Game Changer Arrives

I just received my autographed copy of Rob Angel's book, Game Changer. 

Angel is the inventor of the popular board game, Pictionary.

Angel was part of the Spokane contingent when I attended Camp Solomon Schechter in 1971.  I believe he now lives here in the Seattle area.

Clear Summer Night In Maple Valley

The Moon rising between the trees is one reason I love this area.

Young Cousin Sells The Soap

She may be still a teenager, but my cousin, Naomi Barer has launched a worldwide company selling handmade designer soap worldwide.  Naomi's NRB's Beauty sells soaps with a variety of scents, and shapes, based on a lifetime hobby of collecting soaps from around the world.  

Naomi's company is based in the South Sound area and has an incredible web site, making it easy to navigate and order. 

KYYX Memories--Stephen Rabow's House Party 1983

NW Hall of Radio History · Northwest Radio Voices: Stephen Rabow's House Party KYYX 96.5 September 4, 1983

From

From the Northwest Hall Of Radio History, here is Stephen Rabow, a former co-worker of mine at KYYX, with his Sunday evening "House Party". The House Party was a show where Rabow could pick and play his own music. Therefore, it was extremely popular with listeners.

Puget Sound Media Does Ichabod Feature

He may have the most unique radio name in Seattle history, but he is so much a part of the area fabric that people say his name with a straight face.  

Ichabod Caine was in Seattle radio for many decades, first as a rock DJ for KJR, and then as a country radio personality for stations like KMPS.  For now, he seems to be enjoying retirement.

Puget Sound Media writer Steven Smith has written an outstanding biography on the Seattle radio veteran.  You can reading it by clicking here.

Memory Tree Bears Fruit

This apple tree was planted in our backyard in 2016 in memory of my Dad.  

It just began it's first big crop of apples.  The tree was a gift from my in-laws.

Regis Philbin Dies

Regis Philbin, TV personality, whose career lasted through his 70s, is dead at 88.

Seaside VII--Landmark Chair

This landmark larger than life chair was built by the class of 2017 of Seaside High.  It sits in front of the Chamber of Commerce.

Seaside VI Turnaround On Monday, July 20th

I had just met up with my brother, Steve and decided to take this video with firecrackers going off on the beach at Seaside, Ore.

Seattle Names Hockey Team

Seattle's NHL team will named The Kraken, according to sources.  The news is sure to be uplifting to  a community that has seen it's stock fall rapidly, due to violent demonstrations, the pandemic, and a seemingly worsening homeless problem. 

Seaside V--High Life Adventure Park

This was actually taken on July 19th.  The park had to close soon after it first opened, but it now operates with stringent standards, including taking temperatures and distributing gloves.

Seaside IV Bonfires At Night

Bonfires dot the beach at Seaside Oregon as businesses were allowed to open if certain safety measure were adhered to

Seaside 3

This sculpter made a very detailed sand castle on the beach in Seaside.

Final Good Bye To GG

We cast Liilian "GG" Eldridge's ashes out to the ocean at Seaside, a place she had come to love.

Liilian passed away last Spring at 100.

A Perfect Weekend In Seaside

We spent the weekend on the Oregon coast

Emerald Queen From The Road

The Emerald Queen Casino looks completed with it's new addition which actually may replace the old one.  

The huge complex is the first thing you see enter Tacoma from up North.

US Mourns John Lewis

The civil rights icon and long time Georgia congressman died yesterday.

Why Buy The Car When You Can Get The Picture For Free

After a great meal at The Central in downtown Bellevue, on our anniversary night, I had fun posing for this picture. I don't know who really owns the car.

How Rob Angel Invented Pictionary

Did you know a Seattle guy invented the iconic game Pictionary? Rob Angel, a 23 year old waiter at the time, began playing a game with his roommates  that combined drawing and charades in their apartment in the early 1980s.

  I went to Camp Solomon Schechter in 1971 and he was a fellow camper.  He was very outgoing and witty, but I never dreamed that he would create an institution. 

 Angel has just written a book that I just ordered from his website.  It's name is Game Changer and it is on several best seller lists.

A year ago, Angel was commencement speaker at WWU.

Green Hornet Theme by Al Hirt

I loved this theme song as a youngster.  I also loved the show.

Mitch Levy Celebrates Podcast 100 With Zoom Audience

Mitch Levy, who was KJR Sports Radio morning host for over 20 years, celebrated podcast 100 with members of his audience on a Zoom call.  The  podcast was released today and contains some touching moments in what Levy has hailed as a personal victory.  

Levy made a comeback with the podcast in late 2018, after disappearing from the public the previous year after a personal fall. 

Barers Of Maple Valley congratulates Mitch.

Waco Miniseries On Netflix

I recently finished watching the miniseries, Waco on Netflix.  I remember watching the startling first raid on TV, when ATF agents tried to seize the compound. I did not even know, at the time, that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms had such a force.  

The six part series does a good job of humanizing, David Koresh, the leader of the Branch Davidians, a radical Christian sect, that was an offshoot of the Seventh Day Adventist Church.   The group lead by Koresh is holed up in a compound near Waco, Texas.  

Taylor Kitsch plays a very convincing David Koresh, a soft voiced  leader of the group.  He is a charismatic singing dancing leader, who, on the outside, seems to only want to add to his group.  On the inside, he was some radical ideas that exceed the laws of decency.  

Michael Shannon is Gary Noesner, a sympathetic agent, whose negotiation skills lead to a peaceful surrender in previous standoff at Ruby Ridge.

I have always had a fondness for biopics and found myself drawn in by this well acted series.  Below is Koresh with new recruit David Thibodeau. 

Amoreena

 A very early and raw sounding Elton John song. A friend played this song just before we went on a debate trip to Pullman, which may be considered a "cattle town" (Moo U is a common nickname), while in High School and by, coincidence, that evening, we saw "Dog Day Afternoon" at a theatre there and this song was played.

Fireworks Show In Cle Elum

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We were able to watch a great fireworks show in Cle Elum, not far from the Suncadia Resort.  We usually have to work the day after a 4th Of July Fireworks display but this year, the fourth was on a Saturday and we were on vacation. Still, with the pandemic raging, we were afraid that there would be no fireworks.

Before the display, we had a great dinner at Beau's Pizza in Downtown Cle Elum.

From Our Trip Last Weekend

A great shot of the golf course at Suncadia from Swiftwater Cellars.

Celebrating 25 Years

It was 25 years ago today that we were married. This picture was taken last weekend at the Swiftwater Cellars in Suncadia. 

Deer Encounter At Suncadia

The aftermath, we are all well including the deer. 

Country Music Legend Charlie Daniels Dies

Charlie Daniels, who went from session musician to one of the most recognized names in Country Music, has died. Daniels, a fiddler, was the voice and face of the Charlie Daniels Band.  

His biggest hit, The Devil Went Down To Georgia, became the band's signature song.  

He was known as a huge advocate for veterans.   Daniels was 83.

A Deer With No Fear At Suncadia Resort

This deer that we encountered at the Suncadia Resort had absolutely no fear of humans.  He also wanted to mix it up with Dasher.  He started toward our car as I tried to keep him in place.  We just barely got our dog into the vehicle before we drove off to enjoy our dinner. 

Weekend In Suncadia

The beautiful pool at Suncadia Resort.  A great place to cool off on a hot day.

Patriotic Dog

Dasher dressed for The Fourth.

Happy 4th Of July!

Calabro Steps Down From Blazer Duties

Former Sonics announcer Kevin Calabro, who would not move with the team to Oklahoma City, making him a beloved figure amongst fans of the team, has stepped down from doing play by play for the Portland Trail Blazers. 

Calabro has been the voice of the Blazers on TV since the 2016-17 season.    He said that he wanted to spend more time with his family. 

That could put Calabro in a better position to return, should the Sonics come back to Seattle.

Fox News reporter is trapped inside his car by dozens of Black Lives Mat...

Seattle area based Fox News Reporter Dan Springer ran into protests last week, needing to retreat to his vehicle after a reported scuffle.  Springer is a friend of our family.

Police Raid Chop

Police conducted an early morning raid of the so called "Chop" zone on Capital Hill.