No. I don't live in DC. Though, I used to work in Andrews AFB in DC for a couple of months during my Air Force years.
People are more civilized in Tacoma, including Seattle, compared to average California city, if not the whole country. But Tacoma is home of the most stressful city in America. http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/West/01/10/life.stress.reut/
Swimming, Clubbing and watch live Seattle Mariners baseball games at Safeco Field, then get drunk while watching the "Great American Past Time". (Hey, it's only 5-10 bucks for a single ticket, and $5-8 for alcohol )
I thought you had given up on alcohol? seem to recall you saying that you were never gonna get drunk again or something.
Well if you are going to drink, try out those new RU21 pills, let me know if they work I've heard they're good at preventing hangovers and stuff.
ex-Air Force cadet... interesting? best place to hang out in Tacoma, or Seattle? or would you pick San Francisco over Seattle? or the other way around? Was in Seattle long ago, say 1989. Never got up to the needle--ended up on the highest floor of the downtown Sheraton... but hanging out at Pioneer Square, Pike's Peak, and the Kingdome (now Qwest Field, with Safeco Field nearby) was a blast... though I do have a major abhorrance towards clubs... As much as it is, wouldn't mind catching a game either at Safeco or Qwest. Big fan of stadium architecture, and used to work for one of the rivals to HOK.
Tickets are very pricey here at SBC... though, just lounging at Safeco sounds good at this stage though alas, not until next season... speaking of which... Mike "Lefty" Hargrove was named manager of the Mariners replacing Bob Melvin (another one of the humm baby Giants)... I'm already starting to miss Pioneer Square... I can still hit the bars, even at this day and age... Nah, wouldn't go for the drugs, except beer of course... cheers!
Good old McChord AFB. My father, a 20-year-plus veteran of the Army with five kids to feed, would head up with me in tow to the PX at either McChord or Fort Lewis to load up on groceries. We'd put the back seat down and fill up every inch of space in a VW Rabbit for the trip. It's been 20 years. I miss him.
Lakewood certainly doesn't present its best face as you go along I-5. But American Lake is a great place. I had the best crew race of my life on that lake, back more years ago than I want to remember, back when I had delusions of being a lightweight. Fun stuff to do in Pierce County, if you haven't done it already: Mount Rainier. Hey, it's in the county. OK, if you want to wait until next July or August, fine. But make sure you spend a day or two up there. When you're on your way down State Route 7 to Mount Rainier, stop in Eatonville at the weaving shop on the main drag. The mother of a good friend of mine from college runs that shop. Mount Rainier too high for you? Try Point Defiance Park, then, including the zoo. Or cross the Tacoma Narrows Bridge (yes, that's the one that fell down, but they built a new one) to Kopachuck, Penrose Point or Joemma Beach state parks. Or hop on your bike and take the ferry to Anderson Island. If the ferry looks familiar, that's because it was in that Levi's commercial, the one with "Nebraska" as the punchline. Downtown Tacoma is intentionally trying to become artsy-fartsy as a way to renovate downtown. IIRC, they've got not one, but two glass museums downtown now, not to mention the Washington State History Museum, which this history anorak would love to visit someday. If you want something off the ESPN-beaten trail in the way of sports, catch a Pacific Lutheran University football game (great D3 program) next fall, or catch one of the state basketball tournaments in the Tacoma Dome first part of next March. Heck, they've got state football semifinals going on there even as I type. Learn how to pronounce "Puyallup." Hope that helps.
Been there, done it all. Except hopping on the ferry to Anderson Island. Btw, my boyfriend goes to PLU. Good university, except the Lutes have to play their home football game in Puyallup's Sparks Stadium. Edit: PLU Football had the legendary coach Frosty Westering. A great gentleman.
LOL That is a classic one. You can always tell who lives/has lived in the PNW. Its a true test. Its so fun to laugh at people who don't know how. And another spot to visit in the PNW. Drive up to Skagit Valley, usually late March or early April for the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. Its so damn pretty and you can get in some good pics for portraits or just of the scenery.