This may be the most-played song of the year – seems I hear it everywhere, but I’m guessing you’ll have it going the rest of the day in your head if you watch the video…watch out. It’s Jason Mraz with his song “I’m Yours.”

San Juan Excursions' Kestrel...

You already know Kestrel Bailey whose folks Shannon & Bill run the Catalyst II between here & Alaska.

…well, you’ll recognize the other Kestrel (right) who used to work at Mi Casita & Camp Eagle Rock. She’s back on-island this summer working with San Juan Excursions, making us the island with the most Kestrels per capita of any place, which rocks.

Resting on the island...

I love to read what people think about the island (mostly ’cause they usually say nice things), and Sandy & Tyler are no exception – they brought their girl Stella to the island & stayed & swam at Lakedale, and took the picture of Stella’s quiet time in the tent.

Here’s more.

Lauren & Houston had a swingin' time on Saturday evening at the San Juan Vineyards...

Our little island is pretty famous as a place to get married, and this weekend kinda showed it –  there was a big one out at Roche Harbor (Becker the Wedding Photographer posted a really cool photo from that…click here.)

Locally, longtime islanders Steve & Nancy Raichlen celebrated their doughter Holly’s wedding to Ryan Wehner, while Houston Perry & Lauren Kahan were married at the San Juan Vineyards chapel & danced into the night at the pavillion there.

Drops on the leaves this morning...

We’ve all been waiting & hoping for some rain, and we got it last night… the present weather report says the week is gonna be frontloaded with rain, with it easing up for the County Fair starting Wednesday.

So, for your rainy morning, here’s a song I sing you…click here.

Gotta love the earth soaking it all up – if you don’t go to the Fair just because of a little rain, you probably secretly wish you lived in Arizona, anyway. See you at the Fair!!!

Try in thine own experience, each; that ye speak not for one whole day unkindly of any; that ye say not a harsh word to any, about any; and see what such a day would bring to you . . .
Edgar Cayce

Photographs by Joan Benney are on display starting Wednesday at Concepia....

Joan Benney is one of the most talented women around the island, whether she’s doing plays (she plays Phebe in As You Like It this month) or making beautiful photos…and her pictures are the focus of a new show at Concepia.

Here’s more from John Sinclair:

Concepia presents…
Joan Benney.
THE ILLUSTRATIVE PORTRAIT
new photographic works

August 12th – October 9th 2009
Reception August 12th, doors open at 7 p.m.

Joan Benney was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is the last in a family of nine. Many reliable sources point to her trajectory as an artist beginning beside her mother at the sewing machine. Through the ever present box of odds and ends on the sewing table she began a relationship with pattern, texture, composition and surprise. She studied film photography at the Photographic Center Northwest in Seattle.

She  is currently working on a series of portraits about transformation, based in cultural metaphor and set in the neighborhood wilderness of the community in which she lives.

Photographs by Joan Benney are on display starting Wednesday at Concepia....

Joan Benney is one of the most talented women around the island, whether she’s doing plays (she plays Phebe in As You Like It this month) or making beautiful photos…and her pictures are the focus of a new show at Concepia.

Here’s more from John Sinclair:

Concepia presents…
Joan Benney.
THE ILLUSTRATIVE PORTRAIT
new photographic works

August 12th – October 9th 2009
Reception August 12th, doors open at 7 p.m.

Joan Benney was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is the last in a family of nine. Many reliable sources point to her trajectory as an artist beginning beside her mother at the sewing machine. Through the ever present box of odds and ends on the sewing table she began a relationship with pattern, texture, composition and surprise. She studied film photography at the Photographic Center Northwest in Seattle.

She  is currently working on a series of portraits about transformation, based in cultural metaphor and set in the neighborhood wilderness of the community in which she lives.

Bubbles on the surface...photo by Jim Maya

In his remarks that came with this picture from yesterday, Jim Maya says the Superpod (J, K, and L pods) got together last night and is slowly moving north this morning, just north of San Juan Island.

Getting ready for the shot by the Update photographer....

It was cool to see island visitors posing with the sign & director Helen Machin-Smith before As You Like It last night at the Roche Harbor stage, wanting to get their photos taken.

The show continues this weekend, tonight, Saturday & Sunday.

Aaron (center) and friends caught the play...

Aaron King does a super job (I think) of picking just the right movies for our little two-screen movie theater in town…the Palace Theatre has GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra starting tonight, along with Ice Age 3 and holdover The Ugly Truth. But it’s not all movies…he went to see Island Stage Left’s As You Like It last night.

When she says slow down, she means it....

You’ve seen ’em before when you roll down Roche Harbor Road – they’re usually dressed up one way or another & causing traffic to slow down just a little to check them out.

So, on the way to Roche Harbor last night Update wildlife photographer Josie captured them in action, just for you.

It's always good to have a friendly pig in a construction zone...

When she says slow down, she means it....

You’ve seen ’em before when you roll down Roche Harbor Road – they’re usually dressed up one way or another & causing traffic to slow down just a little to check them out.

So, on the way to Roche Harbor last night Update wildlife photographer Josie captured them in action, just for you.

It's always good to have a friendly pig in a construction zone...

My friend Doris Estabrooks has been stumping for getting a styrofoam ban passed by the Town for 2-3 years now, and she tells me that now it’s happened. Friday Harbor joins cities like San Francisco, Oakland, Los Angeles, Portland, and Seattle in putting a ban in place; California, New York and Hawaii are considering similar bans for state-wide coverage.

Here’s our previous article about this…in the meantime, congratulations, to Doris & the San Juan Island Anti-Litter Coalition Steering Committee for nudging the Town Council to action, and congrats to them for making the right decision. Next: The County.

Not knowing means to be open to all eventualities, to not prejudge a person or situation. If your mind is full of preconceived notions, there is no room for an unbiased view. It is like when your hands are full of objects – you cannot pick up anything new. A closed mind causes separation and suspicion. Like an umbrella, a mind is only useful when it is open.
From “Zen in the Workplace: Approach to Mindful Management”

Here, let me help.

Here’s the deal – next week is the County Fair, so you KNOW you’re not gonna do anything except hang there, eating elephant ears & listening to music & visiting friends. That’s what the Fair is for. See you there.

So…that means you have to do everything this weekend. This is the last weekend for Steel Magnolias at the Community Theatre (Thursday-Saturday), while As You Like It continues at Roche Harbor with Island Stage Left.

And there’s more – click here for the full listings.