Good bye Leech! You managed to keep the Cougs away from a bowl win! Go away and stay away, Leech! I suggest you turn down your last paycheck. I suggest you just go away and stay away. You don't belong here. We'd rather have a freeking watermelon as coach. Go away! Even with my grandson's football team, the guys know when to completely ignore a stupid play from the coach! What's wrong with the Cougs? Why not just "take a knee a few times and win the game!? Okay...maybe a watermelon may not be much of a coach. Perhaps a potato would be better. Anything but a freeking Leech! Fire Leach now. He just threw away a bowl win.
Additionally, since I don't have television, I listen to the radio. I wonder...is the Cougars' announcer going senile? Forget ( for the moment) that he has an awful voice...what matters is that he completely screwed up far too many calls, It's like he has no clue what's going on. It's time for a new radio voice. Sure, he's instantly recognizable as the voice of the Cougs but he just...he just is past his prime. I think that guy should pack up with the Leech guy and go away. He's eighty-four!!!!??? Listening to him, it's like he doesn't know what end of a straw to suck on. Send him away...I'm embarrassed by him.
Saturday, December 21, 2013
Monday, December 9, 2013
Oh, the short-lived horror of blackness!
It's been cold around here lately...eleven to twenty degrees in the mornings. I wear two coats and have a blanket over my hat to keep my ears warm, whether inside the house or out.
Well, I was getting ready to take the dawg for a walk up the trail...that means I had to put on a decent pair of shoes.
Anyway, it's not easy to tie the laces. I have to prop up each foot and bend over as far as I can to reach my feet and just feel around to get the job done.
After leaning over so long, sitting on a chair in front of the computer and finally taking a deep breath, I sat up. The computer was black! The entire room was black! It made no sense because, even if the power had gone out, it was still daytime. Had I gone blind?! I broke out in a sweat!
All's well that ends well! I finally realized my blanket had fallen down over my face and there I sat in self-imposed darkness. A quick flip of the hand to lift the blanket and it was light again! I did enjoy a long, raucous laugh at my own expense. Ah, the unpredictable trials of aging!
Well, I was getting ready to take the dawg for a walk up the trail...that means I had to put on a decent pair of shoes.
Anyway, it's not easy to tie the laces. I have to prop up each foot and bend over as far as I can to reach my feet and just feel around to get the job done.
After leaning over so long, sitting on a chair in front of the computer and finally taking a deep breath, I sat up. The computer was black! The entire room was black! It made no sense because, even if the power had gone out, it was still daytime. Had I gone blind?! I broke out in a sweat!
All's well that ends well! I finally realized my blanket had fallen down over my face and there I sat in self-imposed darkness. A quick flip of the hand to lift the blanket and it was light again! I did enjoy a long, raucous laugh at my own expense. Ah, the unpredictable trials of aging!
Friday, December 6, 2013
Morris Hills, Mr.l Scafati
I do hope I'll be excused for many inaccuracies...
At Morris Hills, there was a Mr. Scafati who taught History or Government...or some such thing. This was around 1962, 1963 (or 64) I suppose. At the time, Mr Scafati lived on West Glen Road at Rock Ridge Lake.
Anyway, in some of our classes, he spoke with great emotion of Apartheid in South Africa and often mentioned Nelson Mandela. I had no prior idea what this was all about but I listened intently. I also had no idea there were such inequalities in the world! Our own Civil Rights efforts were still in their iinfancy, yet Mr. Scafati was extremely influential and convincing as he spoke from his heart of the horrible, unfair treatment of minorities (the blacks weren't even IN the minority in South Africa. They were simply treated as...inferior...and separate!).
I have always, fondly remembered Mr. Scafati for opening my eyes just a bit.
It seems he was more than just a teacher. I believe he had been a part of the US Olympic team as a fencer at some point in time. (As such, he was probably the fencing coach at Morris Hills, now that I think about it.) It seems that fencing is not an easy sport by any means and one would have to be in prime physical condition to excel...among so many other things, I didn't know that at the time.
So many years have passed but I always remember the real-life lessons I learned from Mr. Scafati. I hope he's still alive and well even though he would not remember me from Atom.
Does anyone remember this wonderful man? I don't know if he had a family there at Rock Ridge Lake. I know so little. I do know that Mr. Scafati was a wonderful teacher and I'm pleased to have known him.
At Morris Hills, there was a Mr. Scafati who taught History or Government...or some such thing. This was around 1962, 1963 (or 64) I suppose. At the time, Mr Scafati lived on West Glen Road at Rock Ridge Lake.
Anyway, in some of our classes, he spoke with great emotion of Apartheid in South Africa and often mentioned Nelson Mandela. I had no prior idea what this was all about but I listened intently. I also had no idea there were such inequalities in the world! Our own Civil Rights efforts were still in their iinfancy, yet Mr. Scafati was extremely influential and convincing as he spoke from his heart of the horrible, unfair treatment of minorities (the blacks weren't even IN the minority in South Africa. They were simply treated as...inferior...and separate!).
I have always, fondly remembered Mr. Scafati for opening my eyes just a bit.
It seems he was more than just a teacher. I believe he had been a part of the US Olympic team as a fencer at some point in time. (As such, he was probably the fencing coach at Morris Hills, now that I think about it.) It seems that fencing is not an easy sport by any means and one would have to be in prime physical condition to excel...among so many other things, I didn't know that at the time.
So many years have passed but I always remember the real-life lessons I learned from Mr. Scafati. I hope he's still alive and well even though he would not remember me from Atom.
Does anyone remember this wonderful man? I don't know if he had a family there at Rock Ridge Lake. I know so little. I do know that Mr. Scafati was a wonderful teacher and I'm pleased to have known him.
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Tomatoes in the Bible
So...there's a diet regimen called the "God Diet". One of the main ingredients in this diet is the tomato. How utterly strange is that?! Tomatoes are native to western, South America. There were no tomatoes in Europe until the 1500's. They weren't introduced to the Middle East until around 1800!
How is it that the tomato is mentioned in the Bible (Corinthians and elsewhere) when the New Testament was supposedly written around 50 AD...1500 years before those people ever saw a tomato? There were no tomatoes there at the time!
I can only arrive at one conclusion: the areas of the Bible that mention tomatoes must have been written 1500 years later. It must be all the product of the perpetual, continual, creative license taken by the Vatican (or whoever was doing the writing in the mid-1500's). It appears those authors, having discovered the wonders of tomatoes so long after the passing of the Apostle Paul and his own writings, wanted to glorify the newly discovered treat...the tomato! So...they incorporated it in the Bible to lend credence to...themselves.
One can only imagine what else may have been invented and included in the Bible over all the years! Certainly, the "God Diet" is based on fiction as is so much more!
(Uh...of course it must be a miracle...and God works in mysterious ways.)
Also, maybe the translation was incorrect. Maybe the Apostle Paul was talking about grapes...or olives. I don't think so, though. I don't think he said anything at all about such things. Someone else attributed those quotes to him, 1500 years after his death. (It turns out that this gross mis-quote actually happened nearly 2000 years later!)
Oh...and maybe Joseph Smith really DID find the "Golden Tablets" in the Ohio field and really DID forget where he put them.
Maybe a lot of things...or maybe we should all just think.
Okay...with a little more research, I've discovered there's only one, on-line translation referring to tomatoes in the Bible. It is "The Message" Bible which is a completely crap version. All others seem to be totally different. As such, I'll be removing this post shortly.
How is it that the tomato is mentioned in the Bible (Corinthians and elsewhere) when the New Testament was supposedly written around 50 AD...1500 years before those people ever saw a tomato? There were no tomatoes there at the time!
I can only arrive at one conclusion: the areas of the Bible that mention tomatoes must have been written 1500 years later. It must be all the product of the perpetual, continual, creative license taken by the Vatican (or whoever was doing the writing in the mid-1500's). It appears those authors, having discovered the wonders of tomatoes so long after the passing of the Apostle Paul and his own writings, wanted to glorify the newly discovered treat...the tomato! So...they incorporated it in the Bible to lend credence to...themselves.
One can only imagine what else may have been invented and included in the Bible over all the years! Certainly, the "God Diet" is based on fiction as is so much more!
(Uh...of course it must be a miracle...and God works in mysterious ways.)
Also, maybe the translation was incorrect. Maybe the Apostle Paul was talking about grapes...or olives. I don't think so, though. I don't think he said anything at all about such things. Someone else attributed those quotes to him, 1500 years after his death. (It turns out that this gross mis-quote actually happened nearly 2000 years later!)
Oh...and maybe Joseph Smith really DID find the "Golden Tablets" in the Ohio field and really DID forget where he put them.
Maybe a lot of things...or maybe we should all just think.
Okay...with a little more research, I've discovered there's only one, on-line translation referring to tomatoes in the Bible. It is "The Message" Bible which is a completely crap version. All others seem to be totally different. As such, I'll be removing this post shortly.
Friday, October 25, 2013
Dog Food
A few days ago, I read an article about thousands of Dogs dying, most likely from tainted food and most likely from China. The story failed to mention which brands of food were implicated, oddly.
I have always fed my dog, Origin. Also, I keep a spare bag of Purina, Beneful, for the times when I run out of the Origin. In addition, there are three separate kinds of, supposedly healthy, dog treats in the house.
I read the labels of all five products, to my dismay.
There is really no indication on any of them as to where the "food" comes from. They say things like, "...packaged for so and so". And "...manufactured for so and so". However, even with the most expensive brands, there is no mention where the food actually comes from. It may ALL come from China for all I know! Certainly there are some brands known to come from China...especially those sold at Walmart where Chinese manufacturers lead the pack!
Not all the affected pets have died from this mess. Some developed lingering lethargy and eventually recovered. Many died.
This situation is unacceptable. I want to know where the "food" comes from and I want the producers to be forthright and accountable!
Read the labels!
I have always fed my dog, Origin. Also, I keep a spare bag of Purina, Beneful, for the times when I run out of the Origin. In addition, there are three separate kinds of, supposedly healthy, dog treats in the house.
I read the labels of all five products, to my dismay.
There is really no indication on any of them as to where the "food" comes from. They say things like, "...packaged for so and so". And "...manufactured for so and so". However, even with the most expensive brands, there is no mention where the food actually comes from. It may ALL come from China for all I know! Certainly there are some brands known to come from China...especially those sold at Walmart where Chinese manufacturers lead the pack!
Not all the affected pets have died from this mess. Some developed lingering lethargy and eventually recovered. Many died.
This situation is unacceptable. I want to know where the "food" comes from and I want the producers to be forthright and accountable!
Read the labels!
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Detroit/Oakland
I know it may seem silly but I'm listening to the radio with the deciding game in progress...one of the radio guys (probably the "color" guy) sounds a lot like a cartoon character...it's kinda funny to listen to the funny, little voice. This guy gets paid for this!?!? What a strange world! Why wouldn't the media group hire someone who has an adult, human voice? This guy can probably sing the soprano (or counter-tenor) role in any opera. Ah well...so much for professional sports. What a waste!
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Boehner...The Scummiest Man in America!
This man is the scummiest man to ever live in the United States!
Just look at him! One can almost imagine him thinking, "I'm so wonderful and I don't care what's good for the people! I care about me and nothing else."
He stands firmly against everyone who isn't rich.
He stands against my continued receipt of Social Security. (Indeed, my benefits can be considered an entitlement. Why? Because it is! I paid into that system for fifty years and I AM entitled to the resultant benefits!)
He stands firmly WITH corporations, big business, Wall Street and the filthy rich of this country...just for them! Not for us!
He is a self-righteous scum!
How can the American people be so blind and stupid? Get this self-serving lunatic to stand aside and let us have our lives and dignity back.
...more to come...
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
To Obama..."This is not a world we should accept"
Hah! That was the headline in the newspaper today. Syria is absolutely no threat to the US. Leave them to their own devices and look inward for a change. This is not a United States we should accept! There are millions of people with little or no income. There are millions with insufficient food, health care and housing. Look at home Mr. Obama! Instead of wasting time and effort (and lives and money) in Syria, what say you mount a campaign to level the playing field at home? Make a real effort to balance the tax burdens between the rich and poor. Do something (ANYTHING !) right for your own people and stay the hell out of the Middle East! Besides, there are many other areas of the world where horrendous atrocities are occurring every day. Why focus on Syria? Are you (Obama) so deep in the pockets of Israel and corporate America that you can't function rationally? I am so ashamed and disappointed!We don't want another war! We want jobs, decent health care and a fair piece of the American Pie. We want the rich to pay their share of taxes. We want our government (You, Mr. Obama) to work for us for a change. You (Obama) will not be in the next Presidential election. You (Obama) don't have to bow to outside influences. Do the right thing for your own citizens.
Friday, September 6, 2013
Bomb Syria? NO!
Okay, now there's a story in the news that American diplomats are being evacuated from Lebanon. Why would that be? Because they would be in danger if we attack Syria. There would be no (almost) chance for Syria to ward off the United States. There would be high-flying bombers and/or drones coming at them. They would be basically invisible to Syria. What would they do? Go after real US targets nearby. Like Lebanon. Why stop there? Why not just hurl some weapons at Israel too?
This Syria thing is an incredibly foolish fiasco for the US. Americans don't want it. Obama and Congress are way off base.
Here's something else. What if Syria just decides to commit suicide in the face of an overwhelming force coming their way? What if they just destroy their own nuclear facilities and make sure everyone loses? Supposedly, they've already been killing off their own citizens. They could easily launch attacks in Lebanon and Israel while also contaminating the whole area with radiation from their own nuclear plants.
STAY OUT OF SYRIA!
Let them fight their own battles. Let their own neighbors step in. They all hate us anyway and they'll hate us even more if we get involved.
This Syria thing is an incredibly foolish fiasco for the US. Americans don't want it. Obama and Congress are way off base.
Here's something else. What if Syria just decides to commit suicide in the face of an overwhelming force coming their way? What if they just destroy their own nuclear facilities and make sure everyone loses? Supposedly, they've already been killing off their own citizens. They could easily launch attacks in Lebanon and Israel while also contaminating the whole area with radiation from their own nuclear plants.
STAY OUT OF SYRIA!
Let them fight their own battles. Let their own neighbors step in. They all hate us anyway and they'll hate us even more if we get involved.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
SYRIA...JUST SAY NO!
Who do we think we are in the United States? How can it possibly be right to attack Syria? Maybe Obama wants to claim one war for himself since he can't really claim Iraq or Afghanistan as his wars. He inherited both of them. Incidentally, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were foolish and based mostly on lies. Supposedly, we attacked Afghanistan because the Taliban didn't turn over Bin Laden (as though they really had a choice in the matter). Then we attacked Iraq just because the wacko Republicans wanted to.
Now...Syria! No way. Let some other country step up for a change. We haven't been victorious in war since WW2...not Korea, not Viet Nam, not Afghanistan, not Iraq and...we won't be in Syria either. Let's stop killing people all over the world.
A brief update...in today's news, Donald Rumsfeld is quoted as saying something like, "Obama has not justified Syria intervention." That is totally crazy! Rumsfeld is one of the key, guilty parties in the illegal, deadly, US fiascos in Afghanistan and Iraq! Does he think we're all idiots? Is he mentally ill or just delusional? If Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld et al are not thrown into prison for their crimes, at least they should keep their mouths shut and slink into the shadows.
Is Obama trying to be a republican? There can be nothing good coming from an attack on Syria. Let those wack-jobs in the Middle-East take care of their own problems. Don't spend a single penny of my tax dollars on this horrible venture.
Okay...while I'm on this particular rant...I want the United States to stop handing out billions of US dollars to other countries (foreign aid). We can't take care of ourselves while we continue to prop up people and governments all over the world. Let them take care of themselves! Heck's Bells! Isn't it a Republican mantra that a person should not rely on government assistance! Yet both parties seem to think it's okay to continue handing over billions to the rest of the world so they can live off US entitlements. Stop it!
We've proven to be an absolute failure in almost every international venture. What say we look at home? What say we let all those other countries (mostly, who hate us anyway) fend for themselves and let the cards fall where ever they fall. If anyone is a real threat to us...okay..we have the military power to overcome adversity. However, we can't continue fighting invisible enemies in the forests, caves, deserts and mountains of the world. These are all pure folly. Let's tighten our belts and look at our own people for a change, eh?
Here, in the United States, we have seen and heard the rhetoric concerning Syria. It doesn't matter how much is true or false. What does matter is that the citizens of this country (those, our elected officials work for) don't want this country to insinuate itself in Syria. Overwhelmingly!
STAY OUT OF SYRIA! LET'S MAKE THIS A DEFINING MOMENT IN OUR HISTORY WHEN THE UNITED STATES REMEMBERS IT'S A GOVERNMENT BY THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE PEOPLE...OUR PEOPLE!
Minor, additional update...today's news indicates that Boehner supports Obama in the effort to start a new war in Syria. How can it be so obvious?! If Boehner supports it...it MUST be wrong. What the Hell happened to Obama? Stay the Hell out of Syria. NO MORE WARS! PLEASE!
Now...Syria! No way. Let some other country step up for a change. We haven't been victorious in war since WW2...not Korea, not Viet Nam, not Afghanistan, not Iraq and...we won't be in Syria either. Let's stop killing people all over the world.
A brief update...in today's news, Donald Rumsfeld is quoted as saying something like, "Obama has not justified Syria intervention." That is totally crazy! Rumsfeld is one of the key, guilty parties in the illegal, deadly, US fiascos in Afghanistan and Iraq! Does he think we're all idiots? Is he mentally ill or just delusional? If Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld et al are not thrown into prison for their crimes, at least they should keep their mouths shut and slink into the shadows.
Is Obama trying to be a republican? There can be nothing good coming from an attack on Syria. Let those wack-jobs in the Middle-East take care of their own problems. Don't spend a single penny of my tax dollars on this horrible venture.
Okay...while I'm on this particular rant...I want the United States to stop handing out billions of US dollars to other countries (foreign aid). We can't take care of ourselves while we continue to prop up people and governments all over the world. Let them take care of themselves! Heck's Bells! Isn't it a Republican mantra that a person should not rely on government assistance! Yet both parties seem to think it's okay to continue handing over billions to the rest of the world so they can live off US entitlements. Stop it!
We've proven to be an absolute failure in almost every international venture. What say we look at home? What say we let all those other countries (mostly, who hate us anyway) fend for themselves and let the cards fall where ever they fall. If anyone is a real threat to us...okay..we have the military power to overcome adversity. However, we can't continue fighting invisible enemies in the forests, caves, deserts and mountains of the world. These are all pure folly. Let's tighten our belts and look at our own people for a change, eh?
Here, in the United States, we have seen and heard the rhetoric concerning Syria. It doesn't matter how much is true or false. What does matter is that the citizens of this country (those, our elected officials work for) don't want this country to insinuate itself in Syria. Overwhelmingly!
STAY OUT OF SYRIA! LET'S MAKE THIS A DEFINING MOMENT IN OUR HISTORY WHEN THE UNITED STATES REMEMBERS IT'S A GOVERNMENT BY THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE PEOPLE...OUR PEOPLE!
Minor, additional update...today's news indicates that Boehner supports Obama in the effort to start a new war in Syria. How can it be so obvious?! If Boehner supports it...it MUST be wrong. What the Hell happened to Obama? Stay the Hell out of Syria. NO MORE WARS! PLEASE!
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Update! Are George Zimmerman and Chaz Bono (and A-Rod) all the same person?
Wow! I just saw a picture of Alex Rodriguez...maybe they're triplets and maybe they're all the same person. Has anyone ever seen any combination of the three at the same time? I think not. I do realize it's a bit of a stretch to consider these three, fat-faced guys as being the same (or related) people but it certainly does seem odd, eh?
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Seattle Mariners just plain stink!
So...the Mariners are more than ten games below 500. They just blew a 5-run lead and managed to find that inevitable loss...again. I don't mind if the catcher hits down near 200. It's not even such a tragedy if the shortstop (and second baseman) hit near 200. However, the outfielders, first-baseman and DH should all be able to hit. If they can't hit they should stay on the bench. Saunders and Ackley can't hit. The Mariners actually put in a pinch-hitter (Bay) with a 215 average to hit for a guy with about the same average! (The last two batters struck out (one, looking). This team is pitiful! Okay, there are a couple of good pitchers and Raul! Other than that, it looks like the team doesn't really care. Even so...they're paying everyone millions! It's sick.
Changes have to be made in the organization so someone at the top can recognize talent. Also, it certainly seems that they need a new hitting coach. Now...in the news...there's talk of the upcoming trade deadline. What a great opportunity for the Mariners to take a big step backward and get rid of Ibanez and anyone else who's shown a speck of value to the team! I think the entire coaching, office and management staff should go home and stay there. I could do a better job with my eye closed!
It's not that the Mariners don't have the money (so it seems) to field a good team. It's more that they don't have proper management. Heck's bells! You don't have to look too deeply to see how many great Mariners moved on...Griffey...A-Rod...Randy Johnson...more than I can mention. We, in Seattle, get the final year of some aging guy like Gaylord Perry ( ! ) and the Mariners make it out to be a really big deal! What a freeking crock!
One last, relatively minor thing...it drives me totally nuts to keep trading players. If a guy is on a team...keep him there. Let's develop some loyalty and if a player needs to improve...coach him...teach him. Stop this nonsense of continuous roster change. I'd rather see every team with only locally grown players competing.
Oh...I hate having a DH. It's stupid and un-baseball. I also hate inter-league play.
Update...I just read that there are 5 ex-Mariners playing in this year's All-Star game! What a poorly run organization!
Changes have to be made in the organization so someone at the top can recognize talent. Also, it certainly seems that they need a new hitting coach. Now...in the news...there's talk of the upcoming trade deadline. What a great opportunity for the Mariners to take a big step backward and get rid of Ibanez and anyone else who's shown a speck of value to the team! I think the entire coaching, office and management staff should go home and stay there. I could do a better job with my eye closed!
It's not that the Mariners don't have the money (so it seems) to field a good team. It's more that they don't have proper management. Heck's bells! You don't have to look too deeply to see how many great Mariners moved on...Griffey...A-Rod...Randy Johnson...more than I can mention. We, in Seattle, get the final year of some aging guy like Gaylord Perry ( ! ) and the Mariners make it out to be a really big deal! What a freeking crock!
One last, relatively minor thing...it drives me totally nuts to keep trading players. If a guy is on a team...keep him there. Let's develop some loyalty and if a player needs to improve...coach him...teach him. Stop this nonsense of continuous roster change. I'd rather see every team with only locally grown players competing.
Oh...I hate having a DH. It's stupid and un-baseball. I also hate inter-league play.
Update...I just read that there are 5 ex-Mariners playing in this year's All-Star game! What a poorly run organization!
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Edward Snowden and the FBI
Ha ha ha ha! Looking through today's Seattle Times, I came across a picture accompanying a story about the parents of Edward Snowden. The picture shows a man and woman coming out of the house...the man in front. It says the two identified themselves as...FBI. See if you can find the picture. The man, head shaved and wearing a suit, is striding along like a first-class nerd. Anyway...my point...look at the picture. The guy is wearing a jacket that's many sizes too large for him (pants too). The sleeves extend to the ends of his hands. Is this the face of the FBI? They really can't afford to buy properly fitting clothing?! Or...perhaps they're imposters. In either case, it's a very funny (and pitiful) picture.
On a slightly different note...I think there should be no news about the whistle-blower. Snowden should not be the focus of the story. The focus should be on the arrogance of our out-of-control government. It's very scary and I'm pleased that there are people like Snowden!
EDQARD SNOWDEN FOR PRESIDENT! That's a true American!
On a slightly different note...I think there should be no news about the whistle-blower. Snowden should not be the focus of the story. The focus should be on the arrogance of our out-of-control government. It's very scary and I'm pleased that there are people like Snowden!
EDQARD SNOWDEN FOR PRESIDENT! That's a true American!
Monday, June 3, 2013
Geno Smith and Tim Tebow throw the same way
First...I confess to being someone with very little knowledge of professional football...however, I remember watching a few clips of Tim Tebow throwing the ball in college games. He reached WAY back with his arm and the ball was nearly on the grass when he went forward to throw. Kinda like a baseball pitcher. When I saw that, I thought he would be destroyed in the NFL. He didn't exhibit the short-armed, from the ear, quick and strong movements of a professional quarterback. I thought he had no chance. So...along comes this guy Geno Smith...he has the same throwing motion as Tebow and (unless he learns to change his entire approach to passing)...he's toast. What in the world is wrong with the Jets?! If a schlub like me can see these things, why can't they?!
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Mariners also-rans
Okay...I give up. I've been watching and listening to the Seattle Mariners for SO long! Even when they had a record number of wins in a season, they were unable to close the deal in the post-season. It seems, in most years, they crumble just before August and fall to the bottom, year after year. This time, it looked like they had better hitting and pitching. This year, it looked like they might just turn the corner. No. It's nearing the end of May and they've already imploded. I give up. No more radio broadcasts. No more television (as if I actually HAD an operable television). No more attendance at the games. They stink. There's something so very wrong with this team. Either they can't afford decent players and coaches or they're too stupid to make sensible choices or they just don't care. I don't care. I give up. The Seattle Mariners appear to be a low-class organization no matter what bunch of losers they throw out there. They're all perennial losers.
No wonder the Sonics are gone! There's something inherently wrong with sports in this area. I give up.
Whatever happened to when we had A-Rod? Griffey? The Big Unit? Edgar? There were great players who have passed through town and yet we continue to see the dregs of major league baseball.
We're just one injury away from the Seahawks taking a dive or being mired in a scandal.
Seattle is not a sports town and I will not support any of these losers until they (somehow) turn the corner and establish a winning tradition. Until then...I give up.
These local teams (especially the Mariners) are all like Lucy pulling the football away from poor Charlie Brown. Every year, there is the hype and all the talk about how they're ready to turn the corner. They never do and Charlie Brown (the fans) keep up the faith. Well...I give up.
No wonder the Sonics are gone! There's something inherently wrong with sports in this area. I give up.
Whatever happened to when we had A-Rod? Griffey? The Big Unit? Edgar? There were great players who have passed through town and yet we continue to see the dregs of major league baseball.
We're just one injury away from the Seahawks taking a dive or being mired in a scandal.
Seattle is not a sports town and I will not support any of these losers until they (somehow) turn the corner and establish a winning tradition. Until then...I give up.
These local teams (especially the Mariners) are all like Lucy pulling the football away from poor Charlie Brown. Every year, there is the hype and all the talk about how they're ready to turn the corner. They never do and Charlie Brown (the fans) keep up the faith. Well...I give up.
Monday, May 13, 2013
Back to Fall City Bistro...Finally!
It's been many months since I went to the Fall City Bistro (right down the street from my house). So...I went there for Mothers Day yesterday. (The reason I haven't been a regular there is because I no longer have any measurable income.) When I drive past the place, it just warms my heart to see so many cars in the parking lot. I was so impressed when I first dined there and hoped others would appreciate it.
Well...we had upscale popcorn, soup, salad, crab cakes, Chianti, lobster, spaghetti and an after-dinner drink. (I thought it was going to be some kind of Italian Ice but it turned out to be a lemony, vodka drink...I guess I'm not particularly sophisticated in regard to foods!)
Anyhow-way, there have been continuing upgrades to the establishment, inside and out. The atmosphere was wonderful, the staff (in spite of being so busy on Mothers Day) was professional, prompt and personable and I greatly appreciated the experience.
It's (nearly) a blessing to have such a fine restaurant in town!
Okay...I do have a very minor complaint that doesn't reflect directly on me...many of the meals have a cream-type sauce and I was with a "mother" who is lactose-intolerant. She had to be very careful in removing some of the goodies from the milk-based sauce.
That's my only criticism at this point.
Even though I don't really eat doughnuts, I'm anxious to see what the management's plan is for the outside cart they're in the process of setting up. There are so many possibilities!
I was noticing the other eating and drinking places in town. They all have their windows adorned with neon signs from various beer and wine companies. The Fall City Bistro doesn't have those abominations and I hope they continue to refrain.
Bottom line (if this is really it)...
GO TO THE FALL CITY BISTRO!
When I had money so many years ago, I frequented many, very expensive places around the country. The people, ambience and food at the Fall City Bistro combine to create a wonderful dining experience. (I only wish I could afford to eat out more often...instead of eating dandelions from the lawn and soup made from freshly-fallen swallow feathers.)
Well...we had upscale popcorn, soup, salad, crab cakes, Chianti, lobster, spaghetti and an after-dinner drink. (I thought it was going to be some kind of Italian Ice but it turned out to be a lemony, vodka drink...I guess I'm not particularly sophisticated in regard to foods!)
Anyhow-way, there have been continuing upgrades to the establishment, inside and out. The atmosphere was wonderful, the staff (in spite of being so busy on Mothers Day) was professional, prompt and personable and I greatly appreciated the experience.
It's (nearly) a blessing to have such a fine restaurant in town!
Okay...I do have a very minor complaint that doesn't reflect directly on me...many of the meals have a cream-type sauce and I was with a "mother" who is lactose-intolerant. She had to be very careful in removing some of the goodies from the milk-based sauce.
That's my only criticism at this point.
Even though I don't really eat doughnuts, I'm anxious to see what the management's plan is for the outside cart they're in the process of setting up. There are so many possibilities!
I was noticing the other eating and drinking places in town. They all have their windows adorned with neon signs from various beer and wine companies. The Fall City Bistro doesn't have those abominations and I hope they continue to refrain.
Bottom line (if this is really it)...
GO TO THE FALL CITY BISTRO!
When I had money so many years ago, I frequented many, very expensive places around the country. The people, ambience and food at the Fall City Bistro combine to create a wonderful dining experience. (I only wish I could afford to eat out more often...instead of eating dandelions from the lawn and soup made from freshly-fallen swallow feathers.)
Friday, April 12, 2013
Rick Rizzs
Rick...did I just hear you say, "the bat flied out of the hands of Shoppach"? Well...I know I did...kinda funny, eh? Flied!?
Rick...what say you get your partner, Aaron, to stop saying things like, "top two, bottom three" etc.?
That sounds just too much like California talk. I don't like it. Dave Simms does that all the time and I just turn off the radio.
It's better to say, "top of the second" and "bottom of the third", don't you think? What say we speak "Northwest" rather than "California"?
Okay...what say you convince "Bone" to get off those truck ads. He has no voice for radio and sounds downright stupid. If I were shopping for a car or truck, I'd definitely be swayed to go to the place where the guy always ends up saying, "yippee aye o kayea". (I have no idea how to properly spell that!) However, I would certainly NOT be swayed by Bone's ads!
Rick...what say you get your partner, Aaron, to stop saying things like, "top two, bottom three" etc.?
That sounds just too much like California talk. I don't like it. Dave Simms does that all the time and I just turn off the radio.
It's better to say, "top of the second" and "bottom of the third", don't you think? What say we speak "Northwest" rather than "California"?
Okay...what say you convince "Bone" to get off those truck ads. He has no voice for radio and sounds downright stupid. If I were shopping for a car or truck, I'd definitely be swayed to go to the place where the guy always ends up saying, "yippee aye o kayea". (I have no idea how to properly spell that!) However, I would certainly NOT be swayed by Bone's ads!
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Meteor over Fall City
Okay...Monday night was unusually clear. I could even see stars in the sky! It was so nice to have a (mostly) cloudless night so I stayed outside to enjoy the view for a while. Then...an extremely bright and large meteor streaked across the entire sky. It left a trail behind it as it passed.
So...considering all the recent news about UFOs and other meteors, I can't imagine I was the only person to experience this one...but there was nothing at all in the news. Nothing! Of course, most people around here don't even bother to go outside and look up...it's usually cloudy and/or raining. Anyway, it was a spectacular thing to see and maybe I am the only human to have seen it.
So...considering all the recent news about UFOs and other meteors, I can't imagine I was the only person to experience this one...but there was nothing at all in the news. Nothing! Of course, most people around here don't even bother to go outside and look up...it's usually cloudy and/or raining. Anyway, it was a spectacular thing to see and maybe I am the only human to have seen it.
Monday, April 1, 2013
Easter in Fall City
I
realize no one cares about my Easter. However, here it is...
For
the big meal...
Lack
of Lamb and Easter Bunnies too!
(That's
not to be confused with Rack of Lamb and Easter Bunny stew. It's a lack of lamb and/or Easter Bunnies.)
It was actually a dinner of chicken and smashed potatoes with barking dogs nearby and hundreds of swallows (probably Cliff Swallows) overhead. They dart around like little jet fighters, eating bugs on the wing and...very shortly after sunset, many of them seem to morph into bats. Then, with the swallow population in remission for the night, the bats take over the aerial feeding frenzy. (In the next few weeks, I expect all the other swallows to appear...Barn, bank, violet/green, etc....everthing but Purple Martins!)There were no hidden eggs on Easter.
There was no basket, no jelly beans, no chocolate bunny, no hidden eggs, no, "Happy Easter!", no Peeps, not much of anything here.
Easter came and went the same as every other day. Alas...it's not so good to be an olde man, eh? Time is a relentless foe.
So many years ago, Easter was a day of joy with all the goodies to be consumed...everyone got together and celebrated with a big feast. Well...the "meaning of Easter" isn't so different from "the meaning of Christmas". It's irrelevant. It's just a holiday for us. A day to get together and...enjoy.
Well, even though there was no "getting together", today, the sun shines brightly here in Fall City. The Billabong across the street is churning out millions of bugs for the swallows (and bats) to consume and summer is threatening to show up for the first time in several years. Perhaps, the gardens will produce something other than just potatoes this year. That would be nice!
Monday, March 25, 2013
Zags/Mariners
So I be looking to see what's going on...
The Mariners just thwumped some who-body 16 to zip in the pre-season. So? So...I think of the Zags. They whumped over everybody and were the number ONE rated basketball team. So? That doesn't mean squat if you can't finish. Same with the Mariners...having a stellar pre-season isn't squat! It's FINISHING that matters! Zags and Mariners....Mariners and Zags...look at the end game...if you're a pawn down, you lose. Welcome to the mediocre Northwest where being competitive is all that seems to matter...and national attention will continue to focus on the...East.
The Mariners just thwumped some who-body 16 to zip in the pre-season. So? So...I think of the Zags. They whumped over everybody and were the number ONE rated basketball team. So? That doesn't mean squat if you can't finish. Same with the Mariners...having a stellar pre-season isn't squat! It's FINISHING that matters! Zags and Mariners....Mariners and Zags...look at the end game...if you're a pawn down, you lose. Welcome to the mediocre Northwest where being competitive is all that seems to matter...and national attention will continue to focus on the...East.
Friday, March 22, 2013
NCAA Final Four on Radio
Okay…I realize no one may really care what I think about
sports announcers. I live in this little town of Fall City which is right on
the edge of nowhere.
Anyway, I’m listening to the radio broadcasts of some of the
NCAA March Madness and I want to make a cuppla comments about what I’ve heard
so far on this second day of the First Round of play.
First…it IS the second day of the First Round…NOT the second
round as so many radio guys seem to insist upon. The second round begins
tomorrow (Saturday)…not today (Friday). I find it particularly offensive,
hearing so many announcers calling it the second round.
Next…I realize I’ve been critical of Dave Sims as a Mariner
voice. However, he’s great for basketball!
John Thompson is as good as it gets! He knows his shit and
doesn’t pretend to be something other than he is…a basketball genius!
I do enjoy listening to (and watching) Charles Barkley. He’s
real…and he’s honest!
Kevin Calabro is the best broadcaster I’ve ever
heard…anywhere!
On the negative side…I wretch when I hear some of the
characters on this NCAA thing sometimes. I can’t stand hearing all these old
characters with such a gross, New York accent. They often say “dis or dat”
instead of “this or that”. They seem to be unable to pronounce the letter, “R”.
If they can’t speak proper English they should stay home. They get paid for
this!!?? It’s bad enough listening to all the southern accents but I’ve almost
learned to accept that. (Not entirely, though.) Like Dave Niehaus pronouncing the word "national" with a long I instead of a short A. Sometimes, I think these guys
are speaking an entirely different language.
Another thing...I think the rules need to be changed for college basketball. I was listening to the last minute of a game (in the first round, day two). That last minute used at least fifteen real minutes. Each time there was a foul and a stoppage of time. Each time there was another time-out called. Each time, when there was a free throw, both teams substituted offensive or defensive players as needed. That's REALLY stupid! The league has to put an end to this final-minute madness! It makes most of the game seem almost meaningless.
...and...I just heard the very end (on the radio) of the Illinois game against Colorado...the guy comes out and says that Illinois is advancing to the third round. It's NOT the freeking third round! It's the SECOND round! What's wrong with these people? Are they really that stupid?
...and...this is Saturday...round two...listening to Michigan vs VCU on the radio...the announcer comes out with, "the difference-maker", referring to some player in the game. I think that term, "difference maker", is one of the stupidest terms I've ever heard. Difference-maker? It just sounds stupid and childish. I've heard "difference-maker" in so many sports! I hate it! Can't these people come up with anything more appropriate? Difference-maker?! They sound like idiots!
Sunday, I'm listening to Iowa State and Ohio State. The "color" guy on the radio is one of those New Yorkers (or Boston or something)...anyway, he's one of those guys (Pete something) who says dis and dat and says "god" instead of "guard". It's Really annoying! Fawteen...fawty-faw...Doesn't it make sense that someone being paid to speak on American radio should learn how to pronounce our own language properly? Doesn't it? Am I right or am I right?
Another thing...the guy they have on the radio...the "Westwood One" guy...I hate it. He sounds just so phony that I can't stand it. There are some things I hear on the radio that cause me to turn it off immediately...that guy...the breathy-sounding, gravelly, fake-deep-voiced guy...I shut off or change the station as soon as I hear him.
Getting back to the "first round, second round" issue...so...Gonzaga loses the second game...it's Saturday...they're calling it "round three" of March Madness. Does that mean that Gonzaga made it through the second round? No. Saturday and Sunday are both "round two". What say the announcers get this right, eh? It's bad enough already that the players generally sound stupid and illiterate, and it's astounding to think they're actually in college rather than grade school...but the announcers should be, at least, a cut above. I'm embarrassed for the United States.
I just HAVE to mention this...in the area of so many mispronunciations...they're running some kind of ad on the radio...and the woman is talking about getting regular oil changes for a car...but she says, "awl" instead of oil! Welcome to America! We're a country of morons!
Okay...since I'm doing nothing much but complaining...I'm listening to North Carolina and Kansas on the radio. Kansas scores and the announcer says they're within one. They are NOT within one. They are still down by one. If they were within one, we'd be counting basketball games in fractions rather than whole numbers. I must add...the same stupid description is rampant throughout American sports broadcasts. If a baseball team is down by a run..."They're within one!" Bullshit! They're down by a run...not within a run. The same with football. What say we use proper English, eh?
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Swallows in Fall City
I'll try to figure our how to post this on Tweeter but...my dog always watches birds. Today, March 17th, the dog was fixated on a couple of hawks swooping, flitting, chasing in an (apparent) mating ritual, so high up. I watched and realized there were other birds...two swallows! The swallows are back! It's really spring! There were only two of them, WAY up there...but they were there! The swallows have returned. Oh happy days! I feel like I've been reborn.
Fall City...How odd?!
Yesterday afternoon, with occasional dark clouds and light rain passing through Fall City, and as I was tending the fire in the wood stove...there was a sudden howling of wind outside. It was a screaming, whistling wind that lasted only a few seconds. Then, there was the crashing sound of a table being blown off the deck. With the extremely brief onslaught of wind gone, I looked out the window to see two chairs blown over and the wooden table lying in the grass. Mind you, there are two, identical tables on the deck but only one was blown away. There was no other indication that anything else had happened at all! Judging by the landing area of the blown-over table, the wind came from the southwest. (Generally, strong winds come from the east or southeast around here.) Also, since it was so narrowly focused, it seems to have been almost horizontal-tunnel-shaped. How odd, indeed! I've never experienced such a thing. Oh! I forgot!...my rototiller was also found on its side just about ten feet from where the table landed. That was it...one incredibly strong blast of wind...then quiet. I checked the weather people and nothing unusual was reported.
Friday, March 15, 2013
Mariners, grounded out to center
So...I have my computer set at MLB, CBS. I be looking at the Mariners/Angels game. Smoak is on first base and CBS reports that Montero grounded out to center! How is that possible?
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Jack Ramsey
My word. I seldom listen to pro basketball broadcasts but the radio is on right now. There was just a brief interview with Jack Ramsey. Holy crap! Even though he's always been extremely boring, now he sounds addled. They pay him for this!!!??? There are far too many announcers who should stay home! Jack Ramsey is one of those.
Don't the big-ass media moguls care at all what the listeners think of these olde morons? Get rid of all the soprano-sounding dipsticks and all the olde coots! Generally, I just turn off the broadcast when I hear them...also, those with speech impediments...there are lots of them! I just can't take it...and I don't. Don't the advertisers putting up the money have any say in these matters? If people like me tune out due to such poor delivery, don't they care that we just...tune out?
Don't the big-ass media moguls care at all what the listeners think of these olde morons? Get rid of all the soprano-sounding dipsticks and all the olde coots! Generally, I just turn off the broadcast when I hear them...also, those with speech impediments...there are lots of them! I just can't take it...and I don't. Don't the advertisers putting up the money have any say in these matters? If people like me tune out due to such poor delivery, don't they care that we just...tune out?
Saturday, March 9, 2013
to Aaron Goldsmith
If I keep hearing you say, "top 1, bottom 3, etc" as opposed to, "top of the first and bottom of the third", I will turn off the radio. I am not a Californian and I do not like that shortening thrown out at me. Also, Dave Simms is one of the most boring people I have ever heard and I will never listen to him. As a matter of fact, Simms sounds like he's about to take over the play-by-play for this game...I'll turn everything off at that point. Also, Mr. Goldsmith, now that you have been on-air for a little while...what say you add a little emotion to you broadcasts? Thus far you sound unattached and...a bit boring. I must say, I appreciated hearing you say that so-and-so was so many years old...as opposed to Rizzs and Niehaus saying so many years of age. I always found that to be really stupid. I'm not 65 years of age. I'm 65 years old. Or...I'm 65.
Friday, March 8, 2013
Seattle Sports Radio
So…I turn on the local sports-radio show. It’s KIRO...or
ESPN...or whatever they call it these days. The two guys at the station are
interviewing someone about the Seahawks', Richard Sherman. The guy they’re
interviewing is Tony Ventrella! Tony Ventrella is just another sports reporter!
He’s nobody! (I ran across him in a grocery store once and found him to be a
self-centered, arrogant ass-wipe. I have no interest in his opinion about
anything!) Why in the world would anyone consider him to be an authority about
anything? He’s not an athlete and did not play for the Seahawks or any other
professional sports team. Broadcasters interviewing broadcasters…what a
freeking joke! I've been pleased to have not heard or seen Tony Ventrella for many years and I have no interest in hearing his opinion...about anything...ever.
Note to Aaron Goldsmith
Okay Aaron...Don't say, "top three". Say, "top of the third". Don't say, "the five". Say, "I-five". Get it?
Seattle is not part of California! I didn't like Dave Simms (partly due to his incredibly boring delivery and partly due to his "top three" type of reporting). Aaron...don't be another boring Dave Simms. You're close to what we need in the northwest but not quite there yet. Also...I appreciate hearing what else is going on during a game...how's the weather, what are the people in the stands doing, what is going on in the dugout, etc.? Is the infield in good shape? Is the umpire calling the game accurately? Tell me what's really happening because I'm not there. What's the weather like? Is somebody limping?
I don't want to hear any Vin Scully kind of thing...Many years ago, there was a streaker, running across the field at Chavez Ravine...Scully refused to even mention it! I want to hear everything going on in a game!
Mr. Goldsmith...I appreciate your Spring Training broadcasts so far but I'd be happy if you can take the next step. While Scully seems to have thought he was "painting a picture"...as did Niehaus...it's important to really do it. The next step is to REALLY paint a picture (unlike Scully and Niehaus). Look around during the game and tell us everything!
Anyway...no more, "top three" okay?
Also...I'm anxious to see how it goes when there are "color guys" included in the broadcasts. I don't ever want to hear Ron Fairly or Mike Blowers but I definitely like hearing Dave Henderson, Griffey and Dan Wilson (among a few others). Don't ever let Griffey (Sr) on the air...ever! If you can get Alvin Davis...great! There are others but they never seem to make it on-air.
I listen to almost every Mariners' game on the radio (with limited TV coverage here) and don't mind spending my own (limited) funds to help the team. I just want to receive information during each broadcasted game in a professional manner.
So...Mr. Goldsmith...button up a few issues and you'll rise to the top. (Shit floats). Just kidding...the cream rises to the top, too.
Seattle is not part of California! I didn't like Dave Simms (partly due to his incredibly boring delivery and partly due to his "top three" type of reporting). Aaron...don't be another boring Dave Simms. You're close to what we need in the northwest but not quite there yet. Also...I appreciate hearing what else is going on during a game...how's the weather, what are the people in the stands doing, what is going on in the dugout, etc.? Is the infield in good shape? Is the umpire calling the game accurately? Tell me what's really happening because I'm not there. What's the weather like? Is somebody limping?
I don't want to hear any Vin Scully kind of thing...Many years ago, there was a streaker, running across the field at Chavez Ravine...Scully refused to even mention it! I want to hear everything going on in a game!
Mr. Goldsmith...I appreciate your Spring Training broadcasts so far but I'd be happy if you can take the next step. While Scully seems to have thought he was "painting a picture"...as did Niehaus...it's important to really do it. The next step is to REALLY paint a picture (unlike Scully and Niehaus). Look around during the game and tell us everything!
Anyway...no more, "top three" okay?
Also...I'm anxious to see how it goes when there are "color guys" included in the broadcasts. I don't ever want to hear Ron Fairly or Mike Blowers but I definitely like hearing Dave Henderson, Griffey and Dan Wilson (among a few others). Don't ever let Griffey (Sr) on the air...ever! If you can get Alvin Davis...great! There are others but they never seem to make it on-air.
I listen to almost every Mariners' game on the radio (with limited TV coverage here) and don't mind spending my own (limited) funds to help the team. I just want to receive information during each broadcasted game in a professional manner.
So...Mr. Goldsmith...button up a few issues and you'll rise to the top. (Shit floats). Just kidding...the cream rises to the top, too.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
New Mariners Announcer Guy
Okay...I've listened to a few pre-season games and, in general, I'm pleased with the new guy.
However, I must say, when I hear, "top six" instead of, "the the top of the sixth", I cringe and writhe in pain. Those "top six" and "bottom seven-type" terms make me feel like I'm in Southern California. (That's not a good place to be for a person in the Northwest. Really! Why shorten the term like that? It's not like there's such a limit on microphone time!) It's similar to calling I-5, "the five" and I-90, "the ninety". It's just plain wrong for this area!
Mr. New Announcer, please lose those terms now and remember you're in Washington...and we don't like anything to do with California!
I know I've commented on this before but even though it took me a long time to swaddle Rick Rizzs and even Dave Niehaus...they both grew on me. I just never EVER want to hear, "kerplunk" from Mr. Rizzs again.
I don't mind spending my money to support my local teams but it would be great if they supported us too.
As an aside, I was so ( ! ) distraught when Evening Magazine got rid of the local people that made me feel at home and hired that ass-wipe. I don't like him. I've seen him at events. He's an arrogant ass-wipe from Denver ( ? ) and I"d be happy to see him...gone. We have a unique place and culture here in the northwest and we should cherish it without diluting it all with ass-wipes from afar.
I'll get back to this. However, I have to go out and milk the yaks.
However, I must say, when I hear, "top six" instead of, "the the top of the sixth", I cringe and writhe in pain. Those "top six" and "bottom seven-type" terms make me feel like I'm in Southern California. (That's not a good place to be for a person in the Northwest. Really! Why shorten the term like that? It's not like there's such a limit on microphone time!) It's similar to calling I-5, "the five" and I-90, "the ninety". It's just plain wrong for this area!
Mr. New Announcer, please lose those terms now and remember you're in Washington...and we don't like anything to do with California!
I know I've commented on this before but even though it took me a long time to swaddle Rick Rizzs and even Dave Niehaus...they both grew on me. I just never EVER want to hear, "kerplunk" from Mr. Rizzs again.
I don't mind spending my money to support my local teams but it would be great if they supported us too.
As an aside, I was so ( ! ) distraught when Evening Magazine got rid of the local people that made me feel at home and hired that ass-wipe. I don't like him. I've seen him at events. He's an arrogant ass-wipe from Denver ( ? ) and I"d be happy to see him...gone. We have a unique place and culture here in the northwest and we should cherish it without diluting it all with ass-wipes from afar.
I'll get back to this. However, I have to go out and milk the yaks.
Monday, March 4, 2013
Fall City Bistro...OH!
Okay...while I really can't afford to eat out anywhere, any more...I forgot to mention...I'm told my grand daughter works there now! So for all those who can still afford to go out...I suggest going to the Fall City Bistro. My brief experience there was wonderful and I hope to enjoy it again. Also, sit in my grand daughter's section and tip her well! One would have to mention my last name (Walsh) to find her, eh?
Anyhow-way, the Fall City Bistro is many cuts above any other dining experience on the East Side. I only regret that my income dried up a few years too early, thereby preventing my own continuing continuous patronages! When they first arrived out here (in Fall City) and I realized what a gift it is to have such a wonderful place so near, I expected to be a "regular". Alas! These are tough times for some people (like me).
Anyhow-way, the Fall City Bistro is many cuts above any other dining experience on the East Side. I only regret that my income dried up a few years too early, thereby preventing my own continuing continuous patronages! When they first arrived out here (in Fall City) and I realized what a gift it is to have such a wonderful place so near, I expected to be a "regular". Alas! These are tough times for some people (like me).
Thursday, February 28, 2013
La Boheme, Seattle...my brief review
So...I brought one of my grand daughters to the performance. ( it was her first opera.)
She loved it!
On occasion, I'm a bit critical of the Seattle Opera...but not all that much.
(I loved the set!)
La Boheme, like all of Seattle Operas has a spectacular chorus. I'm standing beside myselves in amazement at the wonders of Beth Kirchhoff!
I can't find many faults with the entire production...although I can pick a few (one) minor nits...but I'll get back to that...
Anyway, Mr. Woodley is the best bass I have ever seen or heard. It was truly a pleasure and I feel honored to have been there. His voice was clear and strong...and carried! What a star!
Mimi and Musetta were both incredible and it was also an honor to be there to hear their voices.
The tiniest issue I have...and it's really tiny ( ! )...is the tenor. Don't get me wrong! His "Che Gelida Manina" really did bring tears to my eyes. It's just that I've heard Pavarotti so many times that I compare everyone to him. Of course, this is silly but he (Pavarotti) had a greater depth than Mr. Demuro. Again...don't get me wrong! I sit in the front row and have a very close connection to the sound. His Rodolfo was incredibly incredible throughout. (I remember being unable to even hear a "Nessun Dorma" at all, some years ago at Seattle Opera.)
Okay...since the only criticism I can come up with is that Francesco Demuro isn't Pavarotti...and since he brought me tears to my eyes anyway, anyway...I suppose this La Boheme thingy was (prolly) the best experience I ever experienced at Seattle Opera's, Seattle Opera, especially since it was the first experience my grand daughter had with real opera.
I feel blessed to have the continued opportunity to enjoy Seattle Opera.
In the end...La Boheme at Seattle Oprera was wonderful!
Okay...with all the people onstage, it was slightly confusing.
Anyhow-way...BRAVO!
She loved it!
On occasion, I'm a bit critical of the Seattle Opera...but not all that much.
(I loved the set!)
La Boheme, like all of Seattle Operas has a spectacular chorus. I'm standing beside myselves in amazement at the wonders of Beth Kirchhoff!
I can't find many faults with the entire production...although I can pick a few (one) minor nits...but I'll get back to that...
Anyway, Mr. Woodley is the best bass I have ever seen or heard. It was truly a pleasure and I feel honored to have been there. His voice was clear and strong...and carried! What a star!
Mimi and Musetta were both incredible and it was also an honor to be there to hear their voices.
The tiniest issue I have...and it's really tiny ( ! )...is the tenor. Don't get me wrong! His "Che Gelida Manina" really did bring tears to my eyes. It's just that I've heard Pavarotti so many times that I compare everyone to him. Of course, this is silly but he (Pavarotti) had a greater depth than Mr. Demuro. Again...don't get me wrong! I sit in the front row and have a very close connection to the sound. His Rodolfo was incredibly incredible throughout. (I remember being unable to even hear a "Nessun Dorma" at all, some years ago at Seattle Opera.)
Okay...since the only criticism I can come up with is that Francesco Demuro isn't Pavarotti...and since he brought me tears to my eyes anyway, anyway...I suppose this La Boheme thingy was (prolly) the best experience I ever experienced at Seattle Opera's, Seattle Opera, especially since it was the first experience my grand daughter had with real opera.
I feel blessed to have the continued opportunity to enjoy Seattle Opera.
In the end...La Boheme at Seattle Oprera was wonderful!
Okay...with all the people onstage, it was slightly confusing.
Anyhow-way...BRAVO!
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Fall City Bistro...alas!
Ah well...I surely enjoyed my experience at the Fall City Bistro but I haven't been there for so long. I no longer have a viable income and can't afford to spend any money, anywhere. I sincerely hope that those who can, continue to support (and appreciate) the place. Fall City needs the Fall City Bistro!
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Go away Bieber, NRA and Kardashians!
My word!
Minor update now that it's 2015...Get Bruce Jenner out of the spotlight! Every day, it seems, there are more news stories about him/her. I don't care. Does anyone?
Minor update now that it's 2015...Get Bruce Jenner out of the spotlight! Every day, it seems, there are more news stories about him/her. I don't care. Does anyone?
I have a look at AOL news each day and am always surprised
there are continual stories of the Kardashians and Justin Bieber. Initially, I
just assumed that AOL had a financial stake in their careers. (Actually, now,
I’m convinced they must!)
I don’t know who the Kardashians are or what they may have
ever done to merit any news coverage. However, I did (today) tune in to the Bieber kid on Youtube. He
sounds just like he looks! He could easily be a you nick (the site did not allow me to enter the proper spelling!) or an outright girl. He
seems to sing a soprano (coloratura) sound and appears to be a girl.
What is this all about? Why would the American news media
continue to support him/her? He appears to be a little girl…with a (weak) little
girl’s voice.
What in the world is this all about?
The Kardashians don’t seem to have any talents and Bieber doesn’t
either.
Please ( ! ) get these people out of the news! It’s a
disgrace!
Okay...NRA. Why is the NRA in the news all the time. Who really gives a shit what the NRA thinks?! Why does the NRA have any voice at all in American politics? We already have "the right to bear arms". We don't need a bunch of wackos supporting the right to carry assault weapons. Let's get real! Our country is extremely violent and we all are at risk when people are carrying around AK 47s. Get them off the streets and out of our neighborhoods. F U, NRA! Get the NRA out of politics and out of the news!
Okay...NRA. Why is the NRA in the news all the time. Who really gives a shit what the NRA thinks?! Why does the NRA have any voice at all in American politics? We already have "the right to bear arms". We don't need a bunch of wackos supporting the right to carry assault weapons. Let's get real! Our country is extremely violent and we all are at risk when people are carrying around AK 47s. Get them off the streets and out of our neighborhoods. F U, NRA! Get the NRA out of politics and out of the news!
There is other (real) news going on in the world.
Friday, January 18, 2013
Seattle Mariners New Announcer...Update
Update: Without regard to my comments below and with another year gone by...I really like the Mariners announcers. I think Rizzs and Goldsmith are just plain great. I only have access to radio broadcasts but I'm extremely pleased with experience.
Okay...I listen to the Mariners on the radio and have many personal opinions about the announcing staff...
Many years ago, while living in Southern California for a while, I listened to Dick Enberg doing the Angels broadcasts. He was great! His sidekick was Dave Niehaus and I didn't like his gravelly voice and delivery at all. He just seemed...boring. (I was young at the time.) Then, after moving to Seattle so long ago, I was very disappointed to learn that Niehaus would be the Mariners' voice. After years of listening to him, Mr. Niehaus grew on me. While I never really adjusted to the gravelly voice or his un-Northwestern pronunciations of so many words...(for example, he always said "National" with a long "I" rather than a short "A".) In any case, I grew to appreciate all the nuances of Dave Niehaus and miss hearing him.
Then, along comes Rick Rizzs. Similar to my inability to embrace Dave Niehaus early on, I had great difficulty accepting Rick Rizzs. Even now, I take issue when he says things like, "Kerplunk". Also, he tends to shorten words to a single syllable. Somehow, he manages to turn the word, "scoring" into a single syllable. I don't know how he does that! There are many other words that are shortened and, even though I fully understand the meaning, it still bothers me when I hear such things. Also, he tends to speak for a long time during a sentence and takes a breath and pauses, mid-sentence, at the wrong time, before finishing a comment. It's very odd and totally alien to normal conversation! Alas! After all these years, Mr. Rizzs has grown on me and the Mariners would not be the same without him. I am a fan for sure.
I do not like listening to Dave Simms....ever! His delivery is choppy and..."Southern California-ish". (This is not a good thing to be in the Northwest.)
I hate listening to Ron Fairly. He's the most boring speaker I've ever heard...anywhere. I do acknowledge that many of his stories of the past are very interesting but he should never be allowed to speak about a game in progress.
Mike Blowers needs to learn how to speak less nasally. If he can't adapt, he should not be on any broadcasts.
Ken Levine is the best!
Mike Blowers annoys me. I can't get over watching him swing for the fences for the last strikeout (against Boston?) some years ago. All he needed to do was hit the ball, not practically fall down while ending the game. (He seems to have never learned to hit the ball without swinging for the fences.)
Dave Henderson is great! I could listen to him all day long...even without a baseball game in progress.
Dan Wilson...I think I learn nuances of the game when I hear his comments and am in favor of having him on the broadcasts as often as possible.
I did listen to a few Youtubes of the new guy, Aaron Goldsmith. While I find it particularly offensive that the Mariners went ahead with all these "auditions" without input from me or (probably) any other fan, I'm not totally (yet) disappointed with the selection. Mr. Goldsmith seems to have a slight "S" issue in speaking whereby the "S's" are slurred a bit...becoming a "Sh" sound. In interviews he conducted, he did not over-speak and allowed the interviewees to express their opinions! (This is a wonderful thing. In listening to many, sports-radio broadcasts, the interviewer seems to use up all the time, framing the question with endless gibberish, leaving little (or no) time for a response.) It's also good that he (Mr. Goldsmith) doesn't have a soprano voice like so many other sports announcers have!
Okay...I'll get back to this, eh?
Slight addition...today is the Super Bowl. I turned on the television and there's Jim Nance! How in the world can a guy like that make it in that business? He can't pronounce the letter "L"! It makes no sense to me. If a person is in the business of speaking and has such an obvious (annoying) speech impediment, why is he on the air? I hate it!
Okay...I listen to the Mariners on the radio and have many personal opinions about the announcing staff...
Many years ago, while living in Southern California for a while, I listened to Dick Enberg doing the Angels broadcasts. He was great! His sidekick was Dave Niehaus and I didn't like his gravelly voice and delivery at all. He just seemed...boring. (I was young at the time.) Then, after moving to Seattle so long ago, I was very disappointed to learn that Niehaus would be the Mariners' voice. After years of listening to him, Mr. Niehaus grew on me. While I never really adjusted to the gravelly voice or his un-Northwestern pronunciations of so many words...(for example, he always said "National" with a long "I" rather than a short "A".) In any case, I grew to appreciate all the nuances of Dave Niehaus and miss hearing him.
Then, along comes Rick Rizzs. Similar to my inability to embrace Dave Niehaus early on, I had great difficulty accepting Rick Rizzs. Even now, I take issue when he says things like, "Kerplunk". Also, he tends to shorten words to a single syllable. Somehow, he manages to turn the word, "scoring" into a single syllable. I don't know how he does that! There are many other words that are shortened and, even though I fully understand the meaning, it still bothers me when I hear such things. Also, he tends to speak for a long time during a sentence and takes a breath and pauses, mid-sentence, at the wrong time, before finishing a comment. It's very odd and totally alien to normal conversation! Alas! After all these years, Mr. Rizzs has grown on me and the Mariners would not be the same without him. I am a fan for sure.
I do not like listening to Dave Simms....ever! His delivery is choppy and..."Southern California-ish". (This is not a good thing to be in the Northwest.)
I hate listening to Ron Fairly. He's the most boring speaker I've ever heard...anywhere. I do acknowledge that many of his stories of the past are very interesting but he should never be allowed to speak about a game in progress.
Mike Blowers needs to learn how to speak less nasally. If he can't adapt, he should not be on any broadcasts.
Ken Levine is the best!
Mike Blowers annoys me. I can't get over watching him swing for the fences for the last strikeout (against Boston?) some years ago. All he needed to do was hit the ball, not practically fall down while ending the game. (He seems to have never learned to hit the ball without swinging for the fences.)
Dave Henderson is great! I could listen to him all day long...even without a baseball game in progress.
Dan Wilson...I think I learn nuances of the game when I hear his comments and am in favor of having him on the broadcasts as often as possible.
I did listen to a few Youtubes of the new guy, Aaron Goldsmith. While I find it particularly offensive that the Mariners went ahead with all these "auditions" without input from me or (probably) any other fan, I'm not totally (yet) disappointed with the selection. Mr. Goldsmith seems to have a slight "S" issue in speaking whereby the "S's" are slurred a bit...becoming a "Sh" sound. In interviews he conducted, he did not over-speak and allowed the interviewees to express their opinions! (This is a wonderful thing. In listening to many, sports-radio broadcasts, the interviewer seems to use up all the time, framing the question with endless gibberish, leaving little (or no) time for a response.) It's also good that he (Mr. Goldsmith) doesn't have a soprano voice like so many other sports announcers have!
Okay...I'll get back to this, eh?
Slight addition...today is the Super Bowl. I turned on the television and there's Jim Nance! How in the world can a guy like that make it in that business? He can't pronounce the letter "L"! It makes no sense to me. If a person is in the business of speaking and has such an obvious (annoying) speech impediment, why is he on the air? I hate it!
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Cougar in Fall City, Cinderella in Seattle
Today is garbage day...not that it matters.
Anyway, apparently a cougar killed one of my neighbor's goats a few days ago. The Fish and Wildlife people have set a live trap to relocate the cat somewhere else. However, I think the neighbors are attempting to shoot the animal also. I suppose that's what life is like and am in no position to step up to save the cougar. After all, this same cat could drop down from a tree and attack any one of the hikers, bikers and riders who frequent this area. From the pictures I saw, it looks like the cougar is 51" long from nose to rear...add a cuppla feet for the tail and the thing is well over six feet long! It's just a sad state of affairs. There are far too many people in the world and we're crowding out every other species...
Wait! It's opera night so I have to get on the road. I'll get back to this.
Okay...it's the next day...I took one of my four granddaughters to see Seattle Opera's Cinderella performance. At first, I was concerned that the soprano seemed a bit weak but later she opened up and there was adequate strength in her delivery. I loved it! The tenor was awesome. As always, the Seattle Opera chorus was wonderful and the Magnificent Mice were mesmerizing and spectacular. In general, I found this production to be spellbinding. While I don't remember the actual roles of the characters, the Father was extremely good, the Valet was great and the adviser-guy (the bass) was really good. (It's so often that basses can't even be heard but he was up to the role...and I appreciated it immensely.) I saw no weaknesses anywhere in the cast and am pleased to have experienced Seattle Opera's work for some 25 (or more) years. My granddaughter loved it...viewing from the front row and sitting on two cushions. Seattle Opera needs our support! As long as they continue to bring in world-class talent...why go anywhere else, eh?
Anyway, apparently a cougar killed one of my neighbor's goats a few days ago. The Fish and Wildlife people have set a live trap to relocate the cat somewhere else. However, I think the neighbors are attempting to shoot the animal also. I suppose that's what life is like and am in no position to step up to save the cougar. After all, this same cat could drop down from a tree and attack any one of the hikers, bikers and riders who frequent this area. From the pictures I saw, it looks like the cougar is 51" long from nose to rear...add a cuppla feet for the tail and the thing is well over six feet long! It's just a sad state of affairs. There are far too many people in the world and we're crowding out every other species...
Wait! It's opera night so I have to get on the road. I'll get back to this.
Okay...it's the next day...I took one of my four granddaughters to see Seattle Opera's Cinderella performance. At first, I was concerned that the soprano seemed a bit weak but later she opened up and there was adequate strength in her delivery. I loved it! The tenor was awesome. As always, the Seattle Opera chorus was wonderful and the Magnificent Mice were mesmerizing and spectacular. In general, I found this production to be spellbinding. While I don't remember the actual roles of the characters, the Father was extremely good, the Valet was great and the adviser-guy (the bass) was really good. (It's so often that basses can't even be heard but he was up to the role...and I appreciated it immensely.) I saw no weaknesses anywhere in the cast and am pleased to have experienced Seattle Opera's work for some 25 (or more) years. My granddaughter loved it...viewing from the front row and sitting on two cushions. Seattle Opera needs our support! As long as they continue to bring in world-class talent...why go anywhere else, eh?
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
New Year?
Tomorrow is the first garbage day of the new year! Maybe it really isn't, though.
Today is New Year's Day...or not.
I was thinking about the new year and how people in the US meet at midnight to usher in the new year. "Happy New Year!" is yelled from rooftops, streets and all across the land. I wondered about that. It's no longer politically correct to say, "Merry Christmas" so people say, "Happy Holidays". What about the political correctness of, "Happy New Year"?
The new year celebrated in the US is on January First but that seems to be incorrect. The majority of people throughout the world recognize the new year as beginning at different times through the year. There are so many different days and times called "the beginning of a new year" that it's impossible to even uncover them all. Many cultures celebrate early Spring as the new year, some celebrate the end of the harvest season, some recognize the rainy season, others choose the winter solstice when the daylight hours finally begin to lengthen. The winter solstice, as the beginning and end of a year, seems to make the most sense to me. Among others, that happens to be the choice of numerous Native American tribes. I also think the advent of Spring might be the best choice for a New Year.
Actually, in some of my (limited) research, it appears that January First was chosen as New Year's Day because that was recognized as the day Jesus was circumcised. That's ridiculous!
The arrogance of Americans and Christians in declaring a new year as beginning today is...is...purely American.
Anyway (I keep having interruptions), this is only New Year's Day in a small section of the world.
Today is New Year's Day...or not.
I was thinking about the new year and how people in the US meet at midnight to usher in the new year. "Happy New Year!" is yelled from rooftops, streets and all across the land. I wondered about that. It's no longer politically correct to say, "Merry Christmas" so people say, "Happy Holidays". What about the political correctness of, "Happy New Year"?
The new year celebrated in the US is on January First but that seems to be incorrect. The majority of people throughout the world recognize the new year as beginning at different times through the year. There are so many different days and times called "the beginning of a new year" that it's impossible to even uncover them all. Many cultures celebrate early Spring as the new year, some celebrate the end of the harvest season, some recognize the rainy season, others choose the winter solstice when the daylight hours finally begin to lengthen. The winter solstice, as the beginning and end of a year, seems to make the most sense to me. Among others, that happens to be the choice of numerous Native American tribes. I also think the advent of Spring might be the best choice for a New Year.
Actually, in some of my (limited) research, it appears that January First was chosen as New Year's Day because that was recognized as the day Jesus was circumcised. That's ridiculous!
The arrogance of Americans and Christians in declaring a new year as beginning today is...is...purely American.
Anyway (I keep having interruptions), this is only New Year's Day in a small section of the world.
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