Happy New Year!

Seahawks Earn Number 1 Seed

The Seattle Seahawks beat the St.Louis Rams 27 to 9 earning number 1 seed  in the NFC Playoffs.
This gives the 'Hawks a first round bye and home field advantage throughout.  If the team can win the next to playoff games, it will advance to the Super Bowl.  In addition, the Seahawks are the NFC West champs. 
In 2005, the Hawks earned the number 1 seed and went to the Super Bowl, losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

Top Ten Personal Blog Stories For 2013

What a great year, we spent more time on TV than any year that I can remember and Dasher got into the act too.  So even though I gave the top story away in an earlier post, here is my list of top 10 stories for this year....


10.  Visit to Olympic National Park over Labor Day Weekend and a visit to Seaside the weekend after.

9. We dog sat Charlie in July, staying at our friend's stately home on Lake Sammamish.  The weather was sunny and perfect.

8. Dasher does not win Q-13 TV's Pick A Pet competition, but was picture was used to promote the next week's competition.

7. Deb and I make 3 separate appearances on KING 5's New Day Northwest to promote our business, The UPS  Store.

6.  Dasher's picture, painted by Jeanne Romano, a customer at our store, who was formerly a TV comedy writer, was hung in the Alki Gallery.

5.  This blog finishes 15th for Best Neighborhood Blog in KING 5's Best Of Western Washington competition,  not bad when you consider 62 blogs were entered.

4. We visited the Price Is Right set to be in the studio audience for a taping of the show in February, although we did not get picked to be contestants, we are able to see ourselves on TV when the episode aired in the Spring.

3. Dasher is the cover picture in Jeanne Romano's Artisan Tails.  A book featuring water color pictures that she had painted of dogs.

2. Dasher passes his certified dog therapy test.  He would begin work helping children become better readers in Bellevue's Reading With Rover program.

1.  Paul McCartney in Safeco Field!

OOPS!

Someone forgot to read the fine print in an attempt by 49ers fans to intimidate the 12th man.

Top Blog Story Of 2013--Seeing Paul McCartney In Concert



 

Paul McCartney became the first rock act to ever perform at Seattle's Major League Baseball stadium Safeco Field on July 19th of this year, it happened to be on my birthday and my wife surprised me with tickets, just hours before the concert started,  you can read about it here.

Former Seahawk Jon Kitna Back In NFL

Jon Kitna, who played quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks, Cincinatti Bengals, Detroit Lions, and Dallas Cowboys, has resigned with the Cowboys as their 3rd String quarterback.  The 41 year old Northwest native has not taken a snap in the league since 2011.  Kitna has been working as head football coach and math teacher at Tacoma's Lincoln High School, his alma matter.  Kitna, a graduate of Central Washington University, played for the Seahawks from 1997-2000.

Barers Of Maple Valley Wishes You A Merry Christmas

Nirvana Elected to Rock And Roll Hall

Seattle based grunge band Nirvana will become the 4th act from this area to enter the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.  The previous Seattle inductees are The Ventures, Jimi Hendrix, and Heart.  The group popularized the "Grunge" sound, often known as the Seattle sound.  Other groups that emerged out of that genre include Pearl Jam and Soundgarden. 
The band's lead singer Kurt Cobain sadly died in 1994.  The surviving members of the band appeared as guests on stage at Paul McCartney's concert in Seattle last summer.  The band has sold over 75 million copies of it's music making it one of the most successful rock acts ever.

Snowfall in Maple Valley

About an inch fell here last night.

America's Top DJ Larry Lujack Dies

SeaTac Media blog reports the death of former Chicago top 40 DJ Larry Lujack.  In his long career at WLS in the Windy City, Lujack was the "gold standard" that most aspiring D Js look up to.  Lujack worked at KJR early in his career and also KRPL, a Pullman-Moscow Top 40 station.

Outdoor Holiday Home Decor In Maple Valley

This house in Maple Valley's Belmont Woods has a "putting green" made out of Christmas lights.

Christmas Card From The White House

A pop up White House along with an autograph from each member of the Obama family.  Sure they send out a millions of them, but it's still fun to get.

For Those Who Mix The Holidays

Although it probably will not be popular with many observant Jews.  The Chanukkah Tree Topper was presented on The Shark Tank last night.  Shark Damon John made a deal with the Mori and Marina Chowalki for a licensing deal that will likely get the item presented in the right places.

John Curley Leaving Sammamish City Council

John Curley, local TV celebrity, is leaving the Sammamish City Council.  Curley defeated Tom Vance in 2009 for his seat on the non-partisan body. At the time, very little was known about Curley's political viewpoints.  However since hosting radio talk shows in a number of time slots, listeners as welll as Sammamish residents are aware that his views tend to be conservative. 
Curley made his fame as the host of KING TV's Evening Magazine.  He also works as a charity auctioneer  Curley talked about his time on the council and his departure with KIRO FM morning host Dave Ross.  He spoke about long meetings and a little frustration with his fellow councilors.  He also spoke about it on his own show.

Seahawks Quarterback Russell Wilson Is A Hero Off The Field Too

Did She Grow Up Like Nancy?

 

 

 

 

 

One of KHQ's most memorable news promo's was shot in either 1970 or 1980 and featured a little girl longing to grow up to be like the Spokane station's evening news anchor, Nancy Goodspeed. So far, I have been unable to find a video, but found a print ad here. Now that the little girl has grown up, did she turn out just like Nancy Goodspeed? 

An Old UB Clip With Edward P Morgan And Bob Garred

National radio figures Edward P. Morgan and Bob Garred are among the Walla Walla natives featured in the Union-Bulletin clip from the 50s.  A few decades later, the UB would devote a whole section of locals who had national recognition.

Cougs Going To New Mexico Bowl

For the first time in 10 years, the Washington State Cougars are going to a bowl game.  The team learned yesterday that it will play the Colorado State Rams in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl.  The Cougs finished the season with 6 wins, making it eligible for post season, however, with a 6-6 record, a bid was far from certain.  According to the Spokesman-Review, the Rams are the only college team in the nation to boast both a 3000 yard passer(Garrett Grayson) and a 1500 yard runner(Kapri Bibbs). 
The game will be played at 11am on December 21st in Albuquerque.  It will be televised on ESPN.

It's Football Not Hockey!

Philadelphia vs Detroit game is being played in blizzard conditions

The Stencil Building--Walla Walla

 

The Stencil building stood on Main Street in Walla Walla.  I believe it reflected the best of it's time.  Originally, or at least at one time a hotel, it was torn down in either the late 1960s or the early 1970s.  I found this image on the Bygone Walla Walla blog.

Mariners Sign Robinson Cano

The Seattle Mariners, who whiffed trying to sign Prince Fielder and Josh Hamilton in previous off-seasons have announced the signing of Robinson Cano.  The former New York Yankee 2nd baseman is a five-time all star and a five time winner of the Silver Slugger Awards.  He has also won two Gold Gloves for best fielder in his position.  The USA Today hailed Cano's signing as sign the Seattle Mariners are "back in business."  Cano is a native of the Dominican Republic.

So Long Nelson Mandela

How To Be A Fan--49ers Style

Area talk radio is having a good laugh about a memo to San Francisco 49s season ticket holders released by the team.  The Seattle Seahawks head to the Bay Area for a rematch with their division arch-rivals Sunday. 
In last September's game, the Seattle fans came under fire for being cheering while the opposition was drawing up plays.  Apparently, 49er officials it's time for their fans to "pay us back."

Walla Walla's West Side Downtown 1960s

Another treasure from the Joe Drazan blog, the northwest corner of 4th and Main in downtown Walla Walla in what is commonly today known as the "Barer Building"  our family business B. Barer And Sons was behind it on 4th and Rose.  My dad eventually bought the building and later would sell it to a wine maker.  The part of the buildings on the left would be torn down to make way for a Goodyear Tire Store in the early 1970s. I'm not sure if the Fabric Outlet, which my Dad and his uncle owned, had started, my guess is that it hadn't. 

Sarkisian Now A Trojan

ESPN 710 reports UW head football coach Steve Sarkisian is leaving the program to assume the head coaching duties at USC.

Marshawn Lynch 67 Yard Run Against New Orleans Saints

Marshawn Lynch really wasn't on the radar screen of most Seahawk fans until this play-off game against the defending NFL champion New Orleans Saints in January of 2011.  I was in the stands for that game and it was just amazing.  If you notice, the announcer is not really focused on the play until he realizes that noone can bring Lynch down.  Lynch has enjoyed rock star fame in this town ever since and shows no sign of slowing down.   This week will have the rematch of the Seahawks against the Saints on Monday Night Football.