Great Music At The Market

 I didn't get the name of this ensemble, but I enjoyed their playing at today's (Saturday July 25th, 2026) Maple Valley Farmers Market.  

The market runs 9am-2pm every Saturday until October 31st.

Calabro Leaves The Blazers

 The Media Maven blog is reporting that Kevin Calabro will no longer be play by play man for the Portland Trail Blazers.  

This raises much speculation. Some good and some bad

  Calabro was the announcer for the Seattle Super Sonics until they moved to Oklahoma City to become the Thunder. With the new owner, Tom Dundon taking over with his cost cutting measures, the team's future in the Rose City seems cloudy at best.  

The good is that it seems all but certain that the Sonics will return to Seattle shortly, (fingers crossed) and no doubt Calabro would be the top choice to do the play-by-play duties for the new version. 

It would indeed be sad if Portland lost its only major sports franchise, especially with the proposed new Seattle team on the horizon. 

My Sister From '65

From the Holiday season of 1965. Another article in the Walla Walla UB archives. 

The Little Theater, which my parents were very involved with, put on a style show.

My sister, to the immediate right of the snowman, got to participate. 

I believe my mother also got to be in the show.

Issaquah Concerts--Stonesy

From our favorite vantage point in back, we enjoyed the Rolling Stones tribute band Stonesy.  The third performance in Issaquah's Concerts On The Green series. 

 

Alan Young--What's Up?

 Ten years ago in May, Alan Young, who played Wilbur in the classic TV show, Mr. Ed, passed away. 

As this was a favorite show of mine in my youth, I did a blog post on it.  

Why now, well, lately, I've inexplicably gotten an enormous amount of hits on that post, well over 10 years later.  

For the most part, Young lived longer than his fame, although reruns on various channels probably kept the name alive.  The question is, where are these inquiries on Alan coming from? 

Jimothy Joins The Race At T-Mobile

 How did they ever get the costume so quickly?  The Mariners added Jimothy, the Seattle raccoon with the spinal deformity that was discovered last week to the Salmon races.  

The salmons race during Mariner home games.  A funny and fun event. 

Pregame Meal

Diamond Club seats come with access to a buffet before and during the game.

We enjoyed great food before the start of Saturday's (July 18th, 2026) game 

Great Seats At Mariner Game

Mariners JP Crawford and Julio Cruz await their turns to bat at last night's (Saturday, July 18th, 2026), our friend were able to get Diamond Club seats two rows up behind home plate.

The Mariners were able to erase a 3-0 deficit and come back to beat the San Francisco Giants 4-3.

Murder By Design--Lee Goldberg

 If there is anyone who can develop unique characters, it's Lee Goldberg.  Lee's book teams an insurance investigator who has suffered a brain injury,  along with an aspiring actor. 

Edison Bixby, formerly a cop, is a crack investigator, whom as a result from survivor a gunshot wound to the head, cannot help putting his foot in his mouth.  New sidekick Wally Nash, a struggling actor, is charged with tagging along with Bixby to make sure his utterings do not get him in trouble.  

Bixby and Nash are convinced an escalator death at the mall was not an accident, but a murder, but they cannot get any help from the authorities.  

The unique Lee Goldberg combination of intrigue and humor, keep this book entertaining.  

Top Mike

Flight suit looks good on me.  A friend sent this AI rendering of me on an aircraft carrier, ready to pilot a fighter jet.

Brodie Brazil Weighs In On Seahawk Sale

You Tube sports commenter, Brodie Brazil, who is based in the Bay Area, gives his take on the Seahawk purchase.

 

Picture To Burn--Red Karma

 Red Karma brought the music of Taylor Swift to Issaquah's Concerts On The Green series. 

Red Karma Plays Issaquah

Having a great night at Issaquah Concerts On The Green, where Red Karma, a Taylor Swift tribute is playing.

Baker-Boyer Time And Temp

When I worked for my dad in the summers during the 70s, this is how I could know the temperature, often in three digits. On top on Baker-Boyer Bank, one of Walla Walla's signature buildings. The sign has since taken down, probably because it presented a hazard. 
 

Lindsey Graham--Senator From South Carolina

 Lyndsey Graham, senator from South Carolina, who was frequently in the headlines and known as one of President Donald Trump's closest allies, has died.  He was 71. 

To politically minded Washingtonians of a certain age will see parallels of Graham's death with that of legendary Senator Henry "Scoop" Jackson.  

Both were 71, both seemed healthy, making their deaths a total shock. 

Jackson had held a news conference condemning the Soviet shooting down of a Korean Jetliner.  Graham had just returned from Ukraine, where he had a meeting with President Zelinsky. 

Seahawks Reach Sale Agreement

 Vinod Khosla is a name that is probably not well known in the area currently, but that should change soon, as sources say that the Paul Allen Estate has reached an agreement with his group to purchase the Seattle Seahawks. 

The deal is said to be worth 9.6 billion dollars.  It still needs to be approved by the other NFL owners. 

Is Seahawk Sale Imminent?

Seattle sports fans, frustrated with the Mariners, but probably elated with the Super Bowl win of the Seahawks, are wondering what the future holds for our football team.  

Reports are that the Hawks have narrowed down buyers to two parties. 

The report that the Paul Allen Estate was selling the team, came out right about the time that the team was entering the playoffs.  

My hope is that the only difference is who signs the paychecks. Hopefully, the management team, which has been extremely successful by most means, will remain intact.  

Oscar The Bird King Rules Maury Island

We took a ferry trip to Vashon Island yesterday to celebrate our 31st anniversary (Wednesday, July 8th, 2026).

Oscar The Bird King is an incredible wood sculpture in Point Robinson Park, on adjoining Maury Island.

Vashon has a very vibrant arts community 

Issaquah Concerts 2--I love Rock And Roll

 Another great tune from Prom Date Mixtape at Issaquah's Concerts On The Green. 

Bonnie Tyler Is Dead

 I loved Total Eclipse Of The Heart.  I'm sorry to hear of her passing, I didn't know she was Welsh. 

Bonnie was 75.