Seattle Patriot

Features photographs taken primarily from July 2006- July 2007.

Note: Watch for Steve popping up in a “Where’s Waldo” fashion in many photos. BONUS POINTS: Correctly identify how many photos Steve comes up in and win a fabulous prize of my choosing.

As always, comments and requests for future works welcomed!

PS: HAPPY 25th BIRTHDAY, CIARA!!!

Once upon a time, waaaaaay back when Snapple was first “blowing up,” so to speak, in the early 1990s, I tried one of their products. I can’t be sure what it was, but given my memory of the flavor I expect it was an unsweetened tea of some kind. Hated it. Never had Snapple again. But then, feeling adventurous at the grocery store the other day, I saw “white tea” AND “nectarine” in the same bottle. I thought “What the heck, it’s been 15 years or so, I’ll give Snapple a second try.” SUCH A GOOD DECISION! It has a very light flavor, so don’t be expecting a taste explosion. Also, although it is sweetened to the point of being fairly high in calories for a drink, it’s still not that sweet…but then again that’s coming from me, so you have to take it with a grain of salt. Here’s what I’d seen (although it’s the green apple variety pictured, which I’ve not seen in stores):

Here’s what Snapple has to say describing their product: “So, just what IS White Tea? Well, it’s a baby tea leaf that’s plucked when it’s young so that it’s both light in flavor and high in antioxidants. We brewed up this rare tea and lovingly mingled it with the light fruit flavors of Green Apple, Nectarine and Raspberry to give you an all-natural beverage that’s naturally decaffeinated, kissed with a whisper of real sugar (but 33% fewer calories), and tastes simply great.”

Each bottle has 120 calories, which is why it falls under the “guilty” category. I generally despise consuming calories from beverages, which is why water and I get along so nicely. For a non-guilty alternative, try Diet Snapple Peach Tea, with a whopping zero calories per bottle – but it’s SWEET so I still like it! [Note: I tried the new green tea too - because they had it in Asian Pear - but I'm not a huge green tea fan (it's on the super-taster dislike list, so maybe that's why), but despite that, I'd still say it was pretty good!]

Seafair is just getting started up this year, and in fine Seafair tradition, of course the Seafair pirates are kicking things off. While thinking about things that would be fun to do with my kids one day, or nieces and nephews perhaps sooner, I thought it might be fun to take them to see the pirates, thinking of course that you’d prepare the kids ahead of time for the loud noises, and yelling, and firing of fake guns, and talking about make-believe versus real, and certainly then it would be a blast…that is until I saw the full extent of how terrifying the pirates just might be.

Here’s what I mean: This girl, plus this pirate = permanent emotional scarring.

Note: Photos from the Seattle PI, July 9, 2007.

My goodness!! If I had see this when I was a kid I would be absolutely terrified and I’m sure the fear would have generalized into some crippling terror toward everyone wearing beads, or all men with facial hair. Thank you, mom and dad, for keeping me distant from this part of Seafair!!! Yikes! And most of all, you really have to wonder: Who IS this guy the other 340 days of the year that he’s not a Seafair Pirate???

Mmmmmm. Bagels.

Just the other day I was perusing Whole Foods for some healthy – but tasty – snacks when I discovered the bakery case. Although I generally muster up the best of my will power to avoid the bakery cases (my doughnut weakness goes waaaay back), I spotted the bagels and thought a nice Whole Foods bagel might be just the carbohydrate-y thing I needed. They’re generally pretty filling, not as bad for you as doughnuts, and always tasty when fresh, so a good compromise.

Upon quick review, I spotted the BEST BAGEL EVER – a cinnamon & sugar bagel. I bought it quickly and tore into it as soon as I got home. It was sooooooo good. Almost too good…

So a couple days later I’m back at Whole Foods again, eyeing the bagels from afar. I go over to the case…just for a look. Aha – I spot an ingredients list and must know (curiosity killed the cat) what wonderful ingredients were in this delicious treat. I’m reading the list, so far so good. Last note on the list: “Fried in vegetable oil.”

Now call me crazy, but I was under the impression that bagels were boiled then baked, and DOUGHNUTS were fried. Am I right, people? Otherwise, it’s just a doughnut with identity confusion! Well, I was most displeased with this discovery, but I still love those cinnamon “bagels” and maybe if I get through another week of this, I might just treat myself to another.

Bad for you, but tasty, the Whole Foods Cinnamon & Sugar Bagel is my Guilty Pleasure of the week.