Coffee Shop Stamps!

A few Coffee Shop Stamps that I acquired over the past few weeks.

Bark! Espresso stamp in Pinehurst (Seattle, WA).  Ask at the front counter.  Collected on 8/7/2017
Kaffeeklatsch stamp collected in Lake City (Seattle, WA) on 8/9/2017.  Ask at the front counter. 

Lopez Coffee Shop on Lopez Island, WA.  Collected on 8/12/17.  Ask at the front counter. 

Thanks!

Dr. Alex

Puget Sound Ink Stamps

After living in Japan for 12 months, we've collected lots of interesting ink stamp cancellations from temples to train stations.  It got me thinking, where in the United States could I collect stamp cancellations?

So far here's my (local) list:

Doll House Baked Goods collected on 7/28/2017 at the  Bothell Farmers Market | Country Village Shops Bothell (Fridays 12PM-6PM during the Summer).
Ask the sellers at the market for the stamp.

Practical Sparrow x5 stamps collected on 7/28/2017 at the Country Village Shops.
Ask at the counter for the stamps. 

Admiralty Head Light House at Fort Casey State Park x 2 stamps Collected on 7/21/2017.
At the desk, as you enter.  The second stamp may be in the desk drawer.  

Let me know if you know of others! 

Thanks!

Dr. Alex

News from my Local Paper

The Herald, while not actually my local paper, is a the news paper that covers the Everett and Snohomish County area (one of my primary work locations.)  Thursday's Feb 7th, 2013 had a collection of some very best and interesting articles that I've seen in a single day's collection in quite some time:

1. Postal Service to end Saturday mail delivery in August - NO!!!!!  As we all know how much I love the mail system! (#2)
    a. Along with it's first corollary that Ending Saturday mail affects ballot returns in state.
    b. At least someone stands to benefit, as Saturday mail cut is good news for Netflix

2. Changes to one of Atlantic City's most beloved game pieces: with the recent FB poll for the game of Monopoly.  Here's a hint =>   >^..^<

3. Big Win for those who love the outdoors and work towards local and national land conservation efforts! Welcome Sally Jewell to the Department of the Interior.

Note: I'm still, and most likely will always, be confused over how the National Parks (DOI), National Forests (DOAg), Fish and Wildlife Services (DOI), National Wilderness (DOI), and Bureau of Land Management (DOI) all work and play together.


4. A quick recap in the Herald from a piece in The Bellingham Herald that supports 1st amendment rights as Gun sign alarms some.  

5. Practice your coin tossing skills, as it could make the difference in a City Council selection.

6. Home plan designs from the AP for a "Net-Zero Energy Consumption" home.

7. Even Ziggy has a commentary on the American healthcare system:

Thanks for reading,

Dr. Alex

An Open Letter to the US Army Corps of Engineers. RE: Gateway Pacific Terminal at Cherry Point

The US Army Corps of Engineers held an open, public, hearing on December 13th, 2012, in conjunction with the Department of Ecology and with representatives from Whatcom County in regards to the Gateway Pacific Terminal at Cherry Point and how an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Scoping Process could look going forward.  

As a Board Member for Washington Physicians' for Social Responsibility, I gave a 2 minute professional testimony asking to expand the EIS scope to include impacts of personal and public health. To see my speech jump to 2:47:45. 

Here is the text of my speech: 

Hello, I’m Alex Hamling, a pediatrician in the Seattle area and a Board Member of Washington Physician’s For Social Responsibility. 

I’m here to ask for an increase in scope of the Health Impact Assessment regarding the coal export from the Cherry Point terminal in Whatcom County. 

The coal export terminal would degrade community health by increasing pulmonary, cardiac, cancer, and safety risks because of the diesel particulate matter, coal dust, and noise exposure. U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has shown that coal dust exposures at high levels and for prolonged periods of time in coal miners has been linked to increased cases of bronchitis, emphysema, and black lung disease. 

The increased train traffic, and the amount of coal being transported will negatively impact local homes and business with the coal dust deposits. The areas affected are vast: locally they include the Downtown Seattle waterfront, Hiram Chittenden Locks, and Golden Gardens.

There is also a risk for localized pollution to air, surface water, groundwater, and soil in communities ranging from Wyoming to China where coal extraction, transportation, and combustion take place. Under-represented communities including the Nooksack River valley would be affected with increased exposure to coal dust from trains.

The coal trains have a negative health impact on people and also on the local ecosystems in Whatcom County.  There will be increased stresses on endemic herring in Bellingham Bay, which are an at risk keystone species in the Salish Sea food web. There is risk of contaminating the composition of topsoil within 0.62 miles of Cherry Point terminal, caused by upwards of ~20% coal by weight. Local water sources could be adversely affected by the potential of introducing invasive species when barges empty ballast water at Cherry Point.

I worry that these facts conflict with the values of the community and further that we all have a civic responsibility to the communities of which we are an intricate part. 

There is real harm related to the impacts on the local environment and economy, community health, and social equity that should not be overlooked. 

Thank you,

Alex Hamling

Thanks for reading,

Dr. Alex

Marking the passing of Sebastian and Colonel

I call your attention, for this evening and tomorrow morning will mark the farewell passing and final rights of Heidi's and I's two beloved chickens: Sebastian and Colonel.

Sebastian with his butt facing you! 

Colonel on her roost pole and peaking out from the way back! 

These two chickens represent one third of the new influx of six pullets that we raised through their "teenage" years as the matured into their "adult" life and development of their chicken personalities.

Seeing how this is our second round of pullets, with the first ending in 4 out of 4 being hens that remarkably walked, talked, and acted like roosters and all headed back to Vashon Island, Heidi and I were immediately suspicious about Sebastian.  With good foresight, we named him with a HIM name!  He just always had that "rooster" look over his smug beak.

As we know, here in Seattle, "roosters are not permitted" and must be dealt with accordingly; even if the day you decide to do the deed is the day prior to your wedding.  For more ideas about what is permitted and not permitted, I'll direct your readings towards the Seattle Municipal Code, Title 23 - Land Use Code.

Ariel and Billina (alive and well!)

Not having the expertise on dispatching live animals, there was a mighty battle that lead to the subduing of the crowing Sebastian.  His fresh carcass promptly went into the freezer after being double bagged, while Heidi and I headed off to our "Non-rehearsal Rehearsal Dinner" at Mamma Melina:

Dr. Alex and Heidi at our "Non-rehearsal Rehearsal Dinner."

For weeks Seb remained alone in his cold dark tomb until last week when Colonel joined him after she had a presumed and unfortunate neck injury that never healed well.  For the past two weeks, Colonel had a  constant creak in her neck and was unable to walk.  Eventually, despite setting up water and feed bowls close to her beak she was unable to successfully heal and we had to do what was right for her too.

Go figure! Here in King County there are handy guidelines on how to dispose of dead fowl:
     1. "Individual dead birds weighing less than 15 pounds can be disposed of in the household garbage. Place the bird in two sealed plastic bags."
     2. "A bird weighing less than 15 pounds may also be buried on the owners' property. But disposal in the garbage is usually a better option to avoid predators digging up the carcass."

We chose option 1, and this action will be carried about the time the sun rises this morning.

Thanks for reading,

Dr. Alex

Crafternoon Project: April 2012

Canning: Where it all started!  WE ARE...

When Thinking of Your Choices for Your 2012 Charitable Contribution:

 Think about funding for local cancer research through 

KIWANIS CHILDREN'S CANCER PROGRAM

If you are interested in donating or you wish to volunteer on our committee 

please contact Greg Smith at pogster1@yahoo.com for more information.

Thanks for reading,

Dr. Alex

Geocaching

A new and recent hobby of mine has been Geocaching!  Basically it boils down to hunting for Tupperware or ammo cans in the woods and signing a log book.  Sometimes there are trinkets left behind.  AND sometimes there are Travelbugs and collectibles left for cachers.

Here's a short list of some of the Travelbugs that I have found:

Sheryl's Geico Travel Tag

U.S. Flag Micro Geocoin
Kevin's Subie
Gear Aid Geocoin REI3
Scushy
Hobo Joe


And here's a list of Travelbugs that I own:

Eddy's Hot Rod
Wilma's Hot Rod
Seven Summit Geocoin
GC&P Club August 2011 - Checkmate Geocoin
RHG and the Peacock


One of the caches I found in August of 2011: Broose is Loose had a great description and recommendations for all cachers:

As you search for this cache, a few Broose reminders:
1. Fireworks are illegal
2. Don't talk to strangers
3. Check the front door like 3, or 4, or even 5 times to make sure it's locked before you leave
4. Bring a clipboard for any notes you may need to take along the way
5. If its not right, "Just Start Over"
6. When you are done with each and every cache, wash your hands....twice!
* A bonus tip to any husband that Broose would want to pass along: If you forget something in the car and your wife says "It's okay, I'll go back and get it" Don't let her get it, go yourself...she really doesn't want to.

Heidi and I paddle caching from the Waterfront Activities Center on the 4th of July, 2011.

Geocaching on Jetty Island on my 30th Birthday! July 26, 2011.

My first real geocaching experience - Cincinnati, OH, October 2008

 

Thanks for reading,

Dr. Alex

A Year in Review - 2010

With a similar recap of my grand adventures from the year 2009 in picture form,

I'm proud to present:

"How I Spent My 2010!"

I have spent over 1 & 1/2 years living in Seattle, since moving from Norwood, OH and I still find myself getting into new adventures and getting out of mischief.

January 2010

Every good year starts off with the Resolution Run 5K here in Seattle!

For 2010, I wasn't feeling up for the actual run that morning, and for 2011, I'll be at work.  :-(

However, I still believe that if you're the first runner and you don't jump in the the water, then you afflictively lost the race.  

I did however eat their chili:

Seattle, while not the oldest city in Washington, still does have some interesting cemeteries, and Meetup.com is always good for a last minute random walk/urban hiking group:

Arthur Denny was the leader of the founders of Seattle. 

"Things I've Cooked" exploded with the first recipe I made from my New Orleans cookbook:  Crayfish Gumbo with Allison.  

Sara and I met and had several off and on months, filled with cooking, dancing, fishing (trying to), camping, etc. until ultimately deciding to part ways for good. 

"You'll see!"  One day we'll get that fishing down! 

February 2010

I saw the tallest light house in Seattle! 

 

While the lighthouse wasn't terribly impressive, the walk along beach was lovely!

Taking a break from work, both Anita and I beat Bruder, the Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Seattle Children's Hospital, at bowling during residents' appreciation day! 

March 2010

Snuggie Bar Crawl!!!  for World Concern and donations for Haiti.

My first and so far, only trip to the Arboretum where I also met my friend Chae whom as been a great friend and a wonderful resource for bouncing relationship ideas off of:

April 2010

Trip to Portland, at the Chinese Garden:

Also, storm trooper at the Top Pot 5K (again a race I avoided, after pigging out on donuts pre-race!  Sorry Laura!)

May 2010

Great Urban Race in Washington, DC with my sister, Crystal! We place in the top 10% of the 500 teams competing this year!

After an all day race, Laura, Johna, Crystal, Io, and I decided to climb rocks and admire the Potomac River.

I rounded off the month by volunteering with UW's Digital Media Team for the Seattle Works Day and uploaded tons of photos and conducted interviews at several of the day sites:

June 2010

Who runs a race with a brief case? 

WE DO! 

It's not all fun and games, as we not forget about helping out in Haiti:

July 2010

I really thought there was going to be fireworks at the Firecracker 5K, midnight race!  Sorry to disappoint you, Laura (again) and Michael... :-(

August 2010

I found Northern Exposure! Cle Elem, WA conference:

Learned how to can for the first time too!

I'm also a super volunteer at Rebuilding Together Seattle and President of the Young Professional Society:

September 2010

Trip up through Deception Pass after a horse show:

Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett loves our pediatric hospitalist group so much that we were all invited to the "Doctors Prom!"  Thanks for being such great arm candy, Anita!

October 2010

Even Midnight likes to get dressed up too!

"Man being blown away by the wind" and "The US Debt."

November 2010

SPAIN!!!!!

Also the month of Movember and cookie baking! 

December 2010

Looking good at the Fred Hutch Gala:

Thanks for helping me put up and decorate my tree Sweetheart!

And lastly, "Have suspenders, will build gingerbread houses."

I hope that next year will be just as great!

Thanks for reading,

Dr. Alex