Mary Lavinia Cummins, and Netta Virginia Cummins, were identical twin sisters from Nevada, Missouri. They were children of the depression and World War II. My father, Donald Delos Doman married Mary Lavinia and spent WWII all over the South Pacific in the Merchant Marine. Virginia’s husband, Jacob Randall Whitworth fought in Italy during World WWII […]
A Tale of Two Family Christmas Traditions
One of my favorite holidays is Christmas. Even if I was Jewish or Muslim I would enjoy Christmas. It has nothing to do with religion . . . I just like the feeling and the traditions that make family memories. I read a post from my friend Amy Wigstrom about her mother and her own […]
The One Present Christmas – 1956
The 1950s were a great time to grow up in Tacoma, Washington. My family was the first on the block to own a television. I was glued to the TV as I watched Hopalong Cassidy, Gene Autry, and Roy Rogers. It seemed just in time for Christmas when the Sears and Roebuck catalog arrived in […]
Tents for Survival, Trade Shows, and Fun
Camping was all the rage in the 1950s. It was a family activity and was affordable. My family would generally go to the ocean (which meant Ocean Shores/Ocean City/Copalis) or Packwood. And I remember once we went “around the loop,” which is what traveling the Washington peninsula from the Tacoma area to Port Angeles to […]
Transporting Christmas
“Why do holiday stories always include transportation? I mean there were even travelers involved in the story of Jesus of Nazareth.” I was talking to myself, of course, but the guy at the table behind me laughed. I didn’t realize I had said it out loud. I turned and looked. A guy in his mid-sixties […]
Market Place Grille Restaurant Review
The Market Place Grille is located about forty feet away from Anthony’s at the far end of the harbor of Gig Harbor. This means you get the same fantastic view of the harbor for a little less on your food bill. Carlene greets you while Richard does the cooking. Carlene is funny and friendly. The […]
The Home Energy Audit and The Blower Door Test for Home Airtightness
Today there are an unprecedented amount of financial incentives available for building energy efficiently. These incentives come from State and Federal government, utilities, manufacturers and others. Together they add up to thousands of dollars per house. Most of this money can only be accessed if a systems analysis is performed. John Bushnell of Bushnell Energy […]
Origami and the Foldscope Project
Sometimes it’s the little things that make the biggest impact. Who would have thought that the simple folding art of origami could help space exploration and save lives around the world? NASA physicist and origami author Robert Lang has been working with a team developing a powerful space telescope. The lens is in the form […]
Main and Vine Closing
We didn’t shop there regularly, but I do hate to see the experimental grocery store close. My wife, Peg, and I usually go out to breakfast with friends on Sunday morning. We try different places out and return to favorites. Along the way, we look around for interesting places. Twice after having breakfast at The […]