Bay Street Music, Food and Dancing

If you're looking for some evening fun, food and possibly beer, then try Downtown Sounds sponsored by Boundary Bay Brewery. The concerts are held on Bay Street in front of Bayou on the Bay and the Radio Museum.

Last night, Eldridge Gravy and the Court Supremes played. They were a great dancing band with a mix of soul and funk. They return to play at The Wild Buffalo on September 18 if you want to find out just how good they are. I didn't find them on the Buffalo's event calendar, but it was the return date the band gave.

If you're looking for something to do next Wednesday, Downtown Sounds is bringing in the Salsa band, Latin Expressions. They'll even be offering some Salsa dance lessons.

Back Country Essentials is offering a climbing wall for $2 a climb if you need more than dancing. It may not be the most challenging climb, but for two bucks it's worth it.

Not bad for a mid-week thing to do in Bellingham.

Where's Bay Street? Here's a map:


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Take the Summer Poll

Tastes Like Summer

Yesterday, I went over to my daughter's to visit my grandkids. We looked at their new baby bunny, wandered through the vegetable garden, swung on the swings and poked sticks in the ant holes of what my grandson referred to as his ant farm. It was wonderfully warm even in the shade where we sat talking on a blanket in the grass. Then we moved to the kids picnic table, about three times smaller than the park sized picnic tables. My daughter brought out the watermelon and we all dove in.

With my first bite nostalgia settled over me. That first bite had all the taste and feel of summer's gone by. It's really very amazing how the taste and smell a things can bring back a memory or feeling of somewhere you've been or a moment in your life. I took another bite, but it didn't evoke the same feelings as the first one.

What makes you feel or taste summer?

Hey, Is That Yours?

Every couple of weeks I receive a graphic design newsletter from Graphics.com. This newsletter contains a lot of great information regarding design, typography, tutorials and creative bits. I especially enjoy looking at the "Ads of the World."

Normally, I scan through for inspirational ideas and free downloads or tutorials. I don't always read the articles, but one in particular caught my eye and my temper.

This article was about a British-born and highly-secretive street artist named, Banksy, who recently descended on the delapidated Packard Motors Factory and left his mark among various other graffiti artists marks. Only his art is valuable and has sold to celebrities like, Angelina Jolie. This is the art he created among the debris and scattered remains of what used to be.

It seems that the higher city officials in Detroit are at a loss for what to do with this property and who should pay to clean it up. The residence of the last recorded owner is a Michigan state prison. Even though no one wants to pay for the clean up they sure want to get in there when there's something monetarily profitable to them. A Detroit gallery, 555 Nonprofit Studio and Gallery, made quick steps to move in and take ownership of Banksy's valuable piece of art. They weren't coming in to do anything for the city, like clean, but how quickly they brought in a work crew and a forklift and took away something that would benefit them.

This is where I have a problem. Who are these people that they feel they have the power to just mosey on in and remove something that wasn't theirs.  That art was created as a statement that really only makes sense among the surroundings of rubble and community graffiti within the Packard Motors Factory.

They can't even put it back, now. Anyone who has read the article or heard about it in the news knows it's worth $100,000, so chances are it won't last long inside the remains of the Packard Motors Factory if returned. Especially, since it's already removed from the concrete wall and ready to go.

Some questions I have:
Who should own this art, if anyone?
What does Banksy think about this or does he?
Was it commendable of the gallery to protect the art?
If it wasn't the gallery, who took it first who else would have?

Shoefiti

The act of "shoe flinging" or "shoe tossing"

Shoefiti is found all across the United States, as well as internationally. This is the name that has been given to the action of, like the name says, flinging shoes across wires and into trees.

Under Wikipedia's definition of "shoe tossing" there is a link to folklore, which goes on to talk about others, like myself, infatuated with "lost soles." I had never associated Cinderella's lost slipper with them before, but it's an interesting concept.

There are some who see these shoes as a story or poem waiting to be written. Jen-Zen and the One Shoe Diaries is one such novel. Shoe photo collections have been created in honor of the "one shoe."

Back to the "shoefiti." There are some stranger meanings behind "shoe tossing" like territory marking by drug dealers, which I don't know if I would agree with in Bellingham, but what do I know. There's even a bachelor party drinking game called "final fling" where the groom to be has to be able to say, "toss the galosh" after numerous drinks. If he can't, then he has to "toss the galosh" and go barefoot the rest of the night.

Last night after I left class I wished I had my camera again. I was driving up Samish and there was a red, kind of sporty car for sale. Right by the back rear tire there was one red flip flop with rhinestones. I liked the combination of the two.


Some related links:

• Shoe Tossing
• Shoes On a Wire
• Lost Shoes
• One Lost Shoe

Lost Soles

Have you ever been curious about a shoe you saw on the freeway? Or why shoes are thrown over street wires? Or who hung the boots on the fence posts on the way to Ellensburg?

These are questions I ask myself. I wonder what the story is behind the shoes. I've taken photos of shoes while on vacation in and out of the U.S. that are in strange places. I'm very curious about it.

Last year while in Mexico, some local surfers gave us directions to a locals surf beach. It was dank, muddy and a long swampy trail. We waded across the swamp in one spot. Yuk. Probably, not smart. Along this trail there were the usual flip flops, but there were also dress shoes and tennis shoes, big shoes and baby shoes, and lots of them. I toyed with the idea that these "lost soles" belonged to those other tourists who were sent in search of this surf beach. We were now entering the swamp domain of a rogue crocodile.

Everyone else laughed it off, but a week later we found out there were crocodiles in that swamp.

Yesterday, morning my curiosity was once again sparked while driving into work on Mount Baker Highway.  The picture looked like this: a man's brown leather slip-on shoe in the middle of the road. From two diagonal points from the shoe, on the side of the road there was a very large dead deer and a foam dumbbell water weight for swimming. What could have happened here?

I would love to have had my camera to take a picture of that scene. My mind has been constructing different stories that tie those three items together and how the man lost his shoe while wrestling with the deer and how does that dumbbell weight figure in. Great fodder for thought.


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Ukulele Anyone?

I have been taking ukulele lessons for about two months. It has been quite an experience, since up until now I haven't had music lessons of any kind before. My lessons are taken in a group setting at the Senior Center. I may be one of the youngest players in this very enthusiastic group.

Here is a little history on the Uke. The ukulele originated in Portugal. It was brought to the Hawaiian islands by sailors, picked up by the islanders, and given the name ukulele, which means "jumping flea." Unlike a guitar it has only four strings.

Most of the folks in my group are also members of the Bellingham Ukulele Group, also known as the BUG group. They meet once a month and just jam. It is open to anyone, of any age. I have only been to two BUG meetings, mainly because I still don't know very many chords.

On Sunday, July 11, we had our recital, a potluck, and a BUG meeting all in one. We met at the little bandstand in Boulevard Park and played for about three hours.


We have been learning a method taught by James Hill. He teaches scales, strumming, intervals, open notes, and just a little bit of everything. It is very challenging, but rewarding. I know a lot more about music than I did before.

In August the Pickford Cinema will be showing the movie, "The Mighty Uke" if you are interested in some musical entertainment.

When is a Deal, Not a Deal?

I have always wanted a porch swing. I don't know why or if I would ever really use one, but something in the recesses of my brain have associated it with "good."

In February, I received an email from a wood furniture company that I had purchased a bench from nine years ago. Their porch swings were one third the regular price. Wow, what a deal I thought. Right away I chose one and paid for it. I was very excited. Eagerly, I awaited the delivery.

March came and there was no porch swing. I emailed the company and they said it would arrive by April 9. Great, it will be in time for my birthday. April came and went. Then came May. No swing. I emailed again and this time they left a message on my phone saying it was being mailed May 29. Great, in time for summer. May came and went and so did June. Finally, July arrived and so did my porch swing.

Assembly Required
My new porch swing came disassemble, which I expected. My son was off work, so he said he would stain it and put it together for me. Well, he moved into his own place a week later and there sits my porch swing stained once and needing one or two more coats. Then it will need assembly.

I really like the idea of having someone else do the work for me, but at this point I think my best bet is to finish it myself. Maybe before this class is over I will post a photo of my finished porch swing.

I ask you, when is this "good deal" not a "good deal" anymore?" My biggest deciding factors are:

• Cost. It was regularly $200 and I paid $75.
• Summer is still here, after summer and I would have been disappointed.
• It is good quality wood.
• It did arrive. I was worried they had taken my money and closed the business.

1978 Black Convertible VDub

If I could, I would have a different car every year. Not necessarily a brand new car. I'm currently driving a Honda Odyssey mini van, which is more for function than fun. So yesterday when my sister asked if we could trade cars for the day, my answer was, "yes." It was fun.

This car is in immaculate condition. It has been stored, not restored and it looks great. It was a nice day and my husband and I drove around town a little bit. I was excited when she didn't return my car last night. It meant I got to drive hers again.

I hope she needs to borrow my car again this summer!

Organic?

I was faced with a question today that I hadn't given any thought to before. "Do you want organic or non-organic?" Well, right away my mind was racing and trying to formulate the correct answer for that question.  According to television, restaurant menus, grocery stores, and advertising in general organic is the healthy choice. My thought obstacle was that I was just getting food for my chickens. Do they care about organic? Does is taste better? Will they be healthier? Have I been a bad pet owner because it never occurred to me that I would have an organic option. All I have ever really looked for in ingredients was whether or not the chicken food I was buying had been chemically engineered or included medicated corn.

I guiltily said, "non." Then walked back to my car wondering "Have I made the right choice?" The feed guy had already loaded my two bags of feed into the car and I wondered if I should change my mind. I asked him what the difference was and he stumbled over his answer and finally told me it was the price and then personal preference. Once he told me the cost was twice as much I decided my chickens have happily enjoyed "non-organic" for four years. They seem happy enough to me, so I should quit worrying.

Reasons to choose organic food:

• Chickens are being raised as food
• Selling the Eggs. Organic eggs sell for more, about $4 per dozen
• You believe that organic is the only way to go

I do like to give my chickens some fresh foods that I think will make up for the non-organic food I feed them. My chickens get kitchen scraps like vegetables, fruit, a little bread, and fish.  They are on the opposite side of the fence from my garden, so it's easy for me to just throw things over. I've been tossing them raspberries, kale, dandelions, and grass lately. Once my garden starts growing they will get some squash and tomatoes.

While researching, organic vs. non-organic, I found some people make homemade organic chicken food. I don't think I'm motivated enough for that. Just in case you're as curious as I was about what's involved in making your own chicken food, check out this link http://www.buzzle.com/articles/organic-chicken-feed.html.

Fireworks for the fourth, or not

Not only will my family be celebrating Independence Day this weekend, but my grandson turns four years old. He is sure that all the fireworks are for his birthday, which they are if you're from our family. My grandson's name is Jamisen. He is the stereotypical boy. He loves trucks, motorcycles, disc golf, dirt and work. He loves his birthday and fireworks. For the rest of his life his birthday will be celebrated with fireworks. Or not.

Not everyone will be so excited to have fireworks all around them this weekend.  For some, fireworks bring back memories of injuries or loss.

For my mom's finance, Jay, this 4th of July represents loss and renewal. Last year while on vacation in Tennessee Jay received a phone call around midnight. It was one of those phone calls you hope you never get. He was told that his house had just burned to the ground due to fireworks. Jay returned to Everett, Washington where he witnessed the devastation and destruction of many of the memories and belongings he held dear. Most of his possessions had burned or been ruined by water and smoke. He also lost one of his beloved cats. Neighbors were able to save his truck and his Harly Davidson motorcycle from the garage. Not much compared to the losses. This fourth of July will be a reminder of what he lost in the fire, but it will also be a reminder of those things that still remain: love, family, friends, and a newly rebuilt house.

To watch news video about Snohomish County's proposal to ban fireworks, one resident's opposition and Jay's house fire, click the following link.

http://www.nwcn.com/news/washington/Snohomish-County-to-consider-fireworks-ban-93898839.html