Lee Goldberg And Partner Combine To Write Best Seller

My cousin Lee Goldberg a TV writing veteran has teamed up with romance writer Janet Evanovich to release The Heist, now number 4 on the New York Times Best Seller list.   The two have been touring the nation to promote the book.  In this interview on the CBS morning program, Janet talks about the genesis of the book and what it is about.  The book is about FBI special agent Kate O'Hare, a former Navy Seal (although in reality, there are no female Navy Seals).  O'Hare is dedicated to capturing one criminal, Nicolas Fox, but there is a twist!  You can order a copy of The Heist by clicking here.

Storm Star Sue Bird Interviewed

Veteran Seattle Storm Guard Sue Bird appears on New Day Northwest, with teammate Alysha Clark. I did not get to meet her as we were in the Green Room during the interview. The two were standing near us as we were setting up, but I did not want to interrupt their show prep.

Barers Do Encore Performance On New Day Northwest

For the second week in a row, we were on New Day Northwest, representing The UPS Store at Crossroads. This time, the subject was mailbox rentals, shredding and printing. The segment went real well. The highlight of  the morning was the opening segment with Seattle Storm star Sue Bird, who is out of action this year due knee surgery.

Shell Shocked: Review

Shell Schocked is the autobiography of Howard Kaylan, subtitled, "my life with the Turtles, Flo and Eddie, and Frank Zappa.'  Howard was lead singer of the 60s hit making group, The Turtles.In this book, he takes you on his Rock and Roll journey, along the way, you meet The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Alice Cooper and many more of your favorite rock artists.  Although, maybe not thought of generally of a Rock And Roll "bad boy", he has lead a tumoultous life of excesses, which in the book, he gives himself a written tsk, tsk.  Still performing partners with fellow Turtle Mark Volman, Kaylan was in the Mothers Of Invention with Frank Zappa, part of Flo And Eddie with Volman, as well as a back up singer in Bruce Springsteen's Hungry Heart.  Ever wonder about "how is the weather" in the fade out of classic "Happy Together"?   It's in this book.
Today, Howard still performs live shows in the latest version of the Turtles, he lives in suburban Seattle with his wife, Michelle, who often comes to our store with their dog, Poochifer.

First Fireworks Stand Sighting

I saw the first fireworks stand of the season in front of Bartell's Drug at the Wilderness Village Plaza in Maple Valley, indicating that the 4th of July is around the corner.  This is a nervous time for pets and pet owners as constant pops of firecrackers going off can be unnerving to dogs and cats.

KIRO TV Sacks Pat--KIRO FM Picks Him Up

Seattle area residents reading this morning's Seattle Times (June 21st) were shocked to read that local radio icon Pat O'Day was asked not to return to KIRO 7's Seafair Hydroplane Race broadcast.  This, of course made little sense, since Pat had done the broadcast in some form since 1967.  At that time or soon after, Hydros and the race itself ruled in the city, since major league sports have arrived in town, as well as an influx of people all over the globe, the race's grip on the city has loosened.  In other words, the target audience for the race, is the same target audience that would probably long to hear the Seattle legend.
Enter KIRO-FM, which is no longer affiliated with KIRO TV.  They announced today that Pat O'Day will host a one hour special during the weekend of the Seafair Race.  The announcement was made during the Ron And Don drive time program on 97.3 KIRO FM.

Temporary Bridge Span Open Over Skagit

King 5 TV reports that the temporary bridge span allowing I-5 drivers to cross the Skagit River is now open.  The bridge was closed after a collapse last month that sent cars plunging into the water.  The collapse was caused when a truck carrying an over sized load hit the bridge.

Barers On New Day Northwest Again!

Deb and I got to appear on New Day Northwest on King 5 yesterday morning.  This was my first appearence on the stage as last year, Deb did the segment and I had a cameo in the audience.  Margaret Larson, who has worked for the network, is the host.  She is absolutely awesome.

Barers Of Maple Valley On TV Again

Deb and I will be on New Day Northwest, this Monday, June 17th for the second time.  Once again we will talk to Seattle about The UPS Store.  New  Day Northwest is hosted by Margaret Larson and can be seen weekdays at 11:00 on KING 5 in Seattle. Deb last appeared on New Day last year just before Christmas.  I was seen in the audience.  This will be the first time that I have appeared as a guest.

Volunteering At The Sounders Game

Last weekend volunteers from The UPS Store locations around the area teamed up with the US Marine Corp and the Seattle Sounders to collect for the Toys For Tots Book drive.  Deb and I along with Deb's sister and our nephew, Connor joined in at Century Link Field before the Sounders took on the Vancouver Whitecaps..  Above, you can see me waving a sign along with our Marine helper. We then went in and watched the game. The Sounders beat the Whitecaps 3-2.

T-Jack Is Back!

Sources are reporting that Tavaris Jackson will sign with the Seattle Seahawks for the 2013 season.  Jackson was the 'Hawks starting quarterback in 2011, but found himself odd man out for the next season as Seattle acquired Matt Flynn, thought at the time to be the new franchise quarterback.  Jackson was released and was acquired by Buffalo.  Russell Wilson, of course, won the Seattle job and is expected to continue at the position.  Jackson is expected to compete with Brady Quinn for the back up QB position, of course, with the Seahawks, you never know!

Barers Enjoy Issaquah Art Walk

Dasher is shown retrieving a frisbee.  The frisbee was launched from a machine designed by Issaquah High School Students.  It was part of the Issaquah Art Walk, which takes place on the first Friday of the summer months.  It is mostly along Front Street, but this was just off of Sunset.  We had an excellent dinner,that night, at Las Margaritas.  

Flight--Worth Seeing

(no spoilers)

A man is seen drinking, smoking weed, and doing coke before he is to pilot a commercial jet flight, you can can imagine the worst will happen and it does, almost.  But that is where the movie Flight is ironic.  Captain Whip Whitaker (Denzel Washington), it seems, did not cause the plane to crash, but indeed, pulled off a move that saved almost all of  the passengers.  That is the moral dilemma of the movie, without the drunk Whitaker on board, everyone one the flight may have died.  Still the movie deals with two of every airline passengers worst fears, an impaired pilot and an airline emergency.  It takes us behind the scenes to the sleazier aspects as Whitaker's attorney and the airline try to cover up his drinking while on duty.  The movie also does a good job of taking us into the world of a functioning alcoholic, able to snap into duty with the uniform on, yet an absolute "trainwreck" in his personal life.  John Goodman does a couple scene stealing apearences as Whitaker's drug dealer.

Dasher Picture Hanging In Alki

With Dasher, there is always something making news.  We drove to Alki, a popular Seattle Beach last weekend to see his picture hang in Alki Arts,  a gallery across the street from the beach at 2820 Alki Ave SW.  It was the picture that Jeanne Romano had painted.  You can see Jeanne's work by clicking on her web site. 

Paul And Parsekian Are Married

Aaron Paul and Lauren Parsekian were married on May 26th.  Aaron is the Emmy winning actor from Breaking Bad,  Parsekian is the daughter of my classmate Debi Kelly Parsekian.