Wednesday, March 31, 2004
Ten on Tuesdays from yanowhatimean.com
This is Wednesday but I cannot pass up listing my ten favorite foods in no particular order:
1. Deep dark chocolate in any form and when pregnant, I craved more.
2. My husband's creme brulee.
3. Dungeness Crab cold and plain.
4. King Crab legs warm with butter.
5. Wild King Salmon
6. Chevre Chaud salad (warm goat cheese salad)
7. Halibut
8. My husband's herb crusted rack of lamb
9. Joyous Ginger Mussels
10. Blackberries, mmm, in cobbler, jam, and pie
This is Wednesday but I cannot pass up listing my ten favorite foods in no particular order:
1. Deep dark chocolate in any form and when pregnant, I craved more.
2. My husband's creme brulee.
3. Dungeness Crab cold and plain.
4. King Crab legs warm with butter.
5. Wild King Salmon
6. Chevre Chaud salad (warm goat cheese salad)
7. Halibut
8. My husband's herb crusted rack of lamb
9. Joyous Ginger Mussels
10. Blackberries, mmm, in cobbler, jam, and pie
// posted by Janet @ 9:22 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, March 30, 2004
Passion for Justice
Leonard Schroeter!! Oh yes, Leonard...there is a wonderful interview of him in this month's Washington Law&Politics, www.lawandpolitics.com, entitled Landmark Legacy by J. Kingston Pierce. Leonard worked for Thurgood Marshall (who later would become one of our great Supreme Court Justices) and did research for Brown v. Board of Education. Brown "made clear that racial-segregation laws in American public schools were unconstitutional." We are now celebrating the 50th anniversary of that decision which led to monumental changes in our civil rights during the 1960's. Leonard, 79, is a prominent retired Seattle attorney. I can call him Leonard because he was my boss and mentor for six years. To be honest, he was difficult to work for and he didn't teach me much about the mechanics of the practice of law. BUT, he taught me a hell of a lot about passion for justice and for that I am grateful.
I do believe it is a part of Seattle's culture to protest injustice. We are the first to take to the streets or to write letters when situations are not fair. As parents, this is how we raise our children--to speak up--to fight wrongs and to help those who are treated unfairly.
I worked for Leonard, who made the decision to hire me, from 1979 until 1985 in downtown Seattle. He retired in 1989 and I haven't seen him since. He was Jewish and Harvard educated and I was this girl from Montana---oil and water---but he liked me and he thought I was smart. As a young attorney, his advice to me was that I was too f***ing polite. Everything I turned into him for review, he would scribble on it, "Let's Discuss!" For Christmas one year, I had a red rubber stamp made for him that said "Let's Discuss!" He hated Christmas gifts but he loved this one. He respected my passion for the environment but teased me mercilessly for trying to save paper. I can just hear him saying, "It's OUTRAGEOUS to try and save paper in a law office. Paper is what we do!!" He didn't like it much but he understood when I left in 1985 to have babies.
He was responsible for my claim to fame, Herskovits v. Group Health. The case became known as "Loss of a Chance" and it was decided by the Washington Supreme Court in 1983. Mr. Herskovits went to Group Health complaining of a cough; they never looked into it; he never could see a doctor; and they gave him cough medicine. Finally, he went to see an outside specialist who diagnosed lung cancer and he died. Group Health admitted they screwed up but maintained the case should be thrown out because even if they had diagnosed the lung cancer much earlier, Mr. Herskovits in all probability would have died anyway. I argued, under Leonard's tutelage, that Mr. Herskovits lost a "CHANCE" of survival and should not a jury be the body to decide if that loss is worth anything??!! We cannot have health care providers be willy-nilly negligent and then claim it doesn't matter (that passion for justice thing). The Washington Supreme Court agreed with us and my case ended up in law books.
As a matter of fact, my husband attended exactly one year ago, a conference in Brooklyn, New York at the Brooklyn Law School. The conference was titled, "Science for Judges" and he was participating as a scientist. You can imagine his shock as he listened to the speakers and a Brooklyn Law School professor spoke about how he teaches a landmark case from Washington State every year to his students: Herskovits v. Group Health!!!
You know, I should shoot an e-mail off to Leonard about this and I should end it with, "Let's Discuss!"
Leonard Schroeter!! Oh yes, Leonard...there is a wonderful interview of him in this month's Washington Law&Politics, www.lawandpolitics.com, entitled Landmark Legacy by J. Kingston Pierce. Leonard worked for Thurgood Marshall (who later would become one of our great Supreme Court Justices) and did research for Brown v. Board of Education. Brown "made clear that racial-segregation laws in American public schools were unconstitutional." We are now celebrating the 50th anniversary of that decision which led to monumental changes in our civil rights during the 1960's. Leonard, 79, is a prominent retired Seattle attorney. I can call him Leonard because he was my boss and mentor for six years. To be honest, he was difficult to work for and he didn't teach me much about the mechanics of the practice of law. BUT, he taught me a hell of a lot about passion for justice and for that I am grateful.
I do believe it is a part of Seattle's culture to protest injustice. We are the first to take to the streets or to write letters when situations are not fair. As parents, this is how we raise our children--to speak up--to fight wrongs and to help those who are treated unfairly.
I worked for Leonard, who made the decision to hire me, from 1979 until 1985 in downtown Seattle. He retired in 1989 and I haven't seen him since. He was Jewish and Harvard educated and I was this girl from Montana---oil and water---but he liked me and he thought I was smart. As a young attorney, his advice to me was that I was too f***ing polite. Everything I turned into him for review, he would scribble on it, "Let's Discuss!" For Christmas one year, I had a red rubber stamp made for him that said "Let's Discuss!" He hated Christmas gifts but he loved this one. He respected my passion for the environment but teased me mercilessly for trying to save paper. I can just hear him saying, "It's OUTRAGEOUS to try and save paper in a law office. Paper is what we do!!" He didn't like it much but he understood when I left in 1985 to have babies.
He was responsible for my claim to fame, Herskovits v. Group Health. The case became known as "Loss of a Chance" and it was decided by the Washington Supreme Court in 1983. Mr. Herskovits went to Group Health complaining of a cough; they never looked into it; he never could see a doctor; and they gave him cough medicine. Finally, he went to see an outside specialist who diagnosed lung cancer and he died. Group Health admitted they screwed up but maintained the case should be thrown out because even if they had diagnosed the lung cancer much earlier, Mr. Herskovits in all probability would have died anyway. I argued, under Leonard's tutelage, that Mr. Herskovits lost a "CHANCE" of survival and should not a jury be the body to decide if that loss is worth anything??!! We cannot have health care providers be willy-nilly negligent and then claim it doesn't matter (that passion for justice thing). The Washington Supreme Court agreed with us and my case ended up in law books.
As a matter of fact, my husband attended exactly one year ago, a conference in Brooklyn, New York at the Brooklyn Law School. The conference was titled, "Science for Judges" and he was participating as a scientist. You can imagine his shock as he listened to the speakers and a Brooklyn Law School professor spoke about how he teaches a landmark case from Washington State every year to his students: Herskovits v. Group Health!!!
You know, I should shoot an e-mail off to Leonard about this and I should end it with, "Let's Discuss!"
// posted by Janet @ 8:22 AM
0 comments
Monday, March 29, 2004
Only In Seattle:
1. Only in Seattle do they NOT hand out those dark film glasses when you get your eyes dilated; then when the sun shines--like today--I'M BLIND!
2. Only in Seattle will you hear a comment in a large crowd moving into an arena where people are moving both ways: "I feel like a salmon. This must be what it is like to swim upstream!" (I honestly heard this said.)
1. Only in Seattle do they NOT hand out those dark film glasses when you get your eyes dilated; then when the sun shines--like today--I'M BLIND!
2. Only in Seattle will you hear a comment in a large crowd moving into an arena where people are moving both ways: "I feel like a salmon. This must be what it is like to swim upstream!" (I honestly heard this said.)
// posted by Janet @ 2:35 PM
0 comments
Thursday, March 25, 2004
Animals and ME, Part 2: Close Encounters of the Wild Kind
Seeing animals in the wild is breathtaking, sometimes amusing and sometimes scary. Visiting zoos or Sea World type places leaves me with an uncomfortable feeling even though I applaud much of the work they do for preservation of endangered species. The gorilla that escaped the other day I am sure had just had it--he was completely fed up with being laughed at by humans, and it is tragic he had to be killed. No, I prefer to see non-human residents of our earth in their natural habitat.
Most Sensual--Orcas
Actually, there is an issue about whale watching cruises and if they bother our resident orca pods. We have to be careful but the most soul-filling experience I've had is watching orcas from a boat. The day was still and calm and the water glassy. The Olympic Mountains were snow-covered and majestic; the boat stopped its engine and there was silence. Silence and then "Whoosh"--the sound of orcas breathing while their black and white bodies gracefully slice through the water. Silence---Whoosh---Silence---Whoosh!! Never ever again will I be able to see Shamu at Sea World.
Most Adorable
One morning while walking my Golden Retriever at our local beach just down from the lighthouse, my dog started to really pull. All of a sudden, I saw the cutest creature I have ever seen in my life and I've seen a lot of baby wild animals. A baby seal (not a sea lion) was resting on the rocks; I quieted my dog and just observed from a little distance. Signs are posted everywhere to leave them be--they're not abandoned but Mom is probably just fishing nearby. He was little, gray and furry with the sweetest face and huge eyes. Oh my gosh--and I couldn't touch.
Most Shocking
As a teen ager, my Mom and Dad and brother and me and dog went backpacking into the wilderness in Montana. My Dad put up a lean-to with bows for a bed when we reached our destination. We didn't carry a tent because Dad wanted to sleep under the stars. The next morning, I was the last to wake up. My Mom was by the fire and my Dad and brother were off fishing somewhere. I opened my eyes but I did not see stars--a huge pure white mountain goat was standing on a rock about 15 feet away and he was curiously staring at me. Oh my---hello, Goat!!
Most Scary and Most Humorous
After my husband and I were married, we would camp and backpack with my parents now and then. In Montana, the highest peak, Granite peak is in the Beartooth Mountains. We were car camping--really car camping in a desolate area there. My parents slept in their Jeep and we were sleeping in the back of our little station wagon but it was small so it was open with a tarp. Our dogs were sleeping with us. Early in the morning, I heard some snorting and peeked out. GEEZ--a gigantic black bear--though it was brown. (Black bears can range in color from black to brown to cinnamon; grizzlies are almost always brown with a silver neck area) He was having some fun with our stuff but we are only separated by this canvas tarp and we have this dog who could complicate things: GEEZ-- PANIC--STAY CALM--what are we gonna do??? At that moment--KER THUNK! KER THUNK! Pitched out of the Jeep by my Dad was the Stanley Thermos and it hit the bear, scared him and he took off. "Good shot Dad--Glad you played college basketball before the War!" The Thermos, 30 years later, is still in good shape and used by my Mom to this day even if it has a few dents. We have always thought we should share our story with the Stanley people and how their indestructible Thermos saved our lives.
Seeing animals in the wild is breathtaking, sometimes amusing and sometimes scary. Visiting zoos or Sea World type places leaves me with an uncomfortable feeling even though I applaud much of the work they do for preservation of endangered species. The gorilla that escaped the other day I am sure had just had it--he was completely fed up with being laughed at by humans, and it is tragic he had to be killed. No, I prefer to see non-human residents of our earth in their natural habitat.
Most Sensual--Orcas
Actually, there is an issue about whale watching cruises and if they bother our resident orca pods. We have to be careful but the most soul-filling experience I've had is watching orcas from a boat. The day was still and calm and the water glassy. The Olympic Mountains were snow-covered and majestic; the boat stopped its engine and there was silence. Silence and then "Whoosh"--the sound of orcas breathing while their black and white bodies gracefully slice through the water. Silence---Whoosh---Silence---Whoosh!! Never ever again will I be able to see Shamu at Sea World.
Most Adorable
One morning while walking my Golden Retriever at our local beach just down from the lighthouse, my dog started to really pull. All of a sudden, I saw the cutest creature I have ever seen in my life and I've seen a lot of baby wild animals. A baby seal (not a sea lion) was resting on the rocks; I quieted my dog and just observed from a little distance. Signs are posted everywhere to leave them be--they're not abandoned but Mom is probably just fishing nearby. He was little, gray and furry with the sweetest face and huge eyes. Oh my gosh--and I couldn't touch.
Most Shocking
As a teen ager, my Mom and Dad and brother and me and dog went backpacking into the wilderness in Montana. My Dad put up a lean-to with bows for a bed when we reached our destination. We didn't carry a tent because Dad wanted to sleep under the stars. The next morning, I was the last to wake up. My Mom was by the fire and my Dad and brother were off fishing somewhere. I opened my eyes but I did not see stars--a huge pure white mountain goat was standing on a rock about 15 feet away and he was curiously staring at me. Oh my---hello, Goat!!
Most Scary and Most Humorous
After my husband and I were married, we would camp and backpack with my parents now and then. In Montana, the highest peak, Granite peak is in the Beartooth Mountains. We were car camping--really car camping in a desolate area there. My parents slept in their Jeep and we were sleeping in the back of our little station wagon but it was small so it was open with a tarp. Our dogs were sleeping with us. Early in the morning, I heard some snorting and peeked out. GEEZ--a gigantic black bear--though it was brown. (Black bears can range in color from black to brown to cinnamon; grizzlies are almost always brown with a silver neck area) He was having some fun with our stuff but we are only separated by this canvas tarp and we have this dog who could complicate things: GEEZ-- PANIC--STAY CALM--what are we gonna do??? At that moment--KER THUNK! KER THUNK! Pitched out of the Jeep by my Dad was the Stanley Thermos and it hit the bear, scared him and he took off. "Good shot Dad--Glad you played college basketball before the War!" The Thermos, 30 years later, is still in good shape and used by my Mom to this day even if it has a few dents. We have always thought we should share our story with the Stanley people and how their indestructible Thermos saved our lives.
// posted by Janet @ 8:33 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, March 23, 2004
Top Ten on Tuesday from Yanowhatimean.com: Top Ten Sports I like to Watch. This is a short list because I only like to watch the Winter Olympics and short track speedskating in particular--that's it!!
Animals and ME
I belong to an internet group called Orca Sighting Network. Basically, we keep our eyes peeled on the water out there for signs of whales--not just orcas but grays as well. Our sightings feed into scientific research designed to understand whale behavior with the ultimate goal of protecting them. Currently, we have some gray whales enjoying themselves right out here in front of my house but I have yet to see them. I get tracking e-mails everyday. In fact I should be upstairs right now with my binocs instead of on the computer.
My father had a forestry degree in addition to his Master's in Education. During the winters, he was a junior high science teacher and in the summers he worked for the Montana Fish and Game (until he became a principal). One of my early memories is spending a summer near Glacier Park in a cabin. My Dad was helping with a project to study black bears with Chuck Jonkel who is now a reknowned grizzly bear habitat expert. They would trap bears using a huckleberry paste, tranquilize them and then tag their ears.
This trip resulted in one of our first family pets--a lateralis squirrel we named Chipper. Also known as Golden Mantel Squirrels, they look like large chipmunks with rusty heads. Chipper was with us for many years even after he escaped. We knew he hadn't permanently left us when my mother's petunias disappeared in the spring. He had hibernated during the winter. We caught him with peanut butter.
Another family pet which my mother did not appreciate was a baby raccoon. We called him Coony. (I think I named all of our animals) The minute he learned to open the refrigerator and help himself to the eggs, we gave him away. He was adorable; I would put him in my doll buggy; he'd go with us fishing and camping. I especially enjoyed watching my Dad laugh as he would give him pancake; he'd wash it with his little hands in his water dish only to discover it would disappear into nothing to eat. My mother had a coffee party out in the yard with lots of women in those 50's dresses. Specifically, she ordered me to keep Coony in the house; you tell a 6 year old something like that and yep--they do the opposite. Pictured in my mind at this moment is a lot of terrified screaming ladies with coffee and cookies everywhere; boy, did I get in trouble but to this day I still think it was worth it.
My Dad also had the responsibility of picking up orphaned animals, usually from forest fires, and transporting them to the Fish and Game "Zoo" which is actually a rehabilitation facility designed to return animals to the wild. Of course, he usually made a detour to our house and sometimes we had temporary custody because of facility operation hours. What a treat for me because the animals were usually babies. Yes, I remember a baby owl; we fed him liver and Dad showed all the neighborhood kids how his beak could break a pencil; I remember a red fox; and grizzly bear cubs with wild eyes.
One particular summer morning when I was about 9, I woke up and to my astonishment, a spotted fawn slept on my rug. I trotted out of my bedroom with Fawn following me; he had trouble walking on the kitchen floor. I knocked on my brother's door and asked him if he got one, too. Our Golden Retriever was barricaded in my brother's room and was trying to rip the door down so it was perfectly obvious there was only one fawn. I couldn't believe my good fortune. But again, it was temporary but we did get to feed Fawn with baby bottles borrowed in the middle of the night from our neighbors.
To this day, when we visit Helena, I take my kids to the Fish and Wildlife animal rehab facility. Always, a variety of animals are in residence and usually bear cubs. Of course, now, they really try to limit human interaction because it helps with successful returns to the wild. We know now that it is not a good idea to have wild animals as pets. I think we knew then, too! And at home, I keep a watch for whales and report what I see on the internet.
Animals and ME
I belong to an internet group called Orca Sighting Network. Basically, we keep our eyes peeled on the water out there for signs of whales--not just orcas but grays as well. Our sightings feed into scientific research designed to understand whale behavior with the ultimate goal of protecting them. Currently, we have some gray whales enjoying themselves right out here in front of my house but I have yet to see them. I get tracking e-mails everyday. In fact I should be upstairs right now with my binocs instead of on the computer.
My father had a forestry degree in addition to his Master's in Education. During the winters, he was a junior high science teacher and in the summers he worked for the Montana Fish and Game (until he became a principal). One of my early memories is spending a summer near Glacier Park in a cabin. My Dad was helping with a project to study black bears with Chuck Jonkel who is now a reknowned grizzly bear habitat expert. They would trap bears using a huckleberry paste, tranquilize them and then tag their ears.
This trip resulted in one of our first family pets--a lateralis squirrel we named Chipper. Also known as Golden Mantel Squirrels, they look like large chipmunks with rusty heads. Chipper was with us for many years even after he escaped. We knew he hadn't permanently left us when my mother's petunias disappeared in the spring. He had hibernated during the winter. We caught him with peanut butter.
Another family pet which my mother did not appreciate was a baby raccoon. We called him Coony. (I think I named all of our animals) The minute he learned to open the refrigerator and help himself to the eggs, we gave him away. He was adorable; I would put him in my doll buggy; he'd go with us fishing and camping. I especially enjoyed watching my Dad laugh as he would give him pancake; he'd wash it with his little hands in his water dish only to discover it would disappear into nothing to eat. My mother had a coffee party out in the yard with lots of women in those 50's dresses. Specifically, she ordered me to keep Coony in the house; you tell a 6 year old something like that and yep--they do the opposite. Pictured in my mind at this moment is a lot of terrified screaming ladies with coffee and cookies everywhere; boy, did I get in trouble but to this day I still think it was worth it.
My Dad also had the responsibility of picking up orphaned animals, usually from forest fires, and transporting them to the Fish and Game "Zoo" which is actually a rehabilitation facility designed to return animals to the wild. Of course, he usually made a detour to our house and sometimes we had temporary custody because of facility operation hours. What a treat for me because the animals were usually babies. Yes, I remember a baby owl; we fed him liver and Dad showed all the neighborhood kids how his beak could break a pencil; I remember a red fox; and grizzly bear cubs with wild eyes.
One particular summer morning when I was about 9, I woke up and to my astonishment, a spotted fawn slept on my rug. I trotted out of my bedroom with Fawn following me; he had trouble walking on the kitchen floor. I knocked on my brother's door and asked him if he got one, too. Our Golden Retriever was barricaded in my brother's room and was trying to rip the door down so it was perfectly obvious there was only one fawn. I couldn't believe my good fortune. But again, it was temporary but we did get to feed Fawn with baby bottles borrowed in the middle of the night from our neighbors.
To this day, when we visit Helena, I take my kids to the Fish and Wildlife animal rehab facility. Always, a variety of animals are in residence and usually bear cubs. Of course, now, they really try to limit human interaction because it helps with successful returns to the wild. We know now that it is not a good idea to have wild animals as pets. I think we knew then, too! And at home, I keep a watch for whales and report what I see on the internet.
// posted by Janet @ 7:45 AM
0 comments
Thursday, March 18, 2004
For a picture of Seattle Center International Fountain, go to seattletimes.com and click on Favorite Fountains.
// posted by Janet @ 8:47 AM
0 comments
Seattle Center International Fountain
The Seattle Times in its Northwest Weekend section today had a delightful article about Seattleites love of fountains (by Young Chang). It is kind of funny in a way because just about anywhere in the Seattle area one can manage to enjoy lunch within view of natural water. But we love our fountains, nevertheless, and we particularly love the Seattle Center Fountain.
After 9/11, the Seattle Center Fountain became our grieving point as people gathered there to mourn and throw flowers. A letter to the editor today was calling on all of us again to meet at the fountain to mourn and throw flowers for Spain. The fountain is near the Space Needle and was created at the same time for the 1962 World's Fair; it is huge---200 feet wide. When my kids were little, I was hesitant to sit by it because it was steep, uninviting, and against the rules to go in. Of course, people still snuck in it.
Rather than enforcing the rule to keep people out, in 1995, the fountain was refurbished to be more level and to embrace and invite the public to frolic and enjoy. According to the article, "...the fountain has unofficially become Seattle's gathering place, be it to celebrate a sunny day or to light candles during times of sadness."
One of my favorite days last summer included the fountain. It was before we had to take our 18 year old son off to college. My daughter was in a drama class at Seattle Center. It was a beautiful day so my son and I perched ourselves by the fountain. Eighteen year old boys are really only 10 at heart and sure enough, my son was not about to stay out of the water.
He coolly walked in it, managed to avoid the jets and stepped out completely dry!! Ok, if he could do it so could I--just a matter of timing he explained. So I tried....SWOOSH....and I am soaked--hair clothes and everything. Oh yes, my son thought that was really funny as he showed me again how it was done. Needless to say, when we met my 15 year old daughter, she was horrified by her mother's hair and what I had done. But I loved it--the Seattle Center International Fountain is truly a special place.
The Seattle Times in its Northwest Weekend section today had a delightful article about Seattleites love of fountains (by Young Chang). It is kind of funny in a way because just about anywhere in the Seattle area one can manage to enjoy lunch within view of natural water. But we love our fountains, nevertheless, and we particularly love the Seattle Center Fountain.
After 9/11, the Seattle Center Fountain became our grieving point as people gathered there to mourn and throw flowers. A letter to the editor today was calling on all of us again to meet at the fountain to mourn and throw flowers for Spain. The fountain is near the Space Needle and was created at the same time for the 1962 World's Fair; it is huge---200 feet wide. When my kids were little, I was hesitant to sit by it because it was steep, uninviting, and against the rules to go in. Of course, people still snuck in it.
Rather than enforcing the rule to keep people out, in 1995, the fountain was refurbished to be more level and to embrace and invite the public to frolic and enjoy. According to the article, "...the fountain has unofficially become Seattle's gathering place, be it to celebrate a sunny day or to light candles during times of sadness."
One of my favorite days last summer included the fountain. It was before we had to take our 18 year old son off to college. My daughter was in a drama class at Seattle Center. It was a beautiful day so my son and I perched ourselves by the fountain. Eighteen year old boys are really only 10 at heart and sure enough, my son was not about to stay out of the water.
He coolly walked in it, managed to avoid the jets and stepped out completely dry!! Ok, if he could do it so could I--just a matter of timing he explained. So I tried....SWOOSH....and I am soaked--hair clothes and everything. Oh yes, my son thought that was really funny as he showed me again how it was done. Needless to say, when we met my 15 year old daughter, she was horrified by her mother's hair and what I had done. But I loved it--the Seattle Center International Fountain is truly a special place.
// posted by Janet @ 7:57 AM
0 comments
Wednesday, March 17, 2004
War and My Dad
An article in the Everett Herald today is prompting me to write about my Dad and WW11. As previously written, my Dad died in 1980. If he were still alive, he'd be 81 now and I'd like to think he would have loved to come and visit me and fish for salmon. But then I see a bald eagle out my window several times a week doing just that so maybe.....?!
The article is entitled, "Britons mark "Great Escape" anniversary" and it describes how in March of 1944, Allied air force officers planned and carried out an escape from a German Prison Camp. Only 3 made it to freedom; 73 were recaptured; and 50 were killed. The name of the camp was Stalag Luft III located in what is now Zagan, Poland. During WW11, this was part of Germany.
I grew up hearing about Stalag Luft III and NOT because they made a movie about this event starring Steve McQueen when I was a little girl. No, my Dad was there. He was not there during the Great Escape but later. In August of 1944, my Dad was only 21; he was an officer in the Air Force and he was flying bombing missions out of England and over Germany. He was the bombedier sitting in the glass noses of the B-17's. His plane was shot down over water and I can never remember if it was the North Sea or the English Channel. The person next to him on the plane was blown away and at age 21, my Dad with no life vest which had been punctured by shrapnel, parachuted into the dark waters. He always credited his high school in Montana requiring the ability to swim for graduation for saving his life.
The Germans pulled him out of the water and sent him to Stalag Luft III. He used to give mesmerizing lectures and talks about his time there. One of the stories I remember is that they had no boards on their beds to sleep on--just one for their heads, hips and feet. Six months before my Dad arrived, "prisoners...excavated three tunnels 30 feet underground, shored up with bedboards...". Yes, the article brought back memories of my Dad's stories and fortunately, he kept a diary so his experiences will never be forgotten by our family.
My father was marched between camps--he was never quite sure where he was, of course. But he was held prisoner by the Nazi's from August of 1944 until May of 1945 when the war ended. He was thrown back into society, and back into college and expected to live a normal life. Our government then made a "mistake" and sent my Dad to fly bombing missions over North Korea. They let him come home when they realized he was a former Prisoner of War and was not required to go. I realize now that he suffered from post traumatic stress syndrome that left him moody and depressed at times. We had a good family life but the effect of WAR was always there in some way.
My Dad saw the Viet Nam war as a mistake. He didn't want my brother or my boyfriend to go and as a teacher, he helped one of my friends claim Concientous Objector status. If he were alive today, he would think the Iraq war was a monumental mistake and a disastrous mess. I know my Dad loved this country with all of his heart and he was proud to have served during WW11; he certainly would believe we need to defend ourselves. But, my Dad was intelligent and he would think we need to be really creative to overcome terrorism. He abhored dishonesty--especially about something as horrible as WAR. Traditional WAR hurts good people for generations and generations and WAR does not cause PEACE.
An article in the Everett Herald today is prompting me to write about my Dad and WW11. As previously written, my Dad died in 1980. If he were still alive, he'd be 81 now and I'd like to think he would have loved to come and visit me and fish for salmon. But then I see a bald eagle out my window several times a week doing just that so maybe.....?!
The article is entitled, "Britons mark "Great Escape" anniversary" and it describes how in March of 1944, Allied air force officers planned and carried out an escape from a German Prison Camp. Only 3 made it to freedom; 73 were recaptured; and 50 were killed. The name of the camp was Stalag Luft III located in what is now Zagan, Poland. During WW11, this was part of Germany.
I grew up hearing about Stalag Luft III and NOT because they made a movie about this event starring Steve McQueen when I was a little girl. No, my Dad was there. He was not there during the Great Escape but later. In August of 1944, my Dad was only 21; he was an officer in the Air Force and he was flying bombing missions out of England and over Germany. He was the bombedier sitting in the glass noses of the B-17's. His plane was shot down over water and I can never remember if it was the North Sea or the English Channel. The person next to him on the plane was blown away and at age 21, my Dad with no life vest which had been punctured by shrapnel, parachuted into the dark waters. He always credited his high school in Montana requiring the ability to swim for graduation for saving his life.
The Germans pulled him out of the water and sent him to Stalag Luft III. He used to give mesmerizing lectures and talks about his time there. One of the stories I remember is that they had no boards on their beds to sleep on--just one for their heads, hips and feet. Six months before my Dad arrived, "prisoners...excavated three tunnels 30 feet underground, shored up with bedboards...". Yes, the article brought back memories of my Dad's stories and fortunately, he kept a diary so his experiences will never be forgotten by our family.
My father was marched between camps--he was never quite sure where he was, of course. But he was held prisoner by the Nazi's from August of 1944 until May of 1945 when the war ended. He was thrown back into society, and back into college and expected to live a normal life. Our government then made a "mistake" and sent my Dad to fly bombing missions over North Korea. They let him come home when they realized he was a former Prisoner of War and was not required to go. I realize now that he suffered from post traumatic stress syndrome that left him moody and depressed at times. We had a good family life but the effect of WAR was always there in some way.
My Dad saw the Viet Nam war as a mistake. He didn't want my brother or my boyfriend to go and as a teacher, he helped one of my friends claim Concientous Objector status. If he were alive today, he would think the Iraq war was a monumental mistake and a disastrous mess. I know my Dad loved this country with all of his heart and he was proud to have served during WW11; he certainly would believe we need to defend ourselves. But, my Dad was intelligent and he would think we need to be really creative to overcome terrorism. He abhored dishonesty--especially about something as horrible as WAR. Traditional WAR hurts good people for generations and generations and WAR does not cause PEACE.
// posted by Janet @ 7:25 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, March 16, 2004
Top Ten Tuesday--Ten Great Ice Cream Flavors and this is from yanowhatimean.com
Hmmm! I am going to have a hard time coming up with ten because I like plain dark chocolate with no nuts in it and not much else but here goes:
1. Italian gelato from the streets of anywhere, Italy. Coffee flavored
2. Blackberry Swirl from the Wild Ginger Restaurant, Seattle
3. Hard Chocolate ice cream cones from the little teeny store on the Salmon River in the middle of nowhere, Idaho from 45 years ago.
4. Starbuck's as long as it has no nuts and is either coffee or chocolate or both mixed together
And that's it!!
Hmmm! I am going to have a hard time coming up with ten because I like plain dark chocolate with no nuts in it and not much else but here goes:
1. Italian gelato from the streets of anywhere, Italy. Coffee flavored
2. Blackberry Swirl from the Wild Ginger Restaurant, Seattle
3. Hard Chocolate ice cream cones from the little teeny store on the Salmon River in the middle of nowhere, Idaho from 45 years ago.
4. Starbuck's as long as it has no nuts and is either coffee or chocolate or both mixed together
And that's it!!
// posted by Janet @ 8:53 AM
0 comments
Friday, March 12, 2004
Kalakala Watch The old ferry is now docked in Neah Bay--just a note about Neah Bay: This is the Makah reservation; we have been there a couple of times and it is truly one of the most gorgeous places on this entire earth. You can take a hike out to this point and see where the Pacific Ocean batters the most northwestern tip of our entire country (besides Alaska). The blue-green waves and the cliffs and the rocks just give you the willies--absolutely spectacular. Anyway, a burger place in Neah Bay has named a burger the "Kalakala" as a welcome.
Fancy Grocery Stores
I have no idea if this is a Seattle thing or not--probably not but I am sure we have put our own twist on the phenomenon. It all started with Larry's markets about 20 years ago. I do believe it was a way to bring Pike Place Market to areas outside of downtown. Larry's no longer exists but in its place in several areas are stores called Central Market and another called Metropolitan Market. Another place is called Whole Foods and we have a smaller place (though the same idea) between Mukilteo and Edmonds called Food Emporium. These stores are not part of national chains like Albertson's or Safeway. In addition, the Seattle area has dozens of food specialty stores which are featured in this month's Seattle Magazine.
These places have an incredible array of flowers (like Pike Place Market); and unbelievable display of fresh produce (like Pike Place Market); a fabulous seafood market (like Pike Place); meat counter (like Pike Place); and a to die for bakery (like Pike Place). In addition, there is a kitchen gift store with upscale items and usually a Starbuck's. Yesterday, a couple of friends and I traveled quite a distance in the Seattle area to shop at two of these places and we had the best time. I stood and stared at the seafood being placed on display--huge fillets of gorgeous dark pink King salmon at least 4 feet long!! And of course, Dungeness crabs were everywhere.
We decided this was so much fun that we would make it a regular outing! It is also an excuse to see the multitude of Seattle's fascinating individual neighborhoods.
Fancy Grocery Stores
I have no idea if this is a Seattle thing or not--probably not but I am sure we have put our own twist on the phenomenon. It all started with Larry's markets about 20 years ago. I do believe it was a way to bring Pike Place Market to areas outside of downtown. Larry's no longer exists but in its place in several areas are stores called Central Market and another called Metropolitan Market. Another place is called Whole Foods and we have a smaller place (though the same idea) between Mukilteo and Edmonds called Food Emporium. These stores are not part of national chains like Albertson's or Safeway. In addition, the Seattle area has dozens of food specialty stores which are featured in this month's Seattle Magazine.
These places have an incredible array of flowers (like Pike Place Market); and unbelievable display of fresh produce (like Pike Place Market); a fabulous seafood market (like Pike Place); meat counter (like Pike Place); and a to die for bakery (like Pike Place). In addition, there is a kitchen gift store with upscale items and usually a Starbuck's. Yesterday, a couple of friends and I traveled quite a distance in the Seattle area to shop at two of these places and we had the best time. I stood and stared at the seafood being placed on display--huge fillets of gorgeous dark pink King salmon at least 4 feet long!! And of course, Dungeness crabs were everywhere.
We decided this was so much fun that we would make it a regular outing! It is also an excuse to see the multitude of Seattle's fascinating individual neighborhoods.
// posted by Janet @ 7:36 AM
0 comments
Wednesday, March 10, 2004
The Kalakala is headed for Neah Bay--the very northwest tip of our state. There it will stay until August when it will be returned to Everett--just 10 minutes north of me--to continue restoration which will cost millions of dollars and will take about 10 years. Hmmmm!
// posted by Janet @ 8:07 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, March 09, 2004
Kalakala Watch It is going through the locks this very minute which means it is out of Lake Union!! WooHoo!!!
I almost forgot--Ten on Tuesday from yanowhatimean.com This time it is Ten Things You Do To Spoil Yourself (How fun):
1. Toast the sunset with a glass of wine
2. Walk Apolo; Brush Apolo; Hug Apolo; Smooch Apolo
3. Watch trash TV (like ET) esp. after an Awards show
4. Eat really stinky cheese
5. Watch for Gray whales and orcas from my kitchen table
6. Go to bed early with a good book
7. Go down to the beach at low tide and look for purple starfish
8. Read Coastal Living Magazine
9. Go to a B&B with hubby
10.Go out to dinner downtown Seattle
I almost forgot--Ten on Tuesday from yanowhatimean.com This time it is Ten Things You Do To Spoil Yourself (How fun):
1. Toast the sunset with a glass of wine
2. Walk Apolo; Brush Apolo; Hug Apolo; Smooch Apolo
3. Watch trash TV (like ET) esp. after an Awards show
4. Eat really stinky cheese
5. Watch for Gray whales and orcas from my kitchen table
6. Go to bed early with a good book
7. Go down to the beach at low tide and look for purple starfish
8. Read Coastal Living Magazine
9. Go to a B&B with hubby
10.Go out to dinner downtown Seattle
// posted by Janet @ 10:53 AM
0 comments
Kalakala Watch--it is supposed to move out of Lake Union today and head for Neah Bay!! We'll see! Get the Binocs set up!
Olympic Athletes
Last week a local news story lasted about three days and actually, I found it mildy fascinating. Twenty years ago Roslyn Sumners participated in the 1984(?) Olympics as a figure skater. She is from Edmonds, right down the road from Mukilteo. At the time, she was the local media darling--blond and cute and expected to win a Gold Medal. After all, she had won several World Championships. Roslyn did not win the Gold Medal; she took the Silver instead. I remember watching and my memory is that she was devastated and bitter. Bitterness did not suit her well because I also remember thinking she wasn't so cute after all.
Fast forward twenty years and a local bank is having an auction of unclaimed safety deposit box items. (Actually, there was some gross stuff like gold teeth.) The bank found some gold World Championship figure skating medals among the items and it wasn't difficult to figure out that they belonged to Roslyn. Evidently, a bank in Edmonds had put them on display for her and they went missing 20 some years ago. I find it mysterious that Roslyn didn't make much of a fuss about this at the time but maybe (and I am speculating) she was so upset she just didn't care.
Anyway, with a lot of fanfare, the medals were returned to Roslyn last week. She returned here to collect them from wherever she is living now. Marriage is upcoming for her and a display case for all of her medals is just now being built in her home so she was anxious to have all of them together. The interview on TV revealed a beautiful woman who said she is now proud and amazed at all that she accomplished as a young skater. I sensed that she has come to terms with that Silver Medal; maybe it is the passage of time. Or maybe, just maybe she watched another local media darling, Apolo Anton Ohno, be unquestionably thrilled during the 2002 Olympics to take the Silver.
Olympic Athletes
Last week a local news story lasted about three days and actually, I found it mildy fascinating. Twenty years ago Roslyn Sumners participated in the 1984(?) Olympics as a figure skater. She is from Edmonds, right down the road from Mukilteo. At the time, she was the local media darling--blond and cute and expected to win a Gold Medal. After all, she had won several World Championships. Roslyn did not win the Gold Medal; she took the Silver instead. I remember watching and my memory is that she was devastated and bitter. Bitterness did not suit her well because I also remember thinking she wasn't so cute after all.
Fast forward twenty years and a local bank is having an auction of unclaimed safety deposit box items. (Actually, there was some gross stuff like gold teeth.) The bank found some gold World Championship figure skating medals among the items and it wasn't difficult to figure out that they belonged to Roslyn. Evidently, a bank in Edmonds had put them on display for her and they went missing 20 some years ago. I find it mysterious that Roslyn didn't make much of a fuss about this at the time but maybe (and I am speculating) she was so upset she just didn't care.
Anyway, with a lot of fanfare, the medals were returned to Roslyn last week. She returned here to collect them from wherever she is living now. Marriage is upcoming for her and a display case for all of her medals is just now being built in her home so she was anxious to have all of them together. The interview on TV revealed a beautiful woman who said she is now proud and amazed at all that she accomplished as a young skater. I sensed that she has come to terms with that Silver Medal; maybe it is the passage of time. Or maybe, just maybe she watched another local media darling, Apolo Anton Ohno, be unquestionably thrilled during the 2002 Olympics to take the Silver.
// posted by Janet @ 8:37 AM
0 comments
Monday, March 08, 2004
Kalakala watch--it is still there!
We are having another one of those days! The mountains are out and the still water is a gorgeous blue. When I got up at 5:30 this morning, it was dark but as I stepped outside to get my papers, the moon was reflecting off of the Sound and the water was just glowing. At the breakfast table, at the very moment I was telling my daughter about the moon and the water, the anchor on King 5 news, said "Did you see the moon reflecting off of Lake Washington this morning? What a gorgeous day!"
Bellevue
I'm going to write about Bellevue today. I had mentioned it in an earlier post but we went shopping there over the weekend and I must comment. I don't get Bellevue or why anyone would want to live there. Sorry, Boring Bellevue!! The mall, Bellevue Square has some shops that Alderwood Mall, closest to us does not have and since I have a teen age daughter who loves to shop, she considers it a treat to go to Bellevue.
From what I understand (which I do not understand), housing prices are very expensive in Bellevue/ Redmond area. It is located on the east side of Lake Washington--across the lake--from Seattle. Most of the high tech jobs are over there; Microsoft is over there; Nintendo is over there, etc. Evidently, since these are higher paying jobs and with the shorter commute time from Bellevue, houses are a premium and thus economics dictates, the houses will be more expensive. But then (and this is the part I don't get) this image has developed that it is somehow "better" to live there. Everything is new.
Bellevue has no salt water views. Golf course and mountain and lake views and some views across the lake of Seattle exist. Of course, these views shoot the prices sky high. In my opinion, however, a peek-a-boo view of lake water does not hold a candle to expansive Puget Sound views with the Olympic Mountains from Mukilteo or Edmonds or Seattle. Lake Sammamish is over there and the pricey houses are jammed in around this dumb little lake. Those people live in homes that cost more than mine, though no nicer, and they'll have a very difficult time trying to see an orca, seal, sea lion, gray whale or a ferry from their kitchen windows! Even Bill Gates cannot see orcas from his compound on the shores of Lake Washington. Shockingly, people also actually live in multi-million dollar homes on large lots with NO VIEW at all. This has always completely astounded me; if you have that kind of money, why wouldn't you look for a view home???
But this is the worst part--it is boring and culturally, nothing but blah and traffic! It could be anywhere, USA--the same stores, the same chain Cheesecake Factory and Mexican restaurants that you would find in Iowa. OOOh, I just shudder to think why anyone would live there. I can understand living close to your job given our traffic situation but some people live in Bellevue because they think it is THE place to be. I do believe that many residents are recent arrivals from anywhere USA so they do not care if it is a cultural black hole; maybe they even like it. Hopefully, all of these people will just stay on that side of the lake and leave this side for those of us who appreciate quirkiness and charm.
We are having another one of those days! The mountains are out and the still water is a gorgeous blue. When I got up at 5:30 this morning, it was dark but as I stepped outside to get my papers, the moon was reflecting off of the Sound and the water was just glowing. At the breakfast table, at the very moment I was telling my daughter about the moon and the water, the anchor on King 5 news, said "Did you see the moon reflecting off of Lake Washington this morning? What a gorgeous day!"
Bellevue
I'm going to write about Bellevue today. I had mentioned it in an earlier post but we went shopping there over the weekend and I must comment. I don't get Bellevue or why anyone would want to live there. Sorry, Boring Bellevue!! The mall, Bellevue Square has some shops that Alderwood Mall, closest to us does not have and since I have a teen age daughter who loves to shop, she considers it a treat to go to Bellevue.
From what I understand (which I do not understand), housing prices are very expensive in Bellevue/ Redmond area. It is located on the east side of Lake Washington--across the lake--from Seattle. Most of the high tech jobs are over there; Microsoft is over there; Nintendo is over there, etc. Evidently, since these are higher paying jobs and with the shorter commute time from Bellevue, houses are a premium and thus economics dictates, the houses will be more expensive. But then (and this is the part I don't get) this image has developed that it is somehow "better" to live there. Everything is new.
Bellevue has no salt water views. Golf course and mountain and lake views and some views across the lake of Seattle exist. Of course, these views shoot the prices sky high. In my opinion, however, a peek-a-boo view of lake water does not hold a candle to expansive Puget Sound views with the Olympic Mountains from Mukilteo or Edmonds or Seattle. Lake Sammamish is over there and the pricey houses are jammed in around this dumb little lake. Those people live in homes that cost more than mine, though no nicer, and they'll have a very difficult time trying to see an orca, seal, sea lion, gray whale or a ferry from their kitchen windows! Even Bill Gates cannot see orcas from his compound on the shores of Lake Washington. Shockingly, people also actually live in multi-million dollar homes on large lots with NO VIEW at all. This has always completely astounded me; if you have that kind of money, why wouldn't you look for a view home???
But this is the worst part--it is boring and culturally, nothing but blah and traffic! It could be anywhere, USA--the same stores, the same chain Cheesecake Factory and Mexican restaurants that you would find in Iowa. OOOh, I just shudder to think why anyone would live there. I can understand living close to your job given our traffic situation but some people live in Bellevue because they think it is THE place to be. I do believe that many residents are recent arrivals from anywhere USA so they do not care if it is a cultural black hole; maybe they even like it. Hopefully, all of these people will just stay on that side of the lake and leave this side for those of us who appreciate quirkiness and charm.
// posted by Janet @ 7:47 AM
0 comments
Saturday, March 06, 2004
Kalakla Watch--It is still there!!
Damn I'm Good!!!
Yesterday, I was at the doctor's office for my check up and routine tests and while I was waiting this elderly couple came in. The wife needed some blood work. I cannot tell you exactly what it was I noticed about them but I said to myself--these people are highly educated and they are not originally from here. I really like to watch people and imagine what their story might be because everyone has an interesting story of some sort. Of course, guessing that they are not orginally from here is easy because as I have said before everybody here came from someplace else--rare is the Seattle native.
It might have been the way she said "pocketbook" instead of purse or the way they said their "R's", or the way he used the word "pleasant" but I said to myself, "I bet they are from the east coast." Their speech also sounded educated--the way the wife told her husband to go retrieve a brochure for her--just little stuff but I absolutely love figuring these things out.
The wife was called back so I started to chat with the husband. When she asked him to hold her "pocketbook", he said of course he would and he'd steal all of her jewels. He was such a delightful old man telling me how his wife really doesn't like jewelry anymore after she lost her wedding ring while gardening. Somehow, I managed to guide the conversation easily because this man really enjoyed chatting. Sure enough, he was a retired UW professor; they'd had eight children--three of whom became university professors; and they had come out here from New York!! They had lived in Buffalo for a time and used to swim in Lake Erie before it was polluted. BINGO But the clincher was they had lived here for forty years and had only been back to New York once in all of that time but I could still hear "new york" in his speech. Damn, I'm good!!!
Of course, conversations like this always end with something about how we love living here. He told me when he was young, he was "hot property" and Arizona tried to steal him from the UW. His wife said," If you leave here, I'm staying but I'll write to you!" I said, yes yes--my situation--"they " keep trying to lure my husband away to the east coast. Nope, this is where we all want to spend the rest of our lives!
Damn I'm Good!!!
Yesterday, I was at the doctor's office for my check up and routine tests and while I was waiting this elderly couple came in. The wife needed some blood work. I cannot tell you exactly what it was I noticed about them but I said to myself--these people are highly educated and they are not originally from here. I really like to watch people and imagine what their story might be because everyone has an interesting story of some sort. Of course, guessing that they are not orginally from here is easy because as I have said before everybody here came from someplace else--rare is the Seattle native.
It might have been the way she said "pocketbook" instead of purse or the way they said their "R's", or the way he used the word "pleasant" but I said to myself, "I bet they are from the east coast." Their speech also sounded educated--the way the wife told her husband to go retrieve a brochure for her--just little stuff but I absolutely love figuring these things out.
The wife was called back so I started to chat with the husband. When she asked him to hold her "pocketbook", he said of course he would and he'd steal all of her jewels. He was such a delightful old man telling me how his wife really doesn't like jewelry anymore after she lost her wedding ring while gardening. Somehow, I managed to guide the conversation easily because this man really enjoyed chatting. Sure enough, he was a retired UW professor; they'd had eight children--three of whom became university professors; and they had come out here from New York!! They had lived in Buffalo for a time and used to swim in Lake Erie before it was polluted. BINGO But the clincher was they had lived here for forty years and had only been back to New York once in all of that time but I could still hear "new york" in his speech. Damn, I'm good!!!
Of course, conversations like this always end with something about how we love living here. He told me when he was young, he was "hot property" and Arizona tried to steal him from the UW. His wife said," If you leave here, I'm staying but I'll write to you!" I said, yes yes--my situation--"they " keep trying to lure my husband away to the east coast. Nope, this is where we all want to spend the rest of our lives!
// posted by Janet @ 9:20 AM
0 comments
Friday, March 05, 2004
Kalakala Watch--it is still in Lake Union
Gay Marriage
When I started this blog, I wasn't intending to put anything here that was too controversial--only observations about the Seattle area and its culture. But actually, this issue is a part of our culture. We have a sizeable and open gay/lesbian population here and some of our dear friends and colleagues are gay or lesbian. And I am going to go a step further into controversy and proclaim that I am a Christian and have read every Bible passage pertaining to this issue. I believe God is trying to open our eyes and our hearts. He thinks it is time.
I was particularly moved by two events. First of all, there is an open letter to Bush in today's Seattle PI (seattlepi.com) written by Steve Davis in response to the proposed constitutional amendment. He is the CEO of Corbis, a Seattle digital media company owned by Bill Gates and he invites Bush to spend a day with his family. Here are some excerpts from this remarkable letter:
..."Spend a day with my life partner of 24 years who is one of the most remarkable human beings you'll ever have the privilege of meeting. A public school teacher...serving as a strong life-changing role model for countless at-risk city kids..."
..."Spend a day with our energetic and cheerful 7-year-old son, Ben. Fully steeped in the values of love, sharing,...Ben is immensely proud of his two adoring and engaged parents,..."
..."Spend a day with our extraordinary community...who reflect the America of today and the future--mixed in race, language, background, family structures and ideas--but united in their deep commitment to our children, to creating a better future, [and] to loving our country..."
..."Spend a day with us as we engage in our community as a family...as we have worked tirelessly...to improve the lives of our less-fortunate neighbors. Come join us as we sing and pray in church..."
..."Mr. President, please come and spend a day with us. And then, over our evening meal, after we have given our nightly thanks to our loving and hate-free God, explain to this same-sex household just what family values you are defending for the future of America."
Secondly, if this isn't enough, I received a letter and newspaper clipping from my almost 76 year old mother who explained to me that two of her dear friends from Montana--a same sex couple-- were married in San Francisco. My mother was thrilled to death for them. In Montana, they have been the target of some terribly hateful violent crimes and yet they have managed to be together for 10 years. An article appeared in the Helena newspaper about the marriage and it prompted this letter to the editor:
"...I have known Mateel and Vicky to authentically exemplify the highest Christian values in all aspects of their lives and it has been my privilege and pleasure to worship with them regularly at a weekly multi-faith prayer service. All are embraced and understood in the Love of God and His Son whose holiness has set us free. It is my fervent hope that all who profess to follow the Way of Christ would move beyond fear and judgment to see His face and love behind all forms."
AMEN
Gay Marriage
When I started this blog, I wasn't intending to put anything here that was too controversial--only observations about the Seattle area and its culture. But actually, this issue is a part of our culture. We have a sizeable and open gay/lesbian population here and some of our dear friends and colleagues are gay or lesbian. And I am going to go a step further into controversy and proclaim that I am a Christian and have read every Bible passage pertaining to this issue. I believe God is trying to open our eyes and our hearts. He thinks it is time.
I was particularly moved by two events. First of all, there is an open letter to Bush in today's Seattle PI (seattlepi.com) written by Steve Davis in response to the proposed constitutional amendment. He is the CEO of Corbis, a Seattle digital media company owned by Bill Gates and he invites Bush to spend a day with his family. Here are some excerpts from this remarkable letter:
..."Spend a day with my life partner of 24 years who is one of the most remarkable human beings you'll ever have the privilege of meeting. A public school teacher...serving as a strong life-changing role model for countless at-risk city kids..."
..."Spend a day with our energetic and cheerful 7-year-old son, Ben. Fully steeped in the values of love, sharing,...Ben is immensely proud of his two adoring and engaged parents,..."
..."Spend a day with our extraordinary community...who reflect the America of today and the future--mixed in race, language, background, family structures and ideas--but united in their deep commitment to our children, to creating a better future, [and] to loving our country..."
..."Spend a day with us as we engage in our community as a family...as we have worked tirelessly...to improve the lives of our less-fortunate neighbors. Come join us as we sing and pray in church..."
..."Mr. President, please come and spend a day with us. And then, over our evening meal, after we have given our nightly thanks to our loving and hate-free God, explain to this same-sex household just what family values you are defending for the future of America."
Secondly, if this isn't enough, I received a letter and newspaper clipping from my almost 76 year old mother who explained to me that two of her dear friends from Montana--a same sex couple-- were married in San Francisco. My mother was thrilled to death for them. In Montana, they have been the target of some terribly hateful violent crimes and yet they have managed to be together for 10 years. An article appeared in the Helena newspaper about the marriage and it prompted this letter to the editor:
"...I have known Mateel and Vicky to authentically exemplify the highest Christian values in all aspects of their lives and it has been my privilege and pleasure to worship with them regularly at a weekly multi-faith prayer service. All are embraced and understood in the Love of God and His Son whose holiness has set us free. It is my fervent hope that all who profess to follow the Way of Christ would move beyond fear and judgment to see His face and love behind all forms."
AMEN
// posted by Janet @ 7:45 AM
0 comments
Thursday, March 04, 2004
Police Activity in Federal Way--Traffic Blocked
This is the breaking news this morning. It seems like Federal Way or Lakewood or Tacoma are on the news quite a bit for "police activity". How do I explain Seattle? It is difficult. My kids always asked me "Where are the bad parts of Seattle, Mom?" I have never really been able to answer that question. And the second question, "Why do we always tell people we are from Seattle when we live in Mukilteo?" Well, this one is easy--just try pronouncing Mukilteo and also nobody has ever heard of it.
Seattle proper is really not very large. In fact we figured out after 9/11 that most of the main part of downtown Seattle would fit neatly into Ground Zero in New York. It blew my mind to think of all of downtown Seattle being destroyed--but that is the size of it. The entire I-5 corridor from Federal Way to the south and up through Mukilteo to the north considers itself part of Seattle though a good share of this is outside the Seattle city limits. (Bellevue, on the other side of Lake Washington in my opinion is considered a separate community and that is a whole other story--Bill Gates lives over there.)
So where are the bad parts? It's complicated. Seattle proper is a vibrant city and the cultural center of the area. The sports arenas are downtown; expensive high rise condos are downtown. Posh areas to live like Queen Anne Hill and Capitol Hill are just off of downtown. The houseboat communities are near downtown. The University of Washington is just across the Montlake Cut and only 10 minutes from downtown. Laurelhurst and Madison Park near the U are very expensive places to live. Traffic in the morning on I-5 heads north into the city from Federal Way and south into the city from Mukilteo. Housing prices are more expensive within the Seattle city limits and they decrease the further north you go or the further south. Of course, water plays havoc with that generalization.
Water is everywhere. Generally, Puget Sound borders Seattle to the west and Lake Washington, fresh water, borders to the east. But then there is Lake Union, (where the Kalakala still is today), Green Lake and a lot of hills that have views from the top. So what has happened is that all along the water areas and from the hills where there are views, there tends to be a higher socio-economic population. In any particular area, even five blocks away from water will be less expensive property. As such, there are pockets of areas all over the I-5 corridor that are further from water or where there are no views that have populations lower on the socio-economic scale. The population is heavier to the south of Seattle towards Federal Way; as a result, there are more pockets of tough neighborhoods but there are also lots of nice neighborhoods. After all, Federal Way borders Puget Sound.
The school districts all along the I-5 corridor seem to have a high school closer to the water and a high school further away from the water. The water schools tend to have better test scores. In our school district, Kamiak High School has higher test scores and Mariner lags a bit and has a reputation for being a tougher school. (Kamiak has a drug problem, however, because the kids can afford to get whatever they want and they do.) Ethnicity also tends to be woven throughout the entire Seattle metropolitan area like a rich tapestry. Because the population to the south is heavier, the population is more ethnically diverse than to the north.
So, where are the bad parts?? Well, it depends--where's the water?
This is the breaking news this morning. It seems like Federal Way or Lakewood or Tacoma are on the news quite a bit for "police activity". How do I explain Seattle? It is difficult. My kids always asked me "Where are the bad parts of Seattle, Mom?" I have never really been able to answer that question. And the second question, "Why do we always tell people we are from Seattle when we live in Mukilteo?" Well, this one is easy--just try pronouncing Mukilteo and also nobody has ever heard of it.
Seattle proper is really not very large. In fact we figured out after 9/11 that most of the main part of downtown Seattle would fit neatly into Ground Zero in New York. It blew my mind to think of all of downtown Seattle being destroyed--but that is the size of it. The entire I-5 corridor from Federal Way to the south and up through Mukilteo to the north considers itself part of Seattle though a good share of this is outside the Seattle city limits. (Bellevue, on the other side of Lake Washington in my opinion is considered a separate community and that is a whole other story--Bill Gates lives over there.)
So where are the bad parts? It's complicated. Seattle proper is a vibrant city and the cultural center of the area. The sports arenas are downtown; expensive high rise condos are downtown. Posh areas to live like Queen Anne Hill and Capitol Hill are just off of downtown. The houseboat communities are near downtown. The University of Washington is just across the Montlake Cut and only 10 minutes from downtown. Laurelhurst and Madison Park near the U are very expensive places to live. Traffic in the morning on I-5 heads north into the city from Federal Way and south into the city from Mukilteo. Housing prices are more expensive within the Seattle city limits and they decrease the further north you go or the further south. Of course, water plays havoc with that generalization.
Water is everywhere. Generally, Puget Sound borders Seattle to the west and Lake Washington, fresh water, borders to the east. But then there is Lake Union, (where the Kalakala still is today), Green Lake and a lot of hills that have views from the top. So what has happened is that all along the water areas and from the hills where there are views, there tends to be a higher socio-economic population. In any particular area, even five blocks away from water will be less expensive property. As such, there are pockets of areas all over the I-5 corridor that are further from water or where there are no views that have populations lower on the socio-economic scale. The population is heavier to the south of Seattle towards Federal Way; as a result, there are more pockets of tough neighborhoods but there are also lots of nice neighborhoods. After all, Federal Way borders Puget Sound.
The school districts all along the I-5 corridor seem to have a high school closer to the water and a high school further away from the water. The water schools tend to have better test scores. In our school district, Kamiak High School has higher test scores and Mariner lags a bit and has a reputation for being a tougher school. (Kamiak has a drug problem, however, because the kids can afford to get whatever they want and they do.) Ethnicity also tends to be woven throughout the entire Seattle metropolitan area like a rich tapestry. Because the population to the south is heavier, the population is more ethnically diverse than to the north.
So, where are the bad parts?? Well, it depends--where's the water?
// posted by Janet @ 7:42 AM
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Wednesday, March 03, 2004
ONLY IN SEATTLE
Just say "Kalakala" to about anybody around here and you will get a big guffaw. The newscasters have been snickering about this for months--actually years now and nobody seems to know how the story will end but one thing is for sure--it is ongoing and ongoing and ongoing.
The Kalakala is an ancient 1935 ferry vessel with a neat sort of rounded shape and various people over the years have thought it would be cool to restore it and use it for a restaurant or museum or whatever. It seems to me it has changed hands about a million times through auction and sale with every owner having big plans. However, it remains a rusty, graffiti covered, stinky (whoa bad) piece of junk. Some Seattleites seriously actually tear up when discussing how beautiful it used to be.
Yesterday, it was to be hauled out of Lake Union by tug to either Everett or clear out to Neah Bay and the Makah reservation for restoration. There was an audience--especially to see it go through the locks. I don't understand why the destination is unclear but anyway, the Coast Guard put a stop to it because of weather. The dock owner in Lake Union who wants it gone was really pissed off and so was the new owner who spent a buttload of money on the tugs.
So I am starting a KALAKALA watch and today: IT IS STILL IN LAKE UNION!
Just say "Kalakala" to about anybody around here and you will get a big guffaw. The newscasters have been snickering about this for months--actually years now and nobody seems to know how the story will end but one thing is for sure--it is ongoing and ongoing and ongoing.
The Kalakala is an ancient 1935 ferry vessel with a neat sort of rounded shape and various people over the years have thought it would be cool to restore it and use it for a restaurant or museum or whatever. It seems to me it has changed hands about a million times through auction and sale with every owner having big plans. However, it remains a rusty, graffiti covered, stinky (whoa bad) piece of junk. Some Seattleites seriously actually tear up when discussing how beautiful it used to be.
Yesterday, it was to be hauled out of Lake Union by tug to either Everett or clear out to Neah Bay and the Makah reservation for restoration. There was an audience--especially to see it go through the locks. I don't understand why the destination is unclear but anyway, the Coast Guard put a stop to it because of weather. The dock owner in Lake Union who wants it gone was really pissed off and so was the new owner who spent a buttload of money on the tugs.
So I am starting a KALAKALA watch and today: IT IS STILL IN LAKE UNION!
// posted by Janet @ 8:44 AM
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Tuesday, March 02, 2004
Top Ten Tuesday
Top Ten All-Time Favorite Vacations (and this is from yanowhatimean.com) and for some reason when I create links they do not work but my tech help is at school.
The order of these is most recent first and my definition of vacation includes accompanying hubby on his business trips. Scientists travel a LOT and numbers 4, 6, 7, and 8 were scientist trips.
1. Calgary, Alberta, October 2003--an out of character trip for me to watch short track speedskating and to see hometown athlete, Apolo Anton Ohno, skate. It was a blast and I made some really cool friends.
2. Loire Valley, France, pilgramage to Canterbury, England, July 2003
3. San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, Feb. 2003
4. Milan, Venice, Stresa, Italy and Paris, France, July 2000
5. Puerto Rico and St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, June 1998 to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary
6. Lyon, France, Aug.-Dec. 1995 (World Health Org. sabbatical with 7 and 10 year old children and it changed our lives forever) includes side trips all over France and to Ediburgh, St. Andrews, Scotland; London, Brussels, Basel, Switz; and the Netherlands
7. Rome, Florence, and Cinque Terre Italy, July 1992
8. Edinburgh, Scotland and London, September, 1989
9. First trip to Hawaii--early 80's
10. Honeymoon to Seattle, WA and the Washington coast--changed our lives forever because we knew we'd move here someday, June 1973
Top Ten All-Time Favorite Vacations (and this is from yanowhatimean.com) and for some reason when I create links they do not work but my tech help is at school.
The order of these is most recent first and my definition of vacation includes accompanying hubby on his business trips. Scientists travel a LOT and numbers 4, 6, 7, and 8 were scientist trips.
1. Calgary, Alberta, October 2003--an out of character trip for me to watch short track speedskating and to see hometown athlete, Apolo Anton Ohno, skate. It was a blast and I made some really cool friends.
2. Loire Valley, France, pilgramage to Canterbury, England, July 2003
3. San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, Feb. 2003
4. Milan, Venice, Stresa, Italy and Paris, France, July 2000
5. Puerto Rico and St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, June 1998 to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary
6. Lyon, France, Aug.-Dec. 1995 (World Health Org. sabbatical with 7 and 10 year old children and it changed our lives forever) includes side trips all over France and to Ediburgh, St. Andrews, Scotland; London, Brussels, Basel, Switz; and the Netherlands
7. Rome, Florence, and Cinque Terre Italy, July 1992
8. Edinburgh, Scotland and London, September, 1989
9. First trip to Hawaii--early 80's
10. Honeymoon to Seattle, WA and the Washington coast--changed our lives forever because we knew we'd move here someday, June 1973
// posted by Janet @ 9:13 AM
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