Former ESPN Reporter Fighting Brain Tumor

Britt McHenry, a former ESPN TV sports reporter who has created controversy, revealed on her twitter account that she has a brain tumor which may require surgery.   McHenry alluded to being the care of an amazing medical team.
McHenry achieve notoriety when she berated and mocked a tow company employee in 2015.  A leaked security video revealed the probably well paid reporter confronting an employee doing her job.  McHenry would later apologize.
After losing her job in an ESPN layoff, she has often appeared on TV as a Conservative pundit.
Although we are not fans, we wish her a speedy recovery.

KIRO 7 Anchor Steve Raible Announces Retirement Plan

Steve Raible, one of the most recognizable and popular figures in Seattle media, has announced his retirement, according to the blog, Puget Sound Media   The former Seattle Seahawk wide receiver will continue as the play by play announcer for the team, but will step down from the anchor position at KIRO 7 news in late spring.
Raible joined KIRO in 1982, according to the Seattle PI. 

While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Taken from Concert For George)

In honor of what would have been George Harrison's 77th birthday.

Ex Seahawk Star Glascow Dies

Nesby Glasgow, who played defensive back for the Seattle Seahawks, has died after fighting cancer. Glasgow played for the 'Hawks from 1988-92.

I remember watching a Seahawk exhibition game at the Kingdome where Glasgow blocked a field goal and ran it back for a touchdown.  I met him later that year at an autograph appearance at the Factoria Mall. Barers Of Maple Valley sends it's condolences. 

Fearless Diary Of A Badass Reporter--Julie Blacklow Reported And Made History

With my longtime interest in TV broadcasting, I couldn't wait to read this book on Julie Blacklow, one of the best known TV journalists in the Seattle area.I found out that we have a few things in common, like me, she was mesmerized by both the Kennedy family and the Beatles.
Growing up in the D.C. area, Blacklow  went to the US Capitol, where President John F. Kennedy lay in state.  She also attended the Beatles first US concert. She was in the crowd at the  March On Washington.
Blacklow's book, Fearless Diary Of A Badass Reporter, reads like a personal letter personally engaging the reader.  It begins with her childhood and her love of attention, along with her desire to right certain wrongs. She continues through her college days and how she wound up in Seattle broadcasting at KING 5 TV as one of the first female TV reporters in the country.  She would later move to KIRO 7 TV and Entertainment Tonight.
Blacklow's resume is like a Seattle history lesson.  She has reported on the area's most notorious and horrific crimes like the Bundy murders. She also used her out of the box methods to interview Watergate figures John Ehlichman and former President Richard Nixon.
Blacklow also interviewed John F. Kennedy, Jr, Paul McCartney, and Oprah Winfrey.
Blacklow finishes the book talking about her retirement from TV and her second career of running a local horse ranch, where she is today.
Fearless Diary Of A Badass Reporter is available on Amazon.

Windstorm Takes Down Tree

Almost every evening, we walk our dog through the  park at Patrick's Faire, a housing development near Belmond Woods, where we live.
Tonight, the park was littered with leaves and branches from a windstorm that took out our power for a short time early this morning.  We also found this entire tree on the ground at the playground.  As far as we know, no one was hurt when the tree fell.

WSU Plane

At the next gate at Sea Tac, we saw the WSU plane.  I don't know if it carries one of the sports teams or perhaps a group of supporters.  It was just fun to see.
I have found out that Horizon Air has painted some of it's fleet to the colors of colleges and universities where it flies.

The Trip Home--Mount Rainier

As we were coming up on Sea Tac Airport, I looked out the window across the aisle and saw Mt. Rainier as clear as ever.  My phone's camera is not the best for speed or distance, but I was still able to get the above shot.

Oceanside 5--La Jolla

La Jolla is a charming little beach area of San Diego. We headed there after our boat ride and rented a golf cart to explore the town.  We watched sea lions on the beach and walked around the town.  We also had dinner at a Mexican restaurant.
There are many sports car dealerships.  I posed in the window of the Lamborghini shop.

Oceanside 4--Bob Hope Exhibit San Diego

Along the waterfront in San Diego, near the USS Midway, there is a tribute to legendary comedian Bob Hope who annually entertained American troops overseas.

Oceanside III: Statue Depicting Kissing Sailor On San Diego Shore

On Monday, we drove into San Diego to take a day cruise in the harbor.  One thing that will catch one's eye is the statue reenactment of the Sailor returning from World War II kissing the nurse.  This was from an iconic picture in Life Magazine.
The statue is next to the USS Midway Museum. The San Diego area has one of the largest Naval Bases in the world. 

Oceanside II

Not as majestic as the Hollywood sign, this sign can be seen from the beach in Oceanside, California.  This was our first to the town since 2009,  when we stayed there while visiting San Diego and Disneyland. 

Vacation In Oceanside

Sunset in Oceanside California near San Diego.

XFL Kicks Off in Seattle

We watched the Seattle Dragons play The Tampa Bay Vipers at Century Link Field.  Here is the unique XFL kickoff.
Also unique is the XFL point after touchdown system requiring teams to cross the goal line rather than kick and adding a 3 point PAT.
The Dragon defeated the Vipers 17-9. 

Seattle Super Bowl Exhibit At Century Link

This exhibition was on Broadway when New York hosted the Super Bowl in 2014. That game of course was won by the Seahawks. I don't know if the team received it for winning that Super Bowl, but it now is displayed at Century Link.

Go Dragons

Seattle Dragons first home game today!

Happy Valentine's Day

Seth Everett Podcast Speaks Of How Media Handled Kobe

Former KJR Sports Radio Personality and New York broadcaster Seth Everett's latest podcast 

Sports With Friends deals with how the new electronic media covered the LA helicopter crash that killed 9 including Kobe Bryant and his daughter.  It also includes an interview with women's basketball icon Nancy Lieberman, who was invited by Bryant to be on that copter, but had a last minute change of plans.  Click here

UB Does Story On Synagogue Vandalism

The Walla Walla Union-Bulletin reported recently on the breakage of windows at Congregation Beth Israel in December.  After my brother posted something on Facebook, I immediately reported it on this blog, linking to the go fund me page which now has exceeded it's goal by a wide margin. 

Growing up Jewish in Walla Walla, this temple holds a special place in my heart.  In the 1960s, the services were held in a converted house on Rose Street and there was no signage, nor was there a listing in the telephone book.  I did not think of it at the time, but maybe it was because of perceived anti-Semitism in the area.   

I was proud when the congregation moved to it's present location in the early 1970s, at Alder and Roosevelt, with signage and a Star of David.   I believe that it now has a listed phone number.

Whether this is random or indeed a hate crime remains to be seen.  It is uplifting, though to read of the diverse group contributing to it's repairs.  

Cougar Men's Basketball Team Beats Huskies

CJ Elleby scored 34 points to lead the Washington State Cougars to a 79-67 win over cross state rival Washington.  The victory ended a 4 game skid in games with the Dawgs. It was especially satisfying after the Cougar football team was beaten by the Huskies in last fall's Apple Cup. 

Legendary Cougar Basketball Coach George Raveling, who coached when I went to school there was honored at the game.  Raveling was the first African American coach in the conference. 

With this win, the Cougs are now 14-10 on the season and 5-6 in Pac 12 play. 

Friend's Father Dee Molenaar Celebrated On Seattle Times Front Page

I was pleasantly surprised yesterday morning to see a front page article about Dee Molenaar, one of the area's premier mountain climbers.  Molenaar passed away last month at 101. 

Mr Molenaar's son, Pete was in my dorm in at WSU and we have been friends ever since. 

In an era when this area in the shadow of Mt Rainier was famous for it's hikers, kayakers, and mountain climbers, Mr Molenaar stood out.

 From the article, it seems Mr Molenaar did not seek fame, but climbed for the sheer love of it.  He was also an accomplished author and artist.

 He also led an expedition up Mt Kennedy in Canada with Senator Robert Kennedy to honor the late President John F. Kennedy.

I never met Mr. Molenaar, but from the article, it seems like he was much like his son, modest, but committed to social justice.  

To read the great article  click here.

Romney Bucks Party

Senator Mitt Romney of Utah, became the first senator in US History to vote for the removal of a US President of the same party when he voted for conviction on one of the articles of impeachment of President Trump.

You can hear his reason on this podcast.  

Flooding In The Area

Flooding all over Southeast King County causes detours.  What looks like a lake is actually farmland. 

Kirk Douglas Dead At 103

Kirk Douglas, considered one of the last survivors of Hollywood's Golden Age died yesterday. He was 103.  

His movie career was a thing of legends, but I know him best as the father of Michael Douglas, also a great actor. 

Worldmark Resort in Seaside Oregon.

While the weather was cold and rainy on our trip last month.  I found this video.  We often stay at this place in Seaside.  I was impressed with this presentation.

Well Known Network Exec Fred Silverman Dies

Fred Silverman, perhaps the most famous network "suit" of all time died last week at 82.  Silverman was  regularly featured in TV Guide at a time, when the medium was dominated by the big 3, CBS, ABC, and NBC.  

Silverman started with CBS being credited with making it a success.   He then moved on to ABC, again helping to make that network number one in the ratings. He then could not resist the challenge to go to NBC, which at the time, was the struggling network,  his tenure there was not as successful, however, he may have "planted the seeds" that allowed that network to later have a roaring comeback. 

TV writer Lee Goldberg knew Silverman and write this tribute, click here.

Hail To The Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs, who looked pretty much dead in the third quarter, made an incredible comeback to win Super Bowl 54, 31-20.

Super Bowl Sunday

May the best team win!

The Ducks Are Back

Steady rain for the last few weeks has filled the storage pond near our house bringing back the ducks