Panoramic Seattle

More fun with my Olympus SP-810UZ.

Here are some shots from our recent weekend getaway to Seattle. I had fun with the panorama feature.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Get Lit! 2012

Last week’s installment of Spokane’s annual literary festival offered many famous authors.

The annual April gathering of words and wordsmiths was once again a success. The Bing was filled for the American Place Theatre’s presentation of “The Giver”. The panels at the Hagan Foundation were well attended as were the community workshops for youth and aspiring writers.

My favorite new venue was the Founders Theater at Saint George’s School. That was where Sherry Jones read from her upcoming novel, “Four Sisters, All Queens”. You know her from her other works, “The Jewel of Medina” and “The Sword of Medina”. As we left the auditorium, we could hear wild turkeys on the hill above. Stochastic.

We also attended a unique presentation of “The Giver” at the Bing Crosby Theater.  It started with a reading from Lois Lowry, the author. She read from her fourth book in the series, “Son”. Following intermission, the story was presented as a play, a one person, abridged version brought to life by a virtuoso performance from Mara Stephens.

My favorite presenter was Susan Orlean from The New Yorker. She spoke about her newest book, “Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend” and various other aspects of her writing career. Her humor and ethical passion were inspiring. She gave me hope that journalism will survive this current era of infotainment.

I regret missing HooPalousa. Imagine a group of famous and not so famous local literary faculty, such as award-winning author and WSU professor Sherman Alexie, going at it on the court – sporting fogged safety glasses while talking literary smack and missing shots from three feet out. (My money was on the Spokane Dirty Realists) And all the proceeds go to a graduate fellowship in creative writing. Priceless.

Oh well, maybe next year. And speaking of next year, it’s never too early to plan.

Our Morning Routine – Code Name Cat Ballou

Why getting my son on the school bus is like preparing Kid Shelleen.

My fifteen year old autistic son likes his routines. He relies on them. The one that has evolved during his nearly twelve years of exposure to the public education system is lengthy. During a recent execution of this morning ritual, it struck me that our dance quite resembled the preparation of Kid Shelleen in the famous 1965 western, Cat Ballou. All that was missing was the matador music.

See the original Cat Ballou trailer here.

If you haven’t seen the movie … What?? You haven’t seen the movie? Well, you should. It’s a raucous romp through the old west  with an eclectic cast which includes Lee Marvin (Oscar for Best Actor), Jane Fonda and Nat King Cole. Those of you that have seen the flick will remember the scene in which Kid Shelleen, the washed-up, drunkard gunslinger, is resurrected by his attendees through a process of long baths, hot towels and clean clothes. Although my son doesn’t drink, he is quite groggy in the dark, early, first minutes of a school day.

It starts with the alarm. Then I run a bath. While he is bathing he receives his meds and vitamins. He gets out and dries off without help, but I must unplug the bathtub and pull the shower curtain closed. Sometimes  he also insists I dry his neck and shoulders. I always am the one that hangs up the towel. He can dress himself, but I must buckle his belt and tie his shoes. His shoes must be double-tied. We do this once on his right shoe and three or four times on his left. Then comes his teeth, his chapstick and his hair.

Ahhhhhhh. His hair.

It must be sprayed with water, brushed then wetted down by hand. Next, I draw a brush stroke across his forehead and five down the back of his scalp. They must be counted out in cadence, 1-2-3-4-5. Then he runs his hand through his bangs and we start all over again. At some point the coif meets with his approval and we move on. On good days this can mean as little as two or three repetitions. On bad days, it never ends. When this occurs, I must move him along, at the risk of a meltdown, promising to revisit his hair after we have completed our other tasks.

Next comes his coat, backpack and checklist. We check off all the steps we have completed and one we have yet to complete, going out and waiting for the bus. But first comes my routine. My coat must be zipped all the way to the top, my hat and glasses put on. Then every door that is open must be closed. Even some that are already closed must be opened and then closed again while he supervises. At last we are free to go outside. We wait at the end of the driveway until his ride arrives. When he gets on the bus, he always stops on the first step, gives me a peck followed by four quick pseudo cheek kisses. To the neighbors, we must look like a couple of old Frenchmen meeting on the streets of  Paris.

Then comes the hardest task of all, watching as the bus pulls away and out of sight … hoping I have entrusted him to people with the care of a father and the humor of Cat Ballou.

Getting To Know My Olympus SP810UZ

Exploring the features of my new camera.

 

Pop art mode.

I was recently given a new Olympus SP810UZ. Between writing, blogging and work, I’ve had precious little time to get explore with it … yet.  The following are some of my initial dabbles.

 

 

 

Drawing mode.

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Reflection mode.

Alien in reflection mode.

Of Dog Bones and Macchiatos

The world is Lonnie’s oyster.

Anyone that meets our flat-coated retriever (a Newfoundland-lab mix) Avalon, quickly realizes their meeting serves only one mission, Lonnie’s entertainment. In fact, all of creation was apparently zapped into existence for Lonnie to play with. Every item dropped on the floor is there for her to chew. Every meal is prepared for her to taste, every cat is there for her to chase and every guest is invited over solely for the purpose of petting and praising her.

Lonnie.

And it doesn’t stop there. On walks, she sniffs every garbage can, smells every mailbox and snuffles every animal track. I won’t abuse you with what she thinks is appropriate when encountering deer scat.

But Avalon’s princess-like qualities radiate most when we she goes for a ride to Starbucks.

Lonnie's fan base.

As we approach the drive-through, her ears adjust, her rump squats and, before the window even finishes lowering, her nose pokes out like a spy-hopping orca, whiskers and nostrils twitching. She never considers that the barista is displaying great charity by offering her a dog biscuit. This must be the sole purpose for our arrival. What other impetus could there be? Certainly not the “treat” I’m being handed with a straw and sleeve (although she certainly wouldn’t mind chewing on that lovely smelling cup when we get home).

I know these occurrences are familiar to most dog lovers, but what I find so endearing in Lonnie’s actions is her attitude. The look on her face tells everyone, “It’s my world, just be thankful you’re in it.”

Komen Cures My Rant

I was all set to blast the cancer charity, but then cooler heads prevailed.

I was getting ready to rip on the Susan G. Komen Foundation for pulling their future grants for Planned Parenthood and then they changed their mind. So, I must now congratulate them on their wise reversal. If this debacle has had any plus side, it’s that it has educated many people on the role of Planned Parenthood. Far from an abortion mill (abortions represent less than 5% of their activities), PP  provides screenings, mammograms and a litany of other services, including adoption guidance and contraceptives. The best way to prevent an abortion remains to prevent pregnancy.

Thank you Susan G. Komen for doing the right thing.

The Great Blizzard of 2012

The snow in Washington has forgotten where to fall.

 

In an unlikely scenario, the western side of the state is already under six to ten inches of snow, while those of us residing on the eastern side of Washington have only seen a mere dusting.

Last year.

 

This will most certainly change overnight as the storm moves east, but for now, seeing Seattle on the national news for the white stuff instead of the wet stuff is more than a bit ironic, considering the lack of snow we have here, east of the Cascades.

As the storm continues to dump on Seattle, we will no doubt see images of their challenges, making some in the Inland Northwest feel greatly superior. But before you revel in the possibility of a Gortex-wrapped Starbucks junkie  tumbling down the sidewalk or sliding into the ditch like an Emerald City elf in a Rudolph-esque blizzard, I must remind you, our first big snow of the year renders just as much havoc. It seems each summer, a certain percentage of people fail to retain the ability to navigate in the snow, regardless of their level of experience. 

No matter what the outcome of this storm, the weather people will surely make it sound like the end of the world … until the next great catastrophe.  We’ll keep you posted on the “real” results.