 2025

Carl Setzer

a few hints of snow
guarded by the bitter cold
graced by the starlight

Today’s Haiku: Thursday, February 6, 2025

Carl Setzer2 Comments

the morning snowfall
soon to be trampled by life
fading in the sun

The past few mornings have featured snow. Usually it’s melted by early afternoon. I’m grateful that it’s not become a giant ball of ice overnight.

Tonight’s Haiku: January 31, 2025

Carl Setzer3 Comments 
this winter rainfall 
gently upon  the rooftop 
silence of the night

The First Airfield at Sand Point in Seattle

Carl Setzer1 Comment
Naval Station Puget Sound Sign

When I was a boy, we re-settled in Seattle as my dad was transitioning out of the Navy. Proximity to the commissary, Navy Exchange, and other amenities of the Sandpoint Naval Station were key elements to our choices of housing. This facility has long been a key part of my life.

Valarie, at Wedgwood in Seattle History, wrote a fun article about a piece of its history: The First Airfield at Sand Point in Seattle. As something of a scholar of regional history, I appreciate people who can expand my knowledge. And Valarie delivers in this regard! I won’t give away too much of her post, but here are two of my favorite tidbits:

  • I never heard of the First World Flight, whose centennial is coming up.
  • I appreciate the details of how the Airfield was established because of insights from WWI.

So, I recommend heading over and checking out this article. If you’re interested in Seattle’s history, you should subscribe to her blog.

A Seattle Native Born In Rhode Island?

Carl Setzer
tower under blue sky

What do I mean by this? Well, I have a unique background. My father was in the Navy when I was born, which is the root of this situation. I was born in Newport Naval Hospital. My father was stationed there, however briefly. Thus, “born in Rhode Island”.

Native Seattleite, though. Well, my parents were both born in Washington. My dad was born in Seattle. His mom was born in Seattle. All my grandparents were born in Washington…you get the drift. Fun tidbit: I was supposed to be born in Seattle, but I opted to crash my mom’s trip to visit my dad. I like to be early.

My first and second birthdays were celebrated at my grandparent’s place in Edmonds (my mom was finishing up grad school at UW). That same place was “home”, as in “we’re going home for Christmas”.

So, yeah, my early childhood was spent living all over the world. Besides “greater Seattle”, I lived in Rhode Island, California, Virginia/Greater Washington DC, San Miguel and Subic Bay, Philippines, before we moved to Lynnwood when I was not-quite 10. A little over-complicated, but a key factor in becoming who I am.

Yesterday was the Longest Night

Carl Setzer5 Comments
photo of city under cloudy sky

Some random stats as I think about the apex of our night-life for my community just north of Seattle. Your mileage may vary.

  • Sunrise was at 7:55am
  • Sunset at 4:18 pm
  • Therefore we had 8.38 hours of sunlight
    • That’s 35% of the day with daylight
    • And, therefore 65% of the day was night
    • 15.62 hours of darkness!

Fortunately, slowly, slowly, the days will start lengthening. And another year begins.

Ferry At Golden Hour

Carl Setzer 
descending sunlight
embraces golden hour
facing the sunset

Spring Sunlight

Carl Setzer

under spring sunlight

bees moving between petals

gentle ocean breeze