What is it about Alan Rickman that rocks? Well, for starters I think I’ve liked nearly every movie he’s in (or at minimum, his part in it). Despite being ‘genetically predisposed’ to like Galaxy Quest in being a big nerd – I could only put up with the first half hour or so. However, Alan Rickman’s bit as an alien with the catch phrase (‘By Grapthor’s Hammer’) uttered both at critical plot points – and at the grand openings of car lots – is TOO classic.

Who else goes from German terrorist (Die Hard) to guardian angel (Dogma) to sarcastic, doomsayer robot (Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy) to Professor Snape (not all the HP movies have near enough of him in them, but most have a good amount )?

I think it’s the combination of subtle, voiced exasperation, sarcasm without even trying, and just his mannerisms that do it for me. The guy just cracks me up!

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So besides the jet boat trip in July, so far we have attended two family reunions (the first was in Medford – the jet boat trip was the first event; the second was last weekend in Manzanita- somewhat interrupted by rain, unfortunately).

After the second reunion, we drove the Syncro up the coast and camped at 3 different locations: Cape Disappointment (just north of Astoria but on WA side); Grayland (mid-coast, about 25 miles south of Aberdeen); and Heart ‘O The Hills (just below Hurricane Ridge outside Port Angeles). In the first two cases, the weather was overcast, breezy and somewhat wet – typical for this time (and nearly every other time) of year. The last site was much warmer and dryer, but also came with more bugs – doh!

We got in some good biking too. In Medford, we took a couple rides – a ~30 miler roundtrip to the outskirts of nearby Ashland; a second one about 14 miles RT (bike problems prevented more). This past week, we took a ~42mi ride around the Long Beach Peninsula; some short rides near Grayland (one with about 50lb of ice and food on my back!); and a 6 mile ride down (from the campground to Port Angeles) and then back UP (this was the bad part). But we made it, and were better for it in the end.

Sat. am the 14th we packed up and drove to Hurricane Ridge, then hiked the 1.6mi ‘hurricane hill’ hike to overlook the Strait of Juan de Fuca (between the northwest WA coast and Vancouver Island/Canada), then back to the van and blast on home. Got home around 3pm and it was HOT back here in Seattle! And now the Syncro needs a good can or two of Woolite.

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John Callahan passed away earlier this week. He was a true Pacific Northwest original – a twisted cartoonist that made the most of his self-created situation (he became quadroplegic from a drunk-driving car accident when he was only 21 and was in a wheelchair the rest of his life). While his cartoons were an acquired taste for some (and generated lots of funny – largely to fans like me – hate mail from others) he definitely had a unique take on life, and wasn’t afraid to spend a lot of political capital making fun of anyone, including even the disabled community (who often supported him stronger than the non-disabled).

Some examples of his humor are here. A few obits here, here, here and here.

And you can get his books at Powell’s – where else?

You will be MISSED – R.I.P.

candybowl

Saw one of these bad boys (Red-Tailed Hawk) sitting on the fence this am near the backyard. Made my day! Now if I can only convince him to eat those d*** pigeons hassling my bird feeders! I wonder if he’ll take a check…..

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UPDATE 8-2: The Phinneywood blog has posted about either the same or a similar hawk in the area – and it looks like he has a taste for pigeons – enjoy!

In other news, we have been pigeon-free since that day….he’s earned his keep so far

we were at a family reunion in Southern Oregon this past weekend. There were many highlights, but the first one was a blast down the Rogue River on one of the “Hellsgate” jetboats. The one we were on had 3(!) 454-V8 engines in it, each powering a single jet. It’s basically a flat-bottom metal (steel or aluminum, not sure which), shallow box with bench seats across – then a raised podium deck at the back for the pilot. Our boat could hold up to 81 people (it was their biggest one, they have several) and it was all but full. Apparently these things can get up to about 55mph on the river – I truly believe that’s likely NOT the top end, but may be the ‘safe’ top end.

So, they get you in there, and you start blasting down the river. Then the guy starts talking up how wet you’re going to get – and then slams on the brakes, which makes the boat all but nosedive into the water and raises a huge wave over the front of the boat. Hence, water. Not unlike getting doused while whitewater rafting, but we weren’t in any rapids (at the first one, anyway). So on you blast down the river, and the guy does 360′s a few times, and alternatively tries to douse the entire boat through a series of maneuvers – none really crazy, all very fun. Then you get to a narrow canyon and the boat idles through that while he talks about your surroundings – the boat then turns around and heads back a short distance to a shore facility where you eat a big dinner – then you zoom back up the river (while your pilot and usually at least one other boat try to alternate at crossing each other’s wake and dousing each others boat from side to side, etc.).

It was great – our clan had about 34 people, the rest of the boat was filled with others – what’s also cool about this is that it’s truly an all-ages activity (unlike whitewater rafting!) where you have fairly old people on there all the way down to kids. And everybody is having a ball.

Besides the blasting around like crazy people, there was a lot of wildlife (several osprey, blue herons, ducks, swans and a bald eagle) around to see, and many people waving from the shore (I’m sure the residents who live along the top part of the journey aren’t near as ‘enthused’ about the jet boats as we were ). There was also a couple risque ‘floor show’ events that I won’t discuss here, but were pretty funny. The food feast was bbq chicken and pork with salad, beer/wine and some basic antipasti. Not fine dining, but definitely did the job.

it was a GREAT way to start the weekend – if you are ever in Grants Pass (or Gold Beach, for the one that comes up the river from there) – don’t miss out!

candybowl

Our neighbor has a pretty old cat. And apparently he had a stroke at some point in the not-so-distant past, so he walks normal in front and like a crab in back – at first glance we thought he had been hit by a car when he was on their lawn, until the neighbor came out and explained his situation – apparently he’s not really supposed to go outside but he manages to sneak out here and there.

Anyway, we got back from a bike ride and he was on their lawn – I checked to see if they were around but they were out, so kept an eye on the kitty for a while – he seemed content to hang in the yard or on the porch, so i let him be, he didn’t seem like he was going anywhere.

Later, we were headed out to go get a late lunch and two of the neighbor girls from around the corner were over there (that rare species of Seattle resident – children!) petting him and talking to him. I explained he was ok, that he lived there – they thought he was a stray. Their dad was coming back around the corner with a plastic cup of water for the kitty – I told him too. Later on, the neighbors were back, hanging on the porch with the kitty and I told them about the girls feeding him water.

Just goes to show you that when you think this country is going down the toilet faster than you can intermediate flush – something really nice happens and you end up smiling.

candybowl

It’s always cool when you find a new band you like. It’s VERY cool when you find a band that seems full of promise and you can’t wait for their next disc. But it’s the BEST when you find a band completely out of nowhere that just hits it way, way out of the park on the first try? Saw Manooghi Hi last night at the Crocodile and there’s only one way to sum it up. Wow.

Turns out they have been playing since early 2008 – where have I been? Anyway, GO see this band live when you can and on YouTube in the meantime. looks like the next local date is Neumo’s on Fri Aug 13 in Seattle.

candybowl

They are loose in Kirkland, WA and the greater Seattle area! I met their creators last night at the local ASIFA meeting and got to see the pilot DVD while quaffing a few at St. Andrews Pub – (Scottish pub of course, complete with pics of Rod Stewart and Sean Connery (same one twice?) on the wall – but where’s Jackie Stewart for the trifecta)?

Anyway, great stuff – The Ninjas are kind of a mix of Jackie Chan, Samurai Jack and Mike Myers’ dad in So I Married an Axe Murderer – and they fight EEEEEvil villains!

Check out their site and keep an eye out for them at a film festival near you!

Scottish Ninjas website

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The Nation is revisiting this question, and asking for comments – I haven’t written mine yet – but that shouldn’t stop you? Happy 4th of July!

What Is Patriotism?

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kerewin sent me this today – I am not sure what to think, save that the Four Horsemen have to be galloping around the corner not long from now…

Beef Bacon Hot Dog Turtle

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