Oliver Gotcha Day Anniversary

Three years ago, we brought an unnamed puppy home, who a few days later, we named Oliver 

Seattle TV Personality And Legendary Singer Dick Foley

 

Dick Foley,once a Grammy nominated performer with the Brothers Four, who later would be widely recognized as a Seattle area TV personality, has died. 

Foley helped formed the Brothers Four with three fellow fraternity friends at the University Of Washington in the late 50s. 

They performed the song, Greenfields, on the Ed Sullivan Show and the song shot up to number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. 

Around this area, Foley is probably remembered as the long time host of Northwest Afternoon on KOMO 4.  Even if you didn't watch the show, he was prominent on the promo ads. 

I met Dick a few years ago when he shipped a guitar at The UPS Store in Bellevue. It was a real treat to meet such a legend.

 

Rick Rizzs Interview

It's a promising season for the Seattle Mariners.  It's also the last year for announcer Rick Rizzs, who is interviewed by veteran KING 5 personality Joyce Taylor. 

 

Kraken Group May Bid For Sonic Franchise

 With the price of acquiring a franchise in the NBA well into the billions.  Fans may be wondering who could put up that amount of money.

Word is that the group that owns the Seattle NHL Kraken and a good portion of the Climate Pledge Arena, could come forward to put in a bid for the team. 

The group, now branded as One Roof Sports and Entertainment is led by Kraken majority owner Samantha Holloway and team CEO Todd Leiweke (both pictured above),

The team is expected to play in Climate Pledge Arena.  

Opening Day Fun

We watched the Mariners 2026 season opener from the Hit It Here Cafe at T-Mobile Park.

We actually had tickets for the 300 level.  But in spite of the crowd, we were about to get a table right away, while enjoying a perfect view of the pregame ceremonies and the game.  We stayed our table for the  entire game. 

A fun time was had by all in spite of our team being on the wrong side of a 6-4 score.

It's Opening Day For Mariners

Big expectations for our Seattle Mariners as the 2026 MLB season gets underway tonight (March 26th, 2026).

Spring 2026

Our tree in the front yard is in bloom. One of my favorite things to photograph.

Grease Is The Word

 We enjoyed the musical Grease last night (March 24th, 2026) at the Village Theater in Issaquah.  While the iconic theme song from which I created the headline for this post, was not performed in the production.  All of the other iconic songs were.  

Even though it was the first night it played there, everything went smoothly.  

Of course, we remember the movie of the 70s, starring John Travolta and the late Olivia Newton-John, which featured an almost cartoonish look at 50s teenagers.  Of course, beneath the silliness, it featured serious things that made the teenage years difficult, like acceptance, lost love, and conformity. 

The play preceded the movie and started on Broadway in 1972.

Grease will play at the Village until May 3rd. 

More On Possible NBA Expansion

 

NBA Votes To Explore Expansion! Sonics Return Clears First Hurdle

 The wording seems less than convincing, but I believe the reality is that NBA is returning to the area. 

The NBA has voted to explore the possibility of expanding into Seattle and Las Vegas.  The Seattle Sonics left in 2008, after being sold a few years earlier to a group from Oklahoma City.

Live Music In Issaquah 2

 The Brian Nay Band with the Genesis classic, "That's All". 

Live Music In Issaquah

We got together with friends Marjie and Rick and enjoyed listening to The Brian Nay Band at Vino Bella in Issaquah.  

This was after a great meal at the Sunset Grill. 

The Famous CBS Radio News Jingle

 

CBS News Radio To Shut Down

 Say it ain't so, Joe! Sources say the radio news division at CBS, long a news source for the country will shut down on May 22nd of this year (2026). 

 Perhaps, the most prestigious news source over the years, it featured such luminaries as Edward R. Murrow (who went to what was then Washington State College), Douglas Edwards, and Walter Cronkite. 

I remember, in my childhood, hearing news reports on the hour on KUJ in Walla Walla,until it stopped network news in the late 70s.  More recently, KIRO, here in the Seattle area, where one of its reporters, Heather Bosch, was elevated to work nationally for the network.

The radio news department at the Columbia Broadcast System began in 1927.

 

Elk In Cannon Beach

From our trip to the coast, earlier this month.  Elk grazing in Cannon Beach.  

Tom Jones And Janis Joplin

We forget that TV in the 60s could be electrifying.  We remember Janis Joplin as an underground artist, usually, but here she is on network TV.  ABC, which marketed to a younger crowd then the two other networks, carried This Is Tom Jones.  

This duet with Jones and Joplin is widely considered the best act of the series 

 

Missing My Father After 10 Years

It was 10 years ago today (March 18, 2026) that my dad, Alan Barer passed away.  I still miss him.  
 

Mr Bojangles--Tom Jones Sings While Sammy Davis Jr Performs

I was only 12 or 13 when I watched the performance of Sammy Davis, Jr and Tom Jones singing Mr Bojangles on the Friday night variety show hosted by Jones.  It was such an amazing performance that it has stayed with me throughout the decades.

The actual name of the show was This Is Tom Jones.  It ran on ABC for three seasons. 

Davis sang the song as well as performed it in his live acts.

Tree Repair In Our Backyard.

The trees, that were damaged in the Friday the 13th snowstorm are back up, so we are hoping for the best.

Closing Of Redmond Institution

 

The Cascadia Advocate recently took a somewhat break from politics to lament of the closing of Blazing Bagels, which apparently closed its locations without warning, leaving its employees, suddenly, jobless

My memories of Blazing Bagels are when Bob brought them in for employees as a reward for working on Saturdays at The UPS Store.

The Cascade Advocate is a blog for the NPI, the Northwest Progressive Institute. For the full story click here

 

Happy St Patrick's Day

 

NBA To Finally Vote On NBA Expansion

 We could know next week, (March 24th and 25th, 2026), whether the National Basketball Association will once again have a Seattle team. 

Multiple sources are reporting that the NBA Board Of Governors will meet to vote on whether to consider granting expansion teams to Las Vegas and Seattle

The Seattle Super Sonics, which was the area's first major professional sports team, left town in 2008 after being sold to an Oklahoma City group. 

Since then, the area been teased, often cruelly about a return. 

While many area fans have turned a deaf ear to the NBA, many more have grown skeptical that this region will see a returns.

The target for a team to appear on the court, would be the 2028-29 season. 

Damage From Snowfall

We potentially have lost two trees from Friday's snowfall.  It really hurts to lose one. We are hoping one or both can be replanted.

Walking The Beach

 I enjoyed walking the beach with Oliver on our trip to the Oregon Coast. 

White Stuff In Maple Valley

I don't know what train it took, but winter finally arrived here.  On March 13 no less.

The first measurable snowfall is here, right when we are thinking "Spring".

Loving The Beach

"I love the Sea" was inscribed in the sand by a creative beachgoer in Seaside, Oregon.

Mima Mounds Natural Area Preserve

On our way to the Oregon Coast, we visited the Mima Mounds Natural Area Preserve, which was just South of Olympia. 

Walker Walks--Will Sign With Chiefs

 2026 Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III will be leaving the Seattle Seahawks.  Multiple sources are reporting that the running back is ready to sign a three year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs.  The deal is said to be worth 45 million. 

Snackin

Elk grazing at the Cannon Beach Museum.

Serious Problem There

Wow, the Kelso Red Lion is on fire. We passed it on our way to the Oregon Coast.

MLB Expansion?

 

Portland has to keep the Blazers from leaving

Iran War

 We are in a war with Iran, I am all over the map on this.  Many moderate supporters of Israel say this was necessary.  I want to see more facts and find out if there is an exit strategy. 

Noem To Be Reassigned

 Well, it took over a year, but President Donald Trump has made the first change in his cabinet, replacing the embattled Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, with Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin.  

Noem, the former governor of South Dakota, was at one time, thought to be a rising star in the Republican party. Her speaking of shooting a family dog and her hardline approach, including an eye-opening TV advertising campaign, along with comments on at least two shootings by ICE agents, as well as an alleged affair, has soured her with Republican senators, along, of course, with Democrats.  

DC 25--More White House

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 I just had to post this collage that Google put together of our White House tour of 2025, this even has some pictures that I had previously missed.  

It's hard to believe the trip was almost 10 months ago.  If you have any questions, put them in the comment section, since there is no narration.  

Steve Playing Jr Hockey

My brother, Steve from his hockey days in the mid 70s. My parents would drive him and his teammates all over the state to compete.

Great Review Of MLB Parks

One thing that distinguishes Major League Baseball from other pro sports is the personality and history of the ballparks.  In this video, You Tube sports commentator Brodie Brazil gives his ranking of every park in the two leagues.