For years I’ve wanted to make a stunning costume out of junked materials for the Trashion Fashion Show here on the island. While I didn’t have time to devote to it this year, I nevertheless contacted the woman who makes it happen – Asifa Pasin. I thought that perhaps I …
Things are warming up here on Orcas Island. Not just the weather. Flyers and sandwich boards are proliferating with events and quintessentially Orcas kinds of things. I just love the talent shows here – Orcas Has Talent for adults, Whale of a Show for kids, and now this – the …
This past Sunday at 1:30 was the annual Spring ROAR at Camp Orkila. (ROAR stands for Rogue Obstacle Adventure Race.) It’s a really short, fun, family-friendly race that Orkila started hosting several years ago. Everyone has a blast doing it. You’ll probably recognize a lot of faces…
Yesterday Time for Three, a super dynamic and charismatic trio, performed for the Orcas Island Public School kids at Orcas Center. Double bassist Ranaan Meyer, violinist Nick Kendall, and violinist Charles Yang wowed us all with their combination of skill, improvisation, and easy humor while playing classical and modern mixes …
When I was 12, I wrote National Geographic and asked them what it would take to be a National Geographic photographer. They actually responded with a fairly thick packet of information. The cover letter was written expressly to me, or so it seemed, and in a nutshell, it basically said, …
I love the way Bob and Iris Eastman love each other. When you marry, it’s about the two becoming one. While it may be hard for some people, Bob and Iris do it naturally. They complement each other and fill in each other’s gaps. They help each other and support …
Out of respect for Anthony the Dancer, who choreographs the Island Inspiration All-Stars, I will not show you snippets of what happened tonight at Orcas Center. He prefers that audience members refrain from taking photos. It was fantastic. As usual. What especially stood out to me were the songs sung …
Done. Yay! Bucket list item – check. 8:03 – 8:16 PM. 50 questions. 15 seconds each. Enough time to read and type an answer. Not enough to retrieve things long buried deep in the brain. Answers like Amy Tan, saturated, March Madness, Tolstoy, possibly Pinochet, and oh so many I …
“Mom, no more grafting, lambing, or farming classes from now on,” said my older son in a playful tone as we pulled up to the Orcas Island Historical Museum. “Besides, I already know how to graft.” True. Lost one. He walked home. Younger one and I walked in to join …
It’s been rainy and gray lately, so I have a few recommendations for your entertainment. Upon watching The Secret Life of Walter Mitty the other night, the one by Ben Stiller (it’s $4 on Amazon if you have Prime), I realize I am the female version of this guy. Or …
I’ll never forget taking a career assessment in high school. After filling in all kinds of bubbles pertaining to my skills and interests, the computer thought about it and spat out an answer. Biologist? No. Environmental Scientist? No. Photographer? No. Acrobat. That was my deeply-computed destiny. All those good grades …
One of the wonderful things about Orcas Island is its talent shows. I just love them – A Whale of a Show, Orcas Has Talent, and Seniors Have Talent. Competitions they are not; celebrations they are – people blossoming into the things that give them joy as the rest of …
I grew up watching Jeopardy! every night with my parents. I loved it. It was a bump up from Trivial Pursuit – I could answer a lot in the latter, but few in the former. When I was about 27 years old and living without a TV, my mom called …
In case you missed the Annual Science Fair now held at the Public School cafeteria (instead of the Funhouse) and open to any children on the island regardless of where they go to school, here’s a glimpse…
