One thing I miss from the PNW is inexpensive Ranier cherries. I just got some for 3.99/lb at Berkeley Bowl, but they were the higher quality ones. Still very good though.
Going to Arlington, VA on Fri to visit Marymount Univ on Mon where No 3 will be going to PT school. An excuse to get out to DC. No 3 is already out there visiting his GF at VCU. Staying at my cousin's, but he won't be there. He's in Seattle with wife getting his MIL ready to move in with them. Was going to take the red-eye but the afternoon flight was cheaper. so I'll be in at 10:30 PM (if we're on time) and then will probably just take the metro to their place. Sat I'll be on my own so I'll go visit the Air and Space Museum and maybe another museum or two. Sun No 3 and GF will meet me and we'll go hang in DC, along with eating dinner with cousin's daughter and BF. Mon is visiting the school and then flying back.
I started typing then realized I'm giving you my entire weekend itinerary.
The drive out when No 3 moves out should be good. Going to try to catch games in Denver, KC, StL, and go to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in KC. Previously when it looked like he was going to go to UNE in Portland Maine, the plan was to go to a Guardians and Pirates game. No 2 will probably fly to KC and meet us for the rest of the drive because he really wants to go to the Negro Leagues Baseball museum.
going to Israel for first time. almost 10 days, 6-7 of them for work in Tel Aviv.
i hear they are taking us to Jerusalem for a day. not sure if i should go a day early to spend more time just soaking it in.
also, i have 2 days at the end of the trip where i can explore something interesting like the desert in case people have suggestions.
in strange flight scheduling, we have work stuff starting on Sun but airports are closed on Sat. so the only real option is to fly Thu and get there a day early.
I went by the Reflecting Pool on my run this morning to see for myself. It’s not as green as it was last week and I didn’t see any bits of paint floating in the water. There was some algae on the surface closest to the Lincoln Memorial. There’s a much increased presence of law enforcement. Most striking was I saw a guy in a Siskiyou County sheriff’s uniform.
passed a few coffee shacks as well on the drive up to Olympic Peninsula. however it was just at the wrong times when i didnt need another coffee. otherwise those little roadside shacks are one of the best ways to experience and try different Seattle coffees.
I used to like Tuna nigiri better, until I had Salmon Nigiri in Seattle. It was so amazing. Especially the salmon belly. This was at Sushi Kashiba. I had the omakase and the chef suggested I try the salmon belly after he served all the pieces. Melt in your mouth good.
No bueno. I don't sleep well and if I try to sleep, one of my legs will start to cramp up. It used to be that I could sleep on a plane and not worry about leg cramping. I think those days are gone.
Haven't been on a red eye for years, but my son and I are scheduled on red eyes next month to visit the Oklahoma State and NC State campuses. I don 't generally sleep well on planes, so we will see how it goes. Thankfully, both campuses are relatively short drives from the airports.
I don't mind them since I can sleep on the flight. I usually get them when going to east coast because I don't waste a day travelling and don't need to use PTO.
today i had an interesting experience. i had _X_XX figured out for the last word and there were at least 3 legit possibilities. so i wasted one turn on a bogus word w/ 2 of the 3 letters to eliminate since there is nothing equivalent to hard more
My problem is that it is not clear what Wordle considers to be too “uncommon”. I would think today’s word was uncommon. In fact, Merriam Webster thinks so also.
it is cool that there are tools like that out there. i always say that if you are "giving up" then admitting that you cheated to get the answer is the best way to not be so dumb the next time around.
i might have done that all thru undergrad and grad school
Kaitlyn Chen made her defender lose a shoe with a crossover move and made one of the Valkyries’ few 3-pointers in their 92-73 loss to the Las Vegas Aces at Michelob ULTRA Arena on Sunday. Chen (11 points) was one of four Valkyries to score in double figures and made one of their five 3-pointers as Golden State shot just 5-for-30 from behind the arc. The Aces had five players in double figures led by Jackie Young’s 21 points, A’ja Wilson’s 19 points and nine rebounds and 15 points and nine assists from Chelsea Gray. Golden State trailed by as many as 28 points in the loss, their largest deficit of the season.
Rafael Devers went from an 0-2 hole to working a key lead-off walk in the 9th.
He hadn’t done his job, per se. Devers didn’t knock a game-tying shot through the roof of Miami’s Loan Depot Park, a shot with the force and consequence of a pair of proton torpedoes colliding with a main reactor, effectively blasting that awful surf n’ turf fish bowl off the face of the earth while absolving the star of his many sins at the plate so far. No, Devers did not hit a walk-off, 2-run homer with no one on base as a member of the visiting team — but he did get on base.
After five consecutive one-run games, the Dodgers on Sunday closed out the homestand with a literal one-run game on offense. Unfortunately for them, the Baltimore Orioles scored a dozen runs, romping through Los Angeles in a 12-1 victory.
PNW food
One thing I miss from the PNW is inexpensive Ranier cherries. I just got some for 3.99/lb at Berkeley Bowl, but they were the higher quality ones. Still very good though.
… that seems pretty cheap to me, even in Seattle.
I think this was just a limited qty sale. Usually it's like 699 and up. I seem to remember Portland routinely had them for like 2.99 /lb
Other Colleges
UNC vs Oklahoma winner take all in the Mens College World Series about to start. Go Heels!
Michigan coach Dustin May leaves to coach the Mavs
Michigan players that decided to stay instead of transfer or go to the NBA are now screwed.
DBD Travel
Going to Arlington, VA on Fri to visit Marymount Univ on Mon where No 3 will be going to PT school. An excuse to get out to DC. No 3 is already out there visiting his GF at VCU. Staying at my cousin's, but he won't be there. He's in Seattle with wife getting his MIL ready to move in with them. Was going to take the red-eye but the afternoon flight was cheaper. so I'll be in at 10:30 PM (if we're on time) and then will probably just take the metro to their place. Sat I'll be on my own so I'll go visit the Air and Space Museum and maybe another museum or two. Sun No 3 and GF will meet me and we'll go hang in DC, along with eating dinner with cousin's daughter and BF. Mon is visiting the school and then flying back.
I started typing then realized I'm giving you my entire weekend itinerary.
it will be good for people to know so you can meet up w/ them!
The drive out when No 3 moves out should be good. Going to try to catch games in Denver, KC, StL, and go to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in KC. Previously when it looked like he was going to go to UNE in Portland Maine, the plan was to go to a Guardians and Pirates game. No 2 will probably fly to KC and meet us for the rest of the drive because he really wants to go to the Negro Leagues Baseball museum.
going to Israel for first time. almost 10 days, 6-7 of them for work in Tel Aviv.
i hear they are taking us to Jerusalem for a day. not sure if i should go a day early to spend more time just soaking it in.
also, i have 2 days at the end of the trip where i can explore something interesting like the desert in case people have suggestions.
in strange flight scheduling, we have work stuff starting on Sun but airports are closed on Sat. so the only real option is to fly Thu and get there a day early.
I went by the Reflecting Pool on my run this morning to see for myself. It’s not as green as it was last week and I didn’t see any bits of paint floating in the water. There was some algae on the surface closest to the Lincoln Memorial. There’s a much increased presence of law enforcement. Most striking was I saw a guy in a Siskiyou County sheriff’s uniform.
No comment, like, "You're a long way from home."
Was tempted to say something to him but I was on a run in shorts and tank top and didn’t want to end up being detained.
thanks for the live update given all the brou-haha about it
Seattle coffee joints
Bikini coffee shacks are an unusual aspect of the scene. Not sure why they are here, nor why not elsewhere.
passed a few coffee shacks as well on the drive up to Olympic Peninsula. however it was just at the wrong times when i didnt need another coffee. otherwise those little roadside shacks are one of the best ways to experience and try different Seattle coffees.
my two favorites are Monorail and Analog.
Analog has a cleverly named food joint attached to it called B-side foods
https://monorailespresso.com/
https://analogcoffee.com/
Smoked fish
Had some excellent smoked salmon all weekend on the Olympic peninsula
Didn't think you could get so good. Some of the best stuff was also from Pike market in Seattle.
Back in NYC now. Will miss all the frequent trips to PNW now that traitor daughter has graduated.
I used to like Tuna nigiri better, until I had Salmon Nigiri in Seattle. It was so amazing. Especially the salmon belly. This was at Sushi Kashiba. I had the omakase and the chef suggested I try the salmon belly after he served all the pieces. Melt in your mouth good.
some nice scenery, hikes, lakeside living for a few days
https://photos.app.goo.gl/9Rrbz1wDPbKKTy3g8
Red eye flights. Love em or hate em?
I don’t mind the flight but I hate crashing in the mid-morning after arrival when you can’t check in anywhere.
No bueno. I don't sleep well and if I try to sleep, one of my legs will start to cramp up. It used to be that I could sleep on a plane and not worry about leg cramping. I think those days are gone.
I’m often asleep before the plane leaves the ground so used to do red eyes when I could. Now that I’m old, convenience wins out so no more red eyes.
Haven't been on a red eye for years, but my son and I are scheduled on red eyes next month to visit the Oklahoma State and NC State campuses. I don 't generally sleep well on planes, so we will see how it goes. Thankfully, both campuses are relatively short drives from the airports.
I don't mind them since I can sleep on the flight. I usually get them when going to east coast because I don't waste a day travelling and don't need to use PTO.
Slept the whole way from Seattle to JFK overnight. However it was only a 4.5 hour flight
Tail wind? Faster planes?
I seem to remember 6 hour flights
Digital diversions
Pips
Pips #309 Easy 🟢
0:17 🍪
Pips #309 Medium 🟡
0:36 🍪
Pips #309 Hard 🔴
0:55 🍪
The elusive third cookie!
Worldle
#Worldle #1613 (22.06.2026) X/6 (97%)
🔥 Current Win Streak: 0 days
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟨➡️
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟨➡️
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟨↖️
🟩🟩🟩🟩⬜↖️
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟨↗️
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟨↗️
https://worldle.teuteuf.fr/share
I still don't know these countries
Me neither. I had hoped I'd get better but nope. There are a few places where I had hoped to get better.
the shape threw me off. it seems that only coastal countries would have that shape
I thought so too. Thought maybe it was an island.
#Worldle #1613 (22.06.2026) X/6 (96%)
🔥 Current Win Streak: 0 days
🟩🟩🟨⬜⬜↖️
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟨⬇️
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟨↗️
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟨➡️
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟨↖️
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟨➡️
https://worldle.teuteuf.fr/share
Octordle
Daily Octordle #1610
🕛🕚
5️⃣4️⃣
🔟9️⃣
6️⃣8️⃣
Score: 65
i think i got it on the last guess after farting around for a while
interesting article on Wordle
Wordle’s Hard Mode Is Actually Easier, 730 Million Games Show
As the game turns 5 years old, the data reveals that while standard-mode players have much more freedom, they’re not making the most of it.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/18/upshot/wordle-hard-mode.html?unlocked_article_code=1.rVA.JqQO.U2iO67zyPOHY&smid=url-share
I wasn’t even sure it was a word when I used it.
if you are talking about today, i had that same issue.
I saw your two comments before starting it. Didn't impact me too much because I had to figure out the first 2 letters after the 2nd clue.
i am thinking of making a quick app that downloads your past Wordle's and tracks you performance vs WordleBot
there are some stats on NYT already.
this is about as much as you can get about your performance vs WorldleBot, only 13 days back
https://photos.app.goo.gl/AuYWJvZMBxyisTpz8
i little humbling to see that i am below the NYT average! i thought i was reasonably good at it
Quordle.
i seem to have missed the chance to share.
today i had an interesting experience. i had _X_XX figured out for the last word and there were at least 3 legit possibilities. so i wasted one turn on a bogus word w/ 2 of the 3 letters to eliminate since there is nothing equivalent to hard more
🙂 Daily Quordle 1610
9️⃣🟥
4️⃣7️⃣
m-w.com/games/quordle/
Wasted a couple of guesses hunting words.
🙂 Daily Quordle 1610
7️⃣8️⃣
3️⃣6️⃣
m-w.com/games/quordle/
i was worried that would happen to me so i wasted one round just eliminating things
4 does not seem like a win unless you beat WordleBot!
Wordle 1,829 4/6*
🟨🟨⬛⬛⬛
⬛⬛🟨🟨🟨
⬛⬛🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
WordleBot
Skill 94/99
Luck 51/99
Wordle 1,829 4/6
⬜⬜🟩🟩🟩
⬜⬜🟩⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
WordleBot
Skill 87/99
Luck 51/99
Wordle 1,829 4/6
⬜⬜🟩🟩🟩
⬜⬜🟩🟩🟩
⬜⬜🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
I will admit to cheating a little. After guess 3, I was wracking my brain to come up with a word and getting nowhere. So, I went to Wordle Solver.
https://capitalizemytitle.com/wordle-solver/
My problem is that it is not clear what Wordle considers to be too “uncommon”. I would think today’s word was uncommon. In fact, Merriam Webster thinks so also.
it is cool that there are tools like that out there. i always say that if you are "giving up" then admitting that you cheated to get the answer is the best way to not be so dumb the next time around.
i might have done that all thru undergrad and grad school
Wordle 1,829 4/6*
⬛🟨🟩⬛🟩
⬛⬛🟩🟩🟩
⬛🟨🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
WordleBot
Skill 69/99
Luck 73/99
Wordle 1,829 3/6*
🟨🟨⬜🟨⬜
⬜⬜🟨🟨🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
excellente!
Cal
Looks like Collin Morikawa didn't have a good last 2 days of the US Open.
Michael Kim was also in the top twenty going into the last round but shot five over to fall back.
We're in the summer dead period. Not a lot of news on Cal Sports.
Copa Mundial
Messi scores 2 more. missed and early penalty kick. could have had 2 hat tricks in a row!
TUN 0 - JPN 4
ESP 4 - KSA 0
BEL 0 - IRN 0
URU 2 - CPV 2
NZL 1 - EGY 3
i wonder if the Egypt win was considered an upset or not.
Cabo Verde continues to impress. Lots of underdog wins or ties
Pro
Kaitlyn Chen Has Highlight-Reel Crossover, Valkyries Ice Cold From Three in Loss to Aces (92-73)
https://valkyries.wnba.com/news/gameday-recap-20260621
Kaitlyn Chen made her defender lose a shoe with a crossover move and made one of the Valkyries’ few 3-pointers in their 92-73 loss to the Las Vegas Aces at Michelob ULTRA Arena on Sunday. Chen (11 points) was one of four Valkyries to score in double figures and made one of their five 3-pointers as Golden State shot just 5-for-30 from behind the arc. The Aces had five players in double figures led by Jackie Young’s 21 points, A’ja Wilson’s 19 points and nine rebounds and 15 points and nine assists from Chelsea Gray. Golden State trailed by as many as 28 points in the loss, their largest deficit of the season.
Ballers fall in rubber match to Roadsters on Father’s Day (Lose to Modesto Roadsters 18-8)
Oakland gives up 10 homers to drop series
https://www.oaklandballers.com/sports/bsb/2026/releases/2026062230r0q2
OAKLAND, CA – The Oakland Ballers dropped the rubber match to the Modesto Roadsters on Sunday afternoon by a final of 18-8 at Raimondi Park.
10 of Modesto's (18-12) 15 hits went for home runs, including four homers from former Cal infielder Max Handron.
Finger-waggin’ bad (Giants lose to Marlins 2-1)
https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/san-francisco-giants-scores-standings/108056/rafael-devers-logan-webb-casey-schmitt-finger-waggin-bad
Rafael Devers went from an 0-2 hole to working a key lead-off walk in the 9th.
He hadn’t done his job, per se. Devers didn’t knock a game-tying shot through the roof of Miami’s Loan Depot Park, a shot with the force and consequence of a pair of proton torpedoes colliding with a main reactor, effectively blasting that awful surf n’ turf fish bowl off the face of the earth while absolving the star of his many sins at the plate so far. No, Devers did not hit a walk-off, 2-run homer with no one on base as a member of the visiting team — but he did get on base.
Has Vitello lost the clubhouse? Do the players respect him?
Devers doesn't want to get subbed out for a PR in the top of the 9th when he gets on base as the tying run.
https://x.com/NBCSGiants/status/2068784909557313661
Dodgers routed by Orioles, suffer first losing streak in over a month (12-1)
https://www.truebluela.com/dodgers-scores-standings/118733/orioles-rout-dodgers-losing-streak
After five consecutive one-run games, the Dodgers on Sunday closed out the homestand with a literal one-run game on offense. Unfortunately for them, the Baltimore Orioles scored a dozen runs, romping through Los Angeles in a 12-1 victory.