Great Fathers Day So Far!

Sarah's perfect poppies!

Some fishing last week.

Guesthouse in Bellingham

Was a great cheap place to stay. Plus, I really like the housekeeper's name:

Wha Happened?!?!

By Cannon Hill Park today. I think the last picture might be a clue.

Aberdeen High School Marching Band Goes By Our House!

Looking good Bobcats! You guys will look great in the parade!!!

Recruit School Graduation

 Kirk graduated from his 11 week fire recruit class yesterday. Now the real work and fun begins. He has another 9 months of probation with lots of tests and studying while working as a firefighter. Congrats to him and to the entire class. It sounds like Spokane is getting a really good bunch with these guys. Yay!

Arggghhhh!!!

A couple of issues ago, Robert Herold, wrote a compelling piece in the Inlander about how the city of Spokane should reform its lavish pension system for police and firefighters. It was a pretty convincing piece with only one major flaw - there is no City of Spokane Pension for police and firefighters.

I tried to get him to write a retraction. I really like a lot of what Herold has had to say and did not want to delegitimize  any of his further editorials by casting doubts about his credibility. He wouldn't do it, and he told me I should just write a letter to the editor. So I did. It did not appear. I think this is because they had already accepted two that took Bob to task in a fine fashion. I suspect there were many more.

I look forward to future editorials by Professor Herold in the Inlander. May I suggest these topics: Outlawing the use of dogs for unicorn hunting, Eliminating the pet deduction on income tax, Allowing full voting rights for leprechauns, and of course, Compulsory warning labels on Pop Rocks®. Poor Little Mikey.

Here is what I wrote, in all its sarcastic splendor!

As someone who usually enjoys Professor Robert Herold's editorials, I was very curious to read what he had to say about the City of Spokane reforming its pension system for firefighters and police officers. Why the curiosity? Because, interestingly, there is no City of Spokane pension system for firefighters and police officers.

It's a shame Bob wasted all that ink and paper to stridently plea for reform of something that doesn't even exist. At least he didn't waste much of his time preparing this editorial. Obviously, Professor Herold's academic forte is not research.

I am a firefighter and a member of IAFF Local 29, the city firefighters' union. The majority of my state-administered pension plan's contributions are made by me. The city does contribute some and so does the state. However, Spokane's firefighters and police officers do not contribute to Social Security, nor will they receive it. Correspondingly, the City of Spokane makes no contribution to our Social Security. The taxpayers of Spokane pay one-percent less to a firefighter's or police officer's pension than they would if they were having to, instead, pay into his or her Social Security. That's right. The City of Spokane saves money because firefighters and police officers are on this pension plan and not on Social Security.

Not satisfied with just attacking something that doesn't even exist, Bob also launches into general falsehoods about police and fire retirements.

Bob, a  firefighter or police officer has to work until at least age 53 or be penalized up to 9%. Contrary to what you wrote, there is no retirement allowed before age 50. Most will not even retire at age 53 because much of their retirement would go to pay for private medical insurance until Medicare kicks in at age 65.

Professor Herold worked for 31 years at EWU. He says he didn't have a pension plan - only a 401K. He neglected to disclose that he did have the option of joining a state pension plan, very similar to mine - except he also receives Social Security, but he declined. I suspect he may now be regretting this decision, and this may be the impetus for his editorial. If Professor Herold did as much research into choosing his stock portfolio for his 401K as he did for his article on mythical "police and fire city pensions," his investments surely have not done very well.

Should there be a conversation about public employee pensions? Absolutely. But, why don't we start with discussing pensions that actually exist - what they cost, who pays for them, etc.? Bob, Like I said, I have enjoyed your editorials in the past. Now I have to wonder if they were all just works of fiction, as well. Do your homework next time.

John Griffith
Spokane, WA

MONEY BOMB!!!

Usually not a big fan of robocalls, but this one from a day or two ago was fantastic. Some highlights - MONEY BOMB! MONEY BOMB 2 COMING AT YOU! Make a maximum investment, right here, right now! Our campaign was successful until Obama's War on Women.

In less than 60 seconds, this call left on my answering machine tells you all you need to know about who they think their base is.

Audio is on there twice because it is that good!

As seen in Seattle yesterday

In Spokane, I have seen people walking out of bars in the Zone, but in Seattle....

Shit just got real.

Bought my first polo shirt.

Vancouver Trip

Washington not BC. Was in Vancouver for an educational seminar put on by the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters (WSCFF). I have been to a few of these over the years, but I don't think I had been to one in Vancouver. The picture above is a WSCFF rally where we endorsed Jay Inslee for governor.

When all was said and done, those of us from Spokane had to stay not where the classes were, at the Hilton, but at the Red Lion at the Quay. This Red Lion has an Expo 74 look to the architecture. The restaurant hovers above the Columbia River. The bar and restaurant look as if a pirate ship have rammed them. I have a fondness for tiki bars, and this rekindled the flame. It was fantastic!
The classes were pretty good. During a lunch break I took a walk around Downtown Vancouver. If you were at a conference in Downtown Spokane, within a few minutes walk, you would be deep in the heart of restaurants, condos, department stores, bars, restaurants, movie theaters, museums, etc. Not so Downtown Vancouver. There are towers upon towers of condos, Downtown (a lot of people live there - no state income tax - and then travel across the bridge to work/play/shop in Portland - no sales tax). There was a movie theater, a few bars, coffee places and a Subway, as well as a very nice park. And that was pretty much it. Weird. There is a really extensive trail system by the river too.

When you walk across the bridge into Oregon and then take the light rail into Portland, you can see the population increase - more shops, more fun, more noise and you feel bad for Downtown Vancouver. Vancouver is in a great location. There were a lot of bicyclists there too - riding to Portland. It's amazing how a different tax structure and a different political mindset can really push or pull populations.

I know that this is a pretty broad statement, and I apologize to my Conservative friends in advance, but every city that I have been in that is perpetually thriving is one that is perpetually politically Progressive, environmentally-aware, justice-oriented, diverse, open-minded, taxes progressively, etc. etc. Maybe Portland and Vancouver need each other to exist.

Nice people in Vancouver and a great bunch of firefighters who hosted us. Thanks and we'll be seeing you later!

Garden

So begins a new season of the vegetable garden. Those plants already growing in the box are kale and collards. They are from last year.

Interesting plants, they would freeze and look destroyed like the other plants but then thaw out to look just as good as before the freeze. Kale and collards should be in the diet of every arctic explorer.

Last year, the garden was getting destroyed by slugs as usual. For the first time, I used Sluggo, an environmentally OK slug killer. Overnight they were gone!

Just hoping the wild turkeys don't get into the garden this year. Might have to do some fencing.

I don't think I got started planting until June last year. So, I am ahead of the game already.

GROCERY OUTLET

It's like the Harbor-Freight of food.

About a month ago, I visited the new Grocery Outlet in the old Safeway building downtown. Fantastic!

Found a bottle of wine that we usually pay $11. At GO, it was $2.99. Produce is cheap and good. Not much in the way of meat. Tons of frozen food. Great pasta from Italy. Bulk spices are a great deal. Beer is about the same price.

Like Harbor-Freight, you walk out of there with a lot more than what you were looking for. Best to not go there on a daily basis. The neighborhood Rosauer's continues to be our daily go-to store.

The cool thing about GO is that you never know what you might find there. Items come and go. That $2.99 bottle of wine isn't there anymore. But, I kind of like that.

Looking forward to their liquor selection (if they get one). I might be able to finally score some pimento liqueur. I think it would be great to get some Grocery Outlet reusable shopping bags to bring to Trader Joes.

Mission Complete!

Last weekend, I finished the 165 mile swim. It started on New Years Day. The last few weeks, I was putting in 4-6 miles every day - five days a week.

I wound up being the first to finish the challenge. It remains open until the end of July. I'm happy about my standing. But, I am really happy to get back to running and bicycling. I will keep on swimming, just not near as many miles.

I have to stop eating like I am swimming so much or else! I should be posting here more frequently too.

Where I has been...

In the pool. Hours every day.

Why? Because I have a plan. Part of that plan requires me to swim a marathon plus next week.

I have ceased all running and all cycling for the last two weeks because of the plan. After the plan, I will have a life again. It will be sad if my plan does not work, but I will be able to bike and run, one way or the other after next week. I will probably read a book or play the ukulele or watch TV or something else.

The plan sucks. But, it is the plan.

New shoes

I have not been a very good blogger lately. Really, there hasn't been too much to write about. I know. That hasn't stopped me in the past.

Still swimming - a lot. In fact, I have been putting in some absurdly long swims. The other day I swam for 3 hours straight, stopping only long enough to drink some Ultima to keep from cramping up. Sometimes I feel like a third-stage guild navigator.

And on that note, a few year back, I started getting into the minimalist shoe deal.

I tried to buy some minimalist running shoes at Runner's Soul back then, and was told they would never carry 5 -Fingers or any other shoe like it because they didn't think there was a market for it.

Yesterday, I was in the locker room, having just finished swimming and folding space, and I ran into a fellow I haven't seen in about 12 years. He told me he was reading Born to Run and this was inspiring him to get back into running again. A few minutes later, my son texted me that he was off to buy some new running shoes. I have been procrastinating about getting myself new shoes, but I thought that there seemed to be some cosmic shoe plan for me after these two conversations, so I walked over to Runner's Soul.

It's obvious that Runner's Soul has seen the light regarding minimalist shoes. Wow. A lot to choose from. I picked out the New Balance Trail Minimus. I ran with them today.

The soul on these shoes is thick enough that you won't be hobbled by a rock or an acorn, yet you will be able to feel all kind of craziness underfoot. They are light- weighing somewhere between the Pankas and the most minimalist trail shoe you could purchase two years ago. A lot of my running lately has been to work and back, with a backpack full of stuff, and these should work well for this.

I Paid $100 for these shoes, but it looks like you can pick them up online for about $70. I like buying at Runner's Soul whenever I can, so I did. Many New Balance shoes are made in the USA. However, all the interesting ones are made in China. Sigh.


I like these shoes. They will be replacing my full-suspension running shoes, not my paper-thin Pankas! The Pankas, after liberal shoe-gooing, are still going strong.

LINCOLN!

Wow. I am just finishing up The "S" Word: A Short History of an American Tradition... Socialism. Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Paine and Benjamin Franklin figure pretty prominently in this very interesting book.

It's pretty well documented that Lincoln and Karl Marx were mutual admirers, but I think they would have dropped their Communist meanderings if there were real vampires to slay, not just the metaphorical kind.

Still swimming a lot.

Plan on hitting the 100 mile mark before St. Patrick's Day. Did a 4 mile swim last week. That's 287 flipturns - one after the other, after the other, ad nauseum. I really don't stop until I am done, unless I need to drink some supplement. I haven't used any flippers, floats or paddles in this endeavor. Most of the weeks, I put in 12 miles or more.

I would like to do a 10k sometime. Maybe in a couple of weeks. It would take me a little less than 4 hours, I think, to do the 6.2 miles.

A couple of weeks ago on another long swim, for just a second, I thought I saw a black cat running across the bottom of the deep end. That was at the three and a half mile mark. Tried to find a picture of what I saw on the Interwebs. This is close:

Bad Ass Mary Kay Mustang

Black is the new pink.

Walking to Epcot

The first day of my union conference in Orlando, there really wasn't much going on until late afternoon/early evening, so I decided I would go to Epcot for the morning and afternoon. Never been there.

Our hotel was across the street from Downtown Disney - a conglomeration of shops, restaurants and entertainment venues. There are tons of buses (usually out front, but this week behind DD because of construction). So I walked across the street from the hotel and went through DD until I arrived where all the buses (all of them placarded that they are affiliated with the Magic Kingdom) were. I asked the bus driver if his bus went to Epcot. He said none of the DD buses went to any of the parks. I later found out that this was indeed true. He said I needed to go back to the hotel and take a bus from there. I asked him if it were possible for me to walk to Epcot. He laughed (a lot) and said that this was impossible, shaking his head. Craziest shit he had ever heard.

So I walked to Epcot. I think it was probably about 5 miles, all together. I had to walk along a road that was kind of like a freeway. There were no sidewalks, no bike lanes. There were no other walkers, bikers, just cars and buses. It was about 80 degrees with not a cloud in the sky. There was a nice breeze. I walked on a grassy shoulder, but every once in a while I had to step onto the highway to get around shrubs or get across a river by loping atop a highway overpass.

My GPS on my Iphone gave me a route that took me right to the "cast members" only parking area and employee entrance. It showed a way through to the front gate. Unfortunately, this route now had a fence topped with concertina wire. So, I walked around that entire corner looking for a breach and eventually over to the security guard at the delivery entrance to Epcot.

He was very concerned that I had crossed the street to talk to him in his security booth, waving me away. But I approached anyhow.

"Pardon me. I walked here and am looking for a route to the front gate."

"Where did you park your car?"

"I didn't drive. I walked about 3 and a half miles here from my hotel by Downtown Disney."

"You walked here? You couldn't have. Look. There is no way to get to the front gate from here. Turn around. Go back to your hotel and catch a bus."

"OK. Sure. Now as I understand it, if one were to continue around the perimeter, heading north, one should be able to hit the front gate. Is there a quicker way?

"No. And it's another 3 miles just to the front gate. Don't do it. Go back to your hotel and be careful."

"Absolutely. Thank you for your help." I shook his hand and then walked the perimeter to the north. A police car slowed down, but I think he just didn't want to deal with this bizarre walking issue and so he never stopped.

I found a breach in the palmettos, bushes and palm trees and staggered into the parking lot. Into the future - Epcot. And had a good time. I think I saw my old 77 Vega on a ride.

This area is weird. Disney owns the whole corner of the state. The land is flat. The weather is great. Why no bicycle lanes? Why no pedestrian walkways to the parks? It would be cheap for them to build and maintain. It would be fun for visitors. You could even line the trails with gardens or populate them with animatronic figures or God-knows-what. Rent bikes. Have electric scooters or trams, whatever.

Didn't see one bicycle in flat, sunny Orlando. I think the future may have passed them by.

The charmed life of walking...

My favorite form of transportation is walking. Next, is the bicycle. This time of year, you can bundle up pretty good, pop in the earbuds - crank up the podcasts and get anywhere you want to go on foot. Put on some spikey galoshes or Yacktrax when it's icy. No locking up the bike. No finding a parking spot. Pretty darn convenient.

But, I knew it was going to be one of those days, when two days ago, I was walking downtown and got hit once by a car and had three near misses.

The hit - I was walking on the sidewalk/driveway in front of Huckleberry's parking lot. Car pulls up to turn onto Monroe. The driver checks to her left to clear traffic for her right-hand turn. I am walking from her right. She doesn't look to her right. I always look into the eyes of potential assassins, so I notice this, but too late. She turns into me and I bounce off her hood and fender. Not hard. I don't fall down and it doesn't hurt. She looks at me, over her shoulder, placidly as she proceeds up the hill. Sometimes when I have been hit, the ladies wave at me immediately after impact. We are a friendly town.

I've ridden the hood of a postal service vehicle while out for a jog. Some would consider this cheating.

There were a few more close calls in intersections on this obstacle-encountering mile-and-a-half trek downtown. The best was an elderly motorist's turn westbound onto Third - that is onto eastbound Third. The driver had to turn the wrong way in order to almost hit me in the crosswalk. He realized his mistake before contact was made. Which is nice.

At work, car accidents seem to increase when the weather turns pleasant, and this was a sunny day. So, maybe that was the problem. Maybe, I'm the problem.

Back in the swim...

Well, I am procrastinating. I should be swimming.

In another swim contest - FOR A FREE T-SHIRT!!!! Have to swim 165 miles by July 31st. This should help me prepare for the Long Bridge Swim again this year, too.

Want to get in 10 miles this week. Furthest swam in one shot is 3 miles on Thursday. That is a mind-numbingly long time. I am using the Swimp3 music machine to help the time pass.

Yes. This picture is from last summer. And I am flexing. And that's as good as it will ever get.

As 2011 closes...

Jack Greenamyer, my officer for many years, retires (after 47 years of working for SFD!) Happy fishing, Jack!

Merry Christmas!

From the Manito Greenhouse Christmas Light Display. The two above are processed a little bit differently. One you will have to cross your eyes a little more than the other. Which looks more 3D to you? Instructions on how to do this were in the last post.

Santa Mouse in 3D!!!

The story of Santa Mouse is one that goes back 44 years. It is a classic tale of redemption, revenge, eggnog and electricity. I don't have time to tell it right now. However, if you cross your eyes just enough, and stare at the picture, Santa Mouse will take on 3Dness. If you click the picture, it will show up larger. That might help.

What you are trying to do is create a 3rd picture in the middle of these two, and that one will be in 3D.

Just spent some time with my Viewmaster and some 60s reels of the Badlands and Colorado skiing. Awesome!

Driving

I had to drive yesterday to my union's executive board meeting. After I parked my vehicle, I took this picture.

HELP FIGHT BREAST CANCER!

Don't know if this fights eye cancer. Maybe. Would make a great stalking stuffer. As seen at Rite-Aid.

Obligatory Turkey Trot Movie

A very nice run yesterday. I rode my bike home from work yesterday morning. Thanks to studded tires I had no idea how slick it was until Sarah and I walked to Manito to run. By the time we started, the ice was pretty much gone though.

I really like the Turkey Trot. I can keep the competitive fires pretty much extinguished and just enjoy being a part of the parade. Then I can eat a lot later.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. In fact, I think I am going to keep celebrating today.

Sushi Maru - $1.50 every plate on the conveyor belt - Nov 7, 8, 9

It's like Disneyland's It's a Small World ride, except you eat stuff.

We would have saved a ton of money last week! Sushi Maru - Riverpark Square.

Is it just me or can you tell a lot about a candidate and his supporters by where they place their signs?

Of course, Steve Salvatori really has the vacant lot campaign sign market cornered. Ever wonder what the Spokane Entrepreneurial Center is that Steve founded? It's vacant building property he's trying to rent. Sigh...

Now, the owners of this house on High Drive have a hedge around their home so the riff raff cannot gaze upon its opulence. So how do you get us to see their yard sign when you can't see their yard? Easy! Just put up a ladder upon which you can affix your Condon (nonpartisan) sign. Any guesses on who their school board choice is? How about Prop One or the Costco liquor initiative?


Dennis, Dennis, Dennis. Your followers have placed your signs on the parkland running up and down the middle of Manito Boulevard. I thought about reporting this illegal sign placement. But, you know, I think it speaks volumes. Maybe this sign is just a warning to the smart-alecky trees!

Rocks of Sharon Discovery!!!

Sarah and I were hiking around the Rocks of Sharon yesterday. If you have never been there, it's worth a trip. Look at this rock:


I think this is pretty conclusive proof that the Rocks of Sharon is really some sort of ancient Mt Rushmore dedicated to the apes who you used to run our planet. This would also explain the ruins of the frozen banana stand we found there. I think the head pictured above must be that of General Ursus:


If we find Dr. Zaius's face, I am calling the Discovery Channel.

Turkeys in our front yard!

Had a couple of turkeys hanging out on our street yesterday. Saw them again today. They were chasing some crows around!

Peaceable couch kingdom!

Would like matching trousers

Wow. I guess he or she viewed 101 Dalmatians as more of a business plan. Seen yesterday.

This and that

I guess it is a good sign that I haven't posted much lately. Been busy with some fun projects and living the good life. Weekends have been particularly nice. Sarah and I have been really having fun, and we've been getting to and from the fun on foot or by bicycle, as usual. And this time of year is pretty hard to beat the sheer beauty that is Spokane.

In no particular order, some highlights:

Sekani trail run - Got off work and then Sarah and I biked past Upriver Dam for this event. And guess who took first for her age group for both men and women. That's right - Sarah won! After we biked home, we walked to Aunties for a book reading by the author of The Man Who Never Died - a book about Joe Hill, an instrumental member of the IWW. Much of the story takes place in Spokane, so the author, William Adler, was pretty happy to be here, especially with all the Occupy stuff going on. Beers downtown.

Half a turkey on sale at Rosauers. Look what the Big Green Egg can do! Had great meals all the last week (OK some of them I cooked at work). We were invited over to friends for a really fun evening on Thursday. WOW - a great meal and fantastic conviviality in their very spookified, beautiful home. Again, a long autumnal walk each way. Nice!




A couple of weeks ago, a sister firefighter put on a benefit for one of our members who was recently diagnosed with cancer - a tricycle race. If you have never been to one of these, you can watch an entire race, on this video. Very cool!

Sarah and I try to support the local wine scene by belonging to some Spokane wine clubs. Whitestone and Barrister had release parties last Friday. So again, another walk downtown.

If you get a chance, ride your bike down Manito Blvd, around Manito Park and then walk around Cannon Hill Park. Amazingly beautiful. Also, Cannon Hill Pond is beginning to see some of the less common species of ducks as they migrate south.

First Friday Last Friday

Sarah and I met up with some friends Downtown for First Friday. The best part was Terrain. Something that I didn't even know existed. Thousands of feet of open spaces and cubby holes filled with paintings, sculptures, readings, films, music. It was amazing! What was really great was that it was packed. You couldn't squeeze one more person into the poetry reading. WOW!

Spokane RIver Clean Up 2011

A lot of fun as usual. We spent most of our time in an abandoned homeless person's campsite. Hundreds of pounds of all kinds of garbage was hauled out. It looked like it had been abandoned for a long time.

Not to get preachy, but you can add the transient camps along our river to the outcomes of conservative causes, private market solutions and other efforts to gut the social safety net. What we do to our mentally ill haunts our streets, our economy and our national conscience. And it washes up right here on the banks of the Spokane River.

The Spokane County Jail is the largest mental health care facility on the east side of the state. And the only treatment many of the residents receive is when they are behind bars. For many, when they aren't "receiving treatment," they abide in their garbage-strewn camps along the river.

Some of the most recent controversies in Spokane are direct outcomes of those who slash funding for the mentally ill and work to destroy government. Ironic that some of these same politicians now run for office and shamefully "cash in" on their abandonment of the mentally ill. They point their fingers at sad, unnecessary events and blame the incumbents who have had to deal with the crisis these office challengers have created, championed and will continue to champion. It is very sad, and hopefully the voters in Spokane understand that they are being played by these morally ambivalent hucksters. We must work to keep them out of our city offices where they will only make things worse.

It would be nice to have seen some of these office seekers out here cleaning up the garbage, seeing what they helped create. I doubt they would have made the connection. Mayor Mary Verner was out here with us though, cleaning up the mess. Cleaning up other people's messes is something Mayor Verner does - a lot. I hope the voter knows what a great, smart, hardworking, ethical person we have as our mayor. We could do a lot worse. I just hope in November we don't.

OK. Off my soapbox. Here are some cool things other people found in the river: