Seeing Spencer Jack

That last time I was up in Washington was April of 2006. I had a primary reason to be here at that time, with the secondary reason being to attend the wedding of my oldest nephew, Jason to a sweet, funny, good-natured, likable, pretty young lady named Jenny.

About a year and a half later Spencer Jack was born, making my brother and my favorite ex-sister-in-law, grandparents. And my mom and dad great-grandparents.

My mom and dad were unable to attend the wedding. They have not met Spencer Jack. Nor have I.

Spencer Jack is so named because someone told my impressionable nephew that you can not go wrong naming your oldest kid after your richest relative. So, Spencer was given the same name as my ex-wife's last name. It's very confusing.

Tomorrow Spencer Jack's Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa will see him for the first time. It will also be the first time Spencer Jack gets to meet his favorite Great Uncle. That's me.

We will be meeting Spencer Jack up in the Skagit Valley at a place called Bay View State Park. Spencer Jack's dad will be real busy tomorrow due to his Jason's Grub restaurant being in Anacortes and it being the weekend of the Anacortes Arts & Crafts Festival.

We currently do not know who is bringing Spencer Jack out to Bay View. It may be his Uncle Joey. Or my ex-sister-in-law. Or someone else. It'd be nice if Spencer's mom could bring him out if his dad was not available.

So where is Spencer Jack's mother in this picture? Well, I'm glad you asked. In a turn of events none of us saw coming, my nephew is in the process of being divorced from the adorably sweet, kind, good-hearted, nice girl he married.

I hope my nephew will someday be as friendly with his ex-wife as I am with mine. I've not seen my ex since the aforementioned wedding. She'll be there tomorrow. It's hard to get divorced in my family. They just don't let you go. I wonder if this has anything to do with why I moved to Texas?

Lulu & Durango at Pioneer Square, Fremont & Lacey

This morning I went over to Lulu's, on the dark side of Tacoma. Dark, today, due to her side of town still being cloudy and dripping, while my north side of town had returned to blue skies. Lulu's zone of Tacoma is generally more gloomy than my end of town.

While Lulu and I consulted, I made 100s of these bubble magnet things til the fumes from the resin started making my throat constrict. I'd never experienced anything like it before. Perhaps it was not the resin, but rather the possibly toxic dust-laden air in Lulu's work space that put me near respiratory failure.

All I know for certain is when I left Lulu's, lung function seemed to quickly return to normal.

While I was still able to breathe, Lulu told me my schedule for the remainder of my time up north. Lulu & Durango will be making another appearance at the Fremont Sunday Market, this coming Sunday. Depending how that goes, this may be Durango's final Fremont appearance.

Then on Thursday, Lulu & Durango will be where Seattle began, Pioneer Square. We will be at Occidental Park for First Thursday's Art in the Park.

According to the Pioneer Square website...

"Discover Seattle’s most talented emerging artists at Art in the Park on First Thursdays, February through December. Grab a latte, stroll through historic Occidental Park, and immerse yourself in the Emerald City's vibrant independent art scene."

Seattle's Pioneer Square covers over 20 blocks of Romanesque/Victorian buildings. There are more than 30 galleries, over 200 shops, nightclubs, lots of restaurants. And coffee houses. Pioneer Square is sort of like the West End in Dallas, only much bigger, much more going on. And with no Presidential Assassination site.

The other appearance by Lulu & Durango will be at a show in Lacey. That's down near Olympia. I don't remember the name of the Lacey show. I think it is next Saturday. Lacey, Washington is like Fort Worth, Texas. Both have a Cabela's. Only Lacey didn't have to bend over backwards, with bribes, to get one. And, unlike Fort Worth, Cabela's did not tell Lacey that their Cabela's store would be the #1 Tourist Attraction in Washington, while Fort Worth fell for the con that their Cabela's store would be the #1 Tourist Attraction in Texas. One would think real Texans would have found such an assertion somehow insulting. But they didn't.

Anyway. See you at Fremont, Pioneer Square or Lacey. Or any combo of.

Gas Below 4 Bucks in Washington

Last Saturday the Puyallup Indian Tribe lowered the gas price at their casino station to $3.99. This caused long long lines at their gas pumps. Lulu and I filled up her van there in the wee hours of Sunday. The lines were short at that time.

Now, moving forward just a few days, the price here in the Puget Sound zone has fallen under $4 all over. People seem thrilled, near as I can tell, from what I read in the paper, hear on the radio, see on TV and in person.

Which leads me to wonder if we are not a nation of easily manipulated sheep. I remember when I moved to Texas, in 1999, filling up in Amarillo. Gas was $.77 a gallon. Two years later I was driving back to the Northwest for my mom and dad's 50th anniversary. Gas in Amarillo was $1.19.

On that trip I needed gas in La Grange, Oregon. It was $1.79. I'd never seen such high gas prices. I did not fill the tank, figuring it'd be cheaper when I got to a less isolated spot. It wasn't. By the time I passed through Amarillo again, a month later, gas was $1.39 a gallon.

A couple years ago gas was hovering in the 2 buck zone. I was down in Dinosaur Valley at the state park. People were abuzz with the fact that a gas price war had broken out in the nearby town of Glen Rose. Two stations were selling the evil liquid for $1.50 a gallon. I filled up. There weren't lines waiting to get the cheap gas.

A year or so ago, (it's easy to lose track of time regarding the ever rising price of gas) gas had gone over $2. People were not happy. And then it went back down under $2 and people were so grateful.

Which leads me to the point of what I'm rambling about. As in it seems we are being constantly conditioned to accept ever higher prices. It goes up suddenly and we are appalled. And then the price drops a bit and we are so happy. And then the cycle repeats.

It's like some clever manipulator somewhere is gleefully amazed that they are so easily conditioning people to paying an amount per gallon that is beyond their fondest hopes of what they could get away with.

I think the same clever manipulator must be handling the milk prices too.

Rain Rain Rain in Tacoma

Yesterday started out fine, here in Tacoma. Around 2 in the afternoon I was at Point Defiance and I saw part of The Mountain, as in Mount Rainier, out, as in the bottom half was not covered by clouds.

By early evening rain began to fall. It does not often rain in the Puget Sound region in summer. This was like the type rain that bedevils the northwest during the other 3 seasons, particularly winter.

And now, this morning, it is still raining, raining hard. Dark, cold, gloomy and wet. Sort of like a weather metaphor for how I am feeling about just about every aspect of my existence.

In the photo you are looking at my yoga and grocery shopping partner, Kristin, and the 2 poodles in our care, Max & Blue. It's so gloomy here, even using the flash could not get the photo any brighter.

Meanwhile, in Fort Worth, the skies are clear, it is 86 at 7 am, heading towards a high of 102. Yesterday got to 106. Here, in Tacoma, I think it got to 66, yesterday. Brrrrr. My sister found a knitted ski type cap for me to wear, at all times, to help keep me warmer. I am so grateful. It's the small things that matter when you battle the elements in a difficult climate.

Washington Farmers Markets

One of my pet peeves about where I live in North Texas is there is not the bounty of fresh produce, grown locally, that I was used to all my life prior to Texas, living in Washington.

Fort Worth will call the littlest, lamest thing a Farmers Market. It's just sort of embarrassing. Just in Tacoma there are several Farmers Markets. Just today downtown had its weekly Farmers Market, to which my Mom and Dad and Kristin went, buying way too many berries, which I can smell being turned into jam even as I type.

Anyway, below is a list of Washington's Farmers Market, complete with all the info you'd need to find it.

Airway Heights Farmers Market
13100 W 14th Ave, Hwy 2 @ Lawson
Friday, 9am-1pm, June 6-October 10
Lori Musgrave (509) 235-6707

Anacortes Farmers Market
Depot Arts Center @ 7th & R Avenue
Saturday, 9am-2pm, May 17-October 10, Nov. 8 and Nov. 22
Keri Knapp (360) 293-7922 http://www.anacortesfarmersmarket.org/http://www.anacortesfarmersmarket.org/info@anacortesfarmersmarket.org

Bainbridge Island Farmers Market-
Eagle Harbor Church105 Winslow Way and Madison
Saturday, 10am-3pm, November 17-December 22
Susan Anemone 206-855-1500
http://www.bainbridgefarmersmarket.com/http://www.bainbridgefarmersmarket.com/info@bainbridgeislandfarmersmarket.com

Bainbridge Island Farmers Market -
Market SquareMarket Town Square @ 208 Madison &Winslow Way
Saturday, 9am-1pm, April 12-October 18 Eagle Harbor Church @ 105 Winslow Way & MadisonSaturday 10am-3pm, November 20-December 22
Susan Anemone 206-855-1500
http://www.bainbridgefarmersmarket.com/info@bainbridgeislandfarmersmarket.com

Battle Ground - Old Town Saturday Market
SE 2nd Ave. & East Main in Old Town
Saturday, 9am-3pm, April 12-October 18
Brenda Stanton, 360-576-9767
http://www.otbgsm.com/otbgsm@yahoo.com

Bayview Farmers Market
SR 525 and Bayview
Saturday, 10am-2pm, April 26-October 25
Michael Yocco (360) 321-2585 http://www.bayviewfarmersmarket.com/tribepotter@yahoo.com

Bellevue - Crossroads Farmers Market
156th Ave NE & NE 8th (Crossroads Bellevue parking lot)
Tuesday, Noon-5pm, May 27-October 7, 2008
Grant Davidson (425) 485-1042
http://www.crossroadsbellevue.com/gddman22@aol.com

Bellevue Farmers Market
1717 Bellevue Way NE (parking lot at First Presbyterian Church)
Thursday, 3pm-7pm, May 15-October 9
Lori Taylor (425) 454-8474 http://www.bellevuefarmersmarket.org/lori@bellevuefarmersmarket.org

Bellingham Farmers Market –
DowntownRailroad & Chestnut
Saturday, 10am-3pm, April through ChristmasFairhaven Village Green (behind Village Books) Wednesday, 3pm-7pm June 4-September 24
Robin Crowder (360) 647-2060 http://www.bellinghamfarmers.org/market@bellinghamfarmers.org

Bellingham Farmers Market –
FairhavenFairhaven Village Green (behind Village Books)
Wednesday, 3-7pm June 6-September 26
Robin Crowder (360) 647-2060 http://www.bellinghamfarmers.org/market@bellinghamfarmers.org

Bothell Farmers Market at Country Village
238th & Bothell-Everett Hwy (SR 527)
Friday, Noon-6pm, June 6-September 26
Nancy Stoll (425) 483-2250 ext.3
info@countryvillagebothell.com

Bremerton Farmers Market
1318 Park Ave @ Seaside Church
Thursdays, 4pm-7:30pm May 15-October 9
Tiffany Royal (360) 621-5934
bremertonmarket@gmail.com

Bridgeport Farmers MarketFireman’s Park
(10th and Columbia)
Friday, 8:30am-12:30pm, June 20-mid-October
Verla Groenveld (509) 686-3875
Verla_1999@yahoo.com

Burien Farmers Market
SW 152nd Street between 2nd SW & 6th SW
Thursday, 11am-6pm, May 8-October 9
Debra George (206) 941-7199
http://www.discoverburien.com/debrageorgemi@aol.com

Camas Farmers Market
5th Street between Birch and Cedar
Saturday, 9am-1pm, May 17-October 4
Carren Senn Walker360-838-1032
http://www.camasfarmersmarket.org/

Carnation Farmers Market
SR 203-Tolt Avenue & Bird Street
Tuesday, 3pm-7pm, May 13-September 30
Heidi Bohan (425) 333 6050 http://www.carnationfarmersmarket.org/info@carnationfarmersmarket.org

Cashmere–Wenatchee Valley Farmers Market
Riverside Park in Cashmere
Friday, 9am-1pm, July 11-September 26
Julie Mitchell (509) 668-0497 http://www.wenatcheefarmersmarkets.com/info@wenatcheefarmersmarkets.com

Centralia – Lewis County Farmers Market
Pine & Tower
Friday, 9am-3pm, May 2-September 12
Derrill Outland (360) 736-8977
dojo@compprime.com

Chehalis – Community Farmers Market
Boistfort Street
Tuesdays, Noon-5pm, June 10-October 21
Brenda Book (360) 880-9546 http://www.communityfarmersmarket.net/info@communityfarmersmarket.net

Chelan- Lake Chelan Valley Farmers Market
Johnson & Columbia (Chamber parking lot)
Saturday, 8am-1pm, June 7-October 25
Zachary Robertson (509) 679-4194
be_the_rock@hotmail.com

Cheney - Friday Farmers Market
1st & College
Friday, 11am-4:30pm, May 18-October 26
Rhonda Elliott (509) 559-5818

Colville – NE Washington Farmers Market
Corner of Main & Astor
Saturday, 8:30am-1pm, May 5-October 27
Sheryl McKee (509) 684-3306
saam@theofficenet.com

Colville Farmers Market
Oak St & 3rd Ave
Wednesday, Noon-6pm June 4-October 22
John Smith (509) 684-4404
brythstone@yahoo.com

Coupeville Farmers Market
Alexander and 8th Street
Saturday, 10am-2pm, April 5-October 11
Peg Tennant (360) 678-4288
coupevillemarket@aol.com

Des Moines Waterfront Farmers Market
South End of the Des Moines Marina
Saturday, 10am-2pm, June 7-October 25
Rikki Marohl (206) 310-8040
http://www.dmfm.org/market@dmfm.org

Duvall Farmers Market
1st and Stella Street
Thursday, 3pm-7pm, June 5-October 2
Laurie Gilbertson (425) 788-1185 ext 402 http://www.duvallfarmersmarket.com/duvallfarmersmarket@msn.com

Orcas Island/East Sound Farmers Market
Eastsound Village Green (just north of the Historical Museum)
Saturday, 10am-3pm, May 3-September 27
Julie Miller (360) 376-4594 http://www.orcasislandfarmersmarket.org/farmerahab@rockisland.com

Edmonds Museum Farmers Market
5th Ave N & Bell Street
Saturday, 9am-3pm, May 3- June 28 and July 5-October 4
Jerry Freeland (425) 742-4512mailto:742-4512jjfreeland@aol.com

Ellensburg – Kittitas County Farmers Market
4th Avenue between Pearl & Pine
Saturday, 9am-1pm, May 3-October 25
Pam Grueter-Schmidt (509) 899-3870 http://www.kcfarmersmarket.com/kcfarmersmarket@yahoo.com

Ephrata Farmers Market
Sun Basin Plaza on Basin St
Saturday, 8am-Noon, June 14—October 25
Trish Hooper (509) 771-0383

Everett Farmers Market
1600 W Marine View Drive at 16th Street
Sunday, 11am-4pm, June 1-September 28
Tone Hutton (425) 258-3356
http://www.everettfarmersmarket.com/

Friday Harbor – San Juan Farmers Market
Courthouse parking lot @ 2nd & Blair
Saturday, 10am-1pm, April 26-October 25
Jane Burton-Bell (360) 378-237
2mailto:2grishakriv@gmail.com

Gig Harbor Farmers Market
Kimball Drive Park N Ride
Saturday, 8:30am-2pm, April 5-September 27
Dale Schultz, Chairman (253) 208-6296 http://www.gigharborfarmersmarket.com/mailto:pigs4112@aol.com

Gig Harbor Wednesday Farmers Market
Skansie Brothers Park (Downtown Gig Harbor on the Water)
Wednesday, 11am-4pm, June 4 - Aug 27
Dale Schultz, Chairman (253) 208-6296 http://www.gigharborfarmersmarket.com/
pigs4112@aol.com

Goldendale Saturday Market
Vern Markee Park at 903 E Broadway
Saturday, 9am-2pm, May 12-October 13
Earlene Sullivan (509) 773-7030

Ilwaco – Saturday Market
at The Port of IlwacoWaterfront Way
Saturday, 10am-3pm, May 3-September 27 Normandie Hand (360) 783-1143

Kelso Bridge Market
Allen Street & Pacific Avenue (under the Allen Street Bridge)
Sunday, 10am-3pm, May 6-September 30
Betty Erickson (360) 957-2515
http://www.kelso.gov/recreation/bridgemarket/
Betty.erickson@comcast.net

Kennewick Farmers Market
Kennewick Avenue & Auburn Street
Thursday, 4pm-8pm, June 7-October 25
Ann Steiger (509) 585-2301
ahsteiger@aol.com

Kent Farmers Market
2nd and Harrison Streets
Saturday, 9am-2pm, June7-September 27
Bill and Linda Westcott (253) 486-9316
kentfarmersmarket@hotmail.com

Key Peninsula Farmers Market
Corner of Key Peninsula Highway N and Olson St. in Key Center
Sunday, 12pm-4pm, June 22-September 28Tara Froode (253) 884-6350 http://kpfarmersmarket.org/default.aspxinfo@kpfarmersmarket.org

Kingston Farmers Market
Port of Kingston Marina Park
Saturday, 9am-2:30pm, April 19-October 11
Clinton Dudley (360) 297-7683 http://www.kingstonfarmersmarket.com/kingstonfarm@earthlink.net

Kirkland – Friday Night Market
at Juanita BeachJuanita Beach Park at 116th and 100th
Friday, 3pm-7pm, May 30-October 10
Sudie Elkayassi (425) 587-3347
SElkayssi@ci.kirkland.wa.us

Kirkland Wednesday Market
Park Lane East between 3rd & Main
Wednesday, 2pm-7pm, May 7-October 15
Jodi Bardinelli, Director (425) -893-8766 http://www.kirklandwednesdaymarket.org/info@kirklandwednesdaymarket.org

Lake Forest Park- Third Place Commons Farmers Market
Bothell Way NE & Hwy 104 Sunday, 11am-4pm, May 11 October 5
Grant Davidson (425) 485-1042
gddman22@aol.com

Langley – South Whidbey Tilth Farmers Market
Hwy 525 at Thompson Road
Saturday, 10am-2pm, May 3-October 25 Wednesday, 4pm- 6pm, June 18-September 3
Elizabeth Case-Smith (360) 320-0685 http://www.southwhidbeytilth.org/market@southwhidbeytilth.org

Leavenworth – Wenatchee Valley Farmers Market
Lions Park on Route 2 Tuesday, 9am-1pm, June 18-October (weather dependent)
Julie Mitchell (509) 668-0497
info@wenatcheefarmersmarket.com

Longview – Cowlitz County Community Farmers Market
Cowlitz County Fairgrounds at 7th & New York
Tuesday and Saturday, 9am-2pm, April-OctoberTerrence Miracle (360) 425-1297 http://www.cowlitzfarmersmarket.com/francesmiracle@msn.com

Mercer Island Farmers Market
SE 32nd Avenue @ Mercerdale Park (between 77th & 78th Ave S)
Sunday, 11am-3pm, August 10-October 12Callie Ridolfi (206) 403-8188 http://www.mifarmersmarket.org/callieridolfi@gmail.com

Millwood Community Farmers Market
Millwood Presbyterian Church (Knox & Marguerite)
Wednesday, 3pm-7pm, May 23-October 28
Craig Goodwin (509) 924-2350
dave-or-susan@msn.com

Monroe Farmers Market
200 block East Main Street, back parking lot
Tuesday, 2-7pm, June 3-September
Lynn Gose (360) 794-4926
gomonroemarket@aol.com

Mount Vernon Farmers Market
Downtown Mount Vernon
Saturday, 9am-1pm, May 31-October 11
Ron Farrell (360) 292-2648
http://www.mountvernonfarmersmarket.org/
mvfarmer1@hotmail.com

Mount Vernon Farmers Market
Skagit Valley Hospital at 1415 E Kincaid
Wednesday, 2:30- 5:30pm, June 4-September 24
Ron Farrell (360) 292-2648 http://www.mountvernonfarmersmarket.org/mvfarmer1@hotmail.com

Mukilteo Farmers Market
Rosehill Community Center at 3rd & Lincoln
Wednesday, 3pm-7pm, June 4-September 24
Cherri Paul (425) 418-6064 http://www.mukilteofarmersmarket.org/cmukilteo@msn.com

Newport – Pend Oreille Valley Farmers Market
3rd between Union and Washington
Saturday, 9am-1pm, May 3- November 1
Nephi White (509) 447-5470
nrw@intergate.com

Oak Harbor Public Market
Hwy 20 next to Visitor Center
Thursday, 4pm-7pm, May 24-September 27
Peg Tennant (360) 678-4288
oakharbormarket@yahoo.com

Okanogan Valley Farmers Market
American Legion Park
Saturday, 9am-1pm, May–OctoberStephanie Clark (509) 826-1259
smassieclark@msn.com

Olympia Farmers Market
Capitol Way & Market Street
Thursday-Sunday, 10am-3pm April-December (Saturday & Sunday only in November & December)
Charlie Haney (360) 352-9096
http://www.olympiafarmersmarket.com/manager-ofmarket@qwest.net

Omak – Okanogan Valley Farmers Market
Civic League Park at Central & Ash Streets
Tuesday, 3pm-7pm, June 5-October 30

Thanksgiving Market
Okanogan Grange, Tyee and 2nd2nd
Saturday in November
Debbie Mayberry (509) 826-5845
smassieclark@msn.com

Othello Farmers Market
Pioneer Park at 3rd & Main
Saturday, 8am-Noon, June- mid-October
Ann Sperl (509) 488-5700

Pasco Farmers Market
4th & Columbia
Wednesday & Saturday, 8am-Noon, May 5-October 27
Mike Somerville (509) 531-7274
threefinger@verizon.net

Port Angeles Farmers Market
Courthouse Parking Lot (4th and Peabody)
Saturday, 10am-2pm, All Year
Karen Bert (360) 928-0214 http://www.pafarmersmarket.net/karen02242003@yahoo.com

Port Angeles Farmers Market
location unknown at this time
Wednesday 3pm-6:30pm, June 18-October 1
Karen Bert (360) 928-0214
http://www.pafarmersmarket.net/pafarmersmarket@yahoo.com

Port Orchard Farmers Market
Harrison and Bay Street (June 30 at Bay Street & Fredrick Street)
April 28-October 13
Pam Moyer (360) 275-7105 http://www.pofarmersmarket.org/Krfma_personnel@yahoo.com

Port Townsend - Jefferson County Farmers Market
Location 1Uptown on Tyler & Lawrence
Saturday, 9:30am-1:30pm, May 3-November 15 (except May 17)
Wendie Dyson (360) 379-9098 http://www.ptfarmersmarket.org/info@ptfarmersmarket.org

Port Townsend -Jefferson County Farmers Market Location 2
Uptown on Polk & Lawrence
Wednesday, 3:30pm-6:30pm, June 11-September 24
Wendie Dyson (360) 379-9098
http://www.ptfarmersmarket.org/

Poulsbo Farmers Market
7th Avenue & Iverson (Poulsbo Village Medical/Dental Center)
Saturday, 9am-1pm, April 12-October 11
Jackie Aitchison (360) 779-6720 http://www.poulsbofarmersmarket.org/info@poulsbofarmersmarket.org

Prosser Farmers Market
Prosser City Park at 7th Street & Sommer Avenue
Saturday, 8am-Noon, May 3-October 25
Linda Hall (509) 786-9174 http://www.prosserfarmersmarket.com/lindakayhall@yahoo.com

Puyallup Farmers Market
Pioneer Park & Pavilion at Meridian & 4th Avenue SW
Saturday, 9am-2pm, May 3-October 25 Sunday, 10am-2pm, May 4- August 31
Janie Morris (253) 840-2631 http://www.puyallupmainstreet.com/farmersmarket@puyallupmainstreet.com

Raymond – Public Market
on the Willapa4th & Heath
Friday & Saturday 10am-5pm, Year round
Carol Dunsmoor (360) 942-2123
cdunsmoor@willapabay.org

Renton Farmers Market
S 3rd Street between Logan & Burnett
Tuesday, 3pm-7pm, June 3-September 16
Linda Middlebrooks (423) 679-1502 http://www.rentonfarmersmarket.com/jmidbk@aol.com

Richland – Market at the Parkway
The Parkway on Lee Blvd
Friday, 9am-1pm, June 6-September 26
Tara Erben (509) 946-3349

Roslyn Sunday Market
Pennsylvania Ave @ 1st St (SR 903)
Sunday, 10am-2pm, June 15-September 7
Jonine Collins (509) 649-2695
jonine@inlandnet.com

Sammamish Farmers Market
Next to city hall at NE 8th and 228th in Sammamish
Wednesday, 4pm-8pm, May 21-Oct 1
Heidi Bohan, 425-681-5541 http://www.sammamishfarmersmarket.org/info@sammamishfarmersmarket.org

Seattle – Ballard Farmers Market
Ballard Avenue NW between 20th NW & 22nd NW
Sunday, 10am-4pm (Winter 11am-3pm) All Year
Judy Kirkhuff (206) 782-2286 http://www.fremontmarket.com/ballard/master@seattlemarkets.org

Seattle – Broadway Sunday Farmers Market
Broadway & E Thomas
Sunday, 11am-3pm, May 11–November 23
Chris Curtis (206) 547-2278 http://www.seattlefarmersmarkets.org/markets/broadwaychris@seattlefarmersmarkets.org

Seattle – Columbia City Farmers Market
4801 Rainier Avenue S at Edmunds Street
Wednesday, 3pm-7pm, April 30–October 22
Chris Curtis (206) 547-2278 http://www.seattlefarmersmarkets.org/markets/columbia_citychris@seattlefarmersmarkets.org

Seattle – Lake City Farmers Market
Albert Davis Park at 125th & 28th Ave. NE
Thursday, 3pm-7pm, June June 5–October 16
Chris Curtis (206) 547-2278 http://www.seattlefarmersmarkets.org/markets/lake_citychris@seattlefarmersmarkets.org

Seattle – Madrona Farmers Market
East Union and MLK Jr. Way
Friday, 3pm-7pm, May 4-September 28
Judy Kirkhuff (206) 782-2286 http://www.fremontmarket.com/master@seattlemarkets.org

Seattle – Magnolia Farmers Market
Magnolia Community Center, 2550 34th Avenue W
Saturday, 10am-2pm June 7–October 25
Chris Curtis (206) 547-2278 http://www.seattlefarmersmarkets.org/markets/magnoliachris@seattlefarmersmarkets.org

Seattle - Phinney Farmers Market
Phinney Neighborhood Center (67th and Phinney Ave N)
Friday, 3pm-7pm, May 16-October 3
Chris Curtis (206) 547-2278 http://www.seattlefarmersmarkets.org/markets/phinneychris@seattlefarmersmarkets.org

Seattle – Pike Place Market
Pike Place between Pike Street & Virginia Street
Monday-Sunday 9am-6pm, Year Round
Noa O’Hare, Farm Program Manager (206) 774-5320
noa@pikeplacemarket.org

Seattle – Queen Anne Farmers Market
Queen Anne Community Center (1st Ave N and Crockett St)
Thursday, 3pm-7pm, June 14-September 27
Judy Kirkhuff (206) 782-2286 http://www.fremontmarket.com/queenanne/master@seattlemarkets.org

Seattle – University District Farmers Market
NE 50th Street & University Way NE
Saturday, 9am-2pm, Year RoundChris Curtis (206) 547-2278 http://www.seattlefarmersmarkets.org/markets/u_districtchris@seattlefarmersmarkets.org

Seattle- Wallingford Farmers Market
North 45th and Wallingford Ave
Wednesday, 3pm-7pm, May 16-September 26
Judy Kirkhuff (206) 782-2286 http://www.fremontmarket.com/wallingford/master@seattlemarkets.org

Seattle – West Seattle Farmers Market
California Avenue SW & SW Alaska
Sunday, 10am-2pm, Year Round
Chris Curtis (206) 547-2278 http://www.seattlefarmersmarkets.org/markets/

SeaTac Sunday Farmers Market
SeaTac City Hall parking lot (corner of So 188th St & Military Road So, off I-5)
Sunday, 11am-3pm, June 15–September 14
Trudy Olson (206) 973-4763 http://www.ci.seatac.wa.us/services/seatacmarket.htmtolson@ci.seatac.wa.ustolson@ci.seatac.wa.us

Sedro Woolley Farmers Market
Hammer Heritage Square (Ferry and Metcalf)
Wednesday, 3pm-7pm, June-mid-October
Gilda Gorr (360) 724-3835
swfarmersmarket@fidalgo.net

Shelton Farmers Market
3rd Street between Cedar & Franklin
Saturday, 9am-2pm, May-September
Brittany Pouch (360) 426-6693 http://www.sheltonfarmersmarket.com/gigglinggoatgardens@yahoo.com

Silverdale – Peninsula Farmers Market
Silverdale Beach Hotel (Bucklin Hill Road)
Tuesday, 11am-4pm, April 22-September 30
Monica Phillips (360) 830-9565

Snohomish Farmers Market
Carnegie parking lot on Cedar between 1st & Pearl St
Thursday, 3pm-8pm, May 1-September 25Neil Landaas (360) 862-9087 http://www.snohomishmarkets.com/rockfish5@seanet.com

Spokane - Humble Earth Farmers Market
10505 NewportSunday, 10am-3pm, May 25-October 30
Christina Mitma (509) 230-8778
www.localharvest.org/farmers-markets/

Spokane - Liberty Lake Farmers Market
1421 N Meadowwood (Liberty Square parking lot)
Saturday, 9am-1pm, May 17-October 11
Angela Pizelo (509) 879-4965 http://www.spokanemarkets.org/libertylakefarmersmarket@gmail.com

Spokane - South Perry Farmers Market
1317 East 12th
Thursday, 3pm-7pm, June 5-September 25
Christina Mitma (509) 876-2987
http://www.localharvest.org/farmers-markets/M11670annasherbs@yahoo.comannasherbs@yahoo.com

Spokane – Spokane Farmers Market
2nd Ave (between Division and Browne)
Wednesday, 8am-1pm, June 4-October 29
Saturday, 8am-1pm, May 10-October 25
Market Manager (509) 995-0182 http://www.spokanefarmersmarket.org/farmers@spokanefarmersmarket.org

Tacoma Farmers Market
Broadway between 9th & 11th
Thursday, 9am-2pm, May 15-October 16
Laura Kelsay Edwards (253) 272-7077 http://www.tacomafarmersmarket.com/laura@tacomafarmersmarket.com

Tacoma - 6th Ave Farmers Market
Corner of 6th & Pine
Tuesdays, 3:30pm-7:30pm, July 15–Sept 30
Heather Hanson (253) 376-5845 http://www.tacomafarmersmarket.com/6thAve@tacomafarmersmarket.com

Tacoma – Proctor Farmers Market
N 27th Street at Proctor
Saturday, 9am-2pm, April 26-November 1
Jessica Troy (253) 961-3666 and Felicity Devlin (253) 761-8066 http://www.proctorfarmersmarket.com/proctorfm@yahoo.com

Tenino Farmers Market
Old Highway 99 and Garfield Ave E
Saturday, 10am-3pm, June 7-September 6
Paul Donohue (360) 264-2002
http://www.teninofarmersmarket.org/pdon1127@comcast.net

Tumwater Town Center Farmers Market
SW corner of Capitol Blvd and Israel Rd
Wednesday, 11am-2pm, May 28-October 29
Ione Vrabel (360) 464-5879
http://www.tumwaterfarmersmarket.org/

Vashon Farmers Market
Vashon Hwy & Bank Road
Saturday, 10am-2pm, Year round Wednesday, 2pm-5pm, July 16-October 15 Holiday Markets Nov 17, Dec 1 and Dec 8
Joanne Jewell (206) 463-3518 http://www.vigavashon.org/farmersmarket@vigavashon.org

Walla Walla Farmers Market
City Hall Parking Lot (4th & Main)
Saturday and Sunday, 9am-1pm, May-October
Beth-Aimee McGuire (509) 520-3647 http://www.gowallawallafarmersmarket.com/aimee@mcinteract.com

Wenatchee Valley Farmers Market
Columbia Street between First and Palouse Street, downtown (new location)
Wednesday, 8am-1pm, June 18-October
Saturday, 8am-1pm, May 10-October; Sunday, 9am-1pm after Labor Day
Sunday Market, 9am-1pm, July-SeptemberParking lot behind Applewood Grill off Columbia Street (new location)
Julie Mitchell (509) 668-0497 http://www.wenatcheefarmersmarket.com/info@wenatcheefarmersmarket.com

Wenatchee Valley Farmers Market
Thursday "Mercado", Methow Park @ Spokane & Methow
Thursday 3 to 7, July-OctoberWillie Getz, 509-996-2747 http://www.wenatcheefarmersmarket.com/info@wenatcheefarmersmarket.com

Wenatchee Valley Farmers Market
City parking lot between the base of First Street and Palouse Street on Columbia Street
Thursday 3pm-7pm, June-OctoberJulie Mitchell (509) 668-0497 http://www.wenatcheefarmersmarket.com/info@wenatcheefarmersmarket.com

Woodinville Farmers Market
Woodinville Village (Hwy 202 and Woodinville-Redmond Rd)
Saturday, 9am-3pm, May 3-October 11
Grant Davidson (425) 485-1042 woodinvillefarmersmarket.comgddman22@aol.com

Yakima Farmers Market
S 3rd Street at Yakima Avenue (in front of Capitol Theatre)
Sunday, 9am-3pm, May 11-October 26Don Eastridge (509) 457-5765
manager@yakimafarmersmarket.org
http://www.yakimafarmersmarket.org/

Tacoma Stress Reduction

This last day of July my seasonally affected disorder has kicked into overdrive. I did get a brief respite, this afternoon, for a few minutes, when the temperature seemed to soar into the high 70s.

This morning I went to Lulu's where I was drafted to go to a crazy man's house to lift a big heavy wooden thing into the back of Lulu's Volvo. This resulted in multiple little pin=prick blood releasing wounds that forced me to use one of Lulu's linens to wrap around my hands to soak up the blood. It looked like a bad scene from a bad horror movie.

As if I needed any fresh aggravation, what with everything crashing down around me. I'm feeling like Hitler stuck in his Berlin bunker with the Soviets bearing down on him. Yes. I am under siege from multiple fronts.

My stressed induced cortisol levels were reaching the danger zone this afternoon. I needed to get some quick endorphins to hopefully hold off a stroke or heart attack. So, I went to Point Defiance. I ran up the trails, like a dog chasing a squirrel. Up and down I went.

After I'd worn myself out I went to the adjacent Tacoma Marina. The Mountain was partly out. It is hard to see, in a photo due, to The Mountain being snow covered and thus looking like clouds. Everything here looks like clouds.

The air smelled good, the saltwater smelled good, I was absorbing the positive energy of negative ions. I started feeling better, my stress level was somewhat abated.

And then I got back here to find my mom and dad in the kitchen in yet one more of their ongoing cooking projects. This time it seems to be marionberry jam and roast beef. My mother seems to be being grumpy. It's too early to put them on their medication. I don't think it's too early to put me on mine. But I've none available.

Washington's Governor, Chris Gregoire, Not Old Enough For Liquor

As if any additional proof that the Pacific Northwest's moist climate youthifies those who live here, the governor of Washington, 61 year old Chris Gregoire, governor by benefit of winning one of the closest gubernatorial races in history, with multiple recounts, was recently denied being able to order a beer due to the governor not having I.D. showing that she was over 21.

The governor had been serving burgers at some annual event in Olympia. Afterwards, to celebrate a successful completion of the burger task, the governor and a group, including her husband, decided to go to an Olympia bar named Hannah's.

The bouncer at the entry demanded to see the governor's I.D. When she could not produce one, several in her entourage pointed out to the 23 year old bouncer that this was the governor of Washington. This information did not persuade the bouncer to let the governor in for her pitcher or two of beer.

Hannah's owner, Todd Ruzicka, said it's apparent the bouncer needs some more training.

In the meantime, Governor Gregoire feels quite complimented that a 23 year old guy thinks she looks younger than 21. I know how she feels. Happens to me all the time.

Text Messaging Ban

I read this morning that some places in Washington are considering putting restrictions on cell phone text messaging. Cell phone usage while driving is already a major crime here. So far, I'm fairly certain you can't get thrown into the slammer for text messaging.

Apparently there have been incidents where pedestrians in Washington have been walking along, texting, and have walked out into traffic. I do not know how many injuries or deaths have occurred due to this.

A text message ban would hit my dad hard. He text messages all the time. Mom and dad got back here last night. After some Swiss cheese controversy my mom and dad were given a medicinal dose of blackberry wine. The photo is about 10 minutes after mom and dad took their medicine. Mom is falling asleep and dad is busy text messaging.

I don't know how to text message. I get text messages. But I do not know how to send one. I don't want to learn how to send a text message. I'm impressed, amazed and sort of appalled that my dad, age 70-something, knows how to text message.

It's sort of amusing. My dad's phone will make a noise and he'll go "I've got a text message." He then reads it and then starts working the phone with his thumbs, like a teenager.

As techo-proficient as my dad may be, he and mom messed up the flat panel TV last night, rendering them unable to watch a Mariner game til my sister switched the controller back to cable mode. Either mom or dad, or maybe both, somehow put the TV in antennae mode. It was quite traumatic here until we were able to get that Seattle Mariner game back on. I think Texas beat them, again, but I'm not sure.

Swiss Cheese & Other Crimes Against Humanity

I'm starting Day 11 in Washington. My life continues to spin out of control, in two states at once. It's like I'm living my worst nightmare and I can't wake up.

I make mistake after mistake here. As a result I've been turned into the house Monkey Boy, doing the bidding of all who inhabit these walls. Including the two poodles, Blue & Max.

A couple days ago a coffee disaster erupted when I was caught using my sister's special coffee cup. I was banned from its usage.

Then I drank too much coffee. And so yesterday a new coffee pot was purchased that has been designated "Monkey Boy's Coffee Pot."

Last week I forgot to take in the milk immediately upon delivery. That's right, here in Washington you can still get milk delivered to your door. It is delivered to a white heat reflective (if there was heat) box. There has been much controversy spinning over the fact that I did not bring in the milk within an hour of delivery. My position is that it is colder outside than in the refrigerator. I really don't see why they have refrigerators in this ultra-frigid climate.

When my mom and dad arrived, a week ago, my mom loaded the already packed refrigerator with more stuff. Including, I now know, some Swiss cheese they'd bought at the Tillamook Cheese factory on the Oregon coast.

Apparently, unbeknownst to any of us, my mom had declared one shelf of the fridge as her own. Yesterday my sister organized the fridge, totally obliterating my mom's shelf and moving the Swiss cheese to the cheese bin.

Yesterday, I made myself a steak sandwich for lunch. I saw the Swiss cheese and opened up the package and added a couple slices to the sandwich.

When my mom and dad returned last night and my mom saw we were in a kitchen frenzy, getting ready to BBQ, she checked the fridge, saw her shelf gone and asked where her special Swiss cheese was. I was the only one who knew of the Swiss cheese. And its fate.

When I confessed to cutting into the Swiss cheese my mom claimed that she'd clearly stated this was not to be touched, that it was to return, cheese intacto, to Phoenix.

My sister tried to calm the storm by saying we saw the same cheese at Top Foods that very day. And that we'd replace the damaged Swiss cheese. But that did not do much to mitigate the storm. Eventually my mom resigned herself to the fact that her Swiss cheese had been ruined beyond repair. My sister then said something like, Monkey Boy, go pour mom and dad a glass of blackberry wine.

I've likely already blocked from memory some of the other horrors I've caused these people. Like I parked my sister's car too close to her driveway's humongous rosemary bush, thus causing her to touch the bush upon car entry, thus causing her to reek of rosemary all day long.

My worst crime occurred yesterday morning. I'll spare the graphic details. Suffice to say, I went to my zone to do yoga. I do yoga sans clothes. Unbeknownst to me, one of the inhabitants was in this floor's bathroom. She was up here to take a shower. Why I do not know. At some point, to our mutual horror we realized we were both in the same space. In varying degrees of undress.

In other words, I'm sleeping well, but I'm pretty much in a perpetual state of low level trauma.

Advance Your Business Skills in the Gas Industry

Why would anyone who spent 2 seconds looking at my blog send me the below ad? I really can't see myself going to the Petroleum Club in Fort Worth to advance my business skills in the oil/gas industry. I think free lunch was involved, I believe I saw that mentioned in the full ad. I'm all about getting stuff for free. Maybe I'll go to this thing.........