Took the train to Whitefish

Today is Friday and we left Seattle Wednesday afternoon on the Amtrak Empire Builder. We got a beautiful, unique view of the sound as we rode north through Ballard, Edmonds and Mukilteo. Then, after we climbed over the Cascades (through a very long tunnel) and past Wenatchee, we fell asleep. I was startled around midnight when the other Amtrak from Portland was violently attached to the car we were sleeping in. We awoke just in time to skirt the north edge of Whitefish lake before gathering our bags and meeting with the family. We went to the Buffalo Cafe for breakfast with brother Brad, little Olivia, Molly, and Momma Vicki.
After brief mid-morning nap, I borrowed the mini-van and drove over to the Great Northern brewery for a pint of Hellroaring and free Wi-Fi.

New Job

I started my new job on Monday. Friday was a lot of fun. I went out to lunch at a Brazilean (sp?) grill/bbq restaurant at Harbor Steps called Ipanema. They serve an all-you-can-eat meat buffet for about $15 and it's amazing! Ray and Dave competed for who could eat the most and Dave was the clear winner. This is especially impressive if you know Dave as the slender, vegeterian-until-recently. Then we met up at the Fado` Irish pub after work.
We were originally going to see a band called The Classic Crime at the Showbox because one of Kari's friends is dating a guy in the band, but Kari wasn't feeling well so we went home after Fado`.

The new job is off to a slow start. I still don't have a phone or a badge, so on the one hand I can't get to my own desk without calling someone to let me in BUT on the other hand, people can't call to bother me yet. The new guy Bob, from Chicago arrived today as did my manager Sean and his manager. I think it's going to be fun, once I get my feet wet.