Lucia Flores-Wiseman Enchants the Coaches with "In My Life" | The Voice ...

With a unique ability to project emotion, Maple Valley's Lucia Flores-Wiseman has been chosen to advance to the live final.   Her rendition of "In My Life", a Beatles standard, earned her much praise.

Oliver On Canvas

Deb and I attended a "Paint Your Pet" event in Bellevue with a couple of friends.

I did this picture of Oliver. Maybe not bad for a rookie. 

Maple Valley Food Truck 2-- The Menu

For anyone wanting to preorder on the Wilderness Chevron food truck, this may help. To preorder, call 

 206 651-0124.

Wilderness Chevron Food Truck

If you have craving for Mexican food, the food truck at the Wilderness Chevron parking lot in Maple Valley is a great place to stop. 

You can order ahead at 206 651-0124.

As you know, food trucks have wheels, so it may be good to call before you set out or make a quick glance as you pass the station.

Lucia Flores-Wiseman Enters Playoffs

 The Voice begins playoffs this Monday (April 28th, 2025) and Maple Valley's Lucia Flores-Wiseman has a great shot in the competition.  

This clip is from her appearance at House And Hazel, which is down the road from us. 

Of course, Barers Of Maple Valley will watch and cheer her on!

Throwback Thursday--Marilyn McCoo And Billy Davis, Jr Scorch Palm Desert

 From March of 2022. We watched Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr at McCallum Theatre at College Of The Desert.

Tribute To Bill Ramos

 Bill was a great senator, and a wonderful person who wanted to serve the area. 

Kraken Fire Coach

 The Dan Blysma "era" in Seattle NHL hockey is over.  The Seattle Kraken have announced that they have fired their coach after only one year.  The team failed to make the NHL playoffs for the second consecutive season. 

The team also promoted Ron Francis, the team's only GM to president of hockey operations.   

In Memory Of Bill Ramos

 Our state senator from here in Washington's 5th LD has died.   I got the news from Facebook yesterday (Sunday,April 20th, 2025).  

Bill Ramos was running the Issaquah trails at the time of his passing.  

Pictured above is Bill with me in a picture that ran in the Issaquah Press.  We were at a Democratic victory party.  At the time, Bill was being elected to the Issaquah city council. He would later be elected to the state house of representatives.  Last year, he became a senator. 

Bill was soft-spoken and humble. He was easy to talk to.  His wife, Sarah Perry would be elected to the King County Council. 

I last spoke to Bill at a Maple Valley Town Hall, last summer.  Maple Valley is considered a Republican stronghold, yet, Bill, a Democrat received a warm applause when Mayor Sean Kelly introduced him. 

Bill Ramos was 69, he will really be missed. 

Pope Francis Dies

 Pope Francis is dead at 88.  He had been hospitalized earlier this year with repository problems. 

Easter 2025

 

Happy Easter!

Zak Is Back

 MSN announced that Zak Starkey, son of the probably the World's most famous drummer is back drumming for the Who.  Reports were out a few days ago, the legendary British band had fired Starkey, the drummer for nearly 30 years. 

The Band's original drummer, Keith Moon, died in 1978.

Love Song

Perhaps, not the best-known Elton John song, but no doubt, a great one.

From his Tumbleweed Connection album. 

Wink Martindale Dies

 Wink Martindale, host of gameshows like Tic-Tac-Dough and Gambit as well as many other shows and presentations for decades has died, he was 91.  

New Design Walla Walla Buildings From The 1960s.

 From a popular 60s design, First Federal Savings And Loan built this brand-new building in 1965.  I remember them giving away yardsticks to celebrate the grand opening.  I remember my First Federal bankbook which was needed to make a deposit or withdrawal.  

First Federal is now known Banner Bank.

In the same idea, Jackson Motors built a new showroom in 1968 near our family business, once again, architecture that seemed modern at the time.

Both designs seen passe now.  I found these in Joe Drazan's Bygone Walla Walla page.  

You can see great history of Walla Walla by clicking here.

My Way (cover feat. Lucia Flores-Wiseman)

At this writing, Lucia is still the contestant to beat on The Voice. In this video, she does this great cover with Kaiya Buffelen.

Pennsylvania Governor And Family Escape Murder Attempt

A suspect is in custody after an attempt to set the Pennsylvania governor's mansion on fire this past weekend (Saturday, April 12th, 2025).   

Governor Josh Shapiro and his family, along with some guests, were sleeping in their home after celebrating the first night of Passover.  

The suspect, Cody Balmer is in police custody, he told officials that he planned to beat Shapiro with a small sledgehammer if he had encountered him in the break-in. 

Balmer is being held on a number of charges. 

Congrats To Cal Raleigh

Smashed his way into the Mariner record books. Cal got the record for most homers by an M's catcher. The record was set in a Friday, April 11th game against the Texas Rangers.  

 

Passover Begins

 Happy Passover to all who celebrate. 

Sivan’s Kitchen and Noa Tishby make savory matzah brei for Passover

Passover begins tonight (Saturday, April 12th, 2025).  This is one of my favorite breakfast foods during the celebration.  

Bob Rivers Tribute | The Howard Stern Show | SiriusXM (2025)

Howard Stern recently gave a shout out to the late Seattle DJ, Bob Rivers.  I first saw this on the blog QZVX.

Springtime In Maple Valley

 A few pictures taken in Springtime. 

Jay North Played Dennis The Menace

 Jay North, who played the title role in Dennis The Menace has died, he was 73. The show was a favorite of mine as a kid, it would be cancelled in 1963.

Many years later, it became one of the first shows, (along with Leave It To Beaver and Highway Patrol) that I would watch in syndicated reruns. 

I would also watch North in the NBC show Maya from 1967-1968.  

Florida Edges Houston In Heart Pounding Men's Basketball Championship

 In a game that looked at one point like a Houston runaway, the Florida Gators took the lead in the game's closing seconds for a 65-63 victory in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. 

In what turned out to be one of the most exciting championships that I've ever seen, the Houston Cougars, who I was rooting for, failed to even take a last shot that would have either tied it or win it.  

Still, it was an amazing game and Congrats to the Gators. 

The Spring "Snow"

The tree was beautiful, but as in every year, the blossoms fall, creating almost a snow like effect.

Sue Bird Will Enter Naismith Hall Of Fame

Sue Bird, who led the WNBA Seattle Storm to four league titles been elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.    This is THE basketball Hall of Fame with such greats as Jerry West and Michael Jordan.

Bird also led Team USA to five gold medals in the Olympics.  She was also a two-time national champion at UConn. 

Bird, one of the greatest and best loved area pro athletes was with the Storm for 19 seasons.  She retired in 2022 at 41 years of age. 
 

Oliver 2023

 I know you will enjoy this video of Oliver as a tiny puppy, it did not take long for him to grow into a big puppy. 

Three Head Coaches In Final Four Are Members Of The Tribe

It could inspire another Adam Sandler Hanukkah Song. The coaches of three of the Final Four teams in the 2025 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament are of the Jewish faith.  Of course, I'm very proud.  

In top, Florida Gators coach Todd Golden with Bruce Pearl of Auburn, names that really shine, pun intended. 

Bottom picture.  Jon Scheyer of Duke.  

Houston coach Kelvin Sampson, coached basketball at my alma mater, Washington State from 1988-1994.

Lucia Flores-Wiseman's Unique Voice Reinvents Benson Boone's "Slow It Do...

Lucia Flores-Wiseman keeps rolling on in The Voice competition.  The Maple Valley artist last Monday (March 31st, 2025), won her knockouts round against Grace-Miller Moody, who did an amazing rendition of the Fleetwood Mac standard, "Dreams". 

As this is my first season watching, I'm slowly learning how the competition works. 

Val Kilmer Dies

 Val Kilmer, who gained fame by playing Iceman in Top Gun and its decades later sequel Top Gun Maverick has died. 

Kilmer starred as the Top Gun flier Tom "Iceman" Kazansky, Tom Cruise character Maverick's chief rival, who morphs into his staunchest ally, most notably in the sequel.  

He also starred in the lead role of Jim Morrison in The Doors.  A biopic that is also a favorite of mine. 

You can find more about his body of work by clicking here. 

Kilmer was 65. 

April Fool's Day 2025

 Don't believe everything you see or hear today!