Mike And Rick On The Slopes

Our last skiing foray of the season. It was definitely one of our best trips.  

Spring 2025 Had Arrived

Our tree is in full bloom.

Seaside 2025 9--Dinner At Nonni's

Nonni's is a great Italian restaurant on Broadway in Seaside with great food and friendly atmosphere.

Mariners Pay Tribute To Rickey Henderson

As part of the opening ceremonies last night (Thursday, March 27th, 2025) when the Mariners faced the A's, former Mariner Rickey Henderson, who threw out the first pitch in the last Mariner game of 2024 (also between the Mariners and the A's), and passed away during the off-season was honored.  

His wife and daughters were brought on to the field.

During his long career, Henderson played for the Oakland A's and then later for the Mariners.

Also mentioned were Bobby Cuellar and Lenny Randle, both ex Mariners who passed away in the off season.

Seaside 2025 8--Family Bench

About two blocks south of the turnaround, our bench on the Prom has been standing for 10 years.

Play Ball!

 Go Mariners! Season opens today (Thurday, March 27th,2025)!

Enjoying The Park And Lake

With a temperature around 70 yesterday (Tuesday, March 25th, 2025), Lake Wilderness in Maple Valley was a great place to spend an afternoon.

Seaside 2025 7--Museum

A tug pushing a barge is modeled in this picture taken at the Columbia River Maritime Museum in Astoria. 

A must stop on the Northern Oregon Coast, make sure you give yourself a few hours to see the exhibits.

Seaside 2025 6-Elk Herd Grazing

On the way to Astoria to see the maritime museum, we saw a huge heard of elk.  

Former Speaker Frank Chopp

 Barers Of Maple Valley is sad to learn of the passing of Former Washington House Speaker Frank Chopp. Chopp was the longest serving Speaker Of The House in the history of our state. As such, he was a lightning rod for critique from both sides of the aisle.

Watching out for the "little guy" he was not always on board for multi-million dollar sports projects, making himself constant fodder for the local sports talk radio stations. 

I first met in 1996 at a campaign kickoff for Dave Asher, who was running for state house at the time.

The Cascadia Advocate blog has this report on the late former speaker.   Click here

Seaside 2025 5--Sunset At Mo's In Cannon Beach, OR.

From Mo's, a beachside seafood restaurant in Cannon Beach, we watched a beautiful sunset.

Dead By Sunset--A Review

Dead By Sunset was recommended by my cousin, Burl, telling me the victim was a partner in his brother Stan's law firm.  

The book was written by the late Ann Rule, a true crime author and resident of the Seattle area.  It is a page turner. A 400 plus page book that is almost impossible to put down. 

It tells the story of the murder of Cheryl Keeton.  She was found in a van on the Sunset Highway in Portland.  Keeton worked at the Portland branch office of Garvey, Shubert, and Barer (Now, Foster Garvey).  Though she was of humble beginnings, she was a brilliant attorney.

Her husband, Brad Cunningham, was equally brilliant.  As the couple was going through a very nasty divorce, Cunningham is an immediate suspect.  However, because, he was able to put on a calm demeanor and an arresting (no pun intended) charm, and his propensity to move to different locations, it took years before there could even be an arrest, let alone a conviction.  

Cunningham had multiple marriages and a number of children, but it was the three sons of Cheryl Keeton that he really became the subject of a custody fight.  

The book was eventually adapted to a mini-series.  

The action takes place in the 80s and 90s, but except for the lack of smart phones and computers, it is still readable today. 

Seaside 2025 4--Haystack Rock In Cannon Beach

 We spent a great afternoon at Cannon Beach.  

Boxing Legend George Foreman Dead

 George Foreman, who along with Mohammed Ali and Joe Frazier, were the three icons of the sport of heavyweight boxing during the 70s, has died.  He was 76. 

Foreman burst on the boxing scene during the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City.  He won his first heavyweight championship in 1973 against Frazier. 

In 1994, he regained the title, at 45 becoming the oldest man to hold the heavyweight boxing championship. 

He is also known for the George Foreman Grill.  

Seaside 2025 3--Strange Pipe

Google says it's a "Seaside whatsis".  In all our years of coming down, I've not before noticed this contraption sticking out of the surf.

Seaside 2025 2. Sunset In Cannon Beach

The Sun sets on Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach.

Neat Place To Eat In Seaside

A left at the end of the Prom and  a couple blocks walk will take you to this great cafe. It has tasty food and is family owned.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

 

Slick Watts Dies

Slick Watts, one of Seattle's first pro sports heroes has died.

Watts was a guard for the Seattle Super Sonics in the early to mid 70s.  Pro sports at that level where somewhat new to the area at the time.

Watts, completely bald before it became fashionable, was easily identifiable by his colorful headbands. 

A guard, he led the NBA in steals and assists.

Watts stayed in Seattle after retirement, further endearing him to fans.

I met him about nine years ago at a pub in Redmond Ridge.  

Seahawks To Sign Yakima Native Cooper Kupp

 Cooper Kupp, the 2022 Super Bowl MVP for the LA Rams, is now a Seahawk.  Kupp will reportedly sign a three year 45-million-dollar contract.  

Kupp, a wide receiver is a native of Yakima.  He attended college at EWU in Cheney. 

Sunrise In Maple Valley

Bright Sunrise almost looks like a fire 

Under The Moonlight

Another great Google photo collage. 

Bob Rivers Dies

 Sources report the passing of retired Seattle radio personality Bob Rivers.  He was 68.  

Hired from a station in Baltimore, Rivers was perhaps amongst the last of creative radio figures, as the industry was on its way to becoming very homogenized and corporate minded.   

Rivers spent 25 years in Seattle radio starting at KISW.

He was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2023.

Darnold To Sign As Hawk Signal caller

Quarterback Sam Darnold is headed to Seattle.  With Geno Smith gone to Vegas, Darnell comes to town after a career year with the Minnesota Vikings. 

Darnold is familiar with Northwest football fans as he played for the USC Trojans. 
 

DK Metcalf Traded To Pittsburgh

 DK Metcalf is heading to Pittsburgh for the 2025 season.  The Seahawks will obtain a second-round draft pick from the Steelers. 

Metcalf, a Seahawk since 2019, ranks high in almost every category for all-time team players at that position. 

Metcalf has been a fan favorite, but in recent years, has drawn fire for number of penalties called against the team. 

Geno Traded

 Geno Smith will reunite with former Seahawk coach Pete Carroll as he has been traded to the Las Vegas Raiders.   In exchange, the Hawks will receive the Raiders 2025 third round draft pick. 

Smith, whose performance with the Hawks has been up and down, has been subject for debate amongst fans as far as effectiveness. 

Sunsets Over The Years

Another great Google Photo collage.

 

Palm Springs 2025 8--Where We Stayed

The house that we stayed during our visit, could probably be classified as "mid-century modern". It is the style that the town is most famous for 

Officials give update on death of Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa

Gene Hackman and his wife, from what things seem to indicate, desired their privacy.  

From what the conclusions are, in this instance, it seemed to prove tragic.

Congrats To Tahoma Wrestling And We The People

 Your unofficial hometown blog congratulates you!  From the Community Of Maple Valley Wa group. 

On The Slopes

I had a fun day, skiing at Snoqualmie Summit.

Palm Springs 2025 7--Last Meal

The Chicken Ranch in downtown Palm Springs.

All dining is outdoors.

We enjoyed a great lunch with our friends and then it was on to the airport to fly back home. 

Palm Springs 2025 6--Buddy Hackett

Comedian Buddy Hackett is honored in this spot on the Walk Of Stars in Palm Springs.

Hackett was a familiar figure on daytime gameshows and talkshows in the 60s and 70s 

Lee Goldberg Unboxes Latest Work

 Lee Goldberg shares the unboxing of an upcoming novel. You can join the fun and excitement by clicking here.

Palm Springs 2025 5--Rock Hudson's Star

Because tonight (Sunday, March 2nd, 2025) is Oscar Night,I present one of the all-time classic movie actor Rock Hudson's Star n Palm Springs. 

Hudson did not win a single Oscar in the long career, but he did get a nomination.

Palm Springs 2025 4--Sunset

A beautiful sunset over the mountains, witnessed from the house where we stayed.

Palm Springs 2025 3--The House

The house where we stayed had the pool in the front yard.