Sheryl Crow "It's Only Love" 2021

I'm going to end the month and start the weekend with a little music from Sheryl Crow.

Michael Collins--Apollo 11

Astronaut Michael Collins who piloted the Apollo 11 capsule and circled the Moon while Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin made history while walking on the Lunar surface, has died.  He was 90.

Collins was also aboard the Gemini 10, his only other space flight.

As silly as it sounds, by virtue of his first name, Michael Collins was my favorite astronaut at the time. 

Ken Levine Thinks Cooper Right For Jeopardy

 TV comedy writer and daily blogger Ken Levine is like me, a real Jeopardy fan.  I mean who would not  love a show where you can watch three contestants stumble on an answer that you know?  I remember that happening on a final Jeopardy question, a week or so ago, and really, I had a lucky guess, with no pressure with TV lights, etc., but I digress.

Ken, in his latest post, thinks that Anderson Cooper, the latest in a series of celebrity fill in hosts, is THE right one for the job, which was vacated by the death of  Alex Trebek.   You can find out why, by clicking here.

Another Tree In Full Bloon

This beautiful tree has now blossomed in our backyard.

Classic TV Character Has Walla Walla Roots

Hope Summers from Walla Walla was on The Andy Griffith Show, a popular TV show in the 1960s.  She played the part of Clara, one of the towns people. 

Hope's father also represented the Walla Walla area in congress.   She had previously played  Hattie Denton in The Rifleman and was later the voice in commercials of Miss Butterworth. 

Hope Summers is buried in Walla Walla's Mountain View Cemetery.

Annie Charnley Eveland of the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin wrote this feature on Summers in the paper, click here.

Seattle Icon Ivar Featured On Puget Sound Media

 Puget Sound Media historian Steven L. Smith does a great in-depth feature on Seattle Restaurateur Ivar Haglund in a recent post on the broadcasting blog.  For Seattle transplants like me, he is known for crazy commercials with fish puns, seafood restaurants, and owning what was once Seattle's tallest building, the Smith Tower (above).  But Smith (no relation to Smith Tower, that I'm aware of) reveals that Ivar plays a much bigger part in Seattle's history.  

You can read more about Ivar and reminisce about a much more simple Seattle by clicking here. 

Seattle Times Archives--1969 Stan Barer Named Magnuson Administrative Assistant

 

First, an apology for the blurry news print.  As previously mentioned, our family has played a significant part in Seattle and Washington history.  I have been combing through the Seattle Times  archives, which are less than transferable.  Perhaps, by design. 

  Stan Barer, in 1969 was named Administrative Assistant for Washington Senator Warren Magnuson.  

Stan had previously had experience on the senators staff and was mentioned prominently in Shelby Scates Magnuson biography. 

Colin Cosell And Paul Olsen Podcast A Hit

 Colin Cosell teams up with Paul Olsen in this look at things that entertain us in and around sports in "The Sport Of Entertainment", a broadcast on 365 Sportscast, and also a podcast.  

Since reporting on this  project last month, I have listened to the episodes and have found them very insightful, as well as fun.  Cosell and Olsen keep the hour long show moving well with interviews on a weekly topic with area related to sports, except the games themselves.  That means it's not your run of the mill sports podcast. 

The latest show includes a great interview with NBC Sports Host, Bob Costas.  You can listen to it by clicking here.

Chauvin Found Guily

 Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer, was found guilty on all counts in the 2020 death of George Floyd.  

Pear Trees Are In Bloom

Our pear trees have bloomed as weather in the area has been warm. 

We are hoping for a great crop this season.

Walter Mondale Dead

 Former Vice President Walter Mondale, who suffered one of the worst presidential defeats in US history, has died.  

Mondale was senator from Minnesota when Jimmy Carter chose him as running mate in 1976.  As what was known as a beltway insider, Mondale seemed a perfect compliment to Carter, a largely unknown governor from Georgia.  A combination that proved victorious.

In 1980, Carter lost in a landslide to former California governor Ronald Reagan, a hardline Conservative who as a former actor, had mastered the TV medium.   

In 1984, Mondale was not always thought of as the best choice, even by Democrats.  He did make history by picking the first female VP candidate, Geraldine Ferraro.   Although he performed well in a TV debate, Mondale really was unable to gain any traction against the incumbent administration.   Mondale would only carry Minnesota and the District Of Columbia. 

Mondale would later serve as ambassador to Japan during the Clinton administration.

Jimmy Cohn Productions - Magic Matt Alan

If you are a steady listener to 70s at 7 on SeriusXM, you will recognize this voice. Magic Matt Alan is a veteran DJ who began his career here in the Pacific Northwest. 

OLBERMANN VS. THE VACCINE HESITANT: I went to a hockey game. Never thoug...

Keith Olbermann encourages people to get their vaccinations.  I did. 

Unseasonably Warm In Maple Valley This Weekend

Temperatures are going from pleasant to hot this weekend as a high of 80 degrees is forecasted for the Puget Sound Region.  

Nice While It Lasted

Not long after our tree goes into full bloom, the blossoms start falling, almost creating a "snow like" effect. 

With temperatures exceeding 80 degrees this weekend, it's without a doubt, the closest thing to "snow" we will see for a long time.

Brandi Carlile Book Hits Number One

 Brandi Carlile, Maple  Valley superstar singer, has announced that her autobiography, Broken Horses: A Memoir, has hit number one on the New York Times Best Sellers list. That is considered the high water mark for a publication.

You can purchase Broken Horses by clicking here.

Ramsey Clark--Attorney General And Activist

 We learned last weekend of the death of former US Attorney General Ramsey Clark who was 93.  Clark was the last living cabinet member from the LBJ administration. 

Clark is one of the more polarizing figures in US History.  He took on unpopular causes and opposed war.  He offered to defend Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.   He was the son of Tom C Clark, a former Attorney General and an associate justice on the Supreme Court. 

Patrick's Faire Host Pizza Food Truck

The Cascadia Pizza food truck visited the nearby Patrck's Faire neighborhood yesterday.  

Locating at the park, they sold wood fired pizza to nearby residents. 

These days, I always check to the left when coming down 244th Street to see if a food truck is working the area.

Food Truck Brings Desserts To Maple Valley

The Sugar+Spoon Food Truck was in Maple Valley yesterday at 22821 SE 239th. On a warm sunny  day, it was a welcome treat.

A-Rod Buys Timberwolves

 Alex Rodriguez, who a while back, made news with his failed attempt to buy the New York Mets, seems to be on his way to owning an NBA team.  It has been announced that A-Rod and partner Marc Lore have finalized a deal to purchase the Minnesota Timberwolves and it's WNBA counterpart, the Minnesota Lynx.  

The purchase has raised speculation of the team moving, Seattle has been hungry for an NBA team since the Sonics left in 2008.  I can't see that as A-Rod was loudly booed in Seattle after he left the Mariners to sign a huge contract with the Texas Rangers.  I don't think Seattle, on the other hand, will want to welcome him back.  After all, there has been recent talk about the NBA expanding, and my guess is that Seattle would much rather have a team through that avenue, rather than put another city through the heartache of losing it's team.  

Burl Barer From Early 1970s

 

The Seattle Times archives are now available to subscribers, so since a few of my relatives have figured prominently in Seattle history, I was able to do a little bit of time travel.  

Many of these are difficult to read.  

Here is part of a feature on my cousin Burl, who worked the nightshift, at the time, for KOL.   The article does not transfer well, so I only took the headline and picture. 

Green Bay QB Rodgers Guest Hosts At Jeopardy

 Aaron Rodgers, probably a future Hall Of Famer quarterback with the Green Bay Packers, is finishing his first week as guest host of Jeopardy.  He is one of a series of guest host to take the reigns after the death of  the show's legendary host, Alex Trebek.  All of the guest hosts, starting with Ken Jennings, have done 2 week stints. 

Rodgers, who has indicated that he would like to be permanent host of the show, while still playing football, has generally been well received by viewers.  

 

Prince Phillip Dead At 99

 Prince Phillip, longest serving spouse to a British monarch, has died at 99.  Phillip, the Duke Of Edinburgh, was married to Queen Elizabeth, who has served in that role  my entire life.  She actually became queen in 1952, while my mother was in high school.  That was 5 years before I was born. 

I saw the prince in the early 80s in a motorcade during a visit to Seattle. 

Phillip is survived by the Queen, four children, 8 grandchildren, and 10 great grandchildren.

Seattle Times Archive Of Uncle's Run For State Legislature

 

My Uncle Arny ran for state legislature in 1964 in Seattle's 46th district, a campaign that I had mentioned in previous posts.  Here is something that I found in the Seattle Times archives, which I discovered today. 

Maple Valley Suffers Total Communication Blackout

Internet went out early this evening, which was bad, however, we also lost TV and telephone services.  Cell service, too.  Bad if there was an emergency.  Luckily, there wasn't and everything seems to have been restored as of 10 this evening. 

No Party In Spokane--Gonzaga Falls

 The joy of Saturday night's buzzer beater shot was short lived as the Gonzaga Bulldogs, last night (Monday, April 5th),  lost to the Baylor Bears 86-70.  It was the first national championship for the Bears.  

For Gonzaga, a championship that seemed so within reach (the team was undefeated up to that point), was denied again.

Front Yard Tree In Full Bloom

One sure sign of Spring.

Happy Easter

 

Jalen Suggs Game-Winning Buzzer-Beater - UCLA vs. Gonzaga - Final Four 2021

I thought for much of the game, that the dream was over for Gonzaga, but then this shot by Jalen Suggs, which will go down with the Edgar Martinez double and the Richard Sherman tip for most exciting game ending plays for Northwest teams. 

Go Cougs--My Martin Stadium Cutout From 2020.

I was just about to ask about my WSU cutout, when it showed up on our porch. I watched Cougar Football in this form last season.

Here's to a full season coming with real fans in the stands.

Mariners Erase 5 Run Giant Lead--Win On Opening Day

 To those, who changed the channel or left the ballpark thinking this was the same old Mariner team, the joke was on them.  The Seattle Mariners scored 6 runs in the 8th inning to erase a 5 run lead and put the team up by a run against the San Francisco Giants on opening day in T-Mobile Park.

The Giants erased that lead with a solo homer by Alex Dickerson, the game went into the 10th inning.   Mitch Haniger made an incredible catch in the 10th to preserve the lead. 

In the 10th, a bases loaded walk gave the Mariners the victory. 

Happy April Fools Day 2021

 Happy April Fools! 

Go Mariners!

 The Mariners begin this season tonight (Thursday, April 1st) with specific marching orders, kindle the fan's enthusiasm after a couple of  decades of mediocre baseball. 

Local sports events have been given the green light to allow spectators at no more than 25% capacity. 

A small crowd of 9000 will be inside the ballpark as the M's will face the San Francisco Giant in T-Mobile Park.