It's October and the Sox Are Still Playin'

That's right. You think because I live in the upper left corner of the country that my heart does not still beat for the Red Sox, the Patriots, the Celtics and the Bruins? Things are lookin' good for the Sawx, but to avoid a jinx I'll say no more. Some random notes from the past month or so... Seattle sports fans are painfully casual. The Seahawks are undefeated in their first three games, have outscored their opponents 65-13, and are projected by many journalists to make it to the Superbowl - yet, you don't hear people talking about the team, you don't see people wearing the team's jerseys and jackets, etc. The romantic attachment of the city to its team, which I enjoyed for ten years in Chicago with the Bears, just doesn't exist here. In my ten years as a Chicagoan, the Bears made the playoffs once and were beaten in the first round, but the people in that town love their team like it's their mother. Or maybe more accurately, as the team has been in quite a sordid state for most of the past 18 years, they love Da Bears like their retarded younger brother. Being in a city whose sun doesn't rise and set on the local NFL franchise will take some getting used to, but somehow I think I'll manage.
Civil order prevails in Seattle. You'll actually get a ticket for jaywalking, so by and large, people don't jaywalk. Drivers generally stay within the speed limits and always obey traffic laws. Many crosswalks sit where there's no intersection, and pedestrians are always yielded to. If you drive in the carpool lane when you're not supposed to, chances are someone will call the cops on their cell phone and report you, and you will get a summons in the mail. The highway signs encouraging this read, "Report Violators, Call xxx-HERO." The number should be xxx-STOOL-PIGEON. I kid about left coasters not driving like they're going somewhere, but the traffic here is nothing compared to that of any northeastern state so driving slower (and safer) doesn't hurt. People are generally considerate, follow the rules, and expect the same from those around them.
Dogs are people, too. Seattle is so dog-friendly, you can bring your dog on the bus. And the buses are nice, hybrid vehicles that are clean and quiet.
Recycling works. Unlike Chicago - "The City That Works" as everything that comes out of the Mayor's office will tell you - over half of Seattle's waste is recycled. Garbage, recyclables, and yard waste are all picked up by municipal trucks.
Don't yank my chain. You don't see many chain businesses here. Sure, in the immediate downtown touristy area, you've got your Urban Outfitters, Nordstrom, et al. But for the most part, independently owned businesses have a much greater presence, and that dynamic is most visible in the restaurant and service industries . Although Starbuck's is based here and they've got plenty of coffeeshops in town, they are visibly outnumbered by their mom & pop competitors. Fast food barely exists here, too. I've seen two McDonald's, two Burger Kings, and a small handful of Jack in the Boxes. Compare to Chicago, where virtually every corner has some combination of McD's, BK, KFC, and Taco Bell, not to mention a flurry of hot dog stands, Polish sausage and Italian beef joints. Seattle is definitely not a southern California type "sprouts and tofu" town, but at the same time, fast food just isn't much a part of the landscape. As a result of this, and jogging 5-6 days a week, I've dropped a bunch of weight. I haven't weighed myself in a few years, but it feels like I'm dragging around about 30-35 lbs. less lard. Another 30-40 and I'll be back at fighting weight.
Indie rock rules. The music community here rests on hardcore indie values. Major label music is generally disregarded, and commercial radio is virtually meaningless. The most important station in town is the non-commercial KEXP which broadcasts from the University of Washington, which locals refer to as "U. Dub" just as they say in the outstanding early 90s period piece Singles, (this inspires me to tell you that I live three short blocks from the apartment building all the main characters called home in the movie). Anyway, the indie rock scene here is incredibly vibrant, artistically ambitious, and self-sufficient. There is a particularly exciting dance-punk scene here, and a truckload of ass-kicking straight-ahead rock and roll bands. I went to an outdoor pre-game party across from Qwest Field, where a local micro-brewery threw up a stage, a big tent, and laid it down like a Chicago street festival would for a few hours before a Seahawks game, with cold beer, hot food, and live bands. This event in Chicago (or nearly any other city) would feature the wonderful talent of various cheeseball cover bands. At this Seattle event, all the live music was underground indie rock. For you indie people, the line-up included Minus the Bear, Kinski, and the Helio Sequence.
Rain in Seattle = Wind in Chicago. It's all a myth perpetuated by people who haven't actually spent much time there. You see, Chicago isn't that windy. In fact, it's the 4th of 5th windiest city in the U.S., but people are confused by the city's nickname which in reality refers to a remark made by an observer a hundred years ago about the politicians there being full of wind. In Seattle, at least during these first two months, we've had far less rain than I'd expected. When it rains, it comes down like a mist. At its worst, the rain is no heavier than the spot-free rinse at the automatic car wash and it doesn't last long. The winter is reportedly characterized by lots of overcast and this almost-daily but short-lived rainesque mist, but that's about it. Almost everyone I've asked about the rain has replied with some variation of, "Here's how mild it is: I don't even own a raincoat or an umbrella."
Politics. Nah, I don't feel like talking politics. In November, I'll toss a coin, vote for either Moron #1 or Moron #2, and let the chips fall where they may. Sadly, we live in a land where stock car racing is the most popular sport, "Girls Gone Wild" sells like hotcakes, and campaign promises like "I will lower your gas price by ten cents a gallon!" is what'll get you elected. If Kerry promised a free bottle of Heinz ketchup to everyone in America, he'd probably win 49 f***in' states. Instead, he talks like a literate college graduate, and over the heads of our confederacy of dunces his words continue to go. Sweet Mary, mother of Jesus, talk about slim pickins... Wait, I said I wasn't gonna talk politics... That's all for now, folks.