Tomato plants in the morning light...

Leaving for work yesterday morning, I couldn't help but notice how lit up these tomato plants were in the backyard. Last year I started growing all my tomatoes in pots.

The front yard garden is the most phenomenal garden I think I've had in a long time. Last season, I had a problem with zucchini. And not the kind of problem like I have too much. I think I had one squash last year. This year's an entirely different story. The only vegetables not doing well are the beets, which is a switch. I have the winter squash growing up on trellises. The bees are happy.

Have a couple of product reviews coming up. I will try to get those up in the next couple of days.

Moon - the best movie I've seen this summer.

If you're a fan of classic science fiction movies, make sure you go see Moon. It's a great story. We walked down to watch this at River Park Square last night. Then we had dinner@sushi.com. A great evening.

What happens when you turn to China to do your ad work...

Saw this at the Ace hardware on Regal. It's by the checkout stand. Duracell batteries. How many ways is this thing wrong? The headline/tagline is bizarre. the kids eyes aren't focused right. And, for Christ's sake, he's powered up a dinosaur that is going to rip his heart out.The Tyrannosaurus rex knows this. The poor kid hasn't a clue. The stars emanating from the dinosaur skin should have warned him. Hey, guess what? Your Christmas tree died six months ago.

Fill out the survey for healthcare reform!

I subscribe to receive our representative Cathy McMorris' emails. It helps boost my low blood pressure.

I don't want this blog to become too political, but if you care an iota about health care reform, you should fill out her form here to let her know what you think. Do I think if 99% of us are opposed to her position, it will make a difference? No. Not yet, anyway. Fill it out regardless, so she can know how wrong she is. Plus, you will love the awesome survey at the end. Can anyone be more childishly blatant? Is it my imagination or are they getting more ridiculous?

She has definitely been given her marching orders. I envy the easiness of her job. "Here is what you need to say. Just say it." Over and over again. Unbelievably sickening.

Spokane's Engine Three 39th Busiest in the Nation!

According to FireHouse Magazine, anyway. What's really amazing was that the Spokane Fire Department was up pretty high in the rankings for overall runs, as well. I can't remember the number, but Spokane Fire has more "emergency" calls than a lot of bigger cities.



That's right, Engine Three with 3,705 runs last year, was busier than Seattle's or Tacoma's busiest engine. E-15 (Wellesley and Crestline) was right on our heels too.

Here's something the Spokesman-Review won't tell you about the Spokane Fire Department - we respond to more emergencies, with far fewer crews, with far less funding than any comparable city's fire department. I believe compared to Tacoma, Spokane has a fourth less firefighters and a third less funding and yet we respond to more calls - good news for those of us who pay taxes for Spokane services - unless there is ever a very major catastrophe here. Then we would be wishing we had the staffing Tacoma and other cities have.

TILE REPAIR PROJECT UNDERWAY OR COMPLETED AT RIVERPARK SQUARE

The handyman's secret weapon.

Now prepared for the celebrity death(s) that will hurt the most...

I have always wanted a UFP flag. Today it arrived. I wish Shatner and Nimoy to live long and prosper, but some might say to that, "Mission accomplished." If, God forbid, they were to join all the recently celebrity departed, I've got something to fly at half-mast.

Traditional sighting at Nishinomiya Japanese Garden portends eight more weeks of summer...

Nishinomiya never fails to disappoint. I love the place. Everything Spokane intersects in and struggles with this peaceful oasis. The magic that powers the universe is strong here, but even this cosmological juice occasionally sputters, coughs and ponders, "What the f*ck?"

Like some mythical aquatic dweller it rose and floated toward us:


I'm just glad that the head this once belonged to was no longer attached or in tow.

Out of town Hoopfesters laugh at our Arena's artwork...

Did I catch them laughing at the length of this runner's arms? Or maybe it was his running style?

Maybe it was this? I think so.

I am putting out the challenge! Is there any other city's arena/coliseum artwork that can "top" ours?

Waller Wedding Went Well!

High atop Slate Peak, a right purdy place by Winthrop.

Odds and ends...

ELK DAYS BONUS:
It's kinda hard to tell in this picture, but apparently when the pastor left, his name was lovingly expunged from the marquee. Its erasure only highlighted it.


FACE UPDATE:
Neat scabs. Unfortunately, the main one has formed a brittle Hitler mustache which is now receding. My teeth have firmed up. My lip is almost back to normal.

Had to miss some work simply because of the potential of blood-borne pathogen issues (experimented with face wrapping - REVENGE OF THE INVISIBLE FIREFIGHTER). Having scabs fall off of a Hitler look-alike onto citizens would probably not be the best.

Hanging out with some of your best friends 24 hours at a time is hard to beat. So, I plan on being back next shift - maybe with a Guy Fawkes mask, if necessary.

Hitting the trail...

Took a spill today running on the High Drive upper trail. A rock caught my foot and down I went! I had my cell phone with me, so Sarah picked me up. It was interesting that, as I walked down High Drive - blood dripping, not one single car stopped to see if I was OK. I wouldn't have expected that. After showering, it looks like it's just little cuts and road rash.

ELK DAYS 2009!!!

My wife and I are both from Elk. And as it is often asked, I while provide the answer to the question now in your head - "Yes, our kids are fine."



Candy was thrown into puddles.

But we are a hardy lot.

Elk leads the nation in bovine-human hybrid technology.


Beguiling art was featured.

Look what the Brits stole from Elk! Sir Topham Hat is a fraud.

Is this sign saying what I think it's saying?

As seen at the Rose Garden. Apparently, the SPD budget is getting tighter:

How times have changed!

Under the tracks, over by the Swamp Tavern there is this. Maybe the guy is giving the kid some money. Maybe he has given him a refreshing beverage. Perhaps, he is going to take a beer away from him, with an admonishment. Regardless, he has stopped to interact with this sitting youngster.

Why is this a glimpse into a bygone era?

1. The restful youth still shows some gumption in his garb. He is not wearing pajamas (today's go-getter apparel standard) - I think.
2. The standing man has stopped. That is, he is not whizzing by in his SUV with cellphone in hand dialing 9-1-1.
3. The youngster's hair has a Cthulhu thing going on. Perhaps, it is more zalgo-esque.

Anyhow, Number Two is the biggy. You wouldn't believe the amount of 9-1-1 calls placed by motorists who see a guy sitting on the side of the road, or taking a nap in a car, on a front porch, etc. They usually never stop to see if there really is an emergency. Diesel-suckin' vehicles roll out over and over again to wake the person up, that is if he or she hasn't already moved on.

Some solutions:

1. Charge 25 cents for any 9-1-1 cell phone call. Not too much of a price to pay for a true emergency. Too much to pay for a lark.
2. Limit 9-1-1 calls to three per year, then you pay for the cost of the response. You can protest the charge, if any of the four calls were true emergencies.
3. Call people back to let them know what the "emergency" they called in truly was. You could also let the caller know about the actual emergency response which was delayed because some guy had stopped to tie his shoe. This event roused the caller's vigilance and resources were sent there instead.
4. Official serapes and sombreros for those who prefer to nap in public. When an emergency crew responds they could place these on the sleepers. There could be a sign on them that says, "DO NOT CALL 9-1-1!" Voila, you have converted a person who inspires fear and other negative emotions for the cellphone enthusiast into one that is engaging in a time-honored, charming and photo-worthy siesta. Maybe the caller might even stop to take a picture or chat with the person.

Spokane's South Hill - Home of upscale litterbugs, vandals and miscreants...

Found this. Any other part of town, it would have been an empty bag of Cheetos, not an artisan bread wrapper. I am sure there is an empty Merlot bottle in the hollyhocks.

It's summer and here they come:

X-Box 360 GTA avatar villains - smashing microbrew beer bottles in Manito Park - parents didn't upgrade their cable service. That'll teach 'em.

Doc-Martined panhandler children of surgeons ripping up the rose garden with dad's humvee.

Nordstrom-clothing-clad, sad-eyed hoodlums shuffling down the street with their designer pants falling down and no audience, except for the old lady raking her lawn. She gives them some twine for makeshift suspenders.

Mister Yuke once chronicled these behavioral patterns and rituals of the well-to-do wanksta.

I think I have now assumed the role of grouchy old man - hopefully in an upscale role as well. An unkempt Ed Begley Jr. hepped up on Nyquil and technology?

An inscription found on the bottom of the Costco watermelon -

I thought "Zalgo" may have been the guy's name who picked the melon. Apparently, there's more to "zalgo."

Another reason to fear Mexico?!? First H1N1 and now this?!?!

All I know is I am going to try to work "zalgo" into more conversations.

A new kind of bike lane?

This morning, riding to work I noticed a cyclist riding in the middle of Howard heading north - I mean right down the middle - in between the double yellow lines. He turned on Sharp and then I saw him dong the same thing up Post. Two lanes south. Two lanes north. Him in the middle. Am I missing something? Is this a defacto bike lane? How about on highways? This could open up a whole new world. I mean how much space do you really need for a bike lane? What about oncoming bicyclists?

Where is this? And what is Phase 1?

Hint: It is south of Sprague and east of Division.

UPDATE 6/18/09 - This is on Crestline - north of 57th @ Stone Crest - a housing development. It has a cool looking medieval guard shack at the entry.

Cap'n Juicy - Keepin' it real...

With the Marquee Lounge menacingly on starboard (Cap'n Juicy is headin' toward ye mate), things would be bad enough. Yet to make things worse, looming above and to port is The Onyx Pearl(?), a DAY SPA! Nonetheless, Cap'n Juicy navigates the treacherous Trendy Straits, and does so with relish.