South Washington State Sky

While on our way to Portland I had the chance of capturing this shot. I do like the way the sky is a mixture between cumulus clouds and soft silky clouds. A mix between clear and cloudy skies.

Memorial Coliseum

This is a water fountain at the Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon. I really like the way the filtered make the picture look like in the end. The blend of colour tones and the capturing of the water movement is on itself a relaxing experience. Cheers!

Memorial Coliseum in Portland

This is the main entrance to the Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon. It is awsome the different geometrical shapes and colours that make the design of place. I do like Portland. :)

Trip to Portland

Traveling to Portland, OR in the back seat of an Infinity, having no need to drive, just sitting back and relaxing is a really comfortable and nice experience. Especially when cruise speed is 85 miles per hour. Believe me, the sensation is awesome. :)

Mount Rainier

Commuting home saw this opportunity of taking a picture of Mount Rainier in a very clear afternoon. Snow levels reaching summer ones. This mountain never ceases to amaze me, it is a humbling experience hard to find anywhere else.

Art in the Center

Walking through the Center (Fred Hutchinson CRC) I found this piece of art among their huge collection. Decided to shoot this picture and share it with you all. Intensity in colours on a black canvas.

Walking through the city

Walking through the city I saw this intersection and decided to take pictures in both directions. On the one hand there is this nicely shaped building with all those geometrical figures, and on the other side the crystal dome of the city's convention centre. Geometry and symmetry is everywhere in Seattle.

Commuting in Sound Transit

This is what the 590 bus looks like in the afternoons if the one you take is the 5:12 one. Stuck in traffic in I-5

5th Ave In Seattle

Walking around downtown decided to take this picture to remind me we are in Spring even though we are still in the forties LOL.

Matador in Tacoma

This is a filtered picture I took a couple of weeks ago in Matador in Downtown Tacoma. It is a nice place when all you need is a drink to wind down.

Banana Republic

Walking close to the Convention Centre in Downtown Seattle I saw this peculiar building and decided to take pictures of it. It has a very stylish and decorated facade. Walking around it I realised it is the Banana Republic store.

Seattle's Best Coffee

I went to Seattle's Best Coffee and liked the contrast in colours, especially the red tones and decided to take these two pictures. The first one is not filtered, the second one is.

Another Glass Sculture

Another of Dale Chihuly's glass sculpture at the WA State Convention Centre.

Glass sculpture

Walking through the Washington State Convention Centre in downtown Seattle I saw this Dale Chihuly glass sculpture. I was hooked on it instantly when I saw the brilliant, impressive colours. The way it naturally shines and reflects light is remarkable.

What a nice engine!

A few weeks ago I decided to go for a test drive, decided to try one of those nice SS Chevy Camaros... this is a picture of it's engine, what a babe! :) thought I would share.

Glass Sculpture

So, this is a Dale Chihuly glass sculpture that is permanently exhibited at the entrance of the Yale Building at Fred Hutchinson. I really like the color intensity and contrast.

Weintraub Building

Took this picture yesterday, while buying coffee at the Weintraub Building coffee shop. It is a closed garden. You can tell Spring has started arriving to Seattle... in May! :)

Arnold Building entrance

Sunny Seattle, that's a weird event so this is a nice picture I took of the Arnold Building, Public Health Sciences Division at Fred Hutchinson. It sure was a warm day!

Glass Sculptures

I took this picture a couple of weeks ago, while going to the Museum of Glass in Tacoma. These are all exhibited in a train overpass, on a bridge. Go figure! Most, if not all, are Dale Chihuly's creations.

Mount Rainier

A nice filtered picture of Mount Rainier from I-5 Southbound, close to the Southcenter Mall in Tuwkila, WA. The snow levels are sure going up.

Downtown Seattle from Lake Union

This is the view from the roof top in the Arnold Building. :)

South Lake Union & Space Needle

Another view from the Arnold Building's roof top.

STI

Saw this STI parked outside my office and decided to take a picture. It sure looks nice in white!

So, whatcha think?

It was sunny and that's a first in Seattle. I like the way the filter brings out the car's colour, don't you think?

An antique

Went to the gas station fill up the tank and this is what I saw. Decided to take some pictures, cars like this are rare.

Crystal Cube

I was walking to the Terry Ave & Thomas St to take the Streetcar to Fred Hutchinson and saw this cube in a corner, part of the new buildings being built in the South Lake Union area. It reminds me of an ice cube, but I like the simplicity, practicality and yet beauty with which this building was designed. I also noticed, no wonder, that an architect's firm office takes the first two floors of the building.

Museum of Glass

There is a bridge that connects the Glass Museum with the University of Washington in Tacoma. The bridge's roof is all pieces of glass like these ones. It's really nice. :)

Museum of Glass

I also had the chance of walking around and go all the way to the Museum of Glass. I have always liked the shape of the building. I'm going to try and post a few more pictures I took here.

University of Washington - Tacoma Campus

I found myself walking around Downtown Tacoma today and saw the opportunity of taking this shot. I really like what the University of Washington has done by remodeling and maintaining the buildings in Tacoma. Used a couple of filters to get it looking like this. :)

Another impressive sunset in the Pacific Northwest

I was riding in the passenger's seat today down in I-5, southbound, when saw this. I really like the contrast between the golden yellow and light tones with opposing blues in the evening sky. A marvelous reminder that summer is near, this picture is what sunsets look like in the Pacific Northwest this time of the year, at 7:50 PM.

Mount Rainier through a window

Commuting in the Sounder train I got to take this picture in Sumner's station. Mount Rainier serves a an impressive background. After years living in Washington I think this is one of the views I never get tired of. It is breathtaking and humbling. :)

This is what the new double deckers look like :)

Today, after work, I was waiting for my bus to go to King Street Station (the Sounder train) and saw this, a double decker from Community Transit (Snohomish & King Co Transit system) and took a picture of it. Who would have thought that we'd never have those in Western WA.

Sunset

I was driving on I-5, Southbound, heading to the gym when I spotted the sunset. I was impressed by the orange and gold tones that contrasted with the gray, dark and heavy clouds. It is so good to live in the Pacific Northwest.

Reflections

Walking from the office to the train station I rarely look up, yet yesterday, as I did, this is what I captured, on a gray, typical Seattle day a cloud opened up a little bit and allowed the sun's light to be reflected on this building. It's located on Stewart Ave and 9th.

Commuting in Sound Transit

While commuting to work this morning saw the yellow and orange colours and decided to take this picture. It kind of came out awesome, don't you think?? (:

WA State Capitol Building's Cupola

First time in Olympia, WA and decided to walk inside the Capitol Building and this is what I found once inside. It is a very lavish, elaborated and well-detailed cupola.

Another picture on WA State Capitol Building

A picture on the Capitol's facade. I really liked the architectural details of the place.

Around WA State Capitol Building

I really liked this picture. I think the typical Washingtonian gray skies served as a solemn background.

Brick work at Fred Hutchinson CRC

Took this picture last Thursday night. Thought the bricks pattern is interesting.

Another take on the Urban mess

I filtered this picture with Adobe Photoshop Express for iPhone. Makes it look like a drawing/sketch rather than a picture. I really like the effect.

Urban mess

This is a filtered picture of Tacoma, Wa and it's urban sprawl.

State Capitol Building, Olympia WA

This is a filtered picture from Washington State's Capitol building.

Spring is finally here!

So, I guess spring finally arrived to Seattle. Here's a bunch of blooming trees at Fred Hutchinson CRC.

Tacoma, WA

Took this picture on my way home from work. 

Why do what I do?

Yesterday someone I know asked me just that. Why do you do what you do? Why Fred Hutchinson? At the moment I could not offer a reasonable and articulate reply and that bothered me. After pondering why live the "Life of Science", as the organisation's tagline reads I have come to the conclusion that I do what I do for a few valid reasons.

First of all, is it because of the money? Whereas people may think it is an economically rewarding opportunity, truth is I bet there are better paid jobs in the market on a for-profit organisation. My decision to come to Fred Hutchinson was based not on economical gain, rather on what do I have to offer those less fortunate. When I decided to apply for a job at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center everything that crossed  my mind at the moment was, I want to do a difference. I want to help those who fight the tiresome fight against cancer. I want to go everyday to work knowing what I do has a direct impact in their lives and that maybe at some point of my professional career here I may have the opportunity of working at the lab or research team that finds the cure against it.

Then, there is the personal gain from it all. A couple of years ago I would have cared less if I worked at a Cancer Research Center. I had no idea what NCI stands for or the NIH. In case you are wondering, Fred Hutchinson receives grants funding from the National Cancer Institutes and the National Institutes of Health.  Yet when its time to face reality and lose a loved one to a hard, long and tough fight against cancer, it takes a personal meaning. I go to work thinking, today there is a possibility of a breakthrough against leukemia, breast cancer, cervical cancer, lung cancer, etc. You name it. Just one step ahead is a step closer to erradicating this evil killer.

Also, knowing I can be a voice for those who cannot express themselves on research against cancer, is a reward worth working for. Knowing the studies I work for focus on minorities, who otherwise would go underlooked at, motivates me to do what I do with pride.

Looking back, I cannot regret my decision on coming to Fred Hutchinson. I know the knowledge and experience I acquire from this interesting, never-the-same journey will just motivate me to keep on caring for human life. Each fight against cancer is a fight for life. I know we may not be able to same them all. I know we can only try one at a time, yet one saved life, a life won over cancer, is a life worth caring for. I long for the day in which survivorship becomes synonym for a cancer diagnosis. Meanwhile I will live "A Life of Science", doing what I do at Fred Hutchinson.

In case you want more info about the organisation you can follow the links bellow:

http://www.fhcrc.org/
http://www.seattlecca.org/

Clouds

Gray Washingtonian Skies

Stones

Courtyard at Thea's Landing

Calming Waters

Entrance of the Arnold Building