Is this tree next?

While not in Spokane Proper, Mike Forbes was in the region when he snapped this shot. Looks as if in the sawmill yard there's one tree that's been given sanctuary. See it right there in the front of the pile? It's fenced off! Click on the picture for an enlargement.

For a three hour tour...

Located on Coeur d'Alene Street in Vinegar Flats is this boat in someone's backyard. It's been converted into a guesthouse/storage area/yard ornament/clothes line.

Thanks Greg Haff for spotting this. With eyes like that, you should be on a water rescue team. Yarrr.

More backyard boating.

A tale that is screenplay worthy...

I have the pleasure of working in Spokane's West Central neighborhood. Here, you will meet some of the nicest folks around. And here, you will experience some of the strangest circumstances. It is a great place!

And for your reading pleasure, a tale from the neighborhood. Click on the title above. It's a Spokesman-Review article from Saturday, November 19th.

A synopsis:

Multiple adults (of various ages, genders and sexual orientations) live together. Somehow, one of the gals falls for an ex-con who has moved in with them. Her girlfriend/wife doesn't like this and plots to kill him. She enlists the help of another roommate (one whose girlfriend and her kids live in the garage). He gives her a .25 caliber pistol. She goes for a walk with her victim. The gun doesn't fire. When he asks what she is doing, she tells him that it's just a toy gun. She takes the gun back to the fellow who lent it to her. He fixes it. The same thing happens again, and she offers the same excuse. After another repair, the third times the charm.

She leaves him for dead. Later, she goes back with the gun repairman and asks him to finish the job. He admonishes her with virtuous advice - "You started it. You finish it." Or, something to that effect. And she does

Anyway, that's how I understood the article.

My cereal collection...

This is it. This is the only thing that I collect. It's not just cereal boxes - but the cereal and prizes within. Robin Hood - Prince of Thieves cereal is about 15 years-old. There's still a poster inside. When I first started there weren't very many topical novelty cereals. And then for a few years, there weren't any. Now, there's too many. Click on the link to see highlights from my "collection."

New Spokanarama Podcast - Ren Faire

Finally, the one you've been waiting for - Ren Faire. This has a very special call-in segment. If you want to watch the quicktime movie -

Spokanaramovie

Spokanarama - MP3

Not a new one, just doing some Itunes troubleshooting...

This is the one you want! Civil War. For some reason Itunes was snagging the quicktime movie instead of the mp3, so I'm posting the mp3 file again here to see if it will bump the qt version. You'll find all versions in the previous post!

If you want to listen to the MP3

Spokanaramp3

Jim Boyd Plays Pig Out in/at/with the Park

Jim Boyd-Award300
Originally uploaded by sporama.

This photo is from Jim's website

"click here to visit"

My family and I had the pleasure of listening to Jim Boyd play today at Noon. I think he is Spokane's premier talent. We've got quite a few of his recordings, and they get played a lot at our house.

Jim wins all sorts of awards for his music. He is listened to all around the world. At the concert, Jim mentioned he just opened a store on West Garland. I don't know anything about it, other than that's where it's located. You can click on his website to listen to many of his songs. Luckilly, you can always download them from ITunes too. You can't go wrong. All are great!

When I was listening to Jim play, I was thinking how cool it would be to do a mix-up of Jim Boyd and another famous Spokane musician - Bing Crosby. It would be weird, but it would work. So, those of you out there who are studio-savvy, have at it and maybe we can post the results.

If he was willing, maybe Jim would do a cyber-duet with Der Bingle. Hey, Bowie sang with Bing. What say, Jim?

Pig out at the Park

FOUNTAIN
Originally uploaded by sporama.

The new fountain is pretty neat. It connects Downtown with Riverfront Park very well. Too bad things are starting to cool down a bit. Anyway, it was a great place to wash off all that barbeque sauce.

Spokanarama - MP3

This is the one you want! Civil War. For some reason Itunes was snagging the quicktime movie instead of the mp3, so I'm posting the mp3 file again here to see if it will bump the qt version. You'll find all versions in the previous post!

If you want to listen to the MP3

Spokanaramp3

Spokanarama - The Podcast! Civil War Reenactment at Riverside State Park...

Click title above to listen, or subscribe via Itunes!

15 fun-filled minutes.

If you want to watch the quicktime movie -

Spokanaramovie

If you want to listen to the MP3

Spokanaramp3

Dig near Sandifur Bridge

Dig near Sandifur Bridge
Originally uploaded by sporama.

At the confluence of Latah Creek and the Spokane River there is a major archeologic dig. The city is going to put in an underground water tank for street runoff. The area was a fishery site for the Spokane Indians. The archeologists have so far found a lot of mussel shells, fish bones, hearths, tools and arrowheads. It looks like the native americans had a pretty nice spot to catch and cook mussels and salmon.

Bucket of artifacts found

Bucket of artifacts found
Originally uploaded by sporama.

table with some artifacts

table with some artifacts
Originally uploaded by sporama.

Digging and sifting

Digging and sifting
Originally uploaded by sporama.

Light rail dismantled!

DSCN1992
Originally uploaded by sporama.

Going down Bernard/Washington Street, I looked over my right shoulder and there was an exposed railbed. Big, old wooden railroad ties lay exposed with their metal rails still secured to the top of them. All around Spokane there are still streets with the old streetcar rails intact and exposed on the cement streets. I had no idea how beefy these rails and ties really were underground, as just a sliver sits above the cement. In this picture, you can see the rails, the old cement road upon which the streetcars traveled and the crowning thin layer of asphault.

history not buried too deep

DSCN1991
Originally uploaded by sporama.

old rusting rails

DSCN1995
Originally uploaded by sporama.

old bricks from the street

DSCN1994
Originally uploaded by sporama.

TV Antenna with no house...

TVAntfar
Originally uploaded by sporama.

Perched at High Drive and 29th, overlooking Latah Creek, is this TV antenna atop a pole. There are no houses on this side of the road, or anywhere near the antenna.

TV Antenna with no house...

TVAntclose
Originally uploaded by sporama.

Here it is a little closer

Leprechaun Room at the Bel Air 7 still available!

belair
Originally uploaded by sporama.

Went in to ask about this one. The room itself is not leprechaun or Irish themed. But on March 17th, they will put green sheets on the bed and give you a shamrock accented table cloth and a bottle of champagne. $75.

abe's baby

abe's meth baby
Originally uploaded by sporama.

Thanks to Jennifer Raudebaugh for this fine photo of a Spokane store's signage. The business sells "preowned" baby furnishings.

Sort of looks like the Coppertone Girl of yesteryear has fallen into some hard times.

Would like to see it at night, when the lights are as lit as the baby.

Christmas Weed - Corner of Sinto and Ash - We will remember you!

christmas weed
Originally uploaded by sporama.

We watched it grow. This summer it was a run-of-the-mill weed struggling in the gutter. Topping out at close to four feet, thanks to a mild winter, it became a true survivor. Folks I know hung decorations on it. But, as Ash is a busy street, the decorations blew off. Tinsel didn't. Coming to work, my headlights would reflect cheerily off its boughs. Unfortunately we tipped the balance of nature. The tinsel made it noticed - created some value and just like that it was gone. Is there a Hallmark Christmas Special in this? Let's get Wilford Brimley back to work!