Ristretto Performance

 After a year and a half of voice lessons (one of my retirement projects), I was able to join other students and do a second Maple Valley performance.  This one was at Ristretto's Coffee and Wine.

Great Music At The Market

 I didn't get the name of this ensemble, but I enjoyed their playing at today's (Saturday July 25th, 2026) Maple Valley Farmers Market.  

The market runs 9am-2pm every Saturday until October 31st.

Calabro Leaves The Blazers

 The Media Maven blog is reporting that Kevin Calabro will no longer be play by play man for the Portland Trail Blazers.  

This raises much speculation. Some good and some bad

  Calabro was the announcer for the Seattle Super Sonics until they moved to Oklahoma City to become the Thunder. With the new owner, Tom Dundon taking over with his cost cutting measures, the team's future in the Rose City seems cloudy at best.  

The good is that it seems all but certain that the Sonics will return to Seattle shortly, (fingers crossed) and no doubt Calabro would be the top choice to do the play-by-play duties for the new version. 

It would indeed be sad if Portland lost its only major sports franchise, especially with the proposed new Seattle team on the horizon. 

My Sister From '65

From the Holiday season of 1965. Another article in the Walla Walla UB archives. 

The Little Theater, which my parents were very involved with, put on a style show.

My sister, to the immediate right of the snowman, got to participate. 

I believe my mother also got to be in the show.

Issaquah Concerts--Stonesy

From our favorite vantage point in back, we enjoyed the Rolling Stones tribute band Stonesy.  The third performance in Issaquah's Concerts On The Green series. 

 

Alan Young--What's Up?

 Ten years ago in May, Alan Young, who played Wilbur in the classic TV show, Mr. Ed, passed away. 

As this was a favorite show of mine in my youth, I did a blog post on it.  

Why now, well, lately, I've inexplicably gotten an enormous amount of hits on that post, well over 10 years later.  

For the most part, Young lived longer than his fame, although reruns on various channels probably kept the name alive.  The question is, where are these inquiries on Alan coming from? 

Jimothy Joins The Race At T-Mobile

 How did they ever get the costume so quickly?  The Mariners added Jimothy, the Seattle raccoon with the spinal deformity that was discovered last week to the Salmon races.  

The salmons race during Mariner home games.  A funny and fun event. 

Pregame Meal

Diamond Club seats come with access to a buffet before and during the game.

We enjoyed great food before the start of Saturday's (July 18th, 2026) game