Vuecrest View Newsletter - June 2017
June 2017 Vuecrest View Newsletter
Monthly meetings of the Board of Directors
The July meeting will be held at the home of Rick and Dana Adell on Thursday, July 13th at 7:30 pm. The address is 9619 Hilltop Road.
We welcome all Vuecrest residents to attend these Board meetings. We also appreciate any volunteers who wish to host future Board meetings. Contact Nyla Wang at secretary@vuecrest.netmailto:secretary@vuecrest.net.
Seeing Around Corners
A Vuecrest resident became fearful of exiting Vuecrest on Park Road and turning left on 8th Street because an overgrowth of shrubs at the corner was blocking her view of westbound traffic. A telephone call to Bellevue City Traffic and Engineering Division confirmed that the offending shrubs could be managed by Vuecrest property management. Next came a call to our Landscaping Director, Rick Adell, who verified the problem. Rick contacted our Landscaping Guru, Tim Myre, and the next day the problem was resolved. Thank you Rick and Tim!!
If you feel that there are dangerous intersections caused by an overgrowth of foliage. Report the problems to directors@vuecrest.net<mailto:directors@vuecrest.net>.
Bellevue Reporter
If you have issues to discuss with the Bellevue Reporter e.g. stop delivery, change from delivery under mailbox to driveway (or vs. vs.), contact Rob Schultz, Circulation Manager, at 425-453-4270.
Bellevue City Hall
The City of Bellevue is responsible for our roads, curbs, storm drains and light poles. If there are cracks, graffiti, potholes, construction debris, or other maintenance problems, contact Bellevue City Services at 425-452-6800.
Kid Alert
Spring is here, the weather is warmer and dryer, and Bellevue School's last day is June 27th. This means that children will be learning to bicycle, skate board, roller skate, play soccer and baseball. Since Vuecrest has no play grounds or sidewalks, there will be much more in the way of "people traffic". Sao please remember to drive slowly and carefully.
Compass Construction (Sumiyoshi Apartment site)
For the month of June, wood framing for the 2nd floor above grade is in progress. Mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire sprinkler contractor's rough-in work is proceeding from the garage levels up to the 1st floor. Window installation will commence shortly on the 1st floor. Wood framing will continue to 3rd floor towards the middle/end of the month.
Map Your Neighborhood
This program guides you and your neighbors through simple steps to enhance your preparedness for emergency situations. Learn more at: www.mil.wa.gov/emergencymanagementhttp://www.mil.wa.gov/emergencymanagement
Please come and share your thoughts at the home of Janet McClure, 1014 Belfair Road on Friday, June 16th, 10 AM. Coffee and treats will be provided.
TID-BITS!
Far up in the deep blue sky,
Great white clouds are floating by;
All the world is dressed in green;
Many happy birds are seen,
Roses bright and sunshine clear
Show that lovely June is here. F.G. Sanders/ 1916
The Romans called June: "Junius". It was possibly named after Juno, the goddess of marriage or it's also possible that May and June were named for the old and the young - maiores and juniors. In 1925 "June" was the 39th most popular girls name (ne're again to return to the top 1000). June birthstones are the alexandrite, moonstone and pearl. Alexandrite represents health and longevity. Moonstone represents change, new beginnings, and the shifting tides of emotion. Pearls symbolize purity of heart and faith, as well as growth and transformation through trying circumstances. The birth flowers for the month of June include the honeysuckle and the rose. Honeysuckle traditionally stands for bonds of devotion, love, fidelity and generosity. Few flowers have as many meanings attributed to them as the rose. Depending on the type of rose, roses can indicate romantic love, secrecy, desire, gratitude, mourning, impossible hopes, modesty, joy, love at first sight, innocence, sacrifice and, well... whatever! In the traditional language of flowers, roses are among the most important.
June 2 is National Donut Day, dating back to 1938 when the Salvation Army honored volunteers who served donuts to the troops during WWI. Ever wonder how donuts came to be? One theory lays the blame for these nifty little diet-busters on a New England lady named Elizabeth Gregory. After reading a recipe with instructions to form small "nuts" from a sweet dough, she then sprinkled them with nutmeg and fried them in pork fat (I guess that's when they stopped being a diet food-). As for the hole in the center, it is said that she prepared these for her son, who was a ship's captain. On a voyage in suddenly rough seas, he was not able to steer the ship's wheel and eat his donut at the same time, so he impaled it on one of the wheel's spokes until the storm passed. And then he ate it. Hole and all. And yes, he returned home to mama for more. In 1998 Winchell's House of Donuts created the World's Largest Donut to celebrate its 50th anniversary. The gigantic apple fritter weighed 5000 lbs. and was 95 feet wide. YUM x a million! So, are you ready to celebrate???? Then head to Krispy Kreme in Issaquah - and they will reward you with a luscious, delicious, FREE glazed donut, just for stopping by. And if you walk there, you'll already be in calorie-negative metabolism, so you could enjoy TWO of those little puppies! *** June 18th is Father's Day. The origin of this holiday is said to have been in 1909, right here in Washington state. Sonora Louis Smart Dodd wanted to honor her father, William Smart, who was left to raise a newborn and 5 other children after the death of Sonora's mother in childbirth. The first Father's Day celebration took place in Spokane, WA on June 19, 1910 but it wasn't until 1972 that Richard Nixon made it a national holiday. Favorite sayings by dads: "Go ask your mother", "When I was your age...", "I used to walk to school in the snow!" and the all-time favorite: "Be home early!" *** June 21 is the first day of summer. YIPPEE! We are SO ready! *** June 23, the Friday after Father's Day is national "Take your Dog to Work" Day. Why should your dog go to work? Because he's bored at home. Because he wants to know why you come home smelling of strange stuff. Because he wants to learn how you earn his kibbles. That's why! So, let your pooch see all the dog-eared papers on your desk! Let him follow you around and he'll be dog-gone tired when he gets back home! It's also a cool reminder to those who are "child-less" that there are many adorable pups at the Humane Society, just waiting for their forever homes. And there's nothing like a tail waggin', drool slobberin', private-parts lickin' canine to remind you that love can come into our lives in lots of strange ways. ***
*****************************************************
I really need to tell you about my Spanish Bluebells and how smart they've made me! Let me start with my "pre-smart": my lovely garden beds were being pillaged by some noxious (and obnoxious, as well, if you ask me) green-leafed interloper. And this one certainly "slept around" as evidenced by its indiscriminate and indefatigable propagation that extended to every inch of my front and back yard.
No problem, me says to self, I can manage. I head to Home Depot, returning with a mega-size jug of Round-Up, complete with spray wand which should perform magic. Off I go; spray, spray, spray. Several days later: green takeover is even more rampant and I wonder if someone had replaced my Round-Up chemicals with Perky-Petal plant food?! Off I go again - spray, spray, spray. Then even more greenies pop up - like they're on steroids! Not much else for me to do but smarten-up. I dig out a small cluster and head to Wells-Medina Nursery for a "show-and-tell" session. I learn that my yard has been "blue-belled". The garden-lady looks at me with sad eyes and shakes her head, in sympathy (as I shake my head, in defeat) and announces that this odious scourge is highly resistant to any herbicide, that it is identified as an emerging threat to natural areas and is sold with an "invasive plant alert" warning. The only way to get rid of it is by ceaseless digging - as if one could possibly unearth the gazillion little bulbs that live their own capricious and flagrant lives beneath my topsoil. I start digging. My garden helper Jose starts digging. His Papa starts digging. And that's just what we'll be doing all summer. Digging.
So, how did these dumb-bells (oops...bluebells) make me smart? I could have saved myself a lot of trouble if I had used an "app" on my husband's phone (it's like this - I don't have a "smart-phone", I have an old flip-style "dumb-phone". What does it do? It lets me TALK to people! No apps here, it's 20 years old and does what a phone is supposed to do - and nothing more.) "Apps" are new to me but they sure could have saved me time, money and an aching back. If I had had a fancy phone with the app "Leafsnap" installed, all I would have needed to do is take a picture of a leaf of this hell-bell and it would have identified it for me! Or, if I had "google-goggles", it would have found a similar picture in its humongous archives and then given me the scoop. Both apps are free!
So, what have I learned about apps? I have learned this: there are waaaay too many apps created by waaaay too many I.T. guys with waaaay too much free time. There's an app for almost everything: "Prince Charles' Chicken Coop" (bet they're a ROYAL pain in the neck!), "Fake an Excuse" (aka, "Hang up Now" - Your choice: busy office noises, street explosion, killer bee attack, growling dog or broken water pipe), and "Iceland Genealogy Base" (it's a small island, it will warn you if the lady on your arm is your half-sister). There are apps for athletes whose bodies need quick relief: "Places I've Pooped" and "Run Pee". Then there's "Demotivational Pics" for people who are tired of being happy and jolly and just want to enjoy a day feeling like crap. How about the one called "Annoy-a-Teen" that emits irritatingly high-frequency sounds that will drive your kids nuts (as if they don't deserve pay-back for even existing!) Did I mention the "I-VooDoo" app, where you can stick virtual pins into your computer-doll, with a face that you appropriately customized to look like you-know-who. Then there's the "Death" app that tells you when and how you'll die (I already know: very soon, in my field of killer-bells), the "French Kiss" app that rates your smooches after you do your best pucker-up job on the screen, and the "Melon Meter" app that will tell you if a watermelon is ready to eat (hold it next to your phone and tap, tap, tap till you are told to stop, then in moments you'll have a smart opinion from an in-phone Ripe-a-tologist). And how long have we all been waiting for this one: the "Sperm Count" app (separate collection slide needed, thank God!) that will not only do the math (ie, how many of those little dudes showed up for the party) but even rate their sink-or-swim capabilities.
See how smart those stupid bluebells made me? I think I'll keep my old flip-phone - being a little dumb can be a smart thing.
********************************************************
Volunteering!
"The world is hugged by the faithful arms of its volunteers" Terri Guillemets
Here is a cry for help! The North Bellevue Community Center at 4063 148th Ave NE (not far from the Microsoft campus) is in need of volunteers! Can you spare a little time to help others? The Community Center operates under the auspices of the Bellevue Parks and Recreation Dept. to provide a "home away from home" for all ages, though primarily for seniors, including those of Asian, Hispanic or Indian descent. The Center offers a broad range of activities such as knitting, chorus, ESL, bridge, exercise classes, dance, computer help, even movies. Many are free, some for a nominal donation. They also serve coffee in the morning and a lunch at noon. The Community Center is open 4 days a week (closed on Thursdays) and their small staff would be so appreciative of any volunteer assistance on Mondays and Tuesdays to help with food set-up from 9:30 - 1PM, or at the coffee bar. If you like working the phones, they have a place for you as a front desk Receptionist. Want to know more? Call Dan Lassiter at 452-4470. You're needed - Just say "YES"!
FYI: The Bellevue Community Center has a terrific website. Click on the link: www.bellevuewa.gov/north_bellevue_communityhttp://www.bellevuewa.gov/north_bellevue_community and learn about the medical assistance they provide such as dental and foot care. Be sure to scroll down to read both pages.
Vuecrest Book Club: Everyone is invited to our up-coming monthly meeting on June 5 at the home of Julie Kadavy, 9806 Belfair at 7:30PM. We will discuss The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende - what a delightful book! If you plan to join us, please send Julie a quick RSVP to jkadavy@msn.commailto:jkadavy@msn.com.
Book Revues
The Ghost Map by Steven Johnson
What could be more frightening than the spread of an infectious disease that is killing friends and neighbors, often within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms? Would you or your family be the next to die? This was the dilemma that Londoners faced in 1854 as cholera raged through the city. The disease was striking young and old, rich and poor, men and women, healthy and infirmed. The prevailing theory for spread of disease was miasma (miasma: a highly unpleasant or unhealthy smell, believed to contain suspended particles of decaying matter). The proponents of miasma contended that infectious diseases such as cholera and plague were caused by contact with such noxious vapors.
Pandemics of cholera became a phenomenon of the 19th century with outbreaks occurring mostly in crowded cities with poor sanitation. The first third of this book documents the utter filth and pollution of London by human, animal and industrial waste that proved to be an ideal breeding ground for cholera. Fortunately for the people of London, and for the science of epidemiology, three enlightened citizens of London, John Snow, Henry Whitehead, and Edmund Cooper, discarded the miasma theory, purporting that contaminated drinking water was the cause of the spread of cholera.
John Snow entered medical training at an early age and became a very accomplished and respected physician in London. He was a pioneer in the field of anesthesiology and one of the first in England to use ether and chloroform as general anesthetics. With the outbreak of cholera and the ensuing hundreds of deaths, John Snow was determined to find the cause of the disease. He soon recognized that a large number of cholera victims were drinking water from the Broad Street well. When he convinced the authorities that the well was contaminated, the pump handle was removed and the Broad Street outbreak of cholera was halted.
Henry Whitehead was a clergyman and assistant curator of St. Luke's Church in the Soho District of London. When he saw that dozens of his parishioners were dying of cholera, he dedicated himself to finding a cause for this catastrophe. He began his own investigation of the Broad Street well with the theory that there must be one "index case" from which all of the victims were infected. He found the mother of "baby Lewis" who died after four days of severe diarrhea. The mother had been throwing the soiled diapers into a cesspool adjacent to the Broad Street well. An excavation proved that there was a direct communication between the cesspool and the Broad Street well.
Edmond Cooper was an engineer and was in charge of London's decrepit sewer system. His approach was to map all of the streets in the Soho district and mark the homes of all cholera victims. By doing this, he was able to confirm the findings of John Snow that most cases of cholera were occurring near the Broad Street well.
John Snow published several scientific articles describing his research during the 1854 London epidemic and established that the transmission of cholera was caused by the ingestion of contaminated drinking water. He also recognized that the cause of death in cholera was dehydration, and when infected patients were rehydrated with clean water, the survival rate was very high. He advocated for sanitation and proper disposal of waste products, thus establishing the groundwork for the investigation of infectious diseases. His groundbreaking discoveries were widely accepted by the medical profession and effectively ended the theory of miasma. John Snow is rightly credited with pioneering the science of epidemiology, and advancing the medical practice of infectious disease.
This book is very well written, and the technical information regarding cholera is easily understood. It gives excellent insight into the beginnings of epidemiology as it applies to public health. It is available at the Bellevue Public Library.
David Pitkethly
*************************************************************
IF you do NOT like reading about science (botany, in particular), academic politics and dysfunctional adults, you really should NOT read Hope Jahren's Lab Girl. HOWEVER, if you skip reading Lab Girl, you will miss a multiple award-winning, brilliant, mind-opening, very well-written autobiography. Your choice. Read it.
Jahren's book often annoyed me, but I forgave all when I read her achingly tender, incredibly poetic essays on botany, which sandwich the chapters about her childhood, education and, most of all, about her life as a college professor and laboratory director. Mental illness, humor and love, above all, join to create an unforgettable story. Hope Jahren has received three Fulbright Awards in geobiology; she knows her stuff, AND she knows how to write!
Your thoughts about plants (and, perhaps, about scientists!) will be forever changed. Again, read the book!
Winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award for Autobiography
A New York Times 2016 Notable Book
Named one of TIME magazine's "100 Most Influential People"
An Amazon Top 20 Best Book of 2016
A Washington Post Best Memoir of 2016
A TIME and Entertainment Weekly Best Book of 2016
Melissa Hambleton
**********************************************************
Vintage Vuecrest
Annalee and Tom Luhman are truly long-time residents of Vuecrest - they moved into their first VC home at 9816 Vineyard Crest in 1982 after being quite smitten by the charm of the older home. However, while out for a neighborhood walk, some 18 years later, they saw a "For Sale" sign by a lovely view home at 9604 Hilltop. It had been built in 1953 but remodeled in 1992; and they bought it right away. Except for a few cosmetic changes, the home was just perfect for their needs - and they don't plan to ever move again!
Annalee is from British Columbia but has lived most of her life in the Seattle area. She left Canada to attend WSU, where she met her future husband, Tom. They both transferred to UW and they both just kept on studying...very hard. (Ready for the paradox? - that's it! They're the "pair of docs"!) Annalee received her PhD. in Speech Communication/Labor Relations while Tom received his PhD. in Materials Science. After a couple of years in New York at the Brookhaven National Lab, they returned to the NW and decided to make Bellevue their home. Tom worked at Boeing in Renton and Kent as Director of Materials Research until his retirement and Annalee set up her own Consulting and Training Company and then worked at the Port of Seattle for 18 years.
Besides serving on the Audubon Washington Board, as well as with The Trust for Public Land (conservation of public spaces and improvement of urban parks), Annalee was an active member of the (active) VC board for several (active) years... and those were difficult (and active)times! Legal experts were hired to define view criteria and an approval of all building plans became mandatory. Dues were raised to off-set these costs, which caused some discontent, but it was acknowledged that the value of Vuecrest homes was dependent on the preservation of the views. Those were very difficult years and not infrequently Annalee and fellow friend and board member, Elaine Knapp, would knock on doors, reminding people that offending shrubs needed to be trimmed.
One of Annalee's earliest memories of Vuecrest is the dances!!! That's right! Dances were held at a downtown Bellevue hall for several years for all the VC residents, but as more families with small children moved in, the dances were traded out for kid-friendly entertainment, such as picnics and the Easter Egg Hunt.
What brought Annalee and Tom to Vuecrest is what keeps them here - they love the proximity of downtown shopping, restaurants and activities and the walk-ability of our little enclave. Tom is a golfer but the passion they both share is for birding, and it has taken them to Costa Rica and other countries in Central America. Tom is on the board of "BirdNote", a delightful, daily 2 min. radio program (KNKX) with commentary that is scientifically accurate (no fake news here!) and bird songs recorded by the Cornell Labs. (Check it out at: www.birdnote.orghttp://www.birdnote.org). When they aren't enjoying their great views of Lake Washington, Mt. Rainier and Bellevue, they are frequently tucked away in their back yard, listening to the sweet songs of their feathered friends who nest in the tall and verdant escallonia.
*******************************************************
Your Laugh for the Day-
An elderly couple had dinner at another couple's house and, after eating, the wives left the table and went to the kitchen to wash dishes. The 2 gentlemen remained talking and one said to the other "Last night we went out to a new restaurant and it was really great. I would recommend it very highly!" The other man asked, "What is the name of the restaurant?" The first man thought... and thought ... and finally said, "What is the name of that flower you give to someone you love? You know...it's usually red and has sharp thorns?" "Oh, do you mean a rose? said the second man. "Yes, yes, that's it!" he replied. Then he turned toward the kitchen and yelled: "Rose, what's the name of the restaurant we went to last night?"
**************************************************
Fun! Fun! Fun!
Here's just a GREAT way to start June- with the terrific Bellevue Jazz and Blues Concert! It's happening right here in town on June 2,3 and 4th, at various venues - and most are free and open to the public! http://www.bellevuedowntown.com/events/bellevue-jazz-blues-festival/schedule. *****
Channel your inner "Zorba" (Zorba the Greek/ Anthony Quinn/Alan Bates /1964) and enjoy a relaxing time at the "Bite of Greece" at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption on Capitol Hill in Seattle. It will have all the same delicious treats that you'd find at the St. Demetrious Festival in October, but with smaller crowds. So, if souvlakia, spanakopita, and baklava ring your Pavlovian bell, then this is the place for you! June 2-4. Free! www.biteofgreeceseattle.comhttp://www.biteofgreeceseattle.com ***** "Life is a Cabaret, Old chum, Come to the Cabaret!" (1966/Liza Minnelli) If you haven't seen the musical "Cabaret", you've missed out on a grand evening of entertainment, filled with song and dance! The show originally opened on Broadway in 1966 and ran for 1,165 performances. In 1972 it was released as a film, directed by Bob Fosse and starring Liza Minelli, Michael York and Joel Grey. Take a trip back in time and spend an evening at the decadent and seedy Kit-Kat Club in pre-war Germany, 1931. Willkommen! At the Paramount Theater. Discount tickets $31 -$63. ***** Father's Day Weekend: June 17-18- Redmond Beer Fest. Great fun for the whole family (ok, root beer for the kiddies). 400 beers from Washington breweries (No, dad, you may NOT sample every one!), live music, 18 international food trucks, 5K on Sunday at Marymoor Park. Tickets: $30 on-line and free for those under 21 when accompanied by an adult. ***** June 18: Fenders on Front Street - this is a FREE vintage car show that runs from 8AM to 3PM. Here's a chance to stroll and admire hundreds of vintage cars from across the state ("Little GTO, you're really lookin' fine...turn it on, wind it up, blow it out, GTO"/ Ronnie and the Daytonas/1986). Enjoy live music, family activities, and the trophy and award ceremony followed by an afternoon cruise to Triple XXX Root Beer. What a day for dear old dad! ***** It's time again for the annual Strawberry Festival at Crossroads Park (NE 8th and 164th Ave NE). How sweet it is! Food, entertainment, strawberry shortcake, vendor booths, games, an auto show and more... Saturday, June 24, 10AM - 8PM, Sunday, June 25, 10AM - 6PM. ("Let me take you down, cause I'm going to Strawberry Fields, nothing is real, and nothing to get hung about. Strawberry Fields forever"/ The Beatles/ 1967) *** Chateau St. Michelle will be having an absolutely all-star line-up with top-notch artists in June: John Legend (he and his gorgeous wife Chrissy Teigen are brand new parents to baby daughter, Luna) on June 3-4; The Moody Blues ("Nights in White Satin/ 1967 ) June 10-11; and WOW! Santana!!! Surprise - he's STILL alive!!! ("Black Magic Woman/ 1970), June 23-24! Better get busy if you want to score some tikkies!
Not-to-be Missed!
"Dreamgirls" - the sassy, bedazzling musical of 3 soul-town sisters in the 60's, vying to make it big on the Broadway stage! This show, originally a movie, was said to be the life of Diana Ross and The Supremes, so of course you know how it turned out...but perhaps you weren't aware of the angst, heartache and prejudice they faced before their dreams came to fruition. It is quite a show, featuring 235 costumes (did they buy out an entire Value Village??) and many memorable songs of the Mo-town, R&B era. Shows are Wednesdays through Sundays for the month of June, at the Gaudette Theatre, 303 Front Street N. in Issaquah. Last Show is July 2. Call 425-392-2202 for tickets. *** Another "must-see" but this one you MUST SEE! The Terra-cotta Warriors of the First Emperor will be on exhibit at the Pacific Science Center, 200 2nd Ave. N in Seattle. This amazing, no, I mean AMAZING collection of artifacts dates back to the 1st Imperial Dynasty of China. Enhance your experience and watch the IMAX film "Mysteries of China" while you are there, to further your understanding of this phenomenal discovery. The terra-cotta warriors date back to 210 BC and were discovered by a farmer digging a well, in 1974. Over 8,800 statues, which include the warriors, horses and chariots were completely buried underground and years were spent gently clearing away the centuries of mud and silt that encased them. Only a small part of this vast 36 sq. mile necropolis has thus far been unearthed; however, the sight of the life-size Chinese statues that are available for viewing, is spectacular. David and I were in Xi'an some years ago. The price of entry then was about $100 per person and the money raised by such a steep entry fee had gone to building an enormous dome over the open field, to protect these individually fabricated statues from dissolving in the hot sun and elements. It is a UNESCO protected site. Admission at the Pacific Science Center is only $24- $32. What a bargain! Google it for more info and see some photos - You won't be disappointed! *** Farmers Markets are up and running again...and how we LOVE our fresh veggies and fruits (and flowers, tea, honey, crafts and oh-such-lovely doo-dads). Bellevue at the Presbyterian Church: Thursdays, 3-7PM, Crossroads: Tuesdays, Noon - 6PM.
Ch-ch-ch-Changes.... (David Bowie/1971)
Factoria is getting a new lease on life! A Nike Outlet with its gazillion pairs of fantastic shoes will soon open inside the mall. They have taken over the Old Country Buffet space as well as 2 neighboring smaller stores and expect to be ready for business by early fall. Nike is famous for its great shoes, its great (outlet) prices and its great customer service. We can just Do-It! *** Looks like our funky, cool, international "what-not and everything" shop, Cost-Plus will be moving at the end of the year to the old Barnes and Noble location at Crossroads. Hmmm...maybe they'll have some great going-out-of-business sales right before the holidays!
Tube-Time on Channel 9, Public TV
Sunday, June 4, 7:30: "JFK - The Lost Inaugural Gala". This never-before-seen footage tells the story of the 1961 Inaugural Gala Concert, hosted by Frank Sinatra and featuring the biggest Hollywood stars of the day. This sounds like a delightful trip down Memory Lane (young people won't remember it because they're too young, and old people won't remember it because...well, they're too old! Hahaha). Don't miss it! ***** "The Story of China": This series premier embarks on an historical adventure that explores the stories, people and landscape of China's heritage over the past 4,000 years. This is a 4-part series. Parts 1 & 2 will air sequentially (Ancestors/Silk Roads/China Ships) on Tuesday, June 20 at 8PM. Parts 3 & 4 (Golden Age/The Ming) will be aired the following Tuesday, June 27 at 8PM. This might be some really spectacular TV viewing! ***** "Chances are..." you really might enjoy this "Wonderful, Won-der-ful..." concert by Johnny Mathis. Saturday, June 10, 7PM. ***** Sunday, June 18, 4:30PM Great Performances: Pavarotti - A Voice for the Ages. Undeniably, one of the world's finest tenors! ***** Tuesday, June 20, 7:30PM -Rick Steves takes you to the Czech Republic and the homeland of my parents! Please watch, enjoy and consider a trip there - Prague is a stunning city. ***** Wednesday, June 21, 10PM - NOVA: Making North America - Origins. Discover how forces of almost unimaginable power gave birth to our vast continent. *****
A Father' Day tribute to all the great dads, everywhere-
O Mein Papa (Oh My Papa / Paul Burkhard / 1939)
Oh my papa, to me he was so wonderful
Oh my papa, to me he was so good.
No one could be so gentle and so loveable
Oh my papa, he always understood.
Gone are the days when he would take me on his knee
And with a smile, he'd change my tears to laughter.
Oh my papa, to me he was so wonderful
Oh my papa, I miss him so today.
What a wondrous several days of summer we had last week! And, fear not, more is on its way - just be patient. I think Seattle weather has made us victims of the "Stockholm Syndrome" - we have such low expectations of blue sky and sunshine, that when it actually appears, we are overwhelmed with gratitude and can't stop effusing about how delightful our climate is. And somehow, our moist and mossy brain matter has led us to believe we really deserve 4 feet of rain in 6 months! It's either that, or we have real short memories, which could be a good thing. Either way, it's our NW and we love it! (don't we? I'm sure we do...yes, beyond any doubt, it's the absolute best...or maybe penultimate, well...whatever it is - it is, and that's that!)
Summer starts June 21. Are we ready...or WHAT!!!?? Bring it on!!!
Mara