YES.. THIS IS WINE COUNTRY

Here's a look at the Walla Walla wine scene.

Twelve years ago Justin Wylie and I were in similar positions. We were representing the fourth genration of our fammily in Walla Walla and we were attempting to carry on our respective family businesses. My family business involved scrap metal and steel while Justin's family made Grave stones and markers. Justin decided the toomb stone business wasn't for him.

Today he run Va Piano Vinyard.

Dynamic Immersion

HOLA!

For the last two months I have been dynamically imershed in Rossetta Stones Spanish language program. It's going pretty well........I think?.!#*^%

Adios!

Krav Maga

Some of my funnest moments in Karate involved getting pummeled or getting pushed to the point of exhaustion. It' hard to explain, but when some nutty 220lb 20 year old college kid starts throwing high kick at your head with no control it has the effect of about 6 energy drinks. Up till that point in my life that is the most focused and alive I had ever felt.

Here is an episode of Discovery channels Fight Quest. Are resident goof balls Doug and Jimmy go to Israel to train Krav Maga with members of the Israeli military and get more then they bargained for.

Part II and III are up at T.V. Time Limit

E 9 a
by eMMA-TV

T.V. Time Limit Is back!

I had not updated my T.V. Time Limit blog since November.

When I originally started the blog I wanted to have a mix of old and new. With reviews of current events and classic bouts and matches from the past. What I have found is that I rarely feel inspired to write reviews. Writing a review of an event that you just watched for two or three hours is like watching the cooking channel after a five course meal. I am not in the mood for it.

What I want to focus on is upcoming events I am interested in watching. Discussing why I will be tuning in and why someone else might be interested as well.

Over the next few months fight fans will have several opportunities to watch quality bouts that are not $50 PPV'S.

These are the the shows I will be focusing on in the coming months.

I am starting my efforts with Saturday nights title bout between Wladimir Klitschko and Sultan Ibragimov. Also Saturday night, in honor of black history month HBO will debut a documentary on the life of legendary heavyweight champion Joe Louis

to see my preview click here

Another Seahawk legend heads to the other Washington

First Steve Largent became a congressman and now Jim Zorn has become the head football coach of the Washington Red Skins.

Jim Zorn was the first quarterback for the Seahawks. Zorn is also a viola player. He inspired me to join the orchestra when I was in grade school.

I wish Mr. Zorn the best in his new job. He is an easy guy to root for.

Barack Star In Boise

Some where amist all the polls, graphs, pie charts and mind numbing analysis I herd 15,000 people attended a rally for Obama in Boise Idaho.

Idaho is one of the whiteist states as far as population and one of the redist states as far as political party prefernce. So when I herd about this event I had to find visual evedince, because this has to be seen to be believed.

I do a Mitt Romney like flip flop....sort of

After announcing here that I was boycotting the primaucuses.. We decided to attend today.

I still feel that out system is seriously flawed. Dawn spoke with her mother Friday evening, her mother was under the impression that she could not take part in the caucus because she voted in the primary. This would be true on the republican side but not on the democratic side.

With that said.

We arrived at Garrison middle school at 1:00. A huge line stretched out the door down the side walk around the corner all the way to the ball field. We finally got in, we stood in line to find out what precinct we are in. We then joined our caucus. Their were 17 people reresenting our precinct. 15 voted for Obama 1 voted for Clinton and 1 uncommited.

It was an interesting experience. Washington switched to an all absentee ballot system few years back and I miss going to the polls to vote. Today we had beautifull weather after weeks of snow. The pleasasnt weather made the wait in line kind of nice. I still believe that a primary is a better way to determine canidates.
It allows more people to participate and is much less confusing.

The Primaucuses: facinating and infuriating

As I was watching Super Tuesday unfold yesterday a few thing occurred to me.

Several of the small states in the democratic race made a mistake moving up there primaries. If they would have stayed where the were they would have been an even bigger deal and would not have been lost in the shuffle on Tuesday.

I find it ironic the hole process is designed to end quickly and just the opposite is happening.

I also think we are heading for some serious controversy.

After all you can win a state and get less pledged delegates, you can win more pledged delegates and have fewer total delegates due to super delegates or you can win a primary and not have it count at all. Hmmm

Peyton Manning "I am going to Iscandar"

My brother Danny has a sports related entry on his blog. I figured I would put an anime related post on my blog. The only anime I am familiar with was the Star Blazers series that I watched back in the early 80's. Clip one is a Japanese version of the opening and number two is an American version.

Politics = strange bed fellows

Childhood Super Bowl Memories

Super Bowl XI: Raiders 32
Vikings 14

This is the first Super Bowl I can remember watching. I was 5 years old and I watched it at the house on Palouse. The Raiders Beat the Vikings up and stole their lunch money.

Super Bowl XII: Cowboys 27
Broncos 10

I watched this Super Bowl at Grandfathers. If the Raiders were bullies, the cowboys were the snobs who beat you without even trying. Grandfather always rooted against the the Cowboys. At the time I thought the shot gun was unfair and should have been banned.

Super Bowl: XIII: Steelers 35
Cowboys 31

I watched this Super Bowl at grandfathers. This Is one of the few Super Bowls where two really great teams met. I remember thinking the Steelers would win. I was right.


Super Bowl XIV: Steelers 31
Rams 19

This was January of 1980. I started my day in Spokane WA. My hockey team had an early Sunday morning game at the Lilac city ice arena. We got home just in time for the start of the game. This was the last Superbowl of the Steelers dynasty. I remember the Rams leading at the end of the third quarter and sprinting to the other side of the field to start the fourth quarter. Terry Bradshaw hit two long touchdown passes in the final 15:00 and the announcers mentioned about 100 time that John Stalworth was the most underrated receiver in football.

Super Bowl XV: Raiders 27
Eagles 10

This was very similar to the Raiders victory in Super Bowl XI. The Raiders mugged the
Eagles and earned another Superbowl trophy for Al Davis.


Super Bowl XVI: 49'ers 26
Bengals 21

This is the beginning of the the 49er's Dynasty. I remember watching part of the game on the big screen T.V. at the Stereo shop at the East gate mall.


Super Bowl XVII: Redskins 27
Dolphins 17

This was the strike shortened season. It didn't seem like the Dolphins really wanted to be Tackling John Riggins.

Super Bowl XV: Raiders 38
Redskins 9

I missed the first half of this game. I was playing the viola at a youth orchestra concert at Cordiner Hall. Who schedules a concert the same time as the Super Bowl?
This was one of the most impressive team performances in Super Bowl history because the Raiders blew out a very good Redskin team.

Random Thoughts From Steven J

Several weeks ago as I was preparing to get out of bed I listened to Mike and Mike in the morning on ESPN II. They were promoting the Mike and Mike celebrity roast. Now I know celebrity roasts were once cool so sayeth the Guthy Renker infomercials for the Dean Marin celebrity roasts. But this isn't the 1970's and celebrity roast and political correctness don't go together.

My intuition told me some one was bound to get themselves into trouble. Sure enough ESPN II First Take host Dana Jacobson got herself into deep trouble when she went up to the dais swilling vodka and decided it would be a good idea to go on a anti Notre Dame rant. Dana's colorful metaphors in regards to touchdown Jesus and Notre Dame led to a week long suspension from her show. She is fortunate that the tape didn't see the light of day. In the end I think ESPN was fair. Hopefully the network will think twice before sponsoring anymore roasts.

I really enjoy my cousin Lee Goldberg's blog that pays tribute to T.v. show theme songs. It's not that I am nostalgic for the shows, it that I find myself curious. I see their was a show called super train in 1979 then I find myself googeling the show to find out what it was about and what the actors are doing today.


Back to Mike and Mike in the morning. One of the big topics last week was a poll that listed the greatest NFL teams of all time. My pick for the top spot goes to the 84-85 49ers who had a 15-1 record and seemed to have a pro bowl player at every position. Of course the 84-85 team didn't finish in the top ten in the ESPN poll. This leaves me scratching my head. Did no one see the Super bowl that year? A little research show that it was one of the highest rated Super bowls of all time. Well I guess people have short memories. I do remember watching the game I also remember recording it(and amazingly I still have the tape . Two things stick out on the tape, ABC's constant promotion of the new "hit"??? show Magruder and Loud (I'll be impressed when that theme song shows up on cousin Lee's blog). The other notable tidbit from the game is that a teenage Teri Hatcher(superman and desperate housewives) was a cheerleader for the 49er's at the time and is shown repeatedly on the sidelines.

And Another Thing That Gets Me Fired Up

The democratic and republican parties in the state of Washington will hold caucuses on February 9th. They will also hold primaries on the 19th????

A 1988 initiative mandates a primary. hence we have A primary. The democrats will hold a primary on the 19th and if you swear on a stack of bibles that you are a democrat they will hand you a ballot and you will fill it out and then they will crumple it up and toss it in the waste basket. Gee thanks

The republicans aren't much better. At least they are giving some weight to the primary
in choosing delegates.

While it is important to vote. Both parties have banded together to do everything in their power to thwart the will of the electorate. I an am disillusioned by both parties and I will not be participating in their primacaucuses.

BUBKES DRECK from a pair of GONIFS in the news this week

As I have have said before on this blog I don't need to have a rooting interest in a game or a political contest to enjoy watching the proceedings. I usually just sit back and enjoy the show with little if any emotional involvement.

My Grandfather on the other hand watched sports and politics with the zeal of a pro wrestling fan. Cheering the mensh and booing the momzer. While interjecting the occasional Yiddish word or phrase.

This post is in grandfathers honor.

I found two people in the news this week that are so irritating they have even been able to get under MY skin.

Mitt Romney needs a klop in kop

While I would urge UCLA alumni to put down their lokshen and examine the whole Rick Neuheisel mishegoss at the U.W. Then ask your administration fahr vuss.

Fahrshtay'n?

Oh Yea, We Had A Wind Storm

"All I wanted was the simple things. A simple kind of life"
Gwen Stefani

"You're doing a heck of a job Brownie"
George W. Bush

"Where the heck is Brownie"
Steven J. Barer after 48 hours with no electricity or heat

Just as our lives were starting to return to some normalcy. We had a wind storm.

Growing up in Walla Walla I have experienced some prodigious wind storms. The old house on Palouse Street had several old trees that made quite a ruckus when strong winds blew through. Occasionally you would hear a creak and you would wonder if one of those big limbs was about to fall on you. The next day you would drive/ride around and see branches and limbs down here and there.(Palouse street was hit very hard by the wind storm as was the Walla Walla country club)

Friday January 4th we had a wind storm unlike any I have experienced before.

The front door at work opens and closes on it's own when we have brisk winds. Around 9:00 am on Friday the door started to gently open and close on it's own. Soon it started opening and closing more violently. Finally we had to lock the front door to keep it from slamming shut. Meanwhile the lights flickered on and off eventually going off for good.

By 11:00 the winds subsided and it was time for me to go to lunch. With all the stop lights out I was focused on the road. The reality of the situation set in when I arrived home to find the pine tree across the street uprooted and laying perilously
across the power line.

I Headed back to work at 12:00 only to be sent home at 2:30 due to us shutting down for the day. I spent Friday night with Dawn in a cold dark house.

Early Saturday morning I took the dogs for long walk. Every block had at least one big tree down some resting against power lines others crushing porches and a few smashing cars. It looked like a war zone.

Monday I went back to work. My coworkers were discussing what time on Friday they got electricity back. I chimed in that we got our power back at 5:30 last night(meaning Sunday) they all looked at me and said "you mean Saturday" no Sunday night.

Despite my whining and our long cold dark weekend, we were very very lucky.

Dog Updates

After Don's article on Sadie appeared in the U.B. he received cards and E-Mails as far away as Singapore. One of the nicest letters came from neighboring College Place and was printed in the Sunday U.B.:

Fond farewell to good friend Sadie

I'm not ashamed to admit that I shed a few tears today, when I read the paper. A friend of mine had passed away.

It shouldn't have surprised me since she was getting up in years and hints had been dropped that she was dealing with health Issues. Still, expectation and reality are very different things.

It was an unusual friendship. I never saw, spoke, or touched this friend. But, in a special way, she shared her life with me in her column about her travels and adventures. It was kind of the human she owned to transcribe her stories so she could share them with readers like me.

Being owned by a pack of similar family members, it was easy to relate to her stories. I love the outdoors, but I don't hunt or fish so I seldom read the column if pictures of her weren't included or if her name wasn't prominently displayed in the title.

I hope my friend is now bounding through the endless expanses of meadows, forests, rivers and mountains in heaven. I bet she is getting to know the "lay of the land" so when her human joins her they can go romping through eternity, one adventure after another.

Farewell Sadie, I'm going to miss you. Thank you, Mr. Davis for sharing your "best friend" with us these many years.

Please Accept our condolences. I hope you will soon be owned by another "best friend and that we will learn to love that friend as we did Sadie. God Bless.

Guillermo F. Garcia


As news of Sadie's passing spread, several people offered to give Don and Darlene a new dog. They ended up getting a very cute schnauzer puppy. They named her Nora and they seem to be extremely happy with her.

Since we rescued Zorro from the drain pipe under the 4th avenue bridge we have been providing him with lots of exercise, discipline and affection. Today Dawn Took Zoro around as she ran errands and he did well. She also let him run in the park with out his leash...and he came back. He is making progress everyday. He is very smart and sweet dog. I along with Dawn Marie and Buddy will continue to help Zorro become a calmer more stable poodle. Then, hopefully we will find him a nice home.

An Amazing Dog Story!!

The last Week and a half has been a K-9 roller coaster ride.

We new Sadie the dalmatian didn't have much time left. Dawn was on a mission to find her parents the perfect dog. On December 17th Dawn, Buddy and I interviewed two dogs. One was an 85lb labradoodle the the other was a pure bred poodle. The lab mix was to big, but Dawn thought the poodle was perfect. I had reservations about the poodle because he was very frightened when we held him.

Tuesday the 18th was the sad day that we put Sadie down(union bulletin obit/story with my name in it is "HERE" ).
After we got through with that trauma I was hoping we would put the dog search off utill after Christmas.

Wednesday Dawn called me at work. She bought the poodle and one of the vets at the clinic offered to neuter it for free. Dawn left the poodle "Zoro" at the clinic Wednesday night.

Thursday Dawn called me and told me that when she opened the dogs cage it bolted out and then ran into the break room and hid under the couch. We decided it would be best to take the dog over to our house and let it adjust for a few days. But, Dawn parents begged her to bring the poodle over right away(they couldn't stand not having a dog in the house). Against Dawns better judgment she took the poodle over to her parents house on Thursday the 20th.

Early Friday morning Dawn called to inform me that the poodle had escaped from her parents back yard. The 12 pound poodle found a hole in the fence and it was no where to be found.

We went door to door we combed the neighborhood and we put an add in the paper.
We had no luck. Monday we got a report of a found poodle, but it wasn't the right one.

Christmas came and went and still no Zoro. I had lost all hope. It had been five days and it had been below freezing in Walla Walla.

This morning I went back to work after Christmas thinking sadly that the poodle was probably dead by now.

This afternoon Dawn called me at work and told me that the poodle Zoro was in the Mill creek channel. When I arrived Dawn was already their by the corp of engineers bldg looking down at zoro. Dawn wanted to go down at get him but, the firemen would not let her go down. Zoro was near fourth street and started sprinting up the channel
towards ninth I sprinted five blocks as well. When I got to ninth street Zoro was still in the channel and a couple of fire engines and a ambulance arrived on the scene. I watched as the firemen slowly closed the distance on Zoro. It looked like our six days of stress were over. Then Zoro jumped in the creek. One of the firemen
fished him out with a net, but once Zoro was clear of the water he jumped out of the net, then another firemen had him for a moment but he wiggled away. Zoro the did some Walter payton like moves and was off to the races.

Then the firemen were unable to find Zoro. They gave up, packed up their equipment and went home.

I had to go back to work. I pleaded with Dawn not to go down in the channel and look for the dog(it's dangerous and it's a $1,ooo fine). I also new that Dawn would go looking no matter what I said.

Two hours latter I got off work worried about Dawn and hoping against hope that she had found the poodle.


When I first got home no Dawn. I was concerned. I started to drive around and look for her car. Then I decide I would go back home and catch my breath. When I got home Dawn's car was parked out front, I was relieved. then I walk in the house and saw Zoro. I celebrated like a Red Sox fan after they had broke the curse of the Bambino.

I first met Zoro nine days ago. I saw a little gray poodle that seem to love it's family (which consisted of several kids from toddlers to elementary school age). The kids as well as the parents seemed to love Zoro, but for some reason the parents had decided they needed to sell off all their pets. The image of the happy little poodle
playing with his family has been stuck in my head along with an image of the same poodle hiding under a porch in freezing temperatures and dying of exposure.

Right now Zoro is sleeping in our bed with Dawn and Buddy. We are all very relieved

P.S. Amongst all the commotion today Dawn said to me "If we find this dog were keeping it". I said "you're darn right". Well in the future will have a decision to make. For now were just happy Zoro is safe and sound.

We Wish You A Merry Christmas

 

Whoooooo!