February 19, 2005

Moonshadow: You saw the moon last night, and all the stars, before the clouds rolled in...it'll be bright next week when it's full.

In the meantime, it's been pretty sunny, don't you think? Get outside & play.

Irish Music Camp, again: Here's the details - you'll want to set aside some time for Dan's Irish Music Camp in a couple of weeks. My favorite parts are the dance and the concert the last night...check it out - it's at the Marine Labs, which has a nice dancin' floor there where the cafeteria is.

China bound: Jan from Friday Harbor Yachts told me earlier this week she and Dan were headed for China yesterday...that's where some of their well-made boats come from.

Back: Pat Sandwith from the Roche Harbor Water Company's back from the hospital & back on the job after an operation on his colon...here's the details from the Roche Harbor News.

Basketball revs up: It all comes together next week on Thursday as both our girls team (10-10) and boys team (17-5) head for Coupeville to check their first playoff games off the list. I still don't know when, so if you're making plans, check in with the high school.

Wrestling: I've gotta file this Update report kinda late, so I'm gonna ask you to check on the progress of our four wrestlers at State on the San Juan Islander to see how they do. All four (Kyle Miller, Britt Banry, Jason Grone, and Danika Britain) lost in the first round, so they're in the consolation bracket.

Quote: To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

February 18, 2005

We are stardust....: A lot of people who come to the island are here to explore their inner space & reflect, but the crowd of folks who assembled last night at the Friday Harbor Marine Labs directed their attention to outer space.

NASA principal investigator Don Brownlee (right) of the University of Washington presented a gripping slideshow of the Stardust Project, which launched in 1999 to come close to a comet, gather matter from the comet and photograph it, and then, remarkably, return home with the samples early next year, when the spacecraft returns to the Utah desert in January.

If this stuff interests you (and you REALLY have played too many computer games if it doesn't), check out their website...an amazing venture, which so far is going well.

The presentation was put on by the San Juan Nature Institute, directed by Victoria Parker, which is doing a super job of offering a variety of engaging presentations around the islands.

Next week: on February 24, it's a presentation called Legacy of Historic NW Maritime Voyages. The descriptor says: "Great maritime explorations to this region began 12,000 years before the odyssey of Lewis and Clark. Dr. John Findlay, Chair, Dept of History - University of Washington." See you there.

Off to Mexico: Far as I can tell, just about everyone I know is leaving for somewhere for next week's school break (mid-winter break is all next week).

The biggest group going, though, is the kids from Calvary Chapel, who left this morning on the red-eye. There are some 40 high schoolers who are heading for San Quentín in Baja to do some mission work, building a church, and some other stuff. (I asked one of the kids what they're doing. "You know, stuff," she informed me.) It's a long drive, but everyone who's going seems excited about it.

They promise me pictures when they get back.

Shelter at the Market: When you swing by the Flea Market at the Fairgrounds on Saturday, be sure and drop by the Animal Shelter's table - that's a fundraiser for them. They're selling stuff. You know, stuff. Not cats. Not dogs. Stuff.

Quote: Kites fly highest against the wind, not with it. 

February 17, 2005

Don't forget the ferries: The ferry folks are coming to the island to discuss the proposed fare increases and fare structure on March 2nd for a public meeting, but it's pretty important to let them know what you think before they come.

If you're not up on all this, you need to drop by the San Juan Islander's compendium of resources & explanations, and find out more.

Can't let this one just happen - it has too much effect on the working folks in the islands, as well as the ability of people to provide services to both visitors & people here. Check it out, get caught up, sign the petition, and make sure you have a voice that gets heard.

J&J off to Nevada: Just heard Julie & Jeff who bought Post San Juan a few years back, then sold it late last year, are returning to their techie roots with job opportunities in Nevada next month.

They're the kind of folks you want around - bright, articulate, involved in the community, and always looking at the bright side. They'll be missed.

A & A hit 26: Yep, yesterday was Aaron & Adam D'Errico's 26th birthdays. Next time you're over by Browne's, wish them many happy returns.

Tami puts us on the map: Every month the Port of Friday Harbor writes up a little bit for its online news. This month Harbormaster Tami mentions links to the folks who offer information about the island online, and suggested us (the Update, which is you & me. That's the editorial "us," not the royal "we," princess).

Check it out. We've arrived.

Nash online: Just looked at Virginia Nash's new webpage, which promotes her healthy living counseling. It says, "pH Power - Health in a Whole New Light!! Wellness and self-healing is a movement for those who are dedicated to changing the quality of their own and others lives. pH Clinic offers several modalities to monitor and target optimal natural regimes to balance pH and maximize results. Every facet of pH Clinic revolves around balancing the body through lifestyle and diet to build blood and thus body and flip the odds against disease and degeneration in your favor."

Balanced diet means more than one cookie in each hand - check it out. I think she's onto something. 

February 16, 2005

Chill out, there: When I went walking Tuesday morning, a couple of hours before sunrise, it was freezing in the 20s with everything covered with frost, which gave a bright glow to the morning.

This is what it looked like looking over Griffin Bay (and the marine sanctuary in the foreground) with the sun beginning to brighten the sky above the clouds and Lopez across the way.

Family's OK: You know WaWan and Betsy Ridwan...he's the guy with the window-cleaning business and the huge smile whenever you see him.

I asked him yesterday how his family back in Indonesia's doing, after the tsunami. He says they're OK, as they live on an island away from all the trouble. He and Robin's Nest downtown took a percentage of their January receipts to send to help....

Ring out the old, ring in the new: Did you read about author Susan Meridith in the Roche Harbor News? Or about Neil Tarte fixing the bells in the carillion in the Our Lady of Good Voyage Chapel? Chris Watling has the details & reveals all.

Tale of two Julies: You can't go wrong if you go into the Countrywide Loans office over across from the Courthouse & ask for Julie. Julie Cory took over for Tracy James when she went off to live in Paris, while Julie Greene moved in to work with Tracy in the time before she left. Both are the kind of folks you want to work with - drop in & say howdy to them.

A valentine for you: Well, if I didn't see you for Valentine's Day, I guess the least I can do is sing you a song.

Here's "Give Yourself To Love," the song I tend to sing at weddings, which Joe Bongiorno uses as a bridal dance when he DJ's receptions, and which Kate Wolf made into a bit of a folk favorite. Click on the link & give it a moment to download. Then crank your computer speakers so everybody at work can sing along.

If you can't hear it, here's a bit from it:

Love is born in fire
It's planted like a seed
Love can't give you everything, but it'll give you what you need.
Love comes when you're ready
Love comes when you're afraid
It will be your greatest teacher, and the best friend you have made.
So give yourself to love, if love is what you're after
Open up your heart to the tears and laughter
Give yourself to love.....

Hope you had a good one.

February 14, 2005

Anna's glass: Have you seen Anna Anderson's glasswork?

Check out her website - she has some pretty awesome stuff. That's one of her stained glass pieces to the right, featuring a madrona tree.

Quote: "The real work of planet-saving will be small, humble, and humbling, and (insofar as it involves love) pleasing and rewarding. Its jobs will be too many to count, too many to report, too many to be publicly noticed or rewarded, too small to make anyone rich or famous." Wendell Berry

Discovery Sea Kayaks grows: Alan Willis (right) at Discovery Sea Kayaks is expanding into offering retail stuff & expanding his kayak tours, and part of the reason it's going so well is his new business partner, Dick Swanson (on the right). Check out their website & start planning your next trip!

Odd website of the month, revisited: Remember in August last year I told you this:

I KNOW I haven't mentioned Britney Spears in this space since I mentioned that one of my eleven-year-old fans has a tape with me singing on one side and Britney on the other, so you've been wondering what's she's up to.

I was looking up something about semi-conductors the other day and found the Britney Spears Guide to Semiconductor Physics. Explains a lot.

Well, I got a note in the mail over the weekend about that:

Just a quick note to thank you for that semiconductor/Britney Spears site. I used it for a paper that I just got back, and got a B+ from my professor. Keep up the good work! J.S. Winters, Tukwila

Mr. Winters did not say what college he attends.

Mull this over: I ran into Frances Bacon at the store yesterday and as part of the conversation we discovered that she had run into Craig & Krispi Staude last September on the Isle of Mull, in Scotland (right, 'cause I knew you were going to ask where that was).

While they were somewhat surprised to see each other there, it does seem that even with six billion people in the world, we can all find each other. Happens all the time.

Quote: You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline. It helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer.-- Frank Zappa

February 12, 2005

Basketball ends on high note: The FHHS boys took league champs LaConner to overtime before losing 46-42 Friday night, sending a clear message they belong in the state's elite as they head for district playoffs in the next couple of weeks.

That's John Hamilton closing 'em down inside in the fourth quarter (left).

The Wolverines were ahead most of the first half, and up by eight at the half, but the visitors whittled it to 33-31 after three. An inconclusive fourth quarter featured tight defense and a 36-36 knot after regulation.

Hey, they looked good. Prospects for the playoffs are strong - you won't wanna miss 'em.

Meanwhile, the girls rolled over the Lady Braves, winning by 30+ and dominating both ends. They're headed to playoff action as well.

February 11, 2005