Halloweenies Beware!

Friends of mine have a couple of these signs up at their front door. Sorry about cutting off the bottom of the picture, The sign reads: "Halloweenies Beware! (and then the descriptive list) Grandparents reside on the premises.

This is fair warning to all trick-or-treaters that they are receiving candy from:

Left wing, flaming liberal, bleeding heart, one worlding, government trusting, union supporting, peace marching, patriotic, tree hugging, PBS and NPR belonging, citzen activist, pointy-headed, neighborly, long memoried, radically Catholic

GRANDPARENTS!

Scary! Sends chills down my spine!

I would suspect liberal amounts of candy from these folks...

Handouts, handouts, handouts. When will it end? Probably around 9 pm on October 31st.

Fish Lake Trail in Fall...

Promised Aidan last week that we would do the Fish Lake Trail this weekend. This morning, he stumbled out of bed, looked out the window and scratched himself. It looked like it would either rain or snow. I thought to myself - I'm off the hook. He won't want to bike in this! Was I wrong. "We're still doing Fish Lake, right Dad?" He would have none of it. I even offered a different shorter ride.

The Rosauer's billboard read 42 degrees. Luckily, we were well provisioned with hot tea and chocolate. We rode through Vinegar Flats across 195, Marshall Road and then on to the trail. This was Aidan's first time on the Fish Lake Trail.

We went 10 miles past Marshall and the "tunnel." A little tea and hot chocolate and we turned around and headed home, up the hill and back home.

It seems to me that there is more pavement on the trail than last year, but it could just be my imagination. I kinda like the different toppings. There aren't very many people on the trail.

Maybe one more (trip out to Cheney have a couple of beers and turn around) before the snow flies.

Rockin' Roller Derby! Lilac City Roller Girls last night....

You knew there was going to be trouble. There has always been bad blood between the Toothless Annies and the Pretty Deads. Everyone knows that. And last night, that bad blood was spilled - on both sides. This is one sports team that I can get behind.

Forget THE SHOCK. Forget THE CHIEFS. Forget THE INDIANS. Spokane has been gifted with these wheeled vixens and we need to acknowledge that. Elbows and fists were flying, and so were the skaters themselves - right into the fans! Think of NASCAR without the cars and you're heading in the right direction.

November 16th is the next derby. Tickets are on sale at Boo Radleys.

The only downer was that the convention center ran out of beer before the event even started. There must have been 10 convention center people working it, so it must have cost a lot to have it there. No beer? OK, make that two iced teas. Here's a 20. Oh you don't haver change?!?! Come on convention center. You better do better than that!

Autumn does Spokane!

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Originally uploaded by Griffith Family

I am really beginning to believe that the best way to come to appreciate our town is on bicycle.

I've been commuting by bicycle in Spokane (sometimes more fervently than others) since 1982. But, it's just been the past 10 years or so that I have felt comfortable to "mix it up" in traffic. Also with aging knees, I find I am more inclined to get on my bike for exercise than to run some days. And the payoff is a scene like this. Throw in the smells and sounds that you can only obtain on a bike and it's simply the best.

Talk to someone from Portland. They gush about their town. Visit Portland, you will too. I wonder how much if this appreciation is due to the evangelizing power of the bicycle. I would suspect quite a bit.

Riders come to appreciate their town, and by riding in auto traffic, they show others that they aren't tied to the car. You can get fresh air, exercise, adventure and a healthy dose of beauty - simply by going to work or the store in a more fun fashion.

All to say, if you're so inclined. Dust that bike off. Pump up the tires and go for a short ride in your neighborhood. You might be surprised at what's out there!

Unfortunate signage.

These signs are plastered on Spokane fire stations and other official "safe places." I will admit that perhaps I am reading more into this, but everyone I've talked to who have seen these signs, see "it" too. There has been much pondering of the image juxtaposed with the words "safe" and "place." What and where?

At least it shows that Spokane has become a more accepting, tolerant (safe?) place in terms of interracial relationships and apparently all relationships for that matter.

Anyway, hats off to the designer of the logo. You pulled it off. People bought it and there it is. The arrow may have been a little over the top.

Et tu, McGruff?

Feeling Strong Now

Saw this weight bench in an alley. I had just watched the movie Rocky Balboa.

Spokane Street Basketball - Formal Attire Required!

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Originally uploaded by Griffith Family

So much for Spokane's reputation as a laidback berg. Caught these two gentlemen engaged in sport. The sweat-soaked polyester was a powder blue blur at times. One more nod to this gentlemen's game - as one player pulled another down from a layin - by his cummerbund, no less, his opponent allowed him a freethrow as an apologetic compensation. Here here.

XtraCycle participates in motored bicycle gathering...

Opportunity knocked again!

Hey, the masts are up this morning on the white truck in Riverfront Park!

Better pictures of truck.

Coming home this morning, I made sure my camera setting was correct and took a couple more pictures. The masts are still down (it is the weekend). I hadn't noticed the concrete barriers before. Also, there is some kind of dish antenna in the front of the truck. You can click on the picture to get a larger file.

Things you see while biking around Spokane...

Sorry about the low-res image. I also took a picture of the Xtra-cylce parked next to 3 motorcycles and the fire engine in my station when I got to work this morning. Very cool. But, I didn't realize my cellphone camera had flipped into low-res mode. Argggh.

Anyway, I digress. I saw this truck parked at Riverfront Park, kind of hidden in some trees the other day whilst biking home form CompUSA. So I stopped by on my way to work this morning to take the picture. The other afternoon, the antennae were extended and they blended in to the multiple flag poles there. They looked a little thicker than flag poles, more like a ship's masts. There's a generator behind the truck and the whole thing is fenced off.

Anybody know what the story is?

From Building Nina - a great story of a helicopter boat rescue on Long Lake (Lake Spokane)...

Click the title to read the story, or heck, watch the video:

Mega-addition to nursing home!

This was always a somewhat small building. One story. Now there are girders in place to envelope the original strucuture and take it up two or three stories. It looks like it will be at least 10 times the size of before, and will spread out across the whole block. A neat idea in that the residents won't have to move during the remodel.

As seen in Auntie's Bookstore...

No matter what you think of Dan Quayle, you have to admire the title of his autobigraphy! it's even marked down!!!! And yes, this is a hardback.

Shrinking, icy Manito Pond makes it easier to feed the ducks.

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Originally uploaded by Griffith Family.

A couple more days of this cold and the ducks will have to stack themselves in what's left of the pond.

Elite Traveler Magazine - as found in Spokane's Hotel Lusso...

Hotel Lusso - a great place! Beautiful big rooms. Tasteful decor. An awesome restaurant. And in every room a $35 magazine. It was a little larger than most magazines, but a ton more ads. Nothing from the Franklin Mint or Sea Monkeys, however.

If you are looking for a bargain, you can subscribe and get a year's worth (6 issues) for less than $200.

"Elite Traveler is the essence of luxury." When you think of it that way, it almost seems too cheap.

You drive over it a lot...

Some cellphone video of the Monroe Street Bridge and falls. There are some new viewing areas (at least new to me) off the north bank, right at the foot of the bridge and smack-dab over the river. Well worth checking out! This is January 6th. It should even be more impressive in a couple of months.

Christmas Eve Caroling at Cannon Hill Park!

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Originally uploaded by Griffith Family.

A couple hundred folks gather every Christmas Eve to carol. I believe this has been a tradition since the 1940s.

Santa spotted over Spokane - Ride along!

U-Pick Apples and the New World Order!

This from picking apples in Green Bluff. On the edge of Jonathan Apples at "Hidden Acres" Orchards looms this tower. Guard tower? Deer hunting platform? Interplanetary docking port? "Hidden Acres"? Sounds like a good name for a covert operation of any kind. And why were those guys selling cocoa and hot cider wearing flourescent orange coveralls anyway? Not to mention all the microfilm we've found in the macintosh cores...

Bernard St. Tree Removal...

As many of you know, I try not to make this blog too political. But, I received this e-mail today, and wanted to share it with you:


Greetings all!

Here is a link to a guest editorial in the Inlander written by the Mayor regarding the Bernard Street project. He still seems to think this is about trees when it is about the law and the comprehensive plan. Please let him know how you feel about his position. Let him know how you plant to vote the next time a Street Bond proposition is on the ballot. If you are so inclined, write a letter to the Inlander and copy to the Mayor.

link to editorial: http://www.inlander.com/commentary/302015208611699.php
Inlander letters to the Editor: totheeditor@inlander.com
Mayor's email address: dhession@spokanecity.org

Richard

New bike dealio

Pretty much ditched my car for a bike, a few months ago. Started researching ways to carry more stuff. The XtraCycle Free Radical attaches to the back of your bike where your rear wheel used to be. Then you take your rear wheel and attach it to the Free Radical. If you want to see more about this, you can click on the link in the title.

As you can see from the picture, you can load it up with a lot of groceries- up to 200 pounds worth! Recently met a Spokane family that has had one of these for years, and swears by them.

Concrete proof of the Loch Ness Monster or dragons, or something...

This was a very large delivery made to our neighbor's house, the other day. Unfortunately, it's not going in the front yard.

Mister Yuke's Swan Song

Well, all the swans have now been killed in Manito Park. And we look forward to another summer of broken beer bottles, torn up lawns, destroyed trees and other acts of vandalism by little a**holes. What to do...

I know that violence is not the answer, but it is fun to dream.

Perhaps, this could be the beginning of a new superhero. "A spokane parks arborist breaks through the ice at Manito Pond. No one hears his pleas for help. He emerges from the pond, with duckpond water-filled lungs and axe still in hand, and a mission..."

The Axeman! Click the title above to hear the song (by Mister Yuke).

Thanks to FLICKR and Special P for the swan photo.

This house really says it all!

The paint is peeling, but the pride is there. These colors don't run, even though they might want to.

Valentines Greeting at Bernard and Cliff Bridge

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

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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!

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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

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Originally uploaded by sporama.

old rusting rails

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Originally uploaded by sporama.

old bricks from the street

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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!