Tuesday, February 28, 2006
2010 Will He Skate Or Won't He Skate?
That is the question. It seems as if everyone wants to know, particularly in Seattle, if Apolo will skate in the 2010 Olympics. I mean Vancouver is only 120 miles away; we are closer than 99% of all of Canada. Apolo is from Seattle and in fact, his Dad now lives right down the road in Edmonds. So in essence, this is as close to a hometown Olympics as you can get for this now five time Olympic medalist. In all liklihood, Apolo probably has no idea what his plans are for the next months to a year to four years from now. One can assume, there will be many demands on his star power but skating is what he loves. Skating in an Olympics so close to home must be very enticing. At this moment nobody knows if he will or if he won't.
I had the extreme good fortune to ask Apolo this very question myself back in 2003. At that time, he said his plans were to be skating in 2010 in Vancouver. I was lucky enough to be reporter credentialed for the Vancouver Olympics Announcement held in Seattle at the Edgewater Hotel on July 2, 2003. My journalistic efforts were posted on http://ohnozone.net/ which is a short track speedskating and Apolo Ohno website. My report follows:
Announcement of Vancouver as 2010 Olympic Winter Games host city
Seattle, WA - Wednesday, July 2, 2003
Report courtesy of Janet
First of all, we have been excited about the possibility of Vancouver/Whistler being the site of the 2010 Olympics. Everybody I know goes to Whistler either in the summer to play or the winter to ski and of course, Vancouver is less than two hours away. We feel very connected. So it was a thrill for me to be there today to witness the announcement and then with Apolo and Yuki present--it was over the top!! Sandra, Kaley (my daughter) and I arrived promptly and went to the Olympic ballroom (named after the mountains). We seated ourselves at a small table. It was mostly media and dignitaries; not really very many people because I think they were all up in Whistler. I wore my glasses to look very official and had my legal pad--I cannot think without it anyway.
We listened to a few little talks and then Yuki and Apolo arrived shortly before the big announcement. Apolo gave a short speech about how excited he is that the Olympics would be in the Northwest and that hopefully he'll skate in 2010 as well. He said it would be really hard NOT to. Then flash on the screen--Vancouver wins!! Great timing!! Following that the official announcement from Prague was shown on the screen and everybody screamed and clapped.
After the announcement, the various media/camera/ microphone toting people surrounded Apolo for interviews. We approached Yuki and introduced ourselves and he was terrific. We chatted about how great this decision was for us and our economy. The Seattle PI banquet came up and I told him I thought Apolo should have won [Seattle Athlete of the Year]. He kept trying to grab Apolo to meet us--it was so charming. "Where did Apolo go now?" I love how he says Apolo. At one point Yuki actually asked the event coordinator if Apolo could please meet us. The guy responded, "MR.OHNO, you can have your son meet anyone you want!!" It was hysterical.
media around Apolo on the left
Following all of the official interviews, Apolo came over to meet us. I shook his hand. Like a crazy old woman, I told him about my dog named Apolo. He giggled at the thought and said, "Awesome!"
But then I asked him about his remarkable comment that he would attempt to participate in the 2010 Olympics. "I expected at that point you'd be a reporter for NBC or something!!"
"I'd like to skate but I will be involved in the 2010 Olympics in some way no matter what!"
We were all giddy about this Vancouver decision. I took my daughter's picture with him and thanked him and Yuki profusely for their time. I told Yuki how proud we were of our home town boy and we'd keep track of his son's fabulous skating.
Apolo and Kaley (15)
[emphasis added]
http://www.ohnozone.net/070303_vancouver2010_janet.html
So are two Gold Medals, one Silver, and three Bronze won in two Olympics enough? My bet is no. At one point during the Torino games in response to some question, Apolo said, "This is only my second Olympics." Only his second Olympics.
Vancouver would make it three. It is in his blood now.
That is the question. It seems as if everyone wants to know, particularly in Seattle, if Apolo will skate in the 2010 Olympics. I mean Vancouver is only 120 miles away; we are closer than 99% of all of Canada. Apolo is from Seattle and in fact, his Dad now lives right down the road in Edmonds. So in essence, this is as close to a hometown Olympics as you can get for this now five time Olympic medalist. In all liklihood, Apolo probably has no idea what his plans are for the next months to a year to four years from now. One can assume, there will be many demands on his star power but skating is what he loves. Skating in an Olympics so close to home must be very enticing. At this moment nobody knows if he will or if he won't.
I had the extreme good fortune to ask Apolo this very question myself back in 2003. At that time, he said his plans were to be skating in 2010 in Vancouver. I was lucky enough to be reporter credentialed for the Vancouver Olympics Announcement held in Seattle at the Edgewater Hotel on July 2, 2003. My journalistic efforts were posted on http://ohnozone.net/ which is a short track speedskating and Apolo Ohno website. My report follows:
Announcement of Vancouver as 2010 Olympic Winter Games host city
Seattle, WA - Wednesday, July 2, 2003
Report courtesy of Janet
First of all, we have been excited about the possibility of Vancouver/Whistler being the site of the 2010 Olympics. Everybody I know goes to Whistler either in the summer to play or the winter to ski and of course, Vancouver is less than two hours away. We feel very connected. So it was a thrill for me to be there today to witness the announcement and then with Apolo and Yuki present--it was over the top!! Sandra, Kaley (my daughter) and I arrived promptly and went to the Olympic ballroom (named after the mountains). We seated ourselves at a small table. It was mostly media and dignitaries; not really very many people because I think they were all up in Whistler. I wore my glasses to look very official and had my legal pad--I cannot think without it anyway.
We listened to a few little talks and then Yuki and Apolo arrived shortly before the big announcement. Apolo gave a short speech about how excited he is that the Olympics would be in the Northwest and that hopefully he'll skate in 2010 as well. He said it would be really hard NOT to. Then flash on the screen--Vancouver wins!! Great timing!! Following that the official announcement from Prague was shown on the screen and everybody screamed and clapped.
After the announcement, the various media/camera/ microphone toting people surrounded Apolo for interviews. We approached Yuki and introduced ourselves and he was terrific. We chatted about how great this decision was for us and our economy. The Seattle PI banquet came up and I told him I thought Apolo should have won [Seattle Athlete of the Year]. He kept trying to grab Apolo to meet us--it was so charming. "Where did Apolo go now?" I love how he says Apolo. At one point Yuki actually asked the event coordinator if Apolo could please meet us. The guy responded, "MR.OHNO, you can have your son meet anyone you want!!" It was hysterical.
media around Apolo on the left
Following all of the official interviews, Apolo came over to meet us. I shook his hand. Like a crazy old woman, I told him about my dog named Apolo. He giggled at the thought and said, "Awesome!"
But then I asked him about his remarkable comment that he would attempt to participate in the 2010 Olympics. "I expected at that point you'd be a reporter for NBC or something!!"
"I'd like to skate but I will be involved in the 2010 Olympics in some way no matter what!"
We were all giddy about this Vancouver decision. I took my daughter's picture with him and thanked him and Yuki profusely for their time. I told Yuki how proud we were of our home town boy and we'd keep track of his son's fabulous skating.
Apolo and Kaley (15)
[emphasis added]
http://www.ohnozone.net/070303_vancouver2010_janet.html
So are two Gold Medals, one Silver, and three Bronze won in two Olympics enough? My bet is no. At one point during the Torino games in response to some question, Apolo said, "This is only my second Olympics." Only his second Olympics.
Vancouver would make it three. It is in his blood now.
// posted by Janet @ 10:17 AM
0 comments
Saturday, February 25, 2006
If You Haven't Watched the Olympics--Don't Look at This
Dean Rutz/Seattle Times
I watched the Super Bowl and the Seahawks lost. I went to Calgary a couple of years ago to watch Apolo skate in a World Cup and he came in 6th overall. So I refused to have on CBUT this morning, the Canadian TV station which shows the Olympics in real time; I wouldn't come on the computer or listen to the radio until I knew it was all over. Not that I believe in the whole jinx thing but you know--I wasn't taking any chances.
But oh man! For me, Apolo has made up for Seattle losing the Super Bowl. I am so excited. He won two more medals tonight--a bronze for the relay and gold for the 500m. A gold medal for the United States and for Seattle. Unfortunately, the canine who shares his name is really not interested at all.
And by the way, when I am not all nervous and stuff, short track is about the most exciting sport there is.
Apolo during the Olympics Last Night!
Apolo tonight!
Dean Rutz/Seattle Times
I watched the Super Bowl and the Seahawks lost. I went to Calgary a couple of years ago to watch Apolo skate in a World Cup and he came in 6th overall. So I refused to have on CBUT this morning, the Canadian TV station which shows the Olympics in real time; I wouldn't come on the computer or listen to the radio until I knew it was all over. Not that I believe in the whole jinx thing but you know--I wasn't taking any chances.
But oh man! For me, Apolo has made up for Seattle losing the Super Bowl. I am so excited. He won two more medals tonight--a bronze for the relay and gold for the 500m. A gold medal for the United States and for Seattle. Unfortunately, the canine who shares his name is really not interested at all.
And by the way, when I am not all nervous and stuff, short track is about the most exciting sport there is.
Apolo during the Olympics Last Night!
Apolo tonight!
// posted by Janet @ 6:57 PM
0 comments
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Life Marches On
Lately, I have been feeling thoughtful and philosophical. No, I have not been sad or depressed but I have been assessing about how life proceeds. Of course, I have my spiritual beliefs which provide me the cushion and the comfort to take a look.
This has been a fascinating year because it is the last year my daughter will be home full time. She is off with her Dad in New York to audition for the theater program at NYU and to take a gander at Yale. She has applied to these schools among several others and her grades and her SAT scores make her competitive. Her extra curricular activities make her interesting. I am amazed that our family has come to this point. My grandparents were English immigrants who came to America with no money and no education. I don't know a lot about my Mom's family except my Grandma on that side amazingly received a 4 year college degree in the 1920's. Before that there was a loss of land and money during the depression and struggles. All of my relatives going way back have strived for a better life by crossing oceans, traveling up rivers, and hacking their way westward. I am grateful to them because they set up a fantastic future for their great great grand children.
This is what has hit me this past month. Each of us individually is just a small cog in the giant network of human existence. We each have a responsibility to give our children a good basis from which to launch their own lives. This is the greatest gift we can give so that our future family members can carry on the legacy.
This past couple of months have brought several deaths in Helena which have triggered my thoughts. One of my best friend's Dad died within the last two weeks. He had his struggles in life but he overcame them, had a solid marriage and spiritual life and he left behind my friend and her sisters. She is highly educated, successful and a Christian and her positive influence has touched countless souls. My mother went to one of her best friend's funeral on Monday in the glorious St. Helena Cathedral. Again, this woman left behind remarkable children and friends who were touched by her. My husband's mother's best friend died at Christmas. I knew her from my church; my mother knew this woman from childhood in Montana; she left behind two daughters my age who have successful lives and terrfic children. And there were other deaths--my Dad's former boss and the husband of another of my Mom's friends.
I keep thinking about how tough this must be on my Mom in a short couple of months since these people were all around her age. But all of these folks had great lives and had reached the end. We will all end up in this place some day. It is our children and their children who will continue. How satisfying to know we have planted positive seeds to sprout in the years we are no longer in earthly life.
My brother and his wife, I am proud to say, have planted the seeds of my family's future legacy and they have done a wonderful job with their three sons. My nephews are all bright, happily married, educated, and successful, not to mention good looking, too! Amazing to me is that on teacher salaries, my brother and his wife launched all three of their boys through college, into marriages and into home ownership. Yes, my three nephews, all still in their 20's, own nice homes in Montana. My English grandparents would be so happy because this is exactly what they had hoped for and envisioned when they escaped the Charles Dickens orphanage/work house in England to come to the American west.
My English Grandpa, Samuel, would be especially proud because yesterday in Helena, his great great grandson was born. And his name is "Samuel Rivers". My English Grandma Lily Isabel would also be especially happy to see that her great great grandaughter, Isabel is going to be a very good big sister.
My mother, who sadly attended the funeral mass of her good friend on Monday, went to the hospital to greet her new great grandson on Tuesday.
Life marches on.
My nephew Rick, Isabel Brooke (age 3), and Samuel Rivers
Lately, I have been feeling thoughtful and philosophical. No, I have not been sad or depressed but I have been assessing about how life proceeds. Of course, I have my spiritual beliefs which provide me the cushion and the comfort to take a look.
This has been a fascinating year because it is the last year my daughter will be home full time. She is off with her Dad in New York to audition for the theater program at NYU and to take a gander at Yale. She has applied to these schools among several others and her grades and her SAT scores make her competitive. Her extra curricular activities make her interesting. I am amazed that our family has come to this point. My grandparents were English immigrants who came to America with no money and no education. I don't know a lot about my Mom's family except my Grandma on that side amazingly received a 4 year college degree in the 1920's. Before that there was a loss of land and money during the depression and struggles. All of my relatives going way back have strived for a better life by crossing oceans, traveling up rivers, and hacking their way westward. I am grateful to them because they set up a fantastic future for their great great grand children.
This is what has hit me this past month. Each of us individually is just a small cog in the giant network of human existence. We each have a responsibility to give our children a good basis from which to launch their own lives. This is the greatest gift we can give so that our future family members can carry on the legacy.
This past couple of months have brought several deaths in Helena which have triggered my thoughts. One of my best friend's Dad died within the last two weeks. He had his struggles in life but he overcame them, had a solid marriage and spiritual life and he left behind my friend and her sisters. She is highly educated, successful and a Christian and her positive influence has touched countless souls. My mother went to one of her best friend's funeral on Monday in the glorious St. Helena Cathedral. Again, this woman left behind remarkable children and friends who were touched by her. My husband's mother's best friend died at Christmas. I knew her from my church; my mother knew this woman from childhood in Montana; she left behind two daughters my age who have successful lives and terrfic children. And there were other deaths--my Dad's former boss and the husband of another of my Mom's friends.
I keep thinking about how tough this must be on my Mom in a short couple of months since these people were all around her age. But all of these folks had great lives and had reached the end. We will all end up in this place some day. It is our children and their children who will continue. How satisfying to know we have planted positive seeds to sprout in the years we are no longer in earthly life.
My brother and his wife, I am proud to say, have planted the seeds of my family's future legacy and they have done a wonderful job with their three sons. My nephews are all bright, happily married, educated, and successful, not to mention good looking, too! Amazing to me is that on teacher salaries, my brother and his wife launched all three of their boys through college, into marriages and into home ownership. Yes, my three nephews, all still in their 20's, own nice homes in Montana. My English grandparents would be so happy because this is exactly what they had hoped for and envisioned when they escaped the Charles Dickens orphanage/work house in England to come to the American west.
My English Grandpa, Samuel, would be especially proud because yesterday in Helena, his great great grandson was born. And his name is "Samuel Rivers". My English Grandma Lily Isabel would also be especially happy to see that her great great grandaughter, Isabel is going to be a very good big sister.
My mother, who sadly attended the funeral mass of her good friend on Monday, went to the hospital to greet her new great grandson on Tuesday.
Life marches on.
My nephew Rick, Isabel Brooke (age 3), and Samuel Rivers
// posted by Janet @ 8:40 AM
0 comments
Friday, February 17, 2006
Days Like Today
These are the times that make us forget very quickly the endless rain of only a few days ago. All mountains are out and all dressed up in their finest. I can't even remember what gray looks like today.
Taken up the sidewalk a few feet from my front door.
Olympic Mountains and the Southern Tip of Whidbey Island
And on a side note, this is what I read in my son's blog this morning. We have paid thousands of dollars for his education but evidently the French students have been on strike for two weeks over issues completely irrelevant to Lucas or us---something about post graduate employment. But does this keep him from being involved? He was born with an adventuresome spirit but sometimes all of this makes me apoplectic.
We joined the decent sized crowd and marched through the streets blocking traffic, making lots of noise, and drinking. It was pretty fun, and I was hoping it would get out of hand, which it finally did. It was sweet. We were at the parlement building yelling and banging pots. People threw some firecrackers over the gate and some people climbed up it too. Fianlly, someone climbed up and tore down the French flag, which got people really excited. Then the police who were inside the building finally had enough and tear gassed us. We ran down the street and then when the gas cleared everyone came back and started chanting "S.S! S.S!" which is basically calling them nazis. We got tear gassed again and the crowd lessened, but came back. I didn't feel the effects too much, just a little bit. Then people started throwing stuff at the gate. It was about this time we left, since the crowd was less and we had friends waiting for us at a kebab restaurant at Place Ste. Anne. During this madness I saw that girl again who has my CD (her name is Lucie and she is quite the revolutionary) so I talked to her a little but the tear gas and large crowd separated us and I failed yet again to even [get] her phone number.
Oh, how romantic---the tear gas and the crowd separated him from beautiful Lucie, the revolutionary, yet again. For me, being a parent has not really become easier. I have thrown these beings to the world and there isn't a whole lot I can do at this point.
These are the times that make us forget very quickly the endless rain of only a few days ago. All mountains are out and all dressed up in their finest. I can't even remember what gray looks like today.
Taken up the sidewalk a few feet from my front door.
Olympic Mountains and the Southern Tip of Whidbey Island
And on a side note, this is what I read in my son's blog this morning. We have paid thousands of dollars for his education but evidently the French students have been on strike for two weeks over issues completely irrelevant to Lucas or us---something about post graduate employment. But does this keep him from being involved? He was born with an adventuresome spirit but sometimes all of this makes me apoplectic.
We joined the decent sized crowd and marched through the streets blocking traffic, making lots of noise, and drinking. It was pretty fun, and I was hoping it would get out of hand, which it finally did. It was sweet. We were at the parlement building yelling and banging pots. People threw some firecrackers over the gate and some people climbed up it too. Fianlly, someone climbed up and tore down the French flag, which got people really excited. Then the police who were inside the building finally had enough and tear gassed us. We ran down the street and then when the gas cleared everyone came back and started chanting "S.S! S.S!" which is basically calling them nazis. We got tear gassed again and the crowd lessened, but came back. I didn't feel the effects too much, just a little bit. Then people started throwing stuff at the gate. It was about this time we left, since the crowd was less and we had friends waiting for us at a kebab restaurant at Place Ste. Anne. During this madness I saw that girl again who has my CD (her name is Lucie and she is quite the revolutionary) so I talked to her a little but the tear gas and large crowd separated us and I failed yet again to even [get] her phone number.
Oh, how romantic---the tear gas and the crowd separated him from beautiful Lucie, the revolutionary, yet again. For me, being a parent has not really become easier. I have thrown these beings to the world and there isn't a whole lot I can do at this point.
// posted by Janet @ 12:40 PM
0 comments
Thursday, February 16, 2006
We are in a deep freeze!
Around here in the middle of winter when the temperature drops into the 20's, all of the mistiness goes away and it is stunning. I had to do some errands from Lynnwood to Snohomish today so I pulled off Paine Field Blvd. just five minutes from my house at the new Aviation museum and took these pictures.
I always put the Olympic Mountains on here because I see them from my house to the west. But these mountains border the Seattle metropolitan area on the east. These are the Cascades and the picture without a wide angle can't fit the whole range in. By the way, the big building is where they build Boeing airplanes.
Cascades from Mukilteo over Boeing
I'm so glad I have my camera back.
Around here in the middle of winter when the temperature drops into the 20's, all of the mistiness goes away and it is stunning. I had to do some errands from Lynnwood to Snohomish today so I pulled off Paine Field Blvd. just five minutes from my house at the new Aviation museum and took these pictures.
I always put the Olympic Mountains on here because I see them from my house to the west. But these mountains border the Seattle metropolitan area on the east. These are the Cascades and the picture without a wide angle can't fit the whole range in. By the way, the big building is where they build Boeing airplanes.
Cascades from Mukilteo over Boeing
I'm so glad I have my camera back.
// posted by Janet @ 2:49 PM
0 comments
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Yes! We got our camera back and it is all fixed!
We sent it to the manufacturer and they fixed it for not a whole lotta money. Not only did they fix the camera but my pictures were on there. So, here is Paris at Christmas:
Sacre Coeur through Christmas Decorations
Sacre Coeur from our Balcony
Instead of big plastic blow-ups, we saw a lot of these Santas
Buches de Noel
Christmas dinner and the greasy goose who broke my camera
I am so happy! I am back in business.
We sent it to the manufacturer and they fixed it for not a whole lotta money. Not only did they fix the camera but my pictures were on there. So, here is Paris at Christmas:
Sacre Coeur through Christmas Decorations
Sacre Coeur from our Balcony
Instead of big plastic blow-ups, we saw a lot of these Santas
Buches de Noel
Christmas dinner and the greasy goose who broke my camera
I am so happy! I am back in business.
// posted by Janet @ 1:32 PM
0 comments
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Do the Catholics and the Mormons have the Right Idea??
About having kids I mean. Sometimes I think my hubby and I should have created more human beings than just two. The two we created are phenominal. Actually, there was a third but it ended very unhappily and someday when I am ready, I will write about that. I do not mean to sound pompous but we made great kids. And I believe a lot in genetics so I'm not certain we had a lot to do with how wonderful they turned out.
Today was Solo-Ensemble competition which is a regional music festival involving several schools in our area both private and public. Last year, my daughter took one of two first places in her category of mezzo-soprano for voice and qualified for the State competition where she received a superior rating and an honorable mention.
This year, she decided to enter in piano as well as voice. Kaley managed to receive a 1 (one) superior rating for her piano performance. A duet garnered a 1 minus. And her solo earned her another 1 or superior rating.
We waited and waited for whether or not these scores woule mean qualifying for the state competition. Her voice performance was a State qualifier and her piano performance translated into first alternate. The Bach duet didn't make it but it was beautiful nonetheless and I will make sure they do it in church.
I can't believe it!! My baby won mezzo-soprano two years in a row at the regional level which means a trip to the State Competition. Chances are good that she will also be able to perform her piano there, too, being 1st alternate. This time we will kennel Apolo. I am sooo so happy and proud.
I was very nervous the whole day--I cannot imagine how Yuki Ohno handles the Olympics. I'd die of a heart attack right there next to the ice.
How is it that our two kids have done so well with music when Mom and Dad totally suck? A gift to them and to us--a fabulous gift. Thank you.
About having kids I mean. Sometimes I think my hubby and I should have created more human beings than just two. The two we created are phenominal. Actually, there was a third but it ended very unhappily and someday when I am ready, I will write about that. I do not mean to sound pompous but we made great kids. And I believe a lot in genetics so I'm not certain we had a lot to do with how wonderful they turned out.
Today was Solo-Ensemble competition which is a regional music festival involving several schools in our area both private and public. Last year, my daughter took one of two first places in her category of mezzo-soprano for voice and qualified for the State competition where she received a superior rating and an honorable mention.
This year, she decided to enter in piano as well as voice. Kaley managed to receive a 1 (one) superior rating for her piano performance. A duet garnered a 1 minus. And her solo earned her another 1 or superior rating.
We waited and waited for whether or not these scores woule mean qualifying for the state competition. Her voice performance was a State qualifier and her piano performance translated into first alternate. The Bach duet didn't make it but it was beautiful nonetheless and I will make sure they do it in church.
I can't believe it!! My baby won mezzo-soprano two years in a row at the regional level which means a trip to the State Competition. Chances are good that she will also be able to perform her piano there, too, being 1st alternate. This time we will kennel Apolo. I am sooo so happy and proud.
I was very nervous the whole day--I cannot imagine how Yuki Ohno handles the Olympics. I'd die of a heart attack right there next to the ice.
How is it that our two kids have done so well with music when Mom and Dad totally suck? A gift to them and to us--a fabulous gift. Thank you.
// posted by Janet @ 8:07 PM
0 comments
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Let the Games Begin
The Winter Olympics have always been a fun event for me to watch. It probably started when I was a little girl. I honestly do not remember the first time I went ice skating though I must have been about 5. Every winter my friends and I would head to the local outdoor rink; it was the cool thing to do even into high school. A lot of my friends also skied. Our family did not ski for two reasons: 1) My mother grew up in Bozeman, Montana with the best skiing in the state. She skied and thought the skiing was so horrible around Helena that it was not worth it. 2) Skiing for an entire family with all of the equipment was expensive and we could not afford it.
Of course, we went sledding on our streets or in the hills. Some people had toboggans and others had inner tubes. I was never very good at skating or sledding because I was too timid to try anything fast or risky but it was always so much fun. Sometimes, my Dad would flood the vacant lot across the street to create a neighborhood rink. My husband actually recalls that he was one of the little kids who would come and skate on my Dad's rink. One would learn to appreciate various ice conditions especially while with my ice-fishing father on Canyon Ferry Lake. I'll never forget skating along over bumps and rough areas to hear scary gigantic cracks. Also, I remember playing with my Dad's ice auger. When he noticed my friends and I were zipping holes in the ice way too fast, he became alarmed and yelled at us to slowly skate back to where he was. Literally, we were skating on terribly thin ice.
Much later, after moving to Seattle, my husband and I took up cross country skiing. We very much enjoyed this less expensive and more peaceful version of skiing. I always knew that downhill skiing would completely terrify me. Skiing and my husband do not necessarily agree, either. At age 12, he blew a knee downhill skiing on the terrible rocky slopes near Helena. Frankly, this is what kept him out of sports the rest of his teen years. And he managed to try downhill skiing on cross country skis at age 27 resulting in a major wipe out that left him with a broken collar bone. We haven't skied much since though we dabbled with snowshoeing once which I like even better. Snowshoes keep my husband from doing stupid stunts and it is really...really...slow. Finally, Lucas wanted to try snowboarding. We outfitted him and sent him on the weekly snow bus from Mukilteo up to Stevens Pass when he was in high school. He is not a big physical risk taker so I am not sure snowboarding is his favorite thing--he needs more time with it.
As a result, I love the Winter Olympics and always have. Watching fearless athletes do everything I never could is mesmerizing. In Junior High my friends and I were all ga-ga over Jean Claude Killy, the French skier. Now, in middle age, I have my favorite athlete to watch: Apolo Anton Ohno.
"The Iceman Cometh" Dean Rutz/The Seattle Times
It all started four years ago. I noticed there was buzz about this local athlete who made it to the Olympics and his name was Apolo. My family made sure to watch the short track speedskating to support our hometown boy. My daughter thought he was cute. I thought he was adorable and I became intrigued with his story. The personalities behind the athleticism are of interest to me.
Apolo was born in Seattle like my kids and raised by a single father, Yuki, who came here about the same time we did. Yuki's hair salon is downtown not far from where I used to work as an attorney. Yuki would take Apolo out to the Washington coast on school holidays to the same area where we take our kids. Apolo was in a gifted program in elementary school in the Federal Way district not unlike the Mukilteo gifted program my daughter was in. Apolo has long hair with facial additives as does my Lucas. Yuki had some difficulties with his incredibly bright and talented son and managed somehow to channel it all in a positive direction.
Apolo Anton Ohno, the one-time Federal Way mall rat, again leads a small contingent with local ties as well as the U.S. short-trackers, whose mayhem-pickled sport continues to gain TV viewership alongside the traditional hockey/figure skating dramas. [emphasis mine]
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/thiel/258529_wolythielcol09.html
Needless to say, not that my kids have become super athletes but I can identify with the parenting struggles of Yuki. I have great admiration for Yuki and for what his son has become. Evidently, Yuki now lives in Edmonds instead of Federal Way in a view home which by definition means he is just down the beach from us. And he probably hears the same trains we do which run along the water down below. Who knows? He may even be worried about mudslides, too.
So, sports averse me is now focused on the Olympics with all of its coverage. Particularly, I am watching Seattle's own Apolo.
The Seattle Times today has a huge article about Apolo written by Ron Judd, one of my favorite columnists.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2002792704_olyohno09.html
And some quotes:
For a decade, he has ruled the ice the way a dolphin owns the water....
"Every time I come home, I'm like, 'God, I miss Seattle. I miss everything about it,' " says Ohno, returning from a sushi dinner with friends on Capitol Hill......
...They decided Apolo would stay put at the campus-like Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. They decided he would focus on all the good things and stay away from the bad. It was, in a way, a rerun of a loving-but-firm nudge from Yuki Ohno, a single, Japanese-American parent who sent young Apolo off to speedskating camp at 14, partially to keep him off the streets of Federal Way....
...After a final, December trip to the Seattle area, including a few peaceful days on the southwest Washington coast, he has spent the last weeks before Turin in Colorado Springs, honing body and mind.
Let the Games Begin! Apolo is ready.
The Winter Olympics have always been a fun event for me to watch. It probably started when I was a little girl. I honestly do not remember the first time I went ice skating though I must have been about 5. Every winter my friends and I would head to the local outdoor rink; it was the cool thing to do even into high school. A lot of my friends also skied. Our family did not ski for two reasons: 1) My mother grew up in Bozeman, Montana with the best skiing in the state. She skied and thought the skiing was so horrible around Helena that it was not worth it. 2) Skiing for an entire family with all of the equipment was expensive and we could not afford it.
Of course, we went sledding on our streets or in the hills. Some people had toboggans and others had inner tubes. I was never very good at skating or sledding because I was too timid to try anything fast or risky but it was always so much fun. Sometimes, my Dad would flood the vacant lot across the street to create a neighborhood rink. My husband actually recalls that he was one of the little kids who would come and skate on my Dad's rink. One would learn to appreciate various ice conditions especially while with my ice-fishing father on Canyon Ferry Lake. I'll never forget skating along over bumps and rough areas to hear scary gigantic cracks. Also, I remember playing with my Dad's ice auger. When he noticed my friends and I were zipping holes in the ice way too fast, he became alarmed and yelled at us to slowly skate back to where he was. Literally, we were skating on terribly thin ice.
Much later, after moving to Seattle, my husband and I took up cross country skiing. We very much enjoyed this less expensive and more peaceful version of skiing. I always knew that downhill skiing would completely terrify me. Skiing and my husband do not necessarily agree, either. At age 12, he blew a knee downhill skiing on the terrible rocky slopes near Helena. Frankly, this is what kept him out of sports the rest of his teen years. And he managed to try downhill skiing on cross country skis at age 27 resulting in a major wipe out that left him with a broken collar bone. We haven't skied much since though we dabbled with snowshoeing once which I like even better. Snowshoes keep my husband from doing stupid stunts and it is really...really...slow. Finally, Lucas wanted to try snowboarding. We outfitted him and sent him on the weekly snow bus from Mukilteo up to Stevens Pass when he was in high school. He is not a big physical risk taker so I am not sure snowboarding is his favorite thing--he needs more time with it.
As a result, I love the Winter Olympics and always have. Watching fearless athletes do everything I never could is mesmerizing. In Junior High my friends and I were all ga-ga over Jean Claude Killy, the French skier. Now, in middle age, I have my favorite athlete to watch: Apolo Anton Ohno.
"The Iceman Cometh" Dean Rutz/The Seattle Times
It all started four years ago. I noticed there was buzz about this local athlete who made it to the Olympics and his name was Apolo. My family made sure to watch the short track speedskating to support our hometown boy. My daughter thought he was cute. I thought he was adorable and I became intrigued with his story. The personalities behind the athleticism are of interest to me.
Apolo was born in Seattle like my kids and raised by a single father, Yuki, who came here about the same time we did. Yuki's hair salon is downtown not far from where I used to work as an attorney. Yuki would take Apolo out to the Washington coast on school holidays to the same area where we take our kids. Apolo was in a gifted program in elementary school in the Federal Way district not unlike the Mukilteo gifted program my daughter was in. Apolo has long hair with facial additives as does my Lucas. Yuki had some difficulties with his incredibly bright and talented son and managed somehow to channel it all in a positive direction.
Apolo Anton Ohno, the one-time Federal Way mall rat, again leads a small contingent with local ties as well as the U.S. short-trackers, whose mayhem-pickled sport continues to gain TV viewership alongside the traditional hockey/figure skating dramas. [emphasis mine]
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/thiel/258529_wolythielcol09.html
Needless to say, not that my kids have become super athletes but I can identify with the parenting struggles of Yuki. I have great admiration for Yuki and for what his son has become. Evidently, Yuki now lives in Edmonds instead of Federal Way in a view home which by definition means he is just down the beach from us. And he probably hears the same trains we do which run along the water down below. Who knows? He may even be worried about mudslides, too.
So, sports averse me is now focused on the Olympics with all of its coverage. Particularly, I am watching Seattle's own Apolo.
The Seattle Times today has a huge article about Apolo written by Ron Judd, one of my favorite columnists.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2002792704_olyohno09.html
And some quotes:
For a decade, he has ruled the ice the way a dolphin owns the water....
"Every time I come home, I'm like, 'God, I miss Seattle. I miss everything about it,' " says Ohno, returning from a sushi dinner with friends on Capitol Hill......
...They decided Apolo would stay put at the campus-like Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. They decided he would focus on all the good things and stay away from the bad. It was, in a way, a rerun of a loving-but-firm nudge from Yuki Ohno, a single, Japanese-American parent who sent young Apolo off to speedskating camp at 14, partially to keep him off the streets of Federal Way....
...After a final, December trip to the Seattle area, including a few peaceful days on the southwest Washington coast, he has spent the last weeks before Turin in Colorado Springs, honing body and mind.
Let the Games Begin! Apolo is ready.
// posted by Janet @ 7:32 AM
0 comments
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Am I Sports Averse??
Perhaps I have not been completely honest when I describe myself as sports averse. I do get angry that the sports and the kids involved in sports at my daughter's high school get all of the recognition and praise. The orchestra, band, choir, and theater programs continue to win award after award at the state level with barely a mention. I'm not talking about just our local newspapers but these kids are completely ignored by their own school. The kids are talented and devote themselves to their passions no less than the kids who play football. Yet, a fraction of the money goes to peforming arts compared to sports. It is shameful.
Also, I get mad that the Husky football coach at the University of Washington has an annual salary of over a million dollars. And yet my husband, whose work in cancer research and his oversight of all research monies at UW does more for the benefit of humanity. But, he gets a small fraction of that amount in salary. Sure, football brings in money to the University but the UW is number one in the nation for research dollars received by a public school. This bugs me--a lot. People are avoiding cancer and surviving cancer more than ever before because of the work done day in and day out by devoted scientists and doctors like my hubby.
I admit, I have a chip on my shoulder when I see people I love being slighted. It is not that we should not honor sports, but we should value the equally important gifts and positive contributions made by scientists and artists. My shoulder chip started in college when I took a Current Events/Government class which because of the time of the class included several members of the football team. Because of my grades, I had a puny academic scholarship. But these guys all had full rides. Rarely did these guys even come to class and when they did, they did not participate nor did they even know what we were talking about. The Vietnam War and Nixon were tops on the agenda. Zoom--right over their heads! I worked hard in that class and got an A; I suspect the "guys", without opening a book, got B's. It seemed so wrong to me.
Ok, now that I have all of that out of the way, I do enjoy watching sports where people have perfected their talents and are reaching for their goals. So maybe I am not so sports averse after all. I like learning about the personalities involved. When my husband and I were in high school, neither one of us were the least bit athletic but we each enjoyed limited sports participation. I was on the track team and he was a competetive trap shooter. Also, we enjoyed watching our teams beat everybody in the state of Montana mainly because of one person--Pat Donovan. He was the most popular boy in school and the talented star athlete of every single sport. He took our basketball team to state two years in a row and we won the year I was a senior. Evidently, his discus record still stands.
Pat went on to Stanford with a full ride football scholarship. I did not mind because he was super smart and deserved such a thing academicly as well as athleticly. He did not waste his education and I knew he wouldn't. After college, Pat played successfully for the Dallas Cowboys for many years. Needless to say, the Cowboys were our favorite team until we moved to Seattle. Evidently, Pat is now a highly successful business man and resort developer in Montana.
As an interesting sidenote, one of those full ride guys at Montana State University was Sam McCullum. He was NOT in that Gov class that made me so mad; I did not ever know him. My husband and I knew who he was because my junior year in high school (1970) when our basketball team led by Pat Donovan played Kalispell for the hotly contested State Championship, they beat us partly because they had Sam McCullum. We noticed as students at MSU that Sam, a member of our nemesis basketball team, played MSU football. Imagine our surprise and delight to learn he was playing for the original Seahawks when we arrived here. He remained in Seattle and also became successful at business after his football years. According to this recent article in the Missoula, Montana newspaper, his kids went to Stanford and not his alma mater, MSU.
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2006/02/05/sports/sports01.txt
Now that I have laid this foundation to say I am really not sports averse, the next big event is the Torino Winter Olympics. Like I said, I am interested in the personalities with whom I identify and admire. Stay tuned.
Perhaps I have not been completely honest when I describe myself as sports averse. I do get angry that the sports and the kids involved in sports at my daughter's high school get all of the recognition and praise. The orchestra, band, choir, and theater programs continue to win award after award at the state level with barely a mention. I'm not talking about just our local newspapers but these kids are completely ignored by their own school. The kids are talented and devote themselves to their passions no less than the kids who play football. Yet, a fraction of the money goes to peforming arts compared to sports. It is shameful.
Also, I get mad that the Husky football coach at the University of Washington has an annual salary of over a million dollars. And yet my husband, whose work in cancer research and his oversight of all research monies at UW does more for the benefit of humanity. But, he gets a small fraction of that amount in salary. Sure, football brings in money to the University but the UW is number one in the nation for research dollars received by a public school. This bugs me--a lot. People are avoiding cancer and surviving cancer more than ever before because of the work done day in and day out by devoted scientists and doctors like my hubby.
I admit, I have a chip on my shoulder when I see people I love being slighted. It is not that we should not honor sports, but we should value the equally important gifts and positive contributions made by scientists and artists. My shoulder chip started in college when I took a Current Events/Government class which because of the time of the class included several members of the football team. Because of my grades, I had a puny academic scholarship. But these guys all had full rides. Rarely did these guys even come to class and when they did, they did not participate nor did they even know what we were talking about. The Vietnam War and Nixon were tops on the agenda. Zoom--right over their heads! I worked hard in that class and got an A; I suspect the "guys", without opening a book, got B's. It seemed so wrong to me.
Ok, now that I have all of that out of the way, I do enjoy watching sports where people have perfected their talents and are reaching for their goals. So maybe I am not so sports averse after all. I like learning about the personalities involved. When my husband and I were in high school, neither one of us were the least bit athletic but we each enjoyed limited sports participation. I was on the track team and he was a competetive trap shooter. Also, we enjoyed watching our teams beat everybody in the state of Montana mainly because of one person--Pat Donovan. He was the most popular boy in school and the talented star athlete of every single sport. He took our basketball team to state two years in a row and we won the year I was a senior. Evidently, his discus record still stands.
Pat went on to Stanford with a full ride football scholarship. I did not mind because he was super smart and deserved such a thing academicly as well as athleticly. He did not waste his education and I knew he wouldn't. After college, Pat played successfully for the Dallas Cowboys for many years. Needless to say, the Cowboys were our favorite team until we moved to Seattle. Evidently, Pat is now a highly successful business man and resort developer in Montana.
As an interesting sidenote, one of those full ride guys at Montana State University was Sam McCullum. He was NOT in that Gov class that made me so mad; I did not ever know him. My husband and I knew who he was because my junior year in high school (1970) when our basketball team led by Pat Donovan played Kalispell for the hotly contested State Championship, they beat us partly because they had Sam McCullum. We noticed as students at MSU that Sam, a member of our nemesis basketball team, played MSU football. Imagine our surprise and delight to learn he was playing for the original Seahawks when we arrived here. He remained in Seattle and also became successful at business after his football years. According to this recent article in the Missoula, Montana newspaper, his kids went to Stanford and not his alma mater, MSU.
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2006/02/05/sports/sports01.txt
Now that I have laid this foundation to say I am really not sports averse, the next big event is the Torino Winter Olympics. Like I said, I am interested in the personalities with whom I identify and admire. Stay tuned.
// posted by Janet @ 8:13 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
An Article in This Morning's Everett Herald
No matter how sorry we are feeling for ourselves, there are always those whose problems are worse. I did not get beyond all of the Seahawks articles about the Super Bowl officiating until just now. We can see Camano and Whidbey Islands from our leaky windows and this is what happened to them:
Michael O'Leary / The Herald
Mike Lawless on Monday surveys the storm damage at his Driftwood Shores home on Camano Island.
Hmmm! Kind of ironic the name of their neighborhood is Driftwood shores but here are some quotes:
"Carpet, furniture, everything is ruined," the 57-year-old Camano Island man said.
Two days after the storm, dozens of homeowners in his Driftwood Shores neighborhood were sifting through muck, flotsam and sea-soaked logs that had surged onto their properties during the damaging combination of strong winds and high tides.
Up and down the street were parked the vans of a plumber, an electrician and a fire and water restoration company that were helping his neighbors clean up....
....[In other areas] Outages were caused by trees and tree limbs falling on power lines, he said. Trees fell on roads, property and even cars, but no injuries were reported.
In Mukilteo, Don Surface's dreams of restoring a 1934 Pontiac four-door sedan were crushed when a 60-foot tree smashed it.
"It was totally original," Surface said, adding he bought it from the original owner 19 years ago.
"It was a shock. I was really saddened at first," he said of the total loss. "However, it's metal. It's not a human life."... [OUCH!]
...Some residents on Camano Island said they feared for their lives during Saturday's fury.
"My house, the second story, we had waves hitting the bedroom window," Lawless said. "I've been up here 11 years, never seen anything like this."
Monday's late afternoon sun reflected brightly off the thick snow on Three Fingers Mountain to the east. Mount Rainier loomed to the south. The insurance adjuster was expected soon, but Lawless could only guess with a joke at what his property was worth.
"Now I have a $10 house with a million-dollar view," Lawless said.
http://www.heraldnet.com/stories/06/02/07/100loc_b1ruined001.cfm
What a winter! And it all is absolutely nothing compared to what the Katrina victims are still dealing with.
No matter how sorry we are feeling for ourselves, there are always those whose problems are worse. I did not get beyond all of the Seahawks articles about the Super Bowl officiating until just now. We can see Camano and Whidbey Islands from our leaky windows and this is what happened to them:
Michael O'Leary / The Herald
Mike Lawless on Monday surveys the storm damage at his Driftwood Shores home on Camano Island.
Hmmm! Kind of ironic the name of their neighborhood is Driftwood shores but here are some quotes:
"Carpet, furniture, everything is ruined," the 57-year-old Camano Island man said.
Two days after the storm, dozens of homeowners in his Driftwood Shores neighborhood were sifting through muck, flotsam and sea-soaked logs that had surged onto their properties during the damaging combination of strong winds and high tides.
Up and down the street were parked the vans of a plumber, an electrician and a fire and water restoration company that were helping his neighbors clean up....
....[In other areas] Outages were caused by trees and tree limbs falling on power lines, he said. Trees fell on roads, property and even cars, but no injuries were reported.
In Mukilteo, Don Surface's dreams of restoring a 1934 Pontiac four-door sedan were crushed when a 60-foot tree smashed it.
"It was totally original," Surface said, adding he bought it from the original owner 19 years ago.
"It was a shock. I was really saddened at first," he said of the total loss. "However, it's metal. It's not a human life."... [OUCH!]
...Some residents on Camano Island said they feared for their lives during Saturday's fury.
"My house, the second story, we had waves hitting the bedroom window," Lawless said. "I've been up here 11 years, never seen anything like this."
Monday's late afternoon sun reflected brightly off the thick snow on Three Fingers Mountain to the east. Mount Rainier loomed to the south. The insurance adjuster was expected soon, but Lawless could only guess with a joke at what his property was worth.
"Now I have a $10 house with a million-dollar view," Lawless said.
http://www.heraldnet.com/stories/06/02/07/100loc_b1ruined001.cfm
What a winter! And it all is absolutely nothing compared to what the Katrina victims are still dealing with.
// posted by Janet @ 9:53 AM
0 comments
It is NOT Boring Living in the Great Pacific Northwest!
Whoa! This has been a winter to remember. Of course, all three homes we have owned in the Seattle area have had water issues which makes me think most everyone around here has to be on guard all of the time. Our first house had ventilation problems which we discovered when it started to rain inside; our second house was on a low lot and built over what used to be Canyon Creek so we had crawl space water issues; this house is built on a steep edge of Big Gulch. Furthermore, our large windows, which frame our lovely view and because they face the water, get pummeled during storms. Add the rattling of wind and an earthquake and the double panes pop easily.
At this moment, it is absolutely gorgeous outside. The water is blue and the mountains are out in full glory. It was like this yesterday as Apolo and I headed outside. Coy Mother Nature is saying, "Who...Me?" As usual, I met one of my neighbors out walking and we discussed storm damage and not Super Bowl. They lost a large tree but luckily it fell away from their house. The house right next to them lost their rotten fence as the wind crashed it to the ground. The crack was so loud, we heard it at our house. We wondered if our other neighbor had a basement full of water again. And I told her about our mudslide. The civil engineer had just left my house a few minutes before. I called the city's Public Works department and being Mukilteo, water related surface problems (mudslides) are their specialty. They spend all of their time trying to figure out how to divert and control WATER.
Also, being Mukilteo, the civil engineer was here within 15 minutes of my phone call. This guy crawled down into the Gulch to get a good look at our slide and he took pictures. He examined the ground and checked cracks and holes. He agreed that the earthquake along with all of the rain possibly caused it. I love competent and smart people. He explained soil movement, saturation, liquefying--you name it and he seemed to be enjoying himself because obviously, this is his passion. The good news is he doesn't think we need to build a retaining wall; the bad news is we will continue to have sloughing and bank failure as long as there is rain. Our house is in no danger and our fence should be ok. When we pick blackberries, we just need to be careful to not fall down a vertical 15 foot clay cliff. He recommended we research slope stabilization plantings and follow through with that in the spring and summer. I received all of this wonderful, practical, reassuring analysis and advice for free.
My neighbor, who moved here from California, said she didn't know what was worse--watching wildfires approaching or dealing with water rotting and molding everything every day of the year. When they moved here, the thought of no fires was so comforting but they are looking to move away; she can't stand it anymore. We agreed that a flat lot in the desert near Las Vegas was appealing at the moment.
But Las Vegas?? Ewww! I have never been to Las Vegas (except when we stopped there for gas once on a drive to Arizona when I was 10 years old) and my goal in life is to never go there. Give me Seattle anyday.
Behind our fence--Sad--doesn't look quite like this now!
Whoa! This has been a winter to remember. Of course, all three homes we have owned in the Seattle area have had water issues which makes me think most everyone around here has to be on guard all of the time. Our first house had ventilation problems which we discovered when it started to rain inside; our second house was on a low lot and built over what used to be Canyon Creek so we had crawl space water issues; this house is built on a steep edge of Big Gulch. Furthermore, our large windows, which frame our lovely view and because they face the water, get pummeled during storms. Add the rattling of wind and an earthquake and the double panes pop easily.
At this moment, it is absolutely gorgeous outside. The water is blue and the mountains are out in full glory. It was like this yesterday as Apolo and I headed outside. Coy Mother Nature is saying, "Who...Me?" As usual, I met one of my neighbors out walking and we discussed storm damage and not Super Bowl. They lost a large tree but luckily it fell away from their house. The house right next to them lost their rotten fence as the wind crashed it to the ground. The crack was so loud, we heard it at our house. We wondered if our other neighbor had a basement full of water again. And I told her about our mudslide. The civil engineer had just left my house a few minutes before. I called the city's Public Works department and being Mukilteo, water related surface problems (mudslides) are their specialty. They spend all of their time trying to figure out how to divert and control WATER.
Also, being Mukilteo, the civil engineer was here within 15 minutes of my phone call. This guy crawled down into the Gulch to get a good look at our slide and he took pictures. He examined the ground and checked cracks and holes. He agreed that the earthquake along with all of the rain possibly caused it. I love competent and smart people. He explained soil movement, saturation, liquefying--you name it and he seemed to be enjoying himself because obviously, this is his passion. The good news is he doesn't think we need to build a retaining wall; the bad news is we will continue to have sloughing and bank failure as long as there is rain. Our house is in no danger and our fence should be ok. When we pick blackberries, we just need to be careful to not fall down a vertical 15 foot clay cliff. He recommended we research slope stabilization plantings and follow through with that in the spring and summer. I received all of this wonderful, practical, reassuring analysis and advice for free.
My neighbor, who moved here from California, said she didn't know what was worse--watching wildfires approaching or dealing with water rotting and molding everything every day of the year. When they moved here, the thought of no fires was so comforting but they are looking to move away; she can't stand it anymore. We agreed that a flat lot in the desert near Las Vegas was appealing at the moment.
But Las Vegas?? Ewww! I have never been to Las Vegas (except when we stopped there for gas once on a drive to Arizona when I was 10 years old) and my goal in life is to never go there. Give me Seattle anyday.
Behind our fence--Sad--doesn't look quite like this now!
// posted by Janet @ 8:13 AM
0 comments
Monday, February 06, 2006
Congratulations Pittsburgh
I don't know that much about football but I watched the game yesterday. As it turned out, it was quite festive at our house. Kaley had all of her friends over here and Kaley, a masterful cook, prepared the food. One of my friends--the Mom of one of Kaley's friends--watched the game with us. Her husband is a merchant Marine so he is out to sea for months. This woman has been my friend for years. I became acquainted with her when our sons were in the same kindergarten class. But as it has turned out, our daughters are the best of friends.
I do enjoy it when my kids have their friends here. I was so glad I kept the weenie Seahawks newspaper hats because they became prizes in answer to two questions: Who was the Seahawks QB and who was the Steelers QB? Kaley was so relieved that her Dad and I were not wearing them that she seemed pleased I gave them as prizes. These particular kids--both boys and girls--had a tough time answering. At half time, it was fun to go upstairs and give the kids a bad time that our generation is coolest--I mean the Rolling Stones for entertainment! And kids today know the words as well as we do to the songs.
The three adults scored the big TV downstairs and the kids had the smaller one upstairs. Both are HD. Our power never did go out even though recorded gusts ranged from 50-68 mph in our area. Evidently some people were still without power and the newspaper had lists of restaurants and bars where you could watch the game. My friend is Peruvian and was not raised with football so this was great. We chatted about kids and food but then screamed at appropriate times. Lucas called us after the first bad call. It was the middle of the night in France and he was going to bed but he did manage to watch the beginning of the game before they locked the dorm TV room. He said it was so weird and hilarious listening to it in French. The commentators were trying to explain the rules they did not understand.
Neither of us know a whole lot about this game but we know enough to conclude three things:
1. We were robbed of a clear touchdown. He caught the ball in the end zone with the tiniest brush beforehand to that other guy. I don't even understand how we didn't get that one. I'm not blind.
2. The Steelers were awarded a touchdown they clearly didn't get. The ball didn't even go over the line. I'm not blind.
3. And there were so many mean Steelers fans there, the officials were only thinking of their own lives and their families. If the officials had even once seemed to favor the Seahawks, they would never have left the stadium alive. I can understand that.
So we didn't win. My friend and I agreed that comparing our two cities, Pittsburgh needed this more than we do. Football is their focus and their life. We, on the other hand, have a lot more going on.
Like trying to figure out how to fix our mudslide and oh yes, I guess there is this new upscale Peruvian restaurant in Kirkland on Lake Washington that is to die for!
I don't know that much about football but I watched the game yesterday. As it turned out, it was quite festive at our house. Kaley had all of her friends over here and Kaley, a masterful cook, prepared the food. One of my friends--the Mom of one of Kaley's friends--watched the game with us. Her husband is a merchant Marine so he is out to sea for months. This woman has been my friend for years. I became acquainted with her when our sons were in the same kindergarten class. But as it has turned out, our daughters are the best of friends.
I do enjoy it when my kids have their friends here. I was so glad I kept the weenie Seahawks newspaper hats because they became prizes in answer to two questions: Who was the Seahawks QB and who was the Steelers QB? Kaley was so relieved that her Dad and I were not wearing them that she seemed pleased I gave them as prizes. These particular kids--both boys and girls--had a tough time answering. At half time, it was fun to go upstairs and give the kids a bad time that our generation is coolest--I mean the Rolling Stones for entertainment! And kids today know the words as well as we do to the songs.
The three adults scored the big TV downstairs and the kids had the smaller one upstairs. Both are HD. Our power never did go out even though recorded gusts ranged from 50-68 mph in our area. Evidently some people were still without power and the newspaper had lists of restaurants and bars where you could watch the game. My friend is Peruvian and was not raised with football so this was great. We chatted about kids and food but then screamed at appropriate times. Lucas called us after the first bad call. It was the middle of the night in France and he was going to bed but he did manage to watch the beginning of the game before they locked the dorm TV room. He said it was so weird and hilarious listening to it in French. The commentators were trying to explain the rules they did not understand.
Neither of us know a whole lot about this game but we know enough to conclude three things:
1. We were robbed of a clear touchdown. He caught the ball in the end zone with the tiniest brush beforehand to that other guy. I don't even understand how we didn't get that one. I'm not blind.
2. The Steelers were awarded a touchdown they clearly didn't get. The ball didn't even go over the line. I'm not blind.
3. And there were so many mean Steelers fans there, the officials were only thinking of their own lives and their families. If the officials had even once seemed to favor the Seahawks, they would never have left the stadium alive. I can understand that.
So we didn't win. My friend and I agreed that comparing our two cities, Pittsburgh needed this more than we do. Football is their focus and their life. We, on the other hand, have a lot more going on.
Like trying to figure out how to fix our mudslide and oh yes, I guess there is this new upscale Peruvian restaurant in Kirkland on Lake Washington that is to die for!
// posted by Janet @ 7:45 AM
0 comments
Saturday, February 04, 2006
Yikes!
I feel like I am posting the last message before the Titanic goes down--which is a sad thing to say considering that ferry in the Red Sea. But, we are in the midst of a storm and I fear the power will go out. We have had some major gusts with driving rain coming right through several of our windows. Not only that, but I discovered yesterday that the hillside behind our fence did give way and is a mudslide. I think that little earthquake was the ultimate culprit. I kept being mad at myself for worrying about it and now it happened. I just don't want it to take our fence. Somehow, we need to build a retaining wall back there. Good-bye college fund!
But, I am going to a memorial service today at my church and such things give perspective. One of our members, a woman my age, was diagnosed with a glioblastoma brain tumor two years ago. This is the same thing my brother-in-law died of 5 years ago. Nothing causes this type of tumor--it is random and there is no cure--none! And you get about two years with a few months of suffering at the end. This woman named Debbie leaves behind a 15 year old son and a devoted husband. So those of you out there who read my blog and believe in such things as prayer--pray for Debbie's family. Her son, especially, needs our prayers.
Of course, our church is in a forest with humongous trees and our roof is leaking. The memorial service with gusts of wind up to 70 or 80 mph could be rather exciting.
Mudslides and high winds?? Not a big deal! Brain tumors? A big deal and a time for fellowship. We are giving Debbie a send-off to remember and yes, it will be fun. When Debbie found out she had only three months, the women at my church threw a party for her which she loved. This party is for the rest of us.
The lights are flickering so Good-bye!!!
I feel like I am posting the last message before the Titanic goes down--which is a sad thing to say considering that ferry in the Red Sea. But, we are in the midst of a storm and I fear the power will go out. We have had some major gusts with driving rain coming right through several of our windows. Not only that, but I discovered yesterday that the hillside behind our fence did give way and is a mudslide. I think that little earthquake was the ultimate culprit. I kept being mad at myself for worrying about it and now it happened. I just don't want it to take our fence. Somehow, we need to build a retaining wall back there. Good-bye college fund!
But, I am going to a memorial service today at my church and such things give perspective. One of our members, a woman my age, was diagnosed with a glioblastoma brain tumor two years ago. This is the same thing my brother-in-law died of 5 years ago. Nothing causes this type of tumor--it is random and there is no cure--none! And you get about two years with a few months of suffering at the end. This woman named Debbie leaves behind a 15 year old son and a devoted husband. So those of you out there who read my blog and believe in such things as prayer--pray for Debbie's family. Her son, especially, needs our prayers.
Of course, our church is in a forest with humongous trees and our roof is leaking. The memorial service with gusts of wind up to 70 or 80 mph could be rather exciting.
Mudslides and high winds?? Not a big deal! Brain tumors? A big deal and a time for fellowship. We are giving Debbie a send-off to remember and yes, it will be fun. When Debbie found out she had only three months, the women at my church threw a party for her which she loved. This party is for the rest of us.
The lights are flickering so Good-bye!!!
// posted by Janet @ 7:47 AM
0 comments
Friday, February 03, 2006
Seahawks Friday
1. I am beginning to see more and more people wearing Seahawks garb. We are supposed to wear blue and green today. I even bought a little Seahawks baby bib for a certain new member of my family who will be a boy and who will come into this world in Helena, Montana within the next two weeks.
2. I actually saw green and blue Christmas lights arranged to spell, "Go Hawks"! But, some folks down the street still have their Christmas tree up and it is lit up every evening. Maybe this is how they are being football fans. There aren't any rules, but is this strange?
3. My daughter is going to a Super Bowl party with her very non-footbally theater friends. I mean, if she is going to a Super Bowl party---the fever has definitely turned into a contagion. She tells me it is for the food and they will all cheer at inappropriate times because not a one of them has ever watched a football game. These kids don't even go to their own high school's games.
4. My husband and I, on the other hand, are not going to or having a Super Bowl party. It is not that we don't have friends but we don't have football watching friends. I would bet that in Seattle there are more families watching the Super Bowl solo than in Pittsburgh. And most of the University crowd we hang out with have crummy small televisions and maybe no cable. Hmmm? Maybe they were expecting us to invite them? Nevertheless, the Seattle Times has the weenie cut-out Seahawks hat again today. I saved the one from the other day so now there is one for me and one for hubby.
5. A super wind storm is predicted for Saturday night and Sunday. After all of this rain and an earthquake, this doesn't help our landslide risk. Plus, if the power goes out for a significant percentage of the population on Sunday as predicted......oh, man! I don't even want to think about it. There may very well be a line of people on the Aurora Bridge getting ready to jump. And this is Seattle---so don't try to cut in.
STEVE RINGMAN / THE SEATTLE TIMES :
"Brace for wild winds, thanks to La Niña
Blue skies in the distance and the Olympic Mountains basking in — could that be sunshine? — Thursday morning were a reminder that drier weather is possible. But weather forecasters warned that a severe windstorm and cold front would likely roar in late tonight before milder weather sets in next week."
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/home/index.html
GO SEAHAWKS!
1. I am beginning to see more and more people wearing Seahawks garb. We are supposed to wear blue and green today. I even bought a little Seahawks baby bib for a certain new member of my family who will be a boy and who will come into this world in Helena, Montana within the next two weeks.
2. I actually saw green and blue Christmas lights arranged to spell, "Go Hawks"! But, some folks down the street still have their Christmas tree up and it is lit up every evening. Maybe this is how they are being football fans. There aren't any rules, but is this strange?
3. My daughter is going to a Super Bowl party with her very non-footbally theater friends. I mean, if she is going to a Super Bowl party---the fever has definitely turned into a contagion. She tells me it is for the food and they will all cheer at inappropriate times because not a one of them has ever watched a football game. These kids don't even go to their own high school's games.
4. My husband and I, on the other hand, are not going to or having a Super Bowl party. It is not that we don't have friends but we don't have football watching friends. I would bet that in Seattle there are more families watching the Super Bowl solo than in Pittsburgh. And most of the University crowd we hang out with have crummy small televisions and maybe no cable. Hmmm? Maybe they were expecting us to invite them? Nevertheless, the Seattle Times has the weenie cut-out Seahawks hat again today. I saved the one from the other day so now there is one for me and one for hubby.
5. A super wind storm is predicted for Saturday night and Sunday. After all of this rain and an earthquake, this doesn't help our landslide risk. Plus, if the power goes out for a significant percentage of the population on Sunday as predicted......oh, man! I don't even want to think about it. There may very well be a line of people on the Aurora Bridge getting ready to jump. And this is Seattle---so don't try to cut in.
STEVE RINGMAN / THE SEATTLE TIMES :
"Brace for wild winds, thanks to La Niña
Blue skies in the distance and the Olympic Mountains basking in — could that be sunshine? — Thursday morning were a reminder that drier weather is possible. But weather forecasters warned that a severe windstorm and cold front would likely roar in late tonight before milder weather sets in next week."
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/home/index.html
GO SEAHAWKS!
// posted by Janet @ 7:28 AM
0 comments
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Yep!!
I was right! A very small earthquake hit but I am very close so it was enough to scare me--sorry about the bad word. I don't like earthquakes.
You heard it here first.
UPDATE: A 3.6 earthquake is not a biggie but the epicenter was deep under Puget Sound just south of the southern tip of Whidbey Island WHICH I CAN SEE OUT MY WINDOW! So, needless to say, since we are directly in line, we really felt it. I was sitting on the couch watching MSNBC and Apolo was curled up on the couch right next to me. Kaley was at her voice lesson and Dave was on his way home. Dinner was in the oven. The couch and the lamp started to shake and it felt just like the beginning of that 6.8 quake we had five years ago. Of course, I froze. I always freeze and don't do the right thing; Apolo jumped off the couch with his ears pulled way back. And then it stopped with kind of a final sway and that was it except for my heart pounding.
http://www.king5.com/topstories/stories/NW_020206WABquakeJK.651584f3.html
I was right! A very small earthquake hit but I am very close so it was enough to scare me--sorry about the bad word. I don't like earthquakes.
You heard it here first.
UPDATE: A 3.6 earthquake is not a biggie but the epicenter was deep under Puget Sound just south of the southern tip of Whidbey Island WHICH I CAN SEE OUT MY WINDOW! So, needless to say, since we are directly in line, we really felt it. I was sitting on the couch watching MSNBC and Apolo was curled up on the couch right next to me. Kaley was at her voice lesson and Dave was on his way home. Dinner was in the oven. The couch and the lamp started to shake and it felt just like the beginning of that 6.8 quake we had five years ago. Of course, I froze. I always freeze and don't do the right thing; Apolo jumped off the couch with his ears pulled way back. And then it stopped with kind of a final sway and that was it except for my heart pounding.
http://www.king5.com/topstories/stories/NW_020206WABquakeJK.651584f3.html
// posted by Janet @ 5:57 PM
0 comments
Ok Something just the F*** happened whether it was a landslide or an earthquake and it scare the bejeebers out of Apolo and me.
// posted by Janet @ 5:52 PM
0 comments
Old Pics
Since I still haven't replaced or fixed our camera, I am recycling some old ones. I do not know if or when the camera thing will happen. Our Insta-Hot went out and ruined a little part of our wood floor. Having the Insta-Hot replaced was about the same amount of money as a new digital camera. We can't live without the Insta-Hot for French press coffee and tea.
Anyway, my puppy Apolo is acting just like a little kid. He sleeps in the family room where he has access to leather couches, pillows, rugs in the laundry room, and plenty of water. But lately, he has been waking us up at 3 and 4 in the morning with a little woof. He doesn't seem to want outside nor does he need water. All he wants is a hug---a hug and a kiss and then he goes back to sleep.
We have had so much wind and rain in the night for the last month that I think he may simply be scared. He has absolutely had enough---enough of the weather. Golden Retrievers usually start acting up when they are about 8 years old. They know they really will not get in trouble for anything by that point. They have perfected their mooching skills. Apolo is not quite 4 and I fear it has begun early.
We got him in May of 2002 not long after Apolo Ohno of Seattle had become the Winter Olympics super star--hence, the name.
Baby Apolo
Lucas at 16 before the hair and beard playing with Baby Apolo
Since I still haven't replaced or fixed our camera, I am recycling some old ones. I do not know if or when the camera thing will happen. Our Insta-Hot went out and ruined a little part of our wood floor. Having the Insta-Hot replaced was about the same amount of money as a new digital camera. We can't live without the Insta-Hot for French press coffee and tea.
Anyway, my puppy Apolo is acting just like a little kid. He sleeps in the family room where he has access to leather couches, pillows, rugs in the laundry room, and plenty of water. But lately, he has been waking us up at 3 and 4 in the morning with a little woof. He doesn't seem to want outside nor does he need water. All he wants is a hug---a hug and a kiss and then he goes back to sleep.
We have had so much wind and rain in the night for the last month that I think he may simply be scared. He has absolutely had enough---enough of the weather. Golden Retrievers usually start acting up when they are about 8 years old. They know they really will not get in trouble for anything by that point. They have perfected their mooching skills. Apolo is not quite 4 and I fear it has begun early.
We got him in May of 2002 not long after Apolo Ohno of Seattle had become the Winter Olympics super star--hence, the name.
Baby Apolo
Lucas at 16 before the hair and beard playing with Baby Apolo
// posted by Janet @ 1:44 PM
0 comments
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Food
Warning: If you are the least bit queasy, do not read this post. I am not responsible for any deleterious effects.
The topic today has been on my mind since Christmas and New Year's. My daughter woke up on New Year's day in Paris vomiting and other things because of the rich dinner she had had the night before. What she had eaten was this wonderful pork loin that melted in your mouth. My Mom had the same thing and did not get sick. We all tasted it and it was fabulous.
The unfortunate consequence is that my daughter since then has had no appetite for beef or pork though fish sounds great to her as does a little chicken---still a month later. I just finished talking to my son in France on the phone. He was sick a couple of days after New Year's with a virus, I am certain, though it also caused vomiting and diarrhea. Since then he hasn't been able to eat ham and cheese sandwiches or crepes with ham and cheese. So, now the staples of his French diet have been removed and he is at a loss as to what to eat. This concerns me since he is skinny to begin with.
We have been busy preparing vegetarian alternatives for our daughter if we are not having fish. I have been wondering how long this will last which has caused me to reminisce. This is not the first time members of my family have been made sick by some food or were sick with a stomach virus coincidentally after eating something. In either case, that food is forever banished. Certainly, we are not the only family this happens to.
I will start from the beginning--a very good place to start. One of my earliest memories is in the basement apartment in Helena in the 50's eating at our yellow formica and metal table. My mother made oyster stew. Though 4 or 5 years old at the time, I have a clear memory of the bowl in front of me. I do not know if I slurped a bit of it or only smelled it but the next thing I knew, I vomited right into the bowl of oyster stew making quite a gigantic mess. Actually, I got in trouble for not running to the bathroom which was right there. Never again do I remember my Mom serving me oyster stew. We live in one of the primo oyster areas in the world but I still am leery of anything oyster.
My family and my husband's family hunted as I have written before. Not only did we eat every type of wild animal but no part would be wasted. Montanans were like that then. I never liked deer liver though I would eat it. My Mom thought it was funny to cook deer or elk heart on Valetine's day and always, I enjoyed that. Dave's Mom was a fabulous liver chef so he loved liver---until we were first married. As a young wife, I tried to prepare deer liver. Needless to say, my husband got so sick....yep, the vomit and diarrhea thing again. Liver--banished from this family's menu forever. My children have never even tasted liver.
When we first moved to Seattle, one of our favorite activities along with clamming and crabbing was foraging for chanterelle mushrooms in the fall. They are easily identifiable and distinguishable from harmful varieties. After 4 or 5 years of this hobby, I got deathly sick and you guessed it: vomiting and diarrhea and at the same time which was interesting. I thought I would die. Two weeks later, I discovered I was pregnant (with Lucas). The following fall I figured it must have been the pregnancy so I was willing to eat the yummy mushrooms again. Big big mistake! That hobby went out the window. Hmmm! Now that I think about it, Kaley had Chanterelle mushroom bisque on New Year's Eve.
Corn dogs! My children cannot even say it anymore. When they were both less than 9 years old, on one of our annual trips to Montana, we stayed at Big Sky. Big Sky is a resort near Bozeman at about 8000 feet. After hiking and taking ski lifts up and up, we stopped in a sandwich place for lunch and the children each had a corn dog. To this day, I do not know if it was altitude sickness or the corn dogs. But my memory is driving through the streets of Bozeman and trying to find places to pull over so my babies could upchuck into the gutter. Neither child has eaten one since. In fact, to be mean to them all I have to do to this day is say, "Corn Dog!"
You wouldn't think there would be anything wrong with Ramen noodles. And there isn't. I cannot imagine any person being caused to throw up Ramen. The last time I served Ramen noodles to my family was before Kaley's memory so Lucas must have been about 4. He had troubles with ear infections and bloody noses due to allergies in his early days. This experience was similar to my oyster stew debacle. The tender little arteries in Lucas's darling nose burst forth one day as he was eating a bowl of Ramen noodles for lunch. I almost threw up as I removed the bowl of noodles swimming in blood from the table. Neither Lucas nor I have eaten Ramen noodles since that day. And every single time I pass the packages of Ramen in the grocery store, I think about it.
And finally, my Mom and mussels do not agree with one another. She never had eaten mussels until we introduced them to her after we moved to Seattle. And to protect her dignity, I'll say not another word except......
......I think we are even now over the oyster stew.
We had the BEST mussels at this French Bistro in Blois (Loire Valley, France, 2003)
Warning: If you are the least bit queasy, do not read this post. I am not responsible for any deleterious effects.
The topic today has been on my mind since Christmas and New Year's. My daughter woke up on New Year's day in Paris vomiting and other things because of the rich dinner she had had the night before. What she had eaten was this wonderful pork loin that melted in your mouth. My Mom had the same thing and did not get sick. We all tasted it and it was fabulous.
The unfortunate consequence is that my daughter since then has had no appetite for beef or pork though fish sounds great to her as does a little chicken---still a month later. I just finished talking to my son in France on the phone. He was sick a couple of days after New Year's with a virus, I am certain, though it also caused vomiting and diarrhea. Since then he hasn't been able to eat ham and cheese sandwiches or crepes with ham and cheese. So, now the staples of his French diet have been removed and he is at a loss as to what to eat. This concerns me since he is skinny to begin with.
We have been busy preparing vegetarian alternatives for our daughter if we are not having fish. I have been wondering how long this will last which has caused me to reminisce. This is not the first time members of my family have been made sick by some food or were sick with a stomach virus coincidentally after eating something. In either case, that food is forever banished. Certainly, we are not the only family this happens to.
I will start from the beginning--a very good place to start. One of my earliest memories is in the basement apartment in Helena in the 50's eating at our yellow formica and metal table. My mother made oyster stew. Though 4 or 5 years old at the time, I have a clear memory of the bowl in front of me. I do not know if I slurped a bit of it or only smelled it but the next thing I knew, I vomited right into the bowl of oyster stew making quite a gigantic mess. Actually, I got in trouble for not running to the bathroom which was right there. Never again do I remember my Mom serving me oyster stew. We live in one of the primo oyster areas in the world but I still am leery of anything oyster.
My family and my husband's family hunted as I have written before. Not only did we eat every type of wild animal but no part would be wasted. Montanans were like that then. I never liked deer liver though I would eat it. My Mom thought it was funny to cook deer or elk heart on Valetine's day and always, I enjoyed that. Dave's Mom was a fabulous liver chef so he loved liver---until we were first married. As a young wife, I tried to prepare deer liver. Needless to say, my husband got so sick....yep, the vomit and diarrhea thing again. Liver--banished from this family's menu forever. My children have never even tasted liver.
When we first moved to Seattle, one of our favorite activities along with clamming and crabbing was foraging for chanterelle mushrooms in the fall. They are easily identifiable and distinguishable from harmful varieties. After 4 or 5 years of this hobby, I got deathly sick and you guessed it: vomiting and diarrhea and at the same time which was interesting. I thought I would die. Two weeks later, I discovered I was pregnant (with Lucas). The following fall I figured it must have been the pregnancy so I was willing to eat the yummy mushrooms again. Big big mistake! That hobby went out the window. Hmmm! Now that I think about it, Kaley had Chanterelle mushroom bisque on New Year's Eve.
Corn dogs! My children cannot even say it anymore. When they were both less than 9 years old, on one of our annual trips to Montana, we stayed at Big Sky. Big Sky is a resort near Bozeman at about 8000 feet. After hiking and taking ski lifts up and up, we stopped in a sandwich place for lunch and the children each had a corn dog. To this day, I do not know if it was altitude sickness or the corn dogs. But my memory is driving through the streets of Bozeman and trying to find places to pull over so my babies could upchuck into the gutter. Neither child has eaten one since. In fact, to be mean to them all I have to do to this day is say, "Corn Dog!"
You wouldn't think there would be anything wrong with Ramen noodles. And there isn't. I cannot imagine any person being caused to throw up Ramen. The last time I served Ramen noodles to my family was before Kaley's memory so Lucas must have been about 4. He had troubles with ear infections and bloody noses due to allergies in his early days. This experience was similar to my oyster stew debacle. The tender little arteries in Lucas's darling nose burst forth one day as he was eating a bowl of Ramen noodles for lunch. I almost threw up as I removed the bowl of noodles swimming in blood from the table. Neither Lucas nor I have eaten Ramen noodles since that day. And every single time I pass the packages of Ramen in the grocery store, I think about it.
And finally, my Mom and mussels do not agree with one another. She never had eaten mussels until we introduced them to her after we moved to Seattle. And to protect her dignity, I'll say not another word except......
......I think we are even now over the oyster stew.
We had the BEST mussels at this French Bistro in Blois (Loire Valley, France, 2003)
// posted by Janet @ 9:18 AM
0 comments
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