Bang A Gong--Diamond Star Halo Wows Issaquah

 Deb and I enjoyed Diamond Star Halo last night (Tuesday, July 30th, 2024), this week's installment of the summer Concert On The Green series in Issaquah. 

Issaquah Paraglider

It's always fun to watch the paragliders off Issaquah-Hobart Road.  Generally, it's during hot weather.

We took this picture through our car's sunroof.

The Delta Center--Utah 10

Just to make it an even number, here is the Delta Center where the Utah Jazz play 

Just a reminder that NBA basketball in Seattle is missed.

Dick Balch, Jack Roberts and Vern Fonk pitchman Rob Thielke

Before Seattle's huge growth spurt (or actually spurts, because there have been several periods of rapid growth), it was for the most part, a small quirky town.  

Much like Portland was in the past, it was known for creativity.  There was even an SNL like show known as Almost Live, which highlighted and poked fun at it's uniqueness. 

One thing that is truly missed by those of us who have lived here for over 25 years, is the zany TV commercials, some of which can be seen in this video.

Mike Does Bonneville Salt Flats--Utah 9

If my ad libs are quirky, I was just a little nervous riding in a tiny sportscar.   Minutes later, I was driving the little Fiat.  

My wife also drove the flats in her rented car. 

The drive kicked up a lot of salt residue in and around the car. 

RIP--Former Seattle Mayor Charles Royer

 Charles Royer, who served 3 terms as Seattle mayor in the from the late 70s until 1990, has died.  Royer was previously a TV reporter and analyst.  

Royer is credited with moving the Seattle Art Museum to Downtown and developing the Convention Center over I-5.  

 

The Skiers--Utah 8

Circling back to Utah Olympic Park.  I got to pose with the ski jumpers from the show.

The Bonneville Salt Flats--Utah 7

A pose before taking on the Bonneville Salt Flats.

Choir--Utah 6

On Sunday (July 21, 2024), we drove to Salt Lake City, where we watch the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. 

They did a great performance for free.  We then toured the LDS conference center.

It was a great learning experience.

Maple Valley Flyover Part 3

 Once again, Maple Valley got buzzed by what I think is a C-17 Cargo plane. 

Sundance Resort--Utah 5

We visited the Sundance Resort near Park City, where you can take a 3 chairlift, 45-minute ride to the top of the mountain and get an amazing view. 

The resort is tied to actor Robert Redford, who also hosts the Sundance Film Festival in Park City. On the way up, we ran into Miss Utah and Miss Teen Utah, who had ridden to the top for a photo shoot. 

Freestyle Ski Demonstration--Utah 4

The 2002 Winter Olympics were held in Park City, Utah, near Salt Lake City.  The grounds have been preserved and are open to the public.  Last Saturday (July 20th, 2024).  We attended a freestyle ski show.  It was breathtaking, some of these great skiers are probably bound for the 2026 Winter Olympics.  

In 2034, the Winter Olympics will return to Park City. 

 

So Long Debra Wilde

I was saddened to read about the passing of longtime Spokane TV news personality Debra Wilde. 

I watched as she did the weather forecast on KHQ-6 news when I was a student at WSU.  The Spokane stations served WSU in Pullman was well as most of the rest of Eastern Washington.  Since my interest at the time was to break into media, I wrote a letter to her, to which she wrote back. 

Since I've lived in the Seattle area most of the time since then, I wasn't following her career, but believe that she left KHQ for KXLY, then returned to KHQ, expanding her duties to news anchor.  

Debra Wilde was 73.

  

Utah Olympic Park--Utah 3

The Utah Olympic Park ski museum has Olympic Medals on display.

More Utah

We visited the Bonneville Salt Flats on our trip, I'll have the video up soon 

Olympic Mascots From The Past

Mascots at Utah Olympic Park   The Olympics were held there in 2002

Biden Drops Out

In a startling announcement, Joe Biden has said he will not seek another term as president.

Two Less Lonely People In The World. Air Supply At Marymoor Park 3

Another great song from Sunday's concert

Sonics Return Imminent?

 Word from reputable sources say that NBA could consider plans to expand as early as this fall (2024).  Likely sites for new teams would be Seattle and Las Vegas.  

The Seattle Super Sonics, who left for Oklahoma City in 2008, was Seattle's first major league sports franchise, at least in modern times.  It also gave the city an NBA title in 1979.

I'm All Out Of Love--Air Supply at Marymoor Park, Redmond, WA 3

Another number from Sunday's concert. 

Trump Picks JD Vance

 Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has picked Ohio Senator J. D. Vance as his selection to be on the ticket as his running mate.  

Vance had previously been an adversary to the former president, according to sources, but in recent years, has become an important ally. 

25th Anniversary Of T-Mobile Park

 Once again, I'm dragging out the picture of the ticket of the first game, played at what was then Safeco Field, now known as T-Mobile Park.  

The Mariners first game and first opening ceremony for Safeco Field was 25 years ago, today (July 15th,2024).

Sweet Dreams--Air Supply At Marymoor Park

This is the opening number from last night's (Sunday, July 14, 2024) concert.  I love how the song has a  great build up. 

 

Making Love Out of Nothing At All--Air Supply At Marymoor Park

We watched Air Supply at the arena at Marymoor Park.  With the tall evergreen trees, it may be the prettiest concert venues in the area.  

Moment Trump rushed off stage after shots fired at rally

This is terrible, it had been decades since a president or presidential candidate had been shot or shot at.

Anne McCoy named WSU Athletics Director

Congrats to Anne McCoy for becoming Washington State University's first woman athletic director.   McCoy had been serving as interim AD, after Pat Chun departed for Washington.

McCoy faces many challenges in her new role, including navigation of the conference realignment. 

Concert From Ten Years Ago

 

We saw the Turtles at Snoqualmie Casino, along with other acts from the 60s.  Howard Kaylan, the lead singer, lived in the Seattle area at the time and was a customer at our store. 

Hard Playing Pup

 Oliver and neighbor dog, Dwight playing doggie games.  Fun to watch.

Fire--Underhills 6

One more video from Friday's concert at the Croc.  This one is a Jimi Hendrix cover, with the band's usual keyboard player, Ed Malakoff, on the lead vocals.

The Moment Logan Gilbert Found Out He Was An All-Star

One of the very bright spots for the Seattle Mariners.

Congratulations to Mariner pitcher Logan Gilbert for his first selection as an American League All Star. 

Gilbert has been lights-out this season. 

Takin' It To The Streets. The Underhills at the Croc--Underhills 5

It was a great Friday night.  Look forward to seeing them again.

Night Wave At The Croc

From Friday's Battle Of The Bands.  Night Wave does "Just Like Heaven" by The Cure. 

Music In Newcastle

 We enjoyed the music of Soul Siren at the Lake Boren Fireworks on the Lake Festival in nearby Newcastle. 

Raspberry Beret--The Underhill At The Croc. July 5th, 2024--Underhills 4

This is one of my favorites, The Underhills covering Prince!

Stone In Love--Underhills 3

 This Journey cover has a dynamic solo from Manisha. 

Jessie's Girl--Underhills 2

Another great cover of the Rick Springfield classic.

Rock The Casbah--The Underhills at the Croc July 5th 2024

We went to the Crocodile in Downtown Seattle last night (July 5th, 2024) to watch The Underhills, which features my cousin Joe Barer, in a"battle of the bands" with Night Wave, another popular area cover band. 

Joe sings lead on this classic by the Clash. 

Who won the battle? I would say it was the audience.

Media Maven Covers Northwest Media Scene

 Seattle area media blog, QZVX announces still another local media blog.  Industry insider Wayne Lynch has launched Media Maven.    It can be found by clicking here

Lynch ran Northwest Cable News for 11 years.

Maple Valley Early Fireworks Show

 Maple Valley had its fireworks show, this year on Wednesday July 3rd.  Although the show was at Lake Wilderness, we were able to watch from our subdivision. 

The Fourth Of July

 Happy Independence Day. 

4th Of July With Seattle Radio Icon Pat O'Day

I live to share this every 4th Of July.  

The Turtles parody themselves, 1968, nobody notices

This is the funny origins to I song I love, the Turtles, Eleanor. 

Howard's wife, a customer at the time at our Crossroads store, told me that Eleanor was Happy Together reversed.  

Seattle Skyline Painting

I had this painted for my wife for her birthday several years ago. The artist was a customer at our store. 

The second skyscraper from the left is where we had our wedding in  1995.