Washington State Vacation Pictures

Try, try again...I think I finally got it to work. Below the cut are photos taken at Mount Rainier National Park, The Museum of Glass in Tacoma, Washington, the Rose and Flower Gardens at Tacoma, Washington State Park, the Boeing Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington, Snowsqualmai Falls or Twin Peaks Falls in Snowsqualami (sp?), Washington, and my cousin's dogs.

( below the cut are the pictures from my vacation in Washington State )

Mount Rainer is the second highest peak in the contiguous US, and the third if you include Alaska. It's part of the Cascades, and is a dormant volcano that could become active at any time. The Glaciers have begun to seriously melt off of it, as you can see in the photos included above.

The Glass Museum has a hot shop, where artists around the world apply to make glass. You can come in and watch them do it.

The Boeing Flight Museum is the largest privately owned flight museum in the US.

While it looks lush and green -- Washington has been really dry, with only 1 inch of rainfall all summer and doesn't get much rain normally during the year. Although they do get a lot more than that.
The weather was amazing when I was there - in the low-mid 70s and 80s during the days, and 40s-60s at night, with low humidity, and crystal blue skies.

Movie Reviews..Solo and Won't You Be My Neighbor

Saw two flicks on the plane. The documentary "Won't You Be My Neighbor" about Fred Rodgers on the way to Seattle, Washington, and on the way to NYC, "Solo: A Star Wars Story".

Of the two, "Won't You Be My Neighbor" was by far the better film and highly recommended. I don't usually like documentaries, and I was watching this in the Even More Space or Business Economy section, with bad sound and a much smaller screen. It was compelling. And I learned a lot about Fred Rogers and the show I adored as a small child. He attempted to redefine Children's Television, with modest success. A Minister and Broadcast Journalist, Fred Rogers desired to reach children, and let them know they were valuable, special and loved. And denounced violence. He was very outspoken about the consumer driven and violent laden nature of the television landscape.

It delved into his personal life, describing a sensitive and driven man, who exercised every day, maintained the same weight his entire life, and was often filled with self-doubt. He was an odd duck in a difficult and critical world, who somehow found his way through it. And managed to remain kind throughout most of his life.

Solo: A Star Wars Story - was disappointing. It felt very paint-by-numbers. OR as if the writers and director were ticking off boxes.

* Han becomes a pilot - check
* Han gets the last name Solo...check
* Han meets the devil-may-care, charming rogue who influences his manner -- Beckett - check
* Han falls in love with a girl who betrays him and influences how he views women - check
* Han meets his best friend and closest companion - Chewbecca - check
* Han meets Lando and wins the Falcon - check

As a result, I was mildly entertained, but had difficulty caring overly much. Also found it to be a tad predictable. It's fun, but it lacks depth and the characters aren't that well developed. Guardians of the Galaxy and Farscape which are sort of similar were far more entertaining. The whole rogue pilot saga has been done better elsewhere. Also Han is one of those characters that works better as a supporting not lead player.

And...while the lead is charming and is reminiscent of Harrison Ford, he doesn't quite have the same flair as Ford. (Chris Pratt does). The film is sort of stolen right out from under him by Daniel Glover who plays Lando and Woody Harrelson who plays Beckett.

It's not worth a rental. But "Won't You Be My Nieghbor?" - is.