The Random Ramblers Face a Road Block With One Big Fat Lip!

Our adventures this week faced many challenges. Lisa couldn’t join us Saturday so we decided Sunday would be best. We had plans to go to the infamous Mike’s Chili Parlor, Archie Mcphee’s and the Ballard Locks. When I was getting directions on how to get to Mike’s I noticed their hours and realized they are closed on Sunday…. Bummer. Now we are faced with the tough decision of what to do.

We called our special guests Jessica, Jaden, Jason and Cruise to let them know of our horrible discovery. Jason, Jessica’s husband suggested Hamburger Harry’s another well known establishment in Ballard. Jessica and her family get a head start and I head out to pick up Lisa, behind me following is our other special guest my husband Jason. Lisa tried to bale on us but I just had to see the size of her fat lip that she injured wrestling the night before. Don’t get too excited at the mention of wrestling she was fully clothed and there wasn’t any mud in the vicinity. When we arrive to Lisa’s we were first greeted by her big fat lip. When she finally made it in to the car we were all scrunched due the enormity of her bottom lip.





With that said off to Ballard or so we thought. Silly me, I thought I knew exactly where I was going you can assume that wasn’t the case. I got off on 45th and all was well until I followed the misleading sign that put me on Aurora. If you don’t know Aurora it is not the street you want to be on ever! A light bulb went off above Lisa’s and my head instantaneously! With one look at each other we knew what one and other was thinking. OUR GANG!!! We could certainly find people with experience with guns to join our gang on this criminal infested strip. On our Walkie Talkies Jason beeps in “I know where to go” he exclaims as he takes the lead. While following Jason we see a sign for Dexter St. and try to get over in time to make the exit. The people behind me must, of thought I was in need of yet another Detour on this fine day for they wouldn’t let me over. Sheesh.

Meanwhile Jessica and her family are already halfway through with their lunch anxiously awaiting our arrival. After many a phone call on Lisa’s phone (note Jess isn’t capable of reaching me via walkie talkie.) We get on the right track and head back to Ballard. So all in all we almost saw all of Seattle. During our drive throughout this fine city we saw Henry paintings galore. I have to know who the heck this guy is. This will have to be the theme to one of our adventures. I didn’t get pics this time of the art we barely noticed most of them before we were already past them and I can’t handle doing a U-turn in Seattle let alone driving straight forward.









Finally, a familiar sight the Ballard Bridge we made it!! We found Hamburger Harry’s really quickly and settled in right away. Jessica and her family were out wandering the streets of Ballard. With all of us starving we put our order in on the fly. My Jason ordered the onion burger and onion rings, Lisa, Cadin and I ordered the Jalepeno Popper burgers with fries, Coen ordered the slider and baby Kalyx ordered the mac and cheese with fries. I also ordered an order of Cheese Curds for everyone to share.







While we waited for our food I captured a picture of Lisa’s lip it almost broke my camera. Jessica showed up with her clan and we sat and chatted. Cruise wanted to go, go, go so they decided to adventure out more and wait for us to finish our lunch. I don’t know if it was because we were so hungry but it felt like our food took forever to arrive. It was probably only few minutes but felt like an hour. The Cheese Curds arrive and we dig in. Not to shabby but also not worth $ 8.95. Baby Kalyx’s mac and cheese with fries arrives next. I quickly cool it off for her and she digs in the fries first of course. I try both they are really good. Jalepeno burgers are up next and I instantly dig in. These burgers are huge poor Lisa’s lip was all I could think of. First bite, eh? Not too impressed. These burgers are deep fried so are the fries, cheese curds and so on and so forth. Too much deep fried! If you do dare to try to eat this burger make sure you have a lot of napkins the cheese oozes all over the place. Coen didn’t touch his food not a good sign! Cadin took one bite and pushed his plate away. Jason said his burger was good but not worth $10.00.







All in all, this place can be a good place to eat. The staff is really friendly and accommodating. It is too pricey and you probably just need to know what to order. Jalepeno Popper Burgers were a bust. Sorry Harry’s you just didn’t do it for us. I must stick to taquerias. Jessica and the clan liked their meal so maybe it is just what we ordered.









On our way out Jessica is sportin a bag “What is your find?” I ask. She let me peek in the bag my eyes direct me to some French pastries. I asked Jessica where she found such gems she proceeded to tell me about a random alley that they wandered down and surprise a tiny French bakery jumped out at them. It is amazing what you can find in an alley you certainly wouldn’t expect a French Bakery.






After loading up the leftovers we probably won’t eat we head across the street to Archie Mcphees. There isn’t a way to describe this store to do it justice. I guess the best way to put it is well it’s just plain nuts! They have everything from bacon air fresheners to a Chicken Chuckers. The amount of bells and whistles they carry is tremendous. They are moving their store during the summer because they lost their lease, so they bought a building in I believe Wallingford. All I have to say is Archie if you need help moving don’t call me. You have way too much stuff, kind of like a friend of mine that goes by name of June right Lisa? What a random sight I even took a picture of a random lady in funny looking pleated red skirt? Never got her face though just like the woman in the cloak. Random! I ended buying Jesus band-aids, Jesus dashboard bobble head, cupcake band-aids, bible eraser and a cross eraser. Note the theme of my purchases. My FFF Bekki isn’t too religious so whenever I get the chance I let her know, that Jesus Loves Her. I am sure she will appreciate all of the new presents I bought for her and feel loved. Addison will be stylin her new Jesus band-aids. Please take a special look at the picture of me sporting a devil mask and some funny chicken next to me about to my dinner. That would be Pacheco a fun buddy I like to hang out with from time to time. Jaden A.K.A. Jordan you must be a chicken for Halloween next year it suits you!
Lisa got away with a corndog air freshener and a bag of devil rubber ducky’s. I wonder if she will sing the rubber ducky song in the bathtub with her new found friends. By the way an honorable mention would be the craziest thing we found in the store. Totally normal Remington wader boots for sale how random is that?

























As we depart this fine store we are catapulted by a big gust of wind. Boy does Cruise enjoy a big gust of wind. She was trying to eat it? Weird but surely worth a mention as we were in stitches. We discuss our next adventure and decide to call it quits due to the weather and babies. It was getting close for the little ones to rest. We all said our goodbyes and parted ways still amigos.

You might wonder why random ramblings? I was once told by Jason’s grandparents Al and Georganna Leo that if you are going to explore then you must first start with your own back yard. They are so right! Over the past couple of weeks I have discovered so much to do in Seattle and the surrounding areas and it is so much fun. What are we doing next week you ask? Well it has something to do with Hammerhead at the Show, Make sure you have your ducks all in a row. Until next week good friends….. Be here or be square.